Axis Asset Management Company (AMC) announced its entry into the specialised investment fund (SIF) category on Friday, launching a dedicated business unit called 'Accelerate SIF'. According to reports from The Hindu BusinessLine, the Mumbai-based fund house has appointed Nandik Mallik to head the new venture, bringing over two decades of experience in managing risk-adjusted funds. Mallik previously served as Chief Investment Officer at Avendus Capital Public Markets Alternate Strategies LLP and has prior experience launching the long short fund at ICICI Prudential AMC. As per Business Standard, the asset manager plans to launch products in the equity and hybrid segments under the 'Accelerate SIF' brand, with specific product details to be disclosed closer to individual launches.
B Gopkumar, MD & CEO of Axis AMC, emphasised the company's strategic approach to the SIF business. According to Business Standard, Gopkumar stated that 'Accelerate SIF' aims to bring together investment expertise, dedicated capabilities and disciplined approach to product development to create solutions for investors. The company stated that the business will prioritise fundamental research, high-conviction ideas and a disciplined risk framework. R Sivakumar, CIO of Axis Mutual Fund, emphasised that markets are shaped by dispersion across sectors, themes and asset classes, making active portfolio construction more important than ever. The 'Accelerate SIF' approach will focus on generating risk-adjusted returns through high-conviction ideas while maintaining disciplined risk management.
According to The Hindu BusinessLine, SIFs are a relatively new regulatory category in India's mutual fund industry that allow fund managers greater flexibility in portfolio construction compared to conventional mutual fund schemes. Axis AMC joins a growing list of asset managers building dedicated capabilities in this space, positioning itself to capitalise on the expanding SIF market segment. The products carry risks including market volatility, liquidity risk and potential loss of capital, with investors advised to review investment strategies and eligibility requirements before investing.
