Reserve Bank of India – Press Releases

[ad_1]

Read More/Less


It is hereby notified for information of the public that in exercise of powers vested in it under sub section (1) of Section 35 A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) vide Directive Ref. No. NGP.DOS.SSM-2 No.S-817/15.04.168/2021-22 dated November 08, 2021, has issued certain Directions to “Babaji Date Mahila Sahakari Bank Ltd., Yavatmal”, whereby, as from the close of business on November 8, 2021, the bank shall not, without prior approval of RBI in writing grant or renew any loans and advances, make any investment, incur any liability including borrowal of funds and acceptance of fresh deposits, disburse or agree to disburse any payment whether in discharge of its liabilities and obligations or otherwise, enter into any compromise or arrangement and sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets except as notified in the RBI Direction dated November 8, 2021, a copy of which is displayed on the bank’s premises for perusal by interested members of the public. Considering the bank’s present liquidity position, a sum not exceeding ₹5000/- (Rupees Five Thousand only) from the total balance across all savings bank or current accounts or any other account of a depositor, may be allowed to be withdrawn, but are allowed to set off loans against deposits subject to the conditions stated in the above RBI Directions.

2. The issue of the above Directions by the RBI should not per se be construed as cancellation of banking license by RBI. The bank will continue to undertake banking business with restrictions till its financial position improves. The Reserve Bank may consider modifications of these Directions depending upon circumstances.

3. These Directions shall remain in force for a period of six months from the close of business on November 8, 2021 and are subject to review.

(Yogesh Dayal)     
Chief General Manager

Press Release: 2021-2022/1162

[ad_2]

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Reserve Bank of India – Notifications

[ad_1]

Read More/Less


RBI/2021-22/120
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 16

November 08, 2021

To

All Authorised Persons

Madam / Sir

Investment by Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) in Debt – Review

Attention of Authorised Dealer Category-I (AD Category-I) banks is invited to Schedule 1 to the Foreign Exchange Management (Debt Instruments) Regulations, 2019 notified vide Notification No. FEMA.396/2019-RB dated October 17, 2019, as amended from time to time and the relevant Directions issued thereunder.

2. A reference is also invited to the following Directions issued by the Reserve Bank:

a. A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 31 dated June 15, 2018, as amended from time to time; and

b. A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 34 dated May 24, 2019, as amended from time to time.

3. An announcement was made in the Union Budget 2021-22 that debt financing of Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) by Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) will be enabled by making suitable amendments in the relevant legislations. Accordingly, it has been decided to permit FPIs to invest in debt securities issued by InvITs and REITs. Necessary amendments to Foreign Exchange Management (Debt Instruments) Regulations, 2019 (Notification No. FEMA 396/2019-RB dated October 17, 2019) have been notified on October 21, 2021 and are annexed to this circular.

4. FPIs can acquire debt securities issued by InvITs and REITs under the Medium-Term Framework (MTF) or the Voluntary Retention Route (VRR). Such investments shall be reckoned within the limits and shall be subject to the terms and conditions for investments by FPIs in debt securities under the respective regulations of MTF and VRR.

5. AD Category-I banks may bring the contents of the circular to the notice of their customers/constituents concerned.

6. The Directions contained in this circular have been issued under Sections 10(4) and 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999) and are without prejudice to permissions/approvals, if any, required under any other law.

Yours faithfully

(Dimple Bhandia)
Chief General Manager

[ad_2]

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Reserve Bank of India – Press Releases

[ad_1]

Read More/Less


Government of India (GOI) has announced the sale (issue/re-issue) of four dated securities for a notified amount of ₹24,000 crore as per the following details:

Sr No Security Date of Repayment Notified Amount
(₹ crore)
GoI specific Notification Auction Date Settlement Date
1 4.26% GS 2023 May 17, 2023 2,000 F.No.4(3)-B(W&M)/2021 dated November 08, 2021 November 12, 2021
(Friday)
November 15, 2021
(Monday)
2 New GS 2026 Nov 15, 2026 6,000
3 6.67% GS 2035 Dec 15, 2035 9,000
4 New GS 2051 Dec 15, 2051 7,000
  Total   24,000      

2. GoI will have the option to retain additional subscription up to ₹2,000 crore each against one or more security/ies mentioned above.

3. The securities will be sold through Reserve Bank of India Mumbai Office, Fort, Mumbai – 400001. The sale will be subject to the terms and conditions spelt out in the ‘Specific Notification’ mentioned above and the General Notification F.No.4(2)–W&M/2018, dated March 27, 2018.

4. The auction will be conducted using uniform price method for 4.26% GS 2023, 6.67% GS 2035, uniform yield method for New GS 2026 and multiple yield method for New GS 2051. Both competitive and non-competitive bids for the auction should be submitted in electronic format on the Reserve Bank of India Core Banking Solution (E-Kuber) system on November 12, 2021 (Friday). The non-competitive bids should be submitted between 10.30 a.m. and 11.00 a.m. and the competitive bids should be submitted between 10.30 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. The result will be announced on the same day and payment by successful bidders will have to be made on November 15, 2021 (Monday).

5. Bids for underwriting of the Additional Competitive Underwriting (ACU) portion can be submitted by ‘Primary Dealers’ from 9.00 a.m. up to 9.30 a.m. on November 12, 2021 (Friday) on the Reserve Bank of India Core Banking Solution (E-Kuber) system.

6. The Stocks will be eligible for “When Issued” trading for a period commencing from November 09, 2021 – November 12, 2021.

7. Operational guidelines for Government of India dated securities auction and other details are given in the Annex.

Ajit Prasad
Director   

Press Release: 2021-2022/1161


ANNEX

Type of Auction

1. For multiple price-based auction, successful bids will get accepted at the respective quoted yield/price for the security. For uniform price-based auction, bids will get accepted at the cut off yield/price accepted in the auction.

2. The auction will be yield based for new security and price based for securities which are re-issued.

3. In case of a Floating Rate Bonds (FRB), the auction will be spread-based for new security and price based for securities which are reissued. At the time of placing bids for new FRB, the spread should be quoted in percentage terms.

Minimum Bid Size

4. The Stocks will be issued for a minimum amount of ₹10,000/- (nominal) and in multiples of ₹10,000/- thereafter.

Non-Competitive Segment

5. In all the auctions, Government Stock up to 5% of the notified amount of sale will be allotted to the eligible individuals and institutions under the Scheme for Non-competitive Bidding Facility in the Auctions of Government Securities.

6. Each bank or Primary Dealer (PD) on the basis of firm orders received from their constituents will submit a single consolidated non-competitive bid on behalf of all its constituents in electronic format on the Reserve Bank of India Core Banking Solution (E-Kuber) system.

7. Allotment under the non-competitive segment to the bank or PD will be at the weighted average rate of yield/price of the successful bids that will emerge in the auction on the basis of the competitive bidding.

Submission of Bids

8. Both competitive and non-competitive bids for the auction should be submitted in electronic format on the Reserve Bank of India Core Banking Solution (E-Kuber) system.

9. Bids in physical form will not be accepted except in extraordinary circumstances.

Business Continuity Plan (BCP)-IT failure

10. Only in the event of system failure, physical bids will be accepted. Such physical bids should be submitted to the Public Debt Office, Mumbai through (email; Phone no: 022-22632527, 022-22701299) in the prescribed form which can be obtained from RBI website (https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_ViewForms.aspx) before the auction timing ends.

11. In case of technical difficulties, Core Banking Operations Team should be contacted (email; Phone no: 022-27595666, 022-27595415, 022-27523516).

12. For other auction related difficulties, IDMD auction team can be contacted (email; Phone no: 022-22702431, 022-22705125).

Multiple Bids

13. An investor can submit more than one competitive bid in electronic format on the Reserve Bank of India Core Banking Solution (E-Kuber) system.

14. However, the aggregate amount of bids submitted by a person in an auction should not exceed the notified amount of auction.

Decision Making Process

15. On the basis of bids received, the Reserve Bank will determine the minimum price up to which tenders for purchase of Government Stock will be accepted at the auctions.

16. Bids quoted at rates lower than the minimum price determined by the Reserve Bank of India will be rejected.

17. Reserve Bank of India will have the full discretion to accept or reject any or all bids either wholly or partially without assigning any reason.

Issue of Securities

18. Issue of securities to the successful bidders will be by credit to Subsidiary General Ledger Account (SGL) of parties maintaining such account with Reserve Bank of India or in the form of Stock Certificate.

Periodicity of Interest Payment

19. Interest on the Government Stock will generally be paid half-yearly other than in case of securities with non-standard maturities. The exact periodicity of coupon payment is invariably mentioned in the specific notification for the issue of security.

Underwriting of the Government Securities

20. The underwriting of the Government Securities under auctions by the ‘Primary Dealers’ will be as per the “Revised Scheme of Underwriting Commitment and Liquidity Support” announced by the Reserve Bank vide circular RBI/2007-08/186 dated November 14, 2007 as amended from time to time.

Eligibility for Repurchase Transactions (Repo)

21. The Stocks will eligible for Repurchase Transactions (Repo) as per the conditions mentioned in Repurchase Transactions (Repo) (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2018 (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2018 as amended from time to time.

Eligibility for ‘When Issued’ Trading

22. The Stocks will be eligible for “When Issued” trading in accordance with the guidelines on ‘When Issued transactions in Central Government Securities’ issued by the Reserve Bank of India vide circular No. RBI/2018-19/25 dated July 24, 2018 as amended from time to time.

Investment by Non-Residents

23. Investments by Non-Residents are subject to the guidelines on ‘Fully Accessible Route’ for Investment by Non-residents in Government Securities and Investment by Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPI) in Government Securities: Medium Term Framework (MTF).

[ad_2]

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

FPIs can buy debt securities issued by InvITs, REITs: RBI

[ad_1]

Read More/Less


The Reserve Bank of India on Monday said foreign portfolio investors can acquire debt securities issued by Infrastructure Investment Trusts and Real Estate Investment Trusts.

Within the limits

Such investments shall be reckoned within the limits and subject to the terms and conditions for investments by FPIs in debt securities under the respective regulations of Medium Term Framework and Voluntary Retention Route, said an RBI circular.

The RBI, on March 31, had left the limits for FPI investment in corporate bonds unchanged at 15 per cent of outstanding stock of securities for FY22, with the limit for the second half (October 2021 till March 2022) pegged at ₹6,07,039 crore against ₹5,74,263 crore for the first half (April-September 2021).

An announcement was made in the Union Budget 2021-22 that debt financing of InvITs and REITs by FPIs will be enabled by making suitable amendments in the relevant legislations. The decision is in line with the announcement, it said.

[ad_2]

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Govt mulling levy of I-T, GST on cryptos; Bill in Winter Session

[ad_1]

Read More/Less


Cryptos are likely to attract both income tax and GST.

A comprehensive Bill on crypto will detail the taxation. The Bill is expected to be introduced in the the Winter Session of Parliament, starting later this month. Meanwhile, the Standing Committee on Finance will initiate detailed discussions on crypto assets at its November 15 meeting.

A top government source told BusinessLine that the groundwork for legislation on cryptos is getting readied.

“One of the key issues is taxation. If there is gain or income from crypto, it should be taxed per capital gains rules. Similarly, if there is service involved in the transaction, then GST needs to be levied,” he said.

This means the intent to tax is expected to be mentioned in the legislation, and then provisions will be added in the Finance Bill to facilitate imposition of direct tax. For tax on transaction service, the Goods and Services Tax Council will take a final call.

On whether cryptos are to be treated as a currency or an investment asset, there is no clarity. It is highly unlikely to get the status of a currency. “That is unlikely… There is a system of fiat currency where currency notes and coins are backed by statute and regulated by the RBI in consultation with the government and that will continue,” the source said, suggesting investment asset category for cryptos.

While currency and banking products are regulated by the RBI, investment assets such as equity and commodity, are overseen by the Securities and Exchange Board of India.

RBI’s reservations

The RBI has repeatedly conveyed its reservation on cryptocurrencies. RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das is on record that: “We have major concerns around cryptocurrencies,which we have conveyed to the government.”

“But within the government, the feeling is that the RBI’s objections are too stringent and centred around a ban as in China. There are examples of moderate regulations by European countries. The effort is to find a middle path,” said the source. This could mean no complete ban, as earlier proposed.

Just before the Budget Session earlier this year, the government had released a list of Bills including one titled ‘The Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021’. Its purpose was to “create a facilitative framework for creation of the official digital currency to be issued by the Reserve Bank of India. The Bill also seeks to prohibit all private cryptocurrencies in India. However, it allows for certain exceptions to promote the underlying technology of crytptocurrency and its uses.”

The Bill appeared to be based on the recommendations of the SC Garg Committee formed by the Centre. The Committee had recommended banning cryptocurrencies but instead creating an official digital currency.

A joint advertisement by Indian crypto exchanges and industry bodies said that crypto investments by Indians have crossed ₹6-lakh crore. There are reports, quoting research firm CREBACO, that the user base has crossed 10 crore.

[ad_2]

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Reserve Bank of India – Press Releases

[ad_1]

Read More/Less


The Reserve Bank of India will conduct a Variable Rate Reverse Repo auction on November 9, 2021, Tuesday, as under:

Sl. No. Notified Amount
(₹ crore)
Tenor
(day)
Window Timing Date of Reversal
1 2,00,000 7 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM November 16, 2021
(Tuesday)

2. The operational guidelines for the auction as given in the Reserve Bank’s Press Release 2019-2020/1947 dated February 13, 2020 will remain the same

Ajit Prasad
Director   

Press Release: 2021-2022/1160

[ad_2]

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Ujjivan SFB posts Q2 net loss of ₹274 crore

[ad_1]

Read More/Less


Ujjivan Small Finance Bank reported a net loss of ₹273.79 crore for the second quarter of this fiscal due to higher provisions and lower income. The bank had a net profit of ₹96 crore in the same period last fiscal.

For the quarter ended September 30, its net interest income declined by 16.7 per cent to ₹391.36 crore compared to ₹470.14 crore a year ago. Net interest margin was at 8.1 per cent against 10.2 per cent a year ago. Other income declined by 24.1 per cent to ₹46.89 crore from ₹61.79 crore.

Also see: IndusInd Bank’s ‘technical glitch’: RBI examining portfolio as part of an ongoing audit

Provisions shot up to ₹436.88 crore in the July-September quarter of this fiscal from ₹97.91 crore a year ago.

NPAs surge

Asset quality deteriorated significantly.

Gross non performing assets surged to ₹1,712.65 crore or 11.8 per cent of gross advances as on September 30 from 9.79 per cent as on June 30 and 0.98 per cent as on September 30, 2020.

Net NPAs were at 3.29 per cent of net advances as on September 30 compared to 0.14 per cent a year ago.

Collections improve

Ujjivan SFB said collections have been improving with the removal of lockdowns and collection efficiency was at 95 per cent in September 2021.

Also see: Ujjivan Financial Service okays amalgamation with Ujjivan SFB

Martin PS, Officer on Special Duty, Ujjivan SFB, said, “The second quarter of FY22 has shown significant traction in business momentum over the previous quarter with improvement in both disbursements and collections. In the second quarter, we disbursed ₹3,122 crore as local-level lockdowns eased.”

100-day plan

He further said the bank has prepared a 100-day plan focusing on improving business volumes and asset quality as well as retaining talent. Performance against the plan is being closely monitored by the bank Board and corrective actions are put in place if required.

The bank believes that subject to potential third wave of Covid, its GNPA has peaked and will gradually reduce hereon, he added.

[ad_2]

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

IndusInd Bank’s ‘technical glitch’: RBI examining portfolio as part of an ongoing audit

[ad_1]

Read More/Less


The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is already examining issues around the technical glitch at IndusInd Bank’s subsidiary that led to 84,000 loans being disbursed without the customers’ consent. The lender will also undertake an external audit of the issue if required.

This was informed by IndusInd Bank’s Managing Director and CEO, Sumant Kathpalia, at an analyst call on November 6. He also denied allegations of evergreening of loans and stressed that there is strong risk management and a control framework in place – both within the bank and its microfinance subsidiary Bharat Financial Inclusion Ltd (BFIL).

“Yes, it is part of the annual review process which happens and it is already going on and they (RBI) are reviewing this portfolio,” Kathpalia said in response to a query on whether this issue would be a part of the risk-based supervision audit that is conducted by the RBI. “The whistleblower complaint was marked to the RBI also and the bank has kept the regulator abreast on its internal review process,” he further said.

Internal review

Meanwhile, responding to another query, Kathpalia said the bank will appoint an external auditor to validate the results of the internal review.

Also read: IndusInd Bank shares slump 11 per cent following loan evergreening issue

“We will have the review process completed. We will have a committee which will include external participants and an external auditor validating the results, and will have an independent process to give comfort to the investors that everything is right in BFIL. We will not be happy only with the internal audit,” he said.

In the call, Kathpalia also said the bank has a strong succession plan for BFIL in place in case its top management leaves. Non-executive Vice Chairman of BFIL, MR Rao, had stepped down in September but Kathpalia said he continues to work as an advisor with IndusInd Bank.

‘Unlisted company’

While analysts expressed surprise that this was not informed to the stock exchanges, Kathpalia maintained that BFIL is an unlisted company. “There was an agreement that he will retire in March 2021 and we had honoured that… he was also very upset on the 84,000 loans. We have taken action against certain persons,” he said.

Also read: Under fire, IndusInd Bank begins review of microfinance subsidiary

Trying to assuage concerns, he also said that the bank has been following a conservative provisioning approach.

“IndusInd Bank could have done better in terms of communicating about the management changes in BFIL and a technical glitch in the microfinance book, which led to allegations of evergreening in the MFI book (which otherwise has always been an area of suspicion). We believe that the bank’s turnaround story remains intact but it needs to work more on strengthening credit underwriting/risk management, and communication with the stakeholders to sustain the long-term rerating,” said Emkay Global Financial Services in a note on Monday.

[ad_2]

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Karur Vysya Bank posts ₹165-cr net in Sept quarter, highest in last 17 quarters

[ad_1]

Read More/Less


Old private sector lender Karur Vysya Bank has reported a 43.5 per cent rise in its net profit at ₹165 crore for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 when compared with ₹115 crore in the same period previous fiscal

“The net profit of ₹165 crore is the highest in the last 17 quarters,” B Ramesh Babu, Managing Director & CEO of KVB, told BusinessLine.

He said the KVB’s posted net profit on account of a well-crafted strategy amid some challenges. “With deeper focus, recoveries were higher than slippages during this September quarter. So interest reversals have come down, thereby improving our net interest margin at 3.75 per cent for the quarter,” he added.

Net interest income grew by 13 per cent at ₹680 crore (₹601 crore in the year-ago quarter). Fee based income for the September 2021 quarter (i.e. excluding treasury profit) was at ₹144 crore (₹119 crore). Treasury profit was lower at ₹16 crore (₹120 crore in the same period last year).

Operating expenses were higher at ₹470 crore (₹424 crore), while total expenses were lower at ₹1,187 crore as compared to ₹1,217 crore.

Operating profit of the bank increased to ₹374 crore from ₹360 crore in a year-ago period.

“Despite providing 1/3rd for family pension and lower treasury profit during the quarter, we could achieve this performance, ‘’ said Babu.

As on September 30, 2021, Gross NPA declined to 7.38 per cent as compared to 7.93 per cent a year ago, while net NPA was maintained at 2.99 per cent

“We were able to contain our restructuring portfolio to less than 3 per cent and NPA percentage has been coming down continuously. NPA was maintained without any write off and sale of any asset to ARC during the quarter,” he added.

Total deposits grew by 7 per cent at ₹65,410 crore as compared to ₹61,122 crore a year ago. Growth was aided through sustained improvement in CASA portfolio and retail term deposits.

Gross advances grew by 7 per cent at ₹53,850 crore (₹ 50,408 crore). Improved credit off take in the retail and business segment as well as jewel loan portfolio, backed by digital processing and improved sourcing of loans through various channels, aided the credit growth.

“The disbursement level in last one month has been much higher than the levels of last two years,” said Babu

[ad_2]

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Amazon Pay (India) reduces net losses by 19% in FY21

[ad_1]

Read More/Less


Amazon Pay (India) Private Limited, an online payment arm of Amazon India, has reduced its net losses by 19 per cent to ₹1,516 crore in FY21. Its revenues for the financial year was ₹1,769 crore, a 29 per cent jump from the last financial year.

According to financial data accessed by business intelligence platformTofler and reviewed by BusinessLine, the company’s total expenses for the fiscal were reported as ₹3,285 crore, a marginal increase from ₹3,234 at the same time last year.

Also see: Amazon Pay, MakeMyTrip partner to offer travel services

Interestingly, according to its financial results, one customer — codenamed as ‘customer A’ — contributed to 94.3 per cent of the entity’s revenue at ₹1,620 crore in FY21 compared to ₹1,197 crore from the same customer in FY20.

Net worth falls

The company — a competitor of Walmart-owned PhonePe, Alibaba-backed Paytm, and Google Pay — saw its net worth eroding to ₹1,683.3 crore in FY21 compared to ₹2,014.9 crore in FY20.

For the same fiscal, Google Payment reported revenues as ₹14.8 crore. The company further reported a net profit of ₹1.4 crore during the same fiscal, a 210 per cent increase from the last financial year.

Investment in NPCI

In FY21, Amazon Pay (India) had made an investment by way of acquisition of 61,320 equity shares of National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) at a price of ₹1, 256 per share.

Also see: Do e-comm sites squeeze SME vendors?

According to a recent report, Amazon Pay UPI recently added 5 crore customers in India. Over 75 per cent of its customers come from Tier-2 and -3 cities.

[ad_2]

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

1 111 112 113 114 115 16,280