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A slowdown in the real estate space does not seem to have dampened US-based private equity firm Golden State Capital, which has decided to invest close to $1 billion in India over the next three years through its real estate investment trust.
It also expects to get its Real Estate Investment Trust listed on the Singapore stock exchange next year.
“Together with our investors, we are looking for stabilised office assets that are foreign direct investment-compliant.
"We will have an appetite of close to $1 billion in the next three years, if we get opportunities at appropriate valuations,” GSC Chairman Sumit Nanda told Business Standard in an interview.
The firm is looking at a REIT listing of above $500 million. “We are already evaluating some deals.
"We have identified our partners, consultants and investors. . . looking at assets built and leased in the last two to four years in a very competitive environment, besides stabilised assets with blue-chip tenants.
"Under the REIT, we are targeting opportunities that are fully leased out or have certainty to be leased out soon.”
He also said GSC was bullish on the long-term potential of these assets, as cost of construction in India had been rising rapidly due to inflation.
“We see REIT as a good platform to acquire high-quality office assets in cities like Gurgaon, Noida, Bengaluru, Pune, Chennai, Mumbai and Hyderabad.
"Our investors would look forward to stabilised returns and a robust diversified portfolio.” REIT is a vehicle that invests in real estate assets to generate income, which is passed on to investors.
Like stocks, REITs are listed and traded on stock exchanges.
GSC recently launched Burman GSC, its real estate joint venture with the Burman family, the promoters of the Dabur group. Nanda did not share specific details of the JV, but said: “We are working on our strategy; the details would be shared in the coming months.”
Started in 2000, GSC focuses on the US and Indian markets, with operational offices in these two countries and Singapore.
It had first entered the Indian market in 2002, when it started construction of leased assets in India by reconverting industrial buildings.
In 2008, it entered into a joint venture with Ascendas (through a special-purpose vehicle) to develop a 62-acre IT SEZ in Gurgaon, according to information available on its website.
Asked why GSC was re-entering India at a time the realty sector was facing a slowdown, Nanda said: “We believe in the economy’s long-term potential.
"Yes, there are challenges in the short term, but we believe the economy will see a turnaround soon.”
There could be volatility in the short run, but the company is expecting 'emergence of a new chapter in the India growth story' over a three-quarter horizon.
According to Nanda, the country presents great opportunities for long-term investors and real estate has been a preferred sector.
REIT was a great platform for offshore investors -- especially in Singapore, where such an investment was considered secured -- to get stabilised returns.
There was a greater upside in investing in REIT than in conventional fixed-income products, he added.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India’s draft guidelines for REITs, released in October, will enable Indian realty companies also come up with REITs.
The regulations are expected to be finalised within a year.
THE GAME PLAN
On radar GSC plans to acquire high-quality office assets in India through REIT platform
The India story
Over the next three quarters, the company expects a new chapter in the India growth story
Listing
$500-million listing of the PE firm’s REIT likely on the Singapore stock exchange next year
Joint venture
GSC has entered into a JV with Dabur’s Burman family to launch a real estate company
The image is used for representational purpose only
