IFC to fund Parag Milk's working capital needs, long-term expansion plans

Parag was established in 1992 and is one of India's largest dairy companies

Parag Milk Foods Limited (Parag) is planning to raise money from International Finance Corporation (IFC) for meeting the company's working capital needs and for its long-term expansion plan.

IFC committed around $31 million (around Rs 230 crore) to Parag in the form of non-convertible debentures to support the company’s working capital needs and long term capex plans.

IFC’s investment under RSE Covid-19 facility aims to provide Parag with sufficient additional liquidity in support of its working capital needs and its long term expansion plans.

IFC’s proceeds will be used for further development of milk processing plants at two locations – Manchar in Maharashtra, and Palamner in Andhra Pradesh.

Parag was established in 1992 and one of India’s largest dairy companies, catering to major cities in the country with a strong presence in western and southern India.

It has a milk processing capacity of upto 3,500,000 litres per day (LPD) - 2,000,000 LPD at Manchar, Maharashtra, 1,400,000 LPD at Palamner, Andhra Pradesh and 100,000 LPD at Sonipat, Haryana.

The company has a well-diversified product portfolio ranging from liquid milk to value added products like UHT milk, cheese, butter, ghee (clarified butter), paneer (cottage cheese), yoghurt, curd, lassi, flavored milk, dairy whitener and milk powder, sold under the brands ‘GO’, ‘Gowardhan’, ‘Top Up’, ‘Avvtar’ and ‘Pride of Cows’, with value added products being > 65% of sales.

The company’s main sponsor is Devendra Shah, who together with his family, owns 46 per cent of Parag’s shares, while 29 per cent of the company is held by institutional shareholders and the balance 25 per cent is held by public shareholders.