AEW Europe bolts on Arbuthnot for UK fund business

Paris-based AEW has struck up a partnership with former UBS real estate fund managers.


AEW Europe, the Paris-based European real estate asset manager, has bolted on Arbuthnot Banking Group’s real estate investment management business ArbreIM to add to its ranks in the UK.

The merger sees it bring aboard former UBS Real Estate managing director Richard Tanner and four other key people: Rachel McIsaac, asset management director; Catherine Delplace, operations and product development director; Nick Winsley, investment director; and Dana Eisner, client management and capital raising director.

Rob Wilkinson, head of European fund management at AEW Europe, said in a statement: “The opportunity to partner with such an experienced and successful team of like-minded real estate professionals rarely occurs, so we jumped at the chance.”

The new partnership will enable AEW Europe to offer clients a full range of investment opportunities in the UK market, ranging from core to opportunistic funds and separate accounts. It plans to launch an open-ended core UK property fund under the AEW UK brand early this year.

While at UBS, Tanner managed UBS’ flagship UK property fund, the Triton Property Fund. Tanner said: “The strategic fit for our team with AEW Europe was compelling. We part company with Arbuthnot Banking Group on amicable terms and look forward to being part of AEW’s global platform.”

London-based Arbuthnot operates wealth management and investment banking businesses, but it recruited Tanner in 2009 to build a real estate platform. He joined after 15 years with UBS, where he was instrumental in launching a number of UK real estate funds.