बैंक तथा वित्तीय संस्थामा “उल्लेख्य स्वामित्व” को परिभाषा संशोधन, अब एक प्रतिशतमा सीमितGovernment Lowers the Threshold for Defining “Significant Ownership” in Banks and Financial Institutions
काठमाडौं, २०७९ जेष्ठ – सरकारले बैंक तथा वित्तीय संस्थामा “उल्लेख्य स्वामित्व” को परिभाषा संशोधन गर्दै अब एक प्रतिशत वा सोभन्दा बढी स्वामित्व हुनेलाई “उल्लेख्य स्वामित्व” मा राख्ने व्यवस्था गरेको छ।
यसअघि, कुनै पनि व्यक्ति वा संस्थाले दुई प्रतिशत वा सोभन्दा बढी पूँजी स्वामित्व राखेमा मात्र “उल्लेख्य स्वामित्व” को रूपमा चिनिन्थ्यो। अब संशोधनपछि, एक प्रतिशत वा सोभन्दा बढी स्वामित्व हुने व्यक्तिहरू समेत उल्लेख्य स्वामित्वको दायरामा पर्नेछन्।
संशोधित व्यवस्थामा स्पष्ट रूपमा भनिएको छ कि अब कुनै पनि व्यक्ति, संस्था वा अन्य कुनै समूहले बैंक वा वित्तीय संस्थाको एक प्रतिशत वा सोभन्दा बढी चुक्ता पूँजी स्वामित्वमा भएमा सो “उल्लेख्य स्वामित्व” अन्तर्गत पर्छ।
वित्तीय क्षेत्रका विज्ञहरूले यसलाई सकारात्मक कदमका रूपमा लिएका छन्। उनीहरूका अनुसार, अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय अभ्यास अनुसार पनि न्यूनतम स्वामित्वको हकमा समेत कडा नियमन आवश्यक हुन्छ। यसले वित्तीय क्षेत्रमा पारदर्शिता र सुशासन अभिवृद्धि गर्नेछ।
नेपाल राष्ट्र बैंकका एक वरिष्ठ अधिकारीले भने, “यो संशोधनले साना स्वामित्वकर्तालाई पनि नियामकको निगरानीमा ल्याउँछ। यसले बैंक तथा वित्तीय संस्थाको सुशासन मजबुत बनाउन मद्दत गर्नेछ।”
संशोधनको कारण, अब बैंक तथा वित्तीय संस्थाहरूले आफ्ना स्वामित्व विवरण अद्यावधिक गरी प्रतिवेदन पेश गर्नुपर्नेछ। साना लगानीकर्ताहरूको समेत प्रभावकारी निगरानीमा यसले थप बल पुर्याउने देखिन्छ।
यसबाट वित्तीय प्रणालीमा विश्वास अभिवृद्धि हुनुका साथै सानो समूहको अत्यधिक नियन्त्रण रोक्न मद्दत पुग्ने अपेक्षा गरिएको छ।
Kathmandu, June 4, 2025 – In a significant regulatory update, the government has amended the definition of “significant ownership” in the banking and financial sector, reducing the threshold from 2% to 1% of the paid-up capital.
Previously, the law defined “significant ownership” as a stake of 2% or more in a bank or financial institution. The revised clause, as amended under Section 2, Clause (c), now considers any person or entity holding 1% or more of the paid-up capital as a significant owner.
This change is expected to have a considerable impact on the governance and transparency of banks and financial institutions in the country. By lowering the threshold, the authorities aim to tighten regulatory oversight and increase accountability among shareholders.
According to experts, this amendment aligns with international best practices, where even minor stakes in financial institutions are subject to scrutiny to prevent undue influence and ensure stability. It also ensures that ownership structures are transparent, enabling regulators to monitor potential risks more effectively.
A senior official from the Nepal Rastra Bank stated, “This change will bring smaller shareholders into the ambit of regulatory supervision. It is an important step in strengthening corporate governance and reducing the risk of excessive control by a small group of shareholders.”
Banking sector analysts predict that this move will lead to a wave of disclosures and adjustments in ownership structures. Financial institutions will now have to update their records and submit detailed reports on shareholders with 1% or more ownership.
Additionally, the amendment is expected to discourage hidden control and enhance the resilience of the financial sector by spreading ownership more widely. Smaller investors with significant influence will now be held to the same standards as larger shareholders.
Overall, the amendment is a proactive measure aimed at fostering stability, good governance, and trust in Nepal’s financial system.
