About Chanakya Fund Trust
Chanakya Fund Trust AIF is a reliable private pooled investment vehicle that allows Indian and foreign investors to profit from a defined investment strategy. We focus on investing in unlisted securities of SMEs or securities of SMEs that are listed or proposed to be listed on a SME exchange or SME segment of an exchange. We are sector-agnostic, and we strive to identify and invest in the best opportunities to achieve our investment objective. As a Category II AIF-SME Fund, our main goal is to arrange, manage, and dispose of investments in Portfolio Entities in accordance with the Regulations. At Chanakya Fund, we take a holistic approach to Finance, Business, and Corporate Law.
Fund Snapshot
| Fund Type | Category II Closed Ended Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) |
| Year of Inception | April 2023 |
| Deal Size | 2 to 10 Crore |
| Investee Companies | 20-25 |
| Stake Investments | Minority / Neutral |
| Sponsor Commitment | 15 CR. (15% of the fund size) |
| Fund Manager Commitment | 5 CR. (5% of the fund size) |
| Minimum expected revenue growth | >20% |
| Minimum expected EPS Growth | >15% |
| Minimum threshold ROCE/ROE | >15% |
| Size | INR 100 Crore with a Green shoe of INR 100 Crore |
| Drawdown Period | Up to 12 months from final close |
| Tenure | 5 years from first close; Extendable by 2 years |
| Commitment Amount | Minimum INR 1 crore |
| Sponsor Contribution | 15% of the fund size |
| Upfront Drawdown | 25% of the Commitment Amount |
| Placement Fee | Upto 1.5% |
| Hurdle Rate | 15% P.A. Pre-Tax & Post Expenses In INR terms on CAGR basis |
Fund Objective
- Act as medium for Investments in SME sector
- Attractive Valuations
- Create a platform to source, invest and nurture businesses
- Targets listed SMEs investment on NSE EMERGE and BSE SME Exchange
- Buy good quality Under-valued stocks because of limited liquidity
- Contribute towards creation Of sustainable and scalable businesses
Why Invest In SME Exchange?
- Over the past decade, more BSE SME INDEX has shown growth of 10,000%.
- Recent IPOs have seen over 100 times of subscription, indicating a surge in demand for IPO subscriptions.
- There has been an increase in liquidity in SME exchanges.
- Major listing companies have seen a rise in trading volume
- The compliance governance for regulatory bodies has become easier.
- More than 50% of companies have migrated to main boards, indicating strong growth potential.
- Regulatory bodies are aggressively promoting growth and betterment in SME exchanges.
- Over 200 IPOs are projected to be listed annually on SME exchanges.
Why Choose Chanakya?
- Sponsor And Fund Managers “Skin In The Game”
- Deep Understanding Of Different Industries
- Experience In SME Stock Exchange
- Understanding Risk Appetites/Management
- Flexibility And Adaptability
- High Experience In Primary Markets
Investment Philosophy
Invest early in right growth opportunity businesses with a track record of generating revenues and a sound plan for expansion. Invest in SME companies looking to acquire the necessary equipment, property, personnel and working capital to expand their businesses rapidly, and sustain growth for the long-term.
COMPANY
- Proven business model
- High growth
- Potential to be a segment leader
- Capital efficient
FOCUS SECTORS
- Auto-Component
- Light and Medium Engineering
- Pharma & Healthcare
- Technology & Business Services
- Chemical
- Logistics & Transportation
- Energy Efficiency
- Electric Equipment
MANAGEMENT
- Partnership approach
- Alignment of interest
- Strong management
GOVERNANCE
- Transparency
- Sustainability
- Culture of compliance
Investment Strategy
The Fund will be sector-agnostic. It will consider investments in both technology-enabled companies and a broader consumption theme that meet the following common characteristics:
- Up to 51%: Up to 51%: of the corpus will be invested in private companies that have the potential to get listed on SME exchange within the next 12–18 months.
- Up to 24%: Up to 24%: will be invested in companies that are already listed on SME exchange and have the potential to migrate to the main board of the stock exchange within 12–18 months.
- Up to 25%: Up to 25%: is invested in small-cap SME companies with low price-to-earnings ratio (p/e).
Focus on Fundamentals
Selection of investments is based on evaluation on the below fundamental elements
- High growth potential underpinned by structural underpenetration
- Higher growth in revenues and profits compared to peers and industry
- Low leverage, adequately diversified and structurally low-risk model
- Superior unit economics and high return ratios
Corporate Governance
Zero-tolerance approach in evaluation of corporate governance standards while selecting investments.
Depth & Quality of Management Team
Focus on partnering with high quality management teams that have both depth and breadth for quality execution and multiple centres of competence, backed by a track-record of delivering results.
Margin of Safety
- In order to ensure that value creation in company translates into investor returns, the Fund will focus on consistent discipline to secure adequate margin of safety in entry pricing, as a fundamental principle
- The Fund plans to invest at least 51% to 100% of the Investible Funds in private companies and the 0% to 49% in listed companies, which shall be identified by the Investment Manager based on market opportunities. The Fund may also invest in companies incorporated outside India as permitted under the AIF Regulations, at the discretion of the Investment Manager.
Target Companies
Bridging gap between India and Bharat by focusing on Tier II and Tier III cities & Businesses with potential to operate in an organized manner
- Primary companies – IPO/Listing bound companies with Turnover OF Rs. 25 Cr. and above
- SME listed profitable companies with high potential opportunities in unorganized sectors
- Ideal company – Focused on solving some scalable real life problem
- Up-scaling potential: 3 to 5 times in 5 to 7 years
- Successful and growing franchise business companies.
- Strong position in non-cyclical niche market segments
- Market with resilient, long-term growth drivers
- Diverse, global customer base Technical or application know-how and intellectual property businesses
- Essential, non-discretionary products and services with pricing power
- Cash generating, low capital intensive, good profit margins, high return on capital employed/Equity businesses
- Entrepreneurial managers with integrity, energy and intelligence
- No invest in any turn-around, start-up, pre-revenue business
The investment under Chanakya Opportunities Fund shall be made in Indian manufacturing and services companies engaged in the following segments:
- Auto-Component
- Chemical
- FMCG products
- Pharmaceutical
- IT & ITeS
- Healthcare
- Petro-chemicals
- Light and Medium Engineering
- Electronics & EMSD
- Food Processing & Agro products
- Logistics & transportation
- Energy efficiency
- Electric Equipment
When a sponsor and Fund Manager contributes 20% in an AIF fund, it provides several benefits to the investors, including:
Increased confidence
When a sponsor and fund manager itself invests a significant amount in the fund, it shows that they have a high level of confidence in the fund’s success. This can boost investor confidence in the fund, making them more likely to invest.
Alignment of interest
The sponsor and fund managers’ investment creates alignment of interest between them and the investors. This means that the sponsor and fund manager has a vested interest in the success of the fund and will work to ensure that the fund performs well.
Reduced risk
When a sponsor and fund manager invests a significant amount in the fund, they are taking on a portion of the risk. This can help to reduce the overall risk for investors.
Improved returns
If the fund performs well, the sponsor’s investment can contribute to higher returns for investors. Overall, a sponsor and fund managers’ contribution of 25% in an AIF fund can provide several benefits for investors, including increased confidence, alignment of interest, reduced risk, and improved returns.
About Fund Manager
Kresha Gupta : CA, Founder & Fund Manager
Kresha Gupta is a highly qualified and experienced Chartered Accountant (CA) and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). She has a distinguished academic record and has gained significant expertise in the field through her management and consulting experience.She has more than 5 years of Trading experience on SME Exchange. Kresha’s extensive experience spans across both corporate and consulting roles in Finance, Accounts, MIS, Tax Advisory, Investor Relations, Treasury, and other areas. Before founding Gupta KK & Associates, Kresha worked with Vodafone Idea Limited, where she held the position of Assistant General Manager and was responsible for Investor Relations and Treasury, reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer.
At Gupta KK & Associates, Kresha spearheads an integrated one-stop service firm that offers end-to-end solutions in Equity & Debt Management, Fund Raising, and other related areas. With her deep understanding of equity and debt instruments, Kresha manages a diversified portfolio of equities and other debt instruments for family office funds.
Chanakya Investment Framework
Well-being Business PROFITS
- P – Profitable
- R – Robust Cost Leadership
- O – Opportunity & market size
- F – Free cash flow generation
- I – Incremental return on capital
- T – Time tested and easy to understand
- S – Sustainable moat
Considerable Management IMPRESS
I – Integrity
M – Modesty & capability
P – Passionate & driven
R – Realistic but aggressive
E – Efficient capital allocator
S – Skin in the game
S – Strong governance & risk management culture
Investment Process
Core focus on right business, right promoter and right valuation
DEAL SOURCING
- Proprietary deal flow
- Network of investment bankers, advisors, practising chartered accountants, company secretaries and SME promotors
- Strong ties with VCs and Investment Banks
- Listed SME companies on exchange.
ACTIVE PORTFOLIO MONITORING
- Leverage expertise to provide strategic and operational advice to portfolio companies
- Active Monitoring/guidance/support
- Strengthen governance
DEAL EXECUTION
- Evaluation by the Investment Manager against selective investment/criteria
- Approval of the prospective investment by the Investment Committee
- Due diligence to cover commercial, accounting and legal matters
- Deep focus on strong corporate governance
EXIT
- Exit through sale to strategic/ financial investors
- Exit by way of sale through primary markets.
- Exit by the way of sale through secondary markets.
Risk Management
Managing risk associated with SME investments is a critical aspect of any SME-focused fund, including Chanakya Opportunities Fund. Chanakya employs a range of strategies at the portfolio level to address and mitigate these risks effectively. Here’s how Chanakya addresses risk associated with SME investments:
Diversification
Chanakya Opportunities Fund maintains a well-diversified portfolio of SME companies across various industries and sectors. By spreading investments across multiple companies, industries, and geographical locations, the fund reduces the impact of individual company-specific risks and overall market volatility.
Thorough Due Diligence
Before including any SME company in the portfolio, Chanakya conducts extensive due diligence and rigorous research. This process involves analysing financials, assessing business models, evaluating management teams, and understanding potential risks specific to each company.
Active Management
Chanakya Opportunities Fund employs active portfolio management. This approach involves continuous monitoring and evaluation of investments. If any SME company’s risk profile changes significantly or if new risks emerge, the fund’s management team takes prompt actions to reevaluate the position’s suitability in the portfolio.
Experienced Management Team
The Chanakya Opportunities Fund is managed by an experienced team with a proven track record in the SME sector. Their expertise in identifying, analysing, and managing risks associated with SME investments adds a layer of confidence for investors.
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For any queries, contact us on Mobile: +91 84211 19491, Landline: 020-48627339,Toll Free: 1800 210 1995, Email: [email protected] 
Disclaimer: Investing Involves Risk. This document is for information purposes only and should not be viewed as a legal offering document or solicitation. Offers to invest in this fund are made only by the Discretionary Portfolio Management Services Agreement. Past performance does not guarantee future results and there is no assurance that the managed accounts will necessarily achieve their objectives. We do not guarantee any returns in the hand of investors not we take any sort of accountability for the performance of the scheme. The above-mentioned data is collected from the respected Fund house please verify the same at SEBI website.