The Securities and Exchange Board of India’s (Sebi's) renewed push to split the role of an investment advisor and distributor is causing a lot of heartburn among mutual fund honchos. “If Sebi’s proposal is implemented, the mutual fund industry is likely to lose 40 per cent of its business,” says the CEO of a fund house.
Currently, the mutual fund industry’s inflows come from three sources – 40 per cent from banks and 30 per cent each from independent financial advisors and distributors. Industry players said that collection from branches of leading players like ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund, HDFC Mutual Fund and SBI Mutual Fund would be much more.