UTG Unite Group Plc

TIDMUTG

RNS Number : 3143X

Unite Group PLC (The)

04 May 2021

 
 
 
   4 May 2021 
 

THE UNITE GROUP PLC

('Unite Students', 'Unite', the 'Group', or the ' Company ')

UNITE & GIC EXTEND LSAV JOINT VENTURE & AGREE PERFORMANCE FEE

Unite Students, the UK's leading owner, manager, and developer of student accommodation, today announces the extension of its joint venture with GIC by ten years to September 2032. It also announces an agreement to settle its performance fee from the London Student Accommodation Joint Venture ('LSAV') in cash during Q4 2021.

LSAV was established in September 2012 with a ten-year term maturing in September 2022. Unite and GIC have agreed the ten-year extension following a successful partnership that has delivered strong development returns and growth in rental income. Both Unite and GIC will retain a 50% equity stake in LSAV, which had net assets of GBP814 million as at 31 December 2020 (Unite share: GBP407 million).

Unite's performance fee will be paid in cash in Q4 2021, based on valuations and cashflows to 30 September 2021. Unite's share of the performance fee is expected to be approximately GBP30-40 million, of which GBP9.2 million had already been recognised in Unite's balance sheet as at 31 December 2020. Unite's remaining share of the performance fee is expected to be approximately GBP20-30 million (5-8 pence per share), to be recognised in 2021. The performance fee will be a capital receipt and is not included in the Group's EPRA EPS guidance of 27-30 pence for 2021. The performance fee will reduce LTV by just under one percentage point on a pro forma basis.

Unite will be entitled to receive a performance fee from LSAV equivalent to 12.5% of returns in excess of 8% per annum in the period from 2021 to 2032. In addition, the Aston Student Village part of the joint venture with GIC will be merged with LSAV, further simplifying the Group's funding structure. Unite will continue to act as property and asset manager for the duration of the new joint venture on existing terms and fee levels.

As part of the extended relationship, Unite and GIC will explore opportunities to expand LSAV, through potential acquisitions of investment assets.

Richard Smith, Unite Students Chief Executive, commented:

"I am delighted to agree a long-term extension of our LSAV joint venture with GIC. The transaction provides a strong endorsement of our sector-leading operating platform from GIC, a high calibre investment partner with whom Unite has enjoyed a successful relationship since 2005. The realisation of the LSAV performance fee in 2021 reflects a combination of strong development returns and rental growth by LSAV's London portfolio since 2012."

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Unite Students

   Richard Smith / Joe Lister / Michael Burt                       Tel: +44 117 302 7005 

Unite press office Tel: +44 117 450 6300

Powerscourt

   Justin Griffiths / Victoria Heslop                                     Tel: +44 20 7250 1446 

About Unite Students

Unite Students is the UK's largest owner, manager and developer of purpose-built student accommodation, serving the country's world-leading Higher Education sector. We provide homes to 73,000 students across 173 properties in 25 leading University towns and cities. We currently partner with over 60 Universities across the UK.

Our people are driven by a common purpose: to provide a 'Home for Success' for the students who live with us. Unite's accommodation is safe and secure, high quality and affordable. Students live predominantly in ensuite study bedrooms, with rents covering all bills, insurance, 24-hour security and high-speed Wi-Fi. We also hold a five-star British Safety Council audit rating.

Founded in 1991 in Bristol, Unite Group is an award-winning Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), listed on the London Stock Exchange and a member of the FTSE 250 Index. Unite is invested in and operates two specialist funds and joint ventures with institutional investment partners: the GBP3 billion Unite UK Student Accommodation Fund (USAF) and the GBP1 billion London Student Accommodation Vehicle (LSAV).

For more information, visit:

Unite's corporate website www.unite-group.co.uk

The student site www.unitestudents.com

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