Project Report
Project Report
REPORT ON
CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
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CONTENTS
I. Introduction 3
XI. Conclusion 21
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
I. INTRODUCTION
Corporate governance is a concept, rather than an individual instrument.
It includes debate on the appropriate management and control structures
of a company. It is a process that aims to allocate corporate resources in
a manner that maximizes value for all stakeholders – shareholders,
investors, employees, customers, suppliers, environment and the
community at large and holds those at the helms to account by
evaluating their decisions on transparency, inclusivity, equity and
responsibility. It includes the rules relating to the power relations
between owners, the Board of directors, management and the
stakeholders such as employees, suppliers, customers as well as the
public at large.
In the recent years, the regulators and legislators have intensified their
focus on how businesses are being run. They are endeavoring to create
a template for new corporate governance and disclosure measures,
which is beneficial for both the stakeholders and controllers.
Good governance practices stem from the culture and mindset of an
organization. As stakeholders across the globe evince keen interest in
the practices and performance of companies, Corporate Governance has
engaged on the centre stage. Corporate Governance is based on the
principles of integrity, fairness, equity, transparency, accountability and
commitment to values.
The lure of achieving a high rate of return, however, does not, by itself,
guarantee foreign investment; the attendant risk weighs equally in an
investor's decision-making calculus. Good corporate-governance
practices reduce this risk by ensuring transparency, accountability, and
enforceability in the marketplace.
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market, investors will invest in firms with better corporate-governance
frameworks because of the lower risks and the likelihood of higher
returns. At a macro level, if firms in developing countries attract
investment, they will stimulate growth in the local economy. If they
"cannot attract equity capital, they are doomed to remain on a small,
inefficient scale," and they will be unable to stimulate growth in their
host country.
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should have the quality of corporate governance necessary to sustain its
impressive current growth rates.
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3. SEBI (Prohibition of Insider Trading) Regulations,2015
Insider trading per se is not a violation of Law but what is prohibited is
trading by an insider on the basis of Non-public information. To prevent
such trading SEBI came up with this regulation. Under this, the restriction
is corporate insiders who arrive at trading decisions by using the price
sensitive information directly or indirectly. Under this the disclosure
mandated at two different levels, one is the immediate disclosure of
material facts while the other is regarding disclosure of tra nsactions
undertaken. While the former prevents insider trading, the latter reveals the
insider trading. Under this Insiders may be restricted from dealing in
securities for a specific time period in order to prevent them taking
advantage of any material information before the shareholders or public. A
condition can be imposed upon the insiders to obtain a prior approval
before dealing in securities of a company.
4. Other Regulations:
SEBI came up with many other regulations like Regulation on Fraudulent
and Unfair Trade Practices, Regulations on Substantial Acquisition of
Shares and Takeovers, Issue of Sweat Equity etc. The main aim behind
coming up with such Regulations, rules etc. is to ensure good corporate
governance in a company.
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4) SECRETARIAL STANDARDS ISSUED BY ICSI (INSTITUTE OF
COMPANY SECRETARIES OF INDIA)
ICSI is an autonomous body constituted by the Company Secretaries Act,
1980. It is a body to regulate and develop the profession of Company
Secretaries in India and have issued secretarial standards as per the
provisions of the Companies Act, 2013.
The main problem with corporate governance is that it doesn't stand alone;
it has to work in conjunction with a company's mission and values
statement to give directors and stakeholders a clear guide about how they
should behave. There are several problems that a business might struggle
with as follows:
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Conflicts of interest: A conflict of interest occurs when a controlling
member of the company has other financial interests that could influence
his decision-making or conflict with the objectives of the company.
Conflicts of interest erode the trust of stakeholders and the public and
potentially open the business up to litigation.
Governance standards: A Board can have all the equitable rules and
policies it likes but if it can't propagate those standards throughout the
business, what chance does the company have? Resistant managers can
subvert good corporate governance at the operational level, leaving the
business exposed to state or federal law violations and reputational damage
with stakeholders.
VIII.I INSTANCES
OF COMPANIES FOLLOWING CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE:
ONGC: ONGC has been practicing corporate governance principles much
before it became mandatory. It believes that for a company to be successful
it must maintain global standards of corporate conduct towards its
stakeholders. The company believes that it is rewarding to be better
managed and governed and to identify its activities with national interest.
To that end, the company has always focused on good corporate
governance which is the key driver of sustainable corporate growth and
long term value creation.
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In recognition of excellence in Corporate Governance, the following
awards have been conferred on ONGC:
The vision for setting up this foundation is to make India the best in
Corporate Governance practices.
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environment and ensuring sustainable development of communities
& Societies.
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XI. CONCLUSION:
It is evident from above that it is essential that good governance practices must be
effectively implemented and enforced preferably by self- regulation and voluntary
adoption of ethical code of business conduct and if necessary through relevant
regulatory laws and rules framed by Government or its agencies such as SEBI,
MCA, RBI etc.
The effective implementation of good governance practices would ensure
investors confidence in the corporate companies which will lead to greater
investment in them ensuring their sustained growth. Thus good corporate
governance would greatly benefit the companies enabling them to thrive and
prosper.
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