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MORRISTOWN, NJ-Private real estate investment fund managerHampshire Cos., which has amassed more than $1.5 billion in assetsvia its previous offerings, has launched Hampshire Partners FundVII. The commingled, discretionary value-add real estate fund hasalready raised $350 million from 20 investors, includingendowments, foundations and pension funds.

“Fund VII's investment strategy will focus on acquisition ofproperties in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions,” says JamesE. Hanson II, Hampshire's CEO and president, who notes thatindustrial, retail and suburban office properties will all betargets. “Within these markets, the goal is to materially enhancethe properties' value through such activities as repositioningasset-level cash flows by upgrading rent rolls, upgrading existingfacilities, expanding existing buildings, adaptive re-use andconducting pro-active value-added management and leasing.”