TIDMNRR

RNS Number : 1840B

NewRiver REIT PLC

19 September 2018

NewRiver REIT plc

("NewRiver" or the "Company")

Asset Management Agreement signed with Canterbury City Council

NewRiver is pleased to announce that it has signed an Asset Management Agreement ('AMA') with Canterbury City Council ('the Council') for the asset management of Whitefriars Shopping Centre.

This agreement is the first to be signed by NewRiver since it announced in May 2018 its longer-term strategies to adapt to a changing retail real estate market, which included using the Company's market-leading asset management platform to manage third-party assets. Under the terms of the AMA, NewRiver will undertake full asset management responsibilities for the shopping centre in exchange for a management fee calculated as a proportion of net operational income received and a development fee calculated on third-party-tendered development costs. The agreement will initially be for two years, with the option of a roll on for a further two years subject to the agreement of both parties. NewRiver will not acquire an equity stake in the asset as part of the agreement.

Whitefriars Shopping Centre is the dominant regional shopping centre for East Kent and is located in the heart of Canterbury, with a catchment of 270,000 people within a 30 minute drive and annual footfall of 13 million. It has 75 units across 474,000 sq ft and 530 car parking spaces, and is anchored by Fenwicks, Marks & Spencer, Next and Primark. The shopping centre has been fully owned by the Council since February 2018, when it purchased the remaining 50% of the asset from its 50:50 joint venture with TH Real Estate for GBP75 million, equating to a net initial yield of 6.5%. The joint venture was formed in 2016, when the Council paid GBP79 million for its initial 50%, equating to a net initial yield of 6.0%.

Allan Lockhart, Chief Executive, NewRiver said: "We are delighted to have signed this Asset Management Agreement with Canterbury City Council to bring our asset management expertise to Whitefriars Shopping Centre. NewRiver's selection by the Council in a competitive tender process demonstrates that our strong relationships with retailers and track record of successful asset management makes us the clear choice for third-party retail asset owners. Against a growing trend of local authorities purchasing shopping centre assets and taking control of their town centres, NewRiver is ideally positioned to provide best-in-class asset management expertise to them, delivering thriving assets for local communities and sustainable, long-term revenue for our shareholders."

Colin Carmichael, Chief Executive, Canterbury City Council said: "Our purchase of Whitefriars Shopping Centre in February 2018 was a once-in-a-generation opportunity to take control of one our city's key sites and ensure it works for the benefit of the community. The Council is very pleased to be partnering with one of the UK's leading retail asset managers in NewRiver to realise this ambition. Their passion and expertise give the Council the confidence that Whitefriars will continue to go from strength to strength."

For further information

 
                                                    +44 (0)20 3328 
     NewRiver REIT plc                               5800 
     Allan Lockhart (Chief Executive) 
     Mark Davies (Chief Financial Officer) 
     Will Hobman (Head of Investor 
      Relations) 
 
 
     Finsbury                 +44 (0)20 7251 3801 
     Gordon Simpson 
      James Thompson

About NewRiver

NewRiver REIT plc ('NewRiver') is a leading Real Estate Investment Trust specialising in buying, managing, developing and recycling convenience-led, community-focused retail and leisure assets throughout the UK.

Our GBP1.4 billion portfolio covers over 8 million sq ft and comprises 34 community shopping centres, 21 conveniently located retail parks and over 600 community pubs. Having hand-picked our assets since NewRiver was founded in 2009, we have deliberately focused on the fastest growing and most sustainable sub-sectors of the UK retail market, with grocery, convenience stores, value clothing, health & beauty and discounters forming the core of our retail portfolio. This focus, combined with our affordable rents and desirable locations, delivers sustainable and growing returns for our shareholders, while our active approach to asset management and in-built 1.9 million sq ft development pipeline provide further opportunities to extract value from our portfolio.

NewRiver has a Premium Listing on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange (ticker: NRR) and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 and EPRA indices. Visit www.nrr.co.uk for further information.

LEI Number: 2138004GX1VAUMH66L31

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