Explore Business Standard
Capital markets regulator Sebi on Wednesday allowed investment advisers and research analysts to charge advance fees for up to one year. Under the existing rules, investment advisers (IAs) can charge fees in advance for up to two quarters if agreed upon by the client, while for research analysts (RAs), it was only for a quarter. "If agreed by the client, IAs and RAs may charge fees in advance, however, such advance shall not exceed fees for a period of one year," the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) said in its circular. The fee-related provisions such as fee limit, modes of payment of fees, refund of fees, advance fee, and breakage fees will only be applicable in the case of their individual and Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) clients (provided these clients are not accredited investors). These provisions will not be applicable in the case of non-individual clients, accredited investors, and in case of institutional investors seeking the recommendation of a proxy ...
Markets regulator Sebi on Wednesday said it has issued guidelines on the regulatory framework for research analysts and investment advisers to bolster investor protection and ensure transparency. These guidelines came after the regulator notified the research analyst (RA) rules and investment adviser (IA) norms in December last year. The new norms encompass qualification standards, fee structures, deposit requirements, and client segregation protocols. The regulator introduced fresh compliance mandates, particularly for entities utilising artificial intelligence (AI) tools in their services. Under the revised framework, Sebi said research analysts are required to maintain a deposit based on their client base, ranging from Rs 1 lakh for up to 150 clients to Rs 10 lakh for over 1,000 clients. These deposits aim to provide additional security for investors. Also, investment advisers are mandated to follow a graded deposit system tied to client numbers. Existing IAs must comply with
Market regulator Sebi on Friday announced rolling out a new system -- Centralized Fee Collection Mechanism -- to facilitate collection of fees by Investment Advisers (IAs) and Research Analysts (RAs) from their clients on an optional basis. Under this mechanism, clients will pay fees to IAs/RAs, through a designated platform or portal administered by a recognised Administration and Supervisory Body (ASB), the regulator said in a circular. The move came in response to the growing interest in the securities market and the need for greater transparency in fee payments. The markets regulator said that BSE would specify the operational framework for the mechanism on or before September 23 and make the mechanism operational from October 1. The mechanism has been co-created by BSE Ltd with the help of various stakeholders. While using this mechanism is optional, Sebi asked ASB to take steps to encourage clients and the registered IAs and RAs to avail the services of this mechanism. Fur
Capital markets regulator Sebi will early next week come out with a consultation paper on making it easier to become a registered investment advisor, a senior official said on Friday. The move has come amid Sebi efforts to contain the activities of unregulated 'fin-influencers'. The Sebi board recently approved a series of measures on restricting the play of fin-influencers, which focus mainly on policing the segment through their tie ups with the entities regulated by Sebi. Also, senior Sebi officials in the recent past have said that challenges to get registered as an investment advisor are among the reasons for growth in the problematic fin-influencers segment. The capital markets regulator will come out with a consultation paper which will have proposals on relaxing the registration requirements for investment advisors and research analysts by Monday or Tuesday, its whole-time member Kamlesh Varshney said addressing Ficci's Capam event here. The registered investment advisors h
Capital markets regulator Sebi on Wednesday debarred two individuals from the securities markets for one year and slapped a fine of Rs 2 lakh on them for carrying out unregistered investment advisory activities. The regulator also directed the noticees (P Krishnakumar and Jagadeesan S) to refund all the money, within three months, collected from any investors/complainants, as fees in respect of their unregistered investment advisory activities. The order came after Sebi conducted an examination on the receipt of a complaint against www.ymforecast.com managed by P Krishnakumar and Jagadeesan S, and prima facie found that they were carrying out unregistered investment advisory activities. Subsequently, a show cause notice was issued to the noticees on September 4. In its 22-page order, Sebi found that the noticees were acting as an investment adviser without holding the certificate of registration from the markets watchdog. Therefore, the noticees were in violation of the provisions
Capital markets regulator Sebi on Monday barred Fincap Research Investment Advisor and two individuals from the securities markets for two years for violating regulatory norms. The regulator also slapped a penalty of Rs 14 lakh on Sonika Namdharani, proprietor of Sebi-registered Fincap Research Investment Advisor and Rs 7 lakh on Mahavir Prasad Mundra. Further, the markets watchdog restrained them from associating themselves as a director or key managerial personnel with any listed company or any public company which intends to raise money from the public, or any intermediary registered with Sebi for a period of two years. The order came after the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) conducted an inspection of Fincap Research Investment Advisor from April 2018 to November 2019 (inspection period). In its 62-page order, Sebi found that Fincap was knowingly acting in a deceitful manner by allowing Mahavir (Sonika's husband) to run her proprietorship, submitting fake experien
To bring more transparency, Sebi on Thursday asked investment advisers and research analysts to prominently display information, including their name registered with the regulator, logo, registration number and complete address with telephone numbers, in their advertisements. In addition, they have been asked to give the disclaimer that "registration granted by Sebi, membership of BSE Administration and Supervision Ltd (BASL) in case of IAs and certification from NISM in no way guarantee performance of the intermediary or provide any assurance of returns to investors" in their advertisements. This information should also be there in publications, Know Your Client (KYC) forms, client agreements, statements and in any other form of correspondence with the client. In addition, the regulator has prohibited them from using Sebi logo in their advertisements. The latest move comes after the regulator observed that few Investment Advisers (IAs) and Research Analysts (RAs) are using the bra
Women account for only 10 per cent of the total fund managers in the mutual fund industry despite a gradual increase in their numbers witnessed in the last few years, a report said on Tuesday. The Morningstar Investment Adviser India's annual report on women fund managers in the asset-management industry said the total count of women fund managers has increased from 32 last year to 42 now. Interestingly, the total number of fund managers also saw a healthy increase this year to 428 from 399 last year. "When it comes to gender diversity, the latest findings of our report show that of the 428 fund managers, 42 are women who are managing funds either as primary or secondary managers," said the Morningstar report released ahead of International Women's Day on May 8. With a meagre 9.81 per cent representation, women still remain drastically under-represented among the ranks of mutual fund managers, Morningstar said. According to the report, there were only 18 women fund managers in 201
Sebi on Friday barred Wishworth Financial Services and their proprietors Pankaj Khanchandani and Dheeraj Kapoor from the securities markets for four years and directed them to refund the money collected through unauthorised investment advisory services. A complaint filed on October 24, 2017, had alleged that Wishworth was offering financial investment plans with assured returns. Pursuant to the receipt of the complaint, Sebi conducted an examination in the matter and thereafter issued a show cause notice dated January 20, 2022 to the noticees. The regulator found that the noticees -- Wishworth and their proprietors -- were engaged in the business of providing investment advice to their clients for consideration and thus acting as investment adviser. They were involved in such investment advisory activities without obtaining a certificate of registration from the regulator, which is in violation of the provisions of Investment Adviser (IA) rules, the Securities and Exchange Board o