Investcorp to pick up stake in luggage maker Safari

By Debjyoti Roy

  • 23 Feb 2021
Credit: Pixabay

Mid-market private equity investor Investcorp is all set to pick up a minority stake in a luggage maker Safari Industries (India) Ltd, marking its second deal this year.

The Bahrain-based investment firm is going to pick up a 5.55% stake for Rs 75 crore ($10.3 million) via compulsorily convertible debentures, going by a filing.

Safari, founded in 1980, offers plastic moulded suitcases, briefcases and vanity cases, among others.

Private equity firm Tano Capital last week exited the luggage maker with a return of almost five times.

The PE firm first invested in July 2014, acquiring more than a fifth of the company.  Over the years, it sold most of that stake in multiple tranches starting February 2018.

Unilog, headquartered in the US with extensive operations in India (Bengaluru), was Investcorp’s first buy in the India-US corridor. The deal took place last month.

Investcorp has been investing in India since 2011 and has deployed $190 million across 12 companies. Its bets include logistics player Xpressbees, online meat and fish retailer FreshToHome, and dialysis chain Nephroplus

The PE firm has invested across consumer brands, consumer technology and software, healthcare and financial services.