Direct Tax
Consulting
ESG Advisory
Indirect Tax
Growth Advisory
Internal Audit
BFSI Audit
Industry Audit
Valuation
RBI Services
SEBI Services
IRDA Registration
AML Advisory
IBC Services
Recovery of Shares
NBFC Compliance
IRDA Compliance
Finance & Accounts
Payroll Compliance Services
HR Outsourcing
LPO
Fractional CFO
General Legal
Corporate Law
Debt Recovery
Select Your Location
In India, the entrepreneurial spirit has unceasingly shown to gain popularity. The country, which has become the third-largest start-up ecosystem in the world, is unmistakably a reflection of the expanding spirit of commercial conquest, including international development. Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (“SPACs”) are a newly developing structural instrument for achieving the aforementioned commercial conquest.
SPACs are businesses that have been founded primarily to serve as tools for initial public offerings, which raise money for unlisted companies. SPACs merge with such unlisted firms, allowing them to become listed without going through the typically required procedure of listing in stock markets. Depending on the legality of SPACs in the relevant jurisdictions, these may be used for domestic and international listing.
Indian businesses look for different ways to realise this aim because listing on an international market is a significant step in the process of commercial expansion. SPACs are increasingly being discovered by Indian companies to be the most suitable method for expressing their desire for an overseas listing, given the limitations on the direct overseas listing of Indian companies in foreign stock exchanges.
SPACs stands for Special Purpose Acquisition Companies. These publicly traded companies are created to raise capital through an initial public offering (IPO) to use the funds raised to acquire or merge with an existing private company, thereby making it public without going through the traditional IPO process. SPACs have gained popularity in recent years as an alternative to traditional IPOs for companies that want to go public quickly and with less regulatory scrutiny. However, they have also faced criticism for their lack of transparency, potential conflicts of interest, and the risks associated with investing in companies without a proven track record.
The corporate legal system in India forbids the direct listing of Indian businesses in foreign markets. The Securities and Exchange Board of India published a consultation paper in September 2018 regarding changes to Indian corporate law necessary to implement direct foreign listing. In order to provide for the direct listing of a class of securities of Indian firms in foreign stock exchanges, section 23 of the Companies Act 2013 was amended in 2020. However, detailed policies and procedures pertaining to such direct listing are still pending. Direct overseas listing of Indian companies appears to be unfeasible in the absence of a comprehensive framework designed to simplify the foreign listing process.
Numerous Indian companies continue to use SPACs to achieve an international listing. In India, there are visible signs that Indian companies are listed overseas through SPACs. One of the most notable examples of an overseas listing through a SPAC is the recent completion of ReNew Power’s merger with RMG Acquisition Corporation II (a SPAC) and the subsequent listing of ReNew in NASDAQ.
International Financial Services Centre Authority (IFSCA) released the International Financial Services Centre’s Authority (Issuance and Listing of Securities) Regulations, 2021 that contain provisions to carry out the process of foreign listing through SPACs after realising the need for a specialised procedure to regulate overseas listing through SPACs. However, the process is similar to the conventional way of collecting money through an IPO and does not adhere to a unique mechanism to materialise such a listing. The accepted time frame for finishing the process has been given as 36 months. The desire for a quick listing process is one of the main reasons businesses choose to list through SPACs; therefore, the similarity between the procedure governing foreign listing through SPACs and the traditional listing method in India may retard the growth of overseas listing through SPACs.
Even while there isn’t an explicit prohibition against unlisted Indian companies being listed overseas through SPACs, the Indian environment does not support a promising environment for such a listing.
Direct overseas listing of Indian companies is a relatively new development, and there are various legal and regulatory considerations that companies need to be aware of when considering such a listing. Here are some of the key legal considerations:
Indian companies considering direct overseas listing must carefully consider the legal and regulatory implications and obtain professional advice to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
Significant legislative barriers exist in the current legal framework regarding international listing through SPACs
The Indian regulatory environment for overseas listing through SPACs is filled with obstacles. Suppose a merger with a foreign-based SPAC is being considered. In that case, the Indian target firm must abide by the Foreign Exchange Management Act of 1999, the Companies Act of 2013, and any other incidental regulators, such as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
A burdensome requirement of Regulation 5 of the Foreign Exchange Management (Cross Border Merger) Regulations, 2018, in compliance with the Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of Any Foreign Security) Regulations, 2004, and National Company Law Tribunal approval of the scheme of arrangement. This rule requires adherence to the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS), which stipulates that the fair market value of shares purchased by Indian people in an overseas merged firm shall not exceed USD 250,000 every financial year.
In cases where shareholders are Indian citizens, the RBI approval is a requirement due to the LRS limit of USD 250,000 per financial year and the likelihood that the fair market value of the shares that resident individuals will acquire as a result of a cross-border merger will exceed the LRS limit in SPAC transactions.
With Gift City and the budget 2022 providing an exemption to specific foreign investors in cases of direct investment, as well as CBDT’s exemption to certain non-residents on income from investments and transactions in securities listed on stock exchanges recognised by IFSCA, the landscape of foreign investment in the constrained context of IFSCA appears to be promising. SPACs, however, provide significant tax-related difficulties. When the ensuing company’s effective management location is in India, it will likely face significant taxation on its worldwide income.
Furthermore, there is a good chance that the transaction will be classified as roundtripping, which could make it difficult to get the RBI’s necessary permission. The adoption of the SPAC route for an international listing is discouraged by the cumulative effect of compliances, which makes the process of such a merger complicated and unprofitable for substantial investments.
In conclusion, an overseas listing through SPACs can be a viable option for companies looking to go public quickly and with less regulatory scrutiny. However, companies should carefully evaluate the benefits and risks, conduct thorough due diligence, consider investor preferences, plan for ongoing compliance, and be prepared for tax implications.
Read our Article: India’s Legal and Regulatory Environment for Foreign Companies in the Indian Market
The Reserve Bank of India, on April 11, 2025, posted a Press Release No. 2025-2026/96 on their...
Hong Kong is widely recognized as a leading global business hub, known for its free-market econ...
With India’s growing economy, Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) have expanded significa...
With the rise of digitalization, the global cryptocurrency market is expanding at an unpreceden...
Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs) are an integral part of India's financial system as they...
Are you human?: 4 + 1 =
Easy Payment Options Available No Spam. No Sharing. 100% Confidentiality
Governments in developing countries are attracting inbound Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to ensure their economic...
27 Mar, 2023
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has been a vital component of India's economic growth story. Over the years, the In...
16 Feb, 2023