All You Need to Know About the New Flexi Cap Category under Equity Mutual Funds

This was done to ensure that multi cap funds hold a diversified portfolio across large, mid and small cap companies, be true to its label, and to distinguish it clearly from other scheme categories.

Most multi cap funds hold a large cap biased portfolio with a significant allocation to mid and small caps because the restriction on market cap allocation for multi cap funds did not exist earlier. Some fund managers carry negligible allocation to lower market caps or completely ignore the small cap segment, thus failing to meet the multi-cap mandate.

SEBI's guidelines on multi cap funds meant that these funds would be required to extensively rebalance the portfolio to increase allocation in mid and small cap stocks in line with the new norms. However, due to lack of investment opportunities and liquidity constraints in smaller caps, many multi cap funds were apprehensive about the change in definition of these funds.

Following this, mutual fund houses through the AMFI had rolled out a proposal to SEBI for the creation of a new flex cap category. Notably, SEBI had given multi cap funds the option to merge their scheme with their large-cap scheme or convert their multi-cap scheme to another scheme category, for instance large & mid cap fund, thematic fund, value/contra fund, etc.

In order to ensure market stability, SEBI had given mutual fund houses till January 31, 2020, to comply with the circular through its preferred route.

Now with the introduction of flexi cap category, fund managers who are apprehensive about reshuffling of the portfolio or merging with other schemes can rebrand their scheme as a flexi cap fund.

The category will allow the fund manager to invest wherever value and opportunities are available without any restriction on market cap.

Fund houses can launch a scheme under this new category with immediate effect or convert an existing scheme (such as multi cap fund) into flexi cap fund subject in compliance with the requirement for change in fundamental attributes of the scheme.

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What does it mean for investors?

For investors, this is a welcome move. Reduced allocation in large caps and enhanced exposure towards mid and small caps in multi cap funds would have reduced the stability of the portfolio that these funds offered in the past.

It is expected that most multi cap funds having predominant allocation to large caps would rebrand itself as flexi cap fund. However, certain schemes with significant allocation to mid and small caps may prefer to continue with the multi cap fund mandate.

Thus, investors now have the option to select a multi cap fund that maintains a balanced allocation across market caps or a flexi cap fund that invests dynamically across market caps, depending on their risk taking ability.

SEBI has stated that for easy identification by investors and to bring uniformity in names of schemes for a particular category across mutual funds, the scheme name will have to be the same as the scheme category. The AMCs will have to ensure that a suitable benchmark is adopted for the scheme in flexi cap category.

Kotak Standard Multicap Fund, the largest scheme in the multi cap funds category, has announced that it would shift to flexi cap category after taking requisite approvals and following due process. Nilesh Shah, Group President and MD, Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Company has clarified that except the name of the fund (to be renamed as Kotak Standard Flexi cap Fund), everything else including the fund manager, investment process and fund portfolio will remain the same as before.

As an investor, keep a track of announcements by the multi cap funds you have invested in over the next few months. Some changes in attributes may not match your initial investment objective and expectations that you had while investing in the scheme. But if the change is limited only to the name of your scheme, while the portfolio allocation remains the same, then there is not much to worry.

Who should consider investing in a Flexi cap fund?

Indian economy is going through a prolonged slowdown and therefore the growth prospects of mid and small-sized companies are at present very gloomy. Besides, many companies in smaller caps are marred with corporate governance issues and concerns regarding business stability. Picking valuable investment opportunities in smaller caps is a challenging task.

Therefore, in the near term flexi-cap funds are likely to hold a predominant exposure to large caps stocks. However, as and when the tide turns in favour of mid and small cap stocks, flexi-cap funds may increase allocation in the segment.

Since smaller caps are prone to higher volatility which can increase the risk to the portfolio. That said, the presence of large caps in the portfolio would offset some of the volatility. This makes flexi-cap funds suitable for investors having moderate to high risk appetite and an investment horizon of at least 5 years.

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Warm Regards,
Divya Grover
Research Analyst

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