IRDAI (INVESTMENT) REGULATIONS, 2016
NOTIFICATION F.NO.IRDAI/REG/22/134/2016, DATED 1-8-2016
In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (i) sub-section (2) of Section 114A read with Sections 27, 27A, 27B, 27C, 27D and 28 of the Insurance Act, 1938 (4 of 1938), the Authority, in consultation with the Insurance Advisory Committee, hereby makes the following Regulations.
Short title and commencement
1. (1) These regulations may be called the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Investment) Regulations, 2016
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette
Definitions
2. In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires
(a)
“Act” means the Insurance Act, 1938 (4 of 1938)
(b)
“Accretion of funds” means investment income, gains/loss on sale/redemption of existing investment and operating surplus
(c)
“Accounting Standard” (AS) means applicable Accounting Standard or Indian Accounting Standard (Ind AS) as issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and notified by the Central Government under the Companies Act, to the extent recognized under the IRDAI (Preparation of Financial Statements and Audit Report) Regulations, issued in that behalf.
(d)
“Approved Investments” means Investments made as per Regulation 3 (a) and (b) read with Schedule I and Schedule II of this regulation.
(da)
“Assets” means assets in India, held by an Insurer in accordance with the provisions of Section 31 of the Act
(e)
“Authority” means the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India established under sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999 (41 of 1999)
(f)
“Financial Derivatives” means a derivative as defined under clause (ac) of section 2 of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956, and includes a contract which derives its value from interest rates of underlying debt securities and such other derivative contracts as may be stipulated by the Authority, from time to time
(g)
“Group” means: two or more individuals, association of individuals, firms, trusts, trustees or bodies corporate, or any combination thereof, which exercises, or is established to be in a position to exercise, significant influence and/or control, directly or indirectly, over any associate as defined in Accounting Standard (AS), body corporate, firm or trust, or use of common brand names, Associated persons, as may be stipulated by the Authority, from time to time, by issuance of guidelines under these regulations
Explanation: Use of common brand names in conjunction with other parameters of significant influence and/or control, whether direct or indirect shall be reckoned for determination for inclusion as forming part of the group or otherwise.
(h)
“Infrastructure facility” means, the ‘Harmonized Master list of Infrastructure sub-sectors‘ as per Gazette Notification Dt. 14th October, 2014 of Department of Economic Affairs, as amended from time to time, and shall also include the following:
1.
a road, including toll road, a bridge or a rail system;
2.
a highway project including other activities being an integral part of the highway project;
3.
a port, airport, inland waterway or inland port and associated railway sidings;
4.
a water supply project, irrigation project, water treatment system, sanitation and sewerage system or solid waste management system;
5.
telecommunication services whether basic or cellular, including radio paging, domestic satellite service (i.e., a satellite owned and operated by an Indian company for providing telecommunication service), network of trunking, broadband network and internet services;
6.
an industrial park or special economic zone;
7.
generation or generation and distribution of power (both conventional and non-conventional);
8.
transmission or distribution of power by laying a network of new transmission or distribution lines including telecom towers;
9.
construction relating to projects involving agro-processing and supply of inputs to agriculture;
10.
construction for preservation and storage of processed agro-products, perishable goods such as fruits, vegetables and flowers including testing facilities for quality;
11.
construction of educational institutions and hospitals;
(i)
“Investment Assets” mean all investments made out of:
(1)
in the case of Life Insurer
(i)
shareholders’ funds representing solvency margin, non-unit reserves of unit linked insurance business, participating and non-participating funds of policyholders, funds of variable insurance products including One Year Renewable pure Group Term Assurance Business (OYRGTA) at their carrying value
(ii)
policyholders’ funds of Pension, Annuity business and Group business including funds of variable insurance products at their carrying value
(iii)
policyholders’ unit reserves of unit linked insurance business including funds of variable insurance products at their market value as per guidelines issued under these regulations, from time to time
(2)
in the case of General Insurer including an insurer carrying on business of re-insurance or health insurance
or in case of a branch of a foreign company engaged in the business of re-insurance, funds maintained in its head office account, shareholders’ funds representing solvency margin and policyholders’ funds at their carrying value
as shown in its balance sheet prepared in accordance with any regulations issued in that behalf for the time being in force, by IRDAI (Preparation of Financial Statements and Auditors’ Report of Insurance Companies) Regulations
(j)
Money Market Instruments
Money Market Instruments shall comprise of Short term investments with maturity not more than one year comprising of the following instruments:
1.
Certificate of deposit rated by a credit rating agency registered under SEBI (Credit Rating Agencies) Regulations, 1999
2.
Commercial paper rated by a credit rating agency registered under SEBI (Credit Rating Agencies) Regulations, 1999
3.
Reverse Repo
4.
Treasury Bills (including Cash Management Bills)
5.
Call, Notice, Term Money
6.
CBLO as per Schedules I and II of these Regulations.
7.
Any other instrument as may be prescribed by the Authority
(k)
“Promoter” means a promoter as defined under Regulation 2 (1) (x) of IRDAI (Issuance of Capital by Indian Insurance Companies transacting life insurance business) Regulations
(l)
“Principal Officer” means any person connected with the management of an insurer or any other person upon whom the Authority has served notice of its intention of treating him as the principal officer thereof.
(m)
All words and expressions used herein and not defined but defined in the Act or in the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999 (41 of 1999) or in any Rules or Regulations made thereunder, shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in those Acts or Rules or Regulations”
Approved Investments
3. (a) No insurer shall invest or keep invested any part of its Controlled Fund, as defined under Sec. 27A/Assets as defined under Sec. 27 (2) of the Act, read together with Sec 27E of the Act, otherwise than in approved securities, as per Section 2(3) of Insurance Act, 1938, as amended from time to time and in any of the following approved investments, namely:—
1.
debentures secured by a first charge on any immoveable property plant or equipment of any company which has paid interest in full
2.
debentures secured by a first charge on any immovable property, plant or equipment of any company where either the book value or the market value, whichever is less, of such property, plant or equipment is more than three times the value of such debentures
3.
first debentures secured by a floating charge on all its assets of any company which has paid dividends on its equity shares
4.
preference shares of any company which has paid dividends on its equity shares for at least two consecutive years immediately preceding
5.
equity shares of any listed company on which not less than ten percent dividends have been paid for at least two consecutive years immediately preceding
6.
immovable property situated in India, provided that the property is free of all encumbrances;
7.
loans on policies of life insurance within their surrender values issued by him or by an insurer whose business he has acquired and in respect of which business he has assumed liability;
8.
Fixed Deposits with banks included for the time being in the Second Schedule to the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934) and;
such other investments as the Authority may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare to be Approved Investments.
(b) In addition the following investments shall be deemed as Approved Investments
1.
All rated debentures (including bonds) and other rated & secured debt instruments as per Note appended to Regulations 4 to 9. Equity shares, preference shares and debt instruments issued by All India Financial Institutions recognized as such by Reserve Bank of India – investments shall be made in terms of investment policy guidelines, benchmarks and exposure norms, limits approved by the Board of Directors of the insurer.
2.
Bonds or debentures issued by companies, rated not less than AA or its equivalent and A1 or equivalent ratings for short term bonds, debentures, certificate of deposits and commercial papers by a credit rating agency, registered under SEBI (Credit Rating Agencies) Regulations 1999
3.
Subject to norms and limits approved by the Board of Directors of the insurer’s deposits [including fixed deposits as per Regulation 3 (a) (8)] with banks (e.g. in current account, call deposits, notice deposits, certificate of deposits etc.) included for the time being in the Second Schedule to Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934) and deposits with primary dealers duly recognized by Reserve Bank of India as such.
4.
Collateralized Borrowing & Lending Obligations (CBLO) created by the Clearing Corporation of India Ltd and recognized by the Reserve Bank of India and exposure to Gilt, G Sec and liquid mutual fund forming part of Approved Investments as per Mutual Fund Guidelines issued under these regulations and money market instrument/investment.
5.
Asset Backed Securities with underlying Housing loans or having infrastructure assets as underlying as defined under ‘infrastructure facility’ in Regulation 2 (h) as amended from time to time.
6.
Commercial papers issued by All India Financial Institutions recognized as such by Reserve Bank of India having a credit rating of A1 by a credit rating agency registered under SEBI (Credit Rating Agencies) Regulations 1999
7.
Money Market instruments as defined in Regulation 2(j) of this Regulation, subject to provisions of approved investments.
Explanation: All conditions mentioned in the ‘note’ appended to Regulation 4 to 9 shall be complied with.
(c) The board of the insurer, to comply with the provisions of Section 27A (2) (ii) of the Act, may delegate to Investment Committee, for investments already made and the continuance of such investments from controlled fund/assets, in otherwise than in an approved investments, and in All India Financial Institutions recognized as such by RBI for investments carrying a rating of less than AA and being part of Approved Investment. The investment committee shall be responsible for the details, analysis and review of non-performing assets of investments on a quarterly periodicity. The insurer shall report compliance of this provision to the Authority through Form 4.
(d) Unless specifically permitted by the Authority, no investment shall be made in any entity not formed under laws relating to companies in India and in any private limited company or one person company or a company formed under section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 or erstwhile Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956.
Regulation of Investments – Life Insurer
4. A life insurer, for the purpose of these Regulations, shall invest and at all times keep invested, the Investment Assets forming part of the Controlled Fund as under:
a.
all funds (excluding Shareholders’ funds held beyond solvency margin, held in a separate custody account) of Life insurance business and One Year Renewable pure Group Term Assurance Business (OYRGTA), and non- unit reserves of all categories of Unit linked life insurance business, as per Regulation 5
b.
all funds of Pension, Annuity and Group Business [as defined under Regulation 2 (1)(e) of IRDAI (Actuarial Report and Abstract for life insurance business) Regulations] as per Regulation 6; and
c.
the unit reserves portion of all categories of Unit linked funds, as per Regulation 7″
5. Without prejudice to Sections 10 (2AA), 27 or 27A of the Act and any provisions of these Regulations, every insurer carrying on the business of Life Insurance, shall invest and at all times keep invested its Investment Assets as defined in Regulation 4 (a) (other than funds relating to Pension & General Annuity and Group Business and unit reserves of all categories of Unit Linked Business) in the following manner:
No.
Type of Investment
Percentage to funds as under Regulation 4(a)
(i)
Central Government Securities
Not less than 25%
(ii)
Central Government Securities, State Government Securities or Other Approved Securities
Not less than 50%(incl (i) above)
(iii)
Approved Investments as specified in Regulation 3 (a), (b) and Other Investments as specified in Section 27A (2) and Schedule I to these Regulations, (all taken together) subject to Exposure/Prudential Norms as specified in Regulation 9:
Not exceeding 50%
(iv)
Other Investments as specified in Section 27A (2), subject to Exposure/Prudential Norms as specified in Regulation 9:
Not exceeding15%
(v)
Investment in housing and infrastructure by way of subscription or purchase of:
A. Investment in Housing
a.
Bonds/debentures of HUDCO and National Housing Bank
b.
Bonds/debentures of Housing Finance Companies either duly accredited by National Housing Banks, for house building activities, or duly guaranteed by Government or carrying current rating of not less than ‘AA’ by a credit rating agency registered under SEBI (Credit Rating Agencies) Regulations, 1999
c.
Asset Backed Securities with underlying housing loans, satisfying the norms specified in the guidelines issued under these regulations from time to time.
B. Investment in Infrastructure
(Explanation: Subscription or purchase of Bonds/Debentures, Equity and Asset Backed Securities with underlying infrastructure assets would qualify for the purpose of this requirement.
‘Infrastructure facility’ shall have the meaning as given in Regulation 2 (h) as amended from time to time
Note: Investments made under category (i) and (ii) above may be considered as investment in housing and infrastructure, provided the respective government issues such a security specifically to meet the needs of any of the sectors specified as ‘infrastructure facility’
Total Investment in housing and infrastructure (i.e.,) investment in categories (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) above taken together shall not be less than 15% of the fund under Regulation 4(a)
6. Without prejudice to Sections 10 (2AA), 27 or 27A of the Act and any provisions of these Regulations every insurer carrying on Pension, Annuity and Group Business [as defined under Regulation 2 (1) (e) of IRDAI (Actuarial Report and Abstract for life insurance business) Regulations] shall invest and at all times keep invested its Investment Assets of Pension, Annuity and Group business in the following manner:
No.
Type of Investment
Percentage to funds under Regulation 4(b)
(i)
Central Government Securities
Not less than 20%
(ii)
Central Government Securities, State Government Securities or Other Approved Securities
Not less than 40% (incl (i) above)
(iii)
Balance to be invested in Approved Investments, as specified in Schedule I, subject to Exposure/Prudential norms as specified in Regulation 9.
Not exceeding 60%
Note: For the purposes of this regulation no investment falling under ‘Other Investments’ as specified under Section 27A (2) shall be made
Unit Linked Insurance Business
7. a. Without prejudice to Sections 10 (2AA), 27 or 27A of the Act and any provisions of these Regulations every insurer shall invest and at all times keep invested its segregated fund(s) under Regulation 4(c) (with underlying securities at custodian level) of Unit linked business as per pattern of investment offered to and subscribed to by the policy-holders where the units are linked to categories of assets which are both marketable and readily realizable within the approved pattern as per the product regulations.
However, the investment in Approved Investments shall not be less than 75% of such fund(s) in each such segregated fund”
a.
All prudential and exposure norms under Regulation 9, shall be applicable at the level of individual segregated fund at SFIN level
b.
Insurer shall, as per circular/guidelines issued, from time to time, disclose on their website, the minimum information required for the benefit of policyholders
Regulation of Investments – General Insurer including an insurer carrying on business of re-insurance or health insurance
8. Without prejudice to Sections 10 (2AA), 27, or 27B of the Act and any provisions of these regulations, an insurer carrying on the business of General Insurance including an insurer carrying on business of re-insurance or health insurance shall invest and at all times keep invested its investment assets in the manner set out below:
No.
Type of Investment
Percentage of Investment Assets
(i)
Central Government Securities
Not less than 20%
(ii)
Central Government Securities, State Government Securities or Other Approved Securities
Not less than 30%(incl (i) above)
(iii)
Approved Investments as specified in Regulation 3 (a), (b) and Other Investments as specified in Section 27A (2) and Schedule II to these Regulations, (all taken together) subject to Exposure/Prudential Norms as specified in Regulation 9:
Not exceeding 70%
(iv)
Other investments as specified in Section 27A (2), subject to Exposure/Prudential Norms as specified in Regulation 9:
Not more than 15%
(v)
Housing and loans to State Government for Housing and Fire Fighting equipment, by way of subscription or purchase of:
A. Investments in Housing
a.
Bonds/Debentures issued by HUDCO, National Housing Bank
b.
Bonds/debentures of Housing Finance Companies either duly accredited by National Housing Bank, for house building activities, or duly guaranteed by Government or carrying current rating of not less than ‘AA’ by a credit rating agency registered under SEBI (Credit Rating Agencies) Regulations, 1999
c.
Asset Backed Securities with underlying Housing loans, satisfying the norms specified in the Guidelines issued under these regulations from time to time.
B. Investment in Infrastructure
(Explanation: Subscription or purchase of Bonds/ Debentures, Equity and Asset Backed Securities with underlying infrastructure assets would qualify for the purpose of this requirement.
‘Infrastructure facility’ shall have the meaning as given in Regulation 2 (h) as amended from time to time.
Note: Investments made under category (i) and (ii) above may be considered as investment in housing or infrastructure, as the case may be, provided the respective government issues such a security specifically to meet the needs of any of the sectors specified as ‘infrastructure facility’
Total Investment in housing and infrastructure (i.e.,) investment in categories (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) above taken together shall not be less than 15% of the Investment Assets
“Note – For the purpose of Regulations 4 to 8
1.
Applicability of Pattern of Investment
Pattern of Investment will not be applicable for Shareholders’ funds held in business beyond required solvency margin, and not taken in calculation of solvency margin. Such excess shall be:
i.
made after fully complying with investment in Central Government Securities, State Government and Other Approved Securities and in Housing & Infrastructure Investments from funds representing solvency margin.
ii.
such excess of Shareholder’s funds, held beyond Solvency Margin requirement, shall be held in a separate custody account with identified scrips
iii.
such excess funds shall be determined only after Actuarial Valuation, certified by Appointed Actuary and such valuation is filed with the Authority.
iv.
such transfer made between quarters, shall be certified by the Concurrent Auditor to have complied with points (i), (ii) and (iii) above
v.
Exposure Norms of ‘investee company’, ‘group’, ‘promoter group’ and ‘industry sector’ shall be applicable to both funds representing solvency margin [FRSM] and funds held in excess of required solvency margin.
2.
All investment in assets or instruments, which are capable of being rated as per market practice, shall be made on the basis of credit rating of such assets or instruments. No approved investment shall be made in instruments, if such instruments are capable of being rated, but are not rated
3.
The rating should be done by a credit rating agency registered under SEBI (Credit Rating Agencies) Regulations, 1999
4.
Corporate bonds or debentures rated not less than AA or its equivalent and A1 or equivalent ratings for short term bonds, debentures, certificate of deposit and commercial paper, by a credit rating agency, registered under SEBI (Credit Rating Agencies) Regulations, 1999 would be considered as ‘Approved Investments’
5.
The rating of a debt instrument issued by All India Financial Institutions recognized as such by RBI shall be of ‘AA’ or equivalent rating. In case investments of this grade are not available to meet the requirements of the investing insurance company, and Investment Committee of the investing insurance company is fully satisfied about the same, then, for the reasons to be recorded in the Investment Committee’s minutes, the Investment Committee may approve investments in instruments carrying current rating of not less than ‘A+’ or equivalent as rated by a credit rating agency, registered under SEBI (Credit Rating Agencies) Regulations, 1999, would be considered as ‘Approved Investments’
6.
Approved Investments under regulations 5, 6, 7 and 8 which are downgraded below the minimum rating prescribed or not continuing to satisfy dividend criteria should be automatically re-classified under ‘Other Investments’ and specifically identified under a category which shall be valued at marked to market on a quarterly basis, for the purpose of pattern of investment.
7.
Investments in equity shares listed on a registered stock exchange should be made in actively traded and liquid instruments viz., equity shares other than those defined as thinly traded as per SEBI Regulations and guidelines governing mutual funds issued by SEBI from time to time.
8.
(a) Not less than 75% of investment in debt instruments (including Central Government Securities, State Government Securities or Other Approved Securities) in the case life insurer and not less than 65% of investment in debt instruments (including Central Government Securities, State Government Securities or Other Approved Securities) in the case of General Insurer including an insurer carrying on business of re-insurance or health insurance – shall be in sovereign debt, AAA or equivalent rating for long term and sovereign debt, A1+ or equivalent for short term instruments. This shall apply at segregated fund(s) in case of Unit linked business.
Note: In calculating the 75% in the case of Life insurers and 65% in the case of General Insurer including an insurer carrying on business of re-insurance or health insurance, of investment in ‘Debt’ instruments, investment in (a) Reverse Repo with corporate bond underlying (b) Bank Fixed Deposit (c) Investment in Promoter Group Mutual Fund(s) and un-rated Mutual funds, shall not be considered both in numerator and denominator.
(b) Not more than 5% of funds under Regulation 4 (a) and Regulation 4 (c) in debt instruments (including Central Government Securities, State Government Securities or Other Approved Securities) in the case of life insurer and not more than 8% of investment in debt instruments (including Central Government Securities, State Government Securities or Other Approved Securities) in the case of General Insurer including an insurer carrying on business of re-insurance or health insurance – shall have a rating of A or below or equivalent rating for long term.
(c) No investment can be made in other investments out of funds under Regulation 4 (b).
(d) Investments in debt instruments rated AA – (AA minus) or below for long term and below A1 or equivalent for short term debt instruments shall form part of Other Investments.
9.
Notwithstanding the above, it is emphasized that rating should not replace appropriate risk analysis and management on the part of the Insurer. The Insurer should conduct risk analysis commensurate with the complexity of the product(s) and the materiality of their holding, or could also refrain from such investments.
Exposure/Prudential Norms
9. Without prejudice to anything contained in Sections 10(2AA), 27, 27A, 27B and 27C of the Act every insurer shall limit its investment of controlled funds/all assets as per the following exposure norms:
A. Exposure norms for:
1.
(a) all funds of Life insurance business and One Year Renewable pure Group Term Assurance Business (OYRGTA), and non-unit reserves of all categories of Unit linked life insurance business
(b) all funds of Pension, Annuity and Group Business [as defined under Regulation 2 (1) (e) of IRDAI (Actuarial Report and Abstract for life insurance business) Regulations]
(c) the unit reserves portion of all categories of Unit linked funds, as per Regulation 7, Life, Pension, Annuity and Group business and each segregated fund within Unit Linked Insurance business (except for promoter group exposure)
2.
General insurance business,
3.
Re-insurance business
4.
Health insurance business
for both Approved Investments as per Regulation 3 (a), Schedule I and Schedule II of these Regulations, and Other Investments as permitted under Section 27A (2) shall be as under.
B. The maximum exposure limit for a single ‘investee’ company (equity, debt and other investments taken together) from all investment assets under point (A.1.a, A.1.b, A.1.c all taken together), (A.2), (A.3) and (A.4) mentioned above, shall not exceed the lower of the following;
(i)
an amount of 10% of investment assets as under Regulation 2 (i) (1), Regulation 2 (i) (2) excluding fair value change of investment assets under Regulation 4 (a), 4 (b) and Regulation 2(i)
(ii)
an aggregate of amount calculated under point (a) and (b) of the following table
Type of Investment
Limit for ‘Investee’ Company
Limit for the entire Group of the Investee Company
Limit for Industry Sector to which Investee Company belongs
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
a. Investment in ‘Equity’, Preference Shares, Convertible Debentures
10% * of Outstanding Equity Shares (Face Value)
or
10% of the amount under point A.1.(a) or A.1.(b) or A.1.(c) [segregated fund] above considered separately in the case of Life insurers/amount under A.2 or A.3 or A.4 in the case of General Insurer including an insurer carrying on business of re insurance or health insurance
whichever is lower
Not more than 15% of the amount under point A.1.(a) or A.1.(b) or A.1.(c) or A.2 or A.3 or A.4
Exposure to Investments made in companies belonging to Promoter Group shall be made as per Point 7 under notes to Regulation 9
Investment by the insurer in any industrial sector should not exceed 15% of the amount under point A.1.(a) or A.1.(b) or A.1.(c) or A.2 or A.3 or A.4
Note: Industrial Sector shall be classified in the lines of National Industrial Classification (All Economic Activities) – 2008 [NIC] for all sectors, except infrastructure sector.
Exposure shall be calculated at Division level from A to R. For Financial and Insurance Activities sector exposure shall be at Section level.
Exposure to ‘infrastructure’ investments are subject to Note: 1, 2, 3 and 4 mentioned below
b. Investment in Debt (incl. CPs)/Loans and any other permitted Investments as per Act/Regulation other than item ‘a’ above.
10% * of the Paid-up Share capital, Free reserves (excluding revaluation reserve) and Debentures/Bonds (incl. CPs) of the ‘Investee’ company
or
10% of the amount under point A.1.(a) or A.1.(b) or A.1.(c) [segregated fund] above considered separately in the case of Life insurers/amount under A.2 or A.3 or A.4 in the case of General Insurer including an insurer carrying on business of re insurance or health insurance
whichever is lower.
* In the case of insurers having investment assets within the meaning of Regulation 2 (i) (1) and Regulation 2 (i) (2) of the under mentioned size, the (*) marked limit in the above table for investment in equity, preference shares, convertible debentures, debt, loans or any other permitted investment under the Regulations, shall stand substituted as under:
Investment assets
Limit for ‘investee’ company
Equity
Debt
Rs. 250000 Crores or more
15% of outstanding equity shares (face value)
15% of paid up share capital, free reserves (excluding revaluation reserve) & debentures/bonds
Rs. 50000 Crores but less than Rs. 250000 Crores
12% of outstanding equity shares (face value)
12% of paid up share capital, free reserves (excluding revaluation reserve) & debentures/bonds
Less than Rs. 50000 Crores
10% of outstanding equity shares (face value)
10% of paid up share capital, free reserves (excluding revaluation reserve) & debentures/bonds
Note:
1.
Industry sector norms shall not apply for investments made in ‘Infrastructure facility’ sector as defined under Regulation 2(h) of this regulation as amended from time to time. NIC classification shall not apply to investments made in ‘Infrastructure facility’.
2.
Investments in Infrastructure Debt Fund (IDF), backed by Central Government as approved by the Authority, on a case to case basis shall be reckoned for investments in Infrastructure.
3.
Exposure to a public limited ‘Infrastructure investee company’ will be:
i.
20% of outstanding equity shares (face value) in case of equity (or)
ii.
20% of outstanding equity plus free reserves (excluding revaluation reserve) plus debentures/bonds taken together, in the case of debt (or)
iii.
amount under Regulation 9 (B) (i), whichever is lower.
iv.
The 20% mentioned above, can be further increased by an additional 5%, in case of debt instruments alone, with the prior approval of Board of Insurer.
v.
The outstanding tenure of debt instruments, beyond the exposure prescribed in the above table in this regulation, in an infrastructure Investee Company, should not be less than 5 years at the time of investment.
vi.
in case of Equity investment, dividend track record as per these regulations, in the case of primary issuance of a wholly owned subsidiary of a Corporate/PSU shall apply to the holding company.
vii.
all investments made in an ‘infrastructure investee company’ shall be subject to group/promoter group exposure norms.
4.
An insurer can, at the time of investing, subject to group/promoter group exposure norms, invest a maximum of 20% of the project cost (as decided by a competent body) of an Public Limited Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) engaged in infrastructure sector (or) amount under Regulation 9 (B) (i), whichever is lower, as a part of Approved Investments provided:
a.
such investment is in Debt
b.
the parent company guarantees the entire debt extended and the interest payment of SPV
c.
the principal or interest, if in default and if not paid within 90 days of the due date, such debt shall be classified under other investments.
d.
the latest instrument of the parent company (ies) has (have) rating of not less than AA
e.
such guarantee of the parent company (ies) should not exceed 20% of net worth of parent company (ies) including the existing guarantees, if any, given.
f.
the net worth of the parent company (ies), if unlisted, shall not be less than Rs. 500 crores or where the parent company (ies) is listed on stock exchanges having nationwide terminals, the net worth shall not be less than Rs. 250 Crores.
Investment Committee should at least on a half-yearly periodicity evaluate the risk of such investments and take necessary corrective actions where the parent company (ies) is floating more than one SPV.
5.
Investment in securitized assets [Mortgaged Backed Securities (MBS)/Asset Backed Securities (ABS)/Security Receipts (SR)] both under approved and other investment category shall not exceed 10% of Investment Assets in case of Life companies and 5% of Investment Asset in the case of General companies. Approved Investment in MBS/ABS with underlying Housing or Infrastructure Assets shall not exceed 10% of investment assets in the case of life companies and not more than 5% of investment assets in the case of General companies. Any MBS/ABS with underlying housing or infrastructure assets, if downgraded below AAA or equivalent, shall be reclassified as Other Investments.
6.
Investment Property within the meaning of Accounting Standards, and covered under Regulation 3 (a) (6) shall not exceed, at the time of investment, 5% of (a) Investment Assets in the case of general insurer and (b) 5% of Investment Assets of life funds in the case of life insurer. Immovable property, held as ‘investment property’ shall not be for ‘self-use’. Immovable property, for self-use, shall be purchased only out of shareholders funds, and shall comply with circular/guidelines issued.
7.
Subject to exposure limits mentioned in the table above, an insurer shall not have investments of more than 5% in aggregate of its investment assets in all companies belonging to the promoters’ group. Investment made in all companies belonging to the promoters’ group shall not be made by way of private placement or in unlisted instruments (equity, debt, certificate of deposits and fixed deposits held in a Scheduled Commercial Bank), except for companies formed by Insurers under Note 12 to Regulation 9.
8.
The exposure limit for financial and insurance activities (as per Section K of NIC classification – 2008, as amended from time to time) shall stand at 25% of investment assets for all insurers. Investment in Housing Financing Companies and Infrastructure Financing Companies (except investment in Bonds/debentures of HUDCO, NHB and only bonds issued by Housing Finance Companies having a rating of not less than AAA, and investment in Debt, Equity in dedicated infrastructure financing entities forming part of Infrastructure sector) shall form part of exposure to financial and insurance activities (as per Section K of NIC classification – 2008).
9.
Where an investment is in partly paid-up shares, the uncalled liability on such shares shall be added to the amount invested for the purpose of computing exposure norms.
10.
Notwithstanding anything contained in Regulation 9 (B) where new shares are issued to the existing shareholders by a company the existing shares of which are covered by Regulation 3 (a) (5) and the insurer is already a shareholder, the insurer may subscribe to such new shares, provided that the proportion of new shares subscribed by him does not exceed the proportion which the paid-up amount on the shares held by him immediately before such subscription bears to the total paid-up capital of the company at the time of such subscription.
11.
Investment in fixed deposit and certificate of deposit of a Scheduled Bank, in case of life insurers, would be deemed as exposure to financial and insurance activities (as per Section K of NIC classification – 2008). No investment in deposits including FDs and CDs in financial institutions falling under Promoter Group shall be made. Investment in FDs shall not exceed either 3% of controlled fund or not more than 5% of respective fund size [Pension & General Annuity Fund and Unit linked fund(s) at SFIN level], whichever is lower, in the case of Life Insurers and 15% of Investment Assets as per Regulation 2 (i) (2) in the case of General Insurer including an insurer carrying on business of re-insurance or health insurance.
Note: Fixed Deposits as permitted under this Regulation kept as ASBA (Application Supported by Blocked Amount) deposit, including FDs with Banks falling under the promoter group of the Insurer, or otherwise, shall be excluded in computation of limits mentioned above. FDs of Banks under Promoter Group, earmarked for complying with ASBA requirement, will be part of exposure to Promoter Group.
12.
An insurer shall not out of the controlled fund/assets invest or keep invested in the shares or debentures of any one company more than the exposure prescribed in Regulation 9 above, provided that nothing in this regulation shall apply to any investment made with the previous approval of the Board of the Authority by an insurer, being a company with a view to forming a subsidiary company carrying on insurance/re-insurance business.
13.
The investee company debt exposure, in Housing Finance Companies, rated not less than AA+, shall be upto 20% of paid-up share capital, free reserves (excluding revaluation reserve) and debentures/bonds (incl. CPs) or amount under Reg. 9(B)(i) whichever is lower. The 20% limit mentioned herein can be further increased by an additional 5% with the prior approval of Board of Insurer. All exposure norms applicable to group, promoter group shall be applicable to all investments made in a Housing Finance Company.
Returns to be submitted by an Insurer
10. Every insurer shall submit to the Authority the following returns (in physical/electronic mode) within such time, at such intervals duly verified/certified in the manner as indicated there against.
No.
Form
Description
Periodicity of Return
Time limit for submission
Verified/Certified by
1
Form 1
Statement of Investment and Income on Investment
Quarterly
Within 30 days of the end of the Quarter
Principal Officer/Chief of Investment/Chief of (Finance)
2
Form 2 (Part A, B, C)
Statement of Downgraded Investments, Details o