MF AUM's CROSS Rs.22 TRILLION MARK

Mutual fund industry saw its assets base jump to over Rs 22 lakh crore in 2017, adding more than Rs 5.4 lakh crore to the kitty, on strong participation from retail investors and investor awareness initiatives. Moreover, fund houses are expecting similar 'healthy' growth in AUM to continue in the new year too as the penetration levels of mutual funds are still very low in the country. Total AUM of all the fund houses put together soared by over Rs 5.4 lakh crore (32 per cent) to Rs 22.35 lakh crore at the end of December 2017 from Rs 16.93 lakh crore in December-end 2016, latest update with Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi) noted. Moreover, a sharp rise in systematic investment plans (SIPs) promoted more sustainable growth for the industry as more people moved away from the concept of large lump sum investments

Low penetration of mutual funds in India is one of the key factors which will drive growth, coupled with increasing levels of financial literacy and lack of suitable alternatives for long term wealth creation, a key Official of the Industry said. Further, technology is likely to be a key enabler of growth to deepen reach and build scale using the trinity of Jandhan, Aadhaar and the Mobile (JAM) for everything from KYC to payments. This will not only help improve distribution reach across the country but will also reduce costs and improves ease of investing he added. 

5th Year in Row
This was the fifth consecutive yearly rise in the industry AUM, after a drop in the assets base for two preceding years. Out of the 42 active fund houses, two mutual funds have not disclosed the assets under management (AUM) data at the end of December 2017. Further, barring Taurus MF, all the fund houses have registered a rise in their respective AUMs during the period under review. The spike in bank deposits and consequent decline in interest rates following demonetisation on November 8, 2016 have helped mutual funds. 

"The 'Mutual Fund Sahi Hai' campaign has created huge impact in building confidence among investors. Mutual fund distributors too have played a key role in connecting with their existing and new customers. It is also believed that investors are no more interested in buying into traditional asset classes such as real estate and gold thus moving to financial asset class," 
- A Balasubramanian, Chairman, AMFI

"Demonetisation effect, decline in interest rate on traditional assured returns product like fixed deposit, shift from physical to financial savings as real estate and gold were lack lustre and increasing initiatives on enhancing investor awareness have all aided in such impressive growth in the industry," 
- Sanjay Sapre, Franklin Templeton Investments India President

ICICI MF leader of the Industry
Among the top five players, ICICI Prudential MF led the pack with asset base of Rs 2,93,338 crore (excluding Fund of Funds) followed by HDFC MF (2,89,168 crore), Reliance MF (Rs 2,43,594 crore), Aditya Birla Sun Life MF (Rs 2,41,106 crore) and SBI MF (Rs 2,05,392 crore). In terms of yearly rise in AUM, Motilal Oswal MF saw maximum growth of 121 per cent to Rs 15,762 crore in asset base, followed by Mirae Asset MF (112 per cent to Rs 13,467 crore) L&T MF (71 per cent to Rs 60,314 crore), Axis MF (49 per cent to Rs 73,372 crore) and DSP Black Rock MF (48 per cent to Rs 86,255 crore).