India-focused hedge fund firm Dynamic Equity Partners is ramping up its marketing efforts and opening up to outside investors.
The New Jersey-based firm launched its Diversified India Fund in August of 2009, but has recently begun to accept outside money. The fund is managed by Raj Nandiwada.
"India, with more than 1 billion population, 8.75% GDP growth and favorable demographics, offers a very attractive destination for investment," said Nandiwada. "The investment strategy is to capture the India growth opportunities through a portfolio of 25 to 30 stocks that is well diversified and liquid with a macro hedge."
The portfolio’s gross performance since inception through June 30 is 33.18%, which compared favorably to its benchmark, NIFTY, which returned 13.49% during the same period. Year-to-date gross performance is 9.54% vs. NIFTY's 2.14%.
"The key is to have access to India growth with an optimal portfolio that protects the investment from macro/micro risks," said Nandiwada. "The product is good fit for investors who want to diversify into India space through an optimal liquid vehicle."
While the firm is domiciled in the U.S., it has boots on the ground in India. Ashok Kumar serves as a senior analyst, Ravi Kumar as a trader and analyst, and GVM Swamy as an analyst.
Since 2004, Nandiwada has been working as consultant in the field of quantitative equity portfolio management, working closely with hedge fund managers to analyze companies and advise on quantitative portfolio management—with a specific focus on India. Prior to that—from 1998 to 2004—he worked as a portfolio engineer and trader at Jacobs Levy Equity Management, a $20 billion quantitative equity management firm.
