Under the current regulations, retail mutual funds, accredited investor funds, and provident funds may invest in special savings certificates issued by the Government Savings Bank (GSB) and savings certificates issued by the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC). These instruments are classified as “deposits or deposit-equivalent instruments.” However, the current definition does not include savings certificates issued by GHB.

The SEC is therefore seeking public comments on the proposed inclusion of GHB savings certificates within the definition of “deposits or deposit-equivalent instruments,” following the Capital Market Supervisory Board’s approval in principle of the proposal. GHB savings certificates have a legal structure and return-payment features similar to those of GSB and BAAC savings certificates, which are already eligible investments for funds.

The proposed amendment would provide funds with additional investment options and greater flexibility in managing their investment portfolios. Asset management companies would, nevertheless, remain subject to all applicable investment and risk management requirements, including the single entity limit and group limit, which are designed to mitigate concentration risk arising from excessive exposure to a particular issuer, counterparty, or group of companies.

The consultation paper is available on the SEC website at https://www.sec.or.th/TH/Pages/PB_Detail.aspx?SECID=1180 and on the Legal Hub at https://law.go.th/listeningDetail?survey_id=NzQxMURHQV9MQVdfRlJPTlRFTkQ= Stakeholders and interested parties are invited to submit comments via these websites or by email to tonyada@sec.or.th or pattarav@sec.or.th. The public hearing ends on 18 July 2026.