SEBI relaxes investment limit for HFCs in debt mutual funds

08 Oct 2012 Evaluate

Giving a much needed respite to the housing finance companies (HFCs), the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has decided to relax the investment limit for such entities in debt mutual funds. In its meeting held on Oct 6, SEBI decided that an additional exposure to financial services sector (over and above the existing 30%) not exceeding 10% of the net assets of the scheme in debt oriented mutual fund schemes will be allowed by way of increase in exposure to HFCs only, subject to the condition that such securities issued by HFCs are rated AA and above and these HFCs are registered with National Housing Bank (NHB). However, the total investment in HFCs cannot exceed 30% of the net assets of the scheme.

In a circular last month, the SEBI had directed mutual funds to ensure the total exposure of their debt schemes in a particular sector did not exceed 30 per cent of the net assets of the scheme. However, considering the important role played by HFCs in fulfilling the social objective of increased home ownership and supporting the economy by creating demand for construction of new homes, it decided to amend its earlier decision.

In other decisions, the SEBI has allowed foreign institutional investors (FIIs) to re-invest 50 per cent of their previous year’s debt limit in the current year. Applicable January 01, 2014, the FIIs shall be allowed to re-invest during the calendar year to the extent of 50% of their debt holdings at the end of the previous calendar year. Further, the utilisation period for government and corporate debt limits for FIIs has been reduced to 30 days and 60 days, respectively, from the earlier 90 days. This will result in greater flow of FII money into the debt market.

SEBI has also considered expansion of other asset classes, which can be held in demat form and approved proposal to amend the SEBI (Depositories & Participants) Regulations to enable depository to share the necessary information / data with its SBU with respect to the assets/ instruments held by them for the purpose of generation of consolidated statement.

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