MA Financial Group

In an interview with ausbiz’s Juliette Saly our Head of Real Estate Credit Drew Bowie discussed the highly complex issue that is Australia’s housing supply crunch, offering views into why improving efficiencies and processes at the government-level is key to delivering more homes for more people. Drew also discussed our recently announced $1 billion+ real estate credit vehicle with Warburg Pincus LLC – one of the world’s most successful real estate managers – where we aim to help close the funding gap in the undersupplied housing market by originating and managing credit facilities for high-quality real estate developers and projects. Drew talked about the continued rising demand from investors for private credit and why it’s set to continue. He explained why manager selection in this asset class is key, and the importance of manager transparency, due diligence and experience through cycles. When it comes to real estate credit and downside protection, Drew explained the security of the first-ranking mortgage.  https://lnkd.in/gW_egwre

We were proud to welcome AustCham Hong Kong (Australian Chamber of Commerce) to our Sydney office last Friday for a dynamic business roundtable. The discussion offered valuable insights into the evolving business environment in Hong Kong, highlighting key areas such as: ◼ The Australia-Hong Kong business relationship ◼ Hong Kong’s role as a gateway to China and the world ◼ Perceptions and support for international business in Hong Kong ◼ The risks and realities of operating in the region ◼ Government policies driving economic growth and recovery. It was an honour to hear from Josephine Orgill, AustCham Chair & Director, HFL Advisors, Stefanie Evennett, AustCham Chief Executive, Lei Yu (于蕾) Asia & Regional Head of Distribution at QBE Hongkong & Shanghai Insurance Ltd, Charlie Butcher, Head of Group Public Affairs at HSBC and Damien Ryan, Senior Advisor at Teneo. Thank you to all participants for a great discussion. 

We are proud to announce our Real Estate Credit team led by Drew Bowie and Cathy Houston have been shortlisted as a Finalist for The Urban Developer’s inaugural Urban Leader Awards 2024 in the Finance category. Congratulations Drew, Cathy and team, and to all those nominated in the category that recognises those responsible for the funding of projects demonstrating excellence in the built environment. It’s a big couple of weeks for the team with their investment funds – the MA Secured Loan Series and MA Secured Real Estate Income Fund – nominated as finalists in the private debt/credit fund category at the recent Financial Newswire/SQM Research Fund Manager of the Year Awards 2024, and the MA Secured Loan Series also nominated at the upcoming Hedge Funds Rock Awards.

Our Real Estate Credit team led by Drew Bowie was very proud to finance a beautiful project in Sydney’s Surry Hills by developer MNi Group and Director Aaron Milligan transforming an 1880s heritage terrace on South Dowling Street and integrating modern office spaces while preserving its historic façade.   The building was designed by leading architect William Smart and includes an innovative Australian-first façade featuring custom-engineered glass panels and zinc fins, which span from floor-to-floor and create a dynamic visual as you pass by.   Reflecting on the collaboration, Drew said “MA has a huge appetite to support projects of enduring value. We recognise that cycles will go up and cycles will go down. But those that have enduring value will withstand those cycles. This is one of those projects.” Aaron delivered the project despite immense challenges, including COVID-19 disruptions, heavy rainfall, rising interest rates, increased construction costs and a change of builder. On the partnership with MA Financial he said “I love the personal approach. I don’t like to think about banks as institutions. I like to think about it as the individual on the other end of the phone.”   Congratulations Aaron, MNi Group and William on delivering this remarkable project. #architecture #commercialdevelopment #realestate #construction #investing #heritagepreservation #MAFinancial

At MA Financial we are constantly combing the real estate sector – both operational and core real estate assets where we have deep expertise – looking for anomalies that support outsized returns for risk.   In an article recently published by Financial Standard, our Joint CEO Julian Biggins explains why we think now is the time to increase allocations to real estate and position portfolios to capitalise on a once-in-a-cycle buying opportunity.

We are very proud to announce our flagship private credit fund, the MA Priority Income Fund, has been upgraded to ‘Highly Recommended’ by BondAdviser – their highest possible commendation.   BondAdviser cited their increased and ongoing conviction in the strategy highlighting key aspects including the Fund’s unbroken track record of performance, unique and highly aligned structure, as well as the investment team’s expert ability to price risk which they view as not only a competitive advantage, but best in class.   "With our underlying comfort in the strategy since inception over five years ago, the general expectation that the Fund continues to deliver on its target return, and our view that both the Fund's structure and processes being best in class, we upgrade the Product Assessment to our top-tier rating of Highly Recommended."   https://lnkd.in/g79nNg7Z

The 2024 Sydney Contemporary Art Fair was a tremendous success. As Principal Partner, we were proud to host over 2,000 guests at eight feature events throughout the Fair, celebrating the vibrancy of contemporary art. This year we kicked off with something special: curators, gallerists, and collectors were invited to explore our MA Financial art collection in our Sydney office – a first for us. A highlight of the lead-up was our Head of Asset Management Andrew Martin proudly presenting the 2024 MA Art Prize to the highly talented First Nations artist Alfred Lowe. At the Fair itself, the MA Lounge once again became the go-to spot, offering a rich array of events including wine tastings, art panels, and exclusive tours led by experts from Sotheby’s. A big thank you to all our guests and the art community for embracing our involvement! #SydneyContemporary #ArtFair #MAFinancial #ArtCommunity #ArtPrize

We’re looking forward to holding our third annual MA Moelis Australia Small Caps Conference in our Sydney office on Tuesday 24 September.   Guests will hear from C-Suite executives at some of Australia’s leading ASX-listed small cap companies who will discuss their growth strategies, including GenusPlus Group, IPD, Southern Cross Electrical, AIC Mines Limited, Hillgrove Resources, Johns Lyng Group, and Codan Limited. Wood Mackenzie will present their views on the outlook for copper, and we’ll hear from an expert panel including GoZero. Group discussing new energy vehicles.   At MA Financial small and mid-cap companies remain a key focus – we recognise their ability to innovate and disrupt industries, and their potential for investment outperformance.

In an interview with Invest Hong Kong our Head of Asset Management Andrew Martin offered insight into our ambitions to expand MA’s footprint in Asia, including Hong Kong.   “What makes Hong Kong attractive is its mature, efficient and well-regulated business environment. It represents a significant niche market opportunity from a distribution perspective for an Australian asset manager.”

In support of R U OK? Day 2024 we held a special morning tea encouraging our team to come together to enjoy a break and connect with colleagues. This year’s theme “I am here to hear” emphasises the importance of listening and being there for one another. We encourage everyone – today and every day – to take a moment to stop, have a chat and check in with peers because a small conversation can sometimes make a big difference.