L Catterton to raise $600 million India focused fund
MUMBAI: Private equity (PE) firm L Catterton backed by French luxury brand LVMH is raising a $600 million India-focused fund as it looks to tap into opportunities in a growing market where a spate of new-age firms are building consumer focused brands and services.
International Finance Corporation (IFC), a World Bank affiliate has proposed to invest up to $30 million in the fund alongside an additional co-investment of up to $30 million, it said in a recent disclosure. L Catterton did not respond to queries.
L Catterton will invest in seven to nine companies through the fund, largely mid-sized and operating in the consumer space with cheque sizes ranging from $25-$150 million.
The fund will back companies building in the food and beverages, retail and restaurants, consumer services (including healthcare) spaces besides funding up and coming consumer brands. The PE firm has traditionally been consumer focused and has made more than 275 investments globally.
Its India portfolio includes a mix of startups such as Sugar Cosmetics, Drools and bigger players such as Jio Platforms.
L Catterton which had been routing its investments in India through Asia fund last year roped in former Hindustan Unilever (HUL) chief executive officer Sanjiv Mehta to build a new investment vehicle for the India market.
The PE firm's Asia platform formed a new joint venture partnership with Mehta for the same.
Several PE and VC (venture capital) investors have been raising funds for the India market even as deployment of large cheques have so far been tepid amid evolving global macro developments. Last month, homegrown investment firm A91 Partners closed a $665 million fund while disclosure made by VC firm Accel earlier this year showed that it raised a $650 million fund focused on the region.
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