How much time is needed for setting up a Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) in India?

On average, it takes 12-15 days for completion of registration of Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS), 2 different approvals (Name Approval & Final Approval) are required from government bodies. However, this is dependent on the workload of the Central Registration Centre (CRC), MCA.

What is the minimum capital needed to form a Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) Company?

There is no minimum capital required. However, in order to start a Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) Company a minimum capital of Rs. 02.00 (In case of Private Limited Company) and Rs. 07.00 (In case of Public Limited Company) shall be required.

Can a minor person become a director or shareholder of a Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) Company?

No, a minor cannot become a director or shareholder in a company. However, a minor can become a member/shareholder of a company through gift and/or inheritance, but he cannot enter into an agreement to buy shares.

Wholly Owned Subsidiary in India

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Introduction

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Requirements

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Faq

Wholly Owned Subsidiary in India

A Wholly-Owned Indian subsidiary is one of the most feasible and viable options for a foreign entity to establish a business in India. In the case of a wholly owned subsidiary (WOS), 100% of shares are owned by another foreign company, known as a parent company or holding company.

Also, it can be in the form of a Private Limited Company or Public Limited Company, the parent company or owner’s liability is limited to their shares in the company. In addition, The Companies Act 2013 and the Foreign Exchange Management Rules/Regulations issued by the central government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) govern a WOS of a Foreign Company in India.

Features of Wholly Owned Subsidiary in India

A Foreign Company can incorporate a Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) Company with a majority stake (For Example 99.99% of the total shares) while the remaining stake shall be issued to a person nominated by a foreign company who shall hold the share in beneficial interest on behalf of the company. This is in order to satisfy the minimum shareholder criteria of number two (2) in the case of a Private Company and seven (7) in the case of a Public Company.

All the shareholders in a Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) Company can be foreign nationals. In addition, a WOS must have at least 2 (two) directors, with at least one (1) director being a permanent resident of India.

Non-residents or foreign nationals can make investments in the equity shares, debentures, or preference shares of a Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) through either the Automatic Route or the Government Route. Under the Automatic Route, the non-resident investor or the Indian company does not require any approval from the Government of India for the investment. However, under the Government Route, prior approval of the Government of India is required.

There are certain sectors/fields where investments can be made by non-residents or foreign nationals only to the extent of the percentage of the total capital as specified in the FDI policy. However, major sectors in India except a few are open for 100% foreign investments.

Investments made by non-residents and foreign nationals have to be reported to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as per the Foreign Exchange Management Rules/Regulations.

Advantages of Wholly Owned Subsidiary in India

Separate legal entity
Similar to a company, a Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) once registered, is known as a separate artificial person in the eyes of the law and the liability of each member or shareholder is limited up to the unpaid amount of shares. It means that if a company faces loss under any circumstances, then its parent company is not liable to sell its own assets for payment.
Complete Control by Parent Company
The parent or the holding company due to its complete shareholding in a Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS), controls the affairs and strategies of the Indian company.
Easy to register
A Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) can be registered completely online with less paperwork. The process of registration can be completed within 12-15 working days.
Global brand image and goodwill
The WOS Company can reap the benefits of a good brand name and the goodwill of a well-established parent company outside India. Also, it increases the overall valuation and market share of the parent in the product/service market.
Expansion and Diversification
India is a huge population and a consumption-based market has great potential for new goods and services. Therefore, a foreign company can plan for its expansion and diversification through the formation of a Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) Company.
Easy to dissolve or wind-up
The structure of a WOS Company provides faster exit opportunities to those companies which do not have any assets or outstanding liabilities and want to close their business operations due to some extraordinary circumstances.

Minimum Requirements for Wholly Owned Subsidiary in India

Shareholding of Parent or Holding Company
Minimum Two Shareholder – Foreign Company and a Nominee Shareholder
Minimum Two Director (At least 1 Director shall be a permanent resident of India)
Minimum capital of 2 Rupees
DIN for Directors
DSC for Indian Directors
Business activity permitted by Foreign Exchange Management Act/FDI Policy
Indian office address proof

What does our Wholly Owned Subsidiary Package include?

Company name search and approval
Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) for 2 Director/Shareholder
Director Identification Number (DIN) for 2 Directors
Certificate of Incorporation/Registration
Company PAN and TAN
Memorandum of Association (MOA) and Articles of Association (AOA)
Supporting Document for opening Bank Account
Employees State Insurance Corporation Registration (ESIC) and Employees Provident Fund Registration (EPFO)
Professional Tax Registration (For Companies registered in the state of Maharashtra and Karnataka only)
Company Master File Kit

Procedure for Incorporation of Wholly Owned Subsidiary in India

Application for Name Approval
The applicant shall provide 2 (two) different names and main objects of the Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) Company which shall be submitted to MCA for approval, out of which one name will be approved. The parent company can keep its initial name or the name of its trademark along with the suffix “Private Limited/Limited”. Further, a copy of the NOC/Board resolution and requisite document duly notarized and/or apostilled shall also be submitted to the MCA.
Application for Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)
Once the name is applied, we shall apply the Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) of shareholders and/or directors for digitally signing the forms. However, if the directors/shareholders already have DSC, then this step can be skipped.
Submission of Incorporation Forms
After the name is approved and DSC is generated, we need to prepare and submit the incorporation application in SPICE+ forms along with Memorandum of Association (MOA), Articles of Association (AOA), INC 9, AGILE Form, Declarations, and KYC Documents of Director/Shareholder for final approval. Moreover, documents signed and executed in a foreign country shall be duly apostilled or notarized in the country of origin as per Incorporation rules.
Get incorporation Documents
It typically takes 5-7 days after final submission to get the incorporation certificate. Incorporation certification is proof that the company has been registered. PAN, TAN, ESIC, EPFO, and Professional Tax registration certificates will also be received simultaneously.
Opening of Bank Account
Applicant can submit the Incorporation certificate, MOA, AOA, PAN, TAN, and other required documents to the bank to open the current account and start the business operations. Afterward, shareholders can make payments in respect of their shares through banking channels.

Documents Required for Wholly Owned Subsidiary in India

List of documents of Director and Shareholders–
All the proposed directors and shareholders of the company shall submit the following documents. All documents submitted should be valid and readable.
Scanned Copy of-
- PAN Card (mandatory for Indian Nationals)
- Passport (mandatory for Foreign Nationals/NRI)
- Aadhaar Card/Voters ID/Passport/Driving License
- Latest Bank Statement/Telephone Bill/Post-paid Mobile Bill/Electricity Bill (The address proof shall be recent and not older than 2 months)
- Passport-sized photograph
- Business Visa or Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Card (For Individuals carrying out the incorporation process by visiting India)
- An Apostilled copy of the charter documents of the Foreign Company translated into English
- If the company decides to use its trademark or original name while starting a business in India, then the company would need to provide NOC from the foreign company to use the same in the form of a Board Resolution
Registered Office Proof-
A Company should have a registered office place in India. The office address can be residential or commercial premises. The address proof shall be recent and not older than 2 months. The following documents are acceptable as proof of Registered Office Address:
Scanned copy of-
- Utility bills such as Electricity bills/Mobile Post-paid bills/Landline Post-paid bills/Gas bills/Water bills
- No-objection Certificate from the property owner or whose name appears on such utility bill

FAQ

Do I need to be physically present during this process?Chandan Todi2022-01-20T00:34:07+05:30

Do I need to be physically present during this process?

No, company registration is a completely online process. All the required documents are filed electronically, so you would not need to be physically present at all. You would just need to send us scanned copies of all the required documents & forms.

Who can be the shareholder/member of a Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) Company?Chandan Todi2022-01-20T00:33:16+05:30

Who can be the shareholder/member of a Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) Company?

A Foreign Company can incorporate a Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) Private Limited Company with majority stake, while the remaining stake shall be issued to a person/body corporate/trust nominated by a foreign company who shall hold the share in beneficial interest on behalf of the company. This is in order to satisfy the minimum shareholder criteria of number two (2) in case of Private Company and seven (7) in case of Public Company as per the Indian Companies Act.

Can directors and shareholders be the same person in the company?Chandan Todi2022-01-20T00:27:22+05:30

Can directors and shareholders be the same person in the company?

Yes, directors and shareholders can be the same person in a company. But if you want to have separation in ownership and management, then you can appoint a different individual as shareholders and directors.

Is it required to have Company’s books audited?Chandan Todi2022-01-20T00:21:33+05:30

Is it required to have Company’s books audited?

Yes, a company should get its book audited and file the same with the Registrar of Companies (ROC) every year.

Can I register a Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) Company on my home or residential address?Chandan Todi2022-01-20T00:20:58+05:30

Can I register a Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) Company on my home or residential address?

Yes, you can register the company at your residential address. You need to submit the utility bill of your home address along with the No Objection Certificate from the owner of the premises.

Can NRIs/Foreign Nationals become Director and Shareholder in a Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) Company in India?Chandan Todi2022-01-20T00:20:20+05:30

Can NRIs/Foreign Nationals become Director and Shareholder in a Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) Company in India?

Yes, NRIs and Foreign National can become directors and shareholders in a Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) Company along with the required documents, also they can hold majority shares in the company. However, at least one Director on the Board of Directors should be a permanent resident of India.

Can I induct any other Company, Body Corporate LLP, as a shareholder in my company?Chandan Todi2022-01-20T00:19:19+05:30

Can I induct any other Company, Body Corporate LLP, as a shareholder in my company?

Yes, you can induct or allot shares to any other Private Limited Company, Public Company, LLP, Body Corporate, Registered Society.

Is GST mandatory for a Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) Company?Chandan Todi2022-01-20T00:17:06+05:30

Is GST mandatory for a Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) Company?

GST registration is required for those businesses whose aggregate turnover crosses the prescribed limit or such business that does the inter-state supply of goods/services, etc. So, every company has to check whether it supplies goods to different states or qualifies for the prescribed turnover limit or any other conditions as specified under GST laws. For more information, you can visit – https://registrationarena.com/gst-registration/

Is there any renewal process for a Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) Company?Chandan Todi2022-01-20T00:14:31+05:30

Is there any renewal process for a Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) Company?

No, there is no renewal of a Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) Company, once it’s registered it will be valid for a lifetime. However, you have to do mandatory compliance every year.

Is FEMA Compliance and RBI reporting required even if the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is through the Automatic Route?Chandan Todi2022-06-05T00:47:41+05:30

Is FEMA Compliance and RBI reporting required even if the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is through the Automatic Route?

Yes, a company that receives Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) must comply with the FEMA provision and needs to file Form FC-GPR with RBI within 30 days from the date of receipt of money in respect of the shares allotted. Further, equity shares, debentures, or preference shares of Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) should be issued within 60 (sixty) days from the date of receipt of the money. In case, if the instruments are not issued within 60 days, the amount of consideration so received should be refunded within fifteen (15) days to the non-resident investor.

Whether any annual return for Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) Company is required to be filed with RBI ?Chandan Todi2022-01-20T00:09:52+05:30

Whether any annual return for Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) Company is required to be filed with RBI ?

Yes, Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) Company needs to file FLA return to RBI before 15^th July after the end of the relevant financial year.

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