Past version: Effective from 01 Jan 2005 to 01 May 2012
ACCOUNTABILITY
Principle:
10 The Board should present a balanced and understandable assessment of the company's performance, position and prospects.
Guidelines:
10.1 The Board's responsibility to provide a balanced and understandable assessment of the company's performance, position and prospects extends to interim and other price sensitive public reports, and reports to regulators (if required).
10.2 The Management should provide all members of the Board with management accounts which present a balanced and understandable assessment of the company's performance, position and prospects on a monthly basis.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
Principle:
11 The Board should establish an Audit Committee ("AC") with written terms of reference which clearly set out its authority and duties.
Guidelines:
11.1 The AC should comprise at least three directors, all non-executive, the majority of whom, including the Chairman, should be independent.
11.2 The Board should ensure that the members of the AC are appropriately qualified to discharge their responsibilities. At least two members should have accounting or related financial management expertise or experience, as the Board interprets such qualification in its business judgement.
11.3 The AC should have explicit authority to investigate any matter within its terms of reference, full access to and co-operation by Management and full discretion to invite any director or executive officer to attend its meetings, and reasonable resources to enable it to discharge its functions properly.
11.4 The duties of the AC should include:
(a) reviewing the scope and results of the audit and its cost effectiveness, and the independence and objectivity of the external auditors. Where the auditors also supply a substantial volume of non-audit services to the company, the AC should keep the nature and extent of such services under review, seeking to balance the maintenance of objectivity and value for money;
(b) reviewing the significant financial reporting issues and judgements so as to ensure the integrity of the financial statements of the company and any formal announcements relating to the company's financial performance;
(c) reviewing the adequacy of the company's internal controls, as set out in Guideline 12.1;
(d) reviewing the effectiveness of the company's internal audit function; and
(e) making recommendations to the Board on the appointment, reappointment and removal of the external auditor, and approving the remuneration and terms of engagement of the external auditor.
11.5 The AC should meet with the external auditors, and with the internal auditors, without the presence of the company's Management, at least annually.
11.6 The AC should review the independence of the external auditors annually.
11.7 The AC should review arrangements by which staff of the company may, in confidence, raise concerns about possible improprieties in matters of financial reporting or other matters. The AC's objective should be to ensure that arrangements are in place for the independent investigation of such matters and for appropriate follow up action.
11.8 The Board should disclose the names of the members of the AC and details of the Committee's activities in the company's annual report.
INTERNAL CONTROLS
Principle:
12 The Board should ensure that the Management maintains a sound system of internal controls to safeguard the shareholders' investments and the company's assets.
Guidelines:
12.1 The AC should review the adequacy of the company's internal financial controls, operational and compliance controls, and risk management policies and systems established by the Management (collectively "internal controls"). The AC should ensure that a review of the effectiveness of the company's internal controls is conducted at least annually. Such review can be carried out by the internal and/or public accountants, provided that where the public accountant is also the external auditor of the company, the AC should satisfy itself that the independence of the public accountant is not compromised by any other material relationship with the company.
12.2 The Board should comment on the adequacy of the internal controls, including financial, operational and compliance controls, and risk management systems in the company's annual report.
INTERNAL AUDIT
Principle:
13 The company should establish an internal audit function that is independent of the activities it audits.
Guidelines:
13.1 The Internal Auditor's primary line of reporting should be to the Chairman of the AC although the Internal Auditor would also report administratively to the CEO.
13.2 The Internal Auditor should meet or exceed the standards set by nationally or internationally recognised professional bodies including the Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing set by The Institute of Internal Auditors.
13.3 The AC should ensure that the internal audit function is adequately resourced and has appropriate standing within the company. For the avoidance of doubt, the internal audit function can either be in-house, outsourced to a reputable accounting/auditing firm, or performed by a major shareholder, holding company, parent company or controlling enterprise with an internal audit staff.
13.4 The AC should, at least annually, ensure the adequacy of the internal audit function.