Zoe Hughes

According to a new ranking from PERE magazine, the 30 largest private equity real estate firms in the world have raised more than $190 billion over the past five years. The Blackstone Group and Morgan Stanley Real Estate top the PERE 30.

The New York-based alternative asset manager says it is building an operating team in China but has adopted a ‘patient, long-term approach’ in order to make a name for itself before investing.

Tony Thompson’s new private equity real estate firm hires another Grubb and Ellis professional, Darrell Betts, as chief investment officer and president of its Middle East operations.

The financial services giant’s private equity real estate arm has launched a $10 billion fundraising to take advantage of “distress and dislocation” caused by the credit crisis. Pennsylvania Public School Employees' Retirement System has committed up to $400 million to the vehicle.

The investment bank's private equity real estate arm is raising $10bn to take advantage of ‘distress and dislocation’ as its private equity arm raises a $6bn global fund.

Private equity firms Colony Capital and Eurazeo plan to increase their stake in the hotel group Accor, which owns the Pullman and Ibis hotel chains, to 30 percent. Both firms pledge not to take control of the company.

ING Clarion, Grupo Carrousel and Operadora Punta Maroma partner to develop luxury ocean front resort along Mexico’s Riviera Maya in a bid to capitalize on increasing demand from the US baby boom generation.

The $34 billion Pennsylvania State Employees’ Retirement System announces four new private equity and real estate commitments. The pension plan, which represents more than 215,000 members, has now reached its target allocation for the two asset classes.

Colony Capital founder and chairman Tom Barrack has lined up more than $1 billion in equity to start buying distressed debt and property companies as the firm searches for the bottom of the market.

The outlook for the US commercial real estate market is generally sound despite the credit crisis, according to a report by real estate management firm, ING Clarion. However ING warns the office sector will be hit over the next two years before recovering strongly in 2010-2011.