Hedge Fund / Private Equity Group – Exhilway Global has announced a major move into crowdfunding by launching a new platform labeled “Exhilway Link”. The new crowdfunding portal will facilitate investments into all types of crowdfunding including equity, debt and royalty based. The first foray will target the US, UK and India markets and will be open to both accredited and non-accredited investors.
Exhilway Global, one of the worlds largest emerging markets private equity funds, was established in 1974 as a hedge fund and moved into private equity in 2012. In the early 2013, Exhilway launched their first global fund called “Exhilway Global Opportunities Fund L.P.” which will raise and invest US $1 billion into the developed and developing economies. They serve an estimated 11,000 investors and presently manage over US $1.4 billion in assets. The company employs over 15o people globally.
The strategic move was made in recognition of the fact that crowdfunding has begun to compete with the banks under the peer to peer or P2P lending, where an investor can directly invest into the projects. Exhilway Link will offer complete assurance to the investors, backed by the assets of the fund raising companies or its own corporate guarantee, in case the invested project fails. Exhilway is trusted by over 90,000 accredited investors worldwide.
“With few dollars in pocket, the investors can fund several companies like today’s Facebook or Google. This is only an asset class which can generate 1000 times’ return when calculative risk is taken. The investor can invest monthly or make one time commitment into the project” said Rahul Kumar, Director of Investments at Exhilway Global.
Exhilway Link will also distribute much anticipated private equity fund called Exhilway Global Opportunities Fund – I which will invest $200 million in India. The fund was delayed as India went through troubled times amid rupee devaluation and introduction of alternative investment fund guidelines in India.
Exhilway Global Opportunities – II will begin taking investment proposals in early February. The fund will be of $800 millioninvesting into diversified business sectors.
“We believe in investor safety, we never allowed investors to take blind risk. All our investment products offer complete capital protection and minimum returns. Even our crowdfunding platform will offer a hybrid investment product which allow investors to enjoy debt return while a company is growing and unlimited upside potential on the equity when it is listed, said Joy Ghosh, Director India Operations.
Exhilway Link will select companies on the basis of credit rating, enterprise valuation and due diligence done on the companies. It will also allow companies to add their profile to the database and reach out to the existing investors demonstrating their growth.
Exhilway, (which is an acronym of exhilaration and way) was started by Mark Carlton in the United Kingdom. The firm was passed to son Larry Carlton who is now Chairman of Global Operations. Exhilway current corporate offices are located in Houston, Texas.