Hines Launches Global Real Estate Fund in Europe
The evergreen European Long-Term Investment Fund will initially be distributed to private wealth investors in Europe before expanding to other regions.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Commercial
Hines has received regulatory approval to launch the Hines Global Real Estate Opportunities strategy, an open-ended, evergreen vehicle structured as a European Long-Term Investment Fund that allows periodic redemptions. The fund will initially be distributed to European private wealth investors.
Why it matters
The launch comes as private market funds proliferate in Europe, with more than 250 launched since 2024, and offers investors access to durable real assets backed by long-term fundamentals. It gives private wealth investors in Europe a new route into global real estate through a vehicle that can offer periodic liquidity.
Hines oversees US$91 billion of assets and runs the Hines Global Income Trust with about US$6.9 billion in gross asset value in the United States. The source does not report the new fund's target size or initial capital.
The players
Hines
Hines is a Houston-headquartered real estate firm that oversees US$91 billion of assets and runs the Hines Global Income Trust in the United States.
Eugenio Cicconetti
Cicconetti is a former Schroders executive whom Hines hired in 2025 to lead its European unit, which is distributing the new fund.
The details
The Hines Global Real Estate Opportunities strategy is an open-ended, evergreen vehicle structured as a European Long-Term Investment Fund, which allows periodic redemptions. Hines plans to distribute it first to European private wealth investors, with plans to later target Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Canada.
Timeline
2024: European regulators overhauled ELTIF rules and private market fund launches began rising.
2025: Hines hired former Schroders executive Eugenio Cicconetti to lead its European unit.
2026: ELTIF launches continued at a similar pace to 2025.
November 2, 2026: Hines announced the launch of the Hines Global Real Estate Opportunities strategy.
Market Landscape
The launch follows the 2024 overhaul of European ELTIF rules, after which more than 250 private market funds were launched in Europe. ELTIF launches continued at a similar pace in 2026, with infrastructure making up the largest share of assets while real estate accounts for 6.6 per cent.
Private wealth investors in Europe will be able to access the fund's real estate exposure through a vehicle that allows periodic redemptions. Many managers typically require at least 10,000 euros (US$11,201), while ELTIFs themselves do not require a minimum investment.
The takeaway
Investors considering evergreen European funds should compare minimum investment requirements and redemption terms, since ELTIFs have no set minimum but many managers ask for around 10,000 euros.
Further reading
Explore more on Commercial real estate investment trends and fund structures.
