Jonathan Brasse
Jonathan Brasse is the Senior Editor, Real Estate for PEI Media’s real estate publications. He oversees the editorial output and leads the reporting team behind the sector-leading private real estate publication PERE as well as Real Estate Capital, the group’s real estate credit markets publication. Jonathan joined PEI in 2009 from UK commercial property magazine Property Week where he oversaw international news and analysis coverage.
The majority of investors led by US private equity firm JC Flowers has rejected Germany’s offer for real estate lender Hypo Real Estate after the board of the bank accepted it. A small minority in the JC Flowers led consortium have agreed to sell their position.
London-based law firm SJ Berwin is planning to open an office in Dubai, the first for the firm in the Middle East.
The Japanese fund manager is planning to invest up to 35 percent of its fourth domestic opportunity fund into real estate distressed debt.
David Schaefer, managing director and head of the Asia Pacific region for New York-based Citi Property Investors, left the firm at the beginning of the month. He was based at the firm's Hong Kong office. Schaefer's departure is the second high-profile loss in Asia after Tim Grady left Merrill Lynch earlier this month.
VinaCapital, the Vietnamese asset management, banking and real estate consultancy, is putting the finishing touches on its second dedicated property fund. The fund will be fully privately funded, unlike the firm's first opportunity fund.
Goldman Sachs’ sixth buyout fund is poised to increase its stake in Universal Studios Japan. The tender offer it will launch Monday, if successful, would be one of the largest private equity deals agreed in Japan in more than a year.
The real estate arm of global asset management group Franklin Templeton Investments holds a final close for its Asian multi-manager product.
State Universities Retirement System of Illinois has committed $75m to AVP Partners’ fund of funds, marking the start of a new investment strategy in the sector.
Pacific Alliance Group is to purchase $46 million in convertible bonds from Secured Capital Japan, as well as forming a strategic alliance with the Tokyo-based investment manager to purchase assets and distressed debt in Japan and China.
The secondary real estate fund unit market has picked up over the last 12 months, accounting for €1.1bn in transactions. With a further €230m of secondary trades in the pipeline, the market is set to continue as funds face cash calls from investors.