The relaxation follows representations from market participants and an amendment to the SEBI (Research Analysts) Regulations. However, research analysts will continue to be required to maintain records of interactions with all other clients, including prospective clients, where conversations relating to their services have taken place. These records may include signed physical documents, call recordings, emails from registered email IDs, SMS messages and other legally verifiable records.
SEBI clarified that the requirement to maintain interaction records applies to both fee-paying and non-fee-paying clients. Non-fee-paying clients include those receiving research services as a value-added service alongside other paid services availed from the research entity or another entity within the same family or group.The regulator also clarified that separate call recordings are not required when client interactions take place through channels such as email, where a digital record is available.Research analysts and research entities must maintain records from the first interaction with a client until the completion of research services. These records must generally be preserved for five years. However, if a dispute has been raised, the records must be retained until it is resolved. Records specifically required to be preserved by SEBI must be maintained until further instructions from the regulator.
The regulator said the purpose of maintaining interaction records is to document communications and address potential client grievances relating to research services.The circular also directs the Research Analysts Administration and Supervisory Body (RAASB) to make the necessary changes to its rules and bye-laws and inform registered research analysts about the revised requirements
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