卡塔爾擬向大中華區投資150億美元
Qatar’s purchase of a stake in a Hong Kong department store chain is the beginning of a potential $15bn spending spree targeting Greater China, according to people familiar with the Gulf state’s plans.
熟悉卡塔爾規劃的知情人士表示，這一海灣國家對香港一家百貨公司連鎖店股份的買入只是開頭，該國隨後對大中華區的投資規模將達150億美元。
Qatar Holding, which owns stakes in Harrods, Barclays, Credit Suisse and Canary Wharf Group aMong others, on Monday said it would pay $616m for a near-20 per cent stake in Lifestyle International Holdings, owner of Hong Kong’s SOGO department stores.
卡塔爾控股(Qatar Holding)目前持有哈羅德百貨(Harrods)、巴克萊銀行(Barclays)、瑞士信貸(Credit Suisse)、金絲雀碼頭集團(Canary Wharf Group)及其他許多企業的股份。週一該基金表示將斥資6.16億美元，收購利福國際集團(Lifestyle International Holdings)近20%的股份。利福國際是香港崇光百貨(SOGO)的母公司。The fund’s parent, Qatar Investment Authority, aims to spend up to $15bn in the medium term to bolster its presence in north Asia, according to people familiar with the matter.
知情人士表示，該基金控股方卡塔爾投資局(Qatar Investment Authority)打算在中期花費共計150億美元，擴大對北亞的投資。
Qatar Holding made headlines in 2010 with a $2.8bn cornerstone investment in Agricultural Bank of China’s initial public offering, but has kept a lower profile in the region since, focusing on opportunities elsewhere.
2010年，卡塔爾控股曾在中國農業銀行(Agricultural Bank of China)首次公開招股(IPO)時投下了28億美元的基石投資，這一消息在當時引起了轟動。不過，自那之後該基金在亞洲一直保持更爲低調的姿態，將主要精力用於在其他地區尋找投資機會。It is unclear what sort of deals the Qatar fund may target in Asia.
目前仍不清楚這隻卡塔爾基金會青睞亞洲什麼類型的交易。“QIA’s investment in Lifestyle International Holdings is a continuation of QIA’s investment plan to diversify its global portfolio; this time in Asia,” said the fund, who said the deal would diversify its retail investments, which include a stake in Tiffany & Co, the luxury jeweller, as well as Harrods, the London department store.
該基金表示：“卡塔爾投資局計劃提高其全球投資組合的多元屬性，對利福國際的投資是該計劃的延續。”該基金表示，這次交易將令其在零售業的投資更爲多元化。目前，該基金對零售業的投資除了倫敦百貨商店哈羅德百貨的股份以外，還包括高檔珠寶商蒂芙尼(Tiffany & Co)的股份。SOGO is a mid- to upmarket retailer and its flagship store is located in the popular Causeway Bay shopping district. The store was recently in the news when the territory’s Occupy Hong Kong protesters set up in front of it, although the outlet remained open.
崇光百貨是一家中高檔零售商，其旗艦店坐落於人氣極高的香港銅鑼灣商圈。最近，香港“佔中”運動抗議者在該旗艦店門口聚集，令該店成爲輿論焦點。不過，這家旗艦店在抗議活動期間依然開門營業。Lifestyle International also operates Jiuguang department stores in mainland China.
此外，利福國際還在中國內地運營着一家名爲久光百貨(Jiuguang)的百貨連鎖店。Qatar paid HK$14.75 a share for its 19.9 per cent stake in Lifestyle, a slight premium to the stock’s HK$14.58 closing price on Friday.
對於利福國際這19.9%的股份，卡塔爾控股的買入價是每股14.75港元，略高於該公司週五收盤時每股14.58港元的價格。The deal gives Qatar a seat on the board, but the company will remain controlled by the Lau family and Chow Tai Fook Enterprises, the private investment arm of the Cheng family.
該交易令卡塔爾在利福國際董事會擁有了一個席位，不過利福國際仍將由劉鑾鴻家族及周大福企業(Chow Tai Fook Enterprises)控制。周大福企業是鄭裕彤家族的私人投資部門。The Cheng family’s companies include Chow Tai Fook, the world’s biggest listed jeweller, and the New World empire spanning property development, retail and hotels.
目前，鄭裕彤家族的企業包括全球最大珠寶上市公司周大福(Chow Tai Fook)珠寶金行，以及業務涵蓋地產開發、零售業及酒店的新世界(New World)帝國。
