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Relevant Laws

Title：Securities and Exchange Act (2023.06.28)
Article 43-1 (Regulation of Public Tender Offers for Securities)
    Any person who acquires, either individually or jointly with other persons, more than 5 percent of the total issued shares of a public company shall report such acquisition to the Competent Authority and make a public announcement; the same applies when there is any change in the specifics reported. Regulations governing the reporting of the number of shares acquired, the purpose and the sources of funds for the acquisition of the shares, changes to the specifics reported, public announcement, terms, and any other matters requiring compliance, shall be prescribed by the Competent Authority.
    Any public tender offer to purchase the securities of a public company bypassing the centralized securities exchange market or the over-the-counter market may be conducted only after the offeror has reported to the Competent Authority, providing proof that it has the ability to perform payment of the tender offer consideration, and publicly announced the specific matters, except under the following circumstances:
  1. The number of securities proposed for public tender offer by the offeror plus the total number of securities of the public company already obtained by the offeror and its related parties do not exceed 5 percent of the total number of voting shares issued by the public company.
  2. The securities purchased by the offeror through the public tender offer are securities of a company of which the offeror holds more than 50 percent of the issued voting shares.
  3. Other circumstances in conformity with the regulations prescribed by the Competent Authority.
    Any person who independently or jointly with another person(s) proposes to acquire a certain percentage of the total issued shares of a public company or of the beneficial securities of a real estate investment trust under the Real Estate Securitization Act shall make the acquisition by means of a public tender offer, unless certain conditions are satisfied.
    Regulations governing the scope, conditions, period, related parties, and particulars for filing and public announcement in connection with purchases of securities pursuant to paragraph 2, and the "certain percentage" and "conditions" in connection with the acquisition of a certain percentage of the total issued shares of a public company under the preceding paragraph shall be prescribed by the Competent Authority.
    Any person who will make a public tender offer to purchase the beneficial securities of a real estate investment trust under the Real Estate Securitization Act may conduct the public tender offer only after filing with the Competent Authority and making a public announcement. Regulations governing the scope, conditions, period, related parties, and particulars for filing and public announcement in connection with purchases of real estate securitization beneficial securities, and the "certain percentage" and "conditions" in connection with the acquisition of beneficial securities of a real estate investment trust under paragraph 3 shall be prescribed by the Competent Authority.
Article 43-3 (Prohibition During the Public Tender Offer Period of Purchase By Any Other Means of the Same Type of Securities of the Public Company or Beneficial Securities of the Real Estate Investment Trust Under the Real Estate Securitization Act)
    From the date of filing and public announcement until the date of lapse of the public tender offer period, the public tender offeror and its related parties shall not, through a centralized securities exchange, over-the-counter market, any other market, or by any other means, purchase the same type of securities of the public company or beneficial securities of the real estate investment trust under the Real Estate Securitization Act.
    A public tender offeror that violates the preceding paragraph shall be liable to the tenderer for damages up to the amount of the difference between the price paid for the securities purchased through other means and the price under the public tender offer, multiplied by the number of shares subscribed.
Article 43-5 (Public Tender Offer Suspension Conditions and Amendments to the Public Tender Offer Report)
    After a public tender offeror has initiated a public tender offer, it may not suspend the public tender offer except in any of the following circumstances, where the Competent Authority has granted approval:
  1. The public company whose securities are being purchased encounters any material change in its financial or business condition and the offeror has presented evidence of the change.
  2. The offeror becomes bankrupt, dies, is declared by a court to be under guardianship or assistance, or is required by a court ruling to undergo reorganization.
  3. Other circumstances specified by the Competent Authority.
    Where content reported or publicly announced by an offeror violates an act or regulation, the Competent Authority may, as necessary to protect the public interest, order the offeror to amend the particulars of the public tender offer report and carry out reporting and public announcement procedures anew.
    If the offeror fails to acquire the proposed number of shares within the tender offer period or suspension of the public tender offer is approved by the Competent Authority, the offeror may not, within one year therefrom, carry out a public tender offer on the same company, unless it has legitimate reasons and has obtained approval from the Competent Authority.
    If, after the public tender offer, the total number of issued shares of the acquired company held by the offeror and its related parties exceeds 50 percent of the total number of shares issued by the company, the offeror may, by a proposal in writing, with reasons stated therein, request the board of directors to convene a special meeting of shareholders; the restrictions set forth in Article 173, paragraph 1 of the Company Act shall not apply.
Article 174 (Penal Provisions)
    A person who commits any of the following offenses shall be punished with imprisonment for not less than one year and not more than seven years and in addition thereto a fine of not more than NT$20 million may be imposed:
  1. the making of false statements on the application materials required under Article 30, Article 44, paragraphs 1 to 3, or Article 93, or Article 30 as applied mutatis mutandis under Article 165-1 or 165-2, of this Act.
  2. the making and dissemination to the public of false information with regard to the market value of securities, or with regard to the material aspects of the approved public offering.
  3. the violation of paragraph 1 of Article 32 by an issuer, its responsible persons or employees, and the provision of paragraph 2 of the same Article does not apply.
  4. the making of false statements on the account books, forms/statements, documents, or other reference or report materials produced by any issuer or public tender offeror or related party thereof, securities firm or its principals, securities dealers association, stock exchange, or any other enterprises referred to in Article 18 pursuant to an order of the Competent Authority to produce such materials.
  5. the making of false statements on the account books, forms/statements, vouchers, financial reports or any other business documents by any issuer, public tender offeror, securities firm, securities dealers association, stock exchange, or any other enterprises referred to in Article 18, as required to be produced in compliance with acts or regulations, or orders prescribed by the Competent Authority pursuant thereto.
  6. the making of false statements in the content of a financial report under the preceding subparagraph by a managerial officer or accounting officer who signs or seals the financial report; provided, the punishment may be reduced or remitted if the person has submitted a corrective opinion and provided evidence in a report to the Competent Authority before the Competent Authority or a judicial agency has commenced an investigation [ex officio or] upon a complaint filed by another person.
  7. the making of any investment advice relating to an issuer or specific securities transactions which was based on false information and disseminating the said advice on any newspapers and magazines, written materials, broadcasts, films or by other means.
  8. the loaning of company funds to another person, using company assets to provide security or a guarantee for another person, or endorsing of a negotiable instrument by a director, managerial officer, or employee of an issuer in violation of an act or regulation, or the articles of incorporation, or beyond the scope authorized by the board of directors, causing substantial damage to the company.
  9. counterfeiting, altering, destroying, concealing, or obscuring working papers or relevant records or documents with intent to impede inspection by the Competent Authority or investigation by a judicial agency.
    A person who commits any of the following offenses shall be punished with imprisonment for not more than five years, or a fine of not more than NT$15 million may be imposed [in lieu thereof] or in addition thereto:
  1. issuance of a false or untrue opinion by a lawyer regarding any contract, report, or document of the company or foreign company related to securities offering, issuance, or trading.
  2. failure by a certified public account to faithfully fulfill his or her audit duties and issue a report or opinion with respect to any material falsehood or error in a financial report, document, or information reported or published by a company or foreign company; or failure by a certified public accountant to expressly state a material falsehood or error in a company or foreign company financial report due to failure to audit in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and generally accepted audit principles.
  3. violation of Article 22, paragraphs 1 to 3.
    Where the commission of an offense under the preceding paragraph materially affects the rights or interests of shareholders or harms the stability of the securities market, the punishment may be increased by one-half.
    Where a personnel member or employee of an issuer commits an offense in subparagraph 6 of paragraph 1, and the offense is minor, the punishment may be reduced.
    The Competent Authority shall render a disposition suspending attestation work by a certified public accountant who violates subparagraph 2 of paragraph 2.
    If a foreign company is the issuer, any violation of paragraph 1, subparagraphs 1 to 9 by the foreign company or a director, managerial officer, employee, or accounting officer of the foreign company shall be punished under paragraphs 1 and 4.
    A person who violates Article 22 as applied mutatis mutandis under Article 165-1 or 165-2 shall be punished under paragraphs 2 and 3.
Article 178 (Penal Provisions)
    A person who commits any of the following violations shall be punished with an administrative fine of not less than NT$240,000 and not more than NT$4.8 million, and the Competent Authority may order the person to correct the violation within a prescribed period; if the person fails to make the correction within the prescribed period, consecutive fines may be imposed:
  1. Violation of the provisions of Article 22-2, paragraph 1 or 2, Article 26-1, or Article 22-2, paragraph 1 or 2 as applied mutatis mutandis under Article 165-1.
  2. Violation of the provisions of Article 14, paragraph 3, Article 14-1, paragraph 1 or 3, Article 14-2, paragraph 1, 3, or 6, Article 14-3, Article 14-5, paragraphs 1 to 3, Article 21-1, paragraph 5, Article 25, paragraph 1, 2, or 4, Article 31, paragraph 1, Article 36, paragraph 5 or 7, Article 41, Article 43-1, paragraph 1, Article 43-4, paragraph 1, or Article 43-6, paragraphs 5 to 7; or Article 14, paragraph 3, Article 31, paragraph 1, Article 36, paragraph 5, or Article 43-4, paragraph 1 as applied mutatis mutandis under Article 165-1 or 165-2; or Article 14-1, paragraph 1 or 3, Article 14-2, paragraph 1, 3 or 6, Article 14-3, Article 14-5, paragraphs 1 to 3, Article 25, paragraph 1, 2, or 4, Article 36, paragraph 7, Article 41, Article 43-1, paragraph 1, Article 43-6, paragraphs 5 to 7, as applied mutatis mutandis under Article 165-1.
  3. An issuer or public tender offeror or a related party thereof or a principal of a securities firm fails to submit account books, forms/statements, documents, or other reference or report materials within the time period specified in this Act or in an order issued by the Competent Authority pursuant to this Act, or any of the above parties evades, impedes, or refuses an examination carried out by the Competent Authority.
  4. If any issuer or public tender offeror fails to comply with relevant regulations in the preparation, submission, public announcement, maintenance, or storage of the account books, forms/statements, vouchers, financial reports or other relevant business documents as required by this Act, or as required by orders issued by the Competent Authority pursuant to this Act.
  5. Violation of Article 14-4, paragraph 1 or 2, or of Article 14-4, paragraph 1 or 2 as applied mutatis mutandis under Article 165-1; or violation of the provisions of the regulations adopted pursuant to Article 14-4 paragraph 5, or adopted pursuant to that paragraph as applied mutatis mutandis under Article 165-1, governing procedures, exercise of powers, or matters to be recorded in the meeting minutes.
  6. Violation of the forepart of Article 14-6, paragraph 1, or of the forepart of that paragraph as applied mutatis mutandis under Article 165-1, by failing to establish a remuneration committee; or violation of the provisions of the regulations adopted pursuant to the latter part of Article 14-6 paragraph 1, or adopted pursuant to the latter part of that paragraph as applied mutatis mutandis under Article 165-1, governing the qualifications for the members of the committee, its composition, procedures, exercise of powers, matters to be recorded in the meeting minutes, or public announcement and filing.
  7. Violation of the provisions of the regulations adopted pursuant to article 25-1, or adopted pursuant to that Article as applied mutatis mutandis under Article 165-1, governing the qualifications of proxy solicitors, proxy agents, or those handling proxy solicitation matters, the methods of solicitation or acquisition of proxy forms, corporate compliance matters in connection with the convening of shareholder meetings, or refusal to comply with a requirement by the Competent Authority for provision of information.
  8. Violation of the shareholding percentage requirements of directors and supervisors of publicly issued companies prescribed by the Competent Authority in accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 26, and provisions regarding notifications and auditing in the enforcement rules for auditing the shareholdings thereto.
  9. Violation of the provisions of Article 26-3, paragraph 1, 7, or the forepart of paragraph 8, or of Article 26-3, paragraph 1, 7, or the forepart of paragraph 8, as applied mutatis mutandis under Article 165-1; or violation of the provisions of the regulations adopted pursuant to the latter part of paragraph 8 of Article 26-3, or adopted pursuant to the latter part of that paragraph as applied mutatis mutandis under Article 165-1, governing the content of deliberations, procedures, matters to be recorded in the meeting minutes, or public announcement.
  10. Violation of the provisions of Article 28-2, paragraphs 2 or 4 to 7, or of Article 28-2, paragraphs 2 or 4 to 7 as applied mutatis mutandis under 165-1; or violation of the provisions of the regulations adopted pursuant to Article 28-2, paragraph 3, or adopted pursuant to that paragraph as applied mutatis mutandis under Article 165-1, governing procedures, prices, volumes, methods, methods of transfer, or matters that must be filed and publicly announced in relation to repurchase of shares.
  11. Violation of the provisions of the regulations adopted pursuant to Article 36-1, or adopted pursuant to that article as applied mutatis mutandis under Article 165-1, governing the scope, working procedures, required public announcements, or required filings for financial or operational actions of material significance, such as the acquisition or disposal of assets, engaging in derivatives trading, extension of monetary loans to others, endorsements or guarantees for others, or disclosure of financial projections.
  12. Violation of the provisions of Article 43-2, paragraph 1, Article 43-3, paragraph 1, or Article 43-5, paragraph 1; or of Article 43-2, paragraph 1, Article 43-3, paragraph 1, or Article 43-5, paragraph 1, as applied mutatis mutandis under Article 165-1 or Article 165-2; or violation of the regulations adopted pursuant to Article 43-1, paragraphs 4 or 5, or adopted pursuant to Article 43-1, paragraph 4 as applied mutatis mutandis under Article 165-1 or Article 165-2, regarding the scope, conditions, period, related parties, or particulars for filing and public announcement in connection with purchases of securities.
    When a foreign company is the issuer, any violation of subparagraphs 3 or 4 of the preceding paragraph by the foreign company shall be punished under the preceding paragraph.
    The penalty for a violation punishable by an administrative fine under the preceding two paragraphs may be remitted, or the violator may be ordered to correct the violation within a prescribed time period and the penalty remitted once the violation has been corrected, if the violation is minor.
    A reward shall be given for a report of a violation of Article 25-1 that leads to discovery of a violation. Regulations governing such reward shall be prescribed by the Competent Authority.