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ASK Lighthouse

AUM (456 cr) | Inc Date (7-Mar-2024)

Scheme Rating

IME Scheme Rating

4 of 5 stars

The strategy’s objective of focusing on emerging themes based on structural changes without diluting the rigour of company selection makes it relatively agile compared to their other strategies. While this is a new fund, the strategy and the strong pedigree of the AMC/Team provide a solid foundation.

IME Strategy Rating

4 of 5 stars

ASK Lighthouse introduces a flexible approach to thematic investing, offering adaptability to market dynamics. The strategy invests in 3-4 primary themes (across 15-30 companies) and also maintains a keen interest for others themes, enabling it to capitalize on evolving macro conditions. This flexibility allows for leveraging underlying tailwinds in the market. Presently, the focused themes include Infrastructure, Manufacturing, and Defense, strategically chosen based on their alignment with the beneficiaries of increasing capital expenditure.

AMC Rating

4 of 5 stars

AMC: ASK PMS (click link for detailed AMC review)

ASK is the market leader with a strong investment policy and in-house team. Blackstone acquired a majority stake in their asset management business. Their rating has been downgraded to 4-star due to recent underperformance, but an upgrade to 5-star is possible as performance improves.

PMS Scheme Ratings are driven by IME’s Proprietary Scheme Rating Methodology, which takes into account our ratings of the Scheme’s investment strategy, its maturity, the investment team, and our separate rating on the AMC that runs this particular scheme. Our views on each of these individual criteria are available via the IME RMS – which you can view by reaching out to one of our relationship managers (using either the live chat or book appointment feature on this site).

Investment Strategy

ASK Lighthouse Portfolio is a sector-focused, high-conviction PMS strategy that invests in 3-4 structural themes at any given time. The strategy targets industries undergoing significant transformation with deep, long-term growth potential, dynamically shifting exposure as themes evolve.

Core Investment Approach

Theme-Based Investing with Flexibility:

  • Focus on 3-4 high-growth sectors where structural changes are underway.
  • Current themes: Infrastructure & Engineering, Manufacturing, Defence, Railways, Capital Goods.
  • Agile management: Exits themes when most value creation is achieved.

Blend of Top-Down & Bottom-Up Stock Selection:

  • Themes selected using a macroeconomic and industry analysis.
  • Individual stock selection based on fundamentals, scalability, and valuation.

High-Conviction, Concentrated Portfolio:

  • 15-30 stocks from the mid- and small-cap space, focusing on market leaders in niche industries.
  • High sectoral concentration, allowing strong alpha generation.

Sector and Stock Rotation Strategy:

  • Themes are actively rebalanced based on growth cycles and valuation saturation.
  • High exposure to sectors with favorable policy tailwinds and long-term demand.

Trailing Performance

1yr 3yr 5yr Since Inception
ASK Lighthouse 13.5
S&P BSE 500 6.2
Alpha over Broad Mkt BM 7.3
S&P BSE 500
Alpha over Category BM

Performance as of: 31-Jan-25 | Inception Date: 07-Mar-24

Fund Managers

Chetan Thacker | 4-star rated FM

Fund Manager | 18 yrs Experience | 10 yrs at current firm

Past Experience: Emkay Global (Analyst), HSBC InvestDirect (Analyst), McKinsey (Analyst)

With a strong equity research background, Chetan has sector research expertise in agriculture, chemicals, metals & mining and midcaps

Sumit Jain | 4-star rated FM

CIO | 19 yrs Experience | 19 yrs at current firm

Past Experience: First Global (Analyst)

Sumit has been with the ASK group for over 15 years, having started as an analyst to now being responsible for managing portfolios. Prior to joining ASK, Sumit worked as an analyst at First Global tracking the US macroeconomy and the FMCG sector.

Bharat Shah | 5-star rated FM

Executive Director | 33 yrs Experience | 17 yrs at current firm

Past Experience: Senior FM (Birla MF)

Bharat Shah is a highly respected investments professional, having overseen the growth of ASK PMS to the largest PMS in India over 2 decades. Prior to joining ASK, Bharat Shah was a very well respected equity fund manager at Birla PMS, known for large wealth creation in IT picks. Bharat Shah has been on the board of ASK since 2008.

Fee Structure

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