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MWB Results Drag Down Serviced Office Rivals

LONDON-Further evidence of the downturn in the serviced office sector emerged today with MWB Business Exchange conceding that occupancy levels and rental levels were down sharply even before 11 September.

By Graham Parker | Updated on September 26, 2001

LONDON-Occupancy and rental levels in European serviced office centres were already falling sharply even before 11 September dealt a massive blow to business confidence, it emerged today. Quoted property group Marylebone Warwick Balfour revealed that rental levels in some markets had fallen by up to 40%. MWB’s shares fell marginally on the announcement, but rival operator Regus saw its share price slump, losing almost 25 per cent to 24.5 pence on the figures.

MWB announced that occupancy levels across its European portfolio of 44 business centres fell from 88% to 72% between January and June 2001. And the decline has accelerated since then with occupancy falling to 61% by the end of August. Much of this can be explained by a spate of new openings – during 2001 MWB has increased its number of workstations from 8,872 to 14,797, but it has left the company vulnerable to the economic shock post-11 September.

And David Alberto, Managing Director of MWB Business Exchange admitted that the decline in demand and increase in supply had hit rental levels. Achievable rents in Germany–where MWB is least exposed–are down 35% to 40%; in the Netherlands they are down 25% to 30%; and in France and the UK –MWB’s biggest markets–rents are down 10% to 20%. Alberto said the figures in the American markets were likely to be even worse although MWB had no exposure there.

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