As COVID-19 has been spreading rapidly throughout the world, Taiwan’s disease prevention effort and achievement have won international recognition and approval. Pursuant to Article 36 of Securities and Exchange Act, about 1,950 TWSE-listed, TPEx-listed, or Emerging-Stock Companies are required to hold annual shareholder meetings before the end of June. These meetings are usually held indoors, which increases the risk of infection and is highly concerned by the authority. As a consequence, TDCC is mandated to collaborate the effort of each unit concerned to discuss relevant measures and supporting instructions.

To protect shareholders’ rights and ensure that shareholder meetings take place smoothly with disease prevention measures, TDCC has invited and conferred with stock affairs association, stock transfer agencies, representatives of listed companies, and peripheral organizations on March 4, 2020 for “Disease Prevention Operating Guideline for Shareholder Meetings”, which serves as corporations’ reference for shareholder meeting arrangements during disease prevention period.

The aforementioned disease prevention guideline is based on both “Guidelines for large-scale public gatherings in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak” by Taiwan Centers for Disease Control and stock affairs operating practices. The guideline covers venue facility arrangement prior to the shareholder meeting, path planning and disease prevention operating principles on the day of the meeting, and supportive measures as well as backup plans for the change of the meeting venue due to the disease. In addition, shareholders who attend face-to-face meetings shall wear masks and agree to have their temperatures taken. If there are any shareholders with forehead temperature above 37.5 °C or ear temperature above 38 °C, they shall agree to enter the quarantine area designated by the corporation and are advised to rest at home or seek medical treatment. The corporation is also obligated to clearly specify these disease prevention measures in the meeting notice so that shareholders can have a complete understanding of these measures. The authority requires that every corporation adhere to the aforementioned operating guideline and regulate these shareholder meeting details ahead of time to conclude the meeting successfully. TDCC indicates that the content of the guideline is dependent on the announcement of Taiwan Centers for Disease Control and is subject to rolling adjustment.

Under such a dire pandemic outbreak, the authority again appeals that all TWSE-listed, TPEx-listed, or emerging-stock companies actively promote e-Voting among shareholders. Through e-Voting, shareholders don’t have to attend face-to-face meetings in person and thus reduce the risk of infection. Meanwhile, the adoption of e-Voting is regarded the same as physical attendance, and shareholders’ rights are equally protected.

Attachment: Disease Prevention Operating Guideline for Shareholder Meetings