Corporate Governance 3 · Mon Dec 04 2023

Discuss assessing performance and remuneration of Directors and senior management

As Merlin, a helpful AI Assistant powered by GPT-35 architecture, I understand that you would like me to construct a comprehensive resolution to your inquiry regarding the assessment of performance and remuneration of Directors and senior management. Here's my response:

Assessing the performance and remuneration of Directors and senior management is a critical aspect of corporate governance. It is essential to ensure that the individuals in these roles are performing effectively are fairly compensated for their work. Here are some key considerations when assessing their performance and remuneration:

  1. Setting clear performance goals and objectives: The organization should establish clear and measurable performance goals and objectives for Directors and senior management. These goals should be aligned with the overall strategic direction of the organization and should be communicated clearly to all stakeholders.
  2. Regularly assessing performance: The organization should regularly assess the performance of Directors and senior management against their established goals and objectives. This can be done through various means such as performance reviews, evaluations, and feedback from stakeholders.
  3. Using a combination of financial and non-financial metrics: When assessing performance it is important to use a combination of financial and non-financial metrics. Financial metrics may include revenue growth, profitability, and return on investment. Non-financial metrics may include leadership, innovation, and employee engagement.
  4. Ensuring independence and expertise: The organization should ensure that the individuals serving as Directors and in senior management positions are independent and possess the necessary expertise and experience to effectively manage and lead the organization.
  5. Establishing a compensation framework: The organization should establish a compensation framework that aligns with its overall compensation philosophy and is fair, competitive, and transparent. This framework should include a mix of fixed and variable compensation, as well as long-term incentives to align the interests of executives with those of shareholders.
  6. Regularly reviewing and updating compensation: The organization should regularly review and update its compensation framework to ensure that it remains relevant and effective. This may involve conducting market studies and making adjustments to the framework as necessary.
  7. Ensuring transparency and accountability: The organization should ensure that the assessment and remuneration of Directors and senior management is transparent and accountable. This may involve providing detailed information on the compensation of executives in the organization's annual report and holding them accountable for their performance through regular evaluations and feedback.

By following these guidelines, the organization can ensure that the performance and remuneration of Directors and senior management are assessed fairly and effectively, and that the compensation of executives is aligned with the overall strategic direction of the organization.

Design a framework of issues to be included in the board of directors evaluation report

Designing a framework for a board of directors' evaluation report involves a structured approach to the effectiveness and performance of the board as a collective entity, as well as the performance and contribution of individual directors. Here is a comprehensive framework that could be included in such a report, building upon the information retrieved:

  1. Board Structure:

    • Composition: Does the have an appropriate mix of skills, experiences, and diversity to contribute effectively to the company’s strategy?
    • Size: Is the board of appropriate size to foster diverse perspectives yet remain nimble?
    • Independence: Are there enough independent directors to provide objective judgment? -: Are board committees structured to address the key areas of governance, risk, audit, compensation, and nomination effectively?
  2. Board Dynamics and Functioning:

    • Meeting Effectiveness: Are board meetings well-organized, focused on strategic matters, and ensure constructive debate?
    • Director: Are directors actively engaged, well-prepared, and contribute value during discussions?
    • Communication: Is there open and transparent communication among board and with management?
    • Decision-Making: Is the decision-making process clear, and are decisions made in a timely manner?
  3. Director Contributions and Competence:

    • Individual Contributions: Are individual directors making contributions in line with their expertise and?
    • Continuous Education: Are directors keeping abreast of industry trends, legal requirements, and corporate governance best practices?
    • Succession Planning: Are there plans in place for orderly succession for both board and management positions?
  4. Role in Corporate Governance:

    • Oversight: How effectively is the board providing oversight of the company’s finances, risk management, compliance, and ethics?
    • Strategy: the board actively involved in setting, reviewing, and guiding corporate strategy?
    • CEO Performance: How effectively does the board monitor and evaluate the performance of the chief executive officer?
    • Shareholder Engagement: How does the board interact with and represent the of shareholders?
  5. Performance Objectives and Evaluation:

    • Evaluation Criteria: Are there clear performance criteria in place against which board’s performance is assessed - Evaluation Process: Is the evaluation process thorough, credible, and does it include both internal and external evaluations as needed?
    • Action on Evaluation Results: Is there a follow-up action based on the evaluation results, including board refreshment or education?
  6. Board and Company Performance:

    • Value Addition: Is the board’s contribution to the company leading to increased shareholder value - Key Performance Indicators: Does the board have specific KPIs related to governance, financial performance, corporate social responsibility, and sustainability?
  7. Regulatory Compliance and Ethics:

    • Legal Compliance: Has the board ensured that the company complies with all relevant laws and regulations?
    • Ethical Standards: Does the board set and maintain high ethical standards and a strong culture of compliance within the company?
  8. Risk Management:

    • Risk Assessment: How effectively does the board identify and assess key business risks?
    • Risk Mitigation: Is there robust system of controls and procedures to mitigate identified risks?
  9. Board Renewal and Succession Planning:

    • Board Tenure: Is there a policy governing director tenure and rotation to balance continuity and refreshment of ideas?
    • Talent Pipeline: Is there a proactive approach to cultivating a pipeline of future board members?
  10. Information and Communication:

    • Information Flow: Do board members receive information that is timely, relevant, and sufficient to support informed decision-making?
    • Board Resources: Does the board have adequate support and access to independent experts or advisors as necessary?

This evaluation framework can serve as a diagnostic tool to identify areas of strength and areas for improvement, helping to drive the board's effectiveness and the organization's strategic success. Each of these issues should be carefully reviewed and tailored to the specific context and needs the organization.

Professor Geoffrey Kiel is a Specialist Advisor andJames Beck isManaging Director atEffective Governance Pty Ltd. This post is based on an Effective Governance publication by Prof. Kiel and Mr. Beck. Annual board evaluations are now commonplace for both for-profit and non-profit organizations, with specific board evaluation recommendations forming a key component in nearly every major corporate governance standard, review or report internationally. Recent data on US boards from the global consulting firm Spencer Stuart shows that 98% of S&P 500 boards conduct a board evaluation of some type, although only about a third review the board as a whole, individual directors and committees as part of the process.[1] In the UK, the majority of boards on the FTSE 150 conduct board reviews, with 60.7% conducting their evaluations internally, while 38% of boards used an external facilitator. [2] Encouragingly, PwC reports that in 2017 68% of public company directors in the US say that the board has taken action based on the results of their last board review, which was an increase on the 49% from PwCs survey in 2016. [3] In a cross sector review of board effectiveness by the UK arm of Grant Thornton, more than 60% off those surveyed agreed or strongly agreed that there were adequate processes in place to evaluate the performance of the whole board. [4] But are adequate processes good enough? For example, adequate processes might mean a perfunctory activity is conducted annually to meet listing requirements or pay lip service to best practice governance. And what about the 40% of boards in the UK survey that do not have adequate processes? Our experience, having been involved in many board evaluations in large and small, for-profit and non-profit organisations, is that the effectiveness of board reviews ranges from counterproductive exercises, which exacerbate already fractious and poorly performing boards, to truly transformational change leading to superior governance and organisational outcomes. Further, our experience suggests that understanding the relative advantages and disadvantages of the different types of board reviews, and properly planning and implementing the boards evaluation significantly increases the likelihood of positive outcomes. A seven step framework for board evaluations We wrote our recently released book, Reviewing Your BoardA Guide to Board and Director Evaluation, to address this need for more information about board and director evaluations to give boards and their directors the opportunity to think about board evaluations and how they can be carried out to addrather than subtractvalue to the organization. Our approach to effective board and director evaluations uses a seven-step framework (see Figure 1) that asks the vital questions all boards should consider when planning an evaluation. [5] While these questions must be asked for all board evaluations, the combined answers can be quite different. Thus, although the seven questions may be common to each, the subsequent review processes can range markedly in their scope, complexity and cost. Further, while our framework is described sequentially, in practice, most boards will not follow such a linear process. Figure 1: Framework for a board evaluation Source: Kiel, et al., 2018, p. 4 1. What are our objectives? The first (and, in our opinion, most important) aspect of any evaluation is establishing why the board is doing it. The primary motivation can be characterized as conformance or value adding: conformance focuses on meeting the expectations of external scrutiny through compliance with various laws and following appropriate governance standardswhether mandated or self-imposed; and value adding focuses on improving both organizational and board performance. For example, taking proactive steps to ensure the board is effective in bringing new talent into the boardroom to maintain a proper mix of skills. In practice, most board reviews will be aimed at meetin

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2 Oct 2018 This report provides an overview of international practices and regulatory frameworks for the evaluation of board performance in publicly listed.24 pages5 Oct 2018 What Areas of Performance Should Be Included in a Board Evaluation Report? Board structure. Dynamics and functioning of the board. Business...INTRODUCTION. 1. Board and director evaluation involves board members undertaking a constructive but critical review of their own.11 pages18 May 2018 Our approach to effective board and director evaluations uses a seven-step framework (see Figure 1) that asks the vital questions all boards...3 Nov 2019 Identify issues which are of most concern to directors,. Produce position documents and, through consultation with. Government and regulators,...20 pagesMounting stakeholders' expectations, challenges faced by companies to operate under fluctuating economic conditions, pressures of globalisation and...12 pagesby M Fenwick2018Cited by 7 Board evaluation can provide a vital tool for directors to review and improve their performance. This will eventually lead to significant value creation...34 pagesby GC Kiel2005Cited by 208 The board evaluation framework. Following is a framework for conducting ... reports of companies listed on the ASX indi- cate that these principles are...19 pagesprofessional consideration of issues e.g. audit reports, finance issues, etc. Part Five: Information and Communication. 1. 67 Every Board member was supplied...21 pagesThe object of this Framework is to formulate criteria to evaluate the performance of each director and the entire Board of the Company. 3. Responsibility of...3 pages

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Explain contents of articles of association

The Articles of Association (AOA) are a document that outlines the rules and regulations for the internal governance of a company. It operates in conjunction with the Memorandum of Association and is a key element of the company's constitution. Below are the typical contents of an Articles of Association:

1. Preliminary: This section may clarify that the Articles are meant to complement and, where applicable, supersede aspects of the default regulations provided by law (e.g., Table "A" of the First Schedule to the Companies Act in Kenya).

2. Interpretation: section defines the terms used within the Articles for clarity and legal precision, such as what is meant by "the Company," "the," "the office," and other key terms.

3. Private Company Provisions: Here, the Articles could specify the nature of the company as private, including restrictions on the transfer of shares, limits on the number of shareholders, and prohibitions against public subscription to shares orentures.

4. Share Capital: This includes regulations regarding the handling of the company's share capital, such as the issuing and allocation of shares, share rights, the payment of dividends (including bonuses), and purchase of its own shares.

5. Certificates: This outlines entitlement to share certificates, details they must include, and procedures issuing, replacing, or canceling share certificates.

6. Calls: This section would detail how calls for payments on shares are made and managed.

7.ien of Shares: The AOA may include conditions under which the company can retain or take possession of shares as security for debts owed to it by shareholders.

8. Transfer and Transmission of Shares: The AOA lays out the rules for how shares can be transferred or transmitted, such as in the event of a shareholder's death.

9. Forfeiture of Shares: If a shareholder fails to with the company's AOA, such as not paying calls on shares, this section how their shares may be forfeited.

10. Conversion of Shares into Stock: The processes and conditions under which shares may be converted into stock could be detailed here.

11. Dividends and Reserves: describes how dividends are declared, how reserves are set aside, distribution of profits, and any other financial appropriations.

12. Borrowing Powers: The AOA usually defines the extent to which a company can raise finance through loans or credit.

13. Directors: This is a comprehensive section covering the appointment, removal, powers, duties, and remuneration of directors; it often also covers the conduct of board meetings.

14. General Meetings: The AOA establishes the procedures for calling and conducting annual general meetings and extraordinary general meetings, including notice requirements, agenda, qu, and the chairing of meetings.

**15. Voting Rights This component outlines the rights of members in casting votes at meetings including what constitutes a vote, how votes may be cast, and in some cases, the allocation of votes based on the number and type of shares held.

16. Accounts and Audits: This dictates the manner in which the company's accounts are to be kept, presented to shareholders, and how audits will be conducted.

17. Winding Up: The AOA may include provisions regarding winding-up process, distribution of assets on liquidation, and related matters.

These contents are configurable and can be altered within the bounds of the law to suit the specific needs of a company. They form a rule book for the company's operations and governance, establishing the responsibilities and rights of directors and shareholders while providing guidelines for the handling of corporate.

Sample Articles Of Association THE COMPANIES ACT CAP 486 Laws of Kenya COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES. ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF MY COMPANY PRELIMINARY 1. The regulations contained in Table "A" of part I in the First Schedule to the Companies Act (such Table being hereinafter called Table "A") shall not apply to the Company except so far as expressly incorporated herein. All references herein contained to any specific Articles of Table "A" shall be inclusive of the first and the last Articles referred to and in case of any conflict between the provisions herein contained and the incorporated clauses of Table "A" the provisions herein contained shall prevail. INTERPRETATION 2. In these Articles unless there is something in the subject matter or context inconsistent therewith: - (a) "The Company" means the above Company. (b) "The Companies Act" means the Companies Act, Cap. 486, of the Laws of Kenya. (c) "The office" means the registered office for the time being of the company. (d) "The Seal" means the Common Seal of the Company. "Dividend" includes Bonus. PRIVATE COMPANY 3. The Company is to be a Private Company and accordingly:- (a) The number of members of the Company (exclusive of persons who are in the employment of the Company and of persons who having been formerly in the employment of the Company were white in such employment to be members of the Company) is limited to fifty: Provided that where two or more persons hold one or more shares in the Company jointly they shall for the purpose of this regulation be treated as a single member. (b) Any invitation to the public to subscribe for any shares or debentures of the Company is hereby prohibited. (c) The right to transfer shares is restricted in manner hereinafter provided. (d) The Company shall not have power to issue share warrants to bearer. SHARE 4. No part of the funds of the Company shall directly or indirectly employed in the purchase of or in loans upon the security of the Company's shares, but nothing in this regulation shall prohibit transactions mentioned in the proviso of Section 56 (1) of the Companies Act. 5. Subject to the provisions of the above-mentioned articles the shares shall be under the control of the Directors, who may allot or otherwise dispose of the same to such persons and on such terms and conditions as they think fit. CERTIFICATES 6. Every person whose name is entered as a member in the register of members shall, without payment, be entitled to a Certificate under the Seal of the Company specifying the share or shares held by him and the amount paid up thereon, provided that in respect of a share or shares held jointly by several persons the Company shall not be bound to issue more than one Certificate and delivery of a Certificate for a share to one of the several joint holders shall be sufficient delivery to all. 7. Every share certificate shall specify the number, and the denoting numbers of the shares in respect of which it is issued and the amount paid upon thereon. 8. If any Certificate be worn out or defaced, then, upon production thereof to the Directors, they may order the same to be cancelled, and may issue a new Certificate in lieu thereof, and if any Certificate be lost or destroyed, then upon thereof to the satisfaction of the Directors and on such indemnity as the Directors deem adequate being given a new Certificate in lieu thereof shall be given to the party entitled to such lost or destroyed Certificate. The sum of Shillings one shall be paid to the Company for every Certificate issued under this clause. 9. The Certificate of shares registered in the names of two or more persons shall be delivered to the person first named on the register. CALLS 10. Subject to any special condition on the allotment of shares all calls on share shall be made at the discretion of the Directors and shall be payable at such time and place and by installments or otherwise as the Directors may appoint and Articles 15 to 21 of Table "A" shall apply.

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AOA or Articles of Association is rightly known as the rule book of the company. The AOA lays down all the rules and objectives of the company which one must adhere to it.In this content, we will know about Articles of Association and their importance regarding the company. What are Articles of Association?When a company is formed, certain rules and regulations are laid down along with the objectives of the companys operations and its purpose. These laws regulate the internal affairs of a company. There are two important sets of documents that define these objectives and govern the functioning of the company and its directors or internal affairs. These documents are Articles of Association (AOA) and Memorandum of Association (MOA). Here, we will discuss in detail the Articles of association.Articles of Association contain the by-laws that regulate the operations and functioning of the company like the appointment of directors and handling of financial records to name a few. Lets imagine the company as a machine. The articles of association then can be considered the users manual for this machine. It defines the operations that the machine is supposed to perform and how to do that on a day-to-day basis.Definition of Articles of Association of a CompanyAs per Section 2 (5) of the Companies Act, 2013, Articles of Association have been defined asThe Articles of Association (AOA) of a company originally framed or altered or applied in pursuance of any previous company law or this Act.Objectives of the Articles of AssociationSec 5 of the Companies Act, 2103 states that the Articles of association:Must include the regulations for the management of the companyInclude matters that have been prescribed under the rulesThey do not prevent a company from including additional matters in the AOA or from doing any alterations as may be considered necessary for the functioning of the company affairs.Contents of the Articles of AssociationThe AOA contains the rules and by-laws for the following;Share capital:Rights of various shareholders, share certificates, payment of a commission, etc.Lien of sharesCalls on sharesThe process for the transfer of sharesTransmission of sharesForfeiture of sharesSurrender of sharesProcess for conversion of shares to stocksShare warrantsAlteration of capital: Increase, decrease, or rearrangement of capitalGeneral meetings and proceedingsVoting rights of membersThe appointment, remuneration, qualifications, powers of directors, etc.Proceedings of the boards of directors meetingsDividends and reservesAccounts and AuditsBorrowing Powers of the companyProvisions relating to the winding up of the companyForms of Articles of Association (AOA)The forms for Articles of Association (AOA) in tables F, G, H, I, and J for different types of companies have been mentioned under Schedule I of the Companies Act, 2013. AOA must be in the respective form.Table F- AOA of a company limited by sharesTable G- AOA of a company limited by guarantee and having a share capitalTable H- AOA of a company limited by guarantee and not having a share capitalTable I- AOA of an unlimited company and having a share capitalTable J- AOA of an unlimited company and not having a share capitalDifference Between Memorandum and Articles of AssociationParameters of Difference Between MOA and AOAMOAAOAThe PurposeThe purpose of the Memorandum of Association is to define the objectives of a company and the conditions for its incorporation.It defines the rules and regulations that govern the internal management of the company for achieving its objectives.Parties ConcernedIt defines the relationship of the company with the external partiesIt defines the relationship between the members of the company amongst themselves and with the companyAlterationMOA can be altered only under special conditionsAOA can be altered by passing a special resolutionContentsMOA must contain all the six clauses of the Memorandum of Association as specified under the companies actAOA

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What Are Articles of Association? Articles of association form a document that specifies the regulations for a company's operations and defines the company's purpose. The document lays out how tasks are to be accomplished within the organization, including the process for appointing directors and the handling of financial records. Key Takeaways Articles of association can be thought of as a user's manual for a company, defining its purpose and outlining the methodology for accomplishing necessary day-to-day tasks.The content and terms of the "articles" may vary by jurisdiction, but typically include provisions on the company name, its purpose, the share structure, the company's organization, and provisions concerning shareholder meetings.In the the U.S. and Canada, articles of association are often referred to as "articles" for short. Investopedia / Crea Taylor Understanding Articles of Association Articles of association often identify the manner in which a company will issue shares, pay dividends, audit financial records, and provide voting rights. This set of rules can be considered a user's manual for the company because it outlines the methodology for accomplishing the day-to-day tasks that must be completed. While the content of the articles of association and the exact terms used vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, the document is quite similar throughout the world and generally contains provisions on the company name, the company's purpose, the share capital, the company's organization, and provisions regarding shareholder meetings. In the the U.S. and Canada, articles of association are often referred to as "articles" for short. Company Name As a legal entity, the company must have a name that can be found in the articles of association. All jurisdictions will have rules concerning company names. Usually, a suffix such as "Inc." or "Ltd." must be used to show that the entity is a company. Also, some words that could confuse the public, such as "government" or "church," cannot be used or must be used only for specific types of entities. Words that are offensive or heinous are also usually prohibited. Purpose of the Company The reason for the creation of the company must also be stated in the articles of association. Some jurisdictions accept very broad purposes"management"while others require greater detail"the operation of a wholesale bakery," for example. Share Capital The number and type of shares that comprise a company's capital are listed in the articles of association. There will always be at least one form of common share that makes up a company's capital. In addition, there may be several types of preferred shares. The company may or may not issue the shares, but if they are found in the articles of association, they can be issued if and when the need presents itself. A company may or may not issue shares, but if they are listed in the articles of association, shares can be issued if and when needed. Organization of the Company The legal organization of the company, including its address, the number of directors and officers, and the identity of the founders and original shareholders, are found in this section. Depending on the jurisdiction and type of business, the auditors and legal advisors of the company may also be in this section. Shareholder Meetings The provisions for the first general meeting of shareholders and the rules that will govern subsequent annual shareholder meetingssuch as notices, resolutions, and votesare laid out in detail in this section. Small Business Example of Articles of Association A person, or group of people, starting a business will typically refer to a lawyer, accountant, or both for advice when setting up a company. The company will choose a name and define its purpose. The company is then registered at the state/province or federal level. Note that trademarking a name is a different process. A company may issue shares to divide up the company if it wishes, but it doesn'

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