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Showing posts with label RBI Master Circular. Show all posts
Showing posts with label RBI Master Circular. Show all posts

Monday, August 23, 2010

FEMA Contravention clarification, whether technical/minor is what RBI has to decide and not on own motion or on basis of external advice BUT in nature of interest, apply compounding @ earliest opportunity & how to enter into composition

RBI clarifies on compounding of contraventions under Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999

The Reserve Bank of India has clarified that whether contraventions under Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) are to be treated as technical and/ or minor or serious would be decided by the Reserve Bank on the merits of the case. The case would accordingly be disposed of keeping in view the procedure notified in this regard. It has urged that persons who have contravened provisions of FEMA should not take upon themselves, suo moto or on the basis of external advice, to decide whether a particular contravention is of a technical or minor in nature and, hence, no compounding application need be submitted to the Reserve Bank.

 

The Reserve Bank has further clarified that if such applications for compounding are not made, the person concerned shall expose himself/herself to such action under the provisions of FEMA as the authorities may deem appropriate. The persons concerned should, therefore, in their own interest, submit their applications for compounding of contravention under FEMA to the Reserve Bank at the earliest opportunity.

 

It may be recalled that in terms of A.P.(DIR Series) Circular No. 56 dated June 28, 2010, the Reserve Bank had notified the process of compounding which has been further rationalised and streamlined to enhance transparency and effect smooth implementation of the compounding process and understand the same from

Violated Foreign Exchange laws: on becoming aware of the contravention, disclose it to RBI to save huge penalty of 2 lakhs or 3 times the amount involved in transaction [Compounding Master Circular]

Source: RBI Press Release No. 2010-2011/234 dated 13th August 2010

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Issue or Transfer of shares under FEMA: No more CCI guidelines pricing but Discounted Cash Flow technique for valuation: certification by Merchant banker/Chartered Accountant

Issue of shares

(a) After issue of shares (including bonus and shares issued on rights basis) and shares issued under ESOP)/ convertible debentures / convertible preference shares, the Indian company has to file Form FC-GPR, enclosed in Annex - 8, through it’s AD Category I bank, not later than 30 days from the date of issue of shares. The Form can also be downloaded from the Reserve Bank's website http://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_ViewFemaForms.aspx. Non-compliance with the above provision would be reckoned as a contravention under FEMA and could attract penal provisions.

Issue Price (for all issues other than Rights Issue)

  • 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.
  • In case of unlisted companies, valuation of shares has to be done by a SEBI registered Category I Merchant Banker or a Chartered Accountant as per the Discounted Free Cash Flow Method (DCF) .
  • In case of issue of shares on preferential allotment the price shall not be less that the price as applicable to transfer of shares from resident to non-resident.

Issue Price (for Rights Issue)

  • Listed = @ the price determined by the Company.
  • Unlisted = Minimum price is the Rights Issue price to resident shareholders.

Transfer of Shares

Reporting of transfer of shares between residents and non-residents and vice- versa is to be made in Form FC-TRS (enclosed in Annex - 9). The Form FC-TRS should be submitted to the AD Category – I bank, within 60 days from the date of receipt of the amount of consideration. The onus of submission of the Form FC-TRS within the given timeframe would be on the transferor / transferee, resident in India. The AD Category – I bank, should forward the same to its link office. The link office should consolidate the Form FC-TRS and submit a monthly report to the Reserve Bank.

Transfer Price

  1. Transfer by Resident to Non-resident (i.e. to foreign national, NRI, FII and incorporated non-resident entity other than erstwhile OCB)
    • Listed = Minimum price as per Preferential Issue under SEBI ICDR regulation with date of purchase/sale as relevant date.
    • Unlisted = Minimum price as per Fair value under Discounted Cash Flow Method and certified by Merchant Banker or Chartered Accountant.
  2. Transfer by Non-resident (i.e. by incorporated non-resident entity, erstwhile OCB, foreign national, NRI and FII) to Resident
    • Should be within Minimum price as said in Transfer by Resident to Non-Resident above (for all issues).

Updated Notifications

  1. Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of Security by a PersonResident Outside India) (Amendment) Regulations, 2010
  2. A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No.49 dated 4th May 2009

  3. Foreign Investment Master Circular July2010

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Violated Foreign Exchange laws: on becoming aware of the contravention, disclose it to RBI to save huge penalty of 2 lakhs or 3 times the amount involved in transaction [Compounding Master Circular]

It has been decided to put in place an updated procedure for compounding of contravention/s under FEMA on the basis of observations made over the last few years on the compounding process on a continuous basis and the experience gained in dealing with compounding applications. The objective is rationalization and streamlining of the process and the procedure for compounding and to enhance transparency and effect smooth implementation of the compounding process. The directions contained in the compounding of contravention/s issued vide A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.31 dated February 1, 2005 are superseded by this circular vide A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 56 dated 28th June 2010 and as provided in Master Circular on Compounding of Contraventions under FEMA, 1999 read with Foreign Exchange (Compounding Proceedings) Rules, 2000 (the Rules).  Further, Operational checkpoints for submission of a compounding application and the related matters are also given.

 

When an application is made for compounding of a contravention, the RBI would examine the nature of contravention in the following manner:
• whether the contravention is technical and/or minor in nature and needs only an administrative cautionary advice;
• whether the contravention is serious and warrants compounding of the contravention; and
• whether the contravention, prima facie, involves money-laundering, national and security concerns involving serious infringements of the regulatory framework. In such a case, RBI may order necessary investigation.

Investigation by Enforcement Directorate (ED)
If RBI finds that it is necessary for further investigation, it may recommend the matter to the Directorate of Enforcement (DoE) for further investigation. Such action may be initiated under FEMA, 1999 by the Enforcement Directorate or the Anti Money Laundering Authority instituted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 or to any other agencies, as RBI may deem fit.

Time Frame for Disposing of Compounding Application
RBI states that applications for compounding will be disposed of in 180 days. If investigation as aforesaid is necessary, compounding will not take place. The application will be returned to the Applicant.

Factors Considered for determining the compounding fee
• The amount of gain or unfair advantage;
• The amount of loss caused to the exchequer;
• The economic benefits accruing to the contravener due to delayed compliance;
• The repetitive nature of contravention by the contravener;
• The conduct of contravener in disclosure of information; and
• Such other matter in the opinion of RBI will be the factors on the basis of which the application will be examined.

Time Frame for Payment of Compounding Fee
The amount payable by the contravener as per the compounding order should be paid within 15 days from the date of the order. If the contravener fails to pay the said amount then it will be deemed that the contravener has never applied for compounding of offence.

Repeated Offences <= 3years
A similar offence within 3 years of the compounding of the earlier offence shall not be compoundable.  Any second or subsequent contravention committed after the expiry of a period of three years from the date on which the contravention was previously compounded shall be deemed to be a first contravention.


Certificate after Compounding
RBI will issue a certificate to the contravener subject to the conditions of the compounding order after realization of the amount paid as per the compounding order.

Within 12 months of Export of Goods and Software, Realise & Repatriate export Proceeds till 31st March 2011 now with Master Circular

Export of Goods and Software – Realisation and Repatriation of export proceeds – Liberalisation as per A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.57 dated 29th June 2010

Attention of Authorised Dealer Category-I (AD Category-I) banks is invited to A.P.(DIR Series) Circular No.70 dated June 30, 2009 increasing the period of realisation and repatriation to India of the amount representing the full export value of goods or software exported, from six months to twelve months from the date of export, subject to review after one year.

The issue has since been reviewed and it has been decided, in consultation with the Government of India, to extend the above relaxation up to March 31, 2011.

To understand the updated version in this regard: Master Circular on Export of Goods and Services

Money Laundering Amendment 2010 with insertion of explanation along with updated Master Circular

Prevention of Money-laundering (Maintenance of Records of the Nature and Value of Transactions, the Procedure and Manner of Maintaining and Time for Furnishing Information and Verification and Maintenance of Records of the Identity of the Clients of the Banking Companies, Financial Institutions and Intermediaries) Second Amendment Rules, 2010- Obligation of banks as per DBOD. AML. BC. No. 113 /14 .01.001/2009-10 dated 29th June 2010.

In the Prevention of Money-laundering (Maintenance of Records of the Nature and Value of Transactions, the Procedure and Manner of Maintaining and Time for Furnishing Information and Verification and Maintenance of Records of the Identity of the Clients of the Banking Companies, Financial Institutions and Intermediaries) Rules, 2005:-

An explanation is added to "suspicious transaction" definition: In rule 2 in sub-rule (1), after clause (g), the following Explanation shall be inserted, namely:-
"Explanation:- Transaction involving financing of the activities relating to terrorism includes transaction involving funds suspected to be linked or related to, or to be used for terrorism, terrorist act or by a terrorist.

 

Further, in Rule 9, the existing sub-rules (1A,B,C,D) are replaced and some Explanation in added in Rule 10.

For full details, kindly refer the Updated Master Circular – Know Your Customer (KYC) norms / Anti-Money Laundering (AML) standards/Combating of Financing of Terrorism (CFT)/Obligation of banks under PMLA, 2002

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Download FEMA Master Circulars on FDI/ODI, etc...issued by RBI & updated on 1st July of every year 2010 with foreign exchange law of India up to date

 Note: Master Circulars are a one-point reference of instructions issued by the Reserve Bank of India on a particular subject between July-June. These are issued on July 1 every year and automatically expire on June 30 next year. You can access the Master Circulars issued in previous years by using the Archives. For printing of these circulars please use the PDF version.

Foreign Exchange
Jul 01, 2010
Master Circular on Establishment of Liaison / Branch / Project Offices in India by Foreign Entities  110 kb
Master Circular on Acquisition and Transfer of Immovable Property in India by NRIs/PIOs/Foreign Nationals of Non-Indian Origin  97 kb
Master Circular on Import of Goods and Services  298 kb
Master Circular on Risk Management and Inter-Bank Dealings  346 kb
Master Circular on Foreign Investment in India  368 kb
Master Circular on Memorandum of Instructions governing money changing activities  324 kb
Master Circular on External Commercial Borrowings and Trade Credits  220 kb
Master Circular on Export of Goods and Services  351 kb
Master Circular on Memorandum of Instructions for Opening and Maintenance of Rupee/ Foreign Currency Vostro Accounts of Non-resident Exchange Houses  217 kb
Master Circular on Money Transfer Service Scheme  123 kb
Master Circular on Compounding of Contraventions under FEMA, 1999  65 kb
Master Circular on Direct Investment by Residents in Joint Venture (JV) /Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) Abroad  362 kb
Master Circular on Non-Resident Ordinary Rupee (NRO) Account  95 kb
Master Circular on Remittance Facilities for Non-Resident Indians /Persons of Indian Origin / Foreign Nationals  80 kb
Master Circular on Miscellaneous Remittances from India – Facilities for Residents  266 kb
  

Source: Click here to download updated RBI Master Circular

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Download all Press Notes from 1991 to 2009 issued by DIPP as it proposes to consolidate PNs in 2010 to release a comprehensive FDI policy in India like Master Circulars with a sunset clause of 6 months

Draft Master Press Note with FDI Regulatory Framework

The Legal basis: Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) by non-resident (NRI) in resident entities through transfer or issue of security to person resident outside India (PROI) is a ‘Capital account transaction’ and Government of India and Reserve bank of India (RBI) regulate this under the FEMA 1999 and its various regulations. Keeping in view the current requirements, the Government comes up from time to time with new regulation, amends/changes in existing one through order/allied rules, Press Notes, etc. . The regulatory framework over a period of time thus consists of Acts, Regulations, Press Notes, Press Releases, Clarifications, etc.


This draft Press Note consolidates into one document all the prior regulations on FDI and reflects the current ‘regulatory framework’ on FDI. It is clarified that this is a consolidation/compilation and comprehensive listing of most matters on FDI and is not intended to make changes in the extant regulations. While attempt has been made to deal with the subject comprehensively, if some aspect(s) has been left out then that will continue to be dealt in the current way where it is listed.


It is the intent and objective of the Government to have a regulatory framework which is transparent, predictable, understandable, simple and clear to reduce the regulatory burden and promote foreign direct investment. The new system of continuous consolidation and updation is primarily evinced as a measure of investor and investment friendliness.


This Press Note will have a sunset clause of 6 months and will automatically lapse on 30th September, 2010. A new press Note on Regulatory Framework would be issued every six months which will incorporate and reflect all the changes in the regulations during the last intervening period of 6 months. Thus the Government will issue Press Note on FDI Regulatory Framework twice a year in April and October which would be the current regulatory framework on that date.


All earlier Press Notes on FDI issued by Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Government of India stand rescinded.


Notwithstanding the rescindment of earlier Press Notes, anything done or any action taken or purported to have been done or taken under the resinded Press Notes shall in so far as it is not inconsistent with this Press Note be deemed to have been done or taken under the corresponding provisions of this Press Note.

Download all Press Notes issued by DIPP from 1991 to 2009 here

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

RBI Master Circulars List 2008

Yes, RBI releases Master Circular every year on 1st of July consolidating ALL  the amendments pertaining to that year in a particular area.  Its really a task to summarise such circulars. So, am just providing the links of the same, which may be used for ready-reference regarding the particular area.  The intention is to get to know, such things exists.






Master Circular – "Non-Banking Financial (DeposiMaster Circular – "Non-Banking Financial Companies Acceptance of Public Deposits (Reserve Bank) Directions, 1998"t Accepting or Holding) Companies Prudential Norms (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2007"





Master Circular – "Non-Banking Financial (Non - Deposit Accepting or Holding) Companies Prudential Norms (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2007"





Master Circular on Non-Resident Ordinary Rupee (NRO) Account





Master Circular on Remittance Facilities for Non-Resident Indians/Persons of Indian Origin / Foreign Nationals





Master Circular on Miscellaneous Remittances from India – Facilities for Residents





Master Circular – Foreign Contribution ( Regulation ) Act, 1976 – Obligations of Banks in Regulating Receipt of Foreign Contributions by Associations / Organizations in India





Master Circular – Operational Guidelines to Primary Dealers





Master Circular – "Non-Banking Financial Companies Auditor's Report (Reserve Bank) Directions, 1998"





Master Circular on Capital Adequacy Standards and Risk Management Guidelines for standalone Primary Dealers





Master Circular – "Reserve Bank of India (Non-Banking Financial Companies) Returns Specifications 1997"





Master Circular- Exemptions from the provisions of RBI Act, 1934





Master Circular on New " Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers" (SRMS) from the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment for rehabilitation of all the remaining scavengers and their dependents by March 2009





Master Circular-Frauds – Future approach towards monitoring of frauds in NBFCs





Master Circular – "Miscellaneous Non-Banking Companies (Reserve Bank) Directions, 1977"





Guidelines for Issue of Commercial Paper





Master Circular – "Mortgage Guarantee Company (Reserve Bank) Guidelines, 2008"





Guidelines for Issue of Certificates of Deposit





Master Circular – "Mortgage Guarantee Companies Prudential Norms (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2008" and " Mortgage Guarantee Companies Investment (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2008"





Master Circular on Call/Notice Money Market Operations





Master Circular – "Residuary Non-Banking Companies (Reserve Bank) Directions, 1987"





The Securitisation Companies and Reconstruction Companies (Reserve Bank) Guidelines and Directions, 2003





Master Circular on directions/instructions issued to the Securitisation Companies/ Reconstruction Companies





Master Circular - Disclosure in Financial Statements - Notes to Accounts





Master Circular - Bank Finance to Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs)





Master Circular - Guidelines for Relief Measures by Banks in areas affected by Natural Calamities





Master Circular on Priority Sector Lending- Special Programmes- Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY)





Master Circular-Priority Sector Lending - Credit facilities to Minority Communities





Master Circular Priority Sector Lending-Credit facilities to Scheduled Castes (SCs) & Scheduled Tribes (STs)





Master Circular Priority Sector Lending- Special Programmes Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY)





Master Circular- Resource Raising Norms for Financial Institutions





Master Circular - Disclosure Norms for Financial Institutions





Master Circular – Prudential norms for classification, valuation and operation of investment portfolio by FIs





Master Circular - Exposure Norms for Financial Institutions





Master Circular - Lending to Priority Sector





Master Circular on Micro Credit





Master Circular on Nomination Facility in Relief / Savings Bonds





Master Circular on Appointment & delisting of Brokers and Payment of Brokerage on Relief / Savings Bonds





Master Circular - Para-banking Activities





Master Circular on Credit Card Operations of banks





Master Circular on Area of Operation, Branch Authorisation Policy, Opening/ Up- gradation of Extension Counters, ATMs and Shifting/Splitting/Closure of Offices





Master Circular - Lending to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)Sector





Master Circular on Foreign Investment in India





Master Circular - Prudential norms on Income Recognition, Asset Classification and Provisioning pertaining to Advances





Master Circular On Rupee / Foreign Currency Export Credit & Customer Service to Exporters





Master Circular on Housing Finance





Master Circular on Import of Goods and Services





Master Circular on Exposure Norms and Statutory/Other Restrictions - UCBs





Master Circular on Investments by Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks





Master Circular on Direct Investment by Residents in Joint Venture (JV)/Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) abroad





Master Circular Interest Rates on Rupee Deposits - UCBs





Master Circular on Maintenance of Deposit Accounts - UCBs





Master Circular on Export of Goods and Services





Master Circular - Prudential Norms on Capital Adequacy-Basel I Framework





Master Circular – Prudential norms for classification, valuation and operation of investment portfolio by banks

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