Exclusive: Sebi proposes new type of high-risk mutual fund to compete with PMS
₹50 lakh. Instead, they could be housed in mutual funds at a lower ticket size but higher than ordinary mutual funds, a letter from AMFI to fund houses read. Sebi asked AMFI to send the industry’s responses by 25 October, according to a letter from AMFI to fund houses, a copy of which Mint has seen.
The responses should suggest relaxations for the new category and the minimum ticket size. Portfolio management services (PMS) are not subject to the same risk controls as mutual funds, such as the 10% cap on exposure to individual stocks. This allows them to take concentrated bets on a few companies.
Alternative investment funds (AIFs) can use leverage to invest and can also run long-short strategies (to benefit from both bull and bear markets). A large number of such freedoms are not available in the tightly controlled MF industry. Mutual funds are not allowed to take ‘naked short’ positions but are allowed to use derivatives as a hedge.
A mutual fund is also a more tax-efficient vehicle to house high-risk strategies than a PMS, where investors pay tax each time the fund is rebalanced. Experts are cautious on the development. “I’m not sure if retail investors will understand the risk inherent in such a category.
Read more on livemint.com
