Skip to main content

AI assistant

Sign in to chat with this filing

The assistant answers questions, extracts KPIs, and summarises risk factors directly from the filing text.

Ever Sunshine Services Group Limited Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement 2025

Dec 4, 2025

50327_rns_2025-12-04_d1d1f5e9-5375-46ce-9cd8-56f360382df6.pdf

Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement

Open in viewer

Opens in your device viewer

EVER SUNSHINE SERVICES GROUP LIMITED
永升服务集团有限公司
(Incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability)
(Stock Code: 1995)

(Adopted by a resolution of the shareholders at the extraordinary general meeting
of the Company on [●] 2025)

SHARE OPTION SCHEME

  • 1 -

Page

  1. DEFINITIONS ... 3
  2. CONDITIONS ... 7
  3. PURPOSE, DURATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF SCHEME ... 8
  4. OPTIONS ... 9
  5. GRANTING OPTIONS TO A DIRECTOR, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OR SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDER OF THE COMPANY OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE ASSOCIATES ... 12
  6. EXERCISE PRICE ... 14
  7. EXERCISE OF OPTIONS ... 14
  8. LAPSE OF OPTION ... 17
  9. NUMBER OF SHARES AVAILABLE FOR GRANT ... 18
  10. EFFECT OF ALTERATIONS TO CAPITAL ... 20
  11. SUFFICIENT SHARE CAPITAL ... 21
  12. DISPUTES ... 21
  13. ALTERATION OF THIS SCHEME ... 21
  14. TERMINATION ... 22
  15. CANCELLATION OF OPTIONS ... 22
  16. CLAWBACK ... 23
  17. DISCLOSURE IN ANNUAL AND INTERIM REPORTS ... 23
  18. GENERAL ... 24
  19. GOVERNING LAW ... 25

  20. 2 -


EVER SUNSHINE SERVICES GROUP LIMITED
永升服务集团有限公司

RULES OF THE SHARE OPTION SCHEME

  1. DEFINITIONS

1.1 In this Scheme, except where the context otherwise requires, the following words and expressions have the following meanings:

"Acceptance Date" means the date upon which an offer for an Option must be accepted by the Selected Participant, being a date not later than thirty (30) days after the Offer Date;

"Adoption Date" means [●] 2025, the date on which this Scheme was unconditionally adopted;

"Articles of Association" means the articles of association of the Company as amended from time to time;

"associate" has the meaning ascribed to it in the Listing Rules;

"Auditors" means the auditors of the Company for the time being;

"Board" means the board of Directors for the time being or a duly authorized committee thereof;

"Business Day" means a day on which the Stock Exchange is open for the business of dealing in securities;

"Company" means Ever Sunshine Services Group Limited (永升服务集团有限公司), a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability whose issued shares are listed on the main board of the Stock Exchange;

"core connected person" has the meaning ascribed to it under the Listing Rules;

"close associate" has the meaning ascribed to it under the Listing Rules;

  • 3 -

"Director(s)") means director(s) of the Company

"Eligible Participant(s)" means (i) any current employee, executive or officer of the Group; or (ii) any director (including non-executive directors but excluding independent non-executive directors) of the Group;

"Exercise Date" means the date of the notice given by the Grantee in respect of the exercise of the Option in accordance with paragraph 7.1;

"Exercise Period" means in respect of an Option, the period to be notified by the Board to each Grantee within which the Option may be exercisable provided that such period shall be no later than 31 December 2030;

"Exercise Price" means the price per Share, determined by the Board, at which a Grantee may subscribe for Shares on the exercise of an Option in accordance with paragraph 6;

"Expiry Date" means, in respect of an Option, the date of the expiry of the Option as may be determined by the Board which shall not be later than the last day of the Exercise Period in respect of such Option;

"Grantee" means any Selected Participant who accepts the offer of the grant of an Option in accordance with the rules of this Scheme;

"Group" means the Company and its Subsidiaries

"HK$" means Hong Kong dollars, the lawful currency of Hong Kong;

"Hong Kong" means the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China;

"Listing Rules" means the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, as amended from time to time;

"New Approval Date" has the meaning ascribed to it in paragraph 9.2;

"New Scheme Limits" has the meaning ascribed to it in paragraph 9.2;

– 4 –


"Offer Date" means in respect of an Option, the date on which such Option is offered in writing to the Selected Participant which must be a Business Day;

"Option" means a right granted by the Company under this Scheme, which right permits (but does not obligate) a Grantee to subscribe for Shares in accordance with the terms of this Scheme;

"other share schemes" means other than this Scheme, (i) all the share schemes involving the grant by the Company of new Shares or options over new Shares to, or for the benefit of, specified participants of such schemes (which includes a grant of any such Shares or options to a trust or similar arrangement for the benefit of a specified participant) and (ii) any arrangement involving the grant of new Shares which, in the opinion of the Stock Exchange, is analogous to a share scheme as described in Chapter 17 of the Listing Rules;

"Performance Measures" means any one or more of the following corporate-wide or subsidiary, division, operating unit, line of business, project, geographic or individual measures: cash flow; earnings; earnings per share; market value added or economic value added; profits; return on assets; return on equity; return on investment; sales; revenue; share price; total shareholders' return; customer satisfaction metrics; and such other goals as the Board may determine from time to time. Each goal may be expressed on an absolute and/or relative basis, may be based on or otherwise employ comparisons based on internal targets, the past performance of the Company and/or the past or current performance of other companies, and in the case of earnings-based measures, may use or employ comparisons relating to capital, shareholders' equity and/or shares outstanding, investments or to assets or net assets. The Board may, in its sole discretion, amend or adjust the Performance Measures and establish any special rules and conditions to which the Performance Measures shall be subject at any time;

"Personal Representative(s)" means a person or persons who, in accordance with the laws of succession applicable in respect of the death of such Grantee is or are entitled to exercise the Option accepted by such Grantee (to the extent not already exercised) in consequence of the death of such Grantee;

– 5 –


“this Scheme” means the share option scheme, the rules of which are set out in this document in its present or any amended form;

“Scheme Limit” has the meaning ascribed to it in paragraph 9;

“Scheme Period” means, unless otherwise terminated pursuant to paragraph 14, a period of five (5) years commencing on the Adoption Date;

“Shareholders” means shareholders of the Company;

“Shares” means ordinary share(s) with nominal value of HK$0.01 each in the share capital of the Company or, if there has been a capitalization issue, rights issue, sub-division or consolidation of shares or reduction of capital in the share capital of the Company, shares forming part of the ordinary equity share capital of the Company of such other nominal amount as shall result from any such capitalization issue, rights issue, sub-division or consolidation of shares or reduction of capital in the share capital of the Company;

“Stock Exchange” means The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited;

“Subsidiary” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Listing Rules and “Subsidiaries” shall be construed accordingly;

“substantial shareholder” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Listing Rules;

“Takeover Code” means the Code on Takeovers and Mergers approved by the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time; and

“Treasury Shares” means the Shares repurchased and held by the Company in treasury from time to time;

– 6 –


1.2 In this Scheme, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) paragraph headings are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Scheme;

(b) references to paragraphs are to paragraphs of this Scheme;

(c) the singular includes the plural and vice versa;

(d) references to one gender shall include both genders and the neuter;

(e) any reference to any statute or statutory provision shall include any statute or statutory provision which amends or replaces, or has amended or replaced it, and shall include any subordinate legislation made under the relevant statute; and

(f) a reference to a "person" shall be construed so as to include any individual, firm, business, company, body corporate or unincorporated or other juridical person, government, federation, state or agency thereof or any joint venture, association, partnership or trust (whether or not having separate legal personality).

1.3 In this Scheme, where applicable, references to Shares to satisfy the grant of Options shall include Treasury Shares, and references to the issue of Shares shall include the transfer of Treasury Shares (as the case may be, and to the extent permissible by applicable laws and regulations, including the Listing Rules).

2. CONDITIONS

2.1 This Scheme shall take effect subject to and is conditional upon

(a) the passing of an ordinary resolution by the Shareholders to approve the adoption of this Scheme and to authorize the Directors to grant the Options under this Scheme and to allot and issue Shares pursuant to the exercise of any Options granted under this Scheme; and

(b) the Listing Committee of the Stock Exchange granting the approval for the listing of and permission to deal in such number of Shares to be allotted and issued by the Company in respect of the Options to be granted in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Scheme.

  • 7 -

2.2 If the conditions in paragraph 2.1 are not satisfied within twelve calendar months from the Adoption Date:

(a) this Scheme shall forthwith determine;

(b) any Option granted or agreed to be granted pursuant to this Scheme and any offer of such a grant shall be of no effect; and

(c) no person shall be entitled to any rights or benefits or be under any obligations under or in respect of this Scheme or any Option granted thereunder.

3. PURPOSE, DURATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF SCHEME

3.1 The purpose of this Scheme is (i) to motivate the Eligible Participants to work hard for the Group’s future development by providing them with an opportunity to acquire the Shares of the Company, thereby promoting long-term stable development of the Group; (ii) to provide the Eligible Participants with incentives and/or rewards for their contributions to the Group; and (iii) to enhance the Group’s ability to attract and retain individuals with outstanding skills and extensive experience.

3.2 In determining the basis of eligibility of each Eligible Participant, the Board will take into account, among others, (a) the experience and qualification of the Eligible Participant in relation to the Group’s business; (b) the length of service of the Eligible Participant with the Group; (c) the level of responsibilities assumed; and (d) the amount of support, assistance, guidance, advice, efforts and contributions the Eligible Participant has exerted and given towards the success of the Group and/or the amount of potential support, assistance, guidance, advice, efforts and contributions the Eligible Participant is likely to be able to give or make towards the success of the Group in the future.

3.3 Subject to paragraph 14 and fulfilment of conditions in paragraph 2.1, this Scheme shall be valid and effective for the Scheme Period, after which no further Options shall be offered but the provisions of this Scheme shall in all other respects remain in full force and effect to the extent necessary to give effect to the exercise of any Options granted prior thereto or otherwise as may be required in accordance with the provisions of this Scheme and Options granted prior thereto but not yet exercised shall continue to be valid and exercisable in accordance with this Scheme.

  • 8 -

3.4 This Scheme shall be subject to the administration of the Board whose decision as to all matters arising in relation to this Scheme or its interpretation or effect (save as otherwise provided herein) shall be final and binding on all parties.

4. OPTIONS

4.1 The Board shall, subject to and in accordance with the provisions of this Scheme and the Listing Rules, be entitled to but shall not be bound, at any time on any Business Day during the Scheme Period offer to grant an Option to any Selected Participant whom the Board may in its absolute discretion select and subject to such conditions (including, without limitation, the vesting period and/or any performance targets as assessed in accordance with the Performance Measures during a specified performance period which must be achieved before an Option can be exercised) as it may think fit.

4.2 If the Board determines to offer Options to a Selected Participant which, when aggregated with any Shares issued or to be issued in respect of all options or awards granted to that person (excluding any options or awards lapsed in accordance with the terms of the relevant schemes) under this Scheme and the other share schemes of the Company in any 12-month period up to and including the Offer Date, exceed 1% of the number of Shares in issue (excluding Treasury Shares, if any) on the Offer Date:

(a) that grant shall be subject to (i) the issue of a circular by the Company to its Shareholders which shall comply with Rules 17.03D and 17.06 of the Listing Rules and or such other requirements as prescribed under the Listing Rules from time to time; and (ii) such grant must be separately approved by the Shareholders in general meeting with such Selected Participant and his/her close associates (or his/her associates if the Selected Participant is a connected person) abstaining from voting, and the number and terms of the Option to be further granted to such Grantee must be fixed before Shareholders' approval; and

(b) in respect of any Option to be further granted, the date of the Board meeting at which the Board resolves to grant the proposed Options to such Selected Participant shall be taken as the Offer Date for the purpose of calculating the Exercise Price.

  • 9 -

4.3 If the Board determines to offer an Option to a Selected Participant in accordance with paragraph 4.1, the Board shall forward to such a Selected Participant an offer document in such form as the Board may from time to time determine which states (or, alternatively, documents accompanying the offer document which state), among others:-

(a) the Selected Participant’s name, address and occupation;

(b) the Offer Date;

(c) the Acceptance Date;

(d) the number of Shares in respect of which the Option is offered;

(e) the Exercise Price and the manner of payment of the Exercise Price for the Shares on and in consequence of the exercise of the Option;

(f) the Expiry Date in relation to that Option;

(g) the method of acceptance of the Option which shall, unless the Board otherwise determines, be as set out in paragraph 4.4; and

(h) such other terms and conditions (including, without limitation, the vesting period and/or any performance targets as assessed in accordance with the Performance Measures during a specified performance period which must be achieved before the Option can be exercised) relating to the offer of the Option which in the opinion of the Board are fair and reasonable but not being inconsistent with this Scheme and the Listing Rules.

4.4 An Option shall be deemed to have been granted and accepted by the Grantee and to have taken effect when the duplicate offer document constituting acceptance of the Option duly signed by the Grantee, together with a remittance or payment in favor of the Company of HK$1.00 by way of consideration for the grant thereof; is received by the Company on or before the relevant Acceptance Date. Such remittance or payment shall in no circumstances be refundable.

  • 10 -

4.5 Any offer to grant an Option may be accepted in respect of less than the number of Shares for which it is offered provided that it must be accepted in respect of a board lot for dealing in Shares on the Stock Exchange or an integral multiple thereof and such number is clearly stated in the duplicate offer document constituting acceptance of the Option in the manner as set out in paragraph 4.4. To the extent that the offer to grant an Option is not accepted by the Acceptance Date, it shall be deemed to have been irrevocably declined.

4.6 The Options shall not be listed or dealt in on the Stock Exchange.

4.7 Save for a transfer to a vehicle (such as a trust or a private company) for the benefit of the Grantee and any family members of such Grantee (including for estate planning or tax planning purposes) that would continue to meet the purpose of this Scheme and comply with other requirements of the Listing Rules, in which case a waiver must be obtained from the Stock Exchange, an Option and an offer to grant an Option shall be personal to the Grantee and shall not be transferrable or assignable. No Grantee shall in any way sell, transfer, charge, mortgage, encumber or create any interest (legal or beneficial) in favor of any third party over or in relation to any Option held by him/her or any offer relating to the grant of an Option made to him/her or attempt to do so (save that the Grantee may nominate a nominee in whose name the Shares issued pursuant to this Scheme may be registered). Any breach of the foregoing shall entitle the Company to cancel any outstanding Options or any part thereof granted to such Grantee.

4.8 (a) For so long as the Shares are listed on the Stock Exchange, the Board shall not grant any Option after inside information has come to the knowledge of the Company until it has announced such inside information pursuant to the requirements of the Listing Rules and the Inside Information Provisions of Part XIVA of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Chapter 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong). In particular, no Options shall be granted during the period commencing thirty (30) days immediately preceding the earlier of:

(i) the date of the Board meeting (as such date is first notified to the Stock Exchange in accordance with the Listing Rules) for the approval of the Company's annual results or the Company's results for half-year, quarterly or any other interim period (whether or not required under the Listing Rules); and

  • 11 -

(ii) the deadline for the Company to publish an announcement of the Company’s annual results or the Company’s results for half-year, quarterly or any other interim period (whether or not required under the Listing Rules),

and ending on the date of actual publication of the results for such year, half year, quarterly or interim period (as the case may be).

(b) Where the grant of Options is to a Director, notwithstanding paragraph 4.8(a) above, no Options shall be granted to the Directors: (i) during the period of sixty (60) days immediately preceding the publication date of the annual results or, if shorter, the period from the end of the relevant financial year up to the publication date of the results; and (ii) during the period of thirty (30) days immediately preceding the publication date of the quarterly results (if any) and half-year results or, if shorter, the period from the end of the relevant quarterly or half-year period up to the publication date of the results.

4.9 The vesting period for any Options shall not be less than twelve (12) months.

  1. GRANTING OPTIONS TO A DIRECTOR, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OR SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDER OF THE COMPANY OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE ASSOCIATES

5.1 Subject to paragraphs 4.2, 5.2, 9.2 and 9.3, if the Board determines to offer to grant Options to a Director, chief executive or substantial shareholder of the Company or any of their respective associates, such grant must be approved by the independent non-executive Directors.

5.2 If the Board determines to offer to grant Options to a substantial shareholder of the Company (or any associates thereof) and that grant would result in the number of Shares issued and to be issued in respect of all options and awards granted to such person under this Scheme and the other share schemes (excluding any options and awards lapsed in accordance with the terms of such schemes) in the 12-month period up to and including the Offer Date representing in aggregate over 0.1%, or such other percentage as may be from time to time provided under the Listing Rules, of the Shares in issue (excluding Treasury Shares, if any) on such Offer Date, such further grant shall be subject to the approval of the Shareholders in general meeting in accordance with

  • 12 -

Rule 17.04(4) of the Listing Rules and/or such other requirements prescribed under the Listing Rules from time to time. The Grantee, his/her associates and all core connected persons of the Company must abstain from voting in favour at such general meeting (except that any such person may vote against the proposed grant provided that his/her intention to do so has been stated in the relevant circular to the Shareholders). The Company must comply with the requirements under Rules 13.40, 13.41 and 13.42 of the Listing Rules. Unless provided otherwise in the Listing Rules, the date of the Board meeting at which the Board proposes to grant the proposed Options to that Selected Participant shall be taken as the Offer Date for the purpose of calculating the Exercise Price.

5.3 In the circumstances described in paragraph 5.2, the Company must send a circular to its Shareholders, which shall contain the following information:

(a) the details of the number and terms (including the information required under Rules 17.03(5) to 17.03(10) and Rule 17.03(19) of the Listing Rules) of the Options to be granted to each Selected Participant, which must be fixed before the Shareholders' meeting.

For the purpose of calculating the exercise price of the options to be granted under Rule 17.03E of the Listing Rules, the date of the Board meeting at which the Board proposes to grant the proposed Options to such Selected Participant is to be taken as the Offer Date;

(b) the views of the independent non-executive Directors (excluding any independent non-executive Director who is the relevant Grantee) as to whether the terms of the grant are fair and reasonable and whether such grant is in the interests of the Company and its Shareholders as a whole, and their recommendation to the independent Shareholders as to voting;

(c) the information required under Rule 17.02(2)(c) of the Listing Rules; and

(d) the information required under Rule 2.17 of the Listing Rules.

  • 13 -

  1. EXERCISE PRICE

6.1 The Exercise Price in relation to each Option offered to a Selected Participant shall, subject to the adjustments referred to in paragraph 10, be determined by the Board in its absolute discretion but in any event shall be not less than the highest of:

(a) the closing price of the Shares as shown in the daily quotations sheet of the Stock Exchange on the Offer Date, which must be a Business Day; and

(b) the average of the closing prices of the Shares as shown in the daily quotations sheets of the Stock Exchange for the five (5) Business Days immediately preceding the Offer Date.

  1. EXERCISE OF OPTIONS

7.1 Subject to paragraph 7.3, an Option shall be exercised in whole or in part and, other than where it is exercised to the full extent outstanding, shall be exercised in integral multiples of such number of Shares as shall represent a board lot for dealing in Shares on the Stock Exchange for the time being, by the Grantee by giving notice in writing to the Company stating that the Option is thereby exercised and the number of Shares in respect of which it is exercised. Each such notice must be accompanied by a remittance or payment for the full amount of the Exercise Price for the Shares in respect of which the notice is given. Within twenty one (21) days after receipt of the notice and the remittance or payment and, where appropriate, receipt of the certificate by the Auditors or the approved independent financial advisor as the case may be pursuant to paragraph 10, the Company shall issue and allot the relevant number of Shares to the Grantee credited as fully paid and issue to the Grantee certificates in respect of the Shares so allotted.

7.2 Subject as hereinafter provided, an Option may be exercised by a Grantee at any time or times during the Exercise Period provided that:-

(a) in the event of the Grantee who is an Eligible Participant by reason of his/her employment with the Company or any of the Subsidiaries ceasing to be an employee of the Company and/or any of the Subsidiaries for any reason other than on his/her death, ill-health, injury, disability or the termination of his/her employment with the Company and/or any of the Subsidiaries on one or more of

  • 14 -

the grounds specified in paragraph 8.1(e), the Grantee may exercise the Option up to his/her entitlement at the date of cessation of being an Eligible Participant (to the extent not already exercised) within the period of one month (or such longer period as the Board may determine) following the date of such cessation (which date shall be the last actual working day with the Company or the relevant Subsidiary whether salary is paid in lieu of notice or not);

(b) in the case of the Grantee who is an Eligible Participant by reason of his/her employment with the Company or any of the Subsidiaries ceasing to be an employee of the Company and/or any of the Subsidiaries by reason of death, ill-health, injury or disability (all evidenced to the satisfaction of the Board) and none of the events which would be a ground for termination of his/her employment with the Company and/or any of the Subsidiaries under paragraph 8.1(e) has occurred, the Grantee or the Personal Representative(s) of the Grantee shall be entitled within a period of three (3) months (or such longer period as the Board may determine) from the date of cessation of being an Eligible Participant or death to exercise the Option in full (to the extent not already exercised);

(c) if a general offer (whether by way of takeover offer, share repurchase offer or scheme of arrangement or otherwise in like manner) is made to all of holders of Shares (or all such holders of Shares other than the offeror and/or any person controlled by the offeror and/or any person acting in concert with the offeror (as defined in the Takeovers Code)), the Company shall use its best endeavours to procure that such offer is extended to all the Grantees (on the same terms mutatis mutandis, and assuming that they shall become, by the exercise in full of the Options granted to them, Shareholders). If such offer, having been approved in accordance with applicable laws and regulatory requirements becomes, or is declared unconditional, the Grantee (or his/her legal Personal Representative(s)) shall be entitled to exercise his/her Option in full (to the extent not already exercised) at any time within fourteen (14) days after the date on which such general offer becomes or is declared unconditional;

(d) if a compromise or arrangement between the Company and its members and/or creditors is proposed for the purposes of or in connection with a scheme for the reconstruction of the Company or its amalgamation with any other company or companies, the Company shall give notice thereof to all the Grantees (together with a notice of the existence of the provisions of this paragraph) on the same day

  • 15 -

as it despatches to members and/or creditors of the Company a notice summoning the meeting to consider such a compromise or arrangement and any Grantee may by notice in writing to the Company accompanied by a remittance for the full amount of the aggregate subscription price for Shares in respect of which the notice is given (such notice to be received by the Company not later than two (2) Business Days prior to the proposed meeting), exercise the Option to its full extent or to the extent specified in the notice and the Company shall as soon as possible and in any event no later than the Business Day immediately prior to the date of the proposed meeting, issue such number of Shares to the Grantee which falls to be issued (if any) on such exercise of the Option credited as fully paid and register the grantee as holder thereof. With effect from the date of such meeting, the rights of all Grantees to exercise their respective Options shall forthwith be suspended. Upon such compromise or arrangement becoming effective, all Options shall, to the extent that they have not been exercised, lapse and determine. If for any reason such compromise or arrangement does not become effective and is terminated or lapses, the rights of Grantees to exercise their respective Options shall with effect from such termination be restored in full but only upon the extent not already exercised and shall become exercisable as if such compromise or arrangement had not been proposed by the Company and no claim shall lie against the Company or any of its officers for any loss or damage sustained by any Grantee as a result of the aforesaid suspension; and

(e) in the event a notice is given by the Company to its members to convene a general meeting for the purposes of considering, and if thought fit, approving a resolution to voluntarily wind up the Company, the Company shall on the same date as or soon after it despatches such notice to each member of the Company give notice thereof to all Grantees and thereupon, each Grantee (or in the case of the death of the Grantee, his/her Personal Representative(s)) shall be entitled to exercise all or any of his/her Options at any time not later than two (2) Business Days prior to the proposed general meeting of the Company by giving notice in writing to the Company, accompanied by a remittance or payment for the full amount of the aggregate Exercise Price for the Shares in respect of which the notice is given, whereupon the Company shall as soon as possible and, in any event, no later than the Business Day immediately prior to the date of the proposed general meeting referred to above, allot the relevant Shares to the Grantee credited as fully paid and register the Grantee as holder thereof.

  • 16 -

7.3 The Option shall not carry voting, dividend, transfer or other rights including those arising on a liquidation of the Company until the name of the Grantee has been duly entered onto the register of members of the Company as the holder of a Share upon the exercise of an Option.

7.4 The Share(s) to be issued and allotted in respect of an Option under this Scheme will be subject to all the provisions of the Articles of Association for the time being in force and will rank pari passu in all respects with the fully paid Shares in issue on the same date. For the avoidance of doubt, a Grantee shall not have any interest or rights (including the right to vote or receive dividends or cash income) in any underlying Shares until the Options are vested in the Grantee.

8. LAPSE OF OPTION

8.1 An Option shall lapse automatically and not be exercisable (to the extent not already exercised) on the earliest of:-

(a) the Expiry Date relevant to that Option;

(b) the expiry of any of the periods referred to in paragraph 7.2(a), (b), (c), (d) or (e);

(c) the date on which the scheme of arrangement of the Company referred to in paragraph 7.2(d) becomes effective;

(d) subject to paragraph 7.2(e), the date of commencement of the winding-up of the Company;

(e) the date on which the Grantee ceases to be an Eligible Participant by reason of such Grantee's resignation from the employment with the Company and/or any of the Subsidiaries or the termination of his/her employment or contract with the Company and/or any of the Subsidiaries on any one or more of the following grounds:

(i) that he/she has been guilty of misconduct;

(ii) that he/she has been convicted of any criminal offence involving his/her integrity or honesty or in relation to an employee of the Company and/or any of the Subsidiaries (if so determined by the Board);

  • 17 -

(iii) that he/she has become insolvent, bankrupt or has made arrangements or compositions with his/her creditors generally; or

(iv) on any other ground as determined by the Board that would warrant the termination of his/her employment at common law or pursuant to any applicable laws or under the Grantee's service contract with the Company or the relevant Subsidiary. A resolution of the Board or the board of directors of the relevant Subsidiary to the effect that the relationship of a Grantee has or has not been terminated on one or more of the grounds specified in this paragraph shall be conclusive; and

(f) the date on which the Board shall exercise the Company's right to cancel the Option at any time after the Grantee commits a breach of paragraph 4.7 or the Options are cancelled in accordance with paragraph 15.

8.2 If an Option shall lapse, the Board shall notify the Grantee in writing of such lapse.

Note: Options lapsed in accordance with the terms of this Scheme will not be regarded as utilised for the purpose of calculating the Scheme Limit.

9. NUMBER OF SHARES AVAILABLE FOR GRANT

9.1 Unless further approval has been obtained pursuant to paragraphs 9.2 and/or 9.3, (i) the maximum number of Shares in respect of which options may be granted under this Scheme and all options and awards to be granted under any other share schemes of the Company must not in aggregate exceed 172,855,400 Shares, representing 10% of the total number of Shares in issue (excluding Treasury Shares, if any) (the "Scheme Mandate Limit") as at the Adoption Date; and (ii) the maximum number of Shares in respect of which options may be granted under this Scheme must not in aggregate exceed 60,600,000 Shares, representing approximately 3.51% of the total number of Shares in issue (excluding Treasury Shares, if any) (the "Fixed Limit"). The Company may either issue new Shares or transfer Treasury Shares to the relevant grantee to satisfy the awards upon exercise of the Options.

  • 18 -

9.2 Subject to the approval of the Shareholders in general meeting in compliance with Rules 17.03C(1) and 17.03C(2) of the Listing Rules and/or such other requirements prescribed under the Listing Rules from time to time, the Scheme Mandate Limit and/or the Fixed Limited may be refreshed from time to time to such percentages as stipulated in paragraph 9.1 above (the “New Scheme Limits”) as of the date of approval by the Shareholders in general meeting (the “New Approval Date”). Any refreshment within any three-year period from the date of Shareholders’ approval for the last refreshment (or the adoption of this Scheme) must be approved by Shareholders subject to the following provisions:

(i) any controlling shareholders and their associates (or if there is no controlling shareholder, Directors (excluding independent non-executive Directors) and the chief executive of the Company and their respective associates) abstaining from voting in favor of the relevant resolution at the general meeting of the Company; and

(ii) the Company must comply with the requirements under Rules 13.39(6) and (7), 13.40, 13.41 and 13.42 of the Listing Rules.

The requirements under sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this paragraph 9.2 do not apply if the refreshment is made immediately after an issue of securities by the Company to its Shareholders on a pro rata basis as set out in Rule 13.36(2)(a) of the Listing Rules such that the unused part of the Scheme Limit (as a percentage of total number of Shares in issue, excluding Treasury Shares, if any) upon refreshment is the same as the unused part of the Scheme Limit.

9.3 For the purposes of seeking approval of the Shareholders under paragraph 9.2, the Company must send a circular to the Shareholders containing the information required under the Listing Rules. Options previously granted under this Scheme and any other share schemes of the Company (including those outstanding, cancelled, lapsed in accordance with this Scheme or any other share schemes of the Company and exercised Options) will not be counted for the purpose of calculating the New Scheme Limit. Options or awards lapsed in accordance with the terms of this Scheme or any other share schemes of the Company shall not be regarded as utilised for the purpose of calculating the New Scheme Limit.

  • 19 -

9.4 Subject to the separate approval of the Shareholders in general meeting in compliance with Rule 17.03C(3) of the Listing Rules and/or such other requirements as prescribed under the Listing Rules from time to time, the Board may grant Options exceeding the Scheme Limit (or the New Scheme Limit, as the case may be) to Selected Participants specifically identified by the Board, provided that the grant is only to Selected Participants specifically identified by the Company before the approval is sought. The Company must send a circular to the Shareholders containing the name of each specified Selected Participant who may be granted such Options, the number and terms of the Options to be granted to each such Selected Participant, and the purpose of granting Options to the specified Selected Participants with an explanation as to how the terms of the Options serve such purpose. The number and terms of options to be granted to such Selected Participant must be fixed before Shareholders' approval. In respect of any options to be granted, the date of the board meeting for proposing such Grant should be taken as the date of Grant for the purpose of calculating the Exercise Price under paragraph 6.1.

9.5 The Scheme Limit referred to in paragraph 9.1 (or as refreshed in accordance with paragraphs 9.2 and/or 9.3, as the case may be) shall be adjusted, in such manner as the Auditors or the approved independent financial advisor shall certify to be appropriate, fair and reasonable in the event of any alteration in the capital structure of the Company in accordance with paragraph 10 whether by way of capitalization issue, rights issue, sub-division or consolidation of shares or reduction of share capital of the Company.

  1. EFFECT OF ALTERATIONS TO CAPITAL

10.1 In the event of any alteration in the capital structure of the Company whether by way of capitalization issue, rights issue, consolidation, sub-division or reduction of share capital, the Company will make adjustments in accordance with the respective formulas set out in the Appendix 1 to Frequently Asked Questions FAQ13 No.16 issued by the Stock Exchange in November 2020 (Last updated in June 2024)(including its subsequent further updates) which must give a Selected Participant the same proportion of the equity capital, rounded to the nearest whole Shares, as that to which that person was previously entitled, but no such adjustments may be made to the extent that a Share would be issued at less than its nominal value (if any). The issue of securities as consideration in a transaction may not be regarded as a circumstance requiring adjustment.

  • 20 -

10.2 In respect of any adjustments required by paragraph 10.1, other than any made on a capitalisation issue, the Auditors or the approved independent financial advisor, as the case may be, shall confirm to the Board in writing that the adjustments satisfy the requirements set out in Rule 17.03(13) of the Listing Rules and the note thereto and the Appendix 1 to Frequently Asked Questions FAQ13 No.16 issued by the Stock Exchange in November 2020 (Last updated in June 2024)(including its subsequent further updates).

11. SUFFICIENT SHARE CAPITAL

Subject to paragraph 7.2, the Board shall at all times set aside for the purposes of this Scheme, out of the authorized but unissued share capital of the Company, such number of Shares as the Board may from time to time determine to be sufficient to meet subsisting requirements for the exercise of outstanding Options.

12. DISPUTES

Any dispute arising in connection with this Scheme shall be referred to the Board whose decision shall, in the absence of manifest error, be final, conclusive and binding on all persons who may be affected thereby.

13. ALTERATION OF THIS SCHEME

The terms and conditions of this Scheme and the regulations for the administration and operation of this Scheme (provided that the same are not inconsistent with this Scheme and the Listing Rules) may be altered in any respect by resolution of the Board except that:

(a) any alterations to the terms and conditions of this Scheme which are of a material nature or any alterations to the provisions relating to the matters set out in Rule 17.03 of the Listing Rules to the advantage of participants must be approved by the Shareholders in general meeting;

(b) any change to the terms of Options granted to a participant must be approved by the Board, the Remuneration Committee, the independent non-executive Directors and/or the Shareholders (as the case may be) if the initial grant of the Options was approved by the Board, the Remuneration Committee, the independent non-


executive Directors and/or the Shareholders (as the case may be). This requirement does not apply where the alterations take effect automatically under the existing terms of this Scheme; and

(c) any change to the authority of the Directors or scheme administrators to alter the terms of this Scheme must be approved by the Shareholders in general meeting.

PROVIDED THAT the amended terms of this Scheme or the Options shall remain in compliance with Chapter 17 of the Listing Rules.

Written notice of any alterations made in accordance with this paragraph 13.1 shall be given to all Grantees.

14. TERMINATION

14.1 The Company may by resolution in general meeting or the Board at any time terminate the operation of this Scheme and in such event no further Options shall be offered but the provisions of this Scheme shall remain in force to the extent necessary to give effect to the exercise of any Option granted prior to the termination or otherwise as may be required in accordance with the provisions of this Scheme. Options granted prior to such termination but not yet exercised at the time of termination shall continue to be valid and exercisable in accordance with this Scheme.

14.2 Details of the Options granted, including Options exercised or outstanding, under this Scheme shall be disclosed in the circular to Shareholders seeking approval of the new scheme established or refreshment of the relevant scheme limit after the termination of this Scheme.

15. CANCELLATION OF OPTIONS

Any cancellation of Options granted but not exercised must be approved by the Grantees of the relevant Options in writing. For the avoidance of doubt, such approval is not required in the event any Option is cancelled pursuant to paragraph 4.7 and 16. Where the Company cancels Options, the grant of new options to the same Grantee may only be made under this Scheme within the limits set out in paragraphs 4.2, 9.1 and 9.2.

Note: the Options cancelled will be regarded as utilised for the purpose of calculating the Scheme Limit.

  • 22 -

  1. CLAWBACK

Notwithstanding the terms and conditions of this Scheme, the Board has the authority to provide that any Option shall be subject to a clawback if any of the following events shall occur during the Exercise Period:

(a) the Grantee fails to effectively perform its duties or is involved in serious misconduct or dereliction of duty;

(b) a material error or misstatement in the Company’s financial statements;

(c) if the Option is linked to any performance targets and the Directors are of the opinion that there occur any circumstances that show or lead to any of the prescribed performance targets having been assessed or calculated in a materially inaccurate manner; and/or

(d) any other event occurs as the Board may in its absolute discretion determines,

the Board may, (but is not obliged to) by notice in writing to the Grantee concerned (i) claw back such number of Options (to the extent not being exercised) granted as the Board may consider appropriate; or (ii) extend the vesting period (regardless of whether the initial vesting date has occurred, if applicable) in relation to all or any of the Options (to the extent not being exercised) to such longer period as the Board may consider appropriate. The Options that are clawed back pursuant to this clause shall be regarded as cancelled and the Options so cancelled shall be regarded as utilised for the purpose of calculating the Scheme Limit (or the New Scheme Limit, as the case may be).

  1. DISCLOSURE IN ANNUAL AND INTERIM REPORTS

17.1 The Board shall procure that details of this Scheme are disclosed in the annual reports and interim reports including the number of Options, Offer Date, Exercise Price, Exercise Period, vesting period and other information as prescribed under the Listing Rules from time to time during the financial year/period in the annual/interim reports in accordance with the Listing Rules in force from time to time.

  • 23 -

  1. GENERAL

18.1 The Company shall bear the costs of establishing and administering this Scheme (including the costs of the Auditors or the approved independent financial advisor, as the case may be, in relation to the preparation of any certificate or the provision of any other services in relation to this Scheme).

18.2 A Grantee shall be entitled to inspect copies of all notices and other documents sent by the Company to its Shareholders at the same time or within a reasonable time of any such notices or documents being sent, which shall be made available to him/her, during normal office hours at the Company’s principal place of business in Hong Kong.

18.3 Any notices, documents or other communication between the Company and a Grantee shall be in writing and may be given by sending the same by prepaid post or by personal delivery to, in the case of the Company, its principal place of business in Hong Kong and, in the case of the Grantee, his/her address in Hong Kong as notified to the Company from time to time.

18.4 Any notice or other communication served:-

(a) by the Company shall be deemed to have been served 48 hours after the same was put in the post or if delivered by hand, when delivered; and

(b) by the Grantee shall not be deemed to have been received until the same shall have been received by the Company.

18.5 All allotments and issues of Shares pursuant to this Scheme shall be subject to any necessary consents under the relevant laws, enactments or regulations for the time being to which the Company is subject. A Grantee shall be responsible for obtaining any governmental or other official consent that may be required by any country or jurisdiction for, or in connection with the grant or exercise of an Option. The Company shall not be responsible for any failure by a Grantee to obtain any such consent or for any tax or other liability to which a Grantee may become subject as a result of his/her participation in this Scheme.

  • 24 -

18.6 This Scheme shall not confer on any person any legal or equitable rights (other than those constituting the Options themselves) against the Company directly or indirectly or give rise to any cause of action at law or in equity against the Company.

18.7 This Scheme shall not form part of any contract of employment between the Company or any of the Subsidiaries and any Selected Participant who is an employee of the Company and/or any of the Subsidiaries and the rights and obligations of any Selected Participant under the terms of his/her office or employment shall not be affected by his/her participation in it and this Scheme shall afford such a Selected Participant no additional rights to compensation or damages in consequence of the termination of such office or employment for any reason.

18.8 The Company shall maintain all necessary books of account and records relating to this Scheme.

18.9 This Scheme shall in all respects be administered by the Board which (a) shall administer this Scheme in accordance with the provisions hereof and all applicable requirements of the Listing Rules; and (b) may make such rules not being inconsistent with the terms and conditions hereof and the Listing Rules for the conduct of this Scheme and the determination and terms of each entitlement under an Option as the Board thinks fit.

18.10 A Grantee who is a member of the Board may, subject to and in accordance with the Articles of Association, notwithstanding his/her interest, vote on any Board resolution concerning this Scheme (other than in respect of his/her own participation therein) and may retain any benefit under this Scheme.

  1. GOVERNING LAW

This Scheme and all Options granted hereunder are governed by and shall be construed in accordance with the laws of Hong Kong.

  • 25 -