Irdai eases rules to allow insurers to invest in startups via fund of funds
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Last Updated: Apr 10, 2021, 02:58 AM IST
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The Irdai s move comes as a major fillip to scores of startups looking for alternative modes of financing, other than foreign private equity and venture capital funds.
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India’s insurance regulator has eased the rules for local insurers investing in domestic fund of funds, including those which back startups.
Mumbai: India s insurance regulator has eased the rules for local insurers investing in domestic fund of funds (FoF), including in those which back startups.
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India’s (Irdai) move comes as a major fillip to scores of startups looking for alternative modes of financing, other than foreign private equity and venture capital funds. It will also allow Indian insurance companies to widen their portfolios from conservative avenues of investment such as government bonds and pub
Irdai tweaks AIF rules for insurance companies
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Irdai tweaks AIF rules for insurance companies
Mamtha Asokan / TNN / Updated: Apr 10, 2021, 10:41 IST
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CHENNAI: Insurance companies have been allowed by their regulator to invest in ‘fund of funds’ provided such funds are not utilized by an Alternate Investment Fund to invest outside India. The new dispensation gives insurers a source to diversify their investment into new avenues like startups and also gives asset managers a new source of capital.
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) has also barred investment into AIFs which undertake leverage or borrowing other than to meet day-to-day operational requirements and as permitted under SEBI regulations.
IRDAI must review prohibition on investment in AIF investment overseas
April 10, 2021
IRDA has allowed insurance companies to make their investments in FoF
While the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India s (IRDAI) decision to permit insurer’s investments in startups fund of funds is a good move, it needs to review the prohibition on investment in AIFs investing overseas.
According to experts, IRDA should revisit this blanket prohibition in light of the fact that market regulator SEBI permits AIFs to invest up to 25 per cent of the investible funds in overseas securities.
Under applicable insurance laws, an insurance company cannot directly or indirectly invest outside India, and hence IRDA whilst permitting insurer’s investments in FoF has prohibited investment by such an FoF in any AIFs investing overseas.
IRDA gives nod for Indian insurance companies to invest in fund of funds
The decision of IRDA is expected to boost the inflow of domestic capital into the Indian startup ecosystem.
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The inflow of domestic capital into the startup ecosystem in the country has got another boost as the
Insurance Regulatory Development Authority (IRDA) has allowed Indian insurance companies to invest in
fund of funds (FoF).
The new notification from IRDA has allowed insurance companies to make their investments in FoF, subject to the condition that these investments are not made into overseas companies.
This decision by IRDA comes close on the heels of the recent decision of the government to allow private retirement funds to park certain percentage of their capital in
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