History
Townsend has been at the forefront of the
real assets markets since 1983.
TRECS launch
In 2025, we launched a successor fund to our real estate capital solutions strategy. The fund is focused on private equity real estate opportunities predominantly through Secondary Interests and GP Capital Solutions.
New Era of Leadership and Ownership
Anthony Frammartino’s appointment as our new CEO in 2022 ushered in a new era of leadership, positioning us for continued growth.
In 2024 we were acquired by The Riverside Company from Aon plc, marking a new chapter in independent ownership and strategic growth.
Institutional Fund Launch
In 2020, we launched a Global Core Real Estate Fund focused on sourcing and executing deals in American markets, further strengthening our core strategy offerings.
Product Diversification
In 2013, we secured a mandate to build a diversified real assets portfolio that included infrastructure, timber, and agriculture. Building on this progress, 2014 saw the introduction of a U.S.-focused fund aimed at targeting deal originations.
Globalization and Strategic Partnerships
In 2009, we became a truly global firm by opening offices in London and Hong Kong, advancing our international footprint and capabilities.
In 2011, we formed a strategic partnership with Aligned Asset Manager to scale our growth and enhance our offering. This momentum continued into 2012, when we launched the Townsend Real Estate Alpha Fund I, focused on co-investments and secondaries.
International Expansion
In 2005, we launched private-label, multi-manager funds tailored for European clients, marking a key step in our international growth.
By 2007, we had won our first co-investment mandate from a large U.S. public pension fund, a major achievement that helped propel the strategy to a $1 billion fundraising milestone.
Founding and Early Growth
Terry Ahern and Kevin Lynch founded the firm in 1983, with a mission to deliver real estate investment expertise to institutional investors. Just three years later, in 1986, the firm secured its first major institutional client, a U.S. public pension fund, marking a significant milestone in its early growth.
Building on this momentum, the 1990s saw the firm broaden its scope by expanding into timber and agriculture investments, further diversifying its real assets capabilities.
