July float for Indian investment play
Article Date: Jun 18 2007Early July will see first dealings in the first UK quoted company formed for the purpose of investing in India’s $50bn (£25bn) distressed assets sector.
Broker Evolution is helping Isle of Man-registered Dhir India raise up to £55m through a placing, marketing the newcomer as an income and capital growth play offering Western fund managers exposure to Indian non-performing assets (NPAs).
Much of India’s NPA stock consists of companies with significant assets and business fundamentals that find themselves over-leveraged and in hock to creditors – distress was created during a period of high interest rates and poor industrial growth in India in the 1990s which hit a large number of Indian companies despite their strong assets and solid fundamentals.
Tapping into management’s experience in the Indian distressed assets market and local knowledge, the strategy is to fully invest float proceeds within 15 months, resolving target company debt problems and in many cases turning businesses around, making substantial profits on exit.
Annualised returns of 25% to 30% are being targeted through four types of investment – turnarounds, company or asset sales, break-ups and the sale of assets, and bridge financing. To mitigate risk, investments related to any one single company will not exceed £7.5m.
In contrast to the big Indian banks and global investment buyers focused on large deals, Dhir will focus on SME transactions, an area where the traditional lenders won’t venture. Investment adviser Shiva Consultants, run by experienced corporate lawyer, turnaround expert and non-executive director Alok Dhir, is responsible for sourcing distressed assets for the group. Watch this space for developments.
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