The press release further states, “Avolon announces a US$300 million equity capital commitment from GIC, a leading sovereign wealth fund, subject to customary regulatory approval. Avolon has now secured a total of US$1.4 billion in equity capital from GIC and leading private equity firms, Cinven, CVC Capital Partners and Oak Hill Capital Partners. The equity commitment from GIC adds geographic diversity to Avolon’s capital base and enhances its ownership structure. GIC joins leading private equity firms Cinven, CVC Capital Partners and Oak Hill Capital Partners as equity investors in Avolon with each bringing significant experience and complementary strengths to the Avolon business.”

Read more: Press Release

Read more: GIC Press Release

Tan Jee Say

Many sovereign wealth funds have the visible stress of managing overseas investments while properly communicating to the local citizenry on relevant updates. Most of the time, local citizens want to ensure the money is spent on reliable investments. This is why a number of sovereign funds become hesitant or have name-brand-selection bias when choosing investments. [Content protected for Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute Standard subscribers only. Please subscribe to view site content.]

A few current sovereign-entity FIIs registered include:

• Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
• Abu Dhabi Investment Council
• Australian Future Fund
• Provincial Government of Alberta (AIMCo)
• China’s National Social Security Fund
• Fullerton Fund Management Company LTD (SWE of Temasek Holdings)
• Kuwait Investment Authority
• New Zealand Superannuation Fund
• Norges Bank
• Queensland Investment Corporation
• Singapore’s GIC

Sovereign entities can also invest as a Foreign Venture Capital Investor. FII’s are under strict regulation and cannot hold large positions in listed Indian companies. Times have changed, India wants to increase foreign investment in companies and attract foreign capital. There is a heavily-debated plan underway to create a new defined class of investor for sovereign funds which will be fundamentally different from the FII classification. This new proposal for sovereign funds would allow them to hold a much larger stake at 20% compared with 10% for a publicly traded Indian firm. The plan must be approved by SEBI and receive permission from the Reserve Bank of India. India’s fear was that foreign governments could create numerous sovereign entities to bypass the 10% rule and thus effectively control the company for geopolitical reasons.

Recently, the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation opened up an investment office in Mumbai. This was after India and Singapore signed a Comprehensive Economic Co-operation Agreement (CECA). The Indian Government would also treat Temasek Holdings and GIC as separate investors, not acting in concert in potential large stake undertakings. Sovereign wealth funds are warming to investing in the Indian equity markets as the Government of India begins to warm up to foreign investments.

Tony Tan

The press release states, “GIC officially opened its India office in the city of Mumbai on 31 March 2011. This is GIC’s eighth overseas office outside Singapore. GIC’s India office will be headed by Mr Kishore Gotety. The office will be made up of more than 10 investment and asset management professionals. The team aims to foster close relationships with key Indian partners who share GIC’s values as a responsible and long-term investor.

GIC Deputy Chairman and Executive Director, Dr Tony Tan, said, ‘GIC has been amongst the earliest institutional investors in emerging Asian markets. In India, GIC has been investing across the public and private markets since the early 1990s. The setting up of the India office demonstrates GIC’s commitment to secure a larger role in the Indian growth story.’”

Read more: GIC Press Release