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Showing posts with label SEBI Master Circular. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SEBI Master Circular. Show all posts

Thursday, August 19, 2010

All amended SEBI circulars on Arbitration mechanism in stock exchange as governed by Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996

Revised Arbitration Mechanism in Stock Exchanges
In consultation with the stock exchanges, it has been decided to streamline the arbitration mechanism available at stock exchanges for arbitration of disputes (claims, complaints, differences, etc.) arising between a client and a member (Stock Broker, Trading Member and Clearing Member) across various market segments.

A stock exchange shall provide an arbitration mechanism for settlement of disputes between a client and a member through arbitration proceedings in accordance with the provisions of this Circular read with Section 2(4) of the Arbitration and Conciliation, Act, 1996.

This circular CIR/MRD/DSA/24/2010 dated 11th August 2010 modifies provisions relevant to arbitration, contained in the following SEBI Circulars:-
i. Master Circular as on 31st March 2010
ii. SEBI/MRD/DSA-OIAE/Cir-09/2010 dated April 1, 2010
iii. CIR/MRD/DSA/10/2010 dated April 6, 2010

Sunday, May 23, 2010

SEBI master ciruclar on Stock Exchange, Depository, etc...updated as on 31st March 2010

SEBI Master Circulars on Stock Exchange/Depositories

Annexure 1 – Master Circular for Stock Exchange/ Cash Market – Trading Part- I. It contains the following,

SECTION – 1: BULK DEALS AND BLOCK DEALS ............................................... 5
1.1 Bulk Deal ............................................................................................................. 5
1.2 Block Deal ........................................................................................................... 5
SECTION – 2: CIRCUIT FILTER / PRICE BANDS ................................................. 7
2.1 Index based Market wide circuit filter ................................................................. 7
2.2 Scrip wise price bands ......................................................................................... 7
SECTION – 3 : IMPLEMENTATION OF UNIFORM SECURITY SPECIFIC
ACTION IN STOCK EXCHANGES........................................................................... 8
3.1 Uniform security specific measure ...................................................................... 8
SECTION – 4 : MARGIN TRADING.......................................................................... 9
4.1 Margin trading ..................................................................................................... 9
4.2 Securities eligible for margin trading .................................................................. 9
4.3 Eligibility requirements for brokers to provide margin trading facility to clients9
4.4 No-objection certificate .................................................................................. 10
4.5 Agreement.......................................................................................................... 10
4.6 Source of Funds for the broker for providing margin trading facility to his
clients and maximum permissible borrowing by any broker............................. 10
4.7 Margin requirements.......................................................................................... 11
4.8 Liquidation of securities by the broker in case of default by the client............. 11
4.9 Maintenance of Records .................................................................................... 12
4.10 Disclosure of exposure to the Margin Trading Facility ..................................... 12
4.11 Arbitration.......................................................................................................... 13
4.12 Usage of Investor Protection Fund and Trade/Settlement Guarantee Fund ...... 13
4.13 General provisions ............................................................................................. 13
SECTION – 5 : MARKET MAKER............................................................................ 15
5.1 Guidelines for Market Maker............................................................................. 15
5.1.1 Criterion for selection of scrips for Market Making.......................................... 16
5.1.2 Exclusivity of Market Makers ........................................................................... 16
5.1.3 Number of Market Makers for each share ......................................................... 17
5.1.4 Qualifications for a registered Market Maker.................................................... 17
5.1.5 The obligations and responsibilities of Market Makers..................................... 17
5.1.6 Rights of the Market Maker............................................................................... 18
5.1.7 Voluntary De-registration .................................................................................. 18
5.1.8 Compulsory De-registration............................................................................... 18
5.1.9 Dissemination of Information ............................................................................ 18
5.1.10 Number of Shares per Market Maker ................................................................ 18
5.1.11 Risk Containment Measures and monitoring for Market Makers ..................... 18
SECTION – 6: NEGOTIATED DEALS..................................................................... 20
6.1 Negotiated Deals................................................................................................ 20
SECTION – 7 : ODD LOT .......................................................................................... 21
7.1 Trading and Settlement of trades in dematerialised securities ................ 21
SECTION – 8: PERMANENT ACCOUNT NUMBER ........................................... 22
8.1 Mandatory PAN requirement for transaction in Cash Market........................... 22
8.2 PAN as a sole identification number for all transactions in the securities market
………………………………………………………………………………….22
8.3 Incase of Central and State Govt., and officials appointed by courts ................ 22
8.4. Exemptions for Investors in Sikkim .................................................................. 23
8.5 Incase of FIIs/Institutional Clients..................................................................... 23
8.6 Incase of UN entities and multilateral agencies which are exempted from paying
taxes/ filling tax returns in India ........................................................................ 23
8.7 Incase of HUF, Association of Persons (AoP), Partnership Firm, unregistered
Trust, Registered Trust, Corporate Bodies, minors, etc..................................... 24
8.8 Incase of Slight mismatch in PAN card details as well as difference in maiden
name and current name (predominantly in the case of married women) of the
investors.............................................................................................................24
8.9 Incase of NRI/PIOs ............................................................................................ 24
8.10 PAN requirement for transfer of shares in physical form.................................. 24
SECTION – 9: PROPRIETARY TRADING.............................................................. 26
9.1 Disclosure of Proprietary Trading by Broker to Client ..................................... 26

9.2 Pro-account Trading Terminal........................................................................... 26
SECTION – 10 : SHORT SELLING AND SECURITIES LENDING AND
BORROWING SCHEME............................................................................................ 28
10.1 Broad Framework for Short Selling and Securities Lending and Borrowing.... 28
10.2 Annexure 1 – Broad framework for short selling .............................................. 28
10.3 Annexure 2 - Broad framework for securities lending and borrowing .. 29
SECTION – 11: SPOT AND OFF-THE-FLOOR TRANSACTIONS..................... 34
SECTION – 12: SECURITIES TRANSACTION TAX............................................. 35
12.1 Implementation of Securities Transaction Tax .................................................. 35
SECTION – 13 : TIME STAMPING OF ORDERS................................................... 35
13.1 Time Stamping of Orders................................................................................... 35
SECTION – 14 : TRADING IN GOVERNMENT SECURITIES............................ 36
14.1 Government Securities....................................................................................... 36
SECTION – 15: UNIQUE CLIENT CODE............................................................... 37
SECTION - 16: TRANSACTION CHARGES BY THE STOCK EXCHANGES.. 38
SECTION 17 - PRESERVATION OF RECORDS .................................................... 39
SECTION 18 - DISCLOSURE OF INVESTOR COMPLAINTS AND
ARBITRATION DETAILS ON STOCK EXCHANGE WEBSITE......................... 40

Annexure 2 – Master Circular for Stock Exchange/ Cash Market – Trading Part- II

Annexure 3 – Master Circular for Stock Exchange/ Cash Market – Settlement

Annexure 4 – Master Circular for Stock Exchange/ Cash Market – Comprehensive Risk Management

Annexure 5 – Master Circular for Stock Exchange - Companies shifted from Trade for trade to Rolling Settlement

Annexure 6 – Master Circular on allotment of codes to Stock Exchanges, Subsidiary management by Stock Exchanges, Governance of recognised Stock Exchanges and Arbitration in recognised Stock Exchanges.

Annexure 7 - Master Circular for Depositories:

It contains the following,

Section-1 - Beneficial Owner (BO) Accounts
1.1 Opening of BO Account by non-body corporates
1.1.1 Proof of Identity (PoI)
1.1.2 Proof of Address (PoA)
1.2 Exemptions from and clarifications relating to mandatory requirement
of PAN
1.3 Fees/Charges to be paid by BO
1.4 Transfer of funds and securities from Clearing Member pool account to
BO Account
1.5 Printing of Grievances Redressal Mechanism on Delivery Instruction
Form Book
1.6 Exemption to Depository Participants (DPs) from providing hard
copies of transaction statements to BOs
1.7 Safeguards on transfer of securities in dematerialized mode
Section-2 - Issuer related
2.1 Charges to be paid by Issuers
2.2 Activation of International Securities Identification Number (ISIN) in
case of IPO
2.3 Registrar and Transfer Agents
2.4 Mandatory admission of debt instruments on both the Depositories
2.5 American Depository Receipts (ADRs)/Global Depository Receipts
(GDRs)
2.6 Electronic Clearing System (ECS) facility
2.6.1 Dividend Distribution
2.6.2 Refund in public/rights issues
Section-3 – Depositories/ Depository Participant (DP) Related
3.1 Designated e-mail ID for redressal of investor complaints
3.2 Approval of amendments to Bye Laws / Rules of Stock Exchanges and
Depositories
3.3 Preservation of Records
3.4 Foreign investments in infrastructure companies in securities markets
3.5 Activity schedule for depositories for T+2 rolling Settlement
3.6 Settlement of transactions in case of holidays
3.7 Supervision of branches of depository participants
3.8 Designated e-mail ID for regulatory communication with SEBI
3.9 Disclosure of investor complaints and arbitration details on Depository
website

Monday, March 29, 2010

Stock Exchange's Inspection, Internal Audit by CS/CA/CWA in practice, Default & Implementation - SEBI Master Circular

SEBI/MIRSD/Master Cir-04/2010 dated 17th March 2010

Master Circular on Oversight of Members (Stock Brokers/Trading Members/Clearing Members of any Segment of Stock Exchanges and Clearing Corporations).  This master circular consolidates and updates the requirements/obligations with regard to oversight of members (Inspection by Stock Exchanges/Clearing Corporations, Internal Audit and Default)

 

I. Inspection of Members by Stock Exchanges / Clearing Corporations
The Stock Exchange or the Clearing Corporation shall

  1. formulate a policy for inspection of members and follow up action thereon.
  2. shall inspect all active members in various segments every year covering,

a. Compliance with the relevant provisions of the Act, Rules and Regulations made there under, Rules and Regulation of the Stock Exchange / Clearing Corporation and the circulars issued by SEBI and Stock Exchanges / Clearing Corporations from time to time, and
b. Efficacy of the investor grievance redressal mechanism and discharge of various obligations towards clients, for the preceding one year unless a longer period is warranted in the circumstances.

An illustrative list of common violations/deficiencies observed by SEBI in its inspections of members are,

  • Relating to KYC
  • Relating to Contract notes
  • Relating to Investor services
  • Relating to funds and securities
  • Relating to terminals
  • OTHERS

The Stock Exchanges and Clearing Corporations are advised to bring this list to the notice of members with an advice to them to avoid these violations/deficiencies.


The Stock Exchange or the Clearing Corporation, as the case may be, shall initiate all the follow up action – remedial, penal and disciplinary - required on inspection findings, within 6 months from the conclusion of the inspection.

II. Internal Audit
The member shall carry out complete internal audit on a half yearly basis by an independent qualified Chartered Accountant, Company Secretary or Cost and Management Accountant who is in practice and does not have any conflict of interest.

The audit shall cover, inter alia,
a. the existence, scope and efficiency of the internal control system,
b. compliance with the provisions of the SEBI Act, 1992, Securities Contracts
(Regulation) Act 1956, SEBI (Intermediaries) Regulations, 2008, SEBI (Stock Brokers and Sub-Brokers) Regulations, 1992, circulars issued by SEBI from time to time, Bye Laws and Regulations and circulars issued by the Stock Exchange / Clearing Corporation,
c. data security and insurance in respect of operations, and
d. efficacy of the investor grievance redressal mechanism and discharge of various obligations towards clients.

The internal auditor shall submit the audit report to the member, who shall place it before its Board of Directors/Proprietor/Partners and shall forward the same along with para-wise comments to the respective stock exchange/clearing corporation within 3 months from the end of the half year period.

The Stock Exchange/Clearing Corporation shall initiate appropriate actions – remedial, penal or disciplinary - against the members where deficiencies are noticed in audit reports or where audit report has not been received, and inform the details of action taken to SEBI, within 6 months from the end of the half year period.


III. Default in case of Multiple Membership
Whenever a member of any segment is declared defaulter, the concerned Stock Exchange/Clearing Corporation shall immediately declare it a defaulter in all its segments. It shall also immediately inform all other Stock Exchanges/Clearing Corporations the details of the defaulter member such as name of the member, the names of the proprietors/partners/promoters/dominant shareholders, as applicable.  Immediately on receipt of the information about default of a member, the Stock Exchange / Clearing Corporation shall declare the said member defaulter on all its segments.


The Stock Exchanges / Clearing Corporations shall take appropriate action against the associates of defaulter member. For this purpose, the term ‘associate’ shall include a person:
a. who, directly or indirectly, by itself, or in combination with other persons,
exercises control over the member, whether individual, body corporate or firm or holds substantial share of not less than 15% in the capital of such entities; or
b. in respect of whom the member, individual or body corporate or firm, directly or indirectly, by itself or in combination with other persons, exercises control; or
c. whose director or partner is also a director or partner of the member, body
corporate or the firm, as the case may be.
Explanation: The expression “control" shall have the same meaning as defined under clause (c) of Regulation 2 of the SEBI (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 1997.

IV. Implementation
For the above purpose, the Stock Exchanges / Clearing Corporations shall take all necessary action, including the following:
a. make necessary amendments to the relevant bye-laws, rules and regulations for the implementation of the above decision immediately, if the same has not been already made.
b. bring the provisions of this circular to the notice of the members and also to disseminate the same on the website, and
c. communicate to SEBI, the status of the implementation of the provisions of
this circular in the Monthly Development Report (MDR).

The circulars mentioned hereunder stand rescinded:

A. Circular no. SMD(B)/104/22775/93 dated October 29, 1993
B. Circular no. SMD/MDP/CIR/043/96 dated August 5, 1996
C. Circular no. SMD/Policy/Cir-24/97 dated September 26, 1997
D. Circular no. SMDRP/POLICY/Cir-45/2001 dated September 17, 2001
E. Circular no. SEBI/SMD/DBA-1/CIR-27/2003 dated June 25, 2003
F. Circular no. MIRSD/DPSIII/Cir-26/08 dated August 22, 2008, and
G. Circular no. MRD/DMS/Cir-29/2008 dated October 21, 2008

Notwithstanding such rescission, anything done or any action taken under those circulars before the date of this Master circular, shall be deemed to have been done or taken or commenced under the corresponding provisions of this circular. After the rescission of the earlier circulars, any reference thereto in any regulation, guidelines and circulars shall be deemed to be a reference to this Master Circular.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Download SEBI Master Circular on MFs - a one stop legal reference on Mutual Funds issued by SEBI consolidating all about MF as on January 2010

SEBI / IMD / MC No.1 /189241/ 2010 dated 1st January, 2010

To All Mutual Funds, Asset Management Companies (AMCs)
and Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI)

Sub: Master Circular for Mutual Funds

For effective regulation of the Mutual Fund Industry, Securities & Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has been issuing various circulars from time to time. In order to enable the industry and other users to have an access to all the applicable circulars at one place, Master Circular for Mutual Funds has been prepared.  This Master Circular is a compilation of all the circulars issued by SEBI on the above subject, which are operational as on date of this circular.

1. This Master Circular includes circulars issued upto December 31, 2009.
2. In case of any inconsistency between the master circular and the applicable circulars, the contents of the relevant circular shall prevail.
3. Master Circular is a compilation of all the existing/applicable circulars issued by Investment Management Department of SEBI issued to Mutual Funds. Efforts have been made to incorporate certain applicable provisions of existing circulars (as on December 31, 2009) issued by other Department/Division of SEBI relevant to Mutual Funds.

The said Master Circular is divided under the following heads:

ABBREVIATIONS............................................................................. 5
CHAPTER 1..................................................................................... 6
OFFER DOCUMENT FOR SCHEMES ................................................. 6
CHAPTER 2................................................................................... 16
CONVERSION AND CONSOLIDATION OF SCHEMES AND LAUNCH OF
ADDITIONAL PLAN........................................................................ 16
CHAPTER 3................................................................................... 21
NEW PRODUCTS ........................................................................... 21
CHAPTER 4………………………………………………………………………….24
RISK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM........................................................ 24
CHAPTER 5................................................................................... 27
DISCLOSURES & REPORTING NORMS ........................................... 27
CHAPTER 6................................................................................... 35
GOVERNANCE NORMS .................................................................. 35
CHAPTER 7................................................................................... 55
SECONDARY MARKET ISSUES ...................................................... 55
CHAPTER 8................................................................................... 59
NET ASSET VALUE........................................................................ 59
CHAPTER 9................................................................................... 68
VALUATION .................................................................................. 68
CHAPTER 10................................................................................. 89
LOADS, FEES AND EXPENSES ....................................................... 89
CHAPTER 11................................................................................. 94
DIVIDEND DISTRIBUTION PROCEDURE ....................................... 94
CHAPTER 12................................................................................. 96
INVESTMENT BY SCHEMES........................................................... 96
CHAPTER 13................................................................................110
ADVERTISEMENTS ......................................................................110

CHAPTER 14................................................................................126
INVESTOR RIGHTS & OBLIGATIONS............................................126
CHAPTER 15................................................................................133
CERTIFICATION AND REGISTRATION OF INTERMEDIARIES .......133
CHAPTER 16................................................................................135
TRANSACTION IN MUTUAL FUNDS UNITS .....................................135

Formats & Annexures are given as attachments.

Download SEBI Master Circular on Mutual Funds (MF)

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Records to be maintained from transaction, Non profit organisation included, Suspicious transaction defined in amendment of Money Laundering Rules 2009

Notification No 13/2009/F.No. 6/8/2009- ES & G.S.R 816(E) dated 12th November 2009

Prevention of Money-laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 read with Rules is amended by Prevention of Money-laundering (Maintenance of Records of the Nature and Value of Transactions, the Procedure and Manner of Maintaining and Time for Furnishing Information and Verification and Maintenance of Records of the Identity of the Clients of the Banking Companies, Financial Institutions and Intermediaries)  Amendment Rules, 2009

Rule 2(1)(ca) “non profit organisation” means any entity or organisation that is registered as a trust or a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860) or any  similar State legislation or a company registered under section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956);

Rule 3(BA) all  transactions involving receipts by non-profit organisations of  value  more than  Rs. 10 lakh, or its equivalent in foreign currency; Kindly note, Rule 3 deals with Maintenance of records of transactions (nature and value) by banking company or financial institution or intermediary. [thus, covering Charitable trusts, whether temples, churches or mosques, non-government organisations (NGOs), educational institutions or societies and other Non-profit organisations, even Section 25 Company – see definition above]

Rule 6  Retention of records of transactions– The records referred to in rule 3 shall be maintained for a period of ten years from the date of [the word CESSATION OF is removed] transactions between the client and the banking company, financial institution or intermediary, as the case may be.  [Hence, the 10 year period begins from the date of transaction itself].

Rule 2(fa)  “Regulator” means a person or an authority or a Government which is vested with the power to license, authorise, register, regulate or supervise the activity of banking companies, financial institutions or intermediaries, as the case may be;

Rule 2(g)  “Suspicious transaction" means a transaction referred to in clause (h) [which defines the term transaction], including an attempted transaction, whether or not made in cash, which to a person acting in good faith -

(a) gives rise to a reasonable ground of suspicion that it may involve proceeds of an offence specified in the Schedule to the Act, regardless of the value involved; or

(b) appears to be made in circumstances of unusual or unjustified complexity; or

(c) appears to have no economic rationale or bonafide purpose; or

(d) gives  rise  to  a  reasonable  ground  of  suspicion  that  it may involve financing of the activities relating to terrorism;

Rule 8 after sub-rule (3),  the following proviso shall be inserted at the end, namely:-

“Provided that a banking company, financial institution or intermediary, as the case may be, and its employees shall keep the fact  of furnishing information in respect of transactions referred to in clause (D) of sub-rule (1) of rule 3 strictly confidential.  [Thus, the records of transactions are made STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL!]

In rule 9,-
(a)   for sub-rules (1) and (2), the following sub-rules shall be substituted, namely:-

“(1) Every banking company, financial institution and intermediary, as the case may be, shall,

(a)  at the time of commencement of an account-based relationship, identify its clients, verify their identity and obtain information on the purpose and intended nature of the business relationship,  and

(b) in all other cases, verify identity while carrying out:

(i) transaction of an amount equal to or exceeding rupees fifty thousand, whether conducted as a   single transaction or several transactions that appear to be connected, or

(ii)  any international  money transfer operations.

(1A) Every banking company, financial institution and intermediary, as the case may be, shall identify the beneficial owner and take all reasonable steps to verify his identity.

(1B) Every banking company, financial institution and intermediary, as the case may be, shall exercise ongoing due diligence with respect to the business relationship with every client and closely examine the transactions in order to ensure that they are consistent with their knowledge of the customer, his business  and risk profile.

(1C) No banking company, financial institution or intermediary, as the case may be, shall  keep any anonymous account or account in fictitious names.

(2) Where the client is an individual, he shall for the purpose of sub-rule (1), submit to the banking company, financial institution and intermediary, as the case may be, one certified copy of an ‘officially valid document’ containing details of his identity and address, one recent photograph and such other documents including in respect of the nature of business and financial status of the client as may be required by the banking company or the financial institution or the intermediary, as the case may be.

Provided that photograph need not be submitted by a client falling under clause (b) of sub-rule (1).”;

(b)   after sub-rule (6),  the following sub-rule shall be inserted, namely:-

“(6 A) Where the client is a  juridical person, the banking company, financial institution and intermediary, as the case may be, shall verify that any person purporting to act on behalf of  such client is so authorised and verify the identity of that person.”;

(c) for sub-rule (7), the following sub-rule shall be substituted, namely:-

“ (7) (i)The regulator shall issue guidelines incorporating the requirements of sub- rules (1) to (6A) above and may prescribe enhanced measures to verify the client’s identity taking into consideration type of client, business relationship or nature and value of transactions.

(ii) Every banking company, financial institution and intermediary as the case may be, shall formulate and implement a Client Identification Programme to determine the true identity of its clients, incorporating requirements of sub-rules (1) to (6A) and guidelines issued under clause (i) above.

Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 can be downloaded here.   Click here for SEBI Master circular on Money Laundering.

Accordingly, all authorized persons are advised to furnish Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) to FIU-IND in respect of their money changing activities within 7 days of arriving at a conclusion that a transaction, including attempted transaction, whether or not made in cash, or a series of transaction integrally connected are of suspicious nature. The formats of STR, both manual and electronic, have been made available by FIU-IND in their website http://fiuindia.gov.in. [A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.15 & A.P. (FL/RL Series) Circular No.02 dated November 19, 2009]

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

The Prevention of Money Laundering (Amendment) Act, 2009 [PMLA] has come into force with effect from 1st June 2009 & Master Circular – RBI/SEBI & Multi Level Marketing (MLM) firms

Download RBI Master Circular on Money Laundering / Know Your Customer (KYC).  This is in continuation of the same.

Preservation  Period of Records

The Prevention of Money Laundering (Amendment) Act, 2009 (No. 21 of 2009) has come into force with effect from June 01, 2009 as notified by the Government. In terms of Sub-Section 2(a) of Section 12 of The Prevention of Money Laundering (Amendment) Act, 2009 (PMLA, 2009), the records referred to in clause (a) of Sub-Section (1) of Section 12 shall be maintained for a period of ten years from the date of transaction between the clients and the banking company and in terms of Sub-Section 2(b) of Section 12 of the Act ibid, the records referred to in clause (c) of Sub-Section (1) of Section 12 shall be maintained for a period of ten years from the date of cessation of transaction between the clients and the banking company.

Accordingly, in modification of paragraph 2.16(iii) (a) of the above said master circular dated July 1, 2009, banks are advised to maintain for at least ten years from the date of transaction between the bank and the client, all necessary records of transactions referred to at Rule 3 of the Prevention of Money-Laundering (Maintenance of Records of the Nature and Value of Transactions, the Procedure and Manner of Maintaining and Time for Furnishing Information and Verification and Maintenance of Records of the Identity of the Clients of the Banking Companies, Financial Institutions and Intermediaries) Rules, 2005 (PMLA Rules), both domestic or international, which will permit reconstruction of individual transactions (including the amounts and types of currency involved, if any) so as to provide, if necessary, evidence for prosecution of persons involved in criminal activity.

However, records pertaining to the identification of the customer and his address (e.g. copies of documents like passports, identity cards, driving licenses, PAN card, utility bills etc.) obtained while opening the account and during the course of business relationship, as indicated in paragraph 2.16(iii)(b) of the above said master circular dated July 1, 2009, would continue to be preserved for at least ten years after the business relationship is ended as required under Rule 10 of the Rules ibid.

Accounts of Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs)

Detailed guidelines on Customer Due Diligence (CDD) measures to be made applicable to Politically Exposed Person (PEP) and their family members or close relatives are contained in paragraph 2.5(iv) of the master circular.  It is further advised  that in the event of an existing customer or the beneficial owner of an existing account,subsequently becoming a PEP, banks should obtain senior management approval to continue the business relationship and subject the account to the CDD measures as applicable to the customers of PEP category including enhanced monitoring on an ongoing basis.

Principal Officer

Banks have been advised in Para 2.15 of the master circular referred to above that banks should appoint a senior management officer to be designated as Principal Officer and the role and responsibilities of the Principal Officer have been detailed therein. With a view to enable the Principal Officer to discharge his responsibilities,  it is advised that that the Principal Officer and other appropriate staff should have timely access to customer identification data and other CDD information, transaction records and other relevant information. Further, banks should ensure that the Principal Officer is able to act independently and report directly to the senior management  or  to the Board of Directors.

Source: RBI/2009-10/152 DBOD. AML.BC. No.43 /14.01.001/2009-10 dated 11/09/2009

Further, in view of opening and conduct of the accounts of Multi Level Marketing (MLM) firms, we (RBI) advise that banks should be careful in opening accounts of the marketing/trading agencies etc. Especially, strict compliance with KYC and AML guidelines contained in circulars UBD.CO.BPD (PCB) No. 1/12.05.001/2008-09 dated July 02, 2008 and UBD.PCB. Cir. 30/09.161.00/2004-05 dated December 15, 2004 issued by RBI should be ensured in the matter.

In cases where accounts have already been opened in the names of the marketing agencies, retail traders, investment firms, the banks may undertake quick reviews. Wherever large number of cheque books has been issued to such firms, the relative decision may be reviewed in the light of the following:

  • Whether the cheque books have been issued to customers on the basis of their express request and after following the internal processes laid down in the matter.
  • Whether the number of cheque books is consistent with/matching the profile of the customers as also their nature of business operations.

Even where the volume of transactions/profile of the customers apparently justify the number of cheque books issued, special ongoing monitoring of the operations in the accounts of such types of firms should be made especially if large volumes of small cash deposits are being made in those accounts and withdrawals are being made there from, through cheques written for small amounts, either across the counters or through clearing. In respect of such account holders banks may, in specific cases, call for the data from the account holders on the number and aggregate amount of post dated cheques issued. The data/information so collected should be analysed in select cases to rule out the possibility of the firms being engaged in deposit taking activities. Certain indicative parameters for selecting accounts for further scrutiny and action are the bunching of dates of the post dated cheques, the uniformity in the amounts of cheques etc. These data should be analysed together with data on cash deposits of small amounts on previous distant dates resembling the deposit contracting/mobilizations dates in terms of similar bunching and uniformity of amounts.

Please acknowledge receipt. Also, unusual operations noticed during the above review may be immediately reported to us and other appropriate authorities, such as, Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-IND), Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, Hotel Samrat (6th Floor), Chanakyapuri, New Delhi - 110 021.

Source: RBI/2009-10/158 UBD. CO. BPD. PCB.Cir. No.9/12.05.001 / 2009-10 dated 16/09/2009

Saturday, December 20, 2008

[SEBI intermediaries]Money Laundering Master Circular dec 2008

As per the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, every banking company, financial institution (which includes chit fund company, a co-operative bank, a housing finance institution and a non-banking financial company) and intermediary (which includes a stock-broker, sub-broker, share transfer agent, banker to an issue, trustee to a trust deed, registrar to an issue, merchant banker, underwriter, portfolio manager, investment adviser and any other intermediary associated with securities market and registered under section 12 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992) shall have to maintain a record of all the transactions; the nature and value of which has been prescribed in the Rules notified under the PMLA. Such transactions include :
Ø All cash transactions of the value of more than Rs 10 lakhs or its equivalent in foreign currency.
Ø All series of cash transactions integrally connected to each other which have been valued below Rs 10 lakhs or its equivalent in foreign currency where such series of transactions take place within one calendar month.
Ø All suspicious transactions whether or not made in cash.

The Guidelines laid down the minimum requirements and it was emphasised that the intermediaries may, according to their requirements, specify additional disclosures to be made by clients to address concerns of Money Laundering and suspicious transactions undertaken by clients. All intermediaries were also advised to ensure that a proper policy framework as per the Guidelines on anti-money laundering measures is put into place and to designate an officer as 'Principal Officer' who would be responsible for ensuring compliance of the provisions of the PMLA. Names, designation and addresses (including e-mail addresses) of 'Principal Officer' shall also be intimated to the Office of the Director-FIU, 6th Floor, Hotel Samrat, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi -110021, India on an immediate basis.
This Master circular consolidates all the requirements/obligations issued with regard to AML/CFT till December 15, 2008. This Circular is being issued to all the intermediaries as specified at para above. The circular shall also apply to their branches and subsidiaries located abroad, especially, in countries which do not or insufficiently apply the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendations, to the extent local laws and regulations permit. When local applicable laws and regulations prohibit implementation of these requirements, the same should be brought to the notice of SEBI. In case there is a variance in Know Your Customer / Anti-Money Laundering [KYC/AML] standards prescribed by SEBI and the regulators of the host country, branches/overseas subsidiaries of intermediaries are required to adopt the more stringent requirements of the two.
It has the following parts,

PART -I OVER VIEW

1 Introduction

2 Background

3 Policies and Procedures to Combat Money Laundering and Terrorist financing

3.1 Guiding Principles

3.2 Obligations to establish policies and procedures

PART -II DETAILED OBLIGATIONS

4 Written Anti Money Laundering Procedures

5 Customer Due Diligence

5.1 Elements of Customer Due Diligence

5.2 Policy for acceptance of clients

5.3 Risk Based Approach

5.4 Clients of special category (CSC)

5.5 Client identification procedure

6 Record Keeping

7 Information to be maintained

8 Retention of Records

9 Monitoring of transactions

10 Suspicious Transaction Monitoring & Reporting

11 Reports to Financial Intelligence Unit- India

12 Designation of an officer for reporting of suspicious transaction

13 Employees' Hiring/Training and Investor Education

14 List of Key Circulars/Guidelines issued having a bearing on AML/CFT framework

15 Annexure- List of various Reports and their formats

The detailed master circular is available in http://www.sebi.gov.in/Index.jsp?contentDisp=Section&sec_id=1

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