RealCast: Impact Investing on the rise, Boots teams up with Deliveroo and Google invests €1 billion in two data centres

In the spotlight this week: RealCast has returned after three weeks and there are plenty of news after the summer break.

Impact Investing is being taken on board by an increasing number of companies. Schroders and Civitas have closed their Social Supported Housing Fund, with total equity commitments of £192 million, while Responsible Housing REIT is listing on the London Stock Exchange to raise £250 million to invest into a portfolio of supported housing accommodation across the UK. Home REIT is raising £262 million to invest in suitable accommodation for homeless people.

Hines has celebrated a milestone as Israeli investors, including the country’s largest insurance company, have invested in their European Value Fund for the first time. In another sign foreign investors’ interest in Europe is strong Gulf Islamic Investments has set up a €500 million JV with Capital Bay Group to develop retirement homes across the continent.

Google has announced a €1 billion investment in two new data centres in Germany, one near Frankfurt and one near Berlin. In the UK the pharmacy chain Boots has become the latest retailer to make its products available through Deliveroo while also opening 30 new beauty halls in its pursuit of a multi-format strategy. To return to the theme of social responsibility, Airbnb has announced that it will house 20,000 Afghan refugees.