Mutual Fund

A mutual fund is a professionally-managed investment scheme, usually run by an asset management company that brings together a group of people and invests their money in stocks, bonds and other securities.

As an investor, you can buy mutual fund “units”, which basically represent your share of holdings in a particular scheme. These units can be purchased or redeemed as needed at the fund is current net asset value (NAV). These NAVs keep fluctuating, according to the funds holdings. So, each investor participates proportionally in the gain or loss of the fund.

Product List

Mutual Funds are classified as Open-end, Closed-end and Interval Funds

Open-end schemes are open for investors to enter or exit at any time, even after the NFO. Although some unit-holders may exit from the open-end scheme, wholly or partly, the scheme continues operations with the remaining investors. The scheme does not have any kind of time frame in which it is to be closed

Closed-end funds have a fixed maturity. Investors can buy units of a closed-end scheme, from the fund, only during its NFO. The fund makes arrangements for the units to be traded, post-NFO in the stock exchange/s. This is done through a listing of the scheme in one or more stock exchanges. Such listing is compulsory for closed-end schemes

Interval funds combine features of both open-end and closed-end schemes. They are largely closed-end, but become open-end during pre-specified time periods. For instance, an interval scheme might become open-end between January 1 to 15, and July 1 to 15, each year. The benefit for investors is that, unlike in a purely closed-end scheme, they are not completely dependent on the stock exchange to be able to buy or sell units of the interval fund. There is a transaction period (January 1 to 15 and July 1 to 15, in this example), when both subscription and redemption may be made to and from the scheme). Transaction period has to be of minimum 2 working days, as per SEBI Regulations. The gap between two successive transaction periods (January 15 to July 1, in this example) is called interval period. The minimum duration of an interval period is 15 days. Subscription and redemption is not permitted during the interval period.

Funds are further classified on the basis of their management style - Actively Managed Funds and Passive Funds

Actively managed funds are funds where the fund manager has the flexibility to choose the investment portfolio, within the broad parameters of the investment objective of the scheme.

Passive fund invests on the basis of a specified index, whose performance it seeks to track. Thus, a passive fund tracking the S&P CNX Nifty or BSE Sensex would buy only the shares that are part of the composition of that index. The proportion of each share in the scheme is portfolio would also be the same as the weightage assigned to the share in the computation of the index.

The index, on which a passively managed scheme is constructed, is called its benchmark. Similarly, even active schemes have a benchmark – a standard against which scheme performance can be compared. A benchmark is announced when every scheme, active or passive, is launched.

Finally the schemes are classified on the basis of their Asset Class : Equity, Debt & Hybrid Funds

A scheme might have an investment objective to invest largely in equity shares and equity related investments like convertible debentures such schemes are called equity schemes.

Schemes with an investment objective that limits them to investments in debt securities like Treasury Bills, Government Securities, Bonds and Debentures are called debt funds or income funds.

Hybrid funds have an investment charter that provides for a reasonable level of investment in both debt and equity.

Advantage

Following are the additional advantages of investing in a Mutual Fund :

1. Affordable Portfolio Diversification

Units of a scheme give investors exposure to a range of securities held in the investment portfolio of the scheme. Thus, even a small investment of Rs5,000 in a mutual fund scheme can give investors a diversified investment portfolio. With diversification, an investor ensures that all his eggs are not in the same basket. Even if some investments in the scheme portfolio lose money, other investments in the portfolio can make up for the loss. Thus, diversification helps reduce the risk in investment. In order to achieve the same diversification as a mutual fund scheme, investors will need to set apart several lakh of rupees. Instead, they can achieve the diversification through an investment of a few thousand rupees in a mutual fund scheme.

2. Economies of Scale

The pooling of large sums of money from so many investors makes it possible for the mutual fund to engage professional managers to manage the investment operation and underlying risks. Individual investors with small amounts to invest cannot, by themselves, afford to engage such professional management. Large investment corpus leads to various other economies of scale. For instance, costs related to investment research and office space get spread across investors. Further, the higher transaction volume makes it possible to negotiate better terms with brokers, bankers and other service providers. SEBI has fixed a limit on the brokerage that the schemes can pay on their purchases and sales of securities in the market. Similarly, there is a cap on the total expenses of every scheme.

3. Liquidity

At times, investors in financial markets are stuck with a security for which they can not find a buyer; worse, at times they can not find the company they invested in! Such investments, whose value the investor cannot easily realise in the market, are technically called illiquid investments and may result in losses for the investor. Investors in a mutual fund scheme can recover the value of the moneys invested, from the mutual fund itself. Depending on the structure of the mutual fund scheme, this would be possible, either at any time (open-end schemes), or during specific intervals (interval fund), or only on closure of the scheme (closed-end schemes). Closed-end schemes are listed in a stock exchange. Thus, before the scheme matures, the investor can sell the units in the stock exchange to recover the prevailing value of the investment.

4. Tax Deferral

Mutual funds are not liable to pay tax on the income they earn. If the same income were to be earned by the investor directly, then tax may have to be paid in the same financial year. Through the growth option in a scheme, the investor can let the moneys grow in the scheme for several years without any incidence of taxation. This helps investors to legally build their wealth faster than would have been the case, if they were to pay tax on the income each year.

5. Tax Benefits

The dividend that the investor receives from any mutual fund scheme is tax-free in his hands.

Investment in specific schemes of mutual funds (Equity Linked Savings Schemes - ELSS) can be reduced from the investor is income that is liable to tax. This reduces their taxable income, and therefore the tax liability.

The Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings Scheme (RGESS) offers a rebate to first time retail investors with annual income below Rs10 lakh. 50% of the amount invested (excluding brokerage, securities transaction tax, service tax, stamp duty and all taxes appearing in the contract note) can be claimed as a deduction from taxable income in a single financial year. Although any amount can be invested in such scheme, the benefit is only available up to Rs. 50,000. Thus, the deduction is limited to 50% of Rs 50,000, i.e., Rs 25,000. Once an RGESS deduction is claimed in a financial year, no further RGESS deduction can be claimed by that investor in any future years. Mutual funds announce specific schemes that are eligible for the RGESS deduction.

6. Convenient Options

The options offered under a scheme viz. growth and dividend, allow investors to structure their investments in line with their liquidity preference and tax position.

7. Investment Comfort

The Know-Your-Customer (KYC) requirements are centralised across the capital markets, including mutual funds. Therefore, based on a single KYC process, investors can invest across the capital market in shares, debentures, mutual funds etc. Further, once an investment is made with a mutual fund, the investor can make further purchases with very little documentation. This simplifies subsequent investment activity.

8. Systematic Approaches to Investment

Mutual funds also offer facilities that help investor invest regularly through a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP); or withdraw amounts regularly through a Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP); or move moneys between different kinds of schemes through a Systematic Transfer Plan (STP). Such systematic approaches promote an investment discipline, which is useful in long term wealth creation and protection.

9. Regulatory Comfort

SEBI has mandated strict checks and balances in the structure of mutual funds and their activities

How to Invest?

The following are eligible to purchase Units of most mutual fund schemes:

Resident Indian adult individuals, above the age of 18. They can invest, either singly or jointly (not exceeding three names)
Minors i.e. persons below the age of 18 Since they are not legally eligible to contract, they need to invest through their Parents/ Lawful guardians.
Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) : Here family members pool the family money (inherited) for investments. The head of the family (called “karta”) invests on behalf of the family. Against his name in the application, he would add the letters "HUF" to show that the investment belongs to the family.
Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) / Persons of Indian origin (PIO) resident abroad . An Indian citizen, who is working abroad, and his / her family residing abroad are typical NRIs who invest in India.
Some Indians go on to become citizens of foreign countries such as US, Canada, New Zealand etc. Since India does not permit dual citizenship, they need to give up their Indian citizenship. However, their status as erstwhile Indians, entitles them to invest in mutual fund schemes. As part of the documentation, they will need to provide their PIO (Person of Indian Origin) Card / OCI (Overseas Citizenship of India) Card.
NRI / PIO resident abroad have the facility of investing on repatriable basis i.e. when they sell the investment, the sale proceeds can be transferred abroad. Alternatively, they can invest on non-repatriable basis, in which case the proceeds from the sale of those investments cannot be remitted abroad. The conditions related to making payments for repatriable investments are discussed later in this Unit.
Qualified Foreign Investors (QFIs) These are foreigners from certain countries that are permitted to invest in mutual fund schemes (and equity shares). SEBI has detailed the requirements and routes through which such investors, who are not Indians, can invest.
QFI may also be a non-individual, like a company

Companies / corporate bodies, registered in India

Non-individual Investors which includes:

Registered Societies and Co-operative Societies
Religious and Charitable Trusts
Trustees of private trusts
Partner(s) of Partnership Firms

Association of Persons or Body of Individuals, whether incorporated or not
Banks (including Co-operative Banks and Regional Rural Banks) and Financial Institutions and Investment Institutions
Other Mutual Funds registered with SEBI
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) registered with SEBI
International Multilateral Agencies approved by the Government of India
Army/Navy/Air Force, Para-Military Units and other eligible institutions
Scientific and Industrial Research Organizations
Universities and Educational Institutions. Here, the individuals who sign the documents are called authorised signatories and are investing on behalf of organizations / institutions they represent.

KYC Requirements for Mutual Fund Investors

Broadly, mutual fund investors need the following documents:

Proof of Identity
Proof of Address
PAN Card (exempted for Micro-SIP, discussed in next section, and investments upto Rs. 20,000 per investor per mutual fund per financial year)
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SEBI has instituted a centralized KYC process for the capital market, including mutual funds. This is a significant benefit for the investor. Based on completion of KYC process with one capital market intermediary, the investor can invest across the capital market. KRAs facilitate this centralised KYC process. So far, SEBI has approved 4 KRAs:

Where investment is made by a minor, KYC requirements have to be complied with by the Guardian.

At times, investments are made by a Power of Attorney (PoA) holder. For example, father invests on behalf of son who gives a PoA. KYC requirements have to be complied with, by both, investor and PoA holder.

Disclaimer:

Mutual Funds and securities investments are subject to market risks, please read the offer document carefully before investing. There is no an assurance or guarantees that the objectives of the Scheme(s) will be achieved. As with any investment in securities, the NAV of the Units issued under the Scheme(s) can go up or down depending on the factors and forces affecting the capital markets. Past performance of the Sponsor/AMC/Mutual Fund is not indicative of the future performance of the Scheme.