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ASK Multicap AIF

AUM ( cr) | Inc Date (1-Dec-2023)

Scheme Rating

IME Scheme Rating

4 of 5 stars

ASK IEP is the one of the more successful PMS strategies launched in India & by the ASK team. With a clear focus on Indian Entrepreneurs, the similar PMS Strategy has delivered longer-term outperformance with a high-level of consistency (even as recent performance has been weak). For investors who prefer an open-ended AIF structure, this is a good option that can be considered.

IME Strategy Rating

5 of 5 stars

ASK Multi Cap AIF is a concentrated flexi cap strategy that emphasizes Indian businesses that are entrepreneur-owned and have at least 25% promotor holding. This is a mirror of their successful ASK IEP, which has demonstrated the value of focusing on businesses run by Indian entrepreneurs due to greater passion & commitment, a longer-term view and greater alignment of interest.

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 Stratgey

ASK Multicap Fund is an open-ended, Category III AIF that follows a long-term, high-quality investment approach, focusing on Indian entrepreneurial businesses with superior growth potential and strong governance.

Core Investment Approach

Investing in High-Quality, Growth-Oriented Businesses:

  • Focuses on entrepreneurial businesses with a track record of vision, innovation, and execution excellence.
  • Targets companies with high Return on Capital Employed (RoCE), strong moats, and scalability.

Rigorous, Filter-Based Stock Selection:

  • Invests in companies with:
    • At least 25% promoter/family ownership (except BFSI).
    • Proven earnings growth (preferably >20% CAGR).
    • High capital efficiency (ROCE >25%).
    • Demonstrated capital allocation and governance standards.

Balanced Multi-Cap Portfolio:

  • Avoids artificial Large-Cap vs. Mid-Cap bias, instead focusing on companies with the right growth trajectory.
  • The strategy emphasizes the size of the opportunity (pond), rather than the size of the business (fish).

Key Investment Attribute

Investments in ASK India Select Portfolio are driven by the following key investment attributes:

  • Size of Opportunity: Size of Pond vs. Size of Fish, Dominance, Resilience, Liquidity
  • Quality of Business: High quality of business (superior ROCE), Strong moat, Impregnability, Sustainability, Key pivot of strong wealth creation 
  • Earnings Growth: Quantum, Consistency, Durability, Predating (early vs later), Compounding power
  • Value: Favourable price-value gap, Margin of Safety
  • Management Quality: Good management quality is a given constant

Trailing Performance

1yr 3yr 5yr Since Inception
ASK Multicap AIF
S&P BSE 500
Alpha over Broad Mkt BM
S&P BSE 500
Alpha over Category BM

Performance as of: 31-Mar-25 | Inception Date: 01-Dec-23

Fund Managers

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.

Sumit Jain | 4-star rated FM

CIO | 20 yrs Experience | 20 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.

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

Fee Structure

Fee Structure Fee
Fixed Fee Structure 2.5
Variable Fee Structures
Exit Fees 3 yr (1%)

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