General Instructions for filling the Questionnaire

It is assured that the data provided by you shall be used only for ascertaining and evaluating Corporate Governance Practices of your company for ICSI National Award for Excellence in Corporate Governance, 2004. The data furnished and the identity of the respondent will be kept confidential. The decision of Institute, based on the recommendations of the Jury, will be final and binding on all participating companies.

      1.   Please fill in the following questionnaire on the basis of the facts of your company.

      2.   All Questions carry Weightage. Please answer all questions. In case any question is not applicable to your company, please tick the ‘not applicable’ or write the same.

      3.   The Questionnaire contains different type of questions viz.:

            (a)  Some questions require specific information about the company e.g. Name, Address etc. 

            (b)  Some questions are of Yes/No category, where only one option can be selected e.g. Is Audit Committee headed by a Non-Executive director?

                                 Yes

                                 No

            (c)  Some questions allow the selection of more than one option e.g.

                        Which of the following Board committees exist in the company?

                           Audit Committee

                           Shareholder Grievance Committee

                           Remuneration Committee

                           Nomination Committee

                           Any Committee of the Board other than those specified above

                       

      4.   Please make tick mark in check boxes for selection of options.

      5.   Please use extra sheets for answering any question, if needed. Also mention the question number in additional sheets.

Note 1  :     Questionnaire can also be downloaded from the website of the Institute www.icsi.edu.

Note 2  :     Please furnish the details as required in respective questions to enable the correct evaluation of the company.

Note 3  :     Wherever a copy of any document is required in the Questionnaire, please ensure that same is forwarded along with the Questionnaire.

Note 4  :     The information provided in the Questionnaire should relate to financial year 2003- 04.

Note 5  :     The duly filled-in Questionnaire should reach the Institute on or before October 10, 2004. In case of any difficulty in filling the Questionnaire, please email your query to the Institute at cga@icsi.edu or contact the Institute at the following address:

 

Shri B. K. Kulkarni, Director (Academics)

The Institute of Company Secretaries of India

ICSI House, 22, Institutional Area, Lodi Road

New Delhi-110003

Phones  :     011-24617321-24, 51504444, 24604755(D)

Fax        :     011-24645045

E-mail    :     dbkk@icsi.edu

 


QUESTIONNAIRE FOR

ICSI CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AWARD, 2004

 
I. GENERAL INFORMATION

     (1)   Name of the Company:

     (2)   Year of Incorporation:

     (3)   Registration No.:

     (4)   Unique Identification Number (obtained from SEBI):

     (5)   Industry to which the company belongs:

               Banking                      Cement                      Engineering                   

               IT                                    Steel                              Pharmaceuticals  

               Telecommunications   Petroleum                         Power

               Entertainment             Petrochemicals             Financial Services

               Diversified                          Any other, Please specify  __________

     (6)   Sector to which the company belongs (Please tick the relevant)

               Public Sector                           Private Sector

     (7)   Please specify whether the company is listed or not?

            Yes                         No

            If yes, please indicate listing on Stock Exchange(s) and Stock Code(s)

               BSE       ________________

               NSE       ________________ 

                  Foreign Stock Exchange   ______________     

               Any other Stock Exchange ________________

     (8)   Correspondence Address

            (a)  Corporate Office   Address:

                  Telephone No.                                                    Fax No.                               

                  E-mail                                                                Website

            (b)  Registered Office   Address:

                  Telephone No.                                        Fax No.                                E-mail

            (c)  Investor Service Centre   Address:

                  Telephone No.                                        Fax No.                                E-mail

            (d)  Chairperson/CMD:

                  Name:

                  Address:

                  Telephone:                                      Fax No.                               E-mail

 

 

            (e)  Managing Director/CEO:

                  Name:

                  Address:

                  Telephone:                                      Fax No.                               E-mail

            (f)   Company Secretary:

                  Name:

                  Membership No.:                               Mobile No.

                  Address:

                  Telephone:                                      Fax No.                                E-mail

            (g)  Compliance Officer; if other than Company Secretary:

                  Name:

                  Address:

                  Telephone:                                      Fax No.                                E-mail

            (h)  Chief Finance Officer (as designated by the company):

                  Name:

                  Address:

                  Telephone:                                      Fax No.                                E-mail

            (i)   Practising Company Secretary:

                  Name:

                  Address:

                  Telephone:                                      Fax No.                                E-mail

            (j)   Auditor:

                  Name:

                  Address:

                  Telephone:                                      Fax No.                                E-mail

            (k)  Internal Auditor (s):

                  Name:

                  Address:

                  Telephone:                                            Fax No.                               E-mail

 

II          BOARD INDEPENDENCE

        

      1.   Is the Chairman an Executive Chairman?

                     Yes                      No

            If Chairman is Executive, please indicate the following details

            (a)  Does 50% or more of the Board consist of Independent directors?

                           Yes                No

            If Chairman is Non-Executive, please indicate the following details

            (b)  Does 1/3rd of Board consist of Independent directors?

                           Yes               No

      2.   Please indicate the proportion of independent directors to total number of directors

                     Upto 49%                                     50-59%

                     60-69%                                  70-79%

                     80-89%                                  90% and above

      3.   Does the company send regular communications to the Independent Directors for updating them on all business related issues?

                     Yes                      No

      4.   Does the company organise programme/talks/training for Independent Directors in matters relating to Corporate Governance?

                     Yes                      No

III        BOARD SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES

A.   BOARD

      1.   Please specify, if following were normally circulated to the Board members in respect of Board/Committee meetings.

                     Only Notice

                     Only Agenda

                     Agenda alongwith all relevant information   

      2.   Agenda and relevant information on items to be discussed and decided in the Board meetings were normally circulated to the members of the Board.

                     Over a fortnight in advance of the meeting

                     A week before the meeting

                     Less than one week before the meeting

                     Just before start of meeting

 

      3.   Was the interval between any of the two Board meetings more than 120 days on any occasion?

                     Yes                  

                     No

      4.   Details of Attendance in Board Meetings regarding Directors

           

Date of Board Meeting

Total No. of Directors on the Board (including Independent Directors) on the date of meeting

Total No. of Independent Directors on the Board on the date of the meeting

No. of Directors who attended the meeting (including Independent Directors)

 

No. of Independent Directors who attended the meeting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                         

 

5.   Please specify whether any director of the company was re-appointed even if he/she remained absent in fifty percent or more of the Board meetings held during the relevant financial year

                     Yes                      No

            If yes, please mention the reasons for his/her absence.

                     Abroad                 Illness                   Others

            Was an alternate director appointed in his/her place?               Yes                      No

      6.   Who is the compliance officer of the company?

                     Company Secretary

                     Any other official with CS Qualification

                     Any other official without CS Qualification

            (Please specify designation and qualifications)

      7.   Is the Board informed of the statutory compliances of the various laws applicable to the company at its meeting by way of tabling statutory compliance certificate(s)?

                     Yes                      No

            If yes who signs that certificate(s)?

            (Give Name and Designation and enclose copy of the certificate) 

      8.   Is there any written Code of Conduct?

            For Directors             Other senior managerial persons                For Employees

                     Yes                                        Yes                                              Yes

                     No                                         No                                               No

            (if yes, please provide us with a copy of each)

      9.   Does the company have a written Code of Corporate Governance?

                     Yes                      No

            (if yes, please provide us with a copy of the Code)

     10.   Does the company have Personnel Policy made known to its employees?

                     Yes                      No

            (if yes, please provide us with a copy of the Policy)

     11.   Does the company have a Whistle Blower Policy?

                     Yes                      No

            (if yes, please provide us with a copy of the Policy)

     12.   Is there any written policy for Succession Planning at senior levels of management just below the Board Level?

                     Yes                      No

     13.   Please specify whether the company has undertaken Secretarial Audit other than SEBI Audit for reconciliation of capital?

                     Yes                      No 

            (if yes, please provide us with a copy of the Secretarial Audit Reports)

     14.   Please specify whether the company has obtained Compliance Certificate from Practising Company Secretary under the Companies Act, 1956?

                     Yes                      No 

            (if yes, please provide us with a copy of the Certificate)

     15.   Which of the following information is supplied to the Board:

            (In case any item is not applicable then please write N.A. in front of that item)

               annual operating plans and budgets, capital budgets, uptdates;

               quarterly results of the company and its operating divisions or business segments;

               minutes of meetings of audit, compensation, nomination, investors grievance and investment committees as well as abstracts of circular resolutions passed;

               general notices of interest;

               declaration of dividend;

               information on recruitment and remuneration of senior officers just below the board level including appointment or removal of CFO and company secretary;

               materially important litigations, show cause, demand, prosecution and penalty notices;

               fatal or serious accidents or dangerous occurrences, any material effluent or pollution problems;

               any materially relevant default in financial obligations to and by the company or substantial non-payment for goods sold by the company;

               any issue, which involves possible public or product liability claims of a substantial nature;

               details of any joint venture or collaboration agreement;

               transactions that involve substantial payment towards goodwill, brand equity or intellectual property;

               significant development on the human resources front;

               sale of material nature, of investments, subsidiaries, assets, which is not in the normal course of business;

               details of foreign exchange exposure and the steps taken by management to limit the risks of adverse exchange rate movement;

               non-compliance of any listing requirement and/or deficiency in shareholder services such as non-payment of dividend on time or delays in share transfer etc.

     16.   Does the company have any appraisal mechanism for reviewing effectiveness of the Board of Directors?

                     Yes                      No

            If yes, please provide the details _______________________________________

B.   BOARD COMMITTEES

      1.   Which of the following Board committees exist in the company?

                     Audit Committee

                     Shareholder Grievance Committee

                     Remuneration Committee

                     Nomination Committee

                     Any Committee other than those specified above.

 

      2.   Is the Chairperson of all mandatory Board committees an independent non-executive director?

                     Yes                      No

C.   AUDIT COMMITTEE

      1.   Does the internal auditor directly report to the Audit Committee?

                     Yes                      No

      2.   Was the Chairperson of the Audit Committee present in the Annual General Meeting of relevant financial year?

                     Yes                      No

      3.   Is there at least one financial expert in the Audit Committee?

                     Yes                      No

            If yes, please give name, designation and qualification  ___________________________

      4.   Please provide details of attendance at Audit Committee Meetings

           

Date of Meeting

 

 

Total number of Committee members on the date of meeting

 

No. of members who attended meeting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

D.   SHAREHOLDERS GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE

      1.   Does the company have Shareholders Grievance Committee?

                     Yes                      No

      2.   Was the chairperson of the Shareholders Grievance Committee present in the Annual General Meeting of relevant financial year?

                     Yes                      No

      3.   Please indicate the following details regarding Shareholder complaints during the relevant financial year.

                     Number of Shareholders as on _______ (date)       

                     Complaints pending in beginning of the year  _______________

                     Complaints received during the year     _______________________

                     Complaints resolved during the year________________________

                     Complaints pending at the end of the year__________________

IV         TRANSPARENCY AND DISCLOSURE COMPLIANCES

      1.   Which of the following disclosures (as per clause 49 of the listing agreement) were made to the shareholders in the annual report? (Please tick the relevant disclosure)

            (In case any item is not applicable then please write N.A. in front of that item)

                     Date, time and venue of AGM

                     Financial Calendar

                     Dates of Book Closures

                     Dividends payment date

                     Listing on Stock Exchanges

                     Stock Code

                     Market Price Data for each Month of last financial year

                     Performance in comparison to broad based indices

                     Registrar and Transfer Agent – Address, Phone, Fax, e-mail

                     Share transfer system/ Dematerialisation and liquidity

                     Distribution of Shareholding

                     Categories of Shareholding as per the format prescribed in clause 35 of the listing agreement.

                     Top ten shareholders of the Company

                     Change in Equity Capital during the financial year

                     Outstanding GDRS/ADR/Warrants

                     Convertibles, conversion date and likely impact on Equity

                     Plant location

                     Address for correspondence

                     General Body Meetings

                     Details of last three AGMs-Date, time and place

                     Special Resolutions put through postal Ballot in the last financial year and details of voting pattern

                     Material and financial transactions by Management where they have personal interest that may have potential conflict with the interest of the company

                     Non-compliance by company or penalties imposed or/and strictures passed on the company by the stock exchange/SEBI/Statutory Authorities on any matter during the last three financial years.

                     Industry Structure and Developments

                     Opportunities and Threats

                     Outlook      

                     Material Developments in Human Resources and Industrial Relations front, including number of people employed

                     Risks and Concerns

                     Internal Control and their adequacies

                     Discussion of Financial performance with respect to operational performance   

                     Product disclosure about segment-wise information-financial as well as operating details.

                     Details on developments like R&D, restructuring

                     Reporting on conciliation of accounts with GAAP (if applicable) or other Indian  accounting standards

                     Means of communication adopted by the company and particularly whether the company maintains website to keep the shareholders informed of important financial and operational details

                     Name, address and contact number of compliance officer

      2.   Which of the following elements of remuneration package of Board members were disclosed in the Annual Report?

                     All elements of Salary, Benefits, Bonus, Pension (i.e. variable and not performance linked)

                     Details of fixed component and performance linked incentive along with performance criteria

                     Service contracts, notice period severance fees

                     Stock option details e.g. whether issued at discount, period over which accrued and over which exercisable                       Not Applicable.

      3.   Were the shareholders provided with the following information relating to directors proposed to be appointed/re-appointed?

            (In case any item is not applicable then please write N.A. in front of that item)

                     Brief Resume of the person

                     Nature of expertise in specific functional area

                     Names of companies in which he holds directorship and committees membership.

      4.   Did the Company purchase / sell goods / materials or services to directors, their relatives, promoters, subsidiaries, associates etc., at less than prevailing market prices or allowed credit terms to them not in conformity with prevailing market practices?

                     Yes                      No                       Not Applicable

      5.   Did the Company make disclosure in the annual report about related party transactions including subsidiaries and associated companies?

                     Yes                      No                       Not Applicable

      6.   Does the company follow the Secretarial Standards issued by the ICSI?

                     Yes                      No 

            If yes, please specify whether the same has been mentioned in the annual report?

                     Yes                      No 

      7.   Does the company follow the Accounting Standards issued by the ICAI?

                     Yes                      No 

      8.   Does the company follow the Cost Accounting Standards issued by the ICWAI?

                     Yes                      No                 Not Applicable

      9.   Was there any adverse remarks made in the Auditor Report in respect of financial /cost audit ?

                     Yes                      No 

     10.   Have the disclosures been made in the Annual Report regarding cases in Debt Recovery Tribunal or courts or any proceedings under the Securitisation Act?

                     Yes                      No                 Not Applicable

     11.   When the information is provided in real time by the company i.e. price sensitive information to be made available to stock exchanges on real time basis, on company’s website or EDIFAR website. What is the actual time taken?

                     Less than 15 minutes of the conclusion of the Board meeting

                     15-30 minutes from the conclusion of the Board meeting     

                     More than 30 minutes from the conclusion of the Board meeting

                     One day or more after the conclusion of the Board meeting

     12.   Is the data of company uploaded and upgraded at the website of EDIFAR?

                     Yes                      No 

     13.   Has the company presented the results of its financial performance and the management’s analysis on its website?

                     Yes                      No 

 

V          CONSISTENT SHAREHOLDERS VALUE ENHANCEMENT

      1.   Has there been a consistent growth in the networth of the company during the last three years?

                     Yes                      No

            If yes, please provide details

   Year

% of Networth

2001-02

 

2002-03

 

2003-04

 

      2.   Has the company paid dividend in any of the previous three financial years?

                     Yes                      No

            If yes, please provide details

                  Year

% of Dividend

2001-02

 

2002-03

 

2003-04

 

 

      3.   Has the company issued any bonus shares in any of the previous three financial years?

                     Yes                      No

            If yes, please provide details

                 

      Year

% of Bonus Shares

2001-02

 

2002-03

 

2003-04

 

 

      4.   Does the company send periodic reminders to shareholders who have not encashed their dividend?

                     Yes                      No 

        

VI   STAKEHOLDERS VALUE ENHANCEMENT

      1.   Did the Company repay the matured deposit/principal and interest on debentures/deposits in time?

                     Yes                      No                       Not Applicable

      2.   Did the Company send periodic reminders to depositholders / debentureholders who have not encashed their interest warrants?

                     Yes                      No 

      3.   Does the company have any policy for healthy supply chain management?

                     Yes                      No 

      4.   Does the company have a Purchase Policy made known to its vendors?

                     Yes                      No

            (If yes, please provide us with a copy of the Policy)

      5.   Were the vendors of the company paid on time?

                     Yes                      No

      6.   Were the lenders of the company, including banks paid on time?

                     Yes                      No

      7.   Is there any policy to encourage workers participation in the decision-making process?

                     Yes                      No

      8.   Does the company organize skill-enhancing programme for its employees?

                     Yes                      No

        

VII        CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

 

      1.   Does the company conduct Social Audit?

                     Yes                      No

      2.   Does the company have policy on Corporate Social Responsibility?

                     Yes                      No

            (If yes, please provide us with a copy of the policy)

      3.   Has the Company developed the surrounding areas of its project sites and has the local citizens benefited from the project location? 

                     Yes                      No 

            If yes, describe the contribution made by the Company in improving the infrastructural facilities around its project site?

4.   Did the Company undertake afforestation and plantation of trees? 

                     Yes                      No 

      If yes, mention the schemes undertaken to protect and promote the environment?

 

5.   Does the Company have mechanism to prevent employment of child labour in its plants or that of the contractors?

                     Yes                      No 

6.   Do the employees and their immediate family members take part in the community welfare initiatives of the Company? 

                     Yes                      No 

      (If yes, describe the initiative undertaken)

     

VIII        OTHER GOOD CORPORATE GOVERNANCE INITIATIVES/RECOGNITIONS

      1.   Please provide the Vision and Mission statement of your company.

      2.   Has the company won any award for Corporate Governance?

                   Yes                           No

            If yes, please give the name of the award

      3.   Has the company received any award any award or recognition in any of the following areas?

                     Safety

                     Environment

                     Quality

                     Human resource

                     Finance

                     Others (please specify)

      4.   Any other information relating to good corporate governance which the Company deems fit to be considered.