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CStone Pharmaceuticals — AGM Information 2015
Apr 1, 2015
50715_rns_2015-04-01_b4d5a593-bf67-4b4c-8629-e345f717a6e6.pdf
AGM Information
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THIS CIRCULAR IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION
If you are in any doubt about any of the contents of this circular or as to what action to take in relation to this circular, you should consult your licensed securities dealer, bank manager, solicitor, professional accountant or other professional adviser.
If you have sold or transferred all your shares in Yanzhou Coal Mining Company Limited , you should at once hand this circular and the enclosed form of proxy and reply slip to the purchaser(s) or transferee(s) or to the bank, or a licensed securities dealer or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected for transmission to the purchaser(s) or transferee(s).
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited take no responsibility for the contents of this circular, make no representation as to its accuracy or completeness and expressly disclaim any liability whatsoever for any loss howsoever arising from or in reliance upon the whole or any part of the contents of this circular.
兗州煤業股份有限公司
YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED
(A joint stock limited company incorporated in the People’s Republic of China with limited liability)
(Stock Code: 1171)
(1) PROPOSED RENEWAL OF LIABILITY INSURANCE FOR DIRECTORS, SUPERVISORS AND SENIOR OFFICERS;
(2) PROPOSAL FOR RE-APPOINTMENT OF EXTERNAL AUDITING FIRM FOR THE YEAR 2015;
- (3) PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION; (4) PROPOSAL TO AUTHORIZE THE COMPANY TO CARRY OUT DOMESTIC AND OVERSEAS FINANCING ACTIVITIES;
(5) PROPOSAL FOR THE PROVISION OF FINANCIAL GUARANTEES TO THE SUBSIDIARIES AND GRANTING OF AUTHORIZATION TO YANCOAL AUSTRALIA AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES TO PROVIDE GUARANTEES FOR THE DAILY OPERATION OF THE SUBSIDIARIES OF THE COMPANY IN AUSTRALIA; AND (6) PROPOSAL FOR THE GENERAL MANDATES TO ISSUE H SHARES AND REPURCHASE H SHARES
The notices convening the AGM, the A Shareholders’ Class Meeting and the H Shareholders’ Class Meeting to be held at the headquarters of the Company, 298 South Fushan Road, Zoucheng, Shandong Province 273500, the PRC at 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 11:30 a.m. respectively on Friday, 22 May 2015 were published on 27 March 2015.
Whether or not you are able to attend the respective meetings in person, you are strongly advised to complete and sign the enclosed form of proxy in accordance with the instructions printed thereon. For holders of H Shares of the Company, the proxy form shall be lodged with the Company’s H Share Registrar, Hong Kong Registrars Limited at 17M, Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong. For holders of A Shares, the proxy form shall be lodged at the Office of the Secretary to the Board at 298 South Fushan Road, Zoucheng, Shandong Province 273500, the PRC as soon as possible but in any event not later than 24 hours before the time appointed for the holding of the relevant meeting(s) or any adjourned meeting(s) (as the case may be).
Completion and return of the form of proxy will not preclude you from attending and voting in person at the meeting(s) or any adjourned meeting(s) should you so wish.
2 April 2015
CONTENTS
| Pages | ||
|---|---|---|
| Definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 1 |
| Letter from the Board | ||
| Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 5 |
| Proposed Renewal of the Liability Insurance | ||
| of Directors, Supervisors and Senior Officers . . . . . | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 5 |
| Proposal for Re-appointment of External Auditing Firm for the Year 2015 . . . . . . | 5 | |
| Proposed Amendments to the Articles of Association | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 6 |
| Proposal to authorize the Company to Carry Out | ||
| Domestic and Overseas Financing Activities . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 7 |
| Proposal for the Provision of Financing Guarantees to | ||
| the Subsidiaries and Granting of Authorization to | ||
| Yancoal Australia and its Subsidiaries to Provide Guarantees | ||
| for the Daily Operation of the Subsidiaries of | ||
| the Company in Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 8 |
| General Mandate to Issue H Shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 9 |
| General Mandate to Repurchase H Shares . . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 9 |
| AGM, A Shareholders’ Class Meeting and H Shareholders’ Class Meeting . . . . . . | 11 | |
| Closure of H Share Register of Members of the Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 13 | |
| Recommendation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 13 |
| Additional Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 14 |
| Appendix I – Explanatory Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 15 |
– i –
DEFINITIONS
In this circular, unless the context requires otherwise, the following expressions have the following meaning:
-
“ADSs” American depositary shares, each representing ownership of 10 H Shares, which are listed on New York Stock Exchange Inc.;
-
“AGM” the 2014 annual general meeting of the Company to be held at the headquarters of the Company, 298 South Fushan Road, Zoucheng, Shandong Province 273500, the PRC at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, 22 May 2015;
-
“Articles of Association” the articles of association of the Company;
-
“A Share(s)” domestic shares in the ordinary share capital of the Company, with a nominal value of RMB1.0 each, which are subscribed for and fully paid in RMB and are listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange;
-
“A Shareholders” holders of A Shares;
-
“A Shareholders’ Class Meeting” the 2015 first class meeting of the holders of A Shares to be held at the headquarters of the Company, 298 South Fushan Road, Zoucheng, Shandong Province 273500, the PRC at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, 22 May 2015 to approve the Repurchase Mandate;
-
“AUD”
-
Australian dollars, the lawful currency of Australia;
-
“Board” the board of Directors of the Company;
-
“close associate(s)” has the meaning ascribed thereto under the Hong Kong Listing Rules;
-
“Company” 兗州煤業股份有限公司, Yanzhou Coal Mining Company Limited, a joint stock limited company incorporated in the PRC and the H Shares, ADSs and A Shares of which are listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, New York Stock Exchange Inc. and the Shanghai Stock Exchange, respectively;
-
“Company Law” Company Law of the People’s Republic of China;
-
“core connected person(s)” has the meaning ascribed thereto under the Hong Kong Listing Rules;
“CSRC” China Securities Regulatory Commission (中國證券監 督管理委員會);
– 1 –
DEFINITIONS
- “Directors”
the directors of the Company;
-
“Group” the Company and its subsidiaries;
-
“H Share(s)” overseas listed foreign invested shares in the ordinary share capital of the Company with a nominal value of RMB1.00 each, which are listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange;
-
“H Shareholders” holders of H Shares;
-
“H Shareholders’ Class Meeting”
-
the 2015 first class meeting of the holders of H Shares to be held at the headquarters of the Company, 298 South Fushan Road, Zoucheng, Shandong Province 273500, the PRC at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, 22 May 2015 to approve the Repurchase Mandate;
-
“HK$”
-
Hong Kong dollars, the lawful currency of Hong Kong;
-
“Hong Kong”
-
the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the PRC;
-
“Hong Kong Listing Rules”
-
the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange;
-
“Hong Kong Stock Exchange” The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited;
-
“Issue Mandate”
-
subject to the conditions set out in the proposed resolution approving the Issue Mandate at the AGM, the general mandate given to the Board to exercise the power to issue H Shares up to a maximum of 20% of the aggregate nominal value of H shares in issue as at the date of the passing of the resolution;
-
“Latest Practicable Date”
-
27 March 2015, being the latest practicable date of ascertaining certain information contained in this circular before the issuing of this circular;
-
“PRC”
the People’s Republic of China;
- “Repurchase Mandate”
subject to the conditions set out in each of the proposed special resolution approving the Repurchase Mandate at the AGM, the A Shareholders’ Class Meeting and the H Shareholders’ Class Meeting, the general mandate given to the Board to exercise the power to repurchase H Shares not exceeding 10% of the aggregate nominal value of H Shares in issue as at the date of the passing of the resolution;
– 2 –
DEFINITIONS
- “RMB”
Renminbi, the lawful currency of the PRC;
-
“SAFE” State Administration of Foreign Exchange of the PRC;
-
“SFO” the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Chapter 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong), as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time;
-
“Shareholder(s)” the A Shareholder(s) and H Shareholder(s);
-
“Shares”
-
A Shares and H Shares;
-
“subsidiaries” has the meaning ascribed thereto under the Hong Kong Listing Rules;
-
“substantial shareholder” has the meaning ascribed thereto under the Hong Kong Listing Rules;
-
“Supervisor(s)” supervisors of the Company;
-
“Supervisory Committee” supervisory committee of the Company;
-
“Takeovers Code”
-
The Hong Kong Code on Takeovers and Mergers and Share Buy-backs;
-
“US$”, “USD” or “US dollars”
-
United States dollars, the lawful currency of the United States of America;
-
“Yancoal Australia”
-
Yancoal Australia Limited, a company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of Australia in 2004 and a 78% owned subsidiary of the Company, the shares of Yancoal Australia are listed on the Australian Securities Exchange;
-
“Yankuang Group” or “Parent Company”
-
Yankuang Group Corporation Limited, a wholly State-owned corporation and the controlling shareholder of the Company holding directly and indirectly approximately 56.52% of the total issued share capital of the Company as at the Latest Practicable Date;
-
“%”
-
per cent.
-
Note: Amounts in Hong Kong dollars have been translated from Renminbi for the convenience of the readers only. And unless otherwise indicated, the translation has been made at the rate of HK$1.00 = RMB0.79 for the purposes of illustration only. The Company makes no representation that any amount of Renminbi has been, could have been or may be exchanged into Hong Kong dollars at such rate or at any other rate or at all.
– 3 –
LETTER FROM THE BOARD
兗州煤業股份有限公司 YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED
(A joint stock limited company incorporated in the People’s Republic of China with limited liability)
(Stock Code: 1171)
Directors: Registered office: Li Xiyong 298 South Fushan Road Yin Mingde Zoucheng Wu Yuxiang Shandong Province Zhang Baocai PRC Wu Xiangqian Postal Code: 273500 Jiang Qingquan Principal place of business in Hong Kong: Independent non-executive Directors: Rooms 2008-12 Wang Lijie 20/F., The Center Jia Shaohua 99 Queen’s Road Central Wang Xiaojun Hong Kong Xue Youzhi
2 April 2015
To the Shareholders
Dear Sir or Madam,
(1) PROPOSED RENEWAL OF LIABILITY INSURANCE FOR DIRECTORS, SUPERVISORS AND SENIOR OFFICERS;
(2) PROPOSAL FOR RE-APPOINTMENT OF EXTERNAL AUDITING FIRM FOR THE YEAR 2015;
(3) PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION;
(4) PROPOSAL TO AUTHORIZE THE COMPANY TO CARRY OUT DOMESTIC AND OVERSEAS FINANCING ACTIVITIES;
(5) PROPOSAL FOR THE PROVISION OF FINANCIAL GUARANTEES TO THE SUBSIDIARIES AND GRANTING OF AUTHORIZATION TO YANCOAL AUSTRALIA AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES TO PROVIDE GUARANTEES FOR THE DAILY OPERATION OF THE SUBSIDIARIES OF THE COMPANY IN AUSTRALIA; AND
(6) PROPOSAL FOR THE GENERAL MANDATES TO ISSUE H SHARES AND REPURCHASE H SHARES
– 4 –
LETTER FROM THE BOARD
I. INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this circular is to provide you with information relating to (1) the proposed renewal of the liability insurance of Directors, Supervisors and senior officers; (2) the proposal for re-appointment of external auditing firm for the year 2015; (3) the proposed amendments to the Articles of Association; (4) proposal to authorize the Company to carry out domestic and overseas financing activities; (5) the proposal for the provision of financial guarantees to the subsidiaries and granting of authorization to Yancoal Australia and its subsidiaries to provide guarantees for the daily operation of the subsidiaries of the Company in Australia; and (6) the proposal for the general mandates to issue H Shares and repurchase H Shares.
II. PROPOSED RENEWAL OF THE LIABILITY INSURANCE OF DIRECTORS, SUPERVISORS AND SENIOR OFFICERS
It is proposed that the Company will continue to buy liability insurance of a maximum insured amount of USD15 million for the Directors, Supervisors and senior officers of the Company.
III. PROPOSAL FOR RE-APPOINTMENT OF EXTERNAL AUDITING FIRM FOR THE YEAR 2015
It is proposed that Grant Thornton Jingdu Tianhua (including Grant Thornton (special general partnership) and Grant Thornton Hong Kong Limited) and Shine Wing Certified Public Accountants (special general partnership) be re-appointed as the Company’s international and domestic auditors for the year 2015, respectively, until the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company, and their remuneration arrangements be approved.
It is proposed that the remuneration to be paid to auditors in 2015 is as follows:
-
(1) the aggregate auditing fees for the domestic business would be RMB7.80 million, among which RMB3.90 million for each of Shine Wing Certified Public Accountants and Grant Thornton Jingdu Tianhua;
-
(2) the auditing fees for the overseas business would be AUD1.35 million; and
-
(3) the Board be authorized to make decisions in respect of payment of additional service fees.
– 5 –
LETTER FROM THE BOARD
IV. PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
It is proposed to add operations of “property management service”, “landscaping’, “sewage treatment” and “heat supply” to the business scope of the Company, and to make corresponding amendments to paragraph 2 of Article 12 of the Article of Association.
Paragraph 2 of Article 12
(1) Details of the amendments
The original paragraph 2 of Article 12 of the existing Articles of Association provides the following:
“The business scope of the company includes: selection and sale of coal (among others, the export of coal should be made through companies with coal export right according to the existing state regulations); transportation of goods through self-owned railway within the mining area; transportation of goods through highway; operation of ports; manufacture, sale, lease, repair, installation and dismantlement of machinery and equipments in the mining area; production and sale of other mining materials; sale and lease of electronic equipments and sale of parts; sale of metallic materials, electronic products, construction materials, timber, rubber products and methanol; composition of mining, science and technological services; property development within the mining areas, property leasing and provision of services such as dining and accommodation; production and sale of coal residual stones as construction materials; sale of coke and iron ore; import and export of goods and technology; warehousing; automobile repairs; labour dispatch.”
The above article is to be amended as follows:
“The business scope of the company includes: selection and sale of coal (among others, the export of coal should be made through companies with coal export right according to the existing state regulations); transportation of goods through self-owned railway within the mining area; transportation of goods through highway; operation of ports; manufacture, sale, lease, repair, installation and dismantlement of machinery and equipments in the mining area; production and sale of other mining materials; sale and lease of electronic equipments and sale of parts; sale of metallic materials, electronic products, construction materials, timber, rubber products and methanol; composition of mining, science and technological services; property development within the mining areas, property leasing and provision of services such as dining and accommodation; production and sale of coal residual stones as construction materials; sale of coke and iron ore; import and export of goods and technology; warehousing; automobile repairs; labour dispatch; property management service, landscaping, sewage treatment; heat supply.”
– 6 –
LETTER FROM THE BOARD
(2) Basis of the Amendments
In order to protect the property management service for the Company’s external development units, and at the same time achieve the realization of external income and efficiency of Jidong property service centre, the Company expanded the business scope by including operations of “property management service”, “landscaping”, “sewage treatment” and “heat supply”, the above amendments are corresponding amendments to paragraph 2 of Article 12 of the Articles of Association.
V. PROPOSAL TO AUTHORIZE THE COMPANY TO CARRY OUT DOMESTIC AND OVERSEAS FINANCING ACTIVITIES
In order to optimise the Company’s debt structure, reduce the debt ratio of the Company and satisfy the capital requirements of the Company’s production and operations and various projects, subject to the relevant laws and regulations as well as listing rules in places where the Company’s securities are listed, the Board proposes:
- to approve the Company or its controlled subsidiaries to carry out domestic or overseas financing activities of an aggregate amount not exceeding RMB30 billion within the term of authorization and to authorize the Board to determine the best financing currencies and method(s) depending on market conditions, which are restricted to the following financing methods only: bank loans, corporate bonds, short-term bonds, super-short-term bonds, perpetual bonds, private placement bonds, perpetually renewable medium-term notes, operating leases, financing leases, transfer of right of return over assets, assets securitization, asset-backed-notes, private placement of insurance market capital and medium-term notes.
The Company will comply with the necessary approval procedure and information disclosure requirement under the regulatory requirements in places where the Company’s securities are listed when implementing the specific financing activities.
-
that the AGM authorizes the Chairman of the Board to, in accordance with the best interest of the Company and the relevant laws and regulations as well as the opinions and suggestions of the regulatory authorities, deal with all matters in respect of the abovementioned financing activities, which include but are not limited to the following matters:
-
(1) to determine and adjust the plan in relation to such financing activities, including but not limited to the determination of the suitable entity to carry out the financing activities, amount and method of the financing activities, terms and all other matters relevant to such financing activities, in accordance with the laws, rules, and the relevant regulations of regulatory authorities after having taken into account of the circumstances of the Company and market conditions;
– 7 –
LETTER FROM THE BOARD
-
(2) to determine the engagement of intermediaries and to sign, implement all agreements and documents in respect of the financing activities and to make relevant disclosures of information;
-
(3) to file, report, register and apply for approval of any documents in respect of the financing activities pursuant to the relevant requirements of government bodies, domestic and overseas regulatory authorities, and to deal with other relevant matters; and
-
(4) that the aforementioned authorization shall be valid after it is approved by the Shareholders at the AGM until the date of the convening of the next annual general meeting of the Company. After the expiry of the term of authorization, save and except where the circumstances require the person(s) so authorized to exercise his powers in relation to any contracts, agreements or decisions regarding the financial activities that have been made within the term of authorization, the powers granted hereunder shall not be exercised thereafter.
-
VI. PROPOSAL FOR THE PROVISION OF FINANCIAL GUARANTEES TO THE SUBSIDIARIES AND GRANTING OF AUTHORIZATION TO YANCOAL AUSTRALIA AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES TO PROVIDE GUARANTEES FOR THE DAILY OPERATION OF THE SUBSIDIARIES OF THE COMPANY IN AUSTRALIA
The Board proposes:
-
to approve the provision of financial guarantee(s) of an aggregate amount not exceeding US$2 billion by the Company to its wholly-owned and controlled subsidiaries;
-
that in order to satisfy the needs of ordinary operations of the Company’s assets and subsidiaries in Australia and further reduce the operating cost, in accordance with the Australian Corporate Law and relevant laws and regulations, approve the provision of guarantees for the daily operation by Yancoal Australia and its subsidiaries to subsidiaries of the Company in Australia of an aggregate amount not exceeding AUD500 million.
-
to authorize the Chairman of the Board to, in accordance with the best interest of the Company and the relevant laws and regulations as well as the opinions and suggestions of the regulatory authorities, deal with all matters in respect of the abovementioned guarantees, which include but are not limited to the following matters:
-
(1) to determine the appropriate subsidiaries which will be provided with the guarantees based on the financing needs;
– 8 –
LETTER FROM THE BOARD
-
(2) to determine the exact terms and conditions of the guarantee agreements, which include but are not limited to the amount, term, scope and method of guarantee; and executing the guarantee agreement(s) and other relevant legal documents; and
-
(3) to deal with the filing and reporting of documents and information in respect of the guarantee(s) and other relevant matters.
The aforementioned authorization shall be valid after it is approved by the Shareholders at the AGM until the date of convening of the next annual general meeting of the Company. After the expiry of the term of authorization, save and except where the circumstances require the person(s) so authorized to exercise his powers in relation to any contracts, agreements or decisions regarding the financial guarantees that have been made within the term of authorization, the powers granted hereunder shall not be exercised thereafter.
VII. GENERAL MANDATE TO ISSUE H SHARES
To ensure flexibility and to grant discretion to the Board to issue H Shares, the Company will put forward a special resolution at the AGM to grant a general mandate to the Board to allot, issue and deal with new H Shares of up to a maximum of 20% of the aggregate nominal value of H Shares in issue as at the date of passing of the resolution.
VIII.GENERAL MANDATE TO REPURCHASE H SHARES
To ensure flexibility and to grant discretion to the Directors to repurchase any H Shares in appropriate circumstances (including where such repurchase may lead to an enhancement of the net asset value per Share and/or the earnings per Share), the Company will put forward a special resolution at the AGM, the A Shareholders’ Class Meeting and the H Shareholders’ Class Meeting, respectively, to grant the Repurchase Mandate to the Board to repurchase H Shares not exceeding 10% of the aggregate nominal value of H Shares in issue as at the date of passing of the resolutions.
The Company Law (to which the Company is subject) provides that a joint stock limited company incorporated in the PRC may not repurchase its shares unless such repurchase is effected for the purpose of (a) reducing its share capital; (b) in connection with a merger between itself and another entity that holds its shares; (c) granting shares as reward to the staff of the company; or (d) the repurchase is made at the request of its shareholders who disagree with shareholders’ resolutions in connection with merger or division of the Company. The Articles of Association provide that, subject to obtaining the approval of the relevant regulatory authorities and complying with the Articles of Association, share repurchase may be effected by the Company for the purpose of reducing its share capital, in connection with a merger between itself and another entity that holds its shares, as reward to the staff of the Company or in circumstances permitted by law or administrative regulations.
– 9 –
LETTER FROM THE BOARD
The Hong Kong Listing Rules permit shareholders of a PRC joint stock limited company to grant a general mandate to the board of directors to repurchase H shares of such company that is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Such mandate is required to be given by way of a special resolution passed by shareholders in a general meeting and special resolutions passed by holders of A shares and holders of H shares in separate class meetings.
As the H Shares are traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in Hong Kong dollars and the price payable by the Company for any repurchase of H Shares will, therefore, be paid in Hong Kong dollars, the approvals of SAFE and other relevant government authorities are required for any repurchase of H shares.
In accordance with the requirements of the Articles of Association applicable to capital reduction, when the Board decides to exercise the Repurchase Mandate, the Company will have to notify its creditors in writing of the passing of such special resolutions for the general mandate to repurchase the Shares and the possible reduction of the registered capital of the Company. The Company shall notify its creditors within 10 days after the passing of such special resolutions and also by way of publication of announcement in newspaper at three occasions within 30 days after the passing of such special resolutions. Creditors then have a period of up to 30 days after the Company’s written notification or if no such notification has been received, up to 45 days after the first publication of the newspaper announcement to require the Company to repay amounts due to them or to provide guarantees in respect of such amounts.
The Repurchase Mandate will be conditional upon (a) the special resolution for the grant of the Repurchase Mandate being approved at the AGM; (b) the special resolution for the grant of the Repurchase Mandate being approved at the H Shareholders’ Class Meeting and the A Shareholders’ Class Meeting; (c) the approvals of the SAFE and/or any other regulatory authorities (if applicable) as required by the laws, rules and regulations of the PRC being obtained; and (d) the Company not being required by any of its creditors to repay or to provide guarantee in respect of any amount due to any of them (or if the Company is so required by any of its creditors, the Company having, in its absolute discretion, repaid or provided guarantee in respect of such amount) pursuant to the provisions of the Articles of Association. If the Company determines to repay any amount to any of its creditors in circumstances described under condition (d) above, it expects to do so out of its internal resources. If the above conditions are not fulfilled, the Repurchase Mandate will not be exercised by the Board.
The Repurchase Mandate would expire on the earlier of (a) the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company following the passing of the relevant special resolutions at the AGM, the A Shareholders’ Class Meeting and the H Shareholders’ Class Meeting; (b) the expiration of a 12-month period following the passing of the relevant special resolutions at the AGM, the A Shareholders’ Class Meeting and the H Shareholders’ Class Meeting; or (c) the date on which the authority conferred by the relevant special resolutions is revoked or varied by a special resolution of the Shareholders at a general meeting or by H Shareholders or A Shareholders at their respective class meetings.
– 10 –
LETTER FROM THE BOARD
The total number of H Shares which may be repurchased pursuant to the Repurchase Mandate shall not exceed 10% of the aggregate nominal value of H Shares in issue as at the date of passing of the special resolutions approving the Repurchase Mandate.
Details of the special resolutions to be proposed at the AGM, the A Shareholders’ Class Meeting and the H Shareholders’ Class Meeting in relation to the granting of the Repurchase Mandate to the Board are set out respectively in the notice of the AGM, the notice of the A Shareholders’ Class Meeting and the notice of the H Shareholders’ Class Meeting.
Explanatory statement
An explanatory statement containing all relevant information relating to the Repurchase Mandate is set out in Appendix I to this circular. The information in the explanatory statement is to provide you with the information reasonably necessary to enable you to make an informed decision on whether to vote for or against the resolution to grant to the Board the Repurchase Mandate.
IX. AGM, A SHAREHOLDERS’ CLASS MEETING AND H SHAREHOLDERS’ CLASS MEETING
The notices convening the AGM, the A Shareholders’ Class Meeting and the H Shareholders’ Meeting were published on 27 March 2015.
The following resolutions will be proposed to the Shareholders at the AGM:
As ordinary resolutions:
-
To consider and approve the working report of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2014, details of which are set out in the section headed “Board of Directors’ Report” in the 2014 annual report of the Company;
-
To consider and approve the working report of the Supervisory Committee for the year ended 31 December 2014, details of which are set out in the notice of 2014 annual general meeting;
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To consider and approve the audited financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries for the year ended 31 December 2014, details of which are set out in the 2014 annual report of the Company;
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To consider and approve the proposed profit distribution plan of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2014 and to authorize the Board to distribute an aggregate cash dividend of RMB98.368 million (tax inclusive), equivalent to RMB0.02 (tax inclusive) per Share to the Shareholders;
-
To consider and approve the remuneration of the Directors and Supervisors for the year ending 31 December 2015, details of which are set out in the announcement of the Company dated 27 March 2015 regarding the resolutions passed at the seventh meeting of the sixth session of the Board;
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LETTER FROM THE BOARD
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To consider and approve the “Proposal in relation to the renewal of the liability insurance of Directors, Supervisors and senior officers”;
-
To consider and approve the “Proposal in relation to the re-appointment and remuneration of external auditing firm for the year 2015”;
As special resolutions:
-
To consider and approve the “Proposal in relation to the amendments to the Articles of Association”;
-
To consider and approve the “Proposal to authorise the Company to carry out domestic and overseas financing activities”;
-
To consider and approve the “Proposal in relation to the provision of financial guarantees to the Company’s subsidiaries and granting of authorization to Yancoal Australia and its subsidiaries to provide guarantees for the daily operation of the subsidiaries of the Company in Australia”;
-
To consider and approve the “Proposal regarding the general mandate authorizing the Board to issue H Shares”; and
-
To consider and approve the “Proposal regarding the general mandate authorizing the Board to repurchase H Shares”.
The following resolution will be proposed to the Shareholders at the A Shareholders’ Class Meeting and the H Shareholders’ Class Meeting:
As special resolution:
To consider and approve the proposal regarding the general mandate authorizing the Board to repurchase H Shares.
Whether or not you are able to attend the respective meetings in person, you are strongly advised to complete and sign the enclosed form of proxy in accordance with the instructions printed thereon. For holders of H Shares, the proxy form shall be lodged with the Company’s H Share Registrar, Hong Kong Registrars Limited at 17M, Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong. For holders of A Shares, the proxy form shall be lodged at the Office of the Secretary to the Board at 298 South Fushan Road, Zoucheng, Shandong Province 273500, the PRC as soon as possible but in any event not later than 24 hours before the time appointed for the holding of the relevant meeting(s) or any adjourned meeting(s) (as the case may be). Completion and return of the proxy form will not preclude you from attending and voting in person at the meeting(s) or any adjourned meeting(s) should you so wish.
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LETTER FROM THE BOARD
X. CLOSURE OF H SHARE REGISTER OF MEMBERS OF THE COMPANY
1. Attending the AGM and H Shareholders’ Class Meeting
The H Share register of members of the Company will be closed from Wednesday, 22 April 2015 to Friday, 22 May 2015, both days inclusive, during which period no transfer of the Company’s H Shares will be registered for the purpose of ascertaining the eligibility of Shareholders to attend the AGM and the H Shareholders’ Class Meeting. In order to attend AGM and the H Shareholders’ Class Meeting, all share transfers, accompanied by the relevant share certificates, must be lodged for registration with the Company’s H Share Registrar, Hong Kong Registrars Limited, at 1712-1716, 17th Floor, Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen’s Road East, Hong Kong, no later than 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, 21 April 2015 for registration. H Shareholders whose names appear on the H Share register of members of the Company maintained by Hong Kong Registrars Limited on or before the above date will be eligible to attend the AGM and H Shareholders’ Class Meeting.
2. Receipt of final dividend
The Company will put forward an ordinary resolution at the AGM to approve the distribution of an aggregate cash dividend of RMB98,368,000 (tax inclusive), equivalent to RMB0.02 (tax inclusive) per Share to the Shareholders.
To determine the identity of the Shareholders entitled to receive the final dividend, the Company’s H Share register of members will be closed from Friday, 12 June 2015 to Wednesday, 17 June 2015 (both days inclusive), during which period no transfer of H Shares will be registered. In order to be entitled to the final dividend, H Shareholders who have not registered the transfer documents are required to deposit the transfer documents together with the relevant Share certificates with the H Share Registrar of the Company, Hong Kong Registrars Limited, at 17M, Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong no later than 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, 11 June 2015.
XI. RECOMMENDATION
As advised by the PRC legal advisers of the Company, King & Wood Mallesons Beijing, the implementation of each article of the amended Articles of Association will not contravene the Company Law and the Mandatory Provisions for the Articles of Association of Companies Seeking a Listing Outside the PRC.
The Directors consider that the proposals relating to: (1) the proposed renewal of the liability insurance of Directors, Supervisors and senior officers; (2) the proposal for re-appointment of external auditing firm for the year 2015; (3) the proposed amendments to the Articles of Association; (4) proposal to authorize the Company to carry out domestic and overseas financing activities; (5) the proposal for the provision of financial guarantees to the subsidiaries and granting of authorization to Yancoal Australia and its subsidiaries to provide guarantees for the daily operation of the subsidiaries of the Company in Australia; (6) the grant of general mandate to the Board to issue H Shares; and (7) the grant of general
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LETTER FROM THE BOARD
mandate to the Board to repurchase H Shares are in the best interests of the Company and its Shareholders as a whole and accordingly recommend that all Shareholders to vote in favour of the aforesaid resolutions to be proposed at the AGM, A Shareholders’ Class Meeting and H Shareholders’ Class Meeting (as the case may be).
XII. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Your attention is drawn to the additional information set out in the Appendix to this circular.
By order of the Board Yanzhou Coal Mining Company Limited Li Xiyong Chairman
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EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
APPENDIX I
This explanatory statement contains all the information required to be given to the Shareholders pursuant to Rule 10.06(1)(b) of the Listing Rules in connection with the proposed Repurchase Mandate, which is set out as follows:
1. Hong Kong Listing Rules
The Hong Kong Listing Rules permit companies with a primary listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange to repurchase their securities subject to certain restrictions. Repurchases must be funded out of funds legally available for the purpose and in accordance with the company’s constitutional documents and the applicable laws of the jurisdiction in which the company is incorporated or otherwise established. Any repurchase must be made out of funds which are legally available for the purpose and in accordance with the laws of the PRC and the memorandum and articles of association of the company. Any premium payable on a repurchase over the par value of the shares may be effected out of funds of the company which would otherwise be available for dividend or distribution or out of the proceeds of a new issue of shares made for the purchase of repurchase.
2. Reasons for Repurchase of H Shares
The Board believes that the flexibility afforded by the Repurchase Mandate to repurchase H Shares would be beneficial to and in the best interests of the Company and its Shareholders. Such repurchase may, depending on the market conditions and funding arrangement at the time, lead to an enhancement of the net asset value and/or its earnings per Share and will only be made when the Board believes that such a repurchase will benefit the Company and its Shareholders.
3. Registered Capital
As at the Latest Practicable Date, the registered capital of the Company was RMB4,918,400,000 comprising 1,958,400,000 H Shares of RMB1.00 each, of which 180,000,000 H Shares were held by a wholly-owned subsidiary of Yankuang Group and 2,960,000,000 A Shares of RMB1.00 each, of which 2,600,000,000 A Shares were held by Yankuang Group and 360,000,000 A Shares were held by other Shareholders.
4. Exercise of the Repurchase Mandate
Subject to the passing of the special resolutions approving the granting of the Repurchase Mandate to the Board at the AGM, the A Shareholders’ Class Meeting and the H Shareholders’ Class Meeting respectively, the Board will be granted the Repurchase Mandate until the end of the Relevant Period (as defined in the special resolutions in the notice of AGM, the notice of A Shareholders’ Class Meeting and the notice of H Shareholders’ Class Meeting, respectively). The exercise of the Repurchase Mandate is subject to: (1) the approvals of the relevant PRC regulatory authorities as required by the laws, rules and regulations of the PRC being obtained; and (2) the Company not being required by any of its creditors to repay or to provide guarantee in respect of any amount due to any of them (or if the Company is so required by any of its creditors, the Company having, in its absolute discretion, repaid or provided guarantee in respect of such amount) pursuant to the provisions of the Articles of Association applicable to reduction of share capital.
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EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
APPENDIX I
The exercise in full of the Repurchase Mandate (on the basis of 1,958,400,000 H Shares in issue as at the Latest Practicable Date and no H Shares will be allotted and issued or repurchased by the Company on or prior to the date of the AGM, the A Shareholders’ Class Meeting and the H Shareholders’ Class Meeting) would result in a maximum of 195,840,000 H Shares being repurchased by the Company during the Relevant Period, being the maximum of 10% of the total H Shares in issue as at the date of passing the relevant resolutions.
5. Funding of Repurchases
In repurchasing its H Shares, the Company intends to apply funds from the Company’s internal resources (which may include surplus funds and undistributed profits) legally available for such purpose in accordance with the Articles of Association and the applicable laws, rules and regulations of the PRC.
The Company is empowered by its Articles of Association to purchase its H Shares. Any repurchases by the Company may only be made out of either the funds of the Company that would otherwise be available for dividend or distribution or out of the proceeds of a new issue of shares made for such purpose, or from sums standing to the credit of the share premium account of the Company. The Company may not purchase securities on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange for a consideration other than cash or for settlement otherwise than in accordance with the trading rules of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange from time to time.
Based on the financial position disclosed in the recently published audited accounts for the year ended 31 December 2014, the Board considers that there will not be any material adverse impact on the working capital or gearing position of the Company in the event that the Repurchase Mandate is to be exercised in full at any time during the proposed repurchase period. The number of H Shares to be repurchased on any occasion and the price and other terms upon which the same are repurchased will be decided by the Board at the relevant time having regard to the circumstances then prevailing and in the best interests of the Company.
6. Status of Repurchased H Shares
The Hong Kong Listing Rules provide that the listing of all the H Shares repurchased by the Company shall automatically be cancelled and the relevant share certificates shall be cancelled and destroyed. Under the PRC laws, the H Shares repurchased by the Company will be cancelled within 10 days and the Company’s registered capital will be reduced by an amount equivalent to the aggregate nominal value of the H Shares so cancelled.
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EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
APPENDIX I
7. H Shares Prices
The highest and lowest prices at which the H Shares have been traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange during each of the twelve months preceding the Latest Practicable Date were as follows:
| **H Share ** | Prices | |
|---|---|---|
| Highest | Lowest | |
| HK$ | HK$ | |
| 2014 | ||
| March | 6.16 | 4.91 |
| April | 6.68 | 5.66 |
| May | 6.34 | 5.71 |
| June | 6.39 | 5.78 |
| July | 6.67 | 5.70 |
| August | 7.08 | 6.21 |
| September | 7.03 | 6.18 |
| October | 6.61 | 6.03 |
| November | 7.29 | 6.18 |
| December | 7.27 | 6.25 |
| 2015 | ||
| January | 7.27 | 6.07 |
| February | 6.49 | 6.08 |
| March (up to the Latest Practicable Date) | 6.44 | 6.07 |
8. Substantial Shareholders
As at the Latest Practicable Date, the interests of substantial shareholders of the Company were as follows:
| Name Class of shares Capacity Nature of interests Yankuang Group A Shares (state legal person share) Beneficial owner Long position Yankuang Group (Note) H Shares Interest of controlled corporation Long position Total |
Number of ordinary shares held in the Company 2,600,000,000 180,000,000 2,780,000,000 |
Percentage of total issued share capital of the Company 52.86% 3.66% |
|---|---|---|
| 56.52% |
Note: Yankuang Group’s wholly-owned subsidiary incorporated in Hong Kong holds such H Shares in the capacity of beneficial owner.
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EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
APPENDIX I
9. General Information
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(a) None of the Directors, to the best of their knowledge having made all reasonable enquiries, nor any of their close associates, have any present intention to sell any H Shares to the Company or any of its subsidiaries under the Repurchase Mandate if such is approved by the Shareholders.
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(b) The Directors have undertaken to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange that, so far as the same may be applicable, they will exercise the power of the Company to repurchase the H Shares pursuant to the Repurchase Mandate in accordance with the Hong Kong Listing Rules and the applicable laws of the PRC.
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(c) No core connected person (as defined in the Hong Kong Listing Rules) of the Company has notified the Company that he has a present intention to sell H Shares to the Company or its subsidiaries, or has undertaken not to do so, if the Repurchase Mandate is granted and is exercised.
10. Takeovers Code
If on the exercise of the power to repurchase H Shares pursuant to the Repurchase Mandate, a shareholder’s proportionate interest in the voting rights of the Company increases, such increase will be treated as an acquisition for the purposes of Rule 32 of Takeovers Code. As a result, a shareholder or group of shareholders acting in concert could obtain or consolidate control of the Company and become obliged to make a mandatory offer in accordance with Rules 26 and 32 of the Takeovers Code.
Assuming that the substantial shareholders do not dispose of their Shares, if the Repurchase Mandate was exercised in full, the percentage shareholdings of the substantial shareholders before and after such repurchase would be as follows:
| Before | After | |
|---|---|---|
| Substantial Shareholders | repurchase | repurchase |
| Yankuang Group | 56.52% | 58.86% |
On the basis of the shareholdings held by the substantial shareholders named above, an exercise of the Repurchase Mandate in full will not have any implications for the substantial shareholders under the Takeovers Code. Assuming that there is no issue of Shares between the Latest Practicable Date and the date of a repurchase, an exercise of the Repurchase Mandate whether in whole or in part will not result in less than the relevant prescribed minimum percentage of the Shares of the Company being held by the public as required by the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The Directors have no intention to exercise the Repurchase Mandate to an extent which may result in the requirements under Rule 8.08 of the Hong Kong Listing Rules not being complied with.
The Directors are not aware of any consequences that may arise under the Takeovers Code and/or any similar applicable law of which the Directors are aware, if any, as a result of any repurchases made under the Repurchase Mandate.
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EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
APPENDIX I
11. Share Repurchases Made by the Company
The Company had not repurchased any of its H Shares (whether on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange or otherwise) during the six months period preceding the Latest Practicable Date.
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