The new ABSL Conglomerate Fund is a unique theme that brings together 170+ companies from the top 35 business houses in the country – which collectively account for 33% of market cap and more importantly, 50% of India Inc’s massive capex thrust.
Robust group cash flows and balance sheet strength give these conglomerates ability to back their animal spirits and invest in long gestation projects – a unique advantage that will enable them to reap the rewards of investing in India’s transformation, thus providing exciting long term wealth creation opportunities for shareholders.
These conglomerates are at the forefront of investing in a new India through massive investments in new energy, infrastructure, logistics, EVs, digital platforms and other such transformational businesses.
The fund will also invest in hold cos – which are either operating or non-operating holding companies that hold sizeable stakes in group listed entities. Hold cos have their own unique cycles of value unlocking, which tend to reward patient investors with non-linear gains over time.
The portfolio of this new fund will likely have 40-50 stocks with a group exposure capped at 25% but likely to be in the mid-teens in practice. The universe of 170+ stocks is spread across 22 sectors, giving adequate scope to capture opportunities across multiple sectors.
Harish says this fund is ideal for investors with a 4-5 year horizon as that’s the time frame by when all these massive capex investments being made today by conglomerates will be fully operational, likely delivering significantly higher value than where these groups are today.