NSDL has decided to revise its fee structure ushering in a major change in the principle of levying fees. Since inception, NSDL has followed the principle of charging fees to the Depository Participants (DPs) on ad valorem basis. In the initial phase the charges were on ad valorem basis in keeping with the market practice. As volumes in the depository system increased, NSDL regularly kept lowering the fees. As the settlement in the market has now been fully converted to paperless mode, NSDL feels that this is an appropriate time to revise the fee structure. In an automated environment, the requirement of computing infrastructure and its usage is unrelated to the value of transactions. Hence, it is logical to relate the fees to the number of transactions in respect of settlement fee and to the number of account positions as far as custody fee is concerned. Further, the movement to flat charges is a global trend as well. In view of the foregoing, NSDL has decided to change the basis of charging fees to the DPs as given in the following para.
Custody fees which are presently being levied @ 0.01% of the value of securities subject to a ceiling depending on assets in custody with a DP, will now be charged @ Re. 0.75 per entry (ISIN) per month (i.e. Rs. 9/- per annum). Thus, if an investor holds shares of 5 companies in one account, he will be charged for 5 entries i.e. Rs.3.75 per month. An account that has no entry at all, will be charged, as if it has one entry i.e. Re. 0.75 per month. Settlement fee which is presently levied @ 0.02% of the value of securities for debit to an account will now be charged at a flat rate of Rs.15/- per debit instruction. The fee structure in case of settlement accounts of brokers (Clearing Members) is being notified to DPs separately.