Mutual Funds Pour ₹5,294 Crore into IPOs in June Quarter; Smallcaps Dominate: Ventura Report

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Mumbai: The Indian mutual fund industry continued to showcase robust participation in primary markets during the quarter ended June 2025, with investments crossing ₹5,294 crore in recent Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), according to a latest report by Ventura Securities.

Interestingly, the majority of these investments were directed towards small-cap companies, signaling a clear shift in strategy among fund managers who are seeking higher growth opportunities in scalable businesses. Only one IPO that drew mutual fund inflows was classified as a mid-cap, making smallcaps the dominant choice of institutional investors in the period under review.

Smallcaps Take Center Stage

The focus on smallcap IPOs highlights a trend that has been building momentum in India’s equity markets. Despite being traditionally perceived as risky due to their relatively small scale and volatility, smallcap companies have emerged as significant value creators in recent years.

Mutual funds’ strong allocations suggest growing confidence in the ability of these firms to expand rapidly and deliver superior long-term returns. Fund managers appear willing to take calculated risks in exchange for the potential of exponential growth, especially in sectors like manufacturing, specialty chemicals, renewable energy, and digital-first businesses, which are often represented by smallcap issuers.

According to Ventura’s report, this allocation strategy is aligned with the broader market sentiment, as smallcap indices have consistently outperformed largecap benchmarks over the past year. This has further strengthened investors’ conviction in the segment.

IPO Boom and Mutual Fund Participation

The first half of 2025 has already been marked by a busy IPO calendar, with companies across diverse sectors tapping the capital markets to raise funds. Mutual funds, with their substantial pools of long-term capital, have played an important role in ensuring the success of many of these offerings.

The report noted that mutual funds’ ₹5,294 crore deployment in IPOs during the June quarter reflects both rising investor confidence and the attractiveness of valuations in select new listings. While large institutions typically exercise caution during uncertain market conditions, their enthusiasm for fresh equity issuances underscores optimism about India’s economic growth trajectory.

Market observers believe that the consistent participation of mutual funds in IPOs also adds credibility to the offerings, often influencing retail investor sentiment positively.

Why Smallcaps Appeal to Mutual Funds Now

The tilt towards smallcaps can be explained by a combination of factors:

  1. High Growth Potential: Smallcap firms, especially those operating in sunrise sectors, offer greater headroom for expansion compared to mature largecaps.

  2. Valuation Comfort: Many IPOs in the smallcap space are priced attractively, providing mutual funds with an opportunity to enter early at reasonable valuations.

  3. Diversification: Investing in multiple smallcap companies allows funds to diversify across industries and mitigate concentration risk.

  4. Market Tailwinds: With India’s economy projected to grow steadily and government policies favoring domestic manufacturing and innovation, smallcap firms are expected to be key beneficiaries.

  5. Investor Demand: Rising investor appetite for high-growth themes through smallcap mutual funds is also influencing fund managers to strengthen allocations in IPOs.

Strategic Tilt in Fund Management

The report by Ventura highlights that this trend is not merely opportunistic but reflects a strategic shift in fund management. Fund houses are increasingly tailoring their portfolios to capture long-term wealth creation opportunities.

Even though smallcaps carry higher volatility and risks of underperformance in downturns, the ability to identify fundamentally strong businesses early gives mutual funds an edge in generating alpha for investors.

The fact that only one mid-cap IPO saw significant inflows underlines the conviction fund managers currently have in the smallcap growth story.

Outlook for the Rest of 2025

With a strong IPO pipeline expected for the remainder of 2025, mutual funds are likely to continue their active participation in the primary market. Sectors such as green energy, EV ecosystem, fintech, healthcare, and specialty manufacturing are particularly expected to dominate upcoming listings, further fueling smallcap interest.

Industry experts believe that while largecap and midcap IPOs will continue to attract attention, the smallcap segment will remain the preferred hunting ground for mutual funds in pursuit of higher alpha.

At the same time, caution has been advised, as valuations in some segments are already running ahead of fundamentals. Fund managers will need to strike a balance between aggressive growth bets and prudent risk management to safeguard investor wealth.

A Vote of Confidence in India’s Growth Story

Overall, the significant ₹5,294 crore allocation by mutual funds into IPOs is a vote of confidence in India’s capital markets and entrepreneurial ecosystem. The growing participation of institutional investors in new-age and small-scale businesses also sends a strong signal to global markets about India’s economic vibrancy and investment potential.

As the mutual fund industry, now valued at over ₹77 lakh crore, continues to expand, its influence in shaping the IPO landscape is only expected to grow. For investors, this trend reflects not just the dynamism of India’s stock markets but also the emergence of smallcap companies as the new engines of wealth creation.


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By MFNews