Canadian Business Demands More Tax Breaks for Green Investment

DALLAS, Texas, June 2, 2010 - A new global survey by workspace solutions provider Regus, has found that
68% of Canadian companies have declared that government tax breaks are
required to accelerate adoption of green investment.

The Regus survey revealed that only 37% of companies worldwide actually
measure their emissions and less than a fifth of companies (19%) measure the
carbon footprint left by their activities. 46% of companies globally declare
that they will only invest in low-carbon equipment if the operating costs are
the same or lower than those of conventional equipment. A disappointing 40%
have invested in low-carbon equipment to-date and only 38% have a company
policy to do so.

In Canada specifically, the survey found that only 9% of companies
monitor their carbon footprint, the lowest percentage globally. Less than a
quarter (24%) of businesses had a corporate policy to invest in energy
efficient equipment. Operating costs were found to be important to 32% of
companies, that declared they would only invest in low-carbon equipment if it
were cheaper or the same to run as conventional equipment. Finally 68% of
companies stated that if the government offered tax incentives to invest in
energy efficient or low-carbon equipment, businesses would significantly
accelerate their green investments.

Small companies globally are below average on their actual level of green
investment, indicating that smaller businesses are harder pressed to select
low-carbon equipment when it comes at marginally higher price, as short-term
needs are more urgent than long-term investments. In Canada only 8% of small
and medium businesses monitor their carbon footprint compared to 23% of large
businesses. Similarly only 38% of small businesses had invested in low carbon
equipment compared to 69% of large businesses.

The survey also analyzed sector differences. Only 10% of companies in the
consultancy services sector measure their carbon footprint, although 38% have
invested in low-carbon technology. Although 52% of consulting companies
declare that the majority of equipment they use is energy efficient, only 21%
have a policy to purchase low-carbon technology. Similarly 60% of companies
in the manufacturing sector declare that the majority of the equipment they
use is low-carbon emitting, however only 20% have a policy to purchase this
type of equipment. These findings can perhaps be read as an indication that
costly green equipment has already been adopted more in Canada than the rest
of the globe and only the commoditization of low carbon equipment as well as
tax incentives could accelerate the rate of green investment.

Wes Lenci, Regional Vice President, Regus Canada, comments:

"Adoption of green equipment and monitoring initiatives is still
disappointingly low, particularly for smaller companies. Yet small and
medium-sized companies account for half of any country's business makeup With
reports indicating that as a result of the Harper government failing to keep
pace with renewable energy investments made by the Obama administration,
Canada is losing out on approximately 66,000 jobs.[1] If the government is
serious about meeting ambitious carbon emission reduction targets by
mid-century, then it needs to further incentivize the change. At the moment,
low-carbon business technology is often limited in range and sold at premium
pricing. This is proving an obstacle for businesses to invest. Tax breaks
will help enormously, as our survey shows, and by accelerating
implementation, will also help to create a mass market where unit prices
fall."

"Environmental investments are not limited to technology alone, but need
to be applicable to all effective and measurable environmental initiatives,
such as the minimization of premises under-occupancy. Conservative estimates
hold that 38% of office space is unoccupied at any given time,[2] yet that
space is still being heated, cooled and lit, generating tons of unnecessary
carbon emissions each year. Reducing office under-occupancy should therefore
be just as eligible for tax breaks as low-energy equipment."

About Regus

The Regus Group (LSE:RGU) is the world's leading global provider of
innovative workspace solutions, with products and services ranging from fully
equipped offices to professional meeting rooms, business lounges and the
world's largest network of video communication studios. Regus delivers a new
way to work, whether it's from home, on the road or from an office. Clients
such as Google, GlaxoSmithKline, and Nokia join thousands of growing small
and medium businesses that benefit from outsourcing their office and
workplace needs to Regus, allowing them to focus on their core business.

Over 500,000 clients a day benefit from Regus facilities spread across a
global footprint of 1,000 locations in 450 cities and 80 countries, which
allow individuals and companies to work wherever, however and whenever they
want to. For more information please visit: www.regus.co.uk

For more information and images please visit
www.regus.presscentre.com

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[1] Canadian Environmental Defense, Falling Behind, 2010

[2] Regus, A Waste of Space, April 2010

Press contacts: Julia Gaynor, +1-212-398-9680,
jgaynor@affectstrategies.com

Press contacts: Julia Gaynor, +1-212-398-9680, jgaynor at affectstrategies.com