Bharat Value Fund
Pantomath | Alternatives | | AIFIME's View on Bharat Value Fund
Strategy
Pre-IPO strategy in smaller-companies
Investment Fund
Unlike other Pre-IPO funds that invest in larger & more well known unlisted businesses just prior to their IPO, the Bharat Value Fund's focus on smaller promoter owned businesses leads to a very high level of reliance on the ability of the Panthomath's team to successfully take these companies IPO. There is accordingly a high reliance on the strength of the IPO market (especially for smaller companies) at the time when the fund is seeking an exit. Technically, this strategy can deliver very attractive returns (by entering companies at lower valuations due to a lack of competition at the deal stage, and exiting at higher valuations driven by a buzz created by their investment banking team), but this does come with a high level of risk. Additionally, this strategy does not yet have a proven track record of a fund having completed an exit cycle.
Fund's Strategy View
Unlike the traditional larger Pre-IPO funds (that invest in larger companies, that have gone through multiple rounds of funding), the Bharat Value fund seeks to invest in promoter-owned companies without external shareholders. The Fund seeks to identify high-quality promoter-owned businesses (with clearly defined quality parameters that they seek), become the first institutional shareholder in this business and help prepare this business for an IPO over a 3-5 period. The aim is to use Panthomath's Investment Banking division to help manage the IPO. Value outperformance is driven by being able to enter promoter-owned businesses at a substantially lower valuation than what the Investment Banking team will be able to get at the time of the IPO.
Fund Performance
We refrain from evaluating the fund since it is yet to mature (less than 5 years).
IME's View on Pantomath
View on AMC
Pantomath is a large financial group operating across Investment banking corporate advisory, structured finance and asset management. Through their investment banking, they developed their expertise in the mid market segment. This strongly feeds into their AIF strategy.
AMC's Pedigree
The key differentiator of their AIF strategy is their expertise in mid-market equity. The group seems to have developed strong credentials through their IB given their recent activity in the market through their IB.
AMC Team
Investment Committee includes Madhu Lunawat (CIO), Nishad Khanolkar (President) and Prasanna Pathak (Managing Partner). All of them have strong experience in the finance industry with large institutions.
Investment Philosophy
Unlike the traditional larger Pre-IPO funds (that invest in larger companies, that have gone through multiple rounds of funding), the Bharat Value fund seeks to invest in promoter-owned companies without external shareholders. The aim is to use Panthomath's Investment Banking division to help manage the IPO. Value outperformance is driven by being able to enter promoter-owned businesses at a substantially lower valuation than what the Investment Banking team will be able to get at the time of the IPO.
Investment Strategy
Bharat Value Fund (BVF) is a Category II AIF focused on mid-market, pre-IPO investments. The fund aims to invest in high-growth, scalable businesses at the inflection point of their expansion, benefiting from the J-curve effect. With an active ownership approach, BVF partners with companies to enhance strategy, governance, and financial structuring, ensuring value creation before an IPO exit.
Core Investment Approach
Pre-IPO & Growth-Stage Investments:
- Targets companies 3 years before IPO, ensuring entry at a favorable valuation.
- Invests in high-margin, scalable businesses with significant market opportunities.
Active Ownership & Value Creation:
- Provides strategic input in business development, governance, and financial planning.
- Supports companies in adopting international accounting standards and AI-driven analytics.
Sector Focus & Investment Criteria:
- Prioritizes Make in India, Consumer Goods & Trade, and Impact Investing.
- Avoids cyclical, high-capex, and environmentally irresponsible models.
Exit Strategy:
- Exits via IPO, private equity buyouts, or strategic M&A, ensuring optimal value realization.
AMC Background
Pantomath Capital Management focuses on mid-market pre-IPO investments through its Bharat Value Fund (BVF), targeting high-growth Indian businesses approaching IPO readiness. The platform follows a differentiated strategy combining active ownership, quantitative diligence, and a J-Curve–focused investment approach. As part of the Pantomath Group—a leading mid-market investment banking franchise with over 7,000 corporate relationships—the AMC benefits from deep deal access and execution capabilities. Founded by CA Madhu Lunawat (former CFO of Edelweiss ARC) and a seasoned team, Pantomath brings over two decades of experience across corporate finance, M&A, and fund management.
Investment Philosophy
Pantomath follows a J-Curve Inflection Investing approach, targeting businesses at a “breakout” stage of growth—beyond early-stage risk but prior to public market listing. The strategy seeks to capture value arbitrage by entering at the pre-IPO stage and exiting through IPO-led liquidity, typically over a holding period of around five years.
- Stage Focus: Invests in operating businesses with established revenues and profitability, explicitly avoiding startups or cash-burning models.
- Ownership & Control: Prefers being the first institutional investor and acquiring meaningful minority or strategic stakes, with active governance rights to influence strategy, execution, and IPO timing.
Stock Selection Criteria
- Quantitative Filters: Revenue growth > 20%, RoCE > 20%, debt-to-equity < 1x, and promoter holding > 75% (unpledged).
- Qualitative Filters: Scalable niche business models, strong promoter pedigree, clean governance, and ESG compliance.
- Exclusions: Cyclical sectors, long-gestation business models, and environmentally irresponsible businesses.
Investment Process
- Sourcing & Screening: Deal sourcing through proprietary AI tools and the group’s 7,000+ corporate network.
- Due Diligence: Combination of behavioural assessments and financial analysis, including metrics such as cash conversion cycle (target < 90 days).
- Active Ownership: Board participation, CXO recruitment support, and structured IPO-readiness initiatives.
- Exit Execution: IPO-led exits supported by an in-house investment banking team to ensure liquidity and timing discipline.
Trailing Performance
| 1yr | 3yr | 5yr | Since Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bharat Value Fund |
Performance as of: 30-Nov-25 | Inception Date: 01-Feb-24 | Performance are post-fees, pre-taxes. Global funds denominated in USD or fund currency.
Investment team
Madhu Lunawat | 3-star rated FM
CIO | 18 yrs Experience | 4 yrs at current firm
Past Experience: Edelweiss ARC (CFO), ASREC (Chief Manager), Infosys (Sr. Associate)
Madhu Lunawat is the Co-Founder of Pantomath Group and CIO of the Bharat Value Fund. She has two decades of rich experience spanning across investment management, corporate finance, asset reconstruction, M&A, due diligence and treasury operations. She had stints with leading organizations viz. Infosys, ASREC, and Edelweiss ARC (where she was the CFO). She is a CA and did BCom from Guwahati University.
Nishad Khanolkar | 3-star rated FM
President | 23 yrs Experience
Past Experience: SP Growth Partners
Nishad Khanolkar is an astute leader in finance industry with over two decades of experience in asset management, investment banking, private equity, M&A & corporate finance. He was ex-CEO of SP Growth Partners, an Asset Management Company based out of Hong Kong. He has been managing India Inflection Opportunity Fund since inception. He is a CA and did BCom from Mumbai University.
Prasanna Pathak | 3-star rated FM
Managing Partner | 25 yrs Experience | 2 yrs at current firm
Past Experience: Taurus MF (CEO), IndiaFirst Life Insurance (FM), UTI MF (Asst. FM)
Prasanna Pathak brings with him over two decades of experience in Fund management and managing public money covering various domains like Mutual Funds, Insurance, PMS and HNI’s. He has worked with esteemed organisations like HLL, Franklin Templeton, UTI MF, India First Life Insurance and Taurus MF. He is a B.Tech (Chemical) and an MBA (Finance) from S.P. Jain Institute of Management Sciences.
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