Olympus Unveils Asian Mid-Market Lending Unit

Olympus Capital Holdings Asia has launched a new structured lending business.

The Hong Kong-based private equity firm's OCA Credit unit will focus on mid-sized companies in Asia, the firm said yesterday, offering financing to businesses unable to secure it from banks but unwilling to seek private-equity capital. Geographically, OCA will target companies in Southeast Asia, India and Australia.

Loans from OCA will range from US$20 million to US$100 million, with maturities of between two and three years.

Olympus has hired former Barclays banker Nitish Agarwal to serve as chief investment officer of OCA Credit, based in Singapore, and Shearwater Capital founder and former Fortress Investment Group Australia chief Gary Stead as managing director. Stead will remain based in Australia.