SWIP increases property assets and continues strong performance

The latest property research from Scottish Widows Investment Partnership (SWIP), one of the UK’s largest fund managers, reaffirms that the office sector will deliver the strongest returns over the next two years. SWIP then expects retail and industrial sectors to overtake office returns beyond 2009. Across the market, SWIP forecasts returns for the UK commercial property market at 7.8% for 2007, which puts direct property returns within their traditional place between equities and bonds.

SWIP’s property research team produces in-depth research into the UK property market which underpins all of SWIP’s property purchasing decisions. SWIP’s 25-strong team of property investment specialists have built on the team’s research capabilities to deliver strong performance across the range of property funds managed by SWIP.

Under Andrew November, SWIP’s property team is one of the most successful in the industry, enjoying a reputation for thorough research and shrewd tactical purchases that have seen its flagship fund, the SWIP Property Trust, return 47.82% since its launch in November 2004. SWIP has significant strength and breadth within its property team, having been investing in the UK property market since the 1950’s. Over the past five years, SWIP has increased its property assets under management by more than 70%.

Andrew November, CIO, Fixed Income & Property at SWIP, commented: “The fact that the SWIP property team continues to produce consistent strong performance across such a wide range of funds is testament to the 25 investment professionals in the team. We have been investing in the UK property market for over 50 years and our dedicated property research team ensures that we are able to stay ahead of the market to produce consistent strong performance for our clients.”

SWIP manages a wide range of retail and institutional property funds for external clients and on behalf of Scottish Widows and Lloyds TSB. Over three years, SWIP has achieved annualised returns of 20% for the property assets of Scottish Widows Unit Funds Limited (SWUF).

SWIP also researches the European market and created a dedicated international property team in November 2006 to build on the back of SWIP’s successful European and US portfolios to position the team for expansion in the European market.