Loans at a discount to the benchmark prime lending rates of banks are back with a majority of the fresh loans being disbursed at sub-PLR rates.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided "in principle" to bring under its regulatory ambit holding companies floated by business groups and companies that also own non-banking finance companies (NBFC).
With interest rates softening, banks are slowly re-pricing the cost of short-term credit extended to the corporate sector.
The department had sent a notice to the company seeking details and clarifications on a host of issues besides the original agreement between Hutch and Vodafone to establish the jurisdiction of the tax authorities to determine the tax liability. This follow an SC order in January 2009 to the effect that Vodafone should present its case to the tax authorities first and submit a copy of the share purchase agreement, the deadline for which expires by the end of this month.
"This is for the first time that a manufacturer will charge for an application form. However, it will be refunded if an application is rejected," said a senior bank executive. Bookings are expected to start by the last week of March. The forms will be collected through various channels. "All the forms and the collected money will be transferred to SBI, where they will be processed, and loans will be given through various banks within 90 days," said a source.
Internal assessment follows banks' worries over systemic risks.
Sources said a notification to this effect will be released soon. Indian arms of foreign firms make it a rule that audits must be conducted by their foreign partners for Indian companies approaching the overseas markets for any reason. No such rule exists, the source said, although the practice is common. "We are screening partnership agreements of all these firms to analyse the legal basis on which the foreign firms audit Indian companies," the source added.
The central bank will send its comments to the finance ministry shortly. Sources close to the developments said a better way could have been worked out to increase the sectoral caps. The sources said while a cap was meant to protect the interest of the Indian shareholders in sensitive sectors, the new mode of calculation of indirect foreign holding provided for a circuitous way.
Issue tied in with review of foreign bank operations in India. RBI had earlier proposed to defer the review, which is meant to provide guidelines for the presence of foreign banks in India from April 2009 onwards, given the current economic meltdown globally and in the domestic markets.
International hoteliers operating in the country through sales agreements with Indian hotels can expect some relief after the Delhi High Court ruled on January 30 that income paid by the Indian partner to its foreign counterpart is exempt from tax since it cannot be considered royalty or technical fees. The ruling in favour of US-based Sheraton International Inc was in response to an appeal filed by the Income Tax Department challenging the service agreement.
To take up debt restructuring of cash-strapped retailer.
Public sector banks could see higher pressure on their net interest margins in the coming months as they have mopped up large amounts of deposits at higher rates and have also effected steep cuts in lending rates between November 2008 and January 2009.
Public sector banks are increasingly looking at promoter funding as a business opportunity when others are shying away from it.
When AS-15 became operative in 2006, the initial estimate for additional pension provisioning was estimated at Rs 6,000 crore. However, the latest wage revision may bring in an additional 275,000 bank employees who opted for PF. Banks may also provide for the pension liabilities of 65,000 employees who have retired but have been seeking resort to the defined pension scheme since 1996. This will require additional provisioning of Rs 6,000 crore.
The study conducted at select bank branches in the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu has found that the lack of financial literacy was the main reason behind the non-operative accounts. Other aspects like distance from branches also had their share in influencing the degree of usage.
While the ministry sources clarified that the overall policy for fax editions is still under review, this proposal has been given approval on a case-to-case basis in FIPB's meeting held last week. The proposal was turned down twice earlier pending the review but the company had applied to FIPB under deferred proposal agenda in its meeting on January 9.
Official sources said the 2000-01 acquisitions -- notably the high-profile purchase of web portal India World Communications from Rajesh Jain for Rs 499 crore (Rs 4.99 billion) -- by Satyam Infoway could mark the start of the company siphoning funds overseas under the guise of acquiring companies. Satyam Infoway was merged with Satyam Computers in 2002.
Banks led by State Bank of India are set to lower deposit rates by over 50 basis points by the middle of the month, followed by a reduction in lending rates.
The government is considering setting up a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for financing of non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) following the reluctance of banks and mutual funds to make available funds for the sector.
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