Equity International Management, LLC (Equity International), a private equity firm, announced the sale of its remaining stake in SAMHI Hotels Limited (SAMHI), a hotel ownership and asset management platform in India with operating brands including Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield by Marriott, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt Place, Sheraton and Holiday Inn Express by IHG. The company’s shares are listed on the BSE Limited (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE) under the ticker symbol SAMHI.
Equity International made its first investment in SAMHI in 2011 and has been its largest shareholder for most of its history. Blue Chandra Pte. Ltd. (Blue Chandra), an affiliate company of Equity International, sold approximately 49.8% of its equity holdings in the company in conjunction with SAMHI’s Initial Public Offering in September 2023. In March 2024, Blue Chandra sold an additional 27.0% of its initial interest in SAMHI, retaining 8,721,414 shares. The remaining 23.2% of shares were sold on 29 April 2025.
SAMHI has evolved from a business plan at the time of Equity International’s initial investment to a robust portfolio of 34 hotels (with 3 under development), comprising over 5,500 keys (including 700 under development) across 13 cities in India. Equity International recognised SAMHI as a compelling investment opportunity, driven by India’s economic growth, favourable demographics, and urbanisation, all of which fuel demand in the travel and tourism sector. SAMHI’s strategy of scaling its hospitality platform under international brands has set it apart from regional competitors.
Ashish Jakhanwala, Chairman, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of SAMHI, said, "Equity International has been an invaluable long-term partner that helped guide SAMHI’s growth and accelerate the expansion of our platform."
Tom Heneghan, CEO of Equity International, said, "Equity International and Sam Zell recognized Ashish and the SAMHI team as high-quality partners with impressive prior experience in the hospitality sector. This sale marks the full exit of Equity International’s interest in the company, which is part of our ongoing portfolio management activity and disciplined monetization philosophy. We wish the SAMHI team success in their future endeavours."
