NOTICE

CSE/Notices/SEBI/2012/N6

May 18, 2012

 

Re: Anti Money Laundering (AML) Standards/Combating Financing of Terrorism (CFT)/Obligations of Securities Market Intermediaries under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 and Rules framed there-under- Master Circular on AML/CFT

 

Members of the Exchange are hereby informed that the Exchange has received a Circular from SEBI vide Ref. No ISD/AML/CIR-1/2008, dated December 19, 2008 regarding the above mentioned subjects. The contents of the said Circular are reproduced hereunder for information and necessary action of the Members.

 

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ISD/AML/CIR-1/2008

December 19, 2008

 To all Intermediaries registered with SEBI under section 12 of the SEBI Act.

(Through the stock exchanges for stock brokers, sub brokers and depositories for depository participants)

Sub: Anti Money Laundering (AML) Standards/Combating Financing of Terrorism (CFT)/Obligations of Securities Market Intermediaries under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 and Rules framed there-under- Master Circular on AML/CFT

Dear Sir / Madam,

  1. The Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) was brought into force with effect from 1st July 2005. Necessary Notifications / Rules under the said Act were published in the Gazette of India on July 01, 2005. Subsequently, SEBI issued necessary guidelines vide circular no. ISD/CIR/RR/AML/1/06 datedJanuary 18, 2006 to all securities market intermediaries as registered under Section 12 of the SEBI Act, 1992. These guidelines were issued in the context of the recommendations made by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on anti-money laundering standards.  Compliance with these standards by all intermediaries   and   the country   has become imperative   for international  financial relations.
  1. 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.

  1. 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, Indiaon an immediate basis.
  1. The detailed procedure incorporating the manner of maintaining information and matters incidental thereto for SEBI registered intermediaries, under the prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 and the Rules made there-under and formats for reporting by the intermediaries were also issued subsequently vide circular reference no. ISD/CIR/RR/AML/2/06 dated March 20, 2006.

5.      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 2 above. The circular shall also apply to their branches and subsidiaries located abroad, especially, in countries which do not or insufficiently apply the 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 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.

  1. This Master circular is being issued in exercise of powers conferred under Section 11 (1) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992, and Rule  7 of 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 to protect the interests of investors in securities and to promote the development of, and to regulate the securities market.
  1. All the registered intermediaries are directed to ensure compliance with the requirements contained in this Master Circular on an immediate basis. Stock exchanges and depositories are also directed to bring the contents of this circular to the attention of their member brokers/ depository participants and verify compliance during inspections.

 

Yours faithfully,

S. Ramann

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Members are requested to take note of the aforesaid guidelines/circulars of SEBI and act accordingly.

M.A.V. Raju

Deputy General Manager