The Swiss Finance & Property Group (SFP Group) held its 15th SFP Swiss Real Estate Funds Day on 1st February 2024 in Geneva and 2 February 2024 in Zurich. A total of just under 230 visitors took part in the event. In addition to traditional topics and financial matters, one particular focus this year was on innovative and sustainable aspects of real estate management.
After Adrian Murer (CEO of the SFP Group) welcomed the participants and gave an introductory speech, Nicolas Di Maggio (CEO of Swiss Finance & Property Ltd) provided a macroeconomic overview of the Swiss indirect real estate investment market.
This year's speakers covered a wide range of topics. Marcin Paszkowski, Fund Manager at UBS Fund Management AG, used the example of UBS "Anfos" to explain to us how to maintain foresight when making portfolio decisions in turbulent times and what the earnings prospects are likely to look like in the future. Alfonso Tedeschi, Fund Manager Real Estate at Helvetia Asset Management AG, convinced us with his analogy to the "Brave New (Real Estate) World" that the “supercycle” may be over in terms of ever higher prices, but not in terms of investment opportunities.
The second part of the talks concentrated on the volatile economic and geopolitical situation. Bruno Kurz, CEO of SF Urban Properties AG, presented possible portfolio strategies in a changed market environment. Ramona Spirig, Real Estate Portfolio Manager, and Björn Kernen, Head Portfolio Management Real Estate at Zurich Invest Ltd, picked up on this thread and highlighted the challenges and opportunities in the Swiss residential property market with impressive examples. Sustainability also had a firm place in the discourse: Urs Frey, Head Swiss Real Estate Funds, and Ulrich Braun, Managing Director Global Real Estate at Credit Suisse, gave a detailed overview of sustainable investing using the example of the CS Real Estate Fund Green Property.
Finally, keynote speakers Prof Dr Thomas Zurbuchen, Head of ETH Space, and Gaetan Petit, Founder of askEarth and Space4Impact, took us into space. While Gaetan Petit enthralled his audience in Geneva on Thursday with images of the Earth from space and measures to eliminate space waste, Prof Dr Thomas Zurbuchen struck a nerve with the Mars Rover missions and the James Webb Telescope that he accompanies.
The whole event was moderated by Sarah Lenz, the SFP Group's Media and Communications Manager.
The speakers' presentations can be requested on info@sfp.ch.
The next SFP Swiss Real Estate Funds Day is scheduled to be held on Thursday, 30 January 2025 in Geneva and Friday, 31 January 2025 in Zurich.