Custodian Property Income REIT (LSE: CREI), which seeks to deliver a strong income return by investing in a diversified portfolio of smaller regional properties across the UK, is pleased to announce that it has completed the sale of an industrial unit in Weybridge for £6.0m and unconditionally exchanged on the disposal of a vacant industrial unit in Warrington for £9.0m (“the Disposals”).

The Disposals were previously disclosed in the Company’s announcement of 28 February 2024, with the respective sales prices representing premiums to 31 December 2023 valuations of 5.2% (£0.3m) and 61% (£3.4m).

The Warrington disposal is expected to complete in mid-April 2024 and total proceeds from the Disposals of £15.0m will be used towards repaying the Company’s existing revolving debt facility, reducing LTV by circa 2%.

Commenting on the Disposals, Richard Shepherd-Cross, Managing Director of Custodian Capital Limited (the Company’s external fund manager), said:

“Whilst planning consent has been received to redevelop the Warrington site we believe that, due to a lack of occupier demand and the ability to crystallise a substantial profit for our shareholders, now is the best time to sell.  Selling vacant property is particularly accretive to earnings by both saving void costs and reducing interest expense.

“The Weybridge asset has provided a healthy level of income over its four years of ownership and having re-let the unit in 2022 at an increased level of rent, we believe future rental growth may not meet our income growth expectations going forwards so we have made the decision to sell.”