Latest news with #BrandonLewis
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Charles Group, Patel Family Office Sign $1 Billion Real Estate Pact at Global Wealth Conference
LONDON, June 18, 2025 - In a landmark move aimed at bridging traditional real estate with emerging opportunities in infrastructure, Charles Group, one of India's fastest-growing diversified conglomerates, signed a $1 billion strategic agreement with the U.S.- based Patel Family Office during the Global Wealth Conference 2025, hosted by the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute (SWFI) at London's historic Mansion House. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was formally exchanged in the Egyptian Hall, witnessed by more than 40 global asset allocators, including over 20 sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) representing $5 trillion in capital. The signing took place in the presence of Lord Dominic Johnson of Lainston CBE, Former Minister of Investment, and Rt. Sir Brandon Lewis CBE, Former UK Cabinet Minister and Board Member, VEON. The deal marks the first transaction announced at this year's GWC, a milestone that organizers say signals how sovereign allocators and private capital are aligning around digitally-native, real-world asset (RWA) strategies. Under the partnership, the firms will co-develop a digital investment platform focused on real estate and infrastructure assets across UK, GCC, India and the SAARC region, with long-term plans to scale globally and explore strategic business investment opportunities in this space. The Technology infrastructure will be provided by a U.S. based company. 'This collaboration opens a new frontier for Indian-origin institutions to lead in the digital revolution,' said Jose Charles Martin, Chairman and Managing Director of Charles Group. 'We're committed to making real-world assets more accessible, transparent, and scalable.' 'This partnership exemplifies how family capital can drive innovation that's both inclusive and institutional-grade,' added Dipika Patel, Chairwoman of Patel Family Office.'Real estate is one of the most powerful tools of nation-building,' said Kim Diamond. The agreement outlines a multi-pronged framework including: ● A pipeline of real estate and hospitality projects in India and other emerging markets ● The development of compliant, cross-border investment opportunities. Regulatory coordination across the UK, GCC, and SAARC jurisdictions ● Tailored access channels for SWFs, family offices, and qualified institutional buyers. The MoU was commemorated in a group photograph (from right to left) featuring Lord Dominic Johnson of Lainston CBE (Former Minister of Investment), Rt. Sir Brandon Lewis CBE (Former UK Cabinet Minister and Board Member, VEON), Dipika Patel (Chairwoman of Patel Family Office), Jose Charles Martin (Chairman and Managing Director of Charles Group), Bhupesh Nagarajan (Chairman, Indira Group & Sr. MD, SWFI Middle East), and Kim Diamond.'This is the kind of initiative we envisioned when we called for London to be the home of trusted digital innovation,' said Sir Brandon Lewis. 'A bold step in the right direction.''The future of capital is being written here - on-purpose, and on a global stage,' Lord Johnson added. For Charles Group, the deal marks its formal global debut, signaling a new phase in the firm's evolution from industrial powerhouse to capital allocator. For the Patel Family Office, it affirms their growing role in shaping infrastructure and real estate investment frameworks. For further information, please contact: ● Charles Group: info@ ● Patel Family Office: admin@ About the Institutions: Connect Initiative)
Business Standard
09-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Charles Group, Patel Family Office Sign $1 Billion Real Estate Pact at Global Wealth Conference
LONDON, June 18, 2025 - In a landmark move aimed at bridging traditional real estate with emerging opportunities in infrastructure, Charles Group, one of India's fastest-growing diversified conglomerates, signed a $1 billion strategic agreement with the U.S.- based Patel Family Office during the Global Wealth Conference 2025, hosted by the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute (SWFI) at London's historic Mansion House. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was formally exchanged in the Egyptian Hall, witnessed by more than 40 global asset allocators, including over 20 sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) representing $5 trillion in capital. The signing took place in the presence of Lord Dominic Johnson of Lainston CBE, Former Minister of Investment, and Rt. Sir Brandon Lewis CBE, Former UK Cabinet Minister and Board Member, VEON. The deal marks the first transaction announced at this year's GWC, a milestone that organizers say signals how sovereign allocators and private capital are aligning around digitally-native, real-world asset (RWA) strategies. Under the partnership, the firms will co-develop a digital investment platform focused on real estate and infrastructure assets across UK, GCC, India and the SAARC region, with long-term plans to scale globally and explore strategic business investment opportunities in this space. The Technology infrastructure will be provided by a U.S. based company. This collaboration opens a new frontier for Indian-origin institutions to lead in the digital revolution, said Jose Charles Martin, Chairman and Managing Director of Charles Group. We're committed to making real-world assets more accessible, transparent, and scalable. This partnership exemplifies how family capital can drive innovation that's both inclusive and institutional-grade, added Dipika Patel, Chairwoman of Patel Family Office. Real estate is one of the most powerful tools of nation-building, said Kim Diamond. The agreement outlines a multi-pronged framework including: A pipeline of real estate and hospitality projects in India and other emerging markets The development of compliant, cross-border investment opportunities. Regulatory coordination across the UK, GCC, and SAARC jurisdictions Tailored access channels for SWFs, family offices, and qualified institutional buyers. The MoU was commemorated in a group photograph ( from right to left) featuring Lord Dominic Johnson of Lainston CBE (Former Minister of Investment), Rt. Sir Brandon Lewis CBE (Former UK Cabinet Minister and Board Member, VEON), Dipika Patel (Chairwoman of Patel Family Office), Jose Charles Martin (Chairman and Managing Director of Charles Group), Bhupesh Nagarajan (Chairman, Indira Group & Sr. MD, SWFI Middle East), and Kim Diamond. This is the kind of initiative we envisioned when we called for London to be the home of trusted digital innovation,' said Sir Brandon Lewis. 'A bold step in the right direction. The future of capital is being written here - on-purpose, and on a global stage, Lord Johnson added. For Charles Group, the deal marks its formal global debut, signaling a new phase in the firm's evolution from industrial powerhouse to capital allocator. For the Patel Family Office, it affirms their growing role in shaping infrastructure and real estate investment frameworks. For further information, please contact: About the Institutions:
BBC News
12-03-2025
- BBC News
Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft bridges in line for industry award
They helped forge an unlikely kinship between two coastal towns desperate to see traffic flowing freely on their much-anticipated third river crossings. Now the friendly rivalry between Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft has been restored as both of their bascule bridges, which opened last year, go head-to-head for an industry award. The BBC takes a look at both constructions ahead of what could be their crowning moment. Why were the bridges needed? The £121m Herring Bridge was designed to relieve pressure on Great Yarmouth's Haven and Breydon bridges, especially during the peak tourist resort is seen as a gateway to the Norfolk Broads and the North Sea, which serves Britain's oil, gas and renewables links the port area with the A47 - the main road carrying traffic to the Midlands and onwards to the north of Lowestoft, there had been calls for a third river crossing for many decades and plans for the bridge were approved in with its Norfolk cousin, the purpose of the £145m Gull Wing Bridge is to reduce traffic congestion in the area and shorten journey times. What is so special about the bridges? A bascule bridge is made up of one or two movable spans, which pivot upward to allow river traffic to pass. The word 'bascule' means see-saw in Gull Wing Bridge is the largest of its kind in the world, sitting clear of the highest tide by 12m (39ft), with the bascule span 39.5m (130ft) long, 22m (72ft) wide and 35m (115ft) leader of the Conservative-controlled Suffolk County Council, Matthew Hicks, said Gull Wing Bridge would stand as an "iconic new landmark" for the over in Great Yarmouth, the then Conservative MP for the town, Brandon Lewis, heralded the Herring Bridge as "genuinely iconic and game changing".The double-leaf bascule bridge opens in the middle to allow river traffic taller than 4.5m (15ft) was made in two halves by a specialist firm in Belgium, before being transported by sea and up the River Yare to be installed. Was it all plain sailing? Both bridges had been on the drawing board for many years before they came to fruition and finally opened in Herring bridge was first put forward by Norfolk County Council in 2016, with construction starting in January 2020. The whole process, from design, planning and consent, took about seven faced numerous setbacks and delays, including when a World War Two bomb was discovered, and a potential burrow of voles was found near the then had to shut for six days soon after its opening in February last year over safety concerns. Things had not been any easier over the county border in Lowestoft, which saw its new bridge open seven months later than Great was under construction from 2021 and finally opened in September. The whole idea of a third river crossing was reportedly first mooted in faced setbacks over safety works, and when a delivery was delayed. Both bridges had been expected to open in 2023. What's the award? Norfolk and Suffolk have the champagne on ice for the The Bridges Awards on are both nominated for "Bridges Design and Construction Award", for projects over £ will bridges be burned or built between the Norfolk/Suffolk rival resorts?Perhaps neither - also in the running is a £16m walking and cycling bridge over the River Severn Worcester. Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks, BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk, BBC Northamptonshire or BBC Suffolk.
