We have known Japan and his team for over 5 years from the time Japan led one of the earliest PE investments in our bank. They have a very professional approach to investing and working with founding teams. Through the period of their investment in us, they had a consistent dialogue and engagement with our team to understand performance and execution of the business plan; new challenges and opportunities, and; market benchmarking. Their experience in consumer and financial services (including being one of the early proponents of digital payments through their investment in Paytm) especially helped us in gaining wider perspective of the market.
Japan and his colleagues at IDFC Investment Advisors became our significant shareholders before we went public. In our first meeting itself he was quickly able to establish trust and confidence with his affable nature and quick grasp of our business drivers. The speed of execution and professionalism displayed by his team left us pleasantly surprised. During their time as investors with us we looked forward to engagements with them to discuss opportunities, challenges and business environment. Their experience in infrastructure investing, equity markets and governance insights were very helpful for us. Over the years of knowing him, I have appreciated his focus on the long term, ethics and helping founders build business from the ground up.
Japan and his team at IDFC Investment Advisors backed us at a stage when we were a young Company and the infrastructure sector was out of favor with investors. They quickly grasped that we can have an edge over the competition due to our strong execution capabilities and cash flow management thus allowing us to grow exponentially in a stressed sector. Their ability to turn around the transaction quickly within the institutional frame work they were operating in while at the same time conducting an extensive diligence, made it a pleasure working with them during the transaction. His win-win philosophy, ability to build personal relationships and taking decisions keeping long term interests of the Company in mind made their association with G R Infraprojects valuable for us.
It has been a pleasure working with Japan when we got our first investment from Sixth Sense Ventures. His vast experience in negotiations and closing transactions was most needed in a multi-party deal like ours. His ability to take a win-win approach and seek solutions to assuage everyone's concerns was much appreciated by all of us. Given his long years in the infrastructure and logistics sector, his inputs during our strategy and board meetings were valuable. His ability to get people to zero in and focus on key business drivers convinced us to prioritize the liability side of our balance sheet. I am sure we will find more opportunities to work together in the future.
Beyond the foresight of a seasoned investor and possessing multi domain expertise, Japan's ability to motivate, nurture & advise companies at various stages is an invaluable asset an entrepreneur seeks in an investor. We are no longer his portfolio company but he is among the first few I call even today for seeking opinion on strategic decisions. I am sure we will carry forward the relationship we have forged from the time he invested in us and Grab.
When I first met Japan I instantly got a good feeling and I typically follow my gut instinct in key decisions. I knew he will - how so ever unpleasant - give me the "right advise". In fact, I started seeking his suggestions even before he invested in us – he doesn't make it transactional but builds long term relationships. His suggestions to consolidate our brand and product portfolio and restructuring our business were very pertinent and at the right time. He did this with persuasion and dialogue getting me to buy-in and eventually own the decision instead of trying to preach us from a high horse. We are seeing the benefits of the journey we embarked on together and looking back, I don't think I would have been able to do certain things without him by my side. I cherish his friendship and look forward to a long association with him and his team.
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