‘Mind growing opportunities’ may make it difficult for smaller players to survive, said the CII-Pricewaterhouse Coopers report on the Indian mutual fund industry released on 21 June.

“With more and more new players keen on entering the market, a new wave of consolidation may spark of by way of mergers and acquisitions in the industry,” the report said.

The CII-PWC report, Indian Mutual Fund Industry: Emerging Opportunities and Challenges was released by Sebi Chairman M Damodaran during the CII Mutual Fund Summit 2007.

“Global fund houses are set to make their presence felt in India in a big way with competition hotting up. Most fund houses offering the same bouquet of products to the investors, product differentiation could take centre stage going forward,” the report said.

It was also time for the mutual fund houses to go global the report said adding, “The retail investor ultimately has to be convinced about the opportunities available in the more mature global markets and the time is just right to make a beginning with investors allowed to invest up to $1,00,000 abroad.”