Our approach
As one of Europe’s largest managers of real assets, with over 340 specialists across five locations, our platform has the scale to access the full depth and breadth of real asset markets. This enables us to deploy capital in an efficient and disciplined manner. Our diverse capabilities allow us to deliver the best outcomes for our clients. We do this through pooled or bespoke solutions, as well as giving clients the opportunity to co-invest with Aviva Group.
Connected thinking
Our more than 80 credit specialists have developed a deep understanding of market drivers. Their insights drive our conviction calls, identify relative value across the range of our real asset investments, and allow us to optimise portfolio construction, to build portfolios that aim to deliver the outcomes our clients require.
Strategies in focus

Key risks
Illiquidity risk
Where funds are invested in real estate / infrastructure and illiquid private assets, you may not be able to switch or cash in your investment when you want because real estate in the fund may not always be readily saleable. If this is the case we may defer your request to switch or cash in your units.
Real assets in focus

Strategies in a time of uncertainty
28 Oct 2020
Mark Versey recently took part in a panel discussion organised by Professional Pensions to discuss opportunities and challenges in alternative investments.
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The case for private debt
8 Oct 2020
Private debt proved its worth to institutional investors during a sustained period of benign market conditions. But what does the outlook look like in an altogether more challenging environment?
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Fibre broadband: The need for speed
9 Sep 2020
Lockdown measures imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the importance of digital connectivity. Tim Perry looks at the investment opportunities and challenges associated with European economies transitioning from copper to faster fibre broadband networks.
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Defined Benefit pensions de-risking: A covenant and investment view
23 Jun 2020
In the midst of the COVID-19 shock, Felix Mantz from Lincoln Pensions and Joachim Sudre from Aviva Investors explore how defined benefit pension schemes should plan their journey towards an end game and adopt a more holistic approach to risk.
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'Mastering the real estate cycle'
17 Apr 2020
The cyclicality of real estate creates opportunities for well-informed investors. However, determining where a market is in the cycle can be difficult, so we have developed a tool that can help investors overcome this challenge.
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Think like an insurer, invest like a pension scheme
10 Feb 2021
Cashflow-driven investing (CDI) is about meeting the outcome that matters most to pension schemes – being able to pay out liabilities as they fall due.
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Urban regeneration: How a secure income strategy can help revive city centres
6 Jan 2020
Like other major cities, London scores highly across a range of economic metrics. But while London’s continued capacity for renewal and attracting investment is undeniably impressive, it is often in stark contrast to other UK cities. Chris Urwin, Luke Layfield and Stanley Kwong explain what can be done to make those cities more attractive, and the respective roles investors and the public sector should play in that process.
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Real assets team

Daniel McHugh
Chief Investment Officer, Real Assets
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Barry Fowler
Managing Director, Alternative Income
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Darryl Murphy
Managing Director, Infrastructure
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Chris Urwin
Director of Research, Real Assets
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Melanie Collett
Managing Director, Asset Management, Real Assets
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Mark Meiklejon
Head of Real Asset Investment Specialists
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For further information, please contact our investment sales team.
Real assets views

Concentrate! How to benefit from specialisation and diversification in real estate
14 Apr 2021
Too much emphasis on geographic and sector diversification within real estate portfolios can hinder alpha generation. More focus on lease length, asset quality and other factors is a preferred means of reducing specific risks whilst allowing specialisation, argues Tim Perry.
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Five charts that show Copenhagen is a city of the future
7 Apr 2021
We take a visual approach to highlight why Copenhagen is such a rich, vibrant and economically prosperous city.
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What does the data say? Vaccines, illiquidity and managers called Dave
26 Mar 2021
In the first of a new monthly series, we take a visual approach to illustrate topical data themes in economies, markets and beyond. This month we look at the correlation between stock market performance and vaccinations, the illiquidity premium in real assets, and whether there are still more men called Dave running funds than female managers.
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Podcast: A clear green premium
18 Mar 2021
Our Head of ESG, Ed Dixon, recently joined Blackstock Consulting on a PropCast episode to launch their new series of ESG insights with industry leaders. Together, they discussed how the government needs to be partnering with businesses to reach their climate pledges, how the “green premium” is yielding higher rents for eco-friendly offices, and much more.
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Cut it out! The complex quest to decarbonise heating
16 Mar 2021
More countries are contemplating their visions for a lower carbon world. Norway has excluded fossil fuels entirely for heating buildings, while others are taking a more nuanced approach. So, what are the options for those with environment at the heart of their agenda?
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Can a shift in UK policy help make the ESG case for nuclear?
8 Mar 2021
The UK government says nuclear energy may have a vital role to play in cutting carbon emissions. However, more detail is needed to help investors assess nuclear technology’s ESG credentials, argue Darryl Murphy and Stanley Kwong.
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Can the UK Infrastructure Bank unleash the power of private capital?
5 Mar 2021
Now that the details have emerged on the remit and tools available to the UK Infrastructure Bank, meaningful engagement with industry should be the priority, argues Darryl Murphy.
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From crisis comes opportunity: What’s normal now?
2 Mar 2021
Big challenges bring us the opportunity to think differently. Our investment teams reveal what they have learnt from COVID-19, and how they are preparing to face whatever ‘normal’ emerges in a post-pandemic world.
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How Manchester transformed into a city of the future
26 Feb 2021
Once an industrial powerhouse, Manchester reversed its decline to become one of Europe's top creative capitals. Watch our video to find out why we call it a city of the future.
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RPI reform: The implications for real assets
22 Feb 2021
With the methodology for calculating the UK Retail Prices Index set to change in 2030, we explore the implications for real assets.
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Virtual reality: How COVID-19 is reshaping the world of work
27 Jan 2021
While the coronavirus pandemic has devastated livelihoods, it also presents an opportunity for companies and policymakers to reinvent the world of work. The future is full of possibilities – but no easy answers.
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Investing for impact in private debt to combat climate change
21 Jan 2021
Impact investment strategies will have an important role to play if the green credentials of the world’s stock of real estate is to be transformed, argue Gregor Bamert and Stanley Kwong.
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Building back better: The path to net zero
18 Jan 2021
While much of the world’s focus continues to be on tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, the climate crisis also requires urgent attention. The number of countries and companies supporting the move to a lower-carbon world is growing, but practical challenges remain. How can we build back better after COVID, and navigate to a cleaner, safer and sustainable world?
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Our annual letter to company chairpersons
15 Jan 2021
As part of our engagement efforts, every January we send a letter to the chairs of companies we invest in (and some we don’t, but still want to use our influence with) to set out our stewardship priorities for the year. Here, in full, is our 2021 letter.
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Hydrogen: Back to the future
18 Dec 2020
The UK is the latest country to accelerate plans to develop hydrogen as part of its push to reach net zero. But it is not the first time hydrogen has attracted attention – it has been trumpeted by the scientific community as a possible wonder fuel for around a century. So, what’s changed now?
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COVID recovery, net zero and policy: The outlook for UK infrastructure in 2021
16 Dec 2020
Darryl Murphy assesses the current state of the UK infrastructure market and the likely drivers of activity in 2021.
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