Botswana: Property Investment performance in Botswana launched

Investment Property Databank (IPD) released its prime-ever Botswana property performance statement in Gaborone today. The IPD Botswana Property Performance Statement for the year to December 2011 produced a total return of 20.9%. This figure represents the ungeared total return to due held standing property investments from one open market valuation to the next.

This return on Botswana property is comprised of a 10.8% gain return, coupled with 9.2% capital increase throughout the year. Headline inflation in Botswana over the same period, however, was as well 9.2% - meaning that increase in nominal terms was in fact stable, and highlights the importance of gain yields in the property market.

Retail and residential property investments outperformed offices, reflecting the impact of recent development activity in the office sector and the resulting pressure on rental levels in the short to medium term as new supply comes online.
The statement presents a fully-fledged indicator of results that will provide effective comparisons for market trends going forward, and is a significant step forward in the promotion of transparency in the Botswana property industry.

Keynote speaker at the launch is the Hon. Mr. Lebonaamang Mokalake, Minister of Lands & Housing, underscoring the Botswana government’s support of the initiative.
The IPD Botswana Property Performance Statement is based on a sample of 81 individual properties with a total price of just under P2 billion. The figures represent the combined holdings of six leading Botswana property investment portfolios: Botswana Insurance Fund Management Property Portfolio, Debswana Pension Fund, Letlole La Rona Limited, Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, Primetime Property Holdings Limited, and Turnstar Holdings Limited.

The statement is the result of a lot of months of collaboration between IPD SA and key partners in Botswana, namely: founding sponsor Botswana Insurance Fund Management (BIFM) and industry association Real Estate Institute of Botswana (REIB).
“The critical factor in an undertaking of this magnitude is finding the right partners, particularly in the property sector where local context and knowledge is paramount,” says IPD SA managing director Stan Garrun.

IPD is the leading world provider of real estate benchmarking services and Botswana is only the second African country to join the stable of property research provided in additional than 30 nations around the world. The prime African statement was for South Africa, launched in the mid-nineties.

BIFM, founded in 1975, is a all-owned subsidiary of Botswana Insurance Holdings Limited (BIHL), one of the top listed companies in Botswana. SA-based Sanlam holds a 54% stake in BIHL, with the balance owned by the Botswana public.
The fund today controls a P15-million portfolio of investments.

“With its roots firmly planted in Africa, and its experience in providing innovative solutions for dynamic wealth management in emerging markets, BIFM is committed to sharing its expertise and experience with stakeholders in other African nations, particularly those whose economies are undergoing similar transformations to Botswana,” says BIFM CEO Tiny Kgatlwane.
The statement is expected to pave a way forward for the opening of Botswana’s property investment sector to a range of new buyers, and provides an significant tool for local players.

“Players in both local and world property markets increasingly expect comparative, accurate and timely data” adds Garrun.
Offering an objective performance statement is a real competitive chance to a fund, and assists companies to improve their investment and management processes through the availability of credible data and research. The data over time helps investors and managers to take a disciplined approach to investment and portfolio risk management, and can facilitate cost reduction and increased efficiency of properties.

“This a historical event for the Botswana property market and the local investment community. IPD is privileged to be part of it.” Garrun concludes.