The Interview
SCAN OR CLICK TO WATCH THE VIDEO INTERVIEW IN FULL
19 MINUTES
MICHAEL ROTHNER
With Rob Langton
PRINCIPAL - ASHEMORGAN
AsheMorgan’s Michael Rothner talks offshore capital, District Docklands, and investment fundamentals
Managing Director of Ready Media Group, Rob Langton, recently sat down with AsheMorgan’s Head of Investor Relations / Joint Ventures, Michael Rothner. As Principal for one of Australia’s most recognisable property investment houses, he had much to say during this 20-minute conversation. Here are some of the highlights from Rothner’s discussion with Mr. Langton. PRIOR TO THE GFC, ASHEMORGAN WAS THE LARGEST COMMERCIAL ORIGINATION BUSINESS IN AUSTRALIA AsheMorgan was established by Michael Moss in the early 1980s, and its initial offering involved providing specialist expertise in mortgage origination and management. Michael joined the team in 1990. At a time where the major institutions had an effective monopoly on the mortgage lending space, AsheMorgan was beginning to redefine the options for customers. “We were sort of at the forefront of non-bank lending.” With the non-institutional lending space such an influential sector in today’s property landscape, it’s worth appreciating that AsheMorgan was one of the early groups that paved the way for this burgeoning industry to take up a notable share of the lending market. “We were originating in excess of $3.5 billion a year, which even today is a big number. That was
our business back then.” In many ways, AsheMorgan’s early efforts were instrumental in enabling an embryonic idea to gain wider acceptance within the property and finance industries. “We were the conduit to people accessing funds, both through the major banks and through the non-banking sector.” ASHEMORGAN’S PIVOT TO PRIVATE PROPERTY INVESTMENT
Interior of No1 ANZAC Square - One of AsheMorgan’s preeminent office assets
Rothner highlights the years immediately subsequent to the GFC as the years that AsheMorgan shifted their business practice from origination services to a “private equity real estate model”, which is what they are best known for nowadays.
12 –October / November 2022
Powered by FlippingBook