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CONSTRUCTION WORLD
OCTOBER
2015
PROJECTS AND CONTRACTS
Attacq’s business has two focus areas; investments and developments.
It has consistently delivered growth in capital to its investors through
its strategic property holdings and developments. Attacq focuses
on sustainable capital appreciation through the development and
ownership of a balanced portfolio of properties with contractual income
streams. Capital appreciation is supplemented by development and
redevelopment profits made in the company.
Attacq’s investments comprise landmark commercial and retail
property assets across an ever-expanding international footprint. Its
portfolio of properties is geographically diverse and includes a growing
portfolio of international investments in sub-Sahara Africa with a direct
shareholding in Att Africa of 31,25%, and exposure to property invest-
ment in Germany, Switzerland and the United Kingdom via a strategic
45,3% shareholding in JSE-listed MAS Real Estate Inc.
Attacq’s investment portfolio is expanding and is doing well. Morné
Wilken, CEO of Attacq, confirms: “Attacq is working hard on its diversifi-
cation strategy including its international footprint.”
Attacq’s prestigious Waterfall development continues to expand
and provides Attacq with an attractive 15-year pipeline. Waterfall is
regarded as the new inbound headquarter destination for many inter-
national corporate firms seeking a foothold in Gauteng as the commer-
cial hub of South Africa and the economic gateway to Africa. A number
of corporates have already committed to Waterfall, including Massmart,
PwC, Novartis, Cummins, Schneider, Cipla, Honda, Cell C, Group Five,
Premier Foods, Covidien, Westcon, Altech and Servest.
“Some impressive buildings have already been completed in
Waterfall while others are making rapid progress.” Wilken emphasised
however that Attacq’s goal at Waterfall is more than the development
of impressive stand-alone buildings. “We want to build a world-class
city that works”. Urban design and planning is a key focus to ensure this
prestigious new urban development along the N1 will develop into a
world class city; changing the landscape to one of an economic power-
house with fantastic infrastructure and unparalleled access linking this
growth node in our province to the rest of the world,” says Wilken.
It is insightful that in a recent survey of corporates who have
already relocated to Waterfall the high visibility, central location and
advanced architecture in Waterfall have been identified as the top
reasons for making Waterfall their destination of choice. Respond-
ents felt that Waterfall City offers great value for money while being a
‘cool site’ with a great reputation to work at. Some also indicated that
the location provides the ideal location to consolidate Pretoria and
Johannesburg operations while, infrastructure was cited as a further
key draw card by others. The combination of work and lifestyle was also
mentioned as being attractive and some companies’ feel that Waterfall
as an employment destination will be a top talent destination in future.
The new CBD of Waterfall, Waterfall City, is also adding significant
economic value to Gauteng. During the construction phase of Waterfall
City over the next few years, Attacq will create almost 27 000 new
employment opportunities. A significant number of sustainable direct
and indirect job opportunities will continue beyond construction into
the operational phase of the new economic hub, both as part of the
development itself as well as the occupants of the various buildings
across the new city.
“Waterfall City, will be anchored by the 131 000 m
2
Mall of Africa
due to open in April 2016,” says Wilken. “The Waterfall development as
well as the commercial jewel in the crown, Mall of Africa is well on track
and we look forward to the mall opening in 40 weeks with prestigious
brands,” states Wilken.
The massive 131 000 square metre shopping mall will combine
significant scale with innovative architectural design to set a new
benchmark for malls on the continent. The Mall of Africa is the largest
mall completed in a single phase in South Africa. This first phase of
Mall of Africa competes favourably with some of the largest completed
multi-phase expanded mall developments on the continent and indeed
the southern hemisphere.
Mall of Africa is set to be a major catalyst for further growth in the
greater Waterfall mega development node. Attacq Limited owns 80%
of Mall of Africa while Atterbury Property Holdings, Attacq’s appointed
WATERFALL’S
PROGRESS
Attacq, South Africa’s leading capital growth
fund listed on the Johannesburg Stock
Exchange, with a market cap of approximately
R17-billion, hosted an exclusive gathering
to showcase the significant business strides
the company has recently made with regards
to its key Waterfall development pipeline.
Selected senior journalists were provided the
opportunity to experience the substantial
progress made in Gauteng’s new and rapidly
developing growth node, Waterfall and its
prestigious CBD – Waterfall City.