Africa set to see Record Real Estate Investment as British Entrepreneur Partners With U.S. Property Guru

LONDON, Nov. 12, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- As the British Prime Minister and U.S. President broker Chinese and Asian investment deals, Africa is the latest emerging economy to attract Anglo-American attention with the announcement of a landmark joint venture that promises to deliver economic growth across the African continent.

British-born Ashish Thakkar of Mara Group and Quintin E. Primo III of Capri Global Capital have signed agreements to form Mara Capri Africa Ltd. with the goal of pursuing high quality commercial and residential African real estate developments.

Both Thakkar and Primo have a distinguished track record in the property sector.  Mara Group has a $1bn portfolio spanning four continents and Primo – said by Forbes Magazine to be one of the U.S.'s top ten wealthiest African-American's – co-founded the U.S.-based Capri Capital Partners LLC with $3.6 billion in fair market value assets under management as of the end of September 2010.

"Africa needs investment, not aid," said Ashish Thakkar, Founder and Managing Director of Mara Group. "I'm so excited that we're able to partner with a real estate visionary like Quintin Primo and I sincerely hope that our combined skills can harness the amazing opportunities of this great continent."

"Africa's un-tapped potential is staggering," said Quintin Primo.  "As one of the world's fastest growing economic regions it desperately needs quality real estate.  And, by seeking to address Africa's challenges, shared expertise means we can also potentially help our economy and jobs at home – it's a win-win for both continents."

"By 2040, Africa is projected to be home to one in five of the planet's young people and the world's largest working-age population," said Thakkar. "That, alongside increasing political stability and a rising middle-class means that Africa is ripe for foreign direct investment and we hope to be at the forefront of that."

Mara Capri Africa is expected to pursue substantial real estate opportunities across all property sectors, including retail, office, hospitality and residential.

Notes:

• Led by 29-year old entrepreneur, Ashish Thakkar, Mara Group has an impressive 15 year track record and is now an international multi-sector business with investments in real estate and hospitality, manufacturing, services and information communication technology.  With a $1bn portfolio, in 2010 The World Economic Forum cited Mara as one of Africa's dynamic high-growth companies  
• Founded by Quintin E. Primo III, Capri Global Capital, headquartered in Chicago with offices in London, Dubai and East Africa, was established in 2007 to pursue real estate opportunities in global emerging markets such as Africa, the Middle East and India.  It builds upon the 18-year track record of Capri Capital Partners LLC, a major multi-billion dollar U.S. real estate investment organisation
• With a current population of 1 billion, Africa's real GDP rose 4.9% per year from 2000 to 2008 - more than twice its pace in the 1980's and 90's - compared to 2% in developed economies [source: McKinsey Global Institute].  It has 52 cities with over 1 million people – that's more than double the number in 1990 and as much as Western Europe.  Uganda alone is currently projected to be undersupplied by an estimated 5 million homes by 2025
• Projects already earmarked include a $300 million Ugandan development comprising a 5-star hotel, convention centre and retail and office space

SOURCE Mara Group

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