PBOC to allow banks to swap NPLs for stakes
Print Edition
CHINA’S central bank is preparing regulations that would allow commercial lenders to swap non-performing loans of companies for stakes in those firms, two people with direct knowledge of the new policy said.
The new rules would reduce commercial banks’ NPL ratios, and free up cash for fresh lending for investment in a new wave of infrastructure products and factory upgrades that the government hopes will rejuvenate the world’s second-largest economy.
NPLs surged to a decade-high last year as China’s economy expanded at its slowest momentum in a quarter of a century. Official data showed banks held more than 4 trillion yuan (US$614 billion) in NPLs and “special mention” loans, or debts that could sour, at the year-end.
The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the release of a new document explaining the regulatory change was imminent. The People’s Bank of China did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
“Such a rule change shows banks’ bad loans have risen to such a level that this issue has to be tackled now before it’s too late,” said Wu Kan, Shanghai-based head of equity trading at investment firm Shanshan Finance.
State banks have extended loans to government financing vehicles and state-owned coal and steel producers, so this policy can help give lenders time to deal with non-performing assets as China pushes supply-side reforms, Wu added.
The quality of assets held by banks is worse than it looks, analysts have said. To avoid stumping up capital and to protect their balance sheets, some banks have under-reported bad loans and under-recognized overdue debt.
The PBOC has warned commercial lenders to pay special attention to risks.
“This was mainly due to a technical correction, but there’s also investor uncertainty over how those non-performing assets would be valued, and disposed of eventually,” said Wu.
Cabinet approval
The sources said the new regulations would get special approval from the State Council, China’s Cabinet, thus skirting the need to revise commercial bank law, which bars banks from investing in non-financial institutions.
Previously, Chinese commercial banks usually dealt with NPLs by selling them at a discount to state-designated asset management companies which, in turn, would try to recover the debt or re-sell at a profit to distressed debt investors.
The sources had no further detail on how banks would value the new equity stakes, which would represent assets on their balance sheets, or what ratio or amount of NPLs they would be able to convert this way.
On paper, the move would also represent a way for indebted companies to reduce their leverage, cutting the cost of servicing debt and making them more worthy of fresh credit.
China has prioritized the closure of so-called “zombie” firms responsible for much of the country’s corporate debt overhang, and has taken aim at overcapacity in industries such as steel and coal.
Lai Xiaomin, chairman of China Huarong Asset Management Co, the country’s biggest bad-debt manager, said he had no direct knowledge of the move, but would welcome such debt-to-equity swaps.
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