Heitman Advising US-REIT Fund for Japanese

TOKYO-Locally based Nomura Securities Co. Ltd. has selected Chicago-based Heitman LLC to be the sub advisor for its Nomura US-REIT Open Fund, one of the first players in the new Japanese market for funds focused on investments in US real estate investment trusts. The fund will seek a relatively high and stable yield as well as sustainable mid- to long-term capital gains.

Heitman will be the advisor to Nomura Asset Management Co., Ltd., who will actively manage the fund. Heitman CEO and president Maury Tognarelli says the recent deregulation of the Japanese Investment Trusts Association has allowed Japanese investors to manage their investment trusts through income-oriented products such as REITs.

“Heitman and Nomura have recognized a strong appetite in the Japanese market for products like Nomura US-REIT Open Fund,” says Tognarelli. “Investments in US REITs are currently generating competitive yields–about 6% higher–to similar products in Japan.”