PAG to buy 51% stake in Evergrande Property Services for $514 million

Asia-focused investment firm PAG has agreed to purchase a 51% stake in Evergrande Property Services Group for $514 million, as announced on Friday. This acquisition is part of liquidators' efforts to recover funds for creditors of debt-laden developer China Evergrande Group, which had received $46 billion in creditor claims. The deal follows a competitive auction run by the liquidators.

PAG will pay HK$4.03 billion for the stake, valuing the unit at approximately HK$9.04 billion. This is a 29% discount to Evergrande Property's closing price on Wednesday. The stock was suspended pending the announcement and dropped 13.5% after trading resumed.

Evergrande Property generates stable, recurring revenue from a diverse portfolio of managed properties across China. Taking control of the services unit will remove uncertainty related to the liquidation of China Evergrande and CEG Holdings, potentially strengthening market confidence. PAG will fund the acquisition with its own financing and equity, as well as pay 500 million yuan for certain taxes, transaction fees, and other liabilities of CEG Holdings.

The deal requires Chinese antitrust approval and can be terminated if conditions are not met by February 12, 2027. China Evergrande, once China's leading property developer, defaulted on most of its $300 billion in liabilities following Beijing's crackdown on the property sector six years ago.