Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Corporate Affairs

08-September-2011 14:53 IST

RoC of Maharashtra

The Minister of State in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs Shri R.P.N. Singh today informed the Lok Sabha that complaints were received against M/s. Reliance Communication Limited. The following were the allegations:

(i)Reliance Communication Limited had circumvented the provisions of FEMA Regulations by de-subsidiarising Gateway Net Trading Pte Limited as on 31/3/2008 by reduction of its ownership interest by 91%;

(ii) Subsequently, the shares of the said company were acquired through a Foreign Subsidiary of Reliance Communication, namely, Reliance Globalcom BV, Netherland on 01/10/2008; and (iii) This made Gateway Net Trading Pte Limited, Singapore, a 100% subsidiary of Reliance Communication Limited.

It was further alleged that the Company purchased an Yacht from M/s. Ferrity Custom Line, Italy while payment for it amounting to EURO 11,640,769.29 was made by M/s. Gateway Net Trading Pte Limited, Singapore.

On receipt of reply from the company, the Registrar of Companies examined the allegations and it was found that none of the issues related to violation of Companies Act, 1956. However, the matters relating to External Commercial Borrowings and Foreign Exchange Management Act, were referred to the Enforcement Directorate & RBI, respectively, while the issue of non- payment of license fee was referred to the Department of Telecommunications.

The minister was replying to a written question whether it is a fact that Registrar of Companies (RoC), Maharashtra had received a complaint against M/s. Reliance Communication Limited regarding mysterious foreign exchange transactions by their subsidiary M/s. Gateway Net Trading Private Ltd., Singapore; the details thereof ; whether RoC have enquired into the allegations/complaints against the above subsidiary after receiving a reply from R-com.

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ST/-

Foreign exchange compliance concerns raised over subsidiary restructuring, prompting referrals to financial regulators and licensing authority. Complaints alleged restructuring of a foreign subsidiary and subsequent acquisition to circumvent foreign exchange controls and that the subsidiary financed a yacht purchase; the Registrar found no breach of the Companies Act, 1956, and referred potential foreign exchange and external borrowing issues to financial regulators while sending a license fee matter to the telecommunications licensing authority.