Liberty properties to introduce new investment franchise at upcoming IPD Conference
Property is one of the key factors driving growth in Africa. With improved levels of stability, policy and infrastructure, and with the right collaboration, prospects for real estate investment appear strong.
It is in this positive climate that Liberty Properties is sponsoring the milestone 10th Annual Investment Property Databank (IPD) Property Investment Conference in Cape Town in July. Says company CEO Samuel Ogbu: ‘Commercial property as an asset class remains convincing, particularly now with African capital markets maturing and the demand for property development on the continent growing across the retail, commercial and hospitality spectrum’.
A forum of this nature is critical to ensure commercial property investors remain abreast of current trends and challenges in a shifting marketplace.
For Liberty Properties, the conference also represents the ideal platform to introduce its latest offering - the Direct Property Investment Franchise - a powerful new investment franchise created by migrating the asset management arm of Liberty Properties to STANLIB.
Ogbu comments: ‘The migration is the result of a decision to house all the Liberty Group’s asset management capabilities with its asset manager. By combining Liberty’s investment in premium property assets with STANLIB’s well respected investment capabilities (including considerable in-house research resources and best practice governance structures), we are optimising our ability to invest in direct property in South Africa and the rest of Africa for both the Liberty Group and third parties’.
Ogbu says that the listed and direct property mandates at STANLIB are distinctly segregated to manage any possible conflicts. The Listed Property Franchise, headed up by Keillen Ndlovu invests in listed property companies whilst the Direct Property Investments Franchise’s focus is in the management of underlying property portfolios and funds, whether listed or unlisted.
Amelia Beattie is the Chief Investment Officer of the Direct Property Investment Franchise. Commenting on the move to STANLIB, Beattie says: ‘Liberty Property Portfolio’s’ outstanding 40 year record, 28 of which have yielded double digit returns is a strong indicator of our investment ability. We are constantly reviewing a range of property product offerings that can accommodate the different risk profiles of our investors’.
‘With assets under management in excess of R27 billion, we are committed to delivering inflation beating returns to investors with a focus on large, quality retail, commercial and hospitality properties. Well-located property has always proven to be an excellent client proposition,’ says Beattie.
The 10th Annual IPD Property Investment Conference takes place on 18 -19 July 2012 at Westin Grand Hotel Arabella Quays in Cape Town, South Africa.
