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MS Group Holdings Limited — Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement 2002
Jun 21, 2002
49932_rns_2002-06-21_ec12db3b-2317-41b8-a748-4a8b03c737ca.pdf
Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement
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THIS CIRCULAR IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION
If you are in doubt about this circular or as to the action to be taken, you should consult your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, professional accountant or other professional adviser.
If you have sold or transferred all your shares in U-RIGHT International Holdings Limited, you should at once hand this circular and the accompanying form of proxy to the purchaser or transferee or to the bank, stockbroker or other agent through whom the sale was effected for transmission to the purchaser or 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.
U-RIGHT INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LIMITED 佑威國際控股有限公司[*]
(Incorporated in Bermuda with limited liability)
TERMINATION OF EXISTING SHARE OPTION SCHEME, ADOPTION OF NEW SHARE OPTION SCHEME
AND GENERAL MANDATE TO ISSUE NEW SHARES
A notice convening a special general meeting of U-RIGHT International Holdings Limited to be held at Pacific Room III, 9th Floor, Towers Wing, The Royal Pacific Hotel & Towers, 33 Canton Road, China Hong Kong City, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong on Tuesday, 9 July 2002 at 10:00 a.m. is set out on pages 20 to 23 of this circular. A form of proxy for use at the special general meeting is also enclosed.
Whether or not you are able to attend the meeting, you are requested to complete the form of proxy in accordance with the instructions printed thereon and return the same to the Company’s Share Registrar in Hong Kong, Tengis Limited at 4th Floor, Hutchison House, 10 Harcourt Road, Central, Hong Kong as soon as possible but in any event not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for the holding of the meeting. Completion and delivery of the form of proxy will not preclude you from attending and voting at the meeting if you so wish.
21 June 2002
- for identification purpose only
CONTENTS
| Page | ||
|---|---|---|
| Responsibility Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | ii | |
| Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 1 | |
| Letter from the Board | ||
| 1. | Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 4 |
| 2. | The New Share Option Scheme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 5 |
| 3. | Application for listing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 7 |
| 4. | Reasons for adopting the New Share Option Scheme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 7 |
| 5. | New Issuance Mandate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 8 |
| 6. | Special General Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 8 |
| 7. | Recommendation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 9 |
| 8. | General information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 9 |
| Appendix – The principal terms of the New Share Option Scheme. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 10 | |
| Notice of Special General Meeting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 20 |
– i –
RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT
This document 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 document and confirm, having made all reasonable enquiries, that to the best of their knowledge and belief there are no other facts the omission of which would make any statement herein misleading.
– ii –
DEFINITIONS
In this circular, unless the context otherwise requires, the following expressions shall have the following meanings:
“Annual General Meeting” the annual general meeting of the Company held on 31 August 2001;
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“associates” has the same meaning as ascribed in the Listing Rules;
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“Board” the board of Directors;
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“Company” U-RIGHT International Holdings Limited, a company incorporated in Bermuda with limited liability, the shares and warrants of which are listed on the Stock Exchange;
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“Companies Ordinance” Companies Ordinance (Chapter 32 of the Laws of Hong Kong);
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“connected persons” has the same meaning as ascribed in the Listing Rules;
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“Court” has the same meaning as ascribed in the Companies Ordinance;
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“Director(s)” director(s) of the Company;
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“Eligible Employee(s)” employee(s) (whether full time or part time employee(s), including any executive director but not any non-executive director) of the Company, its Subsidiaries or any Invested Entity;
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“Eligible Grantees” persons who are eligible to accept the offer of the grant of an Option in accordance with the Existing Share Option Scheme;
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“Existing Buyback Mandate”
the general mandate granted by the Shareholders to the Directors at the Annual General Meeting to purchase Shares on the Stock Exchange of an aggregate nominal amount of up to 10% of the aggregate nominal amount of the share capital of the Company in issue on the date of the Annual General Meeting;
– 1 –
DEFINITIONS
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“Existing Issuance Mandate” the general mandate granted by the Shareholders to the Directors at the Annual General Meeting to allot, issue and deal with Shares of an aggregate nominal amount of up to 20% of the aggregate nominal amount of the share capital of the Company in issue on the date of the Annual General Meeting;
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“Existing Share Option Scheme” the existing share option scheme of the Company which was adopted by the Company on 17 October 2000;
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“General Mandate Resolutions” the ordinary resolutions to be proposed and passed at the Special General Meeting for approving the granting/extension of the New Issuance Mandate to the Directors;
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“Group” the Company and its Subsidiaries;
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“HK$” Hong Kong dollars; “Hong Kong” The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China;
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“Invested Entity” any entity in which the Group holds any equity interest; “Latest Practicable Date” 19 June 2002, being the latest practicable date prior to the printing of this circular for ascertaining certain information in this circular;
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“Listing Rules” the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on the Stock Exchange;
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“New Issuance Mandate” as defined in paragraph 5(a) of the Letter from the Board; “New Share Option Scheme” the share option scheme proposed to be adopted by the Company at the Special General Meeting, a summary of the principal terms of which is set out in the Appendix;
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“Option(s)” option(s) granted to the Eligible Grantees under the Existing Share Option Scheme or to the Participants under the New Share Option Scheme, as the context requires;
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“Ordinary Resolution” the ordinary resolution to be proposed and passed at the Special General Meeting for the adoption of the New Share Option Scheme and the termination of the Existing Share Option Scheme as set out in item 1 of the notice for the Special General Meeting;
– 2 –
DEFINITIONS
“Participant(s)”
any person belonging to any of the following classes of persons:
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(a) any Eligible Employee;
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(b) any non-executive director (including independent nonexecutive directors) of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any Invested Entity;
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(c) any supplier of goods or services to any member of the Group or any Invested Entity;
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(d) any customer of the Group or any Invested Entity;
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(e) any person or entity that provides research, development or other technological support to the Group or any Invested Entity; and
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(f) any shareholder of any member of the Group or any Invested Entity or any holder of any securities issued by any member of the Group or any Invested Entity;
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“Share(s)”
share(s) of HK$0.10 each in the capital of the Company or if there has been a subsequent sub-division, consolidation, reclassification or reconstruction of the share capital of the Company, shares forming part of the ordinary equity share capital of the Company;
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“Shareholder(s)” holder(s) of Share(s);
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“Special General Meeting”
a special general meeting of the Company to be held on Tuesday, 9 July 2002 at 10:00 a.m. or any adjournment thereof, notice of which is set out on pages 20 to 23 of this circular;
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“Stock Exchange” The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited;
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“Subsidiary”
a subsidiary for the time being of the Company (within the meaning of Section 2 of the Companies Ordinance), whether incorporated in Hong Kong or elsewhere;
- “Takeovers Code”
The Hong Kong Code on Takeovers and Mergers.
– 3 –
LETTER FROM THE BOARD
U-RIGHT INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LIMITED 佑威國際控股有限公司[*]
(Incorporated in Bermuda with limited liability)
Executive Directors: LEUNG Ngok (Chairman) LEUNG Shing (Deputy Chairman and Managing Director) LI Chung Hing LEE Ka Yiu, Andy
Independent Non-executive Directors: WANG Pinqing WONG Kong Hon
Registered Office: Clarendon House 2 Church Street Hamilton HM 11 Bermuda
Principal Place of Business: Suites 901-907 World Commerce Centre Harbour City No. 11 Canton Road Tsimshatsui Kowloon Hong Kong
21 June 2002
To the Shareholders and, for information only, warrantholders of the Company
Dear Sir or Madam,
TERMINATION OF EXISTING SHARE OPTION SCHEME, ADOPTION OF NEW SHARE OPTION SCHEME AND GENERAL MANDATE TO ISSUE NEW SHARES
1. INTRODUCTION
On 23 August 2001, the Stock Exchange announced amendments to Chapter 17 of the Listing Rules, which came into effect on 1 September 2001. In compliance with the amendments to the Listing Rules and for reasons set out in this letter, the Board considers that it is in the interest of the Company to terminate the Existing Share Option Scheme and to adopt the New Share Option Scheme.
- for identification purpose only
– 4 –
LETTER FROM THE BOARD
At the Annual General Meeting, the Existing Issuance Mandate was granted to the Directors. The Existing Issuance Mandate has been fully exercised by the Directors for issuance of Shares pursuant to the Placing and Subscription Agreements executed by the Company on 12 March 2002 and 7 June 2002. Details of the placing and subscription of Shares have been set out in the announcements of the Company dated 12 March 2002 and 7 June 2002 respectively.
The purpose of this circular is to provide you with information in respect of the Ordinary Resolution to be proposed at the Special General Meeting for the approval of the adoption of the New Share Option Scheme and the termination of the Existing Share Option Scheme and in respect of the General Mandate Resolutions to be proposed at the Special General Meeting for the approval of the granting/extension of the New Issuance Mandate to the Directors.
2. THE NEW SHARE OPTION SCHEME
At the Special General Meeting, the Ordinary Resolution will be proposed for the Company to approve the adoption of the New Share Option Scheme pursuant to which the Participants may be granted Options to subscribe for Shares upon and subject to the terms and conditions of the rules of the New Share Option Scheme.
A summary of the principal terms of the rules of the New Share Option Scheme which is proposed to be approved and adopted by the Company at the Special General Meeting is set out in the Appendix to this circular. A copy of the rules of the New Share Option Scheme is available for inspection at the principal place of business of the Company at Suites 901-907, World Commerce Centre, Harbour City, No.11 Canton Road, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong during normal business hours from the date hereof up to and including 9 July 2002.
On 17 October 2000, the Company adopted the Existing Share Option Scheme pursuant to which Options to subscribe for an aggregate of up to 10% of the issued share capital of the Company from time to time can be granted to the Eligible Grantees. As at the Latest Practicable Date, the issued share capital of the Company was 1,061,580,700 Shares. Under the Existing Share Option Scheme, the Company can grant Options to subscribe for up to 106,158,070 Shares to the Eligible Grantees, on the basis that no Shares are issued or repurchased by the Company after the Latest Practicable Date, representing 10% of the issued share capital of the Company. As at the Latest Practicable Date, the Company had not granted any Options to any Eligible Grantees under the Existing Share Option Scheme. The Directors confirm that prior to the Special General Meeting, they will not grant any Options under the Existing Share Option Scheme. There is no other share option scheme of the Company besides the Existing Share Option Scheme.
– 5 –
LETTER FROM THE BOARD
The New Share Option Scheme is conditional upon:
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(i) the passing of the Ordinary Resolution at the Special General Meeting approving the adoption of the New Share Option Scheme and the termination of the Existing Share Option Scheme;
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(ii) the Listing Committee of the Stock Exchange granting the listing of, and permission to deal in any new Shares which may fall to be allotted and issued upon exercise of the subscription rights attaching to the Options to be granted under the New Share Option Scheme not exceeding 10% of the total number of Shares in issue as at the date of approval of the New Share Option Scheme, that is, the date of passing of the Ordinary Resolution by the Shareholders at the Special General Meeting; and
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(iii) where required, the Bermuda Monetary Authority granting its permission for the issue of Options under the New Share Option Scheme and the new Shares to be issued upon the exercise of the subscription rights attaching to the Options.
The Existing Share Option Scheme will be terminated on the New Share Option Scheme coming into effect upon the fulfillment of the conditions set out above. Upon termination of the Existing Share Option Scheme, no further Options can be granted thereunder but in all other respects, the provisions of the Existing Share Option Scheme shall remain in force and any Options granted prior to such termination shall continue to be valid and exercisable in accordance therewith.
Assuming that there is no change in the issued share capital of the Company between the Latest Practicable Date and the date of the adoption of the New Share Option Scheme, the number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to the New Share Option Scheme and any other share option schemes will be 106,158,070 Shares representing 10% of the Company’s issued capital as at the date of passing of the Ordinary Resolution.
If the Company seeks approval by its Shareholders in general meeting to “refresh” the above 10% limit, the Company must, in addition to compliance with the relevant requirements under the Listing Rules, submit a formal application applying for the listing of, and permission to deal in the securities to be issued upon exercise of all options to be granted under the New Share Option Scheme and any other share option schemes of the Company under the limit as refreshed. Such securities to be issued must not exceed 10% of the relevant class of securities in issue as at the date of approval of the refreshed limit, that is, the date of passing of the relevant resolution(s) by the Shareholders at general meeting.
The Directors consider that it is not appropriate to state the value of all the Options that can be granted under the New Share Option Scheme as if they had been granted at the Latest Practicable Date prior to the approval of the New Share Option Scheme given that the variables
– 6 –
LETTER FROM THE BOARD
which are crucial for the calculation of the value of such Options cannot be determined. The variables which are critical for the determination of the value of such Options include, the subscription price for the Shares upon the exercise of the subscription rights attaching to the Options, whether or not Options will be granted under the New Share Option Scheme and the timing of the granting of such Options, the period during which the subscription rights may be exercised, the discretion of the Board to impose any performance target that has to be achieved before the subscription rights attaching to the Options can be exercised and any other conditions that the Board imposed on the Options and whether or not such Options if granted will be exercised by the Option holders. The subscription price payable for the Shares depends on the price of the Shares as quoted on the Stock Exchange, which in turn depends on when the Board is to grant Options under the New Share Option Scheme. It is also difficult to ascertain with accuracy the subscription price of the Shares given the volatility the Share price may be subject to during the ten year life span of the New Share Option Scheme. In the premises, the Directors are of the view that the value of the Options depends on a number of variables which are either difficult to ascertain or can only be ascertained subject to a number of theoretical basis and speculative assumptions. Accordingly, the Directors believed that any calculation of the value of the Options will not be meaningful and may be misleading to Shareholders in the circumstances.
3. APPLICATION FOR LISTING
Application will be made to the Listing Committee of the Stock Exchange for granting the listing of, and permission to deal in, the Shares which may fall to be issued pursuant to the exercise of any Options to be granted under the New Share Option Scheme not exceeding 10% of the total number of Shares in issue as at the date of approval of the New Share Option Scheme.
4. REASONS FOR ADOPTING THE NEW SHARE OPTION SCHEME
The purpose of the New Share Option Scheme is to provide incentives or rewards to Participants thereunder for their contribution to the Group and/or to enable the Group to recruit and retain high-calibre employees and attract human resources that are valuable to the Group and any Invested Entity.
The New Share Option Scheme permits the Company to grant Options to a wider category of Participants, and not just the Eligible Grantees as under the Existing Share Option Scheme. Under the rules of the New Share Option Scheme, the Board has discretion to set a minimum period for which an Option has to be held before the exercise of the subscription rights attaching thereto. This discretion allows the Board to provide incentive to a Participant to remain as a Participant during the minimum period and thereby enable the Group or the relevant Invested Entity to continue to benefit from the services of such Participant during such period. This discretion, coupled with the power of the Board to impose any performance target as it considers appropriate before any Option can be exercised, enable the Group to provide
– 7 –
LETTER FROM THE BOARD
incentives to the Participants to use their best endeavours in assisting the growth and development of the Group. Although the New Share Option Scheme does not provide for the granting of Options with right to subscribe for Shares at a discount to the trading price of the Shares on the Stock Exchange, the Directors are of the view that the flexibility given to the Board in granting Options to Participants, other than the Eligible Grantees and to impose minimum period for which the Options have to be held and performance targets that have to be achieved before the Options can be exercised, will place the Group in a better position to attract human resources that are valuable to the growth and development of the Group as a whole, than the Existing Share Option Scheme.
As the Board is currently unable to determine the specific requirement on the minimum period for which an Option has to be held and the performance target for which a Participant has to be achieved, the Board will make sufficient notice to the Participants from time to time when the minimum period and performance target are fixed.
Pursuant to Rule 17.02(1)(a) of the Listing Rules, an announcement on the outcome of the Special General Meeting for the adoption of the New Share Option Scheme will be published by the Company in the newspapers on the business day following the Special General Meeting.
5. NEW ISSUANCE MANDATE
General Mandate Resolutions will be proposed at the Special General Meeting to approve:–
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(a) the granting of a new general mandate to the Directors to allot, issue or deal with new Shares of an aggregate nominal amount of up to 20% of the aggregate nominal amount of the share capital of the Company in issue on the date of passing such resolution (“New Issuance Mandate”); and
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(b) the extension of the New Issuance Mandate by an amount representing the aggregate nominal amount of the Shares repurchased by the Company pursuant to and in accordance with the Existing Buyback Mandate.
The New Issuance Mandate will continue in force until the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company or any earlier date as referred to in resolution numbered 2 set out in the notice of the Special General Meeting.
6. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
The notice of the Special General Meeting is set out on pages 20 to 23 of this circular. At the Special General Meeting, resolutions will be proposed to approve the termination of the Existing Share Option Scheme, the adoption of the New Share Option Scheme, the granting of the New Issuance Mandate and the extension of the New Issuance Mandate by the addition thereto of the number of Shares repurchased pursuant to the Existing Buyback Mandate.
– 8 –
LETTER FROM THE BOARD
A form of proxy for use at the Special General Meeting is enclosed with this circular. To be valid, the form of proxy must be completed in accordance with the instructions printed thereon and deposited, together with the power of attorney or other authority (if any) under which it is signed or a certified copy of that power of attorney or authority at the Company’s Share Registrar in Hong Kong, Tengis Limited at 4th Floor, Hutchison House, 10 Harcourt Road, Central, Hong Kong not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for holding the Special General Meeting. Completion and delivery of the form of proxy will not preclude you from attending and voting at the Special General Meeting if you so wish.
7. RECOMMENDATION
The Directors consider that the proposed termination of the Existing Share Option Scheme, adoption of the New Share Option Scheme and granting/extension of the New Issuance Mandate are in the interests of the Company and the Group and the Shareholders. Accordingly, the Directors recommend Shareholders to vote in favour of the relevant resolutions to be proposed at the Special General Meeting.
8. GENERAL INFORMATION
Your attention is drawn to the additional information set out in the Appendix to this circular.
Yours faithfully, For and on behalf of the Board LEUNG Ngok Chairman
– 9 –
APPENDIX THE PRINCIPAL TERMS OF THE NEW SHARE OPTION SCHEME
This Appendix summaries the principal terms of the New Share Option Scheme but does not form part of, nor was it intended to be, part of the New Share Option Scheme nor should it be taken as effecting the interpretation of the rules of the New Share Option Scheme.
(a) Purpose of the scheme
The purpose of the New Share Option Scheme is to provide incentives or rewards to Participants thereunder for their contribution to the Group and/or to enable the Group to recruit and retain high-calibre employees and attract human resources that are valuable to the Group and any Invested Entity.
(b) Who may join
The Directors may, at their absolute discretion, invite any person belonging to any of the following classes of Participants, to take up Options to subscribe for Shares:
(aa) any Eligible Employee;
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(bb) any non-executive director (including independent non-executive directors) of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any Invested Entity;
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(cc) any supplier of goods or services to any member of the Group or any Invested Entity;
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(dd) any customer of the Group or any Invested Entity;
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(ee) any person or entity that provides research, development or other technological support to the Group or any Invested Entity; and
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(ff) any shareholder of any member of the Group or any Invested Entity or any holder of any securities issued by any member of the Group or any Invested Entity.
For the avoidance of doubt, the grant of any options by the Company for the subscription of Shares or other securities of the Group to any person who fall within any of the above classes of Participants shall not, by itself, unless the Directors otherwise determined, be construed as a grant of Option under the New Share Option Scheme.
– 10 –
APPENDIX THE PRINCIPAL TERMS OF THE NEW SHARE OPTION SCHEME
The basis of eligibility of any of the above classes of Participants to the grant of any Options shall be determined by the Directors from time to time on the basis of their contribution to the development and growth of the Group and the Invested Entity.
(c) Maximum number of Shares
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(aa) The maximum number of Shares to be issued upon exercise of all outstanding Options granted and yet to be exercised under the New Share Option Scheme and any other share option schemes of the Company must not in aggregate exceed 30% of the issued share capital of the Company from time to time.
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(bb) The total number of Shares which may be issued upon exercise of all Options (excluding, for this purpose, Options which have lapsed in accordance with the terms of the New Share Option Scheme and any other share option schemes of the Company) to be granted under the New Share Option Scheme and any other share option schemes of the Company must not in aggregate exceed 10% of the Shares in issue as at the date of the passing of the Ordinary Resolution (the “General Scheme Limit”).
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(cc) Subject to (aa) above and without prejudice to (dd) below, the Company may seek approval of the Shareholders in general meeting to refresh the General Scheme Limit provided that the total number of Shares which may be issued upon exercise of all Options to be granted under the New Share Option Scheme and any other share option schemes of the Company under the limit as “refreshed” must not exceed 10% of the Shares in issue as at the date of approval of the limit and for the purpose of calculating the limit as “refreshed”, Options (including those outstanding, cancelled, lapsed or exercised in accordance with the New Share Option Scheme and any other share option schemes of the Company) previously granted under the New Share Option Scheme and any other share option schemes of the Company will not be counted.
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(dd) Subject to (aa) above and without prejudice to (cc) above, the Company may issue a circular containing such information as required by the Listing Rules to the Shareholders and seek separate Shareholders’ approval in general meeting to grant Options beyond the General Scheme Limit or, if applicable, the limit referred to in (cc) above to Participants specifically identified by the Company before such approval is sought.
– 11 –
APPENDIX THE PRINCIPAL TERMS OF THE NEW SHARE OPTION SCHEME
- (d) Maximum entitlement of each Participant
The total number of Shares issued and which may fall to be issued upon exercise of the Options granted under the New Share Option Scheme and any other share option schemes of the Company (including both exercised and outstanding Options) to each Participant in any 12-month period must not exceed 1% of the issued share capital of the Company for the time being (the “Individual Limit”). Any further grant of Options to a Participant in excess of the Individual Limit (including exercised, cancelled and outstanding Options) in any 12-month period up to and including the date of such further grant must be subject to the issue of a circular containing such information as required by the Listing Rules to the Shareholders and the Shareholders’ approval in general meeting of the Company with such Participant and his associates abstaining from voting.
The number and terms (including the exercise price) of the Options to be granted to such Participant must be fixed before the Shareholders’ approval and the date of board meeting for proposing such further grant should be taken as the date of offer for the purpose of calculating the exercise price.
(e) Grant of Options to connected persons
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(aa) Any grant of Options under the New Share Option Scheme to a Director, chief executive (other than a proposed director or a proposed chief executive of the Company) or substantial shareholder of the Company or any of their respective associates must be approved by independent non-executive Directors (excluding any independent non-executive Director who is the grantee of the Options).
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(bb) Where any grant of Options to a substantial shareholder or an independent nonexecutive Director, or any of their respective associates, would result in the Shares issued and to be issued upon exercise of all Options already granted and to be granted (including Options exercised, cancelled and outstanding) to such person in the 12-month period up to and including the date of such grant:
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(i) representing in aggregate over 0.1% of the Shares in issue; and
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(ii) having an aggregate value, based on the closing price of the Shares at the date of each grant, in excess of HK$5,000,000;
such further grant of Options must be approved by the Shareholders. The Company must send a circular containing such information as required by the Listing Rules to the Shareholders. All connected persons of the Company must abstain from voting at such general meeting, except that any connected person may vote against the relevant resolution at the general meeting provided that his intention to do so has been stated in the circular. Any vote taken at the meeting to approve the grant of such Options must be taken on a poll. Any change in the
– 12 –
THE PRINCIPAL TERMS OF THE NEW SHARE OPTION SCHEME
APPENDIX
terms of the Options granted to a substantial shareholder or an independent non-executive Director of the Company, or any of their respective associates must be approved by the Shareholders in general meeting.
(f) Time of acceptance and exercise of an Option
An offer of grant of an Option may be accepted by a Participant within 28 days from the date of the offer of grant of the Option. A consideration of HK$1 is payable on acceptance of the offer of grant of an Option.
An Option may be exercised in accordance with the terms of the New Share Option Scheme at any time during a period to be determined and notified by the Directors to each grantee, which period may commence on the day on which the offer for the grant of Options is made but shall end in any event not later than 10 years from the date the Board makes an offer of the grant of an Option subject to the provisions for early termination thereof.
Unless the Directors otherwise determined and stated in the offer of the grant of Options to a Participant, there is no minimum period for which an Option granted under the New Share Option Scheme must be held before it can be exercised. Directors have the discretion to impose such minimum period on case by case basis.
(g) Performance targets
Unless the Directors otherwise determined and stated in the offer of the grant of Options to a Participant, a Participant is not required to achieve any performance targets before any Options granted under the New Share Option Scheme can be exercised. Directors have the discretion to impose the performance targets restriction on case by case basis.
(h) Subscription price for Shares
The subscription price for Shares under the New Share Option Scheme shall be a price determined by the Directors, but shall not be less than the highest of (i) the closing price of Shares as stated in the Stock Exchange’s daily quotations sheet on the date of the offer of grant, which must be a trading day; (ii) the average closing price of Shares as stated in the Stock Exchange’s daily quotations sheets for the five trading days immediately preceding the date of the offer of grant; and (iii) the nominal value of the Shares. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the Directors may grant Options in respect of which the subscription price is fixed at different prices for different periods during the Option period provided that the subscription price for Shares for each of the different periods shall not be less than the subscription price determined in the manner set out herein.
– 13 –
THE PRINCIPAL TERMS OF THE NEW SHARE OPTION SCHEME
APPENDIX
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(i) Ranking of Shares
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(aa) Shares allotted upon the exercise of an Option will be subject to all the provisions of the bye-laws of the Company and will rank pari passu in all respects with the fully paid Shares in issue as from the day when the name of the grantee is registered on the register of members of the Company and accordingly will entitle the holders to participate in all dividends or other distributions paid or made on or after the date when the name of the grantee is registered on the register of members of the Company other than any dividend or other distribution previously declared or recommended or resolved to be paid or made with respect to a record date which shall be before the date when the name of the grantee is registered on the register of members of the Company, provided always that when the date of exercise of the Option falls on a day upon which the register of members of the Company is closed then the exercise of the Option shall become effective on the first business day in Hong Kong on which the register of members of the Company is re-opened. A Share allotted upon the exercise of an Option shall not carry voting rights until the completion of the registration of the grantee as the holder thereof.
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(bb) Unless the context otherwise requires, references to “Shares” in this paragraph include references to shares in the ordinary equity share capital of the Company of such nominal amount as shall result from a sub-division, consolidation, reclassification or reduction of the share capital of the Company from time to time.
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(j) Restrictions on the time of grant of Options
No offer for grant of Options shall be made after a price sensitive event has occurred or a price sensitive matter has been the subject of a decision until such price sensitive information has been published in the newspapers. In particular, during the period commencing one month immediately preceding the earlier of (i) the date of the meeting of the Directors (as such date is first notified to the Stock Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Company’s listing agreement) for the approval of the Company’s interim or annual results, and (ii) the last date on which the Company must publish its interim or annual results announcement under its listing agreement with the Stock Exchange, and ending on the date of the announcement of the results, no Option may be granted.
The Directors may not grant any Option to a Participant who is a Director during the periods or times in which Directors are prohibited from dealing in Shares pursuant to the Model Code for Securities Transactions by Directors of Listed Companies prescribed by the Listing Rules or any corresponding code or securities dealing restrictions adopted by the Company.
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APPENDIX THE PRINCIPAL TERMS OF THE NEW SHARE OPTION SCHEME
(k) Period of the New Share Option Scheme
The New Share Option Scheme will remain in force for a period of 10 years commencing on the date on which the New Share Option Scheme becomes unconditional.
(l) Rights on ceasing employment
If the grantee of an Option is an Eligible Employee and ceases to be an Eligible Employee for any reason other than death or serious misconduct or other grounds referred to in sub-paragraph (n) below before exercising his Option in full, the Option (to the extent which has become exercisable and not already exercised) will lapse on the date of cessation and will not be exercisable unless the Directors otherwise determine in which event the grantee may exercise the Option (to the extent not already exercised) in whole or in part within such period as the Directors may determine following the date of such cessation, which will be taken to be the last day on which the grantee was at work with the Group or the Invested Entity whether salary is paid in lieu of notice or not.
(m) Rights on death
If the grantee of an Option ceases to be a Participant by reason of death before exercising the Option in full (provided that none of the events which would be a ground for termination of his or her employment under sub-paragraph (n) below arises prior to his or her death), the legal personal representative of this grantee shall be entitled within a period of 12 months from the date of death (or such longer period as the Board may determine) to exercise the Option (to the extent which has become exercisable and not already exercised).
(n) Rights on dismissal
If the grantee of an Option is an Eligible Employee and ceases to be an Eligible Employee by reason that he has been guilty of misconduct or has committed an act of bankruptcy or has become insolvent or has made any arrangements or composition with his or her creditors generally, or has been convicted of any criminal offence involving his or her integrity or honesty or (if so determined by the Board) on any ground on which an employer would be entitled to terminate his or her employment at common law or pursuant to any applicable laws or under the Eligible Employee’s service contract with the Company or the relevant Subsidiary or the relevant Invested Entity, his or her Option will lapse automatically on the date the grantee ceases to be an Eligible Employee.
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APPENDIX THE PRINCIPAL TERMS OF THE NEW SHARE OPTION SCHEME
(o) Rights on breach of contract
If the Directors at their absolute discretion determine that the grantee of any Option (other than an Eligible Employee) or his or her associate has committed any breach of any contract entered into between the grantee or his or her associate on the one part and the Group or any Invested Entity on the other part or that the grantee has committed any act of bankruptcy or has become insolvent or is subject to any winding-up, liquidation or analogous proceedings or has made any arrangement or composition with his or her creditors generally, the Directors shall determine that the outstanding Options granted to the grantee shall lapse. In such event, his or her Options will lapse automatically and will not in any event be exercisable on or after the date on which the Directors have so determined.
(p) Rights on a general offer
If a general or partial offer, whether by way of take-over offer, share re-purchase offer, or scheme of arrangement or otherwise in like manner is made to all the holders of Shares, or all such holders other than the offeror and/or any person controlled by the offeror and/or any person acting in association or concert with the offeror, the Company shall use all reasonable endeavours to procure that such offer is extended to all the grantees on the same terms, mutatis mutandis, and assuming that they will become, by the exercise in full of the Options granted to them, Shareholders of the Company. If such offer becomes or is declared unconditional, a grantee shall be entitled to exercise his or her Option (to the extent not already exercised) to its full extent or to the extent specified in the grantee’s notice to the Company in exercise of his or her Option at any time before the close of such offer (or any revised offer). Subject to the above, an Option will lapse automatically (to the extent not exercised) on the date on which such offer (or, as the case may be, revised offer) closes.
(q) Rights on winding up
In the event of an effective resolution being proposed for the voluntary winding-up of the Company during the Option period, the grantee may, subject to the provisions of all applicable laws, by notice in writing to the Company at any time no later than two business days prior to the date on which such resolution is to be passed, exercise his or her Option (to the extent which has become exercisable and not already exercised) either to its full extent or to the extent specified in such notice in accordance with the provisions of the New Share Option Scheme and shall accordingly be entitled, in respect of the Shares falling to be allotted and issued upon the exercise of his or her Option, to participate in the distribution of the assets of the Company available in liquidation pari passu with the Shares in issue on the date prior to the date of the passing of the resolution to wind-up the Company. Subject to the above, an Option will lapse automatically (to the extent not exercised) on the date of the commencement of the winding-up of the Company.
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APPENDIX THE PRINCIPAL TERMS OF THE NEW SHARE OPTION SCHEME
- (r) Rights on compromise or arrangement between the Company and its creditors
In the event of a compromise or arrangement between the Company and its creditors (or any class of them) or between the Company and its members (or any class of them), in connection with a scheme for the reconstruction or amalgamation of the Company, the Company shall give notice thereof to all grantees on the same day as it gives notice of the meeting to its members or creditors to consider such a scheme or arrangement, and thereupon any grantee (or his or her legal representative(s)) may forthwith and until the expiry of the period commencing with such date and ending with the earlier of the date falling two calendar months thereafter and the date on which such compromise or arrangement is sanctioned by the Court be entitled to exercise his or her Option (to the extent which has become exercisable and not already exercised), but the exercise of the Option shall be conditional upon such compromise or arrangement being sanctioned by the Court and becoming effective. The Company may thereafter require such grantee to transfer or otherwise deal with the Shares issued as a result of such exercise of his or her Option so as to place the grantee in the same position as nearly as would have been the case had such Shares been subject to such compromise or arrangement. Subject to the above, an Option will lapse automatically (to the extent not exercised) on the date the proposed compromise or arrangement becomes effective.
(s) Adjustments of the subscription price or other terms
In the event of a capitalisation issue of profits or reserves, rights issue, sub-division or consolidation of Shares or reduction of capital of the Company whilst an Option remains exercisable, such corresponding alterations (if any) certified by the auditors for the time being of or an independent financial adviser to the Company as fair and reasonable and at the same time satisfy with the requirements of the Listing Rules will be made to the number or nominal amount of Shares the subject matter of the Share Option Scheme and the Option so far as unexercised and/or the subscription price for Shares and/ or the method of exercise of the Option concerned, provided that (i) any adjustments shall give a grantee the same proportion of the issued share capital to which he was entitled prior to such adjustments; (ii) no such adjustment will be required in circumstances where there is an issue of Shares or other securities of the Group as consideration in a transaction; and (iii) no adjustments shall be made the effect of which would be to enable a Share to be issued at less than its nominal value. In addition, in respect of any such adjustments, other than any made on a capitalisation issue, the Company’s auditors or independent financial adviser must confirm to the Directors in writing that the adjustments satisfy the requirements of the relevant provision of the Listing Rules.
(t) Cancellation of Options
Any cancellation of Options granted but not exercised must be approved by Shareholders in general meeting, with the relevant grantees and their associates abstaining from voting.
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APPENDIX THE PRINCIPAL TERMS OF THE NEW SHARE OPTION SCHEME
Where the Company cancels Options and issues new ones to the same grantee, the issue of such new Options may only be made under the New Share Option Scheme or any other share option schemes of the Company with available unissued options (excluding the cancelled Options) within the limit approved by Shareholders as mentioned in note (1) to Rule 17.03(3) of the Listing Rules.
(u) Termination of the New Share Option Scheme
The Company may by resolution in general meeting at any time terminate the New Share Option Scheme and in such event no further Options shall be offered but in all other respects the provisions of the New Share Option Scheme shall remain in force to the extent necessary to give effect to the exercise of any Options (to the extent not already exercised) granted prior to the termination or otherwise as may be required in accordance with the provisions of the New Share Option Scheme. Options (to the extent not already exercised) granted prior to such termination shall continue to be valid and exercisable in accordance with the New Share Option Scheme.
(v) Rights are personal to the grantee
An Option is personal to the grantee and shall not be assignable and no grantee shall in any way sell, transfer, charge, mortgage, encumber or create any interest in favour of any third party over or in relation to any Option. Any breach of the foregoing shall entitle the Company to cancel any outstanding Option or part thereof granted to such grantee.
(w) Lapse of Option
An Option shall lapse automatically (to the extent not already exercised) on the earliest of:
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(aa) the expiry of the period referred to in paragraph (f);
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(bb) the expiry of the periods or dates referred to in paragraphs (l), (m), (n), (o), (p), (q) and (r); and
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(cc) the date on which a breach of the provision of restriction on transfer and assignment of an Option referred to in paragraph (v) is committed.
(x) Others
- (aa) The terms and conditions of the New Share Option Scheme relating to the matters set out in Rule 17.03 of the Listing Rules shall not be altered to the advantage of grantees of the Options except with the prior approval of the Shareholders in general meeting.
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APPENDIX THE PRINCIPAL TERMS OF THE NEW SHARE OPTION SCHEME
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(bb) Any alterations to the terms and conditions of the New Share Option Scheme which are of a material nature or any change to the terms of Options granted must be approved by the Shareholders in general meeting, except where the alterations take effect automatically under the existing terms of the New Share Option Scheme.
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(cc) The amended terms of the New Share Option Scheme or the Options must still comply with the relevant requirements of Chapter 17 of the Listing Rules.
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(dd) Any change to the authority of the Directors or the scheme administrators in relation to any alteration to the terms of the New Share Option Scheme must be approved by the Shareholders in general meeting.
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NOTICE OF SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
U-RIGHT INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LIMITED 佑威國際控股有限公司[*]
(Incorporated in Bermuda with limited liability)
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Special General Meeting of the shareholders of U-RIGHT International Holdings Limited (the “Company”) will be held at Pacific Room III, 9th Floor, Towers Wing, The Royal Pacific Hotel & Towers, 33 Canton Road, China Hong Kong City, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong on Tuesday, 9 July 2002 at 10:00 a.m. for the purpose of considering and, if thought fit, passing with or without amendments, the following resolutions as Ordinary Resolutions:
ORDINARY RESOLUTIONS
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“ THAT
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(a) subject to and conditional upon (i) the Bermuda Monetary Authority granting its permission for the issue of options under the share option scheme of the Company (the “New Share Option Scheme”), a copy of which marked “A” is produced to the meeting and for the purpose of identification signed by the Chairman thereof, and the new shares of the Company (the “Shares”) to be issued upon the exercise of the subscription rights attaching to such options (if required); and (ii) the Listing Committee of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Stock Exchange”) granting the listing of and permission to deal in the new Shares to be issued pursuant to the exercise of any options granted under the New Share Option Scheme not exceeding 10% of the total number of Shares in issue as at the date of approval of the New Share Option Scheme, the New Share Option Scheme be and is hereby approved and adopted and the Directors of the Company be and are hereby authorised to do all such acts and to enter into all such transactions, arrangements and agreements as may be necessary or expedient in order to give full effect to the New Share Option Scheme including but without limitation:
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(i) to administer the New Share Option Scheme under which options will be granted to participants eligible under the New Share Option Scheme to subscribe for Shares;
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(ii) to modify and/or amend the New Share Option Scheme from time to time provided that such modification and/or amendment is effected in accordance with the provisions of the New Share Option Scheme relating to modification and/or amendment;
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- for identification purpose only
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NOTICE OF SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
- (iii) to issue and allot from time to time such number of Shares in the capital of the Company as may be required to be issued pursuant to the exercise of the options under the New Share Option Scheme provided always that the total number of Shares subject to the New Share Option Scheme, when aggregated with any Shares subject to any other share option schemes, shall not exceed 10% of the relevant class of the issued share capital of the Company as at the date of passing this resolution, but the Company may seek approval of its shareholders in general meeting for refreshing the 10% limit under the New Share Option Scheme and the maximum number of Shares which may be issued upon exercise of all outstanding options granted under the New Share Option Scheme and any other share option schemes of the Company shall not exceed 30% of the relevant class of the issued share capital of the Company from time to time;
- (iv) to make applications at the appropriate time or times to the Stock Exchange and any other stock exchanges upon which the issued Shares of the Company may for the time being be listed, for listing of and permission to deal in any Shares which may hereafter from time to time be issued and allotted pursuant to the exercise of the options under the New Share Option Scheme; and
- (v) to consent, if it so deems fit and expedient, to such conditions, modifications and/or variations as may be required or imposed by the relevant authorities in relation to the New Share Option Scheme; and
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(b) the existing share option scheme for the employees and executive Directors of the Company and its subsidiaries which was adopted by the Company by a written resolution of the shareholders of the Company passed on 17 October 2000 be terminated on the New Share Option Scheme coming into effect upon the fulfillment of the conditions set out in paragraph (a) above.”;
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“ THAT
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(a) the exercise by the Directors of the Company during the Relevant Period (as defined below) of all the powers of the Company to issue, allot and deal with additional shares of the Company (the “Shares”) and to make or grant offers, agreements and options which would or might require Shares to be allotted, issued or dealt with during or after the end of the Relevant Period (as defined below), be and is hereby generally and unconditionally approved, provided that, otherwise than pursuant to (i) a rights issue where Shares are offered to the Company’s shareholders on a fixed record date in proportion to their then holdings of Shares (subject to such exclusions or other arrangements as the Directors of the Company may deem necessary or expedient in relation to fractional entitlements or having regard to any restrictions or obligations under the laws of, or the requirements of any recognised regulatory body
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NOTICE OF SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
or any stock exchange in any territory outside Hong Kong) or (ii) any option scheme or similar arrangement for the time being adopted for the grant or issue to officers and/or employees of the Company and/or any of its subsidiaries and/or any eligible grantee pursuant to the scheme of Shares or rights to acquire Shares, or (iii) any scrip dividend scheme or similar arrangement providing for the allotment of Shares in lieu of the whole or part of a dividend on Shares in accordance with the bye-laws of the Company, the total nominal amount of additional Shares to be issued, allotted, dealt with or agreed conditionally or unconditionally to be issued, allotted or dealt with shall not in total exceed 20% of the total nominal amount of the share capital of the Company in issue on the date of passing of this resolution and the said approval shall be limited accordingly; and
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(b) for the purpose of this resolution, “Relevant Period” means the period from the passing of this resolution until whichever is the earliest of:
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(i) the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company;
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(ii) the revocation or variation of the authority given under this resolution by ordinary resolution passed by the Company’s shareholders in general meetings; and
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(iii) the expiration of the period within which the next annual general meeting of the Company is required by the bye-laws of the Company or any applicable laws to be held.”; and
-
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“ THAT subject to the passing of Ordinary Resolution no. 2 set out in the notice convening this meeting, the general mandate granted to the Directors of the Company pursuant to the Ordinary Resolution no. 2 set out in the notice of this meeting and for the time being in force to exercise the powers of the Company to allot shares of the Company and to make or grant offers, agreements and options which might require the exercise of such powers be and is hereby extended by the addition thereto of the total nominal amount of the shares in the capital of the Company repurchased by the Company under the authority granted pursuant to Ordinary Resolution no. 7 passed by the shareholders of the Company at the annual general meeting of the Company held on 31 August 2001, provided that such amount shall not exceed 10% of the total nominal amount of the share capital of the Company in issue on 31 August 2001 (as enlarged by the Bonus Share Issue as mentioned in the said resolution).”.
By Order of the Board LEUNG Ngok Chairman
Hong Kong, 21 June 2002
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NOTICE OF SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
Notes:
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A member of the Company, who is the holder of two or more shares of the Company, entitled to attend and vote at the above-mentioned Special General Meeting may appoint more than one proxy to represent him and vote on his behalf. A proxy need not be a member of the Company. If more than one proxy is so appointed, the appointment shall specify the number and class of shares in respect of which each such proxy is so appointed.
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The instrument appointing a proxy and the power of attorney or other authority (if any) under which it is signed, or a certified copy of such power or authority, must be lodged at the Company’s Share Registrar in Hong Kong, Tengis Limited, at 4th Floor, Hutchison House, 10 Harcourt Road, Central, Hong Kong not less than 48 hours before the time fixed for holding the meeting.
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