Kotak Private Equity Group (KPEG), part of the Kotak Investment Advisors Ltd (KIAL), has investing about $50 million in five unlisted life sciences Companies in India during the financial year 2008-09. Kotak's investment has been divided in Companies focused on clinical research, contract research and new drug delivery systems (NDDS). Apart from its life sciences fund (Kotak India Venture Fund 1) of $68 million, KIAL has raised two other funds of $160 million (India Growth Fund 1) and $415 million (Kotak India Growth Fund), with its cumulative fund under management is to the tune of $1.4 billion. It has also decided to raise $1 billion infrastructure fund during the financial year and will invest in sectors such as power and transportation. Nitin Deshmukh, CEO, private equity, KIAL, told FE, “Though the Companies where we wanted to invest are small, new molecules and drug delivery systems developed by them have high potential.” So far, KPEG has invested about $50 million in various small-sized life sciences Companies in India such as Metahelix Lifesciences Ltd, VLife Sciences Ltd, Indus Biotech and Rubicon Research by picking up 20-25% stake in each company.   more »

The Principals of VGI DLC announced the launch of Vision Global Investments I, a U.S. $1 billion dollar India infrastructure-focused fund. The Fund brings a “force multiplier” to its investors through an experienced and skilled team of U.S.-based investment professionals, and practiced and highly knowledgeable India-based entities SREI Infrastructure Finance Ltd. and Primadona Global Holdings WWL. With offices in New York, London, Delhi, and most recently Bahrain, as well as an advisory office in Mumbai, VGI I is the group’s initial offering. Vision Global Investment’s India Infrastructure Fund I will focus its investments on opportunities that directly contribute to the essential infrastructure improvements needed to support the country’s continued economic growth. The fund is seeking institutional class investors from the U.S., Europe and selectively from the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Japan where there is considerable interest in this asset class.   more »