Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/554 · issued 07 Apr 2014 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI clarifies that NBFCs must include indirect investments via AIFs/VCFs in NOF calculation when the NBFC contributes 50% or more funds or is the beneficial owner of the trust. Substance over form applies.
The rule, in the simplest words
If an NBFC (a company that gives loans) puts 50% or more of the money into a fund (AIF/VCF), then any investment that fund makes in a group company (a company owned by the same big boss) counts as if the NBFC made that investment itself.
If an NBFC is the beneficial owner (the one who gets the benefits and makes decisions) of a trust that holds investments, and the NBFC gave 50% or more of the trust's money, then those investments also count as direct investments for NOF (net owned funds, the money the NBFC really owns after subtracting debts).
NBFCs cannot hide investments in group companies by using a fund or trust—they must follow the 'substance over form' rule (what really happens matters more than what the paperwork says).
When calculating NOF, NBFCs must subtract the value of investments in group companies (whether made directly or through a fund/trust) from their paid-up capital and free reserves.
How it plays out — a real example
An NBFC compliance officer in Mumbai, Priya, works for an NBFC that put 60% of the money into a venture capital fund. That fund then bought shares in the NBFC's sister company. Priya must now include that investment as a direct deduction when calculating her NBFC's NOF, even though the fund made the purchase. This means her NBFC's NOF drops, and she has to check if they still meet the minimum capital rules.
What changed
RBI observed NBFCs excluding group investments made through sponsored Venture Capital Funds (VCFs) from NOF calculation, claiming the VCF made the investment. The circular clarifies that if an NBFC contributes 50% or more of the AIF/VCF corpus, or is the beneficial owner of a trust holding the investment, the investment must be treated as direct for NOF purposes.
What it means for you
NBFCs can no longer use AIF/VCF structures to circumvent NOF deduction rules for group company investments. This tightens regulatory capital calculation and may reduce reported NOF for NBFCs with significant group investments through such funds. Lenders must review their AIF exposures and ensure compliance with the substance-over-form principle.
What you must do
Review all AIF/VCF investments where your NBFC contributed 50% or more of the fund corpus.
Identify trust structures where your NBFC is the beneficial owner and holds 50%+ of trust funds.
Recalculate NOF by including such indirect group investments as direct investments for deduction.
Update internal NOF calculation policies to reflect substance-over-form for all investment structures.
Prepare for potential NOF reduction and assess impact on regulatory compliance and lending limits.
Who it affects
All NBFCs, NBFCs with group company investments through AIFs/VCFs, NBFCs sponsoring Venture Capital Funds, NBFCs with trust structures for investments
❓ Common questions
Does this circular apply to all AIFs or only VCFs?
It applies to any Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) as defined under SEBI AIF Regulations, 2012, including Venture Capital Funds (VCFs). The key trigger is the NBFC contributing 50% or more of the fund's capital.
What if my NBFC contributes less than 50% to an AIF?
If the NBFC's contribution is below 50% and it is not the beneficial owner of a trust holding the investment, the indirect investment may not need to be deducted for NOF calculation. However, the substance-over-form principle still applies, so review the overall control and benefit structure.
How does 'beneficial ownership' in a trust affect NOF?
If the NBFC is the beneficial owner of a trust (i.e., has power to make/influence decisions and receives benefits), and 50% or more of the trust's funds come from the NBFC, then investments made by that trust in group entities must be treated as direct investments for NOF deduction.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2013-14/554
DNBS (PD) CC.No.373/03.10.001/2013-14
April 7, 2014
All NBFCs
Dear Sirs,
Investment through Alternative Investment Funds – Clarification on Calculation of NOF of an NBFC
In terms of section 45 IA of the RBI Act, 1934, net owned funds (NOF) of an NBFC means-
(a) the aggregate of the paid-up equity capital and free reserves as disclosed in the latest balance-sheet of the company after deducting there from–
(i) accumulated balance of loss;
(ii) deferred revenue expenditure; and
(iii) other intangible assets; and
(b) further reduced by the amounts representing
(1) investments of such company in shares of–
(i) its subsidiaries;
(ii) companies in the same group;
(iii) all other non-banking financial companies; and
(2) the book value of debentures, bonds, outstanding loans and advances (including hire-purchase and lease finance) made to, and deposits with,–
(i) subsidiaries of such company; and
(ii) companies in the same group,
to the extent such amount exceeds ten per cent of (a) above.
2. It has been observed in certain cases that an NBFC while arriving at the NOF figure did not reckon its investment in group companies on the ground that investments in the group companies were made by the Venture Capital Fund (VCF) sponsored by the NBFC, although, in term, the contribution to the funds held by the VCF had come primarily from the NBFC itself.
3. As you are aware, a VCF or any such Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) 1 means a pool of capital by investors and the investment made by such an AIF is done on behalf of the investors. Accordingly, it is clarified that while arriving at the NOF figure, investment made by an NBFC in entities of the same group concerns shall be treated alike, whether the investment is made directly or through an AIF / VCF, and when the funds in the VCF have come from the NBFC to the extent of 50% or more; or where the beneficial owner, in the case of Trusts is the NBFC, if 50% of the funds in the Trusts are from the concerned NBFC. For this purpose, “beneficial ownership” would mean holding the power to make or influence decisions in the Trust and being the recipient of benefits arising out of the activities of the Trust.
4. In other words, in arriving at the NOF, the substance would take precedence over form. NBFCs are advised to keep this principle in mind, always, while calculating their NOF.
Yours faithfully,
( N. S. Vishwanathan )
Principal Chief General Manager
1 As defined in ‘SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA (ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENT FUNDS) REGULATIONS, 2012’
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/554 · issued 07 Apr 2014. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (All NBFCs, NBFCs with group company investments through AIFs/VCFs, NBFCs sponsoring Venture Capital Funds, NBFCs with trust structures for investments), your first concrete step on “NBFC NOF Calculation: AIF Investments Clarified” is: “Review all AIF/VCF investments where your NBFC contributed 50% or more of the fund corpus.” (RBI issued this 07 Apr 2014).
Action required: Review all AIF/VCF investments where your NBFC contributed 50% or more of the fund corpus.
Action required: Identify trust structures where your NBFC is the beneficial owner and holds 50%+ of trust funds.
Action required: Recalculate NOF by including such indirect group investments as direct investments for deduction.
Action required: Update internal NOF calculation policies to reflect substance-over-form for all investment structures.
Action required: Prepare for potential NOF reduction and assess impact on regulatory compliance and lending limits.
Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________
Built only from this circular’s own published fields — not legal advice; always confirm against the official RBI source.
💬 Banker Discussion
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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=8826&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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