TaxTMI 
TaxTMI 
Consolidated FDI Policy
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....for Investment 4.3 Caps on Investments 4.4 Entry conditions on Investment 4.5 Other conditions on Investment besides entry conditions 4.6 Downstream Investment by Indian Companies 4.7 Guidelines for consideration of FDI Proposals by FIPB 4.8 Constitution of FIPB 4.9 Approval Levels for cases under Government Route 4.10 Cases which do not require fresh Approval CHAPTER-5 POLICY ON ROUTE, CAPS AND ENTRY CONDITIONS 5.1 PROHIBITION ON INVESTMENT IN INDIA 5.2 SECTOR-SPECIFIC POLICY FOR FDI AGRICULTURE 5.2.1 Agriculture & Animal Husbandry 5.2.2 Tea plantation INDUSTRY MINING 5.2.3 Mining MANUFACTURING 5.2.4 Manufacture of items reserved for production in Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) 5.2.5 Defence Industry POWER 5.2.6 Electric Generation, Transmission, Distribution and Trading SERVICES SECTOR 5.2.7 Civil Aviation Sector 5.2.8 Asset Reconstruction Companies 5.2.9 Banking -Private sector 5.2.10 Banking- Public Sector 5.2.11 Broadcasting 5.2.12 Commodity Exchanges 5.2.13 Development of Townships, Housing, Built-up infrastructure and Construction-development projects 5.2.14 Credit Information Compa....
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....onomic Cooperation and Development (OECD) define FDI similarly as a category of cross border investment made by a resident in one economy (the direct investor) with the objective of establishing a 'lasting interest' in an enterprise (the direct investment enterprise) that is resident in an economy other than that of the direct investor. The motivation of the direct investor is a strategic long term relationship with the direct investment enterprise to ensure the significant degree of influence by the direct investor in the management of the direct investment enterprise. Direct investment allows the direct investor to gain access to the direct investment enterprise which it might otherwise be unable to do. The objectives of direct investment are different from those of portfolio investment whereby investors do not generally expect to influence the management of the enterprise. In the Indian context, FDI is defined in Para 2.1.12 of this Circular. 1.1.4 It is the policy of the Government of India to attract and promote productive FDI in activities which significantly contribute to industrialization and socio-economic development. FDI supplements domestic capital ....
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.... consolidates FDI Policy Framework, the legal edifice is built on notifications issued by RBI under FEMA. Therefore, any changes notified by RBI from time to time would have to be complied with and where there is a need / scope of interpretation, the relevant FEMA notification will prevail. 1.1.9 Reference to any statute or legislation made in this Circular shall include reference to any modifications, amendments or re-enactments thereof. CHAPTER 2: DEFINITIONS 2.1 DEFINITIONS: The definitions of terms used in this circular are as follows:- 2.1.1 'AD Category-I Bank' means a bank( Scheduled Commercial, State or Urban Cooperative) which is authorized under Section 10(1) of FEMA to undertake all current and capital account transactions according to the directions issued by the RBI from time to time. 2.1.2 'Authorized Bank' means a bank including a co-operative bank (other than an authorized dealer) authorized by the Reserve Bank to maintain an account of a person resident outside India 2.1.3 'Authorized Dealer' means a person authorized as an authorized dealer....
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....ich was in existence on the date of commencement of the Foreign Exchange Management (Withdrawal of General Permission to Overseas Corporate Bodies (OCBs) ) Regulations, 2003 (the Regulations) and immediately prior to such commencement was eligible to undertake transactions pursuant to the general permission granted under the Regulations. 2.1.11 'Foreign Currency Convertible Bond'(FCCB) means a bond issued by an Indian company expressed in foreign currency, the principal and interest of which is payable in foreign currency. FCCBs are issued in accordance with the Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds and ordinary shares (through depository receipt mechanism) Scheme 1993 and subscribed by a non-resident entity in foreign currency and convertible into ordinary shares of the issuing company in any manner, either in whole, or in part. 2.1.12 'FDI' means investment by non-resident entity/person resident outside India in the capital of the Indian company under Schedule 1 of FEMA (Transfer or Issue of Security by a Person Resident Outside India) Regulations 2000. 2.1.13 'FEMA' means the Foreign Exchange Management Act 1999 (42 of 1999). 2.1.14 'FIPB' means ....
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.... an individual resident outside India who is a citizen of India or is a person of Indian origin. 2.1.26 A company is considered as 'Owned' by resident Indian citizens if more than 50% of the capital in it is beneficially owned by resident Indian citizens and / or Indian companies, which are ultimately owned and controlled by resident Indian citizens; 2.1.27 An entity is considered as 'Owned' by 'non resident entities', if more than 50% of the capital in it is beneficially owned by non-residents. 2.1.28 'PAB' means Project Approval Board in DIPP, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India. 2.1.29 'Person' includes (i) an individual (ii) a Hindu undivided family, (iii) a company (iv) a firm (v) an association of persons or a body of individuals whether incorporated or not, (vi) every artificial juridical person, not falling within any of the preceding sub-clauses, and (vii) &nb....
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....k of India established under the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. 2.1.34 'Resident Entity' means 'Person resident in India' excluding an individual. 2.1.35 'Resident Indian Citizen' shall be interpreted in line with the definition of 'person resident in India' as per FEMA, 1999, read in conjunction with the Indian Citizenship Act, 1955. 2.1.36 'SEBI' means the Securities and Exchange Board of India established under the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992. 2.1.37 'SEZ' means a Special Economic Zone as defined in Special Economic Zone Act, 2005. 2.1.38 'SIA' means Secretariat of Industrial Assistance in DIPP, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India. 2.1.39 'Transferable Development Rights' (TDR) means certificates issued in respect of category of land acquired for public purposes either by the Central or State Government in consideration of surrender of land by the owner without monetary compensation, which are transferable in part or whole. 2.1.40 'Venture Capital Fund' (VCF) means a Fund established in the form of a Trust, a company including a body corporate and registered under Securities an....
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....; A daily statement in respect of all transactions (except derivative trade) have to be submitted by the custodian bank in floppy / soft copy in the prescribed format directly to RBI to monitor the overall ceiling/sectoral cap/statutory ceiling. 3.1.5 No person other than registered FII/NRI as per Schedules II and III of Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of Security by a Person Resident Outside India) Regulations of FEMA 1999, can invest/trade in capital of Indian Companies in the Indian Stock Exchanges directly i.e. through brokers like a Person Resident in India. 3.1.6 A Foreign Venture Capital Investor (FVCI) may contribute upto 100% of the capital of a Venture Capital Fund/Indian Venture Capital Undertaking and may also set up a domestic asset management company to manage the fund. All such investments are allowed under the automatic route subject to SEBI & RBI regulations and FDI Policy. However FVCIs are also allowed to invest as non-resident entities in other companies subject to FDI Policy. 3.2 TYPES OF INSTRUMENTS. 3.2.1 Indian companies can issue equity....
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.... in the domestic market on making profit or within three years of such issue of ADRs/GDRs, whichever is earlier. ADRs / GDRs are issued on the basis of the ratio worked out by the Indian company in consultation with the Lead Manager to the issue. The proceeds so raised have to be kept abroad till actually required in India. Pending repatriation or utilization of the proceeds, the Indian company can invest the funds in:- (a) Deposits, Certificate of Deposits or other instruments offered by banks rated by Standard and Poor, Fitch, IBCA, Moody's, etc. with rating not below the rating stipulated by Reserve Bank from time to time for the purpose; (b) Deposits with branch/es of Indian Authorized Dealers outside India; and (c) Treasury bills and other monetary instruments with a maturity or unexpired maturity of one year or less. (iv) There are no end-use restrictions except for a ban on deployment / investment of such funds in real estate or the stock market. There is no monetary limit up to which an Indian company c....
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....dian company can also sponsor an issue of ADR / GDR. Under this mechanism, the company offers its resident shareholders a choice to submit their shares back to the company so that on the basis of such shares, ADRs / GDRs can be issued abroad. The proceeds of the ADR / GDR issue are remitted back to India and distributed among the resident investors who had offered their Rupee denominated shares for conversion. These proceeds can be kept in Resident Foreign Currency (Domestic) accounts in India by the resident shareholders who have tendered such shares for conversion into ADRs / GDRs. 3.3 ENTITIES INTO WHICH FDI CAN BE MADE 3.3.1 FDI in an Indian Company (i) Indian companies including those which are micro and small enterprises (MSEs) can issue capital against FDI. 3.3.2 FDI in Partnership Firm / Proprietary Concern: (i) A Non-Resident Indian (NRI) or a Person of Indian Origin (PIO) resident outside India can invest by way of contribution to the capital of a firm or a proprietary concern in India on non....
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....dit to the NRE/FCNR (B) account, as the case may be. Non-compliance with the above provision would be reckoned as a contravention under FEMA and would attract penal provisions. In exceptional cases, refund of the amount of consideration outstanding beyond a period of 180 days from the date of receipt may be considered by the RBI, on the merits of the case. 3.4.2 Issue price of shares - Price of shares issued to persons resident outside India under the FDI Policy, shall not be less than - a. the price worked out in accordance with the SEBI guidelines, as applicable, where the shares of the company is listed on any recognised stock exchange in India; b. the fair valuation of shares done by a SEBI registered Category - I Merchant Banker or a Chartered Accountant as per the discounted free cash flow method, where the shares of the company is not listed on any recognised stock exchange in India ; and c. the price as applicable to transfer of shares from resident to non-resident as per the pricing guidelines laid ....
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....o available for transfer of shares/convertible debentures, by way of sale under private arrangement by a person resident outside India to a person resident in India, subject to the guidelines given in Annex-2. (g) The above General Permission also covers transfer by a resident to a nonresident of shares/convertible debentures of an Indian company, engaged in an activity earlier covered under the Government Route but now falling under Automatic Route, as well as transfer of shares by a non-resident to an Indian company under buyback and/or capital reduction scheme of the company. However, this General Permission is not available in case of transfer of shares / debentures, from a Resident to a Non-Resident/Non-Resident Indian, of an entity engaged in any activity in the financial services sector (i.e. Banks, NBFCs, ARCs, CICs, Insurance, infrastructure companies in the securities market such as Stock Exchanges, Clearing Corporations, and Depositories, Commodity Exchanges, etc.). (h) The Form FC-TRS should be submitted to the AD Category-I Bank, within 60 days from the date of receipt of the amou....
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....fied by the Reserve Bank from time to time. (e) Transfer of capital instruments where the non-resident acquirer proposes deferment of payment of the amount of consideration, prior approval of the Reserve Bank would be required, as hitherto. Further, in case approval is granted for a transaction, the same should be reported in Form FC-TRS, to an AD Category - I bank for necessary due diligence, within 60 days from the date of receipt of the full and final amount of consideration. (ii) The transfer of capital instruments of companies engaged in sectors falling under the Government Route from residents to non-residents by way of sale or otherwise requires Government approval followed by permission from RBI. (iii) A person resident in India, who intends to transfer any capital instrument, by way of gift to a person resident outside India, has to obtain prior approval from Reserve Bank. While forwarding applications to Reserve Bank for approval for transfer of capital instruments by way of gift, the documents mentioned in Annex-3 should be enclosed. Reserve Ba....
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....bsp; The conversion facility is available for ECBs availed under the Automatic or Government Route and is applicable to ECBs, due for payment or not, as well as secured/unsecured loans availed from non-resident collaborators. (ii) General permission is also available for issue of shares/preference shares against lump sum technical know-how fee, royalty, under automatic route or SIA/FIPB route, subject to pricing guidelines as per the provision of para 3.4.2 above and compliance with applicable tax laws. 3.5 ISSUE OF INSTRUMENTS 3.5.1 Issue of Rights/Bonus Shares - FEMA provisions allow Indian companies to freely issue Rights/Bonus shares to existing non-resident shareholders, subject to adherence to sectoral cap, if any. However, such issue of bonus / rights shares has to be in accordance with other laws/statutes like the Companies Act, 1956, SEBI (Issue of Capital and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2009 (in case of listed companies), etc. The offer on right basis to the persons resident outside India shall be: (a) ....
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....licy . 3.5.5 Issue of shares under Employees Stock Option Scheme (ESOPs) - (i) Listed Indian companies are allowed to issue shares under the Employees Stock Option Scheme (ESOPs), to its employees or employees of its joint venture or wholly owned subsidiary abroad who are resident outside India, other than to the citizens of Pakistan. ESOPs can be issued to citizens of Bangladesh with the prior approval of FIPB. Shares under ESOPs can be issued directly or through a Trust subject to the condition that: (a) The scheme has been drawn in terms of relevant regulations issued by the SEBI, and (b) The face value of the shares to be allotted under the scheme to the non-resident employees does not exceed 5 per cent of the paid-up capital of the issuing company. (ii) Unlisted companies have to follow the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956. The Indian company can issue ESOPs to employees who are resident outside India, other than to the citizens of Pakistan. ESOPs can be issued to t....
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.... (ii) Counting of indirect foreign Investment: (a) The foreign investment through the investing Indian company would not be considered for calculation of the indirect foreign investment in case of Indian companies which are 'owned and controlled' by resident Indian citizens and/or Indian Companies which are owned and controlled by resident Indian citizens. (b) For cases where condition (a) above is not satisfied or if the investing company is owned or controlled by 'non resident entities', the entire investment by the investing company into the subject Indian Company would be considered as indirect foreign investment, Provided that, as an exception, the indirect foreign investment in only the 100% owned subsidiaries of operating-cum-investing/investing companies, will be limited to the foreign investment in the operating-cum-investing/ investing company. This exception is made since the downstream investment of a 100% owned subsidiary of the holding company is akin to investment made by the holding company and the downstream investment should be a mirror image of the holding company. This exception, however, is strictly for those cases where the entire capital of the dow....
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.... owned by/held with/in the hands of resident Indian citizens and Indian companies, owned and controlled by resident Indian citizens. (d) In the I& B and Defence sectors where the sectoral cap is less than 49%, the company would need to be 'owned and controlled' by resident Indian citizens and Indian companies, which are owned and controlled by resident Indian citizens. (A) For this purpose, the equity held by the largest Indian shareholder would have to be at least 51% of the total equity, excluding the equity held by Public Sector Banks and Public Financial Institutions, as defined in Section 4A of the Companies Act, 1956. The term 'largest Indian shareholder', used in this clause, will include any or a combination of the following: (I) In the case of an individual shareholder, (aa) The individual shareholder, (bb) A relative of the shareholder within the meaning of Section 6 of the Companies Act, 1956. (cc) A company/ group of companies in which the individual shareholder/HUF to which he belongs has management and controlling interest. (II) In the case of an Indian company, (aa) The Indian company (bb) A group of Indian companies under the same manageme....
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....re considered by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) in Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance. 4.2.2 Investment would be subject to the 'Existing Venture/ tie-up condition'3 as defined below: 4.2.2.1 With effect from January 12, 2005 the joint venture agreements are expected to include a 'conflict of interest' clause to determine/ safeguard the interests of joint venture partners in the event of one of the partners desiring to set up another joint venture or a wholly owned subsidiary in the same field of economic activity. The policy is, however, expected to protect the interest of the joint venture partner where the agreement had been entered on/ prior to January 12, 2005. 4.2.2.2 Where a non-resident investor has an existing joint venture/ technology transfer/ trademark agreement, as on January 12, 2005, new proposals in the same field for investment/technology transfer/technology collaboration/trademark agreement would have to be under the Government approval route through FIPB/ Project Approval Board. The onus to provide requisite justification that the new proposal would not jeopardize the existing joint venture or techn....
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....y a non-resident entity or (iii) The control of an existing Indian company, currently owned or controlled by resident Indian citizens and Indian companies, which are owned or controlled by resident Indian citizens, will be/is being transferred/passed on to a non-resident entity as a consequence of transfer of shares and/or fresh issue of shares to non-resident entities through amalgamation, merger/demerger, acquisition etc. or (iv) The ownership of an existing Indian company, currently owned or controlled by resident Indian citizens and Indian companies, which are owned or controlled by resident Indian citizens, will be/is being transferred/passed on to a non-resident entity as a consequence of transfer of shares and/or fresh issue of shares to non-resident entities through amalgamation, merger/demerger, acquisition etc. (v) It is clarified that these guidelines will not apply for sectors/activities where there are no foreign investment caps, that is, 100% foreign investment is permitted under the automatic route. 4 NIC Codes are available at http://siadipp.....
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....liance with the Foreign investment norms on entry route, conditionalities and sectoral caps. The 'guiding principle' is that downstream investment by companies 'owned' or 'controlled' by non resident entities would require to follow the same norms as a direct foreign investment i.e. only as much can be done by way of indirect foreign investment through downstream investment in Para 4.1 as can be done through direct foreign investment and what can be done directly can be done indirectly under same norms. 4.6.2 The Guidelines for calculation of total foreign investment, both direct and indirect in an Indian company, at every stage of investment, including downstream investment, have been detailed in Para 4.1 which enables determination of total foreign investment in any/all Indian Companies. 4.6.3 For the purpose of this chapter, (i) 'Operating Company' is an Indian company which is undertaking operations in various economic activities and sectors. (ii) 'Downstream investment' means indirect foreign investment by one Indian company into another Ind....
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....d be required, regardless of the amount or extent of foreign investment. Further, as and when such company commences business(s) or makes downstream investment it will have to comply with the relevant sectoral conditions on entry route, conditionalities and caps. 4.6.6. For Operating-cum- investing companies and investing companies (Para 4.6.4) and for companies as per para 4.6.5 above, downstream investments can be made subject to the following conditions: (i) Such company is to notify SIA, DIPP and FIPB of its downstream investment in the form available at http://www.fipbindia.com/portal/forms/FIPB%20Application%20Form%20for%20 Press%20Note%204%20of%202009.doc within 30 days of such investment even if capital instruments have not been allotted along with the modality of investment in new/existing ventures (with/without expansion programme); (ii) downstream investment by way of induction of foreign equity in an existing Indian Company to be duly supported by a resolution of the Board of Directors supporting the said induction as also a shareholders Agreement if any; (i....
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....bsp; While considering proposals the following may be prioritised. (i) Items falling in infrastructure sector. (ii) Items which have an export potential. (iii) Items which have large scale employment potential and especially for rural people. (iv) Items which have a direct or backward linkage with agro business/farm sector. (v) Items which have greater social relevance such as hospitals, human resource development, life saving drugs and equipment. (vi) Proposals which result in induction of technology or infusion of capital. 4.7.9 The following should be especially considered during the scrutiny and consideration of proposals. (i) The extent of foreign equity proposed to be held (keeping in view sectoral caps if any (ii) Extent of equity from the point of view whether the proposed project would amount to a holding company/who....
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....bsp; Secretary to Government, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance - Chairperson (ii) Secretary to Government, Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, Ministry of Commerce & Industry (iii) Secretary to Government, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry (iv)Secretary to Government, Economic Relations, Ministry of External Affairs (v) Secretary to Government, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs. 4.8.2 The Board would be able to co-opt other Secretaries to the Central Government and top officials of financial institutions, banks and professional experts of Industry and Commerce, as and when necessary. 4.9 APPROVAL LEVELS FOR CASES UNDER GOVERNMENT ROUTE 4.9.1 The following approval levels shall operate for proposals involving FDI under the Government route i.e. requiring prior Government approval: (i) The Minister of Finance who is in-charge of FIPB would consider the recommendations of FIPB on proposals with total foreign equity inflow....
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....rand product retailing) (b) Lottery Business including Government /private lottery, online lotteries, etc. (c) Gambling and Betting including casinos etc. (d) Business of chit fund (e) Nidhi company (f) Trading in Transferable Development Rights (TDRs) (g) Real Estate Business or Construction of Farm Houses (h) Manufacturing of Cigars, cheroots, cigarillos and cigarettes, of tobacco or of tobacco substitutes (i) Activities / sectors not opened to private sector investment including Atomic Energy and Railway Transport (other than Mass Rapid Transport Systems). Besides foreign investment in any form, foreign technology collaboration in any form including licensing for franchise, trademark, brand name, management contract is also completely prohibited for Lottery Business and Gambling and Betting activities. 5.2 SECTOR-SPECIFIC POLICY FOR FDI In the following sectors/activities, FDI up to the limit indicated against each sector/activity is allowed/permitted subject to other conditions indicated & security conditions where applicable. In sectors/activities not listed below, FDI is permitted upto 100% on the automatic route, subject to applicable laws/se....
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....eeds will be considered to be 'under controlled conditions' when seed farms/laboratories use tissue culture or any other micro-propagation techniques for development and multiplication of seeds/planting material. Seed development in the case of anthuriums, orchids and other ornamental crops in green houses/net houses/poly houses is also be included in this category. * In case of Animal Husbandry, scope of the term 'under controlled conditions' includes - • Rearing of animals under intensive farming systems with stall-feeding. Intensive farming system will require climate systems (ventilation, temperature/humidity management), health care and nutrition, herd registering/pedigree recording, use of machinery, waste management systems. • Poultry breeding farms and hatcheries where microclimate is controlled through advanced technologies like incubators, ventilation systems etc. * In the case of pisci culture and aquaculture, 'under controlled conditions' includes - • Aquariums • Hatcheries where eggs are artificially fertilized and fry are hatched and incubated in an enclosed environment with artificial climate control. 5.2.2 Tea Plantation ....
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....to the Atomic Energy (Control of Production and Use) Order, 1953 were included in the list of industries reserved for the public sector. Vide Resolution No. 8/1(1)/97-PSU/1422 dated 6th October 1998 issued by the Department of Atomic Energy laying down the policy for exploitation of beach sand minerals, private participation including Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), was permitted in mining and production of Titanium ores (Ilmenite, Rutile and Leucoxene) and Zirconium minerals (Zircon). Vide Notification No. S.O.61(E) dated 18.1.2006, the Department of Atomic Energy re-notified the list of "prescribed substances" under the Atomic Energy Act 1962. Titanium bearing ores and concentrates (Ilmenite, Rutile and Leucoxene) and Zirconium, its alloys and compounds and minerals/concentrates including Zircon, were removed from the list of "prescribed substances". (i) FDI for separation of titanium bearing minerals & ores will be subject to the following additional conditions viz.: (A) value addition facilities are set up within India along with transfer of technology; (B) disposal of tailings during the mineral separation shall be carried out in accordance with regulations framed....
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.... (i) Licence applications will be considered and licences given by the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, in consultation with Ministry of Defence. (ii) Cases involving FDI will be considered by the FIPB and licences given by the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion in consultation with Ministry of Defence. (iii) The applicant should be an Indian company / partnership firm. (iv) The management of the applicant company / partnership should be in Indian hands with majority representation on the Board as well as the Chief Executives of the company / partnership firm being resident Indians. (v) Full particulars of the Directors and the Chief Executives should be furnished along with the applications. (vi) The Government reserves the right to verify the antecedents of the foreign collaborators and domestic promoters including their financial standing and credentials in the world market. Preference would be given to original equipment manufacturers or design establishments, and companies having a good track record of past supplies to Armed Forces, Space and Atomic energy sections and having an established R & D bas....
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....s and ammunition produced by the private manufacturers will be primarily sold to the Ministry of Defence. These items may also be sold to other Government entities under the control of the Ministry of Home Affairs and State Governments with the prior approval of the Ministry of Defence. No such item should be sold within the country to any other person or entity. The export of manufactured items would be subject to policy and guidelines as applicable to Ordnance Factories and Defence Public Sector Undertakings. Non-lethal items would be permitted for sale to persons / entities other than the Central of State Governments with the prior approval of the Ministry of Defence. Licensee would also need to institute a verifiable system of removal of all goods out of their factories. Violation of these provisions may lead to cancellation of the licence. (xvi) Government decision on applications to FIPB for FDI in defence industry sector will be normally communicated within a time frame of 10 weeks from the date of acknowledgement. POWER 5.2.6 Electric Generation, Transmission, Distribution and Trading 5.2.6.1 i) Generation ....
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....port service undertaken between the same two or more places and operated according to a published time table or with flights so regular or frequent that they constitute a recognizably systematic series, each flight being open to use by members of the public. (viii) "Non-Scheduled Air Transport service" means any service which is not a scheduled air transport service and will include Chartered and Cargo airlines. (ix)"Chartered" and "Cargo" airlines would mean such airlines which meet the conditions as given in the Civil Aviation Requirements issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. (x) "Seaplane" means an aeroplane capable normally of taking off from and alighting solely on water; (xi)"Ground Handling" means (i) ramp handling , (ii) traffic handling both of which shall include the activities as specified by the Ministry of Civil Aviation through the Aeronautical Information Circulars from time to time, and (iii) any other activity specified by the Central Government to be a part of either ramp handling or traffic handling. 5.2.7.2 Policy for FDI in Civil Aviation sector The policy for FDI in the Civil Aviation Sector would be subject to the Aircraft R....
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....Is registered with SEBI can invest in the Security Receipts (SRs) issued by ARCs registered with Reserve Bank. FIIs can invest upto 49 per cent of each tranche of scheme of SRs, subject to the condition that investment by a single FII in each tranche of SRs shall not exceed 10 per cent of the issue. (iii)Any individual investment of more than 10% would be subject to provisions of section 3(3) (f) of Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002. 5.2.9 Banking -Private sector 5.2.9.1 Banking -Private sector 74% including investment by FIIs Automatic up to 49% Government route beyond 49% and up to 74% 5.2.9.2 Other conditions: (1) This 74% limit will include investment under the Portfolio Investment Scheme (PIS) by FIIs, NRIs and shares acquired prior to September 16, 2003 by erstwhile OCBs, and continue to include IPOs, Private placements, GDR/ADRs and acquisition of shares from existing shareholders. (2) The aggregate foreign investment in a private bank from all sources will be allowed up to a maximum of 74 per cent of the paid up capital of the Bank. At all times, at least 26 per cen....
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....ors as well. (ii) Setting up of a subsidiary by foreign banks (a) Foreign banks will be permitted to either have branches or subsidiaries but not both. (b) Foreign banks regulated by banking supervisory authority in the home country and meeting Reserve Bank's licensing criteria will be allowed to hold 100 per cent paid up capital to enable them to set up a wholly-owned subsidiary in India. (c) A foreign bank may operate in India through only one of the three channels viz., (i) branches (ii) a wholly-owned subsidiary and (iii) a subsidiary with aggregate foreign investment up to a maximum of 74 per cent in a private bank. (d) A foreign bank will be permitted to establish a wholly-owned subsidiary either through conversion of existing branches into a subsidiary or through a fresh banking license. A foreign bank will be permitted to establish a subsidiary through acquisition of shares of an existing private sector bank provided at least 26 per cent of the paid capital of the private sector bank is held by residents at all times consistent with para (i) (b) above. (e) A subsidiary of a foreign bank will be subject to the licensing requirements and conditions broadly c....
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....ines/terms and conditions as specified from time to time by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. 74% (total direct and indirect foreign investment including portfolio and FDI) Automatic up to 49% Government route beyond 49% and up to 74% 5.2.11.5 Setting up hardware facilities such as up-linking, HUB etc. (1) Setting up of Up-linking HUB/Teleports 49% (FDI & FII) Government (2) Up-linking a Non-News & Current Affairs TV Channel 100% Government (3) Up-linking a News & Current Affairs TV Channel subject to the condition that the portfolio investment from FII/ NRI shall not be "persons acting in concert" with FDI investors, as defined in the SEBI(Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 1997 26% (FDI & FII) Government 5.2.11.5.1 Other conditions: (i) All the activities at (1), (2) and (3) above will be further subject to the condition that the Company permitted to uplink the channel shall certify the continued compliance of this requirement through the Company Secretary at the end of each financial year. (ii) FDI for Up-linking TV Channels will be su....
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....13.1 Townships, housing, built-up infrastructure and construction development projects (which would include, but not be restricted to, housing, commercial premises, hotels, resorts, hospitals, educational institutions, recreational facilities, city and regional level infrastructure) 100% Automatic 5.2.13.2 Investment to be made will be subject to the following conditions: (1) Minimum area to be developed under each project would be as under: (i) In case of development of serviced housing plots, a minimum land area of 10 hectares (ii) In case of construction-development projects, a minimum built-up area of 50,000 sq.mts (iii)In case of a combination project, any one of the above two conditions would suffice (2) Minimum capitalization of US$10 million for wholly owned subsidiaries and US$ 5 million for joint ventures with Indian partners. The funds would have to be brought in within six months of commencement of business of the Company. (3) Original investment cannot be repatriated before a period of three years from completion of minimum capitalization. Original investment means the entire amount brought in as FDI. The lock-in period of three years w....
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....ormation Companies (CIC) 5.2.14.1 Credit Information Companies 49% (FDI & FII) Government 5.2.14.2 Other Conditions: (1) Foreign investment in Credit Information Companies is subject to the Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act, 2005. (2) Foreign investment is permitted under the Government route, subject to regulatory clearance from RBI. (3) Investment by a registered FII under the Portfolio Investment Scheme would be permitted up to 24% only in the CICs listed at the Stock Exchanges, within the overall limit of 49% for foreign investment. (4) Such FII investment would be permitted subject to the conditions that: (a) No single entity should directly or indirectly hold more than 10% equity. (b) Any acquisition in excess of 1% will have to be reported to RBI as a mandatory requirement; and (c) FIIs investing in CICs shall not seek a representation on the Board of Directors based upon their shareholding. 5.2.15 Industrial Parks - both setting up and already established Industrial Parks 100% Automatic 5.2.15.1 (i) "Industrial Park" is a project in which quality infrastructure in the....
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....locable area; the minimum percentage of the area to be allocated for industrial activity shall not be less than 66% of the total allocable area. 5.2.16 Insurance 5.2.16.1 Insurance 26% Automatic 5.2.16.2 Other Conditions: (1) FDI in the Insurance sector, as prescribed in the Insurance Act, 1999, is allowed under the automatic route. (2) This will be subject to the condition that Companies bringing in FDI shall obtain necessary license from the Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority for undertaking insurance activities 5.2.17 Infrastructure Company in the Securities Market 5.2.17.1 Infrastructure companies in Securities Markets, namely, stock exchanges, depositories and clearing corporations, in compliance with SEBI Regulations 49% (FDI & FII) [FDI limit of 26 per cent and an FII limit of 23 per cent of the paid-up capital ] Government 5.2.17.2 Other Conditions: 5.2.17.2.1 FII can invest only through purchases in the secondary market 5.2.18 Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFC) 5.2.18.1 Foreign investment in NBFC is al....
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....iness includes issuance, sales, marketing & design of various payment products such as credit cards, charge cards, debit cards, stored value cards, smart card, value added cards etc. (2) Venture Capital Fund (VCF) A Foreign Venture Capital Investor (FVCI) may contribute upto 100% of the capital of an Indian Venture Capital Undertaking and may also set up a domestic asset management company to manage the fund. All such investments can be made under automatic route in terms of Schedule 6 to Notification No. FEMA 20. A SEBI registered FVCI can also invest in domestic venture capital fund registered under the SEBI (Venture Capital Fund) Regulations, 1996. Such investments would also be subject to RBI regulations and FDI policy. However, in case the entity undertaking venture capital fund activity is a Trust registered under the Indian Trust Act, 1882, FDI would be permitted under the Government route. FVCIs are also allowed to invest in other companies subject to FDI Regulations. (3) The NBFC will have to comply with the guidelines of the the relevant regulator/ s, as applicable 5.2.19 Petroleum & Natural Gas Sector 5.2.19.1 Exploration activities of oil and natura....
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....nd current affairs and publication of facsimile edition of foreign newspapers issued by Ministry of Information & Broadcasting on 31.3.2006, as amended from time to time. 5.2.21 Security Agencies in Private sector 5.2.21.1 The 'Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005' regulates the operations of private security agencies. Under Section 6(2) of the above Act, "A company, firm or an association of persons shall not be considered for issue of a licence under this Act, if, it is not registered in India, or is having a proprietor or a majority shareholder, partner or director, who is not a citizen of India". As such, under the provisions of this Act: • a foreign company cannot be considered for a license under the Act • only a firm registered in India can be eligible for a license • to be eligible for a license under the Act, a firm cannot have a foreigndirector/partner • majority shareholder cannot be a foreigner-i.e. foreign shareholding would be restricted to a maximum of 49% under the Government route 5.2.22 Satellites - Establishment and operation 5.2.22.1 Satellites - Esta....
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.... such information is to be provided to anybody else. (iii)For security reasons, domestic traffic of such entities as may be identified /specified by the licensor shall not be hauled/routed to any place outside India. (iv)The licensee company shall take adequate and timely measures to ensure that the information transacted through a network by the subscribers is secure and protected. (v) The officers/officials of the licensee companies dealing with the lawful interception of messages will be resident Indian citizens. (vi)The majority Directors on the Board of the company shall be Indian citizens. (vii) The positions of the Chairman, Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and/or Chief Financial Officer (CFO), if held by foreign nationals, would require to be security vetted by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Security vetting shall be required periodically on yearly basis. In case something adverse is found during the security vetting, the direction of MHA shall be binding on the licensee. (viii) The Company shall not transfer the following to any person/place outside India:- (a) Any accounting information relating to subscriber (except for international....
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....e National Security angle. (xix) In order to maintain the privacy of voice and data, monitoring shall only be upon authorisation by the Union Home Secretary or Home Secretaries of the States/Union Territories. (xx) For monitoring traffic, the licensee company shall provide access of their network and other facilities as well as to books of accounts to the security agencies. (xxi) The aforesaid Security Conditions shall be applicable to all the licensee companies operating telecom services covered under this circular irrespective of the level of FDI. (xxii)Other Service Providers (OSPs), providing services like Call Centres, Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), tele-marketing, teleeducation, etc, and are registered with DoT as OSP. Such OSPs operate the service using the telecom infrastructure provided by licensed telecom service providers and 100% FDI is permitted for OSPs. As the security conditions are applicable to all licensed telecom service providers, the security conditions mentioned above shall not be separately enforced on OSPs. (3) The above General Conditions and Security Conditions shall also be applicable to the companies operating telecom service(s) with....
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....lesale trading/wholesale trading' with valid business customers, only when WT are made to the following ntities: (I) Entities holding sales tax/ VAT registration/service tax/excise duty registration; or (II) Entities holding trade licenses i.e. a license/registration certificate/membership certificate/registration under Shops and Establishment Act, issued by a Government Authority/ Government Body/ Local Self-Government Authority, reflecting that the entity/person holding the license/ registration certificate/ membership certificate, as the case may be, is itself/ himself/herself engaged in a business involving commercial activity; or (III)Entities holding permits/license etc. for undertaking retail trade (like tehbazari and similar license for hawkers) from Government Authorities/Local Self Government Bodies; or (IV) Institutions having certificate of incorporation or registration as a society or registration as public trust for their self consumption. Note: An Entity to whom WT is made, may fulfill any one of the 4 conditions. (c) Full records indicating all the details of such sales like name of entity, kind of entity, registration/license/permit etc. num....
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....cy & Promotion, to determine whether the products proposed to be sold satisfy the notified guidelines, before being considered by the FIPB for Government approval. 5.2.25 Courier services for carrying packages, parcels and other items which do not come within the ambit of the Indian Post Office Act, 1898. 5.2.25.1 100% FDI is allowed under the Government route. 5.2.25.2 This will be subject to existing Law i.e Indian Post Office Act 1898 and exclusion of activity relating to the distribution of letters. CHAPTER 6: REMITTANCE, REPORTING AND VIOLATION 6.1 REMITTANCE AND REPATRIATION 6.1.1 Remittance of sale proceeds/Remittance on winding up/Liquidation of Companies: (i) Sale proceeds of shares and securities and their remittance is 'remittance of asset' governed by The Foreign Exchange Management (Remittance of Assets) Regulations 2000 under FEMA. (ii) AD Category - I bank can allow the remittance of sale proceeds of a security (net of applicable taxes) to the seller of shares resident outside India, provided the security has been held on ....
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....n 30 days from the date of receipt in the Advance Reporting Form enclosed as Annex-5. (ii) Indian companies are required to report the details of the receipt of the amount of consideration for issue of shares / convertible debentures, through an AD Category - I bank, together with a copy/ies of the FIRC/s evidencing the receipt of the remittance along with the KYC report (enclosed as Annex-6) on the non-resident investor from the overseas bank remitting the amount. The report would be acknowledged by the Regional Office concerned, which will allot a Unique Identification Number (UIN) for the amount reported. 6.2.2 Reporting of issue of shares (i) After issue of shares (including bonus and shares issued on rights basis and shares issued under ESOP)/fully, mandatorily & compulsorily convertible debentures / fully, mandatorily & compulsorily convertible preference shares, the Indian company has to file Form FC-GPR, enclosed in Annex-1, not later than 30 days from the date of issue of shares. (ii) Part A of Form FC-GPR has to be duly filled up and signed by Managing D....
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....ons resident outside India directly or on amalgamation / merger/demerger with an existing Indian company, as well as issue of shares on conversion of ECB / royalty / lumpsum technical know-how fee / import of capital goods by units in SEZs, has to be reported in Form FC-GPR. 6.2.3 Reporting of transfer of shares Reporting of transfer of shares between residents and non-residents and vice- versa is to be done in Form FC-TRS (Annex-7). The Form FC-TRS should be submitted to the AD Category - I bank, within 60 days from the date of receipt of the amount of consideration. The onus of submission of the Form FC-TRS within the given timeframe would be on the transferor / transferee, resident in India. The AD Category - I bank, would forward the same to its link office. The link office would consolidate the Form FC-TRS and submit a monthly report to the Reserve Bank. 6.2.4 Reporting of Non-Cash Details of issue of shares against conversion of ECB has to be reported to the Regional Office concerned of the RBI, as indicated below: (i) In case of full conversion of ECB into equity, the compan....
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....ed by the Government of India/FIPB/Reserve Bank of India, he shall, upon adjudication, be liable to a penalty up to thrice the sum involved in such contraventions where such amount is quantifiable, or up to two lakh Rupees where the amount is not quantifiable, and where such contraventions is a continuing one, further penalty which may extend to five thousand Rupees for every day after the first day during which the contraventions continues. (ii) Where a person committing a contravention of any provisions of this Act or of any rule, direction or order made there under is a company (company means any body corporate and includes a firm or other association of individuals as defined in the Companies Act), every person who, at the time the contravention was committed, was in charge of, and was responsible to, the company for the conduct of the business of the company as well as the company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the contravention and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. (iii) Any Adjudicating Authority adjudging any contraventions under 6.3.1(i), may, if he thinks fit in addition to any penalty which he may impose for such contravention dire....
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.... the alleged contraventions. Annex - 1 (Para ) FC-GPR PART - A (To be filed by the company through its Authorised Dealer Category - I bank with the Regional Office of the RBI under whose jurisdiction the Registered Office of the company making the declaration is situated as and when shares / convertible debentures are issued to the foreign investor, along with the documents mentioned in item No. 4 of the undertaking enclosed to this Form) Click here to see the full Annex or text ============= Document 1 Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion Ministry of Commerce and Industry Government of India CONSOLIDATED FDI POLICY (EFFECTIVE FROM OCTOBER 1, 2010) Government of India Ministry of Commerce & Industry Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (FC Section) CIRCULAR 2 OF 2010 SUBJECT: CONSOLIDATED FDI POLICY. The "Consolidated FDI Policy" is attached. 2. This circular will take effect from October 1, 2010. (V.Bhaskar) Joint Secretary to the Government of India D/o IPP F. No. 5(14)/2010-FC Dated 30.09.2010 Copy forwarded to: 1. 2. 3. 234 Press Info....
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....th setting up and in established Industrial Parks 5.2.16 Insurance 5.2.17 Infrastructure Company in the Securities Market 5.2.18 Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFC) 5.2.19 Petroleum & Natural Gas Sector 5.2.20 Print Media 5.2.21 Security Agencies in Private sector 5.2.22 Satellites - Establishment and operation 5.2.23 Telecommunication 5.2.24 Trading 44222DDDDDGU ASSSSS 50 51 53 54 55 56 58 59 61 61 61 64 64 65 66 66 71 73 5.2.25 Courier services for carrying packages, parcels and other items which do not come within the ambit of the Indian Post Office Act, 1898 CHAPTER-6 REMITTANCE, REPORTING AND VIOLATION 6.1 Remittance and Repatriation 6.2 Reporting of FDI 6.3 Adherence to Guidelines/Orders and Consequences of Violation Penalties Adjudication and Appeals Compounding Proceedings ANNEXURES Annex-1 Form FC-GPR 75 75 76 73877% 79 79 80 81 3 Annex-2 Terms and conditions for transfer of capital instruments from resident to non-resident and vice-versa Annex-3 Documents to be submitted by a person resident in India for transfer of ....
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....of India to attract and promote productive FDI in activities which significantly contribute to industrialization and socio-economic development. FDI supplements domestic capital and technology. 1.1.5 The Legal basis: Foreign Direct Investment by non-resident in resident entities through transfer or issue of security to person resident outside India is a 'Capital account 5 transaction' and is regulated under FEMA, 1999 and its regulations. Keeping in view the current requirements, the Government from time to time comes up with new regulations and amendments/changes in the existing ones through order/allied rules, Press Notes, etc. The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India makes policy pronouncements on FDI through Press Notes/ Press Releases which are notified by the Reserve Bank of India as amendment to notification No.FEMA 20/2000-RB dated May 3, 2000. These notifications take effect from the date of issue of Press Notes/ Press Releases, unless specified otherwise therein. The procedural instructions are issued by the Reserve Bank of India vide A.P.Dir. (series) Circul....
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....horized dealer) authorized by the Reserve Bank to maintain an account of a person resident outside India 'Authorized Dealer' means a person authorized as an authorized dealer under sub-section (1) of section 10 of FEMA. 'Authorized Person' means an authorized dealer, money changer, offshore banking unit or any other person for the time being authorized under Sub- section (a) of Section 10 of FEMA to deal in foreign exchange or foreign securities. “Capital' means equity shares; fully, compulsorily & mandatorily convertible preference shares; fully, compulsorily & mandatorily convertible debentures. Note Any other type of instruments like warrants, partly paid shares etc. are not considered as capital. They can be issued to person/ (s) resident outside India only after approval through the Government route. ‘Capital account transaction' means a transaction which alters the assets or liabilities, including contingent liabilities, outside India of persons resident in India or assets or liabilities in India of persons resident outside India, and includes transactions referred to in sub-section (3) of section 6 of FEMA. A com....
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....Issue of Security by a Person Resident Outside India) Regulations 2000. 'FEMA' means the Foreign Exchange Management Act 1999 (42 of 1999). 'FIPB' means the Foreign Investment Promotion Board constituted by the Government of India. 9 2.1.15 2.1.16 2.1.17 2.1.18 2.1.19 2.1.20 2.1.21 2.1.22 2.1.23 'Foreign Institutional Investor' (FII) means an entity established or incorporated outside India which proposes to make investment in India and which is registered as a FII in accordance with the SEBI (FII) Regulations 1995. 'Foreign Venture Capital Investor' (FVCI) means an investor incorporated and established outside India, which is registered under the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Foreign Venture Capital Investor) Regulations, 2000 {SEBI(FVCI) Regulations} and proposes to make investment in accordance with these Regulations 'Government route' means that investment in the capital of resident entities by non-resident entities can be made only with the prior approval from FIPB, Ministry of Finance or SIA, DIPP as the case may be. 'Holding Company' would have the same meaning as defined in Companies ....
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....n Origin' (PIO) means a citizen of any country other than Bangladesh or Pakistan, if (i) he at any time held Indian Passport (ii) he or either of his parents or any of his grandparents was a citizen of India by virtue of the Constitution of India or the Citizenship Act, 1955 (57 of 1955); or (iii) the person is a spouse of an Indian citizen or a person referred to in 11 2.1.31 2.1.32 2.1.33 2.1.34 2.1.35 2.1.36 sub-clause (i) or (ii). 'Person resident in India' means - (i) a person residing in India for more than one hundred and eighty-two days during the course of the preceding financial year but does not include - (A) A person who has gone out of India or who stays outside India, in either case- (a) for or on taking up employment outside India, or (b) for carrying on outside India a business or vocation outside India, or (c) for any other purpose, in such circumstances as would indicate his intention to stay outside India for an uncertain period; (B) A person who has come to or stays in India, in either case, otherwise than- (a) for or on taking up employment in India; or (b) for carrying on in....
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....olicy, only under the Government route. 3.1.2 NRIs resident in Nepal and Bhutan as well as citizens of Nepal and Bhutan are permitted to invest in the capital of Indian companies on repatriation basis, subject to the condition that the amount of consideration for such investment shall be paid only by way of inward remittance in free foreign exchange through normal banking channels. 3.1.3 OCBs have been derecognized as a class of Investors in India with effect from September 16, 2003. Erstwhile OCBs which are incorporated outside India and are not under the adverse notice of RBI can make fresh investments under FDI Policy as incorporated non-resident entities, with the prior approval of Government of India if the investment is through Government route; and with the prior approval of RBI if the investment is through Automatic route. 3.1.4 (i) An FII may invest in the capital of an Indian company either under the FDI Scheme/Policy or the Portfolio Investment Scheme. 10% individual limit and 24% aggregate limit for FII investment would still be applicable even when FIIs invest under the FDI scheme/policy (ii) The Indian company which has ....
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....ssible for ECBs of corresponding maturity 3.2.3 The inward remittance received by the Indian company vide issuance of DRs and FCCBs are treated as FDI and counted towards FDI. 3.2.4 Issue of shares by Indian Companies under FCCB/ADR/GDR (i) Indian companies can raise foreign currency resources abroad through the issue of FCCB/DR (ADRs/GDRs), in accordance with the Scheme for issue of Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds and Ordinary Shares (Through Depository Receipt Mechanism) Scheme, 1993 and guidelines issued by the Government of India there under from time to time. (ii) A company can issue ADRs / GDRs if it is eligible to issue shares to persons resident outside India under the FDI Policy. However, an Indian listed company, which is not eligible to raise funds from the Indian Capital Market including a 15 company which has been restrained from accessing the securities market by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) will not be eligible to issue ADRs/GDRs. (iii) Unlisted companies, which have not yet accessed the ADR/GDR route for raising capital in the international market, would require prior or simultaneous listing ....
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....f Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds and Ordinary Shares (through Depository Receipt Mechanism) Scheme, 1993 and guidelines issued by the Government of India and directions issued by the Reserve Bank, from time to time. (ix) The pricing of sponsored ADRs/GDRs would be determined under the provisions of the Scheme of issue of Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds and Ordinary Shares (Through Depository Receipt Mechanism) Scheme, 1993 and guidelines issued by the Government of India and directions issued by the Reserve Bank, from time to time. 3.2.5 (i) Two-way Fungibility Scheme:A limited two-way Fungibility scheme has been put in place by the Government of India for ADRs/GDRs. Under this Scheme, a stock broker in India, registered with SEBI, can purchase shares of an Indian company from the market for conversion into ADRs/GDRs based on instructions received from overseas investors. Re-issuance of ADRs/GDRs would be permitted to the extent of ADRs/GDRs which have been redeemed into underlying shares and sold in the Indian market. (ii) Sponsored ADR/GDR issue: An Indian company can also sponsor an issue of ADR / GDR. Under this mecha....
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....Trusts other than VCF is not permitted. 3.3.4 FDI in other Entities¹: FDI in resident entities other than those mentioned above is not permitted. 3.4 CONDITIONS ON ISSUE/TRANSFER OF SHARES 3.4.1 The capital instruments should be issued within 180 days from the date of receipt of the inward remittance or by debit to the NRE/FCNR (B) account of the non-resident investor. In case, the capital instruments are not issued within 180 days from the date of receipt of the inward remittance or date of debit to the NRE/FCNR (B) account, the amount of consideration so received should be refunded immediately to the non-resident 1 DIPP has released a Discussion paper towards allowing FDI in Limited Liability Partnership firms,calling for views/suggestions from the stakeholders to review the extant policy 18 investor by outward remittance through normal banking channels or by credit to the NRE/FCNR (B) account, as the case may be. Non-compliance with the above provision would be reckoned as a contravention under FEMA and would attract penal provisions. In exceptional cases, refund of the amount of consideration outstanding beyond a period of ....
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....rson resident in India can transfer by way of sale, shares/convertible debentures (including transfer of subscriber's shares), of an Indian company in sectors other than financial services sectors (i.e. Banks, NBFC, Insurance, ARCS, CICS, infrastructure companies in the securities market viz. Stock Exchanges, Clearing Corporations, and Depositories, Commodity Exchanges, etc.) under private arrangement to a person resident outside India, subject to the guidelines given in Annex-2. (f) General permission is also available for transfer of shares/convertible debentures, by way of sale under private arrangement by a person resident outside India to a person resident in India, subject to the guidelines given in Annex-2. (g) The above General Permission also covers transfer by a resident to a non- resident of shares/convertible debentures of an Indian company, engaged in an activity earlier covered under the Government Route but now falling under Automatic Route, as well as transfer of shares by a non-resident to an Indian company under buyback and/or capital reduction scheme of the company. However, this General Permission is not available ....
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.... whose capital instruments are being transferred falls outside the automatic route and the approval of the Government has been obtained for the said transfer. (d) The transfer is to take place at a price which falls outside the pricing guidelines specified by the Reserve Bank from time to time. (e) Transfer of capital instruments where the non-resident acquirer proposes deferment of payment of the amount of consideration, prior approval of the Reserve Bank would be required, as hitherto. Further, in case approval is granted for a transaction, the same should be reported in Form FC-TRS, to an 21 AD Category - I bank for necessary due diligence, within 60 days from the date of receipt of the full and final amount of consideration. (ii) The transfer of capital instruments of companies engaged in sectors falling under the Government Route from residents to non-residents by way of sale or otherwise requires Government approval followed by permission from RBI. (iii) A person resident in India, who intends to transfer any capital instrument, by way of gift to a person resident outside India, has to obtain prior approval from Reserve Bank.....
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....ernment Route and is applicable to ECBs, due for payment or not, as well as secured/unsecured loans availed from non-resident collaborators. (ii) General permission is also available for issue of shares/preference shares against lump sum technical know-how fee, royalty, under automatic route or SIA/FIPB route, subject to pricing guidelines as per the provision of para 3.4.2 above and compliance with applicable tax laws. 3.5 ISSUE OF INSTRUMENTS - 3.5.1 Issue of Rights/Bonus Shares – FEMA provisions allow Indian companies to freely issue Rights/Bonus shares to existing non-resident shareholders, subject to adherence to sectoral cap, if any. However, such issue of bonus / rights shares has to be in accordance with other laws/statutes like the Companies Act, 1956, SEBI (Issue of Capital and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2009 (in case of listed companies), etc. The offer on right basis to the persons resident outside India shall be: (a) in the case of shares of a company listed on a recognized stock exchange in India, at a price as determined by the company; (b) in the case of shares of a company not listed on a recognized ....
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.... India, other than to the citizens of Pakistan. ESOPs can be issued to citizens of Bangladesh with the prior approval of FIPB. Shares under ESOPs can be issued directly or through a Trust subject to the condition that: (a) The scheme has been drawn in terms of relevant regulations issued by the SEBI, and (b) The face value of the shares to be allotted under the scheme to the non-resident employees does not exceed 5 per cent of the paid-up capital of the issuing company. 24 (ii) Unlisted companies have to follow the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956. The Indian company can issue ESOPs to employees who are resident outside India, other than to the citizens of Pakistan. ESOPs can be issued to the citizens of Bangladesh with the prior approval of the FIPB. (iii)The issuing company is required to report the details of such issues to the Regional Office concerned of the Reserve Bank, within 30 days from the date of issue of shares. 3.5.6 Share Swap: In cases of investment by way of swap of shares, irrespective of the amount, valuation of the shares will have to be made by a Category I Merchant Banker registered with SEBI or an ....
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....the entire investment by the 26 investing company into the subject Indian Company would be considered as indirect foreign investment, Provided that, as an exception, the indirect foreign investment in only the 100% owned subsidiaries of operating-cum-investing/investing companies, will be limited to the foreign investment in the operating-cum-investing/ investing company. This exception is made since the downstream investment of a 100% owned subsidiary of the holding company is akin to investment made by the holding company and the downstream investment should be a mirror image of the holding company. This exception, however, is strictly for those cases where the entire capital of the downstream subsidy is owned by the holding company. Illustration To illustrate, if the indirect foreign investment is being calculated for Company X which has investment through an investing Company Y having foreign investment, the following would be the method of calculation: (A) where Company Y has foreign investment less than 50%- Company X would not be taken as having any indirect foreign investment through Company Y. (B) where Company Y has fo....
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....or this purpose, the equity held by the largest Indian shareholder would have to be at least 51% of the total equity, excluding the equity held by Public Sector Banks and Public Financial Institutions, as defined in Section 4A of the Companies Act, 1956. The term ‘largest Indian shareholder', used in this clause, will include any or a combination of the following: (I) In the case of an individual shareholder, (aa) The individual shareholder, (bb) A relative of the shareholder within the meaning of Section 6 of the Companies Act, 1956. (cc) A company/ group of companies in which the individual shareholder/HUF to which he belongs has management and controlling interest. (II) In the case of an Indian company, (aa) The Indian company (bb) A group of Indian companies under the same management and ownership control. 28 (B) For the purpose of this Clause, “Indian company" shall be a company which must have a resident Indian or a relative as defined under Section 6 of the Companies Act, 1956/ HUF, either singly or in combination holding at least 51% of the shares. (C) Provided that, in case of a combination of all o....
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....of interest' clause to determine/ safeguard the interests of joint venture partners in the event of one of the partners desiring to set up another joint venture or a wholly owned subsidiary in the same field of economic activity. The policy is, however, expected to protect the interest of the joint venture partner where the agreement had been entered on/ prior to January 12, 2005. 4.2.2.2 Where a non-resident investor has an existing joint venture/ technology transfer/ trademark agreement, as on January 12, 2005, new proposals in the same field for investment/technology transfer/technology collaboration/trademark agreement would have to be under the Government approval route through FIPB/ Project Approval Board. The onus to provide requisite justification that the new proposal would not jeopardize the existing joint venture or technology transfer/ trademark partner, would lie equally on the non-resident investor/ technology supplier and the Indian partner. 4.2.2.3 The following investments, however, will be exempt from the requirement of Government approval even though the non-resident investor may be having a joint venture or technol....
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....of shares to non-resident entities through amalgamation, merger/demerger, acquisition etc. or (iv) The ownership of an existing Indian company, currently owned or controlled by resident Indian citizens and Indian companies, which are owned or controlled by resident Indian citizens, will be/is being transferred/passed on to a non-resident entity as a consequence of transfer of shares and/or fresh issue of shares to non-resident entities through amalgamation, merger/demerger, acquisition etc. (v) It is clarified that these guidelines will not apply for sectors/activities where there are no foreign investment caps, that is, 100% foreign investment is permitted under the automatic route. 4 NIC Codes are available at http://siadipp.nic.in/policy/nic/nic.htm 31 (vi) It is also clarified that Foreign investment shall include all types of foreign investments i.e. FDI, investment by FIIS, NRIs, ADRs, GDRs, Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds (FCCB) and fully, mandatorily & compulsorily convertible preference shares/debentures, regardless of whether the said investments have been made under Schedule 1, 2, 3 and 6 of FEMA (Transfer or Issue of....
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....y, at every stage of investment, including downstream investment, have been detailed in Para 4.1 which enables determination of total foreign investment in any/all Indian Companies. 4.6.3 For the purpose of this chapter, 4.6.4 (i) 'Operating Company' is an Indian company which is undertaking operations in various economic activities and sectors. (ii) 'Downstream investment' means indirect foreign investment by one Indian company into another Indian company by way of subscription or acquisition in terms of Para 4.1. Para 4.1.3 provides the guidelines for calculation of indirect foreign investment with conditions specified in para 4.1.3 (v). (iv) 'Foreign Investment' would have the same meaning as in Para 4.1 Guidelines for foreign investment into investing companies /downstream investment by Indian Companies 'owned and/or controlled by non resident entities' as per Para 4.1: The Policy on downstream investment comprises policy for (i) only operating companies (ii) operating-cum-investing companies (iii) only investing companies as below: (i) Only operating companies: Foreign investment in such companies would have to comply wi....
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....tion of the Board of Directors supporting the said induction as also a shareholders Agreement if any; (iii) issue/transfer/pricing/valuation of shares shall be in accordance with applicable SEBI/RBI guidelines; 34 34 4.7 (iv) For the purpose of downstream investment, the operating cum investing companies and the investing companies would have to bring in requisite funds from abroad and not leverage funds from domestic market for such investments. This would, however, not preclude downstream operating companies from raising debt in the domestic market. Downstream investments through internal accruals are permissible, subject to provisions of para 4.6.4. GUIDELINES FOR CONSIDERATION OF FDI PROPOSALS BY FIPB: 4.7.1 The following guidelines are laid down to enable the FIPB to consider the proposals for FDI and formulate its recommendations. 4.7.2 All applications should be put up before the FIPB by its Secretariat within 15 days and it should be ensured that comments of the administrative ministries are placed before the Board either prior to/or in the meeting of the Board. 4.7.3 Proposals should be considered by the Board keepin....
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....whether there is a resolution of the Board of Directors supporting the said induction/enlargement of foreign/NRI equity and whether there is a shareholders agreement or not. (v) In the case of induction of fresh equity in the existing Indian companies and/or enlargement of foreign equity in existing Indian companies, the reason why the proposal has been made and the modality for induction/enhancement (i.e. whether by increase of paid up capital/authorized capital, transfer of shares (hostile or otherwise) whether by rights issue, or by what modality. (vi)Issue/transfer/pricing of shares will be as per SEBI/RBI guidelines. (vii) Whether the activity is an industrial or a service activity or a combination of both. (viii) Whether the items of activity involves any restriction by way of reservation for the Micro & Small Enterprises sector. (ix) Whether there are any sectoral restrictions on the activity (x) Whether the proposal involves import of items which are either hazardous, banned or detrimental to environment (e.g. import of plastic scrap or recycled plastics). non-resident 4.7.10 No condition specific to the letter of approval iss....
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....ctors have been placed under automatic route; (ii) Cases of entities whose activities had sectoral caps earlier and who had, accordingly, earlier obtained prior approval of FIPB/CCFI/CCEA for their initial foreign investment but subsequently such caps were removed/increased and the activities placed under the automatic route; provided that such additional investment alongwith the initial/original investment does not exceed the sectoral caps; and (iii) The cases of additional foreign investment into the same entity where prior approval of FIPB/CCFI/CCEA had been obtained earlier for the initial/original foreign investment due to requirements of Press Note 18/1998 or Press Note 1 of 2005 and prior approval of the Government under the FDI policy is not required for any other reason/purpose. 4.11 Guidelines for e-filing of applications, filing of amendment applications and instructions to applicants are available at FIPB's website (http://finmin.nic.in/fipbweb/fipbwebreports/webpage.asp and http://www.fipbindia.com). 38 CHAPTER 5: POLICY ON ROUTE, CAPS AND ENTRY CONDITIONS: 5.1 PROHIBITION ON INVESTMENT IN INDIA. ....
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....ons laid down vide Notifications issued under Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992. (iii) The company shall comply with any other Law, Regulation or Policy governing genetically modified material in force from time to time. (iv) Undertaking of business activities involving the use of genetically engineered cells and material shall be subject to the receipt of approvals from Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) and Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM). (v) (vi) Import of materials shall be in accordance with National Seeds Policy. The term "under controlled conditions" covers the following: â– 'Cultivation under controlled conditions' for the categories of Floriculture, Horticulture, Cultivation of vegetables and Mushrooms is the practice of cultivation wherein rainfall, temperature, solar radiation, air humidity and culture medium are controlled artificially. Control in these parameters may be effected through protected cultivation under green houses, net houses, poly houses or any other improved infrastructure facilities where micro- climatic conditions are regulated anthropogenica....
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....d other eligible activities permitted under and subject to the provisions of Coal Mines (Nationalization) Act, 1973 (2) Setting up coal processing plants 100% Automatic 5.2.3.3 5.2.3.3.1 5.2.3.3.2 like washeries subject to the condition that the company shall not do coal mining and shall not sell washed coal or sized coal from its coal processing plants in the open market and shall supply the washed or sized coal to those parties who are supplying raw coal to coal processing plants for washing or sizing. Mining and mineral separation of titanium bearing minerals and ores, its value addition and integrated activities Mining and mineral separation of 100% titanium bearing minerals & ores, its value addition and integrated activities subject to sectoral regulations and the Mines and Minerals (Development Regulation Act 1957) Other conditions: and Government India has large reserves of beach sand minerals in the coastal stretches around the country. Titanium bearing minerals viz. Ilmenite, rutile and leucoxene, and Zirconium bearing minerals including zircon are some of the 42 Sl....
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....to ensure that the raw material available in the country is utilized \ for setting up downstream industries and the technology available internationally is available for setting up such industries within the country. Thus, if with the technology transfer, the objective of the FDI Policy can be achieved, the conditions prescribed at (i) (A) above shall be deemed to be fulfilled. MANUFACTURING Manufacture of items reserved for production in Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) FDI in MSEs will be subject to the sectoral caps, entry routes and other relevant sectoral regulations. Any industrial undertaking which is not a Micro or Small Scale Enterprise, but manufactures items reserved for the MSE sector would require Government route where foreign investment is more than 24% in the capital. Such an undertaking would also require an Industrial License under the Industries (Development & Regulation) Act 1951, for such manufacture. The issue of Industrial License is subject to a few general conditions and the specific condition that the Industrial Undertaking shall undertake to export a minimum of 50% of the new or additional annual ....
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....ld be a three-year lock-in period for transfer of equity from one non-resident investor to another non-resident investor (including NRIs & erstwhile OCBs with 60% or more NRI stake) and such transfer would be subject to prior approval of the FIPB and the Government. (ix) The Ministry of Defence is not in a position to give purchase guarantee for products to be manufactured. However, the planned acquisition programme for such equipment and overall requirements would be 45 Sl.No. Sector/Activity % of Cap/Equity FDI Entry Route made available to the extent possible. (x) The capacity norms for production will be provided in the licence based on the application as well as the recommendations of the Ministry of Defence, which will look into existing capacities of similar and allied products. (xi) Import of equipment for pre-production activity including development of prototype by the applicant company would be permitted. (xii) Adequate safety and security procedures would need to be put in place by the licensee once the licence is granted and production commences. These would be subject to verification by authori....
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....entional Energy Generation and Distribution. iii) Distribution of electric energy to households, industrial, commercial and other users and iv) Power Trading Note 1: All the above would be subject to the provisions of the Electricity Act 2003. Note 2: (i) to (iii) above do not include generation, transmission and distribution of electricity produced in atomic power plant/atomic energy since private investment in this sector/activity is prohibited and is reserved for 47 Sl.No. Sector/Activity public sector. SERVICES SECTOR 5.2.7 5.2.7.1 Civil Aviation Sector % of FDI Entry Route Cap/Equity The Civil Aviation sector includes Airports, Scheduled and Non-Scheduled domestic passenger airlines, Helicopter services / Seaplane services, Ground Handling Services, Maintenance and Repair organizations; Flying training institutes; and Technical training institutions. For the purposes of the Civil Aviation sector: (i) "Airport" means a landing and taking off area for aircrafts, usually with runways and aircraft maintenance and passenger facilities and includes aerodrome as defined in c....
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....Civil Aviation sector The policy for FDI in the Civil Aviation Sector would be subject to the Aircraft Rules, 1934 as amended from time to time, Civil Aviation Requirements, and Aeronautical Information Circulars as notified by the Ministry of Civil Aviation 5.2.7.2 5.2.7.2.1 Airports (a) Greenfield projects 100% Automatic (b) Existing projects 100% Automatic up to 74% 5.2.7.2.2 Air Transport Services Government route beyond 74% (a) Air Transport Services would include Domestic Scheduled Passenger Airlines; Non-Scheduled Airlines; Chartered Airlines; Cargo Airlines; helicopter and seaplane services. (b) No foreign airlines would be allowed to participate directly or indirectly in the equity of an Air Transport Undertaking engaged in operating 49 49 Sl.No. Sector/Activity % of FDI Entry Route Cap/Equity 5.2.7.2.3 5.2.8 5.2.8.1 Scheduled, Non-Scheduled, and Chartered airlines. (c) Foreign airlines are allowed to participate in the equity of companies operating Cargo airlines, helicopter and seaplane services. (1) Scheduled Air Transport Service/ Domestic Scheduled Pass....
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....under the Portfolio Investment Scheme (PIS) by FIIS, NRIs and shares acquired prior to September 16, 2003 by erstwhile OCBs, and continue to include IPOs, Private placements, GDR/ADRs and acquisition of shares from existing shareholders. (2) The aggregate foreign investment in a private bank from all sources will be allowed up to a maximum of 74 per cent of the paid up capital of the Bank. At all times, at least 26 per cent of the paid up capital will have to be held by residents, except in regard to a wholly-owned subsidiary of a foreign bank. (3) The stipulations as above will be applicable to all investments in existing private sector banks also. (4) The permissible limits under portfolio investment schemes through stock exchanges for FIIS and NRIs will be as follows: (i) In the case of FIIs, as hitherto, individual FII holding is restricted to 10 per cent of the total paid-up capital, aggregate limit for all FIIs cannot exceed 24 per cent of the total paid-up capital, which can be raised to 49 per cent of the total paid-up capital by the bank concerned through a resolution by its Board of Directors followed by a special resolution....
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....viz., (i) branches (ii) a wholly-owned subsidiary and (iii) a subsidiary with aggregate foreign investment up to a maximum of 74 per cent in a private bank. (d) A foreign bank will be permitted to establish a wholly-owned subsidiary either through conversion of existing branches into a subsidiary or through a fresh banking license. A foreign bank will be permitted to establish a subsidiary through acquisition of shares of an existing private sector bank provided at least 26 per cent of the paid capital of the private sector bank is held by residents at all times consistent with para (i) (b) above. (e) A subsidiary of a foreign bank will be subject to the licensing requirements and conditions broadly consistent with those for new private sector banks. (f) Guidelines for setting up a wholly-owned subsidiary of a foreign bank will be issued separately by RBI (g) All applications by a foreign bank for setting up a subsidiary or for conversion of their existing branches to subsidiary in India will I have to be made to the RBI. (iii) At present there is a limit of ten per cent on voting rights in respect of banking companies, and t....
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....p to 74% 5.2.11.5 Setting up hardware facilities such as up-linking, HUB etc. (1) Setting up of Up-linking HUB/ | 49% (FDI & FII) Government Teleports (2) Up-linking a Non-News & 100% Government Current Affairs TV Channel (3) Up-linking a News & Current 26% (FDI & FII) Affairs TV Channel subject to the Government 54 Sl.No. Sector/Activity condition that the portfolio investment from FII/ NRI shall not be "persons acting in concert" with FDI investors, as defined in the SEBI(Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 1997 5.2.11.5.1 Other conditions: 5.2.12 5.2.12.1 % of Cap/Equity FDI Entry Route (i) All the activities at (1), (2) and (3) above will be further subject to the condition that the Company permitted to uplink the channel shall certify the continued compliance of this requirement through the Company Secretary at the end of each financial year. (ii) FDI for Up-linking TV Channels will be subject to compliance with the Up-linking Policy notified by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting from time to time. Commodity Exchanges 1 Futur....
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....pment projects Townships, housing, built-up 100% infrastructure and construction- development projects (which would include, but not be restricted to, housing, commercial premises, hotels, resorts, hospitals, educational institutions, recreational facilities, city and regional level infrastructure) Automatic 56 56 Sl.No. 5.2.13.2 Sector/Activity % of FDI Entry Route Cap/Equity Investment to be made will be subject to the following conditions: (1) Minimum area to be developed under each project would be as under: (i) In case of development of serviced housing plots, a minimum land area of 10 hectares (ii) In case of construction-development projects, a minimum built-up area of 50,000 sq.mts (iii) In case of a combination project, any one of the above two conditions would suffice (2) Minimum capitalization of US$10 million for wholly owned subsidiaries and US$ 5 million for joint ventures with Indian partners. The funds would have to be brought in within six months of commencement of business of the Company. (3) Original investment cannot be repatriated before a period of three years from ....
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.... development of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) without the conditionalities at (1) to (4) above. This will be subject to the provisions of Special Economic Zones Act 2005 and the SEZ Policy of the Department of Commerce. (iv) FDI is not allowed in Real Estate Business. Credit Information Companies 5.2.14 (CIC) 5.2.14.1 Credit Information Companies 5.2.14.2 Other Conditions: 49% (FDI & FII) Government (1) Foreign investment in Credit Information Companies is subject to the Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act, 2005. 58 Sl.No. 5.2.15 5.2.15.1 Sector/Activity % of FDI Entry Route Cap/Equity (2) Foreign investment is permitted under the Government route, subject to regulatory clearance from RBI. (3) Investment by a registered FII under the Portfolio Investment Scheme would be permitted up to 24% only in the CICs listed at the Stock Exchanges, within the overall limit of 49% for foreign investment. (4) Such FII investment would be permitted subject to the conditions that: (a) No single entity should directly or indirectly hold more than 10% equity. (b) Any acquisition in excess of 1% w....
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....vities, Research and experimental development on natural sciences and engineering, Business and management consultancy activities and Architectural, engineering and other technical activities. 5.2.15.2 FDI in Industrial Parks would not be subject to the conditionalities applicable for construction development projects etc. spelt out in para 5.2.13 above, provided the Industrial Parks meet with the under-mentioned conditions: (i) it would comprise of a minimum of 10 units and no single unit shall occupy more than 50% of the allocable area; the minimum percentage of the area to be allocated for industrial activity shall not be less than 66% of the total allocable area. 60 60 Sector/Activity % Sl.No. Insurance 5.2.16 5.2.16.1 Insurance 5.2.16.2 Other Conditions: of FDI Entry Route Cap/Equity 26% Automatic 5.2.17 5.2.17.1 5.2.17.2 5.2.17.2.1 5.2.18 (1) FDI in the Insurance sector, as prescribed in the Insurance Act, 1999, i allowed under the automatic route. is (2) This will be subject to the condition that Companies bringing in FDI shall obtain necessary license from the Insuran....
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.... 62 Sl.No. Sector/Activity % of FDI Entry Route Cap/Equity (vi)Non- Fund based activities: US $0.5 million to be brought upfront for all permitted non-fund based NBFCs irrespective of the level of foreign investment subject to the following condition: It would not be permissible for such a company to set up any subsidiary for any other activity, nor it can participate in any equity of an NBFC holding/operating company. Note: The following activities would be classified as Non-Fund Based activities: (a) Investment Advisory Services (b) Financial Consultancy (c) Forex Broking (d) Money Changing Business (e) Credit Rating Agencies (vii) This will be subject to compliance with the guidelines of RBI. Note: Credit Card business includes issuance, sales, marketing & design of various payment products such as credit cards, charge cards, debit cards, stored value cards, smart card, value added cards etc. (2) Venture Capital Fund (VCF) A Foreign Venture Capital Investor(FVCI) may contribute upto 100% of the capital of an Indian Venture Capital Undertaking and may also set up a domestic asset management company to m....
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....ed by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting on 4.12.2008. 5.2.20.3 Publishing/printing of Scientific and 100% Government 64 $4 of FDI Entry Route Sl.No. Sector/Activity Technical 5.2.20.4 Magazines/specialty journals/ periodicals, subject to compliance with the legal framework as applicable and guidelines issued in this regard from time to time by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. % Cap/Equity Publication of facsimile edition of 100% foreign newspapers 5.2.20.4.1 Other Conditions: Government 5.2.21 5.2.21.1 (i) FDI should be made by the owner of the original foreign newspapers whose facsimile edition is proposed to be brought out in India. (ii) Publication of facsimile edition of foreign newspapers can be undertaken only by an entity incorporated or registered in India under the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956. (iii) Publication of facsimile edition of foreign newspaper would also be subject to the Guidelines for publication of newspapers and periodicals dealing with news and current affairs and publication of facsimile edition of foreign newspapers issued ....
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....res held by foreign entity. In any case, the `Indian' shareholding will not be less than 26 percent. (iii) FDI in the licensee company/Indian promoters/investment companies including their holding companies shall require approval of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) if it has a bearing on the overall ceiling of 74 percent. While approving the investment proposals, FIPB shall take note that investment is not coming from 66 66 Sl.No. Sector/Activity % of FDI Entry Route Cap/Equity countries of concern and/or unfriendly entities. (iv) The investment approval by FIPB shall envisage the conditionality that Company would adhere to licence Agreement. (v) FDI shall be subject to laws of India and not the laws of the foreign country/countries. (2) Security Conditions: (i) The Chief Officer In-charge of technical network operations and the Chief Security Officer should be a resident Indian citizen. (ii) Details of infrastructure/network diagram (technical details of the network) could be provided on a need basis only to telecom equipment suppliers/manufacturers and the affiliate/parents of the licensee ....
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.... (DOT) in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs. (xii) Under no circumstances, should any RA to the suppliers/manufacturers and affiliate(s) be enabled to access Lawful Interception System(LIS), Lawful Interception Monitoring(LIM), Call contents of the traffic and any such sensitive sector/data, which the licensor may notify from time to time. (xiii) The licensee company is not allowed to use remote access facility for monitoring of content. 68 Sl.No. Sector/Activity % of FDI Entry Route Cap/Equity (xiv) Suitable technical device should be made available at Indian end to the designated security agency/licensor in which a mirror image of the remote access information is available on line for monitoring purposes. (xv) Complete audit trail of the remote access activities pertaining to the network operated in India should be maintained for a period of six months and provided on request to the licensor or any other agency authorised by the licensor. (xvi) The telecom service providers should ensure that necessary provision (hardware/software) is available in their equipment for doing the Lawful interc....
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....ht of way, duct space, tower (IP Category I) (b)Electronic Mail (c) Voice Mail Note: Investment in all the above activities is subject to the conditions that such companies will divest 26% of their equity in favour of Indian Automatic up to 49% Government route beyond 49% 70 70 Sl.No. 5.2.24 Sector/Activity public in 5 years, if these companies are listed in other parts of the world. Cash & Carry Trading 5.2.24.1 (i) Wholesale Trading Trading/ % of FDI Entry Route Cap/Equity trading 100% Wholesale Automatic 5.2.24.1.1 Definition: Cash & Carry Wholesale trading/Wholesale trading, would mean sale of goods/merchandise to retailers, industrial, commercial, institutional or other professional business users or to other wholesalers and related subordinated service providers. Wholesale trading would, accordingly, be sales for the purpose of trade, business and profession, as opposed to sales for the purpose of personal consumption. The yardstick to determine whether the sale is wholesale or not would be the type of customers to whom the sale is made and not the siz....
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....ations. A Wholesale/Cash & carry trader cannot open retail shops to sell to the consumer directly. 5.2.24.2 Trading for exports 5.2.24.3 5.2.24.3.1 E-commerce activities 5.2.24.4 5.2.24.5 100% 100% Automatic Automatic E-commerce activities refer to the activity of buying and selling by a company through the e-commerce platform. Such companies would engage only in Business to Business (B2B) e-commerce and not in retail trading, inter-alia implying that existing restrictions on FDI in domestic trading would be applicable to e-commerce as wel Trading of items sourced from 100% MSE sector Test marketing of such items for 100% which a company has approval for manufacture, provided such test marketing facility will be for a period of two years, and investment in setting up manufacturing facility commences simultaneously with test Government Government 72 Sl.No. 5.2.24.6 Sector/Activity marketing. Single Brand product tradingÊ» % of FDI Entry Route Cap/Equity 51% Government (1) Foreign Investment in Single Brand product trading is aimed at attracting investments ....
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....he share, cannot be taken into account while calculating minimum capitalization requirement. 74 CHAPTER 6: REMITTANCE, REPORTING AND VIOLATION 6.1 REMITTANCE AND REPATRIATION 6.1.1 Remittance of sale proceeds/Remittance on winding up/Liquidation of Companies: (i) Sale proceeds of shares and securities and their remittance is 'remittance of asset' governed by The Foreign Exchange Management (Remittance of Assets) Regulations 2000 under FEMA. (ii) AD Category – I bank can allow the remittance of sale proceeds of a security (net of applicable taxes) to the seller of shares resident outside India, provided the security has been held on repatriation basis, the sale of security has been made in accordance with the prescribed guidelines and NOC / tax clearance certificate from the Income Tax Department has been produced. (iii) Remittance on winding up/liquidation of Companies AD Category - I banks have been allowed to remit winding up proceeds of companies in India, which are under liquidation, subject to payment of applicable taxes. Liquidation may be subject to any order issued by the court winding up the company or the ....
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.... acknowledged by the Regional Office concerned, which will allot a Unique Identification Number (UIN) for the amount reported. 6.2.2 Reporting of issue of shares (i) After issue of shares (including bonus and shares issued on rights basis and shares issued under ESOP)/fully, mandatorily & compulsorily convertible debentures / fully, mandatorily & compulsorily convertible preference shares, the Indian company has to file Form FC-GPR, enclosed in Annex-1, not later than 30 days from the date of issue of shares. (ii) Part A of Form FC-GPR has to be duly filled up and signed by Managing Director/Director/Secretary of the Company and submitted to the Authorized Dealer of the company, who will forward it to the Reserve Bank. The following documents have to be submitted along with Part A: (a) A certificate from the Company Secretary of the company certifying that: (A) all the requirements of the Companies Act, 1956 have been complied with; 76 (B) terms and conditions of the Government's approval, if any, have been complied with; (C) the company is eligible to issue shares under these Regulations; and (D) the company has all original....
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....S and submit a monthly report to the Reserve Bank. 6.2.4 Reporting of Non-Cash Details of issue of shares against conversion of ECB has to be reported to the Regional Office concerned of the RBI, as indicated below: (i) In case of full conversion of ECB into equity, the company shall report the conversion in Form FC-GPR to the Regional Office concerned of the Reserve Bank as well as in Form ECB-2 to the Department of Statistics and Information Management (DSIM), Reserve Bank of India, Bandra-Kurla Complex, Mumbai – 400 051, within seven working days from the close of month to which it relates. The words "ECB wholly converted to equity" shall be clearly indicated on top of the Form ECB-2. Once reported, filing of Form ECB-2 in the subsequent months is not necessary. (ii) In case of partial conversion of ECB, the company shall report the converted portion in Form FC-GPR to the Regional Office concerned as well as in Form ECB-2 clearly differentiating the converted portion from the non-converted portion. The words "ECB partially converted to equity" shall be indicated on top of the Form ECB-2. In the subsequent months, the outstan....
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....pany, shall be deemed to be guilty of the contravention and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. (iii) Any Adjudicating Authority adjudging any contraventions under 6.3.1(i), may, if he thinks fit in addition to any penalty which he may impose for such contravention direct that any currency, security or any other money or property in respect of which the contravention has taken place shall be confiscated to the Central Government. 6.3.2 Adjudication and Appeals (i) For the purpose of adjudication of any contravention of FEMA, the Ministry of Finance as per the provisions contained in the Foreign Exchange Management (Adjudication Proceedings and Appeal) Rules, 2000 appoints officers of the Central Government as the Adjudicating Authorities for holding an enquiry in the manner prescribed. A reasonable opportunity has to be given to the person alleged 79 12 to have committed contraventions against whom a complaint has been made for being heard before imposing any penalty. (ii) The Central Government may appoint as per the provisions contained in the Foreign Exchange Management (Adjudication Proceedin....
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....pany, give registration number allotted by RBI for FDI, if any Telephone Fax e-mail Existing company / New company 81 2. Description of the main business activity 3 NIC Code Location of the project and NIC code for the district where the project is located Percentage of FDI allowed as per FDI policy State whether FDI is allowed under Automatic Route or Approval Route (strike out whichever is not applicable) Automatic Route / Approval Route Details of the foreign investor / collaborator* Name Address Country 4 (a) Constitution / Nature of the investing Entity [Specify whether 1. Individual Company 2. 3. FII 4. FVCI 5. Foreign Trust 6. Private Equity Fund 7. Pension / Provident Fund 8. Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) 9. Partnership / Proprietorship Firm 10. Financial Institution 11. NRIS/PIO 12. Others (please specify)] Date of incorporation Particulars of Shares / Convertible Debentures Issued Nature and date of issue If there is more than one foreign investor/collaborator, separate Annex may be included for items 3 and 4 of the Form. 7....
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....ign Wealth Funds 09 Partnership/ Proprietorship Firms 10 Financial Institutions 11 NRIS/PIO b) Resident Total 12 Others (please specify) Sub Total No. ot shares ळ 84 Equity Amount (Face Value) Rs. % Compulsorily convertible Preference Shares/ Debentures No. ot shares Amount Value) Rs. (Face % DECLARATION TO BE FILED BY THE AUTHORISED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE INDIAN COMPANY: (Delete whichever is not applicable and authenticate) We hereby declare that: 1. We comply with the procedure for issue of shares / convertible debentures as laid down under the FDI scheme as indicated in Notification No. FEMA 20/2000-RB dated 3rd May 2000, as amended from time to time. 2. The investment is within the sectoral cap / statutory ceiling permissible under the Automatic Route of RBI and we fulfill all the conditions laid down for investments under the Automatic Route namely (strike off whichever is not applicable). a) Foreign entity/entities—(other than individuals), to whom we have issued shares have existing joint venture or technology transfer or trade mar....
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....remittances received as consideration for issue of shares/ convertible debentures (details as above), by Reserve Bank. R R (Signature of the Applicant)* (Name in Block Letters) (Designation of the signatory) :_ Place: Date: (* To be signed by Managing Director/Director/Secretary of the Company) 86 CERTIFICATE TO BE FILED BY THE COMPANY SECRETARY OF THE INDIAN COMPANY ACCEPTING THE INVESTMENT: (As per Para 9 (1) (B) (i) of Schedule 1 to Notification No. FEMA 20/2000-RB dated May 3, 2000) In respect of the abovementioned details, we certify the following: 1. All the requirements of the Companies Act, 1956 have been complied with. 2. Terms and conditions of the Government approval, if any, have been complied with. 3. The company is eligible to issue shares / convertible debentures under these Regulations. 4. The company has all original certificates issued by AD Category - I banks in India, evidencing receipt of amount of consideration in accordance with paragraph 8 of Schedule 1 to Notification No. FEMA 20/2000-RB dated May 3, 2000. (Name & Signature of the Company Secretary) (Seal) FOR USE OF THE RESERVE BANK ON....
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....lities In India * Outstanding Outstanding at end- March of Previous Year Amount in Lakhs of Rupees Foreign Assets Outside India & Outstanding Outstanding at end- March of Current Year at end- March of Previous Year at end- March of Current Year 6.0 Equity Capital 6.1 Other Capital Ω 6.2 Disinvestments during the year 6.3 Retained earnings during the year + * Please furnish the outstanding investments of non-resident investors (Direct Investors) who were holding 10 per cent or more ordinary shares of your Company on the reporting date. & Please furnish your total investments outside the country in each of which your Company held 10 per cent or more ordinary shares of that non-resident enterprise on the reporting date. Ω Other Capital includes transactions between the non-resident direct investor and investee / reporting company, relating to i) Short Term Borrowing from overseas investors, ii) Long Term Borrowing from overseas investors, iii) Trade Credit, iv) Suppliers Credit, v) Financial Leasing, vi) Control Premium, vii) Non- Competition Fee in case of transa....
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....titutions 11 NRIS/PIO 12 Others (please specify) Sub Total b) Resident Total 11. Persons employed during the financial year ending March 31Ⓡ Directly Indirectly Total Signature of the authorised Official Name (in block letters) Designation Place: Date: 9 SWF means a Government investment vehicle which is funded by foreign exchange assets, and which manages those assets separately from the official reserves of the monetary authorities. Ⓡ Please indicate the number of persons recruited by your company during the financial year for which the return is being submitted. Under “Directly', indicate the number of persons on the roll of your company, whereas under “Indirectlyâ€, indicate the number of persons otherwise engaged by your company during the year. 91 % Compulsorily convertible Preference Shares/ Debentures No. of shares Amount Value) Rs. (Face % Annex - 2 (Para) Terms and conditions for Transfer of Shares /Convertible Debentures, by way of Sale, from a Person Resident in India to a Person Resident Outside India and from a....
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.... more than the minimum price at which the transfer of shares can be made from a resident to a non-resident as given at para 2.2 above. 3. Responsibilities / Obligations of the parties All the parties involved in the transaction would have the responsibility to ensure that the relevant regulations under FEMA are complied with and consequent on transfer of shares, the relevant individual limit/sectoral caps/foreign equity participation ceilings as fixed by Government are not breached. Settlement of transactions will be subject to payment of applicable taxes, if any. 4. Method of payment and remittance/credit of sale proceeds 4.1 The sale consideration in respect of the shares purchased by a person resident outside India shall be remitted to India through normal banking channels. In case the buyer is a Foreign Institutional Investor (FII), payment should be made by debit to its Special Non-Resident Rupee Account. In case the buyer is a NRI, the payment may be Imade by way of debit to his NRE/FCNR (B) accounts. However, if the shares are acquired on non-repatriation basis by NRI, the consideration shall be remitted to India through ....
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....artered Accountant. Copy of Broker's note if sale is made on Stock Exchange Undertaking from the buyer to the effect that he is eligible to acquire shares/ convertible debentures under FDI policy and the existing sectoral limits and Pricing Guidelines have been complied with. Undertaking from the FII/sub account to the effect that the individual FII/ Sub account ceiling as prescribed by SEBI has not been breached. For sale of shares by a person resident outside India Consent Letter duly signed by the seller and buyer or their duly appointed agent indicating the details of transfer i.e. number of shares to be transferred, the name of the investee company whose shares are being transferred and the price at which shares are being transferred. Where the Consent Letter has been signed by their duly appointed agent the Power of Attorney Document authorizing the agent to purchase/sell shares by the seller/buyer. In case there is no formal Sale Agreement, letters exchanged to this effect may be kept on record. 94 94 iii. iv. V. vi. If the sellers are NRIs/OCBs, the copies of RBI approvals evidencing the shares held by the....
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.... Chief General Manager-in-Charge, Reserve Bank of India, Foreign Exchange Department, Foreign Investment Division, Central Office, Mumbai 95 enclosed proforma (which is to be prepared in MS-Excel format). The IBD/FED or the nodal office of the bank will in turn submit a consolidated monthly statement in respect of all the transactions reported by their branches together with copies of the FC-TRS Forms received from their branches to Foreign Exchange Department, Reserve Bank, Foreign Investment Division, Central Office, Mumbai in soft copy (in MS- Excel) by e-mail to [email protected] 6.5 Shares purchased / sold by Flls under private arrangement will be by debit/credit to their Special Non Resident Rupee Account. Therefore, the transaction should also be reported in Form LEC (FII) by the designated bank of the FII concerned. 6.6 Shares/convertible debentures of Indian companies purchased under Portfolio Investment Scheme by NRIs, OCBs cannot be transferred, by way of sale under private arrangement. 6.7 On receipt of statements from the AD, the Reserve Bank may call for such additional details or give such directions as requir....
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.... 11. Son's son's wife. 12. Son's daughter. 13. Son's daughter's husband. 14. Daughter's husband. 15. Daughter's son. 16. Daughter's son's wife. 17. Daughter's daughter. 18. Daughter's daughter's husband. 19. Brother (including step-brother). 20. Brother's wife. 21. Sister (including step-sister). 22. Sister's husband. ***************************** 96 98 Annex - 5 Report by the Indian company receiving amount of consideration for issue of shares/Convertible debentures under the FDI Scheme [Para ] ( To be filed by the company through its Authorised Dealer Category - I bank, with the Regional Office of the Reserve Bank under whose jurisdiction the Registered Office of the company making the declaration is situated, not later than 30 days from the date of receipt of the amount of consideration, as specified in para 9 (1) (A) of Schedule I to Notification No. FEMA 20/2000- RB dated May 3, 2000) Permanent Account Number (PAN) of the investee company given by the IT Department No. 1. 2 Particulars Name of the Indian company Address of the Registered Office Fax Telephone e-mail D....
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....ter case the Power of Attorney Document. The shareholding pattern of the investee company after the acquisition of shares by a person resident outside India. Certificate indicating fair value of shares from a Chartered Accountant. Copy of Broker's note if sale is made on Stock Exchange. Declaration from the buyer to the effect that he is eligible to acquire shares / compulsorily and mandatorily convertible preference shares / debentures under FDI policy and the existing sectoral limits and Pricing Guidelines have been complied with. Declaration from the FII/sub account to the effect that the individual FII / Sub account ceiling as prescribed has not been breached. Additional documents in respect of sale of shares / compulsorily and mandatorily convertible preference shares / debentures by a person resident outside India If the sellers are NRIs/OCBs, the copies of RBI approvals, if applicable, evidencing the shares held by them on repatriation/non-repatriation basis. No Objection/Tax Clearance Certificate from Income Tax Authority/ Chartered Account. 1 Name of the company Address (including e-mail, telephone Number, Fax no)....
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....e as per Chartered Accountants */ ** Valuation report (CA Certificate to be attached) After the transfer Declaration by the transferor / transferee I/We hereby declare that : i. The particulars given above are true and correct to the best of my/our knowledge and belief. ii. iii. iv. I/ We, was/were holding the shares compulsorily and mandatorily convertible preference shares / debentures as per FDI Policy under FERA/ FEMA Regulations on repatriation/non repatriation basis. I/ We, am/are eligible to acquire the shares compulsorily and mandatorily convertible preference shares / debentures of the company in terms of the FDI Policy. It is not a transfer relating to shares compulsorily and mandatorily convertible preference shares / debentures of a company engaged in financial services sector or a sector where general permission is not available. The Sectoral limit under the FDI Policy and the pricing guidelines have been adhered to. Signature of the Declarant or his duly authorised agent Date: Note: In respect of the transfer of shares / compulsorily and mandatorily convertible preference shares/com....