RBI to limit bank’s equity investment in companies

07 Jul 2011 Evaluate

The Reserve Bank of India on July 6, released draft guidelines on equity investment by scheduled commercial banks in subsidiaries and other companies. In the draft, the central bank had put a limit on the banks’ equity investment in the companies and their subsidiaries, the RBI said that the banks cannot invest more than 10% of their paid-up capital in a subsidiary or financial services company, while total investments made in all subsidiaries and non-subsidiary financial services companies should not exceed 20%.

RBI said, “It is possible that banks could through their holdings in other entities, exercise control on such companies or have significant influence over such companies and thus, engage indirectly in activities not permitted to banks,” However, the RBI also clarified that the limit of 20% would not be applicable if banks investments in financial services firms are held under ‘Held for Trading’ category and are not held beyond 90 days.

“Wherever investments do not conform to the above mentioned policy parameters, banks may ensure that their investments are brought down to 10% of the paid-up share capital of the target company or give up control or exercising significant influence as the case may be,” the RBI added.

From last few years, most of the banks have diversified shareholdings into Venture Capital funds, Insurance companies, Mutual Funds, companies into factoring and non banking services among others. However, bankers say that this RBI’s guideline would not affect the domestic banks as they are within the regulatory framework. The central bank wants banks to review their subsidiary, associates, and joint ventures by applying the test of ownership and control parameters. For this RBI has given three months time to banks. 

In the similar move, central bank had put a limit on the banks’ short term investment into liquid schemes of Mutual Funds to 10% of the bank’s net worth at the end of last financial year, this move of central bank was to stop circular flow of funds between banks and mutual funds that may lead to systematic risk in times of liquidity crunch.

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