Knight Frank Investment Management (KFIM) has transferred Aegon Asset Management’s circa £500m indirect real estate business to its business.
Mark Bunney, Tony Yu and Tom Richardson will join KFIM as partners in the newly created real estate solutions team.
The transfer comprises a range of institutional client separate accounts with a variety of strategies, investing in principally UK unlisted property funds. KFIM’s real estate solutions team will also offer advisory and ad hoc consultancy services.
Matthew McDonald, CEO of KFIM, said: “I am delighted to welcome Mark, Tony and Tom to KFIM. Having worked together in the past we are familiar with the team’s strong capabilities and confident that their clients will benefit from the wider support and expertise that KFIM provides.
“The team will add a new service line to our business which will also benefit KFIM’s existing clients and provide us with new opportunities to grow together. Whilst the current client strategies invest predominantly in UK funds, the team has extensive pan-European investment experience which look forward to capitalising on.”
Bunney (pictured) added: “We see this transition as an opportunity to expand the business offering beyond the traditional discretionary management role we have been undertaking for clients over the last 20 years.
“While discretionary management of property fund portfolios will always be an element of our business, the market, and client demand are moving towards an advisory/solutions orientated model. Given the market leading capabilities and relationships of KFIM and Knight Frank and our team’s experience, we are well positioned to offer such a service.”
