The Board of Tritax Big Box REIT has announced that it has exchanged contracts (conditional on detailed planning consent) to provide forward funding for the development of a new logistics facility and headquarters at Four Ashes, Wolverhampton. The investment price is GBP56.3 million, reflecting a net initial yield of 5.14% (net of land acquisition costs).
The site is strategically located in the West Midlands, close to J12 of the M6, providing good access to Birmingham and Nottingham. The new facility will comprise a gross internal area of 543,692 sq ft. with expansion land to accommodate up to a further 101,139 sq ft. The property will include modern specifications, with a clear height of 15 and 12 metres and a low site cover of approximately 43%.
Agreement has been reached with a leading global designer and manufacturer of components and assemblies to enter into a new 25-year lease for the new facility, conditional upon detailed planning consent. The lease will be subject to five yearly upward only rent reviews indexed to the Retail Price Index, providing a minimum 2% pa rental growth (capped at 4% pa). During the construction phase, the Company will receive an income return equivalent to the agreed rent from the developer. Further details regarding the tenant will be made available in due course.
The development is being undertaken by Bericote Properties. Construction of the main works is expected to commence during September 2016 with practical completion anticipated for July 2017. The land purchase is expected to be funded by the Company from equity proceeds, with senior debt finance to be introduced in the near term.
Colin Godfrey, Partner of Tritax, commented: “We are very pleased to be investing in this new logistics facility and UK headquarters which will benefit from significant capital investment by the tenant with the capacity to expand the unit to accommodate future growth plans. This investment provides further tenant, geographic and business sector diversification whilst maintaining a WAULT of over 16 years. This is our seventh pre-let forward funded development and the third with Bericote, one of the UK’s leading developers of Big Box assets, following the successful completion of the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and Ocado facilities.”
BBOX : Tritax to fund Wolverhampton development