ICICI Prudential Launches New Long-Short Funds Under SIF Segment

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AuthorIshaan Verma|Published at:
ICICI Prudential Launches New Long-Short Funds Under SIF Segment
Overview

ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund has launched two new investment strategies, the SIF Equity Ex-Top 100 Long-Short Fund and the SIF Hybrid Long-Short Fund. These offerings operate under the Specialised Investment Funds (SIF) segment, designed for sophisticated investors with a minimum investment of ₹10 lakh, aiming to deliver risk-adjusted returns through advanced hedging and asset allocation.

New SIF Funds Target Risk-Adjusted Returns

ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund has unveiled two new investment vehicles, the SIF Equity Ex-Top 100 Long-Short Fund and the SIF Hybrid Long-Short Fund, under its Specialised Investment Funds (SIF) segment. These new strategies aim to manage market volatility by employing a long-short investment approach. This means the funds will take long positions in securities expected to rise while simultaneously hedging or shorting overvalued stocks.

Strategy Details

The iSIF Equity Ex-Top 100 Long-Short Fund focuses on mid- and small-cap stocks, explicitly excluding the top 100 companies by market capitalization as defined by AMFI. It selectively shorts overvalued equities to mitigate downside risk. The fund's benchmark is the Nifty 500 TRI. In contrast, the iSIF Hybrid Long-Short Fund adopts an interval strategy, blending equity and debt. This fund also incorporates limited short exposure via derivatives and seeks opportunities in capital markets such as IPOs, buybacks, and tactical debt investments, benchmarked against the CRISIL Hybrid 50+50 Moderate Index.

SIF Framework Explained

Both funds are structured under the Securities and Exchange Board of India's (SEBI) SIF framework. This regulatory structure positions these products as advanced investment options, situated between traditional mutual funds and more bespoke Portfolio Management Services (PMS) or Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs). The SIF framework is intended to provide investors access to complex strategies within a regulated and transparent environment.

Minimum Investment Threshold

These offerings are designed for discerning investors, with a stipulated minimum investment of ₹10 lakh per investor for each fund. Sankaran Naren, ED & CIO at ICICI Prudential AMC, stated that the iSIF segment is built to offer differentiated strategies that can adapt to changing market conditions and enhance risk-adjusted outcomes. Investors are strongly advised to consult the respective Investment Strategy Information Documents (ISID) for comprehensive details on asset allocation, investment methodologies, and inherent risks before committing capital.

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