Less Ads, More Data, More Tools Register for FREE

Pin to quick picksWorkspace Regulatory News (WKP)

Share Price Information for Workspace (WKP)

Share Price is delayed by 15 minutes
Get Live Data
335.20    -3.80 (-1.12%)
Bid:
334.40
Ask:
335.00
Spread: 0.60 (0.179%)
Market Cap: £644.55m
WKP Live PriceLast checked at - London Stock Exchange

Intraday Workspace Share Chart

Third Quarter Business Update

17 Jan 2019 07:00

RNS Number : 3116N
Workspace Group PLC
17 January 2019
 

 

 

 

17 January 2019

 

 

Workspace GROUP PLC

 

THIRD Quarter business update

 

ACTIVE QUARTER WITH CONTINUED STRONG DEMAND

 

HIGHLIGHTS

 

· Good level of customer demand in the third quarter with enquiries averaging 907 per month (Q3 2017/18: 858) and lettings of 98 per month (Q3 2017/18: 86).

· Acquisition of The Shepherds Building, Shepherd's Bush, completed in October 2018 for £125m.

· Three refurbishment projects completed in the quarter providing 80,000 sq. ft. of new and upgraded space.

· Planning consent obtained in November 2018 for a 61,000 sq. ft. refurbishment and extension at Leroy House, Islington.

· Terms for £100m of ten-year private placement notes agreed in December 2018 with funding completing on 17 January 2019.

· Pro-forma LTV ratio of 22% at 31 December 2018, based on 30 September 2018 property valuation.

 

Jamie Hopkins, Chief Executive Officer, Workspace Group PLC, commented:

 

"We have continued to see a great deal of activity across the whole of the business in the third quarter and enquiries held up well, despite the usual quieter December. We are particularly pleased with the demand for our newly refurbished space, which is capturing the imagination of London's occupiers, both large and small.

 

We are mindful that we are operating in a very uncertain economic and political environment. Our balance sheet is strong and we are confident that we have positioned the business to continue to benefit from the structural shift in the market, where office space is increasingly becoming a strategic decision for companies."

 

 

Enquiries and Lettings

 

We have seen good levels of demand for space through the quarter, despite the seasonal downturn in enquiries during December. Enquiries averaged 907 per month in the quarter and lettings averaged 98 per month.

 

Quarter Ended

Average numberper month

31 Dec 2018

30 Sep

2018

30 Jun 2018

31 Mar

2018

31 Dec 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enquiries

907

1,019

1,021

1,111

858

Lettings

98

97

88

92

86

 

Acquisitions

 

The acquisition of The Shepherds Building, Shepherd's Bush, for £125m completed in October 2018. The building comprises of 150,000 sq. ft. of net lettable space, acquired at a capital value of £835 per sq. ft. and a net initial yield of 4.8%, rising to 5.1% on the expiry of rent frees.

 

Refurbishment and Redevelopment Activity

 

We have been delighted with the strength of demand for the new space at the refurbishment and redevelopment projects that have completed during 2018.

 

In October 2018, we completed the second phase of the refurbishment programme at Vox Studios in Vauxhall. This provides an additional 27,000 sq. ft. of space, increasing the total lettable area at this business centre to 108,000 sq. ft. We also completed the refurbishment and upgrade of 36,000 sq. ft. at Gray's Inn Road in Holborn.

 

In November 2018, we obtained planning consent for a major refurbishment of Leroy House, Islington. The project will provide 61,000 sq. ft. of new and upgraded space.

 

In December 2018, we completed the refurbishment of 17,000 sq. ft. of space at Metal Box Factory, Bankside.

 

Financing

 

In December 2018, we agreed the placing of £100m of ten-year private placement notes at a fixed rate coupon of 3.6%, with funding on 17 January 2019. This replaces the £100m 364-day bank facility which was put in place, alongside the acquisition of The Shepherds Building, in October 2018. The overall weighted average cost of debt will be around 3.8% (H1 2018/19: 3.8%).

 

Net debt increased by £109m in the quarter to £559m, with cash balances and undrawn facilities of £148m as at 31 December 2018.

 

The pro-forma loan-to-value ratio at 31 December 2018, based on the 30 September 2018 property valuation is 22% (30 September 2018: 18%).

 

 

 

- ENDS -

 

 

For further information, please contact:

 

Workspace Group PLC 020 7138 3300

Clare Marland, Head of Corporate Communications

 

Edelman 020 3047 2546

John Kiely

Rob Yates

 

 

Notes to Editors

 

About Workspace Group PLC:

 

Workspace is focused on helping businesses perform at their very best. The Workspace

Advantage is our unique customer offer and is open to all - we provide inspiring, flexible workspaces with super-fast technology in dynamic London locations.

 

Established in 1987, and listed on the London Stock Exchange since 1993, Workspace owns and manages 3.9 million sq. ft. of business space across 65 London properties which it lets directly to customers. We are home to thousands of businesses including some of the fastest growing and established brands across a wide range of sectors.

 

The way businesses work is changing. That's why we continually invest in providing the

technology infrastructure that enables our customers to think and move fast, and alongside their working environment, is tailored to each individual business.

 

Workspace (WKP) is a FTSE 250 listed Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) and a member of the European Public Real Estate Association (EPRA).

 

Workspace® is a registered trade mark of Workspace Group Plc, London, UK.

 

LEI: 2138003GUZRFIN3UT430

 

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

 

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.
 
END
 
 
TSTZMGMMNVDGLZM
Date   Source Headline
21st Dec 20207:00 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
9th Dec 20207:00 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
11th Nov 20207:00 amRNSHalf-year Report
6th Nov 20207:00 amRNSAppointment of Non-Executive Directors
24th Sep 202010:29 amRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
23rd Sep 20205:35 pmRNSHolding(s) in Company
21st Sep 20207:00 amRNSAppointment of Joint Corporate Broker
10th Sep 202011:21 amRNSCommittee Changes
6th Aug 20209:56 amRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
31st Jul 20202:01 pmRNSVoting Rights and Share Capital
28th Jul 20203:11 pmRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
27th Jul 20201:28 pmRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
24th Jul 20209:52 amRNSDirectorate Change
21st Jul 20207:00 amRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
20th Jul 20203:23 pmRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
20th Jul 202010:39 amRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
9th Jul 202012:52 pmRNSAGM Results Announcement
9th Jul 20207:00 amRNSFirst Quarter Business Update
7th Jul 20201:42 pmRNSHolding(s) in Company
6th Jul 20207:01 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
6th Jul 20207:00 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
29th Jun 20207:00 amRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
29th Jun 20207:00 amRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
26th Jun 202011:04 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
26th Jun 20209:45 amRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
26th Jun 20207:00 amRNSPlanning Consent
24th Jun 20208:29 amRNSBlocklisting Application
18th Jun 20202:29 pmRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
16th Jun 20209:48 amRNSDirector Declaration
9th Jun 202010:44 amRNSPublication of 2020 Annual Report
5th Jun 20207:00 amRNSFinal Results
26th May 20209:00 amRNSNotice of Results
19th May 20207:00 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
5th May 202012:42 pmRNSTotal Voting Rights
5th May 202012:27 pmRNSStandard form for notification of major holdings
17th Apr 20207:00 amRNSWorkspace announces further support for customers
7th Apr 20207:00 amRNSUpdate on the Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic
2nd Apr 20201:34 pmRNSTotal Voting Rights
19th Mar 20204:43 pmRNSSecond Price Monitoring Extn
19th Mar 20204:38 pmRNSPrice Monitoring Extension
28th Feb 20207:00 amRNSTotal Voting Rights
27th Feb 202012:50 pmRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
13th Feb 202010:00 amRNSTotal Voting Rights
10th Feb 20207:00 amRNSAppointment of Chief Financial Officer
4th Feb 20201:38 pmRNSHolding(s) in Company
29th Jan 20207:00 amRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
27th Jan 20203:14 pmRNSTotal Voting Rights
23rd Jan 202011:29 amRNSWorkspace appoints new Chairman
21st Jan 202010:22 amRNSAppointment of Non-Executive Director
16th Jan 20207:00 amRNSThird Quarter Business Update

Due to London Stock Exchange licensing terms, we stipulate that you must be a private investor. We apologise for the inconvenience.

To access our Live RNS you must confirm you are a private investor by using the button below.