New York City-based private equity firm KKR & Co., will invest $50 million (Rs 300 crore) in Mumbai-based Walchand Nagar Industries, one of India’s oldest business groups.
KKR has so far deployed around $4 billion in structured financing to business groups in India over the past seven years, and has invested approximately $2.5 billion in 12 private equity transactions since 2006. The company’s India strategy has been predominantly into partnership deals and it has developed a niche structured-credit platform, in India.
The deal will help Walchand retire some of its bank loans, besides providing capital to drive growth. The funds will also be used for expansion of its defense business, reports the Economic Times. Walchand Nagar Industries has a strong presence in India’s defense, aerospace, and nuclear industries, and, according to its website, it works closely with India’s Defense Research and Development Organization, and Space Research Organization.
