Acquisition

RNS Number : 2019C

Tritax Big Box REIT plc

18 January 2018

 

18 January 2018

TRITAX BIG BOX REIT PLC

(the "Company")

ACQUISITION OF THE AO WORLD PLC NATIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTRE

AT WESTON ROAD, CREWE, CHESHIRE FOR £36.10 MILLION

The Board of Tritax Big Box REIT plc (ticker: BBOX) is pleased to announce that it has acquired a National Distribution Centre at Weston Road, Crewe, Cheshire. The property is let to Expert Logistics Ltd ("Expert Logistics"), a wholly owned subsidiary of AO World Plc ("ao.com"), a leading European online electrical retailer listed on the London Stock Exchange, which will act as guarantor. The total consideration is £36.10 million.

Built in 2006, this modern, high specification cross docked facility is located diagonally opposite the tenant's other distribution facility and together form ao.com's UK National Distribution hub. The versatile property, which has benefited from significant capital investment by the tenant, has a total gross internal area of 387,541 sq ft., an eaves height of 12.5 metres, an extensive yard area and parking, with a site cover of 49%.

The facility is strategically positioned in a core national distribution location, with excellent access to the M6 and M1 via the A50 dual carriageway, with good connectivity to Manchester and Liverpool airports and the Port of Liverpool. The immediate location has attracted major logistics occupiers including Bargain Booze, Bentley Motors Limited and Rymans.

The property is being acquired with an unexpired lease term of approximately nine years, which is subject to five yearly upward only open market rent reviews. The next rent review is due in April 2021.

DTRE represented the Company on the acquisition.

Colin Godfrey, Partner of Tritax, commented:

"This dedicated e-commerce facility, which plays an integral role in ao.com's national distribution network, further diversifies our portfolio by tenant and geography. Against the backdrop of strong tenant demand and the limited supply of modern Big Box National Distribution assets, this investment offers the potential for attractive rental growth in 2021."

For further information, please contact:

Tritax Group Colin Godfrey (Partner, Fund Manager) via Newgate below Newgate (PR Adviser) James Benjamin Anna Geffert Tel: [phone] Email: [e-mail] Jefferies International Limited Gary Gould Stuart Klein Tel: [phone] Akur Limited Anthony Richardson Tom Frost Siobhan Sergeant Tel: [phone]

The Company's LEI is: 213800L6X88MIYPVR714

NOTES:

Tritax Big Box REIT plc is the only listed vehicle dedicated to investing in very large logistics warehouse assets ("Big Boxes") in the UK and is committed to delivering attractive and sustainable returns for shareholders. Investing in and actively managing existing built investments, land suitable for Big Box development and pre-let forward funded developments, the Company focuses on well-located, modern "Big Box" logistics assets, typically greater than 500,000 sq. ft. (measured by floor area, c. 66%  of the Company's existing logistics facilities including forward funded developments are in excess of 500,000 sq ft¹), let to institutional-grade tenants on long-term leases (typically at least 12 years in length) with upward-only rent reviews and geographic and tenant diversification throughout the UK. The Company seeks to exploit the significant opportunity in this sub-sector of the UK logistics market owing to strong tenant demand and limited supply of Big Boxes.

The Company is a real estate investment trust to which Part 12 of the UK Corporation Tax Act 2010 applies ("REIT"), is listed on the premium segment of the Official List of the UK Financial Conduct Authority and is a constituent of the FTSE 250, FTSE EPRA/NAREIT and MSCI indices.

Further information on Tritax Big Box REIT is available at www.tritaxbigbox.co.uk

 

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