Financials | 3 March 2015
Sector Update | Sector Update
Financials
New PSL: Some tightening and some relaxation
Meeting sub-targets could be a challenge
Please refer to our report
on Gyan Sangam
dated Jan 5, 2015
Revised Priority Sector Lending guidelines widen the overall scope of PSL lending for
Indian Banks. However, we believe meeting sub-targets on small/marginal farmers
and micro-enterprises and quarterly monitoring of PSL norms would be a challenge.
Over last few years most banks have fulfilled overall PSL targets however, defaulted
on sub targets especially direct agri and weaker section. Non fulfillment of sub targets
led to higher devolvement of RIDF bonds and in turn impacted profitability.
Addition of new segments like medium enterprises, agri infrastructure, processing,
renewable energy would result in banks meeting PSL requirements in an oraganic
manner. Additionally, these relatively lower risk segments would improve risk-
adjusted PSL yields of banking sector and lower deployment in RIDF.
Introduction of PSL certificates would enable banks to specialize in certain segments of
priority sector and leverage on their comparative advantage.
Agri sub-limits redefined; Medium enterprises now under PSL norms
Internal Working Group (IWG) has recommended continuation of PSL target at
40% of ANBC for domestic banks; however, the same for foreign banks has been
increased to 40% vs. 32% earlier.
Considering that even the PSU Banks, with their wider reach, have not been able
to meet direct agriculture target (13.5% of ANBC) on a sustainable basis, IWG
has recommended doing away with sub-limits for direct/indirect agriculture
credit. In lieu of that, banks would have to achieve sub-target of 8% towards
Small and Marginal farmers (in a phased manner).
IWG has also recommended inclusion of new segments like medium enterprises
(with credit limit of up to INR100m), Agriculture infrastructure & processing
(without any cap), renewable energy (loans of upto INR100m for solar power,
biomass, wind mills and micro-hydel power generation).
Home loans of INR2.8m (earlier INR2.5m) in Metros and INR2m (INR1.5m) in
other locations (accounting for ~80% of housing loans in India) would also now
qualify towards meeting priority sector requirements. However, if used for PSL,
utilizing the same to raise Infra bonds will not be allowed.
Innovation through Priority Sector Lending Certificates (PSLC) – a positive
Considering that direct credit origination may not be the most efficient method
of credit delivery as it does not leverage the strengths of different banks in their
respective areas of specialization, IWG has proposed the concept of PSL
certificates enabling banks to buy them from other banking participants (for a
premium/fees).
While the PSLCs will be sold, the loans would continue to be on the books of the
original lender. The deficient bank would only be buying a right to undershoot
its priority sector-lending requirement by the amount of the certificate. If the
loans default, for example, no loss would be borne by the certificate buyer.
Alpesh Mehta
(Alpesh.Mehta@MotilalOswal.com); +91 22 3982 5415
Vallabh Kulkarni
(Vallabh.Kulkarni@MotilalOswal.com); +91 22 3982 5430
3 March 2015
Investors are advised to refer through disclosures made at the end of the Research Report.
1
Motilal Oswal research is available on
www.motilaloswal.com/Institutional-Equities,
Bloomberg, Thomson Reuters, Factset and S&P Capital.