Developing and implementing sustainability strategies for UBS GAM’s UK managed property funds
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The Challenge
Sustainability is redefining the balance in real estate investment decision making. Driven by a combination of investor interest, government regulation and occupier demand UBS GAM was faced with the challenge of developing and implementing commercially focused sustainability strategies and approaches for its UK managed property funds.
The Solution
Following a competitive tender process in early 2010, the C&W sustainability team was appointed to develop a sustainability policy and strategy for two of UBS GAM’s UK managed propeorty funds, namely Triton and CLOVA (Central London Office Value Added fund – at the time known as the South East Recovery Fund). By Autumn 2010 the intensive work programme involving inputs from a wide range of individuals within UBS GAM and its supply chain, detailed market research and the expert inputs of our team, ensured the delivery of bespoke sustainability policies for each of the funds. The focus in each case was on practicable and deliverable objectives and actions, prioritised to extract maximum value for UBS, its investors and the users of its buildings. The C&W Sustainability team was subsequently appointed to assist UBS GAM in putting these policies into action and have since been acting as sustainability managing agents on behalf of UBS GAM for its UK manged funds, taking full responsibility for driving performance at the individual asset and the fund level.
The Results
In a market where sustainability is becoming an increasingly fundamental component of good practice investment and asset management, the expert advice and assistance of the C&W Sustainability team has over a period of three years (and continuing) helped UBS GAM to transform the sustainability performance of its UK managed property funds. This has helped UBS to reposition itself as a sustainability leader in the UK market. Most importantly our inputs directly supports bottom line by protecting its investments against early obsolescence and risk to value, and by helping UBS to operate efficient and effective buildings that will remain attractive to prospective investors and tenants in the future.