Regus released its first quarter trading statement earlier this month, and the results make interesting reading.
In what the company describes as “normally our weakest quarter for cash generationโ, it turned in a strong performance for the January – March 2016 period.
Referring to Q1 2016, the report reveals:
- Group revenue increased to ยฃ532.5 million.
- Revenue increased 14.5% compared with the same period last year.
- Underlying cash more than doubled year-on-year to ยฃ56.4 million.
- Added 42 new locations (0.5 million sq ft of space) globally.
- Regus Groupโs global portfolio now stands at 2,799 locations (46 million sq ft) as of 31st March 2016. This is equivalent to 447,548 coworking seats and workstations.
Regus states that this performance has been โdriven strongly by the development of the 554 locations added during 2015โ along with a number of major operational changes.
Among them, the report refers to changes in its field and management structures, which is at least partly indicative of the companyโs shift towards workspace community roles as opposed to traditional business center managers.
In an interview with OfficingToday, former Regus employee Susan Smith explains the companyโs reasons for shifting from a Client Service Representative role to one of a Community Manager.
Perhaps a more significant change in the companyโs operational structure is a move toward the increased use of partnerships.
The report states, โWe are also continuing to transition toward our goal of less capital intensive growth through increased use of partnerships,โ and concludes, โwe are being increasingly successful in achieving partnership deals.โ
One example of this is its partnership with investment and asset manager, M7 Real Estate, which operates on a profit share model rather than a traditional property lease.
The partnership provides M7 with a share of the profit generated by Regus at M7 sites, initially focused on six sites in the UK. The deal opens up the possibility of further profit share sites across mainland Europe.
According to a statement by M7:
โFor Regus, the relationship provides an attractive portfolio of M7 locations for the company to further grow its flexible workspace network and client base throughout Europe. And for M7, the deal provides higher potential returns on its investment compared to those achievable at existing rental levels, while at the same time helping the company to absorb vacant space and save empty rates charges.โ
Regus is no stranger to strategic alliances, and this is one of many partnerships and structural operational changes that is expected to see Regus further develop its strong start to the year.
Indeed, the company is forging ahead with more new additions to its portfolio and hints at continued growth in its coworking product, stating: โThe pipeline includes a number of larger co-working locations in major cities.โ
Concluding its Q1 statement, Regus signs off with characteristic optimism tinged with an air of caution:
โWhilst we are vigilant about the overall macroeconomic environment, we remain confident in delivering a full year result in line with managementโs expectations given the benefits from our new field and management structure and current trading performance.โ
Read the report in full here
Image via Regus Canada
