Under previous legislation, for a foreign company to apply for primary listing on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE) or GreTai Securities Market (GTSM), the par value of its shares should be NT$10 per share ("Par Value Requirement"). To comply with the Par Value Requirement, a foreign company in practice would usually set up a holding company in a third area (e.g., the Cayman Islands) for the purpose of ownership restructuring. This implied an increase in business costs, prolonged listing process, and contingent tax risks, and would significantly raise a foreign company's funding costs. The Par Value Requirement therefore had adverse impact on foreign companies' willingness to apply for initial public offering in Taiwan.

After consultation with all relevant authorities, the Financial Supervisory Commission agreed to abolish the Par Value Requirement. From 2012, a foreign company wishing to apply for primary listing on TWSE or GSTM is no longer required to have its shares carry a par value of NT$10 per share and may issue no-par value shares.