Summary of Transaction Headlines

Bisnow | “Amazon to Spend $12 Billion Building Louisiana Data Centers”

Another Big Tech firm is bringing a multibillion-dollar data center project to northern Louisiana. Amazon plans to spend $12 Billion on a series of data centers near Shreveport in northwestern Louisiana. It said the investment will include upgrades to the region’s electrical grid as politicians increasingly seek to shield constituents from elevated utility prices related to the artificial intelligence data center boom. The projects are expected to create 540 full-time jobs and 1,710 temporary construction positions.

PR Newswire | “Veris Residential to be Acquired by Affinius Capital-led Investor Consortium for $3.4 Billion in Cash”

Veris Residential, Inc. (NYSE: VRE), a forward-thinking, Northeast-focused, Class A multifamily REIT, announced that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement (the “Merger Agreement”) to be acquired by an investor consortium led by Affinius Capital in partnership with Vista Hill Partners (the “Investor Consortium”), in an all-cash transaction for $19.00 per share of Veris common stock (the “Transaction”), representing an implied enterprise value of $3.4 Billion. This transaction is the culmination of Veris’ strategic transformation and a comprehensive review of strategic alternatives conducted by the company and assisted by financial advisors J.P. Morgan and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. Following inbound interest, the company and its advisors engaged with a broad group of potential counterparties, including financial sponsors, sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, and multifamily investment platforms. 

PERE | “Stoneweg Targets €1 Billion ($1.1 Billion USD) in European Residential Investment in 2026”

Stoneweg is gearing up for a major deployment drive in European residential, with plans to invest €1 Billion ($1.1 Billion USD) in various subsectors and markets in the region this year. “We’re looking at a number of living projects across Europe, including flex living and BTS in Spain, PBSA in Italy, PBSA, and co-living in the UK,” said Ariadna Nijssen, the Geneva-based manager’s senior director of investment in Europe. Stoneweg currently manages €3 Billion ($3.5 Billion USD) of residential assets globally, half in Europe and half in the US.

IPE Real Assets | “Urban Partners Sells €1 Billion ($1.1 Billion USD) in Nordic Logistics to Catena and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan”

Urban Partners has sold €1 Billion ($1.1 Billion USD) worth of logistics assets across the Nordics to Catena AB and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan in two separate deals. The first deal involves logistics specialist Catena acquiring a 612,000 Square Meter portfolio of 20 properties across Sweden, Denmark, and Finland for €830 Million ($978 Million USD), marking the firm’s entry into the Finnish market.

IPE Real Assets | “LACERA Commits $812 Million to PGIM and Clarion Core Real Estate Funds’”

Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association (LACERA) has increased its exposure to US core open-ended real estate with two new commitments totaling $812 Million. The pension fund disclosed in a board meeting document that it placed $400 Million into PGIM Real Estate’s PRISA fund and approved a $412 Million follow-on commitment to the Clarion Lion Properties Fund. An SEC filing reveals that PRISA had reached $10.8 Billion in total commitments through February last year. The fund primarily invests in traditional industrial, multifamily, office, and retail assets.

DatacenterDynamics | “Blackstone-owned Link Logistics Files to Develop Data Center Campus Outside Atlanta, Georgias’”

An industrial real estate firm set up by Blackstone has filed to develop a data center campus outside Atlanta, Georgia. B9 Union City Owner LLC has filed a Developments of Regional Impact (DRI) application with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for a new campus in Union City. The project, known as the crossings, is set to be developed on a site off Westbrook Road and Evans Drive. The 231-acre campus could see up to five buildings developed, totaling 1.56 Million Square Feet. The first phase could be completed by 2028.

IREI | “American Landmark Apartments Appoints Adam Smolyar as Chief Innovation and Technology Officer’”

Adam Smolyar has joined American Landmark Apartments as Chief Innovation and Technology Officer. In his role, Smolyar oversees the firm’s enterprise technology strategy, innovation agenda, and digital transformation initiatives. He will oversee core systems, data architecture, cybersecurity, data analytics, and resident-facing platforms. He is responsible for ensuring the firm’s platforms are scalable and reliable and will partner with American Landmark’s Executive leadership team to streamline technology solutions and financial systems. 

PR Newswire | “Jonathan Shopay Named President and CEO of Anterra Management’”

Anterra, a Texas-based multifamily property management and investment platform with more than three decades of operating history, announced a leadership transition that took place in January as the firm position itself for its next phase of growth. Jonathan Shopay has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2026. He succeeds Bill Daves, who will continue to serve as Chairman, providing continuity and strategic oversight.

PR Newswire | “Federal Realty Promotes Jeff Kreshek to Executive Vice President”

Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE: FRT) has named Jeff Kreshek Executive Vice President, Western Region President & Chief Operating Officer. The promotion recognizes Kreshek’s leadership and the role of the West Coast portfolio as a core driver of Federal’s long-term business strategy. Kreshek joined Federal in 2011 to spearhead West Coast leasing and was promoted to Senior Vice President in 2016, later expanding his role to lead operations across the region and assuming the role of West Coast President in 2023.