Institutional Property Investment Reaches Record Levels

LONDON-The third quarter of 2002 saw a massive surge in institutional property investment in the UK, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics. Insurance companies and pension funds were net investors in property by £3.5 billion ($5.5 billion) in the quarter, the highest level of net investments since quarterly records began in 1983. Insurance companies were net investors by £3.3 billion, ($5.3 billion) while pension funds increased their exposure to property by a net £198 million ($300 million).

There was a substantial increase in purchases by insurance companies in the third quarter to a record £4.2 billion ($6.7 billion) counterbalanced by £874 million ($1.4 billion) of sales. Pension funds bought £735 million ($1.1 billion) of property and sold £537 million ($850 million).

Greg Nicholson, Head of Investment at CB Hillier Parker, said: “These latest figures are incredibly strong and reinforce the view that UK institutions view property as an extremely attractive asset class in the current low growth environment. As a whole 2002 has been highly encouraging for the property investment market and property is set to out-perform equities and gilts for the third consecutive year”.