International Finance Corporation (IFC) and HDFC Asset Management Company (HDFC AMC) have partnered to expand access to private credit for India’s mid-market enterprises through HDFC AMC’s Structured Credit Fund-I, a Category II alternative investment fund (AIF).Under the agreement, IFC will invest up to Rs 2.20 billion as the anchor investor in the fund, which seeks to address funding gaps faced by mid-sized companies where traditional financing options are limited. The initiative is expected to support job creation, innovation, and the scaling up of businesses across sectors, while strengthening India’s private credit ecosystem.The fund has announced its first close, raising commitments of around Rs 12.90 billion from institutional investors, family offices and ultra-high-net-worth individuals. It is targeting a corpus of Rs 15 billion and plans to exercise part of a Rs 10-billion green-shoe option. The commitments include a sponsor contribution of up to 14 per cent of the fund corpus from HDFC AMC.Focused on delivering mid-teen, risk-adjusted returns over a four-to-six-year horizon, the fund will invest in secured credit instruments on a diversified, sector-agnostic basis, excluding real estate. It has already committed Rs 3.80 BILLION across three deals spanning multiple sectors.Navneet Munot, MD & CEO, HDFC AMC, said, “We thank all our investors for the confidence they have placed in us and are pleased to welcome IFC as a partner and the anchor investor in our first Structured Credit Fund… Through this fund, supported by our experienced investment team, our objective is to offer customised capital with clear risk controls and close engagement with management teams.”Imad N Fakhoury, Regional Division Director for South Asia, IFC, said, “India’s mid-market corporate sector keeps the economy moving, creating jobs, and driving growth and regional development… This collaboration will help mobilize institutional capital and provide mid-market companies with the resources they need to thrive.”The partnership comes amid strong economic fundamentals, with India’s private credit market projected to grow sharply over the next few years.