Our investment strategies are considered ahead of the market and have proven exceptionally profitable. Highlights include the acquisition of Central London offices with short leases, multi-let regional offices, shopping centres, active management portfolios, City of London offices, student accommodation and a strategic sale programme in 2006/2007. More recently, we are focussing on student accommodation schemes and the acquisition of grade A active management office investments in Greater London.

Much of the team's success has been in acquiring and creating portfolios, with particular emphasis on ensuring the appropriate balance between long-term income and asset enhancement opportunities. As a case study, a multi sector regional portfolio of 44 properties was purchased, to which a trophy Central London building was added to improve diversity and balance. The majority of the improved portfolio was then sold within 6 months for the original combined purchase price while retaining 14 properties as profit.

Our pro-active asset management approach seeks to continually enhance net incomes and capital values. Examples include the substantial reduction of non-recoverable expenditure at a shopping centre via a service charge re-structure and a five year extension of a major tenant's office lease in exchange for improved alienation flexibility on two minor leases. We have also completed a development of a 32,000 sq. ft. retail unit, with a multi-storey car park adjacent to a shopping centre.

Our strategy has developed in recent years to include the emerging sector of private student accommodation. With three properties in central London, we created a portfolio which involved the acquisition of an existing scheme, adjacent to which we developed a new build and obtained planning permission for the change of use and refurbishment of an existing office building, creating a total combined number of over 350 units. Additional to this, we created a brand and operating company to market and manage the assets. We exited at an opportune time in December 2007.