27 February 2015
Tritax Big Box REIT plc (ticker: BBOX), the only real estate investment trust giving pure exposure to very large logistics warehouse assets (“Big Boxes”) in the UK, is today reporting its full year results for the Group for the period from 1 November 2013 to 31 December 2014.
Financial highlights:
Operational highlights:
Post Balance Sheet highlights:
Further equity fundraising
Further to the exchange of contracts on a new distribution warehouse facility for Ocado announced on 29 January 2015, the Company is currently in advanced negotiations for the acquisition of three additional assets, each of which is under offer in solicitors’ hands and subject to exclusivity agreements.
In addition, the Manager is engaged in detailed discussions with the owners of a number of other suitable assets that meet the Company’s Investment Policy. In order to assist in the financing of these investment opportunities, the Company is currently considering a further equity fundraising in the near term pursuant to its Share Issuance Programme. Further details will be published in due course.
Richard Jewson, Chairman of Tritax Big Box REIT plc, commented:
“The fundamentals of the Big Box market remain highly favourable. With the economy continuing to recover, online retail in the UK growing rapidly and companies wanting to increase the efficiency of their distribution, occupier demand for Big Boxes is set to stay strong. At the same time, the supply of new Big Boxes is severely constrained and will not materially increase in the short to medium term. With demand exceeding supply, we expect to see rents continue to rise.
The expectation of rental growth and the important role Big Boxes play in the UK economy has strengthened investment demand and compressed yields during 2014. This presents an opportunity for us to create additional supply, through forward funded pre-let investments of securely let modern purpose-built assets at a discount to their completed investment value.
The last year has shown our ability to source excellent investments and to buy them at attractive prices. We believe the Group is now one of the first ports of call for vendors and their agents when looking to sell Big Boxes. This will help us to continue to grow and diversify the portfolio.
In summary, we remain confident of delivering excellent returns for our shareholders, through a stable and growing income stream with the potential for capital appreciation.”
For further information, please contact:
Newgate Communications (Financial PR)
James Benjamin
Clotilde Gros
Georgia Lewis
Tel: 020 7680 6550
Email: tritax@newgatecomms.com
Notes:
Tritax Big Box REIT plc is a real estate investment trust to which Part 12 of the UK Corporation Tax Act 2010 applies (“REIT”). The Company invests in a portfolio of well-located, modern “Big Box” assets, typically greater than 500,000 sq. ft., let to institutional-grade tenants on long-term leases (typically at least 12 years in length) with upward-only rent reviews (giving inflation linked earnings growth), and with 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 in high growth areas of the economy and limited stock supply. The Company is the first listed vehicle to give pure exposure to the “Big Box” asset class in the UK.
Further information on Tritax Big Box REIT is available at www.tritaxbigbox.co.uk