"We don't want to be operators or developers; we don't want anypart of the operation," says Singer, who formed Eastbridge Al Malin partnership with other real estate and energy executive andKuwait-based Al Mal Investment Co. "We want to be the financecompany that an owner or acquirer comes to because they need newequity. My view also is that local owners and operators tend tobest understand the value of any asset and the opportunities, sowhy go compete with them directly?"

With its headquarters in New York City, Eastbridge Al Mal ispursuing a strategy of working with owners in partnerships that candevelop over time, Singer tells GlobeSt.com. "Unlike many of thetypical funds that have a lot of money on the sidelines for realestate right now, we don't want to be the entity that stands on itsown equity to either restructure a deal or buy a deal," he says."We want to do it with partners and we want to do it with leadpartners."

Singer says that in devising Eastbridge Al Mal's business model,"we've tried to structure how we make our investments so that wedon't always take the first risk. Hopefully, the owner is going toput in some new equity and take the first risk, so if the marketdoes go down a little, we're cushioned even further. In the end, webelieve that we're investing with strong owners and assets, so thateven if it does go down a little more, there will be a spring-backeffect."