SEBI – All mutual funds to comply with ‘Product Labeling’ system

1. In order to address the issue of mis-selling, a Committee was set up to examine the system of Product Labeling that would provide investors an easy understanding of the kind ofproduct/scheme they are investing in and its suitability to them. Based on the recommendations of the Committee, it has been decided that all the mutual funds shall ‘Label’ their schemes on the parameters as mentioned under:

a.            Nature of scheme such as to create wealth or provide regular income in an indicative time horizon (short/ medium/ long term).

b.            A brief about the investment objective (in a single line sentence) followed by kind ofproduct in which investor is investing (Equity/Debt).

c.            Level of risk, depicted by colour code boxes as under:

•             Blue – principal at low risk.

•             Yellow – principal at medium risk.

•             Brown – principal at high risk.

               The colour codes shall also be described in text beside the colour code box.

d.            A disclaimer that investors should consult their financial advisers if they are not clear about the suitability of the product.

e.            Few samples of product label for different schemes are illustrated at Annexure I.

2. Product label shall be disclosed in:

a.            Front page of initial offering application forms, Key Information Memorandum (KIM) and Scheme Information Documents (SIDs).

b.            Common application form – along with the information about the scheme.

               The product label with respect to (a) & (b) above shall be placed in proximity to the caption of the scheme and shall be prominently visible.

c.            Scheme advertisements – placed in manner so as to be prominently visible to investors.

3. This circular shall be applicable with effect from July 1, 2013, to all the existing schemes and all schemes to be launched on or thereafter. However, mutual funds may choose to adopt the provisions of this circular before the effective date.

4. This circular is issued in exercise of the powers conferred under section 11 (1) of the Securitiesand Exchange Board of India Act 1992, read with the provision of Regulation 77 of SEBI (Mutual Funds) Regulation, 1996 to protect the interests of investors in securities and to promote thedevelopment of, and to regulate the securities market.