Blueprint: Ares buys GCP’s ex-China business for $3.7bn, Blue Owl’s $1bn data-center deal, Blackstone tackles headline risk

A mega-merger between two of the top 10 PERE 100 managers dominates real estate headlines this week as Ares Management agrees to acquire GLP Capital Management's non-China business for $3.7 billion; fellow top 10 firm Blue Owl strikes its own $1 billion M&A deal to buy IPI Partners; Blackstone faces questions about reputational risk; PERE checks in from Expo Real; and more in today's briefing, exclusively for our valued subscribers.