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Affordable Housing
India’s Newest Investment Destination
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Signature meets with leading publications …..
In a step to establish a strong brand image through public The briefing continued with Mr. Umesh Chandra, Chief
relations Signature Group hosted a press briefing last month Executive Officer of Signature Group, discussing GCC
at Dubai Capital Club in DIFC addressing invited editors and investors increased interest in emerging markets investment
journalists from the region’s leading publications about the opportunities, especially India’s infrastructure sector.
Group’s future plans in the emerging markets, available
investment opportunities for GCC investors and pipeline Mr. Chandra announced the Group’s initiative in renewable
investment projects in India’s infrastructure sector. energy sector which has gathered considerable momentum
with support and promotion from the Indian government.
Present at the briefing was Mr. Pankaj Agrawal, founder and Across the globe green and clean energy has become a
Chairman of Signature Group, who opened the panel briefing “mantra” and this chant will continue at least for the next
media about Signature’s assets under management in India, decade if not more, he added.
which includes India’s first integrated Logistics Park and
entertainment-focused city in Mumbai and an integrated Mr. Suresh Nanda, CEO & Managing Director – Signature
township development project outside Delhi –India’s capital. Corporate Advisors Limited, spoke next briefing the media
about Signature’s initiative in the listed equities market and
Mr. Agrawal also provided a detailed overview about instrumental role that the Group is playing in bringing
Signature’s initiative in budget housing sector in India a topic together companies in GCC, India and Africa for strategic
that was of great interest to the media for its significant social partnerships.
impact.
“Affordability” as a concept is very generic and may have Today, India’s Affordable Housing progress has captured
different meanings for different people based on different the world’s attention and its property market has indeed
income levels. After the global financial meltdown emerged as one of the most appealing investment
“affordability” has become need of the hour in the real destinations for both domestic and foreign investors. In a
estate market. Downturn and liquidity crunch forced recent study by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and
developers to adopt a two pronged strategy – smaller Urban Land Institute, a global non-profit education and
units at lesser prices. This shifted developers focus on research institute, India has established itself as a leader
“Affordable Housing” segment, which has now become of the pack in the real estate investment markets in Asia
the buzz word in the global real estate market. for 2010, and affordable housing segment was viewed as
the most promising sector.
India was no exception in the ongoing financial crisis; the
Indian real estate market witnessed a contraction in both The Indian government initiative to create friendly
volume and value. Like everywhere else in the world, the environment for foreign investors is playing an influencing
real money in India’s residential property development role in easing investments in what could be India’s
over the last two decades has been biased towards the primary growth sector. The government has introduced
high end market. However, with the recent changing many progressive measures to unlock the sector potential
market situation the high end segment has lost its shine and meet increasing demand levels.
for the Affordable Housing segment heralding a new
investment destination.
The government has taken the following initiative • Higher FSI for affordable housing project.
towards Affordable Housing:
• Tax benefit under 80 IB: Housing projects approved
• 100% FDI allowed in projects through the automatic during FY 2007-08 are eligible for tax free profits if
route. In case of integrated townships, the minimum completed by March 31, 2012.
area to be developed has been brought down to 25
acres from 100 acres. • Public Private Partnership (PPP) measures: EWS
rental schemes and modification in JNNURM to
• Minimum capital investment for wholly owned encourage affordable housing schemes under PPP.
subsidiaries and joint ventures stands at US$10 million
and US$5 million, respectively. • Policies: Launch of Rajiv Awas Yojana for promoting
slum free India.
• Public sector banks are now offering home loans up to
INR 5 lakh (US$10,750) at a rate of 8.5% and up to INR Also, real estate has been given the status of
20 lakh (US$430,000) at 9.25%. infrastructure through the automatic route. Besides the
above, the government is considering a proposal for
• Interest rate subsidy of 1% on loans up to INR 10 lakh doubling the income tax rebate on home loan interest
(US$ 21,500) for purchase of houses priced at less to INR 3 lakh (US$6,450) from INR 1.5 lakh (US$
than INR 2 Core (US$ 430,000). 3,225) and rising of income tax exemption on rentals
from 30% to 50%.
Bangalore- Atibele
Janadhar Bangalore
11 acres: 1500 units Value Budget Housing
1BHK and 2 BHK; INR 4 lakh and INR 3 Lakh-9 Lakh (US$ 6450-
6 lakh (US$ 8600- US$ 12,900) US$ 19,350) Township on
minimum 10 acre plots
There has been an emergence of a whole new set of India’s housing market has been forecast to grow to
small niche players who have started tapping the US$ 90 billion by 2015 as compared to US$ 12 billion in
demand for low cost housing and launched projects in 2005. Affordable Housing is expected to account for
the range of INR 3 lakh – 7 lakh (US$ 6452 – US$ 80% of the total housing demand over the next 4-5
15,054) some of these projects making news are led by years estimated at 21 million households, an INR
TATA’s Nano Homes, Unique Builders and Manglam 1,300,000 core (US$260 billion). This is indication
Group. enough that residential property segment will primarily
drive the realty sector.
For further information about this investment project, please contact Signature Group - Investor Relations
Department at investorrelations@signatureamc.net
Solar Energy
Solar Energy is one of the fastest growing sectors of the
renewable energy in India. There are about 300 clear
sunny days in a year in most parts of India
approximately equal to 5,000 trillion kWh/year. This
equates to 4-7 kWh/sq.m/year, which is far more than
India’s total energy consumption of about 848 billion
kWh for FY10, as per the Central Electricity Authority.
The government is planning to produce nearly 20 million MW of power from solar energy. The first phase of work
will see projects being completed for producing 100MW of solar power by 2013.
Dr. A.K. Singhal, Director (solar power), Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
Wind Energy
India has long played an important role in the world’s
wind energy market. India’s wind energy business was
established in 1990s and is the only sizeable market in
Asia.
The government has monitored around 700 locations for a period of 1-3 years and had identified 233 as wind
potentials sites for future projects.
While alternative energy could never fully replace conventional sources like coal, wood and petroleum, the
biomass projects across India shows that clean and reliable energy is possible. And it is the only way ahead.
Government Initiatives
The government now offers project developers tax
breaks and option to form power purchase agreements Signature Group Available Investment Opportunity
with power exchanges to provide financial flexibility. All
state electricity boards will have to get 10 percent of An opportunity to invest in the development of 6
their power supply from renewable energy sources by biomass-based power plants, of 12MW capacity each,
totalling 72MW located in states of Punjab and Bihar, India.
the end of 2010 and then increase the share of power
produced by clean energy sources by one percent Promoted by: Bermaco Energy Systems Limited, one of the
every year till 2020. Most of this power is likely to come leading players in the energy business in India
from wind and solar energy plants.
Development by: Bermaco in joint venture with high profile
strategic partners
The government has also set an attractive power tariff
of Rs. 17.91 per kwh for power generated from solar PV • Gammon Infrastructure Projects Limited for Punjab Project
plants. This tariff is about three to five times of the tariff • PTC India Financial Services Limited and Beltron
Telecommunication Limited for Bihar projects.
for power generated from conventional sources like
coal and gas. Independent Service Providers on the projects include:
To assure returns to investors the government has also • Dalkia India Limited – Turnkey Contractor and Plant
Operator for all Bihar Projects
set up a security fund which would pay the project
• Fichtner Consulting Engineers (India) Pvt. Ltd. – Technical
developers in case the state utilities default on their validation for Punjab Project
payments. The government is also looking to launch • Det Norske Veritas (DNV) for CER validations for both
feed-in tariff schemes which would allow homeowners Punjab and Bihar projects
to install solar PV systems and sell surplus power to the
Offer Size: US$ 18,000,000 (US$18M)
utilities at premium.
Investment Tenure: 3 years
These incentives in the wind and solar energy sector in
Investment Objective: Acquire significant minority equity
addition to policy push in various other sectors such as
stake in Bermaco Energy Limited the project holding
small hydro and biomass will help India reach closer to company developing the project.
its target. These policy initiatives will most definitely
attract private as well as international financial funding Asset Manager: Signature Asset Management Company Ltd.
targeted at promoting clean energy. India is taking the
For further information about this investment project, please
right steps to kick start a renewable energy revolution contact Signature Group - Investor Relations Department at
which, if it is able to sustain would bring it successes investorrelations@signatureamc.net
not only to environment and energy but also to the
economy as a whole.
Mark Twain once divided the world into two kinds of matching is done by the trading computer. There are
people - those who have seen the famous Indian no market makers or specialists and the entire
monument the Taj Mahal, and those who haven't. The process is order-driven, which means that market
same could be said about investors. There are two orders placed by investors are automatically matched
kinds of investors - those who know about the with the best limit orders. As a result, buyers and
investment opportunities in India and those who don't. sellers remain anonymous. The advantage of an order
driven market is that it brings more transparency by
India may look like a small dot to someone in the displaying all buy and sell orders in the trading
Middle East or Europe, but upon closer inspection, you system.
will find the same things you would expect from any
promising market. Here we provide an overview of the India started permitting outside investments only in
Indian stock market and how interested investors can the 1990s. Foreign investments are classified into two
gain exposure. categories: foreign direct investment (FDI) and foreign
portfolio investment (FPI). Both registrations are
The Indian Equity Market more popularly known as the granted by the market regulator Securities and
Indian Stock Market has become third biggest after Exchange Board of India (SEBI). Foreign institutional
China and Hong Kong in the Asian region. According to investors mainly consist of mutual funds, pension
the latest report by the Asian Development Bank, it has funds, endowments, sovereign wealth funds,
a market capitalization of nearly $600 billion. As of insurance companies, banks, asset management
March 2009, the market capitalization was around companies etc. At present, India does not allow
$598.3 billion (Rs 30.13 lakh crore) which is one-tenth foreign individuals to invest directly into its stock
of the combined valuation of the Asia region. market. However, high-net-worth individuals (those
with a net worth of at least $US50 million) can be
Most of the trading in the Indian stock market takes registered as sub-accounts of an FII.
place on its two stock exchanges - the Bombay Stock
Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange Emerging markets like India are fast becoming
(NSE). The BSE has been in existence since 1875. engines for future growth. Currently, only a very low
The NSE, on the other hand, was founded in 1992 and percentage of the household savings of Indians are
started trading in 1994. However, both exchanges invested in the domestic stock market, but with GDP
follow the same trading mechanism, trading hours, growing at 7-8% annually and a stable financial
settlement process etc. At the last count, BSE had market, we might see more money joining the race.
about 4,700 listed firms, whereas rival NSE had about May be now is the right time for outside investors also
1,200. to seriously think about joining the India success
bandwagon.
Trading at both the exchanges takes place through an
open electronic limit order book in which order
Signature is partnering with Alchemy in having a FCCB fund and is also assisting in promoting two of Alchemy’s
top notch investment offerings:
Alchemy Capital Management founded by Two, Alchemy India Long Term Fund – seeking
Lashit Sanghvi, Ashwin Kedia, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala to generate long term capital appreciation by
and Hiren Ved. Alchemy’s Management Team has investing in listed Indian equities, PIPES on listed
over 100 years of Indian equity market experience. Indian equities, Pre-IPO and IPO opportunities. The
Alchemy places a strong emphasis on compliance Fund will be market cap agnostic. The portfolio will
and risk management and has a disciplined consist of approx. 25-30 stocks with unlisted/pre-IPO
investment process. The firm manages US$300 investments not exceeding 10% of portfolio. Key
million and has a track record of 8 years. Alchemy features include:
advises high and ultra high net worth families and
institutions including Sovereign Wealth Funds. • Subscription: Monthly
• Subscription charge: up to 1%
Co-founder, Hiren Ved, as Chief Investment • Minimum Investment: US$ 1 million; additional US$
Officer, brings investment philosophy consistency. 1 million (discretionary)
{See independent coverage on his take on Indian • Management fee: 1.5 %; Performance fee: 15 %
Listed Equities}. • Redemption: 1st year hard lock; exit fee thereafter.
Notice period of 45 days.
One, Alchemy Signature India Convertible
Bonds Fund – seeking to generate absolute long Three, Alchemy India Fund – seeking long term
term appreciation with low volatility and relative appreciation on investor’s capital with lower volatility
downside protection. The fund seeks to maximise compared to BSE 200 Index. The Fund will be market
returns by capturing a combination of yield and equity cap agnostic but restricted to 190 stocks with single
upside embedded in the convertible bond. The fund stock futures for better liquidity. Derivatives exposure
will also try to capture any mis-pricings in the market. may include futures and options based on index. Key
Key features include: features include:
For further information about this investment project, please contact Signature Group - Investor Relations
Department at investorrelations@signatureamc.net
Overview
The first: was the conclusion of the 3G and Broadband Despite the financial crisis in CY09, earnings for Sensex
spectrum auction that commenced in April. Against a companies were largely unchanged from Rs820/share in
budgeted US$8bn, the government will now garner Y/E Mar-09 to Rs825/share in Y/E Mar-10. Thus large part
US$24bn, 3x the original estimate. India’s estimated fiscal of the fall was P/E compression rather than earnings
deficit for current FY2011 of -5.5% of GDP (or -US$80bn) de-growth led. Sensex Earnings are expected to grow by
now has a DOWNSIDE risk – for the first time since 2007, 24% to Rs1024/share in Y/E Mar-11 and 20% to
unlike most Western countries which are seeing rising Rs1234/share in Y/E Mar-12.
deficits. This is indeed a positive and welcome trend.
Thus India’s market’s are trading at 18X Mar-11 and 15X
The second: was on fuel subsidy reforms. The government Mar-12 earnings. These valuation measure maybe relatively
surprised the markets with a bold move to deregulate higher to their peers in Asia and other Emerging markets but
petrol/gasoline. At the same time they increased: Prices of given India’s growth potential, lower cyclicality of earnings
petrol was increased by Rs.3.5 per litre or i.e. by ~7%. and superior corporate performance – measured on Return
Diesel by Rs.2 per litre i.e. by ~5%, LPG by Rs.35 per on Equity, these higher multiples are sustainable in our
cylinder or by ~11% and Kerosene by Rs.3 per litre or ~35% view.
These price hikes have saved the government an annual
Rs.240bn ($5bn). Concerns
Major Initiatives Given the capital scarce nature of Indian economy, India
does remain vulnerable to bouts of global risk aversion. On
On the anvil is simplification of Direct Tax Code, the domestic side, Inflation at 10% is the biggest worry,
harmonisation of indirect taxes at a federal level through a however likely easing of food prices post good monsoons,
Goods & Service Tax regime and FDI in multi-brand retail high base effect and tightening bias of Reserve Bank of
and cash & carry (wholesale) which could potentially bring India should help ease overall inflation by Y/E Mar-11 to
global best practices, scale, capabilities and capital which around 5-6%.
should drive productivity and growth in retail trade in India.
Conclusion
On Growth
We think that Indian markets in a consolidation phase but
India’s GDP is expected to grow at 8%+ over next two with a clear upward bias. This consolidation phase will form
years. Historically India’s GDP growth has been quite the base for an eventual new high by end of CY2010 or early
balanced and not boom-bust oriented. Indian economy is 2011. So while the broad markets have the potential to
more consumption oriented not export-driven as most of its deliver 15% returns, stock selection has the potential to
Asian counterparts are nor is it driven by excessive credit deliver higher returns for a long term investor and India
(Credit/GDP is around 65%).
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