Apelso Brings Alternative Investments Within Reach for Hungarian Investors

“Economic transformations, volatile international capital markets, and the democratization of finance all point to one direction: the role of alternative investments will increase in the coming years,” Apelso said in its announcement. “These instruments have proven their value over the past decades, but access has long been limited to a narrow circle of investors.”

With innovative solutions and world-class partners, Apelso now opens this opportunity to Hungarian private and private banking investors, the company said.

According to industry forecasts, global assets managed in alternative investments could rise from USD 24 trillion to USD 37 tln by 2029. While institutional investors and family offices in developed markets already allocate about 20% of their portfolios to such instruments, Hungarian private banking clients typically have only 1-2% exposure. Apelso’s new products aim to close this gap and bring local investment culture closer to international standards.

Private Markets on the Rise

Private markets are becoming an increasingly dominant force in global finance. The number of listed companies in the United States has fallen from around 8,000 at the turn of the millennium to about 5,000 today, signaling a shift toward private financing. “Companies with high growth potential are no longer necessarily seeking capital on public markets,” the release noted. “Private equity and private credit are emerging as competitive alternatives to traditional fundraising, while private capital is also gaining ground in infrastructure projects.”

The shift is further reinforced by the limited return prospects of traditional asset classes after years of strong equity market performance. Alternative assets, which typically show low correlation with public equities and bonds, can offer improved diversification and portfolio resilience.

Partnerships With Global Leaders

Apelso is entering this segment in partnership with major international players. The company is collaborating with BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, which oversees USD 663 billion in private market and alternative assets for global clients, and MPP&E Capital, a London-based quantitative hedge fund with a research hub in Budapest.

Following the launch of the Apelso Real Estate Development Fund of Funds earlier this year, the firm now introduces two new products:
• Apelso Private Markets Selection Fund of Funds
• Apelso Everest Hedge Fund Feeder Fund

Both operate as “funds of funds.” The Private Markets Selection fund invests in two diversified BlackRock funds with exposure to private equity, private credit, and real assets, while the Everest Hedge Fund Feeder Fund invests in MPP&E Capital’s quantitative hedge fund.

“The new Apelso funds open the way toward unique asset classes, making institutional-grade private markets and hedge fund investments accessible to domestic investors, breaking down the walls that have long surrounded these opportunities,” said András Kállay, partner and head of business development at Apelso.

Apelso plans to distribute the new funds through a broad network of local private banks and investment service providers. In parallel, the firm will continue its market education efforts to promote understanding of new asset classes in Hungary.

Industry Voices Welcome Broader Access

Matthias Zeinitzer, director and head of sales wealth and institutional for Central and Eastern Europe at BlackRock, highlighted the importance of broadening access to private markets. “For generations, investors benefited from diversified equity and bond portfolios. However, with the evolution of global capital markets, the traditional 60/40 portfolio no longer provides sufficient diversification,” he said. “The portfolio of the future will likely be 50/30/20—consisting of equities, bonds, and private market assets. For private investors, our evergreen ELTIFs offer lower entry thresholds, simplified processes, and institutional-grade quality. We are pleased to work with Apelso to expand access to private market investments.”

MPP&E Capital founder Marton Peter Price added: “It has long been my mission to make quantitative hedge fund investments accessible to Hungarian investors, not only to wealthy international institutions and family offices. The Apelso Everest Fund represents the culmination of that mission, now giving every Hungarian investor access to MPP&E Capital’s systematic quantitative hedge fund strategies. For the first time in Hungarian financial history, such investments are available locally, implemented by a team of Hungarian physicists, mathematicians, and economists with global experience.”