1. SEBI (Alternative Investment Funds) Regulations, 2012 (AIF Regulations) were notified on May 21, 2012 repealing and replacing the erstwhile SEBI (Venture Capital Funds) Regulations, 1996 (VCF Regulations). As on March 31, 2015, there are 136 Alternative Investments Funds (AIFs) registered with SEBI.
2. Several representations were received from the industry with respect to certain aspects of AIF Regulations/VCF Regulations. Based on the representations from industry, it is proposed to issue a circular as attached as Annexure A.
3. In order to take into consideration views of various stakeholders, public comments are solicited on the said proposed circular.
4. Comments may please be emailed on or before May 07, 2015 to nila@sebi.gov.in or dharmendra@sebi.gov.in or sent by post, to:-
Nila Khanolkar, Assistant General Manager
or Mr. Dharmendra Jain, Manager
Division of Funds I,
Investment Management Department,
Securities and Exchange Board of India
SEBI Bhavan, Plot No. C4-A, “G” Block ,
Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra (East), Mumbai – 400 051.
CIRCULAR
CIR/IMD/DF/7/2015
October 1, 2015
To
All Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs),
All Venture Capital Funds (VCFs) registered under SEBI (Venture Capital Funds) Regulations, 1996),
Dear Sir / Madam,
Sub: Guidelines on overseas investments and other issues/clarifications for AIFs/VCFs
1. SEBI (Alternative Investment Funds) Regulations, 2012 (AIF Regulations) were notified on May 21, 2012 repealing and replacing the erstwhile SEBI (Venture Capital Funds) Regulations, 1996. As on March 31, 2015, there are 136 Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) registered with SEBI.
2. In this regard, it is specified as under:
A. Overseas Investment by Venture Capital Funds (VCFs) registered under SEBI (Venture Capital Funds) Regulations, 1996)
VCFs registered under erstwhile SEBI (Venture Capital Funds) Regulations, 1996 are permitted to invest in Offshore Venture Capital Undertakings, which have an Indian connection, upto 10% of the investible funds of a VCF in terms of the SEBI circular no. SEBI/VCF/Cir no.1/98645/2007 dated August 09, 2007.
a. SEBI has received representations from the industry that there has been a major shift of Indian entrepreneurs outside India. Many Indian entrepreneurs have been setting up their headquarters outside India with back end operations and/ or research and developments being undertaken in India. Therefore, there is a need to allow higher overseas investment by VCFs more than existing 10% limit.
b. The representations also state that such investments would provide opportunities to the funds to generate better returns globally, getting exposure to the international markets practices, etc.
c. Further, It is anticipated that, since such investments are required to have an Indian connection, such investments will generate indirect benefits to India through bringing in of non-debt creating foreign capital resources, technology upgradation, skill enhancement, new employment, etc.
d. In the view of the above representations, in partial modification of the circular no. SEBI/VCF/Cir no.1/98645/2007 dated August 09, 2007, VCFs are, from the date of this circular, permitted to invest in Offshore Venture Capital Undertakings which have an Indian connection upto 25% of the investible funds of the VCF.
B. Overseas Investment by Alternative Investment Funds
Under Regulation 15(1)(a) of AIF Regulations, “Alternative Investment Fund may invest in securities of companies incorporated outside India subject to such conditions or guidelines that may be stipulated or issued by the Reserve Bank of India and the Board from time to time.”
In this regard, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) vide its A.P.(DIR Series) Circular No.48 dated December 09, 2014 has permitted an Indian Alternative Investment Fund (AIF), registered with Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), to invest overseas in terms of the provisions issued under the A.P. (DIR Series) Circulars No. 49 and 50 dated April 30, 2007 and May 04, 2007 respectively.
In accordance with the aforesaid RBI circular, it is stated as under:
a. AIFs may invest in equity and equity linked instruments only of off-shore venture capital undertakings, subject to overall limit of USD 500 million (combined limit for AIFs and Venture Capital Funds registered under the SEBI (Venture Capital Funds) Regulations, 1996).
b. AIFs desirous of making investments in offshore venture capital undertakings may submit their proposal for investment (in the attached format) to SEBI for its prior approval. It is clarified that no separate permission from RBI is necessary in this regard.
c. For the purpose of such investment, it is clarified that Offshore Venture Capital Undertakings means a foreign company whose shares are not listed on any of the recognized stock exchange in India or abroad.
d. Investments would be made only in those companies which have an Indian connection (e.g. company which has a front office overseas, while back office operations are in India).
e. Such investments cannot exceed 25% of the investible funds of the scheme of the AIF in line with clause 2(A) above.
f. The allocation of investment limits would be done on ˜first come- first serve™ basis, depending on the availability in the overall limit of USD 500 million.
g. It is clarified that in case an AIF who is allocated certain investment limit, wishes to apply for allocation of further investment limit, the fresh application shall be dealt with on the basis of the date of its receipt and no preference shall be granted to it in fresh allocation of investment limit.
h. The AIF shall have a time limit of 6 months from the date of approval from SEBI for making allocated investments in offshore venture capital undertakings. In case the applicant does not utilize the limits allocated within the stipulated period, SEBI may allocate such unutilized limit to other applicants.
i. These investments would be subject to necessary amendments to Notification No. FEMA120/RB-2004 dated July 7, 2004 [Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of Any Foreign Security) Regulations, 2004], and will also be governed by the related directions issued by the RBI from time to time.
C. Other issues/clarifications:
i. It is clarified that from the date of this circular, the tenure of any scheme of the AIF shall be calculated from the date of final closing of the scheme.
ii. With respect to disclosure of disciplinary history of associates under clause 2(a)(ii) of circular No. CIR/IMD/DF/14/2014 dated June 19, 2014, where number of associates of the AIF exceeds 20, the AIF shall include disciplinary actions against the top 20 associates on turnover basis in their placement memorandum.
iii. All managers shall:
(i) organise, operate and manage the AIFs and its schemes in the interest of unitholders of the AIF/scheme.
(ii) carry out all the activities of the AIF in accordance with the placement memorandum circulated to all unit holders and as amended from time to time in accordance with AIF Regulations and circulars issued by SEBI.
(iii) ensure that the placement memorandum is provided to the investors prior to providing commitment or making the investment in the AIF and ensure that an appropriate acknowledgement is received from the investor for such receipt.
(iv) ensure scheme-wise segregation of bank accounts and securities accounts.
(v) not make any exaggerated statement, whether oral or written, either about their qualifications or capability to render investment management services or their achievements.
iv. The AIF, manager, trustee and sponsor shall:
(i) act in the interest of unitholders of the AIF/scheme and not take any action which is prejudicial to the interest of the unitholders and not place the interest of the sponsor/manager/trustee of the AIF or any of their associates above the interest of the unitholders of the scheme/AIF.
(ii) maintain high standards of integrity and fairness in all their dealings and in the conduct of the business and render at all times high standards of service, exercise due diligence and exercise independent professional judgment.
(iii) not offer any assured returns to any prospective investors/unitholders.
3. This Circular is issued in exercise of powers conferred under Section 11(1) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 to protect the interests of investors in securities market and to promote the development of, and to regulate the securities market.
4. This Circular is available on SEBI website at www.sebi.gov.in under the categories Legal Framework and Alternative Investment Funds.
Yours faithfully,
Proposal for Overseas Investment by Alternative Investment Funds
To
Securities and Exchange Board of India
Mumbai
Name of Alternative Investment Fund
Category
Registration number and date
Name of the scheme
Amount proposed to be invested in Offshore Venture Capital Undertaking – in USD
Total Investible corpus of the scheme -in USD
Name and Address of the branch of the bank through which Foreign Currency Transaction are proposed to made
Indian connection of the offshore VCU
Declaration:
1. Board of Trustees/Trustees have exercised due diligence with respect to the investment decision.
2. Boards of Trustees/Trustees are satisfied that the proposed investments in foreign companies are consistent with the investment objective of the scheme.
A resolution to the above effect has been passed by the Boards of Trustees/Trustees on ——— ———————–.
Name: Signature: Place: Date:
