Sector Investment 24-Hour Briefing
×Infrastructure Investor Awards 2025
KKR won its third consecutive Fund Manager of the Year in Latin America, while the Power & Utilities Investor of the Year category was added as a new award this year. In Europe, EQT took Fund Manager of the Year for the largest European fundraise of 2025, with the take-private of Paris-listed renewable energy developer Neoen securing Deal of the Year honors. For the Middle East and Africa region, KKR bagged its second Fund Manager of the Year award and opened its third office in the region.
North American Recognition
Blue Owl Capital emerged as a high achiever in North America, taking home two awards in the region. Australian firm Macquarie won Fund Manager of the Year for its fundraising and exit successes. The residential sector lives large among North America winners, remaining a top choice even propelling a sharpshooter manager to its first PERE Awards win.
Real Estate Investment Trends
Liquidity constraints and fundraising headwinds are accelerating growth in the real estate investment management business according to Jeff Giller, partner and head of Step Stone Real Estate. BGO sees a wave of non-core assets creating deep opportunities in Japan's corporate real estate market, as the region comes into focus for investors.
Market Opportunities
Ridgewood Infrastructure's Sam Lissner notes that value creation opportunities and exit optionality are making the lower mid-market increasingly attractive for investors. Bernhard Capital identifies new opportunities emerging in mid-market regulated utility carve-out transactions as utilities scramble to raise capital for new power infrastructure. Blackstone stole the show in Europe, winning four of its five awards in the region where its fundraising dominance remains unchallenged.
Investment Strategies
Infracapital's Tom Crawley and Paulo Almeida explain that after rail and EV infrastructure led the first wave of transport decarbonization, the shipping sector is bracing for the second wave. Blue Owl's Marc Zahr observes investors gravitating towards scale, downside protection and long-term leases amid data center volatility and market uncertainty. APG is shifting focus to core real estate in Asia Pacific, reshaping its investment approach with a strategic pivot toward developed markets.