152
Singhing the African Song Words by NICOLETTE WATERFORD
A functional winery, a luxury spa and a boutique hotel. Delhi-based industrialist Analjit Singh’s latest acquisitions in the Franschhoek valley on the southern tip of Africa, South Africa, reveals his special relationship with this African country.
A
fter visiting Cape Town for the first time ever, Analjit Singh, founder and chairman of The Max India Group with interests in life insurance, health insurance and health care, felt a sense of belonging. Wanting to invest in something functional, he ended up taking a stake in the South African wine and hospitality industry, the very first Indian investment in this sector that includes the acquisition and amalgamation of three prominent farms in the Franschhoek valley and the development of a new luxury boutique hotel, spa, winery and wine tasting facility. This was also a first investment project in his personal capacity outside of India which clearly reflects in the name, the Afrikaans word Leeu (meaning lion), the Sanskrit derivation of Singh. For Singh, this is one of the rare investments in the consumer products space. The industrialist, whose flagship firm is into a range of businesses including healthcare, insurance, senior living and contract research, is also a private investor in Vodafone’s Indian telecom arm, but the bulk of his business interest revolves around the services sector. “I felt a gripping sense of belonging, of energy, a sense of place when I first saw this property in Franschhoek,” he recalls. “I am here out of choice. I was not born here. Neither was I married to someone from here. I am here because I want to be here.” His South African portfolio called Leeu Collection, the manifestation of Singh’s vision for sophisticated escapes and unique wineland experiences, currently comprises Leeu Estates, a 21-room five-star luxurious boutique hotel and winery in the Franschhoek valley, Leeu House, an exclusive and private five-star 12-room boutique hotel in the heart of Franschhoek village and
the boutique hotel, Le Quartier Français. Three historic farms, Dieu Donné, Klein Dassenberg and Von Ortloff were joined to create Leeu Estates, with its exquisite, restored 19th-century Manor House. These farms featured prominently in the traditions of the Franschhoek Valley, which has a fascinating history and a distinctly French ambience, having been settled by the French Huguenots in 1688. Leeu Collection is also a partner in Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines, which produces award-winning wines in Riebeek-Kasteel in the Swartland wine region some 80 kilometres north of Cape Town and at Leeu Estates. The latest acquisition to the Leeu Collection, a world renowned boutique hotel in the Franschhoek valley, Le Quartier Français (LQF), firmly establishes Singh’s footprint in the consumer product space and his determination to create something extraordinary in the beautiful Cape winelands. A place he now calls home. “South Africa is a beautiful country with the friendliest people, who have made me feel truly welcome. It has an unparalleled sense of peace. I love the people, the style, the gentle manner and a lot about being here. I feel welcome here, although the Cape Winelands is an international formal setting, to me it feels like home. I am excited about the great opportunities that have become available to me and look forward to learning and making a contribution, in particular to the country’s top notch wine industry.” “This latest acquisition makes me excited because I love to be part of creating something special. We are determined to create world-class experiences in a luxurious environment where the Cape winelands will feature prominently.”
153