Foreign Venture Capital (VC) is an essential source of funding seed capital for start-up ventures and significant technology projects. Venture Capital is a type of funding which is different from traditional sources of financing as unlike conventional source of financing, Venture capitalists finance innovation and ideas which have potential for high growth with inherent uncertainties. Hence, Venture capital funds (“VCF”) are professional money managers who provide risk capital to businesses.
Before
starting with the procedure involved for Foreign Venture capital Investment in
India, it is worthwhile to understand
the exact meaning of venture capital.
What is Venture Capital?
Venture
capital is a high-risk, high return investment. In simple words, Venture
capital is money provided by an outside investor to finance a new, growing, or
troubled business. The venture capitalist provides the funding knowing that
there’s a significant risk associated with the company’s future profits and
cash flow.
How is Venture Capital an essential source of funding?
Under Venture capital, the capital is invested in exchange for an equity stake in the business rather than given as a loan, and the investor hopes the investment will yield a better-than-average return.
It is an essential source of funding for start-up and other companies that have a limited operating history and no access to capital markets.
A venture capital firm typically looks for new and small businesses with a perceived long term growth potential that will result in a large payout for investors.
A venture capitalist is mostly limited partnerships that have a fund of pooled investment capital with which to invest in many companies. They vary in size.
VCs may be a small group of investors or an affiliate or subsidiary of a large commercial bank, an investment bank, or insurance company that makes investments on behalf clients of the parent company or outside investors.
VC aims to use the business knowledge it has, experience and expertise to fund and nurture companies that have high potential to yield a substantial return on the VC’s investment.
Regulatory Framework governing the Foreign Venture Capital in India
Have a look at the following regulations which govern
the foreign venture capital in India:
SEBI (Foreign Venture Capital Investor) Regulations, 2000[1]
FEMA (Transfer or issue of Security by a Person Resident Outside India) Regulations, 2017
SEBI (ICDR) Regulations, 2009
SEBI (Intermediaries)Regulations, 2008
Income Tax Act
SEBI ( Substantial Acquisition of Share and Takeovers) Regulations, 2011
Definition
of Foreign Venture Capital Investors has been provided under two regulations:
SEBI (FVCI) Regulations, 2000
FEMA (Transfer or issue of Security by a Person Resident Outside India) Regulations, 2017
Eligibility Criteria for Foreign Venture Capital Investor [FVCI]
An
FVCI has to apply for registration to SEBI. For the grant of a certificate to
an applicant as a Foreign Venture Capital Investor, the Board shall consider
the following conditions for eligibility, namely:
the applicants track record,
professional competence, financial soundness, experience, general reputation of
fairness and integrity.
Whether the applicant has been
granted necessary approval by the Reserve Bank of India for making investments
in India;
whether the applicant is an
investment company, investment trust, investment partnership, pension fund,
mutual fund, endowment fund, university fund, charitable institution or any
other entity incorporated outside India; or
whether the applicant is an
asset management company, investment manager or investment management company
or any other investment vehicle incorporated outside India;
whether the applicant is
authorised to invest in venture capital fund or carry on activity as a foreign
venture capital investor;
Whether the applicant is
regulated by an appropriate foreign regulatory authority or is an income taxpayer;
or submits a certificate from the banker of its or its promoter’s track record
where the applicant is neither a regulated entity nor an income taxpayer.
The applicant has not been
refused a certificate by the Board.
Whether the applicant is a fit
and proper person.
The
applicant can be a pension fund, mutual fund, investment trust, Investment Company,
investment partnership, Asset Management Company, endowment fund, university
fund, charitable institution or any other investment vehicle incorporated and
established outside India etc
Conditions for the investment by FVCI
All
investments to be made by FVCIs shall be subject to the following conditions:-
It shall disclose to the Board
its investment strategy,
it can invest its total funds
committed in one venture capital fund
It shall reveal the duration of
the life cycle of the fund.
Apart
from the above, the following conditions also needs to be taken care of:
An FVCI have to invest at least 66.67% of the investible funds in unlisted equity shares or equity-linked instruments of Venture Capital Undertaking
On the other hand, not more than 33.33% of the investible funds may be invested by way of:
Subscription to initial public offer of a venture capital undertaking whose shares are proposed to be listed.
Debt or debt instrument of a venture capital undertaking in which the foreign venture capital investor has already invested by way of equity;
Preferential allotment of equity shares of a listed company subject to lock in period of one year.
the equity shares or equity linked instruments of a financially weak company or a sick industrial company whose shares are listed.
special purpose vehicles which are created for the purpose of facilitating or promoting investment in accordance with these Regulations. (d)It shall disclose the duration of life cycle of the fund.
Every Foreign Venture Capital Investor shall maintain for a period of eight years, books of accounts, records and documents which shall give a true and fair picture of the state of affairs of the Foreign Venture Capital Investor.
Foreign Venture Capital Investor or a global custodian acting on behalf of the foreign venture capital investor shall enter into an agreement with the domestic custodian to act as a custodian of securities for Foreign Venture Capital Investor.
Foreign Venture Capital Investor shall appoint a branch of a bank approved by Reserve Bank of India as designated bank for opening of foreign currency denominated accounts or special non-resident rupee account.
Benefits and Relaxations to FVCIs
FVCIs
enjoy a number of regulatory relaxations; some of the significant ones are:
Exemption from pricing norms at the time of entry as well as an exit;
Exemption from “lock-in” period requirements when the investee company goes public; FVCIs are thus effectively allowed to exit the investment, immediately on the listing of the investee company;
Exemption from “Takeover Code” (which mandates making of an open offer by the acquirer, on the acquisition of shares beyond prescribed threshold limits) in respect of shares sold by the FVCI to the promoters of the company, after the company goes public
Investments by the FVCI
With
a view to promote innovation, enterprise and conversion of scientific
technology and knowledge based ideas into commercial production, it is very
important to promote venture capital activity in India.
A
flourishing venture capital industry in India will fill the gap between the
capital requirements of technology and knowledge based start-up enterprises and
funding available from traditional institutional lenders such as banks.
Hence, following are the two ways which a Foreign Venture Capital Investor has:
Investment
by FVCI under Schedule I of Regulations
Under
Schedule 1, an FVCI is allowed to invest under FDI scheme as non resident
entities in other companies subject to FDI norms and FEMA provisions. An FCVI
needs to determine before investing in an Indian Company whether the investment
is under FDI scheme or under FCVI scheme and report accordingly
Investment
by FVCI under Schedule VI of Regulations
A SEBI registered Foreign Venture Capital Investor (FVCI) with specific approval from RBI under FEMA Regulations can invest in Indian Venture Capital Undertaking (IVCU) or Indian Venture Capital Fund (IVCF) or in a Scheme floated by such IVCFs subject to the condition that the VCF should also be registered with SEBI.
An
Indian Venture capital undertaking [IVCU] is defined as a company
incorporated in India
whose shares are not listed on
a recognized stock exchange in India
which is not engaged in an
activity under the negative list specified by SEBI.
In
simple words, a Indian Venture capital Fund [IVCF] is defined as a fund
established in the form of a trust, a company including a body corporate and
registered under the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Venture Capital
Fund) Regulations, 1996 which has a dedicated pool of capital raised in a
manner specified under the said Regulations and which invests in Venture
Capital Undertakings in accordance with the said Regulations.
FVCIs can purchase equity /
equity linked instruments / debt / debt instruments, debentures of an IVCU or
of a VCF through initial public offer or private placement in units of schemes
/ funds set up by a VCF.
At the time of granting
approval, the Reserve Bank permits the FVCI to open a Foreign Currency Account
and/or a Rupee Account with a designated branch of an AD Category – I bank.
The purchase / sale of shares,
debentures and units can be at a price that is mutually acceptable to the buyer
and the seller. AD Category – I banks can offer forward cover to FVCIs to the
extent of total inward remittance. In case the FVCI has made any remittance by
liquidating some investments, original cost of the investments has to be
deducted from the eligible cover to arrive at the actual cover that can be
offered.
Conclusion
The ever growing Indian economy and the potential to grow further definitely makes India one of the most liked destination also strong fundamentals comprising of favourable demographic profile, human capital, trade openness, increasing urbanization and rising consumer spending has made India one of the fastest growing markets in the world. In case of further clarification, please contact Enterslice.
Further, you can read about Foreign Venture Capital
Investors on the following blogs:
Mr. Neelansh Gupta is a Legal Counsel having extensive in-depth knowledge of various laws. He has completed his graduation in law and has experience in IPR, Taxation and Corporate laws.
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