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Governance

The Board of Eu Yan Sang International Limited (“the Board”) is committed to maintaining a high standard of corporate governance to ensure greater transparency and to protect the interest of the Company’s shareholders.

This report describes the corporate governance principles applied by the Company with specific reference to the Code of Corporate Governance (“the Code”).

Click here to download a copy of the details as extracted from our 2009 annual report.


Principle 1

PRINCIPLE 1: BOARD’S CONDUCT OF AFFAIRS

The principal functions of the Board are:

  1. to provide entrepreneurial leadership and approve the broad policies, strategies and financial objectives of the Company and monitor the performance of the Management;
  2. to ensure that necessary financial and human resources are in place for the Company to meet its objectives;
  3. to oversee the processes for evaluating the adequacy of internal controls, financial reporting and compliance;
  4. to approve the appointment of directors to the Board and the appointment of key personnel;
  5. to approve annual budgets, major funding proposals, investment and divestment proposals;
  6. to assume responsibility for corporate governance; and
  7. to set the Company’s values and standards, and ensure that obligations to shareholders and others are understood and met.

Matters which are specifically referred to the Board for decision are those involving approval of accounts and results announcements, dividend payments or other returns to shareholders, corporate or financial restructuring and share issuance, material acquisitions and disposal of assets.

The Board conducts regularly scheduled meetings on a quarterly basis. Ad-hoc meetings are convened when circumstances require. The Company’s Articles of Association provide for meetings by means of teleconference. The attendance of the directors at meetings of the Board and Board committees, and the frequency of these meetings for the financial year ended 30 June 2009 is disclosed as follows.

Directors’ Attendance at Board & Committee Meetings
Name Eu Yan Sang Board Audit Committee Compensation Committee Nominating Committee Strategic Direction Committee
No of Mtgs HeldNo of Mtgs Atten’d No of Mtgs HeldNo of Mtgs Attn’d No of Mtgs HeldNo of Mtgs Attn’d No of Mtgs HeldNo of Mtgs Attn’d No of Mtgs HeldNo of Mtgs Attn’d
Richard Yee Ming Eu 4 4 - - - - - - - -
Clifford Yee Fong Eu 4 4 - - - - - - - -
Dr Jennifer Gek Choo Lee 4 4 4 4 2 2 1 1 5 5
Ian Wayne Spence 4 4 4 4 2 2 1 1 - -
Robert James Yee Sang Eu 4 4 - - 2 2 - - 5 5
Malcolm Man Chung Au 4 4 4 4 - - 1 1 5 5
Leslie Kim Loong Mah 4 4 - - - - - - - -

The Company provides facilities such as the conduct of internal courses for the directors to meet their training needs. Directors are also provided regular update, briefing from time to time by professional advisors, auditors and management on new laws, rules, regulations, listing requirements, governance practices, changes in accounting standards and business and risk management issues applicable or relevant to the performance of their duties and responsibilities as Directors. A new director is given orientation on the Group’s businesses. The Company adopts a policy whereby directors are encouraged to request for further explanations, briefings or informal discussions on the Company’s operations or business with the Management.

2

PRINCIPLE 2: BOARD COMPOSITION AND GUIDANCE

The Board currently has seven (7) directors, comprising three (3) independent directors, two (2) non-independent and non-executive directors and two (2) executive directors. The profile of Directors are provided under the Board of Directors section.

The Board comprises directors who as a group provide core competencies such as accounting or finance, business or management experience, industry knowledge and strategic planning experience. This enables the Board to interact and work with Management through an open exchange of ideas and views to help shape the strategic process. To assist in the execution of its responsibilities and to comply with the requirements, the Board has established sub-committees: an Audit Committee, a Nominating Committee, a Strategic Direction Committee and a Compensation Committee, under which the Executives’ Share Option Scheme Committee functions as a sub-committee. These committees function within clearly defined terms of reference and operating procedures, which are reviewed on a regular basis. The effectiveness of each committee is also constantly monitored.

The Board’s structure, size and composition is reviewed annually by the Nominating Committee (“NC”). The NC is of the view that the current size of the Board is appropriate to facilitate effective decision making, taking into account the nature and scope of the Group’s operations. As more than 1/3rd of the Board is independent, the NC is satisfied that the Board has substantial independent elements to ensure that objective judgment is exercised on corporate affairs.

3

PRINCIPLE 3: ROLE OF CHAIRMAN AND GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

The Company has a non-executive director serving as Chairman and an executive director serving as Group CEO. The Group CEO is the most senior executive in the Company and bears executive responsibility for the Company’s business, while the Chairman bears responsibility for the workings of the Board. The Chairman and the Group CEO are not related, and the responsibilities of the Chairman and the Group CEO are clearly defined.

The Chairman schedules board meetings and sets board agenda in consultation with the Group CEO . The Chairman reviews most board papers before they are submitted to the Board and ensures that all Board members are provided with complete, adequate and timely information. As a rule, board papers are sent to directors approximately seven days in advance for directors to be adequately prepared for the meetings.

The Group CEO supported by the Chief Operating Officer (“COO ”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) executes decisions taken by the Board and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Company. The CEO presides over a Management Committee (“MC”) consisting of the executive directors, COO , CFO and Group General Managers. In setting the business direction of the Company, the MC convenes meetings as and when necessary to review the Group’s operational performance and evaluate new projects and investment opportunities. In line with good corporate governance principles, the Board had also set up a Strategic Direction Committee, comprising two (2) non-executive independent directors and one (1) non-executive non-independent director. The primary role of this committee is to assist the CEO in setting the direction of the Group’s business as it has gone beyond the region to join the league of global business.

4 , 5

PRINCIPLE 4: BOARD MEMBERSHIP
PRINCIPLE 5: BOARD PERFORMANCE
Nominating Committee

The members of the Nominating Committee (“NC”) are as follows:

  1. Ian Wayne Spence (Chairman) (Independent)
  2. Dr Jennifer Gek Choo Lee (Independent)
  3. Malcolm Man Chung Au (Independent)

The Chairman is not, or is not directly associated with, a substantial shareholder.

The NC’s principal functions are:

  1. to identify candidates and review all nominations for the appointment or re-appointment of members of the Board of Directors; the Chief Executive Officer of the Company; senior executive staff; members of the various Board committees, for the purpose of proposing such nominations to the Board for its approval;
  2. to set criteria for identifying candidates and reviewing nominations for the appointments referred to in paragraph 1;
  3. to determine annually the independence of the directors. If the NC determines that a director is independent, notwithstanding that he has one or more of the relationships (as set forth in Guidance Note 2.1 of the Code), it will disclose in full the nature of the director’s relationship and bear responsibility for considering him independent;
  4. to decide how the Board’s performance may be evaluated and propose objective performance criteria for the Board’s approval;
  5. to decide whether a director is able to and has been adequately carrying out his or her duties as a director of the Company particularly when the director has multiple board representations;
  6. to assess annually the effectiveness of the Board as a whole, and the contribution by each individual director to the effectiveness to the Board which enables the NC to identify areas for future improvement to the Board’s effectiveness and recommendations are made to the Board for consideration;
  7. to oversee the management, development and succession planning of the Group.

New directors are at present appointed by the Board, after the NC approves their appointment. Such new directors are required to submit themselves for re-election at the next Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) of the Company pursuant to Article 92 of the Company’s Articles of Association. Article 109 of the Articles of Association require one third of the Board (other than the Managing Director) to retire by rotation at every AGM.

6

PRINCIPLE 6: ACCESS TO INFORMATION

Directors are provided with background and other relevant information to support decision making. Management provides the Board with monthly financial reports and quarterly management reports. The directors have also been provided with email particulars and telephone numbers of the Company’s Group General Managers to facilitate access.

The Company Secretary attends all board meetings and is responsible for ensuring that the Company complies with the statutory requirements of the Companies Act. Together with the management staff, the Company Secretary is responsible for compliance with all other rules and regulations that are applicable to the Company.

In the furtherance of their duties, the directors may seek independent advice, if necessary, at the Company’s expense.

Changes to regulations and accounting standards are closely monitored by Management. Directors are briefed either during Board meetings or by the Company Secretary of these changes especially where these changes have an important bearing on the Company’s or directors’ disclosure obligations.

7 , 8 , 9

PRINCIPLE 7: PROCEDURES FOR DEVELOPING REMUNERATION POLICIES
PRINCIPLE 8: LEVEL AND MIX OF REMUNERATION
PRINCIPLE 9: DISCLOSURE ON REMUNERATION

The members of the Compensation Committee (“CC”) are as follows:

  1. Dr Jennifer Gek Choo Lee (Chairman) (Independent)
  2. Ian Wayne Spence (Independent)
  3. Robert James Yee Sang Eu (Independent)

CC’s principal responsibilities are to review the annual remuneration package of the executive directors and fees for Board members. The review covers all aspects of remuneration, including but not limited to directors’ fees, salaries, bonuses and benefits in kind based on the performance of the Group and the individual. The recommendations are submitted to the Board for endorsement.

The review of the remuneration of each senior management staff of the Group is not conducted by the CC but reviewed by the Group’s human resources department, in consultation with the CEO and the senior management. The review takes into consideration the performance and the contributions of the staff to the Company and gives due regard to the financial and business performance of that company. The Group seeks to offer a competitive level of remuneration to attract, motivate and retain senior management of the required competency to run the Group successfully.

The Company adopts a remuneration policy that comprises a fixed as well as a variable component. The fixed component is in a form of base salary and benefits while the variable component is in a form of performance bonus and grant of shares and share options under the Company’s Employees’ Share Option Scheme (“ESOS”) and Performance Share Plan (“PSP”).

A sub-committee under the purview of the CC administers the ESOS and PSP and comprises:

  1. Dr Jennifer Gek Choo Lee
  2. Ian Wayne Spence
  3. Robert James Yee Sang Eu
  4. Richard Yee Ming Eu

More details on the ESOS and PSP are provided in the Directors’ Report.

An executive director is paid a basic salary and a performance related bonus. Adjustments to the remuneration package of an executive director are subject to review and approval by the Board of Directors. Under the terms of the agreement, the Chairman is paid a flat fee and there is no performance-related element. Non-executive directors have no service contracts.

  1. Table shows breakdown of Directors’ Remuneration (in percentage terms)

    Name of Directors Renumeration Bands $ Salary % Bonus % Directors Fee % Other Benefits* % Total %
    Richard Yee Ming Eu 500,000 to 749,999 90 7 - 3 100
    Leslie Kim Loong Mah** 500,000 to 749,999 43 4 - 53 100
    Clifford Yee Fong Eu 250,000 to 499,999 87 7 - 6 100
    Robert James Yee Sang Eu 0 to 249,999 - - 100 - 100
    Dr Jennifer Gek Choo Lee 0 to 249,999 - - 100 - 100
    Ian Wayne Spence 0 to 249,999 - - 100 - 100
    Malcolm Man Chung Au 0 to 249,999 - - 100 - 100
    * excluding share options which are disclosed in Directors’ Report
    ** Leslie Kim Loong Mah became a Non-Executive Director on 1 July 2009.

  2. Table shows the range of gross remuneration received by executives of the Group

    Number of executives of the Group in remuneration bands 2009
    $250,000 to $499,999 3
    Below $250,000 16
    Total 19

  3. No employee of the Company and its subsidiaries was an immediate family member of a Director or the CEO of the Company and whose remuneration exceeded S$150,000 during the financial year ended 30 June 2009.

10 , 14 , 15

PRINCIPLE 10: ACCOUNTABILITY
PRINCIPLE 14: COMMUNICATION WITH SHAREHOLDERS
PRINCIPLE 15: GREATER SHAREHOLDER PARTICIPATION

The Company holds briefings for the media and the analysts on its half-year and its full-year results. The results announcements are released through the SGXNET system and via news releases, and are also posted on the Company’s website. All material information relating to the Company is disseminated via SGXNET followed by a news release. All announcements, including the Annual Report, are available on the Group’s website at www.euyansang.com.

The Company has an investor relations team headed by the Chief Executive Officer and assisted by the Chief Financial Officer whose function is to communicate with investors and attend to their queries. Shareholders of the Company receive the annual report and notice of AGM. At AGMs, shareholders are given the opportunity to ask the Management questions regarding the Company and to air their views.

11

PRINCIPLE 11: AUDIT COMMITTEE

The Audit Committee (“AC”) comprises three (3) independent directors. They are as follows:

  1. Ian Wayne Spence (Chairman) (Independent)
  2. Dr Jennifer Gek Choo Lee (Independent)
  3. Malcolm Man Chung Au (Independent)

During the year, the AC met with the Group’s external auditors and the internal auditors to review the audit plans and the reports of the external auditors and internal auditors. It had also evaluated the adequacy of the internal controls of the Company with the auditors and discussed their findings with the Management. The AC reviewed the quarterly (Q1, Q2 & Q3), half-year and full-year results announcements before their submission to the Board for approval.

The principal functions of the AC are:

  1. to review the audit plans and findings of the external auditors;
  2. to review the quarterly (Q1, Q2 & Q3), half-yearly and full year results announcement to ensure integrity of the financial statements and announcements prior to submission to the Board for approval and release;
  3. to evaluate the adequacy of the internal control systems of the Company by reviewing the written reports from the external auditors;
  4. to review the Company’s risk management processes;
  5. to review related party transactions, if any;
  6. to review the scope and results of the audit and its cost effectiveness, and the independence and objectivity of the external auditors annually; and
  7. to recommend to the Board on the appointment, re-appointment and removal of the external auditor and approving the remuneration and terms of engagement of the external auditor.

To create an environment for open discussion on audit matters, the AC meets with the external and internal auditors, without the presence of Management, at least once a year.

Management has put in place a Whistle Blowing Policy, whereby employees of the group may, in confidence, raise concerns about possible improprieties in matters of financial reporting or other matters. The objective for such arrangement is to ensure independent investigation of such matters and for appropriate follow up action.

The AC has reviewed the non-audit services provided by the external auditors for FY2008 and is satisfied that such services would not affect the independence of the external auditors. Accordingly, it has recommended the re-appointment of Messrs Ernst & Young LLP as Auditors of the Company at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.

The AC is authorized to investigate any matter within its terms of reference and has been given full access to and cooperation from Management to enable the committee to fulfill its responsibilities effectively. The AC has full discretion to invite any director or any executive to attend its meetings.

12 , 13

PRINCIPLE 12: INTERNAL CONTROLS
PRINCIPLE 13: INTERNAL AUDITS

The Company has outsourced its Internal Audit (“IA”) function. The scope of the internal audit is:

  1. to review the effectiveness of the Group’s material internal controls;
  2. to provide assurance that key business and operational risks are identified and managed;
  3. to determine that internal controls are in place and functioning as intended; and
  4. evaluate that operations are conducted in an effective and efficient manner.

Material non-compliance and internal control weaknesses noted during the internal audit and the recommendations thereof are reported to the Chairman of the AC as part of the review of the Group’s internal control system. For non-compliance of administrative matters, the matter is reported to the CEO. The AC reviews the Internal Auditor’s reports. To ensure the effectiveness and adequacy of the internal audit function, the AC reviews the Internal Auditor’s scope of work on an annual basis.

Securities Transactions

The Company has issued a policy on securities dealing by officers of the Company and its subsidiaries (comprising directors and key personnel) in the form of a Code of Best Practices on Securities Dealings (the “Code”) to govern and regulate transactions relating to securities of the Company. The Code was based on the best practices on dealings in securities issued by the SGX-ST and has been circulated to all relevant parties.

Under the Code, officers are prohibited from dealing in securities of the Company on short term considerations and during the period commencing two (2) weeks before the announcement of the Company’s financial statements for each of the first three quarters of its financial year and one month before the announcement of the Company’s full year financial statements.

Material Contracts

There were no material contracts of the Company or its subsidiaries involving the interests of any directors or controlling shareholders subsisting as at the financial year ended 30 June 2009.

 
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The word 'Yan' means 'kind, benevolent or humane', while 'Sang' means 'birth, life, livelihood or living'. Put together, the phrase 'Yan Sang' means 'caring for mankind'.
Region Retail Clinic
China 3 -
Hong Kong 45 2
Macau 2 -
Malaysia 67 3
Singapore 40 17

157 22

(Updated as at January 31, 2010)