Summary of Transaction Headlines

Bloomberg | “ESR Shareholders Approve $7 Billion Buyout by Investor Group”

Shareholders of ESR Group Ltd. approved a buyout deal by a consortium of investors valuing the Hong Kong-listed warehouse operator at about $7 Billion via a scheme of arrangement. ESR will be acquired by a group including investment firms Starwood Capital Group, Sixth Street Partners, SSW Partners, Warburg Pincus, Qatar Investment Authority and ESR’s Founders. In December the buyer consortium proposed acquiring all ESR shares for HK$ 13 ($1.65 USD) each and taking the company private.

IPE Real Assets | “Goodman Group Raises Over A$2 Billion ($1.3 Billion USD) for New Hong Kong Data Center Vehicle”

Goodman Group has raised over A$2 Billion ($1.3 Billion USD) in equity for its new Hong Kong data center vehicle, which holds A$4.1 Billion ($2.6 Billion USD) worth of assets. The investors in the Goodman Hong Kong Data Centre Partnership (GHKDC) include Dutch pension fund managers PGGM and APG, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, CBRE Investment Management’s indirect private real estate strategies, and a Middle Eastern investor. GHKDC is Goodman Group’s second partnership in Hong Kong. The first is Goodman Hong Kong Logistics Partnership. 

PR Newswire | “VineBrook Homes Trust and Evergreen Residential Announce Strategic Partnership”

VineBrook Homes Trust, Inc. (“VineBrook”), a single-family rental (“SFR”) real estate investment trust (“REIT”), and Evergreen Residential Holdings (“Evergreen”), an institutional real estate investment and operating platform, announced a strategic partnership that aims to modernize and enhance the VineBrook resident experience and position both companies for growth amid the rising demand for affordable housing. Under the partnership, Evergreen will assume property and portfolio management of the VineBrook portfolio through Evergreen Live, a provider of third-party property management services. VineBrook is one of the only large SFR operators in the U.S. specializing in the workforce housing segment.

IREI | “BlackRock to Acquire ElmTree Funds”

BlackRock has acquired ElmTree Funds, a net-lease real estate investment firm with $7.3 Billion in total assets under management as of March 31, 2025. Up-front consideration will be paid primarily in stock, with the potential for additional consideration contingent upon ElmTree’s performance over the next five years. Additional financial details were not disclosed. Founded in 2011, ElmTree is a recognized leader in the commercial net-lease sector, focusing on single-tenant, build-to-suit real estate assets that are mission critical to corporate tenants’ core operations and growth.

PR Newswire | “Landmark Properties Expands European Leadership With Appointment of Ioannis Verdelis as Managing Director, Development and Investment”

Landmark Properties, a leading global real estate investment manager, announced the appointment of Ioannis Verdelis as Managing Director of Development and Investment for its European operations. Mr. Verdelis will co-lead Landmark’s efforts alongside Alex Katsnelson and Tom Banning to build and scale a best-in-class pan-European student accommodation and residential investment platform. Mr. Verdelis has brought more than 15 years of real estate and investment leadership to Landmark.

Business Wire | “Perform Properties Expands Executive Team With Two Strategic Hires”

Perform Properties (“Perform”), a diversified real estate operating platform specializing in high-quality, grocery-anchored retail centers and premier office assets, announced two key executive appointments: Jennifer Kroog Rosenberg as Senior Vice President, Head of Communications & Marketing, and Tiffany Gherlone in a newly created role as Senior Vice President, Head of Data & Research. These leadership additions reflect Perform’s ongoing investment in top talent to drive value creation and operational excellence across its portfolio.

IREI | “CBRE Appoints Shun Endo as Head of Data Center, Capital Markets, Asia Pacific”

CBRE has appointed Shun Endo as Head of Data Center, Capital Markets, Asia Pacific. In this new regional position, Endo will assume additional responsibilities alongside his current position within CBRE’s investment banking business in Japan. He will focus on developing a comprehensive data center platform to serve clients across Asia Pacific, collaborating closely with regional data center leads to deliver integrated solutions to meet the rising demand for data center investments.

VanTrust Real Estate | “VanTrust Real Estate Celebrates 15 Years, Announces Key Executive Promotions for Strategic Growth”

VanTrust Real Estate, a nationally recognized commercial real estate development company, proudly celebrates 15 years of business with the announcement of a new Executive Leadership team. Andy Weeks has been named Chief Development Officer (CDO). Jeff Dillon has been named Chief Investment Officer (CIO). Julia Taylor has been named Chief Operating Officer (COO). Sandy Broadfoot has been named Chief Legal Officer (CLO). 

Housing Today | “Gleeson Homes CEO Mark Knight Departs After Margins Fail to Improve”

The firm announced Mark Knight, Chief Executive of Gleeson Homes, has departed after a “comprehensive review” of the business recommended management changes. Gleeson announced that Simon Topliss, previously Finance Director, will move into a newly created Chief Operating Officer role with responsibility for central functions, performance, and governance. He will report to Gleeson’s overall Chief Executive Graham Prothero.

CoStar | “Stephen Eshelby Appointed CFO of EMEA Occupier Services at Colliers Amid Expansion Push”

Colliers has named Stephen Eshelby as Chief Financial Officer for its EMEA Occupier Services business, a move seen as a strategic play to sharpen its financial discipline and scale its platform amid growing investor interest in pan-European occupier demand. Bringing more than two decades of leadership in real estate finance and operations, Eshelby previously held senior positions at JLL, where he helped transform regional business units, and most recently guided a family-owned property firm through volatile markets, delivering award-winning urban projects.

Property Week | “Canada Life Appoints Emma Watkins as UK CEO”

Canada Life has appointed Emma Watkins, Scottish Widows’ Managing Director for retirement and long-standing, as its UK Chief Executive Officer. She will take up the role in September, subject to regulatory approval. Watkins has also previously served as Partner at Lane Clark & Peacock and has held several senior roles in the insurance industry including at MetLife Assurance and Ace European Group.

IREI | “Former Blackstone Managing Director Jimmy Yung Joins Rockwood Capital as Senior Managing Director, Global Head of Originations”

Rockwood Capital has hired Jimmy Yung as Senior Managing Director, Global Head of Originations. In this role, he will be responsible for leading the firm’s origination and capital deployment strategy, overseeing the sourcing, structuring, and execution of commercial real estate credit investments, and helping with the continued expansion of the firm’s credit platform. Based in Rockwood’s Los Angeles office, Yung is a seasoned real estate executive with more than 27 years of experience in origination and investment management in the United States and Asia.

IREI | “Hines Promotes Regional Leader to COO, Asia Pacific”

Hines has promoted Kian Fong Lim to COO, Real Estate, Asia Pacific, effective immediately. He will continue as Head of Singapore and Southeast Asia, responsible for the firm’s activities in Singapore and Vietnam. In his expanded role, Lim will oversee real estate operations across administration, asset management, and property management throughout Hines’ Asia Pacific portfolio, while continuing to drive acquisitions, development, and new business generation in Singapore and Southeast Asia.

IREI | “ESR Completes Privatization, Strengthens Leadership Team”

ESR is now a privately held company, following its delisting from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Following the privatization, ESR has made several executive leadership appointments. Brett Robson has been appointed independent Board Chair, following his earlier appointment as Senior Adviser to the consortium in April 2025. Phil Pearce has been appointed President, overseeing the day-to-day execution of ESR’s strategic priorities and operations. Matthew Lawson was appointed CFO. Josh Daitch has been appointed CIO. David Matheson will join ESR in July 2025 as CIO. Karine Scelles joined ESR earlier this year as Chief People Officer. John Marsh has been appointed Group Head of Development.