Share purchases by foreign-owned firms under Reserve Bank scanner

Banking regulator sends notices asking whether the firms would want to settle

- Pavan Burugula

Several foreign-owned or controlled companies (FOCCs) are under the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) scrutiny for alleged violation of foreign exchange rules, two people privy to the development said.

The companies have received notices from the regulator inquiring whether they would want to settle the case, the people said on condition of anonymity. If firms don't settle the case, RBI can pass orders.

In some of these transactions, RBI observed that the investment was made in tranches. According to India's foreign exchange rules, all share purchases by FOCCs must be made upfront. The development assumes significance as FOCCS generally invest in the startup sector, where there is often uncertainty over a company's performance. Hence, investors tend to stagger the total consideration payment depending on fulfilling various targets.