Financial service group Liberty Group said yesterday the strategic repositioning of its properties business unit into three business opportunities was beginning to pay off and was expected to gain momentum this year.

“Liberty Properties is successfully transitioning from being a property division of a South African insurer to an emerging property brand,” Liberty Properties CEO Samuel Ogbu said.

He said the key focus areas this year would be the transition from a single-stranded property management business to a property- focused wealth brand, with multiple customers and earning streams focusing on emerging markets. Liberty Properties plans to create an Africa-wide property franchise deriving earnings across the property spectrum.

“We want to also increase assets under management without straining the group’s financial position and maximise opportunities across the Standard Bank- African footprint through collaboration,” Ogbu said. The group aims to work in partnership with other players in the property market to secure third-party business.

Liberty Group, through its property arm Liberty Properties, owns the landmark Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton.

Liberty Properties’ development pipeline has been increased to more than R3bn, of which R1bn relates to property development outside SA.