September 11, 2004

The Airports Company of South Africa (Acsa) has implemented the locally developed MDA Property Manager computer system for its extensive property portfolio.

Deon Keet, director of MDA Property Systems which developed the package, says Acsa's portfolio of retail, office and other specialised properties in and around airport precincts makes it one of the largest landowners in South Africa. The constantly increasing numbers of well-heeled travellers make all the major airports a magnate for specialist retailers and advertisers.

The MDA Property Manager system was selected after a thorough analysis of similar systems from the US and the UK.

The amount of administrative effort to effectively manage properties with all the permutations of lease agreements is mind-boggling. Acsa felt MDA offered the best in automation of the billing process for the creative lease structures that have been developed locally.

In essence, MDA Property Manager performs the following functions: it keeps track of space and lease agreements, automates rent collection, ensures that operating costs are recovered and provides comprehensive accounting and strategic decision-making information for portfolios of properties.

MDA has almost 800 licensed users at more than 120 locations using its two products, MDA Property Manager and MDA Property Analyst. The latter is a valuations and investment analysis tool that generates cash flow projections from underlying lease agreements and anticipated expenses.

It combines this with assumptions for vacancy take-up, market rental reversion, capitalisation rates, discount rates and gearing, and quickly guides the novice or professional analyst to a range of market value estimates.

"Acsa's very specific requirements for turnover-based rental have been challenging," said Keet. "However, we have been able to build on our experience and sound track record in dealings with our other clients that manage major shopping centres throughout southern Africa.

"With Acsa's plans to expand and upgrade their properties countrywide to meet the projected increase in air traffic over the next decade, we are confident that our system will be of great assistance to them in meeting these new demands."