Chapter 7 Special Purpose Vehicle

7.1 Concept
Securitisation offers higher quality assets to investors by virtue of the fact that the structures
insulate investors from the bankruptcy risk of the Originator. In order to ensure that the
assets actually achieve the bankruptcy remoteness, it is essential to move them out of the
balance sheet of the Originator and park them with another independent entity. Typically an
SPV is employed to purchase the assets from the Originator and issue securities against these
assets. Such a structure provides a comfort to the investors that they are investing in a pool of
assets which is held on their behalf only by the SPV and which is not subject to any
subsequent deterioration in the credit quality of the Originator. The SPV is usually a thinly
capitalised vehicle whose ownership and management are independent of the Originator. The
main objective of SPV is to distinguish the instrument from the Originator.
7.2 SPVs in other Countries
7.2.1 U.S.A.
The US market, which is home to 75% or more of the global securitisation volumes, shows
clear division between the MBS & ABS issuance. The MBS market has been subject to
successive transformations and presently the three institutions (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and
Ginnie Mae) act as the principal intermediaries in the market inas much as they perform the
activity of purchasing mortgages from home loan Originators and selling MBS. Based upon
the same, their role could be likened to those of SPVs. However, over a period of time, these
institutions have matured and assumed a greater role in the secondary mortgage market. Both
Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae deal overwhelmingly in pools of conventional (i.e. not
Federally insured) mortgages. In sharp contrast, Ginnie Mae deals only in Federally insured
mortgages. However, all three agencies guarantee their issues against default losses.
Government sponsorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac contributed significantly to enlarge
these institutions role beyond mere conduits and helped them to become dominant institutions
in the residential mortgage market. It was felt that investors would prefer to receive regular
payments of principal and interest whether or not the same is collected from the Obligors
even though a 100% guaranteed paper would imply lower interest yield. It thus became
important for Fannie Mae and others to take on the additional role of guaranteeing the
issuance being routed through them. In short, the secondary market scenario even in the most
developed markets like the US is characterised by Governmental / regulatory patronage and
guarantees. Consequently the securitisation SPV in this segment of the market also displays
characteristics which are typical of State facilitation and encouragement. More details of
these institutions are given in Chapter 6.
7.2.2 Argentina
a) SPVs generally take legal forms of Mutual Funds (MFs), trusts or corporations etc.
According to the Trust law in Argentina, a trust (similar to SPV) is established when a
person (the trustor) transfers the ownership in trust of certain assets to another person (the
trustee) who must “manage” the assets for the benefit of the party specified in the trust
agreement (the beneficiary), and transfer the trust property upon termination of the trust
to the trustor or the beneficiary. The Trust law states that the property transferred in trust
constitutes a separate estate from that of either the trustor or the trustee. Further, the trust
property is exempt from any claims of the trustee’s creditors and, except in the case of
fraud, the trustor’s creditors. The obligations of the trust may only be satisfied from the
trust property.
b) The trustee is a financial institution or an entity authorised by the CNV (similar to SEBI
in India) to act as financial trustee and the beneficiaries are the holders of certificates of
 participation in the trust property (‘certificates”) or the debt instruments guaranteed by
the trust property (‘debt instruments”).
c) Financial trustees may be financial entities authorised under Argentine law, entities
registered in the Register of Financial trustees held by CNV and the financial institutions
chartered by the Central Bank of the Argentine Republic. In order to be included in the
Register of Financial Trustees, an entity must be a corporation or, in the case of foreign
company, must have a branch or other form of representation in Argentina; its legal
purpose must include serving as a trustee; it must have a net worth of at least 100,000
pesos; and it must have an adequate administrative organisation to perform its duties as
financial trustees, although administrative services may be contracted out.
d) Further:

• The trust agreement may not release the trustee or its employees from its responsibility
for acts of negligence and wilful misconduct nor from the prohibition on its acquiring
assets held by the trust. Upon or after signing the trust agreement, and in accordance with
its terms, the trustee will be the transferee of the assets or rights which are the subject of
securitisation and as of that moment, the trustee will be endowed with title, in trust, to the
rights to such principal, interest fees, collateral security etc., which title and rights may
not be challenged by third parties if the transfer and the registration are carried out in
accordance with the formalities required by the applicable law.
• The portfolio of loans that may be transferred and held by a trustee will at no time be
considered part of the trustee’s assets for bankruptcy or other purposes.

More details are given in Chapter 6.

7.2.3 Morocco
(a) In Morocco, the SPVs can be (i) institutional investors in debt or (ii) other
entities which are governed by the legislative or regulatory systems of either
Morocco or other foreign countries. The SPV is a separate and autonomous
body and has the capacity of a natural person. All its functions are
administered by its management depository institution, akin to asset
management company (AMC) in India. It has been considered advisable that
for each securitisation operation by an Originator, a separate SPV is created
exclusively for that operation, although an AMC may be founder and manager
of more than one SPV provided that appropriate, precautionary measures are
put in place and described in the relevant administrative rules to prevent
conflicts of interest and the mixing of funds.
(b) Rules of formation of SPV
The minimum framework of rules within which the SPV is founded has been
specified in the Act covering the duration of the SPV, particulars of its AMC
and the financial intermediary, a description of the planned securitisation
operation, nature of assets to be transferred to it, minimum and maximum
amounts of intended issue, frequency and nature of mandatory information to
be provided to its investors, procedures for meetings with its investors,
dissolution of the SPV, etc. As a result of its exclusive purpose for
securitisation operation, an SPV cannot undertake any activity or assume any
responsibilities other than those prescribed in the rules of its formation.
(c) Minimum disclosure norms
The Act specifies that the rules of formation of the SPV must include the
frequency and the nature of mandatory information to be provided to the
investors. Any Originator holding or acquiring direct or indirect interest in the
 AMC must disclose the fact in the rules of the SPV and the information to be
furnished to the investors. The AMCs are required to furnish a copy of the
annual report on the SPV and if required by the rules at a greater frequency,
duly certified by an auditor.
(d) Separation from the assets of its Originator and AMC
The transfer of the receivables is absolute and cannot be cancelled for any
reason even if the Originator becomes insolvent or enters liquidation. The
receivables once transferred to the SPV are to be removed from the balance
sheet of the Originator. Further, there is no guarantee from the Originator
about the solvency of the debtors. All its assets are separate from those of the
Originator, its management depository institution and its share/bonds holders.
(e) The SPV is required to follow the accounting rules approved by Government
in consultation with National Accounting Council or failing this, those, which
are in conformity with the accounting rules generally accepted in Morocco.
The auditor has been assigned a permanent role in the auditing of the books of
the SPV, verification of the consistency and the authenticity of its accounts as
also the information related to its financial position prior to its being released.
7.3 SPV in the Indian context
7.3.1 In India too, Originator should have the same flexibility in choosing an appropriate
legal structure for the SPV based on its individual requirements whether in form of a
company, trust (with or without a company as a trustee), MF, a statutory corporation, a
society, firm, etc., in short all possible forms of a business entity that is capable of being
formed. Consequently, the provisions of the parent law for incorporation of such entity, i.e.,
the Companies Act, Trust Act, the Partnership Act, etc. will apply to the formation of such
SPVs.
7.3.2 While different forms of SPVs have evolved in various markets, Indian mortgage
sector has taken cues from the US market. The securitisation SPV assumes a character
different from a mere conduit in US. NHB has now taken upon itself the role similar to that
being performed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the US. NHB is presently engaged in
bringing to the market its pilot issue of MBS backed by mortgage pool of four Housing
Finance Companies. The pilot issue has been under discussion for two years now and
currently the structure and the modalities are being finalised by NHB. Based upon the
experience of the issue, NHB is likely to take a longer view of what role it needs to play to
give a fillip to the secondary mortgage market in India. Other players in the housing market
like commercial banks, HUDCO, State housing boards etc. may also desire to participate in
the secondary mortgages market as Originator or SPV or ancillary service providers. For this
segment of the market, as well as the segment relating to issuance of ABSs, certain other
kinds of SPVs would develop over a period of time.
7.4 Key features desired in an ideal SPV
7.4.1 Based upon the international practices as discussed in para 7.2 above, the WG came to
the conclusion that an SPV should, therefore, satisfy the following key characteristics:
(a) An SPV must be capable of acquiring, holding and disposing of assets.
(b) It would be an entity, which would undertake only the activity of asset
securitisation and no other activity.
(c) An SPV must be bankruptcy remote i.e. the bankruptcy of Originator should not
affect the interests of holders of instruments issued by SPV.
(d) An SPV must be bankruptcy proof. i.e. it should not be capable of being taken
into bankruptcy in the event of any inability to service the securitised paper issued
by it.
(e) An SPV must have an identity totally distinct from that of its promoters/ sponsors/
 constituents/ shareholders. Its creditors cannot obtain satisfaction from them.
(f) The investors must have undivided interest in the underlying asset (as
distinguished from an interest in the SPV which is a mere conduit).
(g) A SPV must be tax neutral i.e. there should be no additional tax liability or double
taxation on the transaction on account of the SPV acting as a conduit.
(h) A SPV must have the capability of housing multiple securitisation. However, SPV
must take precaution to avoid co-mingling of assets of multiple securitisation. In
case of transactions involving various kinds of assets, they should restrict the
rights of investors to the specific pool.
(i) The SPV agreement may not release its employees or trustees from their
responsibility for acts of negligence and a wilful misconduct.
7.4.2 Instrument issued by the an SPV should have the following characteristics:
(a) Be capable of being offered to the public or private placement.
(b) Permit free or restricted transferability.
(c) Permit issuance of pass through or pay through Securities.
(d) Represent the amounts invested and the undivided interest or share in the assets
(and should not constitute debt of SPV or the Originator).
(e) Be capable of being classified as senior / subordinate by differentiation in ranking
of security or in receiving payments.
(f) May be issued in bearer form or registered in the holder’s name, may or may not
be endorsable and may be issued in definitive form or book entry form.
7.4.3 Bankruptcy-remoteness and insolvency laws
Standard and Poor's1 has developed the following the 'Special Purpose Entity' criteria which a
SPV should satisfy to be deemed as bankruptcy-remote.:
• Restrictions on objects and powers : The purpose of this restriction is to reduce the SPV's
internal risk of insolvency due to claims created by activities unrelated to the securitised
assets and issuance of rated securities.
• Debt limitations: An SPV should be restricted from issuing other debt except in
circumstances those are consistent with the rated issuance.
• Independent director: Interlocking directorates between he Directors of the SPV and that
of its parent present a potential conflict of interest. If the parent becomes insolvent in a
situation where the SPV is performing adequately, there maybe an incentive for the parent
entity to voluntarily file the SPV into bankruptcy and consolidate its assets with those of
the parent. If the SPV has at least one director who is independent from the parent and
this director's vote is required in any board action seeking bankruptcy protection for the
SPV, the SPV is unlikely to voluntarily file an insolvency petition.
• No merger or reorganisation: This requirement ensures that, while the rated securities are
outstanding, the bankruptcy-remoteness of the SPV will not be undermined by nay
merger or consolidation with a non-SPV or any reorganisation, dissolution, liquidation, or
asset sale.
• Separateness: Separateness covenants are designed to ensure that the SPV holds itself out
to the world as an independent entity, on the theory that if an entity does not act as if it
had an independent existence, a court may use principles of piercing the corporate veil,
alter ego, or substantive consolidation to bring the SPV and its assets into the parent's
bankruptcy proceedings.
• Security interests over assets: A debt security interest opinion is generally required that
the issuing SPV can grant a security interest over its assets to the holders of the rated
securities. This element helps in reaching the analytic conclusion that an issuer is in fact
 an SPV by reducing the incentives of the parent to involuntarily file the entity. By
reducing the practical benefit of insolvency filing, the likelihood of voluntary insolvency
is decreased.
Each of these characteristics is important to the overall concept of bankruptcy remoteness and
regardless of the specific organizational structure of the SPV, these elements should,
generally, be treated in the relevant organisational documents. Such an SPV is regarded as
being sufficiently protected against both voluntary and involuntary insolvency risks.
7.5 Company, Trust or MF
Reforms may be necessary in essence to establish that an SPV irrespective of its form meets
the desired objectives and has the desired characteristics. While three forms of enterprise
namely, company, trust and MF have been examined in the following table, the examination
is not by any means conclusive of all of the difficulties that may be encountered in the event
one is desirous of utilising such business enterprise as an SPV.
Table 4: Comparative table of the desired features in a Company, Trust or MF

Sr. Topic Company* Company as Trustee of a MF [constituted

No. Trust established for as a Trust under
securitisation* SEBI (MF)
Regulations]*
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
1. Capable of Yes Yes The position is
acquiring, ambiguous and
holding and clarification may
disposing of be sought from
assets SEBI
pursuant to
securitisation
transactions
2. Bankruptcy No Yes Yes
proof SPV - Against -Subject to suitable -Subject to
creditors (i.e. provisions in the Trust Deed suitable
Debt provisions in the
instrument Trust deed and
holders) terms of issue of
- Against Units under any
structural specific Scheme
bankruptcy
3. Independent Yes Yes Yes
corporate -Subject to suitable -Subject to
existence, provisions in the Trust Deed suitable
limited provisions in the
liability and Trust Deed
perpetual
succession
4. Tax neutrality No Yes Yes
-Subject to suitable
provisions in the trust deed
5. Undivided No Yes Yes
interest of -as a shareholder -Beneficial owner of the -Beneficial owner
 investors in (whether assets of the assets
the underlying preference or (Unitholder has
assets equity only an undivided
owner of shares beneficial interest
of the company in the assets
and of the assets comprised in the
of the company) specific Scheme
-as a debt of the MF)
instrument
holder only
entitled to the
repayment/paym
ent of principal
and interest
6. Housing of No Yes Yes
multiple -Subject to suitable - MF can offer
securitisation provisions in the Trust Deed multiple
transactions -The Trustee would be able schemes
to enter into different trust
deeds for different
transactions
7. Capable of Yes Yes Yes
issuing paper -Subject to suitable -Clarification is
of different provisions in the Trust Deed however
maturities, necessary from
particularly SEBI whether
short maturity MFs can make
paper, private
publicly or placements
privately
8. SPV Yes (in case of Yes Yes
structures structured debt -Subject to suitable Clarification is
should permit instrument) provisions in the Trust Deed however
issuance of and terms of issue necessary from
both “pay SEBI whether two
through” and or more classes of
“pass units can be
through” issued
securities
9. Regulator Yes Could be RBI. Yes
- Companies as NBFC Regulations should - MFs as such are
such are not be applicable regulated by
regulated by In case of public issuance of SEBI and in case
DCA and securities, would be subject of money market
NBFCs are also to SEBI purview MFs, SEBI and
regulated by RBI RBI play a role in
regulation
* Reforms are desirable to all laws governing the respective entities in all items which
renders the particular entity unable to match and meet the essential characteristics.
 The pros and cons of various forms of structures for SPV are discussed below

7.6 Company as a SPV

Structuring the SPV as a Company under the Companies Act, 1956, has certain legal and
regulatory issues as well as entity level taxation issues.
7.6.1 Bankruptcy Proof
A company formed under the Companies Act, 1956 cannot be bankruptcy proof since
the Court under Section 433 of the Companies Act can wind it up. Under Section 434 of the
Companies Act, a company shall be deemed to have been unable to pay its debts if a creditor
to whom the company is indebted to the extent of Rs 500 has served a notice for payment of
the sum and the company does not pay the sum payable within 3 weeks from receipt of such
notice or secure the debt or compound the same to the satisfaction of the creditor.
7.6.2 The SPV will leave itself open to a winding up for non payment of a sum as little as Rs
500. Keeping in mind that one of the essential factors of an SPV established for the purpose
of securitisation is that the SPV should be bankruptcy proof; a Company may not fulfil the
requirement. Upon the company issuing a debt instrument or raising any money in the form
of debt, the company leaves itself open to bankruptcy suits.
7.6.3 However, a Company as SPV can remain bankruptcy remote if there is true sale from
Originator of SPV.
7.6.4 Instruments that can be issued by the SPV
Characteristics of instruments that can be issued by a Company are set out below:
i) Shares :
Shares may be equity or preference shares.
Equity Shares:
A public company set up for securitisation purposes issuing equity shares will
be a single transaction vehicle. Other conditions such as transferability,
stamping etc are the same as for preference shares.
Preference Shares:
Allows for the SPV to be a multiple transaction SPV. However, linking
returns (i.e. dividends) to a particular asset pool might present practical
problems. Also, while the Companies Act allows (by implication) differential
dividends on different classes of preference shares, it is not clear whether this
encompasses linking dividends on each class to different sources of profits.
Transferability and Tradability
The shares are marketable if listed. Hence, the transfer and marketability
would be dependent on whether the shares are listed or unlisted. Shares can
also be traded privately.
Stamp Duty on Issue
This is a State subject.
Stamp Duty on Transfer
This is a Central Subject and is charged at 0.75%.

(ii) Debentures :
Transferability and Tradability
The debentures are marketable if listed. Hence, the transfer and marketability
would be dependent on whether the debentures are listed or unlisted.
Debentures can also be traded privately.
Stamp Duty on Issue
 Stamp duty is as specified by the Central Government. It is an ad valorem levy
and the duties vary depending on the mode of transfer (whether by
endorsement/ separate instrument of transfer or by delivery).
Stamp Duty on Transfer
It is a state subject.
(iii) Other Instruments:
To ensure that the Company is bankruptcy proof, the instrument issued by it
should not impose an unconditional liability on it to repay the debt irrespective
of the realisations from the underlying assets.

Tax efficiency
A Company is subject to entity level taxation and the income generated by a company
is subject to tax. This would increase the cost of securitisation and the transaction would not
be cost effective. The nature of the SPV is such that it merely houses the receivables and
issues papers for investors. In order to achieve this and to make the paper/ instrument
attractive to the ultimate investor it is important that there is no tax burden on the SPV.

7.6.5 Recommended Reforms for an SPV in form of a Company

§ An SPV as a Company should be able to issue a new class of instrument viz. the PTC that
is repaid only from the performance of the identified assets held by it for the benefit of
the investors in the PTC – this would prevent structural bankruptcy.

§ This new class of instrument should not be treated as debt obligation of the SPV, but one
representing an undivided interest of the investor in the underlying asset.

§ The instruments are to be issued against a specified pool of assets. Thus multiple
securitisation transactions can be handled since instruments can be issued against separate
sets of assets.

§ The Company should not be subject to the NBFC registration norms as specified by the
RBI. Instead, RBI may consider some other form of regulation of the SPVs.

§ In the long run, such SPV companies should be declared to be exempt from entity level
taxation.

7.7 Trust of which a Company is a Trustee (Trustee Company as SPV)

7.7.1 The Trustee Company is similar to a Trust with only the role of the Trustee being
undertaken by a Company. With individuals becoming increasingly averse from acting as
Trustees (as is happening in the case of MFs), a Company may act as the Trustee and issue
the PTCs to the investors.
7.7.2 Characteristics of the Trustee Company

§ A Company under the Companies Act, 1956 which would act as the SPV.

§ It would acquire the receivables by assignment from the Originator and hold them in
its capacity as Trustee.

§ The Trust Deed should ensure that the Company can act as the Trustee and also hold
in Trust separate tranches of receivables pertaining to different transactions
 § The SPV/Trustee are not liable for the good performance of the assets.

§ The administration of the SPV's assets for any transaction may be subcontracted back
to the Originator or to any other servicer through an Administration Agreement
describing the different tasks to be performed by the Originator (in it's capacity as
Administrator).

7.7.3 The framework of the Trustee Company would be as in the case of a MF Trustee
Company. The security issued by the SPV i.e. the PTC would not be a debt obligation of the
Trustee Company. The PTCs would constitute certificates notifying ownership on the pool of
the assets/receivables being securitised.
7.7.4 A PTC ideally represents a declaration of interest in a pool of assets transferable when
a beneficiary changes. The Trust through the Trustees will recognise the change in the
beneficiary by endorsing the PTCs. There is no transfer of ownership interest from the Trust,
as it would continue to hold the securities in trust for the changing beneficiaries represented
as a class.
7.7.5 The PTC would not be treated as a re-assignment of receivables as there is no transfer
of property interest from the Trustee to the PTC holder. The Trustee always holds the
property for the beneficiaries from inception of the Trust and never sells or reassigns the
interest, as the Trust never dissolves. As there is no assignment of interest at the stage of
issuance of PTC, there is no re-assignment when the PTC holder changes.
7.7.6 For each securitisation transaction routed through the Trustee company there would be
a Declaration of Trust made separately for each pool of receivables. An information
memorandum would be drawn up in each instance. It is similar to a MF scheme where the
terms of the scheme and the benefits of the unit holders are specifically described and
assigned for each scheme.
7.7.7 Recommended reforms for the SPV in the form of a Trustee Company

v There is lack of clarity as to whether securities issued by a trust are capable of being
listed on a stock exchange. At present, MFs are the only trusts, which have been
specifically empowered to issue such securities. SEBI could be requested to recognise
such trustee companies and permit them to issue marketable securities as has been done
for MF units.

v Trustee owned assets would be normally treated, as distinct from company owned assets.
However, a clarification from tax authorities that such SPV trustee companies would
enjoy a tax shield may be necessary.

7.8 MF AS SPV
7.8.1 A MF is legally and factually a trust, being administered by a Trustee Company or a
Board of Trustees, and whose assets for each scheme are managed by a separate Asset
Management Company (AMC). As discussed above, while examining the trustee company
concept, a MF is an existing and established legal structure, which conforms, in general, to
the requirements of a securitisation SPV.
7.8.2 The schemes established by a MF are independent of one another. Separate
maintenance of accounts of each scheme is required. Further, the unitholders of each scheme
are owners of undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Scheme.
7.8.3 Unless it is an assured return scheme, the Unit holders are only entitled to receive such
dividends as may be declared by the AMC or the trustees. Further, in case of loss of initial
investment (unit capital), the loss devolves on the investors.
7.8.4 A MF possesses most of the characteristics desirable for a securitisation SPV, namely:
• MFs are structured as trusts under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882. This gives them the
flexibility to issue units under different schemes, and keep the funds raised under schemes
(and consequently the rights of investors in different schemes) distinct from each other.

• MFs are permitted to issue marketable securities. While normal trusts (i.e., those that are
not registered with SEBI as MFs) can borrow funds, it is unclear whether they can raise
money by issuing marketable securities i.e. it has not been experimented so far.
• The income earned by MFs is exempt from tax under sec 10(23D) of the Income Tax Act,
1961.

7.9 Further recommendations for different forms of SPV

7.9.1 Company as SPV:
Applicability of NBFC Directions
If the SPV for asset securitisation is set up as a joint stock company under Companies Act,
the activities undertaken by the SPV would appear similar to those of an investment or loan
company and the following issues would arise. However, as explained later, the SPV in
effect would only be undertaking an activity akin to trading in debt.

(i) It would require registration with RBI under Section 45-IA of the RBI Act and
it should have the statutorily prescribed minimum capital funds and the
present requirement is Rs. 200 lakh for a new company and this may not be
possible. However, in view of the fact that it would be a company which
would undertake only the activity of asset securitisation and no other
activity, all the companies incorporated for the purpose could be treated as a
class of companies and would be regulated by one or the other Regulatory
Authority viz. RBI or SEBI. The Reserve Bank of India in exercise of its
powers under section 45NC of the RBI Act could exempt all such companies
from the applicability of core provisions of RBI Act as has been done in case
of the Stock Broking Companies.

(ii) The SPV raises funds through issue of Pass Through Certificates or Pay
Through Certificates (PTCs) and such monies may or may not be treated as
public deposits. If so, the SPV would be governed by the comprehensive
regulatory framework like capital adequacy requirement, credit/investment
concentration norms. However, the FIs proposing to securitise their asset
portfolio may transfer beneficial interest on assets in favour of the SPV, which
in turn issues PTC against the backing of assets / future cash flows from these
assets. Therefore, PTCs could be treated as a secured instrument and the
NBFC Directions should not be applicable. The debentures/bonds, which are
fully secured by the assets of the company in respect of which a charge has
been created in favour of the trustees for such debenture holders/bond holders,
are exempted from the description of public deposits. On the other hand, if the
PTCs were treated as near to equity, the NBFC Directions would not cover
them because raising of money by contribution to capital is exempt from the
definition of deposit.
 (iii) If the SPV company is floated by an NBFC as the Originator, it could be
reckoned as a company in the same group or its subsidiary and the Net Owned
Fund of the Originator NBFC would be severely affected because of the
exposure to the group companies. The SPVs promoted for infrastructure
development are presently facing the same difficulties. This is a larger issue
and the Originators should have an arm length relationship with the SPVs
promoted by them and should not have more than the substantial interest.
Alternatively, in order to give encouragement to the NBFCs to promote SPVs
for the purpose of asset securitisation, RBI would also need to clarify that such
SPVs will not be treated as the companies/entities in the same
group/subsidiaries of the Originator NBFC because it would have no
beneficial interest in the SPV except to the extent of its shareholding or the
investments made in the instruments issued by the SPV. It would encourage
the NBFCs to promote the SPVs without an adverse impact on their Net
Owned Fund.

(iv) If the SPV company were promoted by a bank, it would require prior approval
of RBI under the B. R. Act, 1949 for investing more than 30 percent of the
paid up capital of the bank or the investee company. The banks could,
however, own less than 30 per cent of the equity of the SPV and float the
company in association with other financial institutions.

7.9.2 Trust as SPV:

An option that could be examined is the exercise of inherent powers of the Government of
India under the Constitution of India and the Government of India Act, 1935, to notify a
requisite scheme (akin to the SEBI (MF) Regulations, 1996, under which securitised paper
can be issued by a trust established for the purposes of securitisation. Similar steps have been
taken in the past by the Government of India, e.g., the Issue of Foreign Currency Convertible
Bonds and Ordinary Shares (through Depository Receipts Mechanism) Scheme, 1993. The
Government of India could under such scheme/regulations (for issue of securitised debt
receipts through the securitisation fund) designate an appropriate authority for administration
of the scheme/regulations.
7.9.3 MF as SPV
The MF in its current form, however, cannot be used to perform the role of a securitisation
SPV due to the following reasons:
v A MF cannot buy into assets and actionable claims. The entire SEBI (MF) Regulations
mention only ‘security’ – whether it is in the context of the role of the AMC or in the
accounting and valuations aspects.

v The existing set of regulations includes, to a large extent, directives that are vital to
normal MFs but redundant as far as securitisation SPVs are concerned. The amendment
of every clause of the existing regulations to encompass all the activities of the SPV
would be a laborious task since the entire spirit and focus of the MF regulations is on
regulating activities very different in nature from that of a securitisation SPV. Re-writing
a fresh set of regulations for securitisation might prove to be less cumbersome and easier
to understand.
7.9.4 Unincorporated bodies (Partnership firm/ society, etc. as SPV - applicability of NBFC
guidelines
(a) In view of the fact that securitisation is a financial activity, the unincorporated body (i.e.,
individual, firm, HUF, association of persons) undertaking such activity would be deemed
to be engaged in financial business and the provisions of Chapter III C of the Reserve
Bank of India Act, 1934 would be attracted to such activities. The unincorporated entity
is, inter alia, not allowed to raise deposits from other than the relatives and institutions
specified in the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
(b) The bonds, debentures or any other instruments near to equity can be raised only by joint
stock companies. The unincorporated entities can, therefore, issue only the PTCs. In so
far as they issue PTCs to the specified institutions, viz., FIs, statutory corporations,
cooperative societies, companies incorporated under the Companies Act 1956 etc., these
borrowings or moneys received through issue of PTCs would be exempt from the
purview of ‘deposits’ and to that extent these entities could act, unhindered, as SPV for
issuing securitised papers. In the usual course, initially, the investors are the institutions
or corporates only, and the provisions of Chapter III C of the Reserve Bank of India Act,
1934 would not be attracted. There could, however, be instances of unincorporated
entities acquiring the PTCs by their purchase in the secondary market. The situation
emanating therefrom could be unintended by the issuers and could be an aberration.
These should therefore be ignored for the purpose of compliance with the Reserve Bank
of India Act, 1934.
(c) There are no regulations on the unincorporated bodies investing in the securitised papers.
They can acquire hold, transfer, purchase, repurchase etc., in the usual course of their
business and subject to the compliance to the other applicable statutes.
The observations will also apply to SPV as a Trust or MF.
7.9.5 Further, the Working Group discussed whether SPV should be one time entity
(transaction specific) or an on-going entity. It was also suggested that a few SPVs might cater
to the needs of particular industry and thus acquire specialisation in securitising assets
pertaining to a given sector of economy. Another view was that the co-mingling of asset
pools from various Originators might not be an appropriate strategy till the system stabilises.
The day to day functions of SPV may be performed by an administrator / servicer for a fee.

7.10 Conclusion
7.10.1 The fact remains that the MF is the closest available existing and regulated entity,
which carries out an activity similar to securitisation. While it may not be feasible to
accommodate the spirit of securitisation in its entirety within the MF Regulations, SEBI
could be prevailed upon to frame a suitable set of guidelines for regulating the
securitisation activity on the lines of the MF Regulations. A point to note is the recent
issuance of Guidelines for collective investment schemes, which again have many aspects in
common with securitisation schemes. SEBI’s experience in handling similar legal structures
involving aggregation of investments (public or private) would help the activity arrive in
market in a regulated form.
7.10.2 While the SPV would be incorporated & registered as an entity under its parent
legislation, for e.g., a company would be registered with the Registrar o companies; for such
a Company to engage in the activity of public issuance of securities, it may be desirable for
the entity to be registered with the capital market regulator also. This may be kept in view by
SEBI while framing the guidelines for regulating the securitisation activity.
7.10.3 For securitisation to realise its true potential in the infrastructure / housing and other
capital deficient sectors, widespread participation in securitisation schemes is highly
desirable and should be encouraged. SPV should therefore be capable of issuance of
securities to a large variety of investors. The concerns relating to investor protection will be
adequately taken care of by the capital market regulator.
7.10.4 Since investor participation in securitised paper will be from both the private
placement markets as well as by public issuance, it is desirable that both the activities are
regulated from a common point. This is particularly so in view of:
v Common set of guidelines which will rule out duplicity of regulations.
v The informed investor i.e. FIs/mutual funds, etc. will help the activity take off initially
by subscribing to the scheme. Other investors like pension funds, insurance
companies, etc can gain confidence and participate through the secondary market.
v Likely widening of the potential investor base right from inception in view of the
above.

1
Standard & Poor's Legal Issues in rating Structured Finance transactions : April 1998, page 30.