Foreign investors other than FIIs can invest upto $10 billion in mutual funds: FM

28 Jun 2011 Evaluate

The Indian government would now allowed foreign investors other than Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) to invest up to $10 billion in domestic mutual funds, a move that will help to reduce the volatility in the capital market. Joint Secretary (capital markets) in the finance ministry, Thomas Mathew, said, this class of investors called Qualified Foreign Investors (QFIs), but not FIIs, can invest money into domestic mutual funds through Unit Confirmation Receipts (DPs) or Depository Participant route.

The QFIs can be Individuals and bodies, including pension funds; cumulatively they can invest up to $10 billion (around Rs 45,000 crore). Currently, only FIIs, sub-accounts listed with the market watchdog Security Exchange Board of India (SEBI), and Non-Resident Indians are allowed to invest in domestic Mutual Fund schemes. Thomas Mathew said, 'SEBI will be the regulator for all investments for both routes,” adding the SEBI will issue necessary notification and framework by August 01.

Only KYC (know-your-customer) compliant retail foreign investors would be allowed to invest and the DPs will ensure proper KYC of QFIs as per the norms prescribed by SEBI.  Besides, mutual funds would also undertake KYC of QFIs, Thomas Mathew added. By adding further he said, one QFI can open one account in one of the qualified DPs and only QFIs from jurisdictions which are FATF (Financial Action Task Force) compliant would be eligible to invest in the MFs under the scheme.

The move follows the announcement of finance minister Pranab Mukherjee on the issue in the last Budget. The finance minister in last budget said, 'Currently, only FIIs and the sub-account registered with the SEBI and NRIs are allowed to invest in the mutual fund schemes. To liberalize the portfolio investment route it has been decided to permit SEBI registered mutual funds to accept subscriptions from foreign investors who meet the KYC requirements for equity schemes.”

'This would enable Indian mutual funds to have direct access to foreign investors and widen the class of foreign investors in India equity market,' the finance minister had said.

As of March 2011, the average assets managed by 40 fund house rose to Rs 7, 00,583 crore. Since it is going to be retail investment, it would be more stable than the FII money, Mathew said.

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