Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
http://www.caclubindia.com/articles/-the-companies-act-2013-provisions-relating-to-related-party-dis...
Rahul Kumar
Logout
NEWS
EXPERTS
ARTICLES
FILES
FORUM
JOBS
STREAM
EVENTS
STUDENTS
JUDICIARY
MORE
Home > Articles > Corporate Law > The Companies Act, 2013 - Provisions relating to related Party disclosures
Introduction: The Companies Act, 2013(the Act or New Act) aims at enhancing Corporate Governance by clearly defining the duties of directors and fixing additional responsibilities and defining the attributes and role of independent directors to preserve their independence. It has increased the responsibility of auditors by imposing certain restrictions on providing services other than audit and huge
1 of 12
1/10/2014 7:40 PM
http://www.caclubindia.com/articles/-the-companies-act-2013-provisions-relating-to-related-party-dis...
31
penalties to ensure their independence. Disclosure of related party transactions and approvals for such transactions is one such area which is intended to prevent directors, Key managerial persons from taking undue advantage of their position for their personal benefit and ensure transparency in dealings of the company. This article is an attempt to highlight the issues that arise out of related party transactions. Why law mandates related parties? disclosure of
The general presumption is that shareholders interests are compromised in related party transactions and goods or materials or services are sold at unreasonably low prices to related parties. Income tax looks at these transactions as tax evading transactions and values the related party transactions at Arms length. Analysts also fail to evaluate the financial results when related party transactions are understated or not given effect. Companies Act, in the name of good corporate governance mandates approvals of board and shareholders, disclosure of such transactions and imposes penalties for non compliance of relevant provisions. Law with regard to related party transactions: Under Old Act: In the old Act Section 297 and 299 and 301 and Schedule VI and read with Schedule-1A (relative of directors) help in identifying the related parties, related party transactions and the restrictions imposed for such transactions. Section 297 of old Act requires boards approval(Regional Directors approval in case paid up capital is 1crore or more) for entering into any contracts/arrangement with parties declared therein. subject to certain exceptions(regularly traded materials /services). Section 299 requires a director to disclose his interest directly or indirectly in any transaction/arrangement and it is wider in its scope but the exception u/s 299(6) i.e limit of less than 2% holding dilutes its effect.
Quick Links
Submit Articles Browse by Category Recent Comments Popular Articles
2 of 12
1/10/2014 7:40 PM
http://www.caclubindia.com/articles/-the-companies-act-2013-provisions-relating-to-related-party-dis...
31 Section 301 requires the company to maintain a register in which disclosures of directors,
contracts or arrangements entered into with the approval of board or shareholders. New Companies Act: In the New Act, the relevant sections which are connected for identifying related party transactions are given below. Frame work laid down by the new Act for treatment of related party transactions will be clear from clear from these sections. Section 184- Newly appointed Directors have to disclose their interest in companies, firms or association of individuals at the very first meeting of the Board attended by them and thereafter every year in the prescribed manner (corresponds to old sec.299).Similarly if any director individually or together with other directors holds more than 2% in any body corporate, and any proposed contract or arrangement with such body corporate in which he is interested or concerned whether directly or indirectly, or in which he is a promoter or manager or CEO of that body corporate then he has to make a disclosure of such interest. This limit of 2% or more is not in line with AS-18 limits considered for control(more than 50% of voting power) and significant influence(more than20% of voting power). Section 188- It deals with related party disclosures (covers sections 297,300,314 of Old Act) which are mentioned below in detail. Section 189- Every director or KMP shall within 30 days of his appointment/relinquishment of office disclose his concern or interest in any company or body corporate, firms or individuals including his share holding and also contracts or arrangements in which he is directly or indirectly interested( Section 184). Every company is required to keep a register giving separately the particulars of all contracts or arrangements to which section 184(2) of section 188 applies and shall be placed before the board meeting and signed by all directors present at the meeting. Section 189(5) states that nothing in this section shall be applicable for contracts or arrangements for supply of goods/materials/service whose aggregate value is less than 5 lakhs Who is a related party?
Recent
Popular
Comments
Replacing all taxes with banking transaction tax ! Eligibility of Input Service Credit Sales Commission Loans to directors sec 185 (295 of old act) Short-comings of Safe Harbour Rules CAS - 4 and Rule 8 of Central Excise Valuation Provisions relating to Acceptance of Fixed deposits CRM Strategy for the CA firm 5 Reasons why you should Invest through the SIP Route Role of Auditor in the New Companies Act Acceptance of Deposits under New Companies Act, 2013
3 of 12
1/10/2014 7:40 PM
http://www.caclubindia.com/articles/-the-companies-act-2013-provisions-relating-to-related-party-dis...
31
A related party is a person or entity that is related to the entity preparing its financial statements. Before we go deep into the requirements of Section 188, for better understanding it is necessary to have a close look at Section 2(76) which defines related party with reference to a company: director or his relative, a key managerial personnel (MD/WTD/Manager/CEO/CFO/Co.Secretary) or his relative; a firm, in which a director, manager or his relative is a partner iv. a private company in which a director or manager is a member or director; v. a public company in which a director or manager is a director or holds along with his relatives, more than two per cent of its paid-up share capital; vi. any body corporate whose Board of Directors, managing director or manager is accustomed to act in accordance with the advice, directions or instructions of a director or manager; vii. any person on whose advice, directions or instructions a director or manager is accustomed to act: Provided that nothing in sub-clauses (vi) and (vii) shall apply to the advice, directions or instructions given in a professional capacity; viii. any company which is(A) a holding, subsidiary or an associate company of such company; or (B) a subsidiary of a holding company to which it is also a subsidiary; ix. such other person as may be prescribed; It would be evident from the above that the New Act has included KMP or his relatives , Browse by Category
Income Tax Audit Students Accounts VAT Career Service Tax Corporate Law Info Technology Excise Shares & Stock Others Taxpayers
CAclubindia
Like 112,682
More Subscription Options
Twitter Linkedin
4 of 12
1/10/2014 7:40 PM
http://www.caclubindia.com/articles/-the-companies-act-2013-provisions-relating-to-related-party-dis...
5 of 12
1/10/2014 7:40 PM
http://www.caclubindia.com/articles/-the-companies-act-2013-provisions-relating-to-related-party-dis...
31
sale, purchase or supply of any goods or materials; selling or otherwise disposing of, or buying, property of any kind; leasing of property of any kind; - availing or rendering of any services appointment of any agent for purchase or sale of goods, materials, services or property such related party's appointment to any office or place of profit in the company, its subsidiary company or associate company; and underwriting the subscription of any securities or derivatives thereof, of the company 2. Prior approval of Shareholders for related party transactions: Prior approval of the company by a special resolution is required in the case of a company having such paid up capital or transactions value not exceeding such amount as may be prescribed[First proviso to Sec.188(1)}. 3. Vote can not be cast: Further the 2nd proviso to 188(1) stipulates that if any member is a related party, he is barred from casting his vote on such special resolution. As per Rules currently displayed, the prescribed capital is one crore or more and transaction value individually or in aggregate is 5% of the turnover or net worth in the financial year as specified in recently. Exemptions: Approvals are not necessary for any transactions entered into by the company in its ordinary course of business other than those which are not on an arm lengths basis. As per the explanation the expression arms length transaction means a transaction between two related parties conducted as if they were unrelated and there is no conflict of interest {Third proviso to Sec 188(1)} Disclosure requirements: Every contract or arrangement with related parties shall be referred in the Boards report to the shareholders along with justification for such contract or arrangement. As per AS 18 discussed below, disclosures in relation to related party transactions are to be made by the
6 of 12
1/10/2014 7:40 PM
http://www.caclubindia.com/articles/-the-companies-act-2013-provisions-relating-to-related-party-dis...
7 of 12
1/10/2014 7:40 PM