Rabobank, the Netherlands-based financial institution, is planning to set up a $100 million private equity fund in India which will focus on the agriculture value chain. The plan to set up an agri-focussed fund is a logical extension of more than a century old tradition of backing the food and agribusiness by Rabobank. Founded as a cooperative of Dutch agricultural banks in the late 1800s, the Rabobank Group has some 175-member banks in the Netherlands and dozens of subsidiaries around the world that focus on the food, agribusiness, and financial industries.   more »

Joining the growing list of US venture capitalists setting aside money from their global corpus to invest specifically in India, Palo Alto, California-based Trident Capital Inc. has said it will invest $150 million, around Rs600 crore, in the country over three years from its seventh fund. It expects to raise its seventh fund this year, the size of which is expected to be between $600 million and $800 million. The firm’s managing director Venetia Kontogouris said that besides India, it would also invest in China, the US, and in green (technology) companies from this fund. Trident currently invests out of its $430 million fund. Trident said it plans to speed Indian investments and expects to announce two deals shortly, but declined to provide further information. “In India, we plan to invest in media companies, health care and financial services, as well as in companies related to IT back-up of retail firms,” said Kontogouris. The top executive said India is a crucial market for the firm, and to beef up its focus, Trident plans to bring in two more professionals to tap the potential of new entrepreneurs. The firm currently has one venture partner, Dipika Chopra, based in New Delhi.   more »