Chicago based impact investment management company Creation Investments Capital has announced the opening of its first India office in Bangalore. The Bangalore office is aimed at helping the firm manage its growing portfolio of Indian companies.
The company has also appointed financial industry veteran Remika Agarwal as Vice President and Country Head for India. Agarwal brings more than 14 years of experience across multiple financial service areas to Creation. Previously, she was head of structured finance and products at a large non-bank financial company in India and vice president for over a decade with a leading Indian rating agency. Agarwal plans to hire up to two associates in 2021 to help manage the firm's growing portfolio of Indian companies that provide capital to those living at the bottom of the economic pyramid.
With this announcement, the firm also launched its maiden debt fund in India. The fund focuses exclusively on providing debt financing to non-bank financial companies serving the Indian population in areas such as micro-lending, affordable housing, vehicle loans, small- and medium-enterprise lending (SMEs), and education finance.
Currently, Creation's portfolio companies serve more than 23 million entrepreneurs in India. The office in Bengaluru will help manage the firm's growing portfolio of Indian companies that provide capital to those living at the bottom of the economic pyramid. Over the past 10 years, the firm has invested more than $300 million in multiple Indian companies specializing in microfinance, SMEs, fintech, payments, agri-warehousing and finance and other businesses seeking to alleviate living conditions for underprivileged people.
Patrick Fisher, founder and managing partner, Creation Investments, said, "We are delighted to welcome Remika to Creation and are excited to open our India office after building a strong presence in the country. Our efforts have helped Indian families and businesses by supporting companies that provide crucial capital needs. We aim to expand and accelerate our investments in the world's second most populous country through our first debt fund and other initiatives."
India is Creation's single largest destination for impact investments in companies providing access to capital to unbanked and underbanked families and businesses.
Agarwal said, "Our portfolio companies, which have withstood the shocks of the Covid-19 pandemic and earlier demonetization in India, remain strong. We continue to seek investments in companies that have robust business models, strong management teams, and sound environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) credentials."
