News

Australian commercial property continues to look attractive to global capital, according to David Green-Morgan, Head of Asia Pacific Real Estate Research at MSCI Real Capital Analytics, speaking on global fund flows at the recent Property Funds Association (PFA) 2022 Conference in Cairns.

The challenges of raising and deploying capital in a pandemic was the theme for a recent PFA Learning Series, which brought together three different perspectives on unlisted property funds, via Ben Harrop, Head of Distribution at Centurial Capital, Steven Bennett, CEO Direct Property at Charter Hall, and Mark Pratt, Executive General Manager of Property at Australian Unity.

A recent PFA Learning Series polled professionals working in or with the unlisted funds management community on some key issues facing the sector. The event, on Raising and Deploying Capital During a Pandemic, took place in December 2021. Here are some key findings:

David Green-Morgan, Managing Director Asia Pacific for Real Capital Analytics, recently joined PFA for an informative webinar on Property Capital Markets Through a Global and Local lens.

Property Funds Association met with ASIC in late November, to discuss various issues impacting the unlisted property investment community. Here’s a summary of the main issues discussed:

The PFA Learning Series Event: Was a lively discussion on how three Fund Managers navigated the challenges, successes and processes of raising capital before, during and as we emerge from COVID; from the perspective of retail, wholesale and sophisticated investors.

Yardi’s Chris Barbier, Industry Principal of Investment Management and Bernie Devine, Regional Director break down the top three trends they are seeing in the world of investment. With major capital waiting to be distributed, people are becoming much more aware of how they communicate with their investors. Quarterly reports are just not cutting it anymore. The investors want to know what their risks of exposure are in real time and in great detail.

Yardi’s Chris Barbier, Industry Principal of Investment Management and Bernie Devine, Regional Director discuss the main issues companies face when reporting to investors. Barbier notes that some investors now often require information such as rent collections – down to that level of detail. And this is largely the result of COVID-19. Investors are realising that what is happening at the asset is going to impact their returns. Timely and accurate reporting is more crucial than ever.

The PFA Learning Series Event: With an international and domestic perspective, Real Capital Analytics has a clear focus on what global and local markets have being doing during the Pandemic. Where are funds flowing and where is the value? Are there any global themes emerging or are markets moving in different directions? The players, the pricing, the performance, the geo-political climate – hear from David Green-Morgan, Managing Director APAC, on where world property markets are going

Unlisted property funds need to ensure any funds directed towards retail investors are compliant with the upcoming Design and Distribution Obligations (DDO), which commence next week on 5 October 2021.

Unlisted property is attracting investor interest due to its reputation as a steady performer and stabilising element in investment portfolios, with unlisted property funds outperforming all other asset classes for annualised returns over the last five years.

Property Funds Association (PFA), the peak body representing Australia’s unlisted property funds industry, has appointed Andrew Cannane, Executive Director of Intertrust Australia, as President of its Executive Committee.