CIR. NO. 44/2009-10-RB, DT. 29/03/2010

Buyback / Prepayment of Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds (FCCBs)

Attention of Authorised Dealer Category-I (AD Category-I) banks is invited to the A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 39 dated December 08, 2008 and A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 65 dated April 28, 2009 on the captioned subject. In terms of A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 58 dated March 13, 2009, Indian companies were allowed to buyback their Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds (FCCBs) both under the automatic route and approval route until December 31, 2009. The Scheme was discontinued with effect from January 1, 2010.

2. In view of the representations made by the issuers of FCCBs, it has been decided to consider applications, under the approval route, for buyback of FCCBs until June 30, 2010, subject to issuers complying with all the terms and conditions of buyback/prepayment of FCCBs, as mentioned in A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.39 dated December 08, 2008 and A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.65 dated April 28, 2009. Accordingly, applications complying with the conditions may be submitted, together with the supporting documents, through the designated AD Category - I bank to the Chief General Manager-in-Charge, Reserve Bank of India, Foreign Exchange Department, External Commercial Borrowings Division, Central Office, 11th Floor, Central Office Building, Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, Mumbai-400 001.

3. AD Category-I banks may bring the contents of this circular to the notice of their constituents and customers concerned.

4. The directions contained in this circular have been issued under sections 10 (4) and 11 (1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999) and is without prejudice to permissions / approvals, if any, required under any other law.

Yours faithfully,
(Salim Gangadharan)
Chief General Manager in-Charge

RBI/2009-10/367

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