Purchase of Property

Braemar Group PLC 29 August 2006 PURCHASE OF TOFFEE WORKS, HARROGATE Braemar Group plc, the specialist provider of tax efficient residential property funds, exchanged contracts on 25 August for the purchase of a property in Harrogate for £965,000, to be satisfied by cash. Braemar has agreed to acquire a long leasehold interest in part of the ground floor and all of the upper floors of a building known as Toffee Works, which benefits from planning permission to create 11 residential units. Conversion work will cost an estimated £1.2m, and the resulting value of the units is over £2.5m. The Directors believe there is further potential within the site to create commercial units for which Braemar intends to lodge an immediate planning application. The planned development is located in the heart of Harrogate town centre close to all shopping and recreational amenities. The property is known as 'Toffee Works', because it was formerly owned by Farrah Toffee Company, the famous toffee company who have been producing toffee in Harrogate since 1840. The building is also famous because it contains Hales Bar, one of the oldest pubs in Harrogate. This heritage is reflected in the fact that the building is partly Grade II listed and lies within a conservation area. Harrogate is an attractive Victorian spa town with exclusive shopping parades, bars, restaurants and tea rooms and is a popular tourist destination and a conference venue. A recent survey by Channel 4 rated it as the third most desirable place to live in the UK. Marc Duschenes, Managing Director, commented: 'I am delighted we have been able to secure this site with such strong development potential. We intend to commence development as soon as possible with a view that this site may provide an excellent initial property for our soon to be launched residential fund, Coronation IV Limited Partnership, making productive use of our balance sheet from the dual aspect of property trading and fund management.' For further information please contact: Tel: 0161 929 4969 Tel: 0161 929 4969 Tel: 0161 831 1512 Tel : 0207 466 5000 Marc Duschenes - Managing Director Julie Serrage - Investor Relations Alex Clarkson - Zeus Capital Limited Charles Ryland - Buchanan Communications Note to editors Braemar launched its first unregulated collective investment scheme in April 2003. The Coronation Limited Partnership was set up to invest in residential property carrying capital allowances affording its investors a blend of exposure to the residential sector and tax relief. A second fund, The Coronation II Partnership closed for new investment in December 2004 and a third fund, The Coronation III Limited Partnership, was launched in September 2005. A fourth fund, The Coronation IV Partnership, is expected to be launched in September of this year. Braemar's income streams can be broadly divided into four categories: 1. Fund Management. Braemar receives an annual management fee plus a carried interest or performance fee, which may be linked to an index. 2. Property Management. Once a fund is put in place, Braemar either manages it in-house or sources all property management functions, including overseeing development and project management, arranging finance and insurances, tenancy management and rent collection. Whilst project driven fees typically generate a high margin up front, the longer term management activity provides Braemar with a trail of recurring fee income. 3. Property Trading and Development. Braemar also trades reversionary residential property, acting as agent or principal and from time to time is involved in property development on its own account. 4. Corporate Finance. This division intends to act as sponsor to our own in-house funds, and will in later months offer corporate services, fund design and fund promotion to external ventures. Following pension deregulation in April 2006 (A-Day), Braemar intends to create a range of collective property funds that are suitable for investment by individuals via their personal pension funds. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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