Stoneshield

The world’s largest real estate manager is set to get larger this year, with Blackstone president Jon Gray predicting increased capital deployment amid “tremendous momentum” for its property business to start 2026. Elsewhere, Madrid-based manager Stoneshield gets the year off to a flying start with its latest fund targeting the Southern European market; PERE’s latest investor survey shows growing confidence in private real estate; Brookfield returns to outdoor storage; a US pension hits obstacles in affordable housing, and more in this week’s digest, exclusively for our valued subscribers.

The manager has secured 40% of its capital target within two months of launching the Southern Europe-focused fund.

PERE lifts the veil on the issues investors are discussing with their managers in this month's cover story, "Inside the LPAC"; KKR is becoming more active in the core and core-plus space thanks to a lack of competition; Southern Europe-focused manager Stoneshield Capital closes its third opportunity fund ahead of target – in just five months; all in today's briefing, exclusively for our valued subscribers.

The Southern Europe-focused manager took just five months to reach a final close for the fund, well below the European average.

In just over a year, the manager has raised €600m to invest in student accommodation assets across Southern Europe.

Clarion Partners will fold Stoneshield into its European business, but it has compelling reasons to keep the platform distinct.

Through its merger with European manager Stoneshield, Clarion Partners is marking its entry into opportunistic strategies outside of its home region.

Britain led the region’s real estate recovery in 2024, and institutional investors took notice in a big way.

Investment activity has been gathering speed in the region – but not necessarily in all the markets one would expect, says James Sparrow, CEO, Savills UK and EMEA.