Padmanabh (paddy) Sinha

Managing Partner/co-GP

2025 - Current

BLUEPRINT Multi-sector India-focused Growth-Stage Private Equity. Targeting active, minority, growth deals in the $25-50 million 'sweet spot' (addressing a missing middle in a large market like India). Sectors - consumer, technology, industrial, business services, healthcare and financial services.

Executive Director & CIO-Private Equity

2021 - 2025

Member of Investment Committee for all direct investing businesses within NIIF throughout - private equity, climate, core infrastructure; including formerly chairing the private equity IC. Led the private equity business: rapid deployment, value creation and liquidity realization during tenure with the fund marked at MOIC of ~1.9X and DPI of ~65%. Key role in initial deals in the climate private equity fund resulting in ~25% of the fund deployed within 1 year of launch. NIIF is India’s sovereign-linked alternative asset with ~$4.5 billion in assets under management. The investment company is a private-public partnership with 49% stake of the investment management company held by the Indian government and the balance 51% held by private investors. The ICs for all its funds are independent and staffed by executive leadership team members.

Co-Founder

2020 - 2021

Initial work towards launching a private equity platform (with the target of full launch post pandemic). Advanced discussions with an international private equity firm for co-launching an Indian franchise.

Managing Partner, Tata Opportunities Fund

2013 - 2020

Co-founded the Tata Opportunities Fund (TOF) as the flagship private equity platform from the ~$100 billion Tata group. TOF combined an independent, entrepreneurial approach with the benefits of its Tata affiliation. TOF had its final close in 2013 @ ~$600 million, with marquee global investors, making it the largest India focused PE fundraising post-GFC. The fund targeted investments in high-growth businesses; making strong conviction bets into potential market leaders ahead of growth infection points. The average revenue CAGR for the portfolio exceeded 20%, The first full exit was at 6x MOIC and over 50% IRR, returning half the full fund to its investors through a single exit. The follow-on fund was successfully targeting a close in 2019, but could not be consummated as the sponsor corporate group altered its strategy and its commitment to the business.

Chief Investment Officer, Tata Opportunities Fund

2011 - 2013

Chairman

2018 - 2020

The IVCA is India's apex member-led, not-for-profit body for Private Equity & Venture Capital firms active in India. The industry body seeks to establish pro-growth public policies and international best practices. Over 100 influential PE & VC firms, both Indian and global, as IVCA's members elect its Chairman once every 2 years.

Managing Director - India

2004 - 2011

Apart from being the Managing Director for India, also led global projects out of Singapore from 2009 onwards, including Temasek's entry into life insurance company investments. Prolific investor with deals evaluated or investments made ranging from $10 million to over $1 billion. Classic PE plus PIPE investments. Strong exit track record. Co-founded & co-led Indian office/business during its successful build-out phase in India.

Vice President - Investments

2002 - 2004

Member of core investment team that was responsible for the first PE fund in ICICI Venture's new PE avatar.

President

1999 - 2002

Founding team member of an EdTech business providing Curriculum Support & Test Prep for Grade 9-12 school exams and college entrance exams. Raised equity (>$10mn) from Chrys Capital, STAR TV (NewsCorp) and IFC, scaled up & eventually sold the business to NIIT.