MAPFRE Inmuebles analyzes the alternative sector on Real Assets Day
Redacción Mapfre
- El evento ha contado con la presencia de un centenar de inversores, y la participación de firmas como Macquarie AM, Repsol, Ferrovial o IWG.
MAPFRE Inmuebles held the third edition of Real Assets Day this Tuesday, bringing together partners, investors, and professionals from MAPFRE's investment areas to share their insights on the alternative assets sector, including real estate and infrastructure. The central themes covered included segment trends, the current volatile international context, and the digital transformation driven by the rise of AI.
During his presentation, Alfredo Muñoz, General Manager of MAPFRE Inmuebles, highlighted the significant contribution of this business unit to the MAPFRE Group. He also emphasized the strategy of the past few years, which has focused on partnerships with major European players, helping to expand the portfolio and acquire prime properties in key European capitals, such as London and Paris, primarily for the office business.
Carlos Díaz Gridilla, Deputy Manager of MAPFRE Inmuebles, moderated a panel focused on the real estate sector. He explained that the sector is currently in a phase where it is necessary to be selective with assets to achieve strong returns. The panel featured Christian Goebel, Co-CEO of Manova Partners, with whom MAPFRE manages two European real estate funds; Íñigo Enrich, Executive Corporate Director at CBRE, which has collaborated with MAPFRE on major real estate transactions; and Philippe Jiménez, General Manager of IWG in Spain, a co-working firm that has partnered with MAPFRE to oversee the new uses of the Moda Shopping center in Madrid.
The second panel, focused on clean energy, explored investment opportunities in renewables while stressing the importance of a stable regulatory framework in both Spain and Europe, as well as a long-term commitment to the sector. Speakers included Juan Caño Sterck, Managing Director at Macquarie AM; Carlos García-Monzón from KOBUS Partners; and José Marcos González Conejero from IAM Carbonzero. In 2023, MAPFRE, together with IAM Carbonzero and Abante, launched Europe’s first mutual fund dedicated to biomethane.
Alfredo Muñoz, General Manager of MAPFRE Inmuebles, during his speech.
The workshop also highlighted the role of AI in shaping the industry’s future. Diego Bodas, Artificial Intelligence Manager at MAPFRE, emphasized that the key to successfully adopting AI lies in integrating these capabilities in a rational and coordinated manner with the company’s business areas, while also managing the cultural shift it entails. Albert Mercadal, Corporate Head of AI at Ferrovial, noted that while AI is currently a differentiating factor in the infrastructure sector, it will soon become essential—those who fail to implement it risk falling far behind in terms of competitiveness.
The global economic landscape will play a key role in shaping the year ahead, as highlighted by Gonzalo de Cadenas-Santiago, Deputy Director of MAPFRE Economics, and Pedro Antonio Merino, Director of Studies and Chief Economist at Repsol. MAPFRE’s economist cautioned that while the prevailing trend had been toward declining risks (economic, trade, and energy-related), rising international tensions and Donald Trump’s return to power introduce a new scenario, adding further challenges to the investment landscape, including in alternative assets. Repsol’s Director of Studies pointed to energy as one of Europe’s weak spots, weighing down vital sectors like industry and posing a challenge to sustained economic growth until a viable energy model is established.
