Boards need to hold regular executive sessions of independent directors without management present.

The following is a summary of the significant ways that the Company’s corporate governance practices differ from the corporate governance standards required for controlled companies by the NYSE. The Company’s corporate governance practices may differ in non-material ways from the standards required by the NYSE that are not detailed here.

Non-management directors' meetings

Under NYSE standards, non-management directors must meet at regularly scheduled executive sessions without management present and, if such group includes directors who are not independent, a meeting should be scheduled once per year including only independent directors. Neither Luxembourg law nor the Company’s articles of association require the holding of such meetings and the Company does not have a set policy for these meetings. For additional information on board meetings, see Item 6.A. “Directors, Senior Management and Employees – Directors and Senior Management – Board of Directors”.

In addition, NYSE-listed companies are required to provide a method for interested parties to communicate directly with the non-management directors as a group. While the Company does not have such a method, it has set up a compliance line for investors and other interested parties to communicate their concerns directly to the members of our audit committee, all of whom are non-management, independent directors.

Audit committee

Under NYSE standards, listed U.S. companies are required to have an audit committee composed of independent directors that satisfies the requirements of Rule 10A-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act. Pursuant to the Company’s articles of association, as supplemented by the audit committee’s charter, for as long as our shares are listed on at least one regulated market, the Company must have an audit committee composed of at least three members, the majority of whom must qualify as independent directors (as defined in the articles of association), provided, however, that the composition and membership of the audit committee shall satisfy such requirements as are applicable to, and mandatory for, audit committees of issuers such as the Company under any law, rule or regulation applicable to the Company (including, without limitation, the applicable laws, rules and regulations of such regulated market or markets). The Company’s audit committee, which currently consists of four members, complies with such requirements. In accordance with NYSE standards, the Company has an audit committee entirely composed of independent directors for purposes of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act Rule 10A-3(b)(1). For more information on the Company’s audit committee see Item 6.C. “Directors, Senior Management and Employees– Board Practices – Audit Committee”.

Under NYSE standards, all audit committee members of listed U.S. companies are required to be financially literate or must acquire such financial knowledge within a reasonable period and at least one of its members shall have experience in accounting or financial administration. In addition, if a member of the audit committee is simultaneously a member of the audit committee of more than three public companies, and the listed company does not limit the number of audit committees on which its members may serve, then in each case the board must determine whether the simultaneous service would prevent such member from effectively serving on the listed company’s audit committee and shall publicly disclose its decision. Luxembourg law provisions on audit committee membership require only that at least one member of the audit committee have competence in accounting or auditing matters. The board of directors of the Company has determined that Ms. Tiuba is competent in accounting or auditing matters. In addition the membership of the audit committee as a whole has sufficient relevant knowledge of the business and financial experience to properly discharge its functions. The audit committee has the authority, from time to time and as it deems necessary, to engage persons that meet all of the attributes of a financial expert as consultants. See Item 16.A. “Audit Committee Financial Expert”.

Standards for evaluating director independence

Under the NYSE standards, the board is required, on a case by case basis, to express an opinion with regard to the independence or lack of independence of each individual director. Neither Luxembourg law nor the Company’s articles of association requires the board to express such an opinion. In addition, the definition of “independent” under the NYSE rules differ in some non-material respects from the definition contained in the Company’s articles of association. For information on our independent directors and the definition of “independent” under our articles of association see Item 6.A. “Directors, Senior Management and Employees – Directors and Senior Management – Board of Directors” and Item 6.C. “Directors, Senior Management and Employees – Board Practices – Audit Committee”.

Audit committee responsibilities

Pursuant to the Company’s articles of association, the audit committee shall assist the board of directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities relating to the integrity of its consolidated financial statements, the effectiveness of its systems of internal control, risk management and internal audit over financial reporting and the independence and performance of the external auditors. The audit committee is required to review material transactions (as defined by our articles of association) between the Company or its subsidiaries with related parties and also perform the other duties entrusted to it by the board. The NYSE requires certain matters to be set forth in the audit committee charter of U.S. listed companies.

The Company’s audit committee charter provides for many of the responsibilities that are expected from such bodies under the NYSE standard and in accordance with applicable Luxembourg law, including the Audit Reform Law; however, due to the Company’s equity structure and holding company nature, the charter does not contain all such responsibilities, including provisions related to procedures for the receipt and treatment of complaints (although he Company has established such procedures), funding for payment of administrative expenses and compensation to advisors (although the audit committee has the authority to engage outside advisors), setting hiring policies for employees or former employees of external auditors, and an annual performance evaluation of the audit committee. For more information on our audit committee see Item 6.C. “Directors, Senior Management and Employees – Board Practices – Audit Committee”.

Shareholder voting on equity compensation plans

Under NYSE standards, shareholders must be given the opportunity to vote on equity-compensation plans and material revisions thereto, except for employment inducement awards, certain grants, plans and amendments in the context of mergers and acquisitions, and certain specific types of plans. The Company does not currently offer equity based compensation to our directors, senior management or employees, and therefore does not have a policy on this matter. For more information on directors’ compensation see Item 6.B. “Directors, Senior Management and Employees – Compensation”.

Disclosure of corporate governance guidelines

NYSE-listed companies must adopt and disclose corporate governance guidelines. Neither Luxembourg law nor the Company’s articles of association require the adoption or disclosure of corporate governance guidelines. The Company’s board of directors follows corporate governance guidelines consistent with its equity structure and holding company nature, but the Company has not codified them and therefore does not disclose them on its website.

Code of business conduct and ethics

Under NYSE standards, listed companies must adopt and disclose a code of business conduct and ethics for directors, officers and employees, and promptly disclose any waivers of the code for directors or executive officers. Neither Luxembourg law nor the Company’s articles of association require the adoption or disclosure of such a code of conduct. The Company, however, has adopted a code of conduct that applies to all directors, officers and employees that is posted on its website and which complies with the NYSE’s requirements, except that it does not require the disclosure of waivers of the code for directors and officers. In addition, it has adopted a supplementary code of ethics for senior financial officers, which is also posted on our website. See Item 16.B. “Code of Ethics”.

Chief executive officer certification

A Chief Executive Officer of a U.S. company listed on the NYSE must annually certify that he or she is not aware of any violation by the company of NYSE corporate governance standards. In accordance with NYSE rules applicable to foreign private issuers, the Company’s chief executive officer is not required to provide the NYSE with this annual compliance certification. However, in accordance with NYSE rules applicable to all listed companies, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer must promptly notify the NYSE in writing after any of our executive officers becomes aware of any noncompliance with any applicable provision of the NYSE’s corporate governance standards. In addition, the Company must submit an executed written affirmation annually and an interim written affirmation upon the occurrence of any of the events listed in the foreign private issuer interim written affirmation form by the NYSE.

Why there is a need of independent director in board of director?

How many independent directors should a board have Singapore?

Who are required to have independent directors?

When there are 15 members of the board how many independent directors should be on the board?