RBI allows FPIs to invest in unlisted bonds

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Monday allowed foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) to invest in unlisted bonds of a public company and securitised debt instruments.

The measures, aimed at expanding the investment basket for FPIs, were announced in the Union Budget for 2016-17.

According to the extant guidelines, FPIs were only permitted to invest in listed or to-be-listed debt securities.

Investment in unlisted debt securities was permitted only in case of companies in the infrastructure sector.

The FPIs were earlier not allowed to invest in any kind of securitised debt instruments.