DNBR (PD) CC.No.  /03.10.001/2014-15

March, 2015

All NBFCs (excluding Primary Dealers)

Dear Sirs,

DRAFT FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS

Requirement for obtaining prior approval of RBI in cases of acquisition/ transfer of control of NBFCs

Please refer to DNBS (PD) CC.No.376/03.10.001/2013-14 and Notification No. DNBS(PD) 275/ GM(AM)-2014 dated May 26, 2014 on the ‘Non-Banking Financial Companies (Approval of Acquisition or Transfer of Control) Directions, 2014’. Reserve Bank has recently reviewed the directions based on the representations received from the industry and it has been decided to revise the said directions as detailed below.

2. Requirement of prior approval of Reserve Bank-

(i) The prior written permission of the Reserve Bank shall be required for

1. any takeover or acquisition of control of an NBFC, which may or may not result in change of management;

2. any change in the shareholding of an NBFC which would result in acquisition/ transfer of shareholding of 26 per cent or more of the paid up equity capital of the NBFC;

3. any change in the management of the NBFC which would result in change in more than 30 per cent of the directors.

(ii) Notwithstanding clause (i), NBFCs shall continue to inform the Reserve Bank regarding any change in its directors/ management as required in Non-Banking Financial (Non-Deposit Accepting or Holding) Companies Prudential Norms (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2007 and Non-Banking Financial (Deposit Accepting or Holding) Companies Prudential Norms (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2007.

3. Application for prior approval:

(i) NBFCs shall submit an application for obtaining prior approval of the Bank under paragraph 2, along with the following documents:

1. Information about the proposed directors/ shareholders as per the Annex;

2. Sources of funds of the proposed shareholders acquiring the shares of the NBFCs;

3. Declaration by the proposed directors/ shareholders that they are not associated with any unincorporated body that is accepting deposits;

4. Declaration by the proposed directors/ shareholders that they are not associated with any NBFC, the application for CoR of which has been rejected by the Reserve Bank;

5. Declaration by the proposed directors/ shareholders that there is no criminal case, including for offence under section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, against them;

6. Bankers Report of the proposed directors/ shareholders.

(ii) Applications in this regard may be submitted to the Regional Office of the Department of Non-Banking Supervision in whose jurisdiction the Registered Office of the NBFC is located.

4. Base Date of Reference

The base date of reference shall be either-

i. The position of the shareholding pattern and the management as at the time of registration or,

ii. The position of the shareholding pattern and the management at the time of the last change approved by the Reserve Bank, whichever is later.

5. Requirement of Prior Public Notice about change in control/ management

i. A public notice of at least 30 days shall be given before effecting the sale of, or transfer of the ownership by sale of shares, or transfer of control, whether with or without sale of shares. Such public notice shall be given by the NBFCs and also by the other party or jointly by the parties concerned, after obtaining the prior permission of the Reserve Bank.

ii. The public notice shall indicate the intention to sell or transfer ownership/ control, the particulars of transferee and the reasons for such sale or transfer of ownership/ control. The notice shall be published in one leading national and another in leading local (covering the place of registered office) vernacular language newspaper.

6. Any transfer of shares in violation of the notification would result in adverse regulatory action including cancellation of Certificate of Registration.

Yours faithfully,

(C D Srinivasan)
Chief General Manager

ANNEX

INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROMOTERS, CHAIRMAN, MANAGING DIRECTOR,
DIRECTORS AND THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE COMPANY

* For foreign directors

Note:

(i) Separate form should be submitted in respect of each of the Directors