DGAP-Media / 16.03.2017 / 09:29 Uncertainty dominates the property markets in 2017. Real estate nevertheless becomes the preferred asset class of investors, ahead of bonds and equities. A lack of alternatives leads to a gradual increase in the willingness to engage in riskier projects. The study Professionals' Real Estate Investment Report by VERIANOS has compared the major EU economies (UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain) with the US, Japan, China and Australia on an annual basis since 2012. In this year 160 real estate and finance experts mainly from Germany and the UK participated in the study. This edition of the study was conducted in cooperation with IntReal. In summary, the results show a rather pessimistic outlook. Only Germany and the US are viewed as "safe havens". All analysed markets are seen less positive than in the previous survey. The appraisal of the UK has shifted dramatically compared to the positive trend of previous years. 69.3% of respondents see a negative growth outlook for the country and 51.4% recommend reducing holdings in UK property. For the first time in the history of this study a dent in the growth expectations for China can be observed. A turnaround compared to previous years is that real estate is now seen as the most promising asset class for future investments. In all previous years bonds and equities were ranked much higher by participants. Looking for yields, the willingness to accept risks is on the rise. 54% of respondents recommend to invest in core+ assets, for value add assets this figure increases to 57%. Still 40% of participants seek to consider opportunistic investments more actively. Logistics, residential and alternatives (e.g. hotels, nursing homes, student housing) are the preferred market segments for this year. VERIANOS Research interprets this mainly as a catch-up effect against the background of the ever increasing shortage of suitable supply in the more traditional segments office and residential. While debt funds have been widely discussed for many years, the results of the Professionals' Real Estate Investment Report reveal that there is little practical experience with this product group. More than three quarters of respondents did not have previous professional experience with debt funds. Opportunities are seen for those funds that are able to flexibly finance complex projects and can match the requirements of a property industry dominated by SMEs. Contact: --------------------------------------------------------- Further information on VERIANOS Real Estate Aktiengesellschaft are available on www.verianos.com. This publication constitutes neither an offer to sell nor an invitation to make an offer to buy securities. IR contact: VERIANOS Real Estate Aktiengesellschaft Investor Relations Christian Bähringer, esq. Bethmannstraße 56 60311 Frankfurt am Main Germany T +49 69 69 768 88 0 F +49 69 69 768 88 9 Mail: [email protected] Company contact: VERIANOS Real Estate Aktiengesellschaft Gürzenichstraße 21 50667 Köln Germany T +49 221 200 46 100 F +49 221 200 46 140 Mail: [email protected] End of Media Release --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Issuer: VERIANOS Real Estate Aktiengesellschaft Key word(s): Real estate 16.03.2017 Dissemination of a Press Release, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: VERIANOS Real Estate Aktiengesellschaft Gürzenichstraße 21 50667 Köln Germany Phone: 0049 221 20046 100 Fax: 0049 221 20046 140 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.verianos.com ISIN: DE000A0Z2Y48 WKN: A0Z2Y4 Listed: Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Stuttgart; Open Market (Basic Board) in Frankfurt End of News DGAP Media --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 554337 16.03.2017