The irony does not escape me: I am sat at my kitchen table, about to take a hatchet to the US Commercial Real Estate (CRE) market because I can’t concentrate in the office.

As I sit here writing this piece, I am wrestling with the physical, mental and financial ramifications of my recent trip to Berlin to watch England lose the Euros Final to a deserving winner in Spain.

2023 was, broadly speaking, not a great year for private equity. A lot of money has been raised, and against the present backdrop of weak deal flow, most of it is looking for a home in all the same places.

As far as ‘uncorrelated’ strategies go, there has always been one which has managed to consistently pique investors’ interest. There is just something about the blend of personal and professional interest.

I spend a lot of time at conferences. I guess it’s just a part of the job. It’s not necessarily a complaint, the networking and sharing of ideas can be incredibly useful.