Schroder Real Estate Investment Trust has acquired St. Ann’s House, a mixed-use office and retail asset in Manchester, for £14.7 million.
The deal reflects a net initial yield of 7.8%, a reversionary yield of 9.1% and a low average capital value of £283 per sq ft.
The mixed-use asset generates £1.22 million per annum of headline rent compared with an estimated rental value assessed by the independent valuer of £1.33 million, said the REIT.
The freehold, 51,885 sq ft building, is 96% occupied and comprises 40,277 sq ft of office space over five upper floors with five retail units at the ground floor level and ancillary basement space.
The office space is fully let to four office tenants at an average rent of £18.65 per sq ft.
It is prominently located on St. Ann’s Square, near to the prime retail core. St. Ann’s Square features a listed church, the Royal Exchange theatre, a mix of office occupiers and high-quality luxury retail as well as leisure operators.
The building benefits from its proximity to two tram stations that are within four and eight minutes’ walk respectively.
Nick Montgomery, Fund Manager of SREIT, commented: “This acquisition is line with the strategy to selectively acquire income producing assets with good fundamentals and the potential to add value through active asset management initiatives, with a focus on improving sustainability credentials. Compared to other major cities, Manchester, which is one of the Company’s high conviction locations, currently has the lowest office vacancy rate, and we expect relatively higher growth in office rents over the next five years.”
