Warburg-Henderson, a joint venture between Henderson Global Investors and German private bank M.M.Warburg & Co, plans to focus on core plus investments in Germany and France this year, with the aim of acquiring around EUR 700 mln worth of assets.

'We remain focused on the solvent European market, particularly Germany and France, with a preference for core plus investments,' said managing director Henning Klöppelt. 'However where appropriate opportunities arise, we will also invest in the value-add segment in Germany. In the UK we remain interested in selective retail opportunities for which we forecast an optimistic outlook.'

Warburg-Henderson executed EUR 960 mln in transactions in 2010, EUR 690 mln of which in acquisitions and EUR 270 mln in disposals. Although the majority of investments were in Germany and the UK, the company also carried out some 'selective investments' in Spain and the Benelux.

'We are fortunate to have had the support and confidence of our investors who have provided us with a total of EUR 600 mln in new equity commitments throughout the year,' Kloppelt added.

Warburg - Henderson KAG, which was founded in 2001, has so far launched 14 property funds for German and international institutional investors, including insurance companies and pension funds. The assets under management amounted to EUR 3.7 bn at year-end 2010.