CHINA CERAMICS CO., LTD.
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(Name of Issuer)
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ORDINARY SHARES, PAR VALUE $0.001 PER SHARE
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(Title of Class of Securities)
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G2113X100
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(CUSIP Number)
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Joseph R. Tiano
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Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
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2300 N Street, N.W.
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Washington, DC 20037
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(202) 663-8233
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(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)
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October 28, 2011
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(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)
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1.
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NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
JAMES D. DUNNING, JR.
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2.
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CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
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(a) x
(b) ¨
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3.
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SEC USE ONLY
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|
4.
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SOURCE OF FUNDS
PF
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5.
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CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT
TO ITEM 2(e) or 2(f)
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¨
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6.
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CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
U.S.A.
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NUMBER OF
SHARES
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7.
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SOLE VOTING POWER
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0
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BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
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8.
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SHARED VOTING POWER
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1,101,251
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EACH
REPORTING
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9.
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SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
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663,693
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PERSON WITH
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10.
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SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
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0
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11.
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AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
1,101,251
|
|
12.
|
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
CERTAIN SHARES
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¨
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13.
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PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
6.04% (1)
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14.
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TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
IN
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(1)
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Based on the most recent Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K, filed by the Issuer on August 19, 2011, a total of 18,254,002 shares of the Issuer’s Ordinary Shares are considered to be outstanding, pursuant to SEC Rule 13d-3(d)(1), as of June 30, 2011. For the reporting person above, any options exercisable within 60 days have been included in the denominator. Beneficial ownership for purposes of this Statement has been computed in accordance with Rule 13d-3(d)(1) promulgated under the Act.
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1.
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NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
ALAN G. HASSENFELD
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|
2.
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CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
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(a) x
(b) ¨
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3.
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SEC USE ONLY
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|
4.
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SOURCE OF FUNDS
PF
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|
5.
|
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT
TO ITEM 2(e) or 2(f)
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¨
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6.
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CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
U.S.A.
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NUMBER OF
SHARES
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7.
|
SOLE VOTING POWER
|
0
|
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
|
8.
|
SHARED VOTING POWER
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1,101,251
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EACH
REPORTING
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9.
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SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
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348,656
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PERSON WITH
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10.
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SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
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0
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11.
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AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
1,101,251
|
|
12.
|
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
CERTAIN SHARES
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¨
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13.
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PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
6.04% (1)
|
|
14.
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TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
IN
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(1)
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Based on the most recent Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K, filed by the Issuer on August 19, 2011, a total of 18,254,002 shares of the Issuer’s Ordinary Shares are considered to be outstanding, pursuant to SEC Rule 13d-3(d)(1), as of June 30, 2011. For the reporting person above, any options exercisable within 60 days have been included in the denominator. Beneficial ownership for purposes of this Statement has been computed in accordance with Rule 13d-3(d)(1) promulgated under the Act.
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1.
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NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
GREGORY E. SMITH
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|
2.
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CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
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(a) x
(b) ¨
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3.
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SEC USE ONLY
|
|
4.
|
SOURCE OF FUNDS
PF
|
|
5.
|
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT
TO ITEM 2(e) or 2(f)
|
¨
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6.
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CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
U.S.A.
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NUMBER OF
SHARES
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7.
|
SOLE VOTING POWER
|
0
|
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
|
8.
|
SHARED VOTING POWER
|
1,101,251
|
EACH
REPORTING
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9.
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SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
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88,902
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PERSON WITH
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10.
|
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
|
0
|
11.
|
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
1,101,251
|
|
12.
|
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
CERTAIN SHARES
|
o
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13.
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PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
6.04% (1)
|
|
14.
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TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
IN
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(1)
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Based on the most recent Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K, filed by the Issuer on August 19, 2011, a total of 18,254,002 shares of the Issuer’s Ordinary Shares are considered to be outstanding, pursuant to SEC Rule 13d-3(d)(1), as of June 30, 2011. For the reporting person above, any options exercisable within 60 days have been included in the denominator. Beneficial ownership for purposes of this Statement has been computed in accordance with Rule 13d-3(d)(1) promulgated under the Act.
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(a)
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The acquisition by any person of additional securities of the issuer, or the disposition of securities of the Issuer;
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(b)
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An extraordinary corporate transaction, such as a merger, reorganization or liquidation, involving the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries;
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(c)
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A sale or transfer of a material amount of assets of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries;
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(d)
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Any change in the present board of directors or management of the Issuer, including any plans or proposals to change the number or term of directors or to fill any existing vacancies on the board;
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(e)
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Any material change in the present capitalization or dividend policy of the Issuer;
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(f)
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Any other material change in the Issuer’s business or corporate structure;
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(g)
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Changes in the Issuer’s charter, bylaws or instruments corresponding thereto or other actions which may impede the acquisition of control of the Issuer by any person;
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(h)
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Causing a class of securities of the Issuer to be delisted from a national securities exchange or to cease to be authorized to be quoted in an inter-dealer quotation system of a registered national securities association;
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(i)
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A class of equity securities of the Issuer becoming eligible for termination of registration pursuant to Section 12(g) (4) of the Act; or
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(j)
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Any action similar to any of those enumerated above.
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Exhibit A
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Voting Agreement among the Reporting Persons, China Holdings Acquisition Corp., a Delaware Corporation, the Issuer, Mr. Wong Kung Tok, Mr. Paul K. Kelly, Mr. Chen Yan Davis and Mr. Xiao Feng (incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to Schedule 13D filed September 27, 2011).
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Exhibit B
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Statement of Claim, filed on October 28, 2011.
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Exhibit C
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Letter to the Corporate Secretary, Chief Executive Officer and Board of the Issuer, dated October 28, 2011.
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Exhibit D
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Letter to the Board of Directors of the Issuer, dated September 26, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit B to Schedule 13D filed September 27, 2011).
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Exhibit E
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Letter to the Reporting Persons from the Board of Directors of the Issuer, dated September 28, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K filed by the Issuer on September 28, 2011).
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Exhibit F
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Letter to the corporate secretary of the Issuer, dated September 30, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit D to Amendment No. 1 to Schedule 13D filed October 3, 2011).
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Exhibit G
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Letter to the Reporting Persons from corporate secretary of the Issuer, dated October 11, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K filed by the Issuer on October 12, 2011).
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Exhibit H
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E-mail and Written Consent to Wong Kung Tok, Paul K. Kelly, Cheng Yan Davis and Xiao Feng from the Reporting Persons, dated October 14, 2011.
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Exhibit I
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E-mail to the Reporting Persons from Issuer’s corporate secretary dated October 18, 2011.
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Exhibit J
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Letter to the Reporting Persons from Chairman Paul K. Kelly, dated October 19, 2011.
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Exhibit K
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Notice to the corporate secretary of the Issuer, dated October 27, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit E to Amendment No. 2 to Schedule 13D filed October 27, 2011).
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Exhibit L
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Letter to the Reporting Persons from the Board of Directors of the Issuer, dated October 4, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K filed by the Issuer on October 4, 2011).
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Exhibit M
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Slide presentation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K filed by the Issuer on October 7, 2011)
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Exhibit N
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Series of E-mails between a representative of the Reporting Persons, Macquarie Capital and the Chief Financial Officer of the Issuer, dated between July 19, 2011 and July 29, 2011.
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Exhibit O
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E-mail to Chairman Paul K. Kelly on behalf of the Reporting Persons, dated July 22, 2011.
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Exhibit P
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E-mail to Chairman Paul K. Kelly sent on behalf of the Reporting Persons, dated August 3, 2011.
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Exhibit Q
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E-mail to U.S. corporate counsel for the Issuer on behalf of the Reporting Persons, dated August 9, 2011.
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Exhibit R
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E-mail to the Reporting Persons from Chairman Paul K. Kelly, dated August 11, 2011.
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Exhibit S
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E-mail to Chairman Paul K. Kelly sent on behalf of the Reporting Persons, dated August 11, 2011.
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Exhibit T
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Letter to the Board of Directors of the Issuer, dated August 25, 2011.
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Exhibit U
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E-mail to the Reporting Persons from Chairman Paul K. Kelly, dated September 2, 2011.
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Exhibit V
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Joint Filing Agreement among the Reporting Persons.
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/s/ James D. Dunning, Jr.
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James D. Dunning, Jr.
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/s/ Alan G. Hassenfeld
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Alan G. Hassenfeld
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/s/ Gregory E. Smith
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Gregory E. Smith
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STATEMENT OF CLAIM
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1.
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At all material times the Claimants have been shareholders of the Defendant, China Ceramics Co. Ltd., which is a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands (sometimes referred to as “the Company”), and Defendant’s predecessor entity, China Holdings Acquisition Corp. (“CHAC”), a Delaware corporation. The Defendant is the surviving company of a merger between itself and CHAC that was effectuated pursuant to a plan of merger dated 20 November 2009. The Claimants’ claim is for an order that the Defendant convene or the Court orders, a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of electing two new directors as replacements for two existing directors of Defendant, Mr. Paul Kelly and Ms. Cheng Davis.
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2.
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A group of six investors (including the three Claimants) incorporated CHAC in the State of Delaware as a “blank check” company, or special purpose acquisition company, for the purpose of conducting an initial public offering of its stock and thereafter acquiring an operating company with its primary operations located in Asia. After evaluating potential acquisition targets, CHAC’s board and management determined to acquire Jinjiang Hengda Ceramics Co., Ltd. (“Hengda”), a China-based ceramic tile manufacturing company. As a precondition to the Hengda acquisition, CHAC merged with and into the Defendant, which was then a newly formed entity, for the primary purpose of re-domesticating it in the BVI. As part of the re-domestication, holders of CHAC shares, warrants and units had their CHAC securities converted into similar securities issued by the Defendant. Contemporaneous with the re-domestication transaction, the Defendant entered into a Merger and Stock Purchase Agreement pursuant to which it acquired from Mr. Wong Kung Tok (“Mr Wong”) all of the issued and outstanding shares of Success Winner Limited (“Success Winner”), which is the indirect 100% owner of Hengda in exchange for an agreed upon number of ordinary shares of the Defendant. As a result of these transactions, the Defendant became the 100% owner of Defendant’s sub-sub-subsidiary, Hengda. CHAC and Hengda (including the two subsidiaries immediately above it – Success Winner and Stand Best Creation Limited), along with the six CHAC investors and Mr. Wong agreed that until April 2012, the six CHAC investors would control two seats on the Defendant’s board and Mr. Wong would control three seats. They memorialized this in a November 2009 Voting Agreement (“the Voting Agreement”), to which the Defendant is a party. The CHAC investors and the other parties to the Voting Agreement agreed that Paul Kelly and Cheng Davis, would initially take the two CHAC seats on the Defendant’s board.
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3.
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Currently, the six CHAC investors who signed the Voting Agreement and Mr. Wong collectively own less than 50% of the voting shares of the Defendant. The Defendant’s ordinary shares are publicly traded and listed on the NASDAQ exchange. The balance of its shares are held by various non-affiliated shareholders.
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4.
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For reasons not specifically relevant to the relief sought herein, the Claimants wish to exercise the powers granted to them under the Voting Agreement to call a meeting of shareholders with the objective of replacing Mr. Kelly and Ms. Davis with two alternative director designees that they feel can better ensure appropriate corporate governance expected from a NASDAQ-listed company and help to maximize shareholder value.
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5.
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The Voting Agreement contains the following clauses;
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1.2
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Board Composition.
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2.2.1
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Irrevocable Proxy. Each Party to this Agreement hereby constitutes and appoints the other Parties hereto, and each of them, with full power of substitution, as the proxies of the Party with respect to the matters set forth herein, including without limitation, election of persons as members of the Board in accordance with Section 1 hereto, and hereby authorizes each of them to represent and to vote, if and only if the Party attempts to vote (whether by proxy, in person or by written consent), or to fail to vote, in a manner which is inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement, all of such Party’s Shares in favour of the election of persons as members of the Board determined pursuant to and in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement. The proxy granted pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence is given in consideration of the agreements and covenants of the Parent and the Seller and the Parties hereto in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and, as such, is coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable unless and until this Agreement terminates or expires pursuant to Section 3 hereof. Each Party hereto hereby revokes any and all previous proxies with respect to the Shares and shall not hereafter, unless and until this Agreement terminates or expires pursuant to Section 3 hereof, purport to grant any other proxy or power of attorney with respect to any of the Shares, deposit any of the Shares into a voting trust or enter into any agreement (other than this Agreement), arrangement or understanding with any person, directly or indirectly, to vote, grant any proxy or give instructions with respect to the voting of any of the Shares, in each case, with respect to any of the matters set forth herein.
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6.
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Section 1.2(b) provides that two directors of the Defendant shall be designated by CHAC (defined as the “Parent” in the Voting Agreement) and that they “shall initially be Paul Kelly and Cheng Davis . . .” (Emphasis added.).
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7.
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The “Removal of Board Members” provision (Section 1.3) allows the “holders of a majority of the shares of voting stock, entitled under Section 1.2 to designate that director” to direct the removal of the designated director. The only proper and effective interpretation of this provision is that the Claimants, who were holders of a majority of the voting stock entitled under Section 1.2 to designate those directors; remain entitled to remove their designated directors for the currency of the Voting Agreement, which expires in April 2012. Such interpretation gives effect to the purpose of the Voting Agreement and is what the parties thereto clearly envisaged as to how it would work.
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8.
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The effect of Section 1.3 is to obligate all parties to the Voting Agreement, being the other owners of the two predecessor companies – CHAC and Hengda – to vote their shares to remove the CHAC-designated directors if the holders of a majority of the shares who were entitled to designate those directors require them to do so. Accordingly, if the holders of the majority of those shares (the shares held by the shareholders who were entitled to designate directors in November 2009 and whose names are set out in Schedule A to the Voting Agreement) direct the other CHAC shareholders and Mr. Wong to vote a certain way, they are required to do so, or to execute any written consents in order to carry out this obligation.
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9.
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Further, by reason of Section 1.3 the Voting Agreement obligates the Company to call a special meeting if asked by the persons so entitled to designate, namely the Claimants herein, for the purpose of electing directors.
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10.
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In addition to the obligations set out in Section 1.3 of the Voting Agreement, Section 2.1 requires the Company to use its best efforts to ensure that the rights granted under the Voting Agreement (including those rights set out in Section 1.3 and as described above) are effective.
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11.
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Furthermore, Section 4.12 of the Voting Agreement obligates all parties (including the Company) to cooperate in order to effectuate the transactions envisaged by the Voting Agreement (which includes those rights set out in Section 1.3 and as described above), including the execution and delivery of any further instruments or documents and taking all such further actions to carry out the intent of the parties under the Voting Agreement.
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12.
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In breach of its contractual obligation to do so, the Company has failed to, refuses to and continues to refuse to call a meeting of its shareholders. Accordingly, the Claimants claim for an order that the Company be required to do so.
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13.
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Further or in the alternative, the refusal by Mr. Kelly, Ms. Davis, Mr. Xiao and Mr. Wong to execute the written consents that they would vote for a special meeting and for removal of Kelly and Davis triggered the irrevocable proxy under Section 2.2 of the Voting Agreement. The last sentence of Section 1.3 adds an obligation that the Stockholders (those that appear in Schedule A and which includes the Claimants) and the Seller (Wong) must execute any written consents to carry out their other obligations. After several efforts at less contentious means to obtain seats on the Board (including a proposal to expand the size of the Board, which would allow Claimants to gain seats without the necessity of removing Kelly and Davis), all of which efforts were rebuffed, the Claimants directed Kelly, Davis, Xiao and Wong to execute written consents that they would call a shareholder meeting and, at the meeting, vote for the removal of Kelly and Davis as directors. All four of them refused to execute the written consents.
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14.
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This refusal to vote (by written consent) consistent with the Voting Agreement triggers the Irrevocable Proxy under Section 2.2 of the Voting Agreement. Under that provision, if a party fails to vote “in a manner which is inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement,” (see above) then the party appoints the other parties as proxies with respect to the matters in the Voting Agreement, “including without limitation, election of persons as members of the Board in accordance with Section 1.”
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15.
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Accordingly, the Claimants are entitled to exercise the votes of Mr. Kelly, Ms. Davis, Mr. Xiao and Mr. Wong to call a meeting for the purposes of removing and replacing the two directors of the Defendant.
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16.
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Further or in the alternative, the proxy votes enable the Claimants to carry a percentage of shareholder support in the Defendant well in excess of the 30% required under s82(2) of the Business Companies Act. Having requested the Defendant to then convene a meeting of shareholders, the Defendant has and continues to refuse to do so. Accordingly, the Claimants claim for an order that the Defendant be required to do so.
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17.
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Further or in the alternative the Claimants claim an order for a meeting to be convened under Section 86(a)(1) of the BVI Business Companies Act. Under that section, the Court may order a meeting called when it is impracticable to do so under the Defendant’s articles of association.
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18.
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Under Section 7.3 of the CCCL Articles of Association, a special meeting can be called either by a majority of the board of directors or by the Chief Executive Officer. The board and the CEO would have to voluntarily call a meeting and the Company has made it clear that it does not intend to do so. There is one other option under the articles for a meeting to be called: If the shareholders holding the majority of the entire capital stock of the company ask the secretary, then the secretary of the Defendant is obligated to call a special meeting.
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19.
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The company has made it clear that it will not cooperate in order to allow the shareholders to force a meeting to be called under this section. Accordingly, it is impractical to expect the Defendant to cause a meeting to be called given the vested interest of the majority of directors wishing to remain in office, including the Chairman.
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1.
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An order that the Defendant convenes a meeting of shareholders to determine removal and replacement of Mr. Kelly and Ms. Davis as directors and that directions be given for such meeting; or
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2.
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An order that there be a meeting of shareholders of the Defendant to be convened on proper notice on directions given for such meeting, to consider the removal and replacement of Mr. Kelly and Ms. Davis as directors; and/or
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3.
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Further or other relief.
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4.
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Costs pursuant to Section 4.13 of the Voting Agreement or in any event pursuant to the jurisdiction of the Court.
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Attention:
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Corporate Secretary, Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors
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Re:
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Hassenfeld, Smith and Dunning v. China Ceramics Company Limited (“the Company”)
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·
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Hold the next annual general meeting of the Company’s shareholders no later than December 23, 2011 at a meeting location and time of day that are convenient to the shareholders;
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·
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Include Mssrs. Hassenfeld and Smith as candidates properly nominated for election to seats on the Company’s Board of Directors;
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·
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Ensure that someone other than Mr. Kelly and Ms. Davis presides over the portion of the meeting at which Directors are elected; and
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·
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Honour the irrevocable proxies that our clients collectively hold for Paul Kelly, Cheng Davis, Xiao Feng, and Wong Kung Tok, on account of their refusal to sign the written consents demanded in Mr. Dunning’s October 14, 2011 email and under the November 2009 Voting Agreement which they all signed.
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||||
Wong Kung Tok
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Paul K. Kelly
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James D. Dunning, Jr
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||
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||||
Alan G. Hassenfeld
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Gregory E. Smith
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Cheng Yang Davis
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||||
Xiao Feng
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James D. Dunning, Jr.
2 Sutton Place South
Apt 17D
New York, NY 10022
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Alan G. Hassenfeld
The Owen Building
101 Dyer Street
Suite 401
Providence, RI 02903
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Gregory E. Smith
1401 NE 70th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73111
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Very truly yours,
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||||
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|
|||
James D. Dunning, Jr.
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Alan G. Hassenfeld
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|||
Gregory E. Smith
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Paul K. Kelly
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|||
Wong Kung Tok
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Cheng Yang Davis
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|||
Xiao Feng
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James D. Dunning, Jr.
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Alan G. Hassenfeld
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Gregory E. Smith
|
||
2 Sutton Place South
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The Owen Building
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1401 NE 70th Street
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||
Apt 17D
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101 Dyer Street
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Oklahoma City, OK 73111
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||
New York, NY 10022
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Suite 401
|
|||
Providence, Rhode Island 02903
|
Re:
|
China Ceramics Co. Ltd. - Exploring Strategic Alternatives
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Very truly yours,
|
||
/s/ James Dunning
|
||
James D. Dunning, Jr.
|
||
/s/ Alan Hassenfeld
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||
Alan G. Hassenfeld
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||
/s/ Greg Smith
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||
Gregory E. Smith
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/s/ James D. Dunning, Jr.
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||
James D. Dunning, Jr.
|
||
/s/ Alan G. Hassenfeld
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Alan G. Hassenfeld
|
||
/s/ Gregory E. Smith
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Gregory E. Smith
|