Gaw Capital Partners Doubles Down on Data Centers in Japan amid Surging AI Demand

Gaw Capital Partners, the Hong Kong-based real estate private equity firm controlled by the billionaire Gaw family, is making significant moves in the data center market in Japan. The firm has recently acquired 11,233 square meters of space in Fuchu Intelligent Park, a database cluster near central Tokyo, doubling its total land size for data centers in the area to 22,202 square meters.

This acquisition is in response to the surging demand for AI computing in Japan, driven by technological advancements and the growing development of artificial intelligence. Isabella Lo, managing director and head of Japan at Gaw Capital, emphasized the importance of scalability in data centers to meet the increasing demand for computing power.

Japan is considered one of Asia’s most developed data center markets, with over 3,000 megawatts under development. Other investors in the Japanese data center market include Singapore-based GLP and Warburg Pincus-backed ESR.

Gaw Capital’s expansion into the South Korean data center market in partnership with local private equity firm IMM Investment further demonstrates the firm’s commitment to the data center sector in Asia. Gaw Capital has also made data center investments in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam, recognizing the region as a key frontier in the data center space.

Founded in 2005 by brothers Goodwin and Kenneth Gaw, along with their sister Christina, Gaw Capital has established itself as one of the largest real estate private equity firms in Asia, with $35.9 billion in assets under management. The firm’s focus on data centers reflects its strategic vision for growth and investment opportunities in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.