Istithmar planning aggressive expansion into Asia with $1.75b

Gulfnews.com

Shanghai (Reuters) : Dubai-based investment firm Istithmar, which has a real estate portfolio worth around $7 billion - mainly in the United States - is planning big investments in Asia where it has little exposure, an executive said.

"We would anticipate making very considerable investment into the Asia region, perhaps in the order of 20 or 25 per cent of the entire portfolio," said Richard Johnson, managing director of Istithmar's real estate arm.

This would translate into $1.4 billion-$1.75 billion investment in Asia, he said, adding, however, that it was unclear yet whether this would be incremental investment or from proceeds from asset divestment elsewhere.

Of the targeted Asia investment, China may account for 10-25 per cent, Johnson said in an interview on the sidelines of a real estate conference in Shanghai.

"It would really depend on how effectively we are able to deploy our fund, but I would not be surprised if it was more than 10 per cent. I would be surprised if it was more than 25 per cent," he said.

The planned Asia investment is aimed at diversifying the company's portfolios and tapping growth in the region, particularly China, he said.

Johnson said his company planned to open its first office in Asia by the end of June, probably in Singapore, and later would open an office in China, most likely in Shanghai.

"I would be disappointed if we have not made an investment in China in the next 12 months. And I would be hoping to have opened an office either by the end of this year or by the end of the first quarter of 2008," Johnson said.

The company has started hiring people for its future Asia operations.