Orchard Funds Management cuts unit prices

property/gearing/chief-executive-officer/

3 April 2009
| By By John Wilkinson |
image
image image
expand image

Orchard Funds Management has slashed unit prices in its property funds, according to its latest report to investors.

The Orchard Diversified Property Fund's unit price had fallen 42 per cent to 75 cents at the end of February this year.

This has resulted in a one-year return for the fund of -44 per cent and a five-year return of -1.63 per cent.

According to the report, the decline in the value of Orchard’s Industrial Property Fund weighed heavily on the diversified trust.The share price has fallen from 98 cents per share to 55 cents at the end of February.

Negative one-year returns are also prevalent in Orchard’s other funds.The Childcare Property Fund has reported a -17.5 per cent return; the Commercial Office Fund a -17.5 per cent return; the Hybrid Property Fund a -22.8 per cent return; and the Primary Infrastructure Fund a -29.45 per cent return.

The Orchard Essential Healthcare Trust reported the strongest one-year performance of -3.33 per cent.

Orchard Funds chief executive officer David Hinde said the current property market environment has resulted in downward pressure on the value of assets.

“As anticipated, due to the current market environment, there has recently been widespread declines in property valuations which have led to downward pressure on portfolio values and unit proves,” he said in a letter to investors.

“Sadly, this cycle looks set to continue.”Orchard’s plan for this year is to reduce debt and conserve cash in its funds.Some funds are at the limit of their borrowings, with the Diversified Property Fund’s gearing ratio at 78 per cent.

“This year is proving to be tough and challenging, but we are confident that the de-leveraging and cash management programs put in place last year will put the funds in a better position,” the report said.

The manager is still maintaining the suspension of redemptions in its funds.

Read more about:

AUTHOR

Recommended for you

sub-bgsidebar subscription

Never miss the latest news and developments in wealth management industry

MARKET INSIGHTS

The succession dilemma is more than just a matter of commitments.This isn’t simply about younger vs. older advisers. It’...

1 week 5 days ago

Significant ethical issues there. If a relationship is in the process of breaking down then both parties are likely to b...

1 month ago

It's not licensees not putting them on, it's small businesses (that are licensed) that cannot afford to put them on. The...

1 month 1 week ago

AMP has settled on two court proceedings: one class action which affected superannuation members and a second regarding insurer policies. ...

5 days 2 hours ago

ASIC has released the results of the latest adviser exam, with August’s pass mark improving on the sitting from a year ago. ...

2 weeks 1 day ago

The inquiry into the collapse of Dixon Advisory and broader wealth management companies by the Senate economics references committee will not be re-adopted. ...

3 weeks 1 day ago

TOP PERFORMING FUNDS

ACS FIXED INT - AUSTRALIA/GLOBAL BOND
Powered by MOMENTUM MEDIA
moneymanagement logo