Sebi allows OFS for units of private listed InvITs via stock exchange mechanism

Aug 3, 2023

Synopsis
India's capital markets regulator, Sebi, has approved Offer For Sale (OFS) for private-listed Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) through a stock exchange mechanism. InvITs offer investors opportunities to invest in infrastructure projects and provide risks diversification through pooling arrangements.

Sebi allows OFS for units of private listed InvITs via stock exchange mechanismAgencies

Capital markets regulator Sebi on Thursday allowed Offer For Sale (OFS) for units of private listed Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvlTs) through a stock exchange mechanism. InvITs were introduced in India to provide investors with an opportunity to gain exposure to infrastructure projects with diversification of risks through pooling arrangements.

Privately placed InvITs can invest in under-construction assets as well as completed and revenue-generating assets and public InvITs can invest majorly in completed and revenue-generating assets.

Based on the feedback received from market participants, it has been decided to modify the framework to allow OFS for units of private listed InvITs, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) said in a circular.

The OFS for the sale of units of REITs and InvITs by sponsor or sponsor group entities, and other unit holders are permitted in units of listed REITs.

In the case of OFS for listed InvITs, the trading lot will be the same as the trading lot prescribed for such InvITs in the secondary market under Sebi's Infrastructure Investment Trusts rules.

"Since there is no participation of retail investors in private listed InvITs, the provisions related to retail investors... not be applicable in case of OFS for such InvITs and the OFS shall remain open only for one day (i.e T day)," Sebi said.

The new framework comes into force with immediate effect, it added.

[The Economic Times]