RBI/2009-10/21
Master Circular No. 01/2009-10

July 1, 2009

To,

All Banks Authorised to Deal in Foreign Exchange

Madam / Sir,

Master Circular on Direct Investment by Residents  in Joint Venture (JV)/
Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) Abroad

Direct investments by residents in Joint Venture (JV) and Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) abroad are being allowed, in terms of clause (a) of sub-section (3) of section 6 of the Foreign Exchange Management Act 1999, (42 of 1999) read with FEMA Notification 120/RB-2004 dated July 7, 2004, (GSR 757 (E) dated November 19, 2004), viz. Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of Any Foreign Security) Regulations, 2004, as amended from time to time.

2. This Master Circular consolidates the existing instructions on the subject of “Direct Investment by Residents in Joint Venture (JV) / Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) Abroad" at one place. The list of underlying circulars/notifications is furnished in the Appendix.

3. This Master Circular is issued with a sunset clause of one year. This circular will stand withdrawn on July 01, 2010 and be replaced by an updated Master Circular on the subject.

 Yours faithfully,

(Salim Gangadharan)
Chief General Manager-in-Charge

INDEX

PART - I

Section A – General

A.1 Introduction

(1) Overseas investments in Joint Ventures (JV) and Wholly Owned Subsidiaries (WOS) have been recognised as important avenues for promoting global business by Indian entrepreneurs. Joint ventures are perceived as a medium of economic co-operation between India and other countries. Transfer of technology and skill, sharing of results of R&D, access to wider global market, promotion of brand image, generation of employment and utilisation of raw materials available in India and in the host country are other significant benefits arising out of such overseas investments. They are also important drivers of foreign trade through increased exports of plant and machinery and goods and services from India and also a source of foreign exchange earnings by way of dividend earnings, royalty, technical know-how fee and other entitlements on such investments.

(2) In keeping with the spirit of liberalisation, which has become the hallmark of economic policy in general, and Foreign Exchange regulations in particular, the Reserve Bank has been progressively relaxing the rules and simplifying the procedures both for current account as well as capital account transactions.

A.2 Statutory basis

(1)   Section 6 of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 provides powers to the Reserve Bank to specify, in consultation with the Government of India the classes of permissible capital account transactions and limits up to which foreign exchange is admissible for such transactions. Section 6(3) of the aforesaid Act provides powers to the Reserve Bank to prohibit, restrict or regulate various transactions referred to in the sub-clauses of that sub-section, by making Regulations.

(2)  In exercise of the above powers, the Reserve Bank has in supersession of earlier Notification No.FEMA19/RB-2000 dated 3rd May 2000 and amendments thereto, issued Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of any Foreign Security) Regulations, 2004 vide Notification No. FEMA 120/RB-2004 dated July 7, 2004 (as amended vide Notification No. FEMA 132/2005-RB dated 31st March 2005, Notification No. FEMA 135/2005-RB dated 17th May 2005, Notification No. FEMA 139/2005-RB dated 11th August 2005, Notification No. FEMA 150/2006-RB dated 21st August 2006, Notification No. FEMA 164/2007-RB dated 9th October 2007, Notification No. FEMA173/2007-RB dated 19th December 2007, Notification No. FEMA 180/2008-RB dated 5th September 2008 and Notification No. FEMA181/2008-RB dated 1st October 2008(hereinafter referred to as ‘the Notification’). The Notification seeks to regulate acquisition and transfer of a foreign security by a person resident in India i.e. investment by Indian entities in overseas joint ventures and wholly owned subsidiaries as also investment by a person resident in India in shares and securities issued outside India. Overseas Investment can be made under two routes viz.  (i) Automatic Route outlined in paragraph B.1 and (ii) Approval Route outlined in paragraph B.7.

A.3 Prohibitions

Indian parties are prohibited from making investment in a foreign entity engaged in real estate (as defined in Regulation 2(p)* of the Notification) or banking business, without the prior approval of the Reserve Bank.

A.4 General Permission

In terms of Regulation 4 of the Notification, general permission has been granted to persons residents in India for purchase / acquisition of securities in the following manner :

(a) out of funds held in RFC account;
(b) as bonus shares on existing holding of foreign currency shares; and
(c) when not permanently resident in India, out of their foreign currency resources outside India.

General permission is also available to sell the shares so purchased or acquired.

Section B - Direct Investment Outside India

B.1 Automatic Route

(1)  In terms of Regulation 6 of the Notification, an Indian party† has been permitted to make investment in overseas Joint Ventures (JV) / Wholly Owned Subsidiaries (WOS), not exceeding 400 per cent of the net worth of the Indian party as on the date of the last audited balance sheet. 

(2)  The ceiling of 400 per cent of net worth will not be applicable where the investment is made out of balances held in Exchange Earners' Foreign Currency account of the Indian party or out of funds raised through ADRs/GDRs. The Indian party should approach an Authorised Dealer Category - I bank with an application in Form ODI (Annex A) and prescribed enclosures / documents for effecting remittances towards such investments.

(3)  The above ceiling will include contribution to the capital of the overseas JV / WOS, loan granted to the JV / WOS, and 100 per cent of guarantees issued to or on behalf of the JV/WOS.  The investments are subject to the following conditions:

a) The Indian entity may extend loan / guarantee to an overseas concern only in which it has equity participation.  Indian entities may offer any form of guarantee - corporate or personal / primary or collateral / guarantee by the promoter company / guarantee by group company, sister concern or associate company in India provided that:

i)  All financial commitments including all forms of guarantees are within the overall ceiling prescribed for overseas investment by the Indian party i.e. currently within 400 per cent of the net worth as on the date of the last audited balance sheet of the Indian party;

ii) No guarantee is 'open ended' i.e. the amount and period of the guarantee should be specified upfront; and

iii) As in the case of corporate guarantees, all guarantees are required to be reported to Reserve Bank, in Form ODI-Part II. Guarantees issued by banks in India in favour of WOSs / JVs outside India, would be outside this ceiling and would be subject to prudential norms, issued by the Reserve Bank (DBOD) from time to time.

Note: Specific approval of the Reserve Bank will be required for creating charge on immovable property and pledge of shares of the Indian parent/ group companies in favour of a non- resident entity.

b) The Indian party should not be on the Reserve Bank’s  Exporters' caution list / list of defaulters to the banking system circulated by the Reserve Bank /  Credit Information Bureau (India) Ltd (CIBIL) / or any other credit information company as approved by the Reserve Bank or under investigation by any investigation / enforcement agency or regulatory body.

c) All transactions relating to a JV / WOS should be routed through one branch of an Authorised Dealer bank to be designated by the Indian party.

d) In case of partial / full acquisition of an existing foreign company, where the investment is more than USD 5 million, valuation of the shares of the company shall be made by a Category I Merchant Banker registered with SEBI or an Investment Banker / Merchant Banker outside India registered with the appropriate regulatory authority in the host country; and, in all other cases by a Chartered Accountant or a Certified Public Accountant.

e) 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 Investment Banker outside India registered with the appropriate regulatory authority in the host country.  Approval of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) will also be a prerequisite for investment by swap of shares.

f) In case of investment in overseas JV / WOS abroad by a registered Partnership firm, where entire funding for such investment is done by the firm, it will be in order for individual partners to hold shares for and on behalf of the firm in the overseas JV / WOS if the host country regulations or operational requirements warrant such holdings.

g) (i) Investments in JV/WOS abroad by Indian party through the medium of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) are also permitted under the Automatic Route, subject to the conditions that the Indian party is not included in the Reserve Bank's Caution list or is under investigation by the Directorate of Enforcement or included in the list of defaulters to the banking system circulated by the Reserve Bank/any other Credit Information company as approved by the Reserve Bank.  Indian parties whose names appear in the Defaulters' list require prior approval of the Reserve Bank for the investment.

(ii) Setting up of an SPV overseas under the Automatic Route is permitted only for the purpose of investment in JV/WOS overseas.

h)  An Indian party may acquire shares of a foreign company engaged in a 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 there under from time to time by the Government of India, provided:

(i) ADRs/GDRs are listed on any stock exchange outside India;

(ii) The ADR and/or GDR issue for the purpose of acquisition is backed by underlying fresh equity shares issued by the Indian party;

(iii) The total holding in the Indian entity 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 under FDI;

(iv) Valuation of the shares of the foreign company shall be

(a) as per the recommendations of the Investment Banker if the shares are  not listed on any recognized stock exchange; or

(b) based on the current market capitalisation 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.

(4) The Indian Party is required to report such acquisition in form ODI to the AD Bank for submitting to the Reserve Bank within a period of 30 days from the date of the transaction.
 
Note: Investments in Nepal are permitted only in Indian rupees.  Investments in Bhutan are permitted in Indian Rupees as well as in freely convertible currencies.  All dues receivable on investments made in freely convertible currencies, as well as their sale / winding up proceeds are required to be repatriated to India in freely convertible currencies only. The automatic route facility is not available for investment in Pakistan. 

B.2 Investment in unincorporated entities overseas in oil sector under the Automatic Route

(1). Investments in unincorporated entities overseas in the oil sector (i.e. for exploration and drilling for oil and natural gas, etc.)  by Navaratna PSUs, ONGC Videsh Ltd.(OVL) and Oil India Ltd.(OIL) may be permitted by AD Category - I banks, without any limit,  provided such investments are approved by the competent authority.

(2). Other Indian companies are also permitted under the Automatic Route to invest in unincorporated entities overseas in the oil sector up to 400 per cent of its net worth provided the proposal has been approved by the competent authority and is duly supported by certified copy of the Board resolution approving such investment. Investment in excess of 400 per cent of the net worth of an Indian company shall require prior approval of the Reserve Bank.

B.3 Method of Funding

(1). Investment in an overseas JV / WOS may be funded out of one or more of the following sources:
 
i) drawal of foreign exchange from an AD bank in India;

ii) capitalisation of exports;         

iii) swap of shares (valuation as mentioned in para B.1 (e) above);

iv) proceeds of External Commercial Borrowings (ECBs) / Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds (FCCBs);

v) in exchange of ADRs/GDRs issued 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 Government of India;

vi) balances held in EEFC account of the Indian party; and

vii) proceeds of foreign currency funds raised through  ADR / GDR issues.

In respect of (vi) and (vii) above, the ceiling of 400 per cent of the net worth will not apply. However, in respect of investments in the financial sector, they will be subject to compliance with Regulation 7 of the Notification ibid, irrespective of the method of funding.

(2). General permission has been granted to persons resident in India for purchase / acquisition of securities in the following manner :

(i) out of funds held in RFC account;

(ii) as bonus shares on existing holding of foreign currency shares; and

(iii) when not permanently resident in India, out of their foreign currency resources outside India (para A.4 above)

B.4 Capitalisation of exports and other dues

(1). Indian party is permitted to capitalise the payments due from the foreign entity towards exports, fees, royalties or any other dues from the foreign entity for supply of technical know-how, consultancy, managerial and other services within the ceilings applicable. Capitalisation of export proceeds remaining unrealised beyond the prescribed period of realization will require prior approval of the Reserve Bank.

(2). Indian software exporters are permitted to receive 25 per cent of the value of their exports to an overseas software start-up company in the form of shares without entering into Joint Venture Agreements, with prior approval of the Reserve Bank.

B. 5. Investments in Financial Services Sector

(1). In terms of Regulation 7 of the Notification, an Indian party seeking to make investment in an entity outside India, which is engaged in the financial sector should fulfill the following additional conditions:

(i) be registered with the regulatory authority in India for conducting the financial sector activities;

(ii) has earned net profit during the preceding three financial years from the financial services activities;

(iii) has obtained approval from the regulatory authorities concerned both in India and abroad for venturing into such financial sector activity; and

(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 subsidiary  in the financial services sector is also required to comply with the above conditions.

(3). Regulated entities in the financial sector making investments in any activity overseas are required to comply with the above guidelines. Unregulated entities in the financial services sector in India may invest in non financial sector activities subject to compliance with the provisions of Regulation 6 of the Notification. It is further clarified that trading in Commodities Exchanges overseas and setting up JV/WOS for trading in overseas exchanges will be reckoned as financial services activity and require clearance from the Forward Markets Commission.

B. 6 Investment in Equity of Companies Registered Overseas / Rated Debt Instruments

(1) (i) Portfolio Investments by listed Indian companies

Listed Indian companies are permitted to invest up to 50 per cent of their net worth as on the date of the last audited balance sheet in (i) shares and (ii) bonds / fixed income securities, rated not below investment grade by accredited / registered credit rating agencies, issued by listed overseas companies.

(ii) Investment by Mutual Funds

Indian Mutual Funds registered with SEBI are permitted to invest within an overall cap USD 7 billion in :

i) ADRs / GDRs of the Indian and foreign companies;

ii) equity of overseas companies listed on recognised stock exchanges overseas ;

iii) initial and follow on public offerings for listing at recognized stock exchanges overseas;

iv) foreign debt securities in the countries with fully convertible currencies, short- term as well as long-term debt instruments with rating not below investment grade by accredited/registered credit agencies;

v) money market instruments rated not below investment grade;

vi) repos in the form of investment, where the counterparty is rated not below investment grade. The repos should not, however, involve any borrowing of funds by mutual funds;

vii) government securities where the countries are rated notbelow investment grade;

viii) derivatives traded on recognized stock exchanges overseasonly for hedging and portfolio balancing with underlying as securities;

ix) short-term deposits with banks overseas where the issuer is rated not below investment grade; and

x) units / securities issued by overseas Mutual Funds or Unit Trusts registered with overseas regulators and investing in (a) aforesaid securities, (b) Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITS) listed on recognized stock exchanges overseas, or (c) unlisted overseas securities (not exceeding 10 per cent of their net assets).

(2). A limited number of qualified Indian Mutual Funds, are permitted to invest cumulatively up to USD 1 billion in overseas Exchange Traded Funds as may be permitted by SEBI.

(3). Domestic Venture Capital Funds registered with SEBI may invest in equity and equity linked instruments of off-shore Venture Capital Undertakings, subject to an overall limit of USD 500 million. Mutual Funds / Venture Capital Funds desirous of availing of this facility may approach SEBI for necessary permission. 

(4). General permission is available to the above categories of investors for sale of securities so acquired.  

B.7 Approval of the Reserve Bank

(1). Prior approval of the Reserve Bank would be required in all other cases of direct investment abroad. For this purpose, application together with necessary documents should be submitted in Form ODI through their Authorised Dealer Category – I banks.

(2). Reserve Bank would, inter alia, take into account the following factors while considering such applications:

a) Prima facie viability of the JV  / WOS 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; and

d) Expertise and experience of the Indian party in the same or related line of activity of the JV / WOS outside India.

B.8 Investments in energy and natural resources sector

Reserve Bank will consider applications for investment in JV/WOS overseas in the energy and natural resources sectors (e.g. oil, gas, coal and mineral ores) in excess of 400 per cent of the net worth of the Indian companies as on the date of the last audited balance sheet. AD Category - I banks may forward such applications from their constituents to the Reserve Bank as per the laid down procedure.

B.9   Overseas Investments by Proprietorship Concerns

(1) With a view to enabling recognized star exporters with a proven track record and a consistently high export performance to reap the benefits of globalization and liberalization, proprietorship concerns and unregistered partnership firms are allowed to set up JVs / WOS outside India with the prior approval of the Reserve Bank subject to satisfying certain eligibility criteria. An application in form ODI may be made to the Chief General Manager, Reserve Bank of India, Foreign Exchange Department, Overseas Investment Division, Central Office, Amar Building,  5th  Floor, Fort, Mumbai 400 001, through the AD Category - I bank.  AD Category - I banks may forward the applications to the Reserve Bank along with their comments and recommendations, for consideration. 

(2). Investments by established proprietorship or unregistered partnership exporter firms will be subject to the following conditions:

i) The Partnership / Proprietorship firm is a DGFT recognized Star Export House.

ii) The AD Category – I bank is satisfied that the exporter is KYC (Know Your Customer) compliant and is engaged in the proposed business and meets the requirement as indicated at i) above.

iii) Exporter has proven track record i.e. overdue exports do not exceed 10 per cent of the average export realization of preceding three financial years.

iv) The exporter has not come under adverse notice of any Government agency like Directorate of Enforcement, CBI 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.

v) The amount of investment outside India does not exceed 10 per cent of the average of three financial years export realization or 200 per cent of the net owned funds of the firm, whichever is lower.

B. 10 Overseas investment by Registered Trust / Society

Registered Trusts and Societies engaged in manufacturing / educational / hospital sector are allowed to make investment in the same sector(s) in a JV/WOS outside India, with the prior approval of the Reserve Bank. Trusts / Societies satisfying the eligibility criteria, as indicated below, may submit the application/s in Form ODI-Part I, through their AD Category - I bank/s, to the Chief General Manager, Reserve Bank of India, Foreign Exchange Department, Overseas Investment Division, Central Office, Amar Building, 5th Floor, Fort, Mumbai 400 001, for consideration.

Eligibility Criteria :

(a) 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 AD Category – I 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, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), etc.

(b) 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 AD Category - I 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 AD Category – I bank should ensure that such special license / permission has been obtained by the applicant.

B. 11   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 (subject to compliance of Regulation 7 of the Notification in the case of financial services sector companies). The Indian party should report to the Reserve Bank through the AD Category - I bank, the details of such decisions within 30 days of the approval of those decisions by the competent authority of the JV / WOS concerned in terms of local laws of the host country, and include the same in the Annual Performance Report (APR—Part III of form ODI) required to be forwarded to the AD Category-I bank.

B.12   Acquisition of a foreign company through bidding or tender procedure

An Indian party may remit earnest money deposit or issue a bid bond guarantee for acquisition of a foreign company through bidding and tender procedure and also make subsequent remittances through an AD Category - I bank, in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 14 of the Notification.

B.13 Obligations of Indian Entity

(1). An Indian party which has made direct investment abroad is under obligation to (a) receive share certificate or any other document as an evidence of investment, (b) repatriate to India the dues receivable from foreign entity, and (c) submit the documents / Annual Performance Report to the Reserve Bank, in accordance with the provisions specified in Regulation 15 of the Notification. The share certificate or any other document as evidence of investment has to be submitted to and retained by the designated AD Category - I bank, who is required to monitor the receipt of such documents and satisfy themselves about the bonafides of the documents.  A certificate to this effect should be submitted by the designated AD category – I bank to the Reserve Bank alongwith the APR (Part III of Form ODI).

(2). Reporting requirements including submission of Annual Performance Report are also applicable for investors in unincorporated entities in the oil sector.

B.14 Transfer by way of sale of shares of a JV / WOS

(1) Indian parties may also disinvest without prior approval of the Reserve Bank, in any of the under noted categories:

i) in case 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; and

iii) where the Indian promoter is an unlisted company and the investment in the overseas venture does not exceed USD 10 million.

(2).The disinvestment shall be subject to the following conditions:

(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 JV/ WOS 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 JV / WOS;

(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 JV or WOS;

(v) the overseas concern has been in operation for at least one full year and the Annual Performance Report has been submitted to the Reserve Bank; and

(vi) the Indian party is not under investigation by  CBI / DOE/ SEBI / IRDA or any other regulatory authority in India.

The Indian entity is required to submit details of the disinvestment through its designated AD Category – I bank within 30 days from the date of disinvestment. An Indian party, which does not satisfy the conditions laid down, shall have to apply to the Reserve Bank for prior permission.

B.15 Pledge of Shares of JV/WOS

An Indian party may pledge the shares of JV / WOS to an AD Category – I bank or a public financial institution in India for availing of any credit facility for itself or for the JV / WOS abroad in terms of Regulation 18 of the Notification. Indian party may also transfer by way of pledge, the shares held in overseas JV/WOS, to an overseas lender, provided the lender is regulated and supervised as a bank and the total financial commitments of the Indian party remain within the limit stipulated by the Reserve Bank for overseas investments, from time to time.

B.16 Hedging of Overseas Direct Investments

(1). Resident entities having overseas direct investments are permitted to hedge the foreign exchange rate risk arising out of such investments.  AD Category - I banks may enter into forward / option contracts with resident entities who wish to hedge their overseas direct investments (in equity and loan), subject to verification of such exposure. Cancellation of such forward contracts may be permitted by AD Category - I banks and 50 per cent of such cancelled contracts may be allowed to be rebooked.

(2). If a hedge becomes naked in part or full owing to shrinking of the market value of the overseas direct investment, the hedge may continue to the original maturity. Rollovers on the due date are permitted up to the extent of market value as on that date.

SECTION C -  Other Investments in Foreign Securities  

C.1  Permission for purchase/ acquisition of foreign securities in certain cases

General permission has been granted to a person resident in India who is an individual -

a) to acquire foreign securities as a gift from any person resident outside India;

b) to acquire shares under cashless Employees Stock Option Programme (ESOP) issued by a company outside India, provided it does not involve any remittance from India; 

c) to acquire shares by way of inheritance from a person whether resident in or outside India;

d) to purchase equity shares offered by a foreign company under its ESOP Schemes, if he 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, an Indian company in which foreign equity holding, either direct or through a holding company/Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), is not less than 51 per cent. AD Category – I banks are permitted to allow remittances for purchase of shares by eligible persons under this provision irrespective of the method of operationalisation of the scheme i.e where the shares under the scheme are offered directly by the issuing company or indirectly through a trust / a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) / step down subsidiary, provided (i) the company issuing the shares effectively, directly or indirectly, holds in the Indian company, whose employees / directors are being offered shares, not less than 51 per cent of its equity, (ii) the shares under the ESOP Scheme are offered by the issuing company globally on a uniform basis, and (iii) an Annual Return (Annex B) is submitted by the Indian company to the Reserve Bank through the AD Category – I bank giving details of remittances / beneficiaries, etc.

A person resident in India may transfer by way of sale the shares acquired as stated 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.

e) Foreign companies are permitted to repurchase the shares issued to residents in India under any ESOP Scheme provided (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 AD Category – I bank giving details of remittances / beneficiaries, etc.

f) In all other cases, not covered by general or special permission, approval of the Reserve Bank is required to be obtained before acquisition of a foreign security.

C.2 Pledge of a foreign security by a person resident in India

The shares acquired by persons resident in India in accordance with the provisions of Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 or Rules or Regulations made thereunder are allowed to be pledged for obtaining credit facilities in India from an AD Category – I bank / Public Financial Institution.

C.3 General permission in certain cases

Residents are permitted to acquire a foreign security, if it represents –

a) qualification shares for becoming a director of a company outside India provided it does not exceed 1 per cent of the paid up capital of the overseas company and the consideration for the acquisition does not exceed USD 20,000 in a calendar year;

b) rights shares provided that the rights shares are being issued by virtue of holding shares in accordance with the provisions of law for the time being in force;

c) purchase of shares of a JV / WOS abroad of the Indian promoter company by the employees/directors of Indian promoter company which is engaged in the field of software where the consideration for purchase does not exceed  USD 10,000 or its equivalent per employee in a block of five calendar years; the shares so acquired do not exceed 5 per cent of the paid-up capital of the JV / WOS outside India; and 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; and

d)  purchase of foreign securities under ADR / GDR linked stock option schemes by resident employees of Indian companies in the knowledge based sectors, including working directors provided purchase consideration does not exceed  USD 50,000 or its equivalent in a block of five calendar years.  

PART - II

Operational Instructions to Authorised Dealer Banks

1.Designated branches

An eligible Indian party making investment in a Joint Venture (JV) / Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) outside India is required to route all its transactions relating to the investment through one branch of an AD Category – I bank designated by it in terms of clause (v) of sub regulation 2 of Regulation 6 of the notification. All communications from the Indian parties, to the Reserve Bank, relating to the investment outside India should be routed through the same branch of the AD Category – I bank that has been designated by the Indian investor for the investment.  The designated AD Category – I bank while forwarding the request from their customers to the Reserve Bank, should also forward its comments / recommendations on the request.  However, the Indian party may designate different AD Category – I banks / branches of AD Category – I banks for different JV / WOS outside India. For proper follow up, the AD Category – I bank is required to maintain party-wise record in respect of each JV/ WOS.

2. Investments under Regulation 6 of Notification No. FEMA 120/2004-RB dated July 7, 2004

AD Category – I banks may allow investments up to the permissible limits on receipt of application in form ODI together with form A-2, duly filled in, from the Indian party(ies) making investments in a JV/WOS abroad subject to their complying with the conditions specified in Regulation 6 of Notification FEMA No.120/RB-2004 dated July 7, 2004, as amended from time to time. Investment in financial services should also comply with the norms stipulated at Regulation 7 of the Notification ibid.  While forwarding the report of remittance in respect of investment in financial services sector, AD Category – I banks may certify that prior approvals from the Regulatory Authorities concerned in India and abroad have been obtained.  Before allowing the remittance, AD Category – I banks are required to ensure that the necessary documents, as prescribed in form ODI, have been submitted and found to be in order.  

3. General procedural instructions

(1) With effect from June 01, 2007, reporting system for overseas investment has been revised.  All the earlier forms have been subsumed into one form viz. ODI, comprising of four parts:

Part I - includes the following:

Section A – Details of the Indian Party
Section B – Details of Investment in New Project
Section C - Details of Investment in Existing Project
Section D – Funding for JV / WOS
Section E – Declaration by the Indian Party (to be retained by AD Category – I bank)
Section F - Certificate by the Statutory Auditors of the Indian Party (to be retained by AD Category – I bank)

Part II - Reporting of Remittances

Part III - Annual Performance Report (APR)

Part IV – Report on Closure/Disinvestment/Voluntary Liquidation/Winding up of JV / WOS

(2) The revised form is only a rationalisation of the reporting procedure and there is no change or dilution in the existing eligibility criteria / documentation / limits. Soon these reports will be received on line by Reserve Bank.

(3) AD Category - I banks may take action as under:

a) In cases of Automatic Route – Parts I and II of form ODI should be submitted to the Chief General Manager, Reserve Bank of India, Foreign Exchange Department, Overseas Investment Division, Amar Bldg. 5th floor, Sir P. M. Road, Fort, Mumbai 400001.

b) In case of Approval Route – Part I of form ODI, along with the supporting documents, is required to be submitted after scrutiny and with specific recommendations by the designated AD Category - I bank, at the address mentioned above. In case the proposal is approved, Part I will be returned by the Reserve Bank to the AD Category - I bank.  After effecting the remittance, the AD Category – I bank should resubmit the same to the Reserve Bank along with Part II of form ODI.

c) In case of disinvestment / closure / winding up / voluntary liquidation under the Automatic Route, in terms of A. P. (Dir Series) Circular No. 29 dated March 27, 2006, a report should be submitted by the designated AD Category - I bank, in Part IV of form ODI. In all other cases of disinvestment, an application along with the necessary supporting documents should be submitted to the Reserve Bank as per the existing procedure.

(4). In cases where the investment is being made jointly by more than one Indian party, form ODI is required to be signed jointly by all the investing entities and submitted to the designated branch of the AD Category – I bank. AD Category – I banks should forward to the Reserve Bank a consolidated form ODI indicating details of each party.  The same procedure should be followed where the investment is made out of the proceeds of ADR / GDR issues of an Indian party in terms of Regulation 6(5) of the Notification. The Reserve Bank would allot only one Unique Identification Number to the overseas project.

(5). AD Category – I banks should allow remittance towards loan to the JV / WOS and / or issue guarantee to / on behalf of the JV / WOS abroad only after ensuring that the Indian party has an equity stake in the JV / WOS.

4. Investments under Regulation 11 of Notification No. FEMA 120/2004-RB dated July 7, 2004

In terms of Regulation 11 of the Notification , Indian parties are permitted to make direct investment in JV / WOS abroad by way of capitalisation of exports or other dues/entitlements like royalties, technical know-how fees, consultancy fees, etc.  In such cases also, the Indian party is required to submit details of the capitalisation in form ODI to the designated branch of the AD Category – I bank. Such investments by way of capitalisation are also to be reckoned while computing the cap of 400 per cent prescribed in terms of Regulation 6.  Further, in cases where the export proceeds are being capitalised in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 11, the AD Category – I banks are required to obtain a custom certified copy of the invoice as required under Regulation 12(2) and forward it to the Reserve Bank together with the revised form ODI. Capitalisation of export proceeds or other entitlements, which are overdue, would require prior approval of the Reserve Bank for which the Indian parties should make an application in form ODI to the Reserve Bank for consideration.

5. Allotment of Unique Identification Number (UIN)

On receipt of the form ODI from the AD Category – I bank, the Reserve Bank will allot a Unique Identification Number to each JV or WOS abroad, which is required to be quoted in all correspondence with the Reserve Bank. AD Category – I banks may allow additional investment in an existing overseas concern set up by an Indian party, in terms of Regulation 6 only after the Reserve Bank has allotted necessary Unique Identification Number to the overseas project.

6. Investment by way of share swap

In the case of investment by way of share swap, AD Category – I banks are additionally required to submit to the Reserve Bank the details of transactions such as number of shares received / allotted, premium paid / received, brokerage paid / received etc., and also confirmation to the effect that the inward leg of transaction has been approved by FIPB and the valuation has been done as per laid-down procedure and that the overseas company’s shares are issued / transferred in the name of the Indian investing company.  AD Category – I bank may also obtain an undertaking from the applicants to the effect that future sale / transfer of shares so acquired by Non-Residents in the Indian company shall be in accordance with the provisions of Notification No. FEMA 20/2000-RB dated May 3, 2000 as amended from time to time.

7. Investments under Regulation 9 of Notification No. FEMA 120/2004-RB dated July 7, 2004

In terms of Regulation 9, investment in JV / WOS in certain cases requires prior approval of the Reserve Bank.  AD Category – I banks may allow remittances under these specific approvals granted by the Reserve Bank and report the same to the Chief General Manager, Foreign Exchange Department, Central Office, Overseas Investment Division, Amar Building, 5th floor, Mumbai 400 001  in form ODI.

8. Purchase of foreign securities under ADR / GDR linked Stock Option Scheme

AD Category – I banks may make remittances up to USD 50,000 or its equivalent in a block of five calendar years, without the prior approval of the Reserve Bank, for purchase of foreign securities in the knowledge based sector under the ADR / GDR linked ESOPs, after satisfying that the issuing company has followed the relevant guidelines of SEBI / Government.

9. Remittance towards Earnest Money Deposit or Issue of Bid Bond Guarantee

(i) In terms of Regulation 14 of the Notification, AD Category – I banks may, on being approached by an Indian party which is eligible for investment under Regulation 6, allow remittance towards Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) to the extent eligible after obtaining Form A2 duly filled in or may issue bid bond guarantee on their behalf for participation in bidding or tender procedure for acquisition of a company incorporated outside India.  On winning the bid, AD banks may remit the acquisition value after obtaining Form A2 duly filled in and report such remittance (including the amount initially remitted towards EMD) to the Chief General Manager, Foreign Exchange Department, Central Office, Overseas Investment Division, Amar Building, 5th  floor, Mumbai 400 001 in form ODI.  AD Category – I banks, while permitting remittance towards EMD should advise the Indian party that in case they are not successful in the bid, they should ensure that the amount remitted is repatriated in accordance with Foreign Exchange Management (Realisation, Repatriation & Surrender of Foreign Exchange) Regulations, 2000 (cf. Notification No. FEMA 9/2000-RB dated 3rd May 2000) as amended from time to time

(ii) In cases where an Indian party, after being successful in the bid / tender decides not to proceed further with the investment, AD banks should submit full details of remittance allowed towards EMD / invoked bid bond guarantee, to the Chief General Manager, Foreign Exchange  Department, Central Office, Overseas Investment Division, Amar Building, 5th  floor, Mumbai 400 001.

(iii) In case the Indian party is successful in the bid, but the terms and conditions of acquisition of a company outside India are 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 entity should obtain approval from the Reserve Bank by submitting form ODI.

10. Transfer by way of sale of shares of a JV / WOS outside India

The Indian party should report details of the disinvestment through the AD Category – I bank within 30 days of disinvestment in Part IV of the Form ODI as indicated in para 3 (3) (c) above. 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.

11. Verification of evidence of investment

The share certificates or any other document as evidence of investment, where share certificates are not issued shall, henceforth, be submitted to and retained by the designated AD Category –I bank, who would be required to monitor the receipt of such documents and satisfy themselves about the bonafides of the documents so received. A certificate to this effect should be submitted by the designated AD Category –I bank to the Reserve Bank along with the APR (Part III of Form ODI).

 Appendix

List of Circulars/Notifications consolidated in the Master Circular
Direct Investment in  Joint Ventures/ Wholly Owned Subsidiaries Abroad

Notifications

Circulars

* "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;

† "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 JV / WOS 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".