WASHINGTON, December 8, 2005 - Watson Wyatt Investment Consulting and The
Townsend Group, the largest global institutional real estate consulting
specialist, today announced a strategic alliance whereby Townsend will
provide real estate consulting services in the United States to Watson
Wyatt clients.
"This relationship benefits both organizations and, most importantly, our
clients, who will have access to the world´s premier real estate consulting
firm," said Howard Crane, North American practice director for Watson Wyatt
Investment Consulting. "With real estate an important asset class for
pension managers, this alliance helps us to provide clients with
independent, world-class consulting services."
Townsend will be the exclusive real estate contractor to Watson Wyatt
Investment Consulting. It will provide analysis of real estate investment
trends and opportunities and access to its full array of resources,
including proprietary databases and manager research. Townsend will also
assist in the design and implementation of client real estate investment
portfolios.
"We are pleased to be assisting Watson Wyatt Investment Consulting," said
Terrance Ahern, co-founder and principal of Townsend. "This relationship
will allow us both to do what we do best: serve the investment needs of
institutional investors."
Sanjay Mansukhani, who oversees Watson Wyatt´s research into investment
managers in private equity and real estate in the United States, will
manage the relationship with Townsend.
About Watson Wyatt Investment Consulting
Watson Wyatt Investment Consulting, a division of Watson Wyatt, is focused
on creating financial value for institutional investors through
independent, best-in-class investment advice. We are specialist investment
professionals who provide coordinated investment strategy advice based on
expertise in risk assessment, strategic asset allocation and investment
manager selection. Watson Wyatt Investment Consulting provides investment
advice to some of the world´s largest pension funds and institutional
investors, and has more than 300 associates in Europe, the Americas and
Asia.
In the United States, investment advisory and investment consulting
services are provided by Watson Wyatt Investment Consulting, Inc., which is
a subsidiary of Watson Wyatt & Company. Watson Wyatt Investment Consulting,
Inc. is a registered investment adviser with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Watson Wyatt (NYSE: WW) is a leading global human capital and financial
management consulting firm. The firm specialises in employee benefits,
investment consulting, human capital strategies, technology solutions, and
insurance and financial services and has 6,000 associates in 30 countries.
The firm is located on the Web at www.watsonwyatt.com.
About Townsend
Townsend is the leading provider of real estate consulting services
worldwide. The firm serves a wide range of clients, including public
pension plans, foundations, endowments and Taft-Hartley plans. The firm
provides consulting services to more than 70 client portfolios with real
estate assets in excess of $70 billion. Townsend has 32 dedicated real
estate professionals plus support staff located in Cleveland, San Francisco
and Denver.
Contact
Ed Emerman, (609) 452-5967, eemerman[at]eaglepr.com
Paul Deane-Williams, +44 (0)1737 274397,
paul.deane-williams[at]watsonwyatt.com
Rob Kochis, (216) 781-9090, rob[at]townsendgroup.com