Carlyle planning E500m European property fund

Carlyle Group, one of the biggest private equity funds in the US, has announced that it plans to raise E500m for a new European real estate fund.

The new fund is planning to focus on the commercial property sector in France, Germany and Italy and will be headed Eric Sasson who was previously at Jones Lang LaSalle. Carlyle see continental Europe as a more attractive option at the moment over the highly priced UK property sector.

This marks an important step for Carlyle in its growth in operations in Europe as it replicates the model that has been successful for them in the US – a combination of dedicated funds in the buyout sector, venture capital and property.