Tuesday, 29 April 2014

TO WATCH ON CONGLOMERATION OF THE FINANCIAL INDUSTRY



The Financial Service Authority [OJK] was scheming up integrated control regulation on conglomeration enterprise in Indonesia. This was to ensure contribution of conglomerate companies to Indonesia’s economic growth.

The regulation was targeted to be ready this year in the form of OJK Regulations as legal basis, which authorized banks or financial conglomerations to do or not to do things regulated by OJK.

Some banks had formed conglomerations involving other financial companies like security, insurance, reksadana, financing etc. Information Technology had enabled inter-company exchange of data or between holding company and subsidiary companies.

To protect the consumers, it was necessary to let OJK to regulate and control matters based on Law no 21 year 2011. OJK was in charge of controlling and managing the banking sector, Non Bank Financial Industry [IKNB] the stockmarket and conglomerate companies. Individual control was still exercised in line with collective inspection of banks.

The tendency to conglomerate in Indonesia was triggered by stimulus on the demand as well as supply side. On the demand side, in line with people’s better literacy level, people’s need for products and services and financial services were getting more complex than ever. On the supply side big banks specializing in non-bank financial service: life insurance, general insurance. Leasing and financing, security, syariah banking etc.

OJK data had it that there were 31 financial conglomerate in Indonesia, many of them linked to foreign companies. Management and risk-based controlling over financial conglomerates by integrated controllers would be soon be the same as control by OJK on banks. Evaluation would be based on financial aspects i.e. capital adequacy ratio and liquidity, risk management standard and good corporate governance. This was designed to narrow differences of regulation between holding company and subsidiary companies.

Regulation and integrated control over financial groups had been internationally. During global economic crisis of 2008, many conglomerate of global scale fell. And yet those financial institutions contributed significantly to world’s economy.

It must be borne in mind that conglomerate of the financial industry was inevitable and became a must so they need to encouraged and supported to invigorate economy. Moreover, conglomeration in the financial industry must be motivated to succeed because failure would mean high cost.

OJK was today controlling bank financial system and non-bank financial institutions with total asset of more than Rp9,000 trillion. 78% of asset in originated from the banking system, the rest from 708 non bank financial institutions. The amount was exclusive of BJPS Social Insurance Management Board in 2015 next and micro-and-small and medium financial institutions [LKM] totaling 26,000.

So establishment of the subsidiary companies by banks was to accommodate the increasing market demand. To kep the need for financial services from being served by foreign companies, domestic banks were beginning to involved other financial institutions.

The conglomeration of 16 banks in Indonesia commanded over 70% of total asset of the financial industry. For example BNI had 5 subsidiary companies. For that matter banks which were ready and able were expected to build the Financial Center or Financial Supermarkets to meet the need for products, services and financial services the integrated way. Such was also to anticipate the MEA as per January 2016 where the financial sector would be included.

Normally players of the finance industry responded positively to OJK’s step to regulate and control conglomeration of financial institutions. This was to anticipate cases of blank investments due to lack of regulation and control in the financial sector. OJK must also observe implementation of rules on financial institutions.

About building of the Financial Center, it was a must which was inevitable. Again it was demanded by market mechanism where products, as well as complex and integrated financial services were needed. Therefore it was felt necessary top develop bodies like Financial Center or Financial Supermarket by banks which were ready to need the need for products or financial services the integrated way.

Naturally there would be benefits offered by Financial Centers to stakeholders. To BI and OJK the benefits were:

Firstly, to help and control the integrated way management process for the financial industry whereby to develop well and sustainably and to be able to contribute to national economy in the best possible way.

Secondly to accelerate the application of standardization system and Good Corporate governance which was more effective because they were controlled by the mother bank.

The benefit for financial and banking industry was to motivate the financial-banking industry to grow simultaneously and sustainably by effective management system. Furthermore to assist the Government in promoting national economy through active participation of all industry players and to increase state’s financial income from tax and/or dividend which were higher thanks to performance of the financial group.

Lastly to the consumers to allow convenience to the people in the process of financial inclusion and to offer products and financial and banking services comprehensively and integratedly as well as more efficient and competitive by price. (SS)   

Business New - April 21, 2014 

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