Reserve Bank of India
RBI/2014-15/578
DNBR. (PD).CC.No. 033/03.10.001/2014-15
April 30, 2015
To
All Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs),
Dear Sirs,
Distribution of Mutual Fund products by NBFCs
Please refer to the Circular No. DNBS (PD) CC. No.84/03.10.27/2006-07 dated December 04, 2006 on the captioned subject.
2. On a review, since the distribution of Mutual Fund products by the NBFCs is on non-risk sharing basis and purely as a customer service, it has now been decided to dispense with the requirement of prior approval from the Reserve Bank for NBFCs to distribute Mutual Fund products. It has also been decided to dispense with the minimum eligibility criteria. Accordingly, the guidelines on distribution of mutual fund products by NBFCs have been suitably modified.
3. The revised guidelines are enclosed in the Annex. These are in supersession of the Circular No. DNBS (PD) CC. No.84/03.10.27/2006-07 dated December 04, 2006.
Yours faithfully,
(C. D. Srinivasan)
Chief General Manager
Annex
Guidelines on Distribution of Mutual Fund Products by NBFCs
1. NBFCs, which desire to distribute mutual fund et for sale to its customers, nor should it buy back units of mutual funds from its customers;
(f) in case the NBFC is holding custody of MF units on behalf of its customers, it should ensure that its own investments and the investments belonging to its customers are kept distinct from each other.
(ii) Other Aspects
(a) The NBFC should have put in place a comprehensive Board approved policy regarding undertaking mutual funds distribution. The services relating to the same should be offered to its customers in accordance with this policy. The policy will also encompass issues of customer appropriateness and suitability as well as grievance redressal mechanism. The code of conduct prescribed by SEBI, as amended from time to time and as applicable, should be complied with by NBFCs undertaking these activities;
(b) the NBFC should be adhering to Know Your Customer (KYC) Guidelines and provisions of prevention of Money Laundering Act.
2. NBFCs should comply with other terms and conditions as the Bank may specify in this regard from time to time.
