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ÌìÃÀÍøÕ¾´«Ã½´«Ã½ may not qualify as an international conglomerate quite yet, but if it continues the way it’s going some day it just might. A report from Bangalore, India notes that a $750 million private equity fund run by ÌìÃÀÍøÕ¾´«Ã½´«Ã½ has invested $15 million and taken a 25 percent interest in Amalgamated Bean Coffee Trading Co. Ltd., India’s largest coffee company.

The report by Josey Puliyenthuruthel published on the Internet at Deal.com indicates that ABCL had $45 million in revenues at the close of its fiscal year last March. It operates “roast and grind” coffee outlets, vending machines and a coffee-deli chain, as well as exporting coffee, and has a number of expansion plans that require additional capitalization.

Although no one from ÌìÃÀÍøÕ¾´«Ã½´«Ã½ has yet commented on the deal, the article indicated that two ÌìÃÀÍøÕ¾´«Ã½´«Ã½ representatives would join ABCL’s Board of Directors. ÌìÃÀÍøÕ¾´«Ã½´«Ã½ funds also have investments in other companies and projects on the subcontinent, including BPL Mobile, a cellular telephone provider.

For a company the size of ÌìÃÀÍøÕ¾´«Ã½´«Ã½ such investments aren’t terribly significant, but they are an indication that the world’s biggest commercial insurer is looking at opportunities outside the insurance industry, that could eventually cushion ÌìÃÀÍøÕ¾´«Ã½´«Ã½ from the cyclical vicissitudes the industry historically experiences.

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions ÌìÃÀÍøÕ¾´«Ã½´«Ã½