The 7th REITs Asia Pacific 2020 Goes Virtual As Asia’s Top REITs Players Shares Their Views And Challenges Faced In A Post Covid-19 World. Top Performing REITs Conferred With “The Asia Pacific Best Of The Breeds REITs” Award.

24 September 2020, Singapore – The on-going Covid 19 crisis had affected the global economy and companies all over the world. The impact on the region’s Real Estate and the REITs sectors had forced a re-evaluation of strategies by market players albeit government interventions in buffering the negative effects.

Fortunately, the REITs market had entered this crisis with relatively strong balance sheets and liquidity to withstand initial shocks. Like all crises, this also presented a one in a lifetime buying opportunity for REITs and investors. For others, it necessitates a change in business models into new and innovative ways of service delivery and customer experience. For certain sectors of REITs like industrial, housing data centres and logistic operations, businesses had been robust due to demand spikes in deliveries and remote working arrangements.

Mr Bernie Devine, Regional Director, Asia Pacific Yardi Systems, was the keynote speaker for the event, highlighted the importance of accelerating digitalization as a means to increase resilience in face of the Covid -19 pandemic. He expected Artificial Intelligence (AI) would drive and streamline more processes in organizations as the real estate industry looks to embrace new technologies during this period.

Mr Hasira de Silva, Senior Director, Fitch Ratings shared that weaknesses in the credit environment will persist in 2021, given that 2020 has been an exceptionally challenging. However, while some sectors and asset types would be more resilient than others, some improvements could be expected in the later part of next year.

On the future of offices, Mr Tam Ging Wien, Author of bestseller REITs to Riches shared that companies were planning to get their employees to work on permanent remote work arrangements. A survey by Gartner showed that approximately 55% of CEOs would take a measured approach as to when employees would return to office, hence remote work would be here to stay. Such practices would likely reduce the demand for office space.

Ms Wong Ee Kean CEO of GSUM-Titanland Capital commented that real estate securitization and financing in China are gaining popularity as Chinese property owners and developers look for new exit options. Mr Anthony Ang, CEO of Sasseur Asset Management Pte Ltd, Manager of Sasseur REIT, projected strong growth in China’s retail sector, citing strong recovery on consumer sentiments.

In India, despite dire situation in Covid 19 cases, Mr Bhavesh Madeka Strategy, Investor Relations & Business Development of Tata Realty and Infrastructure Ltd said that the Mindspace REIT IPO’s success had shown the confidence of institutional investor in Indian REITs. He mentioned that the key demand driver for space in India was India’s ability to provide large pools of affordable talents for the information technology industry.

The following companies were honoured with The Asia Pacific Best of the Breeds REITs Awards™ 2020
The winners are

Best RETAIL REIT (More than 1 Billion in Market Capital)

• Capitaland Retail China Trust (PLATINUM)

Best Retail REIT (Less than 1 Billion in Market Capital)

• Sasseur Real Estate Investment Trust (PLATINUM) 
• BHG Retail REIT (GOLD)

Best Alternative Asset Class REIT (Less than 1 Billion in Market Capital)

• Jinushi Private REIT Corporation (PLATINUM)

Best Real Estate IT Software Award

• Yardi Systems (PLATINUM )

Best Industrial REIT (More than 1 Billion in Market Capital)

• Cromwell European REIT (PLATINUM)
• ESR REIT (GOLD)

Best CEO (More than 1 Billion in Market Capital)

• Mr Simon Garing , CEO , Cromwell European REIT (PLATINUM)

Best CEO (Less than 1 Billion in Market Capital)

• Mr Anthony Ang, CEO, Sasseur Real Estate Investment Trust (PLATINUM)

Best Hospitality REIT (More than 1 Billion in Market Capital)

• Ascott Residence Trust (PLATINUM)

Best Investor Relations (Less than 1 Billion in Market Capital)

• Sasseur Real Estate Investment Trust (PLATINUM)

Best Industrial REIT (Malaysia) (Less than 1 Billion in Market Capital)

• Axis Real Estate Investment Trust (PLATINUM)

Best Islamic REIT (Malaysia) (Less than 1 Billion in Market Capital)

• Axis Real Estate Investment Trust (PLATINUM)

BEST CEO (Malaysia) (Less than 1 Billion in Market Capital)

• Ms Leong Kit May , CEO , Axis Real Estate Investment Trust (PLATINUM)

BEST CFO (Malaysia) (Less than 1 Billion in Market Capital)

• Ms Nikki Ng , CFO , Axis Real Estate Investment Trust (PLATINUM)

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