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Disposal of German Retail Portfolio for Euro205m

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By LSE RNS

RNS Number : 5805V
Redefine International PLC
06 November 2017
 

REDEFINE INTERNATIONAL P.L.C.

("Redefine International" or the "Company")

(Registered number 010534V)

LSE share code: RDI

JSE share code: RPL

ISIN: IM00B8BV8G91

 

Redefine International agrees disposal of German retail portfolio for €205 million

 

-Sale price represents 10.8% premium to book value-

 

 

Redefine International, the FTSE 250 income focused UK-REIT, announces the successful exchange of contracts with PATRIZIA Immobilien AG for the sale of the Leopard (German supermarket) Portfolio with completion anticipated to take place in December 2017.

The consideration will reflect a purchase price of €205.0 million, reflecting a 10.8% (€20 million) premium to the 31 August 2017 book value. This opportunistic disposal capitalises on an exceptionally strong investment market and an approximate 11% increase in the value of the Euro relative to Sterling over the investment period.

The Leopard Portfolio comprises 66 German retail properties including a mixture of stand-alone supermarkets, foodstore anchored retail parks and cash & carry stores totalling over 138,000 square metres of lettable area.  Due to the granularity of the portfolio, its disposal will see the Company's average lot sizes increase significantly, whilst the portfolio will show an increased weighting to locations and sectors where the Company expects to benefit from higher rates of growth to support our medium-term target of between 2% and 5% rental income growth.

The disposal will include the repayment of €86.1 million of debt facilities, with a weighted average cost of debt of 1.4%. The portfolio's annualised net rental income of €12.7 million reflects a net initial yield of 5.8% on the sales price and an approximate 8.3% yield on equity.

The consideration is payable in cash and the Company intends to recycle the disposal proceeds into new investments which are in line with its stated strategy of enhancing the quality of the portfolio and its growth prospects. The Company intends to reinvest at lower leverage than the Company's last reported LTV of 50%. A number of investment opportunities have already been identified which are at various stages of due diligence. In particular, the Company is currently in exclusive negotiations to acquire a portfolio of high quality assets which, if acquired, would utilise the majority of the disposal proceeds. The income yield is expected to be commensurate with the yield achieved on the disposal of the Leopard portfolio and will be accretive to shareholder returns over the medium term. However, there can be no guarantee that such acquisition will proceed to completion and a further announcement will be made by the Company, as appropriate, in due course.

Mike Watters, CEO of Redefine International commented:

"In line with our strategy, we are consistently looking to realise value by recycling capital at attractive prices. We are very pleased to announce this opportunistic disposal which capitalises on an exceptionally strong German investment market, resulting in a 10.8% premium achieved on book value and a 12.0% premium to the price paid for the acquisition of a controlling interest in April 2017. Following the deal, our overall exposure to Germany will decline from 27% to 18% and we anticipate reinvesting the proceeds into the UK, where we are witnessing some particularly attractive investment opportunities. However, we remain committed owners of and investors in properties that demonstrate strong fundamentals, which coupled with an experienced team of local asset managers, ensures Germany remains a strategic market for us."

For further information:

Redefine International P.L.C.

Mike Watters, Stephen Oakenfull, Janine Ackermann

 

 

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7811 0100

FTI Consulting

UK Public Relations Adviser

Dido Laurimore, Claire Turvey, Ellie Sweeney

 

 

 

Tel: +44 (0) 20 3727 1000

Instinctif Partners

SA Public Relations Adviser

Frederic Cornet, Lizelle du Toit

 

 

 

Tel: +27 (0) 11 447 3030

Java Capital

JSE Sponsor

 

 

Tel: +27 (0) 11 722 3050  



Note to editors:

About Redefine International

Redefine International is a FTSE 250 UK Real Estate Investment Trust (UK-REIT) committed to becoming the UK's leading income focused REIT. With targeted growth in underlying earnings per share of 3-5% across the medium term, the Company's income-led business model and strategic priorities are designed to offer shareholders continued superior, sustainable and growing income returns.

A truly diversified portfolio and tenant base underpin income sustainability, with no overreliance on any one sector or tenant, together with an efficient capital structure. The secure and growing income stream is 39% indexed, has a WAULT of 7.4 years to first break (8.5 years to expiry) complemented by an average debt maturity of 7.3 years of which over 93% of interest costs are either fixed or capped. The Company is focused on all aspects impacting shareholder distributions and boasts one of the lowest cost ratios in the industry whilst maintaining a low cost of debt.

The Company owns properties independently valued at £1.5bn in the United Kingdom and Germany, Europe's two largest and most transparent property markets. Redefine International are buyers and owners of strong property fundamentals spread across UK shopping centres (20%), UK retail parks (13%), UK offices (13%), UK logistics (11%), UK hotels (16%) and German retail (27%). All figures as at 31 August 2017.

Redefine International holds a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange and a secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and is included within the FTSE 250, EPRA and GPR indices. 

For more information on Redefine International, please refer to the Company's website www.redefineinternational.com.


This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
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