Assura increases its 2015 quarterly dividend by 10%

DividendMax Ltd.

Assura increases its 2015 quarterly dividend by 10%

Highlights Another period of significant growth

£100 million increase in investment property to £1,025.0 million (March 2015: £925.3 million)

Completed the acquisition of 36 properties for £65 million

7.2% increase in total rent roll to £59.6 million (March 2015: £55.6 million)

Increase in net asset value and underlying profit

5.5% increase in diluted EPRA NAV1 per share to 46.4 pence (March 2015: 44.0 pence)

26.6% increase in net rental income for the six months to £28.1 million (2014: £22.2 million)

79.4% increase in underlying profit from continuing operations to £11.3 million for the six months (2014: £6.3 million)

115% increase in profit before tax to £35.4 million (2014: £16.5 million)

  Transformational equity raise since the period end, raising £300 million to:

Fund the near term pipeline of acquisitions and developments, with a cost of approximately £126 million

Repay £181 million of long-term fixed rate debt, allowing the Group flexibility for further growth

  Assura is now the sector leader in a market that is in critical need of investment

An ageing population and growing pressures on the existing health infrastructure provide immediate need for increased  primary care facilities

The UK has cross-party support to shift more health provision from expensive hospitals into primary care

The NHS announced last year an investment of £1 billion over five years to fund improvements in primary care premises

  Assura is well positioned to continue outperforming in a fragmented market

301 practices throughout the country

Good pipeline of acquisitions to consolidate fragmented market

Strongest balance sheet in the sector

Group has a long-term track record; strong relationships with the NHS and GPs

  Further increase in dividend indicative of management confidence in the Group's future

10% increase in quarterly dividend to 0.55 pence per share, equivalent to 2.2 pence per share on an annual basis

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