PE investors seek exemptions for start-ups' overseas holding companies

Holding companies are usually formed to enable start-ups to list abroad or to protect their IPRs

Some of the top private equity (PE) investors met finance ministry officials last week seeking relaxations for start-ups to create overseas holding company structures.
 
Start-ups often prefer to use such structures, either to list overseas, or to protect their intellectual property rights (IPRs).  According to sources, PE investors are concerned that creating such structures could attract several penalties after the advent of new tax rules such as General Anti-Avoidance Rules (GAAR) and Place of Effective Management (POEM).
 
However, the government is learnt to be of the view that any relaxation in these norms could lead to misuse and