RBI allowed the Non-Resident Investors to buy Shares under FDI Scheme

The Reserve Bank of India on 6 September 2013 allowed the Non-Resident Investors including NRIs to purchase shares of Indian entities Under FDI Scheme. The investment can be made as per the mentioned conditions. RBI has allowed the NRIs to make investment under the FDI scheme only on the listed entities, on recognized stock exchanges.

The Reserve Bank of India has decided to include the non-residents, including the NRIs to acquire the shares of domestic companies listed under FDI scheme, on the stock exchanges through a registered broker, if the investor has already acquired and continues to hold control in accordance with SEBI, Substantial Takeover Code.

RBI has also cleared that the inward remittance using the normal banking channels can be used for payment of the transfer of shares to non-residents consequent to purchase. The debit to the NRE pr FCNR account of a person with authorized dealer or bank can also be considered for making the payment of the transferred shares. Escrow Accounts (non-interest bearing) maintained in India can also be used to debit the payment.  The prices of the transfer of the shares for the non-resident shareholders would be made in accordance to the pricing guidelines mentioned under, FEMA.

Till now, the FIIs (Foreign Institutional Investor), QFIs (Qualified Foreign Investors) and NRIs were eligible to invest and acquire the shares on the recognized stock exchanges of India in compliance with the FEMA (Foreign Exchange Management Act) regulations. But the NRIs were not allowed to acquire shares on exchange (bourses) under the FDI Scheme.