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Laws & Regulations Database of The Republic of China (Taiwan)

Print Time:2024/12/02 03:55
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Chapter Law Content

Title: Securities and Exchange Act CH
Category: Financial Supervisory Commission(金融監督管理委員會)
Chapter II The Offering, Issuing, Private Placement, and Trading of Securities
Section I The Offering, Issuing, and Trading of Securities
Article 22
(Public Offering and Issuance of Securities)
With the exception of government bonds or other securities exempted by the Competent Authority, the public offering or issuing of securities without an effective registration with the Competent Authority shall be prohibited.
An issuer under this Act shall be required to comply with the preceding paragraph when it issues new shares pursuant to the provisions of the Company Act, except where the issuance is handled under Article 43-6, paragraphs 1 and 2.
The provisions of paragraph 1 shall apply mutatis mutandis to a holder of securities as defined in Article 6, paragraph 1, or certificates of payment therefor, or documents of title thereto, or stock warrant certificates, or certificates of entitlement to new shares, who publicly offers to resell the securities or certificates.
Regulations governing the conditions, documents to be attached, review and approval procedures, and other matters for compliance with respect to the effective registrations under the preceding three paragraphs shall be prescribed by the Competent Authority.
In formulating or amending provisions of the preceding paragraph's regulations relating to foreign exchange, the Competent Authority shall consult the Central Bank of China.
Article 22-1
(Shareholding Dispersal Standards for Issues of New Shares for Capital Increase)
In the issuance of new shares to increase the capital by an issuer under this Act, the Competent Authority may prescribe the shareholding dispersal standards.
The Competent Authority shall prescribe regulations governing the conditions required to be met, operation procedures, and other matters for compliance in connection with a public issuer's convening of shareholders meetings, shareholders' meetings with video conferencing, the exercise of shareholders' meeting voting power in writing or by way of electronic transmission, shareholder services including shareholder or stock affairs, in-house or outsourced handling of shareholder services, evaluation of shareholders services, and other matters relating to shareholder services.
Article 22-2
(Methods for Transfer of Stock by Directors, Supervisors, Managerial Officers, and 10-Percent Shareholders)
The transfer of stocks by the directors, supervisors, managerial officers, or shareholders holding more than 10 percent of the total shares, of an issuer under this Act shall be effected in accordance with any of the following methods:
1. an offering to the public following approval from or an effective registration with the Competent Authority.
2. to transfer, at least three days following registration with the Competent Authority, on a centralized exchange market or an over-the-counter market, shares that have satisfied the holding period requirement and within the daily transfer allowance ratio prescribed by the Competent Authority. However, this requirement shall not apply to transfers totaling less than 10,000 shares per exchange day.
3. to transfer, within three days following registration with the Competent Authority, by means of private placement to designated persons satisfying the qualifications prescribed by the Competent Authority.
The resale of securities within one year of their initial acquisition by persons which acquired the said shares by means of a private placement under subparagraph 3 of the preceding paragraph shall be effected only in compliance with the methods specified in the preceding paragraph.
The calculation of shares held by shareholders referred to in paragraph 1 shall include shares held by their spouses and minor children and those held under the names of other parties.
Article 23
(Time Limitation on Transfer of Stock Warrant Certificates)
The transfer of stock warrant certificates shall be effected during the time period the option of the original warrant holder remains effective.
Article 24
(Constructive Provision Regarding the Status, Following an Issue of New Shares Under the Act, of Pre-Existing Shares That Have Not Been Duly Issued)
Where an issuer issues new shares in accordance with this Act, any of its previous shares not issued in accordance with this Act shall be deemed as having been issued in accordance with this Act.
Article 25
(Filing of the Shareholdings of Directors, Supervisors, Managerial Officers, and 10-Percent Shareholders)
Upon registering the public issuance of its shares, a company shall file with the Competent Authority and announce to the public the class and numbers of the shares held by its directors, supervisors, managerial officers, and shareholders holding more than 10 percent of the total shares of the company.
The stockholders referred to in the preceding paragraph shall file, by the fifth day of each month, a report with the issuer of the changes in the number of shares they held during the preceding month. The issuer shall compile and file such report of changes with the Competent Authority by the fifteenth day of each month. The Competent Authority may order an issuer to make public announcement of such information should it deem the measure necessary.
The provisions of paragraph 3 of Article 22-2 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the calculation of shareholding referred to in the preceding two paragraphs of this Article.
When the shares referred to in the first paragraph hereof are pledged, the pledgor shall make immediate notification to the issuer; the issuer shall inform the Competent Authority of such pledges within five days of their formation, and publicly announce such pledge.
Article 25-1
(Regulations Governing the Management of Proxies)
The use of proxies for the attendance of a shareholders meeting of an issuer shall be restricted, enjoined, or regulated. The regulations governing the qualifications of an issuer's proxy solicitors, proxy agents, and those handling proxy solicitation matters on its behalf, the format, acquisition, and methods of solicitation or agenting of proxy forms, the number of shares represented, statistical tallying and verification, the conditions under which votes cast by proxy shall be excluded, documents for reporting and public access, provision of information and other matters for compliance shall be prescribed by the Competent Authority.
Article 26
(Minimum Percentages of Registered Shares to Be Held by Directors and Supervisors)
The total shares of nominal stocks held by the entire body of either directors or supervisors of an issuer shall not be less than a specified percentage of its total issued shares.
The regulations governing the minimum percentage to be held by the directors and supervisors referred to in the preceding paragraph, and the examination of such holding shall be prescribed by an order from the Competent Authority.
Article 26-1
(Content Required to Be Specified in Shareholders Meeting Notice)
In convening a shareholders meeting, an issuer under this Act shall specify, with explanation of the material contents, in the notice of shareholders meeting where there are proposals relating to paragraph 1 of Article 209, paragraph 1 of Article 240, and paragraph 1 of Article 241 of the Company Act. Extraordinary motions regarding such proposals shall be prohibited.
Article 26-2
(Period and Method for Shareholders Meeting Notice to Small Registered Shareholders)
The notice of the shareholders meeting to be given by an issuer to shareholders who own less than 1,000 shares of nominal stocks may be given in the form of a public announcement; for a regular shareholders meeting, such public announcements shall be served with thirty days prior notice, and for a special shareholders meeting with fifteen days prior notice.
Article 26-3
(Directors and Supervisors)
The board of directors of a company that has issued stock in accordance with the Act may not number less than five persons.
When the government or a juristic person is a shareholder of a public company, then except with the approval of the Competent Authority, the provisions of Article 27, paragraph 2 of the Company Act shall not apply, and a representative of the government or juristic person may not concurrently be selected or serve as the director or supervisor of the company.
Except where the Competent Authority has granted approval, the following relationships may not exist among more than half of a company's directors:
1. A spousal relationship.
2. A familial relationship within the second degree of kinship.
Except where the Competent Authority has granted approval, a company shall have at least one or more supervisors, or one or more supervisors and directors, among whom no relationship under the preceding subparagraphs exists.
When a company convenes a shareholders meeting for the election of supervisors or directors and the original selectees do not meet the conditions of the two preceding paragraphs, determination of which directors or supervisors are elected shall be made according to the following provisions:
1. When there are some among the directors who do not meet the conditions, the election of the director receiving the lowest number of votes among those not meeting the conditions shall be deemed invalid.
2. When there are some among the supervisors who do not meet the conditions, the provisions of the preceding subparagraph shall apply mutatis mutandis.
3. When there are some among the directors and supervisors who do not meet the conditions, the election of the supervisor receiving the lowest number of votes among those not meeting the conditions shall be deemed invalid.
When a person serving as director or supervisor is in violation of the provisions of paragraph 3 or paragraph 4, that person shall be subject to ipso facto dismissal through the mutatis mutandis application of the provisions of the preceding paragraph.
When the number of directors falls below five due to the dismissal of a director for any reason, the company shall hold a by-election for director at the next following shareholders meeting. When the number of directors falls short by one-third of the total number prescribed by the articles of incorporation, the company shall convene a special shareholders meeting within 60 days of the occurrence of that fact to hold a by-election for directors.
A company shall formulate rules for the conduct of directors meetings; regulations governing the content of deliberations, procedures, matters to be recorded in the meeting minutes, public announcement, and other matters for compliance shall be prescribed by the Competent Authority.
Article 27
(Maximum or Minimum Par Value Per Share and Changes to Par Value)
The minimum or the maximum values for each share of publicly issued stocks shall be determined by the Competent Authority. The value of stocks issued prior to such a determination shall be its original value; the value of stocks newly issued for capital increases shall be determined in like manner.
A company shall report any modification of its share issue price to the Competent Authority.
Article 28
(Deleted)
Article 28-1
(Required Public Offering Percentage for New Share Issues by a Public Company)
For public companies whose stocks are neither listed on a stock exchange nor traded on the over-the-counter market, and whose ownership dispersal failed to meet the standards prescribed by the Competent Authority pursuant to paragraph 1 of Article 22-1, the Competent Authority may require a certain percentage of its new issues to be publicly offered, unless such a public offering is deemed to be unnecessary or inappropriate by the Competent Authority; the provisions of paragraph 3 of Article 267 of the Company Act which allows the original shareholders the rights to priority subscription to new issues shall not be applicable.
In cash offering of new shares by a public issued company whose stocks are either listed on a stock exchange or traded on the over-the-counter market, the Competent Authority may require a certain percentage of its new issues to be offered at the market value to the public; in such circumstance, the provisions of paragraph 3 of Article 267 of the Company Act which allows the original shareholders the rights to priority subscription to new issues shall not be applicable.
The percentage referred to in the preceding two paragraphs shall be 10 percent of the total shares newly issued. The ten percent requirement shall be precluded in case a higher percentage has been so determined by a resolution of the shareholders meeting.
The value of the shares publicly offered in compliance with paragraphs 1 and 2 and the value of the shares in the same issue reserved for subscription by the employees and original shareholders shall be identical.
Article 28-2
(Share Buyback)
In any of the following situations, a company whose stocks are either listed on a stock exchange or traded on the over-the-counter market may, upon the approval of a majority of the directors present at a directors meeting attended by two-thirds or more of directors, buy back its shares from the centralized securities exchange market or over-the-counter market or in accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 43-1, without being subject to the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article 167 of the Company Act:
1. Where the buyback is for transferring shares to its employees;
2. Where the buyback is for equity conversion in coordination with the issuance of corporate bonds with warrants, preferred shares with warrants, convertible corporate bonds, convertible preferred shares, or share subscription warrants; or
3. Where the buyback is required to maintain the company's credit and shareholders' rights and interests, and the shares so purchased are cancelled.
The number of shares bought back under the preceding paragraphs may not exceed 10 percent of the total number of issued and outstanding shares of the company. The total amount of the shares bought back may not exceed the amount of retained earnings plus premium on capital stock plus realized capital reserve.
Regulations regarding the procedure, price, quantity, method, conversion method, and public announcement to be reported in connection with buyback of shares by a company in accordance with paragraph 1 above shall be prescribed by the Competent Authority
The shares bought back by a company in accordance with paragraph 1, except for the portion referred to in subparagraph 3 for which amendment registration shall be effected within six months from the date of buyback, shall be transferred within five years from the date of buyback. The shares not transferred within the said time limit shall be deemed as not issued by the company, and amendment registration shall be processed.
The shares bought back by a company in accordance with paragraph 1 shall not be pledged. Before transfer, the shareholder's rights shall not be enjoyed.
In the event that a company buys back shares from the centralized securities exchange market or over-the-counter market, the shares held by its affiliated enterprises defined under Article 369-1 of the Company Act or its directors, supervisors, managerial officers, or shareholders holding more than 10 percent of the company’s total shares, shall not be sold during the buyback period.
The resolution referred to in paragraph 1 and the implementation thereof shall be reported in the most recent shareholders meeting. This provision shall also apply if the shares are not bought back for any reason.
The shares held by persons prohibited from selling their shares as set out in paragraph 6 shall include shares held by their spouses and minor children and those held under the names of other parties.<br/>
Article 28-3
(Exercise of Warrants)
The public issued companies which offer or issue stock warrants, preferred shares with warrants or corporate bonds with warrants shall, upon subscribers exercising warrant rights in accordance with the subscription rules prescribed by the companies, be obligated to issue shares to them; the provisions of paragraph 7 of Article 156 of the Company Act which provides for identical price and paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 of Article 267 of the same act which allow the employees and original shareholders the rights to priority subscription to new issues shall not be applicable.
The articles of incorporation shall state the number of shares to be subscribed for under the subscription rules prescribed by the companies referred to in the preceding paragraph and shall not be subject to the restrictions under paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 278 of the Company Act.
Article 28-4
(Total Issue Amounts of Corporate Bonds)
The total issue amount of the corporate bonds offered and issued by a company which has issued stocks in accordance with this Act, unless the Competent Authority has obtained the approval of the central authority with jurisdiction over the business of the company, shall comply with the following provisions, and is not subject to the restrictions under Article 247 of the Company Act:
1. The total issue amount of secured corporate bonds, convertible corporate bonds, or corporate bonds with warrants may not exceed 200 percent of the company’s total assets less total liabilities.
2. The total issue amount of unsecured corporate bonds other than bonds under the preceding subparagraph may not exceed one-half of the company’s total assets less total liabilities.
Article 29
(Issues With a Guaranty Provided by a Financial Institution)
An issue of corporate bonds with a guaranty provided by financial institutions shall be deemed as a secured issue.
Article 30
(Documents Required for Application for Approval of Issuance)
In its application for approval to publicly offer and issue securities, an issuer is required to submit a prospectus, in addition to those items already required by the Company Act.
The information required to be supplied in the prospectus referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be prescribed by the Competent Authority.
The provisions of paragraph 1 shall apply mutatis mutandis where a company applies for listing on a stock exchange or trading over-the-counter trading of its securities; the rules governing the information required to be included in the prospectus shall be prescribed by the stock exchange and over-the-counter securities exchange, respectively, and submitted for approval by the Competent Authority.
Article 31
(Delivery of the Prospectus)
A prospectus shall be delivered to the subscriber of securities prior to public offering.
Any person which violates the preceding paragraph shall be held liable for the compensation of damages sustained by any bona fide counterpart.
Article 32
(Liability for False Information or Omission in the Prospectus)
In the event the prospectus referred to in the preceding Article contains false information or omissions in its material contents, the following persons, within the scope of their responsibilities, shall be held jointly liable with the issuer to any bona fide counterpart for damages resulted therefrom:
1. the issuer and its responsible persons.
2. any employees of the issuer who has signed and affixed his/her seal on the prospectus to certify its accuracy in whole or in part.
3. any underwriter with respect to such securities.
4. any certified public accountant, lawyer, engineer, or any professional or technical person who has signed and affixed his/her seal to certify in whole or in part, or to present his/her opinion, on the correctness of the prospectus.
With the exception of the issuer, the persons referred to in subparagraphs 1 through 3 of the preceding paragraph shall not be held liable if he/she can prove that he/she has exercised reasonable care, and that he/she has just cause to believe that with respect to portions of materials not certified by a person referred to in subparagraph 4, the material contents have no false information nor omissions, or that he/she has just causes to believe that the portion he/she certified was accurate; the persons referred to in subparagraph 4 of the preceding paragraph also shall not be held liable if he/she can prove that reasonable investigation has been exercised and that he/she has just causes to believe that the certification or the opinions rendered thereto were accurate.
Article 33
(Payment for Subscription of Stocks or Bonds)
The stock or bond subscriber shall deliver the payment due for the subscription of stocks or bonds, together with the subscription forms for stocks or bonds, to the collecting agent. Upon receipt of the payment, the collecting agent shall deliver to the subscriber a stock or bond certificate of payment signed and sealed by the issuer.
Both the certificate of payment referred to in the preceding paragraph and its counterpart shall be signed and sealed by the collecting agent, and the counterpart certificate shall be returned to the issuer.
In the issuance of new shares by an issuer under this Act, where the publicly announced period for payment of subscription pursuant to Article 273 is longer than one month, the failure of a subscriber to effect payment within the said period shall result in the forfeiture of his/her rights of subscription. The provisions of paragraph 3 of Article 266 of the Company Act applying mutatis mutandis the provisions of Article 142 of the Company Act shall not be applicable.
Article 34
(Delivery of Stocks or Corporate Bonds)
An issuer shall deliver the share certificates or bond certificates to the subscribers against the aforesaid certificates of payment as referred to in the preceding Article within thirty days from the date such stocks or bonds may be issued pursuant to the Company Act; public announcement shall be made prior to the delivery of such certificates.
The transfer of stock or bond certificates of payment beyond the period specified in the preceding paragraph shall be prohibited.
Article 35
(Certification)
Stock certificates or bond certificates issued by a company shall be duly certified. The regulations governing such certification shall be prescribed by the Competent Authority.
Article 36
(Financial Report Publication and Filing Deadlines)
Unless under special circumstances as otherwise provided by the Competent Authority, an issuer under this Act shall perform public announcement and registration with the Competent Authority as follows:
1. within three months after the close of each fiscal year, publicly announce and register with the Competent Authority financial reports duly signed or sealed by the chairperson, managerial officer, and accounting officer, and audited and attested by a certified public accountant, approved by the board of directors, and recognized by the supervisors.
2. within 45 days after the end of the first, second, and third quarters of each fiscal year publicly announce and register with the Competent Authority financial reports duly signed or sealed by the chairperson, managerial officer, and accounting officer, and reviewed by a certified public accountant and reported to the board of directors.
3. within the first ten days of each calendar month publicly announce and register with the Competent Authority the operating status for the preceding month.
Regulations governing the applicable scope of the special circumstances as referred to in the preceding paragraph, deadlines for public announcement and registration under such special circumstances, and other matters for compliance in connection therewith, shall be prescribed by the Competent Authority.
Within two days from the date of occurrence of any of the following events, any company referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall publicly announce and register with the Competent Authority:
1. the annual financial reports approved by the regular meeting of shareholders if such reports are inconsistent with the annual financial reports which have been announced to the public and filed with the Competent Authority.
2. any event which has a material impact on shareholders' rights and interests or securities prices.
The companies referred to in paragraph 1 shall prepare an annual report and distribute it to all shareholders prior to or at the regular meeting of shareholders. The particulars to be covered in the annual report, principles for its preparation, and other matters for compliance shall be prescribed by the Competent Authority.
Copies of the reports publicly announced and registered with the Competent Authority referred to in paragraphs 1 to 3, and the annual report referred to in the preceding paragraph shall, in case such securities are listed on the stock exchange, be sent to the stock exchange, or in the case of securities traded over-the-counter, sent to the agency (institution) designated by the Competent Authority, for review by the public.
During the reorganization procedure of an issuer, matters to be ratified by the board of directors and the supervisors under paragraph 1 shall be ratified by the reorganizers or the reorganization supervisors of the issuer.
The regular meeting of shareholders of a company whose stock is listed on the stock exchange or traded over-the-counter shall be held within six months after the close of each fiscal year, and the proviso of Article 170, paragraph 2 of the Company Act shall not apply.
In a year in which expires the term of the directors and supervisors of a company whose stock is listed on the stock exchange or traded over-the-counter, if the board of directors does not convene the regular meeting of shareholders to elect directors and supervisors for the new term in accordance with the preceding paragraph, the Competent Authority may ex officio set a deadline for the meeting to be held. If the meeting is not held by the deadline, the entire body of directors and supervisors shall ipso facto be dismissed from the time of expiration of the deadline.
Article 36-1
(Regulations Governing Major Financial or Operational Actions of Companies)
The Competent Authority shall prescribe rules governing the applicable scope, work procedures, required public announcements, required filings, and other matters for compliance for major financial or operational actions of public companies such as acquisition or disposal of assets, engaging in derivatives trading, extension of monetary loans to others, endorsements or guarantees for others, and disclosure of financial projections.
Article 37
(Regulation of CPA Auditing and Attestation)
Permission from the Competent Authority is required for a certified public accountant to audit and attest the financial reports referred to in Article 36; the criteria governing the said approval procedures shall be prescribed by the Competent Authority.
Except as otherwise provided by the Certified Public Accountant Act or other acts, a certified public accountant conducting audit and attestation under the preceding paragraph shall do so in compliance with the audit and attestation rules promulgated by the Competent Authority.
Depending upon the seriousness of mistake or omission committed by a certified public accountant in the attestation of the financial reports referred to in paragraph 1, the Competent Authority may impose any of the following sanctions:
1. warning.
2. suspension from practicing any attestation under this Act for a period of two years.
3. voidance of his/her attestation permission.
The financial reports referred to in paragraph 1 of Article 36 shall be placed at the company's office and branch units for the inspection or copying by the shareholders and creditors.
Article 38
(Protective Measures for Issues)
In order to protect public interests and the interests of investors, the Competent Authority may, prior to the approval of a public offer or issuance, either require the issuer, securities underwriters, or other related parties to submit reference materials or reports, or make a direct examination of relevant documents and accounts.
The Competent Authority may, at any time after the issuance of securities, order the issuer to submit financial and business reports or makes a direct examination of the financial and business conditions of the issuer.
Article 38-1
(Examination by the Competent Authority)
When the Competent Authority deems necessary, it may from time to time appoint a certified public accountant, lawyer, engineer, or any other professionals or technicians to examine the financial and business conditions and related documents, statements, and account books of the issuer, securities underwriter, or other related parties and to submit reports or opinions to the Competent Authority, at the expense of the examinee.
When shareholders who have been continuously holding, for a period of 1 year or longer, 3 percent or more of the total number of the outstanding shares of a company whose stock is listed on the stock exchange or traded over-the-counter deem that a specific matter materially damages the rights or interests of shareholders, they may apply to the Competent Authority with reasons, related evidence, and explanations of necessity, asking for inspection of the specific matter, related documents, and account books of the issuer. If the Competent Authority deems necessary, it will proceed pursuant to the preceding paragraph.
Article 39
(Penalties for Issuer Non-Compliance With Laws or Regulations)
During its examination of the disclosed financial reports and other reference materials or reports of the issuer, or by its direct investigation of the financial and business conditions of the issuer, the Competent Authority may, if it finds that the issuer has failed to comply with an act or regulation, issue a corrective order prescribing a period in which to correct the non-compliance, or it may additionally impose penalties pursuant to this Act.
Article 40
(Prohibition of Citing Approval for Offering to Support Promotional Appeals)
Approval of a public offering shall not be used as reference in the promotion as if that the application materials have been verified or that the value of the securities thereof has been guaranteed.
Article 41
(Order to Set Aside Special Reserve)
Where the Competent Authority deems necessary, it may order an issuer under this Act to set aside, in addition to the allocation for legal reserve required by law, a certain proportion of its earnings as special reserve.
Where an issuer under this Act files an application for permission to capitalize its legal reserve or capital reserve, it shall first make up its deficit. In the event that the capitalization is to be realized from capital reserve, a cap of certain percentage shall be provided.
Article 42
(Retroactive Handling of Procedures for Examination and Approval of Public Issuance)
An issuer shall file an application with the Competent Authority for commencement of the examination and approval procedures prescribed in this Act where it intends to have its stock that were not issued pursuant to this Act listed on a stock exchange or traded on the over-the-counter markets.
The trading, public tender offer, or brokerage of stocks not registered under the public issuance examination and approval procedures referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be prohibited.
Article 43
(Payment or Settlement of Securities Trades)
The payment or settlement of securities listed on the stock exchange or traded on over-the-counter markets shall be effected on a cash payment and actual delivery basis. The settlement period and the margin deposit to be paid in advance shall be prescribed by an order of the Competent Authority.
Settlement for transactions in securities held in the custody of a securities depository may be effected through book-entry transfer; the guidelines for operation of such transfer shall be prescribed by the Competent Authority.
In the event that securities held in the custody of a securities depository are the subject of a pledge, the delivery of the pledge created may be effected through book-entry transfer; Article 908 of the Civil Code shall not be applicable.
The securities held in the custody of a securities depository on a commingled basis shall be co-owned by the owners in accordance with the types and quantities of securities deposited by them. Upon withdrawal, the securities with the same type and the same quantity may be returned.
To handle custody business, a securities depository may enter the stocks and corporate bonds held in its custody into the issuer's shareholders register or corporate bond counterfoils in its own name. Before the stock or corporate bond issuer calls a shareholders meeting or corporate bondholders meeting, decides to distribute dividends and bonus or other benefits, or pays principal or interest, the notification by a securities depository to the issuer of the true name or title, domicile or residence of the owner of stocks or corporate bonds held in its custody, and the amount held by such owner shall have the effect that such information has been entered into the issuer s shareholders register or corporate bond counterfoils or that the stocks or corporate bonds have been delivered to the issuer; the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article 165, Article 176, Article 260, and paragraph 3 of Article 263 of the Company Act shall not be applicable.
The provisions in the preceding two paragraphs shall apply mutatis mutandis to government bonds and other securities.
Section II Purchase of Securities
Article 43-1
(Regulation of Public Tender Offers for Securities)
Any person who acquires, either individually or jointly with other persons, more than 5 percent of the total issued shares of a public company shall report such acquisition to the Competent Authority and make a public announcement; the same applies when there is any change in the specifics reported. Regulations governing the reporting of the number of shares acquired, the purpose and the sources of funds for the acquisition of the shares, changes to the specifics reported, public announcement, terms, and any other matters requiring compliance, shall be prescribed by the Competent Authority.
Any public tender offer to purchase the securities of a public company bypassing the centralized securities exchange market or the over-the-counter market may be conducted only after the offeror has reported to the Competent Authority, providing proof that it has the ability to perform payment of the tender offer consideration, and publicly announced the specific matters, except under the following circumstances:
1. The number of securities proposed for public tender offer by the offeror plus the total number of securities of the public company already obtained by the offeror and its related parties do not exceed 5 percent of the total number of voting shares issued by the public company.
2. The securities purchased by the offeror through the public tender offer are securities of a company of which the offeror holds more than 50 percent of the issued voting shares.
3. Other circumstances in conformity with the regulations prescribed by the Competent Authority.
Any person who independently or jointly with another person(s) proposes to acquire a certain percentage of the total issued shares of a public company or of the beneficial securities of a real estate investment trust under the Real Estate Securitization Act shall make the acquisition by means of a public tender offer, unless certain conditions are satisfied.
Regulations governing the scope, conditions, period, related parties, and particulars for filing and public announcement in connection with purchases of securities pursuant to paragraph 2, and the "certain percentage" and "conditions" in connection with the acquisition of a certain percentage of the total issued shares of a public company under the preceding paragraph shall be prescribed by the Competent Authority.
Any person who will make a public tender offer to purchase the beneficial securities of a real estate investment trust under the Real Estate Securitization Act may conduct the public tender offer only after filing with the Competent Authority and making a public announcement. Regulations governing the scope, conditions, period, related parties, and particulars for filing and public announcement in connection with purchases of real estate securitization beneficial securities, and the "certain percentage" and "conditions" in connection with the acquisition of beneficial securities of a real estate investment trust under paragraph 3 shall be prescribed by the Competent Authority.
Article 43-2
(Prohibition of Adverse Changes to Public Tender Offer Conditions)
A public tender offeror shall adopt uniform purchase conditions in the public tender offer, and may not make any of the following modifications to the purchase conditions:
1. Lower the public tender offer price.
2. Lower the proposed number of securities to be purchased through the public tender offer.
3. Shorten the public tender offer period.
4. Other particulars as prescribed by the Competent Authority.
A public tender offeror that violates the requirement of uniform purchase conditions set forth in the preceding paragraph shall be liable for damages to the tenderer up to the amount of the difference between the highest price paid under the public tender offer and the price paid to the tenderer, multiplied by the number of shares subscribed.
Article 43-3
(Prohibition During the Public Tender Offer Period of Purchase By Any Other Means of the Same Type of Securities of the Public Company or Beneficial Securities of the Real Estate Investment Trust Under the Real Estate Securitization Act)
From the date of filing and public announcement until the date of lapse of the public tender offer period, the public tender offeror and its related parties shall not, through a centralized securities exchange, over-the-counter market, any other market, or by any other means, purchase the same type of securities of the public company or beneficial securities of the real estate investment trust under the Real Estate Securitization Act.
A public tender offeror that violates the preceding paragraph shall be liable to the tenderer for damages up to the amount of the difference between the price paid for the securities purchased through other means and the price under the public tender offer, multiplied by the number of shares subscribed.
Article 43-4
(Public Tender Offer Prospectus)
The public tender offeror, unless buying back shares pursuant to Article 28-2, shall deliver the public tender offer prospectus to the tenderer upon the tenderer's request or upon the tenderer's deposit of the securities with the appointed institution.
The particulars to be published in the public tender offer prospectus referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be prescribed by the Competent Authority.
The provisions of Article 31, paragraph 2 and of Article 32 shall apply mutatis mutandis to paragraph 1 hereinabove.
Article 43-5
(Public Tender Offer Suspension Conditions and Amendments to the Public Tender Offer Report)
After a public tender offeror has initiated a public tender offer, it may not suspend the public tender offer except in any of the following circumstances, where the Competent Authority has granted approval:
1. The public company whose securities are being purchased encounters any material change in its financial or business condition and the offeror has presented evidence of the change.
2. The offeror becomes bankrupt, dies, is declared by a court to be under guardianship or assistance, or is required by a court ruling to undergo reorganization.
3. Other circumstances specified by the Competent Authority.
Where content reported or publicly announced by an offeror violates an act or regulation, the Competent Authority may, as necessary to protect the public interest, order the offeror to amend the particulars of the public tender offer report and carry out reporting and public announcement procedures anew.
If the offeror fails to acquire the proposed number of shares within the tender offer period or suspension of the public tender offer is approved by the Competent Authority, the offeror may not, within one year therefrom, carry out a public tender offer on the same company, unless it has legitimate reasons and has obtained approval from the Competent Authority.
If, after the public tender offer, the total number of issued shares of the acquired company held by the offeror and its related parties exceeds 50 percent of the total number of shares issued by the company, the offeror may, by a proposal in writing, with reasons stated therein, request the board of directors to convene a special meeting of shareholders; the restrictions set forth in Article 173, paragraph 1 of the Company Act shall not apply.
Section III Private Placement and Trading of Securities
Article 43-6
(Private Placement of Securities and Corporate Bonds)
A public company may carry out private placement of securities with the following persons upon adoption of a resolution by at least two-thirds of the votes of the shareholders present at a meeting of shareholders who represent a majority of the total number of issued shares; the restrictions of Article 28-1 and Article 139, paragraph 2 hereof and Article 267, paragraphs 1 to 3 shall not apply in such case:
1. Banks, bills finance enterprises, trust enterprises, insurance enterprises, securities enterprises, or other juristic persons or institutions approved by the Competent Authority.
2. Natural persons, juristic persons, or funds meeting the conditions prescribed by the Competent Authority.
3. Directors, supervisors, and managerial officers of the company or its affiliated enterprises.
The total number of placees under subparagraphs 2 and 3 of the preceding paragraph shall not exceed 35 persons.
A private placement of ordinary corporate bonds shall have a total issue amount not exceeding 400 percent of its total assets less total liabilities, unless the Competent Authority has obtained the approval of the central authority with jurisdiction over the business of the company; such a private placement is not subject to the restrictions under Article 247 of the Company Act, and may be carried out in installments within one year of the date of the resolution of the board of directors.
Upon the reasonable request by a person(s) under paragraph 1, subparagraph 2 prior to consummation of the private placement, the company shall bear the obligation to provide information on company finances, business, or other information relevant to the current private placement of securities.
Within 15 days of the date the share payments or payments of the price of the corporate bonds or other securities have been made in full, the company shall submit the relevant documentation in a report to the Competent Authority for recordation.
For private placements of securities conducted pursuant to paragraph 1, the following particulars shall be enumerated and explained in the notice to convene the shareholders meeting, and shall not be raised as extemporary motions:
1. The basis and rationale for the setting of the price.
2. The means of selecting the specified persons. Where the placees have already been arranged, the relationship between the placees and the company shall also be described.
3. The reasons necessitating the private placement.
For private placements of securities conducted pursuant to paragraph 1, where the relevant particulars of the private placement by installments have been enumerated and explained in the proposal to the shareholders meeting as provided in the subparagraphs of the preceding paragraph, the private placement may be carried out by installments within one year of the date of the resolution of the shareholders meeting.
Article 43-7
(Conduct Prohibited With Respect to the Private Placement and Resale of Securities)
Private placement and resale of securities may not be the subject of general advertisements or public inducements.
Any violation of the preceding paragraph shall be considered an act of public offering to the general public.
Article 43-8
(Conditions for Further Transfer of Privately Placed Securities)
Placees and purchasers of privately placed securities may not resell the securities except under the following circumstances:
1. where the privately placed securities are held by persons specified in Article 43-6, paragraph 1, subparagraph 1 and no securities of the same type as said privately placed securities are traded on the centralized securities exchange market or over-the-counter markets, and the securities are transferred to persons of the same qualifications;
2. where the privately placed securities are transferred to persons conforming to Article 43-6, paragraphs 1 and 2, at least one full year after the delivery date of the privately placed securities and within three years of said delivery date, subject to the restrictions prescribed by the Competent Authority concerning holding period and trading volume;
3. where three full years have elapsed since the delivery date;
4. where a transfer occurs by operation of act or regulation;
5. where it is a direct private transfer of securities not in excess of one trading unit, and the interval between any two such transfers is not less than three months.
6. where otherwise approved by the Competent Authority.
The restrictions on transfers of privately placed securities set forth in the preceding paragraph shall be conspicuously annotated on a company's share certificates, and shall be stated on the relevant written documentation delivered to the placee or purchaser.
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