RBI allows issuance of LC/BG against commodity derivative transactions: Banknet India

RBI CREDIT AND MONETARY POLICIES (1999-2009) click here

RBI allows issuance of standby letter of credit /bank guarantee against commodity hedging/derivative transactions

10 Nov 2008 : With a view to providing greater flexibility to resident entities who have payment obligations arising out of commodity derivative transactions entered into by customers with overseas counterparties, Reserve Bank of India has decided that AD Category-I banks may issue guarantees / standby letters of credit to cover these specific payment obligations.

Conditions / Guidelines for issuance of standby letter of credit / bank guarantee - commodity hedging transactions

1. The standby letter of credit / bank guarantee may be issued for the specific purpose of payment of margin money in respect of approved commodity hedging activities of the company.

2. The standby letter of credit / bank guarantee may be issued for an amount not exceeding the margin payments made to the specific counterparty during the previous financial year.

3. The standby letter of credit / bank guarantee may be issued for a maximum period of one year, after marking a lien on the non-funded facility available to the customer (letter of credit / bank guarantee limit).

4. The bank shall ensure that the guidelines for overseas commodity hedging have been duly complied with.

5. The bank shall ensure that broker's month-end reports duly confirmed / countersigned by corporate's financial controller have been submitted.

6. Brokers' month end reports shall be regularly verified by the bank to ensure that all off-shore positions are / were backed by physical exposures.

II. AD Category-I banks may issue guarantees / standby letters of credit only where the remittance is covered under the delegated authority or under the specific approval granted for overseas commodity hedging by the Reserve Bank.

III. The issuing bank shall have a Board approved policy on the nature and extent of exposures that the bank can take for such transactions and should be part of the credit exposure on the customers. The exposure should also be assigned risk weights, for capital adequacy purposes as per the extant provisions.

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