South Asia
Baring, Sequoia invest $29m in Manappuram
Baring Private Equity Partners India and Sequoia Capital India have invested INR1.3 billion ($29 million) to increase their stake in Manappuram Finance, a non-bank financial company (NBFC) specializing in loans based on gold.
Lilliput founder says L Capital has submitted bid
Lilliput Kidswear’s founder and managing director claims to have received an offer for the struggling business from L Capital, the private equity arm of luxury goods giant LVMH. A sale would facilitate the exit of Bain Capital and TPG Capital.
Everstone in talks with Indian spa salon operator
Everstone Capital is negotiating the purchase of a majority stake in Indian spa salon chain You Look Great (YLG). Helion Venture Partners, an existing investor in the company, is also participating in the talks.
TVS, IFC back Dunar Foods with $25m
TVS Capital and International Finance Corp. (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, have invested INR1.24 billion ($25 million) for a minority stake in Indian basmati rice supplier Dunar Foods.
Khazanah exits India's Yes Bank
Malaysian sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional has sold the 4.2% stake it acquired from ChrysCapital and other investors in India’s Yes Bank for INR5.3 billion ($106 million).
Providence buys Hathway Cable stake
US-based private equity firm Providence Equity Advisors has jointly invested INR3.58 billion (US$71.36 million) with Macquarie Bank for a 17.3% stake in India’s Hathway Cable & Datacom.
Warburg Pincus, IFC commit $50m to Au Financiers
Warburg Pincus and International Finance Corp. (IFC) have jointly invested $50 million in Au Financiers, an Indian non-banking finance company. IFC’s participation means its stake in the company will remain the same, while Motilal Oswal Private Equity,...
ADIA to seek direct deals in India's property sector
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) plans to make direct investments into Indian real estate rather than operate through third-party private equity and property fund managers.
Kotak, ICICI, Intel-backed MCX makes solid debut
Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX), the first Indian exchange to get listed, had a strong debut on Friday, with its shares closing up 26% on the Bombay Stock Exchange.
Craftsman Automation seeks $20m from PE investors
Coimbatore-based auto component manufacturer Craftsman Automation is in talks with private equity investors to raise a corpus worth between INR850 million and INRI billion.
Morgan Stanley invests $90m in Mumbai project
Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investment (MSREI), the real estate fund of global investment bank Morgan Stanley, has invested in a $90 million Indian realty project owned by Sheth Developers.
India Venture Advisors backs drugs manufacturer
India Venture Advisors, the healthcare and life sciences-focused private equity fund founded by Ajay Piramal and former State Bank of India (SBI) chairman A K Purwar, has invested INR700 million ($13.8 million) in drug manufacturer Vardhman Chemtech....
Indian VC's social imperative
Social venture capital funds have sprung up in India under the notion that they can support marginalized communities and achieve financial returns. Time will tell if this is possible.
Warburg Pincus and GA in talks to invest $200m in Aegis
US-based Warburg Pincus and General Atlantic (GA) are in talks to invest as much as $200 million for a stake in Aegis, the IT services arm of Indian industrial conglomerate Essar Group.
Ascent invests $10m in Indian online grocery store
Ascent capital has committed $10 million to a series A funding round for Bigbasket.com, an Indian online grocery store. The transaction is said to be the largest ever Series A round for an e-commerce company as well as the first institutional investment...
L Capital to invest $150m in Raymond Apparel - report
L Capital Asia, the private equity arm of LVMH, the world's largest luxury goods group, is said to be in talks to invest INR7.5 billion ($150 million) in Indian clothes company Raymond Apparel.
VC-backed Komli Media bolts on Admax
Komli Media, the Indian media technology company backed by Norwest Venture Partners, has completed the bolt-on acquisition of digital media network.Admax.
Gaja backs Indian auto sales network
Gaja Capital Partners has committed INR850 million ($17.3 million) to Carnation Auto, India’s largest independent multi-brand auto sales and service network. The capital will be used to consolidate Carnation’s service business and expand its secondhand...
Avigo-backed Spykar on the block
Avigo Capital Partners has put Spykar Lifestyle up for sale. The private equity firm, which targets investments in small- and medium-sized enterprises, acquired a 60% stake in the Indian apparel chain less than a year ago.
Premji invests $25m in Fabindia
Premji Invest, the $1 billion private equity vehicle backed by Wipro Group chairman Azim Premji, has invested INR1-1.25 billion ($20-25 million) for a 7% stake in Indian fashion company Fabindia.
Accel and Tiger Global boost Zansaar with $6m
Accel Partners and Tiger Global have invested $6 million in Bangalore-based e-commerce start-up Zansaar.com to support the brand’s organic growth.
JSM Corp seeks $30m in PE funding
JSM Corp., the Indian franchisee for Hard Rock Café, California Pizza Kitchen and Trader Vic’s, is hoping to raise INR1.2-1.5 billion ($24 million -$30 million) from private equity investors.
Indiareit to launch $500m India fund
Indiareit Fund Advisors, a real estate investor backed by Indian entrepreneur Ajay Piramal, is planning to launch a $500 million offshore fund that will invest in domestic development projects.
Citigroup sells $1.9b stake in Carlyle-backed HDFC
Citigroup has sold its 9.85% stake in India’s largest mortgage lender Housing Development Finance Corp (HDFC) for $1.9 billion. The deal comes three weeks after The Carlyle Group sold part of its stake in the company for a 2x money multiple.

