Paul Arithi 
Fusion Capital Limited has raised over Kes. 800 Million (USD 8 Million) towards completion of Greenwood City Mall,in Meru County.
Fusion had previously structured the financing of the mall as a Development Real Estate Investment Trust (D-Reit)which achieved a 38% subscription against the set threshold of 50% subscription, but the Shareholders of Meru Greenwood Park dropped the DREIT in favor of private funding for the development. The construction of the mall has now fully been funded privately by investors from United Kingdom and Finland to a tune of USD. 8 Million of new cash as well as local land partners.
Speaking at the Press Conference, Fusion Group’s Chief Executive, Daniel Kamau stated- “We have a first mover advantage in Meru and hence the decision to proceed with the circa 12,000 sqm shopping mall which we believe is going to be a destination mall for the towns surrounding Meru and for the Mt. Kenya East region. We are already in discussion with local and international brands looking to set up shop and as we speak, we are already at 36% occupancy and on track to achieve full occupancy by the time the mall opens for business.”
“All the ingredients of the retail success are present at the mall: an exceptional location, unique architecture and ambience, visitors have access to a wide range of shopping, entertainment and dining choices.” – Said Cecilia Wahinya, from Triad Architects, who are the lead architects of Meru Greenwood City Mall.
Fusion Investment Management, a subsidiary of Fusion Group that manages both local and international funds raised this funding of the mall purely through an equity arrangement, thereby de-risking the investment, making it safe for shareholders to hold it in the short and long term. “The intention is to exit when the income from the mall development has stabilized and can exit at between 8-10% capitalization rate,” said Michael Kimondo, Executive Director,Fusion Investment Management. Present at the Press Conference was the Meru County Government CEC for Trade, Investment, Industrialization, Tourism, and Cooperatives, Mr. Maingi Mugambi.
He reiterated on the need for companies to tap into the opportunities that are available in counties in order to achieve equitable growth across the country. “As a county government, we have created an enabling environment for commercial and residential real estate investment which is adequately complemented by surrounding infrastructure such as the planned LAPSSET corridor project which traverses the county,” said the CEC.
Meru Greenwood City Mall is part of a mixed use development complex offering retail spaces, banking halls, eateries, play spaces, and office spaces strategically located at the edge of Meru Town.Meru County is in the Central Region of Kenya, and is home to a population of over 1.5 million people.Meru shares its borders with five other counties: Isiolo to the North, Nyeri to the South West,Tharaka Nithi to the South West and Laikipia to the West making it an attractive business hub in the Mount Kenya region. The mall is expected to be a destination mall serving Meru and neighbouring towns.
“We believe our tenants will achieve reasonable trades due to the location of the mall and the fact that there is no competition. The mall will immensely change the face of Meru Town while at the same time offering professionals and business people well designed spaces to do business from,” said Nelly Mbugua, a director at Citiscape Valuers and Estate Agents.
