Issues Regarding the Conversion of Non-listed Foreign Investment Shares of Foreign-invested Companies Limited by Shares to Tradable B Shares Supplementary Circular

关于外商投资股份有限公司非上市外资股转B股流通有关问题的补充通知

A new circular that clarifies prior legislation and give more details abuot how non-listed foreign investment shares can be converted into B shares

Clp Reference: 3710/02.08.16 Promulgated: 2002-08-16

(Issued by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation on August 16 2002.)

To the commission (office, bureau) of foreign trade and economic cooperation of each province, autonomous region, municipality directly under the central government and municipality with independent development plans:

(对外贸易经济合作部于二零零二年八月十六日发布。)

各省、自治区、直辖市及计划单列市外经贸委(厅、局):

In order to promote the healthy development of the domestic stock market and to further regulate activities involving the conversion to tradable B shares of non-listed foreign investment shares of foreign-invested companies limited by shares with B shares, we hereby notify you of related issues, as follows:

为推动境内证券市场的健康发展,进一步规范含有B股的外商投资股份有限公司非上市外资股转B股流通的行为,现就有关问题通知如下:

1. Non-listed foreign investment shares of foreign-invested companies limited by shares with B shares shall be allowed to be converted to B shares and to be traded (Conversion to Tradable B Shares). Conversions to B Shares must strictly adhere to the Foreign Investment Issues Relating to Listed Companies Several Opinions (ref. Wai Jing Mao Zi Fa [2001] No. 538), issued by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC) and the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) on October 8 2001 and may not be approved ultra vires.

一、    允许含有B股的外商投资股份有限公司非上市外资股转在B股市场上流通(以下简称非上市外资股转B股流通)。非上市外资股转B股流通必须严格按照外经贸部和中国证监会2001年10月8日发布的《关于上市公司涉及外商投资有关问题的若干意见》(外经贸资发[2001]538号)执行,不得越权审批。

2. For the purposes of the preceding section, the term ¡Èforeign-invested companies limited by shares¡É means foreign-invested companies limited by shares whose establishment was approved by MOFTEC in accordance with the Certain Questions on the Establishment of Foreign-invested Companies Limited by Shares Tentative Provisions (MOFTEC Order 1 of 1995) and foreign-invested companies limited by shares whose establishment was approved prior to the promulgation of said Tentative Provisions by a department authorized by MOFTEC in accordance with the Questions Relevant to the Establishment of Sino-foreign Companies Limited by Shares Circular (ref. [1992] Wai Jing Mao Zi Zong Han Zi No. 374). Non-listed foreign investment shares of foreign-invested companies limited by shares not established in accordance with these provisions may not be traded on the B share market.

二、    前款所述外商投资股份有限公司是指根据《关于设立外商投资股份有限公司若干问题的暂行规定》(外经贸部1995年1号令)由外经贸部批准设立的外商投资股份有限公司及该暂行规定颁布前由外经贸部以《关于举办中外股份有限公司有关问题的通知》([1992]外经贸资综函字第374号)授权的部门批准设立的外商投资股份有限公司。未按规定设立的外商投资股份有限公司的非上市外资股不得转在B股市场上流通。

3. In addition to meeting the relevant State requirements for listing and issuance of shares, Conversions to Tradable B Shares shall meet the following conditions:

三、    非上市外资股转B股流通除满足国家关于上市发行股票的要求外还应符合下列条件:

(1) the applicant shall be a foreign-invested company limited by shares established according to relevant provisions and procedures;

(一)  申请人应为按规定和程序设立的外商投资股份有限公司;

(2) the applicant shall comply with the policy on foreign investment in industry;

(二)  申请人应符合外商投资产业政策;

(3) if the holders of the non-listed foreign investment shares to be converted to tradable B shares are subject to special obligations and responsibilities (including, but not limited to, the provision of shareholder loans or loan guarantees, the transfer of technology, the licensing of trademarks, etc.) as required by the applicant's articles of association, shareholders' agreement and other legal documents and by laws and regulations, the above-mentioned obligations and responsibilities shall be satisfied prior to application for Conversion to Tradable B Shares;

(三)  拟转B股流通的非上市外资股股东如依照申请人章程、股东协议及其它法律文件和法律法规要求承担特殊义务和责任的(包括但不限于提供股东贷款、提供贷款担保、技朮转让、商标许可等等),应在履行完上述义务和责任后方可申请非上市外资股转B股流通;

(4) the applicant shall have passed the joint annual inspection of foreign-invested enterprises, and been continuously profitable, for both of the two years immediately prior to application;

(四)  申请前两年内均已通过外商投资企业联合年检并连续赢利;

(5) the holders of the non-listed foreign investment shares to be converted to tradable B shares shall have held such shares for more than one year; and

(五)  拟转B股流通的非上市外资股股东持有该非上市外资股的期限超过一年;

(6) after conversion of the non-listed foreign investment shares to tradable shares, the original shareholder must continue to hold the shares for more than one year.

(六)  非上市外资股转为流通股后,其原股东继续持有的期限须超过一年。

4. Conversions to Tradable B Shares shall be conducted according to the following procedure:

四、    非上市外资股转B股流通按以下程序办理:

(1) the applicant shall submit an application to the provincial level authority in charge of foreign trade and economic cooperation governing the place where it is located;

(一)  申请人向所在地省级外经贸主管部门提出申请;

(2) the provincial level authority in charge of foreign trade and economic cooperation governing the place where the applicant is located shall complete the preliminary examination within 15 days of the date of receipt of the application. In the event of approval, the authority shall turn the case over to MOFTEC for examination and approval; in the event of rejection, the authority shall inform the applicant in writing of the reason therefor;

(二)  申请人所在地省级外经贸主管部门应在接到申请之日起15日内完成初审。审核同意的,转报外经贸部审查批准;不同意的,书面说明理由;

(3) MOFTEC shall complete its examination within 30 days of the date of receipt of the application materials; applications conforming to the requirements shall be approved, and applications failing to conform shall be rejected and a written notice stating the reason for rejection shall be provided;

(三)  外经贸部应在接到申请材料之日起30日内完成审批。对符合条件的,予以批准;不符合条件的,不予以批准并书面说明理由;

(4) within 30 days of the date of CSRC approval for the Conversion to Tradable B shares, the applicant shall carry out with MOFTEC the procedures for amendment of its Foreign-invested Enterprise Approval Certificate on the strength of MOFTEC's approval document and the CSRC's approval document. If the applicant does not receive CSRC approval within one year of having received MOFTEC approval, the original MOFTEC approval document shall automatically become void.

(四)  申请人应在中国证监会批准非上市外资股转B股流通之日起30日内凭外经贸部批准文件和中国证监会批准文件到外经贸部变更《外商投资企业批准证书》。申请人如在外经贸部批准之日起1年内仍未获得中国证监会批准,原外经贸部批准文件自行失效;

(5) the applicant shall carry out the procedures for amendment of its registration with the administration for industry and commerce within 30 days of the date of amendment of its Foreign-invested Enterprise Approval Certificate.

(五)  申请人应在《外商投资企业批准证书》变更之日起30日内向工商行政管理部门申请办理变更登记手续。

5. For the purposes of Item (3) of Section Four hereof, the term ¡Èapplication materials¡É refers to the following:

五、    本通知第四条第(三)款所述的申请材料是指:

(1) the documentation (including the opinion from the preliminary examination) submitted by the provincial level authority in charge of foreign trade and economic cooperation governing the place where the applicant is located;

(一)  申请人所在地省级外经贸主管部门的申报文件(含初审意见);

(2) the applicant's written application for Conversion to Tradable B shares;

(二)  申请人关于非上市外资股转B股流通的申请书;

(3) the resolutions of the applicant's shareholders' general meeting regarding the Conversion to Tradable B shares and amendment of the articles of association;

(三)  申请人股东大会关于非上市外资股转B股流通的决议和关于章程修改的决议;

(4) the resolutions of the applicant's board of directors;

(四)  申请人董事会决议;

(5) (an original copy of) the draft of the amendments to the applicant's articles of association and (a photocopy of) the original articles of association;

(五)  申请人章程修改草案(正本)及原章程(复印件);

(6) written statements by the holders of the non-listed foreign investment shares to be converted to tradable B shares as to whether they have assumed special obligations and/or responsibilities; if special obligations and/or responsibilities have been assumed, the said shareholders shall state in writing the performance status thereof or undertake in writing that they will continue to perform the same;

(六)  拟转B股流通的非上市外资股股东关于是否承担特殊义务和责任的书面声明。承担特殊义务和责任的,应书面说明履行情况或书面承诺继续履行相关义务和责任;

(7) proof of the applicant's having passed joint inspection for the two years immediately preceding the application;

(七)  申请人申请前两年内联合年检证明;

(8) proof of the applicant's profitability for the two years immediately preceding the application (audit reports and tax receipts);

(八)  申请人申请前两年赢利证明(审计报告及纳税证明);

(9) written proof issued by the applicant that the holders of the non-listed foreign investment shares to be converted to tradable B shares have held such shares for more than one year;

(九)  申请人出具的拟转B股流通的非上市外资股股东持有该非上市外资股的期限超过一年的书面证明;

(10) written undertakings from the holders of the non-listed foreign investment shares to be converted to tradable B shares that they will continue to hold such shares for a minimum of one year after such conversion;

(十)  拟转B股流通的非上市外资股股东出具的关于非上市外资股转为流通股后继续持有一年以上的书面承诺;

(11) a photocopy of the applicant's Foreign-invested Enterprise Approval Certificate and business licence; if the applicant is a foreign-invested company limited by shares whose establishment was approved prior to the promulgation of the above mentioned Tentative Provisions by a department authorized by MOFTEC in accordance with the Questions Relevant to the Establishment of Sino-foreign Companies Limited by Shares Circular (ref. [1992] Wai Jing Mao Zi Zong Han Zi No. 374), it shall additionally provide the approval document from the original approval authority.

clp reference:3710/02.08.16promulgated:2002-08-16

(十一)申请人的《外商投资企业批准证书》和《营业执照》复印件。其中,暂行规定颁布前由外经贸部以《关于举办中外股份有限公司有关问题的通知》([1992]外经贸资综函字第374号)授权的部门批准设立的外商投资股份有限公司还应提供原审批部门的批准文件。

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