FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN CONSTRUCTION/DEVELOPMENT SECTOR: AN ANALYSIS OF RECENT AMENDMENTS

The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (“DIPP”) through its Press Note 12 of 2015[1] (“Press Note”), has sought to liberalize a number of sectors under the Foreign Direct Investment (“FDI”) policy. This step was taken toward attracting more foreign investment into India, and is yet to be incorporated into the Foreign Direct Investment (Transfer or issue of security by a person resident outside India) Regulations, 2000.

This article discusses specific amendments made by the Press Note in the construction development sector.

Change in minimum floor area in case of construction development project:

The current FDI policy[2], prescribes that in case of construction-development projects, a minimum floor area of 20,000 sq. meters is mandatory and the investee company will be required to bring in a minimum investment of USD 5 million within six months of commencement of the project in order to qualify for 100% FDI under the automatic route.

The present amendment has done away with the aforementioned minimum capitalization as well as minimum floor area norms[3].

Allowing foreign investment without area restrictions welcomes developers with small sized plots into the market. Further, removal of the minimum capitalization requirements paves way to small time investors who do have adequate funds/do not want to invest heavily, but wish to tap the Indian real estate market. This amendment also enables the Government be able to fulfil its goal of building 50 million houses for the poor[4].

Changes with regard to Exit provisions:

Prior to the 2015 amendment[5], an investor was only permitted to exit on completion of the project or development of trunk infrastructure. A trunk infrastructure refers to the main body of the plan i.e. those infrastructures which would be marked as a priority plan such as roads, water supply, street lights etc. Further, transfer in stake from one non resident investor to another non resident required approval from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (“FIPB”).

The Press Note amendments state that each phase of the construction development project will now be considered as a separate project and a non resident investor has the following exit options:

  • After completion of trunk infrastructure;
  • Before the completion of trunk infrastructure, subject to a lock in period of 3 years, calculated with respect to each tranche[6];
  • At any time irrespective of trunk infrastructure, without any government approval if stake is transferred to another non resident investor.

The completion of trunk infrastructure had been a hindrance for repatriation of investment. Investors have in the past faced undue delays in obtaining Government approval during the trunk infrastructure phase resulting in failure to initiate the project within appropriate time. At such situations, the investors are now given an option to exit. Further by removing the need to seek approval from FIPB, transfer of stake between non residents would happen faster with less/no halt in the project.

3.  Each phase of the construction development project would be considered as a separate project for the purposes of FDI:

The Press Note notifies amendments to the effect that each phase of a project will now be considered as a new project.[7] This means that every phase i.e. design, development, construction, post project will all be considered as different projects and an investor would be allowed to enter at any phase and exit at the completion of any phase subject to development of trunk infrastructure.

With the Government removing restrictions on minimum area requirement and exit provisions (as explained above), the exit of an investor will now be linked to each phase, making it easier for entry and exit of foreign investors. This amendment would also help in avoiding delays in completion of projects due to lack of capital as it would be easier to bring in investors at any point during constructions. Further, investors may now be encouraged to invest in projects in small towns/cities as there would be no rule of waiting until the completion of the entire project.

4. Operation and management of townships, malls/shopping complexes and business centers:

As per the extant regulations, 100% FDI under automatic route is permitted in completed projects for operation and management of townships, malls/shopping complexes and business centers. The Press Note additionally states ownership of the investee company may be transferred from a resident to a non resident without any government approval provided that the Non Resident investment would be locked in for a period of 3 years subject to each tranche.[8]

5. Definition given to the word “transfer” and subsequent amendment made with regard to FDI in real estate business

Prior to the amendment, there was no clarity with regard to the meaning of the term “transfer.”

The amendments have included a definition to “Transfer” as follows:

“Transfer”, in relation to FDI policy on the sector, includes:
(a) the sale, exchange or relinquishment of the asset ; or
(b) the extinguishment of any rights therein ; or
(c) the compulsory acquisition thereof under any law ; or
(d) any transaction involving the allowing of the possession of any immovable property to be taken or retained in part performance of a contract of the nature referred to in section 53A of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 (4 of 1882) ; or
(e) any transaction, by acquiring shares in a company or by way of any agreement or any arrangement or in any other manner whatsoever, which has the effect of transferring, or enabling the enjoyment of, any immovable property.[9]

The present regulations do not allow FDI in an entity which is engaged or proposes to engage in real estate business, construction of farm houses and trading in transferable development rights (TDRs). Real Estate business has been defined as follows:

“Real estate business” will have the same meaning as provided in FEMA Notification No. 1/2000-RB dated May 03, 2000 read with RBI Master Circular i.e. dealing in land and immovable property with a view to earning profit or earning income therefrom and does not include development of townships, construction of residential/ commercial premises, roads or bridges, educational institutions, recreational facilities, city and regional level infrastructure, townships.

FDI in real estate falls under a “prohibited sector” as per the Policy[10]and the RBI has always sought to ensure that foreign investors do not own Land in India or trade in developed plots. In this regard investors and companies were unsure as to whether income derived from certain transactions involving investments toward land in a construction project constituted as a “transfer” and hence barred by FDI. The clarification enables Companies to determine what income would and would not fall under “Real Estate Business” and clarifies rental income or income from leased property would not constitute as a “transfer”.

CONCLUSION:

Given the current slump in the realty sector[11], the relaxation of the FDI policy brings the hope of improvements in the construction and development industry with an influx of more investors into the sector due to the favorable amendments and also increase demand in various allied industries such as cement, steel etc.

Removing the huge hurdle of minimum capitalization and floor area is expected to provide a huge boost to the sector by bringing in small time investors as well as an increase in the construction and development of more small sized and budget properties open to the people in the country. Further, clarifying the definition of transfer provides comfort to several companies who are in receipt of rental and lease income. We hope that the amendments achieve its objects and bring an increase in the inflow of foreign capital in the construction as well as allied sectors such as steel, cement etc.

(The Author was an Associate in the corporate team of Jayanth Pattanshetti Associates)

End Notes:

[1] Press Note No.12 issued by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce  released on 24th November 2015 available at: http://dipp.nic.in/English/acts_rules/Press_Notes/pn12_2015.pdf

[2]As published by DIPP in Para 6.2.11.2 (2) of ”Consolidated FDI Policy Circular 2015” available at: http://dipp.nic.in/English/policies/FDI_Circular_2015.pdf

[3]  As published  by DIPP in Para 21 of Press Note No.12 changes made to 6.2.11.2 (A) of “Consolidated FDI Policy Circular 2014 “  available at :http://dipp.nic.in/English/acts_rules/Press_Notes/pn12_2015.pdf

[4]  As published in “Reforms in FDI” available at:http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=130371

[5] As published by DIPP in Para 6.2.11.2 (3) of “Consolidated FDI Policy Circular 2015” available at:  
http://dipp.nic.in/English/policies/FDI_Circular_2015.pdf

[6]As published by DIPP in Para 21  of Press Note No.12 with changes made to 6.2.11.2 ( C )  available at : http://dipp.nic.in/English/acts_rules/Press_Notes/pn12_2015.pdf

[7] As published by DIPP  in Para 21 of Press Note No.12 with changes made to 6.2.11.2 , available at : http://dipp.nic.in/English/policies/FDI_Circular_2015.pdf

[8] As published by DIPP in Para 21 of Press Note No.12 with changes made to 6.2.11.1 Note (iv)  available at : http://dipp.nic.in/English/acts_rules/Press_Notes/pn12_2015.pdf

[9] As published by DIPP  in Para 6.2.11.2 Note (v) of Press Note No.12available at : http://dipp.nic.in/English/acts_rules/Press_Notes/pn12_2015.pdf

[10] As published by DIPP in Para 6.1 of “Consolidated FDI Policy Circular 2015” available at:  
http://dipp.nic.in/English/policies/FDI_Circular_2015.pdf

[11] “Is this India’s Worst Real Estate Nightmare” published by Live Mint and available at: http://www.livemint.com/Companies/N9eZnRP5BpS8kyRGWjRoYK/Is-this-indias-worst-real-estate-nightmare.html

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