Robin Marriott

The UK has unveiled new measures to help its battered banking industry, but BVCA chief Simon Walker cautions 'while a host of private equity investors stand ready' to rescue ailing companies, they can only do so if the banks actually get lending.

The Italian alternatives firm – one of Southern Europe’s earliest international private equity fund of funds operators – has hired Seth Lieberman to head up its new global real estate platform.

The Paris-based property fund manager has made its third investment for its large value-added vehicle, European Property Investors Special Opportunities.

The New York-based alternative asset manager is expanding its partnership as it expands its core strategies.

The Wall Street firm has deferred the final close of its latest global property vehicle because investors have asked for more time. The firm remains confident, however, it is on track to raise its target of up to $10 billion.

Rachel Tan, former global head of business development for real estate and private equity at French bank Société Générale, is helping expand the capital raising business at Australia’s Macquarie Group.

The volume of real estate sales has increased this year as corporates struggle to access traditional sources of capital, according to a property report. Real estate services firm Jones Lang LaSalle says in its latest Global Real Estate Capital Report that 'sale and leaseback' transactions should reach $34bn by the end of the year.

Hank Paulson, US Treasury Secretary, said today buying troubled assets is not the most effective way to use TARP funds.

The property services firm has hired Amy Barklam to co-ordinate the distribution of its global indirect funds.

Lehman Brothers and Starwood Capital are putting le Méridien Hotel on London's Piccadilly on the block. The hotel was bought as part of a package of properties in 2005. Le Meridien is expected to sell for around $140m.