Spotlight: Enabling Faster Overseas Expansion

Sector: Cross-Border & International Advisory. Engagement type: Overseas Direct Investment (ODI) structuring.

The Challenge

An Indian company with ambitions to expand into Southeast Asia approached us for advisory support on structuring its overseas investment. The path ahead was far from straightforward. The client had to deal with the Overseas Direct Investment (ODI) regulations under India’s foreign exchange framework, weigh the tax implications of different investment routes, and meet regulatory requirements in both India and the target jurisdictions.

With several moving parts and a risk of delay at each stage, the client needed a partner who could bring clarity to the process and help it move with confidence.

Our Intervention

We worked closely with the client’s leadership and finance teams to design an investment structure that balanced regulatory compliance with commercial efficiency. Our support covered:

• Structuring the investment: We evaluated alternative holding and investment structures and recommended the one best suited to the client’s long-term growth plans, funding needs and exit flexibility.
• ODI framework assessment: We analysed the applicable ODI provisions, including eligibility conditions, permissible routes, and reporting and approval requirements, so the transaction was aligned with regulatory expectations from the outset.
• Tax advisory: We assessed tax implications across jurisdictions, including cross-border taxation, treaty benefits and repatriation of returns, to optimise the overall tax position.
• Regulatory guidance: We guided the client through the necessary filings, documentation and interactions with authorities, and anticipated potential hurdles so they could be addressed early rather than becoming bottlenecks.

Business Impact

Our advisory support reduced the transaction timeline by approximately six months. By resolving structuring and regulatory questions upfront, the client avoided repeated rework and approval delays. This allowed it to enter Southeast Asian markets well ahead of its original schedule, begin operations sooner, and strengthen its competitive position in a fast-growing region.

Impact at a Glance

• ~6 months: Time-to-market accelerated.
• ODI & Tax Structuring: A compliant, commercially efficient investment pathway.
• Southeast Asia Expansion: Faster entry into high-growth markets.