Retail is set to be the top performing sector in South African commercial property sector and, with 35% of its diversified investment portfolio comprising retail property, Emira Property Fund is in good shape to benefit from this trendin 2014.

The festive period is an important time for retailers but, with economic growth being relatively muted, James Templeton, CEO of Emira Property Fund, says the retailers and shopping malls are going to have to work hard for their share of increasingly cautious spending this festive season.

Listed property sector should be able to perform better next year than it did this year, even with the threat of interest rates rising.

It's been 10 years since SA REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) Emira Property Fund listed on the JSE on 28 November 2003.

Emira Property Fund has furthered its earnings-boosting participatory interest (PI) repurchase programme and optimised its cost of borrowings by taking advantage of low interest rates currently available in the money markets. 

Emira Property Fund successfully settled R400 million of three-month unsecured commercial paper (CP) and immediately issued R399 million of six-month unsecured CP and a new issue of R100 million three-month CP.

Emira’s participatory interest holders received a total return of 26.2% for the year, with a capital return of 17.3% and income return of 8,9%. 

Emira Property Fund’s Podium at Menlyn has been announced as the deserving winner of the Fulton Awards Innovative Construction Award.

South Africa’s listed property sector surged 8.2% during the week that ended on 28 June 2013, on the back of lower bond yields, a stronger Rand and some quarter-end window dressing.

Emira Property Fund has been granted REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) status by the JSE effective from today.