SAFE New Rules to Boost Private Outbound Investment

In May 2010, the State Council issued the Opinions on Encouraging and Guiding the Healthy Development of Private Investment (Guo Fa [2010] No.13) to promote private investment activities . In order to solve the difficulties faced by private companies in terms of overseas financing and the lack of liquidity, and to simplify the foreign exchange control policies for outbound investment activities by private companies, SAFE released new rules on private outbound investments, the Circular of State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Foreign Exchange Administration in Relation to Encouraging and Guiding the Healthy Development of Private Investment (Hui Fa [2012] No.33) (the "Circular") on 11 June 2012. The Circular simplifies the regulation processes for the remittance of foreign direct investment capital as well as offshore loans¹ granted by domestic enterprises and relaxes the administration of external security provided by individuals.