ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company (AMC) is set to launch two new Initial Fund Offers (IFOs) under the Specialized Investment Funds (SIFs) category.
The two schemes are ISIF Hybrid Long-Short Fund and ISIF Equity Ex-Top 100 Long-Short Fund.
Both these IFOs will open for subscription on January 16, 2026, and will close on January 30, 2026. With this launch, ICICI Prudential AMC is entering the SIF segment for the first time.
What Are Specialized Investment Funds (SIFs)?
Specialized Investment Funds (SIFs) are a new investment category approved by SEBI. These funds are designed to bridge the gap between traditional mutual fund schemes and Portfolio Management Services (PMS).
SIFs allow fund managers to use advanced investment strategies, such as:
Long and short positions
Derivative-based strategies
Dynamic asset allocation and hedging techniques
These strategies aim to manage risk better while trying to deliver improved risk-adjusted returns.
Minimum Investment Requirement
The minimum investment amount for SIFs is ₹10 lakh. Commenting on this, S.
Naren, Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of ICICI Prudential AMC, said in a video shared on social media platform X that investors who are looking for long-term investments
and are seeking returns even when markets are not very cheap can consider options like SIFs.
Key Features of ISIF Hybrid Long-Short Fund
The equity portion of the ISIF Hybrid Long-Short Fund will be managed by Rajat Chandak and Ayush Shah, while the debt portion will be handled by Manish Banthia and Akhil Kakkar.
This fund will invest across:
Equities
Debt instruments
Derivatives
The main objective of this fund is to generate risk-adjusted returns by using:
Dynamic asset allocation
Hedging strategies
Selective short-term investments in equity and debt markets
Key Features of ISIF Equity Ex-Top 100 Long-Short Fund
The ISIF Equity Ex-Top 100 Long-Short Fund will be managed by CIO S. Naren, along with Manan Tijoriwala and Divya Jain.
This fund will primarily invest in companies outside the top 100 by market capitalization, which mainly includes mid-cap and small-cap stocks.
To manage market volatility, the fund will use a combination of long and short positions.
The scheme will also be allowed to take up to 25% unhedged short exposure through equity derivatives, giving the fund more flexibility in managing risks and market movements.
Investment Options, Exit Load, and Other Details
Both SIF strategies will be available in direct and regular plans, with a growth option. Investors can invest through:
Lump sum investments
Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs), subject to minimum investment limits
An exit load of 1% will be charged if the investment is redeemed within one year from the date of allotment.
