Why PE fund Zephyr Peacock will continue to bet on Indian MSMES
Mukul Gulati, Managing Partner of Zephyr Peacock, speaks to YourStory on why the fund is focused on MSMEs, our focus areas, investments made over the last 10 years, and details out current portfolio companies.
Click here to read the full article on “YourStory”
Below is an excerpt from the post that first appeared on YourStory on 16 February 2021:
Founded by Thomas C Barry in 1994, Zephyr Management is a global emerging markets investment manager that specialises in the creation and management of highly focused private equity funds.
The founder staunchly believed that there was a huge, increasing problem of disparity in income between developed and developing countries. “If we, as a society, don’t figure out how to close that gap, there’s going to be a real problem,” he said.
This is why Zephyr Peacock focuses on emerging markets, providing equity capital for small and medium-sized enterprises in India operating in three sectors: financial services, food and agriculture, and infrastructure ancillaries.
Mukul Gulati, Managing Partner of Zephyr Peacock, is an alumnus of Columbia Business School and has been with Zephyr for 15 years. He says less than 10 funds in India are focusing on the small to mid-sized segment, which needs significant management support.
Mukul has been deeply involved in the growth of Indian SMEs from 2005 to the post-pandemic era. He speaks to YourStory about the fund’s SME investments in India, why it will continue to focus on the sector, and how finding diamonds in the rough makes it all worthwhile.
Edited excerpts from the interview:
YourStory (YS): Tell us about the total investments in India over the last 10 years.
Mukul Gulati (MG): Zephyr Peacock India has successfully deployed more than $120 million and has invested in over 20 small and mid-size companies across three focus areas – food and agriculture, financial services, and infrastructure ancillaries. Zephyr Management has sponsored or managed 26 investment funds with approximately $1.2 billion in committed capital.
