With regard to the connected transaction policy between Thai Union and its subsidiaries, the Audit Committee is entrusted to review the connected transactions that need to be approved by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall ensure that the Company is operating in compliance with the rules and regulations of the Capital Market Supervisory Board and the Stock Exchange of Thailand, including the acquisition and disposition of assets, as well as the accounting standards concerning the disclosure of information concerning connected parties and business, as defined by the Federation of Accounting Professional of Thailand. The Audit Committee will provide comments about the necessity and justification of such transactions for the best interest of the Company. Costs are charged at market price like transactions with any other outside parties (Arm’s Length Basis). In the case that the Audit Committee does not have the expertise in the connected transactions, the Company will provide an independent appraiser or external auditor of the Company to ensure that such price is reasonable to the Company before such transactions must be approved by the Board of Directors and shareholders. Directors and management personnel with potential conflicts of interest are not allowed to vote on the transactions. The connected transactions are disclosed under the Notes to Financial Statements for year ended 31 December, the annual report and form 56-1.
In undertaking future connected transactions, the Company will continue its product and service transactions with connected companies, since these represent the normal business practices in the same industry. The pricing of products and services follow market practices and/or the details in any commercial agreements. However, the Company will take into consideration its best interests and ensure that such price is reasonable to maximize the Company’s benefits. The Audit Committee and Audit Unit are to supervise and review the business transactions that are considered connected transactions according to the requirements, announcements, rules and regulations of the Stock Exchange of Thailand and Securities and Exchange Commission. Moreover, when there are transactions involving directors and management, they are not allowed to vote or attend the meeting.