RBI/2014-15/35
DNBS (PD) CC No. 389/03.10.001/2014-15
July 1, 2014
To
All Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs)
Dear Sirs,
Master Circular - Allied activities - Entry into insurance business, issue of credit card and marketing and distribution of certain products
In order to have all current instructions in one place, the Reserve Bank of India issues updated circulars/notifications to NBFCs on various subjects. It is advised that instructions on various allied activities carried out by NBFCs as updated till June 30, 2014, have been compiled herein and enclosed for ready reference. The Master Circular has also been placed on the RBI web-site (http://www.rbi.org.in).
Yours faithfully,
(K.K.Vohra)
Principal Chief General Manager
Table of Contents
Instructions on Allied Activities
I. 1Entry into insurance business
(1) In the statement of Monetary and Credit Policy 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.
(a) NBFCs registered with Reserve Bank of India may take up insurance agency business on fee basis and without risk participation, without the approval of Reserve Bank of India subject to the certain conditions;
(b) NBFCs registered with RBI which satisfy the eligibility criteria will be permitted to set up a joint venture company for undertaking insurance business with risk participation, subject to safeguards. The maximum equity contribution such an NBFC can hold in the joint venture company will normally be 50 per cent of the paid-up capital of the insurance company. On a selective basis, the Reserve Bank of India may permit a higher equity contribution by a promoter NBFC, pending divestment of equity within the prescribed period. 2In case more than one company (irrespective of doing financial activity or not) in the same group of the NBFC wishes to take a stake in the insurance company, the contribution by all companies in the same group shall be counted for the limit of 50 percent prescribed for the NBFC in an insurance JV. 3In cases where IRDA issues calls for capital infusion into the Insurance JV company, the Bank may, on a case to case basis, consider need based relaxation of the 50% group limit specified in CC No 221 dated May 27, 2011. The relaxation, if permitted, will be subject to compliance by the NBFC with all regulatory conditions specified in DNBS(PD) CC.No.35/10.24/2003-04 dated February 10, 2004 and such other conditions as may be necessary in the specific case. Application for such relaxation along with supporting documents are to be submitted by the NBFC to the Regional Office of the Reserve Bank under whose jurisdiction its registered office is situated;
(c) NBFCs registered with RBI which are not eligible as joint venture participants, as above can make investments up to 10 per cent of the owned fund of the NBFC or Rs.50 crore, whichever is lower, in the insurance company subject to eligibility criteria for such investment.
(2)(a) No NBFC would be allowed to conduct such business departmentally. A subsidiary or company in the same group of an NBFC or of another NBFC engaged in the business of an non-banking financial institution or banking business will not normally be allowed to join the insurance company on risk participation basis.
(b) All NBFCs registered with RBI entering into insurance business as investors or on risk participation basis will be required to obtain prior approval of the Reserve Bank. The Reserve Bank will give permission to NBFCs on case to case basis keeping in view all relevant factors. It should be ensured that risks involved in insurance business do not get transferred to the NBFC and that the NBFC business does not get contaminated by any risks which may arise from insurance business.
4Note: The term "Companies in the same group shall mean an arrangement involving two or more entities related to each other through any of the following relationships: Subsidiary – parent (defined in terms of AS 21), Joint venture (defined in terms of AS 27), Associate (defined in terms of AS 23), Promoter-promotee (as provided in the SEBI (Acquisition of Shares and Takeover) Regulations, 1997) for listed companies, a related party (defined in terms of AS 18), Common brand name, and investment in equity shares of 20% and above.
(3)5In view of the unique business model of Core Investment Companies(CICs), separate set of guidelines have been issued for their entry into insurance business. While the eligibility criteria, in general, are similar to that for other NBFCs, no ceiling has been stipulated for CICs in their investment in an insurance joint venture. Further, it is clarified that CICs cannot undertake insurance agency business. CICs exempted from registration with RBI do not require prior approval provided they fulfill all the necessary conditions of exemption as provided in CC No.206 dated January 05, 2011. Their investment in insurance joint venture would be guided by IRDA norms.
II. 6Issue of Credit card
NBFCs registered with RBI are not allowed to undertake credit card business without prior approval of RBI. Any company including a non-deposit taking company intending to engage in this activity requires a 7Certificate of Registration, apart from specific permission to enter into this business, the pre-requisite for which is a minimum net owned fund of Rs.100 crore and subject to such terms and conditions as the Bank may specify in this behalf from time to time. NBFCs are not permitted to issue debit cards, smart cards, stored value cards, charge cards, etc. as advised explicitly in February 21, 2005. Further, NBFCs have to comply also with the instructions issued by Bank to commercial banks vide DBOD.FSD.BC.49/24.01.011/2005-06 dated November 21, 2005.
III. 8Issue of Co-branded Credit Cards
NBFCs registered with the RBI are allowed selectively to issue co-branded credit cards with scheduled commercial banks, without risk sharing, with prior approval of the Reserve Bank, for an initial period of two years and a review thereafter. NBFCs fulfilling the minimum eligibility requirements and adhering to certain stipulations are eligible to apply.
IV. 9Distribution of Mutual Fund (MF) products by NBFCs
NBFCs are allowed, selectively, to market and distribute MF products as agents of MFs, with prior approval of Reserve Bank, for an initial period of two years and a review thereafter. NBFCs fulfilling the certain minimum requirements are eligible to apply. The permission is liable to be withdrawn with a notice period of 3 months in the event of any undesirable / unhealthy operations coming to the notice of the Bank.
Appendix
List of Circulars
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