Acquisition

Workspace Group PLC 26 July 2005 WORKSPACE ADDS 500,000 SQ. FT Workspace Group PLC, ('Workspace'), the leading provider of flexible business accommodation to small and medium sized enterprises (SME's) in London and the South East, continues to expand its property portfolio. It has announced that it has recently completed four separate acquisitions for an aggregate cash consideration of £39.7 million. Workspace has also completed the disposal of a site in Payne Road, E3 for redevelopment. Acquisitions Workspace has made four separate acquisitions since 31 March 2005 adding a further 495,776 sq ft of space to its portfolio. The acquisitions comprise: Uplands Business Park, Walthamstow, London E17 - 287,485 sq ft of predominately industrial accommodation in 45 units off Blackhorse Lane, London E17. The annual income is £1.711m, which represents a net initial yield of 6.74% on the purchase price of £24.0m. Marshgate Business Centre, London E15 is a multi-let industrial estate of 93,420 sq ft in 22 units, which is fully let and producing an annual rent of £354,433 p.a., showing a net initial yield of 5.87% on the acquisition price of £5.59m. There is substantial reversionary potential, which is expected to lift the yield to over 7% in 2006. 111 Power Road, Chiswick, London W4 is a 1950s factory complex of 98,110 sq ft in a good location close to the A4 and A406 Chiswick roundabout. The building is mostly vacant, and Workspace plans to convert the building into a business centre providing affordable space to local small businesses. The purchase price was £7.5m. Evelyn Court, Deptford, London SE8 is a modern, small unit office scheme totalling 16,761 sq ft in 18 self-contained office units. The property produces an annual rent of £207,810 which represents an initial yield of 7.56% on the purchase price of £2.64m. Disposals Payne Road Studios and 5 Payne Road, London E3 have been sold for £2.1m to a developer. The site has consent for mixed residential and commercial accommodation, including a 23 storey tower. Payne Road Studios was acquired in 1999 as part of the Tonex portfolio, whilst 5 Payne Road was acquired subsequently in 2001. The sale price achieved was in line with book value and showed an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 21% over the holding period. Harry Platt, Workspace Chief Executive, commented, ' We have acquired four properties at fair prices in what is proving to be a very competitive investment market. All the acquisitions offer exciting opportunities, with Power Road in Chiswick complementing our other ownerships in the area, and Evelyn Court, Deptford, located in an area with improving prospects. The Uplands acquisition is particularly timely, coming so soon after the success of the London Olympic bid. We hope to assist the LDA in relocating businesses to be displaced from the Lower Lee Valley. The Marshgate Lane property also gives us a role to play in this area. ' The sale of the Payne Road properties for redevelopment demonstrates once again the potential for high-value uses within our portfolio, and we expect the potential for this to increase over time.' -ends- Date: 26 July 2005 For further information: Workspace Group PLC City Profile Harry Platt, Chief Executive Simon Courtenay Mark Taylor, Finance Director Oliver Winters 020-7247-7614 020-7448-3244 web: www.workspacegroup.co.uk ------------------------------- This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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