Diviniti SIF (ITI)
Our view on their team, the pedigree, the funds & investment philosophy followed.
IME's Review of Diviniti SIF (ITI)
| AMC Rating | Pedigree Rating | Team Rating | Philosophy Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
Upgrade | Upgrade | Upgrade | Upgrade |
AMC View
We maintain a neutral stance on the SIF arm of ITI Group. While the SIF structure provides access to more sophisticated and differentiated investment strategies, it remains relatively new and lacks a meaningful track record, warranting caution given the higher complexity and risks involved. We do acknowledge the strong long–short capabilities of Rajesh Bhatia, who has demonstrated superior downside protection compared to peers during major market stress periods such as the IL&FS crisis and the COVID-19 correction. As such, investors seeking advanced strategies may consider the offering, while being mindful of its limited operating history and key-person dependence
AMC Pedigree
Diviniti SIF is housed within ITI Mutual Fund, part of the broader ITI Group, which has a long operating presence across asset management, capital markets, and financial services in India. While the SIF platform itself is new, its credibility is anchored in ITI AMC’s experience of building regulated investment products, scaling distribution and operations, and managing public-market strategies through multiple market phases.
Team Pedigree
The investment team is led by Rajesh Bhatia, Group CIO, and Laukik Bagwe, CIO for the SIF platform. Rajesh Bhatia brings over three decades of investment experience, including prior long–short capabilities, and currently manages the ITI Long–Short AIF. Laukik Bagwe brings over 25 years of experience as a fixed-income specialist, with prior experience at DSP AMC.
Investment Philosophy
Diviniti SIF does not adhere to a single overarching investment philosophy at the AMC level, instead employing frameworks designed on a strategy-specific basis. Given that the SIF platform is still new, the AMC is in the process of establishing and refining its operating and investment frameworks within this structure
Investment team
Rajesh Bhatia | 4-star rated FM
MD & CIO | 21 yrs Experience | 9 yrs at current firm
Past Experience: CIO (Simto Investment Company), MD & CIO (ProAlpha Systematic Capital), MD & CIO (Heritage India Advisors), SVP and Head of PMS (Reliance Capital)
Rajesh Bhatia has 14 years of experience in alternative investments (Long-short). Prior to ITI Long Short, Rajesh had held the CIO position across different funds such as Simto Investments (a subsidiary of Tata Investments), Heritage India Advisors (Indian advisor to New York-based Heritage Capital, an Indian Long-short equity fund). He was also the SVP and Head of PMS at Reliance Capital at the beginning of his career. Rajesh Bhatia is a commerce graduate from HR College, and has also completed the CFA program conducted by the CFA Institute, USA.
Laukik Bagwe | 3-star rated FM
CIO (SIF) | 26 yrs Experience | 0 yrs at current firm
Past Experience: DSP (VP)
Laukik Bagwe brings over 25 years of experience in fund and portfolio management across fixed-income markets, with specialization in money markets, government securities, and corporate bonds. He previously served as Vice President at DSP Asset Managers Private Limited and earlier worked as Senior Dealer at Derivium Securities India Private Limited. He will serve as the Chief Investment Officer (CIO) for the Diviniti SIF, leveraging his deep expertise across asset classes and investment strategies.
Recommended Funds
Diviniti Equity Long Short
Experience the benefits of working with a 'research-first' investments firm
Free 15-Day Trial of IME RMS App
Get complimentary access to the revolutionary IME RMS App (direct access to IME's central team insights across 1000's of MFs, PMSs, AIFs & Global funds - a first in the industry).
Additionally, a dedicated private banker will help build your financial plan, investment mandate & undertake a comprehensive portfolio review for free.
