Banks should tighten assessment controls of their corporate bonds investments: experts

Banks must tighten their assessment controls of corporate bond investments to avoid excessive risk and the misuse of funds raised by firms, experts said.

Banks should tighten assessment controls of their corporate bonds investments: experts hinh anh 1

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

Banks must tighten their assessment controls of corporate bond investments to avoid excessive risk and the misuse of funds raised by firms, experts said.

In early April, the Banking Supervision Agency, under the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) conducted an inspection of corporate bond investment activities at seven banks, while the Ministry of Finance inspected one bank.

According to the SBV, by the end of 2021, there are 41 credit institutions holding 274 trillion VND (11.7 billion USD) of corporate bonds, of which more than 75% of them are held by ten major banks - Techcombank, MBBank, VPBank, TPBank, BIDV, Vietcombank, VietinBank, HDBank, ABBank and SeABank. At some banks, the value of corporate bonds exceeds 10% of total assets.

Although the inspection results were not published, a SBV senior leader said in an interview with Vietnam Investment Review that a number of credit institutions failed to accurately assess bond issuance plans.

In particular, how companies planned to use the proceeds of corporate bond sales lacked clarity and transparency. Results from the inspection showed there are signs that firms have spent money from bond issuance for the wrong purposes, including cases where funds were used to repay bank loans, buy shares, lend, and transfer the money back to the issuers.

Economist Nguyen Xuan Nghia said that there is a phenomenon where capital raised from the issuance of bonds is circulated around to organisations and inpiduals that have relationships with each other or where the money is withdrawn in large quantities, causing the cash flow to be very complicated and difficult to determine the ultimate use of funds raised.

Pursuing growth and huge profits may have caused banks and other investors to overlook potential malfeasance in the corporate bond activities, Nghia added.

The violations also resulted from a lack of close attention by the board of directors, the executive board, and the leaders of units/pisions of some credit institutions in promptly correcting the shortcomings and mistakes internally. Inspection, control, and internal audits of credit institutions are not always effective, and internal regulations have not been regularly reviewed, updated, and completed, he added.

The issuers’ financial capacity can also be weak, including a high debt-to-equity ratio, no or low net revenue from main business activities, and undistributed profit in recent years, the SBV senior leader said.

"The determination of demand and term of bonds is not based on the actual bond issuance plans of the issuers," the officer said, adding that the monitoring, supervision, and collection of documents proving the purposes of the money raised from bond issuances by issuers are still a formality, but investors often fail to fully exercise the rights permitted by law to manage and supervise the use of funds raised from bond issuance.

Moreover, the valuation and management of collateral have not been strictly controlled due to professional limitations, while some borrowers have not fully followed the provisions of the law, the SBV and the regulations of the credit institutions in their loan relationship.

According to a VNDIRECT Securities Company analyst, credit institutions must increase their capacity for rating and appraising debt, particularly corporate bond investments, in order to reduce risks.

Accordingly, the expert suggested that credit institutions need to step up inspection and supervision of the issuers' use of capital to ensure that the capital is used for the right purposes, and strengthen risk management for corporate bond investments.

In addition, increasing the responsibility of credit institutions in the service provision agreements related to signed corporate bonds, implementing the responsibilities of the bondholders' representatives in accordance with regulations. In particular, exercise all the rights permitted by law to control and supervise to ensure that funds raised from the bond issuance are used for the right purposes stated in the plan of the issuer./.

Source: VNA
en.vietnamplus.vn

Related News

Continue to handle cross-ownership in banks

Continue to handle cross-ownership in banks

VCN - The situation of excess share ownership, cross-ownership between credit institutions (CIs), CIs and enterprises, although has decreased significantly compared to previous periods, is still complicated and requires continued inspection and control.
More efficient thanks to centralized payments between the State Treasury and banks

More efficient thanks to centralized payments between the State Treasury and banks

VCN - The State Treasury (KBNN) is continuing to maintain the stable operation of payment systems within the KBNN system and payments with banking systems to ensure smooth, timely and safe operations.
Allocating credit room, motivation for banks to compete

Allocating credit room, motivation for banks to compete

VCN - The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has announced that it will allocate the credit growth limit (room) for banks that have achieved 80% of their target. This is an incentive for banks to increase their competitiveness.
Banks minimize costs, optimize profits

Banks minimize costs, optimize profits

VCN - In the first months of the year, banks' ability to optimize costs has improved significantly, especially when many banks have actively transformed digitally and cut costs in the context of a difficult economy.

Latest News

Banks increase non-interest revenue

Banks increase non-interest revenue

VCN - Slow credit demand and fierce competition have forced banks to seek ways to increase non-interest revenue, especially when there is a lot of support from the digital transformation of the entire banking system.
Monetary policy forecast unlikely to loosen further

Monetary policy forecast unlikely to loosen further

It will be difficult for the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) to further loosen monetary policy due to a rising USD/VNĐ exchange rate pressure, experts said.
World Bank outlines path for Vietnam to reach high income status

World Bank outlines path for Vietnam to reach high income status

The World Bank (WB) has released a report which explores how Vietnam can upgrade its participation in global value chains to become a high-income country by 2045.
Strictly control public debt and ensure national financial security  2025

Strictly control public debt and ensure national financial security 2025

VCN – In order to achieve goal of strictly managing public debt and maintaining security and safety of the national financial system in 2025, it is necessary to ensure the borrowings and repayments of public debts is within the approved estimate; closely monitor public debt indicators to ensure that they are within the ceiling and warning thresholds approved by the National Assembly.

More News

Revising the title of a draft of 1 Law amending seven finance-related laws

Revising the title of a draft of 1 Law amending seven finance-related laws

VCN - On November 19, 2024, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly (SCNA) discussed amendments and refinements to the draft of a law revising seven existing finance-related laws. Concluding the session, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Duc Hai emphasized the need for the Government to direct the drafting body and relevant agencies to collaborate closely to finalize a persuasive and widely supported report, ensuring the quality of the draft law for the National Assembly's consideration and decision.
Transparency evates the standing of listed companies

Transparency evates the standing of listed companies

VCN - According to the Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX), the number of companies placed under warning, control, or restricted trading on the listed and registered markets has increased over the past two years compared to 2022.
State-owned securities company trails competitors

State-owned securities company trails competitors

Contrary to the outstanding performances in the banking sector, the securities subsidiaries of major banks have yet to fully leverage their potential, despite numerous inherent advantages.
Strengthening the financial “health” of state-owned enterprises

Strengthening the financial “health” of state-owned enterprises

VCN - The state economy plays a key role in the socio-economic development process, but it is necessary to strengthen the financial health and competitiveness of state-owned enterprises (SOEs).
U.S. Treasury continues to affirm Vietnam does not manipulate currency

U.S. Treasury continues to affirm Vietnam does not manipulate currency

VCN - In its latest report, the U.S. Department of the Treasury has positively assessed Vietnam's monetary policy, reaffirming that Vietnam does not engage in currency manipulation.
Exchange rate fluctuations bring huge profits to many banks

Exchange rate fluctuations bring huge profits to many banks

Net profits from the foreign exchange trading segment of many banks have gained positive results thanks to a strong USD/VNĐ exchange rate fluctuations this year.
A “picture” of bank profits in the first nine months of 2024

A “picture” of bank profits in the first nine months of 2024

VCN - Pre-tax profits for banks during the first nine months of 2024 remained positive, exceeding 200 trillion VND, solidifying the sector's position as a market leader.
Many challenges in restructuring public finance

Many challenges in restructuring public finance

VCN - Restructuring public finance is an important step to improve state financial management, ensure resources are allocated reasonably and effectively, contributing to the country's sustainable development. In addition to the achieved results, the process of accelerating public finance restructuring also faces many pressures.
Tax declaration and payment by e-commerce platforms reduces declaration points and compliance costs

Tax declaration and payment by e-commerce platforms reduces declaration points and compliance costs

VCN - E-commerce platforms that declare and pay taxes on behalf of traders not only help to reduce the number of tax declaration points but also reduce the cost of compliance with administrative procedures for the whole society because only one point as the e-commerce trading platform implements tax deduction, payment and declaration on behalf of tens, hundreds of thousands of individuals and business households on the platform.
Read More

Your care

Latest Most read
Banks increase non-interest revenue

Banks increase non-interest revenue

VCN - In the first 9 months of 2024, the group of banks leading in profit has focused on increasing the ratio of non-term deposits (CASA) to help reduce operating costs, resulting in positive credit growth.
Monetary policy forecast unlikely to loosen further

Monetary policy forecast unlikely to loosen further

It will be difficult for the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) to further loosen monetary policy due to a rising USD/VNĐ exchange rate pressure, experts said.
World Bank outlines path for Vietnam to reach high income status

World Bank outlines path for Vietnam to reach high income status

The World Bank (WB) has released a report which explores how Vietnam can upgrade its participation in global value chains to become a high-income country by 2045.
Strictly control public debt and ensure national financial security  2025

Strictly control public debt and ensure national financial security 2025

VCN - According to the plan for borrowing and repaying public debt and foreign debt of the country in 2025, the total borrowing demand of the Government in the year is expected to be at VND 815,238 billion, an increase of 20.6% compared to the Government'
Revising the title of a draft of 1 Law amending seven finance-related laws

Revising the title of a draft of 1 Law amending seven finance-related laws

On November 19, 2024, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly (SCNA) discussed amendments and refinements to the draft of a law revising seven existing finance-related laws.
Mobile Version