The Audit Committee's terms of reference include the following
roles and responsibilities:
-- reviewing and making recommendations to the Board in relation
to the Company's published Financial Statements and other formal
announcements or regulatory returns relating to the Company's
financial performance, reviewing significant financial reporting
judgements contained in them;
-- reviewing and making recommendations to the Board in relation
to the Company's internal control (including internal financial
control) and risk management systems;
-- periodically considering the need for an internal audit function;
-- making recommendations to the Board in relation to the
appointment, re-appointment and removal of the external auditor and
approving the remuneration and terms of engagement of the external
auditor;
-- reviewing and monitoring the external auditor's independence
and objectivity and the effectiveness of the audit process, taking
into consideration relevant UK professional regulatory
requirements;
-- monitoring the extent to which the external auditor is
engaged to supply non-audit services; and
-- ensuring that the Investment Manager has arrangements in
place for the investigation and follow-up of any concerns raised
confidentially by staff in relation to propriety of financial
reporting or other matters.
The committee reviews its terms of reference and effectiveness
annually and recommends to the Board any changes required as a
result of the review. The terms of reference are available on
request from the Company Secretary.
The Board considers that the members of the committee
collectively have the skills and experience required to discharge
their duties effectively, and that the Chairman of the committee
meets the requirements of the UK Corporate Governance Code
(September 2012) as to relevant financial experience.
The Company does not have an independent internal audit function
as it is not deemed appropriate given the size of the Company and
the nature of the Company's business. However, the committee
considers annually whether there is a need for such a function and,
if there were, would recommend it be established.
In respect of the year ended 31 March 2014, the audit committee
discharged its responsibilities by:
-- reviewing and approving the external auditor's terms of
engagement and remuneration and independence;
-- reviewing the external auditor's plan for the audit of the Financial Statements, including identification of key risks and confirmation of auditor independence;
-- reviewing TPIM's statement of internal controls operated in
relation to the Company's business and assessing those controls in
minimising the impact of key risks;
-- reviewing periodic reports on the effectiveness of TPIM's compliance procedures;
-- reviewing the appropriateness of the Company's accounting policies;
-- reviewing the Company's half-yearly results and draft annual
Financial Statements prior to Board approval;
-- reviewing the external auditor's audit plan document to the
audit committee on the annual Financial Statements; and
-- reviewing the Company's going concern status.
The audit committee is responsible for considering and reporting
on any significant issues that arise in relation to the Financial
Statements.
The key areas of risk that have been identified and considered
by the audit committee in relation to the business activities and
the Financial Statements of the Company are as follows:
-- valuation and existence of unquoted investments; and
-- compliance with HM Revenue & Customs conditions for
maintenance of approved Venture Capital Trust status.
The audit committee relies on the Investment Manager to assess
the valuation of unquoted investments and the existence of those
investments. The Investment Manager has a director on the board of
all the investee companies and meets regularly with the other
directors and hence has an oversight of all the investments made.
The audit committee have reviewed the valuations and discussed them
with both the Investment Manager and the external auditor to
confirm the valuation of the unquoted investments and the existence
of those investments.
The Investment Manager has confirmed to the audit committee that
the conditions for maintaining the Company's status as an approved
Venture Capital Trust had been complied with throughout the year.
The position is also reviewed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in its
capacity as adviser to the Company on taxation matters.
The audit committee has considered the whole Report and Accounts
for the year ended 31 March 2014 and has reported to the Board that
it considers them to be fair, balanced and understandable providing
the information necessary for shareholders to assess the Company's
performance, business model and strategy.
Internal Control
The Directors have overall responsibility for keeping under
review the effectiveness of the Company's systems of internal
controls. The purpose of these controls is to ensure that proper
accounting records are maintained, the Company's assets are
safeguarded and the financial information used within the business
and for publication is accurate and reliable; such a system can
only provide reasonable and not absolute assurance against material
misstatement or loss. The system of internal controls is designed
to manage rather than eliminate the risk of failure to achieve
business objectives. As part of this process an annual review of
the internal control systems is carried out. The review covers all
material controls including financial, operational and risk
management systems. The Directors regularly review financial
results and investment performance with the Investment Manager.
The Directors have established an ongoing process designed to
meet the particular needs of the Company in identifying, evaluating
and managing risks to which it is exposed. The process adopted is
one whereby the Directors identify the risks to which the Company
is exposed including, among others, market risk, VCT qualifying
investment risk and operational risks which are recorded on a risk
register. The controls employed to mitigate these risks are
identified and the residual risks are rated taking into account the
impact of the mitigating factors. The risk register is updated
twice a year.
TPIM is engaged to provide administrative including accounting
services and retains physical custody of the documents of title
relating to investments.
The Directors regularly review the system of internal controls,
both financial and non-financial, operated by the Company and the
Investment Manager. These include controls designed to ensure that
the Company's assets are safeguarded and that proper accounting
records are maintained.
Internal control systems include the production and review of
quarterly bank reconciliations and management accounts. The VCT is
subject to a full annual audit. The auditors are the same auditors
as other VCTs managed by the Investment Manager. The Investment
Manager's procedures are subject to internal compliance checks.
Going Concern
After making the necessary enquiries, the Directors confirm that
they are satisfied that the Company has adequate resources to
continue in business for the foreseeable future. The Board receives
regular reports from the Investment Manager and the Directors
believe that, as no material uncertainties leading to significant
doubt about going concern have been identified, it is appropriate
to continue to apply the going concern basis in preparing the
Financial Statements. There are no borrowings or banking facilities
in place nor are they anticipated to be required in future.
Relations with Shareholders
The Board recognises the value of maintaining regular
communications with shareholders. In addition to the formal
business of the Annual General Meeting, an opportunity is given to
all shareholders to question the Board and the Investment Manager
on matters relating to the Company's operation and performance. The
Board and the Investment Manager will also respond to any written
queries made by shareholders during the course of the year and both
can be contacted at 4-5 Grosvenor Place, London, SW1X 7HJ or on 020
7201 8989.
Compliance Statement
The Listing Rules require the Board to report on compliance with
the UK Corporate Governance Code (September 2012) provisions
throughout the accounting period. With the exception of the limited
items outlined below, the Directors consider that the Company has
complied throughout the period under review with the provisions set
out in the UK Corporate Governance Code (September 2012).
1. New Directors do not receive a full, formal and tailored
induction on joining the Board. Such matters are addressed on an
individual basis as they arise (B.4.1).
2. Due to the size of the Board and the nature of the Company's
business, a formal performance evaluation of the Board, its
committees, the individual Directors and the Chairman has not been
undertaken. Specific performance issues are dealt with as they
arise (B.6.1, B.6.3).
3. The Company does not have a senior Independent Director. The
Board does not consider such an appointment appropriate for the
Company (A.4.1).
4. The Company conducts a formal review as to whether there is a
need for an internal audit function. The Directors do not consider
that an internal audit would be an appropriate control for a
Venture Capital Trust (C.3.6).
5. As all the Directors are Non-Executive, it is not considered
appropriate to appoint a Nomination or Remuneration Committee
(B.2.1 and D.2.1).
6. The Audit committee includes three Non-Executive Directors,
one of whom is not considered independent. The Board regularly
reviews the independence of its Directors but does not consider it
appropriate to appoint an additional Director to the Audit
committee (C.3.1).
On behalf of the Board
David Frank
Chairman
29 May 2014
Directors' Responsibility Statement
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