Firm in Focus: NAI Altys Africa
It’s the start of a new year and the perfect time for a fresh look at what’s happening in the world of commercial real estate (CRE) around the globe. With that in mind, our new “Firm in Focus” segment aims to shine a spotlight on specific partner firms, delving into their expertise to explore the local CRE market, upcoming trends, and new developments in their area.
To kick off this first edition, we had a chat with the exceptional team at NAI Altys Africa, who’ve been serving the Sub-Saharan African region for over ten years from their headquarters in Luanda, Angola.
Q&A
Q. Please tell us a little about the history of the brokerage and how long you’ve been working in the Angolan market?
NAI Altys Africa has been working in Africa for more than 10 years, always under a global brand and targeting regional cross-border activity. We have an extensive network beyond Angola as well, including Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe, and the Cape Verde islands.
Q. Which CRE sectors does NAI Altys Africa specialize in, and which sectors are top performers in the area?
We are investment specialists and provide evaluation and consulting services across a wide range of property types. Our team has extensive experience working in the hospitality and office sectors, but we also work with shopping centers, industrial facilities, and high-end residential.
In terms of top performers, the office, industrial, and retail sectors have been top of the list!
Q. Are there any specialized sub-sectors (i.e., life sciences, medical office, warehousing) that make up a large portion of the local market?
There aren’t currently any specialized sectors that are market leaders in terms of having a large portion of local markets. What we have seen is that medical facilities have been emerging as an attractive investment niche.
It’s an interesting trend that’s been gaining traction on an international level as well, so it’s certainly something worth keeping an eye on.
Q. How would you sum up your approach to adding the most value for your clients?
Exceptional service and a client-first focus. Our goal, first and foremost, is always to find an optimal solution for our clients. That means going the extra mile, really getting to know clients and their requirements, and building relationships that will last for years.
Q. What are the top trends you’ve seen over the past year? What new trends do you anticipate?
The recent energy crisis has created a different reality in the markets we serve. In markets with a wealth of natural resources, like Luanda, there’s been an economic upshift, bringing international investment back to the fold.
Meanwhile, many other markets are struggling to cope with increased uncertainty, inflation, and higher overall risk perception.
In the near future, we anticipate that international investment will continue to follow this trend, creating interesting opportunities, especially for high-risk, high-reward investors.
Q. Talk us through some of the biggest deals that your office has been involved in recently?
There’s been a lot of activity over the past year. As we mentioned, office has been a top sector in Luanda, and we’ve been involved with lease renewals amounting to more than 5,000 square meters, mostly by multinational companies.
We’ve also recently been involved in a site procurement assignment for a large multinational public company, comprising 4 different locations in Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as the largest CRE investment deal in Luanda, with an acquisition by a French real estate investment fund.
Q. What are the unique opportunities open to CRE investors in Luanda and elsewhere in Africa?
In Luanda, we have high-risk, high-reward opportunities, with steady income flows, but there are also opportunities where the investor only has to accommodate the country’s risk. So, it really depends on the risk profile the investor is comfortable with.
In Maputo (Mozambique), there are also a lot of interesting prospects in the cards as the country prepares for an LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) boom, based on massive reserves in the north of the country.
We at NAI Global would like to thank the NAI Altys Africa team for taking the time to share these insights with us. For more information on investment opportunities, property management, and rentals in Luanda and further afield, you can contact the team at NAI Altys Africa.