WKP Workspace Group Plc

TIDMWKP

RNS Number : 8381P

Workspace Group PLC

12 October 2023

12 October 2023

Workspace GROUP PLC

SECOND Quarter business update FOR THE

PERIOD ENDING 30 SEPTEMBER 2023

Workspace Group PLC ("Workspace"), London's leading owner and operator of sustainable, flexible work space, provides a business update for the second quarter ending 30 September 2023.

HIGHLIGHTS

-- Good customer demand with 323 new lettings completed in the quarter, with a total rental value of GBP8.0m per annum

-- Strong rental growth with like-for-like rent roll up 3.0% in the quarter, up 6.3% in the half year to GBP108.6m, and up 9.9% over the last year

-- Improved pricing with like-for-like rent per sq. ft. up 3.3% in the quarter , the ninth consecutive quarterly increase, and 6.6% in the half year, to GBP 42.98

   --    Like-for-like occupancy broadly stable at 88.7% (30 June 2023: 89.2%) 

-- Good progress on disposals of non-core assets, with GBP92.8m completed in the first half of the year, and a further GBP9.0m disposal exchanged in October

-- Robust balance sheet with GBP133m of cash and undrawn facilities and proforma LTV of 32.6% (based on 31 March 2023 valuation)

Graham Clemett, Chief Executive Officer, Workspace Group PLC, commented:

" Our offer is tailored to the needs of bright, growing SMEs, the unsung heroes of the London economy. Our strong first half performance demonstrates that this focus sets us apart from others in the market.

Space requirements are undoubtedly changing, which is playing to our advantage. Our customers want a great working environment, in the right place, with true, all-round flexibility - not just a shorter lease - at good value. This is driving strong demand and with occupancy stable at around 90%, the resulting pricing tension enables us to continue to improve rents.

We have also made good progress in the planned disposal of non-core assets, enabling us to recycle capital efficiently, selectively investing in our programme of upgrades across the portfolio.

We enter the second half of the year in a strong position. Although mindful of the wider economic challenges, we are confident that we are well placed with a differentiated offer that resonates with London's SMEs."

Customer activity

We have seen good demand with 323 new lettings completed in the second quarter with a total rental value of GBP8.0m.

 
                      Monthly Average               Monthly Activity 
                                               ------------------------- 
                  Q2         Q1         FY      30 Sep   31 Aug   31 Jul 
                2023/24    2023/24    2022/23    2023     2023     2023 
             ----------                        -------  -------  ------- 
 
 Enquiries       837        738        798       916      824      771 
 Viewings        527        491        517       578      480      524 
 Lettings        108         87        109       112      111      100 
             ----------  ---------  ---------  -------  -------  ------- 
 

Total rent roll increased by 1.3% (GBP1.8m) in the first half to GBP141.9m, as detailed below:

 
 Total Rent Roll             GBPm 
-------------------------  ------ 
 At 31 March 2023           140.1 
 Like-for-like portfolio      6.4 
 Disposals                  (4.8) 
 Other                        0.2 
 At 30 September 2023       141.9 
-------------------------  ------ 
 

Like-for-like rent roll was up 3.0% in the quarter, 6.3% in the half year, to GBP108.6m and 9.9% over the last year (with a 3.4% increase in like-for-like rent roll reported in the six months to 31 March 2023). Like-for-like rent per sq. ft. increased by 3.3% in the second quarter and 6.6% in the half year, to GBP42.98. Like-for-like occupancy remained broadly stable, down by 0.5% in the quarter to 88.7%.

 
                                        Quarter Ended 
                           -------------------------------------- 
                            30 Sep 23   30 Jun 23**   31 Mar 23** 
                           ----------  ------------  ------------ 
 Like-for-like occupancy      88.7%        89.2%         89.3% 
 Like-for-like occupancy 
  change*                    (0.5)%       (0.1)%         0.0% 
 
 Like-for-like rent per     GBP42.98     GBP41.60      GBP40.30 
  sq. ft. 
 Like-for-like rent per 
  sq. ft. change              3.3%         3.2%          3.0% 
 
 Like-for-like rent roll    GBP108.6m    GBP105.4m     GBP102.2m 
 Like-for-like rent roll 
  change                      3.0%         3.1%          1.8% 
 

*Absolute change

**Restated for the reclassification of Westbourne Studios, which is now included in the like-for-like category

Portfolio activity

In June, we completed on the sale of five light industrial and logistics properties in Bracknell, Crawley, Poyle, Theale and Weybridge for GBP82.0m, in line with their March 2023 valuations.

In the second quarter, we completed on the sale of Columbia House, Farnborough for GBP7.3m and Ancells Road, Fleet for GBP3.5m, both in line with their March 2023 valuations.

In aggregate, these disposals have delivered GBP92.8m of proceeds in the first half of the year, at a net initial yield of 5.1%.

In October, we exchanged on the sale of an advertising tower adjacent to The Mille Building in Brentford for GBP9.0m in line with the March 2023 valuation, with completion expected by the end of the month.

Financing

Net debt increased by GBP33m in the quarter to GBP867m, following payment of the full year dividend. Cash and undrawn facilities were GBP133m as at 30 September 2023 with LTV at 32.6% on a proforma basis, based on the 31 March 2023 valuation. At 30 September 2023, our average cost of debt was 4.1%.

Half year results

Workspace will publish its half year results for the six months to 30 September 2023 on 21 November 2023. A presentation to analysts and investors will be held at 9.00 in our recently opened Eventspace, at our refurbished Salisbury House, 114 London Wall, EC2M 5QA.

- ENDS -

For further information, please contact:

Workspace Group PLC 020 7138 3300

Graham Clemett, Chief Executive Officer

Dave Benson, Chief Financial Officer

Paul Hewlett, Director of Strategy & Corporate Development

Clare Marland, Head of Corporate Communications

FGS Global

020 7251 3801

Chris Ryall

Guy Lamming

Notes to Editors

About Workspace Group PLC:

Workspace is London's leading owner and operator of flexible workspace, currently managing 4.7 million sq. ft. of sustainable space at 79 locations in London and the South East.

We are home to some 4,000 of London's fastest growing and established brands from a diverse range of sectors. Our purpose, to give businesses the freedom to grow, is based on the belief that in the right space, teams can achieve more. That in environments they tailor themselves, free from constraint and compromise, teams are best able to collaborate, build their culture and realise their potential.

We have a unique combination of a highly effective and scalable operating platform, a portfolio of distinctive properties, and an ownership model that allows us to offer true flexibility. We provide customers with blank canvas space to create a home for their business, alongside leases that give them the freedom to easily scale up and down within our well-connected, extensive portfolio.

We are inherently sustainable - we invest across the capital, breathing new life into old buildings and creating hubs of economic activity that help flatten London's working map. We work closely with our local communities to ensure we make a positive and lasting environmental and social impact, creating value over the long term.

Workspace was established in 1987, has been listed on the London Stock Exchange since 1993, is a FTSE 250 listed Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) and a member of the European Public Real Estate Association (EPRA).

Workspace(R) is a registered trademark of Workspace Group PLC, London, UK.

LEI: 2138003GUZRFIN3UT430

For more information on Workspace, visit www.workspace.co.uk

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October 12, 2023 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)