First Investment Agreement signed between NIIF and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority

India’s National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) of India on has signed an investment agreement worth $1 billion with Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA). With this, ADIA became first institutional investor in NIIF’s Master Fund and shareholder in NIIF’s investment management Company. NIIF is claimed to be India’s first sovereign wealth fund.

Background

The agreement was signed in pursuant to Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Finance Ministry and Government of United Arab Emirates (UAE) to mobilise long term investment into NIIF.

National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF)

The Union Government has set up NIIF in 2015 with aim to attract investments from both domestic and international sources for infrastructure development in commercially viable projects both Greenfield and Brownfield, including stalled projects. It was envisaged to be Category II Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) under SEBI Regulations. It will also serve as an umbrella fund with several funds underneath it.
It has proposed corpus of Rs. 40,000 crores (around $6 Billion).  Government’s contribution to NIIF is 49% of total commitment at any given point of time. NIIF has been mandated to solicit equity participation from strategic anchor partners, like overseas sovereign, quasi-sovereign, multilateral and bilateral investors.
Two companies viz. NIIFTL, trustee of fund and NIIFL, investment management company of NIIF were incorporated in 2015. Besides, Governing Council also has been set up under chairmanship of Union Finance Minister to act as an advisory council to NIIF.

Few investors of NIIF

NIIF has singed MoUs with Government of UAE, RUSNANO, QIA, RDIF and Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport & Urban Development (JOIN). In addition, DEA has signed terms for cooperation on NIIF with UK Treasury and US Treasury. Besides, India-UK Green Growth Equity Fund (GGEF) also has been announced in April 2017.

Month: Current Affairs - October, 2017