Q1 2016 Fundraising Update Pension fund commitments to managed real estate vehicles
Q1 commitments up from Q4, in line with Q1 15 Public pensions have committed $11.8 billion to real estate managers thus far in 2016, a figure consistent with Q1 2015 and up from Q4 Commitments to real estate managers by U.S.-based public pensions through Q1 2016 are consistent with the same period in 2015, according to data tracked by FPL Consulting. Per FPL s proprietary database, pensions committed $11.8 billion to managed real estate vehicles through Q1, compared to $12.0 billion over the same period last year and $8.2 billion in Q1 2014. The Q1 figure represents a considerable increase from the fourth quarter total of $8.2 billion, when capital commitments cooled off after three strong quarters to begin the year. Commitments to real estate managers (thru Q1) $B 8.2 12.0 11.8 2014 2015 2016 Investment Strategy and Vehicle Structure High-yield (i.e. value-add and opportunistic) strategies continue to be in favor with investors thus far in 2016, making up about two-thirds of commitment dollars YTD. That said, the first quarter of 2016 also saw institutional investors favor core-plus strategies (24) over more traditional core vehicles (9), moving slightly up the risk curve to target returns that typically range between nine and 12 percent. The growing prevalence of core-plus funds in market speaks to investors continued search for yield in a low interest rate environment without taking on significant levels of risk. Commitments by investment strategy 39 42 25 25 29 24 Core Core-plus Value-add Opportunistic With respect to vehicle type, the landscape of commitments shifted slightly in the first quarter. While closed-end commingled funds have remained popular in 2016, representing 47 percent of commitments YTD, commitments to open-end funds increased to 19 percent YTD versus 13 percent for full year 2015 and 10 percent in 2014. Commitments by vehicle type 38 34 13 19 50 47 While direct equity strategies continue to attract the lion s share of commitments, debt focused vehicles made up 16 percent of commitments this quarter, up from 10 percent in 2015. Closed-end commingled Open-end commingled Separate account
Property Type Vehicles dedicated to a single property type have attracted 10 percent of commitment dollars so far in 2016, a figure well below the totals from 2015 (26) and 2014 (41). Among these vehicles, commitments with a multifamily or industrial focus were the most prevalent, representing 43 and 31 percent respectively of commitment dollars. Commitments to retail focused vehicles decreased from 10 percent in 2015 to two percent YTD, while office focused vehicles also saw a decline from eight percent in 2015 to four percent so far in 2016. Breakdown of commitments by property type (among property-specific vehicles) 2016 YTD 2015 Office 43 40 Multifamily Industrial Other 4 8 Retail 31 24 20 10 19 Geography Breakdown of commitments by geography 72 North America Global 6 8 6 6 14 25 28 65 64 2014 Europe Asia Latin America The majority of commitment capital (64) from domestic public pensions continues to flow to vehicles focused on North America. That said, global strategies also maintained traction with institutional investors, accounting for 28 of commitment volume in Q1 2016, driven by a prevalence of global, opportunistic mega-funds in market. European focused strategies have attracted about six percent of commitments YTD. Asian vehicles, meanwhile, have attracted 0.2 percent of commitments in Q1, continuing a downward trend from 2013, when eight percent of commitments went to funds investing in Asia. Average Commitment Size The average commitment size thus far in 2016 is $109 million, which is slightly up from the 2015 average of $98 million. As one would expect, the average commitment to separate accounts is considerably higher at $187 million. It s important to note that this metric includes both newly formed separate accounts (which tend to be larger commitments), as well as follow-on commitments to existing separate account vehicles (which are often smaller). Average commitment size (overall and by vehicle type) Overall Closed-end funds Open-end funds Separate accounts 109 90 108 187 $mm
Manager Concentration Over the last few years, the industry s prominent managers have attracted a disproportionate share of commitment volume, underscoring the bifurcation between haves and have nots. So far in 2016, the top 5 firms (by aggregate fundraising dollars over the period) represent 45 percent of volume YTD, while the top 20 represent 83 percent. It is important to keep in mind that these concentration metrics tend to decline over the course of the year. For reference, in Q1 of last year, the top 20 firms accounted for 81 percent of commitment dollars. Concentration of commitments All All others All others 17 All others Firms 11-20 44 20 Firms 6-10 Firms 11-20 18 14 Firms 6-10 11 Top 5 firms Top 5 firms 45 31 Vertical Integration Commitments to vertically integrated managers 20 19 Commingled funds JV/Separate accounts Vertically integrated managers attracted 19 percent of commitment capital in 2016, down slightly from about 20 percent in 2015. The decrease was more apparent among separate accounts; in 2015, 44 percent of capital committed to single investor vehicles went to vertically integrated managers versus only 12 percent in Q1 2016. Among the major investment strategies, core-plus and value-add mandates are the most likely to be committed to vertically integrated managers, with 27 and 24 percent of commitments made to coreplus and value-add strategies, respectively, flowing to vertically integrated managers in 2016. Contact For more information, please contact: Timothy Kessler Principal tkessler@fplassociates.com
FPL ADVISORY GROUP FERGUSON PARTNERS FPL ASSOCIATES FPL CONSULTING Executive Search Chairmen/ Chief Executive Officers/ Presidents Board of Directors/Trustees Senior Management/ Corporate Infrastructure Compensation Benchmarking Program Design Contractual & Policy Arrangements Surveys Management Consulting Strategic Planning Organizational Design Corporate Finance Succession Planning & Leadership Specialized Research Ferguson Partners FPL Associates FPL Consulting About FPL Advisory Group FPL Advisory Group ( FPL ) is a global professional services firm that specializes in providing executive search, compensation, and management consulting solutions to a select group of related industries. Our committed senior partners bring a wealth of expertise and category-specific knowledge to leaders across the real estate, hospitality and leisure, and healthcare sectors. FPL is comprised of three primary operating companies that work together to serve a common client base. Ferguson Partners Ltd. provides executive and director recruitment, succession planning, and board assessment services, FPL Associates provides compensation consulting services, and FPL Consulting provides a range of organizational, financial and strategic consulting services. FPL is headquartered in Chicago, with offices in New York, London, Hong Kong, San Francisco, Singapore, Tokyo, and Toronto. From Chicago, Hong Kong, London, New York, San Francisco, Singapore, Tokyo, and Toronto, we serve clients across the globe. Our Industry Practices FPL serves clients in a select group of related sectors: Real Estate Investment Managers, Public & Private Owners/Developers, Service Firms, Commercial Mortgage Investment/Finance, Residential Mortgage Investment/Finance, Homebuilders, Engineering/Construction/Infrastructure Hospitality & Leisure Lodging, Gaming Resorts & Casinos, Restaurants & Cafes, Sports & Recreation, Amusement Parks & Attractions Healthcare Healthcare Services Firms, Seniors Housing and Skilled Nursing Owners/Operators, Hospitals, Non-Profit, Faith-Based, Clinic Based, and For-Profit Healthcare Systems, Academic Medical Centers, Managed Care Companies, Healthcare Management Consulting, Business and Technology and Start-up Companies CHICAGO HONG KONG LONDON NEW YORK SAN FRANCISCO SINGAPORE TOKYO TORONTO www.fpladvisorygroup.com The Ferguson Partners recruitment practice consists of five affiliated entities serving FPL s clients around the world: Ferguson Partners Ltd. headquartered in Chicago with other locations in New York and San Francisco, Ferguson Partners Canada Co. in Toronto, Ferguson Partners Europe Ltd. headquartered in London with a Japan branch located in Tokyo, Ferguson Partners Hong Kong Ltd. in Hong Kong, and Ferguson Partners Singapore Pte. Ltd. in Singapore. Ferguson Partners Europe Ltd. is registered in England and Wales, No. 4232444, Registered Office: 100 New Bridge Street, London, EC4V 6JA. Ferguson Partners Singapore Pte. Ltd. is registered in Singapore, Business Registration No. (UEN) 201215619H, Employment Agency License No. 12S6233. FPL Associates L.P., the entity which provides consulting services to FPL s clients, is headquartered in Chicago.