New Merchant Bankers Regulations, 1992 overhaul: higher capital, stricter conflicts, outsourcing bans, ring-fencing, tougher compliance

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....Securities regulator amends Merchant Bankers Regulations, 1992, introducing revised definitions, two registration categories (Category I and II), enhanced eligibility, and higher capital adequacy (Rs.50 crore/Rs.10 crore) and liquid net worth (Rs.12.5 crore/Rs.2.5 crore) thresholds, with restrictions on fresh activities if not met. Merchant bankers must meet minimum revenue requirements, maintain records in India for eight years, avoid outsourcing core merchant banking functions, and operate other regulated and unregulated financial services via separate business units with ring-fenced net worth. New conflict-of-interest rules bar managing own issues and restrict roles where key managerial personnel or relatives hold specified shareholdings.........