Qatar Investment Authority is a sovereign wealth fund of the Government of Qatar specializing in public equity, fixed income, private equity, startups, real estate, and alternative assets.
QIA strives to invest and manage funds assigned to it by the Supreme Council for Economic Affairs and Investment (SCEAI). The QIA is owned by the government of Qatar but reports to the SCEAI. Additionally, it is managed by a board of directors. Qatar’s State Audit Bureau is responsible for auditing the financial operations of the QIA.
The QIA does not have any mandated limitations on its investment universe and is able to invest in both domestic and foreign marketable securities, real property, real estate, alternative assets, private equity funds, and credit and fixed income securities. The QIA also employs derivatives in its investment strategy. Most of QIA’s investments are outside of Qatar.
Qatar Investment Authority is a major shareholder in Heathrow Airport, holding 20 percent of the airport.
Qatar’s sovereign-wealth fund is the third largest investor shareholder in Volkswagen.
QIA was one of the major financiers of a recent development known as CityCenterDC, as it invested $650 million into the project.
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It is not uncommon to see stories involving the Qatar Investment Authority at the top of financial news reports including sources such as Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal. A sampling of reports from 2019 alone:
May 2019 in USA
Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) today announces that it is leading an over $500 million equity financing in SoFi, a mobile-first personal finance company, alongside existing investors and SoFi CEO, Anthony Noto.
SoFi plans to use the funds to continue to invest in its rapid rate of innovation and growth, fulfilling its mission to help SoFi members achieve financial independence to realize their ambitions. The investment round values SoFi at $4.3 billion on a pre-money basis and further strengthens SoFi’s balance sheet to total capital of $2.3 billion.
April 2019 in New York City, USA
Crown Acquisitions (Crown) and Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) announced a co-investment deal to acquire prime retail properties in Fifth Avenue and Times Square in New York City.
Crown Acquisitions and QIA have co-invested to acquire a 24 percent stake each in a Vornado Realty Trust portfolio of prime retail properties, estimated at $5.6bn and more than 910,000 sq. ft., containing many of New York City’s high end shopping and most iconic leisure destinations. On Times Square, the portfolio of assets include one of New York’s most recognizable retail blocks and home to brands including MAC, Polo, Forever 21, and Disney, at 1540 Broadway, and the retail space at one of the world’s most popular touristic destinations, the Marriott Marquis at 1535 Broadway.
The world famous Fifth Avenue, New York City, has been synonymous with luxury retailing and home to many of the world’s leading brands for more than a century.
January 2019 in Africa
Airtel Africa Ltd, a subsidiary of Bharti Airtel (Airtel), on Wednesday said that Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) — the sovereign wealth fund of the State of Qatar — has agreed to invest $200 million through a primary equity issuance in the company.
The proceeds will be used to further reduce Airtel Africa’s existing net debt, the company said in a statement.
The investment from QIA is in continuation of the recent $1.25-billion investment by six leading global investors including Warburg Pincus, Temasek, Singtel and SoftBank Group International and others.
The QIA was founded in 2005 and is based in Doha, Qatar with additional offices in Mumbai, India; New Delhi, India; New York, United States; and Beijing, China.
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