Research Reports

Two super-mega-funds sponsored by Blackstone and Brookfield raised $17.3 billion and $15.0 billion, respectively, pushing first quarter 2019 fundraising volume to a record total.

The average size of an infrastructure private equity fund increased slightly in 2018 — to $2.0 billion — but the average closing time decreased to 17.1 months compared with 20.7 months in 2017.

With the proliferation of mega-funds, the average fund size climbed to $801 million in 2018, up from $590 million two years ago.

Only three infrastructure funds held final closings in fourth quarter through Dec. 4, but their capital totals helped push infrastructure fundraising to new heights in 2018.

With nearly $100 billion raised in the first three quarters of the year, the 2018 12-month total has a chance to break the all-time record of $134.9 billion set in 2008.

The ever expanding size of funds in infrastructure markets is a trend that isn’t likely to end anytime soon. In fact, the definition of mega-funds — those funds with final closes of $2 billion or more — might need to be updated to reflect funds that are increasingly targeting $10s of billions in capital commitments.

Year-to-date, 35 infrastructure funds have closed with more than $69.4 billion raised, which already puts 2018 in the record books as the year with the highest 12-month fundraising volume.

According to the IREI FundTracker database, funds reaching a final close in third quarter 2018 raised a total of $28.6 billion compared to $18.3 billion raised during third quarter 2017.

According to IREI’s FundTracker database, 288 infrastructure investment funds are currently marketing. Of those, 37 are open-end, six are semi-closed-end (having a long but finite fundraising period), and the remaining are closed-end.

According to the IREI FundTracker database, there are 336 open-end funds, 460 closed-end funds and 36 semi-closed end (has a 7- to 10-year fundraising window) funds currently soliciting capital.

According to IREI’s FundTracker database, infrastructure mega-funds have accounted for 76 percent of the capital raised, as of Aug. 1, 2018. In addition, more mega-funds have already closed YTD than in any of the past five years.

According to the FundTracker database, 2018 fundraising is ahead of 2017, thanks to the increasing size of large mega-funds that have closed year to date.

According to IREI’s FundTracker database, infrastructure fundraising is on pace to have a very good year. If the second half proves as positive as the first, it could even be a record year.

According to the FundTracker database, real estate investment fundraising in the first half of 2018 is tracking well ahead of the first half of 2017 and 2016. If fundraising continues at the same pace it has in  previous years, total commitments in 2018 could top those of the record-setting 2015.

In 2016, 16 percent of the infrastructure funds reaching a final closing were debt funds. Last year, that percentage fell to 7 percent. When looking at capital raised, 2016 saw 8 percent of the total capital coming from debt funds. In 2017, that total fell to 5 percent. The trend looks to be continuing into 2018.

According to the IREI FundTracker database, real estate investment funds with a debt component accounted for 28 percent of the funds reaching final close in 2017, up from 2016’s 22 percent share. They also accounted for 44 percent of the capital raised in 2017, versus 32 percent in 2016.

According to the IREI FundTracker database, investors are showing a strong preference for regionally focused funds, with global funds continuing to raise less capital than other strategies.

According to IREI’s FundTracker database, global funds account for 41 percent of the capital raised YTD 2018 in funds reaching a final closing. In 2017, global funds accounted for only 18 percent of the capital raised.

According to the IREI FundTracker database, private equity infrastructure funds closing in first quarter 2018 raised significantly less capital than those closing first quarter 2017. If things continue in this direction, it will add 2018 to the ebb and flow pattern seen since at least 2013, where odd number years are good for infrastructure fundraising, and even numbered years not so good.

According to IREI’s FundTracker database, more capital was raised by real estate investment funds closing in Q1/2018 than in any first quarter since 2015.

According to data from IREI’s FundTracker database, infrastructure funds are continuing to grow in size, with the largest dominating the market. Funds raising more than $2 billion accounted for 74 percent of the capital raised, while funds raising $3 billion or more brought in 56 percent of the capital. Those raising less than $500 million accounted for only 4 percent of the total capital raised.

During the past three years, more than 60 percent of capital was raised by mega-funds. Funds raising less than $500 million accounted for about 60 percent of the number of funds, but less than 20 percent of the capital raised.

According to IREI’s FundTracker database, infrastructure funds took a bit more time to close in 2017 than they did in 2016. Averages can be deceiving, however, as both the two fastest and two slowest closing funds were European.

According to IREI’s FundTrack database, real estate funds holding a final close in 2017 were on offer for about 18.0 months. This compares to 18.7 months in both 2014 and 2015, and 19 months in 2016. Trimmed averages confirm that marketing times are inching down, with 2017’s trimmed mean coming in at 17.1 months compared to 17.7 months and 17.6 months in 2015 and 2016, respectively.

According to IREI’s FundTracker database, preliminary 2017 numbers indicate that infrastructure fundraising has continued its ebb and flow fundraising pattern, with 2014 being a down year, 2015 being up, 2016 being down and 2017 being up again. During this time, the market is moving in an overall upward direction.

According to IREI’s FundTracker database, only 19 funds have reported a final closing so far in Q4 2017, with an aggregate total of capital raised coming in at $13.6 billion. This is significantly fewer than the number of funds closed in Q4 2016, as well as significantly less capital raised.

According to IREI’s FundTracker database, 2017 infrastructure fundraising is very similar to that of 2016. Total aggregate capital raised, total number of funds closed, average size of funds and other 2017 metrics are nearly the same as 2016.

TrendWatch updates a few of the charts used during the year and finds investors continuing to move to the defensive end of the spectrum, investment funds continuing to grow in size, mega-funds continuing to dominate, and investment totals continuing to trend down.

Based on capital raised by infrastructure funds holding a final closing in the past three years, just five managers have raised 35 percent of the capital, despite being only 8 percent of the managers sponsoring funds closing since Jan. 1, 2015. The top 10 managers brought in 51 percent of the capital.

According to the Global Investment Managers 2017 survey, the top 20 real estate investment firms now control more than half of the world’s real estate assets under management. These firms increased their market share by 1 percent year-over-year, which is pretty significant when based on the $3 trillion in assets under management reported by the 199 firms responding to the survey.

We’re three-quarters of the way through 2017, and it appears that 2017 infrastructure fundraising has a very good chance of coming in ahead of 2016, and is enticingly close to surpassing 2015, as well. In addition, the average size of funds reaching final closing is continuing to grow.

Early third quarter numbers are in, and they continue to point to 2017 being a down year for real estate investment funds when compared to 2015 and 2016. The amount of capital raised, number of funds reaching a final close and the average size of the funds were all down in Q3/17, as well as in the first three quarters combined, when compared to the same time periods in previous years.

According to IREI’s FundTracker database, more than two-thirds of the infrastructure funds launched since the beginning of 2014 are still seeking investors. Europe is favored when looking at sheer numbers of funds, but global strategies jump to the top when looking at the amount of capital sought.

More than 900 private equity real estate funds are currently in the marketing phase of their lifecycle, with about two-thirds of those being closed-end funds. One third of the funds in the market were launched in 2016 or 2017, but more than 160 closed-end funds were first offered prior to 2014.

According to IREI’s FundTracker database, nearly four-fifths of capital raised by infrastructure funds holding a final close in 2017 has been committed to a mega-fund — those funds raising $2 billion or more. Average mega-fund size is continuing to increase, as is the range between the smallest and largest mega-funds.

Although mega-funds have raised 62 percent of the capital raised by funds holding a final close since the beginning of 2017, their average size has decreased significantly.

According to the IREI FundTracker database, less than $3 billion was raised by infrastructure funds reaching a final close in the second quarter of 2017. Thanks to the $15.8 billion GIP III fund closing in the first quarter, first half 2017 is still well ahead of first half 2016, but fundraising trends don’t bode well for the rest of the year.

According to IREI’s FundTracker database, infrastructure debt funds are having trouble gaining traction. They accounted for less than 8% of the capital raised by infrastructure funds reaching a final close in 2016. So far in 2017, they have failed to show up at all, with no debt fund closing year to date.

According to IREI’s FundTracker database, debt-only funds plus funds with a debt component made up 40 percent of the capital closed in 2014. That market share has fallen each year until it now stands at just 27 percent of capital raised YTD 2017.

According to the IREI FundTracker database, global infrastructure funds have grown both in size and market share during the past three years and are currently dominating the infrastructure fundraising market. In contrast, U.S. funds have seen their share of the market fall to just 12 percent in 2016, and less than 1 percent YTD 2017.

According to IREI’s FundTracker database, market share for global/multi-regional funds has fallen since 2015, and is now surpassed by both North American– and Europe-focused funds.

Fundraising totals for infrastructure funds reaching final closing in first quarter 2017 reached more than $30 billion, according to IREI’s FundTracker database. One fund accounted for more than half this total.

According to IREI’s FundTracker database, fundraising totals are significantly down in the first quarter of 2017 when compared to the same periods of 2015 and 2016. These first quarter numbers are preliminary and will change as additional data is captured, but it is unlikely first quarter 2017 will approach the total of first quarter 2016, which itself was lower than the total raised in first quarter 2015.

According to IREI’s FundTracker database, infrastructure mega-funds — those $2 billion or more in size — have accounted for 70 percent of the capital raised by closed funds since 2014. These funds have increased their market share each year since 2012, and are on track to continue this trend into 2017.

March, 2017 — According to IREI’s FundTracker database, mega-funds are still raising more than their fair share of capital, with their three-year rolling averages continuing to trend upward. However, their percentage of the total market fell in 2016 versus 2015.

February, 2017 — According to the IREI FundTracker database, infrastructure funds reaching final closing in 2016 were in the market almost 20 percent longer than those closing in 2015. Their 18.2-month average was the longest since 2012.

February, 2017 — According to IREI’s FundTracker database, real estate funds holding a final closing in 2016 were only in the market, start to finish, for about 18 months, on average. Global funds, debt funds and mega-funds all reached a final closing significantly sooner than the mean.

January, 2017 — According to IREI’s FundTracker database, infrastructure funds reaching final close in 2016 raised an aggregate of $56.4 billion, coming in slightly ahead of 2015’s total. Mega-funds accounted for 33 percent of all funds closed, while raising 75 percent of the year’s total capital.

January, 2017 — According to IREI’s FundTracker database, 2016 was a solid, but not spectacular, fundraising year, with annual capital raised coming in at $90 billion, well short of 2015’s $110 billion total.

December, 2016 — 2016 is turning out to look like a repeat of 2015 in the infrastructure fundraising arena. The number of funds closed and capital raised are the same, or nearly the same, YTD 2016 as that of 2015. Other metrics also bring a sense of déjà vu.

December, 2016 — According to IREI’s FundTracker database, 2016 is trailing 2015’s fundraising totals by about $25 billion. In addition, investors are looking toward more defensive strategies, such as debt funds, and stepping back a bit from higher-return strategies.

November, 2016 — According to the IREI FundTracker database, the top infrastructure managers continue to control an outsized share of the market, with sponsors of the five largest funds accounting for nearly one-quarter of the capital raised since 2014. Sponsors of the 10 largest funds closing in that time account for about 38 percent of the capital raised.

November, 2016 — According to IREI’s FundTracker, the real estate investment industry grew about 13 percent by year-end 2015. As in past years, much of the growth was consolidated in a few top firms, with the top two firms alone being responsible for more than 10 percent of the world’s AUM.

October, 2016 — According to IREI’s FundTracker, infrastructure funds closing in third quarter 2016 raised $21.7 billion, bringing the yearly total to $43.8 billion.

October, 2016 — Continuing the trend found in the first two quarters of 2016, fewer funds reached final closing, and less capital was raised, in third quarter 2016 than in third quarter 2015. Two funds were responsible for 40 percent of the capital raised in that quarter.

September, 2016 — According to IREI’s TrendWatch, 52 percent of the infrastructure funds reaching final close since Jan. 1, 2014, focused on energy strategies. Energy funds also account for 46 percent of infrastructure funds launched in that time period.

September, 2016 — According to IREI’s FundTracker database, diversified funds accounted for 42 percent of the real estate funds closed, and 52 percent of the capital raised, since Jan. 1, 2015. The second most-popular sector focus was debt, followed by residential funds.

August, 2016 — Infrastructure mega-funds have accounted for 78 percent of capital raised by infrastructure funds closing year-to-date 2016. One fund accounted for nearly 38 percent of all capital raised YTD.

August, 2016 — Mega-funds, which accounted for 66 percent of the capital closed in 2015 only account for 55 percent so far this year. They are also taking slightly longer to close than in previous years.

July, 2016 — Funds closing in second quarter 2016 raised only 34 percent of capital raised by funds closing in the same time period of 2015. Based on amount of capital raised YTD, 2016 is proving to be a very slow year for infrastructure.

July, 2016 — The trend of fewer real estate investment funds raising larger amounts of capital is continuing quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year. When looking at funds holding final closes in second quarter 2016, three of the 24 funds closed accounted for 55 percent of the capital raised.

June, 2016 — In the past 30 months, infrastructure funds holding a final closing have raised $124.3 billion. Just $9.4 billion of that total came from debt funds. So far in 2016, only one debt fund has closed, raising $647 million for Europe infrastructure.

June, 2016 — According to IREI’s FundTracker database, the amount of capital raised by debt funds has slowed but, because the entire fundraising market has slowed, their market share has increased. North America and Europe continue to attract the lion’s share of interest.

May, 2016 — Based on YTD data, 2016 is looking like it will be a weak fundraising year for infrastructure. Amount of capital raised by funds closed, amount of capital targeted by nearly launched funds, and absolute number of funds launched and closed are all down year-over-year — as well as down year over multiple years.

May, 2016 — Only 62 funds have launched this year compared to 101 during the same time period last year, and only 34 funds have closed versus 41 at this time in 2015. North America, in particular, has seen a fall off in interest.

April, 2014 — According to preliminary first quarter 2016 numbers, the number of infrastructure funds reaching a final close in the first quarter has continued to decrease while the size of those funds has increased. In addition, the time from launch to final closing is increasing.

April, 2016 — Based on early numbers for first quarter 2016, real estate fundraising is chugging along at a steady pace, with amounts raised in Q1/15 and Q1/16 being nearly identical. Higher-return strategies dominate as investors look to meet return objectives.

March, 2016 — In 2013, the average infrastructure fund closed at $1.6 billion. By 2015, that average had increased to $2.2 billion. Despite the fact that non-mega funds grew to almost $1 billion on average, mega-funds still accounted for 72 percent of the capital raised by funds closing in 2015.

March, 2016 — Mega-funds continue to take market share from smaller funds. In 2015, funds that closed with $1 billion or more in commitments accounted for 22 percent of all funds closed and 69 percent of the capital raised.

February, 2016 — The amount of time the average fund takes from beginning to final close has crept up over the past year. Funds focused on North America and/or energy, however, closed more than 33 percent faster than the overall average.

February, 2016 — According to IREI’s FundTracker database, the amount of time real estate funds are in the market has fallen steadily since 2013. Large funds, global funds and higher-return funds had the shortest closing times.

January, 2016 — According to IREI’s FundTracker database, infrastructure investors can choose from more than 275 funds now in the market. Investment options range from debt to equity, from open-end to closed-end, from regionally focused to globally focused, and much more.

January, 2016 — According to IREI’s FundTracker, investors have more choices than ever when it comes to placing their real estate allocations. The number of funds currently marketing has grown, as has the amount of capital being sought, the number of regions being targeted and the types of structure available to investors.

January, 2016 — According to FundTracker, the 21 infrastructure funds closing in 2015 raised about $45 billion. In 2014, 32 funds raised $45.1 billion. Both years are a drop from 2013’s $52 billion raise, but both still represent a significant amount of capital looking for deals.

January, 2016 — Thanks to Blackstone’s $15.8 billion fund close, 4Q/15 fundraising totals surpassed those of 4Q/14, and took 2015’s total capital raised past the $100 billion mark.

December, 2016 — As 2015 winds down, investors and managers are looking back with a sigh of relief. 2014 had been a very good year for real estate, and there was some skepticism that the good times would continue. But they did.

December, 2016 — According to FundTracker, the average size of all funds having final closings in the past three years is still growing — increasing from $507 million in 2013 to $883 million YTD 2015. Much of this increase, however, is due to the increasing size of mega-funds, which came in at $1.8 billion in 2013 and $2.7 billion YTD 2015.

December, 2015 — TrendWatch tracked open-end funds launched since the beginning of 2011. The number launched each year grew through 2013, then began a slide that mirrored the growth years.

December, 2015 — According to IREI's FundTracker database, 74 percent of all capital raised by funds closed year-to-date has been for higher-return strategies. In addition, the average fund size of higher-return funds is more than double that of lower-return or mid-return funds.

November, 2015 — The need for modern infrastructure is wide and varied, but only three fund strategies are catching investors’ attention — energy, diversified and debt.

November, 2015 — Despite investors often voicing a preference for sector-specific funds, the vast majority of real estate investment funds are diversified across all sectors. Another large percentage have mandates for two sectors. Few are truly sector-specific.

November, 2015 — Despite the interest in infrastructure financing, only six infrastructure debt funds have closed since Jan. 1, 2013, according to IREI’s FundTracker. In total, these funds raised less than $10 billion.

October, 2017 — Based on FundTracker data, real estate debt funds have become a significant part of the market. The amount of capital raised by funds with a debt component is significantly greater than their numbers would indicate.

October, 2015 — TrendWatch finds that more infrastructure funds are launched in January than any other month. October is the most popular month for fund closings, while funds closed in April raised the most capital.

October, 2016 — During the past four years, more funds were launched in January than any other month of the year. In fact, more than double the number of funds were launched in the first month of the year than in June, the second most popular month. June turns out to be the second most-popular month for closings, as well.

October, 2015 — According to TrendWatch, only 25 infrastructure funds have been launched this year compared to 46 at this same time in 2014 and 61 at the end of third quarter 2013.

September, 2015 — So far in 2015, 110 new real estate funds have launched, seeking an aggregate total of more than $50 billion. Of those funds, nearly 80 percent are focused on North America and Europe.

September, 2015 — Despite a dearth of traditional infrastructure deals (i.e. anything except energy), the United States continues to attract more than 60 percent of the infrastructure capital raised by funds closed since 2013.

September, 2015 — According to the Global Investment Managers 2015 survey, the top 20 real estate investment managers now control more than 50 percent of the total real estate AUM — and if trends continue, they’ll control even more next year as all firms in the top 10 have increased their AUM each year for the past two years.

September, 2015 — According to IREI's FundTracker database, infrastructure funds launched since 2013 have been highly successful in meeting their goals, with the total raise reaching 71% of the total target. Only 32% of those funds have held final closings, but of the closed funds, 66% were oversubscribed.

August, 2015 — According to data from FundTracker, 8 percent of the funds launched since 2013 have been sponsored by emerging managers. While the maximum fund size for funds launched by established managers is nearly 87 percent larger than the average emerging manager's fund size, most of the other data indicates that emerging managers are doing just as well as established managers when it comes to accessing capital.

August, 2015 — According to the IREI FundTracker, the number of infrastructure funds launched in first half 2015 has fallen by 39 percent compared to the number launched in first half 2014. The number of funds closed has also fallen, though the amount of capital raised has increased.

August, 2015 — According to the IREI FundTracker, the first half of 2015 is a bit mixed when compared to the first half 2014. Fewer funds launched in 1H15 than in 1H14, but more funds have closed this year than last. The amount of capital raised in the first half of 2015 is about 37 percent more than that raised in the same period in 2014.

August, 2015 — Energy funds have accounted for 57 percent of the total infrastructure funds launched and closed over the past three years, as measured by targeted and raised capital. And the attraction has increased each year, to the point that nearly all new funds launched in 2015 are energy focused. Where does this leave the other infrastructure sectors?

July, 2015 — Mega-funds are capturing a larger market share than ever before. They now account for about 14 percent of the funds closed but about 65 percent of the capital raised YTD 2015.

July, 2015 — Based on the infrastructure funds that have closed YTD 2015, the average fundraising period has fallen to less than a year. Americas-focused infrastructure funds closed in the shortest amount of time among the regions, while energy funds led the sectors.

July, 2015 — Based on the funds that have closed YTD 2015, the average time for a fund to be in the market is now a little less than 17 months, compared to a little more than 17 months for all of 2014. Global funds, debt funds and mega funds are finding the most acceptance.

July, 2015 — According to the IREI FundTracker database, the number of infrastructure funds launched during 2015 has slowed dramatically compared to previous years. The average fund size, however, remains well over $1 billion. To no one’s surprise, nearly all newly launched infrastructure funds are focused on the energy or renewables sector. For more details on what is going on in the market — and why investors are constantly in play, view the report.

June, 2015 — With real estate reaching pre-recession levels in the major gateway cities and moving in the right direction in secondary regions, it is safe to say that real estate is back, and with it, funds are seeing a strong resurgence. According to the IREI FundTracker database, there are at least 25 more funds being marketed now than there were in January. For more details on what is in the market — and why investors will undoubtedly find their phones ringing nonstop this year.

The aggregate AUM of the top 100 largest investment managers increased by 15.8 percent in 2017, totaling more than $3.2 trillion, according to Global Investment Managers 2018, the annual survey and report produced by Property Funds Research and Institutional Real Estate, Inc. For some perspective, at year-end 2008, the aggregate AUM of the top 100 investment managers totaled $1.2 trillion. A total of 197 real estate investment managers across the globe responded to the survey, representing an aggregate AUM of nearly $3.5 trillion. The top 10 largest investment managers accounted for $1.154 trillion of AUM, which represents 33.2 percent of the total. This group of managers saw their AUM increase 11.2 percent from year-end 2016. The 2017 report, based on 2016 AUM figures, showed only three investment managers with assets of more than $100 billion. In this year’s rankings, six firms eclipsed the $100 billion mark.

The aggregate AUM of the top 100 largest investment managers totaled more than €2.71 trillion, according to Global Investment Managers 2018, the annual survey and report produced by Property Funds Research and Institutional Real Estate, Inc. For some perspective, at year-end 2008, the aggregate AUM of the top 100 investment managers totaled €1.44 trillion. A total of 197 real estate investment managers across the globe responded to the survey, representing an aggregate AUM of nearly €2.90 trillion. The top 10 largest investment managers accounted for €961.5 billion of AUM, which represents 33.2 percent of the total. This group of managers saw their AUM increase 11.2 percent from year-end 2016. The 2017 report, based on 2016 AUM figures, showed only three investment managers with assets of more than €80 billion. In this year’s rankings, six firms eclipsed the €80 billion mark.

The aggregate AUM of the top 100 largest investment managers increased 7.3 percent in 2016, totaling more than $2.8 trillion, according to Global Investment Managers 2017, an annual survey and report produced by Property Funds Research and Institutional Real Estate, Inc. A total of 199 real estate investment managers across the globe responded to the survey, representing an aggregate AUM of slightly more than $3 trillion. The top 10 largest investment managers accounted for $1.038 trillion of AUM, which represents 34.5 percent of the total. This group of managers saw their AUM increase an average of 12.2 percent from 2015. Blackstone topped the rankings with more than $166 billion of AUM, followed by Brookfield Asset Management and PGIM, with $148 billion and $125 billion of AUM, respectively.

The aggregate AUM of the top 100 largest investment managers increased 7.3 percent in 2016, totaling more than €2.7 trillion, according to Global Investment Managers 2017, an annual survey and report produced by Property Funds Research and Institutional Real Estate, Inc. A total of 199 real estate investment managers across the globe responded to the survey, representing an aggregate AUM of slightly more than €2.8 trillion. The top 10 largest investment managers accounted for €0.98 trillion of AUM, which represents 34.5 percent of the total. This group of managers saw their AUM increase an average of 12.2 percent from 2015. Blackstone topped the rankings with more than €158 billion of AUM, followed by Brookfield Asset Management and PGIM, with €140 billion and €119 billion of AUM, respectively.

2016 — A number of mangers enjoyed double-digit growth in AUM during the past year, according to Global Investment Managers 2016, an annual survey and report produced by Property Funds Research and Institutional Real Estate, Inc. The industry’s top two largest investment managers, Brookfield Asset Management, with $149.8 billion in AUM as of year-end 2015, and The Blackstone Group, with $147.6 billion in AUM, recorded growth of 19 percent and 22 percent, respectively, based on figures reported in the prior year’s survey. The two behemoths continue to outpace others in the industry, as there is a growing and sizable gap between them and the other largest investment management firms. Blackstone has become a fundraising machine. In early 2015, the firm closed its Blackstone Real Estate Partners VIII, raising a record $15.8 billion of equity. Brookfield also made a large haul recently, closing its Brookfield Strategic Real Estate Partners II in April 2016 with $9 billion of equity. This year’s report captures data on 194 real estate investment managers around the globe. As a group, they control nearly $2.8 trillion of real estate assets. Also indicative of the jump in AUM, the top 10 largest managers, as a group, experienced a 12 percent increase from the previous year; the top 100 managers recorded a 14 percent increase.

2016 — A number of managers enjoyed double-digit growth in AUM during the past year, according to Global Investment Managers 2016, an annual survey and report produced by Property Funds Research and Institutional Real Estate, Inc. The industry’s top two largest investment managers, Brookfield Asset Management, with €137.1 billion in AUM as of year-end 2015, and The Blackstone Group, with €135.8 billion in AUM, recorded growth of 19 percent and 22 percent, respectively, based on figures reported in the prior year’s survey. The two behemoths continue to outpace others in the industry, as there is a growing and sizable gap between them and the other largest investment management firms. Blackstone has become a fundraising machine. In early 2015, the firm closed its Blackstone Real Estate Partners VIII, raising a record €14.5 billion of equity. Brookfield also made a large haul recently, closing its Brookfield Strategic Real Estate Partners II in April 2016 with €8.2 billion of equity. This year’s report captures data on 194 real estate investment managers around the globe. As a group, they control nearly €2.7 trillion of real estate assets. Also indicative of the jump in AUM, the top 10 largest managers, as a group, experienced a 12 percent increase from the previous year; the top 100 managers recorded a 14 percent increase.  

2015 — The Blackstone Group and Brookfield Asset Management continue their rivalry for the top spot among real estate investment managers. In the 2012 survey, Brookfield held the number 1 position. Last year, Blackstone moved ahead. And this year, Brookfield again moved into first place. The two behemoths both have more than $120 billion under management with BAM increasing AUM by 16 percent, moving from $107.9 billion in 2013 to $125.6 billion in 2014; Blackstone saw a 12 percent increase in AUM, going from $108.2 billion in 2013 to $121.0 billion in 2014. The top 10 firms in the survey collectively manage $822.5 billion of assets, or 33 percent of the total. The top three firms in the rankings — BAM, Blackstone and CBRE Global Investors — account for nearly 14 percent of the AUM total. See the full report for the complete rankings of investment management firms based on AUM.

2015 — The Blackstone Group and Brookfield Asset Management continue their rivalry for the top spot among real estate investment managers. In the 2012 survey, Brookfield held the number 1 position. Last year, Blackstone moved ahead. And this year, Brookfield again moved into first place. The two behemoths both have approximately €100 billion under management with BAM increasing AUM by 16 percent, moving from €78.3 billion in 2013 to €103.8 billion in 2014; Blackstone saw a 12 percent increase in AUM, going from €78.5 billion in 2013 to €99.9 billion in 2014. The top 10 firms in the survey collectively manage €679 billion of assets, or 33 percent of the total. The top three firms in the rankings — BAM, Blackstone and CBRE Global Investors — account for nearly 14 percent of the AUM total. See the full report for the complete rankings of investment management firms based on AUM.

2014 — The Blackstone Group climbed to the top of the rankings, claiming the number one spot as the world's largest real estate investment manager, with more than $108.2 billion of assets under management. In addition, the aggregate total assets under management for the largest 100 real estate investment management firms reached $2.14 trillion in 2013, up 10 percent from the 2012 figure of $1.94 trillion, according to Global Investment Managers 2014, a report based on an annual survey by Property Funds Research and Institutional Real Estate, Inc. See the full report for the complete rankings of investment management firms based on AUM.

2014 — The Blackstone Group climbed to the top of the rankings, claiming the number one spot as the world's largest real estate investment manager, with more than €78.5 billion of assets under management. In addition, the aggregate total assets under management for the largest 100 real estate investment management firms reached €1.55 trillion in 2013, up 10 percent from the 2012 figure of €1.41 trillion, according to Global Investment Managers 2014, a report based on an annual survey by Property Funds Research and Institutional Real Estate, Inc. See the full report for the complete rankings of investment management firms based on AUM.

2013 — This report was prepared by Property Funds Research and Institutional Real Estate, Inc. The top 20 investment managers in this year’s survey control 57 percent of the aggregate AUM reported by the 137 firms in the survey. The top 10 firms control 36 percent.

2012 — This report was prepared by Property Funds Research and Institutional Real Estate, Inc. The top 20 investment managers in this year’s survey control 60 percent of the aggregate AUM reported by the 129 firms in the survey. The top 10 firms control 38 percent.

The aggregate AUM of the top 100 largest investment managers increased by 15.8 percent in 2017, totaling more than $3.2 trillion, according to Global Investment Managers 2018, the annual survey and report produced by Property Funds Research and Institutional Real Estate, Inc. For some perspective, at year-end 2008, the aggregate AUM of the top 100 investment managers totaled $1.2 trillion. A total of 197 real estate investment managers across the globe responded to the survey, representing an aggregate AUM of nearly $3.5 trillion. The top 10 largest investment managers accounted for $1.154 trillion of AUM, which represents 33.2 percent of the total. This group of managers saw their AUM increase 11.2 percent from year-end 2016. The 2017 report, based on 2016 AUM figures, showed only three investment managers with assets of more than $100 billion. In this year’s rankings, six firms eclipsed the $100 billion mark.

The aggregate AUM of the top 100 largest investment managers totaled more than €2.71 trillion, according to Global Investment Managers 2018, the annual survey and report produced by Property Funds Research and Institutional Real Estate, Inc. For some perspective, at year-end 2008, the aggregate AUM of the top 100 investment managers totaled €1.44 trillion. A total of 197 real estate investment managers across the globe responded to the survey, representing an aggregate AUM of nearly €2.90 trillion. The top 10 largest investment managers accounted for €961.5 billion of AUM, which represents 33.2 percent of the total. This group of managers saw their AUM increase 11.2 percent from year-end 2016. The 2017 report, based on 2016 AUM figures, showed only three investment managers with assets of more than €80 billion. In this year’s rankings, six firms eclipsed the €80 billion mark.

The aggregate AUM of the top 100 largest investment managers increased 7.3 percent in 2016, totaling more than $2.8 trillion, according to Global Investment Managers 2017, an annual survey and report produced by Property Funds Research and Institutional Real Estate, Inc. A total of 199 real estate investment managers across the globe responded to the survey, representing an aggregate AUM of slightly more than $3 trillion. The top 10 largest investment managers accounted for $1.038 trillion of AUM, which represents 34.5 percent of the total. This group of managers saw their AUM increase an average of 12.2 percent from 2015. Blackstone topped the rankings with more than $166 billion of AUM, followed by Brookfield Asset Management and PGIM, with $148 billion and $125 billion of AUM, respectively.

The aggregate AUM of the top 100 largest investment managers increased 7.3 percent in 2016, totaling more than €2.7 trillion, according to Global Investment Managers 2017, an annual survey and report produced by Property Funds Research and Institutional Real Estate, Inc. A total of 199 real estate investment managers across the globe responded to the survey, representing an aggregate AUM of slightly more than €2.8 trillion. The top 10 largest investment managers accounted for €0.98 trillion of AUM, which represents 34.5 percent of the total. This group of managers saw their AUM increase an average of 12.2 percent from 2015. Blackstone topped the rankings with more than €158 billion of AUM, followed by Brookfield Asset Management and PGIM, with €140 billion and €119 billion of AUM, respectively.

2016 — A number of mangers enjoyed double-digit growth in AUM during the past year, according to Global Investment Managers 2016, an annual survey and report produced by Property Funds Research and Institutional Real Estate, Inc. The industry’s top two largest investment managers, Brookfield Asset Management, with $149.8 billion in AUM as of year-end 2015, and The Blackstone Group, with $147.6 billion in AUM, recorded growth of 19 percent and 22 percent, respectively, based on figures reported in the prior year’s survey. The two behemoths continue to outpace others in the industry, as there is a growing and sizable gap between them and the other largest investment management firms. Blackstone has become a fundraising machine. In early 2015, the firm closed its Blackstone Real Estate Partners VIII, raising a record $15.8 billion of equity. Brookfield also made a large haul recently, closing its Brookfield Strategic Real Estate Partners II in April 2016 with $9 billion of equity. This year’s report captures data on 194 real estate investment managers around the globe. As a group, they control nearly $2.8 trillion of real estate assets. Also indicative of the jump in AUM, the top 10 largest managers, as a group, experienced a 12 percent increase from the previous year; the top 100 managers recorded a 14 percent increase.

2016 — A number of managers enjoyed double-digit growth in AUM during the past year, according to Global Investment Managers 2016, an annual survey and report produced by Property Funds Research and Institutional Real Estate, Inc. The industry’s top two largest investment managers, Brookfield Asset Management, with €137.1 billion in AUM as of year-end 2015, and The Blackstone Group, with €135.8 billion in AUM, recorded growth of 19 percent and 22 percent, respectively, based on figures reported in the prior year’s survey. The two behemoths continue to outpace others in the industry, as there is a growing and sizable gap between them and the other largest investment management firms. Blackstone has become a fundraising machine. In early 2015, the firm closed its Blackstone Real Estate Partners VIII, raising a record €14.5 billion of equity. Brookfield also made a large haul recently, closing its Brookfield Strategic Real Estate Partners II in April 2016 with €8.2 billion of equity. This year’s report captures data on 194 real estate investment managers around the globe. As a group, they control nearly €2.7 trillion of real estate assets. Also indicative of the jump in AUM, the top 10 largest managers, as a group, experienced a 12 percent increase from the previous year; the top 100 managers recorded a 14 percent increase.  

2015 — The Blackstone Group and Brookfield Asset Management continue their rivalry for the top spot among real estate investment managers. In the 2012 survey, Brookfield held the number 1 position. Last year, Blackstone moved ahead. And this year, Brookfield again moved into first place. The two behemoths both have more than $120 billion under management with BAM increasing AUM by 16 percent, moving from $107.9 billion in 2013 to $125.6 billion in 2014; Blackstone saw a 12 percent increase in AUM, going from $108.2 billion in 2013 to $121.0 billion in 2014. The top 10 firms in the survey collectively manage $822.5 billion of assets, or 33 percent of the total. The top three firms in the rankings — BAM, Blackstone and CBRE Global Investors — account for nearly 14 percent of the AUM total. See the full report for the complete rankings of investment management firms based on AUM.

2015 — The Blackstone Group and Brookfield Asset Management continue their rivalry for the top spot among real estate investment managers. In the 2012 survey, Brookfield held the number 1 position. Last year, Blackstone moved ahead. And this year, Brookfield again moved into first place. The two behemoths both have approximately €100 billion under management with BAM increasing AUM by 16 percent, moving from €78.3 billion in 2013 to €103.8 billion in 2014; Blackstone saw a 12 percent increase in AUM, going from €78.5 billion in 2013 to €99.9 billion in 2014. The top 10 firms in the survey collectively manage €679 billion of assets, or 33 percent of the total. The top three firms in the rankings — BAM, Blackstone and CBRE Global Investors — account for nearly 14 percent of the AUM total. See the full report for the complete rankings of investment management firms based on AUM.

2015 — With a “build-to-core” strategy, investors can find opportunities along the capital stack throughout the real estate cycle.

2015 — Investments in student housing can offer diversification, strong current income and the potential for long-term growth.

2015 — The U.S. real estate market has posted solid returns the past few years. However, volatility is expected to return to the market, a signal for investors to examine their taste for risk and prepare for eventualities.

2015 — Real estate on the rise. What do the property markets have in store for 2015 and beyond? The commercial property types regrouped on a solid ground in 2014 after climbing back from the pit of lost values, deflated pricing and stagnant transaction markets set off by the Great Recession. From multifamily's long-standing growth run to the office market's plodding gains in tenant demand and retail's bifurcated efforts to pursue changing consumer spending habits, the property types had all found sufficient footing by the end of the year to generate meaty investor returns.

2014 — The Blackstone Group climbed to the top of the rankings, claiming the number one spot as the world's largest real estate investment manager, with more than $108.2 billion of assets under management. In addition, the aggregate total assets under management for the largest 100 real estate investment management firms reached $2.14 trillion in 2013, up 10 percent from the 2012 figure of $1.94 trillion, according to Global Investment Managers 2014, a report based on an annual survey by Property Funds Research and Institutional Real Estate, Inc. See the full report for the complete rankings of investment management firms based on AUM.

2014 — The Blackstone Group climbed to the top of the rankings, claiming the number one spot as the world's largest real estate investment manager, with more than €78.5 billion of assets under management. In addition, the aggregate total assets under management for the largest 100 real estate investment management firms reached €1.55 trillion in 2013, up 10 percent from the 2012 figure of €1.41 trillion, according to Global Investment Managers 2014, a report based on an annual survey by Property Funds Research and Institutional Real Estate, Inc. See the full report for the complete rankings of investment management firms based on AUM.

2013 — This report was prepared by Property Funds Research and Institutional Real Estate, Inc. The top 20 investment managers in this year’s survey control 57 percent of the aggregate AUM reported by the 137 firms in the survey. The top 10 firms control 36 percent.

2013 — This report gives an overview of what is currently happening in the European property markets. It is a compilation of articles previously published in The Institutional Real Estate Estate Letter – Europe that have been pulled together to paint a picture of the opportunity that is out there and the risks surrounding it. The report also ends with a listing of European property transactions.

2013 — This article is taken from the March issue of The Institutional Real Estate Letter – Americas and identifies 7 powerful forces that are changing the future of real estate including the decline of defined benefit plans and shrinking office space.

2012-2013 — The analysis includes the perspectives of global investors and consultants and will provide you a strong sense of these organizations’ priorities and expectations for infrastructure investment. The survey also will give guidance and clarity to investment managers, including data about investor preference for various products and terms, giving managers the ability to better meet investor appetites.

2012 — This report was prepared by Property Funds Research and Institutional Real Estate, Inc. The top 20 investment managers in this year’s survey control 60 percent of the aggregate AUM reported by the 129 firms in the survey. The top 10 firms control 38 percent.

2012 — This report focuses on China’s property markets, investment trends and opportunities, as well as risks and challenges for institutional investors.

1997 — This paper seeks to offer a relatively complete examination of all the issues that pertain to the decision to include, or exclude,real estate as a component of institutional portfolios. This work is the culmination of an in-depth review of the historic and current studies, as evidenced by the six pages of references at the end of this paper. In presenting all the facts and pertinent studies we could uncover, we also offer opinions about how they should be viewed. In all of this, you will find that we work to avoid ‘boosterism’ of real estate, preferring instead to draw the more conservative conclusion from among the possible. In doing so, we believe we can draw a more balanced picture as to why real estate belongs in the world of fiduciary investing.  

January 2019 — After 10 years of relatively unabated economic strength, the region looks to be stuttering. However the softer economic environment does not come as a surprise; mid last year we flagged a potentially slower growth trajectory for the Asia Pacific region in the latter half of 2018. Among the reasons we cited trade tensions exacerbating weakness in China’s economic slowdown, tighter financing conditions from rising global interest rates, and the related pass-through into weaker domestic demand. However, it is the depth and breadth of the potential slowdown that should currently worry global institutional investors. To be sure, regional growth has slowed in the past few months, but the outlook remains cloudy at best if recent equity market performance is any guide.

November 2018 — We believe MiMis, or millennials and middle income households, will continue to drive demand for U.S. apartments in the coming decade. We define middle income households as those earning between 80% and 120% of area median income which is typically those earning between $45,000 and $75,000 per annum. These households comprise between 20% and 35% of each age cohort. Middle income households often have to rent out of necessity which creates consistent demand for apartments targeting middle income renters. Millennials are the largest generation on record and like the Baby Boomers before them, they will reshape the economy and many industries as they heavily consume goods and services, including housing. Millennials compose 35% of the workforce and their contribution to the U.S. economy continues to grow. In this analysis, we define the millennial generation as those born between 1981 and 1998. Furthermore, we divide the millennials into older millennials (OMs) and younger millennials (YMs) cohorts.

March 2018 — CenterSquare’s REIT Cap Rate Perspective presents the market pricing of $1.5 trillion of real estate in the U.S. REIT market, seeking to quantify the valuation gap between public and private markets. While at times the disparity may be temporary or driven by short term volatility, the forward discounting inherent in public markets can also offer investors insights as to the possible future direction of real estate values. In this report, CenterSquare shares their proprietary REIT implied cap rate results at the sector and geographical level on a quarterly basis.

October 2017 — Real estate investors should consider the following trends and potential value they can bring to their investments in the year ahead: current REIT valuations are increasingly being impacted by investor activism, there is substantial capital flow from non-VC investors, robotic process automation can help CRE companies bring down costs drastically and may end up being cheaper than offshoring.

February 2017 — The world in 2017 has much to offer, but it will require real estate professionals to be more informed than they have ever been. As well as comprehensive macroeconomics and real estate coverage, CBRE offers five key research themes: Capital markets: the search for alternatives Office: new work styles, new locations Retail: changing technology Industrial: transformation of the supply chain Hotel: new experiences, new platforms

January 2017 — Despite significant global economic and political uncertainty, the steady U.S. economy — aided by stimulative fiscal policy — could see stronger growth in 2017, supporting attractive returns for real estate investors.

December 2016 — PGIM identifies nine major occupier and investment trends that are expected to influence market conditions and investment performance in 2017 and beyond. Uncertainty is higher than it was 12 months ago — forthcoming elections in major European countries carry a renewed significance in light of recent results — but the economic backdrop remains broadly supportive. Sentiment is holding up, and the global growth outlook is steady going into 2017.

October 2016 — Infrastructure assets have provided the critical underlying structure to societies for centuries. However, as a distinct investment category infrastructure only really emerged from the beginning of 2009 onwards - just after the Global Financial Crisis.

Q2/2016 — In the post Global Financial Crisis investment world, a distinct asset class called “Real Assets” has emerged, primarily motivated by the desire of investors to increase diversification and income while reducing volatility. In the current low yield, low growth investment environment, we recommend a more defined focus on “Income Producing Real Assets” (IPRA) in an effort to meet these objectives. Download the report to continue reading.

March 2016 — Cloud-based software applications, smartphones and other mobile devices have unplugged and revolutionized the modern-day workforce. This is having a profound effect on office owners, occupiers and employers, and will challenge the existing paradigms that platform the entire commercial office real estate industry for years to come.

March 2016 — Since the development of commercial aviation during the post-World War II era, passenger volumes at major commercial airports has grown at multiples of GDP over any medium-term period. This growth reflects many underlying factors including increasing wealth, real reductions in the cost of air travel, developments in aircraft technology and improvements in international airspace regulation. Download report to read more.

March 2016 — The 2016 outlook for Europe remains one of gradual recovery. However, unlike previous years, Europe seems to be on a firmer footing relative to other parts of the globe. Although the continent has not been immune to recent global uncertainty, consumers and businesses have so far seemed undeterred, leading to an acceleration of GDP growth in 2015. Download the report to read more.

February 2016 — This paper discusses the relative merits of private versus public infrastructure investment.

2016 — Infrastructure Partnerships Australia (IPA) and Perpetual Corporate Trust have again undertaken this study of the Australian market for infrastructure projects and are delighted to jointly publish the Australian Infrastructure Investment Report.

Q4/2015 — 10 years is a magical number in the real estate business. Many investors analyze their returns over a hypothetical 10‐year hold, most standing loans on commercial real estate have a 10‐year term, and most closed‐end funds have a 10‐year life. Many commercial leases have 10‐year base terms. At the end of the 10‐year cycle, portfolios are culled and rationalized, loans are refinanced, funds are liquidated, and a whole new crop of tenant improvements and capital expenditures is needed to attract or retain tenants. Download the report to continue reading the most recent quarterly PCCP White Paper.

September, 2015 — This paper delivers Aberdeen’s current research into the European residential sector at a country level.  Specifically, we examine the rented, institutionally-owned residential sector.  We believe that supply is constrained across Europe and on-going capacity constraints are commonplace.  Development has simply not kept pace with demand.  In our opinion, the most attractive market for residential real estate is Germany; however, other markets look promising as well. There are significant investment opportunities in the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark, France and increasingly the U.K.  Read our paper to learn more about how residential markets can differ enormously between countries and cities.

August, 2015 — Real estate performance across much of the Asia Pacific region has been steadily attractive on the back of a strong capital market and healthy recovering leasing market. Japan, China, Hong Kong and Singapore experienced strong office leasing demand in the first half of 2015, while Australia and Korea witnessed short-term challenges due to a weakened economy. Recovery is expected in 2016 for key most markets while it is likely to remain subdued in Singapore due to a surge of new supply. Download the report to read more.

August, 2015 — The U.S. commercial real estate market has delivered impressive total returns over the past five years. So impressive, in fact, that some investors are beginning to wonder how much longer the momentum can run. This cycle, like all others, will eventually come to an end. Yet real estate has historically performed well in moderate-growth, low interest rate environments, conditions that we expect to persist for several more years. Download the report to read more.

August, 2015 — Europe’s economic recovery remains on track. Although not without risks, with ongoing concerns in places such as Greece and Ukraine, on the whole the outlook for the European economy has improved over the past six months. Confidence is high and jobs are being created. With the ECB undertaking quantitative easing, bond yields are lower than had been previously expected, while the threat of Eurozone bond yields trending considerably higher over the coming years is small. Download the report to read more.

June, 2015 — One primary consideration of investors looking to make an allocation to listed real estate via real estate investment trusts (REITs) today is the impact that a rising-rate environment has on the relative performance of REITs vs. other broader asset classes. The purpose of this paper is to discuss how REITs have historically performed in different interest-rate environments, where we are today, and what we can expect going forward. We will also discuss the role of REITs in a portfolio as part of a comprehensive investment strategy.

Q2/2015 — The eponymous movie starring Tom Hanks was released in 1989 at the onset of a massive population shift away from the urban core of American cities and into the suburbs. In the years that have passed since the Great Recession, however, America’s inner cities have led the way in the recovery, leading many to the conclusion that we have entered into a new paradigm of re‐urbanization. As it relates to commercial real estate, the thought is that a shift in population growth away from the American suburb will have a profoundly negative impact on suburban office as employers follow their workforce back into the CBD. Our instincts tell us that the “death of the American suburb” drum beat proliferated in the media is misguided and overplayed, a recipe for a good investment opportunity. In the end, success in real estate investing all boils down to supply and demand. Let’s take a step back and look at the macro forces at work.

Spring, 2015 - The apparent predictability of the development cycle begs the question that if we can see projects rising before our eyes, and we can measure their progress along the way, and we can predict with a high degree of certainty when they will arrive, then why do so many people continue to claim that you cannot time the real estate market? The market cannot hide the supply pipeline that it is delivering from a distance, as the data and the physical evidence are available to most anyone who takes the time to observe them. The reality is that you can time the cyclicality of the real estate market, and, more importantly, to be a superior investor, you actually must time the market. More on that idea to follow, but first let’s set the stage...

March, 2015 — The world is becoming increasingly urbanized, with a rising number of “megacities” that are experiencing rapid growth in both population and affluence in both the developed world and emerging markets. The world’s gateway cities are very appealing to property investors and appear to be a magnet for international capital. While there are common, shared characteristics across the world’s gateway cities there are also pronounced differences, particularly in the key variable of supply constraint (or lack of it).

2015 — This report, put together by Prudential Investment Management (PIM), examines why right now is the primetime of urbanization, and explores the investment opportunities currently available in emerging markets due to the growth of cities, including urban infrastructure, real estate, technology, anti-pollution initiatives, and more.

2015 — With the ambitious target of implementing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Community (AEC) by 2015, the opportunities for corporate occupiers and real estate investors across an enlarged single market of some 600 million people look promising. Nicholas Holt examines the background, the challenges and the possible impacts. Nearly five years on from the signing of the AEC blueprint in November 2007, the region is now only three years away from the target of fully implementing measures to create a single market with free movement of goods, services, foreign direct investment and skilled labour.

Q3/2014 — We're continuing our exploration of supply and demand this quarter, but this time we are taking a look at condominiums, which was the last one sector of real estate that had substantial new development and unsold inventory during the last cycle. Today, almost six years later, much of the inventory ha been absorbed - largely at lower prices - or converted to rental units.

June, 2014 — The U.S. economy temporarily contracted in the first quarter, impacted by sever winter weather. Real GDP declined at an annualized rate of 1.0% (second estimate) in Q1 2014, dragged down by declines in private investment and net exports. On the positive side, consumption expanded to a 3% annualized rate and real GDP was up 2% on year-over-year basis. Second quarter economic release portray a resilient and strengthening economy, albeit one that still face challenges (housing and long-term unemployment), that we expect to grow at 3% or above the rest of the year. Job growth is picking up, household wealth is rising, and policy uncertainity has essentially vanished from the news headlines.

Q2/2014 — This quarter we're focusing on basic rules of economics: specifically, supply and demand. It is commonly understood that the Global Financial Crisis was not a real estate driven recession powered by commercial oversupply, like the early 1990s recession. Rather, it was caused by residential real estate over-pricing, largely driven by over-heated financial markets.

April, 2014 — Real estate investment trusts (REITs) are relatively young asset class in Asia. The earliest markets to embrace the asset class were Japan and Singapore, both of which saw their first REIT initial public offering (IPOs) just a little over a decade ago. Since then, REIT markets have emerged in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, and South Korea, with additional markets such as India and the Philippines introducing REIT legislation or considering doing so.

Spring, 2014 — Australian and Canadian pension funds have been pioneers in infrastructure investing since the early 1990s. They also currently have the world’s highest asset allocation to infrastructure. The article compares and contrasts the experience of institutional investors in the two countries, looking at factors such as infrastructure policies, the pension system, investment strategies, and the governance of pension funds.

March, 2014 — This study discusses the role of institutional investors in financing infrastructure in emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs). It analyzes the present level of involvement as well as the future investment potential of new financing sources such as public and private pension funds, insurance companies, and sovereign wealth funds. Current investment volumes are still low, but interesting, practical examples can be found in a range of countries and projects. International and domestic investors apply a variety of investment approaches in developing countries, using different equity, debt and fund instruments. This overview can yield some lessons for policy makers and investors. There are (more or less) favorable pre-conditions for successful private-investor involvement, and different models work in different situations, depending on the development stage and the institutional environment. Four types of "leadership models" are therefore described for international and/or domestic investors seeking to spearhead infrastructure investment in EMDEs.

Q1/2014 — It's year end, time for the traditional look back at the accomplishments of the year just concluded, and for a look forward at the opportunities to come. The U.S. stock markets are at record highs, despite hints that the Federal Reserve is starting to back off on its quantitative easing strategy. The Wall Street Journal reports that in numerous markets, housing prices are past prior peaks (although the numbers are uneven).1  The U.S. Treasury is reflecting increased confidence in the economy, passing the 3.0% rate for the first time since 2011.

January, 2014 — Growing up in Canada, hockey was consistently a big part of my life (and still is). With the winter Olympics coming, 2014 is a big year in the hockey realm as twelve nations will compete for a gold medal in Sochi, Russia. In hockey, there are many ingredients: stick, skates, pads, ice, net, but none more important than the puck. The puck is a frozen disc of vulcanized rubber that every player is chasing, passing, shooting, defending and anticipating its next location. In fact, in the 1990s, Fox Television devised a system which had internal electronics allowing television viewers to track the position of the puck with a blue glow on the screen. Its purpose was to aid viewers to better follow and understand the action of the game.

2014 — Within our new organisation, a unified investment strategy has been formulated using top-down analysis to identify the geography and cycle timing of prospective property investments. Targeting countries is the first layer of investment strategy, as country-level factors are a primary driver of property performance. These factors include both long-horizon elements of economic and demographic structure that contribute to the attractiveness of real estate investing, as well as shorter-term dynamics of real estate cycles and their drivers that detemine risk-adjusted pricing. This report offers a description of our top-down process and its conclusions for 2014. Bottom-up analysis dealing with individual sector, sub-markets and specific properties draws from the experience and expertise of our real estate professionals across disciplines. This complements top-down analysis and it an integral component of executing strategy.

November, 2013 — This white paper focuses on the potential of value-add strategies to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns in private real estate. Value-add strategies involve acquiring real estate at an attractive cost basis and then resolving the property’s deficiency, stabilizing the income stream, and increasing the overall value of the property for disposition.

Q3/2013 — The U.S. economy appears to have recovered from the financial crisis. Equity markets reached record highs during the second quarter, with the Dow reaching its peak on May 28^th at 15,409, an 18% increase from the beginning of the year. Fears of a double-dip recession have subsided behind 2.2% real GDP growth in 2012 and 2.5% projected GDP growth in 20131. With the continued growth of the economy, the Fed indicated that they may begin scaling back their monthly securities buying program. Despite the recent pull back in the markets, most indices are still very much in the positive for the year and the underlying macro-economic statistics are very positive year to date.

2013 — Investor sentiment across many markets in Asia has grown increasingly uncertain toward the end of 2012, with concern over fading global economic prospects tempered by ongoing strength in asset pricing and persistently compressed yields. The lack of conviction has been highlighted by the divergent approaches of foreign and local investors to property pricing, with Asian buyers often willing to pay up for properties at rates foreigners find prohibitive.

Global or local? 2013 — Property has long been considered a mainstream asset class for institutional investors. However, for most there has been a strong home-bias, with high exposure to domestic markets. Increasingly, we believe investors are looking toward global property markets as a way to improve potential risk-adjusted returns and divof their property portfolio. The step from domestic to global property investment, however,  is not a trivial one and in some cases it may not be an appropriate solution. We believe the following three steps provide some insights into global property markets and also a framework for investors to understand better whether it might be a suitable approach for them.

2Q/2013 — The 2008 financial crisis may forever be associated with one word: leverage. Homeowners (no money down mortgages), investment banks (30 to 1 leverage) and governments ($1 trillion deficits) took on too much debt, and the resulting correction has been painful. Now, it seems that leverage is returning to commercial real estate, presenting new opportunities and a new set of risks. Leverage has grown more complex, and before making an investment, investors need to consider how leverage will impact investments in different parts of the cycle. Skillful management of leverage will be critical for investors to achieve required returns and survive any potential market correction.

March, 2013 — Defining the Objectives and Characteristics of a Real Assets Framework In our view, the design of a real assets investment strategy is not just about inflation protection; it’s also about delivering attractive long-term returns with less volatility than found in most individual real asset classes. When inflation is rising, the strategy’s return potential should rise as well. When inflation is easing, its diversified return profile should be less volatile than those of individual real asset classes. And finally, the strategy should offer diversification(1) benefits for portfolios of stocks and bonds. As we applied these objectives to the design of a real assets framework, we identified five central themes.

March, 2013 — Investment in infrastructure is among the world’s leading growth drivers and is a strategic priority for countries worldwide. Listed infrastructure companies are playing a dominant role in the accelerating growth of the infrastructure asset class globally. More than $50 trillion is likely needed to fund global infrastructure projects in the coming years, essentially making infrastructure among the world’s largest growth industries.

March, 2013 — Real estate securities combine the benefits of owning commercial real estate with the features of publicly traded stocks. This unique combination results in a set of investment characteristics that we believe make a compelling case for a long-term strategic allocation to the asset class.

2013 — The key finding of this year’s report into global construction disputes is that disputes are taking longer to resolve. Overall, they are now taking over a year to resolve, with the average length of time for a dispute to last in 2012 being 12.8 months, compared to 10.6 months in 2011. This continues the trends for longer disputes - in 2010 disputes were taking 9.1 months to resolve. Whilst dispute durations are getting longer, the value of disputes was broadly stable in 2012. The average value of global construction disputes in 2012 was US$31.7 million, down slightly from US$32.2 million in 2011.

2013 — Over the last 12 to 18 months, there has been a noticeable increase in interest from US investors for opportunistic real estate investment in Europe. At Peakside Capital, we attribute this change to both "pull" and "push" factors. The "pull" is the realization in the US that the worst of the Eurozone crisis is behind us and parts of Europe are actually doing quite well. The "push" is the realization that the opportunities arising from the financial crisis in the US are now largely exhausted and so investors are looking further afield, with Europe being the next target. In other words, US-based investors now view Europe more as an "opportunity" than a "risk".

2012 — The market for real estate secondary transactions has recorded a fourth straight year of record transaction volume, with $2.6 billion of activity during 2012, based on Landmark Partners’ annual global tally.  A tenured investor in the real estate secondary market, Landmark continues to aggregate this data through a variety of channels including the firm’s own transaction experience as well as discussions with other market participants.

2013 — The Singapore Family Offices report is  a short report on what really makes Singapore such a unique location for family office and fund management activities.

2013 — This report is a primer on raising capital from family offices.

2013 — KPMG and Mergers & Acquisitions magazine conducted a survey of over 300 M&A professionals at U.S. corporations, PE firms, and investment funds immediately after the U.S. election to gain a better understanding of the current M&A market. This publication analyzes the findings of the survey and provides insights into the outlook for M&A in 2013. For additional news and information, please access KMPG LLP's Web site on the Internet at http://www.us.kpmg.com

2013 — Optimism has returned to Europe’s real estate industry. Sentiment among industry leaders about the prospects for their businesses is more positive than at any time since 2008, despite the uncertain macroeconomic outlook. Equity for investment in prime commercial real estate is expected to increase, but bank debt is predicted to contract further. Emerging Trends Europe’s respondents are adjusting to this “new normal.” Those with access to capital are focusing on opportunities in areas they know best. They recognize that traditional stock selection and micro asset management skills are crucial to generating returns. The environment offers very little certainty and definitely no quick wins. Europe’s real estate markets continue to be challenging, but all sectors offer new investment potential, too.

February, 2013 — Commercial real estate lending markets finished 2012 on a high note, with a flurry of deals closing during the fourth quarter. According to CBRE's analysis of loan closings, total lending volume increased by 18% in Q4 2012 over year-earlier levels. In addition to strong growth in multifamily lending from the agencies (up 36% from 2011 levels), banks and CMBS lenders contributed disproportionately to the overall gains.

Q1/2013 — As we enter 2013, we are more than four years into the Global Financial Crisis. As stated in prior commentaries, PCCP believes we are only 40% of the way through the real estate workout cycle. Our view is consistent with the most prominent recent academic literature, which argues that leverage-induced recessions run 7-9 years (This Time is Different by Reinhart and Rogoff). Anecdotally, it feels like strong financial institutions are starting to invest in earning assets, which in our world means making new loans on commercial real estate (“CRE”). Real estate was hit especially hard and the recovery has been a story of “haves” and “have nots” as we all know. The “haves” are the best customers, with strong balance sheets and trophy real estate, or anyone with a Class A apartment project. The “have nots” are everyone else. But what do the numbers show? We analyzed data on the CRE debt world as a whole and the three largest banks holding CRE debt to see how our anecdotal observations match up against the statistics. We conclude that although CRE lending is showing signs of life for the “haves,” there will still be plenty of opportunity to lend on and invest in the “have nots,” specifically institutional-quality, non-core asset recapitalizations.

October, 2012 — The fundamental case for infrastructure is grounded in the return potential and inherent characteristics of the asset class—long-lived assets in businesses with high barriers to entry found in monopolistic industries, typically supported by the resilient demand for essential services. The investment opportunities are global, driven by decades of infrastructure neglect in developed economies and the need to build out large scale infrastructure networks in emerging markets.

September, 2012 — The phrase “fiscal cliff” was coined by Ben Bernanke, Chairmen of the Federal Reserve, in describing the impact of budget sequestration and tax increases on the U.S. economy, effectively causing a new recession to occur. The Congressional Budget Offi ce (CBO) agrees. They estimate that the new policies will cause real GDP to contract by 0.3% in 2013. However, the CBO acknowledges the possibility of avoiding the cliff if policymakers adopt alternative solutions. In this paper, we review the various scenarios and evaluate the impact each scenario would likely have on the commercial real estate (CRE) markets.

Q3/2012 — IPD Announces 3Q, 2012 Results of the Giliberto-Levy Commercial Mortgage Performance Index.  The Index, which tracks private market loans held in investor portfolios, produced a 1.15% total return in 3Q, 2012.

Q3/2012 — U.S. investment returns exhibit consistent growth.  The IPD U.S. Quarterly Property Index, which includes tax-exempt and taxable domestic and foreign investors invested in U.S. private equity commercial real estate, produced a total return of 2.5% in 3Q 2012, consisting of 1.4% income and 1.2% appreciation.

September, 2012 — Recent quarters have shown measured improvement in the United States economy. The current situation, however, contains uncertainty and investors must proceed with what leading economists refer to as “tempered optimism.”1 Allowing this mindset to guide decision‐making creates a “flight to quality,” leading investors to pursue expensive Class A assets and core assets (such as trophy office towers and multi‐family complexes in gateway markets New York City, Boston, Washington D.C., San Francisco and Los Angeles) purchased on historically low cap rates. These premium priced trophy assets attract investors who are looking to allocate equity to perceived stable products, due to an appetite for current yield driven by the record low U.S Treasury bond rates.

September, 2012 — This report on Chinese real estate markets is designed to serve as a reference chart book to help investors systematically review the key data and indicators illuminating the latest changes, trends and themes in the markets. The information is organized in a way that brings together macro- economic, capital markets and sector specific direct market perspectives

August, 2012 — Global economic activity expanded at a measured pace in the first half of 2012. Leading indicators point to a continued deceleration for most major economies. The private sector recovery remains modest in many countries amidst weak sentiment. As the unresolved Eurozone debt crisis looms over the global economy, the path ahead is fraught with uncertainties and risks. However, not all is gloom and doom. While economic prospects for the U.S. and Europe remain muted, Asia will continue to stand out given resilient domestic demand and greater policy options.

Q2/2012 — KPMG LLP, the audit, tax and advisory firm, surveyed top-level executives in the commercial real estate industry during the second quarter of 2012.  Participants were asked about business conditions in their sector, the most significant revenue growth areas, and factors that would impede or support recovery in real estate. These responses were compared to the findings of a similar survey conducted among commercial real estate executives in the second quarter of 2011. For additional news and information, please access KPMG LLP's Web site  

2012 — The past few years have certainly been a testing time for all investors active in the European real estate market. Sovereigns have been on the brink of collapse, economies show little sign of anything remotely approaching a sustained recovery, and the banking system will remain fragile for some considerable time yet. This period of unprecedented volatility has, at times, challenged the very core of the European experiment. Twenty something crisis meetings have come and gone and each has done little to calm the nerves of fractious investors, much less engender any feeling of confidence.

2012 — This report is a guide to assist single and multi-family offices in identifying top fund managers.

September, 2011 — On September 12, 2011, the Investment Committee of the California Public Employees' Retirement System ("CalPERS") Board of Administration ("Investment Committee") earmarked up to $800 million for investment in California infrastructure over a three-year time period. The primary goal of this initiative is to make investments in essential infrastructure assets that meet the risk-return objectives of CalPERS Infrastructure Program ("the Program"), while also potentially benefiting local economic development and essential community services across the state. The Investment Committee instructed staff to develop a plan for outreach to state and local governments to explore the role CalPERS and other pension systems can play in facilitating infrastructure investment in California ("the Outreach Effort").