Investment across early-stage start-ups, venture capital, angel funds, and the infrastructure sector. The government and regulators refer to this category as socially or economically desirable.
Alternative
Investment Funds
Elevate your investment strategy with Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs). Gain access to a diverse range of AIFs, providing ample opportunities for high returns and portfolio diversification. Managed by top-tier fund managers, AIFs span various asset classes including private equity, real estate, hedge funds, and more, ensuring comprehensive investment options tailored to your financial goals.
Expand Your Portfolio Beyond
Conventional Instruments with
Alternative Investment Funds.
Invest in CAT-I, CAT-II, CAT-III AIFs.
Explore unconventional assets such as venture capital, angel funds, hedge funds, and private equity.
Minimum investment amount
of INR 1 crore.
Start Investing in AIF with
VNN Wealth.
Expect a call within 30 mins (Mon-Fri, 9:30 AM - 6:30 PM)
3 Categories Of Alternative Investment Fund (AIF)
This category invests across private equity, debt, and funds of funds. It also includes securities that do not fall under category I and III, and do not use borrowing or leverage other than for meeting operational requirements.
This AIF category invests across listed or unlisted derivatives such as hedge funds, open-ended funds, or funds trading to make short-term returns. These funds use diverse trading and arbitrage strategies. Category III can be both open or close-ended funds.
- Venture Capital Funds invest in start-ups with high growth potential. VCFs offer funding to these companies by buying the equity stake. These funds often target a specified sector which is declared at the launch of VCF. Social VCFs invest in companies that create a positive impact on society.
- Angel Funds raise investments from angel investors with at least 2 crore net tangible assets. Angel investors are required to have investment experience, serial entrepreneurship experience, and ten years of experience in a senior management role. Investors are allotted units of the funds.
- Infrastructure Funds invest in companies that develop infra projects such as roads, railways, renewable energy, etc. These funds generate capital from private investors. Investors can purchase units of these funds.
- Private Equity Funds invest in unlisted private companies. Listed companies raise funds via equity or debt instruments. Similarly, unlisted companies raise capital via private equity funds. These funds may come with four to seven years of lock-in period.
- Debt Funds in category II AIF invest in debt instruments offered by listed or unlisted companies. The funds choose the companies with a high growth potential looking to raise money.
- Funds of Funds invest in other AIFs, hence the name. These funds do not have their own portfolio.
- Hedge Funds gather investments from private investors and invest in both domestic and international markets. Underlying assets in these funds, including listed and unlisted, can have both short and long positions.
- Private Investment in Public Equity (PIPE) invests in publicly traded companies at a discounted price. These funds primarily help small and medium-sized companies to raise capital.
Category III AIFs are more common among the three. Contact VNN Wealth Experts for more information.
Benefits Of Investing In Alternative Investment Fund
1. Specialized Diversification
In Your Portfolio
AIFs allow investors to expand their portfolios beyond conventional investment instruments such as private equity, angel funds, venture capital, unlisted stocks, and more.
2. Potential Of Earning
Superior Returns
With a large corpus, fund managers have enough flexibility and scope to explore unique investment strategies. They aim to maximize returns using their analysis and expertise.
3. Lower
Volatility
The underlying assets in alternative investment funds are less volatile compared to pure equity funds. Some of these instruments are not listed on the stock market, hence, do not fluctuate frequently.
Who Should Invest in AIF
AIFs are ideal for sophisticated investors, HNIs, and ultra HNIs
with at least 1 crore to invest.
Investors seeking non-conventional investment opportunities such as
private equity, venture capital, angel funds, and hedge funds can invest in AIFs.
AIFs are also suitable for investors looking to park their funds for a longer horizon while also looking to diversify their portfolios.
As AIFs have non-conventional asset classes, the strategic investment
can generate superior returns. Investors with experience in the equity
market and a high-risk appetite can consider exploring AIFs.
Taxation
AIF Category I and II: Short-term Capital gains will be taxed at 15% whereas long-term will be taxed at 10%. Returns on debt instruments will be taxed as per the investor’s tax slab.
AIF Category III: Taxed at the fund level with the highest income tax slab which is about 42%. Investors will receive the gains after the tax deduction at the fund level and, hence do not have to pay any additional tax.
FAQs
The minimum investment amount for AIFs is 1 crore.
Most AIFs call for the money in three to four tranches over 6 to 18 months. It depends on the fund strategy.
Yes. Under the latest guidelines by the market regulator SEBI, AIFs have to be bought in demat form. Your existing demat with any bank/broking firm will work.
NRIs, PIOs, and OCIs can invest in AIF. However, some AMCs have certain geographical restrictions and may not allow NRIs residing in certain countries to invest.