The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) today reported that in conjunction with Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), a financial and professional services firm specializing in real estate services and investment management, it would release findings at the 2012 ICSC Retail Real Estate World Summit in Shanghai from a groundbreaking multinational study that examines the evolution and future of Global Retail Real Estate Investment.

Being held Sept. 11-14, the World Summit is an open forum designed to address and shape the critical role and socio-economic impact of the worldwide retail property market.

“Preliminary findings show that over the past decade alone, in excess of one trillion U.S. dollars of retail real estate has been directly traded, of which more than one-third has involved cross-border capital,” said Lauralee Martin, CFO, Jones Lang LaSalle.

“Initially focused on the established markets in North America, Western Europe, Australasia and Asia, capital flows have gradually spread during the mid-2000s to embrace retail markets in Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, China, Turkey and Brazil. ‘Signpost’ deals point to a further widening of activity into new markets in Latin America, North Africa and South East Asia.”

To be authored by Jeremy Kelly, director in global research, Shelley Matthews of the International Capital Group, Alexandra Bryant of Asia Pacific Capital Markets and Josh Gelormini, director of research for the Americas, at Jones Lang LaSalle, this paper will, in the context of significant structural change, explore four key areas:

  • A Typology of Retail Investment Destination – a review of the different investment market characteristics across in the globe.
  • Recent Patterns of Retail Investment – a look at the current wave of globalization and which countries are attracting the most investment.
  • Regional Trends in Retail Investment – a  comparison of regional patterns across Asia Pacific, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
  • The Future Retail Investment Landscape –  a forecast on how the investment landscape will change over the remainder of the decade.

“Our initial research shows that the retail investment market is globalizing,” noted Jeremy Kelly. “Cross-border activity, which accounted for only one-quarter of volumes back in 2004, now accounts for nearly half of trade.  Inter-regional activity has seen particularly strong growth in tandem with the rise of a number of global investors and operators.  2011 and H1 2012 has seen a record U.S. $46B of inter-regional capital flows.”

“The World Summit is undeniably the most appropriate setting from which to release such impactful information, as the foremost global leaders in retail real estate investment will be in attendance,” added Lauralee Martin.

Michael P. Kercheval, president and CEO of ICSC, commented that, “we are honored to have JLL so intricately involved in the World Summit. Having a highly respected global firm like JLL produce this unique piece of research increases the value of the Summit for our attendees and speaks to the nature of this being a groundbreaking and critical event for our industry.”

For more information on The International Council of Shopping Centers, visit www.icsc.org.