A GROWING awareness among investors of the lucrative returns available through investment in blue-chip commercial retail property in Britain - particularly when compared with other investment options - has seen Golding Commercial Properties (GCP), in a joint venture with Athanor Offshore Property Investments, successfully market internationally the acquisition of two buildings in England.

The combined investment value of the buildings - 13-16 Church Street in High Wycombe, and Global House in Basingstoke - is P5.2 million. This follows hot on the heels of a further P20m invested in other British retail properties through GCP/Athanor over the past 16 months.

With a proven track record as buyers in the British market and with strong offshore links through its well-connected global network, the joint venture has access to some of the most desirable commercial investment opportunities. Peter Golding, chief executive of Golding Commercial Properties, said: "We are constantly selling out these well-located investment options, usually within weeks of our launching them to the marketplace.

"While until recently a relatively untapped area of the market, both local and international investors are becoming increasingly aware that offshore commercial property investments in carefully selected buildings provide extremely rewarding and secure returns, particularly when compared with the volatility experienced by other asset classes.

"These are hand-picked, quality properties, providing investors with access to a secure investment from relatively low entry levels of P25 000. With strong tenants on 10-25-year leases, prime location and strong yields, these investments are able to ride out to advantage fluctuations in the market," said Golding Eric Mounier, CEO of Athanor Investments, said the excellent purchase yields of 7.2% achieved at Global House and 6.6% at High Wycombe, coupled with the fact that the interest rate for mortgage finance was fixed at 5.27% and 5.35% respectively, reflected the advantageous relationship between the relevant rate and property yield.

"In addition, in the case of Global House, as the acquisition costs were substantially lower than budgeted this will have a further positive impact on the returns," he said.

"Another commercial building, The Lyceum in Colchester, has since its acquisition just 11 months ago seen capital returns of 30%, of which 20% is available in cash to investors. This is significantly in excess of expectations and underlines the continued positive performance by the retail sector of UK commercial property over the medium term," said Mounier.

Just launched is the latest prime investment opportunity - Benbow House, situated in London on the River Thames, with two fully repairing and insuring leases, with upward-only rent reviews every five years, to Pizza Express and Starbucks Coffee Company - to 2028 and 2016, respectively.

Projected returns are 13% per annum, including 4% annual income.

For further information contact Richard Arderne or Nico Fourie on 021 4177888 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or offshore@ athanor.co.za, or visit www.goldingcommercial.co.za