‘Lunate Capital’ launches Shariah-compliant ETF tracking Indian equities

ABU DHABI / WAM

Lunate Capital LLC, an Abu-Dhabi-based management company licenced by the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) and a subsidiary of Lunate Holding RSC Limited, announced the launch of the Chimera SP India Shariah ETF, a physical, in-kind, liquid, and fully fungible exchange traded fund, that will list on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX).
The Fund will track the performance of Shariah-compliant Indian equities listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange. Investors can subscribe through the six Authorized Participants and the ADX eIPO portal from 12-17 January.
The Chimera SP India Shariah ETF, the ninth sub-fund under the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA)-registered Chimera Umbrella Fund, will replicate the performance of the SP India Shariah Liquid 35/20 Capped Index.
The Index is provided by the SP Dow Jones Indices and tracks the performance of the 30 most liquid Shariah-compliant Indian stocks listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange. Current constituents include Reliance Industries, Infosys, and Tata Consultancy Services.
The Fund is an Income Share Class B, which is planned for listing on the ADX on 26th January. Dividends received by the Fund are intended to be distributed on a semi-annual basis.
Sherif Salem, Partner and Head of Public Markets at Lunate, commented, “The Chimera SP India Shariah ETF offers investors on the ADX direct access to the world’s fifth-largest stock market and one of the fastest growing economies globally. This ETF is also Shariah-compliant, which will appeal to a broader range of investors who prioritise adherence to Islamic financial principles. The Chimera SP India Shariah ETF enhances the range of ETFs available to investors in the UAE, now giving them direct access to markets in eight different countries worldwide.”
The ETF will be managed by Lunate Capital LLC, which is licenced by the SCA as a management company. BNY Mellon will act as the ETFs’ global custodian. Authorised Participants for the Fund are International Securities, EFG-Hermes, Arqaam Securities, FAB Securities, Daman Securities, and BHM Capital.
Abdulla Salem Al Nuaimi, Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, said, “Our congratulations to Lunate for the launch of the Chimera SP India Shariah ETF. This new listing augments ADX’s status as a premier ETF hub with vital market coverage and extensive reach. The geographical diversification of funds listed on the ADX platform allows investors to access multiple regional and global markets that they might otherwise face difficulty investing in individually.
In 2023, ADX’s trading values of ETFs exceeded AED 5 billion, marking a remarkable 160% increase from the previous year. Notably, trading volumes reached 1 million units, reflecting a substantial 205% year-over-year growth. These results underscore Abu Dhabi’s position as a thriving capital hub and ADX’s role in offering retail and institutional investors strategic solutions to strengthen and diversify their portfolios locally and globally.”
Michael Mell, Global Head of Custom Indices at SP Dow Jones Indices, commented, “SP Dow Jones Indices is pleased to continue working with Lunate Capital and to license the custom SP India Shariah Liquid 35/20 Capped Index for their new ETF. The Index measures the performance of 30 of the most liquid constituents of the underlying Index listed in India.”
Hani Kablawi, Head of International, BNY Mellon, stated, “This latest ETF offering provides further opportunity for investors to access this fast-growing market. As the global custodian for all of Lunate Capital’s ETFs, we continue to support Lunate’s funds with our open architecture platform, ETF expertise and scale.”