AIFs are structured as privately pooled investment vehicles, usually in the form of a trust or a limited liability partnership (LLP).
AIFs can be established as either Category I, Category II, or Category III funds, depending on their investment strategies, objectives, and risk profiles.
Category I AIFs are known as Venture Capital Funds (VCFs) and primarily invest in startups or early-stage companies.
VCFs must have a minimum corpus of INR 20 crores ($2.7 million) contributed by investors.
They have a lock-in period of at least three years, during which the fund cannot exit investments.
A venture capital fund in India is managed by a fund manager, who is responsible for making investment decisions on behalf of the fund.
The fund manager must have relevant experience and meet the eligibility criteria specified by SEBI.
Venture capital funds raise capital from qualified investors, including high net worth individuals (HNIs), family offices, institutional investors, and foreign investors, subject to regulatory restrictions.
The fund manager typically sets a minimum investment amount for each investor, and the fund has a specific fund size or target corpus.
Venture capital funds focus on investing in startups or early-stage companies with high growth potential.
The fund manager performs due diligence on potential investment opportunities, including evaluating the business model, market potential, management team, and financials of the target companies.
Investments are made in the form of equity or equity-linked instruments, and the fund may negotiate a stake in the investee companies.
The fund manager actively manages the portfolio of investments, providing strategic guidance, mentoring, and support to the investee companies.
They may have representation on the investee company’s board of directors to monitor progress and influence decision-making.
Venture capital funds aim to exit their investments and generate returns within a specific time frame, usually within 5-7 years.
Common exit routes include initial public offerings (IPOs), mergers and acquisitions (M&A), or secondary sales to other investors.
Venture capital funds in India must comply with SEBI regulations and guidelines, including reporting requirements, periodic disclosures, and investor protection norms.
They are subject to regular inspections and audits by SEBI to ensure compliance with applicable rules and regulations.
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