Buzz on Corporate Laws, an eNewsletter of P. K. Pandya & Co.: August 2014 issue - covers legal updates. To subscribe http://newsletter.pkpandya.com/?p=subscribe&id=1
2. P. K. PANDYA & CO.
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Buzz on Corporate Laws: August 2014
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Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA)
New Circulars of MCA:
Clarification on transitional period for resolutions passed under the Companies
Act, 1956 - General circular 32:
MCA vide this circular has clarified that all resolutions approved or passed by companies under relevant
applicable provisions of the Old Act during the period from 1st
September, 2013 to 31st
March, 2014, can
be implemented, in accordance with provisions of the Old Act, notwithstanding the repeal of the relevant
provision subject to the conditions (a) that the implementation of the resolution actually commenced
before 1st
April, 2014 and (b) that this transitional arrangement will be available upto expiry of one year
from the passing of the resolution or six months from the commencement of the corresponding provision
in New Act whichever is later. It is also clarified that any amendment of the resolution must be in
accordance with the relevant provision of the New Act.
Our comments:
The resolutions passed under the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956 which has been implemented by
the companies shall continue to remain in force upto expiry of one year from the passing of the resolution
or within 6 months from the commencement of the corresponding provision of the Companies Act, 2013,
whichever is later.
But if there is any amendment in the resolution, then the same shall be in accordance with the provisions
of the Companies Act, 2013.
For copy of circular, click here
Clarification with regard to applicability of provisions of section 139(5) and 139(7)
of the Companies Act, 2013 - General circular 33:
MCA vide this circular has clarified that deemed Government companies would be covered under
subsection (5) and (7) of section 139 of the Companies Act, 2013
Further, it has also been observed that the words " any other company owned or controlled, directly or
indirectly ……… by the Central Government and partly by one or more State Governments” appearing in
sub-sections (5) and (7) of section 139 of the New Act are to be read with the definition of control' in
section 2(27) of the New Act. Thus documents like articles of association and shareholders agreements
etc envisaging control under section 2(27) are to be taken into account while deciding whether an
individual company, other than those referred in paragraph 1-2 above, is covered under section 139(5)/
139(7) of the New Act.
Clarification has also been sought that it shall be the responsibility of the company concerned to intimate
to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (C&AG) about its incorporation along with name, location
of registered office, capital structure of such a company immediately on its incorporation. The company
concerned shall also intimate to the relevant Government so that such Government may also send a
suitable request to the C&AG.
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Our comments:
There was a doubt relating to applicability of section 139(5) and 139(7) of the Companies Act, 2013 to
“deemed government companies” with respect to appointment of auditors by Comptroller and Auditor
General of India (C&AG) since the new act does not contain any specific provisions about deemed
government companies on the lines of section 619B of the Companies Act, 1956. Now, it has been clarified
vide this circular that deemed government companies are covered under section 139(5) and 139(7) of the
Companies Act, 2013.
For copy of circular, click here
Notifications issued:
Non-applicability of first proviso of section 203(1)
Section 203 of the Companies Act 2012 relates to appointment of Key Managerial Personnel (KMP). First
proviso to Section 203 (1) provides that after 01 April 2014, an individual shall not be appointed or re-
appointed as chairperson of the company as well as managing director or CEO at the same time. It also
provides exceptions where articles of association of a company permits such appointment or where the
company is not carrying on multiple business.
MCA vide this notification has extended exemption to companies in multiple business if the company is a
public company, having paid-up share capital of Rs.100 crore (INR 1 billion) or more and annual turnover
of rupees one thousand crore (INR 10 billion) or more which is engaged in multiple businesses and has
appointed CEO for each such business. This notification is as per second proviso to sub-section (1) of
Section 203 of the said Act.
For the above provisions, the paid-up share capital and the annual turnover shall be decided on the basis
of the latest audited balance sheet.
For copy of notification dated 25th
July, 2014, click here.
Amendment in Schedule VII of Companies Act, 2013
In Schedule VII, after item (x), the following item and entry shall be inserted, namely:
"(xi) slum area development,
Explanation.- For the purposes of this item, the term 'slum area' shall mean any area declared as such by
the Central Government or any State Government or any other force competent authority under any law
for the time being in force."
Our comments:
One new activity has been notified which can be included by the companies in their Corporate Social
Responsibility Policies.
4. P. K. PANDYA & CO.
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For copy of notification dated 6th
August, 2014, click here.
Amendment in Rules related to Meeting through video conference and change in
limits of RPT:
The central Government has amended the Companies (Meeting of Board and its Powers) Rules, 2014 with
effect from 14th
August 2014. The effect of the amendments are:-
(1) Venue of Board meeting conevned through video confernce or audio visual means need not be in India.
(2) audit committee meeting for consideration of financial statement, including consolidated financial
statement, if any, which is required to be approved by the Board under section 134 (1) cannot be held
through video confernce or audio visual means. Original (prior to amendment) the Rule provided for
“consideration of account”. With this amendment more clarity is brought.
(3) Revision of limits of contract or transactions with related parties.
For entering into transaction(s) with related party in excess of limit specified below, prior approval of the
members of the company by special resolution is required.
Nature of transaction exceeding
Sale, purchase or supply of any goods or
materials, directly or through appointment of
agent - as mentioned in clause (a) and clause (e)
respectively of sub section (1) of section 188
10% of turnover of the company; or
Rs. 100 crore (INR 1 bn)
Whichever is lower
Selling or otherwise disposing of or buying
property of any kind, directly or through
appointment of agent - as mentioned in clause
(b) and clause (e) respectively of sub-section (1)
of section 188
10% of net worth of the company; or
Rs. 100 crore (INR 1 bn)
Whichever is lower
Leasing property of any kind - as mentioned in
clause ( c) of sub-section (1) of section 188
10% of turnover of the company; or
10% of net worth of the company; or
Rs. 100 crore (INR 1 bn)
Whichever is lower
Availing or rendering of any services, directly or
through appointment of agent - as mentioned in
clause (d) and clause (e) respectively of sub-
section (1) of section 188
10% of turnover of the company; or
Rs. 50 crore (INR 500 mn)
Whichever is lower
It is clarified that the aforesaid limits shall apply for transaction or transactions to be entered into either
individually or taken together with the previous transactions during a financial year.
Prior approval of members of the company by special resolution is required in respect following nature of
transactions with related party:
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(1) For appointment to any office or place of profit in the company, its subsidiary company or associate
company at a monthly remuneration exceeding Rs. 250,000/- - as mentioned in clause (f) of sub-section
(1) of section 188;
(2) For remuneration for underwriting the subscription of any securities or derivatives thereof, of the
company exceeding 1% of the net worth - as mentioned in clause (g) of sub-section (1) of section 188.
The Turnover or net Worth referred in the above sub-rules shall be computed on the basis of the Audited
Financial Statement of the preceding financial year.
In case of a wholly owned subsidiary, the special resolution passed by the holding company shall be
sufficient for the purpose of entering into the transactions between the wholly owned subsidiary and the
holding company.
For copy of notification dated 14th
August, 2014, click here.
RESERVE BANK OF INDIA
Foreign investment in India by SEBI registered long term investors in Government dated
securities
The investment limit in government securities has been enhanced by USD 5 billion by
correspondingly reducing the amount available to long term investors from USD 10 billion to USD
5 billion within the overall limit of USD 30 billion.
The investment limit of USD 5 billion shall be invested in government bonds with a minimum
residual maturity of three years. There will be no lock-in period and FIIs/QFIs/FPIs shall be free
to sell the securities to the domestic investors.
[Circular no. RBI/2014-15/145 A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 13 dated July 23, 2014] For circular,
click here
SEBI
Monitoring of Compliance by Stock Exchanges
SEBI, earlier vide its circulars dated September 30, 2013 and November 18, 2013 has put in place
a system to monitor and review the compliance of listing conditions by listed companies and to
devise framework to detect any non- compliance / violation of the applicable laws.
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All listed companies shall mandatorily comply with the Principles of Corporate Governance as per
amended Clause 49 of the listing agreement. As per the said principle, all the shareholders of the
company shall participate and vote effectively in general meetings of the company.
SEBI has observed that some listed companies belonging to the same group are holding AGMs
within a time gap of 15 minutes between two AGMs. The allocation of 15 minutes for conducting
AGM does not appear to be adequate enough to facilitate a constructive discussion on various
matters transacted at the AGM.
Hence, SEBI has advised all recognized stock exchanges to set up and equip monitory framework
and shall ensure that the principle of corporate governance are followed by all the listed
companies in letter and spirit.
This circular will be effective from 1st
October, 2014
For copy of circular, click here
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