| VTech Holdings Limited is incorporated in Bermuda. The Company
has its primary share listing on The Stock Exchange of Hong
Kong Limited ("the Hong Kong Stock Exchange") and
London Stock Exchange Plc. The primary corporate governance
rules applicable to the Company is the Code on Corporate Governance
Practices (the "Code") as set out in Appendix 14 to
the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange
of Hong Kong Limited (the "Listing Rules"). Throughout
the year ended 31st March 2008, the Company has complied with
all the code provisions of the Code and to a large extent, the
recommended best practices in the Code except for the deviation
from code provision A.2.1 of the Code as described below.
Under code provision A.2.1 of the Code, the roles of chairman
and chief executive officer should be separate and should
not be performed by the same individual. Dr. Allan WONG Chi
Yun has the combined role of Chairman and Group Chief Executive
Officer. The Board of Directors (the "Board") considers
that this structure will not impair the balance of power and
authority between the Board and the management of the Group
as the non-executive directors form the majority of the Board,
as four out of seven of our directors are independent non-executive
directors. The Board believes the appointment of Dr. Allan
WONG to the posts of Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer
is beneficial to the Group as he has considerable industry
experience.
The Company is not subject to the Combined Code on Corporate
Governance under the Listing Rules of the Financial Services
Authority in the United Kingdom (the "UK Listing Rules")
that applies to United Kingdom incorporated companies.
Model Codes of Securities Transactions
The Company has adopted the Model Codes as set out in Appendix
10 to the Listing Rules and Annex 1 to Rule 9 of the UK Listing
Rules regarding securities transactions by directors and senior
management in relation to the accounting period covered by
the Annual Report. After specific enquiry, all directors of
the Company confirmed that they have complied with the required
standard of dealings set out therein throughout the year ended
31st March 2008.
Board of Directors
The Board currently comprises three executive directors and
four independent non-executive directors. The non-executive
directors are high calibre executives with diversified industry
expertise and bring a wide range of skills and experience
to the Group. They bring to the Company independent judgement
on issues of strategy, performance, risk and people through
their contribution at Board meetings. The Board considers
that four non-executive directors, being the majority of the
Board, are independent in character and judgement and they
also meet the independence criteria set out in Rule 3.13 of
the Listing Rules. All non-executive directors are appointed
for a specific term of three years and all directors are required
to submit themselves for
re-election at least once every three years under the Company's
Byelaws. In accordance with the Company's Byelaws, each new
director appointed by the Board shall hold office until the
next following annual general meeting and thereafter the directors
will be subject to retirement by rotation.
The Board has received from each independent non-executive
director a written annual confirmation of independence pursuant
to Rule 3.13 of the Listing Rules.
The Board's focus is on the formulation of business strategy
and policy, and control. Matters reserved for the Board are
those affecting the Company's overall strategic policies,
finances and shareholders. These include: preliminary announcements
of interim and final results, dividend policy, the annual
budgets, major corporate activities such as material acquisitions
and disposals, and connected transactions.
Four Board meetings at approximately quarterly interval are
scheduled for 2008/09 with other meetings are held as required.
All Directors have access to the advice and services of the
Company Secretary and independent professional advice may
be taken by the Directors as required.
Board Committees
The Board has established four committees with specific responsibilities
as described below.
Remuneration Committee
The Remuneration Committee is chaired by Mr. Michael TIEN
Puk Sun with Dr. Raymond CH'IEN Kuo Fung and Dr. William FUNG
Kwok Lun as members, all of whom are independent non-executive
directors. It is responsible for reviewing and recommending
all elements of the executive directors and senior management
remuneration. The fees of the non-executive directors are
determined by the Board.
The Remuneration Committee met twice during the year. The
Committee discussed and reviewed the remuneration packages
of all executive directors and the granting of share options
to the executive directors and senior management.
Terms
of Reference
Nomination Committee
The Nomination Committee is chaired by Dr. William FUNG Kwok
Lun with Dr. Raymond CH'IEN Kuo Fung, Mr. Michael TIEN Puk
Sun, Dr. Patrick WANG Shui Chung and Dr. Allan WONG Chi Yun
as members. The majority of the members of the Nomination
Committee are independent non-executive directors. It is responsible
for reviewing the Board composition and identifying and nominating
candidates for appointment to the Board such that it has the
required blend of skills, knowledge and experience.
The Nomination Committee met once during the year and considered
the appointment of two executive directors during the year.
Terms
of Reference
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee is chaired by Dr. Raymond CH'IEN Kuo Fung
with Dr. William FUNG Kwok Lun and Mr. Michael TIEN Puk Sun
as members, all of whom are independent non-executive directors.
It has been established to assist the Board in fulfilling
its oversight responsibilities for financial reporting, risk
management and evaluation of internal controls and auditing
processes. It also ensures that the Group complies with all
applicable laws and regulations.
Dr. Raymond CH'IEN is the Chairman of the Audit Committee
and has the appropriate financial management expertise as
required under the Listing Rules. The Audit Committee held
two meetings during the year. It reviewed the work done by
internal and external auditors, the relevant fees and terms,
reports from external auditors in relation to the interim
and annual financial statements, and receives regular reports
from the internal audit functions in accordance with the Committee's
term of reference. The meetings were attended by the Chairman,
Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Financial Officer and external
auditors.
Terms
of Reference
Risk Management Committee
The Risk Management Committee, comprising the executive directors,
held two meetings during the year to review the Group's risk
management and internal control systems.
Internal Controls
The Directors have the overall responsibility for internal
control, including risk management, and sets appropriate policies
having regard to the objectives of the Group. The Directors,
through the Audit Committee, have conducted an annual review
of the effectiveness of the Group's system of financial and
non-financial controls. The system of internal control is
designed to manage rather than eliminate the risk of failure
to achieve business objectives and can only provide reasonable
and not absolute assurance against material misstatement or
loss. Controls are monitored by management review and by a
programme of internal audits.
The Audit Committee reviews the effectiveness of the internal
control environment of the Group. The Internal Audit Department
carries out annual risk assessment on each audit area and
derives an annual audit plan according to their risk rankings.
The audit plan is reviewed and agreed by the Audit Committee.
In addition to the agreed schedule of work, the Internal Audit
Department conducts other review and investigative work as
may be required. The Audit Committee receives summary reports
from the internal and external auditors periodically. The
results of internal audit reviews and responses to the recommended
corrective actions are reported to the executive directors
and Audit Committee. The Internal Audit Department is also
responsible for following up the corrective actions to ensure
that satisfactory controls are maintained. The Audit Committee
considered that the key areas of the corrective action were
reasonably implemented.
The Group has put in place an organisational structure with
formal defined lines of responsibility and delegation of authority.
There are also established procedures for planning and budgeting,
capital expenditure, treasury transactions, information and
reporting systems, and for monitoring the Group's businesses
and performance.
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