Sigma Capital Group PLC 3 sites acquired for Self-funded PRS portfolio (0464W)

TIDMSGM

RNS Number : 0464W

Sigma Capital Group PLC

06 February 2017

AIM: SGM

Sigma Capital Group plc

("Sigma" or the "Company")

The private rented sector ("PRS") and urban regeneration specialist

Expansion of Self-funded PRS Activities with Three Additional Sites

Sigma, the private rented sector specialist, is pleased to announce the acquisition of a further three sites, in the West Midlands and North West, to deliver an additional c. 200 new rental homes for its self-funded PRS portfolio. The total gross development cost of the new homes, including land acquisition, is c. GBP27m.

These sites take the total number of Sigma's self-funded developments to seven and extend Sigma's self-funded portfolio into the Midlands region. Once the homes have been completed, Sigma's own PRS portfolio will stand at approximately 420 units, located across Birmingham, Greater Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield and Shropshire.

The delivery of these sites is being facilitated by the funding agreed with the Homes and Communities Agency ("HCA"). Sigma expects to acquire further sites, deploying the HCA facility, to create a self-funded portfolio with a total gross development cost in excess of GBP60m.

The three new sites are located in Mafeking Road, Birmingham, Howe Bridge Mill, near Atherton in Lancashire, and Hinkshay Road, Telford and will comprise a mix of two, three and four bedroom, high quality rental family homes. Construction is being undertaken by Sigma's partner, Countryside Properties PLC and the first homes are expected to be available to rent in early autumn 2017. These PRS homes are also helping to support the delivery of market-for-sale and affordable homes across these sites.

Sir Edward Lister, Chairman of HCA, commented:

"Our GBP45 million loan from the Home Building Fund will mean that working with Sigma Capital we will help thousands of families in the North and Midlands move into a new, high-quality rented home. Sigma Capital has already delivered its first homes and more than 370 more homes are to follow over the next 12 months."

Graham Barnet, CEO of Sigma, commented:

"We are pleased to announce the acquisition of a further three sites as we move towards our target of creating a self-funded portfolio with a total gross development cost of over GBP60m. We will be using our funding facility with the HCA to deliver approximately 200 new rental homes across these sites, which are located in Birmingham, Telford and Atherton. These new rental homes are also helping to unlock the delivery of a wider development scheme which includes new market-for-sale and affordable homes.

"We are delighted to be helping to deliver the HCA and Government's objective of making more homes available across England. Our PRS platform facilitates the faster delivery of new homes and, with our partners, we are executing across multiple geographic regions. We will be acquiring further sites with HCA funding."

Enquiries:

 
 Sigma Capital Group   Graham Barnet, Chief         T: 020 3178 6378 (today) 
  plc                   Executive 
                       Malcolm Briselden, Finance   T: 0131 220 9444 
                        Director 
 KTZ Communications    Katie Tzouliadis, Emma       T: 020 3178 6378 
                        Pearson 
 N+1 Singer            James Maxwell, Sandy         T: 020 7496 3000 
  (NOMAD and Broker)    Ritchie 
 

About Sigma Capital Group plc

www.sigmacapital.co.uk

Sigma is a private rented sector, residential development, and urban regeneration specialist, with offices in Edinburgh, Manchester and London. Sigma's principal focus is on the delivery of large scale housing schemes for the private rented sector. It has a well-established track record in assisting with property-related regeneration projects in the public sector, acting as a bridge between the public and private sectors.

About Homes and Communities Agency

www.gov.uk/government/organisations/homes-and-communities-agency

The Homes and Communities Agency ("HCA") helps create successful communities by making more homes and business premises available to the residents and businesses who need them. It also regulates social housing providers in England.

The HCA mostly invests in building new homes, but also in creating employment floor space and other community facilities, in cities, towns and villages across the country. The homes it funds include affordable homes for rent and sale, and homes for rent or sale at market prices. Its investment helps build around half of all new homes constructed in England each year. Public land, which is owned by the HCA, can be sold to housebuilders and is one of the ways the HCA helps businesses overcome barriers to development and increase the speed of housebuilding.

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END

ACQKXLFBDLFLBBB

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 06, 2017 02:00 ET (07:00 GMT)