Letter to Life Insurance Council-Proposal for insurance companies to Invest in Debt Securities issuances by Real Estate Investment Trust (REITs)

As per data reports, globally real estate remains a principal component of most pension fund portfolios, with 87% of all public and 73% of all private sector pension funds currently investing in the asset class. REITs are seen as a stable investment class. As per APREA’s report on “The Impact of REITs on Asian Economies”, REITs are generally regarded as providing investment characteristics that lie between stocks and bonds. Similarly to bonds, REITs offer a relatively secure and steady income, in the form of dividends derived from rental income.