Securities and Exchange Board of India

22.05.2019

Capital Market

Participation of Portfolio Managers in Commodity Derivatives Market in India

MANU/SIPM/0003/2019

1. In order to promote institutional participation in the Exchange Traded Commodity Derivatives, SEBI has permitted Category III Alternative Investment Funds to participate in Exchange Traded Commodity Derivatives vide Circular dated June 21, 2017. In furtherance to this objective, and in supersession to Circular SEBI/HO/CDMRD/DMP/P/CIR/2016/100 dated September 27, 2016 Portfolio Managers are now permitted to participate in Exchange Traded Commodity Derivatives on behalf of their clients.

2. It would be mandatory for Portfolio Managers to appoint SEBI registered Custodian before dealing in Exchange traded Commodity Derivatives. Further, a copy of the Gazette Notification No. SEBI/LAD-NRO/GN/2019/17 dated May 10, 2019 on Amendments to SEBI (Portfolio Managers) Regulations, 1993 is enclosed.

3. The participation of Portfolio Managers in the exchange traded commodity derivatives would be subject to the following:

3.1. Portfolio Managers may participate in Exchange Traded Commodity Derivatives on behalf of their clients and such participation shall be in compliance with all the rules, regulations including SEBI (Portfolio Managers) Regulations, 1993 and circulars/guidelines and position limit norms as may be applicable to 'clients', issued by SEBI and Exchanges from time to time.

3.2. Portfolio Managers may participate in Exchange Traded Commodity Derivatives after entering into an agreement with the clients. Portfolio Managers may execute addendums to the agreement with their existing clients, permitting the Portfolio Managers to participate in the Exchange Traded Commodity Derivatives on their behalf.

3.3. Portfolio Managers shall provide adequate disclosures in the Disclosure Document as well as the agreement with the client pertaining to their participation in the Exchange Traded Commodity Derivatives, including but not limited to the risk factors, margin requirements, position limits, prior experience of the Portfolio Manager in Exchange Traded Commodity Derivatives, valuation of goods etc.

3.4. In case dealing in Commodity derivatives lead to delivery of physical goods, there is a possibility that, the Portfolio Manager remains in possession of the physical commodity. In such cases, the goods need to be disposed off at the earliest, within the timelines as agreed upon between the client and the Portfolio Manager. The responsibility of liquidating the physical goods shall be with the Portfolio Manager.

3.5. Since Foreign Portfolio Investors are not allowed to participate in the Exchange Traded Commodity Derivatives market, Portfolio Managers shall not onboard Foreign Portfolio Investors until such time as they are permitted to participate in Exchange Traded Commodity Derivatives market.

3.6. Portfolio Managers shall also provide periodic reports to the clients as per Regulation 21 of SEBI (Portfolio Managers) Regulations, 1993 regarding their exposure in Exchange Traded Commodity Derivatives.

3.7. Portfolio Managers shall report the exposure in Exchange Traded Commodity Derivatives under the heading of 'Commodity Derivatives' in the monthly reports submitted to SEBI.

4. The provisions of this circular shall come into effect from the date of the circular.

5. This circular is issued in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 11(1) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act 1992 to protect the interests of investors in securities and to promote the development of, and to regulate the securities market.

6. The Exchanges are advised to:

i. make necessary amendments to the relevant bye-laws, rules and regulations.

ii. bring the provisions of this circular to the notice of the members of the Exchange and also to disseminate the same on their website.

iii. communicate to SEBI, the status of the implementation of the provisions of this circular.

7. This circular is available on SEBI website. under the category "Circulars", "Info for Commodity Derivatives" and "Info for Portfolio Managers".

Tags : Participation Portfolio Managers Derivatives Market

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