Prime Highlights
- Aquilius Investment Partners has raised $1.1 billion for its second Asia-Pacific real estate secondaries fund, marking the largest fund of its kind in the region.
- The successful fundraising reflects strong investor confidence in alternative real estate strategies across Asia.
Key Facts
- More than $750 million was secured for AIP Secondary Fund II, exceeding its original $700 million target.
- The fund will invest across Japan, South Korea, India, and Australia, focusing on stable and growing real estate markets.
Background:
Aquilius Investment Partners has raised $1.1 billion for its second Asia-Pacific real estate secondaries fund, setting a new record for the region and showing strong investor interest in alternative property investments across Asia.
The Singapore-based firm said it raised more than $750 million for AIP Secondary Fund II, exceeding its original target of $700 million. Additional commitments through related investment vehicles lifted the total fundraising to $1.1 billion. This is a significant increase compared with Aquilius’ first fund, which raised over $400 million in 2023.
Real estate secondaries mean buying existing investments in private property funds. This approach allows investors to enter investments more quickly and gain access to established assets, rather than waiting for new developments. The strategy has become more popular as market uncertainty and slower exits have affected traditional private real estate deals.
Aquilius said about half of the capital has already been invested across eight deals, indicating steady activity and a strong flow of opportunities. The remaining funds will be invested in key Asia-Pacific countries such as Japan, South Korea, India, and Australia, focusing on reliable and growing real estate markets. The firm plans to focus on “new economy” real estate segments such as logistics facilities, data centres, and living assets, which continue to benefit from long-term structural demand.
Founded in 2021 by former executives from Partners Group and Blackstone, Aquilius has rapidly expanded its footprint and now operates what it describes as Asia’s largest dedicated real estate secondaries platform.
Christian Keiber, a founding partner at Aquilius, pointed out that there is a clear gap in the market. He noted that while roughly one-third of global private market assets under management are located in Asia, less than 10% of global secondaries capital is allocated to the region. He added that slow exit activity, regulatory changes, and ongoing uncertainty have created what he described as a rare buying opportunity for long-term investors.
Co-founding partner Bastian Wolff said the fund has attracted strong backing from sovereign wealth funds and pension funds, particularly from Asia and the Middle East. He emphasized that these investors’ regional presence and deep understanding of local markets played a key role in supporting Aquilius’ strategy.
The successful fundraising positions Aquilius to play a leading role in shaping Asia’s rapidly growing real estate secondaries market.
