Comparative Analysis of Mandatory Committees under SEBI (LODR) Regulations, 2015 and Companies Act, 2013
Introduction to Committees
Committees can be said as a group of persons who work together for a common objective and perform a specific work requiring expertise knowledge.
With this Objective, Board Committees are formed to perform following functions-
1. To enhance Board efficiency and effectiveness
2. To help Board focus more on Corporate Governance
3. To research on specialized areas of Industry with expertise knowledge of persons involved in it
4. To Recommend to Board about new changes in Industrial and other policies.
Different Mandatory Committees
Under Companies Act
- Audit Committee
(Section 177) - Nomination and Remuneration Committee
[Section 178(1) to (4)] - Stakeholder Relationship Committee
[Section 178(5) to (8)] - Corporate Sustainability Responsibility Committee (Section 135)
Vigil Mechanism (Section 177 + Rule 7 of Companies (Management and Administration) Rules,2014
Under SEBI (LODR) Regulations,2015
- Audit Committee (Reg.18)
- Nomination and Remuneration Committee
(Reg.19) - Stakeholder Relationship Committee (Reg.20)
- Risk Management Committee(Reg.21)
- Vigil Mechanism(Reg.22)
Regulation 18- Audit Committee
The Listed entity shall constitute qualified and independent audit committee subject to following :-
Constitution |
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Qualification |
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Frequency of meeting |
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Quorum of meeting |
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Invitation of other members at meeting | Audit committee shall invite-
Note- Occasionally it may meet without the presence of any executives of the listed entity. |
Powers of Committee |
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Role to be specified in Schedule II | Its role and information to be reviewed by it shall be as specified in Part C of Schedule II. |
Disclosure in Board Report |
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Meaning of terms used above
1) Financial Literate ( Defined in Regulation 18 of SEBI( LODR) Regulations,2015
Means the ability to read and understand basic financial statements i.e. balance sheet, profit and loss account, and statement of cash flows.
2) Member considered having accounting or related financial management expertise ( Defined in Regulation 18 of SEBI( LODR) Regulations,2015
If he or she possesses experience in finance or accounting,or requisite professional certification in accounting, or any other comparable experience or background which results in the individual’s financial sophistication,including being or having been a chief executive officer, chief financial officer or other senior officer with financial oversight responsibilities.
3) SR Equity Shares (Defined in Regulation 2(1)(eeea) of SEBI( Issue of Capital and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations,2019
It means the Equity shares of an issuer having Superior Voting Rights compared to all other equity shares issued by that issuer.
Regulation 22- Vigil Mechanism
(1) The listed entity shall formulate a vigil mechanism for directors and employees to report genuine concerns.
(2) The vigil mechanism shall provide for adequate safeguards against victimization of director(s) or employee(s) or any other person who avail the mechanism.
(3)It shall also provide for direct access to the chairperson of the audit committee in appropriate or exceptional cases.
Audit Committee as per Companies Act (Section 177)
Applicability | Applies to companies-
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Constitution |
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Qualification | Majority of members of Audit Committee including its Chairperson shall be persons with ability to read and understand the financial statement. |
Presence of other persons at Committee meeting | The auditors of a company and the key managerial personnel shall have a right to be heard when Committee considers the auditor’s report but shall not have the right to vote. |
Functions | (i)Recommendation for appointment, remuneration and terms of appointment of auditors of the company
(ii)Review and monitor the auditor’s independence and performance, and effectiveness of audit process (iii)Examination of the financial statement and the auditors’ report thereon (iv)Approval or any subsequent modification of transactions of the company with related parties. Additional Provisions related to this clause- (Explained in Proviso to this point)
Consequence of Non Approval or Non- Ratification of Transaction by company (Explained in Proviso to this clause)
It shall be voidable at the option of Audit Committee.
(v) Scrutiny of inter-corporate loans and investments (vi) Valuation of undertakings or assets of the company,wherever it is necessary (vii) Evaluation of internal financial controls and risk management systems (viii) Monitoring the end use of funds raised through public offers and related matters. |
Powers |
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Disclosure in Board Report |
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Provisions regarding Vigil Mechanism (Section 177 read with Rule 7)
Constitution | Every listed company and the following class or classes shall establish a vigil mechanism for their directors and employees to report their genuine concerns or grievances-
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Who shall oversee it |
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Functions |
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Disclosure in Board Report and Website | Details of establishment of such mechanism shall be disclosed by the company in its Board Report and on its website,if any. |
Exceptions and Non Applicability in some cases
1. For Section 8 Company, Words Independent directors shall form majority used in Constitution Column, shall be omitted.
2. For Government Company, for words Recommendation for appointment, remuneration and terms of appointment used in Functions column above, Recommendation for remuneration, shall be substituted.
3. This section shall not apply in case of Specified IFSC Public Company.
Regulation 19-Nomination and Remuneration Committee
Constitution |
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Chairperson |
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Role | Specified as in Part D of the Schedule II. |
Meetings | At least once in a year. |
Quorum for meetings |
Higher of 1/3rd Or 2 members And At least 1 independent director |
Nomination and Remuneration Committee as per Companies Act (Section 178)
Applicability | Applies to companies-
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Constitution |
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Role |
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Points to be kept in mind while formulating policy |
1. Level and composition of remuneration is reasonable and sufficient to attract, retain and motivate directors of the quality required to run the company successfully. 2. Relationship of remuneration to performance is clear and meets appropriate performance benchmarks. 3. Remuneration to directors, key managerial personnel and senior management involves a balance between fixed and incentive pay reflecting short and long-term performance objectives appropriate to the working of the company and its goals. |
Disclosure of Policy in Board Report and on Website |
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Meaning of Senior Management (Explained in Section 178)
Means Personnel of the company who are members of its core management team excluding Board of Directors comprising all members of management one level below the executive directors, including the functional heads.
Exceptions/ Modifications/ Adaptations
1. Provisions of this Committee shall not apply in case of Government Company except with regard to appointment of senior management and other employees.
2. This section shall not apply in case of Section 8 company and Specified IFSC Public Company.
Regulation 20-Stakeholders Relationship Committee
Constitution |
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Functions | To Look into various aspects of interest of shareholders, debenture holders and other security holders. |
Meetings | At least once in a year. |
Chairperson |
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Role | Specified as in Part D of the Schedule II. |
Stakeholders Relationship Committee as per Companies Act-Section 178
Applicability | Applies to company consist of more than 1000
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Constitution |
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Role | Consider and resolve the grievances of security holders of the company. |
Penalty for Non-Constitution of Audit Committee, Nomination and Remuneration Committee and Stakeholder Relationship Committee under Companies Act (Section 178)
Company | Fine
Minimum- 1 Lakh Rupees Maximum- 5 Lakh Rupees |
Every Officer of Company | Fine
Minimum- 25,000 Rupees Maximum- 1 Lakh Rupees Or Imprisonment Maximum – 1 year Or Both |
Relaxation from Penalty | Inability to resolve or consider any grievance by Stakeholders Relationship Committee in good faith not to be constituted as contravention. |
Exceptions/ Modifications/ Adaptations
1. This section shall not apply in case of Section 8 company and Specified IFSC Public Company.
Regulation 21-Risk Management Committee
Applicability | Applies to Top 500 Listed Entities determined on basis of Market Capitalisation at the end of Previous Financial Year |
Constitution |
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Role |
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Meetings | At least once in a year. |
Under Companies act
There are no corresponding provisions related to Risk Management Committee under Companies act,2013.
Corporate Social Responsibility Committee Provisions under Companies Act(Section 135)
Applicability | Applies to Company having –
During immediately preceding financial year |
Constitution |
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Role |
1. Formulate and recommend to the Board, a CSR Policy indicating the activities to be undertaken by the company in areas or subject, specified in Schedule VII 2. Recommend the amount of expenditure to be incurred on the activities referred to in (1) and 3. Monitor the Corporate Social Responsibility Policy of the company from time to time |
Role of Board | The Board of every company shall —
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Disclosure in Board Report and Website |
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Under SEBI (LODR) Regulations,2015
There are no corresponding provisions related to CSR Committee under SEBI (LODR) Regulations,2015.
How many mandatory meetings for CSR Committee annually?
Very useful article