SINGAPORE: Surbana
Jurong Capital, the newly established financial services arm of Surbana Jurong,
and Mitsubishi Corporation has signed an agreement to set up a fund management
company (FMC). The FMC will be a 50:50 joint venture between the two companies
and will be jointly managed by both partners.
The FMC will set up an Investment Fund (Fund) to invest in
urban development projects in emerging Asia, primarily in Myanmar, Vietnam,
Philippines, Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka. Such projects may include
transit-oriented developments (TOD) such as aviation or rail-related
developments, affordable housing, as well as other urban-related
infrastructure.
The partners will each contribute up to US$250 million to
seed the Fund, and the FMC will also raise and manage funds from other
accredited or institutional third-party investors.
According to Asian Development Bank's (ADB) estimates,
developing Asia will need to invest at least US$1.7 trillion per year in
infrastructure until 2030 to maintain its growth momentum. However, there
remains a huge gap between the demand for such infrastructure and the region's
access to financing.
The FMC will seek out commercially-viable urban
infrastructure projects which are in an advanced feasibility stage or in the early
phases of construction, and provide equity investment to support such projects.
Qualifying projects will need to meet sustainable
environmental, social and corporate governance metrics. Institutional investors
seeking to participate in the sustainable growth of the region can therefore do
so through the Fund.
The FMC will leverage both partners' unique strengths to
deliver optimum long-term risk-adjusted returns for the Fund. Surbana Jurong,
as one of the largest Asia-based urban and infrastructure consultancies, has
direct exposure to project opportunities in the region. It has over 70 years of
successful project deliveries and technical teams in over 40 countries to
provide insights on the risks of such projects.
Mitsubishi Corporation, a global integrated business
enterprise with diverse business operations, has experience in investments and
financial products, and has been investing in real estate projects in ASEAN
countries since 2013 totalling JPY250 billion.
Wong Heang Fine, Group Chief Executive Officer of Surbana
Jurong, said, "Emerging countries in Asia continue to see rapid economic
and population growth, which drives the demand for urban infrastructure
projects including transit-oriented developments and affordable housing. For
project owners looking for funding, and investors looking for long-term
sustainable returns, Surbana Jurong and Mitsubishi Corporation's new FMC will
provide that capital bridge. Our JV will tap both partners' know-how across
financing and investing, as well as technical and risk analysis to deliver
sustainable returns. This JV is also timely, as Singapore positions itself as
the regional infrastructure hub."
Surbana Jurong Capital
Surbana Jurong Capital, as the financial services arm of
Surbana Jurong, will source, invest, plan, develop and manage infrastructure
and real estate projects, generating long-term sustainable returns for its
stakeholders. It will draw on its ability to plan and manage the risks of
development stage projects, seeking to bring together existing market liquidity
with appropriate opportunities, providing risk-adjusted returns for investors.
Wong commented, "Surbana Jurong Capital will augment
Surbana Jurong Group's complete value-chain of solutions. Through Surbana
Jurong Capital, we are now able to provide equity investment and long-term
financing solutions to our global clientele, further enhancing the value-add we
bring to our partners."
About Surbana Jurong
Surbana Jurong is one of the largest Asia-based urban and
infrastructure consulting firms. Leveraging technology and creativity, Surbana
Jurong provides best-in-class consultancy solutions across the entire value
chain of the urbanisation, industrialisation and infrastructure domains.
Headquartered in Singapore, the Surbana Jurong Group has a
global workforce of over 14,000 employees in more than 120 offices across over
40 countries in Asia, Australia, UK, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas,
and an annual turnover of around S$1.5 billion.
Surbana Jurong has a track record of close to 70 years, and
has built more than a million homes in Singapore, crafted master plans for more
than 30 countries and developed over 100 industrial parks globally.
Surbana Jurong's motto 'Building Cities, Shaping Lives'
reflects its belief that development is more than just steel and concrete.
Surbana Jurong creates spaces and designs infrastructure where people live,
work and play, shaping cities into homes with sustainable jobs where
communities and businesses can flourish.
About Mitsubishi Corporation
Mitsubishi Corporation is a global integrated business
enterprise that develops and operates business across virtually every industry
including industrial finance, energy, metals, machinery, chemicals, foods, and
environmental business.
Mitsubishi Corporation's current activities are expanding
far beyond its traditional trading operations as its diverse business ranges
from natural resources development to investment in retail business,
infrastructure, financial products and manufacturing of industrial goods.