Dubai Buys a New York Hotel for 285 Million Dollars (NY - 10/12/06)
DUBAI (AFP) - A Dubai government fund announced the acquisition of a landmark New York hotel for 285 million dollars, the latest in the emirate's portfolio of US investments, a statement said.
W Hotel Union Square, a luxury hotel in Manhattan, was bought by Istithmar, which said that the deal is in line with its "strategy to invest in iconic properties in key gateway cities across the world."
"The deal also amply reflects Istithmar's investment strategy for the hospitality sector in the US market by targeting prized hotel assets," it added.
The fund had spent in June 1.2 billion dollars buying a landmark 32-storey building in midtown Manhattan, one of the world's most expensive property locations, just a week after paying 300 million dollars for a neighbouring prime Beaux Arts-style building.
In May the fund bought Loehmann's, a 60-store US chain specialising in designer women's and men's apparel at discount prices, for 300 million dollars.
It also said it bought another building on 230 Park Avenue without disclosing the price.
Istithmar's purchase of US interests follows the controversy that surrounded the acquisition of British shipping giant Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company earlier this year by Dubai Ports World (DP World), another government-controlled company.
A portion of the deal would have given DP World the right to operate six major US ports, including New York. The deal was strongly opposed by the US Congress on security grounds, forcing Dubai government to agree in March to cede control of the US operations to a US entity in order to avert a standoff with a major ally....
Mideast investments in the United States rose to $8.2 billion in 2004, according to the most recent figures available from the Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis. About half that amount, $4.1 billion, came from Israel, with Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates making up the bulk of the rest.
It's a small share of the total $1.5 trillion in foreign investments in the United States each year. But inflows from the Mideast are growing, increasing by 26 percent between 2000 and 2004. That outpaced investment growth from Europe in the same five-year span.
ARCAPITA'S CORPORATE INVESTMENT GROUP, ITS LARGEST OF FOUR PORTFOLIOS:
> Ampad --- Richardson, Texas-based provider of paper-based office products.
> Bijoux Terner --- Miami-based supplier of watches, jewelry, handbags and other retail soft goods to airports, cruise ships, hotels and entertainment locations.
> Caribou Coffee Co. --- Second-largest non-franchised specialty coffeehouse chain in the U.S.; based in Minneapolis.
> Church's Chicken --- Atlanta-based fast-food, franchised chicken restaurants.
> Cirrus Design Corp. --- World's second-largest maker of single-engine, piston-powered, aircraft for general aviation; headquartered in Duluth, Minn.
> Cypress Communications --- Atlanta-based telecommunications provider to small and midsize businesses.
> Meridian Surgical Partners --- Nashville-based company that operates ambulatory surgery centers nationwide.
> Roxar --- Stavanger, Norway-based firm that helps manage reservoir problems in the oil and gas industries.
> Smart Document Solutions --- One of the world's largest health document processors; headquartered in Alpharetta, GA.
> Southland Log Homes --- One of the largest log home manufacturers in the United States; based in Irmo, S.C.
> Tensar Corp. --- Atlanta-based provider of site development and transportation infrastructure services for properties.
> Tender Loving Care Health Care Services --- Home health care and hospice service providers; based in Lake Success, N.Y.
> Transportation Safety Technologies --- Indianapolis-based manufacturer of specialty electrical components and safety products for vehicles.
> Vogica --- Paris-based retailer and wholesaler of kitchens and bathrooms in France.
> Working Rx --- Salt Lake City-based manager of workers' compensation claims for retail pharmacies.
> Yakima Products --- Beaverton, Ore., manufacturer of multisport racks and accessories for automobiles.
Atlanta's Mideast Connection (Article from October 2001)
'We are not afraid,' says head of Bahrain-based Crescent Capital
Atlanta Business Chronicle - October 19, 2001by Meredith JordanStaff Writer
Atif Abdulmalik, perhaps the most powerful Arab businessman operating in Atlanta, came to the U.S. headquarters of his Middle Eastern bank last week to make a point. "We are not afraid, and we are not hiding," said Abdulmalik, CEO of First Islamic Investment Bank in the Persian Gulf nation of Bahrain and chairman of its U.S. subsidiary, Atlanta-based Crescent Capital Investments Inc.
Each investment was approved by a Muslim committee in Bahrain as fitting within the boundaries of Shari'ah, the Islamic law that dictates how practitioners conduct themselves, including in business matters...
Crescent was the first firm to do an Islamically structured leveraged buyout and now is one of several Middle Eastern-based firms that invest in U.S. companies that meet the ethical standards of Islam. Crescent is considered to be one of the first private equity firms to operate in this country under the tenets of Shari'ah, although several others have since been formed.
Abdulmalik said there are no deals expected to close before the end of 2001 but several are being evaluated for the first quarter of 2002. Plans are to continue to operate from Atlanta, where there is less competition from other equity firms and the overall costs of operations are cheaper.
He also likes it better for his children than New York, he said. "It's safer here."
While the 2001 article claims that they are not "afraid or hiding"...well the following info. shows that they did change their name...and I find no info. in the October 2001 article where besides claiming to "not be afraid or hiding" where they denounce the actions of their Islamic brethen just one month prior in Sept. 2001!!! Other than to say that the 19 Islamic murders hi-jacked the religion....ummmm...how about the Koran "encouraging" the murder of infadels.
Crescent Capital soon to be Arcapita (Article from Feb. 2005)
Atlanta Business Chronicle - February 28, 2005
Crescent Capital Investments Inc. will go by a new name starting March 15.
The Atlanta-based firm, and its Bahrain-based parent First Islamic Investment Bank, will change their names to Arcapita and will adopt a new logo. The companies also have a London affiliate. Combined, the three groups have 140 employees and made a profit of $70.5 million in 2004....
Arcapita's Current Corporate Investments:
http://www.arcapita.com/corporate/current/current-all.html
Arcapita's Venture Capital Investments:
http://www.arcapita.com/venture/current/current-all.html
Arcapita's Real Estate Investments:
http://www.arcapita.com/real-estate/current/current-all.html
Arcapita's Asset Based Investments:
Falcon Gas Storage Comany, Inc. - is the largest independently owned developer and operator of high-deliverability, multi-cycle (HDMC) natural gas storage capacity in the United States.
Transaction Date: July 2005
Region: United States
www.falcongasstorage.com
More Information...
http://www.arcapita.com/asset/current/current-all.html