13th Apr 2015 07:00
Market Tech Holdings Limited
("Market Tech," "the Company" or "the Group")
Acquisition of Multi-Let Office Complex
New £50 million acquisition facility agreed
Market Tech Holdings Limited (AIM: MKT), the holding company that combines iconic real estate assets with an e-commerce business and owns and manages the main Camden Markets in Central London, is pleased to announce that it has exchanged contracts to acquire a 0.84 acre property, hosting small businesses, for a total consideration of £44 million, comprised of a £42 million purchase price and £2 million stamp duty.
The property, known as Utopia Village in Chalcot Road, London, NW1, is located close to the Group's principal Camden Markets site and currently comprises 29 individual units totalling a net internal area of approximately 44,500 square feet
The Property has development potential however the Group plans to operate the complex primarily as a fully serviced co-working office environment where businesses can rent flexible accommodation with access to Market Tech's e-commerce and business infrastructure, enabling the Group to accelerate its growth plans while benefiting Camden and the surrounding area.
Co-working is an increasingly popular style of work in a shared environment where like-minded entrepreneurs benefit from a beneficial collaborative working culture. A co-working community is particularly attractive to start-ups in new technology, fashion, design, brand and other creative industries. The Camden area has a long tradition of creating and nurturing bright new entrepreneurs in creative industries and the Group is committed to reinvigorating and expanding this legacy through the delivery of a unique all-embracing retail, e-commerce, leisure and cultural hub.
The Group is currently developing similar facilities at its main Camden Markets site and Utopia Village is intended to add further capacity.
The total consideration is to be paid in cash with completion set for 16 April 2015.
Charles Butler, Market Tech Chief Executive Officer, said:
"As with our recent transactions, we are establishing the foundations to support our strategy to reinvigorate Camden Market and its surrounding area - bringing the Markets to a wider global audience and creating an environment where bright new entrepreneurs can grow innovative businesses. The acquired site extends the Group's estate and will be complementary to our offering as a full service solution provider for businesses, which when combined with similar facilities in Camden will in total create co-working space for in excess of 1,500 people. This is a key element of our strategy to create a world class living, working, retail and leisure destination"
New acquisition loan facility - related party transaction
The Group intends to fund the acquisition and development of Utopia Village from existing cash resources but at the same time has entered into a new acquisition loan facility ("the Facility") with Citwax Investments Limited ("Citwax"), the majority shareholder of the Company (and therefore a related party). The Facility is for an unsecured loan of £50 million to provide finance, if requested by the Company, in relation to the acquisition. The Facility is on substantially equivalent terms to, and is in addition to, the Company's existing facilities with Citwax being the working capital facility entered into at the time of the Company's IPO and the acquisition facility entered into on 27 February 2015 (as subsequently amended on 24 March 2015). The Facility has a fixed interest rate of 4% per annum payable quarterly in arrears and is available to draw down until 31 July 2015. The Facility is repayable within three years however can be repaid early by the Company free of any interest penalty.
The directors of the Company consider, having consulted with its nominated adviser, that the terms of the Facility are fair and reasonable insofar as the Company's shareholders are concerned
- Ends -
Enquiries
Market Tech Charles Butler, Chief Executive Officer Andrew Bull, Chief Financial Officer c/o Bell Pottinger
| +44 (0) 20 3772 2500 |
Jefferies - Nomad and Joint Broker Sara Hale Alex Collins
| +44 (0) 20 7029 8000
|
Shore Capital - Joint Broker Dru Danford Toby Gibbs
| +44 (0) 20 7408 4090 |
Bell Pottinger David Rydell Olly Scott David Bass James Newman | +44 (0) 20 3772 2500 |
About Market Tech
Market Tech combines the iconic Camden Market real estate assets with an e-commerce business operated through an online platform called market.com. Its real estate assets business is focused on retail, leisure and entertainment. The Company owns approximately 11 acres of real estate assets in Camden, including the Stables Market; Union Street Market, (also known as Buck Street Market); Camden Lock Market; and Hawley Wharf, (also known as Camden Lock Village). The Company also owns separate real estate assets on Camden High Street; Kentish Town Road; properties on Jamestown Road, (including the Camden Wharf Building); and The Interchange Building on Oval Road.
www.market-tech.com
Related Shares:
MKT.L