by logos » Sat Dec 12, 2020 6:12 am
It's been an interesting year for me.
One European/global business down 80% but Brexit had affected it before Covid and drastic cost cutting measures had already been implemented before the western world ground to a halt. Most effective measures included cutting staff levels further and finalizing the sale of my corporate offices in October 2019, I was lucky with the timing.
The business moved to smaller, more suitable premises, will survive and should steadily recover as a few major competitors have been washed out.
Another business is down 20-25% but will recover well, namely short term rentals. Covid and confinement periods provided an opportunity to invest in modernizing older units, for instance replacing old electrical cooking hobs with induction hobs in over 100 units. The wife's in charge of dealing with tenants and supervising the maintenance team, and does it much better than the full time employee who did it before she took over 2 years ago.
Attractive mortgage rates (1,40%, corporate)'combined with some distressed selling enabled further residential property investments in Belgium which should pay off nicely in a couple of years.
A bunch of old apartments in Phnom Penh bought in 2013 had to be written off as a bad investment. Rental returns in pp are peanuts and no way to sell them to expats as the ownership rules have changed. Hit me up if you're looking for a cheap apartment for rent near street 51...
Some long term punts in agricultural land in Cambodian provinces, with orange, cocoa and rice plantations. Output is mostly sold before it's grown. It's self financing even with the recent floodings and land appreciation is slow but steady. We'll see, so far so good.
Currently closing a very profitable small money lending business in pp because the guy previously in charge just passed the bar exam (and is getting too busy for both functions) and Covid definitely increased the risks.
On the sidelines, a ridiculously good year on the stock market with better returns than 99,9% of ETFs, fuelled by investments in clean energy infrastructure and mobility, companies like Alfen, Fastned in Europe and of course Tesla or Nio. For instance I bought the latter at 15 in August and sold at 54 a couple of weeks ago. Tesla's returns have been much better still, check it out if you're interested in the stock market. It's been like buying land in snooky before the Chinese takeover, and as an added bonus there's no capital gains tax where I'm a resident.
Of course the list wouldn't be complete without mentioning the most fun of all, namely Khmer 440 where a quiet r/evolution in the right direction has been going on for a few months under Alexandra's watchful eye . Nothing like a lady's tough love to get a drifting junkie back on his feet with a sense of direction.
It's been an interesting year for me.
One European/global business down 80% but Brexit had affected it before Covid and drastic cost cutting measures had already been implemented before the western world ground to a halt. Most effective measures included cutting staff levels further and finalizing the sale of my corporate offices in October 2019, I was lucky with the timing.
The business moved to smaller, more suitable premises, will survive and should steadily recover as a few major competitors have been washed out.
Another business is down 20-25% but will recover well, namely short term rentals. Covid and confinement periods provided an opportunity to invest in modernizing older units, for instance replacing old electrical cooking hobs with induction hobs in over 100 units. The wife's in charge of dealing with tenants and supervising the maintenance team, and does it much better than the full time employee who did it before she took over 2 years ago.
Attractive mortgage rates (1,40%, corporate)'combined with some distressed selling enabled further residential property investments in Belgium which should pay off nicely in a couple of years.
A bunch of old apartments in Phnom Penh bought in 2013 had to be written off as a bad investment. Rental returns in pp are peanuts and no way to sell them to expats as the ownership rules have changed. Hit me up if you're looking for a cheap apartment for rent near street 51...
Some long term punts in agricultural land in Cambodian provinces, with orange, cocoa and rice plantations. Output is mostly sold before it's grown. It's self financing even with the recent floodings and land appreciation is slow but steady. We'll see, so far so good.
Currently closing a very profitable small money lending business in pp because the guy previously in charge just passed the bar exam (and is getting too busy for both functions) and Covid definitely increased the risks.
On the sidelines, a ridiculously good year on the stock market with better returns than 99,9% of ETFs, fuelled by investments in clean energy infrastructure and mobility, companies like Alfen, Fastned in Europe and of course Tesla or Nio. For instance I bought the latter at 15 in August and sold at 54 a couple of weeks ago. Tesla's returns have been much better still, check it out if you're interested in the stock market. It's been like buying land in snooky before the Chinese takeover, and as an added bonus there's no capital gains tax where I'm a resident.
Of course the list wouldn't be complete without mentioning the most fun of all, namely Khmer 440 where a quiet r/evolution in the right direction has been going on for a few months under Alexandra's watchful eye . Nothing like a lady's tough love to get a drifting junkie back on his feet with a sense of direction.