RNS Number:4660L
MWB Business Exchange Plc
10 January 2008



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

10 January 2008


                           MWB BUSINESS EXCHANGE Plc:
                TRADING UPDATE FOR THE YEAR TO 31 DECEMBER 2007


MWB Business Exchange Plc ("Business Exchange" or "the Company"), the AIM-quoted
serviced office provider, today releases a trading update in advance of the
annual results proposed to be issued in early March 2008.


Trading has been, and continues to be, very strong at Business Exchange.  The
year finished with continuingly high occupancy levels of 90%, up from 78% at
December 2006 and 88% at June 2007. In addition, Business Exchange increased
pricing by over 10% during the year to December 2007 and enters 2008 with over
55% of the year's projected licence fee income already committed.


The Company opened a total of seven new centres during the year to December
2007, continuing its successful strategy of expanding within Central London,
particularly in the West End, through new leases and corporate acquisitions.
Growth has been enhanced by Operating and Management Agreements ("OMAs")
particularly in the City and regional centres.


These OMAs facilitate portfolio expansion without Company exposure to
substantial capital expenditure or long-term lease liabilities, while still
generating management fees and shares of operating profits for the Company.  OMA
turnover for the year to December 2007 totalled approximately �5.8m, generating
significant EBITDA for the Company.


The expansion programme has proved very successful with newly opened centres
reaching maturity in less than six months.  The Company's most recent centre at
Old Broad Street, in the City opened at over 95% occupancy as a result of our
pre-opening marketing activity.  One of the major clients to move in is a
leading clearing bank on a deal spanning 21 months.  At 31 December 2007, the
Business Exchange portfolio comprised 57 centres with 15,500 workstations and
250 meeting rooms.


With continued strong trading and successful new centre performance, the results
for the year to 31 December 2007 are forecast to exceed market expectations.


The Group will comment in more detail on trading when annual results for the 12
months ended 31 December 2007 are announced in early March 2008.


                                     Ends.


Contacts:

Richard Balfour-Lynn, Chairman Business Exchange.          Tel: 020 7706 2121
John Spencer, Chief Executive Business Exchange            Tel: 020 7706 2121
Keval Pankhania, Finance Director Business Exchange        Tel: 020 7706 2121
Baron Phillips, Baron Phillips Associates.                 Tel: 020 7920 3161
Capel Irwin, Nic Marren, KBC Peel Hunt                     Tel: 020 7418 8900



                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END

TSTIFFEILFIAIIT

MWB Business Exchange (LSE:MBE)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2024 to Jul 2024 Click Here for more MWB Business Exchange Charts.
MWB Business Exchange (LSE:MBE)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jul 2023 to Jul 2024 Click Here for more MWB Business Exchange Charts.