Introduction
The concept of a core investment company (CIC) was first introduced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in 2010. While, at that time, the RBI clarified that companies which invest in shares of other companies, even for the purpose of holding a stake in such company, should be regarded as carrying on the business of a non-banking financial institution, it specifically acknowledged that such class of non-banking financial institution should be afforded differential treatment. This led to the introduction of a differentiated framework for CICs – the main points of difference being the substitution of the capital to risk-weighted assets ratio (as applicable to non-banking financial companies (NBFCs)) with different capital requirements and an exemption from the rules on investment and credit concentration.