In this analysis, we estimate how much Swedish listed and larger privately owned commercial real estate firms need to reduce their debt in a climate of rising financing costs and falling property values. We calculate the firms need to reduce their debt to maintain certain levels of interest coverage ratio and loan-to-value.
Rapidly rising interest rates greatly impact commercial real estate firms as they have high debt, are very sensitive to changes in the interest rate and also have a substantial need to refinance their debt. Though some firms have started to adjust their debt, the analysis shows that more is needed to cope with a scenario of interest rate costs rising to 5 per cent and property values falling by 20 per cent. The firms can strengthen their financial position in various ways and over time.