The long-pending proposal of self-regulating organisation (SRO) for mutual fund (MF) distributors got a shot in the arm on Monday as the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) proposed doing away with the application process and instead suggested a nomination process.
"This should expedite the process of granting SRO status to a suitable body," said a senior MF official, requesting anonymity.
Through the nomination process, Sebi would grant SRO status to an entity after conducting its due diligence.
In another key proposal made in the consultation paper, the regulator included stock exchange in the definition of an SRO. Earlier definition categorically excluded 'stock exchange'.
The market regulator proposed setting up of an independent nomination committee, preferably headed by a retired judge of a High Court or Supreme Court (SC), that gives its recommendations to Sebi regarding suitability of an entity for the role of SRO. The pending cases may also be considered by this committee.
"It is important that the recognised body evenly represents all sets of distributors whether it is independent financial advisors, banks or national distributors," said Bharat Bagla, a mutual fund distributor.
The regulator in its consultation paper put out various details on the composition of an SRO and what would be the roles of the key personnel.
The SRO's purview would be restricted to dealing with disputes between investors and its members. The disputes between distributors and MFs would be outside the ambit of the SRO.
Citing the rise in complaints against investment advisers (IAs), Sebi also underlined the need for an SRO for the advisers.
In March, 2014, Sebi's in-principle approval for Institution for Mutual Fund Intermediaries (Imfi) was challenged in the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) on a technical point by another applicant Financial Planning Supervisory Foundation (FPSF).
FPSF held that Imfi's application for SRO came even before it was incorporated. This meant that Imfi was not a legal entity at the time of its application. Moreover, Imfi's application was filed on August 2, 2013, which was four days after the cut-off date of July 29, 2013.
In November, 2015, SAT set aside Sebi's in-principle approval for Imfi and directed the market regulator not to take any further steps till it properly follows the laws.
However, FPSF filed a plea in Supreme Court (SC) arguing that the SAT ruling had wrongly held that Sebi was justified in acknowledging Imfi's application as regulations didn't require the applicant to be an incorporated entity.
In October 2017, the SC allowed Sebi to start afresh the selection process for SRO. Following this, Sebi sought leave from the apex court to make necessary amendments to the SRO-related regulations.
The market regulator has sought comments from the public on the consultation paper latest by April 21.