BlueEarth deepens its existing partnership with leading impact fund manager Lok Capital to help improve the lives of underserved individuals in India

Baar-Zug, Switzerland – February 02, 2023

Blue Earth Capital AG (“BlueEarth”), a global impact investment firm, has committed $ 15 million through its investment vehicles to Lok Capital IV LLC (“Lok IV”), a private equity fund advised by Lok Impact Advisors Pvt Ltd (“Lok Capital”), which announced the first closing of Lok IV in December 2022 with $ 90 million of commitments.

Lok IV invests in high growth, tech-driven businesses in India to improve financial inclusion, healthcare access and farmer livelihoods, as well as help mitigate and reduce climate change. Final closing of the fund is expected by September 2023 at $ 150 – 200 million of commitments.

Lok IV seeks to address key impact challenges within India. The country has 200 million unbanked individuals[1] and a $ 300 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (“MSME”) credit gap[2]. There is a significant healthcare demand-supply gap, particularly in rural areas. 80% of farmers are underserved smallholders[3], with rural poverty c.2x more prevalent than urban poverty[4]. India is the third largest emitter of Green-House Gasses (“GHGs”) globally[5].

Lok Capital has a strong track record of generating positive impact in India. Its portfolio companies serve more than 23 million borrowers, of which 89% are female; treat 922 thousand patients, over half of which were in Tier 2, Tier 3, and rural areas; and improve the livelihoods of 36 thousand farmers[6]. Lok IV is a 2X Challenge qualified fund, with 63% of the Manager’s prior fund investments meeting at least one of the 2X Challenge gender criteria.

BlueEarth enjoys a strong partnership with Lok Capital, as an investor in Lok Capital’s prior funds and a first closing investor in Lok IV. “We are extremely excited to deepen our relationship with Lok Capital as they continue to help improve the lives of underserved individuals and MSMEs in India” said Rohan Ghose, Director, Private Equity Funds and Co-Investments at Blue Earth Capital.  

“We are delighted that BlueEarth has continued its support for Lok Capital as we continue to generate strong returns and impact by investing in attractive technology-driven businesses in the financial services, healthcare, agriculture, and climate sectors in India,” said Venky Natarajan, Co-Managing Partner at Lok Capital.  

About Lok Capital

Lok Capital is a private equity impact fund manager investing in high growth, technology-driven businesses in India to generate both impact and financial returns. Established in 2004 as an early pioneer of impact investing in India, Lok Capital has made 37 investments across 3 funds, taking 5 companies public in the process. Lok Capital is headquartered in Chennai, India and has offices in Gurgaon (Delhi), Bangalore, and Mumbai.

About Blue Earth Capital

Blue Earth Capital AG is a global impact investment firm headquartered in Switzerland, with operations in New York, Konstanz, and London. Blue Earth Capital seeks to invest in businesses that address pressing environmental and social challenges, whilst generating market-rate financial returns. The firm was initiated in 2015 by Urs Wietlisbach, one of the founders of Partners Group, and is backed by the Ursimone Wietlisbach Foundation.

Investor relations contact
Julia Wicklein
Phone: +41 41 784 64 02
Email: investor.relations@blueearth.capital

[1] World Bank Findex (2021)

[2] BLincC Invest MSME Lending Landscape (2021)

[3] Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2023)

[4] World Bank: Poverty and Equity Global Practice & Development Research Group (2022)

[5] United Nations Environment Programme (2022)

[6] Lok Capital Impact Reporting (2021)