Napier & Blakeley managing director Alastair Walker said the appointment is part of the group’s continued expansion into Asia.

“Peter brings to N&B a huge array of skills and contacts and as a lawyer has worked in due diligence throughout Asia in the past. His understanding of the Asian property market is second to none.

“He also has extensive networks in all major Asian economies and a deep understanding of their cultures and business practices,” he added.

Walker said Napier & Blakeley has worked for Singaporean clients for over two decades and have actively been involved in the region for almost 10 years.

“We have provided technical due diligence for around 75% of all international property investors coming into Australia, and formalising Peter’s involvement via his chairmanship will strengthen the links to these and other international investors and facilitate the development of greater capability to provide TDD services to them, as well as outbound Australian clients within Asia itself, pushing to Europe,” Walker continued.

Mitchell was most recently CEO of APREA in Singapore, having developed the association from a small 40-member body to almost 200 members globally.

Under his guidance, APREA is now recognised as the most important pan-Asian networking organisation in the region, having been awarded the international Real Estate Society’s 2009 Corporate Excellence Award. It remains the only Asian association to have received this award.

During his term, Mitchell oversaw the establishment of the most comprehensive listed real estate index series for the Asia Pacific, in partnership with Thomson Reuters and GPR, as well as the establishment of a suite of practical and applied training programs under the banner “APREA Institute”, with programs delivered in Singapore, Hong Kong, China, India, Malaysia, China, India, Malaysia and the Philippines.

He also presided over the management of a chapter network to decentralise APREA, with chapters created in China, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, India, Malaysia, the Philippines and Australia.

Mitchell practised as a lawyer for 30 years in Melbourne before moving to Singapore to act for an Australian client on the proposed first REIT in Singapore, to be a joint venture with a major Singapore company which was eventually launched as the Capital Mall Trust.

Significant advisory roles Mitchell has undertaken throughout his legal career include:

• Secondary listing in Singapore of an Australian securities fund
• Acquisition of retail assets and establishment of a private real estate fund in Singapore
• Allco REIT IPO in Singapore
• YTL Starhill REIT IPO in Malaysia
• Ulu Pandan NEWater PPP project bid (Singapore)
• T101 (Taipei) development
• Acquisition of Parkway Parade, Singapore
• Grand Hotel Trust IPO in Australia
• Acting for European and Asian pension funds and sovereign wealth funds as investors in a wholesale retail fund in Australia
• Acquisition of private hospitals and negotiating PPP hospital agreements for an operator in Australia

 Displayed in the Property Review  –  21 August 2014 

This year’s event was co-sponsored by International Property Group, Norton Rose and the Trust Company.

Topics that were covered included an overview of the Australian real estate market, the investment decision making process, technical due diligence, MIT regime changes, Foreign Investment Review Board requirements, acquisition case studies, structures deployed to acquire assets in Australia, and capital allowances, after tax analysis and capital gains tax from a depreciation perspective.

Napier & Blakeley were represented by Peter Osborn, Associate Director – Client Advisory and Peter spoke to an interested group of attendees about the cost, risk and future strategy of carrying out due diligence prior to acquisition and the value of planning and carrying out appropriate strategies for a building.

National Director, John Mathew talked about the value of capital allowances in light of the increased MIT withholding tax rate from 7.5% to 15% and in light of the proposed thin cap rules that will put a cap on debt funding.

If you would like further information on any of the presentations from this seminar email us or any other Napier & Blakeley services at any of our offices below.
Contacts

Property Depreciation & Insurance
John Mathew – 03 9915 6300 – jmathew@napierblakeley.com
Peter Guerra – 02 9299 1899 – pguerra@napierblakeley.com
Raymond Yen – 02 9299 1899 – ryen@napierblakeley.com
Paul Mazoletti – 07 3221 8255 – pmazoletti@napierblakeley.com

Transaction & Asset Advisory
Rob Howells – 03 9915 6300 – rhowells@napierblakeley.com
Alastair Walker – 02 9299 1899 – awalker@napierblakeley.com
Peter Osborn – 02 9299 1899 – posborn@napierblakeley.com

Sustainable Property Solutions
Peter Frith – 03 9915 6300 – pfrith@napierblakeley.com

Development Advisory & Quantity Surveying
Craig Smith – 03 9915 6300 – csmith@napierblakeley.com
Peter Hammond – 02 9299 1899 – phammond@napierblakeley.com
Paul Cosker – 07 3221 8255 – pcosker@napierblakeley.com