construction begins on hines archstone`s
Transcription
construction begins on hines archstone`s
Revision 4/3/11 For Immediate Release: April 4, 2011 CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON HINES|ARCHSTONE’S CITYCENTER DC DEVELOPMENT IN WASHINGTON, DC • • • • • Largest downtown development currently underway in any U.S. city More than $150 million expected to be generated for DC-based firms Hines and Archstone lead development team of the $700 million project Qatar’s Barwa Bank subsidiary The First Investor to coordinate financing through dedicated TFI U.S. Real Estate Fund; anchor investment secured by Qatari Diar Design and planning led by Foster + Partners (WASHINGTON, DC) – The start of construction on the landmark CityCenterDC development by Hines|Archstone was formally announced today at a groundbreaking ceremony on the downtown Washington, DC site. In addition, it was announced that 100 percent equity financing has been secured for the US $700 million project, which is believed to be the largest downtown development currently underway in any U.S. city. The anchor investor is Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company (Qatari Diar), the real estate investment arm of the Qatari Investment Authority and the financing was put in place by Barwa Bank’s investment banking subsidiary The First Investor (TFI). TFI will co-invest in and manage the dedicated TFI U.S. Real Estate Fund. A joint venture between Clark Construction Group and Smoot Construction of Washington, DC has been engaged as general contractor. Construction commenced on March 23 and is expected to reach substantial completion by the fourth quarter of 2013. Formerly the site of the District’s old convention center, CityCenterDC is a 10-acre, mixeduse development, located in the heart of downtown Washington on a 4.5-block parcel bounded by New York Avenue, 9th, H and 11th Streets, NW. The first phase of the project is a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood with more than 185,000 square feet of retail situated at the base of six buildings that encompass 458 rental apartment units and 216 condominium units; and 520,000 square feet of office space. The project also includes 1,555 below-grade parking spaces; a new street grid reinstated throughout the site, and nearly an acre of public open spaces. A second phase of the project is planned to include a 350-room upscale hotel, along with 110,000 additional square feet of retail. CityCenterDC’s retail component is designed to attract unique local, regional and national retailers and restaurants, complementing those already present downtown. The co-tenancy, street-oriented storefronts and engaging public spaces with seasonal programming are expected to attract residents, office workers, convention visitors, regional shoppers and tourists. Revision 4/3/11 In addition to the significant tax revenue generated by a project of this magnitude, CityCenterDC will provide benefits to District residents in the form of affordable housing, new public spaces, priority hiring for new jobs created by the development and a commitment to use Districtbased firms for at least 35 percent of all contracts in the design, construction and operating phases of the project. To date, more than 40 such firms, representing over $20 million in contracts, have performed on the project. More than $170 million is expected to be added during construction, representing the inclusion of over 90 additional District-based firms. Several District-based companies have been given the opportunity to invest and participate in the project’s ownership. Mayor Vincent C. Gray commented, “This effort has been almost a decade in the making, and we look forward to the progress that will be made on the site of the Old Convention Center as this last missing piece of our downtown is redeveloped. I am excited about the more than 190 District Certified Business Entities that are involved in the planning, design and construction of this project, and the thousands of construction and permanent jobs that will be created. This is a huge development for the residents of and visitors to our city.” CityCenterDC’s master plan design was led by London-based Foster + Partners, the internationally acclaimed studio for architecture, design and planning, which also designed the office and residential condominium buildings. Additional members of the design team include DC-based Shalom Baranes Associates, serving as associate master plan architect, project Architect of Record and lead designer of the residential rental buildings. Gustafson Guthrie Nichol of Seattle is the lead landscape architect, working with Washington, DC-based Lee and Associates. Principles and strategies for sustainable design systems and technologies have been embraced by the development team. The entire development has been accepted into the U.S. Green Building Council’s pilot program for LEED® Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) and is expected to receive Gold certification. The office buildings have achieved LEED pre-certification at the Gold level. The residential buildings are targeting a LEED Silver rating. Mohammed Al Saad, vice chairman and managing director of Barwa Bank commented, “We are proud to be sponsoring this landmark development in collaboration with the District of Columbia and our leading U.S. and international design and development partners to create a new neighborhood in the heart of Washington, DC. Its ambition, scale and profile are commensurate with its status as Qatar’s first major real estate investment in the U. S., and one which I believe will mark the beginning of a long and successful U.S./Qatari partnership in premium real estate investment and development. Today’s groundbreaking signifies the beginning of a vibrant, multi-purpose community that will benefit both citizens and visitors of this historic city.” Mohammed Al Hedfa, group CEO of Qatari Diar commented, “We are delighted to provide the anchor investment in the TFI US Real Estate Fund. In conjunction with our co-investors and strategic partners, Hines|Archstone, we look forward to the realization of this landmark development.” Revision 4/3/11 Hines Founder and Chairman Gerald Hines commented, “It is both a great privilege and a great opportunity to be able to develop a parcel this large starting with a blank slate. The master plan for CityCenterDC is designed to welcome pedestrians, to bring neighborhoods together and to be sustainable for generations. Along with our partners, we look forward to the excitement as this project takes shape over the next three years.” Scot Sellers, Archstone's chief executive officer, added: "We are delighted to be a part of the world-class team that has been assembled to make this exciting project a reality. We have been working together with the Hines organization and our other partners on this incredible addition to the Washington DC community for over eight years now, and seeing this come to fruition is very exciting for all of us. Archstone is the largest owner and operator of apartments in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, and we are very proud to be adding another marquee location to our portfolio here." CB Richard Ellis and Tanween WLL are acting as real estate advisors to TFI. Tanween is an integrated real estate management service provider. About CityCenterDC In November 2003, a team led by Hines and Archstone was selected by the District of Columbia to master plan and execute the redevelopment of the “Old Convention Center Redevelopment Site,” a 10-acre parcel in the middle of downtown Washington, DC. The project is situated in the heart of downtown’s office core, along a ceremonial stretch of New York Avenue between the new D.C. Convention Center and the U.S. Treasury and White House. The two busiest stations in the Metrorail system, providing service on all lines, are located within two blocks of the site. Site access to and from other parts of the District, Northern Virginia and Maryland is excellent. The overall objective of the project is to create a unique, pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use urban neighborhood that includes retail, entertainment, residential and office uses, as well as programmable public space. Project development partners Hines and Archstone, alongside partner TFI, are committed to create a place that is first and foremost for the District and its residents, and that will appeal to downtown workers and visitors. The development team will also strive to create a great place for people, with the highest-quality and innovation in urban design and architecture. Visit www.citycenterdc.com for more information. About Barwa Bank Barwa Bank is the newest Shari’ah bank in the State of Qatar, established in Doha and licensed & regulated by the Qatar Central Bank. With an authorised starting capital of QR 2.5 billion, Barwa Bank provides a full range of Shari’ah compliant banking services including retail, corporate and commercial banking, private banking, real estate finance, structured finance, investments and asset management. About The First Investor (TFI) TFI is a leading Shari’ah investment company in Qatar and is regulated by the Qatar Central Bank. A wholly owned subsidiary of Barwa Bank, TFI is emerging as one of the most respected investment banking firms within the region, combining Qatari leadership with both international and local expertise to provide dedicated services in Investment Banking, Asset Management and Real Estate Investment. Through its strong international network of relationships and deep technical expertise, TFI provides a global approach in helping clients formulate, deliver and manage effective corporate strategies. Visit www.tfi.com.qa for more information About Qatari Diar Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company, wholly owned by the Qatar Investment Authority, was established in December 2004 to support Qatar’s growing economy and co-ordinate the country’s real estate development and investment priorities. Qatari Diar is currently involved in more than 35 projects in more than 20 countries around the world. Visit www.qataridiar.com. About Hines Hines is a privately owned real estate firm involved in real estate investment, development and property management worldwide. The firm’s historical and current portfolio of projects that are underway, completed, acquired and managed for third parties includes 1,126 properties representing more than 459 million square feet of office, residential, mixed-use, industrial, hotel, medical and sports facilities, as well as large, master-planned communities and land developments. With offices in 106 cities in 17 countries, and controlled assets valued at approximately $23.7 billion, Hines is one of the largest real estate organizations in the world. Hines is also a world leader in sustainable real estate strategies, with extensive experience in LEED®, ENERGY STAR®, BREEAM, Haute Qualité Environnementale and DGNB green building rating systems. Visit www.hines.com for more information. Revision 4/3/11 About Archstone Archstone is a recognized leader in apartment investment and operations. The company's portfolio is concentrated in many of the most desirable neighborhoods in and around Washington, DC, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, New York, Seattle and Boston. Archstone strives to provide great apartments and great service to its customers—backed by service guarantees. As of December 31, 2010, the company owned or had an ownership position in 436 communities located in the United States and Europe, representing 78,207 units, including units under construction. Utilizing this tremendous amount of expertise and institutional knowledge, Archstone now also offers comprehensive advisory services to owners and lenders who want to maximize the value of their assets through Archstone Real Estate Advisory Services. For more information about Archstone, visit www.archstoneapartments.com. CONTACTS Hines George Lancaster, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications ([email protected]) Phone: + (713) 966 7676 Archstone Peter Jakel, Communications Manager ([email protected]) Phone: + (720) 873 6392 The First Investor P.R. representative: Citigate Dewe Rogerson Washington DC: +44 7799 476804 Seb Hoyle London: +44 (0) 207 638 9571 David Westover / Ged Brumby Doha: +974 4452 8335 Habib Bacha PROJECT RENDERING LIBRARY PROJECT RENDERINGS Contact Hines/Archstone for further information: George Lancaster – [email protected] Peter Jakel – [email protected] CENTRAL PLAZA AT DUSK NORTHWEST PARK CityCenterDC AERIAL NORTHWEST PARK AT DUSK RENTAL APARTMENTS 10TH & I STREET Phase 2 – Hotel & Additional Retail ue Parcel owned and developed by Gould Property Company ven rk A o wY Ne NORTHWEST PARK I Street (re-opened) Office Building 10 stories over 1 retail level Pedestrian Alleyway CENTRAL PLAZA Images created by Neoscape OFFICE BUILDING 10TH & H STREET CityCenterDC SITE MAP Retail: 185,000 SF ( Phase at base level, opening onto avenues, pedestrian paths public areas An additional 110,000 SF o will be developed in Phase For-Sale Residential Building 9 stories over 2 retail levels Rental Apartments 10 stories over 1 retail level H Street ALLEYWAY RETAIL, OFFICES ABOVE Pedestrian Alleyway 9th Street 10th Street (re-opened) 11th Street Pedestrian Alleyway For-Sale Residential Building 8 stories over 2 retail levels Rental Apartments 10 stories over 1 retail level Office Building 10 stories over 1 retail level Phase 2 – Hotel & Additional Retail Parcel owned and developed by others NORTHWEST PARK I Street (re-opened) Office Building 10 stories over 1 retail level CENTRAL PLAZA Pedestrian Alleyway Pedestrian Alleyway 9th Street 10th Street (re-opened) 11th Street Pedestrian Alleyway For-Sale Residential Building 9 stories over 2 retail levels Rental Apartments 10 stories over 1 retail level Office Building 10 stories over 1 retail level Retail: 185,000 SF ( Phase 1) at base level, opening onto streets, avenues, pedestrian paths and public areas Rental Apartments 10 stories over 1 retail level H Street For-Sale Residential Building 8 stories over 2 retail levels AT A GLANCE: CityCenterDC Formerly the District’s old convention center site, CityCenterDC is a 10-acre, mixed-use development, located in the heart of downtown Washington between New York Avenue and 9th, H and 11th Streets, NW. The first phase of the project will deliver a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood with more than 185,000 square feet of retail; 458 rental apartment units and 216 condominium units; 520,000 square feet of office space; 1,555 below-grade parking spaces; new streets; pedestrian paths; and public open spaces. A second phase of the project is planned to include a 350-room upscale hotel, along with 109,000 additional square feet of retail. A third phase of the project is being planned by Gould Property Company, and is expected to include 500,000 square feet of office space and 30,000 square feet of retail. PROJECT OVERVIEW Developer Design Team Master Plan Office/Condominium Design Rental Design/Arch. Of Record Landscape Design Retail Design Foster + Partners / Shalom Baranes Associates Foster + Partners Shalom Baranes Associates Gustafson Guthrie Nichol / Lee and Associates Street-Works / Kenneth Park Architects Retail Leasing Williams Jackson Ewing Condominium Sales The Mayhood Company Hines | Archstone in conjunction with five local firms PROJECT SCOPE (Phases 1, 2, & 3) Parcel Size Retail Rental Apartments Residential Condominiums Office Hotel Parking Public Spaces Total Expected Investment (Phase 1) 10 acres 325,000 square feet 458 units 216 units 1 million square feet 350 rooms 2,230 spaces 1.5 acres $700 million SCHEDULE (Estimated) Phase 1 (Office, Apartments, Condos, Retail) Construction Starts 4/11 Substantial Completion 8/13 –2/14 Phase 2 (Hotel, Retail) Construction Starts Substantial Completion 2/13 6/15 A WALKER’S PARADISE • 30-40% of households want to live in walkable, urban communities • Less than 20% of housing supply can be defined as walkable and urban • CityCenterDC will have a walk score of 98%, “Walker’s Paradise” SUSTAINABILITY • The entire development has been accepted into USGBC’s pilot program for the LEED Neighborhood Development certification. • It is expected to achieve LEED® Gold at completion. AT A GLANCE: RETAIL CityCenterDC’s retail component can be thought of as 325,000 square feet of street-oriented shopping, dining and engaging public spaces enlivened with seasonal event programming. The center will provide a critical mass of retailers at a central downtown location, and is designed to attract a compelling mix of local and national retailers and restaurants to cater to local residents and office workers, draw shoppers from the entire region and attract tourists and conventioneers. Retailer interest in the project to date has been strong. SCOPE Rentable Square Footage (Phases 1 & 2) Projected Merchandising Mix Restaurants & Cafés Fashion Fitness Specialty Home Furnishing Entertainment Grocery Est. First Tenants 325,000 32% 30% 13% 12% 6% 4% 3% 100% Fall 2013 CRITICAL PLAN ELEMENTS • Maximize street-oriented retail • Pedestrian-friendly • Abundant, safe, accessible parking • Attractive, compelling urban space • Actively programmed public space SITE ACCESS • Bounded by 4 major arterials • 3 parking entrances (Phases 1 & 2) • 750 public parking spaces • 1 block from 2 of the region’s 3 busiest subway stations • 107,000 daily riders pass through the subway stations MARKET NOTES • District resident demand for retail goods exceeds supply by more than $600 million • 125,000 office workers, 7,000 residential units and 4,500 hotel rooms within five blocks of site AT A GLANCE: RENTAL APARTMENTS The CityCenterDC apartments will respond to the District’s growing demand for well-appointed apartment homes in walkable locations. With restaurants, shops, major employers and Metro rail stops within a short walk, the CityCenterDC apartment homes will deliver a unique DC experience. The community’s two buildings, linked by an enclosed pedestrian bridge, will bring light and views into each home while celebrating the numerous interior and exterior public spaces and venues. Inside, the apartments will showcase thoughtful features and functional layouts, including substantial living rooms and open kitchens. Outside of their apartments, residents will have access to a comprehensive array of services and amenities designed to enhance the daily living experience. Finally, the Archstone-managed community will reflect the company’s commitment to best-in-class customer service and convenient technology solutions designed to make apartment living better. SCOPE Net Square Footage 385,800 No. of Stories 11 (each building) No. of rentable apartment homes Market Rate (80%) Affordable (20%) 458 366 92 Apartment Mix 81 studios 201 1-bed 37 1-bed with den 116 2-bed 15 2-bed with den 8 3-bed Average Apartment Square Footage 843 Estimated First Apartments Avail. Fall 2013 KEY STATS • 30-40% of households want to live in walkable, urban communities • Less than 20% of housing supply can be defined as walkable and urban APARTMENT FEATURES • Full-height windows • Balconies in select units with sliding or French doors • Wood flooring in living, dining, entries and dens • European-style cabinetry • Roller shades on all windows AMENITIES • 5,500-square-foot Caliber Sports Club with yoga room • Click! Café Internet Lounge with free WiFi • Business center • Rooftop swimming pool, lounge and terrace • Club room with billiards, comfortable seating and large screen TV SUSTAINABILITY • Expected to achieve LEED® Silver New Construction certification AT A GLANCE: RESIDENTIAL CONDOMINIUMS In addition to responding to the growing demand for walkable, well-appointed living spaces in downtown Washington, DC, the CityCenterDC residential condominiums will be ideally situated near popular Metro rail stops and major commuter corridors. The Foster + Partners’ design for the condominiums will reflect each building’s street location and solar orientation to contribute to an environmental strategy that targets energy savings and improved indoor air quality. Inside each home, residents will be greeted with substantial primary living areas, custom-designed kitchens and beautifully designed outdoor spaces that connect to the inside living areas. The interiors will be complemented by an array of convenient services and amenities designed to enhance the living experience of residents. SCOPE Net Square Footage241,400 No. of Homes216 Home Mix 102 1-bed, 1-bath 57 2-bed, 2-bath 57 2-bed, 2.5-bath Average Home Square Footage1,118 Est. First Move Ins Fall 2013 HOME FEATURES • Full-height windows and sliding doors • 9-foot ceilings in primary living areas • Hardwood flooring throughout the home • Granite or CaesarStone countertops • European cabinetry and wardrobes AMENITIES • Two large rooftop decks • Private outdoor terraces • Media room/lounge with outdoor landscaped terrace • Banquet-sized dining room with catering kitchen and bar lounge with private locked wine storage • Fully equipped fitness facility with Yoga room and private spa treatment room • On-site guest suite • Dedicated on-site indoor parking SUSTAINABILITY • Expected to achieve LEED® Silver New Construction certification • Designed to maximize daylight and passive environmental benefits AT A GLANCE: OFFICE The two 11-story office buildings designed by Foster + Partners feature functional and efficient floor plans, dramatic lobbies and a complement of amenities in the heart of Downtown. The buildings offer the target tenants – law firms, professional organizations and government affairs offices – maximum exposure to natural light, landscaped roof terraces and inter-building connections via five pedestrian bridges. Property management and leasing services will be provided by Hines. SCOPE Net Rentable Area Typical Floor Size (NRA) 514,700 square feet 24,800 square feet Typical Column Spacing 25 x 30 feet (with column-free perimeter offices) Perimeter Window Line 656 linear feet per floor per building Ratio of Glazing to Floor Space (Typical Floor) 29% Estimated Initial Occupancy Fall 2013 NOTES • DC is the third largest office market in the U.S. • DC has the second lowest office vacancy rate in the U.S. (10.8%) • DC has the second highest office rents in the U.S. • Office sale price per square foot in DC ranks #1 in the U.S. • District Office Employment Breakdown: 65% Private / 35% Public AWARDS & ACCOLADES • DC is ranked #2 in the world for real estate investment by the Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate in 2011 (Ranked #1 or #2 in the U.S. since 2006) SUSTAINABILITY • Pre-certified LEED® Gold Core & Shell About BARWA Bank BARWA Bank is the newest Shariah compliant financial services group in Qatar, licensed and regulated by the Qatar Central Bank. With an authorised starting capital of QR 2.5 billion (US$ 685 million), BARWA Bank provides a full range of Shariah compliant banking services including retail, corporate and private banking, real estate finance, structured finance, investments and asset management. BARWA Bank’s aim and vision is to build an all-inclusive ‘Universal Islamic Banking Group’ that completely recreates the banking experience in Qatar, exceeding all current standards of customer service. History BARWA Bank announced the initial launch phase of its banking services in Doha in October 2009, offering current, savings and fixed deposit accounts to customers and providing convenient access to banking services via ATM, mobile phone banking, e-banking and 24 hour customer call centres. At the launch, BARWA Bank also announced that it had been appointed as Mandated Lead Arranger by Qatar Diar Real Estate Investment Company, the leading Qatari real estate developer and investment firm, to provide QAR 500 million as part of a QAR 4 billion Shariah -compliant syndicated facility to help finance European investments. In January 2010, it was announced that BARWA Bank had acquired The First Investor (“TFI”), signalling a major step in the creation of a “Universal Islamic Banking Group” and combining resources in retail, corporate, private, treasury and investment banking operations. Most recently, BARWA Bank’s shareholders approved the acquisition of a minimum of 75% (and maximum of the entire capital) of First Finance Company (Q.S.C) and First Leasing Company (P.S.C) in July 2010. The acquisition is consistent with BARWA’s goal of growing its consumer finance, retail, commercial, asset management and private client banking platforms, and forms the successful next step in its strategy. Recent Industry Awards – Barwa Bank In March 2011, Barwa Bank received an award for “Best New Retail Finance Product” at the Banker Middle East Industry Awards held in Dubai. The award recognised Barwa Bank’s home finance product, which was launched earlier this year. Last year BARWA Bank and The First Investor QSCC celebrated at the Banker Middle East Product Awards, held in April 2010, for the “Best Retail Marketing Campaign” and “Best Islamic Investment House” respectively. This accolade was swiftly followed in June 2010, when BARWA Bank won “Best New Bank”, at the Banker Middle East Industry Awards 2010. These awards recognise the exceptional standards of banking and service that BARWA Bank set out to achieve, and reinforce the levels of service, innovation and choice that BARWA Bank has made available to its growing customer base. Barwa Bank has also secured the ISO/IEC 27001:2005 certification, which is the world’s highest accreditation for information protection and security. Further information can be found at: http://www.barwabank.com The First Investor QSCC: History & Background The First Investor QSCC (TFI) is a Qatari based investment company dedicated to providing value added Shariah compliant Real Estate Investment, Investment Banking and Asset Management services to institutional and high net worth individual in Qatar and the GCC region. TFI is regulated by the Qatar Central Bank and is wholly owned by Barwa Bank. Since 2006, TFI has built a strong track record in arranging, structuring, managing and advising on mergers, acquisitions, divestments, joint venture partnerships, private equity deals and investment funds, in both real estate and non-real estate related assets. TFI’s commitments to apply the principles of Shariah and measuring organisational and financial achievements and contributions to the development of society as a whole instil a culture of social responsibility throughout its organisation. Upholding the highest moral, ethical and professional standards, applying best practice corporate governance processes, and adhering to legal and regulatory requirements, gives rise to integrity and excellence in all spheres of the organisation. TFI’s overriding strategy is client centric. By nurturing deep and long term relationships TFI aims to create and package bespoke and tailored investment products and services anticipating and addressing the requirements of our clients and achieving their goals. TFI’s most important asset is its people. Under the helmsmanship and guidance of its founding members and senior management, the organization has striven to build a culture of creativity, diversity, teamwork, diligence and excellence at all levels of the firm. By instilling professionalism and aligning incentives for key decision makers, TFI differentiates itself from other firms in the region. Further information can be found here: http://www.tfi.com.qa/ Business Services: 1. Real Estate Investments TFI is a preferred real estate investment advisor, arranger, structurer and fund manager for leading Qatari and other Gulf based investors. Through its strong international network of relationships, and deep technical expertise, TFI provides global reach to its clients in helping them formulate, deliver and manage their real estate investment strategies. TFI has built a deep and far reaching track record in sourcing and executing global real estate transactions and partnering with world class investment partners and services providers. Today, TFI is achieving direct real estate deal volumes approaching US$ 1 billion per annum, and is sponsoring and originating US, European and BRIC focused real estate funds worth US$ 2 billion. Transactions – originating, appraising, financial structuring, negotiating and executing on deals involving investments in real estate portfolios, income generating assets, green field developments, value added and distressed opportunities. Fund Management – originating, establishing, sponsoring, financial structuring, capital raising and managing real estate funds focusing on assets in Qatar, the GCC region, US, Europe and BRIC economies. Advisory – providing focused and specialist real estate investment advice on a range of mandates including investment strategies, portfolio management policies, feasibility studies, and oversight of investment and asset management activities. 2. Investment Banking TFI’s Investment Banking team, with its experience in regional and global markets, not only provides mature and growing institutions with a broad range of financial solutions and services, but also has a strong record in supporting “Start-Up” operations. The Investment Banking team provides expertise in the following areas: Advisory Services – providing a broad range of advisory services supporting the attainment of the strategic goals of our clients including: finding strategic partners, acquiring or merging with other companies, disposals, equity carve-outs or spinoffs, and joint ventures. Mergers & Acquisitions – identifying, structuring and executing mergers, acquisitions and divestitures for corporations, financial institutions and governments (sell and buy side). Providing clients with a broad range of opportunities in Qatar and in the wider GCC region. Direct & Strategic Investments – unparalleled experience and access to substantial deal flow in Qatar and GCC; investment bank of choice for blue-chip private-equity clients. Working towards establishing a fund platform offering a portfolio of direct equity investment products using innovative and differentiated investment strategies (e.g. pledge fund, activist fund etc.) Equity Capital Markets – market leader in equity capital market transactions; successful track record in private placements, initial public offerings and secondary offerings. 2. Asset Management The Asset Management Division of TFI supplies innovative wealth management solutions to high net worth individuals and financial, corporate, charitable and government institutions through the discretionary management of highly customised portfolios. TFI’s highly experienced and expanding Asset Management team constructs products and portfolios to serve the diverse investment goals of its client base. TFI Asset Management offers discretionary portfolio management services and advisory services to investors. It is also in the process of launching regional funds and fund of funds services.