Suzanne Weinstock
While office occupancy costs dropped in most of the world, The Middle East and Africa as well as Central and Eastern Europe saw cost per workspace per annum increase by 28% and 11% respectively in 2008.
The asset manager raised capital from its limited partners, including the Oregon Investment Council, to repay margin debt on the German apartment owner which has reportedly been struggling with its debt load.
The real estate investment firm has submitted an unsolicited bid to Virginia’s Secretary of Transportation seeking an unprecedented 60-year concession agreement with the Port of Virginia. If approved the offer would force the launch a formal bidding process for the port.
The global investment firm’s $8.8bn MSREF VI International fund will reportedly tack on the latest losses onto an existing $1bn shortfall. Morgan Stanley is still fundraising for Fund VII, which has closed on $6bn of commitments against a target of $10bn.
The Singapore government’s real estate investment firm has renamed ProLogis Asian Operations as Global Logistic Properties after buying out the majority of ProLogis’s investments for $1.3bn.
The private equity firm has said it is looking at select investment opportunities 'in areas that have already hit bottom', such as rescue financing for the retail sector, while it waits for the resurgence of its core areas of focus, private equity and real estate.
The former global co-head of asset management for Lehman Brothers private equity real estate, John McCarthy, has left to join Barry Sternlicht’s Starwood. Jeffrey Disher steps down as head of asset management to return to his earlier role leading Starwood’s acquisitions team.
The New York-based private equity firm’s latest fundraising efforts bring Blackstone’s total dry powder for private equity to $13bn. Reporting a $193.6m fourth quarter loss, Blackstone said it remains focused on investing in non-cyclical industries.
The Dubai-based investment firm is entertaining bids for the iconic New York store after buying it for $942m in 2007, according to reports. A sale would likely mean a substantial loss for Istithmar.
The bankrupt Tribune Company is nearing a final agreement to sell the Chicago baseball team purchased by real estate mogul Sam Zell. A $900m offer from the head of Chicago investment bank Incapital reportedly beat bids from private equity executives Marc Utay and Leo Hindery.