COIMBATORE:
Kalyan Jewellers, a leading jewellery chain, has announced that an affiliate of
Warburg Pincus, a leading private equity (PE) firm focused on growth investing, has invested Rs 1,200 crore for a
minority stake in the company.
This is the largest PE
investment in the jewellery manufacturing and distribution industry in the country and the largest PE investment into Kerala thus far.
“Jewellery is one of the largest consumption categories in India, and Kalyan Jewellers has created a unique position as one of the largest and the most trusted jewellery brands in India,” said
T S Kalyanaraman, chairman and managing director, Kalyan Jewellers.
“Warburg Pincus’s investment in Kalyan Jewellers is the largest private equity investment into the jewellery industry in India, and is an acknowledgment of the company's highly-talented team, its pioneering role within the industry, and its commitment to the highest levels of customer service,” said Vishal Mahadevia, MD and co-head, India, Warburg Pincus.
Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Thrissur, Kalyan Jewellers is one of the largest jewellery manufacturing and distribution companies in the country. Kalyan Jewellers has an established presence across all major markets in south India, Maharashtra, Gujarat, National Capital Region (NCR) and Punjab.
Presently, it has a network of 55 exclusive outlets in India and six exclusive outlets in the United Arab Emirates.
Amitabh Bachchan and
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan have represented the brand at the national level since 2012.
Kalyan is pursuing a two-pronged approach in both its distribution and product strategies. The company plans to enhance the number of exclusive outlets in existing markets and also foray into newer regions with an emphasis on the north and the west of the country.
The company also plans to rapidly scale up its global presence in the Middle East (foray into Kuwait and Qatar) and South East Asia (foray into Singapore and Malaysia).
Kalyan plans to open 28 new outlets in the next six months, enhancing its distribution network significantly. The company’s customer-centric approach will be enhanced by offering more choices in the bespoke design segment and strengthening its ability to offer affordable studded jewellery to its consumers.