WINNER

“Oxford’s real estate investment strategy addresses housing affordability challenges through build-to-rent and co-op housing projects and strategic acquisitions for coupled with comprehensive renovations,” judge’s comment

Country

Canada

Overall AUM

€93,294m

Annual performance

-6.90%

Furthering its global expansion across residential, Oxford Properties (Oxford) launched a new a build to rent (BTR) management platform in Australia and developed a pipeline of over 25,000 units across the globe. This pipeline consists of projects such as Indi Melbourne Groundbreakings and Indi Sydney Topping. It also began the construction of two multi-family projects, including Sydney’s first-ever purpose-built BTR tower.

In Vancouver, Oxford broke ground and completed all excavation work to make major progress on Canada’s largest co-op housing renewal project. This is a joint venture with Intracorp, and the goal is to help address housing affordability challenges in major cities across the globe by delivering a greater supply of high-quality, professionally managed rental apartments. The Vancouver project will transform 54 deteriorating units into a modern, sustainability-oriented, three-tower complex, delivering 649 rental apartments, including 125 affordable co-op units, more than doubling the current allotment.

Elsewhere in Canada, Oxford acquired The Rimrock Resort Hotel in Banff in Alberta to be managed by leading hospitality group Accor, this investment grows Oxford’s western Canada resort hotel portfolio to over 2,500 rooms, making it the largest in the region. The Rimrock is an irreplaceable four-acre resort located on Sulphur Mountain. It boasts over 330 guestrooms, including 24 suites and extensive event space.

According to Oxford, The Rimrock has not received the appropriate investment and operational attention in recent years having previously been owned by an APAC-based hospitality group as its sole asset in Canada. Acquired via an off-market sale, Oxford was opportunistic in pursuing the Rimrock as a once-in-a-lifetime value add opportunity via renovation to transform the property. The Rimrock will undergo a comprehensive top to bottom renovation to restore its iconic status and enhance the guest experience via significant improvements in service and product. The hotel will continue to operate throughout the renovation period.

STRATEGIC TAKEAWAYS

➤ Completion of excavation for major Vancouver co-op housing venture

➤ Increase in REITs investments to exploit technology and demographic advancements

➤ Acquisition of major hotel resort in Alberta

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Country

South Korea

Overall AUM

€718,000m

Annual performance

-3.16%

National Pension Service (NPS) further diversified its portfolios by strategy and geography to retain stability in 2023. To protect against inflation, it made significant allocations in leading currencies to its core and core-plus portfolios. To complement investment returns, it invested €700m in value-added and €130m in infrastructure debt. In its Asia infrastructure portfolio, allocation to overseas assets increased from 37% at the start of the year to 46% at the end of the year. Such efforts led a return of 12.29% in global infrastructure investments, equivalent to €2.7bn. Elsewhere, NPS’s real estate team focused more on REITs programme and partnered FTSE Russell to develop a new index for non-core and niche sectors.

Judged by

David Hunt
Stephan Kloess
Stein Monsen
Howard Morgan

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