Form F-3
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 1, 2013

Registration No. 333-                    

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form F-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Hanwha SolarOne Co., Ltd.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Cayman Islands   3674   Not Applicable
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

 

 

Rooms 605-606, Yongda International Tower

2277 Longyang Road

Shanghai 201204

People’s Republic of China

+86 21 3852 1666

 

Hanwha SolarOne U.S.A. Inc. (USA)

2424 Walsh Avenue

Santa Clara, California 95051

United States of America

+1 714 689 6868

(Address and telephone number of Registrant’s
principal executive office)
  (Name, address, and telephone number of
agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

Alan Seem

Shearman & Sterling LLP

Five Palo Alto Square

6th Floor

3000 El Camino Real

Palo Alto, California 94306-2155

United States of America

+1 650 838 3600

Shuang Zhao

Shearman & Sterling LLP

c/o 12th Floor, Gloucester Tower, The Landmark

15 Queen’s Road Central

Hong Kong

+852 2978 8000

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement, as determined by market conditions and other factors.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  ¨

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box.  x

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.C. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.C. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ¨

 

 


CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Each Class of

Securities to be Registered(1)(2)

 

Proposed Maximum
Aggregate

Offering Price(3)(4)

  Amount of
Registration Fee(4)

Ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share(5)

       

Preferred shares

       

Debt securities

       

Warrants

       

Total

  US$200,000,000   US$25,760

 

 

(1) Includes (i) securities initially offered and sold outside the United States that may be resold from time to time in the United States either as part of their distribution or within 40 days after the later of the effective date of this registration statement and the date the securities are first bona fide offered to the public, and (ii) securities that may be purchased by the underwriters pursuant to an over-allotment option. These securities are not being registered for the purposes of sales outside the United States.
(2) The securities being registered also include such indeterminate number of securities as may be issued upon exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities.
(3) The proposed maximum aggregate offering price for each class of securities will be determined from time to time by the registrant in connection with the issuance by the registrant of the securities registered hereunder and is not specified as to each class of securities pursuant to General Instruction II. C. of Form F-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(4) Estimated solely for the purposes of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) of Regulation C under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(5) American depositary shares issuable upon deposit of the ordinary shares registered hereby have been or will be registered under a separate registration statement on Form F-6 (Registration No. 333-139263). Each American depositary share represents five ordinary shares.

 

 

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED NOVEMBER 1, 2013

PROSPECTUS

 

LOGO

Hanwha SolarOne Co., Ltd.

(incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability)

 

 

Ordinary Shares

Preferred Shares

Debt Securities

Warrants

 

 

We may offer and sell ordinary shares, including ordinary shares represented by American depositary shares, or ADSs, preferred shares, debt securities or warrants in any combination from time to time in one or more offerings, at prices and on terms described in one or more supplements to this prospectus. The securities offered by this prospectus will have an aggregate offering price of up to US$200,000,000 million. The preferred shares, debt securities and warrants may be convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our ordinary shares or other securities.

Each time we sell securities, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the offering and the terms of the securities. The supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided in connection with a specific offering. You should read this prospectus, any supplement and any free writing prospectus before you invest in any of our securities.

We may sell the securities independently or together with any other securities registered hereunder through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, or through a combination of these methods, on a continuous or delayed basis. See “Plan of Distribution.” If any underwriters, dealers or agents are involved in the sale of any of the securities, their names, and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangements between or among them, will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement.

ADSs representing our ordinary shares are listed on the NASDAQ Global Market, or the NASDAQ, and trade under the ticker symbol “HSOL.” Each ADS represents five ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share.

 

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. You should read the “Risk Factors” section contained in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference before investing in our securities.

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or completeness of this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, free writing prospectus and documents incorporated by reference. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is             , 2013.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    Page  

About this Prospectus

    1   

Incorporation of Documents by Reference

    2   

Special Note on Forward-Looking Statements

    3   

Summary

    4   

Risk Factors

    5   

Use of Proceeds

    6   

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

    7   

Capitalization

    8   

Description of the Securities

    9   

Description of Share Capital

    10   

Description of American Depositary Shares

    18   

Description of Our Preferred Shares

    25   

Description of Debt Securities

    26   

Description of Warrants

    29   

Plan of Distribution

    31   

Taxation

    33   

Enforceability of Civil Liabilities

    34   

Legal Matters

    36   

Experts

    37   

Where You Can Find More Information About Us

    38   

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

Before you invest in any of our securities, you should carefully read this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, together with the additional information described in the sections entitled “Incorporation of Documents by Reference” and “Where You Can Find More Information About Us” in this prospectus.

In this prospectus, unless otherwise indicated or unless the context otherwise requires,

 

    “we,” “us,” “our company” and “our” refer to Hanwha SolarOne Co., Ltd., its predecessor entities and its consolidated subsidiaries;

 

    “ADRs” refers to the American depositary receipts that may evidence the ADSs;

 

    “ADSs” refers to American depositary shares, each of which represents five of our ordinary shares;

 

    “China” and the “PRC” refer to the People’s Republic of China, excluding, for the purposes of this prospectus, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau;

 

    “conversion efficiency” refers to the ability of photovoltaic, or PV, products to convert sunlight into electricity, and “conversion efficiency rates” are commonly used in the PV industry to measure the percentage of light energy from the sun that is actually converted into electricity;

 

    “cost per watt” and “price per watt” refers to the method by which the cost and price of PV products, respectively, are commonly measured in the PV industry. A PV product is priced based on the number of watts of electricity it can generate;

 

    “GW” refers to gigawatt, representing 1,000,000,000 watts, a unit of power-generating capacity or consumption;

 

    “MW” refers to megawatt, representing 1,000,000 watts, a unit of power-generating capacity or consumption. In this prospectus, it is assumed that, based on a yield rate of 97%, 420,000 125mm x 125mm or 247,820 156mm x 156mm silicon wafers are required to produce PV products capable of generating 1 MW, that each 125mm x 125mm and 156mm x 156mm PV cell generates 2.4 W and 4.16 W of power, respectively, and that each PV module contains 72 125mm x 125mm PV cells or 54 156mm x 156mm PV cells;

 

    “PV” refers to photovoltaic. The photovoltaic effect is a process by which sunlight is converted into electricity;

 

    “RMB” and “Renminbi” refers to the legal currency of China;

 

    “shares” and “ordinary shares” refer to our ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share; and

 

    “US$” and “U.S. dollars” refer to the legal currency of the United States.

References in this prospectus to our annual manufacturing capacity assume 24 hours of operation per day for 350 days per year.

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form F-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, utilizing a “shelf” registration process permitted under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. By using a “shelf” registration statement, we may sell any of our securities from time to time and in one or more offerings. This prospectus only provides you with a summary description of these securities. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the securities being offered and the specific terms of that offering. The supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, you should rely on the prospectus supplement.

 

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INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with them. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. Each document incorporated by reference is current only as of the date of such document, and the incorporation by reference of such documents should not create any implication that there has been no change in our affairs since the date thereof or that the information contained therein is current as of any time subsequent to its date. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus and should be read with the same care. When we update the information contained in documents that have been incorporated by reference by making future filings with the SEC, the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus is considered to be automatically updated and superseded. In other words, in the case of a conflict or inconsistency between information contained in this prospectus and information incorporated by reference into this prospectus, you should rely on the information contained in the document that was filed later.

We incorporate by reference the documents listed below:

 

    our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 filed with the SEC on April 29, 2013;

 

    our report on Form 6-K furnished with the SEC on November 1, 2013 and its exhibits; and

 

    with respect to each offering of securities under this prospectus, all our subsequent annual reports on Form 20-F and any report on Form 6-K that indicates that it is being incorporated by reference, in each case, that we file or furnish with the SEC on or after the date on which the registration statement is first filed with the SEC and until the termination or completion of the offering under this prospectus.

Our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 filed on April 29, 2013 contains a description of our business and our audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2011 and 2012 and for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012. These financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or U.S. GAAP.

Unless expressly incorporated by reference, nothing in this prospectus shall be deemed to incorporate by reference information furnished to, but not filed with, the SEC. We will provide to you, upon your written or oral request, without charge, a copy of any or all of the documents we refer to above which we have incorporated by reference in this prospectus, except for exhibits to such documents unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should direct your requests to our principal executive office located at Rooms 605-606, Yongda International Tower, 2277 Longyang Road, Shanghai 201204, People’s Republic of China. Our telephone number at this address is +86 21 3852 1666 and our fax number is +86 21 3852 1668.

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, in any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be delivered to you. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We will not make an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus, the applicable supplement to this prospectus or in any related free writing prospectus is accurate as of its respective date, and that any information incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, unless we indicate otherwise. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

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SPECIAL NOTE ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of, and intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by, the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements, which are not statements of historical fact, may contain estimates, assumptions, projections and/or expectations regarding future events, which may or may not occur. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify these forward-looking statements by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “should,” “will,” “would,” or similar expressions, including their negatives. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements relating to our expectations and beliefs regarding:

 

    the worldwide demand and price trends for our products, and solar energy and electricity products in general;

 

    the supply and demand for traditional non-renewable energy;

 

    government regulation of and support for solar energy and the renewable energy sector;

 

    infrastructure for solar power and electricity in our target markets;

 

    the low-cost advantage of solar power product production in China;

 

    the cost and availability of our raw materials, especially silicon-related materials, in the future;

 

    our ability to implement our strategies, increase our revenue and profitability, maintain and enhance our relationships with customers in our target markets, scale and expand our production capacity and improve our technologies;

 

    our ability to secure sufficient funds to meet our cash needs for our operations and capacity expansion;

 

    competition from other manufacturers of PV products and conventional energy suppliers;

 

    PRC government policies regarding foreign investment;

 

    our future business development, results of operations and financial condition; and

 

    future economic or capital market conditions.

This prospectus also contains or incorporates by reference data, including industry-demand and product-pricing data, related to the solar power market in several countries, including China. These market data include projections that are based on a number of assumptions. If any one or more of the assumptions underlying the market data proves to be incorrect, actual results may differ from the projections based on these assumptions. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements and any related statements made in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference are made as of the date of the respective documents. The forward-looking statements obtained from third-party studies or reports are made as of the date of the corresponding study or report. We undertake no obligation, beyond that required by law, to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made, even though circumstances may change in the future.

 

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SUMMARY

Our Company

We are a vertically integrated manufacturer of silicon ingots, silicon wafers, PV cells and PV modules in China. We manufacture a variety of silicon ingots, silicon wafers, PV cells and PV modules using advanced manufacturing process technologies that have helped us to rapidly increase our operational efficiency. We also provide PV module processing services. We sell PV cells and PV modules both directly to system integrators and through third party distributors. In the six months ended June 30, 2013, we sold our products to over 150 customers, mostly in Japan, South Africa, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, China and Korea. We conduct our business in China primarily through our wholly owned operating subsidiary, Hanwha SolarOne (Qidong) Co., Ltd.

As of June 30, 2013, we had annual production capacities of 1.5 GW for PV modules, 1.3 GW for PV cells and 800 MW for ingots and wafers. In addition, we have achieved improvements in process technology and product quality since we commenced our commercial production in November 2005. Our multicrystalline PV cells achieved conversion efficiency rates of 17.16% in the six months ended June 30, 2013.

Our principal executive offices are located at Rooms 605-606, Yongda International Tower, 2277 Longyang Road, Shanghai 201204, People’s Republic of China. Our telephone number at this address is +86 21 3852 1666 and our fax number is +86 21 3852 1668. Our registered office in the Cayman Islands is at the offices of Maples Corporate Services Limited, PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands.

Investor inquiries should be directed to us at the address and telephone number of our principal executive offices set forth above. Our website is www.hanwha-solarone.com. The information contained on our website does not constitute a part of this prospectus supplement. Our agent for service of process in the United States is Hanwha SolarOne U.S.A. Inc. (USA), located at 2424 Walsh Avenue, Santa Clara, California 95051, United States of America.

 

 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves risk. You should carefully consider the risk factors and uncertainties described under the heading “Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors” in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any risk factors and other information described in the applicable prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus before acquiring any of our securities. These risks and uncertainties could materially affect our business, results of operations or financial condition and cause the value of our securities to decline. You could lose all or part of your investment.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless we indicate otherwise in an applicable prospectus supplement, we plan to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities for general corporate purposes. We will not receive proceeds from sales of securities by persons other than us except as may otherwise be stated in any applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges on a historical basis for the period indicated. The ratio of earnings to fixed charges is computed by dividing earnings by fixed charges. For this purpose, earnings consist of pre-tax income before adjustment for minority interests, plus fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest expenses, whether expenses or capitalized.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2008     2009     2010      2011     2012  

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

     (1)      0.2 (1)      7.3         (1)      (1) 
(1) Earnings for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012 were insufficient to cover fixed charges by approximately RMB281.9 million, RMB125.3 million, RMB1,134.1 million and RMB1,588.7 million, respectively, as our operating results were negatively impacted by the downward market performance during these years.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

A prospectus supplement will include information on our consolidated capitalization.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITIES

We may issue from time to time, in one or more offerings, the following securities:

 

    ordinary shares, including ordinary shares represented by ADSs;

 

    preferred shares;

 

    debt securities; and

 

    warrants to purchase debt securities, ordinary shares, preferred shares or ADSs.

We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement a description of the preferred shares, debt securities and warrants, and, in certain cases, the ordinary shares (including ordinary shares represented by ADSs) that may be offered under this prospectus. The terms of the offering of securities, the initial offering price and the net proceeds to us will be contained in the prospectus supplement, and other offering material, relating to such offer. The supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus and any supplement before you invest in any of our securities.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL

We are a Cayman Islands exempted company with limited liability and our affairs are governed by our memorandum and articles of association, as amended and restated from time to time, and the Companies Law (2013 Revision) of the Cayman Islands, which is referred to as the Companies Law below.

As of September 30, 2013, our authorized share capital consisted of 1,000,000,000 ordinary shares, with a par value of US$0.0001 each.

The following are summaries of material provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and the Companies Law insofar as they relate to the material terms of our ordinary shares.

Description of Ordinary Shares

General

All of our outstanding ordinary shares are fully paid and non-assessable. Certificates representing the ordinary shares are issued in registered form. Our shareholders who are non-residents of the Cayman Islands may freely hold and vote their ordinary shares.

Dividends

The holders of our ordinary shares are entitled to such dividends as may be declared by our board of directors subject to the Companies Law. Under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, all dividends unclaimed for one year after having been declared may be invested or otherwise made use of by our board of directors for our exclusive benefit until claimed, and we will not be deemed a trustee in respect of such dividend or be required to account for any money earned thereon. All dividends unclaimed for six years after having been declared may be forfeited by our board of directors and thereon will revert to us.

Voting Rights

The holder of each ordinary share is entitled to one vote for each ordinary share held by such holder on all matters upon which the ordinary shares are entitled to vote. Voting at any meeting of shareholders is by show of hands unless a poll is demanded. A poll may be demanded by the chairman of such meeting or any other shareholder or shareholders present in person or by proxy and holding at least 10% in par value of the shares giving a right to attend and vote at the meeting.

A quorum required for a meeting of shareholders consists of at least one shareholder present or by proxy or, if a corporation or other non-natural person, by its duly authorized representative holding not less than one-third of the outstanding voting shares in our company. Shareholders’ meetings may be convened by our board of directors on its own initiative or upon a request to the directors by shareholders holding in the aggregate 10% or more of our voting share capital. Advance notice of at least 20 (but not more than 60) days is required for the convening of our annual general shareholders’ meeting and any other general shareholders’ meeting calling for the passing of a resolution requiring two-thirds of shareholder votes, and advance notice of at least 14 (but not more than 60) days is required for the convening of other general shareholder meetings.

An ordinary resolution to be passed by the shareholders requires the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the votes attaching to the ordinary shares cast in a general meeting, while a special resolution requires the affirmative vote of no less than two-thirds of the votes cast attaching to the ordinary shares. A special resolution will be required for important matters such as a change of name or making changes to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association.

 

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Transfer of Ordinary Shares

Subject to the restrictions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as applicable, any of our shareholders may transfer all or any of his or her ordinary shares by an instrument of transfer in the usual or common form or any other form approved by our board of directors.

Our board of directors may, in its absolute discretion, decline to register any transfer of any ordinary share which is not fully paid up or on which we have a lien. Our board of directors may also decline to register any transfer of any ordinary share unless:

 

    the instrument of transfer is lodged with us, accompanied by the certificate for the ordinary shares to which it relates and such other evidence as our board of directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer;

 

    the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of ordinary shares;

 

    the instrument of transfer is properly stamped, if required;

 

    in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the number of joint holders to whom the ordinary share is to be transferred does not exceed four;

 

    the ordinary shares transferred are free of any lien in favor of us;

 

    any fee related to the transfer has been paid to us; and

 

    the transfer to be registered is not to an infant or a person suffering from mental disorder.

If our directors refuse to register a transfer they shall, within two months after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged, send to each of the transferor and the transferee notice of such refusal.

The registration of transfers may be suspended and the register closed at such times and for such periods as our board of directors may from time to time determine, provided, however, that the registration of transfers shall not be suspended nor the register closed for more than 45 days in any year.

Liquidation

On a return of capital on winding up or otherwise (other than on conversion, redemption or purchase of ordinary shares), assets available for distribution among the holders of ordinary shares shall be distributed among the holders of the ordinary shares on a pro rata basis. If our assets available for distribution are insufficient to repay all of the paid-up capital, the assets will be distributed so that the losses are borne by our shareholders proportionately.

Calls on Ordinary Shares and Forfeiture of Ordinary Shares

Our board of directors may from time to time make calls upon shareholders for any amounts unpaid on their ordinary shares in a notice served to such shareholders at least 14 days prior to the specified time of payment. The ordinary shares that have been called upon and remain unpaid are subject to forfeiture.

Redemption of Ordinary Shares

Subject to the provisions of the Companies Law and other applicable law, we may issue shares on terms that are subject to redemption, at our option or at the option of the holders, on such terms and in such manner as may be determined by special resolution.

Variations of Rights of Shares

If at any time, our share capital is divided into different classes of shares, all or any of the special rights attached to any class of shares may, subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, be varied either with the

 

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consent in writing of the holders of three-fourths of the issued shares of that class or by a special resolution passed at a general meeting of the holders of the shares of that class. The rights conferred upon the holders of the shares of any class issued with preferred or other rights shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class, be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further shares ranking pari passu with such existing class of shares. The rights of holders of ordinary shares shall not be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of shares with preferred or other rights which may be affected by the directors as provided in the articles of association without any vote or consent of the holders of ordinary shares.

General Meetings of Shareholders

The directors may, and shall on the requisition of shareholders holding at least 10% in par value of the capital of our company carrying voting rights at general meetings, proceed to convene a general meeting of such shareholders. If the directors do not within 21 days from the deposit of the requisition duly proceed to convene a general meeting, which will be held within a further period of 21 days, the requisitioning shareholders, or any of them holding more than 50% of the total voting rights of all of the requisitioning shareholders, may themselves convene a general meeting. Any such general meeting must be convened within three months after the expiration of such 21-day period.

Inspection of Books and Records

Holders of our ordinary shares will have no general right under Cayman Islands law to inspect or obtain copies of our list of shareholders or our corporate records. However, we will provide our shareholders with annual audited financial statements. See “Where You Can Find More Information About Us.”

Changes in Capital

We may from time to time by ordinary resolution:

 

    increase the share capital by such sum, to be divided into shares of such classes and amounts, as the resolution shall prescribe;

 

    consolidate and divide all or any of our share capital into shares of a larger amount than our existing shares;

 

    sub-divide our existing shares, or any of them into shares of a smaller amount provided that in the subdivision the proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced share shall be the same as it was in case of the share from which the reduced share is derived; or

 

    cancel any shares which, at the date of the passing of the resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person and diminish the amount of our share capital by the amount of the shares so cancelled.

We may by special resolution reduce our share capital and any capital redemption reserve in any manner authorized by law.

Exempted Company

We are an exempted company with limited liability under the Companies Law. The Companies Law distinguishes between ordinary resident companies and exempted companies. Any company that is registered in the Cayman Islands but conducts business mainly outside of the Cayman Islands may apply to be registered as an exempted company. The requirements for an exempted company are essentially the same as for an ordinary company except for the exemptions and privileges listed below:

 

    an exempted company does not have to file an annual return of its shareholders with the Registrar of Companies;

 

    an exempted company’s register of members is not open to inspection;

 

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    an exempted company does not have to hold an annual general meeting;

 

    an exempted company may issue no par value, negotiable or bearer shares;

 

    an exempted company may obtain an undertaking against the imposition of any future taxation (such undertakings are usually given for 20 years in the first instance);

 

    an exempted company may register by way of continuation in another jurisdiction and be deregistered in the Cayman Islands;

 

    an exempted company may register as a limited duration company; and

 

    an exempted company may register as a segregated portfolio company.

“Limited liability” means that the liability of each shareholder is limited to the amount unpaid by the shareholder on the shares of the company. We are subject to reporting and other informational requirements of the Exchange Act, as applicable to foreign private issuers. We intend to comply with the NASDAQ Rules in lieu of following home country practice. The NASDAQ Rules require that every company listed on the NASDAQ Global Market hold an annual general meeting of shareholders. In addition, our amended and restated articles of association allow directors or shareholders to call special shareholder meetings pursuant to the procedures set forth in the articles.

Differences in Corporate Law

The Companies Law is modeled after that of English law but does not follow many recent English law statutory enactments. In addition, the Companies Law differs from laws applicable to United States corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of the significant differences between the provisions of the Companies Law applicable to us and the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the State of Delaware and their shareholders.

Mergers and Similar Arrangements

The Companies Law permits mergers and consolidations between Cayman Islands companies and between Cayman Islands companies and non-Cayman Islands companies. For these purposes, (a) “merger” means the merging of two or more constituent companies and the vesting of their undertaking, property and liabilities in one of such companies as the surviving company and (b) a “consolidation” means the combination of two or more constituent companies into a consolidated company and the vesting of the undertaking, property and liabilities of such companies to the consolidated company. In order to effect such a merger or consolidation, the directors of each constituent company must approve a written plan of merger or consolidation (a “Plan”), which must then be authorized by (a) a special resolution of the shareholders of each constituent company and (b) such other authorization, if any, as may be specified in such constituent company’s articles of association. The Plan must be filed with the Registrar of Companies together with a declaration as to the solvency of the consolidated or surviving company, a list of the assets and liabilities of each constituent company and an undertaking that a copy of the certificate of merger or consolidation will be given to the members and creditors of each constituent company and published in the Cayman Islands Gazette. Dissenting shareholders have the right to be paid the fair value of their shares (which, if not agreed between the parties, will be determined by the Cayman Islands court) if they follow the required procedures, subject to certain exceptions. Court approval is not required for a merger or consolidation which is effected in compliance with these statutory procedures.

In addition, there are statutory provisions that facilitate the reconstruction and amalgamation of companies, provided that the arrangement is approved by a majority in number of each class of shareholders and creditors with whom the arrangement is to be made, and who must in addition represent three-fourths in value of each such class of shareholders or creditors, as the case may be, that are present and voting either in person or by proxy at a meeting, or meetings, convened for that purpose. The convening of the meetings and subsequently the

 

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arrangement must be sanctioned by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands. While a dissenting shareholder has the right to express to the court the view that the transaction ought not to be approved, the court can be expected to approve the arrangement if it determines that:

 

    the statutory provisions as to the due majority vote have been met;

 

    the shareholders have been fairly represented at the meeting in question;

 

    the arrangement is such that a businessman would reasonably approve; and

 

    the arrangement is not one that would more properly be sanctioned under some other provision of the Companies Law.

When a takeover offer is made and accepted by holders of 90% of the shares affected within four months, the offeror may, within a two-month period after the expiration of the said four-month period, require the holders of the remaining shares to transfer such shares on the terms of the offer. An objection can be made to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands but this is unlikely to succeed unless there is evidence of fraud, bad faith or collusion.

If the arrangement and reconstruction is thus approved, the dissenting shareholder would have no rights comparable to appraisal rights, which would otherwise ordinarily be available to dissenting shareholders of Delaware corporations, providing rights to receive payment in cash for the judicially determined value of the shares.

Shareholders’ Suits

The Cayman Islands courts can be expected to follow English case law precedents. The common law principles (namely the rule in Foss v. Harbottle and the exceptions thereto) which permit a minority shareholder to commence a class action against or derivative actions in the name of the Company to challenge (a) an act which is ultra vires the Company or illegal, (b) an act which constitutes a fraud against the minority where the wrongdoers are themselves in control of the Company, and (c) an action which requires a resolution with a qualified (or special) majority which has not been obtained) have been applied and followed by the courts in the Cayman Islands.

Indemnification of Directors and Executive Officers and Limitation of Liability

Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association permit indemnification of officers and directors for losses, damages, costs and expenses incurred in their capacities as such unless such losses or damages arise from willful or gross negligence, or unlawful conduct of such directors or officers. This standard of conduct is generally the same as permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law for a Delaware corporation. In addition, we intend to enter into indemnification agreements with our directors and senior executive officers that will provide such persons with additional indemnification beyond that provided in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers or persons controlling us under the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable as a matter of United States law.

Anti-Takeover Provisions in the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association

Some provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our company or management that shareholders may consider favorable,

 

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including provisions that authorize our board of directors to issue preference shares in one or more series and to designate the price, rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of such preference shares without any further vote or action by our shareholders.

However, under Cayman Islands law, our directors may only exercise the rights and powers granted to them under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as amended and restated from time to time, for what they believe in good faith to be in the best interests of our company.

Directors’ Fiduciary Duties

Under Delaware corporate law, a director of a Delaware corporation has a fiduciary duty to the corporation and its shareholders. This duty has two components: the duty of care and the duty of loyalty. The duty of care requires that a director act in good faith, with the care that an ordinarily prudent person would exercise under similar circumstances. Under this duty, a director must inform himself of, and disclose to shareholders, all material information reasonably available regarding a significant transaction. The duty of loyalty requires that a director act in a manner he or she reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation. He or she must not use his or her corporate position for personal gain or advantage. This duty prohibits self-dealing by a director and mandates that the best interest of the corporation and its shareholders take precedence over any interest possessed by a director, officer or controlling shareholder and not shared by the shareholders generally. In general, actions of a director are presumed to have been made on an informed basis, in good faith and in the honest belief that the action taken was in the best interests of the corporation. However, this presumption may be rebutted by evidence of a breach of one of the fiduciary duties. Should such evidence be presented concerning a transaction by a director, a director must prove the procedural fairness of the transaction, and that the transaction was of fair value to the corporation.

As a matter of Cayman Islands law, a director of a Cayman Islands company is in the position of a fiduciary with respect to the company and therefore it is considered that he owes the following duties to the company — a duty to act bona fide in the best interests of the company, a duty not to make a profit based on his or her position as director (unless the company permits him to do so) and a duty not to put himself in a position where the interests of the company conflict with his or her personal interest or his or her duty to a third party. A director of a Cayman Islands company owes to the company a duty to act with skill and care. It was previously considered that a director need not exhibit in the performance of his or her duties a greater degree of skill than may reasonably be expected from a person of his or her knowledge and experience. However, English and Commonwealth courts have moved towards an objective standard with regard to the required skill and care and these authorities are likely to be followed in the Cayman Islands.

Shareholder Action by Written Consent

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may eliminate the right of shareholders to act by written consent by amendment to its certificate of incorporation. Cayman Islands law and our amended and restated articles of association provide that shareholders may approve corporate matters by way of a unanimous written resolution signed by or on behalf of each shareholder who would have been entitled to vote on such matter at a general meeting without a meeting being held.

Shareholder Proposals

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a shareholder has the right to put any proposal before the annual meeting of shareholders, provided it complies with the notice provisions in the governing documents. A special meeting may be called by the board of directors or any other person authorized to do so in the governing documents, but shareholders may be precluded from calling special meetings.

Cayman Islands law and our amended and restated articles of association allow our shareholders holding not less than 10% of the paid-up voting share capital of the company to requisition a shareholders’ meeting. As an

 

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exempted Cayman Islands company, we are not obliged by law to call shareholders’ annual general meetings. However, our amended and restated articles of association require us to call such meetings if required by the Companies Law, other applicable law, rules or regulations or the NASDAQ Rules.

Cumulative Voting

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, cumulative voting for elections of directors is not permitted unless the corporation’s certificate of incorporation specifically provides for it. Cumulative voting potentially facilitates the representation of minority shareholders on a board of directors since it permits the minority shareholder to cast all the votes to which the shareholder is entitled on a single director, which increases the shareholder’s voting power with respect to electing such director. As permitted under Cayman Islands law, our amended and restated articles of association do not provide for cumulative voting. As a result, our shareholders are not afforded any less protections or rights on this issue than shareholders of a Delaware corporation.

Removal of Directors

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a director of a corporation with a classified board may be removed only for cause with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Under our amended and restated articles of association, directors may be removed by ordinary resolution of the shareholders or all directors (other than the one who is removed) passing a resolution or signing a notice effecting the removal of such a director from his office.

Transactions with Interested Shareholders

The Delaware General Corporation Law contains a business combination statute applicable to Delaware corporations whereby, unless the corporation has specifically elected not to be governed by such statute by amendment to its certificate of incorporation, it is prohibited from engaging in certain business combinations with an “interested shareholder” for three years following the date that such person becomes an interested shareholder. An interested shareholder generally is a person or a group who or which owns or owned 15% or more of the target’s outstanding voting stock within the past three years. This has the effect of limiting the ability of a potential acquirer to make a two-tiered bid for the target in which all shareholders would not be treated equally. The statute does not apply if, among other things, prior to the date on which such shareholder becomes an interested shareholder, the board of directors approves either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the person becoming an interested shareholder. This encourages any potential acquirer of a Delaware corporation to negotiate the terms of any acquisition transaction with the target’s board of directors.

Cayman Islands law has no comparable statute. As a result, we cannot avail ourselves of the types of protections afforded by the Delaware business combination statute. However, although Cayman Islands law does not regulate transactions between a company and its significant shareholders, it does provide that such transactions must be entered into bona fide in the best interests of the company and not with the effect of constituting a fraud on the minority shareholders.

Dissolution; Winding Up

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, unless the board of directors approves the proposal to dissolve, dissolution must be approved by shareholders holding 100% of the total voting power of the corporation. Only if the dissolution is initiated by the board of directors may it be approved by a simple majority of the corporation’s outstanding shares. Delaware law allows a Delaware corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a supermajority voting requirement in connection with dissolutions initiated by the board. Under the Companies Law of the Cayman Islands and our amended and restated articles of association, our company may be dissolved, liquidated or wound up by the passing of a special resolution.

 

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Variation of Rights of Shares

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may vary the rights of a class of shares with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares of such class, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Under Cayman Islands law and our amended and restated articles of association, if our share capital is divided into more than one class of shares, we may vary the rights attached to any class only with the consent in writing of the holders of 75% of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a general meeting of the holders of the shares of that class.

Amendment of Governing Documents

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation’s governing documents may be amended with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. As permitted by Cayman Islands law, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association may only be amended by the passing of a special resolution.

Rights of Non-Resident or Foreign Shareholders

There are no limitations imposed by our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association on the rights of non-resident or foreign shareholders to hold or exercise voting rights on our shares. In addition, there are no provisions in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association governing the ownership threshold above which shareholder ownership must be disclosed.

Directors’ Power to Issue Shares

Subject to applicable law, our board of directors is empowered to issue or allot shares or grant options and warrants with or without preferred, deferred, qualified or other special rights or restrictions. However, if any issue of shares (including any issue of ordinary shares or any shares with preferred, deferred, qualified or other special rights or restrictions) is proposed and such shares proposed to be issued are at least 20% by par value of the par value of all then issued shares, then the prior approval by ordinary resolution of the holders of the ordinary shares, voting together as one class, will be required. These provisions could have the effect of discouraging third parties from seeking to obtain control of our company in a tender offer or similar transaction.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES

American Depositary Shares

The Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary, will register and deliver ADSs. Each ADS represents five ordinary shares (or a right to receive five ordinary shares) deposited with the Hong Kong office of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp., as custodian for the depositary. Each ADS also represents any other securities, cash or other property which may be held by the depositary. The depositary’s corporate trust office at which the ADSs are administered is located at 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286. The Bank of New York Mellon’s principal executive office is located at One Wall Street, New York, New York 10286.

You may hold ADSs either (A) directly (i) by having an American depositary receipt, which is a certificate evidencing a specific number of ADSs, registered in your name, or (ii) by holding ADSs in the Direct Registration System, or (B) indirectly through your broker or other financial institution. If you hold ADSs directly, you are an ADS holder. This description assumes you hold your ADSs directly. If you hold the ADSs indirectly, you must rely on the procedures of your broker or other financial institution to assert the rights of ADS holders described in this section. You should consult with your broker or financial institution to find out what those procedures are.

The Direct Registration System is a system administered by DTC pursuant to which the depositary may register the ownership of uncertificated American depositary shares, which ownership shall be evidenced by periodic statements sent by the depositary to the ADS holders entitled thereto.

As an ADS holder, we will not treat you as one of our shareholders and you will not have shareholder rights. Cayman Islands law governs shareholder rights. The depositary will be the holder of the shares underlying your ADSs. As a holder of ADSs, you will have ADS holder rights. A deposit agreement among us, the depositary and you, as an ADS holder, and the beneficial owners of ADSs set out ADS holder rights as well as the rights and obligations of the depositary. New York law governs the deposit agreement and the ADSs.

The following is a summary of the material provisions of the deposit agreement. For more complete information, you should read the entire deposit agreement and the form of American depositary receipt. Directions on how to obtain copies of those documents are provided under “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Dividends and Other Distributions

How Will You Receive Dividends and Other Distributions on the Shares?

The depositary has agreed to pay to you the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on shares or other deposited securities, after deducting its fees and expenses. You will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of shares your ADSs represent.

 

    Cash. The depositary will convert any cash dividend or other cash distribution we pay on the shares into U.S. dollars, if it can do so on a reasonable basis and can transfer the U.S. dollars to the United States. If that is not possible or if any government approval is needed and cannot be obtained, the deposit agreement allows the depositary to distribute the foreign currency only to those ADS holders to whom it is possible to do so. It will hold the foreign currency it cannot convert for the account of the ADS holders who have not been paid. It will not invest the foreign currency and it will not be liable for any interest.

Before making a distribution, any withholding taxes, or other governmental charges that must be paid will be deducted. See “Taxation.” The depositary will distribute only whole U.S. dollars and cents and will round fractional cents to the nearest whole cent. If exchange rates fluctuate during a time when the depositary cannot convert the foreign currency, you may lose some or all of the value of the distribution.

 

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    Shares. The depositary may distribute additional ADSs representing any shares we distribute as a dividend or free distribution. The depositary will only distribute whole ADSs. It will sell shares which would require it to deliver a fractional ADS and distribute the net proceeds in the same way as it does with cash. If the depositary does not distribute additional ADSs, the outstanding ADSs will also represent the new shares. The depositary may sell a portion of the distributed shares sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in connection with that distribution.

 

    Rights to Purchase Additional Shares. If we offer holders of our securities any rights to subscribe for additional shares or any other rights, the depositary may make these rights available to you. If the depositary decides it is not legal and practical to make the rights available but that it is practical to sell the rights, the depositary will use reasonable efforts to sell the rights and distribute the proceeds in the same way as it does with cash. The depositary will allow rights that are not distributed or sold to lapse. In that case, you will receive no value for them.

If the depositary makes rights available to you, it will exercise the rights and purchase the shares on your behalf. The depositary will then deposit the shares and deliver ADSs to you. It will only exercise rights if you pay it the exercise price and any other charges the rights require you to pay.

U.S. securities laws may restrict transfers and cancellation of the ADSs represented by shares purchased upon exercise of rights. For example, you may not be able to trade these ADSs freely in the United States. In this case, the depositary may deliver restricted depositary shares that have the same terms as the ADRs described in this section except for changes needed to put the necessary restrictions in place.

 

    Other Distributions. The depositary will send to you anything else we distribute on deposited securities by any means it thinks is legal, fair and practical. If it cannot make the distribution in that way, the depositary has a choice. It may decide to sell what we distributed and distribute the net proceeds, in the same way as it does with cash. Or, it may decide to hold what we distributed, in which case ADSs will also represent the newly distributed property. However, the depositary is not required to distribute any securities (other than ADSs) to you unless it receives satisfactory evidence from us that it is legal to make that distribution. The depositary may sell a portion of the distributed securities or property sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in connection with that distribution.

The depositary is not responsible if it decides that it is unlawful or impractical to make a distribution available to any ADS holders. We have no obligation to register ADSs, shares, rights or other securities under the Securities Act. We also have no obligation to take any other action to permit the distribution of ADSs, shares, rights or anything else to ADS holders. This means that you may not receive the distributions we make on our shares or any value for them if it is illegal or impractical for us to make them available to you.

Deposit, Withdrawal and Cancellation

How Are ADSs Issued?

The depositary will deliver ADSs if you or your broker deposits shares or evidence of rights to receive shares with the custodian. Upon payment of its fees and expenses and of any taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or stock transfer taxes or fees, the depositary will register the appropriate number of ADSs in the names you request and will deliver the ADSs to or upon the order of the person or persons entitled thereto.

How Do ADS Holders Cancel an American Depositary Share?

You may turn in your ADSs at the depositary’s corporate trust office. Upon payment of its fees and expenses and of any taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or stock transfer taxes or fees, the depositary will deliver the shares and any other deposited securities underlying the ADSs to you or a person you designate at the office of the custodian. Or, at your request, risk and expense, the depositary will deliver the deposited securities at its corporate trust office, if feasible.

 

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How Do ADS Holders Interchange Between Certificated ADSs and Uncertificated ADSs?

You may surrender your ADR to the depositary for the purpose of exchanging your ADR for uncertificated ADSs. The depositary will cancel that ADR and will send you a statement confirming that you are the owner of uncertificated ADSs. Alternatively, upon receipt by the depositary of a proper instruction from a holder of uncertificated ADSs requesting the exchange of uncertificated ADSs for certificated ADSs, the depositary will execute and deliver to you an ADR evidencing those ADSs.

Voting Rights

How Do You Vote?

You may instruct the depositary how to vote the deposited securities. Otherwise, you won’t be able to exercise your right to vote unless you withdraw the shares. However, you may not know about the meeting enough in advance to withdraw the shares.

If we ask for your instructions, the depositary will notify you of the upcoming vote and arrange to deliver our voting materials to you. The materials will (1) describe the matters to be voted on and (2) explain how you may instruct the depositary to vote the shares or other deposited securities underlying your ADSs as you direct. For instructions to be valid, the depositary must receive them on or before the date specified. The depositary will try, as far as practical, subject to the laws of the Cayman Islands and of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, to vote or to have its agents vote the shares or other deposited securities as you instruct. The depositary will only vote or attempt to vote as you instruct.

We cannot assure you that you will receive the voting materials in time to ensure that you can instruct the depositary to vote your shares. In addition, the depositary and its agents are not responsible for failing to carry out voting instructions or for the manner of carrying out voting instructions. This means that you may not be able to exercise your right to vote and there may be nothing you can do if your shares are not voted as you requested.

In order to give you a reasonable opportunity to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of voting rights relating to deposited securities, if we request the depositary to act, we will try to give the depositary notice of any such meeting and details concerning the matters to be voted upon sufficiently in advance of the meeting date.

 

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Fees and Expenses

 

Persons Depositing or Withdrawing Shares Must Pay:

  

For:

•    US$5.00 (or less) per 100 ADSs (or portion of 100 ADSs)

  

•    Issuance of ADSs, including issuances resulting from a distribution of shares or rights or other property

 

•    Cancellation of ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal, including if the deposit agreement terminates

•    US$0.02 (or less) per ADS

  

•    Any cash distribution to you

•    A fee equivalent to the fee that would be payable if securities distributed to you had been shares and the shares had been deposited for issuance of ADSs

  

•    Distribution of securities distributed to holders of deposited securities which are distributed by the depositary to ADS holders

•    US$0.02 (or less) per ADS per calendar year

  

•    Depositary services

•    Registration or transfer fees

  

•    Transfer and registration of shares on our share register to or from the name of the depositary or its agent when you deposit or withdraw shares

•    Expenses of the depositary

  

•    Cable, telex and facsimile transmissions (when expressly provided in the deposit agreement)

 

•    Converting foreign currency to U.S. dollars

•    Taxes and other governmental charges the depositary or the custodian have to pay on any ADS or share underlying an ADS, for example, stock transfer taxes, stamp duty or withholding taxes

  

•    As necessary

•    Any charges incurred by the depositary or its agents for servicing the deposited securities

  

•    As necessary

The Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary, has agreed to reimburse us for expenses we incur that are related to establishment and maintenance of the ADR program, including investor relations expenses and NASDAQ application and listing fees. There are limits on the amount of expenses for which the depositary will reimburse us, but the amount of reimbursement available to us is not related to the amount of fees the depositary collects from investors.

The depositary collects its fees for issuance and cancellation of ADSs directly from investors depositing shares or surrendering ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal or from intermediaries acting for them. The depositary collects fees for making distributions to investors by deducting those fees from the amounts distributed or by selling a portion of distributable property to pay the fees. The depositary may collect its annual fee for depositary services by deduction from cash distributions or by directly billing investors or by charging the book-entry system accounts of participants acting for them. The depositary may generally refuse to provide fee-attracting services until its fees for those services are paid.

Payment of Taxes

You will be responsible for any taxes or other governmental charges payable on your ADSs or on the deposited securities represented by any of your ADSs. The depositary may refuse to register any transfer of your ADSs or allow you to withdraw the deposited securities represented by your ADSs until such taxes or other charges are paid. It may apply payments owed to you or sell deposited securities represented by your American

 

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depositary shares to pay any taxes owed and you will remain liable for any deficiency. If the depositary sells deposited securities, it will, if appropriate, reduce the number of ADSs to reflect the sale and pay to you any proceeds, or send to you any property, remaining after it has paid the taxes.

Reclassifications, Recapitalizations and Mergers

 

If we:

  

Then:

•    (a) Change the nominal or par value of our shares or reclassify, split up or (b) consolidate any of the deposited securities

  

•    The cash, shares or other securities received by the depositary will become deposited securities. Each ADS will automatically represent its equal share of the new deposited securities

•    (a) Distribute securities on the shares that are not distributed to you or (b) recapitalize, reorganize, merge, liquidate, sell all or substantially all of our assets, or take any similar action

  

•    The depositary may, and will if we ask it to, distribute some or all of the cash, shares or other securities it received. It may also deliver new ADSs or ask you to surrender your outstanding ADRs in exchange for new ADRs identifying the new deposited securities.

Amendment and Termination

How May the Deposit Agreement Be Amended?

We may agree with the depositary to amend the deposit agreement and the ADRs without your consent for any reason. If an amendment adds or increases fees or charges, except for taxes and other governmental charges or expenses of the depositary for registration fees, facsimile costs, delivery charges or similar items, or prejudices a substantial right of ADS holders, it will not become effective for outstanding ADSs until 30 days after the depositary notifies ADS holders of the amendment. At the time an amendment becomes effective, you are considered, by continuing to hold your ADR, to agree to the amendment and to be bound by the ADRs and the deposit agreement as amended.

How May the Deposit Agreement Be Terminated?

The depositary will terminate the deposit agreement at our direction by mailing a notice of termination to the ADS holders then outstanding at least 30 days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination. The depositary may also terminate the deposit agreement by mailing a notice of termination to us and the ADS holders then outstanding if at any time 60 days shall have expired after the depositary shall have delivered to our company a written notice of its election to resign and a successor depositary shall not have been appointed and accepted its appointment.

After termination, the depositary and its agents will do the following under the deposit agreement but nothing else: collect distributions on the deposited securities, sell rights and other property, and deliver shares and other deposited securities upon cancellation of ADSs. Four months after termination, the depositary may sell any remaining deposited securities by public or private sale. After that, the depositary will hold the money it received on the sale, as well as any other cash it is holding under the deposit agreement for the pro rata benefit of the ADS holders that have not surrendered their ADSs. It will not invest the money and has no liability for interest. The depositary’s only obligations will be to account for the money and other cash. After termination our only obligations will be to indemnify the depositary and to pay fees and expenses of the depositary that we agreed to pay.

 

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Limitations on Obligations and Liability

Limits on Our Obligations and the Obligations of the Depositary; Limits on Liability to Holders of ADSs

The deposit agreement expressly limits our obligations and the obligations of the depositary. It also limits our liability and the liability of the depositary. We and the depositary:

 

    are only obligated to take the actions specifically set forth in the deposit agreement without negligence or bad faith;

 

    are not liable if either of us is prevented or delayed by law or circumstances beyond our control from performing our obligations under the deposit agreement;

 

    are not liable if either of us exercises discretion permitted under the deposit agreement;

 

    have no obligation to become involved in a lawsuit or other proceeding related to the ADSs or the deposit agreement on your behalf or on behalf of any other party;

 

    may rely upon any documents we believe in good faith to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party.

In the deposit agreement, we and the depositary agree to indemnify each other under certain circumstances.

Requirements for Depositary Actions

Before the depositary will deliver or register a transfer of an ADS, make a distribution on an ADS, or permit withdrawal of shares, the depositary may require:

 

    payment of stock transfer or other taxes or other governmental charges and transfer or registration fees charged by third parties for the transfer of any shares or other deposited securities;

 

    satisfactory proof of the identity and genuineness of any signature or other information it deems necessary; and

 

    compliance with regulations it may establish, from time to time, consistent with the deposit agreement, including presentation of transfer documents.

The depositary may refuse to deliver ADSs or register transfers of ADSs generally when the transfer books of the depositary or our transfer books are closed or at any time if the depositary or we think it advisable to do so.

Your Right to Receive the Shares Underlying Your ADSs

You have the right to cancel your ADSs and withdraw the underlying shares at any time except:

 

    When temporary delays arise because: (i) the depositary has closed its transfer books or we have closed our transfer books; (ii) the transfer of shares is blocked to permit voting at a shareholders’ meeting; or (iii) we are paying a dividend on our shares.

 

    When you owe money to pay fees, taxes and similar charges.

 

    When it is necessary to prohibit withdrawals in order to comply with any laws or governmental regulations that apply to ADSs or to the withdrawal of shares or other deposited securities.

This right of withdrawal may not be limited by any other provision of the deposit agreement.

Pre-Release of ADSs

The deposit agreement permits the depositary to deliver ADSs before deposit of the underlying shares. This is called a pre-release of the American depositary shares. The depositary may also deliver shares upon

 

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cancellation of pre-released ADSs (even if the ADSs are cancelled before the pre-release transaction has been closed out). A pre-release is closed out as soon as the underlying shares are delivered to the depositary. The depositary may receive ADSs instead of shares to close out a pre-release. The depositary may pre-release ADSs only under the following conditions: (1) before or at the time of the pre-release, the person to whom the pre-release is being made represents to the depositary in writing that it or its customer owns the shares or ADSs to be deposited; (2) the pre-release is fully collateralized with cash or other collateral that the depositary considers appropriate; and (3) the depositary must be able to close out the pre-release on not more than five business days’ notice. In addition, the depositary will limit the number of ADSs that may be outstanding at any time as a result of pre-release, although the depositary may disregard the limit from time to time, if it thinks it is appropriate to do so.

Direct Registration System

In the deposit agreement, all parties to the deposit agreement have acknowledged that the Direct Registration System and Profile Modification System will apply to uncertificated ADSs upon acceptance thereof to DRS by the DTC. The Direct Registration System is the system administered by DTC pursuant to which the depositary may register the ownership of uncertificated American depositary shares, which ownership shall be evidenced by periodic statements issued by the depositary to the ADS holders entitled thereto. The Profile Modification System is a required feature of the Direct Registration System which allows a DTC participant, claiming to act on behalf of an ADS holder, to direct the depositary to register a transfer of those ADSs to DTC or its nominee and to deliver those ADSs to the DTC account of that DTC participant without receipt by the depositary of prior authorization from the ADS holder to register such transfer.

In connection with and in accordance with the arrangements and procedures relating to the Direct Registration System/Profile Modification System, the parties to the deposit agreement understand that the depositary will not verify, determine or otherwise ascertain that the DTC participant which is claiming to be acting on behalf of an ADS holder in requesting registration of transfer and delivery described in the paragraph above has the actual authority to act on behalf of the ADS holder (notwithstanding any requirements under the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York). In the deposit agreement, the parties agree that the depositary’s reliance on and compliance with instructions received by the depositary through the Direct Registration System Profile Modification System and in accordance with the deposit agreement, shall not constitute negligence or bad faith on the part of the depositary.

Shareholder communications; inspection of register of holders of ADSs

The depositary will make available for your inspection at its office all communications that it receives from us as a holder of deposited securities that we make generally available to holders of deposited securities. The depositary will send you copies of those communications if we ask it to. You have a right to inspect the register of holders of ADSs, but not for the purpose of contacting those holders about a matter unrelated to our business or the ADSs.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF OUR PREFERRED SHARES

Our board of directors has the authority, without shareholder approval, to issue preferred shares in one or more series. Our board of directors may establish the number of shares to be included in each such series and may set the designations, preferences, powers and other rights of the shares of a series of preferred shares. Accordingly, our board of directors is empowered, without shareholder approval, to issue preferred shares with dividend, liquidation, conversion, redemption voting or other rights which could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of ordinary shares. The preferred shares could be utilized as a method of discouraging, delaying or preventing a change in control of our Company. Although we do not currently intend to issue any preferred shares, we cannot assure you that we will not do so in the future.

As of the date of this document, there are no outstanding preferred shares of any series. The material terms of any series of preferred shares that we offer, together with any material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to such preferred shares, will be described in a prospectus supplement.

Holders of our preferred shares are entitled to certain rights and subject to certain conditions as set forth in our memorandum and articles of association, as amended and restated from time to time, and the Companies Law (2013 Revision) of the Cayman Islands. See “Description of Share Capital.”

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

We may issue series of debt securities, which may include debt securities exchangeable for or convertible into common shares or preferred shares. When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will describe the specific terms of that series in a supplement to this prospectus. The following description of debt securities will apply to the debt securities offered by this prospectus unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement for a particular series of debt securities may specify different or additional terms.

The debt securities offered by this prospectus may be secured or unsecured, and may be senior debt securities, senior subordinated debt securities or subordinated debt securities. The debt securities offered by this prospectus may be issued under an indenture between us and the trustee under the indenture. The indenture may be qualified under, subject to, and governed by, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. We have summarized selected portions of the indenture below. The summary is not complete. The form of the indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement on Form F-3, of which this prospectus is a part, and you should read the indenture for provisions that may be important to you.

The terms of each series of debt securities will be established by or pursuant to a resolution of our board of directors and detailed or determined in the manner provided in a board of directors’ resolution, an officers’ certificate and by a supplemental indenture. The particular terms of each series of debt securities will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to the series, including any pricing supplement.

We may issue any amount of debt securities under the indenture, which may be in one or more series with the same or different maturities, at par, at a premium or at a discount. We will set forth in a prospectus supplement, including any related pricing supplement, relating to any series of debt securities being offered, the initial offering price, the aggregate principal amount offered and the terms of the debt securities, including, among other things, the following:

 

    the title of the debt securities;

 

    the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount) at which we will sell the debt securities;

 

    any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;

 

    the date or dates on which we will repay the principal on the debt securities and the right, if any, to extend the maturity of the debt securities;

 

    the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or the method used to determine the rate or rates (including any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the debt securities will bear interest, the date or dates from which interest will accrue, the date or dates on which interest will be payable and any regular record date for any interest payment date;

 

    the place or places where the principal of, premium, and interest on the debt securities will be payable, and where the debt securities of the series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange;

 

    any obligation or right we have to redeem the debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of holders of the debt securities or at our option, and the terms and conditions upon which we are obligated to or may redeem the debt securities;

 

    any obligation we have to repurchase the debt securities at the option of the holders of debt securities, the dates on which and the price or prices at which we will repurchase the debt securities and other detailed terms and provisions of these repurchase obligations;

 

    the denominations in which the debt securities will be issued;

 

    whether the debt securities will be issued in the form of certificated debt securities or global debt securities;

 

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    the portion of principal amount of the debt securities payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity date, if other than the principal amount;

 

    the currency of denomination of the debt securities;

 

    the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of principal of, premium and interest on the debt securities will be made;

 

    if payments of principal of, premium or interest on, the debt securities will be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which the debt securities are denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to these payments will be determined;

 

    the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of, premium or interest on, the debt securities will be determined, if these amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies other than that in which the debt securities are denominated or designated to be payable or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index;

 

    any provisions relating to any security provided for the debt securities;

 

    any addition to or change in the events of default described in the indenture with respect to the debt securities and any change in the acceleration provisions described in the indenture with respect to the debt securities;

 

    any addition to or change in the covenants described in the indenture with respect to the debt securities;

 

    whether the debt securities will be senior or subordinated and any applicable subordination provisions;

 

    a discussion of material income tax considerations applicable to the debt securities;

 

    any other terms of the debt securities, which may modify any provisions of the indenture as it applies to that series; and

 

    any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to the debt securities.

We may issue debt securities that are exchangeable for and/or convertible into common shares or preferred shares. The terms, if any, on which the debt securities may be exchanged and/or converted will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Such terms may include provisions for exchange or conversion, which can be mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option, and the manner in which the number of common shares, preferred shares or other securities to be received by the holders of debt securities would be calculated.

We may issue debt securities that provide for an amount less than their stated principal amount to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of their maturity pursuant to the terms of the indenture. We will provide you with information on the U.S. federal income tax considerations, and other special considerations applicable to any of these debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we denominate the purchase price of any of the debt securities in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, or if the principal of and any premium and interest on any series of debt securities is payable in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, we will provide you with information on the restrictions, elections, specific terms and other information with respect to that issue of debt securities and such foreign currency or currencies or foreign currency unit or units in the applicable prospectus supplement.

We may issue debt securities of a series in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary identified in the prospectus supplement. Global securities will be issued in registered form and in either temporary or definitive form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual debt securities, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary for such global security to a nominee of such depositary or by a nominee of such depositary to such depositary or another nominee of such depositary or by such depositary or any such nominee to a successor

 

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of such depositary or a nominee of such successor. The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any debt securities of a series and the rights of and limitations upon owners of beneficial interests in a global security will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York, unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue and offer warrants under the material terms and conditions described in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. The accompanying prospectus supplement may add, update or change the terms and conditions of the warrants as described in this prospectus.

General

We may issue warrants to purchase our common shares, preferred shares or debt securities. Warrants may be issued independently or together with any securities and may be attached to or separate from those securities. The warrants will be issued under warrant agreements to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, all of which will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants we are offering. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not have any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants.

Equity Warrants

Each equity warrant issued by us will entitle its holder to purchase the equity securities designated at an exercise price set forth in, or to be determinable as set forth in, the related prospectus supplement. Equity warrants may be issued separately or together with equity securities.

The equity warrants are to be issued under equity warrant agreements to be entered into between us and one or more banks or trust companies, as equity warrant agent, as will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement and this prospectus.

The particular terms of the equity warrants, the equity warrant agreements relating to the equity warrants and the equity warrant certificates representing the equity warrants will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, as applicable:

 

    the title of the equity warrants;

 

    the initial offering price;

 

    the aggregate amount of equity warrants and the aggregate amount of equity securities purchasable upon exercise of the equity warrants;

 

    the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable;

 

    if applicable, the designation and terms of the equity securities with which the equity warrants are issued, and the amount of equity warrants issued with each equity security;

 

    the date, if any, on and after which the equity warrants and the related equity security will be separately transferable;

 

    if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the equity warrants that may be exercised at any one time;

 

    the date on which the right to exercise the equity warrants will commence and the date on which the right will expire;

 

    if applicable, a discussion of United States federal income tax, accounting or other considerations applicable to the equity warrants;

 

    anti-dilution provisions of the equity warrants, if any;

 

    redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the equity warrants; and

 

    any additional terms of the equity warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the equity warrants.

 

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Holders of equity warrants will not be entitled, solely by virtue of being holders, to vote, to consent, to receive dividends, to receive notice as shareholders with respect to any meeting of shareholders for the election of directors or any other matters, or to exercise any rights whatsoever as a holder of the equity securities purchasable upon exercise of the equity warrants.

Debt Warrants

Each debt warrant issued by us will entitle its holder to purchase the debt securities designated at an exercise price set forth in, or to be determinable as set forth in, the related prospectus supplement. Debt warrants may be issued separately or together with debt securities.

The debt warrants are to be issued under debt warrant agreements to be entered into between us, and one or more banks or trust companies, as debt warrant agent, as will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement and this prospectus.

The particular terms of each issue of debt warrants, the debt warrant agreement relating to the debt warrants and the debt warrant certificates representing debt warrants will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, as applicable:

 

    the title of the debt warrants;

 

    the initial offering price;

 

    the title, aggregate principal amount and terms of the debt securities purchasable upon exercise of the debt warrants;

 

    the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable;

 

    the title and terms of any related debt securities with which the debt warrants are issued and the amount of the debt warrants issued with each debt security;

 

    the date, if any, on and after which the debt warrants and the related debt securities will be separately transferable;

 

    the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of each debt warrant and the price at which that principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon exercise of each debt warrant;

 

    if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of warrants that may be exercised at any one time;

 

    the date on which the right to exercise the debt warrants will commence and the date on which the right will expire;

 

    if applicable, a discussion of United States federal income tax, accounting or other considerations applicable to the debt warrants;

 

    whether the debt warrants represented by the debt warrant certificates will be issued in registered or bearer form, and, if registered, where they may be transferred and registered;

 

    anti-dilution provisions of the debt warrants, if any;

 

    redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the debt warrants; and

 

    any additional terms of the debt warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the debt warrants.

Debt warrant certificates will be exchangeable for new debt warrant certificates of different denominations and, if in registered form, may be presented for registration of transfer, and debt warrants may be exercised at the corporate trust office of the debt warrant agent or any other office indicated in the related prospectus supplement. Before the exercise of debt warrants, holders of debt warrants will not be entitled to payments of principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the debt securities purchasable upon exercise of the debt warrants, or to enforce any of the covenants in the indentures governing such debt securities.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell or distribute the securities offered by this prospectus, from time to time, in one or more offerings, as follows:

 

    through agents;

 

    to dealers or underwriters for resale;

 

    directly to investors; or

 

    through a combination of any of these methods of sale.

We will set forth in a free writing prospectus or prospectus supplement the terms of the offering of securities, including:

 

    the name or names of any agents or underwriters;

 

    the purchase price of the securities being offered and the proceeds we will receive from the sale;

 

    any over-allotment options under which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us;

 

    any agency fees or underwriting discounts and other items constituting agents’ or underwriters’ compensation;

 

    the public offering price;

 

    any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and

 

    any securities exchanges on which such securities may be listed.

If we use underwriters for a sale of securities, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account. The underwriters may resell the securities in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to the conditions set forth in the applicable underwriting agreement. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the securities of the series offered if they purchase any of the securities of that series. We may change from time to time any public offering price and any discounts or concessions the underwriters allow or reallow or pay to dealers. We may use underwriters with whom we have a material relationship. We will describe in a free writing prospectus or prospectus supplement naming the underwriter and the nature of any such relationship.

We may designate agents who agree to use their reasonable efforts to solicit purchases for the period of their appointment or to sell securities on a continuing basis.

We may also sell securities directly to one or more purchasers without using underwriters or agents.

Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities may be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act, and any discounts or commissions they receive from us and any profit on their resale of the securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. We will identify in a free writing prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement any underwriters, dealers or agents and will describe their compensation. We may have agreements with the underwriters, dealers and agents to indemnity them against specified civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of their businesses.

 

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We will bear all costs, expenses and fees in connection with the registration of the securities as well as the expenses of all commissions and discounts, if any, attributable to the sales of securities by us.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus, each class or series of securities will be a new issue with no established trading market, other than our ordinary shares represented by ADSs, which are listed on the NASDAQ Global Market. We may elect to list any other class or series of securities on any exchange, but we are not obligated to do so. It is possible that one or more underwriters may make a market in a class or series of securities, but the underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We cannot give any assurance as to the liquidity of the trading market for any of the securities.

In connection with an offering, an underwriter may purchase and sell securities in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of securities than they are required to purchase in the offering. “Covered” short sales are sales made in an amount not greater than the underwriters’ option to purchase additional securities, if any, from us in the offering. If the underwriters have an over-allotment option to purchase additional securities from us, the underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising their over-allotment option or purchasing securities in the open market. In determining the source of securities to close out the covered short position, the underwriters may consider, among other things, the price of securities available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase securities through the over-allotment option. “Naked” short sales are any sales in excess of such option or where the underwriters do not have an over-allotment option. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing securities in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the securities in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering.

Accordingly, to cover these short sales positions or to otherwise stabilize or maintain the price of the securities, the underwriters may bid for or purchase securities in the open market and may impose penalty bids. If penalty bids are imposed, selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other broker-dealers participating in the offering are reclaimed if securities previously distributed in the offering are repurchased, whether in connection with stabilization transactions or otherwise. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. The impositions of a penalty bid may also affect the price of the securities to the extent that it discourages resale of the securities. The magnitude or effect of any stabilization or other transactions is uncertain. These transactions may be effected on the NASDAQ Global Market or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

We may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement or a post-effective amendment.

In addition, we may loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities short using this prospectus. Such financial institution or third party may transfer its economic short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a concurrent offering of other securities offered by this prospectus or otherwise.

 

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TAXATION

Material income tax consequences relating to the purchase, ownership and disposition of any of the securities offered by this prospectus will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the offering of those securities.

 

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ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES

We are incorporated and existing under the laws of the Cayman Islands to take advantage of certain benefits associated with being a Cayman Islands exempted company, such as:

 

    political and economic stability;

 

    an effective judicial system;

 

    a favorable tax system;

 

    the absence of exchange control or currency restrictions; and

 

    the availability of professional and support services.

However, certain disadvantages accompany incorporation in the Cayman Islands. These disadvantages include:

 

    the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws as compared to the United States and provides significantly less protection to investors; and

 

    Cayman Islands companies do not have standing to sue before the federal courts of the United States.

Our constituent documents do not contain provisions requiring that disputes, including those arising under the securities laws of the United States, between us, our officers, directors and shareholders, be arbitrated.

Substantially all of our current operations are conducted in the PRC, and substantially all of our assets are located in the PRC. In addition, most of our directors and officers are nationals and residents of countries other than the United States. A substantial portion of the assets of these persons are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for a shareholder to effect service of process within the United States upon us or such persons, or to enforce against us or them judgments obtained in United States courts, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States.

We have appointed Hanwha SolarOne U.S.A. Inc. (USA) as our agent to receive service of process with respect to any action brought against us in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York under the federal securities laws of the United States or any action brought against us in the Supreme Court of the State of New York in the County of New York under the securities laws of the State of New York.

Maples and Calder, our counsel as to Cayman Islands law, and Global Law Office, our counsel as to PRC law, have advised us, respectively, that there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands and the PRC, respectively, would:

 

    recognize or enforce judgments of United States courts obtained against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States or any state or territory in the United States; or

 

    entertain original actions brought in the courts of the Cayman Islands or the PRC, respectively, against us or our directors or officers predicated solely upon the federal securities laws of the United States or any state or territory within the United States.

Maples and Calder has further advised us that a final and conclusive judgment in the federal or state courts of the United States under which a sum of money is payable, other than a sum payable in respect of taxes, fines, penalties or similar fiscal or revenue obligations and which was neither obtained in a manner nor is of a kind enforcement of which is contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands, may be subject to enforcement proceedings as a debt in the courts of the Cayman Islands under the common law doctrine of obligation. However, the Cayman Islands courts are unlikely to enforce a punitive judgment of a United States

 

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court predicated upon the liabilities provision of the federal securities laws in the United States without retrial on the merits if such judgment gives rise to obligations to make payments that may be regarded as fines, penalties or similar charges.

Global Law Office has further advised us that the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are primarily provided for under the PRC Civil Procedures Law. PRC courts may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the PRC Civil Procedures Law based either on treaties between the PRC and the country where the judgment is made or on reciprocity between jurisdictions. The PRC currently does not have any treaties or other agreements that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments with the United States. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedures Law, courts in the PRC will not enforce a foreign judgment against us or our directors and officers if they decide that the judgment violates the basic principles of PRC law or national sovereignty, security or public interest. Therefore, it is uncertain whether a PRC court would enforce a judgment rendered by a court in the United States.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

Except as otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, certain legal matters in connection with the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Shearman & Sterling LLP, our special United States counsel, to the extent governed by the laws of the State of New York, and by Maples and Calder, our special legal counsel as to Cayman Islands law, to the extent governed by the laws of the Cayman Islands. Legal matters as to PRC law will be passed upon for us by Global Law Office, our counsel as to PRC law. If legal matters in connection with offerings made pursuant to this prospectus are passed upon by counsel to underwriters, dealers or agents, such counsel will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any such offering.

 

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EXPERTS

Our consolidated financial statements appearing in our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2012 and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012 have been audited by Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated by reference herein. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

The offices of Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP are located at 50th floor, Shanghai World Financial Center, 100 Century Avenue, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, China.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT US

We are currently subject to periodic reporting and other informational requirements of the Exchange Act as applicable to foreign private issuers. Accordingly, we are required to file with or furnish to the SEC reports, including annual reports on Form 20-F, and other information. All information filed with or furnished to the SEC can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can request copies of these documents upon payment of a duplicating fee, by writing to the SEC. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference rooms. Additional information may also be obtained over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. We also maintain a website at www.hanwha-solarone.com, but information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. You should not regard any information on our website as a part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.

As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt under the Exchange Act from, among other things, the rules prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements, and our executive officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In addition, we will not be required under the Exchange Act to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as U.S. companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act. However, we intend to furnish the depositary with our annual reports, which will include a review of operations and annual audited consolidated financial statements prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP, and all notices of shareholders’ meetings, and other reports and communications that are made generally available to our shareholders. The depositary will make such notices, reports and communications available to holders of our ADSs and, upon our request, will mail to all record holders of our ADSs the information contained in any notice of a shareholders’ meeting received by the depositary from us.

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-3 relating to the securities covered by this prospectus. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement are part of the registration statement and do not contain all the information in the registration statement. You will find additional information about us in the registration statement. Any statement made in this prospectus concerning a contract or other document of ours is not necessarily complete, and you should read the documents that are filed as exhibits to the registration statement or otherwise filed with the SEC for a more complete understanding of the document or matter. Each such statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the document to which it refers. You may inspect a copy of the registration statement at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C., as well as through the SEC’s website.

 

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PART II

Information Not Required in Prospectus

 

Item 8. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent that any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. The registrant’s articles of association provide for indemnification of officers and directors for losses, damages, costs and expenses incurred in their capacities as such, except through dishonesty, fraud or their own willful neglect or default.

The registrant has agreed to indemnify its directors and officers against certain liabilities and expenses incurred by such persons in connection with claims made by reason of their being such a director or officer.

The form of Underwriting Agreement to be filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Registration Statement will also provide for indemnification of the registrant and its officers and directors.

 

Item 9. Exhibits

See Exhibit Index beginning on page II-7 of this registration statement.

 

Item 10. Undertakings.

(A) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

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(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) To file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A. of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act need not be furnished, provided that the registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph (4) and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a post-effective amendment need not be filed to include financial statements and information required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act or Rule 3-19 of Regulation S-X if such financial statements and information are contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement.

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:

(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(6) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities. The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

 

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(B) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(C) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

(D) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act, in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, on November 1, 2013.

 

Hanwha SolarOne Co., Ltd.
By:  

/s/ Ki-Joon Hong

  Name: Ki-Joon Hong
  Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

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POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Mr. Ki-Joon Hong, Mr. Min Su Kim, and Mr. Jung Pyo Seo, and each of them, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to this registration statement on Form F-3 and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as each such person might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on November 1, 2013.

 

Signatures

 

Title

/s/ Ki-Joon Hong

 

Chairman and chief executive officer (principal executive officer)

Ki-Joon Hong  

/s/ Min Su Kim

  Director and president
Min Su Kim  

/s/ Thomas J. Toy

  Independent director
Thomas J. Toy  

/s/ Ernst A. Bütler

  Independent director
Ernst A. Bütler  

/s/ Yinzhang Gu

  Independent director
Yinzhang Gu  

/s/ David N. K. Wang

  Independent director
David N. K. Wang  

/s/ Jung Pyo Seo

 

Chief financial officer (principal financial and accounting officer)

Jung Pyo Seo  

 

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SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REGISTRANT

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of Hanwha SolarOne Co., Ltd., has signed this registration statement or amendment thereto in California, United States, on November 1, 2013.

 

Hanwha SolarOne U.S.A. Inc. (USA)
By:  

/s/  Suk Mok Kang

  Name: Suk Mok Kang
  Title: President

 

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Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

  1.1*   Form of Underwriting Agreement or Agency Agreement
  4.1   Registrant’s specimen Certificate for Ordinary Shares
  4.2**   Form of American Depositary Receipt
  4.3***   Form of Deposit Agreement, among the Registrant, the depositary and owners and holders of the American Depositary Shares
  4.4*   Specimen preferred share certificate and form of certificate of designations of preferred shares.
  4.5   Form of Indenture
  4.6*   Form of Debt Security
  4.7*   Form of Warrant
  4.8*   Form of Warrant Agreement
  5.1   Opinion of Maples and Calder regarding the validity of the securities.
  5.2   Opinion of Shearman & Sterling LLP regarding the validity of the securities
12.1   Statement regarding the computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges
23.1   Consent of Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP, independent registered public accounting firm
23.2   Consent of Maples and Calder (included in Exhibit 5.1).
23.3   Consent of Shearman & Sterling LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2).
23.4   Consent of Global Law Office
24.1   Powers of Attorney (included on signature page hereof)
25.1*   Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of the Trustee under the Indenture

 

* To be filed as an exhibit to a post-effective amendment to this registration statement or as an exhibit to a report filed or furnished with the SEC and incorporated herein by reference
** Previously filed with the Registrant’s prospectus on Form 424B (File No. 333-139263) filed with the SEC on February 15, 2011
*** Previously filed with the Registrant’s registration statement on Form F-6 (File No. 333-139263) filed with the SEC on December 11, 2006 with respect to American depositary shares representing ordinary shares

 

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