and Scope between Regge and
Dinkel) was sent to existing and
potential customers in Twente
to herald our renewed presence in
the region.
At the moment we are hard at work
on a survey of market trends in the
Gelderland province which will
probably be published in the second
quarter of this year.
PfiH FXPFRTI^F
On 1 January 1999 FGH Expertise
was established. This new offshoot
has evolved directly from
FGH Real Estate Valuation Services,
a subsidiary concerned mainly with
the valuation of real estate.
What is new about our approach is
the combined service whereby we
offer not just valuations but also
expertise on such subjects as
taxation, law, construction,
commercial matters and markets to
existing and new target groups 'over
the counter'. This is a great advance
on the traditional, more jobfocused
approach. We are sure that in the
years ahead FGH Expertise will make
a significant contribution to the
continued enhancement of our
reputation as 'the real estate hank'.
The first positive reactions from the
market are encouraging on that point.
Thanks to many years of mutual
experience and our excellent
working relationship with partners
at EuroExpert (Drivers Jonas,
Foncier Expertise and BV Immobilien
Expertise GmbH), FGH Expertise is
able to offer its services on a
European scale as well. And inter
nationally too, FGH Expertise is
off to a flying start. The German and
British markets, in particular, are
demonstrating due interest in the
range of services offered by our new
subsidiary.
NFW I ncn AMO NFW fAMPAIflW
At the successful ceremony in which
the Fifth FGH Real Estate Award
was presented to Kantoren Fonds
Nederland Management BV for the
development of WTC Amsterdam
Airport, we showed our new logo for
the first time to our good customers
and other guests. The skyline in
the background clearly indicates our
focus as a real estate bank:
commercial real estate. At the end of
last year a new corporate campaign
was also launched. This campaign
marks a further step towards a more
prominent public presence;
appropriate to our position as the
real estate bank, a position which
NIPO research indicates is unrivalled
in the sector.
MARKET DEVELOPMENTS
In our Real Estate Report 1999
‘Choose or lose. Location Holland in
today's Europe.we as usual
examine in depth the past year's
market developments and draw
attention to a number of noteworthy
trends. We shall therefore confine
ourselves to a few main points in
this report. Demand for quality and
the increasing competition brought
about by the single European market
are the main features.
FRONT AND BACK OFFICE
PREMISES
The separation of front and back
offices is one instance of the
diversification in the office market.
In principle, having separate
premises for these business activities
reflects the division between top
management and operational
activities. The two categories have
very different requirements regarding
their location. This growing
distinction between front and back
office premises is affecting rents and
land prices at the locations in
question. The relocation of Philips'
head office to Amsterdam is a typical
example of this trend.
Proximity to Schiphol is the trump
card of the Zuidas area as our most
prestigious front office location.
In our opinion, to maintain the
attractiveness over other
accommodation competing
internationally and to prevent
destruction of capital, optimum use
should be made of existing
investments in this area. Keeping
the airport at its present location is
the only one of all the options put
forward that meets this condition.
In the long term, it might be
possible to develop a satellite branch
with rapid intercommunication,
which would maintain the value of
existing real estate investments at
the current location.
ACCESSIBILITY DETERMINES
FUNCTION
The traditional structures in the
retail market have been under
pressure for some years now.
The market is acquiring more scope
than ever for devising alternatives,
especially as the government
apparently wants to loosen its grip
on developments. Examples are
the emergence of GDV and PDV
(large-scale and out-of-town retail
developments) and convenience
locations at traffic route
intersections. Diversification is also
evident in the retail market.
Each type of outlet has its own
characteristics, largely determined
by the product range and the target
