Posted on 15 February, 2019
Zephyr Peacock India Growth Fund invests in small and
medium sized enterprises operating across financial services, food and
agriculture, and infrastructure ancillaries sectors. The Fund identified
education finance as a high growth sector in India and invested in Shiksha
Finance, an innovative education finance company in India.
Click here to read the full article on ‘Livemint’
Below are excerpts from the post that first appeared on
Livemint on 15 February 2019:
Private equity fund Zephyr Peacock India Growth Fund has led
a ₹55 crore funding round in Shiksha Finance, a Chennai-based education finance
company, said a senior executive. The round also saw participation from
existing investors, Aspada Investment Company and Michael and Susan Dell
Foundation. Shiksha finances students in classes I-X and also provides
financing for working capital and capital expenditure to schools that run
classes from nursery/kindergarten to Class 12.
“Shiksha is uniquely
placed in the education financing ecosystem as a lender to both schools and
students. Its product offerings help improve the quality of affordable private
schools and help children from low-income backgrounds access quality
education," said Pankaj Raina, managing director, Zephyr Peacock India.
Access to quality education is an aspiration for most lower
and lower middle income households in India and Zephyr Peacock India believes
this is a multibillion dollar market, he said. “Zephyr Peacock has been closely
tracking the education finance space. Our investment in Shiksha fits well with
Zephyr’s investment thesis in the education financing sector," Raina said.
Zephyr Management is a global emerging markets investment manager, specializing in the creation and management of highly focused private equity funds
Since its inception in 1994, Zephyr has sponsored and/or managed 26 investment funds in both public and private securities markets representing approximately $1.2 billion in combined commitments and assets under management
Emerging Markets Focus
The firm has initiated several private equity funds investing in several African countries, South Korea, Mexico, India, and Sri Lanka since its founding. Zephyr's funds serve medium size enterprises that are often ignored by larger private equity players. Zephyr funds provide growth capital to established companies with proven business models and sustainable competitive advantages.
Investment activities are currently focused on India, Sri Lanka and Africa.
Zephyr Peacock India
Zephyr Peacock India provides equity financing for fast growing, small to medium sized companies led by strong entrepreneurs and management teams.
Read MoreEmerald Sri Lanka Fund
Emerald Fund provides equity financing for fast growing, small to medium sized (SME) Sri Lankan companies led by strong entrepreneurs & management teams.
Read MoreZephyr Acorn provides equity
Zephyr Acorn provides equity financing and business support to innovative early-stage companies in East Africa.
Read MoreActive Portfolio Support
The firm's special expertise lies in bringing global best practices to medium-sized growing companies by assisting them in conceptualizing sustainable business strategy, management development, compensation, ESG, expansion outside of their home country, capital structure and positioning for stock exchange listing or trade sale.