Government banks, including 1,482 urban cooperative banks and 58 multi-state cooperative banks, are now being brought under the supervisory powers of the RBI. RBI’s powers will also apply to the cooperative banks as they apply to scheduled banks.
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday decided to bring all co-operative banks under the Reserve Bank of India through an ordinance. This was announced by Union information and broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar during a virtual press conference.
“Government banks, including 1,482 urban cooperative banks and 58 multi-state cooperative banks, are now being brought under supervisory powers of Reserve Bank of India (RBI),” Javadekar said today. These banks will come under the supervision of RBI with immediate effect from date of President’s approval on the ordinance.
After the Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Banks fiasco last year, the Union Cabinet in February amended Banking Regulation Act to strengthen the cooperative banks in the country. During Budget 2020, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also announced that cooperative banks will be brought under the ambit of RBI.
There are more than 8.6 crore depositors in over 1,500 urban and multi-state cooperative banks across the country. “Depositors’ money amounting to ₹4.84 lakh crore in the cooperatives banks will stay safe,” Javadekar said while announcing the decision.
The government also announced to provide 2% interest subvention to borrowers under the ‘Shishu’ category of the flagship Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY). Under the Shishu category, collateral free loans of up to ₹50,000 will be given to beneficiaries.
“The Union Cabinet has approved the scheme for interest subvention of 2% to Shishu loan category borrowers under PMMY, outstanding as on March 31, 2020, for a period of 12 months to eligible borrowers,” Javadekar said.
Launched in 2015, the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana provides loans up to ₹10 lakh to non-corporate, non-farm small/micro enterprises. These loans are classified as MUDRA loans under PMMY. Commercial banks, RRBs, small finance banks, MFIs and NBFCs provide MUDRA loans.
In the wake of coronavirus outbreak, the central government decided to extend the tenure of the OBC Commission by six months, Union minister Prakash Javadekar said. The government also announced ₹15,000-crore infrastructure fund to provide interest subvention of up to 3% to private players for setting up of dairy, poultry and meat processing units.
“A fund worth ₹15,000 crore has been approved by the Cabinet that will be open to all and will help in increasing milk production, boost exports and create 35 lakh jobs in the country,” Javadekar told.
The package works out to roughly 10 per cent of the GDP, making it among the most substantial in the world.
Key Highlights of the Special economic and comprehensive package of Rs 20 lakh crores Announced by the Govt. of India, for relief and credit support related to businesses, especially MSMEs to support Indian Economy, Atmanirbhar Bharat and to fight against COVID-19.
GOI Presentation on Rs. 20 Lac Crore Special Package: AtmaNirbhar Bharat (COVID-19)
Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi yesterday announced a Special economic and comprehensive package of Rs 20 lakh crores, equivalent to 10% of India’s GDP. He gave a clarion call for आत्मनिर्भर भारत अभियान or Self-Reliant India Movement. He also outlined five pillars of Aatmanirbhar Bharat– Economy, Infrastructure, System, Vibrant Demography and Demand.
During the press conference here today, Union Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman said in her opening remarks that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had laid out a comprehensive vision in his address to the Nation yesterday. She further said that after spending considerable time, the Prime Minister has himself ensured that inputs obtained from widespread consultation form a part of economic package in fight against COVID-19.
“Essentially, the goal is to build a self-reliant India that is why the Economic Package is called Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan. Citing the pillars on which we seek to build Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan, Smt. Sitharaman said our focus would be on land, labour, liquidity and law.
The Finance Minister further said that the Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been listening and is a responsive Government, hence it is fitting to recall some reforms which have been undertaken since 2014.
“Soon after Budget 2020 came COVID-19 and within hours of the announcement of Lockdown 1.0, Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojna (PMGKY) was announced,” Smt. Sitharaman said. She further said that we are going to build on this package.
“Beginning today, for the next few days, I shall be coming here with the entire team of the Ministry of Finance to detail the Prime Minister’s vision for Aatma Nirbhar Bharat laid out by the Prime Minister yesterday,” Smt Sitharaman said.
Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman today announced measures focused on Getting back to work i.e., enabling employees and employers, businesses, especially Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, to get back to production and workers back to gainful employment. Efforts to strengthen Non-Banking Finance Institutions (NBFCs), Housing Finance Companies (HFCs), Micro Finance Sector and Power Sector were also unfolded. Other than this, the tax relief to business, relief from contractual commitments to contractors in public procurement and compliance relief to real estate sector were also covered.
Over the last five years, the Government has actively taken various measures for the industry and MSME. For the Real Estate sector, the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act [RERA] was enacted in 2016 to bring in more transparency into the industry. A special fund for affordable and middle income housing was set up last year to help with the stress in this segment. To help MSMEs with the issue of delayed payment by any Government department or PSUs, Samadhaan Portal was launched in 2017. A Fund of Funds for startups was set up under SIDBI to boost entrepreneurship in the country and various other credit guarantee schemes to help flow of credit to the MSMEs.
Key Highlights of the Special economic and comprehensive package of Rs 20 lakh crores Announced by Govt. of India (COVID-19)
a) Rs 3 lakh crore Emergency Working Capital Facility for Businesses, including MSMEs
To provide relief to the business, additional working capital finance of 20% of the outstanding credit as on 29 February 2020, in the form of a Term Loan at a concessional rate of interest will be provided. This will be available to units with upto Rs 25 crore outstanding and turnover of up to Rs 100 crore whose accounts are standard. The units will not have to provide any guarantee or collateral of their own. The amount will be 100% guaranteed by the Government of India providing a total liquidity of Rs. 3.0 lakh crores to more than 45 lakh MSMEs.
b) Rs 20,000 crore Subordinate Debt for Stressed MSMEs
Provision made for Rs. 20,000 cr subordinate debt for two lakh MSMEs which are NPA or are stressed. Government will support them with Rs. 4,000 Cr. to Credit Guarantee Trust for Micro and Small enterprises (CGTMSE). Banks are expected to provide the subordinate-debt to promoters of such MSMEs equal to 15% of his existing stake in the unit subject to a maximum of Rs 75 lakhs.
c) Rs 50,000 crores equity infusion through MSME Fund of Funds
Govt will set up a Fund of Funds with a corpus of Rs 10,000 crore that will provide equity funding support for MSMEs. The Fund of Funds shall be operated through a Mother and a few Daughter funds. It is expected that with leverage of 1:4 at the level of daughter funds, the Fund of Funds will be able to mobilise equity of about Rs 50,000 crores.
d) New definition of MSME
Definition of MSME will be revised by raising the Investment limit. An additional criteria of turnover also being introduced. The distinction between manufacturing and service sector will also be eliminated.
e) Other Measures for MSME
e-market linkage for MSMEs will be promoted to act as a replacement for trade fairs and exhibitions. MSME receivables from Government and CPSEs will be released in 45 days.
f) No Global tenders for Government tenders of up to Rs 200 crores
General Financial Rules (GFR) of the Government will be amended to disallow global tender enquiries in procurement of Goods and Services of value of less than Rs 200 crores.
g) Employees Provident Fund Support for business and organised workers
The scheme introduced as part of PMGKP under which Government of India contributes 12% of salary each on behalf of both employer and employee to EPF will be extended by another 3 months for salary months of June, July and August 2020. Total benefits accrued is about Rs 2500 crores to 72.22 lakh employees.
h) EPF Contribution to be reduced for Employers and Employees for 3 months
Statutory PF contribution of both employer and employee reduced to 10% each from existing 12% each for all establishments covered by EPFO for next 3 months. This will provide liquidity of about Rs.2250 Crore per month.
i) Rs 30,000 crores Special Liquidity Scheme for NBFC/HFC/MFIs
Government will launch Rs 30,000 crore Special Liquidity Scheme, liquidity being provided by RBI. Investment will be made in primary and secondary market transactions in investment grade debt paper of NBFCs, HFCs and MFIs. This will be 100 percent guaranteed by the Government of India.
j) Rs 45,000 crores Partial credit guarantee Scheme 2.0 for Liabilities of NBFCs/MFIs
Existing Partial Credit Guarantee scheme is being revamped and now will be extended to cover the borrowings of lower rated NBFCs, HFCs and other Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs). Government of India will provide 20 percent first loss sovereign guarantee to Public Sector Banks.
k) Rs 90,000 crore Liquidity Injection for DISCOMs
Power Finance Corporation and Rural Electrification Corporation will infuse liquidity in the DISCOMS to the extent of Rs 90000 crores in two equal instalments. This amount will be used by DISCOMS to pay their dues to Transmission and Generation companies. Further, CPSE GENCOs will give a rebate to DISCOMS on the condition that the same is passed on to the final consumers as a relief towards their fixed charges.
l) Relief to Contractors
All central agencies like Railways, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and CPWD will give extension of up to 6 months for completion of contractual obligations, including in respect of EPC and concession agreements.
m) Relief to Real Estate Projects
State Governments are being advised to invoke the Force Majeure clause under RERA. The registration and completion date for all registered projects will be extended up to 6 months and may be further extended by another 3 months based on the State’s situation. Various statutory compliances under RERA will also be extended concurrently.
n) Tax Relief to Business
The pending income tax refunds to charitable trusts and non-corporate businesses and professions including proprietorship, partnership and LLPs and cooperatives shall be issued immediately.
o) Tax related measures
Reduction in Rates of ‘Tax Deduction at Source’ and ‘Tax Collected at Source” – The TDS rates for all non-salaried payment to residents, and tax collected at source rate will be reduced by 25 percent of the specified rates for the remaining period of FY 20-21.This will provided liquidity to the tune of Rs 50,000 Crore.
The due date of all Income Tax Returns for Assessment Year 2020-21 will be extended to 30 November, 2020. Similarly, tax audit due date will be extended to 31 October 2020.
The date for making payment without additional amount under the “Vivad Se Vishwas” scheme will be extended to 31 December, 2020.
The credit to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) is expected to grow at 12-14 per cent over the next five years, helped by higher lending by non banking finance companies (NBFC) to the segment, says a report.
As on March 2017, credit to MSMEs stood at Rs 16 trillion.
NBFC and housing finance companies are expected to expand at about 20-21 per cent compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) in this space during the period, while bank credit to this segment, which accounted for about 84 per cent of total MSME credit, is estimated to grow at a lower CAGR of 9-11 per cent, according to a report by Icra.
“Non-banks share in the MSME credit pie should expand to 22-23 per cent by March 2022 compared to 16 per cent in March 2017. Non-banks, with their niche positioning, differentiated product offering, good market knowledge and large unmet demand, would be able grow at a healthy rate vis-a-vis banks,” the rating agency’s assistant vice president and sector head, A M Karthik said.
He added there is large unmet credit demand in the MSME segment, which was estimate to be about Rs 25 trillion in FY2017.
“Notwithstanding the estimated growth, the unmet credit demand quantum is likely to increase further, going forward,” he said.
With large corporate credit expected to remain sluggish, at least over the next one-two years, the bank credit to the MSME segment is expected to be around 9-11 per cent with public sector banks growing at 7-9 per cent and private banks at 16-18 per cent, the report said.
Banking NPAs in the MSMEs segment stood high at about 8.4 per cent in March 2017 while that of non-banks stood at about 3 per cent as on that date.
The report said notwithstanding the moderate seasoning of the portfolio, non-banks have a more flexible and customised credit assessment for this segment and have steadily been moving to lower ticket loans, in view of the asset quality pressure in the large ticket loans and better yields in the smaller ticket loan categories.
“While non-bank asset quality is expected to worsen from current levels, the extent of deterioration may be lower than that witnessed in banks,” the report said.
Lending and borrowing money is now India’s fastest-growing segment, and the successful industry and lenders are the latest darlings of equity investors. The share of banks and non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) in the market capitalisation (market cap, or m-cap) of all listed companies is now at an all-time high, as manufacturing companies and non-financial services such as information technology (IT) battle demand slowdown.
Banks and NBFCs, including insurance companies, now account for 22.3 per cent of the combined m-cap — the highest in at least two decades, and up from 17.2 per cent in March 2014 and 17.3 per cent five-and-a-half years ago in March 2012.
In contrast, the m-cap share of manufacturing companies is now down to a 10-year low of 54 per cent, against 55 per cent at the end of FY14 and around 57 per cent five years ago.
The biggest decline has, however, been recorded by companies in the non-financial services sector, whose largest component is IT exporters such as Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, and Wipro. Non-financial services sector companies’ share in m-cap has declined to an all-time low of 23.7 per cent, against 28 per cent three years ago.
The combined m-cap of banks and NBFCs is up 145 per cent in the last three years to ~30.4 lakh crore now, growing at an annualised rate of 29 per cent since March 2014. Public sector banks have not participated in this boom as they lend largely to businesses which are now shrinking due to a virtual freeze on fresh investment by the corporate sector.
In the same period, manufacturers’ combined m-cap is up 85 per cent to ~73.6 lakh crore, growing at an annualised rate of 19.2 per cent during the period.
Non-financial services have been the laggards with the sector, with m-cap up 61 per cent during the period to ~32.4 lakh crore now, growing at an annualised rate of 14.6 per cent since March 2014.
The analysis is based on the year end m-cap and revenues of actively traded companies for every year since 1994-95. This means that the sample gets bigger every year as more companies get listed. For example in FY17, the sample had 3,552 companies, while the FY95 numbers were based on a sample of 1,551 companies. However, the absolute numbers are not important, as the analysis is based on a percentage of total m-cap.
It may not show in the overall numbers, but the boom in retail finance has had a knock-on effect on related segments in manufacturing and services. For example, most of the growth is now occurring in segments such as consumer durables, including passenger cars and two wheelers, and organised retail, where purchases are loan financed.
Experts attribute this to the growing financialisation of the Indian economy and near stagnation in industrial growth and service exports. “Private lenders and retail NBFCs continue to grow, even as the rest of the economy is on the verge of stagnation. This has made financial stocks the darlings of investors,” says G Chokkalingam, founder and MD, Equinomics Research & Advisory.
It shows in the revenue growth of listed companies vehicles or homes. across various sectors. The In the last three years, personal core revenues (or interest loans or household debt income) of banks and non-bank has grown at a CAGR of 18 per lenders grew at a compound cent, against 10.2 per cent annual growth rate compounded growth in disposable (CAGR) of 7.3 per cent in the income (at current last three years, making the prices) net of taxes during the sector one of the fastest-growing period, according to the Reserve Bank of India data.
In the same period, the all, the total household debt combined revenues of manufacturers, is up 65 per cent cumulatively including utilities in the last three years, against and construction firms, grew 35 per cent rise in disposable at a CAGR of 2.8 per cent, income during the period. while net sales of companies This has translated into a in non-financial services contracted boom in retail lending and a at an annualised rate sharp rise in valuation of of 4.8 per cent during the retail lenders such as private period. sector banks and NBFCs,
Lenders have also gained including Housing from a growing propensity of Development Finance Indians to borrow for purchasing Corporation, consumer Bajaj Finance, goods, Indiabulls Housing, Equitas Holdings, Bharat Financial Individuals, in turn, are taking Inclusion, and PNB Housing. on more risks and leveraging.
“Financials are now the their income to keep up only growth industry in the consumption despite a slowdown country. This has led to a in their income growth bubble-like valuation in the in line with the slowdown in retail lending space, especially gross domestic product NBFCs,” says growth,” says Dhananjay Sinha.
He expects the trend to robust growth in industry last for a while, given the and exports. “Consumers’ growing reliance on private income growth is dependent consumption in the economy on the performance of the despite poor growth in jobs farm, industrial and service and income. sector, especially software.
For how long can encouraging consumption people continue to borrow through fiscal spending in a and keep up their consumption bid to push up economic if income growth growth in the face of a slowdown remains depressed?” asks in corporate investment Chokkalingam.
In yet another attempt to crack the whip on shell companies, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs has issued notices to companies which were supposed to act as non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) but have not registered with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
The ministry has taken this action to seek an explanation from these companies on their businesses within 10 days, a source said
If companies are found to be in the non-banking financial activities such as lending, investment or deposit acceptance as their principal business, without the RBI registration, the central bank can impose a penalty or even prosecute them in a court of law.
A similar attempt was undertaken by the RBI a few years back. In 2013, the RBI had clamped down on unregistered NBFCs after the Saradha scam. The central bank undertook such an exercise even in 2014. The pan-India figure of such entities back then was around 70,000. The number of non-registered NBFCs has risen since then, an official said.
The Securities & Exchange Board of India (Sebi) had recently put 331 companies on heightened surveillance. It also delisted entities it suspected of being shell companies. The Centre, too, has frozen bank accounts of 200,000 companies after these were struck off by Registrar of Companies. The directors of these firms were also banned.
The Centre and its agencies are not only taking corrective action but are also initiating pre-emptive steps to check the menace of dormant companies. It is working with Sebi to get all public unlisted companies to issue shares online. Experts said this would ensure greater transparency in these companies and bring down litigation.
After demonetisation, a number of shell companies were found to be operating with the same address, not directly contributing to the mainstream economy. It was then that the government sprung into action.
An NBFC is a company registered under the Companies Act, 1956, engaged in the business of loans and advances among other functions. It is also a company which receives deposits under any scheme or arrangement in one lump sum or in installments by way of contributions or in any other manner, as its principal business.
India Inc’s M&A deal tally in March rose four-fold to $27.82 billion, led by the Vodafone-Idea merger, taking the overall figure to $31.54 billion in the first quarter of 2017, says a report.
Overall deal activity in the January-March quarter witnessed an unprecedented three-fold year-on-year rise in value terms, driven solely by the Vodafone-Idea mega merger, which accounted for 80 per cent of the total values.
“The Indian deal activity was dominated by big-ticket mergers and acquisitions (M&As) this quarter. The quarter witnessed one of the largest deals in the country with Vodafone and Idea’s merger, which is estimated at around $27 billion,” Grant Thornton India LLP Partner Prashant Mehra said.
The January-March quarter recorded $33.7 billion across 300 deals marking a sharp increase in value as compared to $10.9 billion in the same period last year while volumes declined by 27 per cent.Without the Vodafone-Idea mega merger, estimated to be a $27 billion transaction, the deal activity would have recorded 39 per cent decline in values, assurance, tax and advisory firm Grant Thornton said.
M&A market activity has so far been driven solely by the big-ticket deals, while on the other hand number of transactions continued to slip for the third straight quarter.
“Primary driver for M&A growth was consolidation in the domestic market with deal values growing by 10 times on the back of healthy capital markets and easing credit conditions. This enabled companies strike big ticket deals either to slash debt or consolidate market share,” Mehra said.
Meanwhile, the cross-border deal activity is yet to pick up pace in 2017 as compared to previous quarters due to looming uncertainties in the global economy.
Going forward M&A activity this year is expected to stay positive owing to the sustained interest in Indian economy.
Mehra believes consolidation and expansion is set to be the major theme that will drive the deal activity, especially in healthcare, telecom, e-commerce and infrastructure sectors.”In financial services sector, the possibility of new business models emerging post demonetisation, continued fund raising by NBFCs and a consolidation push by micro finance firms will play a big role,” he added.
Non-banking finance companies could well outpace commercial banks, struggling to grow amid muted loan expansion and bad loan burden, said global rating company Moody’s.
But, NBFCs too are exposed to certain risks emanating from their fast-faced growth in loan against properties, which they are in a position to mitigate with larger share in mortgaged loans.
Non-bank financial companies (NBFCs) in India (Baa3 positive) will demonstrate broadly stable asset quality, but delinquencies will likely rise over the next 1-2 quarters, as demonetisation adversely affects collections across asset classes, said Moody’s Investors Service in a note.
“While the 90+days delinquency rate in the commercial vehicle (CV) loan segment largely stabilized in the first half of the fiscal year ending 31 March 2017, such delinquencies should build up in the near term due to the adverse impact of demonetisation and tighter recognition norms for non-performing assets (NPAs),” said Alka Anbarasu, a Moody’s Vice President and Senior Analyst.
Moody’s also notes that the growth in loans against property (LAP) has outpaced overall retail credit growth in recent years, but relatively loose underwriting practices–combined with intensifying competition – will translate into higher asset quality risk for this segment.
Furthermore, over the past 3 years, NBFCs have gained some market share in the origination of retail lending, on the back of the faster growth exhibited by such entities when compared to the banks.
This is particularly the case when compared to public sector banks, which face significant challenges on their asset quality and overall solvency profiles.
“Nevertheless, we expect that competitive pressures from the banking sector will remain intense as banks are increasing targeting of the retail segment to offset weakness in their corporate lending. In addition, retail lending, particularly housing loans, is more capital efficient for the banks,” said Anbarasu.
And, while the NBFCs’ capitalization levels are adequate, with average Tier 1 ratios in excess of 14%, capital generation will lag credit growth. Access to external capital will therefore be key in sustaining the NBFCs’ growth momentum.
On funding, Moody’s expects that the NBFCs’ funding profiles will broadly remain stable, and funding costs should moderate gradually, given the reduction in systemic rates.
In addition, the NBFCs’ profitability and capital, as well as funding and liquidity levels, will stay broadly stable.
The NBFCs are growing at a fast pace, and have gained market share in the origination of retail credit. And, their share of LAP pose a potential source of risk, with such loans growing at a rapid compound annual growth rate of about 25% over the last four years compared to 17% for overall retail credit.
Moody’s says that the NBFCs’ exposure to potential risks from LAP is broadly offset by their share of stable mortgage loans, because favorable demographics and economics, tax incentives for home loans and an increasingly affordable housing segment support asset quality.
Moody’s expects that the loss given default for both home loans and LAP will be limited, in light of the underlying collateral.
