How good is Reliance Tax Saver Fund?

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August 16, 2005 14:12 IST

 Summary
  • Type
  • Open ended tax plan
  • Benchmark
  • BSE 100
  • Min. Investment
  • Rs 500
  • Face Value
  • Rs 10
  • Entry Load
  • Nil*
  • Exit Load
  • Nil
  • Issue Opens
  • July 25, 2005
  • Issue Closes
  • August 23, 2005
    Post-NFO period, entry load (maximum): 2.25%; exit load: nil

     Investment Objective

    The primary objective of the scheme is to generate long-term capital appreciation from a portfolio that is invested predominantly in equity and equity related instruments. However, there can be no assurance that the scheme's investment objective shall be achieved.*
    *Source: Offer document

     Is this fund for you?

    Post-Union Budget 2005-06, tax-saving funds (also referred to as ELSS) have emerged as popular investment avenues for risk-taking investors. The latter now have the option of investing in line with their risk appetite for the purpose of tax-saving (under Section 80C) as well; this is in contrast to the earlier tax regime wherein the upper limit on 'eligible' investments in tax-saving funds was set at Rs 10,000.

    Tax-saving funds (due to their equity-oriented nature) are capable of clocking far superior returns vis-à-vis their assured return counterparts like National Savings Certificate (NSC) and Public Provident Fund (PPF). However investors must appreciate that the risk profile of tax-saving funds tends to be proportionately higher.

    Reliance Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund (RTSF) is the latest entrant in the tax-saving funds segment. Flagship diversified equity funds (Reliance Growth Fund and Reliance Equity Fund) from Reliance Mutual Fund have emerged as top performers in their segment across time horizons. However investors should note that these funds are managed aggressively; also they have displayed an opportunistic streak by moving fluidly across market segments (large caps, mid caps) to clock superior growth. RTSF is likely to be a similar (high risk - high return) investment proposition within the tax-saving funds segment.

    We recommend that investors first consider adding to their portfolios existing tax-saving funds like HDFC Long Term Advantage (67.92% CAGR over 3-Yr), HDFC Tax Saver (72.30% CAGR over 3-Yr) and Franklin India Taxshield (53.84% CAGR over 3-Yr) that have impressive track records, before investing in RTSF.

     Portfolio Strategy

    RTSF is mandated to invest atleast 80% of its net assets in equities and equity-related instruments at all times. The fund can hold upto 50% of its assets in equity derivatives.

    Instruments Allocation range
    Equity and equity related securities 80%-100%
    Debt, money market instruments & call money 0%-20%

    RTSF can allocate a maximum of 20% of its assets to debt and money market instruments.

     Fund Manager Profile

    Mr. Ashwani Kumar, equity fund manager at Reliance Capital Asset Management Limited, is a science graduate and an MBA. He has over 10 years of experience in the fund management industry. In the past, he has been associated with Zurich Asset Management where he was the Senior Research Analyst.

     Outlook

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    We believe RTSF will be managed aggressively like its diversified equity fund siblings; also the fund is likely to be a high risk - high return investment proposition. RTSF would be ideally suited for investors who wish to clock impressive returns on their tax-saving investments and can handle the risks associated with the same.

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