JioBlackRock Asset Management Company has announced an ambitious expansion plan to launch at least one fund every month on average for the next two years. According to The Hindu BusinessLine, the company aims to be "very digital" in terms of distribution, with Rishi Kohli, chief investment officer, leading the aggressive growth strategy. The fund house currently operates as a 50:50 joint venture between Jio Financial Services and global asset management firm BlackRock, with plans to leverage digital platforms and fintech partnerships for distribution.
Several new fund offerings are currently available for subscription, including 8 mutual funds and 2 SIFs across various categories. As reported by ACE MF, the Prism Hybrid Long-Short Fund by JioBlackRock is open for subscription with a minimum investment of ₹10 lakh and will close on July 13. Additionally, Summit Equity Long-Short Fund by Invesco is available with the same ₹10 lakh minimum investment requirement, closing on July 16. Other options include Zerodha Life Cycle Funds 2036 and 2041 with ₹100 minimum each, closing on July 7, and ICICI Pru Multi-Asset Active FOF requiring ₹1,000 minimum, closing on July 14.
The company has already entered the SIF segment with the launch of its Prism Hybrid Long-Short Fund and plans further expansion. As reported by The Hindu BusinessLine, Kohli stated that JioBlackRock intends to introduce at least one more SIF in the equity long-short category within the next year. The firm is also preparing to launch its first ETFs in the coming months, with Kohli noting that "once the platform is ready, we expect to scale rapidly with multiple ETF launches." The current SIF landscape also includes Summit Equity Long-Short Fund by Invesco with similar investment requirements.
On international expansion, Kohli revealed that the company has shortlisted 10 products for launch through GIFT City, with regulatory filings already initiated. According to The Hindu BusinessLine, two funds will be launched initially and then over the next two-three years, we will keep launching a few schemes. The focus extends beyond benchmark-linked products, targeting global active investment strategies to provide Indian investors easier access to international markets.
The newly launched Prism fund is a multi-strategy hybrid SIF designed to target annual returns of 9–11 per cent while limiting fund-level risk to 2 per cent. As reported by PTI, the fund uses BlackRock's Aladdin risk management platform and offers zero exit load, twice-weekly redemption through an interval structure, and long-term capital gains tax treatment similar to equity investments. The ₹10 lakh minimum investment requirement positions SIFs between conventional mutual funds and portfolio management services. According to The Hindu BusinessLine, this is our first fund. With this SIF, it is the first time we have engaged with distributors. We have got a very strong response already.
JioBlackRock currently manages assets of around ₹18,000 crore, including ₹12,500 crore in debt and income funds and ₹5,500 crore in equity schemes. According to The Hindu BusinessLine, the fund house has 15 existing schemes, comprising 6 fixed income funds, 4 index funds, 3 active equity funds and 2 hybrid funds. The company currently has around 1,200 distributors and is planning to ramp up distribution in the next two-three months. JioBlackRock does not have plans to open branches across the country, with Kohli emphasizing "We want to be very digital and enable even distributors and retail clients with more digital features. From day one we are with all the digital fintechs."
