INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Mumbai: The capital markets regulator has proposed changes to norms on portfolio management services (PMS), seeking to put in place higher
net worth criteria for money managers and investment thresholds while suggesting fee limits.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India
(Sebi) has more than doubled the minimum net worth requirement for portfolio managers from Rs 2 crore to Rs 5 crore, with the minimum ticket
size of investment also doubling from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 50 lakh.
The regulator has also proposed standardising the methods for computation of
returns by portfolio managers, while suggesting curbs on fee chargeable and exit load applicable on investors.
The recommendations were
suggested by the seven-member expert panel appointed by Sebi to review PMS norms, which would apply to an industry that has 1.5 lakh
investors, with assets worth Rs 18.7 lakh crore.
ET had reported on July 30 that Sebi was planning to tighten the rules for broker
In the 39-page report, the expert committee recommended distributors get no upfront fees; instead, their fees be payable on trailing basis
This way, the fees payable by an investor will be linked to the duration he stays invested and would help curb mis-selling by
distributors.
“With a view to curtail mis-selling and prevent distributors pushing up-fronted products, the working group has recommended
distributor commission be only on a trailing basis
Trail-based income shall also ensure that the portfolio manager does not strain business calls that will hamper his longevity,” the report
said.
The expert panel has also suggested placing caps on exit load
The maximum exit load of 3 per cent can be levied on clients who exit within a year of investment, 2 per cent on those leaving in the second
year, and 1 per cent on those exiting in the third year
Clients who stay beyond three years are exempt from any exit loads.
Keeping in view various factors, including inflation and growing number
of wealthy investors in Indian markets, the regulator has proposed doubling the minimum ticket size.
“Portfolio management services,
unlike mutual funds, are more complicated and riskier products and are meant for investors with higher risk-taking capacity
Increasing the limit is thought prudent, so that retail investors with limited understanding of volatility and risk, don’t enter this
product,” the discussion paper said.
The report also talked about the lack of standardised formulae for calculating the performance of a
The regulator believes accurate and standardised reporting of performance by PMS providers is needed to help existing and prospective
investors take well informed investment decisions.
To address the issue, the working group has recommended that returns be calculated using
timeweighted rate of return (TWRR)
All performance has to be reported net of all fees, all expenses and taxes.
Also, Sebi has made it mandatory for all the distributors and
agents of PMS products to possess the NISM Mutual Fund certification
The regulator is also planning to eventually bring in a separate certification for PMS distributors.