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Long Investment Corp Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement 2005

Jan 27, 2005

50512_rns_2005-01-27_f11d99b6-914f-4dd5-9ffe-6f1bfa6471e0.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 circular or as to the action to be taken, you should consult your stockbroker or other registered dealer in securities, bank manager, solicitor, professional accountant or other professional adviser.

If you have sold or transferred all your shares in Shui On Construction and Materials Limited, you should at once hand this circular to the purchaser or to the bank, stockbroker or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected for transmission to the purchaser or the transferee.

The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited takes no responsibility for the contents of this circular, 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 circular.

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(Stock Code: 983)

DISCLOSEABLE TRANSACTION

26 January 2005

* For identification purpose only

CONTENTS

Page
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Letter from the Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Appendix – General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

– i –

DEFINITIONS

In this circular, the following expressions have the following meanings unless the context requires otherwise:

Expressions Meanings
“Agreement” the sale and purchase agreement between the Vendor and
the Purchaser in relation to the Sale
“associates” has the meaning as ascribed to the term under the Listing
Rules
“Board” the board of Directors
“Chik Wan Quarry” the quarry at Chik Wan Island, Zhuhai in the PRC which
does not form part of the Sale
“Company” Shui On Construction and Materials Limited, a company
incorporated in Bermuda and listed on the main board of
the Stock Exchange
“Completion” completion of the Sale under the Agreement
“Director(s)” the director(s) of the Company
“Group” the Company and its subsidiaries
“Guishan Site Formation” the site formation work being carried out at Guishan Island,
Zhuhai, PRC where aggregates are excavated
“HK$” Hong Kong dollars, the lawful currency of Hong Kong
“Hong Kong” the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the
People’s Republic of China
“Latest Practicable Date” 24 January 2005, being the latest practicable date prior to
the printing of this circular for ascertaining certain
information contained herein
“Listing Rules” the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on the Stock
Exchange

– 1 –

DEFINITIONS

“PRC” or “Chinese Mainland” or the People’s Republic of China, and for the purpose of this
“Mainland” circular, excluding Hong Kong and the Macau Special
Administrative Region
“Purchaser” Maxking Investments Limited, an independent third party
not connected with the directors, chief executive or
substantial shareholders of the Company or any of their
respective subsidiaries or their respective associates
“Sale” the sale of the Subject Companies under the Agreement
“SOR” Shui On Rock Products Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary
of the Company
“Stock Exchange” The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited
“Subject Companies” Ken On Concrete Co. Ltd., Instant Mortars Ltd., Shui On
Cement Co. Ltd. and Honest China Limited
“Subject Group” the Subject Companies and their respective subsidiaries
“Vendor” Shui On Building Materials Limited

– 2 –

LETTER FROM THE BOARD

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SHUI ON CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS LIMITED

(Incorporated in Bermuda with limited liability)

(Stock Code: 983)

Registered Office:

Executive Directors:

Lo Hong Sui, Vincent (Chairman) Clarendon House Wong Ying Wai, Wilfred (Vice-chairman) 2 Church Street Choi Yuk Keung, Lawrence (Vice-chairman) Hamilton HM11 Wong Yuet Leung, Frankie (Chief Executive Officer) Bermuda Wong Fook Lam, Raymond Lowe Hoh Wai Wan, Vivien Head Office:

Head Office:

34th Floor, Shui On Centre 6-8 Harbour Road Hong Kong

Non-executive Directors:

Wong Hak Wood, Louis Enright, Michael John

Independent non-executive Directors:

Griffiths, Anthony Cheung Kin Tung, Marvin Cheng Mo Chi, Moses

26 January 2005

To the Shareholders

Dear Sir or Madam,

DISCLOSEABLE TRANSACTION

INTRODUCTION

By an announcement dated 5 January 2005, the Directors announced that on 31 December 2004, Shui On Building Materials Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into the Agreement as the Vendor with Maxking Investments Limited as the Purchaser, whereby the Vendor agreed to sell to the Purchaser, the entire issued share capital of the Subject Companies for a consideration of HK$95 million, pursuant to the Agreement.

* For identification purpose only

– 3 –

LETTER FROM THE BOARD

The main purposes of this circular are to provide the Shareholders with further information of the Agreement and other information in compliance with the requirements of the Listing Rules.

THE AGREEMENT

Date of the Agreement

31 December 2004

Parties to the Agreement

  • (1) Shui On Building Materials Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, as the Vendor; and

  • (2) Maxking Investments Limited, which is engaged in investment and the business of construction materials and contracting, as the Purchaser. The Company confirms that, to the best of the Directors’ knowledge, information and belief, the Purchaser and the ultimate beneficial owners of the Purchaser are third parties independent of the Company and connected persons of the Company.

Assets Involved

The Vendor will sell to the Purchaser the entire issued share capital of each of the Subject Companies for a consideration of HK$95 million.

The Subject Companies are engaged in the production and distribution of ready mixed concrete and instant mortars and the distribution and sale of cement in Hong Kong.

The net asset value (or net deficit, as the case may be) of each of the Subject Companies as at 31 March 2004 and the net profits (or losses as the case may be) of each of the Subject Companies for the two financial years ended 31 March 2004 are set out below:–

Net asset value Net profit (loss) Net (loss)
(net deficit) as at for the year ended for the year ended
Subject Companies 31 March 2004 31 March 2003 31 March 2004
HK$’million HK$’million HK$’million
Ken On Concrete Co. Ltd. (45.85) (24.8) (52.8)
Instant Mortars Ltd. 9.34 0.34 (0.78)
Shui On Cement Co. Ltd. (0.05) (0.01) (0.02)
Honest China Ltd.(Note) 11.2 11.81 (0.41)

Note: As Honest China Ltd. was incorporated in November 2004, its financial information presented above refer to those attributable to the assets and liabilities agreed to be assumed by Honest China Ltd. prior to Completion pursuant to the Agreement.

– 4 –

LETTER FROM THE BOARD

Other terms and completion arrangement

The Vendor will retain the benefit of all receivables of, and bear all liabilities of, the Subject Group as accrued in respect of matters prior to Completion. The Vendor will also retain certain working machinery and equipment of the Subject Companies, with a net book value of approximately HK$2.27 million as at 31 March 2004, as agreed by the Vendor and the Purchaser as set out in the Agreement.

The Vendor and the Purchaser agreed to have post completion adjustments in respect of prepayments, payables, receivables, cash and inventory of the Subject Group within 2 months of Completion.

The Company and the Vendor have agreed with the Purchaser that subject to Completion they will not engage in the production and distribution of ready mixed concrete, instant mortars, sale of cement and aggregates in Hong Kong (excluding the sale to Hong Kong of marine rocks from Chik Wan Quarry, the operation of which remains with the Group) for a term of ten years following Completion.

The Vendor has procured SOR to subcontract, subject to Completion, the rights for the Guishan Site Formation to a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Purchaser, Allforce Limited, and to allow it to continue to use the equipment currently used for Guishan Site Formation, for a term of 15 years with an option exercisable by Allforce Limited at an exercise price of HK$1 any time after the consideration payable has been paid in full. The consideration payable is HK$15 million, of which HK$7.5 million will be payable by Allforce Limited to SOR on or before 30 June 2005 and the balance on or before 31 December 2006. In addition, the Purchaser shall also pay excavation fees to SOR under the subcontract with reference to the quantity of rocks excavated from time to time, subject to a maximum amount of approximately HK$30 million which represents prepayment of rock resource fee and costs of Guishan Site Formation incurred by SOR. The consideration of HK$15 million and the maximum excavation fee of approximately HK$30 million for Guishan Site Formation were arrived at after arm’s length negotiations between the Vendor and the Purchaser.

Consideration

The consideration of HK$95 million receivable for the Sale was arrived at after arm’s length negotiations between the Vendor and the Purchaser with reference primarily to the audited net book value of the assets which will remain with the Subject Companies on Completion (amounted to approximately HK$21 million as at 31 March 2004) and the outstanding sale orders on hand. An amount of HK$33 million has been paid to the Vendor on the signing of the Agreement as deposit. The balance of the consideration will be payable in cash upon Completion.

– 5 –

LETTER FROM THE BOARD

The Company expects that a gain in the amount of approximately HK$33 million (calculated based on the unaudited financial figures of the Company as of 31 October 2004) will accrue as a result of the transactions. Such gain will be recognised in the Group’s consolidated accounts for the year ending 31 March 2005. With reference to the audited balance sheet of the Group as at 31 March 2004, upon Completion, non-current assets of the Group would be reduced by HK$70.8 million, representing reduction in property, plant and equipment (HK$56.1 million) and site establishment expenditure (HK$14.7 million), and non-current liabilities of the Group would be reduced by HK$1.4 million representing deferred tax liabilities (HK$0.2 million) and deferred benefit liabilities (HK$1.2 million).

Completion

Completion is scheduled to take place on 1 March 2005. The Subject Companies will cease to be subsidiaries of the Company upon Completion.

IMPACT ON THE GROUP AND REASONS FOR THE TRANSACTION

The Group is engaged in cement operations in Chinese Mainland, investment in property development in Chinese Mainland, investment in venture capital, construction and construction materials in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta.

The Group has evolved from a Hong Kong-based company into a Mainland-oriented enterprise. The Group’s businesses in the production and distribution of ready mixed concrete and instant mortars in Hong Kong and their supporting operations in the Guangdong province are no longer the core businesses of the Group. The Directors consider it to be in the interest of the Group to focus its resources on its other businesses. The proceeds from this transaction will be used for the development of the Group’s cement operations and property development investments in Chinese Mainland.

The Directors consider the terms of the Agreement and the Guishan Site Formation subcontract to be fair and reasonable and that the transaction thereunder is in the interest of the Group and its shareholders as a whole.

IMPLICATIONS OF THE LISTING RULES

The revenue ratio as defined in Rule 14.07 of the Listing Rules and calculated with reference to the consideration of the Agreement and the Guishan Site Formation subcontract is more than 5% but less than 25%. As such, the above transaction therefore constitutes a discloseable transaction of the Company under Chapter 14 of the Listing Rules.

– 6 –

LETTER FROM THE BOARD

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Your attention is drawn to the general information set out in the Appendix to this circular.

Yours faithfully,

By Order of the Board Shui On Construction and Materials Limited Frankie Wong Chief Executive Officer

– 7 –

GENERAL INFORMATION

APPENDIX

1. RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT

This circular includes particulars given in compliance with the Listing Rules for the purpose of giving information with regard to the Company. The Directors collectively and individually accept full responsibility for the accuracy of the information contained in this circular with regard to the Company and confirm, having made all reasonable enquiries, that to the best of their knowledge and belief, there are no other facts with regard to the Company, the omission of which would make any statement in this circular misleading.

2. DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS

(a) Interests of Directors and chief executive

As at the Latest Practicable Date, the following Directors and chief executive of the Company and their respective associates had the following interests and short positions in the shares, underlying shares and debentures of the Company or any associated corporation (within the meaning of Part XV of the SFO) which (i) were required 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 any such Directors and chief executive of the Company was taken or deemed to have under such provisions of the SFO); or (ii) were required, pursuant to section 352 of the SFO, to be entered in the register referred to therein; or (iii) were required, pursuant to the Model Code for Securities Transactions by Directors of Listed Companies to be notified to the Company and the Stock Exchange:

Interests in the Shares

Number of ordinary shares Number of ordinary shares
in the Company
Name of Director Personal Interests Other Interests
Lo Hong Sui, Vincent 185,183,000
Wong Ying Wai, Wilfred 120,000
Choi Yuk Keung, Lawrence 602,000
Wong Yuet Leung, Frankie
Wong Fook Lam, Raymond
Lowe Hoh Wai Wan, Vivien
Wong Hak Wood, Louis 228,000
Enright, Michael John
Griffiths, Anthony
Cheung Kin Tung, Marvin
Cheng Mo Chi, Moses

Note: The 185,183,000 shares are held as to 166,148,000 shares and 19,035,000 shares by the ultimate holding company, Shui On Company Limited (“SOCL”) and Shui On Finance Company Limited respectively, which is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of SOCL. SOCL is owned by the Bosrich Unit Trust. The units of the Bosrich Unit Trust are the property of a discretionary trust of which Mr. Lo Hong Sui, Vincent is a discretionary beneficiary. Accordingly, Mr. Lo Hong Sui, Vincent is deemed to be interested in such shares.

– 8 –

GENERAL INFORMATION

APPENDIX

(b) Share Options of the Company

Following the amendments of Chapter 17 of the Listing Rules on 1st September 2001, the employee share option scheme adopted on 20th January 1997 (the “Old Scheme”) has been terminated and replaced by a new share option scheme on 27th August 2002 (the “New Scheme”). All options granted previously under the Old Scheme continue to be valid and exercisable.

As at the Latest Practicable Date, the following Directors had interests in right of options granted under the Old Scheme and the New Scheme:

Period during Number of
Subscription which options ordinary
Name of Date of price per outstanding shares subject
Director grant share are exercisable to the options
HK$
Wong Ying Wai, 27.08.2002 6.00 27.2.2003 to 80,000
Wilfred 26.8.2007
27.08.2002 6.00 27.8.2005 to 5,000,000**
26.8.2010
Choi Yuk Keung, 4.7.2000 9.56 4.1.2001 to 70,000
Lawrence 3.7.2005
17.7.2001 9.30 17.1.2002 to 140,000
16.7.2006
27.8.2002 6.00 27.2.2003 to 168,000
26.8.2007
27.8.2002 6.00 27.8.2005 to 5,000,000**
26.8.2010

– 9 –

APPENDIX

GENERAL INFORMATION

Period during Number of
Subscription which options ordinary
Name of Date of price per outstanding shares subject
Director grant share are exercisable to the options
HK$
Wong Yuet Leung, 4.7.2000 9.56 4.1.2001 to 200,000
Frankie 3.7.2005
17.7.2001 9.30 17.1.2002 to 200,000
16.7.2006
27.8.2002 6.00 27.2.2003 to 160,000
26.8.2007
27.8.2002 6.00 27.8.2005 to 2,000,000**
26.8.2010
Wong Fook Lam, 4.7.2000 9.56 4.1.2001 to 160,000
Raymond 3.7.2005
17.7.2001 9.30 17.1.2002 to 160,000
16.7.2006
27.8.2002 6.00 27.2.2003 to 110,000
26.8.2007
27.8.2002 6.00 27.8.2005 to 2,000,000**
26.8.2010
Lowe Hoh Wai Wan, 4.7.2000 9.56 4.1.2001 to 160,000
Vivien 3.7.2005
17.7.2001 9.30 17.1.2002 to 160,000
16.7.2006
27.8.2002 6.00 27.2.2003 to 66,000
26.8.2007
27.8.2002 6.00 27.8.2005 to 2,000,000**
26.8.2010

– 10 –

APPENDIX

GENERAL INFORMATION

Period during Number of
Subscription which options ordinary
Name of Date of price per outstanding shares subject
Director grant share are exercisable to the options
HK$
Wong Hak Wood, 4.7.2000 9.56 4.1.2001 to 280,000
Louis 3.7.2005
17.7.2001 9.30 17.1.2002 to 280,000
16.7.2006
27.8.2002 6.00 27.2.2003 to 88,000
26.8.2007
27.8.2002 6.00 27.8.2005 to 2,000,000**
26.8.2010
  • ** These options were granted under the mega grant as stipulated in the circular dated 30 July 2002. Certain financial and performance targets must be achieved before the options granted will vest and be exercisable.

As at the Latest Practicable Date, 29,112,000 Shares may be issued upon exercise of all outstanding options granted. This represents approximately 11% of the Shares in issue.

Save as disclosed above, as at the Latest Practicable Date, none of the Directors or chief executive of the Company had, or was deemed to have interests and short positions in the shares, underlying shares and debentures of the Company or any associated corporations (within the meaning of the SFO) which (i) were required to be notified to the Company and the Stock Exchange pursuant to Divisions 7 and 8 of Part XV of the SFO; or (ii) were required, pursuant to section 352 of the SFO, to be entered in the register referred to therein; or (iii) were required, pursuant to the Model Code for Securities Transactions by Directors of Listed Companies in the Listing Rules to be notified to the Company and the Stock Exchange.

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GENERAL INFORMATION

APPENDIX

(c) Interests of shareholders discloseable pursuant to the SFO

Save as disclosed below, the Directors are not aware of any other person (other than a Director or chief executive of the Company or his/her respective associate(s)) who, as at the Latest Practicable Date, had interests or short positions in the shares or underlying shares of the Company which would fall to be disclosed to the Company under the provisions of Divisions 2 and 3 of Part XV of the SFO:

Percentage of the
Number of ordinary issued share capital
Name shares in the Company of the Company
Cheah Cheng Hye 16,094,000 5.99%

Of the 16,094,000 shares, 15,632,000 shares are held by Value Partners Limited which is an associate of Mr. Cheah Cheng Hye.

As at the Latest Practicable date, save as disclosed in this circular, none of the Directors had, or was aware of any person who had interests or short positions in the shares, underlying shares or debentures of the Company which would fall to be disclosed to the Company under the provisions of Divisions 2 and 3 of Part XV of the SFO.

(d) Substantial shareholding in other members of the Group

Save as disclosed below, the Directors are not aware of any other person (other than a Director or chief executive of the Company or his/her respective associate(s)) who, as at the Latest Practicable Date, was directly or indirectly interested in 10 per cent. 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:

Effective
Name of owner of shares or equity % equity
interest (as the case may be) Name of subsidiary interest held
���������� Panyu Dynamic Mark Steel &
(Panyu Guang Lu Enterprise Co. Ltd.) Aluminium Engineering Co. Ltd. 20%
Eversound Enterprise Ltd. Panyu Dynamic Mark Steel &
Aluminium Engineering Co. Ltd. 16%

– 12 –

APPENDIX

GENERAL INFORMATION

Effective
Name of owner of shares or equity % equity
interest (as the case may be) Name of subsidiary interest held
Lung Shing Construction & Lamma Concrete Products Ltd. 40%
Materials Company Ltd.
Lung Shing Construction & Guangdong Lamma 40%
Materials Company Ltd. Concrete Products Limited
���������� Panyu Shui Fai Metal Works 22.5%
(Panyu Guang Lu Enterprise Co. Ltd.) Engineering Company Limited
Hip Kwan Engineering Co. Ltd. Panyu Shui Fai Metal Works 22.5%
Engineering Company Limited
Eversound Enterprise Ltd. Dynamic Mark Limited 20%
���������� Guang Rui Construction 25%
(Panyu Guang Lu Enterprise Co. Ltd.) Materials (Panyu) Ltd.
Hip Kwan Engineering Co. Ltd. Shui Fai Metal Works 22.5%
Engineering Co. Ltd.
Eversound Enterprise Ltd. Shui Fai Metal Works 22.5%
Engineering Co. Ltd.
Jadson Construction Ltd. Pacific Extend Ltd. 33%

(e) Independence

As at the Latest Practicable Date, none of the Directors and their respective associates have any interest in a business apart from the Group’s business, which competes or is likely to compete, directly or indirectly, with the Group’s business and would require disclosure under Rule 8.10 of the Listing Rules.

3. SERVICE CONTRACTS

There is no existing or proposed service contracts between any of the Directors and the Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than contracts expiring or determinable by the employer within one year without payment of compensation (other than statutory compensation).

– 13 –

GENERAL INFORMATION

APPENDIX

4. LITIGATION

As at the Latest Practicable Date, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is engaged in any litigation or arbitration of material importance and, so far as the Directors are aware, no litigation or claim of material importance is pending or threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

5. GENERAL

  • (a) The Qualified Accountant of the Company is Mr. Raymond F L Wong, FCA, FCPA.

  • (b) The secretary of the Company is Ms. Janice C W Tam, M.Sc, FCCA, CPA.

  • (c) The principal share registrar and the transfer office of the Company is the Bank of Bermuda Limited, 6 Front Street, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda.

  • (d) The Hong Kong branch share registrar and transfer office is Standard Registrars Limited, 28th Floor, Bank of East Asia Harbour View Centre, 56 Gloucester Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong

  • (e) The registered office of the Company is at Clarendon House, 2 Church Street, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda. The head office and principal place of business of the Company is at 34th Floor, Shui On Centre, 6-8 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong.

  • (f) The English text of this circular shall prevail over the Chinese text.

– 14 –