Zoe Hughes

Amid somber growth prospects for the US economy and its real estate markets, attendees at AFIRE's annual conference were told some managers are still "lying to themselves" about return expectations.

The Greenwich, Connecticut-based firm, led by Barry Sternlicht, has commenced fundraising for Starwood Distressed Opportunity Fund IX, targeting between $2 billion and $3 billion. The firm's hospitality fund series, however, will come to an end.

Josh Cleveland has joined Clairvue Capital Partners as the firm starts to target real estate secondaries as well as recapitalisations.

Armed with a 'premier list' of real estate fund managers, the private markets team of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, led by Steve LeBlanc, spoke about its vision for the portfolio and how it could be even tougher to get through its doors in the future.

As California’s Fair Political Practices Commission investigates 49 CalPERS investment staff for gift reporting, CalSTRS officials, including Mike DiRe, have personally signed a letter saying they ‘stand by and support’ their counterparts.

The real estate investment arm of the insurance giant has opened a second office in Brazil as it looks to the country's residential, industrial, retail and office markets.

Former Prudential Real Estate Investors executive Robert Bilse has been appointed vice president of Brookfield’s private funds group, based in New York, supporting capital raising and marketing activities.

Behind China, Brazil is now the most attractive emerging market for institutional investor capital, but some LPs are frustrated by the difficulty in deploying equity.

The country´s infrastructure and complex tax system are preventing Brazil from attracting even more international equity, according to panelists at the annual ADIT conference.

The Chicago-based firm is looking to Brazil as it sources new deals in the homebuilding sector, as well as a potential investment with a local hospitality group.