Monday, 30 November 2015

RBI ALLOWS FOREIGN INVESTORS TO BUY DEFAULTED BONDS

The Reserve Bank (“RBI”) allowed foreign investors to buy bonds that are either fully or partially under default in repayment and raised the maturity period of such NCDs/bonds to three years and more.

As per the earlier rules, investments by Foreign Portfolio Investors (“FPI”) in NCDs/bonds were required to be made in securities with a minimum residual maturity of 3 years. The revised maturity period of such NCDs/bonds, restructured based on negotiations with the issuing Indian company, should be 3 years or more.  The proposed move is expected to provide relief into the country's distressed debt market.

Further, RBI Claried that the FPI which propose to acquire such NCDs/bonds under default should disclose to the Debenture Trustees the terms of their offer to the existing debenture holders/beneficial owners from whom they are acquiring.


Such investment should be within the overall limit prescribed for corporate debt from time to time, which is at Rs 2.44 lakh crore currently.

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