Assura confirms latest shareholder payment

The Warrington-based healthcare REIT will this month return further cash to investors with a second quarterly dividend worth a total of £1.58m.

The investor in GP surgeries and primary care clinics will pay a dividend of 0.3p per share for the period 1 July to 30 September 2013 on 23 October.

Assura converted to a real estate investment trust in April to benefit from tax efficiencies after the government made it cheaper to convert from standard publicly limited company to a REIT. The original 2% cost of converting to a REIT was removed by government under the Finance Act 2012. REITs can treat rental income differently for tax purposes, moving revenue from corporate to investor level.

Assura said following conversion it intended to increase the amount and frequency of its dividend payments.

Shares in Assura were unchanged at 35p, valuing the business at £182m.