2022-10-13
Added · Updated
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan directs Asset Management Companies to cap cumulative sales loads at 3% of NAV per unit, with reduced maximums of 1.5% for direct investments via the AMC’s own online portal. AMCs must provide clear disclosures of sales load rates, obtain signed acknowledgments from unit holders, and issue detailed investment breakup statements within 48 hours of fund realization. For investments made through third-party online portals, AMCs are required to display these disclosures prominently in English and Urdu via a pop-up interface that allows investors to accept or decline the terms.
# SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OF PAKISTAN
## SPECIALIZED COMPANIES DIVISION
### POLICY, REGULATION AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
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**No. SCD/CIRCULAR/ 69/2022**
**October 4, 2022**
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## Circular No. 10 of 2022
### Sales Load being Charged by Collective Investment Schemes
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan ("the SECP") in exercise of the powers conferred under section 282B (3) of the Companies Ordinance, 1984 read with the Regulation 54 of the Non-Banking Finance Companies and Notified Entities Regulations, 2008, and in supersession of earlier SECP Circular No. 26 of 2015 dated July 27, 2015 and SECP Circular No.27 of 2017 dated November 08, 2017, hereby directs all Asset Management Companies (AMCs) to ensure that:
1. The cumulative sales load does not exceed 3% of the NAV per unit, where the offering document of the Collective Investment Scheme (CIS) permits charging of sales load.
Provided that an AMC may charge sales load maximum up to 3% of NAV per unit if investor approaches directly for investment or where transactions are done through a third-party online distribution portal/ website, and may charge sales load maximum up to 1.5% of the NAV per unit where transactions are done through AMC’s own online distribution portal or website.
2. In this respect the AMC shall ensure following complete disclosures along with requisite documents:
a) Clearly disclose, at the time of investment, the maximum rate of Sales Load that is being charged to the unitholder;
b) Obtain duly signed acknowledgement from the unit holder to ascertain that all the terms and conditions along with details of Sales Load to be deducted, have been read and understood by the unitholder; and
c) Issue to the unit holder, within 48 hours of the realization of funds, breakup of the total amount received from the unitholder, sales load charged and net amount invested in the fund on his behalf as per the following format:
| Particulars | Amount/Percentage |
|----------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Investment Amount Received | |
| Front End Load | (% of NAV per unit (at the time of investment)) |
| Net Amount Invested | Rs.: <br> *(Investment Amount Received – Amount of Front End Load)* |
| Back End Load (to be charged) | (% of NAV per unit to be charged at the time of issuance or redemption (please specify)) |
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NIC Building, 63 Jinnah Avenue, Blue Area, Islamabad.
Tel: 051-9207091-4, Fax. No. 051-9100473
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OF PAKISTAN
SPECIALIZED COMPANIES DIVISION
POLICY, REGULATION AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Further, in case of an investment done through a third-party online distribution portal or website, an AMC shall ensure that at the time of investment, the disclosures specified in above table are immediately displayed prominently to the investor through a screenshot popping up in English and Urdu languages, providing a choice to the investor to accept or decline through a click on the buttons provided conspicuously with the screenshot.
For the purpose of this Circular, sales load means front end load deducted at the time of investment or back end load charged at the time of redemption from the CIS. However, the load charged upon redemption and which forms part of the CIS property shall not classify as sales load.
This circular shall come into force with immediate effect. Any non-compliance will be dealt in accordance with prevalent regulatory framework.
(Signature)
(Aamir Khan)
Commissioner (SCD)
Distribution:
NIC Building, 63 Jinnah Avenue, Blue Area, Islamabad.
Tel: 051-9207091-4, Fax. No. 051-9100473