| VTech Holdings Limited is incorporated in Bermuda. The Company
has its primary share listing on The Stock Exchange of Hong
Kong Limited 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. Throughout the year ended 31st
March 2007, 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. Mr. 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 of which four out
of seven are independent. The Board believes the appointment
of Mr. 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 that applies to United Kingdom
incorporated companies.
Director' Securities Transactions
The Company has adopted the Model Codes as set out in Appendix
10 of 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. All Directors confirmed, following specific
enquiry by the Company, that they have fully complied with
the required standard of dealings set out therein throughout
the year ended 31st March 2007.
Board of Directors
The Board 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 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, 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 and major corporate activities such as material acquisitions
and disposals, and connected transaction.
Four Board meetings at approximately quarterly interval are
scheduled for 2007/08 with other meetings as necessary to
deal with urgent matters. 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 Mr. Raymond CH'IEN Kuo Fung and
Mr. 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 once during the year and reviewed
the Group's remuneration policy and the remuneration package
of the executive directors and senior management.
Terms
of Reference
Nomination Committee
The Nomination Committee is chaired by Mr. William FUNG Kwok
Lun with Mr. Patrick WANG Shui Chung and Mr. Allan WONG Chi
Yun as members. Mr. Raymond CH'IEN Kuo Fung and Mr. Michael
TIEN Puk Sun were appointed as additional committee members
in April 2007. 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 in April 2007 and considered
the appointments of Mr. Edwin YING Lin Kwan and Mr. PANG King
Fai to the Board as executive directors.
Terms
of Reference
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee, comprising three independent non-executive
directors, is chaired by Mr. Raymond CH'IEN Kuo Fung with
Mr. William FUNG Kwok Lun and Mr. Michael TIEN Puk Sun as
members. 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.
Mr. Raymond CH'IEN Kuo Fung 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 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
terms 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 investigate work as maybe
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 and 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, capital
expenditure, treasury transactions, information and reporting
systems, and for monitoring the Group's businesses and performance.
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