Franklin Templeton India Launches Sapphire Equity Long‑Short SIF
First offering under Specialised Investment Funds framework aims to deliver long‑term capital appreciation through disciplined quantitative strategy
POSTED BY:- Poonam S. Juthani
DT:-03/04/2026
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Mumbai, 2nd April 2026 — Franklin Templeton (India) today announced the launch of Sapphire Equity Long‑Short SIF, its first offering under the Specialised Investment Funds (SIF) framework. The new fund is an Equity Long‑Short strategy investing across the Nifty 500 universe, enabling diversified exposure across large, mid, and small‑cap segments.
The New Fund Offer (NFO) for Sapphire Equity Long‑Short SIF will be open for subscription from 10th April 2026 to 24th April 2026, with continuous sale and repurchase beginning on 4th May 2026.
A Flexible, Model‑Driven Approach
The Sapphire Equity Long‑Short SIF seeks to generate long‑term capital appreciation across market cycles through a proprietary, model‑driven quantitative strategy. Anchored in disciplined stock selection, dynamic allocation, and robust risk management, the fund is designed to adapt to shifting market environments.
Speaking on the launch, Avinash Satwalekar, President, Franklin Templeton – India, said: “Investors today are navigating markets that move through different phases rapidly, making disciplined and flexible investment strategies increasingly important. SIF is designed for investors with a higher risk appetite, offering the potential for relatively higher returns while also being tax efficient. What differentiates a SIF strategy from a conventional mutual fund is that SIFs can potentially take advantage of market shifts by taking short positions up to 25% of their net assets, which can help reduce downside risk during market corrections.”
He added: “The Sapphire Equity Long‑Short SIF leverages Franklin Templeton’s decades of experience in systematic and quantitative investing. Our proprietary, data‑driven quantitative approach evaluates stocks using over 40 factors across Quality, Value, Sentiment, and Alternative indicators, with a dedicated framework for identifying short opportunities.”
Portfolio Construction and Risk Management
Arihant Jain, Portfolio Manager, Sapphire Equity Long‑Short SIF, explained the investment framework: “The underlying quantitative model for the strategy is designed to assess stocks using a broad set of leading and lagging indicators, recognizing that different factors tend to perform differently across market environments. The framework systematically scores and ranks stocks for both long exposure and selective short positioning, enabling a more balanced response to shifts in the market.”
He further noted that portfolio construction follows a disciplined, research‑driven process, overlaying investment judgment with careful consideration of liquidity, sector exposure, size, risk, and style characteristics. By applying factor insights on both the long and short sides, the strategy aims to express relative views more effectively and protect alpha in challenging or down markets.
NFO Features
- Fund Description: Equity Long‑Short Fund under SIF framework
- Type of Strategy: Open‑ended equity investment strategy investing in listed equity and equity‑related instruments, including limited short exposure through derivatives
- Investment Objective: To generate alpha over the long term by investing across large, mid, and small‑cap companies using long/short equity strategies (no assurance of achievement)
- NFO Dates: 10th April 2026 – 24th April 2026
- Re‑opens for Continuous Sale/Repurchase: 4th May 2026
- Managed By: Arihant Jain
- Minimum Investment: ₹10 lakh (first time), multiples of ₹10,000 thereafter
- Benchmark: Nifty 500 TRI
- Exit Load: 1% if redeemed within one year of allotment; NIL thereafter
About Franklin Templeton
Founded in 1947, Franklin Templeton is a trusted global investment partner, delivering tailored solutions aligned with clients’ strategic goals. With $1.74 trillion in assets under management as of 28th February 2026, the firm operates in more than 35 countries, combining investment excellence with cutting‑edge technology.
Franklin Templeton India is among the largest foreign fund houses in the country, managing one of the most comprehensive ranges of mutual funds catering to varied investor requirements. It has offices in 39 cities and collection centers in over 100 locations nationwide.
Conclusion
The launch of Sapphire Equity Long‑Short SIF on 2nd April 2026 marks Franklin Templeton India’s entry into the Specialised Investment Funds space. With its disciplined quantitative approach, dynamic long‑short framework, and robust risk management, the fund is positioned to help investors navigate volatile markets while seeking long‑term capital appreciation.
By blending decades of global expertise with innovative strategies tailored for Indian investors, Franklin Templeton continues to reinforce its commitment to delivering forward‑looking solutions in a rapidly evolving financial landscape.
