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Weiye Holdings Limited — Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement 2008
Jun 26, 2008
50009_rns_2008-06-26_f6bf0645-4cf2-4455-a6e8-811ec44a1fe6.pdf
Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement
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THIS CIRCULAR IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION
The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited takes no responsibility for the contents of this circular, makes no representation to its accuracy or completeness and expressly disclaims any liability whatsoever for any loss howsoever arising from or in reliance upon the whole or any part of the contents of this circular.
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UNITED POWER INVESTMENT LIMITED (Incorporated in Bermuda with limited liability) (Stock Code: 674)
Directors: Ma Shuk Kam (Non-executive Chairperson) Yeung Chi Hang (Chief Executive Officer) Liu Yu Mo Au Edmond Wah Chan Lai Mei Lee Wai Loun Lee Yuk Sang, Angus*
Principal Office: 2810-11, 28th Floor Shun Tak Centre West Tower 200 Connaught Road Centre Hong Kong
- Independent non-executive directors
27th June, 2008
To the shareholders
Dear Sir or Madam,
PROPOSALS RELATING TO GENERAL MANDATES TO ISSUE AND REPURCHASE SHARES AND AMENDMENT OF BYE-LAWS NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND RE-ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
INTRODUCTION
At the annual general meeting of United Power Investment Limited (the “Company”) for the year ended 31st March, 2008, resolutions will be proposed to grant to the directors of the Company general mandates to issue and repurchase shares of the Company and to amend the Bye-laws of the Company.
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The purpose of this circular is to give you further details of the abovementioned proposals and notice of the annual general meeting of the Company for the year ended 31st March, 2008 (the “AGM”). In compliance with the Listing Rules of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Stock Exchange”), this circular also contains the explanatory statement and gives all the information reasonably necessary to enable shareholders to make an informed decision on whether to vote for or against the resolution to approve the purchase by the Company of its own shares, together with particulars of the directors proposed to be reelected at the AGM.
GENERAL MANDATE TO ISSUE SHARES
At the AGM, an ordinary resolution will be proposed to grant a general mandate to the directors of the Company to allot, issue and dispose of shares of the Company not exceeding 20 per cent. of the issued share capital of the Company on the date of the resolution to provide flexibility to the Company to raise fund by issue of shares efficiently. On 19th June, 2008 (the “Latest Practicable Date”), being the latest practicable date prior to printing of this circular, there were in issue an aggregate of 3,398,231,392 shares of HK$0.05 each of the Company (“Shares”). On the assumption that no Share will be issued prior to the AGM, exercise in full of the mandate could result in up to 679,646,278 Shares being issued by the Company.
GENERAL MANDATE TO REPURCHASE SHARES
At the AGM, an ordinary resolution will also be proposed that the directors be given a general mandate to exercise all powers of the Company to repurchase issued and fully paid shares of the Company. Under such mandate, the number of shares that the Company may repurchase shall not exceed 10 per cent. of the share capital of the Company in issue on the date of the resolution. The Company’s authority is restricted to purchases made on the Stock Exchange in accordance with the Listing Rules of the Stock Exchange. Based on 3,398,231,392 Shares in issue as at the Latest Practicable Date and on the assumption that no Share will be issued prior to the AGM, exercise in full of the mandate could result in up to 339,823,139 Shares being repurchased by the Company. The mandate allows the Company to make or agree to make purchases only during the period ending on the earliest of the date of the next annual general meeting, the date by which the next annual general meeting of the Company is required to be held by law or the date upon which such authority is revoked or varied by an ordinary resolution of the shareholders in a general meeting of the Company.
The directors have no present intention to repurchase any Shares but consider that the mandate will provide the Company the flexibility to make such repurchase when appropriate and beneficial to the Company. Such repurchases may enhance the net value of the Company and/or earnings per Share. As compared with the financial position of the Company as at 31st March, 2008 (being the date of its latest audited accounts), the directors consider that there would be a material adverse impact on the working capital and on the gearing position of the Company in the event that the proposed purchases were to be carried out in full during the proposed purchase period. No purchase would be made in circumstances that would have a material adverse impact on the working capital or gearing ratio of the Company.
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The Company is empowered by its Memorandum of Association and Bye-laws to purchase its Shares. Bermuda law provides that the amount of capital repaid in connection with a share repurchase may only be paid out of either the capital paid up on the relevant shares, or funds of the Company that would otherwise be available for dividend or distribution or the proceeds of a new issue of shares made for such purpose. The amount of premium payable on repurchase may only be paid out of either the funds of the Company that would otherwise be available for dividend or distribution or out of the share premium or contributed surplus accounts of the Company.
The directors intend to apply the capital paid up on the relevant Shares or the profit that would otherwise be available for distribution by way of dividend for any purchase of its Shares.
Directors, their associates and connected persons
None of the directors nor, to the best of the knowledge and belief of the directors having made all reasonable enquiries, any of the associates of any of the directors has any present intention, in the event that the proposal is approved by shareholders, to sell Shares to the Company.
No connected person of the Company (as defined in the Listing Rules of the Stock Exchange) has notified the Company that he/she has a present intention to sell Shares to the Company nor has he/she undertaken not to sell any of the Shares held by him/her to the Company in the event that the Company is authorised to make purchases of Shares.
Undertaking of the directors
The directors have undertaken to the Stock Exchange to exercise the power of the Company to make purchases pursuant to the proposed resolution in accordance with the Listing Rules of the Stock Exchange and all applicable laws of Bermuda, and in accordance with the regulations set out in the Memorandum of Association and Bye-laws of the Company.
Effect of Takeovers Code
A repurchase of Shares by the Company may result in an increase in the proportionate interest of a substantial shareholder of the Company in the voting rights of the Company, which could give rise to an obligation to make a mandatory offer in accordance with Rule 26 of the Hong Kong Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the “Code”).
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As at the Latest Practicable Date, to the best of the knowledge and belief of the Company, World Possession Assets Limited, Madam Ma Shuk Kam (“Madam Ma”), Mr. Yeung Chi Hang (“Mr. Yeung”) and Ms. Yeung Kit Yu, Kitty (“Ms. Yeung”), who together held approximately 64.406 per cent. of the issued share capital of the Company, were the only substantial shareholders holding more than 10 per cent. of the issued share capital of the Company. In the event that the directors should exercise in full the power to repurchase Shares which is proposed to be granted pursuant to the resolution, their aggregate shareholding in the Company would be increased to approximately 71.562 per cent. of the issued share capital of the Company and such increase would not give rise to an obligation on them to make a mandatory offer under Rule 26 of the Code.
Stock Exchange Rules for repurchases of shares
The Listing Rules of the Stock Exchange permit companies whose primary listings are on the Stock Exchange to repurchase their shares on the Stock Exchange subject to certain restrictions, the most important of which are summarised below:
(a) Shareholders’ approval
The Listing Rules provide that all shares repurchases on the Stock Exchange by a company with its primary listing on the Stock Exchange must be approved in advance by an ordinary resolution, which may be by way of general mandate, or by special resolution in relation to specific transactions.
(b) Source of funds
Repurchases must be funded out of funds legally available for the purpose.
General
During each of the six months preceding the date of this circular, no Share had been repurchased by the Company.
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During each of the previous 12 months, the highest and lowest traded prices for Shares on the Stock Exchange were as follows:
| Per Share | ||
|---|---|---|
| Month | Highest | Lowest |
| HK$ | HK$ | |
| 2007 | ||
| June | 0.620 | 0.445 |
| July | 0.510 | 0.430 |
| August | 0.455 | 0.300 |
| September | 0.420 | 0.345 |
| October | 0.385 | 0.310 |
| November | 0.315 | 0.280 |
| December | 0.310 | 0.270 |
| 2008 | ||
| January | 0.350 | 0.212 |
| February | 0.315 | 0.250 |
| March | 0.315 | 0.240 |
| April | 0.320 | 0.250 |
| May | 0.310 | 0.280 |
| up to 19th June | 0.300 | 0.230 |
AMENDMENT OF BYE-LAWS
It is proposed to amend the Company’s Bye-laws in order to allow the Company to use electronic means to release corporate communication to shareholders in accordance with the requirements of the Listing Rules.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
You will find on pages 9 to 14 of this circular a notice of the AGM to be held at 3:30 p.m. on 21st July, 2008 at Golden Island Bird’s Nest Chiu Chau Restaurant at 2nd Floor, East Wing, Star House, 3 Salisbury Road, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Resolution no. 4A will be proposed as an ordinary resolution to give a general mandate to the directors to allot, issue and deal with shares of the Company with an aggregate nominal value not exceeding 20 per cent. of the share capital of the Company in issue as at the date of the resolution.
Resolution no. 4B will be proposed as an ordinary resolution to give a general mandate to the directors to make on-market purchases of shares of the Company of up to 10 per cent. of the aggregate nominal amount of the share capital of the Company in issue as at the date of the resolution.
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Resolution no. 4C will be proposed as an ordinary resolution to extend resolution no. 4A to include the aggregate nominal amount of the number of shares in the capital of the Company which are repurchased by the Company under the authority granted to the directors pursuant to resolution no. 4B.
Resolution no. 4D will be proposed as a special resolution to approve the proposed amendment of the Bye-laws of the Company.
There is enclosed a form of proxy for use at the AGM. You are requested to complete the form of proxy and return it to the principal office of the Company in accordance with the instructions printed thereon not less than 48 hours before the time fixed for holding the meeting, whether or not you intend to be present at the meeting. The completion and return of the form of proxy will not prevent you from attending and voting in person should you so wish.
According to the Bye-laws of the Company, on or before the chairperson of the meeting has declared the result of voting on a show of hands on a resolution at the AGM, a poll may be demanded by:
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(a) at least three members present in person (or, in the case of a member being a corporation, by its duly authorised representative) or by proxy entitled to vote at the meeting; or
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(b) any member or members present in person (or, in the case of a member being a corporation, by its duly authorised representative) or by proxy and representing not less than 10% of the total voting rights of all the members having the right to vote at the meeting; or
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(c) any member or members present in person (or, in the case of a member being a corporation, by its duly authorised representative) or by proxy and holding shares in the Company conferring a right to vote at the meeting being shares on which an aggregate sum has been paid up equal to not less than one-tenth of the total sum paid up on all the shares conferring that right.
RE-ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Resolutions will be proposed at the AGM for re-election of Mr. Yeung, Mr. Liu Yu Mo (“Mr. Liu”) and Ms. Chan Lai Mei (“Ms. Chan”) as directors according to the Company’s Bye-laws. Their particulars are as follows:
Mr. Yeung, aged 29, is an executive director and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. He is also a director of various subsidiaries of the Company. Mr. Yeung worked in property investment and wedding services companies in Hong Kong prior to joining the Company in 2001. Mr. Yeung is responsible for the overall business development of the Company and its
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subsidiaries (the “Group”). For the year ended 31st March, 2008, his emoluments amounted to HK$2,861,895 (including a discretionary bonus of HK$900,000). His emoluments are based on his contribution to the Group and the profits of the Group for the year.
Mr. Liu, aged 48, is an executive director and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company. He is also a director of various subsidiaries of the Company. Mr. Liu is a certified practising accountant (Aust.) and a fellow member of Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and holds a master of business administration degree. Mr. Liu has over 20 years of experience in management, auditing and accounting. For the year ended 31st March, 2008, his emoluments amounted to HK$2,251,895 (including a discretionary bonus of HK$420,000). His emoluments are based on his contribution to the Group and the profits of the Group for the year.
Ms. Chan, aged 44, an independent non-executive director of the Company, is a director of One One CPA Limited (Certified Public Accountants (Practising)). She has over 18 years’ diversified experience in auditing, accounting, corporate governance, financial management and corporate finance activities. Ms. Chan graduated from Hong Kong Polytechnic University (formerly known as Hong Kong Polytechnic). She is a fellow member of Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and a Certified Public Accountant of Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Macau Society of Certified Practising Accountants and Taxation Institute of Hong Kong. The director’s fee of Ms. Chan is currently HK$8,000 per month, which is determined with reference to the prevailing range of fees for independent non-executive directors of listed companies in Hong Kong.
As at the Latest Practicable Date, the interests of Mr. Yeung, Mr. Liu and Ms. Chan in the shares of the Company within the meaning of Part XV of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (the “SFO”) are as follows:
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(a) Mr. Yeung was interested in 2,144,660,478 Shares (representing approximately 63.11% of the Company’s issued share capital);
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(b) Mr. Liu owned 1,048,000 Shares (representing approximately 0.03% of the Company’s issued share capital); and
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(c) Ms. Chan had no interest in Shares.
Mr. Yeung is the son of Madam Ma and the brother of Ms. Yeung. Save as aforesaid none of the abovenamed directors has any relationships with any directors, senior management or substantial or controlling shareholders of the Company.
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Mr. Yeung, Mr. Liu and Ms. Chan:
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(a) did not have any directorship in other listed public companies in the last three year;
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(b) do not have any written service contract with the Company. They are not appointed for a specific term but are subject to retirement by rotation in annual general meetings of the Company in accordance with the Bye-laws of the Company; and
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(c) confirm that save as disclosed above, there is no information which is required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 13.51(2)(h) to (v) of the Listing Rules and there is no other matters that need to be brought to the attention of shareholders of the Company.
RECOMMENDATION
The directors consider that the proposed granting of the mandates to issue and repurchase shares of the Company and the extension of the mandate to issue shares to include shares repurchased by the Company and amendment of the Bye-laws are in the interest of the Company and so recommend you to vote in favour of the relevant resolutions at the AGM. The directors will vote all their shareholdings in favour of such resolutions.
Yours faithfully, By order of the Board Yeung Chi Hang Chief Executive Officer
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UNITED POWER INVESTMENT LIMITED
(Incorporated in Bermuda with limited liability)
(Stock Code: 674)
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual general meeting of the abovenamed company (the “Company”) will be held at Golden Island Bird’s Nest Chiu Chau Restaurant at 2nd Floor, East Wing, Star House, 3 Salisbury Road, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong on 21st July, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. for the following purposes:
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To receive and consider the audited financial statements and the reports of the directors and auditors for the year ended 31st March, 2008.
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To elect directors and to authorise the board of directors to fix their remuneration.
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To appoint auditors and to authorise the board of directors to fix their remuneration.
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As special business, to consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolutions, of which resolution nos. 4A, 4B and 4C will be proposed as ordinary resolutions and resolution no. 4D will be proposed as a special resolution:
ORDINARY RESOLUTIONS
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A. “ THAT :
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(a) subject to paragraph (c), the exercise by the directors of the Company during the Relevant Period of all the powers of the Company to allot, issue and deal with additional shares in the capital of the Company and to make or grant offers, agreements and options which might require the exercise of such power be and is hereby generally and unconditionally approved;
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(b) the approval in paragraph (a) shall authorise the directors of the Company during the Relevant Period to make or grant offers, agreements and options which might require the exercise of such power after the end of the Relevant Period;
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(c) the aggregate nominal amount of share capital allotted or agreed conditionally or unconditionally to be allotted (whether pursuant to an option or otherwise) by the directors of the Company pursuant to the approval in paragraph (a), otherwise than pursuant to a Rights Issue or scrip dividend scheme or similar arrangement of the Company or the exercise of the subscription rights under the share option scheme of the Company shall not exceed 20 per cent. of the aggregate nominal amount of the share capital of the Company in issue as at the date of this resolution and the said approval shall be limited accordingly; and
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(d) for the purposes of this resolution:
“Relevant Period” means the period from the passing of this resolution until whichever is the earlier of:
- (i) the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company;
- (ii) 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 law to be held; and
- (iii) the revocation or variation of this resolution by an ordinary resolution of the shareholders of the Company in general meeting; and
- “Rights Issue” means an offer of shares open for a period fixed by the directors of the Company to holders of shares on the register of members of the Company on a fixed record date in proportion to their then holdings of such shares (subject to such exclusion 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 or any stock exchange in any territory outside Hong Kong).”
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B. “ THAT :
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(a) the exercise by the directors of the Company during the Relevant Period of all powers of the Company to purchase its own shares, subject to and in accordance with all applicable laws, be and is hereby generally and unconditionally approved;
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(b) the aggregate nominal amount of shares of the Company purchased by the Company pursuant to the approval in paragraph (a) during the Relevant Period shall not exceed 10 per cent. of the aggregate nominal amount of the share capital of the Company in issue as at the date of this resolution and the said approval be limited accordingly; and
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- (c) for the purposes of this resolution:
“Relevant Period” means the period from the passing of this resolution until whichever is the earlier of:
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(i) the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company;
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(ii) 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 law to be held; and
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(iii) the revocation or variation of this resolution by an ordinary resolution of the shareholders of the Company in general meeting.”
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C. “ THAT conditional upon resolution no. 4B above being passed, the aggregate nominal amount of the number of shares in the capital of the Company which are repurchased by the Company under the authority granted to the directors as mentioned in resolution no. 4B above shall be added to the aggregate nominal amount of share capital that may be allotted or agreed conditionally or unconditionally to be allotted by the directors of the Company pursuant to resolution no. 4A above.”
SPECIAL RESOLUTION
- D. “ THAT the existing Bye-laws 161, 162 and 163 of the Bye-laws of the Company be and are hereby deleted and be replaced by the following:
“161. Any Notice or document (including any “corporate communication” within the meaning ascribed thereto under the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange), whether or not, to be given or issued under these Bye-laws from the Company to a Member shall be in writing or by cable, telex or facsimile transmission message or other form of electronic transmission or communication and any such Notice and document may be served or delivered by the Company on or to any Member by any of the following means:
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(a) personally or by sending it through the post in a prepaid envelope addressed to such Member at his registered address as appearing in the Register or at any other address supplied by him to the Company for the purpose; or
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(b) by transmitting it to any telex or facsimile transmission number or electronic number or address or website supplied by him to the Company for the giving of Notice to him or which the person transmitting the Notice reasonably and bona fide believes at the relevant time will result in the Notice being duly received by the Member; or
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(c) by advertisement in one Chinese language newspaper and one English language newspaper in Hong Kong; or
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(d) to the extent permitted by the applicable laws, by placing it on the Company’s website or the website of the Designated Stock Exchange provided all the pre-conditions and requirements of the Designated Stock Exchange have been complied with, including, if required, giving to the Member a notice stating that the Notice or other document is available there (a “notice of availability”). The notice of availability may be given to the Member by any of the means set out above.
In the case of joint holders of a share all Notices or documents shall be given or issued to that one of the joint holders whose name stands first in the Register and Notice or document so given or issued shall be deemed a sufficient service on or delivery to all the joint holders.
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Any Notice or other document:
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(a) if served or delivered by post, shall where appropriate be sent by airmail and shall be deemed to have been served or delivered on the day following that on which the envelope containing the same, properly prepaid and addressed, is put into the post; in proving such service or delivery it shall be sufficient to prove that the envelope or wrapper containing the notice or document was properly addressed and put into the post and a certificate in writing signed by the Secretary or other officer of the Company or other person appointed by the Board that the envelope or wrapper containing the notice or other document was so addressed and put into the post shall be conclusive evidence thereof;
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(b) if sent by electronic communication, shall be deemed to be given on the day on which it is transmitted from the server of the Company or its agent. A notice placed on the Company’s website or the website of the Designated Stock Exchange, is deemed given by the Company to a Member on the day following that on which a notice of availability is deemed served on the Member;
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(c) if served or delivered in any other manner contemplated by these Bye-laws, shall be deemed to have been served or delivered at the time of personal service or delivery or, as the case may be, at the time of the relevant despatch or transmission; and in proving such service or delivery a certificate in writing signed by the Secretary or other officer of the Company or other person appointed by the Board as to the act and time of such service, delivery, despatch or transmission shall be conclusive evidence thereof; and
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(d) may be given to a Member either in the English language or the Chinese language, subject to due compliance with all applicable Statutes, rules and regulations.
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(1) Any Notice or other document delivered or sent to a Member in pursuance of these Bye-laws shall, notwithstanding that such Member is then dead or bankrupt or that any other event has occurred, and whether or not the Company has notice of the death or bankruptcy or other event, be deemed to have been duly served or delivered in respect of any share registered in the name of such Member as sole or joint holder unless his name shall, at the time of the service or delivery of the notice or document, have been removed from the Register as the holder of the share, and such service or delivery shall for all purposes be deemed a sufficient service or delivery of such Notice or document on all persons interested (whether jointly with or as claiming through or under him) in the share.
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(2) Any Notice or other document may be delivered or sent by the Company to the person entitled to a share in consequence of the death, mental disorder or bankruptcy of a Member by any means under paragraph (1) of this Bye-law addressed to him by name, or by the title of representative of the deceased, or trustee of the bankrupt, or by any like description, at the address, telex or facsimile transmission number or electronic number or address or website, if any, supplied for the purpose by the person claiming to be so entitled, or (until such an address, telex or facsimile transmission number or electronic number or address or website has been so supplied) by giving the Notice in any manner in which the same might have been given if the death, mental disorder or bankruptcy had not occurred.
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(3) Any person who by operation of law, transfer or other means whatsoever shall become entitled to any share shall be bound by every notice in respect of such share which prior to his name and address being entered on the Register shall have been duly given to the person from whom he derives his title to such share.””
By Order of the Board
Jennifer Cheung Mei Ha
Company Secretary
Hong Kong, 27th June, 2008
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Principal Office: 2810-11, 28th Floor
Shun Tak Centre
West Tower Connaught Road Centre Hong Kong
- Note: A member entitled to attend and vote at the meeting convened by the above notice is entitled to appoint proxies to attend and, in the event of a poll, vote in his stead. A proxy need not be a member of the Company. In order to be valid, the form of proxy must be deposited at the Company’s principal office in Hong Kong together with a power of attorney or other authority, if any, under which it is signed or a notarially certified copy of that power or authority, not less than 48 hours before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting.
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