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IDBI - A catalyst to industrial development
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Industrial Development Bank of India was established on July 1, 1964 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) under an Act of Parliament. In view of the manifold increase in its activities and diverse responsibilities, IDBI was reconstituted through a legislation in 1976 enacted by Parliament and made the principal financial institution of the country. The ownership of IDBI was transferred from RBI to Government of India and various responsibilities relating to Financial Institutions and other matters connected with institutional finance previously vested with RBI were entrusted to the reconstituted IDBI. Pursuant to the amendment to IDBI Act in 1995, IDBI made its initial public offering of equity shares in July 1995 reducing Government holding to 72.14%. The amendment was also aimed at providing greater operational flexibility to IDBI. This would help IDBI in responding  to the changing needs of the industrial sector in a much more prompt and decisive manner. IDBI has played a pioneering role in fulfilling its mission of promoting industrial growth in line with national plans and priorities.
Prime Role
The main objective of IDBI is to provide financial assistance for establishment of new projects as well as for expansion, diversification, modernisation and technology upgradation of existing industrial enterprises.
IDBI is vested with the responsibility of co-ordinating the working of institutions engaged in financing, promoting and developing industries. IDBI has evolved an appropriate mechanism for this purpose.
IDBI also undertakes/supports wide ranging promotional activities including entrepreneurship development programmes for new entrepreneurs, provision of consultancy services for small and medium enterprises, upgradation of technology and programmes for economic upliftment of the underprivileged.
IDBI's role as a catalyst to industrial development encompasses a wide spectrum of activities. It can finance all types of industrial concerns covered under the provisions of the IDBI Act. Over more than three decades of its service to Indian industry, IDBI has grown substantially in terms of size of operations and portfolio.
Products
IDBI offers a wide range of financial products. It is constantly making efforts to respond to the financial needs of the industry by expanding the scope of its existing products and services and introducing new innovative products.
Project Finance
Project finance is provided for setting up of new projects as well as for expansion, diversification, modernisation and technology upgradation of existing enterprises.
IDBI provides assistance to industry in the form of term loans, both in Indian rupees and foreign currencies, underwriting/direct subscription to debt instruments/equity and also offers guarantees in respect of the term obligations of industrial concerns.
IDBI operates special products for technology upgradation, energy conservation and pollution control. It also provides venture capital for the development and use of indigenous technology and adaptation of imported technology.
IDBI offers to its borrowers the option of both fixed and variable interest rates which are based on IDBI's risk perception and credit worthiness of the borrowers.
Non-project Finance
IDBI also provides several diversified financial products of non-project nature to meet the specific needs of existing enterprises having good performance record and sound financial position. 
IDBI provides asset credit in the form of line of credit for acquisition of new machinery/equipment. It also provides credit to industrial units for financing their normal capital expenditure over a specified period.
IDBI provides equipment finance in the form of Indian rupee and foreign currency loans for acquisition of specific machinery/equipment.
Equipment Leasing
IDBI offers both indigenous and imported machinery/equipment in the form of full pay-out financial lease.
Corporate loans
IDBI provides corporate loans for capital expenditure and for meeting long term working capital requirements.
Working capital loan
IDBI provides loan component of working capital finance to companies already assisted by it.
Refinance of industrial loans
Medium scale projects involving capital costs ranging between Rs.3 crore and Rs.5 crore are generally financed indirectly by IDBI through refinance of industrial loans granted by state-level institutions/commercial banks.
Bills finance
IDBI rediscounts bills of exchange and promissory notes of industrial concerns arising out of sale and purchase of indigenous machinery and capital equipment on deferred payment basis and discounted by institutions approved by it. It also directly discounts bills of exchange and promissory notes of machinery manufacturers.
Services
  • Merchant Banking
The merchant banking operations of IDBI as Category I and leading merchant banker, encompass professional advice and services to industry for issue management, loan syndication, project counselling, corporate advice, project appraisal, capital restructuring and mergers & acquisitions.
  • Debenture trusteeship
IDBI acts as debenture trustee for holders of debentures issued by companies as also to the non-convertible debenture issues subscribed by financial institutions, banks and mutual funds on private placement basis. It also offers odd lot trustee services.
It acts as security agent/mortgage trustee in respect of loans granted by domestic and foreign lenders to companies.
  • Forex services
IDBI offers a variety of foreign exchange services namely - spot and forward purchases of currencies for letters of credit and debt servicing, placement of deposits abroad, swaps, forward rate agreements and derivative products.
  • Subsidiary for Small Scale Sector
IDBI had been directing considerable assistance to the small scale sector. In an effort to further intensify assistance to the small scale sector, IDBI set up a wholly-owned subsidiary, the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), as the principal financial institution for promoting, financing and developing the industries in the small scale sector.
  • Promotional and Developmental Activities
In fulfilment of its developmental role the Bank continues to perform a wide range of promotional activities relating to developmental programmes for new entrepreneurs, consultancy services for small and medium enterprises and programmes designed for accredited voluntary agencies for economic upliftment of the underprivileged. These include entrepreneurship development, self-employment and wage employment in industrial sector for weaker sections of society through voluntary agencies, support to Science and Technology Entrepreneurs' Parks, Energy Conservation, Common Quality Testing Centres for small industries.
With a view to making available at reasonable cost, consultancy and advisory services to entrepreneurs, particularly to new and small entrepreneurs, IDBI, in collaboration with other All-India Financial Institutions, has set up a network of Technical Consultancy Organisations (TCOs) covering the entire country. TCOs offer diversified services to small and medium enterprises in the selection, formulation and appraisal of projects, their implementation and review.
Realising that entrepreneurship development is the key to industrial development, IDBI played a prime role in setting up of the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India for fostering entrepreneurship in the country. It has also established similar institutes in several other states.
IDBI also extends financial support to various organisations in conducting studies/surveys of relevance to industrial development.
  • Instituion Building
Institution building is an important facet of IDBI's activities. It has set up organisations for entrepreneurship development and technical consultancy.
In view of the immense importance of capital markets in industrial development, IDBI took a lead role in setting up of several institutions for its healthy development. These are the Securities & Exchange Board of India (SEBI), National Stock Exchange of India Ltd (NSEIL), Stock Holding Corporation of India Ltd (SHCIL), Credit Analysis & Research Ltd. (CARE), OTC Exchange of India Ltd. (OTCEI), Investor Services of India Ltd. (ISIL) and National Securities Depository Ltd (NSDL).
SEBI is engaged in surveillance and regulation of the capital market. NSEIL provides comprehensive nation-wide screen-based trading facilities to investors in line with international markets. SHCL provides custodial and depository services to financial institutions. CARE offers credit rating, information and equity research services to Indian industry and institutions. OTCEI helps small and medium companies to access capital market. ISIL provides registrar and transfer services. NSDL has been set up for maintaining records of securities and ownership details in electronic book entry form. IDBI played a key role in establishing the Biotech Consortium of India Ltd. to help commercialisation of processes and products developed in the research institutes in the country in the field of biotechnology. 
IDBI has also set up a mutual fund, a stock broking subsidiary and a hi-tech commercial bank.
  • Financial profile
The financial health of IDBI is reflected in its sound capital adequacy. As on March 31,1998, IDBI had equity capital of Rs.659.5 crore, net worth of Rs.8003 crore and asset base of Rs.59,957 crore. As at end-March 1998, IDBI had a capital adequacy ratio of 13.7%.
IDBI earned a net profit of Rs.1501 crore for the year 1997-98. Its return on net worth for the year 1997-98 was 19.9% and return on average assets was 2.7%.
IDBI follows sound accounting policies with regard to asset classification, income recognition and provisioning/write-offs which are internationally comparable and in line with the norms stipulated by RBI. As on March 31, 1998, 89.9% of the Bank's loan and other assistance portfolio was classified as standard.
IDBI has established strong presence in the international capital markets with several bond issues and obtaining lines of credit from multilateral and other institutions.
  • Organisation and Management
IDBI is managed by a Board of Directors headed by the Chairman and Managing Director. The Board of Directors comprise eminent industrialists, professionals, management experts and representatives of the Central Government. Day-to-day operations of IDBI are carried out under the supervision of Chairman & Managing Director assisted by Executive Directors and other executives. IDBI has a pool of competent and experienced professionals drawn from various disciplines. It has decentralised its operations and delegated authority to ensure efficient working and responsive client servicing.
The Bank had commissioned Booz, Allen & Hamilton (BAH), an international firm of management consultants, to study its role and advise on strategic repositioning so as to maintain its leadership position in the financial system. Based on their recommendations the Bank has implemented the reorganisation process at the head office and the branch offices. These changes would enable the Bank to streamline the credit delivery process and enable it to serve its customers better. An in-house Asset Liability Management (ALM) Committee has been constituted to monitor liquidity risk, interest rate risk and foreign exchange risk in a co-ordinated manner. Further, IDBI has also appointed Arthur Andersen to establish an effective ALM function. The Consultancy firm would, among other things, help develop ALM policies, establish an appropriate ALM organisation structure, identify ALM software options and assist IDBI in the pilot implementation of the ALM information process.
  • Offices
IDBI, with its head quarters in Mumbai, has a network of five Zonal Offices and 38 Branch Offices covering the entire length and breadth of the country.
Contributed by
Special Correspondent
Mumbai
IDBI - A catalyst to industrial development
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