RBI limits banks’ investment in non-financial services firms

13 Dec 2011 Evaluate

In new guidelines for banks' Investments in subsidiaries and other companies, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed the limit on their direct or indirect equity investments in non-financial service companies. The apex bank in its latest notification has said that the “Equity investment by a bank in companies engaged in non financial services activities would be subject to a limit of 10% of the investee company’s paid up share capital or 10% of the bank’s paid up share capital and reserves, whichever is less”. For the purpose of this limit, equity investments held under ‘Held for Trading’ category would also be reckoned. Investments within the above mentioned limits, irrespective of whether they are in the ‘Held for Trading’ category or otherwise, would not require prior approval of the Reserve Bank.

By imposing this limit, the RBI is seeking to ring fence to Scheduled Commercial Banks core operation from activities directly or indirectly not permitted to lenders. Till now, the investment in non financial services firms did not required prior approval from RBI, and banks where free to acquire substantial equity holding non financial services companies.

The RBI’s notification further said, banks could through their direct and indirect holdings in other entities exercise control or have significant influence over such companies and thus, engage directly or indirectly in activities not permitted to banks. 'It is, therefore, necessary to limit such investments,' it added.

According to the RBI’s notification, equity investments in any non-financial services company held by a bank or entities which are bank’s subsidiaries or mutual funds controlled by the bank should in the aggregate not exceed 20% of the investee company’s paid up share capital.

A bank’s equity investments in subsidiaries and other entities that are engaged in financial services activities together with equity investments in entities engaged in non financial services activities should not exceed 20% of the bank’s paid-up share capital and reserves. The cap of 20% would not apply for investments classified under ‘Held for Trading’ category and which are not held beyond 90 days and banks will have to submit to RBI a time bound action plan for disposal of such shares within a specified period.

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