Library

Skanska used the redevelopment of the Bentley Works factory to set the standard for future undertakings.

Bentley Works is 7.5 ha site for engineering, manufacturing and servicing which has been redeveloped into a state-of-the-art facility. Skanska used the project to create a new standard and developed an internal rating system with 'Deep Green' as the highest rating. Achieving net zero primary energy, zero waste, zero hazardous materials and net zero water, Bentley Works went beyond the minimum requirements of Deep Green.

Prepared by Skanska and INREV

In a response to the EBA’s consultation paper on Shadow Banking filed on 18 June, INREV argued against the proposal to include all AIFs in the definition of shadow banking.

Building on work carried out by the Financial Stability Board, the European Banking Authority (EBA) is creating a set of policy recommendations and proposes to define shadow banks as entities which present sufficient unknown risks that it is justifiable to restrict the exposure of mainstream banks to that part of the financial system. These include activities carried out by many in the asset management industry, including real estate investment funds. The EBA’s consultation paper suggests that all AIFs should be treated as shadow banking entities.

This study focuses on the liquidity needs and requirements of investors who invest in indirect real estate. The aims of the study are to identify how investors define liquidity, discover the importance they ascribe to liquidity when compared to other investment considerations and explore the factors that influence their liquidity needs. Furthermore, the study examines investor views on the drivers of indirect real estate liquidity and their perspectives on the liquidity of indirect real estate vehicles, with a particular focus on closed end and open end real estate funds. Preferred secondary market transaction methodologies are also examined. Finally, investor suggestions for changes to the indirect real estate market which could enhance liquidity are discussed.

This report provides insights into the legal, regulatory and tax regimes of pension fund systems worldwide by:

• Outlining the impact of the transition from defined benefit to defined contribution schemes
• Sharing industry experts’ personal views on current regimes and their expectations for future trends

This survey looks at total real estate assets under management (AUM) of fund managers active in the non-listed real estate fund industry globally.
The full survey lists the Top 50 Fund Managers by total real estate AUM, non-listed real estate vehicles under management broken down by region and by non-listed real estate funds under management broken down by region.

This survey has been conducted annually since 2012.  Since 2015, the survey has been global in scope, thanks to the involvement of ANREV and NCREIF.

In a letter to the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker and his team, the real estate industry urges initiation of a high level EU dialogue with Europe’s real estate sector and development of a coherent policy approach. INREV and 40 other associations argued that cooperation at the EU level is essential to create a healthy and well-functioning real estate sector, important for jobs, growth and the broader European economy.
 

In accordance with their long standing commitment to sustainability, Sonae Sierra sought to implement the highest standards of Environmental, Safety and Health management on the Loop5 project, both in the development and operation phases.

LOOP 5 is a 56k m2 shopping centre in Weiterstadt, Germany, that demonstrates exceptional environmental, safety and health performance, built under Sierra's Environmental Management System and with a construction certified in accordance with the ISO 14001 environmental standard. It was conceived to be highly functional, bringing the world of aviation alive for its visitors in its themed architecture.

Prepared by Sonae Sierra and INREV

A global survey based research paper that shows the importance of qualitative information such as environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting to investors and other key stakeholders in their decision- making process. 

The last few years, corporations have started to report more non-financial information, including data on their environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance. The growing trend driven by regulation, market advantage or meeting the needs and concerns of key stakeholders is changing global business behavior. The survey was conducted amongst investors, analysts and portfolio managers. 

A number of these investors were interviewed to gain a deeper understanding of their answers. Key trends and drivers for the uptake of ESG information are identified in the paper. 

Most investors use this information when assessing investments. They mostly use the information provided directly by the company themselves, rather than relying on third parties, such as ratings agencies. However, they are having difficulties in meaningfully comparing data and drawing quantifiable links between non financial and financial performance. 

Two-thirds of the investors used different methods in evaluating their non-financial disclosures and only half of this group uses guidelines to make their assessments. Amongst those that never consider ESG information in their decision making process, the main reason for not utilizing it was that in their opinion it was not material. Investors also said that they mostly used non-financial performance as a good risk benchmark. Risks such as poor governance history or the lack of long term strategy, were considered to be more important as the others. 

Investors said that they interpreted the disclosure of non-financial  performance as a means by companies to improve their corporate reputation. 

As the ESG information is considered more and more important, there is also a request from the investors to get a level of accountability of the information, preferably through independent audit verification but also through approval by the board and shareholders.

This could enable for investors to weigh their portfolios according to all sustainability risks. Almost half of the investors mentioned that an unclear strategy could make them completely rule out a company from their investment decision. Also a history of poor governance was emphasized as especially important as a deal breaker.

For reporters, this survey not only shows that their investors care about their non-financial performance. It also indicates why, how and when they use this information.

The key recommendations that reporters can draw from the results of the survey include:

• Invest in reporting
• Report on and highlight what’s truly material to your business performance
• Keep abreast of international developments
• Act now, or be penalized
• Get your governance right

Prepared by EY

This study examines management fees and costs. There are two parts to the study: the European part and the global comparison.

Europe

INREV's Management Fees and Terms study provides an overview of the fees, costs and total expense ratios (TERs) of European non-listed real estate funds. This part has been conducted on a regular basis (but not annually) since 2007.

Global Comparison

The Management Fees and Terms Global Comparison Study compares the fees and costs and, where applicable, total expense ratios (TERs) of non-listed real estate funds in Europe, Asia Pacific and the US. This part has been conducted on a regular basis (but not annually) since 2007. The global comparison has been conducted since 2010.