In a 5 year strategy plan Sanlam Properties have, through the sale of Sanlam's non-core and other right time/right price properties, the securitisation of their own property fund and a focused marketing drive on filling vacancies by their management company, JHI Properties, (previously Gensec Property Services) achieved a record breaking GLA vacancy of only 2.0% on the property portfolio as at the end of December 2006.

Banus van der Walt, the Managing Director of Sanlam Properties cites this achievement as the best ever performance on vacancies in the history of the Sanlam property portfolio.   "In the five years we sold off 245 properties with a market value of R5.7bn.   At the beginning of 2002, the vacancy of our then R10.9bn, 3,4 million m2 GLA portfolio comprised a relatively high 15.6% so the current 2% vacancy on Sanlam's remaining 1,3 million m2 GLA real estate holdings is indicative of a strategy that has come full circle on what is now truly a blue chip R8.4bn property portfolio" says van der Walt.

"In 2006" says Marna van der Walt, the CEO of JHI Properties "our success in concluding contracts to the value of R730m on leasing deals and letting a total area of 302 000 m2 in the process was due to a dedicated drive to fill the vacancies and the quality of stock which was available. We also offered staff incentives which resulted in us delivering a service that exceeded our client's expectations"

Ends

Editorial Contacts:

Arlene Hennessy
JHI
Tel:  011 911 8000
Direct Line:  011 911 8268
Fax:  086 683 4072
Cell:  0723451344
e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Bongi Potelwa
Livewired Communications
Tel: 011 202 7877
Fax: 011 804 3804
Cell:  082 932 0852
E-mail:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.