Indian Private Equity Industry to Hit By US Banks Curbs : Experts

Indian Private Equity Industry to Hit By US Banks Curbs

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In case, US President Barack Obama‘s proposal to curb the role of commercial banks in hedge and PE funds is implemented, then fund-raising could indeed become a very tough task for Indian private equity players.

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But at the same time, the move could help Indian funds take part in more deals, market players insist.

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Obama has proposed to bar commercial banks from owning, advising and investing their own capital in PE and hedge funds.

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Though most investors in Indian PE funds are university funds, endowment funds, pension funds, insurance funds and institutional investors,  the industry expects the move to impact fund-raising in the long term and in big way, as banks will be barred from taking part in these funds.

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A large number of venture capital and PE funds of US-based commercial banks had reduced their exposure to India during the economic slowdown.

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Though few big ones like Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch etc; stayed back in the market.

Indian PE players hope to get more deals if these players vacate the market.

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Market experts do not see any significant impact in the coming few months, but cannot deny that a slowdown in USA market will surely impact the Indian private equity industry.

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They feel that any curbs on banks would make fund-raising a very difficult task since banks were the biggest contributors of funds.

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Industry players say the focus will shift from funds of banks to fund of funds, pension funds, and university and endowment funds.

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“It will be difficult to put a number as these transactions are structured in a complex manner.

But I believe a significant proportion of investments in India-based PE funds come from balance sheets of these banks.

These firms will be affected and will have to look for new sources of money,” said Jagannadham Thunuguntla, equity head at SMC Capitals.

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