Minimum percentage of trades carried out by mutual funds through RFQ platform

Last updated: 07 October 2021

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Quick Summary

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has updated its circular regarding mutual fund trades on the Request for Quote (RFQ) platform. Effective from December 1, 2021, mutual funds must now conduct a minimum of 25% of their total secondary market trades in corporate bonds via the RFQ platform's one-to-many mode. Additionally, a minimum of 10% of trades in commercial papers must also be executed through this platform.

Securities and Exchange of India

CIRCULAR

SEBI/HO/IMD/IMD-II DOF3/P/CIR/2021/641

October 6, 2021

All Mutual Funds/

Asset Management Companies (AMCs)/

Trustee Companies/Boards of Trustees of Mutual Funds/

Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI)

Sir/ Madam,

Subject: Minimum percentage of trades carried out by mutual funds through RFQ platform

1. SEBI, vide circular SEBI/HO/IMD/DF3/CIR/P/2020/130 dated July 22, 2020, has mandated mutual funds to undertake at least 10% of their total secondary market trades in Corporate Bonds through RFQ platform of stock exchanges.

2. Based on the recommendations of Mutual Fund Advisory Committee (MFAC), in order to further increase the liquidity on exchange platforms, para 1(A)(i) of the aforementioned SEBI circular is modified as under:

a. On monthly basis, Mutual Funds shall undertake minimum 25% of their total secondary market trades by value (excluding Inter Scheme Transfer trades) in Corporate Bonds by placing/seeking quotes through one-to-many mode on the Request for Quote (RFQ) platform of stock exchanges and

b. On monthly basis, Mutual Funds shall now undertake minimum 10% of their total secondary market trades by value (excluding Inter Scheme Transfer trades) in Commercial Papers by placing/seeking quotes through one-to-many mode on the Request for Quote (RFQ) platform of stock exchanges.

The percentages as specified above shall be reckoned on the average of secondary trades by value in immediate preceding three months on rolling basis.

3. All other conditions specified in the above mentioned circular remain unchanged.

4. Mutual Funds are permitted to accept the Contract Note from the brokers for transactions carried out in One to One (OTO) and One to Many (OTM) modes of RFQ platform.

Applicability of the circular

5. This circular shall come into force with effect from December 1, 2021.

6. This circular is issued in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 11 (1) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act 1992, read with the provision of Regulation 77 of SEBI (Mutual Funds) Regulation, 1996 to protect the interests of investors in securities and to promote the development of, and to regulate the securities market.

Yours faithfully,

Bithin Mahanta
General Manager
Tel no.: 022-26449634
Email: bithinm@sebi.gov.in

FAQ :

Mutual funds must now undertake a minimum of 25% of their total secondary market trades in corporate bonds by value through the RFQ platform's one-to-many mode on a monthly basis.

Mutual funds must now undertake a minimum of 10% of their total secondary market trades in commercial papers by value through the RFQ platform's one-to-many mode on a monthly basis.

This circular shall come into force with effect from December 1, 2021.

No, inter-scheme transfer trades are excluded from the calculation of these minimum percentages.

Yes, mutual funds are permitted to accept Contract Notes from brokers for transactions carried out in both One to One (OTO) and One to Many (OTM) modes of the RFQ platform.