Nippon to partner in Reliance Bank; launches India funds

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought greater investments from Japan, financial sector giant Nippon Life today said it will partner Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group for a proposed 'Reliance Bank' and launched two India-focussed funds for Japanese investors.
The two funds would direct investments by Japanese retail investors into Indian equity and bond markets, Nippon and Reliance Life said in a joint statement, while welcoming Modi on his first official visit to Japan as Indian Prime Minister.
Nippon Life said it is committed to a partnership with the Indian business conglomerate for setting up 'Reliance Bank' under an appropriate category of licences to be issued by the Reserve Bank of India.

The announcements coincided with Modi's first official visit to Japan as Prime Minister, during which he invited Japanese investments into India and said that businessmen from the two countries can give a direction to world economy.
"The Prime Minister's visit to Japan reinforces the strategic focus of global partnership between India and Japan.
"As a good role model of business partnership between Indian and Japanese corporations, Reliance Group and NLI Group will actively further expand their collaboration, which will contribute towards strengthening the relations between India and Japan," Reliance Group Managing Director Amitabh Jhunjhunwala said.

Nippon Life Insurance (NLI) President Yoshinobu Tsutsui said, "Reliance Capital is planning to set up its own bank which will cater to individual customers and small and medium enterprises all over India.

"NLI is also participating in this bank project as part of strategic business alliance with a view to improve the financial infrastructure and contribute towards economic growth of India."
Among the two new mutual funds announced for Japanese retail investors, India Equity Selection Fund would allow Japanese investors to "directly invest in Indian companies with long term potential".
Besides, the Short Term Indian Bond Fund would allow investors from Japan to directly invest in Indian government securities and corporate bonds.
Nippon Life Insurance, a Fortune 100 company and the fifth largest private life insurer in the world with revenue of USD 65 billion and profit of USD 5 billion, is the biggest foreign direct investor in Indian asset management and life insurance sector till date.

The Japanese insurer has 26 per cent stake each in Reliance Capital Asset Management (RCAM) and Reliance Life Insurance Company (RLIC), both part of Reliance Capital, the financial services arm of Reliance Group.