Summary

ASIF was established in 2000 to acquire a portfolio of childcare centres. The Fund's portfolio has been expanded to include a self storage facility, a medical centre and interests in a listed property trust and unlisted wholesale unit trust. A high proportion of the fund's investments are represented by properties that provide education, health, welfare and transport services to the community.

 

In December 2008 ASIF acquired a portfolio of listed and unlisted securities.  The securities were acquired on a yield of circa 13% which will enhance ASIF's future earnings.  Acquisition of the securities by ASIF also provides the advantage of diversifying ASIF's income and asset base and positions ASIF to benefit from any recovery in the price of the securities in the medium to long term.

Valuation Policy

The Fund's direct property assets are valued on a two year rolling basis.

 

Investment properties are measured at fair value and revalued on a regular basis to ensure the carrying amount of each property does not differ materially from its fair value at the balance date.  Consistent with the requirement to independently value each property on a regular basis each property is independently valued every two years. The valuations are undertaken on an annual rolling basis. Independent valuations are prepared using both the capitalisation of net income method and/or the discounting of future net cash flows to their present value.

 

Fair value of investment property is the price at which the property could be exchanged between knowledgeable, willing parties in an arm’s length transaction. A “willing seller” is not a forced seller prepared to sell at any price. The best evidence of fair value is given by current prices in an active market for similar property in the same location and condition.   

The fair value of investment property has been updated to reflect financial market conditions at the end of the reporting period. While this represents best estimates as at balance sheet date, if the investment property is sold in future the price achieved may be higher or lower than the most recent valuation.

 

The Directors have determined to maintain the value of the operating investment property portfolio as at 31 December 2009 consistent with the value as at 30 June 2009.  In making this decision, the Directors gave consideration to a number of factors including:

 

(a) the Receivers of ABC have announced that they have signed a sales contract with the GoodStart syndicate to purchase the ABC business completing no later than 31 March 2010.

(b) recent market sales evidence for operating properties.

(c) stabilisation of market conditions and property yields.

(d) the leases are long term and not subject to any substantial market fluctuations in rent as found in more traditional commercial markets.

(e) the average carrying value per property is around $1.4 million and ASIF operates within a market place that remains relatively liquid with continued sales activity.

 

Following the ABC1 assignment process which is anticipated to be complete during the second half of this financial year, independent valuations will be conducted on approximately 20 childcare properties.

 

Police Station

 

Dandenong Law Court

 

ASIF