With an aim to strengthen the lenders’ ability to deal with stressed assets the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has come out with a scheme for Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets. Under this scheme a portion of the debt will be converted into equity or other instruments under supervision of IBA’s Overseeing Committee. The move is intended to help restore the flow of credit to crucial sectors such as infrastructure and iron and steel, among others, reduce the stress on corporate borrowers and stanch bad loans across banks.
RBI in its statement said that after due consultation with lenders, it has formulated the ‘Scheme for Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets’ (S4A) as an optional framework for the resolution of large stressed accounts. The scheme will cover those projects which have started commercial operations and have outstanding loan of over Rs 500 crore. Accordingly an Overseeing Committee, set up by the Indian Banks Association (IBA) and comprising of eminent experts, will independently review the processes involved in preparation of the resolution plan. The panel will be set up in consultation with the RBI.
According to the resolution plan, the debt will be divided into two parts Part A will include debt which can be serviced from the existing operation while remaining will be classified as Part B. While there will be no extension of the repayment of Part A, the Part B will be converted into equity/redeemable cumulative optionally convertible preference shares. In a situation where the resolution does not involve a change in promoter, the principle of proportionate loss sharing by promoters will stand. In such a case, existing shareholders will have to dilute their holdings. Further, for the resolution plan to be passed, consent from 75 percent lenders by value and 50 percent lenders by numbers in JLF or consortium will be needed. Once the resolution plan is decided, it will go to the OC. Once the resolution plan is approved by OC, it will be binding on all lenders. However, lenders will have the option to exit JLF and correction action plan.
In order to make sure that the entire exercise is carried out in a transparent and prudent manner, S4A envisages that the resolution plan will be prepared by credible professional agencies, while an Overseeing Committee, set up by the Indian Banks Association, in consultation with the RBI, comprising of eminent experts will independently review the processes involved in preparation of the resolution plan, under the S4A, for reasonableness and adherence to the provisions of these guidelines, and opine on it.
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