Oak Stone Limited Says Blackstone Is Expediting Interest in India, Its Strongest Performer

HONG KONG–(BUSINESS WIRE)–India’s economic slowdown and credit crisis is generating a surge in demand for capital from beleaguered companies that will provide buyout opportunities for Blackstone Group Inc., in Asia’s third-largest economy says analysts from Oak Stone Limited.

“We are not taking a cautious stance of watch and wait. We will be taking a forward-leaning stance,” said Amit Dixit, Blackstone’s senior managing director in an interview in Mumbai on Wednesday. “India is the strongest performer in the world,” said Stephen Schwarzman, chief executive officer of Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset manager.

As a result of this, in the last 18 months, Blackstone has invested $6 billion in India. They are now scouting for opportunities as financiers and banks are focusing on recovering from a crisis that commenced with the collapse of a significant infrastructure financier in 2018 therefore slowing down lending in the process, reported James Burnley, Head of Wealth Management at Oak Stone Limited.

Despite the Reserve Bank of India lowering lending costs five times last year, Central bank data records show that loan growth dropped to more than a two-year low in February amid a waning in consumer demand for an economy that is set for its weakest expansion in 11 years.

“When growth slows down, your credit off-take goes down, and with sales plummeting at corporates, this could affect their behaviour in terms of the repayment of loans,” commented Michael Pearson, Head of Corporate Equities at Oak Stone Limited as the world’s highest bad-loan ratio has hindered lending.

In India, Blackstone, has acquired a shadow bank, a manufacturer of auto parts and a packaging material company. They also operate three other businesses, including private equity, real estate and tactical enterprise opportunities. Blackstone, who was the first to sell investment units in a real estate trust last year, and are now the largest owner of commercial real estate in India.

“The underlying theme of a slowdown in the economy combined with the credit crisis has led to this acceleration” reported Oak Stone Limited’s Michael Pearson, adding, “Blackstone sees buyout opportunities increasing across the world as the coronavirus outbreak spooks financial markets and damages company valuations.”

About Oak Stone Limited

Oak Stone Limited was established in late 2014 within the financial heart of Hong Kong. The company has since grown into a leading wealth management company in the Asia-pacific region, serving both individual clients and institutions.

Contacts

Yuan Cui, Head of Research & Analysis

yuan.cui@oakstonemanagement.com
Oak Stone Limited, 34F Wu Chung House,

213 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong