Singapore-based asset manager Seraya Partners has launched a new investment unit focused on Japan’s digital infrastructure market.
The company this week announced it has launched AQX, a Tokyo-based digital infrastructure investment platform.
AQX will target investments in shared telecom infrastructure and “AI-enabling” digital infrastructure across the APAC region, with a focus on Japan.
Matthias Vukovich, who has previously held roles at APAC data center firm Princeton Digital Group, Philippines ISP Converge ICT, and Japanese tower firm JTower, is a co-founder and leading AQX as CEO. He previously held roles at Warburg Pincus, Morgan Stanley, and NTT.
Vukovich "brings a unique combination of extensive digital infrastructure financing and investment expertise, along with a deep understanding of the Japanese market," said James Chern, managing partner and CIO of Seraya Partners. "Together, we aim to invest in next-generation, technology-enabled digital infrastructure assets across Japan and the broader APAC region."
Seraya Partners is an Asia-based independent private equity fund focused on infrastructure investments, with $1.3 billion in AUM across its funds and co-investment vehicles.
Details on any current or planned investments by AQX weren’t shared.
"Japan is the world's third-largest digital infrastructure market, following the United States and China, in terms of deployed capex across telecom towers, optical fiber, and data center assets,” Vukovich said. “However, the provision of shared carrier-neutral telecom infrastructure remains limited, opening investment opportunities for digital infrastructure specialists and platform builders. The recent surge in hyperscale data center projects in Japan will lead to the build-out of broader AI infrastructure asset classes, which we aim to capitalize on through AQX,”
Seraya said the AQX brand combines "AQ," which means "permanent" in Japanese (永久), and a green "X," symbolizing energy-efficient digital transformation.
"Our brand embodies AQX's mission to invest in highly resilient infrastructure that will drive sustainable digital transformation across society," added Vukovich.
Seraya previously set up APAC data center firm Empyrion DC. The company is developing a facility in the Gangnam area of Seoul, South Korea; another in the Neihu area of Taipei in Taiwan; one in Tokyo, Japan; and previously acquired a stake in Dodid Pte. Ltd. and its 12.5MW data center in Singapore alongside Malaysian conglomerate YTL in late 2021.
Seraya closed an $800 million fund dedicated to digital infrastructure and energy transition investments in late 2023.
