Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited take no responsibility for the contents of this announcement, make no representation as to its accuracy or completeness and expressly disclaim any liability whatsoever for any loss howsoever arising from or in reliance upon the whole or any part of the contents of this announcement.

(Incorporated in Bermuda with limited liability)

(Stock Code: 1199)

MAJOR TRANSACTION IN RELATION TO

  1. THE ACQUISITION OF SHARES IN QINGDAO PORT INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD. AND

  2. THE DISPOSAL OF EQUITY IN

QINGDAO QIANWAN CONTAINER TERMINAL CO., LTD.

Transaction Adviser and Chief Coordinator

THE ACQUISITION AND THE DISPOSAL

The Board is pleased to announce that on 20 January 2017, SCSTD (a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company) and QPI entered into the Transaction Agreement pursuant to which SCSTD has conditionally agreed to subscribe for 1,015,520,000 non-circulating domestic shares in QPI at a total consideration of RMB5,798,619,200 (equivalent to RMB5.71 per share), of which RMB3,198,650,840 will be settled by the transfer of a 20% equity interest in QQCT to QPI and the remaining RMB2,599,968,360 will be settled in cash. On the same date, the Company also entered into the Strategic Co-operation Agreement with QPI. QQCT is currently owned as to 49%, 31% and 20% by PTS Holdings Limited, QPI and SCSTD respectively.

QPI is a primary operator of the Port of Qingdao, one of the world's largest comprehensive ports. QPI provides wide range of port-related services, ranging from basic port services, such as stevedoring and storage services, to ancillary and extended services such as logistics services and financing-related services. QPI's H shares are listed on the Stock Exchange.

QQCT is principally engaged in the business of the development and operation of a container terminal in Qingdao city, the PRC.

QPI has informed the Company that it currently intends to seek approval of its shareholders for the conduct of a placing, pursuant to which not more than 243,000,000 new H shares are proposed to be issued, and such placing of H shares is expected to occur before the Subscription Shares are issued. Based on the issued share capital of QPI as at the date of the Transaction Agreement and assuming that there are no other changes to the issued share capital of QPI before completion of the Acquisition (other than the issue of such new H

shares, assuming that it occurs at or before completion of the Acquisition), the Subscription Shares will represent approximately 16.82% of the issued share capital of QPI (as enlarged by the issue of the Subscription Shares and such new H shares), and the Group's shareholding in QPI will increase from approximately 2.01% as at the date of the Transaction Agreement to approximately 18.41%. Under the Transaction Agreement, QPI warrants that, as at the Acquisition Completion Date, on the basis of completion of the Acquisition and the QPI H Share Placing, the Subscription Shares will represent not less than 16.82% of the then issued share capital of QPI (as enlarged by the issue of the Subscription Shares and such H shares).

IMPLICATIONS UNDER THE LISTING RULES

The highest of the applicable percentage ratios (as defined under Rule 14.07 of the Listing Rules) in respect of the Disposal exceeds 5% and is lower than 25%. The highest of the applicable percentage ratios in respect of the Acquisition exceeds 25% and is lower than 100%. Pursuant to Rule 14.24 of the Listing Rules, since the Transaction involves both an acquisition and a disposal, the Transaction is classified by reference to the larger of the Acquisition (being a major transaction by itself) or the Disposal (being a discloseable transaction by itself), and therefore constitutes a major transaction of the Company. The Transaction is subject to the reporting, disclosure and shareholder approval requirements applicable to a major transaction under Chapter 14 of the Listing Rules, except that the requirements of the contents of the circular to be issued in relation to the Transaction will only apply to the Acquisition.

A circular containing, among other information, (a) further details of the Acquisition, the Transaction Agreement and the Strategic Co-operation Agreement and (b) a notice of the SGM, in accordance with the relevant requirements of the Listing Rules is expected be dispatched to the Shareholders on or before 14 February 2017.

The Transaction contemplated under the Transaction Agreement is subject to Shareholders' approval and satisfaction or waiver of conditions precedent. There is no assurance that the Transaction will take place or as to when it may take place. Shareholders and potential investors in the Company should therefore exercise caution when dealing in the securities of the Company.

THE TRANSACTION AGREEMENT

The Acquisition and the Disposal

The Board is pleased to announce that on 20 January 2017, SCSTD (a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company) and QPI entered into the Transaction Agreement pursuant to which SCSTD has conditionally agreed to subscribe for 1,015,520,000 non-circulating domestic shares in QPI at a total consideration of RMB5,798,619,200 (equivalent to RMB5.71 per share), of which RMB3,198,650,840 will be settled by the transfer of a 20% equity interest in QQCT to QPI and the remaining RMB2,599,968,360 will be settled in cash. QQCT is currently owned as to 49%, 31% and 20% by PTS Holdings Limited, QPI and SCSTD respectively.

QPI has informed the Company that it currently intends to seek approval of its shareholders for the conduct of a placing, pursuant to which not more than 243,000,000 new H shares are proposed to be issued, and such placing of H shares is expected to occur before the Subscription Shares are issued. Based on the issued share capital of QPI as at the date of the

Transaction Agreement and assuming that there are no other changes to the issued share capital of QPI before completion of the Acquisition (other than the issue of such new H shares, assuming that it occurs at or before completion of the Acquisition), the Subscription Shares will represent approximately 16.82% of the issued share capital of QPI (as enlarged by the issue of the Subscription Shares and such new H shares), and the Group's shareholding in QPI will increase from approximately 2.01% as at the date of the Transaction Agreement to approximately 18.41%. Under the Transaction Agreement, QPI warrants that, as at the Acquisition Completion Date, on the basis of completion of the Acquisition and the QPI H Share Placing, the Subscription Shares will represent not less than 16.82% of the then issued share capital of QPI (as enlarged by the issue of the Subscription Shares and such H shares).

The consideration for the Disposal was determined through arm's length negotiations between the parties based on the valuation of QQCT as at 30 June 2016 (being RMB15,993,254,200) set out in the valuation report prepared in accordance with the requirements of applicable PRC laws by a qualified PRC valuer. The consideration for the Acquisition was determined through arm's length negotiations between the parties, taking into account, among other things, (1) the trading prices of the shares of other port companies listed on the Stock Exchange; and (2) the current operations and business prospects of QPI.

Conditions precedent to the Transaction Agreement taking effect

The Transaction Agreement takes effect upon satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

  1. the Transaction Agreement having been signed by the legal representative or authorised representative of each party and with the company seal of each party affixed;

  2. the Acquisition, the Disposal and the QPI H Share Placing having been approved at the board of directors' meeting, shareholders' general meeting and shareholders' class meeting of QPI (if applicable);

  3. the appropriate internal decision making procedure for the Acquisition and the Disposal having been completed by SCSTD in accordance with its articles of association, and the Acquisition and the Disposal having been approved at all the board of directors' meeting, shareholders' general meeting and/or shareholders' class meeting of each SCSTD Controller (if applicable);

  4. the Acquisition, the Disposal and the QPI H Share Placing having been approved or agreed to by competent State-owned assets regulatory authorities;

  5. the Ministry of Commerce of the PRC having approved the Notification of Concentrations of Business Operators in respect of the Disposal;

  6. the parties and SCSTD Controllers having each obtained or made all necessary consents, approvals and filings of or with any relevant government or regulatory authority in the PRC, Hong Kong or elsewhere (if applicable) in relation to the entering into and performance of the Transaction Agreement; and

  7. all applicable approvals, confirmations and formalities in relation to the Acquisition, the Disposal and the QPI H Share Placing having been obtained or completed by the parties from or with relevant governing departments and organisations (including but not limited to the governing department of the Ministry of Commerce, securities regulatory authorities, foreign exchange regulatory authorities and SCSTD's banks).

Conditions precedent to implementation of the Transaction

After the Effective Date, the parties shall jointly procure the fulfilment of the following conditions precedent to implementation:

  1. the valuation report in relation to the Disposal having been filed;

  2. the transfer of the QQCT Equity in relation to the Disposal having been validly approved by the effective resolutions passed by all the directors of QQCT; PTS Holdings Limited having issued a written declaration agreeing to the transfer of the QQCT Equity and waiver of pre-emptive right in relation to the Disposal;

  3. in order to reflect the transfer of the QQCT Equity in relation to the Disposal, the joint venture agreement and articles of association of QQCT having been formally amended by the shareholders (which amendments shall include replacement of SCSTD's right to appoint two directors on the board of directors of QQCT with QPI's right) and such amendments to the joint venture agreement and the articles of association, or the new joint venture agreement and articles of association, having been validly approved by resolutions passed by all the directors of QQCT; and

  4. there being no unremedied material breach, except where the non-defaulting party agrees to implement the Disposal notwithstanding thereof.

Termination of the Transaction Agreement

The Transaction Agreement will terminate upon occurrence of any of the following circumstances:

  1. if, before the Acquisition Completion Date, both parties agree in writing to terminate the Transaction Agreement;

  2. if the conditions precedent to the implementation of the Transaction described above have not all been fulfilled on 30 June 2017 (or such later date as may be agreed in writing by both parties), or agreed in writing by both parties to be waived, either party may terminate the Transaction Agreement at any time after the expiry of such deadline by giving a written notice to the other party, provided that if any such condition is not fulfilled by the deadline referred to above due to a breach by a party of its obligations under the Transaction Agreement, then the Transaction Agreement will not limit the right of the other party to claim damages in that respect;

  3. if the QPI H Share Placing cannot be completed, the parties may terminate the Transaction Agreement by agreement in writing;

COSCO Shipping Ports Ltd. published this content on 20 January 2017 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 20 January 2017 11:44:04 UTC.

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