Ben Cosentino

Partner
Sydney

Biography

Ben is a partner and our Real Assets sector co-lead.

Specialising in structured transactions involving real estate and infrastructure assets, Ben advises a wide range of investors on complex, high-value projects.

He has helped close some of the region’s most significant real asset M&A transactions, with a combined value of over $40 billion. His experience includes three years as a trusted internal adviser at a leading global investment firm.

Experience

Ben's experience includes advising:

  • Blackstone on its $24 billion acquisition of AirTrunk from a Macquarie-led consortium. The largest ever data centre deal globally and the second-largest private capital M&A deal in Australian history.

  • Blackstone on its $10 billion take-private of Crown Resorts (ASX: CWN).

  • Blackstone on the aggregation and $3.8 billion dual-track disposal of the Milestone logistics platform to ESR. The largest direct real estate transaction in Australian history.

  • Blackstone on its $2.1 billion sell-down of interests in the Southern Cross Towers in Melbourne to Charter Hall. The largest direct office tower transaction in Australian history.

  • Blackstone on its $2.1 billion acquisition of a 49% interest in the Dexus Australian Logistics Trust from GIC.

  • Blackstone on its $500 million acquisition of Student One, a portfolio of purpose-built student accommodation assets and operating platform.

  • Blackstone on its $270 million sale of Forest Hill Chase shopping centre to Haben.

  • Crown Resorts on the sale of its interest in the Nobu restaurant and hospitality group.

  • Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing on numerous fund-through acquisition and development transactions in the office, logistics and healthcare sectors, including national joint ventures, multi-asset portfolios and major commercial developments across multiple states.

  • Invesco on numerous fund-through acquisition and development transactions in the office, student accommodation and living sectors, including the $800 million development of Chevron Tower in Perth.

  • JP Morgan on the sale of its stake in North Queensland Airports.

  • The administrators of Virgin Australia on real asset diligence for the $3.5 billion sale to Bain Capital.