FEATURES
INDUSTRY ICON BHIM ASDHIR’S CAREER TIMELINE
1987
Management and Baring International Investment, who manage more than US$1.5 trillion in assets. “To invest in emerging markets, you have to be on the ground in those countries, and we did that early on,” Asdhir says. “And we’ve partnered with the ‘who’s who’ of subadvisors in emerging markets.” According to Asdhir, the growth in emerging markets is happening just outside of the index. “These are the companies that
A bright future Asdhir says the future of investing belongs to emerging markets for several reasons. Lower debt levels and higher foreign reserves provide emerging market governments with greater flexibility to implement policies that target inflation, interest rates and currency stability. The market capitalization of emerging markets also has expanded exponentially since 2000. Some predictions have it reaching US$80 trillion by 2030.
“To invest in emerging markets, you have to be on the ground in those countries, and we did that early on. And we’ve partnered with the ‘who’s who’ of sub-advisors in emerging markets” are going to be in the index in the future, and to invest in these companies, you can’t be in Singapore or New York; you have to be in those countries.” The buy-and-hold strategy doesn’t work when investing in emerging markets, he adds. “Investors need to be active in emerging markets, and in order to succeed, you need to have a portfolio manager who is active and understands the local nuances of the macro and micro trends of those economies.” Excel Funds has also developed, over the years, proprietary quantitative models to help select the best companies to invest in. “We believe that each emerging market has unique characteristics and cycles, and we invest in well-researched, globally competitive companies with sustainable growth potential, visionary corporate management and fundamentally good corporate governance,” Asdhir says. “Our ultimate goal is to generate solid long-term returns without taking undue risk.”
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In addition, the younger demographic and a growing middle class in emerging markets will fuel increased domestic consumption and infrastructure development, contributing to accelerated economic growth. Those truths were not self-evident 19 years ago when Asdhir was attempting to get his dream off the ground. “It’s been a complete turnaround,” he says. “Back then it was hard to see, but investors have seen that emerging markets have outperformed in the long run, and by and large, most advisors and investors see that that is where the growth is. Convincing them to invest in emerging markets is not that hard anymore.” After all, the numbers don’t lie. The Excel India Fund has multiplied investors’ money seven times over since it was launched. Ten years ago, China’s economy topped $2 trillion, and now it’s north of $10 trillion. “That’s the future for India,” Asdhir says. “The best is yet to come.”
Graduates from the University of Waterloo with a double degree in actuarial science and computer science; joins actuarial consulting firm Watson Wyatt (now Towers Watson)
1996 1998
Launches Excel India Fund
Founds Excel Funds Management in Mississauga, Ont.
2000
Launches Excel China Fund
2007
Is named Male Entrepreneur of the Year by the IndoCanada Chamber of Commerce; launches Excel Emerging Europe Fund; wins Lipper Award
2001
Launches Excel Chindia Fund
2008 2010
Launches Excel Latin America Fund
2012
2015
Launches Excel Emerging Markets Fund
Wins Lipper Award
2014
Wins Lipper Award
Excel Funds Management is recognized as one of Canada’s Top Small & Medium Employers
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5/06/2015 9:40:29 AM WealthPr