Distress funds eye more direct loans to Chinese companies

Investors spot opening as yields rise and businesses try to recover from virus

20200504 Business District

A pedestrian in the Lujiazui financial district in Shanghai in March. Firms usually known as distressed debt investors are now stepping up lending in China. © Reuters

NARAYANAN SOMASUNDARAM, Nikkei Asian Review chief banking and financial correspondent

HONG KONG -- When Heneng Group, a Chinese property developer, needed a $46 million loan to develop some residential land recently it did not turn to a bank -- but to a fund manager.

InfraRedNF Investment Advisers, which lent money to Heneng, is one of a number of money managers and distressed debt investors that see opportunities from the coronavirus pandemic, beyond the chance to snap up some of China's $1.5 trillion in bad debt.

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored ContentThis content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.