Private Equity Advisory

Demonstrated consistent leadership in transactions involving financial sponsors

Highlights

  • Advised on over 25 successful transactions with a cumulative value of over US$2.5 bn over the past 4 years
  • Instrumental in getting several leading funds to make their first investment into India

Formed in 2005, the Financial Sponsors Group (FSG) provides the full suite of investment banking advisory & execution services to leading global & domestic private equity, sovereign, venture, buyout, mezzanine and hedge fund clients. Primarily, FSG helps its clients identify, evaluate and tap investment & exit opportunities, while leading all aspects of deal structuring and negotiations (‘buyside advisory’). The team also provides independent advisory services to unlisted & listed companies looking to raise capital from funds (‘sellside advisory’).

FSG is a trusted advisor to most leading funds investing into India and takes a relationship rather than a deal specific approach to building and nurturing its relationships. The team also helps its fund clients & corporates leverage the vast sector & technical product expertise of the wider Kotak Investment Banking and Kotak Group platform.

Key Recent Deals

Kotak Investment Banking has worked with some of the leading names in private equity.

  • The Mobile Store: In 2010, Exclusive advisor for private placement of shares to IL&FS Private Equity, US$ 22 mn
  • Keystone Realtors (‘Rustomjee’): In 2009, Financial advisor for entity level private equity by Sun Apollo India Real Estate, US$ 60 mn
  • FIITJEE: In 2009, Exclusive advisor for private placement of shares to Matrix Partners, US$ 20 mn
  • Mahindra & Mahindra: In 2008, Exclusive advisor for private placement of 3.68% stake to Goldman Sachs, US$ 175 mn
  • Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services: In 2008, Exclusive advisor for preferential allotment to TPG Axon Capital and Standard Chartered Private Equity, US$ 104 mn
  • Allcargo Global Logistics: In 2008, Financial advisor for investment by the Blackstone Group, US$ 80 mn

Previous Deals

  • Punj Lloyd: In 2007, Joint Book Runner for QIP (subscription by blue-chip PE investors), US$ 200 mn
  • Goldman Sachs: In 2007, Exclusive Advisor for majority buyout transaction in Sigma Electric, US$ 172 mn
  • Gokaldas Exports: In 2007, Exclusive Advisor for acquisition of controlling stake in Gokaldas Exports by Blackstone and Manager to the related Open Offer, US$ 165 mn
  • Oberoi Constructions: In 2007, Exclusive Advisor for largest apex level real estate transaction - Investment by Morgan Stanley Real Estate, US$ 152 mn
  • Nagarjuna Construction Company: In 2007, Exclusive Advisor for Private Placement to Blackstone, US$ 150 mn
  • CAMS: In 2007, Exclusive Advisor for sale of part equity stake to Advent International
  • Apollo Hospitals: In 2007, Exclusive Advisor for Preferential Allotment to Apax Partners, marking the entry of Apax Partners in India, US$ 104 mn
  • Divyasree: In 2007, Financial Advisor for acquisition of minority stake by TPG-Axon, US$ 104 mn
  • Aster Teleservices: In 2007, Exclusive Advisor for private placement of minority stake to Jacob Ballas and New Silk Route, US$ 59 mn
  • Aster Infrastructure: In 2007, Exclusive Advisor for private placement of majority stake to New Silk Route in a buyout transaction, US$ 57 mn
  • Luminous: In 2007, Exclusive Advisor for acquisition of minority stake by CLSA Capital Partners, US$ 20 mn
  • INX Media: In 2007, Exclusive Advisor for Private Equity Placement to Temasek, New Silk Route, New Vernon, Kotak and SREI
  • INX News: In 2007, Exclusive Advisor for Private Equity Placement to multiple investors
  • Sanghvi Movers: In 2007, Transaction Advisor for negotiated PIPE deal by CLSA Capital Partners, US$ 16 mn
  • Mantri Developers: In 2006, Exclusive Advisor for first apex level real estate transaction - Investment by Morgan Stanley Real Estate, US$ 68 mn
  • Vimta Labs: In 2006, Exclusive Advisor for private placement by five global investors, US$ 17 mn
  • SAIF Partners: In 2006, Exclusive Advisor for a negotiated PIPE deal in Jindal Poly Films, US$ 13 mn
  • SAIF Partners: In 2006, Exclusive Advisor for investment in Just Dial, US$ 12 mn
  • Hindustan Motors: In 2005, Exclusive Financial Advisor for 30% stake sale in component business to Actis, US$ 98 mn
  • Warburg Pincus: In 2002, Transaction Advisor for acquisition of 5.33% stake in Satyam, US$ 75 mn
  • General Atlantic Partners & Citigroup: In 2002, Transaction Advisor for investment in Daksh, US$ 23 mn
Service Offerings
  • Private Placements in Unlisted Companies
  • Private Placements in Listed Companies
  • Buyouts
  • Pre-IPO Placements
  • Secondary (on-market) Sales/ Purchases
  • Mezzanine Financing
 

Team Leader

Joined Kotak Group in 1995. Has worked in diverse areas such as private equity, capital markets and M&A.

Main clients include Bain Capital, The Blackstone Group, The Carlyle Group, Warburg Pincus, Temasek, TPG Capital, M&M, Apollo Hospitals, HCL Technologies, Hughes Software, and Patni Computers.

Helped establish Kotak as the dominant capital market player in the technology sector. Was instrumental in setting up the Financial Sponsors Group in 2005.

Received his MBA from IIM Bangalore and BTech from IIT Madras

Leadership team