Korea’s NPS Buys Minority Stake Nordic firm Areim

Nordic real estate company Areim and the National Pension Service Investment Management of South Korea (NPS) have entered a strategic partnership on Wednesday where NPS becomes a minority stakeholder in Areim, supporting Areim’s growth ambitions for the coming years, while the team remains independent in its operations.

NPS, the world’s third-largest pension fund by total assets, is becoming a minority stakeholder in Areim via its strategic partnership with Townsend Group (Townsend). On behalf of NPS, the investment was led by Townsend who is a leading advisor and partner to institutional investors globally focused on real estate and real assets.

Following the transaction, Areim will remain an independent real estate manager with a focus on the Nordic market.

The responsibility for managing the business and operations of Areim will remain solely with the existing Areim team. Consequently, the firm’s senior management and partners will maintain their full commitment to the investment activities of the Areim funds and to the firm’s long-term growth.

Strategic Partnership

David Kim, Head of Real Estate Platform Investment Team at NPS, said that they were pleased to establish this strategic partnership with Areim, whose proven strengths and long-term vision align closely with their platform investment strategy.

“We are confident that this collaboration will further support Areim’s continued growth as well as NPS’s long-term investment objectives,” Kim said.

Areim founder Leif Andersson said that NPS and Townsend were strategic partners ideally, and their investment supports his company’s ambition to grow with continued independence and a clear purpose, while it continues to remain closely aligned with its team, fund investors, and other key stakeholders.

He said that they were looking forward to the collaboration and the opportunities it will unlock for many years to come.

Townsend CEO and Chairman Anthony Frammartino said that they were eager to partner with the team at Areim.

It has been a pleasure getting to know the firm better over the course of this transaction and they were excited about what Areim can build over the coming years with the strategic capital and support from NPS and Townsend, he said.

“Areim continues to evolve, and as we do so, we also need to ensure that we have a solid platform to stand on. The partnership with NPS and Townsend will enhance our commitment to attract and retain the best talent in the market and strengthens our position as the preferred manager in our selected markets – driving innovation and excellence in everything we do,” Henrik Brinck Landelius, CEO of Areim, said.