As an Indian
Company
Foreign equity in Indian companies can be up to 100% depending on the
requirements of the investor and subject to equity caps in respect to the
area of activities under the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy.
For registration and incorporation of a Indian Company, an application has
to be filed with Registrar of Companies (ROC). Once the company has been
duly registered and incorporated as an Indian company, it is subject to laws
and regulations as applicable to other domestic Indian companies.
1. Joint Venture:
Foreign companies can set up their operations in India by forming strategic
alliances with Indian partners. Setting up of operations through a Joint
Venture may provide the following advantages to a foreign investor:
1.1 Automatic Route: Approvals for foreign equity
up to 50 percent, 51 percent and 74 percent are given on an automatic basis,
subject to fulfillment of prescribed parameters in certain industries as
specified by the Government. RBI accords automatic approval to all such
cases.
1.2 Government Approval: Approval from Foreign Investment Promotion
Board (FIPB) are required in all other cases.
2. Wholly Owned Subsidiary: -
The foreign investors have the option of setting up a wholly owned
subsidiary, wherein the foreign company owns 100 percent of the Indian
company. All such cases are subject to prior approval from the Foreign
Investment Promotion Board (FIPB). Some of the criteria for setting up
wholly owned subsidiary are as follows: