While both equity and debt markets have been going through extreme turbulence, many fund houses have sought balanced advantage funds as a resolute to combat this volatility and capitalise on the gains.

Tata Mutual fund is no different. It is out with a Tata Balanced Advantage Fund (TBAF) an open-ended balanced advantage / dynamic asset allocation fund that is a sub-category of hybrid funds.

The balanced advantage / dynamic asset allocation fund mitigates the risk by dynamically managing the allocation between equity and debt as per the prevailing market valuation and sentiment in each asset class. It aims to make optimum use of equity and debt to give the best of both worlds.

[Read: Why Comparing Returns to Risk Is More Meaningful!]

TBAF has the flexibility to vary its equity exposure between 0%-100%. But under normal circumstances it aims to allocate its assets between 65% to 100% in equities, equity related instruments and equity derivatives across market cap (including unhedged and hedged equity). Plus, it will have exposure to debt instruments to counter the downside risk in equity markets.

In terms of risk-return matrix, this scheme is placed at moderate-risk, moderate-return investment proposition.

Graph 1: Risk-Return Matrix

(Source: Tata Balanced Advantage Fund Brochure)

Table 1: NFO Details

Type	An open-ended dynamic equity scheme.	Category	Balanced Advantage
Investment Objective	To provide capital appreciation and income distribution to the investors by using equity derivatives strategies, arbitrage opportunities and pure equity investments. However, there is no assurance or guarantee that the investment objective of the Scheme will be achieved. The scheme does not assure or guarantee any returns.
Min.Investment	Rs 5,000 and in multiples of Re 1 thereafter	Face Value	Rs 10 per unit
Plans	• Regular • Direct	Options	• Growth (default option) • Dividend Payout Re-investment (default)
Entry Load	Nil	Exit Load	1% of the applicable NAV, if redeemed on or before the expiry of 365 days from the date of allotment.
Fund Manager	Mr Rahul Singh and Mr Sonam Udasi (Unhedged Equity), Mr Sailesh Jain (Hedged Equity) and Mr Akhil Mittal (Fixed Income)	Benchmark Index	CRISIL Hybrid 35+65 - Aggressive Index
Issue Opens	9 January, 2019	Issue Closes:	23 January, 2019

(Source: Scheme Information Document)

How will the scheme allocate its assets?

Under normal circumstances, it is anticipated that the asset allocation of TBAF will be as follows:

Table 2: TBAF's Asset Allocation

Instruments	Indicative allocations (% of Total Assets)		Risk Profile
	Minimum	Maximum
Equity and Equity related instruments and Equity Derivatives #	65	100	High
Debt (including money market instruments, securitized debt & units of debt and liquid category schemes) & Cash	0	35	Low to Medium

# Unhedged equity exposure shall be limited to up to 80% of the portfolio value. Unhedged equity exposure means exposure to equity shares alone without a corresponding equity derivative exposure. The margin money requirement for the purposes of derivative exposure may be held in the form of Term Deposit.

Not more than 25% of the net assets of the scheme shall be deployed in securities lending. The Scheme would limit its exposure, with regards to securities lending, for a single intermediary, to the extent of 5% of the total net assets of the scheme at the time of lending. The Scheme does not seek to participate in repo/reverse repo in corporate debt securities. The Scheme does not seek to participate in credit default swaps. (Source: Scheme Information Document) What will be the Investment Strategy?

Tata Balanced Advantage Fund aims to generate medium to long term capital growth by investing in a diversified portfolio consisting of equity and equity related instruments across market capitalization. To achieve the investment objective of the Scheme the fund manager will invest into opportunities available across the market capitalization and would bank upon on the gains with active fund management.

As per the offer document, TBAF aims to invest in companies based on various criteria including sound professional management, track record, industry scenario, growth prospectus, the liquidity of the securities, etc. The Scheme will emphasize on well managed, good quality companies with above-average growth prospects. It will use derivatives to hedge the downside risk of the portfolio.

The derivatives may also be used for generating returns through arbitrage opportunities. The Scheme may take a call on the hedge ratio after weighing various factors including but not limited to, the following:

1. The earnings growth of the stock

2. The quantitative valuation parameters in the historical as well global context:

   a. P/E Ratio

   b. P/ BV Ratio

   c. Price / Earnings Growth Ratio

   d. Price / Free Cash Flow

   e. Price / Cash EPS

3. Expected Fund Flow

4. Market Sentiment and outlook

TBAF will seek to reduce the volatility of returns by actively using derivatives as a hedge. The derivatives may also be used for generating returns through arbitrage opportunities. This may make the scheme forgo some upside but shall protect the downside.

In short, TBAF implements a smart proprietary asset allocation model for allocating assets between equity and debt dynamically.

Figure 1: Asset Allocation Approach

(Source: Tata Balanced Advantage Fund Presentation)

The model permits 10% variation to the basic PE based equity allocation; driven by:

• Correlation to select global markets related to the Indian equities

• Implied volumes (to identify extremes – fear vs. complacency)

• Momentum indicators (price-based indicators to avoid early entry/exits in a directional market)

Who will manage the Tata Balanced Advantage Fund?
Tata Balanced Advantage fund will be managed by Mr Rahul Singh, Mr Sonam Udasi, Mr Shailesh Jain and Mr Akhil Mittal.

Mr Rahul Singh is the lead fund manager to oversee the unhedged equity portfolio of the scheme at the fund house along with Mr Sonam Udasi. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Engineering (B.E.) and has a PGDM to his credit. He is Chief Investment Officer - Equities at Tata Asset Management Ltd.  Prior to it, he has worked with Ampersand Capital Investment Advisors LLP as Managing Partner for 3 years. Besides that, for 5 years he worked as a Managing Director at Standard Chartered Securities Ltd and with Citigroup Global Markets for nearly 5 years as Senior Research Analyst reporting to Head of Research.

Mr Sonam Udasi will also be managing the unhedged equity portfolio of the scheme. He holds a bachelor's degree in commerce (B. Com) and has a PGDM. From April 2014 he has been associated with Tata Asset Management Ltd. He joined in as the Head of PMS to get promoted as the Head of Research and currently is a Fund Manager of schemes. Prior to that Mr, Sonam was a Head of Research at IDBI Capital Market Services Ltd. He has also served at BRICS Securities, Prime Securities and JM Financial AMC.

Currently at the Tata Mutual Fund , he manages Tata Equity P/E Fund, Tata Index Fund Sensex & Tata Index Fund-Nifty, Tata Banking & Financial Services Fund, Tata India Consumer Fund, Tata Retirement Savings Fund -Equity Portfolio of Progressive, Moderate & Conservative Plan, Tata Young Citizen Fund, Tata Multicap Fund, Tata Value Fund Series 1 & 2.

Mr Shailesh Jain will manage the hedged equity portfolio of the scheme. He has done his MBA in Finance and has been a part of Tata Asset Management Ltd since November 2018 as a fund manager. Preceding to it he has been with IDFC Securities Ltd., Quant Broking Pvt. Ltd. and IIFL (India Infoline).

Currently, at the fund house, he manages Tata Digital India Fund, Tata Equity Savings Fund (Equity Portfolio), Tata India Pharma and Healthcare Fund, Tata Resources and Energy Fund, Tata Arbitrage Fund, Tata Nifty Exchange Traded Fund.

Mr Akhil Mittal is a Senior Fund Manager manging the fixed income of the portfolio and is with the fund house since June 2014. Mr Mittal reports to Head-Fixed Income at Tata Asset Management Ltd. Prior to joining Tata Mutual Fund, he has worked as a Senior Fund Manager - Fixed Income at Canara Robeco Asset Management Ltd. Prior to that he was with Principal PNB Asset Management Co Ltd. and has also worked at Edelweiss Securities Ltd.

Currently at the Tata Mutual Fund , he manages Tata Treasury Advantage Fund, Tata Dynamic Bond Fund, Tata Income Fund, Tata Young Citizen Fund (Debt Portfolio) and various series of FMPs at Tata Mutual Fund.

Outlook for Tata Balanced Advantage Fund

Tata Balanced Advantage Fund aims to achieve the schemes' objective of capitalizing gains with reduced risk by following the asset allocation approach with its proprietary model. The fund managers would make use of hedged and unhedged equity and arbitrage to avoid any downside risks in the volatile markets. Hence the performance of the scheme weighs on portfolio and risk management strategies employed by the fund managers.

With dynamic allocation across asset class, TBAF is expected to be moderately volatile, while its returns too would be moderate. The effectiveness of the model the fund house plans to follow to dynamically allocate assets will be tested over complete market cycle. The fund deserves time to build a track record and prove its efficiency, for one to consider it as a strategic pick in the investment portfolio.

[Read: Skip NFOs, Instead Consider Building A Strategic Mutual Fund Portfolio]

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