Athersone India Invest (AII), an
asset management and business advisory firm, is looking to raise
two funds of $1 billion and €250 million each for
- an infrastructure fund and a real estate fund. The credit goes
to several European pension funds and insurance companies that
are eager to make a substantial presence in Indian real estate
sector and infrastructure.
Athersone Group holds two years experience in global investment
banking. The company is focusing in every aspect of real estate
investing from the Real Estate in India. For that reason, it is
drawing up the plans to raise the real estate fund by March end,
and subsequently, the infrastructure fund.
AII is also helding talks with a multitude of Indian corporates
including Reliance Industries and Hindustan Construction
Corporation. The group rules out the possibility of making investments
in any projects implemented by any of the large players in Indian
real estate. “We will pick up equity in conglomerates that
supply goods or execute projects for large companies”, says
Mr. Trivan Mathur, Managing Director, AII.
The infrastructure aims at infrastructure service providers,
technology based vendors, and project development companies. Indeed,
AII primarily wants to hit mid-market Indian firms giving turnover
up to $30 m, reveals Nayan Aggarwal, director, head of global
operations, AII. The company has no plans to entertain any project
development companies, excluding the sectors offering high returns.
As for its real estate fund, it will focus on the development
of commercial spaces in India including townships and special
economic zones (SEZs). It may also take the construction activities
in tier II cities like Hyderabad and Pune.
