**Summary:**
This circular, reference number SEBI/HO/AFD/AFD-PoD-3/CIR/2024/145, issued by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on October 22, 2024, addresses modifications to the Common Application Form (CAF) for Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs). It follows up on Circular No. SEBI/HO/AFD/AFD-PoD-2/CIR/P/2024/70 dated May 30, 2024, and the subsequent circular dated June 27, 2024, which provided flexibility for up to 100% aggregate contribution by Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs), and Resident Individuals (RIs) in the corpus of FPIs based in International Financial Services Centres (IFSCs) in India, regulated by the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA).
The circular modifies Annexure B to the FPI Master Circular by inserting an additional option under Section BII, Para 5 of Part B ("Additional Information") related to "NRI/OCI/RI Entitlement in FPI." This option is applicable only to applicants based in IFSCs in India and requires confirmation that individual NRI/OCI/RI contributions, including those from NRI/OCI/RI-controlled Investment Managers, are below 25% of the FPI's corpus, while aggregate NRI/OCI/RI contributions are intended to be above 50%. FPIs must ensure compliance with the SEBI Foreign Portfolio Investors Regulations, 2019, and the FPI Master Circular, as amended.
Furthermore, the circular specifies that FPIs based in IFSCs intending to have up to 100% NRI/RI/OCI participation, as per the June 27, 2024 circular, must submit the information, documents, and declarations in the format provided in Annexure 1.
The provisions of this circular are effective immediately. Depositories are instructed to implement the necessary changes in the CAF module on their websites.
This circular is issued under Section 11(1) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992, and Regulations 4(c) and 44 of the SEBI Foreign Portfolio Investors Regulations, 2019, to protect investor interests, promote development, and regulate the securities market. The circular and related annexures are available on the SEBI website under the "Legal Circulars" section.
For further information, contact Manish Kumar Jha, Deputy General Manager, Alternative Investment Fund and Foreign Portfolio Investors Department, at 022-26449219 or manishkj@sebi.gov.in.
Key Entities Referenced
Foreign Portfolio Investors: A category of investors regulated by SEBI, often abbreviated as FPIs.
Designated Depository Participants: Entities that act as custodians for foreign portfolio investors, often abbreviated as DDPs.
Securities and Exchange Board of India: The regulatory body for securities markets in India, often abbreviated as SEBI.
Common Application Form: A standard form used by Foreign Portfolio Investors, often abbreviated as CAF
International Financial Services Centres: Special economic zones in India designed to attract foreign investment, often abbreviated as IFSCs.
International Financial Services Centres Authority: The regulatory authority for International Financial Services Centres in India, often abbreviated as IFSCA.
SEBI Foreign Portfolio Investors Regulations, 2019: Regulations governing foreign portfolio investors in India.
Non-Resident Indians: Individuals of Indian descent residing outside India, often abbreviated as NRIs
CIRCULAR
SEBI/HO/AFD/AFD-POD-3/P/CIR/2024/145 October 22, 2024
To,
1. Foreign Portfolio Investors (“FPIs”)
2. Designated Depository Participants (“DDPs”) and Custodians
3. The Depositories
Dear Sir / Madam,
Subject: Modification in Annexure to Common Application Form (CAF)
1. Vide Circular dated June 27, 2024, SEBI modified the Master Circular for Foreign
Portfolio Investors, Designated Depository Participants and Eligible Foreign
Investors No. SEBI/HO/AFD/AFD-PoD-2/P/CIR/P/2024/70 dated May 30, 2024
(“FPI Master Circular”) to provide flexibility of having up to hundred percent
aggregate contribution by NRIs, OCIs and RI individuals in the corpus of FPIs
based in International Financial Services Centres (“IFSCs”) in India and regulated
by International Financial Services Centres Authority (“IFSCA”).
2. In this regard, to provide the flexibility to existing and new FPIs, the ‘Annexure to
Common Application Form’ attached as Annexure B to the FPI Master Circular is
modified as follows:
2.1. The following additional option is inserted under ‘Section B-II: NRI/OCI/RI –
Entitlement in FPI’ in Para 5 of Part B titled ‘Additional information’ and shall
be applicable only in case of applicants based in IFSCs in India:
“ We confirm that NRIs/OCIs/RIs as investors in the FPI and contributions
by single NRI/OCI/RI including those of NRI/OCI/RI controlled Investment
Manager are below 25 percent of the corpus of the FPI. The aggregate
contributions by NRI/OCI/RI are intended to be above 50% / are above 50%
of the corpus of the FPI and we shall at all times be in compliance with the
SEBI (Foreign Portfolio Investors) Regulations, 2019 and Master Circular
Page 1 of 2for Foreign Portfolio Investors, Designated Depository Participants and
Eligible Foreign Investors as amended from time to time.
[Applicable only in case of eligible applicants from International Financial
Services Centres in India]”
3. Further, the information, documents and declaration required to be submitted by
an FPI based in IFSC in India that have/intends to have up to hundred percent
NRI/RI/OCI participation in terms of the aforementioned Circular dated June 27,
2024, shall be provided in the format at Annexure - 1.
4. The provisions of this circular shall come into force with immediate effect.
5. The Depositories are advised to make appropriate modifications in the CAF module
hosted on their respective websites.
6. This Circular is issued in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 11(1) of
the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 read with Regulations 4(c)
and 44 of SEBI (Foreign Portfolio Investors) Regulations, 2019 to protect the
interest of investors in securities and to promote the development of, and to
regulate the securities market.
7. This Circular is available at www.sebi.gov.in under the link “Legal ---Circulars”.
Yours faithfully,
Manish Kumar Jha
Deputy General Manager
Alternative Investment Fund and
Foreign Portfolio Investors Department
Tel No.: 022 –26449219
E-mail: manishkj@sebi.gov.in
Encl: Annexure - 1
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