NRIs Investment oppertunities

NRIs can make direct investments in proprietary / partnership concerns in India as also in the primary issues of shares / debentures of Indian companies. They can also make portfolio investments, i.e. purchase of shares / debentures of Indian companies through stock exchanges in India. These facilities are available on both repatriation and non-repatriation basis.

In order to facilitate NRIs to set up new companies in India, Reserve Bank vide its Notification NO. FERA 143/93 RB dated 26^th April 1993, has granted general permission to NRIs to subscribe to the Memorandum and Articles of Association and to take up the shares of Indian companies for their incorporation. The general permission empowers such Indian companies to issue shares to NRIs provided the total face value of the shares to be issued does not exceed Rs. 10,000/- and the company is not engaged into activity relating to agricultural and plantation.

A. DIRECT INVESTMENT

NRIs are permitted to make direct investment in partnership/ proprietorship concerns in India as also by way of subscription to shares/ debentures of Indian companies. They are also permitted to place funds in company deposits. Similar facilities are also available to OCBs with certain exceptions. Investments made will either be on repatriation or on non repatriation basis depending on the terms and conditions applicable under the existing schemes for NRI investment Wherever the investments are allowed with repatriation benefits, the funds for the purpose should be received by inward remittances from abroad or from the investor’s NRE/ FCNR Accounts. However, in respect of investment on non repatriation basis, funds in NRO Accounts could also be used.

Non resident Indians resident in Nepal will be permitted to make investments in India provided the funds for the purpose are remitted in free foreign exchange through proper banking channels.

I. Investments Without Repatriation Benefits NRIs / OCBs who undertake not to seek at any time repatriation of the capital invested in India and the income earned thereon are permitted to invest on non repatriation basis. The income earned on these investments as and when accrued are required to be credited to the Ordinary Non Resident Rupee (NRO) account of the investor. Reserve Bank would, however, permit repatriation of the net (i.e. after payment of tax) income / interest earned during the financial year 1994/95 and onwards on such investments/ deposits in accordance with the procedure laid down. The categories of investment under this head are the following

Investment in Partnership/ Proprietorship Concerns

Investment in New Issues of Shares/ debentures of Indian Companies

Investment in Non Convertible Debentures of Indian companies

Purchase of Shares of Indian Companies by Private Arrangement

Investment in Domestic Public Sector and Private Sector Mutual Funds

Investment in Money Market Mutual Funds (MMMFs)

Acceptance of deposits by proprietary concerns/firms/companies in India on Non-repatriation basis.

and meny more to add.. The above topics will be discussed in detail frm tommrow on wards