Furthering corporate transparency, the Securities and Exchange Board of India has mandated the reporting of extended family information of promoters, including in-laws. Such information is intended to provide a clearer understanding of ownership patterns and control within companies.
The amended rule requires a promoter to disclose information relating to immediate family members/parents-in-law of their spouse/son, daughter, son-in-law, or daughter-in-law.
Companies in which these extended family members hold 20% or more shareholding also need to be disclosed, even if promoters themselves do not have any shareholding in these companies.
This action is one of several steps that SEBI has taken to enhance transparency in the corporate sector.
The primary purpose of this rule is to disclose the ownership structures of listed companies, particularly in extreme cases where control may be exercised through tenuous family relationships.
By broadening the definition of "promoter group," SEBI aims to prevent the circumvention of disclosure standards and ensure that all individuals with the potential to influence the company are covered.
This aligns with corporate governance best practices globally, where transparency is the very foundation of investor confidence and market integrity.
Although the regulations are considered a more transparent approach, several sectors have criticized them. Industry players and legal specialists have questioned the need and viability of imposing such broad disclosure requirements.
They say that it is intricate and manpower-heavy to monitor and verify the pecuniary interests of extended family members. There are also concerns about the invasion of privacy and the administrative burden on the companies to keep, update, and maintain such intimate records.
Several experts have challenged the inclusion of in-laws in the promoter group, arguing that it should focus on individuals who are actively involved in operating and making internal decisions at the company.
This broader meaning may lead to over-disclosure of information and dilute the meaning of what is being disclosed.
There are specific implementation issues. Firms will need to establish robust mechanisms for identifying and documenting extended family members of promoters. Privacy concerns arise regarding the collection of personal data and its ethical implications.
Additionally, it may be challenging to ensure that a diverse range of companies, from large conglomerates to smaller ones, comply. Potential loopholes in transparency may arise if disparities occur concerning the interpretation and compliance with the newly imposed disclosure rules by companies.
It is a significant step forward in promoting reproducible and legitimate transparency in corporate India that SEBI has made disclosures regarding the extended family members of a promoter.
This new disclosure intends to help investors better understand complex ownership and control structures, and its effectiveness, however, relies not only on SEBI's commitment to enforce it, but also on companies' responsiveness to engage and implement it.
The utility of the regulation is balanced with confidentiality and practicality to the extent that the advantages of this regulation are captured without being excessively onerous for companies.