Principal Global Investors Australia chief executive Grant Forster said in a statement that gaining BT New Zealand and ACIRT as clients was “recognition of the expertise of Principal Global Investors in managing real estate securities”.
BT New Zealand head of investment solutions Matthew Goldsack added that BTNZ had chosen Principal after a global search for its “core investment approach and long-term track record of adding value”.
“The quality of its people and portfolio construction principals sets it apart from other managers.
“The Principal Global REIT Fund is an important component of BTNZ’s diversified fund strategy, and the appointment of Principal has allowed us to broaden our approach to the management of listed real estate assets, which adds real value to our products, for our customers, over time,” Mr Goldsack said.
The statement also said that Zenith Investment Partners had awarded Principal’s Global REIT Fund a “highly recommended” rating.
“Principal’s globally integrated approach has contributed to the fund’s strong peer relative performance in recent years, supporting Zenith’s increased conviction, leading to the award of the highest ranking,” Mr Forster said.
“This is a verification of the quality of our real global estate investment team as well as the investment philosophy of the fund.”
