Chief Investment Officer Tan Seak Sze explains why instinct—sensing the moment, then waiting for the right one to act—has shaped everything from a 2008 investment into Japan to a decade-long courtship of France. Earlier this year, the Miyako Group, which leased a few of Parkway Life REIT’s Osaka properties, entered insolvency/ restructuring proceedings. “We were having conversations with potential operators, and there was immediate interest from several parties to take over some of the affected properties,” says Chief Investment Officer Tan Seak Sze. “We could have taken this easy route. But we decided to undertake a comprehensive review of these properties rather than settling for the obvious next step.” Instead, the REIT Manager worked closely with the local asset manager, third party agents and consultants to develop strategy for each of the properties, including rejuvenation and refurbishment initiatives to future-proof the assets and maintain asset competitiveness, and lease restructuring efforts to incorporate rental escalation provisions supporting future income growth....