Last Update26 Jun 25
Subject: GNL Completes Strategic Portfolio Shift with $1.8B Multi-Tenant Sale — Strengthens Balance Sheet and Refines Focus
Global Net Lease, Inc. (NYSE: GNL) has reached a pivotal milestone with the completion of the final phase of its multi-tenant portfolio sale to RCG Ventures, LLC on June 18, 2025. The third and final tranche, which included 12 encumbered properties, generated approximately $313 million in gross proceeds, bringing the total transaction value to $1.8 billion.
Key Strategic Highlights:
- Balance Sheet Strengthening: GNL intends to use the net proceeds to pay down its Revolving Credit Facility, advancing its deleveraging efforts. This move enhances liquidity and reinforces the company’s goal of securing an investment-grade credit rating, which could materially reduce its cost of capital.
- Strategic Portfolio Simplification: The sale signifies a full transition to a pure-play single-tenant net lease REIT, enabling GNL to focus exclusively on this asset class. This clarity in strategy is expected to resonate well with income-focused investors and rating agencies alike.
- Operational Efficiencies and Cost Savings: Management estimates the shift will drive $6.5 million in recurring annual G&A savings, complemented by lower annual capital expenditures. By offloading the operational complexities associated with multi-tenant retail properties, GNL is poised to benefit from a leaner, more scalable operating model.
- Long-Term Value Creation: According to CEO Michael Weil, this strategic realignment enhances portfolio quality and positions GNL for sustainable growth, underpinned by improved financial stability and operational efficiency.
With this transformational transaction now complete, GNL emerges as a more focused, lower-risk REIT with a stronger financial foundation—well-aligned for future value creation in the net lease space.
GNL an internally managed real estate investment trust that focuses on acquiring and managing a globally diversified portfolio of strategically located commercial real estate properties, announced today its financial and operating results for the quarter ended March 31, 2025.
First Quarter 2025 Highlights
- Successfully closed the first phase of the sale of the multi-tenant portfolio, consisting of 59 unencumbered assets, with the net proceeds used to pay down $850 million of the Revolving Credit Facility
- Remain on track to close the remaining two phases of the multi-tenant portfolio sale, consisting of 41 encumbered assets, by the end of the second quarter 2025, after which GNL expects to begin realizing G&A savings and enhanced portfolio metrics
- Revenue was $132.4 million in first quarter 2025, compared to $147.9 million in first quarter 2024, primarily as a result of asset dispositions
- Net loss attributable to common stockholders was $200.3 million, compared to a net loss of $34.7 million in first quarter 2024, primarily caused by the timing and purchase price allocation associated with the partial completion of the multi-tenant portfolio sale
- Net loss attributable to common stockholders is expected to significantly improve upon completion of the sale of the remaining multi-tenant portfolio
- Core Funds from Operations (“Core FFO”) was $35.0 million compared to $56.6 million in first quarter 2024, primarily as a result of asset dispositions, including the multi-tenant portfolio sale
- Adjusted Funds from Operations (“AFFO”)1 was $66.2 million, or $0.29 per share, compared to $75.0 million in first quarter 2024, or $0.33 per share, primarily as a result of asset dispositions, including the multi-tenant portfolio sale
- 2025 closed plus disposition pipeline totals $2.1 billion2 at a cash cap rate of 8.3% and a weighted average lease term of 5.2 years; maintains focus on using net proceeds from non-core asset sales to reduce leverage and strengthen the balance sheet
- Reduced Net Debt by $1.5 billion since first quarter 2024, including $833.2 million in first quarter 2025, improving Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA from 8.4x to 6.7x over the same period
- As of May 2, 2025, the Company has repurchased 7.9 million shares of its outstanding common stock under its Share Repurchase Program announced in February 2025, at a weighted average price of $7.50, for a total of $59.4 million; this includes 2.4 million shares for a total of $19.4 million repurchased in first quarter 2025
- Leased over 826,000 square feet across the single-tenant portfolio, resulting in nearly $6.1 million of new straight-line rent
- Single-tenant renewal leasing spread of 8.2% with a weighted average lease term of 6.6 years; new leases completed in the single-tenant portfolio in the quarter had a weighted average lease term of 5.0 years
- Weighted average annual rent increase of 1.5% provides organic rental growth, excluding 18.7% of the portfolio with CPI-linked leases that have historically experienced significantly higher rental increases
- Sector-leading 60% of annualized straight-line rent comes from investment-grade or implied investment-grade tenants3
“The first quarter of 2025 was a pivotal period in GNL’s transformation as we took important steps to streamline our portfolio, strengthen the balance sheet, and enhance financial flexibility,” said Michael Weil, CEO of GNL. “We believe with lower leverage, greater liquidity, and disciplined execution and capital allocation, GNL is better positioned to operate more efficiently and pursue new opportunities aligned with our strategic vision. These foundational initiatives are not only aimed at improving near-term metrics, but at building lasting resilience and long-term value for shareholders. As we continue executing on our strategy, we believe these efforts will help narrow the trading gap between GNL and our net lease peers. We look forward to completing the final two phases of the multi-tenant portfolio sale in the second quarter and carrying that momentum into the second half of 2025 and beyond.”
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