The leading financial sector problem at present in India is NPAs of the Public Sector Banks. So far the RBI has taken several steps to tackle NPAs and one of them is the Strategic Debt Restructuring (SDR) Scheme. Under SDR, banks who have given loans to a corporate borrower gets the right to convert the full or part of their loans into equity shares in the loan taken company.
The SDR scheme which was introduced by the RBI in June 2015 thus helps banks recover their loans by taking control of the distressed listed companies.
The SDR an initiative can be taken by the group of banks or JLF that have given loans to the particular defaulted entity. The Joint Lender Forum (JLF) is a committee comprised of the entire bankers who have given loans to a potentially stressed or stressed borrower. At present, banks can form a JLF if the account by a borrower is classified as Special Mention Account 2 (not paid any money back during the last 60 days).
The RBI in its "Framework for Revitalizing Distressed Assets in the Economy - Guidelines on Joint Lenders' Forum (JLF) and Corrective Action Plan (CAP)" has suggested change of management as a part of restructuring of stressed assets. Change of management means share transfer from the promoter to the banks.
The SDR gives banks more power in the management of the company who has taken loan and has defaulted. The RBI has modified the scheme later to give a correct shape.
Who should initiate it?
- The Joint Lenders Forum/Corporate Restructuring Cell can initiate the SDR scheme
- The JLF/Corporate Debt Restructuring Cell (CDR) may consider the following options when a loan is restructured:
- Possibility of transferring equity of the company by promoters to the lenders
- Promoters infusing more equity into their companies;
- Transfer of the promoters’ holdings to a security trustee or an escrow arrangement till turnaround of company.
