Investment in Mutual Fund Schemes Including ETF is not Covered under Permissible Investments by a Category III AIF
In a recent communication, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) addressed the issue of permissible investments for Category III Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs). The correspondence, involving ASKWA Multi Opportunities Fund, sought informal guidance regarding the fund’s ability to invest in Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) for generating regular income. Let’s delve into the details and implications of SEBI’s clarifications.
Analysis of SEBI’s Comments: SEBI’s response, while not entirely concurring with the interpretation presented, sheds light on the regulatory framework governing Category III AIF investments:
i. Regulation 18 of AIF Regulations: SEBI underscores the permissible investment avenues for Category III AIFs, including securities, derivatives, units of other AIFs, or structured products. Notably, mutual fund schemes, including ETFs, aren’t explicitly listed among the permissible investments.
ii. Definition of Investee Company: SEBI clarifies the scope of “investee company” under AIF Regulations, highlighting entities where AIFs can make investments. This definition doesn’t encompass mutual fund schemes or ETFs.
iii. ETFs under MF Regulations: SEBI delineates the characteristics of ETFs under Mutual Fund Regulations, emphasizing their nature as schemes investing in securities according to an index. Despite their listing and trading on exchange platforms, ETFs don’t align with the permissible investments for Category III AIFs.
iv. Permissible Options for Category III AIFs: While direct investment in mutual fund schemes, including ETFs, isn’t allowed, SEBI acknowledges a provision for Category III AIFs to park funds temporarily in liquid mutual funds. This option is permissible until the funds are deployed as per investment objectives or distributed to investors.
Conclusion: SEBI’s interpretative letter underscores the need for Category III AIFs to adhere strictly to the permissible investment avenues outlined in the regulations. While mutual fund schemes, including ETFs, offer attractive investment opportunities, their inclusion isn’t within the purview of Category III AIF investments. This clarification ensures regulatory compliance and investor protection within the alternative investment landscape.
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Securities and Exchange Board of India
DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER
ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENT FUND AND FOREIGN PORTFOLIO INVESTOR DEPARTMENT DIVISION OF POLICY AND DEVELOPMENT
SEBI/HO/AFD/PoD/OW/2023/50721
December 15, 2023
ASKWA Multi Opportunities Fund
[SEBI Registration No. IN/AIF3/20-21/0829]
ASK Wealth Advisors Private Limited
Birla Aurora, 16 Level, Office Floor 9,
Dr. Annie Besant Road, Worli, Mumbai – 400030
Dear Sir,
KIND ATTN: Mr. Amit Gupta
Sub: Request for Informal Guidance by way of interpretative letter under the provisions of Securities and Exchange Board of India (Informal Guidance) Scheme 2003 relating to Regulation 18 of Securities and Exchange Board of India (Alternative Investment Funds) Regulations, 2012
Ref: Your letters dated September 10, 2023 and letter dated November 30, 2023 from Amicorp Trustees (India) Private Limited
1. In the context of your letter under reference, you have, inter alia, stated that ASKWA Multi Opportunities Fund (“the Fund”) is a SEBI registered Category III Alternative Investment Fund (“AIF”) bearing registration no. IN/AIF3/20-21/0829 and have sought an interpretive letter under the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Informal Guidance) Scheme 2003 from SEBI in respect of permissibility to make investments in the units of Exchange Traded Fund (“ETF”) for earning regular income by the Fund.
2. Our Comments
The submissions made in your letter have been considered and without necessarily agreeing with your analysis, our view on the issues raised in your letter are as under:
2.1. In terms of Regulation 18 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Alternative Investment Funds) Regulations, 2012 (“AIF Regulations”), Category III AIFs may, inter alia, –
a) invest in securities of listed or unlisted investee companies, derivatives, units of other AIFs or complex or structured products.
b) deal in goods received in delivery against physical settlement of commodity
c) buy or sell credit default swaps in terms of the conditions as may be specified by the Board from time to time.
d) engage in leverage or borrow subject to consent from the investors in the fund and subject to a maximum limit, as may be specified by the Board.
2.2. In terms of Regulation 2(1)(o) of AIF Regulations, “investee company” means any company, special purpose vehicle or limited liability partnership or body corporate or real estate investment trust or infrastructure investment trust in which an AIF makes an investment.
2.3. In terms of Regulation 2(1)(jb) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Mutual Funds) Regulations, 1996 (“MF Regulations”), an ETF is a scheme of a mutual fund that invests in securities in the same proportion as an index of securities and the units of ETF are mandatorily listed and traded on exchange platform.
2.4. Thus, investment in mutual fund schemes including ETF is not covered under permissible investments by a Category III AIF. However, in terms of Regulation 15(1)(f) of AIF Regulations, the permissible option for a Category III AIF to put money in a mutual fund scheme is investing the un-invested portion of the investable funds and divestment proceeds pending distribution to investors in liquid mutual funds, till the deployment of funds as per the investment objective or the distribution of the funds to investors as per the terms of the fund documents, as applicable.
3. This above position is based on the information furnished in your letter under reference. Different facts or conditions might lead to a different interpretation. This letter does not express the decision of the Board on the question referred through your letter.
4. You may note that the above views are expressed only with respect to the clarification sought in your letter under reference on the AIF Regulations and do not affect the applicability of any law and any other regulations, guidelines and circulars framed or administered by SEBI or any other authority.
Yours faithfully,
Sanjay Singh Bhati
