
Open Your Free Demat Account
Enjoy low brokerage on delivery trades
BAJAJ BROKING
An NFO (New Fund Offer) presents an investment opportunity to invest in a newly launched fund that offers exposure to a diverse range of financial assets, including equities, debt, real estate, gold, or even a hybrid mix of these. Such funds cater to both retail investors with modest capital and seasoned institutional investors, providing flexibility and potential for various investment strategies.
In this blog post, we’ll cover all about NFO, including the different types of NFOs, and the benefits that NFO investors can enjoy.
A New Fund Offer (NFO) is the first-time subscription offer made by a mutual fund house when launching a new scheme. Similar to an Initial Public Offering (IPO), NFOs allow investors to buy units at a fixed price, typically Rs.10 per unit. Once the subscription period ends, the collected capital is deployed according to the scheme’s objectives. After the NFO closes, units are allotted, and the scheme is listed for daily NAV updates. NFOs often target unexplored themes, new strategies, or innovative asset allocations that are not available through existing mutual funds in the market.
Before investing in NFO, there are certain important things one must consider:
NFOs come in several different types, each with its features and advantages. Some of the most common NFOs include:
Closed-End Fund: A closed-end NFO is a fund with a fixed number of NFO units, and investors can purchase NFO units only during the pre-defined subscription period. The maturity period of these funds usually ranges from three to five years, and investors can only make withdrawals after the maturity date.
Open-End Fund: An open-end is a type of NFO that allows investors to buy or redeem NFO units at any time, and unlike closed-end funds, they do not have a maturity period.
Investing in NFO is fairly simple. Here are the steps you need to follow:
NFOs can offer several potential benefits that appeal to both new and experienced investors:
Units are typically priced at Rs.10, making it affordable to enter.
NFOs can introduce innovative strategies and sectoral ideas.
They allow portfolio expansion with newer categories of funds.
Starting early creates room for long-term returns if the scheme delivers.
Suitable for patient investors with a long investment horizon.
NFOs are ideal for investors with a higher risk tolerance and a long-term outlook. If you're looking to diversify your portfolio with new fund strategies or enter a particular sector at the ground level, NFOs can be suitable. They’re also appealing to informed investors who research the fund’s objectives, asset allocation, and management strategy. Those with existing SIPs in traditional funds may use NFOs to explore niche investment avenues. However, investors prioritizing immediate liquidity or predictable outcomes may consider other avenues, as NFOs typically require time to establish a performance history.
Understanding the key rules around NFOs can help investors make informed decisions:
NFOs are open only for a few days.
Units are generally offered at Rs.10 during the offer period.
Units are allocated after the NFO subscription ends.
Every NFO must be registered and approved by SEBI.
Some NFOs, especially ELSS funds, may carry lock-in periods.
Performance is tracked post-listing through daily NAV updates.
You can invest in an NFO through multiple platforms and procedures:
Visit the fund house’s official portal and follow the application steps.
You can use broker platforms to buy NFOs.
Get offline or assisted support for application.
If available, apply through your broker’s trading account.
Many banks offer direct mutual fund access via net banking.
Aspect | Advantages | Disadvantages |
Cost | Low unit price (usually Rs.10) | Outcomes may be comparable to or below existing fund performance. |
Innovation | Access to new themes, sectors, or strategies | New schemes have no past performance record |
Diversification | Helps diversify into unique investment categories | May overlap with existing investments |
Growth potential | Early entry can benefit from long-term NAV appreciation | Riskier if fund fails to deliver on its objectives |
Liquidity | Post-listing, units can be redeemed like regular mutual funds | Limited liquidity during the NFO subscription window |
IPO refers to the process by which a company goes public to raise capital and sells shares of its stock to retail investors for the first time. For more details, check out the IPO Full Form. On the other hand, NFO refers to the process by which an asset management company raises capital from investors by selling units of the mutual fund.
The price of an IPO is indicative of the value of the company. Whereas NFO units are typically priced at INR 10 is not indicative of anything.
The IPO valuation is done based on P/E and P/B ratios, which determine its pricing. In NFO, there is no question of valuation as funds collected are simply divided into units.
An initial public offering (IPO) requires efficient funds usage in order to provide value for investors. In the case of an NFO, the level of the market for which the AMC is raising funds will determine whether the investors will gain value from their investment.
NFOs are generally less risky than IPOs as they involve lower-risk investment instruments like debt and index funds, whereas IPOs can be riskier due to their exposure to the stock market. NFOs also tend to have a smaller minimum investment requirement compared to IPOs.
Additional Read: Upcoming IPOs
NFOs can provide investors with several advantages over other investments, such as:
NFOs provide access to unique investment strategies that may have been unavailable to retail investors. These funds also offer the opportunity to invest in new asset classes and products before they become widely available on the stock exchange.
Closed-ended NFO offers lock-in support. This helps to ensure that your NFO investment remains invested for a longer duration and will not be adversely affected by any short-term market fluctuations.
Investing in a new fund offer could prove to be a profitable venture. By purchasing the units at a nominal rate, investors have great potential for gain when they are traded on open markets, as an increment in their NAV can lead to significant profits.
When you invest your funds through NFO, itoffers greater flexibility to fund managers while investing in the market. If the funds are being offered at a peak level of the market, the fund manager can choose to hold your funds and invest them when the time is right.
NFOs provide investors with an opportunity to diversify their portfolios and reduce risk.
New Fund Offers (NFOs) are a great way for investors to gain exposure to different asset classes. Due diligence is important for investors before investing in NFOs, as different NFOs have different features and risks. NFOs can provide investors with the potential for high returns, and safe investing options, and are an attractive choice for investors looking to diversify their portfolios.
Disclaimer: Investments in securities markets are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.
Share this article:
Disclaimer :
The information on this website is provided on "AS IS" basis. Bajaj Broking (BFSL) does not warrant the accuracy of the information given herein, either expressly or impliedly, for any particular purpose and expressly disclaims any warranties of merchantability or suitability for any particular purpose. While BFSL strives to ensure accuracy, it does not guarantee the completeness, reliability, or timeliness of the information. Users are advised to independently verify details and stay updated with any changes.
The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only and is subject to change without prior notice. BFSL shall not be responsible for any consequences arising from reliance on the information provided herein and shall not be held responsible for all or any actions that may subsequently result in any loss, damage and or liability. Interest rates, fees, and charges etc., are revised from time to time, for the latest details please refer to our Pricing page.
Neither the information, nor any opinion contained in this website constitutes a solicitation or offer by BFSL or its affiliates to buy or sell any securities, futures, options or other financial instruments or provide any investment advice or service.
BFSL is acting as distributor for non-broking products/ services such as IPO, Mutual Fund, Insurance, PMS, and NPS. These are not Exchange Traded Products. For more details on risk factors, terms and conditions please read the sales brochure carefully before investing.
Investments in the securities market are subject to market risk, read all related documents carefully before investing. This content is for educational purposes only. Securities quoted are exemplary and not recommendatory.
For more disclaimer, check here : https://www.bajajbroking.in/disclaimer
Level up your stock market experience: Download the Bajaj Broking App for effortless investing and trading