Samena Capital is an Asia, India and MENA-focused alternative investments group, co-established in 2008 by Shirish Saraf and key partners from a cross section of industries and regions. This name was chosen due to the markets that Samena invests in. These are the Indian Subcontinent, Asia, Middle East and North Africa – a region collectively known as SAMENA. Also in ancient Buddhist script, Samena means "together" or "collective", which reflects the collective investment model the company is based on. The company and its subsidiaries employ 26 people in 3 locations (London, Dubai and Hong Kong) worldwide, and has 48 shareholders.
In 2014, Samena Capital completed three landmark investment deals. In April 2013, Samena Capital closed its first private equity investment, acquiring Alliance Global Logistics Pte Ltd, a Singapore based third party logistics company. The plan is to use AGL as a platform for a roll up of logistics players across ASEAN to build an integrated regional logistics company. In February 2014, India’s Mahindra Two Wheelers (part of the US$16.7 billion Mahindra Group) and Kinetic Engineering (KEL) announced that KEL has sold its entire equity stake in Mahindra Two Wheelers Limited to Samena Capital.
A leading player in the Indian two wheeler market, Mahindra Two Wheelers Limited has had considerable success with its new age commuter motorbike Centuro, developed based on keen consumer insights.
In June 2014, Samena Capital completed a deal to acquire more than 30% of Ras Al Khaimah Ceramics, the world’s largest producer of ceramic tiles, from the ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi.
The acquisition was made through Samena Capital’s subsidiary, Samena Limestone Holdings, and its consortium of international investors including two Gulf sovereign wealth funds. Under the deal, Samena Capital will be represented on the board of RAK Ceramics, and the two companies will work together to use private equity strategies to unlock new growth opportunities.