The Renaissance India Next Portfolio is managed by Pankaj Murarka, a name that has quietly earned deep respect in India’s equity landscape. A rank-holding Chartered Accountant from ICAI, Pankaj brings with him over 26 years of rich experience, having worked at the helm of some of the most prestigious investment institutions in the country.
Before founding Renaissance, he played instrumental roles at Motilal Oswal, Rare Enterprises (the investment firm of Rakesh Jhunjhunwala), Merrill Lynch, and UTI AMC. But perhaps his most notable contribution came at Axis AMC, where as Chief Investment Officer he managed an equity AUM of $5 billion. He was pivotal in the launch and growth of Axis Mutual Fund, which rapidly became one of India’s fastest growing AMCs between 2011 and 2016. Under his leadership, the Axis Small Cap Fund was the best-performing small-cap fund in 2014, delivering an astonishing 84.3% return.
His investment philosophy is rooted in discipline and durability. He looks for companies with strong, sustainable business models—those that demonstrate real competitive advantages, pricing power, consistent free cash flows, and high return on equity. Importantly, he pays close attention to the quality of management, backing teams that can navigate both upcycles and downturns.
Currently, the fund is driven by a dual-theme approach called “Growth & Income.” On one hand, it focuses on India’s high-growth businesses that are poised to scale in the coming years. On the other, it builds in an inflation hedge through companies that generate steady income and have strong pricing power—a prudent move in today’s macro environment.
The portfolio itself is built bottom-up, with no sectoral bias, giving the manager the freedom to choose only the best opportunities regardless of industry. It typically consists of 20–25 stocks—enough for diversification but concentrated enough to retain high conviction. It operates as a true Flexi Cap strategy, allocating across large, mid, and small caps based on where the most compelling opportunities lie within the current economic cycle.
The minimum investment to participate in the Renaissance India Next Portfolio is ₹50 lakhs, catering to serious investors who want a blend of resilience, consistency, and long-term compounding.
Enclosing a webinar done with the fund manager – PMS AIF WORLD x Renaissance