INDIAN billionaire Bhupendra Kumar Modi moved into his $15.46
million penthouse at Marina Bay on Wednesday and immediately set
about unpacking some ambitious plans for his new home country.
The founder and chairman of conglomerate Spice Group - it has
interests in telecommunications, technology, financial services and
entertainment - has set up two funds worth more than $100 million
to invest here.
The tycoon also wants to open a 24/7 'Hollywood meets Bollywood'
entertainment centre at one of two floating crystal pavilions
coming up at the Marina Bay Sands integrated resort.
Speaking to The Straits Times at his 63rd storey apartment at
The Sail @ Marina Bay, Dr Modi said he plans to spend 'tens of
millions' on the project and is in talks with Sands to either buy
or lease a pavilion.
'We are getting designers from Hollywood and from Bollywood to
design it,' he said, adding that the IR could use his design or do
its own. But the idea is to entice Hollywood and Bollywood stars to
entertain crowds here on a regular basis.
Dr Modi, 60, also owns a film production company and wants to
attract directors. Indian star Anil Kapoor has been lined up to act
in a movie to be shot here. The businessman, who relocated the
global headquarters of Mumbai-based Spice Corp to Singapore last
year, said he is here to stay.
Dr Modi said that his two new funds involve nuts and bolts
investment strategy and their share of risk-taking. One fund is a
special-situation real estate vehicle. This will target
half-completed projects here or projects that are delayed due to a
lack of funds.
'The world is going through a special situation...you need
people to take special risks,' he said. 'We are looking for 25 per
cent returns...high risks, high returns. We are not looking for
immediate returns. We are willing to wait two, three years.'
His team is assessing about 20 possible projects. Dr Modi said
they are keen on joint ventures, and Marina Bay Sands is certainly
on his radar screen. He also said he is discussing a deal to buy a
residential building in the eastern part of Singapore. The other
fund will focus on investment in entertainment.
'Singapore is very much the right place for me,' said Dr Modi.
It is cosmopolitan, secular, very secure, has a growing population,
well-connected.'
--ST