When this fund hit a roadblock in 2007 (other schemes from this fund house also got hit), questions abounded as to the end of its lucky streak. It certainly was a jolt to investors. In 2007, the fund found itself at the bottom of the ladder with a return of 39.44 per cent; the best performer in this category delivered 112 per cent! That was the first time it underperformed its benchmark since inception. But critics have been silenced since the fund manager has managed to deliver top quartile annual performances since then.

The fund tends to take a top-down approach before going for stocks that will deliver the outperformance. But in this strategy, it could well deviate from the current market position. Way back in 2000, when most funds were betting heavily on Infotech, this one held onto FMCG and was quick to offload its IT exposure. It actually delivered a positive return of 5.74 per cent that year (category average: -24.13%). In 2007, the allocation to Metals was miniscule (naturally it got punished for that stance temporarily). In 2009 when Energy was chased (category average exposure: 16%), this fund had just 10 per cent allocated to it on an average. It also had close to one-fifth of its portfolio allocated to FMCG and Pharma; the lowest performing sectors that year. But investors who are willing to cast their lot with the fund manager's convictions have not been let down. An annualized return of around 30 per cent over the past three years ended November 30, 2011, bears testimony to the fund manager's skill.

Over the years, there has been no tilt towards any single market cap. Although over half of the fund's assets were into large caps during the end of 2011, that has not always been the case. Way back in 2004, almost half of the fund's assets were into small caps. In 2006, when large caps outperformed, the fund increased exposure to large caps to 60 per cent of the portfolio and did it again in 2008. By mid-2009, it had around 60 per cent of its portfolio allocated to mid and small caps.

In its 14 years of existence, this fund has really proved its mettle. Current fund manager Kulkarni has managed the rising asset base smartly, a natural outcome being an increase in the number of holdings. As on June 2011, the number of stocks in the portfolio stood at 63

This fund's track record shows its ability to generate superior returns and display resilience when the market is on a downslide.

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