(Incorporated in Hong Kong with limited liability)
(Stock code: 345)
TERMS OF REFERENCE AUDIT AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE 1. MembershipThe Committee shall be appointed by the Board from amongst the non-executive Directors of the Company consisting of a majority of independent non-executive directors whose terms shall run concurrently with their terms as directors. Two members shall constitute a quorum provided that at least one independent non-executive director shall be present throughout each meeting.
2. ChairmanThe Chairman of the Committee shall be selected amongst the independent non-executive directors of the Company and shall be appointed by the Board. If at any meeting the Chairman be not present within five minutes after the time appointed for holding the same, the Committee members shall choose one of the other independent non-executive directors to act as Chairman of such meeting.
3. Attendance at Meetings
The Chairman of the Committee may invite the Group financial
officer or other executives or third parties to attend
meetings, or parts of meetings. At least twice a year the
following should be invited to meet with the Committee:
z The representative of the external auditor
z The Group internal auditor
Notice of at least 14 days should be given of a regular committee meeting. An agenda and accompanying meeting papers should be sent in full to all committee members at least three days before the intended date of committee meeting. Any member may request for meetings by giving notice in writing to the Chairman of the Committee of not less than seven days' notice. Questions arising at the meeting shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members present, and in the case of an equality of votes, the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote.
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5. Frequency of meetingsMeetings shall be held not less than twice a year. The External Auditor or the Internal Auditor, if they deem necessary, may request for meetings by giving notice in writing to the Chairman of the Committee.
6. AuthorityThe Committee is empowered by the Board to investigate any activity within its terms of reference. It has the right to seek any information it requires from any employee and all employees are directed to co-operate with any request made by the Committee.
7. Outside professional servicesThe Committee is authorized by the Board, at the expense of the Company, to obtain outside legal or other independent professional advice and to secure the attendance, at meetings, of outsiders with relevant experience and expertise if it considers this necessary.
8. Terms of ReferenceThe terms of reference of the Committee should include the following specific duties:-
A. Audit
(a) to be primarily responsible for making recommendation to
the Board on the appointment, reappointment and removal of
the external auditor, and to approve the remuneration and
terms of engagement of the external auditor, and any
questions of its resignation or dismissal;
(b) to review and monitor the external auditor's independence
and objectivity and the effectiveness of the audit process in
accordance with applicable standards. The Committee should
discuss with the auditor the nature and scope of the audit
and reporting obligations before the audit commences.
Procedures to review and monitor the independence of the
external auditor may include:-
(i) consider all relationships between the Company and the
audit firm
(including the provision of non-audit services);
(ii) seek from the audit firm, on an annual basis,
information about policies and processes for maintaining
independence and monitoring compliance with relevant
requirements, including current requirements regarding
rotation of audit partners and staff; and
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(iii) meet with the external auditor, at least annually, in
the absence of management, to discuss matters relating to its
audit fees, any issues arising from the audit and any other
matters the auditor may wish to raise.
(c) to develop and implement a policy on engaging an external
auditor to supply non-audit services. For this purpose,
"external auditor" includes any entity that is under common
control, ownership or management with the audit firm or any
entity that a reasonable and informed third party knowing all
relevant information would reasonably conclude to be part of
the audit firm nationally or internationally. The Committee
should report to the Board, identifying and making
recommendations on any matters where action or improvement is
needed;
(d) to monitor the integrity of the Company's financial
statements and annual reports and accounts, half-year reports
and quarterly reports, if applicable, and to review
significant financial reporting judgements contained in them.
In reviewing these reports before submission to the Board,
the Committee should focus particularly on:-
(i) any changes in accounting policies and practices; (ii)
major judgmental areas;
(iii) significant adjustments resulting from audit;
(iv) the going concern assumptions and any qualifications;
(v) compliance with accounting standards; and
(vi) compliance with the Listing Rules and legal requirements
in relation to financial reporting.
(e) Regarding (d) above:-
(i) members of the Committee should liaise with the Board and
senior management, the Group Financial Officer and the Group
Internal Auditor and the Committee must meet, at least twice
a year, with the external auditor; and
(ii) the Committee should consider any significant or unusual
items that are, or may need to be, reflected in the reports
and accounts, it should give due consideration to any matters
that have been raised by the Group Financial Officer, Group
Internal Auditor or the external auditor;
(f) to review the Company's financial controls, internal
control and risk management systems;
(g) to discuss the internal control system with management to
ensure that management has performed its duty to have an
effective internal control system. This discussion should
include the adequacy of resources, staff qualifications and
experience, training programmes and budget of the Company's
accounting and financial reporting function;
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(h) to consider major investigation findings on internal
control matters as delegated by the Board or on its own
initiative and management's response to these findings;
(i) to ensure co-ordination between the internal and external
auditors, and to ensure that the internal audit function is
adequately resourced and has appropriate standing within the
Company, and to review and monitor its effectiveness;
(j) to review the Group's financial and accounting policies
and practices;
(k) to review the external auditor's management letter, any
material queries raised by the auditor to management about
accounting records, financial accounts or systems of control
and management's response;
(l) to ensure that the Board will provide a timely response
to the issues raised in the external auditor's management
letter;
(m) to review arrangements the employees of the Company can
use, in confidence, to raise concerns about possible
improprieties in financial reporting, internal control or
other matters. The Committee should ensure that proper
arrangements are in place for fair and independent
investigation of these matters and for appropriate follow up
action;
(n) to act as the key representative body for overseeing the
Company's relations with the external auditor;
(o) to report to the Board on the matters in the provision
C.3 of the Code on Corporate Governance Practices set out in
Appendix 14 of the Listing Rules; and
(p) to consider other topics, as defined by the Board.
(a) to develop and review the Company's policies and
practices on corporate governance and make recommendations to
the Board;
(b) to review and monitor the training and continuous
professional development of directors and senior
management;
(c) to review and monitor the Company's policies and
practices on compliance with legal and regulatory
requirements;
(d) to develop, review and monitor the code of conduct and
compliance manual (if any) applicable to employees and
directors; and
(e) to review the Company's compliance with the Corporate
Governance
Code and disclosure in the Corporate Governance Report.
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9. Minutes and Reports
Minutes shall be maintained of all the meetings of the
Committee and be signed by the Chairman and kept by a duly
appointed secretary of the Committee meeting. The full
minutes shall be present to the Board at the subsequent Board
meeting.
Information in relation to the Committee and its work report
shall be included for the accounting period in the Corporate
Governance Report in the Annual Report as required by the
Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock
Exchange of Hong Kong Limited from time to time.
~ End ~
Updated on 9th February, 2012
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distributed by | This press release was issued by Vitasoy International Holdings Limited and was initially posted at http://www.vitasoy.com/pdf/otherAnnounce/EN/20120328122137ew_00345_Audit_and_CG_Committee-revised_20 120209-HKEx.pdf . It was distributed, unedited and unaltered, by noodls on 2012-03-28 11:02:47 AM. The issuer is solely responsible for the accuracy of the information contained therein. |