-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, VNBMATPi5xGeXXEI7CQWMvxqa5suWOWYauJixSk3gyuYq611aj7q5JhEvansIZbk clerjMEn/K2Zf78gRgujKg== 0001193125-05-055255.txt : 20050318 0001193125-05-055255.hdr.sgml : 20050318 20050318155958 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-05-055255 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: F-4 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 11 FILED AS OF DATE: 20050318 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20050318 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: City Telecom (B.C.) Inc. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001320857 IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: A1 FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: F-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-123432-03 FILM NUMBER: 05691763 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: P.O. BOX 10424, PACIFIC CENTRE STREET 2: 1300 777 DUNSMUIR STREET CITY: VANCOUVER STATE: A1 ZIP: V7Y 1K2 BUSINESS PHONE: 852-3145-6888 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 13-16TH FLOORS, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: CHINA SAR FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: City Telecom (Canada) INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001320847 IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: A5 FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: F-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-123432-05 FILM NUMBER: 05691765 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: SUITE 800, 1959 UPPER WATER STREET CITY: HALIFAX STATE: A5 ZIP: B3J 2X2 BUSINESS PHONE: 852-3145-6888 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 13-16TH FLOORS, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: CHINA SAR FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: City Telecom (Vancouver) Inc. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001320843 IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: A1 FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: F-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-123432-07 FILM NUMBER: 05691767 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: P.O. BOX 10424, PACIFIC CENTRE STREET 2: 1300 777 DUNSMUIR STREET CITY: VANCOUVER STATE: A1 ZIP: V7Y 1K2 BUSINESS PHONE: 852-3145-6888 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 13-16TH FLOORS, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: CHINA SAR FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: CTI International LTD CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001320827 IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: K3 FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: F-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-123432-15 FILM NUMBER: 05691776 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 14TH FLOOR, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: CHINA SAR BUSINESS PHONE: 852-3145-6888 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 13-16TH FLOORS, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: CHINA SAR FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: TeachOnNet.com LTD CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001320823 IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: K3 FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: F-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-123432-20 FILM NUMBER: 05691783 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 14TH FLOOR, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: CHINA SAR BUSINESS PHONE: 852-3145-6888 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 13-16TH FLOORS, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: CHINA SAR FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: iStore.com LTD CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001320821 IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: K3 FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: F-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-123432-16 FILM NUMBER: 05691777 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 14-16TH FLOORS, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: CHINA SAR BUSINESS PHONE: 852-3145-6888 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 13-16TH FLOORS, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: CHINA SAR FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: CTI Marketing CO LTD CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001320818 IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: K3 FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: F-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-123432-17 FILM NUMBER: 05691778 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 13-16TH FLOORS, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: CHINA SAR BUSINESS PHONE: 852-3145-6888 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 13-16TH FLOORS, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: CHINA SAR FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Hong Kong Broadband Phone LTD CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001320864 IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: K3 FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: F-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-123432-19 FILM NUMBER: 05691782 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 13-16TH FLOORS, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: CHINA SAR BUSINESS PHONE: 852-3145-6888 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 13-16TH FLOORS, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: CHINA SAR FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Hong Kong Broadband Television CO LTD CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001320810 IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: K3 FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: F-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-123432-24 FILM NUMBER: 05691787 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 13-16TH FLOORS, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: CHINA SAR BUSINESS PHONE: 852-3145-6888 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 13-16TH FLOORS, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: CHINA SAR FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: City Telecom Inc. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001320855 IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: A6 FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: F-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-123432-02 FILM NUMBER: 05691762 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 3781 VICTORIA PARK AVENUE, UNIT 13A CITY: SCARBOROUGH STATE: A6 ZIP: M1W 3K5 BUSINESS PHONE: 852-3145-6888 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 13-16TH FLOORS, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: CHINA SAR FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: City Telecom (Toronto) Inc. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001320844 IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: A6 FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: F-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-123432-06 FILM NUMBER: 05691766 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 3781 VICTORIA PARK AVENUE, UNIT 13A CITY: SCARBOROUGH STATE: A6 ZIP: M1W 3K5 BUSINESS PHONE: 852-3145-6888 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 13-16TH FLOORS, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: CHINA SAR FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Attitude Holdings LTD CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001320802 IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: D8 FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: F-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-123432-08 FILM NUMBER: 05691768 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: P.O. BOX 957 STREET 2: OFFSHORE INCORPORATIONS CENTRE CITY: ROAD TOWN STATE: D8 ZIP: BVI BUSINESS PHONE: 852-3145-6888 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 13-16TH FLOORS, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: CHINA SAR FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Automedia Holdings LTD CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001320842 IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: D8 FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: F-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-123432-10 FILM NUMBER: 05691770 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: P.O. BOX 957 STREET 2: OFFSHORE INCORPORATIONS CENTRE CITY: ROAD TOWN STATE: D8 ZIP: BVI BUSINESS PHONE: 852-3145-6888 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 13-16TH FLOORS, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: CHINA SAR FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Warwick Gold Enterprises LTD CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001320834 IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: K3 FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: F-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-123432-13 FILM NUMBER: 05691774 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 14TH FLOOR, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: CHINA SAR BUSINESS PHONE: 852-3145-6888 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 13-16TH FLOORS, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: CHINA SAR FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: City Telecom International LTD CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001320838 IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: D8 FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: F-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-123432-12 FILM NUMBER: 05691773 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: AKARA BUILDING, 24 DE CASTRO STREET STREET 2: WICKHAMS CAY I, ROAD TOWN CITY: TORTOLA STATE: D8 ZIP: BVI BUSINESS PHONE: 852-3145-6888 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 13-16TH FLOORS, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: CHINA SAR FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: City Telecom (U.S.A.) Inc. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001320859 IRS NUMBER: 161537041 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: F-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-123432-01 FILM NUMBER: 05691761 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 30 OLD RUDNICK LANE CITY: DOVER STATE: DE ZIP: 19901 BUSINESS PHONE: 852-3145-6888 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 13-16TH FLOORS, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: CHINA SAR FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Golden Trinity Holdings LTD CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001320733 IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: D8 FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: F-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-123432-09 FILM NUMBER: 05691769 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: P.O. BOX 957 STREET 2: OFFSHORE INCORPORATIONS CENTRE CITY: ROAD TOWN STATE: D8 ZIP: BVI BUSINESS PHONE: 852-3145-6888 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 13-16TH FLOORS, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: CHINA SAR FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Excel Billion Profits LTD CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001320803 IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: K3 FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: F-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-123432-22 FILM NUMBER: 05691785 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 14/F, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: CHINA SAR BUSINESS PHONE: 852-3145-6888 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 13-16TH FLOORS, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: CHINA SAR FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: BBTV CO LTD CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001320831 IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: K3 FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: F-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-123432-14 FILM NUMBER: 05691775 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 14TH FLOOR, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: CHINA SAR BUSINESS PHONE: 852-3145-6888 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 13-16TH FLOORS, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: CHINA SAR FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: CITY TELECOM H K LTD CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001097086 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS (NO RADIO TELEPHONE) [4813] IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: K3 FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: F-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-123432 FILM NUMBER: 05691760 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: GRAND CENTURY PLACE LEVEL 9 TOWER 1 STREET 2: 193 PRINCE EDWARD RD WEST MONGKOK CITY: HONG KONG852-2199-86 STATE: K3 ZIP: 00000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: TRENS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET 13-16FL CITY: KWAI CHUNG NT HONG KONG STATE: K3 ZIP: 00000 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Credibility Holdings LTD CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001320841 IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: D8 FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: F-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-123432-11 FILM NUMBER: 05691772 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: P.O. BOX 957 STREET 2: OFFSHORE INCORPORATIONS CENTRE CITY: ROAD TOWN STATE: D8 ZIP: BVI BUSINESS PHONE: 852-3145-6888 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 13-16TH FLOORS, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: CHINA SAR FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Hong Kong Broadband Network LTD CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001320862 IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: K3 FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: F-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-123432-23 FILM NUMBER: 05691786 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 13-16TH FLOORS, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: SAR CHINA BUSINESS PHONE: 852-3145-6888 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 13-16TH FLOORS, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: SAR CHINA FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: 963673 Ontario Ltd. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001320851 IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: A6 FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: F-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-123432-04 FILM NUMBER: 05691764 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 3781 VICTORIA PARK AVENUE, UNIT 13A CITY: SCARBOROUGH STATE: A6 ZIP: M1W 3K5 BUSINESS PHONE: 852-3145-6888 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 13-16TH FLOORS, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: CHINA SAR FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: IDD1600 CO LTD CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001320863 IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: K3 FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: F-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-123432-18 FILM NUMBER: 05691781 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 13-16TH FLOORS, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: CHINA SAR BUSINESS PHONE: 852-3145-6888 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 13-16TH FLOORS, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: CHINA SAR FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Hong Kong Television Network LTD CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001320722 IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: K3 FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: F-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-123432-21 FILM NUMBER: 05691784 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 13-16TH FLOORS, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: CHINA SAR BUSINESS PHONE: 852-3145-6888 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 13-16TH FLOORS, TRANS ASIA CENTRE STREET 2: 18 KIN HONG STREET CITY: KWAI CHUNG STATE: K3 ZIP: CHINA SAR F-4 1 df4.htm FORM F-4 FORM F-4
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 18, 2005

Registration No. 333-          


UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


FORMS F-4* and S-4*

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Hong Kong Special

Administrative Region,

The People’s Republic of China

   4813    Not Applicable

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

   (Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
   (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

13-16th Floors

Trans Asia Centre

18 Kin Hong Street

Kwai Chung

Hong Kong

(852) 3145-6888

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)


CT Corporation System

111 Eighth Avenue

New York, NY 10011

(212) 894-8940

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code of agent for service)


Copies to:

Eva Leung

13-16th Floors

Trans Asia Centre

18 Kin Hong Street

Kwai Chung

Hong Kong

(852) 3145-6888

 

Stephen Peepels, Esq.

Jeffrey Maddox, Esq.

Jones Day

31st Floor, Edinburgh Tower

15 Queen’s Road Central

The Landmark

Hong Kong

(852) 2526-6895


Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to public:    As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

If this Form is filed to register additional securities pursuant to Rule 462(b) 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 post effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) 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.  ¨


CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


Title of Each Class

of Securities to be Registered

   Amount to be
Registered
   Amount of
Registration Fee(1)
 

8.75% Senior Notes due 2015

   $ 125,000,000    $ 14,712.50  

Guarantee of 8.75% Senior Notes due 2015(2)

     —        —   (3)

Total Registration Fee

          $ 14,712.50  

(1) The registration fee was calculated pursuant to Rule 457(f) under the Securities Act of 1933.
(2) See inside facing page for additional registrant guarantors.
(3) Pursuant to Rule 457(n) under the Securities Act of 1933, no registration fee is required with respect to the guarantees.

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



Table of Contents

TABLE OF ADDITIONAL REGISTRANTS

 

Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter


  

State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization


  

IRS Employer
Identification Number


963673 Ontario Ltd.

   Ontario, Canada    Not Applicable

Attitude Holdings Limited

   British Virgin Islands    Not Applicable

Automedia Holdings Limited

   British Virgin Islands    Not Applicable

BBTV Company Limited

   Hong Kong    Not Applicable

City Telecom (B.C.) Inc.

   British Columbia, Canada    Not Applicable

City Telecom (Canada) Incorporated

   Nova Scotia, Canada    Not Applicable

City Telecom (Toronto) Inc.

   Ontario, Canada    Not Applicable

City Telecom (U.S.A.) Inc.

   Delaware, U.S.A.    16-1537041

City Telecom (Vancouver) Inc.

   British Columbia, Canada    Not Applicable

City Telecom Inc.

   Ontario, Canada    Not Applicable

City Telecom International Limited

   British Virgin Islands    Not Applicable

Credibility Holdings Limited

   British Virgin Islands    Not Applicable

CTI International Limited

   Hong Kong    Not Applicable

CTI Marketing Company Limited

   Hong Kong    Not Applicable

Excel Billion Profits Limited

   Hong Kong    Not Applicable

Golden Trinity Holdings Limited

   British Virgin Islands    Not Applicable

Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited

   Hong Kong    Not Applicable

Hong Kong Broadband Phone Limited

   Hong Kong    Not Applicable

Hong Kong Broadband Television Company Limited

   Hong Kong    Not Applicable

Hong Kong Television Network Limited

   Hong Kong    Not Applicable

IDD1600 Company Limited

   Hong Kong    Not Applicable

iStore.com Limited

   Hong Kong    Not Applicable

TeachOnNet.com Limited

   Hong Kong    Not Applicable

Warwick Gold Enterprises Limited

   Hong Kong    Not Applicable

 

All of the additional registrants have their principal executive offices c/o City Telecom (H.K.) Limited, 13-16th Floors, Trans Asia Centre, 18 Kin Hong Street, Kwai Chung, Hong Kong.

 

* This registration statement comprises a filing on Form F-4 with respect to the securities of the registrants (other than City Telecom (U.S.A.) Inc.) and a filing on Form S-4 with respect to the securities of City Telecom (U.S.A.) Inc.


Table of Contents

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These securities may not be offered for exchange until the registration statement becomes effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED March 18, 2005

 

PROSPECTUS

 

LOGO

City Telecom (H.K.) Limited

 

US$125,000,000

 

Offer to exchange our 8.75% Senior Notes due 2015,

which have been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933,

for all our outstanding 8.75% Senior Notes due 2015

issued in January 2005

 


 

The Exchange Offer

 

    We will exchange all outstanding notes that are validly tendered and not validly withdrawn for an equal principal amount of exchange notes that are freely tradable.

 

    You may withdraw tenders of outstanding notes at any time prior to the expiration of the exchange offer.

 

    The exchange offer expires at 5:00 p.m. New York City Time, on                     , 2005, unless extended.

 

Resales of the exchange notes

 

    We do not intend to list the exchange notes on any U.S. securities exchange or to seek approval through any U.S. automated quotation system, and no active public market for the exchange notes is anticipated in the United States.

 


 

Each broker-dealer that receives exchange notes for its own account pursuant to the registered exchange offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such exchange notes. The letter of transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, or the Securities Act. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of exchange notes received in exchange for outstanding notes where the outstanding notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. We have agreed that, starting on the expiration date and ending on the close of business of 270 days after the expiration date, we will make this prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with these resales. See “Plan of Distribution.”

 


 

You should carefully review the procedures for tendering the outstanding notes beginning on page 33 of this prospectus. You should also review the section entitled “Description of the Notes” that begins on page 120 for more information about the exchange notes to be issued in this exchange offer and the outstanding notes.

 


 

You should carefully consider the risk factors beginning on page 15 of this prospectus before deciding to participate in the exchange offer.

 


 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these notes or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The date of this prospectus is                     , 2005.


Table of Contents

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page

Summary

   1

Risk Factors

   15

The Exchange Offer

   33

Use of Proceeds

   41

Exchange Rate Information

   42

Selected Financial Data

   43

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation

   47

Industry

   69

Business

   75

Organizational Structure

   92

Hong Kong Regulatory Overview

   94

Directors and Senior Management

   109

Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions

   118

Description of the Notes

   120

Certain Tax Considerations

   169

ERISA Considerations

   172

Plan of Distribution

   174

Legal Matters

   175

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   175

Enforceability of Civil Liabilities

   175

Available Information

   175

Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference

   176

General Information Required by SGX-ST

   176

Glossary of Telecommunications and Internet Terms

   177

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

   F-1

 


 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus or in documents to which we have referred you. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. This prospectus may only be used where it is legal to make the exchange offer and by a broker-dealer for resales of exchange notes acquired in the exchange offer where it is legal to do so. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front cover of this prospectus.

 

Until 90 days after the expiration date, all dealers that effect transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers’ obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions and pursuant to the commitment to deliver a prospectus in connection with resales of exchange notes.

 

DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus contains forward-looking statements and information that involves risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are all statements that concern plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical fact, including, but not limited to, those that are identified by the use of words such as “anticipates,”

 

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“believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “predicts,” “projects” and similar expressions. Risks and uncertainties that could affect us include, without limitation:

 

    technology changes;

 

    changes in the regulatory environment in which we operate, or changes in the rules and policies that government regulators apply to our businesses;

 

    increased competition in the local or international telecommunications, Internet access or pay-television markets;

 

    the benefits we expect to receive from our continuing capital expenditure on our Metro Ethernet network;

 

    our ability to both maintain growth and successfully introduce new products and services; and

 

    the continued development and stability of the technological infrastructure we use to provide our telecommunications, Internet access and IP-TV services.

 

Should one or more of such risks and uncertainties materialize, or should any underlying assumption prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those indicated in the applicable forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement or information contained in this document speaks only as of the date the statement was made.

 

All of our forward-looking statements made herein and elsewhere are qualified in their entirety by the risk factors discussed in “Risk Factors” and other cautionary statements appearing in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in this prospectus. These risk factors and statements describe circumstances that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.

 

We do not intend to update forward-looking statements made herein to reflect actual results or changes in assumptions or other factors that could affect those statements.

 

USE OF CERTAIN TERMS

 

In this prospectus, the terms “we”, “us”, “our”, “our company”, “Company” and “City Telecom” refer, as the context requires, either individually or collectively, to City Telecom (H.K.) Limited and also to City Telecom International Limited, Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited, which we refer to as HKBN in this prospectus, Automedia Holdings Limited, CTI Marketing Company Limited, City Telecom (Canada) Incorporated, 963673 Ontario Ltd., City Telecom (B.C.) Inc., City Telecom Inc., Golden Trinity Holdings Limited, Attitude Holdings Limited, Credibility Holdings Limited, IDD1600 Company Limited, BBTV Company Limited, City Telecom (Toronto) Inc., City Telecom (U.S.A.) Inc., City Telecom (Vancouver) Inc., CTI International Limited, Excel Billion Profits Limited, Hong Kong Broadband Phone Limited, Hong Kong Broadband Television Company Limited, Hong Kong Television Network Limited, iStore.com Limited, TeachOnNet.com Limited, Warwick Gold Enterprises Limited and CTI Guangzhou Customer Services Co. Limited, which are each, direct or indirect, wholly owned subsidiaries of City Telecom. With respect to CTI Guangzhou Customer Services Co. Limited, which we refer to as CTI Guangzhou in this prospectus, the company has only registered its Chinese name, and the English name is an unregistered translation.

 

Please see the “Glossary of Telecommunications and Internet Terms”, which provides definitions of technical terms used in this prospectus.

 

We publish our financial statements in Hong Kong dollars. In this prospectus, references to “Hong Kong dollars” or “HK$” are to the currency of Hong Kong, and references to “U.S. dollars” or “US$” are to the

 

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currency of the United States. This prospectus contains translations of Hong Kong dollar amounts into U.S. dollar amounts, solely for your convenience. Unless otherwise indicated, the translations have been made at US$1.00=HK$7.8000, which was the noon buying rate in The City of New York for cable transfers in Hong Kong dollars as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on August 31, 2004. You should not construe these translations as representations that the Hong Kong dollar amounts actually represent such U.S. dollar amounts or could have been or could be converted into U.S. dollars at the rates indicated or at any other rates.

 

In this prospectus, all references to fiscal years are to our fiscal years ended August 31, thus fiscal 2004 refers to the fiscal year ended on August 31, 2004.

 

References to the “notes”, the “outstanding notes” or “exchange notes” as used in this prospectus shall be deemed to include the applicable guarantees associated with such notes.

 

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SUMMARY

 

The following summary highlights selected information from this prospectus and may not contain all of the information that is important to you. You should read this prospectus in its entirety for specific terms of the exchange notes and the exchange offer as well as detailed information regarding our business and results of operations before deciding whether or not to participate in the exchange offer.

 

Overview of City Telecom

 

We are a fast growing and innovative provider of residential and corporate fixed telecommunications network and international telecommunications services in Hong Kong. Using our self-owned Metro Ethernet network, we deliver fixed telecommunications network services to the residential mass market and small-to-medium enterprises at attractive prices while simultaneously offering a bandwidth advantage over comparable offerings by our competitors. Our integrated suite of services includes the following:

 

    high-speed broadband Internet access services that provide our customers with symmetric access speeds of up to 100 Mbps upstream and downstream;

 

    fixed line local telephony through our voice-over-Internet-Protocol technology; we refer to our fixed line local telephony service in this prospectus as local VOIP;

 

    pay television, where we deliver more than 35 channels including self-produced news, children’s programming and local interest programming using our Internet Protocol platform; we refer to our pay television services as IP-TV in this prospectus; and

 

    corporate data services, which includes provision of dedicated bandwidth to corporate customers.

 

As of August 31, 2004 we had a total of approximately 465,000 fixed telecommunications network services subscriptions, consisting of approximately 197,000 broadband Internet access, 237,000 local VOIP and 31,000 IP-TV services subscriptions, and as of December 15, 2004, we had a total of approximately 490,000 subscriptions, consisting of approximately 201,000 broadband Internet access, 253,000 local VOIP and 36,000 IP-TV services subscriptions.

 

In addition to providing fixed telecommunications network services, we believe that we are one of the largest providers of international telecommunications services in Hong Kong. We offer a variety of international telecommunications services and products including direct dial services, international calling cards and mobile call forwarding services. Our total international telecommunications services customer database comprises approximately 1.9 million registered accounts with an average of 500,000 customers that are billed on a monthly basis. Our international telecommunications business contributed approximately 50% to our gross profit in fiscal 2004, providing us with a stable source of cash flow with minimal additional capital investment, which complements our fast-growing fixed telecommunications network services business.

 

Our self-owned network is one of the world’s largest Metro Ethernet networks and is cited as a global reference case by our two primary vendors, Cisco Systems, Inc. and Nortel Networks Limited. Our Metro Ethernet network conforms to industry standards for 10/100/1,000 Mbps Internet access speeds, and covers 1.2 million home passes, which represents coverage of approximately 60% of Hong Kong’s population. The coverage of our network is concentrated in Hong Kong’s most densely populated areas and reaches approximately 3,000 residential buildings with an average of approximately 400 residences per building, and approximately 610 commercial buildings, making us one of the largest residential fixed telecommunications network operators in Hong Kong.

 

In most other markets, Metro Ethernet technology is primarily used in commercial buildings in metropolitan areas, as this technology is most cost effective in dense user populations where a provider can service a large

 

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number of users in a single building or cluster of buildings. We have deployed Metro Ethernet technology in densely populated residential areas in Hong Kong where most of our customers live in high-rise apartment buildings with multiple apartments on each floor. As a result, we have contained the cost of deploying our core network to approximately US$130 per home pass. Our strategy is to sell multiple fixed telecommunications network services using our Metro Ethernet network. All of our fixed telecommunications network services are offered through our single Internet Protocol platform, unlike our competitors who use multiple platforms to provide comparable services. In addition, unlike most of our competitors, we operate an “end-to-end” network that extends from our Internet Protocol network hub sites and our switching centers in Hong Kong to our subscribers’ premises.

 

Hong Kong has one of the most developed telecommunications markets in the world with one of the world’s highest penetration rates for local telephony and broadband Internet access services. As of December 31, 2003, the penetration rates of residential fixed line local telephony and residential broadband Internet access were 98% and 52% of Hong Kong households, respectively. However, since 1995, when the Hong Kong government began to liberalize Hong Kong’s telecommunications industry, PCCW-HKT Telephone Limited (the incumbent carrier and largest fixed telecommunications network telecommunications operator in Hong Kong) began to lose its 100% market share and as of September 30, 2004 retained a 69% market share with respect to fixed line local telephony services. We believe this provides an opportunity for us to continue growing market share for our local VOIP services.

 

In contrast, Hong Kong’s pay-TV penetration rate is low compared to other developed countries in the region and globally. While i-Cable Communications Limited is the established incumbent and has been offering pay-TV services since October 1993, it had penetrated only 31% of Hong Kong’s households as of June 30, 2004. We believe that this and the fact that Hong Kong is primarily served by free-to-air television stations will enable us to increase penetration of our IP-TV services. In addition, Chinese-language programs broadcast by free-to-air television stations in Hong Kong attract over 85% of primetime viewership. We produce and obtain programming that targets Hong Kong’s underserved Chinese-speaking mass market, which we believe differentiates us from our competitors. We launched our IP-TV services in August 2003 and the other competitors in the pay-TV market are also relative newcomers, with PCCW-HKT launching its services in September 2003 and Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting Limited, the newest entrant, launching its services in February 2004.

 

The following table illustrates the growth we have generated in the number of subscriptions to our various service offerings over the past five years:

 

     As of and for the year ended August 31,

     2000

   2001

   2002

   2003

   2004

Fixed Telecommunications Network Services Subscriptions:

                        

Broadband Internet Access

   1,600    17,700    130,000    172,000    197,000

Local VOIP(1)

   —      —      21,000    140,000    237,000

IP-TV

   —      —      —      —      31,000
    
  
  
  
  

Total

   1,600    17,700    151,000    312,000    465,000
    
  
  
  
  

Registered International Telecommunications Accounts(2):

                        

Residential

   842,000    906,388    1,056,759    1,495,229    1,819,481

Corporate

   63,984    76,067    90,930    93,959    96,754
    
  
  
  
  

Total

   905,984    982,455    1,147,689    1,589,188    1,916,235
    
  
  
  
  

IDD Outgoing Minutes (in thousands)

   505,000    580,000    916,000    888,000    1,007,000

 

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(1) Includes only on-network subscriptions.
(2) Accounts refer to international telecommunications customers that have a valid account. Account holders may or may not be active users of our services.

 

Since our inception in 1992, we have built a consistent track record as an industry innovator and have successfully competed against larger and better resourced operators. We believe that one of the cornerstones of our success has been our ability to quickly expand our service offerings when changes in regulation or technology have provided us with opportunities to do so. Some of the key events in our business development have been:

 

    In November 2004, HKBN launched our “BB100” broadband Internet access service with symmetric access speeds of up to 100 Mbps using self-owned fiber-to-the-building and standard Cat-5e in-building copper wiring.

 

    In August 2003, HKBN launched our IP-TV service, which delivers video content to a television set via an Internet Protocol set-top-box.

 

    In April 2002, HKBN was notified of our license upgrade from a wireless to a wireline-based fixed telecommunications network service license, and we began upgrading our backbone to a self-owned fiber-based backbone. In the same month, HKBN launched our fixed line on-network local VOIP services in Hong Kong.

 

    In March 2000, HKBN launched our wireless broadband Internet access services in Hong Kong.

 

    In January 1999, we launched a new direct calling service for our international telecommunications operations with the access number 1666, supported by the international simple resale arrangement.

 

    In September 1992, we began to provide international telecommunications services using the toll-free transit communication technology, later marketed under the name 888 International Calling Card Service. The toll-free transit communication technology was replaced by “call-back” in 1993.

 

Please refer to the section entitled “Business” in this prospectus for a more complete description of the development of our service offerings.

 

Competitive Strengths

 

We believe that our demonstrated success is primarily due to our ability to capitalize on the following key strengths:

 

    Focus on the Residential Mass and Small-To-Medium Enterprise Market Segments. We focus on offering high-bandwidth services to the residential mass and small-to-medium enterprise market segments, which we believe have significant growth potential. We price our services attractively and at the same time offer bandwidth advantages over comparable service offerings by our competitors. Our IP-TV services focus on the residential mass market by providing Chinese-language content that targets the Chinese-speaking population of Hong Kong, which we believe to be largely under served. Our focus on the residential mass and small-to-medium enterprise market segments has enabled us to quickly grow our subscription base and we believe this will help us to up-sell our services.

 

   

Leading-Edge Metro Ethernet Network. Our network deploys Ethernet technology provided by Cisco Systems, Inc.. We believe our Metro Ethernet network gives us an inherent cost and performance advantage over our competitors. Our Internet Protocol platform is highly scalable, enabling us to offer broadband Internet access, local VOIP, IP-TV and corporate data services over a single network while still leaving us with capacity to offer more services in the future. It is also capable of providing

 

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symmetric 1,000 Mbps broadband Internet access services. Our recent “BB100” 100 Mbps broadband service launch highlights the bandwidth advantage of our Metro Ethernet network over xDSL or cable modem services. Ethernet technology is “off-the-shelf” and has long been deployed for large enterprises, but we believe we are one of the first to deploy this technology for the residential mass market.

 

    First Mover Advantage and High Barriers to Entry. Our first mover advantage and the inherent characteristics of the Hong Kong telecommunications infrastructure, which present a natural barrier to entry, make it difficult for our competitors to replicate our business model. Metro Ethernet technology is not appropriate for our competitors who intend to offer a full coverage network that includes remote and difficult to reach areas of Hong Kong. Attempting to deploy Metro Ethernet technology in such locations would significantly increase costs and completion time of such a network. While other telecommunications operators may lay their own fiber-to-the-building, we believe they would encounter significant in-building bottlenecks when attempting to complete an “end-to-end” network. This is because the majority of Hong Kong’s residential properties have limited space for in-building wiring leading to subscribers’ residences, making it difficult for new entrants to replicate our end-to-end network build.

 

    Innovative and Highly Committed Management Team. Since our inception in 1992, our management team has built a strong track record as an industry innovator and has successfully led us in competing against larger and better resourced operators. Our management team has consistently demonstrated its ability to quickly capitalize on developments in the Hong Kong regulatory environment that allow us to expand our service offerings and grow our market share. Our senior management team owns approximately 56% of the company and does not have any material outside business interests. Our management’s ownership interest represents a long-term commitment and significant performance incentive.

 

    Strong Brand and Targeted Marketing Strategy. We have an established brand name that is identified with high quality and competitively priced telecommunications services in Hong Kong. In order to further promote our brand recognition and to reach a wider subscription base, we have established a network of promoters, sales agents and telemarketers that personally contact potential and existing customers. In addition, we proactively market our services through a mix of promotions and advertising. We have also established a call center in Guangzhou, China with over 1,900 customer service personnel, which provides us with a highly cost efficient resource for processing, servicing and acquiring customers.

 

Business Strategy

 

Our overall strategy is to grow market share, increase our network coverage and introduce new services through our Internet Protocol platform. Key components of this strategy include:

 

    Increase Penetration within Existing Network Coverage. We intend to continuously increase the penetration within our existing network coverage and grow our market share through targeted sales and marketing efforts. In May 2004, we launched our “free appliances” promotion and introduced long-term 24 to 36 month subscription contracts for our local VOIP services. We revised our customer acquisition strategy from a price centric approach towards a focus on the bandwidth advantages that we offer and signing customers to long-term value contracts. We expect that this strategy will decrease churn rates and customer retention costs as well as set the foundation to up-sell other services to our subscription base over time.

 

   

Expand and Upgrade our Network Coverage. Our self-owned Metro Ethernet network currently covers 1.2 million home passes, representing approximately 60% of Hong Kong’s population. With this

 

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network foundation in place we will focus our efforts in the next several years on expanding our network coverage to 1.8 million home passes, representing over 80% of Hong Kong’s population. After establishing a strong base in the mass market, we plan to broaden our customer base into the remaining market segments. We also intend to continue upgrading the existing wireless and leased wireline-based backbone in our network infrastructure with our own fiber-based backbone. In fiscal 2004, we reduced the percentage of our home passes serviced by wireless backbone from 60% to 28% and we plan to have at least 90% of our home passes serviced by self-owned fiber-based backbone by the end of fiscal 2005.

 

    Offer High-Value Services at Competitive Prices. We focus on providing high bandwidth services at attractive prices for the residential mass and small-to-medium enterprise market segments. In November 2004, we launched our leading-edge “BB100” broadband Internet access service with symmetric 100 Mbps upstream and downstream bandwidth at prices affordable for residential customers. Our “BB100” service is 16 times faster for downstream transmission and 155 times faster for upstream transmission than the bandwidth offered by the most popular ADSL broadband Internet access service in Hong Kong. Similarly, our IP-TV service includes over 35 channels with a large selection of Chinese-language channels targeted at Hong Kong’s largely Chinese-speaking population at competitive prices.

 

    Up-sell Multiple Services. We employ customized and targeted sales and marketing efforts to up-sell multiple services to each subscriber. The scalability of our network allows us to sell additional services to our existing customers, for example adding local VOIP or IP-TV services to our current broadband Internet subscribers, with minimal additional network and operating costs. As a result, each new service we sell to our existing subscription base contributes significantly to our profitability. If we successfully up-sell additional services to our existing subscriber base, this will result in higher revenues per subscriber, lower our average customer acquisition costs and help to decrease subscriber churn.

 

    Introduce New Services on our Single Internet Protocol Platform. The single Internet Protocol platform of our Metro Ethernet network provides us with a structural advantage over our competitors and enables us to offer multiple services at low incremental costs. We are committed to continuing to introduce innovative and high bandwidth services in the future, including “BB1000”, our planned symmetric 1,000 Mbps (1 Gbps) upstream and downstream broadband Internet access, which we target for release in the second quarter of 2005. We also plan to offer pay-TV services to our subscribers over our Metro Ethernet network that our customers will be able to watch using a personal computer without the need for a set-top-box. As part of our corporate data services, we recently began to offer backbone transmission services for mobile operators in Hong Kong.

 

Our Corporate Information

 

City Telecom was incorporated in Hong Kong on May 19, 1992, under the Companies Ordinance (Cap 32). Our principal executive office is located at Floors 13-16, Trans Asia Centre, 18 Kin Hong Street, Kwai Chung, Hong Kong. Our telephone number is (852) 3145-6888, and our Internet address is www.ctihk.com. The information contained in or linked to our website is not, and is not intended to be, a part of this prospectus.

 

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The Exchange Offer

 

The Exchange Offer

We are offering to exchange up to US$125,000,000 aggregate principal amount of our registered 8.75% Senior Notes due 2015 for an equal principal amount of our outstanding 8.75% Senior Notes due 2015 that we issued on January 20, 2005. The terms of the exchange notes are identical in all material respects to those of the outstanding notes, except for transfer restrictions (other than those applicable to transfers by plans and governmental plans) and registration rights relating to the outstanding notes. For a discussion of plans and governmental plans, see “ERISA Considerations”.

 

Purpose of the Exchange Offer

The exchange notes are being offered to satisfy our obligations under a registration rights agreement entered into at the time we issued and sold the outstanding notes.

 

Expiration Date; Withdrawal of Tender

The exchange offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time on                     , 2005 or on a later date and time to which we extend it. The tender of outstanding notes in the exchange offer may be withdrawn at any time prior to the expiration date. The exchange date will be the fourth New York Stock Exchange trading day following the expiration date. Any outstanding notes that are not accepted for exchange for any reason will be returned without expense to the tendering holder promptly after the expiration or termination of the exchange offer.

 

Procedures for Tendering Outstanding Notes

Each holder of outstanding notes wishing to accept the exchange offer must complete, sign and date the letter of transmittal, or its facsimile, in accordance with its instructions, and mail or otherwise deliver it, or its facsimile, together with the outstanding notes and any other required documentation to the exchange agent at the address in the letter of transmittal. Outstanding notes may be physically delivered, but physical delivery is not required if a confirmation of a book-entry transfer of the outstanding notes to the exchange agent’s account at The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, is delivered in a timely fashion. See “The Exchange Offer—Procedures for Tendering Outstanding Notes.”

 

Conditions to the Exchange Offer

The exchange offer is not conditioned upon any minimum aggregate principal amount of outstanding notes being tendered for exchange. The exchange offer is subject to customary conditions, which may be waived by us. We currently expect that each of the conditions will be satisfied and that no waivers will be necessary. See “The Exchange Offer—Conditions to the Exchange Offer.”

 

Exchange Agent

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

 

U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

Your exchange of an outstanding note for an exchange note will not constitute a taxable exchange. The exchange will not result in taxable

 

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income, gain or loss being recognized by you or by us. Immediately after the exchange, you will have the same adjusted basis and holding period in each exchange note received as you had immediately prior to the exchange in the corresponding outstanding note surrendered. See “Certain Tax Considerations.”

 

Listing on Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited

The exchange notes issued in exchange for the outstanding notes in the exchange offer will be listed on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited, or SGX-ST.

 

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The Exchange Notes

 

The terms of the exchange notes are identical in all material respects to those of the outstanding notes, except for the transfer restrictions (other than those applicable to transfers by plans and governmental plans) and registration rights relating to the outstanding notes that do not apply to the exchange notes.

 

Issuer

City Telecom (H.K.) Limited

 

Guarantees

The exchange notes will be irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed, subject to release as discussed in the section entitled “Description of the Notes,” as to the payment of all principal, interest, additional amounts, if any, and registration default damages, if any, jointly and severally, on a senior unsecured basis by all of our existing and future subsidiaries (other than, as of the issue date of the notes, CTI Guangzhou and, subsequently, any other subsidiary prohibited by applicable law, regulation or order from issuing a guarantee of the notes). If we cannot make payments on the exchange notes when they are due, the guarantors must make them instead. The guarantees may be released without the consent of the holders of the exchange notes in accordance with the terms of the indenture. See “Description of the Notes—Subsidiary Guarantees” in this prospectus.

 

Notes Offered for Exchange

US$125,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 8.75% Senior Notes due 2015.

 

Maturity Date

February 1, 2015.

 

Interest Rate and Payment Dates

Interest on the exchange notes will be payable at the rate of 8.75% per annum, payable every six months in arrears on February 1 and August 1 of each year, beginning August 1, 2005.

 

Ranking of the Notes

The exchange notes and the guarantees will be our unsecured senior debt obligations and those of the guarantors, respectively. The exchange notes and the guarantees will:

 

    be effectively subordinated to all of our existing and future secured debt, including any new credit agreement, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt;

 

    be effectively subordinated to all existing and future debt and other liabilities of any non-guarantor subsidiary, including trade payables;

 

    rank pari passu with all our current and future unsubordinated unsecured debt and those of the guarantors; and

 

    be senior in right of payment to all the guarantors’ and our subordinated debt.

 

 

As of the issue date of the exchange notes, CTI Guangzhou will be the only non-guarantor subsidiary and it has no outstanding third-party

 

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indebtedness. The “Limitation of Indebtedness” covenant in the “Description of the Notes” will restrict any non-guarantor subsidiary from incurring certain indebtedness.

 

 

The indenture governing the outstanding notes and the exchange notes will permit us, subject to specified limitations, to incur additional debt, some or all of which may be senior debt and some of which may be secured debt.

 

Optional Redemption

We may redeem the exchange notes, in whole or in part, on or after February 1, 2010, at the redemption prices set forth in this prospectus. In addition, prior to February 1, 2008, we may redeem up to a maximum of 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of the exchange notes with the proceeds from one or more specified public or private offerings of our common stock at a redemption price equal to 108.75% of the principal amount of the exchange notes. In all cases of optional redemption, we will pay principal at the redemption price specified plus accrued and unpaid interest, additional amounts, if any, and registration default damages, if any, thereon to, but not including, the date of redemption.

 

Optional Tax Redemption

We may redeem all, but not part, of the exchange notes if there are specified changes in tax laws, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the exchange notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption.

 

Change of Control

Upon the occurrence of change of control events, you may require us to repurchase all or a portion of your exchange notes at 101% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, additional amounts, if any, and registration default damages, if any, to, but not including the repurchase date. For a more complete description please refer to the section entitled “Description of the Notes—Change of Control” in this prospectus.

 

Covenants

We will issue the exchange notes under the same indenture under which the outstanding notes were issued. The indenture limits, among other things, our ability and the ability of certain of our existing and future subsidiaries to:

 

    pay dividends, make distributions, redeem capital stock and make certain other restricted payments or investments;

 

    incur additional indebtedness or issue certain equity interests;

 

    merge, consolidate or sell all or substantially all of our assets;

 

    issue or sell capital stock of some of our subsidiaries;

 

    sell or exchange assets or enter into new businesses;

 

    create any restrictions on the payment of dividends, the making of distributions, the making of loans and the transfer of assets;

 

    create liens on assets;

 

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    enter into certain transactions with affiliates or related persons; and

 

    enter into sale and lease back transactions.

 

 

All of these limitations are subject to exceptions and qualifications described under the section entitled “Description of the Notes” in this prospectus.

 

Listing

The outstanding notes were admitted to the Official List of the SGX-ST on January 24, 2005. The outstanding notes trade on the SGX-ST in a minimum board lot size of US$200,000. The SGX-ST assumes no responsibility for the correctness of any of the statements made or opinions expressed or reports contained herein. Admission to the Official List of the SGX-ST and quotation of any outstanding notes or exchange notes on the SGX-ST is not to be taken as an indication of our merits or the merits of the guarantors or the notes.

 

 

The approval of the outstanding notes for admission to the Official List of the SGX-ST included the admission for listing of the exchange notes, and no further application to the SGX-ST for the listing of the exchange notes will be necessary. We will give notice to the SGX-ST of the registered exchange offer prior to its commencement and of the results of such registered exchange offer.

 

Use of Proceeds

We will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the exchange notes in this prospectus.

 

Further Notes

We may from time to time, without notice to or the consent of the holders of the exchange notes, issue further notes, which will form a single series with the exchange notes.

 

Trustee, Registrar, Principal Paying Agent and Transfer Agent

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas. Please refer to the section entitled “Description of the Notes—General—Payments on the notes; paying agent and registrar” in this prospectus.

 

Governing Law

The exchange notes and the indenture will be governed by, and shall be construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

Risk Factors

 

You should refer to the section entitled “Risk Factors,” beginning on page 15, for a discussion of certain risks involved in investing in the exchange notes and participating in the exchange offer.

 

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Summary Historical Financial Data

 

The following table presents our summary historical consolidated financial data. The summary historical consolidated financial data below, as of and for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004 was derived from our audited consolidated financial statements for such periods, included elsewhere in this prospectus. The financial information included in this prospectus does not reflect our results of operations, financial position and cash flows in the future and our past operating results are no guarantee of our future operating performance. The consolidated financial statements are prepared and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in Hong Kong, or Hong Kong GAAP, which differ in certain significant respects from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The differences as they pertain to us are included in note 30 to our audited financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. For a summary of our significant accounting policies and the basis of the presentation of our financial statements, you should refer to the notes to the audited financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

You should read the following information in conjunction with the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in this prospectus and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes, included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

     As of and for the year ended August 31,

 
     2002

    2003

    2004

    2004

 
     HK$     HK$     HK$     US$  
     (Restated)(1)     (Restated)(1)              
     (Amounts in thousands except per share data)  

Consolidated Statement of Income Data:

                        

Hong Kong GAAP

                        

Revenues:

                        

Fixed telecommunications network services

   241,219     423,107     541,902     69,475  

International telecommunications

   908,981     875,802     627,978     80,510  
    

 

 

 

Total Operating Revenue

   1,150,200     1,298,909     1,169,880     149,985  
    

 

 

 

Cost of Services:

                        

Fixed telecommunications network services

   (50,808 )   (76,845 )   (122,476 )   (15,702 )

International telecommunications

   (407,155 )   (245,908 )   (208,932 )   (26,786 )
    

 

 

 

Total Cost of Sales

   (457,963 )   (322,753 )   (331,408 )   (42,488 )
    

 

 

 

Gross Profit:

                        

Fixed telecommunications network services

   190,411     346,262     419,426     53,773  

International telecommunications

   501,826     629,894     419,046     53,724  
    

 

 

 

Total Gross Profit

   692,237     976,156     838,472     107,497  
    

 

 

 

Operating Expenses

   (602,644 )   (704,796 )   (793,125 )   (101,683 )

Interest income, net

   7,366     2,562     3,578     459  

Other income, net

   502     1,678     2,668     342  

Income taxes

   (15,190 )   (17,857 )   (2,043 )   (262 )
    

 

 

 

Income after taxation

   82,271     257,743     49,550     6,353  

Minority interest

   8,234     —       —       —    
    

 

 

 

Net income

   90,505     257,743     49,550     6,353  
    

 

 

 

Net income per share (cents)

   18.3     46.6     8.1     1.0  

Diluted net income per share (cents)(2)

   16.0     41.9     8.1     1.0  

Dividends declared per share (cents)

   —       5.0     9.0     1.2  

Weighted average number of shares

   495,181     552,600     610,095     610,095  

Diluted weighted average number of shares(3)

   565,889     615,102     614,365     614,365  

 

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     As of and for the year ended August 31,

 
     2002

    2003

    2004

    2004

 
     HK$     HK$     HK$     US$  
     (Amounts in thousands except per share data)  

U.S. GAAP

                        

Total operating revenue

   1,141,814     1,291,119     1,169,880     149,985  

Total operating costs

   (1,073,283 )   (1,015,900 )   (1,123,198 )   (144,000 )

Net income from continuing operations

   69,317     264,151     51,565     6,611  

Net income from continuing operations per share (cents)

   14.0     47.8     8.5     1.1  

Net (loss)/income from discontinued operations

   (352 )   83     —       —    

Loss arising from disposal of discontinued Operations

   —       (2,695 )   —       —    

Net loss from discontinued operations per share (cents)

   (0.1 )   (0.5 )   —       —    

Net income

   68,965     261,539     51,565     6,611  

Net income per share (cents)

   13.9     47.3     8.5     1.1  

Diluted net income from continuing operations per share (cents)(4)

   12.3     42.9     8.4     1.1  

Diluted net loss from discontinued operations per share (cents)(5)

   (0.1 )   (0.4 )   —       —    

Diluted net income per share (cents)(2)

   12.2     42.5     8.4     1.1  

Dividends declared per share (cents)

   —       5.0     9.0     1.2  

Weighted average number of shares

   495,181     552,600     610,095     610,095  

Diluted weighted average number of shares(3)

   565,889     615,102     614,365     614,365  
     As of and for the year ended August 31,

 
     2002

    2003

    2004

    2004

 
     HK$     HK$     HK$     US$  
     (Restated)(1)     (Restated)(1)              
     (Amounts in thousands)  

Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:

                        

Hong Kong GAAP

                        

Total assets

   1,327,285     1,548,534     1,683,408     215,822  

Total liabilities

   (422,297 )   (369,359 )   (507,710 )   (65,091 )
    

 

 

 

Net assets employed

   904,988     1,179,175     1,175,698     150,731  
    

 

 

 

Share capital

   50,086     60,496     61,057     7,828  

Share premium

   572,656     615,886     617,986     79,229  

Reserves

   282,246     502,793     496,655     63,674  
    

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

   904,988     1,179,175     1,175,698     150,731  
    

 

 

 

     As of and for the year ended August 31,

 
     2002

    2003

    2004

    2004

 
     HK$     HK$     HK$     US$  
     (Amounts in thousands)  

U.S. GAAP

                        

Total assets

   1,329,707     1,552,021     1,688,640     216,492  

Total liabilities

   (422,297 )   (369,359 )   (507,710 )   (65,091 )
    

 

 

 

Total assets less liabilities

   907,410     1,182,662     1,180,930     151,401  
    

 

 

 

Share capital

   50,086     60,496     61,057     7,828  

Share premium

   603,861     644,360     646,190     82,845  

Reserves

   253,463     477,806     473,683     60,728  
    

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

   907,410     1,182,662     1,180,930     151,401  
    

 

 

 

 

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     As of and for the year ended August 31,

 
     2002

    2003

    2004

    2004

 
     HK$     HK$     HK$     US$  
    

(In thousands, except ratio of

earnings to fixed charges)

 

Other Financial Data:

                        

EBITDA(6)

   227,684     449,058     245,032     31,414  

Net cash provided by operating activities

   288,444     414,500     203,763     26,123  

Net cash used in investing activities

   (475,212 )   (309,634 )   (406,244 )   (52,083 )

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

   9,109     (10,274 )   47,221     6,054  

Capital expenditures

   579,066     250,209     410,046     52,720  

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(7)

   28.9     463.9     16.1     16.1  

Pro forma ratio of earnings to fixed charges(8)

   N/A     N/A     8.6     8.6  

 

As a measure of our operating performance or liquidity, we believe that the most directly comparable measure to EBITDA is net cash provided by (used in) operating activities. The following table reconciles our net cash provided by (used in) operating activities under Hong Kong GAAP to our definition of EBITDA on a consolidated basis for each of fiscal 2002, 2003 and 2004.

 

     As of and for the year ended August 31,

 
     2002

    2003

    2004

    2004

 
     HK$     HK$     HK$     US$  
     (Restated)(1)     (Restated)(1)              
     (Amounts in thousands)  

EBITDA

   227,684     449,058     245,032     31,414  

Depreciation and amortization

   (129,355 )   (176,020 )   (197,017 )   (25,258 )

Interest income, net

   7,366     2,562     3,578     459  

Income taxes

   (15,190 )   (17,857 )   (2,043 )   (262 )
    

 

 

 

Net income

   90,505     257,743     49,550     6,353  

Depreciation and amortization

   129,355     176,020     197,017     25,258  

Amortization of deferred expenditure

   —       —       1,828     234  

Income taxes

   15,190     17,857     2,043     262  

Interest income

   (10,870 )   (3,163 )   (3,753 )   (481 )

Minority interest

   (8,234 )   —       —       —    

Loss/(gain) on disposal of fixed assets

   2,414     427     (34 )   (4 )

Unrealised losses on other investments

   —       —       1,696     217  

Loss on disposal of a subsidiary

   —       2,695     —       —    

Taxation paid

   (4,452 )   (19,861 )   (24,819 )   (3,182 )

Change in long term receivable

   —       —       (6,206 )   (796 )

Change in working capital, net

   74,536     (17,218 )   (13,559 )   (1,738 )
    

 

 

 

Net cash flow provided by operating activities

   288,444     414,500     203,763     26,123  
    

 

 

 

 

     As of and for the year ended August 31,

     2002

   2003

   2004

Operating Data:

              

Fixed Telecommunications Network Services Subscriptions:

              

Broadband Internet Access

   130,000    172,000    197,000

Local VOIP(9)

   21,000    140,000    237,000

IP-TV

   —      —      31,000
    
  
  

Total

   151,000    312,000    465,000
    
  
  

Registered International Telecommunications Accounts(10):

              

Residential

   1,056,759    1,495,229    1,819,481

Corporate

   90,930    93,959    96,754
    
  
  

Total

   1,147,689    1,589,188    1,916,235
    
  
  

IDD Outgoing Minutes (in thousands)

   916,000    888,000    1,007,000

 

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(1) In fiscal 2004, we adopted revised Statements of Standard Accounting Practice (“SSAP 12”), “Income taxes”, issued by the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants, regarding the recognition of deferred tax. The adoption of SSAP 12 represents a change in accounting policy, which we have applied retrospectively. As a result, financial information provided for all years prior to fiscal 2004 have been restated to conform to the changed policy.
(2) Diluted net income per share is computed by dividing net income by the diluted weighted average number of ordinary shares during the year.
(3) Diluted weighted average number of shares is the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year, plus the weighted average number of additional ordinary shares which would have been outstanding assuming all the outstanding share options and share warrants have been exercised at the beginning of the year or on the date of issue, whichever is earlier.
(4) Diluted net income from continuing operations per share is computed by dividing the net income from continuing operations by the diluted weighted average number of ordinary shares during the year.
(5) Diluted net loss from discontinued operations per share is computed by dividing the net loss from discontinued operations by the diluted weighted average number of ordinary shares during the year.
(6) EBITDA for any period means, without duplication, net income for such period, plus the following to the extent deducted in calculating such net income: interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (excluding any such non cash charge to the extent it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash charges in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period not included in the calculation). EBITDA is not a measure of performance under Hong Kong GAAP or U.S. GAAP. We believe that EBITDA is an additional measure utilized by investors in determining a borrower’s ability to meet debt service requirements. However, EBITDA does not represent, and should not be used as a substitute for, net earnings or cash flows from operations as determined in accordance with Hong Kong GAAP or U.S. GAAP, and EBITDA is not necessarily an indication of whether cash flow will be sufficient to fund our cash requirements. In addition, our definition of EBITDA may differ from that of other companies.
(7) The ratio of earnings to fixed charges was computed by dividing earnings by fixed charges. For the purposes of calculating the ratios, “earnings” is defined as pre-tax income/(loss) from continuing operations plus fixed charges, net of interest capitalized, and “fixed charges” consists of interest expense, incidental borrowing costs and interest capitalized.
(8) The pro forma ratio of earnings to fixed charges was computed by dividing earnings by pro forma fixed charges. “Pro forma fixed charges” is computed by adjusting the historical “fixed charges” by the increase in interest costs of HK$100 million of the proceeds from the offering of the outstanding notes that was used to repay the loan facility made available by The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited from October 9, 2002, which we refer to as the HSBC facility, in full and the reduction in interest costs as if the HK$100 million HSBC facility had not been drawn down during fiscal 2004. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Financing Activities—Indebtedness” in this prospectus.
(9) Includes only on-network subscriptions.
(10) Registered accounts refer to international telecommunications customers that have a valid account. Account holders may or may not be active users of our services.

 

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RISK FACTORS

 

You should carefully consider the risks described below and other information contained in this prospectus before making a decision to participate in the exchange offer. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us, or that we currently deem immaterial, may also impair our business operations. We cannot assure you that any of the events discussed in the risk factors below will not occur. If they do, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected. In such case, the trading price of the exchange notes could decline, and you might lose all or part of your investment.

 

This prospectus contains forward-looking statements made as of the date of this prospectus regarding our expected performance that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including the risks faced by us described below and elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

Risks Relating to Our Business and Operations

 

We have substantially less financial and human resources to apply to the development of our business than some of our main competitors.

 

The telecommunications and pay-TV markets in Hong Kong are highly competitive. Our main competitors for Internet access, local telephony, pay-TV and international telecommunications services are PCCW-HKT Telephone Limited, or PCCW-HKT, Hutchison Global Communications Limited, or HGC, New World Telecom Company Limited, or New World, Wharf T&T Limited, or Wharf T&T, and i-Cable Communications Limited, or i-Cable. PCCW-HKT (then Hong Kong Telephone Company Limited) held a monopoly on local telephony services until 1995 when the Hong Kong government began to introduce competition to this market. In addition, i-Cable (through its subsidiary Hong Kong Cable Television Limited) was the first company to offer pay-TV services in Hong Kong beginning in 1993 and held an effective monopoly until 2003 when we and PCCW-HKT (through its subsidiary PCCW-IMS Limited) began to offer pay-TV services.

 

As a result of their longer operating histories, and because some of our competitors are subsidiaries of large business conglomerates, they may have advantages over us in the provision of telecommunications services, including:

 

    greater financial, technical, marketing and other resources;

 

    greater existing infrastructure;

 

    greater name recognition; and

 

    larger customer bases.

 

In addition, certain areas of the fixed telecommunications network services business are very capital intensive. Our competitors may be able to devote more human and financial resources to research and development, network improvement and marketing than we can. Since our inception, the growth of our market share has depended primarily on our ability to react more quickly to changes in new technology and consumer trends, offer more competitively priced services, and provide better customer support than our competitors. We cannot assure you that we will continue to be successful at executing this strategy. If these competitors devote substantial human and financial resources to their businesses, it could hurt our ability to remain competitive in the quality and range of services we could provide and we could lose customers to these competitors. This may limit the growth of our customer base, reduce our revenues and adversely affect our profits.

 

For more information on our competitors please refer to the section entitled “Industry” in this prospectus.

 

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Our growth and profitability could be affected by an increasing number of local and foreign entrants in the international and local telecommunications and Internet access markets.

 

The Hong Kong government has adopted policies and regulations over the past decade to liberalize the telecommunications industry in Hong Kong, including issuing new wireless and wire-line FTNS Licenses. We expect the Hong Kong government to continue to take actions of these types over the next several years. Further, in contrast to its previous requirements when issuing network licenses, new licensees are no longer required to give any commitment relating to network rollout or investment. There are currently eight other fixed telecommunications network operators in Hong Kong in addition to ourselves who are licensed to provide local wireline-based fixed line services. These operators are PCCW-HKT, HGC, New World, Wharf T&T, Towngas Telecommunications Fixed Network Limited, CM Tel (HK) Limited, TraxComm Limited and HKC Network Limited. In addition, as of November 3, 2004, 230 PNETS Licenses for the provision of external telecommunications service had been issued to various operators in Hong Kong. Some of these licensees are subsidiaries of major foreign telecommunications providers.

 

Increasing liberalization of the telecommunications market in Hong Kong may further attract new local and foreign entrants to the market and broaden the variety of telecommunications services supplied by existing service providers, thereby heightening the level of competition in the industry. Increased competition could result in price reductions, reduced gross margins or loss of market share, any of which could adversely affect our future growth and profitability.

 

The markets in which we compete may become more competitive should there be significant mergers and acquisitions in the Hong Kong telecommunications market.

 

Some of our competitors with greater financial resources may attempt to grow their customer base and product offerings through acquisitions. If these competitors make significant acquisitions, they may have increased capacity and may be better positioned to increase their market share by decreasing prices. Additionally, as a result of such acquisitions, these competitors may be able to provide a broader array of services. If we are unable to grow our business through our continued expansion or by pursuing our own acquisitions, we may have difficulties competing successfully against these competitors.

 

On January 20, 2005, PCCW Limited, or PCCW, announced it had formed a strategic business alliance with China Network Communications Group Corporation, or China Netcom, one of China’s major telecommunications companies. Under this alliance, China Netcom will pay approximately US$1.0 billion in cash for newly issued PCCW shares, resulting in its holding 20% of PCCW’s share capital. This transaction may have many effects on the telecommunications market in Hong Kong, which are difficult to predict. In particular, it could result in increased competition for us and other Hong Kong telecommunications companies if PCCW is able to combine its size and market position with the increased capital provided by China Netcom to decrease prices. Furthermore, such a transaction might allow PCCW to invest more capital and human resources in its other fixed telecommunications network services that directly compete with our services.

 

We experienced a decline in total revenues and profits in fiscal 2004 due to a decline in revenues and profits from our international telecommunications services business. We cannot assure you that we will be able to prevent total revenues and profits from continuing to decline.

 

In fiscal 2004, our total revenue dropped by 9.9% from HK$1,298.9 million in fiscal 2003 to HK$1,169.9 million, due to a significant drop in revenue from our international telecommunications services. In addition, our operating profits for this business declined by 52.3% from HK$338.9 million in fiscal 2003 to HK$161.5 million in fiscal 2004. Though our international call traffic increased in terms of total number of minutes carried, this was offset by the drop in average tariff rates resulting in a decrease in revenue and operating profits. With the drop in average tariff rates, we expect that the profit margins in the international telecommunications services will continue to be under pressure. To maintain our market share, we must continue to offer our subscribers international telecommunications services that are competitive with the prices offered by other market players.

 

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We therefore must continue to lower our costs of providing these services if we are to maintain our profitability in this business. We cannot be sure that we will be able to reduce our operating costs and if we fail to do so, our profits may be adversely affected. We cannot assure you that we will be able to prevent our total revenues and profits from continuing to decline.

 

We rely on third parties to deliver a significant portion of our international telecommunications traffic and fixed telecommunications network services. Our transmission costs could increase as a result of changes in our relationships with them.

 

Where we do not currently have our own infrastructure in place, we depend on our contractual relationships with, and the network infrastructure of, other local network operators and overseas telecommunications carriers in providing international telecommunications and fixed telecommunications network services to our customers. Some of these third parties are our competitors in our international telecommunications or fixed telecommunications network services, or both. In fiscal 2004, payments to our top five overseas carriers and local network operators accounted for approximately 21% of our total gross operating costs. The terms and conditions of these local and international arrangements could be subject to changes or modification upon renewal of the relevant agreements. If the terms and conditions upon renewal are less favorable or the arrangements are not renewed, the costs associated with providing our services in locations where our own infrastructure is not in place could increase significantly.

 

The development of our Metro Ethernet network requires significant capital expenditures. These capital expenditures may vary materially from those currently planned and may impose a burden on our financing and operating activities.

 

Our business is capital intensive, and our capital expenditures may not have the positive effect on our business and revenues that we expect. We have made, and will continue to make, capital investments in the expansion and upgrade of our Metro Ethernet network and the development of our telecommunications services. We incurred capital expenditures of approximately HK$392.9 million in fiscal 2004 on our Metro Ethernet infrastructure. We expect to incur total capital expenditures of approximately HK$990.0 million in fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2006, the large majority of which will be spent on the continued expansion and upgrade of our Metro Ethernet network.

 

While we intend to fund such expenditures by using our currently available cash as well as cashflow from operations and the net proceeds that we received from our January 2005 offering of the 8.75% senior notes due 2015, which we refer to in this prospectus as the notes, we may not have adequate capital to fund these expenditures. In addition, if we spend our existing capital faster than anticipated or our capital requirements vary materially from those currently planned, we may require additional financing sooner than we anticipate, in which case we may need to seek to raise additional capital through debt or equity financing or other means. Any such additional debt or equity financing may not be available, and debt financing, if available, may involve restrictions on our financing and operating activities. If we are unable to obtain additional financing as needed, we may be required to reduce the scope of our operations or anticipated expansion and business development.

 

We may not realize the benefits we expect from our investments, which may adversely impact our business.

 

We have made significant investments in our network infrastructure to provide the services we offer. The launch of new and commercially viable products and services is important to the success of our business. Commercial acceptance by consumers of the new services we offer may not occur at the rate or level expected, and we may not be able to successfully adapt the new services effectively and economically to meet consumers’ demand, which would limit the return from our investments. We cannot assure you that services enabled by upgrading and expanding our Metro Ethernet network will be accepted by the public to the extent required to generate an acceptable rate of return. In addition, we face the risk of unforeseen complications in the deployment of these new services, and we cannot assure you that our estimate of the necessary capital expenditure to offer such services will not be exceeded. For example, the useful life of the equipment that we employ in buildings and

 

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for our fiber-based backbone may be shorter than expected requiring further capital expenditures. We may be unable to develop and/or deploy new services according to expected schedules, and these services may not achieve commercial acceptance or be cost effective. The failure of any of our services to achieve commercial acceptance could result in additional capital expenditures or a reduction in profitability to the extent that we are required under the applicable accounting standards to recognize a charge for the impairment of assets. Any such charge could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and the results of our operations.

 

Because most of the services we provide through our Metro Ethernet network are still at an early stage of implementation, evaluation of our business and our prospects is difficult.

 

Because of the short operating history of most of our fixed telecommunications network services, our historical financial data may not provide a meaningful basis for you to evaluate us and our prospects. These services are still at an early stage of implementation, and the revenue, potential income and cash flows from these new businesses are unproven. Accordingly, evaluation of our businesses and our prospects is difficult, and we cannot give you any assurance that we will succeed in these businesses.

 

We are involved in several legal proceedings that, if decided unfavorably to us, could adversely affect our profitability.

 

We are currently involved in several legal proceedings in Hong Kong. If these proceedings are resolved in a manner adverse to us, our business and profitability may be harmed. The most significant proceedings are:

 

    A case brought in July 1998 in which PCCW-HKT (then Cable & Wireless HKT) alleges that certain of our business practices breached our agreements with PCCW-HKT and unlawfully interfered with their telecommunications business.

 

    A case brought in April 1999 in which the plaintiff alleges that one of our wholly owned subsidiaries wrongfully terminated a telecommunications service agreement between them leaving unpaid obligations to the plaintiff of approximately US$3.6 million.

 

    A judicial review proceeding brought in October 2004 in which PCCW-HKT and PCCW-IMS requested judicial review of the Telecommunications Authority’s decision concerning the right of network operators to provide “off-network” local voice-over-Internet-Protocol, or VOIP services, which is described in more detail below.

 

In each of the proceedings mentioned above, we are vigorously defending against the claims. However, we cannot predict the way that an arbitrator or a court of law will view the facts in dispute nor can we predict how any such arbitrator or court would interpret substantive points of law; therefore, we cannot predict the outcome of these proceedings.

 

We have more fully set forth the facts and current status of these proceedings under the section entitled “Business—Legal and Regulatory Proceedings” in this prospectus.

 

We are in the process of instituting changes to our internal controls and management systems in order to satisfy the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002. Our failure to timely and successfully institute these changes and to maintain the adequacy of our internal controls could subject us to regulatory actions and may adversely affect our stock price and our ability to raise additional capital.

 

We are in the process of instituting changes to our internal controls and management systems to satisfy the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002, which will require us to perform an evaluation of our internal controls over financial reporting and beginning with our Form 20-F for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2006, file annual management assessments of their effectiveness with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, that include a certification of our internal controls by our chairman and director of finance and a counter-certification by our independent accountants.

 

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In order for us to meet these requirements, we will need to design procedures to document various controls and relevant testing procedures under requirements stipulated by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in the United States.

 

We have assigned an internal audit manager to oversee this compliance process, who reports to both our audit committee and senior management on a periodic basis. In addition, we have hired external consultants to perform a high-level internal control gap analysis. We have hired a second external consultant to assist us in documenting some of the procedures that we will employ to comply with our internal controls.

 

For fiscal 2006, our independent accountants will be required to attest to our evaluation of internal controls over financial reporting. Unless we successfully design and implement changes to our internal controls and management systems, or if we fail to maintain the adequacy of these controls as such standards are modified or amended from time to time, we may not be able to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002. As a result, our independent accountants will be unable to certify our management’s assertion of the effectiveness of our internal controls. This could subject us to regulatory scrutiny and result in a loss of public confidence in our management, which could, among other things, adversely affect our stock price and our ability to raise additional capital.

 

We have recognized revenues for mobile interconnection charges that have not yet been paid to us. We may be forced to reverse or modify our recognition of these revenues if the Telecommunications Authority determines that the level of mobile interconnection charges that mobile operators are required to pay us are not at the level that we have calculated.

 

We are currently in dispute with various mobile telecommunications operators as to the level and effective date of interconnection charges payable to us for direct interconnection between their mobile networks and our Metro Ethernet network. The Telecommunications Authority has confirmed that mobile operators are required to pay interconnection charges to fixed network operators, including us, but most of the mobile operators have not paid any mobile interconnection charges to us since we began offering fixed telecommunications network services to them.

 

In fiscal 2003 and fiscal 2004, we recognized revenue in the amount of HK$6.1 million and HK$38.7 million, respectively, for interconnection charges receivable from mobile operators for the use of our Metro Ethernet network. We determined the amount of these charges based on the fully distributed cost model determined by the Telecommunications Authority to be applicable in determining the interconnection charges between fixed and mobile operators, which relies on the historical levels of mobile interconnection charges paid by mobile operators to PCCW-HKT. In August 2004, the Telecommunications Authority agreed to determine the level of interconnection charges payable to us by one of the mobile operators, but we cannot predict the outcome of the Telecommunications Authority’s determination. If the level of interconnection charges determined by the Telecommunications Authority to be payable to us is lower than the revenues that we have recognized, we will be required to write-back the difference from our revenue during fiscal 2005. This could negatively affect our operating results for fiscal 2005.

 

Our fixed telecommunications network business has incurred losses since inception and we expect it to incur future losses.

 

For fiscal 2002, 2003 and 2004, we incurred operating losses of approximately HK$121.7 million, HK$62.7 million and HK$109.7 million, respectively, from our fixed telecommunications network service operations. We expect our fixed telecommunications network service business will continue to incur net losses as we expend substantial resources on developing and marketing broadband Internet access, local VOIP, IP-TV and corporate data services. We cannot assure you that we will achieve and sustain profitability in our fixed telecommunications network operations.

 

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Our IP-TV services may not become profitable and may adversely affect our operating results.

 

We began to produce, market and offer IP-TV services via our Metro Ethernet network in August 2003. Our IP-TV service currently consists of a 24-hour news channel and other education and recreation channels (including children’s programming) that we produce, and channels whose content we purchase from other content-providers. As we are still at an early stage of development, the business model, marketing plans, strategy, and the content we will provide are still evolving. As a result, we cannot provide any assurance that we will be able to successfully build market share in the pay-TV business or that such business will become profitable. Further, the money that we invest in providing such service could have an adverse effect on our operating results and profitability.

 

Our programming costs may increase in the future, which could reduce our margins if we are unable to pass that increase on to our IP-TV subscribers.

 

Revenue growth for our IP-TV services depend on our ability to produce or obtain programming that is both affordable and appealing to our subscribers. We produce or supplement a small amount of the programming on our channels and obtain programming from third parties for the remainder. The cost of some of our purchased programming may increase in the future as competition in the pay-TV and television services market intensifies. Such increases could potentially affect our subscriber growth more than the dominant provider as our sales efforts are focused on our offering a lower-priced pay-TV service than our existing competitors. Our inability to pass on programming cost increases to our subscribers could reduce our revenues, cash flow and operating margins. Additionally, if we are unable to purchase programming that appeals to our targeted customer base, we may not be able to add new subscribers or increase our market share.

 

Our growth and expansion may strain our ability to manage our operations, increase our costs of operation and adversely affect the quality of our services.

 

We have pursued and continue to pursue a strategy of aggressive growth in our fixed telecommunications network services business. As part of this strategy, we continue to expand and invest in the Metro Ethernet network infrastructure we use to deliver broadband Internet access, local VOIP, IP-TV and corporate data services. The deployment of these projects has resulted and will result in significant demands on our systems and controls and may place a strain on our administrative, operational and financial resources. Our ability to manage future growth will depend upon our ability to continue to:

 

    manage the simultaneous implementation of our infrastructure development and marketing plans;

 

    cope with both predictable and unforeseen problems associated with being a relatively new entrant in rapidly evolving industries;

 

    effectively monitor our operations so as to control costs and maintain effective quality controls; and

 

    offer competitive prices to customers.

 

Our failure to achieve any of the above in an efficient manner and at a pace consistent with the growth of our fixed telecommunications network services business could have an adverse effect on the quality of our services and increase our costs of operation.

 

The Office of the Telecommunications Authority has made changes to the manner in which it regulates PCCW-HKT’s tariffs for residential and business direct exchange line telephone services, which may result in more competition in our markets.

 

In 2003, PCCW-HKT applied twice to the Telecommunications Authority for a declaration of “non-dominance” with respect to the markets for residential and business direct exchange line telephone services. In response to these applications, the Office of the Telecommunications Authority, or OFTA, issued a new fixed carrier license to PCCW-HKT on January 14, 2005. Under this new license, PCCW-HKT is not required to

 

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obtain prior approval from the Telecommunications Authority before adjusting its tariffs on residential and business direct exchange line telephone services, including moves to offer discounts and other benefits in response to price competition. We anticipate this development will increase pricing competition further in an already competitive market. Such increased competition may adversely affect our revenues and profitability.

 

We depend on certain key personnel, and our business and growth prospects may be disrupted by the loss of their services.

 

Our future success is dependent upon the continued service of our key executives and employees. We also rely extensively on the services of our executive officers, including Wong Wai Kay, Ricky, our chairman, and Cheung Chi Kin, Paul, our managing director. While we have employment agreements with members of our senior management staff, we cannot assure you that we will be able to retain these executives and employees. If one or more of our key personnel were unable or unwilling to continue in their present positions, or if they joined a competitor or formed a competing company, we may not be able to replace them easily, our business may be significantly disrupted and our financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. Furthermore, since our industry is characterized by high demand and increased competition for talent, we may need to offer higher compensation and other benefits in order to attract and retain key personnel in the future. We cannot assure you that we will be able to attract and retain the key personnel that we will need to achieve our business objectives.

 

Universal Services Contributions are reviewed and adjusted periodically by the Telecommunications Authority, which may result in our either receiving a refund from, or being required to make whole any shortfall in payments to, PCCW-HKT. These adjustments may affect our financial results.

 

PCCW-HKT has a universal service obligation to provide basic telephone service to any individual or entity that requests it. To compensate PCCW-HKT for the expenses of this obligation, all incoming and outgoing international calls in Hong Kong are charged a per minute fee payable to PCCW-HKT. The Telecommunications Authority periodically adjusts the amount of this fee, which is commonly referred to as the USC. In the past we have received large USC refunds, but the amounts of these refunds have declined in the past few years. We cannot predict whether we will continue to receive refunds or whether the Telecommunications Authority may determine in the future that we have underpaid the USC and require us to make whole the shortfall, if any, in payments to PCCW-HKT. Such adjustments to the USC may affect our financial results.

 

Expansion of our Metro Ethernet network into certain buildings and residences may be limited by physical limitations or our ability to obtain access permits.

 

Expanding our Metro Ethernet network coverage requires us to install fiber-to-the-building, as well as install Cat-5e copper wiring within residential and commercial buildings to reach the subscriber’s premises, which we refer to as in-building-wiring. PCCW-HKT has already installed in-building-wiring in virtually all buildings, and we along with other fixed telecommunications network service providers may encounter a bottleneck when installing our own in-building-wiring because many buildings have limited physical space for additional in-building wiring. In addition, owners of certain single-owner commercial buildings may grant rights of access to our competitors while barring us from installing our own in-building-wiring. Furthermore, certain developers may have affiliations with our competitors and may attempt to delay our wiring installations. These constraints may hinder the expansion of our Metro Ethernet network and reduce our ability to add new subscribers.

 

Internet security concerns could limit our ability to develop revenues from Internet access services.

 

We intend to continue developing our broadband Internet access, local VOIP, IP-TV and corporate data services. Computer viruses, break-ins and other inappropriate or unauthorized uses of our Metro Ethernet network could affect the provision of our full suite of IP services. Computer viruses, break-ins or other problems could have the following effects on our fixed telecommunications network services business:

 

    it could result in interruption, delays or cessation in services to our customers;

 

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    it could jeopardize the security of confidential information stored in the computer system of our customers; and

 

    it could result in costly litigation.

 

We may incur significant costs to protect us against the threat of security breaches or to alleviate problems caused by such breaches. In addition, alleviating these problems may cause interruptions, delays or cessation in service to our users, which could cause them to stop using our service or assert claims against us.

 

PCCW-HKT and PCCW-IMS have brought legal proceedings against the Telecommunications Authority that, if decided unfavorably against the Telecommunications Authority, could adversely affect our ability to provide local VOIP services accessible over the broadband connections provided by other operators.

 

On October 11, 2004 PCCW-HKT and PCCW-IMS applied to Hong Kong’s High Court to commence judicial review proceedings against the Telecommunications Authority in which HKBN was initially joined as an interested party. PCCW-HKT and PCCW-IMS seek judicial review of the Telecommunications Authority’s decision dated September 22, 2004 in which the Telecommunications Authority found no evidence to suggest that HKBN is acting outside the scope of its FTNS License in providing local VOIP services accessible over the broadband connections provided by other operators, or “off-network” local VOIP. We began offering off-network local VOIP services in August 2004. PCCW-HKT and PCCW-IMS seek to have the Telecommunications Authority’s decision overturned and had requested the court to grant interim orders against both the Telecommunications Authority and HKBN to prohibit HKBN from providing off-network local VOIP services. In November 2004, PCCW-HKT and PCCW-IMS withdrew their request for interim orders, but amended its original application to include HKBN as a second respondent. The proceedings of the judicial review will continue and the hearing is set for November 28, 2005.

 

We are a party to the judicial review proceedings and are vigorously participating in the defense against these allegations. However, we cannot predict the outcome of the judicial review and if PCCW-HKT and PCCW-IMS are successful, we may be forced to discontinue providing off-network local VOIP services. Such an outcome will not affect our ability to offer local VOIP services within our own Metro Ethernet network, but would negatively affect our off-network local VOIP business and would likely limit our ability to add new off-network local VOIP subscribers.

 

Other fixed telecommunications network operators may be able to limit the transmission of our off-network local VOIP traffic carried over their broadband network, which may limit our ability to offer this service.

 

Our off-network local VOIP service is dependent on the broadband Internet connections provided by other fixed telecommunications network operators. These operators may be able to limit the transmission of our off-network local VOIP traffic carried over their broadband network, which may limit our ability to offer this service.

 

We may be liable for information disseminated over our Internet services network which could increase our costs or cause us to discontinue certain services.

 

We may be required to spend substantial resources or discontinue certain services, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition as a result of liability under Hong Kong law for dissemination of information. Hong Kong law relating to liability of Internet service providers for information carried on or disseminated through their networks is new and untested. The imposition of potential liability upon Internet service providers, such as liability for defamatory speech or copyright infringement, for materials carried on or disseminated over a network may cause us to adopt measures that may reduce our exposure to such liability.

 

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Illegal viewing activities may affect our IP-TV subscriber growth and subscription revenue.

 

Our IP-TV business is dependent upon subscription revenue. We are aware that some viewers in Hong Kong use unauthorized pay-TV decoders to receive pay-TV service illegally. Manufacturers or vendors of unauthorized pay-TV decoders may overcome our digital encryption methods and if we fail to deploy appropriate and timely countermeasures in response to such activities, illegal viewing activities may occur. Such illegal viewing activities will adversely affect the growth of our IP-TV subscriber base and our subscription revenue.

 

We face risks associated with potential acquisitions, investments, strategic partnerships or other ventures, including whether we can identify opportunities, complete the transactions and integrate the other parties into our business.

 

From time to time we have had discussions with companies regarding our acquiring, investing in or partnering with their businesses, products, services or technologies, and we regularly engage in such discussions in the ordinary course of our business. We may not be able to identify suitable acquisition, investment or strategic partnership candidates, which may place us at a disadvantage if our competitors are able to grow their market share through acquisitions. If we do identify suitable candidates, we may not be able to complete those transactions on commercially acceptable terms or at all. If we acquire another company, we could have difficulty in integrating that company’s personnel, products, operations and technology. In addition, the key personnel of the acquired company may decide not to work for us. These difficulties could disrupt our ongoing business, distract our management and employees and increase our expenses.

 

Risks Relating to Our Technological Infrastructure

 

Slow system performance over our wireless and leased wireline connections could cause us to lose Internet customers to our competitors.

 

Our system’s performance may slow down at certain peak times, especially with respect to the transmission of multimedia content over our wireless and leased wireline connections. Our ability to increase our handling capacity, and increase the network’s performance, will depend upon:

 

    the successful build out of our own fiber-based backbone, and

 

    our ability to secure leased lines from other network operators where we do not have our own infrastructure in place.

 

We cannot be sure that we will be able to replace our wireless and leased wireline connections with our fiber-based backbone and increase the performance of our Internet access system. If we do not, our customers may subscribe to other Internet access services provided by our competitors.

 

We will be limited in our ability to continue to expand our international telecommunications business unless we obtain additional network capacity.

 

Our international telecommunications network has limited capacity. Our ability to continue to increase traffic volume depends on our ability to expand the network on a timely basis and add new subscriptions, which in turn is subject to:

 

    the expansion and development of our own international telecommunications facilities;

 

    the availability of leased lines from third party carriers at favorable rates; and

 

    the possible termination or cancellation of our existing contracts.

 

If we fail to increase the capacity of our international telecommunications network, our ability to increase our telecommunications minutes, market share and revenues will be limited.

 

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If we are unable to stay ahead of technology trends and evolving industry standards, our services may become obsolete.

 

Telecommunications businesses are characterized by rapidly changing technology and industry standards, evolving subscriber needs and the introduction of new services. The continuously changing nature of these services, and their increasingly shorter life cycles require us to continually improve our performance, services and network in order to compete successfully with the services offered by our competitors. Further, new technology or trends in the telecommunications industry could have an adverse effect on the services we currently offer. For example, the replacement of traditional fixed line home telephones with mobile telephones and/or VOIP services may lead to a decline in our International telecommunications services revenues. Changing our services in response to market demand may require the adoption of new technologies that could render many of the technologies that we are currently implementing less competitive or obsolete. In addition, our new products and services may contain design flaws or other defects that could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results or financial condition. To respond successfully to technological advances and emerging industry standards, we may require substantial capital expenditure and access to related or enabling technologies in order to integrate the new technology with our existing technology. We may not be successful in modifying our network infrastructure in a timely and cost-effective manner in response to these changes, which will affect our ability to continue to offer the products and services demanded by our customers.

 

We are vulnerable to natural disasters, and other disruptive regional events, which could cause damage to our network and result in lost revenue and perhaps lost customers.

 

Our network is vulnerable to damage or cessation of operations from fire, earthquakes, severe storms, power loss, telecommunications failures, network software flaws, vandalism, transmission cable cuts and other catastrophic events. We may experience failures or shutdowns relating to individual points of presence or even catastrophic failure of our entire network. Any failure of our network, our servers, or any link in the delivery chain, whether from operational disruption, natural disaster or otherwise, resulting in an interruption in our operations, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

The loss of key suppliers or their failure to deliver equipment on a timely basis could negatively impact our business prospects.

 

We rely on Cisco Systems, Inc. and other suppliers to provide equipment, underground cables and other key components in building our Metro Ethernet network infrastructure, and on Nortel Networks Limited for VOIP equipment. In order for new subscribers to be able to access our IP-TV services, we must install an IP set-top-box in their homes. We must have an adequate supply of such equipment on hand to respond to new customer subscriptions in a timely manner. We purchase all of our IP set-top boxes and other equipment from our suppliers on a purchase order basis and have no long-term contracts. If our suppliers are unable to supply us with these products in a timely manner or the costs of these products increase due to unforeseen causes, this could negatively impact our operating results, especially if we are unable to add new subscribers or pass these costs on to our customers. In addition, if Cisco Systems, Inc. is unable or is delayed in providing us with the hardware required for building our fiber-based backbone infrastructure, this could negatively impact our operating results.

 

Our reliance on third parties to provide maintenance and repairs for our Metro Ethernet network could adversely affect our operating results if their services are not timely or do not meet our standards.

 

We depend on Cisco Systems, Inc. and other third parties for ongoing support and assistance with respect to maintenance and repairs. We are also dependent on certain Hong Kong rail transport providers to maintain and provide us with access to their infrastructure to support the proper functioning of our equipment and fiber-based backbone. If these third parties fail to provide us the equipment we require, or fail to respond or are untimely in their response to our maintenance and repair needs, our customers may experience interruptions or variations in the quality of our fixed telecommunications network services, which may adversely affect our operating results and our ability to retain or add new customers.

 

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Environmental factors in Hong Kong could impact our delivery of fixed telecommunications network services using wireless technology and increase our operating costs.

 

Wireless transmission of information is subject to environmental influences, which could impact our delivery of fixed telecommunications network services using this technology. In particular:

 

    Wireless technology requires an unobstructed line of sight between two linked antennas. Hong Kong is characterized by large variations in elevation and numerous tall buildings.

 

    Weather conditions, such as heavy rainfall, can adversely impact the transmission quality of wireless signals and necessitate shorter distances between antennas to maintain desired transmission quality. Hong Kong’s weather patterns often result in heavy rainfall during certain periods of the year.

 

Each of these factors may cause us to either accelerate our plans to install self-owned fiber-based backbone or lease capacity on the wireline-based backbone of other fixed network operators, which may increase our operating costs.

 

Risks Relating to the Regulatory, Political and Economic Environment

 

Regulatory reforms and currently contemplated regulatory initiatives in the telecommunications industry may adversely affect us.

 

The Hong Kong telecommunications industry is undergoing continuous regulatory reform. In July 2003, the Hong Kong government enacted the Telecommunications (Amendment) Ordinance 2003, or the 2003 Ordinance, which specifically regulates merger and acquisition activities in the Hong Kong telecommunications industry. The 2003 Ordinance gives the Telecommunications Authority the power to review mergers and acquisitions concerning carrier licensees and to take appropriate actions when it determines that the transaction would substantially lessen market competition without any outweighing public benefits. The Telecommunications Authority also has the right to impose conditions upon or oppose mergers and acquisitions, which may have an adverse effect on our ability to grow our business through mergers and acquisitions.

 

On October 4, 2004, the Telecommunications Authority issued a consultation paper requesting commentary from market participants regarding regulation of Internet Protocol telephony services. The Telecommunications Authority seeks to determine whether the existing regulatory framework, which was primarily designed to govern traditional fixed line telephony services, is applicable to VOIP telephony services. Some of the regulatory issues being addressed include creating a licensing framework, conformance to the existing system of assigning telephone numbers, imposition of interconnection charges and establishing guidelines with respect to the quality of services. As we currently offer local VOIP services, the Telecommunications Authority’s final determination may subject us to further regulations that affect our operations.

 

Our revenues may be adversely affected by regulatory and commercial increases in tariffs mandated by the Chinese government and other international carriers.

 

China’s Ministry of Information Industry, or the MII, and the State Development Planning Commission jointly set tariffs for all domestic and international long distance services in China using public switched telephone networks, leased lines and data services. Certain tariffs payable by us to our carrier partners are based, among other things, on the tariffs determined by these agencies with respect to the calls our subscribers make to persons in China. In November 2002, our carrier partners in China increased the termination rates payable by us to them for international long distance telephone calls into China due to the imposition by the MII of these rate increases. To cover the increased cost for terminating traffic in China, we increased the rates we charged our customers for calls into China, which represented 65% of our international traffic for fiscal 2003. This rate increase led to an immediate drop of traffic into China. Further, our market share was adversely affected, as one of our competitors did not increase the rates it charged its customers for calls into China as a result of the increased tariff.

 

While our carrier partners subsequently reversed this increase in termination rates in 2003, the MII may impose changes to termination rates and related tariffs in the future, which we would expect to affect the rates we

 

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charge our customers for calls into China. In addition, following the termination rate increase imposed by China’s MII, Philippines-based carriers raised their inbound termination rates and some European mobile carriers have also made such increases in recent years. Other international carriers may follow these examples. We cannot predict the timing, likelihood or magnitude of any future tariff adjustment; nor can we predict the extent or potential impact upon our business of any such future tariff increases. Such increases may lead to a decrease in traffic, reduce our revenues and adversely affect our business and results of operations. In addition, if we are unable to pass the increased cost of services onto our customers, it would have an adverse effect on our profit margins for international telecommunications services.

 

The Communications and Technology Branch has issued a letter stating that we are exempt from obtaining a broadcasting license to provide our IP-TV services. However, should we be required to obtain a broadcasting license for our IP-TV services and we are unable to do so, we may be forced to terminate our IP-TV service.

 

Unlike our competitors, who hold domestic pay-television program service licenses, we provide our IP-TV services over our Metro Ethernet network under HKBN’s FTNS License. The Hong Kong government has indicated that because our IP-TV services are carried over the Internet, we are exempt under the Broadcasting Ordinance from the requirement to obtain a domestic pay-television program service license. However, the government’s Communications and Technology Branch has informed us that the government is considering a review of the broadcasting regulatory regime and may introduce changes to the existing regulatory framework, including the existing exemption in the Broadcasting Ordinance. Therefore, we cannot predict whether the government may require us to obtain a pay-television program service license in the future. If such license requires us to pay significant fees or imposes restrictions on our current operations, the revenues from our IP-TV business may be adversely affected or, if we are unable to obtain a pay-television program service license, we may be forced to terminate our IP-TV services.

 

We require licenses from the Telecommunications Authority to provide our services. If one of these licenses is revoked or not renewed, we would be unable to deliver the services authorized by that license.

 

We require licenses from the Telecommunications Authority to provide our international telecommunications and fixed telecommunications network services. Our PNETS License is subject to the Telecommunications Authority’s annual renewal and HKBN’s FTNS License is initially granted for a term of 15 years, which may be renewed for such further period not exceeding 15 years at the discretion of the Telecommunications Authority. The Telecommunications Authority’s failure to renew or its revocation of any of these licenses for any reason would prohibit us from continuing to offer the services authorized by that license, which would have a significant adverse impact on our revenues and profitability. In addition, future changes in Hong Kong’s telecommunications regulations or policies could have an adverse impact on our operations. We have more fully described the licenses granted to us by the Telecommunications Authority under the section entitled “Hong Kong Regulatory Overview—Telecommunications Industry—Licensing” in this prospectus.

 

There may be political risks associated with doing business in Hong Kong.

 

A significant part of our facilities and operations are currently located in Hong Kong. Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, with its own executive, judicial and legislative branches. Hong Kong enjoys a high degree of autonomy from China under the principle of “one country, two systems”; however, we can give no assurance that Hong Kong will continue to enjoy the same level of autonomy from China. Any intervention by the government of China in the affairs of Hong Kong, in breach of the “one country, two systems” principle, may adversely affect our revenues and our share prices.

 

We have more than 50% of our staff located in Guangzhou, China and changes in Chinese labor or business laws may significantly affect our operations and our ability to service our Hong Kong based customers.

 

Our call center in Guangzhou employs over 1,900 persons and is an important resource for us. We are therefore subject, to a significant degree, to the laws and regulations that govern foreign companies with

 

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operations in China. The Chinese legal system is based on written statutes. Prior court decisions may be noted for reference but have limited precedential value. Since 1979, the Chinese government has promulgated laws and regulations dealing with economic matters such as foreign investment, corporate organization and governance, labor, commerce, taxation and trade. However, because these laws and regulations are relatively new and because of the limited volume of published cases and their non-binding nature, interpretation and enforcement of these laws and regulations involve significant uncertainty. In addition, as the Chinese legal system develops, changes in such laws and regulations, their interpretation or their enforcement may lead to additional restrictions on our business.

 

You may have difficulty enforcing judgments against us or our management.

 

City Telecom is incorporated in Hong Kong. All of our directors and executive officers and some of the experts named in this prospectus live outside the United States, principally in Hong Kong. Also, all or most of City Telecom’s assets are located outside the United States. As a result, you may not be able to:

 

    effect service of process upon these persons within the United States, or

 

    enforce, against us or these persons within the United States, court judgments obtained in United States courts, including judgments relating to the federal securities laws of the United States.

 

There is also doubt as to whether courts in Hong Kong will enforce judgments of United States courts based only upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States, or the securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

The state of Hong Kong’s economy may affect our profitability.

 

As we are principally engaged in the provision of broadband Internet access, local VOIP, IP-TV, corporate data and international telecommunications services in Hong Kong, our financial position and the results of our operations will be affected by the conditions of the telecommunications, Internet access and pay-TV markets in Hong Kong, which may in turn be influenced by the general state of the Hong Kong economy, changes in the Hong Kong regulatory environment, and changes in demand and usage habits of Hong Kong consumers. We have limited control over any of these factors. The Hong Kong economy has experienced considerable volatility during the late 1990s and from 2000 to 2003, and there can be no assurance that it will not continue to do so in the future. This could adversely affect our business operations.

 

Fluctuations of the Hong Kong dollar may increase our operating costs.

 

A major portion of our operating costs is interconnection charges paid to overseas carriers for the delivery of our international calls. Substantially all of these interconnection charges are denominated in U.S. dollars or other currencies other than Hong Kong dollars. In addition, the equipment and hardware we purchase for the expansion of our Metro Ethernet network constitutes a large portion of our capital expenditure and is also denominated in U.S. dollars. Finally, payment of interest, principal and any other amounts due under the outstanding notes or the exchange notes, as the case may be, will be made in U.S. dollars. However, our revenues are denominated exclusively in Hong Kong dollars. Any depreciation of the Hong Kong dollar, against the U.S. dollar or other currencies, would increase our operating costs, including our debt servicing costs, make our capital expenditure plans more expensive, and adversely affect our profitability.

 

In addition, the expenses that we incur in relation to our call center located in Guangzhou, China are denominated exclusively in Renminbi, the official currency of the People’s Republic of China. These include the salaries that we pay to our personnel as well as various operating expenses that we incur to maintain our operations. As a result, we are exposed to a certain amount of foreign exchange risk based on fluctuations between the Hong Kong dollar and the Renminbi. If the Renminbi appreciates against the Hong Kong dollar, the amount of Hong Kong dollars we would be required to spend to maintain our call center would increase.

 

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Risks Related to our Indebtedness

 

The terms of the exchange notes will contain covenants limiting our financial and operating flexibility.

 

Covenants under the exchange notes offered hereby will restrict our ability to, among other things:

 

    pay dividends, make distributions, redeem capital stock and make certain other restricted payments or investments;

 

    incur additional indebtedness or issue certain equity interests;

 

    merge, consolidate or sell all or substantially all of our assets;

 

    issue or sell capital stock of some of our subsidiaries;

 

    sell or exchange assets or enter into new businesses;

 

    create any restrictions on the payment of dividends, the making of distributions, the making of loans and the transfer of assets;

 

    create liens on assets;

 

    enter into sale and lease back transactions; and

 

    enter into certain transactions with affiliates or related persons.

 

All of these limitations are subject to exceptions and qualifications described under the section entitled “Description of the Notes” in this prospectus.

 

These restrictive covenants could limit our ability to pursue our growth plan, restrict our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and industry and increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions. We may enter into additional financing arrangements in the future, which could further restrict our flexibility.

 

We will require a significant amount of cash to service our debt.

 

Our ability to fund operating and capital expenditures and to service debt will depend significantly on our ability to generate cash from operations. We will need to continue generating cash flows at or above current levels to meet our future debt service requirements. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to do so.

 

Our ability to generate cash is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, industry, legal and other factors and conditions, many of which are outside our control. In particular, our operations are subject to price and demand volatility in the telecommunications industry. If we cannot service our debt, we may be required to (among other things) reduce capital expenditures, sell assets, or raise equity. We may not be successful in taking these actions, which could cause us to default on our obligations. Further, our ability to take many of these steps may be subject to approval by future creditors in addition to holders of the outstanding notes or exchange notes, as the case may be.

 

Our indebtedness could adversely affect our financial condition and prevent us from fulfilling our obligations under the exchange notes.

 

Upon the issuance of the outstanding notes, we incurred US$125.0 million amount of indebtedness. In addition, the indenture governing the outstanding notes and that will govern the exchange notes does not prohibit us or our subsidiaries from incurring substantially more debt, including secured credit facility debt and other debt as long as we meet certain debt incurrence ratios (other than CTI Guangzhou and, subsequently, any other subsidiary prohibited by applicable law, regulation or order from issuing a guarantee of the notes, which are restricted from incurring certain indebtedness as further described in the limitation on indebtedness covenant under “Description of the Notes—Certain Covenants—Limitation on indebtedness”). The exchange notes and

 

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guarantees will be effectively subordinated to all of our existing and future secured debt to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness and will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future debt and other liabilities of non-guarantor subsidiaries, including trade payables. Please refer to the section entitled “Description of the Notes” in this prospectus. If new debt is added to our consolidated debt level, the related risks that we now face could intensify.

 

Covenants in the agreements governing debt we may incur in the future may materially restrict our operations, including our ability to incur debt, pay dividends, make certain investments and payments, and encumber or dispose of assets. In addition, financial covenants contained in agreements relating to our future debt, including those under a credit agreement, could lead to a default in the event our results of operations do not meet our plans. A default under one debt instrument may also trigger cross-defaults under our other debt instruments. An event of default under any debt instrument, if not cured or waived, could have a material adverse effect on us. Any new debt that we incur in the future could have important consequences to holders of the exchange notes. For example, it could:

 

    make it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to the exchange notes;

 

    increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions;

 

    limit our ability to fund future working capital, capital expenditures, research and development and other general corporate requirements;

 

    require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flows from operations to service payments on our debt;

 

    limit our flexibility to react to changes in our business and the industry in which we operate;

 

    place us at a competitive disadvantage to any of our competitors that have less debt;

 

    require us to meet additional financial covenants; and

 

    limit, along with other restrictive covenants, among other things, our ability to borrow additional funds.

 

We cannot assure you that our business will generate cash in an amount sufficient to enable us to service our debt, including the exchange notes, or to fund our other liquidity needs. In addition, we may need to refinance all or a portion of our debt, including the exchange notes, on or before maturity. We cannot assure you that we will be able to refinance any of our debt on commercially reasonable terms or at all.

 

 

U.S. and foreign statutes allow courts, under specific circumstances, to void the guarantees and require holders of the exchange notes to return payments received from us or the guarantors.

 

Our creditors or the creditors of our guarantors could challenge the guarantees as fraudulent conveyances or on other grounds. The delivery of the guarantees could be found to be a fraudulent transfer and declared void if a U.S. or foreign court determined that the guarantor delivered the guarantee with the intent to hinder, delay or defraud its existing or future creditors, the guarantor did not receive fair consideration for the delivery of the guarantee or the guarantor was insolvent at the time it delivered the guarantee. If a U.S. or foreign court declares the guarantees to be void, or if the guarantees must be limited or voided in accordance with their terms, any claim you may make against us for amounts payable on the exchange notes would be unsecured and subordinated to the debt of our guarantors, including trade payables.

 

In addition, under U.S. or foreign bankruptcy or applicable insolvency laws, if certain bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings were initiated by or against us within certain periods of time (in the United States, this period of time is 90 days after we made any payment with respect to the exchange notes) and we were insolvent at the time of such payment, all or a portion of such payment could be voided as a preferential transfer and the recipient of such payment could be required to return such payment to us or a fund for the benefit of our creditors.

 

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The guarantees are subject to certain defenses that may limit your right to receive payment on the exchange notes.

 

Although the guarantees provide the holders of the exchange notes with a direct claim against the assets of the guarantors, enforcement of the guarantees against any guarantor would be subject to certain “suretyship” defenses available to guarantors generally. Enforcement could also be subject to other defenses available to the guarantors in certain circumstances. To the extent that the guarantees are not enforceable, the exchange notes would be effectively subordinated to all liabilities of the guarantors, including trade payables of such guarantors.

 

In addition, if a guarantor becomes a debtor in a case instituted under applicable bankruptcy laws or encounters other financial difficulty, its obligations may, depending on the law applicable in the bankruptcy of the relevant guarantor, be subject to review under fraudulent transfer and other laws. Under those laws, a court could avoid the guarantor’s obligations under its guarantee if it concludes, among other things, that the guarantor incurred its obligations for less than reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration at a time when the guarantor was insolvent, was rendered insolvent, or was left with inadequate capital to conduct its business.

 

The obligations of each guarantor under its guarantee of the exchange notes will be limited in a manner intended to cause it not to be a fraudulent transfer under applicable law, although we cannot assure you that a U.S. or foreign court would give the holder of the exchange notes the benefit of such provision.

 

The exchange notes will not be guaranteed by CTI Guangzhou or any of our future subsidiaries organized under the laws of jurisdictions which prohibit such subsidiary from becoming a subsidiary guarantor, which will effectively subordinate the exchange notes to the debt and other obligations, including trade payables, of these subsidiaries.

 

We currently have one wholly owned subsidiary organized under the laws of China, CTI Guangzhou, which operates as our primary group customer service call center. CTI Guangzhou generates no revenues from third parties outside of our group and any revenues generated are eliminated in our consolidated accounts. As of August 31, 2004, CTI Guangzhou had net assets of HK$7.2 million and no external third-party long-term borrowings. The exchange notes will not be guaranteed by CTI Guangzhou or any other future subsidiary prohibited by applicable law, regulation or order from becoming a subsidiary guarantor. While any subsidiary that is not a subsidiary guarantor will be restricted from incurring certain indebtedness as further described under “Description of the Notes—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Indebtedness”, the exchange notes will effectively be subordinated to all the debt and other obligations, including trade payables, of these subsidiaries.

 

Risks Related to the Exchange Offer

 

If you fail to follow the exchange offer procedures, your outstanding notes will not be accepted for exchange.

 

We will not accept your outstanding notes for exchange if you do not follow the exchange offer procedures. We will issue exchange notes as part of this exchange offer only if:

 

    you timely deliver a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal together with a timely confirmation of a book-entry transfer into the exchange agent’s account maintained at DTC for such purpose, or

 

    you timely deliver your outstanding notes, a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal and all other required documents, or

 

    you comply with the guaranteed delivery procedures for tendering your notes if you hold your notes in physical form.

 

 

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Therefore, if you want to tender your outstanding notes, please allow sufficient time to ensure timely delivery of all documents required to complete the exchange. If we do not either receive your letter of transmittal and timely confirmation of a book-entry transfer or your outstanding notes, letter of transmittal, and all other required documents by the expiration date of the exchange offer, or you do not otherwise comply with the guaranteed delivery procedures for tendering your notes, we will not accept your outstanding notes for exchange. We are under no duty to give notification of defects or irregularities with respect to the tenders of outstanding notes for exchange. If there are defects or irregularities with respect to your tender of outstanding notes, we will not accept your outstanding notes for exchange unless we decide in our sole discretion to waive such defects or irregularities.

 

If you do not exchange your outstanding notes for exchange notes in the exchange offer, your outstanding notes will continue to be subject to significant restrictions on transfer, and may be subject to a limited trading market and a significant diminution in value.

 

If you do not exchange your outstanding notes for the exchange notes in the exchange offer, you will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer described in the legend on your outstanding notes. In general, you may only offer or sell the outstanding notes if such offers and sales are registered under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, or exempt from such registration. To the extent outstanding notes are tendered and accepted in the exchange offer, the trading market, if any, for the remaining outstanding notes would be adversely affected and there could be a significant diminution in the value of the outstanding notes as compared to the value of the exchange notes.

 

An active public market may not develop for the exchange notes, which could adversely affect the market price and liquidity of the exchange notes.

 

The exchange notes constitute securities for which there is no established trading market in the United States. We do not intend to list the exchange notes on any U.S. securities exchange or to seek approval for quotation through any U.S. automated quotation system, and no active public market for the exchange notes is currently anticipated although the exchange notes will be listed on the SGX-ST. If a market for the exchange notes should develop, the exchange notes could trade at a discount from their principal amount and they may be difficult to sell. Future trading prices of the exchange notes will depend on many factors, including prevailing interest rates, our operating results and the market for similar securities. As a result, you may not be able to resell any exchange notes or, if you are able to resell, you may not be able to do so at a satisfactory price.

 

In addition, both the liquidity and the market price quoted for the outstanding notes and, if issued, the exchange notes may be adversely affected by changes in the overall market for high yield securities and by changes in our financial performance or prospects, or in the prospects for companies in our industry generally.

 

If you participate in the exchange offer for the purpose of participating in a distribution of the exchange notes you could be deemed an underwriter under the Securities Act and be required to deliver a prospectus when you resell the exchange notes.

 

If you exchange your outstanding notes in the exchange offer for the purpose of participating in a distribution of the exchange notes, you may be deemed an underwriter under the Securities Act. If so, you will be required to comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of the exchange notes. If you are deemed to be an underwriter and do not comply with these prospectus delivery requirements, you may be subject to civil penalties.

 

We may not be able to repurchase the exchange notes upon a change of control as required by the indenture.

 

Upon a change of control, we will be required to make an offer to purchase all outstanding exchange notes. Pursuant to this offer, we would be required to purchase the exchange notes at 101% of their principal amount

 

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plus accrued and unpaid interest up to, but not including, the date of repurchase. The source of funds for any such purchase would be our available cash or third-party financing. However, we may not have enough available funds at the time of any change of control to make required repurchases of tendered exchange notes.

 

Our failure to repurchase tendered exchange notes at a time when the repurchase is required by the indenture would constitute a default under the indenture. This default may, in turn, constitute an event of default under future senior indebtedness any of which could cause repayment of the related debt to be accelerated after any applicable notice or grace periods. If debt repayment were to be accelerated, we may not have sufficient funds to repurchase the exchange notes and repay the debt. In addition, the definition of change of control for purposes of the indenture does not necessarily afford protection for the holders of the notes in the event of some types of highly leveraged transactions, including certain acquisitions, mergers, refinancings, restructurings or other recapitalizations, although these types of transactions could increase our indebtedness or otherwise affect our capital structure or credit ratings and the holders of the notes. The definition of change of control for purposes of the indenture also includes a phrase relating to the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of “all or substantially all” of our properties or assets taken as a whole. Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” there is no precise established definition under applicable law. Accordingly, our obligation to make an offer to purchase the exchange notes, and the ability of a holder of exchange notes to require us to repurchase its exchange notes pursuant to the offer as a result of a highly leveraged transaction or a sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of less than all of our assets taken as a whole may be uncertain.

 

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THE EXCHANGE OFFER

 

Purpose of the Exchange Offer

 

In connection with the issuance and sale of the outstanding notes, we entered into a registration rights agreement with the initial purchaser of the outstanding notes. We are making the exchange offer to satisfy our obligations under the registration rights agreement. A copy of the registration rights agreement has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

 

Terms of the Exchange

 

We are offering to exchange, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus and in the accompanying letter of transmittal, exchange notes for an equal principal amount of outstanding notes. The terms of the exchange notes are identical in all material respects to those of the outstanding notes, except for the transfer restrictions (other than those applicable to transfers by plans and governmental plans) and registration rights relating to the outstanding notes which will not apply to exchange notes. The exchange notes will be entitled to the benefits of the indenture. See “Description of the Notes.”

 

The exchange notes will evidence the same debt as the outstanding notes and will be issued under the same indenture, so the exchange notes and the outstanding notes will be treated as a single class of debt securities under the indenture. The outstanding notes and exchange notes will, however, have separate CUSIP numbers.

 

The exchange offer is not conditioned upon any minimum aggregate principal amount of outstanding notes being tendered or accepted for exchange. As of the date of this prospectus, US$125.0 million aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes is outstanding. Outstanding notes tendered in the exchange offer must be tendered in a minimum principal amount of US$1,000 and integral multiples of US$1,000.

 

Based on certain interpretive letters issued by the staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to third parties in unrelated transactions, holders of outstanding notes, except any holder who is an “affiliate” of ours within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act, who exchange their outstanding notes for exchange notes pursuant to the exchange offer generally may offer the exchange notes for resale, resell the exchange notes and otherwise transfer the exchange notes without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act, provided that the exchange notes are acquired in the ordinary course of the holder’s business and the holder is not participating in, and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in, a distribution of the exchange notes.

 

The approval of the outstanding notes for admission to the Official List of the SGX-ST included the admission for listing of the exchange notes, and no further application to the SGX-ST for the listing of the exchange notes will be necessary. We will give notice to the SGX-ST of the registered exchange offer prior to its commencement and of the results of such registered exchange offer. The outstanding notes were admitted to the Official List of the SGX-ST on January 24, 2005.

 

Each broker-dealer that receives exchange notes for its own account in exchange for outstanding notes, where the outstanding notes were acquired by the broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of the exchange notes as described in “Plan of Distribution.” In addition, to comply with the securities laws of individual jurisdictions, if applicable, the exchange notes may not be offered or sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the jurisdiction or an exemption from registration or qualification is available and complied with. We have agreed, pursuant to the registration rights agreement, to register or qualify the exchange notes for offer or sale under the securities or blue sky laws of the jurisdictions you reasonably request in writing. If you do not exchange outstanding notes for exchange notes in the exchange offer, your outstanding notes will continue to be subject to restrictions on transfer.

 

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If any holder of the outstanding notes is an affiliate of ours, or is engaged in or intends to engage in or has any arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of the exchange notes to be acquired in the exchange offer, the holder would not be able to rely on the applicable interpretations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and would be required to comply with the registration requirements of the Securities Act, except for resales made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirement of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

 

Expiration Date; Extensions; Termination; Amendments

 

The exchange offer expires on the expiration date, which is 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on                     , 2005 unless we in our sole discretion extend the period during which the exchange offer is open.

 

We reserve the right to extend the exchange offer at any time and from time to time prior to the expiration date by giving written notice to Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, the exchange agent, and by issuing a press release or other public announcement communicated by no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next business day following the previously scheduled expiration date, unless otherwise required by applicable law or regulation.

 

The exchange date will be the fourth New York Stock Exchange trading day following the expiration date. We expressly reserve the right to:

 

    terminate the exchange offer and not accept for exchange any outstanding notes for any reason, including if any of the events set forth below under “—Conditions to the Exchange Offer” shall have occurred and shall not have been waived by us; and

 

    amend the terms of the exchange offer in any manner, whether before or after any tender of the outstanding notes.

 

If any termination or material amendment occurs, we will notify the exchange agent in writing and will either issue a press release or give written notice to the holders of the outstanding notes as promptly as practicable.

 

Unless we terminate the exchange offer prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date, we will exchange the exchange notes for the tendered outstanding notes on the exchange date. Any outstanding notes not accepted for exchange for any reason will be returned without expense to the tendering holder promptly after expiration or termination of the exchange offer. See “—Acceptance of Outstanding Notes for Exchange; Delivery of Exchange Notes” below for more information.

 

This prospectus and the related letter of transmittal and other relevant materials will be mailed by us to record holders of outstanding notes and will be furnished to brokers, banks and similar persons whose names, or the names of whose nominees, appear on the lists of holders for subsequent transmittal to beneficial owners of outstanding notes.

 

Procedures for Tendering Outstanding Notes

 

The tender of outstanding notes by you pursuant to any one of the procedures set forth below will constitute an agreement between you and us in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus and in the letter of transmittal.

 

General Procedures. You may tender the notes by:

 

    properly completing and signing the letter of transmittal or a facsimile and delivering the letter of transmittal together with:

 

    the certificate or certificates representing the outstanding notes being tendered and any required signature guarantees, to the exchange agent at its address set forth in the letter of transmittal on or prior to the expiration date, or

 

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    a timely confirmation of a book-entry transfer of the outstanding notes being tendered, if the procedure is available, into the exchange agent’s account maintained at The Depositary Trust Company, or DTC, for that purpose pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfer described below, or

 

    complying with the guaranteed delivery procedures described below.

 

If tendered outstanding notes are registered in the name of the signer of the letter of transmittal and the exchange notes to be issued in exchange for those outstanding notes are to be issued, or if a new note representing any untendered outstanding notes is to be issued, in the name of the registered holder, the signature of the signer need not be guaranteed. In any other case, the tendered outstanding notes must be endorsed or accompanied by written instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to us and duly executed by the registered holder and the signature on the endorsement or instrument of transfer must be guaranteed by a commercial bank or trust company located or having an office or correspondent in the United States or by a member firm of a national securities exchange or of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or by a member of a signature medallion program such as “STAMP.” If the exchange notes and/or outstanding notes not exchanged are to be delivered to an address other than that of the registered holder appearing on the note register for the outstanding notes, the signature on the letter of transmittal must be guaranteed by an eligible institution.

 

Any beneficial owner whose outstanding notes are registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee and who wishes to tender outstanding notes should contact the holder promptly and instruct the holder to tender outstanding notes on the beneficial owner’s behalf. If the beneficial owner wishes to tender the outstanding notes itself, the beneficial owner must, prior to completing and executing the letter of transmittal and delivering the outstanding notes, either make appropriate arrangements to register ownership of the outstanding notes in the beneficial owner’s name or follow the procedures described in the immediately preceding paragraph. The transfer of record ownership may take considerable time.

 

A tender will be deemed to have been received as of the date when:

 

    the tendering holder’s properly completed and duly signed letter of transmittal accompanied by the outstanding notes is received by the exchange agent,

 

    the tendering holder’s properly completed and duly signed letter of transmittal accompanied by a book-entry confirmation is received by the exchange agent, or

 

    a notice of guaranteed delivery or letter or facsimile transmission to similar effect from an eligible institution is received by the exchange agent.

 

Issuances of exchange notes in exchange for outstanding notes tendered pursuant to a notice of guaranteed delivery or letter or facsimile transmission to similar effect by an eligible institution will be made only against deposit of the letter of transmittal, the tendered outstanding notes, or book-entry confirmation, if applicable and any other required documents.

 

All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility, including time of receipt, and acceptance for exchange of any tender of outstanding notes will be determined by us, and will be final and binding. We reserve the absolute right to reject any or all tenders not in proper form or the acceptances for exchange of which may, upon advice of our counsel, be unlawful. We also reserve the absolute right to waive any of the conditions of the exchange offer or any defects or irregularities in tenders of any particular holder whether or not similar defects or irregularities are waived in the case of other holders. Neither we, the exchange agent nor any other person will be under any duty to give notification of any defects or irregularities in tenders or will incur any liability for failure to give any such notification. Our interpretation of the terms and conditions of the exchange offer, including the letter of transmittal and its instructions, will be final and binding.

 

The method of delivery of outstanding notes and all other documents is at the election and risk of the tendering holders, and delivery will be deemed made only when actually received and confirmed by the exchange

 

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agent. If the delivery is by mail, it is recommended that registered mail be properly insured with return receipt requested and that the mailing be made sufficiently in advance of the expiration date to permit delivery to the exchange agent prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date. As an alternative to delivery by mail, holders may wish to consider overnight or hand delivery service. In all cases, sufficient time should be allowed to assure delivery to the exchange agent prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date. No letter of transmittal or outstanding notes should be sent to us. Holders may request their respective brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies or nominees to effect the above transactions for the holders.

 

Book-Entry Transfer. The exchange agent will make a request to establish an account with respect to the outstanding notes at DTC for purposes of the exchange offer within two business days after the prospectus is mailed to holders, and any financial institution that is a participant in DTC may make book-entry delivery of outstanding notes by causing DTC to transfer the outstanding notes into the exchange agent’s account at DTC in accordance with DTC’s procedures for transfer.

 

Guaranteed Delivery Procedures. If you desire to tender outstanding notes pursuant to the exchange offer, but time will not permit a letter of transmittal, the outstanding notes or other required documents to reach the exchange agent on or before the expiration date, or if the procedure for book-entry transfer cannot be completed on a timely basis, a tender may be effected if the exchange agent has received at its office a letter or facsimile transmission from an eligible institution setting forth the name and address of the tendering holder, the names in which the outstanding notes are registered, the principal amount of the outstanding notes being tendered and, if possible, the certificate numbers of the outstanding notes to be tendered, and stating that the tender is being made thereby and guaranteeing that within three New York Stock Exchange trading days after the expiration date, the outstanding notes, in proper form for transfer, or a book-entry confirmation, as the case may be, together with a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal and any other required documents, will be delivered by the eligible institution to the exchange agent in accordance with the procedures outlined above. Unless outstanding notes being tendered by the above-described method are deposited with the exchange agent, including through a book-entry confirmation, within the time period set forth above and accompanied or preceded by a properly completed letter of transmittal and any other required documents, we may, at our option, reject the tender. Additional copies of a notice of guaranteed delivery which may be used by eligible institutions for the purposes described in this paragraph are available from the exchange agent.

 

Terms and Conditions of the Letter of Transmittal

 

The letter of transmittal contains, among other things, the following terms and conditions, which are part of the exchange offer.

 

The transferring party tendering outstanding notes for exchange will be deemed to have exchanged, assigned and transferred the outstanding notes to us and to have irrevocably constituted and appointed the exchange agent as the transferor’s agent and attorney-in-fact to cause the outstanding notes to be assigned, transferred and exchanged. The transferor will be required to represent and warrant that it has full power and authority to tender, exchange, assign and transfer the outstanding notes and to acquire exchange notes issuable upon the exchange of the tendered outstanding notes and that, when the same are accepted for exchange, we will acquire good and unencumbered title to the tendered outstanding notes, free and clear of any and all liens, restrictions (other than restrictions on transfer), charges and encumbrances and that the notes are not and will not be subject to any adverse claim. The transferor will be required to also agree that it will, upon request, execute and deliver any additional documents deemed by the exchange agent or us to be necessary or desirable to complete the exchange, assignment and transfer of tendered outstanding notes. The transferor will be required to agree that acceptance of any tendered outstanding notes by us and the issuance of exchange notes in exchange for tendered outstanding notes will constitute performance in full by us of our obligations under the registration rights agreement and that we will have no further obligations or liabilities under the registration rights agreement, except in limited circumstances. All authority conferred by the transferor will survive the death, bankruptcy or incapacity of the

 

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transferor and every obligation of the transferor and will be binding upon the heirs, legal representatives, successors, assigns, executors, administrators and trustees in bankruptcy of the transferor.

 

By tendering outstanding notes and executing the letter of transmittal, the transferor will be required to certify that:

 

    it is not an affiliate of ours or our subsidiaries or, if the transferor is an affiliate of ours or our subsidiaries, it will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act to the extent applicable;

 

    the exchange notes are being acquired in the ordinary course of business of the person receiving the exchange notes, whether or not the person is the holder;

 

    the transferor has not entered into an arrangement or understanding with any other person to participate in the distribution, within the meaning of the Securities Act, of the exchange notes;

 

    the transferor is not a broker-dealer who purchased the outstanding notes for resale pursuant to an exemption under the Securities Act; and

 

    the transferor will be able to trade the exchange notes acquired in the exchange offer without restriction under the Securities Act.

 

Each broker-dealer that receives exchange notes for its own account in exchange for outstanding notes where such outstanding notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of exchange notes.

 

Withdrawal Rights

 

Outstanding notes tendered pursuant to the exchange offer may be withdrawn at any time prior to the expiration date.

 

For a withdrawal to be effective, a written letter or facsimile transmission notice of withdrawal must be received by the exchange agent at its address set forth in the letter of transmittal not later than the close of business on the expiration date. Any notice of withdrawal must specify the person named in the letter of transmittal as having tendered outstanding notes to be withdrawn, the certificate numbers and principal amount of outstanding notes to be withdrawn, that the holder is withdrawing its election to have such outstanding notes exchanged and the name of the registered holder of the outstanding notes. The notice must be signed by the holder in the same manner as the original signature on the letter of transmittal, including any required signature guarantees, or be accompanied by evidence satisfactory to us that the person withdrawing the tender has succeeded to the beneficial ownership of the outstanding notes being withdrawn. The exchange agent will return the properly withdrawn outstanding notes promptly following receipt of notice of withdrawal. Properly withdrawn outstanding notes may be retendered by following one of the procedures described under “—Procedures for Tendering Outstanding Notes” above at any time on or prior to the expiration date. If outstanding notes have been tendered pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfer described above, any notice of withdrawal must specify the name and number of the account at DTC to be credited with the withdrawn outstanding notes and otherwise comply with the procedures of such facility. All questions as to the validity of notices of withdrawals, including time of receipt, will be determined by us, and will be final and binding on all parties.

 

Acceptance of Outstanding Notes for Exchange; Delivery of Exchange Notes

 

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the exchange offer, the acceptance for exchange of outstanding notes validly tendered and not withdrawn and the issuance of the exchange notes will be made on the exchange date. For purposes of the exchange offer, we will be deemed to have accepted for exchange validly tendered outstanding notes when we have given written notice to the exchange agent.

 

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The exchange agent will act as agent for the tendering holders of outstanding notes for the purposes of receiving exchange notes from us and causing the outstanding notes to be assigned, transferred and exchanged. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the exchange offer, delivery of exchange notes to be issued in exchange for accepted outstanding notes will be made by the exchange agent on the exchange date. Any outstanding notes which have been tendered for exchange but which are not exchanged for any reason will be returned to the holder without cost to the holder, or, in the case of outstanding notes tendered by book-entry transfer into the exchange agent’s account at DTC pursuant to the book-entry procedures described above, the outstanding notes will be credited to an account maintained by the holder with DTC for the outstanding notes, as soon as practicable after withdrawal, rejection of tender or termination of the exchange offer.

 

Conditions to the Exchange Offer

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of the exchange offer, or any extension of the exchange offer, we will not be required to issue exchange notes in exchange for any properly tendered outstanding notes not previously accepted and may terminate the exchange offer, by oral or written notice to the exchange agent and by timely issuing a press release or other public announcement communicated, unless otherwise required by applicable law or regulation, or, at our option, modify or otherwise amend the exchange offer, if:

 

    there is threatened, instituted or pending any action or proceeding before, or any injunction, order or decree shall have been issued by, any court or governmental agency or other governmental regulatory or administrative agency or of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission:

 

    seeking to restrain or prohibit the making or consummation of the exchange offer or any other transaction contemplated by the exchange offer,

 

    assessing or seeking any damages as a result thereof, or

 

    resulting in a material delay in our ability to accept for exchange or exchange some or all of the outstanding notes pursuant to the exchange offer; or

 

    the exchange offer violates any applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the Staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

We may waive any or all of these conditions at any time, in whole or in part, prior to the expiration of the exchange offer. The failure by us at any time to exercise any of the foregoing rights will not be deemed a waiver of any right. In addition, we reserve the right, notwithstanding the satisfaction of these conditions, to terminate or amend the exchange offer.

 

Any determination by us concerning the fulfillment or non-fulfillment of any conditions will be final and binding upon all parties.

 

In addition, we will not accept for exchange any outstanding notes tendered, and no exchange notes will be issued in exchange for any outstanding notes, if at that time, any stop order has been issued, or is threatened with respect to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or with respect to the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, as amended.

 

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Exchange Agent

 

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas has been appointed as the exchange agent for the exchange offer. Questions relating to the procedure for tendering, the letter of transmittal or a notice of guaranteed delivery, as well as requests for additional copies of this prospectus, should be directed to the exchange agent as follows:

 

By Mail:

DB Services Tennessee, Inc.

Reorganization Unit

P.O. Box 292737

Nashville, TN 37229-2737

 

Fax: (1-615) 835-3701

 

By Overnight Mail or Courier:

DB Services Tennessee, Inc.

Corporate Trust & Agency Services

Reorganization Unit

648 Grassmere Park Road

Nashville, TN 37211

 

Confirm by Telephone:

(1-615) 835-3572

 

Facsimile Transmissions:

Attn: Shalini Kumar

Tel: (1-615) 835-2788

Fax: (1-615) 835-3701

 

Information: (1-800) 735-7777

 

By Hand:

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

C/O The Depository Trust Clearing Corporation

55 Water Street, 1st floor

Jeanette Park Entrance

New York, NY 10041

 

Delivery of the letter of transmittal to an address other than as set forth above, or transmission of instructions via facsimile other than as set forth above, will not constitute a valid delivery.

 

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas also acts as trustee under the indenture.

 

Solicitation of Tenders; Expenses

 

We have not retained any dealer-manager or similar agent in connection with the exchange offer and we will not make any payments to brokers, dealers or others for soliciting acceptances of the exchange offer. We will, however, pay the exchange agent reasonable and customary fees for its services and will reimburse it for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. The expenses to be incurred in connection with the exchange offer, including the fees and expenses of the exchange agent and printing, accounting and legal fees, will be paid by us and are estimated at approximately US$0.5 million.

 

No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations in connection with the exchange offer other than those contained in this prospectus. If given or made, the information or representations should not be relied upon as having been authorized by us. Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any exchange made in the exchange offer, will, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in our affairs since the date of this prospectus or any earlier date as of which information is given in this prospectus. The exchange offer is not being made to, nor will tenders be accepted from or on behalf of, holders of outstanding notes in any jurisdiction in which the making of the exchange offer or the acceptance would not be in compliance with the laws of the jurisdiction. However, we may, at our discretion, take any action as we may deem necessary to make the exchange offer in any jurisdiction. In any jurisdiction where its securities laws or blue sky laws require the exchange offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the exchange offer is being made on our behalf by one or more registered brokers or dealers licensed under the laws of that jurisdiction.

 

Appraisal Rights

 

You will not have dissenters’ rights or appraisal rights in connection with the exchange offer.

 

Accounting Treatment

 

The exchange notes will be initially recorded at the carrying value of the outstanding notes as reflected on our accounting records on the date of the exchange according to the generally accepted accounting principles in

 

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Hong Kong, or H.K. GAAP. Accordingly, no gain or loss for accounting purposes will be recognized by us upon the exchange of exchange notes for outstanding notes. Expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of the exchange notes will be deducted from the carrying value on the date of exchange and amortised over the term of the exchange notes. The exchange notes will be restated at amortised costs under the effective interest method under the revised H.K. GAAP requirements, which will become applicable to our financial statements for financial period beginning on September 1, 2005.

 

Transfer Taxes

 

If you tender your outstanding notes, you will not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in connection with the exchange offer unless you instruct us to register exchange notes in the name of, or request outstanding notes not tendered or not accepted in the exchange offer be returned to, a person other than the registered holder, in which case you will be responsible for the payment of any applicable transfer tax.

 

Tax Considerations

 

We advise you to consult your own tax advisers as to your particular circumstances and the effects of any state, local or foreign tax laws to which you may be subject.

 

United States. The following discussion is based upon the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations, rulings and judicial decisions, in each case as in effect on the date of this prospectus, all of which are subject to change.

 

The exchange of an outstanding note for an exchange note will not constitute a taxable exchange. The exchange will not result in taxable income, gain or loss being recognized by you or by us. Immediately after the exchange, you will have the same adjusted basis and holding period in each exchange note received as you had immediately prior to the exchange in the corresponding outstanding note surrendered.

 

Hong Kong. The following discussion is based upon the provisions of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap 112), regulations, rulings and judicial decisions, in each case as in effect as of the date of this prospectus, all of which are subject to change.

 

No tax is payable in Hong Kong in respect of any capital gain arising on the exchange of an outstanding note for an exchange note except that any gain on such exchange may be taxable if it is derived from a trade, profession or business carried on by a person in Hong Kong (other than a financial institution as defined in the Inland Revenue Ordinance).

 

See “Certain Tax Considerations” for more information.

 

Consequences of Failure to Exchange

 

As consequence of the offer or sale of the outstanding notes pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, holders of outstanding notes who do not exchange outstanding notes for exchange notes in the exchange offer will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer of the outstanding notes. In general, the outstanding notes may not be offered or sold unless such offers or sales are registered under the Securities Act, or exempt from, or not subject to, the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

 

Upon completion of the exchange offer, due to the restrictions on transfer of the outstanding notes and the absence of similar restrictions applicable to the exchange notes (other than those applicable to transfers by plans and government plans), it is likely that the market, if any, for outstanding notes will be relatively less liquid than the market for exchange notes. Consequently, holders of outstanding notes who do not participate in the exchange offer could experience significant diminution in the value of their outstanding notes, compared to the value of exchange notes.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We will not receive any proceeds from the issuance of the exchange notes. The net proceeds from the sale of the outstanding notes was approximately US$121.0 million after deduction of estimated expenses and commissions. We used the net proceeds, in part, to repay in full a loan facility in the outstanding amount of HK$196.7 million, and intend to use the remaining net proceeds for capital expenditures, including costs incurred in expanding and upgrading our Metro Ethernet network in Hong Kong, and for additional working capital and general corporate purposes.

 

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EXCHANGE RATE INFORMATION

 

The Hong Kong dollar is freely convertible into other currencies (including the U.S. dollar). Since 1983, the Hong Kong dollar has effectively been officially pegged to the U.S. dollar at the rate of approximately HK$7.80=US$1.00. While the market exchange rate of the Hong Kong dollar against the U.S. dollar continues to be influenced by the forces of supply and demand in the foreign exchange market, the Hong Kong government, acting through the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, has a number of means by which it may act to maintain exchange rate stability. However, we cannot assure you that the Hong Kong government will maintain the peg at HK$7.80 to US$1.00 or at all. Exchange rates between the Hong Kong dollar and other currencies are influenced by the rate between the U.S. dollar and such other currencies.

 

The following table sets forth the average, high, low and period-end noon buying rate between the Hong Kong dollar and the U.S. dollar (in Hong Kong dollars per U.S. dollar) for the periods indicated:

 

     Average(1)

   High

   Low

   Period-End

     HK$    HK$    HK$    HK$

1998

   7.7465    7.7595    7.7355    7.7476

1999

   7.7599    7.7814    7.7457    7.7740

2000

   7.7936    7.8008    7.7765    7.7999

2001

   7.7996    7.8004    7.7970    7.7980

2002

   7.7996    7.8095    7.7970    7.7988

2003

   7.7864    7.8001    7.7085    7.7640

2004

   7.7891    7.8010    7.7632    7.7723

September 2004

   7.7995    7.8002    7.7970    7.7984

October 2004

   7.7889    7.7990    7.7752    7.7834

November 2004

   7.7755    7.7815    7.7718    7.7760

December 2004

   7.7760    7.7821    7.7698    7.7723

January 2005

   7.7948    7.7994    7.7775    7.7993

February 2005

   7.7994    7.7999    7.7984    7.7992

(1) The average of the noon buying rates on the last day of each month during the relevant period.

 

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

 

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SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

The following table presents our selected historical consolidated financial data. The selected historical consolidated financial data below, as of and for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004 was derived from our audited consolidated financial statements for such periods, included elsewhere in this prospectus. The selected historical consolidated financial data below, as of and for the years ended August 31, 2000 and 2001 was derived from our audited consolidated financial statements for such periods, not included in this prospectus. The financial information included in this prospectus does not reflect our results of operations, financial position and cash flows in the future and our past operating results are no guarantee of our future operating performance. The consolidated financial statements are prepared and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in Hong Kong, or Hong Kong GAAP, which differ in certain significant respects from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The differences as they pertain to us are included in note 30 to our audited financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. For a summary of our significant accounting policies and the basis of the presentation of our financial statements, refer to the notes to the audited financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

You should read the following information in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes, included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

    As of and for the year ended August 31,

 
    2000

    2001

    2002

    2003

    2004

    2004

 
    HK$     HK$     HK$     HK$     HK$     US$  
    (Restated)(1)     (Restated)(1)     (Restated)(1)     (Restated)(1)              
    (Amounts in thousands except per share data)  

Consolidated Statement of Income Data:

     

Hong Kong GAAP

                                   

Revenues:

                                   

Fixed telecommunications network services

  109,019     154,262     241,219     423,107     541,902     69,475  

International telecommunications

  1,119,148     861,338     908,981     875,802     627,978     80,510  

Content and e-commerce

  5,960     1,034     —       —       —       —    
   

 

 

 

 

 

Total Operating Revenue

  1,234,127     1,016,634     1,150,200     1,298,909     1,169,880     149,985  
   

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of Services:

                                   

Fixed telecommunications network services

  (112,742 )   (69,085 )   (50,808 )   (76,845 )   (122,476 )   (15,702 )

International telecommunications

  (770,786 )   (514,182 )   (407,155 )   (245,908 )   (208,932 )   (26,786 )

Content and e-commence

  (5,080 )   (1,085 )   —       —       —       —    
   

 

 

 

 

 

Total Cost of Sales

  (888,608 )   (584,352 )   (457,963 )   (322,753 )   (331,408 )   (42,488 )
   

 

 

 

 

 

Gross Profit:

                                   

Fixed telecommunications network services

  (3,723 )   85,177     190,411     346,262     419,426     53,773  

International telecommunications

  348,362     347,156     501,826     629,894     419,046     53,724  

Content and e-commence

  880     (51 )   —       —       —       —    
   

 

 

 

 

 

Total Gross Profit

  345,519     432,282     692,237     976,156     838,472     107,497  
   

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expenses

  (506,992 )   (415,135 )   (602,644 )   (704,796 )   (793,125 )   (101,683 )

Operating Income/(loss)

  (161,473 )   17,147     89,593     271,360     45,347     5,814  

Interest income, net

  25,629     30,896     7,366     2,562     3,578     459  

Other income, net

  191,989     10,935     502     1,678     2,668     342  

Income taxes

  (2,328 )   (17,533 )   (15,190 )   (17,857 )   (2,043 )   (262 )

Income after taxation

  53,817     41,445     82,271     257,743     49,550     6,353  

Minority interest

  15,058     13,724     8,234     —       —       —    

Net income

  68,875     55,169     90,505     257,743     49,550     6,353  

Net income per share (cents)

  14.7     11.2     18.3     46.6     8.1     1.0  

Diluted net income per share (cents)(2)

  14.4     11.2     16.0     41.9     8.1     1.0  

Dividends declared per share (cents)

  2.0     1.0     —       5.0     9.0     1.2  

Diluted weighted average number of shares(3)

  478,051     494,449     565,889     615,102     614,365     614,365  

Weighted average number of shares

  468,946     490,679     495,181     552,600     610,095     610,095  

 

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     As of and for the year ended August 31,

 
     2000

    2001

    2002

    2003

    2004

    2004

 
     HK$     HK$     HK$     HK$     HK$     US$  
     (Amounts in thousands except per share data)  

U.S. GAAP

                                    

Total operating revenue

   1,217,169     1,006,328     1,141,814     1,291,119     1,169,880     149,985  

Total operating costs

   (1,343,408 )   (978,843 )   (1,073,283 )   (1,015,900 )   (1,123,198 )   (144,000 )

Net income from continuing operations

   103,089     65,389     69,317     264,151     51,565     6,611  

Net income from continuing operations per share (cents)

   22.0     13.3     14.0     47.8     8.5     1.1  

Net income/(loss) from discontinued operations

   (36,939 )   (11,423 )   (352 )   83     —       —    

Loss arising from disposal of discontinued operations

   —       —       —       (2,695 )   —       —    

Net loss from discontinued operations per share (cents)

   (7.8 )   (2.3 )   (0.1 )   (0.5 )   —       —    

Net income

   66,150     53,966     68,965     261,539     51,565     6,611  

Net income per share (cents)

   14.2     11.0     13.9     47.3     8.5     1.1  

Diluted net income from continuing operations per share (cents)(4)

   21.6     13.2     12.3     42.9     8.4     1.1  

Diluted net loss from discontinued operations per share (cents)(5)

   (7.7 )   (2.3 )   (0.1 )   (0.4 )   —       —    

Diluted net income per share (cents)(2)

   13.9     10.9     12.2     42.5     8.4     1.1  

Dividends declared per share (cents)

   2.0     1.0     —       5.0     9.0     1.2  

Weighted average number of shares

   468,946     490,679     495,181     552,600     610,095     610,095  

Diluted weighted average number of shares(3)

   478,051     494,449     565,889     615,102     614,365     614,365  
     As of and for the year ended August 31,

 
     2000

    2001

    2002

    2003

    2004

    2004

 
     HK$     HK$     HK$     HK$     HK$     US$  
     (Restated)(1)     (Restated)(1)     (Restated)(1)     (Restated)(1)              
     (Amounts in thousands)  

Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:

Hong Kong GAAP

                                    

Total assets

   1,221,050     1,144,618     1,327,285     1,548,534     1,683,408     215,822  

Total liabilities

   (449,308 )   (333,476 )   (422,297 )   (369,359 )   (507,710 )   (65,091 )
    

 

 

 

 

 

Net assets

   771,742     811,142     904,988     1,179,175     1,175,698     150,731  

Minority interest

   (24,131 )   (10,407 )   —       —       —       —    
    

 

 

 

 

 

Net assets employed

   747,611     800,735     904,988     1,179,175     1,175,698     150,731  
    

 

 

 

 

 

Share capital

   48,960     49,107     50,086     60,496     61,057     7,828  

Share premium

   568,945     569,180     572,656     615,886     617,986     79,229  

Reserves

   129,706     182,448     282,246     502,793     496,655     63,674  
    

 

 

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

   747,611     800,735     904,988     1,179,175     1,175,698     150,731  
    

 

 

 

 

 

 

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    As of and for the year ended August 31,

 
    2000

    2001

    2002

    2003

    2004

    2004

 
    HK$     HK$     HK$     HK$     HK$     US$  
    (Amounts in thousands except per share data)  

U.S. GAAP

                                   

Total assets

  1,224,445     1,146,994     1,329,707     1,552,021     1,688,640     216,492  

Total liabilities

  (449,308 )   (333,476 )   (422,297 )   (369,359 )   (507,710 )   (65,091 )
   

 

 

 

 

 

Net assets

  775,137     813,518     907,410     1,182,662     1,180,930     151,401  

Minority interest

  (24,131 )   (10,407 )   —       —       —       —    
   

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets less liabilities

  751,006     803,111     907,410     1,182,662     1,180,930     151,401  
   

 

 

 

 

 

Share capital

  48,960     49,107     50,086     60,496     61,057     7,828  

Share premium

  578,380     578,799     603,861     644,360     646,190     82,845  

Reserves

  123,666     175,205     253,463     477,806     473,683     60,728  
   

 

 

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

  751,006     803,111     907,410     1,182,662     1,180,930     151,401  
   

 

 

 

 

 

    As of and for the year ended August 31,

 
    2000

    2001

    2002

    2003

    2004

    2004

 
    (HK$)     (HK$)     (HK$)     (HK$)     (HK$)     (US$)  
    (In thousands, except ratio of earnings to fixed charges)  

Other Financial Data:

                                   

EBITDA(6)

  98,187     124,653     227,684     449,058     245,032     31,414  

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

  (30,253 )   38,751     288,444     414,500     203,763     26,123  

Net cash used in investing activities

  (409,663 )   (48,769 )   (475,212 )   (309,634 )   (406,244 )   (52,083 )

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

  627,430     13,880     9,109     (10,274 )   47,221     6,054  

Capital expenditures

  260,380     166,037     579,066     250,209     410,046     52,570  

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(7)

  16.0     16.5     28.9     463.9     16.1     16.1  

Pro forma ratio of earnings to fixed charges(8)

  N/A     N/A     N/A     N/A     8.6     8.6  

As a measure of our operating performance or liquidity, we believe that the most directly comparable measure to EBITDA is net cash provided by (used in) operating activities. The following table reconciles our net cash provided by (used in) operating activities under Hong Kong GAAP to our definition of EBITDA on a consolidated basis for each of fiscal 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.

    

    As of and for the year ended August 31,

 
    2000

    2001

    2002

    2003

    2004

    2004

 
    HK$     HK$     HK$     HK$     HK$     US$  
    (Restated)(1)     (Restated)(1)     (Restated)(1)     (Restated)(1)              
    (Amounts in thousands)  

EBITDA

  98,187     124,653     227,684     449,058     245,032     31,414  

Depreciation and amortization

  (52,613 )   (82,847 )   (129,355 )   (176,020 )   (197,017 )   (25,258 )

Interest income, net

  25,629     30,896     7,366     2,562     3,578     459  

Income taxes

  (2,328 )   (17,533 )   (15,190 )   (17,857 )   (2,043 )   (262 )
   

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

  68,875     55,169     90,505     257,743     49,550     6,353  

Depreciation and amortization

  52,613     82,847     129,355     176,020     197,017     25,258  

Amortization of deferred expenditure

  —       —       —       —       1,828     234  

Income taxes

  2,328     17,533     15,190     17,857     2,043     262  

Interest income

  (31,857 )   (35,438 )   (10,870 )   (3,163 )   (3,753 )   (481 )

Minority interest

  (15,058 )   (13,724 )   (8,234 )   —       —       —    

Loss/(gain) on disposal of fixed assets

  2,699     3,512     2,414     427     (34 )   (4 )

Unrealised losses on other investments

  —       —       —       —       1,696     217  

Gain on dilution of interest in subsidiary

  (185,811 )   —       —       —       —       —    

Loss on disposal of a subsidiary

  —       —       —       2,695     —       —    

Taxation refund/(paid)

  2,542     —       (4,452 )   (19,861 )   (24,819 )   (3,182 )

Change in long term receivable

  —       —       —       —       (6,206 )   (796 )

Change in working capital, net

  73,416     (71,148 )   74,536     (17,218 )   (13,559 )   (1,738 )
   

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash flow (used in) provided by operating activities

  (30,253 )   38,751     288,444     414,500     203,763     26,123  
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

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     As of and for the year ended August 31,

     2000

   2001

   2002

   2003

   2004

Operating Data:

                        

Fixed Telecommunications Network Services Subscriptions:

                        

Broadband Internet Access

   1,600    17,700    130,000    172,000    197,000

Local VOIP(9)

   —      —      21,000    140,000    237,000

IP-TV

   —      —      —      —      31,000
    
  
  
  
  

Total

   1,600    17,700    151,000    312,000    465,000
    
  
  
  
  

Registered International Telecommunications Accounts(10):

                        

Residential

   842,000    906,388    1,056,759    1,495,229    1,819,481

Corporate

   63,984    76,067    90,930    93,959    96,754
    
  
  
  
  

Total

   905,984    982,455    1,147,689    1,589,188    1,916,235
    
  
  
  
  

IDD Outgoing Minutes (in thousands)

   505,000    580,000    916,000    888,000    1,007,000

(1) In fiscal 2004, we adopted revised Statements of Standard Accounting Practice (“SSAP 12”), “Income taxes”, issued by the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants, regarding the recognition of deferred tax. The adoption of SSAP 12 represents a change in accounting policy, which we have applied retrospectively. As a result, financial information provided for all years prior to fiscal 2004 have been restated to conform to the changed policy.
(2) Diluted net income per share is computed by dividing the net income by the diluted weighted average number of ordinary shares during the year.
(3) Diluted weighted average number of shares is the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year, plus the weighted average number of additional ordinary shares which would have been outstanding assuming all the outstanding share options and share warrants have been exercised at the beginning of the year or on the date of issue, whichever is earlier.
(4) Diluted net income from continuing operations per share is computed by dividing the net income from continuing operations by the diluted weighted average number of ordinary shares during the year.
(5) Diluted net loss from discontinued operations per share is computed by dividing the net loss from discontinued operations by the diluted weighted average number of ordinary shares during the year.
(6) EBITDA for any period means, without duplication, net income for such period, plus the following to the extent deducted in calculating such net income: interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization expense (excluding any such non cash charge to the extent it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash charges in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period not included in the calculation). EBITDA is not a measure of performance under Hong Kong GAAP or U.S. GAAP. We believe that EBITDA is an additional measure utilized by investors in determining a borrower’s ability to meet debt service requirements. However, EBITDA does not represent, and should not be used as a substitute for, net earnings or cash flows from operations as determined in accordance with Hong Kong GAAP or U.S. GAAP, and EBITDA is not necessarily an indication of whether cash flow will be sufficient to fund our cash requirements. In addition, our definition of EBITDA may differ from that of other companies.
(7) The ratio of earnings to fixed charges was computed by dividing earnings by fixed charges. For the purposes of calculating the ratios, “earnings” is defined as pre-tax income/(loss) from continuing operations plus fixed charges, net of interest capitalized, and “fixed charges” consists of interest expense, incidental borrowing costs and interest capitalized.
(8) The pro forma ratio of earnings to fixed charges was computed by dividing earnings by pro forma fixed charges. “Pro forma fixed charges” is computed by adjusting the historical “fixed charges” by the increase in interest costs of HK$100 million of the proceeds from the offering of outstanding notes that was used to repay the HSBC facility in full and the reduction in interest costs as if the HK$100 million HSBC facility had not been drawn down during fiscal 2004. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Financing Activities—Indebtedness” in this prospectus.
(9) Includes only on-network subscriptions.
(10) Registered accounts refer to international telecommunications customers that have a valid account. Account holders may or may not be active users of our services.

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATION

 

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based upon and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. We caution you that our business and financial performance are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. In evaluating our business, you should carefully consider the information provided under the section entitled “Risk Factors in this prospectus.

 

Overview

 

We are a fast growing and innovative provider of residential and corporate fixed telecommunications network and international telecommunications services in Hong Kong. We offer our customers an integrated suite of broadband Internet access, local VOIP, IP-TV and corporate data services through our self-owned Metro Ethernet network. As of August 31, 2004 we had a total of approximately 465,000 fixed telecommunications network services subscriptions, consisting of approximately 197,000 broadband Internet access, 237,000 local VOIP and 31,000 IP-TV services subscriptions, and as of December 15, 2004, we had a total of approximately 490,000 subscriptions, consisting of approximately 201,000 broadband Internet access, 253,000 local VOIP and 36,000 IP-TV services subscriptions. In addition to providing fixed telecommunications network services, we believe that we are one of the largest providers of international telecommunications services in Hong Kong. We offer a variety of international telecommunications services and products including direct dial services, international calling cards and mobile call forwarding services. Our total international telecommunications services customer database comprises approximately 1.9 million registered accounts with an average of 500,000 customers that are billed on a monthly basis.

 

Our self-owned network is one of the world’s largest Metro Ethernet networks and is cited as a global reference case by our primary vendors, Cisco Systems, Inc. and Nortel Networks Limited. Our Metro Ethernet network has a current coverage of 1.2 million home passes, which represents approximately 60% of Hong Kong’s population. The coverage of our network is concentrated in Hong Kong’s most densely populated areas and reaches on average 3,000 residential buildings with approximately 400 residences per building and approximately 610 commercial buildings making us one of the largest residential fixed telecommunications network operators in Hong Kong. In most other markets, Metro Ethernet is primarily used in commercial buildings in metropolitan areas, as the technology is most cost effective in dense user populations where a provider can service a large number of users in a single building or cluster of buildings. We have applied this technology to densely populated residential areas in Hong Kong where most of our customers live in high-rise apartment buildings with multiple apartments per floor. This has enabled us to contain our core network costs to approximately US$130 per home pass. Our Metro Ethernet network conforms to industry standards for 10/100/1,000 Mbps Internet access speeds. All of our fixed telecommunications network services are based on the single Internet Protocol, or IP, platform of our Metro Ethernet network, unlike our competitors who use multiple platforms to provide their services. In addition, unlike most of our competitors, we operate an “end-to-end” network that transmits data between our subscribers’ premises, our IP network hub sites and our switching centers in Hong Kong.

 

We were incorporated in May 1992 and we began offering international telecommunications services in September 1992. From that date, we focused on increasing our subscription base and amount of international traffic, and on building the CTI brand name as a low cost provider of international telecommunications services. In January 1999, we became the first Hong Kong company to obtain a PNETS License, covering the provision of international telecommunications services using international simple resale, which had a significant positive impact on our international telecommunications revenues. We incorporated HKBN in Hong Kong in August 1999 and launched our broadband Internet access services in March 2000. In addition, we began providing local VOIP services in April 2002, IP-TV services in August 2003, and corporate data services in July 2004 using our Metro Ethernet network.

 

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Because of the various changes to our business over the past three years, our ability to forecast our revenues with any degree of accuracy is somewhat limited. In addition, we cannot be sure that our planned capital expenditures and our marketing and sales expenditures will necessarily lead to increased revenues. In fiscal 2004, our total revenue dropped by 9.9% from HK$1,298.9 million in fiscal 2003 to HK$1,169.9 million, due to a significant drop in revenue from our international telecommunications services. In addition, our operating profits for this business declined by 52.3% from HK$338.9 million in fiscal 2003 to HK$161.5 million in fiscal 2004. Though our international call traffic increased in terms of total number of minutes carried, this was offset by the drop in average tariff rates resulting in a decrease in revenue and operating profits. With the drop in average tariff rates, we expect that our profit margins in the international telecommunications services will continue to be under pressure. To maintain our market share, we must continue to offer our subscribers international telecommunications services that are competitive with the prices offered by other market players. We therefore must continue to lower our costs of providing these services if we are to maintain our profitability in this business.

 

Operating Environment

 

Our fixed telecommunications network operations

 

The wireless-based FTNS License that HKBN obtained from the Telecommunications Authority in February 2000 provided HKBN with the authority to begin installation of the wireless network that we use to provide broadband Internet access services. To enable HKBN to provide fixed telecommunications network services using wire-line technology in addition to wireless technology, our FTNS License was amended in April 2002 to include provision of local fixed wireline network services. This amendment allowed us to develop our own fiber-based backbone to replace our existing wireless and leased wireline-based backbone. During fiscal 2004, we reduced the percentage of our home-passes serviced by wireless backbone from 60% to 28%, and we are on target to have more than 90% of our Metro Ethernet home passes serviced by our self-owned fiber-based backbone by the end of fiscal 2005. To maximize our return on investment, we have focused on building our Metro Ethernet network in Hong Kong’s most densely populated areas to achieve cost savings and provide additional bandwidth capacity for further growth. After our initial capital expenditure, we expect our operating costs to decline and our service quality to improve because we will rely less on backbone transmission facilities owned by third parties and thereby decrease the leasing fees that we pay.

 

Having our own fiber-based backbone allows us to offer broadband Internet access, local VOIP, IP-TV and corporate data services over a single IP platform without being subject to network limitations of other fixed telecommunications network operators. During fiscal 2004, we devoted considerable resources to marketing our local VOIP and IP-TV services. As a result, our revenues from fixed telecommunications network services grew by 28% compared to fiscal 2003.

 

Our international telecommunications operations

 

From September 1992 until December 1998, we relied on the circuits of local fixed line network operators and other overseas carriers to transmit our international calls. This type of international telecommunications service is commonly referred to as “callback”. A change in Hong Kong telecommunications regulations that took effect in January 1999 allowed us to obtain a license to use international simple resale to transmit international calls. In 2001 we obtained a satellite based External FTNS License, and then upgraded to a full External FTNS License in 2002. We have since acquired the exclusive use of several leased international transmission circuits for direct transmission of international calls between our switches in Hong Kong and switches in other countries. The license upgrades have had a positive effect on our international telecommunications revenues and profits. Additionally, in part due to use of our self-owned capacity on undersea cables, the quality of the service we provide has improved and our transmission costs have decreased.

 

Our total international telecommunications services customer database comprises approximately 1.9 million registered accounts with an average of 500,000 customers that are billed on a monthly basis. Our international

 

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traffic volume has increased each year since we began providing international telecommunications services with the exception of fiscal 2003. In fiscal 2003, we faced significant competitive pressures from both new market entrants and existing players who adopted aggressive pricing strategies. This created downward pressure on the tariff rates in the marketplace, which we chose in part not to match due to the simultaneous increase in termination fees imposed by China’s MII. See “Risk Factors—Risk Relating to the Regulatory, Political and Economic Environment—Our revenues may be adversely affected by increases in tariffs mandated by the Chinese government and other international carriers” in this prospectus. In fiscal 2004, we continued to face heavy competition and large decreases in average tariff rates, but we have kept our prices at levels comparable to our competitor’s prices and our traffic volume has rebounded to 1,007.0 million minutes in fiscal 2004 as compared to 888.0 million and 915.9 million minutes in fiscal 2003 and fiscal 2002, respectively.

 

In terms of traffic routes, China is still the single largest contributor to our international telecommunications revenues and accounted for approximately 70% of our total traffic in fiscal 2004. The second and third most popular routes remained the United States and Canada, which together accounted for approximately 12% of our total traffic in fiscal 2004.

 

We have continued to maintain our focus on corporate customers among our international telecommunications subscribers. We have particularly focused on small-to-medium enterprises, as we believe our combination of high-quality services and attractive pricing gives us an advantage over other service providers. Our corporate customer base had grown to 96,754 registered accounts as of August 31, 2004 with an average of 60,000 customers that are billed on a monthly basis. Because our corporate customers generally use greater volumes of our services than residential customers, our corporate customers generate higher revenues per subscriber than residential customers. We intend to continue marketing our international telecommunications services to small-to-medium enterprises and other corporate customers in fiscal 2005.

 

Our revenues

 

Fixed Telecommunications Network Services. We charge our customers a monthly service charge for each of the fixed telecommunications network services that we provide, and the scalability of our network allows us to sell additional services to our existing customers, for example adding local VOIP or IP-TV services to our current broadband Internet subscribers, with minimal additional network and operating costs. As a result, each new service we add to our existing subscription base contributes significantly to our profitability. We have not generally sold our fixed telecommunications network services bundled together at discounted rates. Instead, we have focused on increasing our subscription base by offering a single service to new subscribers at an attractive entry price. After the customer has begun to use our service, we then try to up-sell additional services to the customer.

 

In addition to the monthly service charges generated by our fixed telecommunications network business, we also receive interconnection charges from other telecommunications operators in Hong Kong that use our network to deliver their customers’ telecommunications traffic. These charges include:

 

    Local access charges, which we earn when other carriers’ international telecommunications traffic is carried over our network;

 

    Local interconnection charges, which are per-call and per-minute charges for other fixed line carriers’ calls that are terminated on our network; and

 

    Mobile interconnection charges, which we charge to mobile telecommunications operators that deliver incoming and outgoing traffic over our network.

 

As with other Hong Kong fixed network operators, we invoice other carriers for each of these charges based on the rates for such charges set by PCCW-HKT. These charges comprised approximately 15% of our fixed telecommunications network revenues in fiscal 2004.

 

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International telecommunications. Substantially all of our international telecommunication revenues are generated by the per minute fees that we charge our IDD customers. For each of our 1666 and 0030 calling plans, these charges vary according to the destination of the call. For our 0030 calling plan, we also provide certain discounts that depend on the time of day or day of the week at which the call is placed.

 

In addition to our per minute charges, we also record a small amount of international telecommunications revenue from our resale of household appliances to existing customers through our Guangzhou calling center, direct mail and on our website. We earn revenues based on the difference between the price the product distributors charge us for the appliances, and the amount that we collect from our customers. Revenue from this activity accounted for less than 1.0% of our international telecommunications revenues in fiscal 2004.

 

Our Expenses

 

Fixed Telecommunications Network Services. Since 2001, we have invested significant resources in the development and expansion of our Metro Ethernet network. The scalability of this network allows us to provide multiple services and increase our revenues per subscription with only small incremental increases to our cost of services.

 

Cost of Services. Our fixed telecommunications network cost of services primarily consists of three components:

 

    Backbone expenses. To provide broadband Internet access, local VOIP and IP-TV services in areas where we have not yet installed our own fiber-based backbone, we incur leased wireline backbone charges, which we currently pay to other local fixed telecommunications network operators, with respect to the fixed lines that carry the data between the subscribers’ premises, our IP network hub sites and our two switching centers in Hong Kong. However, as we continue to upgrade and expand our fiber-based backbone, we reduce our reliance on leased transmission capacity.

 

    Local interconnection charges. We pay fees to local fixed network operators to transmit information that originates on our network and is terminated outside our network over their fixed lines.

 

    International leased lines. We pay fees to international bandwidth providers in connection with the leased lines that carry the data from our switching centers to overseas destinations.

 

Operating Costs. We have incurred significant operating costs related to our efforts to promote our broadband Internet access, local VOIP, IP-TV and corporate data services. As a result, our subscription acquisition costs have been relatively high. During fiscal 2004, we spent approximately 29% of our fixed telecommunications network services revenues on sales and marketing activities. We expect that we will be required to continue to invest significant financial and human resources in our sales and marketing efforts as we strive to build our subscription base, particularly as we begin to more extensively market our “BB100” broadband Internet access service and introduce pay television services that our customers will be able to watch using a personal computer without the need for a set-top-box.

 

Other operating costs related to our fixed telecommunications network services include salaries and related costs, office, general and administrative costs and depreciation and amortization. Our salaries and related costs include those employees working on our various service offerings and on the upgrade and expansion of our Metro Ethernet network.

 

International telecommunications. The expenses we incur for our international telecommunications business consists of costs related to transmission, or cost of services, and operating expenses.

 

Cost of services. Our cost of services currently comprises four components:

 

   

Termination charges. When our subscribers’ calls arrive at the destination countries, they are transferred to a local network services operator who delivers the calls to their final destination. We pay

 

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these local network operators per-minute fees for each call delivered through their networks to the end destination. For calls placed by our subscribers to countries in which we do not have a bilateral or servicing agreement or our own switching system, we also pay these carriers to transmit our calls from our switching facilities in Hong Kong to those countries. Of the four components that comprise our international telecommunications expenses, termination charges represent the largest component.

 

    Local Access Charges. We pay to the network carriers whose local loop facilities we use to transmit calls to and from our customers’ sites a local access charge, or LAC. Our LACs are calculated on a per-minute basis. LACs have been a significant component of our cost of service for our IDD business, although we do not incur LAC charges for IDD calls made by our customers that are also subscribers to our local VOIP service as we do not require the use of other carriers’ facilities for such calls.

 

    Charges for our international leased lines. We lease international transmission circuits from other international carriers between Hong Kong and a number of countries. We use these circuits to carry our international traffic to and from such countries. We make fixed monthly lease payments to these international carriers in connection with these circuits. In fiscal 2004, we continued to benefit from our plan to reduce our reliance on transmission facilities owned by third parties and lower our cost of services. Specifically, we capitalized on the two contracts that we had entered into with large consortia of international telecommunications companies to acquire undersea cable capacity. Through the first contract, we invested in the Japan-U.S. undersea cable, which was completed in August 2001. Pursuant to the second contract, we agreed to jointly construct and maintain the APCN 2 undersea cable as an international transmission facility, which commenced operation in May 2002. We spent a total of HK$120 million on these projects. We believe the utilization of these undersea cables provides sufficient international capacity for significant growth of our international call and broadband Internet services.

 

    Universal Services Contribution. PCCW-HKT has a universal service obligation to provide basic telephone service to any individual or entity that requests it. To compensate PCCW-HKT for the expenses of this obligation, all incoming and outgoing international calls in Hong Kong are charged a per-minute fee payable to PCCW-HKT. The Telecommunications Authority periodically adjusts the amount of this fee, which is commonly referred to as the USC, and our average rate has declined over the past several years. The provisional USC was approximately HK$0.3 cents per minute as of August 31, 2004 and, HK$1.3 cents per minute as of August 31, 2003. We have historically paid PCCW-HKT USC fees according to the provisional USC rate stipulated by the Telecommunications Authority, which were greater than the actual USC fees that the Telecommunications Authority has subsequently determined that we owe. As a result, we have deducted from our cost of services a USC fee refund from PCCW-HKT in each of fiscal 2002, 2003 and 2004.

 

Operating Expenses. In addition to cost of services, we generally incur significant sales and marketing expenses in connection with our international telecommunications business. Sales and marketing expenses consist of advertising costs, promotional and public relations expenses and the salaries and other expenses relating to our commission-based sales personnel. Other operating costs include maintenance costs associated with our network equipment, salaries and other related expenses, office expenses and depreciation and amortization charges.

 

Results of Operations

 

In addition to our operations in Hong Kong, we also provide international telecommunications and Internet access services in Canada. We own all of the share capital of two telecommunications companies in Canada, City Telecom Inc. and City Telecom (B.C.) Inc., through a wholly owned subsidiary. We acquired our interests in these companies in December 1998 as part of our efforts to increase our market share of the telecommunications traffic between Canada and Hong Kong.

 

Our consolidated financial statements reflect the consolidated results of operations and financial position of these subsidiary companies from the date of their acquisition by us. However, as of August 31, 2004, none of

 

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these subsidiary companies located outside of Hong Kong has made a material contribution to our revenues or results of operations, and in fiscal 2004, they contributed approximately 2.0% to our revenues.

 

The following table sets forth, for the years indicated, a summary of our results of operations.

 

     Year Ended August 31,

 
     2002

    2003

    2004

    2004

 
     HK$     HK$     HK$     US$  
     (Restated)(1)     (Restated)(1)              
     (In thousands)  

Hong Kong GAAP

                        

Revenues

                        

Fixed telecommunications network services

   241,219     423,107     541,902     69,475  

International telecommunications

   908,981     875,802     627,978     80,510  
    

 

 

 

     1,150,200     1,298,909     1,169,880     149,985  
    

 

 

 

Cost of services

                        

Fixed telecommunications network services

   (50,808 )   (76,845 )   (122,476 )   (15,702 )

International telecommunications

   (407,155 )   (245,908 )   (208,932 )   (26,786 )
    

 

 

 

     (457,963 )   (322,753 )   (331,408 )   (42,488 )
    

 

 

 

Gross profit

                        

Fixed telecommunications network services

   190,411     346,262     419,426     53,773  

International telecommunications

   501,826     629,894     419,046     53,724  
    

 

 

 

     692,237     976,156     838,472     107,497  

Operating expenses:

                        

Salaries and related costs

   (196,158 )   (220,350 )   (226,650 )   (29,058 )

Sales and marketing expenses

   (168,441 )   (182,471 )   (228,169 )   (29,253 )

Office, general and administrative expenses

   (98,413 )   (108,270 )   (129,787 )   (16,639 )

Depreciation and amortization

   (129,355 )   (176,020 )   (197,017 )   (25,258 )

Provision for doubtful accounts receivable

   (10,277 )   (17,685 )   (11,502 )   (1,475 )
    

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

   (602,644 )   (704,796 )   (793,125 )   (101,683 )
    

 

 

 

Income from operations

   89,593     271,360     45,347     5,814  

Interest income

   10,870     3,163     3,753     481  

Interest expense

   (3,504 )   (601 )   (175 )   (22 )

Other income, net

   502     1,678     2,668     342  
    

 

 

 

Income before taxation

   97,461     275,600     51,593     6,615  

Income taxes

   (15,190 )   (17,857 )   (2,043 )   (262 )
    

 

 

 

Income after taxation

   82,271     257,743     49,550     6,353  

Minority interest

   8,234     —       —       —    
    

 

 

 

Net income

   90,505     257,743     49,550     6,353  
    

 

 

 


(1) In fiscal 2004, we adopted SSAP 12, issued by the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants, regarding the recognition of deferred tax. The adoption of SSAP 12 represents a change in accounting policy, which we have applied retrospectively. As a result, financial information provided for all years prior to fiscal 2004 have been restated to conform to the changed policy.

 

Year Ended August 31, 2004 Compared to Year Ended August 31, 2003

 

Revenue. In fiscal 2004, our total revenue dropped by 9.9% from HK$1,298.9 million to HK$1,169.9 million, due to a significant decrease in revenue from our international telecommunications services, which was partially offset by the continued revenue growth of our fixed telecommunications network services.

 

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Our fixed telecommunications network services continued to record significant revenue growth and increased their contribution to our total revenues, accounting for 46.3% of total revenue in fiscal 2004, compared to 32.6% and 21.0% in fiscal 2003 and fiscal 2002, respectively. Revenue increased from HK$423.1 million in fiscal 2003 to HK$541.9 million in fiscal 2004, representing 28.1% growth. While our number of broadband subscriptions increased from 172,000 as of August 31, 2003 to 197,000 as of August 31, 2004, our revenue from our Internet access service declined by 9.5% from HK$330.5 million in fiscal 2003 to HK$299.2 million in fiscal 2004. The decline was mainly due to phasing-out of our resale of Megalink/Mega-access services, and loss of customers to whom we previously provided dial-up Internet services to alternative broadband Internet access providers, which more than offset our increase in broadband Internet access revenues.

 

Our local VOIP services recorded significant growth as a result of our strong marketing efforts and strong brand recognition, which resulted in an increase in local VOIP subscriptions from 140,000 as of August 31, 2003 to 237,000 as of August 31, 2004. In fiscal 2004, our local VOIP services revenues increased 156.8% from HK$92.6 million in fiscal 2003 to HK$237.7 million.

 

Our IP-TV services, launched in August 2003, generated HK$5.0 million in revenue in fiscal 2004, and we had acquired 31,000 IP-TV subscriptions as of August 31, 2004.

 

Our corporate data services were launched in July 2004 and therefore did not contribute significantly to our revenues in fiscal 2004.

 

Our international telecommunications business experienced a decrease of 36.8% in our average prices per minute in fiscal 2004 compared to fiscal 2003. A principal reason for this decline was that in fiscal 2003, we increased our rates for outbound calls to China in response to an increase in the termination rates payable by us to our carrier partners for incoming telecommunications traffic into China due to the imposition by China’s MII of these rate increases. As approximately 65% of our outgoing calls in fiscal 2003 were to China, this increase had a significant effect on our average prices per minute. When our carrier partners subsequently reduced their termination charges, we were able to reduce our per minute charges as compared to fiscal 2003.

 

In addition, in order to maintain our international telecommunications market share in fiscal 2004, we made the decision to price our international telecommunications services competitively with other market players despite their aggressive pricing strategies. While we experienced an increase in total traffic volume of 13.4% from 888.0 million minutes to 1,007.0 million minutes, our international telecommunications services revenue decreased 28.3% from HK$875.8 million in fiscal 2003 to HK$628.0 million in fiscal 2004. We expect the price competition to continue in fiscal 2005, but anticipate that the decline in average prices will be less than in fiscal 2004.

 

Cost of Services. Cost of services increased by 2.7% from HK$322.8 million during fiscal 2003 to HK$331.4 million during fiscal 2004. While cost of services with respect to our international telecommunications services decreased, cost of services for our fixed telecommunications network services increased significantly due to the addition of new subscriptions to our broadband Internet access and local VOIP services, and start-up expenses associated with our IP-TV services.

 

Accompanying the continued expansion of our Metro Ethernet network and service offerings, the cost of services for our fixed telecommunications network services increased by 59.5% from HK$76.8 million in fiscal 2003 to HK$122.5 million in fiscal 2004 while representing 37.0% of the total cost of services. The cost of services for our fixed telecommunications network services represented 23.8% of our total cost of services in fiscal 2003. Our percentage increase in costs was greater than our increase in revenues partly as a result of start-up costs of HK$19.2 million we incurred in connection with our IP-TV services, which generated HK$5.0 million in revenues during fiscal 2004. We account for the salaries of the production personnel that we employ for our IP-TV operations in our cost of services, and we added several production personnel during fiscal 2004.

 

Cost of services associated with our local VOIP services increased as our subscriptions increased, and accounted for HK$64.6 million of our total cost of services. This increase also contributed to our cost of services

 

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increasing at a greater rate than our revenues, as our gross margins for local VOIP services are less than gross margins in broadband Internet access business.

 

Cost of services for our international telecommunications operations decreased by 15.0% from HK$245.9 million in fiscal 2003 to HK$208.9 million in fiscal 2004. Excluding the USC refund, our international telecommunications costs decreased 27.1% to HK$240.6 million, compared to HK$330.0 million in fiscal 2003, despite our increase in traffic volume. This was principally due to our efforts to leverage our significant volume of traffic to negotiate more attractive pricing with service providers whom we rely on for international transmission. These savings were partially offset by a decline in the amount of USC refund received from PCCW-HKT, from HK$84.1 million in fiscal 2003 to a refund of HK$31.7 million in fiscal 2004.

 

We have historically paid higher aggregate USC fees to PCCW-HKT based on provisional rates stipulated by the Telecommunications Authority than the rates subsequently determined by the Telecommunications Authority to be due, and therefore have received a USC refund in each year since fiscal 2002. However, the uncertainty surrounding the Telecommunications Authority’s calculation of the USC charge means that we cannot be sure whether we will receive such refunds in future periods, or what the size of any such refunds may be.

 

Gross Profit. Our gross profit decreased by 9.6% from HK$892.1 million during fiscal 2003 to HK$806.8 million during fiscal 2004 without accounting for USC rebates. This decrease resulted from the significant drop in revenues from our international telecommunications network services, which we expect over time to become a smaller component of our revenues and profits as our fixed telecommunications network services business matures. Gross profits contributed by our fixed telecommunications network services increased by 21.1% from HK$346.3 million in fiscal 2003 to HK$419.4 million in fiscal 2004 due to the cost effectiveness achieved from offering multiple services over our Metro Ethernet network and thereby receiving multiple revenue streams with minimal marginal cost. We achieved a profit margin of 77.4% (or 80.8% excluding IP-TV services) from our fixed telecommunications network services compared to a 66.7% profit margin from our international telecommunications services.

 

Operating Expenses. Our operating expenses increased by 12.5% from HK$704.8 million during fiscal 2003 to HK$793.1 million during fiscal 2004 due to increased sales and marketing expenses, office, general and administrative expenses and depreciation and amortization expenses.

 

Salaries and related costs. Salaries and related costs increased slightly by 2.9% from HK$220.4 million during fiscal 2003 to HK$226.7 million during fiscal 2004. A large component of this increase was attributable to the expansion of our fixed telecommunications network operations. Most of the additional staff hired during fiscal 2004 were customer service and home equipment installation employees necessitated by the growth of our customer base for local VOIP and IP-TV services. Our total number of employees increased from 2,753 as of August 31, 2003 to 3,583 as of August 31, 2004, of which 1,956 were located in Guangzhou, China, 1,598 were located in Hong Kong and 29 were located in Canada. We also provided our employees with over 70 types of training programs in fiscal 2004 in order to develop and enhance their productivity. Furthermore we remain committed to research and development efforts. During fiscal 2004, we spent HK$6.0 million for research and development, compared to HK$2.6 million during fiscal 2003.

 

Sales and marketing expenses. Our sales and marketing expenses increased by 25.0% from HK$182.5 million during fiscal 2003 to HK$228.2 million during fiscal 2004. This investment in sales and marketing was important to the continued expansion of our customer base for fixed telecommunications network services, which we believe will increase our revenues in the future. We focused our marketing activities on direct customer sales, including door-to-door sales, “on-the-street” promoters and telemarketing. Most of the increased marketing expenses were attributable to sales commissions that directly related to our increased fixed telecommunications network services revenues. Additionally, we incurred sales and marketing expenses in connection with our “free appliances” promotion in fiscal 2004. Under this program, new subscribers receive a household appliance upon signing a contract with HKBN for a term of 24 to 36 months, during which period we more than recover the cost of the appliance. Finally, we account for salaries of our sales and marketing personnel in this item, and our sales

 

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and marketing expense increased as we added personnel to our sales and marketing team during fiscal 2004. We expect our sales and marketing expenses to continue to increase as we continue to market our services to expand our customer base.

 

Office, general and administrative expenses. Office, general and administrative expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization, increased by 19.9% from HK$108.3 million in fiscal 2003 to HK$129.8 million fiscal 2004. This increase was due to the ongoing expansion of our operations.

 

Depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization expenses increased by 11.9% from HK$176.0 million in fiscal 2003 to HK$197.0 million in fiscal 2004. This increase was driven by the continued expansion of our Metro Ethernet network, which caused a 20.0% increase in depreciation and amortization expenses in that segment of our business from HK$140.0 million during fiscal 2003 to HK$168.0 million during fiscal 2004. This increase was partially offset by a 19.5% decrease in depreciation and amortization expense relating to our international telecommunications business, which resulted from the full depreciation of certain of the assets used in this business.

 

Provision for doubtful accounts receivable. We record provision for doubtful accounts receivable based on the aggregate amount of our overdue accounts. We increased our number of collection personnel, and strengthened our overdue account collection procedures during fiscal 2004, and were successful at reducing the amount of our overdue accounts. As a result, our provision for doubtful accounts receivable decreased by 35.0% from HK$17.7 million in fiscal 2003 to HK$11.5 million in fiscal 2004.

 

Income from Operations. Operating profit was HK$45.3 million in fiscal 2004, compared to HK$271.4 million in fiscal 2003, representing a decrease of 83.3%. Operating profit from international telecommunications operations decreased by 53.4%, from HK$336.7 million in fiscal 2003 to HK$156.8 million in fiscal 2004. The decrease was largely attributable to the large decrease in average tariff rates per call, which more than offset our increase in international call traffic. Operating losses from our fixed telecommunications network services increased significantly, from a loss of HK$65.3 million in fiscal 2003 to a loss of HK$111.5 million in fiscal 2004, as we incurred significant sales and marketing expenses related to these services, and incurred start-up costs associated with our IP-TV and corporate data businesses.

 

Interest Income and Expense. Our interest income was HK$3.8 million in fiscal 2004 compared to HK$3.2 million in fiscal 2003. We derive interest income from our deposit of surplus capital in interest-bearing accounts at commercial banks. The increase in interest income was due to an increase in interest rates. Our interest expense was HK$0.2 million in fiscal 2004 compared to HK$0.6 million in fiscal 2003. We also capitalized our borrowing costs of HK$3.1 million of the funding for our network rollout.

 

Other Income and Expense. Our other income and expense consists of the roaming charges we receive from overseas carriers that deliver traffic over our network, exchange gains and losses, small penalties we have received from time to time from contractors that we employ, and management and other fees we receive from other fixed line operators in the ordinary course of our business. Other income and expense was HK$2.7 million in fiscal 2004 compared to HK$4.4 million in fiscal 2003.

 

Income Taxes. Income tax expense was HK$2.0 million for fiscal 2004 compared to HK$17.8 million during fiscal 2003. Income tax is based on our estimated assessable profit during each period, and our income tax expense decreased in fiscal 2004 as a result of the decrease in our assessable profit compared to fiscal 2003. Our effective tax rate decreased from 6.5% fiscal 2003 to 4.0% in fiscal 2004 as a result of the recognition of deferred tax assets on prior years’ unrecognized tax losses brought forward from our fixed telecommunications network services business that offset the taxes associated with profit generated from our international telecommunications services in this year.

 

Net Income. For the foregoing reasons, our net income decreased by 80.8% from HK$257.7 million in fiscal 2003 to HK$49.6 million in fiscal 2004.

 

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Year Ended August 31, 2003 Compared to Year Ended August 31, 2002

 

Revenue. In fiscal 2003, our total revenue grew by 12.9% from HK$1,150.2 million to HK$1,298.9 million, spurred by a significant growth of our fixed telecommunications network services and despite a slight revenue drop in our international telecommunications services.

 

Fixed telecommunications network services continued to increase their strategic importance to our operations. Revenue increased from HK$241.2 million in fiscal 2002 to HK$423.1 million in fiscal 2003, representing 75.4% growth. Despite intense market competition with many operators competing on price, our broadband customer base increased throughout fiscal 2003. Revenue generated by broadband Internet access services was HK$330.5 million in fiscal 2003 compared to HK$239.2 million in fiscal 2002, representing 38.2% growth.

 

Our local VOIP services also recorded significant growth as a result of our strong marketing efforts and brand recognition. In fiscal 2003, our local VOIP services generated revenues of HK$92.6 million, compared to HK$2.0 million for six months’ operations in fiscal 2002.

 

We launched IP-TV services in August 2003, but these services did not generate revenues in fiscal 2003.

 

In the international telecommunications business, we were faced with several new market entrants and existing players who adopted aggressive pricing strategies to seek higher market share. In addition, the MII substantially increased the termination rate for incoming telecommunications traffic in China. In an effort to maintain our profit margins in the international telecommunications business, we significantly raised the fees we charge our subscribers for outbound calls to China. As China represented 65% of our total outgoing international telecommunications traffic in fiscal 2003, this had the effect of significantly increasing our average prices per minute. However, this rate increase led to a drop in our outbound traffic to China. Further, our market share was adversely affected, as some of our competitors did not pass the full increase in termination charges on to their customers.

 

The MII reduced the termination charge later in fiscal 2003. Rather than immediately reduce our rates to correspond to the change in MII policy, we instead reduced our rates gradually over the balance of the year. While the MII rate increase and our corresponding increases to our rates had a minor adverse effect on our IDD revenues, which decreased 3.7% from HK$909.0 million in fiscal 2002 to HK$875.8 million in fiscal 2003, our international telecommunications profit margins and gross profitability benefited significantly.

 

Cost of Services. Cost of services decreased by 29.5% from HK$458.0 million during fiscal 2002 to HK$322.8 million during fiscal 2003.

 

Cost of services for our fixed telecommunications network services increased by 51.2% from HK$50.8 million in fiscal 2002 to HK$76.8 million in fiscal 2003, and represented 23.8% of the total cost of services. By utilizing our own fixed network we were able to add subscriptions and grow revenues cost effectively, and our increase in cost was much lower than the increase in revenue.

 

Cost of services for our international telecommunications operations decreased by 39.6% from HK$407.2 million in fiscal 2002 to HK$245.9 million in fiscal 2003. This was principally due to our receipt from PCCW-HKT of a refund of HK$84.1 million in USC fees in relation to previous years USC payments, as well as our continuing efforts to reduce our international telecommunications costs. Our average IDD costs per minute dropped (excluding the USC refund) by 15.9% compared to fiscal 2002. Cost of services for our international telecommunications operations were 76.2% of the total cost of services in fiscal 2003, compared with 88.9% in fiscal 2002.

 

Gross Profit. Our gross profit increased by 41.0% from HK$692.2 million during fiscal 2002 to HK$976.2 million during fiscal 2003. This increase resulted from a number of factors, including significantly higher

 

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revenue from the more profitable fixed telecommunications network services and our cost effective strategy of using our IP network to deliver multiple fixed telecommunications network services with corresponding revenue generation. In addition, gross profit benefited from continuing favorable traffic cost obtained by leveraging our high IDD traffic volume and our receipt of the HK$84.1 million USC refund.

 

Operating Expenses. Our operating expenses increased by 17.0% from HK$602.6 million during fiscal 2002 to HK$704.8 million during fiscal 2003. The change was due in large part to increased depreciation and amortization expenses, as well as increased salaries and sales and marketing expenses.

 

Salaries and related costs. Salaries and related costs increased by 12.3% to HK$220.4 million during fiscal 2003 from HK$196.2 million during fiscal 2002. A large component of this increase was attributable to the expansion of our fixed telecommunications network operations. Most of the additional staff we added during fiscal 2003 were customer service and installation employees, which corresponded with our expanding local VOIP customer base. Our total number of employees increased from 1,814 as of August 31, 2002 to 2,753 as of August 31, 2003, of which 1,418 were located in Guangzhou and 1,305 were located in Hong Kong and 29 were located in Canada. During fiscal 2003, we spent HK$2.6 million for research and development, compared to HK$2.2 million during fiscal 2002.

 

Sales and marketing expenses. Sales and marketing expenses increased by 8.4%, from HK$168.4 million during fiscal 2002 to HK$182.5 million during fiscal 2003. This increase was due to additional sales and marketing expenses to achieve the continuing expansion of our fixed telecommunications network services customer base. We believe this investment in customer acquisition will increase our revenues in the following fiscal years. We focused our marketing activities on direct customer sales, including door-to-door sales, “on-the-street” promoters and telemarketing. Most of these expenses were due to sales commissions paid that are directly related to our revenue growth.

 

Office, general and administrative expenses. Office, general and administrative expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization, increased by 10.1% from HK$98.4 million in fiscal 2002 to HK$108.3 million in fiscal 2003. This increase was due to the ongoing expansion of our operations.

 

Depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization expenses increased by 36.0%, from HK$129.4 million in fiscal 2002 to HK$176.0 million in fiscal 2003. Although depreciation and amortization expense relating to our international telecommunications business remained relatively stable at HK$36.0 million in fiscal 2003, compared to HK$33.0 million in fiscal 2002, the roll-out of our Metro Ethernet network caused a 45.2% increase in depreciation and amortization expenses in that segment of our business, from HK$96.4 million during fiscal 2002 to HK$140.0 million during fiscal 2003.

 

Provision for doubtful accounts receivable. Provision for doubtful accounts receivable increased by 71.8% from HK$10.3 million in fiscal 2002 to HK$17.7 million in fiscal 2003. This was primarily due to increased subscriptions for our fixed telecommunications network businesses.

 

Income from Operations. Operating profit was HK$271.4 million in fiscal 2003, compared to HK$89.6 million in fiscal 2002, representing an increase of 202.9%. Operating profit from international telecommunications operations increased by 54.5%, from HK$217.9 million in fiscal 2002 to HK$336.7 million in fiscal 2003. Our fixed telecommunications network services recorded a reduction of operating loss, from HK$128.3 million in fiscal 2002 to HK$65.3 million in fiscal 2003. This loss was due to continued costs associated with acquiring new local VOIP subscriptions and a large amount of depreciation and amortization expenses related to capital expenditures on our local Metro Ethernet network.

 

Interest Income and Expense. Our interest income was HK$3.2 million in fiscal 2003 compared to HK$10.9 million in fiscal 2002. Interest income was less in fiscal 2003 than in fiscal 2002 due to lower interest rates. We derive interest income from our deposit of surplus capital in interest-bearing accounts at commercial banks. Interest expense was HK$0.6 million for fiscal 2003.

 

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Loss on Disposal of a Subsidiary. Loss on disposal of a subsidiary was HK$2.7 million in fiscal 2003, which resulted from the disposal of our Japanese subsidiary, City Telecom (Japan) Co., Ltd.

 

Other Income and Expense. Our other income and expense was HK$4.4 million in fiscal 2003 compared to HK$0.5 million in fiscal 2002.

 

Income Taxes. Income tax expense was HK$17.9 million for fiscal 2003 compared to HK$15.2 million during fiscal 2002. Income tax expense is based on our estimated assessable profit during each period. Our effective rate decreased from 15.6% in fiscal 2002 to 6.5% in fiscal 2003 as a result of the recognition of deferred tax assets on prior years’ unrecognized tax losses brought forward from our fixed telecommunications network services to offset the taxes associated with profit generated from our international telecommunications services in this year.

 

Minority Interest. In fiscal 2003, we had no minority interest as compared with HK$8.2 million in fiscal 2002, which was due to the acquisition of the remaining interest in HKBN from KDDI in fiscal 2002.

 

Net Income. For the foregoing reasons, our net income increased by 184.8% from HK$90.5 million in fiscal 2002 to HK$257.7 million in fiscal 2003.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

A principal source of our liquidity historically has been cash flow from operations. In addition, we have undertaken several transactions that have provided us with working capital, including:

 

    In August 1997, we completed our initial public offering of 100,000,000 new shares and listing on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. We received net proceeds of HK$159.8 million from this offering.

 

    In November 1999, we completed a global offering of 80,000,000 new shares and our American depositary shares were listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market. We received net proceeds of approximately HK$411.6 million from this offering.

 

    In March 2000, KDDI Corporation, a telecommunications company in Japan, purchased 15.0% of the share capital of HKBN, now a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, for HK$225.0 million.

 

    In December 2003, we drew down HK$100.0 million of a HK$200.0 million loan facility made available by The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, or HSBC, as of October 9, 2002. We drew down a further HK$40.0 million in September 2004, and the remaining HK$60.0 million in December 2004 for a total amount of HK$200.0 million. We repaid this facility in full in January 2005.

 

    Subsequent to August 31, 2004, in January 2005, we issued US$125.0 million of our 8.75% senior notes due 2015. We received net proceeds of approximately US$121.0 million from this offering.

 

The following table summarizes our cash flows for each of fiscal 2002, 2003 and 2004:

 

     Year Ended August 31,

 
     2002

    2003

    2004

    2004

 
     HK$     HK$     HK$     US$  
     (In thousands)  

Net cash flow from operating activities

   288,444     414,500     203,763     26,123  

Net cash used in investing activities

   (475,212 )   (309,634 )   (406,244 )   (52,083 )

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

   9,109     (10,274 )   47,221     6,054  
    

 

 

 

(Decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents

   (177,659 )   94,592     (155,260 )   (19,906 )

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes

   312     (1,135 )   (253 )   (32 )
    

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents (closing balance)

   290,403     383,860     228,347     29,275  
    

 

 

 

 

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Operating Activities

 

Our principal source of cash from operating activities in each of fiscal 2004, 2003 and 2002 was the cash we generate from our fixed telecommunications network services and international telecommunications businesses. Net cash provided by operating activities amounted to HK$203.8 million during fiscal 2004, which represented a substantial decrease compared with fiscal 2003, principally as a result of the significant cash we continued to invest in our Metro Ethernet network, which resulted in a large increase in our other payables in fiscal 2003. Cash from operating activities also decreased due to increased costs we incurred in promoting our new services, as well as decreased profitability of our international telecommunications business. In addition, we recorded an increase in trade and other payables of HK$31.0 million that comprised amounts owed to our supplier of household appliances that we offer to new subscribers under our free appliance program, as well as increased payables associated with our capital expenditures during the year. We also recorded an increase in deferred service income of HK$29.3 million in fiscal 2004 associated with our free appliance program, as we billed new subscribers’ credit cards a fee equivalent to 18 months of service charges upon their signing a 24 to 36 month contract with us.

 

Net cash provided by operating activities in fiscal 2004 was offset by an increase in trade and other receivables of HK$50.4 million. The principal component of this receivable consisted of an increase in income of HK$38.7 million in connection with mobile interconnection charges that we believe are due to us by Hong Kong mobile telecommunications operators based on their use of our Metro Ethernet network to transmit mobile telecommunications traffic. While we have not yet received payment for use of our Metro Ethernet network from most of these mobile operators, we believe that we are entitled to payment at the same rates that other fixed network operators receive, and have notified the mobile operators of our position. The Telecommunications Authority has agreed to make a determination regarding the level and effective date of interconnection charges payable to us by one of the mobile operators. Until this matter is resolved, we intend to continue to record income based on the rates owed to other fixed network operators for comparable usage of their networks. We also recorded an increase in prepayments of HK$8.3 million in fiscal 2004 in connection with our use of the fiber ring owned and operated by the KCRC. Finally, our cash flows from operations were reduced by Hong Kong profits taxes paid of HK$24.0 million.

 

Net cash provided by operating activities amounted to HK$414.5 million in fiscal 2003, a significant increase versus fiscal 2002 that resulted from increased profitability of each of our business lines. Income before taxation of HK$275.6 million was offset by a decrease in trade and other payables of HK$28.7 million that resulted from our lower levels of capital expenditures in fiscal 2003 as compared to fiscal 2002. In addition, we paid Hong Kong profits tax of HK$18.1 million in fiscal 2003.

 

Net cash provided by operating activities amounted to HK$288.4 million in fiscal 2002. In addition to HK$97.5 million of income before taxation, net cash increased due to an increase in trade and other payables of HK$89.7 million in fiscal 2002. Other payables increased as a direct result of our substantial increase in capital expenditures in fiscal 2002, as we fully ramped up development of our Metro Ethernet network. Net cash provided by operating activities was reduced by an increase in trade receivables of HK$15.2 million that was generally related to our increase in monthly revenues.

 

Investing Activities

 

Net cash used in investing activities was HK$406.2 million, HK$309.6 million and HK$475.2 million during fiscal 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Throughout each of the three fiscal years, investing activities consisted primarily of purchases of fixed assets for the development of our Metro Ethernet network. In addition, we used smaller amounts of cash for investing in the upgrade of our fixed assets, and also made investments in upgrading our international telecommunications facilities.

 

Financing Activities

 

Net cash provided by financing activities was HK$47.2 million in fiscal 2004, which consisted of our draw down of HK$100.0 million on our loan facility with HSBC, offset by our payment of HK$54.9 million in

 

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dividends during fiscal 2004. In fiscal 2003, net cash used in financing activities was HK$10.3 million. This principally consisted of our repayment of a shareholder loan to KDDI of HK$22.5 million when we purchased KDDI’s remaining interest in HKBN, and dividends we paid in fiscal 2003 of HK$30.2 million. Net cash used in financing activities in fiscal 2003 was offset by our issues of HK$45.4 million of shares during the year in connection with the exercise of share options that we had granted to our employees and exercise of outstanding warrants in prior years. Net cash provided by financing activities in fiscal 2002 was HK$9.1 million and primarily consisted of issues of warrants for net proceeds of HK$9.8 million, exercises of share options by employees and exercise of outstanding warrants of HK$3.8 million, offset in part by our repayment of finance lease payables in the amount of HK$4.4 million.

 

Indebtedness

 

In December 2003, we drew down HK$100.0 million of a HK$200.0 million loan facility made available by HSBC as of October 9, 2002. We drew down a further HK$40.0 million in September 2004, and the remaining HK$60.0 million in December 2004. The loan facility accrued interest at the Hong Kong Interbank Offer Rate plus 1.5%, and repayment was required to be made in 60 equal installments beginning in January 2005. We entered into an interest rate swap arrangement to hedge against interest rate risk for up to HK$100.0 million of the total amount drawn under the facility. All outstanding amounts under this facility were fully repaid as of January 24, 2005 with the proceeds from the offering of the outstanding notes described below.

 

We also have a banking facility provided by Citibank for the equivalent of HK$19.2 million in Japanese Yen, which is secured by a pledge over bank deposits. Interest under the facility accrues at the cost of funds in Japan plus 0.8%.

 

On January 20, 2005, we issued US$125.0 million of our 8.75% outstanding notes. We received net proceeds of approximately US$121.0 million from this offering.

 

Capital expenditures and working capital

 

In order to continue the development of our Metro Ethernet network, we plan to make total capital expenditures of approximately HK$990.0 million in fiscal 2005 to 2006. In particular, we plan to spend approximately HK$520.0 million in connection with our goal to increase the coverage of our Metro Ethernet network to 1.8 million home passes. We also plan to spend approximately HK$240.0 million in connection with our continued build out of our fiber-based backbone that we use to provide fixed telecommunications network services. Our required capital expenditures, other than with respect to our network expansion, will be influenced to a significant degree by the rate of growth in the subscription base for our services, the expansion of our network coverage and any changes to our business plan.

 

As of August 31, 2004, we had cash and cash equivalents, net of short term loans, of HK$228.3 million compared to HK$383.9 million at the end of fiscal 2003. As of August 31, 2004, we had capital commitments contracted but not provided for relating to the purchase of telecommunications, computer and office equipment of HK$213.3 million. In addition, we had commitments under non- cancelable operating leases relating to land, buildings, telecommunications facilities and computer equipment of HK$70.8 million, of which HK$46.9 million is due in fiscal year 2005. We also had commitments on program fees of HK$34.4 million, of which HK$15.5 million is due in fiscal 2005. As of August 31, 2004 we had total amounts available under banking facilities of HK$119.2 million under which HK$32.5 million is due in fiscal 2005.

 

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The following table sets forth information regarding our aggregate payment obligations in future years of the contractual obligations and commercial commitments that we had as of August 31, 2004.

 

     Payments due by period

Contractual Obligations


   Total

  

Less than

1 year


   1-3 years

   3-5 years

  

More than

5 years


     (Thousands of HK$)

Capital expenditure

   213,310    213,310    —      —      —  

Operating leases

   70,783    46,898    13,577    2,508    7,800

Short-term and long-term debt

   119,170    32,503    20,000    60,000    6,667

Programming fees (IP-TV)

   34,411    15,542    18,869    —      —  

Total

   437,674    308,253    52,446    62,508    14,467

 

Our working capital as of August 31, 2004 was HK$55.2 million, which we believe is sufficient for our current requirements. Further, we believe that our current cash and cash equivalents, cash flow from operations and the proceeds from the issuance of our US$125.0 million 8.75% notes will be sufficient to meet our anticipated cash needs, including for working capital, capital expenditure, repayment of our indebtedness and various contractual obligations, for at least the next 12 months. However, if our customer demand changes significantly due to rapid technological changes, if we are not able to successfully compete with local and foreign entrants into the market, or if we fail to maintain or obtain the necessary license renewals from the Telecommunications Authority, this could have a significant adverse impact on our cash flows from operations, which could effect our ability to make planned capital expenditures as well as meet scheduled payments on the exchange notes, our various operating and capital leases and amounts due under banking facilities.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

We are exposed to market risk from changes in currency exchange rates and interest rates.

 

Foreign Currency Risk

 

The functional currency of our operations, and our financial statement reporting currency, is the Hong Kong dollar. Our monetary assets and liabilities are primarily denominated in Hong Kong dollars, substantially all our net sales are denominated and received in Hong Kong dollars, and our labor and administrative costs are incurred primarily in Hong Kong dollars. However, we have certain current and long-term bank deposits, other investments and short-term bank loans which are primarily denominated in U.S. dollars.

 

As of August 31, 2004, we had the following significant foreign currencies denominated account balances:

 

     As of August 31, 2004

     (Thousands of HK$)

Cash and bank balances:

    

Denominated in U.S. dollars

   193,823

Denominated in Chinese renminbi

   6,183

Denominated in Canadian dollars

   2,341

Denominated in Japanese yen

   23

Long-term bank deposits:

    

Denominated in U.S. dollars

   15,600

Other investments:

    

Denominated in U.S. dollars

   25,604

Short-term loans:

    

Denominated in Japanese yen

   19,170

 

Further, following the issuance of the outstanding notes, our principal long-term debt obligations will be the outstanding notes, or the exchange notes, as applicable, each of which are denominated in U.S. dollars.

 

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As the exchange rate of the Hong Kong dollar to the U.S. dollar has remained close to the current pegged rate of HK$7.80=$1.00 since 1983, we have not experienced significant foreign exchange gains or losses associated with that currency. The Hong Kong government could, however, change the pegged rate or abandon the peg altogether. Depreciation of the Hong Kong dollar against the U.S. dollar would generally increase our U.S. dollar expenses, and increase the amount of Hong Kong dollar revenue that we would be required to earn to meet our payment obligations under the outstanding notes or exchange notes.

 

We also incur expenses denominated in Renminbi, the official currency of the People’s Republic of China, in connection with our Guangzhou call centre. These include the salaries that we pay to our personnel as various operating expenses that we incur to maintain our operations. As a result, we are exposed to a certain amount of foreign exchange risk based on fluctuations between the Hong Kong dollar and the Renminbi. If the Renminbi appreciates against the Hong Kong dollar, the amount of Hong Kong dollars we would be required to spend to maintain our call center would increase.

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

Prior to our repayment in full our loan facility with HSBC, for which HK$100 million as of August 31, 2004 was outstanding, we were exposed to interest rate risks. In connection with this facility, we entered into an interest rate swap agreement to hedge the impact of fluctuations in interest rates, under which we make a monthly interest payment at a fixed rate of 2.675% per annum on a notional amount of HK$100.0 million, and will receive monthly interest payments calculated at HIBOR during the period from March 2004 to December 2009 or until the facility is repaid and we terminate the swap agreement. No recognition of such instrument is required under Hong Kong GAAP. Under U.S. GAAP reporting, such interest rate swap instrument must be recorded at fair value, which we determined to be approximately HK$680,000 as of August 31, 2004. The interest rate swap agreement remains valid following the full repayment of our loan facility with HSBC and we plan to terminate it based on open market prices.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

Other than as described below in “—Critical Accounting Policies”, we have not entered into any off-balance-sheet arrangements with any entities or individuals.

 

Inflation

 

We do not believe that inflation has had a material effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. If our costs were to become subject to significant inflationary pressures, we may not be able to fully offset such higher costs through price increases. Our inability or failure to do so could adversely affect our business, financial conditions and results of operations.

 

Seasonality

 

Our operations are not generally subject to significant seasonal fluctuations. Our international telecommunications revenues typically experience a slight decrease during the second fiscal quarter of each year (December through February) in connection with the Chinese New Year holiday. We do not believe that seasonality has had a material effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

Introduction

 

Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in Hong Kong. Our significant accounting policies are more fully described in note 2 to our financial statements. The preparation of our financial statements requires management to make estimates and

 

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judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We continually evaluate our estimates and judgments including those related to fixed assets, bad debts, deferred taxes, USC charges and certain revenue items. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other assumptions we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. This forms the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates as facts, circumstances and conditions change.

 

Our accounting policies have been developed over many years as the telecommunications industry and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles or GAAP have evolved. As our financial statements are prepared under Hong Kong GAAP, our accounting policies are necessarily compliant with all aspects of Hong Kong GAAP. Hong Kong GAAP is based on a “substance over form” conceptual framework that requires us to look through the legal interpretation of an arrangement or transaction to its underlying purpose and to reflect it in our financial statements on that basis.

 

In developing accounting policies, in addition to Hong Kong GAAP requirements, we also consider telecommunications industry practice in other countries. Where there is no conflict with Hong Kong GAAP we also align our accounting policies with U.S. GAAP. In all material respects our accounting policies are applied consistently across City Telecom. The critical accounting policies discussed below generally apply to all segments of City Telecom.

 

The following are the most significant accounting estimates and judgments we apply in producing our consolidated financial statements.

 

Useful lives of fixed assets

 

We estimate the useful lives of fixed assets in order to determine the amount of depreciation expense to be recorded. The useful lives are estimated at the time the asset is acquired based on historical experience, the expected usage, wear and tear of the assets, as well as technical obsolescence arising from changes in the market demands or service output of the assets.

 

Impairment of fixed assets

 

Under Hong Kong GAAP and U.S. GAAP, if a triggering event occurs indicating that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable, a new assessment of the carrying amount of that asset is required. Triggering events include significant adverse changes in the market value of an asset, changes in the business or regulatory environment, or certain legal events. The interpretation of such events requires judgment from the management with respect to whether such an event has occurred and whether the management feels that reassessment of the carrying value of the asset is required. If an event occurs that could affect the carrying value of the asset and the management does not identify it as a triggering event and identify the asset as impaired, future operations could be adversely affected if this asset is subsequently written off or sold for less than its carrying value due to sudden downturns in the business environment.

 

Upon the occurrence of triggering events, the carrying amounts of fixed assets are reviewed to assess whether their recoverable amounts have declined below their carrying amounts. The recoverable amount is the present value of estimated net future cash flows which we expect to recover from the future use of the asset, plus the asset’s residual value on disposal. Where the recoverable amount of fixed and other long-lived assets is less than their carrying value, an impairment loss is recognized to write the assets down to their recoverable amount, which is based on the undiscounted estimated cash flows.

 

Under U.S. GAAP the impairment testing is done on the basis of undiscounted cash flows as opposed to discounted cash flows under Hong Kong GAAP.

 

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Estimation of cash flows arising from future use of the asset requires careful analysis regarding what we expect to recover from its future use. This includes consideration of our target market share and customer base, market competition, future changes to our cost structure and technological change. In addition, the residual value of the asset on disposal requires judgment, as the estimated fair value of the asset at the time of disposal could change in response to market conditions and changes in expected use of the asset prior to disposal. Changes in the estimate of cash flows arising from expected future use of the asset or its residual value on disposal—based on changes in market conditions, changes in the use of assets, managements plan, foreseeable technological changes or otherwise—could significantly change the calculation of the fair value or recoverable amount of the asset and the resulting impairment loss. This in turn could significantly affect the results of our operations.

 

Accounts Receivable

 

Under Hong Kong GAAP and U.S. GAAP, provision is made against accounts receivable to the extent they are considered to be doubtful. This provision requires judgment regarding the collectibility of certain receivables both as they are incurred and as they age. We determine bad debt provisions based on past experience of recovery of old receivables, the aging of the accounts receivable balance and historical write-off experience. Certain receivables may be initially identified as collectible, yet subsequently become uncollectible and result in a subsequent write-off of the related receivable to the statement of operations. Changes in the collectibility of accounts receivable for which provisions are not made could affect our future results of operations.

 

Deferred Taxation

 

Under Hong Kong GAAP, deferred taxation is provided in full, using the liability method, on temporary differences arising between the tax bases of assets and liability and their carrying amounts in the accounts. Deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profit will be available against which the temporary differences can be utilized. Deferred taxation is provided on temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries except where the timing of the reversal of the temporary difference can be controlled and it is probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future. In determining whether a liability or asset is expected to be payable or recoverable in the foreseeable future, we assess the effect of our capital expenditures and other plans, such as the existing network capacity, technological changes, future market trends and projected fixed network coverage.

 

Under U.S. GAAP, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Future tax benefits in respect of tax loss carry forwards are also required to be recognized in full. We must establish a valuation allowance for such assets if we determine it is more likely than not that we will not be able to utilize such benefits in the future.

 

The recording of certain deferred tax assets requires judgment regarding the results of future operations, including the assumption that there will be sufficient future operations to allow us to utilize the related deferred tax asset. Any changes in the estimate of future operations could change the recognition of such assets, which could significantly affect the results of our operations.

 

Carrying value of fixed assets, investments and goodwill

 

We assess the carrying value of our investments in subsidiaries, including acquired goodwill, for impairment on an annual basis based on their recoverable amount. Our assessments generally include methodology of discounted cash flow analysis, and review of comparable entities. This methodology sometimes relies on factors such as forecasts of future performance and long-term growth rates of the investee, and selection of discount rate. If these forecasts and assumptions prove to be incorrect or circumstances change, we may be required to write down our investments.

 

Based on our most recent assessment of recoverable amount we believe that as at August 31, 2004 our goodwill is recoverable at the amounts at which they are stated in our financial statements.

 

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USC charges

 

Our management makes their best estimates for charges of the USC payable to PCCW-HKT in order to fund the costs of network development incurred by PCCW-HKT in remote areas in Hong Kong (the “Development”). Such estimated costs are included as part of our costs of rendering services. The estimate is made based on the provisional rates announced by the Telecommunications Authority and is effective up to the date of the release of our financial statements. The Telecommunications Authority periodically reviews the actual costs incurred by PCCW-HKT in the Development and adjusts the amounts owed to PCCW-HKT, or to be refunded by it, to the respective USC contributing parties, including our company (the “Rate Revisions”). Accordingly, the estimate made by our management is subject to changes based on the Rate Revisions identified during a financial year and up to the date prior to the release of our financial statements. We adjust such differences as an addition to, or reduction of, the corresponding costs of services in that particular reporting period.

 

Any sum received in advance from PCCW-HKT as an estimated refund of USC on a provisional basis, which is subject to the final confirmation and determination of the Telecommunications Authority, is recorded in other payables and accrued charges in our balance sheet.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Revenue for the provision of telecommunications services is recognized when the services are rendered. Revenue received in advance is deferred and amortized based on estimated actual usage by customers or the stated period of time in the subscriber agreement. Network interconnection charges are recorded as revenue based on usage of the fixed telecommunications network of the Company by mobile and other fixed telecommunications network operators. The determination of the rates at which revenue is recognized involved significant estimates by management. Significant changes in management estimates may result in material revenue adjustments.

 

Legal contingencies

 

We are currently involved in certain legal proceedings. The assessment of the ultimate outcome of those proceedings is derived from consultation with outside counsel, as well as an assessment of litigation and settlement strategies. A future event or change in the facts and circumstances may require us to make accruals with would be charged to our income statement in the future.

 

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U.S. GAAP Reconciliation

 

Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with Hong Kong GAAP, which differs in certain material respects from U.S. GAAP. The following tables provide a comparison of our net income and shareholders’ equity in accordance with Hong Kong GAAP and U.S. GAAP

 

     Year Ended August 31,

 
     2002

    2003

    2004

    2004

 
     HK$     HK$     HK$     US$  
     (Restated)     (Restated)              
     (in thousands)  

Net income

                        

Hong Kong GAAP

   90,505     257,743     49,550     6,353  

U.S. GAAP adjustments:

                        

Compensation benefit cost associated with share options

   (21,586 )   2,731     270     35  

Amortization of goodwill (acquired prior to June 30, 2001)

   (1,019 )   —       —       —    

Reversal of amortization of goodwill (acquired after June 30, 2001)

   1,065     1,065     1,065     136  

Fair value of interest rate swap

   —       —       680     87  
    

 

 

 

Net income under U.S. GAAP

   68,965     261,539     51,565     6,611  
    

 

 

 

Shareholders’ Equity

                        

Hong Kong GAAP

   904,988     1,179,175     1,175,698     150,731  

U.S. GAAP adjustments:

                        

Goodwill

   5,092     5,092     5,092     653  

Accumulated amortization of goodwill

   (3,735 )   (3,735 )   (3,735 )   (479 )

Reversal of amortization of goodwill

   1,065     2,130     3,195     409  

Fair value of interest rate swap

   —       —       680     87  
    

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity under U.S. GAAP

   907,410     1,182,662     1,180,930     151,401  
    

 

 

 

 

Under Hong Kong GAAP, no compensation cost is required to be recognized in respect of the grant of stock options to employees and executive directors. Under U.S. GAAP, compensation expense is required to be measured either in accordance with the intrinsic value method prescribed by APB Opinion No. 25 “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” or the fair value method prescribed by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123 “Accounting for Stock-based Compensation”. We apply the intrinsic value method prescribed by APB Opinion No. 25 and disclose in our consolidated financial statements the pro forma effect that use of the fair value method would have on our net income and earnings per share. The compensation cost for stock options under U.S. GAAP represents the cost of amortizing the compensation expense given to employees over the vesting period of the options. Because the exercise price of certain options granted can decrease during the vesting period, such options are considered variable options under U.S. GAAP and compensation expense is based on our share price at the balance sheet date. The charge for compensation expense for fiscal 2004 primarily relates to such variable options.

 

Goodwill and accumulated amortization comprises goodwill arising on the acquisition in 1999 of 963673 Ontario Ltd. group of companies and the goodwill arising on the deemed acquisition of additional interest in one of our wholly owned subsidiaries, HKBN, through subscription of Rights Issue and from acquiring remaining interest from the minority shareholder in 2002.

 

Under Hong Kong GAAP, the Company charged the goodwill arising from the acquisition of 963673 Ontario Ltd. group of companies against available reserves. However, in accordance with the change in accounting standards in Hong Kong, goodwill on acquisitions occurring on or after September 1, 2001 is shown separately on the consolidated balance sheet and is amortized using the straight-line method over its estimated

 

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useful life. As a result of that, the goodwill arising for HKBN is recorded as an asset on the balance sheet and amortized over its estimated useful life, which in this case is five years. For the goodwill arising for the 963673 Ontario Ltd. group of companies, the Company has taken advantage of the transitional provisions of the new accounting standard and goodwill previously written off against reserves has not been restated. Where an indication of impairment exists, the carrying amount of goodwill, including goodwill previously written off against reserves, is assessed and written down immediately to its recoverable amount with the charges being recorded in the Company’s profit and loss accounts.

 

Under U.S. GAAP, goodwill recorded on the acquisition of a business prior to June 30, 2001 was capitalized and amortized to the profit and loss accounts over its expected useful life of five years. In June 2001, FASB issued the SFAS No. 142 “Goodwill and other Intangible Assets” effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001. In connection with the adoption of this standard in fiscal 2003 under U.S. GAAP, we ceased amortizing goodwill recognized on business combinations initiated prior to June 30, 2001 and performed a transitional goodwill impairment assessment. Goodwill recognized on business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001, is not amortized under SFAS No. 142 and is required to be tested annually for impairment in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 142. We have performed the impairment tests on the goodwill recorded prior to and after June 30, 2001 at the fiscal year end and no impairment loss was identified from the process for fiscal 2004.

 

Under Hong Kong GAAP, there are no specific accounting standards governing the accounting for derivative instruments. As a result, the Company does not recognize the interest rate swap at fair value and does not account for the gains or losses relating to the fair value changes in this derivative. Under U.S. GAAP, the Company recognized the interest rate swap on the balance sheet at fair value in accordance with SFAS No. 133 “Accounting for Certain Derivative Instruments and Certain Hedging Activities”. Since the interest rate swap is not designated as a hedge, the gain or loss on change in fair value of this derivative instrument is recognized currently in earnings.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

Hong Kong GAAP

 

In March 2004, the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“HKICPA”) issued the Hong Kong Accounting Standards (“HKAS”) and HKAS Interpretation (“HKAS Interpretation”) that were converged with equivalent International Accounting Standards and Standing Interpretations Committee Interpretations issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”), most of which were revised recently as a result of the IASB’s improvements project.

 

The HKAS and HKAS Interpretation will become effective for accounting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2005 and are required to be adopted by us for the year ending August 31, 2006. As a consequence, all existing Statement of Standard Accounting Practices (“SSAP”) and the related interpretations issued by the HKICPA, for which there are equivalent International Accounting Standards and Standing Interpretations Committee Interpretations will be renamed as HKAS and HKAS Interpretations, or otherwise, will be superseded at that time.

 

U.S. GAAP

 

In December 2003, the FASB issued FIN 46-R “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities—an Interpretation of ARB No. 51. FIN 46-R requires that certain variable interest entities, or VIE’s, be consolidated by their primary beneficiary if the primary beneficiary is subject to a majority of the risk of losses from the VIE activities, or entitled to receive a majority of the VIE’s residual returns, or both. An entity is subject to FIN 46-R and is considered to be a VIE if it has (1) equity that is insufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties, or (2) equity investors that cannot make significant decisions about the entity’s operations, or that do not absorb the expected losses or receive the

 

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expected returns of the entity. FIN 46-R is effective immediately for all new VIE’s created or acquired after January 31, 2003. For VIE’s created or acquired prior to February 1, 2003, the provisions of FIN 46-R must be applied by the end of the first reporting period ending after March 15, 2004. The adoption of FIN 46 for VIEs would not have any significant impact on our financial statements.

 

In December 2003, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued SAB No. 104, “Revenue Recognition”. SAB No. 104 supersedes SAB No. 101, “Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements”. SAB No. 104’s primary purpose is to rescind accounting guidance contained in SAB No. 101 related to multiple element revenue arrangements, superseded as a result of the issuance of Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 00-21, “Accounting for Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables” (“EITF 00-21”). Additionally, SAB No. 104 rescinds the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements Frequently Asked Questions and Answers (“the FAQ”) issued with SAB No. 101 that had been codified in Securities and Exchange Commission Topic 13, Revenue Recognition. Selected portions of the FAQ have been incorporated into SAB No. 104. While the wording of SAB No. 104 has changed to reflect the issuance of EITF 00-21, the revenue recognition principles of SAB No. 101 remain largely unchanged by the issuance of SAB No. 104. As a result, the adoption of this pronouncement did not have any significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

In December 2004, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS No. 123R”) which replaces FASB Statement No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” and supersedes APB No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees”. SFAS No. 123R will provide investors and other users of financial statements with more complete and neutral financial information by requiring that the compensation cost relating to share-based payment transactions be recognized in the financial statements. That cost will be measured based on the fair value of the equity or liability instruments issued. Public entities (other than those filing as small business issuers) will be required to apply SFAS No. 123R as of the first interim or annual reporting period that begins after June 15, 2005. The adoption of SFAS 123R will have an impact on the consolidated statement of operations as we will be required to expense the fair value of stock option grants and stock purchases under employee stock option plan.

 

In December 2004, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 153, “Exchanges of Nonmonetary Assets”, which amends APB Opinion No. 29, “Accounting for Nonmonetary Transactions”, to eliminate the exception for nonmonetary exchanges of similar productive assets and replaces it with a general exception for exchanges of nonmonetary assets that do not have commercial substance. Under SFAS no. 153, exchanges of nonmonetary assets, except for exchanges of nonmonetary assets that do not have commercial substance, should be measured based on the fair value of the assets exchanged. The provisions of this Statement shall be effective for nonmonetary asset exchanges occurring in fiscal periods beginning after June 15, 2005. We are currently assessing the impact of this standard on our consolidated financial statements.

 

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INDUSTRY

 

Fixed Telecommunications Network Services

 

Hong Kong has one of the most developed telecommunications markets in the world with one of the world’s highest penetration rates for local telephony and broadband Internet access services. As of December 31, 2003 the penetration rates of residential fixed lines and household broadband Internet access subscribers were 98% and 52% of Hong Kong households, respectively. The following table provides an overview of the Hong Kong fixed line telecommunications market:

 

    

As of

December 31,
2003


 

Population (in millions)

   6.85 (1)

Households (in millions)

   2.17  

GDP per capita for 2003 (US$)

   23,381 (2)

Corporate fixed lines (in millions)

   1.70  

Residential fixed lines (in millions)

   2.12  
    

Total fixed lines (in millions)

   3.82  
    

Residential fixed lines penetration (%)

   98 %(3)

Household broadband Internet access subscribers (in millions)

   1.13  

Corporate broadband Internet access subscribers (in millions)

   0.09  

Other broadband Internet access subscribers (in millions)

   0.01  
    

Total broadband Internet access subscribers (in millions)

   1.23  
    

Household broadband Internet access penetration (%)

   52 %(4)

Sources: Census and Statistics Department of the Hong Kong Government and OFTA.

 

(1) Revised year-end data.
(2) Provisional year-end data.
(3) Calculated by dividing the total number of residential fixed lines by the number of Hong Kong households.
(4) Calculated by dividing the total number of household broadband Internet access subscribers by the number of Hong Kong households.

 

As of August 31, 2004, the total number of fixed lines in Hong Kong was approximately 3.78 million, including approximately 2.12 million residential fixed lines, and the total number of broadband Internet access subscribers was approximately 1.36 million, including approximately 1.25 million residential broadband Internet access subscribers.

 

The following table illustrates the trend of the Hong Kong fixed lines services industry:

 

     As of December 31,

   As of
August 31,


     2000

   2001

   2002

   2003

   2004

Business fixed lines (in millions)

   1.74    1.76    1.71    1.70    1.66

Residential fixed lines (in millions)

   2.21    2.16    2.13    2.12    2.12
    
  
  
  
  

Total fixed lines (in millions)

   3.95    3.93    3.84    3.82    3.78
    
  
  
  
  

Household broadband Internet access subscribers (in millions)

   NA    NA    0.92    1.13    1.25

Total broadband Internet access subscribers (in millions)

   0.39    0.62    0.99    1.23    1.36

Source: OFTA.

 

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The total number of fixed lines in Hong Kong has declined in the past few years due to the increasing penetration of alternative mobile communications services, which led to a substitution of fixed line communications services with mobile services.

 

During the three year period beginning December 31, 2000, the total number of broadband Internet access subscribers increased at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 46.4% from 0.39 million to 1.23 million. As of August 31, 2004 there were approximately 1.36 million total broadband Internet access subscribers in Hong Kong.

 

Internet Access Services

 

Substantial growth of Internet activities in Hong Kong began in 1995, when the Hong Kong government formally set forth its Internet licensing requirements. Many Internet service providers entered Hong Kong’s Internet access services market, but over the past decade fierce competition in this market and consumer preference for broadband services over dial-up services forced many Internet service providers out of the market. Since September 2003, broadband Internet access has surpassed dial-up telephone modems as the predominant means to access the Internet in Hong Kong. We expect that over time dial-up Internet access will be completely replaced by broadband Internet access. The number of companies that were licensed to provide Internet access services in Hong Kong grew from 56 in 1995 to 192 as of November 3, 2004, but this number notably declined from a peak of 258 in 2001. In addition, most of these license holders are not active in providing Internet access services to residential subscribers.

 

According to the Telecommunications Authority, with the increased competition and coverage of broadband services using asymmetric digital subscriber line, fiber-to-the-building, hybrid fiber coaxial cable, local multipoint distribution system and other technologies, broadband networks cover virtually all commercial buildings and households in Hong Kong. Based on OFTA statistics, as of December 31, 2003, there were approximately 1.23 million broadband Internet access subscribers, including approximately 1.13 million household broadband Internet access subscribers. In the residential market, 52% of Hong Kong’s households were using broadband Internet access services as of December 31, 2003. As of August 31, 2004 there were approximately 1.25 million household broadband Internet access subscribers in Hong Kong.

 

Internationally, Hong Kong is second only to South Korea in terms of broadband penetration rate. In addition to the high penetration rate, Hong Kong has one of the most affordable broadband Internet access services. Based on data for 2002, broadband service charges only accounted for 1.9% of real disposable income in Hong Kong, as compared to 7.0% of real disposable income in South Korea according to OFTA. Intense competition in the past two years has lowered broadband service charges in Hong Kong even further.

 

Competition

 

There have been many new entrants to the Internet access business, but our main competitors are PCCW-HKT (through its subsidiary PCCW-IMS Limited), i-Cable and HGC. PCCW-HKT has been offering broadband Internet access services since May 1998 and uses ADSL technology over its telephone network to provide asymmetric Internet access at speeds up to 6 Mbps downstream and 640 Kbps upstream. i-Cable began providing broadband Internet access services in March 2000 using its hybrid fiber coaxial network that provides symmetric access speeds up to 8 Mbps shared by a cluster of buildings. HGC predominantly uses VDSL technology and currently provides symmetric access speeds up to 10 Mbps.

 

Our basic broadband Internet access service provides symmetric access speeds up to 10 Mbps and our recently launched BB100 service provides symmetric access speeds up to 100 Mbps. We believe that there is no other fixed telecommunications network service provider in Hong Kong with an existing infrastructure that could offer broadband Internet access at speeds comparable to our BB100 offering to the residential mass market at cost-effective prices. However, our largest competitors have been in operation longer and may have greater market presence, brand recognition and more financial, technical and personnel resources. In addition, they may have greater network coverage in terms of homes passed.

 

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We had approximately 197,000 broadband Internet access subscriptions as of August 31, 2004, which represents a market share of approximately 15% with respect to the total number of broadband Internet access subscribers in Hong Kong. We continue to grow our subscription base and as of December 15, 2004 we had approximately 201,000 broadband Internet access subscriptions.

 

Local Telephony

 

Local fixed telecommunications network services operators, also called fixed line network operators, provide local public fixed line network services of voice and facsimile transmissions. The local fixed line services market was first liberalized on June 30, 1995 following the expiry of PCCW-HKT’s (then Hong Kong Telephone Company Limited) exclusive franchise for local telephone service and became fully liberalized as of January 1, 2003. There is no pre-set limit on the number of FTNS Licenses issued, nor is there a deadline for applications. Furthermore, a new licensee is no longer required to give any commitment relating to network rollout or investment.

 

As of April 2004, eight companies in addition to HKBN have been licensed to provide local wireline-based fixed line services on a competitive basis. They are PCCW-HKT, New World, Wharf T&T, HGC, Towngas Telecommunications Fixed Network Limited, CM TEL (HK) Limited, TraxComm Limited and HKC Network Limited. At the same time, i-Cable (through its subsidiary Hong Kong Cable Television Limited) is licensed to offer local fixed line services over its hybrid fiber coaxial cable network.

 

In Hong Kong, providers of fixed line local telephony services can provide services by either connecting directly to the subscriber’s building via their own network or via Type II interconnection at local telephone exchanges for individual buildings, which is often referred to as Point A. Type II interconnection at Point A is a right the Hong Kong government granted to HGC, Wharf T&T and New World allowing them to gain unbundled access to PCCW-HKT’s copper wiring network at the local exchange level for a current monthly charge of HK$42 per access line. Based on OFTA statistics, there were 407,422 access lines connected via Type II interconnection at Point A as of August 31, 2003, which represents 10.7% of the total market and 43.0% of the total lines provided by operators other than PCCW-HKT. To encourage upgrading and continued investment in telecommunications infrastructure, the Telecommunication Authority announced in June 2004 that mandatory Type II interconnection at Point A would be phased out by June 2008. For a more detailed description, please refer to the section entitled “Hong Kong Regulatory Overview—Telecommunications Industry—Recent Regulatory Developments in the Telecommunications Industry—Review of the Type II Interconnection Policy” in this prospectus.

 

The following table summarizes the total number of fixed lines for local telephony by connection type as of August 31, 2003:

 

    

Number of lines

connected via Type II

interconnection

at Point A


  

Number of lines

connected via direct

access to buildings


  

Total

number of lines


   Market Share

 

PCCW-HKT

   0    2,865,970    2,865,970    75.2 %

Aggregate of other market participants(1)

   407,422    538,307    945,729    24.8 %
    
  
  
  

Total

   407,422    3,404,277    3,811,699    100.0 %
    
  
  
  


Source: OFTA.

 

(1) The other market participants in addition to ourselves are HGC, New World and Wharf T&T.

 

Competition

 

PCCW-HKT, the incumbent and largest fixed telecommunications network operator in Hong Kong, announced that it had a market share of approximately 69% with respect to local telephony services as of

 

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September 30, 2004. Because of PCCW-HKT’s dominant position, PCCW-HKT is required to allow interconnection to its fixed telecommunications network to other licensed fixed telecommunications network operators as discussed above. The remainder of the market is shared among ourselves and three other alternative carriers HGC, New World and Wharf T&T. The principal basis of competition for local telephony is price and brand name recognition. PCCW-HKT has the highest brand name recognition, but we and the other competitors are growing our subscription bases by offering competitively priced local telephony services that provide comparable quality to PCCW-HKT. As of August 31, 2004, we had approximately 237,000 local VOIP subscriptions, including approximately 16,000 corporate subscriptions. Our market share with respect to local residential telephony services amounts to approximately 10% as of August 31, 2004. We continue to grow our subscription base and as of December 15, 2004 we had approximately 253,000 local VOIP subscriptions.

 

There have been a number of developments that could result in changes to the competitive environment with respect to fixed line local telephony services in Hong Kong. On January 20, 2005, PCCW announced it had formed a strategic business alliance with or China Netcom, one of China’s major telecommunications companies. Under this alliance, China Netcom will pay approximately US$1.0 billion in cash for newly issued PCCW shares, resulting in its holding 20% of PCCW’s share capital. This transaction may result in increased competition for us and other Hong Kong telecommunications companies if PCCW is able to combine its size and market position with the increased capital provided by China Netcom to decrease prices. Additionally, in 2003, PCCW-HKT applied for two declarations of non-dominance with respect to the markets for residential and business fixed line telephone services. In response to these applications, OFTA issued a new fixed carrier license to PCCW-HKT on January 14, 2005. Under this new license, PCCW-HKT is not required to obtain prior approval from the Telecommunications Authority before adjusting its tariffs on residential and business direct exchange line telephone services, including moves to offer discounts and other benefits in response to price competition. We anticipate this development will increase pricing competition further in an already competitive market. The competitive environment under which we currently operate may also be affected by the ongoing changes in the regulatory framework in Hong Kong including the phasing out of Type II interconnections at Point A by June 2008 and the possible introduction of a new regulatory framework for local VOIP services.

 

Pay-Television Services

 

Hong Kong has a history of rapidly adopting new forms of communications and entertainment, such as mobile phones, video rental, computer games and karaoke. Prior to the entrance of competitors in Hong Kong’s pay-TV market in 2003, the market penetration rate was low compared to other developed countries in the region and globally. i-Cable is the established incumbent pay-TV operator and has been offering pay-TV services since October 1993. i-Cable has announced that it had approximately 656,000 pay-TV subscribers as of December 31, 2003, which represents a 30.2% household penetration.

 

The following table shows i-Cable’s subscriber growth for the periods indicated:

 

     As of December 31,

    As of
June 30,


 
     1995

    1996

    1997

    1998

    1999

    2000

    2001

    2002

    2003

    2004

 

i-Cable pay-TV subscribers (in millions)

   0.16     0.31     0.39     0.41     0.45     0.52     0.56     0.61     0.66     0.68  

Year-on-Year growth (%)

   NA     97.4 %   25.0 %   5.5 %   11.6 %   15.2 %   7.5 %   8.0 %   8.3 %   9.1 %

Households (in millions)

   1.78     1.86     1.92     1.96     2.00     2.04     2.08     2.13     2.17     2.22  

i-Cable pay-TV penetration (%)

   8.7 %   16.5 %   20.0 %   20.7 %   22.7 %   25.6 %   27.0 %   28.4 %   30.2 %   30.7 %

Sources: i-Cable Communications Limited; Census and Statistics Department of the Hong Kong Government.

 

We launched our IP-TV service in August 2003 and the other competitors are also relative newcomers with PCCW-HKT (through its subsidiary PCCW-IMS Limited) launching its pay-TV services in September 2003 and Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting Limited, or Galaxy, launching its pay-TV services in February 2004. PCCW-HKT

 

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also uses IP technology to provide its services while Galaxy uses satellite based/coaxial technology. As of August 31, 2004 we had approximately 31,000 subscriptions and as of December 15, 2004 we had approximately 36,000 subscriptions for our IP-TV services.

 

Competition

 

Our three main competitors in the pay-TV business are i-Cable, PCCW-HKT and Galaxy. The pay-TV services of i-Cable and PCCW-HKT include a significant amount of English language content such as English Premier League Football, HBO, Cinemax, ESPN and others. We target a different market than these competitors by offering predominantly Chinese language content, and pricing our IP-TV service attractively to the residential mass market.

 

Free-to-air television stations offering Chinese language content attract more than 85% of the prime-time television viewership in Hong Kong, which is illustrated in the table below:

 

      

Period between September 13, 2004

and December 5, 2004


 

Station


     Language

     Station Viewership Share

 

TVB Jade

     Chinese      72 %

ATV Home

     Chinese      16 %

TVB Pearl

     English      4 %

ATV World

     English      2 %

i-Cable

     Mixed      6 %
             

              100 %
             


Source: Nielsen Media Research.

 

Television Broadcasts Limited and Asia Television Limited, commonly known as TVB and ATV, respectively, are indirect competitors to our pay-TV services in the Hong Kong television market. TVB and ATV account for a substantial proportion of Hong Kong’s television viewership and we market our services as supplemental to theirs. TVB’s Cantonese channel is the dominant channel in Hong Kong with approximately 72% of prime-time viewership during the period between September 13, 2004, and December 5, 2004. TVB and ATV are supported by advertising revenues and, therefore, must design their programming to attract the widest possible audience. In contrast, we and the other pay-TV operators rely on monthly subscription fees for most of our revenues. Other competitors include satellite TV operators, such as Star TV, as well as potential competition from direct-to-home broadcasters and broadcasters using digital terrestrial delivery methods.

 

International Telecommunications Services

 

Background

 

Prior to March 31, 1998, Hong Kong Telecom International Limited, or HKTI, was the exclusive provider of all external telecommunications facilities and certain external telecommunications services in Hong Kong. Only HKTI was permitted to operate international transmission infrastructure in Hong Kong. All outgoing international traffic originating from telecommunications licensees, fixed network operators, or mobile telephone service providers in Hong Kong was carried through HKTI’s international transmission infrastructure for connection to overseas destinations. Incoming international traffic from overseas countries was also routed from HKTI’s transmission infrastructure to the network of the particular local fixed network operator or mobile telephone service provider in Hong Kong.

 

Over the past decade, the Hong Kong government has adopted policies and regulations to liberalize the telecommunications industry in Hong Kong, including issuing new wireless and wire-line FTNS Licenses. Full liberalization of external telecommunications services commenced on January 1, 1999 and competition for

 

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external facilities commenced on January 1, 2000. Hong Kong residents now enjoy IDD service to 233 countries and regions; and most cities and towns in mainland China. In 2003, the volume of outgoing and incoming traffic for international telephone calls was 4,232.6 million minutes and 1,676.2 million minutes, respectively, according to OFTA. Competition has resulted in a substantial reduction in IDD tariffs and improvement in the quality of services.

 

As of November 3, 2004, there were approximately 230 PNETS Licenses issued by OFTA to local and foreign-based operators for providing external telecommunications services in Hong Kong. Some of the PNETS Licenses have been issued to subsidiaries of major foreign telecommunications providers, which include Singapore Telecom from Singapore, KDDI Corporation from Japan, British Telecom from the United Kingdom, AT&T from the United States, and China Unicom and China Netcom from China. As a result, the international telecommunications services industry in Hong Kong has become highly competitive.

 

International telecommunications traffic in Hong Kong

 

International telecommunications traffic in Hong Kong has increased significantly during the past four years. Total international traffic measured by number of IDD call-minutes increased by more than 38% during the period from December 31, 2000 to December 31, 2003.

 

The following table sets out the growth of international traffic in Hong Kong during the previous four years:

 

     For the year ended December 31,

  

For the nine

months ended

September 30,


     2000

   2001

   2002

   2003

   2004

Total outgoing minutes (in millions)(1)

   3,074.9    3,487.3    3,950.9    4,232.6    3,632.3

Total incoming minutes (in millions)

   1,858.0    1,942.3    1,756.0    1,676.2    1,448.2

Source: OFTA.

 

(1) Includes facsimile and data traffic.

 

Competition

 

PCCW-HKT, HGC, New World, and Wharf T&T are our main competitors in the international telecommunications business. As in previous years, we experienced fierce price competition in Hong Kong during fiscal 2004. This competition drove down the average tariff rates per minutes and we expect this price competition to continue in fiscal 2005, but anticipate that the decline in average prices will be less than in fiscal 2004. In order to maintain our market share and high traffic volume, we have significantly reduced some of our international telecommunications rates and introduce new marketing and promotional offers from time to time. We also employ two brand names, IDD 1666 and IDD 0030, to provide us with flexibility in our marketing strategies. However, to offset these price reductions, we have taken steps to reduce our cost base, such as using our relatively large traffic volume to negotiate lower prices from our international partners, establishing a call center in Guangzhou to provide customer acquisition and back office support services, and developing our own international telecommunications infrastructure.

 

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BUSINESS

 

Overview

 

We are a fast growing and innovative provider of residential and corporate fixed telecommunications network and international telecommunications services in Hong Kong. Using our self-owned Metro Ethernet network, we deliver fixed telecommunications network services to the residential mass and small- to-medium enterprise market segments, at attractive prices while simultaneously offering a bandwidth advantage over comparable offerings by our competitors. Our integrated suite of services includes the following:

 

    high-speed broadband Internet access services that provide our customers with symmetric access speeds of up to 100 Mbps upstream and downstream;

 

    fixed line local telephony through our voice-over-Internet-Protocol technology;

 

    pay television, where we deliver more than 35 channels including self-produced news, children’s programming and local interest programming using our IP platform; and

 

    corporate data services, which includes provision of dedicated bandwidth to corporate customers.

 

As of August 31, 2004 we had a total of approximately 465,000 fixed telecommunications network services subscriptions, consisting of approximately 197,000 broadband Internet access, 237,000 local VOIP and 31,000 IP-TV services subscriptions, and as of December 15, 2004, we had a total of approximately 490,000 subscriptions, consisting of approximately 201,000 broadband Internet access, 253,000 local VOIP and 36,000 IP-TV services subscriptions.

 

In addition to providing fixed telecommunications network services, we believe that we are one of the largest providers of international telecommunications services in Hong Kong. We offer a variety of international telecommunications services and products including direct dial services, international calling cards and mobile call forwarding services. Our total international telecommunications services customer database comprises approximately 1.9 million registered accounts with an average of 500,000 customers that are billed on a monthly basis. Our international telecommunications business contributed approximately 50% to our gross profit in fiscal 2004, providing us with a stable source of cash flow with minimal additional capital investment, which complements our fast-growing fixed telecommunications network services business.

 

Our self-owned network is one of the world’s largest Metro Ethernet networks and is cited as a global reference case by our two primary vendors, Cisco Systems, Inc. and Nortel Networks Limited. Our Metro Ethernet network conforms to industry standards for 10/100/1,000 Mbps Internet access speeds, and covers 1.2 million home passes, which represents coverage of approximately 60% of Hong Kong’s population. The coverage of our network is concentrated in Hong Kong’s most densely populated areas and reaches approximately 3,000 residential buildings with an average of approximately 400 residences per building, and approximately 610 commercial buildings, making us one of the largest residential fixed telecommunications network operators in Hong Kong.

 

In most other markets, Metro Ethernet technology is primarily used in commercial buildings in metropolitan areas, as the technology is most cost effective in dense user populations where a provider can service a large number of users in a single building or cluster of buildings. We have deployed Metro Ethernet technology in densely populated residential areas in Hong Kong, where most of our customers live in high-rise apartment buildings with multiple apartments on each floor. As a result, we have contained the cost of deploying of our core network to approximately US$130 per home pass. Our strategy is to sell multiple fixed telecommunications network services using our Metro Ethernet network. All of our fixed telecommunications network services are offered through our single IP platform, unlike our competitors who use multiple platforms to provide comparable services. In addition, unlike most of our competitors, we operate an “end-to-end” network that extends from our IP network hub sites and our switching centers in Hong Kong to our subscribers’ premises.

 

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Hong Kong has one of the most developed telecommunications markets in the world with one of the world’s highest penetration rates for local telephony and broadband Internet access services. As of December 31, 2003, the penetration rates of residential fixed line local telephony and residential broadband Internet access were 98% and 52% of Hong Kong households, respectively. However, since 1995, when the Hong Kong government began to liberalize Hong Kong’s telecommunications industry, PCCW-HKT (the incumbent carrier and largest fixed telecommunications network telecommunications operator in Hong Kong) began to lose its 100% market share and as of September 30, 2004 retained a 69% market share with respect to fixed line local telephony services. We believe this provides an opportunity for us to continue growing market share for our local VOIP services.

 

In contrast, Hong Kong’s pay-TV penetration rate is low compared to other developed countries in the region and globally. While i-Cable is the established incumbent and has been offering pay-TV services since October 1993, it had penetrated only 31% of Hong Kong’s households as of June 30, 2004. We believe that this and the fact that Hong Kong is primarily served by free-to-air television stations will enable us to increase penetration of our IP-TV services. In addition, Chinese-language programs broadcast by free-to-air television stations in Hong Kong attract over 85% of primetime viewership. We produce and obtain programming that targets Hong Kong’s under served largely Chinese-speaking mass market, which we believe differentiates us from our competitors. We launched our IP-TV services in August 2003 and the other competitors in the pay-TV market are also relative newcomers, with PCCW-HKT launching its services in September 2003 and Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting Limited, the newest entrant, launching its services in February 2004.

 

We believe that our demonstrated success is primarily due to our ability to capitalize on the following key strengths:

 

    Focus on the Residential Mass and Small-To-Medium Enterprise Market Segments. We focus on offering high-bandwidth services to the residential mass and small-to-medium enterprise market segments, which we believe have significant growth potential. We price our services attractively and at the same time offer bandwidth advantages over comparable service offerings by our competitors. Our IP-TV services focus on the residential mass market by providing Chinese-language content that targets the Chinese-speaking population of Hong Kong, which we believe to be largely under served. Our focus on the residential mass and small-to-medium enterprise market segments has enabled us to quickly grow our subscription base and we believe this will help us to up-sell our services.

 

    Leading-Edge Metro Ethernet Network. Our network deploys Ethernet technology provided by Cisco Systems, Inc.. We believe our Metro Ethernet network gives us an inherent cost and performance advantage over our competitors. Our IP platform is highly scalable, enabling us to offer broadband Internet access, local VOIP, IP-TV and corporate data services over a single network while still leaving us with capacity to offer more services in the future. It is also capable of providing symmetric 1,000 Mbps broadband Internet access services. Our recent “BB100” 100 Mbps broadband service launch highlights the bandwidth advantage of our Metro Ethernet network over xDSL or cable modem services. Ethernet technology is “off-the-shelf” and has long been deployed for large enterprises, but we believe we are one of the first to deploy this technology for the residential mass market.

 

    First Mover Advantage and High Barriers to Entry. Our first mover advantage and the inherent characteristics of the Hong Kong telecommunications infrastructure, which present a natural barrier to entry, make it difficult for our competitors to replicate our business model. Metro Ethernet technology is not appropriate for our competitors who intend to offer a full coverage network that includes remote and difficult to reach areas of Hong Kong. Attempting to deploy Metro Ethernet technology in such locations would significantly increase costs and completion time of such a network. While other telecommunications operators may lay their own fiber-to-the-building, we believe they would encounter significant in-building bottlenecks when attempting to complete an end-to-end network. This is because the majority of Hong Kong’s residential properties have limited space for in-building wiring leading to subscribers’ residences, making it difficult for new entrants to replicate our end-to-end network build.

 

   

Innovative and Highly Committed Management Team. Since our inception in 1992, our management team has built a strong track record as an industry innovator and has successfully led us in competing

 

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against larger and better resourced operators. Our management team has consistently demonstrated its ability to quickly capitalize on developments in the Hong Kong regulatory environment that allow us to expand our service offerings and grow our market share. Our senior management team owns approximately 56% of the company and does not have any material outside business interests. Our management’s ownership interest represents a long-term commitment and significant performance incentive.

 

    Strong Brand and Targeted Marketing Strategy. We have an established brand name that is identified with high quality and competitively priced telecommunications services in Hong Kong. In order to further promote our brand recognition and to reach a wider subscription base, we have established a network of promoters, sales agents and telemarketers that personally contact potential and existing customers. In addition, we proactively market our services through a mix of promotions and advertising. We have also established a call center in Guangzhou, China with over 1,900 customer service personnel, which provides us with a highly cost efficient resource for processing, servicing and acquiring customers.

 

History and Development of City Telecom

 

Since our inception in 1992, we have built a consistent track record as an industry innovator and have successfully competed against larger and better resourced operators. We believe that one of the cornerstones of our success has been our ability to quickly expand our service offerings when changes in regulation or technology have provided us with an opportunity to do so. Some of the key events in our history and development have been:

 

    In November 2004, HKBN launched our “BB100” Internet access service with symmetric 100 Mbps access for the residential mass market using self-owned fiber-to-the-building and standard Cat-5e in-building copper wiring.

 

    In August 2004, HKBN launched our off-network BB Phone services, which allows subscribers to use our local VOIP services using the broadband network of other operators.

 

    In July 2004, HKBN launched our corporate data services.

 

    In August 2003, HKBN launched our IP-TV service, which delivers video content to a television set via an IP set-top-box.

 

    In July 2003, we sold the entire issued share capital of City Telecom (Japan) Co., Ltd. to Takua Corporation; City Telecom (Japan) Co., Ltd. (now known as City Call Co., Ltd.) ceased to be related to our group of companies.

 

    In July 2002, we established a customer service call center in Guangzhou, China to provide customer acquisition and back office customer support services.

 

    In June 2002, we launched a new access number “0030” for our international telecommunications services, which offers international direct dialing at competitive calling rates.

 

    In May 2002, we started operation of our APCN 2 and Japan-U.S. undersea cables for international calls and broadband Internet access.

 

    In April 2002, HKBN was notified of our license upgrade from a wireless to a wireline-based FTNS License and we began upgrading our backbone to a self-owned fiber-based backbone. In that same month HKBN launched our fixed line on-network local VOIP services in Hong Kong.

 

    In March 2002, the Telecommunications Authority granted us a cable-based external FTNS License.

 

    In May 2001, the Telecommunications Authority granted us a satellite-based fixed carrier license.

 

    In March 2000, HKBN launched our broadband Internet access services and wireless network in Hong Kong.

 

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    In February 2000, HKBN obtained a wireless FTNS License from the Telecommunications Authority.

 

    In November 1999, we successfully completed a global offering of shares and listed our American depositary shares on the Nasdaq Stock Market.

 

    In January 1999, we became the first Hong Kong company to obtain a PNETS License covering the provision of international telecommunications services using international simple resale and launched a new direct calling service for our international telecommunications operations with the access number 1666, supported by the international simple resale arrangement.

 

    In November 1998, OFTA announced that PCCW-HKT would lose its monopoly over voice transmission using international simple resale effective in January 1999.

 

    In February 1998, PCCW-HKT lost its monopoly over facsimile transmission using international simple resale. We launched our fax services using international simple resale in the same month. We launched our first Internet related service, CTIm@il, which provides email services, in March 1998. We launched our Internet business, named CTInets, in June 1998.

 

    In August 1997, we completed the initial public offering of our shares, which were listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong.

 

    In January 1997, we launched our fourth international telecommunications service, the IDD 300 Calling Service. In March of that year, to target our prospective and existing corporate subscribers, we established INC as a special business unit dedicated to providing high-quality, competitively priced international telecommunications services to corporations in Hong Kong. In June 1997, we obtained a PNETS License from the Telecommunications Authority for the provision of virtual private network services, catering to the needs of multinational corporations.

 

    In January 1994, we introduced a second international telecommunications service, marketed under the name 003 International Guaranteed Fax Service, using the store-and-forward transmission technology. In September 1994, we launched a third international telecommunications service, called GlobaLink International Calling Card Service.

 

    In May 1993, we obtained a PNETS License.

 

    In September 1992, we began to provide international telecommunications service using the toll-free transit communication technology, later marketed under the name 888 International Calling Card Service.

 

We were incorporated in Hong Kong on May 19, 1992 under the Companies Ordinance (Cap 32 of Hong Kong). Our registered office is located at Floors 13-16, Trans Asia Centre, 18 Kin Hong Street, Kwai Chung, Hong Kong, telephone (852) 3145-6888. Our agent for U.S. federal securities laws purposes is CT Corporation System, 111 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10011.

 

Business Strategy

 

Our overall strategy is to grow market share, increase our network coverage and introduce new services through our IP platform. Key components of this strategy include:

 

    Increase Penetration within Existing Network Coverage. We intend to continuously increase the penetration within our existing network coverage and grow our market share through targeted sales and marketing efforts. In May 2004 we launched our “free appliances” promotion and introduced long-term 24 to 36 month subscription contracts for our local VOIP services. We revised our customer acquisition strategy from a price centric approach towards a focus on the bandwidth advantages that we offer and signing customers to long-term value contracts. We expect that this strategy will decrease churn rates and customer retention costs as well as set the foundation to up-sell other services to our subscription base over time.

 

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    Expand and Upgrade our Network Coverage. Our self-owned Metro Ethernet network currently covers 1.2 million home passes, representing approximately 60% of Hong Kong’s population. With this network foundation in place we will focus our efforts in the next several years on expanding our network coverage to 1.8 million home passes, representing over 80% of Hong Kong’s population. After establishing a strong base in the mass market, we plan to broaden our customer base into the remaining market segments. We also intend to continue upgrading the existing wireless and leased wireline-based backbone in our network infrastructure with our own fiber-based backbone. In fiscal 2004 we reduced the percentage of our home passes serviced by wireless backbone from 60% to 28% and we plan to have at least 90% of our home passes serviced by self-owned fiber-based backbone by the end of fiscal 2005.

 

    Offer High-Value Services at Competitive Prices. We focus on providing high bandwidth services at attractive prices for the residential mass and small-to-medium enterprise market segments. In November 2004 we launched our leading-edge “BB100” broadband Internet access service with symmetric 100 Mbps upstream and downstream bandwidth at prices affordable for residential customers. Our “BB100” service is 16 times faster for downstream transmission and 155 times faster for upstream transmission than the bandwidth offered by the most popular ADSL broadband Internet access service in Hong Kong. Similarly, our IP-TV service includes over 35 channels with a large selection of Chinese-language channels targeted at Hong Kong’s largely Chinese-speaking population at competitive prices.

 

    Up-sell Multiple Services. We employ customized and targeted sales and marketing efforts to up-sell multiple services to each subscriber. The scalability of our network allows us to sell additional services to our existing customers, for example adding local VOIP or IP-TV services to our current broadband Internet subscribers, with minimal additional network and operating costs. As a result, each new service we sell to our existing subscription base contributes significantly to our profitability. If we successfully up-sell additional services to our existing subscriber base, this will result in higher revenues per subscriber, lower our average customer acquisition costs and help to decrease subscriber churn.

 

    Introduce New Services on our Single IP Platform. The single IP platform of our Metro Ethernet network provides us with a structural advantage over our competitors and enables us to offer multiple services at low incremental costs. We are committed to continuing to introduce innovative and high bandwidth services in the future, including “BB1000”, our planned symmetric 1,000 Mbps (1 Gbps) upstream and downstream broadband Internet access, which we target for release in the second quarter of 2005. We also plan to offer pay-TV services to our subscribers over our Metro Ethernet network that our customers will be able to watch using a personal computer without the need for a set-top-box. As part of our corporate data services, we recently began to offer backbone transmission services for mobile operators in Hong Kong.

 

Fixed Telecommunications Network Services

 

Metro Ethernet Network Infrastructure

 

Our Metro Ethernet network is formed by using our own fiber-based backbone, wireless technology or leased wireline-based backbone to connect our in-building Ethernet infrastructures to our IP hub sites and switching centers in Hong Kong. Our Ethernet infrastructure is a system of Cat-5e copper wiring that connects our subscribers’ premises to our local area network, or LAN, switches within a residential or commercial building. We aim to reduce our reliance on leasing wireline-based backbone from other network operators, increase our capacity and improve the quality of our service by continuing to replace wireless backbone with our own fiber-based backbone. In fiscal 2004 we reduced the percentage of our home-passes serviced by wireless backbone from 60% to 28% and we plan to have at least 90% of our home-passes serviced by self-owned fiber-based backbone by the end of fiscal 2005.

 

We began replacing the existing wireless and leased wireline-based backbone and installing our own fiber-based backbone in April 2002 when we received confirmation of our wireless FTNS License upgrade to a wireline-based FTNS License. When we began these replacements, we initially selected locations with the

 

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highest population density because our fiber-based backbone increased our capacity to handle the high traffic volume in such locations. We intend to continue making investments in our own fiber-based backbone in locations where we deem the economic returns sufficiently high to make replacement of the wireless and leased wireline-based backbone cost-effective. Until we complete construction of our own fiber-based backbone, we will continue to rely on our wireless technology and leased capacity on wireline-based networks from other fixed network operators.

 

The high capacity of our fiber-based backbone has enabled us to offer a suite of services on a single IP network platform. These services include our broadband Internet access, local VOIP, IP-TV and corporate data services. We made capital expenditures for our fixed telecommunications network infrastructure of approximately HK$229.0 million in fiscal 2003 and HK$392.9 million in fiscal 2004. We plan to further make total capital expenditures of approximately HK$990.0 million in fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2006 in large part to continue replacing the wireless and leased wireline-based backbone with our own fiber-based backbone and extending the reach of our Metro Ethernet network. The service area of our Metro Ethernet network currently includes approximately 1.2 million home passes, representing approximately 60% of Hong Kong’s population. We plan to extend our Metro Ethernet network coverage to 1.8 million home passes, covering approximately 80% of Hong Kong’s population. As we expand the reach and coverage of our Metro Ethernet network, we plan to continue introducing new services.

 

The first step in expanding the reach of our fixed telecommunications network infrastructure is to select buildings that we believe will provide sufficient economic returns to justify our investment based on several factors, including population density, proximity of the building to our existing fiber loop and our projected ability to sell services. We then perform a site visit to analyze the feasibility of installing our Ethernet technology. Once we are satisfied with the prospects of a particular building, we must obtain access rights from the building’s management, which may take several weeks or months. After receiving access rights, we employ a combination of our full-time staff and contractors to begin installation of our in-building Ethernet. The length of time required for the installation process depends on the size and structural features of the building and can be completed in as little as three weeks or take several months. As we install our in-building Ethernet we simultaneously connect the building to our fiber-based backbone. All the buildings that we reach through our expansion efforts will be served by our self-owned infrastructure.

 

The fixed cost of installing the complete Ethernet within a residential building, which includes reaching the subscriber’s premises with our Cat-5e copper wiring are relatively high. However, our network is highly scalable because once the in-building wiring is completed the incremental cost of adding subscriptions is small. This is because the next step is simply to make a connection between the subscriber and our in-building LAN ports and, in the case of our IP-TV services, providing the customer with an IP set-top-box.

 

The following table shows the growth of in our fixed telecommunications network subscriptions over the past five years:

 

     As of August 31,

     2000

   2001

   2002

   2003

   2004

Fixed Telecommunications Network Services Subscriptions:

                        

Broadband Internet Access

   1,600    17,700    130,000    172,000    197,000

Local VOIP(1)

   —      —      21,000    140,000    237,000

IP-TV

   —      —      —      —      31,000
    
  
  
  
  

Total

   1,600    17,700    151,000    312,000    465,000
    
  
  
  
  

(1) Includes only on-network subscriptions.

 

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Internet Access

 

HKBN began offering our broadband Internet services in March 2000 after it received a wireless FTNS License from the Telecommunications Authority to provide fixed telecommunications network services in Hong Kong using wireless technologies such as local multi-point distribution systems. Our goal is to build on our position as a leading provider of broadband Internet services in Hong Kong and increase the revenue we generate from Hong Kong’s Internet access market. Our subscription base for broadband Internet access has increased each year since we introduced this service and has expanded to approximately 197,000 broadband Internet access subscriptions as of August 31, 2004 and approximately 201,000 broadband Internet access subscriptions as of December 15, 2004. We use this subscription base to up-sell our other fixed telecommunications network services. In addition to broadband Internet access services, we also currently provide 56k dial-up Internet access and corporate Internet access via resales of PCCW’s Megalink/Mega-access. However, we are focusing exclusively on growing our subscription base for our high bandwidth broadband Internet access services and are making no further investments in dial-up or Megalink/Mega-access services.

 

We currently provide broadband Internet access to our residential and corporate customers at access speeds of up to 100 Mbps, but the majority of our customers currently have access speeds of up to 10 Mbps. We currently offer “BB10”, our basic symmetric 10 Mbps broadband Internet access service plan to residential customers with unlimited Internet access for a monthly fee ranging from HK$96 to HK$258. Further, we now offer “BB100” services that provides symmetric 100 Mbps broadband Internet access for monthly fees starting at HK$268. All of our broadband Internet access packages offer a free e-mail service that provides up to 10 megabytes of on-network storage. Additionally, all packages include a variety of value added services. We frequently change our promotions in response to market conditions or as a way of attracting additional subscribers.

 

In addition to the residential packages described above, we have also developed broadband promotions that target corporate customers. We offer prepackaged plans that provide access at speeds up to 10 Mbps and will soon offer plans that provide speeds up to 100 Mbps, which include on-site training, on-site maintenance support, high capacity data transfer and e-mail services. Corporate customers that subscribe to prepackaged plans pay fixed monthly subscription fees that range from HK$168 to HK$5,200.

 

Local VOIP

 

In April 2002, we began offering our on-network local VOIP services in Hong Kong. To provide local telephony service, we install IP-based voice switching equipment in locations already covered by our Metro Ethernet network. Voice signals are transmitted by the VOIP switches into the Ethernet network installed in the subscriber’s building. The capital cost of installing VOIP switches is small because the scalability of our Metro Ethernet network allows us to provide new services over existing infrastructure with only minimal additional equipment. In addition, we now install such voice switching equipment together with our new installations of broadband equipment in some buildings.

 

The quality of our local VOIP service is indistinguishable from traditional fixed line local telephony services and customers are able to use their existing telephone equipment. In addition, fixed line telephony subscribers switching to our local VOIP services are able to retain their existing local telephone number via fixed line number portability.

 

As of August 31, 2004, we had over 237,000 local VOIP subscriptions, including approximately 16,000 corporate local VOIP subscriptions, and as of December 15, 2004, we had over 253,000 subscriptions, including approximately 19,000 corporate subscriptions. We currently charge from HK$48 to HK$128 per month for our basic local VOIP services depending on the service plan, and we offer a full range of value added services, including call waiting, caller display and conference call services.

 

We also began offering two off-network local VOIP services in August 2004, our “BB Phone” and “BB Talk” services. BB Phone allows subscribers to use our local VOIP services via the broadband network of other

 

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operators. While our terms and conditions do not permit our subscribers to use this service outside of Hong Kong, the use of the broadband network of other operators technically allows subscribers to retain a local Hong Kong phone number in locations outside of Hong Kong so long as the BB Phone equipment is connected to a broadband network. Calls originating from Hong Kong to a BB Phone located outside of Hong Kong are treated as a local call. Our BB Talk services are similar to our BB Phone services in that it can be used on the broadband network of other service providers, but BB Talk enables voice communication through a personal computer with no additional equipment. BB Talk services allow a subscriber to use a local Hong Kong phone number at locations outside of Hong Kong so long as the subscriber’s computer is connected to a broadband network.

 

We may be prohibited from providing our off-network local VOIP services in the future depending on the outcome of a judicial review proceeding brought by PCCW-HKT against the Telecommunications Authority. For more information see “Risk Factors—PCCW-HKT and PCCW-IMS have brought legal proceedings against the Telecommunications Authority that, if decided unfavorably against the Telecommunications Authority, could adversely affect our ability to provide local VOIP services accessible over the broadband connections provided by other operators” and “—Legal and Regulatory Proceedings” in this prospectus.

 

IP-TV

 

In August 2003 we introduced our IP-TV service that provides DVD quality video delivered via our Metro Ethernet network to an IP set-top-box connected to the subscriber’s television set. This monthly subscription-based pay television service offers more than 35 channels consisting of a 24-hour news channel and other education and recreation channels (including children’s programming) that we produce, and channels whose content is obtained from other content-providers. Our news production team consists of a staff of 80 employees and produces an average of 40-50 news stories per day for our 24-hour news cycle. We have three in-house production studios, two of which were constructed during fiscal 2004 in order to improve the quality of our production.

 

Our service is distinguished from PCCW-HKT’s pay-TV services, which also uses a broadband network to provide its pay-TV services, because we do not bundle our IP-TV services with our other fixed telecommunications network services. Our customers may subscribe to our IP-TV services as a stand-alone service without incurring any additional charges, while PCCW-HKT primarily offers its pay-TV services to its existing broadband Internet access subscribers. Because of the scalability of our Metro Ethernet network infrastructure, the current cost of adding IP-TV services to an existing broadband Internet access or local VOIP subscriber is small. We launched our IP-TV services at an introductory price at HK$88 per month and then increased our monthly charge to HK$108. We have subsequently increased the fee to HK$128 for package of more than 35 channels. In our first year of pay television operations, we had acquired approximately 31,000 IP-TV subscriptions as of August 31, 2004. We had approximately 36,000 IP-TV subscribers as of December 15, 2004.

 

Our strategy is to achieve pay-TV subscription penetration by producing local content consisting primarily of news, children’s programming and local interest programming and obtaining Chinese language content from other television content producers in order to target the largely Chinese speaking population of Hong Kong. Over 70% of the channels we provide are either in Mandarin or Cantonese, which we believe distinguishes us from our two largest competitors.

 

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The following table describes the channels and the content of our programming that we provide through our IP-TV service:

 

Channel


  

Programming


  

Primary Language


News and Information:

         

Preview

Local News

Public Information

CCTV-4 (Chinese International)

CCTV-9 (English International)

Lotus

BBC World

ChannelNews Asia

CBN

Phoenix Info News Channel

  

Channel information

Self-produced local news

News and current affairs

News & Chinese culture

News & information

Financial news

International news

International news

Macau news & information

International & Greater China news

  

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

English

Chinese

English

English

Chinese

Chinese

International Entertainment:

ABC Asia Pacific

TV5

Deutsche Welle TV

  

Australian integrated channel

French integrated channel

German integrated channel

  

English

French

German

Life Style & Infotainment:

Chong Qing TV

Southern Television

Television Station of Shenzhen

Shanxi Television Station

Yunnan TV

MASTV

ETTV Asia

Da-ai Television

Beautiful Life TV

Angel Channel

Phoenix Chinese Channel

Voyages

  

Chong Qing integrated channel

Guangzhou integrated channel

Shenzhen integrated channel

Shanxi integrated channel

Yunnan integrated channel

Macau integrated channel

Taiwan integrated channel

Taiwan family channel

Taiwan Buddhist channel

Christian channel

Documentary & features

Travel channel

  

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Movie:

         

Movie Channel

MATV 1

HK Movie Channel

Hallmark Channel

  

Local Chinese movies

Local Chinese movies

Local Chinese movies

Drama & cinema channel

  

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

English

Children & Education:

         

Supplementary Lessons 1

Supplementary Lessons 2

Nickelodeon Asia Channel

Animax

  

Self-produced children’s education

(primary 1 to 3)

Self-produced children’s education

(primary 4 to 6)

Cartoons & kids program

Japanese animation

  

Chinese

Chinese

English

Japanese/Chinese

Music:

         

MTV Asia

Chinese Opera

  

Music

Arts and culture

  

English

Chinese

Sports:

         

Eurosportnews

HK Sports News

  

Sports news

Self-produced sports news

  

English

Chinese

Adult(1):

         

Adult Preview Channel

Japanese AV Channel

  

Adult

Adult

  

Chinese

Japanese

 

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Channel


  

Programming


  

Primary Language


5X Adult Theatre

Ice Fire Threatre

Adultland

  

Adult

Adult

Adult

  

Chinese/Japanese/English

Japanese/Korean

Chinese/Japanese/English

Interactive Channels:

         

Program Schedule

Program Highlights

Weather Report

Real-time News

QPI Real-time Stock Quote

Customer Service

CTI Shopping Mall

Photo Album

Movie Guide

Community Channel

Frequently Used Telephones

SMS & Email

Games

Football Odds

16-in-1 Preview Channels

  

Program information

Program information

Real time weather report

Real time text news

Stock quote & stock market

information

Account management

TV Shopping

Personal album on TV

HK movie update

Useful district information

Phone directory

Communication applications

Interactive games

HK Jockey Club football betting

information

Channel information

  

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese


(1) These are premium channels where subscribers are charged an additional HK$38 to HK$58 per month depending on the channel.

 

We continually evaluate other sources of Chinese language and other programming and intend to selectively add additional channels to our IP-TV service when we identify cost-effective opportunities to do so.

 

Corporate Data Services

 

In July 2004, we commenced commercial trials of our corporate data services over our Metro Ethernet network. Our corporate data services includes E-1 and T-1 backbone connections and leased bandwidth capacity over our Metro Ethernet network for mobile and other telecommunications carriers, as well as connectivity for companies with multiple office locations within Hong Kong. We believe that the combination of our low cost base provided by our Metro Ethernet network and our extensive geographic coverage positions us well to be competitive in this market.

 

International Telecommunications Service

 

We were among the first companies to be granted a PNETS License by the Telecommunications Authority to provide international calling card services in Hong Kong. Since we first began providing international telecommunications services in 1992, we have greatly expanded the range of services that we offer. We now offer a variety of international direct dial services to our customers at competitive rates and are one of the largest providers of international direct dial services in Hong Kong. We believe that our ability to deliver a range of calling plans with varying features that cater to different customer needs has been one of the key factors of our success.

 

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The primary international telecommunications services that we currently offer our customers are the following:

 

Service


  

Description


IDD 1666

   Provides subscribers with international direct dial using the access number 1666 in Hong Kong

IDD 0030

   Provides subscribers with international direct dial using the access number 0030 in Hong Kong.

Mobile Call Forwarding Services

   Allows call forwarding of Hong Kong mobile numbers so that subscribers can receive calls while overseas

 

We offer our international telecommunications service under the IDD 1666 and IDD 0030 brand names. These two brands provide us with flexibility in our marketing strategies. We charge our IDD 1666 and IDD 0030 users a per minute tariff rate that varies according to the destination of the call, while IDD 0030 users are also provided discounts depending on the time of day or day of the week when the call is placed.

 

We actively promote our international telecommunications services to build our brand name awareness as one of Hong Kong’s leading telecommunications companies. In fiscal 2004, in order to maintain our market share, we made the decision to price our international telecommunications services at competitive levels with other market players to compete with their aggressive pricing strategies. While we experienced an increase in total traffic volume of 13.4% from 888.0 million minutes to 1,007.0 million minutes, our average prices per minute decreased 36.8% in fiscal 2004 compared to fiscal 2003. A principal reason for the decline in tariff rates was that in fiscal 2003, we increased our rates for outbound calls to China in response to an increase in the termination rates payable by us to our carrier partners for incoming telecommunications traffic into China due to the imposition by China’s MII of these rate increases. As approximately 65% of our outgoing calls in fiscal 2003 were to China, this increase had a significant effect on our average prices per minute. When our carrier partners subsequently reduced their termination charges, we were able to reduce our per minute charges as compared to fiscal 2003. As a result of the decline in tariff rates, our international telecommunications services revenue declined 28.3% from HK$875.8 million in fiscal 2003 to HK$628.0 million in fiscal 2004. We expect that pricing competition will continue, but anticipate that the decline in average prices will be less than in fiscal 2004. At present, we believe our long distance call rates are competitive with those quoted by the other four major local fixed network operators and other telecommunications providers for transmissions originating in Hong Kong to many destinations, including China, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

 

Our international telecommunications customer base consists of a mix of residential and corporate subscriptions. While we continued to focus on the residential sector in fiscal 2004, and achieved success with our IDD 0030 international calling service, we have also emphasized the development of our corporate customer services and offer customized special discounts to corporate subscribers. As of August 31, 2004, our registered residential customer base had increased by 21.7% to 1,819,481 compared to 1,495,229 at August 31, 2003, with an average of 500,000 customers that are billed on a monthly basis. To foster loyalty among our existing subscribers and increase our subscription base, we occasionally award free international calling minutes or other gifts for subscribers who maintain certain usage levels or refer our services to new customers.

 

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The following table shows the growth in our international telecommunications subscriptions and outgoing IDD minutes over the past five years:

 

     As of and for the year ended August 31,

     2000

   2001

   2002

   2003

   2004

Type of Account(1):

                        

Residential

   842,000    906,388    1,056,759    1,495,229    1,819,481

Corporate

   63,984    76,067    90,930    93,959    96,754
    
  
  
  
  

Total

   905,984    982,455    1,147,689    1,589,188    1,916,235
    
  
  
  
  

IDD Outgoing Minutes (in thousands)

   505,000    580,000    916,000    888,000    1,007,000

(1) Accounts refer to international telecommunications customers that have a valid account. Account holders may or may not be active users of our services.

 

International Telecommunications Network

 

Our international telecommunications network infrastructure is a system of switches, self-owned and leased backbone capacity, interconnection arrangements and undersea cables that connect the subscriber’s telephone call to its destination.

 

In March 2002, we received our license to provide undersea cable-based fixed telecommunications network services. This license allows us to purchase and operate our own undersea cables. In 2000, we entered into contracts with two large consortia of international telecommunications companies to acquire undersea cable capacity. Through the first contract, we invested in the Japan-U.S. undersea cable, which was completed in August 2001. Pursuant to the second contract, we agreed to jointly construct and maintain the Asia-Pacific Cable Network 2 undersea cable as an international transmission facility. Construction of the APCN 2 cable was completed, and commercial operation began, in May 2002. We spent a total of HK$120 million on these two projects. We believe the utilization of these undersea cables provides capacity for significant future growth of our international and fixed-network telecommunication services.

 

Having our own undersea cables and our fiber-based backbone has enabled us to better control international transmission quality, reduced the costs associated with international transmission and reduced our reliance on third party infrastructure. Our international telecommunications network currently has a monthly handling capacity of approximately 150 million minutes. We believe that the continuing improvement of our international telecommunications network is important in supporting the growth in our subscription base and the expansion of our range of services.

 

International Simple Resale

 

Our international simple resale license, which became effective in January 1999, has significantly changed the way that we provide our international telecommunications services. To connect an international call, we must transmit the signal between our switching systems and switching systems in the country to which the call is directed. Switching systems are the electronic systems that direct the telecommunications transmission to the selected international transmission circuit, take the signal from the international transmission circuit in the destination country and direct it to the local network for delivery to its destination.

 

Since receiving our PNETS License for the provision of external telecommunications service, we have acquired exclusive use of several leased international transmission circuits for direct transmission of international calls between our switching systems and switching systems in the destination countries under an international simple resale arrangement. Exclusive use of leased transmission circuits to transmit calls between switching systems has enhanced the quality of our international calls, reduced our reliance on third party infrastructure and lowered transmission costs of our services.

 

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Interconnection Arrangements

 

We have entered into interconnection arrangements with other local fixed network operators in Hong Kong and overseas carriers to transmit calls between Hong Kong and overseas destinations for our off-network customers. In choosing the local fixed network operators and overseas carriers with whom we cooperate, we take into account a number of factors including the level of termination charges and transmission efficiency and quality. We evaluate the performance of parties with whom we have interconnection arrangements periodically. We believe that we will not have difficulty in finding alternative overseas carriers if performance standards are not being met or a change is otherwise necessary. We have not experienced any disruption in the provision of our services as a result of a change of arrangements with overseas carriers or local fixed network operators.

 

We pay a fixed monthly fee to local fixed network operators for connection between our switches and their networks and a variable access fee payable on a per-minute basis when accessing their network. For customers using our own network, no interconnection fee is charged. We negotiate the termination charges we pay with the overseas carriers, and the termination charges vary from one overseas carrier to another. All of the interconnection and termination charges we pay to local fixed network operators and overseas carriers, respectively, are made on an open account basis with credit terms ranging from 15 to 30 days. The interconnection charges we pay to local fixed network operators are denominated in Hong Kong dollars and substantially all the interconnection charges we pay to overseas carriers are denominated in U.S. dollars.

 

International Telecommunications Switching Systems

 

We own three international telecommunications switching systems in Hong Kong and two in Canada, comprising one in each of Vancouver and Toronto.

 

Our three international telecommunications switching systems in Hong Kong handle telephone calls originating and terminating in Hong Kong. Our telecommunications network mainly consists of Nortel Networks Limited switching equipment and compression units supplied by Cisco Systems, Inc. and ECI Telecom Ltd. These systems are programmed to automatically choose the optimal routing for each transmission. Optimal routing is a function of a variety of factors, such as country or territory of origination and destination, communication quality, efficiency and costs, and the capacity of the various communication methods available.

 

Furthermore, since our three international telecommunications switching systems in Hong Kong operate independently of each other, if one system breaks down, all transmissions are immediately diverted to another switching system. We have never experienced a period where all systems experienced a failure at the same time since we commenced operations in 1992.

 

CTI Mall

 

To take advantage of the regular contact that we have with our existing customers through our various sales and customer service channels, including our Guangzhou service center, we have begun offering our customers the opportunity to purchase a selection of consumer goods from us including audio-visual products, household appliances, computer and accessories, skincare, watches, cooking utensils and other housewares. We use our large customer base and the potential for high sales volumes to negotiate discounted prices on electrical goods with distributors, and offer these electrical goods to our customers at attractive prices. We proactively market CTI Mall via direct mail accompanying our bills, our web site, as well as direct calling. We earn revenue based on the difference between the price that the distributors charge us for the appliances, and the amount that we collect from our customers.

 

Maintenance and Monitoring

 

To ensure reliability of our fixed telecommunications network, our monitoring system involves:

 

    a year round, 24-hour, 7-days a week network operation center for real-time service monitoring and maintenance that is supported by over 130 operational and field staff;

 

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    individual self-reporting mechanisms and centralized performance monitoring systems for our switches and equipment;

 

    an emergency self-reporting system that automatically contacts designated personnel via mobile phones; and

 

    back-up systems for our switches, critical software and hardware components.

 

Once a network fault is detected by our control room, we will either remotely rectify the situation or dispatch field staff to that location should physical interaction be required. After the situation has been resolved, we will continue to monitor network performance as well as track customer service feedback until we are assured of the fault being fully rectified.

 

Research and Development Activities

 

We commit considerable resources to our research and development department in order to continuously improve our services and improve our market position. As of August 31, 2004, our research and development department in Hong Kong consisted of 28 staff members experienced in systems design, engineering, telecommunications and computer programming. Our research and development department is primarily responsible for assessing and adapting the technology that we employ in upgrading and expanding our Metro Ethernet network. To identify and develop new market opportunities, the research and development department assesses new services offered by telecommunications and Internet companies in the United States and elsewhere and works closely with our marketing department. Our research and development expenditures were approximately HK$2.2 million, HK$2.6 million and HK$6.0 million for fiscal 2002, 2003 and 2004, respectively.

 

Sales and Marketing

 

Our primary marketing goal is to further our brand name as one of Hong Kong’s leading telecommunications companies, and to build HKBN’s brand name as a leading broadband Internet access, local VOIP, IP-TV and corporate data services company. Because there is limited variation in the prices charged by our competitors, we believe that brand identity is one of the primary drivers of our continued growth in subscriptions and revenues. We believe that we have been successful in building a strong corporate image in Hong Kong as a direct result of the efforts we have made, and intend to continue our efforts to advertise and promote City Telecom and HKBN. We advertise our products and services through our “on-the-street” marketing force, door-to-door marketing team, telemarketing and direct mailing, as well as through television, radio, Chinese language print media and on the Internet.

 

We have developed an extensive sales network in Hong Kong. Our senior marketing personnel closely oversee our sales network to ensure that a consistent image is presented by all of the sales representatives we use to promote City Telecom and HKBN. We provide commission based incentives to our residential sales force that sell our international and fixed telecommunications network services, which consists of agents responsible for on-the-street and door-to-door sales, as well as to our full-time telemarketing staff. Our customer service center in Guangzhou provides telemarketing services and is an integral part of our overall sales and marketing efforts.

 

We have developed a wide range of promotions which award various technology products and free trial periods to newly registered customers who sign on to a service contract of up to 36 months. An example of these promotions is our free appliance program, where we provide new local VOIP customers a free household appliance of their choice upon their acceptance of a 24 to 36 month service contract. We have greatly benefited from utilizing on-the-street and door-to-door sales agents who meet Hong Kong residents in recreational and residential areas to promote our services.

 

We have established a sales division responsible for coordinating our corporate marketing and sales efforts. We believe our dedicated corporate and small-to-medium enterprise sales force is one of the largest sales forces targeted at corporate users of telecommunications and Internet services in Hong Kong. In addition, our dedicated

 

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corporate staff designs marketing and sales promotions specifically tailored to address the concerns of business users. This division also organizes seminars for current and prospective customers to promote new products and services and to raise awareness of our various corporate offerings.

 

Customer Service

 

We believe that providing excellent customer service and support is essential to building and retaining a large and loyal subscriber base. We therefore have committed considerable personnel and financial resources to establishing a reliable and accessible customer service system.

 

Our customer service department provides integrated support to our international and fixed telecommunications network services subscribers. We provide a hotline to handle complaints, subscription applications and queries relating to account balances, pricing, billing, service and technical information. Complaints and in-depth queries from subscribers that cannot be immediately remedied or answered are forwarded to a customer care team, which is responsible for answering such complaints and queries. We also have a dedicated customer service team to provide service to our corporate subscribers, which includes access to a highly skilled technical team that may go to the customer site for trouble shooting and repairs.

 

In July 2002, we established a customer service call center in Guangzhou, and centralized most of our customer service functions at that location. In addition to providing back office support services, this facility also provides customer acquisition services and enables us to lower our operating costs while continuing to increase our customer service capabilities. We have been expanding our Guangzhou customer service facility since its establishment, which now has over 1,900 employees as of August 31, 2004. Between August 1, 2004 and October 1, 2004, our Guangzhou customer service call center handled on average more than 27,000 inbound and outbound calls per day.

 

Billing and Collection

 

Our account collection department is responsible for securing prompt payment from subscribers. Invoices are issued on a monthly or quarterly basis and payments are usually due within 15 days of the issue date of the invoice for residential subscribers and 21 days for corporate subscribers. All payments from our subscribers are denominated in Hong Kong dollars and are made by way of cash, check, credit card, payment by telephone service, automatic transfer from subscribers’ bank accounts or through Internet banking. As a result of our tight credit control policy, our bad debts represented approximately 0.9%, 1.4% and 1.0% of our revenue for each of fiscal 2002, 2003 and 2004, respectively.

 

When an account becomes past due, we send a reminder notice together with the next month’s invoice to the customers, usually within 15 days after the due date. The notice states the overdue amount and informs the customer that we charge a late payment fee of 1.5% per month on the outstanding overdue amount. For residential subscribers, we have the right to charge the outstanding overdue amount to the subscriber’s pre-registered credit card account or, if applicable, deduct the outstanding overdue amount from the subscriber’s application deposit. Open accounts are maintained for most of the corporate subscribers without pre-registered credit card accounts or deposits.

 

For residential and corporate subscribers, if an overdue IDD account is not settled within 90 days and 60 days after the due date, respectively, we terminate the subscriber’s account. For local VOIP, broadband Internet access and IP-TV services, we generally allow a 90 day period before terminating the account, due to the minimal incremental cost to us of providing such services. If payment is still not settled after we terminate the account, we determine what recovery actions to take, which may include court proceedings and/or the use of collection agencies.

 

Environmental Matters

 

Since our date of incorporation, we have not violated any environmental laws, ordinances or regulations, and believe that all of our operations comply fully with applicable environmental laws.

 

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Intellectual Property Rights

 

We have registered our trademarks with the Trademarks Registry of the Intellectual Property Department in Hong Kong. We have no other material intellectual property.

 

Employees

 

As of August 31, 2004, we had 3,583 employees located in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, and Canada. See “Directors and Senior Management—Employees” in this prospectus. All of our employees, officers and directors are bound by our code of business ethics and conduct. We adopted our code of ethics in 1995 and modified it following the passage of, and to comply with, the U.S. Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002. We have never granted a waiver for non-compliance with the policies and procedures set forth in the code of ethics for any employee of our company or any of our subsidiaries. Copies of our code of ethics are available free of charge upon request made to our corporate secretary.

 

Property, Plants and Equipment

 

For the provision of fixed telecommunications network services, we own, or control through long-term leases, equipment consisting of in-building wiring, switching, transmission and receiving equipment and connecting lines comprised of fiber-based backbone, wireless and leased wire-line backbone and other support structures, conduits and similar items that comprise our Metro Ethernet network. The majority of the fiber-based backbone connecting our services to other telecommunications operators and power sources are under public road, highways and streets. HKBN, our wholly owned subsidiary, owns two offices with an aggregate of 147,000 square feet and two switching centers comprised of five switching systems in Hong Kong.

 

For the provision of international telecommunications services, we own three switching systems in Hong Kong and two in Canada (one each in Vancouver and Toronto). We have invested and have rights to dedicated capacity in two undersea cables, the Japan-U.S. cable and the APCN 2 cable, for use as international transmission facilities, both of which were completed and have been operational since May 2002.

 

In addition, we lease a retail shop and own a customer service center in Hong Kong.

 

Legal and Regulatory Proceedings

 

We are currently involved in four material legal or regulatory proceedings. They are described below:

 

People’s Telecom. In March 2004, we asked the Telecommunications Authority to make a determination on the level of charges to be paid by China Resources Peoples Telephone Company Limited, or People’s Telecom, for direct interconnection between its mobile network and our Metro Ethernet network and the effective date of such charges under the Telecommunications Ordinance. In May 2004, the Telecommunications Authority confirmed to People’s Telecom and HKBN that mobile operators should pay interconnection charges to fixed network operators, including ourselves, in accordance with the existing charging principles provided by the Telecommunications Authority. In August 2004, the Telecommunications Authority agreed to make a determination regarding the level and effective date of interconnection charges payable to us by People’s Telecom. These proceedings are still in progress and the Telecommunications Authority has not yet reached any conclusion.

 

Our revenues for fixed telecommunications network services for fiscal 2003 and fiscal 2004 include interconnection charges of HK$6.1 million and HK$38.7 million, respectively, receivable from People’s Telecom and other mobile operators for the usage of our Metro Ethernet network. We determined the amount of these charges based on the fully distributed cost model determined by the Telecommunications Authority to be applicable in determining the interconnection charges between fixed and mobile operators, which relies on the historical levels of mobile interconnection charges paid by mobile operators to PCCW-HKT. Having considered

 

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this matter, we are of the view that the result of this determination will have a material impact on the amount of interconnection charges receivable from mobile operators for the usage of our Metro Ethernet network. We cannot predict the ultimate outcome of the Telecommunications Authority’s determination. If the level of interconnection charges determined by the Telecommunications Authority to be payable to us is lower than the revenues that we have recognized, we will be required to write-back the difference from our revenue during fiscal 2005.

 

PCCW-HKT and PCCW-IMS. PCCW-HKT and PCCW-IMS brought an action for judicial review against the Telecommunications Authority, in which HKBN was initially joined as an interested party, on October 11, 2004 in the High Court of Hong Kong. PCCW-HKT and PCCW-IMS seek judicial review of the Telecommunications Authority’s decision dated September 22, 2004 in which the Telecommunications Authority found no evidence to suggest that HKBN is acting outside the scope of its FTNS License in providing local VOIP services accessible over the broadband connections provided by other operators. PCCW-HKT and PCCW-IMS seek to have the Telecommunications Authority’s decision overturned and had requested interim orders against both the Telecommunications Authority and HKBN to prohibit HKBN from providing off-network local VOIP services, which we launched in August 2004. In November 2004, PCCW-HKT and PCCW-IMS withdrew their interim applications, but amended their original application to include, among other things, naming HKBN as a second respondent to which HKBN consented. The proceedings of the judicial review will continue and the hearing is set for November 28, 2005. We cannot accurately predict the outcome of the judicial review, but we believe that such decision will not affect our ability to provide local VOIP services within our own Metro Ethernet network.

 

PCCW-HKT. PCCW-HKT (then Cable & Wireless HKT), a Hong Kong company, brought an action against us on July 10, 1998 in the High Court of Hong Kong, alleging breach of agreements relating to the supply and operation of telecommunications services and unlawful interference with trade. This claim was subsequently amended on September 1, 1998. The PCCW-HKT claim relates specifically to its alleged monetary loss between the months of February and October in 1997 resulting from the manner in which we used its telecommunications transmission lines. The sole issue raised by Cable & Wireless HKT in this case is whether we are liable for monetary damages to PCCW-HKT. As a result, we do not believe that the resolution of this case will impair our ability to lease transmission circuits from PCCW-HKT or significantly alter the commercial terms on which these transmission circuits are leased. PCCW-HKT has yet to stipulate the exact amount of their monetary loss during that period as a result of our alleged misuse.

 

We filed a defense and a counterclaim on October 7, 1998 alleging anti-competitive practices on the part of PCCW-HKT. We subsequently amended our counterclaim on November 18, 1998. The case is currently in its discovery phase. The first trial proceedings in the case have not yet taken place. We cannot accurately predict the expected date of resolution of this case and we have not made any reserve for this case.

 

Jade Com. Jade Com Development Limited, or Jade Com, a Hong Kong company, alleged in a claim filed in April 13, 1999 in the High Court of Hong Kong that we, as a principal of one of our wholly owned subsidiaries, wrongfully terminated a telecommunications service agreement entered into on November 26, 1997. Jade Com claimed damages for breach of contract and misrepresentation, but did not state the specific amount of its claim. If the agreement had not been terminated, we would have had a remaining commitment of approximately US$3.6 million under the agreement. We filed a defense in May 24, 1999 asserting that we were not the principal of the wholly owned subsidiary which entered the agreement and alternatively, Jade Com had breached a condition of the agreement that they possess all the legal approvals and licenses necessary for the provision of their services. Specifically, our defense asserts that Jade Com did not have certain regulatory approvals required for the provision of the international telecommunications services that formed the basis of the agreement. As such, we asserted in our defense that our wholly owned subsidiary was entitled to terminate the agreement. In February 2001, the parties consented to adjourn the case indefinitely with liberty to restore. We have not made any reserve for this litigation.

 

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ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

 

The following chart sets forth our principal subsidiaries as of January 31, 2005:

 

LOGO

 


(1) The other immediate subsidiary of City Telecom (H.K.) Limited is Golden Trinity Holdings Limited, which has Warwick Gold Enterprises Limited and Attitude Holdings Limited as its immediate subsidiaries.
(2) The company has only registered its Chinese name. The English name is an unregistered translation.
(3) The other immediate subsidiaries of Automedia Holdings Limited are iStore.com Limited, TeachOnNet.com Limited, CTI International Limited, BBTV Company Limited, City Telecom (U.S.A.) Inc., City Telecom (Vancouver) Inc. and City Telecom (Toronto) Inc.
(4) The other subsidiary of City Telecom (Canada) Incorporated is 963673 Ontario Ltd.
(5) The immediate subsidiaries of Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited are Excel Billion Profits Limited, Hong Kong Television Network Limited, Hong Kong Broadband Television Company Limited and Hong Kong Broadband Phone Limited.

 

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The jurisdiction of incorporation and our ownership percentage of each of our subsidiaries as of January 31, 2005 were as follows:

 

          Percentage of
interest held by


          City Telecom (%)

Name


  

Jurisdiction of Incorporation


   Direct

   Indirect

963673 Ontario Ltd.

   Canada         100

Attitude Holdings Limited

   British Virgin Islands         100

Automedia Holdings Limited

   British Virgin Islands    100     

BBTV Company Limited

   Hong Kong         100

City Telecom (B.C.) Inc.

   Canada         100

City Telecom (Canada) Incorporated

   Canada         100

City Telecom (Toronto) Inc.

   Canada         100

City Telecom (U.S.A.) Inc.

   United States         100

City Telecom (Vancouver) Inc.

   Canada         100

City Telecom Inc.

   Canada         100

City Telecom International Limited

   British Virgin Islands    100     

Credibility Holdings Limited

   British Virgin Islands    100     

CTI Guangzhou Customer Services Co. Limited(1)

   China    100     

CTI International Limited

   Hong Kong         100

CTI Marketing Company Limited

   Hong Kong         100

Excel Billion Profits Limited

   Hong Kong         100

Golden Trinity Holdings Limited

   British Virgin Islands    100     

Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited

   Hong Kong         100

Hong Kong Broadband Phone Limited

   Hong Kong         100

Hong Kong Broadband Television Company Limited

   Hong Kong         100

Hong Kong Television Network Limited

   Hong Kong         100

IDD1600 Company Limited

   Hong Kong         100

iStore.com Limited

   Hong Kong         100

TeachOnNet.com Limited

   Hong Kong         100

Warwick Gold Enterprises Limited

   Hong Kong         100

(1) The company has only registered its Chinese name. The English name is an unregistered translation.

 

CTI Guangzhou Customer Services Co. Limited

 

We currently have one wholly owned subsidiary organized under the laws of China, CTI Guangzhou, which operates primarily as our group customer service call center. Since we established CTI Guangzhou in July 2002, we have focused on expanding its capabilities to include both back office support and customer acquisition services. CTI Guangzhou employed over 1,900 employees as of August 31, 2004 and staff salary and related costs account for more than 75% of its operating costs. CTI Guangzhou currently has no significant property or equipment as its premises are leased and its primary assets are office furnishings and computer equipment. CTI Guangzhou generates no revenues from third parties outside of our group and any revenues generated are eliminated in our consolidated accounts. As of August 31, 2004, CTI Guangzhou had net assets of HK$7.2 million and no external third-party long-term borrowings.

 

The exchange notes will not be guaranteed by CTI Guangzhou. As a result, the exchange notes will effectively be subordinated to all the debt and other obligations, including trade payables, of CTI Guangzhou. CTI Guangzhou and our future non-guarantor subsidiaries will be restricted by the indenture governing the exchange notes from incurring certain indebtedness as further described in the limitation of indebtedness covenant under “Description of the Notes—Certain Covenants—Limitation on indebtedness”.

 

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HONG KONG REGULATORY OVERVIEW

 

The following is a brief summary of the Hong Kong laws and regulations that currently materially affect the telecommunications, including the Internet, and the broadcasting industries in Hong Kong. This section does not purport to be a comprehensive summary of all present and proposed regulations and legislation relating to these industries. In particular, the regulatory principles relating to the pricing of telecommunications services provided in Hong Kong are relatively complex and are the subject of regular review by the regulator. Accordingly, the following is not a summary of all the regulations (including pricing regulations) pursuant to which telecommunications and broadcasting services are provided in Hong Kong, either on a wholesale or retail basis.

 

Telecommunications Industry

 

History

 

Local Fixed Telecommunications Network Services

 

Prior to July 1995, PCCW-HKT Telephone Limited (then known as Hong Kong Telephone Company Limited) was the exclusive provider of local fixed wireline telecommunications network services in Hong Kong under an exclusive franchise granted to it under the now repealed Telephone Ordinance (Cap 269). In 1995, the Hong Kong government introduced limited competition in the local fixed telecommunications network services market and three new FTNS Licenses (see below for a more detailed description of such license) were issued by the Telecommunications Authority to each of HGC, Wharf T&T, and New World on June 30, 1995, June 27, 1995 and June 20, 1995, respectively, which allowed them to provide and operate local fixed wireline networks. PCCW-HKT was also granted a FTNS License in order for it to continue to operate its local fixed wireline network. The Hong Kong government also agreed to a three-year moratorium on the granting of any further FTNS Licenses.

 

Following a review conducted by the Hong Kong government regarding its policy in the fixed telecommunications industry in 1998, on May 5, 1999, it announced its decisions:

 

    to extend the moratorium on granting additional wireline-based local FTNS Licenses until December 31, 2002, subject to the satisfactory binding commitments by each of HGC, Wharf T&T and New World to roll-out additional local network infrastructure and services;

 

    to invite applications for FTNS Licenses in respect of non-wireline based local networks periodically, the first of such invitation to be made in 1999; and

 

    to fully liberalize the market for local fixed telecommunications network services (wireline or wireless based) from January 1, 2003.

 

To implement the above decisions, five local wireless-based FTNS Licenses were issued by the Telecommunications Authority in 2000, including one which was issued to HKBN, for the provision of local fixed telecommunications services using non-wireline based networks (commonly referred to as wireless local loop).

 

At the same time, Hong Kong Cable Television Limited, or HKCTV, was also granted a FTNS License to offer telecommunications services over its hybrid fiber coaxial cable network, subject to it making binding commitments on the continued roll-out of its cable network and the surrender, on an agreed schedule, of microwave multipoint distribution system frequencies allocated to it.

 

In anticipation of the full liberalization of the local fixed telecommunications network market as from January 1, 2003, the Telecommunications Authority published a statement on January 11, 2002 outlining certain key implementation details, including:

 

    there would be no rollout or capital expenditure commitments required from licensees that are licensed to operate from January 1, 2003 of local fixed networks and/or external facilities;

 

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    in order to maintain equal treatment between new and existing operators in respect of performance commitments, all performance commitments of existing local and external fixed telecommunications network services operators that are due on or after January 1, 2003 as initially committed to in the licenses granted would be waived;

 

    the Telecommunications Authority would not grant any fixed carrier licenses (for details of this license, see description below) to operate local fixed networks to applicants who intend to rely primarily on interconnection with, and access to, the infrastructure of other fixed telecommunications network services or fixed carrier licensees to roll out their networks or provide their services;

 

    newly licensed local wireline-based fixed network operators may apply, on a case-by-case basis and subject to certain conditions, for rights of access to buildings and road opening under section 14(1) of the Ordinance for purposes of installing telecommunications lines; and

 

    existing local wireless network operators, including HKBN, would be entitled to apply for the extension of the scope of services under their existing licenses to operate local fixed networks and other forms of fixed telecommunications network services.

 

Following the publication of the statement, HKBN applied to the Telecommunications Authority for modification of the scope of its local wireless FTNS License. HKBN’s FTNS License was modified on April 16, 2002 to include the operation of local fixed wireline network services as from January 1, 2003. In addition, HKBN’s performance commitments due on or after January 1, 2003 set forth in its FTNS License were waived.

 

International Telecommunications Facilities and Services

 

Prior to March 1998, Hong Kong Telecom International Limited, or HKTI, was the exclusive provider of all external telecommunications circuits and certain external telecommunications services in Hong Kong. The license granted to HKTI in 1981 was due to expire on September 30, 2006.

 

In May 1993, the Telecommunications Authority began liberalizing certain external telecommunications services which were not within the scope of HKTI’s exclusive license, and issued PNETS Licenses (see below for a more detailed description of such license) which allowed licensees to provide customers with access to HKTI’s external telecommunications services using a transmission method commonly known as “call-back”.

 

Following the issuance of a statement by the Telecommunications Authority in April 1996 further clarifying the extent of the exclusivities of HKTI’s license, the Telecommunications Authority began issuing PNETS Licenses for the provision of international virtual private network services.

 

In January 1998, the Hong Kong government issued a policy statement stating that the provision of the services remaining within the HKTI License, on an exclusive basis, was not in Hong Kong’s best interest. On March 31, 1998, HKTI surrendered its exclusive license under the terms of a framework agreement entered into with the Hong Kong government on January 20, 1998. In the January 1998 policy statement, the government stated that the liberalization of the external telecommunications services and facilities would take place on a two step basis, the first step being liberalization of services and the second being the liberalization of facilities. Accordingly, the external telecommunications services were liberalized as from January 1, 1999 and the provision of external facilities was liberalized on January 1, 2000. Subsequently, in a 2002 statement of the Telecommunications Authority relating to the implementation of the full liberalization of local fixed telecommunications network services market, the Telecommunications Authority stated that it would issue licenses for operation from January 1, 2003 of external facilities based on submarine or land cables to those who may directly invest in cable capacity or acquire the capacity through the purchase of “Indefeasible Rights of Use”, or IRU, of cables, thus further liberalizing the external telecommunications market.

 

In early 1998, PCCW-HKT’s FTNS License was transferred to a group comprised of subsidiary companies providing international and local telecommunications services and the scope of PCCW-HKT’s services to be

 

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provided under the FTNS License was in this way expanded to cover the provision of external telecommunications services and facilities. The FTNS Licenses of the three other local fixed network operators, i.e. HGC, New World and Wharf T&T, were also amended allowing them to provide external telecommunications services from January 1, 1999 and all forms of external facilities (cable and satellite based) from January 1, 2000.

 

The Telecommunications Authority began issuing PNETS Licenses in late 1998 for the provision of external telecommunications services using international leased circuits provided by licensed operators as from January 1, 1999. External FTNS Licenses began to be granted to licensees to operate, as from January 1, 2000, non-cable based external telecommunications facilities (i.e. satellite or other wireless facilities) and/or external telecommunications facilities based on new undersea or land cables. Furthermore, the Telecommunications Authority stated that it would issue licenses for the operation of external telecommunications facilities to IRU owners as from January 1, 2003.

 

The Telecommunications Authority granted us a satellite-based fixed carrier license in May 2001. This license was modified by the Telecommunications Authority in March 2002 to grant us additional rights to operate a cable-based external fixed telecommunications network. HKBN’s local wireline-based FTNS License was modified on May 22, 2003 to allow for the operation of external fixed telecommunications network services in exchange for the surrender of our cable-based external fixed carrier license.

 

Regulatory Environment

 

The main legislation in Hong Kong which regulates the telecommunications industry is the Telecommunications Ordinance (Cap 106), and related subsidiary legislation, notably the Telecommunications Regulations (Cap 106A), and the Telecommunications (Carrier Licences) Regulation (Cap 106V). The Telecommunications Ordinance underwent significant changes in 2000 following a policy review of the telecommunications industry conducted by the Hong Kong government in 1998.

 

The Telecommunications Authority, an individual appointed by the Chief Executive pursuant to the Telecommunications Ordinance, is the main regulator of the telecommunications industry in Hong Kong. The Telecommunications Authority’s general responsibilities include: the issuing of non-exclusive licenses; the determination of terms of interconnection; promotion of fair competition in the telecommunications sector; management of the frequency spectrum; development of technical standards and customer equipment testing; protection of consumer interests; and the control and administration of the Hong Kong numbering plans (including allocation of numbers or codes).

 

It should be noted that the Hong Kong government announced in its policy paper “Digital 21 Strategy—Sustainability and Opportunities” published in March 2004 that it intends to review the current regulatory structure of having two separate regulatory entities for the telecommunications industry and the broadcasting industry respectively in light of the convergence and deregulation of the two industries. It further stated that it will issue its proposal and consult the public on the creation of a unified regulator in early 2005.

 

Licensing

 

General Licensing Requirements

 

Section 8(1) of the Telecommunications Ordinance provides, amongst other things, that a telecommunications license is required if a person in Hong Kong establishes or maintains any means of telecommunication. Contravention of Section 8 constitutes an offence. Currently, companies offering telecommunications services without establishing or maintaining any means of telecommunications (pure resellers) are not yet subject to the licensing regime. The Telecommunications Authority is currently conducting a public consultation proposing to bring into force provisions (which were introduced in the Telecommunications Ordinance in 2000) to regulate certain resale activities. For a more detailed discussion refer to the section entitled “—Recent Regulatory Developments in the Telecommunications Industry” below in this prospectus.

 

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The Telecommunications Regulations and the Carrier Licenses Regulation set forth the licenses which the Telecommunications Authority may issue pursuant to the Telecommunications Ordinance.

 

Generally, a licensee is required to be a company registered under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32) and this requirement is satisfied either by the incorporation of a Hong Kong company (which can be wholly owned by a foreign company) or by the registration of a foreign company under the Companies Ordinance. Currently, there is no foreign ownership restriction on the holder of a telecommunications license under the current regulatory regime.

 

Non-compliance with the Telecommunications Ordinance, any subsidiary legislation made pursuant to it, any of the license conditions or any direction issued by the Telecommunications Authority by a telecommunications licensee, could result in the revocation or suspension of the relevant license. The Telecommunications Ordinance contains a set of provisions setting forth the procedural steps which the Telecommunications Authority must adhere to prior to revoking or suspending any telecommunications licenses. In addition, the Chief Executive in Council has the authority to revoke a telecommunications license at any time if it is in the public interest to do so.

 

Fixed Telecommunications Network Services License

 

As noted above, the Telecommunications Ordinance was substantially amended in 2000. Prior to the enactment of the amendments in 2000, FTNS Licenses were issued for the operation of fixed telecommunications networks in Hong Kong. After the enactment of the amendments in 2000, which was primarily designed to streamline the licensing regime, FTNS Licenses became a part of the general category of “fixed carrier licenses”.

 

An FTNS License authorizes the licensee, among other things:

 

    to provide a public fixed telecommunication network service, covering internal services or external services, or both; and

 

    to establish and maintain a fixed telecommunications network, which may be wireline-based or wireless-based, or a combination of both.

 

HKBN currently holds an FTNS License issued to it by the Telecommunications Authority in February 2000 initially for the operation of a local fixed wireless network. This FTNS License has since been amended twice and presently, HKBN is authorized to operate both local fixed telecommunications networks (wireline and wireless based) and external telecommunications facilities.

 

An FTNS License contains a set of General Conditions, which are prescribed in the Telecommunications Regulations and a set of Special Conditions usually tailored-made by the Telecommunications Authority to address issues specific to the license holder, including its universal service contribution obligation.

 

The Telecommunications Regulations provide that an FTNS License is valid for a period of 15 years, and is renewable for a further period not exceeding 15 year at the Telecommunications Authority’s discretion.

 

The amount of license fee payable by a holder of a FTNS License is set out in the Telecommunications Regulations and comprises (i) a fixed annual amount of HK$1.0 million; (ii) a variable amount calculated on the basis of the number of customer connections (which is currently set at HK$700 for each 100 customer connections); and (iii) a variable fee calculated by reference to the radio spectrum assigned and used by the license holder.

 

Fixed Carrier License

 

The Telecommunications Ordinance was amended by the Telecommunications (Amendment) Ordinance 2000, or the Amendment Ordinance. With the exception of a few provisions, the amendments set out in the

 

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Amendment Ordinance became fully operational as from April 1, 2001. The Amendment Ordinance creates two new categories of licenses: carrier licenses and class licenses.

 

A “carrier license” is defined widely in the Amendment Ordinance and covers a number of existing network-related licenses, including FTNS Licenses.

 

The Telecommunications Authority no longer grants FTNS Licenses to operators which wish to operate fixed networks, but instead grants “fixed carrier licenses”. The Telecommunications Authority is pursuing a gradual program of replacing expired or surrendered FTNS Licenses under the old regime with fixed carrier licenses, but existing FTNS Licenses remain valid.

 

The conditions of a fixed carrier license, as set forth in the Carrier Licences Regulation, are essentially the same as the corresponding FTNS License conditions, except that certain of the General Conditions in a FTNS License have become Special Conditions (in order to make the General Conditions consistent for both fixed and mobile carriers).

 

Under the Carrier Licences Regulation, the period of validity of a fixed carrier license is 15 years from the date of issuance, which may be renewed for a further period of up to 15 years. The current fixed annual license fee payable is HK$1.0 million. The variable amounts payable are calculated on the same basis as those payable under the FTNS Licenses.

 

Public Non-Exclusive Telecommunications Services License

 

A PNETS License is used by the Telecommunications Authority to cover the provision of a number of different telecommunication services where the service provider provides the service to the public using the network of a licensed carrier or by establishing or maintaining transmission facilities within the boundary of a building or property. In practice, the PNETS License is also used as a “sweep-up” license category, where a license is required by virtue of the Telecommunication Ordinance but none of the existing categories are applicable to the means of telecommunications or telecommunications service for which the license is required.

 

The Telecommunications Authority has issued various PNETS Licenses over the years, including:

 

    those for the provision of external telecommunications services, or PNETS ETS License, over external leased circuits provided by a holder of a FTNS License or other external switched telecommunications services lawfully operated in Hong Kong; and

 

    those for the provision of international value-added network services, or PNETS IVANS License, and/or telecommunications services (including Internet access services) accessed by customers via public switched telecommunications networks provided by licensed network operators or leased circuits operated or authorized under the Telecommunications Ordinance.

 

A PNETS License has a validity period of 12 months, renewable at the discretion of the Telecommunications Authority on an annual basis upon the payment of a prescribed annual fee, which is currently set at HK$750. Where radio communications apparatus is used, there is an additional variable component calculated by reference to the number of base stations and mobile stations involved.

 

During the mid 1990s, we were initially issued with three PNETS Licenses including a license to provide calling card services, or a CCS License, a license to provide international simple resale services for facsimile and data services, or an ISR License, and a license to provide virtual private network services, or a VPN License. We also hold a PNETS IVANS License which allows us to act as an Internet Service Provider. In November 1998, we were issued a PNETS ETS License, replacing the CCS, ISR and VPN Licenses. The PNETS ETS License allows us to continue providing CCS, ISR and VPN services along with a number of other international telecommunications services. We were also allowed, under the terms of the PNETS ETS License, to commence

 

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the provision of external telecommunications services from January 1, 1999 over the external facilities of the then HKTI and, from January 1, 2000, over the external telecommunications facilities of other licensed external facilities providers.

 

Under the terms of the PNETS ETS and PNETS IVANS Licenses, we and IDD1600 Company Limited, or IDD1600, our wholly owned subsidiary, are required to comply with certain license conditions relating to technical and reporting matters.

 

Class License

 

In terms of class licenses, the Telecommunications Authority has created two class licenses thus far, one relating to the operation of in-building telecommunications systems and the other one relating to the provision of public wireless local area network services. A consultation is currently being carried out by the Telecommunications Authority with regard to the creation of a third class license to regulate the resale of certain telecommunications services. See section entitled “Recent Regulatory Developments in the Telecommunications Industry” below for more details.

 

Interconnection

 

Interconnection between telecommunications networks and services are regulated under the Telecommunications Ordinance and the relevant license conditions. Hong Kong’s current policy on interconnection, including the applicable charging principles and methodology, is set forth in a series of statements issued by the Telecommunications Authority which were substantially revised in 2002 and further revised in July 2004 following the Chief Executive’s decision to withdraw mandatory Type II interconnection at the local telephone exchange level by June 2008. For a more detailed discussion, refer to the section entitled “— Recent Regulatory Developments in the Telecommunications Industry” below in this prospectus.

 

The Telecommunications Authority divides interconnection into two main types: The first type is “Type I Interconnection”, which is interconnection between network gateways, such as tandem exchanges, local exchanges or dedicated interconnection gateways, which allows end users on different networks to “communicate” with each other. The second type is “Type II Interconnection”, which is a connection to a fixed carrier’s network at points of the customer access network level (more often referred to as local access or local loop unbundling) allowing the end customer requesting the interconnection to use the customer access network of the fixed carrier to obtain fixed telecommunications services. The Telecommunications Authority is empowered to determine the terms and conditions of both types of interconnections (including the applicable charges) and a set of guidelines was issued in 1995 (and amended in 2001) setting forth the procedures that the Telecommunications Authority will follow in making such a determination.

 

Competition Provisions

 

Regulation of Anti-Competitive Conducts

 

Although Hong Kong has never had a general competition code, historically, holders of FTNS Licenses were prohibited from engaging in anti-competitive conduct by certain competition-related license conditions contained in the FTNS Licenses issued by the Telecommunications Authority. The Telecommunications Authority issued in June 1995 a set of guidelines on how the Telecommunications Authority would interpret the competition-related provisions in FTNS Licenses, which we refer to in this prospectus as the 1995 Competition Guidelines.

 

When the Telecommunications Ordinance was amended in 2000, a set of competition-related provisions, which are modeled on the competition-related license conditions contained in the FTNS License, were introduced into the Telecommunications Ordinance. These statutory provisions provide that a licensee is prohibited from engaging in any anti-competitive conduct, abusing its dominant position in a telecommunications market, or engaging in any discriminatory conduct.

 

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The Telecommunications Authority continues to apply the 1995 Competition Guidelines in the application and enforcement of competition provisions contained in the Telecommunications Ordinance and the FTNS Licenses. However, given that the competition provisions contained in the Telecommunications Ordinance are applicable to all licensees, not just holders of FTNS Licenses, the Telecommunications Authority commenced a consultation in February 2004 on the issuance of a new set of competition guidelines to replace the 1995 Competition Guidelines.

 

The Telecommunications Ordinance provides an appeal mechanism by the establishment of a Telecommunications (Competition Provisions) Appeal Board. A person or a licensee aggrieved by a decision made by the Telecommunications Authority relating to the competition provisions may appeal to the Board. Additionally, a third party suffering loss or damage from breach of such competition provisions may bring an action for damages or seek other appropriate remedies against the offending licensee.

 

Control on Mergers and Acquisitions

 

In addition to the competition provisions mentioned above, the Telecommunications Ordinance also contains a set of new provisions which aim to control certain merger and acquisition activities within the telecommunications industry that have an anti-competitive effect. The provisions were introduced by the Telecommunications (Amendment) Ordinance 2003, which we refer to in this prospectus as the 2003 Amendment. The 2003 Amendment came into force on July 9, 2004 after Telecommunications Authority finalized the Guidelines on Mergers and Acquisitions, which we refer to in this prospectus as the M&A Guidelines.

 

This new regulatory regime on mergers and acquisitions only applies to carrier licensees, which includes HKBN as a holder of a FTNS License, which, as discussed above, is regarded as a carrier license for the purpose of the Telecommunications Ordinance.

 

Under the 2003 Amendment, if the Telecommunications Authority determines that the relevant merger and acquisition activity (defined as a “change” in the ownership or control over a carrier licensee under the 2003 Amendment) has, or is likely to have, the effect of substantially lessening competition in a telecommunications market, the Telecommunications Authority is empowered to direct a carrier licensee to take such actions, such as the complete or partial divestiture of the relevant parties’ interests in the merged entity, as the Telecommunications Authority considers necessary, to eliminate or avoid any anti-competitive effect. However, the Telecommunications Authority may not issue such a direction if he takes the view that the public benefit of the merger and acquisition outweighs any detriment caused by a reduction in competition.

 

The 2003 Amendment provides that a “change” in relation to a carrier licensee occurs when:

 

    a person, either alone or with any “associated person”, becomes the beneficial owner or voting controller of more than 15% of the voting shares in the carrier licensee (This provision does not apply if the person, either alone or with any “associated person”, is not or does not concurrently become the beneficial owner or voting controller of more than 5% of the voting shares in another carrier licensee and does not have or acquire the power to ensure that the affairs of such other carrier licensee are conducted in accordance with the wishes of such person); or

 

    a person, either alone or with any “associated person”, becomes the beneficial owner or voting controller of more than 30% of the voting shares in a carrier licensee; or

 

    a person, either alone or with any “associated person”, becomes the beneficial owner or voting controller of more than 50% of the voting shares in a carrier licensee, or acquires the power (including by the acquisition of voting shares), by virtue of any powers conferred by the memorandum or articles of association or other instrument regulating the licensee or any other corporation or otherwise, to ensure that the affairs of the licensee are conducted in accordance with the wishes of that person.

 

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An “associated person” is widely defined in the Telecommunications Ordinance and includes, where the licensee is a corporation, a corporation over which the licensee has control, a corporation which has control over the licensee or a corporation which is under the same control as is the licensee. It also includes a person who controls the licensee and a relative and/or partner of that person (in the case of a natural person) or a director or principal officer of the corporation.

 

Although the 2003 Amendment essentially creates an ex post regime whereby regulatory control will be exercised by the Telecommunications Authority after a merger and acquisition has been completed, the 2003 Amendment also provides that a carrier licensee (or any interested party, such as the acquirer) may seek the prior consent of the Telecommunications Authority on a voluntary basis to any proposed merger or acquisition falling within the definition of “change”. In this way, a carrier licensee will have the opportunity to consider whether to seek prior consent, taking into account the consequences of being potentially required by the Telecommunications Authority to unwind the transaction, after its completion, if the transaction is found to have an anti-competitive effect.

 

In addition, the Telecommunications Authority states in the M&A Guidelines that carrier licensees or interested parties are welcome to have informal preliminary discussions with the Telecommunications Authority concerning any proposed merger or acquisition. The view expressed by the Telecommunications Authority in any such informal discussion is, however, non-binding.

 

The 2003 Amendment and the M&A Guidelines further outline the competition analytical framework which the Telecommunications Authority will adopt and the matters which he will take into consideration in assessing if the merger or acquisition in question will or is likely to raise any competition concern in the relevant telecommunications market.

 

Any decision made or direction issued by the Telecommunications Authority under the mergers and acquisition provision is subject to appeal to the Telecommunications (Competition Provisions) Appeal Board.

 

Consumer Protection

 

The Telecommunications Ordinance also contains a statutory provision that is primarily aimed at protecting consumers. This provision prohibits a licensee from engaging in any misleading or deceptive conduct.

 

The Telecommunications Authority issued the “Guidelines in relation to Misleading or Deceptive Conduct in the Hong Kong Telecommunications Markets” in May 2003, which provide practical guidance on the application and enforcement of the relevant provision in the Telecommunications Ordinance.

 

The Telecommunications Authority has taken an active role in enforcing this prohibition and has developed voluntary codes to assist in this respect. For instance, in November 2004, the Telecommunications Authority issued a “Code of Practice for the Service Contracts for the Provision of Public Telecommunications Services” which sets out guidelines on the preparation of service contracts. The code states that important terms of a service contract (e.g. a compensation clause for early termination by the customer) should be presented in a prominent place and should be highlighted in the contract. The code is applicable to all service providers (except mobile network operators which are subject to a separate code of practice) including holders of FTNS Licenses, such as HKBN, and holders of PNETS ETS Licenses and IVANS Licenses, such as ourselves and IDD1600. Although the guidelines are voluntary in nature, the Telecommunications Authority has indicated that the extent of a licensee’s compliance with the guidelines will be taken into account in assessing if a licensee has complied with the statutory provision mentioned above.

 

In addition, on June 17, 2002, the Telecommunications Authority in conjunction with the Hong Kong Consumer Council, the Independent Commission Against Corruption, and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Personal Data issued a voluntary “Code of Practice on the Protection of Customer Information for Fixed and Mobile Service Operators”. The code applies to fixed and mobile operators and its objective is to

 

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set out best practices for such operators for the protection of customer information (e.g. telephone numbers, residential addresses and details of call history) in light of the existing sanctions under Hong Kong legislation preventing unauthorized disclosure of protected information to third parties.

 

Apart from the Telecommunications Ordinance, like any companies carrying on business in Hong Kong, telecommunications operators are required to comply with applicable Hong Kong consumer protection laws, for example, the Sale of Goods Ordinance (Cap 26), Control of Exemption Ordinance (Cap 71), Supply of Services (Implied Terms) Ordinance (Cap 457), and the Unconscionable Contracts Ordinance (Cap 458).

 

Regulation of Pricing

 

Currently, the pricing of both fixed telecommunications network services and public non-exclusive external telecommunications services in Hong Kong is regulated by license conditions. However, the regulatory frameworks of each type of services are different.

 

All PNETS Licenses contain license conditions requiring the licensees to publish their tariffs and to charge no more than the published tariffs. In other words, the Telecommunications Authority imposes a maximum ceiling on the prices that holders of PNETS Licenses may charge for their services.

 

Similarly, holders of FTNS Licenses are prohibited by license conditions from charging more than their published tariffs for their services. Additionally, the FTNS License conditions prohibit licensees from offering discounts to their published tariffs and require the licensees to seek approval from the Telecommunications Authority in connection with (i) any revision of published tariffs, (ii) tariffs for any new services or products or (iii) tariffs for any trial services. However, the Telecommunications Authority may grant a waiver of the application of any or all of these restrictions in relation to a relevant telecommunications market if, in the opinion of the Telecommunications Authority, the licensee is not “dominant” in such market. This is known as an ex ante regime.

 

HKBN has been granted a waiver from all the tariff revision prohibitions contained in its FTNS License and is able to provide discounts and revise its tariffs in all the fixed telecommunications network services markets.

 

While it is beyond the scope of this prospectus to provide a full account of waivers granted, it is important to note that prior to January 14, 2005 PCCW-HKT was the only holder of a FTNS License that was not granted a waiver and was bound by ex ante regulation of its prices in the fixed telephony markets. On January 14, 2005 OFTA issued a new fixed carrier license to PCCW-HKT which only required PCCW-HKT to notify the Telecommunications Authority of its actual prices at least one day before they become effective. For a more detailed discussion, see the section entitled “—Recent Regulatory Developments in the Telecommunications Industry” below in this prospectus.

 

Universal Service Contribution and Local Access Charge

 

Under the current regulatory regime, as stated in two statements published by the Telecommunications Authority in January 1998 and July 2000, PCCW-HKT has a universal service obligation to provide basic telephone service to any individual or entity that requests it. To compensate PCCW-HKT for the expenses of this obligation, certain licensees are required to contribute to such costs, which is referred to as the universal service contribution, or USC. Holders of FTNS Licenses and PNETS ETS Licenses including ourselves, HKBN, and IDD1600 are required to pay USC.

 

The level of USC is determined by the Telecommunications Authority and is adjusted periodically. The average rate has declined over the past several years. The Telecommunications Authority recently published a statement on November 19, 2004 confirming that the level of provisional USC on or after June 1, 2004 is approximately HK$0.3 cents per minute and the confirmed USC for the period January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2002 for routes that are competitive, which are referred to as Category A Routes, is HK$0.3 cents per minute and

 

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for routes that are to be provided through Reach Networks Hong Kong Limited’s international gateways/facilities, which are referred to as Category B Routes, is HK$1.9 cents per minute. It should be noted that after August 2003, all routes have been classified as Category A Routes and as such, it is no longer necessary for the Telecommunications Authority to set a provisional USC for Category B Routes.

 

Additionally, providers of external telecommunications services, such as holders of PNETS ETS Licenses, including ourselves and IDD1600, are required to pay to the local network operators whose network facilities holders of PNETS ETS Licenses use to transmit calls to and from their customers’ sites a local access charge, or LAC. Although theoretically the operators holding PNETS ETS Licenses may negotiate the level of LAC with operators whose LAC is not regulated, in practice, the bench-mark used by operators is the LAC set by the Telecommunications Authority for PCCW-HKT, whose LAC is regulated. The level of the LAC is calculated on a per-minute basis.

 

At present, the Telecommunications Authority determines the level of LAC imposed by PCCW-HKT and has indicated that it would determine the LAC imposed by other local fixed line network operators if it were in the public interest to do so. A review of the principles and costing methodology of the LAC was conducted by the Telecommunications Authority recently and a formal statement was issued on February 27, 2004.

 

Shortly before the statement was published, the Telecommunications Authority was requested by providers of external telecommunications services to make a determination under the Telecommunications Ordinance with regard to the level of the LAC of PCCW-HKT. Applying the revised principles and costing methodology set forth in the statement, the Telecommunications Authority issued its determination on May 4, 2004 and the level of LACs has been reduced and is summarized below:

 

    for LAC for outgoing traffic—from HK$0.121 to HK$0.086;

 

    for LAC for incoming traffic—from HK$0.126 to HK$0.088;

 

    for LAC (transit) for outgoing traffic—from HK$0.106 to HK$0.076;

 

    for LAC (transit) for outgoing traffic—from HK$0.106 to HK$0.076

 

The new level of LACs was intended to become effective on June 1, 2004. However, PCCW-HKT has obtained leave for judicial review of the LAC determination and the court has granted an interim stay of the determination pending the outcome of that review. The judicial review commenced on September 13, 2004, but the judgment of the court has not yet been handed down.

 

Recent Regulatory Developments in the Telecommunications Industry

 

In recent years, the Telecommunications Authority has introduced various measures to implement the Hong Kong government’s policy to liberalize the Hong Kong telecommunications market. The most important changes have included the full liberalization of the local and external fixed telecommunications network services market and the introduction of a formal competition regulatory framework, as discussed above.

 

As part of this ongoing process, the Telecommunications Authority and the Hong Kong government are looking to introduce new measures to address issues relating to the new telecommunications marketplace in Hong Kong.

 

Currently, the most important regulatory developments include:

 

Review Of Regulation Of Internet Protocol Telephony

 

Although the Telecommunications Authority takes the view that IP telephony may be provided under existing licenses, given the specific nature and the technology associated with such service, the Telecommunications Authority issued a consultation paper on October 4, 2004 to canvass the views of the public

 

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with regard to the appropriate regulatory framework for the provision of such service. The Telecommunications Authority has invited the industry and interested parties to comment on the following aspects of the service:

 

    the appropriate policy and licensing framework for such service;

 

    issues relating to numbering, such as number portability;

 

    the appropriate interconnection arrangements, including the charging principles such as the USC and LAC arrangements, relating to such service; and

 

    related consumer issues, such as access to emergency services (given that the service may not be available if there is a power cut), quality of service and backup power supply.

 

The consultation period ended on December 4, 2004.

 

Review Of The Type II Interconnection Policy

 

Following two rounds of consultation on the review of the Hong Kong government’s policy on Type II interconnection, the Communications and Technology Branch, or CTB, announced in July 2004 that the mandatory Type II interconnection policy applicable to telephone exchanges for individual buildings (often referred to as “Point A” in statements issued by the Telecommunications Authority) will be fully withdrawn by June 30, 2008. The mandatory Type II interconnection policy was drawn up in 1995 and is applicable to PCCW-HKT, HGC, Wharf T&T and New World. Under this policy, each of these four FTNS License holders has the right to request (and the obligation to provide) interconnection with the other relevant FTNS Licensees at any point in the copper-wire local loops of the licensee providing interconnection. In practice, it is PCCW-HKT which is required to meet the mandatory obligation given the extensive coverage of its copper-wire local loops.

 

In the interim, the mandatory Type II interconnection policy will be withdrawn on a building-by-building basis. Buildings that are served by at least two self-built customer access networks will no longer be subject to the mandatory Type II Interconnection policy following a two year transitional period. There will be, in addition, a grandfather period of one year following the expiry of the transitional period to protect regulated interconnection terms (including charges) for lines connected before and during the transitional period. After the grandfather period, fixed network access to “Point A” of the local loops should be subject to commercial negotiations between the carriers.

 

The Telecommunications Authority further clarified in a statement entitled “Review of Type II Interconnection Policy” dated July 6, 2004 that mandatory Type II interconnection policy continues to apply to the following:

 

(i) buildings meeting the “essential facilities” criterion that justifies mandatory interconnection in the consumer interest; and

 

(ii) interconnection at the street level (often referred to as “Point B”) and at the in-building level (often referred to as “Point C”).

 

It should be noted that the Type II interconnection policy only applies to copper-based local loops. It does not apply to fiber-based local loops as the Hong Kong government wishes to encourage network operators to upgrade their networks from copper-based to fiber-based.

 

The maintenance of the mandatory Type II interconnection at the in-building level means that network operators which roll-out their own copper-based in-building systems, such as HKCTV and HKBN, will continue to be required to permit other operators to access their respective local loop facilities.

 

The Telecommunications Authority also issued a statement in July 2004 detailing the implementation steps for the new policy.

 

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Introduction Of A New Class License To Regulate Certain Resale Activities

 

Currently, telecommunications service providers which provide telecommunications services without establishing or maintaining a means of telecommunications (or pure resellers of telecommunications services) are not subject to the licensing regime outlined above. However, the Hong Kong government introduced provisions in the Amendment Ordinance in 2000, which provide that a person who, in the course of business, offers a telecommunications service is required to obtain a license. These provisions are not yet in operation.

 

The Telecommunications Authority issued a consultation paper on October 15, 2004 proposing partially to bring into force the provisions referred to above in order to regulate the following two types of resale by the creation of a new class license:

 

(i) the resale of telecommunications services on a prepaid basis (e.g. the resale of calling cards); and

 

(ii) the resale of telecommunications services by an associated corporation of a carrier or a telecommunications licensee in a dominant position.

 

The consultation period ended on December 14, 2004.

 

Introduction of an Ex post Price Control Regime

 

The Telecommunications Authority issued a consultation paper on October 8, 2004 regarding its proposal to move from ex ante to ex post regulation of the tariffs of PCCW-HKT in response to two applications by PCCW-HKT to be declared “non-dominant” in the markets for residential and business direct exchange line telephone services.

 

On January 14, 2005, OFTA issued a new fixed carrier license to PCCW-HKT (to replace its then existing FTNS License) that effectively allows PCCW-HKT to provide discounts to customers in these markets and lifts the requirement that PCCW-HKT obtain prior approval from the Telecommunications Authority before adjusting its tariffs.

 

The two applications made by PCCW-HKT for declaration of non-dominance in business and residential direct exchange line services have become redundant upon the surrender of its then FTNS license for the new fixed carrier license on January 14, 2005. Under its new fixed carrier license, PCCW-HKT is now only bound by the competition related regulations prohibiting the abuse of a dominant position in a relevant market or markets (including, for example, a prohibition against “predatory pricing”) if, and only if, PCCW-HKT is found to be dominant in the relevant market(s). For a more detailed discussion please refer to the section entitled “—Competition Provisions” above in this prospectus.

 

Television Broadcasting Industry

 

History

 

Until the end of 1990, Hong Kong had only two television broadcasters, Television Broadcasts Limited, or TVB, and Asia Television Limited, or ATV, that operated under licenses granted by the then Governor in Council under the Television Ordinance.

 

In December 1990, a “satellite television uplink and downlink license” was granted to Hutchvision Hong Kong Limited (now Starvision Hong Kong Limited, or Star TV), by the Telecommunications Authority for the provision of satellite television services. The market was further opened up by the grant to HKCTV (then known as Wharf Cable Limited) of a broadcasting license for the provision of subscription television services in 1993. To protect the heavy investment involved in the provision of subscription television services, the Hong Kong government agreed to grant exclusivity to HKCTV for three years.

 

In March 1993, PCCW-HKT was permitted to conduct a commercial trial of video-on-demand services, which we refer to in this prospectus as VOD. The VOD trial service provided by PCCW-HKT led to HKCTV

 

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taking legal action against both the Hong Kong government and PCCW-HKT alleging breach of its exclusive license. However, it was held that VOD should not be classified as a broadcasting service for the purpose of the then Television Ordinance (now repealed, see below) but as a point-to-point telecommunications service which PCCW-HKT would be entitled to provide under its telecommunications concession granted under the Telephone Ordinance.

 

Following a comprehensive review of the pay-TV industry in 1996, the Television Ordinance was amended in 1997 and a new category of license—“programme service license”—was created to bring the VOD services into the television regulatory regime. In 1998, a program service license was granted to PCCW VOD Limited, or PCCW-VOD.

 

In September 1998, the CTB (then the Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau) published a consultation paper entitled “1998 Review of Television Policy”. A number of important decisions were made following the review including that the moratorium on pay-TV would be lifted and the market for pay-TV would be opened for free competition from 1998.

 

Simultaneously, the CTB proposed new legislation implementing the policy decisions reached by the Hong Kong government in 1998 and intended to replace the Television Ordinance. The proposed legislation would establish a new regulatory regime under which the broadcasting service and the operation of the underlying telecommunications systems (for the transmission of the broadcasting service) would be regulated separately, with the broadcasting service itself being subject to the new legislation and the operation of the underlying telecommunications systems subject to the telecommunications regulatory regime.

 

At present, Hong Kong has two licensed domestic terrestrial broadcasters, TVB and ATV, providing free-to-air broadcasting services. In addition, there are also three licensed domestic pay-TV broadcasters, namely HKCTV, PCCW-VOD and Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting Limited. HKBN provides TV services over the Internet under its FTNS License, while Star TV continues to provide its services through satellite means under its satellite television uplink and downlink license.

 

Regulatory Environment

 

The main legislation in Hong Kong which regulates the television broadcasting industry is the Broadcasting Ordinance (Cap. 562) and the Broadcasting (License Fees) Regulations (Cap. 562A). The Broadcasting Ordinance was enacted in 2000 and repealed the Television Ordinance in its entirety.

 

The Broadcasting Authority, a statutory board established under the Broadcasting Authority Ordinance (Cap. 391), is the main regulator of the television broadcasting industry in Hong Kong.

 

Licensing

 

The Broadcasting Ordinance provides that it is an offence to provide a “broadcasting service” without a license. “Broadcasting service” is further divided into four categories:

 

    domestic free television program service;

 

    domestic pay television program service;

 

    non-domestic television program service; and

 

    other licensable television program service.

 

“Television programme service” is broadly defined to mean the provision of television programs for transmission by telecommunications that are readily accessible to the general public in or outside Hong Kong or to persons in 2 or more specified premises simultaneously or on demand, whether on a point-to- point or a point-to-multipoint basis.

 

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The Broadcasting Ordinance importantly exempts certain categories of television program services from the current licensing regime, including television program services provided on the service commonly known as the “Internet”. The Broadcasting Ordinance itself does not contain a definition of “Internet”. The Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology has indicated that on the condition that HKBN continues to provide its service on the platform currently deployed by HKBN, the Government does not dispute that HKBN’s service is provided on the “Internet” and is thus exempt. On this basis, HKBN has not obtained a pay-television broadcasting license and provides IP-TV services under its FTNS License.

 

The exemption reflects the policy decision reached by the Hong Kong government in its 1998 television policy review. The policy statement issued by the CTB in December 1998 states that any new multimedia service, including Internet originated in Hong Kong, which offers television-type program services on a commercial basis and competes with television program services operating in Hong Kong should require a television program service license but that “Web TV” should continue to be regulated as an Internet service until it is caught by the foregoing description.

 

The commercial television broadcasting licenses granted to TVB and ATV under the Television Ordinance are deemed to be domestic free television program service licenses. The Telecommunications Authority also issued to each of TVB and ATV a fixed carrier license in December 2003 in relation to the operation of the underlying fixed telecommunications network.

 

The subscription television broadcasting license issued to HKCTV and the program service license granted to PCCW-VOD under the Television Ordinance are deemed to be domestic pay television program service licenses. PCCW-VOD applied to the Hong Kong government for the surrender of its original program service license and requested the Chief Executive in Council to issue to it a domestic pay television program service license. Such a license was granted to PCCW-VOD in 2003.

 

The validity period of a broadcasting license varies and will be determined by the Chief Executive in Council but it is unlikely that a license with a validity period exceeding 12 years would be approved.

 

The license fee payable by a broadcasting licensee is set forth in the Broadcasting (License Fee) Regulation. The license fee comprises a number of components, which include a fixed annual amount (e.g. for a domestic pay television program service license, the amount is currently set at around HK$1.4 million) and a variable component (e.g. for a domestic pay television program service license, HK$4 for each subscriber).

 

Cross Media Ownership Restrictions

 

As with other television regulatory regimes, there are detailed cross-media ownership restrictions in the Broadcasting Ordinance. The restrictions are only applicable to domestic free and domestic pay television program service licenses.

 

The Broadcasting Ordinance essentially provides that a company which is either a “disqualified person” or has a “disqualified person” exercising control over it will not be eligible to be granted a broadcasting license unless it discloses the disqualification in its license application.

 

“Disqualified person” as defined under Sections 4, 5, 6 and 7 of Schedule 1 of the Broadcasting Ordinance includes, for example,

 

    a company which is an existing domestic free or domestic pay television program licensee;

 

    an advertising agent;

 

    a sound broadcasting licensee; or

 

    a proprietor of newspaper printed or produced in Hong Kong.

 

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A disqualified person who has complied with the disclosure requirement (and is otherwise in compliance with Section 8 of the Broadcasting Ordinance) may apply for a broadcasting license pursuant to Section 10 of the Broadcasting Ordinance. The Broadcasting Ordinance provides that the Chief Executive in Council may grant a broadcasting license to a company, including a disqualified person or to a company which has a disqualified person exercising control, over it or to a disqualified person in which another disqualified person exercises control subject to such conditions as the Chief Executive in Council sees fit.

 

Foreign Ownership Restrictions

 

In addition to the cross-media ownership restrictions outlined above, the Broadcasting Ordinance also imposes restrictions on foreign ownership of a holder of a domestic free television program service license. The restrictions do not prohibit the ownership of any voting shares in a domestic free television program service licensee but rather take the form of prohibiting the exercise of any voting rights attached to such voting shares.

 

Competition Provisions

 

The Broadcasting Ordinance also contain competition provisions which are aimed at:

 

    prohibiting a licensee from engaging in “anti-competitive conduct” which is conduct that has the purpose or effect of preventing, distorting or substantially restricting competition in a television program service market;

 

    prohibiting a licensee who is in a dominant position from abusing its position.

 

Certain “trade practices” however are exempted from the prohibition on “anti-competitive conduct” provision and these include restrictions imposed on the inclusion in a television program service of a television program produced wholly or substantially by the licensee of the service.

 

The Broadcasting Ordinance provides that a breach of any of the competition statutory provision may lead to the relevant contractual provisions in an agreement being regarded as void.

 

The Broadcasting Authority to this end issued two guidelines in 2001: the “Competition Investigation Procedures and Guidelines to the Application of the Competition Provisions of the Broadcasting Ordinance” and “Guidelines to the Application of the Competition Provisions of the Broadcasting Ordinance”. These guidelines outline the enforcement procedures and the competition analytical framework which the Broadcasting Authority intends to adopt in order to implement the competition provisions.

 

The Broadcasting Authority recently concluded the investigation of a number of competition complaints relating to certain sports broadcasting rights involving HKCTV, ATV and TVB.

 

Unlike the regulatory regime for the telecommunications industry, there is no equivalent of a specialised competition appeal board for the television broadcasting industry. A licensee aggrieved by a decision made by the Broadcasting Authority however may lodge an appeal to the Chief Executive in Council.

 

Program Standards and Advertising Standards

 

A broadcasting licensee is required to comply with the program standards and the advertising standards published by the Broadcasting Authority. The program standards and the advertising standards were revised recently in June 2003 and August 2004, respectively.

 

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DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT

 

Our board of directors consists of ten directors, three of whom are independent non-executive directors and one of whom is a non-executive director. Six are executive directors, namely, Mr. Wong Wai Kay, Ricky, Mr. Cheung Chi Kin, Paul, Mr. Chong Kin Chun, John, Ms. Fung So Mui, Fion, Ms. Sio Veng Kuan, Corinna and Ms. To Wai Bing. The non-executive director is Mr. Cheng Mo Chi, Moses. The three independent non-executive directors are Mr. Lee Hon Ying, John, Dr. Chan Kin Man and Mr. Peh Tun Lu, Jefferson.

 

The following table sets forth certain information concerning our directors and senior management as of January 31, 2005.

 

Name


   Age

  

Position


  

Date Joined City

Telecom


Board of Directors:

              

WONG Wai Kay, Ricky

   43    Chairman    1992

CHEUNG Chi Kin, Paul

   47    Managing Director    1992

CHONG Kin Chun, John

   42    Director, Corporate Division    1996

FUNG So Mui, Fion

   42    Director, Business Development    1993

SIO Veng Kuan, Corinna

   37    Director, Finance    1993

TO Wai Bing

   43    Director, International Business    1998

CHENG Mo Chi, Moses

   54    Non-Executive Director    1997

LEE Hon Ying, John

   58    Non-Executive Director    1997

CHAN Kin Man

   45    Non-Executive Director    1997

PEH Tun Lu, Jefferson

   45    Non-Executive Director    2004

Senior Management:

              

CHOY Mei Yuk, Mimi

   40    Director, Administration & Human Resources    1998

LEUNG Kim Ming, Sam

   37    Director, Technical    1992

LO Sui Lun

   40    Director, Network Operation    1998

SIN Siu Fun, Annie

   45    Director, Customer Service    1995

MOK King Man, Thomas

   43    Director, Customer Service    2002

YIM Chi Hang, Sunny

   41    Director, Information Technology    2004

LAI Ni Quiaque

   35    Director, Corporate Development    2004

LEUNG Yau Man, Haily

   36    Director, IP-TV    2003

LEUNG, Eva

   35    Secretary and In-House Legal Counsel    2000

 

Executive Directors

 

Mr. WONG Wai Kay, Ricky, aged 43, is the co-founder and chairman of City Telecom. He is responsible for our overall strategic planning and management. Mr. Wong holds a bachelor’s degree in science from The Chinese University of Hong Kong and has over 19 years’ experience in the telecommunications and computer industries. Mr. Wong has worked at a major U.S.-listed computer company as a marketing representative and was responsible for the marketing and the distribution of computer products in Hong Kong from 1985 to 1989. He was also a co-founder and director of a company principally engaged in the import and distribution of computer systems in Canada prior to co-founding City Telecom. Mr. Wong is a first cousin of Mr. Cheung Chi Kin, Paul, our managing director.

 

Mr. CHEUNG Chi Kin, Paul, aged 47, is the co-founder and managing director of City Telecom. He is responsible for our day-to-day operations and technological research, development and support activities. Mr. Cheung graduated with a diploma of advanced programming and system concepts design from Herzing Institute, Canada. He has more than 24 years’ experience in the telecommunications and computer industries. Mr. Cheung has worked in companies engaged in application software development and computer consultancy prior to co-founding City Telecom. Mr. Cheung is a first cousin of Mr. Wong Wai Kay, Ricky, our chairman.

 

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Mr. CHONG Kin Chun, John, aged 42, is our director of our corporate division. He is responsible for sales, marketing and servicing of our international telecommunications services, Internet products, and fixed telecommunications network services for our business and corporate customers. Mr. Chong joined City Telecom in February 1996 and was appointed an executive director in June 1997. He holds a bachelor’s degree in arts from The University of Hong Kong. Mr. Chong worked as a general manager overseeing product management and the sales force of a listed telecommunications products company in Hong Kong from 1987 to 1996.

 

Ms. FUNG So Mui, Fion, aged 42, is the director of business development. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in the United States. Ms. Fung is currently in charge of our business planning and development. Prior to that she was responsible for the development of our fixed telecommunications network businesses, the expansion of network coverage in Hong Kong, regulatory affairs and other business development operations of City Telecom. Ms. Fung worked as a research manager in a foreign-based executive recruitment firm in Hong Kong from 1986 to 1989. She joined City Telecom in October 1993 and was appointed an executive director in June 1997.

 

Ms. SIO Veng Kuan, Corinna, aged 37, is our finance director. She is in charge of City Telecom’s financial operations. Ms. Sio joined City Telecom in January 1993 and was appointed an executive director in June 1997. She is a Certified Public Accountant of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants and a fellow member of Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. Ms. Sio worked in the accounting department of various international banking corporations in Hong Kong from 1985 to 1992 prior to joining City Telecom.

 

Ms. TO Wai Bing, aged 43, is our director in charge of international business, carrier business and building access liaison. She joined City Telecom in September 1998 and was appointed an executive director in October 2000. Under the scope of our carrier business, she is in charge of interconnection and business development with local fixed network operators, local mobile operators and other local carriers. Under the scope of building access liaison, she is responsible for liaising with building owners, housing authority and other building management authorities for approval of fiber access to the buildings and in-building wiring. Ms. To worked in Hong Kong Telecom for 16 years after receiving her diploma and higher certificate in electronics engineering from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. She is experienced in international business development and international network engineering including international network planning, quality and security.

 

Non-executive Director

 

Mr. CHENG Mo Chi, Moses, aged 54, was re-designated as a non-executive director of City Telecom with effect from September 30, 2004. He was appointed as an independent non-executive director of the Company since June 17, 1997 and a member of the Audit Committee since its establishment on March 22, 1999. He is the senior partner of P.C. Woo & Co., a firm of solicitors and notaries in Hong Kong, the Founder Chairman of the Hong Kong Institute of Directors of which he is now the Honorary President and Chairman Emeritus, the Chairman of the Council and Court of the Hong Kong Baptist University and the Football Betting and Lotteries Commission. Mr. Cheng was appointed a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong from 1991 to 1995.

 

Independent Non-executive Directors

 

Mr. LEE Hon Ying, John, aged 58, is managing director of Cyber Networks Consultants Company in Hong Kong. He was the regional director, Asia Pacific, of Northrop Grumman—Canada Ltd. He was previously the director of network services of Digital Equipment (HK) Limited and prior to that, worked for Cable & Wireless HKT and Hong Kong Telecom. He is a chartered engineer and is a member of the Institution of Electronic and Radio Engineers, the United Kingdom and the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers and the Hong Kong Computer Society. He received a master’s degree in information systems from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 1992. In addition, he is the territory vice-president of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Asia and Oceania, which is an international charity body. He is the Chairperson of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong Diocesan for Hospital Pastoral Care. Mr. Lee has been a director of City Telecom since June 1997.

 

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Dr. CHAN Kin Man, aged 45, is an associate professor of the Department of Sociology of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, specializing in the state-society relations in China and Hong Kong. He received a bachelor of social science degree from The Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1983 and a doctor of philosophy degree from Yale University in the U.S. in 1995. Dr. Chan has been a director of City Telecom since June 1997.

 

Mr. PEH Tun Lu, Jefferson, aged 45, is a director of Shriro Equipment Limited, a member of the Shriro Group. He is also a Certified Public Accountant of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants and a Certified Practicing Accountant of CPA Australia. Mr. Peh holds a master’s degree in business from the University of Technology, Sydney. He has over 22 years of experience in finance, accounting and management with listed and private companies in Hong Kong and Australia. Mr. Peh has been a director of City Telecom since September 2004.

 

Senior Management

 

Ms. CHOY Mei Yuk, Mimi, aged 40, is our director of administration & human resources. Ms. Choy holds a master’s degree in Human Resources Management from Macquarie University, Australia. She joined City Telecom in 1998. Ms. Choy has worked in the human resources department of various companies prior to joining City Telecom. She has over 10 years of experience in administration and personnel management activities.

 

Mr. LEUNG Kim Ming, Sam, aged 37, is our technical director. Mr. Leung joined City Telecom in September 1992 and was promoted to the title of director in 1997. He is responsible for the new development of telecommunications network, Internet and IP-TV services. Mr. Leung has worked as a computer programmer in various computer software development companies prior to joining City Telecom.

 

Mr. LO Sui Lun, aged 40, is our network operation director. He is responsible for the engineering and development of our Metro Ethernet network. He joined City Telecom in September 1998 and was promoted to the title of director in 1999. Prior to joining City Telecom, Mr. Lo worked for PCCW-HKT for nine years, gaining experience in network planning and undersea cable investment. Mr. Lo holds a bachelor’s degree in sciences in electronics from The Chinese University of Hong Kong and a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Strathclyde, UK.

 

Ms. SIN Siu Fun, Annie, aged 45, is our director of customer service. Ms. Sin joined City Telecom in February 1995 and was promoted to the title of director in 1997 and holds a master’s degree in business administration from The University of Hull, the U.K. Ms. Sin has over 11 years’ experience in the customer service field gained through employment at two major international hotel chains prior to joining City Telecom.

 

Mr. MOK King Man, Thomas, aged 43, is our director of customer service in Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited. Mr. Mok joined City Telecom in April 2002 with the title of director. He is responsible for all aspects of the daily operation of the Customer Service Department. He holds a master’s degree in Human Resources Management from the Macquarie University and a bachelor’s degree in Management and Economics from James Cook University and HK Baptist University, respectively. He also holds a diploma in Training Management from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Prior to joining City Telecom, Mr. Mok was the Senior Training Officer for MTR Corporation and having spent 5 years with the firm. Before that, Mr. Mok held positions with AIA and HK Jockey Club.

 

Mr. YIM Chi Hang, Sunny, aged 41, is our director of information technology. Mr. Yim joined City Telecom in August 2004 with the title of director and is responsible for the planning and development of information services. He holds a bachelor of science degree in Computer Science from Laurentian University, Canada and a master’s degree in Computer Science from Concordia University, Canada. Prior to joining City Telecom, Mr. Yim had over 13 years’ experience in the information technology and telecommunication fields gained from multinational companies including DHL and Singapore Technologies Group.

 

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Mr. LAI Ni Quiaque, aged 35, is our director of corporate development. Mr. Lai joined City Telecom in May 2004 with the title of director and is responsible for overseeing our investor relations and corporate finance functions. Mr. Lai has 12 years’ experience in telecommunications industry research and finance, being highly rated in this field. Prior to joining City Telecom, Mr. Lai was Director and Head of Asia Telecom Research for Credit Suisse First Boston, having spent 8 years with the firm. Before that, Mr. Lai held positions with Hongkong Telecom and Kleinwort Benson Securities (Asia). Mr. Lai holds a bachelor of commerce degree from the University of Western Australia and is a qualified member of the Australian Society of CPAs.

 

Ms. LEUNG Yau Man, Haily, aged 36, is our director of our IP-TV services. Ms. Leung joined City Telecom in April 2003 with the title of director and is responsible for the overall planning and development of City Telecom’s IP-TV business. She graduated from the University of Hong Kong and holds a bachelor’s of arts degree. Prior to joining City Telecom, Ms. Leung has worked in various large corporations including a television broadcaster, a mobile company and a telecommunications company.

 

Ms. LEUNG Eva, aged 35, is our secretary and in-house legal counsel. Ms. Leung graduated from The University of Hong Kong with a bachelor’s degree in laws and obtained her master’s degree in business administration from the University of South Australia. Ms. Leung is admitted to practice as a solicitor in Hong Kong.

 

Directors’ and Senior Management’s Compensation

 

Our directors and senior management receive compensation in the form of salaries, housing allowances, discretionary bonuses, other allowances and benefits in kind, including our contribution to the pension schemes for such individuals.

 

The aggregate amount of salaries or other compensation, housing allowances, discretionary bonuses, other allowances and benefits in kind paid by us to our directors (not including our independent non-executive directors) during the year ended August 31, 2004 was approximately HK$19.4 million. We paid approximately HK$1.6 million as our contribution to the pension schemes of the directors in the year ended August 31, 2004. In addition we paid our independent non-executive directors fees of approximately HK$370,000 during the year ended August 31, 2004.

 

Each executive director is entitled to receive an annual discretionary bonus of such amount as shall be determined by the board of directors upon recommendation by the Remuneration Committee (as defined below). Additionally, our senior management and employees are entitled to receive an annual discretionary bonus based on their individual performance and our financial performance during the year in question.

 

The total number of ordinary shares representing outstanding options granted under the 2002 Scheme (as defined under “—Share Option Schemes” below) as of January 31, 2005 was 36,670,000. On October 21, 2004, we granted to our directors and senior managers under our 2002 Scheme options to subscribe for 14,670,000 ordinary shares. On October 21, 2004, the board of directors also proposed to grant options to subscribe for 8,000,000 ordinary shares to each of Mr. Wong Wai Kay, Ricky and Mr. Cheung Chi Kin, Paul. The proposed grants of option were approved by shareholders at our annual general meeting held on December 29, 2004. The total number of ordinary shares representing outstanding options under the 1997 Scheme (as defined under “—Share Option Schemes” below) as of January 31, 2005 was 600,000, of which 250,000 were held by Ms. Mimi Choy.

 

Except as discussed herein, no other payments have been paid or are payable, in respect of the year ended August 31, 2004, by us or any of our subsidiaries to our directors.

 

The aggregate amount of salaries or other compensation, housing allowances, other allowances and benefits in kind paid by us to our senior management during the year ended August 31, 2004 was approximately HK$9.8 million.

 

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For the year ended August 31, 2004, the aggregate amount accrued by us to provide pension retirement or similar benefits for our directors, senior management and other employees was approximately HK$26.3 million.

 

Board Practices

 

Service Contracts

 

We have entered into service contracts with six of our executive directors, Wong Wai Kay, Ricky, Cheung Chi Kin, Paul, Chong Kin Chun, John, Fung So Mui, Fion, Sio Veng Kuan, Corinna, and To Wai Bing. All of these service agreements, except for Ms. To’s, commenced on July 1, 1997, and had an initial term that ended June 30, 2000. Ms. To’s service contract commenced on September 15, 1998, and she was appointed director on October 4, 2000. All service agreements are automatically renewed annually after the initial term until termination with prior notice. After the initial term, the agreements with Mr. Wong and Mr. Cheung can be terminated by either party with six month’s notice. The service agreements entered with Mr. Chong, Ms. Fung, Ms. Sio and Ms. To are terminable at anytime with three month’s advance notice. These service contracts include non-competition clauses under which our executive directors agree not to compete with us in accordance with the terms and conditions therein. None of the agreements provide for any benefits or compensation upon termination of employment.

 

Audit Committee

 

Our board of directors established an Audit Committee to ensure the impartial supervision of our accounting and business operations. The Audit Committee is comprised of three independent, non-executive directors, namely, Mr. Lee Hon Ying, John, Dr. Chan Kin Man and Mr. Peh Tun Lu Jefferson and a non-executive director, Mr. Cheng Mo Chi, Moses. Mr. Peh was appointed to the Audit Committee on September 1, 2004 and is a “financial expert” within the meaning of, and as required by the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Audit Committee is governed by our audit committee charter, which was adopted by our board of directors at a meeting held in August 2004. It is responsible for making recommendations to our board of directors regarding the selection of independent auditors, reviewing the results and scope of audits and other services provided by our independent auditors. Additionally, the Audit Committee is in charge of reviewing and evaluating our internal audit and control functions. The committee meets at least two times per year, normally prior to the finalization of both interim and annual financial results.

 

Remuneration Committee

 

Our board of directors established a remuneration committee to ensure the supervision of the remuneration packages that we pay to our executive directors. The remuneration committee is comprised of Mr. Lee Hon Ying, John, Mr. Cheng Mo Chi, Moses, Dr. Chan Kin Man, our director of finance and our director of administration and human resources. The remuneration committee is responsible for reviewing and evaluating the remuneration packages of our executive directors and making recommendations to our board of directors from time to time.

 

Employees

 

The following chart sets forth the number of our employees by functional area as of August 31, 2004.

 

     Employees

Information technology and engineering

   614

Sales and marketing

   1,632

Customer service

   1,018

General administration and others

   319
    

Total

   3,583
    

 

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The following chart sets forth the number of our employees by geographical region as of August 31, 2004.

 

     Employees

Hong Kong

   1,598

Guangzhou

   1,956

Canada

   29
    

Total

   3,583
    

 

As of August 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004, we had 1,814, 2,753 and 3,583 employees, respectively. In connection with the transfer of our calling center operations to Guangzhou, China, we have hired over 1,900 customer service representatives, customer acquisition and back office employees to staff that facility. We also substantially increased the number of our sales and marketing, back office and customer service staff during fiscal 2004. As a result, our total number of employees increased. We have not experienced any work slowdowns or stoppages and we consider our relations with our employees to be good.

 

Share Ownership

 

The following chart sets forth the share ownership of our directors and senior management as of January 31, 2005.

 

Title of Class


  

Identity of Person or Group


  

Number of Shares

Beneficially

Owned(19)


   

Percentage of

Shares Beneficially

Owned (%)(3)


   Share Options

 

Ordinary Shares

   Wong Wai Kay, Ricky    333,540,999 (1)   54.32    8,000,000 (4)

Ordinary Shares

   Cheung Chi Kin, Paul    329,024,999 (2)   53.58    8,000,000 (5)

Ordinary Shares

   Chong Kin Chun, John    1,574,000     Less than 1.0    2,000,000 (6)

Ordinary Shares

   Fung So Mui, Fion    1,964,000     Less than 1.0    500,000 (7)

Ordinary Shares

   Sio Veng Kuan, Corinna    1,550,000     Less than 1.0    1,000,000 (8)

Ordinary Shares

   To Wai Bing    398,000     Less than 1.0    2,000,000 (9)

Ordinary Shares

   Choy Mei Yuk, Mimi    —       —      350,000 (10)

Ordinary Shares

   Leung Kim Ming, Sam    277,602     Less than 1.0    500,000 (11)

Ordinary Shares

   Lo Sui Lun    700,000     Less than 1.0    500,000 (12)

Ordinary Shares

   Sin Siu Fun, Annie    —       —      100,000 (13)

Ordinary Shares

   Mok King Man, Thomas    —       —      500,000 (14)

Ordinary Shares

   Yim Chi Hang, Sunny    —       —      100,000 (15)

Ordinary Shares

   Lai Ni Quiaque    7,220,000     1.2    6,000,000 (16)

Ordinary Shares

   Leung Yau Man, Haily    —       —      300,000 (17)

Ordinary Shares

   Leung, Eva    —       —      150,000 (18)

(1) Of the 333,540,999 shares, 318,516,999 shares are beneficially owned through Mr. Wong’s 34.7% interest in Top Group International Limited, or Top Group, 1,346,000 shares are held by Bullion Holdings Limited, which is wholly owned by Mr. Wong, 2,428,000 shares are owned jointly by Mr. Wong and his spouse, and 11,250,000 shares are owned personally by him.
(2) Of the 329,024,999 shares, 318,516,999 shares are beneficially owned through Mr. Cheung’s 34.5% interest in Top Group and 10,508,000 shares are owned personally by Mr. Cheung.
(3) Percentage ownership is based on 614,073,404 shares issued and outstanding as of February 4, 2005.
(4) Options to subscribe for 8,000,000 shares were granted to Mr. Wong for a purchase price of HK$1.0, at an exercise price of HK$1.54 per share and exercisable on or before October 20, 2014 in the following manner: (i) 4,000,000 on or after January 5, 2005, (ii) 2,000,000 on or after January 1, 2006 and (iii) 2,000,000 on or after January 1, 2007. The grant of option was proposed on October 21, 2004 and approved by shareholders at our annual general meeting held on December 29, 2004.
(5)

Options to subscribe for 8,000,000 shares were granted to Mr. Cheung for a purchase price of HK$1.0, at an exercise price of HK$1.54 per share and exercisable on or before October 20, 2014 in the following manner: (i) 4,000,000 on or after January 5, 2005, (ii) 2,000,000 on or after January 1, 2006 and (iii) 2,000,000 on or

 

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after January 1, 2007. The grant of option was proposed on October 21, 2004 and approved by shareholders at our annual general meeting held on December 29, 2004.

(6) Options to subscribe for 2,000,000 shares were granted to Mr. Chong on October 21, 2004 for a purchase price of HK$1.0, at an exercise price of HK$1.54 per share and exercisable on or before October 20, 2014 in the following manner: (i) 1,000,000 on or after January 1, 2005, (ii) 500,000 on or after January 1, 2006, and (iii) 500,000 on or after January 1, 2007.
(7) Options to subscribe for 500,000 shares were granted to Ms. Fung on October 21, 2004 for a purchase price of HK$1.0, at an exercise price of HK$1.54 per share and exercisable on or before October 20, 2014 in the following manner: (i) 200,000 on or after January 1, 2005, (ii) 200,000 on or after January 1, 2006, and (iii) 100,000 on or after January 1, 2007.
(8) Options to subscribe for 1,000,000 shares were granted to Ms. Sio on October 21, 2004 for a purchase price of HK$1.0, at an exercise price of HK$1.54 per share and exercisable on or before October 20, 2014 in the following manner: (i) 500,000 on or after January 1, 2005, (ii) 250,000 on or after January 1, 2006, and (iii) 250,000 on or after January 1, 2007.
(9) Options to subscribe for 2,000,000 shares were granted to Ms. To on October 21, 2004 for a purchase price of HK$1.0, at an exercise price of HK$1.54 per share and exercisable on or before October 20, 2014 in the following manner: (i) 1,000,000 on or after January 1, 2005, (ii) 500,000 on or after January 1, 2006, and (iii) 500,000 on or after January 1, 2007.
(10) Options to subscribe for 100,000 shares were granted to Ms. Choy on October 21, 2004 for a purchase price of HK$1.0, at an exercise price of HK$1.54 per share and exercisable on or before October 20, 2014 on or after January 1, 2005; options to subscribe for 250,000 shares were granted to Ms. Choy on October 20, 2000 for a purchase price of HK$1.0 at an exercise price of HK$0.58 per share and exercisable on or after June 2, 2001 until and including October 19, 2010.
(11) Options to subscribe for 500,000 shares were granted to Mr. Leung on October 21, 2004 for a purchase price of HK$1.0, at an exercise price of HK$1.54 per share and exercisable on or before October 20, 2014 in the following manner: (i) 200,000 on or after January 1, 2005, (ii) 200,000 on or after January 1, 2006, and (iii) 100,000 on or after January 1, 2007.
(12) Options to subscribe for 500,000 shares were granted to Mr. Lo on October 21, 2004 for a purchase price of HK$1.0, at an exercise price of HK$1.54 per share and exercisable on or before October 20, 2014 in the following manner: (i) 200,000 on or after January 1, 2005, (ii) 200,000 on or after January 1, 2006, and (iii) 100,000 on or after January 1, 2007.
(13) Options to subscribe for 100,000 shares were granted to Ms. Sin on October 21, 2004 for a purchase price of HK$1.0, at an exercise price of HK$1.54 per share and exercisable on or after January 1, 2005 until and including October 20, 2014.
(14) Options to subscribe for 500,000 shares were granted to Mr. Mok on October 21, 2004 for a purchase price of HK$1.0, at an exercise price of HK$1.54 per share and exercisable on or before October 20, 2014 in the following manner: (i) 200,000 on or after January 1, 2005, (ii) 200,000 on or after January 1, 2006, and (iii) 100,000 on or after January 1, 2007.
(15) Options to subscribe for 100,000 shares were granted to Mr. Yim on October 21, 2004 for a purchase price of HK$1.0, at an exercise price of HK$1.54 per share and exercisable on or after January 1, 2006 until and including October 20, 2014.
(16) Options to subscribe for 6,000,000 shares were granted to Mr. Lai on June 3, 2004 for a purchase price of HK$1.0, at an exercise price of HK$1.47 per share and exercisable on or before June 2, 2014 in the following manner: (i) 5,000,000 on or after May 1, 2005, and (ii) 1,000,000 on or after May 1, 2006.
(17) Options to subscribe for 300,000 shares were granted to Ms. Leung on October 21, 2004 for a purchase price of HK$1.0, at an exercise price of HK$1.54 per share and exercisable on or before October 20, 2014 in the following manner: (i) 120,000 on or after January 1, 2005, (ii) 100,000 on or after January 1, 2006, and (iii) 80,000 on or after January 1, 2007.
(18) Options to subscribe for 150,000 shares were granted to Ms. Leung on October 21, 2004 for a purchase price of HK$1.0, at an exercise price of HK$1.54 per share and exercisable on or after January 1, 2005 until and including October 20, 2014.
(19) Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC.

 

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All shareholders own ordinary shares and enjoy the same voting rights with respect to each share.

 

Share Option Schemes

 

We adopted a second share option scheme, which we refer to as the 2002 Scheme, on December 23, 2002 and terminated the share option scheme adopted and in effect since July 12, 1997, which we refer to as the 1997 Scheme. The provisions of the 1997 Scheme remain in force to the extent necessary to give effect to the exercise of any option granted pursuant to the 1997 Scheme. Such options continue to be valid and exercisable in accordance with the 1997 Scheme. Under the terms of the 2002 Scheme, our board of directors or the Board, may, in its discretion from time to time, and subject to such conditions as the Board may determine, within ten years beginning on December 23, 2002, grant employees, including executive, non-executive and independent non-executive directors, of City Telecom or any of its subsidiaries and any suppliers and professional advisers of City Telecom or any of its subsidiaries options to subscribe for our ordinary shares.

 

The maximum number of ordinary shares which may be issued upon exercise of all options to be granted under our 2002 Scheme and any of our other share option scheme(s) must not exceed 10% of the ordinary shares in issue as of the date of approval or adoption of the scheme by the shareholders which was December 23, 2002 for the 2002 Scheme. Ordinary shares which would have been issuable pursuant to options which have lapsed in accordance with the terms of such share option schemes will not be counted for the purpose of the 10% limit. Such limit may be refreshed upon approval by shareholders and compliance with all requirements under the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, which we refer to as the Listing Rules. Pursuant thereto, such limit was refreshed with the approval of our shareholders in our annual general meeting held on December 29, 2004 up to a maximum limit equal to 10% of our total number of issued shares as at December 29, 2004. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the number of ordinary shares which may be issued upon exercise of all outstanding options granted and yet to be exercised under our 2002 Scheme and any of our other share option scheme(s) at any time shall not exceed 30% of the total number of ordinary shares in issue from time to time.

 

The total number of ordinary shares issued and which may be issued upon exercise in full of the options granted under our 2002 Scheme and any of our other share option scheme(s) (including exercised, cancelled and outstanding options) to each eligible participant in any 12 month period up to and including the date of grant shall not exceed 1% of the outstanding ordinary shares as at the date of grant. Any further grant of options in excess of this 1% limit must be approved by shareholders.

 

The subscription price for an ordinary share payable by a participant upon the exercise of any option granted under the 2002 Scheme will be determined by the Board in its absolute discretion, except that such price will not be less than the highest of (a) the closing price of the ordinary shares as stated in The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited’s daily quotations sheet on the date of grant, which must be a business day; (b) the average of the closing prices of the ordinary shares as stated in The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited’s daily quotations sheets for the five business days immediately preceding the date of grant; and (c) the nominal value of an ordinary share.

 

Any grant of options to any of our directors, chief executives or substantial shareholders or any of their respective associates (as defined in the Listing Rules) is required to be approved by our non-grantee independent non-executive directors. If we propose to grant options to a substantial shareholder or any of its independent non-executive directors, or their respective associates, which will result in the number of ordinary shares issued and to be issued upon exercise of options granted and to be granted under our 2002 Scheme and any of our other share option scheme(s) (including options exercised, cancelled and outstanding) to such person in the 12 month period up to and including the date of such grant (a) representing in aggregate over 0.1% of the outstanding ordinary shares; and (b) having an aggregate value in excess of HK$5 million, based on the closing price of the ordinary shares at the date of each grant, such further grant of options will be subject to approval by shareholders and all requirements under the Listing Rules.

 

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A grant of options may not be made after a price sensitive event has occurred or a price sensitive matter has been the subject of a decision until such price sensitive information, including annual and interim results, has been made public.

 

The period during which an option may be exercised will be determined by the Board in its absolute discretion, except that no option may be exercised later than ten years from the date of grant. No option may be granted more than ten years after December 23, 2002. Subject to our earlier termination, the 2002 Scheme shall be valid and effective for a period of ten years after the date of adoption, that is, until December 23, 2012. In addition and to the extent not already exercised, an option will automatically lapse and not be exercisable upon the occurrence of any of the following events:

 

(i) the expiry date relevant to that option;

 

(ii) one month following the date a grantee ceases to be an eligible participant for any reason other than death or termination of his relationship with us (or the relevant subsidiary, as the case may be) on any of the grounds specified in (vii) below;

 

(iii) 12 months, or such longer period as the Board may determine, following the death of a grantee whose relationship with us (or the relevant subsidiary, as the case may be) would not have been terminated on any of the grounds specified in (vii) below;

 

(iv) 21 days following the date an effective resolution is passed for our voluntary winding-up;

 

(v) subject to (iv) above, the date of commencement of such winding-up;

 

(vi) the date on which any compromise or arrangement between us and our members or creditors in connection with a scheme for our reconstruction or our amalgamation with any other company or companies becomes effective;

 

(vii) the date on which the grantee ceases to be an eligible participant by reason of the termination of his or her relationship with us or the relevant subsidiary on any one or more of the grounds of serious misconduct or breach, bankruptcy, insolvency, composition with his or her creditors or conviction of any criminal offense involving his or her integrity or honesty or, in the case of a grantee-employee and if so determined by the Board, on any other common law, statutory or contractual ground on which an employer would be entitled to terminate such grantee’s employment;

 

(viii) 14 days following the date a general offer (which has been made to shareholders by way of take-over offer, share repurchase offer or scheme of arrangement or otherwise in like manner) becomes, or is declared unconstitutional; and

 

(ix) the date on which we cancel the options by reason that the grantee in any way sells, transfers, charges, mortgages, encumbers or creates any interest in favor of any third party over or in relation to any of his or her options or attempt to do so.

 

Through January 31, 2005, the Board had adopted nine resolutions pursuant to the 1997 Scheme and two resolutions pursuant to the 2002 Scheme. The total number of options granted in the resolutions pursuant to the 1997 Scheme as of January 31, 2005 is 80,490,000, of which 35,894,000 have been exercised, 600,000 are outstanding and 43,996,000 have lapsed, been forfeited or cancelled. The number of options granted in the resolutions pursuant to the 2002 Scheme is 36,670,000 of which none have been exercised.

 

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MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

Major Shareholders

 

The following table sets forth certain information regarding ownership of our ordinary shares as of January 31, 2005 by all persons who are known to us to own beneficially 5% or more of our ordinary shares.

 

Title of Class


  

Identity of Person or Group


  

Number of

Shares

Beneficially Owned(6)


   

Percentages of Shares

Beneficially Owned (%)(1)


Ordinary Shares

   Wong Wai Kay, Ricky    333,540,999 (2)   54.32

Ordinary Shares

   Cheung Chi Kin, Paul    329,024,999 (3)   53.58

Ordinary Shares

   Top Group International Limited    318,516,999     51.87

Ordinary Shares

   Leung Ka Pak    318,516,999 (4)   51.87

Ordinary Shares

   Yau Ming Yan, Andrew    318,516,999 (4)   51.87

Ordinary Shares

   EK Investment Management Limited    67,050,000 (5)   10.92

(1) Percentage ownership is based on 614,073,404 shares issued as of February 4, 2005.
(2) Of the 333,540,999 shares, 318,516,999 shares are beneficially owned through Mr. Wong’s 34.7% interest in Top Group, 1,346,000 shares are held by Bullion Holdings Limited, which is wholly owned by Mr. Wong, 2,428,000 shares are owned jointly by Mr. Wong and his spouse, and 11,250,000 shares are owned personally by Mr. Wong.
(3) Of the 329,024,999 shares, 318,516,999 shares are beneficially owned through Mr. Cheung’s 34.5% interest in Top Group and 10,508,000 shares are owned personally by Mr. Cheung.
(4) The 318,516,999 shares are beneficially owned through Mr. Leung’s 21.0% and Mr. Yau’s 9.8% interest in Top Group.
(5) The 67,050,000 shares owned by EK Investment Management Limited is the number of shares as notified to us by EK Investment Management Limited as of May 6, 2004.
(6) Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC.

 

Top Group is a holding company incorporated in British Virgin Islands with no active operations. Top Group has two directors, Mr. Wong Wai Kay, Ricky and Mr. Cheung Chi Kin, Paul, who are our chairman and managing director. Mr. Leung Ka Pak and Mr. Yau Ming Yan, Andrew are the two other shareholders of Top Group. Top Group’s corporate secretary is Ms. Sio Veng Kuan, Corinna, our director of finance.

 

Mr. Leung Ka Pak is an executive director and the president of our subsidiaries in Canada other than City Telecom (Canada) Incorporated. Mr. Yau Ming Yan, Andrew, is an executive director and the secretary of our subsidiaries in Canada other than City Telecom (Canada) Incorporated.

 

EK Investment Management Limited is not affiliated with us or our officers or directors.

 

All shareholders own ordinary shares and enjoy the same voting rights with respect to each share.

 

As of January 31, 2005, there were sixteen registered holders of 2,347,048 of our American depositary shares in the United States, consisting of approximately 7.64% of our outstanding shares.

 

Except as disclosed above, we are not directly or indirectly owned or controlled by any other person, corporation or foreign government.

 

We are not aware of any arrangement the operation of which may at a subsequent date result in a change of control of City Telecom.

 

Related Party Transactions

 

During the period from September 1, 2002 to February 4, 2005, we were party to the following related party transactions.

 

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Sale of City Telecom (Japan) Co., Ltd.

 

On July 15, 2003, Automedia Holdings Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into a conditional agreement with Takua Corporation, or Takua, for the sale of the entire issued share capital of City Telecom (Japan) Co., Ltd., or City Telecom Japan, for an aggregate price of JPY30.0 million (approximately HK$2.0 million), which is to be paid by Takua in thirty monthly installments. Prior to the entering into the Agreement, City Telecom Japan was our wholly-owned subsidiary. Takua is wholly-owned by Mr. Masaaki Asai, who is a brother of Mr. Tatsushi Asai, a director of City Telecom Japan. Mr. Tatsushi Asai also acts as a guarantor for the due and punctual performance of Takua’s obligations under this agreement for no additional consideration.

 

As of August 31, 2004, we had received approximately HK$0.8 million from Takua.

 

Contracts with Our Directors and Senior Management

 

All of our directors and senior management have service agreements with us and the service contracts of our six executive directors include non-competition clauses under which our executive directors agree not to compete with us in accordance with the terms and conditions therein. Certain of our directors and senior management receive housing allowances, pensions and bonuses. In addition, some of our directors are also senior management of City Telecom and these persons may also have the ability to make significant business decisions effecting our operations and determine the compensation they will be paid in connection with their roles as directors or management. Please see “Directors and Senior Management” above in this prospectus for details concerning these arrangements.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES

 

We will issue the exchange notes under the same indenture under which the outstanding notes were issued (the “Indenture”) among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee (the “Trustee”). The terms of the exchange notes include those expressly set forth in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the U.S. Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”). On January 20, 2005 we issued US$125,000,000 aggregate principal amount of outstanding notes and will issue up to an equal aggregate principal amount of exchange notes in this exchange offer. Subject to compliance with the limitations described under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on indebtedness,” we can issue an unlimited amount of additional notes (“Additional Notes”) in the future as part of the same series as the Exchange Notes or as an additional series. Any Additional Notes that we issue in the future will be identical in all material respects to the outstanding notes and the exchange notes, except that Additional Notes may have different issuance prices, may be subject to transfer restrictions and will have different issuance dates.

 

This description of notes is intended to be a useful overview of the material provisions of the exchange notes and the Indenture. Since this description of notes is only a summary, you should refer to the Indenture for a complete description of the obligations of the Company and your rights. A copy of the Indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

 

Except as otherwise indicated, the following description relates to both the outstanding notes and the exchange notes and is meant to be only a summary of the material provisions of the Indenture. This description does not restate all of the terms of the Indenture in their entirety. The form and terms of the exchange notes are the same as the form and terms of the outstanding notes in all material respect, except that:

 

    the exchange notes have been registered under the Securities Act and therefore will not bear legends restricting their transfer and will not contain provisions relating to an increase in the interest rate that were included in the terms of the outstanding notes in circumstances relating to the timing of the exchange offer; and

 

    the holders of the exchange notes will not be entitled to the rights of the holders of the outstanding notes under the registration rights agreement, which terminates upon the consummation of the exchange offer.

 

For purposes of this section, references to the notes shall be deemed to refer to the outstanding notes or exchange notes, as applicable.

 

You will find the definitions of capitalized terms used in this description under the heading “Certain Definitions.” For purposes of this description, references to “the Company,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer only to City Telecom (H.K.) Limited and not to any of its subsidiaries. Notes in this section mean the outstanding notes originally issued on the Issue Date, exchange notes or any Additional Notes, as applicable.

 

General

 

The Notes. The notes:

 

    are general unsecured, senior obligations of the Company;

 

    mature on February 1, 2015;

 

    will be issued in denominations of US$1,000 and integral multiples of US$1,000;

 

    will be represented by one or more registered notes in global form, but in certain circumstances may be represented by notes in definitive form;

 

    rank equally in right of payment to any existing or future senior Indebtedness of the Company, without giving effect to collateral arrangements;

 

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    are unconditionally guaranteed on a senior basis by each subsidiary of the Company (other than Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries). See “Subsidiary Guarantees”; and

 

    are expected to be eligible for trading in the PORTAL market.

 

Interest. Interest on the notes will compound semi-annually and:

 

    accrue at the rate of 8.75% per annum;

 

    accrue from the date of original issuance or, if interest has already been paid, from the most recent interest payment date;

 

    be payable in cash semi-annually in arrears on February 1 and August 1, commencing on August 1, 2005;

 

    be payable to the holders of record on the January 15 and July 15 immediately preceding the related interest payment dates; and

 

    be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

 

We will also pay Registration Default Damages to holders of the outstanding notes if we fail to file a registration statement relating to the outstanding notes or if the registration statement is not declared effective on a timely basis or if certain other conditions are not satisfied. These Registration Default Damages provisions are more fully explained under the heading “—Registration Rights for Outstanding Notes”. Whenever in this “Description of the Notes” there is mentioned, in any context the payment of principal, purchase prices in connection with a purchase of notes, interest, or any other amount payable on or with respect to any of the notes, that reference will be deemed to include payment of Registration Default Damages provided for under “—Registration Rights for Outstanding Notes” to the extent that, in such context, Registration Default Damages are, were or would be payable.

 

Payments on the notes; paying agent and registrar

 

We will pay principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the notes at the office or agency designated by the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, except that we may, at our option, pay interest on the notes by check mailed to holders of the notes at their registered address as it appears in the Registrar’s books. We have initially designated the corporate trust office of the Trustee in New York, New York to act as our Paying Agent and Registrar. We may, however, change the Paying Agent or Registrar without prior notice to the holders of the notes, and the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

 

The Registrar will maintain a register that shows The Depositary Trust Company or its nominee as the owner of the global note certificates, or in the event that physical, certificated notes are issued, that shows the persons to which such physical, certificated notes are issued as the owners of such notes.

 

We will pay principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, notes in global form registered in the name of or held by The Depository Trust Company or its nominee in immediately available funds to The Depository Trust Company or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered holder of such global note.

 

Transfer and exchange

 

Transfers of ownership of the notes and the right to payments of principal and interest thereunder may be made only through entries in the register. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents. No service charge will be imposed by the Company, the Trustee or the Registrar for any registration of transfer or exchange of notes, but the Company may require a holder to pay a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or other governmental taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Company is not required to transfer or exchange any note selected for redemption. Also, the Company is not required to transfer or exchange any note for a period of 15 days before a selection of notes to be redeemed.

 

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The registered holder of a note will be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.

 

Optional Redemption

 

Except as set forth below and under “—Optional Tax Redemption”, the notes will not be redeemable at the option of the Company prior to February 1, 2010. Thereafter, the Company will be entitled to redeem the notes at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, upon no less than 30 days’ nor more than 60 days’ prior notice to holders of the intended redemption, at the redemption prices (expressed in percentages of the principal amount on the redemption date) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Amounts, if any, thereon, to the redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date). The following prices are for notes redeemed during the 12-month period commencing on February 1 of the years set forth below and are expressed as a percentage of the principal amount on the redemption date:

 

Year


   Redemption
Price


 

2010

   104.375 %

2011

   102.917 %

2012

   101.458 %

2013 and thereafter

   100.000 %

 

At any time and from time to time, prior to February 1, 2008, the Company may, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, redeem up to a maximum of 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of the notes with the proceeds of one or more Qualified Equity Offerings or from a Strategic Equity Investment at a redemption price equal to 108.75% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Amounts thereon, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date); provided, however, that after giving effect to any such redemption, at least 65% of the original aggregate principal amount of the notes remains outstanding. Any such redemption shall be made within 75 days of such Qualified Equity Offering or Strategic Equity Investment, as applicable.

 

If the optional redemption date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related interest payment date, the accrued and unpaid interest, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any, will be paid to the Person in whose name the note is registered at the close of business on such record date, and no additional interest will be payable to holders whose notes will be subject to redemption by the Company.

 

In the case of any partial redemption, selection of the notes for redemption will be made by the Trustee in compliance with the requirements of the principal securities exchange, if any, on which the notes are listed or, if the notes are not listed, then on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee in its sole discretion will deem to be fair and appropriate, although no note of US$1,000 in original principal amount or less will be redeemed in part. If any note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption relating to such note will state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. A new note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued in the name of the holder thereof upon cancellation of the original note.

 

For so long as the notes are listed on the SGX-ST, and it is required by the rules of the SGX-ST, the SGX-ST will be notified of any optional redemption and notice will be published in accordance with the section “—Notices” below.

 

The Company is not required to make mandatory redemption payments or sinking fund payments with respect to the notes.

 

Optional Tax Redemption

 

The Company will be entitled to redeem all but not part of the notes if as a result of any change in or amendment to the laws, regulations or rulings of any Relevant Tax Jurisdiction (as defined under “—Payment of

 

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Additional Amounts”) or any change in the official application or interpretation of such laws, regulations or rulings, or any change in the official application or interpretation of, or any execution of or amendment to, any treaty or treaties affecting taxation to which such Relevant Tax Jurisdiction is a party (a “Change in Tax Law”) the Company is or would be required on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date to pay Additional Amounts with respect to the notes as described under “Payment of Additional Amounts,” and the payment of such Additional Amounts cannot be avoided by the use of any reasonable measures available to the Company provided, however, that (a) no such notice of redemption may be given earlier than 90 days prior to the earliest date on which the Company would be obligated to pay such Additional Amounts were a payment in respect of the notes then due and payable and (b) at the time such notice is given, such obligation to pay such Additional Amounts remains in effect. The change in Tax Law must become effective on or after the date of this prospectus. The Company must also provide the holders with notice of the intended redemption at least 30 days and no more than 60 days before the redemption date. Prior to the giving of any notice of redemption pursuant to this provision, the Company will deliver to the Trustee (i) an Officers’ Certificate of the Company stating that the Company is entitled to effect such redemption and setting forth a statement of facts showing that the conditions precedent to the right of the Company so to redeem have occurred, (ii) an Opinion of Counsel qualified under the laws of the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction to the effect that the Company has been or would become obligated to pay such Additional Amounts as a result of a Change in Tax Law, and (iii) a memorandum of Counsel or other written analysis of Counsel to the effect that such obligation cannot be avoided by the Company taking reasonable measures available to it. The redemption price will equal the principal amount of the note plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any to, but not including the redemption date and Additional Amounts, if any, then due and which otherwise would be payable.

 

For so long as the notes are listed on the SGX-ST, and it is required by the rules of the SGX-ST, the SGX-ST will be notified of any optional tax redemption and notice will be published in accordance with the section “—Notices” below.

 

Payment of Additional Amounts

 

If any taxes, duties, assessments, or other governmental charges are imposed by any jurisdiction where each of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors (each, a “Payor”) is organized or otherwise considered by a taxing authority to be a resident for tax purposes, any jurisdiction from or through which the Payor makes a payment on the notes, or in each case, any political organization or governmental authority thereof or therein having the power to tax (the “Relevant Tax Jurisdiction”) in respect of any payments under the notes, the Payor will pay to each holder of a note, to the extent it may lawfully do so, such additional amounts (“Additional Amounts”) as may be necessary in order that the net amounts paid to such holder will be not less than the amount specified in such note to which such holder is entitled; provided, however, the Payor will not be required to make any payment of Additional Amounts for or on account of:

 

(1) Any tax, duties, assessment or other governmental charge which would not have been imposed but for (a) the existence of any present or former connection between such holder (or between a fiduciary, settler, beneficiary, member or shareholder of, or possessor of a power over, such holder, if such holder is an estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company or corporation) and the Relevant Tax Jurisdiction other than solely by the holding of notes or by the receipt of principal or interest in respect of the notes, including, without limitation, such holder (or such fiduciary, settler, beneficiary, member, shareholder or possessor) being or having been a citizen or resident thereof or being or having been present or engaged in trade or business therein or having or having had a permanent establishment therein or (b) the presentation of a note (where presentation is required) for payment on a date more than 30 days after (x) the date on which such payment became due and payable or (y) the date on which payment thereof is duly provided for, whichever occurs later (in either case (x) or (y), except to the extent that the holder would have been entitled to Additional Amounts had the note been presented for such 30-day period);

 

(2) Any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, personal property or similar tax, assessment or other governmental charge;

 

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(3) Any tax, duties, assessment or other governmental charge that is imposed or withheld by reason of the failure by the holder or the beneficial owner of the note to comply with a reasonable and timely request of the Payor addressed to the holder to provide information, documents or other evidence concerning the nationality, residence or identity of the holder or such beneficial owner which is required by a statute, treaty, regulation or administrative practice of the taxing jurisdiction as a precondition to exemption from all or part of such tax, assessment or other governmental charge;

 

(4) Any tax, duties, assessment or other governmental charge that is payable otherwise than by any deduction or withholding from any payment of the principal of, or any premium or interest on, a note;

 

(5) Any tax, duties, assessment or other governmental charge required to be deducted or withheld by any paying agent from any payment of the principal of, or any premium or interest on, a note, if such payment can be made alternatively at the holder’s option without such deduction or withholding by any other paying agent available to such holder at the same time; or

 

(6) Any combination of the above.

 

The Payor will (i) make any required withholding or deduction and (ii) remit the full amount deducted or withheld to the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction in accordance with applicable law. The Payor will use all reasonable efforts to obtain certified copies of tax receipts evidencing the payment of any Taxes so deducted or withheld from each Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction imposing such Taxes and will provide such certified copy to each holder of a note. The Payor will attach to each certified copy a certificate stating (x) that the amount of withholding Taxes evidenced by the certified copy was paid in connection with payments in respect of the principal amount of notes then outstanding and (y) the amount of such withholding Taxes paid per US$1,000, as the case may be, principal amount of the notes.

 

The Indenture will further provide that, if a Payor conducts business in any jurisdiction (an “Additional Taxing Jurisdiction”) other than a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction and, as a result, is required by the law of such Additional Taxing Jurisdiction to deduct or withhold any amount on account of taxes imposed by such Additional Taxing Jurisdiction from payments under the notes or the relevant Subsidiary Guarantee, as the case may be, which would not have been required to be so deducted or withheld but for such conduct of business in such Additional Taxing Jurisdiction, the Additional Amounts provision described above shall be considered to apply to such holders as if references in such provision to “Taxes” included taxes imposed by way of deduction or withholding by any such Additional Taxing Jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof or taxing authority therein).

 

At least 30 days prior to each date on which any payment under or with respect to the notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee, as the case may be, is due and payable (unless such obligation to pay Additional Amounts arises shortly before or after the 30th day prior to such date, in which case it shall be promptly thereafter), if a Payor will be obligated to pay Additional Amounts with respect to such payment, such Payor will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating the fact that such Additional Amounts will be payable, the amounts so payable and will set forth such other information necessary to enable the Trustee to pay such Additional Amounts to holders of notes on the payment date. Each such Officers’ Certificate shall be relied upon until receipt of a further Officers’ Certificate addressing such matters.

 

The Payor will provide the Trustee with the official acknowledgment of the Relevant Tax Authority (or, if such acknowledgment is not available, a certified copy thereof) evidencing the payment of the withholding taxes by the Payor. Copies of such documentation will be made available to the holders of the notes or the paying agents, as applicable, upon request therefor.

 

The Company (or failing which, any Subsidiary Guarantor) will pay any present or future stamp, court or documentary taxes, or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies which arise in any jurisdiction from the execution, delivery or registration of the notes or any other document or instrument referred to therein (other than a transfer of the notes), or the receipt of any payments with respect to the notes, excluding any such

 

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taxes, charges or similar levies imposed by any jurisdiction that is not a Relevant Tax Jurisdiction, other than those resulting from, or required to be paid in connection with, the enforcement of the notes or any other such document or instrument following the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to the notes.

 

The foregoing obligations will survive any termination, defeasance or discharge of the Indenture and will apply mutatis mutandis to any jurisdiction in which any successor Person to a Payor is organized or any political subdivision or taxing authority or agency thereof or therein.

 

All references in this prospectus to principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the notes will include any Additional Amounts payable by the Payor in respect of such principal, such premium, if any, and such interest.

 

Ranking

 

The notes will be general unsecured obligations of the Company that rank senior in right of payment to all existing and future Indebtedness that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the notes. The notes will rank equally in right of payment with all existing and future liabilities of the Company that are not so subordinated and will be effectively subordinated to all of our secured Indebtedness and liabilities of our Subsidiaries that do not guarantee the notes. In the event of bankruptcy, liquidation, reorganization or other winding up of the Company or its Subsidiary Guarantors or upon a default in payment with respect to, or the acceleration of, any secured Indebtedness, the assets of the Company and its Subsidiary Guarantors that secure secured Indebtedness will be available to pay obligations on the notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees only after all Indebtedness under such Credit Facility and other secured Indebtedness has been repaid in full from such assets. We advise you that there may not be sufficient assets remaining to pay amounts due on any or all the notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees then outstanding.

 

As of January 31, 2005, outstanding Indebtedness of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors was US$3.5 million, US$2.6 million of which would have been secured.

 

Subsidiary Guarantees

 

The Subsidiary Guarantors will, jointly and severally, unconditionally guarantee on a senior basis the Company’s obligations under the notes and all obligations under the Indenture. Such Subsidiary Guarantors will agree to pay, in addition to the amount stated above, any and all costs and expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) Incurred by the Trustee or the holders in enforcing any rights under the Subsidiary Guarantees. The obligations of Subsidiary Guarantors under the Subsidiary Guarantees will rank equally in right of payment with other Indebtedness of such Subsidiary Guarantor, except to the extent such other Indebtedness is expressly subordinate to the obligations arising under the Subsidiary Guarantee.

 

The Indenture will provide that all of the Company’s present and future Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries will be Subsidiary Guarantors. On the Issue Date, the only Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary will be CTI Guangzhou.

 

In the event the Company forms or otherwise acquires, directly or indirectly, a Restricted Subsidiary organized under the laws of a jurisdiction that prohibits by law, regulation or order such Restricted Subsidiary from providing an enforceable Subsidiary Guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary, the Company will use all commercially reasonable efforts, including pursuing required waivers, over a period of up to one year, to provide an enforceable Subsidiary Guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that the Company will not be required to use commercially reasonable efforts relating to such Restricted Subsidiary for more than a one-year period or such shorter period as the Company determines in good faith that it has used all commercially reasonable efforts. If the Company is unable during the period to procure an enforceable Subsidiary Guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary so formed or acquired in the jurisdiction in which such Restricted Subsidiary is organized, and the Company has designated such Restricted Subsidiary as a Designated Non-Guarantor

 

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Subsidiary, then the Restricted Subsidiary so formed or acquired will not be required to provide a Subsidiary Guarantee; provided, however, that if there is a change in such law, regulation or order following which such Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary is no longer prohibited from providing a Subsidiary Guarantee, the Company will cause such Restricted Subsidiary to Guarantee the notes promptly (but in any event not later than 30 days) following the Company becoming aware of such change in law, regulation or order.

 

The Company may designate one or more Restricted Subsidiaries as “Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries” in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture. No designation of a Restricted Subsidiary as a Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary shall be effective against the Trustee or the noteholders until the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that all requirements relating to such designation have been complied with and that such designation is authorized and permitted by the Indenture. The Company may at any time designate a Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary as a Subsidiary Guarantor by delivery to the Trustee of an Officers’ Certificate and a supplemental indenture making such Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary a Subsidiary Guarantor, at which time such Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary shall become a Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

Notwithstanding the other provisions of this covenant, at no time shall the aggregate book value of the Net Tangible Assets of all Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries (based on the balance sheets of such Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries used in the preparation of the most recent consolidated financial statements of the Company required to be delivered to the Trustee or, if sooner, filed with or furnished to the SEC) exceed 20% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company.

 

As of January 31, 2005, there was US$0.9 million of outstanding Indebtedness of the Subsidiary Guarantors.

 

Although the Indenture will limit the amount of Indebtedness that Restricted Subsidiaries may Incur, such Indebtedness may be substantial.

 

The obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee will be limited as necessary to prevent that Subsidiary Guarantee from constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under applicable law.

 

In the event a Subsidiary Guarantor is sold or disposed of (whether by merger, consolidation, the sale of its Capital Stock or the sale of all or substantially all of its assets (other than by lease)) and whether or not the Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving corporation in such transaction to a Person which is not the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, such Subsidiary Guarantor will be released from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee if:

 

(1) the sale or other disposition is in compliance with the Indenture, including the covenants “—Limitation on sale of assets and subsidiary stock” and “—Limitation on sale of capital stock of restricted subsidiaries;” and

 

(2) all the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under all Credit Facilities and related documentation and any other agreements relating to any other indebtedness of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries terminate upon consummation of such transaction.

 

In addition, a Subsidiary Guarantor will be released from its obligations under the Indenture and its Subsidiary Guarantee if the Company designates such Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary and such designation complies with the other applicable provisions of the Indenture.

 

Change of Control

 

If a Change of Control occurs, unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem all of the notes as described above under “—Optional Redemption” or “—Optional Tax Redemption”, each holder will have the

 

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right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to US$1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of such holder’s notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount of the notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date).

 

Within 30 days following any Change of Control, unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem all of the notes as described above under “—Optional Redemption” or “—Optional Tax Redemption”, the Company will mail a notice (the “Change of Control Offer”) to each holder, with a copy to the Trustee, stating:

 

(1) that a Change of Control has occurred and that such holder has the right to require the Company to purchase such holder’s notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount of such notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase (subject to the right of holders of record on a record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date) (the “Change of Control Payment”);

 

(2) the repurchase date (which shall be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed) (the “Change of Control Payment Date”);

 

(3) the circumstances and relevant facts regarding the Change of Control; and

 

(4) the procedures determined by the Company, consistent with the Indenture, that a holder must follow in order to have its notes repurchased.

 

On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful:

 

(1) accept for payment all notes or portions of notes (in integral multiples of US$1,000) properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;

 

(2) deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all notes or portions of notes so tendered; and

 

(3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the notes so accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of notes or portions of notes being purchased by the Company and any other information reasonably requested by the Trustee.

 

For so long as the notes are listed on the SGX-ST, and it is required by the rules of the SGX-ST, such notice will be published in accordance with the section “—Notices” below.

 

The paying agent will promptly mail to each holder of notes so tendered the Change of Control Payment for such notes, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each holder a new note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the notes surrendered, if any; provided that each such new note will be in a principal amount of US$1,000 or an integral multiple thereof.

 

If the Change of Control Payment Date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest, if any, will be paid to the Person in whose name a note is registered at the close of business on such record date, and no additional interest will be payable to holders who tender pursuant to the Change of Control Offer.

 

The Change of Control provisions described above will be applicable whether or not any other provisions of the Indenture are applicable. Except as described above with respect to a Change of Control, the Indenture does not contain provisions that permit the holders to require that the Company repurchase or redeem the notes in the event of a takeover, recapitalization or similar transaction.

 

Prior to mailing a Change of Control Offer, and as a condition to such mailing (i) the requisite holders of each issue of Indebtedness issued under an indenture or other agreement that may be violated by such payment shall have consented to such Change of Control Offer being made and waived the event of default, if any, caused by the Change of Control or (ii) the Company will repay all outstanding Indebtedness issued under an indenture

 

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or other agreement that may be violated by a payment to the holders of notes under a Change of Control Offer or the Company must offer to repay all such Indebtedness, and make payment to the holders of such Indebtedness that accept such offer, and obtain waivers of any event of default from the remaining holders of such Indebtedness. The Company covenants to effect such repayment or obtain such consent within 30 days following any Change of Control, it being a default of the Change of Control provisions of the Indenture if the Company fails to comply with such covenant.

 

The Company will comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of notes pursuant to this covenant. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with provisions of the Indenture, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations described in the Indenture by virtue of the conflict.

 

The Company’s ability to repurchase notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer may be limited by a number of factors. Other or future Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries may also contain prohibitions of certain events that would constitute a Change of Control or require such Indebtedness to be repurchased upon a Change of Control. Moreover, the exercise by the holders of their right to require the Company to repurchase the notes could cause a default under such Indebtedness, even if the Change of Control itself does not, due to the financial effect of such repurchase on the Company. Finally, the Company’s ability to pay cash to the holders upon a repurchase may be limited by the Company’s then existing financial resources. There can be no assurance that sufficient funds will be available when necessary to make any required repurchases.

 

Even if sufficient funds were otherwise available, the terms of other or future Indebtedness may prohibit the Company’s prepayment of notes before their scheduled maturity. Consequently, if the Company is not able to prepay any such other Indebtedness containing similar restrictions or obtain requisite consents, as described above, the Company will be unable to fulfill its repurchase obligations if holders of notes exercise their repurchase rights following a Change of Control, resulting in a default under the Indenture. A default under the Indenture may result in a cross-default under other the terms of other or future Indebtedness.

 

The Change of Control provisions described above may deter certain mergers, tender offers and other takeover attempts involving the Company by increasing the capital required to effectuate such transactions. The definition of “Change of Control” includes a disposition of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any Person other than a Permitted Holder or their Related Parties. Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, in certain circumstances there may be a degree of uncertainty as to whether a particular transaction would involve a disposition of “all or substantially all” of the property or assets of a Person. As a result, it may be unclear as to whether a Change of Control has occurred and whether a holder of notes may require the Company to make an offer to repurchase the notes as described above. The provisions under the Indenture relative to the Company’s obligation to make an offer to repurchase the notes as a result of a Change of Control may be waived or modified with the written consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the notes.

 

Certain Covenants

 

Limitation on indebtedness

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, Incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness); provided, however, that the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries) may Incur Indebtedness if:

 

(1) on the date of such Incurrence, and after giving effect thereto and the application of the proceeds thereof, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries would be less than 4.25 to 1.0; and

 

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(2) on the date thereof no Default or Event of Default will have occurred or be continuing or would occur as a consequence of Incurring the Indebtedness or transactions relating to such Incurrence.

 

The first paragraph of this covenant will not prohibit the Incurrence of the following Indebtedness:

 

(1) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary Incurred pursuant to a Credit Facility in an aggregate amount not to exceed, at any time outstanding, US$15 million;

 

(2) Guarantees by the Subsidiary Guarantors of Indebtedness Incurred in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture; provided that in the event such Indebtedness that is being Guaranteed is a Subordinated Obligation or a Guarantor Subordinated Obligation, then the related Guarantee shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Subsidiary Guarantee;

 

(3) Indebtedness of the Company owing to and held by any Restricted Subsidiary or Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to and held by the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however,

 

(a) if the Company is the obligor on such Indebtedness, such Indebtedness is expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all obligations with respect to the notes;

 

(b) if a Subsidiary Guarantor is the obligor on such Indebtedness and the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor is not the obligee, such Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Subsidiary Guarantees of such Subsidiary Guarantor; and

 

(c) (i) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Indebtedness being beneficially held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; and

 

     (ii) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company

 

shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an Incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or such Subsidiary which is the obligor, as the case may be;

 

(4) Indebtedness represented by (a) the notes issued on the Issue Date and the Subsidiary Guarantees, (b) any Indebtedness (other than the Indebtedness described in clauses (1), (2), (3), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9) and (10)) outstanding on the Issue Date and (c) any Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred in accordance with the third paragraph of this covenant and in respect of any Indebtedness described in this clause (4) or clause (5) or clause (7) or Incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this covenant;

 

(5) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary Incurred and outstanding on the date on which such Restricted Subsidiary was acquired by the Company (other than Indebtedness Incurred (a) to provide all or any portion of the funds utilized to consummate the transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary or was otherwise acquired by the Company or (b) otherwise in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition); provided, however, that at the time such Restricted Subsidiary is acquired by the Company, the Company would have been able to Incur US$1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the first paragraph of this covenant after giving effect to the Incurrence of such Indebtedness pursuant to this clause (5);

 

(6) Indebtedness under Currency Agreements and Interest Rate Agreements; provided, that in the case of Currency Agreements and Interest Rate Agreements, such Currency Agreements are related to business transactions of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes or in the case of Currency Agreements and Interest Rate Agreements, such Currency Agreements and Interest Rate Agreements are entered into for bona fide hedging purposes of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors or senior management of the Company) and substantially correspond in terms of notional amount, duration, currencies and interest rates, as applicable, to Indebtedness of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurred without violation of the Indenture;

 

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(7) the Incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (each a “PMD Entity”) of Purchase Money Debt for Telecommunications Assets provided that:

 

(a) the aggregate principal amount of such Purchase Money Debt does not exceed 100% of the sum of:

 

(i) the Fair Market Value (on the date of the Incurrence thereof) of the applicable Telecommunications Assets;

 

(ii) the Fair Market Value of any services to be provided to the PMD Entity by the seller of the applicable Telecommunications Assets in connection with the construction, installation and maintenance of such assets;

 

(iii) the amount of interest on such debt permitted to be capitalized during the period of construction and installation of such assets under U.S. GAAP; and

 

(iv) any fees required to be paid by the PMD Entity with respect to any Guarantee of such Purchase Money Debt; and

 

(b) the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness Incurred and then outstanding pursuant to this clause (7) plus the aggregate principal amount of all then outstanding Existing Purchase Money Debt (together with all Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred and then outstanding in respect of Indebtedness previously Incurred pursuant to this clause (7) or in respect of Existing Purchase Money Debt) does not exceed US$10 million;

 

(8) Indebtedness Incurred in respect of performance bonds and letters of credit provided by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and not in connection with the borrowing of money or the obtaining of advances or credit;

 

(9) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, Incurred or assumed in connection with the disposition of any business, assets or Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, provided that the maximum aggregate liability in respect of all such Indebtedness shall at no time exceed the gross proceeds actually received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such disposition; and

 

(10) in addition to the items referred to in clauses (1) through (9) above, Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate outstanding principal amount which, when taken together with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (10) and then outstanding, shall not exceed US$1 million at any time outstanding.

 

For purposes of determining compliance with this covenant, references to “Restricted Subsidiary” or “Restricted Subsidiaries” in the second paragraph of this covenant (other than clause (3)) shall exclude Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries.

 

The Company is not permitted to Incur any Indebtedness under the preceding paragraph if the proceeds thereof are used, directly or indirectly, to refinance any Subordinated Obligations of the Company unless such Indebtedness will be subordinated to the notes to at least the same extent as such Subordinated Obligations. No Subsidiary Guarantor is permitted to Incur any Indebtedness if the proceeds thereof are used, directly or indirectly, to refinance any Guarantor Subordinated Obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor unless such Indebtedness will be subordinated to the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee to at least the same extent as such Guarantor Subordinated Obligations. No Restricted Subsidiary is permitted to Incur any Indebtedness if the proceeds are used to refinance Indebtedness of the Company. Neither the Company nor a Restricted Subsidiary is permitted to Incur any Indebtedness if the proceeds are used to refinance Indebtedness of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

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For purposes of determining compliance with, and the outstanding principal amount of any particular Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to and in compliance with, this covenant:

 

(1) in the event that Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in the first and second paragraphs of this covenant, the Company, in its sole discretion, will classify such item of Indebtedness on the date of Incurrence and only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness in one of such clauses;

 

(2) all Indebtedness outstanding on the date of the Indenture under any Credit Facility shall be deemed initially Incurred on the Issue Date under clause (1) of the second paragraph of this covenant and not clause (4)(b) of the second paragraph of this covenant (other than Indebtedness outstanding on the date of the Indenture under the HSBC Facility which shall be deemed initially incurred on the Issue Date under clause 4(b) of the second paragraph of this covenant);

 

(3) Indebtedness permitted by this covenant need not be permitted solely by reference to one provision permitting such Indebtedness but may be permitted in part by one such provision and in part by one or more other provisions of this covenant permitting such Indebtedness; and

 

(4) the amount of Indebtedness issued at a price that is less than the principal amount thereof will be equal to the amount of the liability in respect thereof determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

 

In addition, the Company will not permit any of its Unrestricted Subsidiaries to Incur any Indebtedness or issue any shares of Disqualified Stock, other than Non-Recourse Debt. If at any time an Unrestricted Subsidiary becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary shall be deemed to be Incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary as of such date (and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be Incurred as of such date under this “Limitation on indebtedness” covenant, the Company shall be in Default of this covenant).

 

For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the Incurrence of Indebtedness, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was Incurred, in the case of term Indebtedness, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit Indebtedness; provided that if such Indebtedness is Incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable U.S. dollar-dominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. dollar-dominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced. The principal amount of any Indebtedness Incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, if Incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such Refinancing Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.

 

Limitation on restricted payments

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, to:

 

(1) declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution (whether made in cash, securities or other assets or property) on or in respect of its Capital Stock (including any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) except:

 

(a) dividends or distributions payable solely in Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock); and

 

(b) dividends or distributions payable to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (and if such Restricted Subsidiary is not a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, to its other holders of common Capital Stock on a pro rata basis or on a basis that results in receipt by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of dividends or distributions of greater value than it would receive on a pro rata basis);

 

(2) purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire for value any Capital Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or any direct or indirect parent of the Company held by Persons other than the

 

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Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (other than in exchange for Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock));

 

(3) purchase, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value, prior to scheduled maturity, scheduled repayment or scheduled sinking fund payment, any Subordinated Obligations or Guarantor Subordinated Obligations (other than the purchase, repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Obligations or Guarantor Subordinated Obligations purchased in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case constituting Senior Debt and due within one year of the date of purchase, repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement); or

 

(4) make any Restricted Investment in any Person;

 

(any such dividend, distribution, purchase, redemption, repurchase other acquisition, retirement or Restricted Investment referred to in clauses (1) through (4) shall be referred to herein as a “Restricted Payment”), if at the time the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary makes such Restricted Payment:

 

(a) a Default or an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (or would result therefrom); or

 

(b) the Company is not able to Incur an additional US$1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to the first paragraph under the “Limitation on indebtedness” covenant after giving effect, on a pro forma basis, to such Restricted Payment; or

 

(c) the aggregate amount of such Restricted Payment and all other Restricted Payments declared or made subsequent to the Issue Date (the amount of any Restricted Payment, if made other than in cash, to be based upon Fair Market Value) would exceed the sum of:

 

(i) 50% of Consolidated Net Income for the period (treated as one accounting period), from the beginning of the fiscal quarter during which the notes are issued, to the end of the most recent fiscal quarter ending at least 45 days prior to the date of such Restricted Payment for which consolidated financial statements are in existence and have been subject to a review in accordance with the requirements of Statement of Auditing Standards 100 issued by the AICPA (a “SAS 100 Review”) or an audit (or, in case such Consolidated Net Income is a deficit, minus 100% of such deficit);

 

(ii) 100% of the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds received by the Company from the issue or sale of its Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) or other capital contributions subsequent to the Issue Date (other than Net Cash Proceeds received from an issuance or sale of such Capital Stock to a Subsidiary of the Company or an employee stock ownership plan, option plan or similar trust established by the Company or any such Subsidiary for the benefit of their employees);

 

(iii) the amount by which Indebtedness of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries is reduced on the Company’s balance sheet upon the conversion or exchange (other than by a Subsidiary of the Company) subsequent to the Issue Date of any Indebtedness (other than any Indebtedness issued or sold to the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company or an employee stock ownership plan, option plan or similar trust established by the Company or any such Subsidiary for the benefit of their employees) of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries convertible or exchangeable for Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company (less the amount of any cash, or the Fair Market Value of any other property, distributed by the Company upon such conversion or exchange); and

 

(iv) the amount equal to the net reduction in Restricted Investments made by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in any Person (other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) resulting from:

 

(A) dividends, repayments of loans or advances or other transfers of assets (including by way of dividend or distribution) by such Person to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; or

 

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(B) the redesignation of Unrestricted Subsidiaries as Restricted Subsidiaries (valued in each case as provided in the definition of “Investment”) not to exceed, in the case of any Unrestricted Subsidiary, the amount of Investments previously made by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Unrestricted Subsidiary,

 

which amount in each case under this clause (iv) was included in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments; provided, however, that no amount will be included under this clause (iv) to the extent it is already included in Consolidated Net Income.

 

The provisions of the preceding paragraph will not prohibit:

 

(1) any purchase, repurchase, redemption, legal defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Capital Stock or Subordinated Obligations of the Company or Guarantor Subordinated Obligations of any Subsidiary Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock and other than Capital Stock issued or sold to a Subsidiary or an employee stock ownership plan or similar trust to the extent such sale to an employee stock ownership plan or similar trust established by the Company or any such Subsidiary for the benefit of their employees); provided, however, that (a) such purchase, repurchase, redemption, legal defeasance, acquisition or retirement will be excluded in subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments and (b) the Net Cash Proceeds from such sale of Capital Stock will be excluded from clause 4(c)(ii) of the preceding paragraph;

 

(2) any purchase, repurchase, redemption, legal defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Obligations of the Company or Guarantor Subordinated Obligations of any Subsidiary Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Subordinated Obligations of the Company or any purchase, repurchase, redemption, legal defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Guarantor Subordinated Obligations made by exchange for or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of Guarantor Subordinated Obligations that, in each case, is permitted to be Incurred pursuant to the covenant described under “Limitation on indebtedness” and that in each case constitutes Refinancing Indebtedness; provided, however, that such purchase, repurchase, redemption, legal defeasance, acquisition or retirement will be excluded in subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments;

 

(3) dividends paid within 60 days after the date of declaration if at such date of declaration such dividend would have complied with this provision and the Indenture; provided, however, that (a) such dividends will be included in subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments and (b) at the time of such payment, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (or result therefrom);

 

(4) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the purchase, redemption or other acquisition, cancellation or retirement for value of Capital Stock, or options, warrants, equity appreciation rights or other rights to purchase or acquire Capital Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or any parent of the Company held by any existing or former employees or management of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or their assigns, estates or heirs, in each case in connection with the repurchase provisions under employee stock option or stock purchase agreements or other agreements to compensate management employees; provided that such redemptions or repurchases pursuant to this clause will not exceed US$2 million in the aggregate during any calendar year and US$10 million in the aggregate for all such redemptions and repurchases; provided, however, that the amount of any such repurchase or redemption will be included in subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments;

 

(5) repurchases of Capital Stock deemed to occur upon the exercise of stock options, warrants or other convertible securities if such Capital Stock represents a portion of the exercise price thereof; provided, however, that such repurchases will be excluded from subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments;

 

(6) Restricted Payments in an amount not to exceed US$15 million; provided that the amount of such Restricted Payments will be included in subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments; and

 

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(7) the purchase or redemption of any Subordinated Obligations, to the extent required by the terms of such Indebtedness following a Change of Control; provided, however, that the Company has made a Change of Control Offer and has purchased all notes tendered in connection with that Change of Control Offer; provided further, however, that such purchase or redemption shall be included in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments.

 

The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be the Fair Market Value on the date of such Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be paid, transferred or issued by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to such Restricted Payment. Not later than the date of making any Restricted Payment, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Restricted Payment is permitted and setting forth the basis upon which the calculations required by the covenant “Limitation on restricted payments” were computed.

 

Limitation on liens

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, Incur or suffer to exist any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of its respective property or assets (including Capital Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries) or upon any income or profits therefrom, whether owned on the Issue Date or acquired after that date, which Lien is securing any Indebtedness, unless, contemporaneously with the Incurrence of such Liens, effective provision is made to secure the Indebtedness due under the Indenture and the notes or, in respect of Liens on any Restricted Subsidiary’s property or assets, any Subsidiary Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, equally and ratably with (or prior to in the case of Liens with respect to Subordinated Obligations or Guarantor Subordinated Obligations, as the case may be) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien for so long as such Indebtedness is so secured provided that if such Indebtedness is Subordinated Indebtedness, the Lien securing such Subordinated Indebtedness shall be contractually subordinate and junior to the Lien securing the notes (and any related applicable Subsidiary Guarantees) with the same relative priority as such Subordinated Indebtedness shall have with respect to the Securities (and any related applicable Subsidiary Guarantees).

 

Limitation on restrictions on distributions from restricted subsidiaries.

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:

 

(1) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock or pay any Indebtedness or other obligations owed to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (it being understood that the priority of any Preferred Stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions prior to dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on Common Stock shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make distributions on Capital Stock);

 

(2) make any loans or advances to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (it being understood that the subordination of loans or advances made to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to other Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make loans or advances); or

 

(3) transfer any of its property or assets to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary.

 

The preceding provisions will not prohibit:

 

(i) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to an agreement in effect at or entered into on the Issue Date, including, without limitation, the Indenture in effect on such date;

 

(ii) any encumbrance or restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement relating to any Capital Stock or Indebtedness Incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary on or before the date on which such Restricted Subsidiary was acquired by the Company (other than Capital Stock or Indebtedness

 

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Incurred as consideration in, or to provide all or any portion of the funds utilized to consummate, the transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary or was acquired by the Company or in contemplation of the transaction) and outstanding on such date; provided, that any such encumbrance or restriction shall not extend to any assets or property of the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary other than the assets and property so acquired;

 

(iii) any encumbrance or restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement effecting a refunding, replacement or refinancing of Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to an agreement referred to in clause (i) or (ii) of this paragraph; provided, however, that the encumbrances and restrictions with respect to such Restricted Subsidiary contained in any such agreement are no less favorable to the holders of the notes than the encumbrances and restrictions contained in such agreements referred to in clauses (i) or (ii) of this paragraph on the Issue Date or the date such Restricted Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary, whichever is applicable;

 

(iv) in the case of clause (3) of the first paragraph of this covenant, any encumbrance or restriction:

 

(a) that restricts in a customary manner the subletting, assignment or transfer of any property that is subject to a lease or similar contract governing leasehold interests, or the assignment or transfer of any such lease or other contract;

 

(b) contained in mortgages, pledges or other security agreements permitted under “—Limitation on indebtedness” and “—Limitation on liens” securing Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent such encumbrances or restrictions restrict the transfer of the property subject to such mortgages, pledges or other security agreements;

 

(c) pursuant to customary provisions restricting dispositions of real property interests set forth in any reciprocal easement agreements of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; or

 

(d) customary restrictions contained in asset sale agreements limiting the transfer of such property or assets pending the closing of such sale; and

 

(v) encumbrances or restrictions arising or existing by reason of applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation or order.

 

Limitation on sales of assets and subsidiary stock.

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any Asset Disposition unless:

 

(1) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at least equal to the Fair Market Value (such Fair Market Value to be determined on the date of contractually agreeing to such Asset Disposition), of the shares and assets subject to such Asset Disposition;

 

(2) at least 75% of the consideration from such Asset Disposition received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of (or any combination of the following):

 

(a) cash or Cash Equivalents;

 

(b) the assumption by the purchaser of liabilities of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor (other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees) as a result of which the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors are no longer obligated with respect to such liabilities; and

 

(c) Telecommunications Assets; and

 

(3) to the extent that any Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, elects (or is required by the terms of any Indebtedness) to apply an amount equal to 100% of the Net Available Cash from such Asset Disposition:

 

(a) to repay Senior Debt of the Company or of a Restricted Subsidiary (in each case other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) within 270 days from the later of

 

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the date of such Asset Disposition or the receipt of such Net Available Cash; provided, however, that, in connection with any repayment of Senior Debt pursuant to this clause (a), the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor will retire such Indebtedness and will cause the related commitment (if any) to be permanently reduced in an amount equal to the principal amount so prepaid, repaid or purchased; or

 

(b) to invest in Telecommunications Assets within 270 days from the later of the date of such Asset Disposition or the receipt of such Net Available Cash,

 

provided that pending the final application of any such Net Available Cash in accordance with clause 3(a) or clause 3(b) above, the Company and its Subsidiary Guarantors may temporarily reduce Indebtedness or otherwise invest such Net Available Cash in any manner not prohibited by the Indenture.

 

Any Net Available Cash from Asset Dispositions that are not applied or invested as provided in the preceding paragraph will be deemed to constitute “Excess Proceeds.” On the 271st day after an Asset Disposition, if the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds US$10.0 million, the Company will be required to make an offer (“Asset Disposition Offer”) to all holders of notes, to purchase the maximum principal amount of notes to which the Asset Disposition Offer applies that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds, at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture in integral multiples of US$1,000. To the extent that the aggregate amount of notes so validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to an Asset Disposition Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for general corporate purposes, subject to other covenants contained in the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of notes surrendered by holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of tendered notes. Upon completion of such Asset Disposition Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.

 

The Asset Disposition Offer will remain open for a period of 20 Business Days following its commencement, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the “Asset Disposition Offer Period”). No later than five Business Days after the termination of the Asset Disposition Offer Period (the “Asset Disposition Purchase Date”), the Company will purchase the principal amount of notes required to be purchased pursuant to this covenant (the “Asset Disposition Offer Amount”) or, if less than the Asset Disposition Offer Amount has been so validly tendered, all notes validly tendered in response to the Asset Disposition Offer.

 

If the Asset Disposition Purchase Date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest will be paid to the Person in whose name a note is registered at the close of business on such record date, and no additional interest will be payable to holders who tender notes pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer.

 

On or before the Asset Disposition Purchase Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful, accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary, the Asset Disposition Offer Amount of notes or portions of notes so validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer, or if less than the Asset Disposition Offer Amount has been validly tendered and not properly withdrawn, all notes so validly tendered and not properly withdrawn, in each case in integral multiples of US$1,000. The Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Company in accordance with the terms of this covenant. The Company or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, will promptly (but in any case not later than five Business Days after termination of the Asset Disposition Offer Period) mail or deliver to each tendering holder of notes, an amount equal to the purchase price of the notes so validly tendered and not properly withdrawn by such holder and accepted by the Company for purchase, and the Company will promptly issue a new note, and the Trustee, upon delivery of an Officers’ Certificate from the Company, will authenticate and mail or deliver such new note to such holder, in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the note surrendered; provided that each such new note will be in a principal amount of US$1,000 or an integral multiple of US$1,000. Any note not so accepted will be promptly mailed or delivered by

 

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the Company to the holder thereof. The Company will publicly announce the results of the Asset Disposition Offer on the Asset Disposition Purchase Date.

 

The Company will comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of notes pursuant to the Indenture. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with provisions of this covenant, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Indenture by virtue of any conflict.

 

Limitation on affiliate transactions.

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into or conduct any transaction (including the purchase, sale, lease or exchange of any property or the rendering of any service) with any Affiliate of the Company (an “Affiliate Transaction”) unless:

 

(1) the terms of such Affiliate Transaction are (a) set forth in writing, (b) in the best interest of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, and (c) no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, than those that could be obtained in a comparable transaction at the time of such transaction in arm’s-length dealings with a Person who is not such an Affiliate;

 

(2) in the event such Affiliate Transaction involves an aggregate consideration in excess of US$1 million, the terms of such transaction have been approved by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company and by a majority of the members of such Board having no personal stake in such transaction, if any (and such majority or majorities, as the case may be, determines in good faith judgment that such Affiliate Transaction satisfies the criteria in clause (1) above as evidenced by a resolution of such Board promptly delivered to the Trustee); and

 

(3) in the event such Affiliate Transaction involves an aggregate consideration in excess of US$10 million, the Company has received a written opinion from an independent investment banking, accounting or appraisal firm of internationally recognized standing that such Affiliate Transaction is not materially less favorable than those that might reasonably have been obtained in a comparable transaction at such time on an arm’s-length basis from a Person that is not an Affiliate.

 

The preceding paragraph will not apply to:

 

(1) any Restricted Payment (other than a Restricted Investment) permitted to be made pursuant to the covenant described under “Limitation on restricted payments;”

 

(2) any issuance of securities, or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment agreements and other compensation arrangements, options to purchase Capital Stock of the Company, restricted stock plans, long-term incentive plans, stock appreciation rights plans, participation plans or similar employee benefits plans and/or indemnity provided on behalf of officers and employees approved by the Board of Directors;

 

(3) any transaction between (a) the Company and a Subsidiary Guarantor or between Subsidiary Guarantors and (b) Guarantees issued by the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor in the ordinary course of business in accordance with “Certain covenants—Limitations on indebtedness” for the benefit of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be;

 

(4) the payment of compensation (including amounts paid pursuant to employee benefit plans) for the personal services of officers, directors and employees of the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, including amounts paid to any Permitted Holder or any Affiliate thereof for the services of any such Person that is an officer, director or employee of such Permitted Holder or Affiliate, so long as a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors in good faith shall have approved the terms thereof and deemed the services theretofore or thereafter to be performed for such compensation or payments to be fair consideration therefor; and

 

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(5) the performance of obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries under the terms of any agreement to which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is a party as of or on the Issue Date as identified in writing to the Trustee on the Issue Date, as these agreements may be amended, modified or renewed from time to time; provided, however, that any future amendment, modification or renewal entered into after the Issue Date will be permitted to the extent that its terms are not more disadvantageous to the holders of the notes than the terms of the agreements in effect on the Issue Date.

 

Limitation on sale of capital stock of restricted subsidiaries.

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, transfer, convey, sell, pledge, lease or otherwise dispose of any Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary or to issue any of the Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary (other than, if necessary, shares of its Capital Stock constituting directors’ qualifying shares) to any Person except:

 

(1) to the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor; or

 

(2) in compliance with the covenant described under “—Limitation on sale of assets and subsidiary stock” and immediately after giving effect to such issuance or sale, such Restricted Subsidiary would continue to be a Restricted Subsidiary.

 

Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may sell all the Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary as long as the Company complies with the terms of the covenant described under “—Limitation on sale of assets and subsidiary stock”.

 

Limitation on sale/leaseback transactions

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any Sale/Leaseback Transaction with respect to any assets unless:

 

(1) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary would be entitled to:

 

(a) Incur debt in an amount equal to the Attributable Debt with respect to such Sale/ Leaseback Transaction pursuant to the covenant described under “—Limitation on indebtedness”; and

 

(b) create a Lien on such assets securing such Attributable Debt without also securing the notes pursuant to the covenant described under “—Limitation on liens”; and

 

(2) such Sale/Leaseback Transaction is effected in compliance with the covenant described under “—Limitation on sale of assets and subsidiary stock”.

 

Reports

 

Subject to the third paragraph of this covenant, the Company will:

 

(1) provide the Trustee and the holders with:

 

(a) annual reports on Form 20-F (or any successor form) containing the information required to be contained therein (or the successor form) within 150 days after the end of each fiscal year commencing with the annual report on Form 20-F for fiscal 2005;

 

(b) semi-annual reports on Form 6-K (or any successor form) including, whether or not required, unaudited semi-annual financial statements (which shall include at least a balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement and notes thereto, in each case prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in Hong Kong), and a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” with respect thereto, within 90 days after the end of the semi-annual period of each fiscal year; and

 

(c) such other reports filed with the SEC by the Company; and

 

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(d) annual reports within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year and semi-annual reports within 90 days after the end of the semi-annual period of each fiscal year, each containing the information required by the rules or requirements of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited and any filings or announcements pursuant to the rules or requirements of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited; and

 

(2) file with the SEC, to the extent permitted, the information, documents and reports referred to in clause (1) above within the periods specified above.

 

In addition, at any time when the Company is not subject to or is not current in its reporting obligations under clause (2) of the preceding paragraph nor exempt from reporting pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Exchange Act, the Company will make available, upon request, to any holder and any prospective purchaser of notes the information required pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

 

Where it is required or necessary (whether as a result of the Company wishing to Incur any Indebtedness or otherwise) to determine compliance by the Company with the covenant “Limitation on indebtedness” or “Limitation on liens”, and:

 

(1) the date of such determination is more than 135 days from the balance sheet date of the Company’s most recent semi-annual consolidated financial statements or annual consolidated financial statements, as the case may be, which have been subject to an audit or a SAS 100 Review by independent accountants; and

 

(2) no consolidated financial statements (which shall include at least a balance sheet, income statement and cashflow statement and notes thereto and have been subject to a SAS 100 Review or an audit by independent accountants) for the most recent four fiscal quarters are in existence, the Company will, on request by the Trustee, cause to be prepared and provided to the Trustee and the holders, consolidated financial statements (which shall include at least a balance sheet, income statement and cashflow statement and notes thereto) for the most recent four fiscal quarters to be subject to an audit or a SAS 100 review by independent accountants.

 

Merger and consolidation

 

The Company will not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all its assets to, any Person, unless:

 

(1) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (the “Successor Company”), if not the Company, is organized under the laws Hong Kong or the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and will expressly assume, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, all the accounts and obligations of the Company under the notes and the Indenture;

 

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis (and treating any Indebtedness that becomes an obligation of the Successor Company or any Subsidiary of the Successor Company as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Company or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

 

(3) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, the Successor Company would be able to Incur at least an additional US$1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to the first paragraph of the “Limitation on indebtedness” covenant;

 

(4) each Subsidiary Guarantor (unless it is the other party to the transactions above, in which case clause (1) shall apply) shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed that its Subsidiary Guarantee shall apply to such Person’s obligations in respect of the Indenture and the notes shall continue to be in effect; and

 

(5) in the case of a sale, transfer, assignment, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all the assets of the Company, such assets shall have been transferred as an entirety or virtually as an entirety to one Person;

 

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(6) the Successor Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States Federal income tax purposes as a result of such transaction or series of transactions and will be subject to United States Federal income tax on the same amounts and at the same times as would be the case if the transaction or series of transactions had not occurred and there will be no additional withholding taxes and no withholding taxes of any Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction imposed on any payments made pursuant to the notes; and

 

(7) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with the Indenture.

 

The preceding provisions shall not prohibit the Company from taking reasonable measures available to the Company to avoid the payment of any Additional Amounts in accordance with the section “—Optional Tax Redemption” above.

 

For purposes of this covenant, the sale, lease, conveyance, assignment, transfer, or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of one or more Subsidiaries of the Company, which properties and assets, if held by the Company instead of such Subsidiaries, would constitute all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company on a consolidated basis, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company.

 

The Successor Company will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under the Indenture, but, in the case of a lease of all or substantially all its assets, the predecessor Company will not be released from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the notes.

 

Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, in certain circumstances there may be a degree of uncertainty as to whether a particular transaction would involve “all or substantially all” of the property or assets of a Person.

 

Notwithstanding the preceding clause (3), (x) any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the Company and (y) the Company may merge with an Affiliate incorporated solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Company in another jurisdiction to realize tax benefits; provided that, in the case of a Restricted Subsidiary that merges into the Company, the Company will not be required to comply with the preceding clause (5).

 

In addition, the Company will not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to consolidate with, merge with or into any Person (other than the Company or another Subsidiary Guarantor) and will not permit the conveyance transfer or lease of substantially all of the assets of any Subsidiary Guarantor unless:

 

(1) (a) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person will be a corporation, partnership, trust or limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of a jurisdiction under which such Subsidiary Guarantor is organized or existing on the Issue Date or the laws of any State of the United States and such Person (if not such Subsidiary Guarantor) will expressly assume, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee, all the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee; (b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness that becomes an obligation of the resulting, surviving or transferee Person or any Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by such Person or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), no Default of Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and (c) the Company will have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with the Indenture; or

 

(2) the transaction is made in compliance with the covenant described under “—Limitation on sale of assets and subsidiary stock”.

 

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Future subsidiary guarantors

 

After the Issue Date, the Company will cause each Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary) created or acquired by the Company or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries to execute and deliver to the Trustee a Subsidiary Guarantee pursuant to which such Subsidiary Guarantor will unconditionally Guarantee, on a joint and several basis, the full and prompt payment of the principal of, premium, if any and interest on the notes on a senior basis.

 

Limitation on lines of business

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, engage in any other business other than the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as described in this prospectus and any reasonable expansion thereof or a Telecommunications Business.

 

Payments for consent

 

Neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries will, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration, whether by way of interest, fees or otherwise, to any holder of any notes for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of the Indenture or the notes unless such consideration is offered to be paid or is paid to all holders of the notes that consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in the solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or amendment.

 

Events of default

 

Each of the following is an Event of Default:

 

(1) default in any payment of interest or Additional Amounts on any note (including Registration Default Damages payable under the Registration Rights Agreement) when due, continued for 30 days;

 

(2) default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, on any note when due at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required repurchase, upon declaration or otherwise;

 

(3) failure by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor to comply with its obligations under “Certain Covenants—Merger and consolidation”;

 

(4) failure by the Company to comply for 30 days after notice with any of its other agreements and obligations under the notes or the Indenture (in each case, other than a failure to purchase notes which will constitute an Event of Default under clause (2) above and other than a failure to comply with “Certain Covenants—Merger and consolidation” which is covered by clause (3));

 

(5) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or is created after the date of the Indenture, which default:

 

(a) is caused by a failure to pay principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness (“payment default”); or

 

(b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its maturity (the “cross acceleration provision”);

 

and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a payment default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates US$5 million (or its foreign currency equivalent at the time) or more;

 

(6) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (the “bankruptcy provisions”);

 

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(7) failure by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of US$5 million which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 30 days (the “judgment default provision”);

 

(8) any Subsidiary Guarantee ceases to be in full force and effect (except as contemplated by the terms of the Indenture) or is declared null and void in a judicial proceeding or any Subsidiary Guarantor denies or disaffirms its obligations under the Indenture or its Subsidiary Guarantee; or

 

(9) any of (a) the revocation, suspension or termination of any Material License or (b) the failure of the Company or the holder of any Material License to renew or extend, or the expiration, release, surrender or transfer of, any Material License, and in each case such Material License is not replaced, substituted or reissued within 30 days of its revocation, suspension, termination, expiration, release, surrender or transfer.

 

However, a default under clause (4) of this paragraph will not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee or the holders of 25% in principal amount of the outstanding notes notify the Company of the default and the Company does not cure such default within the time specified in clause (4) of this paragraph after receipt of such notice.

 

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default described in clause (6) above) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by notice to the Company, or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding notes by notice to the Company and the Trustee, may, and the Trustee at the request of such holders shall, declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the notes to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such principal, premium and accrued and unpaid interest will be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default described in clause (6) above occurs and is continuing, the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on all the notes will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any holders. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes may waive all past defaults (except with respect to nonpayment of principal, premium or interest) and rescind any such acceleration with respect to the notes and its consequences if (1) rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction and (2) all existing Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the notes that have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived.

 

Subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to the duties of the Trustee, if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders unless such holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security against any loss, liability or expense satisfactory to it. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest when due, no holder may pursue any remedy with respect to the Indenture or the notes unless:

 

(1) such holder has previously given the Trustee notice that an Event of Default is continuing;

 

(2) holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding notes have requested the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

 

(3) such holders have offered the Trustee security or indemnity against any loss, liability or expense satisfactory to it;

 

(4) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity; and

 

(5) the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes have not given the Trustee a direction that, in the opinion of the Trustee, is inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.

 

Subject to certain restrictions, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes are given the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. The Indenture provides that in the event an

 

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Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee will be required in the exercise of its powers to use the degree of care that a prudent person would use in the conduct of its own affairs. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other holder or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability. Prior to taking any action under the Indenture, the Trustee will be entitled to indemnification satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

 

The Indenture provides that if a Default occurs and is continuing and is known to the Trustee, the Trustee must mail to each holder notice of the Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any note, the Trustee may withhold notice if and so long as a committee of trust officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that withholding notice is in the interests of the holders. In addition, the Company is required to deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a certificate indicating whether the signers thereof know of any Default that occurred during the previous year. The Company also is required to deliver to the Trustee, within 30 days after the occurrence thereof, written notice of any events which would constitute certain Defaults, their status and what action the Company is taking or proposing to take in respect thereof.

 

Amendments and waivers

 

Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture and the notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the notes then outstanding (including without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, notes) and, subject to certain exceptions, any past default or compliance with any provisions may be waived with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the notes then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, notes). However, without the consent of each holder of an outstanding note affected, no amendment may, among other things:

 

(1) reduce the amount of notes whose holders must consent to an amendment or waiver;

 

(2) reduce the stated rate of or extend the stated time for payment of interest on any note;

 

(3) reduce the principal of or extend the Stated Maturity of any note;

 

(4) reduce the premium payable upon the redemption of any note or change the time at which any note may be redeemed as described above under “Optional Redemption,” whether through an amendment or waiver of provisions in the covenants, definitions or otherwise;

 

(5) make any note payable in money other than that stated in the note;

 

(6) impair the right of any holder to receive payment of, premium, if any, principal of and interest on such holder’s notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such holder’s notes;

 

(7) make any change in the amendment provisions which require each holder’s consent or in the waiver provisions;

 

(8) modify the Subsidiary Guarantees in any manner adverse to the holders of the notes; or

 

(9) reduce the premium payable upon a Change of Control or, at any time after a Change of Control has occurred, change the time at which the Change of Control Offer relating thereto must be made or at which the notes must be repurchased pursuant to such Change of Control Offer;

 

(10) at any time after the Company is obligated to make an Asset Disposition Offer with the Excess Proceeds from any Asset Disposition, change the time at which such Asset Disposition Offer must be made or at which the notes must be repurchased pursuant thereto; or

 

(11) amend or modify the provisions described under “—Additional Amounts”.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of any holder, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend the Indenture and the notes to:

 

(1) cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;

 

(2) provide for the assumption by a Successor Company of the obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture, provided, however, that the assumption is in accord with the applicable provisions under “—Merger and consolidation” and the Indenture;

 

(3) provide for uncertificated notes in addition to or in place of certificated notes (provided that the uncertificated notes are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code, or in a manner such that the uncertificated notes are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code);

 

(4) add Guarantees with respect to the notes or release a Subsidiary Guarantor upon its designation as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or its sale in accordance with “Certain Covenants—Mergers and consolidation”; provided, however, that the designation is in accord with the applicable provisions of the Indenture;

 

(5) secure the notes;

 

(6) add to the covenants of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor for the benefit of the holders or surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company;

 

(7) make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder; or

 

(8) comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; or

 

(9) provide for the issuance of exchange notes which shall have terms substantially identical in all respects to the notes (except that the transfer restrictions contained in the notes shall be modified or eliminated as appropriate) and which shall be treated, together with any outstanding notes, as a single class of securities.

 

The consent of the holders is not necessary under the Indenture to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment. It is sufficient if such consent approves the substance of the proposed amendment. A consent to any amendment or waiver under the Indenture by any holder of notes given in connection with a tender of such holder’s notes will not be rendered invalid by such tender. After an amendment under the Indenture becomes effective, the Company is required to mail to the holders a notice briefly describing such amendment. However, the failure to give such notice to all the holders, or any defect in the notice will not impair or affect the validity of the amendment.

 

Defeasance

 

The Company at any time may terminate all its obligations under the notes and the Indenture (“legal defeasance”), except for certain obligations, including those respecting the defeasance trust and obligations to register the transfer or exchange of the notes, to replace mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen notes and to maintain a registrar and paying agent in respect of the notes. If the Company exercises its legal defeasance option, the Subsidiary Guarantees in effect at such time will terminate.

 

The Company at any time may terminate its obligations under covenants described under “Change of Control” and “Certain Covenants” (other than “Merger and consolidation”), the operation of the cross-default upon a payment default, cross acceleration provisions, the bankruptcy provisions with respect to Restricted Subsidiaries, and the judgment default provision described under “Events of default” above and the limitations contained in clauses (3) and (6) under “Certain Covenants—Merger and consolidation” above (“covenant defeasance”).

 

The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option. If the Company exercises its legal defeasance option, payment of the notes may not be

 

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accelerated because of an Event of Default with respect to the notes. If the Company exercises its covenant defeasance option, payment of the notes may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in clause (4), (5), (6), (7) (with respect only to Significant Subsidiaries), (8) or (9) under “Events of default” above or because of the failure of the Company to comply with clauses (3) and (6) under “Certain Covenants—Merger and consolidation” above.

 

The legal defeasance option or the covenant defeasance option may be exercised only if:

 

(1) the Company irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations sufficient for the payment of principal of and interest on the notes to maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

 

(2) the Company delivers to the Trustee a certificate from a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressing their opinion that the payments of principal and interest when due and without reinvestment on the deposited U.S. Government Obligations plus any deposited money without investment will provide cash at such times and in such amounts as will be sufficient to pay principal and interest when due on all the notes to maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

 

(3) 123 days pass after the deposit is made and during the 123-day period no Default described in clause (6) under “—Events of default” occurs with respect to the Company or any other Person making such deposit which is continuing at the end of the period;

 

(4) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit and after giving effect thereto;

 

(5) such deposit does not constitute a default under any other agreement or instrument binding on the Company;

 

(6) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the trust resulting from the deposit does not constitute, or is qualified as, a regulated investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940;

 

(7) in the case of the legal defeasance option, the Company delivers to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that:

 

(a) the Company has received from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or

 

(b) since the date of the Indenture there has been a change in the applicable U.S. Federal income tax law, to the effect, in either case, that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the holders of the notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. Federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to U.S. Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same time as would have been the case if such defeasance has not occurred;

 

(8) in the case of the covenant defeasance option, the Company delivers to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the holders of the notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred;

 

(9) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance and discharge of the notes have been complied with as required by the Indenture; and

 

(10) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in Hong Kong to the effect that holders of the notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for Hong Kong tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to Hong Kong taxes (including withholding taxes) on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred.

 

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No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the notes, or the Indenture or the Subsidiary Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each holder by accepting a note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the notes. Such waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.

 

Concerning The Trustee

 

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas is the Trustee under the Indenture and has been appointed by the Company as Registrar and Paying Agent with regard to the notes.

 

Governing Law

 

The Indenture provides that it and the notes will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to applicable principles of conflicts of laws to the extent that the application of the law of another jurisdiction would be required thereby.

 

Notices

 

Notices to holders will be valid if published in a daily newspaper of general circulation in Singapore (or, if the holders of any notes can be identified, notices to such holders may also be valid if they are given to each of such holders). It is expected that such publication be made in the Business Times. Notices will, if published more than once or on different dates, be deemed to have been given on the date of the first publication in such newspaper. Notice shall also be given to the SGX-ST. Notwithstanding anything in this prospectus, in any case where the identity and addresses of all the holders of the notes are known to the Company, notices to such holders may be given individually by recorded delivery mail to such addresses and will be deemed to have been given when received at such addresses.

 

Consent to Jurisdiction and Service

 

The Indenture provides that the Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor will appoint CT Corporation System as its agent for actions brought in any Federal or state court located in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York and will submit to such jurisdiction. Each of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors agrees that if such agent is unable to or does not for any reason act as agent for service of process, it will promptly appoint another person to accept service of process on its behalf of any action brought in any Federal or state court located in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York; failing such appointment within fifteen (15) days the Trustee will be entitled to appoint such agent.

 

Certain Definitions

 

“Acquired Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (i) of a Person or any of its Subsidiaries existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets from such Person, in each case whether or not Incurred by such Person in connection with, or in anticipation or contemplation of, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary or such acquisition. Acquired Indebtedness shall be deemed to have been Incurred, with respect to clause (i) of the preceding sentence, on the date such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary and, with respect to clause (ii) of the preceding sentence, on the date of consummation of such acquisition of assets.

 

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person, directly or indirectly, controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such

 

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Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing; provided that beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the Voting Stock of a Person shall be deemed to be control.

 

“AICPA” means the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

 

“Asset Disposition” means any direct or indirect sale, lease (other than an operating lease entered into in the ordinary course of business), transfer, issuance or other disposition, or a series of related sales, leases, transfers, issuances or dispositions that are part of a common plan, of shares of Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary (other than directors’ qualifying shares), property or other assets (each referred to for the purposes of this definition as a “disposition”) by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including any disposition by means of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction.

 

Notwithstanding the preceding, the following items shall not be deemed to be Asset Dispositions:

 

(1) a disposition by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to a Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

(2) the sale of Cash Equivalents in the ordinary course of business;

 

(3) a disposition of inventory in the ordinary course of business;

 

(4) a disposition of obsolete or worn out equipment or equipment that is no longer useful in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and that is disposed of in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(5) transactions permitted under “Certain Covenants—Merger and consolidation”; and

 

(6) an issuance of Capital Stock by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or to a Subsidiary Guarantor; and

 

(7) for purposes of “Certain Covenants—Limitation on sales of assets and subsidiary stock” only, the making of a Permitted Investment or a disposition subject to “Certain Covenants—Limitation on restricted payments”.

 

“Attributable Indebtedness” in respect of a Sale/Leaseback Transaction means, as at the time of determination, the greater of:

 

(1) the Fair Market Value of the assets subject to such Sale/Leaseback Transaction; and

 

(2) the present value (discounted at the interest rate borne by the notes, compounded semi-annually) of the total obligations of the lessee for rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such Sale/Leaseback Transaction (including any period for which such lease has been extended).

 

“Average Life” means, as of the date of determination, with respect to any Indebtedness or Preferred Stock, the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the sum of the products of the numbers of years from the date of determination to the dates of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to such Preferred Stock multiplied by the amount of such payment by (2) the sum of all such payments.

 

“Board of Directors” means, as to any Person, the board of directors of such Person or any duly authorized committee thereof.

 

“Business Day” means each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close.

 

“Capital Stock” of any Person means any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participation or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity of such Person, including any Preferred Stock, but excluding any debt securities convertible or exchangeable into such equity.

 

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“Capitalized Lease Obligations” means an obligation that is required to be classified and accounted for as a capitalized lease for financial reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and the amount of Indebtedness represented by such obligation will be the capitalized amount of such obligation at the time any determination thereof is to be made as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and the Stated Maturity thereof will be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior to the first date such lease may be terminated without penalty. For purposes of “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on liens”, a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed secured by a Lien on the assets being leased.

 

“Cash Equivalents” means:

 

(1) any evidence of indebtedness issued by the United States or any of its instrumentalities or agencies or by Hong Kong or any of its instrumentalities or agencies, or by the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank or any other supranational organization (“Government Entities”) and fully guaranteed or otherwise backed as to principal, premium, if any, interest and all other amounts, by the Government Entity issuing the indebtedness;

 

(2) investments in time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit and money market deposits issued by a bank or trust company which is organized under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or any foreign country recognized by the United States, and which bank or trust company has capital, surplus and undivided profits aggregating in excess of US$500 million, or the foreign currency equivalent thereof, and has outstanding long-term debt which is rated “A” or “A-3”, or a similar equivalent rating, or higher by at least one “nationally recognized statistical rating organization”, as defined in Rule 436 under the Securities Act;

 

(3) investments in commercial paper issued by a corporation, other than an Affiliate of the Company, organized and in existence under the laws of the United States or any foreign country recognized by the United States with a rating at the time as of which any investment therein is made in one of the two highest ratings obtainable from either Moody’s or S&P;

 

(4) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than 30 days for underlying securities of the types described in clause (1) above entered into with a bank meeting the qualifications described in clause (2) above;

 

(5) investments in securities with maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed by an state, commonwealth or territory of the United States, or by any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, and rated at least “A” by S&P or “A” by Moody’s; or

 

(6) investment funds investing exclusively in investments of the types described in clauses (1) through (5) above,

 

and in the case of each of clauses (1), (2), and (3) above maturing within one year after the date of acquisition.

 

“Change of Control” means:

 

(1) (A) any “person” or “group” of related persons (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than one or more Permitted Holders, is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that such person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all shares that any such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of more than 35% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company (or its successor by merger, consolidation or purchase of all or substantially all of its assets) (for the purposes of this clause, such person or group shall be deemed to beneficially own any Voting Stock of the Company held by a parent entity, if such person or group “beneficially owns” (as defined above), directly or indirectly, more than 35% of the voting power of the Voting Stock of such parent entity); and (B) the Permitted Holders “beneficially own” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, in the aggregate a lesser percentage of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company (or its successor by merger,

 

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consolidation or purchase of all or substantially all of its assets) than such other person or group and do not have the right or ability by voting power, contract or otherwise to elect or designate for election a majority of the board of directors of the Company or such successor (for the purposes of this clause, such other person or group shall be deemed to beneficially own any Voting Stock of a specified entity held by a parent entity, if such other person or group “beneficially owns” directly or indirectly, more than 35% of the voting power of the Voting Stock of such parent entity and the Permitted Holders “beneficially own” directly or indirectly, in the aggregate a lesser percentage of the voting power of the Voting Stock of such parent entity and do not have the right or ability by voting power, contract or otherwise to elect or designate for election a majority of the board of directors of such parent entity); or

 

(2) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company are not Continuing Directors; or

 

(3) the sale, lease, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition directly or indirectly, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole (other than a disposition of such assets as an entirety to a Wholly Owned Subsidiary) to any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) other than a Permitted Holder or the Company merges, consolidates or amalgamates with or into any other Person (other than one or more Permitted Holders) or any other Person (other than one or more Permitted Holders) merges, consolidates or amalgamates with or into the Company, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company is reclassified into or exchanged for cash, securities or other assets, other than any such transaction where:

 

(a) the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company is reclassified into or exchanged for Voting Stock of the surviving corporation, and

 

(b) the holders of the Voting Stock of the Company immediately prior to such transaction own, directly or indirectly, not less than a majority of the Voting Stock of the surviving corporation immediately after such transaction and in substantially the same proportion as before the transaction; or

 

(4) the adoption by the stockholders of the Company of a plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

“Common Stock” means with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interest or other participations in, and other equivalents (however designated and whether voting or non-voting) of such Person’s common stock whether or not outstanding on the Issue Date, and includes, without limitation, all series and classes of such common stock.

 

“Consolidated Current Liabilities” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate amount of liabilities of the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries which may properly be classified as current liabilities (including taxes accrued as estimated), after eliminating (1) all intercompany items between the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary or between Restricted Subsidiaries; and (2) all current maturities of long-term Indebtedness.

 

“Consolidated EBITDA” for any period means, without duplication, the Consolidated Net Income for such period, plus the following to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income:

 

(1) Consolidated Interest Expense;

 

(2) Consolidated Income Taxes;

 

(3) consolidated depreciation expense;

 

(4) consolidated amortization expense or impairment charges;

 

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(5) other non-cash charges reducing Consolidated Net Income (excluding any such non-cash charge to the extent it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash charges in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period not included in the calculation).

 

Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, clauses (2) through (5) relating to amounts of a Restricted Subsidiary of a Person will be added to Consolidated Net Income to compute Consolidated EBITDA of such Person only to the extent (and in the same proportion) that the net income (loss) of such Restricted Subsidiary was included in calculating the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and, to the extent the amounts set forth in clauses (2) through (5) are in excess of those necessary to offset a net loss of such Restricted Subsidiary or if such Restricted Subsidiary has net income for such period included in Consolidated Net Income, only if a corresponding amount would be permitted at the date of determination to be dividended to the Company by such Restricted Subsidiary without prior approval (that has not been obtained), pursuant to the terms of its charter and all agreements, instruments, judgments, decrees, orders, statutes, rules and governmental regulations applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders.

 

“Consolidated Income Taxes” means, with respect to any Person for any period, taxes imposed upon such Person or other payments required to be made by such Person by any governmental authority which taxes or other payments are calculated by reference to the income or profits of such Person or such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries (to the extent such income or profits were included in computing Consolidated Net Income for such period), regardless of whether such taxes or payments are required to be remitted to any governmental authority.

 

“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, for any period, the total interest expense of the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries, whether paid or accrued, plus, to the extent not included in such interest expense:

 

(1) interest expense attributable to Capitalized Lease Obligations and the interest portion of rent expense associated with Attributable Indebtedness in respect of the relevant lease giving rise thereto, determined as if such lease were a capitalized lease in accordance with U.S. GAAP and the interest component of any deferred payment obligations;

 

(2) amortization of debt discount and debt issuance cost (provided that any amortization of bond premium will be credited to reduce Consolidated Interest Expense unless, pursuant to U.S. GAAP, such amortization of bond premium has otherwise reduced Consolidated Interest Expense);

 

(3) non-cash interest expense;

 

(4) commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing;

 

(5) interest actually paid by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary under any Guarantee of Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person;

 

(6) costs associated with Hedging Obligations (including amortization of fees);

 

(7) the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period;

 

(8) the product of (a) all dividends paid or payable, in cash, Cash Equivalents or Indebtedness or accrued during such period on any series of Disqualified Stock of such Person or on Preferred Stock of its Restricted Subsidiaries payable to a party other than the Company or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, and (b) a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is one minus the then current combined federal, state, provincial and local statutory tax rate of such Person, expressed as a decimal, in each case, on a consolidated basis and in accordance with U.S. GAAP;

 

(9) interest incurred in connection with Investments in discontinued operations; and

 

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(10) the cash contributions to any employee stock ownership plan or similar trust to the extent such contributions are used by such plan or trust to pay interest or fees to any Person (other than the Company) in connection with Indebtedness Incurred by such plan or trust.

 

For purposes of the foregoing, total interest expense will be determined (i) after giving effect to any net payments made or received by the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to Interest Rate Agreements and (ii) exclusive of amounts classified as other comprehensive income in the balance sheet of the Company. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges Incurred in connection with any transaction pursuant to which the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries may sell, convey or otherwise transfer or grant a security interest in any accounts receivable or related assets shall be included in Consolidated Interest Expense.

 

“Consolidated Leverage Ratio” means as of any date of determination, the ratio of (i) the outstanding Indebtedness of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis to (ii) the aggregate Consolidated EBITDA of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries for the period of the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters ending prior to the date of such determination for which financial statements are in existence, provided, however, that:

 

(1) if since the beginning of such period the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary will have made any Asset Disposition or disposed of any company, division, operating unit, segment, business, group of related assets or line of business or if the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Leverage Ratio is such an Asset Disposition:

 

(a) the Consolidated EBITDA for such period will be reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA (if positive) directly attributable to the assets which are the subject of such Asset Disposition for such period or increased by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA (if negative) directly attributable thereto for such period; and

 

(2) if since the beginning of such period the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (by merger or otherwise) will have made an Investment in any Restricted Subsidiary (or any Person which becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged with or into the Company) or an acquisition of assets, including any acquisition of assets occurring in connection with a transaction causing a calculation to be made hereunder, which constitutes all or substantially all of a company, division, operating unit, segment, business, group of related assets or line of business, Consolidated EBITDA for such period will be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto (including the Incurrence of any Indebtedness) as if such Investment or acquisition occurred on the first day of such period; and

 

(3) if since the beginning of such period any Person (that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period) will have Incurred any Indebtedness or discharged any Indebtedness, made any Asset Disposition or any Investment or acquisition of assets that would have required an adjustment pursuant to clause (1) or (2) above if made by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary during such period, Consolidated EBITDA for such period will be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Asset Disposition or Investment or acquisition of assets occurred on the first day of such period.

 

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any calculation under this definition, the pro forma calculations will be determined in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company (including pro forma expense and cost reductions calculated on a basis consistent with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act). If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest expense on such Indebtedness will be calculated as if the rate in effect on the date of determination had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Interest Rate Agreement applicable to such Indebtedness if such Interest Rate Agreement has a remaining term in excess of 12 months). If any Indebtedness that is being given pro forma effect bears an interest rate at the option of the Company, the interest rate shall be calculated by applying such optional rate chosen by the Company.

 

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“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the net income (loss) of the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP; provided, however, that there will not be included in such Consolidated Net Income:

 

(1) any net income (loss) of any Person (other than the Company) if such Person is not a Restricted Subsidiary, except that:

 

(a) subject to the limitations contained in clause (3) below, the Company’s equity in the net income of any such Person for such period will be included in such Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash actually distributed by such Person during such period to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary as a dividend or other distribution (subject, in the case of a dividend or other distribution to a Restricted Subsidiary, to the limitations contained in clause (2) below); and

 

(b) the Company’s equity in a net loss of any such Person (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary) for such period will be included in determining such Consolidated Net Income to the extent such loss has been funded with cash from the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(2) any net income (but not loss) of any Restricted Subsidiary if such Subsidiary is subject to restrictions, directly or indirectly, on the payment of dividends or the making of distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, to the Company, except that:

 

(a) subject to the limitations contained in clause (3) below, the Company’s equity in the net income of any such Restricted Subsidiary for such period will be included in such Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash that could have been distributed by such Restricted Subsidiary during such period to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary as a dividend (subject, in the case of a dividend to another Restricted Subsidiary, to the limitation contained in this clause); and

 

(b) the Company’s equity in a net loss of any such Restricted Subsidiary for such period will be included in determining such Consolidated Net Income;

 

(3) any gain (but not loss) realized upon the sale or other disposition of any property, plant or equipment of the Company or its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries (including pursuant to any Sale/Leaseback Transaction) which is not sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business and any gain (loss) realized upon the sale or other disposition of any Capital Stock of any Person;

 

(4) any extraordinary gain or loss;

 

(5) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles;

 

(6) any non-cash compensation expense realized for grants of performance shares, stock options or other rights to officers, directors and employees of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, provided that such shares, options or other rights can be redeemed at the option of the holder only for Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock);

 

(7) any unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses; and

 

(8) if any Restricted Subsidiary is not a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary, an amount that is equal to (i) the amount of net income or loss attributable to such Restricted Subsidiary multiplied by (ii) the percentage ownership interest in the income of such Restricted Subsidiary not owned on the last day of such period by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries unless a greater amount is actually distributed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on restricted payments” only, there shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income any dividends, repayments of loans or advances or other transfers of assets from Unrestricted Subsidiaries to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent such dividends, repayments or transfers increase the amount of Restricted Payments permitted under such covenant pursuant to clause (c)(iv) thereof.

 

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“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means, as of any date of determination, the sum of the amounts that would appear on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries as the total assets (less accumulated depreciation and amortization, allowances for doubtful receivables, other applicable reserves and other properly deductible items) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, after giving effect to purchase accounting and after deducting therefrom Consolidated Current Liabilities and, to the extent otherwise included, the amounts of (without duplication):

 

(1) the excess of cost over fair market value of assets or businesses acquired;

 

(2) any revaluation or other write-up in book value of assets subsequent to the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Company immediately preceding the Issue Date as a result of a change in the method of valuation in accordance with U.S. GAAP;

 

(3) unamortized debt discount and expenses and other unamortized deferred charges, goodwill, patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, licenses, organization or developmental expenses and other intangible items;

 

(4) minority interests in consolidated Subsidiaries held by Persons other than the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(5) treasury stock;

 

(6) cash or securities set aside and held in a sinking or other analogous fund established for the purpose of redemption or other retirement of Capital Stock to the extent such obligation is not reflected in Consolidated Current Liabilities; and

 

(7) Investments in and assets of Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

 

“Consolidated Net Worth” means the total of the amounts shown on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter of the Company ending at least 30 days prior to the taking of any action for the purpose of which the determination is being made, as:

 

(1) the par or stated value of all outstanding Capital Stock of the Company, plus

 

(2) paid-in capital or capital surplus relating to such Capital Stock, plus

 

(3) any retained earnings or earned surplus, less:

 

(a) any accumulated deficit,

 

(b) any amounts attributable to Disqualified Stock,

 

(c) all write-ups (other than write-ups resulting from foreign currency translations and write-ups of tangible assets of a going concern business made within 12 months after the acquisition of such business) subsequent to the issue date in the book value of any asset,

 

(d) all Investments in Persons that are not Restricted Subsidiaries (except Permitted Investments), and

 

(e) all unamortized debt discount and expense and unamortized deferred charges,

 

all of the foregoing determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

 

“Continuing Directors” means, during any period of 24 consecutive months after the Issue Date, individuals who at the beginning of any such 24-month period constituted the Board of Directors of the Company (together with any new directors whose election by such Board of Directors or whose nomination for election by the shareholders of the Company was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then still in office who were either directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved).

 

“Credit Facility” means one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, overdraft facilities with banks, commercial paper facilities with banks or other institutional lenders providing for revolving credit loans,

 

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term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit including any related guarantees executed in connection therewith, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time (and whether or not with the original administrative agent and lenders or another administrative agent or agents or other lenders and whether provided under the original credit or other agreement or indenture).

 

“CTI Guangzhou” means CTI Guangzhou Customer Services Co. Limited, a Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary.

 

“Currency Agreement” means in respect of a Person any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement, futures contract, option contract or other similar agreement as to which such Person is a party or a beneficiary.

 

“Current Liabilities” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate amount of liabilities of a Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary and its consolidated Subsidiaries, if any, which may properly be classified as current liabilities (including taxes accrued as estimated), after eliminating (1) all intercompany items between such Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary and any of its consolidated Subsidiaries or between its consolidated Subsidiaries; and (2) all current maturities of long-term Indebtedness.

 

“Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

 

“Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary” means CTI Guangzhou and any other Restricted Subsidiary that the Company designates as a Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary in accordance with the Indenture.

 

“Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable) or upon the happening of any event:

 

(1) matures or is mandatorily redeemable pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise;

 

(2) is convertible or exchangeable for Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock (excluding Capital Stock which is convertible or exchangeable solely at the option of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary); or

 

(3) is redeemable at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock in whole or in part,

 

in each case on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the earlier of the date (a) of the Stated Maturity of the notes or (b) on which there are no notes outstanding, provided that only the portion of Capital Stock which so matures or is mandatorily redeemable, is so convertible or exchangeable or is so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date will be deemed to be Disqualified Stock.

 

“Exchange Rate” has the meaning set forth under “—Registration Rights for Outstanding Notes”.

 

“Existing Purchase Money Debt” means the aggregate Purchase Money Debt of the Company and its Subsidiary Guarantors outstanding on the Issue Date.

 

“Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any asset, share or property, the price that could be negotiated in an arm’s-length free market transaction, for cash, between a willing seller and a willing buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction. Fair Market Value:

 

(a) in the case of cash, shall be its face amount; and

 

(b) in the case of any non-cash assets,

 

shall be determined by a majority of the Board of Directors acting in good faith and evidenced by a resolution of the Board, dated within 30 days of the relevant transaction, delivered to the Trustee.

 

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“Guarantee” means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person and any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person:

 

(1) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreement to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise); or

 

(2) entered into for purposes of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part); provided, however, that the term “Guarantee” will not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term “Guarantee” used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

 

“Guarantor Subordinated Obligation” means, with respect to a Subsidiary Guarantor, any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary Guarantor (whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter Incurred) which is expressly subordinate in right of payment to the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee pursuant to a written agreement.

 

“Hedging Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person pursuant to any Interest Rate Agreement or Currency Agreement.

 

“holder” means a Person in whose name a note is registered on the Registrar’s books.

 

“HSBC Facility” means the HK$200 million loan facility provided by The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited to Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited pursuant to a facility letter dated October 9, 2002.

 

“Incur” means issue, create, assume, extend, Guarantee, incur or otherwise become liable for in respect of such debt or other obligation or the recording, as required pursuant to U.S. GAAP or otherwise, of any such debt or obligation on the balance sheet of such Person; provided, however, that any Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person existing at the time such person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (whether by merger, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) will be deemed to be Incurred by such Restricted Subsidiary at the time it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; provided further, however, that a change in U.S. GAAP that results in an obligation of such Person that exists at such time, and is not theretofore classified as debt, becoming debt shall not be deemed an incurrence of such debt; provided further, however, that solely for purposes of determining compliance with “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on indebtedness”, amortization of debt discount shall not be deemed to be the Incurrence of Indebtedness; and the terms “Incurred” and “Incurrence” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person on any date of determination (without duplication):

 

(1) the principal of and premium (if any) in respect of indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money;

 

(2) the principal of and premium (if any) in respect of obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments;

 

(3) the principal component of all obligations of such Person in respect of letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or other similar instruments (other than obligations with respect to letters of credit securing obligations (other than obligations described in (1) and (2) above and (4) below) entered into in the ordinary course of business of such Person to the extent such instruments are not drawn upon or, if and to the extent drawn upon, such drawing is reimbursed no later than the third Business Day following receipt by such Person of a demand for reimbursement following payment on the instrument);

 

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(4) the principal component of all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred and unpaid purchase price of property, services, all conditional sale obligations of such Person and all obligations of such Person under any title retention agreement (except trade payables), which purchase price is not more than 120 days overdue from the date of placing such property in service or taking delivery and title thereto;

 

(5) Capitalized Lease Obligations and all Attributable Indebtedness of such Person;

 

(6) the principal component or liquidation preference of all obligations of such Person with respect to the redemption, repayment or other repurchase of any Disqualified Stock or, with respect to any Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor, any Preferred Stock (but excluding, in each case, any accrued dividends);

 

(7) the principal component of Indebtedness of the type referred to in clauses (1) through (6) of other Persons and all dividends of other Persons, to the extent Guaranteed by such Person;

 

(8) the principal component of all Indebtedness of the type referred to in clauses (1) through (7) above of other Persons secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person; provided, however, that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of (a) the Fair Market Value of such asset at such date of determination and (b) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Persons; and

 

(9) to the extent not otherwise included in this definition, net obligations of such Person under Hedging Obligations (the amount of any such obligations to be equal at any time to the termination value of such agreement or arrangement giving rise to such obligation that would be payable by such Person at such time).

 

The amount of Indebtedness of any Person at any date will be the outstanding balance at such date of all unconditional obligations as described above and the maximum liability, upon the occurrence of the contingency giving rise to the obligation, of any contingent obligations at such date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, money borrowed and set aside at the time of the Incurrence of any Indebtedness in order to pre-fund the payment of interest on such Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be “Indebtedness” provided that such money is held to secure the payment of such interest.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing but subject to the last paragraph of the covenant described under “—Limitation on indebtedness”, Indebtedness shall not include (a) any realization of a Permitted Lien, and (b) Indebtedness that has been defeased or satisfied in accordance with the terms of the documents governing such Indebtedness. With respect to any Indebtedness denominated in a currency other than U.S. Dollars, for purposes of determining compliance with any restriction on the Incurrence of such Indebtedness under the covenant described under “—Limitation on indebtedness”, the amount of such Indebtedness shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate in effect at the end of the most recent period for which financial statements are publicly available.

 

“Interest Rate Agreement” means with respect to any Person any interest rate protection agreement, interest rate future agreement, interest rate option agreement, interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, interest rate hedge agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement as to which such Person is party or a beneficiary.

 

“Investment” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of any direct or indirect advance, loan (other than advances or extensions of credit to customers that are recorded as accounts receivable on the balance sheet of such Person in the ordinary course of business) or other extensions of credit (including by way of Guarantee or similar arrangement, but excluding any debt or extension of credit represented by a bank deposit other than a time deposit) or capital contribution to (by means of any transfer of cash or other property to others or any payment for property or services for the account or use of others), or any purchase or acquisition of Capital Stock, Indebtedness or other similar instruments issued by, such Person and all other items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP; provided that none of the following will be deemed to be an Investment:

 

(1) Hedging Obligations entered into in the ordinary course of business and in compliance with the Indenture;

 

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(2) endorsements of negotiable instruments and documents in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(3) an acquisition of assets, Capital Stock or other securities by the Company or a Subsidiary for consideration to the extent such consideration consists of Common Stock of the Company.

 

For purposes of “Certain Covenants—Limitation on restricted payments”,

 

(1) “Investment” will include the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in a Restricted Subsidiary to be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of such Restricted Subsidiary at the time that such Restricted Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that upon a redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Company will be deemed to continue to have a permanent “Investment” in an Unrestricted Subsidiary in an amount (if positive) equal to (a) the Company’s “Investment” in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation less (b) the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time that such Subsidiary is so re-designated a Restricted Subsidiary; and

 

(2) any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be valued at its Fair Market Value at the time of such transfer. If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary sells or otherwise disposes of any Voting Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such entity is no longer a Subsidiary of the Company, the Company shall be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition equal to the Fair Market Value (as conclusively determined by the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith) of the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary not sold or disposed of.

 

“Issue Date” means January 20, 2005.

 

“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, declaration of or settlement on trust, hypothecation, deposit arrangement, preference, priority, preferential arrangement, lien or charge of any kind (including any Capitalized Lease Obligations, conditional sale or other title retention agreement or lease in the nature thereof or any Sale/Leaseback Transaction).

 

“Material License” means, with respect to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, a license, authorization or concession to operate a Telecommunications Business, which, at the time of determination, accounts for more than 10% of the Consolidated EBITDA for the four full fiscal quarters next preceding the date of determination for which consolidated financial statements are available.

 

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and its successors.

 

“Net Available Cash” from any Asset Disposition means cash payments received (including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or otherwise and net proceeds from the sale or other disposition of any securities received as consideration, but only as and when received, but excluding any other consideration received in the form of assumption by the acquiring Person of Indebtedness or other obligations relating to the properties or assets that are the subject of such Asset Disposition or received in any other non-cash form) therefrom, in each case net of:

 

(1) all legal, accounting, investment banking, title and recording tax expenses, commissions and other fees and expenses Incurred, and all Federal, state, provincial, foreign and local taxes required to be paid or accrued as a liability under U.S. GAAP (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing agreements), as a consequence of such Asset Disposition;

 

(2) all payments made on any Indebtedness which is secured by any assets subject to such Asset Disposition, in accordance with the terms of any Lien upon such assets, or which must by its terms, or in order to obtain a necessary consent to such Asset Disposition, or by applicable law be repaid out of the proceeds from such Asset Disposition;

 

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(3) all distributions and other payments required to be made to minority interest holders in Subsidiaries or joint ventures as a result of such Asset Disposition;

 

(4) the deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the seller as a reserve, in accordance with U.S. GAAP, against any liabilities associated with the assets disposed of in such Asset Disposition and retained by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after such Asset Disposition; and

 

(5) payments of unassumed liabilities (not constituting Indebtedness) relating to the assets sold at the time of, or within 30 days after, the date of such sale.

 

“Net Cash Proceeds”, with respect to any issuance or sale of Capital Stock, means the cash proceeds of such issuance or sale net of attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, underwriters’ or placement agents’ fees, listing fees, discounts or commissions and brokerage, consultant and other fees and charges actually Incurred in connection with such issuance or sale and net of taxes paid or payable as a result of such issuance or sale (after taking into account any available tax credit or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements).

 

“Net Tangible Assets” means, as of any date of determination, the sum of the amounts that would appear on a consolidated balance sheet of a Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary, as its total assets (less accumulated depreciation and amortization, allowances for doubtful receivables, other applicable reserves and other properly deductible items), after giving effect to purchase accounting and after deducting therefrom Current Liabilities and, to the extent otherwise included, the amounts of (without duplication):

 

(1) the excess of cost over fair market value of assets or businesses acquired;

 

(2) any revaluation or other write-up in book value of assets subsequent to the last day of the fiscal quarter of such Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary immediately preceding the Issue Date as a result of a change in the method of valuation in accordance with U.S. GAAP;

 

(3) unamortized debt discount and expenses and other unamortized deferred charges, goodwill, patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, licenses, organization or developmental expenses and other intangible items;

 

(4) minority interests in consolidated Subsidiaries held by Persons other than such Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary;

 

(5) treasury stock;

 

(6) cash or securities set aside and held in a sinking or other analogous fund established for the purpose of redemption or other retirement of Capital Stock to the extent such obligation is not reflected in its Current Liabilities; and

 

(7) Investments in and assets of Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

 

“Non-Recourse Debt” means Indebtedness of a Person:

 

(1) as to which neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary (a) provides any Guarantee or credit support of any kind (including any undertaking, guarantee, indemnity, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness) or (b) is directly or indirectly liable (as a guarantor or otherwise);

 

(2) no default with respect to which (including any rights that the holders thereof may have to take enforcement action against an Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit (upon notice, lapse of time or both) any holder of any other Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to declare a default under such other Indebtedness or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to its stated maturity; and

 

(3) the explicit terms of which provide there is no recourse against any of the assets of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

“Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, any Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company. Officer of any Subsidiary Guarantor has a correlative meaning.

 

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“Officers’ Certificate” means, with respect to a Person, a certificate signed by two Officers or by an Officer and either an Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary of the Company.

 

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or the Trustee.

 

“Permitted Holders” means Wong Wai Kay, Ricky, Cheung Chi Kin, Paul and any Affiliate or Related Person thereof.

 

“Permitted Investment” means an Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary:

 

(1) in a Restricted Subsidiary or a Person which will, upon the making of such Investment, become a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that the primary business of such Restricted Subsidiary is a Telecommunications Business;

 

(2) in another Person if as a result of such Investment such other Person is merged or consolidated with or into, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all its assets to, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that such Person’s primary business is a Telecommunications Business;

 

(3) in cash and Cash Equivalents;

 

(4) in receivables owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary created or acquired in the ordinary course of business and payable or dischargeable in accordance with customary trade terms; provided, however, that such trade terms may include such concessionary trade terms as the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary deems reasonable under the circumstances;

 

(5) in payroll, travel and similar advances to cover matters that are expected at the time of such advances ultimately to be treated as expenses for accounting purposes and that are made in the ordinary course of business;

 

(6) in Capital Stock, obligations or securities received in settlement of debts created in the ordinary course of business and owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or in satisfaction of judgments including as a result of any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of a trade creditor or customer;

 

(7) made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an Asset Disposition that was made pursuant to and in compliance with “Certain Covenants—Limitation on sales of assets and subsidiary stock”;

 

(8) for Fair Market Value, together with all other Investments pursuant to this clause (8), in an aggregate amount at the time of such Investment not to exceed US$10 million outstanding at any one time (with the Fair Market Value of such Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);

 

(9) any assets or Capital Stock of any Person made out of the Net Cash Proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or the consideration for which consists solely of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company; provided that the issuance of such Capital Stock shall be included in the calculation set forth in clause (c)(ii) of “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on restricted payments”, at any one time outstanding; and

 

(10) Hedging Obligations entered into for bona fide hedging purposes and not for speculation and otherwise permitted by the Indenture.

 

“Permitted Liens” means, with respect to any Person:

 

(1) Liens securing Indebtedness and other obligations under a Credit Facility and liens on assets of Restricted Subsidiaries securing Guarantees of Indebtedness and other obligations of the Company, in each case permitted to be Incurred under clause (1) under the second paragraph of the covenant “—Limitation on indebtedness”;

 

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(2) pledges or deposits by such Person under workmen’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or United States government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import or customs duties or for the payment of rent, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(3) Liens imposed by law, including carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanics’ Liens, in each case for sums not more than 60 days past due or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings if a reserve or other appropriate provisions, if any, as shall be required by U.S. GAAP shall have been made in respect thereof;

 

(4) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet subject to penalties for non-payment or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently concluded provided appropriate reserves required pursuant to U.S. GAAP have been made in respect thereof;

 

(5) Liens in favor of issuers of surety or performance bonds or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances issued pursuant to the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business; provided, however, that such letters of credit do not constitute Indebtedness;

 

(6) encumbrances, ground leases, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights of way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning, building codes or other restrictions (including, without limitation, minor defects or irregularities in title and similar encumbrances) as to the use of real properties or liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties which do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;

 

(7) judgment Liens not giving rise to a Default so long as such Lien is adequately bonded and any appropriate legal proceedings which may have been duly initiated for the review of such judgment have not been finally terminated or the period within which such proceedings may be initiated has not expired;

 

(8) Liens for the purpose of securing Indebtedness permitted under clause (7) of the second paragraph under “Certain Covenants—Limitation on indebtedness”, provided that such Liens are created within 180 days of construction or acquisition of such Telecommunication Assets and do not encumber any other assets or property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than such assets or property and assets affixed or appurtenant thereto:

 

(9) Liens existing on the Issue Date;

 

(10) Liens on property or shares of stock of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that such Liens are not created, Incurred or assumed in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary; provided further, however, that any such Lien may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(11) Liens on property at the time the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary acquired the property, including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that such Liens are not created, Incurred or assumed in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition; provided further, however, that such Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(12) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Subsidiary Guarantor owing to the Company or another Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

(13) Liens securing the notes and Subsidiary Guarantees; and

 

(14) Liens securing Refinancing Indebtedness secured by Liens referred to in clauses (1), (9), (10) or (11) above or of any Existing Purchase Money Debt, provided

 

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that any such Lien is limited to all or part of the same property or assets (plus improvements, accessions, proceeds or dividends or distributions in respect thereof) that secured (or, under the written arrangements under which the original Lien arose, could secure) the Indebtedness being refinanced and the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness that is secured by such Lien shall not be increased to an amount greater than the sum of:

 

(a) the outstanding principal amount, or, if greater, the committed amount, of the Indebtedness secured by Liens described under clause (1), (9), (10) or (11) above or of any Existing Purchase Money Debt, as the case may be, at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under the Indenture; and

 

(b) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums and defeasance costs, incurred by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such Refinancing Indebtedness;

 

(15) Liens securing Indebtedness (other than Subordinated Obligations and Guarantor Subordinated Obligations) and created over assets or property having an aggregate Fair Market Value not in excess of 5% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, as determined based on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter ending at least 45 days prior to the date of the incurrence of any such Lien; and

 

(16) Liens securing Hedging Obligations so long as the related Indebtedness is, and is permitted to be under the Indenture, secured by a Lien on the same property securing such Hedging Obligation.

 

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company, government or any agency or political subdivision hereof or any other entity.

 

“Preferred Stock”, as applied to the Capital Stock of any corporation, means Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated) which is preferred as to the payment of dividends, or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such corporation, over shares of Capital Stock of any other class of such corporation.

 

“Purchase Money Debt” means, with respect to Telecommunications Assets, Indebtedness:

 

(a) consisting of the deferred purchase price of such assets, conditional sale obligations, obligations under any title retention agreement, other purchase money obligations, obligations in respect of industrial revenue bonds and Capitalized Lease Obligations, in each case where the maturity of such Indebtedness does not exceed the anticipated useful life of the Telecommunications Assets being financed; and

 

(b) Incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or lease by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of such Telecommunications Assets, including additions and improvements thereto;

 

provided, however, that such Indebtedness is Incurred within 180 days after the acquisition, construction or lease of such Telecommunications Assets by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary.

 

“Qualified Equity Offering” means an offering for cash by the Company of its Common Stock; provided, however, that the aggregate gross cash proceeds received by the Company from such offering shall be no less than US$20 million.

 

“Receivable” means a right to receive payment arising from a sale or lease of goods or the performance of services by a Person pursuant to an arrangement with another Person pursuant to which such other Person is obligated to pay for goods or services under terms that permit the purchase of such goods and services on credit and shall include, in any event, any items of property that would be classified as an “account,” “chattel paper,” “payment intangible” or “instrument” under the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York and any “supporting obligations” as so defined.

 

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“Refinancing Indebtedness” means Indebtedness that is Incurred to refund, refinance, replace, exchange, renew, repay or extend (including pursuant to any defeasance or discharge mechanism) (collectively, “refinance”, “refinances”, and “refinanced” shall have a correlative meaning) (i) any Indebtedness existing on the date of the Indenture or (ii) Incurred in compliance with the Indenture, other than in the case of (i) and (ii), Indebtedness incurred under the HSBC Facility, (including Indebtedness of the Company that refinances Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary, Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness of another Restricted Subsidiary and including Indebtedness that refinances Refinancing Indebtedness), provided, however, that:

 

(1) (a) if the Stated Maturity of the Indebtedness being refinanced is earlier than the Stated Maturity of the notes, the Refinancing Indebtedness has a Stated Maturity no earlier than the Stated Maturity of the Indebtedness being refinanced or (b) if the Stated Maturity of the Indebtedness being refinanced is later than the Stated Maturity of the notes, the Refinancing Indebtedness has a Stated Maturity at least 91 days later than the Stated Maturity of the notes;

 

(2) the Refinancing Indebtedness has an Average Life at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred that is equal to or greater than the Average Life of the Indebtedness being refinanced;

 

(3) such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred in an aggregate principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, an aggregate issue price) that is equal to or less than the sum of the aggregate principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, the aggregate accreted value) then outstanding of the Indebtedness being refinanced (plus, without duplication, any additional Indebtedness Incurred to pay interest or premiums or defeasance costs required by the instruments governing such existing Indebtedness and fees Incurred in connection therewith); and

 

(4) if the Indebtedness being refinanced is subordinated in right of payment to the notes or the Subsidiary Guarantee, such Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the notes or the Subsidiary Guarantee on terms at least as favorable to the holders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded.

 

Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (the “Refinancing Debt”) within 180 days prior to the date on which other Indebtedness of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be (the “Refinanced Debt”), is to be fully repaid will be deemed to be Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the Refinanced Debt if: (a) the agreement to which the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is a party relating to the Refinancing Debt expressly provides that the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary shall apply the proceeds from the Refinancing Debt to the repayment of the Refinanced Debt within 180 days of the date the Refinancing Debt is Incurred; (b) the proceeds from the Refinancing Debt are actually applied to permanently repay the Refinanced (with corresponding permanent reduction of the commitment amounts related to Refinanced if such Refinanced Debt was provided under a revolving credit or similar facility) within such 180-day period; (c) the Refinancing Debt meets the requirements set forth in clauses (1) through (4) above and in relation to the Refinanced Debt is not being used to refinance debt in violation of the third paragraph under the covenant described under “—Limitation on indebtedness”; (d) the Company provides the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate at the time the Refinancing Debt is Incurred that specifies the amounts of the Refinancing Debt, specifies the relevant Refinanced Debt and certifies that such incurrence meets all the requirements of the Indenture; and (e) until the Refinanced Debt is repaid, the proceeds of the Refinancing Debt are kept in a segregated account in the form of cash and deposits (as such term is used in the Company’s financial statements).

 

“Related Business Assets” means assets used or useful in a Telecommunications Business.

 

“Related Person” with respect to any Permitted Holder means:

 

(1) any controlling stockholder or a majority (or more) owned Subsidiary of such Permitted Holder or, in the case of an individual, any spouse or immediate family member of such Permitted Holder, any trust created for the benefit of such individual or such individual’s estate, executor, administrator, committee or beneficiaries; or

 

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(2) any trust, corporation, partnership or other entity, the beneficiaries, stockholders, partners, owners or Persons beneficially holding a majority (or more) controlling interest of which consist of the Permitted Holders and/or such other Persons referred to in the immediately preceding clause (1).

 

“Restricted Investment” means, in one or a series of related transactions, any Investment, other than Permitted Investments.

 

“Restricted Subsidiary” means all Subsidiaries of the Company other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

“Sale/Leaseback Transaction” means an arrangement relating to property now owned or hereafter acquired whereby the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary transfers such property to a Person and the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary leases it from such Person.

 

“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

“Senior Debt” of a Person means (a) all senior secured Indebtedness under its Credit Facilities, (b) all of its Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person and all Attributable Indebtedness in respect of Sale/Leaseback Transactions entered into by it and (c) any of its Purchase Money Debt; provided, however, that Senior Debt shall not include:

 

(i) any Subordinated Obligation or Guarantor Subordinated Obligation;

 

(ii) any Indebtedness Incurred in violation of the provisions of the Indenture;

 

(iii) accounts payable or any other obligations of such Person to trade creditors created or assumed by it in the ordinary course of business in connection with the obtaining of materials or services (including Guarantees thereof or instruments evidencing such liabilities);

 

(iv) any liability for Federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by such Person;

 

(v) any obligation of the Company to a Restricted Subsidiary; or

 

(vi) any obligations with respect to any Capital Stock of such Person.

 

“SGX-ST” means The Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited.

 

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and its successors.

 

“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any security, the date specified in such security as the fixed date on which the payment of principal of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision, but shall not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.

 

“Strategic Equity Investment” means the issuance and sale by the Company of its Capital Stock (excluding Disqualified Stock) to a Strategic Investor; provided, however, that the aggregate gross cash proceeds received by the Company from such issuance and sale shall be no less than US$25 million.

 

“Strategic Investor” means any Person primarily engaged in the Telecommunications Business (or a wholly-owned subsidiary thereof) that has an equity market capitalization, at the time of its initial purchase of the Capital Stock (excluding Disqualified Stock) of the Company, in excess of US$1 billion.

 

“Subordinated Obligation” means any Indebtedness of the Company (whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter Incurred) which is subordinate or junior in right of payment to the notes pursuant to a written agreement.

 

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“Subsidiary” of any Person means (a) any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity) of which more than 50% of the total ordinary voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof (or persons performing similar functions) or (b) any partnership, joint venture limited liability company or similar entity of which more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general or limited partnership interests, as applicable, is, in the case of clauses (a) and (b), at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (1) such Person, (2) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or (3) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person. Unless otherwise specified herein, each reference to a Subsidiary will refer to a Subsidiary of the Company.

 

“Subsidiary Guarantee” means, individually, any Guarantee of payment of the notes by a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to the terms of the Indenture and any supplemental indenture thereto, and, collectively, all such Guarantees. Each such Subsidiary Guarantee will be in the form prescribed by the Indenture.

 

“Subsidiary Guarantor” means each Subsidiary of the Company in existence on the Issue Date and any Restricted Subsidiary created or acquired by the Company after the Issue Date, in each case other than a Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary.

 

“Telecommunications Business” means the business of:

 

(1) operating or owning a license, authorization or concession to operate a cable or telephone or telecommunications (including internet and broadband network) system or service;

 

(2) transmitting, or providing services relating to the transmission of, voice, video, subscription programming, on-line and media services or data through leased or owned wireline, wireless or other transmission facilities;

 

(3) constructing, creating, developing or marketing communications networks, related network transmission equipment, software and other devices for use in the businesses identified in (1) and (2) above and or otherwise in a communications business;

 

(4) any business related, ancillary or complementary to those identified in (1), (2) and (3) above; or

 

(5) evaluating, participating or pursuing any other activity or opportunity that is primarily related to those identified in (1), (2), (3) and (4) above,

 

provided that the determination of what constitutes a Telecommunications Business shall be made in good faith by the Board of Directors.

 

“Telecommunication Assets” means:

 

(1) any property or assets (other than cash, Cash Equivalents, Indebtedness and Capital Stock) to be used by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in the Telecommunications Business; or

 

(2) the Capital Stock of a Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of the acquisition of such Capital Stock by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary from any Person other than an affiliate thereof;

 

provided, however, that, in the case of clause (2), such Restricted Subsidiary is primarily engaged in a Telecommunications Business; and provided further, however, that for purposes of the definition of Purchase Money Debt, Telecommunications Assets shall consist only of the property and assets described in clause (1) above and shall not include property or assets constituting all or substantially all the assets of a business or an operating unit of a business.

 

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“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means:

 

(1) any Subsidiary of the Company that at the time of determination shall be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors of the Company in the manner provided below and has not been redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary as provided below; and

 

(2) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Subsidiary of the Company (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary or a Person becoming a Subsidiary through merger or consolidation or Investment therein) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary only if:

 

(1) such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries does not own any Capital Stock or Indebtedness of or have any Investment in, or own or hold any Lien on any property of, the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company which is not a Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated or otherwise an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

 

(2) all the Indebtedness of such Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries shall, at the date of designation, and will at all times thereafter, consist of Non-Recourse Debt;

 

(3) such designation and the Investment of the Company in such Subsidiary complies with “Certain Covenants—Limitation on restricted payments”;

 

(4) such Subsidiary, either alone or in the aggregate with all other Unrestricted Subsidiaries, does not operate, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries;

 

(5) such Subsidiary is a Person with respect to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation:

 

(a) to subscribe for additional Capital Stock of such Person; or

 

(b) to maintain or preserve such Person’s financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results; and

 

(6) on the date such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary, such Subsidiary is not a party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with terms substantially less favorable to the Company than those that might have been obtained from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company.

 

Any such designation by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complies with the foregoing conditions. If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the foregoing requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it shall thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of the Indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary shall be deemed to be Incurred as of such date.

 

The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that immediately after giving effect to such designation, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof and the Company could Incur at least US$1.00 of additional Indebtedness under the first paragraph of the “—Limitation on indebtedness” covenant on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation.

 

“U.S. GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect as of the date of the Indenture, including those set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession. All ratios and computations based on U.S. GAAP contained in the Indenture will be computed in conformity with U.S. GAAP.

 

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“U.S. Government Obligations” means securities that are (a) direct obligations of the United States of America for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (b) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation of the United States of America, which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act), as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligations or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such U.S. Government Obligations held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligations or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the U.S. Government Obligations evidenced by such depositary receipt.

 

“Voting Stock” of a corporation means all classes of Capital Stock of such corporation then outstanding and normally entitled to vote in the election of directors.

 

“Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” means a Restricted Subsidiary, all of the Capital Stock of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares) is owned by the Company or another Wholly-Owned Subsidiary.

 

Registration Rights for Outstanding Notes

 

Under the registration rights agreement, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors are required to:

 

    by March 21, 2005, file a registration statement relating to the exchange offer with the Securities and Exchange Commission;

 

    use its reasonable efforts to cause the exchange offer registration statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act by July 19, 2005;

 

    unless the exchange offer would not be permitted due to a change in law or SEC policy, begin the exchange offer promptly after the registration statement is effective and use its reasonable efforts to issue new exchange notes in the exchange offer on or before August 18, 2005; and

 

    keep the exchange offer open for not less than 30 business days (or longer if required by applicable law) after the date of notice of the exchange offer is mailed to the holders of outstanding notes.

 

Upon the effectiveness of the exchange offer registration statement, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors will offer the exchange notes in exchange for the surrender of the outstanding notes. For each outstanding note surrendered pursuant to the exchange offer, the holder of such outstanding note will receive an exchange note having a principal amount equal to that of the surrendered note. Interest on each exchange note will accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on the note surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been paid on such note, from the date of its original issue.

 

The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors must also file with the SEC a shelf registration statement to cover resales of the outstanding notes or exchange notes issued in the exchange offer by holders who provide the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors with the information about them and their holders that is required for the shelf registration statement if:

 

(1) the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors becomes aware that they are not permitted to file the exchange offer registration statement or to complete the exchange offer due to a change in law or SEC policy; or

 

(2) the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors fail to consummate the exchange offer on or before August 18, 2005; or

 

(3) any holder notifies the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors that:

 

    it is not permitted under law or SEC policy to participate in the exchange offer;

 

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    it cannot publicly resell new exchange notes that it acquires in the exchange offer without delivering a prospectus, and the prospectus contained in the exchange offer registration statement is not appropriate or available for resales during the 270-day period following our completion of the exchange offer; or

 

    it is a broker-dealer and owns outstanding notes that it has not exchanged and that it acquired directly from the Company or one of its affiliates.

 

If the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors must file a shelf registration statement, the Company will use its reasonable efforts to file it on or before the 60th day, and to cause it to become effective on or before the 180th day, after the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors becomes obligated to make the filing.

 

The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors will, jointly and severally, be obligated to pay additional interest (the “Registration Default Damages”) to each holder of notes, if one of the following “registration defaults” occurs:

 

(1) the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors do not file the exchange offer registration statement on or before March 21, 2005;

 

(2) the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors do not file the shelf registration statement on or before the 60th day after they become obligated to file the shelf registration statement;

 

(3) the exchange offer registration statement is not effective on or before July 19, 2005;

 

(4) the shelf registration statement is not effective on or before the 180th day after the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors become obligated to file it;

 

(5) the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors do not complete the exchange offer on or before August 18, 2005;

 

(6) the exchange offer registration statement is effective, but then ceases to be effective or usable during the 270-day period after the completion of the exchange offer for resales of exchange notes to the extent required; or

 

(7) the shelf registration statement is effective, but then ceases to be effective or usable until the second anniversary of the closing of the offering for resales of any of the outstanding notes or any exchange notes that are still subject to transfer restrictions. For these purposes, each outstanding note and exchange note will be subject to transfer restrictions, until the date when:

 

    the outstanding note is exchanged by a person other than a broker-dealer for an exchange note in the exchange offer;

 

    a broker-dealer sells an exchange note that it acquired in the exchange offer to a purchaser and provides the purchaser with the prospectus included in the shelf registration statement;

 

    the outstanding note has been registered under the Securities Act and sold under the shelf registration statement;

 

    the outstanding note is resold publicly under Rule 144 (or a successor rule) under the Securities Act; or

 

    the outstanding note is sold in any other way that permits the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors to remove the legend describing the transfer restrictions.

 

If one of these registration default occurs, then Registration Default Damages will accrue on the notes at the rate of 0.25% per annum for the first 90 days from and including such specified date and 0.50% per annum thereafter until the relevant registration default is cured.

 

The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors will pay all additional interest for notes in global form by wire transfer of immediately available funds or by federal funds check on any interest payment date for which

 

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Registration Default Damages have accrued during that interest payment period. The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors will pay all Registration Default Damages for notes in certificated form by wire transfer to the accounts specified by their holders or by mailing checks to the registered address of any holder that has not specified an account. When the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors has cured all of the registration defaults, Registration Default Damages will no longer accrue.

 

Under current SEC interpretations, the exchange notes will generally be freely transferable after the exchange offer, except that any broker-dealer that participates in the exchange offer must deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act when it resells any exchange notes. The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors have agreed that they will make available a prospectus for these purposes for 270 days after the exchange offer. A broker-dealer that delivers a prospectus is subject to the civil liability provisions of the Securities Act and will also be bound by the registration rights agreement, including indemnification obligations.

 

Noteholders must make certain representations (as described in the registration rights agreement) to participate in the exchange offer, notably that they are not an affiliate of the Company and that they are acquiring the exchange notes in ordinary course of business and without any arrangement or intention to make a distribution of the exchange notes. Holders of outstanding notes and exchange notes must also deliver certain information to the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors that is required for a shelf registration statement and provide the Company and Subsidiary Guarantors with comments on the shelf registration statement within time periods specified in the registration rights agreement in order to have their outstanding notes and/or exchange notes included in the shelf registration statement and to receive the additional interest described above for shelf registration. A broker-dealer that receives exchange notes in the exchange offer or as part of its market-making or other trading activities must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus when it resells the exchange notes.

 

This summary of certain provisions of the registration rights agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the registration rights agreement, a copy of which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

 

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CERTAIN TAX CONSIDERATIONS

 

Each prospective purchaser is urged to consult its own tax advisors about the tax consequences of an investment in the notes under the laws of the United States, Hong Kong and its constituent jurisdictions, and any other jurisdictions where the purchaser or the notes may be subject to taxation.

 

United States

 

The following is a general discussion of certain material U.S. Federal income tax considerations for prospective purchasers of the notes. This summary is based on existing U.S. Federal income tax law, which is subject to change, possibly retroactively. The discussion addresses only U.S. Holders (as defined below) that purchase notes in the original offering, hold the notes as capital assets (generally, property held for investment) under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and use the U.S. dollar as their functional currency for tax purposes. The discussion does not consider the circumstances of particular purchasers, some of which (such as banks, insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations, dealers in securities or foreign currency, traders in securities that elect to mark to market, investors liable for the alternative minimum tax, and persons holding the notes as part of a hedge, straddle, conversion, or integrated transaction) are subject to special tax rules that differ from those discussed below.

 

For purposes of this discussion, “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of notes that is (i) an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States or someone treated as a U.S. citizen or resident for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (ii) a corporation or other business entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is organized in or created under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof, (iii) a trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons (as defined in the Code) have the authority to control all substantial decisions, or a trust in existence on August 20, 1996 and treated as a U.S. person before this date that timely elected to continue to be treated as a U.S. person, or (iv) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. Federal income taxation regardless of its source. If a partnership holds notes, the tax treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner of a partnership holding notes, we urge you to consult your own tax advisor.

 

Tax Consequences of the Exchange Offer

 

Under current law, the exchange of notes for exchange notes pursuant to the registered exchange offer will not be treated as an “exchange” for federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, holders will not recognize taxable gain or loss upon the receipt of exchange notes in exchange for notes in the exchange offer, the holding period for an exchange note received in the exchange offer will include the holding period of the note surrendered in exchange therefor, and the adjusted tax basis of an exchange note immediately after the exchange will be the same as the adjusted tax basis of the note surrendered in exchange therefor.

 

We are obligated to pay registration default damages on the notes under certain circumstances described under “Description of the Notes—Registration Rights for Outstanding Notes.” Although the matter is not free from doubt, such special interest should be taxable as interest under the rules described below in the event that registration default damages are paid. It is possible, however, that the Internal Revenue Service may take a different position with respect to the treatment of such special interest. Holders are advised to consult their own tax advisors about payments of such registration default damages.

 

Interest. A U.S. Holder will be required to recognize as ordinary income any interest paid or accrued on the notes (and additional amounts, if any, referred to in the section titled “Description of the Notes—Payment of Additional Amounts” in this prospectus) in accordance with its regular method of accounting for U.S. Federal income tax purposes.

 

Interest and additional amounts on the notes should be treated as foreign source income for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes. In addition, for purposes of determining the U.S. Holder’s foreign tax credit limitation, such

 

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interest and additional amounts, with certain exceptions, will be treated as “passive income” or, in certain cases, “financial services income” for taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2006 and as “passive category income” or, in certain cases, “general category income” for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2006. In the event that any non-United States taxes are withheld in respect of any payments on the notes, a U.S. Holder may elect to claim either a deduction or, subject to certain complex limitations, a foreign tax credit for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If a U.S. Holder elects to claim a deduction, rather than a foreign tax credit, for a particular tax year, such election will apply to all foreign taxes paid by the U.S. Holder in that particular year.

 

Sale, Exchange or Disposition of the Notes. Upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of a note, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount of cash and the fair market value of property received by such U.S. Holder (except to the extent attributable to accrued interest, which will be treated as interest) and such U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the note (i.e., its adjusted issue price). Such capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder has held the note for more than one year and generally will be treated as U.S. source gain or loss for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes. Long-term capital gains realized by individuals on the sale, exchange or other disposition of notes generally are subject to a maximum U.S. federal income tax rate of 15%. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

 

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding. Payments in respect of notes and proceeds from the sale or other disposition of the notes may be subject to information reporting to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and to U.S. backup withholding tax, currently at a rate of 28%. Backup withholding will not apply, however, to a corporation or to a holder who furnishes a correct taxpayer identification number or certificate of foreign status or who otherwise establishes an exemption from backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from a payment to a holder will be refunded (or credited against such holder’s U.S. Federal income tax liability, if any), provided the required information is furnished to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service in a timely manner.

 

Hong Kong

 

Profits Tax

 

No tax is payable in Hong Kong by withholding or otherwise in respect of payments of principal and interest on the notes or in respect of any capital gains arising on the sale of the notes except that:

 

(a) a liability to profits tax may arise in respect of interest on the notes where the notes are held by a holder who is not a financial institution, as defined in the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap 112), and who carries on a trade, profession, or business in Hong Kong, and the interest is derived from such trade profession or business;

 

(b) any gains arising in or derived from Hong Kong on the sale, disposal or redemption of the notes (and enforcement of the notes or any judgment relating thereto) may be taxable if they are derived by a person other than a financial institution, carrying on a trade, profession or business in Hong Kong from such trade, profession or business; and

 

(c) a liability to profits tax may arise in respect of interest on the notes or gains on sale of the notes where derived by a financial institution through or from the carrying on, in whole or in part, of such institution’s business in Hong Kong.

 

Stamp Duty

 

No Hong Kong stamp duty will be chargeable upon the transfer of a note.

 

Estate Duty

 

No estate duty will be payable under the Estate Duty Ordinance (Cap 111), in respect of notes registered outside Hong Kong.

 

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Proposed EU Directive on the Taxation of Savings Income

 

On June 3, 2003, the EU Council of Economic and Finance Ministers adopted a new directive regarding the taxation of savings income. The directive is scheduled to be applied by Member States from July 1, 2005, provided that certain non-EU countries adopt similar measures from the same date. Under the directive each Member State will be required to provide to the tax authorities of another Member State details of payments of interest or other similar income paid by a person within its jurisdiction to, or collected by such a person for, an individual resident in that other Member State; however, Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg may instead apply a withholding system for a transitional period in relation to such payments, deducting tax at rates rising over time to 35 per cent. The transitional period is to commence on the date from which the directive is to be applied by Member States and to terminate at the end of the first full fiscal year following agreement by certain non-EU countries to the exchange of information relating to such payments.

 

The above discussion is a general summary. It does not cover all tax matters that may be of importance to a particular purchaser. Each prospective investor is strongly urged to consult its tax advisor about the tax consequences to it of an investment in the notes.

 

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ERISA CONSIDERATIONS

 

The United States Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), imposes certain requirements on “employee benefit plans” (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) that are subject to ERISA (“ERISA Plans”) and on those persons who are “fiduciaries” (as defined in Section 3(21) of ERISA) with respect to ERISA Plans. The fiduciaries of an ERISA Plan should consider, among other things, the matters described below before determining whether to exchange the notes for exchange notes.

 

ERISA imposes certain general and specific responsibilities on fiduciaries with respect to an ERISA Plan. Those responsibilities include satisfaction of the prudence and diversification requirements of ERISA and compliance with the terms of the documents and instruments governing the ERISA Plan. A fiduciary must also discharge its duties solely in the interest of the participants in the ERISA Plan and their beneficiaries and for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits to these participants and beneficiaries and defraying reasonable expenses of administering the ERISA Plan. In addition, a fiduciary must maintain the indicia of ownership of any asset of an ERISA Plan within the jurisdiction of the United States district courts.

 

In determining whether a particular investment is appropriate for an ERISA Plan, United States Department of Labor regulations provide that the fiduciaries of an ERISA Plan should give appropriate consideration to, among other things, the role that the investment plays in the ERISA Plan’s portfolio, taking into consideration whether the investment is reasonably designed to further the ERISA Plan’s purposes, an examination of the risk and return factors, the portfolio’s composition with regard to diversification of the liquidity and current return of the total portfolio relative to the anticipated cash flow needs of the ERISA Plan and the projected return of the total portfolio relative to the ERISA Plan’s funding objectives.

 

In addition to these fiduciary duties, Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), prohibit certain transactions involving the assets of ERISA Plans and plans that are not subject to ERISA but are subject to Section 4975 of the Code, such as individual retirement accounts (together with ERISA Plans, “Plans”), on the one hand, and certain persons (referred to as “parties in interest” for purposes of ERISA or “disqualified persons” for purposes of the Code) having certain relationships to Plans, on the other hand, unless a statutory or administrative exemption is applicable to the transaction. A party in interest or disqualified person who engages in a non-exempt prohibited transaction may be subject to non-deductible excise taxes and other penalties and liabilities under ERISA and the Code.

 

Examples of prohibited transactions include extensions of credit or sales on exchanges of property (such as the notes or exchange notes) between a Plan and a party in interest or disqualified person. ERISA and the Code also generally prohibit a fiduciary with respect to a Plan from dealing with the assets of the Plan for its own benefit. An example of this type of prohibited transaction is when a fiduciary of a Plan uses its position to cause the Plan to make investments from which the fiduciary (or a party related to the fiduciary) receives a fee or other consideration. Such a prohibited transaction should not occur though if none of City Telecom, any of the guarantors of the notes or exchange notes, the Trustee or any of their affiliates (collectively, “Affected Persons”), is a fiduciary within the meaning of ERISA with respect to an investor in the notes or exchange notes or the investment decision to exchange the notes for exchange notes is made by a fiduciary within the meaning of ERISA with respect to the investor other than the Affected Persons and neither the fiduciary nor the investor has relied on any advice or recommendation from the Affected Persons as a basis for the decision. If the exchange of the notes for exchange notes or the holding of the exchange notes were to be a non-exempt prohibited transaction, the purchase might have to be rescinded.

 

A transaction that would otherwise be prohibited may, however, be treated as exempt under ERISA and the Code if the exchange notes are acquired pursuant to and in accordance with one or more statutory or administrative exemptions, including any of the prohibited transaction class exemptions (“PTCEs”) issued by the United States Department of Labor, such as PTCE 90-1 (applicable to certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTCE 91-38 (applicable to certain transactions involving bank collective

 

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investment funds), PTCE 95-60 (applicable to certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTCE 84-14 (applicable to certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers) and PTCE 96-23 (applicable to certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers).

 

As a general rule, certain plans sponsored by governmental entities, churches or non-U.S. employers are not subject to ERISA or the prohibited transaction rules in the Code. Accordingly, assets of these plans (collectively, “Governmental Plans”) may be invested without regard to the fiduciary and prohibited transaction considerations described above. However, these Governmental Plans may be subject to other federal, state, local or foreign laws or regulations that are similar to ERISA and the Code in this regard (collectively, “Similar Laws”). A fiduciary of a Governmental Plan should make its own determination as to the requirements, if any, under any Similar Law applicable to the exchange of the notes for exchange notes.

 

The notes may be exchanged for exchange notes by a Plan or a Governmental Plan, but only if the exchange will not result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction or violation of Similar Law. Accordingly, the exchange notes may not be acquired by, and each person who acquires exchange notes, by exchange or transfer, shall be deemed to have represented and covenanted that it is not acquiring or holding the exchange notes for or on behalf of, and will not transfer the exchange notes to, any Plan unless the acquisition and holding of the exchange notes by or on behalf of the Plan will not constitute a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code and that it is not acquiring or holding the exchange notes for or on behalf of, and will not transfer the exchange notes to, any Governmental Plan unless the purchase and holding of the exchange notes by or on behalf of the Government Plan will not constitute a violation of any Similar Law.

 

The sale of the exchange notes to a Plan or Governmental Plan is in no respect a representation by City Telecom, any of the guarantors of the exchange notes, or any of its affiliates that such an investment meets all relevant legal requirements with respect to investments by Plans or Governmental Plans generally or by any particular Plan or Governmental Plan, or that such an investment is appropriate for a Plan or Governmental Plan generally or any particular Plan or Governmental Plan.

 

The discussion of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code contained in this prospectus, is, of necessity, general, and does not purport to be complete. Moreover, the provisions of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code are subject to extensive and continuing administrative and judicial interpretation and review. Therefore, the matters discussed above may be affected by future regulations, rulings and court decisions, some of which may have retroactive application and effect.

 

Any potential investor considering exchanging the notes for exchange notes that is, or is acting on behalf of, a Plan or Governmental Plan is strongly urged to consult its own legal and tax advisors regarding the consequences of such an exchange under ERISA and the Code, or, if applicable, any Similar Law, and the ability to make the representation set forth above.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

Each broker-dealer that receives exchange notes for its own account in the exchange offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of these exchange notes. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of exchange notes received in exchange for outstanding notes where the outstanding notes were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. We have agreed that, starting on the expiration date of the exchange offer and ending on the close of business 270 days after the expiration date of the exchange offer, we will make this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with these resales. In addition, until                     , 2005, all dealers effecting transactions in the exchange notes may be required to deliver a prospectus.

 

We will not receive any proceeds from any sale of exchange notes by broker-dealers. Exchange notes received by broker-dealers for their own account in the exchange offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the exchange notes or a combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated prices. Any of these resales may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from these broker-dealers and/or the purchasers of exchange notes. Any broker-dealer that resells exchange notes that were received by it for its own account in the exchange offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of the exchange notes may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit from any of these resales of exchange notes and any commissions or concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act. The letter of transmittal states that, by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

 

For a period of 270 days after the expiration date of the exchange offer, we will promptly send additional copies of this prospectus and any amendment or supplement to this prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents in the letter of transmittal. We have agreed to pay all expenses incident to the exchange offer, including the expenses of one counsel for the holders of the outstanding notes, other than commissions or concessions of any brokers or dealers and will indemnify the holders of the outstanding notes, including any broker-dealers, against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

 

Certain legal matters with respect to the exchange notes and exchange offer will be passed upon for us by Jones Day, Hong Kong as to U.S. federal, New York and Hong Kong law. Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP will pass upon certain legal matters under the laws of the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia, Canada for us regarding the exchange notes. Stewart McKelvey Stirling Scales will pass upon certain legal matters under the laws of the province of Nova Scotia, Canada for us regarding the exchange notes. Maples and Calder will pass upon certain legal matters under the laws of the British Virgin Islands for us regarding the exchange notes.

 

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

The financial statements as of August 31, 2004 and 2003 and for the years ended August 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, included in this prospectus, have been so included in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers, independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers address is 33rd Floor Cheung Kong Center, 2 Queen’s Road, Central, Hong Kong.

 

ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES

 

City Telecom is incorporated in Hong Kong under the Companies Ordinance. All of City Telecom’s directors and most of its executive officers reside in Hong Kong. All or a substantial portion of the assets of such persons and City Telecom are located outside the United States. As a result, it may not be possible for holders of exchange notes to effect service of process within the United States upon such persons or City Telecom or to enforce against them in U.S. courts judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States. City Telecom has been advised by its Hong Kong counsel, Jones Day, that judgments of courts in the United States, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States, are not enforceable in Hong Kong as of right and enforceability is subject to the discretion of the Hong Kong courts.

 

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

 

We file annual, semi-annual and special reports, and other information with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). You may read and copy this information at the following location of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission:

 

Public Reference Room

450 Fifth Street, N.W.

Room 1024

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

You may also obtain copies of this information at prescribed rates by mail from the Public Reference Section of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room 1024, Washington, DC 20549. You may obtain information about the public reference room by calling the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, you can review copies of this information and the registration statement through the SEC’s “EDGAR” (Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval) System, available on the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov).

 

If at any time during the two-year period following the date of original issue of the outstanding notes City Telecom is not subject to the information requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and the outstanding notes constitute “restricted securities” within the meaning of the Securities Act, City Telecom will furnish to holders of outstanding notes and prospective purchasers designated by such holders the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act in order to permit compliance with Rule 144A in connection with resales of such notes.

 

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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

 

All documents subsequently filed by us pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, after the date of this prospectus and prior to the end of the period of 270 days after the expiration date of the exchange offer shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and to be a part of this prospectus from the date of filing of such document. Any statement contained in this prospectus or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

 

You may request a free copy of any of our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission by writing or telephoning us at City Telecom (H.K.) Limited, 13-16 Floors, Trans Asia Centre, 18 Kin Hong Street, Kwai Chung, Hong Kong, Attention: Eva Leung, Secretary and In-House Legal Counsel, telephone (852) 3145-6888.

 

You should rely only upon the information provided in this prospectus or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, including any information incorporated by reference, is accurate as of any date other than the date of this prospectus or the date of such information so incorporated by reference.

 

GENERAL INFORMATION REQUIRED BY SGX-ST

 

The outstanding notes are listed on the SGX-ST and the exchange notes will also be listed on the SGX-ST. The outstanding notes were admitted to the Official List of the SGX-ST on January 24, 2005.

 

For years ending on or after August 31, 2004 and for so long as any of the notes remain outstanding and are listed on the SGX-ST, copies of our annual report, in English, containing the audited consolidated financial statements of ourselves and our consolidated subsidiaries (including the subsidiary guarantors) for the most recent year, and semi-annual unaudited consolidated interim reports of ourselves and our consolidated subsidiaries (including the subsidiary guarantors) will be delivered to the specified offices of the paying agent, transfer agent and listing agent and are obtainable free of charge. Our audited consolidated annual financial statements for the years ended August 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004 are set forth hereinafter. See “Index to Consolidated Financial Statements.”

 

Notices to holders will be valid if published in a daily newspaper of general circulation in Singapore (or, if the holders of any notes can be identified, notices to such holders may also be valid if they are given to each of such holders). It is expected that such publication be made in the Business Times. Notices will, if published more than once or on different dates, be deemed to have been given on the date of the first publication in such newspaper. Notice shall also be given to the SGX-ST.

 

Notwithstanding anything in this prospectus, in any case where the identity and addresses of all the holders of the notes are known to the issuer, notices to such holders may be given individually by recorded delivery mail to such addresses and will be deemed to have been given when received at such addresses.

 

The notes may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange at our office or agency maintained for such purpose, which office or agency shall be maintained in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York.

 

We approved the offering of the outstanding notes in the initial private placement on December 3, 2004. The subsidiary guarantors each approved their guarantees of the outstanding notes on January 11, 2005.

 

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GLOSSARY OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INTERNET TERMS

 

This Glossary contains certain definitions and other terms as they relate to the Company and as they are used in this prospectus, which definitions may not correspond to standard industry definitions.

 

“access charge” means a fee charged subscribers or other telephone companies by a local exchange carrier for the use of its local exchange network facilities.

 

“ADSL” means asymmetric digital subscriber line.

 

“APCN2” means Asia-Pacific Cable Network 2.

 

“bandwidth” means the capacity that a transmission wire is capable of handling, passing or allowing.

 

“BB100” means the symmetrical 100 Mbps broadband Internet access service that we provide through our Metro Ethernet network.

 

“broadband” means a term that is commonly associated with high-speed data transfer connections. In the context of end-user access networks, broadband often refers to data transmission rates of 1 Mbps or higher.

 

“broadcast” means the transmission of a signal over the spectrum to be received by two or more receiving devices.

 

“Cat-5e copper wiring” means category 5e copper wiring.

 

“CCS License” means calling card services license.

 

“churn” means the gross subscription disconnections divided by the average number of subscriptions during a period.

 

“DSL” means digital subscriber lines used to provide broadband Internet access services.

 

“Ethernet” means a packet based transmission protocol that is primarily used in LANs. Ethernet is the common name for the IEEE 802.3 industry specification and it is often characterized by its data transmission rate and type of transmission medium (e.g., twisted pair is T and fiber is F). Ethernet systems in 1972 operated at 1 Mbps. In 1992, Ethernet progressed to 10 Mbps data transfer speed (called 10 Base T). In 2001, Ethernet data transfer rates included 100 Mbps (100 Base T) and 1 Gbps (1000 Base T). Ethernet can be provided on twisted pair, coaxial cable, wireless, or fiber cable transmission mediums.

 

“ETS License” means external communications services license.

 

“fiber-based backbone” means the fiber optic cables of a network that connects several major network components.

 

“fiber optics” means a method for the transmission of information (sound, video, data) in which light is modulated and transmitted over high-purity, hair-thin filaments of glass. The bandwidth capacity of fiber optic cable is much greater than that of copper wire.

 

“fiber-to-the-building” means a distribution system that uses fiber optic cable to connect broadband networks to nodes that are located within customer buildings.

 

“fixed telecommunications network services” means telecommunications services provided over fixed line infrastructure.

 

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“FTNS License” means a fixed telecommunications network service license.

 

“HKBN” means Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited, our wholly owned subsidiary.

 

“hybrid fiber coaxial cable” means a combination coaxial cables, which are commonly used in cable television systems and is composed of two concentric conductors, and fiber optic cables.

 

“hub sites” means wiring concentrator equipment that is the means for interconnecting our fiber-based backbone with our LANs.

 

“i-Cable” means i-Cable Communications Limited and its subsidiaries through which it provides telecommunications services. Hong Kong Cable Television Limited is a subsidiary of i-Cable.

 

“IDD” means International Direct Dialing, the capability to directly dial telephones in foreign countries from one’s own telephone.

 

“interconnect” means any variety of hardware arrangements that permit the connection of telecommunications equipment to a communications common carrier network such as a PSTN.

 

“interconnection” means the connection of one telecommunication network services provider to another.

 

“Internet” means a computer network stretching across the world that links the user to businesses, government agencies, universities, and individuals. The Internet provides computers with the ability to connect with other computers for communicating, disseminating and collecting information.

 

“international simple resale” means the method of delivering international telecommunications services through leasing international transmission circuits for direct transmission of international calls between switching systems in the originating country and switching systems in the destination country.

 

“IP” means Internet Protocol, the open protocol used for the Internet.

 

“IP-TV” means the pay-television service that we offer through our IP network.

 

“ISR License” means international simple resale services license.

 

“LAC” means local access charge.

 

“LAN” means local area network.

 

“Local Multipoint Distribution Services (LMDS)” means a point/multipoint service with two-way capability to transmit voice, data and other video information.

 

“VANS License” means Value-Added Network Services license.

 

“Mbps” means one million bits per second.

 

“Metro Ethernet” means the provision of Ethernet services on a metropolitan scale.

 

“Metro Ethernet network” means our network through which we deliver fixed telecommunications network services.

 

“network infrastructure” means fixed infrastructure equipment consisting of base transceiver stations, base station controllers, antennae, switches, management information systems and other equipment that receives, transmits and processes signals from and to subscriber equipment and/or between wireless systems and the public switched telephone network.

 

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“number portability” means the capability of individuals, businesses, and organizations to retain their existing telephone number(s) and the same quality of service when switching to a new local service provider.

 

“OFTA” means the Office of Telecommunications Authority.

 

“PCCW-HKT” means PCCW-HKT Limited and its subsidiaries through which it provides telecommunications services. PCCW-HKT was formed through the merger with Cable & Wireless HKT (originally The Hong Kong Telephone Company, formed in 1925). PCCW-IMS Limited is a subsidiary of PCCW-HKT and provides broadband Internet access and pay-TV services.

 

“penetration rate” means total market subscribers divided by households in the service area.

 

“PNETS License” means public non-exclusive telecommunications services license.

 

“reach” means the number of homes to which the service is available regardless of whether or not residents choose to subscribe.

 

“set-top-box” means the equipment provided by us for a subscriber’s home that allows access to our IP-TV services.

 

“switch” means a mechanical, electrical or electronic device which opens or closes a circuit, completes or breaks an electrical path, or selects paths or circuits used to route traffic between the mobile system and the PSTN.

 

“switching systems” mean the electronic systems that direct the telecommunications transmission to the selected international transmission circuit, take the signal from the international transmission circuit in the destination country and direct it to the local network for delivery to its destination.

 

“tariff” means a statement by a telecommunications company that sets forth the services offered by that company, and the rates, terms and conditions for the use of those services.

 

“telecommunications” means any transmission, emission or reception of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds or intelligence of any nature by wire, radio, optical or other electromagnetic systems.

 

“telephony” means the word used to describe the science of transmitting voice over a telecommunications network.

 

“transmission line” means dedicated telecommunications transmission line linking one fixed point to another.

 

“USC” or “Universal Services Contribution” means the per minute fee payable to PCCW-HKT on all incoming and outgoing international calls in Hong Kong to compensate PCCW-HKT for its universal service obligation to provide basic telephone services to any individual or entity that requests it.

 

“wire-line based backbone” means the physical copper or fiber-optic cables of a network that connects network components.

 

“voice-over-Internet-Protocol” means a general term for the technologies that use the Internet’s packet-switched connection to exchange data, voice, fax and other forms of information.

 

“VPN License” means virtual private network license.

 

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INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Audited Consolidated Financial Statements

    

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   F-2

Consolidated Statements of Income

   F-3

Consolidated Balance Sheets.

   F-4

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity

   F-5

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

   F-6

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

   F-9

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of

City Telecom (H.K.) Limited

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of City Telecom (H.K.) Limited and its subsidiaries (hereafter collectively referred to as the “Company”) as of August 31, 2003 and 2004 and the related consolidated statements of income, of cash flows and of changes in shareholders’ equity for each of the three years ended August 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004, all expressed in Hong Kong Dollars. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements audited by us present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the company at August 31, 2003 and 2004, and the results of its operations and cash flows for each of the three years ended August 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in Hong Kong.

 

Accounting principles generally accepted in Hong Kong vary in certain significant respects from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Information relating to the nature and effect of such differences is presented in Note 30 to the consolidated financial statements.

 

PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS

Certified Public Accountants

 

Hong Kong,

November 23, 2004 except for Note 31(b) and Note 32, which are as of January 20, 2005

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

 

          Year ended August 31,

 
     Note

   2002

    2003

    2004

 
                  HK$                     HK$                     HK$          
          As restated(1)     As restated(1)        
          (Amounts in thousands except per share data)  

Revenue from provision of telecommunication and other services, net

        1,150,200     1,298,909     1,169,880  

Cost of services provided

   3    (457,963 )   (322,753 )   (331,408 )
         

 

 

Gross profit

        692,237     976,156     838,472  
         

 

 

Operating expenses

                       

Salaries and related costs

        (196,158 )   (220,350 )   (226,650 )

Sales and marketing expenses

        (168,441 )   (182,471 )   (228,169 )

General and administrative expenses

        (227,768 )   (284,290 )   (326,804 )

Provision for doubtful accounts receivable

        (10,277 )   (17,685 )   (11,502 )
         

 

 

Income from operations

        89,593     271,360     45,347  

Bank interest income

        10,870     3,163     3,753  

Interest expense

        (3,504 )   (601 )   (175 )

Loss on disposal of a subsidiary

   4    —       (2,695 )   —    

Other income, net

        502     4,373     2,668  
         

 

 

Income before taxation

   5    97,461     275,600     51,593  

Income tax charges

   6    (15,190 )   (17,857 )   (2,043 )
         

 

 

Income after taxation

        82,271     257,743     49,550  

Minority interests

        8,234     —       —    
         

 

 

Net income

        90,505     257,743     49,550  
         

 

 

Earnings per share

                       

Basic

   7    18.3 cents     46.6 cents     8.1 cents  
         

 

 

Diluted

   7    16.0 cents     41.9 cents     8.1 cents  
         

 

 


(1) In the year ended August 31, 2004, we adopted revised SSAP 12, “Income Taxes” (“SSAP 12 (revised)”), issued by the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“HKICPA”) regarding the recognition of deferred tax. The adoption of SSAP 12 (revised) represents a change in accounting policy, which we have applied retrospectively. As a result, financial information provided for all years prior to the year ended August 31, 2004 have been restated to conform to the changed policy.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

           August 31,

     Note(s)

    2003

   2004

           HK$    HK$
           As restated(1)     
           (Amounts in thousands
except number of shares
and per share amounts)

ASSETS

               

Current assets

               

Cash and bank balances

   20     402,034    247,517

Pledged bank deposits

   16     29,608    26,805

Trade receivables, net

   8 (a)   94,080    134,849

Other receivables, deposits and prepayments

   8 (b)   34,714    44,029
          
  

Total current assets

         560,436    453,200

Goodwill

   9     3,196    2,131

Fixed assets, net

   10     945,952    1,158,875

Other investments

   17     23,370    25,604

Long term bank deposit

   18     15,580    15,600

Long term receivables

   4,28 (a)   —      6,206

Deferred tax assets

   12     —      229

Deferred expenditure

   13     —      21,563
          
  

Total assets

         1,548,534    1,683,408
          
  

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

               

Current liabilities

               

Trade payables

         113,384    122,459

Deposits received

         19,908    17,983

Current portion of deferred service income

         10,172    35,288

Other payables and accrued charges

   11     164,552    188,605

Income taxes payable

         22,895    1,173

Short-term bank loan—secured

   20,22     18,174    19,170

Current portion of long-term bank loan—secured

   14,22     —      13,333
          
  

Total current liabilities

         349,085    398,011

Long-term liabilities

               

Deferred taxation

   12     20,274    18,891

Long-term portion of deferred service income

         —      4,141

Long-term bank loan—secured

   14,22     —      86,667
          
  

Total liabilities

         369,359    507,710

Commitments and contingencies

   15           

Shareholders’ equity

               

Ordinary shares, par value $0.1 per share

               

—2,000,000,000 shares authorized at August 31, 2003 and August 31, 2004

               

—604,959,787 shares issued and outstanding at August 31, 2003, 610,573,361 shares issued and outstanding at August 31, 2004

   19     60,496    61,057

Share premium

         615,886    617,986

Retained profits

         500,704    495,307

Exchange reserve

         1,231    983

Warrant reserve

         858    365
          
  

Total shareholders’ equity

         1,179,175    1,175,698
          
  

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

         1,548,534    1,683,408
          
  

(1) In the year ended August 31, 2004, we adopted SSAP 12 (revised), issued by the HKICPA regarding the recognition of deferred tax. The adoption of SSAP 12 (revised) represents a change in accounting policy, which we have applied retrospectively. As a result, financial information provided for all years prior to the year ended August 31, 2004 have been restated to conform to the changed policy.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

        Ordinary shares

 

Warrant

reserve


   

Exchange

reserve


   

Retained

profits


   

Total

shareholders’

equity


 
    Note

 

Number of

shares

outstanding


 

Amount

outstanding


 

Share

premium


       
            HK$   HK$   HK$     HK$     HK$
As restated
    HK$
As restated
 
    (Amounts in thousands, except number of shares)  

Balance at August 31, 2002

      500,863,202   50,086   572,656   9,089     (38 )   278,390     910,183  

Changes in accounting policy
—provision for net deferred
    tax liabilities

      —     —     —     —       —       (5,195 )   (5,195 )
       
 
 
 

 

 

 

Balance at August 31, 2002, as restated(1)

      500,863,202   50,086   572,656   9,089     (38 )   273,195     904,988  

2003 interim dividends paid

  21   —     —     —     —       —       (30,234 )   (30,234 )

Shares issued upon exercise of warrants

      82,976,585   8,298   33,124   (8,231 )   —       —       33,191  

Shares issued upon exercise of share options

      21,120,000   2,112   10,106   —       —       —       12,218  

Net income

      —     —     —     —       —       257,743     257,743  

Exchange reserve realized upon disposal of a subsidiary

      —     —     —     —       1,469     —       1,469  

Exchange adjustment on translation of the accounts of overseas subsidiaries

      —     —     —     —       (200 )   —       (200 )
       
 
 
 

 

 

 

Balance at August 31, 2003

      604,959,787   60,496   615,886   858     1,231     500,704     1,179,175  
       
 
 
 

 

 

 

Balance at August 31, 2003

      604,959,787   60,496   615,886   858     1,231     505,978     1,184,449  

Changes in accounting policy
—provision for net deferred
    tax liabilities

      —     —     —     —       —       (5,274 )   (5,274 )
       
 
 
 

 

 

 

Balance at August 31, 2003, as restated(1)

      604,959,787   60,496   615,886   858     1,231     500,704     1,179,175  

2003 final dividends paid

  21   —     —     —     —       —       (45,789 )   (45,789 )

2004 interim dividends paid

  21   —     —     —     —       —       (9,158 )   (9,158 )

Shares issued upon exercise of warrants

      4,973,574   497   1,985   (493 )   —       —       1,989  

Shares issued upon exercise of share options

      640,000   64   115   —       —       —       179  

Net income

      —     —     —     —       —       49,550     49,550  

Exchange adjustment on translation of the accounts of overseas subsidiaries

      —     —     —     —       (248 )   —       (248 )
       
 
 
 

 

 

 

Balance at August 31, 2004

      610,573,361   61,057   617,986   365     983     495,307     1,175,698  
       
 
 
 

 

 

 


(1) In the year ended August 31, 2004, we adopted SSAP 12 (revised), issued by the HKICPA regarding the recognition of deferred tax. The adoption of SSAP 12 (revised) represents a change in accounting policy, which we have applied retrospectively. As a result, financial information provided for all years prior to the year ended August 31, 2004 have been restated to conform to the changed policy.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

     Year ended August 31,

 
     2002

    2003

    2004

 
     HK$     HK$     HK$  
     (Amounts in thousands)  

Cash flows from operating activities

                  

Income before taxation

   97,461     275,600     51,593  

Adjustments to reconcile

                  

Income before taxation to net cash (used in)/provided from operating activities:

                  

Amortization of goodwill

   1,065     1,065     1,065  

Depreciation of purchased fixed assets

   124,563     173,619     195,952  

Depreciation of fixed assets held under finance leases

   3,727     1,336     —    

Amortization of deferred expenditure

   —       —       1,828  

Interest income

   (10,870 )   (3,163 )   (3,753 )

Interest expense

   3,279     559     175  

Interest element of finance leases

   225     42     —    

(Gain)/loss on disposal of fixed assets

   2,414     427     (34 )

Unrealised losses on other investments

   —       —       1,696  

Loss on disposal of a subsidiary

   —       2,695     —    

Increase in long term receivable

   —       —       (6,206 )

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

                  

(Increase)/decrease in trade receivables, other receivables, deposits and prepayments

   (15,211 )   6,455     (50,382 )

Increase in deferred expenditure

   —       —       (23,391 )

Increase/(decrease) in trade payables, other payables, accrued charges, deposits received

   87,627     (28,678 )   30,957  

Increase in deferred service income

   2,120     5,005     29,257  
    

 

 

Net cash inflow generated from operations

   296,400     434,962     228,757  
    

 

 

Interest paid

   (3,279 )   (559 )   (175 )

Interest element of finance leases

   (225 )   (42 )   —    

Hong Kong profits tax paid

   (4,107 )   (18,107 )   (24,011 )

Overseas tax paid

   (345 )   (1,754 )   (808 )
    

 

 

Net cash inflow from operating activities

   288,444     414,500     203,763  
    

 

 

Investing activities

                  

Acquisition of additional interest in a subsidiary (Note (1) below)

   (7,500 )   —       —    

Decrease in prepayments for fixed assets

   54,929     —       —    

Decrease in bank deposits

   20,000     —       —    

Decrease/(increase) in pledged bank deposits

   23,000     (24,608 )   2,803  

Increase in long term bank deposits

   —       (15,580 )   —    

Purchases of fixed assets

   (579,066 )   (250,209 )   (410,046 )

Interest received

   10,870     3,163     3,753  

Purchase of other investments

   —       (23,370 )   (3,900 )

Proceeds from disposal of fixed assets

   2,555     1,552     1,146  

Disposal of a subsidiary, net of cash disposed (Note (2) below)

   —       (582 )   —    
    

 

 

Net cash outflow from investing activities

   (475,212 )   (309,634 )   (406,244 )
    

 

 

Net cash (outflow)/inflow before financing activities

   (186,768 )   104,866     (202,481 )
    

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS—(Continued)

 

     Year ended August 31,

 
     2002

    2003

    2004

 
     HK$     HK$     HK$  
     (Amounts in thousands)  

Financing activities

      

Issue of new shares

   3,787     45,409     2,168  

Issue of warrants

   10,815     —       —    

Expenses in connection with the issue of warrants

   (1,058 )   —       —    

Bank loan drawn down

   —       —       100,000  

Repayment of loan to a former minority shareholder

   —       (22,500 )   —    

Repayment of capital element of finance leases

   (4,435 )   (2,949 )   —    

Dividend paid

   —       (30,234 )   (54,947 )
    

 

 

Net cash inflow/(outflow) from financing activities

   9,109     (10,274 )   47,221  
    

 

 

(Decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents

   (177,659 )   94,592     (155,260 )

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of year

   467,750     290,403     383,860  

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

   312     (1,135 )   (253 )
    

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of year (Note 20)

   290,403     383,860     228,347  
    

 

 

 

Note(1):

 

Acquisition of additional interest in a subsidiary

 

       Year ended August 31,

       2002

     2003

     2004

       HK$      HK$      HK$
       (Amounts in thousands)

Minority interests acquired

     6,483      —        —  

Goodwill in acquisition

     1,017      —        —  
      
    
    
       7,500      —        —  
      
    
    

Satisfied by:

                    

Cash

     7,500      —        —  
      
    
    

 

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Note(2):

 

Disposal of a subsidiary

 

       Year ended August 31,

       2002

     2003

     2004

       HK$      HK$      HK$
       (Amounts in thousands)

Fixed assets

     —        1,354      —  

Trade receivable, other receivables, deposits and prepayments

     —        1,914      —  

Cash and bank balances

     —        714      —  

Trade payable, other payables, accrued charges and deposits received

     —        (805 )    —  

Income taxes payable

     —        (1 )    —  
      
    

  

Net assets disposed of

     —        3,176      —  

Exchange reserve transferred to statements of income

     —        1,469      —  

Net loss on disposal

     —        (2,695 )    —  
      
    

  

Sale proceeds

     —        1,950      —  

Less: Cash and cash equivalents of the subsidiary disposed

     —        (714 )    —  

Sale proceeds receivable

     —        (1,818 )    —  
      
    

  

Net cash outflow in respect of the disposal of a subsidiary

     —        (582 )    —  
      
    

  

  These consolidated statements of cash flows are prepared in accordance with Hong Kong Statement of Standard Accounting Practice (“SSAP”) No. 15 (revised) “Cash Flow Statements” which differs in certain respects from U.S. Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 95 (“SFAS 95”) “Statement of Cash Flows”. The principal differences are explained in Note 30(e).

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1    Description of business and basis of presentation

 

City Telecom (H.K.) Limited was incorporated in Hong Kong on May 19, 1992 under the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance. The company and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as the “Company”) are engaged in the provision of international telecommunications services and fixed telecommunications network services to customers in Hong Kong and Canada.

 

As of August 31, 2004, the Company had the following principal direct and indirect subsidiaries:

 

Name


 

Place and date of

establishment/operation


 

Issued capital


  Percentage holding

 

Nature of business


      Direct

  Indirect

 
963673 Ontario Ltd  

Canada

November 12, 1991

  Common CAD502,000     100   Investment holding in Canada
Attitude Holdings Limited  

British Virgin Islands

November 3, 1997

  Ordinary US$1     100   Inactive
Automedia Holdings Limited  

British Virgin Islands

January 23, 2001

  Ordinary US$1   100    

Investment holding in

Hong Kong

City Telecom (B.C.) Inc.  

Canada

February 25, 1992

  Common CAD501,000     100  

Provision of international

telecommunications and

dial-up internet access

services in Canada

City Telecom (Canada) Inc.  

Canada

October 6, 1997

  Common CAD100     100  

Maintenance of switching

equipment and provision

of operational services

in Canada

City Telecom Inc.  

Canada

September 19, 1991

  Common CAD1,000     100  

Provision of international

telecommunications and

dial-up internet access

services in Canada

City Telecom International Limited  

British Virgin Islands

May 8, 1997

  Ordinary US$5,294   100    

Investment holding in

Hong Kong

City Telecom (USA) Inc.  

USA

May 5, 1997

  Common US$1     100   Inactive
Credibility Holdings Limited  

British Virgin Islands

December 18, 1998

  Ordinary US$1   100    

Investment holding in

Hong Kong

CTI Guangzhou Customer Service Co. Ltd. (translated from the registered name in Chinese)  

The People’s Republic of

China (“the PRC”)

April 29, 2002

 

Paid in capital of

HK$8,000,00

  100     Provision of administrative support services in the PRC
CTI International Limited  

Hong Kong

August 23, 1999

  Ordinary HK$10,000,000     100   Inactive
CTI Marketing Company Limited  

Hong Kong

August 23, 1999

  Ordinary HK$10,000     100   Provision of media marketing services in Hong Kong
Golden Trinity Holdings Limited  

British Virgin Islands

June 11, 1997

  Ordinary US$1   100    

Investment holding in

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited  

Hong Kong

August 23, 1999

  Ordinary HK$383,049     100  

Provision of international

telecommunications and

fixed telecommunications

network services in Hong Kong

IDD1600 Company Limited  

Hong Kong

November 4, 1998

  Ordinary HK$2     100  

Provision of international

telecommunications

services in Hong Kong

iStore.com Limited  

Hong Kong

September 17, 1999

  Ordinary HK$10,000     100   Inactive

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in Hong Kong and comply with accounting standards issued by the HKICPA. They have been prepared under the historical cost convention except that, as disclosed in the accounting policies below, other investments are stated at fair value. These principles differ in certain significant respects from generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), details of which are set out in Note 30.

 

The consolidated financial statements do not represent the Hong Kong statutory financial statements of the Company as certain reclassifications and changes in presentation have been made to the financial statements in order to conform more closely to presentations customary in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States of America (the “SEC”).

 

All amounts are expressed in Hong Kong Dollars, the Company’s functional currency. Unless indicated otherwise, amounts in Hong Kong Dollars have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

 

2    Principal accounting policies

 

The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below:

 

(a) Consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements include the financial position of the Company and all its subsidiaries as of August 31, 2003 and 2004, and the results of operations, cash flows and changes in shareholders’ equity for the years ended August 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004. All significant inter-company transactions and balances are eliminated on consolidation.

 

Subsidiaries are those entities in which the company, directly or indirectly, controls the composition of the board of directors, controls more than half the voting power or holds more than half of the issued share capital.

 

The results of subsidiaries acquired or disposed of during the year are included in the consolidated statements of income from the effective dates of acquisition or up to the effective dates of disposal, as appropriate. The gain or loss on the disposal of a subsidiary represents the difference between the proceeds of the sale and the Company’s share of its net assets together with any unamortized goodwill or goodwill/ negative goodwill taken to reserves and which was not previously charged or recognized in the consolidated statements of income.

 

Minority interests represent the interests of outside shareholders in the operating results and net assets of subsidiaries.

 

(b) Goodwill

 

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquisition over the fair value of the Company’s share of the identifiable net assets of the acquired subsidiary at the date of acquisition.

 

Goodwill on acquisitions that occurred prior to September 1, 2001 was written off against reserves.

 

Goodwill on acquisitions occurring on or after September 1, 2001 is separately shown on the consolidated balance sheets and is amortized using the straight-line method over its estimated useful life. Goodwill arising on major strategic acquisitions of the Company to expand its product or geographical market coverage is amortized over a period of not more than 20 years.

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Where an indication of impairment exists, the carrying amount of goodwill, including goodwill previously written off against reserves, is assessed and written down immediately to its recoverable amount and any write down is accounted for in the consolidated statements of income.

 

(c) Fixed assets

 

Fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses.

 

Leasehold land is depreciated over the period of the lease while other tangible fixed assets are depreciated at rates sufficient to write off their costs less accumulated impairment losses over their estimated useful lives on a straight-line basis. The principal annual rates are as follows:

 

     %

Leasehold land

   2

Leasehold buildings

   2

Furniture, fixtures and fittings

   25

Telecommunications, computer and office equipment.

   7 – 25

Auto-diallers

   25

Motor vehicles

   25

 

Depreciation of leasehold improvements is calculated to write off their cost less accumulated impairment losses over the unexpired periods of the leases or their expected useful lives to the Company whichever is shorter.

 

Major costs incurred in restoring fixed assets to their normal working condition are charged to the consolidated statements of income. Improvements are capitalized and depreciated over their expected useful lives to the Company.

 

At each balance sheet date, both internal and external sources of information are considered to assess whether there is any indication that fixed and other long lived assets are impaired. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated and where relevant, an impairment loss is recognized to reduce the assets to its recoverable amount. Such impairment losses are recognized in the consolidated statements of income. No such impairment losses were required in the three years ended August 31, 2004.

 

The gain or loss on disposal of a fixed asset is the difference between the net sale proceeds and the carrying amount of the relevant asset, and is recognized in the consolidated statements of income.

 

(d) Assets held under leases

 

(i) Finance leases

 

Leases that substantially transfer to the Company all the risks and rewards of ownership of assets are accounted for as finance leases. Finance leases are capitalized at the inception of the leases at the lower of fair value of the leased assets or the present value of the minimum lease payments. Each lease payment is allocated between capital and finance charges so as to achieve a constant rate on the capital balances outstanding. The corresponding rental obligations, net of finance charges, are included in long-term liabilities. The finance charges are charged to the consolidated statements of income over the lease periods.

 

Assets held under finance leases are depreciated over the shorter of lease periods or their estimated useful lives.

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

(ii) Operating leases

 

Leases where substantially all the risk and rewards of ownership of assets remain with the leasing company are accounted for as operating leases. Payments made under operating leases net of any incentives received from the leasing company are charged to the consolidated statements of income on a straight-line basis over the lease periods.

 

(e) Other investments

 

Other investments are carried at fair value. At each balance sheet date, the net unrealized gains or losses arising from the changes in fair value of other investments are recognized in the consolidated statements of income. Profits or losses on disposal of other investments, representing the difference between the net sales proceeds and the carrying amounts, are recognized in the consolidated statements of income as they arise.

 

(f) Deferred expenditure

 

Customer acquisition costs incurred to obtain long term service agreements with customers are deferred and amortised on a straight line basis over the period of the underlying service subscription agreements executed with the customers. All other related advertising and marketing costs are charged to the consolidated statements of income as incurred.

 

(g) Accounts receivable

 

Provision is made against accounts receivable to the extent they are considered to be doubtful. Accounts receivable in the consolidated balance sheets are stated net of such provision.

 

(h) Deferred taxation

 

Deferred taxation is provided in full, using the liability method, on temporary differences arising between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts in the accounts. Taxation rates enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date are used to determine deferred taxation.

 

Deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profit will be available against which the temporary differences can be utilised.

 

Deferred taxation is provided on temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries except where the timing of the reversal of the temporary difference can be controlled and it is probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

 

In prior years, deferred taxation was accounted for at the current taxation rate in respect of timing differences between profit as computed for taxation purposes and profit as stated in the accounts to the extent that a liability or an asset was expected to be payable or recoverable in the foreseeable future. The adoption of the SSAP 12 (revised), represents a change in accounting policy, which has been applied retrospectively so that the comparatives presented have been restated to conform to the changed policy.

 

As detailed in the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity, opening retained profits at September 1, 2002 and 2003 have been reduced by HK$5,195,000 and HK$5,274,000, respectively, which represents the unprovided net deferred tax liabilities as at the two dates, as a result of the change in accounting policy. In addition, the profit for the year ended August 31, 2003 and 2002 have been reduced by HK$79,000 and HK$624,000, respectively.

 

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Table of Contents

CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

(i) Translation of foreign currencies

 

Transactions in foreign currencies are translated at exchange rates ruling at the transaction dates. Monetary assets and liabilities expressed in foreign currencies at the balance sheet date are translated at the rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. Exchange differences arising in these cases are dealt with in the consolidated statements of income.

 

The balance sheets of subsidiaries expressed in foreign currencies are translated at the rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date whilst the statements of income are translated at an average rate for the year. Exchange differences are dealt with as a movement in reserves.

 

(j) Cash and cash equivalents

 

Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates fair value because of the short-term maturity of these instruments. For the purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows, cash and cash equivalents are short-term highly liquid investments, which are readily convertible into cash and have original maturity of three months or less at the date of acquisition, and short-term loans and overdrafts repayable within three months.

 

(k) Provisions

 

Provisions are recognized when the Company has a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of past events, it is probable that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation, and a reliable estimate of the amount can be made. Where the Company expects a provision to be reimbursed, the reimbursement is recognized as a separate asset but only when the reimbursement is virtually certain.

 

(l) Contingent liabilities and contingent assets

 

A contingent liability is a possible obligation that arises from past events and whose existence will only be confirmed by the occurrence or non-occurrence of one or more uncertain future events not wholly within the control of the Company. It can also be a present obligation arising from past events that is not recognized because it is not probable that outflow of economic resources will be required or the amount of obligation cannot be measured reliably.

 

A contingent liability is not recognized but is disclosed in the notes to the consolidated financial statements. When a change in the probability of an outflow occurs so that outflow is probable, they will then be recognized as a provision.

 

A contingent asset is a possible asset that arises from past events and whose existence will be confirmed only by the occurrence or non-occurrence of one or more uncertain events not wholly within the control of the Company.

 

Contingent assets are not recognized but are disclosed in the notes to the consolidated financial statements when an inflow of economic benefits is probable. When inflow is virtually certain, an asset is recognized.

 

(m) Revenue recognition

 

Revenue for the provision of international telecommunications and fixed telecommunications network services is recognized, net of discounts, when the services are rendered.

 

Revenue received in advance for the provision of international telecommunications services using calling cards is deferred and included under deferred services income, which is amortized based on the estimated actual usage by customers.

 

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Table of Contents

CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Revenue received in advance for provision of fixed telecommunications network services is deferred and included under deferred services income, which is amortized on a straight line basis over the agreed period of time in accordance with the terms of the subscriber agreement.

 

Interest income is recognized on a time proportion basis, taking into account the principal amounts outstanding and the interest rates applicable.

 

(n) Employee benefits

 

(i) Employee leave entitlements

 

Employee entitlements to annual leave and long service leave are recognized when they accrue to employees. A provision is made for the estimated liability for annual leave and long-service leave as a result of services rendered by employees up to the balance sheet date.

 

Employee entitlements to sick leave and maternity or paternity leave are not recognized until the time of leave.

 

(ii) Profit sharing and bonus plans

 

Provisions for profit sharing and bonus plans due wholly within twelve months after balance sheet date are recognized when the Company has a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of services rendered by employees and a reliable estimate of the obligation can be made.

 

(iii) Retirement benefit costs

 

The Company contributes to defined contribution retirement schemes which are available to all employees. Contributions to the schemes by the Company and employees are calculated as a percentage of employees’ basic salaries. The retirement benefit scheme cost charged to the consolidated statements of income represents contributions payable by the Company to the fund. The Company’s contributions are reduced by contributions forfeited by those employees who leave the scheme prior to vesting fully in the contributions.

 

The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the Company in an independently administered fund.

 

(o) Research and development costs

 

Research and development costs of new services and enhancements to existing services are charged to the consolidated statements of income as incurred.

 

Total research and development expenses incurred for the years ended August 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004 amounted to HK$2,166,000, HK$2,622,000 and HK$5,962,000, respectively.

 

(p) Borrowing costs

 

Borrowing costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition, construction or production of an asset that necessarily takes a substantial period of time to get ready for its intended use or sale are capitalized as part of the cost of that asset. All other borrowing costs are charged to the consolidated statements of income in the year in which they are incurred.

 

Total borrowing costs capitalized for the year ended August 31, 2004 was HK$3,053,000 (2003: Nil and 2002: Nil).

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

(q) Segment reporting

 

In accordance with the Company’s internal financial reporting, the Company has determined that business segments be presented as the primary reporting format and geographical as the secondary reporting format.

 

Segment assets consist primarily of goodwill, fixed assets, receivables and operating cash. Segment liabilities comprise operating liabilities and exclude items such as taxation and certain corporate borrowings. Capital expenditure comprises additions to fixed assets.

 

In respect of geographical segment reporting, sales are reported based on the country in which the customer is located. Total assets and capital expenditure are reported based on where the assets are located.

 

(r) Barter transactions

 

When goods or services are exchanged or swapped for goods or services which are of a similar nature and value, the exchange is not regarded as a transaction which generates revenue. When goods are sold or services are rendered in exchange for dissimilar goods or services, the exchange is regarded as a transaction which generates revenue. The revenue is measured at the fair value of the goods or services received, adjusted by the amount of any cash or cash equivalents transferred. When the fair value of the goods or services received cannot be measured reliably, the revenue is measured at the fair value of the goods or services given up, adjusted by the amount of any cash or cash equivalents transferred.

 

(s) Use of estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the year. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Please also refer to critical accounting estimate in Note 3 below.

 

3    Cost of services provided

 

The Company estimates the Universal Services Contributions (“USC”) payable to PCCW-HKT Telephone Limited (“PCCW-HKT”) to fund the costs of network development in remote areas in Hong Kong (the “Development”) and includes such estimated costs as part of the cost of its services. The Telecommunications Authority periodically reviews the actual costs of such developments and revises the amounts owed to, or to be refunded by, PCCW-HKT to the USC contributing parties.

 

Management of the Company makes their best estimates for charges of the USC payable to PCCW-HKT. Such estimated costs are included as part of the Company’s costs of rendering its services. The estimate is made based on the provisional rates announced by the Telecommunications Authority and effective up to the date of the release of the financial statements of the Company. The Telecommunications Authority periodically reviews the actual costs incurred by PCCW-HKT in the Development and revises the amounts owed to, or to be refunded by, PCCW-HKT to the respective USC contributing parties, including the Company (“the Rate Revisions”). Accordingly, the estimate made by the Company’s management is subject to changes based on the Rate Revisions identified during a financial year and up to the date prior to the release of the financial statements of the Company. The Company adjusts such differences as an addition or reduction of the corresponding costs of services in that particular reporting period.

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Any sum received in advance from PCCW-HKT as an estimated refund of the USC on a provisional basis, which is subject to the final confirmation and determination of OFTA, is recorded in other payables and accrued charges in the Company’s balance sheet.

 

On November 30, 2002, the Telecommunications Authority issued a statement (the “November 2002 Statement”) that confirmed the actual USC payable by USC contributing parties for the calendar year 2000. As a result of the release of the November 2002 Statement, in February 2003, the Company received a refund of USC paid for the period from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2000 of HK$40,585,606 and the amount was set off against the cost of services of the Company for the year ended August 31, 2003.

 

On March 8, 2003, the Company received in advance a sum of HK$56,488,570 from PCCW-HKT as a provisional refund of the USC paid for the period from January 1, 2001 to June 30, 2002 (“the Provisional Refund”). On October 20, 2003, OFTA issued another statement on the USC and confirmed the contribution level for calendar year 2001. Accordingly, HK$40,276,440 out of the Provisional Refund and an additional refund of approximately HK$3,000,000 payable by PCCW-HKT to the Company for the calendar year 2001 were set off against the costs of services of the Company. In aggregate, the Company had set off against the costs of services of HK$84,119,117 in respect of USC refund for the year ended August 31, 2003. The remaining HK$16,212,130 of the Provisional Refund received by the Company, being the provisional refund of the USC for the period from January 1, 2002 to June 30, 2002 which was subject to confirmation of the Telecommunications Authority (“2002 Provisional Refund”) was included in other payables and accrued charges in the Company’s balance sheets as at August 31, 2003.

 

On November 19, 2004, the Telecommunications Authority issued a statement on the USC that confirmed the actual contribution level for calendar year 2002. The 2002 Provisional Refund was confirmed. Additional refund payable by PCCW-HKT to the Company and related adjustments required to be made to the USC for calendar year 2002 were also determined. In aggregate, an amount of HK$31,688,696 was recorded as an off-set against the costs of services of the Company for the year ended August 31, 2004.

 

4    Loss on disposal of a subsidiary

 

During the year ended August 31, 2003, the Company’s operation in Japan was discontinued following the disposal of its subsidiary operating in Japan to a company wholly-owned by a relative of a director of the subsidiary (the “Purchaser”). The subsidiary was sold for a consideration of JPY30,000,000 (equivalent to HK$1,950,000) which is to be satisfied by the Purchaser in thirty monthly installments commencing July 15, 2003. The disposal resulted in a loss of HK$2,695,000 which was recognized in the consolidated statements of income.

 

As at August 31, 2004, a receivable balance of HK$1,136,000 was due from the Purchaser, of which HK$780,000 included in other receivables, deposits and prepayments is expected to be received within one year. The remaining HK$356,000 is included in long term receivables and is expected to be received after one year.

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

5    Income before taxation

 

     Year ended August 31,

 
     2002

    2003

   2004

 
     HK$’000     HK$’000    HK$’000  

Income before taxation is stated after charging:

                 

Amortization of goodwill

   1,065     1,065    1,065  

Amortization of deferred expenditure

   —       —      1,828  

Depreciation of purchased fixed assets

   124,563     173,619    195,952  

Depreciation of fixed assets held under finance leases

   3,727     1,336    —    

Operating lease charges in respect of:

                 

— Land and buildings

   11,486     6,481    8,084  

— Computer equipment

   5,141     100    31  

Research and development costs

   2,166     2,622    5,962  

Retirement benefit costs—defined contribution plans (Note 24)

   11,335     15,843    26,287  

Interest expense comprises:

                 

Interest element of finance leases

   225     42    —    

Interest on bank overdrafts

   235     210    3,228  

Interest paid to third parties

   2,198     349    —    

Interest paid to a minority shareholder

   846     —      —    

Less: amount capitalised as fixed assets Interest capitalised

   —       —      (2,553 )

Other incidental borrowing cost

   —       —      (500 )
    

 
  

Total borrowing cost capitalised

   —       —      (3,053 )
    

 
  

Total interest expenses

   3,504     601    175  
    

 
  

Other income comprises: —

                 

Exchange gains (loss), net

   (508 )   1,291    131  

Others

   1,010     3,082    2,537  
    

 
  

     502     4,373    2,668  
    

 
  

 

6    Income tax charges

 

     Year ended August 31,

 
     2002

   2003

   2004

 
     HK$’000    HK$’000    HK$’000  

Hong Kong

   95,396    272,016    53,200  

Overseas

   2,065    3,584    (1,607 )
    
  
  

Income before taxation

   97,461    275,600    51,593  
    
  
  

 

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Table of Contents

CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Income tax charges consist of the following:

 

     Year ended August 31,

 
     2002

    2003

    2004

 
     HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000  
     As restated     As restated        

Hong Kong income tax

                  

current (note (a))

   (18,000 )   (15,300 )   (1,537 )

(under)/overprovision in prior years

   10,665     —       (1,221 )

deferred (Note 12)

   (10,139 )   (79 )   1,311  

Overseas taxation

                  

current (note (b))

   (116 )   (2,478 )   (596 )

overprovisions in prior years

   2,400     —       —    
    

 

 

     (15,190 )   (17,857 )   (2,043 )
    

 

 


(a) The Company is subject to tax on an entity basis on income arising in or derived from Hong Kong. The rate of taxation of the Company operating in Hong Kong for the year ended August 31, 2002 was 16% and for the years ended August 31, 2003 and 2004 was 17.5%. In 2003, the Hong Kong government enacted a change in the profits tax rate from 16% to 17.5% for the year ended August 31, 2003 and 2004, respectively.
(b) Taxation on overseas profits has been calculated on the estimated assessable profit for the year at the rates of taxation prevailing in the countries in which the Company operates.

 

The income taxes attributable to income for the years ended August 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004 differs from the amount of income taxes determined by applying the applicable income tax rate prevailing in the countries in which the Company operates to pre-tax income as a result of the following differences:

 

     Year ended August 31,

 
     2002

    2003

    2004

 
     HK$’000     HK$’000        
     As restated     As restated     HK$’000  

Income tax charge calculated at the prevailing taxation rate of respective countries

   15,847     48,520     9,696  

Effect of expenses not deductible for income taxes

   12,988     5,584     730  

Effect of income not subject to income taxes

   (4,445 )   (5,151 )   (825 )

Under/(over)provision for Hong Kong income tax in prior years

   (10,665 )   —       1,221  

Overprovision for overseas income tax in prior years

   (2,400 )   —       —    

Recognition of deferred tax assets on prior year’s tax losses, net of other temporary difference

   (3,588 )   (36,505 )   (9,066 )

Effect of tax loss not recognized

   8,150     208     27  

Increase in opening net deferred tax liabilities resulting from an increase in tax rate

   —       1,893     —    

Others

   (697 )   3,308     260  
    

 

 

Income tax charges

   15,190     17,857     2,043  
    

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

7    Earnings per share

 

     Year ended August 31,

     2002

   2003

   2004

     HK$’000    HK$’000    HK$’000
     As restated    As restated     

Net income

   90,505          257,743          49,550      
    

No. of

shares
in thousand


  

No. of

shares
in thousand


  

No. of

shares
in thousand


Weighted average number of shares in issue

   495,181          552,600          610,095      

Incremental shares from assumed exercise of share options

   11,219          7,112          604      

Incremental shares from assumed exercise of warrants

   59,489          55,390          3,666      
    
  
  

Diluted weighted average number of shares

   565,889          615,102          614,365      
    
  
  

Basic earnings per share

   HK$18.3 cents    HK$46.6 cents    HK$8.1 cents

Diluted earnings per share

   HK$16.0 cents    HK$41.9 cents    HK$8.1 cents

 

Earnings per share are calculated based on the weighted average number of issued ordinary shares and, as appropriate, diluted ordinary shares equivalent outstanding for each of the relevant years and the related income amount. The number of incremental shares from assumed exercise of share options and warrants has been determined using the treasury stock method.

 

8    Receivables

 

(a) Trade receivables, net

 

     August 31,

 
     2003

    2004

 
     HK$’000     HK$’000  

Trade receivables

   116,996     157,808  

Less: provision for doubtful debts

   (22,916 )   (22,959 )
    

 

     94,080     134,849  
    

 

 

Changes in the provision for doubtful debts consist of:

 

     Year ended August 31,

 
     2002

    2003

    2004

 
     HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000  

Balance at beginning of the year

   14,362     17,139     22,916  

Additions charged to expense

   10,277     17,685     11,502  

Write-off

   (7,500 )   (11,908 )   (11,459 )
    

 

 

Balance at the end of the year

   17,139     22,916     22,959  
    

 

 

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

(b) Other receivables, deposits and prepayments

 

     August 31,

     2003

   2004

     HK$’000    HK$’000

Deposits for purchase of fixed assets

   8,051    7,090

Deposits for lease of land and building

   4,121    2,995

Network connection charges receivables

   11,982    —  

Prepayments

   6,475    17,943

Receivables from disposal of a subsidiary (Note 4)

   1,818    780

USC refund receivable

   —      9,848

Others

   2,267    5,373
    
  
     34,714    44,029
    
  

 

9    Goodwill

 

     August 31,

     2003

   2004

     HK$’000    HK$’000

Cost

         

At the beginning of the year

   5,326    5,326

Accumulated amortization

         

At the beginning of the year

   1,065    2,130

Charge for the year

   1,065    1,065
    
  

At the end of the year

   2,130    3,195
    
  

Net book value

         

At the end of the year

   3,196    2,131
    
  

 

Goodwill was recognized for the amount of the excess of the purchase price paid over the net book value (which approximates fair value) of the assets acquired, and is amortized on a straight-line basis over five year.

 

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Table of Contents

CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

10    Fixed assets, net

 

    

Leasehold

land and

buildings


  

Leasehold

improvements


   

Furniture,

Fixtures and

Fittings


   

Telecommunications,

computers and

office equipment


   

Auto-

diallers


   

Motor

vehicles


    Total

 
     HK$’000    HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000  

Cost

                                         

At September 1, 2002

   58,182    53,874     9,858     1,045,147     17,268     7,860     1,192,189  

Exchange adjustments

   —      181     89     2,115     —       —       2,385  

Additions

   3,417    4,174     1,957     239,629     —       1,032     250,209  

Disposals

   —      (2,038 )   —       (5,324 )   —       —       (7,362 )

Disposal of a Subsidiary

   —      —       (984 )   (2,904 )   (301 )   —       (4,189 )
    
  

 

 

 

 

 

At August 31, 2003

   61,599    56,191     10,920     1,278,663     16,967     8,892     1,433,232  
    
  

 

 

 

 

 

At September 1, 2003

   61,599    56,191     10,920     1,278,663     16,967     8,892     1,433,232  

Exchange adjustments

   —      (76 )   (21 )   915     —       —       818  

Additions

   22,109    15,344     2,339     369,583     —       671     410,046  

Disposals

   —      (6,760 )   —       (5,329 )   —       (1,790 )   (13,879 )
    
  

 

 

 

 

 

At August 31, 2004

   83,708    64,699     13,238     1,643,832     16,967     7,773     1,830,217  
    
  

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated depreciation

                                         

At September 1, 2002

   2,308    16,687     6,308     273,646     15,436     4,708     319,093  

Exchange adjustments

   —      82     36     1,332     —       —       1,450  

Charge for the year

   1,186    6,332     1,572     163,443     1,140     1,282     174,955  

Disposals

   —      (1,830 )   —       (3,553 )   —       —       (5,383 )

Disposal of a subsidiary

   —      —       (409 )   (2,279 )   (147 )   —       (2,835 )
    
  

 

 

 

 

 

At August 31, 2003

   3,494    21,271     7,507     432,589     16,429     5,990     487,280  
    
  

 

 

 

 

 

At September 1, 2003

   3,494    21,271     7,507     432,589     16,429     5,990     487,280  

Exchange adjustments

   —      22     15     840     —       —       877  

Charge for the year

   1,530    7,067     1,530     184,018     371     1,436     195,952  

Disposals

   —      (6,757 )   —       (4,220 )   —       (1,790 )   (12,767 )
    
  

 

 

 

 

 

At August 31, 2004

   5,024    21,603     9,052     613,227     16,800     5,636     671,342  
    
  

 

 

 

 

 

Net book value

                                         

At August 31, 2003

   58,105    34,920     3,413     846,074     538     2,902     945,952  
    
  

 

 

 

 

 

At August 31, 2004

   78,684    43,096     4,186     1,030,605     167     2,137     1,158,875  
    
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

(a) The interests in leasehold land and buildings situated in Hong Kong at their net book values are analyzed as follows:

 

     August 31,

     2003

   2004

     HK$’000    HK$’000

Leases of between 10 to 50 years

   58,105    78,684
    
  

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

(b) Certain telecommunications, computer equipment and office equipment are held under finance leases. The total cost of these assets and the related accumulated depreciation as of the end of each of the relevant years are as follows:

 

     August 31,

     2003

    2004

     HK$’000     HK$’000

Cost

   23,581     —  

Accumulated depreciation

   (23,581 )   —  
    

 
     —       —  
    

 

 

11    Other payables and accrued charges

 

     August 31,

     2003

   2004

     HK$’000    HK$’000

Accrual for staff salaries and bonus

   42,795    26,557

Accrual for premium costs

   —      23,309

Accrual for vetting charges

   2,775    1,204

Accrual for porting charges

   2,001    5,378

Accrual for international call forwarding service charges

   1,452    2,501

Payable for additions of fixed assets

   76,341    92,383

Payable for advertising and promotional expenses

   5,645    14,676

Payable for USC

   2,817    905

Provisional refund of USC (Note 3)

   16,212    —  

Others

   14,514    21,692
    
  
     164,552    188,605
    
  

 

12    Deferred taxation

 

Deferred taxation is calculated in full on temporary differences under the liability method using the taxation rates prevailing in respective countries in which the Company operates.

 

The movement on the deferred tax liabilities account is as follows:

 

     August 31,

 
     2003

    2004

 
     HK$’000     HK$’000  
     As restated        

At September 1

   20,195     20,274  

Exchange differences

   —       (301 )

Deferred taxation (credited)/charged to statements of income

            

—relating to the origination and reversal of temporary differences

   (1,814 )   (1,311 )

—resulting from an increase in tax rate

   1,893     —    
    

 

At August 31

   20,274     18,662  
    

 

 

Prior to 2003, the Company recognized deferred taxation arising from timing differences attributable to accelerated depreciation at profits tax rate in force in the year in which the temporary differences arose. SSAP 12

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

(revised) requires the provision of deferred taxation on temporary differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts in the accounts using the profits tax rate enacted, or substantially enacted, at the balance sheet date. On adoption of SSAP 12 (revised) retrospectively, opening retained profits at September 1, 2002 and 2003 have been reduced by HK$5,195,000 and HK$5,274,000, respectively, which represents the unprovided net deferred tax liabilities as at the two dates, as a result of the change in accounting policy. In addition, the profit for the year ended August 31, 2003 and 2002 have been reduced by HK$79,000 and HK$624,000, respectively.

 

As of August 31, 2004, the Company had accumulated tax losses amounting to HK$735,059,000 (2003: HK$598,583,000) may be carried forward and applied to reduce future taxable income which is carried in or derived from Hong Kong, Canada and the United States. The tax effect on the accumulated tax losses amounted to HK$129,222,000 (2003: HK$105,822,000).

 

Deferred income tax assets are recognized for tax loss carry forwards to the extent that the related tax benefit through the utilization of tax losses against the future taxable profits is probable. The Company has unrecognized tax losses of HK$40,573,000 at August 31, 2004 (2003: HK$80,577,000) to carry forward against future taxable income, these tax losses will expire in the following periods:

 

     August 31,

     2003

   2004

     HK$’000    HK$’000
     As restated     

After 5 years

   —      133

From 2 to 5 years

   4,600    2,597

No expiry date

   75,977    37,843
    
  
     80,577    40,573
    
  

 

The movement in deferred tax assets and liabilities (prior to offsetting of balances within the same taxation jurisdiction) during the year is as follows:

 

     Accelerated
depreciation allowances


    Others

   Total

 

Deferred tax liabilities


   2003

   2004

    2003

   2004

   2003

   2004

 
     HK$’000    HK$’000     HK$’000    HK$’000    HK$’000    HK$’000  
     As restated                    As restated       

At September 1,

   84,978    110,925     —      —      84,978    110,925  

Charged to statements of income

   25,947    29,590     —      49    25,947    29,639  

Exchange differences

   —      (313 )   —      —      —      (313 )
    
  

 
  
  
  

At August 31,

   110,925    140,202     —      49    110,925    140,251  
    
  

 
  
  
  

 

     Tax Losses

 

Deferred tax assets


   2003

    2004

 
     HK$’000     HK$’000  
     As restated        

At September 1,

   (64,783 )   (90,651 )

Credited to statements of income

   (25,868 )   (30,950 )

Exchange differences

   —       12  
    

 

Balance at August 31,

   (90,651 )   (121,589 )
    

 

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to set off current tax assets against current tax liabilities and when the deferred income taxes relate to the same fiscal authority. The following amounts, determined after appropriate offsetting, are shown in the consolidated balance sheet:

 

     August 31,

 
     2003

   2004

 
     HK$’000    HK$’000  
     As restated       

Deferred tax assets

   —      (229 )

Deferred tax liabilities

   20,274    18,891  
    
  

     20,274    18,662  
    
  

 

13    Deferred expenditure

 

     August 31,

 
     2003

   2004

 
     HK$’000    HK$’000  

Additions during the year

   —      23,391  

Less: Amortisation charge for the year (Note 5)

   —      (1,828 )
    
  

Balance at August 31,

   —      21,563  
    
  

 

Deferred expenditure represents costs incurred in acquiring subscribers of the fixed line phone services, which is treated as customer acquisition costs and are amortised over the expected subscription period of the services.

 

14    Long-term bank loan—secured

 

At August 31, 2004, the Company’s bank loan was repayable as follows:

 

     August 31,

 
     2003

   2004

 
     HK$’000    HK$’000  

Within one year

   —      13,333  

In the second year

   —      20,000  

In the third to fifth year

   —      60,000  

After the fifth year

   —      6,667  
    
  

     —      100,000  

Less: current portion of long-term bank loan

   —      (13,333 )
    
  

     —      86,667  
    
  

 

Please refer to Note 16(b) for details of the loan facility associated with this outstanding bank loan balance and securities given by the Company for it. In connection with the draw-down of this bank loan, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement with the bank, under which, the Company makes a monthly interest payment at a fixed rate of 2.675% per annum on a notional amount of HK$100 million, and receives monthly interest payments calculated at Hong Kong Interbank borrowing rate (“HIBOR”) during a period from March 2004 to December 2009.

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

15    Commitments and contingencies

 

(a) Capital commitments

 

     August 31,

     2003

   2004

     HK$’000    HK$’000

Purchases of telecommunications, computer and office Equipment contracted but not provided for

   122,540    213,310
    
  

 

(b) Commitments under operating leases

 

As of August 31, 2003 and 2004, the Company had future aggregate minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases as follows:

 

     August 31,

     2003

   2004

     HK$’000    HK$’000

Leases in respect of land and buildings which are payable:

         

within one year

   10,229    10,419

in the second year

   3,240    4,369

in the third year

   28    2,688

in the forth year

   —      446

in the fifth year

   —      462
    
  
     13,497    18,384
    
  

Leases in respect of telecommunications facilities and computer equipment which are payable:

         

within one year

   22,996    36,479

in the second year

   8,324    5,697

in the third year

   22    823

in the fourth year

   22    800

in the fifth year

   —      800

within sixth year to twelve years

   —      7,800
    
  
     31,364    52,399
    
  
     44,861    70,783
    
  

 

(c) Program fee commitments

 

The Company entered into agreements with program content providers for granting the program rights to deliver certain program contents in the Company’s IP-TV services. Minimum amounts of program fees are committed to be paid by the Company which are analysed as follows:

 

     August 31,

     2003

   2004

     HK$’000    HK$’000

Program fee in respect of program rights which are payable:

         

within one year

   —      15,542

in the second year

   —      12,873

in the third year

   —      5,996
    
  
     —      34,411
    
  

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

(d) Contingent liabilities

 

     August 31,

     2003

   2004

     HK$’000    HK$’000

Bank guarantees provided to suppliers (Note 16(a)(i))

   7,812    6,295

Bank guarantee in lieu of payment of utility deposits (Note 16(a)(ii))

   3,622    3,622
    
  
     11,434    9,917
    
  

 

(e) Pending litigation

 

(i) In July 1998, Cable & Wireless HKT, a Hong Kong company, commenced proceedings against the Company and served a statement of claim which alleged that the Company has breached the terms of a contract it had with Cable & Wireless HKT and committed an economic tort. The Company denied these allegations in a comprehensive defence which included a counterclaim lodged against the plaintiffs seeking damages for anti-competitive practices conducted by Cable & Wireless HKT in Hong Kong. Neither the claim by Cable & Wireless HKT nor the counterclaim by the Company has been quantified. The directors believe that the allegations against the Company are without merit and intend to defend the litigation vigorously. The case is currently in its discovery phase and no provision against the claims has been made in the consolidated financial statements as the directors do not consider provision is necessary.

 

(ii) In January 1999, Jade Com Development Limited (“Jade Com”) commenced proceedings against the Company and two directors of the Company, alleging them of repudiation of an international carrier service agreement executed between Jade Com and Attitude Holdings Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Jade Com claimed damages for breach of contract and misrepresentation and alleged that the Company has a remaining commitment of approximately US$3.6 million under the agreement. The Company filed a defense in May 1999 on the basis that Jade Com had breached a condition of the agreement that they obtain the necessary legal approvals and licenses necessary for the provision of their services. In February 2001, the parties consented to adjourn the case indefinitely with liberty to restore. No provision has been made in the consolidated financial statements with respect to the litigation.

 

16    Pledge of assets

 

(a) As at August 31, 2004, the Company had:

 

(i) bank deposits of US$800,000 (equivalent to HK$6,240,000) (2003: HK$Nil) and HK$1,395,000 (2003: HK$11,434,000); and

 

(ii) a charge over an investment with market value as at August 31, 2004 of US$468,000 (equivalent to HK$3,650,000) (Note 17) (2003: HK$Nil).

 

as security for:

 

(i) bank guarantees of HK$6,295,000 (2003: HK$7,812,000) issued by the banks to third party suppliers of the Company for payment of certain products and services procured by the Company from these third party suppliers; and

 

(ii) bank guarantees of HK$3,622,000 (2003: HK$3,622,000) issued by a bank to certain utility vendors in lieu of payment of utility deposits.

 

As at August 31, 2004, the Company had pledged bank deposits of HK$7,635,000 (2003: HK$11,434,000).

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

(b) On October 9, 2002, the Company entered into a HK$200,000,000 long-term loan facility with The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (“HSBC”) to provide funding for further development of the fixed telecommunications network of Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited (“HKBN”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. According to the agreement, all amounts under the facility should be drawn by December 31, 2004. The principal balance drawn down is to be repaid in 60 equal monthly installments beginning in January 2005. As at August 31, 2004, the amount drawn down and outstanding was HK$100,000,000 (see note 14).

 

On July 27, 2004, the Company entered into an additional HK$200,000,000 long term loan facility with HSBC to provide funding for the same purpose. All amounts under the facility should be drawn by December 31, 2006. The principal balance drawn down is to be repaid in 60 equal monthly installments beginning in January 2007. As at August 31, 2004, the Company has not drawn any amount under this facility.

 

The Company is required to comply with certain covenants under the grant of both facilities. Both facilities are secured by a fixed and floating charge over all assets of HKBN.

 

(c) As at August 31, 2004, the short-term bank loan was secured by a bank deposit of HK$19,170,000 (2003: HK$18,174,000).

 

17    Other investments

 

     August 31,

     2003

   2004

     HK$’000    HK$’000

Debt securities, at fair value

         

Unlisted outside Hong Kong secured (Note 16(a)(ii)

   —      3,650

unsecured

   23,370    21,954
    
  
     23,370    25,604
    
  

 

18    Long term bank deposit

 

The balance is a ten-year US$2,000,000 (2003: US$2,000,000) (equivalent to HK$15,600,000) deposit placed with a bank in which the Company receives a floating rate deposit interest while the principal amount is fully protected. An interest rate of 10% per annum has been guaranteed for the first year of placement in 2003. The deposit will be terminated once the cumulative interest reaches the predetermined accrued interest cap at 13% of principal amount or an aggregate sum of US$260,000 (equivalent to HK$2,028,000), or otherwise, will reach maturity on August 22, 2013 when interest will be paid out at the guaranteed accrued interest rate of 13% or the aggregate interest amount of US$260,000 (equivalent to HK$2,028,000).

 

19    Share capital

 

    

Authorised Ordinary shares

of HK$0.10 each


     No. of shares    HK$’000

At August 31, 2003 and August 31, 2004

   2,000,000,000    200,000
    
  

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

     Issued and fully paid (Ordinary shares of HK$0.10 each)

     August 31, 2003

   August 31, 2004

     No. of shares    HK$’000    No. of shares    HK$’000

At the beginning of the year

   500,863,202    50,086    604,959,787    60,496

Exercise of share options (note (a) and (b))

   21,120,000    2,112    640,000    64

Exercise of warrants (Note (d))

   82,976,585    8,298    4,973,574    497
    
  
  
  

At the end of the year

   604,959,787    60,496    610,573,361    61,057
    
  
  
  

(a) During the year ended August 31, 2003, 100,000 shares were issued at a price of HK$0.26 per share and 21,020,000 shares were issued at a price of HK$0.58 per share to the share option holders who exercised their subscription rights. These shares rank pari passu with the then existing shares in issue.
(b) During the year ended August 31, 2004, 600,000 shares were issued at a price of HK$0.26 per share and 40,000 shares were issued at a price of HK$0.58 per share, respectively to share option holders who had exercised their subscription rights. These shares so issued rank pari passu with the then existing shares in issue.
(c) Details of the share option scheme of the Company, the share options granted by the Company during the relevant years and the options outstanding at August 31, 2003 and 2004 are set out in Note 25.
(d) The Company effected a warrant issue at a price of HK$0.11 per warrant to certain qualifying shareholders (shareholders domiciled in Hong Kong) for cash during the year ended August 31, 2002. The issue price per warrant of HK$0.11 and the initial subscription price of HK$0.40 per share were determined after negotiation between the Company and Top Group as underwriter. Top Group is a significant shareholder whose directors are the chairman and managing director of the Company. The Company believes that the terms of the warrant issue were no less favourable than terms available from third parties. One warrant was offered for every five existing shares held on the date of record. The warrants entitle the holders to subscribe for ordinary shares of the Company (on one to one basis) at a price of HK$0.40 per share (subject to adjustment) totalling, HK$39,325,920 in cash, at any time on or before November 1, 2004. If the warrants are fully exercised, the Company will be required to issue 98,314,800 additional shares. During the year ended August 31, 2004, 4,973,574 (2003: 82,976,585) warrants were exercised for an equivalent number of shares and 3,635,439 (2003: 8,609,013) warrants were outstanding at year end. The shares issued rank pari passu with the then existing shares in issue.

 

20    Cash and cash equivalents

 

     August 31,

 
     2003

    2004

 
     HK$’000     HK$’000  

Cash and bank balances

   88,119     107,517  

Bank deposits

   313,915     140,000  

Short-term bank loan—secured

   (18,174 )   (19,170 )
    

 

     383,860     228,347  
    

 

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

21    Dividends

 

     Year ended August 31,

     2002

   2003

   2004

     HK$’000    HK$’000    HK$’000

Interim, declared and paid, of HK$0.015 (2003: HK$0.05, 2002: Nil) per ordinary share

   —      30,234    9,158

Final, dividend paid, of HK$Nil (2003: HK$0.075, 2002: Nil) per ordinary share

   —      —      45,789
    
  
  
     —      30,234    54,947
    
  
  

 

22    Banking facilities

 

The Company’s banking facilities as of each balance sheet date, denominated in Hong Kong dollars and Japanese Yen, can be analysed as follows:

 

   

Amount available

August 31,


 

Amount utilized

August 31,


 

Terms as of August 31, 2004


    2003

  2004

  2003

  2004

 

Interest rate


 

Repayment terms


    HK$’000   HK$’000   HK$’000   HK$’000        

Bank overdrafts/bank loans

  232,000   432,000   18,174   119,170   Cost of Funds + 0.8% or HIBOR + 1.5% ~ 1.25% or commercial best lending rate   Repayable on demand or by 60 monthly installment from January 1, 2005 or 2007
   
 
 
 
       

 

The cost of funds and HIBOR rate were 0.05% and 0.44% respectively, as of August 31, 2004. The cost of funds is determined by the individual banks and is subject to revision from time to time.

 

The utilized banking facilities as of August 31, 2003 and 2004 were denominated in Hong Kong Dollar and Japanese Yen. The currency denomination of the utilized banking facilities for the borrowings was as follows:

 

     2003

   2004

     HK$’000    HK$’000

Hong Kong Dollars—secured

   —      100,000

Japanese Yen—secured

   18,174    19,170
    
  

Total

   18,174    119,170
    
  

 

The weighted average interest rates of short-term borrowings of the Company were 0.85% as of August 31, 2003 and 2004, respectively.

 

The Company has entered into an interest rate swap arrangement for the HK$100,000,000 long-term loan with a bank. Under the arrangement, the Company will pay a fixed rate interest of 2.675% per annum on the notional amount of HK$100,000,000 on a monthly basis commencing from March 2004 to December 2009, and receiving a floating interest at HIBOR rate. The purpose of this arrangement is to hedge the interest payments on the loan drawn down as describe in Note 14 to a fixed rate of 4.175%.

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

23    Related party transactions

 

Significant related party transactions, which were carried out in the normal course of the Company’s business are as follows:

 

     Year ended August 31,

     2002

   2003

   2004

     HK$’000    HK$’000    HK$’000

Calling charges payable to KDDI Corporation (Note (a))

   13,161    —      —  

Interest expenses payable to KDDI Corporation (Note (b))

   846    —      —  

Disposal of a subsidiary (Note 4)

   —      1,950    —  

(a) The calling charges were payable to KDDI Corporation, a former minority shareholder of a subsidiary of the Company, pursuant to the service agreements entered into between the Company and KDDI Corporation in 1999. The transactions were conducted in accordance with the terms of the service agreements and the Company believes that the terms are no less favourable than terms available from third parties. For the year ended August 31, 2002, the above amount represents the calling charges payable to KDDI Corporation for the period from September 1, 2001 to March 13, 2002. KDDI Corporation ceased to have any interest in the subsidiary on March 13, 2002.
(b) These represent interest payable on the interest-bearing loan from KDDI Corporation. For the year ended August 31, 2002, the above amount represents the interest payable for the period from September 1, 2001 to March 13, 2002.

 

24    Provident fund arrangements

 

The Company contributes to a defined contribution retirement scheme, an Occupational Retirement Scheme (“the ORSO Scheme”), which is available to some of its employees. Under the ORSO Scheme, the employees are required to contribute 5% of their monthly salaries, while the Company’s contributions are calculated at 10% and 5% of the monthly salaries of senior management staff and all other staff, respectively. The employees are entitled to 100% of the employer’s contributions after 10 years of completed service, or at a reduced scale after completion of 3 to 9 years of service. Contributions to the ORSO Scheme are reduced by contributions forfeited by those employees who leave the ORSO Scheme prior to vesting fully in the Company’s contributions.

 

A mandatory provident fund scheme (“the MPF Scheme”) has been established under the Hong Kong Mandatory Provident Fund Scheme Ordinance in December 2000, the then existing employees of the Company in Hong Kong could elect to join the MPF Scheme, while all new employees joining the Company in Hong Kong from then onwards are required to join the MPF Scheme. Both the Company and the employees are required to contribute 5% of each individual’s relevant income with a maximum amount of HK$1,000 per month as a mandatory contribution. Employer’s mandatory contributions are 100% vested in the employees as soon as they are paid to the MPF Scheme. Employees may also elect to contribute more than the minimum as a voluntary contribution.

 

The retirement schemes for staff of the Company in other countries follow the local statutory requirements of the respective countries.

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The aggregate employer’s contributions, net of forfeited contributions, which have been dealt with in the consolidated statements of income during the year are as follows:

 

     Year Ended August 31,

 
     2002

    2003

    2004

 
     HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000  

Gross contributions

   11,965     16,340     26,922  

Less: forfeited contributions utilized to offset the Company’s contributions during the year

   (630 )   (497 )   (635 )
    

 

 

Net contributions charged to the consolidated statements of income

   11,335     15,843     26,287  
    

 

 

 

At August 31, 2004, forfeited contribution available to offset future contributions by the Company to the schemes was HK$12,000 (2003: HK$Nil; 2002: HK$21,000).

 

25    Share option scheme

 

On July 12, 1997, a share option scheme (the “1997 Share Option Scheme”) was approved by the shareholders of the Company under which its directors may, at their discretion, invite employees of the Company including any executive directors of the Company to take up options (“the Share Options”) to subscribe for shares in the Company subject to the terms and conditions stipulated therein. Share options granted under the 1997 Share Option Scheme will lapse no later than July 11, 2007.

 

At an extraordinary general meeting held on December 23, 2002, a new share option scheme (the “2002 Share Option Scheme”) was approved by the shareholders of the Company and the 1997 Share Option Scheme was terminated on the same date. No further share option could be granted under the 1997 Share Option Scheme after the date of its termination, but all share options outstanding in respect of the 1997 Share Option Scheme as of August 31, 2004 shall continue to be exercisable in accordance with the terms of the 1997 Share Option Scheme.

 

Under the 2002 Share Option Scheme, directors may grant options to employees (including executive, non-executive and independent non-executive directors), suppliers and professional advisers (“the New Share Options”) to subscribe for Shares in the Company. The maximum number of options authorized under the 2002 Share Option Scheme may not, when aggregated with any shares subject to any other executive and employee share option scheme, exceed 10% of the Company’s issued share capital on the date of adoption. The exercise price of a New Share Option will be determined by the Company’s board of directors at a price not less than the highest of (a) the par value of a share; (b) the average closing price of the Company’s shares for five trading days preceding the grant date; and (c) the closing price of the Company’s shares on the date of grant. The 2002 Share Option Scheme is valid and effective for a ten year period up to December 22, 2012 subject to earlier termination by the Company in general meeting or the board of directors. The period during which a New Share Option may be exercised will be determined by the board of directors at its discretion, save that no option may be exercised after more than ten years from the date of grant. During the year ended August 31 2004, options were granted under the 2002 Share Option Scheme to an eligible participant for the subscription of 6,000,000 shares of the Company at an exercise price of HK$1.47 each.

 

Under Hong Kong GAAP, no compensation cost to staff is required to be recognized in respect of the grant of share options. Proceeds from issue of shares upon the exercise of share options are credited to share capital and share premium account respectively and there is no effect on the results of the Company in connection with any share option schemes. Details of compensation cost for share options which is required to be recognized under U.S. GAAP are disclosed in Note 30(a)(i).

 

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Table of Contents

CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Details of Share Options granted pursuant to the 1997 Share Option Scheme and 2002 Share Option Scheme, and outstanding at August 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004, which will lapse not later than July 11, 2007 and December 22, 2012, respectively, are as follows:

 

Date of grant


  

September 3,

1998

(Note a)


   

September 10,

1999

(Note b)


  

October 20,

2000

(Note c)


   

June 3,

2004

(Note d)


Exercise price per Share (HK$)

   0.26     2.10    0.58     1.47

Market price per Share (HK$) at date of grant

   0.26     2.10    0.58     1.43
    

 
  

 

Outstanding at August 31, 2001

   3,010,000     60,000    22,386,000     —  

Exercised

   (2,120,000 )   —      (940,000 )   —  

Cancelled

   —       —      (16,000 )   —  

Lapsed upon resignation of employees

   —       —      (20,000 )   —  
    

 
  

 

Outstanding at August 31, 2002

   890,000     60,000    21,410,000     —  

Exercised

   (100,000 )   —      (21,020,000 )   —  
    

 
  

 

Outstanding at August 31, 2003

   790,000     60,000    390,000     —  

Granted

   —       —      —       6,000,000

Exercised

   (600,000 )   —      (40,000 )   —  
    

 
  

 

Outstanding at August 31, 2004

   190,000     60,000    350,000     6,000,000
    

 
  

 

(a) On September 3, 1998, employees including executive directors were granted options to subscribe for 12,270,000 shares at a price of HK$0.26 per share. These share options are immediately exercisable.
(b) On September 10, 1999, employees were granted options to subscribe for 674,000 shares at a price of HK$2.10 per share. These share options are immediately exercisable.
(c) On October 20, 2000, employees including executive directors were granted options to subscribe for 22,408,000 shares at a price of HK$0.58 per share. These share options are immediately exercisable.
(d) On June 3, 2004, an employee was granted options to subscribe for 6,000,000 shares at a price of HK$1.47 per share. The vesting period for those shares is May 1, 2005 to May 1, 2006.
(e) The Share Options outstanding in respect of the 1997 Share Option Scheme and 2002 Share Options Scheme as of August 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004 is summarized as follows:

 

    

Number of

Share Options

Outstanding


   

Average

exercise

price per

Share


  

Weighted
average

market price at

the date of grant


     (Thousands)     HK$’000    HK$’000

Balance at August 31, 2001

   25,456     0.55    0.55

Exercised during the year

   (3,060 )   0.36    0.36

Cancelled during the year

   (16 )   0.58    0.58

Lapsed upon resignation of employees during the year

   (20 )   0.58    0.58
    

 
  

Balance at August 31, 2002

   22,360     0.57    0.57

Exercised during the year

   (21,120 )   0.58    0.58
    

 
  

Balance at August 31, 2003

   1,240     0.45    0.45

Granted during the year

   6,000     1.47    1.43

Exercised during the year

   (640 )   0.28    0.28
    

 
  

Balance at August 31, 2004

   6,600     1.39    1.36
    

 
  

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

(f) The following table summarizes the information about share options outstanding at August 31, 2004:

 

Date of grant


  

Exercise

price at

August 31,

2004


  

Number

outstanding at

August 31,

2004


  

Remaining

life


  

Exercisable

shares at

August 31,

2004


          (Thousands)    (Years)    (Thousands)

September 3, 1998

   0.26    190    3.0    190

September 10, 1999

   2.10    60    3.0    60

October 20, 2000

   0.58    350    3.0    350

June 3, 2004

   1.47    6,000    10.0    —  
         
       
          6,600         600
         
       

 

Except for the share options granted on June 3, 2004, all of the above share options were granted under the 1997 Share Option Scheme and are immediately exercisable. The outstanding share options are exercisable until the date of employment contracts between the Company and its employees are terminated or July 11, 2007, whichever is the earlier. The Share Options granted on June 3, 2004 were granted under the 2002 Share Option Scheme as described in Note 25 (d).

 

26    Turnover, revenues and segmental information

 

Revenue recognized during the year is as follows:

 

     Year ended August 31,

     2002

   2003

   2004

     HK$’000    HK$’000    HK$’000
     As restated    As restated     

Turnover

              

International telecommunications services

   908,981    875,802    627,978

Fixed telecommunications network services

   241,219    423,107    541,902
    
  
  
     1,150,200    1,298,909    1,169,880
    
  
  

Other revenues

              

Interest income

   10,870    3,163    3,753

Other income

   1,010    4,373    2,668
    
  
  
     11,880    7,536    6,421
    
  
  

Total revenues

   1,162,080    1,306,445    1,176,301
    
  
  

 

(a) Primary reporting format—business segments

 

The Company is organized on a worldwide basis into two business segments:

 

    International telecommunications—provision of international long distance calls services.

 

    Fixed telecommunications network—provision of Internet access services, local voice-over-IP services and IP-TV services.

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The Company’s inter-segment transactions mainly consist of provision of leased lines services. The Company believes that the terms were similar to those available from third parties.

 

     Year ended August 31, 2002

 
    

International

telecommunications

services


  

Fixed

telecommunications

network services


    Elimination

    Company

 
     HK$’000    HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000  
                      As restated  

Turnover

                       

External sales

   908,981    241,219     —       1,150,200  

Inter-segment sales

   8,100    25,786     (33,886 )   —    
    
  

 

 

     917,081    267,005     (33,886 )   1,150,200  
    
  

 

 

Segment results

   222,651    (121,686 )         100,965  
    
  

           

Interest expense

                    (3,504 )
                     

Income before taxation

                    97,461  
                     

Segment assets

   581,253    746,032     —       1,327,285  
                     

Segment liabilities

   205,542    152,401     —       357,943  

Unallocated liabilities

                    64,354  
                     

Total liabilities

                    422,297  
                     

Capital expenditure

   138,521    440,545     —       579,066  

Depreciation

   32,951    95,339     —       128,290  

Goodwill amortization charge

   —      1,065     —       1,065  
     Year ended August 31, 2003

 
    

International

telecommunications

services


  

Fixed

telecommunications

network services


    Elimination

    Company

 
     HK$’000    HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000  
                      As restated  

Turnover

                       

External sales

   875,802    423,107     —       1,298,909  

Inter-segment sales

   15,302    26,449     (41,751 )   —    
    
  

 

 

     891,104    449,556     (41,751 )   1,298,909  
    
  

 

 

Segment results

   341,588    (62,692 )         278,896  
    
  

           

Loss on disposal of a subsidiary

                    (2,695 )

Interest expense

                    (601 )
                     

Income before taxation

                    275,600  
                     

Segment assets

   674,066    874,468     —       1,548,534  
                     

Segment liabilities

   157,524    150,492     —       308,016  

Unallocated liabilities

              —       61,343  
                     

Total liabilities

                    369,359  
                     

Capital expenditure

   20,749    229,460     —       250,209  

Depreciation

   36,043    138,912     —       174,955  

Goodwill amortization charge

   —      1,065     —       1,065  

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

     Year ended August 31, 2004

 
    

International

telecommunications

services


  

Fixed

telecommunications

network services


    Elimination

    Company

 
     HK$’000    HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000  

Turnover

                       

External sales

   627,978    541,902     —       1,169,880  

Inter-segment sales

   5,682    30,183     (35,865 )   —    
    
  

 

 

     633,660    572,085     (35,865 )   1,169,880  
    
  

 

 

Segment results

   161,463    (109,695 )         51,768  
    
  

           

Interest expense

                    (175 )
                     

Income before taxation

                    51,593  
                     

Segment assets

   532,161    1,151,018     —       1,683,179  

Unallocated assets

                    229  
                     

Total assets

                    1,683,408  
                     

Segment liabilities

   128,304    340,172     —       468,476  

Unallocated liabilities

                    39,234  
                     

Total liabilities

                    507,710  
                     

Capital expenditure

   17,164    392,882     —       410,046  

Depreciation

   29,023    166,929     —       195,952  

Goodwill amortization charge

   —      1,065     —       1,065  

 

(b) Geographical segments

 

Although the Company’s two business segments are managed on a worldwide basis, they operate in two main geographical areas:

 

    Hong Kong—international telecommunications and fixed telecommunications network services.

 

    Canada—international telecommunications and fixed telecommunications network services.

 

In presenting information on the basis of geographical segments, turnover and segment results are based on the geographical location of customers. Total assets and capital expenditure are based on the geographical location of the assets.

 

There were no sales between the geographical segments.

 

    

Turnover

2002


  

Segment

results

2002


   

Total

assets

2002


  

Capital

expenditure

2002


     HK$’000    HK$’000     HK$’000    HK$’000

Hong Kong

   1,107,987    98,687     1,304,789    578,979

Canada

   33,827    2,413     18,099    42

Japan

   8,386    (135 )   4,397    45
    
  

 
  
     1,150,200    100,965     1,327,285    579,066
    
  

 
  

 

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Table of Contents

CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

    

Turnover

2003


  

Segment

results

2003


   

Total

assets

2003


  

Capital

expenditure

2003


     HK$’000    HK$’000     HK$’000    HK$’000

Hong Kong

   1,263,160    275,126     1,539,212    250,093

Canada

   27,959    3,501     9,322    116

Japan

   7,790    269     —      —  
    
  

 
  
     1,298,909    278,896     1,548,534    250,209
    
        
  

Loss on disposal of a subsidiary

        (2,695 )         
         

        

Operating profit

        276,201           
         

        

 

    

Turnover

2004


  

Segment

results

2004


   

Total

assets

2004


  

Capital

expenditure

2004


     HK$’000    HK$’000     HK$’000    HK$’000

Hong Kong

   1,145,102    53,375     1,675,546    409,866

Canada

   24,778    (1,607 )   7,633    180
    
  

 
  
     1,169,880    51,768     1,683,179    410,046
    
  

      

Unallocated assets

              229     
               
    
                1,683,408     
               
    

 

(c) During the year ended August 31, 2003, the Company’s operation in Japan was discontinued following the disposal of its subsidiary operating in Japan (Note 4). The contribution to turnover and the operating results in respect of the discontinued Japanese segment are disclosed in (b) above and are included in the international telecommunications services reporting segment.

 

(d) Revenue of fixed telecommunications network services for the year includes interconnection charges of HK$38,676,000 (2003: HK$6,090,000) receivable from several mobile operators for the usage of the fixed telecommunications network of the Company. The charges were determined using the available rates under the existing calculation model (fully distributed cost model) for interconnection charges between fixed and mobile operators, which are based on historical cost data of PCCW-HKT. In May 2004, the Telecommunications Authority confirmed to HKBN that mobile operators should pay interconnection charges to fixed network operators in accordance with the existing charging principles under the relevant Telecommunications Authority statements. In August 2004, the Telecommunications Authority agreed to make a determination under 36A of the Telecommunications Ordinance as to the effective date and the level of mobile and fixed interconnection charges payable by one of the mobile operators to HKBN. The Company believes, based on the application of the existing calculation model to our cost structure, we will obtain the same rates applied to PCCW-HKT and this rate will be applicable to all other mobile operators.

 

27    Financial instruments

 

(a) Fair value

 

The Company’s financial instruments primarily comprise cash and cash equivalents, short-term loans, bank overdrafts, loan from a minority shareholder/former minority shareholder and other investments and long term debt.

 

The fair values of the cash and cash equivalents, short-term loans and bank overdrafts as of August 31, 2003 and 2004 approximate their carrying values because of the short maturity of instruments.

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The fair value of other investments as of August 31, 2004 based on the market prices approximates the carrying value.

 

The fair value of the long term debt and long term bank deposit as of August 31, 2004 approximate their carrying values.

 

All other financial instruments included among current assets and liabilities are stated at cost which approximates their fair values.

 

(b) Concentration of credit risk

 

Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables and deposits, prepayments and other receivables.

 

Cash and cash equivalents—substantially all the Company’s cash and bank balances are placed with a number of international banks in Hong Kong to which the Company believes its exposure to risk is limited.

 

Trade receivables—these mainly represent service fee receivables from the Company’s customers in Hong Kong and Canada.

 

Deposits, prepayments and other receivables—these are spread among numerous third parties.

 

28    Off balance sheet items

 

(a) Barter transactions

 

During the year ended August 31, 2004, HKBN entered into two agreements on the same date with an unrelated third party (the “Contract Party”). Pursuant to one agreement, the Contract Party agreed to sell to HKBN a set of un-activated telecommunications facility (the “Facility”) at a cash consideration of approximately $42 million (the “Facility Consideration”), which HKBN has paid in full as of August 31, 2004.

 

In the other agreement entered into between the Contract Party and HKBN, HKBN undertakes to provide certain telecommunication services to the Contract Party with fees computed based on unit service charges specified in the agreement. However, the Contract Party is required to pay to HKBN a guarantee minimum service fee of approximately HK$42 million over a period of three years, commencing September 1, 2004. As at August 31, 2004, a prepayment of the service charges of $36.5 million (the “Prepaid Charges”) was paid by the Contract Party to HKBN.

 

The directors of the Company made an assessment of the fair value of the items under exchange and have drawn a conclusion that no fair value could be assigned to them. Accordingly, the Facility was not recognized as an asset and no revenue or deferred revenue was recognized in the financial statements of the Company as at and for the year ended August 31, 2004. The difference between the amounts paid for the Facility Consideration and the Prepaid Charges received, amounting to approximately HK$5.5 million, was recorded as a long-term receivable balance in the balance sheet.

 

(b) Interest rate swap

 

On January 19, 2004, the Company entered into an interest rate swap arrangement for a notional amount of HK$100,000,000 with a bank. Under the arrangement, the Company will pay a fixed rate interest of 2.675% per annum on the notional amount of HK$100,000,000 on a monthly basis commencing from March 2004 to December 2009, and receiving a floating interest at HIBOR rate. The purpose of this arrangement is to hedge the interest payments on the loan drawn down as described in Note 14 to a fixed rate of 4.175%.

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Under Hong Kong GAAP, there are no specific accounting standards governing the accounting for derivative instruments, however, under U.S. GAAP, it requires all financial instruments and derivatives be recognized on the balance sheet at fair value and the accounting for changes in fair value depends on whether the derivative instrument is designated and qualifies as a hedging relationship. For purposes of the reconciliation of the Company’s financial statements to U.S. GAAP, the interest rate swap has been accounted for at fair value on the balance sheet, the details of which are set out in Note 30 (a)(v).

 

29    New effective standards/recent accounting pronouncements

 

(i) Hong Kong GAAP

 

In March 2004, the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“HKICPA”) issued the following Hong Kong Accounting Standards (“HKASs”) and HKAS Interpretation (“HKAS-Ints”) that were converged with equivalent International Accounting Standards and Standing Interpretations Committee Interpretations issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”), most of which were revised recently as a result of the IASB’s improvements project:

 

HKAS 1

   Presentation of Financial Statements

HKAS 2

   Inventories

HKAS 7

   Cash Flow Statements

HKAS 8

   Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors

HKAS 10

   Events after the Balance Sheet Date

HKAS 11

   Constructions Contracts

HKAS 12

   Income Taxes

HKAS 14.

   Segment Reporting

HKAS 16

   Property, Plant and Equipment

HKAS 17

   Leases

HKAS 18

   Revenue

HKAS 19

   Employee Benefits

HKAS 20

   Accounting for Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance

HKAS 21

   The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates

HKAS 23

   Borrowing Costs

HKAS 24

   Related Party Disclosures

HKAS 26

   Accounting and Reporting by Retirement Benefit Plans

HKAS 27

   Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements

HKAS 28

   Investments in Associates

HKAS 29

   Financial Reporting in Hyperinflationary Economies

HKAS 30

   Disclosures in the Financial Statements of Banks and Similar Financial Institutions

HKAS 31

   Investment in Joint ventures

HKAS 32

   Financial Instruments: Disclosure and Presentation

HKAS 33

   Earnings Per Share

HKAS 34

   Interim Financial Reporting

HKAS 36.

   Impairment of Assets

HKAS 37

   Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets

HKAS 38

   Intangible Assets

HKAS 39

   Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement

HKAS 40

   Investment Property

HKAS 41

   Agriculture

HKAS-Int-12

   Consolidation—Special Purposes Entities

HKAS-Int 13

   Jointly Controlled Entities—Non-Monetary Contributions by Venturers

HKAS-Int 15.

   Operating Leases—Incentives

HKAS-Int 21

   Income Taxes—Recovery of Revalued Non-Depreciable Assets

 

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Table of Contents

CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The above HKASs and HKAS-Ints will become effective for accounting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2005 and are required to be adopted by us for the year ending August 31, 2006. As a consequence, the following Statement of Standard Accounting Practices (“SSAPs”) and the related interpretations issued by the HKICPA will be superseded at that time:

 

SSAP 1

   Presentation of Financial Statements (revised 2001)

SSAP 2

  

Net Profit or Loss for the Period, Fundamental Errors and

Changes in Accounting Policies (revised 2001)

SSAP 5

   Earnings Per Share (revised 1998)

SSAP 9

   Events after the Balance Sheet Date (revised 2001)

SSAP 10

   Accounting for Investments in Associates (revised 2001)

SSAP 11

   Foreign Currency Translation (revised 2001)

SSAP 12

   Income Taxes

SSAP 13

   Accounting for Investment Properties (revised 2000)

SSAP 14

   Leases (revised 2000)

SSAP 17

   Property, Plant and Equipment (revised 2001)

SSAP 18

   Revenue (revised 2001)

SSAP 19

   Borrowing Costs

SSAP 20

   Related Party Disclosures

SSAP 21

   Accounting for Interests in Joint Ventures (revised 2001)

SSAP 22

   Inventories (revised 2001)

SSAP 23

   Construction Contracts (revised 2001)

SSAP 24

   Accounting for Investments in Securities

SSAP 25

   Interim Financial Reporting (revised 2001)

SSAP 26

   Segment Reporting (revised 2001)

SSAP 28

   Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets

SSAP 29

   Intangible Assets

SSAP 31

   Impairment of Assets

SSAP 32

   Consolidated Financial Statements and Accounting for Investments in Subsidiaries

SSAP 34

   Employee Benefits (revised 2003)

SSAP 35

   Accounting for Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance

SSAP 36

   Agriculture

Interpretation 1

   Costs of Modifying Existing Software

Interpretation 5

  

Property, Plant and Equipment—Compensation for the

Impairment or Loss of Items

Interpretation 8

  

Presentation of Financial Statements—Current Assets:

Classification of Restricted and Appropriated Cash Balance

Interpretation 10

  

Earnings per Share—Financial Instruments and

Other Contracts that may be Settled in Shares

Interpretation 18

  

Consolidated and Equity Method—Potential Voting Rights and

Allocation of Ownership Interests

 

Given the HKICPA’s policy to converge Hong Kong accounting standards with the IASB’s financial reporting standards, the HKASs were issued to adopt the changes made as a result of the IASB improvements project as well as to eliminate, to the greatest extent possible, all differences that previously existed between Hong Kong accounting standards and the equivalent International Accounting Standards (“IASs”) issued by the IASB.

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

During 2004, the HKICPA issued the following Hong Kong Financial Reporting Standards (“HKFRS”):

 

HKFRS 2

   Share-based Payment

HKFRS 3

   Business Combinations

HKFRS 4

   Insurance Contracts

HKFRS 5

   Non-current Asset Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations

 

In April 2004, the HKICPA issued HKFRS 2 “Share-based Payment” (“HKFRS 2”). HKFRS 2 prescribes the recognition principles and fair value measurement basis for all-share based payment transactions, including (i) equity-settled share-based payment transactions; (ii) cash-settled share-based payment transactions; and (iii) transactions with a choice of whether they are settled in cash or by issuing equity instruments. It requires companies to reflect in their profit or loss and financial position the effects of share-based payment transactions, including expenses associated with transactions in which share options are granted to employees. HKFRS 2 applies to grant of shares, share options or other equity instruments that were granted after November 7, 2002 and had not yet vested as at January 1, 2005 and it applies retrospectively to liabilities arising from share-based payment transactions existing as at January 1, 2005.

 

In August 2004, the HKICPA issued HKFRS 3 “Business Combinations” requires that all business combinations within the scope of HKFRS 3 must be accounted for using the purchase method. Costs expected to be incurred to restructure an acquired entity’s (or the acquirer’s) activities must be treated as post-combination expenses, unless the acquired entity has a pre-existing liability for restructuring its activities. Intangible items acquired in a business combination must be recognized as assets separately from goodwill if they meet the definition of an asset, are either separable or arise from contractual or other legal rights, and their fair value can be measured reliably. Identifiable assets acquired, and liabilities and contingent liabilities incurred or assumed, must be measured initially at fair value. Amortisation of goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives is prohibited. Instead they must be tested for impairment annually, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate a possible impairment. Negative goodwill should be credited to the income statements immediately.

 

The Company is currently assessing the potential impact on the adoption of HKFRS 2 and HKFRS 3 may have on our financial statements presented in accordance with Hong Kong GAAP.

 

The Company considers that there is no significant impact on the adoption of HKFRS 4 and HKFRS 5 on our financial statements presented in accordance with Hong Kong GAAP.

 

(ii) U.S. GAAP

 

The United States Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) has issued certain pronouncements which are effective or will be effective with respect to the fiscal years presented in the consolidated financial statements: —

 

(a) In December 2003, the FASB issued FIN 46-R “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities—an Interpretation of ARB No. 51. FIN 46-R requires that certain variable interest entities, or VIE’s, be consolidated by their primary beneficiary if the primary beneficiary is subject to a majority of the risk of loss from the VIE activities, or entitled to receive a majority of the VIE’s residual returns, or both. An entity is subject to FIN 46-R and is considered to be a VIE if it has (1) equity that is insufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties, or (2) equity investors that cannot make significant decisions about the entity’s operations, or that do not absorb the expected losses or receive the expected returns of the entity. FIN 46-R is effective immediately

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

for all new VIE’s created or acquired after January 31, 2003. For VIE’s created or acquired prior to February 1, 2003, the provisions of FIN 46-R must be applied by the end of the first reporting period ending after March 15, 2004. The adoption of FIN 46 for VIEs would not have any significant impact on our financial statements.

 

(b) In December 2003, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued SAB No. 104, “Revenue Recognition”. SAB No. 104 supersedes SAB No. 101, “Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements”. SAB No. 104’s primary purpose is to rescind accounting guidance contained in SAB No. 101 related to multiple element revenue arrangements, superseded as a result of the issuance of Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 00-21, “Accounting for Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables” (“EITF 00-21”). Additionally, SAB No. 104 rescinds the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements Frequently Asked Questions and Answers (“the FAQ”) issued with SAB No. 101 that had been codified in Securities and Exchange Commission Topic 13, Revenue Recognition. Selected portions of the FAQ have been incorporated into SAB No. 104. While the wording of SAB No. 104 has changed to reflect the issuance of EITF 00-21, the revenue recognition principles of SAB No. 101 remain largely unchanged by the issuance of SAB No. 104. As a result, the adoption of this pronouncement did not have any impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

30    Summary of differences between Hong Kong GAAP and U.S. GAAP

 

The Company’s consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with Hong Kong GAAP, which differ in certain significant respects from U.S. GAAP. Differences between Hong Kong GAAP and U.S. GAAP which have significant effects on the consolidated net income, total shareholders’ equity and statements of cash flows of the Company are summarized as follows:

 

(a) Net income and total shareholders’ equity

 

         Year ended August 31,

     Note

  2002

    2003

    2004

         HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000
         As restated     As restated      

Net income

                    

As stated under Hong Kong GAAP

       90,505     257,743     49,550

U.S. GAAP adjustments: —
Compensation benefit cost associated with share options

   (i)   (21,586 )   2,731     270

Amortization of goodwill (acquired prior to June 30, 2001)

   (ii)   (1,019 )   —       —  

Reversal of amortization of goodwill (acquired after June 30, 2001)

   (ii)   1,065     1,065     1,065

Fair value of interest rate swap

   (v)   —       —       680
        

 

 

Net income under U.S. GAAP

       68,965     261,539     51,565
        

 

 

Profit from continuing operations (less taxation 2004: HK$2,043,000, 2003: HK$17,857,000, 2002: HK$15,186,000)

       69,317     264,151     51,565

Profit/(loss) from discontinued operations (less taxation 2004: Nil, 2003: Nil, 2002: HK$4,000)

   (iv)   (352 )   83     —  

Loss arising from disposal of discontinued operations

   (iv)   —       (2,695 )   —  
        

 

 

Net income under U.S. GAAP

       68,965     261,539     51,565
        

 

 

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

          Year ended August 31,

     Note

   2002

   2003

   2004

          HK$    HK$    HK$

Earnings/(loss) per share under U.S. GAAP

                   

Basic:

                   

Continuing operations

        14.0 cents    47.8 cents    8.5 cents
         
  
  

Discontinued operations

        (0.1) cents    (0.5) cents    —  
         
  
  

Total

   (iii)    13.9 cents    47.3 cents    8.5 cents
         
  
  

Diluted:

                   

Continuing operations

        12.3 cents    42.9 cents    8.4 cents
         
  
  

Discontinued operations

   (iv)    (0.1) cents    (0.4) cents    —  
         
  
  

Total

   (iii)    12.2 cents    42.5 cents    8.4 cents
         
  
  

 

         August 31,

 
     Note

  2002

    2003

    2004

 
         HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000  
         As restated     As restated        

Total shareholders’ equity

                      

As stated under Hong Kong GAAP

       904,988     1,179,175     1,175,698  

U.S. GAAP adjustments:

                      

Goodwill

   (ii)   5,092     5,092     5,092  

Accumulated amortization of goodwill

   (ii)   (3,735 )   (3,735 )   (3,735 )

Reversal of amortization of goodwill

   (ii)   1,065     2,130     3,195  

Fair value of interest rate swap

   (v)   —       —       680  
        

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity under U.S. GAAP

       907,410     1,182,662     1,180,930  
        

 

 

 

(i) Compensation cost for share options

 

APB No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (“APB 25”) and related interpretations have been applied in the computation of the compensation cost for outstanding share options granted to the Company’s employees.

 

Under Hong Kong GAAP, no compensation cost to staff is required to be recognized in respect of the grant of share options. Proceeds from issue of shares upon the exercise of share options are credited to share capital and share premium accounts respectively and there is no effect on the results of the Company in connection with any share option schemes.

 

The Company issued 1,500,000 options to certain executive directors of the Company at an exercise price fixed at HK$1.20 on September 19, 1997. The difference of HK$0.30 per Share between the exercise price of HK$1.20 and the market value of the Shares on September 19, 1997 of HK$1.50 was being amortized to the statements of income over the vesting period of the options of three years up to September 18, 2000. Pursuant to a board resolution passed on October 20, 2000, the options were cancelled and on the same date, 1,500,000 options were issued to the same executive directors at an exercise price fixed at HK$0.58 per Share. Due to this repricing arrangement, under U.S. GAAP the 1,500,000 options have been accounted for as variable options since that date in accordance with FASB Interpretation No. 44, “Accounting for Certain Transactions Involving Stock Compensation”, and various interpretations of APB25. Compensation expense is recognized based on the

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

difference between the exercise price of HK$0.58 and the Company’s share price at the date on which they are exercised or at each balance sheet date if they are still outstanding.

 

Pursuant to a board resolution passed on October 20, 2000, 20,908,000 out of 21,030,000 options granted to certain employees including three executive directors on June 2, 2000 at an exercise price of HK$1.50 were cancelled. On the same date, 20,908,000 new options were issued to the same employees including three executive directors at an exercise price fixed at HK$0.58. Because of this repricing arrangement, these options shall also be accounted for as variable options and compensation expense is recognized based on the difference between the exercise price of HK$0.58 and the Company’s share price at the date on which they are exercised or at each balance sheet date if they are still outstanding and amortized to the profit and loss account over the vesting period of the options. All options were fully vested as of August 31, 2004. A benefit was recorded in the years ended August 31, 2003 and 2004 in calculating the final cost amount associated with options that were exercised during the year.

 

During the year ended August 31, 2004, the Company issued 6,000,000 options to an employee at an exercise price fixed at HK$1.47 on June 3, 2004. The difference of HK$0.04 per Share between the exercise price of HK$1.47 and the market value of the Shares on June 3, 2004 of HK$1.43 was being amortised to the statement of income over the vesting period from May 1, 2005 to May 1, 2006.

 

Although the Company accounts for share options using the intrinsic value method in APB 25, pro forma information regarding net income and earnings per share is required by SFAS No. 123 “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”, and has been determined as if the Company had accounted for its employee share options under the fair value method outlined in SFAS 123. The weighted average fair value of options granted during the years ended August 31, 2000 and 2001 were HK$3.84 and HK$0.51, respectively. No options were granted in fiscal 2002 and 2003 and therefore no assumptions were required as new calculations were not performed in fiscal 2002 and 2003. During the year ended August 31, 2004, 6,000,000 share options were granted and its fair value is HK$0.7. The fair value for these options was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes Option Valuation model with the following weighted-average assumptions for the relevant years:

 

     Year ended August 31,

 
         2001    

        2004    

 

Weighted average

            

Risk-free interest rates

   6.6 %   3.78 %

Dividend yield

   0 %   1.02 %

Volatility factor of the expected market price of the Company’s shares

   102.0 %   59.04 %

Expected life of the options

   5.4 years     5 years  

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

For the purpose of pro forma disclosure, the estimated fair value of the options is amortized to expense over the options’ vesting period. Options will be vested during May 1, 2005 to May 1, 2006. The Company’s pro forma information for the years ended August 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004 is set out as follows:

 

     Year ended August 31,

 
     2002

    2003

    2004

 
     HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000  

Net income

                        

As reported

     68,965       261,539       51,565  

Add: total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under intrinsic value method for all awards

     21,586       (2,731 )     (270 )

Less: total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value method for all awards, net of tax

     (18,219 )     —         (1,904 )
    


 


 


Pro forma

     72,332       258,808       49,391  
    


 


 


Basic earnings per share

                        

As reported

   HK$ 13.9 cents     HK$ 47.3 cents     HK$ 8.5 cents  

Pro forma

   HK$ 14.6 cents     HK$ 46.8 cents     HK$ 8.1 cents  

Diluted earnings per share

                        

As reported

   HK$ 12.2 cents     HK$ 42.5 cents     HK$ 8.4 cents  

Pro forma

   HK$ 12.8 cents     HK$ 42.1 cents     HK$ 8.0 cents  

 

(ii) Goodwill

 

Prior to September 1, 2001, under Hong Kong GAAP the Company charged goodwill on acquisition of a business, which represents the excess of the cost of investment over the fair value ascribed to the net underlying assets acquired, against available reserves. In accordance with the change in accounting standards of Hong Kong GAAP, goodwill on acquisitions occurring on or after September 1, 2001 is shown separately on the consolidated balance sheet and is amortized using the straight-line method over its estimated useful life (see Note 2(b) of the notes to the consolidated financial statements). Goodwill arising on major strategic acquisitions of the Company to expand its product or geographical market coverage is amortized over a period of not more than five years. The Company has taken advantage of the transitional provisions of Statement of Standard Accounting Practice No. 30 “Business Combinations” issued by the Hong Kong Society of Accountants and goodwill previously written off against reserves has not been restated. Where an indication of impairment exists, the carrying amount of goodwill, including goodwill previously written off against reserves, is assessed and written down immediately to its recoverable amount with the charge being recorded in the Company’s consolidated statements of income.

 

Under U.S. GAAP, goodwill recorded on the acquisition of a business prior to June 30, 2001 was capitalized and amortized to the consolidated statements of income over its expected useful life of five years. In June 2001, the FASB issued SFAS 142 “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001. In connection with the adoption of this standard, in fiscal 2003 under U.S. GAAP, the Company ceased amortizing goodwill recognized on business combinations initiated prior to June 30, 2001 and performed a transitional goodwill impairment assessment. Goodwill recognized on business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001, is not amortised under SFAS No. 142 in fiscal 2002 and is required to be tested annually for impairment in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 142. The Company has performed the transitional goodwill impairment tests on the goodwill recorded prior to and after June 30, 2001 and no impairment loss was identified. The Company has also performed the impairment tests on the goodwill recorded prior to and after June 30, 2001 at the fiscal year end and no impairment loss was identified from the process for year ended August 31, 2004.

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

(iii) Earnings per share

 

     Year ended August 31,

     2002

   2003

   2004

     HK$’000    HK$’000    HK$’000

Net income under U.S. GAAP

     68,965      261,539      51,565
    

  

  

Basic weighted average common shares issued and outstanding (in 000’s)

     495,181      552,600      610,095

Incremental shares from assumed exercise of share options
(in 000’s)

     11,219      7,112      604

Incremental shares from assumed exercise of warrants
(in 000’s)

     59,489      55,390      3,666
    

  

  

Diluted weighted average common and potential shares issued and outstanding (in 000’s)

     565,889      615,102      614,365
    

  

  

Earnings per share under U.S. GAAP

                    

Basic

   HK$ 13.9 cents    HK$ 47.3 cents    HK$ 8.5 cents
    

  

  

Diluted

   HK$ 12.2 cents    HK$ 42.5 cents    HK$ 8.4 cents
    

  

  

 

Basic earnings per share is calculated based on the weighted average number of ordinary shares issued and outstanding. Diluted earnings per share includes the effect of diluted ordinary common share equivalents as if outstanding for each of the relevant years and the related income amounts. The number of incremental shares from assumed exercise of stock options and warrants have been determined using the treasury stock method.

 

At August 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004, 60,000 options to purchase shares of the Company, were outstanding but have not been included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share as the effect of exercise would have been anti-dilutive.

 

(iv) Discontinued operations

 

The discontinued operations of the Company for years ended August 31, 2002 and 2003 included the operating loss of approximately HK$352,000 and operating profit of approximately HK$83,000 respectively of the subsidiary operating in Japan. Under Hong Kong GAAP, presentation of continuing and discontinued operations is not required to be disclosed on the face of the consolidated statements of income, while under U.S. GAAP, profit or loss from discontinued operations would be shown on a separate line in the consolidated statements of income below income from continuing operations.

 

(v) Interest rate swap

 

In connection with the drawdown of the long term bank loan of HK$100 million in the year ended August 31, 2004, the Company engages in an interest rate swap agreement to hedge the impact of fluctuations in interest rates. Under Hong Kong GAAP, there are no specific accounting standards governing the accounting for derivative instruments. As a result, the Company does not recognise the interest rate swap at fair value and does not account for the gains or losses relating to the fair value changes in this derivative. Interest income or expense arising from the interest rate swap contracts are netted off against the related interest income or expenses applicable to the bank loan.

 

Under U.S. GAAP, the Company adopted SFAS No. 133 “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedge Activities”, as amended by SFAS No. 138 “Accounting for Certain Derivative Instruments and Certain Hedging Activities” which requires all financial instruments and derivatives be recognized on the balance sheet

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

at fair value. The accounting for changes in fair value depends on whether the derivative instrument is designated and qualifies as a hedging relationship. For derivatives not designed as hedging instrument, the gain or loss is recognized in earnings in the period of change. Since the interest rate swap is not designated as a hedge, the gain or loss on this derivative instrument is recognized currently in earnings.

 

(b) Statements of income under U.S. GAAP

 

Under Hong Kong GAAP, depreciation charges of network assets are included in general and administrative expenses under operating expenses.

 

Under U.S. GAAP, however, depreciation charges of networks assets which are directly related to the generation of revenue are included in cost of services provided. As a result, under U.S. GAAP, the consolidated statements of income, including the U.S. GAAP adjustments as set out in note 30(a), would be reported as follows:

 

     Year ended August 31,

 
     2002

    2003

    2004

 
     HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000  

Revenue from provision of telecommunication and other services, net

   1,141,814     1,291,119     1,169,880  

Cost of services provided

   (555,692 )   (469,238 )   (499,519 )
    

 

 

Gross profit

   586,122     821,881     670,361  
    

 

 

Operating expenses:

                  

Salaries and related costs

   (215,523 )   (215,541 )   (226,380 )

Sales and marketing expenses

   (168,440 )   (182,471 )   (228,169 )

General and administrative expenses

   (123,376 )   (130,965 )   (157,628 )

Provision for doubtful accounts receivable

   (10,252 )   (17,685 )   (11,502 )
    

 

 

Income from operations

   68,531     275,219     46,682  

Bank interest income

   10,870     3,163     3,753  

Interest expense

   (3,291 )   (415 )   (175 )

Other income, net

   159     4,041     3,348  
    

 

 

Income before taxation

   76,269     282,008     53,608  

Income tax charges

   (15,186 )   (17,857 )   (2,043 )
    

 

 

Income after taxation

   61,083     264,151     51,565  

Minority interests

   8,234     —       —    
    

 

 

Income from continuing operations

   69,317     264,151     51,565  

Net income/(loss) from discontinued operation

   (352 )   83     —    

Loss arising from disposal of a subsidiary

   —       (2,695 )   —    
    

 

 

Net income

   68,965     261,539     51,565  
    

 

 

 

(c) Comprehensive income

 

The comprehensive income of the Company, disclosed in accordance with SFAS No. 130 “Reporting Comprehensive Income”, is set out as follows:

 

     Year ended August 31,

 
     2002

   2003

    2004

 
     HK$’000    HK$’000     HK$’000  

Net income under U.S. GAAP

   68,965    261,539     51,565  

Foreign currency translation adjustments

   204    (200 )   (248 )
    
  

 

Comprehensive income

   69,169    261,339     51,317  
    
  

 

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

(d) Statement of changes in shareholders’ equity under U.S. GAAP

 

    Ordinary shares

                             
   

Number of

shares

outstanding


 

Amount

outstanding


 

Share

premium


 

Additional

paid in

capital


   

Warrant

reserve


   

Exchange

reserve


   

Retained

profits


   

Total

shareholders’

equity


 
        HK$’000   HK$’000   HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000  

Balance at August 31, 2001

  491,074,000   49,107   569,180   9,619     —       (242 )   175,447     803,111  

Shares issued upon exercise of share options

  3,060,000   306   790   —       —       —       —       1,096  

Compensation cost for outstanding share options

  —     —     —     21,586     —       —       —       21,586  

Issue of warrants

  —     —     —     —       10,815     —       —       10,815  

Expenses in connection with issue of warrants

  —     —     —     —       (1,058 )   —       —       (1,058 )

Shares issued upon exercise of warrants

  6,729,202   673   2,686   —       (668 )   —       —       2,691  

Net income

  —     —     —     —       —       —       68,965     68,965  

Foreign currency translation adjustments

  —     —     —     —       —       204     —       204  

Comprehensive income

  —     —     —     —       —       —       —       69,169  
   
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

Balance at August 31, 2002

  500,863,202   50,086   572,656   31,205     9,089     (38 )   244,412     907,410  

Shares issued upon exercise of share options

  21,120,000   2,112   10,106   —       —       —       —       12,218  

Compensation cost for outstanding share options

  —     —     —     (2,731 )   —       —       —       (2,731 )

Shares issued upon exercise of warrants

  82,976,585   8,298   33,124   —       (8,231 )   —       —       33,191  

Exchange reserve realized upon disposal of a subsidiary

  —     —     —     —       —       1,469     —       1,469  

2003 Interim dividend paid (Note 21)

  —     —     —     —       —       —       (30,234 )   (30,234 )

Net income

  —     —     —     —       —       —       261,539     261,539  

Foreign currency translation adjustments

  —     —     —     —       —       (200 )   —       (200 )

Comprehensive income

  —     —     —     —       —       —       —       261,339  
   
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

Balance at August 31, 2003

  604,959,787   60,496   615,886   28,474     858     1,231     475,717     1,182,662  

Shares issued upon exercise of share options

  640,000   64   115   —       —       —       —       179  

Compensation cost for outstanding share options

  —     —     —     (270 )   —       —       —       (270 )

Shares issued upon exercise of warrants

  4,973,574   497   1,985   —       (493 )   —       —       1,989  

2003 final dividend paid
(Note 21)

  —     —     —     —       —       —       (45,789 )   (45,789 )

2004 interim dividend paid (Note 21)

  —     —     —     —       —       —       (9,158 )   (9,158 )

Net income

  —     —     —     —       —       —       51,565     51,565  

Foreign currency translation adjustments

  —     —     —     —       —       (248 )   —       (248 )

Comprehensive income

  —     —     —     —       —       —       —       51,317  
   
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

Balance at August 31, 2004

  610,573,361   61,057   617,986   28,204     365     983     472,335     1,180,930  
   
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

(e) Statement of cash flows

 

Under Hong Kong GAAP, in adopting SSAP 15 (revised), only three categories of activities are reported: operating activities; investing activities and financing activities, which is similar to U.S. GAAP. However, the difference is that cash flows from interest income would be included in investing activities under Hong Kong GAAP but it would be included in operating activities under U.S. GAAP. Further, under Hong Kong GAAP, cash and cash equivalents include bank loans and overdrafts repayable within three months from the date of the advance, such items would not be considered as cash and cash equivalents under U.S. GAAP and would be included in financing activities under U.S. GAAP.

 

Under U.S. GAAP, the following amounts would be reported:

 

     Year ended August 31,

 
     2002

    2003

    2004

 
     HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000  

Net cash provided from operating activities

   321,814     417,663     207,516  

Net cash used in investing activities

   (486,082 )   (312,797 )   (409,997 )

Net cash provided from/(used in) financing activities

   (20,620 )   (11,280 )   48,217  
    

 

 

(Decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents

   (184,888 )   93,586     (154,264 )

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of year

   494,159     309,583     402,034  

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes

   312     (1,135 )   (253 )
    

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of year

   309,583     402,034     247,517  
    

 

 

 

(f) Deferred taxes

 

Until August 31, 2003, under Hong Kong GAAP, deferred taxation is accounted for at the current taxation rate with respect to timing differences between profit as computed for taxation purposes and profit as stated in the account to the extent that a liability or an asset is expected to be payable or receivable in the foreseeable future. In determining whether a liability is expected to be payable in the foreseeable future the Company assesses the effect of its capital expenditures and other plans. If these plans indicate that sufficient accelerated depreciation allowances will be available to offset the effect of the reversal of timing differences, a deferred tax liability is not established for such timing differences, in accordance with the requirements of Hong Kong GAAP.

 

With effect from September 1, 2004, in order to comply with SSAP 12 (revised) issued by the HKICPA, the company adopted a new accounting policy for deferred tax as follow:

 

Deferred taxation is provided in full, using the liability method, on temporary differences arising between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts in the accounts.

 

Deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profit will be available against which the temporary differences can be utilised.

 

The new accounting policy has been adopted retrospectively.

 

Under U.S. GAAP, the Company is required to recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of all events that have been included in the account or tax returns. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

differences are expected to reverse. Future tax benefits in respect of tax losses carry forward are also required to be recognized in full. A valuation allowance is required to be established for such assets if it is more likely than not that the Company will not be able to utilize such benefits in the future.

 

As a result of the adoption of SSAP 12 (revised), there are no longer any differences arising from the recognition of deferred tax under Hong Kong GAAP and U.S. GAAP.

 

As of August 31, 2004, the Company had accumulated tax losses amounting to HK$735,059,000 (2003: HK$598,583,000) may be carried forward and applied to reduce future taxable income which is carried in or derived from Hong Kong, Canada and the United States. The tax effect on the accumulated tax losses amounted to HK$129,222,000 (2003: HK$105,822,000).

 

The tax losses of the Hong Kong subsidiaries can be carried forward indefinitely while the tax losses of subsidiaries in the Mainland China and overseas expire within periods ranging from 2 to 20 years. Realisation of deferred tax assets associated with tax loss carry forwards is dependent upon generating sufficient taxable income. At August 31, 2004, a valuation allowance of HK$7,633,000 (2003: HK$15,171,000) had been provided for against the remaining deferred tax assets related to the tax losses carried forward since management believes it is more likely than not that insufficient taxable income will be generated in the foreseeable future to utilise the tax loss carry forwards.

 

Changes in the valuation allowance consist of:

 

     Year ended August 31,

 
     2002

   2003

    2004

 
     HK$’000    HK$’000     HK$’000  

Balance at beginning of the year

   49,049    62,739     15,171  

(Reduction)/additions to income tax expenses

   13,690    (47,568 )   (7,538 )
    
  

 

Balance at end of the year

   62,739    15,171     7,633  
    
  

 

 

(g) Other investments

 

Under Hong Kong GAAP, other investments of the Company are carried at fair value. At each balance sheet date, the net unrealised gains or losses arising from the changes in fair value of other investments are recognized in the consolidated statements of income.

 

Under U.S. GAAP, the Company adopted SFAS No. 133 “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”, as amended by SFAS No. 138 “Accounting for Certain Derivative Instruments and Certain Hedging Activities” for other investments during the year. SFAS No. 133, as amended, establishes accounting and reporting standards for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, and for hedging activities. It requires that all derivatives be recorded on the balance sheet at fair value. Additionally, it requires that an embedded derivative instrument to be separated from the host contract and accounted for as a derivative instrument if all the following criteria are met: the economic characteristics of the embedded derivative are not clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics of the host contract; the hybrid instrument is not re-measured at fair value with changes in fair value reported in earnings and a separate derivative with the same terms as the embedded derivative would meet the definition of a derivative instrument under SFAS No. 133. If an embedded derivative instrument is separated from its host contract, the host contract shall be accounted for based on U.S. GAAP applicable of that type that do not contain embedded derivative instruments. However, if an embedded derivative instrument cannot be reliably identified and measured

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

separately from the host contract, the entire contract shall be measured at fair value with gain or loss recognized in the statements of income, but it may not be designated as hedging instrument.

 

As the embedded derivative of the other investments held by the Company as of August 31, 2004 cannot be reliably identified and measured separately from the host contract, the entire contract has been measured at fair value under U.S. GAAP. There is no reconciling difference between Hong Kong GAAP and U.S. GAAP in this respect. Unrealised loss has been recognized in the statements of income for the year ended August 31, 2004.

 

31    Post balance sheet event

 

(a) In August 2004, HKBN launched its off-network local voice-over-IP phone services (“Broadband Phone Services”) for customers in Hong Kong. In early October 2004, PCCW-HKT Telephone Limited and PCCW-IMS Limited (collectively, “Applicants”) applied for leave to apply for judicial review against the decision of the Telecommunications Authority by a letter dated September 22, 2004 stating that there is no evidence to suggest that HKBN’s Broadband Phone Services is outside the scope of its Fixed Telecommunications Network Services Licence. HKBN was added by the Applicants as an interested party in these judicial review proceedings.

 

No revenue or cost had been recorded in the consolidated profit and loss accounts for the year ended August 31, 2004 in relation to the Broadband Phone Services. The cumulative capital expenditure incurred by the Company for the Broadband Phone Services as at August 31, 2004 was approximately HK$4.3 million. The board of directors of the Company presently have not formed any views as to any material adverse effect to the Company that may arise from this event.

 

(b) Subsequent to August 31, 2004, the Company drew down additional bank loan in an amount of HK$100 million. On January 3, 2005, approximately HK$3.3 million was repaid. On January 20, 2005, the Company completed a US$125 million notes offering of 8.75% Senior Notes due 2015 (the “Notes”). This offering was an underwritten transaction and the net proceeds were approximately US$121.0 million after deduction of expenses and commissions. The Company used the net proceeds, in part, to repay in full the then outstanding loan facility in the amount of HK$196.7 million.

 

The Notes contain covenants restricting the ability of the Company to, among other things:

 

    pay dividends, make distributions, redeem capital stock and make certain other restricted payments or investments;

 

    incur additional indebtedness or issue certain equity interests;

 

    merge, consolidate or sell all or substantially all of our assets;

 

    issue or sell capital stock of some of our subsidiaries;

 

    sell or exchange assets or enter into new businesses;

 

    create any restrictions on the payment of dividends, the making of distributions, the making of loans and the transfer of assets;

 

    create liens on assets;

 

    enter into sale and lease back transactions; and

 

    enter into certain transactions with affiliates or related persons.

 

All of these limitations are subject to exceptions and qualifications specified in the indenture governing the Notes.

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

32    Supplemental Guarantors Consolidated Financial Information

 

The Notes mentioned above in Note 31(b) are irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a senior unsecured basis by all of the subsidiaries of City Telecom (HK) Limited (collectively defined as “Guarantor Subsidiaries”), except CTI Guangzhou Customer Services Co. Ltd. in the PRC (“Non-guarantor Subsidiary”).

 

The condensed consolidated financial information is presented below and should be read in connection with the consolidated financial statements of City Telecom (HK) Limited prepared under HK GAAP. Separate financial statements of the Guarantor Subsidiaries are not presented because the Guarantor Subsidiaries are wholly-owned and will fully and unconditionally guarantee to the Notes on a joint and several basis. Reconciliations to U.S. GAAP are not presented because the majority of the reconciling items relate to City Telecom (HK) Limited and Guarantor Subsidiaries and such reconciling items are already disclosed and explained in Note 30.

 

The following condensed consolidated financial information presents the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of August 31, 2004 and 2003 and the related condensed consolidated statements of income and statements of cash flows for the years ended August 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 of (a) City Telecom (HK) Limited, the parent; (b) the Guarantor Subsidiaries on a combined basis; (c) the Non-guarantor Subsidiary; (d) eliminating entries; and (e) the total consolidated amounts.

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of August 31, 2004

 

    

City Telecom

(HK) Limited


  

Guarantor

Subsidiaries


   

Non-Guarantor

Subsidiary


   

Eliminating

Entries


   

Consolidated

Total


     HK$’000    HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000

Current assets

                           

Cash and bank balances

   199,643    41,691     6,183           247,517

Pledged bank deposits

   20,565    6,240     —             26,805

Trade receivables, net

   24,275    110,574     —             134,849

Other receivables, deposits and prepayments

   13,060    59,865     1,967     (30,863 )   44,029
    
  

 

       

Total current assets

   257,543    218,370     8,150           453,200

Fixed assets, net

   157,407    983,872     17,596           1,158,875

Investments in subsidiaries(1)

   909,126    269,029     —       (1,178,155 )   —  

Long-term bank deposits

   15,600    —       —             15,600

Other long-term assets

   22,310    31,292     —       2,131     55,733
    
  

 

       

Total assets

   1,361,986    1,502,563     25,746           1,683,408
    
  

 

       

Current liabilities

                           

Amounts due to subsidiaries / fellow subsidiaries

   10,000    683,771     9,591     (703,362 )   —  

Trade payables

   72,577    49,882     —             122,459

Deposits received

   11,093    6,890     —             17,983

Current portion of deferred service income

   29,222    35,076     —       (29,010 )   35,288

Other payables and accrued charges

   24,113    157,173     8,890     (1,571 )   188,605

Income tax payable/(recoverable)

   1,271    (98 )   —             1,173

Short-term bank loan—secured

   19,170    —       —             19,170

Current portion of long-term bank loan—secured

   —      13,333     —             13,333
    
  

 

       

Total current liabilities

   167,446    946,027     18,481           398,011

Long-term liabilities

                           

Long-term bank loan—secured

   —      86,667     —             86,667

Other long-term liabilities

   18,842    4,141     49           23,032
    
  

 

       

Total liabilities

   186,288    1,036,835     18,530           507,710

Commitments and contingencies

                           

Shareholders’ equity

                           

Ordinary shares, par value $0.1 per share

                           

—2,000,000,000 shares authorized at August 31, 2004

                           

—610,573,361 shares issued and outstanding at August 31, 2004

   61,057    15,486     8,131     (23,617 )   61,057

Share premium

   617,986    470,836     —       (470,836 )   617,986

Retained profits/(accumulated losses)

   495,307    (20,637 )   (852 )   21,489     495,307

Other reserves

   1,348    43     (63 )   20     1,348
    
  

 

       

Total shareholders’ equity

   1,175,698    465,728     7,216           1,175,698
    
  

 

       

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   1,361,986    1,502,563     25,746           1,683,408
    
  

 

       

(1): The investment in subsidiaries amounts at City Telecom (HK) Limited level have included the share of net assets of its subsidiaries using the equity method of accounting.

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of August 31, 2003

 

    

City Telecom

(HK) Limited


  

Guarantor

Subsidiaries


   

Non-Guarantor

Subsidiary


   

Eliminating

Entries


   

Consolidated

Total


     HK$’000    HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000

Current assets

                           

Cash and bank balances

   370,686    29,317     2,031           402,034

Pledged bank deposits

   1,812    27,796     —             29,608

Trade receivables, net

   32,011    62,069     —             94,080

Other receivables, deposits and prepayments

   17,720    42,639     2,833     (28,478 )   34,714
    
  

 

       

Total current assets

   422,229    161,821     4,864           560,436

Fixed assets, net

   176,441    756,051     13,460           945,952

Investments in subsidiaries(1)

   771,627    430,153     —       (1,201,780 )   —  

Long-term bank deposits

   15,580    —       —             15,580

Other long-term assets

   23,370    —       —       3,196     26,566
    
  

 

       

Total assets

   1,409,247    1,348,025     18,324           1,548,534
    
  

 

       

Current liabilities

                           

Amounts due to subsidiaries / fellow subsidiaries

   11,794    767,591     (3,775 )   (775,610 )   —  

Trade payables

   77,484    35,900     —             113,384

Deposits received

   12,502    7,406     —             19,908

Current portion of deferred service income

   16,111    9,809     —       (15,748 )   10,172

Other payables and accrued charges

   51,294    107,951     18,037     (12,730 )   164,552

Income tax payable

   22,523    125     247           22,895

Short-term bank loan—secured

   18,174    —       —             18,174
    
  

 

       

Total current liabilities

   209,882    928,782     14,509           349,085

Long-term liabilities

   20,190    (383 )   467           20,274

Total liabilities

   230,072    928,399     14,976           369,359
    
  

 

       

Commitments and contingencies

                           

Shareholders’ equity

                           

Ordinary shares, par value $0.1 per share

                           

—2,000,000,000 shares authorized at August 31, 2003

                           

—604,959,787 shares issued and outstanding at August 31, 2003

   60,496    15,485     8,131     (23,616 )   60,496

Share premium

   615,886    470,836     —       (470,836 )   615,886

Retained profits/(accumulated losses)

   500,704    (66,693 )   (4,805 )   71,498     500,704

Other reserves

   2,089    (2 )   22     (20 )   2,089
    
  

 

       

Total shareholders’ equity

   1,179,175    419,626     3,348           1,179,175
    
  

 

       

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   1,409,247    1,348,025     18,324           1,548,534
    
  

 

       

(1): The investment in subsidiaries amounts at City Telecom (HK) Limited level have included the share of net assets of its subsidiaries using the equity method of accounting.

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the year ended August 31, 2004

 

    

City Telecom

(HK) Limited


   

Guarantor

Subsidiaries


   

Non-Guarantor

Subsidiary


   

Eliminating

Entries


   

Consolidated

Total


 
     HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000  

Revenue from provision of telecommunication and other services, net

   260,675     1,081,591     113,953     (286,339 )   1,169,880  

Cost of services provided

   (90,520 )   (282,282 )   —       41,394     (331,408 )
    

 

 

       

Gross profit

   170,155     799,309     113,953           838,472  

Operating expenses

                              

Salaries and related costs

   (49,367 )   (191,751 )   (86,544 )   101,012     (226,650 )

Sales and marketing expenses

   (53,251 )   (351,518 )   —       176,600     (228,169 )

General and administrative expenses

   (71,124 )   (240,874 )   (23,342 )   8,536     (326,804 )

Provision for doubtful accounts receivable

   (1,683 )   (9,819 )   —             (11,502 )
    

 

 

       

(Loss)/income from operations

   (5,270 )   5,347     4,067           45,347  

Bank interest income

   3,580     135     38           3,753  

Interest expenses

   (175 )   —       —             (175 )

Other income, net

   3,516     41,038     17     (41,903 )   2,668  

Share of income from subsidiaries(2)

   49,309     —       —       (49,309 )   —    
    

 

 

       

Income before taxation

   50,960     46,520     4,122           51,593  

Income tax charges

   (1,410 )   (464 )   (169 )         (2,043 )
    

 

 

       

Net income

   49,550     46,056     3,953           49,550  
    

 

 

       


(2): The net income amounts at City Telecom (HK) Limited level have included the share of net income/(losses) of its subsidiaries using the equity method of accounting.

 

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CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the year ended August 31, 2003

 

    

City Telecom

(HK) Limited


   

Guarantor

Subsidiaries


   

Non-Guarantor

Subsidiary


   

Eliminating

Entries


   

Consolidated

Total


 
     HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000  

Revenue from provision of telecommunication and other services, net

   351,866     1,090,195     37,921     (181,073 )   1,298,909  

Cost of services provided

   (69,307 )   (295,553 )   —       42,107     (322,753 )
    

 

 

       

Gross profit

   282,559     794,642     37,921           976,156  

Operating expenses

                              

Salaries and related costs

   (78,009 )   (148,726 )   (29,104 )   35,489     (220,350 )

Sales and marketing expenses

   (46,939 )   (263,878 )   —       128,346     (182,471 )

General and administrative expenses

   (102,259 )   (202,566 )   (11,159 )   31,694     (284,290 )

Provision for doubtful accounts receivable

   (5,139 )   (12,546 )   —             (17,685 )
    

 

 

       

Income/(loss) from operations

   50,213     166,926     (2,342 )         271,360  

Bank interest income

   2,480     670     13           3,163  

Interest expenses

   (414 )   (324 )   —       137     (601 )

Loss on disposal of a subsidiary

   —       (2,695 )   —             (2,695 )

Other income, net

   2,657     58,976     (92 )   (57,168 )   4,373  

Share of income from subsidiaries(2)

   218,602     —       —       (218,602 )   —    
    

 

 

       

Income before taxation

   273,538     223,553     (2,421 )         275,600  

Income tax charges

   (15,795 )   397     (2,459 )         (17,857 )
    

 

 

       

Net income/(loss)

   257,743     223,950     (4,880 )         257,743  
    

 

 

       


(2): The net income amounts at City Telecom (HK) Limited level have included the share of net income/(losses) of its subsidiaries using the equity method of accounting.

 

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Table of Contents

CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the year ended August 31, 2002

 

   

City Telecom

(HK) Limited


   

Guarantor

Subsidiaries


   

Non-Guarantor

Subsidiary


   

Eliminating

Entries


   

Consolidated

Total


 
    HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000  

Revenue from provision of telecommunication and other services, net

  744,914     488,223     2,010     (84,947 )   1,150,200  

Cost of services provided

  (349,253 )   (142,236 )   —       33,526     (457,963 )
   

 

 

       

Gross profit

  395,661     345,987     2,010           692,237  

Operating expenses

                             

Salaries and related costs

  (100,919 )   (96,477 )   (772 )   2,010     (196,158 )

Sales and marketing expenses

  (79,478 )   (160,705 )   —       71,742     (168,441 )

General and administrative expenses

  (83,148 )   (154,083 )   (1,162 )   10,625     (227,768 )

Provision for doubtful accounts receivable

  (7,577 )   (2,700 )   —             (10,277 )
   

 

 

       

Income/(loss) from operations

  124,539     (67,978 )   76           89,593  

Bank interest income

  6,884     3,986     —             10,870  

Interest expenses

  (4,652 )   (1,205 )   —       2,353     (3,504 )

Other income, net

  41,878     37,953     —       (79,329 )   502  

Share of losses from subsidiaries(2)

  (63,214 )   —       —       63,214     —    
   

 

 

       

Income before taxation

  105,435     (27,244 )   76           97,461  

Income tax charges

  (14,930 )   (260 )   —             (15,190 )
   

 

 

       

Income after taxation

  90,505     (27,504 )   76           82,271  

Minority interests

  —       —       —       8,234     8,234  
   

 

 

       

Net income/(loss)

  90,505     (27,504 )   76           90,505  
   

 

 

       


(2): The net income amounts at City Telecom (HK) Limited level have included the share of net income/(losses) of its subsidiaries using the equity method of accounting.

 

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow for the Year Ended August 31, 2004

 

   

City Telecom

(HK) Limited


   

Guarantor

Subsidiaries


   

Non-Guarantor

Subsidiary


   

Eliminating

Entries


   

Consolidated

Total


 
    HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000  

Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities

  (47,586 )   237,247     13,476     626     203,763  

Net cash used in investing activities

  (71,625 )   (374,577 )   (9,622 )   49,580     (406,244 )

Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities

  (52,779 )   150,000     —       (50,000 )   47,221  
   

 

 

       

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents

  (171,990 )   12,670     3,854           (155,260 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

  352,512     29,317     2,031           383,860  

Effects of foreign exchange rates changes

  (49 )   (296 )   298     (206 )   (253 )
   

 

 

       

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

  180,473     41,691     6,183           228,347  
   

 

 

       

 

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Table of Contents

CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow for the Year Ended August 31, 2003

 

    

City Telecom

(HK) Limited


   

Guarantor

Subsidiaries


   

Non-guarantor

Subsidiary


   

Eliminating

Entries


   

Consolidated

Total


 
     HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000  

Net cash provided by operating activities

   119,634     290,376     4,940     (450 )   414,500  

Net cash used in investing activities

   (5,877 )   (250,118 )   (10,718 )   (42,921 )   (309,634 )

Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities

   (10,274 )   (50,564 )   7,082     43,482     (10,274 )
    

 

 

       

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents

   103,483     (10,306 )   1,304           94,592  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

   249,029     40,363     1,011           290,403  

Effects of foreign exchange rates changes

   —       (740 )   (284 )   (111 )   (1,135 )
    

 

 

       

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

   352,512     29,317     2,031           383,860  
    

 

 

       

 

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow for the Year Ended August 31, 2002

 

    

City Telecom

(HK) Limited


   

Guarantor

Subsidiaries


   

Non-guarantor

Subsidiaries


   

Eliminating

Entries


   

Consolidated

Total


 
     HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000     HK$’000  

Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities

   (6,299 )   289,802     5,030     (89 )   288,444  

Net cash used in investing activities

   (119,999 )   (558,562 )   (5,071 )   208,420     (475,212 )

Net cash provided by financing activities

   9,109     207,371     1,049     (208,420 )   9,109  
    

 

 

       

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents

   (117,189 )   (61,389 )   1,008           (177,659 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

   366,218     101,532     —             467,750  

Effects of foreign exchange rates changes

   —       220     3     89     312  
    

 

 

       

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

   249,029     40,363     1,011           290,403  
    

 

 

       

 

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PART II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 20. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

City Telecom (H.K.) Limited

 

Currently, we do not pay any premium on behalf of our directors and officers to indemnify them against liability in connection with this exchange offer or the offering of the outstanding notes. However, we maintain for our directors and officers and the directors and officers of our subsidiaries insurance against liability as a result of any actual or alleged error, misstatement, act, misleading statement, omission, neglect, or breach of duty committed, attempted or allegedly committed or attempted by such director or officer, or any liability arising solely by reason of such director or officer serving in their capacity as such. However, the insurance coverage expressly excludes, among other things, any liability arising from any actual or alleged violation of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 or any securities-related rules or acts in the United States. Our insurance coverage is provided by Federal Insurance Company. We pay an annual premium of HK$185,000 for this insurance and the limit of the coverage is HK$100 million. This insurance policy is valid until December 21, 2005.

 

Applicable Laws of Hong Kong

 

Section 165 of the Companies Ordinance of Hong Kong contains a general prohibition against a company indemnifying its officers against any liability to the company or a related company (which includes the company’s subsidiary or holding company or a subsidiary of that company’s holding company) that by virtue of any rule of law would otherwise attach to them for negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which the officers may be guilty in relation to the company or a related company, except for any liability (i) incurred in defending proceedings in which judgment is given in the officer’s favor or in which the officer is acquitted or (ii) incurred in connection with any application under Section 358 of the Companies Ordinance in which relief is granted to him by the court. Section 358 empowers the court to grant relief in certain circumstances to officers of a company in proceedings for negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust against such officer.

 

Articles of Association

 

Article 157 of our articles of association provides that subject to the provisions of the Companies Ordinance, we may indemnify our directors or officers against any liability and may purchase and maintain for our directors or officers or auditors insurance against any liability. Subject to those provisions, but without prejudice to any indemnity to which the person concerned may otherwise be entitled, each of our directors or other officers shall be indemnified, and if our board of directors so determines an auditor may be indemnified, out of our assets against any liability incurred by him as a director or an officer of the company, or as auditor, in defending any proceedings (whether civil or criminal) in which judgment is given in his favor or he is acquitted or in connection with any application under the Companies Ordinance in which relief is granted to him by the court.

 

963673 Ontario Ltd.; City Telecom (Toronto) Inc., City Telecom Inc.

 

Applicable Laws of Ontario, Canada

 

Section 136 of the Ontario Business Corporations Act provides that a corporation may indemnify a present or former director or officer of the corporation, or a person who acts or acted at the corporation’s request as a director or officer of another legal entity of which the corporation is or was a shareholder or creditor, and his or her heirs and legal representatives, against all costs, charges and expenses, including an amount paid to settle an action or satisfy a judgment, reasonably incurred by him or her in respect of any civil, criminal or administrative action or proceeding to which he or she is made a party by reason of being or having been a director or officer of such corporation or body corporate, if (a) he or she acted honestly and in good faith with a view to the best

 

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interests of the corporation; and (b) in the case of a criminal or administrative action or proceeding that is enforced by a monetary penalty, he or she had reasonable grounds for believing that his or her conduct was lawful. Such indemnification may be made in connection with a derivative action only with court approval.

 

A person who fulfills the above conditions is entitled to indemnity from the corporation in respect of all costs, charges and expenses reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense of any civil, criminal, administrative action or proceeding to which he or she is made a party by reason of being or having been a director or officer of the corporation or body corporate, if the person seeking indemnity was substantially successful on the merits in his or her defense of the action or proceeding.

 

By-Laws

 

The bylaws of each of 963673 Ontario Ltd., City Telecom (Toronto) Inc. and City Telecom Inc. contain an indemnity in the terms permitted by the Ontario Business Corporations Act.

 

City Telecom (B.C.) Inc.; City Telecom (Vancouver) Inc.

 

Applicable Laws of British Columbia, Canada

 

Section 160 of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the “BC Act”) provides that a company may indemnify an “eligible party” against a judgment, penalty or fine awarded or imposed in, or an amount paid in settlement of, an “eligible proceeding”. Section 160 of the BC Act also provides that a company may, after the final disposition of an eligible proceeding, pay the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by an eligible party in respect of that proceeding. Section 161 of the BC Act provides that a company must pay such expenses if the eligible party has not been reimbursed for the same and the eligible party is wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the outcome of the proceeding or is substantially successful on the merits in the outcome of the proceeding.

 

An “eligible party” is an individual who is or was a director of the company, is or was a director or officer of another corporation either at a time when the corporation is or was an affiliate of the company or at the request of the company, or, at the request of the company, is or was a director or officer of certain other entities. An “eligible proceeding” is a proceeding in which the eligible party, by reason of being or having been a director or officer of, or holding or having held a position equivalent to that of a director or officer of, the company or an associated corporation is or may be joined as a party or is or may be liable for or in respect of a judgment, penalty or fine in, or expenses related to, the proceeding.

 

Pursuant to Section 163 of the BC Act, indemnification and payment of expenses by a company pursuant to Section 160 of the BC Act is prohibited, among other circumstances, if, in relation to the subject matter of the eligible proceeding, the eligible party did not act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the company or the associated corporation, as the case may be, or, in the case of an eligible proceeding other than a civil proceeding, if the eligible party did not have reasonable grounds for believing that the eligible party’s conduct in respect of which the proceeding was brought was lawful. If an eligible proceeding is brought against an eligible party by or on behalf of the company or by or on behalf of an association corporation, the corporation must not indemnify the eligible party in respect of the proceeding or pay or advance the expenses of the eligible party.

 

Articles of Association

 

The articles of association of each of City Telecom (B.C.) Inc. and City Telecom (Vancouver) Inc. provide that, subject to the provisions of the Company Act of British Columbia (the “Old Act”), the predecessor legislation to the BC Act, the company shall indemnify its directors or former directors and the directors or former directors of a corporation of which the company was a shareholder against all costs, charges and expenses, including an amount paid to settle an action or satisfy a judgment, actually and reasonably incurred by

 

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them including an amount paid to settle an action or satisfy a judgment in a civil, criminal or administrative action or proceeding to which they are made a party by reason of being or having been directors of the company or directors of such a corporation.

 

The articles of association of each of City Telecom (B.C.) Inc. and City Telecom (Vancouver) Inc. require the company to indemnify any person other than a director in respect of any loss, damage, cost or expense whatsoever incurred by him while acting as an officer, employee or agent for the company, but such indemnification is subject to a directors’ resolution or ordinary resolution of the company if such loss, damage, cost or expense arose out of failure to comply with instructions, willful act or default or fraud of such person. The articles of association of each company also require the company to indemnify the secretary or an assistant secretary of the company against all costs, charges and expenses whatsoever incurred by him or them and arising out of the functions assigned to the secretary by the Old Act or the articles of association. The articles of association state that the foregoing rights are not exclusive and inure to the benefit of heirs, executors and administrators.

 

It is possible that, notwithstanding the recent replacement of the Old Act by the BC Act, City Telecom (B.C.) Inc. and City Telecom (Vancouver) Inc. will still require a court order before they can indemnify their directors, and they may not be entitled to pay expenses in advance.

 

City Telecom (Canada) Incorporated

 

Applicable Laws of Nova Scotia, Canada

 

Under applicable Nova Scotia law, City Telecom (Canada) Incorporated is permitted to indemnify its officers and directors on terms acceptable to its shareholders subject only to the general common law restrictions based on public policy and restrictions residing under specific legislation of relevant jurisdictions.

 

Articles of Association

 

Section 171 of the articles of association of City Telecom (Canada) Incorporated provides that every current or former director or officer of City Telecom (Canada) Incorporated, or person who acts or acted at such company’s request, in the absence of dishonesty on such person’s part, shall be indemnified by City Telecom (Canada) Incorporated against all costs, losses and expenses, including an amount paid to settle an action or claim or satisfy a judgment, that such director, officer or person may incur or become liable to pay in respect of any (i) claim made against such person or (ii) civil, criminal or administrative action or proceeding to which such person is made a party by reason of being or having been a director or officer of City Telecom (Canada) Incorporated or such body corporate, partnership or other association, whether City Telecom (Canada) Incorporated is a claimant or party to such action or proceeding or otherwise.

 

Applicable Laws of Canada

 

The following is applicable to all of our Canadian subsidiaries:

 

Section 124 of the Canada Business Corporations Act provides that a corporation may indemnify a present or former director or officer of the corporation, or another individual who acts or acted at the corporation’s request as a director or officer of another entity, against all costs, charges and expenses, including an amount paid to settle an action or satisfy a judgment, reasonably incurred by the individual in respect of any civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other proceeding in which the individual is involved because of that association with the corporation or other entity, provided that the individual acted honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the corporation or the other entity, and, in the case of a criminal or administrative action or proceeding that is enforced by a monetary penalty, had reasonable grounds for believing that his conduct was lawful. Such indemnification may be made in connection with a derivative action only with court approval.

 

An individual who fulfills the above conditions is entitled to indemnity from the corporation in respect of all costs, charges and expenses reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense of a civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other proceeding to which he is subject because of his association with the

 

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corporation or other entity if he was not judged by the court or other competent authority to have committed any fault or omitted to do anything that he ought to have done. The corporation may advance moneys to a director, officer or other individual for the costs, charges and expenses of a proceeding referred to above; however, the individual shall repay the moneys if the above conditions are not fulfilled.

 

Attitude Holdings Limited; Automedia Holdings Limited; City Telecom International Limited; Credibility Holdings Limited; Golden Trinity Holdings Limited

 

Applicable Laws of the British Virgin Islands

 

Section 57 of the International Business Companies Act, 1984 provides that a company may indemnify against all expenses, including legal fees, and against all judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement, and reasonably incurred in connection with legal, administrative or investigative proceedings of any person who (a) is or was a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, an officer or a liquidator of the company; or (b) is or was, at the request of the company, serving as director, officer or liquidator of, or in any other capacity is or was acting for, another company or a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise. The aforementioned 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 has no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

 

Under Section 58 of the International Business Companies Act, 1984, the company may purchase and maintain insurance in relation to any person who is or was a director, an officer or a liquidator of the company, or who at the request of the company is or was serving as a director, an officer or a liquidator of, or in any other capacity is or was acting for, another company or a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against the person and incurred by the person in that capacity, whether of not the company has or would have had the power to indemnify the person against the liability under Section 57 described above.

 

Articles of Association

 

The indemnity provisions set out in clauses 121 to 126 of the articles of association of Automedia Holdings Limited, Golden Trinity Holdings Limited, Attitude Holdings Limited and Credibility Holdings Limited mirror that of Section 57 of the International Business Companies Act, 1984 as mentioned above.

 

With respect to City Telecom International Limited, clause 77 of its articles of association states that subject to the provisions of the International Business Companies Act, 1984 and of any other statute for the time being in force, every director or other officer of the company shall be entitled to be indemnified out of the assets of the company against all losses or liabilities which he may sustain or incur in or about the execution of the duties of his office or otherwise in relation thereto, and no director or other officer shall be liable for any loss, damage or misfortune which may happen to, or be incurred by the company in the execution of the duties of his office, or in relation thereto.

 

BBTV Company Limited; CTI International Limited; CTI Marketing Company Limited; Excel Billion Profits Limited; Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited; Hong Kong Broadband Phone Limited; Hong Kong Broadband Television Company Limited; Hong Kong Television Network Limited; IDD1600 Company Limited; iStore.com Limited; TeachOnNet.com Limited; Warwick Gold Enterprises Limited

 

Applicable Laws of Hong Kong

 

See the discussion of applicable provisions of Hong Kong law under City Telecom (H.K.) Limited.

 

Articles of Association

 

Article 143 of each company’s articles of association provides that every director, managing director, agent, auditor, secretary and other officer for the time being of the company shall be indemnified out of the assets of the

 

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company against any liability incurred by him in relation to the company in defending any proceedings, whether civil or criminal, in which judgment is given in his favor or in which he is acquitted or in connection with any application under Section 358 of the Companies Ordinance in which relief is granted to him by the court.

 

City Telecom (U.S.A.) Inc.

 

Applicable Laws of Delaware

 

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a corporation may indemnify directors and officers, as well as other employees and individuals, against attorneys’ fees and other expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any threatened, pending or completed actions, suits or proceedings in which such person was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party by reason of such person being or having been a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation. The Delaware General Corporation Law provides that Section 145 is not exclusive of other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.

 

By-Laws

 

The by-laws of City Telecom (U.S.A.) Inc. provide that the company shall indemnify its directors, officers, agents and employees to the fullest extent authorized in the Delaware General Corporation Law. Such indemnification may be in addition to any other rights to which any person seeking indemnification may be entitled under any agreement, vote of stockholders or directors, any provision of the by-laws or otherwise. The company may maintain insurance to protect itself and any director, officer, agent or employee whether or not the company would have the power to indemnify such person.

 

Item 21.    Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

 

Exhibit
Number


  

Description of Exhibit (and document from which incorporated by reference, if applicable)


   Note

 
3.1    Memorandum and Articles of Association of City Telecom (H.K.) Limited    (A )
3.2    By-Laws of 963673 Ontario Ltd.    (B )
3.3    Memorandum and Articles of Incorporation of Attitude Holdings Limited    (B )
3.4    Memorandum and Articles of Incorporation of Automedia Holdings Limited    (B )
3.5    Memorandum and Articles of Incorporation of BBTV Company Limited    (B )
3.6    Memorandum and Articles of Association of City Telecom (B.C.) Inc.    (B )
3.7    Memorandum and Articles of Association of City Telecom (Canada) Incorporated    (B )
3.8    By-Laws of City Telecom (Toronto) Inc.    (B )
3.9    By-Laws of City Telecom (U.S.A.) Inc.    (B )
3.10    Articles of Incorporation of City Telecom (Vancouver) Inc.    (B )
3.11    By-Laws of City Telecom Inc.    (B )
3.12    Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association of City Telecom International Limited    (B )
3.13    Memorandum and Articles of Association of Credibility Holdings Limited    (B )
3.14    Memorandum and Articles of Association of CTI International Limited    (B )

 

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Exhibit
Number


  

Description of Exhibit (and document from which incorporated by reference, if applicable)


   Note

 
3.15    Memorandum and Articles of Association of CTI Marketing Company Limited    (B )
3.16    Memorandum and Articles of Association of Excel Billion Profits Limited    (B )
3.17    Memorandum and Articles of Association of Golden Trinity Holdings Limited    (B )
3.18    Memorandum and Articles of Association of Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited    (B )
3.19    Memorandum and Articles of Association of Hong Kong Broadband Phone Limited    (B )
3.20    Memorandum and Articles of Association of Hong Kong Broadband Television Company Limited    (B )
3.21    Memorandum and Articles of Association of Hong Kong Television Network Limited    (B )
3.22    Memorandum and Articles of Association of IDD1600 Company Limited    (B )
3.23    Memorandum and Articles of Association of iStore.com Limited    (B )
3.24    Memorandum and Articles of Association of TeachOnNet.com Limited    (B )
3.25    Memorandum and Articles of Association of Warwick Gold Enterprises Limited    (B )
4.1    Indenture, dated as of January 20, 2005 among City Telecom (H.K.) Limited, the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee    (C )
4.2    Registration Rights Agreement, dated January 20, 2005 among City Telecom (H.K.) Limited, the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein, and Citigroup Global Markets Limited    (C )
4.3    Form of Outstanding Notes (included in Exhibit 4.1)    (C )
4.4    Form of Exchange Notes (included in Exhibit 4.1)    (C )
5.1    Legal Opinion of Jones Day as to U.S. law    (B )
5.2    Legal Opinion of Jones Day as to Hong Kong law    (B )
5.3    Legal Opinion of Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP    (B )
5.4    Legal Opinion of Stewart McKelvey Stirling Scales    (B )
5.5    Legal Opinion of Maples and Calder    (B )
12.1    Statements re computation of ratios    (C )
21.1    Subsidiaries of City Telecom (H.K.) Limited    (A )
23.1    Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm    (C )
23.2    Consent of Jones Day (included in Exhibit 5.1)    (B )
23.3    Consent of Jones Day (included in Exhibit 5.2)    (B )
23.4    Consent of Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP (included in Exhibit 5.3)    (B )
23.5    Consent of Stewart McKelvey Stirling Scales (included in Exhibit 5.4)    (B )
23.6    Consent of Maples and Calder (included in Exhibit 5.5)    (B )
24.1    Powers of Attorney    (C )
25.1    Statement of eligibility of Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 on Form T-1    (C )
99.1    Form of Letter of Transmittal    (B )
99.2    Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery    (B )

 

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Exhibit
Number


  

Description of Exhibit (and document from which incorporated by reference, if applicable)


   Note

 
99.3    Form of Letter to DTC Participants    (B )
99.4    Form of Letter to Clients    (B )
99.5    Form of Instructions to Book-Entry Transfer Participants    (B )

(A) Incorporated by reference to City Telecom (H.K.) Limited’s Form 20-F (Registration No. 333-11012), filed on February 8, 2005.
(B) To be filed by amendment.
(C) Filed herewith.

 

Item 22.    Undertakings.

 

The undersigned registrants hereby undertake:

 

(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plant’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(2) To supply by means of a post-effective amendment all information concerning a transaction, and the company being acquired involved therein, that was not the subject of and included in the registration statement when it became effective.

 

(3) (a) To respond to requests for information that is incorporated by reference into the prospectus pursuant to Item 4, 10(b), 11, or 13 of this form, within one business day of receipt of such request, and to send the incorporated documents by first class mail or other equally prompt means, and (b) to arrange or provide for a facility in the U.S. for the purpose of responding to such requests. The undertaking in subparagraph (a) above includes information contained in documents filed subsequent to the effective date of the registration statement through the date of responding to the request.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrants have been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities registered, the registrants will, unless in the opinion of their 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 of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, City Telecom (H.K.) Limited has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Hong Kong, on March 18, 2005.

 

City Telecom (H.K.) Limited

By:   /s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        
   

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

Director/Chairman

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on March 18, 2005.

 

Signature


  

Title


/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

  

Director/Chairman

/s/    CHEUNG CHI KIN, PAUL        


Cheung Chi Kin, Paul

  

Director/Managing Director

/s/    CHONG KIN CHUN, JOHN        


Chong Kin Chun, John

  

Director

/s/    FUNG SO MUI, FION        


Fung So Mui, Fion

  

Director

/s/    SIO VENG KUAN, CORINNA        


Sio Veng Kuan, Corinna

  

Director

/s/    TO WAI BING        


To Wai Bing

  

Director

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, 963673 Ontario Ltd. has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Hong Kong, on March 18, 2005.

 

963673 Ontario Ltd.

By:

 

/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


   

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

Authorized Representative

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on March 18, 2005.

 

Signature


  

Title


/s/    LEUNG KA PAK        


Leung, Ka Pak

  

Director/President

/s/    YAU MING YAN        


Yau Ming Yan

  

Director/Secretary

/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

  

Authorized Representative

/s/    SIO VENG KUAN, CORINNA        


Sio Veng Kuan, Corinna

  

Authorized Representative

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, Attitude Holdings Limited has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Hong Kong, on March 18, 2005.

 

Attitude Holdings Limited

By:

 

/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


    Wong Wai Kay, Ricky
    Director

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on March 18, 2005.

 

Signature


  

Title


/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

  

Director

/s/    CHEUNG CHI KIN, PAUL        


Cheung Chi Kin, Paul

  

Director

/s/    SIO VENG KUAN, CORINNA        


Sio Veng Kuan, Corinna

  

Authorized Representative

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, Automedia Holdings Limited has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Hong Kong, on March 18, 2005.

 

Automedia Holdings Limited

By:

 

/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


   

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

Director

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on March 18, 2005.

 

Signature


  

Title


/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

  

Director

/s/    CHEUNG CHI KIN, PAUL        


Cheung Chi Kin, Paul

  

Director

/s/    SIO VENG KUAN, CORINNA        


Sio Veng Kuan, Corinna

  

Director

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, BBTV Company Limited has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Hong Kong, on March 18, 2005.

 

BBTV Company Limited

By:

 

/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


   

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

Director

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on March 18, 2005.

 

Signature


  

Title


/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

  

Director

/s/    CHEUNG CHI KIN, PAUL        


Cheung Chi Kin, Paul

  

Director

/s/    SIO VENG KUAN, CORINNA        


Sio Veng Kuan, Corinna

  

Director

/s/    TO WAI BING        


To Wai Bing

  

Director

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, City Telecom (B.C.) Inc. has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Hong Kong, on March 18, 2005.

 

City Telecom (B.C.) Inc.

By:

 

/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


   

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

Assistant Secretary

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on March 18, 2005.

 

Signature


  

Title


/s/    LEUNG, KA PAK        


Leung, Ka Pak

  

Director/President

/s/    YAU MING YAN        


Yau Ming Yan

  

Director/Secretary

/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

  

Assistant Secretary

/s/    SIO VENG KUAN, CORINNA        


Sio Veng Kuan, Corinna

  

Assistant Secretary

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, City Telecom (Canada) Incorporated has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Hong Kong, on March 18, 2005.

 

City Telecom (Canada) Incorporated

By:

 

/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


   

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

Director/President

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on March 18, 2005.

 

Signature


  

Title


/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

  

Director/President

/s/    CHEUNG CHI KIN, PAUL        


Cheung Chi Kin, Paul

  

Director

/s/    SIO VENG KUAN, CORINNA        


Sio Veng Kuan, Corinna

  

Director

/s/    LEUNG, KA PAK        


Leung, Ka Pak

  

Authorized Representative

/s/    YAU MING YAN        


Yau Ming Yan

  

Authorized Representative

 

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Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, City Telecom (Toronto) Inc. has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Hong Kong, on March 18, 2005.

 

City Telecom (Toronto) Inc.

By:

 

/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


   

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

Authorized Representative

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on March 18, 2005.

 

Signature


  

Title


/s/    LEUNG, KA PAK        


Leung, Ka Pak

  

Director/President

/s/    YAU MING YAN        


Yau Ming Yan

  

Director/Secretary

/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

  

Authorized Representative

/s/    SIO VENG KUAN, CORINNA        


Sio Veng Kuan, Corinna

  

Authorized Representative

 

II-15


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, City Telecom (U.S.A.) Inc. has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Hong Kong, on March 18, 2005.

 

City Telecom (U.S.A.) Inc.

By:

 

/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


   

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

Director/President

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on March 18, 2005.

 

Signature


  

Title


/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

  

Director/President

/s/    CHEUNG CHI KIN, PAUL        


Cheung Chi Kin, Paul

  

Director/Treasurer

/s/    SIO VENG KUAN, CORINNA        


Sio Veng Kuan, Corinna

  

Authorized Representative

 

II-16


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, City Telecom (Vancouver) Inc. has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Hong Kong, on March 18, 2005.

 

City Telecom (Vancouver) Inc.

By:

 

/s/    Wong Wai Kay, Ricky        


    Wong Wai Kay, Ricky
    Assistant Secretary

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on March 18, 2005.

 

Signature


  

Title


/s/    LEUNG, KA PAK        


Leung, Ka Pak

  

Director/President

/s/    YAU MING YAN        


Yau Ming Yan

  

Director/Secretary

/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

  

Assistant Secretary

/s/    SIO VENG KUAN, CORINNA        


Sio Veng Kuan, Corinna

  

Assistant Secretary

 

II-17


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, City Telecom Inc. has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Hong Kong, on March 18, 2005.

 

City Telecom Inc.

By:

 

/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


    Wong Wai Kay, Ricky
    Authorized Representative

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on March 18, 2005.

 

Signature


  

Title


/s/    LEUNG, KA PAK        


Leung, Ka Pak

  

Director/President

/s/    YAU MING YAN        


Yau Ming Yan

  

Director/Secretary

/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

  

Authorized Representative

/s/    SIO VENG KUAN, CORINNA        


Sio Veng Kuan, Corinna

  

Authorized Representative

 

II-18


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, City Telecom International Limited has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Hong Kong, on March 18, 2005.

 

City Telecom International Limited

By:

 

/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


    Wong Wai Kay, Ricky
    Director

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on March 18, 2005.

 

Signature


  

Title


/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

  

Director

/s/    CHEUNG CHI KIN, PAUL        


Cheung Chi Kin, Paul

  

Director

/s/    SIO VENG KUAN, CORINNA        


Sio Veng Kuan, Corinna

  

Authorized Representative

 

II-19


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, Credibility Holdings Limited has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Hong Kong, on March 18, 2005.

 

Credibility Holdings Limited

By:

 

/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


    Wong Wai Kay, Ricky
    Director

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on March 18, 2005.

 

Signature


  

Title


/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

  

Director

/s/    CHEUNG CHI KIN, PAUL        


Cheung Chi Kin, Paul

  

Director

/s/    CHONG KIN CHUN, JOHN        


Chong Kin Chun, John

  

Director

/s/    FUNG SO MUI, FION        


Fung So Mui, Fion

  

Director

/s/    SIO VENG KUAN, CORINNA        


Sio Veng Kuan, Corinna

  

Director

 

II-20


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, CTI International Limited has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Hong Kong, on March 18, 2005.

 

CTI International Limited

By:

 

/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


    Wong Wai Kay, Ricky
    Director

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on March 18, 2005.

 

Signature


  

Title


/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

  

Director

/s/    CHEUNG CHI KIN, PAUL        


Cheung Chi Kin, Paul

  

Director

/s/    SIO VENG KUAN, CORINNA        


Sio Veng Kuan, Corinna

  

Authorized Representative

 

II-21


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, CTI Marketing Company Limited has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Hong Kong, on March 18, 2005.

 

CTI Marketing Company Limited

By:

 

/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


   

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

Director

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on March 18, 2005.

 

Signature


  

Title


/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

  

Director

/s/    CHEUNG CHI KIN, PAUL        


Cheung Chi Kin, Paul

  

Director

/s/    SIO VENG KUAN, CORINNA        


Sio Veng Kuan, Corinna

  

Authorized Representative

 

II-22


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, Excel Billion Profits Limited has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Hong Kong, on March 18, 2005.

 

Excel Billion Profits Limited

By:

 

/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


   

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

Director

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on March 18, 2005.

 

Signature


  

Title


/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

  

Director

/s/    CHEUNG CHI KIN, PAUL        


Cheung Chi Kin, Paul

  

Director

/s/    SIO VENG KUAN, CORINNA        


Sio Veng Kuan, Corinna

  

Authorized Representative

 

II-23


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, Golden Trinity Holdings Limited has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Hong Kong, on March 18, 2005.

 

Golden Trinity Holdings Limited

By:  

/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


   

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

Director

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on March 18, 2005.

 

Signature


  

Title


/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

  

Director

/s/    CHEUNG CHI KIN, PAUL        


Cheung Chi Kin, Paul

  

Director

/s/    SIO VENG KUAN, CORINNA        


Sio Veng Kuan, Corinna

  

Director

 

II-24


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Hong Kong, on March 18, 2005.

 

Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited

By:

 

/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


   

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

Director

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on March 18, 2005.

 

Signature


  

Title


/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

  

Director

/s/    CHEUNG CHI KIN, PAUL        


Cheung Chi Kin, Paul

  

Director

/s/    CHONG KIN CHUN, JOHN        


Chong Kin Chun, John

  

Director

/s/    SIO VENG KUAN, CORINNA        


Sio Veng Kuan, Corinna

  

Director

/s/    LO SUI LUN        


Lo Sui Lun

  

Director

 

II-25


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, Hong Kong Broadband Phone Limited has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Hong Kong, on March 18, 2005.

 

Hong Kong Broadband Phone Limited

By:

 

/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


   

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

Director

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on March 18, 2005.

 

Signature


  

Title


/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

  

Director

/s/    CHEUNG CHI KIN, PAUL        


Cheung Chi Kin, Paul

  

Director

/s/    SIO VENG KUAN, CORINNA        


Sio Veng Kuan, Corinna

  

Authorized Representative

 

II-26


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, Hong Kong Broadband Television Company Limited has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Hong Kong, on March 18, 2005.

 

Hong Kong Broadband Television Company Limited

By:

 

/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


   

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

Director

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on March 18, 2005.

 

Signature


  

Title


/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

  

Director

/s/    CHEUNG CHI KIN, PAUL        


Cheung Chi Kin, Paul

  

Director

/s/    SIO VENG KUAN, CORINNA        


Sio Veng Kuan, Corinna

  

Authorized Representative

 

II-27


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, Hong Kong Television Network Limited has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Hong Kong, on March 18, 2005.

 

Hong Kong Television Network Limited

By:

 

/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


   

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

Director

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on March 18, 2005.

 

Signature


  

Title


/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

  

Director

/s/    CHEUNG CHI KIN, PAUL        


Cheung Chi Kin, Paul

  

Director

/s/    SIO VENG KUAN, CORINNA        


Sio Veng Kuan, Corinna

  

Authorized Representative

 

II-28


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, IDD1600 Company Limited has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Hong Kong, on March 18, 2005.

 

IDD1600 Company Limited

By:

 

/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


   

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

Director

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on March 18, 2005.

 

Signature


  

Title


/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

  

Director

/s/    CHEUNG CHI KIN, PAUL        


Cheung Chi Kin, Paul

  

Director

/s/    SIO VENG KUAN, CORINNA        


Sio Veng Kuan, Corinna

  

Authorized Representative

 

II-29


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, iStore.com Limited has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Hong Kong, on March 18, 2005.

 

iStore.com Limited

By:

 

/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


   

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

Director

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on March 18, 2005.

 

Signature


  

Title


/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

  

Director

/s/    CHEUNG CHI KIN, PAUL        


Cheung Chi Kin, Paul

  

Director

/s/    SIO VENG KUAN, CORINNA        


Sio Veng Kuan, Corinna

  

Authorized Representative

 

II-30


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, TeachOnNet.com Limited has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Hong Kong, on March 18, 2005.

 

TeachOnNet.com Limited

By:

 

/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


   

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

Director

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on March 18, 2005.

 

Signature


  

Title


/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

  

Director

/s/    CHEUNG CHI KIN, PAUL        


Cheung Chi Kin, Paul

  

Director

/s/    SIO VENG KUAN, CORINNA        


Sio Veng Kuan, Corinna

  

Authorized Representative

 

II-31


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, Warwick Gold Enterprises Limited has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Hong Kong, on March 18, 2005.

 

Warwick Gold Enterprises Limited

By:

 

/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


   

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

Authorized Representative

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on March 18, 2005.

 

Signature


  

Title


/s/    LEE CHING HAN        


Lee Ching Han

  

Director

/s/    LEUNG YUEN YEE        


Leung Yuen Yee

  

Director

/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

  

Authorized Representative

/s/    SIO VENG KUAN, CORINNA        


Sio Veng Kuan, Corinna

  

Authorized Representative

 

II-32


Table of Contents

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, City Telecom (U.S.A.) Inc. certifies that it is the duly authorized United States representative of each registrant not incorporated in the United States and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Hong Kong, on March 18, 2005.

 

CITY TELECOM (U.S.A.) INC.

(Authorized Representative in the United States)

By:

 

/s/    WONG WAI KAY, RICKY        


   

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

Director/President

 

II-33

EX-4.1 2 dex41.htm INDENTURE, DATED AS OF JANUARY 20, 2005 AMONG CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED Indenture, dated as of January 20, 2005 among City Telecom (H.K.) Limited

Exhibit 4.1

 


 

City Telecom (H.K.) Limited

 

as Issuer,

 

and each of its Subsidiaries (except for CTI Guangzhou Customer Services Co. Ltd),

 

as Guarantors

 

and

 

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

 

as Trustee

 


 

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of January 20, 2005

 


 

US$125,000,000

8.75% Senior Notes due 2015

 



TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

   1

Section 1.1

   Definitions.    1

Section 1.2

   Incorporation by Reference of TIA.    29

Section 1.3

   Rules of Construction.    29

ARTICLE II THE NOTES

   29

Section 2.1

   Form and Dating.    29

Section 2.2

   Execution and Authentication.    30

Section 2.3

   Registrar and Paying Agent.    31

Section 2.4

   Paying Agent to Hold Assets in Trust.    32

Section 2.5

   Noteholder Lists.    32

Section 2.6

   Transfer and Exchange.    32

Section 2.7

   Replacement Notes.    38

Section 2.8

   Outstanding Notes.    38

Section 2.9

   Treasury Notes.    39

Section 2.10

   Temporary Notes.    39

Section 2.11

   Cancellation.    39

Section 2.12

   Defaulted Interest.    39

Section 2.13

   CUSIP Numbers.    40

Section 2.14

   Issuance of Additional Notes    40

ARTICLE III REDEMPTION

   41

Section 3.1

   Notices to Trustee.    41

Section 3.2

   Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed.    41

Section 3.3

   Notice of Redemption.    41

Section 3.4

   Effect of Notice of Redemption.    42

Section 3.5

   Deposit of Redemption Price.    42

Section 3.6

   Notes Redeemed in Part.    43

Section 3.7

   Right of Redemption.    43

Section 3.8

   Optional Tax Redemption    43

Section 3.9

   Notices to SGX-ST.    44

ARTICLE IV COVENANTS

   44

Section 4.1

   Payment of Notes.    44

Section 4.2

   Maintenance of Office or Agency.    45

Section 4.3

   Corporate and Partnership Existence.    45

Section 4.4

   Payment of Taxes and Other Claims.    45

Section 4.5

   Maintenance of Properties and Insurance.    46

Section 4.6

   Compliance Certificate; Notice of Default.    46

Section 4.7

   Reports.    47

Section 4.8

   [Reserved]    47

Section 4.9

   Limitation on Indebtedness.    48

Section 4.10

   Limitation on Restricted Payments.    51

Section 4.11

   Limitation on Affiliate Transactions.    54

Section 4.12

   Limitations on Restrictions on Distributions from Restricted Subsidiaries.    55

Section 4.13

   Limitation on Sale of Assets and Subsidiary Stock.    57

Section 4.14

   Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws.    60

Section 4.15

   Limitation on sale of capital stock of restricted subsidiaries.    60

Section 4.16

   Limitation on sale/leaseback transactions.    60

Section 4.17

   Limitation on Liens.    61

Section 4.18

   Future Subsidiary Guarantors.    61

 

i


Section 4.19

   Limitation on Lines of Business.    61

Section 4.20

   Additional Covenants.    61

Section 4.21

   Rule 144A Information Requirement.    62

Section 4.22

   Additional Amounts.    62

Section 4.23

   Payments for Consent.    65

Section 4.24

   Indemnification of Judgment Currency.    65

ARTICLE V SUCCESSOR CORPORATION

   65

Section 5.1

   Limitation on Merger, Sale or Consolidation.    65

Section 5.2

   Successor Corporation Substituted.    67

ARTICLE VI EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

   67

Section 6.1

   Events of Default.    67

Section 6.2

   Acceleration of Stated Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.    69

Section 6.3

   Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.    70

Section 6.4

   Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.    71

Section 6.5

   Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Notes.    71

Section 6.6

   Priorities.    71

Section 6.7

   Limitation on Suits.    72

Section 6.8

   Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest.    72

Section 6.9

   Rights and Remedies Cumulative.    73

Section 6.10

   Delay or Omission Not Waiver.    73

Section 6.11

   Control by Holders.    73

Section 6.12

   Waiver of Existing or Past Default.    73

Section 6.13

   Undertaking for Costs.    74

Section 6.14

   Restoration of Rights and Remedies.    74

ARTICLE VII TRUSTEE

   74

Section 7.1

   Duties of Trustee.    74

Section 7.2

   Rights of Trustee.    75

Section 7.3

   Individual Rights of Trustee.    76

Section 7.4

   Trustee’s Disclaimer.    76

Section 7.5

   Notice of Default.    77

Section 7.6

   Reports by Trustee to Holders.    77

Section 7.7

   Compensation and Indemnity.    77

Section 7.8

   Replacement of Trustee.    78

Section 7.9

   Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc.    79

Section 7.10

   Eligibility; Disqualification.    79

Section 7.11

   Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.    79

Section 7.12

   Appointment of Co-Trustee.    79

ARTICLE VIII DISCHARGE; LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

   80

Section 8.1

   Discharge; Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.    80

Section 8.2

   Legal Defeasance and Discharge.    81

Section 8.3

   Covenant Defeasance.    82

Section 8.4

   Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.    82

Section 8.5

   Deposited Cash and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.    83

Section 8.6

   Repayment to the Company.    84

Section 8.7

   Reinstatement.    84

ARTICLE IX AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS

   84

Section 9.1

   Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.    84

Section 9.2

   Amendments, Supplemental Indentures and Waivers with Consent of Holders.    85

Section 9.3

   Compliance with TIA.    86

 

ii


Section 9.4

   Revocation and Effect of Consents.    87

Section 9.5

   Notation on or Exchange of Notes.    87

Section 9.6

   Trustee to Sign Amendments, Etc.    87

ARTICLE X RIGHT OF HOLDERS TO REQUIRE REPURCHASE OF SECURITIES

   88

Section 10.1

   Repurchase of Notes Upon a Change of Control.    88

ARTICLE XI GUARANTEE

   91

Section 11.1

   Guarantee.    91

Section 11.2

   Execution and Delivery of Guarantee.    93

Section 11.3

   Certain Bankruptcy Events.    94

Section 11.4

   Release of Subsidiary Guarantors.    94

ARTICLE XII [RESERVED]

   94

ARTICLE XIII MISCELLANEOUS

   95

Section 13.1

   TIA Controls.    95

Section 13.2

   Notices.    95

Section 13.3

   Communications by Holders with Other Holders.    96

Section 13.4

   Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.    96

Section 13.5

   Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.    96

Section 13.6

   Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent, Registrar.    96

Section 13.7

   Legal Holidays.    96

Section 13.8

   Governing Law.    97

Section 13.9

   Waiver of Jury Trial.    97

Section 13.10

   No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.    97

Section 13.11

   No Personal Liability of Partners, Stockholders, Officers, Directors.    97

Section 13.12

   Successors.    97

Section 13.13

   Duplicate Originals.    97

Section 13.14

   Severability.    97

Section 13.15

   Consent to Service and Jurisdiction; Appointment of Agent; Waiver of Sovereign Immunity; etc.    98

Section 13.16

   Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.    99

Section 13.17

   Qualification of Indenture.    99

Section 13.18

   Force Majeure.    99

 

iii


CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

 

TIA

Section


  

Indenture

Section


310(a)(1)

   7.10

    (a)(2)

   7.10

    (a)(3)

   N.A.

    (a)(4)

   N.A.

    (a)(5)

   7.10

    (b)

   7.10

    (c)

   N.A.

311(a)

   7.11

    (b)

   7.11

    (c)

   N.A.

312(a)

   2.5

    (b)

   13.3

    (c)

   13.3

313(a)

   7.6

    (b)(1)

   7.6

    (b)(2)

   7.6

    (c)

   7.6

    (d)

   N.A.

314(a)

   4.7(1)

315(a)

   7.2

    (b)

   7.5

    (c)

   7.1

    (d)

   7.1

    (e)

   6.13

316(a)(last sentence)

   2.9

    (a)(1)(A)

   6.11

    (a)(1)(B)

   6.12

    (a)(2)

   N.A.

    (b)

   6.8

317(a)(1)

   6.3

    (a)(2)

   6.4

    (b)

   2.4

318(a)

   13.1

    (b)

   N.A.

    (c)

   13.1

N.A. means Not Applicable

Note: This Cross-Reference Table shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.


INDENTURE, dated as of January 20, 2005, by and among City Telecom (H.K.) Limited, a company with limited liability under the Companies Ordinance (Cap.32) of Hong Kong (the “Company”), the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined below) and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

 

Each party hereto agrees as follows for the benefit of each other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Company’s 8.75% Senior Notes due 2015 to be exchanged for the 8.75% Senior Exchange Notes due 2015.

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

Section 1.1 Definitions.

 

“Acquired Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (i) of a Person or any of its Subsidiaries existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets from such Person, in each case whether or not Incurred by such Person in connection with, or in anticipation or contemplation of, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary or such acquisition. Acquired Indebtedness shall be deemed to have been Incurred, with respect to clause (i) of the preceding sentence, on the date such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary and, with respect to clause (ii) of the preceding sentence, on the date of consummation of such acquisition of assets.

 

“Additional Amounts” has the meaning given to such term in Section 4.22(1).

 

“Additional Notes” means any Notes (other than Initial Notes and Exchange Notes) issued under this Indenture in accordance with Section 2.2, Section 2.14 and Section 4.9 hereof, as part of the same series as the Initial Notes or as an additional series.

 

“Additional Taxing Jurisdiction” has the meaning given to such term in Section 4.22(6).

 

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person, directly or indirectly, controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing; provided that beneficial owner of 10% or more of the Voting Stock of a Person shall be deemed to be control.

 

“Affiliate Transaction” has the meaning given to such term in Section 4.11.

 

“Agent” means any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-Registrar.

 

“AICPA” means the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

 

“Asset Disposition” means any direct or indirect sale, lease (other than an operating lease entered into in the ordinary course of business), transfer, issuance or other disposition, or a series of related sales, leases, transfers, issuances or dispositions that are part of a common plan, of shares of Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary (other than directors’ qualifying shares), property or other assets (each referred to for the purposes of this definition as a “disposition”) by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including any disposition by means of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction.


Notwithstanding the preceding, the following items shall not be deemed to be Asset Dispositions:

 

(a) a disposition by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to a Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

(b) the sale of Cash Equivalents in the ordinary course of business;

 

(c) a disposition of inventory in the ordinary course of business;

 

(d) a disposition of obsolete or worn out equipment or equipment that is no longer useful in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and that is disposed of in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(e) transactions permitted under Section 5.1; and

 

(f) an issuance of Capital Stock by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or to a Subsidiary Guarantor; and

 

(g) for purposes of Section 4.13 only, the making of a Permitted Investment or a disposition subject to Section 4.10.

 

“Asset Disposition Offer” has the meaning given to such term in Section 4.13(2).

 

“Asset Disposition Offer Amount” has the meaning given to such term in Section 4.13(3).

 

“Asset Disposition Offer Period” has the meaning given to such term in Section 4.13(3).

 

“Asset Disposition Offer Price” has the meaning given to such term in Section 4.13(2).

 

“Attributable Indebtedness” in respect of a Sale/Leaseback Transaction means, as at the time of determination, the greater of:

 

(1) the Fair Market Value of the assets subject to such Sale/Leaseback Transaction; and

 

(2) the present value (discounted at the interest rate borne by the Notes, compounded semi-annually) of the total obligations of the lessee for rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such Sale/Leaseback Transaction (including any period for which such lease has been extended).

 

“Average Life” means, as of the date of determination, with respect to any Indebtedness or Preferred Stock, the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the sum of the products of (a) the number of years (rounded to the nearest one twelfth of a year) from the date of determination to the dates of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to such Preferred Stock multiplied by the amount of such payment by (2) the sum of all such payments.

 

“Bankruptcy Law” means any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law of Hong Kong or other applicable jurisdiction or any political subdivision thereof or other applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law.

 

“Beneficial Owner” or “beneficial owner” for purposes of the definition of Change of Control and Affiliate has the meaning attributed to it in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, whether or not applicable, except that a “person” shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all shares that any such Person has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time.

 

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“Board of Directors” means, with respect to any Person, the board of directors of such Person or any duly authorized committee thereof.

 

“Business Day” means each day that is not a Saturday or Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close.

 

“Capital Stock” of any Person means any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participation or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity of such Person, including any Preferred Stock, but excluding any debt securities convertible or exchangeable into such equity.

 

“Capitalized Lease Obligation” means an obligation that is required to be classified and accounted for as a capitalized lease for financial reporting purposes in accordance with US GAAP, and the amount of Indebtedness represented by such obligation will be the capitalized amount of such obligation at the time any determination thereof is to be made as determined in accordance with US GAAP, and the Stated Maturity thereof will be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior to the first date such lease may be terminated without penalty. For purposes of Section 4.17, a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed secured by a Lien on the assets being leased.

 

“Cash” or “cash” means such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public or private debts.

 

“Cash Equivalent” means:

 

(a) any evidence of indebtedness issued by the United States of America or any of its instrumentalities or agencies or by Hong Kong or any of its instrumentalities or agencies, or by the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank or any other supranational organization (“Government Entities”) and fully guaranteed or otherwise backed as to principal, premium, if any, interest and all other amounts, by the Government Entity issuing the indebtedness;

 

(b) investments in time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit and money market deposits issued by a bank or trust company which is organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state of the United States or any foreign country recognized by the United States, and which bank or trust company has capital, surplus and undivided profits aggregating in excess of US$500.0 million, or the foreign currency equivalent thereof, and has outstanding long-term debt which is rated “A” or “A-3”, or a similar equivalent rating, or higher by at least one “nationally recognized statistical rating organization”, as defined in Rule 436 under the Securities Act;

 

(c) investments in commercial paper issued by a corporation, other than an Affiliate of the Company, organized and in existence under the laws of the United States of America or any foreign country recognized by the United States of America with a rating at the time as of which any investment therein is made in one of the two highest ratings obtainable from either Moody’s or S&P;

 

(d) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than 30 days for underlying securities of the types described in clause (a) above entered into with a bank meeting the qualifications described in clause (b) above;

 

(e) investments in securities with maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed by an state, commonwealth or territory of the United States of America, or by an political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, and rated at least “A” by S&P or “A” by Moody’s; or

 

3


(f) investment funds investing exclusively in investments of the types described in clauses (a) through (e) above;

 

and in the case of each of (a), (b) and (c) maturing within one year after the date of acquisition.

 

“Change of Control” means:

 

(a) (i) any “person” or “group” of related persons (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than one or more Permitted Holders, is or becomes the “beneficial owner”, directly or indirectly, of more than 35% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company (or its successor by merger, consolidation or purchase of all or substantially all of its assets) (for the purposes of this clause, such person or group shall be deemed to beneficially own any Voting Stock of the Company held by a parent entity, if such person or group beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, more than 35% of the voting power of the Voting Stock of such parent entity); and (ii) the Permitted Holders “beneficially own”, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate a lesser percentage of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company (or its successor by merger, consolidation or purchase of all or substantially all of its assets) than such other person or group and do not have the right or ability by voting power, contract or otherwise to elect or designate for election a majority of the board of directors of the Company or such successor (for the purposes of this clause, such other person or group shall be deemed to beneficially own any Voting Stock of a specified entity held by a parent entity, if such other person or group “beneficially owns” directly or indirectly, more than 35% of the voting power of the Voting Stock of such parent entity and the Permitted Holders “beneficially own” directly or indirectly, in the aggregate a lesser percentage of the voting power of the Voting Stock of such parent entity and do not have the right or ability by voting power, contract or otherwise to elect or designate for election a majority of the board of directors of such parent entity); or

 

(b) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company are not Continuing Directors; or

 

(c) the sale, lease, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition directly or indirectly, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole (other than a disposition of such assets as an entirety to a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary) to any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) other than a Permitted Holder or the Company merges, consolidates or amalgamates with or into any other Person (other than one or more Permitted Holders) or any other Person (other than one or more Permitted Holders) mergers, consolidates or amalgamates with or into the Company, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company is reclassified into or exchanged for cash, securities or other assets, other than any such transaction where:

 

(i) the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company is reclassified into or exchanged for Voting Stock of the surviving corporation, and

 

(ii) the holders of the Voting Stock of the Company immediately prior to such transaction own, directly or indirectly, not less than a majority of the Voting Stock of the surviving corporation immediately after such transaction and in substantially the same proportion as before the transaction; or

 

4


(d) the adoption by the stockholders of the Company of a plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

“Change of Control Offer” has the meaning given to such term in Section 10.1.

 

“Change of Control Offer Period” has the meaning given to such term in Section 10.1.

 

“Change of Control Payment Date” has the meaning given to such term in Section 10.1.

 

“Change of Control Purchase Price” has the meaning given to such term in Section 10.1.

 

“Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, S.A.

 

“Company” means the party named as such in this Indenture until a successor replaces it pursuant to this Indenture, and thereafter means such successor.

 

“Common Stock” means with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interest or other participations in, and other equivalents (however designated and whether voting or non-voting) of such Person’s common stock whether or not outstanding on the Issue Date, and includes, without limitation, all series and classes of such common stock.

 

“Consolidated Current Liabilities” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate amount of liabilities of the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries which may properly be classified as current liabilities (including taxes accrued as estimated), after eliminating (1) all intercompany items between the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary or between Restricted Subsidiaries; and (2) all current maturities of long-term Indebtedness.

 

“Consolidated EBITDA” for any period means, without duplication, the Consolidated Net Income for such period, plus the following to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income:

 

(a) Consolidated Interest Expense;

 

(b) Consolidated Income Taxes;

 

(c) consolidated depreciation expense;

 

(d) consolidated amortization expense or impairment charges;

 

(e) other non-cash charges reducing Consolidated Net Income (excluding any such non-cash charge to the extent it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash charges in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period not included in the calculation).

 

Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, clauses (2) through (5) relating to amounts of a Restricted Subsidiary of a Person will be added to Consolidated Net Income to compute Consolidated EBITDA of such Person only to the extent (and in the same proportion) that the net income (loss) of such Restricted Subsidiary was included in calculating the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and, to the extent the amounts set forth in clauses (2) through (5) are in excess of those necessary to offset a net loss of such Restricted Subsidiary or if such Restricted Subsidiary has net income for such period included in Consolidated Net Income, only if a corresponding amount would be permitted at the date of determination to be dividended to the Company by such Restricted Subsidiary without prior approval (that has not been obtained), pursuant to the terms of its charter and all agreements, instruments, judgments, decrees, orders, statutes, rules and governmental regulations applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders.

 

5


“Consolidated Income Taxes” means, with respect to any Person for any period, taxes imposed upon such Person or other payments required to be made by such Person by any governmental authority which taxes or other payments are calculated by reference to the income or profits of such Person or such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries (to the extent such income or profits were included in computing Consolidated Net Income for such period), regardless of whether such taxes or payments are required to be remitted to any governmental authority.

 

“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, for any period, the total interest expense of the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries, whether paid or accrued, plus, to the extent not included in such interest expense:

 

(a) interest expense attributable to Capitalized Lease Obligations and the interest portion of rent expense associated with Attributable Indebtedness in respect of the relevant lease giving rise thereto, determined as if such lease were a capitalized lease in accordance with US GAAP and the interest component of any deferred payment obligations;

 

(b) amortization of debt discount and debt issuance cost (provided that any amortization of bond premium will be credited to reduce Consolidated Interest Expense unless, pursuant to US GAAP, such amortization of bond premium has otherwise reduced Consolidated Interest Expense);

 

(c) non-cash interest expense;

 

(d) commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing;

 

(e) interest actually paid by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary under any Guarantee of Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person;

 

(f) costs associated with Hedging Obligations (including amortization of fees);

 

(g) the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period;

 

(h) the product of (a) all dividends paid or payable, in cash, Cash Equivalents or Indebtedness or accrued during such period on any series of Disqualified Stock of such Person or on Preferred Stock of its Restricted Subsidiaries payable to a party other than the Company or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, and (b) a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is one minus the then current combined federal, state, provincial and local statutory tax rate of such Person, expressed as a decimal, in each case, on a consolidated basis and in accordance with US GAAP;

 

(i) interest incurred in connection with Investments in discontinued operations; and

 

(j) the cash contributions to any employee stock ownership plan or similar trust to the extent such contributions are used by such plan or trust to pay interest or fees to any Person (other than the Company) in connection with Indebtedness Incurred by such plan or trust.

 

For purposes of the foregoing, total interest expense will be determined (i) after giving effect to any net payments made or received by the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to Interest Rate Agreements and (ii) exclusive of amounts classified as other comprehensive income in the balance sheet of the Company. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges Incurred in connection with any transaction pursuant to

 

6


which the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries may sell, convey or otherwise transfer or grant a security interest in any accounts receivable or related assets shall be included in Consolidated Interest Expense.

 

“Consolidated Leverage Ratio” means as of any date of determination, the ratio of (i) the outstanding Indebtedness of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis to (ii) the aggregate Consolidated EBITDA of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries for the period of the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters ending prior to the date of such determination for which financial statements are in existence, provided, however, that:

 

(a) if since the beginning of such period the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary will have made any Asset Disposition or disposed of any company, division, operating unit, segment, business, group of related assets or line of business or if the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Leverage Ratio is such an Asset Disposition:

 

(i) the Consolidated EBITDA for such period will be reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA (if positive) directly attributable to the assets which are the subject of such Asset Disposition for such period or increased by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA (if negative) directly attributable thereto for such period; and

 

(b) if since the beginning of such period the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (by merger or otherwise) will have made an Investment in any Restricted Subsidiary (or any Person which becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged with or into the Company) or an acquisition of assets, including any acquisition of assets occurring in connection with a transaction causing a calculation to be made hereunder, which constitutes all or substantially all of a company, division, operating unit, segment, business, group of related assets or line of business, Consolidated EBITDA for such period will be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto (including the Incurrence of any Indebtedness) as if such Investment or acquisition occurred on the first day of such period; and

 

(c) if since the beginning of such period any Person (that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period) will have Incurred any Indebtedness or discharged any Indebtedness, made any Asset Disposition or any Investment or acquisition of assets that would have required an adjustment pursuant to clause (a) or (b) above if made by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary during such period, Consolidated EBITDA for such period will be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Asset Disposition or Investment or acquisition of assets occurred on the first day of such period.

 

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any calculation under this definition, the pro forma calculations will be determined in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company (including pro forma expense and cost reductions calculated on a basis consistent with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act). If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest expense on such Indebtedness will be calculated as if the rate in effect on the date of determination had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Interest Rate Agreement applicable to such Indebtedness if such Interest Rate Agreement has a remaining term in excess of 12 months). If any Indebtedness that is being given pro forma effect bears an interest rate at the option of the Company, the interest rate shall be calculated by applying such optional rate chosen by the Company.

 

7


“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the net income (loss) of the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries determined in accordance with US GAAP; provided, however, that there will not be included in such Consolidated Net Income:

 

(a) any net income (loss) of any Person (other than the Company) if such Person is not a Restricted Subsidiary, except that:

 

(i) subject to the limitations contained in clause (c) below, the Company’s equity in the net income of any such Person for such period will be included in such Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash actually distributed by such Person during such period to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary as a dividend or other distribution (subject, in the case of a dividend or other distribution to a Restricted Subsidiary, to the limitations contained in clause (b) below); and

 

(ii) the Company’s equity in a net loss of any such Person (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary) for such period will be included in determining such Consolidated Net Income to the extent such loss has been funded with cash from the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(b) any net income (but not loss) of any Restricted Subsidiary if such Subsidiary is subject to restrictions, directly or indirectly, on the payment of dividends or the making of distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, to the Company, except that:

 

(i) subject to the limitations contained in clause (c) below, the Company’s equity in the net income of any such Restricted Subsidiary for such period will be included in such Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash that could have been distributed by such Restricted Subsidiary during such period to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary as a dividend (subject, in the case of a dividend to another Restricted Subsidiary, to the limitation contained in this clause); and

 

(ii) the Company’s equity in a net loss of any such Restricted Subsidiary for such period will be included in determining such Consolidated Net Income;

 

(c) any gain (but not loss) realized upon the sale or other disposition of any property, plant or equipment of the Company or its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries (including pursuant to any Sale/Leaseback Transaction) which is not sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business and any gain (loss) realized upon the sale or other disposition of any Capital Stock of any Person;

 

(d) any extraordinary gain or loss;

 

(e) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles;

 

(f) any non-cash compensation expense realized for grants of performance shares, stock options or other rights to officers, directors and employees of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, provided that such shares, options or other rights can be redeemed at the option of the holder only for Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock);

 

(g) any unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses; and

 

8


(h) if any Restricted Subsidiary is not a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary, an amount that is equal to (i) the amount of net income or loss attributable to such Restricted Subsidiary multiplied by (ii) the percentage ownership interest in the income of such Restricted Subsidiary not owned on the last day of such period by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries unless a greater amount is actually distributed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of the covenant described under Section 4.10 only, there shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income any dividends, repayments of loans or advances or other transfers of assets from Unrestricted Subsidiaries to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent such dividends, repayments or transfers increase the amount of Restricted Payments permitted under such covenant pursuant to Section 4.10(d)(iii)(D).

 

“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means, as of any date of determination, the sum of the amounts that would appear on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries as the total assets (less accumulated depreciation and amortization, allowances for doubtful receivables, other applicable reserves and other properly deductible items) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, after giving effect to purchase accounting and after deducting therefrom Consolidated Current Liabilities and, to the extent otherwise included, the amounts of (without duplication):

 

(a) the excess of cost over fair market value of assets or businesses acquired;

 

(b) any revaluation or other write-up in book value of assets subsequent to the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Company immediately preceding the Issue Date as a result of a change in the method of valuation in accordance with US GAAP;

 

(c) unamortized debt discount and expenses and other unamortized deferred charges, goodwill, patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, licenses, organization or developmental expenses and other intangible items;

 

(d) minority interests in consolidated Subsidiaries held by Persons other than the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(e) treasury stock;

 

(f) cash or securities set aside and held in a sinking or other analogous fund established for the purpose of redemption or other retirement of Capital Stock to the extent such obligation is not reflected in Consolidated Current Liabilities; and

 

(g) Investments in and assets of Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

 

“Consolidated Net Worth” means the total of the amounts shown on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter of the Company ending at least 30 days prior to the taking of any action for the purpose of which the determination is being made, as:

 

(a) the par or stated value of all outstanding Capital Stock of the Company, plus

 

(b) paid-in capital or capital surplus relating to such Capital Stock, plus

 

(c) any retained earnings or earned surplus, less:

 

(i) any accumulated deficit,

 

(ii) any amounts attributable to Disqualified Stock,

 

9


(iii) all write-ups (other than write-ups resulting from foreign currency translations and write-ups of tangible assets of a going concern business made within 12 months after the acquisition of such business) subsequent to the issue date in the book value of any asset,

 

(iv) all Investments in Persons that are not Restricted Subsidiaries (except Permitted Investments), and

 

(v) all unamortized debt discount and expense and unamortized deferred charges,

 

all of the foregoing determined in accordance with US GAAP.

 

“consolidation” or “Consolidation” means, with respect to a Person, the consolidation of the accounts of the Subsidiaries with those of such Person, all in accordance with US GAAP; provided, that except where the context otherwise requires “consolidation” will not include consolidation of the accounts of any Unrestricted Subsidiary with the accounts of such Person but the interest of a Person or any Restricted Subsidiary in an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be accounted for as an investment. “Consolidated” shall have the same meaning as Consolidation.

 

“Continuing Directors” means during any period of 24 consecutive months after the Issue Date, individuals who at the beginning of any such 24-month period constituted the Board of Directors of the Company, as applicable, (together with any new directors whose election by such Board of Directors or whose nomination for election by the shareholders of the Company, as applicable, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then still in office who were either directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved.

 

“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York.

 

“Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning given to such term in Section 8.3.

 

“Credit Facility” means one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, overdraft facilities with banks, commercial paper facilities with banks or other institutional lenders providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, including any related guarantees executed in connection therewith, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time (and whether or not with the original administrative agent and lenders or another administrative agent or agents or other lenders and whether provided under the original credit or other agreement or indenture).

 

“CTI Guangzhou” means CTI Guangzhou Customer Services Co. Limited.

 

“Currency Agreement” means in respect of any Person any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement, futures contract, option contract or other similar agreement to which such Person is a party or beneficiary.

 

“Current Liabilities” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate amount of liabilities of a Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary and its consolidated Subsidiaries, if any, which may properly be classified as current liabilities (including taxes accrued as estimated), after eliminating (a) all intercompany items between such Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary and any of its consolidated Subsidiaries or between its consolidated Subsidiaries; and (b) all current maturities of long-term Indebtedness.

 

10


“Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

“Default” means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.

 

“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.12.

 

“Definitive Notes” means Notes that are in the form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A that include the information referred to in footnote 1A but do not include the information called for by footnotes 1B, 2, 4 and 5 thereof.

 

“Depository” means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the person specified in Section 2.3 as the Depository with respect to the Notes, until a successor shall have been appointed and become such pursuant to the applicable provision of this Indenture, and, thereafter, “Depository” shall mean or include such successor.

 

“Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary” means CTI Guangzhou and any other Restricted Subsidiary that the Company designates as a Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary in accordance with this Indenture.

 

“Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable) or upon the happening of any event:

 

(a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise;

 

(b) is convertible or exchangeable for Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock (excluding Capital Stock which is convertible or exchangeable solely at the option of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary); or

 

(c) is redeemable at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock in whole or in part,

 

in each case on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the earlier of the date (i) of the Stated Maturity of the Notes or (ii) on which there are no Notes outstanding, provided that only the portion of Capital Stock which so matures or is mandatorily redeemable, is so convertible or exchangeable or is so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date will be deemed to be Disqualified Stock.

 

“Dollar” and “US$” means a U.S. Dollar or other equivalent unit in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

 

“DTC” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.3.

 

“Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank, S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear system.

 

“Event of Default” has the meaning given to such term in Section 6.1.

 

“Excess Proceeds” has the meaning given to such term in Section 4.13(2).

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder.

 

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“Exchange Guarantees” means the guarantees to be issued pursuant to this Indenture in connection with the offer to exchange guarantees of the Notes for guarantees of the Initial Notes that may be made by the Company pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

“Exchange Notes” means the 8.75% Senior Exchange Notes due 2015, as supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, to be issued pursuant to this Indenture in connection with the offer to exchange Notes for the Initial Notes that may be made by the Company pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement that excludes the information referred to in footnotes 3 and 6 to the form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

“Exchange Offer” means an offer by the Company to issue and deliver to the Holders that are not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from participating in such offer, in exchange for the Initial Notes or any Additional Notes, as the case may be, a like principal amount of Exchange Notes, as set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

“Existing Purchase Money Debt” means the aggregate Purchase Money Debt of the Company, the Company and its Subsidiary Guarantors outstanding on the Issue Date.

 

“Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any asset, share or property, the price that could be negotiated in an arm’s-length free market transaction, for cash, between a willing seller and a willing buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction. Fair Market Value:

 

(a) in the case of cash, shall be its face amount; and

 

(b) in the case of any non-cash assets,

 

shall be determined by a majority of the Board of Directors acting in good faith and evidenced by a resolution of the Board, dated within 30 days of the relevant transaction, delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Global Notes” means, individually and collectively, each of the Restricted A Global Note and the Restricted B Global Note deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depository or its nominee, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto and that includes the information referred to in footnotes 1B, 2, 4 and 5 to the form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

“Guarantee” means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person and any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person:

 

(a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreement to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise); or

 

(b) entered into for purposes of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part); provided, however, that the term “Guarantee” will not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term “Guarantee” used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

 

“Guarantor Subordinated Obligation” means, with respect to a Subsidiary Guarantor, any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary Guarantor (whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter Incurred) which is expressly subordinate in right of payment to the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee pursuant to a written agreement.

 

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“Hedging Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person pursuant to any Interest Rate Agreement or Currency Agreement.

 

“HK$” means the lawful currency of The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.

 

“holder” means a Person in whose name a Note is registered on the Registrar’s books.

 

“Holder” or “Noteholder” means the Person in whose name a Note is registered on the Registrar’s books.

 

“HSBC Facility” means the HK$200 million loan facility provided by The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited to Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited pursuant to a facility letter dated October 9, 2002.

 

“Incur” means issue, create, assume, extend, Guarantee, incur or otherwise become liable for in respect of such debt or other obligation or the recording, as required pursuant to US GAAP or otherwise, of any such debt or obligation on the balance sheet of such Person; provided, however, that any Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person existing at the time such person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (whether by merger, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) will be deemed to be Incurred by such Restricted Subsidiary at the time it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; provided further, however, that a change in US GAAP that results in an obligation of such Person that exists at such time, and is not theretofore classified as debt, becoming debt shall not be deemed an incurrence of such debt; provided further, however, that solely for purposes of determining compliance with Section 4.9, amortization of debt discount shall not be deemed to be the Incurrence of Indebtedness; and the terms “Incurred” and “Incurrence” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person on any date of determination (without duplication):

 

(a) the principal of and premium (if any) in respect of indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money;

 

(b) the principal of and premium (if any) in respect of obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, Notes or other similar instruments;

 

(c) the principal component of all obligations of such Person in respect of letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or other similar instruments (other than obligations with respect to letters of credit securing obligations (other than obligations described in (a) and (b) above and (d) below) entered into in the ordinary course of business of such Person to the extent such instruments are not drawn upon or, if and to the extent drawn upon, such drawing is reimbursed no later than the third Business Day following receipt by such Person of a demand for reimbursement following payment on the instrument);

 

(d) the principal component of all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred and unpaid purchase price of property services, all conditional sale obligations of such Person and all obligations of such Person under any title retention agreement (except trade payables), which purchase price is not more than 120 days overdue from the date of placing such property in service or taking delivery and title thereto;

 

(e) Capitalized Lease Obligations and all Attributable Indebtedness of such Person;

 

(f) the principal component or liquidation preference of all obligations of such Person with respect to the redemption, repayment or other repurchase of any Disqualified Stock or, with respect to any Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor, any Preferred Stock (but excluding, in each case, any accrued dividends);

 

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(g) the principal component of Indebtedness of the type referred to in clauses (a) through (f) of other Persons and all dividends of other Persons, to the extent Guaranteed by such Person;

 

(h) the principal component of all Indebtedness of the type referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above of other Persons secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person; provided, however, that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of (i) the Fair Market Value of such asset at such date of determination and (ii) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Persons; and

 

(i) to the extent not otherwise included in this definition, net obligations of such Person under Hedging Obligations (the amount of any such obligations to be equal at any time to the termination value of such agreement or arrangement giving rise to such obligation that would be payable by such Person at such time).

 

The amount of Indebtedness of any Person at any date will be the outstanding balance at such date of all unconditional obligations as described above and the maximum liability, upon the occurrence of the contingency giving rise to the obligation, of any contingent obligations at such date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, money borrowed and set aside at the time of the Incurrence of any Indebtedness in order to pre-fund the payment of interest on such Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be “Indebtedness” provided that such money is held to secure the payment of such interest.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing but subject to Section 4.9(6), Indebtedness shall not include (a) any realization of a Permitted Lien, and (b) Indebtedness that has been defeased or satisfied in accordance with the terms of the documents governing such Indebtedness. With respect to any Indebtedness denominated in a currency other than U.S. Dollars, for purposes of determining compliance with any restriction on the Incurrence of such Indebtedness under Section 4.9, the amount of such Indebtedness shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate in effect at the end of the most recent period for which financial statements are publicly available.

 

“Indenture” means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

“Indirect Participant” means a Person who holds a beneficial interest in a Global Note through a Participant.

 

“Initial Notes” means the 8.75% Senior Notes due 2015, as supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, issued under this Indenture that contains the information referred to in footnotes 3 (to the extent applicable) and 6 to the form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

“Interest Payment Date” means the stated due date of an installment of interest on the Notes.

 

“Interest Rate Agreement” means with respect to any Person any interest rate protection agreement, interest rate future agreement, interest rate option agreement, interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, interest rate hedge agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement as to which such Person is party or a beneficiary.

 

“Investment” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of any direct or indirect advance, loan (other than advances or extensions of credit to customers that are recorded as accounts receivable on the balance sheet of such Person in the ordinary course of business) or other extensions of credit (including by way of Guarantee or similar arrangement, but excluding any debt or extension of credit represented by a bank

 

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deposit other than a time deposit) or capital contribution to (by means of any transfer of cash or other property to others or any payment for property or services for the account or use of others), or any purchase or acquisition of Capital Stock, Indebtedness or other similar instruments issued by, such Person and all other items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with US GAAP; provided that none of the following will be deemed to be an Investment:

 

(a) Hedging Obligations entered into in the ordinary course of business and in compliance with this Indenture;

 

(b) endorsements of negotiable instruments and documents in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(c) an acquisition of assets, Capital Stock or other securities by the Company or a Subsidiary for consideration to the extent such consideration consists of Common Stock of the Company.

 

For purposes of Section 4.10,

 

(i) “Investment” will include the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in a Restricted Subsidiary to be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of such Restricted Subsidiary at the time that such Restricted Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that upon a redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Company will be deemed to continue to have a permanent “Investment” in an Unrestricted Subsidiary in an amount (if positive) equal to (i) the Company’s “Investment” in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation less (ii) the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time that such Subsidiary is so re-designated a Restricted Subsidiary; and

 

(ii) any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be valued at its Fair Market Value at the time of such transfer. If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary sells or otherwise disposes of any Voting Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such entity is no longer a Subsidiary of the Company, the Company shall be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition equal to the Fair Market Value (as conclusively determined by the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith) of the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary not sold or disposed of.

 

“Issue Date” means January 20, 2005.

 

“Judgment Currency” has the meaning given to such term in Section 4.24.

 

“Legal Defeasance” has the meaning given to such term in Section 8.2.

 

“Legal Holiday” has the meaning given to such term in Section 13.7.

 

“Letter of Transmittal” means the letter of transmittal to be prepared by the Company and sent to all Holders of the Initial Notes for use by such Holders in connection with the Exchange Offer.

 

“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, declaration of or settlement on trust, hypothecation, deposit arrangement, preference, priority, preferential arrangement, lien or charge of any kind (including any Capitalized Lease Obligations, conditional sale or other title retention agreement or lease in the nature thereof or any Sale/Leaseback Transaction).

 

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“Material License” means, with respect to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, a license, authorization or concession to operate a Telecommunications Business, which, at the time of determination, accounts for more than 10% of the Consolidated EBITDA for the four full fiscal quarters next preceding the date of determination for which consolidated financial statements are available.

 

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. and its successors.

 

“Net Available Cash” from any Asset Disposition means cash payments received (including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a Note or installment receivable or otherwise and net proceeds from the sale or other disposition of any securities received as consideration, but only as and when received, but excluding any other consideration received in the form of assumption by the acquiring Person of Indebtedness or other obligations relating to the properties or assets that are the subject of such Asset Disposition or received in any other non-cash form) therefrom, in each case net of:

 

(a) all legal, accounting, investment banking, title and recording tax expenses, commissions and other fees and expenses Incurred, and all Federal, state, provincial, foreign and local taxes required to be paid or accrued as a liability under US GAAP (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing agreements), as a consequence of such Asset Disposition;

 

(b) all payments made on any Indebtedness which is secured by any assets subject to such Asset Disposition, in accordance with the terms of any Lien upon such assets, or which must by its terms, or in order to obtain a necessary consent to such Asset Disposition, or by applicable law be repaid out of the proceeds from such Asset Disposition;

 

(c) all distributions and other payments required to be made to minority interest holders in Subsidiaries or joint ventures as a result of such Asset Disposition;

 

(d) the deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the seller as a reserve, in accordance with US GAAP, against any liabilities associated with the assets disposed of in such Asset Disposition and retained by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after such Asset Disposition; and

 

(e) payments of unassumed liabilities (not constituting Indebtedness) relating to the assets sold at the time of, or within 30 days after, the date of such sale.

 

“Net Cash Proceeds, ” with respect to any issuance or sale of Capital Stock, means the cash proceeds of such issuance or sale net of attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, underwriters’ or placement agents’ fees, listing fees, discounts or commissions and brokerage, consultant and other fees and charges actually Incurred in connection with such issuance or sale and net of taxes paid or payable as a result of such issuance or sale (after taking into account any available tax credit or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements).

 

“Net Tangible Assets” means, as of any date of determination, the sum of the amounts that would appear on a consolidated balance sheet of a Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary, as its total assets (less accumulated depreciation and amortization, allowances for doubtful receivables, other applicable reserves and other properly deductible items), after giving effect to purchase accounting and after deducting therefrom Current Liabilities and, to the extent otherwise included, the amounts of (without duplication):

 

(a) the excess of cost over fair market value of assets or business acquired;

 

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(b) any revaluation or other write-up in book value of assets subsequent to the last day of the fiscal quarter of such Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary immediately preceding the Issue Date as a result of a change in the method of valuation in accordance with US GAAP;

 

(c) unamortized debt discount and expenses and other unamortized deferred charges, goodwill, patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, licenses, organization or developmental expenses and other intangible items;

 

(d) minority interests in consolidated Subsidiaries held by Persons other than such Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary;

 

(e) treasury stock;

 

(f) cash or securities set aside and held in a sinking or other analogous fund established for the purpose of redemption or other retirement of Capital Stock to the extent such obligation is not reflected in its Current Liabilities; and

 

(g) Investments in and asset of Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

 

“Non-Recourse Debt” means Indebtedness of a Person:

 

(a) as to which neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary (i) provides any Guarantee or credit support of any kind (including any undertaking, guarantee, indemnity, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness) or (ii) is directly or indirectly liable (as a guarantor or otherwise);

 

(b) no default with respect to which (including any rights that the holders thereof may have to take enforcement action against an Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit (upon notice, lapse of time or both) any holder of any other Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to declare a default under such other Indebtedness or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to its stated maturity; and

 

(c) the explicit terms of which provide there is no recourse against any of the assets of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

“Notes” means, collectively, the Initial Notes and, when and if issued as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement, the Exchange Notes.

 

“Notes Custodian” means the Trustee, as custodian with respect to the Notes issued in whole or in part in global form, or any successor entity thereto appointed as Notes custodian hereunder.

 

“Noteholder” or “Holder” means the Person in whose name a Note is registered on the Registrar’s books.

 

“Obligation” means any principal, premium or interest payment, or monetary penalty, or damages, due by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor under the terms of the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees or this Indenture, including any Additional Amounts and any Registration Default Damages due pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

“Offering Memorandum” means the offering memorandum related to the offering of the Initial Notes, dated January 13, 2005.

 

17


“Officer” means, with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, any Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, or an equivalent of such officer in the respective jurisdiction of its incorporation.

 

“Officers’ Certificate” means, with respect to a Person, a certificate signed by (i) two Officers, (ii) by an Officer and an Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary or (iii) some other person appointed on their behalf by the Board of Directors of such Person and otherwise complying with the requirements of Sections 13.4 and 13.5.

 

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or the Trustee and who is acceptable to the Trustee, complying with the requirements of Sections 13.4 and 13.5.

 

“Participant” means, with respect to the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, a Person who has an account with the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, respectively (and, with respect to DTC, shall include Euroclear and Clearstream).

 

“Paying Agent” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.3.

 

“Payment Default” has the meaning given to such term in Section 6.1.

 

“Payor” has the meaning given to such term in Section 4.22(1).

 

“Permitted Holders” means Wong Wai Kay, Ricky, Cheung Chi Kin, Paul and any Affiliate or Related Person thereof.

 

“Permitted Investment” means an Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary:

 

(a) in a Restricted Subsidiary or a Person which will, upon the making of such Investment, become a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that the primary business of such Restricted Subsidiary is a Telecommunications Business;

 

(b) in another Person if as a result of such Investment such other Person is merged or consolidated with or into, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all its assets to, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that such Person’s primary business is a Telecommunications Business;

 

(c) in cash and Cash Equivalents;

 

(d) in receivables owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary created or acquired in the ordinary course of business and payable or dischargeable in accordance with customary trade terms; provided, however, that such trade terms may include such concessionary trade terms as the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary deems reasonable under the circumstances;

 

(e) in payroll, travel and similar advances to cover matters that are expected at the time of such advances ultimately to be treated as expenses for accounting purposes and that are made in the ordinary course of business;

 

(f) in Capital Stock, obligations or securities received in settlement of debts created in the ordinary course of business and owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or in satisfaction of judgments including as a result of any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of a trade creditor or customer;

 

18


(g) made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an Asset Disposition that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 4.13;

 

(h) for Fair Market Value, together with all other Investments pursuant to this clause (h), in an aggregate amount at the time of such Investment not to exceed US$10 million outstanding at any one time (with the Fair Market Value of such Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);

 

(i) any assets or Capital Stock of any Person made out of the Net Cash Proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or the consideration for which consists solely of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company; provided that the issuance of such Capital Stock shall be included in the calculation set forth in Section 4.10(1)(d)(iii)(B), at any one time outstanding; and

 

(j) Hedging Obligations entered into for bona fide hedging purposes and not for speculation and otherwise permitted by this Indenture.

 

“Permitted Liens” means, with respect to any Person:

 

(a) Liens securing Indebtedness and other obligations under a Credit Facility and liens on assets of Restricted Subsidiaries securing Guarantees of Indebtedness and other obligations of the Company, in each case permitted to be Incurred under Section 4.9(1)(a) of the covenant “Limitation on indebtedness”;

 

(b) pledges or deposits by such Person under workmen’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or United States government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import or customs duties or for the payment of rent, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(c) Liens imposed by law, including carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanics’ Liens, in each case for sums not more than 60 days past due or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings if a reserve or other appropriate provisions, if any, as shall be required by US GAAP shall have been made in respect thereof;

 

(d) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet subject to penalties for non-payment or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently concluded provided appropriate reserves required pursuant to US GAAP have been made in respect thereof;

 

(e) Liens in favor of issuers of surety or performance bonds or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances issued pursuant to the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business; provided, however, that such letters of credit do not constitute Indebtedness;

 

(f) encumbrances, ground leases, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights of way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning, building codes or other restrictions (including, without limitation, minor defects or irregularities in title and similar encumbrances) as to the use of real properties or liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties which do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;

 

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(g) judgment Liens not giving rise to a Default so long as such Lien is adequately bonded and any appropriate legal proceedings which may have been duly initiated for the review of such judgment have not been finally terminated or the period within which such proceedings may be initiated has not expired;

 

(h) Liens for the purpose of securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 4.9(2)(g) provided that such Liens are created within 180 days of construction or acquisition of such Telecommunication Assets and do not encumber any other assets or property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than such assets or property and assets affixed or appurtenant thereto:

 

(i) Liens existing on the Issue Date;

 

(j) Liens on property or shares of stock of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that such Liens are not created, Incurred or assumed in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary; provided further, however, that any such Lien may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(k) Liens on property at the time the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary acquired the property, including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that such Liens are not created, Incurred or assumed in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition; provided further, however, that such Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(l) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Subsidiary Guarantor owing to the Company or another Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

(m) Liens securing the Notes and Subsidiary Guarantees; and

 

(n) Liens securing Refinancing Indebtedness secured by Liens referred to in sub-clauses (a), (i), (j) or (k) above or of any Existing Purchase Money Debt, provided that any such Lien is limited to all or part of the same property or assets (plus improvements, accessions, proceeds or dividends or distributions in respect thereof) that secured (or, under the written arrangements under which the original Lien arose, could secure) the Indebtedness being refinanced and the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness that is secured by such Lien shall not be increased to an amount greater than the sum of:

 

(i) the outstanding principal amount, or, if greater, the committed amount, of the Indebtedness secured by Liens described under paragraphs (a), (i), (j) or (k) above or of any Existing Purchase Money Debt, as the case may be, at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under this Indenture; and

 

(ii) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums and defeasance costs, incurred by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such Refinancing Indebtedness;

 

(o) Liens securing Indebtedness (other than Subordinated Obligations and Guarantor Subordinated Obligations) and created over assets or property having an aggregate Fair Market Value not in excess of 5% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, as determined based on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter ending at least 45 days prior to the date of the incurrence of any such Lien; and

 

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(p) Liens securing Hedging Obligations so long as the related Indebtedness is, and is permitted to be under this Indenture, secured by a Lien on the same property securing such Hedging Obligation.

 

“Person” or “person” means any association, corporation, individual, limited liability company, joint stock company, joint venture, partnership, limited liability company, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, trust or other entity.

 

“Preferred Stock, “ as applied to the Capital Stock of any corporation, means Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated) which is preferred as to the payment of dividends, or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such corporation, over shares of Capital Stock of any other class of such corporation.

 

“principal” of any Indebtedness means the principal of such Indebtedness.

 

“Pro Forma” or “pro forma” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 11 of Regulation S-X of the Securities Act, unless otherwise specifically stated herein.

 

“property” means any right or interest in or to property or assets of any kind whatsoever, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible, intangible, contingent, direct or indirect.

 

“Purchase Money Debt” means, with respect to Telecommunications Assets, Indebtedness:

 

(a) consisting of the deferred purchase price of such assets, conditional sale obligations, obligations under any title retention agreement, other purchase money obligations, obligations in respect of industrial revenue bonds and Capitalized Lease Obligations, in each case where the maturity of such Indebtedness does not exceed the anticipated useful life of the Telecommunications Assets being financed; and

 

(b) Incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or lease by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of such Telecommunications Assets, including additions and improvements thereto;

 

provided, however, that such Indebtedness is Incurred within 180 days after the acquisition, construction or lease of such Telecommunications Assets by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary.

 

“QIB” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A.

 

“Qualified Equity Offering” means an offering for cash by the Company of its Common Stock; provided, however, that the aggregate gross cash proceeds received by the Company from such offering shall be no less than US$20 million.

 

“Receivable” means a right to receive payment arising from a sale or lease of goods or the performance of services by a Person pursuant to an arrangement with another Person pursuant to which such other Person is obligated to pay for goods or services under terms that permit the purchase of such goods and services on credit and shall include, in any event, any items of property that would be classified as an “account,” “chattel paper,” “payment intangible” or “instrument” under the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York and any “supporting obligations” as so defined.

 

“Record Date” means a Record Date specified in the Notes whether or not such Record Date is a Business Day, or, if applicable, as specified in Section 2.12.

 

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“Redemption Date,” when used with respect to any Note to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption pursuant to Article III of this Indenture and Paragraph 5 in the form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

“Redemption Price,” when used with respect to any Note to be redeemed, means the redemption price for such redemption pursuant to Article III of this Indenture and Paragraph 5 in the form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A, which shall include, without duplication, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest, Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any, to, but not including, the Redemption Date.

 

“Refinancing Indebtedness” means Indebtedness that is Incurred to refund, refinance, replace, exchange, renew, repay or extend (including pursuant to any defeasance or discharge mechanism) (collectively, “refinance,” “refinances,” and “refinanced” shall have a correlative meaning) (a) any Indebtedness existing on the date of this Indenture or (b) Incurred in compliance with this Indenture, other than in the case of (a) and (b), Indebtedness Incurred under the HSBC Facility, including Indebtedness of the Company that refinances Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary and Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness of another Restricted Subsidiary and including Indebtedness that refinances Refinancing Indebtedness, provided, however, that:

 

(a) (i) if the Stated Maturity of the Indebtedness being refinanced is earlier than the Stated Maturity of the Notes, the Refinancing Indebtedness has a Stated Maturity no earlier than the Stated Maturity of the Indebtedness being refinanced or (ii) if the Stated Maturity of the Indebtedness being refinanced is later than the Stated Maturity of the Notes, the Refinancing Indebtedness has a Stated Maturity at least 91 days later than the Stated Maturity of the Notes;

 

(b) the Refinancing Indebtedness has an Average Life at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred that is equal to or greater than the Average Life of the Indebtedness being refinanced;

 

(c) such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred in an aggregate principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, an aggregate issue price) that is equal to or less than the sum of the aggregate principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, the aggregate accreted value) then outstanding of the Indebtedness being refinanced (plus, without duplication, any additional Indebtedness Incurred to pay interest or premiums or defeasance costs required by the instruments governing such existing Indebtedness and fees Incurred in connection therewith); and

 

(d) if the Indebtedness being refinanced is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantee, such Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantee on terms at least as favorable to the holders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded.

 

Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (the “Refinancing Debt”) within 180 days prior to the date on which other Indebtedness of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be (the “Refinanced Debt”), is to be fully repaid will be deemed to be Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the Refinanced Debt if: (i) the agreement to which the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is a party relating to the Refinancing Debt expressly provides that the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary shall apply the proceeds from the Refinancing Debt to the repayment of the Refinanced Debt within 180 days of the date the Refinancing Debt is Incurred; (ii) the proceeds from the Refinancing Debt are actually applied to permanently repay the Refinanced (with corresponding permanent reduction of the commitment amounts related to Refinanced if such Refinanced Debt was provided under a revolving credit or similar facility) within such 180-day period;

 

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(iii) the Refinancing Debt meets the requirements set forth in clauses (a) through (d) above and in relation to the Refinanced Debt is not being used to refinance debt in violation of Section 4.9(3); (iv) the Company provides the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate at the time the Refinancing Debt is Incurred that specifies the amounts of the Refinancing Debt, specifies the relevant Refinanced Debt and certifies that such incurrence meets all the requirements of this Indenture; and (v) until the Refinanced Debt is repaid, the proceeds of the Refinancing Debt are kept in a segregated account in the form of cash and deposits (as such term is used in the Company’s financial statements).

 

“Registrar” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.3.

 

“Registration Default Damages” means all Registration Default Damages then owing pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

“Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, by and among the Company and the other parties named on the signature pages thereof, as such agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.

 

“Regulation S” means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

“Related Business Assets” means assets used or useful in a Telecommunications Business.

 

“Related Person” with respect to any Permitted Holder means:

 

(a) any controlling stockholder or a majority (or more) owned Subsidiary of such Permitted Holder or, in the case of an individual, any spouse or immediate family member of such Permitted Holder, any trust created for the benefit of such individual or such individual’s estate, executor, administrator, committee or beneficiaries; or

 

(b) any trust, corporation, partnership or other entity, the beneficiaries, stockholders, partners, owners or Persons beneficially holding a majority (or more) controlling interest of which consist of such Permitted Holder and/or such other Persons referred to in the immediately preceding sub-clause (a).

 

“Relevant Tax Jurisdiction” has the meaning given to such term in Section 4.22(1).

 

“resolution” means, with respect to any Person, a duly adopted resolution of the Board of Directors of such Person.

 

“Restricted A Global Note” means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto that includes the information referred to in footnotes 1B, 2, 4 and 5 to the form of Note and deposited with or on behalf of the Custodian, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or its nominee that will be issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes sold in reliance on Rule 144A.

 

“Restricted B Global Note” means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto that includes the information referred to in footnotes 1B, 2, 4 and 5 to the form of Note and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes sold in reliance on Rule 903 of Regulation S.

 

“Restricted Definitive Note” means a Definitive Note bearing the legend set forth in Section 2.6(8)(a).

 

“Restricted Global Note” means a Global Note bearing the legend set forth in Section 2.6(8)(a).

 

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“Restricted Investment” means, in one or a series of related transactions, any Investment, other than Permitted Investments.

 

“Restricted Payment” has the meaning given to such term in Section 4.10(1)(d).

 

“Restricted Subsidiary” means, in one or a series of related transactions, any Subsidiary of the Company that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary. As of the Issue Date, all the Subsidiaries of the Company are Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

“Rule 144A” means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

“Rule 903” means Rule 903 promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

“Sale/Leaseback Transaction” means any arrangement relating to property now owned or hereafter acquired whereby the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary transfers such property to another Person and the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary leases it from such Person.

 

“SAS 100 Review” has the meaning given to such term in Section 4.10(1)(A).

 

“SEC” means the Notes and Exchange Commission of the United States of America.

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of the United States of America, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

 

“Senior Debt” of a Person means:

 

(a) all senior secured Indebtedness under its Credit Facilities;

 

(b) all of its Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person and all Attributable Indebtedness in respect of Sale/Leaseback Transactions entered into by it; and

 

(c) any of its Purchase Money Debt; provided, however, that Senior Debt shall not include:

 

(i) any Subordinated Obligation or Guarantor Subordinated Obligation;

 

(ii) any Indebtedness Incurred in violation of the provisions of this Indenture;

 

(iii) accounts payable or any other obligations of such Person to trade creditors created or assumed by it in the ordinary course of business in connection with the obtaining of materials or services (including Guarantees thereof or instruments evidencing such liabilities);

 

(iv) any liability for Federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by such Person;

 

(v) any obligation of the Company to a Restricted Subsidiary; or

 

(vi) any obligations with respect to any Capital Stock of such Person.

 

“SGX-ST” means the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited.

 

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“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and its successors.

 

“Special Record Date” for payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.12.

 

“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any security, the date specified in such security as the fixed date on which the payment of principal of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision, but shall not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.

 

“Strategic Equity Investment” means the issuance and sale by the Company of its Capital Stock (excluding Disqualified Stock) to a Strategic Investor; provided, however, that the aggregate gross cash proceeds received by the Company from such issuance and sale shall be no less than US$25 million.

 

“Strategic Investor” means any Person primarily engaged in the Telecommunications Business (or a wholly-owned subsidiary thereof) that has an equity market capitalization, at the time of its initial purchase of the Capital Stock (excluding Disqualified Stock) of the Company, in excess of US$1 billion.

 

“Subordinated Obligation” means any Indebtedness of the Company (whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter Incurred) which is subordinate or junior in right of payment to the Notes pursuant to a written agreement.

 

“Subsidiary” of any Person means (a) any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity) of which more than 50% of the total ordinary voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof (or persons performing similar functions) or (b) any partnership, joint venture limited liability company or similar entity of which more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general or limited partnership interests, as applicable, is, in the case of clauses (a) and (b), at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (1) such Person, (2) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or (3) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person. Unless otherwise specified herein, each reference to a Subsidiary will refer to a Subsidiary of the Company.

 

“Subsidiary Guarantee” means, individually, any Guarantee of payment of the Notes by a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to the terms of this Indenture and any supplemental indenture thereto, and, collectively, all such Guarantees. Each such Subsidiary Guarantee will be in the form prescribed by this Indenture.

 

“Subsidiary Guarantor” means each Subsidiary of the Company in existence on the Issue Date and any Restricted Subsidiary created or acquired by the Company after the Issue Date, in each case other than a Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary.

 

“substantially concurrent” means with respect to two events, the second event shall occur no later than 35 days after the first event; provided, however, that if the second event requires a call notice, redemption notice or other similar notification to be issued or delivered, such notice shall be issued or delivered no later than 5 days after the first event.

 

“Telecommunications Business” means the business of:

 

(a) operating or owning a license, authorization or concession to operate a cable or telephone or telecommunications (including internet and broadband network) system or service;

 

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(b) transmitting, or providing services relating to the transmission of, voice, video, subscription programming, on-line and media services or data through leased or owned wireline, wireless or other transmission facilities;

 

(c) constructing, creating, developing or marketing communications networks, related network transmission equipment, software and other devices for use in the businesses identified in (a) and (b) above and or otherwise in a communications business;

 

(d) any business related, ancillary or complementary to those identified in (a), (b) and (c) above; or

 

(e) evaluating, participating or pursuing any other activity or opportunity that is primarily related to those identified in sub-clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) above,

 

provided that the determination of what constitutes a Telecommunications Business shall be made in good faith by the Board of Directors.

 

“Telecommunication Assets” means:

 

(a) any property or assets (other than cash, Cash Equivalents, Indebtedness and Capital Stock) to be used by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in the Telecommunications Business; or

 

(b) the Capital Stock of a Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of the acquisition of such Capital Stock by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary from any Person other than an affiliate thereof;

 

provided, however, that, in the case of clause (b), such Restricted Subsidiary is primarily engaged in a Telecommunications Business; and provided further, however, that for purposes of the definition of Purchase Money Debt, Telecommunications Assets shall consist only of the property and assets described in sub-clause (a) above and shall not include property or assets constituting all or substantially all the assets of a business or an operating unit of a business.

 

“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, (15 U.S. Code §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect from time to time.

 

“Transfer Restricted Notes” means Notes that bear or are required to bear the legend set forth in Section 2.6(8)(a).

 

“Trust Officer” means any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

 

“Trustee” means the party named as such in this Indenture until a successor replaces it in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means such successor.

 

“Unrestricted Definitive Note” means a Definitive Note that does not bear and is not required to bear the legend set forth in Section 2.6(8)(a).

 

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“Unrestricted Global Note” means a Global Note that does not bear and is not required to bear the legend set forth in Section 2.6(8)(a).

 

“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means:

 

(a) any Subsidiary of the Company that at the time of determination shall be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors of the Company in the manner provided below and has not been redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary as provided below; and

 

(b) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Subsidiary of the Company (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary or a Person becoming a Subsidiary through merger or consolidation or Investment therein) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary only if:

 

(i) such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries does not own any Capital Stock or Indebtedness of or have any Investment in, or own or hold any Lien on any property of, the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company which is not a Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated or otherwise an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

 

(ii) all the Indebtedness of such Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries shall, at the date of designation, and will at all times thereafter, consist of Non-Recourse Debt;

 

(iii) such designation and the Investment of the Company in such Subsidiary complies with Section 4.10;

 

(iv) such Subsidiary, either alone or in the aggregate with all other Unrestricted Subsidiaries, does not operate, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries;

 

(v) such Subsidiary is a Person with respect to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation:

 

(A) to subscribe for additional Capital Stock of such Person; or

 

(B) to maintain or preserve such Person’s financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results; and

 

(vi) on the date such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary, such Subsidiary is not a party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with terms substantially less favorable to the Company than those that might have been obtained from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company.

 

Any such designation by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complies with the

 

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foregoing conditions. If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the foregoing requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it shall thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of this Indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary shall be deemed to be Incurred as of such date.

 

The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that immediately after giving effect to such designation, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof and the Company could Incur at least US$1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.9(1) on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation.

 

“US GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect as of the date of this Indenture, including those set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession. All ratios and computations based on US GAAP contained in this Indenture will be computed in conformity with US GAAP.

 

“U.S. Dollar Equivalent” means with respect to any monetary amount in a currency other than U.S. dollars, at any time for determination thereof, the amount of U.S. dollars obtained by converting such foreign currency involved in such computation into U.S. dollars at the spot rate for the purchase of U.S. dollars with the applicable foreign currency as published in The Wall Street Journal in the “Exchange Rates” column under the heading “Currency Trading” on the date two Business Days prior to such determination. Except as described in Section 4.9, whenever it is necessary to determine whether the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary has complied with any covenant in this Indenture or a Default has occurred and an amount is expected in a currency other than U.S. dollars, such amount will be treated as the U.S. Dollar Equivalent determined as of the date such amount is initially determined in such currency.

 

“U.S. Government Obligations” means securities that are (a) direct obligations of the United States of America for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (b) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation of the United States of America, which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act), as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligations or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such U.S. Government Obligations held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligations or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the U.S. Government Obligations evidenced by such depositary receipt.

 

“Voting Stock” means all claims of Capital Stock or other interests which at the time are entitled (or at the election of the holder thereof can be converted into Capital Stock or other interests which are entitled) to vote in the election of, as applicable, directors, members or partners generally.

 

“Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” means at any time a Restricted Subsidiary, all the Capital Stock of which at such time (other than directors’ qualifying shares or other similar shares required by applicable law to be owed by a third person) are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries.

 

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Section 1.2 Incorporation by Reference of TIA.

 

Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, such provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

 

“Commission” means the SEC.

 

“indenture securities” means the Notes.

 

“obligor” under this Indenture means the Company, each Subsidiary Guarantor and any other obligor on the Notes.

 

All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them thereby.

 

Section 1.3 Rules of Construction.

 

Unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(1) a term has the meaning assigned to it;

 

(2) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with US GAAP;

 

(3) “or” is not exclusive;

 

(4) words in the singular include the plural, and words in the plural include the singular;

 

(5) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

 

(6) “herein,” “hereof” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision;

 

(7) references to Sections or Articles means reference to such Section or Article in this Indenture, unless stated otherwise; and

 

(8) references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act shall be deemed to include substitute, replacement or successor sections or rules adopted by the SEC from time to time.

 

ARTICLE II

 

THE NOTES

 

Section 2.1 Form and Dating.

 

(1) The Notes shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. The Company shall approve the form of the Notes and any notation, legend or endorsement on them. Any such notations, legends or endorsements not contained in the form of Note attached as Exhibit A hereto shall be delivered in writing to the Trustee. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

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(2) The terms and provisions contained in the forms of Notes shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and, to the extent applicable, the Company, each Subsidiary Guarantor and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

 

(3) Global Notes. Notes issued in global form will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto. Each Global Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified therein and each shall provide that it represents the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges, redemptions, transfers and repurchases. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Paying Agent, Registrar or the Notes Custodian, at the direction of the Paying Agent or Registrar, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.6 hereof.

 

(4) Restricted A Global Note and Restricted B Global Note. Notes shall be issued initially in the form of a Restricted A Global Note and a Restricted B Global Note, each of, which shall be deposited with the Notes Custodian and registered in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of DTC, duly executed by the Issuer and authenticated by the Trustee as herein provided. The aggregate principal amount of the Restricted A Global Note or the Restricted B Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on Schedule A to such Global Note, as herein provided.

 

(5) Applicable Procedures. With respect to any transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes that are held by Indirect Participants or Participants through the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, the rules and procedures of the Depositary, Euroclear and Clearstream shall, respectively, apply to such transfer or exchange.

 

(6) Definitive Notes. Definitive Notes issued upon transfer of a beneficial interest or a Definitive Note, or in exchange for a beneficial interest or a Definitive Note, shall be issued in accordance with this Indenture.

 

Section 2.2 Execution and Authentication.

 

(1) Two Officers shall sign, or one Officer shall sign and one Officer shall attest to, the Note for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.

 

(2) If an Officer whose signature is on a Note was an Officer at the time of such execution but no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Note shall be valid nevertheless and the Company shall nevertheless be bound by the terms of the Notes and this Indenture.

 

(3) A Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee manually signs the certificate of authentication on the Note but such signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

 

(4) The Trustee shall authenticate Initial Notes for original issue in the aggregate principal amount of up to US$125,000,000 and shall authenticate Exchange Notes for original issue in the aggregate principal amount of up to US$125,000,000, in each case upon a written order of the Company in the form of an Officers’ Certificate; provided that such Exchange Notes shall be issuable only upon the valid surrender for cancellation of Initial Notes of a like aggregate principal amount in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement or the exchange offer made as contemplated

 

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thereby. The Officers’ Certificate shall specify the amount of Notes to be authenticated and the date on which the Notes are to be authenticated. Upon the written order of the Company in the form of an Officers’ Certificate, the Trustee shall authenticate Notes in substitution of Notes originally issued to reflect any name change of the Company.

 

(5) The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Notes. Unless otherwise provided in the appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company, any Affiliate of the Company, or any of their respective Subsidiaries.

 

(6) Notes shall be issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of US$1,000 and any integral multiples thereof.

 

(7) The Company may issue Additional Notes from time to time after the offering of the Initial Notes. The issuance of Additional Notes will be subject to the provisions of Section 4.9 hereof. The Initial Notes and any Additional Notes subsequently issued under this Indenture shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, including, without limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase.

 

Section 2.3 Registrar and Paying Agent.

 

(1) The Company shall maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, where Notes may be presented for registration, transfer or for exchange (“Registrar”), and an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (“Paying Agent”), and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes may be served. The Company may act as Registrar or Paying Agent, except that, for the purposes of Articles III, VIII, X, and Section 4.13 and as otherwise specified in this Indenture, neither the Company nor any Affiliate of the Company shall act as Paying Agent. The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may have one or more co-Registrars and one or more additional Paying Agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional Paying Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent, and by its acknowledgement and acceptance on the signature page hereto, the Trustee hereby agrees so to act.

 

(2) The Company shall enter into an appropriate written agency agreement with any Agent (including the Paying Agent) not a party to this Indenture, which agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such Agent, and shall furnish a copy of each such agreement to the Trustee. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any such Agent. Until the Company notifies the Trustee that it is maintaining a Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such.

 

(3) The Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes. The Registrar will maintain a register that shows the DTC or its nominee as the owner of the Global Note certificate, or in the event that physical, certificated Notes are issued, that shows the persons to which such physical, certificated Notes are issued as the owners of such Notes.

 

(4) The Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as Notes Custodian with respect to the Global Notes and the Trustee hereby agrees so to act.

 

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(5) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default described in Section 6.1(5), the Trustee shall, or upon the occurrence of any other Event of Default by notice to the Company, the Registrar and the Paying Agent, the Trustee may assume the duties and obligations of the Registrar and the Paying Agent hereunder, if such Registrar and Paying Agent shall be other than the Trustee.

 

Section 2.4 Paying Agent to Hold Assets in Trust.

 

The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that each Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders or the Trustee all assets held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest (or Registration Default Damages, if any, or Additional Amounts, if any) on, the Notes (whether such assets have been distributed to it by the Company or any other obligor on the Notes), and shall notify the Trustee in writing of any Default in making any such payment. If either of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate such assets and hold them as a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders or the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to distribute all assets held by it to the Trustee and account for any assets disbursed and the Trustee may at any time during the continuance of any payment Default or any Event of Default, upon written request to a Paying Agent, require such Paying Agent to distribute all assets held by it to the Trustee and to account for any assets distributed. Upon distribution to the Trustee of all assets that shall have been delivered by the Company to the Paying Agent, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company) shall have no further liability for such assets.

 

Section 2.5 Noteholder Lists.

 

The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders and shall otherwise comply with TIA §312(a). If the Trustee or any Paying Agent is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee on or before the third Business Day preceding each Interest Payment Date and at such other times as the Trustee or any such Paying Agent may request in writing a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee or any such Paying Agent reasonably may require of the names and addresses of Holders and the Company shall otherwise comply with TIA §312(a).

 

Section 2.6 Transfer and Exchange.

 

(1) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes. When Definitive Notes are presented to the Registrar with a request to (1) register the transfer of such Definitive Notes or (2) exchange such Definitive Notes for an equal principal amount of Definitive Notes of other authorized denominations, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if its reasonable requirements for such transaction are met; provided, however, that the Definitive Notes surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange:

 

(a) shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing; and

 

(b) in the case of Transfer Restricted Notes that are Definitive Notes, shall be accompanied by the following additional information and documents, as applicable:

 

(i) if such Transfer Restricted Note is being delivered to the Registrar by a Holder for registration in the name of such Holder, without transfer, a certification from such Holder to that effect (in substantially the form set forth on the reverse of the Note); or

 

(ii) if such Transfer Restricted Note is being transferred to a QIB that is aware that any sale of Notes to it will be made in reliance on Rule

 

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144A under the Securities Act and that is acquiring such Transfer Restricted Note for its own account or for the account of another such QIB, a certification from such Holder to that effect (in substantially the form set forth on the reverse of the Note); or

 

(iii) if such Transfer Restricted Note is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from registration in accordance with Rule 144, or outside the United States of America in an offshore transaction in compliance with Rule 904 under the Securities Act, or pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certification from such Holder to that effect (in substantially the form set forth on the reverse of the Note); or

 

(iv) if such Transfer Restricted Note is being transferred in reliance on another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and with all applicable securities laws of the States of the United States of America, a certification from such Holder to that effect (in substantially the form set forth on the reverse of the Note) and an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Company and to the Registrar, if the Company so requests, to the effect that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act.

 

(2) Restrictions on Transfer of a Definitive Note for a Beneficial Interest in a Global Note. A Definitive Note may not be exchanged for a beneficial interest in a Global Note except upon satisfaction of the requirements set forth below. Upon receipt by the Trustee of a Definitive Note, duly endorsed or accompanied by appropriate instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, together with:

 

(a) if such Definitive Note is a Transfer Restricted Note, certification, substantially in the form set forth on the reverse of the Note, that such Definitive Note is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act; and

 

(b) whether or not such Definitive Note is a Transfer Restricted Note, written instructions directing the Trustee to make, or to direct the Notes Custodian to make, an endorsement on the Global Note to reflect an increase in the aggregate principal amount of the Notes represented by the Global Note,

 

then the Trustee shall cancel such Definitive Note and cause, or direct the Notes Custodian to cause, in accordance with the standing instructions and procedures existing between the Depositary and the Notes Custodian, the aggregate principal amount of Notes represented by the Global Note to be increased accordingly. If no Global Notes are then outstanding, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Global Note in the appropriate principal amount.

 

(3) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. The transfer and exchange of Global Notes or beneficial interests therein shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with this Indenture (including applicable restrictions on transfer set forth herein, if any) and the procedures of the Depositary therefor. Any Person having a beneficial interest in a Global Note may upon request exchange such beneficial interest for a beneficial interest in the same Global Note or another Global Note or transfer to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Global Note or another Global Note. Upon receipt by the Trustee of written instructions or such other form of instructions as is customary for the Depositary, from the Depositary or its nominee on behalf of any Person having a beneficial interest in a Global Note and, in the case of a Transfer Restricted Note, the additional information and documents (all of which may be submitted by facsimile) set forth in Section 2.6(4)(a)(i) to (iv), the Trustee or the Notes Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, shall, where a beneficial interest in a Global Note is being exchanged for a beneficial interest in another Global Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery in the form of beneficial interest in another

 

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Global Note, cause, in accordance with the standing instructions and procedures existing between the Depositary and the Notes Custodian, the aggregate principal amount of one Global Note to be reduced and the aggregate principal amount of the other Global Note to be increased accordingly.

 

(4) Transfer of a Beneficial Interest in a Global Note for a Definitive Note.

 

(a) Any Person having a beneficial interest in a Global Note may upon request exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note. Upon receipt by the Trustee of written instructions or such other form of instructions as is customary for the Depositary, from the Depositary or its nominee on behalf of any Person having a beneficial interest in a Global Note and, in the case of a Transfer Restricted Note, the following additional information and documents (all of which may be submitted by facsimile):

 

(i) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to the Person designated by the Depositary as being the beneficial owner, a certification from the transferor to that effect (in substantially the form set forth on the reverse of the Note); or

 

(ii) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a QIB, that is aware that any sale of Notes to it will be made in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act and that is acquiring such beneficial interest in the Transfer Restricted Note for its own account or the account of another such QIB, a certification to that effect from the transferor (in substantially the form set forth on the reverse of the Note); or

 

(iii) if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from registration in accordance with Rule 144, or outside the United States of America in an offshore transaction in compliance with Rule 904 under the Securities Act, or pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certification from the transferor to that effect (in substantially the form set forth on the reverse of the Note); or

 

(iv) if such beneficial interest is being transferred in reliance on another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and in accordance with all applicable securities laws of the States of the United States of America, a certification to that effect from the transferor (in substantially the form set forth on the reverse of the Note) and an opinion of counsel from the transferee or transferor reasonably acceptable to the Company and to the Registrar, if the Company so requests, to the effect that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act,

 

the Trustee or the Notes Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, shall cause, in accordance with the standing instructions and procedures existing between the Depositary and the Notes Custodian, the aggregate principal amount of the Global Note to be reduced and, following such reduction, the Company will execute and, upon receipt of an authentication order in the form of an Officers’ Certificate, the Trustee’s authenticating agent will authenticate and deliver to the transferee a Definitive Note.

 

(b) Definitive Notes issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.6(4) shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Notes to the persons in whose names such Notes are so registered.

 

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(5) Restrictions on Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture (other than the provisions set forth in paragraph (6) of this Section 2.6), a Global Note may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary.

 

(6) Authentication of Definitive Notes in Absence of Depositary. If at any time:

 

(a) the Depositary for the Notes notifies the Company that the Depositary is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Global Notes and a successor Depositary for the Global Notes is not appointed by the Company within ninety days after delivery of such notice;

 

(b) there shall have occurred and be continuing a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes, represented by the Global Notes; or

 

(c) the Company, in its sole discretion, notifies the Trustee in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of Definitive Notes under this Indenture,

 

then the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Officers’ Certificate requesting the authentication and delivery of Definitive Notes, will, or its authenticating agent will, authenticate and deliver Definitive Notes, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Notes, in exchange for such Global Notes.

 

(7) Exchange Offer. Upon the occurrence of the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an order to authenticate the Notes in accordance with Section 2.2, the Trustee shall authenticate (A) one or more Exchange Notes that are Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes tendered for acceptance by Persons that make the certifications in the applicable Letters of Transmittal required by the Registration Rights Agreement, and accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer and (B) Exchange Notes that are Unrestricted Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Restricted Definitive Notes tendered for acceptance by Persons who made the foregoing certification and accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer. Concurrently with the issuance of such Exchange Notes, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Restricted Global Notes to be reduced accordingly, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail or deliver to the Persons designated by the Holders of Restricted Definitive Notes so accepted Unrestricted Definitive Notes in the appropriate principal amount.

 

(8) Legends.

 

(a) Except as permitted by the following subparagraph (c) and except for the Exchange Notes, each Note certificate evidencing the Global Notes and the Definitive Notes (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS NOTE NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION. BY ITS ACQUISITION OF THIS NOTE OR A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE HOLDER:

 

(1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) (A “QIB”) OR (B) THAT IT IS ACQUIRING THIS NOTE IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT;

 

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(2) AGREES NOT TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS NOTE, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) WHICH IS TWO YEARS (OR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD AS MAY BE PRESCRIBED BY RULE 144(K) (OR ANY SUCCESSOR PROVISION THEREOF) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS NOTE (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH NOTE), EXCEPT (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE SUBSIDIARIES, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUESTS OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE; AND

 

(3) AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS NOTE OR AN INTEREST HEREIN IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE AS TO THE ABOVE RESTRICTIONS.

 

AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION,” “UNITED STATES” AND “U.S. PERSON” HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY RULE 902 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THIS INDENTURE CONTAINS A PROVISION REQUIRING THE TRUSTEE TO REFUSE TO REGISTER ANY TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE IN VIOLATION OF THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.”

 

(a) For the six months following the Issue Date, each Note that is listed or quoted on the SGX-ST or a recognized securities exchange (as such term is defined in the Securities and Futures Act, chapter 289 of Singapore) will contain a legend substantially to the following effect:

 

(b) Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Note (including any Transfer Restricted Note represented by a Global Note) pursuant to Rule 144 under the Act or an effective registration statement under the Securities Act:

 

(i) in the case of any Transfer Restricted Note that is a Definitive Note, the Registrar shall permit the Holder thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Note for a Definitive Note that does not bear the legend set forth above in Section 2.6(8)(a) and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Note; and

 

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(ii) any such Transfer Restricted Note represented by a Global Note shall not be subject to the provisions set forth in Section 2.6(8)(a) (such sales or transfers being subject only to the provisions of Section 2.6(3) and Section 2.6(8)(b), to the extent applicable); provided, however, that with respect to any request for an exchange of a Transfer Restricted Note that is represented by a Global Note for a Definitive Note that does not bear a legend, which request is made in reliance upon Rule 144, the Holder thereof shall certify in writing to the Registrar that such request is being made pursuant to Rule 144 (such certification to be substantially in the form set forth on the reverse of the Note).

 

(9) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Note. At such time as all beneficial interests in a Global Note have either been exchanged for Definitive Notes, redeemed, repurchased or cancelled, such Global Note shall be returned to or retained and cancelled by the Trustee. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, redeemed, repurchased or cancelled, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note, by the Trustee or the Notes Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, to reflect such reduction and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note will be increased accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or the Notes Custodian at the direction of the Trustee or the Registrar to reflect such increase.

 

(10) Obligations with respect to Transfers and Exchanges of Definitive Notes.

 

(a) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the Trustee or any authenticating agent of the Trustee shall authenticate Definitive Notes and Global Notes at the Registrar’s request.

 

(b) No service charge shall be made to a Holder for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax, assessments, or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes, assessments, or similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges or transfers pursuant to Section 2.2(4), 2.10, 3.6, 4.13(8)(h), 9.5, or 10.1).

 

(c) The Registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of or exchange of (i) any Definitive Note selected for redemption in whole or in part pursuant to Article III, except the unredeemed portion of any Definitive Note being redeemed in part, or (ii) any Note for a period beginning 15 Business Days before the mailing of a notice of an offer to repurchase pursuant to Article X or Section 4.13 or redemption of Notes pursuant to Article III and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing.

 

(d) The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Depositary participants or beneficial owners of interests in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements thereof.

 

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Section 2.7 Replacement Notes.

 

If a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or if the Holder of a Note claims and submits an affidavit or other evidence satisfactory to the Trustee to the effect that the Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustee’s requirements are met. If required by the Trustee or the Company, such Holder must provide an indemnity bond or other indemnity, sufficient in the judgment of both the Company and the Trustee, to protect the Company, the Trustee or any Agent from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Company may charge such Holder for its expenses in replacing a Note.

 

Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Company.

 

Any replacement Note authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Section in lieu of a mutilated, lost, destroyed or stolen Note shall be deemed to evidence the same Debt as the mutilated, lost, destroyed or stolen Note and shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.

 

In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note had become or is about to become due and payable, the Company, in its discretion, may, instead of issuing a new Note, pay such Note, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in the preceding paragraph.

 

The provisions of this Section 2.7 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies of any Holder with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes.

 

Section 2.8 Outstanding Notes.

 

(a) Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes that have been authenticated by the Trustee (including any Note represented by a Global Note) except those cancelled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the Trustee hereunder and those described in this Section 2.8 as not outstanding. A Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Note, except as provided in Section 2.9.

 

(b) If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.7 (other than a mutilated Note surrendered for replacement), it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser. A mutilated Note ceases to be outstanding upon surrender of such Note and replacement thereof pursuant to Section 2.7.

 

(c) If, on a Redemption Date or the Stated Maturity, the Paying Agent (other than the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) holds cash sufficient to pay all of the principal, Redemption Price, interest, Additional Amounts, Registration Default Damages and premium, if any, due on the Notes payable on that date and payment of the Notes called for redemption is not otherwise prohibited, then on and after that date such Notes shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding and interest on them shall cease to accrue.

 

(d) If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section 4.1, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue.

 

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Section 2.9 Treasury Notes.

 

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, amendment, supplement, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or its respective Affiliates shall be disregarded, except that, for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, amendment, supplement, waiver or consent, only Notes that a Trust Officer of the Trustee knows are so owned shall be disregarded.

 

Section 2.10 Temporary Notes.

 

Until Definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of Definitive Notes but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Notes. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a written order of the Company in the form of an Officers’ Certificate, authenticate Definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes. Until so exchanged, the temporary Notes shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as permanent Notes authenticated and delivered hereunder.

 

Section 2.11 Cancellation.

 

The Company at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration, transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee, or at the direction of the Trustee, the Registrar or the Paying Agent (other than the Company or an Affiliate of the Company), and no one else, shall cancel and, without the written direction of the Company to the contrary, shall dispose of all Notes surrendered for transfer, exchange, payment, replacement, or cancellation in accordance with its customary procedures subject to the records retention requirements of the Exchange Act or return them to the Company. Subject to Section 2.7, the Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that have been paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation. No Notes shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Notes cancelled as provided in this Section 2.11, except as expressly permitted in the form of Notes and as permitted by this Indenture.

 

Section 2.12 Defaulted Interest.

 

(1) Interest on any Note which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the person in whose name that Note (or one or more predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on the Record Date for such interest.

 

(2) Any interest on any Note which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date plus any interest payable on (a) the defaulted interest at the rate and in the manner provided in Section 4.1 and (b) the Note (herein called “Defaulted Interest”), shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered Holder on the relevant Record Date, or, as applicable, the Special Record Date (as defined below), and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (a) or (b) below:

 

(a) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the persons in whose names the Notes (or their respective predecessor Notes) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee and the Paying Agent in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent an amount of cash equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Paying Agent for such deposit at least one Business Day prior to the date of the proposed payment, such cash

 

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when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as provided in this clause (a). Thereupon the Company shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest (a “Special Record Date”), which shall be not more than 15 days, and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Paying Agent of the notice of the proposed payment. The Company shall promptly notify the Paying Agent and the Trustee of such Special Record Date and, the Paying Agent in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder at such Holder’s address as it appears in the Note register not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the persons in whose names the Notes (or their respective predecessor Notes) are registered on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (b).

 

(b) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Notes may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee and the Paying Agent of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause (b), such manner shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee and the Paying Agent.

 

(3) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.12, each Note delivered under this Indenture upon the registration or transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Note, shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Note.

 

Section 2.13 CUSIP Numbers.

 

The Company in issuing the Notes may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the “CUSIP” numbers.

 

Section 2.14 Issuance of Additional Notes

 

The Company shall be entitled, subject to its compliance with Section 4.9 hereof, to issue additional Notes under this Indenture which shall have identical terms as the Initial Notes issued on the date hereof, other than with respect to the date of issuance and issue price. The Initial Notes issued on the date hereof, any additional Notes and all Exchange Notes issued in exchange therefore shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, including without limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase.

 

With respect to any additional Notes, the Company shall set forth in resolution of its Board of Directors and an Officers’ Certificate, a copy of which shall be delivered to the Trustee, the following information:

 

(a) the aggregate principal amount of such additional Notes to be authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture;

 

(b) the issue price, the issue date and the CUSIP number of such additional Notes; and

 

(c) whether such additional Notes shall be subject to restrictions on transfer.

 

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ARTICLE III

 

REDEMPTION

 

Section 3.1 Notices to Trustee.

 

(1) If the Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to this Indenture and Paragraph 5 of the Notes, it shall notify the Trustee and the Paying Agent in writing of the Redemption Date and the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and whether it wants the Paying Agent to give notice of redemption to the Holders.

 

(2) If the Company elects to reduce the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture and Paragraph 5 of the Notes by crediting against any such redemption Notes it has not previously delivered to the Trustee and the Paying Agent for cancellation, it shall so notify the Trustee, in the form of an Officers’ Certificate, and the Paying Agent of the amount of the reduction and deliver such Notes with such notice.

 

(3) The Company shall give each notice to the Trustee and the Paying Agent provided for in this Section 3.1 at least 40 days before the Redemption Date (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee and the Paying Agent). Any such notice may be cancelled at any time prior to notice of such redemption being mailed to any Holder and shall thereby be void and of no effect.

 

Section 3.2 Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed.

 

(1) If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture and Paragraph 5 of the Notes thereof, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed on a pro rata basis at least 20 days prior to the Redemption Date, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee shall determine to be appropriate and fair and in such manner as complies with any applicable Depositary, legal and stock exchange requirements.

 

(2) The Trustee shall make the selection from the Notes outstanding and not previously called for redemption and shall promptly notify the Company and the Paying Agent in writing of the Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Notes in denominations of US$1,000 may be redeemed only in whole. The Trustee may select for redemption portions (equal to US$1,000 or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal of Notes that have denominations larger than US$1,000. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.

 

Section 3.3 Notice of Redemption.

 

At least 30 days, but not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption by first class mail, postage prepaid, to the Trustee, the Paying Agent and each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed to such Holder’s last address as then shown upon the registry books of the Registrar. At the Company’s request, the Paying Agent shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at the Company’s expense. Each notice for redemption shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:

 

(1) the Redemption Date;

 

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(2) the Redemption Price to be paid upon such redemption or if the redemption is made pursuant to Section 3.7, a calculation of the redemption price;

 

(3) the name and address of the Paying Agent and the Registrar;

 

(4) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent at the address specified in such notice to collect the Redemption Price;

 

(5) that, unless (a) the Company defaults in its obligation to deposit with the Paying Agent cash or U.S. Government Obligations sufficient to fund the Redemption Price in accordance with Section 3.5 or (b) such redemption payment is prohibited, interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the Redemption Date and the only remaining right of the Holders of such Notes is to receive payment of the Redemption Price, upon surrender to the Paying Agent of the Notes called for redemption and to be redeemed;

 

(6) if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount, equal to US$1,000 or any integral multiple thereof, of such Note to be redeemed and that, after the Redemption Date, and upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in aggregate principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof shall be issued upon cancellation of the original Note;

 

(7) if less than all the Notes are to be redeemed, the identification of the particular Notes (or portion thereof) to be redeemed, as well as the aggregate principal amount of such Notes to be redeemed and the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be outstanding after such partial redemption;

 

(8) the CUSIP number of the Notes to be redeemed; and

 

(9) that the notice is being sent pursuant to this Section 3.3 and pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Paragraph 5 of the Notes or Section 3.7 or Section 3.8.

 

Section 3.4 Effect of Notice of Redemption.

 

Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.3 hereof, Notes called for redemption become due and payable on the Redemption Date and at the Redemption Price, including accrued and unpaid interest (and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any) to the Redemption Date. Upon surrender to the Trustee or Paying Agent, such Notes called for redemption shall be paid at the Redemption Price, provided that if a Redemption Date is a Legal Holiday, payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and no interest shall accrue for the period from such Redemption Date to such succeeding Business Day.

 

Section 3.5 Deposit of Redemption Price.

 

(1) No later than 10:00 a.m. (New York time) on the Business Day immediately preceding any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit in same day funds with the Paying Agent (other than the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) cash or U.S. Government Obligations sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of all Notes to be redeemed on such Redemption Date (other than Notes or portions thereof called for redemption on that date that have been delivered by the Company to the Trustee for cancellation). The Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Company any cash or U.S. Government Obligations so deposited, and any interest thereon, which is not required to pay the Redemption Price of all Notes to be redeemed.

 

(2) If the Company complies with the preceding paragraph and payment of the Notes called for redemption is not prohibited for any reason, interest on the Notes to be redeemed and Registration Default Damages, if any, shall cease to accrue on the applicable Redemption Date, whether or not such Notes are presented for payment. Notwithstanding anything herein to the

 

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contrary, if any Note surrendered for redemption in the manner provided in the Notes shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption because of the failure of the Company to comply with Section 3.5(1), interest and Registration Default Damages, if any, shall continue to accrue and be paid from the Redemption Date until such payment is made on the unpaid principal, and, to the extent lawful, on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate and in the manner provided in Section 4.1 and in the Note.

 

Section 3.6 Notes Redeemed in Part.

 

Upon surrender of a Note that is to be redeemed in part, the Trustee shall select the Notes or portions thereof for redemption on a pro rata basis, by lot or in such other manner deemed appropriate and fair, and authenticate and deliver to the Holder, without service charge to the Holder, a new Note or Notes equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered. The Notes may be redeemed in part in multiples of US$1,000 only.

 

Section 3.7 Right of Redemption.

 

(1) Redemption of Notes, as permitted by the provisions of this Indenture, shall be made in accordance with such provisions and this Article III.

 

(2) At any time on or after February 1, 2010, the Company shall have the right to redeem on one or more occasions the Notes for cash at its option, in whole or in part, to each Holder of Notes at the Redemption Prices specified in the form of Note attached as Exhibit A in Paragraph 5 thereof, in each case (subject to the provisions set forth in Sections 3.4 and 3.7(4)).

 

(3) At any time prior to February 1, 2008, upon any Qualified Equity Offering or a Strategic Equity Investment, up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes issued pursuant to this Indenture may be redeemed at the Company’s option within 75 days of such Qualified Equity Offering or, as the case may be, Strategic Equity Investment, at a redemption price equal to 108.75% of principal, together with accrued and unpaid interest and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any, thereon to, but not including, the Redemption Date; provided, however, that immediately following such redemption not less than 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally issued pursuant to this Indenture on the Issue Date remain outstanding.

 

(4) If the Redemption Date hereunder is on or after an interest Record Date on which the Holders of record have a right to receive the corresponding interest due and Registration Default Damages and Additional Amounts, if any, and on or before the associated Interest Payment Date, any accrued, if any, and unpaid interest and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any, due on such Interest Payment Date will be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such Record Date, and such interest and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any, will not be payable to Holders whose Notes are redeemed pursuant to such redemption and who were not Holders on the Record Date.

 

(5) Any redemption shall be on not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days notice to each Holder of Notes.

 

(6) Except as provided in this Indenture and Paragraph 5 of the Notes, the Notes may not otherwise be redeemed at the option of the Company.

 

Section 3.8 Optional Tax Redemption

 

(1) If, as a result of any change in or amendment to the laws, regulations or rulings of any jurisdiction where each of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors is organized or is otherwise considered by a taxing authority to be a resident for tax purposes (or, in each case, any political organization or governmental authority thereof or therein having the power to tax) (a

 

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“Relevant Tax Jurisdiction”), or any change in the official application or interpretation of, or any execution of or amendment to, any treaty or treaties affecting taxation to which such jurisdiction is a party, which in each case is proposed and becomes effective on or after the Issue Date, in making any payment due or to become due under the Notes or this Indenture, including any Registration Default Damages, (a) the Company is or would be required on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date to pay Additional Amounts and (b) the payment of such Additional Amounts cannot be avoided by the use of any reasonable measures available to the Company, the Notes may be redeemed at the option of the Company in whole but not in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture, at any time at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including the date of redemption. The Company will also pay to Holders on the date of redemption any Additional Amounts which are payable.

 

(2) Prior to the publication of any notice of redemption in accordance with Section 3.8(1), the Company shall deliver to the Trustee (i) an Officers’ Certificate stating that such amendment or change has occurred (irrespective of whether such amendment or change is then effective), the Company is entitled to effect such redemption describing the facts leading thereto and stating that the requirement to pay Additional Amounts cannot be avoided by the Company, taking reasonable measures available to it, (ii) an Opinion of Counsel, qualified under the laws of the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction, to the effect that the Company has or will become obligated to pay Additional Amounts on the next succeeding Interesting Payment Date as a result of such change or amendment and (iii) a memorandum of Counsel or other written analysis of Counsel to the effect that such obligation cannot be avoided by the Company taking reasonable measures available to it. Such notice, once delivered by the Company to the Trustee, will be irrevocable.

 

(3) No notice of Redemption as described in this Section 3.8 may be given (a) earlier than 90 days prior to the earliest date on which the Company would be obliged to pay such Additional Amounts were a payment in respect of the Notes or this Indenture then due and payable and (b) unless at the time such notice is given, such obligation to pay such Additional Amount remains in effect.

 

Section 3.9 Notices to SGX-ST.

 

In addition to the notice required under Section 3.3, so long as the Notes are listed on the SGX-ST and it is required by the rules of the SGX-ST, all notices to Holders will be valid if published in a daily newspaper of general circulation in Singapore (or, if the Holders of any Notes can be identified, notices to such Holders may also be valid if they are given to each of such Holders). It is expected that such publication be made in the Business Times. Notices will, if published more than once or on different dates, be deemed to have been given on the date of the first publication in such newspaper. Notice shall also be given to the SGX-ST.

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture in any case where the identity and addresses of all the holders of the Notes are known to the Company, notices to such Holders may be given individually by recorded delivery mail to such addresses and will be deemed to have been given when received at such addresses.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

COVENANTS

 

Section 4.1 Payment of Notes.

 

(1) The Company shall pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest (and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any) on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided herein and in the Notes. An installment of principal of or premium, if any, or

 

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interest (or Registration Default Damages, if any, or Additional Amounts, if any) on the Notes shall be considered paid on the date it is due if (i) the Company deposits such amounts with the Trustee pursuant to 4.1(3) below and (ii) the Paying Agent (other than the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) holds for the benefit of the Holders (on or before 10:00 a.m. New York City time to the extent necessary to provide the funds to the Depository in accordance with the Depository’s procedures) on that date cash deposited and designated for and sufficient to pay the installment.

 

(2) The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal and on overdue installments of interest (and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any) at the rate specified in the Notes compounded semi-annually, to the extent lawful.

 

(3) No later than 10:00 am (New York time) on the Business Day immediately preceding the date of any payment to Holders under this Indenture, the Company shall deposit in same day funds with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay to the Holders the amount of such payment.

 

Section 4.2 Maintenance of Office or Agency.

 

(1) The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, an office or agency where Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee and the Paying Agent of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee and the Paying Agent with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the address of the Trustee set forth in Section 13.2.

 

(2) The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors of their obligation to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, for such purposes. The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee and the Paying Agent of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency. The Company hereby initially designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as such office.

 

Section 4.3 Corporate and Partnership Existence.

 

Except as otherwise permitted by Article V, Section 4.13 or Section 11.4, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect their respective corporate, partnership or other organizational existence, as the case may be, and the corporate, partnership or other organizational existence, as the case may be, of each of their Subsidiaries in accordance with the respective organizational documents of each of them and the material rights (charter and statutory) and material corporate franchises of the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and each of their respective Subsidiaries.

 

Section 4.4 Payment of Taxes and Other Claims.

 

The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall, and shall cause each of their Subsidiaries to, pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, (a) all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges (including withholding taxes and any penalties, interest and additions to taxes) levied or imposed upon the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any of their Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties and assets and (b) all lawful claims,

 

45


whether for labor, materials, supplies or services, which have become due and payable and which by law have or may become a Lien upon the property and assets of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any of their Subsidiaries; provided, however, that neither the Company nor any Subsidiary Guarantor shall be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which disputed amounts adequate reserves have been established, to the extent required by and in accordance with US GAAP.

 

Section 4.5 Maintenance of Properties and Insurance.

 

(1) The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall cause all material properties used or useful to the conduct of their business and the business of each of their Subsidiaries to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order (reasonable wear and tear excepted) and supplied with all necessary equipment and shall cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof, all as in their reasonable judgment may be necessary, so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly conducted at all times; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 4.5 shall prevent the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor from discontinuing any operation or maintenance of any of such properties, or disposing of any of them, if such discontinuance or disposal is permitted under Section 4.13 or Article V.

 

(2) The Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall provide, or cause to be provided, for themselves and each of their Restricted Subsidiaries, insurance (including appropriate self-insurance) against loss or damage of the kinds that, in the reasonable, good faith opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company is adequate and appropriate for the conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in a prudent manner, with (except for self-insurance) reputable insurers, in such amounts, with such deductibles, and by such methods as shall be customary, in the reasonable, good faith opinion of the Company and adequate and appropriate for the conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in a prudent manner for entities similarly situated in the industry of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

Section 4.6 Compliance Certificate; Notice of Default.

 

(1) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of its fiscal year an Officers’ Certificate, one of the signatories of which shall be the principal executive, principal financial or principal accounting officer of the Company, complying with Section 314(a)(4) of the TIA and also stating that a review of the Company activities and the activities of its Restricted Subsidiaries, if any, during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether each of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, whether or not the signer knows of any failure by the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to comply with any conditions or covenants in this Indenture or of any Defaults and, if such signer does know of such a failure to comply or Default, the certificate shall describe such failure and Default with particularity. The Officers’ Certificate shall also notify the Trustee whether the relevant fiscal year ends on any date other than the current fiscal year end date.

 

(2) The Company shall, so long as any of the Notes are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, promptly upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or propose to take with respect thereto. The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Default, any Event of Default or any such fact unless one of its Trust Officers receives written notice thereof from the Company or any of the Holders and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture.

 

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Section 4.7 Reports.

 

(1) Subject to sub-clause (2) of this Section 4.7, the Company will:

 

(a) provide the Trustee and the Holders with:

 

(i) annual reports on Form 20-F (or any successor form) containing the information required to be contained therein (or the successor form) within 150 days after the end of each of its fiscal years commencing with the annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2005;

 

(ii) semi-annual reports on Form 6-K (or any successor form) including, whether or not required, unaudited semi-annual financial statements (which shall include at least a balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement and Notes thereto, in each case prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in Hong Kong, and a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” with respect thereto within 90 days after the end of each of the semi-annual period of each of its fiscal years;

 

(iii) such other reports filed with the SEC by the Company; and

 

(iv) annual reports within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year and semi-annual reports within 90 days after the end of the semi-annual period of each fiscal year, each containing the information required by the rules or requirements of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited and any filings or announcements pursuant to the rules or requirements of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.

 

(b) file with the SEC, to the extent permitted, the information, documents and reports referred to in sub-clause (1)(a) of this Section 4.7 within the periods specified above.

 

(2) Where it is required or necessary (whether as a result of the Company wishing to Incur any Indebtedness or otherwise) to determine compliance by the Company with Sections 4.9 or 4.17, and:

 

(a) the date of such determination is more than 135 days from the balance sheet date of the Company’s most recent semi-annual consolidated financial statements or annual consolidated financial statements, as the case may be, which have been subject to an audit or a SAS 100 Review by independent accountants; and

 

(b) no consolidated financial statements (which shall include at least a balance sheet, income statement and cashflow statement and Notes thereto and have been subject to a SAS 100 Review or an audit by independent accountants) for the most recent four fiscal quarters are in existence,

 

the Company will, on request by the Trustee, cause to be prepared and provided to the Trustee and the Holders, consolidated financial statements (which shall include at least a balance sheet, income statement and cashflow statement and Notes thereto) for the most recent four fiscal quarters to be subject to an audit or a SAS 100 review by independent accountants.

 

Section 4.8 [Reserved]

 

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Section 4.9 Limitation on Indebtedness.

 

(1) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, Incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness); provided, however, that the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries) may Incur Indebtedness if:

 

(a) on the date of such Incurrence, and after giving effect thereto and the application of the proceeds thereof, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries would be less than 4.25 to 1.0; and

 

(b) on the date thereof no Default or Event of Default will have occurred or be continuing or would occur as a consequence of Incurring the Indebtedness or transactions relating to such Incurrence.

 

(2) Section 4.9(1) will not prohibit the Incurrence of the following Indebtedness:

 

(a) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary Incurred pursuant to a Credit Facility in an aggregate amount not to exceed, at any time outstanding, US$15 million;

 

(b) Guarantees by the Subsidiary Guarantors of Indebtedness Incurred in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture; provided that in the event such Indebtedness that is being Guaranteed is a Subordinated Obligation or a Guarantor Subordinated Obligation, then the related Guarantee shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Subsidiary Guarantee;

 

(c) Indebtedness of the Company owing to and held by any Restricted Subsidiary or Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to and held by the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however,

 

(i) if the Company is the obligor on such Indebtedness, such Indebtedness is expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all obligations with respect to the Notes;

 

(ii) if a Subsidiary Guarantor is the obligor on such Indebtedness and the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor is not the obligee, such Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Subsidiary Guarantees of such Subsidiary Guarantor; and

 

(iii) (1) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Indebtedness being beneficially held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; and

 

(2) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company

 

shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an Incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or such Subsidiary which is the Obligor, as the case may be;

 

(d) Indebtedness represented by (i) the Notes issued on the Issue Date and the Subsidiary Guarantees, (ii) any Indebtedness (other than the Indebtedness described in Section 4.9(2)(a), (b), (c), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i) and (j)) outstanding on the Issue Date and (iii) any Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred in accordance with Section 4.9(3) and in respect of any Indebtedness described in this sub-clause (d) or sub-clause (e) or sub-clause (g) or Incurred pursuant to this Section 4.9(1);

 

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(e) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary Incurred and outstanding on the date on which such Restricted Subsidiary was acquired by the Company (other than Indebtedness Incurred (i) to provide all or any portion of the funds utilized to consummate the transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary or was otherwise acquired by the Company or (ii) otherwise in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition); provided, however, that at the time such Restricted Subsidiary is acquired by the Company, the Company would have been able to Incur US$1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.9(1) after giving effect to the Incurrence of such Indebtedness pursuant to this sub-clause (e);

 

(f) Indebtedness under Currency Agreements and Interest Rate Agreements; provided, that in the case of Currency Agreements and the Interest Rate Agreements, such Currency Agreements are related to business transactions of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes or in the case of Currency Agreements and Interest Rate Agreements, such Currency Agreements and Interest Rate Agreements are entered into for bona fide hedging purposes of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors or senior management of the Company) and substantially correspond in terms of notional amount, duration, currencies and interest rates, as applicable, to Indebtedness of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurred without violation of this Indenture;

 

(g) the Incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (each a “PMD Entity”) of Purchase Money Debt for Telecommunications Assets provided that:

 

(i) the aggregate principal amount of such Purchase Money Debt does not exceed 100% of the sum of:

 

(A) the Fair Market Value (on the date of the Incurrence thereof) of the applicable Telecommunications Assets;

 

(B) the Fair Market Value of any services to be provided to the PMD Entity by the seller of the applicable Telecommunications Assets in connection with the construction, installation and maintenance of such assets;

 

(C) the amount of interest on such debt permitted to be capitalized during the period of construction and installation of such assets under US GAAP; and

 

(D) any fees required to be paid by the PMD Entity with respect to any Guarantee of such Purchase Money Debt; and

 

(ii) the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness Incurred and then outstanding pursuant to this clause (g) plus the aggregate principal amount of all then outstanding Existing Purchase Money Debt (together with all Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred and then outstanding in respect of Indebtedness previously Incurred pursuant to this sub-clause (g) or in respect of Existing Purchase Money Debt) does not exceed US$10 million;

 

(h) Indebtedness Incurred in respect of performance bonds and letters of credit provided by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and not in connection with the borrowing of money or the obtaining of advances or credit;

 

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(i) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, Incurred or assumed in connection with the disposition of any business, assets or Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, provided that the maximum aggregate liability in respect of all such Indebtedness shall at no time exceed the gross proceeds actually received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such disposition; and

 

(j) In addition to the items referred to in sub-clauses 2(a) through (i) of this Section 4.9, Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate outstanding principal amount of which, when taken together with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this sub-clause 2(j) and then outstanding, shall not exceed US$1 million at any time outstanding.

 

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.9, references to “Restricted Subsidiary” or “Restricted Subsidiaries” in sub-clause (2) of this Section 4.9 (other than sub-clause 2(c)) shall exclude Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries.

 

(3) The Company is not permitted to Incur any Indebtedness under Section 4.9(2) if the proceeds thereof are used, directly or indirectly, to refinance any Subordinated Obligations of the Company unless such Indebtedness will be subordinated to the Notes to at least the same extent as such Subordinated Obligations. No Subsidiary Guarantor is permitted to Incur any Indebtedness if the proceeds thereof are used, directly or indirectly, to refinance any Guarantor Subordinated Obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor unless such Indebtedness will be subordinated to the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee to at least the same extent as such Guarantor Subordinated Obligations. No Restricted Subsidiary is permitted to Incur any Indebtedness if the proceeds are used to refinance Indebtedness of the Company. Neither the Company nor a Restricted Subsidiary is permitted to Incur any Indebtedness if the proceeds are used to refinance Indebtedness of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

(4) For purposes of determining compliance with, and the outstanding principal amount of any particular Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to and in compliance with, this Section 4.9:

 

(a) in the event that Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in Sections 4.9(1) and 4.9(2), the Company, in its sole discretion, will classify such item of Indebtedness on the date of Incurrence and only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness in one of such clauses;

 

(b) all Indebtedness outstanding on the date of this Indenture under any Credit Facility shall be deemed initially Incurred on the Issue Date under sub-clause (2)(a) of this Section 4.9 and not sub-clause (2)(d)(ii) of this Section 4.9 (other than Indebtedness outstanding on the date of this Indenture under the HSBC Facility which shall be deemed initially incurred on the Issue Date under sub-clause 2(d)(ii) of this Section 4.9);

 

(c) Indebtedness permitted by this Section 4.9 need not be permitted solely by reference to one provision permitting such Indebtedness but may be permitted in part by one such provision and in part by one or more other provisions of this Section 4.9 permitting such Indebtedness; and

 

(d) the amount of Indebtedness issued at a price that is less than the principal amount thereof will be equal to the amount of the liability in respect thereof determined in accordance with US GAAP.

 

(5) The Company will not permit any of its Unrestricted Subsidiaries to Incur any Indebtedness or issue any shares of Disqualified Stock, other than Non Recourse Debt. If at any time an Unrestricted Subsidiary becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary

 

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shall be deemed to be Incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary as of such date (and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be Incurred as of such date under this section 4.9, the Company shall be in Default of this Section 4.9).

 

(6) For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar denominated restriction on the Incurrence of Indebtedness where the Indebtedness Incurred is denominated in a different currency, the amount of such Indebtedness will be the U.S. Dollar Equivalent determined on the date of the Incurrence of such Indebtedness, in the case of term Indebtedness, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit Indebtedness; provided that if such Indebtedness is Incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable U.S. dollar-dominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. dollar-dominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced. The principal amount of any Indebtedness Incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, if Incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such Refinancing Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.

 

(7) The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, incur any Indebtedness that is contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of any of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, unless such Indebtedness is also contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees on substantially identical terms; provided, however, that no Indebtedness shall be deemed to be contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness solely by virtue of any Liens, Guarantees, maturity of payments or structural subordination.

 

(8) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 4.9, any increase in the amount of Indebtedness due to currency fluctuations shall not be considered an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 4.9.

 

Section 4.10 Limitation on Restricted Payments.

 

(1) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, to:

 

(a) declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution (whether made in cash, securities or other assets or property) on or in respect of its Capital Stock (including any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) except:

 

(i) dividends or distributions payable solely in Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock); and

 

(ii) dividends or distributions payable to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (and if such Restricted Subsidiary is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary, to its other holders of common Capital Stock on a pro rata basis or on a basis that results in receipt by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of dividends or distributions of greater value than it would receive on a pro rata basis);

 

(b) purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire for value any Capital Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or any direct or indirect parent of the Company held by Persons other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (other than in exchange for Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock));

 

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(c) purchase, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value, prior to scheduled maturity, scheduled repayment or scheduled sinking fund payment, any Subordinated Obligations or Guarantor Subordinated Obligations (other than the purchase, repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Obligations or Guarantor Subordinated Obligations purchased in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case constituting Senior Debt and due within one year of the date of purchase, repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement); or

 

(d) make any Restricted Investment in any Person;

 

(any such dividend, distribution, purchase, redemption, repurchase other acquisition, retirement or Restricted Investment referred to in sub-clauses (a) through (d) above shall be referred to herein as a “Restricted Payment”), if at the time the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary makes such Restricted Payment:

 

(i) a Default or an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (or would result therefrom);

 

(ii) the Company is not able to Incur an additional US$1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.9 after giving effect, on a pro forma basis, to such Restricted Payment; or

 

(iii) the aggregate amount of such Restricted Payment and all other Restricted Payments declared or made subsequent to the Issue Date (the amount of any Restricted Payment, if made other than in cash, to be based upon Fair Market Value) would exceed the sum of:

 

(A) 50% of Consolidated Net Income for the period (treated as one accounting period), from the beginning of the first fiscal quarter during which the Notes are issued, to the end of the most recent fiscal quarter ending at least 45 days prior to the date of such Restricted Payment for which consolidated financial statements are in existence and have been subject to a review in accordance with the requirements of Statement of Auditing Standards 100 issued by the AICPA (a “SAS 100 Review”) or an audit (or, in case such Consolidated Net Income is a deficit, minus 100% of such deficit);

 

(B) 100% of the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds received by the Company from the issue or sale of its Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) or other capital contributions subsequent to the Issue Date (other than Net Cash Proceeds received from an issuance or sale of such Capital Stock to a Subsidiary of the Company or an employee stock ownership plan, option plan or similar trust established by the Company or any such Subsidiary for the benefit of their employees);

 

(C) the amount by which Indebtedness of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries is reduced on the Company’s balance sheet upon the conversion or exchange (other than by a Subsidiary of the Company) subsequent to the Issue Date of any Indebtedness (other than any Indebtedness issued or sold to the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company or an employee stock ownership plan, option plan or similar trust established by the Company or any such Subsidiary for the benefit of their employees) of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries convertible or exchangeable for Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company (less the amount of any cash, or the Fair Market Value of any other property, distributed by the Company upon such conversion or exchange); and

 

(D) the amount equal to the net reduction in Restricted Investments made by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in any Person (other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) resulting from:

 

(1) dividends, repayments of loans or advances or other transfers of assets (including by way of dividend or distribution) by such Person to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; or

 

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(2) the redesignation of Unrestricted Subsidiaries as Restricted Subsidiaries (valued in each case as provided in the definition of “Investment”) not to exceed, in the case of any Unrestricted Subsidiary, the amount of Investments previously made by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Unrestricted Subsidiary,

 

which amount in each case under this sub-clause (D) was included in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments; provided, however, that no amount will be included under this sub-clause (D) to the extent it is already included in Consolidated Net Income.

 

(2) Section 4.10(1), however, will not prohibit:

 

(a) any purchase, repurchase, redemption, legal defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Capital Stock or Subordinated Obligations of the Company or Guarantor Subordinated Obligations of any Subsidiary Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock and other than Capital Stock issued or sold to a Subsidiary or an employee stock ownership plan or similar trust to the extent such sale to an employee stock ownership plan or similar trust established by the Company or any such Subsidiary for the benefit of their employees); provided, however, that (i) such purchase, repurchase, redemption, legal defeasance, acquisition or retirement will be excluded in subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments and (ii) the Net Cash Proceeds from such sale of Capital Stock will be excluded from Section 4.10(1)(d)(iii)(B);

 

(b) any purchase, repurchase, redemption, legal defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Obligations of the Company or Guarantor Subordinated Obligations of any Subsidiary Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Subordinated Obligations of the Company or any purchase, repurchase, redemption, legal defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Guarantor Subordinated Obligations made by exchange for or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of Guarantor Subordinated Obligations that, in each case, is permitted to be Incurred pursuant to the covenant described under Section 4.9 and that in each case constitutes Refinancing Indebtedness; provided, however, that such purchase, repurchase, redemption, legal defeasance, acquisition or retirement will be excluded in subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments;

 

(c) dividends paid within 60 days after the date of declaration if at such date of declaration such dividend would have complied with this provision and this Indenture; provided, however, that (a) such dividends will be included in subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments and (b) at the time of such payment, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (or result therefrom);

 

(d) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the purchase, redemption or other acquisition, cancellation or retirement for value of Capital Stock, or options, warrants, equity appreciation rights or other rights to purchase or acquire Capital Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or any parent of the Company held by any existing or former employees or management of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or their assigns, estates or heirs, in each case in connection with the repurchase provisions under employee stock option or stock purchase agreements or other

 

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agreements to compensate management employees; provided that such redemptions or repurchases pursuant to this clause will not exceed US$2 million in the aggregate during any calendar year and US$10 million in the aggregate for all such redemptions and repurchases; provided, however, that the amount of any such repurchase or redemption will be included in subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments;

 

(e) repurchases of Capital Stock deemed to occur upon the exercise of stock options, warrants or other convertible securities if such Capital Stock represents a portion of the exercise price thereof; provided, however, that such repurchases will be excluded from subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments;

 

(f) Restricted Payments in an amount not to exceed US$15 million; provided that the amount of such Restricted Payments will be included in subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments; and

 

(g) the purchase or redemption of any Subordinated Obligations, to the extent required by the terms of such Indebtedness following a Change of Control; provided, however, that the Company has made a Change of Control Offer and has purchased all Notes tendered in connection with that Change of Control Offer; provided further, however, that such purchase or redemption shall be included in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments.

 

(3) For the purposes of Section 4.10, the amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be the Fair Market Value on the date of such Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be paid, transferred or issued by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to such Restricted Payment. Not later than the date of making any Restricted Payment, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Restricted Payment is permitted and setting forth the basis upon which the calculations required by the covenant in this Section 4.10 were computed.

 

Section 4.11 Limitation on Affiliate Transactions.

 

(1) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into or conduct any transaction (including the purchase, sale, lease or exchange of any property or the rendering of any service) with any Affiliate of the Company (an “Affiliate Transaction”) or any series of related Affiliate Transaction unless:

 

(a) the terms of such Affiliate Transaction are (i) set forth in writing, (ii) in the best interest of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, and (iii) no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, than those that could be obtained in a comparable transaction at the time of such transaction in arm’s length dealings with a Person who is not such an Affiliate;

 

(b) in the event such Affiliate Transaction involves an aggregate consideration in excess of US$1 million, the terms of such transaction have been approved by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company and by a majority of the members of such Board having no personal stake in such transaction, if any (and such majority or majorities, as the case may be, determines in good faith judgment that such Affiliate Transaction satisfies the criteria in sub-clause (a) above as evidenced by a resolution of such Board promptly delivered to the Trustee); and

 

(c) in the event such Affiliate Transaction involves an aggregate consideration in excess of US$10 million, the Company has received a written opinion from an independent investment banking, accounting or appraisal firm of internationally recognized standing that such Affiliate Transaction is not materially less favorable than those that might reasonably have been obtained in a comparable transaction at such time on an arm’s length basis from a Person that is not an Affiliate.

 

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(2) Section 4.11(1) shall not apply to:

 

(a) any Restricted Payment (other than a Restricted Investment) permitted to be made pursuant to Section 4.10;

 

(b) any issuance of securities, or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment agreements and other compensation arrangements, options to purchase Capital Stock of the Company, restricted stock plans, long-term incentive plans, stock appreciation rights plans, participation plans or similar employee benefits plans and/or indemnity provided on behalf of officers and employees approved by the Board of Directors;

 

(c) any transaction between (i) the Company and a Subsidiary Guarantor or between Subsidiary Guarantors and (ii) Guarantees issued by the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor in the ordinary course of business in accordance with Section 4.9 for the benefit of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be;

 

(d) the payment of compensation (including amounts paid pursuant to employee benefit plans) for the personal services of officers, directors and employees of the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, including amounts paid to any Permitted Holder or any Affiliate thereof for the services of any such Person that is an officer, director or employee of such Permitted Holder or Affiliate, so long as a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors in good faith shall have approved the terms thereof and deemed the services theretofore or thereafter to be performed for such compensation or payments to be fair consideration therefor; and

 

(e) the performance of obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries under the terms of any agreement to which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is a party as of or on the Issue Date and identified in writing to the Trustee on the Issue Date, as these agreements may be amended, modified or renewed from time to time; provided, however, that any future amendment, modification or renewal entered into after the Issue Date will be permitted to the extent that its terms are not more disadvantageous to the Holders than the terms of the agreements in effect on the Issue Date.

 

Section 4.12 Limitations on Restrictions on Distributions from Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:

 

(1) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock or pay any Indebtedness or other obligations owed to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (it being understood that the priority of any Preferred Stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions prior to dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on Common Stock shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make distributions on Capital Stock);

 

(2) make any loans or advances to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (it being understood that the subordination of loans or advances made to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to other Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make loans or advances); or

 

(3) transfer any of its property or assets to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary.

 

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The preceding provisions of this Section 4.12 shall not prohibit:

 

(i) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to an agreement in effect at or entered into on the Issue Date, including, without limitation, this Indenture in effect on such date;

 

(ii) any encumbrance or restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement relating to any Capital Stock or Indebtedness Incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary on or before the date on which such Restricted Subsidiary was acquired by the Company (other than Capital Stock or Indebtedness Incurred as consideration in, or to provide all or any portion of the funds utilized to consummate, the transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary or was acquired by the Company or in contemplation of the transaction) and outstanding on such date provided, that any such encumbrance or restriction shall not extend to any assets or property of the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary other than the assets and property so acquired;

 

(iii) any encumbrance or restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement effecting a refunding, replacement or refinancing of Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to an agreement referred to in sub-clause (3)(i) or (3)(ii) of this Section 4.12; provided, however, that the encumbrances and restrictions with respect to such Restricted Subsidiary contained in any such agreement are no less favorable to the holders of the Notes than the encumbrances and restrictions contained in such agreements referred to in sub-clause (3)(i) or (3)(ii) of this Section 4.12 on the Issue Date or the date such Restricted Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary, whichever is applicable;

 

(iv) in the case of sub-clause (3) of this Section 4.12, any encumbrance or restriction:

 

(A) that restricts in a customary manner the subletting, assignment or transfer of any property that is subject to a lease or similar contract governing leasehold interests, or the assignment or transfer of any such lease or other contract;

 

(B) contained in mortgages, pledges or other security agreements permitted under Sections 4.9 and 4.17 securing Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent such encumbrances or restrictions restrict the transfer of the property subject to such mortgages, pledges or other security agreements;

 

(C) pursuant to customary provisions restricting dispositions of real property interests set forth in any reciprocal easement agreements of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; or

 

(D) customary restrictions contained in asset sale agreements limiting the transfer of such property or assets pending the closing of such sale; and

 

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(v) encumbrances or restrictions arising or existing by reason of applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation or order.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) customary provisions in licenses or other agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business to the extent the license or such other agreement restricts the transfer of property subject to such license or agreement, the license or agreement itself or the rights thereunder are allowed and (b) any asset subject to a Lien which is permitted under this Indenture may be subject to customary restrictions on the transfer or disposition thereof pursuant to such Lien.

 

Section 4.13 Limitation on Sale of Assets and Subsidiary Stock.

 

(1) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any Asset Disposition unless:

 

(a) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at least equal to the Fair Market Value (such Fair Market Value to be determined on the date of contractually agreeing to such Asset Disposition), of the shares and assets subject to such Asset Disposition;

 

(b) at least 75% of the consideration from such Asset Disposition received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of (or any combination of the following):

 

(i) cash or Cash Equivalents;

 

(ii) the assumption by the purchaser of liabilities of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor (other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees) as a result of which the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors are no longer obligated with respect to such liabilities; and

 

(iii) Telecommunications Assets; and

 

(c) to the extent that any Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, elects (or is required by the terms of any Indebtedness) to apply an amount equal to 100% of the Net Available Cash from such Asset Disposition:

 

(i) to repay Senior Debt of the Company or of a Restricted Subsidiary (in each case other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) within 270 days from the later of the date of such Asset Disposition or the receipt of such Net Available Cash; provided, however, that, in connection with any repayment of Senior Debt pursuant to this clause (a), the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor will retire such Indebtedness and will cause the related commitment (if any) to be permanently reduced in an amount equal to the principal amount so prepaid, repaid or purchased;

 

(ii) to invest in Telecommunications Assets within 270 days from the later of the date of such Asset Disposition or the receipt of such Net Available Cash.; or

 

provided that pending the final application of any such Net Available Cash in accordance with sub-clause (c)(i) or (c)(ii) above, the Company and its Subsidiary Guarantors may temporarily reduce Indebtedness or otherwise invest such Net Available Cash in any manner not prohibited by this Indenture.

 

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(2) Any Net Available Cash from Asset Dispositions that are not applied or invested as provided in Section 4.11(c) will be deemed to constitute “Excess Proceeds”. On the 271st day after an Asset Disposition, if the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds US$10.0 million, the Company will be required to make an offer (“Asset Disposition Offer”) to all holders of the Notes, to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes to which the Asset Disposition Offer applies that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds, at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture in integral multiples of US$1,000 (the “Asset Disposition Offer Price”). To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes so validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to an Asset Disposition Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for general corporate purposes, subject to other covenants contained in this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of tendered Notes. Upon completion of such Asset Disposition Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.

 

(3) The Asset Disposition Offer will remain open for a period of 20 Business Days following its commencement, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the “Asset Disposition Offer Period”). No later than five Business Days after the termination of the Asset Disposition Offer Period (the “Asset Disposition Purchase Date”), the Company will purchase the principal amount of Notes required to be purchased pursuant to this covenant (the “Asset Disposition Offer Amount”) or, if less than the Asset Disposition Offer Amount has been so validly tendered, all Notes validly tendered in response to the Asset Disposition Offer.

 

(4) If the payment date in connection with an Asset Disposition Offer hereunder is on or after an interest payment Record Date and on or before the associated Interest Payment Date, any accrued and unpaid interest (and Registration Default Damages and Additional Amounts, if any, due on such Interest Payment Date) will be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such Record Date, and such interest (or Registration Default Damages and Additional Amounts, if applicable) will not be payable to Holders who tender Notes pursuant to such Asset Disposition Offer and who are not Holders on the Record Date.

 

(5) Notice of an Asset Disposition Offer shall be sent, on or prior to the commencement of the Asset Disposition Offer, by first-class mail, by the Company to each Holder at its registered address, with a copy to the Trustee. The notice to the Holders shall contain all information, instructions and materials required by applicable law or otherwise material to such Holders’ decision to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer. The notice, which (to the extent consistent with this Indenture) shall govern the terms of an Asset Disposition Offer, shall state:

 

(a) that the Asset Disposition Offer is being made pursuant to such notice and this Section 4.13;

 

(b) the Asset Disposition Offer Amount, the Asset Disposition Offer Price (including the amount of accrued but unpaid interest (and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any)), and the date of purchase;

 

(c) that any Note or portion thereof not tendered or accepted for payment will continue to accrue interest if interest is then accruing;

 

(d) that, unless the Company defaults in depositing cash with the Paying Agent (which may not for purposes of this Section 4.13, notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, be the Company or any Affiliate of the Company), in accordance with Section 4.13(2), any Note, or portion thereof, accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer shall cease to accrue interest after the Asset Disposition Purchase Date;

 

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(e) that Holders electing to have a Note, or portion thereof, purchased pursuant to an Asset Disposition Offer will be required to surrender their Note, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Note completed, to the Paying Agent (which may not for purposes of this Section 4.13, notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, be the Company or any Affiliate of the Company) at the address specified in the notice;

 

(f) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their elections, in whole or in part, if the Paying Agent receives, prior to the expiration of the Asset Disposition Offer, a facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Notes the Holder is withdrawing and a statement containing a facsimile signature and stating that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such principal amount of the Notes purchased;

 

(g) that if Indebtedness in a principal amount in excess of the principal amount of Notes to be acquired pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer are tendered and not withdrawn, the Company shall purchase Indebtedness on a pro rata basis in proportion to the respective principal amounts (or accreted values in the case of Indebtedness issued with an original issue discount) thereof (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Company so that only Notes in denominations of US$1,000 or integral multiples of US$1,000 shall be acquired);

 

(h) that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered; and

 

(i) the circumstances and relevant facts regarding such Asset Disposition.

 

(6) On or before the date of purchase, the Company shall:

 

(a) accept for payment Notes or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer (on a pro rata basis if required pursuant to Section 4.13(2)),

 

(b) deposit with the Paying Agent cash sufficient to pay the Asset Disposition Offer Price for all Notes or portions thereof so accepted; and

 

(c) deliver to the Trustee the Notes so accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the Notes or portions thereof being purchased by the Company.

 

(7) The Company or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall promptly (but in any case not later than five Business Days after termination of the Asset Disposition Offer Period) mail or deliver to each Holder tendering Notes payment in an amount equal to the Asset Disposition Offer Price for such Notes, and the Company shall promptly issue a new Note and the Trustee, upon delivery by the Company of the Officer’s Certificate referred to under sub-clause (6)(c) of this Section 4.13, shall promptly authenticate and mail or deliver to such Holders such new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered provided that each such new Note will be in a principal amount of US$1,000 or on integral multiple of US$1,000 . Any Notes not so accepted shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Company to the Holder thereof.

 

(8) The Company will publicly announce the results of the Asset Disposition Offer on the Asset Disposition Purchase Date.

 

(9) The Company will comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the

 

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repurchase of securities pursuant to this Indenture. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with provisions of this covenant, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Indenture by virtue of any conflict.

 

Section 4.14 Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws.

 

Each of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law or any usury law or other law which would prohibit or forgive the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor from paying all or any portion of the principal of, premium of, or interest (or Registration Default Damages, if any, or Additional Amounts, if any) on the Notes as contemplated herein, wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, or which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) each of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it shall not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

 

Section 4.15 Limitation on sale of capital stock of restricted subsidiaries.

 

(1) The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, transfer, convey, sell, pledge, lease or otherwise dispose of any Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary or to issue any of the Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary (other than, if necessary, shares of its Capital Stock constituting directors’ qualifying shares) to any Person except:

 

(a) to the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor; or

 

(b) in compliance with Section 4.13 and immediately after giving effect to such issuance or sale, such Restricted Subsidiary would continue to be a Restricted Subsidiary.

 

(2) Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may sell all the Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary as long as the Company complies with Section 4.13.

 

Section 4.16 Limitation on sale/leaseback transactions.

 

The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any Sale/Leaseback Transaction with respect to any assets unless:

 

(1) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary would be entitled to:

 

(a) Incur debt in an amount equal to the Attributable Debt with respect to such Sale/Leaseback Transaction pursuant to Section 4.9; and

 

(b) create a Lien on such assets securing such Attributable Debt without also securing the Notes pursuant to Section 4.17; and

 

(2) such Sale/Leaseback Transaction is effected in compliance with Section 4.13.

 

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Section 4.17 Limitation on Liens.

 

The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, or assume or suffer to exist any Lien of any kind, other than Permitted Liens, upon any of their respective assets (including Capital Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries) whether now owned or acquired on or after the date of this Indenture or upon any income or profits therefrom securing any of their Indebtedness, unless the Company provides, and causes its Restricted Subsidiaries to provide, concurrently therewith or prior thereto, that the Notes and the applicable Subsidiary Guarantees are equally and ratably so secured; provided that if such Indebtedness is Subordinated Indebtedness, the Lien securing such Subordinated Indebtedness shall be contractually subordinate and junior to the Lien securing the Notes (and any related applicable Subsidiary Guarantees) with the same relative priority as such Subordinated Indebtedness shall have with respect to the Notes (and any related applicable Subsidiary Guarantees).

 

Section 4.18 Future Subsidiary Guarantors.

 

After the Issue Date, the Company shall cause each Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary) created or acquired by the Company or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries to execute and deliver to the Trustee a Subsidiary Guarantee pursuant to which such Subsidiary Guarantor will unconditionally Guarantee, on a joint and several basis, the full and prompt payment of the principal of, premium, if any and interest on the Notes on a senior basis.

 

Section 4.19 Limitation on Lines of Business.

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, engage in any other business other than the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as described in the Offering Memorandum and any reasonable expansion thereof or a Telecommunications Business.

 

Section 4.20 Additional Covenants.

 

(1) For so long as the Notes remain outstanding and are listed on the SGX-ST, the Company shall:

 

(a) ensure that its directors prepare a report that relates to each quarter (commencing with the quarter ending February 28, 2005), which report shall set out in detail any matters adversely affecting the Note or interests of the Holders and (without affecting the generality of the foregoing), shall comply with the requirements set out below, and shall deliver such report, signed by two directors, to the Trustee and SGX-ST within one month of the end of the period. The report must state:

 

(i) whether or not any limitation of liabilities or borrowings as prescribed by this Indenture has been exceeded;

 

(ii) whether or not the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors have observed and performed all the covenants and obligations binding upon them respectively pursuant to this Indenture;

 

(iii) whether or not any event has happened which has caused or could cause a Default or Event of Default under the Notes or any provision of this Indenture;

 

(iv) whether or not any material trading or capital loss has been sustained by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

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(v) whether or not any circumstances materially affecting the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor have occurred which adversely affect the Notes and if so, the particulars of these circumstances;

 

(vi) whether any contingent liabilities have been incurred by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor and if so, the amount incurred, and whether or not any contingent liability has matured or is likely to mature within the next twelve months which will materially affect the ability of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor to repay the Notes;

 

(vii) whether or not there has been any change in any accounting method or method of valuation of assets or liabilities of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantors;

 

(viii) whether or not any circumstances have arisen which render adherence to the existing method of valuation of assets or liabilities misleading or inappropriate with respect to the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors; and

 

(ix) whether or not there has been any substantial change in the nature of the Company’s or any Subsidiary Guarantor’s business since the Issue Date;

 

(b) ensure that its directors shall give notice in writing to the Trustee promptly upon any of its directors becoming aware that any obligations imposed upon the Company under this Indenture cannot be fulfilled; and

 

(c) on the application of Holders of the Notes holding not less than 10% of the nominal amount of the Notes outstanding delivered to the Company’s registered office, to requisition a meeting of Holders of the Notes in accordance with applicable laws.

 

Section 4.21 Rule 144A Information Requirement.

 

So long as any of the Notes are “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Act, then each of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors will, during any period in which the Company is not subject to and in compliance with Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or it is not exempt from such reporting requirements pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Exchange Act, provide to each Holder of such restricted securities and to each prospective purchaser (as designated by such Holder) of such restricted securities, upon the request of such Holder or prospective purchaser, any information required to be provided by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act. This Section 4.21 is intended to be for the benefit of the Holders, and the prospective purchasers designated by such Holders, from time to time of such restricted securities.

 

Section 4.22 Additional Amounts.

 

(1) All payments of principal, premium, interest and Registration Default Damages (if any) in respect of each Note and the Subsidiary Guarantees shall be made free and clear of, and without withholding or deduction for, any taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by or within any jurisdiction where each of the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors (each a “Payor”) is organized or otherwise considered by a taxing authority to be a resident for tax purposes, any jurisdiction from or through which the Payor makes a payment on the Notes, or in each case, any political organization or governmental authority thereof or therein having the power to tax (the “Relevant Tax Jurisdiction”) in respect of any payments under the Notes, unless such withholding or deduction is required by law or by regulation or governmental authority having the force of law. In the event that any such

 

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withholding or deduction in respect of principal, premium, interest or Registration Default Damages is so required, the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors, as the case may be, shall pay such additional amounts (“Additional Amounts”) as will result in receipt by each Holder of any Note of such amounts as would have been received by such Holder with respect to such Note or Subsidiary Guarantee, as applicable, had no such withholding or deduction been required, except that no Additional Amounts shall be payable for or on account of:

 

(i) any tax, duty, assessment or other governmental charge that would not have been imposed but for

 

(A) the existence of any present or former connection between such Holder (or between a fiduciary, settler, beneficiary, member or shareholder of, or possessor of a power over, such Holder, if such Holder is an estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company or corporation) and the Relevant Tax Jurisdiction other than solely by the holding of Notes or by the receipt of principal or interest in respect of the Notes, including, without limitation, such holder (or such fiduciary, settler, beneficiary, member, shareholder or possessor) being or having been a citizen or resident thereof or being or having been present or engaged in trade or business therein or having or having had a permanent establishment therein;

 

(B) the presentation of a Note (where presentation is required) for payment on a date more than 30 days after (x) the date on which such payment became due and payable or (y) the date on which payment thereof is duly provided for, whichever occurs later (in either case (x) or (y), except to the extent that the holder would have been entitled to Additional Amounts had the Note been presented for such 30-day period); or

 

(ii) any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, personal property or similar tax, assessment or other governmental charge; or

 

(iii) any tax, duty, assessment or other governmental charge that is imposed or withheld by reason of the failure by the Holder or the beneficial owner of the Note to comply with a reasonable and timely request of the payor addressed to the Holder to provide information, documents or other evidence concerning the nationality, residence or identity of the Holder or such beneficial owner which is required by a statute, treaty, regulation or administrative practice of the taxing jurisdiction as a precondition to exemption from all or part of such tax, assessment or other governmental charge;

 

(iv) any tax, duty, assessment or other governmental charge that is payable otherwise than by any deduction or withholding from any payment of the principal of, or any premium or interest on, a Note;

 

(v) any tax, duty, assessment or other governmental charge required to be deducted or withheld by any paying agent from any payment of the principal of, or any premium or interest on, a Note, if such payment can be made alternatively at the Holder’s option without such deduction or withholding by any other paying agent available to such holder at the same time; or

 

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(vi) any combination of the above.

 

(2) The Payor will provide to the Trustee and Paying Agent with the official acknowledgment of the Relevant Tax Authority or, if such acknowledgment is not available, a certified copy thereof, evidencing payment of the withholding taxes within 30 days after payment thereof. Copies of such receipts shall be provided to Holders requesting such copies.

 

(3) Whenever there is mentioned in any context, the payment of principal, premium, interest or Registration Default Damages, in respect of any Note or the net proceeds received on the sale or exchange of any Note, such mention shall be deemed to include the payment of Additional Amounts provided for this Section 4.22 to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to this Indenture.

 

(4) The Company (or failing which, any Subsidiary Guarantor), will pay any present or future stamp, court or documentary taxes, or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies which arise in any jurisdiction from the execution, delivery, enforcement or registration of the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees of any other document or instrument referred to therein (other than a transfer of the Notes), excluding any such taxes, charges or similar levies imposed by any jurisdiction that is not a Relevant Tax Jurisdiction, except those resulting from, or required to be paid in connection with, the enforcement of the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees following the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to the Notes.

 

(5) The Payor will (i) make any required withholding or deduction and (ii) remit the full amount deducted or withheld to the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction in accordance with applicable law. The Payor will use all reasonable efforts to obtain certified copies of tax receipts evidencing the payment of any Taxes so deducted or withheld from each Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction imposing such Taxes and will provide such certified copy to each Holder of a Note. The Payor will attach to each certified copy a certificate stating (x) that the amount of withholding Taxes evidenced by the certified copy was paid in connection with payments in respect of the principal amount of Notes then outstanding and (y) the amount of such withholding Taxes paid per US$1,000, as the case may be, principal amount of the Notes.

 

(6) If a Payor conducts business in any jurisdiction (an “Additional Taxing Jurisdiction”) other than a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction and, as a result, is required by the law of such Additional Taxing Jurisdiction to deduct or withhold any amount on account of taxes imposed by such Additional Taxing Jurisdiction from payments under the Notes or the relevant Subsidiary Guarantee, as the case may be, which would not have been required to be so deducted or withheld but for such conduct of business in such Additional Taxing Jurisdiction, the Additional Amounts provision described in Section 4.22(1) shall be considered to apply to such Holders as if references in such provision to “Taxes” included taxes imposed by way of deduction or withholding by any such Additional Taxing Jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof or taxing authority therein).

 

(7) At least 30 days prior to each date on which any payment under or with respect to the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee, as the case may be, is due and payable (unless such obligation to pay Additional Amounts arises shortly before or after the 30th day prior to such date, in which case it shall be promptly thereafter), if a Payor will be obligated to pay Additional Amounts with respect to such payment, such Payor will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating the fact that such Additional Amounts will be payable, the amounts so payable and will set forth such other information necessary to enable the Trustee to pay such Additional Amounts to Holders of Notes on the payment date. Each such Officers’ Certificate shall be relied upon until receipt of a further Officers’ Certificate addressing such matters.

 

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(8) The obligations under this Section 4.22 will survive any termination, defeasance or discharge of this Indenture and will apply mutatis mutandis to any jurisdiction in which any successor Person to a Payor is organized or any political subdivision or taxing authority or agency thereof or therein.

 

Section 4.23 Payments for Consent.

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration, whether by way of interest, fees or otherwise, to or for the benefit of any Holder of Notes for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms of provisions of this Indenture or the Notes unless such consideration is offered to be paid and is paid to all Holders of the Notes that consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in and in accordance with the solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.

 

Section 4.24 Indemnification of Judgment Currency.

 

The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, jointly and severally, indemnify the Trustee and any Holder of a Note against any loss incurred by the Trustee or such Holder, as the case may be, as a result of any judgment or order being given or made for any amount due under this Indenture, the Registration Rights Agreement or such Note and being expressed and paid in a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) other than Dollars, and as a result of any variation between (a) the rate of exchange at which the Dollar amount is converted into the Judgment Currency for the purpose of such judgment or order and (b) the spot rate of exchange in The City of New York at which the Trustee or such Holder, as the case may be, on the date of payment of such judgment or order is able to purchase Dollars with the amount of the Judgment Currency actually received by the Trustee or such Holder. If the amount of Dollars so purchased exceeds the amount originally to be paid to such Holder, such Holder agrees to pay to or for the account of the Company (with respect to payments made by the Company) and the Subsidiary Guarantors (with respect to payments made by the Subsidiary Guarantors) such excess; provided, that such Holder shall not have any obligation to pay any such excess as long as a default by the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors, as applicable in its obligations hereunder has occurred and is continuing, in which case such excess may be applied by such Holder to such obligations. The foregoing indemnity shall constitute a separate and independent judgment or order as aforesaid. The term “spot rate of exchange” shall include any premiums and costs of exchange payable in connection with the purchase of or conversion into, United States of America dollars.

 

ARTICLE V

 

SUCCESSOR CORPORATION

 

Section 5.1 Limitation on Merger, Sale or Consolidation.

 

(1) The Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all its assets to, any Person, unless:

 

(a) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (the “Successor Company”), if not the Company, is organized under the laws Hong Kong or the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and will expressly assume, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, all the accounts and obligations of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture;

 

(b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis (and treating any Indebtedness that becomes an obligation of the Successor Company or any

 

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Subsidiary of the Successor Company as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Company or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

 

(c) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, the Successor Company would be able to Incur at least an additional US$1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.9;

 

(d) each Subsidiary Guarantor (unless it is the other party to the transactions above, in which case sub-clause (1)(a) shall apply) shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed that its Subsidiary Guarantee shall apply to such Person’s obligations in respect of this Indenture and the Notes shall continue to be in effect;

 

(e) in the case of a sale, transfer, assignment, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all the assets of the Company, such assets shall have been transferred as an entirety or virtually as an entirety to one Person;

 

(f) the Successor Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States Federal income tax purposes as a result of such transaction or series of transactions and will be subject to United States Federal income tax on the same amounts and at the same times as would be the case if the transaction or series of transactions had not occurred and there will be no additional withholding taxes and no withholding taxes of any Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction imposed on any payments made pursuant to the Notes; and

 

(g) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture.

 

(2) The preceding provisions of this Section 5.1 shall not prohibit the Company from taking reasonable measures available to the Company to avoid the payment of any Additional Amounts in accordance with Section 3.8.

 

(3) For purposes of this Section 5.1, the sale, lease, conveyance, assignment, transfer, or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of one or more Subsidiaries of the Company, which properties and assets, if held by the Company instead of such Subsidiaries, would constitute all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company on a consolidated basis, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company.

 

(4) The Successor Company will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture, but, in the case of a lease of all or substantially all its assets, the predecessor Company will not be released from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes.

 

(5) Notwithstanding the preceding sub-clause (1)(c), (a) any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the Company and (b) the Company may merge with an Affiliate incorporated solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Company in another jurisdiction to realize tax benefits; provided that, in the case of a Restricted Subsidiary that merges into the Company, the Company shall not be required to comply with the preceding sub-clause (1)(e).

 

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(6) In addition, the Company shall not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to consolidate with, merge with or into any Person (other than the Company or another Subsidiary Guarantor) and shall not permit the conveyance, transfer or lease of substantially all of the assets of any Subsidiary Guarantor unless:

 

(a) (i) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person shall be a corporation, partnership, trust or limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of a jurisdiction under which such Subsidiary Guarantor is organized or existing on the Issue Date or the laws of any State of the United States and such Person (if not such Subsidiary Guarantor) shall expressly assume, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee, all the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee; (ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness that becomes an obligation of the resulting, surviving or transferee Person or any Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by such Person or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), no Default of Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and (iii) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture; or

 

(b) the transaction is made in compliance with the covenant described under Section 4.13.

 

Section 5.2 Successor Corporation Substituted.

 

Upon the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor consolidating or merging with or into another Person or upon a sale, lease, conveyance or transfer of all or substantially all of the Company’s or such Subsidiary Guarantor’s assets, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, to another Person in accordance with Section 5.1 (other than to an existing Subsidiary Guarantor or the Company, in which case this Section 5.2 shall not apply), the successor entity formed by such consolidation, merger or to which such sale, lease, conveyance or transfer is made (unless it is already the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor) shall succeed to and (except in the case of a lease) be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor (as the case may be) under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor entity had been named therein as the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor, and (except in the case of a lease) the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be released from its obligations under the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees and this Indenture except with respect to any obligations that arise from, or are related to, such transaction; provided, however, that any such release shall occur only to the extent that all obligations of the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor under all of the guarantees of any Credit Facility of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall also be released or terminate upon such sale or disposition and none of its Capital Stock is pledged for the benefit of any holder of any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary. Upon the designation of a Subsidiary Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with this Indenture, such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be released from its obligations under the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees and this Indenture.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

 

Section 6.1 Events of Default.

 

“Event of Default,” wherever used herein, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be caused voluntarily or involuntarily or effected, without limitation, by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

 

(1) default in any payment of interest or Additional Amounts on any Note (including Registration Default Damages payable under the Registration Rights Agreement) when due, continued for 30 days;

 

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(2) default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, on any Note when due at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption pursuant to Article III hereof, upon required repurchase, upon declaration or otherwise;

 

(3) failure by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor to comply with its obligations under Section 5.1;

 

(4) failure by the Company to comply for 30 days after notice with any of its other agreements and obligations under the Notes or this Indenture (in each case, other than a failure to purchase Notes which will constitute an Event of Default under sub-clause (2) and other than a failure to comply with Section 5.1 which is covered by sub-clause (3));

 

(5) a decree, judgment or order by a court of competent jurisdiction shall have been entered adjudicating the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries under any bankruptcy or similar law, and such decree or order shall have continued undischarged and unstayed for a period of 90 days; or a decree, judgment or order of a court of competent jurisdiction appointing a receiver, liquidator, trustee, or assignee in bankruptcy or insolvency for the Company any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or any substantial part of the property of any such Person, or for the winding up or liquidation of the affairs of any such Person, shall have been entered, and such decree, judgment or order shall have remained in force undischarged and unstayed for a period of 90 days;

 

(6) The Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall institute proceedings to be adjudicated a voluntary bankruptcy, or shall consent to the filing of a bankruptcy proceeding against it, or shall file a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization under any bankruptcy or similar law or similar statute, or shall consent to the filing of any such petition, or shall consent to the appointment of a Custodian, receiver, liquidator, trustee, or assignee in bankruptcy or insolvency of it or any substantial part of its assets or property, or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, fail generally to pay its debts as they become due, or take any corporate action in furtherance of any of the foregoing;

 

(7) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or is created after the date of this Indenture, if that default:

 

(a) is caused by a failure to pay principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness on the date of such default (a “Payment Default”); or

 

(b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity,

 

and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates US$5 million or more (or its foreign currency equivalent at the time);

 

(8) failure by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of US$5 million which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 30 days;

 

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(9) any Subsidiary Guarantee, ceases to be in full force and effect or becomes unenforceable or invalid or is declared null and void (other than in accordance with the terms of this Indenture or the Subsidiary Guarantee) or any Subsidiary Guarantor denies or disaffirms its Obligations under this Indenture or its Subsidiary Guarantee; or

 

(10) any of (a) the revocation, suspension or termination of any Material License or (b) the failure of the Company or the holder of any Material License to renew or extend, or the expiration, release, surrender or transfer of, any Material License, and in each case such Material License is not replaced, substituted or reissued within 30 days of its revocation, suspension, termination, expiration, release, surrender or transfer.

 

Section 6.2 Acceleration of Stated Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

 

(1) If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing (other than an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.1(5) and 6.1(6) above relating to the Company, the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiary,) then in every such case, unless the principal of all of the Notes shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), may declare all principal, determined as set forth below, and accrued interest (and Registration Default Damages and Additional Amounts, if any) thereon to be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.1(5) and 6.1(6) relating to the Company or any of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries occurs, all principal and accrued interest (and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any) thereon will be immediately due and payable on all outstanding Notes without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or the Holders.

 

(2) Subject to the provisions of this Indenture relating to the duties of the Trustee, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders, unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it.

 

(3) At any time after such a declaration of acceleration being made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter provided in this Article VI, the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of then outstanding Notes, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind, on behalf of all Holders, any such declaration of acceleration if:

 

(a) The rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction;

 

(b) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee cash or U.S. Government Obligations sufficient to pay:

 

(i) all overdue interest and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any, on all Notes,

 

(ii) the principal of (and premium, if any, applicable to) any Notes which would become due other than by reason of such declaration of acceleration, and interest thereon at the rate borne by the Notes,

 

(iii) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate borne by the Notes, and

 

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(iv) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee and its agents and counsel, and all other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7;

 

(c) all Events of Default, other than the non-payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on Notes which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 6.12.

 

(4) Notwithstanding the previous sentence of this Section 6.2, no waiver shall be effective against any Holder for any Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would be an Event of Default with respect to any covenant or provision which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Note affected thereby, unless all such affected Holders agree, in writing, to waive such Event of Default or other event. No such waiver shall cure or waive any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

(5) In the case of any Event of Default occurring by reason of any willful action (or inaction) taken (or not taken) by or on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor with the intention of avoiding payment of any premium that the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor would have had to pay if the Company then had elected to redeem the Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions under Article III hereof, an equivalent premium shall also become and be immediately due and payable to the extent permitted by law.

 

Section 6.3 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

 

(1) The Company covenants that if an Event of Default in payment of principal, premium or interest (or Registration Default Damages, if any, or Additional Amounts, if any) specified in Section 6.1(1) or Section 6.1(2) occurs and is continuing, the Company shall, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Notes, the whole amount then due and payable on such Notes for principal, premium (if any), and interest (and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any), and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal (and premium, if any), and on any overdue interest (and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any), at the rate borne by the Notes, provided, however, that the Trustee shall not be required to determine the amounts due hereunder and, in addition thereto, to the extent lawful, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including compensation to, and expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee and its agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7.

 

(2) If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust in favor of the Holders, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, wherever situated.

 

(3) If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effective to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

 

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Section 6.4 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

 

(1) In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relating to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor or the property of the Company or of such Subsidiary Guarantor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Notes shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal, premium, if any (and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any), or interest shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise to take any and all actions under the TIA, including

 

(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal (and premium, if any) and interest (and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any) owing and unpaid in respect of the Notes and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee and its agent and counsel and all other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and

 

(b) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

 

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7.

 

(2) Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; provided, however, that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and may be a member of a creditors’ committee.

 

Section 6.5 Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Notes.

 

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Notes may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Notes or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust in favor of the Holders, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of compensation to, and expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee and its agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

 

Section 6.6 Priorities.

 

Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article VI shall be applied, subject to applicable law, in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal, premium (if any), or interest (or Registration Default Damages, if any, or Additional Amounts, if any), upon presentation of the Notes and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

 

FIRST: To the Trustee in payment of all amounts due pursuant to Section 7.7;

 

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SECOND: To the Holders in payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of, premium (if any), and interest (and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any) on, the Notes in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Notes for principal, premium (if any), and interest (and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any), respectively; and

 

THIRD: To the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors or such other Person as may be lawfully entitled thereto, the remainder, if any, each as their respective interests may appear.

 

The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date and payment date for any payment to the Holders under this Section 6.6.

 

Section 6.7 Limitation on Suits.

 

No Holder of any Note shall have any right to order or direct the Trustee to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or to appoint a receiver or trustee, or to institute any other remedy hereunder, unless:

 

(1) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default;

 

(2) the registered Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of then outstanding Notes shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder and offered to the Trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it to institute such proceeding as Trustee; and

 

(3) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding or pursue any remedies and such Trustee shall not have received from the registered Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request;

 

it being understood and intended that (i) no one or more Holders shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all the Holders and (ii) such limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a Holder of Notes for enforcement of payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest, including Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any, on, such Note on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Note.

 

Section 6.8 Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the Holder of any Note shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of, and premium (if any), and interest (and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any) on, such Note on the Stated Maturity of such payments as expressed in such Note (in the case of redemption, the Redemption Price on the applicable Redemption Date, in the case of a Change of Control, the Change of Control Purchase Price on the Change of Control Payment Date, and in the case of an Asset Disposition, the Asset Disposition Offer Price on the relevant purchase date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment after such respective dates, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

 

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Section 6.9 Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

 

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes in Section 2.7, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

 

Section 6.10 Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

 

No delay or omission by the Trustee or by any Holder of any Note to exercise any right or remedy arising upon any Event of Default shall impair the exercise of any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default. Every right and remedy given by this Article VI or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

 

Section 6.11 Control by Holders.

 

The Holder or Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of then outstanding Notes shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, provided, that

 

(1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture,

 

(2) the Trustee shall not be obligated to determine and shall have no duty to ascertain that the action so directed would involve it in personal liability or would be unjustly prejudicial to the Holders not taking part in such direction, and

 

(3) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.

 

Section 6.12 Waiver of Existing or Past Default.

 

(1) Subject to Section 6.8, the Holder or Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes may, on behalf of all Holders, waive any existing or past Default or Event of Default hereunder and its consequences under this Indenture, except a Default or Event of Default:

 

(a) in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest (or Registration Default Damages, if any, or Additional Amounts, if any) on, any Note as specified in Section 6.1(1) or Section 6.1(2) and not yet cured, or

 

(b) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which, under Article IX, cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Note affected.

 

(2) Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair the exercise of any right arising therefrom.

 

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Section 6.13 Undertaking for Costs.

 

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Note by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it as Trustee, any court may in its discretion require the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 6.13 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for enforcement of the payment of principal of, or premium (if any), or interest (or Registration Default Damages, if any, or Additional Amounts, if any) on, any Note on or after the respective Stated Maturity expressed in such Note (including, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date).

 

Section 6.14 Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

 

If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

TRUSTEE

 

The Trustee hereby accepts the trust imposed upon it by this Indenture and covenants and agrees to perform the same, as herein expressed, subject to the terms hereof.

 

Section 7.1 Duties of Trustee.

 

(1) If a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent Person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.

 

(2) Except during the continuance of a Default or an Event of Default:

 

(a) The Trustee need perform only those duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no covenants or obligations shall be implied in or read into this Indenture, and

 

(b) In the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements (including the accuracy of any mathematical calculations) and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

 

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(3) The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

 

(a) This paragraph does not limit the effect of sub-paragraph (2) of this Section 7.1,

 

(b) The Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Trust Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts, and

 

(c) The Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.11.

 

(4) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or to take or omit to take any action under this Indenture or at the request, order or direction of the Holders or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

 

(5) The Trustee shall not be required to invest and shall not be liable for interest on any assets received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company (including without limitation to the extent the Trustee receives funds prior to the Interest Payment Date in order to comply with the provisions of Section 4.1). Assets held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other assets except to the extent required by law or under Article VIII.

 

(6) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) of this Section 7.1.

 

Section 7.2 Rights of Trustee.

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 7.1:

 

(1) The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting on any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in such document.

 

(2) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may consult with counsel of its selection and may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such certificate or advice of counsel.

 

(3) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any attorney or agent appointed with due care.

 

(4) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it or its agent takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

 

(5) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company personally or by its agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Company and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.

 

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(6) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders, pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby.

 

(7) Unless otherwise specifically provided for in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable.

 

(8) The Trustee shall have no duty to inquire as to the performance of the Company’s or any Subsidiary Guarantor’s covenants in Article IV or as to the performance by any Agent of its duties hereunder. In addition, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default except (i) any Event of Default occurring pursuant to Sections 4.1, 6.1(1) and 6.1(2), or (ii) any Default or Event of Default of which the Trustee shall have received written notification or obtained actual knowledge and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture.

 

(9) Whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officers’ Certificate.

 

(10) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.

 

(11) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

 

(12) The Trustee may request that the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors deliver an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers’ Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officers’ Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.

 

Section 7.3 Individual Rights of Trustee.

 

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor, any of their Subsidiaries, or their respective Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must comply with Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

 

Section 7.4 Trustee’s Disclaimer.

 

The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes and it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Company or upon the Company’s discretion under any provision of this Indenture, and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes, other than the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, or the use or application of any funds received by a Paying Agent other than the Trustee.

 

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Section 7.5 Notice of Default.

 

If a Default or an Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if the Trustee received notice or has actual knowledge thereof, the Trustee shall mail to each Noteholder notice of the uncured Default or Event of Default within 30 days after the Trustee gains knowledge of such Default or Event of Default. Except in the case of a Default or an Event of Default in payment of principal (or premium, if any), of, or interest (or Registration Default Damages, if any, or Additional Amounts, if any) on, any Note (including the payment of the Change of Control Purchase Price on the Change of Control Payment Date, the payment of the Redemption Price on the Redemption Date and the payment of the Asset Disposition Offer Price on the relevant purchase date), the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a Trust Officer in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interest of the Noteholders.

 

Section 7.6 Reports by Trustee to Holders.

 

(1) Within 60 days after each August 31 beginning with the August 31 following the date of this Indenture, the Trustee shall, if required by law, mail to each Noteholder a brief report dated as of such August 31 that complies with TIA § 313(a). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA §§ 313(b) and 313(c).

 

(2) The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing if the Notes become listed on any stock exchange or automated quotation system and of any delisting therefrom.

 

(3) A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Noteholders shall be mailed to the Company and filed with the SEC and each stock exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed.

 

Section 7.7 Compensation and Indemnity.

 

(1) The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors jointly and severally agree to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for services rendered by it hereunder in such amounts as may be agreed to from time to time in writing by the Trustee and the Company. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable disbursements, expenses and advances incurred or made by it in accordance with this Indenture. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents, accountants, experts and counsel.

 

(2) The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors jointly and severally agree to indemnify the Trustee (in its capacity as Trustee) and each of its officers, directors, attorneys-in-fact and agents for, and hold it harmless against, any claim, demand, expense (including but not limited to compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel), loss or liability incurred by it without negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, arising out of or in connection with the administration of this trust and its rights or duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim asserted against the Trustee for which it may seek indemnity. The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall provide cooperation at the Company’s and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ expense in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel; provided, that the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors will not be required to pay such fees and expenses if they assume the Trustee’s defense and there is no conflict of interest (in the reasonable determination of the Company and the Trustee) between the Company and the Subsidiary

 

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Guarantors and the Trustee in connection with such defense. The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors need not pay for any settlement made without their written consent; provided, that such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability to the extent incurred by the Trustee through its negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct. If the Trustee is required to participate in any court, foreclosure or other proceedings related to the interpretation or enforcement of the provisions of this Indenture, its fees and expenses shall be increased to cover all its out-of-pocket expenses and internal costs associated in its participating in the same.

 

(3) To secure the Company’s and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ payment obligations in this Section 7.7, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Notes on all assets held or collected by the Trustee, in its capacity as Trustee, except assets held in trust to pay principal and premium, if any, of or interest on, particular Notes. If any property other than cash shall at any time be subject to the lien of this Indenture, the Trustee, if and to the extent authorized by a receivership or bankruptcy court of competent jurisdiction or by the supplemental instrument subjecting such property to such lien, shall be entitled, but shall not be required, to make advances for the purpose of preserving such property or of discharging tax liens or other prior liens or encumbrances thereon.

 

(4) When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.1(5) or 6.1(6) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

(5) The Company’s and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ obligations under this Section 7.7 and any lien arising hereunder shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee, the discharge of the Company’s and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ obligations pursuant to Article VIII of this Indenture and any rejection or termination of this Indenture under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

Section 7.8 Replacement of Trustee.

 

(1) The Trustee may resign at any time by so notifying the Company in writing. The Holder or Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Company and the Trustee in writing and may appoint a successor trustee with the Company’s consent. The Company may remove the Trustee if:

 

(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;

 

(b) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;

 

(c) a receiver, Custodian or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

 

(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

 

(2) If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of the Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holder or Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.

 

(3) A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Immediately after that and provided that all sums owing to the retiring Trustee provided for in Section 7.7 have been paid, the retiring Trustee shall transfer all property held by it as trustee to the successor Trustee, and subject to the lien provided in Section 7.7, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. A successor Trustee shall mail notice of its succession to each Holder.

 

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(4) If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or the Holder or Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

(5) If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10, any Noteholder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

(6) Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.8, the Company’s and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ obligations under Section 7.7 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

 

(7) Upon its resignation or removal, the Trustee shall be entitled to the prompt payment by the Company of its compensation and reimbursement of all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses up to the effective date of resignation or removal (including, without limitation, the fees and expenses of counsel, if any), incurred in connection with the performance of such services.

 

Section 7.9 Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc.

 

If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation without any further act shall, if such resulting, surviving or transferee corporation is otherwise eligible hereunder, be the successor Trustee.

 

Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification.

 

The Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least US$25,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with TIA § 310(b).

 

Section 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

 

The Trustee shall comply with TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated.

 

Section 7.12 Appointment of Co-Trustee.

 

(1) It is the purpose of this Indenture that there shall be no violation of any law of any jurisdiction denying or restricting the right of banking corporations or associations to transact business as trustee in such jurisdiction. It is recognized that in case of litigation under this Indenture, and in particular in case of the enforcement thereof on default, or in the case the Trustee deems that by reason of any present or future law of any jurisdiction it may not exercise any of the powers, rights or remedies herein granted to the Trustee or hold title to the properties, in trust, as herein granted or take any action which may be desirable or necessary in connection therewith, it may be necessary that the Trustee appoint an individual or institution as a separate or co-trustee. The following provisions of this Section are adopted to these ends.

 

(2) In the event that the Trustee appoints an additional individual or institution as a separate or co-trustee, each and every remedy, power, right, claim, demand, cause of action, immunity, estate, title, interest and lien expressed or intended by this Indenture to be exercised by or vested in or conveyed to the Trustee with respect thereto shall be exercisable by and vest in such separate or co-trustee but only to the extent necessary to enable such separate or co-trustee to exercise such powers, rights and remedies, and only to the extent that the Trustee by the laws of any jurisdiction is incapable of exercising such powers, rights and remedies and every covenant and obligation necessary to the exercise thereof by such separate or co-trustee shall run to and be enforceable by either of them.

 

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(3) Should any instrument in writing from the Company be required by the separate or co-trustee so appointed by the Trustee for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to it such properties, rights, powers, trusts, duties and obligations, any and all such instruments in writing shall, on request, be executed, acknowledged and delivered by the Company; provided, that if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, if the Company does not execute any such instrument within fifteen (15) days after request therefor, the Trustee shall be empowered as an attorney-in-fact for the Company to execute any such instrument in the Company’s name and stead. In case any separate or co-trustee or a successor to either shall die, become incapable of acting, resign or be removed, all the estates, properties, rights, powers, trusts, duties and obligations of such separate or co-trustee, so far as permitted by law, shall vest in and be exercised by the Trustee until the appointment of a new trustee or successor to such separate or co-trustee.

 

(4) Every separate trustee and co-trustee shall, to the extent permitted by law, be appointed and act subject to the following provisions and conditions:

 

(a) all rights and powers, conferred or imposed upon the Trustee shall be conferred or imposed upon and may be exercised or performed by such separate trustee or co-trustee; and

 

(b) no trustee hereunder shall be personally liable by reason of any act or omission of any other trustee hereunder.

 

(5) Any notice, request or other writing given to the Trustee shall be deemed to have been given to each of the then separate trustees and co-trustees, as effectively as if given to each of them. Every instrument appointing any separate trustee or co-trustee shall refer to this Indenture and the conditions of this Article.

 

(6) Any separate trustee or co-trustee may at any time appoint the Trustee as its agent or attorney-in-fact with full power and authority, to the extent not prohibited by law, to do any lawful act under or in respect of this Indenture on its behalf and in its name. If any separate trustee or co-trustee shall die, become incapable of acting, resign or be removed, all of its estates, properties, rights, remedies and trusts shall vest in and be exercised by the Trustee, to the extent permitted by law, without the appointment of a new or successor trustee.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

DISCHARGE; LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

Section 8.1 Discharge; Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

(1) This Indenture shall be discharged and cease to be of further effect (except as to surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of the Notes and except that the Company’s and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ obligations under Section 7.7 and the Trustee’s and the Paying Agent’s obligations under Sections 8.6 and 8.7 shall survive) when:

 

(a) either (i) all outstanding Notes theretofore authenticated and issued have been delivered (other than destroyed, lost or stolen Notes that have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has previously been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust) to the Trustee for cancellation and the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors have paid all sums payable hereunder; or (ii) all such Notes that have not been previously delivered to the

 

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Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable or will become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year upon arrangements reasonably satisfactory for the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars or U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Notes not delivered to such Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption and the Trustee for itself and for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes have a valid, perfected, exclusive security interest in such trust,

 

(b) the Company has paid all sums payable by it under this Indenture;

 

(c) the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be;

 

(d) no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such deposit; and

 

(e) such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default, under any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any Subsidiary is bound.

 

In addition, the Company must deliver an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the Company has complied with all conditions precedent to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

 

(2) In addition, the Company may elect to have Section 8.2 or Section 8.3, at the Company’s option at any time, of this Indenture applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article VIII.

 

Section 8.2 Legal Defeasance and Discharge.

 

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.1 of the option applicable to this Section 8.2, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall be deemed to have been discharged from their respective obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, such Legal Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees and this Indenture and this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect as to all outstanding Notes and Subsidiary Guarantees, except as to be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.5 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (a) and (b) below, and the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall be deemed to have satisfied all other of their respective obligations under such Notes and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest (and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any) on such Notes when such payments are due from the trust described in Section 8.5, (b) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Notes under Sections 2.4, 2.6, 2.7, 2.10, 4.2, 8.5, 8.6 and 8.7 and (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company’s and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ obligations in connection therewith. Subject to compliance with this Article VIII, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 8.2 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.3 with respect to the Notes.

 

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Section 8.3 Covenant Defeasance.

 

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.1 of the option applicable to this Section 8.3, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall be released from their respective obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.7, 4.9, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17, 4.18, 4.19, 5.1(1)(c), 5.1(1)(d), 5.1(1)(e), 6.1(5), 6.1(6), 6.1(7), 6.1(8) and Article X with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary Guarantor need comply with or shall have any liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.1 of the option applicable to this Section 8.3 and in satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.4, payment of the Notes may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.1(3) (with respect to the covenants contained in Sections 4.3, 4.5 through 4.8, 4.10 through 4.12, 4.14 through 4.18, 4.20 and 4.22 and Article V, Article X and Article XI hereof) and 6.1(7) through 6.1(10).

 

Section 8.4 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.

 

(1) The following shall be the conditions to the application of either Section 8.2 or 8.3 to the outstanding Notes:

 

(a) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 7.10 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Article VIII applicable to it), in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, cash, U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a firm of independent accountants to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest (and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any) on such outstanding Notes on the stated date for payment thereof or on the redemption date of such principal or installment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on such Notes, and the Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of Notes or the Holders of Notes must have a valid, perfected, and exclusive security interest in such trust,

 

(b) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States of America reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (ii) since the date of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable United States federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of such outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(c) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States of America reasonably acceptable to such Trustee confirming that the Holders of such outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

 

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(d) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit after giving effect thereto or 123 days pass after the deposit is made and during the 123-day period no Default described in Section 6.1(5) or 6.1(6) occurs with respect to the Company or any other Person making such deposit which is continuing at the end of the period;

 

(e) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company, the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of the foregoing are bound;

 

(f) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the trust resulting from the deposit does not constitute, or is qualified as, a regulated investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940;

 

(g) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in Hong Kong to the effect that Holders of the Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for Hong Kong tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to Hong Kong taxes (including withholding taxes) on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred;

 

(h) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that the conditions precedent provided for in, in the case of the Officers’ Certificate, clauses (a) through (h) of this Section 8.4(1) and, in the case of the Opinion of Counsel, clauses (a) (with respect to the validity and perfection of the security interest) (b), (c) and (e) of this Section 8.4(1), have been complied with and in the case of a Covenant Defeasance the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate, subject to such qualifications and exceptions as the Trustee deems appropriate, to the effect that, assuming no Holder of the Notes is an insider or affiliate of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of any applicable federal bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally.

 

(2) If the funds deposited with the Trustee to effect Covenant Defeasance are insufficient to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any, on the Notes when due, then the obligations of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors under this Indenture will be revived and such defeasance will be deemed not to have occurred.

 

Section 8.5 Deposited Cash and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

(1) Subject to Section 8.6, all cash and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.5, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 8.4 in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest (and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any), but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

(2) The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 8.4 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of outstanding Notes.

 

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Section 8.6 Repayment to the Company.

 

(1) Anything in this Article VIII to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee or the Paying Agent shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any cash or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 8.4 which in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.4(1)), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

(2) Any cash and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest (and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any) on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, on its request; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter look only to the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition) and, so long as the Notes are listed on the SGX-ST, in a daily newspaper of general circulation in Singapore which is expected to be the Business Times, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company unless the expense of such publications exceeds any money payable to the Company.

 

Section 8.7 Reinstatement.

 

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any cash or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 8.2 or 8.3, as the case may be, of this Indenture by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.2 or 8.3 until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply such money in accordance with Sections 8.2 and 8.3, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Company makes any payment or principal of, premium, if any, or interest (and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any) on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the cash or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS

 

Section 9.1 Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.

 

Without the consent of any Holder, the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, when authorized by Board Resolutions, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may amend or enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

 

(1) to cure any ambiguity, defect, omission or inconsistency, or make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture which shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, provided such action pursuant to this clause (1) shall not adversely affect the interests of any Holder in any respect;

 

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(2) to add to the covenants of the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors for the benefit of the Holders, or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors or make any other change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder;

 

(3) to secure the Notes or add Subsidiary Guarantors of the Notes;

 

(4) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor, the assumption by any such successor of the obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor and the release of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, in accordance with this Indenture;

 

(5) to comply with the TIA;

 

(6) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Notes;

 

(7) in any other case where a supplemental indenture is required or permitted to be entered into pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture without the consent of any Holder;

 

(8) to provide for the issuance and authorization of the Exchange Notes;

 

(9) to effect any changes to Section 2.6 in a manner necessary to comply with procedures of the Notes Custodian or the Depository, provided such action pursuant to this clause (9) shall not adversely affect the interests of any Holder in any respect;

 

(10) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes in a manner that does not adversely impact Holders; and

 

(11) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights under this Indenture of any such Holder.

 

Section 9.2 Amendments, Supplemental Indentures and Waivers with Consent of Holders.

 

(1) Subject to Section 6.8, with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for such Notes), by written act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, and as applicable, any Subsidiary Guarantor, when authorized by Board Resolutions, and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees or enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders under this Indenture or the Notes; provided that (i) provisions relating to the Change of Control Purchase Price shall require unanimous approval of all Holders and (ii) following any Change of Control and through the Change of Control Payment Date related to that Change of Control, all provisions under this Indenture relating the Company’s obligations described in Article X require unanimous approval of all Holders. Section 2.8 hereof shall determine which Notes are considered “outstanding” for purposes of this Section 9.2. Subject to Sections 6.8 and 6.12, the Holder or Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of then outstanding Notes may waive compliance by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor with any provision of this Indenture

 

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or the Notes. Notwithstanding any of the above, however, no such amendment, supplemental indenture or waiver shall, without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Note affected thereby:

 

(a) change the Stated Maturity on any Note, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate (or extend the time for payment) of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof (including under Section 3.7) at the Company’s option or the amount of Registration Default Damages or Additional Amounts payable thereunder, or change the place of payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any Note or any premium, the interest, Registration Default Damages or Additional Amounts (if any) thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or in the case of redemption at the Company’s option, on or after the Redemption Date), or reduce the Change of Control Purchase Price, any provision relating to the Company’s obligations described in Article X or the Asset Disposition Offer Price after the corresponding Asset Disposition or following a Change of Control through the Change of Control Payment Date related to that Change of Control or change the time or price at which any Note may be redeemed pursuant to Article III in a manner adverse to the Holders; or

 

(b) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding Notes, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such amendment, supplemental indenture or wavier provided for in this Indenture; or

 

(c) modify any of the waiver provisions, except to increase any required percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Note affected thereby; or

 

(d) cause the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantees to become contractually subordinate in right of payment to any other Indebtedness.

 

(2) For the purpose of determining a percentage of aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding at any time, Notes held by the Company, the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any of their respective affiliates shall be deemed not to be outstanding.

 

(3) It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

 

(4) After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.2 becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture or waiver.

 

(5) After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.2 or under Section 9.4 becomes effective, it shall bind each Holder.

 

(6) In connection with any amendment, supplement or waiver under this Article IX, the Company may, but shall not be obligated to, offer to any Holder who consents to such amendment, supplement or waiver, or to all Holders, consideration for such Holder’s consent to such amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

Section 9.3 Compliance with TIA.

 

Every amendment, waiver or supplement of this Indenture or the Notes shall comply with the TIA as then in effect.

 

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Section 9.4 Revocation and Effect of Consents.

 

(1) Until an amendment, waiver or supplement becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his Note or portion of his Note by written notice to the Company or the Person designated by the Company as the Person to whom consents should be sent if such revocation is received by the Company or such Person before the date on which the Trustee receives an Officers’ Certificate certifying that the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Notes have consented (and not theretofore revoked such consent) to the amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

(2) The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver, which record date shall be the date so fixed by the Company notwithstanding the provisions of the TIA. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the last sentence of the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date, and only those Persons (or their duly designated proxies), shall be entitled to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date.

 

(3) After an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Noteholder, unless it makes a change described in any of clauses (a) through (d) of paragraph (1) of Section 9.2, in which case, the amendment, supplement or waiver shall bind only each Holder of a Note who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note; provided, that any such waiver shall not impair or affect the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal and premium of and interest (and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any) on a Note, on or after the respective dates set for such amounts to become due and payable expressed in such Note, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates.

 

Section 9.5 Notation on or Exchange of Notes.

 

If an amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Note, the Trustee may require the Holder of the Note to deliver it to the Trustee or require the Holder to put an appropriate notation on the Note. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Note about the changed terms and return it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Company or the Trustee so determines, the Company in exchange for the Note shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Note that reflects the changed terms. Any failure to make the appropriate notation or to issue a new Note shall not affect the validity of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

Section 9.6 Trustee to Sign Amendments, Etc.

 

The Trustee shall execute any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article IX; provided, that the Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, execute any such amendment, supplement or waiver which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture. The Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article IX is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.

 

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ARTICLE X

 

RIGHT OF HOLDERS TO REQUIRE REPURCHASE OF SECURITIES

 

Section 10.1 Repurchase of Notes Upon a Change of Control.

 

(1) In the event that a Change of Control has occurred, unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem all of the Notes under Sections 3.7 or 3.8,

 

(a) the Company must notify each Holder of Notes within 30 days following such Change of Control by mailing a notice (the “Change of Control Offer”) to each Holder, with a copy to the Trustee in accordance with Section 10.1(5)(e); and

 

(b) each Holder of Notes will have the right, at such Holder’s option, pursuant to an offer (subject only to conditions required by applicable law, if any) by the Company (the “Change of Control Offer”), to require the Company to repurchase all or any part of such Holder’s Notes (provided, that the principal amount of such Notes must be US$1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) on a date (the “Change of Control Payment Date”) that is no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days after the Change of Control Offer is mailed, at a cash price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof (the “Change of Control Purchase Price”), together with accrued and unpaid interest and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any, to the Change of Control Payment Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

(2) On the Change of Control Payment Date, or at least one Business Day immediately preceding the Change of Control Payment Date with respect to (b) below, the Company shall:

 

(a) accept for payment Notes or portions thereof (in integral multiples of US$1,000) properly and timely tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer,

 

(b) deposit with the Paying Agent for the Company an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment (together with accrued and unpaid interest and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any) of all Notes so tendered to, but not including, the Change of Control Payment Date, and

 

(c) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes so accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of the Notes or portions thereof being purchased by the Company and any other information reasonably requested by the Trustee.

 

(3) The Paying Agent promptly will pay the Holders of Notes so accepted an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment (together with accrued and unpaid interest and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any, to, but not including, the Change of Control Payment Date) and the Trustee promptly will authenticate and deliver to such Holders a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered, if any; provided that each such new Note will be in a principal amount of US$1,000 or an integral multiple thereof. Any Notes not so accepted will be delivered promptly by the Company to the Holder thereof. The Company publicly will announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date.

 

(4) Notwithstanding anything in this Article X to the contrary, in the event a Change of Control occurs at a time when payment by the Company pursuant to this Section 10.1 would

 

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violate the terms of any other Indebtedness, prior to the mailing of a Change of Control Offer, but in any event within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company shall:

 

(a) obtain the requisite consents to such Change of Control Offer being made of the requisite holders of any Indebtedness issued under an indenture or other agreement that may be violated by a payment pursuant to this Section 10.1 and obtain a waiver of any event of default caused by such Change of Control; or

 

(b) repay all outstanding Indebtedness issued under an indenture or other agreement that may be violated by a payment to the holders of Notes under a Change of Control Offer pursuant to this Section 10.1 or offer to repay all such Indebtedness, and make payment to the holders of such Indebtedness that accept such offer, and obtain waivers of any event of default from the remaining holders of such Indebtedness.

 

The Company’s failure to comply with this Section 10.1(4) or to make a Change of Control Offer shall constitute an Event of Default described in Section 6.1(3).

 

(5) In the event that, pursuant to this Section 10.1, the Company shall be required to commence a Change of Control Offer, the Company shall follow the procedures set forth in this Section 10.1 as follows:

 

(a) the Change of Control Offer shall commence within 30 days following the occurrence of a Change of Control;

 

(b) the Change of Control Offer shall remain open for 20 Business Days following its commencement (the “Change of Control Offer Period”);

 

(c) upon the expiration of the Change of Control Offer Period, the Company promptly shall purchase all of the tendered Notes at the Change of Control Purchase Price in response to the Change of Control Offer;

 

(d) the Company shall provide the Trustee and the Paying Agent with written notice of the Change of Control Offer at least three Business Days before the commencement of any Change of Control Offer; and

 

(e) on or before the commencement of any Change of Control Offer, the Company or the Trustee (upon the request and at the expense of the Company) shall send, by first-class mail, a notice to each of the Noteholders, which (to the extent consistent with this Indenture) shall govern the terms of the Change of Control Offer and shall state:

 

(i) that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 10.1 and that all Notes, or portions thereof, tendered will be accepted for payment;

 

(ii) the Change of Control Payment (including the amount of accrued but unpaid interest (and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any)) and the Change of Control Payment Date;

 

(iii) that any Note, or portion thereof, not tendered or accepted for payment will continue to accrue interest;

 

(iv) that, unless the Company defaults in depositing cash with the Paying Agent in accordance with this Section 10.1, or such payment is prevented for any reason, any Note, or portion thereof, accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer shall cease to accrue interest after the Change of Control Payment Date;

 

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(v) that Holders electing to have a Note, or portion thereof, purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Note completed, to the Paying Agent (which may not for purposes of this Section 10.1, notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, be the Company or any Affiliate of the Company) at the address specified in the notice prior to the expiration of the Change of Control Offer;

 

(vi) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election, in whole or in part, if the Paying Agent receives, prior to the expiration of the Change of Control Offer, a facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Notes the Holder is withdrawing and a statement containing a facsimile signature and stating that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such principal amount of Notes purchased;

 

(vii) that Holders whose Notes are purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered; and

 

(viii) a description of the relevant circumstances and relevant facts regarding the Change of Control.

 

(6) Any Change of Control Offer shall be made in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including, if applicable, Regulation 14E under the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder and all other applicable United States federal and state securities laws. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section 10.1, compliance by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor with such laws and regulations shall not in and of itself cause a breach of Company’s or any Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations under this Section 10.1.

 

(7) If the Change of Control Payment Date hereunder is on or after an interest payment Record Date and on or before the related Interest Payment Date, any accrued and unpaid interest (and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any) due on such Interest Payment Date will be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such Record Date, and such interest (and Registration Default Damages and Additional Amounts, if applicable) will not be payable to Holders who tender the Notes pursuant to the Change of Control Offer who were not Holders as of such Record Date.

 

(8) In the event of a Change of Control, if the Notes are then listed on the SGX-ST, and it is required by the rules of the SGX-ST, the Company will publish a notice in a daily newspaper of general circulation in Singapore (or, if the Holders of any Notes can be identified, notices to such Holders shall also be valid if they are given to each of such Holders). It is expected that such publication be made in the Business Times. Notices will, if published more than once or on different dates, be deemed to have been given on the date of the first publication in such newspaper. Notice shall also be given to the SGX-ST.

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture in any case where the identity and addresses of all the Holders of the Notes are known to the Company, notices to such Holders may be given individually by recorded delivery mail to such addresses and will be deemed to have been given when received at such addressed.

 

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ARTICLE XI

 

GUARANTEE

 

Section 11.1 Guarantee.

 

(1) All of the Company’s present and future Subsidiary Guarantors shall jointly and severally guaranty fully, irrevocably and unconditionally, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability against the Company and any other Subsidiary Guarantors of this Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the Company under this Indenture or the Notes, that:

 

(a) the principal of and premium (if any), and interest (and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any) on the Notes will be paid in full when due, whether at the Stated Maturity or Interest Payment Date, by acceleration, call for redemption, upon a Change of Control, an Asset Disposition Offer or otherwise;

 

(b) all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee under this Indenture or the Notes will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Notes;

 

(c) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, they will be paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at maturity, by acceleration, call for redemption, upon a Change of Control, an Asset Disposition Offer or otherwise; and

 

(d) the Company and each of the Subsidiary Guarantors shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any fact known to the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor that would prohibit any Subsidiary Guarantor from making any payment in respect of its Subsidiary Guarantee.

 

Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed for whatever reason, each Subsidiary Guarantor shall be obligated to pay the same before failure so to pay becomes an Event of Default.

 

(2) If the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor defaults in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest (or Registration Default Damages, if any, or Additional Amounts, if any) on, the Notes when and as the same shall become due, whether upon maturity, acceleration, call for redemption, upon a Change of Control Offer, upon an Asset Disposition Offer or otherwise, without the necessity of action by the Trustee or any Holder, each Subsidiary Guarantor shall be required, jointly and severally, to promptly make such payment in full.

 

(3) Each Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company shall, within thirty days after becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture, which shall be in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, making such Person a party to this Indenture as a Subsidiary Guarantor providing a Subsidiary Guarantee.

 

(4) Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, that its obligations with regard to its Subsidiary Guarantee shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture or the obligations of the Company hereunder the absence of any action to enforce the same, any delays in obtaining or realizing upon or failures to obtain or realize upon collateral, the recovery of any judgment against the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, any action to enforce the same or any

 

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other circumstances that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a Subsidiary Guarantor. Each Subsidiary Guarantor further agrees that subject to Section 11.4, each Subsidiary Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture. Without limiting the foregoing, each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and subject to Section 11.4, neither its liability nor the validity or enforceability of the Subsidiary Guarantee shall be prejudiced, affected or discharged by: (a) any variation or modification of this Indenture or the Notes or any other document referred to therein; (b) the invalidity or unenforceability of any obligation or liability of any one or more of the Subsidiary Guarantors under this Indenture or the Notes; (c) the insolvency, bankruptcy or liquidation or any incapacity, disability or limitation or any change in the constitution or status of any one or more of the Subsidiary Guarantors; (d) any waiver, exercise, omission to exercise, compromise, renewal or release of any rights against any one or more of the Subsidiary Guarantors or any other person or any compromise, arrangement or settlement with any of the same; and (e) any act, omission, event or circumstance which would or may but for this provision operate to prejudice, affect or discharge this Indenture or the Notes or the liability of the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Company hereunder. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing sentence, each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Trustee may release any of the Subsidiary Guarantors from liability under the Subsidiary Guarantees or vary or modify the obligations of or grant any time or indulgence to or make any other arrangements with any of the Subsidiary Guarantors without affecting or discharging its rights against the other Subsidiary Guarantors provided any release, modification or variation shall comply with the terms of this Indenture. Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby waives to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company or any other Subsidiary Guarantor, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company or any other Subsidiary Guarantor or any right to require the prior disposition of the assets of the Company or any other Subsidiary Guarantor to meet its obligations, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that its Subsidiary Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture.

 

(5) If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to either the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, or any Custodian or similar official acting in relation to either Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor, any amount paid by either the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor to the Trustee or such Holder, this Subsidiary Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect. Each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees that it will not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. Each Subsidiary Guarantor further agrees that, as between such Subsidiary Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (i) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article VI for the purposes of this Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration as to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (ii) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of those obligations as provided in Article VI, those obligations (whether or not due and payable) will forthwith become due and payable by each of the Subsidiary Guarantors for the purpose of this Guarantee.

 

(6) It is the intention of each Subsidiary Guarantor and the Company that the obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder shall be in, but not in excess of, the maximum amount permitted by applicable law. Accordingly, if the obligations in respect of the Subsidiary Guarantee would be annulled, avoided or subordinated to the creditors of any Subsidiary Guarantor by a court of competent jurisdiction in a proceeding actually pending before such court as a result of a determination both that such Subsidiary Guarantee was made by such Subsidiary Guarantor without fair consideration and, immediately after giving effect thereto, such Subsidiary Guarantor was insolvent or unable to pay its debts as they mature, then the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under such Subsidiary Guarantee shall be reduced by such court if and to the extent such reduction would result in the avoidance of such annulment, avoidance or subordination; provided, however, that

 

92


any reduction pursuant to this paragraph shall be made in the smallest amount as is strictly necessary to reach such result. For purposes of this Section 11.1(6), “fair consideration,” “insolvency,” “unable to pay its debts as they mature,” and the effective times of reductions, if any, required by this paragraph shall be determined in accordance with applicable law.

 

(7) In the event the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary forms or otherwise acquires, directly or indirectly, a Restricted Subsidiary organized under the laws of a jurisdiction that prohibits by law, regulation or order such Restricted Subsidiary from providing an enforceable Subsidiary Guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary, the Company shall use all commercially reasonable efforts, including pursuing required waivers, over a period of up to one year, to provide an enforceable Subsidiary Guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to use commercially reasonable efforts relating to such Restricted Subsidiary for more than a one-year period or such shorter period as the Company shall determine in good faith that it has used all commercially reasonable efforts. If the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary is unable during the period to procure an enforceable Guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary so formed or acquired in the jurisdiction in which such Restricted Subsidiary is organized, and the Company has designated such Restricted Subsidiary as a Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary, then such Restricted Subsidiary so formed or acquired shall not be required to provide a Guarantee of the Note hereunder so long as such Restricted Subsidiary does not Guarantee any other Indebtedness of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that if there is a change in such law, regulation or order following which such Restricted Subsidiary so formed or acquired is not prohibited from providing an enforceable Subsidiary Guarantee under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it was organized, the Company shall cause such Restricted Subsidiary to Guarantee the Notes promptly (but in any event not later than 30 days) following the Company becoming aware of such change in law, regulation or order.

 

(a) The Company may designate one or more Restricted Subsidiaries as “Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries”; provided that at all times during the continuance of this Indenture the aggregated book value of the Net Tangible Assets of all Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries (based on the balance sheet of such Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries used in the preparation of the most recent consolidated financial statements of the Company required to be delivered to the Trustee or, if sooner, filed or furnished to the SEC) does not exceed the greater of 20% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company. No designation of a Restricted Subsidiary as a Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary shall be effective against the Trustee or the Holders until the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that all requirements relating to such designation have been complied with and that such designation is authorized and permitted by this Indenture. The Company may at any time designate a Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary as a Subsidiary Guarantor by delivery to the Trustee of an Officers’ Certificate and a supplemental indenture making such Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary a Guarantor, at which time such Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary shall become a Guarantor. As of the Issue Date, CTI Guangzhou is the only Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary.

 

(8) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, on request in writing by the Trustee, the Company will cause any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary (whether formed or acquired before or after the date of this Indenture) of the Company to become a Subsidiary Guarantor in accordance with this Section 11.

 

Section 11.2 Execution and Delivery of Guarantee.

 

Each Subsidiary Guarantor shall, by virtue of such Subsidiary Guarantor’s execution and delivery of this Indenture or an indenture supplement pursuant to Section 11.1, be deemed to have signed on each Note issued hereunder the notation of guarantee to the same extent as if the signature of such Subsidiary Guarantor appeared on such Note.

 

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The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the guarantee set forth in Section 11.1 on behalf of each Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

Section 11.3 Certain Bankruptcy Events.

 

Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby covenants and agrees, to the fullest extent that it may do so under applicable law, that in the event of the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Company or any other Subsidiary, such Subsidiary Guarantor shall not file (or join in any filing of), or otherwise seek to participate in the filing of, any motion or request seeking to stay or to prohibit (even temporarily) execution on the Subsidiary Guarantee and hereby waives and agrees not to take the benefit of any such stay of execution, whether under Section 362 or 105 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or otherwise.

 

Section 11.4 Release of Subsidiary Guarantors.

 

A Subsidiary Guarantor shall be deemed released from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee of the Notes:

 

(1) in the event such Subsidiary Guarantor is sold or disposed of (whether by merger, consolidation, the sale of its Capital Stock or the sale of all or substantially all of its assets (other than by lease)) and whether or not the Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving corporation in such transaction to a Person which is not the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be released from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee upon:

 

(a) satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Sections 5.1 and 5.2 and in compliance with Sections 4.13 and 4.15 with respect to a Subsidiary Guarantor; and

 

(b) satisfaction of all the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under all Credit Facilities and related documentation and any other agreements relating to any other Indebtedness of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries terminate upon consummation of such transaction;

 

(2) upon the designation of a Subsidiary Guarantor to become an Unrestricted Subsidiary, which transaction is otherwise in compliance with this Indenture; and

 

(3) upon any transaction which results in a Subsidiary Guarantor no longer being a Restricted Subsidiary, which transaction is otherwise in compliance with this Indenture;

 

the release of a Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with the terms of this Section 11 shall not constitute an Event of Default under Section 6.1(9).

 

ARTICLE XII

 

[RESERVED]

 

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ARTICLE XIII

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 13.1 TIA Controls.

 

If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies, or conflicts with the duties imposed by operation of the TIA, the imposed duties, upon qualification of this Indenture under the TIA, shall control.

 

Section 13.2 Notices.

 

(1) Any notices or other communications to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor or the Trustee required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing, and shall be sufficiently given if made by hand delivery, by telecopier or registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, addressed as follows:

 

if to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor:

 

c/o City Telecom (H.K.) Limited

13th-16th Floors, Trans Asia Centre

18 Kin Hong Street

Kwai Chung

Hong Kong

 

Attention: Company Secretary

Telecopy: + 852-2199-8018

 

if to the Trustee:

 

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

60 Wall Street, 27th Floor

MS: NYC 60-2710

New York, NY 10005

Attention: Trust & Securities Services

Telecopy: +1-732-578-4635

 

(2) Any party by notice to each other party may designate additional or different addresses as shall be furnished in writing by such party. Any notice or communication to any party shall be deemed to have been given or made as of the date so delivered, if personally delivered; when answered back, if telecopied; and five Business Days after mailing if sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid (except that a notice of change of address shall not be deemed to have been given until actually received by the addressee); provided that notices to the Trustee shall be deemed delivered upon actual receipt thereof.

 

(3) Any notice or communication mailed to a Noteholder shall be mailed to him by first class mail or other equivalent means at his address as it appears on the registration books of the Registrar and shall be sufficiently given to him if so mailed within the time prescribed.

 

(4) Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Noteholder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Noteholders. If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

 

(5) So long as the Notes are listed on the SGX-ST and it is required by the rules of the SGX-ST, all notices to Holders will be published in a daily newspaper of general circulation in

 

95


Singapore (or, if the Holders of any Notes can be identified, notices to such Holders may also be valid if they are given to each of such Holders). It is expected that such publication be made in the Business Times. Notices will, if published more than once or on different dates, be deemed to have been given on the date of the first publication in such newspaper. Notice shall also be given to the SGX-ST.

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture in any case where the identity and addresses of all the Holders of the Notes are known to the Company, notices to such Holders may be given individually by recorded delivery mail to such addresses and will be deemed to have been given when received at such addresses.

 

Section 13.3 Communications by Holders with Other Holders.

 

Noteholders may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Noteholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and any other Person shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).

 

Section 13.4 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

 

Upon any request or application by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, such Person shall furnish to the Trustee:

 

(1) an Officers’ Certificate (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been met; and

 

(2) an Opinion of Counsel (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been met.

 

Section 13.5 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.

 

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:

 

(1) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

 

(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

 

(3) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been met; and

 

(4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of each such Person, such condition or covenant has been met; provided, however, that with respect to matters of fact an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an Officers’ Certificate or certificates of public officials.

 

Section 13.6 Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent, Registrar.

 

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Noteholders. The Paying Agent or Registrar may make reasonable rules for its functions.

 

Section 13.7 Legal Holidays.

 

A “Legal Holiday” is a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at such place, payment may be made at such place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.

 

96


Section 13.8 Governing Law.

 

THIS INDENTURE, THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE CONSTRUED, INTERPRETED AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES THERETO DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

Section 13.9 Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

Section 13.10 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

 

This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any of their respective Subsidiaries. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

 

Section 13.11 No Personal Liability of Partners, Stockholders, Officers, Directors.

 

No direct or indirect stockholder, director, officer or employee, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors, or any successor entity, shall have any personal liability in respect of the obligations of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors under the Notes, this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation by reason of his, her or its status as such stockholder, director, officer or employee, except that this Section 13.11 shall in no way limit the obligation of any Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to any guarantee of the Notes. Each Noteholder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.

 

Section 13.12 Successors.

 

All agreements of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successor. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.

 

Section 13.13 Duplicate Originals.

 

All parties may sign any number of copies or counterparts of this Indenture. Each signed copy or counterpart shall be an original, but all of them together shall represent the same agreement.

 

Section 13.14 Severability.

 

In case any one or more of the provisions in this Indenture or in the Notes or in the Subsidiary Guarantees shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, in any respect for any reason, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, it being intended that all of the provisions hereof shall be enforceable to the full extent permitted by law.

 

97


Section 13.15 Consent to Service and Jurisdiction; Appointment of Agent; Waiver of Sovereign Immunity; etc.

 

(1) The Company, each Subsidiary Guarantor and the Trustee agree that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Indenture, and each of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantee, may be instituted in any federal or state court in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such legal suit, action or proceeding, waives any immunity from jurisdiction or to service of process in respect of any such suit, action or proceeding, and irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of any such court in any such suit, action or proceeding.

 

(2) Each of the Company, the Trustee and the Subsidiary Guarantors further submits to the jurisdiction of the courts of its own corporate domicile in any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantee.

 

(3) Each of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, trial by jury and any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

(4) Each of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby designates and appoints CT Corporation System (“CT Corporation”), 111 Eighth Avenue, New York, 10011, as its authorized agent upon which process may be served in any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees which may be instituted in any State or U.S. federal court in The City of New York and County of New York, and further:

 

(a) agrees that service of process upon such agent, and written notice of said service to the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor by the Person serving the same, shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company (if such notice is given to the Company) or upon such Subsidiary Guarantor (if such notice is given to a Subsidiary Guarantor) in any such suit, action or proceeding, and irrevocably consents, to the fullest extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, to the service of process of any of the aforementioned courts in any such suit, action or proceeding by the mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to the above-mentioned authorized agent or successor authorized agent, as the case may be, such service to become effective 30 days after such mailing,

 

(b) agrees that a final action in any such suit or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other lawful manner,

 

(c) designates its domicile, the domicile of CT Corporation specified above and any domicile CT Corporation may have in the future as its domicile to receive any notice hereunder (including service of process),

 

(d) agrees to take any and all action, including the execution and filing of all such instruments and documents, as may be necessary to continue such designation and appointment in full force and effect for so long as the Notes remain outstanding, or until the designation and irrevocable appointment of a successor authorized agent and such successor’s acceptance of such appointment, but in no event shall the appointment continue beyond the date on which all amounts in respect of the interest and principal and premium, if any, on the Notes and any other amounts payable hereunder have become due and have been paid in full to the Trustee,

 

(e) agrees that nothing herein shall affect the right of the Trustee or any Holder to serve process in any other manner permitted by law or to commence legal proceedings or otherwise proceed against any of the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors in any jurisdiction.

 

98


(5) If any of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors has or may hereafter acquire sovereign immunity or any other immunity from jurisdiction or legal process or from attachment in aid of execution or from execution with respect to itself or its property, it hereby irrevocably waives to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law such immunity in respect of its obligations hereunder, under the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees, as applicable, in any action that may be instituted in any state court in the Borough of Manhattan, in The City of New York, the United States of America, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, or in any competent court in Hong Kong SAR. This waiver is intended to be effective upon the execution hereof without any further act by any of the parties hereto, before any such court, and the introduction of a true copy of this Indenture into evidence in any such court shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be conclusive and final evidence of such waiver.

 

Section 13.16 Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.

 

The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and headings of the Articles and the Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

Section 13.17 Qualification of Indenture.

 

The Company shall qualify this Indenture under the TIA in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Registration Rights Agreement and shall pay all costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees for the Company and the Trustee) incurred in connection therewith, including, but not limited to, costs and expenses of qualification of this Indenture and the Notes and printing this Indenture and the Notes. The Trustee shall be entitled to receive from the Company any such Officers’ Certificates, Opinions of Counsel or other documentation as it may reasonably request in connection with any such qualification of this Indenture under the TIA.

 

Section 13.18 Force Majeure.

 

In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its reasonable control, including without limitation strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software or hardware) services.

 

99


SIGNATURES

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

                    CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED
                    By:   

/s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky


                    Name:    Wong Wai Kay, Ricky
                    Title:    Chairman
Attest:   

/s/ Corinna Sio


         
Name:    Corinna Sio                    
Title:    Director                    
The COMMON SEAL of    )               
CITY TELECOM    )               
INTERNATIONAL LIMITED    )         /s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

was hereunto affixed    )         Name:    Wong Wai Kay, Ricky
in the presence of:    )         Title:    Director
/s/ Corinna Sio                    
Corinna Sio                    
The COMMON SEAL of    )               
HONG KONG BROADBAND    )               
NETWORK LIMITED    )         /s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

was hereunto affixed    )         Name:    Wong Wai Kay, Ricky
in the presence of:    )         Title:    Director
/s/ Corinna Sio                    
Corinna Sio                    
The COMMON SEAL of    )               
EXCEL BILLION    )               
PROFITS LIMITED    )         /s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

was hereunto affixed    )         Name:    Wong Wai Kay, Ricky
in the presence of:    )         Title:    Director
/s/ Corinna Sio                    
Corinna Sio                    
The COMMON SEAL of    )               
HONG KONG TELEVISION    )               
NETWORK LIMITED    )         /s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

was hereunto affixed    )         Name:    Wong Wai Kay, Ricky
in the presence of:    )         Title:    Director
/s/ Corinna Sio                    
Corinna Sio                    


The COMMON SEAL of

 

)

              

HONG KONG BROADBAND

 

)

              

TELEVISION COMPANY

 

)

              

LIMITED

 

)

        /s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

was hereunto affixed

 

)

        Name:   

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

in the presence of:

 

)

        Title:   

Director

/s/ Corinna Sio

                  

Corinna Sio

                  

The COMMON SEAL of

 

)

              

HONG KONG BROADBAND

 

)

              

PHONE LIMITED

 

)

        /s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

was hereunto affixed

 

)

        Name:   

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

in the presence of:

 

)

        Title:   

Director

/s/ Corinna Sio

                  

Corinna Sio

                  

The COMMON SEAL of

 

)

              

CREDIBILITY HOLDINGS

 

)

              

LIMITED

 

)

        /s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

was hereunto affixed

 

)

        Name:   

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

in the presence of:

 

)

        Title:   

Director

/s/ Corinna Sio

                  

Corinna Sio

                  

The COMMON SEAL of

 

)

              

IDD1600 COMPANY

 

)

              

LIMITED

 

)

        /s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

was hereunto affixed

 

)

        Name:   

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

in the presence of:

 

)

        Title:   

Director

/s/ Corinna Sio

                  

Corinna Sio

                  

The COMMON SEAL of

 

)

              

CTI MARKETING

 

)

              

COMPANY LIMITED

 

)

        /s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

was hereunto affixed

 

)

        Name:   

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

in the presence of:

 

)

        Title:   

Director

/s/ Corinna Sio

                  

Corinna Sio

                  


The COMMON SEAL of

 

)

            

ISTORE.COM LIMITED

 

)

       /s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

was hereunto affixed

 

)

       Name:  

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

in the presence of:

 

)

       Title:  

Director

/s/ Corinna Sio

                

Corinna Sio

                

The COMMON SEAL of

 

)

            

TEACHONNET.COM

 

)

            

LIMITED

 

)

       /s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

was hereunto affixed

 

)

       Name:  

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

in the presence of:

 

)

       Title:  

Director

/s/ Corinna Sio

                

Corinna Sio

                

The COMMON SEAL of

 

)

            

CTI INTERNATIONAL

 

)

            

LIMITED

 

)

       /s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

was hereunto affixed

 

)

       Name:  

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

in the presence of:

 

)

       Title:  

Director

/s/ Corinna Sio

                

Corinna Sio

                

The COMMON SEAL of

 

)

            

BBTV COMPANY

 

)

            

LIMITED

 

)

       /s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

was hereunto affixed

 

)

       Name:  

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

in the presence of:

 

)

       Title:  

Director

/s/ Corinna Sio

                

Corinna Sio

                

The COMMON SEAL of

 

)

            

AUTOMEDIA HOLDINGS

 

)

            

LIMITED

 

)

       /s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

was hereunto affixed

 

)

       Name:  

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

in the presence of:

 

)

       Title:  

Director

/s/ Corinna Sio

                

Corinna Sio

                


The COMMON SEAL of

  

)

              

CITY TELECOM

  

)

              

(U.S.A.) INC.

  

)

        /s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

was hereunto affixed

  

)

        Name:   

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

in the presence of:

  

)

        Title:   

Director

/s/ Corinna Sio

                   

Corinna Sio

                   

The COMMON SEAL of

  

)

              

CITY TELECOM

  

)

              

(VANCOUVER) INC.

  

)

        /s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

was hereunto affixed

  

)

        Name:   

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

in the presence of:

  

)

        Title:   

Assistant Secretary

/s/ Corinna Sio

                   

Corinna Sio

                   

The COMMON SEAL of

  

)

              

CITY TELECOM

  

)

              

(TORONTO) INC.

  

)

        /s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

was hereunto affixed

  

)

        Name:   

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

in the presence of:

  

)

        Title:   

Authorized Representative

/s/ Corinna Sio

                   

Corinna Sio

                   

The COMMON SEAL of

  

)

              

CITY TELECOM

  

)

              

(CANADA) INC.

  

)

        /s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

was hereunto affixed

  

)

        Name:   

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

in the presence of:

  

)

        Title:   

Director

/s/ Corinna Sio

                   

Corinna Sio

                   

The COMMON SEAL of

  

)

              

963673 ONTARIO LTD

  

)

        /s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

was hereunto affixed

  

)

        Name:   

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

in the presence of:

  

)

        Title:   

Authorized Representative

/s/ Corinna Sio

                   

Corinna Sio

                   


The COMMON SEAL of

  

)

              

CITY TELECOM (B.C.) INC.

  

)

        /s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

was hereunto affixed

  

)

        Name:   

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

in the presence of:

  

)

        Title:   

Assistant Secretary

/s/ Corinna Sio

                   

Corinna Sio

                   

The COMMON SEAL of

  

)

              

CITY TELECOM INC.

  

)

        /s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

was hereunto affixed

  

)

        Name:   

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

in the presence of:

  

)

        Title:   

Authorized Representative

/s/ Corinna Sio

                   

Corinna Sio

                   

The COMMON SEAL of

  

)

              

GOLDEN TRINITY

  

)

              

HOLDINGS LIMITED

  

)

        /s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

was hereunto affixed

  

)

        Name:   

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

in the presence of:

  

)

        Title:   

Director

/s/ Corinna Sio

                   

Corinna Sio

                   

The COMMON SEAL of

  

)

              

WARWICK GOLD

  

)

              

ENTERPRISES LTD

  

)

        /s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

was hereunto affixed

  

)

        Name:   

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

in the presence of:

  

)

        Title:   

Authorized Representative

/s/ Corinna Sio

                   

Corinna Sio

                   

The COMMON SEAL of

  

)

              

ATTITUDE HOLDINGS

  

)

              

LIMITED

  

)

        /s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

was hereunto affixed

  

)

        Name:   

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

in the presence of:

  

)

        Title:   

Director

/s/ Corinna Sio

                   

Corinna Sio

                   

 

 


              

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS

as Trustee

              

By:

  

/s/ Annie Jaghatspanyan


              

Name:

  

Annie Jaghatspanyan

              

Title:

  

Associate

Attest:

  

/s/ Wanda Camacho


              

Name:

  

Wanda Camacho

              

Title:

  

Vice President

              

 

 


EXHIBIT A

 

[FORM OF NOTE]

 

CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED

8.75% SENIOR NOTE DUE 2015

 

CUSIP No.                        ISIN No.                     

 

No.

 

City Telecom (H.K.) Limited, a company with limited liability under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong (hereinafter called the “Company,” which term includes any successors under this Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to                     , or registered assigns, the principal sum [of                     ]1A [specified in Schedule A hereto (such principal amount may from time to time be increased or decreased to such other principal amount by adjustment made on the records of the Trustee)]1B, on [·], 20[·].

 

Interest Payment Dates: [·] and [·] of each year

 

Record Dates: [·] and [·] of each year

 

Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note on the reverse side, which will, for all purposes, have the same effect as if set forth at this place.


1A This paragraph should only be included for certificated Notes.
1B This paragraph should only be included if the Notes are issued in global form.

 

A-1


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Instrument to be duly executed as of January [·], 2005.

 

CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED

By:

 

 


Name:

 

 


Title:

 

 


 

Attest:

 

 


Name:

 

 


Title:

 

 


 

[FORM OF TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION]

 

    This is one of the Notes described in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,

as Trustee

 

By:

 

 


    Authorized Signatory

 

Dated:

 

A-2


CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED

8.75% Senior Note due 2015

 

[THIS NOTE IS A GLOBAL NOTE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THIS INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A NOTE REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

 

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (INCLUDING ITS DIRECT AND INDIRECT PARTICIPANTS, “DTC”), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC, AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC, ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL BECAUSE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]2

 

[“THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS NOTE NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION. BY ITS ACQUISITION OF THIS NOTE OR A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE HOLDER:

 

(1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) (A “QIB”), OR (B) THAT IT IS ACQUIRING THIS NOTE IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT;

 

(2) AGREES NOT TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS NOTE, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) WHICH IS TWO YEARS (OR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD AS MAY BE PRESCRIBED BY RULE 144(K) (OR ANY SUCCESSOR PROVISION THEREOF) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS NOTE (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH NOTE), EXCEPT (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY GUARANTOR OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE SUBSIDIARIES, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE

 


2 This paragraph should only be included if the Notes are issued in global form.

 

A-3


COMPANY’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUESTS OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE; AND

 

(3) AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS NOTE OR AN INTEREST HEREIN IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE AS TO THE ABOVE RESTRICTIONS.

 

AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION,” “UNITED STATES” AND “U.S. PERSON” HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY RULE 902 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THIS INDENTURE CONTAINS A PROVISION REQUIRING THE TRUSTEE TO REFUSE TO REGISTER ANY TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE IN VIOLATION OF THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.”]3

 

1. Interest. City Telecom (H.K.) Limited, a company with limited liability under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong (hereinafter called the “Company,” which term includes any successors under this Indenture hereinafter referred to), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at the rate of 8.75% per annum.

 

The Company will pay interest semi-annually on February 1 and August 1 of each year (each, an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing August 1, 2005. Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid on the Notes, from the date of the original issuance. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

 

2. Method of Payment. The Company shall pay interest (and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any) on the Notes (except Defaulted Interest) to the Persons who are the registered Holders at the close of business on the Record Date immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date. Holders must surrender Notes to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments. Except as provided below, the Company shall pay principal, premium, and interest (and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any) in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for payment of public and private debts (“Cash”). The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium and interest (and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any) at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose within the Borough of Manhattan, the City and State of New York or, at the option of the Company, payment of principal, premium and interest (and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any) may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders, and provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal of and interest (and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any) and premium on all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the Company or the Paying Agent at least five Business Days prior to the relevant record date. If a payment date is a date other than a Business Day at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period if and to the extent the required payment is made on the next succeeding Business Day.

 

3. Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (the “Trustee”), will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-Registrar without notice to the Holders. The Company may, subject to certain exceptions, act as Paying Agent, Registrar or co-Registrar.

 


3 This paragraph should only be included for Initial Notes.

 

A-4


4. Indenture. The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture, dated as of January 20, 2005 (the “Indenture”), among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein and the Trustee. Capitalized terms herein are used as defined in the Indenture unless otherwise defined herein. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act, as in effect on the date of the Indenture. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders of Notes are referred to the Indenture and said Act for a statement of them. Each Holder of this Note, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his behalf to take such action as may be provided in the Indenture and (c) appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for such purpose. To the extent permitted by applicable law, in the event of any inconsistency between the terms of the Notes and the terms of the Indenture, the terms of the Indenture shall control.

 

5. Redemption.

 

(a) Except as provided in this Paragraph 5 or in Article III of the Indenture, the Company shall not have the right to redeem any Notes prior to February 1, 2015.

 

(b) At any time on and after February 1, 2010, the Company may redeem on one or more occasions the Notes for cash at its option, in whole or in part, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) if redeemed during the 12-month period commencing February 1 of the years indicated below, in each case together with accrued but unpaid interest (and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any) to, but not including, the Redemption Date.

 

Year


   Percentage

 

2010

   104.375 %

2011

   102.917 %

2012

   101.458 %

2013 and thereafter

   100.000 %

 

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time prior to February 1, 2008, upon any Qualified Equity Offering or a Strategic Equity Investment by the Company, up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes issued pursuant to this Indenture may be redeemed at the Company’s option within 75 days of such Qualified Equity Offering or Strategic Equity Investment, on not less than 30 days, but not more than 60 days, notice to each Holder of the Notes to be redeemed, at a redemption price equal to 108.750% of principal, together with accrued and unpaid interest and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any, thereon to, but not including, the Redemption Date; provided, however, that immediately following such redemption not less than 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally issued pursuant to the Indenture on the Issue Date remain outstanding.

 

(d) If, as a result of any change in or amendment to the laws, regulations or rulings of any jurisdiction where each of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors is organized or is otherwise considered by a taxing authority to be a resident for tax purposes (or, in each case, any political organization or governmental authority thereof or therein having the power to tax) (a “Relevant Tax Jurisdiction”), or any change in the official application or interpretation of, or any execution of or amendment to, any treaty or treaties affecting taxation to which such jurisdiction is a party, which in each case is proposed and becomes effective on or after the Issue Date, in making any payment due or to become due under the Notes or the Indenture, including any Registration Default Damages, (a) the Company is or would be required on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date to pay Additional Amounts and (b) the payment of such Additional Amounts cannot be avoided by the use of any reasonable measures available to the Company, the Notes may be redeemed at the option of the Company in whole but not in

 

A-5


part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture, at any time at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption. The Company will also pay to Holders on the date of redemption any Additional Amounts which are payable.

 

(e) Any redemption of Notes will comply with the provisions of Article III of the Indenture.

 

(f) The Notes will not have the benefit of any sinking fund and the Company will not be required to make any mandatory redemption payments with respect to the Notes.

 

6. Notice of Redemption. Notice of redemption will be sent by first class mail, at least 30 days and not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date to the Holder of each Note to be redeemed at such Holder’s last address as then shown upon the registry books of the Registrar. Notes may be redeemed in part in multiples of US$1,000 only.

 

Except as set forth in the Indenture, from and after any Redemption Date, if monies for the redemption of the Notes called for redemption shall have been deposited with the Paying Agent on such Redemption Date, the Notes called for redemption will cease to bear interest and the only right of the Holders of such Notes shall be to receive payment of the Redemption Price, plus any accrued and unpaid interest (and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any) to, but not including, the Redemption Date.

 

7. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange. The Notes are in registered form, without coupons, in denominations of US$1,000 and integral multiples of US$1,000. A Holder may register the transfer of, or exchange Notes in accordance with, the Indenture. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not register the transfer of or exchange any Notes (a) selected for redemption except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part or (b) for a period beginning 15 Business Days before the mailing of a notice of an offer to repurchase or redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing.

 

8. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.

 

9. Unclaimed Money. If money for the payment of principal or interest remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee and the Paying Agent(s) will pay the money back to the Company. After that, all liability of the Trustee and such Paying Agent(s) with respect to such money shall cease.

 

10. Discharge Prior to Redemption or Maturity. Except as set forth in the Indenture, if the Company irrevocably deposits or causes to be deposited with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders, Cash, U.S. Government Obligations or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient as certified in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent accountants, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest (and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any) on the outstanding Notes on the stated date for payment thereof or on the Redemption Date and complies with the other provisions of the Indenture relating thereto, the Company will be discharged from certain provisions of the Indenture and the Notes (excluding its obligation to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest (and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any) on the Notes). Upon satisfaction of certain additional conditions set forth in the Indenture, the Company may elect to have its obligations discharged with respect to outstanding Notes.

 

11. Amendment; Supplement; Waiver. Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture or the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, and any existing Default or Event of

 

A-6


Default or compliance with any provision may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding. Without notice to or consent of any Holder, the parties thereto may under certain circumstances amend or supplement the Indenture or the Notes to, among other things, cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, or make any other change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder of a Note.

 

12. Restrictive Covenants. This Indenture imposes certain limitations on the ability of the Company and any Subsidiary Guarantors to, among other things, incur additional Indebtedness, pay dividends or make certain other Restricted Payments, enter into certain transactions with Affiliates, incur Liens, sell assets and subsidiary stock, merge or consolidate with any other Person or transfer (by lease, assignment or otherwise) all or substantially all of their properties and assets. The limitations are subject to a number of qualifications and exceptions. The Company must periodically report to the Trustee on compliance with such limitations.

 

13. Ranking. Payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest (and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any) on the Notes is senior, in the manner and to the extent set forth in the Indenture, to all existing and future Indebtedness of the Company that is subordinated to the Notes.

 

14. Repurchase at Option of Holder.

 

(a) If there is a Change of Control, the Company shall be required to offer to purchase on the Change of Control Payment Date all outstanding Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest (and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any), if any, to the Change of Control Payment Date. Holders of Notes will receive a Change of Control Offer from the Company prior to any related Change of Control Payment Date and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” appearing below.

 

(b) This Indenture imposes certain limitations on the ability of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to sell assets and subsidiary stock. In the event the proceeds from a permitted Asset Disposition exceed certain amounts, as specified in the Indenture, the Company shall be required to make an offer to purchase each Holder’s Notes at 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest (and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any), if any, to the purchase date, all in accordance with the Indenture.

 

15. Guarantee.

 

(a) As set forth more fully in the Indenture, the Persons constituting Subsidiary Guarantors from time to time, in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, fully, irrevocably, unconditionally and jointly and severally guarantee, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, on a senior basis, in accordance with Section 11.1 of the Indenture, to the Holder and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, that (i) the principal of and premium (if any), and interest (and Registration Default Damages, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any) on the Notes will be paid in full when due, whether at the Stated Maturity or Interest Payment Date, by acceleration, call for redemption, upon a Change of Control, an Asset Disposition Offer or otherwise; (ii) all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee under the Indenture or the Notes will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Notes; (iii) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, they will be paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at maturity, by acceleration, call for redemption, upon a Change of Control, an Asset Disposition Offer or otherwise; and (iv) the Company and each of the Subsidiary Guarantors shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any fact known to the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor that would prohibit any Subsidiary Guarantor from making any payment in respect of its Subsidiary Guarantee. Such Subsidiary Guarantees shall cease to apply, and shall be null and void, with respect to any Subsidiary Guarantor who, pursuant to Article XI of this Indenture, is released from its guarantees, or whose guarantees otherwise cease to be applicable pursuant to the terms of the Indenture.

 

A-7


(b) When a successor assumes all the obligations of its predecessor under the Notes and the Indenture, the predecessor will be released from those obligations pursuant to the terms of the Indenture.

 

16. Defaults and Remedies. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable without further action or notice. Noteholders may not enforce the Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest.

 

17. Trustee Dealings with Company. The Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor, any of their Subsidiaries or any of their respective Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with such Persons as if it were not the Trustee.

 

18. No Recourse Against Others. No incorporator, direct or indirect stockholder, partner, director, officer or employee, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, or any successor entity, shall have any personal liability in respect of the obligations of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors under the Notes or the Indenture by reason of his, her or its status as such partner, incorporator, stockholder, director, officer or employee. Each Holder of a Note by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.

 

19. Authentication. This Note shall not be valid until the Trustee or authenticating agent signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Note.

 

20. Abbreviations and Defined Terms. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder of a Note or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

 

21. CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company will cause CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes as a convenience to the Holders of the Notes. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers as printed on the Notes and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed hereon.

 

22. Additional Rights of Holders of Initial Notes. In addition to the rights provided to Holders of Initial Notes under the Indenture, Holders of Initial Notes shall have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

23. Issuance of Additional Notes. The Company shall be entitled, subject to its compliance with Section 4.9 of the Indenture, to issue Additional Notes under the Indenture which shall have identical terms as the Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date, other than with respect to the date of issuance and issue price. The Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date, any additional Notes and all Exchange Notes issued in exchange therefore shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under the Indenture, including without limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase.

 

A-8


With respect to any Additional Notes, the Company shall set forth in resolution of its Board of Directors and an Officers’ Certificate, a copy of which shall be delivered to the Trustee, the following information:

 

(a) the aggregate principal amount of such Additional Notes to be authenticated and delivered pursuant to the Indenture;

 

(b) the issue price, the issue date and the CUSIP number of such Additional Notes; and

 

(c) whether such Additional Notes shall be subject to restrictions on transfer.

 

24. Governing Law. THIS INDENTURE, THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE CONSTRUED, INTERPRETED AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES THERETO DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

A-9


[FORM OF ASSIGNMENT]

 

I or we assign this Note to:

 

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(Print or type name, address and zip code of assignee)

 

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(Please insert Social Note or other tax identification number of assignee)

 

and irrevocably appoint                                                           agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

Dated:                     

       
       

Signed:

 

 


       

(Sign exactly as name appears on the other side of this Note)

 


 

Signature Subsidiary Guarantee*:


* NOTICE: The Signature must be guaranteed by an institution which is a member of one of the following recognized signature Guarantee Programs: (i) The Notes Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP); (ii) The New York Stock Exchange Medallion Program (MNSP); (iii) The Stock Exchange Medallion Program (SEMP); or (iv) in such other guarantee program acceptable to the Trustee.

 

A-10


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

 

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.13 or Article X of the Indenture, check the appropriate box:

 

¨ Section 4.13

 

¨ Article X.

 

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.13 or Article X of the Indenture, as the case may be, state the amount you want to be purchased in denominations on integral multiples of US$1,000: US$                    .

 

         

Date:                     

 

Signature:

 

 


       

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note)

       

Tax Identification No:

 

 


   

Signature Subsidiary Guarantee**:

 


   

** NOTICE: The Signature must be guaranteed by an institution which is a member of one of the following recognized signature Guarantee Programs: (i) The Notes Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP); (ii) The New York Stock Exchange Medallion Program (MNSP); (iii) The Stock Exchange Medallion Program (SEMP); or (iv) in such other guarantee program acceptable to the Trustee.

 

A-11


Schedule A4

 

The initial principal amount of this Global Note is US$            .

 

Changes in principal amount of this Global Note are set forth below:

 

Date


 

Principal

amount by

which this

Global Note is

to be decreased

and reason for

decrease


 

Principal

amount by

which this

Global Note is

to be increased

and reason for

increase


  

Remaining

principal

amount of this

Global Note

after such

decrease or

increase


  

Notation made

by Registrar


                   
                   

 


4 This schedule should only be added if the Notes are issued in global form.

 

A-12


SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF DEFINITIVE SECURITIES5

 

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for Definitive Notes have been made:

 

Date of Exchange


 

Amount of

decrease in

Principal Amount

of this Global

Note


 

Amount of

increase in

Principal Amount

of this Global

Note


  

Principal Amount

of this Global

Note following

such decrease (or

increase)


  

Signature of

authorized officer of
Trustee or

Notes

Custodian


                   
                   

 


5 This schedule should only be added if the Notes are issued in global form.

 

A-13


CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED UPON EXCHANGE OR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER

OF TRANSFER RESTRICTED SECURITIES6

 

Re: 8.75% Senior Notes due 2015 of City Telecom (H.K.) Limited

 

This Certificate relates to US$             principal amount of Notes held in (check applicable space)      book-entry or      definitive form by                                          (the “Transferor”).

 

The Transferor (check applicable box):

 

  ¨ has requested the Trustee by written order to deliver in exchange for its beneficial interest in the Global Note held by the Depository a Note or Notes in definitive, registered form of authorized denominations and an aggregate principal amount equal to its beneficial interest in such Global Note (or the portion thereof indicated above); or

 

  ¨ has requested the Trustee by written order to exchange or register the transfer of a Note or Notes.

 

In connection with such request and in respect of each such Note, the Transferor does hereby certify that Transferor is familiar with the Indenture relating to the above-captioned Notes and as provided in Section 2.6 of the Indenture, the transfer of this Note does not require registration under the Securities Act (as defined below) because:

 

  ¨ Such Note is being acquired for the Transferor’s own account, without transfer (in satisfaction of Section 2.6(1)(b)(i), Section 2.6(3) or Section 2.6(4)(a)(i) of the Indenture).

 

  ¨ Such Note is being transferred to a “qualified institutional buyer” (within the meaning of Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act), that is aware that any sale of Notes to it will be made in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act and that is acquiring such Transfer Restricted Note for its own account, or for the account of another such “qualified institutional buyer” (in satisfaction of Section 2.6(1)(b)(ii), Section 2.6(3) or Section 2.6(4)(a)(ii) of the Indenture).

 

  ¨ Such Note is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from registration in accordance with Rule 144, or outside the United States of America in an Offshore Transaction in compliance with Rule 904 under the Securities Act, or pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act (in satisfaction of Section 2.6(1)(b)(iii), Section 2.6(3) or Section 2.6(4)(a)(iii) of the Indenture).

 

  ¨ Such Note is being transferred in reliance on and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and in accordance with applicable securities laws of the States of the United States of America, other than as provided in the immediately preceding paragraph. An Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such transfer does not require registration under the Securities Act accompanies this Certificate (in satisfaction of Section 2.6(1)(b)(iv), Section 2.6(3) or Section 2.6(4)(a)(iv) of the Indenture).

 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________    
(Insert Name of Transferor)    

By:

 

 


   

Date:                     

   

 


6 This certificate shall be included only for Initial Notes.

 

A-14


CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED UPON EXCHANGE OR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER

OF SECURITIES

 

Re: 8.75% Senior Exchange Notes due 2015 of City Telecom (H.K.) Limited

 

This Certificate relates to US$             principal amount of Notes held in (check applicable space)          book-entry or          definitive form by                                      (the “Transferor”).

 

The Transferor (check applicable box):

 

  ¨ has requested the Trustee by written order to deliver in exchange for its beneficial interest in the Global Note held by the Depositary a Note or Notes in definitive, registered form of authorized denominations and an aggregate principal amount equal to its beneficial interest in such Global Note (or the portion thereof indicated above); or

 

  ¨ has requested the Registrar by written order to exchange or register the transfer of a Note or Notes.

 

A-15

EX-4.2 3 dex42.htm REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, DATED JANUARY 20, 2005 Registration Rights Agreement, dated January 20, 2005

Exhibit 4.2

 

City Telecom (H.K.) Limited

 

U.S.$125,000,000

 

8.75% Senior Notes Due 2015

 

Registration Rights Agreement

 

January 20, 2005

 

Citigroup Global Markets Limited

As Representative of the Initial Purchasers

33 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London E14 5LB

United Kingdom

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

City Telecom (H.K.) Limited, a corporation organized under the laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to certain purchasers (the “Initial Purchaser”) U.S.$125,000,000 principal amount of its 8.75% Senior Notes Due 2015 (the “Notes”) to be guaranteed on a senior and unsecured basis (the “Guarantees” together, with the Notes, the “Securities”) by each of the parties set forth in Schedule I hereto (together, the “Guarantors” and, collectively with the Company, the “Obligors”), upon the terms set forth in the Purchase Agreement between the Obligors and the Representative dated January 13, 2005 (the “Purchase Agreement”) relating to the initial placement (the “Initial Placement”) of the Securities. To induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement and to satisfy a condition of our obligations thereunder, each Obligor agrees with you for your benefit and the benefit of the record holders from time to time of the Securities (including the Initial Purchasers) (each a “Holder” and, collectively, the “Holders”), as follows:

 

1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have their respective meanings set forth in the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Registration Rights Agreement (the “Agreement”), the following capitalized defined terms shall have the following meanings:

 

“Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

“Affiliate” shall have the meaning specified in Rule 405 under the Act and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” shall have meanings correlative thereto.

 

“Broker-Dealer” shall mean any broker or dealer registered as such under the Exchange Act.


“Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law to close in New York City or Hong Kong.

 

“Closing Date” shall mean the date of the original issuance of the Securities.

 

“Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

“Deferral Period” shall have the meaning indicated in Section 4(k)(ii) hereof.

 

“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

“Exchange Offer Registration Period” shall mean the 270-day period following the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, exclusive of any period during which any stop order shall be in effect suspending the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.

 

“Exchange Offer Registration Statement” shall mean a registration statement of the Obligors on an appropriate form under the Act with respect to the Registered Exchange Offer, all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments thereto, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.

 

“Exchanging Dealer” shall mean any Holder (which may include any Initial Purchaser) that is a Broker-Dealer and elects to exchange for New Securities any Securities that it acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities (but not directly from the Company or any Affiliate of the Company) for New Securities.

 

“Final Memorandum” shall mean the offering memorandum, dated January 13, 2005 relating to the Securities, including any and all exhibits thereto and any information incorporated by reference therein as of such date.

 

“Holder” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

“Indenture” shall mean the Indenture relating to the Securities, dated as of January 20, 2005, between the Obligors and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

“Initial Placement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

“Initial Purchaser” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

“Losses” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(d) hereof.

 

“Majority Holders” shall mean the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Securities registered under a Registration Statement, from time to time.

 

“Managing Underwriters” shall mean the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers that shall administer an underwritten offering.

 

2


“NASD Rules” shall mean the Conduct Rules and the By-Laws of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

 

“New Securities” shall mean debt securities issued as the same continuing debt of the Obligors identical in all material respects to the Securities (except that the transfer restrictions shall be modified or eliminated, as appropriate) to be issued under the Indenture.

 

“Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that discloses information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A under the Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Securities or the New Securities covered by such Registration Statement, and all amendments and supplements thereto, including any and all material incorporated by reference therein.

 

“Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

“Registered Exchange Offer” shall mean the proposed offer of the Company to issue and deliver to the Holders of the Securities that are not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from participating in such offer, in exchange for the Securities, a like aggregate principal amount of the New Securities.

 

“Registrable Securities” shall mean (i) Securities other than those that have been (A) registered under a Registration Statement and disposed of in accordance therewith or (B) distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Act or any successor rule or regulation thereto that may be adopted by the Commission and (ii) any New Securities resale of which by the Holder thereof requires compliance with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Act.

 

“Registration Default Damages” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8 hereof.

 

“Registration Statement” shall mean any Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement that covers any of the Securities or the New Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, any amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments (in each case including the Prospectus contained therein), all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.

 

“Securities” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

“Shelf Registration” shall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section 3 hereof.

 

“Shelf Registration Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(b) hereof.

 

“Shelf Registration Statement” shall mean a “shelf” registration statement of the Obligors pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 hereof which covers some or all of the Securities or New Securities, as applicable, on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the Commission, amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.

 

3


“Trustee” shall mean the trustee with respect to the Securities under the Indenture.

 

“Trust Indenture Act” shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

“underwriter” shall mean any underwriter of Securities in connection with an offering thereof under a Shelf Registration Statement.

 

2. Registered Exchange Offer.

 

  (a) The Obligors shall prepare and, not later than 60 days following the Closing Date or if such 60th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day, shall file with the Commission the Exchange Offer Registration Statement with respect to the Registered Exchange Offer. The Obligors shall use their reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective under the Act within 180 days of the Closing Date or if such 180th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day.

 

  (b) Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Obligors shall promptly commence the Registered Exchange Offer, it being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to enable each Holder electing to exchange Securities for New Securities (assuming that such Holder is not an Affiliate of the Company, acquires the New Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder’s business, has no arrangements with any person to participate in the distribution of the New Securities and is not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer) to trade such New Securities from and after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions under the Act and without material restrictions under the securities laws of a substantial proportion of the several states of the United States.

 

  (c) In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Obligors shall:

 

  (i) mail or electronically transmit to each Holder a copy of the Prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;

 

  (ii) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than 30 days after the date notice thereof is mailed to the Holders (or longer if required by applicable law);

 

  (iii) use their reasonable efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective under the Act, supplemented and amended as required, under the Act to ensure that it is available for sales of New Securities by Exchanging Dealers during the Exchange Offer Registration Period;

 

4


  (iv) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered Exchange Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan in New York City, which may be the Trustee or its Affiliate;

 

  (v) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Securities at any time prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last Business Day on which the Registered Exchange Offer is open;

 

  (vi) prior to effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, provide a supplemental letter to the Commission (A) stating that the Obligors are conducting the Registered Exchange Offer in reliance on the position of the Commission in Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (pub. avail. May 13, 1988) and Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc. (pub. avail. June 5, 1991); and (B) including a representation that the Obligors have not entered into any arrangement or understanding with any person to distribute the New Securities to be received in the Registered Exchange Offer and that, to the best of the Obligors’ information and belief, each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer is acquiring the New Securities in the ordinary course of business and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of the New Securities; and

 

  (vii) comply in all respects with all applicable laws.

 

  (d) As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange Offer, the Obligors shall:

 

  (i) accept for exchange all Securities validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer;

 

  (ii) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation in accordance with Section 4(s) all Securities so accepted for exchange; and

 

  (iii) cause the Trustee promptly to authenticate and deliver to each Holder of Securities a principal amount of New Securities equal to the principal amount of the Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange.

 

  (e) Each Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees that any Broker-Dealer and any such Holder using the Registered Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution of the New Securities (x) could not under Commission policy as in effect on the date of this Agreement rely on the position of the Commission in Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (pub. avail. May 13, 1988) and Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc. (pub. avail. June 5, 1991), as interpreted in the Commission’s letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993 and similar no-action letters; and (y) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Act in connection with any secondary resale transaction and such transaction must be covered by an effective registration statement containing the selling security holder information required by Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of

 

5


Regulation S-K under the Act if the resales are of New Securities obtained by such Holder in exchange for Securities acquired by such Holder directly from the Company or one of its Affiliates. Accordingly, each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer shall be required to represent in writing to the Obligors that, at the time of the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer:

 

  (i) any New Securities received by such Holder will be acquired in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (ii) such Holder will have no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of the Securities or the New Securities within the meaning of the Act;

 

  (iii) such Holder is not an Affiliate of any Obligor (or if it is, that it will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Act to the extent applicable); and

 

  (iv) if such Holder is not a broker-dealer, that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, the distribution of the New Securities; and

 

  (v) if such Holder is a broker-dealer, that it will receive New Securities for its own account in exchange for Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Securities.

 

  (f) If any Initial Purchaser determines that it is not eligible to participate in the Registered Exchange Offer with respect to the exchange of Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment, at the request of such Initial Purchaser, the Obligors shall issue and deliver to such Initial Purchaser or the person purchasing New Securities from such Initial Purchaser, in each case if such New Securities have been registered under a Shelf Registration Statement as contemplated by Section 3 hereof, in exchange for such Securities, a like principal amount of New Securities. The Obligors shall use their respective reasonable efforts to cause the CUSIP Service Bureau to issue the same CUSIP number for such New Securities as for New Securities issued pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer.

 

  (g) The Indenture will provide that the New Securities shall not be subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture and that all the Securities will vote and consent together on all matters as one class and that none of the Securities shall have the right to vote or consent as a class separate from one another on any matter.

 

Interest on each New Security issued pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer will accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on the Notes surrendered in exchange therefor, or, if no interest has been paid on the Notes from the date of the original issuance of the Notes.

 

6


3. Shelf Registration.

 

  (a) If (i) due to any change in law or applicable interpretations thereof by the Commission’s staff, the Company determines upon advice of its outside counsel that it is not permitted to effect the Registered Exchange Offer as contemplated by Section 2 hereof; or (ii) for any other reason the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated within 210 days of the date hereof; (iii) any Initial Purchaser so requests with respect to Securities that are not eligible to be exchanged for New Securities in the Registered Exchange Offer and that are held by it following consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer; (iv) any Holder (other than an Initial Purchaser) notifies the Company in writing that it is not eligible to participate in the Registered Exchange Offer; or (v) in the case of any Initial Purchaser that participates in the Registered Exchange Offer or acquires New Securities pursuant to Section 2(f) hereof, such Initial Purchaser does not receive freely tradeable New Securities in exchange for Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment (it being understood that (x) the requirement that an Initial Purchaser deliver a Prospectus containing the information required by Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Act in connection with sales of New Securities acquired in exchange for such Securities shall not result in such New Securities being not “freely tradeable”; and (y) the requirement that an Exchanging Dealer deliver a Prospectus in connection with sales of New Securities acquired in the Registered Exchange Offer in exchange for Securities acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities shall not result in such New Securities being not “freely tradeable”), the Obligors shall effect a Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with subsection (b) below.

 

  (b)    (i) The Obligors shall as promptly as practicable (but in no event more than 60 days after so required or requested pursuant to this Section 3), file with the Commission and thereafter shall use their reasonable efforts to cause to be declared effective under the Act within 180 days after so required or requested, a Shelf Registration Statement relating to the offer and sale of the Securities or the New Securities, as applicable, by the Holders thereof from time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution elected by such Holders and set forth in such Shelf Registration Statement; provided, however, that no Holder (other than an Initial Purchaser) shall be entitled to have the Securities held by it covered by such Shelf Registration Statement unless such Holder agrees in writing to be bound by all of the provisions of this Agreement applicable to such Holder; and provided further, that with respect to New Securities received by an Initial Purchaser in exchange for Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment, the Obligors may, if permitted by current interpretations by the Commission’s staff, file a post-effective amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement containing the information required by Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable, in satisfaction of their obligations under this subsection with respect thereto, and any such Exchange Offer

 

7


Registration Statement, as so amended, shall be referred to herein as, and governed by the provisions herein applicable to, a Shelf Registration Statement.

 

  (ii) The Obligors shall use their reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required by the Act, in order to permit the Prospectus forming part thereof to be usable by Holders for a period (the “Shelf Registration Period”) from the date the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission until (A) the second anniversary thereof or (B) the date upon which all the Securities or New Securities, as applicable, covered by the Shelf Registration Statement (i) have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement or (ii) are eligible for resale under Rule 144(k). The Obligors shall be deemed not to have used their reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective during the Shelf Registration Period if they voluntarily take any action that would result in Holders of Securities covered thereby not being able to offer and sell such Securities at any time during the Shelf Registration Period, unless such action is (x) required by applicable law or otherwise undertaken by the Obligors in good faith and for valid business reasons (not including avoidance of the Obligors’ obligations hereunder), including the acquisition or divestiture of assets, and (y) permitted pursuant to Section 4(k)(ii) hereof.

 

  (iii) The Obligors shall cause the Shelf Registration Statement and the related Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as of the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement or such amendment or supplement, (A) to comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act; and (B) not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein (in the case of the Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.

 

4. Additional Registration Procedures. In connection with any Shelf Registration Statement and, to the extent applicable, any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the following provisions shall apply.

 

  (a) The Obligors shall:

 

  (i) furnish to you not less than 5 Business Days prior to the filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any Shelf Registration Statement, and each amendment thereof and each amendment or supplement, if any, to the Prospectus included therein (including, upon request, all documents incorporated by reference therein after the initial filing) and shall use their reasonable efforts to reflect in each such document, when so filed with the Commission, such comments as you reasonably propose;

 

8


  (ii) include the information set forth in Annex A hereto on the facing page of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, in Annex B hereto in the forepart of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in a section setting forth details of the Exchange Offer, in Annex C hereto in the underwriting or plan of distribution section of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and in Annex D hereto in the letter of transmittal delivered pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer;

 

  (iii) if requested by an Initial Purchaser, include the information required by Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable, in the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement; and

 

  (iv) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, include the names of the Holders that propose to sell Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement as selling security holders.

 

  (b) The Obligors shall use their reasonable efforts to ensure that:

 

  (i) any Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and any Prospectus forming part thereof and any amendment or supplement thereto complies as to form in all material respects with the Act; and

 

  (ii) any Registration Statement and any amendment thereto does not, when it becomes effective, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

 

  (c) The Obligors shall advise you, the Holders of Securities covered by any Shelf Registration Statement that have individually indicated that they wish to be so advised and any Exchanging Dealer under any Exchange Offer Registration Statement that has provided in writing to the Obligors a telephone or facsimile number and address for notices, and, if requested by you or any such Holder or Exchanging Dealer, shall confirm such advice in writing (which notice pursuant to clauses (ii) through (v) hereof shall be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the Prospectus until the Obligors shall have remedied the basis for such suspension):

 

  (i) when the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto has been filed with the Commission and when the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective;

 

  (ii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or for additional information;

 

9


  (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceeding for that purpose;

 

  (iv) of the receipt by any Obligor of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the securities included therein for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose; and

 

  (v) of the happening of any event that requires any change in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus so that, as of such date, they (A) do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact and (B) do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.

 

  (d) The Obligors shall use their reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement, or the qualification of the securities therein for sale in any jurisdiction as may be reasonably required by any Holder at the earliest possible time.

 

  (e) The Obligors shall furnish to each Holder of Securities covered by any Shelf Registration Statement that so requests, without charge, at least one copy of such Shelf Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including all material incorporated therein by reference, and, if the Holder has so requested in writing, all exhibits thereto (including exhibits incorporated by reference therein).

 

  (f) The Obligors shall, during the Shelf Registration Period, deliver to each Holder of Securities covered by any Shelf Registration Statement, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus (including the Preliminary Prospectus) included in such Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Holder may reasonably request. Each Obligor consents to the use of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of securities in connection with the offering and sale of the securities covered by the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in the Shelf Registration Statement for the Shelf Registration Period.

 

  (g) The Obligors shall furnish to each Exchanging Dealer which so requests, without charge, at least one copy of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including all material incorporated by reference therein, and, if the Exchanging Dealer has so requested in writing, all exhibits thereto (including exhibits incorporated by reference therein).

 

  (h) The Obligors shall promptly deliver to each Initial Purchaser, each Exchanging Dealer and each other Person required to deliver a Prospectus during the Exchange Offer Registration Period, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus included in such Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any

 

10


amendment or supplement thereto as any such Person may reasonably request. Each Obligor consents to the use of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by any Initial Purchaser, any Exchanging Dealer and any such other Person that may be required to deliver a Prospectus following the Registered Exchange Offer in connection with the offering and sale of the New Securities covered by the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement for the Exchange Offer Registration Period.

 

  (i) Prior to the Registered Exchange Offer or any other offering of Securities or New Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement, the Obligors shall arrange, if necessary, for the qualification of the Securities or the New Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as any Holder shall reasonably request in writing to the Company to maintain such qualification in effect so long as reasonably required; provided that in no event shall any Obligor be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to service of process in suits, other than those arising out of the Initial Placement, the Registered Exchange Offer or any offering pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement to the extent applicable, or to taxation, in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

 

  (j) The Obligors shall cooperate with the Holders of Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing New Securities or Securities to be issued or sold pursuant to any Registration Statement free of any restrictive legends and in such denominations and registered in such names as Holders may request in a reasonable period of time prior to sales of the Securities or New Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement.

 

  (k)    (i) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by subsections (c)(ii) through (v) above, the Obligors shall promptly (or within the time period provided for by clause (ii) hereof, if applicable) prepare a post-effective amendment to the applicable Registration Statement or an amendment or supplement to the related Prospectus or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to initial purchasers of the securities included therein, the Prospectus will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. In such circumstances, the period of effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement provided for in Section 2 shall be extended by the number of days from and including the date of the giving of a notice of suspension pursuant to Section 4(c) to and including the date when the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any known Exchanging Dealer shall have received such amended or supplemented Prospectus pursuant to this Section.

 

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  (ii) Upon the occurrence or existence of any pending corporate development or any other material event that, in the reasonable judgment of the Obligors, makes it appropriate to suspend the availability of a Shelf Registration Statement and the related Prospectus, the Obligors shall give notice (without notice of the nature or details of such events) to the Holders that the availability of the Shelf Registration is suspended and, upon actual receipt of any such notice, each Holder agrees not to sell any Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration until such Holder’s receipt of copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus provided for in Section 3(i) hereof, or until it is advised in writing by the Obligors that the Prospectus may be used, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference in such Prospectus. The period during which the availability of the Shelf Registration and any Prospectus is suspended (the “Deferral Period”) shall not exceed 45 days in any three-month period or 90 days in any twelve-month period.

 

  (l) Not later than the effective date of any Registration Statement, the Obligors shall provide a CUSIP number for the Securities or the New Securities, as the case may be, registered under such Registration Statement and provide the Trustee with printed certificates for such Securities or New Securities, in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.

 

  (m) The Obligors shall comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission to the extent and so long as they are applicable to the Registered Exchange Offer and the Shelf Registration and shall make generally available to its security holders an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act as soon as practicable after the effective date of the applicable Registration Statement and in any event no later than 45 days after the end of a 12-month period (or 90 days, if such period is a fiscal year) beginning with the first month of the Company’s first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of the applicable Registration Statement.

 

  (n) The Obligors shall cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act in a timely manner.

 

  (o) The Obligors may require each Holder of Securities or New Securities to be sold pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the Obligors such information regarding the Holder and the distribution of such Securities or New Securities as the Obligors may from time to time reasonably require for inclusion in such Registration Statement. The Obligors may exclude from such Shelf Registration Statement the Securities or New Securities of any Holder that unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such request.

 

  (p)

In the case of any Shelf Registration Statement, the Obligors shall enter into customary agreements (including, if requested, an underwriting agreement in

 

12


 

customary form) and take all other appropriate actions in order to expedite or facilitate the registration or the disposition of the Securities, and in connection therewith, if an underwriting agreement is entered into, cause the same to contain indemnification provisions and procedures no less favorable than those set forth in Section 6 hereof.

 

  (q) In the case of any Shelf Registration Statement, the Obligors shall:

 

  (i) make reasonably available for inspection by the Holders of Securities to be registered thereunder, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement, and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by the Holders or any such underwriter all relevant financial and other records and pertinent corporate documents of the Company and its subsidiaries;

 

  (ii) cause the Company’s officers, directors, employees, accountants and auditors to supply all relevant information reasonably requested by the Holders or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with any such Registration Statement as is customary for similar due diligence examinations provided, however, that (i) the foregoing inspection and information gathering shall be coordinated on behalf of all parties by one counsel designated by the Majority Holders and (ii) each Holder and any underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent conducting an inspection under this section will be required to agree that, subject to applicable law, regulations and rules, information obtained by it as a result of such inspections will be deemed confidential and will not be disclosed by it or used by it as the basis for any transaction in any securities of the Company unless and until such information is generally available to the public;

 

  (iii) make such representations and warranties to the Holders of Securities registered thereunder and the underwriters, if any, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in primary underwritten offerings and covering matters including, but not limited to, those set forth in the Purchase Agreement;

 

  (iv) obtain opinions of counsel to the Obligors and updates thereof (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Managing Underwriters, if any) addressed to each selling Holder and the underwriters, if any, covering such matters as are customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Holders and underwriters, if any;

 

  (v) obtain “comfort” letters and updates thereof from the independent certified public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are, or are required to be,

 

13


included in the Registration Statement), addressed to each selling Holder of Securities registered thereunder and the underwriters, if any, in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “comfort” letters in connection with primary underwritten offerings, provided that each such Holder and underwriter makes such representations as may be required for such independent certified public accountants to deliver such letters; and

 

  (vi) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Majority Holders or the Managing Underwriters, if any, including those to evidence compliance with Section 4(k) and with any customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the Obligors.

 

The actions set forth in clauses (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi) of this paragraph (q) shall be performed at (A) the effectiveness of such Registration Statement and each post-effective amendment thereto; and (B) each closing under any underwriting or similar agreement as and to the extent required thereunder.

 

  (r) In the case of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Obligors shall, if requested by an Initial Purchaser, or by a broker dealer that holds Securities that were acquired as a result of market making or other trading activities:

 

  (i) make reasonably available for inspection by the requesting party, and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by the requesting party, all relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries;

 

  (ii) cause the Company’s officers, directors, employees, accountants and auditors to supply all relevant information reasonably requested by the requesting party or any such attorney, accountant or agent in connection with any such Registration Statement as is customary for similar due diligence examinations provided, however, that (i) the foregoing inspection and information gathering shall be coordinated on behalf of all parties by one counsel designated by the Majority Holders and (ii) each Holder and any underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent conducting an inspection under this section will be required to agree that, subject to applicable law, regulations and rules, information obtained by it as a result of such inspections will be deemed confidential and will not be disclosed by it or used by it as the basis for any transaction in any securities of the Company unless and until such information is generally available to the public;

 

  (iii) make such representations and warranties to the requesting party, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in primary underwritten offerings and covering matters including, but not limited to, those set forth in the Purchase Agreement;

 

14


  (iv) obtain opinions of counsel to the Obligors and updates thereof (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the requesting party and its counsel, addressed to the requesting party, covering such matters as are customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by the requesting party or its counsel;

 

  (v) obtain “comfort” letters and updates thereof from the independent certified public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are, or are required to be, included in the Registration Statement), addressed to the requesting party, in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “comfort” letters in connection with primary underwritten offerings, or if requested by the requesting party or its counsel in lieu of a “comfort” letter, an agreed-upon procedures letter under Statement on Auditing Standards No. 35, covering matters requested by the requesting party or its counsel; and

 

  (vi) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the requesting party or its counsel, including those to evidence compliance with Section 4(k) and with conditions customarily contained in underwriting agreements.

 

The foregoing actions set forth in clauses (iii), (iv), (v), and (vi) of this Section shall be performed at the close of the Registered Exchange Offer and the effective date of any post-effective amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.

 

  (s) If a Registered Exchange Offer is to be consummated, upon delivery of the Securities by Holders to the Company (or to such other Person as directed by the Company) in exchange for the New Securities, the Obligors shall mark, or caused to be marked, on the Securities so exchanged that such Securities are being cancelled in exchange for the New Securities. In no event shall the Securities be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.

 

  (t) The Obligors shall use their reasonable efforts if the Securities have been rated prior to the initial sale of such Securities, to confirm such ratings will apply to the Securities or the New Securities, as the case may be, covered by a Registration Statement.

 

  (u) In connection with any Shelf Registration Statement, in the event that any Broker-Dealer shall underwrite any Securities or participate as a member of an underwriting syndicate or selling group or “assist in the distribution” (within the meaning of the NASD Rules) thereof, whether as a Holder of such Securities or as an underwriter, a placement or sales agent or a broker or dealer in respect thereof, or otherwise, the Obligors shall assist such Broker-Dealer in complying with the NASD Rules.

 

15


  (v) The Obligors shall use their reasonable efforts to take all other steps necessary to effect the registration of the Securities or the New Securities, as the case may be, covered by a Registration Statement.

 

5. Registration Expenses. The Obligors shall bear all expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations under Sections 2, 3 and 4 hereof (other than any underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, related to the sale or disposition of the Securities pursuant to any underwritten offering pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement, which shall be at the expense of the Holders) and, in the event of any Shelf Registration Statement, will reimburse the Holders for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm or counsel (which shall initially be Clifford Chance Limited Liability Partnership, but which may be another internationally recognized law firm experienced in securities matters designated by the Majority Holders) to act as counsel for the Holders in connection therewith, and, in the case of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, will reimburse the Initial Purchasers for the reasonable fees and disbursements of not more than one counsel acting in connection therewith.

 

6. Indemnification and Contribution.

 

  (a)

Each Obligor agrees, jointly and severally, to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of Securities or New Securities, as the case may be, covered by any Registration Statement, each Initial Purchaser and, with respect to any Prospectus delivery as contemplated in Section 4(h) hereof, each Exchanging Dealer, the directors, officers, employees, Affiliates and agents of each such Holder, Initial Purchaser or Exchanging Dealer and each person who controls any such Holder, Initial Purchaser or Exchanging Dealer within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or in any preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by it in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that (i) the Obligors will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity

 

16


 

with written information furnished to the Obligors by or on behalf of the party claiming indemnification specifically for inclusion therein. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that the Obligors may otherwise have.

 

Each Obligor also agrees, jointly and severally, to indemnify as provided in this Section 6(a) or contribute as provided in Section 6(d) hereof to Losses of each underwriter, if any, of Securities or New Securities, as the case may be, registered under a Shelf Registration Statement, their directors, officers, employees, Affiliates or agents and each person who controls (within the meaning of the Act or the Exchange Act) such underwriter on substantially the same basis as that of the indemnification of the Initial Purchasers and the selling Holders provided in this Section 6(a) and shall, if requested by any Holder, enter into an underwriting agreement reflecting such agreement, as provided in Section 4(p) hereof.

 

  (b) Each Holder of securities covered by a Registration Statement (including each Initial Purchaser that is a Holder, in such capacity) severally and not jointly agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Obligor, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs such Registration Statement and each person who controls such Obligors within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from each Obligor to each such Holder, but only with reference to written information relating to such Holder furnished to the Obligors by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that any such Holder may otherwise have.

 

  (c)

Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 6 or notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses; and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel (including local counsel) of the indemnifying party’s choice at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel, other than local counsel if not appointed by the indemnifying party, retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel (including local counsel) to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified

 

17


 

party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest; (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party; (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action; or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party in writing to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding.

 

  (d)

In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party for any reason, then each applicable indemnifying party shall have a joint and several obligation to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending any loss, claim, liability, damage or action) (collectively “Losses”) to which such indemnified party may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by such indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such indemnified party, on the other hand, from the Initial Placement and the Registration Statement which resulted in such Losses; provided, however, that in no case shall any Initial Purchaser be responsible, in the aggregate, for any amount in excess of the purchase discount or commission applicable to such Security, or in the case of a New Security, applicable to the Security that was exchangeable into such New Security, as set forth in the Final Memorandum, nor shall any underwriter be responsible for any amount in excess of the underwriting discount or commission applicable to the securities purchased by such underwriter under the Registration Statement which resulted in such Losses. If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of such indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such indemnified party, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Obligors shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the

 

18


 

Initial Placement (before deducting expenses) as set forth in the Final Memorandum. Benefits received by the Initial Purchasers shall be deemed to be equal to the total purchase discounts and commissions as set forth in the Final Memorandum, and benefits received by any other Holders shall be deemed to be equal to the proceeds received from the sale of the Securities or New Securities, as applicable, registered under the Act. Benefits received by any underwriter shall be deemed to be equal to the total underwriting discounts and commissions, as set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement which resulted in such Losses. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or any alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information provided by the indemnifying party, on the one hand, or by the indemnified party, on the other hand, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The parties agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section, each person who controls a Holder within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee and agent of such Holder shall have the same rights to contribution as such Holder, and each person who controls an Obligor within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of an Obligor who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each director of an Obligor shall have the same rights to contribution as the Obligors, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph (d).

 

  (e) The provisions of this Section will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Holder or the Obligors or any of the indemnified persons referred to in this Section 6, and will survive the sale by a Holder of securities covered by a Registration Statement.

 

7. Underwritten Registrations.

 

  (a) If any of the Securities or New Securities, as the case may be, covered by any Shelf Registration Statement are to be sold in an underwritten offering, the Managing Underwriters shall be selected by the Majority Holders.

 

  (b) No person may participate in any underwritten offering pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement, unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person’s Securities or New Securities, as the case may be, on the basis reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements; and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

 

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8. Registration Defaults. If any of the following events shall occur, then the Obligors shall pay, jointly and severally, liquidated damages (the “Registration Default Damages”) to the Holders of Securities in respect of the Securities as follows:

 

  (a) if any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not filed with the Commission on or prior to the date specified for such filing in this Agreement, then Registration Default Damages shall accrue on the Registrable Securities at a rate of 0.25% per annum for the first 90 days from and including such specified date and 0.50% per annum thereafter; or

 

  (b) if any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the date by which reasonable efforts are to be used to cause such effectiveness under this Agreement, then commencing on the day after such specified date, Registration Default Damages shall accrue on the Registrable Securities at a rate of 0.25% per annum for the first 90 days from and including such specified date and 0.50% per annum thereafter;

 

  (c) if the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated within 210 days of the date hereof;

 

  (d) if any Registration Statement required by this Agreement has been declared effective but ceases to be effective at any time at which it is required to be effective under this Agreement, then commencing on the day the Registration Statement ceases to be effective, Registration Default Damages shall accrue on the Registrable Securities at a rate of 0.25% per annum for the first 90 days from and including such date on which the Registration Statement ceases to be effective and 0.50% per annum thereafter;

 

provided, however, that (1) upon the filing of the Registration Statement (in the case of paragraph (a) above), (2) upon the effectiveness of the Registration Statement (in the case of paragraph (b) above), or (3) upon the effectiveness of the Registration Statement which had ceased to remain effective (in the case of paragraph (c) above), Registration Default Damages shall cease to accrue.

 

9. No Inconsistent Agreements. Each Obligor have not entered into, and agrees not to enter into, any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders herein or that otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.

 

10.

Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not be amended, qualified, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, unless the Company has obtained the written consent of the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities outstanding; provided that, with respect to any matter that directly or indirectly affects the rights of any Initial Purchaser hereunder, the Company shall obtain the written consent of each such Initial Purchaser against which such

 

20


 

amendment, qualification, supplement, waiver or consent is to be effective; provided, further, that no amendment, qualification, supplement, waiver or consent with respect to Section 8 hereof shall be effective as against any Holder of Registered Securities unless consented to in writing by such Holder; and provided, further, that the provisions of this Section 10 may not be amended, qualified, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, unless the Company has obtained the written consent of the Initial Purchasers and each Holder. Notwithstanding the foregoing (except the foregoing provisos), a waiver or consent to departure from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders whose Securities or New Securities, as the case may be, are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given by the Majority Holders, determined on the basis of Securities or New Securities, as the case may be, being sold rather than registered under such Registration Statement.

 

11. Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail, telex, telecopier or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:

 

  (a) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such holder to the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Section 11, which address initially is, with respect to each Holder, the address of such Holder maintained by the Registrar under the Indenture;

 

  (b) if to you, initially at the address set forth in the Purchase Agreement; and

 

  (c) if to the Obligors, initially at the Company’s address set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

 

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given when received.

 

The Initial Purchasers or the Obligors by notice to the other parties may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

 

12. Successors. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns, including, without the need for an express assignment or any consent by the Obligors thereto, subsequent Holders of Securities and the New Securities, and the indemnified persons referred to in Section 6 hereof. Each Obligor hereby agrees to extend the benefits of this Agreement to any Holder of Securities and the New Securities, and any such Holder may specifically enforce the provisions of this Agreement as if an original party hereto.

 

13.

Jurisdiction. Each Obligor agrees that any suit, action or proceeding against such Obligor brought by any Holder or Initial Purchaser, the directors, officers, employees, Affiliates and agents of any Holder or Initial Purchaser, or by any person who controls any Holder or Initial Purchaser, arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may be instituted in any State or U.S. federal court in The City of New York and County of New York, and waives any objection which it

 

21


 

may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding, and irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any suit, action or proceeding. Each Obligor hereby appoints CT Corporation System, 111 Eighth Avenue, New York, 10011, (and any successor entity) as its authorized agent (the “Authorized Agent”) upon whom process may be served in any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein which may be instituted in any State or U.S. federal court in The City of New York and County of New York, by any Holder or Initial Purchaser, the directors, officers, employees, Affiliates and agents of any Holder or Initial Purchaser, or by any person who controls any Holder or Initial Purchaser, and expressly accepts the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any such court in respect of any such suit, action or proceeding. Each Obligor hereby represents and warrants that the Authorized Agent has accepted such appointment and has agreed to act as said agent for service of process, and each Obligor agrees to take any and all action, including the filing of any and all documents that may be necessary to continue such appointment in full force and effect as aforesaid. Service of process upon the Authorized Agent shall be deemed, in every respect, effective service of process upon such Obligor. Each Obligor further agrees to take any and all action, including the execution and filing of any and all such documents and instruments, as may be necessary to continue such designation and appointment in full force and effect so long as any of the Securities shall be outstanding. To the extent that each Obligor may acquire any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution or otherwise) with respect to itself or its property, it hereby irrevocably waives such immunity in respect of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any action arising out of or based upon this Agreement may be instituted by any Holder or Initial Purchaser, the directors, officers, employees, Affiliates and agents of any Holder or Initial Purchaser, or by any person who controls any Holder or Initial Purchaser, in any court of competent jurisdiction in Hong Kong.

 

14. Currency. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the obligation of each Obligor in respect of any amount due under this Agreement will, notwithstanding any payment in any other currency (whether pursuant to a judgment or otherwise), be discharged only to the extent of the amount in U.S. dollars (the “relevant currency”) that the party entitled to receive such payment may, in accordance with its normal procedures, purchase with the sum paid in such other currency (after any premium and costs of exchange) on the Business Day immediately following the day on which such party receives such payment. If the amount in the relevant currency that may be so purchased for any reason falls short of the amount originally due, each Obligor will pay such additional amounts, in the relevant currency, as may be necessary to compensate for the shortfall. Any obligation of the Obligors not discharged by such payment will, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be due as a separate and independent obligation and, until discharged as provided herein, will continue in full force and effect.

 

15.

Waiver of Immunity. To the extent that each Obligor has or hereafter may acquire any immunity (sovereign or otherwise) from any legal action, suit or proceeding, from jurisdiction of any court or from set-off or any legal process (whether service or notice,

 

22


 

attachment in aid or otherwise) with respect to itself or any of its property, such Obligor hereby irrevocably waives and agrees not to plead or claim such immunity in respect of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

16. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

17. Headings. The section headings used herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

18. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed in the State of New York. The parties hereto each hereby waive any right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim arising out of or relating to this Agreement.

 

19. Severability. In the event that any one of more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstances, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions hereof shall not be in any way impaired or affected thereby, it being intended that all of the rights and privileges of the parties shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

20. Securities Held by the Obligors, etc. Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of Securities or New Securities is required hereunder, Securities or New Securities, as applicable, held by the Obligors or their Affiliates (other than subsequent Holders of Securities or New Securities if such subsequent Holders are deemed to be Affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such Securities or New Securities) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.

 

23


21. If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement between the Company and the several Initial Purchasers.

 

Very truly yours,

 

City Telecom (H.K.) Limited   City Telecom International Limited

By:

 

/s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky


 

By:

 

/s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky


Name:

 

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

 

Name:

 

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

Title:

 

Chairman

 

Title:

 

Director

Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited   Excel Billion Profits Limited

By:

 

/s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky


 

By:

 

/s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky


Name:

 

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

 

Name:

 

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

Title:

 

Director

 

Title:

 

Director

Hong Kong Television Network Limited   Hong Kong Broadband Television Company Limited

By:

 

/s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky


 

By:

 

/s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky


Name:

 

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

 

Name:

 

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

Title:

 

Director

 

Title:

 

Director

Hong Kong Broadband Phone Limited   Credibility Holdings Limited

By:

 

/s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky


 

By:

 

/s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky


Name:

 

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

 

Name:

 

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

Title:

 

Director

 

Title:

 

Director

IDD1600 Company Limited   CTI Marketing Company Limited

By:

 

/s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky


 

By:

 

/s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky


Name:

 

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

 

Name:

 

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

Title:

 

Director

 

Title:

 

Director

 

S-1


iStore.com Limited   TeachOnNet.com Limited

By:

 

/s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky


 

By:

 

/s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky


Name:

 

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

 

Name:

 

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

Title:

 

Director

 

Title:

 

Director

CTI International Limited   BBTV Company Limited

By:

 

/s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky


 

By:

 

/s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky


Name:

 

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

 

Name:

 

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

Title:

 

Director

 

Title:

 

Director

Automedia Holdings Limited   City Telecom (U.S.A.) Inc.

By:

 

/s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky


 

By:

 

/s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky


Name:

 

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

 

Name:

 

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

Title:

 

Director

 

Title:

 

Director

City Telecom (Vancouver) Inc.   City Telecom (Toronto) Inc.

By:

 

/s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky


 

By:

 

/s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky


Name:

 

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

 

Name:

 

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

Title:

 

Assistant Secretary

 

Title:

 

Authorized Representative

City Telecom (Canada) Inc.   963673 Ontario Ltd

By:

 

/s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky


 

By:

 

/s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky


Name:

 

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

 

Name:

 

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

Title:

 

Director

 

Title:

 

Authorized Representative

City Telecom (B.C.) Inc.   City Telecom Inc.

By:

 

/s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky


 

By:

 

/s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky


Name:

 

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

 

Name:

 

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

Title:

 

Assistant Secretary

 

Title:

 

Authorized Representative

Golden Trinity Holdings Limited   Warwick Gold Enterprises Ltd

By:

 

/s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky


 

By:

 

/s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky


Name:

 

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

 

Name:

 

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

Title:

 

Director

 

Title:

 

Authorized Representative

 

S-2


Attitude Holdings Limited

By:

 

/s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky


Name:

 

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

Title:

 

Director

The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed

and accepted as of the date first above written.

 

Citigroup Global Markets Limited

By

 

/s/ Aamir Rahim


Name:

 

Aamir Rahim

Title:

 

Managing Director

For itself and the other several initial

Purchasers named in Schedule I to the

Purchase Agreement.

 

 

 

S-3


Schedule I

 

Guarantors

 

1. City Telecom International Limited

 

2. Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited

 

3. Excel Billion Profits Limited

 

4. Hong Kong Television Network Limited

 

5. Hong Kong Broadband Television Company Limited

 

6. Hong Kong Broadband Phone Limited

 

7. Credibility Holdings Limited

 

8. IDD1600 Company Limited

 

9. CTI Marketing Company Limited

 

10. iStore.com Limited

 

11. TeachOnNet.com Limited

 

12. CTI International Limited

 

13. BBTV Company Limited

 

14. Automedia Holdings Limited

 

15. City Telecom (U.S.A.) Inc.

 

16. City Telecom (Vancouver) Inc.

 

17. City Telecom (Toronto) Inc

 

18. City Telecom (Canada) Inc.

 

19. 963673 Ontario Ltd

 

20. City Telecom (B.C.) Inc.

 

21. City Telecom Inc.

 

22. Golden Trinity Holdings Limited

 

23. Warwick Gold Enterprises Ltd

 

24. Attitude Holdings Limited

 

I-1


ANNEX A

 

Each broker-dealer that receives new securities for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such new securities. The Letter of Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Act. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of new securities received in exchange for securities where such securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The company has agreed that, starting on the expiration date and ending on the close of business 270 days after the expiration date, it will make this prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See “Plan of Distribution”.

 

 

A-1


ANNEX B

 

Each broker-dealer that receives new securities for its own account in exchange for securities, where such securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such new securities. See “Plan of Distribution”.

 

B-1


ANNEX C

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

Each broker-dealer that receives new securities for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such new securities. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of new securities received in exchange for securities where such securities were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The company has agreed that, starting on the expiration date and ending on the close of business 270 days after the expiration date, it will make this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. In addition, until                     ,             , all dealers effecting transactions in the new securities may be required to deliver a prospectus.

 

The company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of new securities by brokers-dealers. New securities received by broker-dealers for their own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the new securities or a combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such broker-dealer and/or the purchasers of any such new securities. Any broker-dealer that resales new securities that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of such new securities may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Act and any profit of any such resale of new securities and any commissions or concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Act. The Letter of Transmittal states that by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Act.

 

For a period of 270 days after the expiration date, the company will promptly send additional copies of this prospectus and any amendment or supplement to this prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents in the Letter of Transmittal. The company has agreed to pay all expenses incident to the Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the holder of the securities) other than commissions or concessions of any brokers or dealers and will indemnify the holders of the securities (including any broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Act.

 

[If applicable, add information required by Regulation S-K Items 507 and/or 508.]

 

 

C-1


ANNEX D

 

Rider A

 

PLEASE FILL IN YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS BELOW IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.

 

Name:

 

 


Address:

 

 


   

 


 

Rider B

 

If the undersigned is not a Broker-Dealer, the undersigned represents that it acquired the New Securities in the ordinary course of its business, it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of New Securities and it has no arrangements or understandings with any person to participate in a distribution of the New Securities. If the undersigned is a Broker-Dealer that will receive New Securities for its own account in exchange for Securities, it represents that the Securities to be exchange for New Securities were acquired by it as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Securities; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Act.

EX-12.1 4 dex121.htm STATEMENTS RE COMPUTATION OF RATIOS Statements re computation of ratios

Exhibit 12.1

 

City Telecom (H.K.) Limited

Statement Re: Computation of Ratios

 

Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges

 

     2000

   2001

   2002

   2003

   2004

 
     HK$    HK$    HK$    HK$    HK$  
HKGAAP    (Amounts in thousands, except ratio of earnings to
fixed charges)
 

Pre-tax income from continuing operations before adjustment for minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries

   93,084    70,401    97,813    278,212    51,593  

Fixed charges

                          

Interest expenses and amortisation of capitalized interests expenses

   6,228    4,542    3,504    601    240  
    
  
  
  
  

Total earnings for computation of ratio

   99,312    74,943    101,317    278,813    51,833  

Fixed charges

                          

Interest expenses

   6,228    4,542    3,504    601    175  

Capitalized interest expenses

   —      —      —      —      3,053  
    
  
  
  
  

Total fixed charges for computation of ratio

   6,228    4,542    3,504    601    3,228  

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

   16.0    16.5    28.9    463.9    16.1  
    
  
  
  
  

 

Computation of pro forma ratio of earnings to fixed charges for fiscal 2004 after adjustment for issuance of notes

 

  

Total earnings for computation of ratio, as above

                       51,833  

Fixed charges, as above

                       3,228  

Adjustments:

                          

Reduction in interest expenses on the HK$100 million loan outstanding as at August 31, 2004

   (3,053 )

Estimated increase in interest expenses of HK$100 million of the proceeds from this offering

   5,833  
                        

Total pro forma fixed charges

                       6,008  

Pro forma ratio of earnings to fixed charges

                       8.6  
                        

 

EX-23.1 5 dex231.htm CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Exhibit 23.1

 

LOGO

 

City Telecom (H.K.) Limited

16/F Trans Asia Centre

18 Kin Hong Street

Kwai Chung, NT

Hong Kong

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

We hereby consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form F-4 and Form S-4 of our report dated November 23, 2004, except for Note 31(b) and Note 32, which are as of January 20, 2005 relating to the financial statements of City Telecom (H.K.) Limited as of August 31, 2003 and 2004 and for the three years then ended, which appear in such Registration Statement.

 

LOGO

Hong Kong

18 March 2005

 

EX-24.1 6 dex241.htm POWERS OF ATTORNEY Powers of Attorney

Exhibit 24.1

POWERS OF ATTORNEY

 

By signing below, I hereby constitute and appoint Mr. Wong Wai Kay, Ricky, Mr. Cheung Chi Kin, Paul and Ms. Sio Veng Kuan, Corinna, my true and lawful attorneys and agents to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments in my name and behalf in my capacities as a director and/or officer of City Telecom (H.K.) Limited, a Hong Kong company (the “Company”), and/or as a director and/or officer of one or more of the Company’s subsidiaries listed on Annex A (the “Subsidiary Guarantors”), that said attorneys and agents, or any of them, may deem necessary or advisable or that may be required to enable the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors to comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and any rules, regulations or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, in connection with a registration statement on Form F-4 and S-4 (or any other appropriate form) for the purpose of registering pursuant to the Securities Act of up to US$125 million of 8.75% Senior Notes due 2015, and the guarantees thereof given by the Subsidiary Guarantors, to be issued in exchange for the Company’s outstanding 8.75% Senior Notes due 2015, and the guarantees thereof given by the Subsidiary Guarantors, including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power and authority to sign for me, in my name and behalf in my capacities as director and/or officer of the Company and/or one or more Subsidiary Guarantors (individually or on behalf of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor), such registration statement, and any and all amendments and supplements thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other instruments or documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys and agents, or any of them, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Powers of Attorney as of March 18, 2005.

 

/s/ Wong Wai Kay, Ricky               

/s/ Cheung Chi Kin, Paul            

Wong Wai Kay, Ricky

  

Cheung Chi Kin, Paul

/s/ Chong Kin Chun, John            

  

/s/ Fung So Mui, Fion                

Chong Kin Chun, John

  

Fung So Mui, Fion

/s/ Sio Veng Kuan, Corinna            

  

/s/ To Wai Bing                            

Sio Veng Kuan, Corinna

  

To Wai Bing

/s/ Lo Sui Lun                                       

/s/ Leung Ka Pak                

Lo Sui Lun   

Leung, Ka Pak

/s/ Yau Ming Yan                   

/s/ Lee Ching Han                

Yau Ming Yan   

Lee Ching Han

/s/ Leung Yuen Yee                 
Leung Yuen Yee     


Annex A

 

Name


  

State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization


963673 Ontario Ltd.

   Ontario, Canada

Attitude Holdings Limited

   British Virgin Islands

Automedia Holdings Limited

   British Virgin Islands

BBTV Company Limited

   Hong Kong

City Telecom (B.C.) Inc.

   British Columbia, Canada

City Telecom (Canada) Incorporated

   Nova Scotia, Canada

City Telecom (Toronto) Inc.

   Ontario, Canada

City Telecom (U.S.A.) Inc.

   Delaware, U.S.A.

City Telecom (Vancouver) Inc.

   British Columbia, Canada

City Telecom Inc.

   Ontario, Canada

City Telecom International Limited

   British Virgin Islands

Credibility Holdings Limited

   British Virgin Islands

CTI International Limited

   Hong Kong

CTI Marketing Company Limited

   Hong Kong

Excel Billion Profits Limited

   Hong Kong

Golden Trinity Holdings Limited

   British Virgin Islands

Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited

   Hong Kong

Hong Kong Broadband Phone Limited

   Hong Kong

Hong Kong Broadband Television Company Limited

   Hong Kong

Hong Kong Television Network Limited

   Hong Kong

IDD1600 Company Limited

   Hong Kong

iStore.com Limited

   Hong Kong

TeachOnNet.com Limited

   Hong Kong

Warwick Gold Enterprises Limited

   Hong Kong
EX-25.1 7 dex251.htm STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY OF TRUSTEE UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 Statement of eligibility of Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939

Exhibit 25.1

 


UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM T-1

 

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939

OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

 

CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE

PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2)

 


 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS

(formerly BANKERS TRUST COMPANY)

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

 

NEW YORK   13-4941247

(Jurisdiction of Incorporation or

organization if not a U.S. national bank)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification no.)

60 WALL STREET

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

  10005
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

Attention: Will Christoph

Legal Department

60 Wall Street, 36th Floor

New York, New York 10005

(212) 250-0378

(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

 


 

CITY TELECOM (H.K.) LIMITED

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,

The People’s Republic of China

  Not Applicable

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

13-16th Floors

Trans Asia Centre

18 Kin Hong Street

Kwai Chung

Hong Kong

(852) 3145-6888

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,

including area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)

 


 

8.75% Senior Notes Due 2015

(Title of the Indenture Securities)

 



Item 1. General Information.

 

Furnish the following information as to the trustee.

 

(a)    Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

Name


  

Address


Federal Reserve Bank (2nd District)    New York, NY
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation    Washington, D.C.
New York State Banking Department    Albany, NY

(b)    Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. Yes.

 

Item 2. Affiliations with Obligor.

 

If the obligor is an affiliate of the Trustee, describe each such affiliation.

 

None.

 

Item 3. -15. Not Applicable

 

Item 16. List of Exhibits.

 

Exhibit 1 -    Restated Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company dated August 6, 1998, Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company dated September 25, 1998, Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company dated December 16, 1998, and Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company dated February 22, 2002, copies attached.
Exhibit 2 -    Certificate of Authority to commence business - Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2 filed with Form T-1 Statement, Registration No. 33-21047.
Exhibit 3 -    Authorization of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust powers - Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2 filed with Form T-1 Statement, Registration No. 33-21047.
Exhibit 4 -    Existing By-Laws of Bankers Trust Company, as amended on April 15, 2002. Copy attached.

 

-2-


Exhibit 5 -    Not applicable.
Exhibit 6 -    Consent of Bankers Trust Company required by Section 321(b) of the Act. - Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4 filed with Form T-1 Statement, Registration No. 22-18864.
Exhibit 7 -    The latest report of condition of Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas dated as of December 31, 2004. Copy attached.
Exhibit 8 -    Not Applicable.
Exhibit 9 -    Not Applicable.

 

-3-


SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the trustee, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in The City of New York, and State of New York, on this 17th day of March, 2005.

 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS

 

By:  

 


            Annie Jaghatspanyan
            Assistant Vice President

 

-4-


SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the trustee, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in The City of New York, and State of New York, on this 17th day of March, 2005.

 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS

By:

 

/s/ Annie Jaghatspanyan


   

Annie Jaghatspanyan

   

Assistant Vice President

 

-5-


State of New York,

 

Banking Department

 

I, MANUEL KURSKY, Deputy Superintendent of Banks of the State of New York, DO HEREBY APPROVE the annexed Certificate entitled “CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION CERTIFICATE OF BANKERS TRUST COMPANY Under Section 8005 of the Banking Law,” dated September 16, 1998, providing for an increase in authorized capital stock from $3,001,666,670 consisting of 200,166,667 shares with a par value of $10 each designated as Common Stock and 1,000 shares with a par value of $1,000,000 each designated as Series Preferred Stock to $3,501,666,670 consisting of 200,166,667 shares with a par value of $10 each designated as Common Stock and 1,500 shares with a par value of $1,000,000 each designated as Series Preferred Stock.

 

Witness, my hand and official seal of the Banking Department at the City of New York, this 25th day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight.

 

Manuel Kursky


Deputy Superintendent of Banks


RESTATED

ORGANIZATION

CERTIFICATE

OF

BANKERS TRUST COMPANY

 


 

Under Section 8007

Of the Banking Law

 


 

Bankers Trust Company

1301 6th Avenue, 8th Floor

New York, N.Y. 10019

 

Counterpart Filed in the Office of the Superintendent of Banks, State of New York, August 31, 1998


RESTATED ORGANIZATION CERTIFICATE

OF

BANKERS TRUST

Under Section 8007 of the Banking Law

 


 

We, James T. Byrne, Jr. and Lea Lahtinen, being respectively a Managing Director and an Assistant Secretary and a Vice President and an Assistant Secretary of BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, do hereby certify:

 

1. The name of the corporation is Bankers Trust Company.

 

2. The organization certificate of the corporation was filed by the Superintendent of Banks of the State of New York on March 5, 1903.

 

3. The text of the organization certificate, as amended heretofore, is hereby restated without further amendment or change to read as herein-set forth in full, to wit:

 

“Certificate of Organization

of

Bankers Trust Company

 

Know All Men By These Presents That we, the undersigned, James A. Blair, James G. Cannon, E. C. Converse, Henry P. Davison, Granville W. Garth, A. Barton Hepburn, Will Logan, Gates W. McGarrah, George W. Perkins, William H. Porter, John F. Thompson, Albert H. Wiggin, Samuel Woolverton and Edward F. C. Young, all being persons of full age and citizens of the United States, and a majority of us being residents of the State of New York, desiring to form a corporation to be known as a Trust Company, do hereby associate ourselves together for that purpose under and pursuant to the laws of the State of New York, and for such purpose we do hereby, under our respective hands and seals, execute and duly acknowledge this Organization Certificate in duplicate, and hereby specifically state as follows, to wit:

 

I. The name by which the said corporation shall be known is Bankers Trust Company.

 

II. The place where its business is to be transacted is the City of New York, in the State of New York.

 

III. Capital Stock: The amount of capital stock which the corporation is hereafter to have is Three Billion One Million, Six Hundred Sixty-Six Thousand, Six Hundred Seventy Dollars ($3,001,666,670), divided into Two Hundred Million, One Hundred Sixty-Six Thousand, Six Hundred Sixty-Seven (200,166,667) shares with a par value of $10 each designated as Common Stock and 1,000 shares with a par value of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) each designated as Series Preferred Stock.

 

(a) Common Stock

 

1. Dividends: Subject to all of the rights of the Series Preferred Stock, dividends may be declared and paid or set apart for payment upon the Common Stock out of any assets or funds of the corporation legally available for the payment of dividends.

 

2. Voting Rights: Except as otherwise expressly provided with respect to the Series Preferred Stock or with respect to any series of the Series Preferred Stock, the Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and for all other purposes, each holder of the Common Stock being entitled to one vote for each share thereof held.


3. Liquidation: Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, and after the holders of the Series Preferred Stock of each series shall have been paid in full the amounts to which they respectively shall be entitled, or a sum sufficient for the payment in full set aside, the remaining net assets of the corporation shall be distributed pro rata to the holders of the Common Stock in accordance with their respective rights and interests, to the exclusion of the holders of the Series Preferred Stock.

 

4. Preemptive Rights: No holder of Common Stock of the corporation shall be entitled, as such, as a matter of right, to subscribe for or purchase any part of any new or additional issue of stock of any class or series whatsoever, any rights or options to purchase stock of any class or series whatsoever, or any securities convertible into, exchangeable for or carrying rights or options to purchase stock of any class or series whatsoever, whether now or hereafter authorized, and whether issued for cash or other consideration, or by way of dividend or other distribution.

 

(b) Series Preferred Stock

 

1. Board Authority: The Series Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time by the Board of Directors as herein provided in one or more series. The designations, relative rights, preferences and limitations of the Series Preferred Stock, and particularly of the shares of each series thereof, may, to the extent permitted by law, be similar to or may differ from those of any other series. The Board of Directors of the corporation is hereby expressly granted authority, subject to the provisions of this Article III, to issue from time to time Series Preferred Stock in one or more series and to fix from time to time before issuance thereof, by filing a certificate pursuant to the Banking Law, the number of shares in each such series of such class and all designations, relative rights (including the right, to the extent permitted by law, to convert into shares of any class or into shares of any series of any class), preferences and limitations of the shares in each such series, including, buy without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following:

 

(i) The number of shares to constitute such series (which number may at any time, or from time to time, be increased or decreased by the Board of Directors, notwithstanding that shares of the series may be outstanding at the time of such increase or decrease, unless the Board of Directors shall have otherwise provided in creating such series) and the distinctive designation thereof;

 

(ii) The dividend rate on the shares of such series, whether or not dividends on the shares of such series shall be cumulative, and the date or dates, if any, from which dividends thereon shall be cumulative;

 

(iii) Whether or not the share of such series shall be redeemable, and, if redeemable, the date or dates upon or after which they shall be redeemable, the amount or amounts per share (which shall be, in the case of each share, not less than its preference upon involuntary liquidation, plus an amount equal to all dividends thereon accrued and unpaid, whether or not earned or declared) payable thereon in the case of the redemption thereof, which amount may vary at different redemption dates or otherwise as permitted by law;

 

(iv) The right, if any, of holders of shares of such series to convert the same into, or exchange the same for, Common Stock or other stock as permitted by law, and the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange, as well as provisions for adjustment of the conversion rate in such events as the Board of Directors shall determine;

 

(v) The amount per share payable on the shares of such series upon the voluntary and involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation;


(vi) Whether the holders of shares of such series shall have voting power, full or limited, in addition to the voting powers provided by law and, in case additional voting powers are accorded, to fix the extent thereof; and

 

(vii) Generally to fix the other rights and privileges and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such rights and privileges of such series, provided, however, that no such rights, privileges, qualifications, limitations or restrictions shall be in conflict with the organization certificate of the corporation or with the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the issue of any series of which there are shares outstanding.

 

All shares of Series Preferred Stock of the same series shall be identical in all respects, except that shares of any one series issued at different times may differ as to dates, if any, from which dividends thereon may accumulate. All shares of Series Preferred Stock of all series shall be of equal rank and shall be identical in all respects except that to the extent not otherwise limited in this Article III any series may differ from any other series with respect to any one or more of the designations, relative rights, preferences and limitations described or referred to in subparagraphs (I) to (vii) inclusive above.

 

2. Dividends: Dividends on the outstanding Series Preferred Stock of each series shall be declared and paid or set apart for payment before any dividends shall be declared and paid or set apart for payment on the Common Stock with respect to the same quarterly dividend period. Dividends on any shares of Series Preferred Stock shall be cumulative only if and to the extent set forth in a certificate filed pursuant to law. After dividends on all shares of Series Preferred Stock (including cumulative dividends if and to the extent any such shares shall be entitled thereto) shall have been declared and paid or set apart for payment with respect to any quarterly dividend period, then and not otherwise so long as any shares of Series Preferred Stock shall remain outstanding, dividends may be declared and paid or set apart for payment with respect to the same quarterly dividend period on the Common Stock out the assets or funds of the corporation legally available therefor.

 

All Shares of Series Preferred Stock of all series shall be of equal rank, preference and priority as to dividends irrespective of whether or not the rates of dividends to which the same shall be entitled shall be the same and when the stated dividends are not paid in full, the shares of all series of the Series Preferred Stock shall share ratably in the payment thereof in accordance with the sums which would be payable on such shares if all dividends were paid in full, provided, however, that any two or more series of the Series Preferred Stock may differ from each other as to the existence and extent of the right to cumulative dividends, as aforesaid.

 

3. Voting Rights: Except as otherwise specifically provided in the certificate filed pursuant to law with respect to any series of the Series Preferred Stock, or as otherwise provided by law, the Series Preferred Stock shall not have any right to vote for the election of directors or for any other purpose and the Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and for all other purposes.

 

4. Liquidation: In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, each series of Series Preferred Stock shall have preference and priority over the Common Stock for payment of the amount to which each outstanding series of Series Preferred Stock shall be entitled in accordance with the provisions thereof and each holder of Series Preferred Stock shall be entitled to be paid in full such amount, or have a sum sufficient for the payment in full set aside, before any payments shall be made to the holders of the Common Stock. If, upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation, the assets of the corporation or proceeds thereof, distributable among the holders of the shares of all series of the Series Preferred Stock shall be insufficient to pay in full the preferential amount aforesaid, then such assets, or the proceeds thereof, shall be distributed among such holders ratably in accordance with the respective amounts which would be payable if all amounts payable thereon were paid in full. After the payment to the holders of Series Preferred Stock of all such amounts to which they are entitled, as above provided, the remaining assets and funds of the corporation shall be divided and paid to the holders of the Common Stock.

 

5. Redemption: In the event that the Series Preferred Stock of any series shall be made redeemable as provided in clause (iii) of paragraph 1 of section (b) of this Article III, the corporation, at the option of the Board of Directors, may redeem at any time or times, and from time to time, all or any part of any one or more series of Series Preferred Stock outstanding by paying for each share the then applicable redemption price fixed by the Board of Directors as provided herein, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends to the date fixed for redemption, upon such notice and terms as may be specifically provided in the certificate filed pursuant to law with respect to the series.


6. Preemptive Rights: No holder of Series Preferred Stock of the corporation shall be entitled, as such, as a matter or right, to subscribe for or purchase any part of any new or additional issue of stock of any class or series whatsoever, any rights or options to purchase stock of any class or series whatsoever, or any securities convertible into, exchangeable for or carrying rights or options to purchase stock of any class or series whatsoever, whether now or hereafter authorized, and whether issued for cash or other consideration, or by way of dividend.

 

(c) Provisions relating to Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A. (Liquidation value $1,000,000 per share.)

 

1. Designation: The distinctive designation of the series established hereby shall be “Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A” (hereinafter called “Series A Preferred Stock”).

 

2. Number: The number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall initially be 250 shares. Shares of Series A Preferred Stock redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired by the corporation shall be cancelled and shall revert to authorized but unissued Series Preferred Stock undesignated as to series.

 

3. Dividends:

 

(a) Dividend Payments Dates. Holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive non-cumulative cash dividends when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors of the corporation, out of funds legally available therefor, from the date of original issuance of such shares (the “Issue Date”) and such dividends will be payable on March 28, June 28, September 28 and December 28 of each year (“Dividend Payment Date”) commencing September 28, 1990, at a rate per annum as determined in paragraph 3(b) below. The period beginning on the Issue Date and ending on the day preceding the first Dividend Payment Date and each successive period beginning on a Dividend Payment Date and ending on the date preceding the next succeeding Dividend Payment Date is herein called a “Dividend Period”. If any Dividend Payment Date shall be, in The City of New York, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions are authorized by law to close, then payment will be postponed to the next succeeding business day with the same force and effect as if made on the Dividend Payment Date, and no interest shall accrue for such Dividend Period after such Dividend Payment Date.

 

(b) Dividend Rate. The dividend rate from time to time payable in respect of Series A Preferred Stock (the “Dividend Rate”) shall be determined on the basis of the following provisions:

 

(i) On the Dividend Determination Date, LIBOR will be determined on the basis of the offered rates for deposits in U.S. dollars having a maturity of three months commencing on the second London Business Day immediately following such Dividend Determination Date, as such rates appear on the Reuters Screen LIBO Page as of 11:00 A.M. London time, on such Dividend Determination Date. If at least two such offered rates appear on the Reuters Screen LIBO Page, LIBOR in respect of such Dividend Determination Dates will be the arithmetic mean (rounded to the nearest one-hundredth of a percent, with five one-thousandths of a percent rounded upwards) of such offered rates. If fewer than those offered rates appear, LIBOR in respect of such Dividend Determination Date will be determined as described in paragraph (ii) below.

 

(ii) On any Dividend Determination Date on which fewer than those offered rates for the applicable maturity appear on the Reuters Screen LIBO Page as specified in paragraph (I) above, LIBOR will be determined on the basis of the rates at which deposits in U.S. dollars having a maturity of three months commencing on the second London Business Day immediately following such Dividend Determination Date and in a principal amount of not less than $1,000,000 that is representative of a single transaction in such market at such time are offered by three major banks in the London interbank market selected by the corporation at approximately 11:00 A.M., London time, on such Dividend Determination Date to prime banks in the London market. The corporation will request the principal London office of each of such banks to provide a quotation of its rate. If at least two such quotations are provided, LIBOR in respect of such Dividend Determination Date will be the arithmetic mean (rounded to the nearest one-hundredth of a percent, with five one-thousandths of a percent rounded upwards) of such quotations. If fewer than two quotations are provided, LIBOR in respect of such Dividend Determination Date will be the arithmetic


mean (rounded to the nearest one-hundredth of a percent, with five one-thousandths of a percent rounded upwards) of the rates quoted by three major banks in New York City selected by the corporation at approximately 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on such Dividend Determination Date for loans in U.S. dollars to leading European banks having a maturity of three months commencing on the second London Business Day immediately following such Dividend Determination Date and in a principal amount of not less than $1,000,000 that is representative of a single transaction in such market at such time; provided, however, that if the banks selected as aforesaid by the corporation are not quoting as aforementioned in this sentence, then, with respect to such Dividend Period, LIBOR for the preceding Dividend Period will be continued as LIBOR for such Dividend Period.

 

(ii) The Dividend Rate for any Dividend Period shall be equal to the lower of 18% or 50 basis points above LIBOR for such Dividend Period as LIBOR is determined by sections (I) or (ii) above.

 

As used above, the term “Dividend Determination Date” shall mean, with respect to any Dividend Period, the second London Business Day prior to the commencement of such Dividend Period; and the term “London Business Day” shall mean any day that is not a Saturday or Sunday and that, in New York City, is not a day on which banking institutions generally are authorized or required by law or executive order to close and that is a day on which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market.

 

4. Voting Rights: The holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall have the voting power and rights set forth in this paragraph 4 and shall have no other voting power or rights except as otherwise may from time to time be required by law.

 

So long as any shares of Series A Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the corporation shall not, without the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least a majority of the votes of the Series Preferred Stock entitled to vote outstanding at the time, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or by resolution adopted at a meeting at which the holders of Series A Preferred Stock (alone or together with the holders of one or more other series of Series Preferred Stock at the time outstanding and entitled to vote) vote separately as a class, alter the provisions of the Series Preferred Stock so as to materially adversely affect its rights; provided, however, that in the event any such materially adverse alteration affects the rights of only the Series A Preferred Stock, then the alteration may be effected with the vote or consent of at least a majority of the votes of the Series A Preferred Stock; provided, further, that an increase in the amount of the authorized Series Preferred Stock and/or the creation and/or issuance of other series of Series Preferred Stock in accordance with the organization certificate shall not be, nor be deemed to be, materially adverse alterations. In connection with the exercise of the voting rights contained in the preceding sentence, holders of all series of Series Preferred Stock which are granted such voting rights (of which the Series A Preferred Stock is the initial series) shall vote as a class (except as specifically provided otherwise) and each holder of Series A Preferred Stock shall have one vote for each share of stock held and each other series shall have such number of votes, if any, for each share of stock held as may be granted to them.

 

The foregoing voting provisions will not apply if, in connection with the matters specified, provision is made for the redemption or retirement of all outstanding Series A Preferred Stock.

 

5. Liquidation: Subject to the provisions of section (b) of this Article III, upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall have preference and priority over the Common Stock for payment out of the assets of the corporation or proceeds thereof, whether from capital or surplus, of $1,000,000 per share (the “liquidation value”) together with the amount of all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon, and after such payment the holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to no other payments.

 

6. Redemption: Subject to the provisions of section (b) of this Article III, Series A Preferred Stock may be redeemed, at the option of the corporation in whole or part, at any time or from time to time at a redemption price of $1,000,000 per share, in each case plus accrued and unpaid dividends to the date of redemption.

 

At the option of the corporation, shares of Series A Preferred Stock redeemed or otherwise acquired may be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of Series Preferred Stock.


In the case of any redemption, the corporation shall give notice of such redemption to the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed in the following manner: a notice specifying the shares to be redeemed and the time and place of redemption (and, if less than the total outstanding shares are to be redeemed, specifying the certificate numbers and number of shares to be redeemed) shall be mailed by first class mail, addressed to the holders of record of the Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed at their respective addresses as the same shall appear upon the books of the corporation, not more than sixty (60) days and not less than thirty (30) days previous to the date fixed for redemption. In the event such notice is not given to any shareholder such failure to give notice shall not affect the notice given to other shareholders. If less than the whole amount of outstanding Series A Preferred Stock is to be redeemed, the shares to be redeemed shall be selected by lot or pro rata in any manner determined by resolution of the Board of Directors to be fair and proper. From and after the date fixed in any such notice as the date of redemption (unless default shall be made by the corporation in providing moneys at the time and place of redemption for the payment of the redemption price) all dividends upon the Series A Preferred Stock so called for redemption shall cease to accrue, and all rights of the holders of said Series A Preferred Stock as stockholders in the corporation, except the right to receive the redemption price (without interest) upon surrender of the certificate representing the Series A Preferred Stock so called for redemption, duly endorsed for transfer, if required, shall cease and terminate. The corporation’s obligation to provide moneys in accordance with the preceding sentence shall be deemed fulfilled if, on or before the redemption date, the corporation shall deposit with a bank or trust company (which may be an affiliate of the corporation) having an office in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York, having a capital and surplus of at least $5,000,000 funds necessary for such redemption, in trust with irrevocable instructions that such funds be applied to the redemption of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock so called for redemption. Any interest accrued on such funds shall be paid to the corporation from time to time. Any funds so deposited and unclaimed at the end of two (2) years from such redemption date shall be released or repaid to the corporation, after which the holders of such shares of Series A Preferred Stock so called for redemption shall look only to the corporation for payment of the redemption price.

 

IV. The name, residence and post office address of each member of the corporation are as follows:

 

Name


  

Residence


 

Post Office Address


James A. Blair

  

9 West 50th Street,
Manhattan, New York City

 

33 Wall Street, Manhattan, New York City

James G. Cannon

  

72 East 54th Street,
Manhattan New York City

 

14 Nassau Street, Manhattan, New York City

E. C. Converse

  

3 East 78th Street,
Manhattan, New York City

 

139 Broadway, Manhattan, New York City

Henry P. Davison

  

Englewood,
New Jersey

 

2 Wall Street, Manhattan, New York City

Granville W. Garth

  

160 West 57th Street,
Manhattan, New York City

 

33 Wall Street Manhattan, New York City

A. Barton Hepburn

  

205 West 57th Street
Manhattan, New York City

 

83 Cedar Street Manhattan, New York City

William Logan

  

Montclair,
New Jersey

 

13 Nassau Street Manhattan, New York City

George W. Perkins

  

Riverdale,
New York

 

23 Wall Street, Manhattan, New York City

William H. Porter

  

56 East 67th Street
Manhattan, New York City

 

270 Broadway, Manhattan, New York City

John F. Thompson

  

Newark,
New Jersey

 

143 Liberty Street, Manhattan, New York City


Albert H. Wiggin

  

42 West 49th Street,
Manhattan, New York City

 

214 Broadway, Manhattan, New York City

Samuel Woolverton

  

Mount Vernon,
New York

 

34 Wall Street, Manhattan, New York City

Edward F.C. Young

  

85 Glenwood Avenue,
Jersey City, New Jersey

 

1 Exchange Place, Jersey City, New Jersey

 

V. The existence of the corporation shall be perpetual.

 

VI. The subscribers, the members of the said corporation, do, and each for himself does, hereby declare that he will accept the responsibilities and faithfully discharge the duties of a director therein, if elected to act as such, when authorized accordance with the provisions of the Banking Law of the State of New York.

 

VII. The number of directors of the corporation shall not be less than 10 nor more than 25.”

 

4. The foregoing restatement of the organization certificate was authorized by the Board of Directors of the corporation at a meeting held on July 21, 1998.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have made and subscribed this certificate this 6th day of August, 1998.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have made and subscribed this certificate this 6th day of August, 1998.

 

James T. Byrne, Jr.


James T. Byrne, Jr.
Managing Director and Secretary

Lea Lahtinen


Lea Lahtinen
Vice President and Assistant Secretary

Lea Lahtinen


Lea Lahtinen


State of New York

  

)

    

) ss:

County of New York

  

)

 

Lea Lahtinen, being duly sworn, deposes and says that she is a Vice President and an Assistant Secretary of Bankers Trust Company, the corporation described in the foregoing certificate; that she has read the foregoing certificate and knows the contents thereof, and that the statements herein contained are true.

 

Lea Lahtinen


Lea Lahtinen

 

Sworn to before me this

6th day of August, 1998.

 

Sandra L. West


Notary Public

 

SANDRA L. WEST

Notary Public State of New York

No. 31-4942101

Qualified in New York County

Commission Expires September 19, 1998


State of New York,

 

Banking Department

 

I, MANUEL KURSKY, Deputy Superintendent of Banks of the State of New York, DO HEREBY APPROVE the annexed Certificate entitled “RESTATED ORGANIZATION CERTIFICATE OF BANKERS TRUST COMPANY Under Section 8007 of the Banking Law,” dated August 6, 1998, providing for the restatement of the Organization Certificate and all amendments into a single certificate.

 

Witness, my hand and official seal of the Banking Department at the City of New York, this 31st day of August in the Year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight.

 

Manuel Kursky


Deputy Superintendent of Banks


CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

 

OF THE

 

ORGANIZATION CERTIFICATE

 

OF BANKERS TRUST

 

Under Section 8005 of the Banking Law

 


 

We, James T. Byrne, Jr. and Lea Lahtinen, being respectively a Managing Director and Secretary and a Vice President and an Assistant Secretary of Bankers Trust Company, do hereby certify:

 

1. The name of the corporation is Bankers Trust Company.

 

2. The organization certificate of said corporation was filed by the Superintendent of Banks on the 5th of March, 1903.

 

3. The organization certificate as heretofore amended is hereby amended to increase the aggregate number of shares which the corporation shall have authority to issue and to increase the amount of its authorized capital stock in conformity therewith.

 

4. Article III of the organization certificate with reference to the authorized capital stock, the number of shares into which the capital stock shall be divided, the par value of the shares and the capital stock outstanding, which reads as follows:

 

“III. The amount of capital stock which the corporation is hereafter to have is Three Billion, One Million, Six Hundred Sixty-Six Thousand, Six Hundred Seventy Dollars ($3,001,666,670), divided into Two Hundred Million, One Hundred Sixty-Six Thousand, Six Hundred Sixty-Seven (200,166,667) shares with a par value of $10 each designated as Common Stock and 1000 shares with a par value of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) each designated as Series Preferred Stock.”

 

is hereby amended to read as follows:

 

“III. The amount of capital stock which the corporation is hereafter to have is Three Billion, Five Hundred One Million, Six Hundred Sixty-Six Thousand, Six Hundred Seventy Dollars ($3,501,666,670), divided into Two Hundred Million, One Hundred Sixty-Six Thousand, Six Hundred Sixty-Seven (200,166,667) shares with a par value of $10 each designated as Common Stock and 1500 shares with a par value of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) each designated as Series Preferred Stock.”


5. The foregoing amendment of the organization certificate was authorized by unanimous written consent signed by the holder of all outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have made and subscribed this certificate this 25th day of September, 1998

 

James T. Byrne, Jr.


James T. Byrne, Jr.
Managing Director and Secretary

Lea Lahtinen


Lea Lahtinen
Vice President and Assistant Secretary

 

State of New York

 

)

   

) ss:

County of New York

 

)

 

Lea Lahtinen, being fully sworn, deposes and says that she is a Vice President and an Assistant Secretary of Bankers Trust Company, the corporation described in the foregoing certificate; that she has read the foregoing certificate and knows the contents thereof, and that the statements herein contained are true.

 

Lea Lahtinen


Lea Lahtinen

 

Sworn to before me this 25th day

of September, 1998

 

Sandra L. West


Notary Public
SANDRA L. WEST

Notary Public State of New York

No. 31-4942101

Qualified in New York County

Commission Expires September 19, 2000


State of New York,

 

Banking Department

 

I, P. VINCENT CONLON, Deputy Superintendent of Banks of the State of New York, DO HEREBY APPROVE the annexed Certificate entitled “CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION CERTIFICATE OF BANKERS TRUST COMPANY Under Section 8005 of the Banking Law,” dated December 16, 1998, providing for an increase in authorized capital stock from $3,501,666,670 consisting of 200,166,667 shares with a par value of $10 each designated as Common Stock and 1,500 shares with a par value of $1,000,000 each designated as Series Preferred Stock to $3,627,308,670 consisting of 212,730,867 shares with a par value of $10 each designated as Common Stock and 1,500 shares with a par value of $1,000,000 each designated as Series Preferred Stock.

 

Witness, my hand and official seal of the Banking Department at the City of New York, this 18th day of December in the Year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight.

 

P. Vincent Conlon


Deputy Superintendent of Banks


CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

 

OF THE

 

ORGANIZATION CERTIFICATE

 

OF BANKERS TRUST

 

Under Section 8005 of the Banking Law

 


 

We, James T. Byrne, Jr. and Lea Lahtinen, being respectively a Managing Director and Secretary and a Vice President and an Assistant Secretary of Bankers Trust Company, do hereby certify:

 

1. The name of the corporation is Bankers Trust Company.

 

2. The organization certificate of said corporation was filed by the Superintendent of Banks on the 5th of March, 1903.

 

3. The organization certificate as heretofore amended is hereby amended to increase the aggregate number of shares which the corporation shall have authority to issue and to increase the amount of its authorized capital stock in conformity therewith.

 

4. Article III of the organization certificate with reference to the authorized capital stock, the number of shares into which the capital stock shall be divided, the par value of the shares and the capital stock outstanding, which reads as follows:

 

“III. The amount of capital stock which the corporation is hereafter to have is Three Billion, Five Hundred One Million, Six Hundred Sixty-Six Thousand, Six Hundred Seventy Dollars ($3,501,666,670), divided into Two Hundred Million, One Hundred Sixty-Six Thousand, Six Hundred Sixty-Seven (200,166,667) shares with a par value of $10 each designated as Common Stock and 1500 shares with a par value of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) each designated as Series Preferred Stock.”

 

is hereby amended to read as follows:

 

“III. The amount of capital stock which the corporation is hereafter to have is Three Billion, Six Hundred Twenty-Seven Million, Three Hundred Eight Thousand, Six Hundred Seventy Dollars ($3,627,308,670), divided into Two Hundred Twelve Million, Seven Hundred Thirty Thousand, Eight Hundred Sixty- Seven (212,730,867) shares with a par value of $10 each designated as Common Stock and 1500 shares with a par value of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) each designated as Series Preferred Stock.”


5. The foregoing amendment of the organization certificate was authorized by unanimous written consent signed by the holder of all outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have made and subscribed this certificate this 16th day of December, 1998

 

James T. Byrne, Jr.


James T. Byrne, Jr.
Managing Director and Secretary

Lea Lahtinen


Lea Lahtinen
Vice President and Assistant Secretary

 

State of New York

 

)

   

) ss:

County of New York

 

)

 

Lea Lahtinen, being fully sworn, deposes and says that she is a Vice President and an Assistant Secretary of Bankers Trust Company, the corporation described in the foregoing certificate; that she has read the foregoing certificate and knows the contents thereof, and that the statements herein contained are true.

 

Lea Lahtinen


Lea Lahtinen

 

Sworn to before me this 16th day

of December, 1998

 

Sandra L. West


Notary Public
SANDRA L. WEST

Notary Public State of New York

No. 31-4942101

Qualified in New York County

Commission Expires September 19, 2000


BANKERS TRUST COMPANY

 

ASSISTANT SECRETARY’S CERTIFICATE

 

I, Lea Lahtinen, Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Bankers Trust Company, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, the United States of America, do hereby certify that attached copy of the Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company, dated February 27, 2002, providing for a change of name of Bankers Trust Company to Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas and approved by the New York State Banking Department on March 14, 2002 to effective on April 15, 2002, is a true and correct copy of the original Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company on file in the Banking Department, State of New York.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of Bankers Trust Company this 4th day of April, 2002.

 

[SEAL]

 

/s/ Lea Lahtinen


Lea Lahtinen, Vice President and Assistant Secretary

Bankers Trust Company

 

State of New York

 

)

   

)            ss.:

County of New York

 

)

 

On the 4th day of April in the year 2002 before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for said state, personally appeared Lea Lahtinen, personally known to me or proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the individual whose name is subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged to me that she executed the same in her capacity, and that by her signature on the instrument, the individual, or the person on behalf of which the individual acted, executed the instrument.

 

/s/ Sonja K. Olsen


Notary Public

 

SONJA K. OLSEN

Notary Public, State of New York

No. 01OL4974457

Qualified in New York County

Commission Expires November 13, 2002


State of New York,

 

Banking Department

 

I, P. VINCENT CONLON, Deputy Superintendent of Banks of the State of New York, DO HEREBY APPROVE the annexed Certificate entitled “CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION CERTIFICATE OF BANKERS TRUST COMPANY under Section 8005 of the Banking Law” dated February 27, 2002, providing for a change of name of BANKERS TRUST COMPANY to DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS.

 

Witness, my hand and official seal of the Banking Department at the City of New York, this 14th day of March two thousand and two.

 

/s/ P. Vincent Conlon


Deputy Superintendent of Banks


CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

 

OF THE

 

ORGANIZATION CERTIFICATE

 

OF

 

BANKERS TRUST COMPANY

 

Under Section 8005 of the Banking Law

 


 

We, James T. Byrne Jr., and Lea Lahtinen, being respectively the Secretary, and Vice President and an Assistant Secretary of Bankers Trust Company, do hereby certify:

 

1. The name of corporation is Bankers Trust Company.

 

2. The organization certificate of said corporation was filed by the Superintendent of Banks on the 5th day of March, 1903.

 

3. Pursuant to Section 8005 of the Banking Law, attached hereto as Exhibit A is a certificate issued by the State of New York, Banking Department listing all of the amendments to the Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company since its organization that have been filed in the Office of the Superintendent of Banks.

 

4. The organization certificate as heretofore amended is hereby amended to change the name of Bankers Trust Company to Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas to be effective on April 15, 2002.

 

5. The first paragraph number 1 of the organization of Bankers Trust Company with the reference to the name of the Bankers Trust Company, which reads as follows:

 

“1. The name of the corporation is Bankers Trust Company.”

 

is hereby amended to read as follows effective on April 15, 2002:

 

“1. The name of the corporation is Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas.”


6. The foregoing amendment of the organization certificate was authorized by unanimous written consent signed by the holder of all outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have made and subscribed this certificate this 27th day of February, 2002.

 

/s/ James T. Byrne Jr.


James T. Byrne Jr.

Secretary

/s/ Lea Lahtinen


Lea Lahtinen

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

 

State of New York

 

)

   

)            ss.:

County of New York

 

)

 

Lea Lahtinen, being duly sworn, deposes and says that she is a Vice President and an Assistant Secretary of Bankers Trust Company, the corporation described in the foregoing certificate; that she has read the foregoing certificate and knows the contents thereof, and that the statements therein contained are true.

 

/s/ Lea Lahtinen


Lea Lahtinen

 

Sworn to before me this 27th day

of February, 2002

 

/s/ Sandra L. West


Notary Public

 

SANDRA L. WEST

Notary Public, State of New York

No. 01WE4942401

Qualified in New York County

Commission Expires September 19, 2002

 

–2–


EXHIBIT A

 

State of New York

 

Banking Department

 

I, P. VINCENT CONLON, Deputy Superintendent of Banks of the State of New York, DO HEREBY CERTIFY:

 

THAT, the records in the Office of the Superintendent of Banks indicate that BANKERS TRUST COMPANY is a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York as a trust company, pursuant to Article III of the Banking Law; and

 

THAT, the Organization Certificate of BANKERS TRUST COMPANY was filed in the Office of the Superintendent of Banks on March 5, 1903, and such corporation was authorized to commence business on March 24, 1903; and

 

THAT, the following amendments to its Organization Certificate have been filed in the Office of the Superintendent of Banks as of the dates specified:

 

Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing for an increase in number of directors - filed on January 14, 1905

 

Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing for an increase in capital stock - filed on August 4, 1909

 

Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing for an increase in number of directors - filed on February 1, 1911

 

Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing for an increase in number of directors - filed on June 17, 1911

 

Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing for an increase in capital stock - filed on August 8, 1911

 

Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing for an increase in number of directors - filed on August 8, 1911

 

Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing for an increase in capital stock - filed on March 21, 1912

 

Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing for a decrease in number of directors - filed on January 15, 1915

 

–1–


Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing for a decrease in number of directors - - filed on December 18, 1916

 

Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing for an increase in capital stock - filed on April 20, 1917

 

Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing for an increase in number of directors - filed on April 20, 1917

 

Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing for an increase in capital stock - filed on December 28, 1918

 

Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing for an increase in capital stock - filed on December 4, 1919

 

Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing for an increase in number of directors - filed on January 15, 1926

 

Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing for an increase in capital stock - filed on June 12, 1928

 

Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing for a change in shares - filed on April 4, 1929

 

Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing for a minimum and maximum number of directors - filed on January 11, 1934

 

Certificate of Extension to perpetual - filed on January 13, 1941

 

Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing for a minimum and maximum number of directors - filed on January 13, 1941

 

Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing for an increase in capital stock - filed on December 11, 1944

 

Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing for an increase in capital stock - filed January 30, 1953

 

Restated Certificate of Incorporation - filed November 6, 1953

 

Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing for an increase in capital stock - filed on April 8, 1955

 

–2–


Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing for an increase in capital stock - filed on February 1, 1960

 

Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing for an increase in capital stock - filed on July 14, 1960

 

Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing for a change in shares - filed on September 30, 1960

 

Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing for an increase in capital stock - filed on January 26, 1962

 

Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing for a change in shares - filed on September 9, 1963

 

Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing for an increase in capital stock - filed on February 7, 1964

 

Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing for an increase in capital stock - filed on February 24, 1965

 

Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing for a decrease in capital stock - filed January 24, 1967

 

Restated Organization Certificate - filed June 1, 1971

 

Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing for an increase in capital stock - filed October 29, 1976

 

Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing for an increase in capital stock - filed December 22, 1977

 

Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing for an increase in capital stock - filed August 5, 1980

 

Restated Organization Certificate - filed July 1, 1982

 

Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing for an increase in capital stock - filed December 27, 1984

 

Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing for an increase in capital stock - filed September 18, 1986

 

–3–


Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing for a minimum and maximum number of directors - filed January 22, 1990

 

Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing for an increase in capital stock - filed June 28, 1990

 

Restated Organization Certificate - filed August 20, 1990

 

Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing for an increase in capital stock - filed June 26, 1992

 

Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing for an increase in capital stock - filed March 28, 1994

 

Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing for an increase in capital stock - filed June 23, 1995

 

Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing for an increase in capital stock - filed December 27, 1995

 

Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing for an increase in capital stock - filed March 21, 1996

 

Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing for an increase in capital stock - filed December 27, 1996

 

Certificate of Amendment to the Organization Certificate providing for an increase in capital stock - filed June 27, 1997

 

Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing for an increase in capital stock - filed September 26, 1997

 

Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing for an increase in capital stock - filed December 29, 1997

 

Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing for an increase in capital stock - filed March 26, 1998

 

Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing for an increase in capital stock - filed June 23, 1998

 

–4–


Restated Organization Certificate - filed August 31, 1998

 

Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing for an increase in capital stock - filed September 25, 1998

 

Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing for an increase in capital stock - filed December 18, 1998; and

 

Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing for a change in the number of directors - filed September 3, 1999; and

 

THAT, no amendments to its Restated Organization Certificate have been filed in the Office of the Superintendent of Banks except those set forth above; and attached hereto; and

 

I DO FURTHER CERTIFY THAT, BANKERS TRUST COMPANY is validly existing as a banking organization with its principal office and place of business located at 130 Liberty Street, New York, New York.

 

WITNESS, my hand and official seal of the Banking Department at the City of New York this 16th day of October in the Year Two Thousand and One.

 

/s/ P. Vincent Conlon


Deputy Superintendent of Banks

 

–5–


DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS

 

BY-LAWS

 

APRIL 15, 2002

 

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

 

New York

 

–6–


BY-LAWS

of

 

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

 

ARTICLE I

 

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

SECTION 1. The annual meeting of the stockholders of this Company shall be held at the office of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York, in January of each year, for the election of directors and such other business as may properly come before said meeting.

 

SECTION 2. Special meetings of stockholders other than those regulated by statute may be called at any time by a majority of the directors. It shall be the duty of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Co-President to call such meetings whenever requested in writing to do so by stockholders owning a majority of the capital stock.

 

SECTION 3. At all meetings of stockholders, there shall be present, either in person or by proxy, stockholders owning a majority of the capital stock of the Company, in order to constitute a quorum, except at special elections of directors, as provided by law, but less than a quorum shall have power to adjourn any meeting.

 

SECTION 4. The Chairman of the Board or, in his absence, the Chief Executive Officer or, in his absence, the President or any Co-President or, in their absence, the senior officer present, shall preside at meetings of the stockholders and shall direct the proceedings and the order of business. The Secretary shall act as secretary of such meetings and record the proceedings.

 

ARTICLE II

 

DIRECTORS

 

SECTION 1. The affairs of the Company shall be managed and its corporate powers exercised by a Board of Directors consisting of such number of directors, but not less than seven nor more than fifteen, as may from time to time be fixed by resolution adopted by a majority of the directors then in office, or by the stockholders. In the event of any increase in the number of directors, additional directors may be elected within the limitations so fixed, either by the stockholders or within the limitations imposed by law, by a majority of directors then in office. One-third of the number of directors, as fixed from time to time, shall constitute a quorum. Any one or more members of the Board of Directors or any Committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or Committee thereof by means of a conference telephone, video conference or similar communications equipment which allows all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at such a meeting.

 

All directors hereafter elected shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the stockholders and until their successors are elected and have qualified.

 

–7–


No Officer-Director who shall have attained age 65, or earlier relinquishes his responsibilities and title, shall be eligible to serve as a director.

 

SECTION 2. Vacancies not exceeding one-third of the whole number of the Board of Directors may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, and the directors so elected shall hold office for the balance of the unexpired term.

 

SECTION 3. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at meetings of the Board of Directors. In his absence, the Chief Executive Officer or, in his absence the President or any Co-President or, in their absence such other director as the Board of Directors from time to time may designate shall preside at such meetings.

 

SECTION 4. The Board of Directors may adopt such Rules and Regulations for the conduct of its meetings and the management of the affairs of the Company as it may deem proper, not inconsistent with the laws of the State of New York, or these By-Laws, and all officers and employees shall strictly adhere to, and be bound by, such Rules and Regulations.

 

SECTION 5. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held from time to time provided, however, that the Board of Directors shall hold a regular meeting not less than six times a year, provided that during any three consecutive calendar months the Board of Directors shall meet at least once, and its Executive Committee shall not be required to meet at least once in each thirty day period during which the Board of Directors does not meet. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called upon at least two day’s notice whenever it may be deemed proper by the Chairman of the Board or, the Chief Executive Officer or, the President or any Co-President or, in their absence, by such other director as the Board of Directors may have designated pursuant to Section 3 of this Article, and shall be called upon like notice whenever any three of the directors so request in writing.

 

SECTION 6. The compensation of directors as such or as members of committees shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE III

 

COMMITTEES

 

SECTION 1. There shall be an Executive Committee of the Board consisting of not less than five directors who shall be appointed annually by the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at meetings of the Executive Committee. In his absence, the Chief Executive Officer or, in his absence, the President or any Co-President or, in their absence, such other member of the Committee as the Committee from time to time may designate shall preside at such meetings.

 

The Executive Committee shall possess and exercise to the extent permitted by law all of the powers of the Board of Directors, except when the latter is in session, and shall keep minutes of its proceedings, which shall be presented to the Board of Directors at its next subsequent meeting. All acts done and powers and authority conferred by the Executive Committee from time to time shall be and be deemed to be, and may be certified as being, the act and under the authority of the Board of Directors.

 

–8–


A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, but the Committee may act only by the concurrent vote of not less than one-third of its members, at least one of who must be a director other than an officer. Any one or more directors, even though not members of the Executive Committee, may attend any meeting of the Committee, and the member or members of the Committee present, even though less than a quorum, may designate any one or more of such directors as a substitute or substitutes for any absent member or members of the Committee, and each such substitute or substitutes shall be counted for quorum, voting, and all other purposes as a member or members of the Committee.

 

SECTION 2. There shall be an Audit Committee appointed annually by resolution adopted by a majority of the entire Board of Directors which shall consist of such number of directors, who are not also officers of the Company, as may from time to time be fixed by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors. The Chairman shall be designated by the Board of Directors, who shall also from time to time fix a quorum for meetings of the Committee. Such Committee shall conduct the annual directors’ examinations of the Company as required by the New York State Banking Law; shall review the reports of all examinations made of the Company by public authorities and report thereon to the Board of Directors; and shall report to the Board of Directors such other matters as it deems advisable with respect to the Company, its various departments and the conduct of its operations.

 

In the performance of its duties, the Audit Committee may employ or retain, from time to time, expert assistants, independent of the officers or personnel of the Company, to make studies of the Company’s assets and liabilities as the Committee may request and to make an examination of the accounting and auditing methods of the Company and its system of internal protective controls to the extent considered necessary or advisable in order to determine that the operations of the Company, including its fiduciary departments, are being audited by the General Auditor in such a manner as to provide prudent and adequate protection. The Committee also may direct the General Auditor to make such investigation as it deems necessary or advisable with respect to the Company, its various departments and the conduct of its operations. The Committee shall hold regular quarterly meetings and during the intervals thereof shall meet at other times on call of the Chairman.

 

SECTION 3. The Board of Directors shall have the power to appoint any other Committees as may seem necessary, and from time to time to suspend or continue the powers and duties of such Committees. Each Committee appointed pursuant to this Article shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.

 

–9–


ARTICLE IV

 

OFFICERS

 

SECTION 1. The Board of Directors shall elect from among their number a Chairman of the Board and a Chief Executive Officer; and shall also elect a President, or two or more Co-Presidents, and may also elect, one or more Vice Chairmen, one or more Executive Vice Presidents, one or more Managing Directors, one or more Senior Vice Presidents, one or more Directors, one or more Vice Presidents, one or more General Managers, a Secretary, a Controller, a Treasurer, a General Counsel, a General Auditor, a General Credit Auditor, who need not be directors. The officers of the corporation may also include such other officers or assistant officers as shall from time to time be elected or appointed by the Board. The Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer or, in their absence, the President or any Co-President, or any Vice Chairman, may from time to time appoint assistant officers. All officers elected or appointed by the Board of Directors shall hold their respective offices during the pleasure of the Board of Directors, and all assistant officers shall hold office at the pleasure of the Board or the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer or, in their absence, the President, or any Co-President or any Vice Chairman. The Board of Directors may require any and all officers and employees to give security for the faithful performance of their duties.

 

SECTION 2. The Board of Directors shall designate the Chief Executive Officer of the Company who may also hold the additional title of Chairman of the Board, or President, or any Co-President, and such person shall have, subject to the supervision and direction of the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee, all of the powers vested in such Chief Executive Officer by law or by these By-Laws, or which usually attach or pertain to such office. The other officers shall have, subject to the supervision and direction of the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee or the Chairman of the Board or, the Chief Executive Officer, the powers vested by law or by these By-Laws in them as holders of their respective offices and, in addition, shall perform such other duties as shall be assigned to them by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee or the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.

 

The General Auditor shall be responsible, through the Audit Committee, to the Board of Directors for the determination of the program of the internal audit function and the evaluation of the adequacy of the system of internal controls. Subject to the Board of Directors, the General Auditor shall have and may exercise all the powers and shall perform all the duties usual to such office and shall have such other powers as may be prescribed or assigned to him from time to time by the Board of Directors or vested in him by law or by these By-Laws. He shall perform such other duties and shall make such investigations, examinations and reports as may be prescribed or required by the Audit Committee. The General Auditor shall have unrestricted access to all records and premises of the Company and shall delegate such authority to his subordinates. He shall have the duty to report to the Audit Committee on all matters concerning the internal audit program and the adequacy of the system of internal controls of the Company which he deems advisable or which the Audit Committee may request. Additionally, the General Auditor shall have the duty of reporting independently of all officers of the Company to the Audit Committee at least quarterly on any matters concerning the internal audit program and the adequacy of the system of internal controls of the Company that should be brought to the attention of the directors except those matters responsibility for which has been vested in the General Credit Auditor. Should the General Auditor deem any matter to be of special immediate importance, he shall report thereon forthwith to the Audit Committee. The General Auditor shall report to the Chief Financial Officer only for administrative purposes.

 

–10–


The General Credit Auditor shall be responsible to the Chief Executive Officer and, through the Audit Committee, to the Board of Directors for the systems of internal credit audit, shall perform such other duties as the Chief Executive Officer may prescribe, and shall make such examinations and reports as may be required by the Audit Committee. The General Credit Auditor shall have unrestricted access to all records and may delegate such authority to subordinates.

 

SECTION 3. The compensation of all officers shall be fixed under such plan or plans of position evaluation and salary administration as shall be approved from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION 4. The Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or any person authorized for this purpose by the Chief Executive Officer, shall appoint or engage all other employees and agents and fix their compensation. The employment of all such employees and agents shall continue during the pleasure of the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee or the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer or any such authorized person; and the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or any such authorized person may discharge any such employees and agents at will.

 

ARTICLE V

 

INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND OTHERS

 

SECTION 1. The Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Section 7018 of the New York Banking Law, indemnify any person who is or was made, or threatened to be made, a party to an action or proceeding, whether civil or criminal, whether involving any actual or alleged breach of duty, neglect or error, any accountability, or any actual or alleged misstatement, misleading statement or other act or omission and whether brought or threatened in any court or administrative or legislative body or agency, including an action by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor and an action by or in the right of any other corporation of any type or kind, domestic or foreign, or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, which any director or officer of the Company is servicing or served in any capacity at the request of the Company by reason of the fact that he, his testator or intestate, is or was a director or officer of the Company, or is serving or served such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise in any capacity, against judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement, and costs, charges and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, or any appeal therein; provided, however, that no indemnification shall be provided to any such person if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the director or officer establishes that (i) his acts were committed in bad faith or were the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and, in either case, were material to the cause of action so adjudicated, or (ii) he personally gained in fact a financial profit or other advantage to which he was not legally entitled.

 

SECTION 2. The Company may indemnify any other person to whom the Company is permitted to provide indemnification or the advancement of expenses by applicable law, whether pursuant to

 

–11–


rights granted pursuant to, or provided by, the New York Banking Law or other rights created by (i) a resolution of stockholders, (ii) a resolution of directors, or (iii) an agreement providing for such indemnification, it being expressly intended that these By-Laws authorize the creation of other rights in any such manner.

 

SECTION 3. The Company shall, from time to time, reimburse or advance to any person referred to in Section 1 the funds necessary for payment of expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred in connection with any action or proceeding referred to in Section 1, upon receipt of a written undertaking by or on behalf of such person to repay such amount(s) if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the director or officer establishes that (i) his acts were committed in bad faith or were the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and, in either case, were material to the cause of action so adjudicated, or (ii) he personally gained in fact a financial profit or other advantage to which he was not legally entitled.

 

SECTION 4. Any director or officer of the Company serving (i) another corporation, of which a majority of the shares entitled to vote in the election of its directors is held by the Company, or (ii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or any corporation referred to in clause (i) in any capacity shall be deemed to be doing so at the request of the Company. In all other cases, the provisions of this Article V will apply (i) only if the person serving another corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise so served at the specific request of the Company, evidenced by a written communication signed by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Co-President, and (ii) only if and to the extent that, after making such efforts as the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Co-President shall deem adequate in the circumstances, such person shall be unable to obtain indemnification from such other enterprise or its insurer.

 

SECTION 5. Any person entitled to be indemnified or to the reimbursement or advancement of expenses as a matter of right pursuant to this Article V may elect to have the right to indemnification (or advancement of expenses) interpreted on the basis of the applicable law in effect at the time of occurrence of the event or events giving rise to the action or proceeding, to the extent permitted by law, or on the basis of the applicable law in effect at the time indemnification is sought.

 

SECTION 6. The right to be indemnified or to the reimbursement or advancement of expense pursuant to this Article V (i) is a contract right pursuant to which the person entitled thereto may bring suit as if the provisions hereof were set forth in a separate written contract between the Company and the director or officer, (ii) is intended to be retroactive and shall be available with respect to events occurring prior to the adoption hereof, and (iii) shall continue to exist after the rescission or restrictive modification hereof with respect to events occurring prior thereto.

 

SECTION 7. If a request to be indemnified or for the reimbursement or advancement of expenses pursuant hereto is not paid in full by the Company within thirty days after a written claim has been received by the Company, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Company to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, if successful in whole or in part, the claimant shall be entitled also to be paid the expenses of prosecuting such claim. Neither the failure of the Company (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of or reimbursement or advancement of expenses to the claimant is proper in the circumstance, nor an

 

–12–


actual determination by the Company (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the claimant is not entitled to indemnification or to the reimbursement or advancement of expenses, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the claimant is not so entitled.

 

SECTION 8. A person who has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of a civil or criminal action or proceeding of the character described in Section 1 shall be entitled to indemnification only as provided in Sections 1 and 3, notwithstanding any provision of the New York Banking Law to the contrary.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

SEAL

 

SECTION 1. The Board of Directors shall provide a seal for the Company, the counterpart dies of which shall be in the charge of the Secretary of the Company and such officers as the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary may from time to time direct in writing, to be affixed to certificates of stock and other documents in accordance with the directions of the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee.

 

SECTION 2. The Board of Directors may provide, in proper cases on a specified occasion and for a specified transaction or transactions, for the use of a printed or engraved facsimile seal of the Company.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

CAPITAL STOCK

 

SECTION 1. Registration of transfer of shares shall only be made upon the books of the Company by the registered holder in person, or by power of attorney, duly executed, witnessed and filed with the Secretary or other proper officer of the Company, on the surrender of the certificate or certificates of such shares properly assigned for transfer.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

CONSTRUCTION

 

SECTION 1. The masculine gender, when appearing in these By-Laws, shall be deemed to include the feminine gender.

 

–13–


ARTICLE IX

 

AMENDMENTS

 

SECTION 1. These By-Laws may be altered, amended or added to by the Board of Directors at any meeting, or by the stockholders at any annual or special meeting, provided notice thereof has been given.

 

I, Annie Jaghatspanyan, an Assistant Vice President, of Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, New York, New York, hereby certify that the foregoing is a complete, true and correct copy of the By-Laws of Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, and that the same are in full force and effect at this date.

 


Assistant Vice President

 

Dated: March 11, 2005

 

–14–


   

FFIEC 031

Page RC-1

12

 

Consolidated Report of Condition of Insured Commercial and State-Chartered Savings Banks for December 31, 2004

 

All schedules are to be reported in thousands of dollars. Unless otherwise indicated, report the amount outstanding as of the last business day of the quarter.

 

Schedule RC—Balance Sheet

 

Dollar Amounts in Thousands


   RCFD

         

ASSETS

                        

1. Cash and balances due from depository institutions (from Schedule RC-A):

                        

a. Non interest-bearing balances and currency and coin1

             0081    2,741,000    1.a.

b. Interest-bearing balances2

             0071    108,000    1.b.

2. Securities:

                        

a. Held-to-maturity securities (from Schedule RC-B, column A)

             1754    0    2.a.

b. Available-for-sale securities (from Schedule RC-B, column D)

             1773    1,601,000    2.b.

3. Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:

                        

a. Federal funds sold in domestic offices

        RCON    B987    345,000    3.a.

b. Securities purchased under agreements to resell3

        RCFD    B989    10,636,000    3.b.

4. Loans and lease financing receivables (from Schedule RC-C):

             RCFD          

a. Loans and leases held for sale

             5369    0    4.a.

b. Loans and leases, net of unearned income

   B528    8,983,000              4.b.

c. LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses

   3123    210,000              4.c.

d. Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowance (item 4.b minus 4.c)

             B529    8,773,000    4.d.

5. Trading assets (from Schedule RC-D)

             3545    3,836,000    5.

6. Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)

             2145    209,000    6.

7. Other real estate owned (from Schedule RC-M)

             2150    6,000    7.

8. Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies (from Schedule RC-M)

             2130    9,000    8.

9. Customers’ liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding

             2155    0    9.

10. Intangible assets:

                        

a. Goodwill

             3163    0    10.a.

b. Other intangible assets (from Schedule RC-M)

             0426    33,000    10.b.

11. Other assets (from Schedule RC-F)

             2160    5,044,000    11.

12. Total assets (sum of items 1 through 11)

             2170    33,341,000    12.

1 Includes cash items in process of collection and unposted debits.
2 Includes time certificates of deposit not held for trading.
3 Includes all securities resale agreements in domestic and foreign offices, regardless of maturity.

 

–15–


Schedule RC—Continued    FFIEC 031
     Page RC-2
     13

 

Dollar Amounts in Thousands


                  RCON

         
LIABILITIES                              
13.   Deposits:                              
    a.   In domestic offices (sum of totals of columns A and C from Schedule RC-E. part I)                   2200    8,573,000    13.a.
        (1)   Noninterest-bearing1    RCON    6631    3,522,000              13.a.(1)
        (2)   Interest-bearing    RCON    8636    5,051,000              13.a.(2)
    b.   In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and IBFs (from Schedule RC-E, part II)                   RCFN
2200
   6,417,000    13.b.
        (1)   Noninterest-bearing    RCFN    6631    2,311,000              13.b.(1)
        (2)   Interest-bearing    RCFN    6636    4,106,000              13.b.(2)
14.   Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:                              
    a.   Federal funds purchased in domestic offices2              RCON    B993    6,951,000    14.a.
    b.   Securities sold under agreements to repurchase3              RCFD    B095    140,000    14.b.
15.   Trading liabilities (from Schedule RC-D)              RCFD    3548    867,000    15.
16.   Other borrowed money (includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases) (from Schedule RC-M)                   RCFD
3190
   160,000    16.
17.   Not applicable                              
18.   Bank’s liability on acceptances executed and outstanding                   2920    0    18.
19.   Subordinated notes and debentures4                   3200    8,000    19.
20.   Other liabilities (from Schedule RC-G)                   2930    2,209,000    20.
21.   Total liabilities (sum of items 13 through 20)                   2946    25,325,000    21.
22.   Minority interest in consolidated subsidiaries                   3000    415,000    22.
EQUITY CAPITAL                              
23.   Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus                   3838    1,500,000    23.
24.   Common stock                   3230    2,127,000    24.
25.   Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)                   3639    584,000    25.
26.   a.   Retained earnings                   3632    3,342,000    26.a.
    b.   Accumulated other comprehensive income5                   B530    48,000    26.b.
27.   Other equity capital components6                   A130    0    27.
28.   Total equity capital (sum of items 23 through 27)                   3210    7,601,000    28.
29.   Total liabilities, minority interest, and equity capital (sum of items 21, 22, and 28)                   3300    33,341,000    29.

 

Memorandum

 

To be reported with the March Report of Condition.

 

     RCFD

   Number

    

1.   Indicate in the box at the right the number of the statement below that best describes the most comprehensive level of auditing work performed for the bank by independent external auditors as of any date during 2003

   6724    N/A    M.1.

 

1  = Independent audit of the bank conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards by a certified public accounting firm which submits a report on the bank

 

2  = Independent audit of the bank’s parent holding company conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards by a certified public accounting firm which submits a report on the consolidate holding company (but not on the bank separately)

 

3  = Attestation on bank management’s assertion on the effectiveness of the bank’s internal control over financial reporting by a certified public accounting firm

 

4  = Directors’ examination of the bank conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards by a certified public accounting firm (may be required by state chartering authority)

 

5  = Directors’ examination of the bank performed by other external auditors (may be required by state chartering authority)

 

6  = Review of the bank’s financial statements by external auditors

 

7  = Compilation of the bank’s financial statements by external auditors

 

8  = Other audit procedures (excluding tax preparation work)

 

9  = No external audit work

1 Include total demand deposits and noninterest-bearing time and savings deposits.
2 Report overnight Federal Home Loan Bank advances in Schedule RC. Item 16. “Other borrowed money.”
3 Includes all securities repurchase agreements in domestic and foreign offices, regardless of maturity.
4 Includes limited-life preferred stock and related surplus.
5 Includes net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, accumulated net gains (losses) on cash flow hedges, cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments, and minimum pension liability adjustments.
6 Includes treasury stock and unearned Employee Stock Ownership Plan shares.

 

–16–

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