Abu Dhabi investment fund eyes European deals-paper


ABU DHABI, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Abu Dhabi's fastest growing investment
fund Aabar is eyeing three European deals worth 2 billion euros ($2.74
billion) after selling its stake in Banco Santander's Brazil unit, its
chairman said in remarks published on Monday.

Aabar, which recently delisted from the Abu Dhabi Securities Market
(ADX), is looking at two infrastructure investments in Europe valued
at between 500 million and 1 billion euros, Khadem al-Qubaisi told the
Financial Times.

Aabar is also considering buying a "small stake" in a blue-chip
telecoms company in Europe or the United States that could be worth
1.95 billion euros, he told the paper.

International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC), the parent company
of Aabar, considered buying up to 10 percent of BP after the then
chief executive Tony Hayward made an approach, he said, but IPIC
backed off after the UK oil company made clear it wanted investors to
buy shares in the open market.

Aabar's assets have grown to $13 billion and are expected to touch $15-
$16 billion by end of next year with new deals, he said.



Oil-exporter Abu Dhabi is investing billions of dollars in industry,
tourism, real estate and infrastructure to diversify its economy away
from oil. Its investment funds are actively investing across asset
classes globally. ($1=.7312 Euro)

SOURCE: http://marketpin.blogspot.com/