IFM, ISPT form global unlisted real estate JV

IFM Investors and Industry Super Property Trust (ISPT) have set up a new joint venture, International Property Funds Management (IPFM), that will specialise exclusively on managing international unlisted real estate on behalf of institutional investors.

IPFM CEO Tony McCormack said the 50/50 joint venture, which would formally launch in the third quarter of 2018, would initially provide Australian institutions with competitive risk-adjusted returns, driven by the “investor first” culture of its foundation partners.

“IPFM will provide institutional investors with a unique pathway into offshore real estate, premised on best-of-breed transaction execution and asset management, as well as a highly competitive fee model to ensure maximum benefits are passed back to investors,” McCormack said.

“IFM Investors and ISPT, each distinguished by an investor-owned structure and long-term investment approach, bring natural benefits to IPFM including an ability to leverage IFM Investors’ established global reach and ISPT’s property investment and asset management expertise.”

Initially, IPFM would target diversified property investments with a focus on core, income-producing assets. It would directly pursue both on-market and off-market opportunities, tapping into a large network of local market relationships across a focused short-list of target markets.

The IPFM team, led by McCormack, was currently establishing its first investment strategy, which would be a diversified pooled fund that would initially focus on core properties in pan-European gateway cities.