Investments in India by PE Firms Strengthen Global Investor's Confidence

Investing in India has been a prime factor for the riseinstitutional and high net worth clients globally. UAE
of the Indian economy in terms of gross domesticnational Khaled al-Muhairy, the Dubai-based alternative
product (GDP) and vice-versa. Investment advisorsinvestments company, was also one of the first Gulf
who have been guiding investors on the prospects ofinvestment funds to embark on India as an
favourable investments in India are quite optimistic. Ininvestment destination during the pre-crisis period as
such a trend quite evident lately, the private equitythe Gulf looked forward to surplus petro funds for
(PE) and venture capital (VC) investments into Indiainvesting in India.
have been somewhat remarkable. This trend isFurther, PE players have invested more than US$ 300
further strengthening the confidence of all investorsmillion in companies related to food processing,
alike.agri-based sectors during January-June 2010, as per a
According to a recent report released by globalGrant Thorton report. In calendar year 2009, PE
consultancy Bain & Company, titled 'India PE Reportinvestments in these sectors were about US$ 398
2010', there is renewed confidence among the leadingmillion as against US$ 187 million in 2008 and US$ 4.3
global PE investors about the Indian market. Privatemillion in 2007, respectively.
equity and venture capital investments are projectedAll these indicators signal the vociferous favour that
to reach US$ 17 billion (around Rs 80,000 crore) thisIndia seems to have found from the PE investors.
year owing to some strong impetus received fromPrivate equity investments in India in May 2010 alone
strong economic growth in the country. As per agrew by almost 200 per cent as compared to the
study by Venture Intelligence, private equity firmscorresponding period last year. During the month of
have invested about US$ 2,364 million across 67May, financial services, materials and healthcare
deals during the quarter ended June 2010.segment were the most favoured sectors for PE
Funds focused on Indian equity are becomingfunding. Major PE investments during May were in
favourites with these global investors. Investmentcompanies like Avinja Properties, National Stock
firm, Evolvence Capital, which is based out Dubai,Exchange, Fortis Healthcare and Pegasus Assets
announced its plan on July 21, 2010, to launch its thirdReconstruction by PE firms such as Kohlberg Kravis
India-focussed fund - The Evolvence India Fund II -Roberts & Co (KKR), Temasek Holdings' and DE
targeting to attract a corpus of US$ 400 million fromShaw etc.