December 12, 2006

All Non-Banking Financial Companies (deposit taking and non-deposit taking)

Dear Sir,

Please refer to paragraph 141 of the Mid-Term Review of Annual Policy Statement for the year 2006-07 (copy of the paragraph is enclosed as Annex).

2. Non Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) play a crucial role in broadening access to financial services, enhancing competition and diversification of the financial sector. They are increasingly being recognised as complementary to the banking system, capable of absorbing shocks and spreading risks at times of financial distress. The application of different levels of regulations to the activities of banks and NBFCs, and even among different categories of NBFCs, has given rise to some issues arising out of this uneven coverage of regulations. The Reserve Bank of India had, therefore, set up an Internal Group to examine the issues relating to level playing field, regulatory convergence and regulatory arbitrage in the financial sector. Based on the recommendations of the Internal Group and taking into consideration the feedback received thereon, it was decided to put in place a revised framework to address the issues pertaining to the overall regulation of systemically important NBFCs and the relationship between banks and NBFCs. Accordingly, a draft of the proposed guidelines were issued vide letter DBOD.No.FSD.556/ 24.01.02/ 2006-07 dated November 3, 2006, seeking feedback from banks and NBFCs. Based on the feedback received, the draft guidelines were suitably revised and second draft guidelines issued for further comments vide DBOD.No.FSD.5046/24.01.028/2006-07 dated November 30, 2006. On the basis of the feedback received, final guidelines are now issued for implementation.

3.The Reserve Bank put in place in January 1998 a new regulatory framework involving prescription of prudential norms for NBFCs which are deposit taking to ensure that these NBFCs function on sound and healthy lines. Regulatory and supervisory attention was focused on the ‘deposit taking NBFCs’ (NBFCs – D) so as to enable the Reserve Bank to discharge its responsibilities to protect the interests of the depositors. NBFCs - D are subjected to certain bank –like prudential regulations on various aspects such as income recognition, asset classification and provisioning; capital adequacy; prudential exposure limits and accounting / disclosure requirements. However, the ‘non-deposit taking NBFCs’ (NBFCs – ND) are subject to minimal regulation.

4. The application of the prudential guidelines / limits, is thus not uniform across the banking and NBFC sectors and within the NBFC sector. There are distinct differences in the application of the prudential guidelines / norms as discussed below:

i) Banks are subject to income recognition, asset classification and provisioning norms; capital adequacy norms; single and group borrower limits; prudential limits on capital market exposures; classification and valuation norms for the investment portfolio; CRR / SLR requirements; accounting and disclosure norms and supervisory reporting requirements.

ii) NBFCs – D are subject to similar norms as banks except CRR requirements and prudential limits on capital market exposures. However, even where applicable, the norms apply at a rigour lesser than those applicable to banks. Certain restrictions apply to the investments by NBFCs – D in land and buildings and unquoted shares.

iii) Capital adequacy norms; CRR / SLR requirements; single and group borrower limits; prudential limits on capital market exposures; and the restrictions on investments in land and building and unquoted shares are not applicable to NBFCs – ND.

iv) Unsecured borrowing by companies is regulated by the Rules made under the Companies Act. Though NBFCs come under the purview of the Companies Act, they are exempted from the above Rules since they come under RBI regulation under the Reserve Bank of India Act. While in the case of NBFCs – D, their borrowing capacity is limited to a certain extent by the CRAR norm, there are no restrictions on the extent to which NBFCs – ND may leverage, even though they are in the financial services sector.

5. Banks and NBFCs compete for some similar kinds of business on the asset side. NBFCs offer products/services which include leasing and hire-purchase, corporate loans, investment in non-convertible debentures, IPO funding, margin funding, small ticket loans, venture capital, etc. However NBFCs do not provide operating account facilities like savings and current deposits, cash credits, overdrafts etc.

6. NBFCs avail of bank finance for their operations as advances or by way of banks’ subscription to debentures and commercial paper issued by them.

7. Since both the banks and NBFCs are seen to be competing for increasingly similar types of some business, especially on the assets side, and since their regulatory and cost-incentive structures are not identical it is necessary to establish certain checks and balances to ensure that the banks’ depositors are not indirectly exposed to the risks of a different cost-incentive structure. Hence, following restrictions have been placed on the activities of NBFCs which banks may finance:

i) Bills discounted / rediscounted by NBFCs, except for rediscounting of bills discounted by NBFCs arising from the sale of –

a) commercial vehicles (including light commercial vehicles); and

b) two-wheeler and three-wheeler vehicles, subject to certain conditions;

i) Investments of NBFCs both of current and long term nature, in any company/entity by way of shares, debentures, etc. with certain exemptions;

ii) Unsecured loans/inter-corporate deposits by NBFCs to/in any company.

iii) All types of loans/advances by NBFCs to their subsidiaries, group companies/entities.

iv) Finance to NBFCs for further lending to individuals for subscribing to Initial Public Offerings (IPOs).

v) Bridge loans of any nature, or interim finance against capital/debenture issues and/or in the form of loans of a bridging nature pending raising of long-term funds from the market by way of capital, deposits, etc. to all categories of Non-Banking Financial Companies, i.e. equipment leasing and hire-purchase finance companies, loan and investment companies, Residuary Non-Banking Companies (RNBCs).

vi) Should not enter into lease agreements departmentally with equipment leasing companies as well as other Non-Banking Financial Companies engaged in equipment leasing.

8. Banks and NBFCs operating in the country are owned and established by entities in the private sector (both domestic and foreign), and the public sector. Some of the NBFCs are subsidiaries/ associates/ joint ventures of banks – including foreign banks, which may or may not have a physical operational presence in the country. There has been increasing interest in the recent past in setting up NBFCs in general and by banks, in particular.

9. Investment by a bank in a financial services company should not exceed 10 per cent of the bank’s paid-up share capital and reserves and the investments in all such companies, financial institutions, stock and other exchanges put together should not exceed 20 per cent of the bank’s paid-up share capital and reserves. Banks in India are required to obtain the prior approval of the concerned regulatory department of the Reserve Bank before being granted Certificate of Registration for establishing an NBFC and for making a strategic investment in an NBFC in India. However, foreign entities, including the head offices of foreign banks having branches in India may, under the automatic route for FDI, commence the business of NBFI after obtaining a Certificate of Registration from the Reserve Bank.

10. NBFCs can undertake activities that are not permitted to be undertaken by banks or which the banks are permitted to undertake in a restricted manner, for example, financing of acquisitions and mergers, capital market activities, etc. The differences in the level of regulation of the banks and NBFCs, which are undertaking some similar activities, gives rise to considerable scope for regulatory arbitrage. Hence, routing of transactions through NBFCs would tantamount to undermining banking regulation. This is partially addressed in the case of NBFCs that are a part of banking group on account of prudential norms applicable for banking groups.

11. NBFCs - D may access public funds, either directly or indirectly through public deposits, CPs, debentures, inter-corporate deposits and bank finance and NBFCs – ND may access public funds through all of the above modes except through public deposits. The application of marginal regulation to NBFCs – ND that are large and systemically important and also have access to public funds can be a potential source of systemic risk through contagion even though these entities are not members of the payment and settlement systems.

12. At present, there are no prudential norms or guidelines on the intra-group transactions and exposures (ITEs) between the NBFCs and their parent entities. From the perspective of consolidated supervision of a banking group/ financial conglomerate, it is necessary to have some norms / limits on the ITEs to ensure that the activities of the banking group / financial conglomerate are undertaken in a prudent manner so that they would not be a threat to financial stability. Internationally, some regulators prescribe a ceiling on the level of transactions that a bank can have with its affiliates. These limits may operate either at a single entity level and / or at an aggregate level.

13. In terms of the provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, a bank is not allowed to set up a banking subsidiary. This eliminates the scope for more than one entity within a group competing for public deposits. However, this aspect is not well addressed under the existing framework where a bank operating in India may set up an NBFC – D as a subsidiary or where they have / acquire substantial holding in such an entity i.e., say more than 10 per cent.

14. Foreign direct investment in NBFCs is permitted under the automatic route in 19 specified activities subject to compliance with the minimum capitalization norms. Once an NBFC is established with the requisite capital under FEMA, subsequent diversification either through the existing company or through downstream NBFCs is undertaken without any further authorisation. This could give scope for undertaking those activities which do not qualify for FDI through the automatic route.

15. Thus the regulatory gaps in the area of bank and NBFC operations contribute to creating the possibility of regulatory arbitrage and hence giving rise to an uneven playing field and potential systemic risk. In this backdrop, the related issues have been examined and as recommended by the Group, a review of the existing framework of prudential regulations for bank and NBFC operations was undertaken. The broad principles underlying the review are as under.

i) Entities offering financial services should normally be within the ambit of financial regulations. However, all NBFCs – ND were largely excluded from the scope of financial regulation in view of the state of development of the financial sector at that time and as a matter of prioritisation of regulatory focus. In the light of the recent developments in the financial sector and its growth, as a first step, all systemically relevant entities offering financial services ought to be brought under a suitable regulatory framework to contain systemic risk. The definition of what is considered systemically relevant will be as determined from time to time.

ii) The IMF publication, "Financial Sector Assessment - A Handbook" mentions that, "Similar risks and functions should be supervised similarly to minimize scope for regulatory arbitrage" and that, "Bank-like financial institutions should be supervised like banks." Similarly, the ‘Report of the Committee on Fuller Capital Account Convertibility’ has also identified that "modifications to regulation to discourage or eliminate scope for regulatory arbitrage, focusing on activity-centric regulation rather that institution-centric regulation will be needed" to enhance the strengthening of the banking system. Hence, the focus will be to reduce or eliminate the scope for regulatory arbitrage by ensuring that regulations are activity specific – irrespective of the medium through which the activity is undertaken.

iii) The ownership of NBFCs, which are subjected to a relatively less stringent regulatory and prudential framework, should be subjected to certain norms which will encourage improved governance so that regulatory arbitrage or circumvention of bank regulations are not resorted to. Further, the ownership pattern should be such that more than one entity in a Group does not compete for public deposits. Additionally, the principle of ‘holding out’ will operate in a situation where an NBFC is within a bank group. Hence, the eventual fall out of the holding out principle will have to be factored-in while banks decide on the extent to which they would like to be involved in an NBFC.

iv) Consequent upon certain adverse events in the banking sector in the early 1990s, banks are not permitted to offer discretionary portfolio management scheme (PMS). As a corollary, the NBFCs sponsored by banks (viz. NBFCs which are subsidiaries of banks or where banks have a management control) are also not permitted to offer discretionary PMS. Whereas, other NBFCs are allowed to offer this product. Hence, ownership structure of the NBFC should not be determining factor to decide on the products that NBFCs may offer.

v) Foreign entities can undertake certain permitted activities in India under the automatic route for FDI. However, it might not be appropriate to allow a foreign entity to set up a presence through the automatic route and later expand into activities which are not permitted under the automatic route, without going through a further authorisation process.

vi) The over arching principle is that banks should not use an NBFC as a delivery vehicle for seeking regulatory arbitrage opportunities or to circumvent bank regulation(s) and that the activities of NBFCs do not undermine banking regulations. In case it is observed that any bank has not complied with the spirit of these guidelines, such non compliance should be viewed very strictly by the Reserve Bank.

16. In the light of the concerns that arise out of the divergent regulatory requirements for various aspects of functioning of banks and NBFCs and keeping in view the broad principles for the proposed revision, the following modifications are being made in the regulatory framework for NBFCs.

All NBFCs – ND with an asset size of Rs. 100 crore and more as per the last audited balance sheet will be considered as a systemically important NBFC – ND.

NBFCs – ND – SI shall maintain a minimum Capital to Risk-weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) of 10%. The present minimum CRAR stipulation at 12 % or 15%, as the case may be, for NBFCs – D shall continue to be applicable.

No NBFCs – ND – SI, as defined above, shall

a) lend to

(i) any single borrower exceeding 15% of its owned fund; and
(ii) any single group of borrowers exceeding 25% of its owned fund;

b) invest in

(i) the shares of another company exceeding 15% of its owned fund; and
(ii) the shares of a single group of companies exceeding 25% of its owned fund;

c) lend and invest (loans/investments taken together) exceeding

(i) 25% of its owned fund to a single party; and
(ii) 40% of its owned fund to a single group of parties.

- The above ceiling on the investment in shares of another company shall not be applicable to an NBFC in respect of investment in the equity capital of an insurance company up to the extent specifically permitted, in writing, by the Reserve Bank.

- For determining the abovementioned limits, off-balance sheet exposures be converted into credit risk by applying the conversion factors explained in the Non-Banking Financial Companies Prudential Norms (Reserve Bank) Directions, 1998 contained in Notification No.DFC.119/ DG(SPT)-98 dated January 31, 1998.

- Investments in debentures will be treated as lending and not investment.

- The above ceilings on credit / investments shall be applicable to the own group of the NBFC as well as to the other group of borrowers / investee companies.

- The NBFCs may exceed the concentration of credit/investment norms, as above, by 5 per cent for any single party and by 10 per cent for a single group of parties, if the additional exposure is on account of infrastructure loan and/ or investment.

Further, the NBFCs – ND – SI are advised to have a policy in respect of exposures to a single entity / group. NBFCs-ND-SI not accessing public funds both directly and indirectly may apply to the Reserve Bank for an appropriate dispensation consistent with the spirit of the exposure limits.

B. Additional Single Exposure norms for Asset Finance Companies i) In terms of circular DNBS.PD.CC.No.85/03.02.089/2006-2007 dated December 6, 2006, companies financing real/physical assets for productive /economic activity will be classified as Asset Finance Companies (AFCs) as per the criteria prescribed therein.

iv) In addition to the single party and single group of parties exposure norms prescribed for NBFCs-D and NBFCs-ND-SI, AFCs are permitted to exceed the exposure to a single party and single group of parties up to a further 5 percent of their owned fund in exceptional circumstances with the approval of their Boards.

v) NBFCs set up under the automatic route will be permitted to undertake only those 19 activities which are permitted under the automatic route. Diversification into any other activity would require the prior approval of FIPB. Similarly a company which has entered into an area permitted under the FDI policy (such as software) and seeks to diversify into NBFC sector subsequently would also have to ensure compliance with the minimum capitalization norms and other regulations as applicable.

17. Taking into account the likelihood that some of the NBFCs may not be in compliance with some of the elements of the revised regulatory framework it has been decided to provide for a transition period up to end March 2007. Accordingly, NBFCs should comply with all elements of the revised framework with effect from April 1, 2007. In case any NBFC – ND – SI needs more time for compliance, it should apply to DNBS before the close of business on January 31, 2007 clearly indicating the reasons for which it is not able to ensure compliance within the above period and the time frame within which it would be able to comply with all the relevant elements. This will enable the Reserve Bank to take a view on the requests by end March 2007.

18. The guidelines contained in this circular will be applicable to the NBFCs as specified in the relevant paragraphs except the categories mentioned below:

i) The Residuary Non Banking Companies (RNBCs) and Primary Dealers (PDs) are subject to a separate set of regulations. The Reserve Bank will constitute an Internal Group to review the existing guidelines applicable to these entities in the light of the guidelines contained in this circular and examine the need for prescribing supplementary guidelines which will be issued separately. Till then, these entities will continue to be governed by the existing regulations.

ii) Government owned companies, as defined under Section 617 of the Companies Act, which are registered with the Reserve Bank of India as NBFCs, are exempted from certain provisions of Non-Banking Financial Companies Prudential Norms (Reserve Bank) Directions, 1998, at present. It is proposed to bring all deposit taking and systemically important government owned companies under the provisions of the said Directions which will be in conformity with the existing guidelines, including those contained in this circular. However, the date from which they are to fully comply with the regulatory framework will be decided later. These companies are, therefore, required to prepare a roadmap for compliance with the various elements of the NBFC regulations, in consultation with the Government, and submit the same to the Reserve Bank (Department of Non Banking Supervision – (DNBS)), by March 31, 2007.

19. A separate circular has been issued to banks in this regard by the Department of Banking Operations and Development of Reserve Bank of India.

20. Please acknowledge receipt to the Regional Office of the Department of Non-Banking Supervision, Reserve Bank of India under whose jurisdiction the registered office of your company is situated.

Yours faithfully,

(P. Krishnamurthy)
Chief General Manager In-Charge

141. An Internal Group was constituted by the Reserve Bank to study the issues of regulatory convergence, regulatory arbitrage and to recommend a policy framework for level playing field in the financial sector. The report of the Group was placed on the Reserve Bank's web-site for wider dissemination and comments. In the light of the recommendations of the Group and the feedback received, and in view of the importance of this segment of the financial sector, a draft circular will be put in the public domain to invite further feedback by November 3, 2006. After providing two weeks for comments, the final circular will be issued before November 30, 2006.