DRS sees increasing investment in real estate

Demand for virtual data rooms is continues to increase in the segment

Global Real Estate advisor Jones Lang LaSalle has published that in the second quarter of 2011 direct global investment in commercial real estate increased by 47% over the same period last year. Most activity was concentrated in North, Central and South America. A comparison between the first and second quarters of this year shows an increase of 56%. Market activity in the EMEA economic area (Europe, the Middle East and Africa), on the other hand, shows a steady decline for this same period.

In spite of the results within the EMEA region, DRS has seen an increase of over 50% in volume of its real estate business over the period (second quarter 2010 - second quarter 2011), particularly in Germany and Switzerland. DRS attributes this to both a steadily increasing share of the virtual data room market in general and on a targeted focus by real estate transaction service providers on quality and performance in particular. "More and more such clients continue to work with us because they are impressed with our products and services", says Alexandre Grellier, CEO of DRS.

Jones Lang LaSalle expects an annual global growth rate of 35-40%, which would be the highest since 2007. With such a positive market outlook, DRS eagerly looks to finish 2011 in record territory for growth.