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Law And Regulation
Instructions of Issuing Companies Disclosure, Accounting and
Auditing Standards
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These Instructions
shall be cited as (Instructions for Disclosure,
Accounting and Auditing Standards of Issuing
Companies) for the year 2004 and shall come into
effect as of 1.3.2004. |
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Subject to the meanings ascribed to the
terms mentioned in the Securities Law and the Regulations
and Instructions issued pursuant thereto, the following
terms shall have the meanings ascribed thereto hereunder,
unless the context indicates otherwise:
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The
Commission: |
The Securities
Commission.
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The
Board: |
The Board
of Commissioners of the Commission.
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The
Chairman: |
The Chairman of the
Board.
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The
Market / Stock Exchange: |
The Amman Stock Exchange
or any Securities Trading Market licensed by the
Commission in accordance with the provisions of this
Law.
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Person:
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A natural or juridical
person.
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Issuer:
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Any juridical person
issuing or declaring the intention to issue
securities.
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Control: |
The ability to influence
effectively, whether directly or indirectly, the
actions and decisions of another person.
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Affiliate: |
Any person who controls
another person or is controlled by another person, or
who, together with that person is controlled by the
same person.
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Material Fact: |
Any event or datum that
might affect a person’s decision to buy, hold, sell or
dispose of a security.
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Inside
Information: |
Information relating to
one or several Issuers or to one or several
securities, which has not been made public and which,
if it were made public, would likely affect the price
of any such security. This does not include inferences
drawn on the basis of economic and financial studies,
research and analysis.
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Public
Statement: |
A paid announcement or a
declaration to be published in at least one daily
newspaper.
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Insider: |
A person who possesses
Inside Information by virtue of his position or job.
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Parent
Company: |
A Company having control
over one Company or more (whereby such are called
Subsidiary Companies) by owning more than one half of
their capital and/or having control of the formation
of their Boards of Directors. Such shall also include
Holding Companies.
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Subsidiary Company: |
A Company subject to the
control of a Parent Company.
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Sister
Company: |
A Company shall be
considered a Sister of another if they are owned by,
or considered subsidiaries of a Parent Company.
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Minority Interest: |
The apparent part in the
consolidated financial statements of the net business
results and net assets of a Subsidiary Company that
are not held directly by the Parent Company through
its subsidiary companies.
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Relatives: |
Husband, wife and minor
children. |
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The issuing Company shall publish its
preliminary business results after completion of a
preliminary audit by its auditor, within forty-five days of
the end of its fiscal year, and shall provide the Commission
with a copy thereof.
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The preliminary results mentioned in
Paragraph (A) of this Article shall include:
1. The Net revenues;
2. The expected net profit before tax;
3. The amount allocated for income tax on expected profit;
4. Minority interest in the profits;
5. Net profit of the Company’s shareholders after deduction
of the
allocated tax and of minority interest;
6. Comparative figures with the preceding fiscal year for
the items
from (1-5) above;
7. A summary of the Company’s activities during the fiscal
year.
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The Board of Directors of the issuing
Company shall prepare the Company’s annual report within
three months from the end of the Company’s fiscal year and
shall provide the Commission therewith. The annual report
shall include:
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The statement of the Board of Directors’ Chairman;
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The Board of Directors’ report, which shall include:
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A description of the Company’s main activities, with
their respective geographical locations, size of capital
investment and number of employees; -
A description of the Subsidiary Companies, the nature of
their business and their areas of activity; -
The members of the Board of Directors names and the names
and ranks of Senior Executive Management with a brief resume
of each; -
The names of the Company’s large shareholders and the
number of shares owned by each of them where such
constitutes (5%) or more in comparison with the previous
year; -
The Company’s competitive position within its sector and
main market segments, as well as its share of the Local
Market, and International Market if possible; -
the extent of dependence upon specific suppliers and/or
major clients (Local and International ) where this
constitutes (10%) or more of the total purchases and/or
sales or revenues; -
a description of any government protection or any
concession granted to the Company or to any of its products
pursuant to Laws, Regulations or otherwise, with a
specification of the effective period thereof ; as well as a
description of any Patents or Licensing Rights obtained by
the Company; -
a description of any decision by the Government,
International Organizations or otherwise with a material
effect on the Company’s business, products or
competitiveness , and a disclosure of the Company’s
implementation of Company of international quality
standards; -
The issuing Company’s organizational chart, the number of
its employees and their classes of qualification, and its
personnel qualifications and training programs; -
A description of the Company’s risk exposure; -
The Company’s accomplishments supported by quantitative
indicators and a description of significant occurrences to
the Company during the fiscal year; -
The financial impact of non-recurrent transactions
during the fiscal year, which are not part of the Company’s
main activities; -
A chronology of the realized profits or losses,
dividends, shareholders’ net equity and the prices of
securities issued by the Company, for a minimum period of
five years or for the period since the establishment of the
Company, whichever is less, together with graphic
representation thereof where possible; -
An analysis of the Company’s financial status and of the
results of its activities for the fiscal year; -
Important prospective developments including any new
expansions and projects; the Company’s proposed plan for at
least one upcoming year; and the Board of Directors’
forecasts for the outcomes of the Company activities; -
The amount of auditing fees for the Company and its
subsidiaries and any other fees received or receivable by
the auditor; -
The number of securities issued by the Company which are
owned by any member of its Board of Directors, any member of
its Senior Executive Management or any of their relatives; a
list of companies controlled by any of such, provided all of
the above is benchmarked against the preceding year; -
The benefits and remunerations of the Chairman, members
of the Board of Directors, and Senior Executive Management,
during the fiscal year, including payments received by any
of them such as fees, salaries, bonuses, and otherwise, and
their travel and transport expenses within the Kingdom and
abroad; -
Donations and grants made by the Company during the
fiscal year; -
The issuing Company’s contracts, projects and
engagements with its Subsidiaries, Sister Companies or
Affiliates, as well as those with the Chairman of the Board
of Directors, members of the Board of Directors, the Chief
Executive Officer or any employee of the Company or
relatives thereof; -
The Company’s contribution to environmental protection
and local community service.
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The Company’s annual audited financial statements
benchmarked with the previous year, and which shall include:
1. The balance sheet;
2. The profit and loss account;
3. The cash flow statement;
4. Statement of changes in shareholders’ equity;
5. Explanatory notes to the Financial Statements.
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The auditors’ report on the Company’s annual financial
statements, including an affirmation that the audit
procedures are consistent with the audit standards adopted
by these Instructions.
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1. A declaration from the Board of Directors that there
are no substantial matters disaffecting the Company’s
continuity during the next fiscal year.
2. A declaration by the Board of Directors affirming its
responsibility for the preparation of the financial
statements and for the provision of an effective system of
controls within the Company.
3. A declaration affirming the correctness, accuracy and
completeness of the information and data stated in the
report, signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors,
the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, and the Chief
Financial Officer.
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The issuing Company shall publish
its annual statements within three months of the end
fiscal year, after their approval by the Company’s
Board of Directors upon issuance of the Company
auditors’ report, and prior to their distribution to
the shareholders. The published material shall also
include an adequate summary of the Board of
Directors’ report and the report of the Company’s
auditors. .
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The Board of Directors of the issuing Company
shall prepare a comparative semi-annual report and
provide the commission therewith, and shall publish
such report within one month from the date of the
end of that period.
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The report mentioned in Paragraph (A) of this
Article shall include:
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The balance sheet; -
The profit and loss account; -
Changes in shareholders’ equity; -
The cash flow statement; -
The required explanatory notes; -
The Company auditor’s report which shall include
an affirmation that the records and financial
statements have been audited consistently with the
audit standards adopted by these Instructions; -
A brief summary comparison of the results of the
Company’s activities for the period with earlier set
plans.
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Any issuing Company which changes its fiscal year
shall prepare the financial statements indicated
below covering the transitional period from the end
of the preceding fiscal year until the beginning of
the new fiscal year. The Company shall publish such
statements and provide the Commission therewith
within forty-five days from the end of the
transitional period, and shall have the statements
audited by the Company’s auditors:
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The balance sheet.
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The profit and loss account during the
transitional period.
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The cash flow statement.
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Changes in the shareholders’ equity.
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The financial statements explanatory notes.
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The auditor’s report for the transitional period.
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The issuing Company shall notify the Commission, without
delay and through any means that ensure expediency, and
shall issue promptly public notice of, any emerging Material
Fact and especially the following:
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The important changes that occur in any of the following:
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The Company’s assets.
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The Company’s long and short term obligations and any
attachments upon its assets.
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The capital structure.
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The Company’s credit rating, if any, and changes thereto.
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The Company’s products.
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Changes in share ownership, which affect control of the
Company.
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Major transactions concluded by the Company and
rescissions thereof and the Board of Directors’ evaluation
of the anticipated impact of such on the Company’s
profitability and financial position.
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Non-recurrent transactions, which might impact the
Company’s profits or financial position.
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Any disasters, fires or accidents and their anticipated
impact on the Company’s financial position.
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Any unanticipated material losses which impacted the
Company’s financial position, and the causes thereof .
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The Board of Directors important decisions, which might
affect the prices of the securities, issued by the Company
including the decisions related to:
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Issuance of new securities, or amortization of any
existing securities; -
Changes in the capital investments, or in the Company’s
objectives, or in its markets; -
Initiation of a merger.
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Distribution of dividends. -
Buyback or disposal by the issuing Company of its shares. -
Voluntary liquidation.
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The decisions of the Company’s General Assembly.
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The invitation for an extraordinary General Assembly
meeting.
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The formation of a new Board of Directors for the
Company, or the resignation of any Board Member or of the
Company’s Chief Executive Officer or any vacancy in those
positions, with a statement of causes thereof provided such
are announced promptly upon occurrence. In addition, any
appointment decision by the Board of Directors’ of new Board
members or of a Chief Executive Officer for the Company and
the appointees’ qualifications.
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Discontinuation of the Company’s activities or of those
of any of its branches, factories or subsidiaries with a
statement of the cause.
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Any actions brought by or against the Company or any
court or labour dispute, that might impact the Company’s
financial position materially, whereby the Commission must
be provided with a thorough report about such and their
expected impact on the Company’s profitability and financial
position.
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The issuing Company shall provide the Commission with a
detailed report about any Material Fact with a copy of the
public statement thereabout within a week from its
occurrence.
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The Company shall promptly issue a public statement to
confirm, deny or correct any news item about a Material Fact
pertaining to the issuing Company which is published in the
media, and shall provide the Commission with a copy of such
a statement.
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Any registered person practicing financial brokerage in a
financial services Company shall provide the Commission with
monthly reports about any dealings in securities, including
sale and purchase thereof, by the broker or relatives
thereof, within seven days from the end of the month in
which the dealing took place. |
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The issuing Company shall notify the Commission in writing
of the names, positions and qualifications of appointed or
resigning Senior Executive Management within seven days of
the appointment or resignation. |
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Any Insider in the issuing Company shall notify the
Commission in writing within one week of his election or
appointment about any securities issued by the Company, its
subsidiaries, affiliates, or sister or parent Company which
are owned by himself or his relatives, and shall notify the
Commission in writing of any changes to such within one week
thereof. |
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Any person acquiring or having disposal for the first time
of 5% or more of any securities of the same issuing Company
shall notify the Commission of such in writing within one
week of occurrence. The said person shall also notify the
Commission in writing of any 1% increase in acquisition
within one week of such occurrence, and shall disclose
motives for any purchase above the 10% rate. |
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The international accounting standards issued by the Board
of International Accounting Standards are hereby adopted
whereby all the parties subject to the Commission’s control
shall prepare their financial statements consistently
therewith. |
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The Board of Directors of the issuing Company shall form
an Auditing Committee of three non-executive Board members
who are natural persons , and shall designate one of them as
Chairman for the Committee and notify the Commission
thereof, and of any changes thereto with the statement of
cause.
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Any member of the Board of Directors shall be considered
as non-executive, if the member is neither an employee of
the Company nor receiving a salary therefrom.
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The Auditing Committee shall meet periodically and report
to the Board of Directors, provided its meetings shall be at
least four per annum and the minutes of such meetings shall
be duly recorded.
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The Auditing Committee shall undertake the following:
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Discussing the matters related to the nomination of the
external auditor; ensuring the auditor’s fulfillment of the
Commission’s conditions and his independence; and examining
the extent to which the auditors other activities may affect
such independence. -
Discussing the auditor’s work, including his comments,
suggestions and reservations, and the management’s response
thereto and submitting recommendations thereabout to the
Board of Directors. -
Reviewing the Company’s correspondence with the external
auditor, evaluating their contents, and providing comments
and recommendations thereabout. -
Observing the Company’s compliance with the Securities
Law, and the Regulations, Instructions and decisions issued
pursuant thereto. -
Examining the periodical reports prior to their
presentation to the Board of Directors and submitting
recommendations thereabout which shall address specifically
a. Changes in the accounting policies.
b. Changes in the Company’s accounts as a result of the
auditing operations or of the auditor’s suggestions.
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Examining the auditor’s work plan and ensuring that the
Company is providing the auditor with all required
facilities for his work. -
Examining and evaluating the internal control procedures,
and reviewing the external auditor’s assessment of such
procedures, and the internal control reports, particularly
those related to any violations found by the internal
auditor. -
Making recommendations to the Board of Directors related
to the internal audit procedures and the work of the
internal auditor. -
Ensuring that there are no conflicts of interest arising
from the Company’s transactions, contracts or projects with
the parties concerned. -
Any other matters as decided by the Board of Directors.
e. The Auditing Committee shall have the following
authorities:
1. Requesting any information from the Company’s employees,
whereby the employees shall cooperate by providing such
information fully and accurately.
2. Seeking legal, financial, administrative or technical
advice from any external consultant.
3. Summoning any employee in the Company, to obtain any
further explanations, if necessary.
4. Summoning the external auditor it deems necessary to
discuss any matter related to his work at the Company. The
committee may also require the auditor to provide a written
clarification or opinion;
5. Recommending to the Board of Directors the nomination of
an external auditor to be elected by the General Assembly.
6. Nominating an internal auditor for the Company to
appoint.
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The international auditing standards issued by the
International Federation of Accountants are hereby adopted
in auditing the accounts of the parties subject to the
control of the Commission. |
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The auditor of any of the parties subject to the control of
the Commission shall
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Hold a valid licence to practise auditing;
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Be a member of the Jordanian Chartered Accountants
Association;
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Be classified in category (A) according to the applicable
Auditors Classification Regulations;
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Have practiced auditing for at least three consecutive
years at full time basis after obtaining the license to
practice;
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Have one or more partners or employees who are auditors
and who satisfy the above conditions.
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Subject to provisions of the Companies Law, the Company’s
external auditor report shall include the following:
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The date of the report.
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The name of the audit bureau and the auditor’s name,
signature, license number, classification category and
address.
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The financial statements covered by the report.
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A statement that the audit procedures have been conducted
in accordance with the international auditing standards.
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The auditor’s opinion on the authenticity and probity of
the financial statements and his attestation that such
statements have been prepared in accordance with the
international accounting standards.
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Subject to provisions of the Companies Law in force , the
Company’s auditor shall clarify the reasons for any
reservations, adverse opinion, or statement of withheld
opinion made in his report on the annual financial
statements, and shall indicate the impact of such reasons on
the financial statements and notify the Commission thereof.
The Company shall provide the Commission in writing with its
opinion on the aforementioned auditor’s report within two
weeks from receiving the report. |
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The Company shall notify the Commission in writing within
two weeks thereof if a new auditor is elected, or if the
auditor is changed during the year, , or if the auditor’s
position becomes vacant for any reason. The notice shall
include the following:
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A statement as to whether the auditor has voluntarily
excused himself from performing his duty and the grounds therefor.
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A statement as to the existence of on any dispute between
the auditor and the Company’s Board of Directors.
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A statement as to whether the auditor’s report included a
reservation on the Company’s financial statements during the
two preceding fiscal years.
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If the auditor excuses himself from auditing a Company’s
account on whatever grounds, or if a dispute arises between
the auditor and the Company’s management, the auditor shall
notify the Commission in writing about the grounds therefore
within two weeks of the occurrence. |
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For the purposes of these Instructions, the term publish
shall mean the publishing of the relevant information and
data for one time in at least one daily newspaper in Arabic.
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For the purposes of these Instructions, the term declare
shall mean the making of a press release to be published in
at least one daily newspaper.
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The responsibility for any publications and t declaration
and for any contents thereof shall be that of the Chairman
of the Board of Directors or anyone assigned or authorized
thereby in writing.
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- The following persons of the issuing Company shall be
considered not exclusively Insiders ex-officio:
1. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the issuing
Company.
2. The Members of the Board of Directors.
3. The Chief executive officer
4. The Financial Manager.
5. The Internal Auditor.
6. Relatives of the above-mentioned persons.
- B. The natural person representing any juridical person
occupying such a position shall be considered an Insider.
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The Instructions of Disclosure; Accounting,
Auditing Standards and the Conditions to be fulfilled in
Auditors of the Entities Subject to Securities Commission’s
Control No. (1) for the year 1998 shall be repealed.
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