Criteria of Making Payments to Non-Executive Directors
Overall remuneration should be reflective of the size of the Company, complexity of the sector/industry/company’s operations and the company’s capacity to pay the remuneration. Independent Directors (“ID”) and Non-Independent Non- Executive Directors (“NED”) may be paid sitting fees (for attending the meetings of the Board and of committees of which they may be members) and commission within regulatory limits. Quantum of sitting fees may be subject to review on a periodic basis, as required. Within the parameters prescribed by law, the payment of sitting fees and commission will be recommended by the Nomination & Remuneration Committee and approved by the Board. Overall remuneration (sitting fees and commission) should be reasonable and sufficient to attract, retain and motivate Directors aligned to the requirements of the Company (taking into consideration the challenges faced by the Company and its future growth imperatives).
Overall remuneration practices should be consistent with recognized best practices. The aggregate commission payable to all the NEDs and IDs will be recommended by the NRC to the Board based on Company’s performance, profits, return to investors, shareholder value creation and any other significant qualitative parameters as may be decided by the Board. The NRC will recommend to the Board, the quantum of commission for each Director based upon the outcome of the evaluation process, which is driven by various factors including attendance and time spent in the Board and committee meetings, individual contributions at the meetings and contributions made by Directors other than in meetings. In addition to the sitting fees and commission, the Company may pay to any Director such fair and reasonable expenditure, as may have been incurred by the Director while performing his/her role as a Director of the Company. This could include reasonable expenditure incurred by the Director for attending Board/Board committee meetings, general meetings, court convened meetings, meetings with shareholders/creditors/ management, site visits, induction and training (organized by the Company for Directors) and in obtaining professional advice from independent advisors in the furtherance of his/her duties as a director.
In keeping with the above, any fee/remuneration payable to the Non-Executive Directors of the company shall abide by the following:
SITTING FEE
Such director(s) may receive remuneration by way of fee for attending meetings of the Board or Committee thereof or any other meeting as required by Companies Act, 2013, SEBI (Listing Obligation Disclosure Requirement) Regulation 2015 or other applicable law or for any other purpose whatsoever as may be decided by the Board;
COMMISSION
Under the Companies Act, 2013, Section 197 allows a company to pay remuneration to its NEDs either by way of a monthly payment or at a specified percentage of the net profits of the company or partly by one way and partly by the other. Further, the section also states that where the company has either managing director or whole-time director or manager, then a maximum of 1% of its net profits can be paid as remuneration to its NEDs. In case there is no managing director or whole-time director or manager, then a maximum of 3% of net profit can be paid. Thus, the basis of payment to the NEDs is the net profit of the Company. The company can pay higher percentage based on the turnover and on the basis of Net Profits after passing of Special Resolution. The Company is however not obligated to remunerate its NEDs.
REFUND OF EXCESS REMUNERATION PAID
If any such director draws or receives, directly or indirectly, by way of fee / remuneration any such sums in excess of the limit as prescribed or without the prior sanction, where it is required, such remuneration shall be refunded to the Company and until such sum is refunded, hold it in trust for the Company. The Company shall not waive the recovery of any sum refundable to it.
REIMBURSEMENT OF ACTUAL EXPENSES INCURRED
NEDs may also be paid/reimbursed such sums either as fixed allowance and / or actual as fair compensation for travel, boarding and lodging and incidental and / or actual out of pocket expenses incurred by such member for attending Board/Committee Meetings. The Nomination and Remuneration Committee is entrusted with the role of reviewing the compensation of NEDs.
PAYMENT TO INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS
An independent director shall not be entitled to any stock option and may receive remuneration only by way of fees and reimbursement of expenses for participation in meetings of the Board or committee thereof and profit related commission up to a certain percentage of net profits in such proportion, as may be permissible under the applicable law.
This Criteria is subject to modification. The Board of Directors has requisite powers and authority to update and amend the Criteria from time to time. This Criteria is adopted with effect from the resolution passed at meeting of the Board of Directors held on 29th June, 2021.