Alternatives

Direct real estate

Investment offices in London, Munich and Paris enable us to invest across sectors in all core European markets. Managing assets and occupiers at scale provides significant direct experience, which facilitates valuable insight on market dynamics.

In the UK, Columbia Threadneedle has been investing in and managing UK property since 1994. Our multi-award winning investment team includes dedicated investment, asset management, property management oversight and risk / governance experts working closely together to maximise performance from our portfolios.

In Continental Europe, Columbia Threadneedle is a European city expert, with a distinctive vision of a sustainable future for Europe’s property market, using deep market expertise, close connections, and client centricity to deliver value to our clients. Our team has an entrepreneurial culture, looking beyond the obvious to access off-market opportunities, including joint ventures and club deals.

Both teams have a long history in responsible investments through an active management approach which focuses on driving environmental excellence and social value with integrity and transparency.

Capabilities

Commercial real estate, logistics, residential and retail real estate, carbon impact, provided in the format of commingled open or closed investments, segregated mandates and club deals

In the US, Columbia Threadneedle has been investing in physical properties through Lionstone, a Houston-based private real estate investment firm, founded in 2001.

Lionstone is a true market innovator with a unique data-driven approach to real estate investing, employing proprietary advanced analytics to source investment opportunities in US cities and sub-markets with the highest concentrations of growth and productivity. This unique approach seeks to find durable growth and resilient income in a rapidly evolving world.

The data-driven, productivity-based advanced analysis, combined with Lionstone’s network of partners, helps inform the decisions and property strategies that drive investment value.

Capabilities

Commercial, residential and retail real estate, provided in the format of commingled open or closed investments, and segregated mandates

Capabilities

Commercial, residential and retail real estate, provided in the format of commingled open or closed investments, and segregated mandates

Real estate investing powered by diverse expertise and specialisms

Real Estate, Property, Buildings
In the UK
we favour strategies focusing on retail warehouses, industrial and logistics, and have an increased focus on the residential sector (especially student housing and private affordable housing)
In Continental Europe
we have strategies favouring urban logistics, prime city centre retail, and residential sectors
In the US
our investment focus is on people centric villages in mixed use environments

In the UK

we favour strategies focusing on retail warehouses, industrial parks and logistics, and have an increased focus on the residential sector (especially student housing and private affordable housing)

In Continental Europe

we have strategies favouring urban logistics, prime city centre retail, and residential sectors

In the US

our investment focus is on people centric villages in mixed use environments

Across all geographies we see increasing opportunities to capitalise on decarbonisation legislation to add value through refurbishment, repositioning or changing land use. Capital raising and deployment is determined by our local experts depending on the specific timing and availability of opportunities.

We do not just own assets, we actively add value

Columbia Threadneedle has developed a growing reputation and track record for adding value to the properties we manage.

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In the UK, we have transformed the value of major assets by enhancing their configuration and dramatically reducing their carbon footprint.

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In Continental Europe, we have the scale and connections to take advantage of many opportunities that few can access.

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In the US, we have been innovators in developing a data-analytics driven approach to investing in mixed-use properties, reflecting changing lifestyles and societal shifts.

Our direct real estate highlights

Strandkai, Real Estate Case Study, German

Strandkai, Hamburg

The last prime site in HafenCity will be home to approx. 500 flats (both rental and owner-occupied flats) in total.
St Christopher's place, Case Study Real Estate, UK

St. Christopher’s Place

A retail oasis in the heart of central London’s shopping district. A true mixed use property investment combining retail, restaurants, offices and residential.
Uberblick, Real Estate Case Study, Germany

Forum-Office, Bremen

New future neighbourhood development in Bremen with over 20 hectares and a volume of approx. €700 million.
France Corbas Lyon

Corbas, Lyon

A brownfield speculative development, the previous building was demolished and replaced by a newly built, modern cross-docking facility delivering last mile logistics to city centre Lyon.
Dubail Boutique Rolex Champs Elysées

71-73 Avenue des Champs-Elysées, Paris

This asset is a prominent corner building on a permanent retail and office location, generating stable income from diversified tenant profiles and sectors all the while offering potential value creation from under-rented units.

Our commingled fund property solutions ​

Threadneedle Property Unit Trust

The objective of the Fund is to provide indirect investment exposure to a diversified portfolio of property assets in the United Kingdom.

Threadneedle Pensions Property

The objective of the Fund is to invest primarily in direct UK commercial property. It aims to generate total returns (from income and capital appreciation) that are above its benchmark, over rolling 3 year periods.

UK Affordable Build-to-Rent

The investment strategy is targeted to meet compelling demand for good quality rental housing, with a focus on preserving local affordability.

Insights

25 April 2024

Joanna Tano

Head of Research, Europe, Real Estate (EMEA)

UK Real Estate: Talking Points April 2024

Our quarterly snapshot of current real estate market trends.
Read time - 2 min
15 February 2024

Hans Nordby

Head of Research & Analytics, Real Estate (US), Lionstone Investments

Joanna Tano

Head of Research, Europe, Real Estate (EMEA)

2024 Global Real Estate Outlook

What's in store for real estate in 2024? Global megatrends and financial conditions will impact returns and sector allocation.
Read time - 4 min
20 December 2023

Marcus Phayre-Mudge

Head of Property Investment, Thames River Capital

George Gay

Fund Manager

Targeting relative value in listed real estate

With inflation data suggesting we are at or near the peak in interest rates and investors assessing scope for cuts in 2024, real estate equities have risen sharply from their lows.
Read time - 4 min
12 December 2023

Assia Amore

European Fund Manager, Real Estate

Ian Kelley

Managing Director, Head of France, Benelux & Southern Europe, Real Estate

Joanna Tano

Head of Research, Europe, Real Estate (EMEA)

The resurgence of Europe’s luxury high streets is gathering momentum

High street retail markets across Europe are benefitting from the solid recovery of tourism, both international and domestic.
Read time - 3 min
30 June 2023

James Coke

Fund Manager & Co-head of Institutional UK Real Estate

UK real estate: half-year health check

Despite volatility in the UK property market over the past 12 months, there's been a nascent pricing recovery since March. So, what's the outlook like for the rest of the year?
Read time - 4 min
20 March 2023

James Coke

Fund Manager & Co-head of Institutional UK Real Estate

Robin Jones

Co-Head of Institutional, UK Real Estate

Delivering sustainable returns in real estate investing

Climate change is affecting every sector of our economy, and it remains one of the most important factors to consider when making long term investment decisions.
Read time - 8 min
17 March 2023

Stewart Bennett

Global Head of Alternatives

Real estate – understanding the new normal

Where next for real estate? With sections on the UK, Continental European and US real estate our team take a closer look at the economic backdrop, activity in 2022, the outlook for 2023 plus strategy calls across various sub-sectors.
Read time - 9 min
15 February 2023

Guy Glover

Director, Property Funds

Emma Gullifer

Assistant Fund Manager

Build to rent investment – performance, resilience, and a great diversifier

Residential property is no longer an emerging asset class or viewed solely as an ancillary part of a commercial property allocation.
Read time - 5 min
22 December 2022

Joanna Tano

Head of Research, Europe, Real Estate (EMEA)

Real Estate: Preserving Value

There was a definite air of positivity in European real estate markets in January and February 2022.
Read time - 4 min

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Investment strategies

We offer a broad range of actively managed investment strategies and solutions covering global, regional and domestic markets and asset classes.

Our funds

Columbia Threadneedle Investments has a comprehensive range of investment funds catering for a broad range of objectives.

Documents

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Important Information

For use by professional clients and/or equivalent investor types in your jurisdiction (not to be used with or passed on to retail clients). For marketing purposes. The above information is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered representative of any particular investment. This should not be considered an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or other financial instruments, or to provide investment advice or services.

Investing involves risk including the risk of loss of principal. Your capital is at risk. Market risk may affect a single issuer, sector of the economy, industry or the market as a whole. The value of investments is not guaranteed, and therefore an investor may not get back the amount invested. International investing involves certain risks and volatility due to potential political, economic or currency fluctuations and different financial and accounting standards. Real estate investing involves risks, including, without limitation: (i) actual operating results; (ii) interest rates; (iii) availability and costs of financing; (iv) economic and market conditions; (v) date of expected exit; (vi) increases in costs of materials or services beyond projections; (vii) force majeure events (e.g., terrorist attacks, extreme weather conditions, earthquakes, war); (viii) supply/demand imbalances; (ix) currency fluctuations; (x) litigation and disputes relating to investments with joint venture partners or third parties; (xi) changes in zoning and other laws; (xii) inability to obtain necessary licenses and permits; (xiii) competition; and (xiv) changes in tax law and tax treatment and disallowance of tax positions.
The value of directly-held property reflects the opinion of valuers and is reviewed periodically. These assets can also be illiquid and significant or persistent redemptions may require the manager to sell properties at a lower market value adversely affecting the value of your investment.
The views expressed are as of the date given, may change as market or other conditions change and may differ from views expressed by other Columbia Threadneedle Investments (Columbia Threadneedle) associates or affiliates. Actual investments or investment decisions made by Columbia Threadneedle and its affiliates, whether for its own account or on behalf of clients, may not necessarily reflect the views expressed. This information is not intended to provide investment advice and does not take into consideration individual investor circumstances. Investment decisions should always be made based on an investor’s specific financial needs, objectives, goals, time horizon and risk tolerance. Asset classes described may not be appropriate for all investors. Past performance does not guarantee future results, and no forecast should be considered a guarantee either. The information presented above has not been reviewed by any regulatory authority.

In the UK: Issued by Threadneedle Asset Management Limited, No. 573204 and/or Columbia Threadneedle Management Limited, No. 517895, both registered in England and Wales and authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Columbia Threadneedle Investments is the global brand name of the Columbia and Threadneedle group of companies.