Institutional investors have backed Octopus Healthcare to raise £58.8m (€68bn) to invest in healthcare infrastructure real estate.

The specialist UK healthcare property investor said it received the capital commitment from both new and existing institutional investors including pension funds, insurance funds and multi-managers.

Ben Penaliggon, director at Octopus Healthcare, said: “At a time when some sectors are experiencing challenges and uncertainty, healthcare continues to attract institutional investment.”

Penaliggon said the care home sector has strong market fundamentals, due to the growing demands of an ageing population against the backdrop of a shortage of quality real estate.

“Octopus Healthcare continues to build strong partnerships within the care home sector, driven by a commitment to creating the exceptional healthcare facilities this demographic of society needs,” he said.

Hiti Singh, head of institutional investment at Octopus, said: “Institutional investors are increasingly looking for alternative asset classes to expand or diversify their portfolios.

“Healthcare real estate offers a compelling combination of attractive fundamentals driven by an ageing population and long-term income, together with the social benefit of providing first class and modern accommodation for elderly people needing care.”

In the past 12 months, Octopus Healthcare has secured over £267m of transactions into the UK elderly care home sector, through a combination of standing investments, forward fundings and forward commitment acquisitions. In addition to UK care homes, Octopus Healthcare can invest in specialist healthcare facilities.