Foreign investment in India – Reporting in Single Master Form - Series -356

Foreign investment in India –

Reporting in Single Master Form

SHORT SUMMARY:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced new directions under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 vide A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 30 notified on the 7 June 2018 (hereinafter referred to as 'RBI Circular') laying down the roadmap for implementation of the reporting of foreign investments. 

As per Reserve Bank of India, There are various ways of investment in India by foreigners and there are different forms for each type of investment like: Capital contribution in Company, LLP or investment in other investment vehicles.

To make it convenient, ease of doing business RBI will introduce a “Single Master Form (SMF) subsuming all the existing reports. The focus of RBI is on integrating the foreign direct investment reporting system and RBI has introduced TWO FORMS for this.

ENTITY MASTER FORM:

EMF is part of first Module of FIRMS (Foreign Investment Reporting and Management System). This forms is available on RBI website from (28, June 2018 to 12, July, 2018).

 It would provide an interface for Indian entities to input their existing foreign investment (including indirect foreign investment) data.  Entities  shall provide data with respect to all foreign investments received, irrespective of the fact that the regulatory reporting to the Reserve Bank for the same has been made or not and whether the same has been acknowledged or not

Features of Form:

·         First Phase: RBI has provided a reporting interface called as EMF to Indian companies and LLPs that have existing foreign investment including indirect foreign investments, to provide data input on total foreign investment received till date by them.

·         There are various details required to be filled in EMF, like identification number, detail of entry user, authorization letter in favour of entry user, etc.

Some FAQ’s from RBI Circular:

A.      Who is an Entity?

• A company within the meaning of section 1(4) of the Companies Act, 2013

• A Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) registered under the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008

• A startup which complies with the conditions laid down in Notification No. G.S.R 180(E) dated February 17, 2016 issued by Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India

Important Notes for Entity Master

§  All details must be provided in one go.

§  Only when all the mandatory fields have been filled, the submit button is enabled.

§  The RESET button will reset the complete form.

§  Once the details have been submitted the Entity user can modify the details.

§  The onus of the integrity of the data entered is on the Entity user.

NOTE:

Complete detail that how to fill the form “EMF” has been given by RBI in the form of FAQ’s.

MOST IMPORTANT

Indian entities not complying with these instructions will Not Be Able To Receive Foreign Investment (including indirect foreign investment) and will be treated as non-compliant with Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA) and regulations made thereunder and liable for action as laid in FEMA or the regulations made thereunder.

SINGLE MASTER FORM:

SMF is part of second Module of FIRMS (Foreign Investment Reporting and Management System):

§  This form would be made available with effect from August 01, 2018.

§  This form would contain 9 reports.

The SMF will be an integrated reporting form which will be an event-based. SMF would provide a facility for reporting total foreign investment in an Indian entity viz. company, LLP and other investment vehicles (Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)/Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvIts)/Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs).

SMF will subsume the existing forms such as:

§  FC-GPR and FC-TRS for Issue and transfer of shares.

§  Form LLP-I & II for foreign direct investment in LLP and disinvestment/transfer of capital contribution.

§  Form ESOP for issue of employee stock option plan.

§  Form CN for issue or transfer of convertible notes.

§  Form DR for issue or transfer of depository receipts.

SMF will also be compulsory while:

§  Reporting the downstream investment (indirect foreign investment) in a company or LLP via Form DI – reporting of downstream investment (indirect foreign investment) in a company or LLP.

§  Reporting of investment in an investment vehicle, including REITs, InvIts and AIFs via Form InVi – reporting of investment by a person resident outside India in an investment vehicle.

(Author – CS Divesh Goyal, GOYAL DIVESH & ASSOCIATES Company Secretary in Practice from Delhi and can be contacted at csdiveshgoyal@gmail.com)

Disclaimer: The entire contents of this document have been prepared on the basis of relevant provisions and as per the information existing at the time of the preparation. Although care has been taken to ensure the accuracy, completeness and reliability of the information provided, I assume no responsibility therefore. Users of this information are expected to refer to the relevant existing provisions of applicable Laws. The user of the information agrees that the information is not a professional advice and is subject to change without notice. I assume no responsibility for the consequences of use of such information. IN NO EVENT SHALL I SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGE RESULTING FROM, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OF THE INFORMATION.