Israeli businessman Teddy Sagi has purchased
the Camden Market Complex for over £400 million (about NIS 2.3 billion).As revealed
yesterday on the "Calcalist" website, Sagi purchased the prestigious complex from businessmen Richard Caring and Bebo Kobo after a year and a half
of negotiations.Camden market is considered as one of the most
popular tourist destinations in London, with some 40 million visitors every
year. The complex includes shops, art and antique galleries and businesses. Asone
of the city's leading icons,it attracts many technology companies and startups,
and includes a 100,000 sqm Google location and an MTV headquarters.
Kobo has held half of the rights to the complex
for the past 20 years, whereas Caring purchased his share in 2005 with a group
of investors.Sagiheld separate negotiations with Kobo and his partners.Sagi, who has made his fortune from online
gambling sites, is expected to invest an additional £200 million in developing
the area. Along with renovating the existing complex, Sagi plans to build a new
complex, to be ready in early 2018. Sprawling over 55,000 sqm, the new complex will
include a 15,000 sqm commercial area, 170 apartments, three large public areas
and an elementary school – to be built by September 2016.
In conversations with close associates, Sagihas
estimated that once development is completed, it will be possible to sell the
project for over £1 billion. Early this month, Sagi sold shares of Playtech,
his gambling software company,for £326 million (NIS 1.9 billion). Additionally,
he recently sold shares of B Communications (controlled by ShaulElkovitch). Sagi (42), who resides in London, thanked Bebo
Kobo yesterday for "choosing me as his successor in this amazing project.
We see incredible tourism and business potential in
Camden Market. We intend to find similar locations around the world and take
part in their development as well".
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