Chinese investment giant plots 1bn European charge

Headed by managing director Roberto Varandas,COS Capital Europe will invest on behalf of the wider COS Capital group across the office, residential, industrial, distribution, logistics and retail sectors. The initial focus will be on the London and UK market, broadening out to include other European countries over time.

With a head office in Beijing, COS Capital is backed by China Orient Asset Management, one of four national asset management companies, and Sunshine Insurance, the 8th largest insurance group in China with over $85bn (￡70bn) of assets under

management.

Varandas said: “In the near term, Brexit uncertainty presents a challenge but also an opportunity. We believe in the long-term potential for the region as a whole, and the attractive, risk-adjusted opportunities it presents”.

Lijian Chen, chief executive of COS Capital, added the group’s long term aim was for the European operation to match the investment levels in the US, where the group has $4.6bn assets under management.

Chen said: “To further grow our worldwide business, we plan to build up the scope and scale of investments in Europe that match what we have already achieved in the US, by helping investors diversify their real estate exposure globally.”