New rules will give greater flexibility for investors in China, says expert

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) this week published new rules that will allow the more consistent use of equity in Chinese companies as capital for the creation of companies with foreign investors. These companies are called Foreign-invested Enterprises (FIEs).

Previously the use of equity in Chinese firms as capital for investment into these companies was only decided on a case by case basis, usually at a provincial level, said Yan Geng of Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind Out-Law.com.

She said that the publication of the Interim Provisions of the Ministry of Commerce for Equity Contribution of Foreign-invested Enterprises will give welcome flexibility for foreign investors.

"Foreign investors will find greater flexibility in restructuring their assets in China if equity contribution is made available as an additional means for capital injection," said Geng. "With the promulgation of these provisions, it is expected that the approval process for equity contributions will become more standardised and streamlined."

Until the provisions were introduced the only non-monetary capital contributions that could be invested in FIEs according to PRC Company Law were tangible assets, intellectual property and land-use rights. The provisions are the most detailed rules available on how  equity contributions will be governed.

MOFCOM's provisions include details about the scope of the provisions; the qualification requirements for contributing equity; the mandatory valuation and pricing of equity and other details of the operation of the scheme. In-kind capital contributions such as equity contributions form part of the non-monetary capital of a company. This is capped at 70% of the total registered capital of the company.