Finlay and Associates will manage the 13 office blocks and parks owned by Transnet Retirement Funds (TRF). Many of these are A-listed Johannesburg properties.

Finlay and Associates, founded in 1983, specialises in property management, development and consulting for financial institutions such as retirement funds and insurance companies.

Managing director Lynette Finlay says the focus will be on supporting the asset management strategy of Transnet Pension Fund, which manages TRF's property assets, through marketing and brokering leases with a view to increasing occupancy levels.

"One of our company's highest priorities is tenant retention," Finlay says.

"Experience has shown that it can cost clients up to a year's rental to re-let premises.

"Not only will we provide in-depth management, personalised service and results-oriented systems and controls, but we will also expect to streamline expenses and increase the overall performance of the portfolio," she says .

The fund's trustees say they decided to put the management of its property assets out for tender in the hope of finding managers who specialise in different niche management sectors.

This would add value to the TRF' s property portfolio, the trustees felt.

"We believe that we have found this with Finlay and Associates and look forward to a long and prosperous relationship," explains Cheryl Wendelken, executive in charge of the Transnet Pension Fund's property portfolio.