Gaw Capital Partners, through its funds under management, and its consortium partners, acquired 29 Hong Kong-based community shopping centers and associated facilities in March 2018 and March 2019.
Gaw Capital Partners officially started to operate over 29 assets and facilities near the public estates and established “People’s Place”. “People” stands for the public and the residents, whereas “Place” here is an allusion to the idiomatic Chinese term for a location of virtue and tradition, as well as a well-governed community; “Place” also connotes the solidarity of the local neighborhood. All in all, “People’s Place” stands for a place rich in sentiments and compassion, bringing strangers together in constructing a vibrant, cozy living environment. People’s Place aspires to transform obsolete commercial facilities into vibrant community hubs by creatively utilizing its space and bringing brand new experiences to residents, tenants and community stakeholders.
In partnership with experienced educators in China, Gaw Capital has invested in the development and operations of Stellart International School of Arts (SISA), an international arts education platform in China. The platform is initially seeded by a commercial site conveniently located in Sanshan New Town in Nanhai, Foshan, which has excellent connectivity nationally via the Guangzhou South Station. The site has a GFA of c.50,000 sqm in total. Operating under the SISA brand and developed by Gaw Capital Partners, the school houses up to 600 full-time high school students in its 6-storey tall academic block and 7-floor dormitory. 
Tokyo, 19 April 2024 – Real estate private equity firm Gaw Capital Partners today announced that its Japan multi-family real estate investment platform, in which Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and an institutional investor invested, has partnered with Alyssa Partners to acquire a portfolio of residential assets in Tokyo from a major Japanese conglomerate. Alyssa Partners is a leading real estate investment management firm and acts as minority equity investor and asset manager.
Strategically located throughout Tokyo, the portfolio consists of 29 high-quality multifamily properties, with an average age of less than three years. With a total gross area of approximately 30,000 square meters, the assets comprise 835 contemporary apartment units. Notably, all properties are conveniently situated within a short average walking distance of around five minutes from subway and/or JR stations.
Isabella Lo, Managing Director, Principal – Investments and Head of Japan at Gaw Capital Partners, said: “We are excited to complete this acquisition deal. We believe in the long-term prospects of Japan’s residential sector and the resilience of its housing market. The acquisition of these well-located and high-quality multifamily properties further enables us to leverage our expertise in enhancing the value and appeal of the properties and creating exceptional living spaces that meet the evolving needs of residents. We are also committed to delivering value to our investors while contributing to the growth and development of the local communities we serve.”
Tokyo residential represents one of the most resilient sectors offering stable cash flow. Over the past 12 years, Tokyo residential occupancy has never fallen below 95%. Rents are also highly resilient even after major market shocks including the global financial crisis and COVID, correcting only 10% and 5% respectively (while office rents experienced a sharp drop). Supported by inflation, wage growth and rising construction costs, Tokyo residential rents have started an upward trajectory, increasing by 3.5% in 2023.
This acquisition demonstrates Gaw Capital Partners’ unwavering commitment to identifying prime investment opportunities that offer long-term value and capital growth potential.
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About Gaw Capital Partners
Gaw Capital Partners is a uniquely positioned private equity fund management company focusing on real estate markets in Asia Pacific and other high barrier-to-entry markets globally.
Specializing in adding strategic value to under-utilized real estate through redesign and repositioning, Gaw Capital runs an integrated business model with its own in-house asset management operating platforms in commercial, hospitality, property development, logistics, IDC, and Education. The firm’s investments span the entire spectrum of real estate sectors, including residential development, offices, retail malls, serviced apartments, hotels, logistics warehouses and IDC projects.
Gaw Capital has raised seven commingled funds targeting the APAC region since 2005. The firm also manages value-add/opportunistic funds in the US, a Pan-Asia hospitality fund, a European hospitality fund, a Growth Equity Fund and it also provides services for credit investments and separate account direct investments globally.
Gaw Capital has raised equity of US$22.3 billion since 2005 with assets of US$33.7 billion under management as of Q3 2023.