About Company
ASK Investment Managers Limited
Leading asset and wealth management firm ASK Investment Managers Ltd (ASKIM) primarily serves the HNI and UHNI markets in India. One of the first businesses in India to get a license for portfolio management services, our company is presently one of the biggest providers of discretionary equity portfolio management services. They’ve created India’s first AIF with digital client onboarding, a paperless and simple procedure, and were the first Portfolio Management Company to establish operations in GIFT city for foreign investors, among other recent industry first achievements.Their current clients include HNIs, Institutions, Pension Funds, Endowments, SWFs, Family Offices and Multi-Managers.
The ASK Index Plus Fund is an open-ended Category III Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) that combines factor-based long-only equity investing with a systematic quantitative long-short strategy. It seeks equity-market participation while diversifying exposure across different market conditions.
The fund’s inception date is 31 December 2024, and it requires a minimum subscription of ₹1 crore.
The fund uses two complementary investment engines:
- Long-only multi-factor equity exposure
- Active quantitative long-short exposure
The long-only portfolio uses factor-based investing to obtain equity exposure, while the quantitative component uses systematic models to take both long and short positions through liquid equity-index derivatives. Unlike a conventional index product, the fund’s market exposure may change according to signals generated by its quantitative models.
ASK Index Plus Fund Overview
The ASK Index Plus Fund is a scheme of ASK Alternative Investment Trust, registered with SEBI as a Category III AIF under registration number IN/AIF3/23-24. The fund is managed by ASK Long-Short Fund Managers Pvt. Ltd., an ASK Group entity focused on hedge-fund strategies.
| Fund Detail | Current Information |
|---|---|
| Structure | Category III AIF, open-ended |
| Investment Style | Long Biased and Quant Long Short |
| Investment Manager | ASK Long-Short Fund Managers Pvt. Ltd. |
| Inception Date | 31 December 2024 |
| Minimum Subscription | ₹1 crore |
| Lock-in Period | Nil |
| Subscription | Month-end or mid-month, at the investment manager’s discretion |
| Redemption | Month-end |
| Redemption Notice | Five days |
| NAV Frequency | Monthly |
| Exit Load | 1% for redemptions within 12 months |
Source: Latest AMC factsheet shared with AltPort, dated 31 July 2026. Terms may change; investors should refer to the latest PPM and fund documents.
How the ASK Index Plus Fund Strategy Works
Long-Only Multi-Factor Portfolio
The long-only component provides equity exposure through a multi-factor approach based primarily on momentum and low-volatility factors.
- Momentum: Seeks exposure to securities displaying relatively strong recent price trends.
- Low volatility: Seeks exposure to securities with comparatively lower historical price fluctuations.
The performance of individual factors can vary across market regimes. A factor that performs well during one market phase may underperform during another. Combining multiple factors is intended to reduce dependence on a single investment factor, although it does not eliminate market risk or the possibility of losses.
Quantitative Long-Short Strategy
The quantitative long-short component uses systematic, rule-based models instead of relying solely on discretionary stock-picking decisions. It takes both long and short positions, primarily through liquid equity-index futures.
The strategy combines different types of models, including:
- Momentum models
- Mean-reversion models
- Pattern-recognition models
- Trend-following models
- Models with different lookback periods and holding durations
The strategy is designed to respond to changing market signals instead of maintaining a fixed directional position.
How the Quantitative Models Are Selected
The model-selection process begins with more than 100 models developed through proprietary research and insights from academic research.
The models are progressively filtered based on considerations such as:
- Consistency across global markets
- Performance in liquid markets
- Correlation between returns
- Correlation during periods of loss
- Diversification across time horizons
The final portfolio may comprise up to 25 diversified strategies. The models are evaluated using measures including the MAR ratio, which compares annualised return with maximum drawdown. Predefined stop-loss parameters are also incorporated into the process.
The research and model set is reviewed semi-annually so that new research may be considered for inclusion. Model selection and review processes do not eliminate the possibility of losses.
Portfolio Construction and Market Exposure
According to the July 2026 AMC update, approximately 15% of capital is allocated to obtain leveraged exposure through index derivatives. The primary indices used by the strategy include:
- NIFTY 50
- BANK NIFTY
- NIFTY Midcap Select
- SENSEX
- NIFTY Financial Services
The strategy may operate within a market-exposure range of -100% to +100%. The update states an average trade duration of approximately 8–12 days, average gross exposure of around 40–50% and average net exposure of approximately 15–20%.
These figures describe reported strategy parameters and may change with market signals. Portfolio-exposure calculations exclude cash and cash-equivalent positions. Exposure through index and stock options is reflected using a delta-adjusted approach.
ASK Index Plus Fund Benchmark and Performance
The July 2026 AMC update compares the fund’s performance with the NIFTY 50 TRI.
| Period | Fund | NIFTY 50 TRI |
| 1 Month | 0.7% | 2.4% |
| 3 Months | 0.7% | 2.3% |
| 6 Months | -1.6% | -3.0% |
| 1 Year | -0.5% | -0.4% |
| Since Inception* | -0.3% | 3.3% |
*Since 31 December 2024. Returns for periods of less than one year are absolute, while returns for periods of one year or longer are annualised where applicable. Figures are gross of fees and relate to the 31 December 2024 INR series.
The AMC update also reported that the quantitative long-short component declined approximately 1.2% in July 2026 and was experiencing a drawdown of approximately 6% at the time of the update. The commentary attributed the weakness primarily to frequent market reversals and the absence of sustained trends, which can create a challenging environment for trend-following models.
Data as of 31 July 2026. Source: Latest AMC factsheet shared with AltPort.
Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Risk Management Framework
The quantitative strategy incorporates diversified signals across different timeframes, predefined stop-loss parameters and model diversification. These measures are intended to manage risk but cannot prevent or eliminate losses.
The July 2026 AMC commentary noted that rapid shifts between bullish and bearish market phases created a whipsaw environment for trend-following models. In such conditions, a model may enter or exit positions shortly before the market reverses direction.
Key Risks of the ASK Index Plus Fund
Prospective investors should consider the following risks:
- Market risk: Listed securities and market-linked instruments may lose value when markets decline.
- Derivatives and leverage risk: Futures and other derivatives can magnify both gains and losses.
- Model risk: Quantitative models may not perform as expected when historical market relationships change.
- Factor risk: Momentum and low-volatility strategies may underperform during certain market phases.
- Short-position risk: Short positions may incur losses when the prices of the underlying instruments rise.
- Implementation risk: Rebalancing, trading costs, corporate actions and portfolio constraints can cause results to differ from the performance of underlying factor indices.
- Liquidity risk: Monthly redemption facilities do not provide immediate liquidity.
- Concentration risk: Factor-based portfolio construction may result in concentration within particular sectors or securities.
- Manager and operational risk: Strategy implementation depends on the investment manager, its personnel, operational processes and technology systems.
Investors should review the complete risk disclosures contained in the latest PPM before making an investment decision.
ASK Index Plus Fund Fees, Minimum Investment and Liquidity
The minimum subscription for the ASK Index Plus Fund is ₹1 crore. According to the July 2026 factsheet, the fund has:
- No lock-in period
- Monthly redemption
- A five-day redemption notice
- A 1% exit load for redemptions within 12 months
- Monthly NAV calculation
Investors should refer to the latest PPM, contribution agreement and applicable fee schedule for complete information about management fees, performance fees, fund expenses, taxes and redemption provisions.
Who May Consider the ASK Index Plus Fund?
The strategy may be relevant for experienced investors who:
- Understand the structure and risks of Category III AIFs
- Can meet the ₹1 crore minimum investment requirement
- Are comfortable with derivatives, leverage and short positions
- Understand systematic and model-driven investment strategies
- Can tolerate market-linked losses and periods of drawdown
- Have an investment horizon consistent with the fund’s strategy
Before subscribing, investors should independently review the latest PPM, factsheet, fee terms, benchmark methodology, redemption provisions, portfolio exposure and applicable tax treatment.
How AltPort Supports the Investment Process
As an APMI-registered distributor, AltPort provides information and distribution support for the ASK Index Plus Fund. This may include access to fund documents, comparison of fund terms and assistance with the application and onboarding process. AltPort does not manage the fund or promise any investment outcome. Investment decisions should be based on the latest PPM and applicable fund documents.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute an offer, solicitation or recommendation to invest. Alternative Investment Funds involve market and other risks. Prospective investors should read the PPM and related fund documents carefully and seek independent legal, tax and financial guidance where required.
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Learn about the experienced fund managers responsible for investment decisions, portfolio strategy, and long-term fund performance.
Vaibhav Sanghavi
Vaibhav Sanghavi is one of India’s most recognized names in the hedge fund and absolute return space. As Co-CEO of Avendus Capital Public Markets Alternate Strategies, he brings over 20 years of expertise in managing long-short equity strategies. His profile is marked by his time at Ambit Capital and HDFC Bank, where he honed his skills in proprietary trading and risk management. At the Equity Strategy Trust, he employs a sophisticated, research-driven framework to generate alpha while minimizing market correlation, making him a preferred manager for institutional investors seeking volatility-protected equity exposure.
View Profile →
Piyush Shah
Piyush Shah joined ASK Group in September 2023 as Chief Investment Officer & Fund Manager for Hedge Fund Solutions. Backed by 23 years of experience in equity markets, derivatives, and long-short strategies, he sets the overall investment framework and risk policy across alternate offerings. Shah previously served at Avendus Capital (2016–2023), playing a pivotal role in expanding its hedge fund platform to a peak AUM of ₹7,000 crore. Earlier in his career, he managed proprietary trading at Ambit Private Ltd, launching early Category III AIF long-short funds, and oversaw DSP Merrill Lynch’s $1 billion India proprietary book. He holds a degree in Financial Management from Mumbai University.
View Profile →Mehul Patel
Mehul Patel brings 20 years of experience in capital markets, derivatives execution, and quantitative research to his role as Fund Manager at ASK Hedge. He works alongside the leadership team to craft, manage, and execute systematic and fundamental long-short strategies aimed at delivering superior risk-adjusted returns. Before joining ASK, Patel served as Head of Alternative & Quantitative Research at Avendus Capital Alternate Strategies. His professional background also includes holding fund management responsibilities for alternative strategies at Edelweiss Capital. Throughout his career, Patel has specialized in risk management frameworks, quantitative modeling, and structural market opportunities across diverse market cycles.
View Profile →Our Investment Experts
Our experts will understand your goals, map the right strategy across AIFs, PMS, Mutual Funds and Wealth Solutions, and guide you through every step.
Find answers to common questions about fund investments, performance, portfolio strategy, and investor services.
The ASK Index Plus Fund is an open-ended Category III AIF that combines long-only multi-factor equity exposure with a systematic quantitative long-short strategy. It uses factor-based equity investing alongside rule-based positions in liquid equity-index derivatives.
The ASK Index Plus Fund is a Category III Alternative Investment Fund, not a Portfolio Management Service. Category III AIFs may use complex trading strategies, derivatives, leverage and long-short positions within applicable regulatory limits.
The minimum subscription is ₹1 crore, according to the AMC factsheet dated 31 July 2026. Investors should confirm the applicable minimum amount and eligibility requirements from the latest PPM before subscribing.
The fund is managed by ASK Long-Short Fund Managers Pvt. Ltd. It is a scheme of ASK Alternative Investment Trust, registered with SEBI as a Category III AIF under registration number IN/AIF3/23-24.
No. The fund is not designed merely to replicate a conventional market index. Its long-only component follows a multi-factor approach, while the quantitative component can take both long and short positions based on signals generated by systematic models.
The AMC performance update dated 31 July 2026 uses the NIFTY 50 TRI as the benchmark for performance comparison. Benchmark performance provides market context but does not reflect the fund’s fees, strategy risks or changing market exposure.
The quantitative long-short strategy primarily uses listed equity-index futures to take systematic long and short positions. Derivatives can help adjust market exposure but may also magnify losses and introduce leverage, liquidity and execution risks.
The July 2026 AMC factsheet states that the fund has a Nil lock-in period. However, a Nil lock-in does not mean investors can redeem units immediately because subscriptions and redemptions are processed according to specified dealing dates and notice requirements.
According to the July 2026 factsheet, redemptions are available at month-end with a five-day notice. An exit load of 1% applies to redemptions made within 12 months. Investors should verify the current terms in the latest PPM.
The principal risks include market, derivatives, leverage, quantitative-model, factor, short-position, concentration, liquidity and operational risks. Trend-following models may also experience losses during rapidly reversing or directionless markets.
The AMC update dated 31 July 2026 contains the latest performance figures available for this page. Investors should evaluate the results alongside the relevant unit series, benchmark, calculation methodology, fees, drawdowns and risk disclosures. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
As a Category III AIF, the fund generally does not receive the pass-through treatment available to Category I and Category II AIFs. Actual taxation depends on the fund’s legal structure, nature of income and applicable tax laws. Investors should review the latest fund documents and obtain independent tax guidance.
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