New business licences and a new post to lead direct real estate clears path for ASI's Japanese expansion.

Following granting of Type I and Type II business licenses to broaden products to Japanese clients, Aberdeen Standard Investments (ASI) has named its first head of direct real estate in Japan.

Hidetoshi Ono took up the post in July to lead ASI’s direct real estate investments in the region, the firm announced. The fund manager, which has built a substantial presence in Asia, said it has cleared the regulatory hurdles to broaden services to Japanense clients, including offshore products, across a variety of asset classes.

In June, the Scottish-based manager gained a Type I securities licence, and in July was cleared to offer direct sales of foreign-domiciled funds to Japanese professional investors.

A 25-year veteran of the real estate sector, Ono joins the group from Manulife, where he was managing director of real estate for Japan. Prior to that, he was at AXA Real Estate, ING Real Estate, General Electric, and Mitsui Fudosan.

The firm, which manages around $670 billion of assets worldwide, bolstered its real estate capacity in February when it acquired Orion Partners, saying it was tapping into rising demand for alternative investments in Japan.

“Obtaining new regulatory licences, together with the added ability of local direct real estate investment for both our global and local clients, reflects our intent to build a long-term, sustainable business in Japan,” Neil Slater, CEO and representative director for ASI in Japan, said.