Mahindra Manulife Launches MPOWER SIF, Entering the Systematic Investment Fund Segment

Mahindra Manulife Mutual Fund Enters SEBI's Specialized Investment Fund Category

Mahindra Manulife Mutual Fund has announced its entry into the Securities and Exchange Board of India's (SEBI) Specialized Investment Fund (SIF) category with the launch of MPOWER SIF, its first product in the SIF space. The fund house aims to cater to investors seeking to complement their existing mutual fund portfolios through differentiated strategies using derivatives and other investment tools to generate varied risk-return outcomes.

MPOWER SIF is part of Mahindra Manulife Mutual Fund's plans to introduce a range of strategies under the SIF category across equity, hybrid, and fixed-income categories, in line with regulatory norms and investor suitability requirements. The SIF category enables asset managers to offer strategies such as long-short investing, derivatives-based approaches, and more focused portfolio construction, providing investors with alternative avenues to pursue their financial goals.

The introduction of the SIF category by SEBI in December 2024 has created a new investment category positioned between traditional mutual funds and Portfolio Management Services (PMS). The framework was designed for investors seeking more sophisticated investment strategies while retaining the transparency, governance standards, and regulatory oversight associated with mutual funds.

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Under the framework, eligible asset management companies can launch specialized strategies across equity, debt, and hybrid segments, including long-short funds and tactical asset allocation products. To ensure the category caters to relatively sophisticated investors, SEBI has prescribed a minimum investment threshold of Rs 10 lakh across all SIF strategies offered by an asset management company.