Alison Granito

If the investment bank hits its target it would surpass the current high-water mark, the $5.3 billion fund raised by The Blackstone Group this summer.

Paul Simmons has joined the New York-based private equity real estate firm as a partner focused on acquisitions and business development, with a particular emphasis on both the domestic market and Mexico.

At a gathering in New York today, delegates at PERE’s North American Private Equity Real Estate Forum heard frontline accounts of the globalization of the industry from Morgan Stanley’s Jay Mantz and Starwood’s Barry Sternlicht.

The Nashville-based casual dining restaurant chain, which came with a price tage of $486m, owns 143 of its eateries.

The Center City Embassy Suites represents the fourth hospitality acquisition for the Norwalk, Connecticut-based private equity real estate firm’s second opportunity fund.

The real estate opportunity fund represents the private equity titan’s first vehicle dedicated specifically to the asset class.

The theme of the fall 2006 event was “Back to Basics,” but attendees nevertheless found time to discuss emerging markets and distressed debt.

French property executive Leon Bressler will join the investment bank as a London-based partner to oversee its real estate activities.

Robert Bass’ buyout shop will try and build Harrisburg, Pennsylvania-based Arnold Logistics into a US leading third party logistics supplier.

New York-based Zurich Asset Management, which expects to invest $5 billion, will centralize its management team to capitalize on the blurring of the lines across asset classes.