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GCL Technology Holdings Limited — Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement 2010
Dec 14, 2010
50888_rns_2010-12-14_9f85ec92-c24d-4cbc-905c-cdafe996f240.pdf
Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement
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THIS CIRCULAR IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION
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.
If you are in any doubt as to any aspect of this circular or as to the action to be taken, you should consult a licensed securities dealer or registered institution in securities, a bank manager, solicitor, professional accountant or other professional adviser.
If you have sold or transferred all your shares in GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Limited, you should at once hand this circular and the accompanying form of proxy to the purchaser(s) or transferee(s) or to the licensed securities dealer or registered institution in securities or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected for transmission to the purchaser(s) or transferee(s).
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GCL-POLY ENERGY HOLDINGS LIMITED 保利協鑫能源控股有限公司
(Incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability)
(Stock code: 3800)
CONNECTED TRANSACTION AND CONTINUING CONNECTED TRANSACTIONS IN RELATION TO STEAM SUPPLY
Independent Financial Adviser to the Independent Board Committee and the Independent Shareholders
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FIRST SHANGHAI CAPITAL LIMITED
Capitalised terms used in this cover page shall have the same meanings as those defined in the section headed “Definitions” of this circular.
A notice of the EGM to be held at Pacific Place Conference Centre, Level 5, One Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Hong Kong on Wednesday, 5 January 2011, at 10:00 a.m. is set out on pages 35 to 36 of this circular. Whether or not you are able to attend the EGM, please complete the accompanying form of proxy in accordance with the instructions printed thereon and return it to the Company’s branch share registrar and transfer office in Hong Kong, Tricor Investor Services Limited at 26/F., Tesbury Centre, 28 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong as soon as possible and in any event not less than 48 hours before the time fixed for the holding of the EGM or any adjournment thereof. Completion and return of the form of proxy will not preclude you from attending and voting at the EGM or any adjournment thereof should you so wish.
15 December 2010
CONTENTS
| Pages | |
|---|---|
| Definitions | 1 |
| Letter from the Board 4 |
|
| Introduction 4 |
|
| Principal Terms of the Renewed Jinshanqiao Steam Supply Agreement | 5 |
| Principal Terms of the Renewed Xuzhou Steam Supply Agreement 6 |
|
| Principal Terms of the Connection Agreement 7 |
|
| Principal Terms of the Jiangsu GCL Steam Supply Agreement 8 |
|
| Annual Caps | 9 |
| Reasons for, and Benefits of, the Continuing Connected Transactions | |
| and the Connected Transaction 10 |
|
| General Information | 10 |
| Listing Rules Implications | 11 |
| EGM | 11 |
| Independent Board Committee and Independent Financial Adviser | 12 |
| Additional Information | 12 |
| Letter from the Independent Board Committee 13 |
|
| Letter from First Shanghai 15 |
|
| Appendix – General Information | 24 |
| Notice of EGM 35 |
- i -
Definitions
In this circular, the following expressions shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the following meanings:
- “Annual Caps”
the maximum aggregate annual values for the continuing connected transactions under the Steam Supply Agreements and the connected transaction under the Connection Agreement, details of which are set out in the section headed “Annual Caps” of this circular
- “associate”
has the meaning ascribed to it in the Listing Rules
- “Board”
the board of Directors
- “Company”
GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Limited, a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability, the shares of which are listed on the Stock Exchange
- “connected person”
has the meaning ascribed to it in the Listing Rules
- “Connected Transaction”
the transaction contemplated under the Connection Agreement
-
“Connection Agreement”
-
the agreement dated 26 November 2010 entered into between Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant and Jiangsu Zhongneng in relation to the connection fee charged by Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant to Jiangsu Zhongneng
-
“Continuing Connected Transactions”
-
the transactions contemplated under the Steam Supply Agreements
-
“Director(s)”
the director(s) of the Company
- “EGM”
the extraordinary general meeting of the Company to be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, 5 January 2011 to consider and, if thought fit, to approve the Continuing Connected Transactions and the Connected Transaction, including the Annual Caps
- “First Shanghai” or “Independent Financial Adviser”
First Shanghai Capital Limited, a licensed corporation under the SFO to carry out type 6 (advising on corporate finance) regulated activity, being the independent financial adviser to the Independent Board Committee and the Independent Shareholders on the terms of the Continuing Connected Transactions and the Connected Transaction, including the Annual Caps
“Group”
the Company and its subsidiaries from time to time
- 1 -
Definitions
- “HK$”
Hong Kong dollars, the lawful currency of Hong Kong
- “Hong Kong”
the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the PRC
-
“Independent Board Committee” the independent committee of the Board, comprising all of the independent non-executive Directors, which has been formed to consider and advise the Independent Shareholders on the terms of the Continuing Connected Transactions and the Connected Transaction, including the Annual Caps
-
“Independent Shareholders” Shareholders other than Mr. Zhu Yu Feng, Mr. Zhu Gong Shan and their respective associates
-
“Jiangsu GCL”
江蘇協鑫硅材料科技發展有限公司 Jiangsu GCL Silicon Material Technology Development Co., Ltd.*, a company incorporated in the PRC and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company
- “Jiangsu GCL Steam Supply Agreement”
the agreement dated 26 November 2010 entered into between Xuzhou Energy Plant as the supplier and Jiangsu GCL as the customer in relation to the supply of steam
-
“Jiangsu Zhongneng” 江蘇中能硅業科技發展有限公司 Jiangsu Zhongneng Polysilicon Technology Development Co., Ltd.*, a company incorporated in the PRC and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company
-
“Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant”
-
徐州金山橋熱電有限公司 Xuzhou Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Company, Limited*, a company incorporated in the PRC
-
“Latest Practicable Date”
-
10 December 2010, being the latest practicable date prior to the printing of this circular for the purpose of ascertaining certain information contained in this circular
-
“Listing Rules”
the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on the Stock Exchange
- “Mpa”
megapascal, a unit of pressure equal to one million pascals
- “PRC”
the People’s Republic of China
-
“Previous Jinshanqiao Steam Supply Agreement”
-
the agreement dated 30 December 2009 entered into between Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant as the supplier and Jiangsu Zhongneng as the customer in relation to the supply of steam
-
“Previous Xuzhou Steam Supply Agreement”
the agreement dated 30 December 2009 entered into between Xuzhou Energy Plant as the supplier and Jiangsu Zhongneng as the customer in relation to the supply of steam
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Definitions
| “Renewed Jinshanqiao Steam | the agreement dated 26 November 2010 entered into between |
|---|---|
| Supply Agreement” | Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant as the supplier and Jiangsu |
| Zhongneng as the customer in relation to the supply of steam | |
| “Renewed Xuzhou Steam Supply | the agreement dated 26 November 2010 entered into between |
| Agreement” | Xuzhou Energy Plant as the supplier and Jiangsu Zhongneng as |
| the customer in relation to the supply of steam | |
| “RMB” | Renminbi, the lawful currency of the PRC |
| “SFO” | Securities and Futures Ordinance (Chapter 571 of the Laws of |
| Hong Kong) | |
| “Shareholders” | holders of the Shares |
| “Shares” | ordinary shares of HK$0.10 each in the share capital of the |
| Company | |
| “Steam Supply Agreements” | the Renewed Jinshanqiao Steam Supply Agreement, the Renewed |
| Xuzhou Steam Supply Agreement and the Jiangsu GCL Steam | |
| Supply Agreement | |
| “Stock Exchange” | The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited |
| “Xuzhou Energy Plant” | 保利協鑫(徐州)再生能源有限公司Xuzhou GCL-Poly Renewable |
| Energy Company, Limited*, a company incorporated in the | |
| PRC | |
| “Xuzhou Price Bureau” | 徐州市物價局Xuzhou Price Bureau*, the government body for |
| the determination of prices in Xuzhou, the PRC | |
| “%” | per cent. |
This circular contains translations between Renminbi and Hong Kong dollar amounts at RMB 1 = HK$1.166, being the exchange rate prevailing on 25 November 2010. The translations should not be taken as a representation that the Renminbi could actually be converted into Hong Kong dollars at that rate or at all.
-
For identification only
-
3 -
LETTER FROM THE BOARD
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GCL-POLY ENERGY HOLDINGS LIMITED 保利協鑫能源控股有限公司
(Incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability)
(Stock code: 3800)
Executive Directors: ZHU Gong Shan (Chairman) SHA Hong Qiu JI Jun SHU Hua YU Bao Dong SUN Wei TONG Yee Ming ZHU Yu Feng
Non-executive Directors: CHAU Kwok Man, Cliff BAI Xiao Qing
Registered office: Cricket Square, Hutchins Drive P.O. Box 2681 Grand Cayman, KY1-1111 Cayman Islands
Place of business in Hong Kong: Unit 1703B-1706, Level 17 International Commerce Centre 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon Hong Kong
Independent non-executive Directors: QIAN Zhi Xin HO Chung Tai, Raymond XUE Zhong Su YIP Tai Him
15 December 2010
To the Shareholders
Dear Sir or Madam,
CONNECTED TRANSACTION AND CONTINUING CONNECTED TRANSACTIONS IN RELATION TO STEAM SUPPLY
INTRODUCTION
Pursuant to the Previous Jinshanqiao Steam Supply Agreement entered into between Jiangsu Zhongneng, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant and the Previous Xuzhou Steam Supply Agreement entered into between Jiangsu Zhongneng and Xuzhou Energy Plant (together, the “Previous Steam Supply Agreements”), each of Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant and Xuzhou Energy Plant agreed to supply, and Jiangsu Zhongneng agreed to purchase, steam for a term of one year commencing from 1 January 2010. The Previous Steam Supply Agreements and the transactions contemplated therein were announced by the Company on 30 December 2009 and approved by the Shareholders on 5 February 2010. The Previous Steam Supply Agreements will expire on 31 December 2010.
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LETTER FROM THE BOARD
On 26 November 2010, the Board announced that on that date (i) Jiangsu Zhongneng entered into the Renewed Jinshanqiao Steam Supply Agreement with Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant and the Renewed Xuzhou Steam Supply Agreement with Xuzhou Energy Plant, respectively, to renew the terms of the Previous Steam Supply Agreements; (ii) Jiangsu GCL, another wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into the Jiangsu GCL Steam Supply Agreement with Xuzhou Energy Plant; and (iii) Jiangsu Zhongneng entered into the Connection Agreement with Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant.
Mr. Zhu Yu Feng, an executive Director, indirectly owns the entire equity interest in Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant. Mr. Zhu Yu Feng also indirectly owns 75% of Xuzhou Energy Plant with the remaining 25% held by a trust of which both Mr. Zhu Gong Shan (an executive Director and the father of Mr. Zhu Yu Feng) and Mr. Zhu Yu Feng are beneficiaries. Mr. Zhu Yu Feng is a connected person of the Company and both Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant and Xuzhou Energy Plant are associates of Mr. Zhu Yu Feng and thereby connected persons of the Company. Accordingly, the transactions contemplated under the Steam Supply Agreements constitute continuing connected transactions and the transaction contemplated under the Connection Agreement constitutes a connected transaction of the Company under Chapter 14A of the Listing Rules and are subject to the approval of the Independent Shareholders.
The purpose of this circular is to provide you with (i) further information in respect of the Steam Supply Agreements and the Connection Agreement; (ii) the letter from First Shanghai containing its advice to the Independent Board Committee and the Independent Shareholders on the terms of the Continuing Connected Transactions and the Connected Transaction, including the Annual Caps; (iii) the recommendation of the Independent Board Committee on the terms of the Continuing Connected Transactions and the Connected Transaction, including the Annual Caps; and (iv) the notice convening the EGM at which an ordinary resolution will be proposed to seek the approval of the Independent Shareholders for the Continuing Connected Transactions and the Connected Transaction, including the Annual Caps.
PRINCIPAL TERMS OF THE RENEwED JINSHANqIAO STEAM SUPPLY AGREEMENT
(a) Date
26 November 2010
(b) Parties
Supplier: Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant
Customer: Jiangsu Zhongneng
(c) Subject Matter
Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant has agreed to supply, and Jiangsu Zhongneng has agreed to purchase, steam with a temperature of between 160°C to 380°C for the period from 1 January 2011 to 31 October 2013. The current agreed steam price for steam with pressure of 0.8 Mpa at about 200°C is RMB180 per tonne, which is the same as the Previous Jinshanqiao Steam Supply Agreement, will be payable monthly in arrears.
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LETTER FROM THE BOARD
(d) Basis of Consideration
The current steam supply price of RMB180 per tonne was determined by arm’s length negotiations between the parties and cannot exceed the price approved by the Xuzhou Price Bureau. Any change to the steam supply price in the future will be subject to the application and approval by the Xuzhou Price Bureau.
PRINCIPAL TERMS OF THE RENEwED XUzHOU STEAM SUPPLY AGREEMENT
(a) Date
26 November 2010
(b) Parties
Supplier: Xuzhou Energy Plant
Customer: Jiangsu Zhongneng
(c) Subject Matter
Xuzhou Energy Plant has agreed to supply, and Jiangsu Zhongneng has agreed to purchase, steam with a temperature of between 180°C to 200°C with pressure at 0.8 Mpa for the period from 1 January 2011 to 31 October 2013. The steam price is RMB185 per tonne which is the same as the steam price under the Previous Xuzhou Steam Supply Agreement and will be payable monthly in arrears.
(d) Basis of Consideration
The current steam supply price of RMB185 per tonne was determined by arm’s length negotiations between the parties and cannot exceed the price approved by the Xuzhou Price Bureau. Any change to the steam supply price in the future will be subject to the application and approval by the Xuzhou Price Bureau.
The steam supply price with a temperature of 200°C from Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant is RMB180 per tonne, which is RMB5 per tonne lower than the steam supply price of Xuzhou Energy Plant. The reasons for the difference between the unit steam supply price under the Renewed Xuzhou Steam Supply Agreement and the price under the Renewed Jinshanqiao Steam Supply Agreement are as follows: (i) as Xuzhou Energy Plant is an incineration power plant, the cost of steam production is generally higher than that of cogeneration power plants such as Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant and (ii) the bulk purchase from Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant by Jiangsu Zhongneng justifies the lower unit price.
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LETTER FROM THE BOARD
PRINCIPAL TERMS OF THE CONNECTION AGREEMENT
(a) Date
26 November 2010
(b) Parties
Party A: Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant
Party B: Jiangsu Zhongneng
(c) Subject Matter
Under the Previous Jinshanqiao Steam Supply Agreement, the required steam supply volume is 100 tonnes/hour with the temperature at 200°C and pressure at 0.8Mpa. Under the Renewed Jinshanqiao Steam Supply Agreement, the required steam supply volume is 620 tonnes/hour, with the highest temperature at 380°C and pressure at 3.8Mpa. Jiangsu Zhongneng anticipates that a larger steam volume with a higher steam supply standard is required to meet its production needs as a result of the upgrade of its technology. It is a normal industrial practice in Xuzhou for steam suppliers to charge their existing steam customers when their required steam standard exceeds their existing supply standard. Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant has charged a one-off connection fee at a rate of RMB500,000/tonne for a volume of 620 tonnes/hour (ie. in an amount of RMB310,000,000), 80% of which was payable within 5 days of the signing of the Connection Agreement (the “Initial Payment”) and the balance 20% is payable when the steam of such standard is ready to be supplied. In the event the Connection Agreement is not approved by the Independent Shareholders at the EGM, the Initial Payment will be refunded in full to Jiangsu Zhongneng.
(d) Basis of Consideration
The connection fee of RMB500,000/tonne was arrived at after arm’s length negotiations between the parties with reference to the current market rate. The current market rate in the Xuzhou area for a lower steam supply standard (i.e pressure at 0.4 Mpa and temperature at 150°C) ranges from RMB500,000/tonne to RMB650,000/tonne.
The initial connection fee paid by Jiangsu Zhongneng to Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant on 1 November 2008 was RMB20,000,000 at a price of RMB200,000/tonne for the then supply standard of 100 tonnes/hour with temperature at 360°C and pressure at 1.5Mpa.
- 7 -
LETTER FROM THE BOARD
PRINCIPAL TERMS OF THE JIANGSU GCL STEAM SUPPLY AGREEMENT
(a) Date
26 November 2010
(b) Parties
Supplier: Xuzhou Energy Plant
Customer: Jiangsu GCL
(c) Subject Matter
Xuzhou Energy Plant has agreed to supply, and Jiangsu GCL has agreed to purchase, steam with a temperature of between 180°C to 200°C for the period from 26 November 2010 to 31 October 2013. The steam price is RMB190 per tonne and will be payable monthly in arrears.
(d) Basis of Consideration
The current steam supply price of RMB190 per tonne was determined by arm’s length negotiations between the parties and cannot exceed the price approved by the Xuzhou Price Bureau. Any change to the steam supply price in the future will be subject to the application and approval by the Xuzhou Price Bureau.
The reasons for the difference between the unit steam supply price under the Renewed Xuzhou Steam Supply Agreement and the price under the Jiangsu GCL Steam Supply Agreement are as follows: (i) the technology set up of Jiangsu Zhongneng allows it to produce hot water to set off part of the steam supply cost from Xuzhou Energy Plant whereas Jiangsu GCL’s technology set up does not allow it to do so and (ii) the bulk purchase from Xuzhou Energy Plant by Jiangsu Zhongneng justifies the lower unit price.
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LETTER FROM THE BOARD
ANNUAL CAPS
The Annual Caps for the continuing connected transactions under the Steam Supply Agreements and the connected transaction under the Connection Agreement are set out below:
| For the | For the | For the | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For the period from | year ending | year ending | period from | ||
| 26 November 2010 to | 31 December | 31 December | 1 January 2013 to | ||
| 31 December 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 31 October 2013 | ||
| (RMB) | (RMB) | (RMB) | (RMB) | ||
| 1. | Renewed Jinshanqiao | ||||
| Steam Supply Agreement | – | 1,359,000,000 | 2,240,000,000 | 1,908,504,000 | |
| 2. | Renewed Xuzhou Steam | ||||
| Supply Agreement | – | 148,000,000 | 152,040,000 | 130,000,000 | |
| 3. | Jiangsu GCL Steam | ||||
| Supply Agreement | 2,827,000 | 27,314,000 | 35,848,000 | 27,984,000 | |
| 4. | Connection Agreement | 248,000,000 | 62,000,000 | – | – |
| Total | 250,827,000 | 1,596,314,000 | 2,427,888,000 | 2,066,488,000 | |
| (equivalent to | (equivalent to | (equivalent to | (equivalent to | ||
| HK$292,460,000) | HK$1,861,300,000) | HK$2,830,900,000) | HK$2,409,500,000) |
The Annual Caps were calculated after taking into account (i) the current steam price under each of the agreements referred to above, (ii) the previous annual caps for the transactions under the Previous Jinshanqiao Steam Supply Agreement and the Previous Xuzhou Steam Supply Agreement, which were RMB504,900,000 and RMB49,500,000, respectively, (iii) the production capacity of Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant, (iv) the anticipated steam price movements in the PRC and (v) the estimated consumption of steam by Jiangsu Zhongneng and Jiangsu GCL.
For the period from 1 January 2010 to 31 October 2010, the total amounts paid by Jiangsu Zhongneng under the Previous Jinshanqiao Steam Supply Agreement and the Previous Xuzhou Steam Supply Agreement were approximately RMB251,815,000 and RMB49,000,000, respectively.
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LETTER FROM THE BOARD
REASONS FOR, AND BENEFITS OF, THE CONTINUING CONNECTED TRANSACTIONS AND THE CONNECTED TRANSACTION
The Steam Supply Agreements and the Connection Agreement were entered into in the ordinary and usual course of the Group’s business. Steam is required by Jiangsu Zhongneng and Jiangsu GCL as part of their respective production processes. Steam is also used to provide heat for Jiangsu GCL’s plant during the autumn and winter seasons. The terms of the Steam Supply Agreements and the Connection Agreement were negotiated based on normal commercial terms and the steam supply price and the connection fee were determined following arm’s length negotiations between the parties.
The Directors (excluding the independent non-executive Directors whose views are set out in the letter from the Independent Board Committee in this circular) believe that the Continuing Connected Transactions and the Connected Transaction are on normal commercial terms and have been entered into in the ordinary and usual course of business of the Company and the terms of the Continuing Connected Transactions and the Connected Transaction, including the Annual Caps applicable thereto, are fair and reasonable and in the interests of the Company and the Shareholders as a whole.
As Mr. Zhu Yu Feng and Mr. Zhu Gong Shan, both of whom are executive Directors, have indirect equity interests in Xuzhou Energy Plant and/or Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant (as further described in the section headed “General Information” of this circular), they have a material interest in the Steam Supply Agreements and the Connection Agreement and therefore abstained from voting on the Board resolutions to approve these agreements. Save as disclosed, none of the Directors has a material interest in the Steam Supply Agreements and the Connection Agreement.
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Company is an investment company and its subsidiaries are principally engaged in the manufacturing of polysilicon and wafers for the solar industry as well as the development, management and operation of environmentally friendly power plants.
Jiangsu Zhongneng’s principal business operations involve the manufacture and sale of polysilicon and wafers.
Jiangsu GCL’s principal business operations involve the manufacture and sale of wafers.
Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant is principally engaged in the operation of cogeneration power plant and the sale of electricity and steam. Mr. Zhu Yu Feng, an executive Director, indirectly owns the entire equity interest in Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant.
Xuzhou Energy Plant is principally engaged in the operation of incineration power plant and the sale of electricity and steam. Mr. Zhu Yu Feng also indirectly owns 75% of Xuzhou Energy Plant with the remaining 25% held by a trust of which both Mr. Zhu Gong Shan (an executive Director and the father of Mr. Zhu Yu Feng) and Mr. Zhu Yu Feng are two of the beneficiaries.
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LETTER FROM THE BOARD
LISTING RULES IMPLICATIONS
Mr. Zhu Yu Feng, an executive Director, indirectly owns the entire equity interest in Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant. Mr. Zhu Yu Feng also indirectly owns 75% of Xuzhou Energy Plant with the remaining 25% held by a trust of which both Mr. Zhu Gong Shan (an executive Director and the father of Mr. Zhu Yu Feng) and Mr. Zhu Yu Feng are two of the beneficiaries. Mr. Zhu Yu Feng is a connected person of the Company and both Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant and Xuzhou Energy Plant are associates of Mr. Zhu Yu Feng and thereby connected persons of the Company. Accordingly, the transactions contemplated under the Steam Supply Agreements constitute continuing connected transactions and the transaction contemplated under the Connection Agreement constitutes a connected transaction of the Company under Chapter 14A of the Listing Rules.
As the highest of the applicable percentage ratios (other than the profits ratio) in respect of the aggregated Annual Caps for the Continuing Connected Transactions and the Connected Transaction will, on an annual basis, be more than 5%, the Continuing Connected Transactions and the Connected Transaction will constitute non-exempt continuing connected transactions and a connected transaction of the Company under Rules 14A.35 and 14A.16(5) of the Listing Rules, respectively, and will be subject to the reporting and announcement requirements set out in Rules 14A.45 to 14A.47 of the Listing Rules and the independent shareholders’ approval requirement set out in Rule 14A.48 of the Listing Rules.
EGM
The EGM will be held at Pacific Place Conference Centre, Level 5, One Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Hong Kong at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, 5 January 2011 to consider and, if thought fit, to approve the Continuing Connected Transactions and the Connected Transaction, including the Annual Caps.
A notice convening the EGM is set out on pages 35 to 36 of this circular. Whether or not you are able to attend the meeting, you are requested to complete the accompanying form of proxy in accordance with the instructions printed thereon and return the same to the Company’s branch share registrar and transfer office in Hong Kong, Tricor Investor Services Limited at 26/F., Tesbury Centre, 28 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong as soon as possible and in any event not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for the holding of the meeting or any adjournment thereof. Completion and return of the form of proxy shall not preclude you from attending and voting at the EGM if you so wish.
In accordance with the Listing Rules, the vote of the Independent Shareholders taken at the EGM to approve the Continuing Connected Transactions and the Connected Transaction, including the Annual Caps, will be taken by poll. Any connected person of the Company having any material interest in the Continuing Connected Transactions and the Connected Transaction, and any Shareholder with a material interest in the Continuing Connected Transactions and the Connected Transaction and their respective associates will abstain from voting at the EGM. Accordingly, Mr. Zhu Yu Feng, Mr. Zhu Gong Shan and their respective associates (who are deemed to have interest in 5,015,343,327 Shares, i.e. approximately 32.41% of the entire issued share capital of the Company as at the Latest Practicable Date) will abstain from voting at the EGM. The result of the vote will be announced after the EGM.
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LETTER FROM THE BOARD
INDEPENDENT BOARD COMMITTEE AND INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADvISER
The Independent Board Committee, comprising all the independent non-executive Directors, namely Messrs. Qian Zhi Xin, Xue Zhong Su, Yip Tai Him and Ir. Dr. Raymond Ho Chung Tai, has been formed to consider and advise the Independent Shareholders in respect of the fairness and reasonableness of the terms of the Continuing Connected Transactions and the Connected Transaction, including the Annual Caps. Your attention is drawn to the letter from the Independent Board Committee set out on pages 13 and 14 of this circular, which contains its recommendation to the Independent Shareholders as to the voting at the EGM.
First Shanghai has been appointed as the Independent Financial Adviser to advise the Independent Board Committee and the Independent Shareholders in respect of the fairness and reasonableness of the terms of the Continuing Connected Transactions and the Connected Transaction, including the Annual Caps. Your attention is drawn to the letter from First Shanghai set out on pages 15 to 23 of this circular, which contains its advice to the Independent Board Committee and the Independent Shareholders as to voting at the EGM.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Your attention is also drawn to the general information of the Group contained in the Appendix to this circular.
Yours faithfully, By order of the Board GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Limited zhu Gong Shan Chairman
- 12 -
LETTER FROM THE INDEPENDENT BOARD COMMITTEE
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GCL-POLY ENERGY HOLDINGS LIMITED 保利協鑫能源控股有限公司
(Incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability)
(Stock code: 3800)
To the Independent Shareholders
15 December 2010
Dear Sir or Madam,
CONNECTED TRANSACTION AND CONTINUING CONNECTED TRANSACTIONS IN RELATION TO STEAM SUPPLY
We refer to this circular dated 15 December 2010 issued by the Company to its Shareholders, of which this letter forms part. Unless the context otherwise requires, terms defined in this circular shall have the same meaning when used in this letter.
We have been appointed as the Independent Board Committee to advise the Independent Shareholders as to whether, in our opinion, the terms of the transactions contemplated under the Steam Supply Agreements and the Connection Agreement, including the Annual Caps, are fair and reasonable and in the interests of the Company and the Shareholders as a whole.
First Shanghai has been appointed as the Independent Financial Adviser to advise the Independent Board Committee and the Independent Shareholders on the fairness and reasonableness of the terms of the Steam Supply Agreements and the Connection Agreement, including the Annual Caps.
We wish to draw your attention to (i) the letter of advice from First Shanghai as set out on pages 15 to 23 of this circular; and (ii) the letter from the Board as set out on pages 4 to 12 of this circular, which set out information relating to, and the reasons for and benefits of the Continuing Connected Transactions and the Connected Transaction.
- 13 -
LETTER FROM THE INDEPENDENT BOARD COMMITTEE
As the Company’s independent non-executive Directors, we have discussed with the management of the Company the reasons for and benefits of the Steam Supply Agreements and the Connection Agreement, and the basis upon which their terms have been determined. We have considered the factors and reasons considered by, and the opinions and recommendations of, First Shanghai as set out on pages 15 to 23 of this circular. We are of the opinion that the terms of the transactions contemplated under the Steam Supply Agreements and the Connection Agreement, including the Annual Caps, are fair and reasonable and in the interests of the Company and the Shareholders as a whole. Accordingly, we recommend that the Independent Shareholders vote in favour of the ordinary resolution to approve the transactions contemplated under Steam Supply Agreements and the Connection Agreement, including the Annual Caps, to be proposed at the EGM.
Yours faithfully,
For and on behalf of the Independent Board Committee QIAN Zhi Xin Raymond HO Chung Tai XUE Zhong Su YIP Tai Him Independent non-executive Directors
- 14 -
LETTER FROM FIRST SHANGHAI
The following is the text of the letter of advice to the Independent Board Committee and the Independent Shareholders from First Shanghai on the terms of the Continuing Connected Transactions and the Connected Transaction, including the Annual Caps, for the purpose of incorporation in this circular.
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FIRST SHANGHAI CAPITAL LIMITED
19th Floor, Wing On House 71 Des Voeux Road Central Hong Kong
15 December 2010
-
To the Independent Board Committee
-
and the Independent Shareholders
Dear Sir or Madam,
CONNECTED TRANSACTION AND CONTINUING CONNECTED TRANSACTIONS IN RELATION TO STEAM SUPPLY
INTRODUCTION
We refer to our engagement to advise the Independent Board Committee and the Independent Shareholders on the terms of the transactions contemplated under the Renewed Jinshanqiao Steam Supply Agreement, the Renewed Xuzhou Steam Supply Agreement, the Jiangsu GCL Steam Supply Agreement and the Connection Agreement (collectively, the “Agreements”), including the Annual Caps, details of which are set out in the circular of the Company dated 15 December 2010 (the “Circular”) to the Shareholders of which this letter forms a part. Unless the context otherwise requires, terms used in this letter shall have the same meanings as those defined in the Circular.
As at the Latest Practicable Date, Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant was owned entirely and indirectly by Mr. Zhu Yu Feng, an executive Director; and Xuzhou Energy Plant was owned as to 75% indirectly by Mr. Zhu Yu Feng and 25% by a trust of which both Mr. Zhu Gong Shan (an executive Director and the father of Mr. Zhu Yu Feng) and Mr. Zhu Yu Feng are two of the beneficiaries. Accordingly, Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant and Xuzhou Energy Plant are connected persons of the Company (as defined in the Listing Rules) and the transactions contemplated under the Steam Supply Agreements therefore constitute continuing connected transactions and the transaction contemplated under the Connection Agreement constitutes a connected transaction for the Company under Chapter 14A of the Listing Rules and are subject to, among others, approval by the Independent Shareholders by way of poll at the EGM.
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LETTER FROM FIRST SHANGHAI
The Independent Board Committee, comprising all the independent non-executive Directors, namely Messrs. Qian Zhi Xin, Ir. Dr. Raymond Ho Chung Tai, Xue Zhong Su and Yip Tai Him, has been established to advise the Independent Shareholders in respect of the fairness and reasonableness of the terms of the Continuing Connected Transactions and the Connected Transaction and the Annual Caps. We, First Shanghai Capital Limited, have been appointed to advise the Independent Board Committee and the Independent Shareholders in this regard.
In putting forth our opinion and recommendation, we have relied on the accuracy of the information and representations included in the Circular and provided to us by the management of the Group, and have assumed that all such information and representations made or referred to in the Circular and provided to us by the management of the Group were true at the time they were made and will continue to be true up to the time of the holding of the EGM. We have also assumed that all statements of belief, opinion and intention made in the Circular were reasonably made after due enquiry. We have no reason to doubt the truth, accuracy and completeness of the information and representations provided to us by the management of the Group and have been advised that no material facts have been withheld or omitted from the information provided and referred to in the Circular. We consider that we have reviewed sufficient information to reach an informed view and to justify reliance on the accuracy of the information contained in the Circular and to provide a reasonable basis for our advice. We have not, however, conducted any independent verification of the information included in the Circular and provided to us by the management of the Group nor have we conducted any form of investigation into the business, affairs or future prospects of the Group.
PRINCIPAL FACTORS AND REASONS CONSIDERED
In formulating our opinion on the terms of the Continuing Connected Transactions and the Connected Transaction and the Annual Caps, we have taken into account the following principal factors and reasons:
1. Background to and reasons for the entering into of the Continuing Connected Transactions and the Connected Transaction
The Group is principally engaged in the manufacturing of polysilicon and wafers for the solar industry as well as the development, management and operation of environmentally friendly power plants. Jiangsu Zhongneng and Jiangsu GCL are wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company, both of which are principally engaged in the manufacture and sale of wafers and/or polysilicon.
On 27 April 2009, Jiangsu Zhongneng entered into a steam supply agreement (the “First Steam Supply Agreement”) with Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant, pursuant to which Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant agreed to supply steam to Jiangsu Zhongneng given that Jiangsu Zhongneng requires steam during part of the polysilicon manufacturing process. In light of the expiry of the First Steam Supply Agreement, the Group entered into the Previous Jinshanqiao Steam Supply Agreement on 30 December 2009. Moreover, as it was expected that Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant was not able to meet the expected steam consumption of Jiangsu Zhongneng for the year ending 31 December 2010, Jiangsu Zhongneng also entered into the Previous Xuzhou Steam Supply Agreement on 30 December 2009 with Xuzhou Energy Plant, pursuant to which Xuzhou Energy Plant agreed to supply steam to Jiangsu
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LETTER FROM FIRST SHANGHAI
Zhongneng for the year ending 31 December 2010. Further details of the Previous Jinshanqiao Steam Supply Agreement and the Previous Xuzhou Steam Supply Agreement (collectively, the “Previous Steam Supply Agreements”) have been disclosed in the announcement of the Company dated 30 December 2009 and the circular of the Company dated 19 January 2010.
Provided that the Previous Steam Supply Agreements are due to expire on 31 December 2010 and having been further advised that (i) Jiangsu Zhongneng is expected to continue its manufacturing operations and will require the types of steam from both Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant and Xuzhou Energy Plant for its production processes; (ii) Jiangsu GCL will require the type of steam to be supplied by Xuzhou Energy Plant in the coming years for its production processes and to provide heat for its plant during autumn and winter; and (iii) Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant and Xuzhou Energy Plant are the only two major steam suppliers within the steam supply radius of Jiangsu Zhongneng and Jiangsu GCL, the Group entered into the Steam Supply Agreements on 26 November 2010 to fulfil the steam consumption requirements of Jiangsu Zhongneng and Jiangsu GCL.
In addition, we understand from the management of the Group that Jiangsu Zhongneng is expected to achieve a technological upgrade by mid 2011, where steam with pressures different from the ones previously supplied will be required by Jiangsu Zhongneng to continue its upgraded production. In order to cope with the transmission of the new types of steam, in particular, the type with significantly higher pressure, Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant and Jiangsu Zhongneng entered into the Connection Agreement, pursuant to which Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant will charge Jiangsu Zhongneng an one-off connection fee primarily for the construction of a new steam transmission network as well as installation of new equipment.
Having considered that, in particular, (i) both Jiangsu Zhongneng and Jiangsu GCL will require steam during their operations; (ii) Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant and Xuzhou Energy Plant are the only two major steam suppliers in the area and have been supplying steam to the Group; and (iii) Jiangsu Zhongneng will require a new transmission network for the procurement of higher pressure steam after its technological upgrade, we consider that the entering into of the Agreements is in the ordinary and usual course of business of the Group and is in the interests of the Company and the Shareholders as a whole.
2. Principal terms of the Agreements
i. Principal pricing and payment terms under the Steam Supply Agreements
We understand that the steam prices under the Steam Supply Agreements will not exceed the price approved by the Xuzhou Price Bureau from time to time. In addition, we noted from the letter from the Board that the current unit price for similar type of steam supplied to Jiangsu Zhongneng by Xuzhou Energy Plant is slightly higher than that supplied by Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant, which we have been advised the reasons are that (i) Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant offers a bulk discount to Jiangsu Zhongneng for its higher procurement volume; and (ii) Xuzhou Energy Plant is an incineration power plant which has a higher production cost as compared with Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant. We also noted that the current unit price
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LETTER FROM FIRST SHANGHAI
supplied by Xuzhou Energy Plant to Jiangsu GCL is slightly higher than the unit price supplied to Jiangsu Zhongneng for similar type of steam and we have been advised the key reason is that Jiangsu Zhongneng already has a technology set up to transmit hot water back to Xuzhou Energy Plant to save the steam production cost of Xuzhou Energy Plant. We have also been advised that Xuzhou Energy Plant does not supply steam to independent third parties, hence we have reviewed invoices in relation to the supply of steam by Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant to independent third parties and noted that the recent price of the type of steam currently supplying by both Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant and Xuzhou Energy Plant are no less favourable to the Group compared to those with independent third parties and has not exceeded the currently government approved steam prices.
Regarding the payment terms, we understand that the transactions in relation to the supply of steam under the Steam Supply Agreements will be payable monthly in arrears. As such, we have reviewed the annual report of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2009 (the “2009 Annual Report”) and noted that the payment terms under the Steam Supply Agreements are in line with the normal commercial practise of the Group, where the Group was granted by its suppliers credit periods ranging from 30 to 90 days for its trade purchases and almost 90% of trade payables were due within 90 days as at 31 December 2009.
Given the Group had carried out continuing connected transactions in relation to the supply of steam from Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant and Xuzhou Energy Plant during the year ended 31 December 2009, we have further reviewed the 2009 Annual Report and noted that the Board, including the independent non-executive Directors, and the auditor of the Company had confirmed, among others, the continuing connected transactions of the Group for the year ended 31 December 2009 were (i) entered into and conducted either on normal commercial terms or terms no less favourable to the Company than terms available to or from independent third parties; and (ii) in accordance with the relevant written agreements governing them on terms that are fair and in the interests of the Company and the Shareholders as a whole. We have also enquired the management of the Group regarding the internal control of the Group and we understand that the Group will comply with the relevant Listing Rules governing the Continuing Connected Transactions as set out in the section headed “Measures to ensure compliance with the Listing Rules” below.
Having considered the above, we are of the view that the terms of the Steam Supply Agreements are on normal commercial terms and are fair and reasonable so far as the Independent Shareholders are concerned.
ii. Principal pricing and payment terms under the Connection Agreement
We understand that Jiangsu Zhongneng will require different types of steam upon its technological upgrade to be achieved by mid 2010 and a new steam transmission network together with new equipment will be required by Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant to facilitate the transmission of the higher pressure steam for the upgraded production processes of Jiangsu Zhongneng. As disclosed in the letter from the Board, it is a normal industrial practice in Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, the PRC for steam suppliers to charge their existing steam customers when the required steam standard of their customers exceeds their existing supply standard.
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LETTER FROM FIRST SHANGHAI
Pursuant to the Connection Agreement, Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant would charge a one-off connection fee at a rate of RMB500,000 per tonne for a volume of 620 tonnes per hour (ie. in an amount of RMB310,000,000). We understand that the volume of 620 tonnes per hour is based on the expected consumption volume of steam by Jiangsu Zhongneng upon its technological upgrade to be achieved by mid 2011. As such, we have reviewed the expected steam consumption schedule of Jiangsu Zhongneng upon its expected technological upgrade and we have also reviewed independent third party contracts in relation to connection fees in Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, the PRC, where we noted that (i) it is not unusual for a steam supplier to charge its customer an one-off connection fee; and (ii) the fee charged by Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant is no less favourable to the Group than those with independent third parties.
In accordance with the payment terms of the Connection Agreement, 80% of the one-off connection fee would be payable within 5 days of the signing of the Connection Agreement and the balance 20% will be payable when the steam of such standard is ready to be supplied. Taking into account that the construction of the new transmission network by Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant is for the supply of the new type of steam specifically requested by Jiangsu Zhongneng, and the payment terms under the Connection Agreement are comparable to those with independent third parties after reviewing contracts with independent third parties in relation to connection fees for the supply of steam, we are of the view that the payment term of the Connection Agreement is reasonable.
Having considered the above, we are of the view that the terms of the Connection Agreement are on normal commercial terms and are fair and reasonable so far as the Independent Shareholders are concerned.
3. Annual Caps
The following table sets out the historical transaction amounts and the Annual Caps under the Steam Supply Agreements and the Connection Agreement:–
| Annual Caps | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actual | |||||
| transaction | |||||
| amount for the | For the | For the | |||
| period from | period from | period from | |||
| 1 January | 26 November | For the | For the | 1 January | |
| 2010 to | 2010 to | year ending | year ending | 2013 to | |
| 31 October | 31 December | 31 December | 31 December | 31 October | |
| 2010 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | |
| (in RMB’000) | (in RMB’000) | (in RMB’000) | (in RMB’000) | (in RMB’000) | |
| Renewed Jinshanqiao | 251,815 | n/a | 1,359,000 | 2,240,000 | 1,908,504 |
| Steam Supply Agreement | (note 1) | (note 3) | |||
| Renewed Xuzhou Steam | 49,000 | n/a | 148,000 | 152,040 | 130,000 |
| Supply Agreement | (note 2) | (note 3) | |||
| Jiangsu GCL Steam | – | 2,827 | 27,314 | 35,848 | 27,984 |
| Supply Agreement | |||||
| Connection Agreement | – | 248,000 | 62,000 | – | – |
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LETTER FROM FIRST SHANGHAI
Notes:
-
Historical actual transaction amount in relation to the Previous Jinshanqiao Steam Supply Agreement.
-
Historical actual transaction amount in relation to the Previous Xuzhou Steam Supply Agreement.
-
The period from 26 November 2010 to 31 December 2010 is covered by the Previous Steam Supply Agreements and the transaction amount during the period is governed by the annual caps under the Previous Steam Supply Agreements.
As set out in the letter from the Board, the Annual Caps were calculated after taking into account (i) the current steam price under each of the Steam Supply Agreements; (ii) the previous annual caps for the transactions under the Previous Steam Supply Agreements; (iii) the production capacity of Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant; and (iv) the anticipated steam price movements in the PRC; and (v) the estimated consumption of steam by Jiangsu Zhongneng and Jiangsu GCL. We have been advised that (i) Jiangsu GCL is expected to commence operation in December 2010 and will require steam supply for both production and heating purposes for the production plant; and (ii) the first payment for the Connection Agreement will be payable within 5 days of the signing of the Connection Agreement, therefore the period of the Annual Caps begins on 26 November 2010, being the date of the announcement of the Company in relation to the Agreements, and the period of the Annual Caps under each of the Steam Supply Agreements will end on 31 October 2013 for not applying Annual Caps of a period exceeding three years and for consistency purposes.
i. Annual Caps in respect of the Steam Supply Agreements
We have discussed with the management of the Group and we have reviewed the underlying assumptions in determining of the Annual Caps in respect of the Steam Supply Agreements and we noted that the Annual Caps have made reference to the expected steam price and the expected steam consumption volume. Hence, in order to assess the fairness and reasonableness of the Annual Caps in respect of the Steam Supply Agreements, we have reviewed the expected steam price and the expected steam consumption volume.
Regarding the expected steam prices, we have reviewed recent invoices in relation to comparable types of steam with independent third parties and noted that the expected steam prices from 26 November 2010 to 31 December 2011 for the type of steam currently supplying are no less favourable to the Group as compared with independent third parties. In addition, we have reviewed relevant documents and noted that the expected steam prices from 26 November 2010 to 31 December 2011 do not exceed the currently government approved steam prices. Furthermore, we noted that the expected steam prices during the year ending 31 December 2012 and the ten months ending 31 October 2013 have taken into account an annual inflation rate (the “Inflation Rate”), which we consider to be conservatively determined given that the Inflation Rate is less than the annual growth rate of the purchasing price indices for raw materials, fuels and power in the past few years as obtained from the China Statistical Year Book 2009 published by the National Bureau of Statistics of China. Hence, we are of the view that the expected steam prices in determining the Annual Caps in respect of the Steam Supply Agreements are reasonable.
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LETTER FROM FIRST SHANGHAI
Regarding the volume of steam to be provided by Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant to Jiangsu Zhongneng under the Renewed Jinshanqiao Steam Supply Agreement, we have been advised that the steam consumption volume is expected to increase significantly for the year ending 31 December 2011 due to (i) the expected launch of an additional comprehensive utilization process in January 2011; and (ii) the technological upgrade to be achieved by mid 2011 which will significantly increase steam consumption volume. We have reviewed the expected steam consumption schedule for the period of the Annual Caps and also understand that the significant increase in consumption volume together with the higher price of the new type of higher pressure steam has driven the significant increase in the expected transaction amount for the year ending 31 December 2011 as compared with the actual transaction amounts for the ten months ended 31 October 2010. We understand that the increase in Annual Cap for the year ending 31 December 2012 as compared to that for the year ending 31 December 2011 is mainly due to the technological upgrade which is expected to be in place in mid 2011, where the full effect of the technological upgrade on increased steam consumption will not be completely reflected in the Annual Cap for the year ending 31 December 2011. Nonetheless, upon the completion of the technological upgrade, the monthly consumption volume is not expected to further increase for the year ending 31 December 2012 and the ten months ending 31 October 2013, therefore the monthly transaction amounts during these periods are expected to be stable apart from the Inflation Rate as discussed above.
Regarding the volume of steam to be provided by Xuzhou Energy Plant to Jiangsu Zhongneng under the Renewed Xuzhou Steam Supply Agreement, we have been advised that the steam consumption volume is expected to increase for the year ending 31 December 2011 to accommodate the expected launch of the additional comprehensive utilization process of Jiangsu Zhongneng in January 2011. We have reviewed the expected steam consumption schedule for the period of the Annual Caps and we also understand that the increase in consumption volume is the principal driving factor for the increase in the expected transaction amount for the year ending 31 December 2011 as compared with the actual transaction amounts for the ten months ended 31 October 2010. Nonetheless, the monthly consumption volume is not expected to increase for the year ending 31 December 2012 and the ten months ending 31 October 2013, therefore the transaction amounts during these periods are expected to be stable apart from the Inflation Rate as discussed above.
Regarding the volume of steam to be provided by Xuzhou Energy Plant to Jiangsu GCL under the Jiangsu GCL Steam Supply Agreement, we have discussed with the management of the Group and reviewed the expected steam consumption schedule for the period of the Annual Caps and we understand that (i) the expected steam consumption volumes are for production processes throughout the period and for supplying heat in autumn and winter; and (ii) the expected steam consumption volumes fluctuates on a seasonal basis given that Jiangsu GCL will require a low volume of steam for its production process, therefore the proportion of steam to be used for heating by Jiangsu GCL is comparatively high. We noted that the expected consumption volume for the year ending 31 December 2012 is higher than the same for the year ending 31 December 2011 and we have been advised that it is mainly attributable to the expected expansion of production capacity of Jiangsu GCL during the year ending 31 December
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LETTER FROM FIRST SHANGHAI
- We also noted that the expected steam consumption for 2012 and 2013 is fairly stable and the difference in their respective Annual Cap is that only ten months are covered in the year 2013 and higher steam consumption volume for heating purpose for the production plant is required for autumn and winter.
Based on the above, we are of the view that the bases of the Annual Caps in respect of the Steam Supply Agreements are fair and reasonable so far as the Independent Shareholders are concerned.
ii. Annual Caps in respect of the Connection Agreement
Pursuant to the terms of the Connection Agreement, Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant would charge a one-off connection fee at a rate of RMB500,000 per tonne for a volume of 620 tonnes per hour (i.e. in aggregate of RMB310,000,000). We understand that 80% of the one-off connection fee would be payable within 5 days of the signing of the Connection Agreement and the balance 20% will be payable when the steam of such standard is ready to be supplied. Hence, 80% of the connection fee, being RMB248 million, would be the Annual Cap for the period from 26 November 2010 to 31 December 2010, whereas the remaining 20%, being RMB62 million, would be the Annual Cap for the year ending 31 December 2011 given that the construction is expected to be completed in mid 2011 to accommodate the technology upgrade of Jiangsu Zhongneng.
As discussed in the section headed “Principal terms of the Agreements”, we have analysed the basis of the connection fee, where we have reviewed the expected steam consumption schedule of Jiangsu Zhongneng upon its expected technological upgrade in relation to the expected consumption rate of 620 tonnes per hour. We have also reviewed contracts with independent third parties in relation to connection fees, where we noted that the fee charged by Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Plant is no less favourable to the Group than those with independent third parties. Hence, we are of the view the bases of the Annual Caps in respect of the Connection Agreement are fair and reasonable so far as the Independent Shareholders are concerned.
4. Measures to ensure compliance with the Listing Rules
In compliance with the annual review requirements under Chapter 14A of the Listing Rules, the Company will comply with the following during the term of the Agreements in relation to the Continuing Connected Transactions and the Connected Transaction (collectively, the “Transactions”):
-
(i) each year the independent non-executive Directors must review the Transactions and confirm in the Company’s annual report and accounts that the Transactions have been entered into (a) in the ordinary and usual course of business of the Company; (b) either on normal commercial terms or, if there are not sufficient comparable transactions to judge whether they are on normal commercial terms, on terms no less favourable to the Group than terms available to or from (as appropriate) independent third parties; and (c) in accordance with the Agreements governing them on terms that are fair and reasonable and in the interests of the Shareholders as a whole;
-
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LETTER FROM FIRST SHANGHAI
-
(ii) each year the auditors of the Company must provide a letter to the Board (with a copy provided to the Stock Exchange at least 10 business days prior to the bulk printing of the annual report of the Company) confirming that the Transactions (a) have received the approval of the Board; (b) are in accordance with the pricing policies of the Company if the Transactions involve provision of goods or services by the Company; (c) have been entered into in accordance with the relevant agreement governing the transactions; and (d) have not exceeded the respective Annual Caps;
-
(iii) the Company will allow, and will procure that the counterparty to the Transactions will provide the auditors of the Company with sufficient access to the relevant records of the Transactions for the purpose of reporting on the Transactions. The Board must state in the annual report whether its auditors have confirmed the matters stated in paragraph (ii) above; and
-
(iv) the Company shall promptly notify the Stock Exchange and publish an announcement in accordance with the Listing Rules if it knows or has reason to believe that the independent non-executive Directors and/or auditors of the Company will not be able to confirm the matters set out in paragraphs (i) and/or (ii) above respectively.
In light of the reporting requirements attached to the Transactions, in particular, (i) the restriction of the value of the Transactions by way of the Annual Caps; and (ii) the ongoing review by the independent non-executive Directors and the auditors of the Company of the terms of the Transactions and the Annual Caps not being exceeded, we are of the view that appropriate measures will be in place to govern the conduct of the Transactions and safeguard the interests of the Independent Shareholders.
RECOMMENDATION
Having taken into account the above principal factors, we are of the view that (i) the entering into of the Agreements is in the ordinary and usual course of business of the Group and in the interests of the Company and the Shareholders as a whole; and (ii) the terms of the Continuing Connected Transactions and the Connected Transaction are on normal commercial terms, together with the bases of the Annual Caps, are fair and reasonable so far as the Independent Shareholders are concerned. Accordingly, we advise the Independent Board Committee to recommend, and we ourselves advise, the Independent Shareholders to vote in favour of the ordinary resolutions to be proposed at the EGM to approve the Continuing Connected Transactions and the Connected Transaction and the Annual Caps.
Yours faithfully, For and on behalf of
First Shanghai Capital Limited
Helen Zee Managing Director
Fanny Lee Deputy Managing Director
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GENERAL INFORMATION
APPENDIX
1. RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT
This circular, for which the Directors collectively and individually accept full responsibility, includes particulars given in compliance with the Listing Rules for the purpose of giving information with regard to the Company. The Directors having made all reasonable enquiries, confirm that to the best of their knowledge and belief the information contained in this circular is accurate and complete in all material respects and not misleading or deceptive, and there are no other matters the omission of which would make any statement herein or this circular misleading.
2. DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS
(a) Directors
As at the Latest Practicable Date, the interests and short positions of the Directors and chief executives of the Company in the Shares, underlying Shares and debentures of the Company and its associated corporations (within the meaning of Part XV of the SFO) which were required (a) to be notified to the Company and the Stock Exchange pursuant to Divisions 7 and 8 of Part XV of the SFO (including interests and short positions which they were deemed or taken to have under such provisions of the SFO); or (b) to be and were recorded in the register required to be kept pursuant to Section 352 of the SFO; or (c) as otherwise notified to the Company and the Stock Exchange pursuant to the Model Code for Securities Transactions by Directors of Listed Issuers adopted by the Company (the “Model Code”) were as follows:
Long position in Shares/underlying Shares
| Number of | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | of | underlying | |||
| Shares | Shares held | Percentage | |||
| Name of Directors/ | Corporate | Personal | under equity | of issued | |
| Chief Executive | interests | interest | derivatives |
Total |
share capital |
| Zhu Gong Shan | 5,015,343,327 | – | – |
5,015,343,327 | 32.41 |
| (note 1) | |||||
| Sha Hong Qiu | – | 1,000,000 | 3,360,000 |
4,360,000 |
0.03 |
| (note 2) | |||||
| Ji Jun | – | – | 3,000,000 |
3,000,000 |
0.02 |
| (note 2) | |||||
| Shu Hua | – | 1,200,000 | 3,000,000 |
4,200,000 |
0.03 |
| (note 2) |
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GENERAL INFORMATION
APPENDIX
| Number of | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | of | underlying | |||
| Shares | Shares held | Percentage | |||
| Name of Directors/ | Corporate | Personal | under equity | of issued | |
| Chief Executive | interests | interest | derivatives |
Total |
share capital |
| Yu Bao Dong | 19,832,032 | 1,112,000 | 3,000,000 |
23,944,032 |
0.15 |
| (note 3) | (note 2) | ||||
| Sun Wei | – | 3,223,000 | 3,000,000 |
6,223,000 |
0.04 |
| (note 2) | |||||
| Tong Yee Ming | – | – | 1,200,000 |
1,200,000 |
0.01 |
| (note 2) | |||||
| Zhu Yu Feng | 5,015,343,327 | – | 1,000,000 |
5,016,343,327 | 32.42 |
| (note 1) | (note 2) |
Notes:
-
(1) The interests of Mr. Zhu Gong Shan are held by Highexcel Investments Limited and Happy Genius Holdings Limited, both of which are indirectly wholly-owned by Golden Concord Group Limited, which in turn is wholly-owned by Asia Pacific Energy Holdings Limited. Asia Pacific Energy Holdings Limited is in turn wholly-owned by Asia Pacific Energy Fund Limited. Asia Pacific Energy Fund Limited is ultimately held under a discretionary trust by Credit Suisse Trust Limited for Mr. Zhu Gong Shan and his family, including Mr. Zhu Yu Feng, the son of Mr. Zhu Gong Shan and a Director.
-
(2) These are share options granted by the Company to the Directors under the pre-IPO share option scheme and share option scheme, both of which were adopted by the Shareholders on 22 October 2007. Such share options can be exercised by the Directors at various intervals during the period from 1 April 2009 to 15 February 2019 at an exercise price of HK$4.10 and HK$0.59, respectively.
-
(3) Mr. Yu Bao Dong is the ultimate beneficial owner of Bonus Billion Group Limited and Joy Big Holdings Limited. Bonus Billion Group Limited and Joy Big Holdings Limited owns 6,108,934 Shares and 13,723,098 Shares, respectively.
Save as disclosed above, as at the Latest Practicable Date, none of the Directors and chief executives of the Company had or was deemed to have any interests or short positions in the shares, underlying shares and debentures of the Company or any of its associated corporations (within the meaning of Part XV of the SFO) which were required (a) to be notified to the Company and the Stock Exchange pursuant to Divisions 7 and 8 of Part XV of the SFO (including interests and short positions which they were taken or deemed to have under such provisions of the SFO); or (b) which were required, pursuant to Section 352 of the SFO, to be entered in the register referred to therein; or (c) which were required, pursuant to the Model Code contained in the Listing Rules, to be notified to the Company and the Stock Exchange.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
APPENDIX
(b) Substantial Shareholders
- (i) As at the Latest Practicable Date, so far as is known to any Director or chief executive of the Company, the following persons (other than a Director or chief executive of the Company) had an interest or short position in the Shares or underlying Shares which would fall to be disclosed to the Company under the provisions of Divisions 2 and 3 of Part XV of the SFO, or, who were directly or indirectly, interested in 10% or more of the nominal value of any class of share capital carrying rights to vote in all circumstances at the general meetings of any other member of the Group:
Long Position in the Shares and underlying Shares
| Number | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity/ | of Shares/ | Percentage | ||
| nature of | underlying | of issued | ||
| Name | Note | interest | Shares held | share capital |
| Asia Pacific Energy Fund | (1) | Interest in a | 5,015,343,327 | 32.41 |
| Limited | controlled | |||
| corporation | ||||
| Chengdong Investment | (2) | Beneficial | 3,108,163,054 | 20.09 |
| Corporation | interest |
Notes:
-
(1) The interests of Mr. Zhu Gong Shan are held by Highexcel Investments Limited and Happy Genius Holdings Limited, both of which are indirectly wholly-owned by Golden Concord Group Limited, which in turn is wholly-owned by Asia Pacific Energy Holdings Limited. Asia Pacific Energy Holdings Limited is in turn wholly-owned by Asia Pacific Energy Fund Limited. Asia Pacific Energy Fund Limited is ultimately held under a discretionary trust by Credit Suisse Trust Limited for Mr. Zhu Gong Shan and his family, including Mr. Zhu Yu Feng, the son of Mr. Zhu Gong Shan and a Director. Mr. Zhu Gong Shan and his family are beneficiaries under the discretionary trust.
-
(2) China Investment Corporation is interested in approximately 3,111,103,054 Shares, out of which Chengdong Investment Corporation (a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Investment Corporation) owns 3,108,163,054 Shares. Both Mr. Chau Kwok Man, Cliff and Ms. Bai Xiao Qing, nonexecutive Directors of the Company, are employees of China Investment Corporation.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
APPENDIX
- (ii) As at the Latest Practicable Date, the following entities were interested in 10% or more of the nominal value of any class of share capital carrying rights to vote in all circumstances at general meetings of other members of the Group:
Long Position in shares/registered capital of the members of the Group
| Contributed | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| registered | ||||
| capital | ||||
| (RMB unless | Percentage of | |||
| Name of member | Name of | Capacity/nature | otherwise | registered |
| of the Group | Shareholder(s) | of interest | stated) | capital |
| Fengxian Xinyuan | 江蘇金馬房地產有限 | Beneficial owner | 49,000,000 | 49 |
| Biological | 公司(Jiangsu Jinma | |||
| Environmental | Property Co. Ltd.*) | |||
| Heat and Power | ||||
| Co., Ltd. | ||||
| Funing Golden Concord | 江蘇省國神風電成套設 | Beneficial owner | US$1,200,000 | 15 |
| Environmental | 備有限公司(Jiangsu | |||
| Protection Co-generation | Guoshen Wind | |||
| Co., Ltd. | Power Facility Co., | |||
| Ltd.*) | ||||
| 博騰國際投資貿易有限 | Beneficial owner | US$1,600,000 | 20 | |
| 公司(Broadsino | ||||
| Investment Company | ||||
| Limited) | ||||
| Haimen Xinyuan | 江蘇電力發展股份有限 | Beneficial owner | US$2,320,000 | 29 |
| Environmental | 公司(Jiangsu Electric | |||
| Protection | Development Co. | |||
| Co-Generation Co., Ltd. | Ltd.*) | |||
| 江蘇通供集體資產營運 | Beneficial owner | US$1,600,000 | 20 | |
| 中心(Jiangsu Tong | ||||
| Gong Holding Asset | ||||
| Co. Ltd.*) | ||||
| Kunshan Xinyuan | 蘇州鑫圓資產投資有限 | Beneficial owner | 29,050,000 | 25 |
| Environmental | 公司(Suzhou Xin | |||
| Protection Cogen-Power | Yuan Asset | |||
| Co., Ltd. | Investments Co. | |||
| Ltd.*) |
- 27 -
GENERAL INFORMATION
APPENDIX
| Contributed | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| registered | ||||
| capital | ||||
| (RMB unless | Percentage of | |||
| Name of member | Name of | Capacity/nature | otherwise | registered |
| of the Group | Shareholder(s) | of interest | stated) | capital |
| 昆山高科技有限公司 | Beneficial owner | 16,268,000 | 14 | |
| (Kunshan | ||||
| Technology Co., | ||||
| Ltd.*) | ||||
| Yangzhou Harbour Sludge | 揚州廣源集團有限公司 | Beneficial owner | US$3,094,960 | 22 |
| Power Co., Ltd. | Yangzhou | |||
| Guangyuan Holdings | ||||
| Co. Ltd.*) | ||||
| 江蘇電力發展股份有限 | Beneficial owner | US$3,094,960 | 22 | |
| 公司(Jiangsu Electric | ||||
| Development Co. | ||||
| Ltd.*) | ||||
| Suzhou Industrial Park | 中新蘇州工業園區市政 | Beneficial owner | 90,000,000 | 30 |
| Blue Sky Gas | 公用發展集團有限公司 | |||
| Cogen-Power Co., Ltd. | (Zhongxin Suzhou | |||
| Industrial Park | ||||
| Municipal Public | ||||
| Utility Development | ||||
| Holding Co. Ltd.*) | ||||
| 蘇州蘇鑫資產投資有限 | Beneficial owner | 57,000,000 | 19 | |
| 公司(Suzhou Suxin | ||||
| Asset Investments | ||||
| Co. Ltd.*) | ||||
| Xuzhou Western | 華潤天能(徐州)煤電有 | Beneficial owner | 23,808,000 | 24 |
| Environmental | 限公司(China | |||
| Protection | Resources Tianneng | |||
| Co-generation | Xuzhou Coal & | |||
| Power Co., Ltd. | Power Co., Ltd.*) | |||
| Konca Solar Cell | 無錫國聯環保能源 | Beneficial owner | 152,333,400 | 24.8 |
| Co., Ltd. | 集團有限公司 | |||
| (Wuxi Guolian | ||||
| Environmental | ||||
| Energy Holding | ||||
| Co., Ltd.*) | ||||
| Fengxian Xincheng | 江蘇金馬房地產有限 | Beneficial owner | 9,200,000 | 20 |
| Environmental | 公司(Jiangsu Jinma | |||
| Cogen-Power Co., Ltd.* | Property Co. Ltd.*) |
-
For identification only
-
28 -
GENERAL INFORMATION
APPENDIX
Save as disclosed above, so far as is known to any Directors or chief executive of the Company, as at the Latest Practicable Date, no other person (who is not a Director or chief executive of the Company) had an interest or short position in the Shares or underlying Shares which would fall to be disclosed to the Company under the provisions of Divisions 2 and 3 of Part XV of the SFO or which were recorded in the register kept by the Company under section 336 of the SFO or, who were directly or indirectly, interested in 10% or more of the nominal value of any class of share capital carrying rights to vote in all circumstances at general meetings of any other member of the Group or held any option in respect of such capital.
Save for Mr. Zhu Gong Shan, Mr. Zhu Yu Feng, Mr. Chau Kwok Man, Cliff and Ms. Bai Xiao Qing (whose relationship with substantial shareholders is disclosed under Notes (1) and (2) as set out in subsection (b) headed “Substantial Shareholders” of the section headed “Disclosure of Interests” on page 26 of this circular), as at the Latest Practicable Date, none of the Directors was a director or employee of a company (or its holding company) or beneficiaries of a trust, the trustee of which had an interest or a short position in the Shares or underlying Shares which would fall to be disclosed to the Company under the provisions of Division 2 and 3 of Part XV of the SFO.
4. SERVICE CONTRACTS
As at the Latest Practicable Date, none of the Directors had any existing or proposed service contracts with the Company or any member of the Group which was not determinable within one year without payment of compensation, other than statutory compensation.
5. DIRECTORS’ INTERESTS IN THE COMPANY AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES’ ASSETS OR CONTRACTS
As at the Latest Practicable Date, none of the Directors had any interest, direct or indirect, in any assets which have been since 31 December 2009 (being the date to which the latest published audited consolidated accounts of the Group were made up) acquired or disposed of by or leased to any member of the Group, or were proposed to be acquired or disposed of by or leased to any member of the Group.
As at the Latest Practicable Date, none of the Directors was materially interested in any contract or arrangement subsisting at the Latest Practicable Date which was significant in relation to the business of the Group.
- 29 -
GENERAL INFORMATION
APPENDIX
6. DIRECTORS’ INTERESTS IN COMPETING BUSINESS
As at the Latest Practicable Date, the interests of Directors or their respective associates in businesses which are considered to compete or likely to compete, either directly or indirectly, with the businesses of the Group (“Competing Business”) as required to be disclosed pursuant to the Listing Rules were as follows:
| Name of company in | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Names of the | which the relevant | Principal activities of | % interest in |
| Company’s Directors | Director has interest | the competing company | competing company |
| (i) Mr. Zhu Gong Shan | Taicang Harbour Power | Operation of a cogeneration | 44% interest is held by |
| Plant | plant in Taicang, Jiangsu, | a trust, of which Mr. | |
| the PRC | Zhu Gong Shan and | ||
| his family (including | |||
| Mr. Zhu Yu Feng) are | |||
| beneficiaries | |||
| Nanjing Cogeneration | Operation of a cogeneration | 100% interest is held by | |
| Plant | plant in Nanjing, the | a trust, of which Mr. | |
| PRC | Zhu Gong Shan and | ||
| his family (including | |||
| Mr. Zhu Yu Feng) are | |||
| beneficiaries | |||
| Longgu Cogeneration | Operation of a power plant | 59% interest is held by | |
| Plant | in Longgu, Peixian, the | a trust, of which Mr. | |
| PRC | Zhu Gong Shan and | ||
| his family (including | |||
| Mr. Zhu Yu Feng) are | |||
| beneficiaries | |||
| Guohua Taicang Power | Operation of a power plant | an effective interest of | |
| Plant | in Taicang, Jiangsu | 22% is held by a trust, | |
| of which Mr. Zhu Gong | |||
| Shan and his family | |||
| (including Mr. Zhu Yu | |||
| Feng) are beneficiaries |
- 30 -
GENERAL INFORMATION
APPENDIX
| Name of company in | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Names of the | which the relevant | Principal activities of | % interest in |
| Company’s Directors | Director has interest | the competing company | competing company |
| Lanxi Cogeneration | Operation of the | 100% interest is held by | |
| Plant | cogeneration power | a trust, of which Mr. | |
| plant in Lanxi, Jiangsu | Zhu Gong Shan and | ||
| Province, the PRC | his family (including | ||
| Mr. Zhu Yu Feng) are | |||
| beneficiaries | |||
| Xuzhou Incineration | Operation of an incineration | 25% interest is held by | |
| Power Plant | power plant in Xuzhou, | a trust, of which Mr. | |
| Jiangsu Province, the | Zhu Gong Shan and his | ||
| PRC | family (including Mr. | ||
| Zhu Yu Feng) are among | |||
| the beneficiaries | |||
| Guangzhou Yonghe | The cogeneration power | Mr. Zhu Gong Shan, | |
| Project | plant is in the pre- | beneficially owns 100% | |
| construction stage | interest | ||
| Lianyungang | The cogeneration power | Mr. Zhu Gong Shan, | |
| Baoxin Biomass | plant is in the pre- | beneficially owns 100% | |
| Cogeneration Plant | construction stage | interest | |
| (ii) Mr. Zhu Yu Feng | Taicang Harbour Power | Operation of a cogeneration | Mr. Zhu Yu Feng, through |
| Plant | plant in Taicang, Jiangsu, | companies controlled by | |
| the PRC | him, holds 31% interest. | ||
| 44% interest is held by | |||
| a trust, of which Mr. | |||
| Zhu Gong Shan and | |||
| his family (including | |||
| Mr. Zhu Yu Feng) are | |||
| beneficiaries | |||
| Nanjing Cogeneration | Operation of a cogeneration | 100% interest is held by a | |
| Plant | plant in Nanjing, the | trust, of which Mr. Zhu | |
| PRC | Gong Shan and Mr. Zhu | ||
| Yu Feng are among the | |||
| beneficiaries |
- 31 -
GENERAL INFORMATION
APPENDIX
| Name of company in | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Names of the | which the relevant | Principal activities of | % interest in |
| Company’s Directors | Director has interest | the competing company | competing company |
| Longgu Cogeneration | Operation of a power plant | 59% interest is held by | |
| Plant | in Longgu, Peixian, the | a trust, of which Mr. | |
| PRC | Zhu Gong Shan and | ||
| his family (including | |||
| Mr. Zhu Yu Feng) are | |||
| beneficiaries | |||
| Lanxi Cogeneration | Operation of the | 100% interest is held by | |
| Plant | cogeneration power | a trust, of which Mr. | |
| plant in Lanxi, Jiangsu | Zhu Gong Shan and | ||
| Province, the PRC | his family (including | ||
| Mr. Zhu Yu Feng) are | |||
| beneficiaries | |||
| Guohua Taicang Power | Operation of a power plant | Mr. Zhu Yu Feng, through | |
| Plant | in Taicang, Jiangsu | companies controlled by | |
| him, holds an effective | |||
| interest of 15.5%. An | |||
| effective interest of | |||
| 22% is held by a trust, | |||
| of which Mr. Zhu Gong | |||
| Shan and his family | |||
| (including Mr. Zhu Yu | |||
| Feng) are beneficiaries | |||
| Xuzhou Jinshanqiao | Operation of the | Mr. Zhu Yu Feng, through | |
| Cogeneration Power | cogeneration power plant | companies controlled by | |
| Plant | in Jinshaqiao, Xuzhou, | him, holds 100% interest. | |
| the PRC | |||
| Xuzhou Incineration | Operation of an incineration | Mr. Zhu Yu Feng, through | |
| Power Plant | power plant in Xuzhou, | companies controlled by | |
| Jiangsu Province, the | him, holds 75% interest. | ||
| PRC | 25% interest is held by | ||
| a trust, of which Mr. | |||
| Zhu Gong Shan and | |||
| his family (including | |||
| Mr. Zhu Yu Feng) are | |||
| beneficiaries |
- 32 -
GENERAL INFORMATION
APPENDIX
| Name of company in | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Names of the | which the relevant | Principal activities of | % interest in |
| Company’s Directors | Director has interest | the competing company | competing company |
| Dongwu Cogeneration | Operation of the | Mr. Zhu Yu Feng, through | |
| Plant | cogeneration power plant | companies controlled by | |
| in Dongwu, Jiangsu | him, holds 9% interest | ||
| Province, the PRC | |||
| Jiema Hydropower | Operation of the hydro- | Mr. Zhu Yu Feng, through | |
| Station | power station in Sichuan, | companies controlled by | |
| the PRC | him, holds 70% interest |
The Board is independent from the boards of the above-mentioned entities and is accountable to the Shareholders. Coupled with the diligence of its independent non-executive Directors whose views carry significant weight in the Board’s decisions, the Group is capable of carrying on its businesses independently of, and at arm’s length from, the businesses of these entities.
Save as disclosed above, as at the Latest Practicable Date, in so far as the Directors were aware, none of the Directors or their respective associates had any interest in a business that competed or was likely to compete with the business of the Group.
7. MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE
The Directors confirm that there was no material adverse change in the financial or trading position of the Group since 31 December 2009, being the date to which the latest published audited consolidated accounts of the Group were made up.
8. CONSENT OF EXPERT
The following expert has given and has not withdrawn its written consent to the issue of this circular with the inclusion of its letter and references to its name in the form and context in which it appears:
Name Qualification First Shanghai Capital Limited A licensed corporation under the SFO to carry out type 6 (advising on corporate finance) regulated activity
As at the Latest Practicable Date, the above expert did not have any shareholding in any member of the Group nor did it have any right (whether legally enforceable or not) to subscribe for or to nominate persons to subscribe for securities in any member of the Group.
- 33 -
GENERAL INFORMATION
APPENDIX
As at the Latest Practicable Date, the above expert did not have any interest, direct or indirect, in any assets which have been since 31 December 2009 (being the date to which the latest published audited consolidated accounts of the Group were made up) acquired or disposed of by or leased to any member of the Group, or were proposed to be acquired or disposed of by or leased to any member of the Group.
9. GENERAL
The English text of this circular prevails over its Chinese translation in case of discrepancy.
10. DOCUMENTS FOR INSPECTION
Copies of the following documents will be available for inspection at Unit 1703B-1706, Level 17, International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon, Hong Kong during normal business hours on any weekday (except public holidays) from the date of this circular up to and including 5 January 2011:
-
(a) the memorandum and articles of association of the Company;
-
(b) the Renewed Jinshanqiao Steam Supply Agreement;
-
(c) the Renewed Xuzhou Steam Supply Agreement;
-
(d) the Jiangsu GCL Steam Supply Agreement;
-
(e) the Connection Agreement;
-
(f) the letter from Independent Board Committee, the text of which is set out on pages 13 to 14 of this circular;
-
(g) the letter from First Shanghai, the text of which is set out on pages 15 to 23 of this circular; and
-
(h) the written consent referred to under the section headed “Consent of Expert” in this Appendix.
-
34 -
NOTICE OF EGM
==> picture [89 x 44] intentionally omitted <==
GCL-POLY ENERGY HOLDINGS LIMITED 保利協鑫能源控股有限公司
(Incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability)
(Stock code: 3800)
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT an extraordinary general meeting (the “Meeting”) of GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Limited (the “Company”) will be held at Pacific Place Conference Centre, Level 5, One Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Hong Kong on Wednesday, 5 January 2011 at 10:00 a.m. for the purpose of considering and, if thought fit, passing with or without modification the following ordinary resolution of the Company:
ORDINARY RESOLUTION
1. “THAT
-
(a) the renewed steam supply agreement (“Renewed Jinshanqiao Steam Supply Agreement”) dated 26 November 2010 entered into between 江蘇中能硅業科技發展有限公司 Jiangsu Zhongneng Polysilicon Technology Development Co., Ltd. (“Jiangsu Zhongneng”) as customer and 徐州金山橋熱電有限公司 Xuzhou Jinshanqiao Cogeneration Company, Limited (“Jinshanqiao”) as supplier in relation to the purchase of steam, a copy of which marked “A” has been tabled before the meeting and initialed by the chairman of the meeting for identification purpose, and the transactions contemplated thereunder and the execution of which be and are hereby approved, ratified and confirmed;
-
(b) the renewed steam supply agreement (“Renewed Xuzhou Steam Supply Agreement”) dated 26 November 2010 entered into between Jiangsu Zhongneng as customer and 保利 協鑫(徐州)再生能源有限公司 Xuzhou GCL-Poly Renewable Energy Company, Limited* (“Xuzhou GCL-Poly”) as supplier in relation to the purchase of steam, a copy of which marked “B” has been tabled before the meeting and initialed by the chairman of the meeting for identification purpose, and the transactions contemplated thereunder and the execution of which be and are hereby approved, ratified and confirmed;
-
(c) the steam supply agreement (“Jiangsu GCL Steam Supply Agreement”) dated 26 November 2010 entered into between 江蘇協鑫硅材料科技發展有限公司 Jiangsu GCL Silicon Material Technology Development Co., Ltd.[*] as customer and Xuzhou GCL-Poly as supplier in relation to the purchase of steam, a copy of which marked “C” has been tabled before the meeting and initialed by the chairman of the meeting for identification purpose, and the transactions contemplated thereunder and the execution of which be and are hereby approved, ratified and confirmed;
- For identification only
- 35 -
NOTICE OF EGM
-
(d) the connection agreement (“Connection Agreement”) dated 26 November 2010 entered into between Jiangsu Zhongneng and Jinshanqiao in relation to the charge of connection fee by Jinshanqiao to Jiangsu Zhongneng, a copy of which marked “D” has been tabled before the meeting and initialed by the chairman of the meeting for identification purpose, and the transactions contemplated thereunder and the execution of which be and are hereby approved, ratified and confirmed;
-
(e) the aggregated annual caps for the value of purchase of steam and the connection fee as stated in the circular of the Company dated 15 December 2010 under the Renewed Jinshanqiao Steam Supply Agreement, the Renewed Xuzhou Steam Supply Agreement, the Jiangsu GCL Steam Supply Agreement and the Connection Agreement for the period from 26 November 2010 to 31 December 2010, the years ending 31 December 2011 and 2012 and the period from 1 January 2013 to 31 October 2013 be and are hereby approved, ratified and confirmed; and
-
(f) the directors of the Company, Jiangsu Zhongneng and Jiangsu GCL be and are hereby generally and unconditionally authorised to do all such further acts and things and execute such further documents and take all such steps which in their opinion as may be necessary, desirable or expedient to implement and/or give effect to the Renewed Jinshanqiao Steam Supply Agreement, the Renewed Xuzhou Steam Supply Agreement, the Jiangsu GCL Steam Supply Agreement and the Connection Agreement, and the transactions contemplated thereunder.”
By order of the Board GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Limited Zhu Gong Shan Chairman
Hong Kong, 15 December 2010
Notes:
-
(1) A member entitled to attend and vote at the Meeting may appoint a proxy to attend and, on a poll, vote on his behalf and such proxy need not be a member of the Company. A form of proxy for use at the Meeting is enclosed.
-
(2) In order to be valid, the form of proxy, together with any power of attorney or authority under which it is signed or a notarially certified copy of that power of attorney or authority, must be deposited with the Company’s branch share registrar in Hong Kong, Tricor Investor Services Limited at 26/F., Tesbury Centre, 28 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for holding the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
-
(3) Completion and return of the form of proxy will not preclude a shareholder of the Company from attending and voting in person at the Meeting convened or any adjournment thereof and in such event, the authority of the proxy shall be deemed to be revoked.
-
(4) In the case of joint holders of a share, any one of such joint holders may vote, either in person or by proxy, in respect of such share as if he/she/it were solely entitled thereto. If more than one of such joint holders are present at the Meeting, the vote of the senior who tenders a vote, whether in person or by proxy, shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders. For this purpose, seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names stand in the register of members of the Company in respect of the joint holding.
-
(5) As at the date of this notice, the Board comprises Mr. Zhu Gong Shan (Chairman), Mr. Sha Hong Qiu, Mr. Ji Jun, Mr. Shu Hua, Mr. Yu Bao Dong, Ms. Sun Wei, Mr. Tong Yee Ming and Mr. Zhu Yu Feng as executive directors; Mr. Chau Kwok Man, Cliff and Ms. Bai Xiao Qing as non-executive Directors; Mr. Qian Zhi Xin, Ir. Dr. Raymond Ho Chung Tai, Mr. Xue Zhong Su and Mr. Yip Tai Him as independent non-executive directors.
-
36 -