Amounts in notes forming part of the standalone financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2024 are denominated in
rupee crore to conform to extant RBI guidelines, except where stated otherwise.
1. Amalgamation of HDFC Limited
The Board of Directors at its meeting held on April 04, 2022, approved a composite Scheme of amalgamation (“Scheme”), for the amalgamation of: (i) erstwhile HDFC Investments Limited (“eHDFC Investments”) and erstwhile HDFC Holdings Limited (“eHDFC Holdings”), with and into erstwhile Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited (“eHDFC Limited”); and thereafter (ii) eHDFC Limited into HDFC Bank Limited (“Bank”), and their respective shareholders and creditors, under Sections 230 to 232 of the Companies Act, 2013 and other applicable laws including the rules and regulations. The Scheme was approved by the shareholders at the National Company Law Tribunal (“NCLT”) convened meeting of the shareholders of the Bank held on November 25, 2022. The NCLT, in accordance with Sections 230 to 232 of the Companies Act, 2013 and rules thereunder, vide its order dated March 17, 2023 sanctioned the Scheme. Upon receipt of all requisite approvals, the Bank filed form INC 28 with Registrar of Companies on July 01, 2023 and accordingly, the scheme became effective on July 01, 2023. As per the Scheme, the appointed date for the amalgamation of eHDFC Limited with and into the Bank is the same as effective date of the Scheme i.e. July 01,2023. The Profit and Loss Account for the year ended March 31, 2024 include the operations of eHDFC Limited, eHDFC Investments and eHDFC Holdings for the period from July 01, 2023 to March 31,2024 and the Balance Sheet as at March 31,2024 includes the balances transferred from eHDFC Limited and hence are not comparable with the previous year.
The amalgamation has been accounted under the ‘pooling of interest' method as prescribed in Accounting Standard-14 “Accounting for amalgamation” (“AS-14”). Outstanding balances between eHDFC Limited and the Bank were eliminated as on July 01, 2023. All assets and liabilities of eHDFC Limited have been recognised by the Bank at their carrying amounts as on that date except for adjustments to bring about uniformity of accounting policies as required under AS-14. The share capital of ' 311.04 crore issued by the Bank as consideration pursuant to the scheme has been adjusted against the corresponding share capital of eHDFC Limited of ' 370.29 crore and the difference has been adjusted to Amalgamation Reserve. Further, excess of cost over face value of Investment in shares of the Bank by eHDFC Limited of ' 14,006.31 crore has been adjusted to Amalgamation Reserve. Consequently, the Bank has recognised a debit balance of ' 13,947.06 crore in the Amalgamation Reserve as a result of these adjustments. The Bank has sought approval from the RBI to set-off the debit balance in Amalgamation Reserve by appropriating profit for the financial year ended March 31, 2024.
Consequent upon amalgamation becoming effective, the authorised share capital of the Bank stood increased to ' 1,190.61 crore (11,90,61,00,000 shares of ' 1/- each) on account of transfer to and amalgamation / combination of authorised capital of eHDFC Limited with the authorised share capital of the Bank. In terms of the Scheme, the Bank has issued and allotted 3,11,03,96,492 equity shares to the shareholders of eHDFC Limited as on July 13, 2023, being the record date fixed by the Board of Directors as per the Scheme, in accordance with the share exchange ratio i.e. 42 equity shares of face value of ' 1/- each of the Bank for every 25 equity shares of face value of ' 2/- each of eHDFC Limited. Accordingly, the paid-up share capital of the Bank increased from ' 559.18 crore consisting of 5,59,17,98,806 equity shares of ' 1/- each to ' 753.76 crore consisting of 7,53,75,69,464 equity shares of ' 1/- each, post cancellation of 1,16,46,25,834 equity shares held by eHDFC Limited in the Bank on that date in accordance with the provisions of the Scheme.
In relation to the Scheme, the Bank had made applications to the RBI seeking certain forbearances / glidepath to commence from the effective date of the amalgamation. The applications were submitted to the RBI keeping in mind that the merged entity including its subsidiaries would require to comply with the extant RBI regulations with the expectation of facilitating minimal disruption to the existing customers of the merged entity, providing smooth glidepath and enabling the merged entity to continue with the incremental flow of credit in the economy including priority sector. The RBI has granted certain forbearances / glidepath and provided clarifications to the Bank by subsequent communications, the effect of which has been incorporated in the standalone financial statements for the year ended March 31,2024. The Bank continues to engage with the RBI in this regard.
As part of the Scheme, certain leased out immovable properties of eHDFC Limited were transferred to the Bank on amalgamation. The Bank has initiated necessary steps to foreclose these leases.
2. Proposed dividend
The Board of Directors at its meeting held on April 20, 2024 proposed a dividend of ' 19.50 per equity share (previous year: ' 19.00 per equity share) aggregating to '14,813.98 crore subject to the approval of shareholders at the ensuing Annual General Meeting. During the year ended March 31, 2024, the dividend paid by the Bank in respect of the previous year ended March 31, 2023 was ' 8,404.42 crore. No dividend was paid in respect of equity shares that were cancelled upon the Scheme becoming effective. In terms of the AS-4 “Contingencies and events occurring after the balance sheet date”, the Bank has not appropriated the proposed dividend from the Profit and Loss Account and the same will be recognised in the year of actual payout post approval. However, effect of the proposed dividend has been reckoned in determining capital funds in computation of the capital adequacy ratio.
3. Capital adequacy
The Bank's capital to risk-weighted assets ratio (‘Capital Adequacy Ratio') is calculated in accordance with the RBI guidelines on Basel III capital regulations (‘Basel III'). The minimum capital ratio requirement under Basel III as at March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2023 is as follows:
The above minimum ratios include Capital Conservation Buffer (CCB) and additional capital applicable to the Bank being Domestic-Systemically Important Bank (D-SIB).
As on March 31, 2024, the Bank's subordinated and perpetual debt capital instruments amounted to ' 22,000.00 crore (previous year: ' 22,000.00 crore) and ' 12,079.50 crore (previous year: ' 11,956.00 crore) respectively.
In accordance with the RBI guidelines, banks are required to make consolidated Pillar 3 and Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR) disclosures under the Basel III Framework. These disclosures are available on the Bank's website at the following link: https://www.hdfcbank.com/personal/resources/regulatory-disclosures. These disclosures have not been subjected to audit by the statutory auditors of the Bank.
Capital infusion
In terms of the Scheme, the Bank has issued and allotted 3,11,03,96,492 equity shares to the shareholders of eHDFC Limited as on July 13, 2023, being the record date fixed by the Board of Directors as per the Scheme, in accordance with the share exchange ratio i.e. 42 equity shares of face value of ' 1/- each of the Bank for every 25 equity shares of face value of ' 2/- each of eHDFC Limited. Accordingly, the paid-up share capital of the Bank increased from ' 559.18 crore consisting of 5,59,17,98,806 equity shares of ' 1/- each to ' 753.76 crore consisting of 7,53,75,69,464 equity shares of ' 1/- each, post cancellation of 1,16,46,25,834 equity shares held by eHDFC Limited in the Bank on that date in accordance with the provisions of the Scheme. Further, share premium increased by ' 51,728.83 crore on amalgamation of eHDFC Limited.
During the year ended March 31, 2024, the Bank has allotted 4,66,21,586 equity shares (previous year: 3,42,01,810 equity shares) aggregating to face value of ' 4.66 crore (previous year: ' 3.42 crore) on exercise of stock options / units. Accordingly, the share capital increased by ' 4.66 crore (previous year: ' 3.42 crore) and the share premium increased by ' 5,245.07 crore (previous year: ' 3,420.26 crore).
During the year, the Bank allotted 2,47,75,632 equity shares pursuant to exercise of convertible share warrants issued by eHDFC Limited. Accordingly, the share capital and share premium of the Bank has increased by ' 2.48 crore and ' 3,455.79 crore respectively, including money received by eHDFC Limited at the time of allotment of share warrants.
4. Employees Stock Options Outstanding
During the year ended March 31, 2024, the stock based compensation is determined under fair value based method, cost recognised to profit and loss account and credited to Employees Stock Options Outstanding is ' 1,547.40 crore (previous year: ' 748.90 crore). Further, the Bank has recognised ' 123.81 crore (previous year: Nil) as Employees Stock Options Outstanding on account of fair valuation of share-linked instruments on amalgamation of eHDFC Limited with and into the Bank.
During the year ended March 31,2024, on exercise of share-linked instruments, an amount of ' 84.18 crore (previous year: ' 7.85 crore) is transferred from Employees Stock Options Outstanding to share premium and on lapses of share-linked instruments, an amount of ' 1.34 crore (previous year: Nil) is transferred from Employees Stock Options Outstanding to General reserve.
Accounting for employee share based payments
The shareholders of the Bank approved the grant of equity stock options under Plan “C” in June 2005, Plan “D” in June 2007, Plan “E” in June 2010, Plan “F” in June 2013 and Plan “G” in July 2016. The Bank also approved the Employee Stock Incentive Master Scheme in May 2022. Under the terms of each of these plans, the Bank may issue to its employees and Whole Time Directors, Equity Stock Options (‘ESOPs') or Restricted Stock Units (‘Units') each of which is convertible into one equity share. Further, pursuant to the amalgamation of eHDFC Limited with and into Bank effective from July 01,2023, the existing ESOP Schemes of the eHDFC Limited comprising of eHDFC 2007, eHDFC 2008, eHDFC 2014, eHDFC 2017 and eHDFC 2020 were taken over by Bank.
All the plans were framed in accordance with the SEBI (Employee Stock Option Scheme & Employee Stock Purchase Scheme) Guidelines, 1999 as amended from time to time and as applicable at the time of the grant. The accounting for the stock options has been in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Share Based Employee Benefits and Sweat Equity) Regulations, 2021 and RBI guidelines to the extent applicable.
The plans provide for the issuance of options at the recommendation of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee of the Board (‘NRC') at the closing price on the working day immediately preceding the date when options are granted. This closing price is the closing price of the Bank's equity share on an Indian stock exchange with the highest trading volume as of the working day preceding the date of grant. Further, the units are issued at the face value of the equity share of ' 1/-each. The vesting conditions applicable to the options / units are at the discretion of the NRC. These options / units are exercisable on vesting, for a period as set forth by the NRC at the time of the grant. The period in which the options and units may be exercised cannot exceed five years and one year respectively from the date of expiry of vesting period.
5. Reserves and Surplus
Statutory Reserve
During the year ended March 31,2024, the Bank has made an appropriation of ' 15,203.07 crore (previous year: ' 11,027.18 crore) out of profits for the year to the Statutory Reserve pursuant to the requirements of Section 17 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 read with RBI guidelines.
General Reserve
During the year ended March 31,2024, the Bank has made an appropriation of ' 6,081.23 crore (previous year: ' 4,410.87 crore) out of profits for the year to the General Reserve. Further, the Bank has transferred ' 1.34 crore (previous year: Nil) from Employee Stock Options Outstanding to General reserve on lapses of share-linked instruments.
Special Reserve
During the year ended March 31,2024, the Bank has made an appropriation of ' 3,000.00 crore (previous year: ' 500.00 crore) to the Special Reserve as per Section 36(1)(viii) of the Income -tax Act, 1961.
Amalgamation Reserve I
The balance of ' 1,063.56 crore represents excess of net assets taken over the paid-up value of equity shares issued as consideration with respect to amalgamation of Times Bank Limited during FY 2000 and Centurion Bank of Punjab Limited during FY 2009 with the Bank.
Amalgamation Reserve II
The share capital of ' 311.04 crore issued by the Bank as consideration pursuant to the scheme has been adjusted against the corresponding share capital of eHDFC Limited of ' 370.29 crore and the difference has been adjusted to Amalgamation Reserve. Further, excess of cost over face value of Investment in shares of the Bank by eHDFC Limited of ' 14,006.31 crore has been adjusted to Amalgamation Reserve. Consequently, the Bank has recognised a debit balance of ' 13,947.06 crore in the Amalgamation Reserve as a result of these adjustments.
Capital Reserve
During the year ended March 31, 2024, the Bank appropriated ' 4,166.42 crore (previous year: ' 4.61 crore), being the profit on sale of investments under HTM category and profit on sale of immovable properties, net of taxes and transfer to statutory reserve, from the Profit and Loss Account to the Capital Reserve. Further, the Bank has transferred money received by eHDFC Limited in respect of warrants that remained unexercised amounting to ' 0.18 crore to Capital Reserve.
Investment Reserve Account
During the year ended March 31,2024, the Bank has appropriated ' 529.42 crore (net) from the Profit and Loss Account to the Investment Reserve Account as per the RBI guidelines. In the previous year, the Bank had transferred ' 294.80 crore (net) from the Investment Reserve Account to the Profit and Loss Account as per the RBI guidelines.
Investment Fluctuation Reserve
During the year ended March 31, 2024, the Bank has appropriated ' 378.00 crore (previous year: ' 82.00 crore) to Investment Fluctuation Reserve (IFR). As per RBI guidelines, banks are required to maintain an IFR equivalent to 2.00% of their HFT and AFS investment portfolios. The balance in the IFR as at March 31, 2024 is 3.48% (previous year: 2.24%) of the Bank's HFT and AFS investment portfolios.
Foreign Currency Translation Reserve
As at March 31, 2024, the Bank has recognised ' 880.11 crore (previous year: ' 778.85 crore) as Foreign Currency Translation Reserve on account of translation of foreign currency assets and liabilities of non-integral foreign operations.
Cash Flow Hedge Reserve
As at March 31,2024, the Bank has recognised ' 840.31 crore (previous year: ' (92.23) crore) as Cash Flow Hedge Reserve on derivative contracts designated as cash flow hedge.
Draw down from Reserves
The Bank has not undertaken any drawdown from reserves during the years ended March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2023.
Qualitative disclosure on LCR
The Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) is one of the Basel Committee's key reforms to develop a more resilient banking sector. The objective of the LCR is to promote the short-term resilience of the liquidity risk profile of banks. It does this by ensuring that banks have an adequate stock of unencumbered high-quality liquid assets (HQLA) that can be converted easily and immediately into cash to meet their liquidity needs for a 30 calendar day liquidity stress scenario. The LCR is expected to improve the banking sector's ability to absorb shocks arising from financial and economic stress, whatever the source, thus reducing the risk of spillover from the financial sector to the real economy.
The Liquidity Risk Management of the Bank is governed by the Asset Liability Management (ALM) Policy approved by the Board. The Asset Liability Committee (ALCO) is a decision-making unit responsible for implementing the liquidity and interest rate risk management strategy of the Bank in line with its risk management objectives and ensures adherence to the risk tolerance / limits set by the Board. The Bank has also set up a senior level management committee, viz., the Group Risk Management Committee (GRMC) under the ICAAP framework of the Bank, to establish a formal and dedicated structure to periodically assess the nature / quantum of material risks of the subsidiaries and adequacy of its risk management processes, including providing oversight for managing liquidity risk. Liquidity for the Bank's domestic banking operations is directly managed at the Head Office. The overseas branches and offshore unit of the Bank independently manage their liquidity requirements with support from the Head Office. Similarly, the Bank's subsidiaries independently manage their liquidity requirements under guidance of the GRMC, which, along with senior management of the subsidiaries, reviews the risk assessment of material risks at the subsidiaries. Further, the Bank maintains suitable systems and processes to monitor liquidity requirements in other currencies as appropriate.
In order to determine cash outflows, the Bank segregates its deposits into various customer segments, viz., Retail (which include deposits from individuals), Small Business Customers (those with deposits upto ' 7.5 crore), and Wholesale (which would cover all residual deposits). Other contractual funding, including a portion of other liabilities which are expected to run down in a 30 day time frame are included in the cash outflows. These classifications, based on extant regulatory guidelines, are part of the Bank's LCR framework, and are also submitted to the RBI.
The LCR is calculated by dividing a Bank's stock of HQLA by its total net cash outflows over a 30 day stress period. The present minimum requirement, as on March 31, 2024 is 100%.
In the Indian context, the run-off factors for the stressed scenarios are prescribed by the RBI, for various categories of liabilities (viz., deposits, unsecured and secured wholesale borrowings), undrawn commitments, derivative-related exposures, and offset with inflows emanating from assets maturing within the same time period. Given below is a table of run-off factors and the average LCR maintained by the Bank quarter-wise over the past two years:
The average LCR for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 was at 114.73% as against 114.85% for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, and above the present prescribed minimum requirement of 100%. The average HQLA for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 was ' 558,424.94 crore, as against ' 442,566.92 crore for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. During the same period the composition of government securities and treasury bills in the HQLA was at 95.74% as compared to 89.95% in the previous year.
For the quarter ended March 31, 2024, derivative exposures (net of cash inflows) / collateral requirements and undrawn commitments constituted just about 0.59% and 1.54% respectively of average cash outflow as against 0.67% and 2.78% respectively for quarter ended March 31, 2023. The Bank has a significant portion of funding through deposits. As of March 31, 2024 the top 20 depositors comprised of 3.33% of total deposits indicating a healthy and stable deposit profile.
• Sale and transfers to / from HTM category
s During the year ended March 31, 2024, there has been no sale from, and transfer to / from, HTM category in
excess of 5% of the book value of investments held in the HTM category at the beginning of the year.
s In accordance with the RBI guidelines, sale from, and transfer to / from, HTM category exclude:
a. The one-time transfer of securities to / from HTM category with the approval of Board of Directors undertaken by banks at the beginning of the accounting year;
b. Direct sales from HTM for bringing down SLR holdings in HTM category consequent to a downward revision in SLR requirements by RBI;
c. Sales to the Reserve Bank of India under liquidity management operations of RBI such as the Open Market Operations (OMO) and the Government Securities Acquisition Programme (GSAP);
d. Repurchase of Government Securities by Government of India from banks under buyback / switch operations;
e. Repurchase of State Development Loans by respective state governments under buyback / switch operations; and
f. Additional shifting of securities explicitly permitted by the Reserve Bank of India.
# Amounts reported under these columns are not mutually exclusive.
(1) Includes overseas investment of ' 328.03 crore in bond and debentures issued by entities having domicile in India, where the issuer rating given by domestic rating agencies is above investment grade.
(2) Excludes investments in securities issued by foreign sovereigns, equity shares, units of equity oriented mutual fund schemes, equity / debt instruments / units issued by Category I and II Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), commercial paper, certificate of deposits, securities acquired by way of conversion of debt, security receipts, pass through certificates and unlisted convertible debentures.
(3) Investments in debt securities issued by Subsidiaries / Joint Ventures have been classified under Private Corporates.
s Investment in HDFC Securities Limited
The Bank has been allotted 16,13,176 equity shares of HDFC Securities Limited (‘HSL) on April 15, 2024, subscribed through a rights issue for a consideration of ' 953.23 crore. Post the allotment, the Bank's shareholding in HSL has increased from 95.13% to 95.19%.
• Divergence in the asset classification and provisioning
In terms of the RBI guidelines, banks are required to disclose the divergence in asset classification and provisioning consequent to RBI's annual supervisory process in their notes to accounts to the financial statements, wherever the additional provisioning assessed / additional gross NPAs identified by RBI exceeds the threshold specified by RBI. The threshold for provisioning is 5 per cent (Previous year: 10 per cent) of the reported profit before provisions and contingencies for the reference period and that for additional gross NPAs is 5 per cent (Previous year: 10 per cent) of the published incremental Gross NPAs for the reference period.
Based on the above, there was no reportable divergence in asset classification and provisioning for NPAs for the years ended March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2022.
• Unsecured advances
Advances for which intangible collaterals such as rights, licenses, authority, trademarks, patents, etc. are charged in favour of the Bank in respect of projects financed by the Bank, are reckoned as unsecured advances under Schedule 9 of the Balance Sheet in line with the extant RBI guidelines. There are no such advances outstanding as at March 31,2024 (previous year: Nil).
• Details of factoring exposure
The factoring exposure of the Bank as at March 31, 2024 is ' 23,793.06 crore (previous year: ' 12,748.75 crore).
• Unhedged foreign currency exposure
The Bank has in place a policy and process for managing currency induced credit risk. The credit appraisal memorandum prepared at the time of origination and review of a credit facility is required to discuss the exchange risk that the customer is exposed to from all sources, including trade related, foreign currency borrowings and external commercial borrowings. It could cover the natural hedge available to the customer as well as other hedging methods adopted by the customer to mitigate exchange risk. For foreign currency loans granted by the Bank beyond a defined threshold the customer is encouraged to enter into appropriate risk hedging mechanisms with the Bank. Alternatively, the Bank satisfies itself that the customer has the financial capacity to bear the exchange risk in the normal course of its business and / or has other mitigants to reduce the risk. On a periodic basis, the Bank reviews information on the unhedged portion of foreign currency exposures of customers, whose total foreign currency exposure with the Bank exceeds a defined threshold. A Board approved credit risk rating linked limit on unhedged foreign currency position of customers is applicable when extending credit facilities to a customer. The compliance with the limit is assessed
by estimating the extent of drop in a customer's annual Earnings Before Interest and Depreciation (‘EBID') due to a potentially large adverse movement in exchange rate impacting the unhedged foreign currency exposure of the customer. Where a breach is observed in such a simulation, the customer is suitably advised to review and manage its unhedged exposure, where deemed necessary.
The Bank holds standard asset provisions of ' 392.13 crore (previous year: ' 263.00 crore) and maintains capital (including CCB & D-SIB) of ' 1,692.53 crore (previous year: ' 973.84 crore) as at March 31,2024, in respect of the unhedged foreign currency exposure of its customers.
• Details of Single Counterparty Limit / Limit for Group of Connected Counterparties exceeded by the Bank.
The RBI has prescribed limits linked to a bank's eligible capital base in respect of exposures to single counterparty and group of connected counterparties. During the years ended March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2023 the Bank was within the limits prescribed by the RBI.
• Inter-bank Participation with risk sharing
The aggregate amount of participation issued by the Bank and reduced from advances as per regulatory guidelines as at March 31, 2024 was ' 62,920.05 crore (previous year: ' 57,213.15 crore).
• Qualitative disclosures on risk exposure in derivatives
Overview of business and processes
Derivatives are financial instruments whose characteristics are derived from underlying assets, or from interest rates, exchange rates or indices. These include forwards, swaps, futures and options. The notional amounts of financial instruments such as foreign exchange contracts and derivatives provide a basis for comparison with the instruments recognised on the Balance Sheet but do not necessarily indicate the amounts of future cash flows involved or the current fair value of the instruments and, therefore, do not indicate the Bank's exposure to credit or price risks. The following sections outline the nature and terms of the derivative transactions generally undertaken by the Bank.
Interest rate contracts
Forward rate agreements give the buyer the ability to determine the underlying rate of interest for a specified period commencing on a specified future date (the settlement date). The underlying rate of interest could be an interest rate curve, interest rate index or bond yield. There is no exchange of principal and settlement is effected on the settlement date. The settlement amount is the difference between the contracted rate and the market rate prevailing on the settlement date discounted for the interest period of the agreement.
Interest rate swaps involve the exchange of interest obligations with the counterparty for a specified period without exchanging the underlying (or notional) principal.
Interest rate caps and floors give the buyer the ability to fix the maximum or minimum rate of interest. The writer of the contract pays the amount by which the market rate exceeds or is less than the cap rate or the floor rate respectively. A combination of interest rate caps and floors can create structures such as interest rate collar, cap spreads and floor spreads.
Interest rate futures are standardised interest rate derivative contracts traded on a recognised stock exchange to buy or sell a notional security or any other interest bearing instrument or an index of such instruments or interest rates at a specified future date, at a price determined at the time of the contract.
Exchange rate contracts
Forward foreign exchange contracts are agreements to buy or sell fixed amounts of currency at an agreed exchange rate on a future date. These instruments are carried at fair value, determined based on either FEDAI rates or market quotations.
Cross currency swaps are agreements to exchange principal amounts denominated in different currencies. Cross currency swaps may also involve the exchange of interest payments on one specified currency for interest payments in another specified currency for a specified period.
Currency options (including Exchange Traded Currency Option) give the buyer, on payment of a premium, the right but not an obligation, to buy or sell specified amounts of currency at an agreed exchange rate on or before a specified future date.
Currency futures contract is a standardised contract traded on an exchange, to buy or sell a certain underlying currency on a certain date in the future, at a specified price. The contract specifies the rate of exchange between one unit of currency with another.
The Bank's derivative transactions relate to sales and trading activities. Sale activities include the structuring and marketing of derivatives to customers to enable them to hedge their market risks (both interest rate and exchange risks), within the regulatory framework as applicable from time to time. The Bank deals in derivatives on its own account (trading activity) principally for the purpose of generating a profit from short term fluctuations in price yields or implied volatility. The Bank also deals in derivatives to hedge the risk embedded in some of its Balance Sheet assets or liabilities.
Constituents involved in derivative business
The Treasury front-office enters into derivative transactions with customers and inter-bank counterparties. The Bank has an independent back-office and mid-office as per regulatory guidelines. The Bank has credit risk and market risk departments, as part of the Risk Management Group, that assesses counterparty credit risk and market risk limits, within the risk architecture and processes of the Bank.
Derivative policy
The Bank has in place a Derivative policy which covers various aspects that apply to the functioning of the derivative business. The derivative business is administered through various market risk limits such as position limits, tenor limits, sensitivity limits, scenario based profit and loss limit for option portfolio, stop loss trigger levels and value-at-risk limits that are recommended by the Risk Policy and Monitoring Committee (‘RPMC') to the Board of Directors for approval. All methodologies that are used to assess market and credit risks for derivative transactions are specified by the market risk and credit risk units. Limits are monitored on a daily basis by the mid-office.
The Bank has a Board approved policy on Customer Suitability & Appropriateness, which forms part of the Derivative policy, to ensure that derivative transactions entered into are appropriate and suitable to the customer's nature of business / operations. Before entering into a derivative deal with a customer, the Bank scores the customer on various risk parameters and based on the overall score level it determines the kind of product that best suits its risk appetite and the customer's requirements.
Classification of derivatives book
The derivative book is classified into trading and hedging book. Classification of the derivative book is made on the basis of the definitions of the trading and hedging specified in the RBI guidelines. The trading book is managed within the trading limits recommended by the RPMC and approved by the Board of Directors.
Hedging policy
For derivative contracts designated as hedging instruments, the Bank documents, at inception of the hedge, the relationship between the hedging instrument and the hedged item, the risk management objective for undertaking the hedge and the methods used to assess the hedge effectiveness. Hedge effectiveness is ascertained at the time of inception of the hedge and periodically thereafter. Hedge effectiveness is measured by the degree to which changes in the fair value or cash flows of the hedged item that are attributable to a hedged risk are offset by changes in the fair value or cash flows of the hedging instrument using various qualitative and quantitative methods.
The hedging book consists of transactions to hedge Balance Sheet assets or liabilities. The tenor of hedging instrument may be less than or equal to the tenor of underlying hedged asset or liability. The Bank as part of its risk management strategy, makes use of derivative instruments, including foreign exchange forward contracts, for hedging the risk embedded in some of its financial assets or liabilities recognised on the Balance Sheet. In case of a fair value hedge, the changes in the fair value of the hedging instruments and hedged items are recognised in the Profit and Loss Account and in case of cash flow hedges other than for foreign exchange forward contracts and principal only swaps, the changes in fair value of effective portion are recognised in Reserves and Surplus under ‘Cash flow hedge reserve' and ineffective portion of an effective hedging relationship, if any, is recognised in the Profit and Loss Account. The accumulated balance in the cash flow hedge reserve, in an effective hedging relationship, is recycled in the Profit and Loss Account at the same time that the impact from the hedged item is recognised in the Profit and Loss Account. Foreign exchange forward contracts and principal only swaps not intended for trading, that are entered into to establish the amount of reporting currency required or available at the settlement date of a transaction, and are outstanding at the Balance Sheet date, are accounted in accordance with AS 11. Accordingly, such contracts are not marked to market and only translated at spot rate. The premia or discount arising at the inception of such forward exchange contract is amortised as expense or income over the life of the contract. The interest income / expense on such POS transaction is accounted on accrual basis.
• Provisioning, collateral and credit risk mitigation
The Bank enters into derivative transactions with counterparties based on their business ranking and financial position. The Bank sets up appropriate appetite / limits upon evaluating the ability of the counterparty to honour its
obligations in the event of crystallisation of the exposure. Appropriate credit covenants are stipulated where required, as trigger events to call for collaterals or terminate a transaction and contain the risk. Further, to mitigate the current exposure in non-centrally cleared forex and derivative transactions, Bank has entered into Credit Support Annex (‘CSA') agreements with some of the major international counterparty banks and few Indian financial institutions.
The Bank, at the minimum, conforms to the RBI guidelines with regard to provisioning requirements. Overdue receivables representing crystallised positive mark to market value of a derivative contract are transferred to the account of the borrower and treated as non-performing assets, if these remain unpaid for 90 days or more. Full provision is made for the entire amount of overdue and future receivables relating to positive marked to market value of non-performing derivative contracts.
s The notional principal amounts of derivatives reflect the volume of transactions outstanding as at the Balance Sheet date and do not represent the amounts at risk.
s For the purpose of this disclosure; currency derivatives include currency options purchased and sold and cross currency swaps; forward contracts include foreign exchange spot, forward and swap contracts; interest rate derivatives include interest rate swaps, forward rate agreements and interest rate caps and floors.
s The Bank has computed the maximum and minimum of PV01 for the year based on the balances as at the end of every month.
s In respect of derivative contracts, the Bank has computed the exposure under the Current Exposure Method for counterparty credit risk capital computation based on the guidelines issued by RBI on “Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts - Amendments to Prudential Guidelines” dated March 30, 2021 and any related amendments thereafter. However, for the purpose of calculating product-wise derivative exposure as mentioned in point number 3 in table above, bank has calculated using Current Exposure Method (‘CEM') without the impact of Bilateral Netting.
• Credit default swaps
The Bank has not transacted in credit default swaps during the year ended March 31, 2024 (previous year: Nil).
The closing balance of amount transferred to DEAF is included under ‘Schedule 12 - Contingent Liabilities - Other items for which the bank is contingently liable'.
The unclaimed deposits of eHDFC Limited which did not complete the period of seven years as on the effective date of amalgamation, would be transferred to DEAF by the Bank as per the extant RBI guidelines and the Bank shall pay interest on these deposits as applicable to savings accounts with effect from July 01,2023 (effective date of amalgamation) till the date of transfer to DEAF as advised by RBI.
16. Penalties levied by the RBI
During the year ended March 31,2024, RBI vide its letter dated November 30, 2023 levied a penalty of '10,000 on the Bank under Section 11(3) of FEMA, 1999 towards not obtaining RBI's approval for maintaining current and fixed deposit accounts of a foreign bank post cancellation of their license by RBI, which was in contravention to the para 13 of AP (DlR Series) Circular no. 67 dated May 05, 2016. The penalty was paid by the Bank on December 05, 2023.
During the year ended March 31,2023, there were No instances of penalty levied by the RBI on the Bank.
17. Disclosures on remuneration
Qualitative Disclosures
A. Information relating to the bodies that oversee remuneration Name and composition
The Board of Directors of the Bank has constituted the Nomination and Remuneration Committee (hereinafter, the ‘NRC') for overseeing and governing the compensation policies of the Bank. The NRC is comprised of four nonexecutive directors as of March 31, 2024. Further, three members of the NRC are also members of the Risk Policy and Monitoring Committee (hereinafter, the ‘RPMC') of the Board.
As of March 31,2024, the NRC is comprised of Dr. Harsh Kumar Bhanwala, Mr. Sandeep Parekh, Mr. M.D. Ranganath and Mr. Atanu Chakraborty. Further, Mr. M.D. Ranganath, Mr. Sandeep Parekh and Mr. Atanu Chakraborty are also the members of the RPMC. Dr. Harsh Kumar Bhanwala is the chairperson of the NRC.
Mandate of the NRC
The primary mandate of the NRC is to oversee and review the implementation of compensation policies of the Bank. The NRC periodically reviews the overall Remuneration Policy of the Bank with a view to attract, retain and motivate employees. In this capacity it is required to review and approve the design of the total compensation framework, including compensation strategy programs and plans, on behalf of the Board of Directors. The compensation structure and pay revision for the Group Heads, Material Risk Takers, Senior Management, Risk and Control Staff, Key Management Personnel and Whole Time Directors (who are also Material Risk Takers) of the Bank is approved by the NRC and subsequently approved by the Board of Directors. The compensation of the Whole Time Directors requires the additional approval of the Reserve Bank of India. The NRC co-ordinates with the RPMC to ensure that compensation is aligned with prudent risk taking. Further the NRC also reviews the appointments of individuals at the levels of Group Heads, Key Management Personnel, Senior Management and Whole Time Directors of the Bank.
External Consultants:
The Bank engaged with the following consultants during the year ended March 31, 2024:
1. AON Consulting Private Limited - in respect of the Bank's annual salary market benchmarking exercise.
2. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP - in respect of the Bank's benchmarking exercise pertaining to executive compensation and compensation philosophy.
3. Mercer Consulting (India) Private Limited - in the area of job evaluation.
4. ESOP Direct - in respect of Bank's benchmarking exercise pertaining to ESOP Pool Calculation.
Scope of the Bank’s Remuneration Policy:
The Remuneration Policy of the Bank includes within its scope all business lines and functions, and all permanent staff in the Bank's domestic as well as international offices. The principles articulated in the compensation policy are applicable uniformly across the Bank. However, any statutory / regulatory provisions applicable in overseas locations take precedence over the Remuneration Policy of the Bank.
All permanent employees of the Bank except those covered under the long term wage agreement are covered by the said Remuneration Policy. The number of employees covered under the compensation policy was 2,13,309 as on March 31,2024 (previous year: 1,72,998).
B. Information relating to the design and structure of remuneration processes and the key features and objectives of remuneration policy
I. Key Features and Objectives of Remuneration Policy
The Bank's Remuneration Policy (the ‘Policy') is aligned to business strategy, market dynamics, internal characteristics and complexities within the Bank. The ultimate objective of the Policy is to provide a fair and transparent structure that helps in acquiring and retaining the talent pool critical to build competitive advantage and brand equity. The Policy has been designed basis the principles for sound compensation practices in accordance with regulatory requirements and provides a framework to create, modify and maintain appropriate compensation programs and processes with adequate supervision and control.
The Bank's performance management system provides a sound basis for assessing employee performance holistically. The Bank's compensation framework is aligned with the performance management system and differentiates pay appropriately amongst its employees based on degree of contribution, performance, skill, experience, grade and availability of talent owing to competitive market forces. Further, the Bank also considers compliance to processes, regulatory compliance and risk management as an integral part of its performance appraisal process. These factors are given due weightage for the purposes of the final performance rating of employees for a given performance year.
The NRC considers the aforementioned principles enunciated in the Bank's compensation policy and ensures that:
(a) the compensation is adjusted for all types of prudent risk taking;
(b) compensation outcomes are symmetric with risk outcomes;
(c) compensation payouts are sensitive to the time horizon of risk; and
(d) the mix of cash, equity and other forms of compensation are aligned with risk.
Review of Remuneration Policy of the Bank
The Remuneration Policy of the Bank was reviewed by the NRC during the year ended March 31, 2024 and changes were made to the policy in accordance with the observations of the NRC .
II. Design and Structure of Remuneration
The design and structure of remuneration in accordance with the RBI guidelines dated November 04, 2019, for the financial year ended March 31, 2024, is as follows::
a) Fixed Pay
The Remuneration Policy ensures that the fixed component of the compensation is reasonable, taking into account all relevant factors including industry practice.
Elements of Fixed Pay:
The fixed pay component of the Bank's compensation structure typically consists of elements such as base salary, allowances, perquisites and retirement benefits. Perquisites extended are in the nature of company car, company leased accommodation, club membership and such other benefits or allowances in lieu of such perquisites / benefits. Retirement benefits include contributions to Provident Fund, Superannuation Fund (for employees above certain job bands), National Pension Scheme and Gratuity. The Bank also provides pension to certain employees of the erstwhile Lord Krishna Bank (eLKB) under the Indian Banks' Association (‘IBA') structure.
Determinants of Fixed Pay:
The fixed pay is primarily determined by taking into account factors such as the job size, performance, experience, location, market competitiveness of pay and is designed to meet the following key objectives of:
(a) fair compensation given the role complexity and size;
(b) fair compensation given the individual's skill, competence, experience and market pay position;
(c) contribution to post retirement benefits; and
(d) compliance with all statutory obligations.
The quantum of fixed pay for the Senior Management i.e. Employees in Executive Vice President and above grades, Material Risk Takers other than Wholetime Directors, Risk and Control Staff and Key Management Personnel are approved by the NRC and the Board.
The quantum of fixed pay for Whole Time Directors is approved by the NRC and the Board, and is subject to the approval of the RBI.
b) Variable Pay - For Senior Management and Material Risk Takers
The performance management system forms the basis for variable pay allocation of the Bank. The Remuneration Policy of the Bank ensures that the performance management system is comprehensive and considers both, quantitative and qualitative performance measures.
(i) Composition of Variable pay
The variable pay will be in the form of share linked instruments or a mix of cash and share linked instruments. The share linked instrument used in the financial year 2023-24 was the Employee Stock Options. All plans for grant of options are framed in accordance with the SEBI guidelines, 1999 as amended from time to time and are approved by the shareholders of the Bank. These plans provide for the grant of options post approval by the NRC. For Wholetime Directors the variable pay is approved by the NRC, Board and the Reserve Bank of India.
The Bank will ensure that there is a proper balance between Fixed Pay and Variable Pay. In cases where compensation by way of share-linked instruments is not permitted by law / regulations, the entire variable pay will be in cash.
(ii) Limits on Variable pay
A substantial portion of compensation i.e. at least 50% will be variable and paid on the basis of individual, business-unit and organization performance. This will be in line with the principle that, at higher levels of responsibility, the proportion of variable pay will be higher. The total variable pay shall be limited to a maximum of 300% of the fixed pay (for the relative performance period)
In case the variable pay is upto 200% of the fixed pay, a minimum of 50% of the variable pay; and in case the variable pay is above 200%, a minimum of 67% of the variable pay shall be via non-cash instruments. The non-cash component in 2023-24 comprised of Employee Stock Options.
In the event that the employee is barred by statute or regulation from grant of share-linked instruments, his / her variable pay will be capped at 150% of fixed pay but shall not be less than 50% of the fixed pay.
(iii) Deferral of Variable pay
For senior management including Wholetime Directors (WTDs) and Material Risk Takers (MRTs), deferral arrangements exists for the variable pay. A minimum of 60% of total variable pay is under deferral arrangements. If cash component is a part of the variable pay, at least 50% of the cash bonus is deferred. In cases where cash component of the bonus is under Rs 25 lakh, deferral arrangements is not necessary.
The deferral period is a minimum of three years and is applicable to both cash and non-cash components of variable pay. The deferral period for share linked instruments / ESOPs is governed by the ESOP Scheme Rules which is approved by the NRC and the Board. In 2023-24, the deferment of cash variable pay, where applicable, was 3 years in the case of cash variable pay and 4 years (vesting period) in the case of Employee Stock Options.
(iv) Vesting of Variable pay
The deferred portion of the remuneration vests at the end of deferral period and is spread out over the course of the deferral period. The first vesting is not before one year from the commencement of the deferral period. The vesting is no faster than on a pro rata basis and the frequency of the vesting is more than a year in order to ensure appropriate assessment of risk.
(v) Malus / Clawback Arrangement:
The Bank believes in sustained business performance in tandem with prudent risk taking. The Bank, therefore, has devised appropriate deterrents in order to institutionalize the aforementioned commitment.
Malus Arrangement: The provision of a Malus arrangement would entail cancellation of payout for the deferred portion of reward (cash variable pay / long term incentive (LTI) i.e. any Share Linked Instrument). The RBI guidelines define malus thus “A malus arrangement permits the bank to prevent vesting of all or part of the amount of a deferred remuneration. Malus arrangement does not reverse vesting after it has already occurred.”
Clawback Arrangement: The provision of Clawback arrangement would entail return of payout of reward (cash variable pay / long term incentive (LTI) i.e. any Share Linked Instrument) made in the previous years attributable to a given reference year wherein the incident has occurred. The return would be in terms of net amount. The RBI guidelines define clawback thus “A clawback is a contractual agreement between the employee and the bank in which the employee agrees to return previously paid or vested remuneration to the bank under certain circumstances.”
The malus and clawback clause will be actioned when the employee demonstrates behaviour involving fraudulent behaviour, moral turpitude, lack of integrity, flagrant breach of company policies and statutory norms resulting in financial or non-financial losses. Manifestation of behaviour listed above is presumed to have a malafide intent. Illustrative list of conditions are enumerated below. The occurrence of any / some / all of the following conditions / events shall trigger a review by the NRC for the application of the Malus or the Clawback arrangement:
a) Substantial Financial Deterioration in profitability or risk parameters
b) Reckless, negligent or willful actions or exhibited inappropriate values and behavior
c) Fraud that requires a financial restatement
d) Reputational harm
e) Exposing the bank to substantial risk
f) Such other conditions or events, of similar nature as above, as determined by NRC for triggering review by NRC for the purpose of application of the Malus or the Clawback arrangement
In determining the causes for deterioration in financial performance under (a), the NRC may take into consideration and have due regard to the fact whether the deterioration was for factors within control or whether it was on account of conditions like global market headwinds, industry performance, changes in legal / regulatory regime, force majeure events like occurrence of natural disasters, pandemic, other socio-economic conditions etc.
While undertaking the review for the concerned person for the application of the Malus or the Clawback arrangement based on any trigger events, when determining accountability of the concerned person, the NRC shall be guided by the principles of proportionality, culpability or proximity or nexus to the event or misconduct.
In accordance with the RBI guidelines, wherever the assessed divergence in bank's provisioning for Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) or asset classification exceeds the prescribed threshold for public disclosure, the bank shall not pay the unvested portion of the variable compensation for the assessment year under ‘malus' arrangement. Further, in such situations, no proposal for increase in variable pay (for the assessment year) shall be entertained. In case the bank's post assessment Gross NPAs are less than 2.0%, these restrictions will apply only if criteria for public disclosure are triggered either on account of divergence in provisioning or both provisioning and asset classification.
The NRC may decide to apply malus on part, or all of the variable pay. The time horizon for the application of malus / clawback clause shall be four years from the date of reward.
The NRC shall review the act of misconduct / incident to ascertain the degree of accountability attributable to a Wholetime Director / Material Risk Taker / Senior Management (Job Bands C1 and above) prior to applying the Malus or Clawback arrangement.
The criteria for Malus / Clawback will be reviewed by the Nomination and Remuneration Committee annually.
The NRC and Board of Directors has also approved an addendum (Addendum- B) to the compensation policy on Clawback of Incentive Compensation in view of the final rules on listing standards for the recovery of erroneously awarded compensation adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 26, 2022, applicable to companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ.
This Addendum-B shall be read with, and is in addition to, the Compensation Policy formulated and approved by the Board of Directors of the Bank. The same has been formulated to comply with the requirements of Section 10D promulgated under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), and Section 303A.14 of the NYSE so as to recover certain compensation in the event of an accounting restatement due to any material non-compliance relating to any financial reporting requirements under the applicable U.S. securities laws, and shall be interpreted and applied consistent therewith.
(vi) Approval Process:
The Variable Pay for Senior Management, Material Risk Takers other than Wholetime Directors, Risk and control staff is approved by the NRC and the Board. For Wholetime Directors the variable pay is approved by the NRC, Board and the Reserve Bank of India.
Employees other than Senior Management, Material Risk Takers, Whole Time Directors
The Bank has formulated the following variable pay plans:
(i) Annual Bonus Plan
The quantum of variable payout is a function of the performance of the Bank, performance of the business unit, performance of the individual employee, job band of the employee and the functional category. Basis these key determinants and due adjustment for risk alignment, a payout matrix for variable pay is developed. Market trends for specific businesses / functions along with inputs from compensation surveys may also be used in finalising the payout.
Bonus pools are designed to meet specific business needs therefore resulting in differentiation in both the quantum and the method of payout across functions.
(ii) Performance-linked Plans (PLPs)
PLPs are formulated for employees in sales, collections, customer service and relationship roles who are given business / service targets but have limited impact on risk since credit decisions are exercised independent of these functions. All PLP payouts are based on a balanced scorecard framework which factors not just quantitative, but also qualitative measures, and are subject to achievement of individual targets enumerated in the respective scorecards of the employees. A portion of the PLP payouts is deferred till the end of the financial year to provide for any unforeseen performance risks. Employees who are on the PLPs are excluded from the Annual Bonus Plan.
(iii) Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOPs)
Employees in Job Bands D4 and above also receive ESOPs as a vehicle to create a balance between short term rewards and long term sustainable value creation. ESOPs play a key role in the attraction and retention of key talent.
The NRC grants options after considering parameters such as the incumbent's grade and performance rating, and such other factors as may be deemed appropriate by the NRC.
All plans for grant of options are framed in accordance with the SEBI guidelines, 1999 as amended from time to time and are approved by the shareholders of the Bank. These plans provide for the grant of options post approval by the NRC.
The Bank grants ESOPs to eligible employees. Such ESOPs vest over four tranches spread over a period of 48 months.
In accordance with the RBI guidelines, Employee Stock Options is included as part of Variable Pay.
(iv) Restricted Stock Units (Units)
The bank granted units to employees at E3 - D3 bands (upto 10 levels below the MD). The same was approved by the NRC after considering parameters such as the employee's grade, performance rating and any other factors as may be deemed appropriate by the NRC.
All plans for grant of units are framed in accordance with the SEBI guidelines, 1999 as amended from time to time and are approved by the shareholders of the Bank. These plans provide for the grant of units post approval by the NRC.
Such units vest over four tranches spread over a period of 48 months.
Risk, Control and Compliance Staff
The Bank has separated the Risk, Control and Compliance functions from the Business functions in order to create a strong culture of checks and balances and to eliminate any possible conflict of interest between revenue generation and risk management and control. Accordingly, the overall variable pay as well as the annual salary increment of the employees in the Risk, Control and Compliance functions is based on their performance, functional objectives and goals. The Bank ensures that the mix of fixed to variable compensation for these functions is weighted in favour of fixed compensation.
Guaranteed Bonus
Guaranteed bonuses are not consistent with sound risk management or pay for performance principles of the Bank and therefore do not form an integral part of the general compensation practice.
For critical hiring for some select strategic roles, the Bank may consider granting of bonus, based on the performance rating upon confirmation, as a prudent way to avoid loading the entire cost of attraction into the fixed component of the compensation which could have a long term cost implication for the Bank. For such hiring, the said bonus is generally decided by taking into account appropriate risk factors and market conditions.
For hiring at levels of Whole Time Directors / Managing Director / Material Risk Takers and certain employees in select strategic roles, a sign-on bonus, if any, is limited to the first year only and would be in the form of Employee Stock Options or Units (All units grants are subject to individual / Business Unit / organizational performance criteria).
Severance Pay
The Bank does not grant severance pay other than accrued benefits (such as gratuity, pension) except in cases where it is mandated by any statute.
Hedging
The Bank does not provide any facility or fund or permit its Whole Time Directors and employees to insure or hedge their compensation structure to offset the risk alignment effects embedded in their compensation arrangement.
Statutory Bonus
Some employees are also paid statutory bonus as per the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965 as amended from time to time.
III. Remuneration Processes Fitment at the time of Hire
Pay scales at the Bank are set basis the job size, experience, location and the academic and professional credentials of the incumbent.
The compensation of new hires is in line with the existing pay ranges and consistent with the compensation levels of the existing employees of the Bank at similar profiles. The pay ranges are subject to change basis market trends and the Bank's talent management priorities. While the Bank believes in the internal equity and parity as a key determinant of pay, it does acknowledge the external competitive pressures of the talent market. Accordingly, there could be certain key profiles with critical competencies which may be hired at a premium and treated as an exception to the overall pay philosophy. Any deviation from the defined pay ranges is treated as a hiring exception requiring approval with appropriate justification.
Pay Increment / Pay Revision
The Bank strives to ensure external competitiveness as well as internal equity without diluting the overall focus on optimising cost. In order to enhance the Bank's external competitiveness, it participates in an annual salary survey of the banking sector to understand key market trends as well as get insights on relative market pay position compared to peers. The Bank endeavors to ensure that most employees progress to the median of the market in terms of fixed pay over time. This coupled with key internal data indicators like performance score, job family, experience, job grade and salary budget form the basis of decision making on revisions in fixed pay.
Increments in fixed pay for majority of the employee population are generally undertaken once every financial year. However, promotions, confirmations and change in job dimensions could also lead to a change in the fixed pay during other times of the financial year.
The Bank also makes salary corrections and adjustments during the financial year for competitive pay positioning for the purpose of retention of critical skills and critical talent in the domain of Information Technology, Digital, Information Security, Data Science as well as business segments that are strategic focus areas of the bank. However, such pay revisions are done on an exception basis.
The Fixed Pay for the Material Risk Takers (other than Wholetime Directors), Senior Management, Key Management Personnel is approved by the NRC and the Board. The Fixed Pay for the Wholetime Directors is approved by the NRC, Board and the Reserve Bank of India.
C. Description of the ways in which current and future risks are taken into account in the remuneration processes, including the nature and type of the key measures used to take account of these risks
The Bank takes into account various types of risks in its remuneration processes. The Bank follows a comprehensive framework that includes within its ambit the key dimensions of remuneration such as fixed pay, variable pay and long term incentives (i.e. Employee Stock Options).
Fixed pay: The Bank conducts a comprehensive market benchmarking study to ensure that employees are competitively positioned in terms of fixed pay. The Bank follows a robust salary review process wherein revisions in fixed compensation are based on performance. The Bank also makes salary adjustments taking into consideration pay positioning of employees vis-a-vis market reference points. Through this approach the Bank endeavors to ensure that the talent risk due to attrition is mitigated. Fixed pay could be revised downwards as well, in the event of certain proven cases of misconduct by an employee.
Variable pay: The Bank has distinct types of variable pay plans as given below:
(a) Quarterly / monthly performance-linked pay (PLP) plans:
All quarterly / monthly PLP plans are based on the principle of balanced scorecard framework that includes within its ambit both quantitative and qualitative factors including key strategic objectives that ensure future competitive advantage for the Bank. PLP plans, by design, have deterrents that play a role of moderating payouts based on the non-fulfillment of established quantitative / qualitative risk factors. Deterrents also include risks arising out of non-compliance, mis-sell etc. Further, a portion of all payouts under the PLP plans is deferred till the end of the financial year to provide for any unforeseen performance risks. Employees who are part of the PLP plans are excluded from the Annual Bonus Plan.
(b) Variable Pay:
The Bank takes into consideration the fact that a portion of the Bank's profits are directly attributable to various types of risks the Bank is exposed to such as credit risk and market risk.
The framework developed by the Bank in order to arrive at the quantum of bonus pool is based on the performance of the Bank and profitability. The annual variable pay is distributed based on business unit and individual performance and job band and role of the individual for non-business functions. The business unit performance is based on factors such as growth in revenue, growth in profit, cost to income ratio and achievement vis-a-vis plans and key objectives. Bonus pay out for an individual employee in a particular grade is linked to the performance rating of the employee and subject to meeting the Bank's standards of ethical conduct.
The Bank has devised appropriate malus and claw back clauses as a risk mitigant for Whole Time Directors, Material Risk Takers, Senior Management (i.e. Employees in the job Bands of Executive Vice President and above). Under the malus clause the incumbent could forego the vesting of the deferred variable pay in full or in part. Under the claw back clause the incumbent is obligated to return all the tranches of variable pay payout pertaining to the reference performance year. The deferred variable pay is paid out post review and approval by the NRC and the Board.
D. Description of the ways in which the Bank seeks to link performance during a performance measurement period with levels of remuneration
The Bank has a robust performance management system for evaluating the performance of its Whole Time Directors. The performance appraisal system is based on a Balanced Scorecard Framework and considers qualitative as well as quantitative factors of performance which includes the following parameters:
1. Business Performance - This includes business growth, profitability, asset quality and shareholder value.
2. Stakeholder Relationship - This includes net promoter score and corporate social responsibility.
3. Audit and Compliance - This includes internal audit reports and compliance with the regulations and inspection reports.
4. Digital Transformation - This includes performance on initiatives required to run the bank and grow the bank.
5. Organizational Excellence - This includes succession planning and employee engagement.
While the above parameters form the core evaluation parameters for the Bank and the remuneration of its Whole Time Directors, each of the business units are measured on the following from a remuneration standpoint:
a) Growth in net revenue (%) over previous year;
b) Growth in profit before tax (%) over previous year;
c) Improvement in cost to income over the previous year;
d) Improvement in Gross NPA over the previous year and
e) Achievement of key strategic objectives.
The process by which levels of remuneration in the Bank are aligned to the performance of the Bank, business unit and individual employees is articulated below:
Fixed Pay
The Bank reviews the fixed pay portion of the compensation structure basis merit-based increments and market corrections. These are based on a combination of performance rating, job band and the functional category of the individual employee. For a given job band, the merit increment is directly related to the performance rating. The Bank strives to ensure that most employees progress to the median of the market in terms of fixed pay over time. All other things remaining equal, the correction percentage is directly related to the performance rating of the individual.
Variable Pay
Basis the performance of the business unit, individual performance and role, the Bank has formulated the following variable pay plans:
• Variable Pay Plans:
For Employees in Job Bands of Sr Vice President I and Above (includes employees in Senior Management, Material Risk Takers, Wholetime Directors) the variable pay intends to reward short term as well as long term sustained performance of the bank and shareholder value creation.
Short term Performance: Short term performance is realised in the form of cash variable pay. The cash variable pay is based on performance rating and the job band of the individual and is further enhanced or moderated by the business performance multiplier and role. The cash variable pay is computed on the gross salary.
Long term Performance: Employee Stock Options are granted to employees based on their performance rating and job band and the value of the same is realised vide long term performance of the bank and creation of shareholder value.
For Employees in job bands Vice President and below:
At these levels the variable pay is primarily in the form of cash variable pay and is based on the annual performance. In FY 2023-24, the Bank granted units at E3-D3 bands based on their performance rating, grade and any other such parameter as approved by the NRC.
The Bank's annual bonus is computed as a percentage of the gross salary for every job band. The bonus multiple is based on performance of the business unit (based on the parameters above), performance rating, job band and the functional category of the individual employee. The business performance category determines the multiplier for the bonus. All other things remaining equal, for a given job band, the bonus is directly related to the performance rating. Employees who are part of the annual cash Variable Pay plan are not part of the Performance Linked Plans mentioned below.
• Performance-linked Plans (PLPs)
The Bank has formulated PLPs for its sales, collections, customer service and relationship roles who are given sales, collections and service targets basis a balanced scorecard methodology. All PLP payouts are subject to the achievement of individual targets enumerated in the respective scorecards of the employees and moderated by qualitative parameters. A portion of the PLP payouts is deferred till the end of the financial year to provide for any unforeseen performance risks. All PLPs are based on a balanced scorecard framework and, depending on the plan, could be paid out monthly or quarterly.
E. Description of the ways in which the Bank seeks to adjust remuneration to take account of the longer term performance
For employees in Senior Management, Material Risk Takers and Whole Time Directors the bank seeks to adjust remuneration to take account of the longer term performance in the following way.
(i) Limits on variable pay
A substantial portion of compensation i.e. at least 50% will be variable and paid on the basis of individual, business-unit and organization performance. This will be in line with the principle that, at higher levels of responsibility, the proportion of variable pay will be higher. The total variable pay shall be limited to a maximum of 300% of the fixed pay.
In case the variable pay is upto 200% of the fixed pay, a minimum of 50% of the variable pay; and in case the variable pay is above 200%, a minimum of 67% of the variable pay shall be via non-cash instruments. The noncash component in 2023-24 comprised of Employee Stock Options.
In the event that the employee is barred by statute or regulation from grant of share-linked instruments, his / her variable pay will be capped at 150% of fixed pay but shall not be less than 50% of the fixed pay.
(ii) Deferral of variable pay
For senior management including Wholetime Directors (WTDs) and Material Risk Takers (MRTs), deferral arrangements will exist for the variable pay. A minimum of 60% of total variable pay will be under deferral arrangements. If cash component is a part of the variable pay, at least 50% of the cash bonus shall be deferred. In cases where cash component of the bonus is under Rs 25 lakh, deferral arrangements would not be necessary.
The deferral period would be a minimum of three years and will be applicable to both cash and non-cash components of variable pay. The deferral period for share linked instruments / ESOPs will be governed by the ESOP Scheme Rules which will be approved by the NRC and the Board. In 2023-24, the deferment of cash variable pay, where applicable, was 3 years in the case of cash variable pay and 4 years (vesting period) in the case of Employee Stock Options.
(iii) Vesting of Variable Pay
The deferred portion of the remuneration will vest at the end of deferral period and will be spread out over the course of the deferral period. The first vesting would not be before one year from the commencement of the deferral period. The vesting would be no faster than on a pro rata basis and the frequency of the vesting would be more than a year in order to ensure appropriate assessment of risk.
(iv) Malus / Clawback Arrangement:
The Bank believes in sustained business performance in tandem with prudent risk taking. The Bank, therefore, has devised appropriate deterrents in order to institutionalize the aforementioned commitment.
Malus Arrangement: The provision of a Malus arrangement would entail cancellation of payout for the deferred portion of reward (cash variable pay / long term incentive (LTI) i.e. any Share Linked Instrument). The RBI guidelines define malus thus “A malus arrangement permits the bank to prevent vesting of all or part of the amount of a deferred remuneration. Malus arrangement does not reverse vesting after it has already occurred.”
Clawback Arrangement: The provision of Clawback arrangement would entail return of payout of reward (cash variable pay / long term incentive (LTI) i.e. any Share Linked Instrument) made in the previous years attributable to a given reference year wherein the incident has occurred. The return would be in terms of net amount. The RBI guidelines define clawback thus “A clawback is a contractual agreement between the employee and the bank in which the employee agrees to return previously paid or vested remuneration to the bank under certain circumstances.”
The malus and clawback clause will be actioned when the employee demonstrates behaviour involving fraudulent behaviour, moral turpitude, lack of integrity, flagrant breach of company policies and statutory norms resulting in financial or non-financial losses. Manifestation of behaviour listed above is presumed to have a malafide intent. Illustrative list of conditions are enumerated below. The occurrence of any / some / all of the following conditions / events shall trigger a review by the NRC for the application of the Malus or the Clawback arrangement:
a) Substantial financial deterioration in profitability or risk parameters
b) Reckless, negligent or willful actions or exhibited inappropriate values and behavior
c) Fraud that requires a financial restatement
d) Reputational harm
e) Exposing the bank to substantial risk
f) Such other conditions or events, of similar nature as above, as determined by NRC for triggering review by NRC for the purpose of application of the Malus or the Clawback arrangement
In determining the causes for deterioration in financial performance under (a), the NRC may take into consideration and have due regard to the fact whether the deterioration was for factors within control or whether it was on account of conditions like global market headwinds, industry performance, changes in legal / regulatory regime, force majeure events like occurrence of natural disasters, pandemic, other socio-economic conditions etc.
While undertaking the review for the concerned person for the application of the Malus or the Clawback arrangement based on any trigger events, when determining accountability of the concerned person, the NRC shall be guided by the principles of proportionality, culpability or proximity or nexus to the event or misconduct.
In accordance with the RBI guidelines, wherever the assessed divergence in bank's provisioning for Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) or asset classification exceeds the prescribed threshold for public disclosure, the bank shall not pay the unvested portion of the variable compensation for the assessment year under ‘malus' arrangement. Further, in such situations, no proposal for increase in variable pay (for the assessment year) shall be entertained. In case the bank's post assessment Gross NPAs are less than 2.0%, these restrictions will apply only if criteria for public disclosure are triggered either on account of divergence in provisioning or both provisioning and asset classification.
The NRC may decide to apply malus on part, or all of the unvested deferred Variable pay. The time horizon for the application of malus / clawback clause shall be four years from the date of reward.
The NRC shall review the act of misconduct / incident to ascertain the degree of accountability attributable to a Wholetime Director / Material Risk Taker / Senior Management (C1 and above) prior to applying the Malus or Clawback arrangement.
The criteria for Malus / Clawback will be reviewed by the NRC annually.
The NRC and Board of Directors has also approved an addendum (Addendum- B) to the compensation policy on Clawback of Incentive Compensation in view of the final rules on listing standards for the recovery of erroneously awarded compensation adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 26, 2022, applicable to companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ.
This Addendum-B shall be read with, and is in addition to, the Compensation Policy formulated and approved by the Board of Directors of the Bank. The same has been formulated to comply with the requirements of Section 10D promulgated under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), and Section 303A.14 of the NYSE so as to recover certain compensation in the event of an accounting restatement due to any material non-compliance relating to any financial reporting requirements under the applicable U.S. securities laws, and shall be interpreted and applied consistent therewith.
Employees other than Wholetime Directors, Material Risk Takers and Senior Management
The Bank has formulated the following variable pay plans:
• Annual Cash Variable Pay plan:
The quantum of variable payout is a function of the performance of the Bank, performance of the individual employee, job band of the employee and the functional category. Basis these key determinants and due adjustment for risk alignment, a payout matrix for variable pay is developed. Market trends for specific businesses / functions along with inputs from compensation surveys may also be used in finalising the payout.
Bonus pools are designed to meet specific business needs therefore resulting in differentiation in both the quantum and the method of payout across functions. Typically higher levels of responsibility receive a higher proportion of variable pay vis-a-vis fixed pay.
For Employees in Job Bands of Sr Vice President 1 and above Variable Pay intends to reward short term as well as long term sustained performance of the bank and shareholder value creation.
Short term Performance: Short term performance is realised in the form of cash variable pay. The cash variable pay is based on performance rating and the job band of the individual and is further enhanced or moderated by the business performance multiplier and role. The cash variable pay is computed on the gross salary.
Long term Performance: Employee Stock Options are granted to employees based on their performance rating and Job band and the value of the same is realised vide long term performance of the bank and creation of shareholder value. The vesting period for Employee Stock Option is 4 years.
The Bank also granted Restricted Stock Units (Units) to employees at E3-D3 bands in FY23-24. The units would vest over 4 years.
• Performance-linked Plans (PLPs)
The Bank has formulated PLPs for its sales, collections, customer service and relationship roles who are given sales, collections and service targets basis a balanced scorecard methodology. All PLP payouts are subject to the achievement of individual targets enumerated in the respective scorecards of the employees and moderated by qualitative parameters. A portion of the PLP payouts is deferred till the end of the financial year to provide for any unforeseen performance risks. All PLPs are based on a balanced scorecard framework and, depending on the plan, could be paid out monthly or quarterly.
F. Description of the different forms of variable remuneration (i.e. cash, shares, ESOPs and other forms) that the Bank utilises and the rationale for using these different forms
The Bank recognises the importance of variable pay in reinforcing a pay for performance culture. Variable pay stimulates employees to stretch their abilities to exceed expectations.
• Annual Cash Variable Pay
These are paid to reward performance for a given financial year. This covers all employees (excluding employees under PLPs). This is based on performance of the business unit, performance rating, job band and functional category of the individual. For higher job bands the proportion of variable pay to total compensation tends to be higher. For Material Risk Takers, Senior Management and Whole Time Directors 50% of the cash variable pay is deferred over 3 years in the event the cash variable pay exceeds 25 lakhs.
• Performance-linked Plans (PLPs)
The Bank has formulated PLPs for its sales, collections, customer service and relationship roles who are given sales, collections and service targets basis a balanced scorecard methodology. All PLP payouts are subject to the achievement of individual targets enumerated in the respective scorecards of the employees and moderated by qualitative parameters. A portion of the PLP payouts is deferred till the end of the financial year to provide for any unforeseen performance risks. All PLPs are based on a balanced scorecard framework and, depending on the plan, could be paid out monthly or quarterly.
• Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP)
This is to reward for contribution of employees in creating a long term, sustainable earnings and enhancing shareholder value. Only employees in a certain job band and with a specific performance rating are eligible for stock options. Performance is the key criteria for granting stock options.
• Restricted Stock Units (Units)
The Bank granted Restricted Stock Units (Units) to employees at E3-D3 bands in FY23-24. The units would vest over 4 years.
Disclosure on remuneration to Non-Executive Directors
Remuneration by way of sitting fees to the Non-Executive Directors for attending meetings of the Board and its committees during the year ended March 31, 2024 amounted to ' 4.51 crore (previous year: ' 4.44 crore).
Further, in accordance with RBI guidelines, remuneration to all Non-Executive Directors other than the Chairperson for the year ended March 31, 2024 amounted to ' 1.52 crore (previous year: ' 1.60 crore).
18.2 Bancassurance business
Commission income for the year ended March 31, 2024 includes fees of ' 3,059.31 crore (previous year: ' 1,899.31 crore) in respect of life insurance business and ' 914.68 crore (previous year: ' 275.70 crore) in respect of general insurance and health insurance business.
18.3 Marketing and distribution
Commission income for the year ended March 31,2024 includes income from marketing and distribution of ' 2,492.82 crore (previous year: ' 3,866.29 crore), which comprises of income for displaying publicity materials at the Bank's branches / ATMs, commission on mutual funds, pension and other investment / saving products and sourcing and referral income.
18.6 Implementation of IFRS converged Indian Accounting Standards
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs, in its press release dated January 18, 2016, had issued a roadmap for implementation of Indian Accounting Standards (IND-AS) for scheduled commercial banks, insurers / insurance companies and non-banking financial companies, which was subsequently confirmed by the RBI through its circular dated February 11, 2016. This roadmap required these institutions to prepare IND-AS based financial statements for the accounting periods beginning April 01, 2018 with comparatives for the periods beginning April 01, 2017. The implementation of IND-AS by banks requires certain legislative changes in the format of financial statements to comply with the disclosures required under IND-AS. In April 2018, the RBI deferred the implementation of IND-AS by a year by when the necessary legislative amendments were expected. The legislative amendments recommended by the RBI are under consideration by the Government of India. Accordingly, the RBI, through its circular dated March 22, 2019, deferred the implementation of IND-AS until further notice.
Presently, the Bank prepares and submits its Ind AS Proforma information to the RBI on a half yearly basis. The Bank is well prepared for Ind AS implementation as and when it becomes applicable, with due consideration to updated regulations, accounting standards / guidance and business strategy at the date of actual transition.
The RBI vide its circular dated September 12, 2023 has revised the norms on classification, measurement and valuation of investments, in view of the significant developments in the global standards, the linkages with the capital adequacy framework as well as progress in the domestic financial markets. The Bank has adopted these revised norms which are effective April 01, 2024.
18.8 Disclosure of Letters of Comfort (LoCs) issued by the Bank
The Bank has not issued Letter of Comfort during the year ended March 31,2024 and March 31, 2023 and there is
no outstanding as at March 31, 2024 and March 31,2023.
18.9 Portfolio-level information on the use of funds raised from green deposits
The Bank has not raised green deposits on or after June 01, 2023 based on the Framework for the acceptance of
Green deposits issued by RBI.
19. Other liabilities
• The Bank held provisions towards standard assets amounting to ' 10,663.71 crore as at March 31, 2024 (previous
year: ' 6,988.66 crore). These are included under other liabilities.
s Provision for standard assets is made @ 0.25% for direct advances to agriculture, individual housing loans and Small and Micro Enterprises (SMEs) sectors, @ 1% for advances to commercial real estate sector, @ 0.75% for advances to commercial real estate - residential housing sector, @ 5% on restructured standard advances, @ 2% until after one year from the date on which the rates are reset at higher rates for housing loans offered at a comparatively lower rate of interest in the first few years and @ 2% on all exposures to the wholly owned step down subsidiaries of the overseas subsidiaries of Indian companies, sanctioned / renewed after December 31, 2015.
s Provision is maintained at rates higher than the regulatory minimum, on standard advances based on evaluation of the risk and stress in various sectors as per the policy approved by the Board of the Bank.
s In accordance with regulatory guidelines and based on the information made available by its customers to the Bank, for exposures to customers who have not hedged their foreign currency exposures, provision for standard assets is made at levels ranging up to 0.80% depending on the likely loss the entities could incur on account of exchange rate movements.
s Provision for standard assets of overseas branches is made at higher of rates prescribed by the overseas regulator or RBI.
s For all other loans and advances including credit exposures computed as per the current marked to market values of interest rate and foreign exchange derivative contracts, provision for standard assets is made @ 0.40%.
s In accordance with RBI guidelines, an additional provision is made @ 3% on the incremental exposure to the “Specified Borrowers” (except NBFCs / HFCs) beyond normally permitted lending limit (NPLL) as defined by the RBI.
• Other liabilities include contingent provisions of ' 15,513.35 crore as at March 31, 2024 (previous year: ' 9,236.70 crore) in respect of advances and investments.
• The Bank has presented gross unrealised gain on foreign exchange and derivative contracts under other assets and gross unrealised loss on foreign exchange and derivative contracts under other liabilities. Accordingly, other liabilities as at March 31,2024 include unrealised loss on foreign exchange and derivative contracts of ' 10,491.46 crore (previous year: ' 9,914.66 crore).
• There is no item under Other Liabilities and Provisions “Others (including provisions)” exceeding 1% of total assets as at March 31, 2024 and March 31,2023.
22. Interest earned
Interest income under the sub-head Income on investments includes dividend on units of mutual funds and equity and preference shares received during the year ended March 31, 2024 amounting to ' 1,191.48 crore (previous year: ' 412.08 crore).
23. Other income
• Commission, exchange and brokerage income
Commission, exchange and brokerage income is presented net of related commission expenses.
• Profit on sale of investment
During the current year, in order to comply with the condition imposed by the RBI in relation to the Scheme, the Bank sold 14,01,72,180 equity shares of HDFC Credila Financial Services Ltd (‘HDFC Credila'), for a consideration of ' 9,552.73 crore, resulting in a gain of ' 7,341.42 crore. Consequent to the aforesaid sale, HDFC Credila has ceased to be a subsidiary of the Bank with effect from March 19, 2024.
• Miscellaneous income
Miscellaneous income includes recoveries from written-off accounts amounting to ' 3,441.30 crore (previous year: ' 3,382.41 crore) exceeding 1% of the total income of the Bank.
24. Other expenditure
Other expenditure includes commission to sales agents amounting to ' 5,284.53 crore (previous year: ' 4,610.13 crore), exceeding 1% of the total income of the Bank.
Provident fund
The guidance note on AS-15, Employee Benefits, states that employer established provident funds, where interest is guaranteed are to be considered as defined benefit plans and the liability has to be valued. The Institute of Actuaries of India (IAI) has issued a guidance note on valuation of interest rate guarantees on exempt provident funds. The actuary has accordingly valued the same and the Bank held a provision of Nil as at March 31, 2024 (previous year: Nil), towards the present value of the guaranteed interest benefit obligation. The actuary has followed the deterministic approach as prescribed by the guidance note.
The Bank does not have any unfunded defined benefit plan. The Bank contributed ' 677.64 crore (previous year: ' 531.39 crore) to the provident fund, ' 10.65 crore (previous year: ' 7.80 crore) to the National Pension Scheme (for employees who opted) and ' 92.05 crore (previous year: ' 80.33 crore) to the superannuation plan.
The Code on Social Security 2020 (‘the Code') relating to employee benefits, during the employment and post-employment, has received Presidential assent on September 28, 2020. The Code has been published in the Gazette of India. Further, the Ministry of Labour and Employment has released draft rules for the Code on November 13, 2020. The effective date from which the changes are applicable is yet to be notified and rules for quantifying the financial impact are not yet issued. The Bank will assess the impact of the Code and will give appropriate impact in the financial statements in the period in which, the Code becomes effective and the related rules to determine the financial impact are published.
26. Segment reporting
Business segments
Business segments have been identified and reported taking into account, the target customer profile, the nature of products and services, the differing risks and returns, the organisation structure, the internal business reporting system and the guidelines prescribed by RBI. The Bank operates in the following segments:
a) Treasury
The treasury segment primarily consists of net interest earnings from the Bank's investment portfolio, money market borrowing and lending, gains or losses on investment operations and on account of trading in foreign exchange and derivative contracts.
b) Retail banking
i. Digital banking
The digital banking segment represents business by Digital Banking Units (DBUs) of the Bank. The said DBUs serves retail customers through the Bank's digital network and other online channels. This segment raises deposits from customers and provides loans and other services to customers.
Revenues of the DBUs are derived from interest earned on retail loans, fees from services rendered, etc. Expenses of this segment primarily comprise of interest expense on deposits, infrastructure and premises expenses for operating the DBUs, other direct overheads and allocated expenses of specialist product groups.
ii. Other retail banking
The retail banking segment serves retail customers through the Bank's branch network and other channels. This segment raises deposits from customers and provides loans and other services to customers with the help of specialist product groups. Exposures are classified under retail banking taking into account the status of the borrower (orientation criterion), the nature of product, granularity of the exposure and the quantum thereof.
Revenues of the retail banking segment are derived from interest earned on retail loans, interest earned from other segments for surplus funds placed with those segments, subvention received from dealers and manufacturers, fees from services rendered, foreign exchange earnings on retail products etc. Expenses of this segment primarily comprise interest expense on deposits, commission paid to retail assets sales agents, infrastructure and premises expenses for operating the branch network and other delivery channels, personnel costs, other direct overheads and allocated expenses of specialist product groups, processing units and support groups.
c) Wholesale banking
The wholesale banking segment provides loans, non-fund facilities and transaction services to large corporates, emerging corporates, public sector units, government bodies, financial institutions and medium scale enterprises. Revenues of the wholesale banking segment consist of interest earned on loans made to customers, interest / fees earned on the cash float arising from transaction services, earnings from trade services and other non-fund facilities and also earnings from foreign exchange and derivative transactions on behalf of customers. The principal expenses of the segment consist of interest expense on funds borrowed from external sources and other internal segments, premises expenses, personnel costs, other direct overheads and allocated expenses of delivery channels, specialist product groups, processing units and support groups.
d) Other banking Business
This segment includes income from parabanking activities such as credit cards, debit cards, third party product distribution, primary dealership business and the associated costs.
e) Unallocated
All items which are reckoned at an enterprise level are classified under this segment. This includes capital and reserves, debt classified as Tier 1 or Tier 2 capital and other unallocable assets and liabilities such as deferred tax, etc.
Segment revenue includes earnings from external customers plus earnings from funds transferred to other segments. Segment result includes revenue less interest expense less operating expense and provisions, if any, for that segment. Segment-wise income and expenses include certain allocations. Interest income is charged by a segment that provides funding to another segment, based on yields benchmarked to an internally approved yield curve or at a certain agreed
transfer price rate. Transaction charges are levied by the retail banking segment to the wholesale banking segment for the use by its customers of the retail banking segment's branch network or other delivery channels. Segment capital employed represents the net assets in that segment.
Geographic segments
The geographic segments of the Bank are categorised as domestic operations and foreign operations. Domestic operations comprise branches in India and foreign operations comprise branches outside India.
Relatives of key management personnel and their interested entities
Nagsri Sashidhar, Dhruv Sashidhar, Jagdishan Chandrasekharan, Mythra Mahesh, Mahesh Babu Ramamurthy, Nagsri -Creating Special Memories, Havovi Bharucha, Huzaan Bharucha, Danesh Bharucha, Darius Bharucha, Dilnaaz D Bharucha With effect from April 19, 2023 - Mala B. Zaveri, Bhakti Zaveri, Akash Metawala, Niharika Zaveri, Dev Metawala, Paresh Zaveri, Kavita Zaveri, Hitesh Zaveri, Aurionpro Solutions Limited, Trejhara Solutions Limited
With effect from November 23, 2023 - S. Anuradha, V. Jayam, S. Abinaya Rangan
The significant transactions between the Bank and related parties for year ended March 31, 2024 are given below. A specific related party transaction is a significant transaction wherever it exceeds 10% of all related party transactions in that category:
• Interest paid: HDFC Life Insurance Company Limited ' 298.78 crore; HDB Financial Services Limited ' 53.55 crore
• Interest received: HDB Financial Services Limited ' 773.69 crore; HDFC Credila Financial Services Limited ' 197.69 crore
• Rendering of services: HDFC Life Insurance Company Limited ' 2,626.48 crore; HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company Limited ' 346.20 crore
• Receiving of services: HDB Financial Services Limited ' 2,250.82 crore; HDFC Sales Private Limited ' 936.27 crore
• Dividend paid: Kaizad Bharucha ' 4.25 crore; Sashidhar Jagdishan ' 2.90 crore; Mala B. Zaveri '1.09 crore
• Dividend received: HDFC Securities Limited ' 774.69 crore; HDB Financial Services Limited ' 232.68 crore; HDFC Life Insurance Company Limited ' 198.69 crore
• Fixed Assets purchased from: Aurionpro Solutions Limited ' 12.53 crore
• Denotes amount less than ' 1 lakh.
• Figures in bracket indicate maximum balance outstanding during the year based on comparison of the total outstanding balances at each quarter-end.
• Remuneration paid is ' 9.91 crore to Mr. Sashidhar Jagdishan, ' 9.92 crore to Mr. Kaizad Bharucha, ' 5.05 crore to Mr. Bhavesh Zaveri and ' 2.30 crore to Mr. V. Srinivasa Rangan.
(above excludes value of employee stock options exercised during the year).
• Bonus and retiral benefits for key managerial personnel are accrued as a part of an overall pool and are not allocated against the key managerial personnel. These will be paid based on approval from RBI. As of March 31, 2024, approved unpaid deferred bonus in respect of earlier years was ' 10.87 crore.
During the year ended March 31, 2024, the Bank purchased ' 198.93 crore debt securities from HDB Financial Services Limited issued by it. The Bank also purchased Non SLR securities of ' 52.28 crore from HDFC Life Insurance Company Limited.
During the year ended March 31, 2024, the Bank sold SLR securities of ' 96.69 crore to HDFC Life Insurance Company Limited. The Bank also sold Non SLR securities of ' 721.42 crore and ' 705.81 crore to HDFC Life Insurance Company Limited and HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company Limited respectively.
The deposit outstanding from HDB Employees Welfare Trust as at March 31,2024 was ' 3.57 crore and interest on deposit aggregating to ' 0.10 crore.
The Bank's related party balances and transactions for the year ended March 31, 2023 are summarised as follows:
The significant transactions between the Bank and related parties for year ended March 31, 2023 are given below
• Interest paid: Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited ' 9.53 crore; HDFC Securities Limited ' 4.77 crore; HDB Financial Services Limited ' 2.71 crore.
• Interest received: HDB Financial Services Limited ' 677.81 crore.
• Rendering of services: Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited ' 588.82 crore.
• Receiving of services: Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited ' 864.67 crore; HDB Financial Services
Limited ' 3,062.02 crore.
• Dividend paid: Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited ' 1,340.15 crore.
• Dividend received: HDFC Securities Limited ' 668.36 crore; HDB Financial Services Limited ' 142.61 crore.
The Bank being an authorised dealer, deals in foreign exchange and derivative transactions with parties which include its promoter. The foreign exchange and derivative transactions are undertaken in line with the RBI guidelines. The notional principal amount of foreign exchange and derivative contracts transacted with the promoter that were outstanding as on March 31,2023 is ' 9,445.12 crore. The contingent credit exposure pertaining to these contracts computed in line with the extant RBI guidelines on exposure norms was ' 317.02 crore.
During the year ended March 31,2023, the Bank sold SLR securities of ' 578.89 crore to HDFC Securities Limited.
The deposit outstanding from HDB Employees Welfare Trust as at March 31, 2023 was ' 1.59 crore. The Bank also paid interest on deposit from HDB Employees Welfare Trust aggregating to ' 0.80 crore.
28. Leases
Operating leases primarily comprise office premises, staff residences and Automated Teller Machines (‘ATM's), which are renewable at the option of the Bank.
29. Earnings per equity share
Basic and diluted earnings per equity share of the Bank have been calculated based on the net profit after tax of ' 60,812.28 crore (previous year: ' 44,108.70 crore) and the weighted average number of equity shares outstanding during the year of 7,08,48,07,443 (previous year: 5,56,57,14,265). The dilutive impact is on account of stock options / units granted to employees by the Bank. There is no impact of dilution on the profits in the current year and previous year.
Equity shares issued as consideration under the Scheme are included in the weighted average number of shares with effect from appointed and effective date of the amalgamation.
30. Provisions and contingent liabilities
Given below is the movement in provisions and a brief description of the nature of contingent liabilities recognised by the Bank.
31. Small and micro industries
Under the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006 which came into force from October 02, 2006, certain disclosures are required to be made relating to Micro, Small and Medium enterprises. There have been no reported cases of delays in payments to micro and small enterprises or of interest payments due to delays in such payments during the years ended March 31, 2024 and March 31,2023. The above is based on the information available with the Bank which has been relied upon by the auditors.
33. Investor education and protection fund
There has been no delay in transferring amounts, required to be transferred to the Investor Education and Protection Fund by the Bank during the year ended March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2023.
34. Disclosure under Rule 11 (e) of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014
The Bank, as part of its normal banking business, grants loans and advances to its constituents including foreign entities with permission to lend / invest / provide guarantee or security or the like in other entities identified by such constituents. Similarly, the Bank accepts deposits from its constituents, who may instruct the Bank to lend / invest / provide guarantee or security or the like against such deposit in other entities identified by such constituents.
These transactions are part of Bank's normal banking business, which is conducted after exercising proper due diligence including adherence to “Know Your Customer” guidelines as applicable in respective jurisdiction.
Other than the nature of transactions described above, the Bank has not advanced / lent / invested / provided guarantee or security to or in any other person with an understanding to lend / invest / provide guarantee or security or the like to or in any other person. Similarly, other than the nature of transactions described above, the Bank has not received any funds from any other person with an understanding that the Bank shall lend or invest or provide guarantee or security or the like to or in any other person.
35. Audit trail
As per the requirements of rule 3(1) of the Companies (Accounts) Rules 2014 the Bank uses only such accounting software for maintaining its books of account that have a feature of recording audit trail of each and every transaction creating an edit log of each change made in the books of account along with the date when such changes were made within such accounting software. This feature of recording audit trail has operated throughout the year and was not tampered with during the year. In respect of certain masters in two accounting softwares and for databases the audit trail feature was not enabled during the year. The Bank has established and maintained an adequate internal control framework and based on its assessment, believes that this was effective as of March 31, 2024.
36. Comparative figures
The financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2024 include the operations of eHDFC Limited, eHDFC Investments and eHDFC Holdings for the period from July 01, 2023 onwards and hence the figures for the year are not comparable with those of the previous year. Figures for the previous year have been regrouped and reclassified wherever necessary to conform to the current year's presentation.
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