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How foreign investors can invest in India

By: Admin
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Mumbai, Feb 5 (Reuters) - India's stock markets have become the fourth largest in the world, overtaking Hong Kong's, as investors flock to a fast-growing alternative to China's floundering stock indexes.

As the country heads for elections this year, India continues to attract foreign investors, who have a number of ways to invest in the country.

FOREIGN PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS

To invest in shares of India’s listed companies, foreign investors have to use the foreign portfolio investment (FPI) route. Investors, whether individuals or firms, need to be registered with country’s markets regulator and adhere to its disclosure requirements. Most of the 10,800 FPIs are funds.

There are no restrictions for investing in Indian companies via this route, however an FPI cannot hold more than 10% in a listed company. If an FPI invests more than 10% in any company, it is categorised as foreign direct investment for which there are restrictions in some sectors.

All FPI investments must be in Indian rupees and dealt through brokers. All FPI transactions are taxed at par with taxes applicable to domestic investors, which includes capital gains at 15% for short-term holdings of less than a year, 10% for long term holdings and a surcharge and securities transaction tax.

DISCLOSURES

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has a hands-off approach for offshore funds' registrations but mandates custodian banks, through whom foreign money flows into India, to disclose details of the investors in these funds.

Custodians are typically domestic banks or Indian branches of foreign banks. There are a total of 17 custodian banks registered in India including – Citi Bank, Deutsche Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, DBS Bank, HSBC, State Bank of India (SBI.NS), opens new tab, Standard Chartered Bank among others, according to SEBI website.

https://www.reuters.com/markets/asia/how-foreign-investors-can-invest-india-2024-02-05/