Partners Group adds to India direct investment capabilities

Driver has been working in India private equity for more than 10 years, most recently at Arka Capital. The firm, set up by Rajesh Khanna, formerly managing director at Warburg Pincus, ceased operations late last year due to the difficult fundraising environment. Prior to joining Arka, Driver was responsible for India investments at Helix, a private equity firm backed by the US-based Culbro and Bloomingdale family offices.

Earlier in his career, Driver worked for J.P. Morgan's private equity teams in Singapore and Mumbai.

Commenting on Driver's appointment, Andreas Baumann, partner and co-head of Partners Group in Singapore, said: "His experience and extensive industry network will allow us to strengthen our investment activities in the Indian market which we believe offers attractive opportunities. As a firm, we intend to further grow our investment practice in the Asia-Pacific region and are convinced we will be able to take advantage of the current industry trends for the benefit of our clients."

Partners Group has made no secret of its desire to gain more exposure to direct investment globally. The firm notes in its most recent annual report that "direct and secondary investments offered the highest relative attractiveness during 2011 with over two-thirds of total investment activity in these two segments." Partners Group completed 40 direct deals during the period. The firm has been in Asia since 1999, during which time it has completed 19 direct investments and $1 billion in secondary transactions.

In India specifically, the firm is particularly interested in healthcare and education opportunities.

Earlier this year, Partners Group hired Kelvin Yu from Sequoia Capital China to focus on PE investment activities across the region, with a particular focus on direct investments. And then yesterday it announced the acquisition of Navis Capital Partners' majority stake in Trimco International Holdings.

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• Topics
• South Asia
• People
• LPs
• Partners Group
• India
• Appointments
• Direct investment