The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on March 21, 2025, issued a circular regarding the Facilitating ease of doing business relating to the framework on “Alignment of interest of the Designated Employees of the Asset Management Company (AMC) with the interest of the unitholders” with an objective to facilitate ease of doing business for Mutual Funds.
The Master Circular for Mutual Funds dated June 27, 2024 have been modified as under:
• After Clause 6.10.1.5 of the Master Circular, Clause 6.10.1.5 (A) shall be inserted as:
“Provided that for Designated Employees managing liquid fund schemes, up to 75 percent of the minimum investment amount required to be invested in liquid fund schemes may be invested in schemes, managed by the AMC, with higher risk as compared to liquid fund schemes. This shall be applicable for Designated Employees associated with only liquid fund scheme and also for Designated Employees associated with other schemes in addition to liquid fund scheme, only with respect to the quantum required to be invested in liquid fund schemes.
For this purpose the risk value based on the risk-o-meter of the immediate preceding month shall be considered.”
• Clause 6.10.2.2. has been modified as:
“In case of retirement on attaining the superannuation age as defined in the AMC service rules, the units shall be released from the lock-in and the Designated Employee shall be free to redeem the units, except for the units in close ended schemes where the units shall remain locked in till the tenure of the scheme is over. However, on resignation or retirement of the Designated Employee from the AMC before attaining the age of superannuation as defined in the AMC service rules, the lock-in period, for the investments made under Clause 6.10 of the Master Circular, shall be reduced to 1 year from the end of the employment or completion date of 3 year lock-in period, whichever is earlier, except for the units in close ended schemes where the units shall remain locked in till the tenure of the scheme is over.
• Clause 6.10.2.3 has been deleted.
• Clause 6.10.2.4. has been modified as:
“Open Ended Schemes: After the expiry of the mandatory lock-in period, Designated Employee can redeem their units in open ended schemes, subject to compliance with SEBI (Prohibition of Insider Trading) Regulations, 2015. Such redemption transactions shall also be subject to the restriction on trade in closure period and the requirement of pre-clearance from compliance officer when closure period is not applicable, in terms of Clause 6 of Schedule B1 of SEBI (Prohibition of Insider Trading) Regulations, 2015.
For mandatory subscription/investment in the units of mutual funds under Clause 6.10 of the Master Circular, the requirements specified under Clause 6 of Schedule B1 of SEBI (Prohibition of Insider Trading) Regulations, 2015 shall not be applicable.”
• Clause 6.10.2.5 has been deleted.
This circular shall come into effect from April 1, 2025.
[Circular No. SEBI/HO/IMD/IMD-PoD-1/P/CIR/2025/36]
