Katherine Bucaccio

As part of a new stateside plan, the real estate investment management arm of French insurance giant AXA has added Steve McCarthy as US head of asset management and transactions.

The $5.95 billion county pension has invested in its last distressed real estate fund for the current fiscal year, committing $25 million to John Paulson’s second real estate offering.

In order to reach its 12 percent target real estate allocation, the Ohio pension plan may commit up to $110 million more through its tactical portfolio by the end of 2013.

The San Francisco-based real estate investment firm has closed on its eleventh commingled offering, raising $900 million in equity.

Knighthead Capital and Silo Financial have joined forces to launch Knighthead Funding, which recently closed the Knighthead Special Situations Real Estate Fund on $155 million in equity.

International Housing Solutions has received two initial commitments totaling $63 million for its second South Africa-focused residential fund.

The world’s largest sovereign wealth fund has purchased a 45 percent interest in the NYC building from Boston Properties for $684 million.

The Beverly Hills-based investment firm, along with hedge fund Varde Partners, has acquired eight shopping centers throughout England and Scotland for £250 million.

The Canadian pension plan has purchased a 50 percent stake in Samsung SRA’s fourth real estate fund, investing $116 million in a Seoul office development.

A partnership between the two firms has sold a development site on Manhattan’s West Side to former LA Dodgers owner Frank McCourt for $167 million.