The new Aquis Real Asset Market is creating a platform through which investors will be able to buy and sell stakes in individual properties, infrastructure and land assets as well as larger portfolios.
ARAM and Acuitus are collaborating in bringing this innovation to the market and on the eve of the launch of its first asset prospectus, we spoke to the driving force behind its creation, Richard Croft.
Soundbites from Richard Croft:
“The need for real estate is absolute, but the way we use real estate is evolving all of the time. So how much better to have a market that can be liquid? ARAMis going to be liquid….you’ll be able to trade the shares on a daily basis….so you don’t have the massive frictional cost of trading real estate.”
“Technology now allows everybody to be able to do things on their phone or online. So the ability to access a market is much improved, and it’s information now which is key. So do we have the technology for people to trade things on their phone in seconds? Yes, that technology exists and is well-utilised, but the reason, in my opinion, that real estate isn’t working very well on the public markets, is just so little information. So we’re trying to create a market that is much more transparent, and everything is in one place, not lost in a tiny little sub sector of the London Stock Exchange.”
“I would like to see all types of assets on this market. There are people are going to be very keen on PRS which is one of the sectors that I want to see explode on this market.”
“The first IPO is the Scotch Corner Designer Village… it’s 80% prelet or under offer to brands like Tommy Hilfiger to Marks & Spencer, Adidas and Hugo Boss.”
Listen to the full podcast here:
