RGI, the AIM-listed developer of luxury real estate in Moscow, said on Monday it is investing some $190 mln to acquire a controlling stake in four new development projects in Moscow. The investment is being made through the purchase of a 73% stake in the privately-owned Cypriot holding company Sucreti, which holds construction rights for all four projects. The developer added that the aggregate gross build-on area is about 1.7 million m2, bringing the company's development portfolio in the region to 2.2 million m[sup]2[/sup].
RGI, the AIM-listed developer of luxury real estate in Moscow, said on Monday it is investing some $190 mln to acquire a controlling stake in four new development projects in Moscow. The investment is being made through the purchase of a 73% stake in the privately-owned Cypriot holding company Sucreti, which holds construction rights for all four projects. The developer added that the aggregate gross build-on area is about 1.7 million m2, bringing the company's development portfolio in the region to 2.2 million m2.
The developments include the Dream, a 21,500 m2 Class A office project due for completion in 2009; the Maya, a 10,800 m2 Class A office project due to be completed by mid- 2009; the 86,400 m2 Media City, a Class A office and media centre project; and the 1.6 million m2 Kingston, a green field residential neighbourhood development with some retail space located about 18 km from the Kremlin. This transaction follows the acquisition by RGI of the Chelsea and Victory Park developments last March, which more than trebled the size of the company's portfolio.
RGI is just one of a series of Russia companies which sought a listing in London last year, alongside AFI Development and Mirland. Chalva Tchigirinsky, the Russian billionaire, is now reportedly looking for a listing of its £5 bn of real estate owned through his real estate company KTT. Tchigirinsky told the Sunday Times he is talking to bankers, including Deutsche Bank, Merrill Lynch and JP Morgan, about a London stock market listing of KTT. He added he intends to appoint one or all of the investment banks shortly. KTT owns the Russian tower in Moscow, designed by architect Lord Foster, which at its 600 metres of height will become one of the highest skyscrapers in the world after completion in 2012.