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Lee Kee Holdings Limited — Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement 2007
Apr 25, 2007
49357_rns_2007-04-25_e4c0ef5b-723f-42f0-b7a2-9ca6a767dce0.pdf
Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement
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THIS CIRCULAR IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION
If you are in any doubt as to any aspect of this document or as to the action to be taken, you should consult a stockbroker or other registered dealer in securities, a bank manager, solicitor, professional accountant or other professional adviser.
If you have sold all your shares in Lee Kee Holdings Limited, you should at once hand this document to the Purchaser or the bank, stockbroker or other agent through whom the sale was effected for transmission to the Purchaser.
The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited takes no responsibility for the contents of this document, makes no representation as to its accuracy or completeness and expressly disclaims any liability whatsoever for any loss howsoever arising from or in reliance upon the whole or any part of the contents of this document.
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(Incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability)
(Stock Code: 637)
RE-ELECTION OF RETIRING DIRECTORS, PROPOSED GENERAL MANDATES TO ISSUE AND REPURCHASE SHARES
A notice convening the Annual General Meeting of Lee Kee Holdings Limited (the “Company”) to be held at Room 3203, 32/F., Admiralty Centre I, 18 Harcourt Road, Hong Kong on Thursday, 31st May 2007 at 3:00 p.m. is set out in the Annual Report 2006 of the Company.
Whether or not you are able to attend the Annual General Meeting, please complete the form of proxy accompanying the Annual Report 2006 in accordance with the instructions printed thereon and return the same to the Branch Share Registrar of the Company, Computershare Hong Kong Investor Services Limited at Shops 1712-1716, 17th Floor, Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong as soon as possible but in any event not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for the holding of the Annual General Meeting.
25th April 2007
LETTER FROM THE BOARD
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(Incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability)
(Stock Code: 637)
Executive Directors:
Mr. CHAN Pak Chung (Chairman) Ms. CHAN Yuen Shan, Clara (Chief Executive Officer) Ms. MA Siu Tao Mr. NG Tze For
Non-executive Director:
Registered Office: P.O. Box 309 GT Ugland House South Church Street George Town Grand Cayman Cayman Islands
Mr. William Tasman WISE
Independent non-executive Directors: Mr. CHUNG Wai Kwok, Jimmy Mr. LEUNG Kwok Keung
Head Office and Principal Place of Business in Hong Kong: Rooms 1302-05, 13/F. Manulife Provident Funds Place 345 Nathan Road, Yaumatei Kowloon Hong Kong
25th April 2007
To the Shareholders of the Company
Dear Sir or Madam,
RE-ELECTION OF RETIRING DIRECTORS, PROPOSED GENERAL MANDATES TO ISSUE AND REPURCHASE SHARES
INTRODUCTION
At the annual general meeting (the “Annual General Meeting”) of Lee Kee Holdings Limited (the “Company”) to be held on 31st May 2007, the notice of which (the “AGM Notice”) is set out in the annual report of the Company for the year ended 31st December 2006 (the “Annual Report 2006”), three Directors of the Company (“Directors”) mentioned below will retire and being eligible, offer themselves for re-election. Further, ordinary resolutions, as set out in the AGM Notice, will be proposed at the Annual General Meeting to grant the general mandates to the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) allot and issue and repurchase shares of HK$0.1 each of the Company (the “Shares”).
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LETTER FROM THE BOARD
RE-ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
In accordance with Article 130 of the Company’s Articles of Association (the “Articles”), three Directors will retire and being eligible, offer themselves for re-election at the Annual General Meeting. The details of the three Directors are set out below:
Ms. MA Siu Tao , aged 56, is an executive Director and the Sales Director of the Company and director of the subsidiaries of the Company. Ms. Ma joined the Group in 1985 and is now responsible for monitoring the overall sales function of the Group, developing strategies, guiding and leading the sales managers in analysing market information, expanding current and exploring future new businesses. Ms. Ma has been working in the non-ferrous metals industry for more than 20 years. She obtained a master degree in material engineering from the Yanshan University. Ms. Ma is the Honorary Treasurer of Hong Kong Die-casting Association Limited, a Vice President of Asian Knowledge Management Association, an associate of the Professional Validation Council of Hong Kong Industries, the Treasurer of Asia Intellectual Property Council Co. Ltd. and a fellow member of the Hong Kong Institute of Directors. Ms. Ma is the spouse of Mr. CHAN Pak Chung and the mother of Ms. CHAN Yuen Shan, Clara and Ms. CHAN Pui Shan, Lillian. Ms. Ma entered into a service agreement with the Company for a term of three years and she is entitled for an annual basic salary for HK$2,160,000 and a discretionary management bonus to be determined by Remuneration Committee of the Board. Her remuneration is determined by the Board with reference to her responsibilities and then prevailing market conditions.
As recorded in the register required to be kept by the Company under Section 352 of Part XV of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (the “SFO”) as at 23rd April 2007 (the “Latest Practicable Date”), Ms. Ma is interested in 600,000,000 Shares (Note) , representing approximately 72.29% of the issued share capital, of the Company. In addition, Ms. Chan was granted an option to acquire 3,862,740 Shares at a subscription price of HK$2.136 per Share. As at the Latest Practicable Date, the said share option remained outstanding and Ms. Ma has not exercised any part thereof.
Note: The 600,000,000 Shares are held by Global Alliance Global Services Limited whose entire share capital is held by Gold Alliance International Management Limited which is in turn held by HSBC International Trustee Limited (“HSBC Trustee”) acting as the trustee of the P.C. CHAN Family Trust. The P.C. CHAN Family Trust is an irrevocable discretionary trust set up by Mr. CHAN Pak Chung as settlor and HSBC Trustee as trustee. The discretionary objects of which include Ms. Ma and other family members of Mr. CHAN Pak Chung. Ms. Ma, is deemed to be interested in the 600,000,000 Shares under the SFO.
Mr. NG Tze For , aged 45, is an executive Director of the Company. Mr. Ng joined the Group in July 2006 with responsibilities for the overall strategic development of the Group and investor relationships. Prior to joining the Group, Mr. Ng had more than 4 years of experience in the aluminium industry and worked in various levels for a number of international banks for over 16 years in Hong Kong and the PRC. Mr. Ng obtained a master degree in business administration (executive programme) from the City University of Hong Kong and a bachelor of business administration (honours) degree from The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Mr. Ng entered into a service agreement with the Company for
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LETTER FROM THE BOARD
a term of three years and he is entitled for an annual basic salary for HK$1,300,000 and a discretionary management bonus to be determined by Remuneration Committee of the Board. His remuneration is determined by the Board with reference to his responsibilities and then prevailing market conditions.
As recorded in the register required to be kept by the Company under Section 352 of Part XV of the SFO as at the Latest Practicable Date, Mr. Ng was granted an option to acquire 196,050 Shares at a subscription price of HK$2.136 per Share. As at the Latest Practicable Date, the said share option remained outstanding and Mr. Ng has not exercised any part thereof.
Mr. LEUNG Kwok Keung , aged 43, is an independent non-executive Director of the Company appointed in September 2006. Mr. Leung is currently an independent nonexecutive director of Global Link Communications Holdings Limited, a company listed on the Growth Enterprise Market of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. Mr. Leung worked in an international accountancy firm in Hong Kong for 12 years and has over 5 years’ experience as financial controller for companies listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Stock Exchange”). He obtained a bachelor degree in accountancy from the City Polytechnic of Hong Kong (now known as the City University of Hong Kong) and a degree in Bachelor of Laws from Tsinghua University. Mr. Leung is a fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants, a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and an associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Mr. Leung entered into an appointment letter with the Company for a term of two years and he is entitled for a Director’s fee for HK$180,000. His remuneration is determined by the Board with reference to the then prevailing market conditions.
Save as disclosed herein, none of the above Directors had any interests or short positions in the Shares or underlying Shares (in respect of positions held pursuant to equity derivates) within the meaning of Part XV of the SFO as at the Latest Practicable Date. Save as disclosed herein, none of them had any relationship with any Directors, senior management, substantial shareholders or controlling shareholders of the Company as at the Latest Practicable Date. Furthermore, they did not have any matter that was required to be disclosed pursuant to Rules 13.51(2)(h) to 13.51(2)(v) of the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on the Stock Exchange (the “Listing Rules”) or that needed to be brought to the attention of the shareholders of the Company as at the Latest Practicable Date.
GENERAL MANDATE TO ISSUE SHARES
At the Annual General Meeting, an ordinary resolution will be proposed, which, if passed, will give the Directors a general and unconditional mandate to allot, issue and otherwise deal with new Shares representing up to 20% of the aggregate nominal amount of the share capital of the Company in issue as at the date the resolution is passed, since the general mandate previously granted to the Directors by written resolutions of the shareholders of the Company passed on 15th September 2006 will expire at the conclusion of the forthcoming Annual General Meeting. On the basis of 830,000,000 Shares in issue as
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LETTER FROM THE BOARD
at the Latest Practicable Date and no further shares issued after the Latest Practicable Date and before the date of the Annual General Meeting, the Directors could allot, issue and deal with a maximum of 166,000,000 Shares under the Issue Mandate. In addition, conditional upon the proposed resolution to authorise the repurchase of Shares as is more particularly described under the paragraph below headed “GENERAL MANDATE TO REPURCHASE SHARES” being passed, an ordinary resolution will be proposed to authorise the Directors to allot, issue and otherwise deal with new Shares up to an amount equal to the aggregate nominal amount of the Shares purchased under the authority to repurchase. In accordance with the Listing Rules, the Company may not make a new issue of securities or announce a proposed new issue of securities for a period of 30 days after any repurchase of securities by it, other than an issue of securities pursuant to the exercise of warrants, share options or similar instruments requiring the Company to issue securities which are outstanding prior to such repurchase, without the prior approval of the Stock Exchange.
GENERAL MANDATE TO REPURCHASE SHARES
At the Annual General Meeting, an ordinary resolution will also be proposed granting the Directors a general mandate to repurchase Shares which shall not exceed 10% of the aggregate nominal amount of the share capital of the Company in issue as at the date the resolution is passed (the “Repurchase Mandate”) since the general mandate previously granted to the Directors by written resolutions of the shareholders of the Company passed on 15th September 2006 will expire at the conclusion of the forthcoming Annual General Meeting. In accordance with the Listing Rules, all proposed repurchases of Shares by the Company must be approved by the shareholders by way of ordinary resolution, either by way of general mandate or by specific approval in relation to specific transactions. Furthermore, the Company is required under the Listing Rules to send to its shareholders an explanatory statement containing all the information reasonably necessary to enable the shareholders to make an informed decision on whether to vote for or against the resolution to approve the granting of the Repurchase Mandate. This document sets out such information in relation to the Repurchase Mandate.
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
General mandate to repurchase Shares
This section includes the information concerning the Repurchase Mandate required by the Listing Rules and the Stock Exchange.
- (a) Exercise of the Repurchase Mandate
Exercise in full of the Repurchase Mandate, on the basis of 830,000,000 Shares in issue as at the Latest Practicable Date and no further shares issued after the Last Practicable Date and before the date of the Annual General Meeting, could accordingly result in up to 83,000,000 Shares being repurchased by the Company during the period from the passing of Resolution No. 6 as set out in the AGM Notice up to (i) the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company; or (ii) the expiration of the period within which the next annual general meeting of the Company is required by any applicable laws or the Articles to be held; or (iii) the passing of an ordinary resolution by the shareholders in general meeting revoking, varying or renewing the Repurchase Mandate, whichever occurs first.
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LETTER FROM THE BOARD
(b) Reasons for repurchases
Repurchases of Shares will only be made when the Directors believe that such repurchases will benefit the Company and its shareholders. Such repurchases may, depending on market conditions and funding arrangements at the time, lead to an enhancement of the net asset value of the Company and/or its earnings per share.
(c) Funding of repurchases
In repurchasing Shares, the Company may only apply funds legally available for such purpose in accordance with the Articles and the applicable laws and regulations of the Cayman Islands. The Company may not purchase its own securities on for a consideration other than cash or for settlement otherwise than in accordance with the trading rules of the Stock Exchange from time to time.
(d) General
There might be a material adverse impact on the working capital or gearing position of the Company (as compared with the position disclosed in the audited financial statements contained in the Company’s Prospectus dated 21st September 2006) in the event that the Repurchase Mandate is exercised in full. However, the Directors do not propose to exercise the Repurchase Mandate to such extent as would, in the circumstances, have a material adverse effect on the working capital requirements of the Company or on its gearing levels which in the opinion of the Directors are from time to time appropriate for the Company.
The Directors have undertaken to the Stock Exchange that, so far as the same may be applicable, they will exercise the Repurchase Mandate in accordance with the Listing Rules, the Memorandum and Articles and the applicable laws of the Cayman Islands.
As at the Latest Practicable Date and to the best of the knowledge of the Directors, having made all reasonable enquiries, none of the Directors nor their associates (as defined under the Listing Rules) had a present intention to sell Shares to the Company.
No connected person (as defined in the Listing Rules) of the Company has notified the Company that he has a present intention to sell Shares to the Company or has undertaken to the Company not to do so.
Hong Kong Code on Takeovers and Mergers
If, as a result of a share repurchase, a shareholder’s proportionate interest in the voting capital of the Company increases, such increase will be treated as an acquisition for the purposes of the Hong Kong Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the “Takeover Code”) and, if such increase results in a change of control, may in certain circumstances give rise to an obligation to make a general offer for Shares under Rule 26 of the Takeover Code.
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LETTER FROM THE BOARD
As at the Latest Practicable Date, to the best of the knowledge and belief of the Company, Gold Alliance Global Services Limited (“Gold Alliance”) was interested in 600,000,000 Shares, representing approximately 72.29% of the issued share capital of the Company any by virtue of the SFO, Mr. CHAN Pak Chung and Ms. MA Siu Tao, Directors of the Company, are deemed to be interested in the said 600,000,000 Shares. In the event that the Directors exercised in full the power to repurchase Shares in accordance with the terms of the ordinary resolution to be proposed at the Annual General Meeting, the total interests of Gold Alliance in the Company would be increased to approximately 80.32% of the issued share capital of the Company and such increase would not give rise to an obligation to make a general offer for Shares under Rule 26 of the Takeover Code.
The Directors are not aware of any consequence which would arise under the Takeover Code as a consequence of any repurchases by the Company of its Shares under the Repurchase Mandate.
However, as the minimum amount of Shares to be held by the public cannot be less than 25% of the issued Shares of the Company, in the event the Directors exercise the power to repurchase Shares under the Repurchase Mandate, such mandate will not be exercised in full.
Miscellaneous
During the six months preceding the Latest Practicable Date, no Shares were repurchased by the Company.
During each of the six months preceding the Latest Practicable Date since the date of listing of the Shares on the Stock Exchange, the highest and lowest prices at which the Shares were traded on the Stock Exchange were as follows:–
| Period/Month | Highest | Lowest |
|---|---|---|
| HK$ | HK$ | |
| 2006 | ||
| October (from the date of listing to 31st October) | 3.180 | 2.600 |
| November | 3.110 | 2.750 |
| December | 2.890 | 2.660 |
| 2007 | ||
| January | 2.930 | 2.600 |
| February | 3.360 | 2.720 |
| March | 3.300 | 2.740 |
RECOMMENDATION
The Directors are of the opinion that the general mandate to issue Shares and the Repurchase Mandate are in the best interests of the Company and recommend that you vote in favour of the ordinary resolutions to be proposed at the Annual General Meeting.
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LETTER FROM THE BOARD
AGM NOTICE
The AGM Notice is set out in the Annual Report 2006.
A form of proxy is enclosed with the Annual Report 2006 for use at the Annual General Meeting. Whether or not you intend to be present at the Annual General Meeting, you are requested to complete and return the form of proxy to the, Hong Kong in accordance with the instructions printed thereon not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for the holding of the Annual General Meeting. Completion of a form of proxy will not preclude you from attending and voting in person at the Annual General Meeting if you so wish.
PROCEDURE FOR DEMANDING A POLL AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Pursuant to Article 90 of the Articles, a poll may be demanded at the Annual General Meeting by:
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the Chairman of the meeting; or
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at least five members of the Company present in person (or in the case of a corporation, by its duly authorised representative) or by proxy and entitled to vote; or
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any member or members of the Company present in person (or in the case of a corporation, by its duly authorised representative) or by proxy and representing in the aggregate not less than one-tenth of the total voting rights of all members of the Company having the right to attend and vote at the meetings; or
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any member or members of the Company present in person (or in the case of a corporation, by its duly authorised representative) or by proxy and holding shares conferring a right to attend and vote at the meeting on which there have been paid up sums in the aggregate equal to not less than one-tenth of the total sum paid up on all shares conferring that right.
Yours faithfully For and on behalf of The Board of Directors
LEE KEE HOLDINGS LIMITED CHAN Pak Chung Chairman
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