BlackRock’s BGF World Real Estate Securities A2 USD fund was one of the top three performances in 2023 for the Best Funds Awards 2024 by The Edge Singapore, based on Morningstar’s data in the real estate sector equity category.

BlackRock’s strategy is distinguished by its extensive global footprint, says James Wilkinson, managing director and head of the global real asset securities group at BlackRock.

In addition, the global asset manager boasts “strong” risk management capabilities, backed by its risk management technology Aladdin; and research insights for its fund managers to deliver “consistent long-term returns” for their clients, adds Wilkinson.

Aladdin, short for “Asset, liability and debt and derivative investment network”, is built by BlackRock Solutions, the risk management division of the firm.

According to Wilkinson, BlackRock’s global real asset team has a uniform research process informed by granular local insights. This has delivered consistent alpha, he adds. “Our proprietary valuation model allows for consistent comparison across sub-sectors and regions, which drives better risk allocation and has delivered [a] top-decile information ratio. The global real asset team’s investment committee also has extensive experience globally, with 23 years on average of investing and managing REIT portfolios.”

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BlackRock’s fund managers are not only seasoned but also geographically diverse, says Wilkinson, who has spent more than 11 years at BlackRock in London. “Team members [are] located around the globe, including Singapore. This proximity to our investments enhances our understanding and engagement with the assets we manage.”

Another distinctive and significant advantage of BlackRock is its well-established private market real estate platform, which positively correlates with the public real estate sector, says Wilkinson. 

“The global real asset portfolio managers work in collaboration with the private market team to bring differentiated intelligence to enhance our public valuation process, offering a unique perspective and added value to our investment strategies,” he adds.

As a fiduciary, BlackRock’s purpose is to help more people experience financial well-being, says Wilkinson. “With our fiduciary responsibility in mind, we continue to partner with institutional clients, retail and wealth partners, offering a range of investment solutions including mutual funds, iShares ETFs and customised investment options, to help investors reach their long-term financial goals.