SBI PO Exam Preparation 2014 State Bank Of India Preparation Of Exam 2014 PO
EXTERNAL COMMERCIAL BORROWINGS
A high-level coordination committee on external commercial
borrowings (ECB), chaired by R Gopalan, has decided to raise the external
commercial borrowing limit to $ 30 billion for the financial year 2011-12. The
corporates can now borrow more overseas because the government has raised the
overall limit for such borrowings substantially from $20 billion to $ 30
billion. It should be noted that the borrowing costs for the industry has gone
up with the Reserve Bank of India raising key policy rates to tame the runaway
inflation.
The industry is not going to be the only benefactor by the raising of the ECB limit; the move is also going to benefit the government in longer run. The move will help the government in managing capital flows, needed to finance its current account deficit. It is here underlined that the annual cap for external commercial borrowings is fixed every year at the beginning of the financial year taking a stock of overall economic situation, current account deficit and also industry’s requirements.
Perceived Implications of Raising the ECB Limit: The
decision to raise the cap of ECB will help the industry fund its capital
expenditure through cheaper funds abroad as its becoming difficult to arrange
capital in domestic market due to continuous expansion of key policy rates by
the RBI. More specifically the companies in services sector IT, hospitals and
hotels would get themselves in better position to utilize the additional
borrowing limit to fund their equipment purchase.
Understanding the Macro Economic Parameters of ECBs:
(a) The Meaning: ECB cover commercial bank loans, buyers’
credit, suppliers’ credit, securitized instruments such as Floating Rate Notes
and Fixed Rate Bonds etc., credit from official export credit agencies and
commercial borrowings from the private sector window of Multilateral Financial
Institutions such as International Finance Corporation, ADB, AFIC, CDC, etc.
(b) Use of ECBs in India: In India, External Commercial
Borrowings are being permitted by the Government for providing an additional
source of funds to Indian corporates and PSUs for financing expansion of
existing capacity and as well as for fresh investment, to augment their sources
available domestically. ECBs can be used for any purpose (rupee-related
expenditure as well as imports) except for investment in stock market and
speculation in real estate.
(c) Regulator of ECBs: The Department of Economic Affairs,
Ministry of Finance, with support of Reserve Bank of India, monitors and
regulates Indian firms’ access to global capital markets. From time to time,
they announce guidelines on policies and procedures for ECB and Euro-issues.
(d) Current Scenario in ECBs: The cost of funds in the
Indian Market has been relatively higher than International Market and there is
a growing tendency for Indian Business Houses to raise funds from International
Markets. Such financing is arranged for reputed corporate houses on prevalent
rates of interest. The interest rates are fixed in terms of Basic rate of LIBOR
plus other charges. The Registered Foreign Financial Institutions interested in
lending funds to Indian Business Houses can earn handsome interest from Indian
Markets. Demand for ECB is rising rapidly in this market and the Government
rules have also been relaxed to certain extent.
(e) Significance of ECBs: External Commercial Borrowings
(ECBs) occupy a very important position as a source of funds for Corporate.
Thus, it is to be maintained within prudent limits for total external
borrowings and to provide flexibility to Corporate in external borrowings and
that is reflected in its guidelines. However, the main purpose of ECB is to encourage
borrowings which provides basis for strongest economy. Hence it is correct to
quote Maven: “ECB is not only three letter world but lifeline of corporate
world”.
ASBA ROUTE
The Central bank has permitted foreign institutional
investors (FIIs) for foreign currency-rupee swaps in IPOs made through
Application Supported by Blocked Amount (ASBA) route. In an official statement
RBI opined that, for initial public offers (IPO) related transient capital
flows under the ASBA mechanism, foreign currency-rupee swaps may be allowed to
the FIIs. ASBA is an application containing an authorization to block the
application money in the bank account, for subscribing to an issue. If an
investor is applying through ASBA, his application money shall be debited from the
bank account only if his/her application is selected for allotment after the
basis of allotment is finalized, or the issue is withdrawn/failed. The foreign
currency rupee swaps for hedging flows under ASBA, which should not exceed the
amount proposed to be invested in the IPO, will be available for 30 days. The
move is likely to ensure the smooth progress of FII investments under the ASBA
route into equity market. The central bank also highlighted that the contracts,
once cancelled, cannot be rebooked and rollovers under this scheme will also
not be permitted. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) had
introduced ASBA facility for public offers first in September 2008 when retail
investors were allowed to use it. The facility eliminates any delays related to
refunds for the unallocated shares. Initially, it was offered to retail
investors only and was given to other investors in 2009. ASBA is gaining huge
popularity among institutional investors, but at the same time retail investors
are staying away. It has been found that around 60 per cent of the qualified
institutional buyers (QIB), who are essentially institutional investors, are
opting for this mode of application. In contrast, only 6 per cent and 20 per
cent of high-networth investors (HNIs) of the retail applications are done
through this method, respectively
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