



ASK Alternates launches ₹2,500 crore private credit fund
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Mumbai: ASK Alternates, part of the Blackstone-backed ASK Asset & Wealth Management Group, has launched its second private credit fund with a target corpus of ₹2,500 crore, including a ₹1,500 crore greenshoe option, a top executive at the company said.The new fund will continue ASK’s performing credit strategy, targeting 14-16% gross internal rate of return (IRR) by investing in market-leading businesses backed by reputed Indian promoters, global private equity, and sovereign wealth firms, Shantanu Sahai, head of private credit at ASK Alternates, told Mint.It is expected to invest in 12-15 transactions spread across infrastructure, healthcare, manufacturing, industrials, renewables, specialty chemicals, auto components and financial services – sectors that are considered high priority by the government. “This gives us a favourable policy environment as well as interest from offshore capital pools,” Sahai noted.The company's second fund will follow a similar strategy to the first.
"Although we are targeting a larger corpus and a more diversified set of investor base and companies, the nature of businesses we invest in will continue to be the same,” Sahai said.The focus is on senior secured lending with tangible collateral, while avoiding exposure to real estate, distressed debt, venture debt, and struggling or asset-light businesses.The firm also focuses on capital preservation – businesses that will survive and flourish even in the event of an economic fallout. “Before investing in a particular company or sector, we also make sure to assess the order of impact that a particular event may have,” Sahai explained.The launch comes amid intensifying competition in India’s private credit
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