DIPP Circular No: (24-Sep-12) Consolidated Fdi Policy (Effective From 10-4-2012)

CHAPTER 1

INTENT AND OBJECTIVE

1.1 INTENT AND OBJECTIVE

1.1.1. It is the intent and objective of the Government of India to attract and promote foreign direct investment in order to supplement domestic capital, technology and skills, for accelerated economic growth. Foreign Direct Investment, as distinguished from portfolio investment, has the connotation of establishing a 'lasting interest' in an enterprise that is resident in an economy other than that of the investor.

1.1.2. The Government has put in place a policy framework on Foreign Direct Investment, which is transparent, predictable and easily comprehensible. This framework is embodied in the Circular on Consolidated FDI Policy, which may be updated every year, to capture and keep pace with the regulatory changes, effected in the interregnum. The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India makes policy pronouncements on FDI through Press Notes/Press Releases which are notified by the Reserve Bank of India as amendments to the Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of Security by Persons Resident Outside India) Regulations, 2000 (Notification No. FEMA 20/2000-RB dated May 3, 2000). These notifications take effect from the date of issue of Press Notes/Press Releases, unless specified otherwise therein. In case of any conflict, the relevant FEMA Notification will prevail. The procedural instructions are issued by the Reserve Bank of India vide A.P. Dir. (series) Circulars. The regulatory framework, over a period of time, thus, consists of Acts, Regulations, Press Notes, Press Releases, Clarifications, etc.

1.1.3. The present consolidation subsumes and supersedes all Press Notes/Press Releases/ Clarifications/Circulars issued by DIPP, which were in force as on April 09, 2012, and reflects the FDI Policy as on April 10, 2012. This Circular accordingly will take effect from April 10, 2012. Reference to any statute or legislation made in this Circular shall include modifications, amendments or re-enactments thereof.

1.1.4 Notwithstanding the rescission of earlier Press Notes/Press Releases/Clarifications/Circulars, anything done or any action taken or purported to have been done or taken under the rescinded Press Notes/Press Releases/Clarifications/Circulars prior to April 10, 2012, shall, in so far as it is not inconsistent with those Press Notes/Press Releases/Clarifications/Circulars, be deemed to have been done or taken under the corresponding provisions of this circular and shall be valid and effective.

CHAPTER 2

DEFINITIONS

2.1 DEFINITIONS

2.1.1 'AD Category-I Bank' means a bank (Scheduled Commercial, State or Urban Cooperative) which is authorized under Section 10(1) of FEMA to undertake all current and capital account transactions according to the directions issued by the RBI from time to time.
2.1.2 'Authorized Bank' means a bank including a co-operative bank (other than an authorized dealer) authorized by the Reserve Bank to maintain an account of a person resident outside India
2.1.3 'Authorized Dealer' means a person authorized as an authorized dealer under sub-section (1) of section 10 of FEMA.
2.1.4 'Authorized Person' means an authorized dealer, money changer, offshore banking unit or any other person for the time being authorized under Sub- section (a) of Section 10 of FEMA to deal in foreign exchange or foreign securities.
2.1.5 'Capital' means equity shares; fully, compulsorily & mandatorily convertible preference shares; fully, compulsorily & mandatorily convertible debentures. Note: Warrants and partly paid shares can be issued to person/(s) resident outside India only after approval through the Government route.
2.1.6 'Capital account transaction' means a transaction which alters the assets or liabilities, including contingent liabilities, outside India of persons resident in India or assets or liabilities in India of persons resident outside India, and includes transactions referred to in sub-section (3) of section 6 of FEMA.
2.1.7 A company is considered as "Controlled" by resident Indian citizens if the resident Indian citizens and Indian companies, which are owned and controlled by resident Indian citizens, have the power to appoint a majority of its directors in that company.
2.1.8 'Depository Receipt' (DR) means a negotiable security issued outside India by a Depository bank, on behalf of an Indian company, which represent the local Rupee denominated equity shares of the company held as deposit by a Custodian bank in India. DRs are traded on Stock Exchanges in the US, Singapore, Luxembourg, etc. DRs listed and traded in the US markets are known as American Depository Receipts (ADRs) and those listed and traded anywhere/elsewhere are known as Global Depository Receipts (GDRs).
2.1.9 'Erstwhile Overseas Corporate Body' (OCB) means a company, partnership firm, society and other corporate body owned directly or indirectly to the extent of at least sixty percent by non-resident Indian and includes overseas trust in which not less than sixty percent beneficial interest is held by non-resident Indian directly or indirectly but irrevocably and which was in existence on the date of commencement of the Foreign Exchange Management (Withdrawal of General Permission to Overseas Corporate Bodies (OCBs)) Regulations, 2003 (the Regulations) and immediately prior to such commencement was eligible to undertake transactions pursuant to the general permission granted under the Regulations.
2.1.10 'Foreign Currency Convertible Bond' (FCCB) means a bond issued by an Indian company expressed in foreign currency, the principal and interest of which is payable in foreign currency. FCCBs are issued in accordance with the Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds and ordinary shares (through depository receipt mechanism) Scheme 1993 and subscribed by a non-resident entity in foreign currency and convertible into ordinary shares of the issuing company in any manner, either in whole, or in part.
2.1.11 'FDI' means investment by non-resident entity/person resident outside India in the capital of an Indian company under Schedule 1 of Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of Security by a Person Resident Outside India) Regulations 2000 (Original notification is available athttp://rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_FemaNotifications.aspx Id=174. Subsequent amendment notifications are available at http://rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_FemaNotifications.aspx)
2.1.12 'FEMA' means the Foreign Exchange Management Act 1999 (42 of 1999) (http://finmin.nic.in/law/index.asp).
2.1.13 'FIPB' means the Foreign Investment Promotion Board constituted by the Government of India.
2.1.14 'Foreign Institutional Investor' (FII) means an entity established or incorporated outside India which proposes to make investment in India and which is registered as a FII in accordance with the SEBI (FII) Regulations 1995.
2.1.15 'Foreign Venture Capital Investor' (FVCI) means an investor incorporated and established outside India, which is registered under the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Foreign Venture Capital Investor) Regulations, 2000 {SEBI (FVCI) Regulations} and proposes to make investment in accordance with these Regulations
2.1.16 'Government route' means that investment in the capital of resident entities by non-resident entities can be made only with the prior approval of Government (FIPB, Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance or Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, as the case may be).
2.1.17 'Holding Company' would have the same meaning as defined in Companies Act 1956.
2.1.18 'Indian Company' means a company incorporated in India under the Companies Act, 1956.
2.1.19 'Indian Venture Capital Undertaking' (IVCU) means an Indian company:- (i) whose shares are not listed in a recognised stock exchange in India; (ii) which is engaged in the business of providing services, production or manufacture of articles or things, but does not include such activities or sectors which are specified in the negative list by the SEBI, with approval of Central Government, by notification in the Official Gazette in this behalf.
2.1.20 'Investing Company' means an Indian Company holding only investments in other Indian company/(ies), directly or indirectly, other than for trading of such holdings/securities.
2.1.21 'Investment on repatriable basis' means investment, the sale proceeds of which, net of taxes, are eligible to be repatriated out of India and the expression 'investment on non-repatriable basis' shall be construed accordingly.
2.1.22 'Joint Venture' (JV) means an Indian entity incorporated in accordance with the laws and regulations in India in whose capital a non-resident entity makes an investment.
2.1.23 "Limited Liability Partnership" means a Limited Liability Partnership firm, Formed and registered under the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008.
2.1.24 'Non resident entity' means a 'person resident outside India' as defined under FEMA.
2.1.25 'Non Resident Indian' (NRI) means an individual resident outside India who is a citizen of India or is a person of Indian origin.
2.1.26 A company is considered as 'Owned' by resident Indian citizens if more than 50% of the capital in it is beneficially owned by resident Indian citizens and /or Indian companies, which are ultimately owned and controlled by resident Indian citizens;
2.1.27 'Person' includes (i) an individual (ii) a Hindu undivided family, (iii) a company (iv) a firm (v) an association of persons or a body of individuals whether incorporated or not, (vi) every artificial juridical person, not falling within any of the preceding sub-clauses, and (vii) any agency, office, or branch owned or controlled by such person.
2.1.28 'Person of Indian Origin' (PIO)
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