While investors flee foreign equity markets,
The fund, which focuses on a sector that traditionally has low correlation with stocks and bonds, will target investors looking for diversification, liquidity, low volatility and the potential for high dividends.
"Until recently, most real estate investor have been largely focused on their domestic markets," said Jack Foster, who will co-manage the fund with Charles McKiney. "This new fund is designed to offer investors the opportunity for broader and more diversified exposure to the asset class by investing in real estate markets around the world."
The more tax-efficient REIT will capitalize on what the San Mateo, Calif.-based company calls "the last asset classes yet to be fully securitized on a global scale." A number of countries throughout the world -- including Australia, Canada, France, Finland, Hong Kong, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa and Singapore -- have investment vehicles resembling REITS, while both the United Kingdom passed legislation allowing for their creation earlier this year, and German is expected soon to do the same.
A recent survey by
The Franklin Templeton Global Real Estate Group has invested in overseas properties for more than 25 years, managing more than $1.5 billion worth of real estate.
