The Retail Fund has a clearly defined strategy based on the three pillars of quality, future-driven and sustainability. The execution of that strategy has resulted in a high-quality portfolio that has time and again proved resilient in the face of economic and social developments over the past decade. This is evidenced by the Fund’s returns and the consistent outperformance of the MSCI index over the past four years. Given this, the Fund is confident that it will emerge from the current storms in good shape.

However, given the level of uncertainty in the market and a looming recession, it is difficult to predict what will happen in the retail sector the near term. Nonetheless, the Fund does expect there to be opportunities. Less committed, less long-term investors or invests that rely heavily on leverage may withdraw from the market and we could well see high-quality assets coming to the market at discounted prices. Provided it has the funding, the Fund will seize those opportunities to optimise its portfolio. In the coming years, the Fund expects to provide investors with a total annual net return of between minus 1.7% and plus 6.9%.

Bouwinvest believes that it can only generate long-term stable financial returns for its investors if it takes the societal impact into account in every decision it takes. The Fund’s focus is on the city of the future and it aims to create real value for life by investing for the long term in a responsible manner.

The Retail Fund wants to identify and help create experience and convenience shopping destinations that are fit-for-purpose today and that will remain so long into the future. In addition, it aims to reduce the environmental impact of its portfolio, striving for a net-zero carbon, nearly energy-neutral and climate-resilient Paris Proof portfolio before 2045.

Amsterdam, 27 March 2023

Bouwinvest Real Estate Investors B.V.

Mark Siezen, Chief Executive Officer and Statutory Director
Rianne Vedder, Chief Financial & Risk Officer and Statutory Director
Marleen Bosma, Chief Client Officer
Allard van Spaandonk, Chief Investment Officer Dutch Investments
Stephen Tross, Chief Investment Officer International Investment