Sebi modifies foreign venture investors' registration, eligibility criteria

Capital markets watchdog Sebi has notified rules to streamline the framework for the registration of Foreign Venture Capital Investors (FVCIs).

Under this, the process of granting registration to FVCIs and processing other post-registration references has been delegated to designated depository participants (DDPs) in line with provisions prescribed for FPIs (Foreign Portfolio Investors).

An applicant seeking registration as an FVCI is required to engage a DDP to avail of its services for obtaining a registration certificate as FVCI and at all times the DDP and the custodian of the FVCI shall be the same entity.

At present, the processing of applications for granting registration to FVCIs and related due diligence is carried out by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi).

"No person shall buy, sell or otherwise deal in securities as a foreign venture capital investor unless it has obtained a certificate granted by a designated depository participant on behalf of the Board