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

Topic B of 6 · 10 terms

Fund structures

How are the different entities connected?

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1 · In one sentence

One fund structure that contains several separate sub-funds (schemes), each with its own investments and investors.

2 · Think of it like thisThink of one building with several separate flats. The building has one address and one society, but each flat has its own owners and its own bills. An umbrella fund is one legal vehicle with several sub-funds, each with its own investors and assets.

4 · A real-world example

One fund runs a debt sub-fund and an equity sub-fund, each with its own portfolio.

5 · Why it matters

It saves set-up time and cost: new strategies are added as new sub-funds.

6 · How is it different from scheme?

Umbrella fund and sub-fundGeneral term: one vehicle, many sub-funds
vs
SchemeThe AIF and IFSC word for a sub-fund

In AIF and IFSC language, these sub-funds are usually called 'schemes'.

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: Umbrella = one roof, many flats.

In AIF and IFSC language, the separate pools under one fund are usually called:

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.