Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of Any Foreign Security) (Amendment) Regulations, 2004NTF. No. FEMA 120/2004-RB, DT. 07/07/2004 - In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (a) of sub-section (3) of section 6 and section 47 of the Foreign Exchange Management Act 1999, (42 of 1999) and in supersession of
Notification No. FEMA 19/ RB 2000 dated 3rd May 2000, as amended from time to time the Reserve Bank of India makes the following regulations relating to transfer or issue of any foreign security by a person resident in India, namely:
1. Short title and Commencement :-
(i) These Regulations shall be called the Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of Any Foreign Security) (Fourth Amendment) Regulations, 2009.
(ii) These Regulations shall be deemed to have come into effect from the 6th day of September, 2006
(Above sub-regulations has been amended vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 196/2009-RB, DT. 28/07/2009)
(a) These Regulations may be called the Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of any Foreign Security) (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2009.
(b) They shall be deemed to have come into force from the dates specified in these regulations.
(Above sub-regulations has been amended vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 188/2009-RB, DT. 03/02/2009)
[OLD-(i) These Regulations shall be called the Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of Any Foreign Security) (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2009.
(ii) These Regulations shall be deemed to have come into effect from 19th day of July 2007.
](Above sub-regulations has been amended vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 184/2009-RB, DT. 20/01/2009)
[OLD-(i) These Regulations shall be called the Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of Any Foreign Security) (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2008.
(ii) These Regulations shall be deemed to have come into effect from the dates specified in these regulations.
](Above sub-regulation (i) & (ii) has been amended vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 181/2008-RB, DT. 01/10/2008)
[OLD-(i) These Regulations shall be called the Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of Any Foreign Security) (Amendment) Regulations, 2008.
(ii) These Regulations shall be deemed to have come into effect from the 1st day of June 2007.
(Above sub-regulation (i) & (ii) has been amended vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 180/2008-RB, DT. 05/09/2008)
[OLD-(i) These Regulations shall be called the Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of Any Foreign Security) (Third Amendment) Regulations, 2007.
(ii) These Regulations shall be deemed to have come into effect from the 26th Day of September, 2007.
(Above sub-regulations has been amended vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 173/2007-RB, DT. 19/12/2007)
[OLD-(i) These Regulations shall be called the Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of Any Foreign Security) (Amendment) Regulations, 2007.
(ii) These Regulations shall be deemed to have come into effect from the dates specified in these Regulations.
(Above sub-regulation (i) & (ii) has been amended vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 164/2007-RB, DT. 09/10/2007[OLD-(i) These Regulations may be called the Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of any Foreign Security) (Amendment) Regulations, 2006.
(ii) They shall be deemed to have come into force from July 26, 2006.
(Above sub-regulation (i) & (ii) has been amended vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 150/2006-RB, DT. 21/08/2006[OLD-(i) These Regulations shall be called the Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or issue of any Foreign Security) (Third Amendment) Regulations, 2005.
(ii) They shall be deemed to have come into force from May 12, 2005.@
Note: @ It is clarified that no person will be adversely affected as a result of retrospective effect being given to such regulations.
](Above Rule 1. has been amended vide Ntf. No.
FEMA 139/2005-RB, Dt. 11/08/2005)
[OLD-(i). These Regulations may be called the Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of Any Foreign Security) (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2005.
(ii). They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
](Above Rule 1. has been amended vide Ntf.No.
FEMA 135/2005-RB, Dt. 17/05/2005)
[OLD-1. Short title and commencement
(i) These Regulations may be called the Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of Any Foreign Security) (Amendment) Regulations, 2005.
(ii) They shall come into force on the dates specified hereunder.
](Above Rule 1. has been amended vide Ntf.No.
FEMA 132/2005-RB, Dt. 31/03/2005)
[OLD-These Regulations may be called the Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of Any Foreign Security) (Amendment) Regulations, 2004.
They shall come in force from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
]2. Definitions
In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires:
a. \"Act\" means Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, (42 of 1999):
b. \"authorised dealer\" means a person authorised as an authorised dealer under sub section (1) of section 10 of the Act;
c. \"American Depository Receipt\" (ADR) means a security issued by a bank or a depository in United States of America (USA) against underlying rupee shares of a company incorporated in India;
d. ‘Core Activity’ means an activity carried on by an Indian entity turnover wherefrom constitutes not less than 50% of its total turnover in the previous accounting year;
e. \"Direct investment outside India\" means investment by way of contribution to the capital or subscription to the Memorandum of Association of a foreign entity or by way of purchase of existing shares of a foreign entity either by market purchase or private placement or through stock exchange, but does not include portfolio investment.
f. \"Financial commitment\" means the amount of direct investment by way of contribution to equity and loan and 100 per cent of the amount of guarantees
[OLD- 50 per cent of the amount of guarantees
] issued by an Indian party to or on behalf of its overseas Joint Venture Company or Wholly Owned Subsidiary;
g. \"Foreign Currency Convertible Bond\" (FCCB) means a bond issued by an Indian company expressed in foreign currency, and the principal and interest in respect of which is payable in foreign currency;
h. \"Form\" means the forms annexed to these Regulations;
i. \"Global Depository Receipt\" (GDR) means a security issued by a bank or a depository outside India against underlying rupee shares of a company incorporated in India;
j. \"Host country\" means the country in which the foreign entity receiving the direct investment from an Indian party is registered or incorporated;
k. \"Indian party\" means a company incorporated in India or a body created under an Act of Parliament or a partnership firm registered under the Indian Partnership Act, 1932 making investment in a Joint Venture or Wholly Owned Subsidiary abroad, and includes any other entity in India as may be notified by the Reserve Bank: -
Provided that when more than one such company, body or entity make an investment in the foreign entity, all such companies or bodies or entities shall together constitute the \"Indian party\"
l. \"Investment banker\" means an Investment banker registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission in USA, or the Financial Services Authority in UK, or appropriate regulatory authority in Germany, France, Singapore or Japan;
m. \"Joint Venture (JV)\" means a foreign entity formed, registered or incorporated in accordance with the laws and regulations of the host country in which the Indian party makes a direct investment;
n. \"Mutual Fund\" means a Mutual Fund referred to in clause (23D) of section 10 of the Income Tax Act, 1961;
o. ‘Net worth’ means paid up capital and free reserves;
p. \"Real estate business\" means buying and selling of real estate or trading in Transferable Development Rights (TDRs) but does not include development of townships, construction of residential/commercial premises, roads or bridges;
q. \"Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS)\" means a foreign entity formed, registered or incorporated in accordance with the laws and regulations of the host country, whose entire capital is held by the Indian party;
qa. Venture Capital Fund means a fund as defined under the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Venture Capital Fund) Regulations, 1996.
(In Regulation 2, words & figures \"100 per cent of the amount of guarantees\" at clause (f) - substituted - w.e.f. 14/06/2007 & clause qa. - inserted - w.e.f. 30/04/2007 vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 164/2007-RB, DT. 09/10/2007)
qb. ‘Trust’ means a Trust registered under the Indian Trust Act, 1882.
qc. ‘Society’ means a Society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
(Above clauses qb & qc has been inserted vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 181/2008-RB, DT. 01/10/2008)
r. \"Agricultural Operations\" means agricultural operations as defined in the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Act, 1981.
(s) \"Foreign Currency Exchangeable Bond\" means a bond expressed in foreign currency, the principal and interest in respect of which is payable in foreign currency, issued by an issuing company and subscribed to by a person who is a resident outside India in foreign currency and exchangeable into equity share of offered company, in any manner, either wholly, or partly or on the basis of any equity related warrants attached to debt instruments.
(t) \"issuing company\" means a company registered under the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) and eligible to issue Foreign Currency Exchangeable Bond under these regulations.
(u) \"offered company\" means a company registered under the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) and whose equity share/s is / are offered in exchange of the Foreign Currency Exchangeable Bond.
(v) \"promoter group\" has the same meaning as defined in the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Disclosure and Investor Protection) Guidelines, 2000.
w. Words and expressions used but not defined in these Regulations shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the Act.
(In above regulations 2, clause (s) to (v) - added and previous s. renumbered as w. vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 188/2009-RB, DT. 03/02/2009)
3. Prohibition on issue or transfer of foreign security
Save as otherwise provided in the Act or rules or regulations made or directions issued thereunder, no person resident in India shall issue or transfer any foreign security: -
Provided that the Reserve Bank may, on application made to it, permit any person resident in India to issue or transfer any foreign security.
4. Purchase and sale of foreign security by a person resident in India
A person resident in India
a. may purchase a foreign security out of funds held in Resident Foreign Currency (RFC) account maintained in accordance with the Foreign Exchange Management (Foreign Currency Accounts) Regulations, 2000;
b. may acquire bonus shares on the foreign securities held in accordance with the provisions of the Act or rules or regulations made thereunder;
c. when not permanently resident in India, may purchase a foreign security from out of his foreign currency resources outside India;
d. may sell the foreign security purchased or acquired under clauses (a), (b) or (c).
Explanation:
For the purpose of this clause, ‘not permanently resident’ means a person resident in India for employment of a specified duration (irrespective of length thereof) or for a specific job or assignment, the duration of which does not exceed three years.
Part IDirect Investment outside India
5. Prohibition on Direct Investment outside India
Save as otherwise provided in the Act, rules or regulations made or directions issued thereunder, or with prior approval of the Reserve Bank,
(1) no person resident in India shall make any direct investment outside India; and
(2) no Indian party shall make any direct investment in a foreign entity engaged in real estate business or banking business.
6. Permission for Direct Investment in certain cases
(1) Subject to the conditions specified in sub-regulation (2), (and Regulation 7 in case investment in financial services sector) an Indian party may make direct investment in a Joint Venture or Wholly Owned Subsidiary outside India.
(2) (i) The total financial commitment of the Indian Party in Joint Ventures/Wholly Owned Subsidiaries shall not exceed 400% of the net worth of the Indian Party as on the date of the last audited balance sheet.
[OLD-(i) The total financial commitment of the Indian Party in Joint Ventures/Wholly Owned Subsidiaries shall not exceed 300% of the net worth of the Indian Party as on the date of the last audited balance sheet,
]Provided that for the Indian Party which is a registered partnership firm, the total financial commitment shall not exceed 200% of its net worth
(In Regulation 6, sub-regulation (2), clause (i) substituted - w.e.f. 14/06/2007 vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 164/2007-RB, DT. 09/10/2007)
[OLD-(i) The total financial commitment of the Indian party in Joint Ventures/Wholly Owned Subsidiaries shall not exceed 200% of the net worth
[OLD- shall not exceed 100% of the net worth
] of the Indian Party as on the date of the last audited balance sheet;
]Explanation : For the purpose of determining total financial commitment within the limit of 400 % of the net worth
[OLD- For the purpose of determining total financial commitment within the limit of 200% or 300% of the net worth, as the case may be
] [OLD- For the purpose of determining ‘total financial commitment’ within the limit of 200% of the net worth
] [OLD- limit of 100% of the net worth
], the following shall be reckoned, namely :-
(In above explanation the words and figures \"For the purpose of determining total financial commitment within the limit of 200% or 300% of the net worth, as the case may be\" substituted - w.e.f. 14/06/2007 vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 164/2007-RB, DT. 09/10/2007)
(In sub-regulation (2), clause (i) the words and figures \"shall not exceed 200% of the net worth\" & in explanation \"limit of 200% of the net worth\" has been substituted vide Ntf. No.
FEMA 139/2005-RB, Dt. 11/08/2005)
(a) remittance by market purchases, namely in freely convertible currencies; in case of Bhutan, investment made in freely convertible currencies or equivalent Indian Rupees; in case of Nepal investment made only in Indian Rupees.
(Above Explanation & sub-clause (a) has been substituted vide Ntf.No.
FEMA 135/2005-RB, Dt. 17/05/2005)
[OLD-Explanation: - For the purpose of the limit of 100% of the net worth the following shall be reckoned, namely:
(a) cash remittance by market purchase and /or equivalent rupee investments in case of Nepal and Bhutan
](b) capitalisation of export proceeds and other dues and entitlements as mentioned in Regulation 11;
(c) hundred per cent of the value of guarantees
[OLD- fifty per cent of the value of guarantees
] issued by the Indian party to or on behalf of the joint venture company or wholly owned subsidiary.
(In above sub-clause (c) the words and figures \"hundred per cent of the value of guarantees\" substituted - w.e.f. 14/06/2007 vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 164/2007-RB, DT. 09/10/2007)
(d) investment in agricultural operations through overseas offices or directly
(e) External Commercial Borrowing in conformity with other parameters of the ECB guidelines
Notwithstanding anything contained in these Regulations investment in Pakistan shall not be permitted.
(ii) The direct investment is made in an overseas JV or WOS engaged in a bonafide business activity.
(iii) The Indian Party is not on the Reserve Bank’s Exporters caution list /list of defaulters to the banking system circulated by the Reserve Bank or under investigation by any investigation /enforcement agency or regulatory body.
(iv) The Indian Party has submitted its Annual Performance Report in respect of all its overseas investments in the format given in Part III of the Form ODI.
[OLD-(iv) The Indian party has submitted up to date returns in form APR in respect of all its overseas investments;
](v) The Indian Party routes all transactions relating to the investment in a Joint Venture/Wholly Owned Subsidiary through only one branch of an authorised dealer to be designated by it.
Explanation: -
The Indian Party may designate different branches of authorised dealers for different Joint Ventures/Wholly Owned Subsidiaries outside India.
(vi) the Indian Party submits Part I of the Form ODI, duly completed, to the designated branch of an authorised dealer.
(Above clause (iv) & (vi) has been substituted vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 180/2008-RB, DT. 05/09/2008)
[OLD-(vi) The Indian Party submits form ODA, duly completed, to the designated branch of an authorised dealer.
](3) Investment under this Regulation may be funded out of one or more of the following sources, namely: -
i. out of balance held in the Exchange Earners Foreign Currency account of the Indian party maintained with an authorised dealer in accordance with Regulation 4 of Foreign Exchange Management (Foreign Currency Accounts by a person resident in India) Regulations, 2000;
ii. drawal of foreign exchange from an authorised dealer in India shall not exceed 400% of the net worth
[OLD- shall not exceed 300% of the net worth in case of corporates and shall not exceed 200% of net worth in case of registered partnership firms
] [OLD- shall not exceed 200% of the net worth
] [OLD- not exceeding 100% of the net worth
] of the Indian Party as on the date of last audited balance sheet;
(In above clause ii. the words and figures \"shall not exceed 200 % of the net worth\" substituted - w.e.f. 12/05/2005 & \"shall not exceed 300 % of the net worth in case of corporates and shall not exceed 200 % of net worth in case of registered partnership firms\" - substituted - 14/06/2007 vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 164/2007-RB, DT. 09/10/2007)
Explanation: - For the purpose of the limit of 400 % of the net worth
[OLD- shall not exceed 300% of the net worth in case of corporates and shall not exceed 200% of the net worth in case of registered partnership firms
] [OLD- 200% of the net worth
] [OLD- 100% of the net worth
] the following shall be reckoned, namely:
(a) cash remittance by market purchase
(b) capitalisation of export proceeds and other dues and entitlements as mentioned in Regulation 11 and 12;
(c) hundred per cent of the amount of guarantees
[OLD- fifty per cent of the value of guarantees
] issued by the Indian party to or on behalf of the Joint Venture company or Wholly Owned Subsidiary
Explanation:- an Indian Party may offer to a person resident outside India any form of guarantees, that is, corporate or personal / primary or collateral / guarantee by promoter company in India / guarantee by group company, sister concern or associate company in India, provided that :
a) total financial commitment including all forms of guarantees remains within the overall ceiling stipulated for overseas investment by an Indian Party and
b) no guarantee is open ended.
(In above Explanation, the words and figures \"200% of the net worth\" substituted - w.e.f. 12/05/2005 & \"shall not exceed 300 % of the net worth in case of corporates and shall not exceed 200 % of the net worth in case of registered partnership firms\" - substituted - 14/06/2007 And in sub-clause (c) the words \"hundred per cent of the amount of guarantees\" - substituted - wef 14/06/2007 & Explanation after (c) inserted wef 27/03/2006 vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 164/2007-RB, DT. 09/10/2007)
(d) utilisation of the amount raised by issue of ADRs/GDRs by the Indian party;
(e) External Commercial Borrowing in conformity with other parameters of the ECB guidelines.
Explanation:
for the purpose of reckoning net worth of an Indian party, the net worth of its holding company (which holds at least 51% stake in the Indian Party) or its subsidiary company (in which the Indian party holds at least 51% stake) may be taken into account to the extent not availed of by the holding company or the subsidiary independently and has furnished a letter of disclaimer in favour of the Indian Party;
(f) Swap of shares.
(g) ADR/GDR Stock Swap subject to the valuation norms and sectoral cap.
(Above sub-clause (f) - inserted - wef 07//07/2004, sub-clause (g) - inserted - wef 20/04/2007 vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 164/2007-RB, DT. 09/10/2007)
Provided further that the ceiling mentioned in sub-clause (2)(i) shall not apply where the investment is made out of balances held in its EEFC account, maintained in accordance with the Foreign Exchange Management (Foreign Currency Accounts by a Person Resident in India) Regulations, 2000, as amended from time to time.
(In regulation 6, in sub-regulation (2) (i) - substituted, in (2) (i) explanation the words \"For the purpose of determining total financial commitment within the limit of 400 % of the net worth\" - substituted, in sub-regulation (3) (ii) the words \"shall not exceed 400% of the net worth\" - substituted and in (3) (ii) explanation the words \"400 % of the net worth\"- substituted vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 173/2007-RB, DT. 19/12/2007)
(4) An Indian Party may extend a loan or a guarantee to or on behalf of the Joint Venture/Wholly Owned Subsidiary abroad, within the permissible financial commitment, provided that the Indian Party has made investment by way of contribution to the equity capital of the Joint Venture.
(5) An Indian Party may make direct investment without any limit in any foreign security out of the proceeds of its international offering of shares through the mechanism of ADR and/or GDR: -
Provided that
(a) the ADR/GDR issue has been made in accordance with the Scheme for issue of Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds and Ordinary Shares (through Depository Receipt Mechanism) Scheme 1993 and the guidelines issued thereunder from time to time by the Central Government;
(b) The Indian Party files with the designated authorised dealer in Parts I and II of the Form ODI full details of the investment proposed.
(Above clause (b) has been substituted vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 180/2008-RB, DT. 05/09/2008)
[OLD-(b) the Indian Party files with the designated authorised dealer in form ODA full details of the investment proposed.
](6)(a) For the purposes of investment under this Regulation by way of remittance from India in an existing company outside India, the valuation of shares of the company outside India shall be made, -
(i) where the investment is more than USD 5 (Five) million, by a Category I Merchant Banker Registered with Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), or an Investment Banker/Merchant Banker outside India registered with the appropriate regulatory authority in the host country; and
(ii) in all other cases, by a Chartered Accountant or a Certified Public Accountant.
(b) For the purposes of investment under this Regulation by acquisition of shares of an existing company outside India where the consideration is to be paid fully or partly by issue of the Indian party’s shares, the valuation of shares of the company outside India shall in all cases, be carried out by a Category I Merchant Banker registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) or an Investment Banker/Merchant Banker outside India registered with the appropriate regulatory authority in the host country.
6A. General Permission for Investment in Agricultural Operations Overseas Directly or through Overseas Offices
A person resident in India being a company incorporated in India or a partnership firm registered under Indian Partnership Act, 1932, may undertake agricultural operations including purchase of land incidental to such activity either directly or through their overseas offices;
Provided that
(a)the Indian party is otherwise eligible to make investment under Regulation 6 and that such investment is within the overall limits as specified in Regulation 6.
(b) for the purposes of investment under this regulation by acquisition of land overseas the valuation of the land is certified by a certified valuer registered with the appropriate valuation authority in the host country.
6B. General Permission for Investment in Equity of a Company Registered Overseas
A person resident in India, being
[Omitted -an individual or
] a listed Indian company
[OLD- A person resident in India, being an individual or a listed Indian company or a mutual fund registered in India
], may invest in
(In Regulation 6B, the words \"an individual or\" - Omitted - wef 20/12/2006 vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 164/2007-RB, DT. 09/10/2007)
(In above para the words \"A person resident in India, being an individual or a listed Indian company \" has been substituted vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 150/2006-RB, DT. 21/08/2006a. the shares of an overseas company which is listed on a recognised stock exchange
[OMITTED- and has in its name share holding of not less than 10% in any listed Indian company as on 1st January of the year of investment
] b. the rated bonds/ fixed income securities issued by companies at (a) above:
Provided that-
(i) in the case of investment by a listed Indian company, the investment shall not exceed 50 % of the net worth
[OLD-35% of the net worth
] [OLD- 25% of its net worth
] as on the date of its last audited balance sheet;
(In regulations 6B, in clause a. the words and figures \"and has in its name share holding of not less than 10% in any listed Indian company as on 1st January of the year of investment\" - omitted and in clause b. (i) the words and figures \"50 % of the net worth\" - substituted vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 173/2007-RB, DT. 19/12/2007)
(In clause (b), in sub-clause (i) the words & figures \"35% of the net worth\" - wef 14/06/2007 vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 164/2007-RB, DT. 09/10/2007)
[OMITTED-(ii) in the case of investment by a Mutual Fund, the investment shall not exceed the ceiling stipulated by Securities & Exchange Board of India (SEBI) from time to time;
](Above (ii) has been omitted & (iii) renumbered as (ii) vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 150/2006-RB, DT. 21/08/2006(ii) every transaction relating to purchase and sale of shares of the overseas company or bonds/ securities shall be routed through the designated branch of an authorised dealer in India.
6C. Investment by Mutual Funds(1) Mutual Funds registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India, may invest within specified limits, in the shares or the rated bonds / fixed income securities of an overseas company listed on a recognised stock exchange or in Exchange Traded Funds, or other securities as may be stipulated by the Reserve Bank of India from time to time.
(2) Every transaction relating to purchase and sale of foreign security by Mutual Funds shall be routed through the designated branch of an authorised dealer in India.
(Above regulation 6C. has been inserted vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 150/2006-RB, DT. 21/08/20067. Investment in Financial Services Sector
(1) Subject to the Regulations in Part I, an Indian Party engaged in financial services sector in India may make investment in an entity outside India:
Provided that the Indian party
i. has earned net profit during the preceding three financial years from the financial services activities;
ii. is registered with the regulatory authority in India for conducting the financial services activities;
iii. has obtained approval from the concerned regulatory authorities both in India and abroad, for venturing into such financial sector activity;
iv. has fulfilled the prudential norms relating to capital adequacy as prescribed by the concerned regulatory authority in India.
(Above sub-regulations (1) has been substituted vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 196/2009-RB, DT. 28/07/2009)
[OLD-(1) Subject to the Regulations in Part I, an Indian party may make investment in an entity outside India engaged in financial services activities:
Provided that the Indian party
i. has earned net profit during the preceding three financial years from the financial services activities;
ii. is registered with the regulatory authority in India for conducting the financial services activities;
iii. has obtained approval from the concerned regulatory authorities both in India and abroad, for venturing into such financial sector activity;
iv. has fulfilled the prudential norms relating to capital adequacy as prescribed by the concerned regulatory authority in India.
] (2) any additional investment by an existing JV/WOS or its step down company in the Financial Services Sector shall be made only after complying with the conditions stipulated in sub-clause (1).
[OMITTED-8. Investment in a foreign security by swap or exchange of shares of an Indian company
(1) An Indian Party may acquire shares of a foreign company, engaged in bonafide business activity, in exchange of ADRs/GDRs issued to the latter in accordance with the scheme for issue of Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds and Ordinary Shares (through Depository Receipt Mechanism) Scheme, 1993, and the guidelines issued thereunder from time to time by the Central Government;
Provided that
a. the Indian Party has already made an ADR and / or GDR issue and that such ADRs/GDRs are currently listed on any stock exchange outside India; such investment by the Indian Party does not exceed amount equivalent to 10 times the export earnings of the Indian Party during the preceding financial year as reflected in its audited balance-sheet, inclusive of all investments made under Regulations in Part I.
b. the ADR and/or GDR issue for the purpose of acquisition is backed by underlying fresh equity shares issued by the Indian Party;
c. the total holding in the Indian Party by persons resident outside India in the expanded capital base, after the new ADR and/or GDR issue, does not exceed the sectoral cap prescribed under the relevant regulations for such investment;
d. the valuation of the shares of the foreign company is made, -
(i)as per the recommendations of the Investment Banker if the shares are not listed on any stock exchange; or
(ii) based on the current market capitalization of the foreign company arrived at on the basis of monthly average price on any stock exchange abroad for the three months preceding the month in which the acquisition is committed and over and above, the premium, if any, as recommended by the Investment Banker in its due diligence report in other cases.
(2) Within 30 days from the date of issue of ADRs and/or GDRs in exchange for acquisition of shares of the foreign company under sub-regulation (1), the Indian Party shall submit a report in form ODG to the Reserve Bank.
](Regulation 8 has been omitted - wef 20/04/2007 vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 164/2007-RB, DT. 09/10/2007)
9. Approval of the Reserve Bank in certain cases(1) An Indian Party, which does not satisfy the eligibility norms under Regulations 6 or 7 or 8, may apply to the Reserve Bank for approval.
(2) Application for direct investment in Joint Venture/Wholly Owned Subsidiary outside India, or by way of exchange for shares of a foreign company, shall be made in Part I of the Form ODI.
(Above sub-regulation (2) has been substituted vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 180/2008-RB, DT. 05/09/2008)
[OLD-(2) Application for direct investment in Joint Venture/Wholly Owned Subsidiary outside India, or by way of exchange for shares of a foreign company, shall be made in Form ODI, or in Form ODB, as applicable.
](2A) An application made under sub-regulation (2) in Form ODI
(a) for the purpose of investment by way of remittance from India, in an existing company outside India, shall be accompanied, by the valuation of shares of the company outside India, made-
(i) where the investment is more than USD 5 (five) million, by a Category I Merchant Banker registered with SEBI or an Investment Banker/Merchant Banker registered with the appropriate regulatory authority in the host country; and
(ii) in all other cases, by a Chartered Accountant or a Certified Public Accountant.
(b) for the purposes of investment by acquisition of shares of an existing company outside India where the consideration is to be paid fully or partly by issue of the Indian party’s shares, shall be accompanied by the valuation carried out by a Category I Merchant Banker registered with the SEBI or an Investment Banker/Merchant Banker registered with the appropriate regulatory authority in the host country.
(3) The Reserve Bank may, inter alia, take into account following factors while considering the application made under sub-regulation (2):
a. Prima facie viability of the Joint Venture/Wholly Owned Subsidiary outside India;
b. Contribution to external trade and other benefits which will accrue to India through such investment;
c. Financial position and business track record of the Indian Party and the foreign entity;
d. Expertise and experience of the Indian Party in the same or related line of activity of the Joint Venture or Wholly Owned Subsidiary outside India.
9A Overseas Investments by Registered Trust/Society:-Registered Trusts and Societies engaged in the manufacturing/educational sector and which have set up hospital(s) in India satisfying the criteria as per schedule III of the Notification may invest in the same sector(s) in a Joint Venture/Wholly Owned Subsidiary outside India with the prior approval of the Reserve Bank.
(Above regulation 9A, the words \"and which have set up hospital(s) in India\" has been inserted vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 181/2008-RB, DT. 01/10/2008 - wef 13/08/2008)
(Above Regulation 9A has been inserted vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 181/2008-RB, DT. 01/10/2008 wef 27/06/2008)
10. Unique Identification Number
Reserve bank will allot a unique Identification Number for each Joint Venture or Wholly Owned Subsidiary outside India and the Indian Party shall quote such number in all its communications and reports to the Reserve Bank and the authorised dealer.
11. Investment by capitalization
(1) An Indian Party may make direct investment outside India in accordance with the Regulations in Part I by way of capitalisation in full or part of the amount due to the Indian Party from the foreign entity towards: -
i. payment for export of plant, machinery, equipment and other goods/software to the foreign entity;
ii. fees, royalties, commissions or other entitlements due to the Indian Party from the foreign entity for the supply of technical know-how, consultancy, managerial or other services
Provided that where the export proceeds have remained unrealized beyond the prescribed period of realization
[OLD- export proceeds have remained unrealised beyond a period of six months from the date of export
], and fees, royalties, commissions or other entitlements of the Indian party have remained unrealised from the date on which such payment is due, such proceeds shall not be capitalised without the prior permission of the Reserve Bank.
(Above proviso the words \"export proceeds have remained unrealized beyond the prescribed period of realization\" has been substituted vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 181/2008-RB, DT. 01/10/2008 - wef 03/06/2008)
(2) An Indian Software exporter may receive in the form of shares upto 25% of the value of exports to an overseas software start up company without entering into JV agreement by filing an application with the Reserve Bank through the Authorised Dealer.
12. Export of Goods towards Equity- Procedure
(1) An Indian Party exporting goods/software/plant and machinery from India towards equity contribution in a Joint Venture or Wholly Owned Subsidiary outside India shall declare it on GR/SDF/SOFTEX form, as the case may be, which shall be superscribed as \"Exports against equity participation in the JV/WOS abroad\", and also quoting Identification Number, if already allotted by Reserve Bank.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in Regulation 11 of the Foreign Exchange Management (Export of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2000, the Indian Party shall, within 15 days of effecting the shipment of the goods, submit to the Reserve Bank a custom certified copy of the invoice through the branch of an authorised dealer designated by it.
(3) An Indian Party capitalising exports under Regulation 11 shall, within six months from the date of export, or any further time as allowed by Reserve Bank, submit to Reserve Bank copy/ies of the share certificate/s or any document issued by the Joint Venture or Wholly Owned Subsidiary outside India to the satisfaction of Reserve Bank evidencing the investment from the Indian Party together with the duplicate of GR/SDF/SOFTEX form through the branch of an authorised dealer designated by it.
13.Post investment changes/additional investment in existing JV/WOS
A JV/WOS set up by the Indian party as per the Regulations may diversify its activities / set up step down subsidiary/ alter the shareholding pattern in the overseas entity Provided the Indian party reports to the Reserve Bank, the details of such decisions taken by the JV/WOS within 30 days of the approval of those decisions by the competent authority concerned of such JV/WOS in terms of local laws of the host country, and, include the same in the Annual Performance Report required to be forwarded annually to the Reserve Bank in terms of Regulation 15.
14. Acquisition of a foreign company through bidding or tender procedure
(1) On being approached by an Indian Party, which is eligible under the Regulations to make investment outside India, an authorised dealer may allow remittance towards earnest money deposit or issue a bid bond guarantee on its behalf for participation in bidding or tender procedure for acquisition of a company incorporated outside India,
(2) On the Indian Party winning the bid,
i. the authorised dealer may allow further remittances towards acquisition of the foreign company, subject to the ceilings specified in Regulation 6; and
ii. The Indian Party shall submit through the designated authorised dealer concerned a report to the Reserve Bank in Parts I and II of the Form ODI within 30 days of effecting the final remittance.
(Above clause ii. has been substituted vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 180/2008-RB, DT. 05/09/2008)
[OLD-ii. the Indian Party shall submit through the authorised dealer concerned a report to the Reserve Bank in form ODA within 30 days of effecting the final remittance.
](3) For participation in bidding or tender procedure for acquisition of a company incorporated outside India which does not fall within the provisions of sub-regulation (1), the Reserve Bank may, on application in Form ODI, allow remittance of foreign exchange towards earnest money deposit or permit the authorised dealer in India to issue a bid bond guarantee, subject to such terms and conditions as the Reserve Bank may stipulate.
(4) In case the Indian Party is successful in the bid but the terms and conditions of acquisition of a company outside India are,-
a. not in conformity with the provisions of Regulations in Part I, or different from those for which approval under sub-regulation (3) was obtained, the Indian Party shall submit application in form ODI to Reserve Bank for obtaining approval for the foreign direct investment in the manner specified in Regulation 9, or
b. in conformity with the provisions of the Regulations in Part I or are same as those for which approval under sub-regulation (3) was obtained, the Indian Party shall submit a report to the Reserve Bank, giving details of the remittances made, within 30 days of effecting the final remittance.
15. Obligations of the Indian Party
An Indian Party, which has acquired foreign security in terms of the Regulations in Part- I, shall –
i. receive share certificates or any other document as an evidence of investment in the foreign entity to the satisfaction of the Reserve Bank within six months, or such further period as Reserve Bank may permit, from the date of effecting remittance or the date on which the amount to be capitalised became due to the Indian Party or the date on which the amount due was allowed to be capitalised;
ii. repatriate to India, all dues receivable from the foreign entity, like dividend, royalty, technical fees etc., within 60 days of its falling due, or such further period as the Reserve Bank may permit;
Provided that in the case of investment in securities in Bhutan made in freely convertible currency, all dues receivable thereon as are repatriable, including those on account of disinvestment/ dissolution/ winding up, shall be realised and repatriated in freely convertible currency only.
(Above proviso has been added vide Ntf.No.
FEMA 135/2005-RB, Dt. 17/05/2005)
iii. submit to the Reserve Bank through the Authorised Dealer every year within 60 days from the date of expiry of the statutory period as specified by the respective laws of the host country for finalization of the audited accounts of the Joint Venture/Wholly Owned Subsidiary outside India or such further period as may be allowed by Reserve Bank, an Annual Performance Report in Form ODI Part III in respect of each Joint Venture or Wholly Owned Subsidiary outside India set up or acquired by the Indian Party and other reports or documents as may be specified by the Reserve Bank from time to time.
(Above clause iii. has been substituted vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 180/2008-RB, DT. 05/09/2008)
[OLD-iii. submit to the Reserve Bank every year within 60 days from the date of expiry of the statutory period as prescribed by the respective laws of the host country for finalisation of the audited accounts of the Joint Venture/Wholly Owned Subsidiary outside India or such further period as may be allowed by Reserve Bank, an annual performance report in form APR in respect of each Joint Venture or Wholly Owned Subsidiary outside India set up or acquired by the Indian Party and other reports or documents as may be stipulated by the Reserve Bank.
]Explanation
It will be in order for individual partners to hold shares for and on behalf of the firm in an overseas JV/WOS in the individual name if the host country regulations or operational requirements warrant such holdings, subject to the condition that the entire funding for such investment is done by the firm.
16. Transfer by way of sale of shares of a JV/WOS outside India
(1) An Indian party may transfer by way of sale to another Indian party who complies with the provisions of Regulation 6 above, or to a person resident outside India, any share or security held by him in a Joint Venture or Wholly Owned Subsidiary outside India without prior approval of the Reserve Bank, in the under noted categories:
(i) in cases where the JV / WOS is listed in the overseas stock exchange;
(ii) in cases where the Indian promoter company is listed on a stock exchange in India and has a net worth of not less than Rs.100 crore;
(iii) where the Indian promoter is an unlisted company and the investment in overseas venture does not exceed USD 10 million.
(Above categories added vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 164/2007-RB, DT. 09/10/2007- wef 27/03/2006)
Provided that
(i) The sale does not result in any write-off of the investment made;
(ii) the sale is effected through a stock exchange where the shares of the overseas Joint Venture or Wholly Owned Subsidiary are listed;
(iii) if the shares are not listed on the stock exchange, and the shares are disinvested by a private arrangement, the share price is not less than the value certified by a Chartered Accountant /Certified Public Accountant as the fair value of the shares based on the latest audited financial statements of the Joint Venture or Wholly Owned Subsidiary:
(iv)The Indian party does not have any outstanding dues by way of dividend, technical know-how fees, royalty, consultancy, commission or other entitlements, and/or export proceeds from the Joint Venture or Wholly Owned Subsidiary;
(v)The overseas concern has been in operation for at least one full year and the Annual Performance Report together with the audited accounts for that year has been submitted to the Reserve Bank;
(vi)The Indian party is not under investigation by CBI/ED/SEBI/IRDA or any other regulatory authority in India.
(2)Sale proceeds of shares/securities shall be repatriated to India immediately on receipt thereof and in any case not later than 90 days from the date of sale of the shares/securities and documentary evidence to this effect shall be submitted to the Regional office of the Reserve Bank through the designated authorized dealer.
(3) An Indian party, which does not satisfy the criteria specified at sub regulation (1) above, shall apply to the Reserve Bank for permission to transfer by way of sale of shares of a JV/WOS outside India which may be granted subject to such conditions as the Reserve Bank may consider appropriate.
17. Transfer by way of Sale of Shares involving Write -off
Where the transfer by way of sale of shares or security referred to in sub regulation (1) of Regulation 16 by any Indian party listed on any stock exchange in India, is for a price less than the amount invested in the share or the security transferred, -
1.where the difference between the said value and the sale price does not exceed the percentage approved by the Reserve Bank, from time to time, of the Indian partys actual export realisation of the previous year, the Indian party may write-off to the extent of the difference, the capital invested in the overseas JV/WOS;
2.where such difference is more than the percentage approved by the Reserve Bank, from time to time, of the Indian partys actual export realisation of the previous year, the Indian party shall apply to the Reserve Bank for permission to write -off the capital invested, which permission may be granted subject to such conditions as the Reserve Bank considers appropriate.
18. Pledge of Shares of Joint Ventures and Wholly Owned Subsidiaries
An Indian Party may transfer, by way of pledge, shares held in a Joint Venture or Wholly Owned Subsidiary outside India as a security for availing of fund based or non-fund based facilities for itself or for the Joint Venture or Wholly Owned Subsidiary from an authorised dealer or a public financial institution in India or to an overseas lender, provided the lender is regulated and supervised as a bank and the total financial commitment of the Indian Party remains within the limit stipulated by the Reserve Bank for overseas investments in JV/WOS.
(In Regulation 18, the words \"or to an overseas lender, provided the lender is regulated and supervised as a bank and the total financial commitment of the Indian Party remains within the limit stipulated by the Reserve Bank for overseas investments in JV/WOS.\" added - wef 20/04/2007 vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 164/2007-RB, DT. 09/10/2007)
Part IIInvestments abroad by Individuals in India
19. Prior permission of the Reserve Bank for a Proprietary Concern in India to accept sharesA proprietary concern in India may apply to the Reserve Bank through the authorised dealer in Part I of the Form ODI for permission to accept shares of a company outside India in lieu of fees due to it for professional services rendered to the said company.
Provided that:-
(a) the value of the shares accepted from each company outside India shall not exceed fifty per cent of the fees receivable by the Indian concern from that company; and,
(b) the Indian concern’s shareholding in any one company outside India by virtue of shares accepted as aforesaid shall not exceed ten per cent of the paid-up capital of the company outside India, whose shares are accepted.
(Above regulation 19 has been substituted vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 180/2008-RB, DT. 05/09/2008)
[OLD-19. Prior Permission of the Reserve Bank for Direct Investment by a Proprietary Concern in India
A proprietary concern in India may apply to the Reserve Bank in Form ODB for permission to accept shares of a company outside India in lieu of fees due to it for professional services rendered to the said company.
Provided that: -
(a) the value of the shares accepted from each company outside India shall not exceed fifty per cent of the fees receivable by the Indian concern from that company; and,
(b) the Indian concern’s shareholding in any one company outside India by virtue of shares accepted as aforesaid shall not exceed ten per cent of the paid-up capital of the company outside India, whose shares are accepted.
]19A Overseas Investments - Proprietorship Concerns:-Proprietary / unregistered partnership firm in India being a recognised Star Export House with a proven track record and a consistently high export performance satisfying the criteria as per schedule II of the Notification may set up a JV/WOS outside India with the prior approval of the Reserve Bank .
(Regulation 19A added vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 164/2007-RB, DT. 09/10/2007 - 27/03/2006)
20.Investment by Individuals
(1) A Resident individual may apply to the Reserve Bank for permission to acquire shares in a foreign entity offered as consideration for professional services rendered to the foreign entity.
(2) Reserve Bank may, after taking into account, inter alia, the following factors, grant permission subject to such terms and conditions as are considered necessary:
i. credentials and net worth of the individual and the nature of his profession;
ii. the extent of his forex earnings/balances in his EEFC and/or RFC account;
iii. financial and business track record of the foreign entity;
iv. potential for forex inflow to the country;
v. other likely benefits to the country.
Part IIIInvestments in Foreign Securities other than by way of Direct Investment
21.Prohibition on issue of foreign security by a person resident in India.
(1) Save as otherwise provided in the Act or in sub-regulation (2), no person resident in India shall issue or transfer a foreign security.
(2) A person resident in India, being an Indian Company or a Body Corporate created by an Act of Parliament.
i)may issue FCCBs not exceeding USD 500 million to a person resident outside India in accordance with and subject to the conditions stipulated in Schedule I.
ii) may issue FCCBs beyond US $ 500 million with the specific approval of the Reserve Bank.
(iii) may issue Foreign Currency Exchangeable Bonds to a person resident outside India in accordance with and subject to the conditions specified in Schedule IV with the specific approval of the Reserve Bank.
(Above clause (iii) has been inserted vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 188/2009-RB, DT. 03/02/2009 wef 23/09/2008)
(3) The company/body corporate referred to in sub-regulation (2), issuing the FCCBs shall, within 30 days from the date of issue, furnish a report to the Reserve Bank giving the details and documents as under:
a. Total amount for which FCCBs have been issued,
b. Names of the investors resident outside India and number of FCCBs issued to each of them.
c. The amount repatriated to India through normal banking channels and/or the amount received by debit to NRE/FCNR accounts in India of the investors (duly supported by bank certificate).
22.Permission for purchase /acquisition of foreign securities in certain cases
(1) A person resident in India being an individual may acquire foreign securities:-
i. by way of gift from a person resident outside India; or
ii. issued by a company incorporated outside India under Cashless Employees Stock Option Scheme:-
Provided it does not involve any remittance from India, or
iii. by way of inheritance from a person whether resident in or outside India.
(2) A person resident in India, being an individual, who is an employee or a director of Indian office or branch of a foreign company or of a subsidiary in India of a foreign company or of an Indian company in which foreign equity holding effectively, directly or indirectly, is not less than 51 per cent, may accept the shares offered by such foreign company
Provided that
(i) the shares under the ESOP Scheme are offered by the issuing company globally on uniform basis, and (ii) an Annual Return is submitted by the Indian company to the Reserve Bank through the Authorised Dealer bank giving details of remittances / beneficiaries etc.,
Explanation: - For the purpose of this sub-regulation, indirectly means indirect foreign equity holding through a trust/ special purpose vehicle or a step down subsidiary.
(Above sub-regulation (2) has been substituted vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 164/2007-RB, DT. 09/10/2007 - 05/04/2006)
(3) An authorised dealer bank may allow the remittance by the person eligible to purchase the shares in terms of sub-regulation (2) for acquiring shares under ESOP Schemes, irrespective of the method of the operationalisation of the scheme Provided that the conditions specified in that sub-regulation are fulfilled.
(4) A person resident in India may transfer by way of sale, the shares acquired in terms of sub-regulations (2) and (3) above
Provided that the proceeds thereof are repatriated immediately on receipt thereof and in any case not later than 90 days from the date of sale of such securities.
(5) A foreign company, who has issued the shares in terms of sub-regulation (2) of this Regulation may repurchase the same provided that
(i) the shares were issued in accordance with the Rules / Regulations framed under Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999,
(ii) the shares are being repurchased in terms of the initial offer document and,
(iii) An Annual Return is submitted through the Authorised Dealer bank giving details of remittances / beneficiaries etc.
(Above sub-regulation (3) & (4) -substituted - wef 05/04/2006 & sub regulation (5) & (6) - inserted - wef 05/04/2006 vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 164/2007-RB, DT. 09/10/2007)
[OLD-(2) A person resident in India, being an individual, who is an employee or a director of an Indian office or branch of a foreign company or of a subsidiary in India of a foreign company or of an Indian company in which the foreign equity holding, either directly or indirectly, is not less than 51 per cent, may purchase the equity shares offered by the said foreign company.
Explanation : For the purpose of this clause, indirectly means indirect foreign equity holding through a special purpose vehicle or a step down subsidiary.
](Sub-regulation (2) has been substituted vide Ntf.No.
FEMA 132/2005-RB, Dt. 31/03/2005 with effect from 09/02/2005)
[OLD-(2) A person resident in India, being an individual, who is an employee or a director of Indian office or branch of a foreign company or of a subsidiary in India of a foreign company or of an Indian company in which foreign equity holding is not less than 51 per cent, may purchase the equity shares offered by the said foreign company.
](3) An authorised dealer may allow the remittance by the person eligible to purchase the shares in terms of sub-regulation (2): -
Provided that the condition specified in that sub-regulation is fulfilled.
(4) A person resident in India may transfer by way of sale the shares acquired in terms of sub-regulation (1) and (2) above
Provided that the proceeds thereof are repatriated immediately on receipt thereof and in any case not later than 90 days from the date of sale of such securities.
]23. Transfer of a foreign security by a person resident in India
A person resident in India, who has acquired or holds foreign securities in accordance with the provisions of the Act, rules or regulations made thereunder, may transfer them by way of pledge for obtaining fund based or non-fund based facilities in India from an authorised dealer.
24. General Permission for Acquisition of foreign securities as qualification / rights shares
(1) A person resident in India being an individual may
(a) acquire foreign securities as qualification shares issued by a company incorporated outside India for holding the post of a director in the company:
Provided that, -
i. the number of shares so acquired shall be the minimum required to be held for holding the post of director and in any case shall not exceed 1 per cent of the paid-up capital of the company, and
ii. the consideration for acquisition of such shares does not exceed the ceiling as stipulated by RBI from time to time.
(b) acquire foreign securities by way of rights shares in a company incorporated outside India:
Provided that the right shares are being issued by virtue of holding shares in accordance with the provisions of the law for the time being in force.
(c) where such person is an employee or a director of the Indian promoter company, acquire by way of purchase shares of a Joint Venture or Wholly Owned Subsidiary outside India of the Indian promoter company, in the field of software;
Provided that –
(1) (i) the consideration for purchase does not exceed the ceiling as stipulated by RBI from time to time.
(ii) the shares so acquired do not exceed 5% of the paid-up capital of the Joint Venture or Wholly Owned Subsidiary outside India, and
(iii) after allotment of such shares, the percentage of shares held by the Indian promoter company, together with shares allotted to its employees is not less than the percentage of shares held by the Indian promoter company prior to such allotment.
(2) A person resident in India, being an individual holding qualification /rights shares in terms of sub regulations (a) or (b) above may sell the shares so acquired, without prior approval, provided the sale proceeds are repatriated to India through banking channels and documentary evidence is submitted to the authorized dealer.
(3) An Indian company in the knowledge based sector may allow its resident employees (including working directors) to purchase foreign securities under the ADR/GDR linked stock option schemes:
Provided that the issue of employees stock option by a listed company shall be governed by SEBI (Employees Stock Option and Stock Purchase Scheme) Guidelines, 1999 and the issue of employees stock option by an unlisted company shall be governed by the guidelines issued by the Government of India for issue of ADR/GDR linked stock options.
Provided further that the consideration for the purchase does not exceed the ceiling as stipulated by the Reserve Bank from time to time.
Explanation: For the purpose of this clause knowledge based sector means such sectors as have been notified by the Government of India from time to time in terms of its guidelines for the issue of ADR/GDR linked Employees Stock Options by the Indian Companies dated 15th September 2000.
(Sub-regulation (3) has been substituted vide Ntf.No.
FEMA 132/2005-RB, Dt. 31/03/2005 with effect from 01/10/2004)
[OLD-(3) An Indian software company may allow its resident employees (including working directors) to purchase foreign securities under the ADR/GDR linked stock option schemes:-
Provided that the consideration for purchase does not exceed the ceiling as stipulated by RBI from time to time.
]25. Prior permission of Reserve Bank in certain cases
A person resident in India being an individual seeking to acquire qualification shares in a company outside India beyond the limits laid down in the proviso to clause (a) of sub-regulation (1) of Regulation 24 shall apply to the Reserve Bank for prior approval.
26. The purchase of foreign securities by Mutual Funds and Venture Capital Funds shall be subject to these regulations, and such other terms and conditions as may be notified by the SEBI from time to time.
(In regulation 26 the words \"and Venture Capital Funds\" has been inserted - wef 30/04/2007 vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 164/2007-RB, DT. 09/10/2007)
(Above regulation 26. has been substituted vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 150/2006-RB, DT. 21/08/2006[OLD-26. Investment by Mutual Funds
Mutual Funds may purchase foreign securities subject to such terms and conditions as it may be notified by SEBI from time to time.
]27. Opening of Demat Accounts by Clearing Corporations of Stock Exchanges and Clearing Members
A Person resident in India being a Securities and Exchange Board of India approved clearing corporation of stock exchanges and their clearing members may, subject to the guidelines issued by the SEBI from time to time;
i) open and maintain demat accounts with foreign depositories and acquire, hold, pledge and transfer the foreign sovereign securities, offered as collateral by FIIs;
ii) remit the proceeds arising from corporate action, if any, on such foreign sovereign securities; and
iii) liquidate such foreign sovereign securities and repatriate the proceeds thereof to India.
(Above regulation 27 has been inserted vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 184/2009-RB, DT. 20/01/2009)
Sd/-
(Shyamala Gopinath)
Executive Director
Schedule I
See Regulation 21 (2)(i)Automatic Route for Issue of Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds (FCCBs)
(i) The FCCBs to be issued will have to conform to the Foreign Direct Investment Policy (including Sectoral Cap and Sectors where FDI is permissible) of the Government of India as announced from time to time and the Reserve Bank’s Regulations/directions issued from time to time.
(ii) The issue of FCCBs shall be subject to a ceiling of USD 500 million in any one financial year.
(iii) Public issue of FCCBs shall be only through reputed lead managers in the international capital market. In case of private placement, the placement shall be with banks, or with multilateral and bilateral financial institutions, or foreign collaborators, or foreign equity holder having a minimum holding of 5% of the paid up equity capital of the issuing company. Private placement with unrecognized sources is prohibited.
(iv) The maturity of the FCCB shall not be less than 5 years. The call & put option, if any, shall not be exercisable prior to 5 years.
(v) Issue of FCCBs with attached warrants is not permitted.
(vi) The \"all in cost\" will be on par with those prescribed for External Commercial Borrowing (ECB) schemes specified in the Schedule to Notification No: FEMA 3/2000-RB dated 3rd May 2000. The \"all in cost\" shall include coupon rate, redemption premium, default payments, commitment fees, and fronting fees, if any, but shall not include the issue related expenses such as legal fees, lead managers fees, out of pocket expenses.
(vii) The FCCB proceeds shall not be used for investment in Stock Market, and may be used for such purposes for which ECB proceeds are permitted to be utilized under the ECB schemes.
(viii) FCCBs are allowed for corporate investments in industrial sector, especially infrastructure sector. Funds raised through the mechanism may be parked abroad unless actually required.
(ix) FCCBs for meeting rupee expenditure under automatic route to be hedged unless there is a natural hedge in the form of uncovered foreign exchange receivables, which will be ensured by Authorised Dealers.
(x) Financial intermediaries (viz. a bank, DFI, or NBFC) shall not be allowed access to FCCBs, except those Banks and financial intermediaries that have participated in the Textile or Steel Sector restructuring package of the Government/RBI subject to the limit of their investment in the package.
(xi) Banks, FIs, NBFCs shall not provide guarantee/letter of comfort etc. for the FCCB issue.
(xii) The issue related expenses shall not exceed 4% of issue size and in case of private placement, shall not exceed 2% of the issue size.
(xiii) The issuing entity shall, within 30 days from the date of completion of the issue, furnish a report to the concerned Regional Office of the Reserve Bank of India through a designated branch of an Authorized Dealer giving the details and documents as under :
a. The total amount of the FCCBs issued,
b. Names of the investors resident outside India and number of FCCBs issued to each of them, and
Schedule II
(See Regulation 19A)
Overseas Investments - Proprietorship concernsCriteria for considering investment proposals outside India by established proprietorship or unregistered partnership exporter firms:
(i) The Partnership / Proprietorship firm is a DGFT recognised Star Export House (export exceeding Rs.15 crore per annum).
(ii) The Authorised Dealer bank is satisfied that the exporter is KYC (Know Your Customer) compliant, is engaged in the proposed business and has turnover as indicated.
(iv) Exporter has proven track record i.e. export outstanding does not exceed 10 per cent of the average export realisation of the preceding three years.
(v) The exporter has not come under the adverse notice of any Government agency like Directorate of Enforcement, Central Bureau of Investigation and does not appear in the exporters caution list of the Reserve Bank or in the list of defaulters to the banking system in India.
(vi) The amount of investment outside India does not exceed 10 per cent of the average of three years export realisation or 200 per cent of the net owned funds of the firm, whichever is lower.
(Above Schedule II added vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 164/2007-RB, DT. 09/10/2007 - wef 27/03/2006)
Schedule III
(See Regulation 9A)
Overseas Investments by Registered Trust/Society
Criteria for overseas investment by Registered Trust/Society
Trust
i) The Trust should be registered under the Indian Trust Act, 1882.
ii) The Trust deed permits the proposed investment overseas.
iii) The proposed investment should be approved by the trustee/s.
iv) The Authorised Dealer bank is satisfied that the Trust is KYC (Know Your Customer) compliant and is engaged in a bonafide activity.
v) The Trust has been in existence at least for a period of three years.
vi) The Trust has not come under the adverse notice of any Regulatory / Enforcement agency like the Directorate of Enforcement, CBI etc.
Society
i) The Society should be registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
ii) The Memorandum of Association and rules and regulations permit the Society to make the proposed investment which should also be approved by the governing body / council or a managing / executive committee.
iii) The Authorised Dealer bank is satisfied that the Society is KYC (Know Your Customer) compliant and is engaged in a bonafide activity.
iv) The Society has been in existence at least for a period of three years.
v) The Society has not come under the adverse notice of any Regulatory / Enforcement agency like the Directorate of Enforcement, CBI etc.
In addition to the registration, the activities which require special license / permission either from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India or from the relevant local authority, as the case may be, the Authorised Dealer Category-I bank should ensure that such special license /permission has been obtained by the applicant.
(Above Schedule III has been inserted vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 181/2008-RB, DT. 01/10/2008)
Schedule IV
[See Regulation 21(2)]Foreign Currency Exchangeable Bonds (FCEBs)
1. Currency: - The FCEB may be denominated in any freely convertible foreign currency
2. Eligible Issuer: The issuing company shall be part of the promoter group of the offered company and shall hold the equity share/s being offered at the time of issuance of FCEB.
3. The Offered Company: The offered company shall be a listed company which is engaged in a sector eligible to receive Foreign Direct Investment and eligible to issue or avail FCCB or External Commercial Borrowings (ECB).
4. Entities not eligible to issue FCEB: An Indian company, which is not eligible to raise funds from the Indian securities market, including a company which has been restrained from accessing the securities market by the SEBI shall not be eligible to issue FCEB.
5. Eligible Subscriber: Entities complying with the Foreign Direct Investment policy and adhering to the sectoral caps at the time of issue of FCEB can subscribe to FCEB. Prior approval of Foreign Investment Promotion Board, wherever required under the Foreign Direct Investment policy, should be obtained.
6. Entities not eligible to subscribe to FCEB: Entities prohibited to buy, sell or deal in securities by the SEBI will not be eligible to subscribe to FCEB.
7. End-use of FCEB proceeds:
Issuing Company:
(i) The proceeds of FCEB may be invested by the issuing company outside India by way of direct investment including in Joint Ventures or Wholly Owned Subsidiaries abroad, subject to the existing guidelines on Overseas Investment in Joint Ventures or Wholly Owned Subsidiaries (abroad).
(ii) The proceeds of FCEB may be invested by the issuing company in the promoter group companies.
Promoter Group Companies:
Promoter Group Companies receiving investments out of the FCEB proceeds may utilise the FCEB proceeds in accordance with end-uses prescribed under the External Commercial Borrowings policy.
8. End-uses not permitted: The promoter group companies receiving such investments will not be permitted to utilise the proceeds for investments in the capital market or in real estate in India.
9. All-in-cost: The rate of interest payable on FCEB and the issue expenses incurred in foreign currency shall be within the all-in-cost ceiling as provided in the Foreign Exchange Management (Borrowing or Lending in Foreign Exchange) Regulations, 2000, (Notification No.FEMA 3/2000-RB, dated May 3, 2000) and the directions issued in that behalf by the Reserve Bank of India.
10. Pricing of FCEB: At the time of issuance of FCEB, the exchange price of the offered listed equity shares shall not be less than the higher of the following two:
(i) The average of the weekly high and low of the closing prices of the shares of the offered company quoted on the stock exchange during the six months preceding the relevant date; and
(ii) The average of the weekly high and low of the closing prices of the shares of the offered company quoted on a stock exchange during the two week preceding the relevant date.
Explanation to clause (i) and (ii): \"Relevant date\" means the date on which the Board of directors of the issuing company passes the resolution authorizing the issue of FCEB.
11. Average Maturity: Minimum maturity of FCEB shall be five years. The exchange option can be exercised at any time before redemption. While exercising the exchange option, the holder of the FCEB shall take delivery of the offered shares. Cash (Net) settlement of FCEB shall not be permissible.
The proceeds of FCEB shall be retained and / or deployed overseas by the issuing / Group Companies in accordance with the Foreign Exchange Management (Borrowing or Lending in Foreign Exchange) Regulations, 2000, (FEMA 3/2000-RB, dated May 3, 2000) and the directions issued in that behalf by the Reserve Bank from time to time.
12. Parking of FCEB proceeds abroad: The proceeds of FCEB shall be retained and / or deployed overseas by the issuing / promoter group companies in accordance with the policy for the ECB. It shall be the responsibility of the issuing company to ensure that the proceeds of FCEB are used by the promoter group company only for the permitted end-uses prescribed under the ECB policy. The issuing company should also submit audit trail of the end-use of the proceeds by the issuing company / promoter group companies to the Reserve Bank duly certified by the designated Authorised Dealer bank.
13. Operational Procedure: Issuance of FCEB shall require prior approval of the Reserve Bank of India as specified in the Foreign Exchange Management (Borrowing or Lending in Foreign Exchange) Regulations, 2000, (Notification No FEMA 3/2000-RB, dated May 3, 2000).
14. Reporting: The provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management (Borrowing or Lending in Foreign Exchange) Regulations, 2000, (Notification No FEMA 3/2000-RB, dated May 3, 2000) with regard to reporting of external commercial borrowings shall apply to FCEB.
(Above Schedule IV has been inserted vide
NTF. NO. FEMA 188/2009-RB, DT. 03/02/2009 wef 23/09/2008 w.e.f. 23/09/2008)
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