Corporate Governance

HDFC’s corporate governance is planned and implemented at the Board level and led by the Board. The HDFC Board is accountable to the shareholders for overseeing the management and performance of the Company and is responsible for the Company’s overall strategy and governance. The Board has delegated responsibility for day-to-day management of the Company to the Managing Director.

mma logo black

Regulated by Maldives Monetary Authority

HDFC complies with the legislation and regulations that govern the non- financial banking sector issued by the Authority.

cmda 2323-01

CMDA Corporate Code

HDFC is bound by Capital Market Development Authority’s Corporate Code on Corporate Governance, the framework that recognizes the shareholders’ rights and ownership functions, the role of stakeholders, disclosure and transparency standards and critical duties and responsibilities of the Board.

Board Composition

The Board of Directors comprises of five nominees from the shareholders; the Government of Maldives, HDFC Investments Ltd., (India), the Asian Development Bank and the International Finance Corporation. Each of the shareholders are represented by one Nominee Director with the exception of the Government of Maldives which has two Nominee Directors in the Board. The shareholders also have the right to nominate Alternative Directors who may participate in the Board Meetings but can only exercise the right to vote in the absence of the Nominee representing the shareholder. The Chairman to the Board of Directors is appointed on rotation, and with a non-voting managing director responsible for policy implementation and on-going operations.

Board Meetings

The Board meets at least once every three months to discuss pending matters and performance of the Company. The Annual General Meeting of Shareholders requires a quorum comprising of shareholders holding a majority of shares of the Company. The financial statements of the previous year is approved and adopted at the Annual General Meeting.

Audit Committee

The Board meets at least once every three months to discuss pending matters and performance of the Company. The Annual General Meeting of Shareholders requires a quorum comprising of shareholders holding a majority of shares of the Company. The financial statements of the previous year is approved and adopted at the Annual General Meeting.

Nominations and Remunerations Committee

The Nominations and Remunerations Committee consists of 02 Directors appointed by the Government of Maldives and the Managing Directors

Shari'ah Committee

The HDFC Amna department is managed and systematized to ensure proper Shari’ah governance mechanisms both within the department and among its stakeholders. A Shari’ah Committee consisting of three members has been established to advise the Board of Directors of HDFC on Shari’ah related matters.

Safeguarding the social and operational environment

At the end of each Financial Year, an annual monitoring report is delivered to ADB, consistent with the requirements of the Shareholders’ Agreement, confirming compliance the social and environmental covenants of the Agreement or, as the case may be, identifying any non-compliance or failure, and the actions being taken to remedy any such deficiency.

Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism

The Company complies with internal procedures and controls satisfactory to the International Investors, and following national law and best international banking standards, including the standards promulgated by the Basel Committee on Banking

Supervision and the Wolfsberg Standards, for the purpose of:

  • Preventing the Company from being used for Money Laundering, the Financing of Terrorism, fraud, or other corrupt or illegal purposes or practices
  • Ensuring that any financial institution with which the Company conducts business
  • Or enters into any transaction, or through which the Company transmits any funds, does not have correspondent banking relationships with any Shell Bank.
  • Ensuring that the Company does not conduct business or enter into any transaction with or transmit any funds through a Shell Bank.
  • Ensuring that the Company will not enter into any transaction with, or for the benefit of, any individuals or institutions named on lists of sanctioned persons promulgated by the United Nations Security Council or its committee’s resolutions in connection with money laundering or anti-terrorism matters.