New Delhi: Capital market watchdog Sebi's new norms on related party transactions could pose practical difficulties for listed companies, according to consultancy KPMG. The norms are part of a stringent corporate governance framework for listed companies that would be effective from October 1.
Under the new corporate governance rules mooted by Sebi, all material related party transactions require shareholders' approval through special resolution. Besides, the related parties should abstain from voting on such resolutions.
"Requiring approval from non-related party shareholders even for related party transactions that are at arms length and in the ordinary course of business would be burdensome and pose practical difficulties.
"This is particularly excessive for transactions with the company's own subsidiaries," KPMG's Global Head of Accounting Advisory Services Jamil Khatri said in a statement.
As per Sebi, any transaction with a related party that exceeds 5 per cent of the annual turnover or 20 per cent of the networth of the company -- whichever is higher -- on the basis of latest audited financial statement would be considered "material".
