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Medlive Technology Co., Ltd. — Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement 2009
Aug 4, 2009
50436_rns_2009-08-04_acc5a461-1df5-472f-82be-aab1aa8e7aba.pdf
Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement
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THIS CIRCULAR IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION
If you are in any doubt about this circular, you should obtain independent professional advice.
If you have sold or transferred all your shares in HISENSE KELON ELECTRICAL HOLDINGS COMPANY LIMITED , you should at once hand this circular to the purchaser or transferee or to the bank, licensed securities dealer or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected for transmission to the purchaser or transferee.
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.
HISENSE KELON ELECTRICAL HOLDINGS COMPANY LIMITED 海信科龍電器股份有限公司 (a joint stock limited company incorporated in the People’s Republic of China with limited liability) (Stock Code: 00921)
CONTINUING CONNECTED TRANSACTIONS
REVISED ANNUAL CAPS FOR EXISTING CONTINUING CONNECTED TRANSACTIONS
Independent Financial Adviser to the Independent Board Committee and the Independent Shareholders
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A letter from the Board is set out on pages 4 to 10 of this circular.
A supplemental and further notice of the EGM to be held on 24 August 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at the conference room of the Company’s head office, Shunde District, Foshan City, Guangdong Province, the PRC is set out on pages 31 to 32 of this circular.
A supplemental proxy form for use at the EGM is enclosed with this circular. If you are not able to attend the meeting in person, you are requested to complete and return the enclosed supplemental proxy form in accordance with the instructions printed thereon and to lodge the same with the Company’s branch share registrar in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Registrars Limited of Rooms 1712-1716, 17/F, Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong, not less than 24 hours before the time fixed for holding the EGM or any adjournment thereof. Completion and delivery of the supplemental proxy form will not preclude you from attending and voting at the meeting or any adjournment thereof if you so wish.
4 August 2009
CONTENTS
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 1 |
| Letter from the Board. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 4 |
| Letter from the Independent Board Committee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 11 |
| Letter from Access Capital. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 13 |
| Appendix I — General Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 24 |
| Supplemental and Further Notice of Extraordinary General Meeting. . . . . . . . . | 31 |
— i —
DEFINITIONS
In this circular, unless the context otherwise requires, the following expressions have the following meanings:
- “A Shares”
domestic ordinary shares of the Company with a nominal value of RMB1.00 each and are listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange
-
“Access Capital”
-
Access Capital Limited, a corporation licensed under the SFO for carrying on type 1 (dealing in securities), type 4 (advising on securities), type 6 (advising on corporate finance) and type 9 (asset management) regulated activities under the SFO, being the independent financial adviser to the Independent Board Committee and the Independent Shareholders in respect of the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement
-
“Associates”
has the meaning ascribed to it in the Listing Rules
- “Board”
the board of Directors
-
“Business Co-operation Framework Agreement”
-
the agreement entered into between the Company and certain Subsidiaries of Hisense Group dated 12 February 2009 in relation to the sale and purchase of refrigerators, air-conditioners, raw materials, moulds, the sale of freezers, home appliances and parts and components for refrigerators, air-conditioners and freezers and the provision of after-sale maintenance, repair, internet and consultation services, electronic communication services and property management services
-
“Company”
-
Hisense Kelon Electrical Holdings Company Limited, a company incorporated in the PRC with limited liability and listed on the main board of the Stock Exchange and Shenzhen Stock Exchange
“Directors”
the directors of the Company
— 1 —
DEFINITIONS
| “EGM” | the third 2009 extraordinary general meeting of the |
|---|---|
| Company to be held at the conference room of the | |
| Company’s head office, Shunde District, Foshan City, | |
| Guangdong Province, the PRC on 24 August 2009 at 10:00 | |
| a.m. | |
| “Group” | the Company and its Subsidiaries |
| “H Shares” | overseas listed foreign shares of the Company with a |
| nominal value of RMB1.00 each and are listed on the Stock | |
| Exchange | |
| “Hisense Air-conditioning” | 青島海信空調有限公司(Qingdao Hisense Air-conditioning |
| Company Limited) , a Subsidiary of Hisense Group | |
| “Hisense Group” | 海信集團有限公司(Hisense Company Limited), a limited |
| company incorporated in the PRC | |
| “Hong Kong” | the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the PRC |
| “Independent Board | an independent board committee of the Company comprising |
| Committee” | all the independent non-executive Directors, namely Mr. |
| Zhang Sheng Ping, Mr. Lu Qing and Mr. Cheung Yui Kai, | |
| Warren | |
| “Independent Shareholders” | shareholders other than those who are required under the |
| Listing Rules to abstain from voting on the resolution to be | |
| proposed at the EGM to approve the Second Supplemental | |
| Business Co-operation Framework Agreement and the | |
| transactions contemplated thereunder | |
| “Latest Practicable Date” | 31 July 2009, being the latest practicable date prior to the |
| printing of this circular for ascertaining certain information | |
| in this circular | |
| “Listing Rules” | Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on the Stock |
| Exchange | |
| “MOFTEC” | Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation |
— 2 —
DEFINITIONS
| “OEM” | original equipment manufacturing, a type of manufacturing |
|---|---|
| under which products are manufactured, in whole or in part, | |
| in accordance with specifications of the customer and are | |
| marketed and sold under the brand name of the customer | |
| “PRC” | the People’s Republic of China |
| “RMB” | Renminbi yuan, the lawful currency of the PRC |
| “Second Supplemental | the agreement entered into between the Company and |
| Business Co-operation | Hisense Air-conditioning, a Subsidiary of Hisense Group, |
| Framework Agreement” | dated 15 July 2009, which supplements the Business Co- |
| operation Framework Agreement and the Supplemental | |
| Business Co-operation Framework Agreement | |
| “SFO” | Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571 of the Laws of |
| Hong Kong) | |
| “Share(s)” | share(s) of RMB1.00 each in the capital of the Company, |
| comprising the A Shares and the H Shares | |
| “Shareholder(s)” | holder(s) of the Shares |
| “Shenzhen Stock Exchange” | The Shenzhen Stock Exchange |
| “Stock Exchange” | The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited |
| “Subsidiary” or | has the meaning defined in sections 2 and 2B of the |
| “Subsidiaries” | Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32 of the Laws of Hong Kong) |
| “Supplemental Business | the agreement entered into between the Company and |
| Co-operation Framework | certain Subsidiaries of Hisense Group dated 19 May 2009, |
| Agreement” | which supplements the Business Co-operation Framework |
| Agreement | |
| “%” | per cent |
— 3 —
LETTER FROM THE BOARD
HISENSE KELON ELECTRICAL HOLDINGS COMPANY LIMITED 海信科龍電器股份有限公司
(a joint stock limited company incorporated in the People’s Republic of China with limited liability) (Stock Code: 00921)
Directors:
- Mr. Tang Ye Guo
Mr. Zhou Xiao Tian
Ms. Yu Shu Min
Mr. Lin Lan
Ms. Liu Chun Xin
Registered Office: No. 8 Ronggang Road Ronggui Street Shunde District Foshan City Guangdong Province The PRC
- Mr. Zhang Ming
Independent non-executive Directors:
Mr. Zhang Sheng Ping Mr. Lu Qing
Mr. Cheung Yui Kai, Warren
Principal place of business in Hong Kong: Room 3104-06 Singga Commercial Centre No. 148 Connaught Road West Hong Kong
4 August 2009
To the Shareholders
Dear Sir or Madam,
CONTINUING CONNECTED TRANSACTIONS
REVISED ANNUAL CAPS FOR EXISTING CONTINUING CONNECTED TRANSACTIONS
INTRODUCTION
Reference is made to the announcements of the Company dated 12 February 2009, 19 May 2009 and 15 July 2009 and the circulars of the Company dated 4 March 2009 and 8 June 2009, relating to, among other things, the continuing connected transactions under the Business Co-operation Framework Agreement dated 12 February 2009 and the Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement dated 19 May 2009 entered into between the Company and certain Subsidiaries of Hisense Group.
— 4 —
LETTER FROM THE BOARD
In view of the increase of business co-operation between the Group and some of the Subsidiaries of Hisense Group, the Board announces that on 15 July 2009, the Company entered into the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement with Hisense Air-conditioning, a Subsidiary of Hisense Group, to revise the annual caps for the year ending 31 December 2009 for some of the transactions under the Business Cooperation Framework Agreement and the Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement.
Hisense Air-conditioning is a substantial shareholder of the Company, holding 25.22% of the issued shares of the Company. Each of Hisense Group, being the indirect holding company of Hisense Air-conditioning, and its Subsidiaries are Associates of Hisense Airconditioning and therefore connected persons of the Company. As such, the transactions contemplated under the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement constitute continuing connected transactions of the Company under the Listing Rules and should be aggregated for the purpose of Rules 14A.25 to 14A.27 of the Listing Rules. Given that the applicable percentage ratios (other than the profit ratio) for the aggregated amount for the transactions contemplated under the Business Co-operation Framework Agreement as supplemented by the Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement and the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement is more than 2.5%, the continuing connected transactions contemplated under the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement are subject to reporting, announcement and independent shareholders’ approval requirements under Rule 14A.35 of the Listing Rules.
The purpose of this circular is to provide you with details of the Second Supplemental Business Co- operation Framework Agreement, to set out the recommendation of the Independent Board Committee and to set out the letter of advice from Access Capital to the Independent Board Committee and the Independent Shareholders in respect of the terms of the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement.
SECON D SUPPLEM ENTA L BUSI NESS CO - OPER ATION FR A M EWOR K AGREEMENT
Date
15 July 2009
— 5 —
LETTER FROM THE BOARD
Parties
-
(i) The Company; and
-
(ii) Hisense Air-conditioning, a Subsidiary of Hisense Group.
Revision of annual caps
Under the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement, the annual caps relating to the sale and supply of air-conditioners under the Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement and the purchase of air-conditioners under the Business Co-operation Framework Agreement shall be revised as follows:
| Revised annual | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revised annual | caps for the | |||
| caps for the | year ending | |||
| year ending | 31 December | |||
| 31 December | 2009 | |||
| 2009 | pursuant to | |||
| pursuant to the | the Second | |||
| Original | Supplemental | Supplemental | ||
| annual caps for | Business | Business | ||
| the year ending | Co-operation | Co-operation | ||
| 31 December | Framework | Framework | ||
| No. | Transactions | 2009 | Agreement | Agreement |
| (RMB) | (RMB) | (RMB) | ||
| 1. | Sale and supply of air- | 80,000,000 | 100,000,000 | 300,000,000 |
| conditioners by the relevant | (inclusive of | (inclusive of | (inclusive of | |
| Subsidiaries of the Company | value-added | value-added | value-added | |
| to the relevant Subsidiaries | tax) | tax) | tax) | |
| of Hisense Group | ||||
| 2. | Purchase of air-conditioners | 480,000,000 | Not applicable | 540,000,000 |
| by the relevant Subsidiaries | (inclusive of | (inclusive of | ||
| of the Company from the | value-added | value-added | ||
| relevant Subsidiaries of | tax) | tax) | ||
| Hisense Group |
— 6 —
LETTER FROM THE BOARD
The above revised annual caps were determined with reference to (i) the rapid growth of domestic demand for air-conditioners; (ii) the sales of electrical appliances of the Company boosted by the aforesaid factor in (i); (iii) the acceleration of product turnover and the enlargement of market share through OEM; (iv) the adoption of the “Home Appliances Subsidy Policy for Rural Villages (家電下鄉政策)” by the PRC government which resulted in the increase in demand for home appliances, including air-conditioners and (v) the original annual caps estimated at the beginning of or during the year not able to meet the current requirement of the business development of the Company.
The Company confirms that the transaction amounts of the sale and supply of airconditioners as described above under the Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement for the period from 1 January 2009 to the Latest Practicable Date have not exceeded the revised annual caps. The Company also confirms that the transaction amounts of the purchase of air-conditioners as described above under the Business Cooperation Framework Agreement for the period from 1 January 2009 to the Latest Practicable Date have not exceeded the original annual caps.
Save and except the revision of the annual caps as set out above, all other terms and conditions under the Business Co-operation Framework Agreement and the Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement shall remain unchanged.
Condition
The Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement is subject to the approval of the Independent Shareholders at the EGM.
REASONS FOR THE REVISION OF THE ANNUAL CAPS
The original annual caps for the year ending 31 December 2009 for the purchase of, and sale and supply of air-conditioners were determined with consideration of the possible effects of global economic downturn in the PRC. As a result of the adoption of the “Home Appliances Subsidy Policy for Rural Villages (家電下鄉政策)” by the PRC government to improve the living standard of rural population through subsidising the purchase of home appliances in certain rural areas, the sales of electrical appliances of the Company increased in the past few months. The Company expects that its sale and supply of airconditioners in 2009 will exceed the revised annual caps for 2009 and its purchase of airconditioners in 2009 will exceed the original annual caps for 2009 and therefore needs to increase the annual caps for these transactions to accommodate such expected increase in sale.
— 7 —
LETTER FROM THE BOARD
For the reasons stated above, the Company proposes to revise the original annual caps for purchase of air-conditioners under the Business Co-operation Framework Agreement and the revised annual caps for sale and supply of air-conditioners under the Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement. In view of the above, the Board considers that the revised annual caps under the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement are fair and reasonable and in the interests of the Company and the Shareholders as a whole.
INFORMATION RELATING TO THE COMPANY
The Company is principally engaged in the manufacture and sales of refrigerators and airconditioners.
INFORMATION ON HISENSE GROUP
Hisense Group was incorporated in the PRC in 1979 with limited liability. It has a registered capital of RMB806,170,000. Its authorised representative is Zhou Hou Jian. Its registered address is No.17 Donghai West Road, Shinan, Qingdao. It is principally engaged in the entrusted operation of state-owned assets; the manufacture and sales of TV sets, refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, small household appliances, VCD and DVD players, audio sets, broadcasting appliances, air-conditioners, electronic computers, telephones, communication products, internet products and electronic products and the provision of related services; the development of software and the provision of internet services; the technological development and the provision of consultation services; the self-operated import and export business (with its operation subject to the list of projects as approved by the MOFTEC); the foreign economic and technical cooperation (with its operation subject to the list of projects as approved by the MOFTEC); the operation of property rights transaction, the provision of brokerage and information services; the provision of industrial travel agency services; and the provision of relevant business trainings.
LISTING RULES IMPLICATIONS
Hisense Air-conditioning is a substantial shareholder of the Company, holding 25.22% of the issued shares of the Company. Each of Hisense Group, being the indirect holding company of Hisense Air-conditioning, and its Subsidiaries are Associates of Hisense Airconditioning and therefore connected persons of the Company. As such, the transactions contemplated under the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement constitute continuing connected transactions of the Company under the Listing Rules and should be aggregated for the purpose of Rules 14A.25 to 14A.27 of the Listing
— 8 —
LETTER FROM THE BOARD
Rules. Given that the applicable percentage ratios (other than the profit ratio) for the aggregated amount for the transactions contemplated under the Business Co-operation Framework Agreement as supplemented by the Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement and the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement is more than 2.5%, the continuing connected transactions contemplated under the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement are subject to reporting, announcement and independent shareholders’ approval requirements under Rule 14A.35 of the Listing Rules.
EGM
The Company received a written request from Hisense Air-conditioning on 4 August 2009. Hisense Air-conditioning, a substantial shareholder of the Company which holds 250,173,722 shares of the Company, being 25.22% of the issued shares of the Company, requests that an additional resolution to be tabled before the EGM for the Company’s shareholders’ consideration and approval.
A supplemental and further notice of the EGM to be held on 24 August 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at the conference room of the Company’s head office, Shunde District, Foshan City, Guangdong Province, the PRC, at which relevant resolution will be proposed to approve, among other things, the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereunder is set out on pages 31 to 32 of this circular.
In accordance with article 8.27 of the articles of association of the Company, a poll may be demanded in any general meeting of the Company by:
-
(A) the chairman of the meeting; or
-
(B) at least two Shareholders with voting rights or their proxies; or
-
(C) one or more Shareholder(s) (including their proxies) representing, individually or in aggregate, 10% or more of all shares carrying the voting rights at the general meeting.
Pursuant to Rule 13.39(4) of the Listing Rules, the votes of Independent Shareholders taken at the EGM for the approval of the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereunder must be taken on poll and it is contemplated that the chairman of the meeting will make such demand at the EGM and will announce the results of the poll in the manner prescribed under Rule 13.39(5) of the Listing Rules.
— 9 —
LETTER FROM THE BOARD
Since Hisense Air-conditioning is a Shareholder holding 25.22% of the issued shares of the Company, it and its Associates will abstain from voting in relation to the approval of the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereunder.
RECOMMENDATION
Your attention is drawn to the advice of the Independent Board Committee set out in its letter on pages 11 to 12 of this circular which contains its recommendation to the Independent Shareholders on the terms of the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement.
Your attention is also drawn to the letter of advice from Access Capital, which are set out on pages 13 to 23 of this circular, to the Independent Board Committee and the Independent Shareholders in respect of the terms of and the annual caps for the continuing connected transactions contemplated under the Second Supplemental Business Cooperation Framework Agreement.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Your attention is drawn to the general information of the Group as well as other information contained in the Appendix I to this circular before considering whether to vote for or against the resolution to be proposed at the EGM for approving the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement as set out in the supplemental and further notice of the EGM.
Yours faithfully,
By Order of the Board of
Hisense Kelon Electrical Holdings Company Limited
Tang Ye Guo
Chairman
— 10 —
LETTER FROM THE INDEPENDENT BOARD COMMITTEE
HISENSE KELON ELECTRICAL HOLDINGS COMPANY LIMITED 海信科龍電器股份有限公司
(a joint stock limited company incorporated in the People’s Republic of China with limited liability) (Stock Code: 00921)
4 August 2009
To the Independent Shareholders
Dear Sir or Madam,
CONTINUING CONNECTED TRANSACTIONS
REVISED ANNUAL CAPS FOR EXISTING CONTINUING CONNECTED TRANSACTIONS
We refer to the circular issued by the Company to the Shareholders dated 4 August 2009 (the “Circular”) of which this letter forms part. Terms defined in the Circular shall have the same meanings in this letter unless the context otherwise requires.
Under the Listing Rules, the entering into of the Second Supplemental Business Cooperation Framework Agreement constitutes continuing connected transactions for the Company and is thus subject to the approval of the Independent Shareholders at the EGM.
We have been appointed by the Board to consider the terms of the Second Supplemental Business Co- operation Framework Agreement and to advise the Independent Shareholders in connection with the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement as to whether, in our opinion, its terms and its revised annual cap are fair and reasonable so far as the Independent Shareholders are concerned. Access Capital has been appointed as the independent financial adviser to advise us in this respect.
We wish to draw your attention to the letter from the Board and the letter from Access Capital as set out in the Circular. Having considered the principal factors and reasons considered by, and the advice of Access Capital as set out in its letter of advice, we consider that the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement are on normal commercial terms and in the interests of the Company and the Shareholders as a whole.
— 11 —
LETTER FROM THE INDEPENDENT BOARD COMMITTEE
We also consider that the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement and its revised annual cap is fair and reasonable so far as the Independent Shareholders are concerned.
Accordingly, we recommend the Independent Shareholders to vote in favour of the ordinary resolution to approve the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement and the continuing connected transactions contemplated thereunder at the EGM.
Yours faithfully,
Hisense Kelon Electrical Holdings Company Limited
For and on behalf of the Independent Board Committee
Zhang Sheng Ping Lu Qing Cheung Yui Kai, Warren
Independent non-executive Directors
— 12 —
LETTER FROM ACCESS CAPITAL
Set out below is the text of the letter of advice from Access Capital Limited to the Independent Board Committee and the Independent Shareholders prepared for inclusion in this Circular.
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Suite 606, 6th Floor Bank of America Tower 12 Harcourt Road Central Hong Kong
4 August 2009
- To the Independent Board Committee and the Independent Shareholders of Hisense Kelon Electrical Holdings Company Limited
Dear Sirs,
CONTINUING CONNECTED TRANSACTIONS
REVISED ANNUAL CAPS FOR EXISTING CONTINUING CONNECTED TRANSACTIONS
INTRODUCTION
We refer to our appointment as the independent financial adviser to the Independent Board Committee and the Independent Shareholders in respect of the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement, details of which are set out in the circular to the Shareholders dated 4 August 2009 (the “Circular”), of which this letter forms part. This letter contains our advice to the Independent Board Committee and the Independent Shareholders in respect of the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement. Unless otherwise stated, terms defined in the Circular have the same meanings in this letter.
On 15 July 2009, the Board announced that the Company entered into the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement with Hisense Airconditioning, a Subsidiary of Hisense Group, to revise the annual caps for the year
— 13 —
LETTER FROM ACCESS CAPITAL
ending 31 December 2009 for some of the transactions under the Business Co-operation Framework Agreement and the Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement. The transactions contemplated under the Business Co-operation Framework Agreement dated 12 February 2009 entered into between the Company and certain Subsidiaries of Hisense Group have constituted continuing connected transactions (the “Continuing Connected Transactions”) of the Company under the Listing Rules and, together with the then annual caps, were approved by the Independent Shareholders at the extraordinary general meeting of the Company held on 25 March 2009.
As in the case of the Business Co-operation Framework Agreement, the transactions contemplated under the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement constitute continuing connected transactions of the Company under Chapter 14A of the Listing Rules and should be aggregated for the purpose of Rules 14A.25 to 14A.27 of the Listing Rules. Given that the applicable percentage ratios (other than the profit ratio) for the aggregated amount for the transactions contemplated under the Business Co-operation Framework Agreement (as supplemented by the Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement) and the Second Supplemental Business Cooperation Framework Agreement is more than 2.5%, the continuing connected transactions contemplated under the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement are subject to reporting, announcement and independent shareholders’ approval requirements under Rule 14A.35 of the Listing Rules.
The Independent Board Committee, comprising all the independent non-executive Directors, has been formed to advise the Independent Shareholders as to whether the revision of the annual caps for the Continuing Connected Transactions is in the interests of the Company and the Shareholders as a whole, and the terms of the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement including the proposed revised annual caps are fair and reasonable. As the independent financial adviser to the Independent Board Committee and the Independent Shareholders, our role is to give an independent opinion to the Independent Board Committee and the Independent Shareholders as to (i) whether or not the revision of the annual caps under the Second Supplemental Business Cooperation Framework Agreement is in the interests of the Company and the Shareholders as a whole; (ii) whether or not the terms of the Second Supplemental Business Cooperation Framework Agreement, including the proposed revised annual caps, are fair and reasonable; and (iii) how the Independent Shareholders should vote in respect of the resolution to approve the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement and the revised annual caps at the relevant general meeting of the Company.
— 14 —
LETTER FROM ACCESS CAPITAL
BASIS OF OUR OPINION
In formulating our advice, we have relied solely on the statements, information, opinions and representations contained in the Circular and the information and representations provided to us by the Company and/or the Directors. We have assumed that all such statements, information, opinions and representations contained or referred to in the Circular or otherwise provided or made or given by the Company and/or its senior management staff and/or the Directors and for which it is/they are solely responsible were true and accurate and valid at the time they were made and given and continue to be true and valid as at the date of the Circular. We have assumed that all the opinions and representations made or provided by the Directors and/or the senior management staff of the Company contained in the Circular have been reasonably made after due and careful enquiry. We have also sought and obtained confirmation from the Company and/or its senior management staff and/or the Directors that no material facts have been omitted from the information provided and referred to in the Circular.
We consider that we have reviewed all information and documents which are made available to us to enable us to reach an informed view and to justify our reliance on the information provided so as to provide a reasonable basis for our advice. We have no reason to doubt the truth, accuracy and completeness of the statements, information, opinions and representations provided to us by the Company and/or its senior management staff and/or the Directors and their respective advisers or to believe that material information has been withheld or omitted from the information provided to us or referred to in the aforesaid documents. We have not, however, carried out any independent verification of the information provided, nor have we conducted any independent investigation into the business and affairs of the Group.
PRINCIPAL FACTORS CONSIDERED
In formulating our opinion regarding the Continuing Connected Transactions, we have taken into consideration the following principal factors:
I. Background information and reasons for the Second Supplemental Business Cooperation Framework Agreement
The principal activities of the Company and Hisense Group are similar and both include the manufacture and sales of household electrical appliances including air-conditioners and refrigerators and the provision of related services. Hisense Air-conditioning, a Subsidiary of Hisense Group, is a substantial shareholder of the Company, holding 25.22% of the issued shares of the Company. Given the keen competition in the white goods market in the PRC and in view of the
— 15 —
LETTER FROM ACCESS CAPITAL
substantial interest of Hisense Group in the Company, the Directors consider that there are business co-operation arrangements which can be beneficial to both the Company and Hisense Group in terms of the enhancement of the competitiveness of both sides as the respective Subsidiaries of the Company and Hisense Group are complementary to each other with respect to their geographic locations and distributions. Such co-operation arrangements can reduce the transportation time for product delivery and improve the market responsiveness for both sides. In addition, they can also help to reduce the idling capacity of the production facilities of the relevant parties so that there are more effective utilisations of the production fixed costs. Accordingly, in view of the anticipated benefits to be brought by the business co-operation between the Company and the relevant Subsidiaries of Hisense Group, the relevant parties entered into the Business Co-operation Framework Agreement on 12 February 2009, pursuant to which the Company conditionally agreed that it and any of its Subsidiaries might enter into certain transactions with the relevant Subsidiaries of Hisense Group in respect of the sale and supply of moulds, airconditioners, refrigerators, raw materials and components, the purchase of airconditioners, refrigerators, raw materials, components and moulds, and the provision of property management services and after-sales maintenance, repair and consultation services.
Having constituted the non-exempt continuing connected transactions under the Listing Rules which were subject to the reporting, announcement and independent shareholders’ approval requirements, the transactions contemplated under the Business Co-operation Framework Agreement and the relevant annual caps were subsequently approved by the Independent Shareholders at the extraordinary general meeting of the Company held on 25 March 2009. Since then, the Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted the Continuing Connected Transactions with Subsidiaries of Hisense Group in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Business Co-operation Framework Agreement.
As stated in the Letter from the Board, the existing annual caps for the year ending 31 December 2009 for the purchase of, and sale and supply of air-conditioners were determined with consideration of the possible effects of global economic downturn in the PRC. As a result of the adoption of the “Home Appliances Subsidy Policy for Rural Villages(家電下鄉政策)” by the PRC government to improve the living standard of rural population through subsidising the purchase of home appliances in certain rural areas, the sales of electrical appliances of the Company increased in the past few months. The Company expects that both its sale and purchase of airconditioners in 2009 will exceed the existing annual caps for 2009 and therefore needs to be increased so as to accommodate such expected increase in the relevant
— 16 —
LETTER FROM ACCESS CAPITAL
transactions. The Company expects that there will be an increase in certain transaction amounts contemplated under the Business Co-operation Framework Agreement (as supplemented by the Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement) during the peak season in the second half of 2009 and anticipates that certain existing annual caps (the “Existing Annual Caps”) under the Business Cooperation Framework Agreement (as supplemented by the Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement) will not be sufficient to cover the anticipated increases. Accordingly, the Company proposes to revise certain Existing Annual Caps by way of the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement. The Board considers that the revised annual caps (the “Revised Annual Caps”) under the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement are fair and reasonable and in the interests of the Shareholders and the Company as a whole.
We, having considered that (i) the Business Co-operation Framework Agreement (as supplemented by the Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement) and the Existing Annual Caps have already been formally approved by the Independent Shareholders pursuant to the relevant requirements of the Listing Rules; (ii) the Continuing Connected Transactions have been and will continue to be carried out by the Group in its ordinary and usual course of business and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Business Co-operation Framework Agreement (as supplemented by the Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement) which are fair and reasonable and in the interests of the Company and the Shareholders as a whole; (iii) other than the revision of certain Existing Annual Caps as proposed under the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Business Co-operation Framework Agreement (as supplemented by the Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement) will remain unchanged; and (iv) the actual transaction value of certain Continuing Connected Transactions up to 30 June 2009 have already accounted for a substantial proportion of the relevant Existing Annual Caps (further details of the actual transaction value of the relevant continuing connected transactions up to 30 June 2009 are set out in the section headed “Rationale for determining the Revised Annual Caps” below), are of the view that the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement is in the interests of the Company and the Shareholders as a whole.
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LETTER FROM ACCESS CAPITAL
II. Rationale for determining the Revised Annual Caps
Under the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement, the Existing Annual Caps relating to the sale and supply of, and purchase of air-conditioners under the Business Co-operation Framework Agreement (as supplemented by the Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement) shall be revised as follows:
| Existing | Revised | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Caps | Annual Caps | |
| (RMB) | (RMB) | |
| Maximum aggregate value of sale and supply of | ||
| air-conditioners by the relevant Subsidiaries | ||
| of the Company to the relevant Subsidiaries of | ||
| Hisense Group | 100,000,000 | 300,000,000 |
| Maximum aggregate value of purchase of air- | ||
| conditioners by the relevant Subsidiaries of | ||
| the Company from the relevant Subsidiaries | ||
| of Hisense Group | 480,000,000 | 540,000,000 |
As stated in the Letter from the Board, the Revised Annual Caps were determined with reference to (i) the rapid growth of domestic demand for air-conditioners; (ii) the sales of electrical appliances of the Company were boosted by the aforesaid factor in (i); (iii) the acceleration of product turnover and the enlargement of market share through OEM; (iv) the adoption of the “Home Appliances Subsidy Policy for Rural Villages(家電下鄉政策)” by the PRC government which resulted in the increase in demand for home appliances, including air-conditioners; and (v) the original annual caps estimated at the beginning of or during the year not able to meet the current requirement of the business development of the Company.
In view of the fact that the Revised Annual Caps were arrived at after taking into account the expected increase in sales as boosted by the adoption of the “Home Appliances Subsidiary Policy for Rural Villages(家電下鄉政策)” (the “Subsidy Policy”) by the PRC government which resulted in the increase in demand for home appliances, we have reviewed the Subsidy Policy and its effect on domestic demand for home appliances.
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LETTER FROM ACCESS CAPITAL
Pursuant to the Subsidy Policy, the PRC government would provide a 13% subsidy to farmers who bought designated brands of color TV sets, refrigerators and mobile phones in the three agricultural provinces of Shandong, Henan, and Sichuan. On 1 February 2009, the PRC government expanded the Subsidy Policy nationwide to benefit all people living in rural areas and added four more products: motorcycles, personal computers, water heaters and air-conditioners. According to Xinhua News, with the effects of the global financial crisis spreading throughout the world, the government is looking to tap domestic consumption, especially in unexploited rural markets.
China has more than 50,000 townships and the number of rural households accounts for 68 percent of the total families. According to Xinhua News, the official press agency of the PRC government, Mr. Fu Ziying, Vice Minister of Commerce of the PRC, stated on 1 February 2009 that the Subsidy Policy could help stimulate rural consumption amounting to RMB920 billion, drive up growth of retail sales of consumer goods in rural areas by 2.5 percentage points, and realise household appliance sales of 480 million units. According to Xinhua News, Mr. Yao Jian, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce of the PRC, stated on 15 June 2009 that approximately 2.23 million units of household appliances were sold under the Subsidy Policy in May 2009. The total value of the household appliances sold under the Subsidy Policy in May 2009 is approximately RMB4 billion, representing an increase of 42% over the preceding month. As at the end of May 2009, there were approximately 9.87 million units of household appliances sold under the Subsidy Policy valuing at approximately RMB15.3 billion. With the 13% subsidy on household appliances, it is expected that the sales of household appliance in rural household will continue to increase.
Furthermore, as part of the recent stimulus policies of the PRC Government to boost domestic consumption, the State Council has announced a pilot program of home appliance replacement (the “Replacement Program”) and set several provinces and cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Fuzhou, Changsha and provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong, Guangdong, as pilots for the replacement of used television sets, refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners and computers. In particular, the PRC government will set aside RMB2 billion to subsidise purchases of home appliances and consumers who hand in certain used electronic products, namely, television sets, refrigerators, washing machines, air-conditioners and computers, and buy new ones can receive a subsidy worth 10% of the prices on the new electronic products.
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LETTER FROM ACCESS CAPITAL
We have also discussed with the management of the Company about the underlying assumptions, their basis as well as the projection of the relevant variables such as market share and product market price and we are of the view that such assumptions and basis are fair and reasonable. For the purpose of ensuring the accuracy of the computation of the Revised Annual Caps, we have also carried out a review on the relevant worksheets for calculation of the relevant annual caps including the review on the quantities and the unit prices of the subject items. Based on the result of our review, we are satisfied that the calculation of the proposed Revised Annual Caps has been conducted on a fair and reasonable basis.
For comparison among the actual transaction value of the relevant Continuing Connected Transactions, the Existing Annual Caps and the Revised Annual Caps, the following table sets out the respective percentages as represented by the actual transaction value of the relevant Continuing Connected Transactions up to 30 June 2009 over the Existing Annual Caps and the Revised Annual Caps.
| Percentage | Percentage | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| represented | represented | ||||
| by the | by the | ||||
| actual | actual | ||||
| transaction | transaction | ||||
| value | value | ||||
| Actual | over the | over the | |||
| transaction | respective | respective | |||
| value up to | Existing | Existing | Revised | Revised | |
| 30 June | Annual | Annual | Annual | Annual | |
| 2009 | Caps | Caps | Caps | Caps | |
| (RMB) | (RMB) | (RMB) | |||
| Sale and supply of air- | |||||
| conditioners by the | |||||
| relevant Subsidiaries of the | |||||
| Company to the relevant | |||||
| Subsidiaries of Hisense | |||||
| Group | 63,495,479 | 100,000,000 | 63.5% | 300,000,000 | 21.2% |
| Purchase of air-conditioners | |||||
| by the relevant Subsidiaries | |||||
| of the Company from the | |||||
| relevant Subsidiaries of | |||||
| Hisense Group | 237,641,822 | 480,000,000 | 49.5% | 540,000,000 | 44.0% |
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LETTER FROM ACCESS CAPITAL
The actual transaction value of approximately RMB63.5 million for the sale and supply of air-conditioners up to 30 June 2009 represents about 63.5% and 21.2% of the relevant Existing Annual Cap of RMB100,000,000 and Revised Annual Cap of RMB300,000,000, respectively. In view of the fact that such actual transaction value up to 30 June 2009 has already accounted for a substantial portion of the Existing Annual Cap for the year ending 31 December 2009, we concur with the management view that it is necessary to revise the relevant Existing Annual Cap so as to cover for the anticipated transaction value of such Continuing Connected Transactions under the revised estimation. We note that the Revised Annual Cap of RMB300,000,000 represents a 200% increase over the Existing Annual Cap of RMB100,000,000. We understand from the Company that in order to save on overhead costs, in particular, transportation costs to rural towns, the relevant Subsidiaries of the Company and Hisense Air-conditioning intend to increase the cooperation in purchasing and supplying air-conditioners to each other. In the anticipation of the peak season in the second half of 2009 and the existing significant amount of the relevant transaction value, we are of the view that the Revised Annual Cap of RMB300,000,000 for the sale and supply of air-conditioners for the year ending 31 December 2009 is fair and reasonable.
As regards to the actual transaction value for the purchase of air-conditioners up to 30 June 2009, such value of approximately RMB237.6 million represents about 49.5% and 44.0% of the relevant Existing Annual Cap of RMB480,000,000 and Revised Annual Cap of RMB540,000,000, respectively. In the case of the purchase of air-conditioners, the Revised Annual Cap of RMB540,000,000 represents an increase of about 12.5% over the relevant Existing Annual Cap of RMB480,000,000. As advised by the Company, while the actual transaction value up to 30 June 2009 has accounted for about half of the relevant Existing Annual Cap, such transaction value is expected to increase substantially during the peak season in the second half of 2009. As stated above, the relevant Subsidiaries of the Company and Hisense Air-conditioning will increase the cooperation in purchasing and supplying airconditioners to each other in order to save on overhead costs. Given that (i) the demand for air-conditioners is expected to increase as a result of the Subsidy Policy and the Replacement Program and (ii) the Revised Annual Cap represents a modest increase of 12.5% over the Existing Annual Cap, we are of the view that the Revised Annual Cap of RMB540,000,000 for the purchase of air-conditioners for the year ending 31 December 2009 is fair and reasonable.
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LETTER FROM ACCESS CAPITAL
In general, given the revenue nature of the sale and supply of air-conditioners, we are of the view that it is beneficial for the Company to maximise the relevant annual caps for such Continuing Connected Transactions. While the proposed Revised Annual Caps for the year ending 2009 depend on significant extent on the estimation of sales by the relevant parties, it should be noted that (i) the proposed transactions contemplated under the Business Co-operation Framework Agreement will continue to be conducted in the ordinary and usual course of business of the Company and on normal commercial terms and on terms not less favourable to the Company than terms available to or from (as appropriate) independent third parties; (ii) the sale and supply of air-conditioners by the relevant Subsidiaries of the Company to the relevant Subsidiaries of the Hisense Group will increase the Group’s overall revenue and profitability; and (iii) the non-exclusive arrangement under the Business Cooperation Framework Agreement provides the Company with the flexibility without any commitment on the actual transaction values. As such, we are of the view that the Revised Annual Caps with respect to the sales and purchase of air-conditioners between Hisense Air-conditioning and the relevant Subsidiaries of the Company are in the interests of the Company and the Shareholders as a whole.
III. Conditions of the Revised Annual Caps under the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement
As in the case of the Existing Annul Caps under the Business Co-operation Framework Agreement (as supplemented by the Supplemental Business Cooperation Framework Agreement), the Revised Annual Caps for the year ending 31 December 2009 will be subject to the annual review by the independent nonexecutive Directors, details of which must be included in the Company’s subsequent published annual report and accounts. Also, pursuant to the Listing Rules, the auditors of the Company must provide a letter to the Board confirming, among other things, that the transactions contemplated under the Business Co-operation Framework Agreement (as supplemented by the Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement) are conducted in accordance with their terms and that the relevant annual caps not being exceeded. In addition, pursuant to the Listing Rules, the Company shall publish an announcement if it knows or has reason to believe that the independent non-executive Directors and/or its auditors will not be able to confirm the terms of such transactions or the relevant annual caps not being exceeded. We are of the view that there are appropriate measures in place to govern the conduct of the Continuing Connected Transactions and safeguard the interests of the Independent Shareholders.
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LETTER FROM ACCESS CAPITAL
RECOMMENDATION
Based on the above, we are of the opinion that the transactions contemplated under the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement are on normal commercial terms and in the ordinary and usual course of business of the Company and that the terms of the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement and the Revised Annual Caps are in the interests of the Company and the Shareholders as a whole and fair and reasonable. Accordingly, we would advise the Independent Board Committee and the Independent Shareholders that the Independent Shareholders should vote in favour of the ordinary resolution to approve the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereunder at the relevant general meeting of the Company.
Yours faithfully, For and on behalf of Access Capital Limited Alexander Tai Principal Director
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GENERAL INFORMATION
APPENDIX I
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. All the Directors jointly and severally accept full responsibility for the accuracy of information contained in this circular and confirm, having made all reasonable enquiries, that to the best of their knowledge, opinions expressed in this circular have been arrived at after due and careful consideration and there are no other facts not contained in this circular, the omission of which would make any statement in this circular misleading.
2. DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS
Directors, supervisors and chief executive of the Company
As at the Latest Practicable Date, none of the Directors, supervisors and chief executive of the Company had interests and short positions in the Shares, underlying Shares and/or debentures (as the case may be) of the Company or any of its associated corporations (within the meaning of the SFO) which 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 Director or chief executive is taken or deemed to have under such provisions of the SFO) or which were required to be entered into the register required to be kept by the Company under section 352 of the SFO or which were otherwise required to be notified to the Company and the Stock Exchange pursuant to the Model Code for Securities Transactions by Directors of Listed Issuers in the Listing Rules.
As at the Latest Practicable Date, none of the Directors or supervisors of the Company had any interest, direct or indirect, in any asset which have been since 31 December 2008, being the date to which the latest published audited financial statements of the Group were made up, acquired or disposed of by or leased to any member of the Group or are 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 or supervisors of the Company was materially interested in any contract or arrangement entered into by any member of the Group since 31 December 2008, being the date to which the latest published audited financial statements of the Company were made up, and which was significant in relation to the business of the Group.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
APPENDIX I
Interests of Substantial Shareholders
Interests in the Company
As at the Latest Practicable Date, so far as the Directors are aware, each of the following persons, not being a Director, supervisor or chief executive of the Company, had an interest in the Shares which falls to be disclosed to the Company and the Stock Exchange under the provisions of Divisions 2 and 3 of Part XV of the SFO:
| Proportion | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| to the | |||||
| relevant | Proportion | ||||
| class of | to the total | ||||
| Number | issued share | issued share | |||
| of issued | capital | capital | |||
| Class of | ordinary | of the | of the | ||
| Name | Shares | shares held | Company | Company | |
| Hisense Air- | A Shares | 250,173,722 | 46.99% | 25.22% | |
| conditioning | |||||
| China Finance Asset | A Shares | 63,923,804 | 12.01% | 6.44% | |
| Management | |||||
| Corporate |
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GENERAL INFORMATION
APPENDIX I
Interests in other members of the Group
As at the Latest Practicable Date, so far as the Directors are aware, the following persons, not being a Director, supervisor or chief executive of the Company, was 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 members of the Group:
| Percentage | ||
|---|---|---|
| shareholding of | ||
| Shareholders holding | shareholders in | |
| Other members | 10% or more in other | other members |
| of the Group | members of the Group | of the Group |
| Guangdong Kelon Air- | Weishi Investments Company | 40% |
| Conditioner Co., Ltd | Limited | |
| Guangdong Kelon Mould Co., | Hua Yi Compressor Company | 29.89% |
| Ltd | Limited | |
| Foshan Shunde Rongsheng | Hua Yi Compressor Company | 29.95% |
| Plastic Co., Ltd | Limited | |
| Guangdong Huaao Electrical | Foshan City Shunde District Yun | 30% |
| Electronics Co., Ltd. | Long Enquiry Service Company | |
| Limited | ||
| Hisense Ronshen (Yingkou) | Yingkou Yingleng (Group) | 14.74% |
| Refrigerator Co., Ltd. | Bankruptcy Liquidation Team | |
| Xi’an Kelon Cooling Co., Ltd. | Xi’an Gaoke (Group) Company | 29.05% |
| Limited | ||
| Jiangxi Kelon Combine | Jiangxi Fadasi Domestic Electrical | 45% |
| Electrical Appliances Co., | Appliances Company Limited | |
| Ltd. | ||
| Hua Yi Compressor Company | Sichuan Changhong Electric | 29.92% |
| Limited | Holdings Co., Ltd | |
| A-share public shareholders | 49.05% |
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GENERAL INFORMATION
APPENDIX I
| Percentage | ||
|---|---|---|
| shareholding of | ||
| Shareholders holding | shareholders in | |
| Other members | 10% or more in other | other members |
| of the Group | members of the Group | of the Group |
| Guangzhou Antaida Logistic | Guangzhou Zhongyuan | 30% |
| Co., Ltd. | International Freight Forwarding | |
| Company Limited | ||
| China Far Ocean Network Company | 25% |
|
| Limited | ||
| Wuxi Small Swan Holdings | 20% | |
| Company Limited | ||
| Wuhu Yingjia Electrical | Heavenly King Incorporated | 20% |
| Machinery Co., Ltd. | ||
| Sichuan Rongsheng Kelon | Xu Wei Ru | 24% |
| Refrigerator Sales Co., Ltd. | ||
| Beijing Hengsheng Xin | Foshan City Shunde District Yun | 11% |
| Chuang Technology | Long Enquiry Service Company | |
| Company | Limited | |
| Guangdong Kelon Weili | Zhongshan City Fusha Town | 20% |
| Electrical Appliances | Shunchang Industry Limited | |
| Company Limited | Company |
Save as disclosed above, as at the Latest Practicable Date and so far as is known to the Directors or chief executive of the Company, there was no other person (other than a Director, supervisor or chief executive of the Company or a member of the Group), who 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 was, 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.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
APPENDIX I
3. SERVICE AGREEMENTS
As at the Latest Practicable Date, none of the Directors, proposed directors, supervisors or proposed supervisors of the Company had any existing or proposed service contract with any member of the Group (excluding contracts expiring or determinable by the Company within one year without payment of compensation (other than statutory compensation).
4. COMPETING BUSINESS
As at the Latest Practicable Date, the following Directors or their respective Associates have interests in the following businesses which are considered to compete or are likely to compete, either directly or indirectly, with the businesses of the Group other than those businesses where the Directors were appointed as directors to represent the interests of the Company and/or the Group pursuant to the Listing Rules:
| Name of entity | Description of | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| which business | business of the entity | ||
| is considered to | which is considered | ||
| compete or likely | to compete or likely | Nature of | |
| to compete with | to compete with | interest of the | |
| the business of the | the business of the | Director in | |
| Name of Director | Group | Group | the entity |
| Mr. Tang Ye Guo | Hisense Group or its | Production of air- | Director |
| Subsidiaries | conditioning/ | ||
| electrical products | |||
| Mr. Zhou Xiao Tian | The Subsidiaries of | Production of air- | Director |
| Hisense Group | conditioning/ | ||
| electrical products | |||
| Ms. Yu Shu Min | Hisense Group or its | Production of air- | Director and/ |
| Subsidiaries | conditioning/ | or senior | |
| electrical products | management |
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GENERAL INFORMATION
APPENDIX I
| Name of entity | Description of | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| which business | business of the entity | ||
| is considered to | which is considered | ||
| compete or likely | to compete or likely | Nature of | |
| to compete with | to compete with | interest of the | |
| the business of the | the business of the | Director in | |
| Name of Director | Group | Group | the entity |
| Mr. Lin Lan | Hisense Group or its | Production of air- | Director and/ |
| Subsidiaries | conditioning/ | or senior | |
| electrical products | management | ||
| Mr. Zhang Ming | The Subsidiaries of | Manufacture and | Director |
| Hisense Group | sales of fittings for | ||
| electric appliances |
As at the Latest Practicable Date, save as disclosed above, none of the Directors or their respective Associates has interests in the businesses which compete or are likely to compete, either directly or indirectly, with the businesses of the Group.
5. NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE
As at the Latest Practicable Date, none of the Directors was aware of any material adverse change in the financial or trading position of the Group since 31 December 2008 (being the date to which the latest published audited financial statements of the Group were made up).
6. EXPERT
- (a) The following sets out the qualifications of the expert which has given its opinion or advice as contained in this circular:
Name
Qualifications
- Access Capital a corporation licensed under the SFO to carry on type 1 (dealing in securities), type 4 (advising on securities), type 6 (advising on corporate finance) and type 9 (asset management) regulated activities under the SFO
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GENERAL INFORMATION
APPENDIX I
-
(b) Access Capital does not have any shareholding, direct or indirect, in any member of the Group or any right (whether legally enforceable or not) to subscribe for or to nominate persons to subscribe for securities in any member of the Group.
-
(c) Access Capital does not have any interest, direct or indirect, in any assets which have been acquired or disposed of by or leased to any member of the Group, or which are proposed to be acquired or disposed of by or leased to any member of the Group since 31 December 2008, the date to which the latest published audited financial statements of the Company were made up.
-
(d) Access Capital 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 they are included.
-
(e) The letter and recommendation given by Access Capital are given as of the date of this circular for incorporation herein.
7. DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION
Copies of the following documents are available for inspection at the principal place of business in Hong Kong of the Company at Room 3104-06, Singga Commercial Centre, No. 148 Connaught Road West, Hong Kong during normal business hours from the date of this circular up to and including 31 August 2009:
-
(a) the letter from Access Capital;
-
(b) the Business Co-operation Framework Agreement;
-
(c) the Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement; and
-
(d) the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement.
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SUPPLEMENTAL AND FURTHER NOTICE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING
HISENSE KELON ELECTRICAL HOLDINGS COMPANY LIMITED 海信科龍電器股份有限公司
(a joint stock limited company incorporated in the People’s Republic of China with limited liability) (Stock Code: 00921)
SUPPLEMENTAL AND FURTHER NOTICE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING
Hisense Kelon Electrical Holdings Company Limited (the “Company”) received a written request from Qingdao Hisense Air-conditioning Company Limited (“Hisense Airconditioning”) on 4 August 2009. Hisense Air-conditioning, a substantial shareholder of the Company which holds 250,173,722 shares of the Company, being approximately 25.22% of the issued shares of the Company, requests that additional resolutions (specified as ordinary resolutions numbered 2 to 4 below) to be tabled before the forthcoming third 2009 extraordinary general meeting (the “EGM”) of the Company to be held on 24 August 2009 for the Company’s shareholders’ consideration and approval.
SUPPLEMENTAL AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the EGM will be held as originally scheduled at the conference room of the Company’s head office, Shunde District, Foshan City, Guangdong Province, the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”) on 24 August 2009 at 10:00 a.m. to review and, if thought fit, pass the following resolutions in addition to the resolution set out in the previous notice of the EGM dated 7 July 2009:
ORDINARY RESOLUTIONS
-
To consider and approve the Second Supplemental Business Co-operation Framework Agreement entered into between the Company and 青島海信空調有限 公司 (Qingdao Hisense Air-conditioning Company Limited) and the continuing connected transactions contemplated thereunder.
-
To consider and approve the resolution in relation to the guarantees to be provided by the Company in the total sum up to RMB1.72 billion to the subsidiaries of the Company in respect of the grant of general credit facilities for the year of 2010-2011.
-
To consider and approve the resolution in relation to the loan guarantees to be provided by the Company in the total sum up to RMB88 million to certain distributors of the Company for the year of 2010-2011.
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SUPPLEMENTAL AND FURTHER NOTICE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING
Pursuant to article 8.11 of the articles of association of the Company, where the number of voting shares represented by the shareholders who intend to attend a general meeting does not exceed half of the Company’s total number of voting shares, the Company shall further notify its shareholders about the agenda, date and venue of the general meeting by publishing an announcement. As notified, the Company will hold the general meeting at the time originally scheduled. Apart from adding the above-mentioned proposed resolution in the agenda, the date and venue of the EGM and all other matters relating to the EGM will remain the same as disclosed in the notice of EGM dated 7 July 2009. (Please refer to the announcement dated 7 July 2009 published on the websites (http://www.hkex.com. hk and www.kelon.com) of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited and the Company, respectively.)
By Order of the Board of
Hisense Kelon Electrical Holdings Company Limited Tang Ye Guo Chairman
As at the date of this notice, the directors of the Company are Mr. Tang Ye Guo, Mr. Zhou Xiao Tian, Ms. Yu Shu Min, Mr. Lin Lan, Ms. Liu Chun Xin and Mr. Zhang Ming; and the independent non-executive directors are Mr. Zhang Sheng Ping, Mr. Lu Qing and Mr. Cheung Yui Kai, Warren.
Foshan City, Guangdong, the PRC, 4 August 2009
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