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Knight Frank Investment Management raises £300m for its first fund

Knight Frank Investment Management (KFIM), the investment management arm of firm Knight Frank, has raised £300m for its new open end fund.

Equity for the fund, which is the London-headquartered firm’s first, was provided by Willis Towers Watson, the London-based advisory firm formed by the recent merger between Willis Group Holdings and Towers Watson.

KFIM hopes to take capitalise on Knight Frank’s wider expertise in the residential and commercial property sector in the investment it makes using the new fund.

Commenting on the first close of funding, Kevin Aitchison, Chief Executive Officer of KFIM, said: “Launching our first fund is an important step in the on-going development of the KFIM business and, coming so soon after passing £1 billion of assets under management, continues the underlying momentum within the business.

“The equity was provided by pension fund clients of Willis Towers Watson who were looking for innovative secure income investment solutions with attractive fund terms as well as structures which align interests.

“The success of the launch is testament to a lot of hard work by the KFIM team and we have already identified a good pipeline of potential opportunities; the focus will now be on ensuring that we invest the money as quickly and as efficiently as possible.”