Welcome to the latest issue of Real Asset Insight – Taking you beyond the headlines
Welcome to the latest issue of Real Asset Insight. This would normally be the MIPIM 2020 Special Issue, but following the postponement of MIPIM due to coronavirus concerns, the MIPIM Special Issue will now be published in June.
Our thoughts are with all of those affected by the virus and especially those who have lost loved ones, colleagues and industry friends.
In this issue we look at the potential impact of coronavirus on the real estate markets and what it may mean for your business and the industry more widely (p14). But it is not the only threat to markets
worldwide and we also look at the risks related to global warming in new research from AEW (p18).
Sustainability and ESG are a big focus in the industry and Corestate’s Lars Schnidrig shares his positive view on timber buildings and the huge sustainability benefits over steel and concrete (p52). In an interview with RAI news editor Nicol Dynes, Uwe Rempis also highlights the role of sustainability and how active management and research has paid off for LaSalle’s E-REGI fund as it pushes past the €1bn mark (p24).
Technology is another key theme for the industry and this issue’s cover story from James Wallace looks at the far-reaching implications of wireless applications powered by 5G and the applications and opportunities
for the built environment, asset owners, managers and investors (p8).
In our series of investment briefings and interviews we have seen the shift in investment strategies both towards operational real estate, real estate as a service and also an increasing focus on urban mixed-use. In our investor interview, Andrew Vaughan highlights the evolution of the investment strategy at Redevco as it extends its focus from retail via residential to look at urban opportunities more widely, including office and urban logistics (p48).
Logistics also continues to be a focus for investors and Stephan Riechers, Union Investment’s head of investment management logistics explains why it is continuing its expansion into the sector. (p36)
Daniel Harris at Cain International shares his insights on the resilience of Europe’s gateway cities (p31) and this theme is also picked up in a mini focus on the office sector with John Mulqueen of CBRE Global Investors, who explains why he sees continued demand for the best office space (p35). Meanwhile, Stefan Mitropoulos, from Helaba’s research division, takes a look at the outlook for office markets in 2020 (p26).
On the circuit, we were at both the EPRA Insight 2020 event in London and the ULI Europe Conference in Amsterdam and you can read some of the insights picked up from both attendees and speakers at the events (p32, p55).
The Outlook 2020 series of events continued in Warsaw and Budapest and you can pick up all the key comments and market insights from the speakers in this issue (p40). I am always struck by how vibrant both these cities are and it is interesting to track the capital flows and the increasing importance of regional capital from within the CEE.
NEW INDUSTRY INITIATIVE
Senior housing and healthcare real estate is a growing focus for investors, so we are very pleased to also announce the launch of a new association to help drive and highlight the sector (p20). The reaction to this new initiative has been very positive and we are looking forward to working with all the leading operators, investors and developers in creating real momentum and a voice for this important area of the real estate industry.
Real Asset Insight is designed to share insights, thought leadership, research and strategy. We are now already working on the new June MIPIM Special Issue and so please contact us to share your strategy and insight.
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