ITI Banking and PSU Debt Fund NFO – Is this better fund compared to corporate debt funds?
ITI Mutual Fund is planning to launch Banking and PSU Debt fund. This New Fund Offer would open for subscription on October 5, 2020. This is an open ended mutual fund that predominantly invests in debt instruments of banks, Public Sector Undertakings, Public Financial Institutions and Municipal Bonds. Should you invest in ITI Banking and PSU Debt Fund NFO? What are the various risk factors associated with such funds?
Also read: Should you invest in Nippon India Smallcap 250 Index Fund?
Issue details of ITI Banking and PSU Debt Fund (NFO)
This is an open-ended equity mutual fund scheme. Here are the NFO issue details.
| Scheme Opens | 05-Oct-20 |
| Scheme Closes | 19-Oct-20 |
| Scheme reopens for continous purchase/sale | 30-Oct-20 |
| Scheme Plans | Direct and Regular Growth and Dividend |
| Minimum investment (Lumpsump) | Rs 5,000 |
| Minimum investment (SIP) | Rs 500 / 6 months |
| NAV of the fund | Rs 10 during NFO period |
| Entry Load | Nil |
| Exit Load | Nil |
| Risk | Moderately Low Risk |
| Max Total expense Ratio (TER) | 2.00% |
| Benchmark | CRISIL Banking and PSU Debt Index |
Download ITI Banking and PSU Debt Fund SID
What is the investment objective of this MF scheme?
The investment objective of the Scheme is to generate income / capital appreciation through investments in debt and money market instruments consisting predominantly of securities issued by entities such as Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs), Public Sector undertakings (PSUs), Public Financial Institutions (PFIs) and Municipal Bonds.
There is no assurance or guarantee that the investment objective of the scheme will be realized.
Who is eligible to invest in this mutual fund scheme?
The following can invest in this scheme.
1) Indian resident adult individuals, either singly or jointly.
2) Minors through Parents/Lawful Guardian.
3) Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) through its Karta.
4) Partnership Firms in the name of any one of the partners.
5) Proprietorship in the name of the sole proprietor.
6) Companies, Body Corporate, Societies, Association of Persons, Body of Individuals, Clubs and Public Sector Undertakings registered in India if authorized and permitted to invest under applicable laws and regulations.
7) Banks
8) Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) / Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) on full repatriation basis or on non-repatriation basis;
Complete list of eligible participants who can invest can be checked in prospectus of this new fund offer.
Who is the Fund Manager of ITI Banking and PSU Debt Fund?
This fund will be managed in a co-fund manager model. Co-managed by Mr. Milan Mody and Mr. George Heber Joseph.
What is the benchmark for this scheme?
The benchmark for this scheme is CRISIL Banking and PSU Debt Index.
What is the allocation pattern in this mutual fund?
This fund investment pattern is as follows:
1) It invests 80% to 100% in Debt (including securitised debt) and Money Market Instruments issued by Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs), Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), Public Financial Institutions (PFIs) and Municipal Bonds. The risk profile in this segment is low to medium.
2) It would invest 0% to 20% Debt (including government securities) and Money Market Instruments issued by entities other than the above. The risk profile in this segment is low to medium.
3) It would invest 0% to 10% in units issued by REITs and InvITs. The risk profile in this segment is medium to high.
4) The Scheme may take exposure into fixed income derivatives upto 50% of the net assets for hedging and portfolio rebalancing purpose.
Why to invest in the ITI Banking and PSU Debt Fund?
Here are a few reasons to invest in such mutual fund schemes.
1) This fund would invest in debt instruments of Scheduled commercial banks, government entities and PSU enterprises. Such funds are considered to be safer compared to corporate bonds that invests in corporate debt instruments which are high risk.
2) This fund aims to invest in short and medium term options (2-5 years). This fund is good for short to medium term investors.
3) Since it invests in banks and PSU debt instruments, it provides high liquidity unlike corporate risk funds which invests in corporate debt papers and are high risk with liquidity issues.
4) Banking and PSU debt funds segment performed well and gave higher returns in the last few years compared to corporate bond funds, dynamic bond funds, medium to long term duration funds etc.
You may like: Should you invest in Mirae Asset Ultra Short Term Fund for 3 to 6 months tenure?
Some key risk factors you should consider before you invest in such funds
One should consider some of these risk factors / negative factors before investing.
1) Such funds would have interest rate risks (interest rate increases, bond yield fall and vice versa).
2) While investment in Government enterprises / PSU debt would have zero risk, there is credit risk in commercial bank debt instruments. If the ratings of such commercial banks go down, the value of the bonds invested also would go down. It would invest in scheduled commercial banks that include private sector banks, public sector banks, small finance banks, payment banks and foreign banks that has a presence in India. Hence, the risk is NOT eliminated.
3) It invests in REITS and InvITs which are considered as high risk.
3) You can refer complete risk factors of investing in this fund.
Are Banking and PSU Debt Funds better than other debt funds?
Just see below a snapshot comparing with other debt funds (This table prepared a couple of months back for a mutual fund review and analysis).
Performance of existing Banking and PSU Funds
Now, let us look at some of the top performing banking and PSU debt funds in 2020 (direct plans).
| Fund Name | Annualised Returns | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year | 3 Year | 5 Year | |
| Aditya Birla Sun Life Banking & PSU Debt Fund | 10.6% | 8.7% | 9.1% |
| Edelweiss Banking and PSU Debt Fund | 12.9% | 9.9% | 9.1% |
| Kotak Banking and PSU Debt Fund | 10.7% | 9.0% | 9.0% |
| Nippon India Banking & PSU Debt Fund | 11.2% | 9.0% | 9.0% |
| HDFC Banking and PSU Debt Fund | 10.7% | 8.7% | 9.0% |
| Franklin India Banking & PSU Debt Fund | 9.7% | 9.0% | 8.8% |
| Axis Banking & PSU Debt Fund | 10.2% | 9.3% | 8.8% |
| SBI Banking and PSU Fund | 10.4% | 9.1% | 8.8% |
| ICICI Prudential Banking & PSU Debt Fund | 9.8% | 7.9% | 8.8% |
| DSP Banking & PSU Debt Fund | 10.9% | 8.6% | 8.8% |
| IDFC Banking & PSU Debt Fund | 11.4% | 9.6% | 8.7% |
| L&T Banking and PSU Debt Fund | 10.7% | 8.5% | 8.7% |
| PGIM India Banking & PSU Debt Fund | 10.6% | 8.7% | 8.7% |
| LIC MF Banking & PSU Debt Fund | 9.3% | 8.9% | 8.5% |
| Invesco India Banking & PSU Debt Fund | 9.2% | 8.5% | 7.8% |
| Sundaram Banking & PSU Debt Fund | 8.9% | 7.7% | 7.8% |
| UTI Banking & PSU Debt Fund | 9.1% | 4.6% | 6.6% |
Also Read: ICICI Pru ESG Fund New Fund Offer?
Should you invest in the ITI Banking and PSU Debt Fund NFO?
ITI Banking and PSU Debt Fund invests in debt instruments of scheduled commercial banks and PSU enterprises. While investment in debt instruments of PSU enterprises has almost zero risk, investing in bank debt instruments are still risky. Interest rates are expected to further fall in the next few years that would increase the bond yield. In such scenario, investing in debt funds could be the best bet. Even these are better funds compared to corporate debt funds which invests in corporate debt instruments which are considered as high risk. One can expect 8-10% returns from such Banking and PSU Debt funds, though not guaranteed. If you are a moderate risk taker and willing to invest for 2-3 years time frame and want to test new funds, you can invest in this fund. Otherwise, you can invest in some of the top performing banking and PSU debt funds listed above.
If you like this article, please share this on your Facebook or Twitter. This would be a special gift which you would be giving to our blog.
- 10.1% Muthoot Fincorp NCD – Oct-2024 – Issue Details and Review - October 7, 2024
- 11% Edelweiss Financial Services NCD Oct-2024 Issue Details - October 6, 2024
- Forex Robots and Copy Trading– Can You Combine Automation with Social Trading? - October 1, 2024
