Our Team
Meet the Leaders
Pankaj Agrawal
Director
CA Pankaj Agrawal brings over 21 years of hands-on experience in equity capital markets, IPOs, private equity, valuations, and debt syndication. A Chartered Accountant by qualification, he has spent two decades helping businesses raise capital, structure transactions, and navigate India’s evolving regulatory landscape with precision and strategic insight.
As Director at Valmiki Leela Capital, a SEBI-registered Category I Merchant Banker, Pankaj oversees the firm’s IPO practice and transaction advisory services. His work includes mainboard IPOs, SME listings, QIPs, rights issues, preferential placements, and M&A deals.
The firm is currently executing mandates worth over ₹1,500 crore across sectors such as renewable energy, transformers, data centers, defense, and infrastructure, helping promoters and growth-stage companies access public markets and institutional capital.
In 2014, Pankaj founded Leela Fincare, a full-service financial advisory firm supporting over 50 businesses with debt syndication, virtual CFO services, audits, taxation, GST compliance, and corporate lending.
Before becoming an entrepreneur, he held senior positions at IndusInd Bank and Barclays, and began his career at ICICI Bank in credit and risk—building a strong foundation in institutional finance and structured lending.
Recognised with the “Rising Star” Award by Deutsche Bank, Pankaj is known for his attention to detail, regulatory discipline, and long-term value creation. His approach is rooted in partnership—understanding the business, structuring the right solution, and executing with clarity and integrity.
Sandeep Gupta
Director
Sandeep Gupta is a Chartered Accountant with more than 9 years of experience in strategy and execution within equity capital markets, valuations advisory and transaction execution. He specializes in guiding high-potential companies toward precise, regulation-compliant, and market-optimized access to growth capital.
With deep expertise in mainboard and SME IPOs, rights issues, buybacks, business and equity valuations, deal structuring, and strategic advisory, Mr. Gupta has successfully executed over 50 capital market transactions and more than 400 valuation and buyback assignments. His professional journey includes significant engagements with Mistry & Shah, Beeline Broking Ltd., and Beeline Capital Advisors Private Limited in Ahmedabad.
As Director at Valmiki Leela Capital Private Limited a SEBI-registered merchant banking firm, he leads the firm’s strategy and execution across equity capital markets, valuations advisory, and transaction execution services.
Mr. Gupta’s approach to merchant banking rests on three foundational pillars: transaction excellence through robust structuring and scrutiny-resistant valuations; regulatory command with comprehensive mastery of SEBI frameworks, compliance requirements, and public-market governance; and stakeholder confidence built on enduring trust with promoters, investors, auditors, and market intermediaries.
His core competencies encompass equity capital markets, mainboard and SME IPOs, rights issues and buybacks, business and equity valuation, transaction structuring and strategy, SEBI regulation and compliance, due diligence, financial review, and high-level advisory to promoters, investors, and boards.
For Mr. Gupta, merchant banking transcends mere capital raising. It is fundamentally about institution building, governance enhancement, and the delivery of enduring, value-creating capital-market solutions, a philosophy that shapes every mandate he undertakes at Valmiki Leela Capital.
Punam Thadeshwar
VP – IPO Project
Punam Thadeshwar is a Commerce Graduate and Company Secretary with over 7 years of experience in merchant banking, corporate compliance and capital markets.
She currently serves as Vice President at Valmiki Leela Capital Private Limited, a SEBI-registered Merchant Banker, where she leads equity capital market transactions including IPOs, rights issues, QIPs, preferential allotments and provides transaction advisory, compliance, and strategic guidance to clients.
She has worked extensively on SME and Mainboard IPOs, handling end-to-end execution including due diligence, offer document drafting, SEBI and exchange filings, and post-issue compliances. She regularly coordinates with SEBI, NSE, BSE, and Depositories to ensure smooth and compliant deal execution.
Certified in NISM Series IX (Merchant Banking) and CITI APAC Investment Banking & Mergers and Acquisitions. She developed deep expertise in Merchant Banking assignments, SEBI regulatory frameworks, corporate laws, and the end-to-end execution of capital market processes. Her professional experience includes managing complex transactions, coordinating with multiple stakeholders, interacting closely with regulators, and ensuring seamless execution of all compliance, documentation, and disclosure requirements.
She is passionate about helping businesses navigate India's capital markets with clarity, compliance, and confidence. Open to connect on IPO readiness, M&A advisory, corporate finance, and capital market opportunities.
Pankaj Agarwal
Non-Executive Director
A seasoned professional with extensive experience in investment banking, corporate law, taxation, strategy, and finance. Proven track record of assisting companies in optimizing financial plans, maximizing revenue streams, and driving sustainable long-term growth to ensure strong positioning for success.
Specializes in financial strategy, investment planning, risk management, corporate structuring, transaction advisory, IPO advisory, business valuations, deal structuring, fundraising, and due diligence. Provides expert guidance on growth opportunities, corporate finance, and initial public offerings.
Began career as an Article Assistant at Sunil Poddar & Co., advancing to Partner. Gained hands-on expertise working with startups, mid-sized businesses, and large enterprises in taxation, corporate audits, strategic tax planning, financial advisory, and Indian GAAP compliance.
