By Joshua Burd
An upcoming event will look to shine a light on how institutional investors are allocating capital in today’s real estate market.
To make that happen, organizers have called on a top executive from one of the biggest players in private equity.
Kenneth Caplan, senior managing director and global chief investment officer for real estate at Blackstone, will deliver a keynote address at the June 13 conference hosted by the Center for Real Estate at Rutgers Business School. It’s no doubt a topic that he lives and breathes every day, but Caplan will deliver his insights at a time when market conditions are perhaps changing more than they have in years.
“There are always things to discuss, but I do think it’s timely to be talking about what we’re doing and what we’re seeing — and what’s happening here in the U.S. and even globally in the real estate market,” Caplan said. “It’s very topical right now. It’s a good moment to be touching on that.”
Caplan has been involved in more than $100 billion of real estate acquisitions and initiatives in the U.S., Europe and Asia since joining Blackstone in 1997. He will help kick off the event, which begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Short Hills Hilton.
All told, organizers say the program will look to examine how some of the major issues and shifts in policy will affect the allocation of capital to real estate around the world. Caplan will be followed by two panels made up of senior investment professionals from regional and national platforms who will provide their perspectives on the topic, including Julia Coronado, president and founder of Macro Policy Perspectives, who will offer a presentation explaining the changing global economic conditions.
The program, titled “Where Will the Money Go? The Allocation of Capital to Real Estate in Global, National and Local Markets,” also includes two panel discussions featuring other top executives in finance and investing.
One will be moderated by Kevin Riordan, executive director of the Center for Real Estate, featuring executives including:
- Todd Everett, senior managing director, Principal Real Estate
- Mark Wilsmann, managing director, MetLife Real Estate
- Kevin Smith, managing director and Head of the Americas, PGIM Real Estate
Morris Davis, the Paul V. Profeta Chair of Real Estate and academic director at the Rutgers program, will look to provide a regional perspective with a panel that includes:
- Kevin Cummings, CEO and president of Investors Bancorp Inc.
- Anthony Labozzetta, CEO of Sussex Bancorp
- Chris Martin, chairman, CEO and president, Provident Bank
- Paula Mandell, senior vice president, M&T Bank Corp.
“There is unprecedented turmoil in China and in Europe, and the political and economic situation in the U.S. is very unsettled,” Davis said. “These developments have added both downside and upside risk to yields and pricing for real estate. For this reason, the allocation and availability of capital right now is the single most important thing we can talk about with our advisory board, our emerging leaders and the real estate industry in New Jersey.
“We are honored to have some of the most influential international, national and local decision-makers discuss these topics with us. This is a must-see event.”
Caplan, a Short Hills resident, said he welcomed the opportunity to speak to both businesses in his home state and also the next generation of industry executives. The Rutgers program launched in 2014 after a $1.5 million donation from Paul V. Profeta, president and owner of West Orange-based Paul V. Proteta and Associates Inc., and has quickly attracted support from some of the top players in New Jersey real estate.
“It’s a great opportunity to connect with the industry and students that are interested in joining that industry, but also with Rutgers and its program,” Caplan said.
For the full agenda and registration details, visit https://ce-catalog.rutgers.edu/coursedisplay.cfm?schID=63634
(Editor’s note: Paul V. Profeta is the owner and publisher of Real Estate NJ.)
