Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Robb announces new Significant Investor Visa complying investment framework

The Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Robb has today announced the new Significant Investor Visa complying investment framework to be introduced from the 1st July 2015. In our opinion, the framework that has been decided on is a mistake, and will see a drastic reduction in the programme’s popularity in China and elsewhere. The following has been taken from the Austrade website:

Under the new arrangements, SIV applicants will be required to invest at least $5 million over four years in complying investments, which must now include:

• At least $500,000 in eligible Australian venture capital or growth private equity fund(s) investing in start-up and small private companies. The Government expects to increase this to $1 million for new applications within two years as the market responds;
• At least $1.5 million in an eligible managed fund(s) or Listed Investment Companies (LICs) that invest in emerging companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX); and
• A ‘balancing investment’ of up to $3 million in managed fund(s) or LICs that invest in a combination of eligible assets that include other ASX listed companies, eligible corporate bonds or notes, annuities and real property (subject to the 10 per cent limit on residential real estate).

It is our belief that the government is assuming the flows of capital will continue and can simply be ‘re-directed’ into higher-risk VC or LIC funds. We believe that this shows a lack of understanding of the SIV’s largest customer (China – consuming more than 90% of current demand) and will cause a drastic reduction in demand, if not cessation of the entire programme.

Please see SIV-PIV-Complying-investment-framework for the new framework in English.