HomeCirculars › RBI/2010-11/398

Permanent Diminution in Value of Investments in Subsidiaries/JVs

No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/398 · issued 01 Feb 2011 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI mandates FIs to recognize permanent diminution in strategic equity investments in subsidiaries/JVs under HTM or AFS. Impairment triggers include default, restructuring, rating downgrade, or sustained losses reducing net worth by 25% or more. Valuation by a qualified valuer is required.

What changed

RBI issued specific guidelines on assessing permanent diminution in investments in subsidiaries/joint ventures, filling a gap where no method existed earlier. It lists clear triggers for impairment assessment: default, loan restructuring, rating downgrade to below investment grade, or three consecutive years of losses reducing net worth by 25% or more. For new companies/projects, failure to achieve break-even within the original gestation period also triggers assessment.

What it means for you

Banks and FIs must now proactively monitor strategic equity investments for impairment, not just rely on market prices. This will likely increase provisioning for underperforming subsidiaries or joint ventures, impacting reported profits. The requirement for a qualified valuer adds cost and rigor to the process.

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

Who it affects

All-India Term Lending and Refinancing Institutions (Exim Bank, NABARD, NHB, SIDBI), Banks with investments in subsidiaries/joint ventures

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).

What triggers the need to assess permanent diminution?

Triggers include the subsidiary/JV defaulting on debt, loan restructuring, credit rating downgrade to below investment grade, or incurring losses for three consecutive years reducing net worth by 25% or more. For new entities, failure to achieve break-even within the original gestation period also triggers assessment.

How should impairment be measured?

When impairment is indicated, the FI must obtain a valuation of the investment from a reputed or qualified valuer and make provision for the impairment amount.

Does this apply to all investments or only strategic ones?

The guidelines specifically address strategic equity investments in subsidiaries and joint ventures held under Held to Maturity (HTM) or Available for Sale (AFS) categories.

📜 This document’s life story (1 recorded event, each backed by RBI’s own words)
Repealed by RBI/2025-26/100 — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)
RBI’s words: “Official withdrawal register entry #1551: DBOD.FID.FIC.No.11/01.02.00/2010-11 — "Recognition of Permanent Diminution in the Value of Investments in Banks' Subsidiaries / Joint Ventures" dated February”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2010-11/398 DBOD.FID.FIC.No.11/01.02.00/2010-11 February 01, 2011 The CEOs of select All-India Term Lending and Refinancing Institutions (Exim Bank, NABARD, NHB and SIDBI) Dear Sir, Recognition of Permanent Diminution in the Value of Investments in Banks' Subsidiaries / Joint Ventures In terms of para 14 of Annexure to circular DBS.FID.No.C.9/01.02.00/2000-01 dated November 9, 2000 on ‘Guidelines for Classification and Valuation of investments ', FIs are required to recognise any diminution, other than temporary, in the value of their investments in subsidiaries / joint ventures which are included under Held to Maturity category and provide therefor. However, in the absence of any specific instructions on the method of assessment / measurement of permanent diminution, it has been observed that Banks/FIs are not making any attempt to determine whether there is any permanent diminution in their strategic equity investments held under HTM or AFS categories. 2. The need to determine whether impairment has occurred is a continuous process and the need for such determination will arise in the following circumstances: (a) On the happening of an event which suggests that impairment has occurred. This would include: (i)  the company has defaulted in repayment of its debt obligations. (ii)  the loan amount of the company with any bank/FI has been restructured. (iii) the credit rating of the company has been downgraded to below investment grade. (b) When the company has incurred losses for a continuous period of three years and the net worth has consequently been reduced by 25% or more. (c) In the case of new company or a new project when the originally projected date of achieving the breakeven point has been extended i.e., the company or the project has not achieved break-even within the gestation period as originally envisaged. 3. When the need to determine whether impairment has occurred arises in respect of a subsidiary, joint venture or a material investment, the FI should obtain a valuation of the investment by a reputed / qualified valuer and make provision for the impairment, if any. 4. These guidelines would be applicable with immediate effect. Please acknowledge receipt. Yours faithfully, (B. Mahapatra) Chief General Manager-In-Charge
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/398 · issued 01 Feb 2011. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=6249&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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