1 · In one sentence
Feeder funds collect money from their own investors and pass it into one master fund, which does all the investing.
2 · Think of it like thisImagine several small water tanks supplying water to one large central tank. The small tanks collect water locally, and the central tank is where it is pooled. Feeder funds work the same way: each collects investor money and channels it into one master fund, which makes the investments.
Investors in two countries each invest through their own local feeder, and both feeders invest in one master fund.
It lets investors from different places use a vehicle that suits them, while the money is managed as one pool.
6 · How is it different from fund of funds?
A fund of funds spreads money across several different funds; a feeder puts money into one master fund.
7 · Regulatory meaning
A general fund-industry term. It is not separately defined in the SEBI AIF or IFSCA Fund Management Regulations covered on this site.
8 · Explain it to someone else
Remember it this way: Many feeders → ONE master.
Indian investors use an IFSC fund and US investors use a Delaware fund, and both pass the money into one Cayman fund that does the investing. The IFSC and Delaware funds are:
