CLSA Capital Partners, the private equity arm of French bank Credit Agricole, is planning to invest in Indian real estate market next year. The firm plans to wait till next year when valuations come down further. According to this report, the firm has $100 million freed up from divestments and plans to raise more capital for this fund.
CLSA has been pretty active in India with investments in slimming chain VLCC, inverter maker Luminous and crane hiring company Sanghvi Movers, among others. CLSA also plans to invest from this fund in Japan and China. CLSA plans to build build top-notch office blocks in the biggest cities in India and China.
CLSA, which has around $2.5 billion under management, has also recently launched clean water asia fund. CLSA plans to invest in companies that are considered the most immune to a global economic slowdown.
CLSA would join a host of private equity funds who are raising money to invest in Indian real estate. Prominent among them are ICICI Venture, which is raising a $2 billion fund. Its former JV partner Tishman Speyer is also raising a $1 billion realty fund. Then there is also Donald Trump Jr who plans to invest $1 billion in Indian real estate. Walton Street Capital and IndusInd Bank are also planning $1 billion real estate funds.
