Statement of additional information

Statement of additional information

We frequently hear the phrase “mutual fund investments are subject to market risk, read all scheme related documentation carefully” in promotions for mutual funds. Due to this, a lot of people believe that investing in mutual funds is hazardous and that they will lose their money. 

Here we’ll look at- “scheme-related documents” commonly referred to as offer documents (ODs). 

What is a statement of additional information? 

A statement of additional information (SAI) is a supplement to a mutual fund prospectus that provides more details about the fund and its activities. The SAI provides updated financial data and in-depth information that may not be present in the prospectus. 

A mutual fund company must codify the SAI, but it is not compelled to send it to potential investors unless they specifically request it. The registration statement for the fund must include a statement of extra information as Part B, which is submitted with an SEC Form N-1A. 

Understanding the statement of additional information 

One of three documents an investor will typically find while looking for information about a mutual fund is a statement of additional information. The prospectus and summary prospectus are the other two documents. 

In addition to their registrations, mutual funds must submit and maintain several forms with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A summary prospectus, which gives investors a quick synopsis, may be included with the prospectus, which is necessary for registration. Investors must receive a prospectus from mutual fund companies when purchasing shares.

Contents of statement of additional information 

For mutual funds, a disclosure containing extra information is necessary. Although funds don’t need to give this information to shareholders, they must do so if it is asked. A mutual fund can go into more detail in the declaration of extra information regarding aspects of the fund that aren’t explicitly stated or covered in the prospectus.  

The SEC specifies the information that must be included in the statement of additional information. These topics cover the company’s management and portfolio managers in further detail. Financial statements for the fund are also included. The fund’s financial statements are frequently included in an SAI, which is frequently updated. Typically, it will contain details about the executives, directors, and other individuals in charge of the fund’s investing strategy. 

What is an SAI in investing? 

Investors will mostly locate the SAI and prospectus documents when looking for information about a fund on its website. The Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 require registered securities, such as mutual funds, to be subject to various forms and disclosures.  

Funds must also submit quarterly reports with their holdings and semi-annual and annual reports with the fund’s financial statements in addition to the prospectus and SAI. 

The SEC maintains an online database of every filing made by a fund. On average, mutual funds post all their SEC filings for investors on their websites. Fund fact sheets, performance reports, top fund holdings, investment categories, and fund allocation breakdowns are other sorts of fund marketing reports that can aid a potential investor in making investment decisions regarding a fund.  

Companies that offer mutual funds often make payouts, fund costs, and assets managed available. They frequently list fund characteristics on their marketing webpages, such as price to earnings and average market capitalization. 

Frequently Asked Questions