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Tokio Marine trims private equity allocation

The investment advisory wing of Japan’s Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance cites declining opportunities in the asset class as the main reason for reducing its allocation.

LaSalle named global PERE firm of year

LaSalle Investment Management has been voted global firm of the year in the 2008 Global PERE Awards. Colony’s Richard Saltzman takes North American industry figure of the year, while Citi Property Investors win European firm of the year. MGPA take a raft of awards for their Asia operations.

ADIC hires Rothschild MD

Formerly an investment vehicle for Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth, the Abu Dhabi Investment Company is expanding into M&A advisory with the hire of Alex Carré de Malberg.

Edwards takes over as LaSalle’s core fund chief in Asia

David Edwards, head of research for LaSalle Investment Management in Asia, is to take charge of the firm’s open-ended Asia Property Fund. Kenneth Tsang takes over Edwards’ former role.

Aureos enters North Africa

The emerging markets specialist has hired Isabelle Portebois-Benjelloun, the former private equity chief at Moroccan investment bank CFG Group, to establish a North African presence from a base in Casablanca.

Aviva grows funds of funds team

The Des Moines, Iowa-based real estate firm has appointed Michael Fortier as controller and chief financial officer of the funds managed by Aviva Investors’ New York office.

Saffar hires sovereign weath fund veteran

Adnan Ali Sultan will ‘evaluate deals’ for the financial firm’s private equity fund, Saffar Financial Infrastructure Fund.

Probitas opens in Hong Kong

The San Francisco-based placement agent, advisor and secondaries broker has hired ex-AIG Investments executive Edwin Chan to lead its first Asian office.

ICG closes Tokyo office

The UK-listed mezzanine house is the latest firm to close a Tokyo office after having found the Japanese market difficult to penetrate. It will instead bolster its team in Sydney, where it has seen more deal flow.

Morgan Stanley hires two to build FoFs arm

Carolijn ter Haar and David Boyle will join Joseph Stecher, the chief investment officer of Morgan Stanley Alternative Investment Partners, to develop the recently-launched FoFs business. Ter Haar was previously with Mn Services and Boyle with REMCap.