Centricus, a global investment platform, has acquired a 30 per cent stake in Global Investment Holdings (GIH), an infrastructure investment company listed on the Istanbul Stock Exchange, focusing on investments in ports, power and real estate.
The port business, Global Ports Holding (GPH), was listed on the London Stock Exchange in May 2017, completing one of the largest flotations of the year. GPH is the largest independent cruise port operator in the world with operations across Europe and Asia, including key ports in Barcelona, Venice, Lisbon and Malaga, and expansion plans in the Caribbean and East Asia. The power business of GIH includes solar projects and biomass operations in Turkey, with expansion plans into other emerging markets.
Centricus founder Dalinc Ariburnu says: “Centricus targets superior returns across sectors and we see significant opportunities in the infrastructure space. GIH has an attractive portfolio of assets with considerable growth potential, particularly in the ports and clean energy spaces. This deal builds on a successful year for our firm, during which we have made a series of acquisitions to develop our unique relationship network and continue providing innovative access to capital.”
The GIH deal follows a series of recent transactions undertaken by Centricus as it expands its unique global relationship network. In May 2017, Centricus acquired a majority holding in Halkin Asset Management, a London-based FCA-regulated and SEC-registered multi-asset manager platform, offering portfolio management and advisory services. Prior to this in November 2016, Centricus acquired CIFC Asset Management LLC, an SEC-registered US private debt investment manager with over US$14 billion AUM. Headquartered in New York, CIFC provides access to approximately 2,000 sub-investment grade borrowers in the private debt market.
Centricus founders Dalinc Ariburnu and Nizar Al-Bassam recently led the structuring and fund raising for SoftBank’s USD93 billion global technology investment fund, the Vision Fund, the largest single fund capital raise in the asset management industry to date. Centricus also recently acted as advisor and arranger to SoftBank’s USD3.3 billion acquisition of Fortress Investment Group LLC, an alternative asset manager with USD70 billion AUM.
