The new office will provide local, on-the-ground support to clients pursuing international growth strategies, in particular helping clients access opportunities in the region’s dynamic real estate market.

Bjoern Beck (pictured below), who has deep expertise in both the APAC region and the real estate sector, has been appointed as managing director, Universal Investment Singapore, to lead the new office. Backed by Universal Investment’s nearly 60-year track record and its future-proofed platform, Beck will collaborate closely with colleagues across Europe’s largest fund hubs to ensure that clients benefit from the group’s “hallmark strengths: outstanding service, best-in-class fund expertise, and trusted partnerships,” the firm said in a statement yesterday.
 

Bjoern Beck

The Singapore office will also be a gateway for APAC asset managers and institutional investors seeking to launch and administer investment vehicles domiciled in Europe. Clients will gain access to comprehensive, one-stop-shop support – spanning all aspects from fund structuring, management company and fund administration services, to reporting and risk management solutions – alongside distribution support through Universal Investment’s extensive DACH (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) investor network.

“We are pleased to have Bjoern Beck establishing our APAC operations and are confident his expertise will accelerate our clients’ growth in the region,” Francesca McDonagh, CEO of Universal Investment Group, said. “The Asia-Pacific region presents tremendous opportunities. With our strong market positions in Germany, Luxembourg, and Ireland, this move is a natural progression in expanding our reach while continuing to put our clients’ needs at the centre of everything we do.”

In January, the firm appointed a new CEO for Luxembourg. See also this interview with the firm from July 2023.