Lighthouse Canton Closes ₹1,050M Private Credit Deal with Emerald Leisures via LC Luminere Fund

Lighthouse Canton, a global investment institution with over USD 6 billion in assets under management, has successfully closed an INR 1,050 million private credit investment in Emerald Leisures Limited through its India-based Category II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF), the LC Luminere Credit Fund, and affiliate entities. Emerald Leisures is a BSE-listed leisure and hospitality company that owns and operates Club Emerald, a well-established premium multi-sport, hospitality and recreational destination in Mumbai.

The transaction underscores continued momentum in deal activity for Lighthouse Canton India's Credit Alternatives business and the LC Luminere Credit Fund.

The investment provides long-term capital to support Emerald Leisures' strategic growth initiatives. Structured as secured non-convertible debentures, the facility has been designed around the company's operating cashflows and is supported by a comprehensive security package comprising hard-asset collateral, escrowed cashflows, promoter support and identified liquidity events.

"We are pleased to partner with Lighthouse Canton on this important transaction. The structured credit solution has provided us with the flexibility to accelerate our growth while preserving our long-term strategic vision. More than just capital, it offers a financing structure that supports sustainable growth and positions us to capitalize on future opportunities," said, Jaydeep Vinod Mehta, Group Chairman, Techno Group (parent company of Emerald Leisures Limited). 

The transaction further strengthens Lighthouse Canton's track record of delivering bespoke structured financing solutions for established Indian businesses. Through its India private credit platform, the organisation continues to partner with businesses and promoters by providing flexible capital solutions tailored to their strategic financing requirements across sectors.

Commenting on the deal, Pranob Gupta, Managing Director, Business Head - India Alternatives (Credit & Hybrid Strategies) at Lighthouse Canton, said, "We see a significant opportunity in private credit for mid-market companies, particularly in deals in the INR 100-500 crore range, where we can achieve superior risk-adjusted returns backed by strong security structures with hard assets."

Lighthouse Canton's Asset Management business works closely with ultra-high net worth individuals, family offices, institutional investors and global investors, and has strong internal capabilities across private credit, growth debt, venture capital, real estate private equity, public equities and global macro hedge fund strategies. The investment team has internal capabilities across the private credit segment and runs private market funds spanning senior secured lending, structured credit and special situations strategies, of which the LC Luminere Credit Fund, a SEBI-registered Category II Alternative Investment Fund, forms a part. Lighthouse Canton's private credit strategies are supported by an extensive origination network, with access to over 500 issuer relationships and 1,000-plus promoter families, enabling a strong pipeline of proprietary deal flow across sectors.

About Lighthouse Canton

Lighthouse Canton is a global investment institution with wealth and asset management capabilities. The organisation employs experienced professionals across its offices in Singapore, Dubai, India, and London, and currently oversee over US$ 6 bn worth of assets under management (as of 31st March 2026). Lighthouse Canton creates value through innovative investment solutions for accredited private clients, institutional investors, and an ecosystem of founders and entrepreneurs globally.

Lighthouse Canton’s Asset Management business comprises strong internal product capabilities in hedge funds, private equity, traditional fundamental analysis, investing through multiple strategies in real estate private equity, private credit, venture capital, growth debt, public equities, and global macros.


Its Wealth Management business caters to accredited investors including corporates, ultra-high net worth individuals, families and family offices, founders, and entrepreneurs, to help with their personal and business investments, estates, and philanthropic needs, providing them with tailored investment advisory, portfolio management, treasury, business, and family office solutions.

Its advisory and capital solutions business serves families and family-owned enterprises and early to late-stage corporates with strategic and M&A advisory, restructuring and refinancing, and strategic capital solutions. The business provides tailored financing solutions across the capital structure with varying degrees of complexity along with bespoke lending solutions designed to address sophisticated capital needs.

Lighthouse Canton Pte Ltd is regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (“MAS”). Lighthouse Canton Capital (DIFC) Pte Ltd is regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (“DFSA”). It is also registered in GIFT City IFSC, operating under IFSCA regulation. LC Capital India Pte Ltd is regulated by Securities and Exchange Board of India (“SEBI”). Lighthouse Canton UK Limited is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”).

Kaam.com and NRAI Partner to Launch India’s 1st Employment and Skilling Platform for the Hospitality Industry

The next generation tech platform aims to mobilise and create new employment opportunities for India’s diverse talent pool.

Kaam.com is a tech enabled staffing and employment platform for the hospitality sector that has been co-built with The National Restaurant Association of India ( NRAI ). The platform has taken a holistic approach by offering access to employment opportunities as well as upskilling, training, and financial inclusion. Kaam.com is Spearheaded by entrepreneur, Mr. Rishi Khiani and Agnelo Miranda.

With hospitality accounting for 8% of India’s workforce, this is the first ever industry driven solution to mobilise a large part of India’s fragmented talent pool. The platform uses Web3 technology including blockchain, machine learning, AI, and multimedia to create a modern interactive profile that replaces the dated CV. The hybrid online-offline approach to sourcing talent addresses the existing inefficiencies within the recruitment process.

Effective hiring has always been a challenge for the hospitality industry which was only exacerbated by the pandemic. 80% of India’s hospitality workforce is migratory and nationwide job discovery has always been a challenge for job seekers. Kaam.com is addressing this pain point through its offline-online hybrid model of talent sourcing. Its Blockchain-powered employee profiles provide authenticated employment and certification history.

The business has been modelled on three pillars: Recruitment, Skilling, and Financial Benefits. At its core, Kaam.com is a marketplace for employment opportunities within the hospitality sector that matches the demand for jobs with the supply of skilled human capital. It goes beyond just providing a job with a community approach to upskilling and future growth opportunities. The platform provides a suite of value-added financial services like salary advances, insurance, and benefits from ecosystem enablers like travel, boarding and commerce.

“The NRAI is committed to resolving pain points and creating solutions for the industry and its members. Co-building this solution and partnering with kaam.com, not only improves the ease of hiring but makes employment opportunities more accessible for job seekers all over India,” stated Kabir Suri, President-NRAI.

Rishi Khiani, Founder, Kaam.com said, “Our mission at Kaam.com has been to mobilise India's amazing talent at scale while making a lasting impact on middle and low-income communities. The hospitality industry is one of India's largest job creators and the employment opportunities it creates has the power to not just transform India's billion-strong workforce but also improve their quality of life with dignity of labour."

The team at NRAI led by Rachel Goenka and Pranav Rungta have been working closely with the team at Kaam.com to effectively address the pain points that the industry has been facing, as well as developing employee forward features such as skilling, training, certification, verification, and access to financial services and benefits. Restaurateurs, Hoteliers, Chefs and Industry stalwarts, are collaborating with Kaam.com to create high quality training content and certification. NRAI seeks to increase the pool of talent within the industry by accelerated skill development programs and local initiatives

Kaam.com is a next generation talent and recruitment company with instant access to high quality full-time, flexible, and on-demand workers across all verticals (Blue Collar, White Collar and Gig Workers) The company has built a proprietary AI engine for skill and culture mapping and a vertical recruiter network to source potential candidates from across India. Kaam.com is founded by Rishi Khiani, the founder of Scootsy, Fork Media Group (Curly Tales, Mashable, IGN, Hauterrfly, AskMen) and Urban Eye Media. In the past he has led the Internet businesses for the Times Group and Network18.

National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) is the voice of the Indian Restaurant Industry. Founded in 1982, it represents the interests of 500000+ Restaurants, an industry valued at INR 4.23 lakh crores. NRAI aspires to promote and strengthen the Indian Food Service Sector. The Association has a pan India presence and is governed by a committee of members.

In The Cradle Of Luxury And Positive Energy: Adar Poonawala and Gaurav Kapur Launches Co-Holistic Living Wellness Space - Avas Wellness

With health and wellness taking centre stage, people today are looking for ways to enhance their everyday quality of living. Bringing together and building a community of like-minded people who share commitment and concerns towards fundamentals of health and wellness, forward looking business entrepreneur, Aditya Kilachand today announced the launch of the Avās Wellness Living Project in Alibaug. 

Avās Living offers a first of its kind community development, inclusive of an enclave of resplendent, eco-friendly homes and an indulgent spa and wellness centre. Multi-cuisine cafes, jogging tracks, an elegant leisure pool, nature immersed living, along with a world class spa are a few elements that help define the Avas Wellness experience of “Living Well, Living Healthy & Living Safe”, bringing an exquisite blend of luxury living, with seamless wellness technology embedded in it.

Adar Poonawala

Aditya Kilachand

Gaurav Kapoor

Deriving its name from the Sanskrit term Avās, which means “to inhabit”, the Avās Wellness Living Project holds the fundamental concept of holistic living and community, encouraging individuals to “inhabit” their “best self”. All connected easily through tech, Avās employs a thoughtful blend of Ayurveda and modern wellness science into the design of its spaces and wellness programs, with the goal of promoting wellness as a lifestyle. 

Designed around a futuristic wellness facility and submersed in nature, Avās focuses on a biophilic design. One of the world’s most highly regarded architectural firms, SAOTA has designed Avas Living along with its state-of-the-art Spa and Wellness Center that will serve as the cornerstone of the project. Avas Living and the Avās Holistic Wellness Spa are SAOTA’s maiden project in India that have been designed with the aim to reignite one’s connection with their mind, body and spirit through a collection of factors that have proven to positively affect one’s mental health and state of being.

While talking about his dream project, Aditya Kilachand, CEO of Avās Wellness says -

Avās Wellness is a futuristic, world-class vision that competes with the best internationally. Our homes are customised to refiect your individuality. They offer a 360-degree living experience, with a strong emphasis on Health and Goodness. We believe health is the ultimate luxury in today’s world. And we have created our community around it. The Avās spas are mindful of specific individual needs and mould themselves to a programme designed to heal and revive.

Avās endeavours to be a luxury wellness company with technology at its core. The aim is to build a community that believes in holistic wellness as a lifestyle and is looking for a personalised experience with measurable results, by assisting you in how to sleep and eat better, breathe better and live better. Additionally, by bringing together a mix of world renowned designers and architects into the fold, Avās aims to deliver a superior and unique wellness experience. The project has reignited the dream of a home with wellness at its core and state-of-the-art facilities that create a sanctuary in the picturesque town of Awas, Alibaug.

Adar Poonawalla, CEO at Serum Institute of India and key investor at Avas Wellness says, “Avas Wellness has the first mover advantage, in an area I have been passionately committed to for over two decades - good health and mental well-being. I believe the Avas concept of combining luxury with a well thought through holistic lifestyle deeply resonates with my personal philosophy of treating my body and mind with utmost respect .A world class rejuvenation centre that relies on sophisticated technology and is easily accessible , refiects a shared vision for the future”

This passion project is also backed by marquee investors and leading global wellness collaborators. Gaurav Kapur, Investor in the Avās Wellness project who hails from the prominent Yes Bank family says, “The need for a second home, away from the city is increasing exponentially. Avās Wellness bridges the need gap by providing an ideal luxury living space bringing the best of two worlds - technology and infrastructure together and making it the perfect choice. With the wellness aspect attached with Avās Wellness, they will uplift the everyday quality of living on multiple levels - physical, mental, psychological and spiritual as well as find a place to rejuvenate."

About Avās Wellness

Avās Wellness is a premier luxury wellness company, leading the way in developing wellness living spaces in India, such as its Wellness Living Project in Alibaug. Alibaug is a quaint, coastal town intertwined with rich culture, breathtaking nature and untold stories just 20 minutes south of Mumbai. The Avās Wellness project is the passion project of Aditya Kilachand, backed by marquee investors Adar Poonawalla and Gaurav Kapur. Avās Wellness has partnered with the world’s leading architectural firm SAOTA for designing its best-in-class wellness spas and homes. The project has reignited the dream of a home with wellness at its core and state-of-the-art facilities that create a sanctuary in the picturesque town of Alibaug.

Taj Named Strongest Hotel Brand In The World

~ Recognized by the world's leading brand valuation consultancy – Brand Finance

MUMBAI, India, June 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), South Asia's largest hospitality company, announced that its iconic brand, Taj, has been rated the Strongest Hotel Brand in the World by Brand Finance, the world's leading brand valuation consultancy in its annual 'Hotels 50 2021' report. This report recognizes the most valuable and strongest hotel brands across the globe.

Mr. Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Indian Hotels Company, said, "This is a proud moment for the Indian hospitality industry on the global stage. Taj being rated as the World's Strongest Hotel Brand is a testament to the unwavering trust our guests have consistently placed in us and the warmth and sincere care our employees have embodied day-after-day. We will continue our endeavor to elevate the world class experiences of luxury hospitality and deliver the magic of Tajness to all our stakeholders."

Taj received an overall Brand Strength Index of 89.3 out of 100, with a corresponding AAA rating for customer familiarity, employee satisfaction and corporate reputation as well as its world-class customer service.

David Haigh, CEO, Brand Finance, said, "We are excited to announce Taj as the Strongest Hotel Brand in the World. A brand with a century old legacy and a custodian of the revered Indian hospitality has stood resilient inspite of the challenges posed by the ongoing pandemic. Global travelers have relied upon and tested brands in different ways and Taj has emerged on top."

The Hotel 50 2021 report also highlighted the company's successful implementation of its R.E.S.E.T 2020 strategy, which provided a transformative framework, helping the Taj brand surmount pandemic related challenges.

To know more, click here to access the full report by Brand Finance.

About The Indian Hotels Company Limited

The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) and its subsidiaries bring together a group of brands and businesses that offer a fusion of warm Indian hospitality and world-class service. IHCL has a portfolio of 221 hotels including 55 under development globally across 4 continents, 12 countries and in over 100 locations. These include Taj – the iconic brand for the most discerning travelers, SeleQtions, a named collection of hotels, Vivanta, sophisticated upscale hotels and Ginger, which is revolutionizing the lean luxe segment.