Peterson’s property arm is primarily focused on the Hong Kong and United Kingdom markets, but it also has interests in various other countries including China, Malaysia, Myanmar and Europe.
Since Peterson pursues an opportunistic approach, it adopts a mix of strategies to fit different risk profiles. Previous projects have included site assembly, land banking without planning, ground-up speculative development, refurbishment, forward funding, core long-term investments. Peterson's exposure in some cases has been indirect via engagement in asset-backed private lending.
Depending on the particular project and the partners it works with, Peterson may play either an active or passive role in managing each project. Peterson believes it is important to work with specialists in their respective fields to reap the maximum value from its projects. In Hong Kong, for example, it has entered into many joint ventures with well-respected blue chip developers for a number of residential projects.
For certain asset classes the team may also develop and invest in operation platforms. When Peterson decided to venture into the hotel industry in Hong Kong, it partnered with an experienced hotelier to establish Peterson's own hotel management company, Rhombus International Hotel Group. Initially formed to manage Peterson's own hotel assets, this company subsequently expanded its scope to include the management of third-party hotels. In the United Kingdom, Peterson has invested in a local homebuilder, Hadley Property Group, to implement its residential strategy; it has also become a partner in an opportunistic property fund, Queensgate Investments, focusing on special situation strategies.
Peterson Canada is a member of the Peterson Group which focuses primarily on real estate investment in Canada. More details are available at www.petersonbc.com.