Equity International appoints Asia head – exclusive

The Sam Zell-led private equity real estate firm has appointed former Citi executive Ravi Hansoty to drive investments in Asia-Pacific.

Equity International, a Chicago-based private equity real estate firm founded by property mogul Sam Zell, has appointed Ravi Hansoty to lead the firm’s Asia Pacific operations.

Hansoty is understood to have come on board last year as Equity International’s senior vice president, according to information on the company website.

Based in Chicago, he is part of a team focusing on expanding the firm’s exposure in the region mainly via the strategy of investing in operating companies.

Hansoty was previously based in Hong Kong where he was the managing partner of Cedar Figs Capital Partners, an Asia-focused advisory firm he set up in 2010. PERE understands that the firm has now been dissolved.

He has also worked with Citi Property Investors in many senior roles, including managing a real estate portfolio of over $1 billion as head of the firm’s Asia Pacific team, and earlier as country head and chief investment officer for Citi Property Investors’ India operations.

In Asia, Equity International’s investments include partial interests in the Singapore-based logistics firm Redwood Group, and SAMHI Hotels, a Gurgaon-headquartered Indian hospitality development and investment company. Earlier this week, SAMHI Hotels received an investment of INR 4.41 billion ($66 million; €61.4 million) by the New York-headquartered investment bank Goldman Sachs for an undisclosed stake.