Sebi plans safeguards for overseas investors taking private bank route

Sebi is planning to keep the route open for all classes of investors, including institutions and individuals

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is planning checks and balances on overseas investors taking the ‘private bank route’ to invest in domestic markets.

The move comes after several industry players expressed concerns that the new route allowed by the Sebi could be misused by investors, such as participatory notes (p-notes). 

Last week, the Sebi – through a circular titled “Easing of access norms for investment by foreign portfolio investors – allowed clients of private banks to trade in the Indian equities without having to register with the market regulator.

While the Sebi has only given an in-principle