Institution: European market "highly attractive"

Ares Asset Management Co-President Blair Jacobson echoed the views of Blackstone Group Vice Chairman at the SuperReturn Private Equity Conference in Berlin, stating that "the current market generally believes that Europe is very attractive for investment." He listed favorable factors such as declining interest rates and a 500 billion fiscal stimulus plan in Germany, and he also said that the Draghi report released last year is equally encouraging - the report called for regulatory relaxation to enhance European competitiveness. "Europe is maturing and gradually taking control of its own destiny, which is positive for macro trends," emphasized Jacobson.