Overview

• More than 4,500 financial investors controlling over $50 trillion have gathered in Berlin to target healthcare practices, clinics and housing for double-digit returns.
• Acquisitions have saddled care providers with heavy debts, prompted property sell-offs followed by costly leasebacks and led to staff cuts and wage suppression.
• Publicly listed firms now control about 15 percent of Berlin’s housing stock, with Blackstone having raised average rents by 22 percent from 2019 to 2023.
• Protest groups including Finanzwende, Verdi, Deutscher Mieterbund and the Bündnis gegen Mietenwahnsinn have rallied outside conference venues to demand curbs on such investments.
• SPD housing minister Verena Hubertz met Vonovia’s CEO Rolf Buch and CDU MP Jan-Marco Luczak conferred with Buwog chief Eva Weiß to explore regulatory and funding options.