TSMC Annual Report >  2015 >  Corporate Governance > Taiwan Corporate Governance Implementation as Required by Taiwan Financial Supervisory Commission

Taiwan Corporate Governance Implementation as Required by Taiwan Financial Supervisory Commission

Assessment Item

Implementation Status

Non-implementation
and Its Reason(s)

Yes

No

Explanation

1.

Does Company follow “Taiwan Corporate Governance Implementation” to establish and disclose its corporate governance practices?

 

V

TSMC has always followed excellent corporate governance practices, provided the utmost in operational transparency and safeguarded shareholders’ equity. Although the Company does not have a formal code of practice for corporate governance, however TSMC has always been highly regarded as the industry leader in implementing comprehensive corporate governance practices. In addition, the Company also has a world-class Board of Directors. The Company believes that corporate governance is based on integrity. TSMC has been proving its excellent corporate governance in its operating performance and continued winning of domestic and international awards on best corporate governance company.

Same as explanation

2. Shareholding Structure & Shareholders’ Rights

(1)

Does Company have Internal Operation Procedures for handling shareholders’ suggestions, concerns, disputes and litigation matters. If yes, has these procedures been implemented accordingly?

 

 

 

(2)

Does Company possess a list of major shareholders and beneficialowners of these major shareholders?

 

 

(3)

Has the Company built and executed a risk management system and “firewall”between the Company and its affiliates?

 

 

(4)

Has the Company established internal rules prohibiting insider trading on undisclosed information?

 

V

 

 

 

 

 

 

V

 

 

 

V

 

 

 

V

 

(1)

TSMC has designated appropriate departments, such as Corporate Communication Division, the SEC Compliance Department, Legal Department, etc., to handle shareholder suggestions, concerns, disputes or litigation matters.

 

 

(2)

TSMC tracks the shareholdings of directors, officers,and shareholders holding more than 10% of the outstanding shares of TSMC.

 

 

(3)

TSMC has set up internal rules in the Company’s Internal Control System and AffiliatedCorporations Management.

 

 

(4)

TSMC has established its “Insider Trading policy” that applies to all employees, officersand members of the Board of Directors of the Company and to any other person having a duty of trust or confidence,with respect to transactions in the Company’s securities. This policy prohibits any insider trading and the Company regularly provides internal training on this issue.

None

3. Composition and Responsibilities of the Board
of Directors

(1)

Has the Company established a diversificationpolicy for the composition of its Board of Directors and has it been implemented accordingly?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2)

Other than the Compensation Committee and the Audit Committee which are required by law, does the Company plan to set up other Board committees?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(3)

Has the Company established methodology for evaluating the performance of its Board of Directors, on an annual basis?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(4)

Does the Company regularly evaluate its external auditors’ independence?

 

 

V

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

V

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

V

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

V

 

 

 

(1)

The members of TSMC Board of Directors are nominated via a rigorous selection process. It not only considers professional competence, but also attaches great importance to his/her personal reputation on ethics and leadership. Presently, the Company’s Board of Directors consists of eight members who possesses world-class managerial and/or academic experiences. We rely on each directors’ knowledge, personal insight and business judgment. One female director currently sits on the Board of Director, and a majority of our Board consists of independent directors.

 

 

(2)

All important resolutions are decided by the Board of Directors of the Company. TSMC founded its audit committee and compensation committee in 2002 and 2003 respectively, and the members of these committees are all independent directors. In addition, the Company has a Corporate Social Responsibility Committee which is formed by the Company’s management team and it reports to the Board of Directors.

 

 

(3)

As TSMC’s corporate governance concept, the Board of Director’s primary responsibility is to supervise, provide guidance and evaluate the management’s performance and to dismiss officersof the Company when necessary. TSMC’s Board of Directors consists of distinguished members with a great breadth of experience as world-class business leaders or scholars and adhere high ethical standards and commitment to the Company. Each quarter’s Board Meeting is last for two days. Company’s resolutions are determined in board meeting, also business strategy and future orientation are discussed in the meeting, in order to create best interest for shareholders. Based on TSMC’s operating performance and local/international awards of best corporate governance, it certainly proves the Company’s excellent performance of Board of Directors. Also, TSMC’s audit committee performs self evaluation and discusses future issues of concern by questionnaire on annual basis.

 

 

(4)

The Audit Committee annually evaluates the independence of external auditors and reports the same to the Board of Directors.

None

4.

Has the Company established a means of communicating with its Stakeholders or created a Stakeholders Section on its Company website?
Does the Company respond to stakeholders’ questions on corporate responsibilities?

 

V

 

Depending on the situation, the Company’s Corporate Communication Division and SEC Compliance department will communicate with stakeholders. We also have publicly disclosed the contact information of our corporate spokesperson and relevant departments. Also, we have a stakeholder section on our corporate website to address our corporate social responsibilities and any other issues.

None

5.

Has the Company appointed a professional registrar for its Shareholders’ Meetings?

 

V

 

We have appointed China Trust as our registrar for our Shareholders’ Meetings.

None

6. Information Disclosure

 

(1)

Has the Company established a corporate website to disclose information regarding its financials,business and corporate governance status?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2)

Does the Company use other information disclosure channels (e.g. maintaining an English-language website, designating staff to handle information collection and disclosure, appointing spokespersons, webcasting investors conference etc.)?

 

 

V

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

V

 

We have appointed China Trust as our registrar for our Shareholders’ Meetings.

(1)

TSMC discloses its financials,business and corporate governance status on its website at http://www.tsmc.com (in Chinese and English). TSMC’s American Depositary Receipt (ADR) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). As a foreign issuer, TSMC must comply with NYSE’s rules. We have been operating in accordance with NYSE listing standards, and have been disclosing the major differences between our corporate governance practices and U.S. corporate governance practices. Please see http://www.tsmc.com/download/english/
e03_governance/NYSE_Section_303A.pdf

 

 

(2)

TSMC has designated appropriate departments (e.g. the Corporate Communication Division, the SEC Compliance Department, etc.) to handle the collection and disclosure of information as required by the relevant laws and regulations of Taiwan and other jurisdictions.
TSMC has designated spokespersons as required by relevant regulations.
TSMC webcasts live investor conferences.

None

7.

Has the Company disclosed other information to facilitate a better understanding of its corporate governance practices (e.g. including but not limited to employee rights, employee wellness, investor relations, supplier relations, rights of stakeholders, directors’ training records, the implementation of risk management policies and risk evaluation measures, the implementation of customer relations policies, and purchasing insurance for directors)?

 

V

 

(1)

For employee rights and employee wellness, please refer to “Employees” of this Annual Report.

 

(2)

For investor relations, supplier relations and rights of stakeholders, please refer to “Corporate Social Responsibility” of this Annual Report.

 

 

(3)

For Directors' training records, please refer to “Continuing Education/Training of Directors” of this Annual Report.

 

 

(3)

For Risk Management Policies and Risk Evaluation, please refer to “Risk Management” of this Annual Report.

 

 

(5)

For Customer Relations Policies, please refer to “Customer Trust” of this Annual Report.

 

 

(6)

TSMC maintains D&O Insurance for its directors and officers.

 

None

8.

Does the Company perform any self evaluations on its corporate governance practices or appointed any third party to do so? (If yes, please disclose the Board of Director’s view on the results of such evaluation).

 

V

 

In January 2015, we conducted the self-evaluation through the corporate governance evaluation system which was developed by the TWSE Corporate Governance Center and was ranked top 5% companies.

 

In addition, TSMC received recognitions for achievements in innovation, business information disclosure, sustainability, investor relations and overall excellence in management from organizations including Barron’s, FinanceAsia, Fortune Magazine, Institutional Investor, IR Magazine, GlobalViews Magazine, CommonWealth Magazine, RobecoSAM and the Taiwan Stock Exchange. The IEEE Spectrum Magazine gave TSMC the highest score in its 2015 Patent Power Scorecard in the semiconductor manufacturing sector. For the third consecutive year, TSMC was named Semiconductor and Semiconductor Equipment Industry Group Leader by the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices.

None

Continuing Education/Training of Directors in 2015

Name

Date

Host by

Training/Speech Title

Duration

Morris Chang (Note)

05/30

National Taiwan University

Speech: Thoughts on Innovation in Higher Education

1 hour

06/05

Bank of Taiwan

Speech: World’s Semiconductor Industry Status and
Outlook (Executives Lecture)

1 hour

10/17

EMBA, National Taiwan University

Speech: My Management Experience and Philosophy

1 hour

F.C. Tseng

05/08

Securities and Futures Institute Pr

Practices on how to conduct effective social
responsibility reporting

3 hours

06/17

Taiwan Corporate Governance
Association

Long-term incentive compensation application trends
and design considerations

3 hours

Stan Shih (Note)

01/13

Cloud Services Measurement
Initiative Consortium (CSMIC)

Speech: The New Economics under the Moving Wave

2 hours

03/23

Yuanta Securities Co., Ltd.

Securities Regulations Learning

3 hours

04/13

China Productivity Center

Speech: Wangdao Management Philosophy

1 hour

05/08

Wangdao Management Philosophy
Forum

Speech: Wangdao and Competition

3.5 hours

08/13

Taiwan Corporate Governance
Association

The Game Theory of Reborn of Taiwan Enterprises

3 hours

Johnsee Lee

08/14

Economic Development Bureau,
Tainan City Government
Monte Jade Science and Technology
Association of Taiwan

2015 Global Green Business Opportunities and
Trends Seminar

4 hours

08/27

Securities and Futures Institute

Forum for Directors of Public Companies – Corporate
Integrity Risk Control and Social Responsibility New
World Forum

3 hours

12/02

Asian Venture Capital Journal (AVCJ)

Private Equity and Venture Capital Forum – Taiwan
2015

8 hours 45 min

Morris Chang
F. C. Tseng
Sir Peter Leahy Bonfield
Stan Shih
Thomas J. Engibous
Kok-Choo Chen
Michael R. Splinter
Johnsee Lee

08/11

TSMC

“The Outlook for Taiwan’s 2016 Presidential and
Legislative Elections”
by Dr. Chi SU, Chairman of Taipei Forum

1 hour

  • From time to time, TSMC provides directors with information concerning regulatory requirements and developments as related to directors’ ctivities. TSMC management also regularly presents updates on the Company’s business and other information to directors.
  • Regular regulatory update reports are provided by TSMC’s General Counsel and by the Company’s independent auditors at the Audit Committee meetings such as:
    • - Conflict-freeMinerals
    • - U.S. SEC Rules update

Note:

Selected speeches on corporate governance and related topics.

Continuing Education/Training of Management in 2015

Name/Title

Date

Host by

Training

Duration

Lora Ho
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer and Spokesperson

05/08

Securities and
Futures Institute

How Corporations conduct better social
responsibility and reporting practices

3 hours

08/06

Taiwan Corporate
Governance Association

Directors and Supervisors’ Civil and Criminal
Responsibilities and Case Studies

3 hours

08/07

Securities and Futures
Institute

Legal Liability of Directors and Supervisors
arising in Mergers and Acquisitions

3 hours

Sylvia Fang
Vice President and General Counsel

05/29

Nationla Chung Hsing
University

Legal Challenges and Uncertainties Facing
A Global High-tech Company

2 hours

06/15

CAIL Systems Inc.

Data Privacy & Data Security: What is most
likely to bring a company’s business to a halt

16 hours

09/04

Lee and Li, Attorneys at
Law

Symposia for the 50th Anniversary
- Opportunities and Challenges for Corporate
Mergers in the Era of Globalization

2 hours

09/23

Intellectual Property
Officeand State Intellectual
Property Officeof P.R.C

2015 Patent Cross-Strait Forum
Patent Litigation Strategies and Management
Forum
- Experience sharing: Strategies and
Management of TSMC’s Transnational Patent
Portfolios and US Patent litigations

3 hours

Jessica Chou
Director, Accounting Division

11/27

Accounting Research and
Development Foundation

The annual professional development training
for principal accounting officer

6 hours

11/30

6 hours

John Liang
Director, Internal Audit Division

11/6

Accounting Research and
Development Foundation

Auditing and Case Study on Regulation
Management

6 hours

12/9

The Institute of Internal Auditors

Case Sharing of Procurement Auditing

6 hours

In addition, various training programs and speech presentations were also provided by TSMC’s Legal Organization for Management and the relevant divisions, such as:

  • Anti-bribery/corruption
  • Antitrust (unfair competition)
  • Environmental, Safety and Health (ESH)
  • Insider Trading
  • Intellectual Property Protection
  • Privacy Protection
  • Export Control Enhancement