Author: Sev Vettivetpillai

Private equity has long been associated with financial engineering, leveraged buyouts, and short-term value extraction. In mature markets, it became a symbol of efficiency – and sometimes controversy – as firms focused on maximising returns through restructuring and rapid exits. Yet in emerging economies, where capital markets are shallow and institutional frameworks underdeveloped, the role […]

In developed markets, investors rely on established institutions – robust legal systems, predictable regulation, and mature financial markets – to safeguard their capital. In emerging markets, these mechanisms are often incomplete or inconsistently enforced. Contracts may carry less weight, regulation can shift overnight, and institutions may be subject to political influence. In such environments, the […]

Emerging markets have always represented a paradox for investors. On one hand, they offer the prospect of outsized growth – demographics, urbanisation, and entrepreneurial dynamism combine to create opportunities rarely matched in developed economies. On the other, they present a landscape fraught with risk: political volatility, unpredictable regulation, and macroeconomic instability can erode value as […]

In the formative years of impact investing, scepticism was inevitable. Institutional investors questioned whether developmental outcomes could be measured with the same rigour as financial returns. Without credible evidence, many feared that “impact” would remain little more than anecdote – a worthy aspiration, but one lacking the transparency and accountability required to sit alongside traditional […]

In developed markets, investors rely on deep pools of data, established institutions, and transparent regulatory systems to inform their decisions. In contrast, emerging and frontier markets are characterised by information gaps, rapidly shifting political dynamics, and cultural complexity. Financial models, however sophisticated, can only capture part of the picture. What determines success or failure is […]

In the early 2000s, the notion that institutional investors could commit serious capital to impact funds was far from conventional wisdom. At that time, development finance institutions were cautious, pension funds were sceptical, and private investors often dismissed the concept outright. The prevailing belief was that any attempt to combine profit with social or environmental […]

During my early years at Aureos, the idea that private equity could be successfully deployed at scale in emerging and frontier markets was regarded with scepticism. Investors were wary of opaque regulatory environments, perceived governance risks, and the lack of institutional frameworks to support long-term growth. The prevailing view During my early years at Aureos, […]

Impact investing may now be a familiar term, but in the early 2000s, it was an uncharted frontier. Traditional investors focused squarely on maximising financial returns, while philanthropy targeted societal challenges, creating a stark divide between profit and purpose. It was in this context that Aureos Capital emerged, with a bold vision to bridge these […]