As filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-240293
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(to Prospectus dated August 3, 2020)
RENESOLA LTD
25,000,000 Ordinary Shares represented by 2,500,000 American
Depositary Shares
We are offering 25,000,000 ordinary shares, represented by
2,500,000 American Depositary Shares (which we refer to herein as
ADSs) pursuant to this prospectus supplement and accompanying
prospectus to several institutional investors. Each ADS represents
ten ordinary shares in ReneSola Ltd.
ADSs representing our ordinary shares are listed on The New York
Stock Exchange, or NYSE, under the symbol “SOL.” The last reported
sale price of ADSs representing our ordinary shares on September
23, 2020 was $2.10 per ADS.
The aggregate market value of our outstanding ordinary shares held
by non-affiliates as of the date of this prospectus supplement is
approximately $27,393,954, based on 491,406,340 ordinary shares
outstanding, 130,447,400 of which were held by non-affiliates, and
the closing sale price of our ADSs on NYSE of $2.10 on September
23, 2020. We have sold $1,058,744 in securities pursuant to General
Instructions I.B.5 of Form F-3 during the prior 12 calendar month
period that ends on, and includes, the date of this prospectus
supplement (but excluding this offering).
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You
should review carefully the risks and uncertainties described under
the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-4 of this
prospectus supplement and page 6 of the accompanying prospectus, as
well as the risks and uncertainties described under the heading
“Risk Factors” contained in our annual report on Form 20-F for the
year ended December 31, 2019, 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 adequacy or accuracy of this
prospectus supplement. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.
We have engaged H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC (“Wainwright” or the
“Placement Agent”), as our exclusive placement agent in connection
with this offering. The Placement Agent is not required to sell any
specific number or dollar amount of securities, but will assist us
in this offering on a reasonable best efforts basis. The Placement
Agent has no obligation to buy any of the securities from us or to
arrange for the purchase or sale of any specific number or dollar
amount of securities. We have agreed to pay the Placement Agent the
placement agent fees set forth in the table below.
|
|
PER ADS |
|
|
TOTAL |
|
Offering Price |
|
$ |
2.00 |
|
|
$ |
5,000,000 |
|
Placement Agent Fees (1) |
|
$ |
0.16 |
|
|
$ |
400,000 |
|
Proceeds, before expenses, to us |
|
$ |
1.84 |
|
|
$ |
4,600,000 |
|
(1) |
In addition, we have agreed to reimburse the
placement agent for certain expenses. See “Plan of Distribution”
beginning on page S-9 of this prospectus supplement for additional
information with respect to the compensation we will pay the
placement agent. |
Delivery of the ADSs is expected to be made on or about September
25, 2020, subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions.
H.C. Wainwright & Co.
The date of this prospectus supplement is September 23,
2020
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prospectus Supplement
Prospectus
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT
This prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relates to
the offering of our securities. Before buying any of the securities
that we are offering, we urge you to carefully read this prospectus
supplement, the accompanying prospectus, any free writing
prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this
offering, and the information incorporated by reference as
described under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information”
and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” in this
prospectus supplement. These documents contain important
information that you should consider when making your investment
decision.
This document is comprised of two parts. The first part is this
prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this
offering and also adds to, and updates information contained in,
the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by
reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus. The second part, the accompanying prospectus, including
the documents incorporated by reference into the accompanying
prospectus, provides more general information, some of which may
not apply to this offering. Generally, when we refer to this
prospectus, we are referring to the combined document consisting of
this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. In this
prospectus supplement, as permitted by law, we “incorporate by
reference” information from other documents that we file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. This means that we
can disclose important information to you by referring to those
documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered
to be a part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus and should be read with the same care. When we make
future filings with the SEC to update the information contained in
documents that have been incorporated by reference, the information
included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement
is considered to be automatically updated and superseded. In other
words, in case of a conflict or inconsistency between information
contained in this prospectus supplement and information in the
accompanying prospectus or incorporated by reference into this
prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information contained
in the document that was filed later.
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are part
of a registration statement on Form F-3 that we filed on August 3,
2020 with the SEC using a “shelf” registration process with respect
to up to $100,000,000 in securities that may be sold thereunder.
The shelf registration statement was declared effective by the SEC
on August 11, 2020.
Under the shelf registration process, we may offer and sell any
combination of securities described in the accompanying prospectus
in one or more offerings. The purpose of this prospectus supplement
is to provide supplemental information regarding us in connection
with this offering of securities.
You should rely only on the information contained in, or
incorporated by reference into, this prospectus supplement, the
accompanying prospectus, and in any free writing prospectus that we
have authorized for use in connection with this offering. We have
not authorized any other person to provide you with different
information. We are not making an offer to sell or soliciting an
offer to buy our securities in any jurisdiction in which an offer
or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making
that offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone
to whom it is unlawful to make an offer or solicitation. You should
assume that the information appearing in this prospectus
supplement, the accompanying prospectus, the documents incorporated
by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus, and in any free writing prospectus that we have
authorized for use in connection with this offering, is accurate
only as of the date of those respective documents. Our business,
financial condition, results of operations, and prospects may have
changed since those dates.
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
SUMMARY
This summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere
or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus. The summary may not contain all the
information that you should consider before investing in the ADSs.
You should read the entire prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus carefully, including “Risk Factors”
contained in this prospectus supplement and the documents
incorporated by reference herein, before making an investment
decision. This prospectus supplement may add to, update or change
information in the accompanying prospectus.
Our Company
About ReneSola Ltd
Prior to September 2017, we were a leading fully-integrated
solar project developer and provider of energy-efficient products
based in China. We provided high quality solar power products,
including solar wafers, solar cells, solar modules and solar power
projects, to a global network of suppliers and customers, which
included leading global manufacturers of solar wafers, cells and
modules and distributors, installers and end users of solar
modules. We also provided processing services to our customers.
We completed a comprehensive corporate restructuring in
September 2017, after which we have become a solar project
developer and operator, a pure downstream player with robust
pipeline projects around the world. We currently develop and sell
solar power projects or sell project SPVs (project development
business), and own and operate solar power projects and sell the
electricity generated by our operated solar power plants (IPP
business).
We are still in a multi-year transformation process from a negative
cash flow equipment maker to a positive operating cash flow and
asset-light solar project developer. We switched our long-term
growth strategy from focusing on our traditional market in China to
a global expansion roadmap. We now primarily focus on the promising
markets in the United States and Europe. We already obtained a
leading market share in Poland and Hungary, as well as some states
in the United States such as Minnesota and New York. In 2019, we
moved our headquarters to Connecticut, the United States where our
senior management team will be based going forward.
As of December 31, 2019, we completed 779 megawatts (“MW”) of
solar power projects, including about 11 MW of new installations in
China, 17 MW of ground mounted projects in Europe, 24 MW of
utility-scale projects in the U.S, and 7MW of Fit projects in
Canada in 2019. We were operating approximately 216 MW solar power
projects globally as of December 31, 2019, including 172 MW in
China, and recorded electricity generation revenue from these
projects. As of December 31, 2019, we had 417 MW within the
late-stage pipeline, including 193 MW in the United States, with
commercial operation date, or COD, within 2020 and 2022, of which
30MW of the solar power projects were under construction.
Our net revenue from continuing operations decreased from $103.0
million in 2017 to $96.9 million in 2018 and increased to $119
million in 2019. We recorded operating loss of $1.0 million and net
loss of $11.7 million in 2019, compared to operating income of
$15.5 million and net income of $5.1 million in 2018, and operating
income of $6.6 million and net income of $3.2 million in 2017.
In addition, for the year ended December 31, 2019, we had generated
positive operating cash flow of $55.9 million
THE OFFERING
Securities offered by us pursuant to this
prospectus supplement |
|
25,000,000 ordinary shares
represented by 2,500,000 ADSs |
|
|
|
The
ADSs |
|
Each ADS represents ten ordinary shares, no par
value. |
|
|
|
ADS
Depositary |
|
Bank of New York Mellon |
|
|
|
Ordinary
shares outstanding before this offering |
|
491,406,340 ordinary shares (including ordinary
shares represented by ADSs) |
|
|
|
Ordinary
shares outstanding after this offering |
|
516,406,340 ordinary shares (including ordinary
shares represented by ADSs) |
|
|
|
Offering
Price Per ADS |
|
$2.00 |
|
|
|
Listing |
|
The ADSs are listed on NYSE, under the symbol
“SOL”. |
|
|
|
Use of
Proceeds |
|
We intend to use the net proceeds from this
offering for expansion of our new pipeline and general working
capital purposes. See “Use of Proceeds.” |
|
|
|
Risk
Factors |
|
Investing in our securities involves significant
risks. You should read the “Risk Factors” section beginning on page
S-4 of this prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated
by reference in this prospectus supplement and accompanying
prospectus, including the risk factors described under the section
entitled “Risk Factors” contained in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, for a discussion of
factors to consider before deciding to purchase our
securities. |
The number of our ordinary shares to be outstanding immediately
after this offering is based on 491,406,340 shares outstanding
(excluding the number of shares reserved for future exercise or
vesting of our awards under our share incentive plan as of
September 23, 2020).
RISK FACTORS
Investment in ADSs representing our ordinary shares involves
risks. Before deciding whether to invest in ADSs representing our
ordinary shares, you should consider carefully the risk factors
discussed below and those contained in the section entitled “Risk
Factors” contained in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the
year ended December 31, 2019, as filed with the SEC on April 28,
2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety, as well as any amendment or update to our risk factors
reflected in subsequent filings with the SEC. If any of the risks
or uncertainties described in our SEC filings actually occurs, our
business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flow
could be materially and adversely affected. This could cause the
trading price of ADSs representing our ordinary shares to decline,
resulting in a loss of all or part of your investment. The risks
and uncertainties we have described are not the only ones facing
our company. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known
to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our
business operations.
Risks Related to this Offering
We have broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds of this
offering and may not use them effectively.
We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for expansion
of our new pipeline and general working capital purposes. However,
our management will have broad discretion in the application of the
net proceeds from this offering and could spend the proceeds in
ways that do not improve our results of operations or enhance the
value of ADSs representing our ordinary shares. The failure by
management to apply these funds effectively could result in
financial losses that could have a material adverse effect on our
business, cause the price of ADSs representing our ordinary shares
to decline and delay the development of our product candidates.
You may experience future dilution as a result of future equity
offerings.
In order to raise additional capital, we may in the future offer
additional ADSs or other securities convertible into or
exchangeable for ADSs representing our ordinary shares at prices
that may not be the same as the price per ADS in this offering. We
may sell ADSs or other securities in any other offering at a price
per ADS that is less than the price per ADS paid by investors in
this offering, and investors purchasing ADSs or other securities in
the future could have rights superior to existing shareholders. The
price per ADS at which we sell additional ADS or securities
convertible or exchangeable into ADS, in future transactions may be
higher or lower than the price per ADS paid by investors in this
offering.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the
documents incorporated in it by reference contain forward-looking
statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act,
that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements
relate to future events or our future financial performance and
include information concerning our possible or assumed future
results of operations, business strategies, financing plans,
competitive position, industry environment, potential growth
opportunities, the progress and timing of our clinical trials or
product candidate development programs, the effect of existing and
future regulations and the effects of competition. These statements
are based on our current expectations, beliefs and assumptions, and
on information currently available to our management. In some
cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of
words such as “anticipate”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “seek”,
“may”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “would”, “believe”, “estimate”,
“project”, “predict”, “potential”, “continue”, or the negative of
such terms or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements
are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results,
levels of activities, performance and other factors to be
materially different from those anticipated in such forward-looking
statements. Factors that might cause such differences include the
risks discussed in “Risk Factors.”
You should consider these factors and the other cautionary
statements made in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying
prospectus or the documents we incorporate by reference in this
prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus as being
applicable to all related forward-looking statements wherever they
appear in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus
or the documents incorporated by reference. We caution investors
not to place significant reliance on the forward-looking statements
contained herein. These statements, like all statements in this
prospectus supplement, speak only as of the date hereof (unless
another date is indicated) and we undertake no obligation to update
or revise the statements, except as may be required under
applicable securities laws.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering, after
deducting placement agent fees and offering expenses payable by us,
will be approximately $4.5 million.
We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering for expansion of
our new pipeline and general working capital purposes.
DILUTION
If you invest in the ADSs in this offering, your interest will be
diluted to the extent of the difference between the offering price
per ADS paid by purchasers in this offering and our pro forma as
adjusted net tangible book value per ADS after completion of this
offering.
Our net tangible book value as of June 30, 2020 was approximately
$93,646,129.91, or $0.195 per ordinary share ($1.95 per ADS). Net
tangible book value per share represents the amount of our total
tangible assets less total liabilities attributed to ReneSola Ltd
divided by the total number of ordinary shares outstanding.
After giving effect to the sale by us of 25,000,000 ordinary shares
represented by 2,500,000 ADSs offered pursuant to this prospectus
supplement at the offering price of $2.00 per ADS, the
at-the-market offering that was launched on August 11, 2020, and
after deducting placement agent fees and other estimated offering
expenses, our net tangible book value at June 30, 2020 would have
been $100,353,992.91, or $0.194 per ordinary share ($1.94 per ADS).
This represents an immediate decrease in net tangible book value of
$0.001 per ordinary share ($0.01 per ADS) to the then existing
shareholders and an immediate dilution of $0.006 per ordinary share
to new investors ($0.06 per ADS).
The following table illustrates the net tangible book value
dilution per ordinary share to shareholders after the issuance of
ordinary shares under this prospectus:
Assumed Offering price per ADS |
|
$ |
2.00 |
|
Net tangible
book value per ADS as of June 30, 2020 |
|
$ |
1.95 |
|
Decrease in net tangible book value per ADS attributable to the
offering |
|
$ |
0.01 |
|
As-adjusted net tangible book value per ADS after giving effect to
the offering |
|
$ |
1.94 |
|
Dilution in net tangible book value per ADS to new investors |
|
$ |
0.06 |
|
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Pursuant to an engagement agreement dated September 21, 2020, we
have engaged H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, the Placement Agent,
to act as our exclusive placement agent in connection with this
offering. Under the terms of the engagement letter, the Placement
Agent is not purchasing the securities offered by us in this
offering, and is not required to sell any specific number or dollar
amount of securities. The terms of this offering were subject to
market conditions and negotiations between us, the Placement Agent
and the prospective investors.
The Placement Agent proposes to arrange for the sale of the ADSs we
are offering pursuant to this prospectus supplement and
accompanying prospectus to several investors through securities
purchase agreements directly between such investors and us. We will
only sell to investors who have entered into securities purchase
agreements with us.
The Placement Agent will have no authority to bind us by virtue of
the engagement letter. Further, the Placement Agent does not
guarantee that it will be able to raise new capital in any
prospective offering. The Placement Agent may engage sub-agents or
selected dealers to assist with this offering. We may not sell the
entire amount of the securities being offered pursuant to this
prospectus supplement.
Delivery of the securities offered hereby is expected to occur on
or about September 25, 2020, subject to satisfaction of customary
conditions.
Fees and Expenses
The following table show the total placement agent fees we will pay
in connection with the sale of the securities in this offering,
assuming the purchase of all of the securities we are offering.
|
|
Per ADS |
|
Placement Agent Fees |
|
$ |
0.16 |
|
Total |
|
$ |
400,000 |
|
We have agreed to pay to the Placement Agent a cash fee equal to
8.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds raised in this offering.
We estimate the total expenses payable by us for this offering to
be approximately $613,000, which amount includes (i) a Placement
Agent’s fee of $400,000, assuming the purchase of all of the
securities we are offering; (ii) reimbursement of the accountable
expenses of the Placement Agent equal to $50,000, including the
legal fees of the Placement Agent being paid by us (none of which
has been paid in advance); (iii) the Placement Agent’s clearing
expenses in the amount not exceeding $12,900 in connection with
this offering; and (iv) other estimated expenses of approximately
$150,000, which include legal, accounting, printing costs and
various fees associated with the registration and listing of our
shares.
Listing
The ADSs are listed on NYSE, under the symbol “SOL”.
Indemnification
We have agreed to indemnify the Placement Agent and specified other
persons against some civil liabilities, including liabilities under
the Securities Act, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, or the Exchange Act, and to contribute to payments that
the Placement Agent may be required to make in respect of such
liabilities.
Regulation M
The Placement Agent may be deemed to be an underwriter within the
meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act and any fees
received by it and any profit realized on the sale of the
securities by it while acting as principal might be deemed to be
underwriting discounts or commissions under the Securities Act. The
Placement Agent will be required to comply with the requirements of
the Securities Act and the Exchange Act including, without
limitation, Rule 10b-5 and Regulation M under the Exchange Act.
These rules and regulations may limit the timing of purchases and
sales of our securities by the Placement Agent. Under these rules
and regulations, the Placement Agent may not (i) engage in any
stabilization activity in connection with our securities; and (ii)
bid for or purchase any of our securities or attempt to induce any
person to purchase any of our securities, other than as permitted
under the Exchange Act, until they have completed their
participation in the distribution.
Other Relationships
From time to time, the Placement Agent has in the past and may
provide in the future, various advisory, investment and commercial
banking and other services to us in the ordinary course of
business, for which it may receive customary fees and commissions.
However, except as disclosed in this prospectus, we have no present
arrangements with the Placement Agent for any services. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Placement Agent also
acted as the sales agent for our at-the-market offering that was
launched on August 11, 2020, for which it received
compensation.
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
Kirkland & Ellis International LLP, our special United
States counsel, to the extent governed by the laws of the State of
New York, and by Harney Westwood & Riegels LLP, our
special legal counsel as to the British Virgin Islands law, to the
extent governed by the laws of the British Virgin Islands. Legal
matters as to PRC law will be passed upon for us by Zhong Lun
W&D Law Firm, Shanghai Branch, our counsel as to PRC law.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this
Registration Statement by reference to the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the
year ended December 31, 2019 have been so incorporated in
reliance on the report of Grant Thornton, an independent registered
public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as
experts in auditing and accounting
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE
INFORMATION
We file reports with the SEC on an annual basis using Form 20-F and
current reports on Form 6-K. You may read and copy any such reports
and amendments thereto at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F
Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549 on official business days
during the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Please call the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330 for information on the Public Reference Room.
Additionally, the SEC maintains a website that contains annual,
quarterly, and current reports, proxy statements, and other
information that issuers (including us) file electronically with
the SEC. The SEC’s website address is http://www.sec.gov. You can
also obtain copies of materials we file with the SEC from our
Internet website found at www.renesola.com. Our stock is quoted on
the NYSE under the symbol “SOL.”
This prospectus is only part of a registration statement on Form
F-3 that we have filed with the SEC under the Securities Act and
therefore omits certain information contained in the registration
statement. We have also filed exhibits and schedules with the
registration statement that are excluded from this prospectus, and
you should refer to the applicable exhibit or schedule for a
complete description of any statement referring to any contract or
other document. You may inspect a copy of the registration
statement, including the exhibits and schedules, without charge, at
the public reference room or obtain a copy from the SEC upon
payment of the fees prescribed by the SEC.
INCORPORATION 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 shall 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.
|
· |
our Annual Report
on Form 20-F for the year ended
December 31, 2019 filed on April 28, 2020; and |
Our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December
31, 2019 filed on April 28, 2020 contains a description of our
business and audited consolidated financial statements with a
report by our independent auditors. These financial statements are
prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States, or U.S. GAAP.
We also incorporate by reference into this prospectus additional
documents that we may file with the SEC under Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this
prospectus and prior to the sale of all ADSs or ordinary shares
registered hereunder or the termination of the registration
statement, but excluding any information deemed furnished and not
filed with the SEC.
Any statements contained in a previously filed document
incorporated by reference into this prospectus is deemed to be
modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the
extent that a statement contained in this prospectus, or in a
subsequently filed document also incorporated by reference herein,
modifies or supersedes that statement.
This prospectus supplement may contain information that updates,
modifies or is contrary to information in one or more of the
documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You should
rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided
in this prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone else
to provide you with different information. You should not assume
that the information in this prospectus supplement is accurate as
of any date other than the date of this prospectus supplement or
the date of the documents incorporated by reference in this
prospectus supplement or the prospectus.
We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to
whom this prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request, at
no cost to the requester, a copy of any and all of the information
that is incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
You may request, orally or in writing, a copy of these documents,
which will be provided to you at no cost, by contacting:
Ke Chen
Chief Financial Officer
3rd Floor, 850 Canal St
Stamford, CT 06902
U.S.A
Tel: +1(347) 577 9055 x115.
Fax: +1 (347) 577-9985
PROSPECTUS
ReneSola Ltd
$100,000,000
Shares
Preferred Shares
Debt Securities
We may offer and sell from time to time shares, preferred shares
and debt securities of ReneSola Ltd in any combination from time to
time in one or more offerings. The securities offered by this
prospectus will have an aggregate offering price of up to $100
million. The shares may be represented by American Depositary
Shares, or the ADSs. Any preferred shares which have been
authorized for issue and debt securities may be convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable for our shares, ADSs representing our
shares or other securities. This prospectus provides you with a
general description of the securities we may offer. The ADSs are
listed on the New York Stock Exchange and traded under the ticker
symbol “SOL.”
Each time we sell the 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. You
should carefully read this prospectus and any supplement 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.
Investing in our securities involves risks. See the “Risk
Factors” section contained in the applicable prospectus supplement
and in the documents we incorporate by reference in this
registration statement to which this prospectus forms a part to
read about factors you should consider 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 adequacy of the
disclosures in this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary
is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is
,
2020
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABOUT THIS
PROSPECTUS
You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement
together with the additional information described under the
heading “Where You Can Find More Information About Us” and
“Incorporation of Documents by Reference.”
In this prospectus, unless otherwise indicated or unless the
context otherwise requires,
|
· |
“we,” “us,” “our company,” “our” or “ReneSola” refers to
ReneSola Ltd, a British Virgin Islands company, its predecessor
entities and its subsidiaries; |
|
· |
“China” or “PRC” refers to the People’s Republic of China,
excluding, for the purposes of this prospectus and any prospectus
supplement, Taiwan and the special administrative regions of Hong
Kong and Macau; |
|
· |
all references to “RMB” or “Renminbi” refer to the legal
currency of China; all references to “$,” “dollars” or “U.S.
dollars” refer to the legal currency of the United States; all
references to “£” and “pounds sterling” refer to the legal currency
of the United Kingdom; all references to “€” or “euro” refer to the
official currency of the European Union and the currency that is
used in certain of its member states; |
|
· |
“ADSs” refers to American depositary shares, each of which
represents 10 of our shares, and “ADRs” refers to American
depositary receipts that may evidence the ADSs; and |
|
· |
“shares” refers to shares of ReneSola Ltd with no par
value. |
This prospectus is part of a shelf registration statement that we
filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC,
using a “shelf” registration process. By using a shelf registration
statement, we may sell our shares (including shares represented by
ADSs), preferred shares and debt securities or any combination of
any of the foregoing from time to time in one or more offerings on
a continuous or delayed basis. This prospectus only provides you
with a summary description of these securities. Each time we sell
the 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 prospectus supplement, you should rely
on the prospectus supplement. Before purchasing any of the
securities, you should carefully read both this prospectus and any
supplement, together with the additional information described
under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information About Us”
and “Incorporation of Documents by Reference.”
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated
by reference in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement.
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 the securities in any jurisdiction where the
offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the
information appearing in this prospectus and the applicable
supplement to this prospectus is accurate as of the date on its
respective cover, 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.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT US
This prospectus and any prospectus supplement are part of a
registration statement that we filed with the SEC and do not
contain all of the information in the registration statement. The
full registration statement may be obtained from the SEC or us, as
indicated below. Forms of documents establishing the terms of the
offered securities are filed as exhibits to the registration
statement. Statements in this prospectus or any prospectus
supplement about these documents are summaries and each statement
is qualified in all respects by reference to the document to which
it refers. You should refer to the actual documents for a more
complete description of the relevant matters. 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.
We file reports and other information with the SEC. Information
filed with the SEC by us can be inspected and copied at the Public
Reference Room maintained by the SEC at 100F Street, N.E.,
Washington, D.C. 20549. You may also obtain copies of this
information by mail from the Public Reference Section of the
SEC at prescribed rates. Further information on the operation of
the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. can be obtained
by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.
The SEC also maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and
information statements and other information about issuers, such as
us, who file electronically with the SEC. The address of that site
is http://www.sec.gov.
Our website address is http://www.renesolapower.com. The
information on our website, however, is not, and should not be
deemed to be, a part of this prospectus.
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 shall 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, 2019
filed with the SEC on April 28, 2020; |
|
· |
the description of our shares and American depositary shares
contained in the registration statement on
Form 8-A (File No. 001-33911) filed with the SEC on
January 11, 2008, including any amendment and report
subsequently filed for the purpose of updating that description;
and |
|
· |
with respect to each offering of the 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, 2019 filed on April 28, 2020 contains a
description of our business and audited consolidated financial
statements with a report by our independent auditors. These
financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States.
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. Copies of all documents
incorporated by reference in this prospectus, other than exhibits
to those documents unless such exhibits are specifically
incorporated by reference in this prospectus, will be provided at
no cost to each person, including any beneficial owner, who
receives a copy of this prospectus on the written or oral request
of that person made to:
Ke Chen
Chief Financial Officer
3rd Floor, 850 Canal St
Stamford, CT 06902
U.S.A
Tel: +1(347) 577 9055 x115.
Fax: +1 (347) 577-9985
You should rely only on the information that we incorporate by
reference or provide in this prospectus. We have not authorized
anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making
any offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer
is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in
this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any
date other than the date on the front of those documents.
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the
information incorporated herein and therein by reference may
contain “forward-looking” statements intended to qualify for the
safe harbor from liability established by the 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. Words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,”
“estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,”
“should,” “will,” “would,” or similar expressions, which refer to
future events and trends, identify forward-looking statements. We
do not guarantee that the transactions and events described in this
prospectus or in any prospectus supplement will happen as described
or that they will happen at all. You should read this prospectus
and any accompanying prospectus supplement completely and with the
understanding that actual future results may be materially
different from what we expect. The forward-looking statements made
in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement
relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are
made. 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 our situation may change in the future.
Whether actual results will conform with our expectations and
predictions is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many
of which are beyond our control, and reflect future business
decisions that are subject to change. Some of the assumptions,
future results and levels of performance expressed or implied in
the forward-looking statements we make inevitably will not
materialize, and unanticipated events may occur which will affect
our results. The “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus directs
you to a description of the principal contingencies and
uncertainties to which we believe we are subject.
This prospectus also contains or incorporates by reference data
related to the solar power market in several countries. These
market data, including industry demand and product pricing, include
projections that are based on a number of assumptions. Demand for
solar generated electricity may not ultimately increase at the
rates expected, or at all. The failure of the market to grow at the
projected rates may materially and adversely affect our business
and the market price of our securities. In addition, the rapidly
changing nature of the solar power market and related regulatory
regimes subjects any projections or estimates relating to the
growth prospects or future condition of our market to significant
uncertainties. 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.
OUR COMPANY
Overview
Prior to September 2017, we were a leading fully-integrated
solar project developer and provider of energy-efficient products
based in China. We provided high quality solar power products,
including solar wafers, solar cells, solar modules and solar power
projects, to a global network of suppliers and customers, which
included leading global manufacturers of solar wafers, cells and
modules and distributors, installers and end users of solar
modules. We also provided processing services to our customers.
We completed a comprehensive corporate restructuring in
September 2017, after which we have become a solar project
developer and operator, a pure downstream player with robust
pipeline projects around the world. We currently develop and sell
solar power projects or sell project SPVs (project development
business), and own and operate solar power projects and sell the
electricity generated by our operated solar power plants (IPP
business).
We are still in a multi-year transformation process from a negative
cash flow equipment maker to a positive operating cash flow and
asset-light solar project developer. We switched our long-term
growth strategy from focusing on our traditional market in China to
a global expansion roadmap. We now primarily focus on the promising
markets in the United States and Europe. We already obtained a
leading market share in Poland and Hungary, as well as some states
in the United States such as Minnesota and New York. In 2019, we
moved our headquarters to Connecticut, the United States where our
senior management team will be based going forward.
As of December 31, 2019, we completed 779 megawatts (“MW”) of
solar power projects, including about 11 MW of new installations in
China, 17 MW of ground mounted projects in Europe, 24 MW of
utility-scale projects in the U.S, and 7MW of Fit projects in
Canada in 2019. We were operating approximately 216 MW solar power
projects globally as of December 31, 2019, including 172 MW in
China, and recorded electricity generation revenue from these
projects. As of December 31, 2019, we had 417 MW within the
late-stage pipeline, including 193 MW in the United States, with
commercial operation date, or COD, within 2020 and 2022, of which
30MW of the solar power projects were under construction.
Our net revenue from continuing operations decreased from $103.0
million in 2017 to $96.9 million in 2018 and increased to $119
million in 2019. We recorded operating loss of $1.0 million and net
loss of $11.7 million in 2019, compared to operating income of
$15.5 million and net income of $5.1 million in 2018, and operating
income of $6.6 million and net income of $3.2 million in 2017.
In addition, for the year ended December 31, 2019, we had generated
positive operating cash flow of $55.9 million
RISK FACTORS
Please see the factors set forth under the heading “Item 3. Key
Information — D. Risk Factors” in our most recently filed annual
report on Form 20-F, which is incorporated in this prospectus
by reference, as updated by our subsequent filings under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and, if applicable, in
any accompanying prospectus supplement before investing in any of
the securities that may be offered or sold pursuant to this
prospectus.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities
registered as set forth in the applicable prospectus
supplement.
ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL
LIABILITIES
We are incorporated in the British Virgin Islands to take advantage
of certain benefits associated with being a British Virgin Islands
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 British Virgin Islands. These
disadvantages include that the British Virgin Islands has a less
developed body of securities laws as compared to the United States
and provides significantly less protection to investors. In
addition, British Virgin Islands companies do not have standing to
sue before the federal courts of the United States.
Our organizational documents do not contain provisions requiring
that disputes be submitted to arbitration, including those arising
under the securities laws of the United States, between us, our
officers, directors and shareholders. An important part of our
operations is conducted and a significant portion of our assets is
located outside the United States. Some of our directors and
officers are nationals or residents of jurisdictions other than the
United States, and some or all of their assets are located outside
the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible
for a shareholder to bring an original action against us or such
persons in a British Virgin Islands or China court in the event
that a shareholder believes that his or her rights have been
infringed under the U.S. federal securities laws or otherwise. It
may also be difficult for a shareholder to enforce in U.S. courts
judgments obtained in U.S. courts based on the civil liability
provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws against us and our
officers and directors, some of whom are not residents of the
United States and whose assets are located outside of the United
States. In addition, there is uncertainty as to whether the courts
of the British Virgin Islands or the PRC would recognize or enforce
judgments of U.S. courts against us or such persons predicated upon
the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United
States or any state. There is no statutory recognition in the
British Virgin Islands of judgments obtained in the United States,
although the courts of the British Virgin Islands will generally
recognize and enforce a non-penal judgment of a foreign court of
competent jurisdiction without retrial on the merits. It is
uncertain whether British Virgin Islands or PRC courts would be
competent to hear original actions brought in the British Virgin
Islands or the PRC against us or such persons predicated upon the
securities laws of the United States or any state.
Our corporate affairs are governed by our memorandum and articles
of association, or Articles, and by the BVI Business Companies Act,
2004 and common law of the British Virgin Islands. The rights of
shareholders to take legal action against our directors and us,
actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities
of our directors to us under British Virgin Islands law are to a
large extent governed by the common law of the British Virgin
Islands. The common law of the British Virgin Islands is derived in
part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the British
Virgin Islands as well as from English common law, which has
persuasive, but not binding, authority on a court in the British
Virgin Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary
responsibilities of our directors under British Virgin Islands law
are not as clearly established as they would be under statutes or
judicial precedents in the United States. In particular, the
British Virgin Islands has no securities laws as compared to the
United States, and provides significantly less protection to
investors. In addition, British Virgin Islands companies may not
have standing to initiate a shareholder derivative action before
the federal courts of the United States.
As a result of all of the above, our public shareholders may have
more difficulties in protecting their interests through actions
against our management, directors or major shareholders than would
shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a jurisdiction in the
United States.
Harney Westwood & Riegels LLP, our counsel as to British
Virgin Islands law, and Zhong Lun W&D Law Firm, Shanghai
Branch, our counsel as to PRC law, have advised us that there is
uncertainty as to whether the courts of the British Virgin Islands
and PRC, respectively, would:
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recognize or enforce judgments of United States courts obtained
against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the civil
liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or
any state in the United States; or |
|
· |
entertain original actions brought in each respective
jurisdiction against us or our directors or officers predicated
upon the securities laws of the United States or any state in the
United States. |
Harney Westwood & Riegels LLP has further advised us that
the United States and the British Virgin Islands do not have a
treaty providing for reciprocal recognition and enforcement of
judgments of U.S. courts in civil and commercial matters and that a
final judgment for the payment of money rendered by any federal or
state court in the United States based on civil liability, whether
or not predicated solely upon the U.S. federal securities laws,
would not be automatically enforceable in the British Virgin
Islands. We have also been advised that any final and conclusive
monetary judgment for a definite sum obtained against the company
in U.S. federal or state courts would be treated by the courts of
the British Virgin Islands as a cause of action in itself and sued
upon as a debt at common law so that no retrial of the issues would
be necessary provided that:
|
(i) |
the U.S. federal or state court had jurisdiction in the matter
and the company either submitted to such jurisdiction or was
resident or carrying on business within such jurisdiction and was
duly served with process; |
|
(ii) |
the judgment given by the U.S. federal or state court was not
in respect of penalties, taxes, fines or similar fiscal or revenue
obligations; |
|
(iii) |
the judgment was not procured by fraud; |
|
(iv) |
recognition or enforcement of the judgment in the British
Virgin Islands would not be contrary to public policy; and |
|
(v) |
the proceedings pursuant to which judgment was obtained were
not contrary to natural justice. |
A British Virgin Islands court may impose civil liability on us or
our directors or officers in a suit brought in the courts of the
British Virgin Islands against us or these persons with respect to
a violation of U.S. federal securities laws, provided that the
facts surrounding any violation constitute or give rise to a cause
of action under British Virgin Islands law.
Zhong Lun W&D Law Firm, Shanghai Branch has advised us further
that the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are
provided for under the PRC Civil Procedures Law. Courts in the PRC
may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the
requirements of the PRC Civil Procedures Law based on treaties
between PRC and the country where the judgment is made or on
reciprocity between jurisdictions. As there is currently no treaty
of reciprocity between PRC and the United States governing the
recognition of a judgment, there is uncertainty as to whether a PRC
court would enforce a judgment rendered by a court in the United
States.
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.
DESCRIPTION OF THE
SECURITIES
The following is a description of the terms and provisions of our
shares, including shares represented by ADSs, preferred shares and
debt securities that we may offer and sell using this prospectus
and any accompanying prospectus supplement. These summaries are not
meant to be a complete description of each security. This
prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement will contain
the material terms and conditions for each security. The
accompanying prospectus supplement may add, update or change the
terms and conditions of the securities as described in this
prospectus.
DESCRIPTION OF SHARE
CAPITAL
We are a British Virgin Islands company and our affairs are
governed by our memorandum and articles of association, or
Articles, and the British Virgin Islands Business Companies Act of
2004 (as amended), which is referred to as the Companies Law
below.
As of July 9, 2020, we are authorized to issue a maximum of
600,000,000 no par value shares of a single class, and the number
of shares issued and outstanding is 481,027,002 among which
160,948,775 shares represented by 16,094,877 ADSs were held by The
Bank of New York Mellon, our depositary for the ADSs, for future
exercise or vest of awards under our share incentive plan.
The following are summaries of material provisions of our Articles
and the Companies Law insofar as they relate to the material terms
of our shares.
Shares
General. All of our outstanding shares are fully paid and
non-assessable. Certificates representing the shares are issued in
registered form. Our shareholders who are non-residents of the
British Virgin Islands may freely hold and vote their shares.
Dividends. By a resolution of directors, we may declare and
pay dividends in money, shares, or other property. Our directors
may from time to time pay to the shareholders such interim
dividends as appear to the directors to be justified by the profits
of our company. No dividends shall be declared and paid unless the
directors determine that immediately after the payment of the
dividend the value of our assets will exceed our liabilities and we
will be able to satisfy our liabilities as they fall due. The
holders of our shares are entitled to such dividends as may be
declared by our board of directors subject to the Companies
Law.
Unissued Shares. Our unissued shares shall be at the
disposal of the directors who may without prejudice to any rights
previously conferred on the holders of any existing shares or class
or series of shares offer, allot, grant options over or otherwise
dispose of shares or other securities to such persons, at such
times and upon such terms and conditions as we may by resolution of
the directors determine. Before issuing shares for a consideration
other than money, the directors shall pass a resolution stating the
amount to be credited for the issue of the shares, their
determination of the reasonable present cash value of the non-money
consideration for the issue, and that, in their opinion, the
present cash value of the non-money consideration for the issue is
not less than the amount to be credited for the issue of the
shares.
Voting Rights. Each share is entitled to one vote on all
matters upon which the shares are entitled to vote. We are required
by our Articles to hold an annual general meeting each year.
Additionally, our directors may convene meetings of our
shareholders at such times and in such-manner and places within or
outside the British Virgin Islands as the directors consider
necessary or desirable. Upon the written request of shareholders
holding 10% or more of the outstanding voting rights attaching to
our shares the directors shall convene a meeting of shareholders.
The director shall give not less than 14 days’ notice of a meeting
of shareholders to those persons whose names at the close of
business on a day to be determined by the directors appear as
shareholders in our share register and are entitled to vote at the
meeting.
A meeting of shareholders is duly constituted if, at the
commencement of the meeting, there are present in person or by
proxy not less than 50% of the votes of the shares entitled to vote
on shareholder resolutions to be considered at the meeting. If a
quorum is present, notwithstanding the fact that such quorum may be
represented by only one person, then such person or persons may
resolve any matter and a certificate signed by such person and
accompanied, where such person be a proxy, by a copy of the proxy
form shall constitute a valid resolution of shareholders.
If within two hours from the time appointed for the meeting a
quorum is not present, the meeting, if convened upon the
requisition of shareholders, shall be dissolved; in any other case
it shall stand adjourned to the next business day at the same time
and place or to such other time and place as the directors may
determine, and if at the adjourned meeting there are present within
one hour from the time appointed for the meeting in person or by
proxy not less than one third of the votes of the shares of each
class or series of shares entitled to vote on the resolutions to be
considered by the meeting, those present shall constitute a quorum
but otherwise the meeting shall be dissolved. The chairman, may,
with the consent of the meeting, adjourn any meeting from time to
time, and from place to place, but no business shall be transacted
at any adjourned meeting other than the business left unfinished at
the meeting from which the adjournment took place.
An action that may be taken by the shareholders at a meeting may
also be taken by a resolution of shareholders consented to in
writing without the need for any notice, but if any resolution of
shareholders is adopted otherwise than by the unanimous written
consent of all shareholders, a copy of such resolution shall
forthwith be sent to all shareholders not consenting to such
resolution.
Mandatory Tender Offer. Except with the consent of our board
of directors, when (a) any person acquires, whether or not by
a series of transactions over a period of time, our shares which
(taken together with shares held or acquired by persons acting in
concert with that person) carry 30% or more of the voting rights of
our company,; or (b) any person who together with persons
acting in concert with him, holds not less than 30% but not more
than 50% of our voting rights and acquires additional shares
resulting in an increase in the percentage of the voting rights
held by that person or any person acting in concert with him, such
person is required to extend an offer to holders of all the issued
shares in our company pursuant to our Articles.
Transfer of Shares. Certificated shares in our company may
be transferred by a written instrument of transfer signed by the
transferor and containing the name and address of the transferee,
but in the absence of such written evidence of transfer the
directors may accept such evidence of a transfer of shares as they
consider appropriate. We may also issue shares in uncertificated
form. We shall not be required to treat a transferee of a
registered share in our Company as a member until the transferee’s
name has been entered in the share register.
The register of members may be closed at such times and for such
periods as the board of directors may from time to time determine,
not exceeding in whole thirty days in each year, upon notice being
given by advertisement in a leading daily newspaper and in such
other newspaper (if any) as may be required by the law of British
Virgin Islands and the practice of the New York Stock Exchange.
The board of directors may decline to register a transfer of any
share to a person known to be a minor, bankrupt or person who is
mentally disordered or a patient for the purpose of any statute
relating to mental health. The board of directors may also decline
to register any transfer unless:
|
(a) |
any written instrument of transfer, duly stamped (if so
required), is lodged with us at the registered office or such other
place as the board of directors may appoint accompanied by the
certificate for the shares to which it relates (except in the case
of a transfer by a recognized person or a holder of such shares in
respect of whom we are not required by law to deliver a certificate
and to whom a certificate has not been issued in respect of such
shares); |
|
(b) |
there is provided such evidence as the board of directors may
reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the
transfer and, if the instrument of transfer is executed by some
other person on his behalf, the authority of that person to do
so; |
|
(c) |
any instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class or
series of share; and |
|
(d) |
in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the number of joint
holders to whom the share is to be transferred does not exceed
four. |
Liquidation. In the case of the distribution of assets by a
voluntary liquidator on a winding-up of our company, subject to
payment of, or to discharge of, all claims, debts, liabilities and
obligations of our company any surplus assets shall then be
distributed amongst the shareholders according to their rights and
interests in our company according to our Articles. If the assets
available for distribution to members shall be insufficient to pay
the whole of the paid up capital, such assets shall be shared on a
pro rata basis amongst members entitled to them by reference to the
number of fully paid up shares held by such members respectively at
the commencement of the winding up.
Calls on Shares and Forfeiture of Shares. Our board of
directors may from time to time make calls upon shareholders for
any amounts unpaid on their shares in a notice served to such
shareholders at least 14 days prior to the specified time and place
of payment. The shares that have been called upon and remain unpaid
at the specified time are subject to forfeiture.
Redemption of Shares. The Companies Law provides that
subject to the memorandum and articles of association of a company,
shareholders holding 90% or more of all the voting shares in a
company, may instruct the directors to redeem the shares of the
remaining shareholders. The directors shall be required to redeem
the shares of the minority shareholders, whether or not the shares
are by their terms redeemable. The directors must notify the
minority shareholders in writing of the redemption price to be paid
for the shares and the manner in which the redemption is to be
effected. In the event that a minority shareholder objects to the
redemption price to be paid and the parties are unable to agree to
the redemption amount payable, the Companies Law sets out a
mechanism whereby the shareholder and the company may each appoint
an appraiser, who will together appoint a third appraiser and all
three appraisers will have the power to determine the fair value of
the shares to be compulsorily redeemed. Pursuant to the Companies
Law, the determination of the three appraisers shall be binding on
the company and the minority shareholder for all purposes.
Variations of Rights of Shares. If at any time the issued or
unissued shares are divided into different classes of shares, the
rights attached to any class may only be varied, whether or not we
are in liquidation, with the consent in writing or by resolution
passed at a meeting by the holders of not less than 50% of the
issued shares of that class.
Inspection of Books and Records. Holders of our shares have
a general right under British Virgin Islands law to inspect our
books and records on giving written notice to our company. However,
the directors have power to refuse the request on the grounds that
the inspection would be contrary to our interests. However, we will
provide our shareholders with annual audited financial
statements.
Preferred Shares
Our company may from time to time amend and restate our Articles to
create one or more classes or series of preferred shares. Pursuant
to paragraph 12 of the Articles, a shareholder resolution or a
director resolution is currently required to amend the Articles,
which shall take effect upon the registration of the amended and
restated Articles by the Registrar of Corporate Affairs in the
British Virgin Islands. Prior to any issuance of preferred shares,
our board of directors may, acting by resolutions of directors,
amend the Articles to create one or more classes of preferred
shares and authorize the registration of the amended and restated
Articles by the Registrar of Corporate Affairs in the British
Virgin Islands. Our board of directors may, by resolutions of
directors, determine the rights, privileges, restrictions and
conditions attached to the preferred shares, including the
designations, powers, preferences and relative, participating,
optional and other rights, if any, and the qualifications,
limitations and restrictions thereof, if any, including, without
limitation, the number of shares constituting each such class or
series, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges,
voting powers, full or limited or no voting powers, and liquidation
preferences, of each series that we may sell under this prospectus
and applicable prospectus supplements and to increase or decrease
the size of any such class or series of preferred shares, but not
below the number of any class or series of preferred shares then
issued and outstanding plus the number of shares of such class
reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options,
rights or warrants or upon the conversion of any outstanding
securities issued by our company convertible into such class of
shares. The rights conferred upon the holders of the shares of any
class 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
therewith or superior thereto. The amended and restated Articles
providing for the establishment of any class or series of preferred
shares may, to the extent permitted by law, provide that such class
or series shall be superior to, rank equally with, or be junior to
the preferred shares of any other class or series.
Once the class of preferred shares has been created, preferred
shares may then be issued at such times, to such persons, for such
consideration and on such terms as our board of directors may by
resolution determine. We will describe the terms of any class or
series of preferred shares we offer in the applicable prospectus
supplement.
Differences in Corporate Law
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 United States and their shareholders.
Protection for Minority Shareholders
Under the laws of most U.S. jurisdictions, majority and controlling
shareholders of a company generally have certain “fiduciary”
responsibilities to the minority shareholders. Corporate actions
taken by majority and controlling shareholders which are
unreasonable and materially detrimental to the interest of minority
shareholders may be declared null and void. Notwithstanding, the
minority shareholders may have less protection for their rights
under British Virgin Islands law than they would have under U.S.
law.
Powers of Directors
Unlike most U.S. jurisdictions, the directors of a British Virgin
Islands company, subject in certain cases to the approval of the
court (which will generally require shareholder approval), may
implement the sale, transfer, exchange or disposition of any asset,
property, part of the business, or securities of the company, if
the board determines such transaction to be in the best interests
of the company, its creditors, or its shareholders, with the
exception that shareholder approval is required for any sale,
transfer, lease exchange or other disposition of more than 50% in
value of the assets of the company other than in the usual or
regular course of business of the company.
Conflict of Interests
Similar to the laws of most U.S. jurisdictions, when a director
becomes aware of the fact that he has an interest in a transaction
which the company is to enter into, he must disclose it to the
board. However, with sufficient disclosure of the interest in
relation to that transaction, the director who is interested in a
transaction entered into or to be entered into by us may
(i) vote on a matter relating to the transaction;
(ii) attend a meeting of directors at which a matter relating
to the transaction arises and be included in the quorum; and
(iii) sign a document on behalf of the company, or do any
other thing in his capacity as a director, that relates to the
transaction.
Written Consent and Cumulative Voting
Similar to the laws of most U.S. jurisdictions, under the British
Virgin Islands law, shareholders are permitted to approve matters
by way of written resolution in place of a formal meeting. The
Companies Law does not make a specific reference to cumulative
voting, and our current Articles of Association have no provisions
authorizing cumulative voting.
Independent Directors
There is no requirement for a majority of the directors of the
company to be independent as a matter of British Virgin Islands
law.
Investigating Power and Suspension of Shareholder’s
Rights
Regulation 24.3 of our Articles grants us investigating power with
respect to the ownership of our shares. This is done by sending a
written notice, or the section 793 notice, to any shareholder or
other person whom we have reasonable cause to believe has, or had,
an “interest” (e.g. owns, controls or has certain rights over
shares) in our relevant shares at some time during the three years
immediately preceding the date of issue of the section 793 notice.
A person who receives a section 793 notice must respond with the
required information within 14 days following the date of service
of the notice. Default in complying with the notice in relation to
any shares, or the default shares, either on the part of the
shareholder or on the part of some other interested person, could
result in the rights of the shares being suspended if our board of
directors has served a disenfranchisement notice on the holder of
the default shares.
Redemption
Our shares are not redeemable at the shareholders’ option. Subject
to the Companies Law, we may redeem our shares only with the
consent of the shareholders whose shares are to be redeemed, except
that the consent from the shareholders is not needed under the
circumstances of (i) the compulsory redemption with respect to
fractional shares held by our shareholders in the circumstance of
share division, and (ii) the compulsory redemption, at the
request of the shareholders holding 90% of the votes of the
outstanding shares entitled to vote, of the remaining issued
shares.
Takeover Provisions
Our Articles do not alter the general provisions of the Companies
Law or any other British Virgin Islands law and therefore measures
such as a poison pill would have to be in place before a takeover
offer is in contemplation, as, if not, the directors might be seen
as exercising their powers for an improper purpose in trying to
introduce such a measure.
Furthermore, prior to the issuance of any additional classes of
shares there would need to be an amendment to our Articles to
create the new class of shares and to set out the rights and
obligations attaching to those shares in our Articles This may be
done following a resolution of directors or a resolution of
shareholders (as more particularly set out in the section
“Preferred Shares” above). If at any time the shares of our company
are divided into different classes, a variation of the rights of
any such class will not be triggered by but note that the creation
and issue of a further class with rights ranking pari passu
therewith or superior thereto. The introduction of a poison pill
mechanism involving the issue of a new class of shares would
require an amendment to our Articles but such amendment could be
approved by way of shareholder resolution or by a resolution of
directors.
Shareholder’s Access to Corporate Records
A shareholder is entitled, on giving written notice to the company,
to inspect the company’s (i) memorandum and articles of
association; (ii) register of members; (iii) register of
directors; and (iv) minutes of meetings and resolutions of
members and of those classes of members of which he is a
member.
The directors may, if they are satisfied that it would be contrary
to the company’s interests to allow a member to inspect any
document listed above (or any part thereof), refuse the member to
inspect the document or limit the inspection of the document. The
board may also authorize a member to review the company’s account
if requested.
Indemnification
British Virgin 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 British Virgin Islands courts to be contrary to
public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil
fraud or the consequences of committing a crime.
Under our Articles, we may indemnify our directors or any person
who is or was, at the request of the company, serving as a director
of, or in any other capacity is or was acting for, another body
corporate or a partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise against expenses (including legal fees), judgments,
fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by such persons in connection with legal, administrative
or investigative proceedings to which they are a party or are
threatened to be made a party by reason of their acting as our
directors or agents. To be entitled to indemnification, these
persons must have acted honestly and in good faith and in the best
interest of the company, and they must have had no reasonable cause
to believe their conduct was unlawful.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the U.S.
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, may be
permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us under
the foregoing provisions, we have been advised that in the opinion
of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
Mergers and Similar Arrangements
Under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, two or more companies
may merge or consolidate in accordance with Section 170 of the
Companies Law. A merger means the merging of two or more
constituent companies into one of the constituent companies, and a
consolidation means the uniting of two or more constituent
companies into a new company. In order to merge or consolidate, the
directors of each constituent company must approve a written plan
of merger or consolidation which must be authorized by a resolution
of shareholders.
While a director may vote on the plan even if he has a financial
interest in the plan of merger of consolidation, in order for the
resolution to be valid, the interest must have been disclosed to
the board forthwith upon him becoming aware of such interest. The
transaction will not be avoidable if the shareholders approve
it.
Shareholders not otherwise entitled to vote on the merger or
consolidation may still acquire the right to vote if the plan of
merger or consolidation contains any provision which, if proposed
as an amendment to the memorandum or articles of association, would
entitle them to vote as a class or series on the proposed
amendment. In any event, all shareholders must be given a copy of
the plan of merger or consolidation irrespective of whether they
are entitled to vote at the meeting or consent to the written
resolution to approve the plan of merger or consolidation.
The shareholders of the constituent companies are not required to
receive shares of the surviving or consolidated company but may
receive cash, debt obligations or other securities of the surviving
or consolidated company, or other assets, or a combination thereof.
Further, some or all of the shares of a class or series may be
converted into a kind of asset while the other shares of the same
class or series may receive a different kind of asset. As such, not
all the shares of a class or series must receive the same kind of
consideration.
After the plan of merger or consolidation has been approved by the
directors and authorized by a resolution of the shareholders,
articles of merger or consolidation are executed by each company
and filed with the Registrar of Corporate Affairs in the British
Virgin Islands.
A shareholder may dissent from a mandatory redemption of his
shares, an arrangement (if permitted by the court), a merger
(unless the shareholder was a shareholder of the surviving company
prior to the merger and continues to hold the same or similar
shares after the merger) and a consolidation. A shareholder
properly exercising his dissent rights is entitled to payment of
the fair value of their shares.
A shareholder dissenting from a merger or consolidation must object
in writing to the merger or consolidation before the vote by the
shareholders on the merger or consolidation, unless notice of the
meeting was not given to the shareholder. If the merger or
consolidation is approved by the shareholders, the company must
within 20 days give notice of this fact to each shareholder who
gave written objection, and to each shareholder who did not receive
notice of the meeting. Such shareholders then have 20 days to give
to the company their written election in the form specified by the
Companies Law to dissent from the merger or consolidation, provided
that in the case of a merger, the 20 days starts when the plan of
merger is delivered to the shareholder.
Upon giving notice of his election to dissent, a shareholder ceases
to have any rights of a shareholder except the right to be paid the
fair value of his shares. As such, the merger or consolidation may
proceed in the ordinary course notwithstanding the dissent.
Within seven days of the later of the delivery of the notice of
election to dissent and the effective date of the merger or
consolidation, the company must make a written offer to each
dissenting shareholder to purchase his shares at a specified price
that the company determines to be their fair value. The company and
the shareholder then have 30 days to agree upon the price. If the
company and the shareholder fail to agree on the price within the
30 days, then the company and the shareholder shall each designate
an appraiser and these two appraisers shall designate a third
appraiser. These three appraisers shall fix the fair value of the
shares as of the close of business on the day before the
shareholders approved the transaction without taking into account
any change in value as a result of the transaction.
Shareholders’ Suits
Similar to the laws of most U.S. jurisdictions, British Virgin
Islands law permits derivative actions against its directors.
However, the circumstances under which such actions may be brought,
and the procedures and defenses available may result in the rights
of shareholders of a British Virgin Islands company being more
limited than those of shareholders of a company incorporated and/or
existing in the United States.
The BVI does not have provision for “class actions.” It does
however provide for “representative action”, whereby a
representative maybe appointed to represent parties with the same
interest. In such cases those parties will typically be bound by
any decision in the proceedings... Section 184C(1) of the
Companies Law specifically provides for the process by which a
claim may be brought “derivatively” on behalf of a company by one
of its shareholders. Importantly, proceedings may not be brought by
a shareholder without leave of the court. The courts of the British
Virgin Islands may, on the application of a shareholder of a
company, grant leave to that shareholder to bring proceedings in
the name and on behalf of that company, or intervene in proceedings
to which the company is a party for the purpose of continuing,
defending or discontinuing the proceedings on behalf of the
company. In determining whether to grant leave, the High Court of
the British Virgin Islands must take into account (i) whether
the shareholder is acting in good faith. (ii) whether the
derivative action is in the interests of the company taking account
of the views of the company’s directors on commercial matters.
(iii) whether the proceedings are likely to
succeed.(iv) the costs of the proceedings in relation to the
relief likely to be obtained. and (v) whether an alternative
remedy to the derivative claim is available.
Leave to bring or intervene in proceedings may be granted only if
the High Court of the British Virgin Islands is satisfied that
(i) the company does not intend to bring, diligently continue
or defend, or discontinue the proceedings, as the case may be or
(ii) it is in the interests of the company that the conduct of
the proceedings should not be left to the directors or to the
determination of the shareholders as a whole.
DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN
DEPOSITARY SHARES
American Depositary Shares
The Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary, will register and
deliver ADSs. Each ADS will represent ten shares deposited with The
Bank of New York Mellon acting through an office located in the
United Kingdom, as custodian for the depositary. Each ADS will also
represent any other securities, cash or other property which may be
held by the depositary. The depositary’s corporate trust office at
which the ADSs will be administered and its principal executive
office is located at 240 Greenwich 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 DRS, 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.
DRS, is a system administered by The Depository Trust Company, or
DTC, pursuant to which the depositary may register the ownership of
uncertificated ADSs, which ownership shall be confirmed 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. British Virgin 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 terms of the deposit
agreement. Because it is a summary, it does not contain all the
information that may be important to you. For more complete
information, you should read the entire deposit agreement and the
form of ADR which contains the terms of your ADSs. You can read a
copy of the deposit agreement that we previously filed. You may
also obtain a copy of the deposit agreement at the SEC’s Public
Reference Room which is located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington,
D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the
Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. You may
also find the registration statement and the attached deposit
agreement from the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
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.
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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 within
a reasonable period, 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
“Payment of Taxes.” The depositary will distribute only whole U.S.
dollars and cents and will round fractional cents to the nearest
whole cent. If the 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. |
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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 ADSs described in
this section except for changes needed to put the necessary
restrictions in place.
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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.
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 will not be able to exercise your right
to vote unless you withdraw the shares your ADSs represent.
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, including an express indication that such instructions
may be given or deemed given in accordance with the last sentence
of this paragraph if no instruction is received, to the depositary
to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by us. For
instructions to be valid, the depositary must receive them on or
before the date specified. The depositary will try, as far as
practicable, subject to the laws of the British Virgin Islands and
the provisions of our Articles, 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. If we
timely asked for your instructions but no instructions are received
by the depositary from an owner with respect to ADSs of that owner
on or before the date established by the depositary for such
purpose, the depositary shall deem that owner to have instructed
the depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated
by us with respect to the amount of deposited securities
represented by those ADSs, and the depositary shall give a
discretionary proxy to a person designated by us to vote such
deposited securities. No such instruction shall be deemed given and
no such discretionary proxy shall be given with respect to any
matter as to which we inform the depositary (i) we do not wish
such proxy given, (ii) any matter as to which substantial
opposition exists or (iii) any matter that materially and
adversely affects the rights of holders of the shares.
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
give the depositary notice of any such meeting and details
concerning the matters to be voted upon at least 45 days in advance
of the meeting date.
Fees and Expenses
Persons depositing or withdrawing shares or holders
of ADSs must pay: |
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For: |
$5.00
(or less) per 100 ADSs (or portion of 100 ADSs) |
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· Issuance
of ADSs, including issuances resulting from a distribution of
shares or rights or other property |
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· Cancellation
of ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal, including if the deposit
agreement terminates |
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$.02
(or less) per ADSs |
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· Any
cash distribution to ADS registered holders |
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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 |
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· Distribution
of securities distributed to holders of deposited securities which
are distributed by the depositary to ADS registered
holders |
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$.02 (or less) per ADSs per calendar year |
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· Depositary
services |
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Registration
or transfer fees |
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· 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 |
Persons depositing or withdrawing shares or holders
of ADSs must pay: |
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For: |
Expenses
of the depositary |
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· Cable
(including SEIFT) and facsimile transmissions (when expressly
provided in the deposit agreement) |
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· Converting
foreign currency to U.S. dollars |
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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 |
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· As
necessary |
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Any
charges incurred by the depositary or its agents for servicing the
deposited securities |
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· As
necessary |
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 collect any of its
fees by deduction from any cash distribution payable to ADS holders
that are obligated to pay those fees. The depositary may generally
refuse to provide fee-attracting services until its fees for those
services are paid.
From time to time, the depositary may make payments to us to
reimburse and/or share revenue from the fees collected from ADS
holders, or waive fees and expenses for services provided,
generally relating to costs and expenses arising out of
establishment and maintenance of the ADS program. In performing its
duties under the deposit agreement, the depositary may use brokers,
dealers, foreign currency dealers, or other service providers that
are affiliates of the depositary and that may earn or share fees,
spreads or commissions.
The depositary may convert currency itself or through any of its
affiliates, or the custodian or we may convert currency and pay
U.S. dollars to the depositary. Where the depositary converts
currency itself or through any of its affiliates, the depositary
acts as principal for its own account and not as agent, advisor,
broker or fiduciary on behalf of any other person and earns
revenue, including, without limitation, transaction spreads, that
it will retain for its own account. The revenue is based on, among
other things, the difference between the exchange rate assigned to
the currency conversion made under the deposit agreement and the
rate that the depositary or its affiliate receives when buying or
selling foreign currency for its own account. The depositary makes
no representation that the exchange rate used or obtained by it or
its affiliate in any currency conversion under the deposit
agreement will be the most favorable rate that could be obtained at
the time or that the method by which that rate will be determined
will be the most favorable to ADS holders, subject to the
depositary's obligation to act without negligence or bad faith. The
methodology used to determine exchange rates used in currency
conversions made by the depositary is available upon request. Where
the custodian converts currency, the custodian has no obligation to
obtain the most favorable rate that could be obtained at the time
or to ensure that the method by which that rate will be determined
will be the most favorable to ADS holders, and the depositary makes
no representation that the rate is the most favorable rate and will
not be liable for any direct or indirect losses associated with the
rate. In certain instances, the depositary may receive dividends or
other distributions from the us in U.S. dollars that represent the
proceeds of a conversion of foreign currency or translation from
foreign currency at a rate that was obtained or determined by us
and, in such cases, the depositary will not engage in, or be
responsible for, any foreign currency transactions and neither it
nor we make any representation that the rate obtained or determined
by us is the most favorable rate and neither it nor we will be
liable for any direct or indirect losses associated with the
rate.
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 ADSs 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:
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Then: |
· |
Change
the nominal or par value of our shares |
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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. |
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· |
Reclassify,
split up or consolidate any of the deposited securities |
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· |
Distribute
securities on the shares that are not distributed to
you |
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The depositary may deliver new ADSs or ask you to surrender
your outstanding ADSs in exchange for new ADSs identifying the new
deposited securities. |
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Recapitalize,
reorganize, merge, liquidate, sell all or substantially all of our
assets, or take any similar action |
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Amendment and Termination
How may the deposit agreement be amended?
We may agree with the depositary to amend the deposit agreement and
the ADSs 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, such amendment 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 ADS, 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 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 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 us 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. Six 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.
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:
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· |
are only obligated to take the actions specifically set forth
in the deposit agreement without negligence or bad faith; |
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· |
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; |
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are not liable if either of us exercises discretion permitted
under the deposit agreement; |
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are not liable for the inability of any ADS holder to benefit
from any distribution, offering, right or other benefit which is
made available to holders of deposited securities but is not, under
the terms of the deposit agreement, made available to ADS
holders; |
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are not liable for any special, consequential or punitive
damages for any breach of the terms of the deposit agreement; |
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· |
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; and |
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may rely upon the advice of, or information from, any person
whom we believe in good faith to be competent to give such advice
or information. |
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:
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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; |
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satisfactory proof of the identity and genuineness of any
signature or other information it deems necessary; and |
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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:
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· |
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. |
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When you or other ADS holders seeking to withdraw shares owe
money to pay fees, taxes and similar charges. |
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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.
Direct Registration System
In the deposit agreement, all parties to the deposit agreement
acknowledge that the DRS and Profile Modification System, or
Profile, will apply to uncertificated ADSs upon acceptance thereof
to DRS by DTC. DRS is the system administered by DTC pursuant to
which the depositary may register the ownership of uncertificated
ADSs, which ownership shall be evidenced by periodic statements
issued by the depositary to the ADS holders entitled thereto.
Profile is a required feature of DRS 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 DRS/Profile, 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). In the deposit agreement, the parties agree that the
depositary’s reliance on and compliance with instructions received
by the depositary through DRS/Profile 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.
Jury Trial Waiver
The deposit agreement provides that, to the extent permitted by
law, ADS holders waive the right to a jury trial of any claim they
may have against us or the depositary arising out of or relating to
our shares, the ADSs or the deposit agreement, including any claim
under the U.S. federal securities laws. If we or the depositary
opposed a jury trial demand based on the waiver, the court would
determine whether the waiver was enforceable in the facts and
circumstances of that case in accordance with applicable case
law.
You will not, by agreeing to the terms of the deposit agreement, be
deemed to have waived our or the depositary's compliance with U.S.
federal securities laws or the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT
SECURITIES
We may issue series of debt securities, which may include debt
securities exchangeable for or convertible into ordinary 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:
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the title of the debt securities; |
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the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate
principal amount) at which we will sell the debt securities; |
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any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt
securities; |
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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; |
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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; |
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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; |
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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; |
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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; |
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the denominations in which the debt securities will be
issued; |
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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; |
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the currency of denomination of the debt securities; |
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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; |
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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; |
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· |
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; |
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any provisions relating to any security provided for the debt
securities; |
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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; |
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any addition to or change in the covenants described in the
indenture with respect to the debt securities; |
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whether the debt securities will be senior or subordinated and
any applicable subordination provisions; |
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a discussion of material income tax considerations applicable
to the debt securities; |
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any other terms of the debt securities, which may modify any
provisions of the indenture as it applies to that series; and |
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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 ordinary 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 ordinary 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 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.
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:
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to dealers or underwriters for resale; |
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directly to purchasers; or |
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through a combination of any of these methods of sale. |
The prospectus supplement with respect to the securities may state
or supplement the terms of the offering of the securities.
In addition, we may issue the securities as a dividend or
distribution or in a subscription rights offering to our existing
security holders. In some cases, we or dealers acting for us or on
our behalf may also repurchase securities and reoffer them to the
public by one or more of the methods described above. This
prospectus may be used in connection with any offering of our
securities through any of these methods or other methods described
in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Our securities distributed by any of these methods may be sold to
the public, in one or more transactions, either:
|
· |
at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed; |
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· |
at market prices prevailing at the time of sale; |
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· |
at prices related to prevailing market prices; or |
Sale through Underwriters or Dealers
If underwriters are used in the sale, the underwriters will acquire
the securities for their own account, including through
underwriting, purchase, security lending or repurchase agreements
with us. The underwriters may resell the securities from time to
time in one or more transactions, including negotiated
transactions. Underwriters may sell the securities in order to
facilitate transactions in any of our other securities (described
in this prospectus or otherwise), including other public or private
transactions and short sales. Underwriters may offer the securities
to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by
one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms
acting as underwriters. Unless otherwise indicated in the
applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of the
underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain
conditions, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all
the offered securities if they purchase any of them. The
underwriters may change from time to time any initial public
offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or
reallowed or paid to dealers.
If dealers are used in the sale of securities offered through this
prospectus, we will sell the securities to them as principals. They
may then resell those securities to the public at varying prices
determined by the dealers at the time of resale. The applicable
prospectus supplement will include the names of the dealers and the
terms of the transaction.
In compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority, Inc., or FINRA, the maximum discount or
commission to be received by any FINRA member or independent
broker-dealer may not exceed 8% of the aggregate amount of the
securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable
prospectus supplement.
Direct Sales and Sales through Agents
We may sell the securities offered through this prospectus
directly. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be
involved. Such securities may also be sold through agents
designated from time to time. The applicable prospectus supplement
will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered
securities and will describe any commissions payable to the agent.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement,
any agent will agree to use its commonly reasonable efforts to
solicit purchases for the period of its appointment. We may sell
the securities directly to institutional investors or others who
may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the
Securities Act with respect to any sale of those shares. The terms
of any such sales will be described in the applicable prospectus
supplement.
Offered securities may be sold at a fixed price or prices, which
may be changed, or at varying prices determined at the time of
sale. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered
securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered will be
named, and any commissions payable by us to such agent will be set
forth, in the supplement relating to that offering. Unless
otherwise specified in connection with a particular offering of
securities, any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis
for the period of its appointment.
As one of the means of direct issuance of offered securities, we
may utilize the services of an entity through which it may conduct
an electronic “dutch auction” or similar offering of the offered
securities among potential purchasers who are eligible to
participate in the auction or offering of such offered securities,
if so described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Delayed Delivery Contracts
If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, we may authorize
agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers from certain
types of institutions to purchase securities at the public offering
price under delayed delivery contracts. These contracts would
provide for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future.
The contracts would be subject only to those conditions described
in the prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement
will describe the commission payable for solicitation of those
contracts.
Market Making, Stabilization and Other Transactions
Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, each
series of offered securities will be a new issue and will have no
established trading market. We may elect to list any series of
offered securities on an exchange. Any underwriters that we use in
the sale of offered securities may make a market in such
securities, but may discontinue such market making at any time
without notice. Therefore, we cannot assure you that the securities
will have a liquid trading market.
Any underwriter may also engage in stabilizing transactions,
syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with
Rule 104 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, or the Exchange Act. Stabilizing transactions involve bids
to purchase the underlying security in the open market for the
purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the
securities. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of
the securities in the open market after the distribution has been
completed in order to cover syndicate short positions.
Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling
concession from a syndicate member when the securities originally
sold by the syndicate member are purchased in a syndicate covering
transaction to cover syndicate short positions. Stabilizing
transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may
cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would be in
the absence of the transactions. The underwriters may, if they
commence these transactions, discontinue them at any time.
Derivative Transactions and Hedging
We and the underwriters may engage in derivative transactions
involving the securities. These derivatives may consist of short
sale transactions and other hedging activities. The underwriters
may acquire a long or short position in the securities, hold or
resell securities acquired and purchase options or futures on the
securities and other derivative instruments with returns linked to
or related to changes in the price of the securities. In order to
facilitate these derivative transactions, we may enter into
security lending or repurchase agreements with the underwriters.
The underwriters may effect the derivative transactions through
sales of the securities to the public, including short sales, or by
lending the securities in order to facilitate short sale
transactions by others. The underwriters may also use the
securities purchased or borrowed from us or others (or, in the case
of derivatives, securities received from us in settlement of those
derivatives) to directly or indirectly settle sales of the
securities or close out any related open borrowings of the
securities.
Loans of Securities
We may loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or
other third parties that in turn may sell the securities using this
prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement.
General Information
Agents, underwriters, and dealers may be entitled, under agreements
entered into with us, to indemnification by us, against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Our
agents, underwriters, and dealers, or their affiliates, may be
customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for
us or our affiliates, in the ordinary course of business for which
they may receive customary compensation.
Conflicts of Interest
Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled, under agreements
with us, to indemnification by us relating to material
misstatements and omissions in our offering documents.
Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with,
or perform services for, us in their ordinary course of
business.
Except for securities issued upon a reopening of a previous series,
each series of offered securities will be a new issue of securities
and will have no established trading market. Any underwriters to
whom offered securities are sold for public offering and sale may
make a market in such offered securities, but such underwriters
will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market
making at any time without notice. The offered securities may or
may not be listed on a securities exchange. No assurance can be
given that there will be a market for the offered securities.
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
Kirkland & Ellis International LLP, our special United
States counsel, to the extent governed by the laws of the State of
New York, and by Harney Westwood & Riegels LLP, our
special legal counsel as to the British Virgin Islands law, to the
extent governed by the laws of the British Virgin Islands. Legal
matters as to PRC law will be passed upon for us by Zhong Lun
W&D Law Firm, Shanghai Branch, our counsel as to PRC law.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2019,
incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the
registration statement, have been so incorporated by reference in
reliance upon the report of Grant Thornton, independent registered
public accountants, upon the authority of said firm as experts in
accounting and auditing.
The offices of Grant Thornton are located at 45th Floor,
Raffles City, 268 Xizang Zhong Road, Huang Pu District Shanghai
200001.
2,500,000
American Depositary Shares

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
H.C. Wainwright & Co.
September 23, 2020
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