Sebi eases FPI onboarding with digital power of attorney

Mumbai: The capital-markets regulator Thursday allowed foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) to execute power of attorney documents using digital signatures in a move aimed at cutting delays and simplifying the onboarding process for overseas investors.

The latitude offered by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) with the power of attorney (PoA) documents is expected to significantly reduce the time taken to onboard FPIs by eliminating the need for notarisation, apostillisation or consularisation of these documents.

"During interactions with foreign investors, it has been highlighted that notarisation and apostillisation takes considerable time," Sebi said.


"Digitally signed PoA is envisaged to bring down the time taken in onboarding considerably as it eliminates the need for notarisation, apostillisation or consularisation of PoA," Sebi said.

The measure forms part of Sebi's wider effort to leverage technology across the capital markets and further streamline regulatory processes. The regulator said greater use of digital processes would help bring down the overall time required for FPI onboarding.

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The move could provide a significant operational relief to foreign investors and intermediaries, particularly as Sebi seeks to make market access simpler and more efficient for global capital.

The regulator has been taking steps to ease the onboarding framework for FPIs by reducing compliance hurdles and relying more extensively on technology driven processes. The new rule came into effect immediately..