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Unibail’s takeover of Rodamco has sparked off a round of merger speculation in the property sector.

The European Commission has decided to set up an expert group to advise it on open-ended real estate funds. The group will advise the EC on how to improve the European market for these funds and on whether EU-level action in this area would deliver benefits for industry and investors, the EC said in a statement.

A new Nordic real estate adviser, Glitnir Property Holding, has ambitious plans to grow beyond the Nordic region into northern Europe.

Low correlations to financial assets and high liquidity continue to attract institutional funds and private wealth into real estate.

The Association of Real Estate Funds announced on March 20 the launch of the 2007 Aref Code of Practice to govern the £40 billion, in 60 funds, that its members manage. The code was officially launched to its members on March 22.

The UK Reits industry is striving to get out of first gear, five months after hearing the starter’s gun.

Credit Suisse is launching a $2.5 billion fund for investment in property. It joins an already extensive list of private equity funds raising cash for the sector. These include Morgan Stanley’s $8 billion fund and private equity fund Blackstone Group’s $10 billion fund. The bank started to market the fund at the end of April and intends to use it for investment globally as it attempts to tap growing investor appetite for geographical diversification in property investment.

Joe Valente, head of research, DTZ.

Alex Moss, AME Capital.

AMB Property Corporation has hired Thomas Marquis to oversee its real estate activity in China. Marquis took the newly created role with the title of managing director, China, at the San Francisco company at the beginning of March. The company has 1.4 million square feet in China, and Marquis will be based in its Shanghai office. At the end of March the property corporation appointed François Rispe as vice-president, director of development, at AMB Property France. The French affiliate of the property corporation accounts for the majority of the company’s European exposure. Rispe is responsible for directing and growing AMB‘s development platform in France.

Tata Group, which joined with private equity firm Xander Group through its group company Trent in April, has outlined plans to raise $1 billion for an institutional retail real estate fund.

by John Davy, senior ABS analyst, Fidelity International.