Privacy Policy

FRN Advisory is a business name operated by MargDarshak Ventures Private Limited (“FRN Advisory”, “FRN”, “we”, “us” or “our”).

We respect your privacy and are committed to handling personal data responsibly, transparently and securely. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share and protect personal data when you:

• visit www.frnadvisory.com;
• submit an enquiry through our website;
• contact us by email or through a professional platform;
• engage FRN Advisory for advisory or related services;
• express an interest in associating or working with us; or
• otherwise interact with FRN Advisory.

1. Personal data we collect

Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect the following categories of personal data.

Information you provide directly

This may include:

• your name;
• work email address and telephone number;
• organisation, designation and professional information;
• the nature of your enquiry;
• information you include in a message, proposal, brief or other communication;
• information required to evaluate and deliver an advisory mandate;
• billing, contractual and transaction-related information;
• professional profile, career history or areas of expertise where you express an interest in associating with FRN; and
• records of your correspondence and interactions with us.

Please avoid submitting confidential, commercially sensitive or personal information through the initial website enquiry form unless it is necessary for us to understand your request.

Information collected automatically

When you visit our website, our systems and service providers may automatically collect limited technical information, such as:

• IP address;
• browser and device type;
• operating system;
• pages visited and referring page;
• date and time of access;
• website performance and diagnostic information; and
• security and server-log information.

This information is generally used to operate, secure and improve the website.

Information received from other sources

We may receive professional information about you from:

• your organisation or colleagues;
• a mutual professional contact or referral;
• publicly available professional sources, such as company websites and LinkedIn;
• event organisers, professional associations or conference partners; or
• service providers supporting an advisory engagement.

Where appropriate, we will inform you that we have received or are using such information.

2. How we use personal data

We may use personal data to:

• respond to an enquiry or request;
• arrange an introductory conversation;
• understand and evaluate a potential advisory mandate;
• conduct conflict, independence and suitability checks;
• prepare proposals, agreements and statements of work;
• provide advisory and related professional services;
• manage client and professional relationships;
• communicate about an existing engagement;
• evaluate potential advisers, associates or specialist partners;
• respond to speaking, media or collaboration enquiries;
• manage billing, accounting and regulatory requirements;
• protect the security and integrity of our website and systems;
• prevent fraud, misuse or unlawful activity;
• improve our website, services and client experience;
• establish, exercise or defend legal claims; and
• comply with applicable laws, regulations and lawful requests.

We will not add you to a general marketing mailing list merely because you submitted an enquiry, unless you separately choose to receive such communications.

3. Grounds for processing

We process personal data only where we have a lawful and appropriate reason to do so.

Depending on the circumstances and applicable law, this may include:

• your consent;
• taking steps at your request before entering into an engagement;
• performing an agreement with you or your organisation;
• complying with a legal or regulatory obligation;
• protecting our systems, clients and legitimate business interests; or
• another use permitted under applicable data-protection law.

Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw that consent at any time. Withdrawal will not affect processing that was lawful before consent was withdrawn, or processing that we are required or permitted to continue for another lawful reason.

4. How we share personal data

We may share personal data with:

• employees, directors and authorised representatives of FRN Advisory;
• advisers, associates and subject-matter specialists involved in evaluating or delivering a mandate;
• website-hosting, cloud, email, communications, document-management and IT-security providers;
• professional advisers, including lawyers, accountants and auditors;
• your organisation or other parties involved in an engagement;
• government, regulatory, judicial or law-enforcement authorities where required by law; and
• a potential purchaser, investor or successor in connection with a legitimate corporate transaction.

We seek to limit such sharing to what is reasonably necessary for the relevant purpose.

Where independent advisers or specialists may receive confidential engagement information, appropriate confidentiality, conflict and data-protection requirements will apply.

FRN Advisory does not sell or rent personal data.

5. International processing and transfers

FRN Advisory advises clients on Indian and cross-border matters. Some of our clients, advisers and technology service providers may therefore be located outside India.

Where personal data is transferred or accessed across borders, we will take reasonable steps to ensure that the transfer is permitted under applicable law and that appropriate contractual, organisational or technical safeguards are used.

6. Cookies and similar technologies

Our website may use strictly necessary technologies required for security, form submission, website operation and performance.

Third-party content-delivery or technology providers may also receive limited technical information, such as your IP address and browser information, when delivering website components.

We do not use advertising cookies or behavioural tracking technologies unless this is clearly disclosed. If we introduce non-essential analytics, advertising or personalisation cookies, we will update this policy and provide an appropriate consent mechanism where required.

You may also control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling essential technologies may affect parts of the website.

7. Data retention

We retain personal data only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, including legal, contractual, accounting, security and dispute-resolution requirements.

As a general practice:

• unsuccessful or inactive enquiries may be retained for up to 24 months after the last meaningful interaction;
• client and engagement records may be retained for the duration of the engagement and for the applicable legal or contractual retention period afterwards;
• billing and accounting records may be retained for the period required under applicable law;
• associate and professional-network information may be retained while the professional relationship remains relevant; and
• security and technical logs are normally retained for a shorter operational period unless required for investigation or legal compliance.

We may retain limited information for longer where necessary to establish, exercise or defend legal claims, enforce confidentiality obligations or comply with law.

8. Data security

We use reasonable technical and organisational safeguards designed to protect personal data against unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, loss, misuse or destruction.

These measures may include access controls, confidentiality requirements, secure technology providers, system monitoring and restrictions on who may access engagement information.

No online transmission or storage system is completely secure. You should therefore use appropriate care when sending commercially sensitive or confidential information electronically.

9. Your rights

Subject to applicable law, you may have the right to:

• obtain information about the personal data we process about you;
• request access to or a summary of your personal data;
• ask us to correct, complete or update inaccurate information;
• request deletion of personal data that is no longer required;
• withdraw consent where processing is based on consent;
• object to or request restriction of certain processing;
• request data portability where applicable;
• nominate another individual to exercise your rights in the event of death or incapacity, where provided by law; and
• raise a grievance or complaint concerning our handling of personal data.

Certain rights may be limited where we need to retain or process information to comply with law, protect confidentiality, perform an agreement or establish, exercise or defend legal claims.

To exercise a privacy right, email [email protected] with the subject line “Privacy Request”. We may need to verify your identity before acting on the request.

We will respond within the period required under applicable law.

10. Grievance redressal

If you have a concern about how FRN Advisory has handled your personal data, please contact us first so that we can investigate and address it.

Please provide sufficient information for us to understand the concern and identify the relevant interaction.

Where applicable, you may also have the right to approach the Data Protection Board of India or another competent data-protection authority after using the grievance-redressal mechanism available through FRN Advisory.

11. Children’s privacy

Our website and advisory services are intended for business and professional users and are not directed at individuals under 18 years of age.

We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe that a child has provided personal data to us, please contact us so that we can take appropriate action.

12. Confidential client information

Information received during an advisory engagement may be subject to contractual confidentiality obligations in addition to this Privacy Policy.

This Privacy Policy does not replace or reduce any stronger confidentiality or data-protection obligation contained in an engagement letter, non-disclosure agreement or other contract.

13. External websites

Our website may contain links to third-party websites or professional platforms, including LinkedIn.

FRN Advisory does not control the privacy or security practices of those websites. You should review the relevant third party’s privacy policy before providing personal data through its services.

14. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our services, technology, operating practices or legal obligations.

The revised version will be published on this page with an updated effective date. Material changes may also be communicated through another appropriate channel.

15. Contact us

For questions about this Privacy Policy or the way we handle personal data, please contact: