Hotline

Tax Hotline

July 02, 2001
 

Indian Government issues draft ESOP Guidelines

In accordance with the powers given under section 17 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, the Central Government has issued draft guidelines in respect of Employees Stock Options ("ESOs"). These guidelines would cover all types of ESOs and the rules would be finalized after discussions.

The exercise price should not be less than the face value of shares. Companies would be required to file detailed particulars of the ESO plan in prescribed format with the Chief Commissioner of Income-tax (CCIT) within six months of issuance of these guidelines. Companies will have the discretion to determine the lock-in period, conditions of transfer, pricing formula, eligibility of employees and the manner of obtaining approval from shareholders. The scheme would be required to give all these details. In case of unlisted companies, CCIT should approve the basis of valuation of shares issued.

Our next "Legal Update" will cover the details of these guidelines upon finalization.

 
 

Source: The Economic Times, July 2, 2001; Business Standard, June 30, 2001


Disclaimer

The contents of this hotline should not be construed as legal opinion. View detailed disclaimer.

This hotline does not constitute a legal opinion and may contain information generated using various artificial intelligence (AI) tools or assistants, including but not limited to our in-house tool, NaiDA. We strive to ensure the highest quality and accuracy of our content and services. Nishith Desai Associates is committed to the responsible use of AI tools, maintaining client confidentiality, and adhering to strict data protection policies to safeguard your information.

This hotline provides general information existing at the time of preparation. The Hotline is intended as a news update and Nishith Desai Associates neither assumes nor accepts any responsibility for any loss arising to any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of any material contained in this Hotline. It is recommended that professional advice be taken based on the specific facts and circumstances. This hotline does not substitute the need to refer to the original pronouncements.

This is not a spam email. You have received this email because you have either requested for it or someone must have suggested your name. Since India has no anti-spamming law, we refer to the US directive, which states that a email cannot be considered spam if it contains the sender's contact information, which this email does. In case this email doesn't concern you, please unsubscribe from mailing list.

 

concierge@nishithdesai.com

www.nishithdesai.com

 

© 2025 Nishith Desai Associates. All Rights Reserved.