Mumbai: Market regulator Sebi today relaxed investment norms for qualified foreign investors (QFIs) allowing them to invest in mutual fund schemes with at least 25 percent of their assets either in debt or equity of the infrastructure sector.
“QFIs can now invest in those debt mutual fund schemes that hold at least 25 per cent of their assets (either in debt or equity or both) in the infrastructure sector under the $3 billion investment limit of debt mutual fund schemes which invest in infrastructure,” Sebi said in a circular.
The Sebi logo. Image courtesy Sebi
Earlier, QFIs were allowed to invest in mutual fund schemes with debt exposure only.
QFIs or overseas individual investors are permitted to invest in mutual fund debt schemes which invest in infrastructure debt upto a total ceiling of $3 billion out of the total long term corporate infrastructure limits of $25 billion.
It also said that prior approval of the regulator is not required if the investment is less than 90 percent of the specified ceiling.
“QFI can invest without obtaining approval till the overall QFI investments reaches 90 per cent of $3 billion that is $2.7 billion,” Sebi said.
Besides the regulator said, it has been decided, that the term ‘person’ and the phrase ‘resident in India’ shall carry the same meaning as defined under the Income Tax Act, 1961, in consultation with government and Reserve Bank.
“QFI would mean a person who is a resident in a country that is a member of Financial Action Task Force (FATF), resident in a country that is a signatory to IOSCO (International Organisation of Securities Commissions) or a signatory of a bilateral MoU with Sebi,” it said.
Sebi said the circular was issued to protect the interests of the investors in securities and to promote the development and regulate the securities market.
PTI
