The Watkin Jones Group is one of the UK's leading developers of student accommodation with a reputation for consistently delivering high quality accommodation, on time, and to budget.
UK wide, our portfolio of developments range from purpose-built cluster flats and studios, to refurbishment projects and mixed-use schemes. Strategic choice of locations, coupled with cutting-edge design and exceptional build quality are the cornerstones of our success.

Today's students demand quality, affordability and exceptional connectivity with easy links to learning and leisure facilities as standard. This is an exacting combination but this is precisely the accommodation we deliver in prime locations nationwide.

Since 1999 we have developed more than 25,000 student units and have an in-depth understanding of this resilient property sector.

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Watkin Jones Group Fundamentals (WJG)

Forward Sale in Bournemouth

Watkin Jones plc (AIM:WJG), a leading UK developer and constructor of multi occupancy property assets, with a focus on the student accommodation sector, is pleased to announce that further to the positive update on developments announced on 22 December 2016 and its 2016 full year results announcement on 18 January 2017, the Group has completed the forward sale of the student accommodation element of its Christchurch Road development in Bournemouth.

The sale has been made to an institutional investor for an undisclosed fee, with the development consisting of 454 beds of student accommodation (437 ensuite clusters and 17 self-contained studios). The development is due for completion in the summer of 2017 ahead of the academic year. Following this transaction, all of the Group's student accommodation developments due for delivery before the end of the current financial year have been forward sold, while 1,840 of the 3,485 beds due for delivery in 2018 have been pre-sold and a further 1,530 have planning permission.

Mark Watkin Jones, Chief Executive Officer of Watkin Jones plc, said: "We are delighted to announce that we have successfully completed the sale of the student accommodation development at Christchurch Road in Bournemouth. Having now forward sold all of our projects which are due for delivery in the current financial year, the Group has demonstrated its strong relationships with institutional investors and its ability to provide good visibility on near term returns for its shareholders."

Toying with 140 again.

New high 145.00p

some clarification where you have posted elsewhere would no doubt be appreciated :-)

Making new highs @155p.

156p.

162p

released after market close - Placing of Shares in Watkin Jones plc

Placing of Shares in Watkin Jones plc ("Watkin Jones" or the "Company")

The G&J Watkin Jones 1992 Settlement Trust and Philip Byrom (together the "Sellers"), have agreed to sell up to 50,250,000 ordinary shares of one penny each in the Company (the "Ordinary Shares") (the "Placing Shares") via an accelerated bookbuild through Peel Hunt LLP ("Peel Hunt"). The Placing Shares represent approximately 19.7% of the Company's issued share capital.

Peel Hunt is acting as sole Bookrunner in respect of the Placing, which will be launched immediately following this announcement and is open to certain existing and new investors. The final price at which the Placing Shares are to be sold will be agreed by the Bookrunner and the Sellers at the close of the bookbuild process, and the results of the Placing will be announced as soon as practicable thereafter. The timings for the close of the bookbuild process, pricing and allocations are at the absolute discretion of Peel Hunt.

The proceeds of the Placing are payable in cash and will be settled on a T+2 basis, and closing of the Placing is expected to occur on or about 24 March 2017. Of the Placing Shares, up to 49,250,000 are to be sold by the G&J Watkin Jones 1992 Settlement Trust and up to 1,000,000 are to be sold by Philip Byrom. The Company will not receive any proceeds from the Placing.

The Ordinary Shares held by the Sellers which are not to be sold in the Placing by the Sellers will be subject to a 180-day lock-up which will be subject to customary exceptions and which will otherwise only be waived with the consent of the Bookrunner (the "Sellers' Lock-Up"). In addition, the Ordinary Shares held by Mark Watkin Jones and by the Watkin Jones Will Trust will also be subject to a 180-day lock-up on the same terms as that of the Sellers' Lock-Up.

Market Abuse Regulation

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Sellers to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation. Upon the publication of this announcement via a regulatory information service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

Enquiries

Peel Hunt LLP (sole Bookrunner)
Alastair Rae
Mike Bell
Sohail Akbar
Matthew Brooke-Hitching
+ 44 (0)20 7418 8914


more.....

Result of Placing of Shares in Watkin Jones plc ("Watkin Jones" or the "Company")

Further to the announcement released yesterday, the G&J Watkin Jones 1992 Settlement Trust and Philip Byrom (together the "Sellers") have sold a total of 50,250,000 ordinary shares of one penny each in the Company (the "Ordinary Shares") (the "Placing Shares") at a price of 140 pence per share (the "Placing"). The Placing Shares represent approximately 19.7% of the Company's entire issued share capital.

Peel Hunt LLP ("Peel Hunt") acted as sole Bookrunner in connection with the Placing.

The Ordinary Shares held by the Sellers which were not sold in the Placing by the Sellers are subject to a 180-day lock-up which is subject to customary exceptions and which will otherwise only be waived with the consent of the Bookrunner (the "Sellers' Lock-Up"). In addition, the Ordinary Shares held by Mark Watkin Jones and by the Watkin Jones Will Trust are also subject to a 180-day lock-up on the same terms as that of the Sellers' Lock-Up.

Do we think there was a little leak going on here then .

Well that's upset the volume part of the chart!

It certainly has! Not sure that I understand what went on there! I didn't think it was a leak, but as it is a Welsh company it could have been a leek! :o)

Fairly standard practice so as not to upset the share price.

What happens when the shares get bought by certain existing and new investors , will it go back up .

I'd hope so.

I think it will.

I'm sorry to say this but i think it's a mess , why didn't they organise the buyers before they were sold . Obviously you or I won't be invited , but the buyers are guaranteed a low price , some have sold here and may miss out . Just goes to show who they look out for eh .

Director Shareholdings

Watkin Jones plc (AIM:WJG), a leading UK developer and constructor of multi occupancy property assets, with a focus on the student accommodation sector, announces that 50,250,000 ordinary shares of one penny each in the Company representing approximately 19.7% of the issued share capital have been placed (the 'Placing') on behalf of the G&J Watkin Jones 1992 Settlement Trust, in which Mark Watkin Jones (CEO) has an interest as a potential beneficiary, and Philip Byrom (CFO). The shares have been placed to meet demand from new and existing shareholders and to improve the liquidity of the Group.

The resultant shareholdings are shown in the table below.

Shareholder name Shares held Percentage %

G&J Watkin Jones 1992 Settlement Trust* 38,901,422 15.24

Philip Byrom 3,167,891 1.24


* Mark Watkin Jones has a life interest in the shares registered in the name of the 1992 Trust, of which Mark Watkin Jones, Glyn Watkin Jones and Jennifer Watkin Jones are trustees. Mark also holds an interest as a potential beneficiary of the Watkin Jones Will Trust (27,857,985 shares) and also holds 7,650,000 shares in his own name. Mark therefore has an interest in a total of 74,409,407 ordinary shares (29.14% of the ordinary share capital).

more.....

Vic, I believe a placing means the shares were already allocated to institutions and other major shareholders.

Saves money to do it that way but it frustrates the likes of us! 😬