New business leading to shared benefits
EPG's affiliation with Avison Young tracks against its objectives to its clients and investors, plus an update on capital raising for its student platform alongside a growing property management portfolio
The teams at Eris Property Group (EPG) have been working hard on multiple strategic business fronts, allowing the company to track against its objectives to its clients and investors. Three recent noteworthy mentions include the company's affiliation with global real estate advisor, Avison Young, the significant capital raised for its student platform, SAISSA, as well as securing new property management and property facility contracts with clients Newpark, Edilcon Group and PPS.
Having recently announced a new affiliation agreement with Avison Young, EPG, can now offer additional services to its clients. Furthermore, the insight driven technology from Avison Young (AY) will strengthen all teams within Eris and help current and future projects for the company ― as AY utilises cutting edge technology and global intelligence platforms to provide insights to benefit the economy, environment, and the community.
Some of the additional services on offer for clients include Property & Facilities Management, Asset & Fund Management, Valuations, Retail Services and Property Development ― in addition to the existing occupier, advisory and agency services. These added business lines build on the existing Avison Young South Africa business, which launched in June 2021. The South African affiliate will continue to be led by Avison Young Principal Mark Latham, who is joined by Eris' Head of Corporate Real Estate Solutions, Debbie Bands, as Co-Head and Principal.
Clients will also benefit from an expanded geographical footprint with offices in Ghana, Botswana, Malawi and Mauritius, in addition to offices in Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town and Bloemfontein in South Africa. As a Level One BBB-EE contributor, Eris has an extensive track record of delivering services across many countries in the sub-Saharan African region.
"A good partnership leads to shared benefit," says Barend de Loor, CEO of Eris Property Group. "Avison Young will provide Eris with access to the latest property trends and information on a global platform and meets our strategic intent to diversify our business geographically. Eris in turn will offer Avison Young's diverse client base access to the African continent and its growth opportunities. We are extremely excited at the prospect of what our partnership will deliver," he continues.
One of these divisions in Eris that deserves a noteworthy mention is the team heading up its social impact student accommodation company, South African Student Accommodation Impact Investments (SASAII) - and more specifically, the additional R400m they have recently raised for the fund. This platform aims to develop and operate affordable, purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) in South Africa with a sense of community and connection. The R400m raised will increase the committed capital to over R1.2 billion, as SASAII aims to provide 5 000+ beds for students by 2024. Given the increasingly urgent need for quality student accommodation around the country, the aim of the platform is to add more beds to boost supply.
Eris' dynamic approach to private student accommodation will endeavour to commit to projects that house a minimum of 75% of the beds at the NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme) rate, ensuring that students are receiving Wi-Fi, water, electricity, laundry as an all-inclusive rental over and above the norms and standards as prescribed by The Department of Higher Education and Training. All SASAII assets will qualify for globally recognised sustainable design certification and all buildings will achieve IFC Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) certification or a similar green building qualification, such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).
"By providing safe and accessible accommodation, we give students the opportunity to fulfil their potential as future leaders," says Vuyani Bekwa, Executive Head of Investments and Fund Management at EPG. "That's what this investment is all about - and our aim is to provide as many quality beds as possible," he adds. The first investment ― Units on Park in Hatfield, Pretoria ― was a 998-bed student accommodation property, developed and managed by Eris Property Group. New projects under construction include Units on Jorissen in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, with 1, 071 beds, and Units on Cape Station in Cape Town CBD with 3, 085 beds. Both projects will open in the 2024 academic year.
Concluding our update with a noteworthy mention is the Property Management division. The team has been actively engaged in growing its client portfolio with the newly acquired contracts with Newpark, Edilcon Group and PPS. Eris offers a comprehensive and methodical approach to addressing the requirements of both tenants and landlords for property and facility management solutions, this being one of the primary reasons landlords such as Newpark, Edilcon Group and PPS have entrusted Eris with the property and facility management contracts of their properties.
As part of our service to new clients Newpark, Edilcon and PPS each building will have a customized reporting solution that includes property performance, budgeting, financial management, and advanced property reporting that unlock value for the individual properties with our Prop-tech-based solutions.
Technology is evolving at a rapid pace therefore Eris continues to expand on its Prop-tech systems, exploring ways it can help to optimise its business and benefit clients. Our solutions are developed and tailored with the end user in mind. Each solution being customised to the business or project needs.
Peter Stainton, Executive Head of Property Management at Eris Property Group, noted, "we are eager to deliver exceptional service to our new clients as they were quite specific in what they required for a property solution, and we are very pleased to offer them a solution that truly meets their needs. It is particularly important for us to understand and satisfy our client's goals so that they, in turn, can increase long-term value while ensuring maximum operating efficiency."
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