Updated:
IJ Group
Indra Bhakta Shrestha founded IJ Group (originally NE Group) in 1972, building it initially around synthetic textile manufacturing and consumer products import...
IJ Group
Indra Bhakta Shrestha founded IJ Group (originally NE Group) in 1972, building it initially around synthetic textile manufacturing and consumer products import in Nepal's then-nascent industrial economy. The founder's son, Ravi Bhakta Shrestha, now chairs the group after a tenure as president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, while his grandson Rabindra Bhakta Shrestha serves as managing director and also runs Prestellar Ventures, a joint venture with Nepal's Chaudhary Group. The family's wealth originates in that early manufacturing base, but the group's posture shifted decisively toward partnerships and asset ownership over the following decades. IJ Group's strategy centers on holding significant stakes in operating businesses alongside multinational partners, supplemented by direct real estate equity. On the operating side, the group is the local joint venture partner for Unilever Nepal Ltd. — Nepal's dominant consumer-goods manufacturer — and co-developed the Vivanta by Taj hotel in Kathmandu with Indian Hotels Company Ltd. Its real estate portfolio spans mixed-use, residential, and commercial assets: the 1905 Towers on Durbar Marg, Summit Residences in Lalitpur, Soaltee West End in Nepalganj, and the Summit Hotel complex, also in Lalitpur. Outside Nepal, the group holds two commercial properties at 67 and 69 Wall Street in Norwalk, Connecticut. The partnership with the Chaudhary Group extends to Prestellar Ventures, a vehicle Rabindra Bhakta Shrestha leads as CEO, suggesting an institutionalized approach to co-investment within Nepal's concentrated business networks. Professional headcount is not publicly disclosed, but the group maintains a lean, family-led governance structure with third-generation leadership already active. The US holdings are managed through a Norwalk, Connecticut presence. The family's institutional engagement extends beyond direct investing: Ravi Bhakta Shrestha's honorary membership in the Hotel Association Nepal and former FNCCI presidency reflect deep embeddedness in Nepal's policy and industry circles, while Rabindra Bhakta Shrestha's membership in the Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) Nepal signals connectivity to global peer networks. The family's philanthropic vehicle, the I.J. Charitable Trust, operates separately from the commercial entities. In September 2023, IJ Group-adjacent entity Summit Hotel confirmed the completion of its mixed-use Summit Hotel expansion in Lalitpur, reinforcing the group's commitment to hospitality real assets. IJ Group's structural differentiator lies in its joint venture density — few Nepalese family offices operate as the local counterparty to both a FTSE 100 consumer conglomerate and a Tata Group hospitality flagship while simultaneously holding direct US commercial real estate. That dual posture, blending JV operating income with hard-asset ownership across two continents, gives the Shrestha family a diversification profile uncommon among Nepal's peer business houses.
General information
Firm type
Single Family Office
Year founded
1972
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Asia
Country
Nepal
City
Kathmandu
Corporate office
Kathmandu, Nepal
Additional offices
Norwalk, CT, United States
Principals
Ravi Bhakta Shrestha
Chairman and Managing Director
Rabindra Bhakta Shrestha
Managing Director, IJ Group; CEO, Prestellar Ventures
Indra Bhakta Shrestha
Founder
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
How does IJ Group source its investment opportunities?
IJ Group sources primarily through the Shrestha family's deep institutional relationships in Nepal's business community. Ravi Bhakta Shrestha's former presidency of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry gave the family visibility into deal flow across Nepal's private sector. Joint venture partnerships with multinationals like Unilever and IHCL (Taj Group) were built over decades of operating history, not through competitive auction processes. For US real estate, the group appears to acquire directly, holding properties on Wall Street in Norwalk, Connecticut.
Is IJ Group structured as a single family office or a conglomerate?
IJ Group operates as a single family office with conglomerate characteristics. Its holdings include operating businesses (Unilever Nepal, hotels) held through joint venture structures alongside a direct real estate portfolio. The founding Shrestha family controls all major decision-making, with third-generation member Rabindra Bhakta Shrestha now serving as managing director and CEO of the Prestellar Ventures co-investment vehicle alongside Nepal's Chaudhary Group.
What is IJ Group's relationship with the Chaudhary Group?
IJ Group and the Chaudhary Group (CG Corp Global) are joint venture partners in at least two known entities: the Summit Hotel in Lalitpur, Nepal, and Prestellar Ventures, a separate investment platform. Rabindra Bhakta Shrestha serves as CEO of Prestellar Ventures, indicating operational collaboration between two of Nepal's most prominent business families. CG Corp Global is Nepal's largest conglomerate, best known for Wai Wai noodles and Taj hotel partnerships.
Does IJ Group invest outside Nepal?
Yes. IJ Group owns two commercial properties at 67 and 69 Wall Street in Norwalk, Connecticut, USA — a rare direct US real estate holding for a Nepalese family office. The group's primary investment activity remains concentrated in Nepal, where it holds residential, commercial, and mixed-use assets in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Nepalganj, alongside its joint venture operating companies.
Who runs investment decisions at IJ Group?
Chairman and Managing Director Ravi Bhakta Shrestha, son of founder Indra Bhakta Shrestha, leads the group's investment decisions. His son Rabindra Bhakta Shrestha, as managing director and CEO of Prestellar Ventures, increasingly handles operational and investment execution, reflecting a staged generational transition. The family maintains a lean governance structure without externally disclosed investment committee members.
What industries does IJ Group avoid?
There is no public record of IJ Group explicitly ruling out specific sectors. However, its historical portfolio — manufacturing, consumer goods, banking, insurance, hospitality, and real estate — shows a preference for tangible, cash-flowing assets and regulated industries rather than speculative technology or venture-stage investments. No known exposure to crypto, early-stage tech, or hedge fund commitments has been reported.
How did the Shrestha family build its wealth?
Founder Indra Bhakta Shrestha built the family's initial wealth through synthetic textile manufacturing and consumer products import beginning in 1972, when Nepal's industrial sector was still emerging. The group later diversified into banking, insurance, and tourism, with a pivotal moment coming through the joint venture with Unilever to create Unilever Nepal Ltd., which became one of Nepal's largest consumer goods manufacturers. Real estate accumulation followed across multiple asset classes.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
Need institutional-grade insight on family offices?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: