2013 Changes in Indian FDI Policy

November 21, 2013 Posted by India Briefing Reading Time: 4 minutes

Nov. 21 – Navigating foreign investment in India can be daunting. The World Bank’s Doing Business 2014 report ranks India among the most difficult countries in which to start a business – 179th out of 189 countries analyzed. As such, foreign firms are highly recommended to hire a professional services firm to assist with setup and investment in the country.

For foreign institutional investors (FII) and firms considering foreign direct investment (FDI), a familiarity with India’s recent changes in FDI policy is critical. Below, important amendments made to India’s foreign investment policy in 2013 are summarized, and changes currently under discussion for 2014 explored.

Amendments made this year in Indian FDI policy impact a number of key business sectors, and in many instances eliminate the need for foreign investors to obtain approval from the Indian Government before investing. Additionally, policy changes in 2013 alter the legal definition of ‘control’ and regulations for single and multi-brand retail trading.

FDI Routes and Foreign Investment

Foreign investment into India falls under one of two FDI routes:

Government Route: For investment in business sectors requiring prior approval from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB)
Automatic Route: For investment in business sectors that do not require prior approval from the government

Foreign investments take two principal forms:

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): The acquisition of shares or other securities in an Indian company
Foreign Institutional Investment (FII): Investment by foreign institutional investors (such as hedge funds, insurance companies, or mutual funds) registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) through recognized stock exchanges

Both distinctions are important when interpreting recent changes in foreign investment policy, as variations in foreign investment caps and approval routes often vary by both industry and investor.

Changes to FDI Caps and Approval Routes

The previous and revised policies in key business sectors are outlined in the chart below:

FDI caps in the following sectors have been unchanged in 2013:

Civil aviation (49 percent FDI cap)
Defense (26 percent FDI cap, changes expected soon for state-of-the-art technology)
Airports (74 percent FDI cap, above 74 percent possible via government route)
Print media (26 percent FDI cap)
Brownfield pharmaceuticals (100 percent FDI cap, only via government route)
Multi-brand retail (51 percent, only via government route)

Changes in the Definition of ‘Control’

A changed definition of ‘control’ is also expected to check FDI into sectors where there currently exists a sectorial cap.

Prior to the 2013 amendments, companies were considered to be ‘controlled’ by resident Indian citizens if an Indian citizen held a 51 percent stake in the firm and wielded the power to appoint a majority of directors in that company.

Under the broadened definition of control introduced this year, ‘control’ now includes not only the power to appoint a majority of directors, but also the ability to control the management or policy decisions via shareholding, management rights, shareholder agreements, or voting agreements.

Consequently, companies previously considered to be ‘Indian’ may now be viewed as foreign controlled and subject to FDI caps and restrictions on downstream investment.

Changes in Single and Multi-Brand Retail Trading

While previous FDI policy only permitted one non-resident entity with ownership of a brand (or rights to a brand) to invest in Indian companies engaged in the retail trading of that brand, policy changes now allow multiple non-resident entities (as long as each own or have rights to the brand via a legally binding agreement) to invest in Indian entities engaged in single-brand retail trading of that brand.

Additionally, single-brand retail trading investment routes have been modified:

In respect to multi-brand retail trading, changes made in 2012 permitted up to 51 percent FDI with prior government approval. Conditions for investment, however, required companies to invest at least 50 percent of the total FDI proceeds into ‘back-end infrastructure’ such as manufacturing, processing, packaging, distribution, logistics, design improvements, quality control, warehouses, storage, and agriculture market produce infrastructure.

Changes made in 2013 now clarify that at least 50 percent of the first US$100 million must be invested in ‘back end infrastructure.’ Furthermore, the previous requirement regarding manufacturing and processing 30 percent of products in ‘small industries’ has been discontinued, and multi-brand retail trading companies (MBRTCs) are now permitted to source their products from any manufacturing and processing entity so long as investment in plant and machinery is below US$2 million at the first engagement.

MBRTCs are now also allowed to establish outlets in a wider range of locations as the previous restriction to cities with populations of at least 1 million has been scaled back. State governments now possess the power to permit MBRTCs to operate in their region.

Possible Changes in the Works for 2014

A number of changes have been hinted at in FDI caps for 2014. Recent reports indicate that an investment cap may be imposed on manufacturers of ‘rare and critical’ medicines, and FDI caps in the defense sector may be relaxed for investment promoting the development of ‘state-of-the-art’ military technology. In bonds, the government may transition from a fixed ceiling on FII in government securities and link limits to proportion of GDP.

Whatever the changes, foreign investors should be familiar with Indian investment regulations and compliance requirements before moving to invest in regulated sectors.

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