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Saturday 19 May 2012

Weekly Secretarial Updates from May 11, 2012 to May 18, 2012


RBI UPDATE

Sr No
Circular/ Notification number
Particulars
Applicability
1 (a)
RBI/2011-12/560
DPSS.CO.CHD.No. / 2080 / 03.01.03 / 2011-12 dated May 11, 2012
Review of Service Charges for Cheque Collection – Outstation and Speed Clearing
All Banks

(b)
RBI/2011-12/557
DNBS.PD.CC.No.274/03.02.089/2011-12 dated May 11, 2012
Core Investment Companies (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2011 – Clarification on CICs Issuing Guarantees
All Core Investment Companies

(c) 
RBI/2011-12/556
DNBS.PD. CC No. 273/03.10.01/2011-12 dated May 11, 2012
Infrastructure Finance Companies - Eligible Credit Rating Agencies - Brickwork Ratings India Pvt. Ltd.
All Infrastructure Finance Companies

(d)
RBI/2011-12/553 RPCD.FSD.BC.No. 77/05.05.09/2011-12 dated May 11, 2012
Revised Kisan Credit Card Scheme

All Scheduled Commercial Banks

(e)
RBI/2011-12/561 A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 126 dated May 14, 2012
Deferred Payment Protocols dated April 30, 1981 and December 23, 1985 between Government of India and erstwhile USSR
Authorised Dealer Banks

(f)
RBI/2011-12/562
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 127 dated May 15, 2012.
Foreign investment in NBFC Sector under the FDI Scheme - Clarification

Authorised Dealer Banks

(g)
RBI/2011-12/564 A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 128 dated May 16, 2012
Exchange Earner’s Foreign Currency (EEFC) Account
All Authorised Dealers in Foreign Exchange

(h)
RBI/2011-12/568 DBOD.BP.BC.No. 106/21.04.172/2011-12 dated May 18, 2012
Bank Finance to NBFCs Predominantly Engaged in lending against Gold

All Scheduled Commercial Banks

(i)
RBI/2011-12/567
UBD.BPD. (PCB) CIR No.33/09.09.001/2011-12 dated May 18, 2012
Priority Sector Lending – Indirect Finance to Housing Sector
All Authorised Dealer Banks


SEBI UPDATES

2 (a)
CIR/MIRSD/6/2012 dated May 14, 2012

Review of Regulatory Compliance and Periodic Reporting

Merchant Bankers


RBI UPDATES

1(a) Review of Service Charges for Cheque Collection – Outstation and Speed Clearing

RBI Notification – May 11, 2012

We draw your attention to the RBI notification no RBI/2011-12/560 DPSS.CO.CHD.No. / 2080 / 03.01.03 / 2011-12 dated May 11, 2012.

Applicability:

All Banks

Crux of the Notification:

As per circular number circulars DPSS.CO.No.611 / 03.01.03(P) / 2008-09 dated October 8, 2008 and circular number DPSS.CO.CHD.No. 1671 / 03.06.01 / 2010-11 dated January 19, 2011,  banks were given the freedom to determine collection charges for cheques valuing above Rs. 1 lakh cleared through Speed Clearing and Outstation Cheque Clearing mechanism subject to such charges being levied in a fair and transparent manner.

The term fair and transparent manner, inter-alia, included fixing the service charges on a cost-plus basis and not on the basis of an arbitrary percentage to the value of the instrument as advised in paragraph 6(b) of the said circular.

Purpose of this Notification
-          However, instances of banks levying charges as an arbitrary percentage to the value of the instrument, contrary to the instructions issued in the circular had been brought to the notice of the RBI.

-          There by this circular re-enforces that the Banks, which have fixed their service charges for out-station/speed clearing for instruments valuing above Rs. 1 lakh as percentage to the value of instruments are, therefore, advised to review the same and fix the charges on a cost-plus basis.

-          Banks are also required to ensure that collection charges fixed for instruments valuing above Rs. 1 lakh is lower under Speed Clearing vis-a-vis Out-station Cheque Collection as advised in paragraph 6(d) of our circular dated January 19, 2011 so as to encourage the use of Speed Clearing.

-          Banks to incorporate the updated service charge structure in the Cheque Collection Policy (CCP) and to notify the same to the customers accordingly.

-          The revised rates may also be placed on the bank's web site and a copy thereof may be submitted to the RBI

For further details information please follow the below link


1(b) Core Investment Companies (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2011 – Clarification on CICs Issuing Guarantees

RBI Notification – May 11, 2012

We draw your attention to the RBI notification no RBI/2011-12/557 DNBS.PD.CC.No.274/03.02.089/2011-12 dated May 11, 2012.

Applicability:

All Core Investment Companies

Crux of the Notification:

CICs may be required to issue guarantees or take on other contingent liabilities on behalf of their group entities. Before doing so, CICs must ensure that they can meet the obligation thereunder, as and when they arise. In particular, CICs which are exempt from registration requirement must be in a position to do so without recourse to public funds in the event the liability devolves. If unregistered CICs with asset size above Rs. 100 crore access public funds without obtaining a Certificate of Registration (CoR) from RBI, they will be seen as violating Core Investment Companies (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2011 dated January 05, 2011.

For further details information please follow the below link


1(c) Infrastructure Finance Companies - Eligible Credit Rating Agencies - Brickwork Ratings India Pvt. Ltd.

RBI Notification – May 11, 2012

We draw your attention to the RBI notification no RBI/2011-12/556 DNBS.PD. CC No. 273/03.10.01/2011-12 dated May 11, 2012.

Applicability:

All Infrastructure Finance Companies

Crux of the Notification:

As per para 19A of the Master Circular number DNBS (PD) CC No.225  / 03.02.001 / 2011-12 dated July 1, 2011 on Non-Banking Financial (Non - Deposit Accepting or Holding) Companies Prudential Norms (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2007, all  Infrastructure Finance Company shall have obtained a minimum credit rating 'A' or equivalent of CRISIL, FITCH, CARE, ICRA or equivalent rating by any other credit rating agency accredited by RBI.

In this regard RBI has now been decided to permit NBFCs to get themselves rated through Brickwork Ratings India Pvt. Ltd. (Brickwork) in addition to the existing four domestic credit rating agencies.

For further details information please follow the below link

 
1 (d) Revised Kisan Credit Card Scheme

RBI Notification – May 11, 2012

We draw your attention to the RBI notification no RBI/2011-12/553 RPCD.FSD.BC.No. 77/05.05.09/2011-12 dated May 11, 2012.

Applicability:

All Scheduled Commercial Banks

Crux of the Notification:

With a view to simplify and attune the Scheme to suit to current requirements and to facilitate issue of  Electronic Kisan Credit Cards, a Working Group had submitted its recommendations based on which a revised Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Scheme has been devised.

For further details information please follow the below link



1 (e) Deferred Payment Protocols dated April 30, 1981 and December 23, 1985 between Government of India and erstwhile USSR

RBI Notification – May 14, 2012

We draw your attention to the RBI notification no RBI/2011-12/561 A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 126 dated May 14, 2012

Applicability:

Authorised Dealer Banks

Crux of the Notification:

As per the RBI notification April 23, 2012 the Rupee value of the Special Currency Basket has been fixed at Rs.73.305676 with effect from April 26, 2012.

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

For further details information please follow the below link


 
1 (f) Foreign investment in NBFC Sector under the FDI Scheme - Clarification

RBI Notification – May 15, 2012

We draw your attention to the RBI notification no RBI/2011-12/562 A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 127 dated May 15, 2012.

Applicability:

Authorised Dealer Banks

Crux of the Notification:

-          It is clarified that the activity ‘leasing and finance’, which is one among the eighteen NBFC activities wherein FDI up to 100 per cent is permitted under the automatic route, subject to minimum capitalisation norms, covers only ‘financial leases’ and not ‘operating leases’, in so far as the NBFC sector is concerned.

-          Necessary amendments to Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of Security by a Person Resident Outside India) Regulations, 2000 (Notification No. FEMA 20/2000-RB dated May 3, 2000) are being notified separately.

For further details information please follow the below link

 
1 (g) Exchange Earner’s Foreign Currency (EEFC) Account

RBI Notification – May 16, 2012

We draw your attention to the RBI notification no RBI/2011-12/564 A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 128 dated May 16, 2012.

Applicability:

All Authorised Dealers in Foreign Exchange

Crux of the Notification:

As per the RBI circular no A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 124 dated May 10, 2012, 50% of the balances in the EEFC accounts should be converted forthwith into rupee balances and credited to the rupee accounts as per the directions of the account holder.

As per this notification it is clarified that the conversion of the EEFC balances into rupee balances will only be applicable to available balances in the EEFC account which may be arrived at by netting off earmarked amounts on account of outstanding forward / option contracts booked before May 10, 2012.

For further details information please follow the below link

 
1 (h) Bank Finance to NBFCs Predominantly Engaged in lending against Gold

RBI Notification – May 18, 2012

 

We draw your attention to the RBI notification no RBI/2011-12/568 DBOD.BP.BC.No. 106/21.04.172/2011-12 dated May 18, 2012.

Applicability:

All Scheduled Commercial Banks

Crux of the Notification:

-          NBFCs which are predominantly engaged in lending against collateral of gold jewellery (i.e. such loans comprising 50 per cent or more of their financial assets) have recorded significant growth in recent years, both in terms of their balance sheet size and physical presence. In view of regulatory concerns arising out of the rapid pace of business growth and concentration risk inherent in their business model, certain prudential measures like limiting Loan to Value (LTV) Ratio, increasing the minimum Tier I Capital requirement, prohibition on granting loans against bullion / primary gold and gold coins and other operational guidelines have been prescribed for NBFCs.

-          The rapid expansion of NBFCs predominantly engaged in lending against the collateral of gold jewellery has led to their increased dependence on public funds, including bank finance. In order to supplement the prudential norms prescribed for NBFCs as indicated in paragraph 3 above, banks are advised to:

o        reduce their regulatory exposure ceiling on a single NBFC, having gold loans to the extent of 50 per cent or more of its total financial assets, from the existing 10 per cent to 7.5 per cent of banks’ capital funds. However, the above exposure ceiling may go up by 5 per cent, i.e., up to 12.5 per cent of banks’ capital funds if the additional exposure is on account of funds on-lent by NBFCs to the infrastructure sector. Banks which are currently having exposure to such NBFCs in excess of the above regulatory ceiling would be required to reduce their exposure within the prescribed limit at the earliest, but not later than six months from the date of this circular; and

o        have an internal sub-limit on their aggregate exposures to all such NBFCs, having gold loans to the extent of 50 per cent or more of their total financial assets, taken together. The sub-limits should be within the internal limit fixed by the banks for their aggregate exposure to all NBFCs put together.

-          As per the extant guidelines, ECB proceeds can be utilized for permissible foreign currency expenditure and Rupee expenditure. On a review, it has been decided that at the time of availing Loan Registration Number (LRN) from the Reserve Bank, borrowers should provide bifurcation of the utilization of the ECB proceeds towards foreign currency and Rupee expenditure in Form-83.

-          The primary responsibility is to ensure that the ECB proceeds meant for Rupee expenditure in India are repatriated to India for credit to their Rupee accounts with AD Category- I banks in India as per A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 52 dated November 23, 2011 is that of the borrower concerned and any contravention of the ECB guidelines will be viewed seriously and will invite penal action under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999. The designated AD bank is also required to ensure that the ECB proceeds meant for Rupee expenditure are repatriated to India immediately after drawdown.

-          The modifications to the ECB policy will come into force with immediate effect and subject to review. All other aspects of the ECB policy shall remain unchanged.

For further details information please follow the below link

1 (i) Priority Sector Lending – Indirect Finance to Housing Sector  

RBI Notification – May 18, 2012

We draw your attention to the RBI notification no RBI/2011-12/567 UBD.BPD. (PCB) CIR No.33/09.09.001/2011-12 dated May 18, 2012.

Applicability:

All Authorised Dealer Banks

Crux of the Notification:

Pursuant to the announcements made by the Union Finance Minister in paragraph 65 of the Budget Speech for the year 2012-13, it has been decided to increase the priority sector lending limit  from ` 5 lakh to ` 10 lakh. The revised limit will be applicable to loans sanctioned from the date of this circular.


For further details information please follow the below link

  SEBI UPDATES
2 (a) Review of Regulatory Compliance and Periodic Reporting

RBI Notification – May 8, 2012

We draw your attention to the RBI circular no CIR/MIRSD/6/2012 dated May 14, 2012

Applicability:

Merchant Bankers

Crux of the Notification:

1. SEBI (Merchant Bankers) Regulations, 1992 have been amended vide notification no. LAD-NRO/GN/2011-12/40/7335 dated March 29, 2012, a copy of which is available on SEBI website www.sebi.gov.in. With the said amendment, merchant bankers are required to submit a periodic report in such manner as may be specified by the Board from time to time. Further, in terms of SEBI Circular No. MIRSD/DPS-2/MB/Cir-16/2008 dated May 06, 2008, merchant bankers are required to submit half-yearly report in electronic form.

2. In order to strengthen the compliance mechanism and the role of the Boards of Merchant Bankers, it has been decided to review the reporting format. The revised format as given in the Annexure includes the status of regulatory compliance and investor grievances redressal.

3. The Boards of Merchant Bankers shall, henceforth, review the report and record along with its observations on

(i)                 the deficiencies and non-compliances,
(ii)               corrective measures initiated to avoid such instances in future,
(iii)             pre-issue and post-issue due diligence process followed and whether they are satisfied and
(iv)              track record of past issues managed.

4. Accordingly, with effect from half year ended March 31, 2012, the Compliance Officer of the Merchant Banker shall send the report in the revised format to SEBI at mb@sebi.gov.in on half yearly basis within three months of the expiry of the half year. The other terms and conditions mentioned in the circular mentioned in Para 1 shall remain unchanged.

5. Further, merchant bankers are required to report changes in their status or constitution in accordance with Circular no. CIR/MIRSD/7/2011 dated June 17, 2011. The same information has also been incorporated in the revised format.

6. This circular is issued in exercise of powers conferred under Section 11(1) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992, to protect the interests of investors in securities and to promote the development of, and to regulate the securities market.

For further details information please follow the below link

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