Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa February 2015 | Page 44

TOP INVESTOR

The Commercial
Property Attacq

Mornè Wilken speaks about
Attacq’s success

Q: How did the listing of Attacq come about?
A: “Attacq is capital growth fund that started in 2005
and listed in October 2013. We wanted to achieve the
following three goals:
• Create a capital raising platform to fund Attacq’s
15 year development pipeline in Waterfall with a
total developable bulk of 1,7 million m²;
• Provide liquidity to shareholders. Since listing our
free float increase in excess of 60%, we currently
have in excess of 7 000 shareholders and Attacq
was included in the SAPY index; and
• Increase brand awareness.”
Q: What property assets are included in Attacq?
A: “We believe in sizeable properties in strong nodes.
Landmark properties include:
• 75 000m2 Lynnwood Bridge in Pretoria
• 23 000m2 Group 5 head office in Waterfall
• 44 200m2 Cell C campus in Waterfall

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Regional shopping centers:
Garden Route Mall in George
25% undivided share in Brooklyn Mall
Eikestad Mall Precinct in Stellenbosch
Mooiriver Mall in Potchefstroom.”

• Africa – good growth opportunities
• International – Rand hedge.”
Q: What insights can you share from your experience
working on the Waterfall property development?
A: “Waterfall is an infill development which will link
Johannesburg and Pretoria. It has excellent access via
the free flowing Allandale Interchange. We have the
opportunity to develop Waterfall City, which will be
anchored by the 130 000m regional Mall of Africa.
Waterfall City has the potential to become the new
CBD of Gauteng. It has an excellent location and a
number of corporates have decided to consolidate their
head offices there.”

Q: What has attributed to the success of Attacq?
A: “The entrepreneurial flair and the following five key
differentiators:
1. Quality property portfolio
2. Strong existing development pipeline
3. 15 year development pipeline in Waterfall
4. Strategic shareholding in Atterbury (a developer)
5. Diversification strategy
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Q: What opportunities do you foresee in the South
African REIT sector and the commercial property
investment industry in 2015?
A: “We are all facing a few challenges (i.e. power crisis,
potential downgrading of SA, slowdown in the
economy; both locally and internationally) but with
these risks comes opportunity. I believe there can be
some consolidation in the market and that Attacq is
ideally placed with its diversification strategy into
Africa and Europe to mitigate some of these risks.”

February 2015 SA Real Estate Investor

www.reimag.co.za