The International Property Securities Exchange (“IPSX”), which will be the first regulated exchange dedicated to the admission and trading of securities in commercial real estate assets, has announced that M7 Real Estate (“M7”) have invested in the current IPSX funding round; the terms of their involvement remain undisclosed.
Formed in 2009, M7 manages more than 600 retail, office and industrial assets comprising over 43 million sq ft with a value of circa €2.3 billion. The company is one of the top specialists in the pan-European, regional, multi-let real estate market and focuses primarily on regional business parks, retail parks, convenience retail parades and light industrial estates.
The commitment from M7 is the latest in the series of investments in the exchange by leaders in the commercial real estate industry over the last four months, which has included British Land and four partners of Tritax Group. M7’s significant European presence and established links to Asian markets highlight the interest investors and asset managers outside the UK have in the IPSX proposition.
Commenting on the announcement, Anthony Gahan, Chairman of IPSX, said: “M7 is an established pan-European business and their support shows that those at the forefront of the industry are backing the transition to more agile and innovative methods of property investment. Ongoing conversations with issuers, brokers and agents continue to be positive as IPSX move toward our expected launch in 2017.”
Richard Croft, CEO of M7, added: “As an investor and asset manager, we recognise the value IPSX’s flexible, liquid market will add to the commercial property sector. There is strong demand from equity investors for higher yielding assets and the launch of IPSX next year will provide a significant new regulated market opportunity going forward.”