CIR. NO. 24/2009-10-RB, DT. 30/12/2009
- Document type
- Circular
- Dated
- Category
- A.P. (DIR Series) Circulars
Establishment of Branch (BO) / Liaison Offices (LO) in India by Foreign Entities-Delegation of Powers
Establishment of Branch (BO) / Liaison Offices (LO) in India by Foreign Entities-Delegation of Powers
2. As indicated therein, the application in form FNC by the foreign entity (other than those engaged in insurance and banking) for opening of BO / LO in India should be routed through a designated AD Category - I bank. The designated AD Category - I bank is required to forward the application/s, along with the relevant documents and their comments / recommendations, to the Chief General Manager-in-Charge, Reserve Bank of India, Foreign Exchange Department, Foreign Investment Division, Central Office, Mumbai- 400 001. The designated AD Category - I bank should exercise due diligence in respect of the applicants background, antecedents of the promoter, nature and location of activity, sources of funds, etc. and also ensure compliance with the KYC norms before forwarding the application together with their comments/ recommendations to the Reserve Bank.
3. Applications from banks and insurance companies for opening of BO/LO will continue to be received and examined directly by the Department of Banking Operations and Development of the Reserve Bank and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) respectively, as hitherto. Approval of the Reserve Bank is not required to establish a branch/unit in Special Economic Zones for undertaking manufacturing and service activities, subject to compliance with the conditions specified in Notification No. FEMA 102/2003-RB dated October 3, 2003 read with A.P. (DIR Series) Circular no. 58 dated January 16, 2004.
4. In order to provide a uniform framework, a Unique Identification Number (UIN) will be allotted to both the existing as well as new BO / LOs. This UIN is required to be quoted in all future references made to the Reserve Bank by the BO / LO / designated AD Category-I bank. Consequent upon delegation of powers from February 01, 2010 existing BO / LO will also have to necessarily approach the Reserve Bank through their designated AD Category -I bank for their requests/references.
5. With a view to liberalizing the existing procedure in respect of BO/ LOs, it has been decided to delegate the powers to the designated AD Category - I banks, as under :
i) Submission of Annual Activity Certificate
At present, BO/ LOs are required to submit Annual Activity Certificate (Annex) from their Auditors to the Central Office / Regional Office of the Reserve Bank, certifying that the BO / LO has carried out only those activities which are approved by the Reserve Bank. With effect from February 01, 2010, the Annual Activity Certificate as at the end of March 31 shall be submitted, on or before April 30, to the designated AD Category-I bank and a copy to the Directorate General of Income Tax (International Taxation), Drum Shape Building, I.P. Estate, New Delhi 110002, by the following :
- a. In case of a sole BO/ LO, by the BO/LO concerned;
b. In case of multiple BO / LOs, a combined Annual Activity Certificate in respect of all the Offices in India by the Nodal Office of the BOs / LOs.
ii) Extension of validity period of Liaison Offices
The designated AD Category - I bank may, with effect from February 01, 2010, extend the validity period of LO/s for a period of 3 years from the date of expiry of the original approval / extension granted by the Reserve Bank, if the applicant has complied with the following and the application is otherwise in order.
It may be noted that in the case of LOs of banks and entities engaged in insurance business, the application has to be directly submitted to the Department of Banking Operations and Development, Reserve Bank of India and Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA), respectively as stipulated by them, as hitherto. Further, no extension would be considered for LOs of entities which are NBFCs and those engaged in Construction and Development sectors (excluding infrastructure development). Upon expiry of the validity period, these entities have to either close down or be converted into a Joint Venture (JV) / Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS), in conformity with the extant Foreign Direct Investment policy.
iii) Closure of Branch / Liaison Office/s
With effect from February 01, 2010, the work related to closure of Branch / Liaison Offices, hitherto being done by the Reserve Bank (Central Office in the case of Branch Offices and Regional Office in the case of Liaison Offices), shall be handled by the designated AD Category - I bank. The closure formalities shall be dealt with in accordance with Regulation 6 (1) (iii) of Notification No. FEMA 13/2000-RB dated May 3, 2000 viz. Foreign Exchange Management (Remittance of Assets) Regulations 2000, as amended from time to time. In terms of the aforementioned Regulation, following documents are required to be obtained by the designated AD Category-I bank, while considering the closure of the BO/ LO and permitting the remittance of winding up proceeds :
A) Copy of the Reserve Bank's permission/ approval from the sectoral regulator(s) for establishing the BO / LO.
B) Auditors certificate-
i) indicating the manner in which the remittable amount has been arrived at and supported by a statement of assets and liabilities of the applicant, and indicating the manner of disposal of assets;
ii) confirming that all liabilities in India including arrears of gratuity and other benefits to employees, etc., of the Office have been either fully met or adequately provided for; and
iii) confirming that no income accruing from sources outside India (including proceeds of exports) has remained unrepatriated to India.
C) No-objection / Tax Clearance Certificate from Income-Tax authority for the remittance/s.
D) Confirmation from the applicant/parent company that no legal proceedings in any Court in India are pending and there is no legal impediment to the remittance.
E) A report from the Registrar of Companies regarding compliance with the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956, in case of winding up of the Office in India.
In addition to the above, any other document/s, specified by the Reserve Bank while granting approval may be obtained and verified. The designated AD Category - I banks may also ensure that the BO / LOs had filed their respective Annual Activity Certificates with the Reserve Bank for the previous years, in respect of the existing Branch/Liaison Offices. Confirmation about the same may be obtained from the Central Office of the Reserve Bank in the case of BOs and from the Regional Office concerned in the case of LOs.
On receipt of the documents as mentioned above, the AD Category - I bank may, after satisfying themselves about the bonafides, allow closure of the Office by closing the account maintained with them and remit the proceeds to the overseas entity. Closure of such BO / LO should be reported by the designated AD Category - I bank to the Reserve Bank (the Regional Office concerned for LOs and Central Office for BOs), along with a declaration stating that all the necessary documents submitted by the BO / LO have been scrutinized and found to be in order. If the documents are not found in order, the AD Category - I bank may forward the application to the Reserve Bank, with their observations, for necessary action.
6. All the documents relating to the BO / LO operations may be retained by the AD Category - I bank for verification by the internal auditors of the AD / inspecting officers of the Reserve Bank.
7. Cases which are not covered under the delegated powers will continue to be referred to the Reserve Bank, by the designated AD Category-I bank.
8. Necessary amendments to the Foreign Exchange Management (Remittance of Assets) Regulations, 2000 notified vide Notification No.FEMA.13/2000-RB dated May 3, 2000 and the Foreign Exchange Management (Establishment in India of Branch or Office or other Place of Business) Regulations, 2000 notified vide Notification No.FEMA.22/2000-RB dated May 3, 2000 are being issued separately.
9. AD Category - I banks may bring the contents of this Circular to the notice of their constituents/customers concerned.
10. The directions contained in this circular have been issued under Sections 10(4) and 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999) and is without prejudice to permissions / approvals, if any, required under any other law.
Yours faithfully,
(D. Mishra)
Chief General Manager
Annex
[Annex to A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No.24 dated December 30, 2009]
(To be submitted as on March 31, .on or before April 30, ).
To whomsoever it May Concern
_______________________________
(Signature of the Auditor/s)
ICAI Membership No.:
Address:
Place :
Date :