AIF rule reset widens access for accredited investors, raises new risk questions
AIFs. Unlike mutual funds that pool in investors' money to invest primarily in listed equities and bonds, AIFs are also pooled investments but can invest beyond securities and bonds to invest in less traditional assets such as private equity, venture capital, real estate and hedge funds.“My allocation to AIFs was driven by one simple realization that traditional instruments capture broad market beta, but they rarely provide access to early-stage alpha.
AIFs, particularly Category I and II funds, give access to growth-stage private companies before they become mainstream,” said Arora.To allow greater allocation flexibility and higher exposure to conviction bets, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) in September 2025 permitted Category I and II AIFs to create separate co-investment vehicles (CIVs) for individual companies. Accredited investors can now invest directly in a specific company alongside the main AIF instead of only through a diversified fund.“Each CIV is ring-fenced (separate bank and demat accounts), follows the same or better terms as the main AIF investment, and exits at the same time as the AIF.
Th improves transparency, governance, and alignment,” said Rajesh Singla, chief executive officer (CEO) and fund manager, Alpha AIF.According to Singla, while CIV may increase concentration risk, it also offers the potential for higher upside if the chosen company performs strongly. Governance standards are relatively stronger than earlier informal co-investment arrangements because CIVs operate with improved transparency and investor protection mechanisms.The creation of AI-only schemes and lowering minimum investment thresholds in large-value funds to ₹25 crores from ₹70 crore in the September 2025
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