Gaw Capital
Partners’ first separate account transaction in Asia
July 10, 2015 –Real estate private equity firm, Gaw Capital
Partners, announced that it has
successfully led the acquisition of the centrally located InterContinental Hong
Kong Hotel from the hotel’s current owner and management company, InterContinental
Hotels Group on behalf of the purchaser, Supreme Key Limited. Supreme Key
Limited is owned by Pioneer Global Group, and separate account investors
advised by Gaw Capital Partners. The transaction is expected to close in the
second half of 2015. It is Gaw Capital’s first separate account investment in
Asia.
The InterContinental Hong
Kong is a flagship Hotel located at a prime location in Hong Kong’s Kowloon
waterfront. As part of this
deal, a significant additional capital improvement
budget has been committed for refurbishing the property. Gaw Capital Partners
will leverage its rich experience in managing hotels, including the iconic
Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, to further upgrade this internationally-acclaimed
leading hotel.
As part of this long term strategic
investment, Gaw Capital Partners will retain InterContinental Hotels Group to
continue managing the property, whilst using its existing hospitality platform,
GCP Hospitality, to enhance the asset management. Gaw Capital Partners and its affiliates
have a long history in turning around and repositioning hotels successfully. The
iconic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles has once again become a hotspot
for Hollywood’s stars and celebrities after a USD $24 million renovation in
2005 by Gaw Capital Partners’ Chairman Goodwin Gaw and his partners. GCP Hospitality’s
portfolio comprises 18 properties in Asia and US and includes flagship Hotel G properties
in Bangkok, Pattaya, Hong Kong, San Francisco, Suzhou, Shenzhen and Beijing, as well as the legendary Strand Hotel and Strand Cruise in Yangon and the
management of soon to be opened Roosevelt Macau.
Goodwin Gaw, Chairman
and Managing Principal of Gaw Capital Partners, said “We are delighted to have led
the successful acquisition of this iconic Hong Kong property. We intend to
fully leverage our extensive experience in hotel management to ensure that the InterContinental
Hong Kong remains a world class location.”
Since 2010, Gaw Capital
Partners has acquired 10 direct investments in London and the US on behalf of
its separate account Asian clients, and this is the 11th separate account
investment globally. Other notable separate account investments include 333
Market Street in San Francisco (Wells Fargo headquarters), Cupertino Gateway
(one of Apple’s main campuses), Lloyd’s Building in London (Lloyd’s
headquarter), Waterside Paddington in London (Marks & Spencer’s
headquarters)…etc.
Christina Gaw, Managing Principal and Head
of Capital Markets of Gaw Capital Partners, commented “We are grateful for the
investors’ support in partnering with us to invest in this landmark deal. Gaw
Capital Partners is dedicated to helping our investors look for investment
opportunities with favorable returns in the global real estate markets. As we
see more properties in Asia with attractive propositions, we hope to do more in
Asian separate account investments.”
“Pioneer
Global Group has long been an active investor in hotels, especially in SE Asia,
including the Pullman Hotel G Bangkok, Pullman Hotel G Pattaya, and the Strand
Hotel in Yangon, Myanmar. The acquisition of the InterContinental Hong Kong
will be the first hotel investment for Pioneer Global Group in Hong Kong. I am
confident that this iconic property with its commanding presence on the harbour
front and its star studded restaurants will continue to be one of the leading
hotels in Hong Kong and the world.” said
Kenneth Gaw, Managing Director of Pioneer Global Group and also President and
Managing Principal of Gaw Capital Partners.
InterContinental
Hong Kong is internationally-acclaimed as one of the world’s leading hotels,
with a coveted five-star rating from the Forbes Travel Guide. It is famous for
its unrivalled panoramic views of Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong’s skyline. The
503- room hotel was first open in 1980 as Regent Hong Kong and has been wholly
owned by IHG and operated under the InterContinental brand since 2001. The
hotel is also a destination for exceptional dining with three Michelin star
restaurants (SPOON by Alain Ducasse, Yan Toh Heen and THE STEAK HOUSE winebar +
grill).These three of InterContinental
Hong Kong’s restaurants have been awarded a total of 4 Michelin stars in the
2015 Michelin Guide to Hong Kong and Macau — once again giving the hotel the
distinction of having three Michelin star restaurants under one roof for
the third consecutive year.