Chapter 9

Due Diligence Guidelines –

Interviews of Major Business Stakeholders

6. The Interview and Follow-up

6.1 Standard

In conducting interviews, the sponsor should … (iv) hold an in-depth discussion with a view to obtaining adequate and satisfactory responses to all questions raised and follow up on any incomplete or unsatisfactory responses or outstanding matters; [Paragraph 17.6(f)(iv) of the Code of Conduct]

6.2 Recommended Steps

6.2.1 If there is material information which the person interviewed cannot provide or any other form of incomplete or unsatisfactory response, the sponsor should either arrange a follow-up interview with the interviewee (or another person within the entity that the interviewee is representing) or submit the question in writing, so that it can be responded to appropriately.

6.2.2 Information obtained in due diligence interviews should, where practical, be cross-checked for consistency with information provided by the listing applicant or obtained from other sources and for consistency with the information included in the Application Proof and subsequent versions of the listing document.

6.2.3 The sponsor should seek to identify issues arising from due diligence interviews that may require further investigation.