Ambani`s salary has remained unchanged at Rs 15 crore since the fiscal 2008-09. In its latest annual report for the year 2011-12, RIL said that Ambani`s total pay package stood at Rs 15 crore, as against his eligibility of Rs 38.82 crore as per the shareholders` approval. Detailing his pay package, RIL said that Ambani`s "compensation has been set at Rs 15 crore as against Rs 38.82 crore that he is eligible as per the shareholders` approval, reflecting his desire to continue to set a personal example for moderation in managerial compensation levels".
In the fiscal 2010-11 also, Ambani was eligible for a pay package of Rs 38.75 crore, but he took home only Rs 15 crore. The company`s total remuneration for top management personnel and commission paid to non-executive directors had declined during 2010-11, but rose again in 2011-12. The decision to cap Ambani`s salary at Rs 15 crore was taken way back in October 2009, amid a raging debate on right-sizing of CEO salaries.
The decision led to a hefty pay cut for Ambani, as his remuneration dropped to Rs 15 crore for fiscal 2008-09, from over Rs 44 crore in 2007-08. Ambani was India`s top-paid executive in 2007-08. Ambani`s total package for 2011-12 as the Chairman and Managing Director of the country`s biggest private sector entity, included Rs 4.16 crore as salary, Rs 60 lakh as perquisites and allowances, Rs 78 lakh as retiral benefits and Rs 9.46 crore as commission.
While Ambani was RIL`s top-paid executive in 2011-12, he was followed by whole-time directors Nikhil Meswani and Hital Meswani with total remuneration of Rs 10.99 crore each, PMS Prasad (Rs 5 crore) and Pawan Kumar Kapil (Rs 1.99 crore). The company`s total top managerial remuneration rose to Rs 44 crore, from Rs 41 crore in the previous fiscal, while sitting fees and commission paid to non-executive directors rose to Rs 1.85 crore, from Rs 1.68 crore in 2010-11. The non-executive directors are paid sitting fee of Rs 20,000 for attending each meeting, besides annual commission of Rs 21 lakh each. However, total commission payable to them are capped at 1 per cent of the company`s net profit. Among executive directors, the remuneration paid to Nikhil and Hital Meswani was higher at Rs 11.05 crore each in 2010-11, while it was lower at Rs 2.37 crore for Prasad.
Ambani`s salary as also perquisites and allowances were unchanged during 2011-12, but retiral benefits fell from Rs 1 crore and commission rose from Rs 9.24 crore in 2010-11. Among the executive directors, Prasad and Kapil were not paid any commission during 2011-12. At its AGM next month, RIL would seek shareholders` nod for payment of commission of up to 0.40 per cent of net profit to Ambani and two whole-time directors (Nikhil and Hital Meswani) as remuneration in addition to their salary, perquisites and allowances.