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Latvijas Gaze

AGM Information May 27, 2010

2233_rns_2010-05-27_e500f225-0e86-49ba-8781-64661dee1bcf.pdf

AGM Information

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APPROVED

at the Board meeting of the Joint Stock Company "Latvijas Gāze" on April 29, 2010, minutes No.15 (2010)

Report on observance of corporate governance

principles for the year 2009

Commentary of the Joint Stock
Company "Latvijas Gāze"
PRINCIPLE (hereinafter – the Company)
SHAREHOLDERS' MEETING
1. Ensuring shareholders' rights and participation at shareholders' meetings
1.1. It shall be important to ensure that all the holders of
shares of one category have also equal rights, including the
right to receive a share of the Issuer's profit as dividends or
in another way in proportion to the number of the shares
owned by them if such right is stipulated for
the shares owned by them.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle. All 39 900 000 shares of
the Joint Stock Company "Latvijas
Gāze" (hereinafter – the Company) give
their holders equal rights, in particular:
rights to receive dividend and
liquidation quota, as well as to vote in a
shareholders' meeting (hereinafter – the
Shareholders' meeting).
1.2. The Issuer shall prepare a policy for the profit
distribution. In the preparation of the policy, it is
recommended to take into account not only the provision of
immediate benefit for the Issuer's shareholders by paying
dividends to them but also the expediency of profit
reinvesting, which would increase the value of the Issuer in
future. It is recommended to discuss the policy of profit
distribution at a shareholders' meeting thus ensuring that as
possibly larger a number of shareholders have the possibility
to acquaint themselves with it and to express their opinion on
it. The information on the policy of profit distribution of the
Issuer shall be included in the Report and published on the
Issuer's website on the Internet.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle. The project of profit
distribution is developed by the Board
of the Company (hereinafter – the
Board), reviewed by the Council of the
Company (hereinafter – the Council)
and approved by the shareholders.
When preparing the project of profit
distribution, the Board takes into
account the long-term investment
program and the financial position of
the Company. Information on the
investment programme in mid-term and
other conditions affecting the profit
distribution can be found in the Annual
report of the Company.
1.3. In order to protect the Issuer's shareholders' interest to a
sufficient extent, not only the Issuers but also any other
persons who in compliance with the procedure stipulated in
legislative acts call, announce and organise a shareholders'
meeting are asked to comply with all the issues referred to in
these Recommendations in relation to calling shareholders'
meetings and provision of shareholders with the required
information.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle.
1.4. Shareholders of the Issuers shall be provided with the
possibility to receive in due time and regularly all the
required information on the relevant Issuer, participate at
meetings and vote on agenda issues. The Issuers shall carry
out all the possible activities to achieve that as many as
possible shareholders participate at meetings; therefore, the
time and place of a meeting should not restrict the attendance
of a meeting by shareholders. Therefore, it should not be
admissible to change the time and place of an announced
shareholders' meeting shortly before the meeting, which thus
would hinder or even make it impossible for shareholders to
attend the meeting.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle. Place and time of
shareholders' meetings is announced
not later than 30 days before the
planned Shareholders' meeting through
all channels provided by the law and
used in good practice. Place and time
does not hinder shareholders from
attending meetings.
1.5. The Issuers shall inform their shareholders on calling a
shareholders' meeting by publishing a notice in compliance
with the procedure and the time limits set forth in legislative
acts. The Issuers are asked to announce the shareholders'
meeting as soon as the decision on calling the shareholders'
meeting has been taken; in particular, this condition applies
to extraordinary shareholders' meetings. The information on
calling a shareholders' meeting shall be published also on the
Issuer's website on the Internet, where it should be published
also at least in one foreign language. It is recommended to
use the English language as the said other language so that
the website could be used also by foreign investors. When
publishing information on calling a shareholders' meeting,
also the initiator of calling the meeting shall be specified.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle. The Company announces
Shareholders' meetings in compliance
with the procedure provided by
legislations. The information is
distributed through all channels
provided by the law and used in good
practice.
1.6. The Issuer shall ensure that comprehensive information
on the course and time of the meeting, the voting on
decisions to be adopted, as well as the agenda and draft
decisions on which it is planned to vote at the meeting is
available in due time to the shareholders. The Issuers shall
also inform the shareholders whom they can address to
receive answers to any questions on the shareholders'
meeting and the agenda issues and ensure that the required
additional information is provided to the shareholders.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle. In the announcement to
shareholders, which is published, firm
and legal address of the Company,
venue, date and time of the
Shareholders' meeting, type of the
Shareholders' meeting, institution
convoking the Shareholders' meeting,
actions to be performed for them to
participate and vote, regulations of the
Articles of Association on participation
of shareholders' representatives at the
Shareholders' meeting, agenda of the
Shareholders' meeting is specified, also
denoting when and at whom
shareholders can get acquainted with
draft resolutions on the issues included
in the agenda as well as others to be
reviewed at the Shareholders' meeting.
1.7. The Issuer shall ensure that at least 14 (fourteen) days
prior to the meeting the shareholders have the possibility to
acquaint themselves with the draft decisions on the issues to
be dealt with at the meeting, including those that have been
submitted additionally already after the announcement on
calling the meeting. The Issuer shall ensure the possibility to
read a complete text of draft decisions, especially if they
apply to voting on amendments to the Issuer's statutes,
election of the Issuer's officials, determination of their
remuneration, division of the Issuer's profit and other issues.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle. In an announcement to
shareholders it is specified when and at
whom shareholders can get acquainted
with draft resolutions on the issues
included in the agenda as well as others
to be reviewed at the Shareholders'
meeting. The information is available
before the meeting.
1.8. In no way may the Issuers restrict the right of
shareholders to nominate representatives of the shareholders
for Supervisory Board elections. The candidates to the
Supervisory Board and candidates to other offices shall be
nominated in due time so that the information on the said
persons would be available to the shareholders to the extent
as stipulated in Clause 1.9 of this Section as minimum 14
(fourteen) days prior to the shareholders' meeting.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle. The Company does not
restrict the shareholders' rights to
nominate shareholders' representatives
for election in the Council. Candidates
of Council members and other officials
are nominated in compliance with the
procedure established by the
Commercial Law and the Articles of
Association of the Company
(hereinafter – Articles of Association).
1.9. Especially, attention should be paid that the shareholders
at least 14 (fourteen) days prior to the shareholders' meeting
have the possibility to acquaint themselves with information
on Supervisory Board member candidates whose approval is
planned at the meeting. When disclosing information on
Supervisory Board member candidates, also a short personal
biography of the candidates shall be published. Since the
nomination of Supervisory Board member candidates has to
be very careful, it is recommended that the Issues disclose
the said information as soon as possible.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle. Candidacies of Council
members and other officials are
nominated in compliance with the
procedure established by the
Commercial Law and the Articles of
Association. The professional
biography of the candidates for Council
membership is published via
information channels available for
interested persons.
1.10. The Issuer may not restrict the right of shareholders to
consult among themselves during a shareholders' meeting if
it is required in order to adopt a decision or to make clear
some issue.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle. The shareholders' rights
to debate and consult among
themselves during the Shareholders'
meeting are not restricted.
1.11. To provide shareholders with comprehensive
information on the course of the shareholders' meeting, the
Issuer shall prepare the regulations on the course of
shareholders' meeting, in which the agenda of shareholders'
meeting and the procedure for solving any organisational
issues connected with the shareholders' meeting (e.g.,
registration of meeting participants, the procedure for the
adoption of decisions on the issues to be dealt with at the
meeting, the Issuer's actions in case any of the issues on the
agenda is not dealt with, if it is impossible to adopt a
decision etc.). The procedures adopted by the Issuer in
relation to participation in voting shall be easy to implement.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle. The course of the
Shareholders' meeting of the Company
is determined by the course regulations
of the meeting. Draft regulations are
developed before the Shareholders'
meeting and approved at the
Shareholders' meeting.
1.12. The Issuer shall ensure that during the shareholders'
meeting the shareholders have the possibility to ask
questions to the candidates to be elected at the shareholders'
meeting and other attending representatives of the Issuer.
The Issuer shall have the right to set reasonable restrictions
on questions, for example, excluding the possibility that one
shareholder uses up the total time provided for asking of
questions and setting a time limit of speeches.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle. Observing the rights of
all shareholders, there is procedure for
asking questions and shareholders'
rights to speak out established in the
course regulations of the Shareholders'
meeting.
1.13. Since, if a long break in a meeting is announced, the
right of shareholders to dispose of freely with their shares is
hindered for an undetermined time period, it shall not be
recommended to announce a break during a shareholders'
meeting. The conditions upon which it is possible to
announce a break shall be stipulated also in the regulations
on the course of meeting. A break of meeting may be a lunch
break, a short break (up to 30 minutes) etc.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle. The Shareholders'
meetings are held without announcing
breaks. In case a break is planned, it
will be included in the course
regulations of the Shareholders'
meeting, approved by the Shareholders'
meeting itself.
1.14. When recording the course and contents of discussions
on the agenda issues to be dealt with at the shareholders'
meeting in the minutes, the chairperson of the meeting shall
ensure that, in case any meeting participant requires it,
particular debates are reflected in the minutes or that
shareholder proposals or questions are appended thereto in
written form.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle. Shareholders' meetings
are minuted observing the norms of the
Commercial Law.
2. Participation of members and member candidates of the Issuer's management institutions at
shareholders' meetings
2.1. The attendance of members of the Issuer's management
institutions and auditor at shareholders' meetings shall be
necessary to ensure information exchange between the
Issuer's shareholders and members of management
institutions as well as to fulfil the right of shareholders to
receive answers from competent persons to the questions
submitted. The attendance of the auditor shall not be
mandatory at shareholders' meetings not discussing the
finances of the Issuer. By using the right to ask questions
shareholders have the possibility to obtain information on the
circumstances that might affect the evaluation of the
financial report and the financial situation of the Issuer.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle. In compliance with the
Commercial Law, the Shareholders'
meeting is attended by the members of
the Board and, if necessary, an auditor.
2.2. Shareholders' meetings shall be attended by the Issuer's
official candidates whose election is planned at the meeting.
This shall in particular apply to Supervisory Board members.
If a Supervisory Board member candidate or auditor
candidate is unable to attend the shareholders' meeting due to
an important reason, then it shall be admissible that this
person does not attend the shareholders' meeting. In this
case, all the substantial information on the candidate shall be
disclosed before the shareholders' meeting.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle. In the cases when a
candidate is unable to attend the
Shareholders' meeting, all the
substantial information on the candidate
is available before the Shareholders'
meeting.
2.3. During shareholders' meetings, the participants must
have the possibility to obtain information on officials or
official candidates who do not attend the meeting and
reasons thereof. The reason of non-attendance should be
entered in the minutes of shareholders' meeting.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle.

MANAGEMENT BOARD

3. Obligations and responsibilities of the Management Board
3.1. The Management Board shall have the obligation to
manage the business of the Issuer, which includes also the
responsibility for the realisation of the objectives and
strategies determined by the Issuer and the responsibility for
the results achieved. The Management Board shall be
responsible for the said to the Supervisory Board and the
shareholders' meeting. In fulfilment of its obligations, the
Management Board shall adopt decisions irrespective of their
personal interests or interests of the shareholders that control
the Issuer and be guided by interests of all the shareholders,
taking into account the common interests of the Issuer and its
associated companies (or affiliates).
The Company ensures observance of
this principle. Obligations, spheres of
responsibility and supervision
authorities (Council and Shareholders'
meeting) are stipulated in the Board
Regulations.
3.2. The powers of the Management Board shall be
stipulated in the Management Board Regulations or a similar
document, which is to be published on the website of the
Issuer on the Internet. This document must be also available
at the registered office of the Issuer.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle. The powers of the Board
are stipulated in the Board Regulations,
which have been developed on the basis
of the Articles of Association and in
compliance with the norms of the
Commercial Law. The Board
Regulations are available at the Office
of the Company.
3.3. The Management Board shall be responsible also for the
compliance with all the binding regulatory acts, risk
management, as well as the financial activity of the Issuer.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle. The Board manages and
controls all affairs of the Company,
represents the Company and manages
the property of the Company in
compliance with normative acts, the
Articles of Association and resolutions
of the Shareholders' meeting.
3.4. The Management Board shall perform certain tasks,
including:
1) corporate strategies, work plan, risk control procedure,
assessment and advancement of annual budget and business
plans, ensuring control on the fulfilment of plans and the
achievement of planned results;
2) selection of senior managers of the Issuer, determination
of their remuneration and control of their work and their
replacement, if necessary, complying with the personnel
policy adopted by the Issuer;
3) timely and qualitative submission of reports, ensuring also
that the internal audits are carried out and the disclosure of
information is controlled.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle. The tasks of the Board
are stipulated in the Board Regulations.
3.5. In annual reports, the Management Board shall confirm
that the internal risk procedures are efficient and that the risk
management and internal control have been carried out in
compliance with the said control procedures throughout the
year.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle.
3.6. It shall be preferable that the Management Board
submits decisions that determine the objectives and strategies
for achievement thereof (participation in other companies,
acquisition or alienation of property, opening of
representation offices or branches, expansion of business etc)
to the Issuer's Supervisory Board for approval.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle. In the Articles of
Association, the range of issues,
requiring consent of the Board for
settlement, is stipulated.
4. Management Board composition and requirements for Management Board members
4.1. In composing the Management Board, it shall be
observed that every Management Board member has
appropriate education and work experience. The Issuer shall
prepare a summary of the requirements to be set for every
Management Board member, which specifies the skills,
education, previous work experience and other selection
criteria for every Management Board member.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle. Board members are
nominated and elected in compliance
with the procedure stipulated in the
Commercial Law.
4.2. On the Issuer's website on the Internet, the following
information on every Issuer's Management Board member
shall be published: name, surname, year of birth, education,
office term, position, description of the last three year's
professional experience, number of the Issuer's or its parent
companies/subsidiaries shares owned by the member,
information on positions in other capital companies.
The Company organizes observance of
this principle, observing the rules of the
Physical entity data protection law.
4.3. In order to fulfil their obligations successfully,
Management Board members must have access in due time
to accurate information on the activity of the Issuer. The
Management Board must have the possibility to provide
objective evaluation on the activity of the Issuer.
Management Board members must have enough time for the
performance of their duties.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle. The members of the
Board are duly provided with all the
necessary information and they have
enough time for fulfilling their
obligations. The members of the Board
fulfil their obligations in compliance to
what has been approved in the Board
Regulations.
4.4. It is not recommended to elect one and the same
Management Board member for more than four successive
terms. The Issuer has to evaluate whether its development
will be facilitated in the result of that and whether it will be
possible to avoid a situation where greater power is
concentrated in hands of one or a number of separate persons
due to their long-term work at the Issuer. If, however, such
election is admitted, it shall be recommended to consider to
change the field of work of the relevant Management Board
member at the Issuer.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle. Election of Board
members complies with the
Commercial Law and the Articles of
Association.
5. Identification of interest conflicts in the work of Management Board members
5.1. It shall be the obligation of every Management Board The Company ensures observance of
member to avoid any, even only supposed, interest conflicts
in his/her work. In taking decisions, Management Board
members shall be guided by the interests of the Issuer and
not use the cooperation offers proposed to the Issuer to
obtain personal benefit.
this principle.
5.2. On the occurrence of any interest conflict or even only The Company ensures observance of
on its possibility, a Management Board member shall notify this principle. The principle is included
other Management Board members without delay. in the Board Regulations.
Management Board members shall notify on any deal or
agreement the Issuer is planning to conclude with a person
who has close relationship or is connected with the
Management Board member in question, as well as inform
on any interest conflicts occurred during the validity period
of concluded agreements.
For the purposes of these recommendations the following
shall be regarded as persons who have close relationship
with a Management Board member: spouses, a relative,
including kinship of second degree or brother-in-law of first
degree, or persons with whom the Management Board
member has had a common household for at least one year.
For the purposes of these recommendations the following
shall be regarded as persons who are connected with a
Management Board member: legal persons where the
Management Board member or a closely related to him/her
person is a Management Board or Supervisory Board
member, performs the tasks of an auditor or holds another
managing office in which he or she could determine or affect
the business strategy of the respective legal entity.
5.3. Management Board members should not participate in The Company ensures observance of
taking decisions that could cause an this principle.
interest conflict.
SUPERVISORY BOARD
6. Obligations and responsibilities of the Supervisory Board
6.1 The functions of the council shall be set forth in the The Company ensures observance of
council regulation or a document equated thereto that this principle. The functions of the
regulates the work of the council, and it shall be published on Council are set forth in the Articles of
the Issuer's website on the Internet. This document shall be Association and the Council regulation.
also available at the Issuer's office. The Council regulation is available at
the Office of the Company.
6.2 The supervision carried out by the council over the work The Company ensures observance of
of the board shall include supervision over the achievement this principle. The Council meetings are
of the objectives set by the Issuer, the corporate strategy and held regularly, in compliance with the
risk management, the process of financial accounting, procedure established by the
board's proposals on the use of the profit of the Issuer, and Commercial Law and the Council
the business performance of the Issuer in compliance with regulation.
the requirements of regulatory acts. The council should
discuss every of the said matters and express its opinion at
least annually, complying with frequency of calling council
meetings as laid down in regulatory acts, and the results of
discussions shall be reflected in the minutes of the council's
meetings.
6.3. The council and every its member shall be responsible
that they have all the information required for them to fulfill
their duties, obtaining it from board members and internal
auditors or, if necessary, from employees of the Issuer or
external consultants. To ensure information exchange, the
council chairperson shall contact the Issuer's board, inter alia
the board chairperson, on a regular basis and discuss all the
most important issues connected with the Issuer's business
and development strategy, business activities, and risk
management.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle. The principle is included
in the Articles of Association.
6.4. When determining the functions of the council, it should
be stipulated that every council member has the obligation to
provide explanations in case the council member is unable to
participate in council meetings. It shall be recommended to
disclose information on the council members who have not
attended more than a half of the council meetings within a
year of reporting, providing also the reasons for non
attendance.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle.
7.1. The Issuer shall require every Supervisory Board The Company ensures observance of
member as well as Supervisory Board member candidate this principle in compliance with the
who is planned to be elected at a shareholders' meeting that Physical entity data protection law. The
they submit to the Issuer the following information: name, information is distributed through all
surname, year of birth, education, office term as a channels provided by the law and used
Supervisory Board member, description of the last three in good practice.
year's professional experience, number of the Issuer's or its
parent companies/subsidiaries shares owned by the member,
information on positions in other capital companies. The said
information shall be published also on the Issuer's website
on the Internet, providing, in addition to the said information,
also the term of office for which the Supervisory Board
member is elected, its position, including also additional
positions and obligations, if any.
7.2. When determining the requirements for Supervisory The Company ensures observance of
Board members as regards the number of additional this principle. Requirements for the
positions, attention shall be paid that a Supervisory Board Council members and candidates are
member has enough time to perform his or her duties in determined in compliance with the
order to fulfil their duties successfully and act in the Commercial Law and the Articles of
interests of the Issuer to a full extent. Association.
7.3. In establishing the Issuer's Supervisory Board, the
qualification of Supervisory Board members should be taken
into account and assessed on a periodical basis. The
Supervisory Board should be composed of members whose
knowledge, opinions and experience is varied, which is
required for the Supervisory Board to fulfil their tasks
successfully.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle. The Council is composed
in compliance with the Commercial
Law and the Articles of Association.
7.4. Every Supervisory Board member in his or her work
shall be as possibly independent from any external
circumstances and have the will to assume responsibility for
the decisions taken and comply with the general ethical
principles when taking decisions in relation to the business
of the Issuer.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle.
7.5. It is impossible to compile a list of all the circumstances
that might threaten the independence of Supervisory Board
members or that could be used in assessing the conformity of
a certain person to the status of an independent Supervisory
Board member. Therefore, the Issuer, when assessing the
independence of Supervisory Board members, shall be
guided by the independence criteria of Supervisory Board
members specified in the Annex hereto.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle. The Council members are
nominated for election at the Council
and act in compliance with the rules of
the Commercial Law, according to
which the Council members are
independent and non-amenable in the
process of making decisions.
7.6. It shall be recommended that at least a half of
Supervisory Board members are independent according to
the independence criteria specified in the Annex hereto. If
the number of Supervisory Board members is an odd
number, the number of independent Supervisory Board
members may be one person less than the number of the
Supervisory Board members who do not conform to the
independence criteria specified in the Annex hereto.
7.7. As independent shall be considered persons that conform
to the independence criteria specified in the Annex hereto. If
a Supervisory Board member does not conform to any of
to the independence criteria specified in the Annex hereto
but the Issuer does consider the Supervisory Board member
in question to be independent, then it shall provide an
explanation of its opinion in detail on the tolerances
permitted.
7.8. The conformity of a person to the independence criteria
specified in the Annex hereto shall be evaluated already
when the Supervisory Board member candidate in question
has been nominated for election to the Supervisory Board.
The Issuer shall specify in the Report who of the Supervisory
Board members are to be considered as independent every
year.
8.1. It shall be the obligation of every Supervisory Board
The Company ensures observance of
member to avoid any, even only supposed, interest conflicts
this principle.
in his/her work. When taking decisions, Management Board
members shall be guided by the interests of the Issuer and
not use the cooperation offers proposed to the Issuer to
obtain personal benefit.
8.2. On the occurrence of any interest conflict or even only
on its possibility, a Supervisory Board member shall notify
this principle.
other Supervisory Board members without delay.
Supervisory Board members shall notify on any deal or
agreement the Issuer is planning to conclude with a person
who has close relationship or is connected with the
Supervisory Board member in question, as well as inform on
any interest conflicts occurred during the validity period of
concluded agreements.
For the purposes of these recommendations the following
shall be regarded as persons who have close relationship
with a Supervisory Board member: spouses, a relative,
including kinship of second degree or brother-in-law of first
degree, or persons with whom the Supervisory Board
member has had a common household for at least one year.
For the purposes of these recommendations the following
shall be regarded as persons who are connected with a
Supervisory Board member: legal persons where the
Supervisory Board member or a closely related to him/her
person is a Management Board or Supervisory Board
member, performs the tasks of an auditor or holds another
managing office in which he or she could determine or affect
the business strategy of the respective legal entity.
8.3. A Supervisory Board member who is in a possible
interest conflict should not participate in taking decisions
this principle.
that might be a cause of an interest conflict.
8. Identification of interest conflicts in the work of Supervisory Board members
The Company ensures observance of
The Company ensures observance of

DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION

9. Transparency of the Issuer's business
11.1. The structure of corporate governance shall be The Company ensures observance of
established in a manner that ensures provision of timely and this principle. Two employees of the
exhaustive information on all the substantial matters that Company have the responsibility of due
concern the Issuer, including its financial situation, business preparation and distribution of
results, and the structure of owners. important information.
9.2. The information disclosed shall be checked, precise, and
unambiguous and prepared in compliance with high-quality
standards.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle. The Company prepares
and checks in compliance with high
quality standards and discloses precise
information.
9.3. The Issuers should appoint a person who would be
entitled to contact the press and other mass media on behalf
on the Issuer, thus ensuring uniform distribution of
information and evading publication of contradictory and
untruthful information, and this person could be contacted, if
necessary, by the Stock Exchange and investors.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle. The Company has a press
secretary who is entitled to contact the
media, the Exchange and investors.
9.4. The Issuers should ensure timely and compliant with the
existing requirements preparation and disclosure of financial
reports and annual reports of the Issuer. The procedure for
the preparation of reports should be stipulated in the internal
procedures of the Issuer.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle. The Company publishes
financial reports in compliance with the
requirements set by the laws.
10. Investor relations
10.1. The main objectives of the IR are the provision of
accurate and timely information on the business of the Issuer
to participants of finance market, as well as the provision of
a feedback, i.e. receiving references from the existing and
potential investors and other persons.
In the realisation of the IR process, it shall be born in mind
that the target group consists not only of institutional
investors and finance market analysts. A greater emphasis
should be put on individual investors, and more importance
should be attached to informing other interested parties:
employees, creditors and business partners.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle.
10.2. The Issuer shall provide all investors with equal and
easily accessible important information related to the Issuer's
business, including financial position, ownership structure
and management. The Issuer shall present the information in
a clear and understandable manner, disclosing both positive
and negative facts, thus providing the investors with a
complete and comprehensive information on the Issuer,
allowing the investor to assess all information available
before the decision making.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle.
10.3. A number of channels shall be used for the information
flow in the IR. The IR strategy of the Issuer shall be created
using both the possibilities provided by technologies
(website) and relations with mass media and the ties with the
participants of finance market. Considering the development
stage of modern technologies and the accessibility thereof,
the Internet is used in the IR of every modern company.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle. A separate section for the
IR goals has been created on the
website of the Company.
This type of media has become one of the most important
means of communications for the majority of investors.
10.4. The basic principles that should be observed by the
Issuers in preparing the IR section of their websites:
The Company ensures observance of
this principle in a separate section of
the Company's website dedicated to the
1) the IR section of website shall be perceived not only as a
store of information or facts but also as one of the primary
means of communication by means of which it is possible
to inform the existing and potential shareholders;
IR goals.
2) all the visitors of the IR section of website shall have the
possibility to obtain conveniently all the information
published there. Information on websites shall be published
in all the foreign languages in which the Issuer normally
distributes information so that in no way would foreign
investors be discriminated, however, it shall be taken into
account that information must be disclosed at least in Latvian
and English;
4) it shall be recommended to consider a solution that would
allow the existing and potential investors to maintain ties
with the Issuer by using the IR section of website – submit
questions and receive answers thereto, order the most recent
information, express their opinions etc.;
5) the information published on websites shall be updated on
a regular basis, and the news in relation to the Issuer and its
business shall be published in due time. It shall not be
admissible that outdated information that could mislead
investors is found on websites;
6) after the website is created the creators themselves should
assess the IR section of the website from the point of view of
users – whether the information of interest can be
found easily, whether the information published provides
answers to the most important questions etc.
10.5. The Issuer shall ensure that at least the following The Company ensures partial
information is contained in the IR section of website: observance of this principle. The
Regulations of the Board and the
Council of the Company mentioned in
Article 7 are available at the Office of
the Company.
1) general information on the Issuer - history of its
establishment and business, registration data, description of
industry, main types of business;
2) Issuer's Report ("comply or explain") on the
implementation of the principles of corporate governance;
3) number of issued and paid financial instruments,
specifying how many of them are included in a regulated
market;
4) information on shareholders' meetings, draft decisions to
be examined, decisions adopted – at least for the last year of
report;
5) Issuer's statutes;
7) Issuer's Management Board or Supervisory Board
regulation or a document equated thereto that regulates its
work, as well as the Issuer's remuneration policy and the
shareholders' meeting procedure regulation, if such has been
adopted;
8) description of the tasks of Supervisory Board committees,
if such have been established,
as well as information on the work performed by the
committees;
9) information on present Issuer's Supervisory Board and
Management Board members (on each individually): work
experience, education, number of the Issuer's shares owned
by the member (as at the beginning of year; the information
shall be updated as required but at least annually),
information on positions in other capital companies, and the
term of office of Management Board and Supervisory Board
members;
10) Issuer's shareholders which/who own at least 5% of the
Issuer's shares; and information on changes of shareholders;
11) financial reports and annual reports of the Issuer
prepared in compliance with the procedure specified in legal
acts and the Stock Exchange regulations;

12) Any other information to be disclosed by the Issuer, e.g. information on any substantial events, Issuer's press releases, archived information on Issuer's financial and annual reports on previous periods etc.

INTERNAL CONTROL AND RISK MANAGEMENT 11. Principles of the Issuer's internal and external control 11.1. To ensure successful operation, the Issuer shall control its work on a regular basis and define the procedure of internal control. The Company ensures observance of this principle. Work control has been ensured – independent and objective work of internal audit, independent work of external audit and auditor. 11.2. The objective of risk management is to ensure that the risks connected with the commercial activity of the Issuer are identified and supervised. To ensure an efficient risk management, it shall be necessary to define the basic principles of risk management. It is recommended to characterise the most essential potential and existing risks in relation to the business of the Issuer. The Company ensures observance of this principle. Risk exploration and evaluation has been performed. 11.3. Auditors shall be granted access to the information required for the fulfilment of the auditor's tasks and the possibility to attend Supervisory Board and Management Board meetings at which financial and other matters are dealt with. The Company ensures observance of this principle. Auditor is granted access to all necessary and its required information. 11.4. Auditors shall be independent in their work and their task shall be to provide the Issuer with independent and objective auditing and consultation services in order to facilitate the efficiency of the Issuer's business and to provide support in achieving the objectives set for the Issuer's management by offering a systematic approach for the assessment and improvement of risk management and control processes. The Company ensures observance of this principle. The work of auditor is independent and it provides an independent and objective audit report 11.5. It shall be recommended to carry out an independent internal control at least annually in order to assess the work of the Issuer, including its conformity to the procedures approved by the Issuer. The Company ensures observance of this principle. Every year, an independent internal control is carried out by an independent auditor company and the internal audit of the Company, assessing the work of the Company and conformity to the approved procedures.

11.6. When approving an auditor, it is recommended that the The Company ensures observance of
term of office of one auditor is not the same as the term of this principle. The term of office of the
office of the Management Board. auditor is not the same as the term of
office of the Board. Every year, the
shareholders make a decision upon
hiring a particular auditor, who acts till
the next Shareholders' meeting.
12. The Issuer's auditing committee
12.1. The functions and responsibilities of the Auditing The Company ensures observance of
committee should be laid down in the regulations of the this principle as from 2010.
committee or an equivalent document.
12.2. In order to ensure effective operation of the Auditing The Company ensures observance of
committee, it is recommended to have at least three this principle as from 2010.
members with sufficient knowledge in accounting and
preparing financial accounts, as one of the main activity
areas of the Auditing committee is issues related to the
Issuer's financial reports and control.
12.3. All members of the Auditing committee must have The Company ensures observance of
access to information on the methods of accounting used this principle as from 2010.
by the Issuer. The Management Board informs the
Auditing committee on the methods used when assessing
significant and extraordinary transactions where different
methods of evaluation may be applied, as well as ensures
that the Auditing committee has access to all information
stipulated by the legislation.
12.4. The Issuer must provide the possibility for the The Company ensures observance of
Auditing committee to obtain from the Issuer's officials, this principle as from 2010.
Management Board members and other employees the
information necessary to ensure the operation of the
committee, as well as the rights to perform independent
investigation in order to reveal infringements in the
Issuer's operation.
12.5. The Auditing committee makes decisions within its The Company ensures observance of
terms of reference and accounts for its operation to the this principle as from 2010.
Shareholders' meeting.
REMUNERATION POLICY
13. The Issuer's auditing committee
13.1. The Issuers are called on to develop a remuneration
policy in which the main principles for setting the
remuneration, possible remuneration schemes and other
essential related issues are determined. Without limiting
the role and operations of the Issuer's management bodies
responsible for setting remuneration to the board and
council members, the drafting of the remuneration policy
should be made a responsibility of the Issuer's board,
which during the preparation of a draft policy should
consult with the Issuer's council.
The Company ensures observance of
this principle.
13.2. Should the remuneration policy contain a The Company ensures observance of
remuneration structure with a variable part in the form of this principle.
the Issuer's shares or share options, it should be linked to
previously defined short-term and long-term goals. If
remuneration depends on fulfillment of short-term goals
only, it is not likely to encourage an interest in the
company's growth and improved performance in the long
term. The scope and structure of the remuneration should
depend on the business performance of the company, share
price and other Issuer's events.
13.3. Remuneration schemes that include Issuer's shares as The Company ensures observance of
remuneration may theoretically cause loss to the Issuer's this principle. The Company does
existing shareholders because the share price might drop not envisage schemes of
due to a new issue of shares. Therefore, prior to the remuneration where shares are
preparation and approval of this type of remuneration, it provided as remuneration.
shall be required to assess the possible benefits or losses.
13.4. When preparing the remuneration policy where a The Company ensures observance of
variable part is in the form of the Issuer's shares or share this principle. The Company does
options, the Issuer shall be obliged to disclose information not envisage schemes of
on how the Issuer plans to ensure the amount of shares to remuneration where shares are
be granted in compliance with the approved remuneration provided as remuneration.
schemes– whether it is planned to obtain them by buying
on a regulated market or by issuing new shares.
13.5. While drafting the remuneration policy and The Company ensures observance of
envisaging awarding options entitling to the Issuer's shares, this principle. The Company does
the Stock Exchange rules regarding distribution of share not envisage schemes of
options should be taken into account. remuneration where shares are
provided as remuneration.
13.6. While setting remuneration principles with regard to The Company ensures observance of
board and council members, they should include general this principle.
approach as to compensations, if any, in cases when
contracts with the said officials are terminated.
14. Remuneration Report
14.1. The Issuer is obliged to make public the The Company has not implemented
Remuneration Report – a complete report on the this principle, as it sees such
remuneration policy applied to the members of the Issuer's information as limited accessibility
management bodies. Remuneration Report may be a information. Information on the total
separate document, or may integrated in a special chapter amount paid to the members of the
of the Report prepared by the Issuer as recommended by Board and the Council of the
Item 9 of the Introduction of the present Company in salaries in 2009 is
Recommendations. The Remuneration Report should be available in the audited Annual
posted on the Issuers website. accounts for the year 2009.
14.2. Remuneration Report should contain at least the The Company has not implemented
following information: this principle, as it sees such
1) Information as to the application of the remuneration information as limited accessibility
policy to board and council members in the previous information. Information on the total
financial year, specifying the material changes to the amount paid to the members of the
Issuer's remuneration policy compared to the previous Board and the Council of the
reporting period;
2) The proportion between the fixed and variable part of
the remuneration for the respective category of officials;
3) Sufficient information as to linking the remuneration
with performance;
4) Information about the Issuer's policy with regard to the
contracts with the members of the Issuer's management
bodies, the terms and conditions of the contracts (duration,
notice deadlines about termination, including payments
due in case of termination);
5) Information about the incentive schemes and the
specifications and reasons for awarding any other benefits;
6) A description of any pension or early retirement
schemes;
7) An overview of the remuneration paid to or any benefits
received by each individual that has been board or council
member in the reporting period – disclosing at least the
information required in Items 14.5, 14.5 and 14.7 below.
Company in salaries in 2009 is
available in the audited Annual
accounts for the year 2009.
14.3 To avoid overlapping of information, the Issuer, while
preparing its Remuneration Report, may omit the
information required in Items 14.2 1) to 7) above, provided
it is a part of the Issuer's Remuneration Policy document.
In such case, Remuneration Report should have a reference
to the Remuneration Policy, together with an indication
where it is made available.
The Company has not implemented
this principle, as it sees such
information as limited accessibility
information. Information on the total
amount paid to the members of the
Board and the Council of the
Company in salaries in 2009 is
available in the audited Annual
accounts for the year 2009.
14.4 If the Issuer believes that, as a result of following the
provisions of Item 14.2 of these Recommendations
sensitive business information might become public to the
detriment of the Issuer's strategic position, the Issuer may
not disclose such information and give the reasons.
The Company has not implemented
this principle, as it sees such
information as limited accessibility
information. Information on the total
amount paid to the members of the
Board and the Council of the
Company in salaries in 2009 is
available in the audited Annual
accounts for the year 2009.
14.5 The following remuneration and other benefits related
information about each board and council member should
be disclosed:
1) Total amount paid or outstanding (salary) for the year;
2) Remuneration and other benefits received from any
company associated with the Issuer. For the understanding
of this Item, "associated undertaking" is a company
according to the definition in Paragraph 1 of the Law on
the Financial Instruments Market;
3) Remuneration paid as profit distribution or bonus, and
the reasons for awarding such remuneration;
4) Compensation for fulfillment of duties in addition to the
The Company has not implemented
this principle, as it sees such
information as limited accessibility
information. Information on the total
amount paid to the members of the
Board and the Council of the
Company in salaries in 2009 is
available in the audited Annual
accounts for the year 2009.
regular job responsibilities;
5) Compensations and any other payments received by or
to be received by board or council member who has left the
position during the accounting period;
6) Total value of any other benefits apart from those listed
under Items 1) to 5) received as remuneration.
14.6 The following information should be disclosed with The Company ensures observance of
regard to the shares and/or share options or any other this principle. The Company does
incentive schemes resulting in ownership of the Issuer's not envisage schemes of
shares: remuneration where shares are
1) the number and holding conditions of shares or share provided as remuneration.
options entitling to the Issuer's shares granted over the
reporting period to the members of Issuer's management
bodies;
2) The number of options exercised during the reporting
period, entitling to the Issuer's shares, specifying the price
and the number of shares obtained, or the unit value held
by the member of the Issuer's management board in a
share-related incentive scheme as at the end of the
reporting year;
3) The number of non-exercised options entitling to the
Issuer's shares as at the end of the reporting year, the share
price in the contract, expiry date and the key rules for
exercising the option;
4) Information changes, if any, introduced during the
reporting period with regard to the provisions of the
contracts on options entitling to the Issuer's shares (such as
changes in the option exercising rules, change of expiry
date etc.).
14.7. The following information should be disclosed with The Company ensures partial
regard to savings or contributions to pension schemes of observance of this principle.
private pension funds: Information on the total payments in
1) the amount of contributions made by the Issuer, to the the pension plans of private pension
benefit of individuals, to a pension scheme or schemes, and funds made for the benefit of the
the rules for disbursement of the pension capital; Board and the Council is available in
2) the participation rules, including termination of the audited Annual accounts for the
participation, to the respective pension scheme, applicable year 2009.
the concrete individual.
14.8. Remuneration schemes involving awarding with the The Company ensures observance of
Issuer's shares, share options or any other tools resulting in this principle. The Company does
ownership of the Issuer's shares shall be approved by the not envisage schemes of
annual general meeting of shareholders. Shareholders' remuneration where shares are
meeting, while resolving on approval of the remuneration provided as remuneration.
scheme, need not resolve on its application to concrete
individuals.

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