NFO - New Fund Offering

What is NFO (New Fund Offering)?

A New Fund Offering (NFO) is the initial subscription period of a new mutual fund introduced by an asset management company (AMC). It provides investors with an opportunity to buy units of the fund at the face value before it is listed and begins regular trading.

Assume an AMC launches a new equity mutual fund, and during the NFO phase, units are issued at ₹10 per unit. Investors who purchase at this phase can gain if the Net Asset Value (NAV) increases after the fund launch and invests in other securities.

How to Invest in NFO?

Investing in an NFO is easy and involves the following steps:

• Select an NFO: Look for the fund's goals, risks, and possible returns.
• Select a Platform: NFOs can be subscribed to online on the websites of AMC, mutual fund distributors, or stockbrokers.
• Complete KYC: Make sure your Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance is completed, including PAN card and Aadhaar information.
• Choose the Investment Value: NFOs usually carry a minimum value of investment, usually ₹500 or ₹1,000.
• Payment: Pay using net banking, UPI, or a cheque.
• Allotment: Open NFO closure, the bought units will be allotted, as per the AMC.

Example:

If a subscriber invests in an NFO floated by XYZ Mutual Fund with ₹10,000 during the NFO period at ₹10 per unit, they would get an allotment of 1,000 units in the beginning. If the NAV goes up to ₹12 post-launch, the investment value will increase to ₹12,000, thereby resulting in a profit of ₹2,000 on the initial investment.

NFO Terms and Definitions

It is necessary to know NFO-related terms before investing:

• NAV (Net Asset Value): The price per unit of a mutual fund after the NFO period.
• Lock-in Period: Certain NFOs (such as ELSS funds) might have a lock-in period prohibiting withdrawal in that duration.
• Fund Objective: The fund's investment objective, like equity, debt, hybrid, etc.
• Expense Ratio: Annual charges made by the AMC for fund management.
• Open-ended and Close-ended NFOs: Open-ended schemes permit redemption at any time, whereas close-ended schemes come with a locked tenure.

How to Redeem NFO?

To redeem an NFO (New Fund Offer), access your mutual fund account or demat account. Go to the redemption page, choose the NFO units you wish to redeem, and place a sell order. The money will be transferred to your linked bank account as per the exit rules of the fund.

How is NFO Different from MF?

An NFO (New Fund Offer) is the initial offering of a mutual fund, allowing investors to buy units at a fixed price before trading begins. A mutual fund (MF) is an ongoing investment where units are bought or sold at the net asset value (NAV), which fluctuates based on market movements.