Kotak Realty Fund invests over Rs 1,100 crore in The LaLiT's Bharat Hotels

Kotak Realty Fund, a property-focused private equity asset manager, has invested more than Rs 1,100 crore in hospitality company Bharat Hotels, the owner of The LaLiT brand that operates luxury hotels, resorts, and palaces across the country.With this transaction, Kotak Realty Fund’s total investments in FY23 exceeded Rs 5,500 crore, a record for any fiscal year. The fund, a part of Kotak Mahindra Group’s alternative assets management and investment advisory business Kotak Investment Advisors, has invested in a hospitality company after more than 14 years. Prior to this, it had invested in the parent company of Lemon Tree Hotels in 2007-08.The fund has invested in Bharat Hotels through debt with a total tenure of five years and the company will be using the same to repay its existing lenders including public and private sector banks.“The undersupply in luxury hospitality and rising demand particularly after the pandemic has improved the business confidence in this segment.