C4D Partners, a private equity firm, has announced its exit from portfolio company Ananya Finance with significant returns. Ananya Finance is an NBFC that facilitates formal credit access for the underserved population of India. This marks the investor's third exit in FY24 and the fifth exit out of a total of 13 equity investments in its Fund-1 India portfolio within its initial five years of operation.
Ananya Finance, the portfolio company in focus, has secured a significant amount in the current funding round from its existing investor, Gojo & Company, Inc. (“Gojo”), a Japan-based holding company enabling financial inclusion through investments across Asia. This funding round involved both primary and secondary transactions, indicating robust investor confidence in Ananya Finance's business model and potential for growth.
C4D Partners has invested Rs 26.4 crore in Ananya Finance across multiple rounds. The funding enabled the NBFC to scale its operations beyond FPO loans and wholesale lending to underserved communities. Ananya has also expanded its retail operations to serve its customers directly through the acquisition of an MFI.
Arvind Agarwal, founder and CEO of C4D Partners, said, “We invest in a limited number of companies to offer them our complete attention and support, with the objective of turning them profitable within the first year of operation after our investment.”
“Ananya’s growth story is an evident demonstration of our investment thesis, as the business has grown multiple-fold while empowering underserved communities across the country,” he added.
Aligning with C4D’s investment goal to enable gender equity, Ananya also extends microloans to women borrowers, empowering them to start and sustain their economic enterprises. Currently, 98 per cent of borrowers at Ananya are women, as per a company statement. Furthering this purpose, Ananya acquired a majority stake in Prayas Financial Services, an NBFC-MFI providing loans to women in underserved households and informal micro-enterprises.
Gaurav Gupta, Managing Director at Ananya Finance, said, “While C4D Partners has been an involved investor and supported our business beyond just capital, they’ll be making a profitable exit with this round.”
