Alternative Investment Funds Categories: Purpose & Types

Investors and institutions across the globe now have easier access to promising investment opportunities. One of the most sought-after investment options today is an Alternative Investment Fund (AIF).The AIF industry has witnessed a 105% CAGR over the last 10 years and the total AUM was at INR 6.41 Lakh Crore, as of 2021-22.
(Source: The Economic Times)

Given their high-risk, high-return nature, most AIFs are held by institutional investors or accredited, high-net-worth individuals. AIFs focus on alternative investments, including private equity, hedge funds, real estate, venture capital, infrastructure, commodities, and distressed assets. They are managed by professional investment managers or investment companies with expertise in specific alternative asset classes.

Funds are pooled from various investors to invest in asset classes other than traditional stocks, bonds, and cash. Investors leveraging AIFs must dedicate a minimum amount of INR 1 crore Investors can choose from several types of alternative investment funds, according to their specific objectives.

Categories of Alternative Investment Funds

To best leverage AIFs, it is important to be familiar with the main categories of alternative investment funds. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has categorized AIFs into three categories, namely Category I, Category II, and Category III, based on their investment strategies, eligibility criteria, and regulatory requirements.

Category I

Category I AIFs are considered to have relatively low-risk investment strategies and are intended to benefit the economy by promoting infrastructure development, socially or economically desirable activities, and investments in start-ups with significant growth potential, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and other sectors of national importance.

Category I AIFs are open to both Indian and foreign investors, including institutional investors, high-net-worth individuals, and family offices. This category includes the following funds:

1. Venture Capital Fund (VCF):

Venture capital funds involve investing in multiple start-ups and emerging companies with high potential for scalability. VCFs often look to invest in companies belonging to the healthcare, technology, and other related innovative sectors. Investors provide quick capital to help MSMEs expand to new markets and seize promising growth opportunities.

2. Infrastructure Fund (IF):

As the name suggests, an infrastructure fund pools capital from various investors to finance or invest in a wide range of infrastructure projects. They may invest by acquiring existing infrastructure assets from publicly traded companies. This includes the construction of roads, bridges, airports, seaports, railways, power plants, telecommunications networks, and such.

3. Angel Fund:

An angel fund pools capital from high-net-worth individuals or groups, known as angel investors, to finance startups and emerging businesses. Angel investors collectively invest in a single fund. They provide capital in exchange for an equity stake in the company. In addition, they also provide companies with expert insights and industry connections.

4. Social Venture Fund:

With social venture funds, investors aim to generate both financial returns and promote a positive social or environmental impact. These funds are designed to provide capital to enterprises that have incorporated sustainable practices in their business model and are actively contributing to social or environmental change. The funds usually focus on a particular sector, such as sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, education, or microfinance.

Category II

Category II AIFs involve building diverse investment strategies and investing in multiple assets that differ from traditional investment options like stocks, bonds, or mutual funds. All types of investors can dedicate funds to Category II AIFs, including institutional investors, high-net-worth individuals (HNIs), and corporate institutions. However, they are not open to retail investors. These AIFs usually have a minimum investment threshold set by the portfolio manager.

1. Private Equity Fund (PE):

Private equity funds invest in privately held companies. The key objective for investors here is to acquire a significant ownership stake in the company they are investing in. They provide financial support for business expansion or restructuring to generate higher returns while exiting. They also provide support in terms of guidance on how to increase business value.

2. Debt Fund:

Also known as bond funds, debt funds invest in fixed-income securities such as government bonds, corporate bonds, treasury bills, debentures, and such. These funds are popular among investors who aim for stable income generation and capital preservation. These funds generate income for investors through interest payments received from fixed-income investments.

3. Fund of Funds:

A key characteristic of a fund of funds (FoF) is that it invests capital in a portfolio of other funds. There is no direct purchasing of stocks, bonds, or other financial instruments. The primary objective of a fund of funds is to achieve diversification by spreading investments across multiple underlying funds.

Category III

Category III AIFs are open to all types of investors, including institutional investors, high-net-worth individuals (HNIs), corporate bodies, and institutions. However, they are primarily designed for investors who are willing to assume higher risks in pursuit of potentially higher returns. They build elaborate investment strategies, including leveraging or borrowing funds, short-selling, and using derivatives for hedging.

1. Hedge Fund:

Hedge funds pool capital from accredited investors to generate absolute returns, regardless of the market conditions. The funds are popular owing to expert management and accessibility to higher-risk, higher-reward investments. Investors employ multiple investment strategies including derivatives trading, leveraging funds, long/short equity, and quantitative trading.

2. Private Investment in Public Equity Fund (PIPE):

A Private Investment in Public Equity (PIPE) fund is where investors make private investments in publicly traded companies that need additional capital. To provide these companies with financial support, investors purchase equity securities, including common stock, preferred stock, convertible securities, or warrants at a discounted price.

This blog is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or make any investments. We recommend readers to take independent advice before taking any investment decisions. Please refer to our Disclaimer and Disclosures for more details.