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Manulife Investment Management Launches Shariah Global REIT Fund in Brunei through an Exclusive Distribution Arrangement with BIBD Securities

Singapore – Manulife Investment Management announced the launch of Manulife Shariah Global REIT Fund (the ‘Fund’) in Brunei in partnership with BIBD Securities Sdn Bhd (BIBDS) – a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD), the country’s largest bank and flagship full-service Islamic financial institution. The Fund will be exclusively distributed by BIBDS for two years.

The Fund invests in Shariah-compliant real estate investment opportunities from across the globe, providing investors in Brunei with potential long-term income and total return from real estate and infrastructure investments1. It focuses on REIT investment opportunities derived from three key macro growth trends2, namely:

  1. New economy – Increase in demand for specialized and industrial REITs, such as data centers, telecommunication cell towers, logistics and warehouses, as growth and adoption of digital technologies including artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, self-driving cars, e-commerce continues.
  2. Aging population – The increasing number of elders globally will see increase in demand for healthcare REITs, such as medical centers, retirement homes.
  3. Moderating economic growth and pricing power – With global growth expected to moderate, REITs of industries that have pricing power over their products and services due to high demand could potentially perform well. These include data centers, industrial healthcare and tower REITs.

HuiJian Koh, Chief Executive Officer, Manulife Investment Management Singapore said “We are excited to partner exclusively with BIBDS and BIBD in offering the Manulife Shariah Global REIT Fund to investors in Brunei. As the leading financial institution serving nearly half of the country’s population, BIBD allows us to access a wide range of retail and sophisticated investors, offering them a differentiated investment product that meets their investment and personal preferences. In today’s challenging macroeconomic climate, customers are searching for ways to broaden their income sources in growing and preserving their wealth. While real estate has historically delivered reliable returns and asset appreciation, investing only in bricks and mortar may restrict the variety of real estate assets and potential returns available to investors. We are pleased to offer BIBD’s customers the Manulife Shariah Global REIT Fund, which expands their access to a broader spectrum of real estate investments, including large-scale infrastructure projects that are typically beyond the reach of individual investors.”

Jason Wong, Managing Director, BIBD Securities said “We are pleased to be the exclusive distribution partner of the Manulife Shariah Global REIT Fund.  This partnership reflects our commitment to providing innovative Shariah compliant investment solutions to our clients. The Manulife Shariah Global REIT fund offers unique opportunities for investors seeking to diversify their portfolio into globally diversified, Shariah-compliant real estate assets. We believe this fund will resonate well with our clients' values and financial goals.”

Over the past 20 years, global REITs have outperformed the broader equity market across different economic environments.3 It has typically outperformed global equities during periods of high inflation4, and has delivered strong performance during declining interest rate environments.5

In addition, Shariah REITs have also delivered higher total return than conventional REITs, partly attributed to the Shariah screening requirements that limit the companies’ debt-to-equity ratio to 33%. As of March 31, 2024, Shariah Global REITs has generated annualized total return of 9.47% while Global REITs recorded annualized return of 7.47%.6

On outlook for the Global REITs market, Koh, said: “At the moment, we are positive about REITs in the US, Singapore, and Australia. These markets offer favorable valuations relative to other regions along with attractive distribution yields. Economic activity is moderating but real estate fundamentals remain supportive for earnings growth. We believe the risk of recession is relatively low at the current time and are now potentially entering an environment where central banks can begin to lower interest rates.  In addition, we are seeing stable to increased distribution rates in US and Australia.” 

“We are cautious about the UK and Hong Kong markets. While valuations in the UK look attractive, potential for weaker economic growth will impact overall economy and real estate fundamentals. In Hong Kong, there are concerns about the economic growth prospects from China, and distribution yields have been under pressure due to rising financial costs,” Koh concluded.

The Fund is designed for investors who wish to have investment exposure through a diversified portfolio of Islamic REITs globally, seek regular income and potential capital appreciation over the medium to long-term, and prefer Shariah-compliant investments. As of 31 December 2023, the annualised distribution yield for the Fund was 5.3%.

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1 Where a unit split/distribution is declared, investors are advised that following the issue of additional units/distribution, the NAV per unit will be reduced from the pre-unit split NAV/cum-distribution NAV to post-unit split NAV/ex-distribution NAV; and where a unit split is declared, the value of your investment in the Fund’s denominated currency will remained unchanged after the distribution of the additional units

2 This thesis reflects the views of the portfolio managers through 31 March 2024. The managers’ views are subject to change as market and other conditions warrant. No forecasts are guaranteed. These views are provided for informational purposes only and are not an endorsement of any security, mutual fund, sector, or index

3 Source: eVestment, as of 31 Dec 2023

4 Source: Federal Reserve of Economic Data, eVestment, as of 31 Dec 2023.

5 Source: As of 30 June 2024. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. TheIdealRatings Global REITs Islamic Select Malaysia Index incepted January 4, 2010. The benchmark of the Fund is IdealRatings Global REITs Islamic Select Malaysia Index and it is used as a reference for investment performance comparison purpose. The Fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by IdealRatings or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates (“IdealRatings”). IdealRatings make no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the Manager or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Fund particularly or the ability of IdealRatings Global REITs Islamic Select Malaysia Index (the “Index”) to track general market performance. IdealRatings’ only relationship to the Fund and the Manager is the licensing of the Index, which is determined, composed and calculated by IdealRatings or its licensors without regard to the Manager or the Fund. IdealRatings has no obligation to take the needs of the Manager or the owner of the Fund into consideration in connection with the foregoing. IdealRatings is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of the Fund to be issued or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Fund is to be converted into cash. IdealRatings has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Fund

6 Source: Morningstar & IdealRatings, as of 31 March 2024. The IdealRatings Global REITs Islamic Select Malaysia Index incepted 4 Jan 2010.