Alternative lenders

UBS Asset Management has fully committed the original £241 million of equity raised for its real estate debt fund, which is managed by Anthony Shayle.

German real estate debt fund manager Caerus Debt Investments, led by Michael Morgenroth (pictured), has reached a second close on its senior and whole loan fund, raising an additional €47 million of capital mainly from a German insurer.

LaSalle Investment Management has written its first loan in the Spanish market, financing the purchase of a student housing portfolio for sector specialist GSA.

BlackRock has held a first close on its UK Strategic Alternative Income Fund, which will invest in real estate debt among other asset classes.

Colony NorthStar has collected a total of $1.3 billion for its fourth real estate debt fund, Colony Distressed Credit & Special Situations Fund IV, Real Estate Capital's sister title PERE has learned.

The second real estate debt fund raised by AEW Europe and the asset management arm of French bank Natixis has provided a €35 million participation a French portfolio financing.

AXA Investment Managers - Real Assets has raised €1.4 billion of capital for its latest debt fund, CRE Senior X, in just over six months, Real Estate Capital has learned.

UK marketplace lender LendInvest has reduced its minimum loan size for commercial and residential property bridging loans as it attempts to roll out its real estate lending business across the UK regions.

Asia-based alternative investment firm Pacific Alliance Group (PAG) has partnered with South Korean brokerage company Meritz Securities to launch a 200 billion won (€163 million; $180 million) private debt fund to provide senior loans backed by properties in South Korea.

Fundraising by closed-ended real estate-focused debt funds had reached more than $23.2 billion by the end of the third quarter of 2016, according to data from PDI Research & Analytics.