Commercial Property News South Africa

Synergy has successful maiden distribution to unit holders

Synergy Income Fund, a specialised retail property fund investing in midsized commuter and small regional shopping centres located in high growth rural and township nodes, announced its maiden distributions to unit holders and closed a heavily oversubscribed vendor placement of R370 million in new capital for the fund, yesterday 19 July 2012. The fund operates in partnership with retailer Spar.
Synergy Income Fund CEO, William Brooks
Synergy Income Fund CEO, William Brooks

The recently listed retail fund announced maiden distribution to unit holders of R25.3 million for the period from listing on 14 December 2011 to 30 June 2012. The allocated distribution is 44.2201 cents per A linked unit and 19.5340 cents per B linked unit. The distribution announced is in line with the projections forecast in the pre-listing statement for the company. The successful capital raising will increase the market capitalisation of the fund to approximately R1.1 billion.

William Brooks, CEO of Synergy Income Fund, says, "We are very pleased to be able to report a maiden distribution in line with our forecast particularly as this has been achieved despite the unexpected challenges and consequent delays to our acquisition pipeline brought on by the Competition Authorities. Thankfully these challenges are now behind us and we can continue with the acquisition driven growth strategy for our retail portfolio."

Synergy has aggressively grown its assets from R280 million at listing to R1,7 billion currently.

Gugulethu Square acquisition

The capital raised through the vendor placement will be used as part payment for its latest acquisitions, Gugulethu Square in Cape Town and Setsing Crescent in Phuthaditjhaba. The remaining portion of the total R530 million purchase consideration is being funded by debt.

Brooks adds, "We are delighted with the successful outcome of the placement and the strong backing we have received from institutional investors. The fund will continue to grow its portfolio with value-enhancing lower LSM retail acquisitions. We are well positioned to give our investors a sustainable competitive advantage and appealing growth prospects."

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