Michael Tate - why global capital loves self-storage

How a fragmented "mum-and-dad" sector became a multi-billion-dollar asset class, driven by the psychology of clutter.
David Clark

Koda Capital

Have you ever stopped to consider the psychology behind the clutter in your garage? Or how that exact consumer vulnerability has quietly morphed into one of the most resilient, high-yield asset classes of the last three decades?

For many sophisticated investors, alternative real estate feels like a minefield of over-hyped trends and cyclical volatility. When equity markets get choppy, finding a true counter-cyclical haven with reliable cash flow can feel nearly impossible.
In this episode of Inside the Rope, host David Clark sits down with Michael Tate, the co-founder and former joint Managing Director of Storage King. Over a 30-year career, Tate took a highly fragmented, "mum-and-dad" caretaker industry and helped institutionalize it into a multi-billion-dollar asset class that caught the attention of global private equity powerhouses like BlackRock and Brookfield.
Tate shares the fascinating behavioral economics driving the industry - from Richard Thaler’s "endowment effect" to the sheer psychology of loss aversion. He explains how selling "the deferment of loss" creates an incredibly diversified, single-digit risk profile that thrives whether the economy is booming or busting. If you’ve ever written off self-storage as just "sheds on cheap land," this is a lesson in scale, brand consolidation, and consumer psychology will completely change your perspective.
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This research note has been prepared without consideration of any client's investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any advice in this document, Koda Capital Pty Ltd recommends that you consider whether this is appropriate for your circumstances. While this document is based on the information from sources which are considered reliable, Koda Capital Pty Ltd, its directors, employees and consultants do not represent, warrant or guarantee, expressly or impliedly, that the information contained in this document is complete or accurate. Koda does not accept any responsibility to inform you of any matter that subsequently comes to its notice, which may affect any of the information contained in this document. © Copyright Koda Capital 2020 | AFSL: 452 581 | ABN: 65 166 491 961 | www.kodacapital.com

David Clark
Adviser & Partner
Koda Capital

David Clark is an Adviser & Partner at Koda Capital. In his podcast ‘Inside the Rope’, David interviews some of the leading minds in wealth management.

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