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Private Equity, Alternative Investments & Venture Capital

Assisting financial investors across sectors

We advise the entire range of financial investors – sovereign wealth funds, private equity houses, venture capital funds, diversified conglomerates and investment management firms – on their financial investments in Indian businesses. We have experience with advising clients on both early and late stage investments as well as structuring and negotiating exits as part of private sales and IPOs.  While there are varying “market practices” across financial investments in India, our understanding of the Indian market and the risk appetites of our clients enables us to provide balanced inputs on the various commercial calls that typically need to be made on such deals.

Our unique selling proposition is the ability to devise innovative cross-border structures, which integrate the commercial requirements of each transaction with the complex regulatory framework of India. With the rapid digitization that is taking place in the Indian economy and the blurring of boundaries across the various flows of capital, we have been involved in investments across the full spectrum of businesses. We are also well in tune with the investment possibilities initiated by the developing ARC, InVit, and AIF regimes.

The technology sector is a key focus area for our firm. We have represented our financial investor clients on a number of investments in diverse businesses across the sector, particularly in e-commerce, cab hailing, fintech, music streaming, ed-tech, food ordering and logistics platforms.

As part of our strong infrastructure practice, we have built up significant experience in the roads and highways, energy (both conventional and renewable), telecommunications and oil and gas sectors.  Since we are familiar with these businesses as well as with the underlying legal and regulatory issues, we play a constructive role not only for our clients but also for the target businesses and co-investors.

Apart from the technology and infrastructure sectors, we have acted on financial investments in various other sectors, including regulated ones such as pharmaceuticals and stock exchanges.  We also regularly assist our financial investor clients in investing in special situation funds targeting investments in stressed and distressed assets. Many of our lawyers have significant regulatory experience, which we apply to navigate through the complex regulatory issues and approval processes for our clients.

“Touchstone Partners really understand the international aspects of what we need for transactions. They are also very used to working with international clients.”

– Chambers and Partners, 2023

Representative transactions

We have acted for:

  • A leading GCC sovereign wealth fund in connection with various investments, including:
    • Its investment in Kotak’s Data Center Fund (IFSC), an AIF in GIFT city
    • Its investment in Kotak’s Strategic Situations Fund II (IFSC), an AIF in GIFT city.
    • Its investment in Kotak India’s Real Estate Fund (IFSC) in GIFT city.
    • Its investment in Kotak India’s Commercial Real Estate Fund (IFSC) in GIFT city.
    • Its investment in HDFC’s third low-cost housing fund, the HDFC Capital Affordable Real Estate Fund-3 (H-CARE-3).
    • Its investment in National Investment and Infrastructure Fund’s Master Fund and the investment management entity.
    • Its investment in Cube Highways and Infrastructure Pte. Ltd. (a portfolio company which owns several Indian SPVs engaged in the business of constructing and operating roads in India), and thereafter, on the setting up of, and transfer of its various road assets into, a privately listed Infrastructure Investment Trust.
    • Its investment in Cube Highways and Infrastructure Pte. Ltd., a portfolio company which owns several Indian SPVs engaged in the business of constructing and operating roads in India.
    • Its investment in a pre-stress and distressed assets fund managed by Kotak Investment Advisors.
    • Its investment in KKR’s non-banking finance business in India.
  • A leading GCC sovereign wealth fund and TPG on their investment in UPL Corporation.
  • Actis on its private equity investments in, and exits from, several target companies operating in varied sectors.
  • Bridgepoint on its acquisition of PharmaZell, which involved two Indian subsidiaries.
  • The Carlyle Group on its acquisition of Atotech B.V. from Total.
  • China-Eurasian Economic Co-operation Fund L.P on its acquisition of a minority stake in Ola Cabs.
  • Cornell Capital in connection with its investment in Lorom Holding Co.
  • GE Capital on the divestment of its private equity portfolio in India, including its stakes in Titagarh Wagons Limited, Oriental Structural Engineers Private Limited and C&S Electric Limited.
  • GEF Capital Partners on its investment in Hero Motors Limited, an unlisted company engaged in the manufacture of auto-components, for its growth capital.
  • GEF Capital Partners on its acquisition of a minority stake in Syrma Technology Private Limited, a company in the electronic manufacturing services sector.
  • Investcorp in connection to its proposed USD 30 million investment in the Global Dental Services Limited group as part of its Series D round of financing of approx. USD 65 million, led by Investcorp. The Global Dental Services group operates a chain of dental clinics under ‘Clove Dental.’
  • Roadis, the roads platform owned by one of the largest Canadian pension fund managers, PSP Investment, on the establishment of its investment platform with NIIF for investments in the roads and highways sector.
  • SITAC Group on its joint venture with EDF Énergies Nouvelles for developing wind energy projects in India.
  • Tencent on several transactions, including its investments in Flipkart, Ola Cabs, Policy Bazaar, Gaana, Hike, Byju’s, Practo, Morus Technologies, MyGate, Doubtnut, Pratilipi, Khatabook, PocketFM, Cars24, PhonePe and on the on-market sale of shares of PB Fintech Limited (Policy Bazaar).
  • US Ex-Im Bank on a limited recourse financing of a photovoltaic solar generation project developed under the Jawaharlal Nehru Solar Mission.
  • Wellington Management on several transactions, including the divestment of its entire shareholding in NSE, its investments in BlackBuck, Juspay, Urban Company and Digit Insurance and its follow-on investment in Swiggy.