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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 commission in PMS.
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 portfolio scheme.
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.
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