Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Powers of Board of Directors-the Companies Act, 2013


Through Section 117 of the new Act, The Government insisting every Indian company to register with the Registrar of Companies certain decisions of the Board. The list is given below. Thus every company has to register/file every year two resolutions (7 and 15 in the given list) mandatorily. Penalties are stringent. Both company and defaulting officers are liable to pay penalty.

The Board of Directors of a company shall exercise the following powers on behalf of the company by means of resolutions passed at meetings of the Board, namely:—

1
to make calls on shareholders in respect of money unpaid on their shares
2
to authorise buy-back of securities 
3
to issue securities, including debentures, whether in or outside India;
4
to borrow monies


Nothing in clause (d) shall apply to borrowings by a banking company from other banking companies or from the Reserve Bank of India, the State Bank of India or any other banks established by or under any Act and dealings between a company and its bankers
the Board may, by a resolution passed at a meeting, delegate to any committee of directors, the managing director, the manager or any other principal officer of the company or in the case of a branch office of the company, the principal officer of the branch office

5
to invest the funds of the company

the Board may, by a resolution passed at a meeting, delegate to any committee of directors, the managing director, the manager or any other principal officer of the company or in the case of a branch office of the company, the principal officer of the branch office

6
to grant loans or give guarantee or provide security in respect of loans

the Board may, by a resolution passed at a meeting, delegate to any committee of directors, the managing director, the manager or any other principal officer of the company or in the case of a branch office of the company, the principal officer of the branch office
7
to approve financial statement and the Board’s report

This is to do every year

8
to diversify the business of the company
9
to approve amalgamation, merger or reconstruction
10
to take over a company or acquire a controlling or substantial stake in another company
The following items prescribed through rules:
11
to make political contributions
12
to appoint or remove key managerial personnel (KMP);
13
to take note of appointment(s) or removal(s) of one level below the Key Management Personnel;
14
to appoint internal auditors and secretarial auditor
15
to take note of the disclosure of director’s interest and shareholding

Every financial year a Director has to disclose his interests in other companies, firms etc to the company and the Board in its first meeting in the financial year has to read and approve the disclosure notices of Directors.
16
to buy, sell investments held by the company (other than trade investments), constituting five percent or more of the paid up share capital and free reserves of the investee company
17
to invite or accept or renew public deposits and related matters
18
to review or change the terms and conditions of public deposit
19
to approve quarterly, half yearly and annual financial statements or financial results as the case may be


Section 117 (3)(g) provides that all decisions of the Board Meeting as listed above should be filed with the Registrar within thirty days of the passing or making  of resolution/agreement.

Section 117 (2) provides the penalty clause for default:

THE COMPANY shall be punishable with fine which shall not be less than five lakh rupees but which may extend to twenty-five lakh rupees and

EVERY OFFICER OF THE COMPANY who is in default, including liquidator of the company, if any, shall be punishable with fine which shall not be less than one lakh rupees but which may extend to five lakh rupees.

Section 403(2)  further provides that: Where a company fails or commits any default to submit, file, register or record any document, fact or information before the expiry of the prescribed period with additional fee,
the company and the officers of the company who are in default, shall, without prejudice to the liability for payment of fee and additional fee, be liable for the penalty or punishment provided under this Act for such failure or default.

Important points
1.
Every company should register (by filing form with Registrar of Companies)the disclosure of interests by Directors probably before July 30 every year (within 30 days of Ist quarter Board Meeting)
2.
Every company should register the approval of financial statements and directors report probably before the end of the second quarter.

Sajee Nair and Sumesh
(Company Secretary)

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