26 Aug 2016 07:00
For immediate release | 26 August 2016 |
|
LXB RETAIL PROPERTIES PLC
(the "Company" or the "Group")
Disposal of B&Q Greenwich investment
Completion of disposal of investment at Kingsmead
LXB Retail Properties Plc, the Jersey resident closed-ended real estate investment company focused on edge of town and out of town retail assets, is pleased to report that on 25 August 2016 it exchanged contracts for the sale of its investment at B&Q, Greenwich to a private investor based in the UK. The property is currently let to B&Q Plc until 23 June 2024 at a current rental of £2,244,000 per annum.
The sale is conditional on confirmation of the freeholder's consent which is anticipated imminently. Completion is expected to occur on 12 September 2016 or, if later, 5 working days after grant of the freeholder's consent. On completion, cash proceeds of £43.3m will be received (less a retention of £190,000, which will be paid on completion of some ongoing works to the rear service yard scheduled for September 2016).
The proceeds, net of the retention and bank debt of £23m, will be available to be returned to shareholders and further details on the Board's proposals will follow when the transaction has completed. The transaction reflects a net yield of 4.85% for the Group's long leasehold investment and will result in a premium of approximately £1m over the current valuation.
The Group is also able to confirm that the disposal of its Kingsmead investment at Stafford which was announced on 18 August 2016 completed, as expected, on 24 August 2016 realising £4.2m after repayment of £21.8m bank debt relating to Kingsmead.
Tim Walton, CEO of LXB Adviser LLP said:-
'The sale of the B&Q investment is excellent news for the shareholders of LXB Retail Properties Plc. It is further testament to the quality of the Group's investments that LXB has been able to achieve this sale in a cautious post-Brexit investment market. That sale and completion of the Kingsmead transaction are further significant steps in effecting an orderly disposal of the Group's remaining assets in accordance with the shareholders' vote in February of this year.'
For further information please contact:
LXB Adviser LLP Tel: 020 7432 7900
Tim Walton, CEOBrendan O'Grady, FD
J.P. Morgan Cazenove (NOMAD) Tel: 020 7742 4000
Bronson Albery/Paul Hewlett
Buchanan Tel: 020 7466 5000
Charles Ryland/Victoria Hayns/Patrick Hanrahan