Grapnel Property Group - Company Overview

Grapnel has built a solid reputation of providing robust investment returns through the acquisition and development of commercial, residential and hotel properties

Background

Grapnel has established itself in the market as a property fund management, development and investment company. The group operates in all sectors of the property business and its people are well-established as industry leaders in their specialist fields.

Strategically selective about the projects it undertakes, Grapnel’s experience and established position in the property sector allows it to read the market and select the most favourable development, investment and trading opportunities.

Grapnel gained its reputation as the property fund and asset manager for JSE-listed property unit trust Sycom Property Fund, which it managed for 15 years until the company was sold in 2006.

Grapnel subsequently conceived the Hospitality Property Fund, the first specialised property fund focusing on hotel and leisure properties in South Africa. The Fund was listed in 2006 and Grapnel was the majority shareholder in the fund management company until 2010 when this was acquired by Hospitality Property Fund Ltd.

2000

2004

2006

2007

2009

2014

2016

2017

2019

2000

The business was borne out of a joint venture between Nedcor Investment Bank and Corovest Property Group who merged their property asset management interests in 2000 to form Corovest-NIB Property Asset Managers (Coronib).

2004

In 2004, Nedbank and management bought Corovest’s interest in Coronib resulting in a changed company structure and rebranding to Grapnel Property Group.

2006

In 2006, management acquired Nedbank’s interest in Grapnel and the business is now wholly owned by management.

2007

In 2007, Grapnel, together with its Mauritian partners formed and listed the first domestic direct commercial property investment fund on the Mauritian Stock Exchange (DEM). The Ascencia Fund was managed by Grapnel and its Mauritian partners until 2010 when the business was sold.

2009

Grapnel's latest commercial projects include the development of Morningside Shopping Centre which was completed in July 2009; the development of its own 1 600 sqm head office in Rosebank; the development of 5 000 sqm head offices for Cadbury and 10 500 sqm head offices for Ericsson in Woodmead.

2014

In early 2014, Grapnel commenced the development of a high-rise apartment building in Rosebank, The Vantage comprising of 165 units was sold out within a month. A second scheme in Rosebank comprising of 200 units was successfully launched in early 2015.

2016

Commenced construction of The Tyrwhitt in Rosebank.

2017

Launched Perch co-working offices in Rosebank.

2019

Completed construction of The Tyrwhitt in Rosebank.

BUSINESS ACTIVITIES

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Property Investment

PROPERTY INVESTMENT

Grapnel Property Investments (Pty) Ltd

Grapnel Property Investments (Pty) Ltd owns a portfolio of A-grade commercial properties.

Grapnel Property Investments 2 (Pty) Ltd

Grapnel Property Investments 2 (Pty) Ltd is currently engaged in the development of 2 landmark residential and mixed use developments in Rosebank.

Property Development

PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT

Grapnel Property Developments (Pty) Ltd

Grapnel actively seeks out and executes new development opportunities for Grapnel Property Investments and on behalf of select strategic partners. The shareholders and directors of the company have an excellent track record and collectively have over 80 years of commercial property development experience gained across the African continent.

Having developed a portfolio which has been grounded on strong relationships with multinational and other blue chip tenants, Grapnel Property Developments proactively focuses on established growth nodes and the development of efficient, A-grade buildings with long-term tenant appeal.

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

Grapnel Property Managers (Pty) Ltd

Grapnel is equipped with the latest software and systems to provide property management, facilities management and ancillary services (including leasing, legal, marketing, and financial reporting) of properties under management.

Property Services

PROPERTY SERVICES

Grapnel PropertyServices (Pty) Ltd

Grapnel Property Services provides a full spectrum of fee-earning services to Grapnel Property Group and to third parties through various subsidiary companies.

FUND MANAGEMENT

Grapnel Property Asset Managers (Pty) Ltd

Grapnel has an excellent reputation as a fund manager of listed property funds in both the commercial and leisure sectors.

By virtue of its focus and proactive approach, Grapnel strives to achieve out-performance in capital and income growth as the fund manager of its own portfolio of direct and listed property investments.

Grapnel has the in-house resources and experience to provide the full spectrum of services necessary to manage both listed and unlisted property funds, including fund and financial reporting and company secretarial services which attend to all the ongoing shareholder, statutory and stock exchange regulations and reporting.

International Portfolio

Grapnel, together with its Mauritian partners formed and listed the first domestic direct commercial property investment fund on the Mauritian Stock Exchange (DEM). The Ascencia Fund was managed by Grapnel and its Mauritian partners until 2010 when the business was sold.

Since 2013, Grapnel purchased and manages a portfolio of Commercial Properties for clients across the UK.

Gerald Nelson
Executive director
BSc (Building) (WITS)

Further Information

Gerald commenced his career in the construction industry, later moving into project management as a partner in a firm of specialist project managers.

Thereafter he spent five years with Old Mutual Properties as development manager, joining UAL Merchant Bank in 1995, where he was responsible for property development on behalf of the bank and Sycom and Newport Property Funds.

In 1997 he was appointed managing director of Sycom Property Fund Managers Limited (SPFM) the management company for Sycom. In June 2006, Grapnel, which had become the ultimate shareholder of SPFM disposed of its interests in the company and Gerald became a non-executive director of SPFM, a position which he resigned in Jan 2010. He is also a past Chairman of the Association of Property Unit Trusts.

In 2005, Grapnel conceived, formed and then subsequently listed Hospitality Property Fund Limited, a specialised Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), which invests exclusively in hotels and resorts. Hospitality was listed in February 2006.

Gerald served as CEO of the fund from 2006 until 2013 and remained on the board as a non executive director until 2019.

He has more than 40 years’ experience in property related activities with specific expertise in development and asset management for both listed and directly held investment property vehicles, covering office, retail, industrial, residential and hotel properties.

Chris Fleming
Executive director
BSc (Engineering) (University of Cape Town) MBA (WITS)

Further Information

Chris commenced his career as a Design Engineer at Steeldale Systems. Thereafter he spent four years with Old Mutual Properties as a Property Development and Investment Analyst.

He joined Nedcor Investment Bank Limited (formerly UAL Merchant Bank Limited) in 1997, where he was responsible for developments and investments on behalf of the bank and Sycom Property Fund. In 2000 he was appointed a director of Sycom Property Fund Managers Limited (SPFM) (formerly NIB Property Fund Managers Limited). When Grapnel disposed of its interests in SPFM he resigned his position of director.

Chris is responsible for development and acquisitions for Grapnel Property Investments.

Justin Bass
Executive director
BSc FRICS

Further Information

Justin trained and qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in London before joining Old Mutual Properties in 1991 as an Investment and Development Analyst.

In 1993 he was appointed as the Property Investment Manager for Old Mutual Properties in Cape Town, a position which he held until 1998 when he joined Lonrho Africa as CEO of their East African property and construction business. In 1999, he joined UK private equity company CDC Capital Partners (subsequently re named Actis), as Property Director for Africa, a position which he held until 2005.

In 2005, he joined Grapnel as part of the team which formed the Hospitality Property Fund. Initially as a director of the fund, he remained involved in the business with responsibility for the hotel developments and refurbishments until Grapnel sold its interest in the fund management business in 2009.

Justin now focuses on commercial and residential property investment and development opportunities.

Mari Marais
Financial Manager

Further Information

Ayeshia Vorajee
Portfolio Accountant

Further Information

Ayeshia has been in the property management industry for 15 years. From 1999 to 2002 she worked for Marriott and thereafter with Spire Property Group where she worked in financial administration.

From 2005 to 2011, Ayeshia worked at Pace Property Group as the assistant to the Director of the Property Management Division. She joined Grapnel Property Group in 2011 as an assistant accountant for Grapnel Property Managers.

Tasneem Ebrahim
Property Manager and Office Administrator

Further Information

Tasneem has been employed in various sectors of the property industry since 2003. Most recently she was a Retail Leasing Administrator at Clearwater Mall, before moving to the Johannesburg Social Housing Company as a Residential Leasing Administrator. She joined Grapnel Property Group in February 2016 and is responsible for the reception and office administration, as well as assisting the Directors and the Property Management team.

Tasneem is currently studying for her LLB through Unisa.

Brendan Nelson
Residential Sales and Lettings
B.Com Hons (Business Finance) (WITS)

Further Information

After completing a B.Com degree majoring in Business Finance and Insurance & Risk Management in 2013, Brendan completed his Honours degree in Business Finance in 2014 at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Brendan joined Grapnel Property Group in December 2019 as a Sales and Property Manager. He is responsible for activities relating to the management and administration of the property portfolio and the sales and marketing of sectional title developments.

Prior to joining Grapnel, Brendan was a financial analyst at Momentum Investments (a division of Momentum Metropolitan Holdings), where he was responsible for the financial analysis, budgeting and reporting of numerous divisions within Momentum Investments.

Grapnel has built a solid reputation of providing robust investment returns through the acquisition and development of commercial, residential and hotel properties

Background

BUSINESS ACTIVITIES

PROPERTY INVESTMENT

Grapnel Property Investments (Pty) Ltd

Grapnel Property Investments 2 (Pty) Ltd

PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT

Grapnel Property Developments (Pty) Ltd

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

Grapnel Property Managers (Pty) Ltd

PROPERTY SERVICES

Grapnel PropertyServices (Pty) Ltd

FUND MANAGEMENT

Grapnel Property Asset Managers (Pty) Ltd

International Portfolio

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