Investor Profile

"Samir Kuckreja is the CEO & Managing Director of Nirula's. He has done a BA in Economics from St. Stephens College, Delhi and a BS in Hotel Administration from Cornell University, USA.

Nirula's is a 75 year old company and a well known name in the hospitality industry. It runs over 75 outlets which includes Business Hotels, Casual dining & Quick service restaurants, Ice cream parlors & Express kiosks in various cities across North and Central India. The organization plans to open 150 new outlets in the next two years across India.

Samir has over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry. He started his career with the Four Seasons Hotel in Philadelphia, USA. He worked at Nirula's in Delhi for 9 years and looked after Operations, Business Development and Marketing. He was the Business Development Manager for the Indian Subcontinent with Yum Restaurants in Delhi for three and a half years and responsible for setting up over 70 Pizza Hut and KFC restaurants. He was the Joint Managing Director of Mars Hotels & Restaurants in Mumbai and responsible for expanding their Hotels, Restaurants and Cake Shops.

He was conferred with the Indira Super Achievers Award in 2008, an honour given to talented and competent professionals for tremendous achievements in their industry and valued contribution to the organization. He is also the President of The National Restaurant Association of India. This association represents both independent and chain restaurants and has a membership of over 1000 members across India."

Navis was founded in 1998 in order to make private equity investments in growth-oriented buyouts in South and Southeast Asia. The firm contributes both capital and management expertise to a limited number of well-positioned companies with the objective of directing strategic, operational and financial improvements. The firm focuses exclusively on enterprises based in Asia, particularly South and Southeast Asia, where the principals of Navis have lived and worked for many years.

The firm manages several private equity funds, whose Limited Partners include a number of well-known US, European, Middle Eastern and Asian commercial and investment banks, pension funds, insurance companies, corporations, as well as a number of high net worth individuals and family offices. Navis has grown significantly since inception, and now has the largest private equity professional team in Asia, comprising 55 individuals, supported by 23 administrative staff, in seven offices across the region.

Nicholas Bloy is a Founder Partner and Director of Navis Capital Partners. He was raised in England, and got educated in England and France.

Mr. Bloy joined The Boston Consulting Group ("BCG") in Asia in 1989 after spending 3 years with Bain & Co. in London. Mr. Bloy held various positions in BCG, including Head of BCG's main Southeast Asian office in Kuala Lumpur, Head of BCG's Energy and Utilities Practice in Asia and Head of BCG's Asia Marketing Committee. His work has focused on Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, the Philippines and Thailand. Mr. Bloy has worked in a wide range of industries including consumer and industrial goods, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, conglomerates, electronics, financial services and others.