01 September 2021, Amsterdam – The INREV Funds Termination Study 2021 reveals that 35 European closed end non-listed real estate funds are due to terminate between 2021 and 2023, releasing a potential €10.42 billion in Gross Asset Value (GAV) back into the market. This is partly due to the significant increase in use of the option to extend the funds’ life, this is notably less than last year’s results when 50 funds with €17.9 of GAV were terminating in the three year interval between 2020 and 2022. By 2030, 85 funds are expected to have terminated, representing €31.3 billion GAV.
Most terminations are likely to take place in 2021 and 2022, with a total of 14 funds in each year. Out of those 28 funds, value add funds dominate, representing 47% of the total value for this period, while 40% are core and 13% are opportunistic. This represents 11, 14 and three funds, respectively. Of the 35 funds due to terminate between 2021 and 2023, 11 were first closed between 2014 and 2016. However, as nine funds were launched before 2008, the average expected duration of the total sample is 11 years.
Funds with termination dates due between 2021 and 2023 delivered an average total return of 4.1% over a 13-year period.This is in contrast to 2020, when the average performance of these funds entered negative territory for the first time since 2008, returning -4.0%. The decline in performance last year can be explained by the weaker market conditions, alongside the disposal of remaining assets at late stages of liquidation potentially resulting in discounts – especially for weaker performing sectors such as retail.
The funds terminating in 2023 are the largest of those due to terminate over the coming three-year horizon, with an average GAV of €491 million compared to averages of €260 million and €235 million for those terminating in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Most of the funds with a single country strategy terminating between 2021 and 2023 (17 of the total), are focused on the UK and Italy, with six each, and the potential to bring a combined GAV of around €1.45 billion and €1.09 billion million back into the respective markets.
As for single sector strategy funds of which there are 16 in total, five funds target retail, collectively accounting for €1.38 billion GAV. The sector with the second highest number expected to terminate are offices with four funds due to terminate over the next three years and a total GAV of €890 million.
Interestingly, when asked which termination strategies they considered or would consider for their fund, the most popular termination option for all managers was extension, with 50% of respondents citing extension regardless of the investment style. While the increased desire to extend the funds could perhaps demonstrate either a positive or negative investor sentiment for allocations to the sector (such as industrial/logistics and retail, respectively), on the other hand, a roll-over to a new fund or vehicle structure was less considered than has been the case in recent years.
Of the liquidated funds or funds in liquidation, 60% cited the main driver behind the termination as ‘no issue, termination was going ahead as planned’. The second most selected driver, at 40%, was the ‘terms set for termination options in the fund documentation’, while the third was ‘current market conditions’ at 33%.
Iryna Pylypchuk, INREV’s Director of Research and Market Information, said: ‘These results add further colour and clarity to the themes that we have been witnessing over the past two years. While there are no large surprises, with dispersion in sectoral performance and weaker market conditions likely playing a role, the popularity of fund extensions in this year results is perhaps also an indication of the ongoing appetite for investment in real estate as an asset class. Equally, it will be interesting to keep a close eye on what fund structures and sectors the liquidating fund’s capital will be redeployed into.”
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For further information, please contact:
Johlyn da Prato, johlyn.da.prato@inrev.org | +31(0) 621397456
Justin St Clair-Charles, inrevteam@firstlightgroup.io | +44 (0) 7769 644 059
Josie Workman, inrevteam@firstlightgroup.io | +44 (0) 7460 325 392
Notes to Editors
About the Funds Termination Study 2021
The INREV Funds Termination Study examines preferred termination options of European closed end non-listed real estate funds, including continuation strategies and the impact of current market conditions on termination decisions.
This year’s study includes 272 closed end vehicles managed by 95 managers from the INREV Vehicles Universe. Collectively these vehicles represent a total Gross Asset Value (GAV) of at least €95.2 billion. Of these 272 vehicles, 85 funds are due to terminate in the coming decade (2021 to 2030). This group represents a total GAV of at least €31.3.billion. The study was launched in 2007 and is published once a year.
About INREV
INREV, the European Association for Investors in Non-Listed Real Estate Vehicles, was launched in May 2003 as a forum for investors and other participants in the growing non-listed real estate vehicles sector. The association represents and reflects an industry with a total value of €3.3 trillion and INREV members deliver €385 billion of stimulus to the real economy of Europe.
INREV has 462 members which include 112 of the largest institutional investors as well as 40 of the 50 largest real estate fund managers, plus banks and advisors across Europe and elsewhere.
The non-profit association is focused on increasing the transparency and accessibility of non-listed vehicles, promoting professionalism and best practice, and sharing knowledge. It is based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.