SEBI aims to safeguard clients’ funds placed with Stock Brokers (SBs) / Clearing Members (CMs), SEBI vide circular “Upstreaming of clients’ funds by Stock Brokers (SBs)/ Clearing Members (CMs) to Clearing Corporations (CCs)” dated December 12, 2023 (“upstreaming circular”) has specified the framework requiring SB/CMs to upstream (i.e. place with) all the clients’ clear credit balances to CCs on End of Day basis. The clients’ funds shall be upstreamed by SB/ CMs to CCs only in the form of either cash, lien on Fixed Deposit Receipts created out of clients’ funds, or pledge of units of Mutual Fund Overnight Schemes (MFOS) created out of clients’ funds.
To operationalize the upstreaming of clients’ funds in the form of pledge of units of MFOS, a Working Group of industry participants, AMFI and members of the Mutual Funds Advisory Committee (MFAC) recommended a change in cut-off timings to determine applicable NAV with respect to repurchase of units in overnight fund schemes. Thereafter, the proposal was placed for public consultation.
Based on the analysis of public feedback, para 8.4.5.4 of the Master Circular for Mutual Funds dated June 27, 2024 stands modified as under:
Application Time Applicable NAV (MFOS Repurchase)
On or before 3:00 PM NAV of day immediately preceding the next business day
After 3:00 PM NAV of the next business day
Online Mode (till 7:00 PM) shall be applicable for overnight fund schemes.
Explanation: “Business Day” does not include a day on which the Money Markets are closed or otherwise not accessible.
The provisions of this circular shall come into force from June 01, 2025.
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