When it comes to doing big real estate deals in the Mideast, there are few countries that can swing them as easily as Qatar, one of the smallest and wealthiest nations on the globe.
Bawabat Al Shamal Real Estate Co. (Basrec), a joint venture between Al-Futtaim Real Estate, Qatar Islamic Bank and Aqar Real Estate Development and Investment, has signed a QR3.7 billion ($1.01 billion U.S.) syndicated facility to fund the development of its Doha Festival City project.
Doha is the capital of Qatar whose population is 1.8 million. The country's land mass totals 11.437 kilometers or about 4,416 square miles, slightly smaller than Connecticut at 5,543 square miles.
(1 QAR = $0.2743 USD)
The QR6 billion ($1.65 billion U.S.) Doha Festival City is being developed by Basrec on a 433,847 square meter plot (4.7 million square feet or 108 acres). The plot will include 260,000 square meters of gross leasable area in retail space. The space will offer over 500 retail units which will include a large number of new brands to Qatar. (1 sq meter = 10.7639104 square feet).
The project will also boast of the first Ikea store in Qatar, and will feature an entertainment and leisure complex, automotive showrooms, international hotels and convention center.
In a news release, Marwan Shehadeh, the general manager of Basrec, said the 10-year facility was the largest Qatari private sector syndicated transaction completed to date
'We are pleased to announce this transaction as the agreement today is a key step on the road to developing this major project," Shehadeh said. "This financing will ensure the work on Doha Festival City will progress well and according to plan."
He added, "We are pleased to be working with such strong and committed banking partners. The signing of this transaction is a testimony to the confidence that our banking partners have in this distinguished and iconic project."
QInvest acted as financial advisor to Basrec and the sole bookrunner for the facility. Commercial Bank of Qatar (CBQ) and Barwa Bank took the mandate lead arranger (MLA) roles. CBQ, the original lender, also acted as the lead and documentation bank on the conventional tranche as well as the conventional facility agent.
Barwa Bank was the lead and agent bank on the Islamic tranche, also taking the role of Islamic Documentation Bank.
The MLAs were joined in the facility at lead arranger level, across the two tranches, by Ahli Bank, Doha Bank, International Bank of Qatar, Al Khalij Commercial Bank (al khaliji), Qatar International Islamic Bank and Qatar National Bank.
The development is located just north of downtown Doha on Al Shamal Road, one of the main arterial routes to the city center. This is the route that will eventually connect Doha with Bahrain via the Qatar-Bahrain Causeway.
International analysts are confident that with its strategic positioning, the super-regional complex is ideally equipped to meet the retail, hospitality and entertainment needs of not only Qatar, but also of neighboring countries.
In the first phase, the 32,000 square meter Ikea store will be completed by the first quarter of 2013, while the remaining components of Doha Festival City will be delivered in 2015.
In the release, Ahmad Meshari, the acting CEO of Qatar Islamic Bank, said his group was "pleased that our confidence in this project demonstrated by our investment is supported by Basrec's banking partners through this transaction. We are confident the project will have a positive impact on the local economy, reflecting our strong commitment to the economic development of Qatar.'
Andrew Stevens, the group CEO of Commercial Bank of Qatar said, 'We consider this as an important transaction for Qatar as a whole and CBQ is honored to be leading the banking group in partnering with Festival City to deliver on the iconic plans for this development.'
Barwa Bank CEO Steve Troop said, 'We value the relationship that we have built with Doha Festival City and believe that the management of the project has a strong history which complements our strategy to strengthen our portfolio. In this regard, we are pleased to be leading the Islamic tranche of the financing.'
Shahzad Shahbaz, the CEO of QInvest, said the success of the deal was a testament to the efforts of the teams involved in the project and the transaction.
QInvest has advised Basrec and its shareholders through a number of initiatives and we are pleased with the partnerships that have been brought together to develop Doha Festival City,' he added.
(World Property Channel / 10 July 2012)
---
Alfalah Consulting - Kuala Lumpur:
www.alfalahconsulting.com
Islamic Investment Malaysia:
www.islamic-invest-malaysia.com
No comments:
Post a Comment