FME Regulatory Intelligence, Learning & Practice · IFSCA (Fund Management) Regulations, 2025

Topic C of 6 · 14 terms

Fund products and strategies

What does the fund invest in, and how?

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1 · In one sentence

A fund that uses varied or complex trading strategies, often including borrowing and derivatives, to earn returns.

2 · Think of it like thisThink of a skilled trader who uses many tools: buying, selling short, using derivatives and borrowing. A hedge fund trades actively and may use leverage, unlike funds that buy and hold for years. In SEBI terms this is usually a Category III AIF.

4 · A real-world example

A fund buys some shares and bets against others at the same time.

5 · Why it matters

In SEBI's framework these usually fall in Category III, which may use leverage.

6 · How is it different from PE or vc fund?

Hedge fundTrades actively
vs
PE or VC fundBuys and holds for years

PE and VC buy and hold for years; hedge funds trade more actively.

7 · Regulatory meaning

SEBI AIF Regulations, Reg 2(1)(l); Category III under Reg 3(4)(c).

8 · Explain it to someone else

Remember it this way: Hedge fund = active trading, complex tools.

Which SEBI AIF category typically covers hedge funds?

Plain-English explanations to aid understanding. Regulatory points cite their source; general finance concepts are explained as commonly used. Not legal or tax advice.

Prashant Kumar

Meet the expert

CS Prashant Kumar

Company Secretary & Compliance Officer
Global Horizons Capital Advisors (IFSC) Private Limited — an IFSCA-licensed investment banker

13+ years of experienceFCS Fellow member, ICSIAuthor Audit Under Fire

Published in The Chartered Accountant (Jun 2025, Jan 2025, Mar 2024) and Chartered Secretary (Aug 2023)

Prashant Kumar is a seasoned Company Secretary and corporate governance strategist with more than 13 years of experience advising large corporates, promoter-led groups and global businesses on compliance, regulatory risk and board governance. In GIFT IFSC, the IFSCA regime is his day job rather than a research topic.