Property slump hits property investors

Sir Alex Ferguson, the manager of the Manchester United, is among the property investors who might be considering stock market training after it emerged a company he has invested in has been badly affected by the economic slump.

Active Asset Management (aAim), which is chaired by Sir David Frost, has been hit by falling property values and the withdrawal of financial support by HBOS.

Pop music supremo and X Factor judge Simon Cowell, along with footballers Gareth Barry and Alan Smith, have also been linked with the company.

In a statement, aAim commented: "We remain significant landlords along with our investors and are in the process of raising new equity in order to take advantage of the value opportunities offered by the anticipated economic conditions of 2009 and 2010."

Over the last year, property prices in the UK have fallen by around 15 per cent.