RBI Tightens Ban on Bank Loans for Promoters' Equity Contribution
No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/214 · issued 27 Sep 2010 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI has clarified that banks cannot finance promoters' equity contributions or related costs like non-compete fees. This restriction also applies to overseas branches of Indian banks, reinforcing the rule that promoters must use their own funds for equity stakes.
What changed
RBI issued a clarification extending the existing ban on bank loans for promoters' equity contributions to also cover ancillary costs like non-compete fees. The restriction now explicitly applies to overseas branches and subsidiaries of Indian banks as well.
What it means for you
Indian banks must ensure no loan products, including those for acquisition-related expenses, are used to fund promoters' equity contributions. This tightens compliance requirements, especially for cross-border transactions, and reinforces the principle that promoters bear equity risk with their own capital.
Historical instruction — do not use for current compliance. This is what was required at the time; it no longer reflects current RBI requirements. If no replacement rule is linked above, that only means none is recorded on our register yet — it does not prove no later applicable rule exists. Confirm on the official RBI source below.
What banks were required to do at the time
Review all loan proposals to ensure no financing is provided for promoters' equity contributions or related costs like non-compete fees.
Update internal credit policies to explicitly prohibit such financing, including for overseas branches and subsidiaries.
Train credit and relationship teams on this clarification to avoid inadvertent violations.
Audit existing exposures to identify and rectify any non-compliant loans.
Who it affects
All commercial banks (excluding RRBs), Overseas branches and subsidiaries of Indian banks, Corporate borrowers seeking promoter funding
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-19 04:15 IST
repealed_by — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)
Status change: withdrawn03 Aug 2026, 04:00 IST
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
Does this circular ban all bank loans related to equity acquisitions?
No, it only bans loans for promoters' equity contributions and related costs like non-compete fees. Exceptions exist for overseas joint ventures, PSU disinvestment, etc., as per the 1998 master circular.
Are overseas branches of Indian banks exempt from this restriction?
No, the circular explicitly states that the restriction applies to overseas branches and subsidiaries of Indian banks.
📜 This document’s life story (1 recorded event, each backed by RBI’s own words)
Repealed byRBI/2025-26/100 — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)
RBI’s words: “Official withdrawal register entry #1609: DBOD.No.BP.BC.42/21.04.141/2010-11 — "Bank Loans for Financing Promoters Contribution" dated September 27, 2010”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2010-11/214
DBOD.No.BP.BC.42 /21.04.141/2010-11
September 27, 2010
The Chairmen and Managing Directors/
Chief Executive Officers of
All Commercial Banks
(excluding Regional Rural Banks)
Dear Sir/Madam,
Bank loans for financing promoters contribution
In terms of para 8 of Master Circular No. DBOD.Dir.BC.90/13.07.05/98 dated August 28, 1998 on ‘Bank Finance against Shares and Debentures’, promoters’ contribution towards the equity capital of a company should come from their own resources and banks should not normally grant advances to take up shares of other companies (A few exceptions have been made viz. allowing banks to extend financial assistance to Indian companies for acquisition of equity in overseas joint ventures / wholly owned subsidiaries or in other overseas companies, to successful bidders for acquisition of shares of the PSUs under the Government of India's disinvestment programme, etc.).
2. In this connection, we advise that the above mentioned restriction on grant of bank advances for financing promoters’ contribution towards equity capital would also extend to bank finance to activities related to such acquisitions like payment of non compete fee, etc.
3. It is further advised that these restrictions would also be applicable to bank finance to such activities by overseas branches/subsidiaries of Indian banks.
Yours faithfully,
(B. Mahapatra)
Chief General Manager –in-Charge
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/214 · issued 27 Sep 2010. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Discuss this circular with fellow bankers — reply, upvote what helps, report what doesn’t belong. Be professional; no client data. Views are the commenter’s own, not BankPulse’s.
BankPulse Compliance Evidence Pack — generated 03 Aug 2026 · status cross-checked against RBI’s official withdrawal register (refreshed weekly). Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=6014&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by our expert reviewer, CA Amit Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; is our own plain-English paraphrase, not RBI’s original wording.
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