Real Asset Insight #6 June 2020

Insight & Strategy - Healthcare & Senior Housing
New Association launched for
healthcare and senior housing
Organisation to bring togther investors, operators and stakeholders. Nicol Dynes reports
A
virtual unveiling for an innovative,
ambitious and much-needed
‘real’ project: the Senior Housing
and Healthcare Association (SHHA),
established by Real Asset Media, HEVO
and the Amsterdam School of Real Estate,
was launched at the beginning of June.
‘Healthcare is becoming a mature asset
class, driven by ageing demographics
throughout Europe,’ said Ron van Bloois,
partner at HEVO, at the launch. ‘Now the
Covid-19 crisis has made everyone realise
the importance of having a professional,
well-run healthcare sector.’
Over-65-year-olds now comprise 20% of
the population, but that percentage is set
to increase to 30% by 2060.
‘Investors have been switching to
alternative asset classes for a while now,
looking for volume and diversification
but above all for long-term cash flows
and yields,’ said van Bloois. ‘Healthcare
offers all that, plus the fact that is it not
influenced by political trends or economic
cycles. It also ticks the impact investing
box, as it has a positive impact on elderly
people’s quality of life and is in line with
ESG and SDG criteria.’
RISING NUMBER OF INVESTORS
Investment volumes and deal flows have
been increasing in Europe, with the
involvement of a rising number of serious
investors with a significant track record,
and ticket sizes have been increasing both
for single asset and portfolio deals. One
recent example is Aedifica’s acquisition of
a healthcare real estate portfolio in the UK
for £450m.
As public awareness, general interest
and investor demand grow, the need has
emerged for a better knowledge of, and
communication within, the sector.
SHHA aims to highlight, promote and
encourage the senior housing and
healthcare real estate investment markets
by bringing together investors, operators
and stakeholders from across the industry
to network and share best practice,
research and insights.
‘The Association has been founded to bring
together all stakeholders with a shared
purpose and create a future-proof local,
European and global system,’ added van
Bloois. ‘We need unbiased, independent
data and benchmarks which are now
lacking, as well as clear terminology.’
The data will be collated anonymously
by the Amsterdam School of Real Estate,
whose experts will also undertake the
research projects.
‘Sharing knowledge is key, there is so
much we can learn from each other,’ said
van Bloois. ‘To begin with we’ll focus
on Europe, but in one or two years my
ambition is to create a bridge across to
Asia and the US to make the Association
truly global.’
‘We need unbiased, independent data
and benchmarks which are now lacking,
as well as clear terminology.’
Ron van Bloois, HEVO
As well as creating benchmarks, collecting
data and producing independent research,
the Association will organise an annual
conference and other networking events
and there will also be a chat function on
the website to encourage communication
and the exchange of ideas and provide a
voice for the sector.
A dedicated publication that will share
insights, best practice, and promote
the sector to a global audience will be
distributed alongside Real Asset Insight
magazine and there will also be a range of
publications and research papers available.
Along with Real Asset Media, HEVO
and the Amsterdam School of Real
Estate, the founding partners of SHHA
are Bouwinvest, CBRE, Aedifica,
Cofinimmo, Korian, Syntrus, Mozaic Asset
Management, Triginta and Care Property
Invest. Companies large and small, as well
as interested individuals, are welcome to
join the Association.
www.SHHA.international
Issue 2 July 2020 | Real Asset Insight 53