LXi REIT announced the disposal of Premier Inn anchored property and acquisition of M&S Simply Food store and an MKM trade unit on Friday morning.
LXi REIT is focused on the gradual growth of the company through “accretive acquisitions” such as the M&S Simply Food store and “profitable disposals” such as the Premier Inn anchored property.
LXi REIT Disposal
LXi REIT has exchanged contracts on the sale of its property in Saffron Walden, which was let to Premier Inn, B&M, Pure Gym, Pets at Home, and Costa, for £19.33m, with a 4.45% net exit yield, after receiving an unsolicited offer from a UK pension fund.
The property was purchased for £15.8m and a 5.72% net initial yield through a forward funding deal.
The sale generates an attractive 19% per annum IRR for the company and the property was listed for sale at the time of the latest valuation.
LXi REIT Acquistion
Marks & Spencer Food Store
Marks & Spencer is a FTSE 250 company with a market capitalization of around £3bn.
Separate developers have agreed to sell the business which is an M&S Simply Food store and an MKM trade unit for a combined £9.44m, providing an accretive 5.25% blended net initial yield to LXi REIT.
A pre-let forward funding arrangement is being used to acquire the food store in Largs, North Ayrshire by LXi REIT.
The 13,450 sq ft property has been fully pre-let to Marks & Spencer on a fresh, unbroken 15-year lease with five annual rental increases at a fixed growth rate of 2.5% compounded.
MKM Trade Unit
MKM is the largest independent builders’ merchant in the United Kingdom.
The MKM trade unit, which covers 15,250sqft, was built this year and is entirely leased to MKM Building Supplies on a long lease with 20 years remaining until the first break.
The rent is increased every five years under RPI inflation, which is capped at 3.5% per year and collared at 1.5% per year.
Both acquisitions have good ESG credentials, with the MKM unit having an EPC “A” rating and rooftop solar panelling, and the M&S Simply Food expansion aiming for an EPC “A” rating as well.
The remaining funds from the sale will be put into the LXi REIT’s accretive pipeline.
LXi REIT shares fell 0.07% to 150.6p in early morning trade on Friday after the company updated investors on its property portfolio.