A subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority has agreed to invest in a new global real estate secondaries platform with Ardian, as investors look to capitalize on dislocations in property markets and rising demand for liquidity.
The platform will focus on acquiring stakes in existing real estate funds and portfolios, an increasingly active corner of private markets as investors seek ways to exit holdings or rebalance portfolios following a sharp repricing in global property assets.
The initiative deepens the long-standing relationship between ADIA, one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds with more than $1 trillion in assets under management, and Paris-based private investment firm Ardian.
The partners said the current market environment is creating attractive opportunities for a focused secondaries approach, with more investors seeking liquidity while buyers gain access to seasoned assets that may be acquired at discounted valuations.
Real estate secondaries involve purchasing existing investor interests in property funds or portfolios, allowing sellers to access liquidity before assets are fully realized. The strategy has gained momentum in recent years as higher interest rates, tighter financing conditions and valuation resets have reshaped the global real estate landscape.
“Ardian has built a long and successful track record of investing in secondaries, said Mohamed Al Qubaisi, executive director of the Real Estate Department at ADIA. “This new platform reflects our confidence in both the growth potential of real estate secondaries and the strength of the long-standing relationship between ADIA and Ardian.”
📌 Why it matters:
The tie-up highlights how large institutional investors are positioning to exploit a surge in secondary sales of real estate assets as higher interest rates and falling valuations push investors to seek liquidity.
📌 Bottom line:
ADIA and Ardian are betting that a wave of investors exiting property funds will create opportunities to buy seasoned real estate assets at more attractive prices.
