The Ministry of Commerce and Industry on October 18, 2021 has instructed all the developers/ co-developers and SEZ units to comply with the new guidelines related to the approval of change in name, change in shareholding pattern, business transfer arrangement, court approved mergers and demergers, change of constitution, change in Directors etc.
The guidelines are as followed:
(i) Reorganization including change of name, change of shareholding pattern, business transfer arrangements, court approved mergers and demergers, change of constitution, change of Directors, etc. may be undertaken by the Unit Approval Committee (UAC) concerned subject to the condition that the Developer / Co-developer / Unit shall not opt out or exit out of the Special Economic Zone and continues to operate as a going concern. All liabilities of the Developer / Co-developer / Unit shall remain unchanged on such reorganization.
(ii) Such reorganization shall be subject to the following safeguards.
a. Seamless continuity of the SEZ activities with unaltered responsibilities and obligations for the altered entity;
b. Fulfilment of all eligibility criteria applicable, including security clearances etc., by the altered entity and its constituents;
c. Applicability of and compliance with all Revenue / Company Affairs / SEBI etc. Acts / Rules which regulate issues like capital gains, equity change, transfer, taxability etc.
d. Full financial details relating to change in equity / merger, demerger, amalgamation or transfer in ownership etc. shall be furnished immediately to Member (IT&R), CBDT, Department of Revenue and to the jurisdictional Authority.
e. The Assessing Officer shall have the right to assess the taxability of the gain / loss arising out of the transfer of equity or merger, demerger, amalgamation, transfer and ownerships etc. as may be applicable and eligibility for deduction under relevant sections of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
f. The applicant shall comply with relevant State Government laws, including those relating to lease of land, as applicable.
g. The applicant shall furnish details of PAN and jurisdictional assessing officer of the unit to CBDT.
h. The applicant shall be recognised by the new name or such arrangement in all the records.
[Instruction No. 109]
