Q&A

The principals of Chicago-based Walton Street Capital, the private equity real estate firm founded by JMB Realty head Neil Bluhm, has been investing in Mexico for more than a decade - the firm did its first property investment in the country in 1998. Walton Street's Mexico operations are headed up by Sandor Valner, who was formerly the chief executive officer of VALOR, a real estate merchant bank he founded in 2001. Prior to this, Valner had leadership roles with M&A advisor EMVA and Credit Suisse in Mexico. Walton is raising its sixth global fund, which has exposure to Mexico. In addition, the firm is raising a dedicated Latin America fund, with a target of $350 million and a majority allocation to Mexico. Between the two funds, Walton Street will have around $700 million to invest in the region, with 75 percent of the capital going to Mexico. Last year, the firm opened an office in Mexico. Valner took a few minutes to speak with PERE about the attractions of Mexican real estate.