Reliance MF to launch India-focussed funds abroad

Enthused by growing interest of institutional investors abroad including in the US for investing in the Indian markets, top fund house Reliance Capital Asset Management Company (RCAM) has said it will consider launching more India-focussed funds in foreign markets.
RCAM, which is part of Anil Ambani-led business conglomerate Reliance Group's financial services arm Reliance Capital, recently launched two India funds in Japan -- one for equity and the other for debt markets.
"As an asset management company, we clearly see that with a long term track record that we have and with a strong research capability, we want to give an access to a lot of different markets globally to invest in India," RCAM's CEO Sundeep Sikka said here.

"Recently, we launched two schemes in Japan and we will explore other opportunities also. We are certainly seeing more money coming into India," Sikka told PTI in an interview here.
Sikka was here to participate in the India Investment Forum held in the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's five-day US visit ending tomorrow. RCAM runs one of the country's largest mutual fund, Reliance Mutual Fund with total asset under management of well over Rs one lakh crore.
Incidentally, the company had launched its India funds in Japan during Modi's recent visit to that Asian country.

"Effectively we want to be seen as a preferred gateway and if somebody wants to invest in India then they should think Reliance Mutual Fund. That is very much possible because of our track record," he said.

Sikka replied in affirmative when Asked specifically whether Reliance Mutual Fund would consider launching India-focussed funds in the US and other foreign markets, on the lines of two such funds launched by it recently in Japan.
He also said that Reliance Mutual Fund would certainly look at launching other international funds in India on the lines of Japan fund, but that diversification should not be just for the sake of it.
With regard to the US and whether the company would consider joining hands with a partner, RCAM chief said that "there are already some existing investors whom we are advising (in the US).

"We see a trend where more and more institutional investors want to be in India. We may not need partners overseas, as Sebi rules allow us to go alone also on such ventures."
Explaining the typical procedure followed by foreign institutional investors, Sikka said the first step generally involves the investor taking a decision on investing in an emerging market and after that deciding on which is the best one available.