Ravi Karandeekar's Pune Real Estate Market News Blog: Euronext NA-listed Yatra Capital, an India-focused real estate fund, is planning to raise a fresh capital of €150 million (Rs840 crore)

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Euronext NA-listed Yatra Capital, an India-focused real estate fund, is planning to raise a fresh capital of €150 million (Rs840 crore)

Investment in tier II, III and even in tier IV cities :

This will be Yatra’s second fund. The first fund of €100 million was raised in December 2006. Since raising its initial capital, Yatra has committed to or acquired investments totaling €88.4 million, mostly in tier-II cities such as Pune. Yatra has so far invested in 10 properties in tier-II and III cities.

It also is evaluating opportunities in smaller tier-IV towns. “We are waiting for the government to change the regulations and allow foreign direct investment to come into smaller developments,” said director of Yatra Capital Ltd. and managing director of Saffron Capital Advisors, Ajoy Veer Kapoor.

Joint venture with Kolte Patil Developers Limited, Pune :

Residential : Yatra's first investment in Indian real estate. Yatra has committed up to €21.6 million in equity for a 49% stake in a joint venture which will initially develop 3 residential sites in Pune.

Investment Opportunities : All three localities are within the key corridors of growth in Pune and located next to the commercial and technology related developments. This investment in Pune underlines Yatra’s stated strategy of investing in fast growing Indian cities where the board believes there is the greatest opportunity to deliver growth and subsequent shareholder value.

Kolte Patil : is a leading and well established real estate development company in Pune. Kolte Patil was incorporated in 1991 and since then has focused on Pune and Bangalore. At December 31st 2006 Kolte Patil had developed and constructed 25 projects, of which 22 have been in Pune and three have been in Bangalore.

IT Park : Kolte Patil is an ISO 9001 certified development company and received the Government of Maharashtra’s First Prize for “Best IT Infrastructure in the State of Maharashtra” for their landmark GigaSpace IT Park project in Viman Nagar, Pune. Kolte Patil has a strong management team which is led by Mr. Rajesh Patil.

Joint venture with Ashok Ruia Enterprises Pvt Ltd (AREPL) :

Market City, Pune : Yatra Capital has announced that it has picked up a stake in a joint venture to develop a 1.5 million sq feet shopping centre, Market City, in Pune. This Market City is designed by the architect of Bluewater, Europe's largest shopping centre.

Shopping : The Market City development will be amongst the largest shopping centers in Pune, which with a population of 4.5 million, is over 4 times larger than Birmingham, the UK‟s second largest city.

Equity : Yatra will invest €17.24 million ($23.5 million) in equity for a 24 per cent holding in the company promoted by Ashok Ruia Enterprises Pvt Ltd (AREPL). This is the 4th investment in India by Yatra, and the 2nd in a JV with AREPL.

Concept : Phoenix’s “Market City‟ concept envisages retail-led large scale developments typically located in city center locations. Phoenix plans 7 such market cities of a total size of 15 million sq ft in India.

Value :

Yatra announced it's 1st investment In India, in Kolte Patil, in May 2007. Certainly, long before publishing the surveys and reports about growth and investment opportunities in tire II and III cities became a fashion or a publicity gimmick. What Ernst and Young - FICCI and Jones Lang LaSalle Meghraj are doing? Following Yatra and IndiaREIT? Whatever! Personally, I value Yatra's strategy and action!