Having considered the terms and conditions of the Framework Agreement and the benefits of the transaction to the Company, the directors (including the independent non-executive directors) of the Company believe that the terms of the transaction contemplated under the Framework Agreement are fair and reasonable and in the interests of the shareholders of the Company as a whole.
CNC BVI, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of China Netcom, is a substantial shareholder and connected person (as defined in the Listing Rules) of the Company. Accordingly, the China Netcom Group and CNCBB are therefore connected persons of the Company under the Listing Rules. The transaction therefore constitutes a connected transaction of the Company under Chapter 14A of the Listing Rules.
As the relevant percentage ratios (as defined in the Listing Rules) for the transaction contemplated by the Framework Agreement exceed 0.1% but are less than 2.5%, the transaction is only subject to the reporting and announcement requirements set out in Rules 14A.45 to 14A.47 of the Listing Rules and is exempt from the independent shareholders’ approval requirements under Rule 14A.32 of the Listing Rules. Details of the transaction will be included in the next published annual report of the Company.
The Company is the largest telecommunications provider in Hong Kong and one of Asia’s leading integrated communications companies. The Company provides key services in the areas of: integrated telecommunications; broadband solutions; connectivity; narrowband and interactive broadband (Internet services); information technology solutions and services and infrastructure. PCCW IMS China is an investment holding company.
China Netcom is a state-owned enterprise established under the laws of the PRC. It is the second largest fixed-line telecommunications providers in the PRC.
“Group” | | the Company and its subsidiaries |
| | |
“HK$” | | Hong Kong dollars, the lawful currency of Hong Kong |
| | |
“Listing Rules” | | the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on the Stock Exchange |
| | |
“PCCW IMS China” | | PCCW IMS China Development Limited, a company incorporated in the British VirginIslands, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company |
| | |
“PRC” | | the People’s Republic of China (excluding the Hong Kong Special AdministrativeRegion, the Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan for the purpose of thisannouncement) |
| | |
“RMB” | | Renminbi, the lawful currency of the PRC |
| | |
“Stock Exchange” | | The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited |
| | |
“Transferred Assets” | | CNCBB’s interests in: (a) the following limited liability companies established in thePRC: (Qingdao Netcom-QBTV Telecom Co., Ltd.*), (WenZhou Netcom Guomai Digital Information PortCorporation Ltd.*), (Chengdu Netcom West Source Science& Technology Co., Ltd.*), (Chongqing NetcomInformation Port Broadband Networks Co., Ltd.*); and (Yangzhou Netcom Broadband Networks Co., Ltd.*); (b) certain customer premisesnetwork assets; (c) intangible assets being the right to use the China Netcom Group’snetwork specifications and technological standards; and (d) other cash assets asdesignated in the Framework Agreement |
For the purpose of illustration only, amounts denominated in RMB have been translated into HK$ at the exchange rate of HK$100:RMB104.
* The English names of the companies established in the PRC are inserted for identification purpose only.
By the Order of the Board PCCW Limited Hubert Chak Company Secretary |
Hong Kong, August 25, 2005
The Directors of the Company as at the date of this announcement are as follows:
Executive Directors:
Li Tzar Kai, Richard (Chairman); So Chak Kwong, Jack (Deputy Chairman and Group Managing Director); Yuen Tin Fan, Francis (Deputy Chairman); Peter Anthony Allen; Alexander Anthony Arena; Chung Cho Yee, Mico; Lee Chi Hong, Robert ; Dr Fan Xingcha
Non-Executive Directors:
Sir David Ford, KBE, LVO; Zhang Chunjiang; Dr Tian Suning (Deputy Chairman)
Independent Non-Executive Directors:
Prof Chang Hsin-kang; Dr Fung Kwok King, Victor; Dr The Hon Li Kwok Po, David, GBS, JP; Sir Roger Lobo, CBE, LLD, JP; Aman Mehta; The Hon Raymond George Hardenbergh Seitz
5
Item 2
The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited takes no responsibility for the contents of this announcement, 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 announcement.
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(Incorporated in Hong Kong with limited liability) (Stock Code: 0008) | | (Incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability) (Stock Code: 0866) |
MANDATORY UNCONDITIONAL CASH OFFER
by
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS ASIA LIMITED
for and on behalf of
PCCW MOBILE HOLDING NO. 2 LIMITED
a wholly-owned subsidiary of PCCW LIMITED
TO ACQUIRE ALL THE ISSUED SHARES IN THE CAPITAL OF
SUNDAY COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED
(OTHER THAN THOSE SHARES ALREADY OWNED BY
PCCW MOBILE HOLDING NO. 2 LIMITED)
AND TO CANCEL ALL OUTSTANDING SHARE OPTIONS OF
SUNDAY COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED
CLOSING OF THE OFFER
The Offer made for and on behalf of the Offeror by Citigroup Global Markets Asia Limited will close at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, 9th September, 2005. As at 4:00 p.m. on 26th August, 2005 the Offeror owned in aggregate 2,339,151,472 Shares, representing approximately 78.23% of the issued share capital of SUNDAY. In addition, all Outstanding Share Options to subscribe Shares in SUNDAY have either been cancelled or have lapsed. |
Reference is made to the joint announcements of PCCW and SUNDAY dated 22nd June, 2005, 7th July, 2005 and 29th July, 2005, and the composite offer document dated 8th July, 2005 (“Composite Offer Document”). Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms and expressions shall have the same meanings as used in the Composite Offer Document.
INTRODUCTION
On 22nd June, 2005, the Offeror announced the Offer, following the acquisition of 1,790,134,000 Shares representing approximately 59.87% of the total issued share capital of SUNDAY.
On 29th July, 2005, the Offeror announced that the Offer had been extended and would remain open for acceptance until further notice.
CLOSING OF THE OFFER
The Offer will close at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, 9th September, 2005.
On 22nd June, 2005, being the date of the announcement of the Offer by the Offeror, the Offeror and parties presumed under the Takeovers Code to be acting in concert with the Offeror, owned 1,815,115,000 Shares, representing approximately 60.71% of the issued share capital of SUNDAY.
As at 4:00 p.m. on 26th August, 2005, the Offeror has received valid acceptances of the Offer in respect of 549,017,472 Shares, including 24,981,000 Shares owned by parties presumed under the Takeovers Code to be acting in concert with the Offeror, representing approximately 18.36% of the issued share capital of SUNDAY. In addition, all Outstanding Share Options to subscribe Shares in SUNDAY have either been cancelled or have lapsed.
As a result, as at 4:00 p.m. on 26th August, 2005, the Offeror owned in aggregate 2,339,151,472 Shares, representing approximately 78.23% of the issued share capital of SUNDAY.
PUBLIC FLOAT
As the Offeror has acquired approximately 78.23% of the issued share capital of SUNDAY, Shares held by the public represent less than 25% of the issued share capital of SUNDAY. The Stock Exchange has stated that, if less than 25% of the issued Shares are in public hands following close of the Offer, or if the Stock Exchange believes that a false market exists or may exist in the trading of the Shares or that there are insufficient numbers of Shares in public hands to maintain an orderly market, it will consider exercising its discretion to suspend dealings in the Shares. In this connection, it should be noted that upon the close of the Offer, there may be insufficient public float for the Shares and therefore trading in the Shares may be suspended until a sufficient level of public float is attained.
By Order of the Board | By Order of the Board |
PCCW Limited | SUNDAY Communications Limited |
Hubert Chak | Raymond Wai Man Mak |
Company Secretary | Company Secretary |
Hong Kong, 26th August, 2005
As at the date of this announcement, the directors of PCCW are as follows:
Executive Directors:
Li Tzar Kai, Richard (Chairman); So Chak Kwong, Jack (Deputy Chairman and Group Managing Director);
Yuen Tin Fan, Francis (Deputy Chairman); Peter Anthony Allen; Alexander Anthony Arena; Chung Cho Yee, Mico;
Lee Chi Hong, Robert; Dr Fan Xingcha
Non-Executive Directors:
Sir David Ford, KBE, LVO; Zhang Chunjiang; Dr Tian Suning (Deputy Chairman)
Independent Non-Executive Directors:
Prof Chang Hsin-kang; Dr Fung Kwok King, Victor; Dr The Hon Li Kwok Po, David, GBS, JP; Sir Roger Lobo, CBE, LLD, JP; Aman Mehta;
The Hon Raymond George Hardenbergh Seitz
As at the date of this announcement, the directors of SUNDAY are as follows:
Executive Directors:
Alexander Anthony Arena (Chairman); Chan Kee Sun, Tom; Chan Wing Wa; Chow Ding Man, Gary; Hui Hon Hing, Susanna;
Kwok Yuen Man, Marisa
Non-Executive Director:
Hongqing Zheng
Independent Non-Executive Directors:
John William Crawford; Henry Michael Pearson Miles; Robert John Richard Owen
The directors of PCCW jointly and severally accept full responsibility for the accuracy of the information contained in this announcement (other than relating to SUNDAY and/or its subsidiaries) and confirm, having made all reasonable enquiries, that to the best of their knowledge, opinions expressed in this announcement (other than relating to SUNDAY and/or its subsidiaries) have been arrived at after due and careful consideration and there are no other facts not contained in this announcement relating to PCCW and/or the Offeror the omission of which would make any statements in this announcement (other than relating to SUNDAY and/or its subsidiaries) misleading.
The directors of SUNDAY jointly and severally accept full responsibility for the accuracy of the information contained in this announcement (other than relating to PCCW and/or the Offeror) and confirm, having made all reasonable enquiries, that to the best of their knowledge, opinions expressed in this announcement (other than relating to PCCW and/or the Offeror) have been arrived at after due and careful consideration and there are no other facts not contained in this announcement (other than relating to PCCW and/or the Offeror) the omission of which would make any statements in this announcement (other than relating to PCCW and/or the Offeror) misleading.