ITEM 16G. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
We are a “foreign private issuer” (as such term is defined in Rule 3b–4 under the Exchange Act), and our Class A ordinary shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. We believe the following to be the significant differences between our corporate governance practices and those applicable to US companies under the New York Stock Exchange listing standards.
In general, under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, foreign private issuers, as defined under the Exchange Act, are permitted to follow home country corporate governance practices instead of the corporate governance practices of the New York Stock Exchange. Accordingly, we follow certain corporate governance practices of our home country, the Cayman Islands, in lieu of certain of the corporate governance requirements of the New York Stock Exchange. Specifically, we do not have a board of directors composed of a majority of directors who qualify as an “independent director” (as defined under rules of the New York Stock Exchange), a remuneration committee or nominating and corporate governance committee each composed entirely of “independent directors,” or an audit committee composed of at least three directors. The rules of the New York Stock Exchange also require that a listed company obtain, in specified circumstances, (1) shareholder approval to adopt and materially revise equity compensation plans, as well as (2) shareholder approval prior to an issuance (a) of more than 1% of its common stock (including derivative securities thereof) in either number or voting power to related parties, (b) of more than 20% of its outstanding common stock (including derivative securities thereof) in either number or voting power or (c) that would result in a change of control, none of which require shareholder approval under the Cayman Islands law. We also follow our home country laws in determining whether shareholder approval is required.
The foreign private issuer exemption does not modify the independence requirements for members of the audit committee as provided under the Exchange Act. We comply with these independence requirements, and each member of our audit committee qualifies as independent under Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act. In addition, each member of our audit committee qualifies as an “independent director” under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange.
If at any time we cease to be a “foreign private issuer” under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange and the Exchange Act, as applicable, our board of directors will take all action necessary to comply with applicable New York Stock Exchange corporate governance rules and shareholder approval requirements.
Due to our status as a foreign private issuer and our intent to follow certain home country corporate governance practices, our shareholders do not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all the New York Stock Exchange corporate governance standards and shareholder approval requirements.
ITEM 16H. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Not applicable.
ITEM 16I. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS.
Not applicable.
ITEM 16J. INSIDER TRADING POLICIES.
Our Statement of Insider Trading Policy governs purchases, sales and other dispositions of our securities by our directors, executive officers and employees, including those of or subsidiaries. We believe our Statement of Insider Trading Policy is reasonably designed to promote compliance with applicable insider trading laws, rules and regulations, and the NYSE listing standards applicable to us. Our Statement of Insider Trading Policy prohibits purchases, sales and other dispositions of our securities while in possession of material nonpublic information about us and from disclosing such information to others, and it prohibits trading on material nonpublic information of other companies obtained during the course of providing service to us. It also imposes additional restrictions on and preclearance and trading requirements for trading in our securities by directors, executive officers and other specified employees. The foregoing summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by our Statement of Insider Trading Policy, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 11.1 to this Annual Report.