Former Scudder Threadneedle director leads commercial property foray
Amber Rose
The Williams Pears Group is expanding its interests in the commercial market with a new property company.
It is funding a venture known as Talisman Properties, led by Adam Winton, a former director at Scudder Threadneedle Property Investments, who is also investing in the company.
The new vehicle plans to spend around £50m in all sectors of the commercial market over the next year.
Talisman will be paying out between £500,000 and £10m on individual properties. It intends to build up a sizeable investment portfolio over the next three years with a view to keeping the properties long term or trading in the short term when the opportunities arise.
Winton said the group was looking for investment opportunities nationwide.
“Our long-term investment focus will be in office properties in London and the South East, and we are looking at large retail units and industrial properties anywhere across the country.
“We are looking at secondary property where we can enhance the rental income, either by refurbishing, or through vacant acquisitions,” he added.
Winton had been a director at Threadneedle since 1996 where he was responsible for the £550m Eagle Star Life fund.
Pears’ main property investments are in residential. The group started its commercial holdings in the 1990s. Its biggest deal to date was selling 45 properties, mainly shopping parades and shopping centres in London and the Homes Counties for £71m to Bourne End in 1994.
