News & Analysis

All the world's a playground for private equity real estate investors targeting global leisure-related property investments. And, arguably in more than any other real estate sector, changing demographics are driving the trend. By Eva Poon

Russia's expanding middle class is opening up huge opportunities in the retail and office sector. But with investment in Russia still a risky gambit, particularly outside the two main cities, do foreign investors have the stomach for the opportunity? By Dave Keating

With the market dislocation ringing in the ears of general partners and the denominator effect impacting investors, the real estate secondaries market is set to expand five-fold over the next two years, with up to $5bn of trades expected each year. Experts argue it could eventually be half the size of the $15bn private equity secondaries market. By Zoe Hughes

David Blight, chairman and chief executive of ING's €72 billion property investment management business dropped a bombshell over the summer when he resigned in order to return to Australia with his family. After three and a half years in the job, he is leaving a legacy. In an interview with PERE, Blight explains why and how ING has witnessed a revolution, by at last creating a global opportunity platform. By Robin Marriott

MGPA, the London-based real estate investment firm, has closed its latest Asia real estate fund, MGPA Asia III, on $3.9bn, the largest dedicated Asian real estate vehicle ever raised. Combined with the firm's latest European vehicle, MGPA has secured $5.2bn in capital commitments during its latest fundraise. By Zoe Hughes

The fund, targeting real estate developments in Greater China, is the firm's second Asia-focused vehicle.

Shortly after the firm revealed that it is opening an office in Beijing, Blackstone is set to acquire a commercial property in Shanghai for $158m.

In the new world of private equity real estate investing, capital will be coming from everywhere and going everywhere, from increasingly sophisticated institutional investors spread around the globe. GPs should keep this in mind as they decide how to target Asia. By Dave Keating

The Whitehall Funds, managed by Goldman Sachs, has acquired a German residential company with an enterprise value of €3.4bn, in one of the last remaining deals of its kind in the country.

Ex-AIG hotels head Keith Lindsay has joined Central Eastern European developer and asset manager Orco to run its hospitality division.