Tag: srei group

Banks make higher-than-required provisions for Srei Group exposure

Banking & Finance

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Large public sector banks (PSBs) have proactively made substantially higher provisions, ranging from 40-100 per cent, towards their exposure to the Kolkata-based Srei Group against the usual regulatory requirement of 15 per cent.

Forensic audit

This is due to the uncertainty over what a forensic audit of the account may reveal and the haircut lenders may have to take under the corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP) initiated against the group.

The Reserve Bank of India’s norms require banks to make a general provision of 15 per cent on their total outstanding exposure to a substandard asset. Unsecured substandard assets attract an additional provision of 10 per cent.

Bankers say they don’t want any surprises on the provisioning front in the coming quarters vis-a-vis the Srei account, which comprises Srei Infrastructure Finance Ltd (SIFL) and its wholly owned subsidiary Srei Equipment Finance Ltd (SEFL).

Moreover, recovery from the resolution of DHFL and healthy profit in the second quarter have given them the elbow room to increase the provisions.

The banks that have made higher upfront provisions towards their exposure to the Srei Group include State Bank of India (SBI, 100 per cent), Union Bank of India (UBI, 65 per cent), Bank of India and Central Bank of India (BoI, CBoI 50 per cent each), and Punjab National Bank (PNB, 40 per cent). PNB has an exposure of ₹2,600 crore to the Srei group, UBI ₹2,558 crore, BoI ₹1,024 crore in direct exposure and ₹970 crore via pooled route, and CBoI ₹1,149 crore. SBI’s exposure is believed to be over ₹2,000 crore.

₹26,476-crore borrowings

As at March-end 2021, the consolidated borrowings of the Srei Group stood at ₹26,476 crore. This includes term loans, working capital facilities, collateral borrowings and unsecured loans. Liabilities in the form of debt securities and subordinated liabilities stood at ₹2,441 crore and ₹2,785 crore respectively.

Governance concerns

RBI had, on October 4, 2021, superseded the Board of Directors of SIFL and SEFL. The central bank, in a statement, said it took this action owing to governance concerns and defaults by these companies in meeting their various payment obligations.

It appointed Rajneesh Sharma, Ex- Chief General Manager, Bank of Baroda, as the Administrator of the aforesaid companies.

The central bank’s applications for initiation of CIRP against SIFL and SEFL under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016, read with Financial Service Providers Insolvency Rules were admitted by the Kolkata Bench of the National Company Law Tribunal on October 8.

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Indian Bank classifies 2 Srei grp a/cs as NPA, BFSI News, ET BFSI

Banking & Finance

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State-owned Indian Bank has classified two accounts of Srei Group, worth Rs 1,800 crore, as non-performing assets (NPAs) as on the September-ended quarter 2021. Its net profit has grown more than doubled at Rs 1,089 crore in the second quarter, as compared to Rs 412 crore in the same period last year.

Its MD & CEO Shanti Lal Jain said the profit was driven by growth in non-interest income, (other income), which grew by 26% YoY and 8% QoQ. “It stood at Rs 1,966 crore as against Rs 1,558 crore in the second quarter, on account of increase in recovery of bad debts and forex income,” Jain said.

However, the bank’s net interest income declined by 1% YoY and 2% QoQ to Rs 4,084 crore in the September quarter, 2021.

The public sector bank said we have recognized eight accounts as NPA (bad loans) worth Rs 1,900 crore, which are to be given to the National Asset Reconstruction Company (bad bank). He said “We have already made 50% of provisions for those eight accounts.”

Provisions and contingencies allocated to cover bad loans lowered to Rs 2,187 crore in this quarter, as against Rs 2,530 crore for the corresponding period last year, and Rs 2,234 crore sequentially.

Gross NPA ratio stood at 9.56% in September 2021, marginally lower from 9.89% in September, 2020. The net NPA ratio stood at 3.26%, higher from 2.96% in the same period.

The bank’s fresh slippages declined to Rs 3,952 crore compared to Rs 4,204 crore in the June quarter. Fresh slippage was high due to Corporate loans and crop loans.



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RBI bans audit firm Haribhakti & Co for two years

Banking & Finance

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Haribhakti & Co was the auditor of Srei Infrastructure Finance, whose board was superseded by the RBI and against which insolvency proceedings were initiated last week.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Tuesday banned chartered accountant firm Haribhakti & Co from undertaking any type of audit assignments for regulated entities for a period of two years, starting April 1, 2022.

The action was taken for the firm’s failure to comply with a specific direction issued by the RBI with respect to its statutory audit of a systemically important non-banking financial company (NBFC), the central bank said in a statement.

This is the first time the RBI has taken such action against an auditor of a systemically important NBFC.

“The RBI has by an order dated September 23, 2021, debarred Haribhakti & Co from undertaking any type of audit assignment/s in any of the entities regulated by RBI for a period of two years with effect from April 1, 2022,” the statement said.

The action has been taken under Section 45 MAA of the RBI Act, which allows the banking regulator to act against auditors. The ban will not impact audit the firm’s assignments in RBI-regulated entities for the financial year 2021-22, the statement said.

In 2019, the RBI had imposed a one-year ban on SR Batliboi & Co, an affiliate of global auditing firm EY, after it found lapses in the audit report of a bank.

Haribhakti & Co was the auditor of Srei Infrastructure Finance, whose board was superseded by the RBI and against which insolvency proceedings were initiated last week.

The Kolkata Bench of the National Company Law Tribunal on October 8 gave its approval to start insolvency proceedings against Srei Infrastructure Finance and its wholly owned subsidiary Srei Equipment Finance after the RBI filed insolvency applications.

According to rating reports of March 6, 2021, by CARE Ratings, Srei Infrastructure Finance owed banks loans worth Rs 11,117.71 crore, apart from outstanding bonds and NCDs worth Rs 710.63 crore.

Srei Equipment Finance had outstanding bank loans worth Rs 16,912.21 crore and other debt instruments worth Rs 499.45 crore. All these facilities and instruments were rated ‘D’, or default grade, in March.

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Srei lenders face Rs 5,000 cr provisioning for Srei loans, eroding DHFL recovery, BFSI News, ET BFSI

Banking & Finance

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Lenders which were preparing to add the big DHFL recovery of over Rs 35,000 crore to their profits, may have to temper their celebrations. They will have to make provisioning for loans of Srei group firms, on which RBI has put an administrator.

Bankers will have to make an immediate provision of over Rs 5,000 crore, according to the rules.

According to the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) norms, Srei exposure will be treated as substandard asset, which is the first stage of non-performing asset (NPA). Banks will now have to set aside around 15 per cent provision for secured loans while it would be higher for unsecured credit.

Srei loans were stressed for many quarters, but lenders could not classify them as NPAs due to restrictions by the tribunals. However, they have made provisions for the Srei loans under general and Covid provisions.

Based on the results of a forensic audit, banks may have to even make 100 per cent provisions if the accounts are treated as fraud.

Promoters move court

Meanwhile, Srei Group promoters have moved the Bombay High Court challenging Reserve Bank of India’s decision to supersede the board of two group companies, in preparation for sending them to bankruptcy courts.

Srei group promoters are seeking stay on any insolvency proceedings at group companies Srei Infrastructure Finance Ltd and Srei Equipment Finance Ltd, whose board the regulator sacked and appointed an administrator.

The promoters are also seeking stay on the appointment of the administrator. On October 4, the banking regulator superseded the board of directors of Kolkata-based Srei Infrastructure Finance and Srei Equipment Finance and said that it will initiate insolvency proceedings with the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). The RBI move makes Srei the second non-bank lender to be referred to the bankruptcy courts after DHFL.

The RBI cited governance concerns and defaults by the company and appointed Rajneesh Sharma, former chief general manager, Bank of Baroda as an administrator of the company.

In June 2021, Srei companies reported to the exchanges that the RBI inspection had flagged loans worth Rs 8,576 crore as related party loans. These accounted for nearly 30% of the group’s consolidated debt.

The loans

Srei Infrastructure, and its subsidiary Srei Equipment Finance, together owe lenders and debenture holders a total of Rs 30,000 crore. Kolkata-based UCO Bank is the lead lender, with more than Rs 2,000 crore of exposure. State Bank of India (SBI)’s exposure to the group is also more than Rs 2,000 crore.

The bank loans have turned non-performing assets after the end of the September quarter.

The company had earlier announced that Arena Investors, Makara Capital and others had evinced interest to invest in the company to the tune of Rs 2,200 crore. The company had formed a strategic coordination committee to coordinate, negotiate and conclude discussions with the investors.



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Lenders approach RBI after Rs 30,000 crore Srei loans turn NPA, BFSI News, ET BFSI

Banking & Finance

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A consortium of lenders led by UCO Bank has sought central bank directions on pursuing recovery of dues from the Srei Group after loans worth about ₹30,000 crore to the Kolkata-based financier officially qualified to be moved to the list of non-performing assets (NPA) this quarter, two people aware of the development told ET.

The Srei Group, however, said it expects banks to chalk out a debt recast plan that will map repayment milestones to future cash flows.

Since the group entities involved are non-banking financial companies (NBFC), the lenders concerned compulsorily need the Reserve Bank of India‘s (RBI) approval to take the Srei Group to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for insolvency proceedings.

In response to a query from ET, a Srei Group spokesperson said the economic downturn and loan moratoriums provided by the regulator had affected operations. The group is now in discussions with banks to implement a restructuring scheme.

‘NPA Ratio to Take a Hit’
“We hope banks will decide on the debt realignment at the earliest so that the company can pay all its bondholders and other creditors,” a Srei spokesperson said in the mailed response to ET. “We are very hopeful that banks will propose a payment schedule in consonance with the company’s cash flow that will enable payments to all creditors and help run the company smoothly.”

To be sure, Srei Infrastructure Finance may become the next big bankruptcy candidate from the financial services space after Dewan Housing Finance (DHFL). Banks are free to classify loans to Srei Group as NPAs after the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) lifted a stay earlier this month on marking such exposure as bad, setting aside a lower bench order.

  • Srei Infra and its unit Srei Equipment Finance together owe lenders and debenture holders Rs 30,000 cr
  • UCO Bank, SBI have exposure of more than Rs 2,000 cr each
  • Srei Infra reported a loss of Rs 971 cr in the June quarter
  • Provisions on loans surged to Rs 439 cr from Rs 67 cr a year ago
  • In July, Srei disclosed that a RBI-directed audit had flagged Rs 8,576 cr of lending to ‘probable’ related parties of the group

“All banks will have to classify loans to Srei as NPAs this quarter and make the minimum provisions required,” said a person familiar with banking-sector exposure to the Srei Group. “Many banks have excess provisions; so, that should not be a cause for concern. But with such a big loan account slipping, the gross NPA ratio of some banks will increase at the end of the quarter.”Srei Infrastructure, and its subsidiary Srei Equipment Finance, together owe lenders and debenture holders a total of ₹30,000 crore. Kolkata-based UCO Bank is the lead lender, with more than ₹2,000 crore of exposure. State Bank of India (SBI)’s exposure to the group is also more than ₹2,000 crore.

Bankers say they have already set the ball rolling for recovery of loans by writing to the RBI and a regulatory nod to take the company through the bankruptcy courts could mean another DHFL-type insolvency process.

“Already two letters have been sent to apprise RBI of the conditions. If the central bank gives the permission, banks will go ahead with a court monitored process,” said a second person aware of the Srei-related banking-sector exposures. “It remains to be seen what the central bank’s response is.”



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