The guide provides a comprehensive roadmap for setting up an Alternative Investment Firm (AIF) Category II in the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), India’s sole International Financial Service Centre (IFSC). It covers the regulatory landscape of IFSCs, AIF categories, permissible investors, key steps for setting up GIFT AIF, tax benefits, relaxations for AIF in GIFT City, and investment avenues.
An IFSC is a jurisdiction where global financial service providers offer financial products/services to global customers in foreign currencies.
GIFT City is India’s only approved IFSC located in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
IFSCs are approved by the Central Government under the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Act, 2005 and are governed by financial services regulators such as RBI, SEBI, and IRDAI.
AIF can be set up in the form of a company, LLP, trust, or body corporate in the IFSC.
Category I, II, and III AIFs are recognized, each with specific investment criteria and restrictions.
Permissible investors in an AIF set up in IFSC include non-resident individuals, non-resident Indians, and institutional investors resident in India eligible under exchange regulations.
The process involves obtaining approvals, identifying office space, and complying with SEZ and SEBI regulations.
AIFs in GIFT City have tax pass-through status for Indian income-tax purposes, with various exemptions and benefits for investors and managers/sponsors.
AIFs in GIFT City are permitted to undertake leverage, co-invest in portfolio companies, and invest in domestic AIFs, among other relaxations.
Diversification limits and leverage conditions for AIFs in GIFT City differ from those under the AIF Regulations, providing more flexibility.
IFSC AIFs have multiple investment avenues, including securities issued by companies incorporated in IFSC, listed securities, and units of an AIF.
The provide is a comprehensive guide to setting up an Alternative Investment Firm (AIF) Category II in the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), India’s sole International Financial Service Centre (IFSC). It delves into the regulatory landscape of IFSCs, the intricacies of AIF categories, tax benefits, and investment avenues, offering a roadmap for global financial service providers.
An IFSC is a jurisdiction where global financial service providers offer financial products/services to global customers in foreign currencies. GIFT City is India’s only approved IFSC located in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. It undertakes financial services transactions that are currently carried on outside India by overseas financial institutions and subsidiaries/overseas branches of Indian financial institutions.
IFSCs are approved by the Central Government under the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Act, 2005 and are governed by financial services regulators such as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), and Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDAI).
An Alternative Investment Firm can be set up in the form of a company, LLP, trust, or body corporate in the IFSC.
SEBI IFSC guidelines recognize Category I, II, and III AIFs, each with specific investment criteria and restrictions.
Permissible investors in an AIF set up in IFSC include non-resident individuals, non-resident Indians, and institutional investors resident in India eligible under exchange regulations.
The process involves obtaining approvals, identifying office space, and complying with SEZ and SEBI regulations.
Category I and Category II AIFs have tax pass-through status for Indian income-tax purposes, with various exemptions and benefits for investors and managers/sponsors.
AIFs in GIFT City are permitted to undertake leverage, co-invest in portfolio companies, and invest in domestic AIFs, among other relaxations.
Diversification limits and leverage conditions for AIFs in GIFT City differ from those under the AIF Regulations, providing more flexibility.
IFSC AIFs have multiple investment avenues, including securities issued by companies incorporated in IFSC, listed securities, and units of an AIF.
Q1: What is an International Financial Service Centre (IFSC)?
A1: An IFSC is a jurisdiction where global financial service providers offer financial products/services to global customers in foreign currencies. GIFT City is India’s only approved IFSC located in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
Q2: How is an IFSC regulated?
A2: IFSCs are approved by the Central Government under the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Act, 2005 and are governed by financial services regulators such as RBI, SEBI, and IRDAI.
Q3: How can an Alternative Investment Firm be set up in IFSC?
A3: An Alternative Investment Firm can be set up in the form of a company, LLP, trust, or body corporate in the IFSC.
Q4: What are the different categories of AIFs permitted to be set up in IFSC?
A4: SEBI IFSC guidelines recognize Category I, II, and III AIFs, each with specific investment criteria and restrictions.
Q5: Who is permitted to invest in an AIF set up in IFSC?
A5: Permissible investors in an AIF set up in IFSC include non-resident individuals, non-resident Indians, and institutional investors resident in India eligible under exchange regulations.
Q6: What are the key steps for setting up GIFT AIF, GIFT AIF Manager, and GIFT AIF Sponsor?
A6: The process involves obtaining approvals, identifying office space, and complying with SEZ and SEBI regulations.
Q7: What are the tax benefits for AIFs and their managers/sponsors in GIFT City?
A7: AIFs in GIFT City have tax pass-through status for Indian income-tax purposes, with various exemptions and benefits for investors and managers/sponsors.