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Article 7
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Review Process:
- After they have been delegated a securities listing case, the case handlers shall complete the following review procedures:
- Application Documents: Check all application documents received and complete a "Stock Listing Application Receipt Record." (Attachment 1).
- Prospectus: Examine each item detailed in the content of the prospectus according to the TWSE Regulations Governing the Particulars to be Recorded in Prospectuses for Initial Listing of Securities and other relevant regulations, and re-examine a Checklist of Legal Issues to be Examined upon Application by Issuers for Exchange Listings of Stock (Attachment 2) provided by a lawyer to ascertain whether such checklist adequately supports the conclusions of the legal opinion contained in the prospectus.
- Underwriter's Assessment Report:
Review the underwriter's assessment report and check whether each item is assessed in accordance with the rules and regulations of the TWSE and whether it draws clear and definitive conclusions. Any matters relating to the provisions of the TWSE Regulations for Handling Deficiencies in Evaluation Reports or Other Related Information Submitted by a Securities Underwriter shall be handled, after obtaining signed approval by the TWSE's president, pursuant to Article 9 of the same Regulations.
The above-mentioned Regulations for Handling Deficiencies in Evaluation Reports or Other Related Information Submitted by a Securities Underwriter shall be separately prescribed by the TWSE.
- Internal Control Systems
- Gain an understanding of the results and attached assessment opinion from the CPAs' internal control system investigation, and of the CPAs' recommendations regarding internal control systems as stated in the recommendation report, in compiling the Record of the Internal Control System Documentary Review (Attachment 3).
- Carry out the review in accordance with the TWSE Procedures for Reviewing Internal Control System Audit Reports Issued by Certified Public Accountants, and complete Attachment 2 of said Procedures, the Opinion Form for Review of the Internal Control System Audit Reports Issued by Certified Public Accountants.
- Comprehensive Analysis of Financial Information:
Review the annexed survey report for related industries, explanations of major changes in accounting items published in the prospectus, analytical data from the CPAs' permanent records, and the underwriter's assessment report to ascertain and assess the financial condition and trends of the applicant company and excerpt important items or irregularities to compile the Comprehensive Analysis of Financial Data (Attachment 4).
- CPA auditing procedures and financial report: Review the CPAs' permanent files, the working papers for the internal accounting control system for the most recent fiscal year and the audit working papers for the most recent 3 years preceding the date of application and re-examine the Certified Public Accountant Auditing Procedure Checklist (Attachment 5) completed by the CPAs to ensure compliance with Standards on Auditing No. 230 ("Audit Documentation "), Standards on Auditing No. 315 ("Identifying and Assessing the Risks of Material Misstatement"), the Regulations Governing Financial Statement Audit and Attestation Engagements of Certified Public Accountants, and all other applicable regulations. Include excerpts or photocopies of important or irregular items in the report. Examine the CPA audit reports for the most recent 3 fiscal years and the notes and statements of major accounting items therein to ensure that the applicant company's financial reports is prepared in compliance with the regulations prescribed by the competent authority governing the preparation of financial reports by each enterprise. [After completion of the above] the case handlers shall note their opinion in the opinion column of the Certified Public Accountant Auditing Procedure Checklist. If the applicant company is found in violation of any of the requirements of the TWSE Regulations Governing the Handling of Errors by Certified Public Accountants in Auditing of Initial Applications for Market Listing, the case handlers shall refer the matter to the administering department or Review Committee and execute the resolution passed by the department or committee.
- Dispersion of Shareholding and Custodial Undertaking:
Examine the following items:
- Whether the ratio of shares to be publicly offered is in compliance with the regulations of the TWSE.
- Whether shareholding dispersion after public offering is in compliance with the provisions of the TWSE Rules Governing Review of Securities Listings.
- Whether the ratio of shares held by directors is in compliance with the regulations of the competent authority.
- Whether the undertaking regarding the ratio of shares in centralized custody to total issued shares complies with regulations.
- Examine whether the applicant company is in compliance with each of the items listed in Article 9, Paragraph 1 or Article 31, Paragraph 1 of the TWSE Rules Governing Review of Securities Listings and complete the "Rules Governing Review of Securities Listings Article 9, Paragraph 1 Itemized Checklist" (Attachment 6) or "Rules Governing Review of Securities Listings Article 31, Paragraph 1 Itemized Checklist" (Attachment 6-1).
- The case handlers shall consolidate all the above review data and relevant documentation (Attachments 1 through 9) into a binder.
- To ascertain the actual status of the financial and business operations of the applicant company, the case handlers shall carry out an on-site audit and conduct the following procedures:
- Seek briefings to ascertain the following:
‧ The past business achievement and philosophy of the applicant company's responsible person.
‧ Changes in the shareholdings of directors, and shareholders with a greater than 10 percent share of the company's total issued equity during the most recent 3 fiscal years and random checks of actual shareholdings when necessary.
‧ Management and operational objectives of the company.
‧ Financial structure and management policies.
‧ Production processes.
‧ Production status.
‧ Analysis of sales income and costs and the state of competition in the industry.
‧ The system for taking stock of and valuating inventory, and warehousing management.
‧ Dealings among affiliates.
‧ Salary and benefit regime.
- Inspect factories, paying particular attention to the operational status of machinery and equipment.
- For other significant irregularities discovered in the documentary review, the case handlers may draft an inspection plan and then conduct an audit of the irregularities.
- Findings of on-site audits shall be recorded in detail in the "On-Site Audit Record" (Attachment 7).
- In order to clarify other major issues in relation to the current status and future development of the industry to which the company belongs, as well as financial accounting, taxes, legal issues, and other material issues arising from operations in that industry, the case handler may duly engage an expert as an external Review Committee member, and in addition to obtaining the opinion of that expert, may also seek the opinions of other experts on related questions with approval by the president of the TWSE of a written request for permission.
- Compilation of working papers: The case handlers shall consolidate and record in detail all review items and findings of the review, together with all relevant information and number them in order for cross-referencing. Upon completion of the review, the case handlers shall compile all review information (Attachments 1 through 7) and supporting documentation into a binder to serve as the working papers and file it together with other public issuance approval information and keep it in the custody of the Listing Department (for a minimum of 5 years) for future reference and case management.
- After completion of the working papers, the case handlers shall set forth the key findings, and may as necessary solicit the opinions of relevant experts and examine other relevant information. The case handler shall then compile this information into a"" proposal for reference during the review and deliberation of the case.
- Review Period: Applications for initial stock listing shall be submitted for deliberation by the Review Committee within six weeks after their receipt. Under extraordinary circumstances, however, the Listing Department may, based upon review requirements or at the request of the applicant company and no less than 10 days prior to the Review Committee meeting, extend the deadline for submission to the Review Committee, subject to the signed approval of the president of the TWSE. Extensions granted at the request of the applicant company shall be limited to a maximum period of a month.
- Force of the Securities Listing Review: The findings of the review of an application for securities listing reflect the financial and business condition of the applicant company during a specified period of time only, and should not be taken as a reflection of the overall or future performance of the applicant company. The results also depend largely on whether the applicant company has made full disclosure of information relating to its financial and business condition. The review results do not provide a guarantee of the quality of the applicant company and shall not be taken as a substitute for the functions and status of securities underwriters, CPAs and lawyers. Therefore, case handlers reviewing applications filed by first-time applicants shall:
- Carry out the review work with a positive service attitude and full rely on all information and opinions provided by the applicant company, securities underwriters, CPAs and lawyers, unless any nondisclosure, fraud, falsehood, or error is discovered.
- Where information or statements of opinion provided by the applicant company, securities underwriter, CPAs and lawyers are found to contain any nondisclosure, fraud, error, falsehood, or otherwise seriously violate applicable laws or the rules and regulations of the TWSE, those responsible shall be held fully liable under the law, and the matter shall be duly reported to the competent authority after handling by the TWSE pursuant to relevant regulations. The TWSE undertakes only the review and deliberation of applications. Case handlers shall, at the time of processing applications, act in accordance with the provisions of the TWSE Ethics Guidelines for Employees or Matters for Mutual Compliance by Securities Listing Review Committee Members, and remain detached, impartial, and objective to ensure compliance with all the procedural requirements of these Procedures and other applicable regulations. In the event of any violation or negligence, where verified through investigation, personnel shall be responsible for matters that fall within the scope of their duties.
- Where any concerns arise during the review period, the case handlers shall contact the applicant company, securities underwriter, CPAs and lawyers and request that they take the initiative to collect relevant information in timely fashion and provide explanations.
- Prior to the submission of the listing case for the review of the Review Committee, if the administering department has resolved to deny approval for listing, the TWSE's senior executive vice president shall convene relevant personnel to review the listing case again, and when necessary, invite the applicant company and the securities underwriter to provide explanations; if they resolve to deny approval for listing, the signed approval of the TWSE's president may be obtained and the application then rejected outright.
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