ESG funds in India, mutual funds in India: ESG funds are those mutual funds that invest in companies that are assessed for their environmental, social, and governance practices. By investing in these funds, investors actively promote sustainable growth and responsible business conduct.

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According to AMFI, environmental (E) focuses on a company's environmental impact, including carbon emissions, waste disposal practices, and the use of eco-friendly energy sources.

Social (S) examines how a company treats its workforce and contributes to society, considering gender parity, welfare systems, and social causes.

Governance (G) assesses corporate governance, looking at regulatory compliance, whistle-blower policies, and grievance redressals. 

That said, one ESG fund that has rewarded investors with a long-term view is the Quant ESG Equity Fund Direct Growth. It is an open-ended equity scheme investing in companies demonstrating sustainable practices across the ESG theme. The fund was launched on November 5, 2020. 

Minimum Application Amount

For new investors, the minimum application amount is Rs 5,000 and any amount thereafter, and for existing investors, Rs 1,000 and any amount thereafter. For a systematic investment plan (SIP), the minimum amount is Rs 1,000 and in multiples of Re 1 thereafter.

Benchmark Index

The benchmark index for the scheme is the Nifty 100 ESG TRI.

Return Calculator

Data shows that a monthly SIP of Rs 5,000 for six months would have become Rs 33,041; if extended to one year, the amount would have become Rs 73,267; and the monthly SIP for three years would have turned the investment into Rs 2,73,962.

Further, a one-time investment of Rs 20,000 in six months would have become Rs 23,040; in one year, it would have become Rs 30,816; and in three years, the investment would have become Rs 47,939, an increase of around 140 per cent.

Top 10 Holdings

The top holdings of the fund are Reliance Industries (10.11%), Jio Financial Services (9.33%), Britannia Industries (8.37 per cent), Jindal Steel & Power (5.54%), Infosys (5.45 per cent), Tata Steel (5.25%), LIC (5.01%), Bharat Electronics (4.24%), Wipro (4.12%), and Mphasis (4.09%). 

Expense ratio and exit load

The expense ratio is 0.77 per cent, inclusive of GST. Investors will be charged an exit load of 1 per cent if they redeem their investments within 15 days. 

Tax implications

Returns are taxed at 15 per cent if one redeems before one year. After one year, one is required to pay LTCG tax of 10 per cent on returns of more than Rs one lakh in a financial year.

Fund Managers

Ankit Pande, Vasav Sahgal, and Sanjeev Sharma. 

Plans Available

Regular Plan and Direct Plan. (The regular and direct plans will have a common portfolio.)

Investment Strategy 

The strategy is to invest in a basket of securities based on combining existing traditional fundamental, bottom-up financial analysis with a rigorous analysis of the environmental, social, and governance aspects of the company. The ESG analysis is based on a comprehensive ESG framework adopted from some of the best global practices. The ESG process is executed at various levels.

Fund size and NAV

The net asset value (NAV) of the fund is Rs 33.40 as of April 25, 2024. The size of the fund is Rs 237 crore.

With inputs from Groww and https://quantmutual.com/

Disclaimer: Please note that the above write-up is for informational purposes only. Investors are advised to consult their financial adviser before making any investment decisions.