The COVID-19 outbreak has impacted the global economy to an extent not seen since the Great Depression. Businesses face unprecedented challenges and although massive remedial actions by governments and central banks will help, the economic outlook is incredibly bleak.
Retail Congress MENA brings together shopping centre industry professionals, retailers, management and consulting companies, architects and design companies, entertainment and leisure companies, product and service providers to the industry, all under one roof for two days of industry leaders speeches, education, networking and deal making while exploring new business opportunities.
As a New Year and indeed decade approaches, there is growing consensus that Europe’s real estate market is entering the last stages of the current investment cycle. The US vs. China trade war, Brexit and geopolitical risks in the Middle East have contributed to a slowdown by generating market uncertainty over the last year. Although Europe’s economy may avoid recession, growth is widely expected to remain subdued over the next 12 to 18 months and there are lingering questions about how much further the cycle has to run. Rosanna Woods, UK Managing Director at Drooms, explores the future of the real estate industry in Europe.
For general partners (GPs), investing huge amounts of capital now comes with heightened risks. They are paying extra costs and looking to capture value that may not materialise post-close. To address this, Rosanna Woods, UK Managing Director at Drooms, suggests that the most effective GPs are scaling up their strategies by investing in diligence.
Banks are increasingly behaving like FinTechs, and some have even started partnering with them. The digital transformation, in which FinTechs have played a prominent role, has brought with it new cognitive technologies and macro forces such as blockchain and the digital experience, which are continuously shaping all areas of banking.
While the political and economic uncertainty surrounding Brexit continues, one thing remains certain - technological innovation will continue to disrupt the financial services industry.
