Although there is no specific statutory corporate governance code applicable to Irish collective investment schemes whose shares are admitted to trading on the Irish Stock Exchange (“ISE”), the Irish Funds Industry Association (“IFIA”) has published a corporate governance code (“IFIA Code”) that may be adopted on a voluntary basis by Irish authorised collective investments schemes. This code became effective from 1 January 2012, with a twelve month transitional period. It should be noted that the IFIA Code reflects existing corporate governance practises imposed on Irish authorised collective investment schemes, as noted above.
On 19 December 2012, the Board of Directors voluntarily adopted the IFIA Code as the Company’s corporate governance code. The Board of Directors has assessed the measures included in the IFIA Code as being consistent with its corporate governance practises and procedures for the financial year. The code is available at
http://www.irishfunds.ie/regulatory-technical/Corporate-Governance
In addition to the IFIA Code, the Company is subject to corporate governance practices imposed by:
The Board of Directors of the Sanlam Funds is responsible for establishing and maintaining internal control and risk management system for the Sanlam Funds in relation to the financial reporting process. Such systems are designed to manage rather than eliminate the risk of error or fraud in achieving the Sanlam Funds’ financial reporting objectives and can only provide reasonable and not absolute assurance against material misstatement and loss. The Board of Directors has delegated this duty to SAMI.
SAMI is appointed as administrator to maintain the books and records of the Sanlam Funds. SAMI is authorised and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and must comply with the rules imposed by the Central Bank of Ireland. SAMI also monitors and evaluates the external auditor’s performance, qualifications and independence.
SAMI has procedures in place to ensure all relevant books of accounts are properly maintained and are readily available, including production of annual and half-yearly financial statements. The annual financial statements of the Sanlam Funds are required to be approved by the Board of Directors of the Sanlam Funds and the annual and half yearly financial statements are required to be filed with the Central Bank of Ireland and the ISE.
The statutory financial statements are required to be audited by the independent auditors who report annually to the Board on their findings. The Board evaluates and discusses significant accounting and reporting issues as the need arises.