Axis Mutual Fund Launches Axis Services Opportunities Fund: A New Thematic Offering to Capture India's Services-Led Growth Story

Highlights of Axis Services Opportunities Fund

• Category: Thematic – Services


• Benchmark: NIFTY Services Sector TRI


• NFO Period: July 4 – July 18, 2025


• Fund Manager(s): Mr. Shreyash Devalkar, Mr. Sachin Relekar, and Ms. Krishnaa Narayan


• Minimum Application Amount: ₹100 and in multiples of ₹1/- thereafter


• Exit Load: If redeemed / switched-out within 12 months from allotment date: For 10% of investments: NIL for remaining investments: 1%. If redeemed / switched-out after 12 months from allotment date: NIL

Mumbai, 3rd July 2025: Axis Mutual Fund, one of India's leading asset management companies, today announced the launch of the Axis Services Opportunities Fund, an open-ended equity scheme following the services theme. The New Fund Offer (NFO) will open for subscription on July 4, 2025, and close on July 18, 2025. The Axis Services Opportunities Fund is designed to offer investors access to a carefully curated portfolio of companies that are at the forefront of India's services-led economic transformation. The fund aims to generate long-term capital appreciation by investing in scalable, capital-efficient, and competitively advantaged businesses that derive their core revenues from service-based offerings. The fund will be managed by Mr. Shreyash Devalkar (Head – Equity), Mr. Sachin Relekar (Senior Fund Manager) and Ms. Krishnaa Narayan (for overseas investments).

"India's future growth is expected to be increasingly service-led, and the structural tailwinds for this segment are both deep and durable," said B. Gopkumar, MD & CEO, Axis AMC. "With the Axis Services Opportunities Fund, we are offering investors an actively managed vehicle that is built to tap into this long-term transformation. From legacy sectors like banking to emerging models in e-commerce, fintech and healthcare, the fund aims to curate the best of India's services story. It aligns with our long-term investment philosophy - identifying quality, capital-efficient businesses that can thrive through cycles and deliver superior risk-adjusted returns."

India's Services Economy: The Engine of Growth

Accounting for 55% of India's GDP in FY24 and contributing to 41% of employment, the services sector is the single largest pillar of the Indian economy. From banking and insurance to IT services, e-commerce, logistics, healthcare, and digital platforms, the services domain has witnessed a wave of formalization and digital transformation that is reshaping consumer experiences and business models alike.

With a strong policy push, rapid urbanisation, increasing disposable incomes, and rising digital penetration, India's services economy is expected to maintain its leadership in GDP contribution and job creation through 2047 and beyond. Over the past few years, sectors such as telecom, healthcare, quick commerce, and logistics have seen significant profit acceleration, while fintech, media, and hospitality continue to scale rapidly.

About Axis Services Opportunities Fund

The Axis Services Opportunities Fund is positioned to capture this structural shift. The fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in equities of companies that are part of the services theme, across 48 industries as defined by the benchmark NIFTY Services Sector Index. These include financial services, IT, telecom, power, e-commerce, transport, healthcare services, fintech, entertainment, and more. The fund will maintain a high active share and adopt a bottom-up stock selection approach. The investment strategy will focus on identifying quality businesses with consistent earnings, strong return on capital employed (ROCE), and the ability to scale sustainably over the long term.

Mr. Ashish Gupta, CIO, Axis AMC says, "As the services sector becomes the cornerstone of India's economic growth, our approach with the Axis Services Opportunities Fund is to rigorously identify companies that demonstrate not just scale but sustainable competitive advantages and efficient capital allocation. We believe that a disciplined, bottom-up stock selection process focusing on quality earnings and strong return ratios will enable us to capture the nuanced opportunities within this diverse and evolving sector. This fund is aims to deliver consistent, risk-adjusted returns by investing across a broad spectrum of service industries, reflecting our conviction in the long-term structural shift towards a services-driven economy."

Why Invest Now?

The launch comes at an opportune time. Current dynamics the quality of businesses in this space more compelling, supported by stronger ROE and ROCE, there is also a visible shift in profit dynamics in the NSE 500 PAT pool to 53% in FY24,. Despite this, valuations remain reasonable in many selected segments, offering investors a growth at reasonable price. There's also increasing divergence in sectoral performance - for instance, financials and IT often show contra-trends - which, when actively managed, can enhance return potential and reduce portfolio risk. The fund's diversified approach within services is intended to harness these dynamics.

The fund complements Axis AMC's suite of thematic offerings, including the Axis Consumption Fund and Axis India Manufacturing Fund, each of which maps to a distinct pillar of the Indian economy. Together, they provide investors the opportunity to align their portfolios with the country's long-term structural growth trends.

Sources: Axis MF Research, NSE Indices, SEBI, BSE, Bloomberg, MFI Data as of Jun 2025

Product Labelling & Riskometer:

Investors are requested to consult their financial, tax and other advisors before taking any investment decision(s).

About Axis AMC: Axis AMC is one of India`s fastest growing assets managers offering a comprehensive bouquet of asset management products across mutual funds (https://www.axismf.com/), portfolio management services and alternative investments (https://www.axisamc.com/homepage).

Note: The sectors mentioned above are used to explain the concept and is for illustration purpose only and should not be used for development or implementation of any investment strategy. It should not be construed as investment advice to any party. Past performance may or may not be sustained in future.

Disclaimer: This press release represents the views of Axis Asset Management Co. Ltd. and must not be taken as the basis for an investment decision. Neither Axis Mutual Fund, Axis Mutual Fund Trustee Limited nor Axis Asset Management Company Limited, its Directors or associates shall be liable for any damages including lost revenue or lost profits that may arise from the use of the information contained herein. No representation or warranty is made as to the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the information and opinions contained herein. The material is prepared for general communication and should not be treated as research report. The data used in this material is obtained by Axis AMC from the sources which it considers reliable.

While utmost care has been exercised while preparing this document, Axis AMC does not warrant the completeness or accuracy of the information and disclaims all liabilities, losses and damages arising out of the use of this information. Investors are requested to consult their financial, tax and other advisors before taking any investment decision(s). The AMC reserves the right to make modifications and alterations to this statement as may be required from time to time.

Past performance may or may not be sustained in the future.

Axis Bank Ltd. is not liable or responsible for any loss or shortfall resulting from the operation of the scheme.