Services under Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) (Research Analysts) Regulations 2014
While reviewing the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Research Analysts) Regulations 2014, we often encounter terms such as merchant banking services, investment banking services, brokerage services, and research analyst services. To provide a brief overview of these services and their differences, we have highlighted them below:
📂 Research Analyst Services
Research and analysis to clients, which may include individual investors, asset managers, or institutional investors. The research may cover various areas such as macroeconomics, equity research, credit research, industry research, and market trends. The objective of research analyst services is to provide clients with actionable insights and recommendations based on their analysis.
📂 Merchant Banking Services
Merchant banking, on the other hand, is a financial institution that provides capital to companies in exchange for ownership in the company. Merchant banks typically invest in early-stage companies and help them to grow and expand their business. Merchant banks may also provide financial advisory services to companies looking to raise capital, acquire other companies, or engage in other strategic transactions.
📂 Investment Banking Services
Investment banking is a financial institution that provides advisory services to companies on a range of financial matters such as mergers and acquisitions, underwriting of securities, and capital raising. Investment banks also provide services to institutional investors such as pension funds, mutual funds, and hedge funds.
📂 Brokerage Services
Brokerage services are provided by firms that facilitate the buying and selling of securities between buyers and sellers. Brokers earn a commission on each transaction that they facilitate. Brokerage firms also provide research and analysis to their clients to help them make informed investment decisions.
In summary, research analyst services are focused on providing research and analysis to clients, while merchant banking, investment banking, and brokerage services are focused on providing capital, financial advisory services, and facilitating securities transactions respectively.