ADIA - VC, Private Equity and Real Estate

Abu Dhabi and Qatar Sovereign wealth funds are front-runners to acquire 42 U.K.-based Marriott hotels for around $1 billion USD - the Wall Street Journal is reporting.

Press reports Sunday said the Qatar Investment Authority, which is working on a deal with Blue Coast, an Indian hotels chain, had outbid the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, but that the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority believed it could execute the deal more quickly. The auction, which has been running for several months, is expected to conclude in the coming weeks.

Qatar Investment Authority is listed in the Middle East Investors Directory with the code BD44. ADIA is listed with the code BD43.

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority through its Infinity Investments has acquired a 9.9 per cent stake in Britain's biggest water utility.

It has bought the stake in Kemble Water Holdings, the parent of Thames Water. The purchase price is not disclosed, but Kemble had acquired Thames Water in 2006 for 8 billion pounds ($12.50 billion). As DubaiBeat reported earlier, Britain has recently launched an effort to raise capital for infrastructure investment from Middle Eastern investors.

ADIA is listed in the Middle East Investors Directory with the code BD43.

More details follows from the Reuters

Infinity Investments SA, a subsidiary of the the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), has acquired stake in a European natural gas transport venture for $800 million.

Norwegian energy firm Statoil has agreed to sell a 24.1 percent stake in a European natural gas transport venture to a group including Infinity Investments and the German insurer Allianz for $3.25 billion - Reuters is reporting.

ADIA is listed in the Middle East Investors Directory with the code BD43.

More details follows from Reuters