Singapore’s Helios bets on Adani Enterprises, buys 770,000 shares in second quarter

Helios Capital Management is betting on the flagship stock of Adani Group to be the next big winner for its funds in a market left behind in the global AI frenzy. 

The Singapore‑based asset manager bought about 770,000 shares of Adani Enterprises Ltd. in the second quarter across three of its funds, two of which were first-time buyers, Bloomberg-compiled data shows.

The easing of Adani’s legal and reputational overhang and the group’s businesses in ports and emerging energy ventures strengthen the case for further investment, Samir Arora, founder of Helios, said in a recent interview. 

“We have always liked their execution; we own Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone, so we know that,” said Arora, whose ₹7,580-crore ($795 million) Helios Flexi Cap Fund has returned about 8% in the last year to beat 91% of its peers. The Nifty 500 TR has fallen 0.7% during the period. 

His backing of the coal‑to‑ports conglomerate underscores the momentum Adani has gained recently after reaching a US settlement over sanctions-related charges and resolving corruption allegations. Helios joins other investors, such as the Capital Group and SBI Funds Management, in raising stakes in Adani, just as it emerges as a key proxy for India’s artificial intelligence ambitions.

Leveraging its extensive energy assets, Adani plans to invest about $100 billion in data centers and digital expansion. With India lacking a strong domestic semiconductor base, global and local investors are looking at these second‑order infrastructure plays, fuelling sharp rallies in Adani’s energy stocks.

As AI reshapes the tech landscape, Helios’ funds exited early from some of its historically largest exposures such as Indian software services. Disruption from AI has made the software sector a difficult investment, he said, though he remains bullish on a few names. 

Food delivery firm Eternal Ltd. and One 97 Communications Ltd., the owner of Paytm, are among some other stocks Arora is bullish on.

Adani stocks advanced Friday, with Adani Enterprises and Adani Ports both gaining as much as 2.9% to outperform the benchmark. One 97 climbed as much as 5.1%, while Eternal fell 1.8%. 

He is also sanguine about India’s broader outlook, noting that major headwinds are receding. Oil prices are stabilising, while rupee weakness may ease on anticipated foreign inflows, particularly into bonds, he said. 

The fund has rotated more into financials, capital goods, defence, power infrastructure, electronic manufacturing services and consumer firms, he said.

“There are two or three reasons why people didn’t like India, and all of them are going away,” he said. 

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