{"id":1497,"date":"2026-04-09T05:48:52","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T05:48:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cedcapital.in\/?p=1497"},"modified":"2026-04-09T05:48:52","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T05:48:52","slug":"letter-to-investors-mar26-extracts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cedcapital.in\/?p=1497","title":{"rendered":"Letter to Investors \u2013 Mar\u201926 \u2013 Extracts"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #dcdcdc; height: 216px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 216px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 100%; height: 216px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\"><strong>EXECUTIVE SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">Trailing twelve months\u2019 earnings of underlying portfolio companies grew by 20.6%.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">FY26 NAV grew by 14.1% with 80% funds invested in equity positions. Balance 20% is parked in liquid funds.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">Crude oil shock reaffirms the importance of smart portfolio diversification.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">We added further to an existing position, and trimmed an existing major position.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">Mutual fund stress test understates the stress.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\"><strong>Stance: Aggressive <\/strong>(first time in last 6 years).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">Dear Fellow Investors,<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">Crude Oil and Importance of Smart Diversification<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">At the outset, we are deeply saddened by the human and economic cost of ongoing Middle East conflict. We hope for a swift de-escalation and return to stability in the region.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">Turning to investing, due to <strong>oil shock<\/strong> from the Middle East conflict, India\u2019s large-cap, mid-cap and small-cap indices are down around 15%, 15% and 20% respectively from their 52-week highs. In our assessment, the market reaction has been driven more by sentiment than by any meaningful change in the long-term fundamentals of Indian businesses. Historically, geopolitical shocks and oil-price spikes have tended to be <strong>sharp but temporary<\/strong> in their impact on equity markets. While a small probability of escalation always exists, our base case is that this will remain a temporary dislocation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">To recall, our investment philosophy is to buy a <em>smartly diversified<\/em> set of quality companies at cheap\/reasonable prices. This is a good moment to revisit smart diversification, an important pillar of our investment philosophy:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">1. Exposure diversification<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">Holding 20 companies does not automatically lead to a diversified portfolio. What matters is the diversity of underlying risk exposures. Stock prices and cash flows should not all respond in the same direction to the same external shock. <em>For example,<\/em> a portfolio with companies across airlines, oil marketing, logistics, chemicals, paints, tyres, plastics, cement and consumer goods may look diversified across sectors, but is actually heavily exposed to crude oil as a single risk factor.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">Beyond crude, we continuously evaluate exposures such as: Macro (inflation, interest rates, currency, gold), Geopolitical (war, tariffs, regulatory changes), Technological (AI, cybersecurity) Systemic (credit cycles, capital markets, pandemics) etc.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">Another aspect is understanding correlations among the exposures and trying to select <strong>negatively correlated exposures<\/strong> &#8211; that offset impact of one another- to lower the overall adverse impact.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">Understanding these linkages helps ensure the portfolio is not unintentionally concentrated on one external force. <strong>Think of portfolio construction like assembling a cricket <\/strong>(or any other sports)<strong> team<\/strong>. We want players who perform in different conditions: some excel on flat tracks, some on bouncy ones; some handle pace well, some thrive against spin. Balanced teams and smartly diversified portfolios are able to withstand adversity better.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\"><strong>\u00a02. <\/strong><\/span><strong style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">Three-step process<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">This does not mean that we start with macro exposures and then look for a company. We remain bottom up focusing on quality and price of each company. However, <strong>of the two companies that are equally strong and reasonably priced, we pick the one which diversifies portfolio exposures<\/strong>. So, the screening order is:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">Quality companies<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">Reasonable price<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">Diversity of exposures<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\"><strong>3. <\/strong><\/span><strong style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">Cash\/ Waiting<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">Even with a disciplined process, we may misjudge quality, price, or exposure. And often some exposures (like Covid, tariffs etc) cannot be predicted or diversified away entirely.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">If exposure to a factor reaches our risk threshold, instead of forcing deployment, it is preferable to hold cash equivalents until the right exposure-adjusted opportunities emerge.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\"><strong>4. <\/strong><\/span><strong style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">Diversification Lowers Volatility<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">Even if an adverse exposure doesn\u2019t impair long-term fundamentals, it can make the portfolio NAV volatile. Despite hoping that it does not happen, we know that some of you may need to withdraw capital during difficult markets. A less volatile NAV helps lower hit to overall returns of investors redeeming during unfavourable times. Smart diversification is therefore a tool not just for returns, but also for managing liquidity needs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\"><strong>5. <\/strong><\/span><strong style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">Current Portfolio Exposure<\/strong> <strong style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">to Crude Oil<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">In our aggregate portfolio, direct exposure to companies <strong>adversely and favourably<\/strong> impacted by the current crude shock is approximately <strong>7.6% and 14.0%, respectively<\/strong>. There may be <em>indirect<\/em> exposures (both positive and negative) which are not easy to quantify. However, we believe the balance is healthy and the risk is manageable.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">To summarise, we view the current market decline as a temporary hardship that is creating opportunities after a long time. As the popular commentary is focused on the next few weeks, we need to zoom out and focus on the next 5\u201310 years. Given the quality of opportunities emerging, we are upgrading our stance to aggressive for the first time in last 6 years, while maintaining quality-price-exposure discipline. <strong>STANCE: AGGRESSIVE<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; text-decoration-line: underline;\">A. PERFORMANCE<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">A1. Statutory PMS Performance Disclosure<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 384px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"background-color: #d9d4d4;\">\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; height: 28px;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Year Ended<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 33.3334%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\" colspan=\"2\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">CED Long Term Focused Value (PMS)<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 33.3334%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\" colspan=\"2\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">BSE 500 TRI (Benchmark)<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Difference<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: #d9d4d4;\">\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; height: 28px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Return<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"color: #999999;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Avg. Cash Eq. Bal.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Return<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"color: #999999;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Trailing P\/E<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 28px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; height: 28px;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">FY 2026<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">14.1%<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"color: #999999;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">19.6%<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">-3.1%<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"color: #999999;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">21.7x<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">+17.2%<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 28px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">FY 2025<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">10.3%<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #999999;\">21.0%<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">6.0%<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #999999;\">23.4x<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">+4.3%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 28px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">FY 2024<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">29.2%<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #999999;\">26.1%<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">40.2%<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #999999;\">26.2x<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">-11.0%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 28px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">FY 2023<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">-4.3%<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #999999;\">30.0%<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">-0.9%<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #999999;\">22.3x<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">-3.4%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 28px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">FY 2022<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">14.9%<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #999999;\">38.5%<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">22.3%<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #999999;\">25.0x<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">-7.4%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 28px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">FY 2021<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">48.5%<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #999999;\">29.0%<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">78.6%<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #999999;\">38.0x<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">-30.1%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 28px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">FY 2020*<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">-9.5%<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #999999;\">23.0%<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">-23.4%<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #999999;\">18.3x<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">+13.9%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 28px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; height: 28px;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Since Inception(7Y)<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">14.0%<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><span style=\"color: #999999;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">26.9%<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">13.9%<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; text-align: center; height: 28px;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">+0.1%<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 104px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; height: 104px;\" colspan=\"6\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><em>*From Jul 24, 2019; &#8216;Since inception&#8217; performance is annualised; Note: As required by SEBI, the returns are calculated on time weighted average (NAV) basis. The returns are NET OF ALL EXPENSES AND FEES. The returns pertain to ENTIRE portfolio of our one and only strategy. Individual investor returns may vary from above owing to different investment dates. Annual returns are audited but not verified by SEBI.<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\"><strong>Margin of Safety<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">Investing involves unknowable and uncertain future. Despite perfect information or analysis, a prudent investment framework should incorporate margin of safety against error or bad luck. When such margin is unavailable or inadequate, a sensible thing is to wait for it. For, human over-reaction to uncertain or unwanted events often leads to price corrections and emergence of margin of safety for a prepared mind.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">But like most good things, margin of safety comes at a cost of underperformance and, at extremes, ridicule in a rising market. However, first principles of investing and history reaffirm that overpaying ultimately punishes returns and having a safety margin rewards it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">We had found the margin inadequate and waited for majority of last 6 years by holding average 27% in cash equivalents. This partly led us to trail markets for 4 of the last 6 years. To be fair, the period between Sep-2020 and Sep-2024, was mostly a one way up market and not a full cycle. At the most difficult point (June 2024), we trailed the market by 5.0% p.a.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">In last eighteen months, without changing anything, that gap has closed. This was mostly due to larger positions that we had built with margin of safety performed well as markets became more price and quality sensitive. This is not a pat at the back but <strong>gratefulness to you<\/strong> for sticking by and gratefulness to the enduring principle of margin of safety \u2013 and a reminder to continue its pursuit in a disciplined way.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\"><strong>Guidance:<\/strong> We have been pursuing this investment strategy since last 13 years (if we include pre-PMS days). After looking at annual returns of last 13 years we have noticed and can give you a broad guidance that <strong>we will most likely underperform in a rapidly rising market<\/strong> as we deploy cautiously and avoid frothy pockets. But <strong>we will most likely outperform in a weak or stagnant market<\/strong> as the caution reaps it reward. Over full cycle, hopefully, we will deliver a reasonable absolute return performance. We would urge you to read our future performance with this lens.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong><u>A2. Underlying business performance<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"height: 288px; width: 91.6571%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #dcdcdc;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 23px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 33.3333%; height: 23px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Past Twelve Months<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 33.3333%; height: 23px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong>Earnings per unit (EPU)<sup>2<\/sup><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 25.2011%; height: 23px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong>FY 2026 EPU (expected) <\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 23px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 33.3333%; height: 23px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 33.3333%; height: 23px; text-align: center;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 25.2011%; height: 23px; text-align: center;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 26px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 33.3333%; height: 26px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Dec 2025<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 33.3333%; height: 26px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong>11.1<sup>1<\/sup><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 25.2011%; height: 26px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong>10.8-11.2<sup>3<\/sup><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 23px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 33.3333%; height: 23px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Sep 2025 (Previous Quarter)<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 33.3333%; height: 23px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">10.6<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 25.2011%; height: 23px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">10.2-11.0<sup>3<\/sup><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 23px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 33.3333%; height: 23px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Dec 2024 (Previous Year)<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 33.3333%; height: 23px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">9.2<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 25.2011%; height: 23px; text-align: center;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 23px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 33.3333%; height: 23px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Annual Change<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 33.3333%; height: 23px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">20.6%<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 25.2011%; height: 23px; text-align: center;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 23px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 33.3333%; height: 23px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">CAGR since inception (Jun 2019)<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 33.3333%; height: 23px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">14.2%<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 25.2011%; height: 23px; text-align: center;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 102px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 91.8677%; height: 100px;\" colspan=\"3\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><em><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><sup>1 <\/sup>Last four quarters ending Dec 2025. Results of Mar quarter are declared by May only. <sup>2<\/sup> EPU = Total normalised earnings accruing to the aggregate portfolio divided by units outstanding. <sup>3 <\/sup>Please note: the forward earnings per unit (EPU) are conservative estimates of our expectation of future earnings of underlying companies. In past we have been wrong \u2013 often by wide margin \u2013 in our estimates and there is a risk that we are wrong about the forward EPU reported to you above.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\"><strong>Earnings per unit \u2013 <\/strong>When you invest, you are allocated notional units and NAV. For Rs 50 lacs of investment you are allocated 50,000 notional units of NAV Rs 100. We track the earnings performance of our aggregate portfolio companies by dividing normalised earnings accruing to us (number of stocks held x earnings per share) by outstanding units.<\/span><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\"><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\"><strong>Trailing Earnings:<\/strong> We had revised the Earnings Per Unit guidance for FY26 to Rs 10.2-11.0 last quarter. Actual trailing twelve months earnings per unit till Dec\u20192025 came in at Rs 11.1, around the upper range of the updated guidance, and higher by <strong>20.6%<\/strong> over last year (including effects of cash equivalents that earn ~6%).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\"><strong>1-Yr Forward Earnings:<\/strong> We <strong>slightly increase<\/strong> the guidance for FY26 forward earnings per unit to Rs 10.8-11.2.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong><u>A3. Underlying portfolio parameters<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 90.8587%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #dcdcdc; height: 221px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 58px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; height: 58px;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Mar 2025<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 12.0403%; text-align: right; height: 58px;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Trailing P\/E<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 11.3655%; text-align: right; height: 58px;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Forward P\/E<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 11.7429%; text-align: right; height: 58px;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Portfolio RoIC<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 17.5314%; text-align: right; height: 58px;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Portfolio Turnover<sup>1<\/sup><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 55px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; height: 55px;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">CED LTFV (PMS)<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 12.0403%; text-align: right; height: 55px;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">21.7x<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 11.3655%; text-align: right; height: 55px;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">21.5x-22.3x<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 11.7429%; text-align: right; height: 55px;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">41.0%<sup>3<\/sup><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 17.5314%; text-align: right; height: 55px;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">12.8%<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 30px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 16.6667%; height: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">BSE 500<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 12.0403%; text-align: right; height: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">21.7x<sup>2<\/sup><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 11.3655%; text-align: right; height: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">&#8211;<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 11.7429%; text-align: right; height: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">17.7%<sup>2<\/sup><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 17.5314%; text-align: right; height: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18.6667px;\">&#8211;<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 48px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 69.3468%; height: 48px;\" colspan=\"5\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;\"><em style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><sup>1<\/sup><\/em><em><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"> \u2018sale of equity shares other than liquid funds and client redemptions\u2019 divided by \u2018average portfolio value\u2019 during the year to date period. <\/span><sup>2<\/sup><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\">Source: Asia Index. <sup>3<\/sup>Portfolio Return on Invested Capital (RoIC) is on core equity positions. For BSE 500 index we share the RoE (Return on Equity)<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h1><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">B. DETAILS ON PERFORMANCE<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">B1. MISTAKES AND LEARNINGS<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">We did not discover any new mistakes this quarter.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">B2. MAJOR PORTFOLIO CHANGES<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\"><strong>Bought:<\/strong> We added to existing position in underweight portfolios to make it a 10% position<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\"><strong>Sold:\u00a0<\/strong>We trimmed one major position in overweight accounts.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline; font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong>B4. FLOWS AND SENTIMENTS<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\"><em>Mutual Funds stress test likely understates the stress<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">Since Feb 2024, SEBI has required mutual funds to publish monthly stress test. The stress tests calculate how many days will small cap and midcap schemes take to liquidate a quarter or half of the portfolio. As per the stress test reports, following are the weighted average days needed to liquidate half of the portfolio:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #d1cfcf;\" rowspan=\"2\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\"><strong>Month<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #d1cfcf; text-align: center;\" colspan=\"2\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\"><strong>Days needed to liquidate 50% of portfolio (Wt. Avg.)<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #d1cfcf; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\"><strong>Smallcap Funds<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #d1cfcf; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\"><strong>Midcap Funds<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">Feb 2026<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">40<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">22<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">Sep 2025<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">36<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">19<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">Mar 2025<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">34<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">18<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">Sep 2024<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">26<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">14<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">Mar 2024<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">24<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">15<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"3\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\"><em>Source: AMFI<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\"><strong>Interpretation <\/strong>\u2013 As of Feb 2026, smallcap funds would need 40 trading days and midcap funds 22 trading days to liquidate half of their portfolio. In two years, the time needed has increased by over 50% due to heavy inflows into these schemes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">However, the stress tests understate the true liquidity risk:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">They assume that during stress average traded volume of the securities will be <strong>3 times the volumes of normal times.<\/strong> In March 2024 when BSE Smallcap Index fell 4.8%, 1050 stocks were in <strong>lower circuit<\/strong>. In same month, on another day 614 stocks were under circuit. During the times of stress, the volumes are far lower than normal times, not 3x.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">The stress test covers smallcap stocks only in the smallcap fund. Flexicap, multicap, midcap, thematic, and sectoral funds also own 10-20% of their assets in smallcap stocks.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\"><strong>Adjusted Interpretation<\/strong>: Adjusting for these, we can assume actual days may be 3x-4x. <strong>So mutual funds may take anywhere between 120-160 trading days to liquidate half of their portfolio of smallcap stocks.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\"><strong>Liquidity Risk &#8211; <\/strong>The risk is not restricted to small and midcap. In a crisis, only those assets that can be sold get sold. So, if smallcap stocks hit lower circuit, first cash (that is around 3-4%) and then large cap stocks will see selling pressure. As a safety measure, mutual funds enjoy a facility of borrowing 20% of scheme AUM for six months.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">During April 2020, Franklin Templeton had to wind up six of its high yield debt schemes worth Rs 25,000cr. But as soon as news spread, unit-holders lined up for redemption. Even the 20% proved insufficient. The RBI had to step in with special liquidity facility of Rs 50,000cr to stabilise the frozen debt markets. However, those were debt funds. Doing the same for equity fund may lead to moral hazard. The only safety net will be locking the exit doors. But that will weaken the confidence that retail investors have gained in mutual funds in last 5 years.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\"><strong>Food for thought:<\/strong> The size of smallcap schemes in mutual funds may pose a <strong>systemic risk<\/strong> for Indian capital markets. A crazy solution could be an RBI like reserve requirement. The RBI requires around 21% of banks deposits (CRR + SLR) to be kept in liquid instruments like cash and government securities to meet sudden redemptions requests. SEBI may think of similar buffers to be built into smallcap mutual funds.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h1><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">C. OTHER THOUGHTS<\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\"><strong>Buybacks poised for a comeback<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">The 2025 Union Budget had made the sale proceeds during a buyback taxable as dividend in the hands of the tendering shareholders. This increased the maximum tax rate to 33-38% (including surcharge) on entire proceeds from earlier regime of maximum 14%\/22.4% (including surcharge) on long term\/ short term capital gains respectively. Buybacks of shares had slowed last year due to this.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">The recent Union Budget 2026 has corrected this by making buyback taxable again as capital gains. However, there is one change. Now the beneficial tax treatment is only for non-promoter shareholders. For promoter shareholders, while the gains will be considered as capital gains (and not dividends) the rate is roughly the same \u2013 33.6% for individual promoters and 24.6% for corporate promoters (including surcharge). For promoters, there is no major tax arbitrage between dividends and capital gains.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">SEBI, taking cues from tax changes, recently issued a consultation paper to reintroduce buyback through open market method (more efficient than tender offer method in our view).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">We believe <strong>buybacks, when done correctly, improve shareholder value<\/strong> and welcome these changes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">A right buyback is one where:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">The stock trades below intrinsic value, and<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">The company has free cash over and above its expected capex and opex, and<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">There are no other better capital allocation alternatives.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;\">Sadly, unlike US companies that have an ongoing disciplined buyback program, India has seen buyback misuse from promoters for (a) exiting at higher prices or (b) supporting share prices or (c) enjoying tax arbitrage (now plugged). There are a few exceptions to this, but there remains significant scope for improvement. With (a) open market buybacks expected to be back, (b) taxation regime better for minority shareholders, and (c) tax arbitrage closed for promoters, we hope to see more buybacks done for the right reasons.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">***<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">As always, gratitude for your trust and patience. Kindly do share your thoughts, if any. Your feedback helps us improve our services to you!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Kind regards<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Sumit Sarda<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Partner and Portfolio Manager<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Disclaimer: Compound Everyday Capital Management LLP is SEBI registered Portfolio Manager with registration number INP 000006633. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. All information provided herein is for informational purposes only and should not be deemed as a recommendation to buy or sell securities. This transmission is confidential and may not be redistributed without the express written consent of Compound Everyday Capital Management LLP and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to purchase any security or investment product. Reference to an index does not imply that the firm will achieve returns, volatility, or other results similar to the index.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Trailing twelve months\u2019 earnings of underlying portfolio companies grew by 20.6%. FY26 NAV grew by 14.1% with 80% funds invested in equity positions. Balance 20% is parked in liquid funds. Crude oil shock reaffirms the importance of smart portfolio diversification. We added further to an existing position, and trimmed an existing major [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1497","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-investment-process","category-quarterly-update"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cedcapital.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1497","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cedcapital.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cedcapital.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cedcapital.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cedcapital.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1497"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/cedcapital.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1497\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1505,"href":"https:\/\/cedcapital.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1497\/revisions\/1505"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cedcapital.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1497"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cedcapital.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1497"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cedcapital.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1497"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}