FCEB made easy
  What is FCEB?                
  Foreign Currency Exchangeable Bond is 
  - a Bond expressed in freely convertible Foreign Currency
- Interest and Principal of which is payable in foreign Currency
- Issued by an Indian company
- To overseas Investor who subscribes in foreign Currency
- Which on a later date can be converted into Equity shares of Offered Company
What are all the Eligibility conditions?                
  - Prior approval of RBI to be obtained
- Eligibility Conditions for the Offered Company      - Offered company is a Listed company
- Offered company is engaged in a sector eligible to receive FDI
- Offered Company is eligible to issue FCCB or ECB
 
- Eligibility Conditions for the Issuer Company      - The issuer shall form part of the Promoter Group of the offered Company
- Issuer holding Equity Shares offered at the time of Issuance of FCEB
- Issuer Company is not restrained by SEBI to access securities market
 
- Eligibility Conditions for the Subscriber      - Entity not prohibited by SEBI from dealing in Securities
- Subscriber comply with FDI Policy
- Subscriber adhere to sector caps at the time of issuance of FCEB
- Prior approval of FIPB obtained , wherever required
 
How the proceeds can be utilized?                
  - Can be invested in Promoter Group Companies
- Issuer company can invest in overseas by way of direct investment in Joint ventures or Wholly owned subsidiaries subject to FEMA Guidelines
- Promoter Group Company can utilize it according to the End Use Requirements applicable for ECBs
- Promoter Group Company shall not utilize the proceeds for investing in capital market or Real estate in India 
- Proceeds can be retained or deployed overseas in accordance with ECB policy
Conditions for Issuance?                
  
v Rate of interest                
  - Rate of interest payable on FCEB and issue expenses incurred in foreign currency shall be within the ceiling prescribed by RBI for ECBs.
v Price                
  - The exchange price of the offered listed equity shares at the time of issuance of FCEB shall not be less than the higher of the -:
The average of the weekly high and low of the closing prices of the         
  related shares quoted on the stock exchange during the         
  (a) six months preceding the relevant date;         
  OR         
  (b) two weeks preceding the relevant date.         
  Relevant date-Date in which Board of Directors' passed the resolution authorizing the issuance of FCEB.        
  preceding the relevant date.
  v Maturity                 
  - Minimum maturity shall be 5 years for redemption
- Before that time holder can convert into shares of Offered company
- While exercising the option holder has to take delivery of shares and cash settlement is not allowed.
v Approvals Required            
  - Board Approval
- Shareholders approval, if applicable
- Offered company's Board approval
- Issuer company shall disclose the shareholding of the offered company to comply with respective provisions in SEBI Act, Rules, Regulations & Guidelines
v Other Conditions            
  - Issuer company shall not trade or mortgage or offer as collateral or trade offered securities till redemption or Exchange
- Issuer company keep the offered shares free from all encumbrances
Taxation Aspects?                
  - Interest till exercise subject to TDS 
- Tax on dividend subject to Sec 115 AC of Income Tax Act
- Exchange of Bonds into Equity shares will not give raise to Capital Gains for computation of taxable income
- Transfer between Person Resident outside India India India 
Notified by Ministry of Finance, Dept. of Economic Affairs on Feb. 15, 2008 vide http://finmin.nic.in/the_ministry/dept_eco_affairs/capital_market_div/ExchangeableBonds.pdf 
    
 
 







 
