General description and ownership
UBS Realty Investors LLC (also referred to as “we”, “it” “our”, or the “firm”) is
organized as a Massachusetts limited liability company and serves as an investment
advisor to commingled real estate funds and real estate separate accounts with
institutional clients.
As of December 31, 2018, we had $27.48 billion of real estate investments through
commingled real estate funds, $3.21 billion in individually managed discretionary real
estate accounts, and $428 million in non-discretionary real estate asset management
accounts. Included in these assets are ancillary cash and cash equivalents generated from
the property operations.
We specialize in the acquisition, management, development, improvement, leasing, and
disposition of direct real estate properties, primarily apartments, office buildings, retail,
industrial complexes, and hotels. We also invest in participating mortgages. We have
approximately 207 employees and are headquartered in Hartford, CT, with regional
offices in San Francisco and Dallas. The firm has a subsidiary investment adviser that
focuses on investing in agricultural properties. The firm also has a limited purpose
broker-dealer through which we distribute the private placements managed by us or the
farmland adviser. We have four commingled real estate funds offered as private
placements; one closed-end commingled real estate fund that is closed to new investors
and several individually managed real estate accounts. The firm periodically seeks to
offer new closed and open-end funds and separately managed accounts investing in real
estate.
Since 1978, UBS Realty and its predecessor companies have provided a wide array of
real estate investment management services on behalf of its clients, which include
corporations, state and municipal governments, foundations, offshore and private
investors. UBS Realty has invested utilizing a variety of strategies ranging from
acquiring existing unleveraged investments to developing projects with significant
leverage. We primarily invest through core equity, participating debt, and value-added
strategies. These strategies have been implemented through open-end and closed-end
funds as well as individual client accounts.
UBS Realty Investors LLC is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of UBS Group AG.
UBS Realty is the primary US real estate business within the Real Estate & Private
Markets (REPM) investment area of UBS’s Asset Management business division.
UBS’s involvement with this real estate asset management business began in 1999, when
UBS Asset Management acquired Allegis Realty Investors LLC, which was renamed
UBS Realty Investors LLC. Allegis had been formed in 1996 when Aetna Realty, which
started this business in 1978, divested its third-party real estate investment management
business as part of its strategy to exit the financial services business and focus on health
insurance.
Type of Advisory Services
We offer investment advisory services to investors and to commingled funds (structured
by us) that wish to invest in real property investments and participating mortgages. We
are generally the investment manager of such comingled funds and serve as the general
partner, managing member or in a similar capacity to the fund. Investors choosing to
invest their assets in a commingled fund are purchasing shares of, or units in, a
commingled fund. In these cases, the fund is the firm’s real estate client. These investors
are accordingly not advisory clients of the firm and do not impose restrictions on how we
invest the commingled funds above and beyond the restrictions set forth in the funds’
documents. Clients who invest through individually managed real estate accounts may be
viewed as advisory clients if the clients are obtaining securities-related advice with
respect to any ancillary cash generated by the real estate. These clients can impose
investment guidelines or restrictions tailored to their needs under their advisory
agreements. We do not target our advisory services to non-institutional clients and we do
not participate in any wrap fee programs.
Separately managed real estate account clients determine investment guidelines and
restrictions, such as limitations on how much can be invested in a property type or how
much can be invested in any one geographic region. They communicate these guidelines
to us in writing. We then tailor an overall strategy and a real estate investment plan
designed to conform to the objectives, guidelines and restrictions. If a real estate
investment decision involves action not permitted under the applicable guidelines, the
approval of the client is required prior to taking such action.
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The firm does not have a set fee schedule for individually managed accounts. Fee
schedules are negotiable and vary substantially from one real estate account to another
based upon, among other things: the complexity and value of services chosen; client
objectives; the investment amount; the anticipated number and type of investments
involved; the scope and intensity of client servicing; and reporting. Clients invested in
the same commingled fund pay fees based on the fee schedule disclosed in that fund's
offering materials. The fee can be fixed at a flat amount or can be any one or
combination of the following: a percentage of purchase price or sales proceeds; a
percentage of assets under management; a percentage of account income; and a
performance fee charged in accordance with Rule 205-3 of the Investment Advisers Act
of 1940 and with applicable state laws and regulations.
Example of fees
Real Estate ($50 million) Other fees
Asset management fee based on gross
invested capital
Annual fee of 0.60% - 1.1%
Asset management fee based on income 7.0% - 8.0%
Acquisition fee based on gross purchase
price
0.75% - 1.25%
Dispositions
Fixed fee based on gross sales price, e.g.,
1.00%
Or
Variable fee based on gross sales price
0.20% - 1.00%
Plus 10% - 20% for amounts
above a threshold return to investors
Financing fee based on debt raised
1.00%
Out-of-pocket expenses
Customary reimbursement of all third party charges and reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses.
Fee schedules for the commingled funds we manage are documented in the funds'
respective private placement memorandum ("PPM") and clients in these funds pay fees
according to these documented fee schedules. These fees are not negotiable. As
documented in the fee schedules fees vary between investors. In addition, if there are
organizational and initial offering expenses relating to certain investors, for example,
when setting up a new share class, parallel or feeder fund, these investors, rather than the
funds, generally will be subject to these expenses. Where an investor is invested in
multiple commingled funds with us we generally aggregate such investor assets when
calculating fees for that investor across multiple funds. In addition to the asset
management fee, the PPM for certain of our commingled funds includes provisions for
other fees such as a performance based fee.
Management fees are generally calculated quarterly and deducted from the account-level
cash or, for commingled funds, from the accounts’ allocable share of the quarterly
distribution. In limited circumstances, clients in open-end real estate commingled funds
and individually managed real estate accounts may elect to be direct billed following
each quarter end. Clients in closed-end real estate funds do not have a direct bill option.
Certain qualified pension, profit sharing and governmental plan clients' assets can be
invested in a certain commingled collective trust fund (the "Collective Fund") maintained
by our affiliate, UBS Asset Management Trust Company (the "Trust Company"). The
Trust Company is an affiliate of UBS Realty, who serves as the sub-adviser to the Trust
Company with respect to the real estate fund portion of the Collective Fund. The Trust
Company, as Trustee of the Collective Fund, charges a fee for providing such services
and pays a portion of such fee to UBS Realty for serving as sub-advisor. Duplicate fees
are not charged to a client for the same services provided by UBS Realty and the Trust
Company. Further information about the management fees and expenses related to the
Collective Fund is available in the applicable Offering Memorandum.
Certain accounts have variable fees or transaction-based acquisition and disposition fees.
These fees may be deducted or billed less frequently per the terms of the advisory
agreement for the fund or account.
Fees are charged and payable quarterly in arrears. No fees are charged in advance;
therefore refunds typically will not apply. If the advisory relationship is terminated, UBS
Realty is generally entitled to the pro-rata portion of the earned fees.
No supervised person is compensated for the sale of securities or investment products.
The firm, however, can receive compensation related to the acquisition or disposition of
an asset, if that fee is part of the negotiated fee schedule or is included in the fund or
account documents.
The existence of acquisition and disposition fees, if any, can create an incentive to
acquire or dispose of assets based on compensation received versus a client’s needs. The
other components of our fee schedules and the existence of cross-functional investment
committees involved in the approval of each transaction, substantially reduces that risk.
Furthermore, no employee of the firm is directly compensated on a transactional basis.
Other fees or expenses Clients will pay all costs, expenses and fees incurred in operating the fund or account
including costs, expenses and fees incurred for legal, accounting, audit, third-party
valuation services, insurance and indemnification, tax and other consulting services
(including engineering and environmental consulting), and other costs, expenses, and fees
incurred in the evaluation, acquisition, financing, leasing, development, management,
operation, valuation, monitoring and disposition of investments (including such expenses
incurred in connection with transactions that are not consummated for any reason).
In addition, the commingled funds will reimburse reasonable expenses incurred by
members of the fund's advisory council, which is an advisory committee composed of
representatives of certain fund investors which can be consulted with respect to certain
fund matters. We can share a portion of our management fees with our affiliates and one
of our commingled funds operates a founding investor program where certain investors
that met certain minimum investing standards and that constituted the initial investors in
the fund participate in a portion of the variable fees paid to UBS Realty for a limited
period.
Asset based management fees, performance based fees and applicable expenses/costs are
disclosed in more detail in each fund's confidential offering documents or in the
agreement with a client governing an individual account.
Brokerage or transaction costs
Third-party real estate brokers charge commissions on real estate transactions that are
added to the acquisition cost or deducted from the sale proceeds and prospective
investors are directed to Item 12 A. of this brochure that describes factors used when
selecting brokers including the reasonableness of their compensation.
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We provide advisory services to multiple clients and funds that have varying and
sometimes similar investment objectives. Some of the accounts or funds have
performance-based fee structures. These fee structures can create an incentive for us to
make more speculative decisions on behalf of those accounts or funds than we would
otherwise make if these fees did not exist. This is in part because they allow us to receive
increased compensation as a result of unrealized and realized gains in an account. We
have controls in place to address such conflicts, and variable fees are only charged in
compliance with Regulation 205-3 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.
We address the potential conflicts in several ways. The most critical process we follow is
a disciplined investment allocation process. If an investment is deemed suitable for only
one of our accounts, it is allocated to that account.
If a prospective investment is deemed suitable for more than one of our clients, the
investment will be offered on a rotating basis (the “Allocation Policy”) to each client on
the “Rotation Allocation List.” Every discretionary account and non-discretionary
account that has made a firm investment commitment to our firm is included on the
Rotation Allocation List. The investment will first be offered to the account that has the
highest priority on the Rotation Allocation List. Priority is given to the account with the
longest elapsed time since its most recently allocated investment. UBS Realty’s
Investment Coordinating Committee oversees this process. If an existing investment
includes an option or similar property right to acquire an additional property, the fund or
account having the benefit of such option or other similar property right is entitled to be
allocated the additional property. This committee includes UBS Realty’s president,
portfolio managers, heads of acquisitions and asset management, and general counsel.
The allocation process is coordinated by the Director of Operations and allocations are
reviewed by Compliance. The Compliance function does not report to the head of the
business, but instead, as part of UBS’s control structure, it has an independent reporting
line to the head of Asset Management Compliance in the Americas.
The Investment Committee also provides a key check and balance function. It is the
primary investment decision-making body for UBS Realty. A majority of the Investment
Committee members and the applicable portfolio manager have to approve each
significant transaction (including acquisitions, dispositions, and certain major capital
transactions). Chaired by the president of UBS Realty, the Investment Committee
currently includes the portfolio managers, the heads of acquisitions, asset management,
research, client services, and the general counsel, as well as the regional heads of asset
management, and for sales transactions, the regional acquisition heads. With its cross
functional nature, this committee provides for a balanced discussion surrounding
investment decisions, which helps ensure that one portfolio manager does not enter into a
riskier investment for inappropriate reasons.
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The majority of clients and fund investors are institutional clients. They include state and
local government pension plans, corporate and labor union pension plans, and other plans
including those of corporations, tax exempt organizations, and charitable organizations.
We provide investment management services to ERISA plan clients and may rely on
Prohibited Transaction Exemption 84-14 (the "QPAM exemption"). To the extent UBS
AM relies on the QPAM exemption, it must also comply with individual Prohibited
Transaction Exemptions (PTE 2017-07 or PTE 2019-01, as applicable). ERISA plan
clients have a right to obtain a copy of the written policies and procedures developed in
connection with the individual PTE's issued by the Department of Labor, requiring UBS
AM to maintain, implement and follow written policies and procedures.
Minimum capital commitment size varies from fund to fund. Initial investment in our
commingled funds must generally be at least $1,000,000 and $5,000,000 for our core real
estate commingled fund. The minimum commitment acceptable to establish an
individually managed account generally is $100,000,000. Minimums can vary for
different types of investors and the firm may waive the minimum investment amount at
our discretion.
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We believe that a well-conceived real estate investment program recognizes long-term
economic and real estate trends, capitalizes on short-term pricing opportunities,
efficiently uses diversification to minimize risk, manages each investment as an operating
business, and sells assets on a timely basis to enhance performance. Our investment
strategy is based on research that combines broad market and economic trends with
property pricing and forecasts of future economic performance.
The basic investment strategy of our accounts and funds is to acquire a variety of U.S.
commercial and multifamily real estate properties that seek to provide attractive risk-
adjusted returns consisting of current income and capital appreciation in predominantly
stabilized, income-producing property. We focus on selective acquisitions,
diversification, active portfolio management and aggressive asset management.
Diversification can be pursued in many ways, including by geographic region, property
type, and economic sector. We also manage risk across investment structure and life
cycle.
Another significant strategy involves investing in participating mortgage loans made to
operating companies. These participating mortgage loans have both fixed and
participating income characteristics. The goal is to provide attractive real estate based
income-oriented returns while limiting downside risk. We do this by making loan
investments having payment priority over the borrower’s equity and utilizing strict
underwriting practices, property, geographic and economic diversification strategies and
low or no leverage.
Subject to fund or account guidelines, we also implement value-added strategies. Value-
add strategies can include implementing one or more of the following: Lease-up;
Repositioning; Renovation; Expansion; Forward commitments; Development; Distressed
debt; Property Management upgrade.
We provide our funds and accounts with a strong research orientation in asset and sector
selection and utilize disciplined research as a risk management tool. To ensure reasonable
diversification by market and property type, for many portfolios we employ an asset
allocation strategy based on measurements of the investable universe of institutional real
estate within the markets monitored by our research group. We use the market weights to
determine long-term ranges for our funds' and accounts’ target allocations. Our specific
targets within those ranges depend on our outlook for that property type and region.
Although we do not strictly adhere to specific allocation targets, the analysis of the
overall market and development of target allocations provide a meaningful benchmark
against which to judge acquisitions and sale opportunities.
Our asset managers are integrally involved with the oversight of the property’s
management and only reputable third-party appraisal firms are engaged to estimate
property values.
All investments carry a certain degree of risk. In particular, investments in real estate and
in real estate funds can be very illiquid. For instance, events such as the deterioration of
credit markets and increased volatility that began in 2008 resulted in a historically
unprecedented lack of liquidity and decline in asset values. This risk factors described
herein are not a complete enumeration or explanation of the risks involved in any
particular fund or account, as the particular risks applicable to each fund or account will
depend on the nature of the fund or account, its investment strategy or strategies and the
types of investments held. A more detailed and specific enumeration and explanation of
risks factors is contained in each fund's offering materials.
The value of investments and the income from them will go up as well as down and the
possibility of loss does exist and investments in our funds or and accounts are not
guaranteed by UBS Realty, UBS or any of their respective affiliates. In view of the
risks associated with an investment in real estate, only investors able to bear the economic risk of their investment for an indefinite period and able to afford a loss of their entire investment should consider investing. Our past performance and activities
provide no assurance of future results. In addition, our fees and expenses reduce
investment returns.
General Risks
Regardless of whether we are seeking core, income-producing properties or properties
with value added potential, there can be no assurance that we will be able to continually
locate and acquire assets meeting any particular fund's or account’s objective.
Competition for assets generally reduces the number of suitable prospective assets
available. Likewise, it may be difficult to sell properties especially during time periods
when the markets are experiencing illiquidity or stress such as the 2008-2009 period. It
may take a substantial length of time to liquidate a property, or liquidate an investor’s
position in a fund. These risks could arise from absence of an established market for a
property, changes in the financial condition or prospects of prospective purchasers,
changes in national or international economic conditions, and changes in laws,
regulations or fiscal policies of jurisdictions in which the property is located. Any of the
foregoing factors could limit the ability of the fund or account to vary its investments
rapidly in response to changes in economic and other conditions and there can be no
assurance that investments will be sold on satisfactory terms.
Owning real properties involves various risks which might impact the value of a fund’s or
account’s investments. These include, but are not limited to, real estate regulatory risks
(e.g., building codes and zoning laws) that could require substantial capital not otherwise
budgeted; declining general economic or business conditions; and uncertainties in
estimating a property’s appraised value.
Joint Ventures
In certain cases, real estate investments are owned by joint ventures with third party
partners. Joint venture investments involve risks that would not be present with respect
to a wholly owned property. For example, a joint venture partner may:
• experience financial difficulties,
• at any time have economic or business interests or goals that are inconsistent with
the business interests or goals of the fund or account, or
• take action contrary to the instructions, requests, or policies and objectives of the
fund or account.
Furthermore, in some cases, the fund or account can have certain contractual obligations
to joint venture partners in connection with a sale or disposition that can limit or prohibit
the ability to complete an exit strategy in a timely fashion.
In addition, the fund or account can have an interest in a joint venture where the other
party has the right to participate in the cash flows of a property and / or the distribution of
sales proceeds of a property. Such fee arrangements with a partner may create an
incentive for the property to be managed in a manner that is not consistent with the fund
or account’s objectives.
In addition, there is a risk of impasse or litigation between the parties because the parties
may disagree with a proposed transaction or course of action involving the property.
Joint venture arrangements generally require that, in the event that our joint venture
partner proposes a sale of a property, the fund or account must have either a right to
purchase the partner’s interest or other rights to control the sale of the property. There is
no assurance, however, that the fund or account would have the unfettered ability or the
financial resources to exercise any such rights.
To help avoid these conflicts, we seek to and typically have the controlling interest in a
joint venture. Nevertheless, conflicts can arise so our asset managers and our fund
accountants remain actively involved with our partners, identifying and working through
conflicts if they arise.
Diversification
Diversification is a common objective among our clients because any limit to
diversification increases the risk that unfavorable performance of even a single
investment might have an adverse effect on the aggregate return. Nevertheless,
diversification cannot eliminate the risk of experiencing investment loss and there can be
no assurance as to the degree of diversification that will actually be achieved. Therefore,
to use diversification as effectively as possible, we establish diversification criteria as
part of the investment plan and manage the fund or account in accordance with property
type and geographic region guidelines.
Use of leverage
Leverage can be used, subject to fund and account guidelines, to enhance overall
performance without incurring unacceptable risk. Leverage will increase the exposure of
the real estate assets to adverse economic factors, such as changing interest rates,
economic downturns, or deteriorations in the condition of the properties or their
respective markets. Leverage can therefore create a greater potential for loss. As a result,
our funds and accounts that invest in core, income-producing properties as the primary
strategy are managed with low to moderate leverage (e.g., 20% guidelines). Only funds
or accounts with a higher risk profile will be managed using higher leverage limits.
Construction loans Some funds or accounts can provide construction loans. Construction financing is
traditionally a riskier form of financing than financing secured by completed commercial
properties. Were construction not to proceed as planned, claims against the borrower may
arise. Such claims could arise, because, among other things, the construction may take
more time and be more expensive than anticipated, materials necessary to complete the
construction may not be available on a timely basis or necessary financing may not be
obtainable to complete construction. If such a claim were successful, delays in payments
to the fund or account may result. In addition, properties that have not been completed
are less likely to be fully leased to tenants.
Value-add and Development
Value-add strategies are subject to a number of additional risks including the risk of
lower revenues, higher expenses, or higher expenditures than projected. Development
properties are exposed to the risk that a property is not competed on time, or leased
according to schedule. Environmental matters, whether known or unknown at the time of
acquisition, can also pose a risk that the owner could be liable for removal or remediation
costs. There is a risk that the fund or account may contract to acquire properties from
sellers that fail to complete construction or that do not satisfactorily lease-up prior to
closing with the fund or account. If these situations occur, closing on a property may be
delayed until the conditions have been satisfied or the fund or account may choose not to
proceed with closing on a property. There can be no assurance that the steps we take to
minimize risks of contracting with a nonperforming seller will in all cases protect the
fund or account against financial loss. Moreover, to the extent the fund or account is not
able to purchase properties because of a seller’s failure to cause completion thereof, the
fund or account may have lost the opportunity to make other investments in properties,
and there may be a corresponding delay in the investment of the fund or account’s funds.
Risks can be controlled through a variety of means including the use of forward
commitment contracts in which the investor commits to purchase the property once the
developer has completed construction according to agreed on plans and specifications. In
development joint venture, construction risk mitigation steps can include fixed cost
construction contracts, developer guarantees of final costs and timing, and close
monitoring of construction progress.
Investments in real estate entail a great deal of risk including illiquidity. Some of the risks
are described in more detail below. Clients should be prepared to bear the risk of
investment for an indefinite period of time and losing their entire investment. Investors
who invest in our commingled funds must be Accredited Investors or Qualified
Purchasers, or non-U.S. persons under the Securities Act, depending on the fund, and
clients and investors subject to a fee schedule that includes a performance-based fee,
must be a Qualified Client under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.
Risks of real estate investment generally
Real estate investments are subject to various risks, many of which are beyond our
control, such as adverse changes in financial conditions of buyers and sellers of
properties; reduction or change in sources of debt or equity financing, including changes
in interest rates; increases in real estate taxes and operating expenses; adverse changes in
market and economic conditions; zoning, and other governmental laws, regulations, and
policies; occupancy levels and the ability to lease space; environmental risks, risks of
future terrorist activity; and risk of uninsured losses.
Additional risks include adverse changes in energy prices; changes in law, regulations
and governmental policies, including environmental laws, natural and unnatural disasters;
acts of terrorism; uninsurable losses; condemnations; and others.
Real estate is an illiquid investment and the fund or account may not be able to generate
sufficient cash to meet withdrawal requests from investors. There is no public market for
interests in any of our funds and no such market is expected to develop in the future.
Non-U.S. investors should consult their own legal and tax advisers for potential U.S.
and/or local country legal or tax implications on any investment. If the currency we use,
which is USD, is different from the currency of a client’s home country, the return can
increase or decrease as a result of currency fluctuations.
Debt investment risks
Accounts can invest capital in debt investments, including construction, participating and
other real estate-related loans (collectively, “Debt Investments”). The value of the fund or
account’s Debt Investments and the fund or account’s ability to realize full repayment on
a Debt Investment may be adversely affected by all of the factors that affect the fund or
account’s investments in real property interests. The fund or account’s Debt Investments
may or may not be secured by the underlying real estate. Risks of Debt Investments
include: (i) dependency for repayment on successful operation of the underlying property
and tenant businesses operating therein; (ii) the fact that such loans are usually non-
recourse to the borrower; and (iii) amortization schedules that are often longer than the
stated maturity and provide for balloon payments at stated maturity rather than periodic
principal payments.
Debt Investments are also subject to risks of borrower defaults, bankruptcies, fraud and
special hazard losses that are not covered by standard hazard insurance. In the event of
any default under mortgage loans held by the funds or accounts, the fund or account will
bear a risk of loss of principal to the extent of any deficiency between the value of the
collateral and the principal amount of the mortgage loan and may not receive interest
payments on such mortgage loan. Foreclosures of mortgage loans, bankruptcies affecting
mortgage loan borrowers and other collateral realization processes are expensive and
lengthy processes that could have a substantial negative effect on the fund or account’s
anticipated return on the affected mortgage loans.
Although the firm will monitor the performance of the Debt Investments and intends to
cause the funds or accounts to invest in real estate companies and properties operated by
strong management, the day- to-day operations of the properties underlying the Debt
Investments will be the responsibility of the borrowers. There can be no assurance that
the management teams of the borrowers will be able to operate the underlying companies
or properties in accordance with their business plans or the expectations of the funds or
accounts.
Uncertainties in calculating real estate values
We arrange for periodic valuations of the real estate investments. Any such valuation,
however, is a subjective analysis of the fair market value of an asset and requires the use
of techniques that are costly and time-consuming and ultimately provide no more than an
estimate of value. Similarly, certain account liabilities may be valued on the basis of
estimates. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the values of the real estate
investments or the account will be accurate on any given date, nor can there be any
assurance that the sale of any property would be at a price equivalent to the last estimated
value of such property. Accounts with fees based on assets under management would be
adversely affected by higher fees if the value of the account were overstated.
Cybersecurity
UBS, like all companies, may be susceptible to operational and information security risk.
Cybersecurity failures or breaches of UBS or its service providers have the ability to
cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses,
the inability to transact business, violations of applicable privacy and other laws,
regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation
costs, and/or additional compliance costs. Although UBS takes protective measures, it
may be vulnerable to unauthorized access, computer viruses or other events that could
impact security. UBS currently and in the future is expected to routinely communicate via
e-mail or other electronic means. E-mail messages may not be secure, may contain
computer viruses or other defects, may not be accurately replicated on other systems, or
may be intercepted and read by others, deleted, or modified without the knowledge of the
sender or intended recipient.
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We are not registered, nor do we have an application pending to register, as a broker-
dealer.
We own a limited-purpose broker-dealer, UBS Fund Services (USA) LLC, which is used
to distribute our commingled funds, which are private placements. The majority of assets
under management of the firm are in the commingled funds. However, the broker-dealer
does not distribute any securities other than the private placements we manage or that are
managed by our subsidiary UBS Farmland Investors LLC or another real estate affiliate.
Furthermore, the broker-dealer’s employees are shared employees of UBS Realty
Investors LLC, it carries no customer accounts or holds any securities, and it is supported
by UBS Realty through a service agreement. We therefore do not believe there are any
conflicts of interest with clients.
UBS Realty Investors LLC is a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of UBS Group AG
("UBS"). Among UBS' direct and indirect affiliates and related persons are various
broker-dealers, investment advisors and banking organizations. Some of these related
persons are also registered as commodity pool operators, commodity trading advisors or
future commission merchants. We have and anticipate we will maintain arrangements
with UBS and its affiliates that are material to our advisory business. We have service
level agreements with UBS and its affiliates pursuant to which the affiliates provide
certain services including, but not limited to: technology production services, market risk
services, legal services and compliance services. UBS Business Solutions US LLC an
affiliate of UBS Group AG provides certain services to UBS Group AG's affiliates and
subsidiaries that operate in the United States. Services currently include Finance, Risk
Control, Compliance, Legal, Human Resources, Technology and Operations.
UBS Realty Investors LLC is one of several entities within the UBS Asset Management
Business Group, which includes: UBS Asset Management (US) Inc., UBS Asset
Management (Canada) Co., UBS Asset Management (Japan) Ltd., UBS Asset
Management (UK) Ltd., UBS Asset Management (Americas) Inc., and UBS Real Estate
GMBH. UBS Realty Investors LLC is the legal entity name conducting the US direct real
estate business within UBS Asset Management known as " Real Estate – US". Certain
UBS Realty Investors LLC employees are also officers of the UBS Asset Management
Trust Company (the “Trust Company”), an Illinois trust company and wholly owned
subsidiary of UBS Asset Management (US) Inc. UBS Realty Investors LLC has entered
into a sub-advisory agreement with the Trust Company. The Trust Company provides
fiduciary services to employee benefit retirement plans and serves as the trustee for
various collective investment trusts (“Collective Trusts”). The Collective Trusts are
investment vehicles through which certain qualified pension, profit sharing and
governmental plans can commingle their assets for investment purposes. The Collective
Trusts are exempted from registration and regulation under the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended.
We do not, nor do any of our management persons, have any relationships or
arrangements that are material to our advisory business with an accountant or accounting
firm, lawyer or law firm, insurance company or agency, pension consultant, real estate
broker or dealer, or sponsor or syndicator of limited partnerships, nor do we recommend
or select other investment advisors for our clients.
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Personal Trading We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that sets forth standards of
integrity and business conduct we expect every employee to uphold and follow and
requires all employees to comply with relevant federal securities laws. The Code
requires:
• ethical conduct premised on fundamental principles of openness, integrity,
honesty and trust;
• protection of material nonpublic information and requirements for prompt internal
reporting of any violations of the Code; and
• protection against employees who report violations.
We do not invest, on behalf of ourselves or our clients, in securities that trade on
exchanges; nevertheless, our Code addresses personal trading for employees. Included in
the personal trading section is the requirement for all employees to pre-clear personal
investments in real estate securities, initial public offerings, and private placements. From
time to time, the firm and its employees can invest in the same commingled funds as our
investors, and while a potential conflict with investors may arise, we have procedures
designed to prevent such conflicts from occurring with respect to co-investments or seed
capital investments. Our Code further requires employees that we deem as access persons
(senior portfolio managers, portfolio managers, permanent members of the Investment
Committee(s), RE-US Management Committee and all principals and registered
representatives) to report their personal securities holdings and transactions, including
those in affiliated mutual funds, on a quarterly basis. All employees must accept the Code,
and acknowledge any subsequent amendments, in writing or by electronic affirmation.
A full copy of the Code is available to any client or prospective client upon request.
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Although this question about brokerage practices is best suited for securities transactions
than real property, we feel it is helpful for our clients to understand how we select real
estate brokers when we sell our properties.
Real estate brokerage execution is different from securities trade execution. Where there
is a great deal of national competing brokerage execution services for securities, we will
select qualified real estate brokers who assist in the sale of investments dependent on
multiple considerations such as geographic location and local market knowledge, recent
transactions, broker opinion of value (BOV), buyer contact list to ensure broad exposure
to qualified purchasers quality and reliability of services, marketing support, ability and
dependability to close on a timely basis, experience with the property type and the level
of complexity involved, reputation, and the nature of any potential conflict with the
broker.
After qualifying a broker, we negotiate a fee commission, which will have the affect of
reducing sale proceeds, based on factors such as transaction size, property type and
transaction complexities (for example, debt, tenancy, legal issues).
We receive no additional services that we would otherwise pay for, such as research,
from real estate brokers or other third parties (i.e. soft dollars) in exchange for using their
services. Also, in selecting or recommending real estate brokers, we do not consider
whether or not we receive or a related person receives client referrals from a broker or
third party, nor do we direct real estate transactions to any real estate broker in return for
client referrals.
Furthermore, we do not recommend, request or require that a client direct us to use a
particular real estate broker and we typically do not permit clients to direct us to use a
particular real estate broker. Finally, because we buy and sell real estate, there are no
conditions that exist in which we aggregate the purchase or sale of real estate for various
portfolios.
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The senior portfolio manager and portfolio manager review funds and accounts for
compliance with investment guidelines on a quarterly basis. The chief compliance
officer or the compliance officer reviews the funds and accounts annually and compares
the asset allocations and property types to any written guidelines on file for the accounts.
In addition, for transactions presented to the Investment Committee, the materials
presented to the Investment Committee will ordinarily reflect how the proposed
transaction would affect the portfolio on a pro forma basis relative to the portfolio's
investment guidelines.
Significant transactions will also trigger a review to determine the impact the transaction
will have on the resulting fund or account. The senior portfolio managers or portfolio
managers will conduct the review. A member of research or a member of the accounting
staff may be asked to review the impact on an account or fund for more complex
transactions.
When it comes to information, we establish dialogue with our clients through phone
conversations, periodic written reports, and periodic investment meetings. We attempt to
make our staff as available as necessary to the client and/or consultant to provide the
information requested. Our Client Service Representatives are generally available upon
request to meet with each client annually. Senior portfolio managers or portfolio
managers are available, upon request, to attend client meetings as well.
For commingled funds, each investor receives periodic reports that detail the fund’s
activity, performance and investment strategy. We produce a flash report quarterly that
provides a prompt look at the results of the previous quarter, followed by a detailed
quarterly manager’s report. The quarterly fund manager’s report typically contains an
executive summary, detailed performance analysis, portfolio structure, strategy update,
investment activity and quarterly financial statements. Currently, the following reports
are those typically provided to the client in written format.
Report Content Timing (after quarter-end)
Flash report
Brief market and performance
analysis
15 days
approximately
Client statement Account balance and summary of
transactions
2 - 3 weeks
Fund manager’s report Executive summary, detailed
performance analysis, account
structure, strategy and activity.
45 - 60 days
Supplemental information
(open-end commingled
funds)
Quarterly financial statements,
property listings, projections and
other detailed information.
45 - 50 days
Research Quarterly - US Real estate market information and
topics of interest.
0 - 90 days
Additional reports Periodically, additional reports are
distributed regarding current topics of
interest.
Ad hoc
Annual audited financial
statements
Fund financial statements and
independent auditor’s report.
60-120 days
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We do not receive any economic benefit from anyone who is not a client for providing
advisory services to our clients.
We have a marketing and support arrangement with UBS Asset Management (US) Inc.
and UBS Asset Management (Japan) Ltd and a Distribution agreement with UBS Fund
Management (Switzerland) AG. We can enter into similar arrangements with other
affiliates of UBS Realty for providing all or some of the following services: (i)
identifying qualified investors that are interested in investing in our funds and making
sales presentations to such investors, (ii) assisting in the process of selling and issuing
Interests to such investors, (iii) providing ongoing investor relationship services to certain
investors, (iv) coordinating communications among UBS Realty, funds it manages, and
fund investors , and (vi) other services as mutually agreed between our firm and these
affiliated entities. The amount of fees and frequency of payments will vary depending
upon the agreement reached. We will not bill additional fees to clients as a result of any
referral arrangement. Fees paid to any affiliate of UBS Realty will be paid out of our
revenue.
We have a referral arrangement in place with UBS Financial Services Inc. in which
individual financial advisors can be paid a referral fee if the advisor introduces a real
estate or farmland property in which a managed portfolio invests. Any fees paid under
this arrangement will be paid out of our revenue and we will not bill additional fees to
clients as a result of the property referral arrangement.
Additionally, we have a placement agreement with UBS Financial Services Inc.
("UBSFS") who act as a non-exclusive placement agent and provide related client
services in connection with investments in units of a share class in one of our
commingled funds targeted to certain types of investors who are or will be clients of
UBSFS.
We have not directly or indirectly paid compensation to any unaffiliated third parties for
client referrals.
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The firm acts as an investment adviser to pooled real estate investment vehicles and
individually managed real estate accounts and its affiliates act as general partners in the
pooled investment vehicles structured as real estate limited partnerships. We do not have
physical possession of client funds or securities; however, we can provide securities-
related advice to certain clients with respect to ancillary cash in the funds and accounts.
We can arrange for payments for acquisitions and other expenses as stipulated in client
agreements and accordingly we do have control and discretionary authority over certain
client assets. Property level bank accounts are generally opened under the (unaffiliated)
property manager’s name as agent for the property name and fund or account level
accounts are opened under the legal name of the fund or client (some older accounts may
be in the firm’s name as agent for the fund or client).
If the firm does provide securities related advice (such as by causing excess cash to be
invested in securities) the firm will comply with the Custody Rule with respect to the
affected fund or account. In such cases, the firm will engage an SEC independent audit
firm to audit the financial statements for both single investor real estate accounts and
multi-investor pooled real estate funds.
Audited financial statements are sent to the clients and the limited partners within 120
days of the account’s fiscal year end.
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Although we do not manage securities accounts, we have discretionary authority to invest
in real property and mortgage assets, according the account’s or fund’s governing
documents. Investors in a multi-investor pooled real estate funds have no authority to
place limitations on investment activities.
Individually managed real estate account clients, on the other hand, enter into an
investment management agreement specifying the level of discretion they want us to have
and / or imposing restrictions on our authority to enter into transactions. A number of
these clients request prior notification of our intent to buy or sell a property. Some of
these clients engage in a pre-approval process whereby they must authorize a proposed
transaction in advance, and others can establish diversification limits on geography,
property type, or strategy.
We have engaged Aetna Asset Advisers, LLC to invest cash for certain funds or accounts
over which we have discretion. Under the sub-advisory agreement, Aetna has assumed
day-to-day responsibility for the investment of cash pursuant to written guidelines and is
paid by UBS Realty out of its fee revenue. Under this arrangement, the cash can be
invested in securities.
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The properties in which we invest typically do not have proxies attached to them. The
third party sub-adviser we use to manage cash for some of our funds or clients generally
does not engage in, but is not precluded from, voting proxies related to cash investments.
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The firm does not have any financial condition that is reasonably likely to impair our
ability to meet contractual commitments to clients, nor has the firm been the subject of a
bankruptcy petition at any time during the past ten years.
Item 19. Privacy Notice
We are committed to protecting the personal information that we collect about
prospective, current or former advisory clients.
Information We Collect We collect non-public personal information in connection with providing investment
advisory services primarily to process requests and transactions, provide customer service,
and communicate information about our products and services. Personal information,
which is obtained from subscription documents and other forms, may include but is not
limited to name(s), address, e-mail address, telephone number, date of birth, social
security number or other tax identification number, bank account information, financial
information and/or other investments in mutual funds or other investment programs
managed by the firm or our affiliates (“Personal Information”).
Information Security We limit access to Personal Information to those individuals who need to know that
information in order to process transactions, and service accounts. These individuals are
required to maintain and protect the confidentiality of Personal Information and to follow
established procedures. We maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards to
protect Personal Information and to comply with applicable laws and regulations.
Information We Share
We do not sell Personal Information and we use reasonable commercial efforts not to
disclose it to anyone except as described here. We may share Personal Information with
our affiliates to facilitate the servicing of accounts and for other business purposes, or as
otherwise required or permitted by applicable law. Our affiliates are companies that are
controlled by a member of a Real Estate - US entity or that control or are under common
control with our firm. We may also share Personal Information with non-affiliated third
parties that perform services, such as vendors that provide data or transaction processing,
computer software maintenance and development, and other administrative services.
When we share Personal Information with a non-affiliated third party, we will do so
pursuant to a contract that includes provisions designed to ensure that the third party will
uphold and maintain privacy standards when handling Personal Information. In addition
to sharing information with non-affiliated third parties to facilitate the servicing of
accounts and for other business purposes, we may also disclose Personal Information to
non-affiliated third parties as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law. For
example, we may disclose Personal Information to credit bureaus or regulatory
authorities to facilitate or comply with investigations; to protect against or prevent actual
or potential fraud, unauthorized transactions, claim or other liabilities; or to respond to
judicial or legal process, such as subpoena requests.
Changes to Privacy Policy Except as described in this privacy notice, we will not use Personal Information for any
other purpose unless we describe how such Personal Information will be used and clients
are given an opportunity to decline approval of such use of Personal Information relating
to them (or affirmatively approve the use of Personal Information, if required by
applicable law).
We endeavor to keep our customer files complete and accurate. Please notify your Client
Service Representative or your portfolio manager if any Personal Information needs to be
corrected or updated. If you have any questions or concerns about your Personal
Information or this privacy notice, please contact your Client Service Representative.
In the European Union General Data Protection (GDPR) went live on May 25 2018,
designed to enable individuals to better control their personal data. UBS takes your
privacy seriously. Please consult the privacy notice at
www.ubs.com/gdpr-amuki for
general information on what personal data UBS collects what it does with that
information and what rights you have.
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Open Brochure from SEC website