A. The reserves created under the Companies Act can be considered as part of the 25 per cent of the NOFHC’s annual profits transferred to the Reserve Fund. [Paragraph 2 (H)(i) (d) of the guidelines].

The Promoter / Promoter Group entities / individuals associated with Promoter Group shall hold equity investment in the bank and other financial entities held by it, only through the NOFHC [Paragraph 2 (C) viii of the guidelines]. However, there is no bar on the Promoter Group entities advancing funds (other than equity) to the bank. The Promoter Group entities would have to follow the guidelines / instructions of the respective regulators in order to advance funds to the financial entities held by the NOFHC. As far as Promoter Group entities placing deposits with the bank or extending advances to it is concerned, the bank shall maintain arm’s length relationship with Promoters / Promoter Group entities [Paragraph 2 (K) (iv) of the guidelines].

The Promoter / Promoter Group entities / individuals associated with Promoter Group shall hold equity investment in the bank and other financial entities held by it, only through the NOFHC [Paragraph 2 (C) viii of the guidelines]. However, there is no bar on the Promoter Group entities advancing funds (other than equity) to the bank. The Promoter Group entities would have to follow the guidelines / instructions of the respective regulators in order to advance funds to the financial entities held by the NOFHC. As far as Promoter Group entities placing deposits with the bank or extending advances to it is concerned, the bank shall maintain arm’s length relationship with Promoters / Promoter Group entities [Paragraph 2 (K) (iv) of the guidelines].

A. The bank’s credit and investment (other than equity / debt capital instruments of the NOFHC and financial sector entities held under the NOFHC, on which exposure cannot be taken) exposure to financial entities under the NOFHC will be subject to intra group transactions and exposure (ITE) norms [para 2(I)(iii)(c) of the guidelines]. As regards exposure of entities regulated by other financial sector regulators, to the bank and other entities held under NOFHC, such exposures would be in accordance with the rules/regulations of the respective sectoral regulators.

A. At the time of submission of application for the bank licence, the Promoters have to indicate the source of funds. After obtaining the in-principle approval from RBI, the NOFHC may be incorporated and the capital may be mobilised, as required within 18 months from the date of in principle approval and before the commencement of banking business, whichever is earlier.

The assessment of the ‘financial soundness’ and ‘successful track record’ is a matter of judgment, and will have to be determined both on quantitative and qualitative basis; and no specific yardstick/criteria can be spelt out. In making this judgment, consideration will also have to be given to information obtained from the regulators, and enforcement and investigative agencies like Income Tax, CBI, Enforcement Directorate, etc. wherever considered appropriate. Further, the applications received will be subjected to a multi-layered evaluation process, including the High Level Advisory Committee (HLAC). [Paragraph 2(B) of the guidelines]

The assessment of the ‘financial soundness’ and ‘successful track record’ is a matter of judgment, and will have to be determined both on quantitative and qualitative basis; and no specific yardstick/criteria can be spelt out. In making this judgment, consideration will also have to be given to information obtained from the regulators, and enforcement and investigative agencies like Income Tax, CBI, Enforcement Directorate, etc. wherever considered appropriate. Further, the applications received will be subjected to a multi-layered evaluation process, including the High Level Advisory Committee (HLAC). [Paragraph 2(B) of the guidelines]

A. For applying the yardstick / criteria of ‘financial soundness’ and ‘successful track record’, RBI would consider all the businesses / activities of the Promoters / Promoter Group as considered appropriate. [Paragraph 2(B) of the guidelines]

A. The ‘Fit and Proper criteria’, as stipulated at paragraph 2(A) & (B) of the guidelines will be determined based upon the past record and the future plan. No threshold has been prescribed for business misaligned with the banking model.

A. The requirement of the NOFHC is for both financial groups and for corporate groups having a mix of both non–financial and financial services businesses. [Paragraph 2 (C) of the guidelines]

A. The provisions of para 2 (C) (ii) of the guidelines will not apply to entities in the public sector. All the other provisions of the guidelines will apply to the entities in the public sector that promote the NOFHC / bank.

A. Two or more different Promoter groups cannot jointly promote a bank. The NOFHC setting up a bank has to be wholly-owned by a single Promoter Group. Entities other than the Promoters / Promoter Group can hold voting shares in the bank subject to the limitations indicated in Paragraph 2 (K) (ii) and (iii) of the guidelines.

The corporate structure of the NOFHC as given in paragraphs 2 (C) (i), (ii) & (iii) will have to be fully met. The requirement is that the NOFHC has to be wholly owned by the Promoters/Promoter Group. Further, at least 51 percent of the voting equity shares of the NOFHC have to be held by companies in the Promoter Group in which public hold not less than 51 percent of the voting equity of those companies. [Paragraph 2 (C) (i) & (ii) of the guidelines] If an existing Promoter Group company including a core investment company of the Group satisfies the above criteria, it can be the NOFHC.

The corporate structure of the NOFHC as given in paragraphs 2 (C) (i), (ii) & (iii) will have to be fully met. The requirement is that the NOFHC has to be wholly owned by the Promoters/Promoter Group. Further, at least 51 percent of the voting equity shares of the NOFHC have to be held by companies in the Promoter Group in which public hold not less than 51 percent of the voting equity of those companies. [Paragraph 2 (C) (i) & (ii) of the guidelines] If an existing Promoter Group company including a core investment company of the Group satisfies the above criteria, it can be the NOFHC.

A. All the shareholders mentioned above will be treated as ‘public’ shareholders in both unlisted and listed entities, provided that no individual shareholder along with his relatives (as defined in Section 6 of the Companies Act, 1956) and entities in which he and/or his relatives hold not less than 50 per cent of the voting equity shares, or acting in concert with other shareholders exercises ‘significant influence’ or ‘control’ (as defined in Accounting Standard 23) over the company. [Paragraph 2(C)(ii)(b) of the guidelines]

A. Companies belonging to the Promoter Group in which the public shareholding is not less than 51 per cent must hold not less than 51 per cent of the voting equity shares of the NOFHC. These companies can be listed or unlisted, but in either case, ‘public shareholding’ requires that no person along with his relatives (as defined in Section 6 of the Companies Act, 1956) and entities in which he and/or his relatives hold not less than 50 per cent of the voting equity shares, or acting in concert with other shareholders exercises ‘significant influence’ or ‘control’ (as defined in Accounting Standard 23) over the company. [Paragraph 2(C)(ii)(b) of the guidelines]

A. The requirement is that the NOFHC shall hold the bank as well as all the other existing regulated financial services entities of the Group in which the Promoter Group has ‘significant influence’ or ‘control’ (as defined in Accounting Standard 23). [Paragraph 2(C)(iii) & (vii) of the guidelines]. If the entity in the Promoter Group carrying out regulated financial services activity discontinues such activity it will have to be necessarily outside the purview of the NOFHC. However, it has to discontinue the regulated financial sector activity within a period of 18 months from the date of grant of in-principle approval to set up the bank or before the date of issue of licence, whichever is earlier.

A. (i)A foreign subsidiary can be set up by a financial services entity already under the NOFHC framework provided the setting up of such an entity is necessary under the regulation in that foreign jurisdiction. (ii) The setting up of a new entity under the NOFHC as a part of the restructuring of the business of the Promoter group would be permitted subject to compliance with the guidelines at paragraph 2C (vii) of the guidelines. (iii) A new financial services entity can be set up under the NOFHC if required by a specific regulatory requirement. Prior permission of the RBI will be necessary for setting up of such new entities, under the NOFHC.

A. Shares of the NOFHC shall not be transferred to any entity outside the Promoter Group. Any change in shareholding (by the Promoter Group) within the NOFHC as a result of which a shareholder acquires 5 per cent or more of the voting equity capital of the NOFHC shall be with the prior approval of RBI. [Paragraph 2 (C) (ix) of the guidelines] RBI approval will be required for any acquisitions / transfers of voting equity capital resulting in shareholding of 5 per cent or above by an individual / entity / group / Persons acting in concert.

No. Shareholding in Promoter Group entity holding shares in NOFHC will not be treated as ‘indirect’ shareholding in the bank. It may be mentioned here that the Promoters / Promoter Group entities / individuals associated with Promoter Group shall hold equity investment in the bank and other financial entities held by the NOFHC, only through the NOFHC [Paragraph 2 (C) (viii) of the guidelines]