FIPB likely to take up HDFC Bank's FDI proposal tomorrow

HDFC Bank had approached FIPB for increasing foreign holding in the bank to 67.55% from 49%

The long-pending proposal of HDFC Bank to hike overseas holding may be taken up by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) in its meeting tomorrow.

HDFC Bank's proposal is expected to come up for consideration in the next meeting, sources said.

Late last year, HDFC Bank had approached the FIPB for increasing the foreign holding in the bank to 67.55% from 49%.

If the proposal of the bank to raise foreign investment to 67.55% is accepted, it would exceed the cap of 74%, after taking into account parent HDFC Ltd's stake.

The Department of Economic Affairs and DIPP (Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion) are of the view that promoter HDFC Ltd's 22.56% stake in HDFC Bank is foreign investment.

Foreign entities, including FIIs, hold more than 77.36% in HDFC Ltd.

As per the existing norms, foreign holding in a bank cannot exceed 74%.

At the end of June 2014, foreign institutional investment (FII) in HDFC Bank was 33.93%, according to BSE data.

Further, foreign investors hold another 16.90% shares through ADRs and GDRs.

If the promoter's (HDFC Ltd) stake of 22.56% is deemed to be foreign, then the total of the above mentioned three categories would take foreign investment to over 74%.

FDI, FII, NRI holding, ADR/GDR, convertible preference shares, foreign currency convertible bonds are treated as foreign investment under the FDI policy.

Investments by HDFC Ltd, which is 77.36% owned by FIIs, and associate companies, in HDFC Bank were made before 2009, when the government came out with norms to calculate the level of foreign investment in companies.