When Scheme Variations Are Erased : Mutual Fund Critic

SEBI’s determination to create clearly outlined scheme classes (and to restrict fund homes to 1 scheme per class) was an enormous step in the direction of empowering buyers to make higher scheme decisions.  It’s been a 12 months since that got here into impact and for probably the most half, it’s been successful.  Sadly, some funds homes have discovered (or are discovering) methods to wipe out the variations between schemes throughout totally different classes.  Whereas there’s a want for SEBI to step in, buyers additionally must be vigilant, else we may find yourself holding a scheme that’s fairly totally different from what we anticipated it to be. 

On this submit, I need to share just a few examples of the number of methods through which fund homes have tried to blur the variations between schemes in numerous classes.  I’ve offered these within the type of a brief quiz.  There’s a hyperlink to the solutions on the finish of the submit.

Q1: Misleading Descriptions

Given beneath are the descriptions of two open-end fairness funds managed by a sure fund home.  These descriptions have been taken from the fund home web site.  One of many schemes is assessed as a ‘Mid Cap’ fund.  Primarily based on these descriptions, are you able to determine which certainly one of these is the actual ‘Mid Cap’ fund?

Fund A:

An open ended fairness scheme predominately investing in mid cap shares

Fund B:

…is primarily a Mid-cap fund which provides buyers the chance to take part within the development story of at present’s comparatively medium sized however rising corporations which have the potential to be well-established tomorrow.

Q2: Misleading Promoting

Given beneath are masked banner advertisements for 2 fairness schemes managed by a single fund home.  One among these schemes is assessed as a ‘Targeted’ fund, whereas the opposite is assessed as a ‘Multi Cap’ fund.  In the event you had been capable of learn the detailed descriptions (that are in smaller print), you may need been capable of know which advert is for which scheme.  However since these are web site advertisements, which many can have seen (or will see) on cellular units, the headlines turn into all of the extra necessary.  Primarily based on the headlines, are you able to determine which of those is the precise ‘Targeted’ fund?

Fund C:

Fund D:

Q3: Misleading Allocations

Going by SEBI’s definition, within the so-called ‘Balanced Benefit’ funds, the fairness/ debt allocation is required to be managed “dynamically”.  Whereas some might think about that time period to be all-encompassing, from what I’ve gathered, the aim of getting this class is to group these funds the place the fairness/ debt combine will likely be determined via a strategy of tactical asset allocation.  Because it occurs, at the very least one fund home both has a very restrictive interpretation of what ‘dynamic’ means or has chosen to not make tactical calls.  The fairness allocation of its ‘Balanced Benefit’ fund has remained in a remarkably slim band and has had little resemblance to that of another ‘Balanced Benefit’ fund.  Nevertheless it has had greater than a passing resemblance to the fairness allocation of the ‘Aggressive Hybrid’ fund managed by the identical fund home.  Given beneath is the unhedged fairness allocation for the final 12 months for the 2 schemes.  Primarily based on this data, are you able to determine which of those is the ‘Aggressive Hybrid’ fund and which is the ‘Balanced Benefit’ fund?

This fall: Misleading Threat Profile

‘Credit score Threat’ Funds are required to have at the very least 65% of their portfolio in securities which are rated AA or decrease.  It’s typically anticipated that these funds will carry the next credit score danger than another class of debt funds.  Given beneath is the newest score profile, yield, and maturity of the portfolios of three debt funds, managed by a single fund home.  Primarily based on this data, are you able to determine which of those is the ‘Credit score Threat’ fund?