The abrdn European Balanced Property Fund tops chart again for green real estate credentials

The abrdn European Balanced Property Fund has been awarded a 5 Star status in the 2023 Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB), its highest rating, achieving first place in its peer group of seven diversified (office/industrial) core Funds investing across Western Europe. 

GRESB assessments and benchmarks are used to evaluate ESG performance in a standardised framework. The assessments are guided by what investors and the industry consider to be material issues in the sustainability performance of real asset investments, aligned with international reporting frameworks, including the Paris Climate Agreement, UN SDGs, plus region- and country-specific guidelines and regulations. GRESB measures a fund’s sustainability performance, awarding stars for best practice.

The abrdn European Balanced Property Fund has consistently achieved 5 star status year on year, and for the second year running has achieved first place in its peer group of seven diversified (office/industrial) core Funds investing across Western Europe, with a score of 91 points for 2023. 

Gert-Jan Kapiteyn, Fund manager, commented:

“We are delighted to retain our 5 star GRESB status for 2023 and extremely proud to secure first place within our GRESB peer-group for the second year running. The team continues to work extremely hard to ensure the Fund has a market leading ESG strategy which ensures we are very well positioned to meet our future ESG targets.”

This proactive ESG strategy, which has contributed to the GRESB score, has driven the following initiatives and achievements:

All 26 abrdn Funds submitted to the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) in 2023 have achieved ‘Green Star’ status, reflecting the continued success of ESG integration into its portfolio strategy. European Balanced is one of six abrdn funds to be awarded Five Star status, placing them in the top 20% of their peers. 

Anne Breen, Global Head of Real Estate, commented:

“As an industry we have a huge responsibility to decarbonise our portfolios and enhance their ESG credentials – in order to make a positive impact and to do the right thing for our clients. Our strong performance in the latest GRESB benchmark reflects the success of our approach to integrating ESG at all stages of our investment process, to minimise our exposure to ESG risk and take advantage of all available opportunities.”

Ends

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The following risk factors apply specifically to this Fund. These are in addition to the generic risks of investing. A full list of the risks applicable to this Fund can be found in the Prospectus which is available on the website or upon request.

Investors should be aware of the following risk factors:

· Commercial property is less liquid than other asset classes such as bonds or equities. Selling property can be a lengthy process so investors in the fund should be aware that they may not be able to sell their investment when they want to.

· Commercial property transaction charges are higher than those which apply in other asset classes. Investors should be aware that a high volume of transactions would have a material impact on fund returns.

· Property valuation is a matter of judgement by an independent valuer and is therefore a matter of the valuer’s opinion rather than fact.

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Real estate is a relatively illiquid asset class, the valuation of which is a matter of opinion. There is no recognised market for property and there can be delays in realising the value of assets.
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