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FIG Paper (No. 37 – Series 1) | SEBI Proposes to Introduce ‘New Asset Class’

Background and Key Features:

  • The Securities and Exchange Board of India (“SEBI”) regulates the asset management and wealth management sector through a graded approach in relation to prudential, governance and investment norms, with flexibility given progressively, basis minimum investment threshold. This sector has also seen a significant rise in assets under management (“AUM”) over the last decade:
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Beyond the Basket: Inside India’s Diverse E-Commerce Food Landscape – Part 2

Introduction

In our previous blog post, we provided insights into the regulatory framework governing E-Commerce Food Business Operators (“E-FBOs”)[1] that operate under the purview of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (“FSSAI”). The FSSAI, along with its state counterparts, is primarily empowered under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (“FSS Act”) and its accompanying rules, regulations, and guidelines to regulate the food industry and establish standards that ensure the safety and quality of food products. We also delved into the recent amendment to the FSS Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses Amendment Regulations, 2021 (“2021 Amendment Regulations”)[2], which were primarily introduced to regulate E-FBOs. We also analysed it in line with the key challenges and obstacles that E-FBOs might encounter, on their road to ensuring full compliance with the regulations.

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SEBI Proposes to Replace ‘Size Criteria’ for FPIs with ‘Risk-Based Approach’ for Granular Disclosure Requirement for Underlying Investors

SEBI had, vide its Circular dated August 24, 2023 (“August Circular”), laid down norms for FPIs/investor groups with assets under management (“AUM”) exceeding INR 25,000 (twenty five thousand) crore (“Size-based Criteria”). These norms require furnishing granular details[1] of all their investors/stakeholders on a look-through basis to ascertain if the FPI is effectively domiciled in a Land Bordering Country (“LBC”) or not. Subsequently, SEBI in its consultation paper dated July 30, 2024, (“Consultation Paper”) has proposed to replace the Size based Criteria with a “risk-based criteria” depending upon the participation of investors from “land bordering countries”. In addition to providing an overview of the extant laws, this blog covers the roadblocks emerging from the August Circular, SEBI’s proposal in the Consultation Paper, and its implications.

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Introduction:

This FIG Paper highlights recent trends in enforcement actions of the Reserve Bank of India (“RBI”) against different financial institutions, which has seen a significant 88% rise since 2021.

Continue Reading FIG Paper (No. 36 – Series 1): Analysing RBI’s Enforcement Trends (2022-24)
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Beyond the Basket: Analysing Underlying Challenges for India’s E-FBOs – Part 1

Introduction

India’s food industry is experiencing a digital revolution, with E-Commerce Food Business Operators[1] (“E-FBOs”) transforming the way food and related services/ products are being ordered, consumed and experienced. From local restaurants and cafes offering delivery through mobile applications, cloud kitchens serving gourmet meals, groceries delivered within minutes, the E-FBO landscape is brimming with innovation and opportunity. However, this digital transformation is not without regulatory challenges that E-FBOs must navigate to ensure compliance and maintain consumer trust.

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Navigating New Horizons: India and UAE Trade Partnership

Background

India is quickly emerging as a major force in global commerce as it continues to strengthen trade relationships with other nations. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one such nation with whom India shares strong commercial ties built on the principles of strategic partnership and reciprocal prosperity.

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Managerial Remuneration – Should Promoters Be Disenfranchised?

Historical Context

The Government of India’s socialistic approach towards controlling managerial remuneration between 1960s and 1990s has been a painful chapter in the history of India’s company law. While the restriction applied only to those on the board of directors, the limits the then Department of Company Affairs had prescribed in its administrative guidelines under the Companies Act, 1956 in November 1969 was as low as INR 7,500 per month and further reduced to INR 5000 per month years later. Any payment beyond those limits required the Central Government’s approval, which was also a very cumbersome and time-consuming process. This led to the unhealthy practice of compensating Managing Directors and Executive Directors (“MD/EDs”) with cash reimbursements and many other inappropriate methods. Some MDs/ EDs also stepped down from the board to accept positions one level below the board. They were designated as presidents and vice presidents despite performing the role of the Managing Director.

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Acquisition of NBFC-MFIs by Banks: Key Considerations

Background

Banks in India are often on the look-out for potential acquisition opportunities to spur inorganic growth. While their strategic interests will determine their targets, in recent times, banks have been evaluating acquisition of non-banking financial companies (“NBFCs”) and more specifically micro-finance institutions (“MFIs”), which primarily cater to the rural and unorganised markets. Given that NBFCs focus on providing loans to consumers and small-scale businesses, they play a key role in driving the country’s economic growth. India’s NBFC sector grew by 10% (ten percent) in recent times to become the third largest in the world, behind only the United States and the United Kingdom.[1] Among other reasons, access to untapped market with an underserved population and the greater reach of NBFCs is a critical factor, as it facilitates enhanced compliance with priority sector lending requirements of banks. In this blog, we highlight the legal framework, regulatory and commercial considerations involved in the acquisitions of NBFC-MFIs by banks in India.

Legal Framework and Key Regulatory Considerations

Legal Framework:

  1. Prior approval from the Reserve Bank of India (“RBI”):
    • By the acquiring bank: Pursuant to sub-section (2) of Section 19 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, no banking company can hold shares in any company, whether as a pledgee, mortgagee, or absolute owner, of any amount exceeding 30% (thirty percent) of the paid-up share capital of that company or 30% (thirty percent) of its own paid-up share capital and reserves. Accordingly, the acquiring bank has to seek prior RBI approval to acquire an NBFC-MFI, exceeding the thresholds mentioned herein (“Acquiring Bank RBI Approval”).
    • By the NBFC-MFI: Pursuant to paragraph 42 of the Master Direction – Reserve Bank of India (Non-Banking Financial Company – Scale Based Regulation) Directions, 2023 (“NBFC Directions”), NBFCs too require prior RBI approval for (i) any takeover or acquisition of control; or (ii) any change in the shareholding of the NBFC, which would result in the acquisition/ transfer of shareholding of 26% (twenty six percent) or more of the paid-up equity capital of the concerned NBFC; or (iii) any change in the management of the concerned NBFC, which results in change in more than 30% (thirty percent) of the directors, excluding independent directors. Accordingly, any NBFC-MFI acquisition by a bank, which meets any of the above criteria, will require the NBFC-MFI to also seek prior RBI approval (“NBFC RBI Approval”).
  2. Public notice: As per paragraph 69 of the NBFC Directions, the concerned MFI and the acquiring bank or the parties concerned jointly need to issue a public notice before effecting the sale of, or transfer of the ownership by sale of shares or transfer of control, whether with or without the sale of shares. The parties are required to observe a standstill period of 30 (thirty) days after the notice is published to consider public objections (if any).

Regulatory Considerations:

  1. Surrender of NBFC-MFI Registration: As part of the RBI Approvals, the RBI may grant the approval, subject to the condition that upon acquisition of the NBFC-MFI by the bank, within a certain stipulated time period (as provided in the RBI Approvals), the MFI will surrender its NBFC-MFI registration and solely operate as a business correspondent of the acquiring bank. This condition is likely to be imposed in case of acquisition of majority stake in the NBFC-MFI by the acquiring bank.  
  2. Closure of Lending Business: If a bank acquires 100% (one hundred percent) stake in an NBFC-MFI, the RBI may impose certain conditions on the MFI, including but not limited to the closure of all lending businesses from the date of acquisition by the bank. In this scenario, the existing loan portfolio shall either be closed by the MFI or transferred to the acquiring bank.
  3. Closure of all outstanding liabilities: As stated above, consequent to the acquisition, if the MFI is required to surrender its NBFC-MFI registration, the MFI would be required to prepay all outstanding liabilities, including non-convertible debentures (if any), availed from various banks and financial institutions.
  4. External Commercial Borrowing (“ECB”): The Master Direction – External Commercial Borrowings, Trade Credits and Structured Obligations, dated March 26, 2019, issued by the RBI (“ECB Master Directions”), governs ECBs availed by Indian entities. If an MFI has availed ECB, the same would be required to be pre-paid before its acquisition by the bank. In doing so, certain issues like Minimum Average Maturity Period (MAMP) of the availed ECBs, pre-payment penalty to be payable by MFI, etc., may arise.
  5. Redemption of Subordinated Debt: NBFC Directions inter alia govern subordinated debt availed by an MFI. In terms of paragraph 5.1.32 of Chapter 2 of the NBFC Directions, subordinated debt availed by an NBFC-MFI is not redeemable without the consent of the supervisory authority of such MFI. In light of this, prior RBI (being the supervisory authority) consent will be required by the MFI, for redemption of the subordinated debt availed by it, ahead of its date of maturity.

Commercial Considerations

In addition to regulatory considerations, there are several commercial aspects that the parties involved will need to factor in while negotiating and implementing such acquisition. Set out below are a few critical practical considerations:

  1. Business Correspondent Arrangements: Other financial institutions typically engage NBFC-MFIs as “business correspondents”, who are retail agents engaged by banks for providing banking services at locations other than a bank branch/ ATM. Accordingly, MFIs, acting in their capacity as business correspondents, disburse loans of banks/ financial institutions that appoint them as business correspondents. Business correspondent agreements typically contain detailed provisions inter alia relating to confidentiality and ownership of customer details, exclusivity, tenure, consent for change in control of the MFIs, notice for termination, etc. When a bank proposes to acquire an MFI that is engaged as a business correspondent, it would need to assess ways to deal with these business correspondent arrangements and how it can have access to the MFI customer database.
  2. Direct Assignment Arrangements: Given that MFIs are NBFCs registered with the RBI for lending purposes, MFIs have their own loan-book pursuant to the loans advanced to their customers. If the RBI requires the MFI to surrender its certificate of registration as an NBFC-MFI, the MFI would not be able to continue with such assets on its own balance sheet. Accordingly, the acquiring bank and the MFI may consider transferring the loan portfolio of the MFI to the acquiring bank. Such transfer shall be compliant with the appliable law. Key aspects to be considered for such compliance include: (i) having a board approved policy; (ii) ensuring transfer of economic interest without change in the underlying terms and conditions of the loan contracts; and (iii) transferring the right to transfer or dispose to the transferee.
  3. Existing Subsidiaries Carrying Out Same Business: If the acquiring bank has an existing subsidiary that is engaged in the same business as that of the target NBFC-MFI, then as per policy and practice, the RBI may direct the acquiring bank to combine all such subsidiaries into one entity. This is evidenced by the rationale for the scheme of amalgamation between Accelyst Solutions Private Limited (“ASPL”) and Freecharge Payment Technologies Private Limited (“FPTPL”), as set out in the report of the Board of Directors of ASPL[2]. The rationale for the scheme of amalgamation between ASPL and FPTPL is inter alia in furtherance to the compliance to be made by the Axis Bank group, with the RBI approval for ASPL and FPTPL. Accordingly, the acquiring bank should be prepared to ultimately have only one entity that is engaged in the same/ similar business.
  4. Employment Agreement with KMPs of the MFI: In an MFI setup, continuance of key employees is an important factor as most customers (borrowers) know these key employees personally. Accordingly, from a business sourcing and continuity perspective, it would be in the acquiring bank’s interest if such KMPs continue with the MFI, post the acquisition.

Conclusion

Given the synergies and benefits for a bank emanating from acquiring MFIs, it is likely that banks may explore such opportunities. While it may seem to be a straightforward M&A strategy for both the financial entities, in light of the discussion above, the legal, regulatory and commercial considerations would need to be dealt with and addressed appropriately in the transaction documents, when assessing such acquisitions. With the assistance of experienced professional advisors, these challenges may be navigated smoothly.        


[1] See: Non-banking Financial Sector: India’s NBFC sector now world’s 3rd largest, next only to USA & UK, ET BFSI (indiatimes.com)

[2] See: https://s.freecharge.in/content/images/shareholderdocs/Annexure-F_Accelyst-Report-adopted-by-Board-of-Directors-of-Accelyst-Solutions-Pvt-Ltd.pdf