#AbakkusMutualFund #SEBI #IndianMutualFunds #WealthCreation #DigitalIndia #InvestingInIndia #SunilSinghania #PMS #AIF #EquityFunds
Mumbai: India’s mutual fund industry has a new entrant. Abakkus Asset Managers, a well-known name in the portfolio management (PMS) and alternative investment fund (AIF) space, has received the final approval from SEBI to launch mutual fund operations under the brand “Abakkus Mutual Fund.”
Founded in 2018 by ace investor Sunil Singhania, Abakkus has built a strong reputation for its alpha-driven investment approach and client-focused philosophy. With assets under management (AUM) of nearly ₹37,900 crore across PMS and AIF products, the firm is now set to widen its investor base by entering the retail-friendly mutual fund ecosystem.
🌟 Why Abakkus’ Entry Matters
The Indian mutual fund industry has grown rapidly over the past few years, with total equity AUM jumping 335% in the last five years to reach nearly ₹33 lakh crore (as of July 2025). Retail participation, systematic investment plans (SIPs), and increasing financial awareness have been driving this boom.
Abakkus’ decision to enter this space comes at a time when more retail investors are seeking professional money management and diversified investment solutions.
According to Sunil Singhania, Founder of Abakkus:
“We are immensely grateful to SEBI for placing their trust in us. This is a pivotal moment for Abakkus. Our goal is to bring the same rigor, discipline, and alpha-generating focus that have defined our PMS and AIF offerings to the mutual fund arena. We believe there is a significant opportunity to create long-term wealth for retail investors by adhering to our core philosophy of identifying quality companies with strong growth potential. We are excited to empower and serve millions of investors to participate in India’s growth story.”
🔑 Core Philosophy: Growth in Value
Unlike many traditional asset managers, Abakkus has positioned itself strongly with its “Growth in Value” investment philosophy. This strategy combines the identification of undervalued companies with strong earnings potential — a blend of value investing discipline with growth-oriented foresight.
So far, this approach has helped Abakkus build a credible track record in its PMS and AIF offerings. The challenge now is to replicate this success in the mutual fund space, which operates on scale, retail penetration, and digital accessibility.
💡 Focus on Retail & Digital-First Approach
Biharilal Deora, Director of Abakkus Asset Manager, highlighted the firm’s digital-first strategy:
“Our entry into the mutual fund space is built on the same foundation that has defined Abakkus from day one: operational excellence, a client-centric approach, and an unwavering commitment to compliance and governance. To bring our investment philosophy to a wider audience, we are significantly enhancing our digital infrastructure. By leveraging technology, we aim to democratize wealth creation opportunities, making our products accessible to investors in every corner of India and ensuring a smooth, digital-first experience.”
This focus on digital distribution is timely, as over 50% of new mutual fund investors today are coming from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. A robust digital platform will help Abakkus tap into this growing segment.
📊 Product Roadmap
Initially, Abakkus Mutual Fund plans to launch a suite of actively managed equity mutual fund schemes, with expansion into debt, hybrid, and multi-asset products in the future.
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Actively Managed Equity Funds – Designed to showcase Abakkus’ alpha-focused approach.
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Debt & Hybrid Funds (Future) – To provide balanced options for conservative and moderate investors.
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Multi-Asset Solutions (Future) – Catering to investors seeking diversification across asset classes.
Sanjay Doshi, Head of Equities and Research at Abakkus AMC, explained:
“Mutual funds are a preferred pooled vehicle for retail investors, offering diversification and professional management that are often hard to achieve individually. At Abakkus AMC, our alpha-focused, research-intensive approach is a match for this structure. By packaging our core ‘growth in value’ philosophy into mutual fund schemes, we are not just offering a product, but a disciplined and robust investment process designed to generate long-term wealth for investors across the country.”
📈 Competitive Landscape
Abakkus enters a competitive industry dominated by large players like SBI Mutual Fund, HDFC MF, ICICI Prudential MF, Nippon India MF, and Kotak MF.
However, the Indian MF industry has room for new entrants:
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Retail Participation is Rising – Monthly SIP inflows crossed ₹22,000 crore in July 2025, hitting fresh records.
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Investor Base is Expanding – More than 4 crore investors now actively hold MF folios.
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Tier-2/Tier-3 Growth – Smaller cities are becoming major contributors to inflows.
With its brand equity, proven investment philosophy, and digital outreach, Abakkus aims to carve out a niche for itself, much like newer AMCs such as WhiteOak MF, Bandhan MF, and NJ MF have attempted in recent years.
🔮 Future Outlook
Industry experts believe Abakkus’ strong PMS and AIF track record will help it attract initial traction among high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) and sophisticated investors. The real test, however, will be:
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Scaling retail distribution across geographies.
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Maintaining alpha while managing larger pools of retail money.
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Building trust and long-term investor relationships in a highly competitive market.
If Abakkus can deliver consistent returns and leverage its digital-first platform, it could become a meaningful player in India’s ₹57 lakh crore MF industry over the next decade.
Abakkus’ entry into the mutual fund industry is a significant development. Backed by SEBI approval, strong leadership, and a proven investment philosophy, the firm is well-positioned to bring innovation and alpha to the retail investing ecosystem.
As India’s financial landscape continues to deepen, the arrival of Abakkus Mutual Fund not only reflects the maturity and attractiveness of the industry but also signals more opportunities for investors to participate in the country’s growth story.
#AbakkusMutualFund #SEBI #IndianMutualFunds #WealthCreation #DigitalIndia #InvestingInIndia #SunilSinghania #PMS #AIF #EquityFunds
