Haven Capital represents a unique constellation of firms that, while sharing a name, operate across distinct segments of the financial and real estate markets. Each entity focuses on unlocking capital in innovative ways, addressing challenges in liquidity, financing, and growth for businesses and real estate owners. Among its primary operations, Haven Capital includes a ground lease investment platform, private equity investments in lower middle-market companies, sale-leaseback advisory services, and ventures in manufactured housing communities (MHCs). Together, these firms illustrate the evolving approaches investors and operators are taking to manage risk, enhance returns, and address societal needs.
The ground lease platform, founded in 2021 by Regis Group and Ares Management, exemplifies this innovation by providing prepayable, long-term ground leases for assets such as multifamily, office, medical, and life science properties. By offering over $2 billion in funding, Haven enables developers to reduce equity needs by up to 50%, lower blended debt costs, and eliminate refinancing risks, all while maintaining flexibility for future growth.
Beyond real estate, Haven Capital Partners in New York focuses on private equity, targeting lower middle-market companies in technology services, healthcare, and education. Another branch specializes in sale-leaseback transactions, helping businesses monetize real estate while retaining operational control. Meanwhile, Haven Capital Ventures invests in manufactured housing communities, combining private equity management with affordable housing solutions. Together, these approaches demonstrate how modern finance leverages both structure and capital to address market inefficiencies, business growth, and social impact.
Ground Lease Platform: Redefining Real Estate Financing
Ground leases are long-term contracts in which a landowner leases land to a tenant who can develop and operate improvements on it while paying rent. Traditionally lasting 50 to 99 years, ground leases separate land ownership from building ownership, allowing developers to use capital for construction rather than purchasing land outright. This structure provides predictable income for landowners while enabling tenants to maximize returns on their investments.
Haven Capital’s ground lease platform modernizes this traditional model. Its prepayable structure allows sponsors to sell and potentially repurchase their land interest, reducing upfront equity requirements and mitigating refinancing risks. This design is particularly advantageous in environments with elevated interest rates, where financing costs and debt market volatility can pose challenges for developers.
The platform’s over $2 billion in available funding supports projects across multiple asset classes, including multifamily, office, life science, healthcare, and housing. Fixed rent schedules, predictable cash flows, and long-term stability make these ground leases attractive to both institutional investors and developers. By enhancing capital efficiency and lowering the cost of development, Haven’s platform enables sponsors to pursue larger or more complex projects without overleveraging.
Ground leases also offer a measure of risk mitigation. By separating land ownership from improvements, tenants can manage operational risk while landowners maintain long-term asset appreciation. The combination of prepayable terms, institutional-grade underwriting, and diversified asset exposure positions Haven Capital as a leading innovator in structured real estate finance.
Private Equity Focus: Supporting Lower Middle-Market Growth
Haven Capital Partners operates as a private equity firm specializing in lower middle-market investments. Based in New York, the firm targets companies with EBITDA ranging from $3 million to $15 million, providing growth capital for businesses in technology services, healthcare, and education. Unlike larger buyout firms, Haven emphasizes strategic partnerships with management teams, focusing on operational improvement and sustainable expansion rather than aggressive restructuring.
The firm’s inaugural fund was oversubscribed, reflecting strong investor confidence in the approach. By combining financial support with operational expertise, Haven Capital Partners helps portfolio companies execute growth strategies, acquisitions, recapitalizations, and shareholder liquidity events. The firm’s emphasis on collaboration, flexibility, and targeted capital deployment allows it to support businesses that might otherwise struggle to attract institutional financing.
Sale-Leaseback Strategies: Unlocking Corporate Capital
Sale-leaseback transactions offer an alternative financing solution by allowing companies to sell real estate assets and lease them back under long-term agreements. This structure provides immediate liquidity for companies while allowing them to continue operations without disruption. Sale-leasebacks are particularly useful for organizations seeking growth capital, debt reduction, or reinvestment in core operations.
Haven Capital’s sale-leaseback division specializes in structuring and executing these transactions. By facilitating the monetization of owned real estate, the firm enables companies to release capital trapped in fixed assets while retaining control over critical facilities. This approach is appealing to businesses with substantial real estate holdings that are not central to their core operations, as it provides flexibility and financial efficiency without impairing day-to-day operations.
Manufactured Housing Ventures: Combining Investment and Impact
Haven Capital Ventures focuses on manufactured housing communities (MHCs), offering private equity investment and operational management in affordable housing. MHCs provide cost-effective housing options for millions of Americans and are an important segment in addressing housing affordability challenges.
Through private equity sponsorship, Haven Capital Ventures acquires and operates underperforming or undervalued properties, implementing strategies to improve operational efficiency and financial performance. These investments aim to generate reliable cash flow for investors while enhancing the quality and stability of housing for residents.
While manufactured housing investment carries significant social impact, it also raises ethical considerations. Effective management must balance investor returns with fair treatment of residents, ensuring affordability and community stability while maintaining operational profitability. Haven Capital Ventures seeks to navigate these challenges by aligning investment objectives with responsible stewardship of communities.
Aligning Capital, Risk, and Opportunity
Across its diverse operations, Haven Capital demonstrates the intersection of innovation, finance, and strategic risk management. Ground leases reduce equity needs and protect against refinancing risk. Private equity investments fuel growth in underserved lower middle-market companies. Sale-leasebacks free corporate capital without operational disruption. Manufactured housing ventures provide both investment returns and affordable housing solutions.
These approaches reflect broader trends in finance and real estate: the need for flexible capital structures, the pursuit of predictable returns, and the integration of social considerations in investment decisions. Haven Capital’s multi-faceted model illustrates how innovative financial solutions can serve diverse markets and stakeholders while adapting to macroeconomic pressures and regulatory environments.
Conclusion
Haven Capital exemplifies the evolving landscape of finance, combining traditional and innovative strategies across real estate, private equity, and housing. From modern ground leases to private equity support, sale-leaseback facilitation, and manufactured housing ventures, the firms under the Haven Capital umbrella illustrate the dynamic interplay between capital, opportunity, and societal need. By providing liquidity, fostering growth, and promoting stability, Haven Capital represents a model of financial innovation that balances risk, return, and impact in the twenty-first century.
FAQs
What is a ground lease?
A ground lease is a long-term agreement where a tenant leases land and owns any improvements, paying rent to the landowner.
How does a sale-leaseback benefit a company?
It provides liquidity by selling an asset and leasing it back, allowing capital to be redeployed without operational disruption.
Who does Haven Capital Partners invest in?
They focus on lower middle-market companies in technology services, healthcare, and education, typically with $3–15 million in EBITDA.
What are manufactured housing communities?
MHCs are developments where residents own homes on leased land, offering affordable housing solutions.
Why are ground leases attractive to developers?
They reduce upfront equity requirements, lower financing risk, and provide predictable long-term cash flows.
