Try our mobile app

Trading Update

Published: 2024-02-21 09:00:39 ET
<<<  go to JSE:SSS company page
                                           Stor-Age Property REIT Limited
                                     Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa

                                         Registration number 2015/168454/06
                                        Share Code: SSS ISIN: ZAE000208963
                                           Approved as a REIT by the JSE

                                               (“Stor-Age” or the “group”)


                                                   TRADING UPDATE


Stor-Age is pleased to provide an update on trading and development activity in respect for the four month
period ending 31 January 2024 (“the period”).


OCCUPANCY SUMMARY

Owned portfolio

                                                                                    Occupancy growth since
                                                 31 January 2024
                                                                                      30 September 2023
                                      GLA m²       Occupied m²     % occupied              m²     % increase
 SA                                   391 900            360 900         92.1%           9 700         2.8%
 UK                                   111 100             92 200         83.0%            300          0.4%
 Total                                503 000            453 100         90.1%          10 000         2.3%

JV portfolio

                                                                                    Occupancy growth since
 SA                                              31 January 2024
                                                                                      30 September 2023
                                      GLA m²       Occupied m²     % occupied              m²     % increase
 Same-store                            17 700             10 600         60.0%           2 800        37.0%
 Non same-store                          2 700             1 200         43.5%           1 200       +100%
 Total                                 20 400             11 800         57.8%           4 000        52.0%

                                                                                    Occupancy growth since
 UK                                              31 January 2024
                                                                                      30 September 2023
                                      GLA m²       Occupied m²     % occupied              m²     % increase
 Same-store                            54 200             35 200         64.9%           1 600         4.5%
 Non same-store                        11 900              1 600         13.7%           1 600       +100%
 Total                                 66 100             36 800         55.7%           3 200         9.4%

GLA and occupied space rounded to the nearest hundred.
We delivered a strong trading performance in SA in the quarter ending 31 December 2023 (“Q3”) which
continued in January 2024. Occupancy in the owned portfolio increased by 9 700m² compared to 30
September 2023 (up 2.8%) to close at 92.1% at 31 January 2024 with the achieved average rental rate up
9.4% year-on-year.

Our performance in the UK was resilient with occupancy in the owned portfolio increasing by 300m² (up 0.4%)
bringing the total year-to-date occupancy gain to 1 400m² (up 1.6%). This was a pleasing result considering
that Q3 is seasonally the weakest trading quarter in the UK self storage sector. The achieved average rental
rate increased by 4.8% year-on-year.

Our new JV properties performed well in both markets with occupancy gains of 4 000m² and 3 200m² in SA
and the UK respectively, ahead of expectations.

DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY

In SA we completed the development of our Paarden Eiland property in October 2023 (4 700m² GLA on full
fit-out), developed in a JV partnership with Nedbank Property Partners (“NPP”). This brings the number of
completed properties trading in our JV with NPP to four with total GLA of over 24 000m² on full fit-out.

We also completed the development of our Canterbury (5 000m² GLA on full fit-out) and West Bromwich
properties (6 300m² GLA on full fit-out) in the UK in our JV partnership with Moorfield Property Group
(“Moorfield”). The Moorfield JV now comprises eight trading properties across the UK with total GLA of
49 000m² on full fit-out.

The table below summarises developments in progress:

                                                                                                       Estimated
 Property          Status                                                              JV partner
                                                                                                            GLA
 SA
                   Greenfield development. Superstructure substantially                     Rabie
 Century City      complete, with the fit-out of the lower floors in progress.            Property       6 100m²
                   Scheduled to open for trading in the second quarter of FY25.             Group
                   Brownfield conversion. Vertical extension of the building (one
                   additional floor) is currently underway, with the fit-out of the
 Kramerville       lower floors in progress. Scheduled to open for trading in the             NPP        5 400m²
                   second quarter of FY25.

 UK
                   Brownfield conversion. Vertical extension of the building (two
                   additional floors). Planning approval granted in January 2023.                      63 000 sqf
 Acton                                                                                   Moorfield
                   Construction is scheduled to start in the first quarter of FY25.                     (5 850m²)

                   Brownfield conversion. Under construction. Scheduled to            Nuveen Real      42 000 sqf
 Leyton            open in the third quarter of FY25.                                      Estate       (3 900m²)


There remains an undersupply of high quality self storage properties across both SA and the UK providing the
group with an excellent opportunity to expand its presence in both markets. The outlook for development
activity remains positive and the group is well positioned to pursue these opportunities with our JV partners as
they arise.

In the owned portfolio, we completed the following extensions in the UK during the period:

    •     Milton Keynes – three-floor extension to the existing property, including the conversion of a portion of
          existing office space to self storage, providing an additional 21 000 sqf (2 000m²) GLA; and
    •   Crewe – conversion of building adjacent to the existing property (acquired in August 2022) adding an
        additional 19 000 sqf (1 800m²) GLA (including office space of 2 700 sqf (250m²)).

THIRD-PARTY MANAGEMENT

During the period the group also entered into a third-party management agreement to manage a new self
storage property being developed in Queensway, located in Bayswater (west London). The development, a
conversion of an underground carpark over two levels, will offer 17 700 sqf GLA (1 600m²). The property is
expected to commence trading in April 2024 and will be branded and managed by Storage King under our
third-party management platform – Management 1st. The expansion of our Management 1st programme
remains an integral part of our strategy allowing the group to generate additional revenue with minimal capital
investment by leveraging our existing operating platform.

Definitions
SA – South Africa
UK – United Kingdom
GLA – gross lettable area
JV – joint venture
FY – Financial Year
m² – square metres
sqf – square feet
Same-store – refers to properties trading at both 31 January 2024 and 30 September 2023
Non same-store – includes all properties not classified as same-store

Cape Town, 21 February 2024

Sponsor
Investec Bank Limited