Code of Conduct

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT (LODR) OF CENTRAL DEPOSITORY SERVICES (INDIA) LIMITED

[I]INTRODUCTION

Regulation 46(2)(d) of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015 (“Listing Regulations”) requires every listed company to publish a code of conduct for its board of directors and senior management personnel on its website.

This code of conduct (“Code”) has been prepared in accordance with the Listing Regulations and shall apply to the board of directors and certain members of the senior management of Robert Resources Limited (the “Company”).

The Code is aimed to set out the broad guidelines for the ethical business conduct by the Board Members and Senior Officials of the Company and ensure compliance with the requirements specifically under the regulation 46 of the Listing Regulations with an underlying objective to discourage wrong practices and promote ethical conduct of the business of the Company.

The Code is formulated in line with the interest of all the stakeholders of the Company namely, the shareholders, business partners and employees of the Company. The Code is applicable to the following persons, referred to as “Officers”:

1)    All the members of the Board of Directors of Company.

2)    Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

3)    Chief Financial Officer of the Company

4)    All functional heads and persons above that level.

Ethical standards of conduct are critical to any business and accordingly, the Officers are expected to lay down a landmark practice which may be guiding to their respective team members in their conduct and behavior. Hence, all the concerned are requested to read and understand this Code, implement the standards sought for in their day to day operations and ensure compliance with all the applicable laws, rules and regulations, this Code and all applicable policies and procedures as are adopted by the Company to govern the Conduct of its employees in any manner or form whatsoever.

Nothing in this Code, in any Company’s Policies and Procedures, or in other related communications (verbal or written), creates or implies an employment contract or term of employment.

All the officers are requested to sign the acknowledgement part at the end of this Code and return the same to the Secretarial Department, indicating that they have received, read and understood and agreed to comply with the Code.

[II] HONEST AND ETHICAL CONDUCT

The Officers are expected to act in accordance with the highest standards of personal and professional integrity, honesty and ethical conduct while working at the Company’s premises, at offsite locations where the Company’s business is conducted, at Company sponsored business and social events or at any other place where officers are representing the Company.

An honest conduct is considered to be a conduct free from fraud or deception. An ethical conduct is considered to be a conduct confirming to the accepted professional standards of conduct. Ethical conduct includes the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships.

An Officer should act with integrity, responsibly and in good faith. Each Officer should seek to use due care in the performance of his duties in the best interests of the Company as a whole. He should act with competence and diligence. He has an obligation, at all times, to comply with the spirit, as well as the letter, of the law and of the principles of this Code. A suggestive list of do’s and don’ts for the Officers is given herein below though the same is warranted to not be considered as an exhaustive one and the interpretation of the professional and ethical conduct would depend upon the circumstances of each case which the Officer is expected to construe and interpret with his reasonable understanding and intelligence.

For all Officers:

  • Dedicate sufficient time, energy and attention to the Company to ensure diligent performance of his duties, including preparing for meetings and decision-making by reviewing in advance any materials distributed and making reasonable inquiries.
  • Seek to comply with all Corporate Policies.
  • Conduct themselves in a professional, courteous and respectful manner.
  • Comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations.
  • Act in a manner to enhance and maintain the reputation of the Company.
  • Respect the confidentiality of information relating to the affairs of the Company acquired in the course of their service as Officers of the Company, except when authorized or legally required to disclose such information.

For Directors:

  • Make reasonable efforts to attend Board and Committee meetings regularly.
  • Disclose potential conflicts of interest that they may have regarding any matters that may come before the Board, and abstain from discussion and voting on any matter in which the Director has or may have a conflict of interest.
  • Make available to and share with other Board members information as may be appropriate to ensure proper conduct and sound operation of the Company and its Board of Directors.
  • Not to use confidential information acquired in the course of their service as directors for their personal advantage.
  • A Director who has a material personal interest in any matter should notify the Board of Directors.
  • A should not make a decision about any matter before attending and participating in the deliberations of the meeting. Director must bring an open and independent mind to Board or Committee meetings and
  • Act in the best interests of, and fulfill their fiduciary obligations to, Company’s stakeholders.
  • Where a decision is not unanimous, a dissenting Director may disclose the fact that he dissented.

For Independent Directors:

The independent directors shall—

1)    undertake appropriate induction and regularly update and refresh their   skills, knowledge and familiarity with the company;

2)    seek appropriate clarification or amplification of information and, where necessary, take and  follow appropriate professional advice and opinion of outside experts at the expense of the company;

3)    strive to attend all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the Board committees of which he is a member;

4)    participate constructively and actively in the committees of the Board in which they are chairpersons or members;

5)    strive to attend the general meetings of the company;

6)    where they have concerns about the running of the company or a proposed action, ensure that these are addressed by the Board and, to the extent that they are not resolved, insist that their concerns are recorded in the minutes of the Board meeting;

7)    keep themselves well informed about the company and the external environment in which it operates;

8)    not to unfairly obstruct the functioning of an otherwise proper Board or committee of the Board;

9)    pay sufficient attention and ensure that adequate deliberations are held before approving related party transactions and assure themselves that the same are in the interest of the company;

10) ascertain and ensure that the company has an adequate and functional vigil mechanism and  to ensure that the interests of a person who uses such  mechanism are not prejudicially affected on account of such use;

11) report concerns about unethical behaviour, actual or suspected fraud or violation of the company’s code of conduct or ethics policy;

12) acting within his authority, assist  in protecting the legitimate interests of the company, shareholders and its employees;

13) not disclose confidential information, including commercial secrets, technologies, advertising and sales promotion plans, unpublished price sensitive information, unless such disclosure is expressly approved by the Board or required by law

An Independent director shall be held liable, only in respect of such acts of omission or commission by a company which had occurred with his knowledge, attributable through Board processes, and with his consent or connivance or where he had not acted diligently with respect of the provisions contained in the Listing Regulations.

[III] CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Officers are expected to dedicate their best efforts to advancing the Company’s interest and to make decisions in the best interest of the Company and independent of outside influences. An Officer’s duty demands that he avoids and disclose actual and apparent conflict of interest. A conflict of interest exists where the interests or benefits of one person or entity conflict with the interests or benefits of the Company. Examples include:

  • Corporate Business Opportunities
  • Acceptance of gifts/ payments.
  • Outside Employment / consultancy.
  • Outside Directorships.
  • Business Interests.
  • Related Parties.

A conflict of interest occurs when a Officer’s private interest interferes in any way, or even appears to interfere, with the interest of the Company as a whole. Conflicts of interest also arise when a Officer or a member of his immediate family receives improper personal benefits as a result of his position as a Officer of the Company.

Officers shall avoid conflicts of interest with the Company. Any situation that involves, or may reasonably be expected to involve, a conflict of interest with the Company shall be disclosed promptly to the Chairman of the Board.

[IV] CORPORATE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

A corporate business opportunity is an opportunity:

  • in the Company’s line of business or proposed expansion or  diversification
  • which the Company is financially able to undertake and
  • which may be of interest to the Company.

An Officer who learns of such a corporate business opportunity and who wishes to participate in it should disclose the opportunity to the Board of Directors. If the Board of Directors determines that the Company does not have an actual or expected interest in the opportunity, then, and only then, Officer may participate in it, provided that the Officer has not wrongfully utilized the Company’s resources in order to acquire the opportunity.

Officers owe a duty to the Company to advance the Company’s interests when the opportunity to do so arises. Officers may not : (a) take for themselves opportunities that are discovered through the use of Company property or information or through the Officer’s position ; (b) use the Company’s property or information or the Officer’s position for personal gain ; or (c) compete with the Company, directly or indirectly, for business opportunities that the Company is pursuing.

[V] ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS/ PAYMENTS

The Officers and the members of their immediate family shall refrain themselves from accepting any offer, payment, gift or anything of value from customers, vendors, consultants or any other party etc. that is perceived as intended, directly or indirectly, to influence any business decision, any act or failure to act.

However, acceptance of inexpensive gifts, infrequent business meals, celebratory events and entertainment, provided that they are not excessive or create an appearance of impropriety, do not violate this policy. Whenever any such valuable gift is offered by any party, the same should be brought to the notice of the CEO or ED of the Company.

[VI] COMPANY PROPERTIES

Officers have a responsibility to safeguard and to use the Company’s assets and resources, as well as assets of other organizations that have been entrusted to the Company. Except as specifically authorized, assets of the Company, including equipments’, materials, resources and proprietary information, must be used for Company business purposes only.

[VII] CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION

Officers shall maintain the confidentiality of information entrusted to them. The Company’s confidential and proprietary information shall not be inappropriately disclosed or used for the personal gain, interest or advantage of the Officer or any one other than the Company.

[VIII] FAIR DEALINGS

Officers shall deal fairly and honestly with the Company’s Customers, Suppliers, Competitors and Employees.

[IX] DISCLOSURES TO SEBI AND PUBLIC

The Company is committed to provide full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that are filed with or submitted to the SEBI and other public communications. Accordingly, Company’s Officers must ensure that they and other employees in the Company comply with disclosure controls, procedures and internal controls in financial reporting including compliance with the SEBI Insider Trading Regulations, SEBI Takeover Code and all other Rules and Regulations of SEBI as may be made applicable from time to time.

[X] COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

The Officers are committed to comply with all those acts, rules and regulations that govern the conduct of Company. Officers must acquire adequate knowledge of the legal requirements relating to their duties sufficient to enable them to recognize the potential dangers of violations and seek advice from the concerned department as and when necessary.

[XI] ANNUAL DISCLOSURES ON COMPLIANCE WITH THE CODE

It shall be the duty of every Officer to affirm the compliance with the Code in the Form appended (as per Annexure -II) to this Code on an annual basis i.e. as on 31st March every year. Such affirmation should be made within 15 days from the close of each of the financial year. The next affirmation is to be given for the year ending 31st March 2016. In case of an officer leaving the organization at any point of time during the year, he shall give such affirmation at the time of leaving.

The Annual Report of the Company in turn, shall contain a declaration to the effect that such affirmation on compliance with the Code is received from all the Officers.

[XII] DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS FOR VIOLATION OF THE CODE

Suspected violations of this Code must be reported to the ED or CEO or the Chairman of the Board or the Chairman of the Audit Committee. All reported violations would be appropriately investigated.

The matters covered in this Code of Business Conduct and Ethics are of the utmost importance to the Company, its stockholders and its business partners, and are essential to the Company’s ability to conduct its business in accordance with its stated values. We expect all of our Officers to adhere to these rules in carrying out their duties for the Company.

The Company will take appropriate action including disciplinary actions against any Officer. Disciplinary actions may include immediate termination of employment or business relationship at the Company’s sole discretion. Where the Company has suffered a loss, it may pursue its remedies against the individuals or entities responsible.

[XIII] AMENDMENTS TO THE CODE

The Company is committed to continuously reviewing and updating the policies and procedures from time to time and accordingly, this Code can be modified, amended or waived of any of the provisions thereof. However, any such modification, alteration, replacement or waiver may be affected only by way of passing a resolution at the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company and the details of the same shall be put on the website immediately upon such amendment.

[XIV] ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RECEIPT OF CODE OF ETHICS FOR MEMBERS OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND SR. OFFICERS

All the members of the Board of Directors and Senior Officers to whom the code is applicable, have to acknowledge the receipt of code in the form appended (as per Annexure -I).

Annexure – I

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I acknowledge the receipt of a copy of amended Code of Conduct “applicable to the Board of Directors and. Officers of the Company and confirm having understood its contents and implications. Please treat this as my acknowledgement to adhere the same.
Date:
Place:

___________________________
(Signature)

Name:

Designation:

Annexure – II

Please sign and return this form to the Secretarial Department on 1st April every year

FORM A

Declaration on Compliance with the Code of Conduct

Date:

To,

Secretarial Department,

Robert Resources Limited.

Ahmedabad.

I the undersigned _________________________ hereby affirm that I have complied/ not complied with the Code of Conduct of the Company for the year ended on 31st March, 201___ as under :

Sr. No.
Requirement
Complied with / Not Complied With
(Yes/ No)
Remarks

1. Honest and Ethical Conduct

2. Conflict of Interests

3. Corporate Business Opportunities

4. Acceptance of Gifts / Payments

5. Company Properties

6. Confidentiality of Information

7. Fair Dealings

8. Disclosures with SEBI & Public

9. Compliance with Regulatory Framework

I undertake to comply with all the requirements under the Code as may be made applicable from time to time during the tenure of my association with the Company.

Yours faithfully,

(_______________)
Name :

Designation :