European asset manager DWS and Indian asset manager Nippon Life India Asset Management (NAMI) have signed a MoU for a partnership spanning alternatives, passive investing and global distribution.
Under the agreement, DWS intends to acquire a 40% stake in Nippon Life India AIF Management (NIAIF), Nami’s alternatives arm and part of Japan’s Nippon Group, by subscribing to newly issued shares. Nami will hold the remaining 60% and Nippon Life Insurance Japan will keep its existing stake in Nami.
Beyond alternatives, the MoU outlines plans for DWS and NAMI to collaborate on launching passive products for India and Ucits markets. The firms also plan to establish a global distribution arrangement that will allow DWS to market India-focused active strategies across its international network.
The world is waking up to India’s growth
Stefan Hoops, CEO of DWS, commented: “India is one of the core growth markets for global asset managers for the next decades and has long been a strategic ambition for DWS. We are thrilled to partner with NAMI to invest in a well-established franchise to jointly address the growing demand for long-term investments in the Indian economy. The envisaged agreements tackle three of our priorities: drive growth in Alternatives and Passive, deliver on our promise to leverage our strong partnerships in Asia, and pursue our ambition to become ‘top 5 in top 5’.”
Sundeep Sikka, ED & CEO of Nippon Life India Asset Management Ltd, said: “By bringing together DWS’ global expertise with our three decades of Indian asset management expertise, we aim to build a strong and scalable alternatives franchise that attracts both domestic and international investors. Alternatives is the next big opportunity in India’s asset management landscape and with this collaboration, we will further strengthen our Alternatives platform. At the same time, our partnership in Passive strategies and Global distribution will allow us to deliver world-class investment access to global and Indian investors. In addition to Japan, this partnership now opens other key global markets for NAMI and positions us as a truly global asset manager.”
Kaushik Shaparia, CEO, India and emerging Asia of Deutsche Bank, said: “India’s dynamic economy and its accelerating demand for sophisticated investment solutions make this partnership a natural step for us. By joining forces with Nippon Life India, we are not only investing in a market of immense potential but are also reiterating our confidence in India’s regulatory framework, its entrepreneurial spirit, and our commitment to building long-term value for investors both within and beyond its borders.”
James von Moltke, president and chief financial officer of Deutsche Bank and responsible for the Asset Management Segment, said: “India is a key market for Deutsche Bank since we opened our first office there in 1980. As the Global Hausbank, it is our mission to connect markets and capital around the world. We are pleased to leverage our strong and longstanding partnership with Nippon Life to open up DWS’ expertise to the Indian people.”
Kazuo Sato, senior managing executive officer of Nippon Life Insurance Japan, said: “NAMI is an important subsidiary of Nippon Life and one of our most successful asset management acquisitions overseas. Over the years, we have built a strong Indo-Japan corridor, fostering trust, collaboration, and innovation. Our long-standing relationship with Deutsche Bank, DWS and NAMI makes this proposed partnership a natural and strategic step forward. This collaboration represents a true win-win — combining DWS’s global investment expertise with NAMI’s strong local market presence to create lasting value for investors across both organisations.”
