India Inc. may feel the heat of new governance norms and higher compliance.
THE 2023 GREAT PLACE TO WORK SURVEY DEFINES KARMA GLOBAL AS A GREAT PLACE TO WORK DUE TO A WIDE VARIETY OF CRITERIA LIKE QUALITY OF LEADERSHIP, CULTURE, DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, DIVERSITY, EQUALITY AND INCLUSION!
Karma Global is a tech-enabled consulting organization made up of industry specialists who provide professional advice, direction, and practical solutions to organizations with problems they can’t solve on their own. From its vast experience of 2 decades, it has witnessed that every organization somehow gets confronted with problems and issues which can be efficiently resolved with the help of Organizations like Karma Global who have experts on their panel to quickly address and leave the web of complexities behind.
Karma Global is an HR & Compliance dominated Consulting firm having its headquarters in Mumbai India and foreign offices in Canada, the US, the UK, UAE, and South East India. It offers solutions with AI tech products that have every required feature and module built into the various offerings.
It has professionals that provide expert advice and solution-based services backed up with data analytics. Through data-driven analysis, these services are focused on assisting, steering, and guiding small, medium, and large organizations to achieve their core objectives and maximize their performance potential.
Karma Global’s consulting business provides a wide range of services like payroll, outsourcing, staffing, regulatory employment laws, interpretation of legislations, written employment contracts, working out compensation and benefits, including sustainability strategies, issue resolution, and planning with turn around actionable outcomes. Our technically excellent advice is clear, concise, and straightforward. We focus on anticipating potential issues and offer creative, timely, and constructive solutions. We also make it our business to understand your priorities and commercial pressures so we can ensure that your expectations are met.
Organizations are experiencing competitive pressures from disruptive enterprises as digital technologies are changing the many faces of the industries and Karma Global has already adapted all its people and resources into the mainstream of digital technology which has enhanced our existing operations 10 fold giving us an advanced competitive edge to serve you better.
India Inc. – Disclosure of material events based on newly prescribed quantitative criteria of turnover/net worth/profit and that of certain types of agreements involving promoters and related parties is likely to pose inevitable practical difficulties for India Inc.
Corporate India may feel the heat of new SEBI governance norms with the tightening of disclosure norms and regulations. CORPORATE-INDIA-MAY-FEEL-HEAT-OF-NEW-OVEANCE-NORMS
India Inc. is staring at significantly higher compliance and governance costs, following the Securities and Exchange Board of India’s (Sebi’s) latest tightening of disclosure norms and regulations around the filling of key positions, the materiality of information, and third-party transfers.
This week, the securities market regulator amended the Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements (LODR) to introduce a raft of changes that will affect how listed companies go about transparency and disclosures.
The new framework will further empower public shareholders and soon move towards a ‘comply or be penalised regime or comply or explain’ in the case of high-value debt-listed entities.
One of the major changes towards transparency requires the top 100 listed companies to confirm, deny, or clarify any rumour or information reported in mainstream media within 24 hours, effective October 1.
The obligation will be extended to 250 companies, starting next financial year (2024-25).
What expert observers have to say ……………!
- “It can dampen the commercial vigour of the listed entity (as tracking such rumours is likely to be a time-consuming and tedious process), as the listed entity is now under obligation to not only comment on a market rumour but also provide its status,” says Sharad Abhyankar and Vaibhav Mittal of Khaitan & Co in a note analyzing the latest amendments.
- Legal experts believe that the companies will be required to keep pace and effectively track media developments to timely verify and respond.
- “Although mainstream media has been defined, the interpretational developments thereof would be interesting to watch out for vis-à-vis influencers,” adds the duo.
- “Disclosure of material events based on newly prescribed quantitative criteria of turnover/net worth/profit and that of certain types of agreements involving promoters and related parties is likely to pose inevitable practical difficulties because of the involved subjectivity,” says Harish Kumar, partner, Luthra & Luthra Law Offices India.
- Extending them to third-party transactions will lead to administrative delays and potentially place unnecessary roadblocks in such transactions,” says Vaibhav Gupta, partner, Dhruva Advisors.
- Another major challenge cited by consultants and legal advisors is the requirement of shareholders’ approval for any sale or lease with third parties.
- “The provision to require the public shareholders to approve even third-party business transfer transactions appears to be somewhat overreaching
- “Safeguards already exist for any related party transactions.
- While most amendments underscore the need for listed entities to introspect on the spirit of compliance, it is clear that the compliance and governance costs of listed entities will continue to grow substantially,” reads a note by Khaitan & Co.
- Industry players say the proposal had received negative feedback from industry captains.
SEBI PROCEEDS ONSLAUGHT IN ITS ENDEAVOUR ……….
Sebi has not only shortened the timeline for disclosures but also introduced quantitative thresholds for determining the materiality of events and transactions.
For instance, if an event or piece of information has a value impact of 2 per cent of turnover or net worth or 5 per cent of the average absolute value of profit or loss after tax, it will be classified as ‘material’.
Among other key changes, Sebi has mandated shareholder approval every five years for continuation as a director on the board of a company, exposing them to proxy advisory scrutiny and evaluation.
This will put an end to the practice of board permanency, which will allow some individuals to continue on the boards without being liable to retire.
Moreover, listed companies will have to fill key vacancies in positions like a chief executive officer (CEO), managing director (MD), and chief financial officer within three months of the vacancy, putting pressure on companies to instil a succession plan.
The market watchdog has also enhanced disclosures for listed companies on fraud or defaults by a director or senior management, regulatory action, and the arrest of key managerial personnel. Sebi has also given clarity on the definitions of fraud and default.
The amendments to LODR were approved by the Sebi board at its meeting in March.
The changes were first proposed in a discussion paper in February.
While the board has approved most proposals, it didn’t accept the proposal on freezing the dematerialized accounts of the MD and CEO for continued non-compliance.
“Sebi’s proactive role in addressing any challenges that arise from the implementation of the LODR amendment will be crucial to its successful execution.
Role of Karma Global in the domestic market
Karma Global with Pratik Vaidya as its founder has entered the global scenario both as a leader and a moderator with a record level participation from 4900 attendees from 83 international markets and 55 States and Territories in the just concluded Select Summit USA Investors Meet.
Karma Global is an established player in the Global, Regional, and Local Service Line of Expertise for its uniqueness in terms of providing technological compliance solutions as well as handling complex compliance issues.
Karma Global continues to make major inroads by expanding its global networks by providing high-valued consulting, advisory, and executable services to all its clients, especially through its We Process Modules containing (1) challans payment and management (2) Notice & Inspection (3) Contract Management (4) Payroll Management (5) Registers and Records (6) Returns Management (7) TIC Generation (8) Advisory Services (9) License Management (10) Helpdesk Management (11) Litigation Management.
Proprietary blog of Karma Global Tech Management LLC
This blog has been collated and compiled by the internal staff of Karma Global with the knowledge and expertise that they possess, besides adaptation, illustration, derivation, transformation, and collection from various sources, for its monthly newsletter Issue 14 of August 2023 and in case of specific or general information or compliance updates for that matter, kindly reach out to the Marketing Team – Kush@karmamgmt.com / yashika@karmamgmt.com