Government on Tuesday said the FDI norms for real estate will not apply in case of multi-national companies leasing out their assets to group entities.
Clarifying the issue, the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) said the facility sharing agreements within two group companies will not be treated as real estate business provided the arrangements are at arm's length price.
“Facility sharing agreements between group companies through leasing/sub-leasing arrangements for the larger interest of business will not be treated as 'real estate business' within the provisions of the Consolidated FDI policy circular of 2015,” it said.
These would be subject to the condition that “such arrangements are at arm's length price in accordance with relevant provisions of Income Tax Act 1961 and annual lease rent earned by the lessor company does not exceed 5 per cent of its total revenue,” it added.
The move would help group companies to expand their business and optimum utilisation of their assets, an official said.
The clarification was issued as the department has received certain references on whether entering into such an agreements through leasing/sub-leasing arrangements within group companies for the larger purposes of business activities would be construed as 'real estate business'.