iv. Investment by SEBI Registered FIIs to an extent of 24 per cent should be within the overall limit of 49 per cent for Foreign Investment.

v. No FII can individually hold directly or indirectly more than 10 per cent of the equity.

Investment in Commodity Exchanges

Foreign Investment in Commodity Exchanges is permitted subject to the following conditions:

i. There is a composite ceiling of 49 percent for Foreign Investment, with a FDI limit of 26 per cent and an FII limit of

23 percent.

ii. FDI is allowed with specifc approval of the government.

iii. The FII purchases in equity of commodity Exchanges is restricted to the secondary markets only.

iv. Foreign Investment in Commodity Exchanges is also subject to compliance with the regulations issued, in this regard, by the Forward Market Commission.

Investment in Public Sector Banks

FDI and portfolio investment in nationalised banks are subject to overall statutory limits of 20 per cent as provided under Section 3(2D) of the Banking Companies (Acquisition & Transfer of Undertakings) Acts, 1970/80. The same ceiling would also apply in respect of such investments in state Bank of India and its associate banks.

Investment from Nepal & Bhutan

NRIs, resident in Nepal & Bhutan as well as citizens of Nepal and Bhutan are permitted to invest in shares and convertible debentures of Indian companies under FDI scheme on repatriation basis, subject to the condition that the amount of consideration for such investment shall be paid only by way of inward remittance in free foreign exchange through normal banking channels.

Issue of Rights/Bonus Shares to erstwhile OCBs

FEMA provisions allow Indian companies to freely issue Rights /Bonus shares to existing non­resident shares-holders, subject to adherence to sectoral cap, if any. However such issue of bonus / rights shares have to be in accordance with other laws/ statues like the Companies Act 1956, SEBI (Disclosure and Investor Protection) guidelines (in case of listed companies) etc. The price of shares offered on rights basis by the Indian company to Non Resident shareholders shall not be lower than the price at which such shares are offered to resident shareholders.

Rights Issue to Erstwhile OCBs

The price of shares offered on rights basis by the Indian company to non-resident shareholders shall not be lower than the price at which such shares are offered to resident shareholders. OCBs have been de-recognized as a class of investors with effect from September 16, 2003. Therefore companies desiring to issue rights shares to such erstwhile OCBs will have to take specifc prior permission from the Reserve Bank. As such, entitlements of rights shares is not automatically available to OCBs.

However, bonus shares can be issued to erstwhile OCBs.

Additional allocation of rigthts shares by residents to non-residents

Existing non-resident shares-holders are allowed to apply for issue of additional shares/ preference shares/convertible debenture over and above their rights share entitlements. The investee company can allot the additional rights shares out of unsubscribed portion; subject to the condition that the overall issue of shares to non-residents in the total paid up capital of the company does not exceed the sectoral cap.

Acquisition of Shares under Scheme of Amalgamation / Merger

Mergers & amalgamations of companies in India are usually governed by an order issued by a competent court on the basis of the scheme submitted by the companies undergoing mergers/ amalgamation. Once the scheme of merger or amalgamation of two or more Indian companies has been approved by a court in India, the transferee company or new company is allowed to issue share to the shareholders of the transferor company resident outside India subject to the condition that:

i. The percentage of shareholding of persons resident outside India in the transferee or new company does not exceed the sectoral cap.

ii. The transferor company or the transferee or the new company is not engaged in activities, which are prohibited in terms of FDI policy.

Issue of Shares Under Employees Stock Option Scheme (ESOPs)

Listed Indian companies are allowed to issue shares under the Employees Stock Option Scheme (ESOPs), to its employees or employees of its joint venture or wholly owned subsidiary abroad who are residents outside India, other then to citizens of Pakistan. Shares under ESOPs can be issued directly or through a Trust subject to the condition that:

i . The scheme has been drawn in terms of relevant regulations issued by the Securities and Exchange Board of India; and

ii. The face value of the shares to be allowed under the scheme to the non­resident employees does not exceed 5 percent of the paid-up capital of the issuing company.

Unlisted componies have to follow the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956. The Indian company can issue ESOPs to employees who are resident outside India, other than to citizens of Pakistan. ESOPs can be issued to the citizens of Bangladesh with the prior FIPB approval. The issuing company is required to report the details of such issues to the concerned Regional Offce of the Reserve Bank, within 30 days from the date of issue of shares.

Reporting of FDI

Reporting of Infow

An Indian company receiving investment from outside India for issuing shares/convertible debenture/preference shares under the FDI Scheme, should report the details of the amount of consideration to the Reserve Bank not later than 30 days from the date of receipt. The forms can also be downloaded from the Reserve Bank’s website http://www.rbi.org.in/ Scripts/BS_viewFemaForms.aspx.

Indian companies are required to report the details of the receipt of the amount of consideration for issue of shares/convertible debentures, through an AD Category-I Bank, together with a copy/ies of the FIRC/s evidencing the receipt of the remittance along with the KYC report on the non-resident investor from the overseas bank remitting the amount. The report would be acknowledged by the Regional Offce concerned, which would allot a Unique Identifcation Number (UIN) for the amount reported.

Time frame within which shares have to be issued

The equity instruments should be issued within 180 days from the date of receipt of the inward remittance or by debit to the NRE/FCNR(B) account of the non-resident investor. In case, the equity instruments are not issued within 180 days from the date of receipt of the inward remittance or date of debit to the NRE/ FCNR(B) account, the amount of consideration so received should be refunded immediately to the non-resident investor by outward remittance through normal banking channels or by credit to the NRE/FCNR(B) account, as the case may be. Non-compliance with the above provision would be reckoned as a contravention under FEMA and could attract penal provisions. In exceptional cases, refund of the amount of consideration outstanding beyond a period of 180 days from the date of receipt may be considered by the Reserve Bank on the merits of the case.

Reporting of Issue of Shares

After issue of shares /convertible debentures/ preference shares, the Indian company has to fle Form FC-GPR enclosed in Annexure-6 not later than 30 days from the date of issue. The form can be downloaded from the Reserve Bank’s website http://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/ BS_ViewFemaForms.aspx.

Part A of Form FC-GPR has to be duly flled up and signed by the Managing Director/Director/ Secretory of the Company and submitted to the Authorised Dealer of the company, who will forward it to the Reserve Bank.

The following documents have to be submitted along with part A:

i. A certifcate from the Company Secretary of the company certifying that
       a. All the requirements of the Companies Act, 1956 have been complied with;
       b. Terms and conditions of the Government approval, if any, have been complied with;
       c. The company is eligible to issue shares under these Regulation; and
       d. The company has all original certifcates issued by authorized dealers in India evidencing receipt of amount of             consideration.

ii. A certifcate from Statutory Auditors or Chartered Accountant indicating the manner of arriving at the price of the shares issued to the persons resident outside India.

The report of receipt of consideration as well as FC-GPR have to be submitted to the concerned Regional Offce of the Reserve Bank under whose jurisdiction the registered offce of the company is situated.

Part B of FC-GPR should be fled on an annual basis by the Indian company directly with the Reserve Bank.

This is an annual return to be submitted by 31st of July every year, pertaining to all investments by way of direct/portfolio investments/ re­ invested earnings/others in the Indian company made during the previous years (i.e. the information in Part B submitted by 31st July, 2008 will pertain to all the investments made in the previous years upto March 31, 2008). The details of the investments to be reported would include all foreign investments made into the company which is outstanding on the balance sheet date. The details of overseas investment in the company both under direct/ portfolio investment may be separately indicated.

Issue of bonus/rights shares or stock options to persons resident outside India directly or on amalgamation/merger with an existing Indian company, as well as issue of shares on conversion of ECB/ royalty/lump sum technical know-how fee/import of capital goods by SEZs has to be reported in Form FC-GPR.

Issue Price

Price of shares issued to persons resident outside India under the FDI scheme, shall be on the basis of SEBI guidelines in case of listed companies. Incase of unlisted companies, valuation of shares has to be done by a Chartered Accountant in accordance with the guidelines issued by the erstwhile Controller of Capital Issues.

Foreign Currency Account

Indian companies, which are eligible to issue shares to persons resident outside India under the FDI Scheme will be allowed to retain the shares subscription amount in a foreign currency account, with the prior approval of RBI.

Transfer of Shares and convertible debentures

i. Foreign investors can also invest in Indian companies by purchasing / acquiring existing shares from Indian shareholders or from other non-resident shareholders. General permission has been granted to non-residents / NRIs for acquisition of shares by way of transfer subject to the following: -

    a) A person resident outside India (Other than NRI and OCB) may transfer by way of sale or gift the shares or convertible debentures to any person resident outside India (including NRIs)

    

    b) NRIs and erstwhile OCBs may transfer by way of sale or gift the shares or convertible debentures held by them to another NRI.

In both the above cases, if the ransferee has previous venture r tie- up in India through investment / technical collaboration / rade mark agreement in the same feld in which the Indian company, whose shares are being transferred, is engaged, he has to obtain prior permission of SIA/FIPB to acquire the shares. This restriction is, however, not applicable to the transfer of shares to international fnancial institutions (i.e. ADB, IFC, CDC, DEG) and transfer of shares to Indian company engaged in Information Technology Sector.

      c) A person resident outside India can transfer any security to a person resident in India by way of gift.
      d) A person resident outside India can sell the shares and convertible debentures of an Indian company on a Recognized            Stock Exchange in India through a registered broker.
      e) A person resident in India can transfer by way of sale, shares / convertible debentures (including transfer of       subscriber’s shares), of an Indian company in sectors other than fnancial service sector (i.e. Banks, NBFC, Insurance,       ARCs and infrastructure companies in the securities market viz. Stock Exchanges, Clearing Corporations and       Depositories) under private arrangement to a person resident outside India, subject to the guidelines.
      f) General permission is also available for transfer of shares / convertible debentures, by way of sale under private       arrangement by a person resident outside India to a person resident in India, subject to the guidelines.
      g) The above General Permission also covers transfer by a resident to a non-resident of shares / convertible debentures       of an Indian company, engaged in an activity earlier covered under the Government Route but now falling under       Automatic Route of RBI, as well as transfer of shares by a non-resident to an Indian company under buy-back and / or       capital reduction scheme of the company. However, this General Permission is not available for transfer of shares /       debentures of an entity engaged in any activity in the fnancial service sector (i.e. Banks, NBFCs, ARCs, Insurance and       infrastructure providers in the securities market such as Stock Exchanges, Clearing Corporations, etc.)

(ii). Reporting of transfer of shares between residents and non-residents and vice versa is to be done in From FC-TRS. This Form needs to be submitted to the AD Category – I bank, which will forward the same to its link offce. The link offce will consolidate the Forms and submit a report to the Reserve Bank.

(iii). AD Category – I banks have been given general permission to open Escrow account and Special account by non­resident corporates for open offers / exit offers and delisting of shares. The relevant SEBI (SAST) Regulations or any other applicable SEBI Regulations / provisions of the Companies Act, 1956 will be applicable.

Prior permission of RBI in Certain cases for transfer of shares / convertible debentures

(i). A person resident in India, who intends to transfer any security, by way of gift to a person resident outside India, has to obtain prior approval from Reserve Bank. While forwarding applications to Reserve Bank for approval for transfer of shares by way of gift, the prescribed documents may be enclosed. Reserve Bank considers the following factors processing such applications:

     a) The transferee (donee) is eligible to hold such security under Schedules 1, 4 and 5 of Notifcation No. FEMA      20/2000-RB dated 3rd May 2000, as amended from time to time.

     b) The gift does not exceed 5 percent of the paid-up capital of the Indian company / /each series of debentures/each      mutual fund scheme.

     c) The applicable sectoral cap limit in the Indian company is not breached.

     d) The transferor (donor) and the transferee (donee) are close relatives as defned in Section 6 of the Companies Act,      1956, as amended from time to time.

     e) The value of security to be transferred together with any security already transferred by the transferor, as gift, to any      person residing outside India does not exceed the rupee equivalent of USD 25,000 during a calendar year.

     f) Such other conditions as stipulated by Reserve Bank in public interest from time to time.

(ii). The following instances of transfer of shares from residents to non-residents by way of sale requires RBI approval:

     i Transfer of shares or convertible debentures of an Indian company engaged in fnancial sector (i.e. Banks, NBFCs,      Asset Reconstruction Companies, Insurance and Infrastructure providers in the securities market such as Stock      Exchanges, learing Corporations, etc.)

     ii Transactions which attract the provisions of SEBI (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers), Regulations,      1997.

(iii). The following instances of transfer of shares from residents to non-residents by way of sale or otherwise requires Government approval followed by permission from RBI:

     a. Transfer of shares of companies engaged in sectors falling under the Government Approval Route.

     b. Transfer of shares resulting in foreign investments in the Indian company, breaching the sectoral cap applicable.

Conversion of ECB / Lumpsum Fee / Royalty / Import of capital goods by SEZs into Equity

(i). Indian companies have been granted general permission for conversion of External Commercial Borrowings

(ECB) into shares / preference shares, subject to the following conditions and reporting requirements.

     a. The activity of the company is covered under the Automatic Route for FDI or the company has obtained Government      approval for foreign equity in the company.

      b. The foreign equity after conversion of ECB into equity is within the sectoral cap, if any.

      c. Pricing of shares is as per SEBI regulations or erstwhile CCI guidelines in the case of listed or unlisted companies       respectively.

      d. Compliance with the requirements prescribed under any other statute and regulation in force.

(ii). The conversion facility is available for ECBs availed under the Automatic or Approval Route. This would also be applicable to ECBs, due for payment or not, as well as secured / unsecured loans availed from non-resident collaborators. General permission is also available for issue of shares/preference against lump-sum technical know-how fee, royalty, under automatic route or SIA / FIPB route, subject pricing guidelines of SEBI / CCI and compliance with applicable tax laws.

(iii). Units in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are permitted to issue equity shares to non-residents against import of capital goods subject to the valuation done by a Committee consisting of Development Commissioner and the appropriate Cus toms offcials.

(iv). Reporting

Details of issue of shares against conversion of ECB has to be reported to the concerned Regional Offce of the Reserve Bank, as indicated below:

      a. In case of full conversion of ECB into equity, the company shall report the conversion in form FC-GPR to the       concerned Regional Offce of the Reserve Bank as well as in from ECB-2 to the Department of Statistical and       information Management (DSIM), Reserve Bank of India, Bandra-Kurla Complex, Mumbai-400 051, within seven       working days from the close of month to which it relates. The words “ECB wholly converted to equity” shall be clearly       indicated on top of the ECB-2 form. Once reported, flling of form ECB-2 in the subsequent months is not necessary.

      b. In case of partial conversion of ECB, the company shall report the converted portion in form FC-GPR to the       concerned Regional Offce as well as in form ECB-2 clearly differentiating the converted portion from the non-converted       portion. The words “ECB partially converted to equity” shall be indicated on top of the ECB-2 form. In the subsequent       months, the outstanding balance of ECB shall be reported in ECB-2 form to DSIM.

      c. The SEZ unit issuing equity as mentioned in para (iii) above, should report the particulars of the shares issued in the       form FC-GPR.

Remittance of sale proceeds

AD Category-I bank can allow the remittance of sale proceeds of a security (net of applicable taxes) to the seller of shares resident outside India, provided the security has been held on repatriation basis, the sale of security has been made in accordance with the prescribed guidelines and NOC / tax clearance certifcate from the Income Tax Department has been produced.

Remittance on winding up / liquidation of Companies

AD Category-I banks have been allowed to remit winding up proceeds of companies in India, which are under liquidation, subject to payment of applicable taxes. Liquidation may be subject to any order issued by the court winding up the company or the offcial liquidator in case of voluntary winding up; under the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956. AD Category - I banks shall allow the remittance provided the applicant submits:-

i       No objection or Tax clearance certifcate from Income Tax Department for the remittance.

ii       Auditor’s certifcate confrming that all liabilities in India have been either fully paid or adequately provided for.

iii       Auditor’s certifcate to the effect that the winding up is in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956.

iv       In case of winding up otherwise than by a court, an auditor’s certifcate to the effect that there is no legal proceedings          pending in any court in India against the applicant or the company under liquidation and there is no legal impediment in           permitting the remittance.

Issue of shares by Indian companies under ADR / GDR (i). Depository Receipts (DRs) are negotiable securities 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 in 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 elsewhere are known as Global Depository Receipts (GDRs). In the Indian context, DRs are treated as FDI.

(ii). Indian companies can raise foreign currency resources abroad through the issue of ADRs / GDRs, in accordance with the Scheme for issue of Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds and Ordinary Shares (Through Depository Receipts Mechanism) Scheme, 1993 and guidelines issued by the Government of India thereunder from time to time.

(iii). A company can issue ADRs/GDRs if it is eligible to issue shares to persons resident outside India under the FDI Scheme. However, an Indian listed company, which is not eligible to raise funds from the Indian Capital Market including a company which has been restrained from accessing the securities market by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) will not be eligible to issue ADRs / GDRs.

(iv). Unlisted companies, which have not yet accessed the ADR/GDR route for raising capital in the international market would require prior or simultaneous listing in the domestic market, while seeking to issue such instruments. Unlisted companies, which have already issued ADRs / GDRs in the international market, have to list in the domestic market on making proft or within three years of such issue of ADRs / GDRs, whichever is earlier.

(v). ADRs / GDRs are issued on the basis of the ratio worked out by the Indian company in consultation with the Lead Manager to the issue. The proceeds so raised have to be kept abroad till actually required in India. Pending repatriation or utilisation of the proceeds, the Indian company can invest the funds in:

a) Deposits with or Certifcate of Deposit or other instruments offered by banks who have been rated by Standard and Poor, Fitch, IBCA or Moody’s, etc. and such rating not being less than the rating stipulated by Reserve Bank from time to time
for the purpose, (current rating applicable is AA(-) by Standard and Poor/Fitch IBCA or Aa3 by Moody’s);

b) Deposits with branch/es of Indian Authorised Dealers outside India; and

c) Treasury bills and other monetary instruments with maturity or unexpired maturity of one year or less.

(vi). There are no end-use restrictions except for a ban on deployment / investment of such funds in Real Estate or the Stock Market. There is no monetary limit upto which an Indian company can raise ADRs / GDRs.

(vii). The ADR / GDR proceeds can be utilised for frst stage acquisition of shares in the disinvestment process of Public Sector Undertakings / Enterprises and also in the mandatory second stage offer to the public in view of their strategic importance.

(viii). voting right on shares issued under the Scheme shall be as per the provisions of Companies Act, 1956 and in a manner in which restriction on voting rights imposed on ADR/GDR issues shall be consistent with the Company Law provisions. voting right in the case of banking companies will continue to be in terms of the provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 as applicable to all shareholders exercising voting rights.

(ix). Erstwhile OCBs who are not eligible to invest in India and entities prohibited to buy, sell or deal in securities by SEBI will not be eligible to subscribe to ADRs / GDRs issued by Indian companies.

(x). The pricing of ADR / GDR issues should be made at a price not less than the higher of the following two averages:

i The average of the weekly high and low of the closing prices of the related shares quoted on the stock exchange during the six months preceding the relevant date;

ii The average of the weekly high and low of the closing prices of the related shares quoted on a stock exchange during the two weeks preceding the relevant date. The “relevant date” means the date, thirty days prior to the date on which the meeting of the general body of shareholders is held, in terms of section 81(IA) of the Companies Act, 1956, to consider the proposed issues.

Two-way Fungibility Scheme

A limited Two-way Fungibility scheme has been put in place by the Government of India for ADRs / GDRs. Under this Scheme, a stock broker in India, registered with SEBI, can purchase shares of an Indian company from the market for conversion into ADRs / GDRs based on instructions received from overseas investors. Reissuance of ADRs / GDRs would be permitted to the extent of ADSs / GDRs which have been redeemed into underlying shares and sold in the Indian market.

Sponsored ADR / GDR issue

An Indian company can also sponsor an issue of ADR / GDR. Under this mechanism, the company offers its resident shareholders a choice to submit there shares back to the company so that on the basis of such shares, ADRs / GDRs can be issued abroad. The proceeds of the ADR / GDR issue is remitted back to India and distributed among the resident investors who had offered their rupee denominated shares for conversion. These proceeds can be kept in Resident Foreign Currency (Domestic) accounts in India by the resident shareholders who have tendered such shares for conversion into ADR / GDR.

Reporting of ADR / GDR issues

The Indian company issuing ADRs / GDRs has to furnish to the Reserve Bank, full details of such issue within 30 days from the date of closing of the issue. The company should also furnish a quarterly return to Reserve Bank within 15 days of the close of the calendar quarter. The quarterly return has to be submitted till the entire amount raised though ADR / GDR mechanism is either repatriated to India or utilized abroad as per the Reserve Bank guidelines.

FOREIGN VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTMENT

Investments by Venture Capital Funds

A SEBI registered Foreign Venture Capital Investor (FVCI) with specifc approval from RBI under FEMA Regulations can invest in Indian venture Capital Undertaking (IvCU) or Indian venture Capital Fund (IvCF) or in a Scheme foated by such IVCFs subject to the condition that the vCF should also be registered with SEBI.

An IVCU is defned as a company incorporated in India whose shares are not listed on a recognized stock exchange in India and which is not engaged in an activity under the negative list specifed by SEBI. A VCF is defned as a fund established in the form of a trust, a company including a body corporate and registered under the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Venture Capital Fund) Regulations, 1996 which has a dedicated pool of capital raised in a manner specifed under the said Regulations and which invests in venture Capital Undertakings in accordance with the said Regulations.

FVCIs can purchase equity/ equity linked instruments/ debt /debt instruments, debentures of and IvCU or of a vCF through initial public offer or private placement in units of schemes / funds set up by a VCF. At the time of granting approval, RBI permits the FvCI to open a foreign currency account or rupee account with a designated branch of an AD Category-I bank.

The purchase / sale of shares, debentures and units can be at a price that is mutually acceptable to the buyer and the seller.

AD Category-I Banks can offer forward cover to FvCIs to the extent of total inward remittance. In case the FvCI has made any remittance by liquidating some investments, original cost of the investments has to be deducted from the eligible cover to arrive at the actual cost that can be offered.

OTHER FOREIGN INVESTMENTS

Purchase of Other Securities by NRIs

On Non-Repatriation Basis:

NRIs can purchase shares/ convertible debentures issued by an Indian company on non- repatriation bases without any limit. Amount of consideration for such purchase shall be paid by inward remittance through normal banking channels from abroad or out of funds held in NRE / FCNR / NRO account maintained with the AD category-I bank.

NRI can also, without any limit, purchase on non-repatriation basis dated Government securities, treasury bills, units of domestic mutual funds, units of Money Marker Mutual Funds. Government of India has notifed that NRIs are not permitted to make Investments in Small Savings Schemes including PPF. In case of investment on non-repatriation basis, the sale proceeds shall be credited to NRO account. The amount invested under the scheme and the capital appreciation thereon will not be allowed to be repatriated abroad.

On Repatriation Basis:

A Non-Resident Indian can purchase on repatriation bases, without limit, Government dated securities (other than bearer securities) or treasury bills or units of domestic mutual funds; bonds issued by a public sector undertaking (PSU) in India and shares in Public Sector Enterprises being disinvested by the Government of India, provided the purchase is in accordance with the terms and conditions stipulated in the notice inviting bids.

Purchase of Other Securities by FIIs

Foreign Institutional Investors can buy dated Government securities/treasury bills, listed non- convertible debentures/bonds issued by Indian companies and units of domestic mutual funds either directly from the issuer of such securities or through a registered stock broker on a recognized stock exchange in India. Purchase of debt instruments by FIIs are subject to limits notifed by SEBI.

Investment by Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs)

A Multilateral Development Bank (MDB), which is specifcally permitted by Government of India to foat rupee bonds in India, can purchase Government dated securities.

Foreign Investment in Tier I and Tier II Instruments Issued by banks in India

FIIs registered with SEBI and NRIs have been permitted to subscribe to the Perpetual Debt Capital instruments (eligible for inclusion as Tier I capital) and Debt Capital instruments (eligible for inclusion as upper Tier II capital), issued by banks in India, subject to the following conditions.

a) Investment by all FIIs in Rupee denominated Perpetual Debt instruments (Tier I) should not exceed an aggregate
ceiling of 49 per cent of each issue, and investment by individual FII should not exceed the limit of 10 per cent of each
issue.

b) Investments by all NRIs in Rupee denominated perpetual Debt instruments (Tier I) should not exceed an aggregate
ceiling of 24 per cent of each issue and investments by a single NRI should not exceed 5 percent of the issue.

c) Investment by FIIs in Rupee denominated Debt capital instruments (Tier II) shall be outside the limits stipulated by SEBI for FIIs investment in corporate debt instruments.

d) Investment By NRIs in Rupee denominated Debt Capital instruments (Tier II) shall be in accordance with the extant policy for investment by NRls in other debt instruments.

The issuing banks are required to ensure compliance with the conditions stipulated above at the time of issue. They are also required to comply with the guidelines notifed by the Department of Banking Operations and Development (DBOD), Reserve Bank of India, from time to time.

The issue-wise details of amount raised as perpetual Debt Instruments qualifying for Tier I capital by the bank from FIIs / NRIs are required to be reported in the prescribed format within 30 days of the issue to the Reserve Bank Rupee denominated.

Investment by FIIs in rupee denominated Upper Tier II Instruments raised in Indian Rupees will be outside the limit prescribed by SEBI for investment by FIIs in these instruments will be subject to a separate ceiling of USD 500 million.

The details of the secondary market sales / purchase by FIIs and the NRIs in these instruments on the foor of the stock exchange are to be reported by the custodians and designated banks respectively, to the Reserve Bank of India through the soft copy of the LEC Returns.

ANNEXURE-1

SECTORS/ACTIVITIES PROHIBITED/RESTRICTED UNDER FDI POLICY

(A)	List of activities for which Automatic Route of RBI for investment from person resident outside India is not available.
1	Petroleum Refning (except for private sector oil refning), Natural Gas /LNG Pipelines
2	Investing companies in Infrastructure & Services Sector
3	Defence and Strategic Industries
4	Atomic Minerals
5	Print Media
6	Broadcasting
7	Postal Services
8	Courier Services
9	Establishment & Operation of satellite
10	Tea Sector
11	Development of Integrated Township
12	Asset Reconstruction Companies
(B)	List of activities or items for which FDI is prohibited.
1	Retail Trading
2	Atomic Energy
3	Lottery Business
4	Gambling & Betting
5	Housing & Real Estate business
6	Agriculture (excluding foriculture, Horticulture, Development of seeds, Animal Husbandry, Pisiculture & Cultivation of vegetables, Mushrooms etc. under controlled conditions & services related to agro & allied sectors) and Plantations (other than Tea plantations)

ANNEXURE-2

SECTORAL CAP ON INVESTMENTS BY PERSONS RESIDENT OUTSIDE INDIA

S. No.	Sector	Investment cap	Description of Activity / Items /conditions
1.	Private sector banking	74%	Subject to guidelines issued by RBI banking from time to time
2.	Non-Banking Financial Companies	100%	FDI / NRI investments allowed in the following 18 NBFC activities shall be as per the levels indicated below:
			(a) Activities Covered
			1. Merchant Banking
			2. Under writing
			3. Portfolio Management Services
			4. Investment Advisory Services
			5. Financial Consultancy
			6. Stock broking
			7. Asset Management
			8. Venture Capital
			9. Custodial Services
			10. Factoring
			11. Credit Rating Agencies
			12. Leasing & Finance
			13. Housing Finance
			14. Forex broking
			15. Credit Card Business
			16. Money changing Business
			17. Micro credit
			18. Rural credit
			(b) Minimum capitalisation norms for fund based NBFCs
			1. For FDI upto 51% US $ 0.5 million to be brought in upfront.
			2. If the FDI is above 51% & upto 75% US $ 5 million to be brought upfront.
			3. If the FDI is above 75% and upto 100%, US $ 50 million out of which $ 7.5 million to be brought in upfront and the balance in 24 months

			(c) Minimum capitalisation norms for non fund based activities Minimum capitalisation norm of US $ 0.5 million is applicable in respect of non-fund based NBFCs with foreign investment.
			(d) Foreign investors can set up 100% operating subsidiaries without the condition to disinvest a minimum of 25% of its equity to Indian entities, subject to bringing in US $ 50 million as at (b) (3) above (without any restriction on number of operating subsidiaries without bringing in additional capital)
			(e) Joint Venture operating NBFCs that have 75% or less than 75% foreign investment will also be allowed to set up subsidiaries for undertaking other NBFC activities subject to the subsidiaries also complying with the applicable minimum capital infow i.e. (b) (1) & (b) (2) above.
			(f) FDI in the NBFC sector is put on automatic route subject to compliance with guidelines of the RBI .RBI would issue appropriate guidelines in this regard.
3.	Insurance	26%	FDI upto 26% in the Insurance sector is allowed on the automatic route subject to obtaining license from Insurance Regulatory & development authority.
4.	Telecommunication	49%	(i) In basic, cellular, Value added Services, and Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite, FDI is limited to 49% subject to licensing and security requirements & adherence by the companies (who are investing & the companies in which the investment is being made) to the license condition for foreign equity cap & lock in period for transfer and addition of equity and other license provisions.
			(ii) ISP with gateways, radio paging and end-to-end bandwith, FDI is permitted upto 74% with FDI, beyond 49% requiring Government approval. These services would be subject to licensing and security requirements.
			(iii) No equity cap is applicable to manufacturing activities.
			(iv) FDI upto 100% is allowed for the following activities in the telecom sector.

		(a) ISPs not providing gateways (both for satellite and submarine cables)
		(b) Infrastructure Providers providing dark fbre (IP Category 1)
		(c) Electronic Mail, and
		(d) Voice Mail
		The above would be subject to the following conditions:
		(a) FDI upto 100% is allowed subject to the condition that such companies would divest 26% of their equity in favour of Indian Public in 5 years, if these companies are listed in other parts of the world.
		(b) The above services would be subject to licensing and security requirements, wherever required
		(c) Proposal for FDI beyond 49% shall be considered by FIPB on case-tocase basis.
5.	(i) Petroleum Refning 100% (private Sector)	FDI permitted upto 100% incase of private Indian companies
	(ii) Petroleum Product 100% Marketing	Subject to the existing sectoral policy and regulatory framework in the oil-marketing sector.
	(iii) Oil Exploration 100% in both small & medium sized feld	Subject to and under the policy of Government on private participation in:-
		(a) Exploration of oil and
		(b) the discovered felds of national oil companies.
	(iv) Petroleum product 100% pipelines	Subject to and under the Government Policy & regulations thereof.
6.	Housing and Real 100% Estate	Only the NRIs are allowed to invest in the areas listed below:
		(a) Development of serviced plots and construction of built up residential premises.
		(b) Investment in real estate covering construction of residential and commercial premises including business centers and offces.
		(c) Development of townships.

		(d)	City and regional level urban infrastructure facilities including both roads and bridges.
		(e)	Investment in manufacture of building material.
		(f)	Investment in participatory ventures in (a) to (e) above.
		(g)	Investment in housing fnance institution which is also opened to FDI as an NBFC.
7.	Coal & lignite	(i)	Private Indian companies setting up or operating power projects as well as coal & lignite mines for captive consumption are allowed FDI upto 100%.
		(ii)	100% FDI is allowed for setting up processing plants subject to the condition that the company shall not do coal mining and shall not sell washed coal or sized coal from its coal processing plants in the open market and shall supply the washed or sized coal to those parties who are supplying raw coal to coal processing plants for washing or sizing.
		(iii)	FDI upto 74% is allowed for exploration or mining of coal or lignite for captive consumption.
		(iv)	In all the above cases, FDI is allowed upto 50% under the automatic route subject to the condition that such investment shall not exceed 49% of the equity of a PSU.
8.	venture Capital Fund (vCF) and venture Capital company (vCC)		Offshore Venture Capital Funds / companies are allowed to invest in domestic venture Capital undertaking as well as other companies through automatic route, subject to only SEBI regulations and sector specifc caps on FDI.
9.	Trading		Trading is permitted under automatic route with FDI upto 51% provided it is primarily export activities, and the undertaking is an export house/ trading house/ star trading house/ super trading house. However, under the FIPB route:
		(i)	100% FDI is permitted in case of trading companies for the following activities:
		(a)	Exports
		(b)	Bulk imports with export/ex-bonded warehouses sales;
		(c)	Cash and carry wholesale trading.

			(d) Other import of goods or services provided at least 75% is for procurement and sale of the same group and not for third party use or onward transfer/distribution/sales.
			(ii) The following kinds of trading are also permitted, subject to provision of EXIM policy.
			(a) Companies for providing after sales services (i.e. not trading per se.)
			(b) Domestic trading of products of Jvs is permitted at the wholesale level for such trading companies who wish to market manufactured products on behalf of their joint ventures in which they have equity participation in India.
			(c) Trading of hi tech items/items requiring specialized after sales service
			(d) Trading of items for social sector.
			(e) Trading of hi-tech medical and diagnostic items
			(f) Trading of items sourced from the small scale sector under which, based on technology provided and laid down quality specifcation, a company can market that item under its brand name.
			(g) Domestic sourcing of products for exports.
			(h) Test marketing of such items for which a company has approval for manufacture provided such test marketing facility will be for a period of two years, and investment in setting up manufacturing facilities commences simultaneously with test marketing.
			(i) FDI upto 100% permitted for e-commerce activities subject to the condition that such companies would divest 26% of their equity in favour of the Indian public in fve years, if these companies are listed in other parts of the world. Such companies would engage only in business to business (B2B) e-commerce and not in retail trading.
10.	Power	100%	FDI allowed upto 100% in respect of project relating to electricity generation, transmission and distribution, other than atomic reactor power plants. There is no limit on the project cost and quantum of foreign direct investment.

11.	Drugs & Pharmaceuticals	100%	FDI permitted upto 100% for manufacture of drugs and pharmaceuticals provided the activity does not attract compulsory licensing or involve use of recombinant DNA technology and specifc cell / tissue targeted formulations. FDI proposals for the manufacture of licensable drugs and pharmaceuticals and bulk drugs produced by recombinant DNA technology and specifc cell/tissue targeted formulations will require prior Government approval.
< 12.	Road and highways, Port and harbours	100%	In project for construction and maintenance of roads, highways, vehicular bridges, toll roads, vehicular tunnels, ports and harbours.
13.	Hotel & Tourism	100%	The term hotels include restaurants, beach resorts and other tourist complexes providing accommodation and/or catering and food facilities to tourists. Tourism related industry include travel agencies, tour operating agencies and tourist transport operating agencies, units providing facilities for cultural, adventure and wild life experience to tourists, surface, air and water transport facilities to tourists, leisure, entertainment, amusement, sports and health units for tourists and Convention/ Seminar units and organizations.
			For foreign technology agreements, automatic approval is granted if
			(i) Upto 3% of the capital cost of the project is proposed to be paid for technical and consultancy
			(ii) Upto 3% of the net turnover is payable for franchising and marketing/publicity support fee, and Upto 10% of gross operating proft is payable for management fee, including incentive fee.
14.	Mining	74%	(i) For exploration and mining of diamonds and precious stones FDI is allowed upto 74% under automatic route
		100%	(ii) For exploration and mining of gold and silver and minerals other than diamonds and precious stones, metallurgy and processing FDI is allowed upto 100% under automatic route
			(iii) Press Note 18 (1998 series) dated 14/12/98 would not be applicable for setting up 100% owned subsidiaries in so far as the mining sector is concerned, subject to a declaration from the applicant that he has no existing joint venture for the same area and/or the particular mineral.

15.	Advertising	100%	Advertising sector - FDI upto 100% allowed on the automatic route
16.	Films	100%	Film Sector (Film production, exhibition and distribution including related services/products)
			FDI upto 100% allowed on the automatic route with no entry level condition
17.	Airports	74%	Govt. approval required beyond 74%
18.	Mass Rapid Transport Systems	100%	FDI upto 100% is permitted on the automatic route in mass rapid transport system in all metros including associated real estate development
19.	Pollution Control & Management	100%	In both manufacture of pollution control equipment and consultancy for integration of pollution control system is permitted on the automatic route
20.	Special Economic Zones	100%	All manufacturing activities excepts: (i) Arms and ammunition, Explosives and allied items of defence equipments, Defence aircrafts and warships,
			(ii) Atomic substances, Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances and hazardous Chemicals,
			(iii) Distillation and brewing of Alcoholic drinks and
			(iv) Cigarette/cigars and manufactured tobacco substitutes.
21.	Any other Sector/ Activity	100%	If not included in Annexure (1A)
22.	Air Transport Services (Domestic Airlines)	100% for NRIs 49% for others	No direct or indirect equity participation by foreign airlines is allowed
23.	Townships, housing, built-up infrastructure and construction development projects The sector would include, but not be restricted to, housing, commercial premises, hotels, resorts, hospitals, educational institutions, recreational facilities, city and regional level infrastructure	100%	The investment shall be subject to the following guidelines:

		(a) Minimum area to be developed under each project shall be as under: (i) In case of development of serviced housing plots - 10 hectares
		(ii) In case of construction development project - 50,000 sq. mtrs.
		(iii) In case of combination project, any one of the above two conditions.
		(b) The investment shall be subject to the following conditions: (i) Minimum capitalization of US$ 10 Million for wholly owned subsidiaries and US $5 Million for joint ventures with Indian partners. The funds would have to be brought in within six months of commencement of business of the Company.
		(ii) Original investment cannot be repatriated before a period of three years from completion of minimum capitalization. However, the investor may be permitted to exit earlier with prior approval of the Government through the FIPB.
		(c) At least 50% of the project must be developed within a period of fve years from the date of obtaining all statutory clearances. The investor shall not be permitted to sell undeveloped plots.
		(d) The project shall conform to the norms and standards, as laid down in the applicable building control regulations, bye-laws, rules, and other regulations of the State Government /Municipal / Local Body concerned.

		(e) The investor shall be responsible for obtaining all necessary approvals, including those of the building/ layout plans, developing internal and peripheral areas and other infrastructure facilities, payment of development, external development and other charges and complying with all other requirements as prescribed under applicable rules /bye-laws/regulations of the State Government / Municipal/Local Body concerned.
		(f) The State Government / Municipal / Local Body concerned, which approves the building / development plan, shall monitor compliance of the above conditions by the developer.
		Note: For the purpose of these guidelines, “underdeveloped plots” will mean where roads, water supply, street lighting, drainage, sewerage, and other conveniences, as applicable under prescribed regulations, have not been made available. It will be necessary that the investor provides this infrastructure and obtains the completion certifcate from the concerned local body/service agency before he would be allowed to dispose of serviced housing plots