Round Hill Capital and SFO Capital Partners form new joint venture to target Irish SFR market

Round Hill Capital and SFO Capital Partners will use their combined expertise in global real estate investment to target high-quality deals that will bring much-needed new homes to the Irish market, where demand for quality, affordable rental accommodation continues to outstrip supply. 

26 March 2021

Round Hill Capital and SFO Capital Partners form new joint venture to target Irish SFR market

London, 26 March 2021 – Round Hill Capital a leading global real estate investor, developer and manager, and global real estate investment manager, SFO Capital Partners, have today announced the establishment of a new joint venture (“The Venture”), targeted at the Irish Single-Family rental (SFR) market.

Round Hill Capital and SFO Capital Partners will use their combined expertise in global real estate investment to target high-quality deals that will bring much-needed new homes to the Irish market, where demand for quality, affordable rental accommodation continues to outstrip supply. Multinational companies taking residence across Ireland in recent years has led to both economic and population growth; driving demand for new homes for employees attracted to the country – yet only c. 21,000 dwellings were constructed across the country in 2019, well below the estimated 35,000 new homes needed per annum*.

The strong appeal of the Irish build-to-rent sector for institutional capital attracted by its resilient, long-term yields is reflective of the wider growth of the residential investment market in Ireland over the past three years. The newly formed joint venture is set to complete two major deals in Q1/Q2 2021 in Dublin and intends to build on these over the coming years to expand its housing strategy across Ireland.

Michael Bickford, Founder and CEO at Round Hill Capital, said:

“We’re delighted to announce this new joint venture with SFO Capital Partners, as we continue to expand our portfolio of high quality accommodation assets in Ireland. The venture will have the ability to operate swiftly and effectively to secure high-quality SFR investments, providing much-needed new homes to address the long-standing supply / demand imbalance that continues to prevail in the Irish residential market.

“The counter-cyclical nature of the rental housing market means it is resilient to market cycles, as has been proven amid the economic uncertainties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. We have a strong pipeline in place to meet demand from institutional investors for resilient, long-term investment opportunities and a trusted partner with a strong track record in successfully investing in, developing and operating residential assets. We look forward to further expanding our portfolio in Ireland, as well as across Europe and the US.”

Mohamad Abouchalbak, CEO at SFO Capital Partners, said:

“We are thrilled to enter into this joint venture with Round Hill Capital with a focus on Dublin, a city with robust macroeconomic fundamentals, dynamic demographics, and a clear growth outlook. This Venture marks a key milestone in the expansion of our residential investment program from the USA into Europe as we continue to actively pursue the acquisition of high-quality residential communities across key European cities.

We particularly like Dublin given its critical need for institutional quality residential stock that can cater to a rapidly growing and highly skilled workforce. Our conviction was reinforced by the resilience of the city during the COVID-19 pandemic”.