FUND PHILOSOPHY*

The fund aims to identify and invest in companies with steady growth prospects, operating in industries with a stable growth visibility over the medium term – 2-4 years. The fund would be willing to pay higher valuation for companies with distinct segment leadership advantages and/or for companies operating in segments which are witnessing a boost of growth due to change in industry dynamics; regulatory changes / geographical shifts. While not eschewing completely, the fund aims to limit exposure to “deep” cyclicals and focus more on companies and sectors with secular growth outlook. Hence, the valuation metrics of the fund – P/E; EV/EBIDTA; EV/Sales may appear to be more expensive than the benchmark.
Consumer facing rather than B to B is another focus area of the fund. The fund aims to ensure participation in non-small caps as a measure of higher liquidity as well addressability for investing in sectors where size brings noticeable advantage – BFSI, for example. The fund aims to hold cash levels of upto 10% across time periods, both as a measure of liquidity as well as to capitalize on opportunistic investing. Lastly, rather than try to outperform the benchmark on the upside, the fund would aim to conserve capital by limiting downside during periods of drawdowns, a dominant (and painful) characteristic of small cap investing.

      OUTLOOK

The pandemic's second wave appears to have peaked and a long "plateau" lies in front of us (similar to Jul-Sept 2020). The pace of vaccination will be an important factor to re-start the economic engine – which thankfully was in neutral rather than switched off as the case last year.

For India, macros economic indicators - inflation and crude oil remain the two key variables to track. From a macro point of view, the debate of Cyclical vs Growth will rage till the time RBI policy – which currently focuses entirely on Growth, pivots its focus solely on inflation. It may be difficult to predict how long this phase will last. For smart investors, observing/ keeping track of key macro trends will need to become an integral part of the investment process – domestic as well as global.

Markets at current elevated levels need the support of strong earnings growth and continuation of the loose monetary policy globally, especially in the US. Any perception of change to the worse on both counts will make the markets nervous and twitchy. Market corrections, as a result, will not be slow and suffocating, they will be short and sharp. FY21-23 market move may be more broad-based as compared to the FY17-20 phase. The same may be necessitated across equity portfolios!

     FUND FEATURES: (Data as on 30th June'21)

Category: Small Cap Fund
Monthly Avg AUM: Rs 1,182.39 Crores
Inception Date: 25th February 2020
Fund Manager: Mr. Anoop Bhaskar
Benchmark: S&P BSE 250 SmallCap-TRI
Exit Load:
1% if redeemed/switched out within 1 year from the date of allotment
Minimum Investment Amount: Rs100 and in multiples of Rs1 thereafter
SIP Frequency: Monthly
SIP Dates (Monthly): Investor may choose any day of the month except 29th, 30th and 31st as the date of instalment.
Options Available: The Scheme offer IDCW@ Option & Growth Option. IDCW@ Option under each Plan further offers of choice of Payout & Sweep facilities.

^@Income Distribution cum capital withdrawal

PORTFOLIO

(30 June 2021)

     SECTOR ALLOCATION

     RISKOMETER