#Guide:Qatari Foreign Investments

[Victhor]

Sheik Abdullah Ben Nasser Al-Thani's company say they will be investing 400 million Euro.

The Qatari Sheik, owner of Málaga Football Club, Abdullah Ben Nasser Al-Thani, has announced he is to invest 400 million € in the new port at La Bajadilla in Marbella.

He has been named winner of the tender to redevelop and extend the port with plans which include a circular wall and exterior dyke and a 200 metre quay for cruise liners.

The idea of attracting cruise ships to Marbella has been around in the town ever since the late Mayor, Jesús Gil y Gil, promised to build islands offshore.

The new port will have 1,220 berths. The current fishing port will be displaced and a new underground car park will give space for 450 vehicles in addition to the 683 places there are currently on the surface.

The Junta puts the cost of the project at 84 million, but the Sheik’s company has spoken of more than 400 million. The works project will be presented in six months

More info in spanish:
http://www.diariosur.es/v/20110522/m...-20110522.html










Al Thani is becoming quite popular in this province of Spain (Málaga), the football team has finished in the 11th position (out of 20, it's a very good result) in the spanish league and there's a very good feeling for the next season to try to reach Europa League positions.

[Alrayyan]

Great news, He is also going to build a new stadium for Malaga to be named "Qatar Stadium" at 60-65K capacity.

[Alrayyan]

Qatar Luxury Group buys French fashion group stake

Qatar Luxury Group (QLG) has announced the acquisition of all the capital shares of Le Tanneur & Cie, the Peninsula has reported. The designer and manufacturer of leather goods operates two production units in France which manufacture bags, briefcases, light luggage, and small items. The brand sells through independent retailers and department stores, and operates its own network of outlets.

http://www.ameinfo.com/265705.html

[Victhor]

Originally Posted by Alrayyan

Great news, He is also going to build a new stadium for Malaga to be named "Qatar Stadium" at 60-65K capacity.

Yes, I'm supporting Malaga football team for that, I hope they have good results so that stadium (and the big project the stadium is just a part of it) will become reality, with an unemployment rate of almost 30% the region needs this kind of investments.

[Alrayyan]

Qatar signs deal for two major ports in Egypt

Arabian Business reported that Qatar had signed an agreement with Egypt to establish two new ports with the potential to create more than a million jobs.

Mr Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah Qatar's Minister of State for International Cooperation said that the ports will be built in Port Said and Alexandria.

After leading a delegation to Egypt, he said that there will also be bilateral cooperation in establishing two investment companies in Africa with one focused on Sudan. 1 million job opportunities would be created by the Port Said port project with another 200,000 jobs as a result of the Alexandria proposal.

The Minister said that the two sides would draw up a plan to carry out their agreements and set a time frame for the establishments of the ports. A delegation of Qatari businessmen would visit Egypt next month to look for investment opportunities.

Last week, Qatar said that it was drawing up potential projects worth at least USD 10 billion to help Egypt's economy after the popular uprising that ousted president Mr Hosni Mubarak in February.

Egypt has been asking donors and the International Monetary Fund to help to bridge an estimated USD 10 billion to USD 12 billion balance of payments gap for the fiscal year that begins on July 1st 2011.

http://www.steelguru.com/middle_east...pt/207634.html

[Alrayyan]

Qatari group takes control of PSG



Paris Saint-Germain have announced that Qatari investors have bought a controlling 70% stake in the club, ending months of speculation about who the Ligue 1 outfit's new owners would be.

PSG's former owners, the American group Colony Capital, revealed back in December 2010 that they were looking for new investors and that search has reportedly led them to Qatar Investment Authority, an investment arm of the Qatari government.

Colony Capital have had a controlling stake in PSG since 2006, but will now pass on overall ownership to the Qatari group, though they will remain 30% shareholders.

A statement on PSG's official website read: "Colony Capital and a Qatari investment company have signed a letter of intent whereby this company shall, if the agreement is signed as contemplated, become the majority shareholder of Paris St Germain, with 70% of the football club. Colony would retain a 30% interest.

"With this new partner, Colony Capital would fulfil its objective of ensuring PSG's growth and long-term prospects. The partners will work together to build on Colony Capital's achievements over the last five years of their ownership of the club, to enhance its visibility and pre-eminence.''

Sebastien Bazin, chair of the club's supervisory board and head of Colony Capital in Europe, said: "Since the beginning of its investment in the PSG, Colony has recognised that it would always be but a steward of this great club. Over the last five years, Colony has worked diligently to improve the management of this Parisian institution.

"It has laid the groundwork, including a new successful training centre and reinvigorated the youth academy, from which to launch the club in its rightful place among Europe's leading clubs. And in parallel, has tackled spectator experience in the stadium to give the stadium back to a broad family-based audience.

"As part of its stewardship, Colony sought out the ideal partner who would contribute to its ambitions for PSG and assure its place in history. Our new associate is such a partner, fully motivated to ensure the club fulfils its full potential. It appreciates the important accomplishments of the current management and will continue to work with them to take the club to the next level.''

The takeover comes after PSG finished fourth in Ligue 1 - their highest placing since 2004 - and reached the Coupe de France final before losing to league champions Lille, though the capital club have struggled with hooligan problems off the pitch in recent years.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...of-psg?cc=4716

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Saint_Germain

[nihad]

This place has lots to be updated.. this thread should be very lively as Qatar is very active on foreign investments these days.. I'll try to get some myself..

[nihad]

QIA buys Credit Suisse London HQ



The 546,114sq ft building at One Cabot Square in Canary Wharf was leased to the bank under a long-term agreement that runs until 2034, Qatar Holding, the foreign investment arm of QIA, said in a statement yesterday. The value of the deal was not disclosed. QIA holds a 6% stake in Credit Suisse and owns shares in Songbird, the majority owner of Canary Wharf Group. Qatari Diar, a property arm of the fund, along with Canary Wharf, won a £300mn deal to redevelop the Shell Centre in London that houses the Royal Dutch Shell’s London headquarters in July.

[nihad]

ROME, 16 April 2012 - Qatar Holding announces it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Smeralda Holding, owner of luxury hotel resorts on Costa Smeralda in Sardinia, from Colony Capital, the US-based real estate investment firm.

Under the terms of the agreement, Qatar Holding will acquire a portfolio consisting of four luxury hotels (Cala di Volpe, Pitrizza, Romazzino and Cervo) with a total of 372 rooms, the Porto Cervo Marina (host to the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda), the Porto Cervo Shipyard, the Pevero Golf Club (designed by Robert Trent Jones), a 51 percent interest in 2,290 hectares of adjacent undeveloped land and various other real estate assets in Costa Smeralda.

The existing management team of Smeralda Holding will remain in place following completion of the transaction and Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. will continue to manage the hotels.

Closing of the transaction is conditional on the receipt of antitrust approval from Italian competition authorities.

Commenting on the transaction, Ahmad Mohamed Al-Sayed, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Holding, said:

"We are happy to have agreed terms for the acquisition of this established portfolio of luxury assets in Sardinia. We intend to continue supporting the on-going development programme which will see Costa Smeralda strengthen its position as a top luxury resort destination."

Tom Barrack, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Colony Capital, added:

"I have said before that Costa Smeralda is for no one to own...it owns you. Our job was to leave it better than when we found it. We are now fortunate enough to transition this stewardship to the best, most respected, qualified and nurturing caretaker on the globe today in our partners at Qatar Holding. Their increased investment is a huge vote of confidence for Italy, Sardinia, Costa Smeralda and all of its peoples."

Evercore Partners acted as financial adviser to Qatar Holding. Deutsche Bank AG acted as adviser to Colony.

[Alrayyan]

The Radisson blu hotel in Chicago acquired by a Qatari company, in addition to the W hotel in London.

Xtrata stakes up to 8.6%

[Alrayyan]

* Qatar's Aspire Zone Foundation buys KAS Eupen for "modest" amount
* Purchase made to further "Football Dreams" programme
* Programme graduates will be placed on Eupen roster
Qatar's Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) has purchased KAS Eupen, a second division soccer club based in Belgium's Liège province, for an undisclosed amount, officials said on Wednesday.
The acquisition was made to further Aspire Zone's "Football Dreams" programme, which scouts potential talent among adolescents in developing African nations as well as Vietnam, Thailand, Guatemala and Paraguay.
"We travel through these countries all year round with coaches and volunteers, organise matches, and provide the players with apparel. We then stage a final match in each country, with an international final held in Qatar," Ivan Bravo, director general of Qatar's Aspire Academy, told Reuters in an interview.
The winners selected at the international match are sent to a four-year training course in Senegal. Graduates from the Football Dreams programme will now be placed in the Eupen club, Bravo said.
"They will have a guaranteed place on the (Eupen) roster, and they will be playing," he said.
"Qatar has the means and the resources to contribute to development in other countries that don't have these resources. The leadership in Qatar is very committed to that," Bravo said.
"Graduates will come to Doha and work with Qatari players. We wanted to do something that could help develop Qatari athletes. The idea is to find talented football players around the world that would help Qatari players become better players."
AZF will oversee the management of the football-related activities of KAS Eupen, but will let existing management continue to oversee the club's other sports, Bravo said.
While declining to disclose the purchase's value, Bravo said "it was a modest amount."
State-run Qatar Sports Investments - established in 2005 by son of the Emir and heir to the Qatari throne Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani - last year bought a 70 percent stake in French football club Paris St Germain.
The Gulf state will host the World Cup in 2022.
*
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/060620...st-amount.html

[Alrayyan]

NEW QATAR INVESTMENT: The Qatar Investment Authority has bought a flagship retail complex on the Champs-Elysées from French insurance firm Groupama for more than 500 million euros, or $622 million at current exchange, the French daily Le Figaro reported on Tuesday.

A spokesman for Groupama declined to comment on the report, as did a spokeswoman for real estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle, which handled the sale. Officials at Qatar Investment Authority did not respond to requests for confirmation.

The building at number 52 dates back to the Thirties and is now home to a Virgin Megastore, a branch of French retail chain Monoprix, a shopping arcade and offices.

Through its Qatar Holding LLC arm, Qatar Investment Authority has racked up luxe and retail properties in recent years. The investment house acquired Harrods for a reported $2.22 billion in 2010 and has since snapped up a 1.03 percent stake in LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton and a 5.2 percent share in Tiffany & Co.

http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/fash...stment-5945340

[Massilia]

QSI buys Paris Handball

DOHA: Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), owners of Paris Saint Germain (PSG) football club, has reportedly finalised the deal to buy Paris Handball (PH), according to reports in the French media.

French handball site www.handnews.fr reported that QSI head Nasser Ghanem Al Kholaifi (pictured), who is president of Doha-based Al Jazeera Sport Channel and also heads the Qatar Tennis Federation, met with PH President John Paul Onillon, General Manager Bruno Martini, and lawyers, to formalise the deal.

“QSI wishes to engage in the long run with the Paris Handball and build over time, a team which are leaders at national and European level,” a report on Radio France International website www.rfi.fr has quoted Al Kholaifi as saying.

Another, French newspaper Le Parisien said no official communication was forthcoming from the two sides. QSI and Paris Handball are expected to make a formal announcement.

The Division One club, set up in 1941 lost to Chambery 25-38 in their last League game. The team clinched the 12th spot, in the14 teams Division One. QSI had demanded that the club remain in top flight when it approached the French club in late April to buy major stake in the club. Montpellier, French champions for 13 of the last 15 editions, will be PH’s major opponents.

With substantial funds sure to arrive to improve the club, similarly to PSG’s spending in football, the club could easily become one of the best in Europe. The new acquisition will come at a crucial time for Al Jazeera, as it is set to launch beIN Sport, a French premium network of sports channels, on June 1 and August 10. Last year, Qatar had defeated France to win hosting rights for the 2015 IHF Men’s World Championship.

Meanwhile PSG’s move for Napoli’s Argentine forward Ezequiel Lavezzi is “very much on track”, PSG sporting director Leonardo said yesterday.

The 27-year-old international, who joined Napoli from Argentine club San Lorenzo in 2007, has been tracked for several weeks by PSG, as well as Inter Milan. According to sources at the French club, he could complete his move soon after the European transfer window opens on June 13 and is likely to sign a contract with a duration of either four or five years.

Lavezzi is expected to cost an initial $32.5m, plus 5m euros in bonus payments. He is reportedly in line to receive a salary worth 400,000 euros per month.

Meanwhile, sources say PSG have held talks with the agent of Zlatan Ibrahimovic over a possible swoop for the Swedish international, who finished as the top scorer in Serie A with AC Milan last season. Sources close to PSG say the club have made an offer to Milan worth 34m euros for Ibrahimovic, who is currently preparing for Euro 2012 with the Swedish national team.

[Massilia]

Qtel advances as telco giant takes majority stake in Iraq's Asiacell

The Qatar Exchange's market measure QE 20 gained a quarter percentage point, closing at 8,342.51 Wednesday. The gauge ended a week-long losing streak thanks to gains of market bellwether Industries Qatar (up 0.76% at QR133.40) and of Qatar Telecom, known as Qtel (advancing half a percentage point at QR112.50). Earlier in the day Qtel announced it has increased its stake in Iraqi telco operator Asiacell to 60%. In a statement to the Qatar Bourse, Qtel said it "has agreed to increase its shareholding to 60% for a total consideration of $1.47bn. Qtel will initially increase its ownership in Asiacell to only 53.9%, the further increase in shareholding is subject to Iraqi Government and Regulatory Authority approval." The transaction will be financed from existing funds, the firm said. The statement added that "Asiacell has already delivered significant value to its shareholders and is expected to continue to do so. (...) we continue to work hard on preparing for Asiacell's landmark IPO planned for later this year. Asiacell is a very important company for the Qtel Group. We continue to expand our regional footprint and diversification of our revenue sources. More than 80% of Qtel Group's revenues are now generated outside Qatar."

[I Know]

Qatar wealth fund No 1 property investor in Europe

Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund has been confirmed as the largest public spender on European property, according to Reuters.

Investments totalled over $4.33 billion in just eight deals in the last twelve months, which is equivocal to just six weeks' revenue from the LNG producing giant. Qatar was recently recognised as the wealthiest country in the world per capita.

Joseph Kelly, director of market analysis at Real Capital Analytics, said: "For sovereign wealth funds like the Qatar Investment Authority, property deals are about wealth preservation not returns. They have a lot of money to spend, so deals tend to be big and in the cities they know well.”

http://www.constructionweekonline.co...tor-in-europe/

[I Know]

Qatar to invest $4bn in Vietnam projects


Qatar is planning to invest up to US$4bn in projects in Vietnam, including setting up of a labour centre to train workers before they travel to new jobs in the Gulf,


http://www.arabianbusiness.com/qatar...ts-470906.html

[I Know]

How Qatar is spending its billions


http://www.arabianbusiness.com/how-q...ml?tab=Article

[I Know]

right you are

Originally Posted by nihad

This place has lots to be updated.. this thread should be very lively as Qatar is very active on foreign investments these days.. I'll try to get some myself..

[I Know]

Qatar fund targets strategic minority in Xstrata



Dubai/London: Qatar Holding is targeting a “strategic minority” stake in Xstrata even if a merger with Glencore does not go through and the fund is a buyer of the mining giant at current prices, sources familiar with the matter said.


The investment arm of the tiny Gulf state’s sovereign wealth fund has proved to be a stumbling block for commodities trader Glencore’s proposed $30 billion (Dh110.19 billion) takeover of Xstrata, demanding improved terms and threatening to vote against the tie-up.


The deal is on the brink of collapse after Glencore refused to raise its offer and missed an informal deadline last week.


The Qatari fund has emerged as the second-largest shareholder in Xstrata with a 12 per cent stake and is keen on building its stake further should the deal collapse, the sources aware of the fund’s plan said.





“Qatar’s objective is to be a strategic minority investor in Xstrata even if the deal with Glencore does not go through. They want to build a position which gives them the right to veto any future mergers,” one of the sources said.


“At current prices, they are clearly a buyer,” the source added.


The sovereign fund may approach other large Xstrata shareholders if it wants to improve the stake further but is not currently considering a tender offer for Xstrata, the source said.


The Sunday Telegraph reported that the Qatari fund was poised to raise its stake in Xstrata to 25 per cent if the planned tie-up with Glencore collapsed, citing sources it said were close to the matter.


Reuters sources, however, dismissed talks of a specific ownership target by the Qatari fund.

http://gulfnews.com/business/general...rata-1.1066294

[I Know]

Qatar fund targets strategic minority in Xstrata

Dubai/London: Qatar Holding is targeting a “strategic minority” stake in Xstrata even if a merger with Glencore does not go through and the fund is a buyer of the mining giant at current prices, sources familiar with the matter said.

The investment arm of the tiny Gulf state’s sovereign wealth fund has proved to be a stumbling block for commodities trader Glencore’s proposed $30 billion (Dh110.19 billion) takeover of Xstrata, demanding improved terms and threatening to vote against the tie-up.
The deal is on the brink of collapse after Glencore refused to raise its offer and missed an informal deadline last week.
The Qatari fund has emerged as the second-largest shareholder in Xstrata with a 12 per cent stake and is keen on building its stake further should the deal collapse, the sources aware of the fund’s plan said.
“Qatar’s objective is to be a strategic minority investor in Xstrata even if the deal with Glencore does not go through. They want to build a position which gives them the right to veto any future mergers,” one of the sources said.
“At current prices, they are clearly a buyer,” the source added.The sovereign fund may approach other large Xstrata shareholders if it wants to improve the stake further but is not currently considering a tender offer for Xstrata, the source said.

Reuters sources, however, dismissed talks of a specific ownership target by the Qatari fund.

http://gulfnews.com/business/general...rata-1.1066294