25th May 2022
Disclaimer: These FAQs are prepared with a view to guide market participants on SEBI (Investment Advisers) Regulations, 2013 (“IA Regulations”). For full particulars of laws governing the Investment Advisers (IAs), please refer to the Acts/Regulations/Guidelines/Circulars etc. appearing under the Legal Framework Section of SEBI website i.e. www.sebi.gov.in. Any queries about the IA Regulations can be addressed to the Investment Management Department- Division of Funds 1, SEBI. For an interpretation of a specific provision of the Regulations, informal guidance may be sought as specified under SEBI (Informal Guidance) Scheme 2003.
The SEBI (Investment Advisers) Regulations, 2013 (“IA Regulations”) have been notified on January 21, 2013. The IA Regulations came into effect from April 21, 2013. The regulations specify conditions for registration, certification, capital adequacy, risk profiling and suitability, disclosures to be made, code of conduct, records to be maintained, manner of conducting inspection, etc.
In terms of the IA Regulations, no person shall act as an investment adviser or hold itself out as an investment adviser unless he has obtained a certificate of registration from SEBI on and from the commencement of IA Regulations unless an exemption specifically applies. The IA Regulations are available on the SEBI website www.sebi.gov.in. [Ref. Regulation 3(1)]
If any person is found to be engaged in providing investment advisory services without getting registered with SEBI, appropriate action as deemed fit, under SEBI Act, 1992 may be initiated. [Ref. Regulation 3(1)].
“Investment advice” is an advice relating to investing in, purchasing, selling or otherwise dealing in securities or investment products, and advice on investment portfolio containing securities or investment products, whether written, oral or through any other means of communication for the benefit of the client and shall include financial planning.
Provided that the investment advice given through newspaper, magazines, any electronic or broadcasting or telecommunications medium, which is widely available to the public shall not be considered as investment advice for the purpose of IA regulations. However, investment advisers who make public appearance or make recommendations or offer an opinion concerning securities or public offers through public media while making recommendations through public media, are required to comply with the relevant provisions of SEBI (Research Analysts) Regulations, 2014.
Application shall be made in Form A as specified in First Schedule of IA Regulations with necessary supporting documents. The procedure for obtaining registration as an Investment Adviser is available on SEBI website under “Info for>Investment Advisers>How to get registered as an Investment Adviser”.
Any person, who for consideration, is engaged or willing to engage in the business of providing investment advice to clients or other persons or group of persons is required to make an application to get registration under IA Regulations unless specifically exempted under IA Regulations. A sole proprietor can also make an application for registration as an Investment Adviser, which will be processed as in the case of individual applicant.
The regulations provide exemptions to certain persons such as insurance agents, pension advisers, mutual fund distributors, stock broker or sub-broker, portfolio managers, fund manager, advocate, solicitor or law firm, etc., from obtaining registration under regulation 4 of IA Regulations subject to the fulfillment of the conditions stipulated [Ref. Regulation 2(1)(m) and Regulation 4]
The application for registration as an investment adviser under IA Regulations shall be filed with the Head Office (HO) or the concerned Regional Office(RO) / Local Office(LO) of SEBI under the jurisdiction where the registered address of the applicant is located. The addresses of offices of SEBI are available on the website at www.sebi.gov.in and also on the link http://www.sebi.gov.in/sebiweb/stpages/contact_us.jsp
Yes. A bank or an NBFC which proposes to undertake investment advisory services has to first obtain permission by Reserve Bank of India and then shall make an application for grant of registration under IA Regulations through a subsidiary or separately identifiable department or division (SIDD). [Ref. Regulation 6(j)]
In case of a non-individual entity, which proposes to undertake investment advisory services in addition to its existing activities including but not limited to distribution services, the application for grant of registration as an investment adviser has to be made through a separately identifiable department or division. A non-individual applicant which proposes to undertake only investment advisory services has to make the registration application directly and not through a separately identifiable department or division.
Applicants are required to submit the net worth certificate from a chartered accountant and it shall include the membership number of the chartered accountant in the certificate. The Net worth certificate should not be more than 6 months old at the time of filing of application.
The fee structure for getting registered as an investment adviser is as under:
|
Category of Applicant |
Amount (In INR) |
|
|
|
Application Fee* |
Registration |
Fees to be paid every 5 years |
|
|
For individuals and firms |
2,000/- |
3,000/- |
1,000/- |
|
For Body Corporate including Limited Liability Partnerships |
10,000/- |
15,000/- |
5,000/- |
* Application fees must be paid along with the application form for grant of fresh registration. [Ref. Regulation 3(2)]
BSE Administration & Supervision Limited (BASL), a wholly owned subsidiary of BSE
Limited, has been granted recognition as “Investment Adviser Administration and Supervisory Body” (IAASB) for a period of three years from June 01, 2021. In order to ensure compliance with Regulation 6(n) of the IA Regulations and to keep the registration in force, IAs are required to obtain membership of IAASB.
The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for obtaining BASL’s membership, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the membership and other information in this regard are available on the websites of BASL (https://www.bseasl.com/ria/member.html) and BSE (https://www.bseindia.com/investor.html).
The certificate of registration granted under regulation 9 shall be valid till it is suspended or cancelled by the Board. An investment adviser who has been granted a certificate of registration, to keep its registration in force, is required to pay fees every five years, from the date of grant of certificate of registration or from the date of grant of certificate of registration granted prior to the commencement of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Change in Conditions of Registration of Certain Intermediaries) (Amendment) Regulations, 2016, as the case may be, within three months before expiry of the period for which fee has been paid. [Ref. Regulation 9, 10 and Regulation 11]
An individual investment adviser or a principal officer of a non-individual investment adviser and person associated with investment advice, as the case may be, are required to fulfill the minimum qualification and certification requirements as specified under regulation 7(1) and 7(2) of IA Regulations at all times. Further, with regard to certification requirement, the said persons are required to obtain NISM- Series-X-A: Investment Adviser (Level 1) as well as NISM-Series-X-B: Investment Adviser (Level 2) certification.
In this regard, time period of three years has been provided to the investment advisers registered under IA regulations prior to September 30, 2020, for compliance with regulation 7(1) of the IA Regulations. Also, existing individual investment advisers above fifty years of age (as on September 30, 2020) are not required to comply with the qualification and experience requirements specified under Regulation 7(1)(a) and 7(1)(b) of the IA Regulations. However, such investment advisers are required to hold NISM accredited certifications and comply with other conditions as specified under Regulation 7 (2) of the IA Regulations at all times.
It shall be the responsibility of the investment adviser to ensure compliance with the certification and qualification requirements as specified under Regulation 7 at all times.
Insurance Agents or Insurance Brokers registered with IRDA who provide advice in various insurance products across manufacturers shall be regulated by IRDA only. If such Insurance Agents or Insurance Brokers expand their activities to include investment advice on other financial products, then they may be registered and regulated under IA Regulations for such other financial products other than insurance products.
The PFRDA Act envisages registration of pension Advisors by PFRDA. Such Pension Advisors will be registered and regulated by PFRDA. If such advisors advice on other financial products then they may be subjected to regulation under IA Regulations for their conduct relating to advice of financial products other than pension products.
Mutual Fund Distributors registered with Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) can only provide basic advice to its mutual funds clients incidental to its distribution activity. Incidental activities with respect to distribution of mutual funds means providing basic advice pertaining to investment in mutual fund schemes limited to such schemes / products being distributed by him to his clients/ investors or any other MF product.
However, if a distributor of mutual fund is engaged in providing investment advice to general investors other than or in addition to mutual fund clients, and in securities (such as shares, debentures, bonds, derivatives, securitised instruments, structured products, units of AIF, REIT, InvIT, etc.) other than or in addition to Mutual Fund Schemes distributed by him, then such distributor is required to get registration as an investment adviser. An investment adviser has fiduciary obligations.
A person acting in multiple capacities such as insurance agent, pension advisor, mutual fund distributor, etc. and expand his scope of activities to include investment advice on other financial products or engaged in the financial planning of the clients, then he may be registered and regulated under IA Regulations for advising on such other financial products or financial planning of the clients.
Members of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India, Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India who provide investment advice to their clients incidental to their professional services are exempted from obtaining registration under IA Regulations.
For example:- An advice by a professional CA as a tax consultant to his tax client for investing in ELSS in the course of tax planning will be treated as incidental to his profession as a tax consultant.
However, if they are engaged in providing investment advisory services in securities as an activity or business to clients or investors which is not incidental to their main activity then they are required to get registration as an investment adviser.
Stock brokers registered under SEBI (Stock brokers and Sub-brokers) Regulations, 1992 can only provide basic advice to its broking clients incidental to their broking activity. Incidental activity with respect to stock broking means providing basic advice pertaining to investment in securities to the broking clients.
However, if a stock broker is engaged in providing investment advice to general investors other than or in addition to broking clients, then such stock broker is required to get registration as an investment adviser. An investment adviser has fiduciary obligations.
Further, SEBI registered stock brokers, sub brokers who are exempted from registration under regulation 4(g) of IA Regulations shall comply with ‘General Obligation & Responsibilities’ as specified under chapter III of IA Regulations
Portfolio Managers registered under SEBI (Portfolio Managers) Regulations, 2020 can only provide advisory services to its clients as per the terms of the portfolio management agreement entered between the client and the portfolio manager.
Further, SEBI registered portfolio manager offering only investment advisory services under Portfolio Manager Registration can continue to do so till the expiry of such registration. However, such portfolio manager is required to make an application for grant of registration as an investment adviser under IA Regulations at least three months before the expiry of its certificate of registration as a portfolio manager.
Incidental activities with respect to merchant banking means providing advice pertaining to merchant banking services including corporate advisory services as permitted under SEBI (Merchant Bankers) Regulations, 1996.
However, if a merchant banker is engaged in the business of providing investment advice to clients other than merchant banking and corporate advisory services, then such merchant banker is required to get registration as an investment adviser.
Corporate advisory services on IPOs, mergers & acquisitions, buyback, takeover, delisting, merchant banking, loan syndication, etc, to an issuer, acquirer, etc., do not fall under the purview of IA Regulations.
In terms of Regulation 4(i) of IA Regulations, persons providing investment advice exclusively to clients based outside India are exempted from obtaining registration under IA Regulations. Persons providing investment advice to Non- Resident Indians or Persons of Indian Origin shall fall within the purview of IA regulations.
An investment adviser shall act in a fiduciary capacity towards its clients and shall disclose all conflicts of interests as and when they arise. He shall act honestly, fairly and in the best interests of its clients and in the integrity of the market. He shall maintain an arms-length relationship between his activities as an investment adviser and other activities. He shall also act with due skill, care and diligence in the best interests of its clients and shall ensure that its advice is offered after thorough analysis and taking into account available alternatives based on risk profiling and suitability of the client.
An investment adviser required to comply with general obligations & responsibilities such as general responsibility, charging of fees, risk profiling and suitability, client level segregation of advisory and distribution activities, implementation of advice or execution, disclosures to clients, maintenance of records, etc., as specified under chapter III of IA Regulations as well as the code of conduct as specified under third schedule of IA regulations.
Yes. Non-individual investment advisers providing distribution services are required to have client level segregation at group level for investment advisory and distribution services and are required to keep such activities segregated from investment advisory activities. Further, Non-individual IAs are required to maintain an arm’s length relationship between their activities as investment adviser and distributor by providing advisory services through a separately identifiable department or division. Such separately identifiable department or division or subsidiary is required to include the words ‘investment adviser’ in its name.
‘Group’ for this purpose means an entity which is a holding, subsidiary, associate, subsidiary of a holding company to which it is also a subsidiary or an investing company or the venturer of the company as per the provisions of Companies Act, 2013 for nonindividual investment adviser which is a company under the said Act and in any other case, an entity which has a controlling interest or is subject to the controlling interest of a non-individual investment adviser.
Individual Investment advisers cannot provide distribution services. Further, the family of an individual investment adviser cannot provide distribution services to the client advised by the individual investment adviser and no individual investment adviser can provide advice to a client who is receiving distribution services from other family members. In this regard, “family of an individual investment adviser” includes individual investment adviser, spouse, children and parents. [Ref. Regulation 2(gc) read with Regulations 13 and 22]
An investment adviser shall disclose to the client its holding or position, if any, in the financial products or securities which are subject matter of advice. He shall disclose to the client any actual or potential conflicts of interest arising from any connection to or association with any issuer of products/securities, including any material information or facts that might compromise its objectivity or independence in the carrying on of investment advisory services. Further, investment adviser shall, while making an investment advice, make adequate disclosure to the client of all material facts relating to the key features of the products or securities, particularly, performance track record, etc. [Please refer to Regulation 18 for details of complete disclosures to clients]
No. Individuals registered as an investment adviser cannot undertake any distribution services pursuant to grant of registration from SEBI. [Ref. Regulation 22 (1)]
Yes. Individuals registered as investment adviser can continue to receive the trailing commission for the distribution services provided by them prior to grant of registration as an Investment Adviser.
Yes. SEBI registered investment advisers can provide investment advisory services to FPIs.
Yes. All the investment advisers are required to comply with the KYC requirements specified by SEBI from time to time. However, the investment adviser can rely upon on the KYC of the client, if any, as per the terms specified in SEBI {KYC (Know Your Client) Registration Agency} Regulations, 2011 and circulars issued thereunder.
Regulation 16 and 17 of SEBI (Investment Adviser) Regulations, 2013 mandates risk profiling and suitability for all categories of clients. In case of non-individual clients, IA is required to use the investment policy as approved by board/management team of such non-individual clients for risk profiling and suitability analysis. The discretion to share the investment policy/relevant excerpts of the policy lies with the non-individual client. However, IAs have discretion not to onboard non-individual clients if they are unable to do risk profiling of the non-individual client in the absence of investment policy. [Ref. Regulation 16 and 17 read with SEBI Circular dated September 23, 2020]
An investment adviser which is a body corporate or a partnership firm is required to appoint a compliance officer who shall be responsible for monitoring the compliance by the investment adviser in respect of the requirements of the Act, regulations, notifications, guidelines, instructions issued by SEBI. In case of an individual he himself is responsible for such compliance. [Ref. Regulation 20]
Investment Advisers can charge fees from the clients in either of the two modes:
1) Assets under Advice (AUA) mode
The maximum fees that may be charged under this mode cannot exceed 2.5 percent of AUA per annum per client across all services offered by IA. IA is required to demonstrate AUA with supporting documents like demat statements, unit statements, etc. of the client. Any portion of AUA held by the client under any pre-existing distribution arrangement with any entity is required to be deducted from AUA for the purpose of charging fee by the IA.
2) Fixed fee mode
The maximum fees that may be charged under this mode cannot exceed INR 1,25,000 per annum per client across all services offered by IA.
In case “family of client” is reckoned as a single client, the fee as referred above shall be charged per “family of client”. [Ref. Regulation 15A read with Circular dated September 23, 2020]
Investment adviser may provide implementation services to the advisory clients in securities market. Provided that investment advisers ensure that no consideration including any commission or referral fees, whether embedded or indirect or otherwise, by whatever name called is received; directly or indirectly, at investment adviser’s group or family level for the said service, as the case may be. Investment adviser is required to provide implementation services to its advisory clients only through direct schemes/products in the securities market. Investment adviser or group or family of investment adviser cannot charge any implementation fees from the client. The client shall not be under any obligation to avail implementation services offered by the investment adviser. [Ref. Regulation 22A]
The Networth for getting registered as an investment adviser is as under:
|
Category of Applicant |
Amount in INR.
|
|
Individual IA (Net tangible assets) |
5,00,000/- |
|
Non-Individual IA (Net worth) |
50,00,000/- |
[Ref. Regulation 8]
The list of SEBI registered investment advisers are also available on SEBI website www.sebi.gov.in. Further, all the circulars, press releases, and other relevant information issued from time to time in respect of investment advisers will be made available on the SEBI website under “Info for>Investment Advisers”.
SEBI has launched a new web-based centralized grievance redress system called SEBI Complaint Redress System (SCORES). Investors can lodge their complaints at http://scores.gov.in. On receipt of complaints, SEBI takes up the matter with the concerned investment adviser and follows up with them for redressal.