As
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 25,
2009
Registration
No.
333-
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.
20549
FORM
F-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
RENESOLA
LTD
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Not
Applicable
(Translation
of Registrant’s name into English)
British
Virgin Islands
|
3674
|
Not
Applicable
|
(State
or other jurisdiction of
|
(Primary
Standard Industrial
|
(I.R.S.
Employer
|
incorporation
or organization)
|
Classification
Code Number)
|
Identification
Number)
|
No.
8 Baoqun Road
Yaozhuang
Town
Jiashan
County
Zhejiang
Province 314117
People’s
Republic of China
(86-573)
8477-3058
(Address
and telephone number of Registrant’s principal executive offices)
CT
Corporation System
111
Eighth Avenue
New
York, New York 10011
(212)
664-1666
(Name,
address, and telephone number of agent for service)
Copies
to:
David
T. Zhang, Esq.
Latham
& Watkins
41st
Floor, One Exchange Square
8
Connaught Place, Central
Hong
Kong
(852)
2912-2503
Approximate date of commencement of
proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date
of this registration statement.
If only
securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend
or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. o
If any of
the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or
continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check
the following box. x
If this
Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule
462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the
Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If this
Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the
Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration
statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same
offering. ¨
If this
Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.C. or a
post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with
the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the
following box. ¨
If this
Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to
General Instruction I.C. filed to register additional securities or additional
classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check
the following box. ¨
CALCULATION
OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title
of each class of
securities
to be registered
|
|
Amount
to be
registered
(3)
|
|
|
Proposed
maximum
aggregate
offering price (3)
|
|
|
Amount
of
registration
fee (4)
|
|
Shares
of no par value (1)(2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
100,000,000 |
|
|
$ |
5,580 |
|
(1)
|
Includes
(i) shares initially offered and sold outside the United States that
may be resold from time to time in the United States either as part of
their distribution or within 40 days after the later of the effective date
of this registration statement and the date the shares are first bona fide
offered to the public and (ii) shares that may be purchased by the
underwriters pursuant to an over-allotment option. These shares are not
being registered for the purposes of sales outside of the United
States.
|
(2)
|
American
depositary shares issuable upon deposit of the shares registered hereby
have been registered under a separate registration statement on
Form F-6 (Registration
No. 333-148559).
|
(3)
|
The
amount of securities registered consists of $100,000,000 of an
indeterminate number of shares of ReneSola Ltd. Pursuant to
Rule 416(a), the number of shares being registered shall be adjusted
to include any additional shares that may become issuable as a result of
stock distribution, split, combination or similar transaction. In no event
will the aggregate offering price of all securities issued from time to
time in the offering pursuant to this Registration Statement exceed
$100,000,000.
|
(4)
|
The
proposed maximum aggregate offering price has been estimated solely for
purposes of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under
the Securities Act and reflects the maximum offering price of securities
that may be issued, rather than the principal amount of securities that
may be issued at a discount.
|
PROSPECTUS
ReneSola
Ltd
Shares
We may offer and sell from time to time
the shares of ReneSola Ltd in one or more offerings. The shares offered by this
prospectus will have an aggregate offering price of up to
$100,000,000.
Each time we sell the shares, we will
provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about
the offering. 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 shares.
We may sell the shares to or 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. If any
underwriters, dealers or agents are involved in the sale of any of the shares,
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 shares involves
risks. See the “Risk Factors” section contained in the applicable
prospectus supplement and in the documents we incorporate by reference in this
prospectus to read about factors you should consider before investing in our
shares.
Neither the Securities and Exchange
Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of
these shares or passed upon the accuracy or completeness of this prospectus. Any
representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date
of this prospectus is June 25, 2009.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
|
1
|
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT
US
|
2
|
INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY
REFERENCE
|
2
|
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
|
4
|
OUR COMPANY
|
5
|
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
|
7
|
RISK FACTORS
|
11
|
USE OF PROCEEDS
|
12
|
ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL
LIABILITIES
|
13
|
DESCRIPTION OF SHARE
CAPITAL
|
15
|
DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY
SHARES
|
21
|
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
|
27
|
VALIDITY OF THE SHARES
|
29
|
EXPERTS
|
29
|
EXPENSES
|
29
|
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” refer to ReneSola Ltd, a British
Virgin Islands company, its predecessor entities and its subsidiaries, and
in the context of describing our financial results prior to June 2008,
also includes Linzhou Zhongsheng Semiconductor Silicon Material Co., Ltd.,
or Linzhou Zhongsheng Semiconductor, a then variable interest entity of
our company;
|
|
·
|
“ADSs”
refers to our American depositary shares, each of which represents two
shares, and “ADRs” refers to the American depositary receipts that
evidence our ADSs;
|
|
·
|
“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;
|
|
·
|
“RMB”
or “Renminbi” refers to the legal currency of China; “$,” “dollars” or
“U.S. dollars” refers to the legal currency of the United States; and “£”
and “pounds sterling” refer to the legal currency of the United Kingdom;
and
|
|
·
|
“shares”
refers to our shares 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 in
one or more offerings. This prospectus only provides you with a summary
description of our shares and ADSs issuable upon the deposit of the shares. Each
time we sell the shares, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that
contains specific information about the 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 shares, 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 shares 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
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.renesola.com. The information on our website,
however, is not, and should not be deemed to be, a part of this
prospectus.
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 shares 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.
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,
2008 filed with the SEC on June 10,
2009.
|
|
·
|
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.
|
|
·
|
With
respect to each offering of the shares under this prospectus, all
subsequent reports on Form 20-F and any report on Form 6-K that so
indicates it is being incorporated by reference, in each case, that we
file 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
that offering under this
prospectus.
|
Our
annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2008 filed on June 10, 2009 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.
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 specially
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:
Julia Xu,
Vice President
International
Corporate Finance & Corporate Communications
ReneSola
Ltd
No. 8
Baoqun Road
Yaozhuang
Town
Jiashan
County
Zhejiang
Province 314117
People’s
Republic of China
(86-573)
8477-3372
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 shares 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. For instance, we make forward-looking statements such as our
expected manufacturing capacity, our estimated silicon raw material requirements
and our estimated silicon consumption rate. 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, including China. These market data, including
industry demand and product pricing, include projections that are based on a
number of assumptions. Wafer prices may not continue to decline in the future.
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
shares. 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
We are a
leading global manufacturer of solar wafers, complemented by a recent addition
of downstream operations in cell and module manufacturing. We expect to
become a fully integrated solar power products manufacturer when our in-house
polysilicon production in Meishan, Sichuan Province, China commences in the
second half of 2009.
Historically,
we focused on manufacturing monocrystalline wafers and have accumulated
extensive experience and expertise in developing and using monocrystalline
wafer production technologies. In 2005 and 2006, we offered 125 mm by 125 mm
monocrystalline wafers with a thickness of 220 microns, and reduced the
thickness to 200 microns in late 2006, and to 180 microns by the end of 2007. In
mid 2007, we started offering 156 mm by 156 mm monocrystalline wafers with
a thickness of 200 microns. By the end of the first quarter of 2008, we
were able to offer both sizes of monocrystalline wafers with a thickness of
180 microns. We began manufacturing 156 mm by 156 mm multicrystalline
wafers with a thickness of 220 microns in the third quarter of 2007. By the end
of the first quarter of 2008, we were able to reduce the thickness of
multicrystalline wafers to 180 microns.
While
monocrystalline wafers generally yield higher conversion efficiencies but are
more expensive to produce, multicrystalline wafers are less expensive to produce
and have less stringent raw material requirements. With our production of
multicrystalline wafers, we have realized cost synergies by utilizing some of
the silicon materials reclaimable from our monocrystalline wafer production
process.
We have
rapidly expanded our manufacturing capacity since we began the production of
solar wafers. We possess one of the largest solar wafer manufacturing plants in
China based on production capacity as of December 31, 2008. As of December 31,
2008, we had 306 monocrystalline furnaces and 64 multicrystalline furnaces
installed. As of December 31, 2008, we had annual wafer manufacturing
capacity of approximately 645 MW, consisting of monocrystalline wafer
manufacturing capacity of approximately 325 MW and multicrystalline wafer
manufacturing capacity of approximately 320 MW. This represents a significant
increase from our annual wafer manufacturing capacity of approximately 378 MW as
of December 31, 2007, consisting of monocrystalline wafer manufacturing capacity
of 218 MW and multicrystalline wafer manufacturing capacity of 160
MW.
As part
of our expansion strategy, we plan to expand our annual wafer manufacturing
capacity to approximately 825 MW for 2009, consisting of monocrystalline wafer
manufacturing capacity of approximately 325 MW and multicrystalline wafer
manufacturing capacity of approximately 500 MW. Due to the current volatile
market conditions, we cannot assure you that we will achieve our 2009 expansion
plan.
By using
proprietary technologies, processes and know-how, we historically manufactured
solar wafers primarily from a wide range of reclaimable silicon raw materials,
including broken wafers and broken cells that are difficult to process but less
expensive than polysilicon. We stopped purchasing reclaimable silicon raw
materials since the fourth quarter of 2008 because the polysilicon spot price
dropped significantly, and as a result, processing reclaimable silicon raw
materials is less economically efficient to us if taking into account the
processing costs associated with recycling reclaimable silicon raw materials. We
currently manufacture solar wafers mainly from polysilicon.
With our
competitive cost structure, we believe we are well positioned to address the
challenges presented by the current industry-wide weak demand for solar wafers
as a result of global financial crisis and industry seasonal factor. Through
continuous technology innovation and improvement in management efficiency, we
were able to reduce our silicon consumption rate to 6.0 grams per watt in the
first quarter of 2009, one of the lowest in the industry to our knowledge, from
over 6.7 grams per watt in the third quarter of 2007. Our product cost
competitiveness is expected to be further enhanced as we expect to become a
fully integrated solar manufacturing company with our recent acquisition of Wuxi
Jiacheng Solar Energy Technology Co., Ltd., or JC Solar, and our expected
upstream polysilicon manufacturing ability. We believe our in-house polysilicon
production in Meishan, Sichuan Province, China, which is expected to be
operational during the second half of 2009, together with our existing long term
polysilicon purchase contracts, will not only enhance our ability to better
control our raw material costs across our business and operation segments but
ensure a reliable polysilicon supply. We also believe the acquisition of JC
Solar will bring further synergy in cost savings.
We have
grown rapidly since we began manufacturing solar wafers and related products in
2005. Our net revenues increased significantly from $84.4 million in 2006 to
$249.0 million and $670.4 million in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Our income
from operations increased from $22.2 million in 2006 to $43.4 million in 2007.
Our net income increased from $25.3 million in 2006 to $42.9 million in 2007. We
suffered an operating loss of $48.5 million and a net loss of $54.9 million in
2008, due to an inventory write-down in the fourth quarter of 2008 of $131.0
million against the net realizable value of inventories and a provision for
inventory purchase commitment of $6.0 million as a result of the significant
decline in the market price and value of silicon material feedstock, work in
progress and finished solar wafers. In the first quarter of 2009, we recorded
another $68.0 million inventory write-down against the net realizable value of
inventories. As a result, our gross margin dropped from 21.5% in 2007 to
negative 2.1% in 2008 and negative 47.8% in the first quarter of
2009.
For
purposes of understanding the above, we measure our solar wafer
manufacturing capacity and production output in watts, or W, or mega watts, or
MW, representing 1,000,000 watts, of power-generating capacity, which is
consistent with industry practice. We believe MW is a more appropriate unit to
measure our manufacturing capacity and production output compared to pieces of
wafers, as our solar wafers differ in size, thickness, power output and
conversion efficiency. Furthermore, we manufacture both monocrystalline wafers
and multicrystalline wafers, and solar cells using these two types of wafers
have different conversion efficiencies. Even though we had achieved, as of
December 31, 2008, conversion efficiency rates of 17.3% and 15.5% for solar
cells using our monocrystalline wafers and multicrystalline wafers,
respectively, for purposes of this prospectus, we assume an average conversion
efficiency rate of 16.0% for solar cells using our monocrystalline wafers, and
an average conversion efficiency rate of 15.0% for solar cells using our
multicrystalline wafers. Based on the conversion efficiency above, we assume
that each 125 millimeters, or mm, by 125 mm, monocrystalline wafer we produce
can generate approximately 2.4 W of power and each 156 mm by 156 mm
monocrystalline wafer we produce can generate approximately 3.9 W of power. We
also assume that each 156 mm by 156 mm multicrystalline wafer we produce can
generate approximately 3.7 W of power based on the conversion efficiency above.
We also measure our ingot manufacturing capacity and production output in MW
according to the solar wafers in MW that our current manufacturing processes
generally yield.
RECENT
DEVELOPMENTS
The
following is a summary of our unaudited consolidated statement of operations
data for the three months ended March 31, 2008, December 31, 2008 and March 31,
2009, and a summary of our unaudited consolidated balance sheet data as of March
31, 2008, December 31, 2008 and March 31, 2009. We have prepared the unaudited
consolidated financial information on the same basis as our audited consolidated
financial statements and in accordance with United States generally accepted
accounting principles. Results for the first quarter of 2009 may not be
indicative of our full year results for 2009 or for future quarterly periods.
See “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” included in our annual report
on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 and filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on June 10, 2009, incorporated by reference
in this prospectus, for information regarding trends and other factors that may
influence our results of operations.
Unaudited
Consolidated Income Statement Information
|
|
Three months ended
March 31, 2008
$000
|
|
|
Three months ended
December 31, 2008
$000
|
|
|
Three months ended
March 31, 2009
$000
|
|
Net
revenues
|
|
|
122,982 |
|
|
|
158,623 |
|
|
|
106,946 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost
of revenues
|
|
|
(95,748 |
) |
|
|
(288,762 |
) |
|
|
(158,033 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross
profit (loss)
|
|
|
27,234 |
|
|
|
(130,139 |
) |
|
|
(51,087 |
) |
|
|
|
22.1 |
% |
|
|
-82.0 |
% |
|
|
-47.8 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sales
and marketing
|
|
|
(267 |
) |
|
|
(43 |
) |
|
|
(116 |
) |
General
and administrative
|
|
|
(3,389 |
) |
|
|
(9,160 |
) |
|
|
(3,956 |
) |
Research
and development
|
|
|
(442 |
) |
|
|
(2,771 |
) |
|
|
(3,446 |
) |
Impairment
loss on property, plant and equipment
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(763 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Other
general income (expenses)
|
|
|
51 |
|
|
|
(250 |
) |
|
|
259 |
|
Total
operating expenses
|
|
|
(4,047 |
) |
|
|
(12,987 |
) |
|
|
(7,259 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income
(loss) from operations
|
|
|
23,187 |
|
|
|
(143,126 |
) |
|
|
(58,346 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
income
|
|
|
306 |
|
|
|
929 |
|
|
|
456 |
|
Interest
expenses
|
|
|
(2,144 |
) |
|
|
(3,692 |
) |
|
|
(4,048 |
) |
Foreign
exchange (loss) gain
|
|
|
(56 |
) |
|
|
(1,052 |
) |
|
|
(550 |
) |
Equity
in losses of investee
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(291 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income
(loss) before income tax
|
|
|
21,293 |
|
|
|
(146,941 |
) |
|
|
(62,779 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income
tax benefit (expenses)
|
|
|
(3,560 |
) |
|
|
18,278 |
|
|
|
32,760 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
income (loss)
|
|
|
17,733 |
|
|
|
(128,663 |
) |
|
|
(30,019 |
) |
Less:
net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
|
|
|
(58 |
) |
|
|
388 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
income (loss) attributable to holders of ordinary shares
|
|
|
17,675 |
|
|
|
(128,275 |
) |
|
|
(30,019 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings
(Loss) per share
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
0.15 |
|
|
|
(0.93 |
) |
|
|
(0.22 |
) |
Diluted
|
|
|
0.14 |
|
|
|
(0.93 |
) |
|
|
(0.22 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
average number of shares used in computing earnings per
share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
shares
|
|
|
113,906,186 |
|
|
|
137,624,912 |
|
|
|
137,624,912 |
|
Diluted
shares
|
|
|
124,460,612 |
|
|
|
137,624,912 |
|
|
|
137,624,912 |
|
Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheet
Information
|
|
As at
March 31, 2008
$000
|
|
|
As at
December 31, 2008
$000
|
|
|
As at
March 31, 2009
$000
|
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
|
|
67,441 |
|
|
|
112,333 |
|
|
|
172,614 |
|
Restricted
cash
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
5,958 |
|
|
|
67,394 |
|
Accounts
receivable, net of allowances for doubtful receivables
|
|
|
16,234 |
|
|
|
43,160 |
|
|
|
34,965 |
|
Inventories
|
|
|
156,277 |
|
|
|
193,036 |
|
|
|
148,856 |
|
Advances
to suppliers
|
|
|
88,843 |
|
|
|
36,991 |
|
|
|
18,930 |
|
Amounts
due from related parties
|
|
|
36,046 |
|
|
|
457 |
|
|
|
441 |
|
Value
added tax recoverable
|
|
|
3,808 |
|
|
|
15,498 |
|
|
|
22,829 |
|
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets
|
|
|
4,972 |
|
|
|
13,722 |
|
|
|
10,107 |
|
Deferred
tax assets
|
|
|
8,861 |
|
|
|
18,979 |
|
|
|
38,748 |
|
Total
current assets
|
|
|
382,482 |
|
|
|
440,134 |
|
|
|
514,884 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property,
plant and equipment, net
|
|
|
172,330 |
|
|
|
341,427 |
|
|
|
415,561 |
|
Prepaid
land rent, net
|
|
|
9,391 |
|
|
|
13,472 |
|
|
|
13,372 |
|
Deferred
tax assets
|
|
|
629 |
|
|
|
2,340 |
|
|
|
15,049 |
|
Deferred
convertible bond issue costs
|
|
|
3,087 |
|
|
|
1,970 |
|
|
|
1,573 |
|
Advances
to suppliers over one year
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
45,729 |
|
|
|
48,635 |
|
Advances
for purchases of property, plant and equipment
|
|
|
77,169 |
|
|
|
161,705 |
|
|
|
164,959 |
|
Other
long-term assets
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,011 |
|
|
|
1,064 |
|
Total
assets
|
|
|
645,088 |
|
|
|
1,007,788 |
|
|
|
1,175,097 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES
AND EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Short-term
borrowings
|
|
|
88,968 |
|
|
|
191,987 |
|
|
|
277,006 |
|
Accounts
payable
|
|
|
22,373 |
|
|
|
37,942 |
|
|
|
37,181 |
|
Advances
from customers
|
|
|
72,188 |
|
|
|
49,284 |
|
|
|
58,584 |
|
Amount
due to related party
|
|
|
15 |
|
|
|
11,863 |
|
|
|
24 |
|
Other
current liabilities
|
|
|
12,328 |
|
|
|
42,060 |
|
|
|
47,156 |
|
Total
current liabilities
|
|
|
195,872 |
|
|
|
333,136 |
|
|
|
419,951 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Convertible
bond payable
|
|
|
133,999 |
|
|
|
138,904 |
|
|
|
139,080 |
|
Long-term
borrowings
|
|
|
34,085 |
|
|
|
32,833 |
|
|
|
135,667 |
|
Advances
from customers over one year
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
105,203 |
|
|
|
113,181 |
|
Other
long-term liabilities
|
|
|
1,114 |
|
|
|
15,624 |
|
|
|
15,197 |
|
Total
liabilities
|
|
|
365,070 |
|
|
|
625,700 |
|
|
|
823,076 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ReneSola
Ltd Shareholders’ equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common
shares
|
|
|
145,291 |
|
|
|
330,666 |
|
|
|
330,666 |
|
Additional
paid-in capital
|
|
|
15,579 |
|
|
|
17,769 |
|
|
|
18,457 |
|
Retained
earnings (Deficit)
|
|
|
83,875 |
|
|
|
11,294 |
|
|
|
(18,725 |
) |
Accumulated
other comprehensive income
|
|
|
17,638 |
|
|
|
22,080 |
|
|
|
21,623 |
|
Total
ReneSola Ltd Shareholders’ equity
|
|
|
262,383 |
|
|
|
381,809 |
|
|
|
352,021 |
|
Noncontrolling
interests
|
|
|
17,635 |
|
|
|
279 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Total
equity
|
|
|
280,018 |
|
|
|
382,088 |
|
|
|
352,021 |
|
Total
liabilities and equity
|
|
|
645,088 |
|
|
|
1,007,788 |
|
|
|
1,175,097 |
|
Financial
Results for the three months ended March 31, 2009
Net
Revenues
Our net
revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2009 were $106.9 million, a
decrease of 13.0% year-over-year and 32.6% sequentially. The decrease in net
revenues in the three months ended March 31, 2009 was primarily attributable to
falling wafer ASPs and a reduction in wafer shipments during the quarter due to
decreased market demand as a result of the global financial
crisis. The average selling price, or ASP, of wafers in the three
months ended March 31, 2009 decreased to $1.27 per watt from $2.16 in the three
months ended December 31, 2008.
Gross
Profit (Loss)
Our gross
loss for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was $51.1 million, compared to
gross loss of $130.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008 and
gross profit of $27.2 million for the three months ended March 31,
2008. Our gross loss for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was
primarily due to reduced sales and a $68.0 million inventory write-down against
the net realizable value of inventories as a result of the rapid decrease in the
market price and value of feedstock such as polysilicon and scrap silicon
materials, work in progress materials and finished solar wafers, offset by an
decrease in the price of polysilicon. Our gross margin for the three
months ended March 31, 2009 was negative 47.8%, compared to negative 82.0% for
the three months ended December 31, 2008 and positive 22.1% for the three months
ended March 31, 2008.
Operating
Profit (Loss)
Our
operating loss for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was $58.3 million,
compared to operating loss of $143.1 million for the three months ended December
31, 2008 and operating profit of $23.2 million for the three months ended March
31, 2008. Our operation loss for the three months ended March 31,
2009 was primarily due to the inventory write-down, which was recorded in our
cost of goods sold.
Our
operating margin for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was negative 54.6%,
compared to negative 90.2% for the three months ended December 31, 2008 and
positive 18.9% for the three months ended March 31, 2008. Total operating
expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2009 were $7.3 million, down from
$13.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008. Of the
total operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2009, $4.0 million
was attributable to general and administrative expenses, down from $9.2 million
for the three months ended December 31, 2008.
Earnings
(Loss) Before Income Tax
Our loss
before income tax for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was $62.8 million,
compared to a loss of $146.9 million for the three months ended December 31,
2008 and earnings of $21.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008.
Our finance costs increased by 9.6% sequentially, reflecting the rise in bank
borrowings to $412.7 million, which includes long-term borrowings of $135.7
million as of March 31, 2009. Our foreign exchange loss for the three
months ended March 31, 2009 was approximately $0.6 million compared to a
foreign exchange loss of $1.1 million for the three months ended December 31,
2008.
Taxation
A tax
benefit of $32.8 million was recognized for the three months ended March 31,
2009, with $37.1 million of the total tax benefit arising from the estimated
loss, compared with a tax benefit of $18.3 million for the three months ended
December 31, 2008, of which $17.3 million of the total tax benefit was
attributable to the inventory write-down in the three months ended December 31,
2008.
Net
Income (Loss) Attributable to Holders of Ordinary Shares
Net loss
attributable to holders of ordinary shares for the three months ended March 31,
2009 was $30.0 million, compared to net loss attributable to holders of ordinary
shares of $128.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008 and net
income attributable to holders of ordinary shares of $17.7 million for the three
months ended March 31, 2008.
Basic and
diluted loss per share for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was $0.22, and
basic and diluted loss per ADS was $0.44.
Recent
Business Developments
Acquisition
of JC Solar
Our
wholly owned subsidiary Zhejiang Yuhui Solar Energy Source Co., Ltd. entered
into an agreement on May 20, 2009 to acquire the entire issued share capital of
solar cell and module manufacturer, Wuxi Jiacheng Solar Energy Technology Co.,
or JC Solar. The total consideration for this acquisition was RMB 140.3
million, paid in cash.
JC Solar
is located in the Yixing Economic Development Zone of Wuxi City, Jiangsu
province, and is an established cell and module manufacturer. JC Solar has
approximately 300 employees with current annual cell production capacity of 25
MW and annual module production capacity of 50 MW. In the year ended December
31, 2008, JC Solar recorded an unaudited net profit of RMB 69 million and had a
net asset value of RMB 98 million at that date. This acquisition provides us
with a means of downstream integration.
Convertible
Bond Repurchases
On May
19, 2009, we announced that during the second quarter of 2009, we repurchased
approximately RMB 270 million aggregate principal amount of our RMB 928.7
million U.S. Dollar Settled 1.0% Convertible Bonds due March 26, 2012, or the
Bonds, for a total consideration of approximately RMB 186 million. The total
consideration was paid approximately 76% by cash and 24% by shares.
We may
from time to time seek to make additional repurchases of our Bonds. Such
repurchases, if any, will depend on prevailing market conditions, our liquidity
requirements and other factors.
Zhejiang
Province’s First BIPV Project
On May
13, 2009, we announced that we obtained approval from Zhejiang’s provincial
government to pioneer a 5 MW building integrated photovoltaic, or BIPV, rooftop
project in China’s Zhejiang province. The BIPV rooftop project has a total
planned area of 80,400 square meters on several government buildings in Jiashan
County, Zhejiang province and is subject to final approval by the Ministries of
Finance and Housing and Urban-Rural Development.
The BIPV
rooftop project has a budgeted total investment of RMB 160 million and will be
partially funded through the RMB 15 per watt subsidy announced by China’s
Ministry of Finance in March 2009. The local government may provide additional
subsidies and we have reached a tentative partnership agreement with a local
bank to provide additional funding.
Divestment
of ReneSola Malaysia
In July
2007, we invested approximately 1.3 million Malaysian Ringgit (RM) for 51%
equity interest in ReneSola (Malaysia) SDN. BHD., which was incorporated in
Malaysia in February 2007 to process certain types of reclaimable silicon raw
materials sourced overseas that did not meet the import requirements of the
Chinese government. The processed reclaimable silicon was then shipped to
Zhejiang Yuhui for further processing as feedstock for our wafer manufacturing.
We sold our 51% equity interest to the Malaysian joint venture partner for a
consideration of RM1 as part of our strategy to use polysilicon, instead of
reclaimable silicon materials, as our primary feedstock for wafer manufacturing.
The divestment was recently completed.
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 shares that may be offered pursuant to this prospectus.
USE
OF PROCEEDS
We intend
to use the net proceeds from the sale of the shares 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.
Substantially all of our current operations are conducted in China, and
substantially all of our assets are located in China. A majority of our
directors and officers are nationals or residents of jurisdictions other than
the United States and a substantial portion of their assets are located outside
of the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for a shareholder to
effect service of process within the United States upon us or such persons, or
to enforce against us or them judgments obtained in United States courts,
including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the
securities laws of the United States or any state in the United
States.
We have
appointed CT Corporation System as our agent to receive service of process with
respect to any action brought against us in the United States District
Court for the Southern District of New York under the federal securities laws of
the United States or of any state in the United States or any action brought
against us in the Supreme Court of the State of New York in the County of New
York under the securities laws of the State of New York.
Harney
Westwood & Riegels LLP, our counsel as to British Virgin Islands law, and
Haiwen & Partners, 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:
|
·
|
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 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.
Haiwen
& Partners has advised us further that the recognition and enforcement of
foreign judgments are provided for under PRC Civil Procedures Law. Courts in
China may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the
requirements of PRC Civil Procedures Law based on treaties between China and the
country where the judgment is made or on reciprocity between jurisdictions. As
there is currently no treaty or other agreement of reciprocity between China 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.
DESCRIPTION
OF SHARE CAPITAL
We are a
British Virgin Islands company and our affairs are governed by our memorandum
and articles of association and the British Virgin Islands Business Companies
Act of 2004 (as amended), which is referred to as the Companies Law
below.
As of the
date hereof, we are authorized to issue a maximum of 250,000,000 no par value
shares of a single class of which 141,624,912 shares have been issued and are
outstanding.
The
following are summaries of material provisions of our memorandum and articles of
association 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 nonresidents
of the British Virgin Islands may freely hold and vote their
shares.
Dividends. Subject to the
Companies Law, the board may, by a resolution of directors, declare and pay
dividends in money, shares, or other property. 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. Our directors may issue shares
or other securities of the Company to such persons, at such times and upon such
terns and conditions as they 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. The holders of our shares are entitled to
such dividends as may be declared by our board of directors subject to the
Companies Law.
Voting Rights. Each share is
entitled to one vote on all matters upon which the shares are entitled to vote.
We are required 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 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.
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 London Stock Exchange
or 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:
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(a)
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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);
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(b)
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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;
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(c)
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on
his behalf, the authority of that person to do so; any instrument of
transfer is in respect of only one class or series of share;
and
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(d)
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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.
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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 members according to their rights and interests in our
company according to our memorandum and articles of association. Each
shareholder in the Company has the right to an equal share in the distribution
of the surplus assets of the Company on its liquidation.
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.
Any shares which have been called upon and remain unpaid at the specified time
are subject to forfeiture.
Redemption of Shares. The Law
of British Virgin Islands provides that if permitted by the memorandum and
articles of association, 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 shareholder 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 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 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 an any time the shares the Company is authorized to issue are
divided into different classes of shares, the rights attached to any class may
only be varied, whether or not the Company is being wound up, 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 the
company. However, the directors have power to refuse the request on the grounds
that the inspection would be contrary to the interests of the Company. However,
we will provide our shareholders with annual audited financial
statements.
Differences
in Corporate Law
The
Companies Law of British Virgin Islands 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
with most U.S. jurisdictions, the directors of a British Virgin Islands company,
subject in certain cases to court’s approvals but without shareholders’
approval, may implement the sale, transfer, exchange or disposition of any
asset, property, part of the business, or securities of the company, if they
determine it is 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
per cent in value of the assets 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
interest in relation to that transaction, the director who is interested in a
transaction entered into or to be entered into by the Company 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 British Virgin Islands law does not make a
specific reference to cumulative voting, and our current memorandum and articles
of association have no provision 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 of association 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
The
memorandum and articles of association of our company does 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 the memorandum of association of our Company to create the new
class of shares and to set out the rights and obligations attaching to those
shares in the memorandum of association. This can only be done following a
resolution of shareholders. If at anytime the shares of our company are divided
into different classes, the variation of the rights of any such class (i.e.
by the creation and issue of a further class with preferred rights) will require
the consent of 50 percent of the shares in the affected class. Therefore, the
introduction of a poison pill mechanism involving the issue of a new class of
shares would require an amendment to the memorandum and articles of association
of our company which may only be done by way of shareholder
resolution.
Shareholder’s
Access to Corporate Records
A
shareholder is entitled, on giving written notice to the company, to inspect the
company’s (i) the memorandum and articles of association; (ii) the register of
members; (iii) the 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 authorise a member to review the companies
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
memorandum and articles of association, 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 Act. 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 a 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.
We are
not aware of any reported class action having been brought in a British Virgin
Islands court. Reported derivative actions have been brought but unsuccessfully
for technical reasons. The court 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 two shares deposited with the principal London office of The Bank of
New York Mellon, 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 is located at 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286. The
Bank of New York Mellon’s principal executive office is located at One Wall
Street, New York, New York 10286.
You may
hold ADSs either (A) directly (i) by having an American Depositary Receipt,
which is a certificate evidencing a specific number of ADSs, registered in your
name, or (ii) by holding ADSs in the Direct Registration System, or 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 ADR 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 evidenced by periodic statements issued 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 provisions of the deposit agreement. For
more complete information, you should read the entire deposit agreement and the
form of American Depositary Receipt. Directions on how to obtain copies of those
documents are provided on page 2 of this prospectus.
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 ADR 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.
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Before
making a distribution, any withholding taxes or other governmental charges
that must be paid will be deducted. See “Payment of Taxes.” It 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.
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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.
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U.S.
securities laws may restrict transfers and cancellation of the ADSs
represented by shares purchased upon exercise of rights. For example, you
may not be able to trade these ADSs freely in the United States. In this
case, the depositary may deliver restricted depositary shares that have
the same terms as the ADRs described in this section except for changes
needed to put the necessary restrictions in
place.
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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.
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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.
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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. 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
memorandum and articles of association, to vote or to have its agents vote the
shares or other deposited securities as you instruct. The depositary will only
vote or attempt to vote as you instruct.
We cannot
assure you that you will receive the voting materials in time to ensure that you
can instruct the depositary to vote your shares. In addition, the depositary and
its agents are not responsible for failing to carry out voting instructions or
for the manner of carrying out voting instructions. This means that you may not be able to exercise
your right to vote and there may be nothing you can do if your shares are not
voted as you requested.
In order
to give you a reasonable opportunity to instruct the depositary as to the
exercise of voting rights relating to deposited securities, if we request the
depositary to act, we will try to give the depositary notice of any such meeting
and details concerning the matters to be voted upon sufficiently in advance of
the meeting date.
Fees
and Expenses
Persons
depositing or withdrawing shares or holders
of
ADSs must pay:
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$5.00
(or less) per 100 ADSs (or portion of 100 ADSs)
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Issuance
of ADSs, including issuances resulting from a distribution of shares or
rights or other property
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Cancellation
of ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal, including if the deposit agreement
terminates
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$.02
(or less) per ADS
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Any
cash distribution to you
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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 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
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Expenses
of the depositary
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Cable,
telex 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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Persons
depositing or withdrawing shares or holders
of
ADSs must pay:
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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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The Bank
of New York Mellon, as depositary, has agreed to reimburse us for expenses we
incur that are related to establishment, administration and maintenance of the
ADR program, including investor relations expenses and stock exchange
application and listing fees. There are limits on the amount of expenses for
which the depositary will reimburse us, but the amount of reimbursement
available to us is not related to the amounts of fees the depositary collects
from investors.
The
depositary collects its fees for issuance and cancellation of ADSs directly from
investors depositing shares or surrendering ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal
or from intermediaries acting for them. The depositary collects fees for making
distributions to investors by deducting those fees from the amounts distributed
or by selling a portion of distributable property to pay the fees. The
depositary may collect its annual fee for depositary services by deduction from
cash distributions, or by directly billing investors, or by charging the
book-entry system accounts of participants acting for them. The depositary may
generally refuse to provide fee-attracting services until its fees for those
services are paid.
Payment
of Taxes
You will
be responsible for any taxes or other governmental charges payable on your ADSs
or on the deposited securities represented by any of your ADSs. The depositary
may refuse to register any transfer of your ADSs or allow you to withdraw the
deposited securities represented by your ADSs until such taxes or other charges
are paid. It may apply payments owed to you or sell deposited securities
represented by your 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
Change
the nominal or par value of our shares
Reclassify,
split up or consolidate any of the deposited
securities
|
|
The
cash, shares or other securities received by the depositary will become
deposited securities. Each ADS will automatically represent its equal
share of the new deposited securities.
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
Distribute
securities on the shares that are not distributed to you
|
|
The
depositary may deliver new ADSs or ask you to surrender your outstanding
ADSs in exchange for new ADSs identifying the new deposited
securities.
|
• |
Recapitalize,
reorganize, merge, liquidate, sell all or substantially all of our assets,
or take any similar action
|
|
|
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, it will not become effective for
outstanding ADSs until 30 days after the depositary notifies ADS holders of the
amendment. At the time an
amendment becomes effective, you are considered, by continuing to hold your 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 the Company a written notice of its election
to resign and a successor depositary shall not have been appointed and accepted
its appointment.
After
termination, the depositary and its agents will do the following under the
deposit agreement but nothing else: collect distributions on the deposited
securities, sell rights and other property, and deliver shares and other
deposited securities upon cancellation of ADSs. 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:
|
·
|
are
only obligated to take the actions specifically set forth in the deposit
agreement without negligence or bad
faith;
|
|
·
|
are
not liable if either of us is prevented or delayed by law or circumstances
beyond our control from performing our obligations under the deposit
agreement;
|
|
·
|
are
not liable if either of us exercises discretion permitted under the
deposit agreement;
|
|
·
|
have
no obligation to become involved in a lawsuit or other proceeding related
to the ADSs or the deposit agreement on your behalf or on behalf of any
other party; and
|
|
·
|
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:
|
·
|
payment
of stock transfer or other taxes or other governmental charges and
transfer or registration fees charged by third parties for the transfer of
any shares or other deposited
securities;
|
|
·
|
satisfactory
proof of the identity and genuineness of any signature or other
information it deems necessary; and
|
|
·
|
compliance
with regulations it may establish, from time to time, consistent with the
deposit agreement, including presentation of transfer
documents.
|
The
depositary may refuse to deliver ADSs or register transfers of ADSs generally
when the transfer books of the depositary or our transfer books are closed or at
any time if the depositary or we think it advisable to do so.
Your
Right to Receive the Shares Underlying Your ADSs
You have
the right to cancel your ADSs and withdraw the underlying shares at any time
except:
|
·
|
When
temporary delays arise because: (i) the depositary has closed its transfer
books or we have closed our transfer books; (ii) the transfer of shares is
blocked to permit voting at a shareholders’ meeting; or (iii) we are
paying a dividend on our shares.
|
|
·
|
When
you or other ADS holders seeking to withdraw shares owe money to pay fees,
taxes and similar charges.
|
|
·
|
When
it is necessary to prohibit withdrawals in order to comply with any laws
or governmental regulations that apply to ADSs or to the withdrawal of
shares or other deposited
securities.
|
This
right of withdrawal may not be limited by any other provision of the deposit
agreement.
Pre-release
of ADSs
The
deposit agreement permits the depositary to deliver ADSs before deposit of the
underlying shares. This is called a pre-release of the ADSs. The depositary may
also deliver shares upon cancellation of pre-released ADSs (even if the ADSs are
canceled before the pre-release transaction has been closed out). A pre-release
is closed out as soon as the underlying shares are delivered to the
depositary. The depositary may receive ADSs instead of shares to close out a
pre-release. The depositary may pre-release ADSs only under the following
conditions: (1) before or at the time of the pre-release, the person to
whom the pre-release is being made represents to the depositary in writing that
it or its customer owns the shares or ADSs to be deposited; (2) the pre-release
is fully collateralized with cash or other collateral that the depositary
considers appropriate; and (3) the depositary must be able to close out the
pre-release on not more than five business days’ notice. In addition, the
depositary will limit the number of ADSs that may be outstanding at any time as
a result of pre-release, although the depositary may disregard the limit
from time to time, if it thinks it is appropriate to do so.
Direct
Registration System
In the
deposit agreement, all parties to the deposit agreement 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.
PLAN
OF DISTRIBUTION
We may
sell or distribute the shares offered by this prospectus, from time to
time, in one or more offerings, as follows:
|
·
|
to
dealers or underwriters for resale;
|
|
·
|
directly
to purchasers; or
|
|
·
|
through
a combination of any of these methods of
sale.
|
The
prospectus supplement with respect to the shares may state or supplement
the terms of the offering of the shares.
In
addition, we may issue the shares 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 shares 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 shares through any
of these methods or other methods described in the applicable prospectus
supplement.
Our
shares 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;
|
|
·
|
at
market prices prevailing at the time of
sale;
|
|
·
|
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 shares for
their own account, including through underwriting, purchase, security lending or
repurchase agreements with us. The underwriters may resell the shares from time
to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions.
Underwriters may sell the shares 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
shares 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 shares will be
subject to certain conditions, and the underwriters will be obligated to
purchase all the offered shares 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 shares offered through this prospectus, we will
sell the shares to them as principals. They may then resell those shares 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.
Direct
Sales and Sales through Agents
We may
sell the shares offered through this prospectus directly. In this case, no
underwriters or agents would be involved. Such shares 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
shares 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 shares 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.
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 shares 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
shares will be a new issue and will have no established trading market. We may
elect to list any series of offered shares on an exchange. Any underwriters that
we use in the sale of offered shares may make a market in such shares, but may
discontinue such market making at any time without notice. Therefore, we cannot
assure you that the shares 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 shares.
Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the shares 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 shares 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 shares 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.
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.
VALIDITY
OF THE SHARES
The
validity of the shares offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Harney
Westwood & Riegels LLP.
EXPERTS
The
financial statements and the related financial statement schedule, incorporated
in this prospectus by reference from the company’s annual report on Form 20-F
for the year ended December 31, 2008, and the effectiveness of ReneSola
Ltd’s internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte
Touche Tohmatsu CPA Ltd., an independent registered public accounting firm, as
stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such
financial statements and financial statement schedule have been so incorporated
in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts
in accounting and auditing.
The
offices of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu CPA Ltd. are located at 30th Floor, Bund
Center, 222 Yan An Road East, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China.
EXPENSES
The
following table sets forth costs and expenses, other than any underwriting
discounts and commissions, we expect to incur in connection with the issuance
and distribution of the shares covered by this prospectus.
SEC
registration fee
|
|
$ |
5,580 |
|
FINRA
filing fee
|
|
|
* |
|
NYSE
supplemental listing fee
|
|
|
* |
|
Legal
fees and expenses
|
|
|
* |
|
Accounting
fees and expenses
|
|
$ |
100,000 |
|
Printing
costs
|
|
|
* |
|
Miscellaneous
|
|
|
* |
|
Total
|
|
$ |
105,580 |
|
*
|
To
be provided in a prospectus supplement or in a Report on Form 6-K
subsequently incorporated by reference into this
prospectus.
|
PART
II
INFORMATION
NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM
8.
|
INDEMNIFICATION
OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
|
British
Virgin Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s memorandum or
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.
Our Articles of Association provide for indemnification of any person acting as
a director of the Company or 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 for
losses, damages, costs and expenses incurred in their capacities as such, but
the indemnity only applies if the person acted honestly and in good faith with a
view to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of criminal
proceedings, the person had no reasonable cause to believe their conduct was
unlawful.
The
exhibits to this registration statement are listed on the Index to Exhibits to
this registration statement, which Index to Exhibits is hereby incorporated by
reference.
(A)
|
The
undersigned Registrant hereby
undertakes:
|
(1)
To file,
during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective
amendment to this registration statement;
|
(i)
|
To
include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities
Act;
|
|
(ii)
|
To
reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective
date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective
amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a
fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration
statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or any decrease in
volume of shares offered (if the total dollar value of shares offered
would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low
or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in
the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if,
in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a
20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the
“Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration
statement; and
|
|
(iii)
|
To
include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution
not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material
change to such information in the registration
statement;
|
provided,
however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this
section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form F-3 and the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC
by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act, that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement,
or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that
is part of the registration statement.
(2)
|
That,
for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act,
each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the shares offered therein, and the
offering of such shares at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide offering thereof.
|
(3)
|
To
remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the
shares being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.
|
(4)
|
To
file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include
any financial statements required by Item 8.A of Form 20-F at
the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering.
Financial statements and information otherwise required by
Section 10(a)(3) of the Exchange Act need not be furnished, provided
that the Registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a
post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this
paragraph (a)(4) and other information necessary to ensure that all
other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of
those financial statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to
registration statements on Form F-3, a post-effective amendment need
not be filed to include financial statements and information required by
Section 10(a)(3) of the Exchange Act or Rule 3-19 of
Regulation S-K if such financial statements and information are
contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the
Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this
Form F-3.
|
(5)
|
That,
for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any
purchaser:
|
|
(i)
|
Each
prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall
be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the
filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration
statement; and
|
|
(ii)
|
Each
prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5),
or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on
Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to
Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing
the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall
be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of
the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after
effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of 314 shares in
the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B,
for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date
an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of
the registration statement relating to the shares in the registration
statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such
shares at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration
statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made
in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the
registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration
statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to
such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in
the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration
statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective
date.
|
(6)
|
That,
for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the
Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the
shares:
|
The
undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of shares of the
undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of
the underwriting method used to sell the shares to the purchaser, if the shares
are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following
communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and
will be considered to offer or sell such shares to such purchaser:
|
(i)
|
Any
preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant
relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to
Rule 424;
|
|
(ii)
|
Any
free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf
of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned
Registrant;
|
|
(iii)
|
The
portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering
containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its
shares provided by or on behalf of the undersigned
Registrant; and
|
|
(iv)
|
Any
other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the
undersigned Registrant to the
purchaser.
|
(B)
|
The
undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining
any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s
annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in the registration
statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to
the shares offered therein, and the offering of such shares at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.
|
(C)
|
Insofar
as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be
permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant
pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Registrant has been advised that
in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any
action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or
controlling person in connection with the shares being registered, the
Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been
settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against
public policy as expressed in the Securities Act will be governed by the
final adjudication of such
issue.
|
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the
Securities Act of 1933, the
registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized,
in Jiashan, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China, on June 25, 2009.
RENESOLA
LTD
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Xianshou Li
|
Name:
|
Xianshou
Li
|
Title:
|
Director
and Chief Executive
Officer
|
POWER
OF ATTORNEY
Each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Xianshou Li and Charles Xiaoshu Bai as
his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments)
to this registration statement and any and all related registration statements
pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act, and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or its substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the
Securities Act of
1933, this
registration statement has
been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on June 25, 2009.
Signature
|
|
Title
|
|
|
|
Name:
Martin Bloom
|
|
Chairman
|
|
|
|
Name:
Xianshou Li
|
|
Director and Chief Executive
Officer
(principal executive officer)
|
|
|
|
Name:
Charles Xiaoshu Bai
|
|
Chief Financial
Officer
(principal financial and
accounting officer)
|
|
|
|
Name:
Yuncai Wu
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
Name:
Jing Wang
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
Name: Wee
Seng Tan
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
Name:
Donald J. Puglisi
Title:
Managing Director, Puglisi & Associates
|
|
Authorized U.S.
Representative
|
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit
Number
|
|
Description
of Document
|
1.1*
|
|
Form
of Underwriting Agreement
|
4.1
|
|
Registrant’s Specimen American Depositary Receipt
(incorporated by
reference to Exhibit
4.1 of our Registration Statement on
Form F-1 (file no. 333-151315), as amended,
initially filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 30, 2008)
|
4.2
|
|
Registrant’s Specimen Certificate for Shares
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of our Registration Statement on
Form F-1 (file
no. 333-151315), as amended,
initially filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 30, 2008)
|
4.3
|
|
Form of Deposit Agreement among the Registrant, the
depositary and holder of the American Depositary Receipts (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.3 of our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-151315), as amended, initially filed with
the Securities and
Exchange Commission
on May 30,
2008)
|
5.1
|
|
Opinion
of Harney Westwood & Riegels LLP regarding the validity of the
shares
|
8.1
|
|
Opinion
of Harney Westwood & Riegels LLP regarding certain British Virgin
Islands tax matters
|
8.2
|
|
Opinion
of Latham & Watkins LLP regarding certain U.S. tax
matters
|
21.1
|
|
List of Subsidiaries (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 8.1 of the
Annual Report on Form 20-F (file no. 001-33911) filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on June
10, 2009)
|
23.1
|
|
Consent of Deloitte Touche
Tohmatsu CPA
Ltd., Independent
Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
23.2
|
|
Consent
of Harney Westwood & Riegels LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 and Exhibit
8.1)
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23.3
|
|
Consent
of Haiwen & Partners
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24.1
|
|
Powers
of Attorney (included as part of signature
page)
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___________________
*
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To
be filed as an exhibit to a post-effective amendment to this registration
statement or as an exhibit to a report filed under the Exchange Act and
incorporated herein by
reference.
|