Sector Alert

INDIA
FINANCIALS

14 May 2014

India Financials
P.J. Nayak panel report: a game-changer for PSU banks
A RBI committee headed by Mr. P.J. Nayak today released the draft
recommendations on governance changes for PSU banks and revamping their
ownership structure. The report aims to address key issues such as improving
the capital position of PSU banks, enhancing governance and resolving their
external and internal constraints. The report also proposes an age limit of 65 REPORT AUTHORS

years for CEOs. The recommendations, if implemented, could be a game- Siddharth Teli
changer for PSU banks, not only in terms of stock re-rating but also in terms +91 22 6766 3463
siddharth.teli@religare.com
qualitative improvement in governance levels.
Vikash Mundhra
+91 22 6766 3474
Key recommendations: Vikash.mundhra@religare.com

 Make RBI the sole regulator with no interventions from GoI: To ensure uniform Jaynee Shah
implementation of regulations, the committee recommended that RBI be made the +91 22 6766 3467
jaynee.shah@religare.com
sole regulator of banks and GoI’s intervention be stopped.

 Minimum fixed tenure for top PSU bank executives: The committee recommended
a minimum five-year tenure for CMD and a minimum three-year tenure for
Executive Directors in PSU banks. For private sector banks, the minimum and
maximum age prescribed by the Companies Act at the time of appointment should
be applicable to all directors. For whole-time directors, the maximum age should be
65. Also for bank CEOs, an age limit of 65 years should be imposed.

 To create Authorised Bank Investors (ABIs): The RBI should designate a specific
category of investors as Authorised Bank Investors (ABIs), consolidating all funds
with diversified investors. A single ABI should be permitted a maximum 20%
investment in a bank without approval, and 15% if it has a board representation in
the bank. Other investors can hold no more than 10% without regulatory approval.

 To set up a Bank Investment Company (BIC): The GoI should set up a BIC as a core
investment company under RBI’s registration, to hold equity shares in banks which
are presently held by GoI. The BIC should resemble a passive sovereign wealth fund.

 Move towards fully empowered boards in PSU banks: The committee

recommended upgrading the quality of board deliberation in PSU banks to provide
greater strategic focus. To empower and make these boards more effective, the
committee recommends reconfiguring the entire appointment process for boards.
The Calendar of Reviews should be revoked or freshly designed so as to ensure that
the board’s time is spent largely on critical themes.

 Privatise PSU banks or design a new governance structure: To avoid repeated

capital support from the government and ensure ability to compete successfully,
the committee suggested either to privatise PSU banks or to design a radically new
governance structure.

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 Sector Alert
India Financials INDIA
P.J. Nayak panel report: a game- FINANCIALS
changer for PSU banks

Other key recommendations

 To move the bank licensing regime to a uniform license across all broad-based
banks, irrespective of ownership, subject to inter-jurisdictional reciprocity
considerations in respect of foreign banks, and niche licenses for banks with more
narrowly-defined businesses.

 GoI to consider reducing its holding in banks to less than 50%, to ensure restoration
of a level-playing field for PSU banks in matters of vigilance enforcement, employee
compensation and the applicability of the right to information.

 To entrust selection of the top management of PSU banks during phase I to a

newly-constituted Bank Boards Bureau (BBB). The committee also recommended
that the BBB be set up by an executive order of the GOI and comprise three senior
bankers chosen from among those who are either serving or retired Chairmen of
banks, one of whom will be the Chairman of BBB.

 The Chairman and each member of BBB to be given a maximum tenure of three
years. There will be no renewal of their contract, thereby ensuring that BBB's
autonomy and independence is not compromised. Their remuneration would be at
least that of existing public sector bank Chairmen.

 Cases of vigilance enforcement against whole-time directors and other bank

employees for decisions taken by them to be based on evidence that the director or
employee personally made a wrongful gain.

 The committee recommended that it is inappropriate for regulations to stipulate a

period within which banks should be listed, as premature listing could not be in
favour of minority shareholders’ interest.

 For banks identified by the RBI as distressed, it is proposed that PE funds, including
sovereign wealth funds, be permitted to take a controlling stake of up to 40%.

 For old private sector banks where RBI has doubts about whether boards are
adequately independent of controlling shareholders, the RBI should mandate that all
director appointments be made with its prior approval.

 For old private sector banks where RBI has doubts about whether the CEO has full
control over the executive management of the bank, it should examine the precise
areas of intervention by directors in bank committees and outside of it, and
mandate a separation between board oversight and executive autonomy.

14 May 2014 Page 2 of 3

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