The world's largest alternative asset manager, Blackstone, aims to double its total exposure in India, according to CEO Stephen Schwarzman, who is in Mumbai to mark the private equity major’s 20 years in the country. The American giant plans to expand its investments in credit and infrastructure to achieve this goal.
The announcement was made during Schwarzman’s media interactions in Mumbai ahead of today’s event, where Blackstone will host more than 300 top firms and business partners, according to a Mint report.
Blackstone’s 2024 annual report says that its global assets under management (AUM) stand at $1.1 trillion. Its portfolio includes approximately 12,600 real estate assets and 250 companies.
In India, Blackstone has an estimated AUM of around $50 billion, with a significant portion invested in real estate. The firm now plans to increase this to $100 billion over the next few years, according to Schwarzman.
Schwarzman Bullish on India
Blackstone CEO Schwarzman is very bullish on India's growth prospects.
"We look at the fundamentals in the country. It has excellent stability and political leadership. Regulations have eased since we first started here. India has a very vigorous population, full of young people. There is a strong preference for technology. So we are very positive on the country. It is great to be back," he said in an interview with Moneycontrol.
In another interview, he stated that Blackstone plans to continue investing in its existing areas of focus—real estate and private equity in India—while adding at least three new verticals. These include infrastructure and credit, both of which could become sizable businesses. Additionally, the firm plans to distribute its investment products to wealth clients in India. However, he did not provide a specific timeline for these expansions.
Meanwhile, Amit Dixit, Blackstone’s Head of Private Equity in Asia, told the media that the firm plans to invest in digital infrastructure, including data centres and telecom towers. It will also focus on corporate credit, supporting entities or individuals in specific situations such as acquisitions or stake purchases where traditional banking may not be feasible.
According to available data, since coming to India in 2005, Blackstone has invested in 27 companies and acquired 16 others. Its most recent acquisition was Roop Automotives in December 2024. The firm has also invested in software companies such as ThoughtFocus, R Systems, CMS IT Services, and Monnet Ispat & Energy.
