Stonepeak Leads $706M Capital Infusion for Aussie Retirement Village Operator Aura

Infrastructure fund manager Stonepeak has agreed to invest in Australia’s Aura Holdings in a deal providing the owner-operator of retirement villages with up to A$1 billion ($705.7 million) in available capital.

The amount includes Stonepeak’s own investment and a committed development facility with senior domestic lenders, the Manhattan-based firm said Sunday in a release. Brisbane-based Aura has completed six retirement villages with nearly 800 units across southeast Queensland, with six in the near-term pipeline and more than 10 in early development.

The deal marks the second entry into Asia Pacific’s senior living sector for Stonepeak — better known for its investments in regional data centre platforms Digital Edge and Princeton Digital Group — and underscores the firm’s broader strategy of deploying long-term infrastructure capital into real assets with strong growth prospects, according to the announcement.

“Aura is well-positioned to serve Australia’s retirees given its premium portfolio spanning desirable retirement destinations, proven development track record, and experienced leadership team, who bring a deep understanding of what matters most to seniors,” said Darren Keogh, senior managing director at Stonepeak.

Helping Seniors Downsize

Stonepeak’s capital infusion will help support the next growth phase at Aura, which was founded in 2016 by retirement sector executives Tim Russell and Mark Taylor. 

The platform bills itself as a specialist in developing state-of-the-art retirement apartments and community facilities in highly sought-after, infill locations. Russell said the latest investment would enable Aura to accelerate its strategy of adding age-appropriate housing in areas lacking suitable downsizing options for locals.

“Stonepeak’s long-term approach to partnering and working with its portfolio companies, deep experience and relationships in the retirement sector, and clear plan for value creation give us tremendous confidence in Aura’s future,” said Aura CEO Sean Graham. “Together, we are poised to continue setting the standard in retirement living in Australia.”

Led by Aussie Michael Dorrell, Stonepeak previously acquired Arvida Group, one of New Zealand’s largest retirement and aged care providers, in November 2024 for $1.25 billion. Arvida formed in 2014 and is now the fourth-largest operator of retirement villages in New Zealand with 34 locations in the country.

Digital Bets Continue

Stonepeak’s bet on senior living comes after the $84 billion fund manager last August announced the close of a $1.3 billion preferred equity investment in Singapore-based Princeton Digital Group. The infusion came on top of $1.2 billion in fresh debt financing announced in May by PDG, bringing the data centre developer’s total capital raised in 2025 to $2.5 billion.

The long-term capital will support the next phase of growth, with US private equity major Warburg Pincus continuing as PDG’s largest shareholder. The platform’s other backers include the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and Abu Dhabi sovereign investor Mubadala.

Stonepeak’s other Singapore-based data centre portfolio company, Digital Edge, in January announced a $4.5 billion investment to build a hyperscale data centre campus in Indonesia, marking the biggest commitment yet for the developer.

Located east of Jakarta at GIIC Industrial Estate in Bekasi regency, the three-building CGK Campus will provide 500 megawatts of IT capacity at full development, with scalability up to 1 gigawatt. The first building is scheduled to enter service by the fourth quarter of this year, with the others to follow in the first and second quarters of 2027.

Digital Edge didn’t disclose funding sources for the project, but the company said in October that it had secured a $325 million corporate facility from PT Bank Central Asia to support its expansion in the Jakarta area.