Newsline

A partnership between Denver-based Amstar Global Advisers and Renaissance Development sold the Aura Shopping Center in Novosibirsk, Russia, to Moscow-based RosEuro Development for around €195 million.

Chicago-based investment manager Heitman has raised $137.5 million for Heitman Value Partners Fund III, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Tim Walsh is leaving his position as the director of the $74 billion New Jersey Division of Investments (NJDI), according to a statement.

U.S. equity REITs underperformed the broader equity index in July, as the NAREIT All Equity REIT Index returned 0.83 percent in the past month

KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT II aims to raise $105 million, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The largest completed transactions included properties in California and Washington, D.C., acquired by Jamestown Properties.

Connecticut-based Starwood Capital Group has paid $135 million to a partnership between Forest City Enterprises and Jos. L. Muscarelle Inc. for the Liberty Center, a mixed-use hotel and office asset in Pittsburgh.

ASB Real Estate Investments has been adding prime properties to its portfolio on behalf of the Allegiance Fund, its $2.7 billion core real estate vehicle.

The $420 million Chicago Park Employees' Annuity & Benefit Fund has committed $20 million to infrastructure.

Melissa Green Pearson has joined Square Mile Capital Management as vice president of investor relations and business development.

The NCREIF Open-end Diversified Core Equity Index (ODCE) and NCREIF Property Index (NPI) both surpassed their first quarter returns in the second quarter, according to the National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries (NCREIF).

The office and hotel sectors posted the biggest gains in transaction volume in the second quarter, according to Real Capital Analytics, which has released its 2013 midyear review of the U.S. commercial real estate market.

The $95.1 billion New York State Teachers Retirement System (NYSTRS) has approved new investments in real estate totaling $100 million at its July 24 meeting.

After posting the highest first quarter returns to date, the farmland index's returns were significantly lower in the second quarter, while the timberland index performed strongly with positive returns, according to the National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries.

A joint venture between the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) and CommonWealth Partners is under contract with The Blackstone Group to acquire 1888 Century Park East, a class A property in West Los Angeles.