Regulatory Aspects of Investment by AIF

February 2, 2024

SEBI introduced the concept for AIFs on August 1, 2011, by way of a white paper and proposed to regulate all funds established in India which are privately pooled investment vehicles raising funds from Indian or foreign investors. The SEBI (Alternative Investment Funds) Regulations, 2012 (‘AIF Regulations’) were introduced to the Indian market on May 21, 2012 and over the years, many noteworthy changes have been introduced to the AIF regulations to make it more robust and relevant across the global market.

Revolutionising finance: India’s fintech innovations break the mould

January 14, 2024

As we stride forth into 2024, India, with its robust growth story, stands among the fastest expanding financial technology or fintech markets, on a global scale. The domestic fintech industry, which was valued at a market size of USD 50 billion in 2021, is forecasted to expand a staggering 3x, to reach a market value of USD 150 billion by 2025. Further, the burgeoning industry is expected to cater to a total addressable market valued at USD 1.3 trillion, by 2025, even as its assets under management rises to USD 1 trillion, by the end of the ongoing decade

Managing Conflicts: A Fund Manager’s Handbook

January 16, 2024

The growing popularity of the alternative investment funds (“AIF”) industry and the rising involvement of large corporate players and experienced financial professionals who are engaged in various financial services and seek to leverage their own group entities and/or network with a view to capitalize on the relative flexibility of the AIF regime has resulted in Securities and Exchange Board of India (“SEBI”) taking a special interest.

Ireland as a Domicile for Investment Funds Investing in India

January 18, 2024

Since 2018, there has been significant interest by Indian asset managers seeking to establish and manage an EU fund that can be marketed easily across the European Union to investors who anticipate further growth in the Indian market as it begins to realise its undoubted potential. This interest has been enhanced by the relaxation of the foreign investment rules and the permanent establishment rules in India and more recently

The timeless allure of gold

October 25, 2023

An interesting corollary to ‘all that shines is not gold’ is that during times of turmoil ‘the only thing that shines is gold’. Time and again, it has become evident that the precious metal balances the scales in times of volatility while giving a fillip to portfolio returns over the long-term.

Certified Credit Research Analyst (CCRA™)

October 9, 2023

The Game of Investing: Lessons from English Premier League and Fantasy Premier League

July 7, 2023

Last month the English Premier League’s (EPL) 2022-23 season ended with Manchester City crowned as the champions. EPL is an interesting format and one that is closer to the game of investing and life. Instead of deciding the winner by having the final match or game of the tournament played between two remaining contenders, the winner is decided based on the performance over the entire season. The team that accumulates the maximum points over the whole season wins. The result is a heightened focus on process over heroics – at least, that’s what differentiates the true champions, teams who stay in top-4 over several seasons.

The Explosive Growth of WealthTech: Revolutionizing Personal Finance

July 7, 2023

In recent years, the financial technology sector has experienced remarkable growth, revolutionizing various aspects of the financial industry. Among its many subcategories, WealthTech has emerged as a force to be reckoned with. WealthTech encompasses a range of technologies and platforms aimed at enhancing wealth management, investment advisory services, and personal finance. This article explores the phenomenal growth of WealthTech and its transformative impact on the way individuals manage and grow their wealth.

De-dollarization – The Global Movement towards Monetary Independence

June 19, 2023

The global economy has been dominated by the US dollar for decades, with many countries using it as their primary reserve currency. However, in recent years, there has been a growing movement towards de-dollarization, a term used to describe the shift away from the dollar and towards other currencies or alternative payment systems. This movement is motivated by various factors, including concerns about US economic and political power, the desire for monetary independence, and the need to protect against currency volatility. In this article, we will explore the concept of de-dollarization, its implications for the global economy, and the challenges and opportunities it presents.

The Role of IBC in Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) – An Analysis of the legal framework in India

June 12, 2023

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy code, 2016 (IBC) has gently progressed but, following several alterations, now offers a value path for M&A transactions. Corporate insolvency prior to 2016 was a disarranged process but the IBC brought a welcome change from the current situation, offering sturdy & timeframe solutions. Business transactions bloom on solidity, transparency & loyalty & each change to the IBC nourished obscurities, allowing it to become clearer & more constant. M&A transactions under the IBC are clearer & benefit from a time-limited mechanism that is free from the risk of existing & unknown liabilities blocking acquisitions.

Analysing Recent Amendments to Section 56(2)(viib) of the Income Tax Act: Exemption Notification and Proposed Changes to Rule 11UA

June 5, 2023

The Finance Act of 2023 has introduced an important amendment to the Income-tax Act, 1961 (the Act). One of its amendment brings the consideration received from non-residents for the issuance of shares within scope of section 56(2)(viib) of the Act with effect from the 1st day of April, 2024. At present only consideration from residents is subject to tax under said section.

Private credit or debt – an evolving asset class in India

May 29, 2023

Emergence of private debt
There has not been a time in recent history when global scenarios or macro-economic factors have changed so extensively as in the last few years. A series of events from 2020 onwards – starting with the pandemic, to current changes in geopolitical equations owing to war, rising interest scenarios, debt obligation of the developed countries or rising inflation – impacted day-to-day life of the global population. These events have far-reaching effects and are scaling new highs with each passing day, reducing visibility on when the impact of these events will slow down.

Past Performance Is Not Indicative Of Future Returns: A Disclaimer That Often Goes Unnoticed.

June 10, 2023

When space. it comes to making investment decisions, many investors tend to rely heavily on the performance of mutual fund schemes in the previous year. This approach assumes that a scheme’s past success will continue into the future. However, practical scenarios often reveal that such assumptions can lead to unfavourable outcomes. Let’s examines an example involving Axis Bluechip Fund, DSP Top 100 Fund.

From Momentum to Magnificence: Outperforming Nifty 50 index by 40%, the growing SME index

May 15, 2023

If you were to guess the best-performing index across the BSE and NSE in the last 10 years, in all likelihood you would be wrong. Often overlooked by investors, it’s the BSE SME IPO Index that has given a stellar performance. For a developing country like India, SMEs (Small and medium Enterprise) are the wheels that
turn the economy contributing to 1/3rd of India’s GDP.

Don’t chase Lakshmi, embrace Mahalakshmi

March 1, 2022

Average age and lifespan of businesses is drastically coming down. It used to be 20 odd years till 2020 and courtesy covid and the VUCA (highly volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) world we live in, it has come down to even further lower levels and this trend of the average age going down is simply accelerating. Similarly, family businesses also hardly survive the 3rd generation and in the current turbulent times, it is highly likely that the longevity and lifespan of family businesses are going to decline further.

Buy Now Pay Later – The Future of Lending or a Regulatory Minefield?

February 25, 2023

Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) was introduced as the next “big thing” in consumer finance, seducing an entire generation with a great pitch. After all, it was positioned not as credit, but rather, as debt with no interest. The Covid-19 pandemic witnessed a dramatic shift in consumption patterns; job losses and pay cuts slashed consumers’ purchasing power.

Money Management An Emphasis on Policy Making

March 23, 2022

‘Money’ is a term familiar to us as currency prevailing in an area and has a physical form which varies over the geography of the world and has been linked to different nationally prevailing forms by international financial institutions like IMF and WTO facilitating trade and common exchange platforms there-by creating balance.

Sunny days ahead for India’s Banking Sector

March 14, 2022

There is a quote attributed to Lenin (founder of erstwhile USSR) that “there are decades when nothing happens and then there are weeks when decades happen.” The quote seems apt as we hover around uncertainties in input price inflation, exchange rates and the global supply chain crisis being triggered yet again. 

What Marketers Should do in this Covid-19 pandemic Introduction:

March 14, 2022

During this time of pandemic as a company’s meet-and-greet function,  marketing’s most important job is to recognize, capture with and convert  customers into valuable strength that create long-term cash streams. Marketers  have had to re-examine their strategies in a period of homebound customers,  social distancing, and an unpredictable environment that has forced many  companies into crisis management.

Foreign Exchange Hedging – Changing Dynamics

March 3, 2022

01st September 2020, marked a special day for Indian Financial Market specially for those  who follow Foreign Exchange (FX) markets. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) heavily  liberalized its foreign exchange hedging guidelines, a shift from prescriptive based to principle  based! 

LIBOR Transition – A Quick take

March 3, 2022

LIBOR stands for London Interbank Offered Rate and is published by the Intercontinental  Exchange (ICE) Benchmark Association, UK. It is currently the accepted key benchmark  interest rate for borrowing between banks in the international market. LIBOR is also the basis  for FCY loans in countries around the world, thus impacting consumers as much as Financial  Institutions. LIBOR is published for major currencies in different tenors (overnight, 1-week, 1- month, 3-months, 6-months, 1-year). The 3-months term is most common.  

International Financial Services Centres Authority (Issuance and Listing of Securities) Regulations, 2021: Opening of new arena for fund raising

December 2, 2021

As one of the largest and fastest growing economies, India has been a major consumer of international financial services.

Should you be worried about the rise in markets?

October 15, 2021

At every webinar, cocktail party or chat with someone, I encounter a familiar question – “Has the market run its course? Will it correct now?” 

Is ESG The Next Milestone For Fund Managers?

November 1, 2021

While Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) as an investing guideline has existed for  several years, it has been predominantly driven by large development financial institutions and institutional investors as a part of their larger developmental goals rather than being a  focussed investment strategy.

Alternative Investment Funds en route to becoming Mainstream investments

November 18, 2021

Globally, the year 2020 was a looming year for the businesses across sectors and several of them dealt with major financial blow.

Regulatory reconstruction of the AIF Regime in India

October 4, 2021

The dynamic nature of the alternative investment regime in India has led to its growth in tandem with prevalent market expectations and global standards.