The Reserve Bank vide its circular dated September 28, 2006, issued guidelines on Fair Practices Code (FPC) for all NBFCs to be adopted by them while doing lending business. The guidelines inter alia, covered general principles on adequate disclosures on the terms and conditions of a loan and also adopting a non-coercive recovery method.1 The same was revised in view of the recent developments with sector including creation of New Category of NBFCs viz; NBFC-MFI and also the rapid growth in NBFCs lending against gold jewellery. Revised circular was issued on March 26, 2012.
As you are aware, in order to have all current instructions on the subject at one place, the Reserve Bank of India had issued a Master Circular No. 228 on the captioned subject, which is now updated up to 30th June 2012. It may be noted that the Master Circular consolidates and updates all the instructions contained in the notifications listed in the Appendix in so far they relate to the subject. The Master Circular has also been placed on the RBI web-site (http://www.rbi.org.in). A copy of the revised Master Circular is enclosed.
As you are aware, in order to have all current instructions on the subject at one place, the Reserve Bank of India issues updated Circulars/notifications. The instructions contained in the Notification No.DFC.118/DG (SPT)-98 dated January 31, 1998 updated as on June 30, 2012 are reproduced below. The updated Notification has also been placed on the RBI web-site (http://www.rbi.org.in).
In the statement of Monetary and Credit Policy for the year 2000-2001 announced by our Governor on April 27, 2000 it was indicated, inter alia, that the guidelines for entry of NBFCs into insurance business would be announced. Accordingly, the Bank issued on June 9, 2000 the final guidelines after taking into account the views/suggestions/comments of the market participants as given below. The aspirant NBFCs are advised to make an application along with necessary particulars duly certified by their statutory auditors to the Regional Office of Department of Non-Banking Supervision under whose jurisdiction the registered office of the NBFCs is situated.
As it is evident, the need for good corporate governance has been gaining increased emphasis over the years. Globally, companies are adopting best corporate practices to increase the investors confidence as also that of other stakeholders. Corporate Governance is the key to protecting the interests of the stake-holders in the corporate sector. Its universal applicability has no exception to the Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) which too are essentially corporate entities. Listed NBFCs which are required to adhere to listing agreement and rules framed by SEBI on Corporate Governance are already required to comply with SEBI prescriptions on Corporate Governance.
Matters to be included in the Auditor’s report – The auditor’s report on the accounts of a non-banking financial company shall include a statement on the following matters, namely: -(A) In the case of all Non-Banking Financial Companies I. Whether the company is engaged in the business of non-banking financial institution and whether it has obtained a Certificate of Registration (CoR) from the Bank II. In the case of a company holding CoR issued by the Bank, whether that company is entitled to continue to hold such CoR in terms of its asset/income pattern as on March 31 of the applicable year.
Foreign Exchange Derivative Contracts, Overseas Commodity & Freight Hedging, Rupee Accounts of Non-Resident Banks, Inter-Bank Foreign Exchange Dealings, etc. are governed by the provisions in Notification No. FEMA 1/2000-RB, Regulation 4(2) of Notification No. FEMA 3/RB-2000 and Notification No. FEMA 25/RB-2000 dated May 3, 2000 and subsequent amendments thereto.
Incidence of frauds in NBFCs is a matter of concern. While the primary responsibility for preventing frauds lies with NBFCs themselves, a reporting system for frauds is prescribed in the following paragraphs, which may be adopted by NBFCs, both NBFCs-D and NBFCs-ND-SI(NBFCs with asset size of Rs. 100 crore and above)1.
I banks should ensure that due diligence is undertaken and Know Your Customer (KYC) norms and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) guidelines, issued by the Reserve Bank are adhered to while undertaking import of the metals and rough, cut and polished diamonds. Further, any large or abnormal increase in the volume of business should be closely examined to ensure that the transactions are bonafide and are not intended for interest/currency arbitrage. All other instructions relating to import of these metals and rough, cut and polished diamonds shall continue.
As indicated in the Second Quarter Review of Monetary Policy in November 2010, a Sub-Committee of the Central Board of the Reserve Bank (Chairman: Shri Y. H. Malegam) was constituted to study issues and concerns in the MFI sector. The Committee submitted its report in January 2011. In the Monetary Policy Statement 2011-12, it was announced that the broad framework of regulations recommended by the Committee has been accepted by the Bank.
