Essel Mutual Fund

Essel Group manages the Peerless Mutual Fund after its acquisition in 2016. It is a subsidiary of Essel Group - a USD 10 Billion Conglomerate that has its operations spanning various sectors such as entertainment, media, packaging, and infrastructure to name a few. The company aims to bring the best-in-breed strategies for wealth creation for its investors. It also places emphasis on latest innovations by delivering the best value and services to its customers.

Essel Finance is one of India's leading financial services company operating in the private sector. As an umbrella brand for the financial businesses of the Essel Group, they offer a diverse range of products and services across corporate finance and retail segments. The AMC has a team of experienced veterans in financial advisory services. They are doing a great job in advising clients on strategic transactions, in expanding to global finance and capital markets and in presenting new opportunities to institutional and individual investors.

The company aims its investors to create sustainable wealth and relationships for its clients and stakeholders by investing in judicious human capital. They also do extensive research and harness its vast global networks to come up with portfolios aligned to the wealth creation requirements of the individual investors. Their activities in presenting diversified types of schemes for all types of investor profiles makes it a much-known AMC in mutual funds in India.

Peerless Group was found in the year 1932 at Dhaka’s Port of Narayanganj, (Presently in Bangladesh) by Late Mr. Radheshyam Roy. The business was commenced with the aim to help in the insurance requirements for Indian citizens. Gradually, the company shifted its headquarters to Kolkata.

In 1956, the company shifted its focus towards small-savings as the insurance sector began to nationalize. Since 1956, it has forayed into different areas in finance. Some solutions include financial product distribution, financial services, and securities. The group started their Mutual Fund operations in 2009 and has grown substantially within a short time. It has launched around 9 schemes till 2016 before it was acquired by Essel Finance.

Essel Mutual Fund has tremendous experience in operating a range of Mutual Funds in India. The Mutual Fund Company began its existence in 2009 and in 2016, it was acquired by the Essel Group. Since then, it has been re-christened as Essel Mutual Fund. The company offers various schemes under different categories to cater to the diverse preferences, risk profiles, and time horizons of customers. The Asset Management Company managing the Essel Mutual Fund is known as Essel Finance Asset Management Company Limited. Peerless Mutual Fund uses different investment philosophy for equity, debt, and hybrid funds with an aim to earn maximum returns for its investors and meet the stated objectives of the investment.

Types of Funds Offered

• Equity Fund

  : Equity funds by Essel MF allow the investors to maintain an aggressive investment stance that carries a higher risk than debt funds. In this portfolio, the companies stocks and shares form the bulk of the investment. These funds go through daily market movement depending on the company’s performance. These are usually held for a long term period like 8-12 years so that the capital appreciation goals can be met easily by equity fund investors. The AMC manages schemes like Essel Equity Fund, Essel Midcap Fund and Essel Long Term Advantage Fund under this category.



• Debt Fund

  : Debt funds by Essel Asset Management Company is best suited for risk averse investors who cannot cope with the high volatility of daily market movements. In this, the portfolio invests into risk-free avenues like government bonds, money markets, and liquid funds. Investors will get lower yields than the equity investments, but as comparted to equity mutual funds, the returns will be more or less assured, thus allowing you to plan your wealth creation accordingly. Essel Liquid Fund, Essel Short Term Fund, Essel Ultra Short Term Fund, and Essel Flexible Income Fund are some of the debt fund schemes floated by the AMC.



• Hybrid Fund

  : Investors who want a bit of aggression along with playing down the risks associated with the portfolio, can opt for Essel hybrid funds. Here there is a dedicated allocation of equity and debt in the portfolio. Usually it is in proportion of 60 equity: 40 debt, 40 equity: 60 debt, or 50 equity: 50 debt (also known as balanced fund). Essel 3 in 1 Fund is one such hybrid fund.

Fund Managers at Essel Mutual Fund

• Rajiv Shastri, Executive Director and CEO:

  Mr. Rajiv Shastri has completed the Chartered Accountancy from ICAI and also holds a Post-graduation degree in Economic Management & Policy from University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. He has more than 18 years of experience in the mutual fund industry with extensive exposure with entities & fund houses like DSP Merrill Lynch, Birla Sunlife, HDFC and ABN AMRO in investment related functions, corporate & institutional relationships, risk control methodologies, procedures & tools, product development, etc.



• Viral Berawala, Chief Investment Officer:

  Viral Berawala is the Chief Investment Officer at Essel Finance AMC Limited. Viral comes with over 18 years of experience in the Financial Services and Information Technology sectors. Viral is a Chartered Accountant and a PGPX from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.



• Killol P. Pandya, Head - Fixed Income:

  Mr. Pandya has a rich industry experience of 17 Years. Mr. Killol Pandya has completed his Masters in Management Studies with specialization in Finance from K. J. Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research. He has also completed a Diploma Program in Capital Markets from The Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India (ICFAI).



• Vikas R. Gupta, Vice President – Fund Management:

  Mr. Vikas R. Gupta is the Vice president – Fund Manager of Essel Mutual Fund and also the Key Personnel of Essel Finance AMC Limited. He has done his Masters in Tourism Administration (MTA) from Jiwaji University and B.SC. from Sagar University.



• Archit Shah, Fund Manager – Fixed Income:

  Mr. Archit Shah is a Fund Manager – Fixed Income of Essel Mutual Fund and also the Key Personnel of Essel Finance AMC Limited. He has completed CFA program of CFA Institute (USA), PGDBM from N. L. Dalmia Institute of Management Studies & Research and B.Com from Narsee Monjee College of Commerce & Economics.