UK - Institutional investors continued the exodus out of the UK domestic market in the first half of 2007, and became net sellers with divestments worth €8.7bn.
Figures to be published by Jones Lang Lasalle on pan-European investment reveal UK investors have upped their acquisition activity in continental Europe over the first half of 2007 to €11.8bn, up from €6.8bn in the same period last year.
Their primary focus has been on the mature markets of Germany, the Netherlands and France, which accounted for more than 70% of the UK capital invested across the continent.
Germany was the single-largest destination market for UK investors' real estate spending, with €4.7bn spent, up from €3.7bn in the first half of 2006. The second-largest destination market, the Netherlands, accounted for half that amount, while France and Sweden trailed with €1.5bn and under €1bn respectively.
Overall, sales by UK investors totalled €3.6bn, reflecting net divestment of €8.2bn.
Mark Jones, director of investment advisory at Jones Lang Lasalle, told Âé¶¹Ó³» Real Estate he expected the outward trend to continue, with UK investors shifting investment to emerging markets in search of performance.


