As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 22, 2016

 

Registration No. 333-______

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

Form F-4  

REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

 

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.  

(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)

 

Republic of China 3674 Not Applicable
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
 

26 Chin Third Road

Nantze Export Processing Zone

Nantze, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Republic of China

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

 

 

 

 

National Corporate Research, Ltd.

10 E. 40th Street, 10th floor

New York, NY 10016

1 (800) 221 0102

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

 

 

Copies to:

 

George R. Bason, Jr., Esq. James C. Lin, Esq.
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
c/o 18th Floor, The Hong Kong Club Building

3A Chater Road

Hong Kong

  

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective and the consummation of the share exchange described herein.

 

 

 

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering 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.

 

If applicable, place an X in the box to designate the appropriate rule provision relied upon in conducting this transaction:

 

Exchange Act Rule 13e-4(i) (Cross-Border Issuer Tender Offer)

 

Exchange Act Rule 14d-1(d) (Cross-Border Third-Party Tender Offer) ☐

 

 

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of Each Class of
Securities to be Registered
Amount To Be
Registered
Proposed Maximum Offering Price per Share Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price Amount of
Registration Fee
Common Shares of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd., par value NT$10 per share (1) 903,623,606(2) Not Applicable 1,915,613,782.31 (2)(3) $ 222,019.64

 

(1) American depositary shares issuable upon deposit of the shares registered hereby will be registered under a separate registration statement on Form F-6. Each American depositary share will represent 2 common shares of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

 

 

(2) Based upon the estimated number of common shares of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd. that may be issued to U.S. holders of the common shares of the Registrant in connection with the share exchange described herein, using the share exchange ratios described herein. This estimate is based upon (a) the actual number of shares of the common shares represented by outstanding American depositary shares of Registrant as of August 21, 2016, and (b) the estimated number of shares of common shares of Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. (excluding shares represented by American depositary shares but including the number of shares of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd. that may be sold in the Taiwanese market in respect of the fractional shares that otherwise would be received by U.S. holders of the Registrant’s common shares in the share exchange) as of August 21, 2016, the most recent date for which information with respect to U.S. resident holders can be determined. The securities to be issued in connection with the transaction outside of the United States are not registered under this registration statement.

 

(3) Pursuant to Rule 457(f) under the Securities Act of 1933, the filing fee was calculated based on the market value of the securities of the Registrant to be exchanged in the share exchange described herein for securities of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd., calculated pursuant to Rule 457(c) by taking the average of the high and low prices per share of the Registrant’s common shares as reported on the Taiwan Stock Exchange as of November 16, 2016 (converted into U.S. dollars based on NT$31.77 = US$1.00, which is the exchange rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board as in effect on November 14, 2016, the latest available exchange rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board) multiplied by 1,807,247,212 which is the total number of shares of the Registrant’s common shares held of record by U.S. holders on August 21, 2016, the most recent date for which information with respect to the Registrant’s U.S. record holders can be determined), and multiplying the result by 0.0001159.

 

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.

 

 

 

The information in this proxy statement/prospectus is subject to completion and amendment. A registration statement relating to the securities described in this proxy statement/prospectus has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy these securities be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This proxy statement/prospectus shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of any offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction, in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

 

PRELIMINARY—SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED NOVEMBER 22 , 2016

 

         

PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS PROPOSED SHARE EXCHANGE

 

—YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT

 

Dear ASE Shareholders:

 

We are pleased to report that Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. (“ASE”) and Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd. (“SPIL”) have entered into a joint share exchange agreement (“Joint Share Exchange Agreement”) pursuant to which a holding company, ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd. (“HoldCo”), will be formed by means of a statutory share exchange pursuant to the laws of the Republic of China, and HoldCo will (i) acquire all issued shares of ASE in exchange for shares of HoldCo using the share exchange ratio as described below, and (ii) acquire all issued shares of SPIL using the cash consideration as described below (the “Share Exchange”). Upon the consummation of the Share Exchange, ASE and SPIL will become wholly owned subsidiaries of HoldCo concurrently. Subject to the Share Exchange, the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and the other transactions contemplated thereby being approved by shareholders of ASE and SPIL, and upon the satisfaction of the other conditions for completing the Share Exchange, HoldCo will be formed — and the Share Exchange is expected to become effective — on or around [DATE], 2017.

 

Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, at the effective time of the Share Exchange (the “Effective Time”):

 

(i) for SPIL shareholders:

 

· each SPIL common share, par value NT$10 per share (“SPIL Common Share”), issued immediately prior to the Effective Time (including SPIL’s treasury shares and the SPIL Common Shares beneficially owned by ASE), will be transferred to HoldCo in consideration for the right to receive NT$51.2, which represents NT$55, minus a cash dividend and a return of capital reserve of NT$3.8 per SPIL Common Share distributed by SPIL on July 1, 2016, payable in cash in NT dollars, without interest and net of any applicable withholding taxes (“SPIL Common Shares Cash Consideration”); and

 

· each SPIL American depositary share, currently representing five SPIL Common Shares (“SPIL ADS”) will be cancelled in exchange for the right to receive through JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as depositary for the SPIL ADSs (“SPIL Depositary”), the US dollar equivalent of NT$256 (representing five times of the SPIL Common Shares Cash Consideration) minus (i) all processing fees and expenses per SPIL ADS in relation to the conversion from NT dollars into US dollars, and (ii) US$0.05 per SPIL ADS cancellation fees pursuant to the terms of the deposit agreement dated January 6, 2015 by and among SPIL, SPIL Depositary and the holders and beneficial owners from time to time of the SPIL ADSs issued thereunder, payable in cash in US dollars, without interest and net of any applicable withholding taxes (“SPIL ADS Cash Consideration,” together with the SPIL Common Shares Cash Consideration, “Cash Consideration”).

 

 

 

The Cash Consideration will be subject to adjustments if SPIL issues shares or pays cash dividends during the period from the execution date of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement to the Effective Time, provided, however, that the Cash Consideration shall not be subject to adjustment if the aggregate amount of the cash dividends distributed by SPIL in fiscal year 2017 is less than 85% of its after-tax net profit for fiscal year 2016.

 

(i) for ASE shareholders:

 

· each ASE common share (“ASE Common Share”), par value NT$10 per share, issued immediately prior to the Effective Time (including ASE’s treasury shares), will be transferred to HoldCo in consideration for the right to receive 0.5 HoldCo common shares (“HoldCo Common Shares”), par value NT$10 per share; and

 

· each ASE American depositary share, currently representing five ASE Common Shares (“ASE ADSs”), will represent the right to receive 1.25 HoldCo American depositary shares, each representing two HoldCo Common Shares (“HoldCo ADSs”) upon surrender for cancellation to Citibank, N.A., as depositary for the ASE ADSs, after the Effective Time. The ratio at which ASE Common Shares will be exchanged for HoldCo Common Shares and ASE ADSs will be exchanged for HoldCo ADSs is hereinafter referred to as the “Exchange Ratio.”

 

Under Republic of China law, if any fractional HoldCo Common Shares representing less than one common share would otherwise be allotted to former holders of ASE Common Shares in connection with the Share Exchange, those fractional shares will not be issued to those shareholders. Pursuant to the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, ASE will aggregate the fractional entitlements and sell the aggregated ASE Common Shares using the closing price of ASE Common Shares on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (the “TWSE”) on the ninth (9 th ) ROC Trading Day (as defined below) prior to the Effective Time, to an appointee of the Chairman of HoldCo. The cash proceeds from the sale will be distributed to the former holders of ASE Common Shares by HoldCo on a proportionate basis in accordance with their respective fractions at the Effective Time.

 

If you hold ASE ADSs, you will be able to exchange those ASE ADSs for HoldCo ADSs by delivering your ASE ADSs to Citibank, N.A., as depositary, after the Effective Time. Citibank, N.A., as depositary for the ASE ADSs, will only distribute whole HoldCo ADSs. Citibank, N.A., as depositary for the ASE ADSs, will aggregate the fractional entitlements to HoldCo ADSs, will use commercially reasonable efforts to sell the aggregated HoldCo ADS entitlements in the open market and will distribute the net cash proceeds to the holders of ASE ADSs entitled to them.

 

Subject to approval at the ASE EGM (as defined below), HoldCo will issue 3,961,811,298 HoldCo Common Shares (based on the number of issued shares of ASE on September 30, 2016) in connection with the Share Exchange.

 

ASE Common Shares are listed and traded on the TWSE under the ticker “2311” and ASE ADSs are listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the ticker symbol “ASX.” On [DATE], 2017, the most recent practicable trading day prior to the printing of this proxy statement/prospectus, the closing price per ASE Common Share on the TWSE was NT$[ · ] (US$[ · ]), and the closing price per ASE ADS on the NYSE was US$[ · ]. SPIL Common Shares are listed and traded on the TWSE under the ticker “2325” and SPIL ADSs are listed and traded on the NASDAQ National Market (“NASDAQ”) under the ticker symbol “SPIL.” On [DATE], 2017, the most recent practicable trading day prior to the printing of this proxy statement/prospectus, the closing price per SPIL Common Share on the TWSE was NT$[ · ] (US$[ · ]), and the closing price per SPIL ADS on NASDAQ was US$[ · ]. Following completion of the Share Exchange, ASE anticipates that the HoldCo Common Shares will trade on the TWSE and HoldCo ADSs will trade on the NYSE.

 

Before the Share Exchange can be completed, ASE shareholders must vote to approve, among other things, the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, and SPIL shareholders must vote to approve the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement. If you are an ASE shareholder, ASE is sending you this proxy statement/prospectus to ask you to vote in favor of these matters.

 

The extraordinary general shareholders’ meeting of ASE shareholders (the “ASE EGM”) is expected to be held on [DATE], 2017, at [TIME] (Taiwan time), at Zhuang Jing Auditorium, 600 Jiachang Road, Nantze Export Processing Zone, Nantze District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, Republic of China. At this ASE EGM, ASE shareholders will be asked to approve, among other things, the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement. More information about the proposals to be voted on at this ASE EGM is contained in this proxy statement/prospectus. The board of directors of ASE has unanimously determined that (i) the Exchange Ratio constitutes fair value for each ASE Common Share and each ASE ADS, and (ii) the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby are advisable, fair to and in the best interests of ASE and its shareholders. The board of directors of ASE recommends that ASE shareholders vote “FOR” the approval of the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and “FOR” the approval of the other proposals to be voted on at this ASE EGM as described in this proxy statement/prospectus.

 

 

 

 

To attend and vote at the ASE EGM under Republic of China law, holders of ASE Common Shares must follow the procedures outlined in the convocation notice, which will be sent to those holders by ASE. To give voting instructions to the depositary for the ASE ADSs, holders of ASE ADSs must follow the procedures outlined in the notice of the ASE EGM that Citibank, N.A., as depositary for the ASE ADSs, will separately send to those ASE ADS holders.

 

This proxy statement/prospectus is an important document containing answers to frequently asked questions, a summary description of the transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and more detailed information about ASE, SPIL, the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and the other matters to be voted upon by ASE shareholders as part of the ASE EGM. We urge you to read this proxy statement/prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference carefully and in their entirety. In particular, you should consider the matters discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors ” beginning on page 60.

 

Thank you for your cooperation and continued support.

 

Sincerely,

Jason C.S. Chang 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer 

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the Share Exchange or the securities to be issued in connection therewith, or determined if this proxy statement/prospectus is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

You may have dissenters’ rights in connection with the transactions under the laws of the Republic of China. See page 56 for a complete discussion of your dissenters’ rights, if any.

 

 

 

This document is dated [DATE], 2017 and is first being delivered to ASE shareholders on or about [DATE], 2017.

 

 

 

 

NOTICE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING

 

To Be Held On [DATE], 2017

 

Dear Shareholders:

 

This is a notice that Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. (“ASE”) will hold an Extraordinary General Meeting (the “ASE EGM”) on [DATE], 2017, at [TIME], and the location is expected to be at Zhuang Jing Auditorium, 600 Jiachang Road, Nantze Export Processing Zone, Nantze District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, Republic of China.

 

At the ASE EGM, we will discuss, and ASE shareholders will vote on, the following proposals:

 

· Proposal 1 To consider and to vote upon the joint share exchange agreement entered into between Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. and Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd. on June 30, 2016 (the “Joint Share Exchange Agreement”) and the proposed share exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement

 

· Proposal 2. To consider and to vote upon the adoption of the articles of incorporation of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

· Proposal 3. To consider and to vote upon the Rules of Procedure for Shareholders' Meetings of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

· Proposal 4. To consider and to vote upon the Rules Governing the Election of Directors and Supervisors of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

· Proposal 5. To consider and to vote upon the Procedures for Lending Funds to Other Parties of ASE Industrial Holdings Co. Ltd. and Procedures of Making the Endorsement and Guarantees of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

· Proposal 6. To consider and to vote upon the Procedures for Acquisition or Disposal of Assets of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

· Proposal 7. To consider and elect the members of the board of directors and supervisors of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

· Proposal 8. To consider and to vote upon the proposal to waive the non-competition clauses applicable to newly elected directors of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

This proxy statement/prospectus describes the proposals listed above in more detail. Please refer to the attached document, including the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and all other annexes and including any documents incorporated by reference, for further information with respect to the business to be transacted at the ASE EGM. You are encouraged to read the entire document carefully before voting. In particular, see the section entitled “Risk Factors.”

 

The record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to vote at the ASE EGM will be [DATE], 2017 (the “ASE EGM Record Date”). Only ASE shareholders who hold common shares of ASE, par value NT$10 per share (“ASE Common Shares”), of record on the ASE EGM Record Date are entitled to vote at the ASE EGM, or to exercise the appraisal rights conferred on dissenting shareholders by the laws of the Republic of China. Each ASE Common Share entitles its holder to one vote at the ASE EGM on each of the proposals. You may exercise voting rights by electronic means or by attending the ASE EGM in person or by proxy using a duly authorized power of attorney in the prescribed form attached to the notice of convocation distributed by ASE prior to the ASE EGM. You may exercise your voting right by electronic means beginning from the fifteenth (15 th ) calendar day prior to the ASE EGM until the third calendar day prior to the day of the ASE EGM. Shareholders who intend to exercise voting right electronically must log in to the website maintained by the Taiwan Depository & Clearing Corporation (“TDCC”) (https://www.stockvote.com.tw) and proceed in accordance with the instructions provided therein.

 

 

 

 

If you own American depositary shares of ASE (“ASE ADSs”), each representing five ASE Common Shares, Citibank, N.A. (“Citibank”), as depositary for the ASE ADSs (the “ASE Depositary”), will send to holders of ASE ADSs as of [DATE], 2017, a voting instruction card and notice which outlines the procedures those holders must follow to give proper voting instructions to the ASE Depositary. In accordance with and subject to the terms of the amended and restated deposit agreement, dated as of September 29, 2000 and as amended and restated (as so amended and restated, the “ASE Deposit Agreement”), by and among Citibank, as ASE Depositary, ASE, and the holders and beneficial owners of ASE ADSs, holders of ASE ADSs have no individual voting rights with respect to the ASE Common Shares represented by their ASE ADSs. Pursuant to the ASE Deposit Agreement, each holder of ASE ADSs is deemed to have authorized and directed the ASE Depositary to appoint the Chairman of ASE or his/her designate (the Chairman or his/her designate, the “Voting Representative”), as representative of the ASE Depositary, the custodian or the nominee who is registered in the Republic of China as representative of the holders of ASE ADSs to vote the ASE Common Shares represented by ASE ADSs as more fully described below.

 

In accordance with and subject to the terms of the ASE Deposit Agreement, if holders of ASE ADSs together holding at least 51% of all the ASE ADSs outstanding as of the record date set by the ASE Depositary for the ASE EGM to vote on the proposed Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, instruct the ASE Depositary, prior to the ASE ADS voting instructions deadline, to vote in the same manner with respect to the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, the ASE Depositary shall notify the Voting Representative and appoint the Voting Representative as the representative of the ASE Depositary and the holders of ASE ADSs to attend the ASE EGM and vote all ASE Common Shares represented by ASE ADSs outstanding in the manner so instructed by such holders. If voting instructions are received from an ASE ADS holder by the ASE Depositary as of the ASE ADS voting instructions deadline, which are signed but without further indication as to voting instructions, the ASE Depositary shall deem such holder to have instructed a vote in favor of the items set forth in such instructions.

 

Furthermore, in accordance with and subject to the terms of the ASE Deposit Agreement, if, for any reason, the ASE Depositary has not, prior to the ASE ADS voting instructions deadline, received instructions from holders of ASE ADSs together holding at least 51% of all ASE ADSs outstanding as of the record date set by the ASE Depositary for the ASE EGM to vote for the proposed Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, to vote in the same manner with respect to the proposed Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, the holders of all ASE ADSs shall be deemed to have authorized and directed the ASE Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to the Voting Representative, as the representative of the holders of ASE ADSs, to attend the ASE EGM and vote all the ASE Common Shares represented by ASE ADSs then outstanding in his/her discretion; provided, however, that the ASE Depositary will not give a discretionary proxy as described if it fails to receive under the terms of the ASE Deposit Agreement a satisfactory opinion from ASE’s counsel prior to the ASE EGM. In such circumstances, the Voting Representative shall be free to exercise the votes attaching to the ASE Common Shares represented by ASE in any manner he/she wishes, which may not be in the best interests of the ASE ADS holders. [The Voting Representative has informed ASE that he plans as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus to vote in favor of all of the proposals at the ASE EGM, although he has not entered into any agreement obligating him to do so.]

 

The board of directors of ASE has unanimously determined that the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the proposed Share Exchange, are advisable, fair to and in the best interests of ASE and its shareholders. The board of directors of ASE recommends that ASE shareholders vote “FOR” each of the proposals set forth above.

 

YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF SHARES THAT YOU OWN . The proposed Share Exchange cannot be completed without ASE shareholders approving, among other things, the completion by ASE of the proposed Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint

 

 

 

Share Exchange Agreement by either (x) the approval of one-half of the shares present at the ASE EGM if at least two-thirds of ASE’s outstanding shares attend the ASE EGM, or (y) the approval of two-thirds of the shares present at the ASE EGM if at least one-half of ASE’s outstanding shares attend the ASE EGM.

 

ASE is not asking for a proxy and you are not required to send a proxy to ASE. However, ASE Enterprises Limited, a shareholder of ASE has advised us that it intends to solicit proxies in favor of the authorization and approval of the proposed Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement.

 

If you have any questions concerning the Joint Share Exchange Agreement or the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, including the proposed Share Exchange, or this proxy statement/prospectus, or would like additional copies or need help voting your ASE Common Shares, please contact ASE Investor Relations Department at +886-2-6636-5678 or ir@aseglobal.com, or Citibank Shareholder Services at 1-877-CITI-ADR (248-4237) for questions related to your ASE ADSs.

 

On behalf of the Board of Directors
 
 
/s/ Jason C.S. Chang
Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

This proxy statement/prospectus incorporates important business and financial information about ASE and SPIL that is not included in or delivered with this proxy statement/prospectus. This information is available to you without charge upon your written or oral request. You can obtain the documents incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus free of charge by requesting them in writing or by telephone from the appropriate company at the following addresses and telephone numbers:

 

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.
e-mail: ir@aseglobal.com
Tel: +886-2-6636-5678
Room 1901, No. 333, Section 1 Keelung Rd.
Taipei, Taiwan, 110
Republic of China
Attention: Investor Relations

 

If you would like to request any documents, please do so by [DATE], 2017 in order to receive them before the ASE EGM.

 

For a more detailed description of the information incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus and how you may obtain it, see the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

ABOUT THIS PROXY-TRANSACTION STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS

 

This proxy statement/prospectus, which forms part of a registration statement on Form F-4 filed by ASE with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), constitutes a prospectus of ASE under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), with respect to the HoldCo Common Shares to be issued to ASE shareholders in connection with the Share Exchange. This proxy statement/prospectus also constitutes a proxy statement and a transaction statement for ASE under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). It also constitutes a notice of meeting with respect to the ASE EGM.

 

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus. No one has been authorized to provide you with information that is different from that contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this proxy statement/prospectus. This proxy statement/prospectus is dated November 22, 2016, and you should assume that the information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus is accurate only as of such date. You should also assume that the information incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus is only accurate as of the date of such information.

 

This proxy statement/prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, or the solicitation of a proxy, in any jurisdiction in which or from any person to whom it is unlawful to make any such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. Information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus regarding ASE has been provided by ASE and information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus regarding SPIL has been provided by SPIL.

 

 

 

 

table of contents

Page

Definitions ii
Questions and Answers about the Share Exchange iv
Summary 1
Selected Consolidated Financial Data 12
Selected Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Data 18
Comparative Historical and Unaudited Pro Forma Per Share Data 19
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Financial Statements 21
Special Factors 29
Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements 59
Risk Factors 60
Exchange Rates 67
Market Price and Dividend Information 68
Information about the Companies 72
Extraordinary General Shareholders’ Meeting of ASE 73
The Joint Share Exchange Agreement 76
Description of HoldCo Common Shares 86
Description of HoldCo American Depositary Shares 91
Legal Matters 105
Experts 105
Enforceability of Foreign Judgments in the ROC 105
Where You Can Find More Information 106

 

Annex A: Joint Share Exchange Agreement dated June 30, 2016 (English translation) A-1
   
Annex B-1: Opinion issued by Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu, CPA, dated May 25, 2016 (English translation) B-1
   
Annex B-2: Opinion issued by Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu, CPA, dated June 29, 2016 (English translation) B-2
   
Annex C: Article 12 of the Republic of China Mergers and Acquisitions Act C-1

 

 

Table of Contents  

Definitions

 

As used in this proxy statement/prospectus, the following defined terms have the following respective meanings:

 

· “ASE” or the “Registrant” refers to Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. and, as the context requires, its subsidiaries;

 

· “ASE ADS(s)” refers to the American depositary share(s) issued by the ASE Depositary under the ASE Deposit Agreement. Each ASE ADS represents five ASE Common Shares;

 

· “ASE Common Share(s)” refers to the common share(s) of ASE, par value NT$10 per share;

 

· “ASE Depositary” or “Citibank” refers to Citibank, N.A., as depositary for the ASE ADSs under the ASE Deposit Agreement;

 

· “ASE Deposit Agreement” refers to the Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2000, by and among ASE, Citibank and the Holders and Beneficial Owners of ASE ADSs, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of April 6, 2006, and by Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of November 27, 2006;

 

· “ASE Share(s)” refers to ASE Common Share(s) and ASE ADS(s), collectively;

 

· “Effective Time” refers to the effective time of the Share Exchange;

 

· “Exchange Act” refers to the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended;

 

· “FSC” refers to Financial Supervisory Commission of the ROC;

 

· “HoldCo” refers to ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd., the holding company that will be formed at the Effective Time as the parent company of ASE and SPIL as a result of the Share Exchange;

 

· “HoldCo ADS(s)” refers to the American depositary share(s) that will be issued to ASE ADS holders upon the consummation of the Share Exchange pursuant to a new American depositary receipt facility to be established by HoldCo with the HoldCo Depositary upon the terms of the HoldCo Deposit Agreement. Each HoldCo ADS will represent two HoldCo Common Shares;

 

· “HoldCo Common Share(s)” refers to the common share(s) of HoldCo, par value NT$10 per share, that will be issued upon the consummation of the Share Exchange;

 

· “HoldCo Depositary” refers to Citibank, N.A. in its capacity as depositary for the HoldCo ADSs pursuant to the terms of the HoldCo Deposit Agreement;

 

· “HoldCo Deposit Agreement” refers to the deposit agreement for the HoldCo ADSs to be entered into by HoldCo and Citibank, N.A., as HoldCo Depositary, at the Effective Time of the Share Exchange, and to which the holders and beneficial owners of HoldCo ADSs become parties upon acceptance of HoldCo ADSs;

 

· “HoldCo Shares” refers to HoldCo Common Shares and HoldCo ADSs, collectively;

 

· “IFRS” refers to International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board;

 

· “Joint Share Exchange Agreement” refers to the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, dated June 30, 2016, by and between ASE and SPIL; an English translation is included as Annex A to this proxy statement/prospectus;

 

· “NASDAQ” refers to the NASDAQ National Market;

 

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· “non-ROC holder” refers to a non-resident individual or non-resident entity that owns ASE Common Shares or ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares or ADSs. As used in the preceding sentence, a “non-resident individual” is a non-ROC national who owns ASE Common Shares or ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares or ADSs and is not physically present in the ROC for 183 days or more during any calendar year, and a “non-resident entity” is a corporation or a non-corporate body that owns ASE Common Shares or ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares or ADSs, is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the ROC and has no fixed place of business or business agent in the ROC;

 

· “NT$” and “NT dollars” refers to New Taiwan dollars, the official currency of the ROC;

 

· “NYSE” refers to the New York Stock Exchange;

 

· “PRC” or “China” refers to the People’s Republic of China, excluding, for purposes of this proxy statement/prospectus, Hong Kong, the Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan;

 

· “ROC” or “Taiwan” refers to the Republic of China;

 

· “ROC Company Law” refers to the Company Law of the ROC;

 

· “ROC Mergers and Acquisitions Act” refers to the Business Mergers and Acquisitions Act of the ROC;

 

· “ROC Trading Day” refers to a day when TWSE is open for business;

 

· “Share Exchange” refers to the transactions pursuant to which ASE will file an application with the TWSE and other competent authorities to establish HoldCo by means of a statutory share exchange, HoldCo will acquire all issued shares of each of ASE and SPIL and ASE and SPIL will become wholly owned subsidiaries of HoldCo concurrently ;

 

· “Securities Act” refers to the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended;

 

· “SEC” refers to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission;

 

· “SPIL” refers to Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd., and, as the context requires, its subsidiaries;

 

· “SPIL ADS(s)” refers to the American depositary shares issued by the SPIL Depositary under the SPIL Deposit Agreement. Each SPIL ADS represents five SPIL Common Shares;

 

· “SPIL Common Share(s)” refers to the common share(s) of SPIL, par value NT$10 per share;

 

· “SPIL Depositary” refers to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as depositary for the SPIL ADSs under the SPIL Deposit Agreement;

 

· “SPIL Deposit Agreement” refers to the Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of January 6, 2015, by and among SPIL, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as SPIL Depositary, and the Holders and Beneficial Owners of SPIL ADSs, as amended;

 

· “TWSE” refers to the Taiwan Stock Exchange;

 

· “U.S.” refers to the United States of America; and

 

· “US$” and “U.S. dollars” refers to United States dollars, the official currency of the United States of America.  

 

For your convenience, this prospectus contains translations of certain NT dollar amounts into U.S. dollar amounts at a rate of NT$31.27 to US$1.00, the exchange rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board on September 30, 2016, unless otherwise stated. We make no representation that any NT dollar or U.S. dollar amounts could have been, or could be, converted into U.S. dollars or NT dollars, as the case may be, at any particular rate, or at all.

 

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Questions and Answers about the Share Exchange

 

Q. Why am I receiving this document?

 

A. ASE and SPIL have entered into a Joint Share Exchange Agreement pursuant to which a holding company, HoldCo, will be established by means of a statutory share exchange pursuant to the laws of the ROC, and HoldCo will (i) acquire all issued shares of ASE in exchange for shares of HoldCo using the Exchange Ratio as described below, and (ii) acquire all issued SPIL Common Shares using the cash consideration as described below. Upon the consummation of the Share Exchange, ASE and SPIL will become wholly owned subsidiaries of HoldCo concurrently.

 

Before the Share Exchange can be completed, ASE shareholders must vote to approve, among other things, the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement. If you are an ASE shareholder, ASE is sending you this proxy statement/prospectus to ask you to vote in favor of these matters. ASE will hold the ASE EGM on [DATE], 2017 to obtain these approvals and the approval of certain other proposals that are not conditions to the completion of the Share Exchange.

 

This proxy statement/prospectus, which you should read carefully, contains important information about the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange and other matters being considered at the ASE EGM. The enclosed voting materials allow you to vote your shares without attending the applicable shareholders’ meeting. Your vote is very important and we encourage you to submit your vote or proxy as soon as possible.

 

Q. What will SPIL shareholders receive in the Share Exchange?

 

A. As of the Effective Time of the Share Exchange:

 

· each SPIL Common Share, par value NT$10 per share, issued immediately prior to the Effective Time (including SPIL’s treasury shares and the SPIL Common Shares beneficially owned by ASE), will be transferred to HoldCo in consideration for the right to receive NT$51.2, which represents NT$55 minus a cash dividend and a return of capital reserve of NT$3.8 per SPIL Common Share distributed by SPIL on July 1, 2016, payable by HoldCo in cash in NT dollars, without interest and net of any applicable withholding taxes; and

 

· each SPIL ADS will be cancelled in exchange for the right to receive through SPIL Depositary, the US dollar equivalent of NT$256 (representing five times of the SPIL Common Shares Cash Consideration) minus (i) all processing fees and expenses per SPIL ADS in relation to the conversion from NT dollars into US dollars, and (ii) US$0.05 per SPIL ADS cancellation fees pursuant to the terms of the SPIL Deposit Agreement payable in cash in US dollars, without interest and net of any applicable withholding taxes.

 

The Cash Consideration will be subject to adjustments if SPIL issues shares or pays cash dividends during the period from the execution date of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement to the Effective Time, provided, however, that the Cash Consideration shall not be subject to adjustment if the aggregate amount of the cash dividends distributed by SPIL in fiscal year 2017 is less than 85% of its after-tax net profit for fiscal year 2016, which is described further in the section entitled “The Joint Share Exchange Agreement—Adjustment to the Consideration.”

 

Q. What will ASE shareholders receive in the Share Exchange?

 

A. As of the Effective Time:

 

· each ASE Common Share, par value NT$10 per share, issued immediately prior to the Effective Time (including ASE’s treasury shares), will be transferred to HoldCo in consideration for the right to receive 0.5 HoldCo Common Shares; and

 

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· each ASE ADS, currently representing five ASE Common Shares, will, after the Effective Time, represent the right to receive 1.25 HoldCo ADSs, each HoldCo ADS representing two HoldCo Common Shares, upon surrender for cancellation to the ASE Depositary after the Effective Time.

 

Q: How will fractional entitlements to HoldCo Common Shares be handled in the Share Exchange?

 

A: ASE will aggregate the fractional entitlements to HoldCo Common Shares and sell the aggregated HoldCo Common Shares using the closing price of ASE Common Shares on the TWSE on the ninth (9 th ) ROC Trading Day prior to the Effective Time, to an appointee of the Chairman of HoldCo. The cash proceeds from the sale will be distributed to the former holders of ASE Common Shares by HoldCo on a proportionate basis in accordance with their respective fractions at the Effective Time.

 

Q: How will fractional entitlements to HoldCo ADSs be handled in the Share Exchange?

 

A: The ASE Depositary (Citibank) will aggregate the fractional entitlements to HoldCo ADSs, use commercially reasonable efforts to sell the aggregated fractional entitlements to HoldCo ADSs on the open market, and remit the net cash proceeds (after deducting applicable taxes, fees and expenses, including sales commissions) to the holders of ASE ADSs entitled to them.

 

Q. How do the HoldCo Common Shares differ from ASE Common Shares?

 

A. HoldCo Common Shares will not materially differ from ASE Common Shares from a legal perspective.

 

Q. How do the HoldCo ADSs differ from ASE ADSs?

 

A. HoldCo ADSs will not materially differ from ASE ADSs from a legal perspective.

 

Q. When is the Share Exchange expected to be completed?

 

A. The Share Exchange is expected to be completed on or promptly after [DATE], 2017.

 

Q. What is the record date for voting at the ASE EGM?

 

A. The record date for voting at the ASE EGM is on or about [DATE], 2017.

 

Q. How do I vote at the ASE EGM?

 

A. You may exercise voting rights as a shareholder by electronic means or by attending the ASE EGM, as applicable, in person or by proxy.

 

You may exercise your voting right by electronic means beginning from the fifteenth (15 th ) calendar day prior to the ASE EGM, as applicable, until the third calendar day prior to the day of the ASE EGM (the “Electronic Voting Period”). Shareholders who intend to exercise voting rights electronically must login to the website maintained by the TDCC (https://www.stockvote.com.tw) and proceed in accordance with the instructions provided therein.

 

You may exercise your voting rights by attending the ASE EGM in person or by proxy using a duly authorized power of attorney in the prescribed form attached to the notice of convocation distributed by ASE prior to the respective ASE EGM.

 

Q: How will shares being represented at the ASE EGM by voting cards be treated?

 

A: The voting cards used for the ASE EGM will describe the proposals to be voted on by shareholders at the ASE EGM, as applicable, including approval of the Share Exchange. The voting cards will allow shareholders to indicate a ‘‘for’’ or ‘‘against’’ vote with respect to each proposal.

 

Q. May I change my vote?

 

A. Yes.

 

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If you previously voted through the electronic voting website, you may change or revoke your previous voting by logging in to the electronic voting website anytime within the Electronic Voting Period. If you revoked your electronic voting within the Electronic Voting Period, you may attend the ASE EGM, as applicable, and vote in person.

 

If you previously presented a valid proxy or exercised your vote through the electronic voting website but then wish to attend the ASE EGM in person, you are required to revoke your proxy in writing addressed to ASE or revoke your electronic vote by logging in to the electronic voting website at least two (2) calendar days prior to the ASE EGM. Otherwise, the voting right exercised by your proxy or through the electronic voting website will prevail.

 

Q: How do I vote if I own ASE ADSs?

 

A: The ASE Depositary will send to holders of ASE ADSs as of [DATE], 2017, a voting instruction card and notice, which outlines the procedures those holders must follow to give proper voting instructions to the ASE Depositary.

 

Q: If I own ASE ADSs, what steps must I take to exchange my ASE ADSs for HoldCo ADSs?

 

A: If you hold physical certificates, also known as ASE American depositary receipts (“ASE ADRs”), representing ASE ADSs, you will be sent a letter of transmittal after the Effective Time by the ASE Depositary, which is to be used to surrender your ASE ADSs to the ASE Depositary in exchange for HoldCo ADSs. The letter of transmittal will contain instructions explaining the procedure for surrendering the ASE ADSs in exchange for the HoldCo ADSs. YOU SHOULD NOT RETURN ASE ADRs WITH THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD. The HoldCo ADSs will be issued in uncertificated, book-entry form, unless a physical HoldCo ADR is subsequently requested.

 

If you hold ASE ADSs in uncertificated form registered directly on the books of the ASE Depositary, you will not be required to take any action after the Effective Time. The ASE Depositary will, after the Effective Time, exchange your ASE ADSs for the applicable HoldCo ADSs and send you a statement reflecting HoldCo ADSs issued in your name as a result of the Share Exchange and a check for the cash in lieu of any fractional HoldCo ADS to which you are entitled as a result of the Share Exchange.

 

Beneficial holders of ASE ADSs held in “street name” through a bank, broker or other financial institution with an account in The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) will not be required to take any action after the Effective Time to exchange ASE ADSs for HoldCo ADSs. After the Effective Time, ASE ADSs held in “street name” will be exchanged by the ASE Depositary via DTC for the applicable HoldCo ADSs and delivered in book-entry form via DTC to the applicable banks, brokers and other financial institutions for credit to their clients the beneficial owners of ASE ADSs.

 

Q: If I own ASE ADSs, will I be required to pay any service fees to exchange my ASE ADSs for HoldCo ADSs?

 

A: There is a US$0.02 cancellation fee per ASE ADS held payable by holders of ASE ADSs to the ASE Depositary in connection with the exchange of ASE ADSs for HoldCo ADSs.

 

Q: How will trading in ASE Common Shares and ASE ADSs be affected by the Share Exchange?

 

A: ASE expects that ASE Common Shares will be suspended from trading on the TWSE starting from the eighth (8 th ) ROC Trading Day prior to the Effective Time of the Share Exchange. ASE expects that HoldCo Common Shares will begin trading in Taiwan during TWSE trading hours, at the Effective Time of the Share Exchange. ASE expects that the ASE ADSs will be suspended from trading on the NYSE starting from the eighth (8 th ) trading day on the NYSE prior to the Effective Time of the Share Exchange. ASE expects that HoldCo ADSs will begin trading on the NYSE during NYSE trading hours, at the Effective Time of the Share Exchange. You will not be able to trade ASE Common Shares and ASE ADSs during these gaps in trading.

 

Q. Whom can I call with questions?

 

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A. If you have more questions about the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, you should contact:

 

Kenneth Hsiang
Email: ir@aseglobal.com
Tel: +886-2-6636-5678
Room 1901, No. 333, Section 1 Keelung Rd.
Taipei, Taiwan, 110, Republic of China
Attention: Head of Investor Relations

 

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Summary

 

The following summary highlights selected information described in more detail elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus and may not contain all the information that may be important to you. To understand the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and the matters being voted on by ASE shareholders and SPIL shareholders at their respective extraordinary shareholders’ meeting more fully, and to obtain a more complete description of the legal terms of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, you should carefully read this entire document, including the annexes, and the documents to which ASE refers you. Each item in this summary includes a page reference directing you to a more complete description of that topic. See the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

The Parties (see page 72)

 

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.

 

ASE is a company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the ROC. ASE’s services include semiconductor packaging, production of interconnect materials, front-end engineering testing, wafer probing and final testing services, as well as integrated solutions for electronics manufacturing services in relation to computers, peripherals, communications, industrial, automotive, and storage and server applications.

 

ASE Common Shares are traded on the TWSE under the ticker “2311” and ASE ADSs are traded on the NYSE under the symbol “ASX.” ASE’s principal executive offices are located at 26 Chin Third Road, Nantze Export Processing Zone, Nantze, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China, and the telephone number at the above address is +886-7-361-7131.

 

Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd.

 

SPIL is a company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the ROC. SPIL offers a full range of packaging and testing solutions, including advanced packages, substrate packages and lead-frame packages, as well as testing for logic and mixed signal devices. SPIL currently targets customers in the personal computer, communications, consumer integrated circuits and non-commodity memory semiconductor markets.

 

SPIL Common Shares are traded on TWSE under the ticker “2325” and SPIL ADSs are traded on NASDAQ under the symbol “SPIL.” The principal executive offices of SPIL are located at No. 123, Sec. 3, Da Fong Road, Tantzu, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China, and the telephone number is 886-4-2534-1525.

 

ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

It is expected that HoldCo will be a company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the ROC and will be formed at the Effective Time. HoldCo will initially serve exclusively as the holding company for the ASE, SPIL, as well as their subsidiaries and investees. HoldCo will not have substantive assets or operations.

 

It is expected that HoldCo Common Shares will traded on the TWSE and HoldCo ADSs will be traded on the NYSE. It is expected that HoldCo’s principal executive offices will be located at Room 1901, No. 333, Section 1 Keelung Rd. Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China and its telephone number at the above address will be +886-2-6636-5678.

 

The Share Exchange (see page 76)

 

ASE and SPIL have entered into a Joint Share Exchange Agreement pursuant to which a holding company, HoldCo, will be formed by means of a statutory share exchange pursuant to ROC law, and at the Effective Time, HoldCo will (i) acquire all issued shares of ASE in exchange for shares of HoldCo using the Exchange Ratio as described below, and (ii) acquire all issued shares of SPIL using the Cash Consideration as described below. Upon the consummation of the Share Exchange, ASE and SPIL will become wholly owned subsidiaries of HoldCo

 

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concurrently. Subject to the Share Exchange and the Joint Share Exchange Agreement being approved by shareholders of ASE and SPIL, and upon the satisfaction of the other conditions for completing the Share Exchange, HoldCo will be formed — and the Share Exchange is expected to become effective — on or around [DATE], 2017.

 

Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, at the Effective Time:

 

(i) for SPIL shareholders:

 

· each SPIL Common Share, par value NT$10 per share, issued immediately prior to the Effective Time (including SPIL’s treasury shares and the SPIL Common Shares beneficially owned by ASE), will be transferred to HoldCo in consideration for the right to receive NT$51.2, which represents NT$55 minus a cash dividend and a return of capital reserve of NT$3.8 per SPIL Common Share distributed by SPIL on July 1, 2016, payable by HoldCo in cash in NT dollars, without interest and net of any applicable withholding taxes; and

 

· each SPIL ADS will be cancelled in exchange for the right to receive through SPIL Depositary, the US dollar equivalent of NT$256 (representing five times of the SPIL Common Shares Cash Consideration) minus (i) all processing fees and expenses per SPIL ADS in relation to the conversion from NT dollars into US dollars, and (ii) US$0.05 per SPIL ADS cancellation fees pursuant to the terms of the SPIL Deposit Agreement payable in cash in US dollars, without interest and net of any applicable withholding taxes.

 

The Cash Consideration will be subject to adjustments if SPIL issues shares or pays cash dividends during the period from the execution date of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement to the Effective Time; provided, however, that the Cash Consideration shall not be subject to adjustment if the aggregate amount of the cash dividends distributed by SPIL in fiscal year 2017 is less than 85% of its after-tax net profit for fiscal year 2016.

 

(i) for ASE shareholders:

 

· each ASE Common Share, par value NT$10 per share, issued immediately prior to the Effective Time (including ASE’s treasury shares), will be transferred to HoldCo in consideration for the right to receive 0.5 HoldCo Common Shares; and

 

· each ASE ADS, currently representing five ASE Common Shares, will, after the Effective Time, represent the right to receive 1.25 HoldCo ADSs, each HoldCo ADS representing two HoldCo Common Shares, upon surrender for cancellation to the ASE Depositary after the Effective Time.

 

Under ROC law, if any fractional HoldCo Common Shares representing less than one common share would otherwise be allotted to former holders of ASE Common Shares in connection with the Share Exchange, those fractional shares will not be issued to those shareholders. Pursuant to the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, ASE will aggregate the fractional entitlements and sell the aggregated ASE Common Shares using the closing price of ASE Common Shares on the TWSE on the ninth (9 th ) ROC Trading Day prior to the Effective Time, to an appointee of the Chairman of HoldCo. The cash proceeds from the sale will be distributed to the former holders of ASE Common Shares by HoldCo on a proportionate basis in accordance with their respective fractions at the Effective Time.

 

If you hold physical certificates, also known as ASE American depositary receipts (“ASE ADRs”), representing ASE ADSs, you will be sent a letter of transmittal after the Effective Time by the ASE Depositary, which is to be used to surrender your ASE ADSs to the ASE Depositary in exchange for HoldCo ADSs. The letter of transmittal will contain instructions explaining the procedure for surrendering the ASE ADSs in exchange for the HoldCo ADSs. YOU SHOULD NOT RETURN ASE ADRs WITH THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD. The HoldCo ADSs will be issued in uncertificated, book-entry form, unless a physical HoldCo ADR is subsequently requested.

 

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If you hold ASE ADSs in uncertificated form registered directly on the books of the ASE Depositary, you will not be required to take any action after the Effective Time. The ASE Depositary will, after the Effective Time, exchange your ASE ADSs for the applicable HoldCo ADSs and send you a statement reflecting HoldCo ADSs issued in your name as a result of the Share Exchange and a check for the cash in lieu of any fractional HoldCo ADS to which you are entitled as a result of the Share Exchange.

 

Beneficial holders of ASE ADSs held in “street name” through a bank, broker or other financial institution with an account in DTC will not be required to take any action after the Effective Time to exchange ASE ADSs for HoldCo ADSs. After the Effective Time, ASE ADSs held in “street name” will be exchanged by the ASE Depositary via DTC for the applicable HoldCo ADSs and delivered in book-entry form via DTC to the applicable banks, brokers and other financial institutions for credit to their clients the beneficial owners of ASE ADSs.

 

The ASE Depositary will only distribute whole HoldCo ADSs. It will use commercially reasonable efforts to sell the fractional entitlements to HoldCo ADSs and distribute the net cash proceeds to the holders of ASE ADSs entitled to it.

 

Subject to approval at the ASE EGM, HoldCo will issue 3,961,811,298 HoldCo Common Shares (based on the number of issued shares of ASE on September 30, 2016) in connection with the Share Exchange.

 

The following chart depicts the organizational structure of each of ASE and SPIL before the Share Exchange as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus and immediately after the Effective Time.

 

Before the Share Exchange as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus:

 

 

Immediately after the Effective Time:

 

 

The ASE EGM (see page 73)

 

Date, Time and Place . The ASE EGM to vote for the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement is expected to be held at [TIME] A.M. on [DATE], 2017 (Taiwan time), at Zhuang Jing Auditorium, 600 Jiachang Road, Nantze Export Processing Zone, Nantze District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, Republic of China.

 

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Purpose . The ASE EGM is being held to consider and vote on:

 

· Proposal 1 To consider and to vote upon the joint share exchange agreement entered into between Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. and Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd. on June 30, 2016 (the “Joint Share Exchange Agreement”) and the proposed share exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement

 

· Proposal 2. To consider and to vote upon the adoption of the articles of incorporation of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

· Proposal 3. To consider and to vote upon the Rules of Procedure for Shareholders’ Meetings of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

· Proposal 4. To consider and to vote upon the Rules Governing the Election of Directors and Supervisors of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

· Proposal 5. To consider and to vote upon the Procedures for Lending Funds to Other Parties of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd. and Procedures of Making of Endorsement and Guarantees of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

· Proposal 6. To consider and to vote upon the Procedures for Acquisition or Disposal of Assets of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

· Proposal 7. To consider and elect the members of the board of directors and supervisors of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

· Proposal 8. To consider and to vote upon the proposal to waive the non-competition clauses applicable to newly elected directors of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

Record Date; Voting Rights . Holders of ASE Common Shares will be entitled to exercise voting rights by electronic means or by attending the ASE EGM in person or by proxy, if they are recorded on ASE’s stockholder register on [DATE], 2017 (“ASE EGM Record Date”). Only ASE shareholders who hold ASE Common Shares of record on the ASE EGM Record Date are entitled to vote at the ASE EGM, or to exercise the appraisal rights conferred on dissenting shareholders by the laws of the ROC. Each ASE Common Share entitles its holder to one vote at the ASE EGM on each of the proposals. You may exercise voting rights by electronic means or by attending the ASE EGM in person or by proxy using a duly authorized power of attorney in the prescribed form attached to the notice of convocation distributed by ASE prior to the ASE EGM. You may exercise your voting right by electronic means beginning from the 15 th calendar day prior to the ASE EGM until the third calendar day prior to the day of the ASE EGM. Shareholders who intend to exercise their voting rights, electronically must log in to the website maintained by the TDCC (https://www.stockvote.com.tw) and proceed in accordance with the instructions provided therein.

 

Holders of ASE ADSs will be entitled to instruct the ASE Depositary (Citibank) as to how to vote the ASE Common Shares represented by ASE ADSs at the ASE EGM in accordance with the procedures set forth in this prospectus, if those holders were recorded on the ASE Depositary’s register on [DATE], 2017. In accordance with and subject to the terms of the ASE Deposit Agreement, holders of ASE ADSs have no individual voting rights with respect to the ASE Common Shares represented by their ASE ADSs. Pursuant to the ASE Deposit Agreement, each holder of ASE ADSs is deemed to have authorized and directed the ASE Depositary to appoint the Chairman of ASE or his/her designee, as Voting Representative of the ASE Depositary, the custodian or the nominee who is registered in the ROC as representative of the holders of ASE ADSs to vote the ASE Common Shares represented by ASE ADSs as more fully described below.

 

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In accordance with and subject to the terms of the ASE Deposit Agreement, if holders of ASE ADSs together holding at least 51% of all the ASE ADSs outstanding as of the record date set by the ASE Depositary for the ASE EGM to vote on the proposed Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, instruct the ASE Depositary, prior to the ASE ADS voting instructions deadline, to vote in the same manner with respect to the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, the ASE Depositary shall notify the Voting Representative and appoint the Voting Representative as the representative of the ASE Depositary and the holders of ASE ADSs to attend the ASE EGM and vote all ASE Common Shares represented by ASE ADSs outstanding in the manner so instructed by such holders. If voting instructions are received from an ASE ADS holder by the ASE Depositary as of the ASE ADS voting instructions deadline which are signed but without further indication as to voting instructions, the ASE Depositary shall deem such holder to have instructed a vote in favor of the items set forth in such instructions.

 

Furthermore, in accordance with and subject to the terms of the ASE Deposit Agreement, if, for any reason, the ASE Depositary has not, prior to the ASE ADS voting instructions deadline, received instructions from holders of ASE ADSs together holding at least 51% of all ASE ADSs outstanding as of the record date set by the ASE Depositary for the ASE EGM to vote for the proposed Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, to vote in the same manner with respect to the proposed Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, the holders of all ASE ADSs shall be deemed to have authorized and directed the ASE Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to the Voting Representative, as the representative of the holders of ASE ADSs, to attend the ASE EGM and vote all the ASE Common Shares represented by ASE ADSs then outstanding in his/her discretion; provided, however, that the ASE Depositary will not give a discretionary proxy as described if it fails to receive under the terms of the ASE Deposit Agreement a satisfactory opinion from ASE’s counsel prior to the ASE EGM. In such circumstances, the Voting Representative shall be free to exercise the votes attaching to the ASE Common Shares represented by ASE in any manner he/she wishes, which may not be in the best interests of the ASE ADS holders. [The Voting Representative has informed ASE that he plans as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus to vote in favor of all of the proposals at the ASE EGM, although he has not entered into any agreement obligating him to do so.]

 

Vote Required . The Share Exchange cannot be completed without ASE shareholders approving, among other things, the completion by ASE of the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement by either (x) the approval of one-half of the ASE Common shares present at the ASE EGM if at least two-thirds of the outstanding ASE Common Shares attend the ASE EGM, or (y) the approval of two-thirds of the ASE Common Shares present at the ASE EGM if at least one-half of the outstanding ASE Common Shares attend the ASE EGM. Each ASE shareholder is entitled to one vote per share.

 

As of [ · ], 2017, there were [ · ] ASE Common Shares (including those represented by ASE ADSs) outstanding. As of [ · ], 2017, ASE directors and executive officers, as a group, beneficially owned and were entitled to vote [ · ] ASE Common Shares, or approximately [ · ]% of the total outstanding share capital of ASE. ASE currently expects that these directors and executive officers will vote their ASE Common Shares that are held at the ASE EGM Record Date in favor of all of the proposals at the ASE EGM, although none of them has entered into any agreement obligating them to do so.

 

Under ROC law, ASE is prohibited from soliciting proxies, consents or authorizations at its shareholders’ meetings, including the ASE EGM which the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement will be voted upon. However, ASE Enterprises Limited (“ASEE”), a shareholder of ASE beneficially holding approximately [ · ]% of the total outstanding share capital of ASE as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, has expressed that it plans to vote in favor of all of the proposals at the ASE EGM and intends to solicit proxies in favor of the authorization and approval of the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement prior to the ASE EGM. ASEE is controlled by ASE’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jason C.S. Chang.

 

Recommendation and Approval of the ASE Board and Reasons for the Share Exchange (see page 36)

 

The ASE Board recommends that ASE shareholders vote “FOR” each of the proposals to be presented at the ASE EGM.

 

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In the course of reaching its decision to approve the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, the ASE board of directors (the “ASE Board”) considered a number of factors in its deliberations. For a more complete discussion of these factors, see the section entitled “Special Factors —Recommendation and Approval of the ASE Board and Reasons for the Share Exchange.”

 

Interests of ASE in SPIL Common Shares and ADSs (see page 38)

 

On October 1, 2015, ASE closed its acquisition of, and paid for, 779,000,000 SPIL Common Shares (including those represented by SPIL ADSs) pursuant to the tender offers in the U.S. and in the ROC (the “Initial ASE Tender Offers”). In March and April 2016, ASE acquired an additional 258,300,000 SPIL Common Shares (including those represented by SPIL ADSs) through open market purchases. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, ASE held 988,847,740 SPIL Common Shares and 9,690,452 SPIL ADSs, representing 33.29% of the issue and outstanding share of SPIL.

 

Except as set forth elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus: (a) none of ASE and, to ASE's knowledge, any associate or majority-owned subsidiary of ASE beneficially owns or has a right to acquire any SPIL Common Shares, SPIL ADSs or other equity securities of SPIL; (b) none of ASE and, to ASE's knowledge, any associate or majority-owned subsidiary of ASE has effected any transaction in SPIL Common Shares, SPIL ADSs or other equity securities of SPIL during the past 60 days; and (c) during the two years before the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, there have been no transactions between ASE, its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and SPIL or any of its executive officers, directors, controlling shareholders or affiliates, on the other hand, that would require reporting under SEC rules and regulations.

 

Opinions of ASE’s Independent Expert (see page 39)

 

On May 25, 2016, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu, CPA, of Crowe Horwath (TW) CPAs Firm, an independent expert engaged by ASE, delivered to ASE its written opinion (the “First Crowe Horwath Opinion”) that the cash consideration of NT$55 per SPIL Common Share to be paid by HoldCo under the Share Exchange and the Exchange Ratio in which ASE Common Shares will be exchanged for HoldCo Common Shares as stipulated in the Joint Share Exchange Memorandum of Understanding (“Joint Share Exchange MOU”) were reasonable and fair. On June 29, 2016, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu delivered to ASE an opinion that the Cash Consideration (including conditions for adjustments) per SPIL Common Share to be paid by HoldCo in the Share Exchange and the Exchange Ratio in which ASE Common Shares will be exchanged for HoldCo Common Shares as stipulated in the Joint Share Exchange Agreement were reasonable and fair (the “Second Crowe Horwath Opinion,” and together with the First Crowe Horwath Opinion, the “Crowe Horwath Opinions”). The Crowe Horwath Opinions will be available for any interested ASE shareholder (or any representative of an ASE shareholder who has been so designated in writing) to inspect and copy at ASE’s principal executive offices during regular business hours.

 

Financing of the Share Exchange (see page 48)

 

HoldCo intends to fund the Cash Consideration (including the NT$51.2 per SPIL Common Share Cash Consideration payable to holders of the foreign convertible bonds issued by SPIL on October 31, 2014 (“SPIL Convertible Bonds”) that have not been otherwise redeemed or repurchased by the SPIL, or cancelled or converted prior to the Effective Time), which is an aggregate amount of approximately NT$173.16 billion (US$5.54 billion), with a combination of ASE’s cash on hand and debt financing. Subject to the amount of cash on hand at the time when ASE arranges for financing, ASE may arrange bank loans up to NT$173 billion (US$5.53 billion) with a combination of a syndication loan of NT$120 billion (US$3.84 billion) and a short-term bridge loan of NT$53 billion (US$1.69 billion). In a highly confident letter dated November 7, 2016 issued by Citibank Taiwan Limited (“Citibank”) to ASE, Citibank stated that it is highly confident of its ability to arrange debt facilities for the Share Exchange up to an amount of US$3.8 billion equivalent, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in that letter. In another highly confident letter dated November 16, 2016 issued by DBS Bank Ltd., Taipei Branch (“DBS”) to ASE, DBS stated that it is confident of its ability to arrange debt facilities for the Share Exchange up to an amount of NT$53 billion (US$1.69 billion), subject to the terms and conditions set forth in that letter. In addition, ASE may enter into other arrangements or transactions, including through a capital increase in cash to reduce the amount of bank loans on or prior to the Effective Time.

 

Board of Directors and Management of HoldCo Following Completion of the Share Exchange (see page 48)

 

Under ROC law, since HoldCo has not come into existence before the Effective Time, ASE will hold a shareholders’ meeting for ASE's shareholders (also the incorporators of HoldCo) to elect members of the board of directors and supervisors for HoldCo. The ASE EGM will function as HoldCo’s incorporator’s meeting by operation

 

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of law. Therefore, at the ASE EGM, shareholders of ASE will elect the members of the board of directors and supervisors of HoldCo.

 

Under the terms of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, at HoldCo’s incorporator’s meeting, nine to 13 directors and three supervisors will be elected for HoldCo, which terms of such directors and supervisors will start from the Effective Time. SPIL’s Chairman and President are expected to be appointed as directors on HoldCo’s board of directors. After the completion of the Share Exchange, subject to ASE shareholders adopting the HoldCo director and supervisor election proposals, the board of directors of HoldCo is expected to include [●] (management director, Chairman), [●] (management director), [●] (management director), [●] (management director), [●] (management director), [●] (management director), [●] (management director), [●] (management director), [●] (management director), [●] (non-management director), [●] and [●]. [●], [●] and [●] are expected to be the supervisors of HoldCo.

 

From and after the Effective Time, the board of directors of HoldCo will establish an audit committee which will consist of one non-management director, [●], who is expected to be independent under Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act and financially literate with accounting or related financial management expertise. ASE is currently, and upon completion of the Share Exchange, HoldCo will be, subject to NYSE corporate governance, as applicable to foreign private issuers. It is expected that the audit committee of HoldCo established on the Effective Time would satisfy and comply with the requirements of section 303A.06 of the NYSE Listing Company Manual.

 

Certain ROC and U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Share Exchange (see page 48)

 

ROC Taxation

 

Capital gains realized upon the Share Exchange are exempt from ROC income tax. In the view of Baker & McKenzie, by reasonable interpretation of the ROC Mergers and Acquisitions Act based on current rules and regulations promulgated by ROC tax authority, ASE’s shareholders should not be subject to ROC securities transaction tax upon the Share Exchange. See the section entitled “Special Factors — Certain ROC and U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Share Exchange for Holders of ASE Common Shares or ADSs — ROC Taxation” for further discussion.

 

United States Taxation

 

Based on certain representations from ASE and assuming ASE has not been a PFIC for any taxable year during which the U.S. Holder has owned ASE Common Shares or ADSs, a U.S. Holder (as defined below) of ASE Common Shares or ASE ADSs is not expected to recognize any gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes upon an exchange of ASE Common Shares or ASE ADSs for HoldCo ADSs (or shares represented by such HoldCo Common Shares or HoldCo ADSs) in the Share Exchange, except with respect to any cash received in respect of fractional HoldCo Common Shares or fractional HoldCo ADSs or paid to dissenting U.S. Holders. See the section entitled “Special Factors — Certain ROC and U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Share Exchange for Holders of ASE Common Shares or ADSs— United States Taxation” for further discussion.

 

Accounting Treatment of the Share Exchange (see page 54)

 

Under IFRS, the Cash Consideration paid by HoldCo pursuant to the Share Exchange will be accounted for by applying the acquisition method of accounting with HoldCo being considered the acquirer of SPIL for accounting purposes. Upon the completion of the Share Exchange, HoldCo would obtain control of SPIL and any equity interest previously held in SPIL accounted for as equity method investments is treated as if it were disposed of and reacquired at fair value on the acquisition date. Accordingly, it is remeasured to its acquisition-date fair value, and any resulting gain or loss compared to its carrying amount is recognized in profit or loss. HoldCo will measure the identifiable assets acquired and the liabilities assumed at their acquisition-date fair values, and recognize goodwill as of the acquisition date measured as the excess of the Cash Consideration and the fair value of the ASE’s previously held equity interest in SPIL over the net of the acquisition-date fair value of the identifiable assets acquired and the liabilities assumed. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment at least annually.

 

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Under IFRS, the exchange of ASE Common Shares for HoldCo Common Shares and the exchange of ASE ADSs for HoldCo ADSs based on the Exchange Ratio will be accounted for as a legal reorganization of entities under common control. ASE and HoldCo are ultimately controlled by the same shareholders both before and after the Share Exchange and that control is not transitory, therefore the Share Exchange under common control will not be accounted for by applying the acquisition method as above. Accordingly, ASE will recognize no gain or loss in connection with the exchange of ASE shares for HoldCo shares upon the Share Exchange under common control, and all assets and liabilities of ASE will be recorded on the books of HoldCo at the predecessor carrying amounts.

 

Regulatory Approvals Required to Complete the Share Exchange (see page 55)

 

The completion of the Share Exchange is subject to obtaining antitrust and other regulatory approvals in certain jurisdictions, as noted below. ASE and SPIL submitted the required materials to the Taiwan Fair Trade Commission (the “TFTC”) on July 29, 2016 and the TFTC issued a no objection letter in respect of the Share Exchange on November 16, 2016. ASE and SPIL submitted the required materials to the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China (“MOFCOM”) on August 25, 2016 and are waiting for MOFCOM to formally accept the parties’ notification materials and start Phase I of the review process. In addition, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) has issued a subpoena and civil investigative demand relating to the proposed combination. ASE and SPIL are fully cooperating with the investigation. There can be no assurance as to if and when regulatory approvals will be obtained in the PRC, or if and when the FTC will complete its investigation without seeking an injunction prohibiting the Share Exchange or as to the conditions or limitations that such regulatory authorities may seek to impose. See the section entitled “Special Factors — Regulatory Approvals Required to Complete the Share Exchange.”

 

Share Exchange Listing (see page 55)

 

It is expected that HoldCo Common Shares will be listed on the TWSE and HoldCo ADSs will be listed on the NYSE at the Effective Time of the Share Exchange. As a result of the Share Exchange, ASE Common Shares currently listed on the TWSE and ASE ADSs currently listed on the NYSE will cease to be listed on the TWSE and NYSE, respectively; SPIL Common Shares currently listed on the TWSE and SPIL ADSs currently listed on NASDAQ will ceased to be listed on the TWSE and NASDAQ, respectively.

 

The following is a tentative timetable of the various trading-related events in connection with the completion of the Share Exchange:

 

Final trading day for ASE Common Shares and SPIL Common Shares on the TWSE [●], 2017 (Taiwan time)
   
Final trading day for ASE ADSs on the NYSE and SPIL ADSs on NASDAQ [●], 2017 (New York time)
   
Effective date of the Share Exchange [●], 2017 (Taiwan time)
   
First trading day for HoldCo Common Shares on the TWSE [●], 2017 (Taiwan time)
   
First trading day for HoldCo ADSs on the NYSE [●], 2017 (New York time)

 

 

In advance of completion of the Share Exchange, ASE expects to publicly announce the definitive timetable for these trading-related events.

 

Rights of Dissenting Shareholders (see page 56)

 

Under ROC law, ASE shareholders may have dissenters’ rights of appraisal in connection with the Share Exchange. See the section entitled “Special Factors — Rights of Dissenting Shareholders” for a complete discussion of dissenters’ rights. However, holders of ASE ADSs will not have any appraisal rights in respect of the Share

 

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Exchange under the terms of the ASE Deposit Agreement. ASE ADS holders who wish to be entitled to appraisal rights may cancel their ASE ADSs and become holders of ASE Common Shares by [DATE], 2017.

 

Litigation Related to the Share Exchange (see page 58)

 

ASE is not aware of any lawsuit that challenges the Share Exchange or any other transactions contemplated under the Joint Share Exchange Agreement.

 

Expenses Relating to the Share Exchange (see page 58)

 

All costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Share Exchange, the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and the completion of the transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement will be paid by the party incurring such costs and expenses, except as otherwise explicitly provided for in the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, whether or not the Share Exchange or any of the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement is completed.

 

Comparison of Rights of Shareholders of ASE and HoldCo (see page 58)

 

From a legal perspective, ASE shareholders receiving HoldCo Common Shares upon the completion of the Share Exchange will not have materially different rights from those they are entitled to as ASE shareholders. See the sections entitled “Special Factors — Comparison of Rights of Shareholders of ASE and HoldCo,” “Description of HoldCo American Depositary Shares,” and “Description of HoldCo Common Shares” for more information.

 

No Solicitation by SPIL of Acquisition Proposals (see page 79)

 

Under the terms of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, SPIL agreed not to offer, agree, enter into or sign with any third party any contract, agreement or other arrangements in respect to certain alternative transactions, subject to certain exceptions as described in the section entitled “The Joint Share Exchange Agreement — Pre-Closing Covenants and Agreements.”

 

Conditions to Consummation of the Share Exchange (see page 81)

 

The obligations of ASE, SPIL and HoldCo to consummate the Share Exchange are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

· ASE and SPIL will each have obtained unconditional approval of the Share Exchange at their respective general shareholders’ meetings;

 

· receipt of approvals from all relevant competent authorities, including, but not limited to, (i) the TWSE and the SEC (ii) the TFTC and MOFCOM and (iii) the FTC completing its investigation without seeking an injunction prohibiting the Share Exchange (in the case of (ii) and (iii), including approvals or consents of conditions imposed by such authorities that both ASE and SPIL have agreed to accept); and

 

· no order (or agreement with the FTC) is in effect and enforceable prohibiting, enjoining or rendering illegal the consummation of the Share Exchange, and no law shall have been enacted or enforced after the date the Joint Share Exchange Agreement was executed rendering illegal or prohibiting the consummation of the Share Exchange; provided that the enforcement of an order or law shall not include the decision by a governmental entity to extend the waiting period or initiate an investigation under antitrust laws or other applicable law.

 

In addition, ASE’s and HoldCo’s obligations to consummate the Share Exchange are subject to the satisfaction or waiver by ASE and HoldCo of the following additional conditions:

 

· all representations and warranties of SPIL are true and accurate as of the date the Joint Share Exchange Agreement was executed and as of the Effective Time, except to the extent that no material adverse effect on SPIL has occurred;

 

 

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· SPIL has performed in all material respects all obligations and undertakings required to be performed by it under the Joint Share Exchange Agreement prior to the Effective Time;

 

· no material adverse effect to SPIL shall have occurred prior to the Effective Time; and

 

· prior to the Effective Time, no force majeure events will have occurred which, individually or in aggregate, result in a decrease in SPIL’s consolidated net book value by 30% or more, relative to SPIL’s net book value in its consolidated audited financial statements as of March 31, 2016.

 

In addition, SPIL’s obligation to consummate the Share Exchange is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following additional conditions:

 

· all representations and warranties of ASE are true and accurate as of the date the Joint Share Exchange Agreement was executed and as of the Effective Time, except to the extent that no material adverse effect on ASE has occurred;

 

· all representations and warranties of HoldCo are true and accurate as of the Effective Time, except to the extent that no material adverse effect on HoldCo has occurred;

 

· ASE and HoldCo have performed in all material respects all obligations and undertakings required to be performed by each of them under the Joint Share Exchange Agreement prior to the Effective Time;

 

· no material adverse effect to ASE will have occurred prior to the Effective Time; and

 

· prior to the Effective Time, no force majeure events will have occurred which, individually or in aggregate, result in a decrease in ASE’s consolidated net book value by 30% or more, relative to ASE’s net book value in its consolidated audited financial statements as of March 31, 2016.

 

The consummation of the Share Exchange is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of all the conditions set forth above on or prior to December 31, 2017 (the “Long Stop Date”). If the closing of the Share Exchange cannot be completed due to the failure to satisfy the conditions set forth above on or prior to the Long Stop Date, the Joint Share Exchange Agreement will automatically terminate at midnight on the day immediately following the Long Stop Date.

 

ASE Board does not intend to waive (where capable of waiver by ASE) any of these or any other conditions unless it determines that the Share Exchange is in the best interest of ASE and ASE shareholders despite the condition(s) not being satisfied in whole or in part.

 

In addition, the expected timing for the completion of the Share Exchange may be impacted by other conditions described in this proxy statement/prospectus.

 

Termination of Joint Share Exchange Agreement (see page 82)

 

The Joint Share Exchange Agreement may be terminated prior to the Effective Time by either ASE or SPIL if any of the following occurs:

 

· a law, judgment, court order or administrative decision issued by a competent authority restricts or prohibits the consummation of the Share Exchange, and such restriction or prohibition has been confirmed and cannot be remedied by amending the Joint Share Exchange Agreement; or

 

· the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and Share Exchange are not approved by ASE’s shareholders or SPIL’s shareholders at their respective shareholder meetings.

 

The Joint Share Exchange Agreement may also be terminated at any time prior to the Effective Time by ASE if SPIL has breached or failed to perform any of its representations, warranties, undertakings or obligations under the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and such breach leads to the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation

 

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of the Share Exchange and is by its nature not capable of being cured, or is not cured by SPIL within 30 business days of receiving written notice of such breach, and is not waived in writing by ASE.

 

The Joint Share Exchange Agreement may also be terminated at any time prior to the Effective Time by SPIL if ASE has breached or failed to perform any of its representations, warranties, undertakings or obligations under the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and such breach leads to the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the Share Exchange and is by its nature not capable of being cured, or is not cured by ASE within 30 business days of receiving written notice of such breach, and is not waived in writing by SPIL.

 

If the Share Exchange is not consummated on or before the Long Stop Date, the Joint Share Exchange Agreement will automatically terminate at midnight on the day immediately following the Long Stop Date.

 

Termination Fees Relating to the Share Exchange (see page 79)

 

SPIL may be required to pay a termination fee of NT$17 billion (US$0.5 billion) if the Joint Share Exchange Agreement is terminated due to SPIL’s acceptance of a Superior Proposal (as defined in the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and further explained under the caption “The Joint Share Exchange Agreement — Pre-Closing Covenants and Agreements” beginning on page 79). See the section entitled “The Joint Share Exchange Agreement — Pre-Closing Covenants and Agreements” for a more complete description of the circumstances under which SPIL may be required to pay ASE a termination fee.

 

Remedies and Liquidated Damages (see page 82)

 

Upon the occurrence of certain prescribed material events of default, in addition to any right of termination and claims for expenses, the non-defaulting party will also be entitled to liquidated damages in the amount of NT$8.5 billion (US$0.3 billion) from the defaulting party, subject to adjustments for contributory negligence by the non-defaulting party. See the section entitled “The Joint Share Exchange Agreement — Termination and Events of Default” for a more complete description of the circumstances under which ASE or SPIL may be required to pay the other party liquidated damages.

 

Market Price Information (see page 68)

 

ASE Common Shares and SPIL Common Shares are listed on the TWSE under the stock code “2311” and “2325”, respectively. ASE ADSs and SPIL ADSs are listed on the NYSE and NASDAQ under the symbols “ASX” and “SPIL”, respectively. The following table presents the closing price information for ASE Common Shares, SPIL Common Shares, ASE ADSs and SPIL ADS on (a) May 25, 2016, the last trading day before the public announcement of the execution of the Joint Share Exchange MOU, and (b) November 21, 2016, the latest practicable trading day before the date of this proxy statement/prospectus.

 

 

ASE Common Shares

SPIL Common Shares

ASE ADSs

SPIL ADSs

Date NT$ US$ NT$ US$ US$ US$
May 25, 2016 33.05 1.06 50.50 1.61 4.89 7.52
November 21, 2016 34.80 1.11 47.70 1.53 5.41 7.40
               

 

Risk Factors

 

In determining whether to vote to approve the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, you should consider carefully the risk factors described in this document.

 

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Selected Consolidated Financial Data

 

Selected Consolidated Financial Data of ASE

 

The selected consolidated financial data of ASE as of and for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 has been derived from ASE’s audited consolidated financial statements included in its annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the SEC on April 29, 2016 (“ASE 2015 20-F”), which is incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus. These consolidated financial statements were prepared based on IFRS. The selected consolidated financial data as of December 31, 2012 and 2013 and for the year ended December 31, 2012 is derived from ASE’s audited consolidated financial statements not included herein.

 

ASE first started preparing its audited consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS starting from January 1, 2013. Historical financial data as of and for the year ended December 31, 2011 derived from ASE’s consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the ROC (“ROC GAAP”) with reconciliation to accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“US GAAP”) has not been included below, as such information is not available on a basis that is consistent with the consolidated financial information for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 and cannot be obtained without unreasonable effort or expense.

 

The information set forth below is only a summary and is not necessarily indicative of the results of future operations of ASE or HoldCo following completion of the Share Exchange, and you should read the following information together with ASE’s consolidated financial statements, the related notes, the section entitled “Item 5 —Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” contained in ASE 2015 20-F, which are incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus. For more information, see the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

The selected historical consolidated statement of operations data for each of the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2016 and the consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2016 have been derived from ASE’s unaudited consolidated financial statements for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2016 contained in ASE’s interim report on Form 6-K furnished with the SEC on November 22, 2016, which is incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus.

 

In September 2015, March and April 2016, ASE successively acquired Common Shares and ADSs of SPIL for cash resulting in ASE’s total ownership of 33.29% of SPIL which was reflected as investments accounted for using the equity method on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2016. As of September 30, 2016, ASE has completed the identification of the difference between the cost of the investment and ASE’s share of the net fair value of SPIL’s identifiable assets and liabilities. Therefore, according to IFRS, ASE has retrospectively adjusted the comparative financial statements for prior periods. The retrospective adjustments are a decrease of NT$281.4 million to the investments accounted for using the equity method on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2015 and share of profit of associates on the consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2015. The impact of such adjustments represent a 0.08% decrease to the total assets and 1.34% decrease to the total profit for the year. ASE considered such retrospective adjustments to be immaterial from both quantitative and qualitative perspectives. The balance sheet data as of December 31, 2015 in the following table marked as “Adjusted” reflected the impact from the retrospective adjustments.

 

    For the Year Ended
December 31,
  For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
IFRS   2012   2013   2014   2015   2015   2015   2016
    NT$   NT$   NT$   NT$   US$   NT$   NT$   US$
    (in millions, except earnings per ASE Common Share and per ASE ADS data)
Statement of Comprehensive Income Data:                                
Operating revenues     193,972.4       219,862.4       256,591.4       283,302.5       9,059.9       207,754.4       197,755.5       6,324.1  
Operating costs     (157,342.7 )     (177,040.4 )     (203,002.9 )     (233,167.3 )     (7,456.6 )     (170,888.0 )     (159,938.4 )     (5,114.8 )
Gross profit     36,629.7       42,822.0       53,588.5       50,135.2       1,603.3       36,866.4       37,817.1       1,209.3  
Operating expenses     (18,922.6 )     (20,760.4 )     (23,942.7 )     (25,250.6 )     (807.5 )     (18,782.8 )     (19,241.5 )     (615.3 )

 

 

 

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    For the Year Ended
December 31,
  For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
IFRS   2012   2013   2014   2015   2015   2015   2016
    NT$   NT$   NT$   NT$   US$   NT$   NT$   US$
    (in millions, except earnings per ASE Common Share and per ASE ADS data)
Other operating income and expenses, net     83.2       (1,348.2 )     228.7       (251.5 )     (8.0 )     (71.6 )     (704.3 )     (22.5 )
Profit from operations     17,790.3       20,713.4       29,874.5       24,633.1       787.8       18,012.0       17,871.3       571.5  
Non-operating income (expense), net     (1,181.6 )     (1,343.6 )     (1,339.4 )     660.1       21.1       712.9       578.2       18.5  
Profit before income tax     16,608.7       19,369.8       28,535.1       25,293.2       808.9       18,724.9       18,449.5       590.0  
Income tax expense     (2,960.4 )     (3,499.6 )     (5,666.0 )     (4,311.1 )     (137.9 )     (2,575.9 )     (3,230.0 )     (103.3 )
Profit for the year     13,648.3       15,870.2       22,869.1       20,982.1       671.0       16,149.0       15,219.5       486.7  
Attributable to                                                                
Owners of the Company     13,191.6       15,404.5       22,228.6       20,013.5       640.0       15,506.0       14,369.7       459.5  
Non-controlling interests     456.7       465.7       640.5       968.6       31.0       643.0       849.8       27.2  
      13,648.3       15,870.2       22,869.1       20,982.1       671.0       16,149.0       15,219.5       486.7  
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax     (3,830.7 )     3,233.3       5,504.4       (147.6 )     (4.7 )     1,284.4       (7,331.5 )     (234.4 )
Total comprehensive income for the year     9,817.6       19,103.5       28,373.5       20,834.5       666.3       17,433.4       7,888.0       252.3  
Attributable to                                                                

Owners of the Company

    9,420.4       18,509.6       27,394.3       19,940.4       637.7       16,679.4       7,632.6       244.1  
Non-controlling interests     397.2       593.9       979.2       894.1       28.6       754.0       255.4       8.2  
      9,817.6       19,103.5       28,373.5       20,834.5       666.3       17,433.4       7,888.0       252.3  
Earnings per common share (1) :                                                                
Basic     1.77       2.05       2.89       2.62       0.08       2.03       1.88       0.06  
Diluted     1.73       1.99       2.79       2.51       0.08       1.88       1.58       0.05  
Dividends per common share (2)     2.05       1.05       1.29       2.00       0.06       2.00       1.60       0.05  
Earnings per equivalent ADS (1) :                                                                
Basic     8.86       10.26       14.46       13.08       0.42       10.13       9.38       0.30  
Diluted     8.65       9.96       13.93       12.55       0.40       9.42       7.90       0.25  
Number of common shares (3) :                                                                
Basic     7,445.5       7,508.5       7,687.9       7,652.8       7,652.8       7,656.4       7,658.5       7,658.5  
Diluted     7,568.2       7,747.6       8,220.7       8,250.1       8,250.1       8,241.0       8,272.9       8,272.9  
Number of equivalent ADSs                                                                
Basic     1,489.1       1,501.7       1,537.6       1,530.6       1,530.6       1,531.3       1,531.7       1,531.7  
Diluted     1,513.6       1,549.5       1,644.1       1,650.0       1,650.0       1,648.2       1,654.6       1,654.6  

________________________

Notes:

(1) The denominators for diluted earnings per ASE Common Share and diluted earnings per equivalent ASE ADS are calculated to account for the potential diluted factors, such as the exercise of options and conversion of ASE’s convertible bonds into ASE Common Shares.
(2) Dividends per ASE Common Share issued as a cash dividend, a stock dividend and distribution from capital surplus.
(3) Represents the weighted average number of shares after retroactive adjustments to give effect to stock dividends. ASE Common Shares held by consolidated subsidiaries are classified as “treasury stock,” and are deducted from the number of ASE Common Shares outstanding.

 

    As of December 31,   As of September 30,
IFRS   2012   2013   2014   2015   2015
(Adjusted)
  2016
    NT$   NT$   NT$   NT$   US$   NT$   NT$   US$
    (in millions)
Balance Sheet Data:                                                                
Current assets     97,495.6       132,176.5       159,955.2       156,732.8       5,012.3       156,732.8       143,369.2       4,584.9  
Investments - non-current (1)     2,267.8       2,345.5       2,409.3       38,328.0       1,225.7       38,046.6       50,677.6       1,620.6  
Property, plant and equipment, net     127,197.8       131,497.3       151,587.1       149,997.1       4,796.8       149,997.1       145,208.9       4,643.7  
Intangible assets     12,361.3       11,953.6       11,913.3       11,888.6       380.2       11,888.6       12,217.1       390.7  
Long-term prepayment for lease     4,164.1       4,072.3       2,586.0       2,556.2       81.7       2,556.2       2,382.4       76.2  
Others (2)     4,236.0       4,676.9       5,267.9       5,765.5       184.4       5,765.6       6,830.7       218.5  
Total assets     247,722.6       286,722.1       333,718.8       365,268.2       11,681.1       364,986.9       360,685.9       11,534.6  
Short-term debts (3)     36,884.9       44,618.2       41,176.0       36,983.4       1,182.7       36,983.4       33,007.5       1,055.6  
Current portion of long-term debts     3,213.8       6,016.5       2,835.5       16,843.3       538.6       16,843.3       15,657.7       500.7  
Long-term debts (4)     44,591.7       50,166.5       55,375.8       66,535.1       2,127.8       66,535.1       70,812.9       2,264.6  
Other liabilities (5)     53,211.8       60,176.9       78,640.1       78,700.1       2,516.8       78,700.1       81,539.6       2,607.6  
Total liabilities     137,902.2       160,978.1       178,027.4       199,061.9       6,365.9       199,061.9       201,017.7       6,428.5  
Share capital     76,047.7       78,180.3       78,715.2       79,185.7       2,532.3       79,185.7       79,509.1       2,542.7  
Non-controlling interests     3,505.7       4,128.4       8,209.9       11,492.5       367.5       11,492.6       11,057.6       353.6  

 

 

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    As of December 31,   As of September 30,
IFRS   2012   2013   2014   2015   2015
(Adjusted)
  2016
    NT$   NT$   NT$   NT$   US$   NT$   NT$   US$
    (in millions)
Equity attributable to owners of the Company     106,314.7       121,615.6       147,481.5       154,713.8       4,947.7       154,432.4       148,610.6       4,752.5  

  

________________________

Notes:

(1) Including available-for-sale financial assets — non-current and investments accounted for using the equity method.
(2) Including deferred tax assets, other financial assets — non-current and other non-current assets.
(3) Including short-term bank loans and short-term bills payable.
(4) Including bonds payable, long-term borrowings (consisting of bank loans and bills payable) and capital lease obligations.
(5) Including (x) current liabilities other than short-term debts and current portion of long-term debts and (y) non-current liabilities other than long-term debts. For

 

 

    For the Year Ended
December 31,
  For the Nine Months Ended  
September 30,
IFRS   2012   2013   2014   2015   2015   2015   2016
    NT$   NT$   NT$   NT$   US$   NT$   NT$   US$
    (in millions)
Cash Flow Data:                                                                
Capital expenditures     (39,029.5 )     (29,142.7 )     (39,599.0 )     (30,280.1 )     (968.3 )     (24,695.3 )     (20,391.1 )     (652.1 )
Depreciation and amortization     23,435.9       25,470.9       26,350.8       29,518.7       944.0       22,172.2       22,038.6       704.8  
Net cash inflow from operating activities     33,038.0       41,296.0       45,863.5       57,548.3       1,840.4       34,303.8       36,712.1       1,174.0  
Net cash outflow from investing activities     (43,817.8 )     (29,925.8 )     (38,817.9 )     (63,351.4 )     (2,025.9 )     (57,691.9 )     (37,137.2 )     (1,187.6 )
Net cash inflow (outflow) from financing activities     8,455.8       12,794.9       (2,797.0 )     8,636.3       276.2       12,187.3       (11,839.8 )     (378.6 )

 

Selected Consolidated Financial Data of SPIL

 

The following sets forth summary historical consolidated financial information of SPIL for each of the four years ended December 31, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 and for each of the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2016. The selected consolidated financial data of SPIL as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 and for the three year ended December 31, 2015 has been derived from SPIL’s audited consolidated financial statements, included in its annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the SEC, which is incorporated by reference into this registration statement. The selected consolidated financial data as of December 31, 2012 and 2013 and for the year ended December 31, 2012 is derived from SPIL’s audited consolidated financial statements not included or incorporated herein. The selected historical consolidated statement of operations data for each of the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 and the consolidated balance sheet data as of September 2016 have been derived from SPIL’s unaudited consolidated financial statements for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2016 contained in SPIL’s interim report on Form 6-K furnished with the SEC on November 22, 2016, which is incorporated by reference into this registration statement. Pursuant to the transitional relief granted by the SEC in respect of the first-time application of IFRS, financial and operating data as of and for the year ended December 31, 2011 derived from SPIL’s consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have not been included below. The information set forth below is not necessarily indicative of future results and should be read in conjunction with “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” and the consolidated financial statements, related notes and other financial information included in the SPIL’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015 (“SPIL 2015 20-F”), which are incorporated into this proxy statement/prospectus by reference. For more information, see the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

SPIL first started preparing its audited consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS starting from January 1, 2013. Historical financial data as of and for the years ended December 31, 2011 derived from SPIL’s consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with ROC GAAP with reconciliation to US GAAP has not been included below, as such information is not available on a basis that is consistent with the consolidated financial information for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 and cannot be obtained without unreasonable effort or expense.

 

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The historical financial information as of September 30, 2016 and for each of the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2016 has been derived from SPIL’s unaudited consolidated financial statements, prepared in accordance with IFRS and contained in SPIL’s interim report on Form 6-K furnished with the SEC on November 22, 2016, which is incorporated into this proxy statement/prospectus by reference.

 

    For the Year Ended
December 31,
  For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
IFRS   2012   2014   2015   2015   2016
    NT$   NT$   NT$   NT$   US$   NT$   NT$   US$
    (in millions, except earnings per SPIL Common Share and per SPIL ADS data)
Statement of Comprehensive Income Data:                                
Operating revenues     64,654.6       69,356.2       83,071.4       82,839.9       2,649.2       62,075.0       62,934.4       2,012.6  
Operating costs     (52,915.6 )     (54,925.7 )     (62,081.3 )     (61,230.6 )     (1,958.1 )     (45,908.0 )     (48,812.5 )     (1,561.0 )
Gross profit     11,739.0       14,430.5       20,990.1       21,609.3       691.1       16,167.0       14,121.9       451.6  
Operating expenses     (5,351.2 )     (7,391.6 )     (7,169.0 )     (8,354.8 )     (267.2 )     (6,173.3 )     (6,377.4 )     (203.9 )
Other operating income and expenses, net     4.6       61.2       284.3       (255.8 )     (8.2 )     (253.7 )     (184.9 )     (5.9 )
Profit from operations     6,392.4       7,100.1       14,105.4       12,998.7       415.7       9,740.0       7,559.6       241.8  
Non-operating income (expense), net     399.5       348.6       162.8       (2,621.2 )     (83.8 )     657.0       732.8       23.4  
Profit before income tax     6,791.9       7,448.7       14,268.2       10,377.5       331.9       10,397.0       8,292.4       265.2  
Income tax expense     (1,229.7 )     (1,606.7 )     (3,050.1 )     (1,366.0 )     (43.7 )     (1,180.7 )     (1,038.9 )     (33.2 )
Profit for the year     5,562.2       5,842.0       11,218.1       9,011.5       288.2       9,216.3       7,253.5       232.0  
Attributable to                                                                
Owners of the Company     5,562.2       5,842.0       11,218.1       9,011.5       288.2       9.216.3       7.253.5       232.0  
Non-controlling interests                                                
      5,562.2       5,842.0       11,218.1       9,011.5       288.2      

9.216.3

     

7.253.5

      232.0  
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax     (223.3 )     1,058.9       3,293.4       (906.8 )     (29.0 )     (2,330.7 )     (1,518.5 )     (48.6 )
Total comprehensive income for the year     5,338.9       6,900.9       14,511.5       8,104.7       259.2       6,885.6       5,735.0       183.4  

Attributable to 

                                                               
Owners of the Company     5,338.9       6,900.9       14,511.5       8,104.7       259.2       6,885.6       5,735.0       183.4  
Non-controlling interests                                                
      5,338.9       6,900.9       14,511.5       8,104.7       259.2       6,885.6       5,735.0       183.4  
Earnings per common share (1) :                                                                
Basic     1.81       1.89       3.60       2.89       0.09       2.96       2.33       0.07  
Diluted     1.80       1.87       3.57       2.86       0.09       2.70       1.84       0.06  
Dividends per common share (2)     1.67       1.80       3.00       3.80       0.12                    
Earnings per equivalent ADS (1) :                                                                
Basic     9.03       9.43       18.00       14.46       0.46       14.80       11.65       0.37  
Diluted     8.99       9.37       17.87       14.30       0.46       13.50       9.20       0.29  
Number of common shares:                                                                
Basic     3,078.3       3,098.2       3,116.4       3,116.4       3,116.4       3,116.4       3,116.4       3,116.4  
Diluted     3,094.2       3,116.6       3,139.5       3,150.1       3,150.1       3,407.3       3,403.9       3,403.9  
Number of equivalent ADSs                                                                
Basic     615.7       619.6       623.3       623.3       623.3       623.3       623.3       623.3  
Diluted     618.8       623.3       627.9       630.0       630.0       681.4       680.8       680.8  

 

 

Notes:

(1) The denominators for diluted earnings per SPIL Common Share and diluted earnings per equivalent SPIL ADS are calculated to account for the potential diluted factors, such as conversion of SPIL’s convertible bonds into SPIL Common Shares.
(2) Dividends per SPIL Common Share issued as a cash dividend and distribution from capital surplus.

 

 

    As of December 31,   As of September 30,
IFRS   2012   2013   2014   2015   2016   2016
    NT$   NT$   NT$   NT$   US$   NT$   US$
    (in millions)
Balance Sheet Data:                                                        
Current assets     33,445.6       37,825.1       55,207.9       48,785.2       1,560.1       44,914.8       1,436.4  
Investments - non-current (1)     6,068.1       6,703.0       9,076.3       8,049.1       257.4       7,028.9       224.8  
Property, plant and equipment, net     49,927.4       55,196.8       63,520.7       64,305.6       2,056.5       66,331.5       2,121.2  
Intangible assets     516.1       355.3       249.2       192.8       6.2       181.0       5.8  
Long-term prepayment for lease                                          

 

 

 

15

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    As of December 31,   As of September 30,
IFRS   2012   2013   2014   2015   2016   2016
    NT$   NT$   NT$   NT$   US$   NT$   US$
    (in millions)
Others (2)     1,895.5       1,738.7       1,698.4       1,876.5       60.0       1,737.1       55.5  
Total assets     91,852.7       101,818.9       129,752.5       123,209.2       3,940.2       120,193.3       3,843.7  
Short-term debts (3)     2,468.4       2,533.9       2,690.3       2,790.1       89.2       2,665.6       85.2  
Current portion of long-term debts     3,148.6       3,154.2       6,970.1       5,991.1       191.6       4,972.7       159.0  
Long-term debts (4)     12,038.2       15,355.6       24,669.5       20,485.3       655.1       24,044.8       768.9  
Other liabilities (5)     15,279.4       18,903.5       24,648.8       24,413.5       780.8       25,088.2       802.4  
Total liabilities     32,934.6       39,947.2       58,978.7       53,680.0       1,716.7       56,771.3       1,815.5  
Share capital     31,163.6       31,163.6       31,163.6       31,163.6       996.6       31,163.6       996.6  
Non-controlling interests                                          
Equity attributable to owners of the Company     58,918.1       61,871.7       70,773.8       69,529.2       2,223.5       63,422.0       2,028.2  

_____________________

Notes: 

(1) Including available-for-sale financial assets — non-current and investments accounted for using the equity method.
(2) Including deferred tax assets, other financial assets — non-current and other non-current assets.
(3) Including short-term bank loans and short-term bills payable.
(4) Including convertible bonds and long-term loans
(5) Including current liabilities other than short-term debts and current portion of long-term debts, non-current liabilities other than longterm debts and current income tax liabilities.

 

    For the Year Ended  
December 31,
  For the Nine Months Ended  
September 30,
IFRS   2012   2014   2015   2015   2016
    NT$   NT$   NT$   NT$   US$   NT$   NT$   US$
    (in millions)
Cash Flow Data:                                                                
Capital expenditures     (15,142.3 )     (14,978.7 )     (19,560.7 )     (13,855.4 )     (443.1 )     (10,785.1 )     (11,858.8 )     (379.2 )
Depreciation and amortization     10,100.4       11,033.7       12,435.8       13,513.9       432.2       10,144.7       9,939.1       317.8  
Net cash inflow from operating activities     13,366.1       17,747.9       24,945.2       26,784.2       856.6       19,434.7       13,668.7       437.1  
Net cash outflow from investing activities     (15,872.4 )     (15,588.3 )     (19,243.8 )     (16,587.4 )     (530.5 )     (11,077.6 )     (10,607.1 )     (339.2 )
Net cash inflow (outflow) from financing activities     2,520.1       (1,150.3 )     7,292.2       (15,096.3 )     (482.8 )     (16,087.2 )     (8,751.1 )     (279.9 )

 

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges of SPIL

    Year Ended December 31,  

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

    2012   2013   2014   2015   2015   2016
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (1)     25.27       18.62       24.70       15.49       19.68       15.36  

___________________

Note:

(1) For purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of income before income tax expenses from continuing operations before adjustment for equity in losses of affiliated companies adding fixed charges and subtracting preference security dividend requirements of consolidated subsidiaries. Fixed charges consist of interest expensed, amortized discounts related to indebtedness, an estimate of the interest within rental expense and preference security dividend requirements of consolidated subsidiaries.

 

16

Table of Contents  

 

Net book value per share per SPIL Common Share

 

Based on SPIL’s financial statements as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, SPIL’s net book value per share as of September 30, 2016, calculated by dividing total shareholders’ equity by the number of SPIL Common Shares (including those represented by SPIL ADSs) outstanding, was NT$20.35 (US$0.65).

 

17

Table of Contents  

 

Selected Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Data

 

The following sets forth the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial data of HoldCo after giving effect to the Share Exchange of acquiring ASE and SPIL based upon the assumptions and adjustments described in the section entitled “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Financial Statements”.

 

The selected unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and for the year ended December 31, 2015 have been prepared to give effect to the Share Exchange as if it had occurred on January 1, 2015. The selected unaudited pro forma condensed balance sheet as of September 30, 2016 has been prepared to give effect to the Share Exchange as if it had been completed on September 30, 2016.

 

The selected pro forma condensed combined financial data, which is preliminary in nature, has been derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, the more detailed unaudited pro forma combined financial information of the combined company and the accompanying notes appearing in the section entitled “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Financial Statements.” The unaudited pro forma condensed financial statements have been presented in accordance with SEC Regulation S-X Article 11 and is not necessarily indicative of what the combined company’s financial position or results of operations actually would have been had the Share Exchange been completed as of the Effective Time. In addition, the selected unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial data does not purport to project the future financial position or operating results of the combined company.

 

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

    For the Nine Months
Ended
September 30, 2016,
  For the Year
Ended
December 31, 2015,
    (in millions, except for per share data)
    NT$   US$   NT$   US$
Operating revenue     260,689.9       8,336.7       366,142.4       11,709.1  
Profit from operations     22,507.4       719.8       33,452.2       1,069.8  
Profit     18,312.5       585.6       25,403.0       812.4  
Profit attributable to HoldCo     17,462.7       558.4       24,434.4       781.4  
Earnings per common share attributable to HoldCo common shareholders                                
Basic     4.41       0.14       6.17       0.20  
Diluted     4.07       0.13       6.13       0.20  
Earnings per ADS attributable to HoldCo common shareholders                                
Basic     22.04       0.70       30.84       0.99  
Diluted     20.35       0.65       30.66       0.98  

 

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet

 

    As of
September 30, 2016,
    (in millions, except for per share data)
    NT$   US$
Total assets     [●]       [●]  
Total liability     [●]       [●]  
Total equity     158,659.7       5,073.9  
Share capital     39,618.1       1,267.0  
Common shares     3,961,811,298       3,961,811,298  
Book value per share attributable to HoldCo common shareholders     37.30       1.19  
Book value per ADS attributable to HoldCo common shareholders     186.51       5.96  

 

 

18

 

Comparative Historical and Unaudited Pro Forma Per Share Data

 

The following tables set forth, as at the dates and for the periods indicated, comparative historical unaudited and pro forma unaudited combined per share financial information for HoldCo’s Common Shares. This information should be read in conjunction with, and the information is qualified in its entirety by, the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes of ASE and SPIL included in their respective annual reports on Form 20-F and interim reports on Form 6-K, incorporated herein by reference. See the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

The following pro forma information has been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and accordingly includes the effects of applying the acquisition method of accounting. This information is based on assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. You should not rely on the pro forma combined amounts as they are not necessarily indicative of the operating results or financial position that would have occurred if the Share Exchange had been completed as of the dates indicated, nor are they indicative of the future operating results or financial position of HoldCo.

 

The pro forma data included in the following tables assume that the Share Exchange had occurred on January 1, 2015 for results of operations purposes and on September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, for financial position purposes, and that the Share Exchange is accounted for by applying the acquisition method of accounting with ASE treated as the accounting acquirer and SPIL treated as the acquired company for financial reporting purposes.

 

    For the Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2016,
  For the Year Ended
December 31, 2015,
    NT$   US$   NT$   US$
Basic earnings per common share                
Historical of ASE     1.88       0.06       2.62       0.08  
Historical of SPIL     2.33       0.07       2.89       0.09  
Pro forma combined of HoldCo     4.41       0.14       6.17       0.20  
Diluted earnings per common share                                
Historical of ASE     1.58       0.05       2.51       0.08  
Historical of SPIL     1.84       0.06       2.86       0.09  
Pro forma combined of HoldCo     4.07       0.13       6.13       0.20  
Basic earnings per ADS                                
Historical of ASE     9.38       0.30       13.08       0.42  
Historical of SPIL     11.65       0.37       14.46       0.46  
Pro forma combined of HoldCo     22.04       0.70       30.84       0.99  
Diluted earnings per ADS                                
Historical of ASE     7.90       0.25       12.55       0.40  
Historical of SPIL     9.20       0.29       14.30       0.46  
Pro forma combined of HoldCo     20.35       0.65       30.66       0.98  
Dividends per common share                                
Historical of ASE     **               2.00       0.06  
Historical of SPIL     **               3.80 (1)     0.12  
Pro forma combined of HoldCo     **               **          

 

 

19

 

    As of September 30, 2016,
    NT$   US$
Book value per common share at period end        
Historical of ASE     18.76       0.60  
Historical of SPIL     20.35       0.65  
Pro forma combined of HoldCo     37.30       1.19  
Book value per ADS at period end                
Historical of ASE     93.78       3.00  
Historical of SPIL     101.76       3.25  
Pro forma combined of HoldCo     186.51       5.96  

_____________________

Note:

 

(1) Cash dividends include distribution from earnings and capital surplus.

 

 

20

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Financial Statements

 

The following sets forth the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements of HoldCo after giving effect to the Share Exchange and assumed borrowing of NT$[●] million and capital raising of NT$[●] million to fund the acquisition as described below in Notes 1 and 4 to Pro Forma Assumptions and Adjustments. The Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statements of Operations, which we refer to in this proxy statement/prospectus as the Pro Forma Statements of Operations, give effect to the Share Exchange as if ASE’s initial acquisitions of SPIL’s 33.29% shareholding and the subsequent acquisition of SPIL’s 66.71% shareholding which constitute acquisitions of 100% shareholding of SPIL had occurred on January 1, 2015. The “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet” gives effect to the Share Exchange as if it had been completed on September 30, 2016. The Pro Forma Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2016 combines the consolidated balance sheets of ASE and SPIL as of September 30, 2016. The Pro Forma Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2015 combines the results of operations of ASE and SPIL for the year ended December 31, 2015. The Pro Forma Statement of Operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 combines the results of operations of ASE and SPIL for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The historical consolidated financial information has been adjusted in the Pro Forma Financial Statements to reflect the pro forma impact of events that are directly attributable to the transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, factually supportable and, with respect to the Pro Forma Statements of Operations, are expected to have a continuing impact on the combined results.

 

The Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Statements have been prepared under IFRS for (i) the Share Exchange of ASE will be accounted as a legal reorganization of entities under common control and all assets and liabilities of ASE will be recorded on the books of HoldCo at the predecessor carrying amounts; (ii) the cash consideration paid by HoldCo pursuant to the Share Exchange in respect of SPIL will be accounted for by applying the acquisition method of accounting with ASE treated as the accounting acquirer and SPIL treated as the acquired company for financial reporting purposes. The acquisition method of accounting is dependent upon certain valuations and other studies that are in progress. Accordingly, the pro forma adjustments are preliminary, have been made solely for the purpose of preparing the Pro Forma Financial Statements and are subject to revision based on a final determination of fair value as of the date of acquisition. Differences between these preliminary estimates and the final acquisition accounting may have a material impact on the accompanying Pro Forma Financial Statements and HoldCo’s future results of operations and financial position.

 

The Pro Forma Financial Statements do not reflect any cost savings or associated costs to achieve such savings from operating efficiencies, synergies, debt refinancing or other restructuring that may result from the Share Exchange. The Pro Forma Financial Statements are not necessarily indicative of the operating results or financial position that would have occurred if the Share Exchange had been completed on the dates assumed, nor are they necessarily indicative of the future operating results or financial position of the combined company. In addition, the Pro Forma Financial Statements include adjustments which are preliminary and may be revised. There can be no assurance that such revisions will not result in material changes to the information presented.

 

The Pro Forma Financial Statements have been derived from and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes of ASE and SPIL included in their respective annual reports on Form 20-F and interim reports on Form 6-K, incorporated herein by reference.

 

21

ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations

 

For the year ended December 31, 2015

 

    ASE   SPIL   Pro Forma Adjustment   Notes   Pro Forma Results
    NT$   US$   NT$   US$   NT$   US$       NT$   US$
    (in millions, except per share data)
Operating revenues     283,302.5       9,059.9       82,839.9       2,649.2                         366,142.4       11,709.1  
Operating costs     (233,167.3 )     (7,456.6 )     (61,230.6 )     (1,958.1 )     (3,479.1 )     (111.3 )   5(a)     (297,877.0 )     (9,526.0 )
Gross profit     50,135.2       1,603.3       21,609.3       691.1       (3,479.1 )     (111.3 )         68,265.4       2,183.1  
Operating expenses     (25,250.6 )     (807.5 )     (8,354.8 )     (267.2 )     (700.5 )     (22.4 )   5(b)     (34,305.9 )     (1,097.1 )
Other operating income and expenses, net     (251.5 )     (8.0 )     (255.8 )     (8.2 )                     (507.3 )     (16.2 )
Profit from operations     24,633.1       787.8       12,998.7       415.7       (4,179.6 )     (133.7 )         33,452.2       1,069.8  
Non-operating income (expense), net     660.1       21.1       (2,621.2 )     (83.8 )     (411.0 )     (13.1 )   5(c)     (2,372.1 )     (75.8 )
Profit before income tax     25,293.2       808.9       10,377.5       331.9       (4,590.6 )     (146.8 )         31,080.1       994.0  
Income tax expense     (4,311.1 )     (137.9 )     (1,366.0 )     (43.7 )                     (5,677.1 )     (181.6 )
Profit     20,982.1       671.0       9,011.5       288.2       (4,590.6 )     (146.8 )         25,403.0       812.4  
Profit attributable to non-controlling interests     (968.6 )     (31.0 )                                 (968.6 )     (31.0 )
Profit attributable to the parent company     20,013.5       640.0       9,011.5       288.2       (4,590.6 )     (146.8 )         24,434.4       781.4  
Shares used in computing earnings per common share (in millions)                                                                    
Basic     7,652.8       7,652.8       3,116.4       3,116.4                     1     3,961.8       3,961.8  
Diluted     8,250.1       8,250.1       3,150.1       3,150.1                     1     3,961.8       3,961.8  
Earnings per common share                                                                    
Basic     2.62       0.08       2.89       0.09                           6.17       0.20  
Diluted     2.51       0.08       2.86       0.09                     5(j)     6.13       0.20  

 

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016

 

    ASE   SPIL   Pro Forma Adjustment   Notes   Pro Forma Results
    NT$   US$   NT$   US$   NT$   US$       NT$   US$
    (in millions, except per share data)
Operating revenues     197,755.5       6,324.1       62,934.4       2,012.6                       260,689.9       8,336.7  
Operating costs     (159,938.4 )     (5,114.8 )     (48,812.5 )     (1,561.0 )     (2,609.4 )     (83.4 )   5(d)     (211,360.3 )     (6,759.2 )
Gross profit     37,817.1       1,209.3       14,121.9       451.6       (2,609.4 )     (83.4 )         49,329.6       1,577.5  
Operating expenses     (19,241.5 )     (615.3 )     (6,377.4 )     (203.9 )     (314.1 )     (10.1 )   5(e)     (25,933.0 )     (829.3 )
Other operating income and expenses, net     (704.3 )     (22.5 )     (184.9 )     (5.9 )                     (889.2 )     (28.4 )
Profit from operations     17,871.3       571.5       7,559.6       241.8       (2,923.5 )     (93.5 )         22,507.4       719.8  
Non-operating income (expense), net     578.2       18.5       732.8       23.4       (1,237.0 )     (39.6 )   5(f)     74.0       2.3  

 

 

22

 

    ASE   SPIL   Pro Forma Adjustment   Notes   Pro Forma Results
    NT$   US$   NT$   US$   NT$   US$       NT$   US$
    (in millions, except per share data)
Profit before income tax     18,449.5       590.0       8,292.4       265.2       (4,160.5 )     (133.1 )         22,581.4       722.1  
Income tax expense     (3,230.0 )     (103.3 )     (1,038.9 )     (33.2 )                     (4,268.9 )     (136.5 )
Profit     15,219.5       486.7       7,253.5       232.0       (4,160.5 )     (133.1 )         18,312.5       585.6  
Profit attributable to non-controlling interests     (849.8 )     (27.2 )                                 (849.8 )     (27.2 )
Profit attributable to HoldCo     14,369.7       459.5       7,253.5       232.0       (4,160.5 )     (133.1 )         17,462.7       558.4  
Shares used in computing earnings per common share (in millions)                                                                    
Basic     7,658.5       7,658.5       3,116.4       3,116.4                     1     3,961.8       3,961.8  
Diluted     8,272.9       8,272.9       3,403.9       3,403.9                     1     3,961.8       3,961.8  
Earnings per common share                                                                    
Basic     1.88       0.06       2.33       0.07                           4.41       0.14  
Diluted     1.58       0.05       1.84       0.06                     5(j)     4.07       0.13  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements.

 

23

ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2016

 

    ASE   SPIL   Pro Forma Adjustment   Notes   Pro Forma Results
    NT$   US$   NT$   US$   NT$   US$       NT$   US$
    (in millions)
Current assets     143,369.2       4,584.9       44,914.8       1,436.4       [●]       [●]     4     175,726.2       5,619.6  
Investments - non-current     50,677.6       1,620.6       7,028.9       224.8       (45,675.0 )     (1,460.7 )   5(g)     12,031.5       384.8  
Property, plant and equipment, net     145,208.9       4,643.7       66,331.5       2,121.2       11,365.7       363.5     2     222,906.1       7,128.4  
Intangible assets     12,217.1       390.7       181.0       5.8       83,587.7       2,673.1     2     95,985.8       3,069.6  
Others     9,213.1       294.7       1,737.1       55.5       1,182.2       37.8     2     12,132.4       388.0  
Total assets     360,685.9       11,534.6       120,193.3       3,843.7      

[●]

     

[●]

          518,782.0       16,590.4  
Short-term debts     33,007.5       1,055.6       2,665.6       85.2       [●]       [●]     5(h)     [●]       [●]  
Current portion of long-term debts     15,657.7       500.7       4,972.7       159.0       -       -           20,630.4       659.8  
Long-term debts     70,812.9       2,264.6       24,044.8       768.9       [●]       [●]     5(h)     [●]       [●]  
Other liabilities     81,539.6       2,607.6       25,088.2       802.4      

[●]

     

[●]

    3    

[●]

     

[●]

 
Total liabilities     201,017.7       6,428.5       56,771.3       1,815.5      

[●]

     

[●]

         

[●]

     

[●]

 
Outstanding share capital     79,236.2       2,533.9       31,163.6       996.6       (70,781.7 )     (2,263.6 )   5(i)     39,618.1       1,267.0  
Other equity attributable to owners of the Company     69,374.4       2,218.6       32,258.4       1,031.6       6,351.2       203.1     5(i)     107,984.0       3,453.3  
Non-controlling interests     11,057.6       353.6                                   11,057.6       353.6  
Total equity     159,668.2       5,106.1       63,422.0       2,028.2       (64,430.5 )     (2,060.5 )         158,659.7       5,073.9  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity     360,685.9       11,534.6       120,193.3       3,843.7      

[●]

     

[●]

         

[●]

     

[●]

 
                                                                     

  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements.

 

24

Notes to PRO FORMA ASSUMPTIONS AND ADJUSTMENTS

 

1.       Total Share Exchange consideration and financing structure

 

On June 30, 2016, ASE and SPIL entered into a Joint Share Exchange Agreement pursuant to which HoldCo, will be formed by means of a statutory share exchange pursuant to the laws of the Republic of China, and HoldCo will (i) acquire all issued shares of ASE in exchange for shares of HoldCo using the Exchange Ratio whereby ASE shareholders will receive 0.5 HoldCo Common Shares for each ASE Common Share they hold as described elsewhere in this document, and (ii) acquire all issued shares of SPIL using the Cash Consideration as described below. Upon the consummation of the Share Exchange, ASE and SPIL will become wholly owned subsidiaries of HoldCo concurrently. Subject to the Share Exchange and the Joint Share Exchange Agreement being approved by shareholders of ASE and SPIL, and upon the satisfaction of the other conditions for completing the Share Exchange, HoldCo will be formed and the Share Exchange is expected to become effective.

 

HoldCo was assumed to issue 3,961,811,298 common shares at NT$10 par value (or share capital of NT$39,618.1 million) to ASE shareholders based on the number of issued shares of ASE on September 30, 2016. The estimated cash consideration paid to SPIL shareholders was NT$159,557.7 million based on the number of issued shares of SPIL on September 30, 2016 for NT$51.2 per share whereby NT$55 per share has been adjusted to NT$51.2 after excluding the cash dividend distribution and a return of capital reserve of NT$3.8 per SPIL Common Share distributed by SPIL on July 1, 2016.

 

The Cash Consideration will be subject to adjustments if SPIL issues shares or pays cash dividends during the period from the execution date of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement to the Effective Time, provided, however, that the Cash Consideration shall not be subject to adjustment if the aggregate amount of the cash dividends distributed by SPIL in fiscal year 2017 is less than 85% of its after-tax net profit for fiscal year 2016.

 

Since ASE currently owns 33.29% shareholding of SPIL, for the purpose of presenting the accompanying pro forma combined balance sheet as of September 30, 2016, the cash consideration of NT$106,441.0 million, which represents the amount to acquire the remaining 66.71% shareholding, was assumed to be funded by NT$ [ · ] million from ASE’s existing cash and NT$ [ · ] million financed from banks recorded as short-term and long-term debts. For the purpose of presenting the accompany pro forma combined Statements of Operations, it was assumed that ASE’s initial acquisition of SPIL’s 33.29% shareholding and the subsequent acquisition of SPIL’s 66.71% shareholding which constitute acquisitions of 100% shareholding of SPIL had occurred on January 1, 2015.

 

  2.       Preliminary estimated purchase price allocation

 

The pro forma combined financial statements reflect the following estimated acquisition-date fair value of tangible assets, liabilities, and other intangible assets of SPIL.

 

    Book Value   Fair Value Adjustments   Fair Value
    (in NT$ millions)
Current assets     44,914.8             44,914.8  
Investments - non-current     7,028.9             7,028.9  
Property, plant and equipment, net     66,331.5       11,365.7       77,697.2  
Intangible assets     181.0       26,300.0       26,481.0  
Goodwill           57,287.7       57,287.7  
Other noncurrent assets     1,737.1       1,182.3       2,919.4  
Short-term debts     2,665.6             2,665.6  
Current portion of long-term debts     4,972.7             4,972.7  
Long-term debts     24,044.8             24,044.8  
Other liabilities     25,088.2             25,088.2  
Total estimated purchase price consideration                     159,557.7  

 

25

Purchased property, plant and equipment and identified intangible assets are being depreciated or amortized on a straight-line basis over its weighted-average remaining useful life of approximately 10 years.

 

The estimated fair values and useful lives of assets acquired and liabilities assumed are based on preliminary management estimates and are subject to final valuation adjustments, which may cause some of the amounts ultimately recorded as goodwill to be materially different from those shown on the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheets. The acquisition accounting is dependent upon certain valuations and other studies that have yet to progress to a stage where there is sufficient information for definitive measurement. HoldCo intends to complete the valuations and other studies no later than a one-year measurement period following the Effective Time in accordance with IFRS.

 

For the purposes of this unaudited pro forma financial information, it has been assumed that the fair value evaluation was performed at the Effective Time, September 30, 2016, and the related assumption or calculation was as below.

 

(i) Property, plant and equipment, net:

 

The fair value adjustment of property, plant and equipment is NT$11,365.7 million (US$363.5 million).

 

The weighted-average remaining useful life of property, plant and equipment is approximately 10 years, and the estimated depreciation is NT$1,508.5 million (US$48.2 million) and NT$1,131.3 million (US$36.2 million) reflected as a pro forma adjustment under operating costs in the Pro Forma Statements of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2015 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. The actual depreciation may differ significantly between periods based upon the final value assigned and the depreciation period used for property, plant and equipment.

 

(ii) Intangible assets:

 

For purposes of these Pro Forma Financial Statements, preliminary identifiable intangible assets consist of an estimated NT$7,800.0 million (US$249.4 million) for customer relationships and NT$18,500.0 million (US$591.6 million) for patented technology. These identifiable intangible assets are finite-lived intangible assets with useful life of 10 years.

 

The estimated amortization related to these intangible assets is NT$1,947.3 million (US$62.3 million) and NT$795.9 million (US$25.5 million) reflected as a pro forma adjustment under operating costs and operating expenses in the Pro Forma Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2015, respectively, and NT$1,460.6 million (US$46.7 million) and NT$596.9 million (US$19.1 million) as a pro forma adjustment under operating costs and operating expenses in the Pro Forma Statement of Operations for nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. The actual amortization may differ significantly between periods based upon the final value assigned and the amortization period used for each identifiable intangible asset.

 

(iii) Goodwill:

 

Goodwill is calculated as the difference between the acquisition date fair value of the consideration expected to be transferred and the values assigned to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

 

(iv) Other non-current assets:

 

The fair value adjustment of land use rights is NT$1,182.2 million (US$37.8 million). The remaining useful life of land use right years are approximately 50 years, and the estimated amortization is NT$23.3 million (US$0.7 million) and NT$17.5 million (US$0.6 million) reflected as a pro forma adjustment under operating costs in the Pro Forma Statements of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2015 and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.

 

26

3.       SPIL Acquisition and Share Exchange cost

 

Total cost related to SPIL acquisition and the Share Exchange cost are estimated at approximately NT$[ · ] million including (1) NT$95.4 million and NT$282.8 million incurred during the year ended December 31, 2015 and the nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively and (2) NT$[ · ] million that are not incurred as of September 30, 2016. Such costs include financial, accounting, legal and other consulting fees associated until the completion of the Share Exchange. The costs of NT$[ · ] million (US$[ · ] million) not incurred as of September 30, 2016 have been reflected as a pro forma adjustment to retained earnings and other liabilities on the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2016.

 

4.       Interest cost

 

Interest expense in the Pro Forma Statements of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2015 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 has been adjusted as follows based on the expected sources of funding described as follows:

 

    Average Principal from January 1, 2015 to September 30, 2016   Effective Interest Rate   Interest Expense for the Year Ended December 31, 2015 Pro Forma Statement of Operations   Interest Expense for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 Pro Forma Statement of Operations
    (in NT$ million)
Bank loan     [●]       [●]      

[●]

     

[●]

 

 

The cash consideration of NT$106,441.0 million to acquire the remaining 66.71% shareholding of SPIL as described in Note 1 above was assumed to be funded by NT$[ · ] million from ASE’s existing cash and NT$[ · ] million financed from banks, For the purposes of calculating the pro forma interest expense, it was assumed that the bank loan of NT$[ · ] million was fully drawdown by HoldCo on January 1, 2015. The floating borrowing rate was assumed to be based on [ · ] % interest rate for time spend of the bank loan period for interest expense calculation. However, the final bank loan interest rate may differ from the rates in place when actually drawdown.

 

For the purposes of calculating the above interest expense, the effective interest rate also includes coordination and arrangement fees. A hypothetical change in interest rates of 0.125% would increase or decrease total interest expense of the Pro Forma Statements of Operations by approximately NT$[●] million (US$[●] million) and NT$[●] million (US$[●] million) for the year ended December 31, 2015 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.

 

For the purposes of this unaudited pro forma financial information, it has been assumed that the interest expense on the debt financing incurred to fund the Share Exchange will not be deductible for tax purposes. This assumption may be subject to change and may not be reflective of the deductions that will be available in future periods after completion of the Share Exchange.

 

5.       Pro Forma Adjustments

 

(a) Adjustment to recognize depreciation and amortization of the fair value adjustment on property, plant and equipment, patented technology and other noncurrent assets of NT$3,479.1 million (US$111.3 million) as described in Note 2 (i) (ii) (iv) above.

 

(b) Adjustment to recognize amortization of fair value adjustment on customer relationships of NT$795.9 million (US$25.5 million) as described in Note 2 (ii) above and to reverse of the incurred consulting fee related to the acquisition of SPIL as an equity method investment of NT$95.4 million (US$3.1 million).

 

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(c) Adjustment to (i) remove ASE’s share of profit of equity method associates in SPIL of NT$411.0 million (US$13.1 million); and accrue the interest expense of NT$[ · ] million (US$[ · ] million) as described in Note 4 above.

 

(d) Adjustment to recognize depreciation and amortization of the fair value adjustment on property, plant and equipment, patented technology and other noncurrent assets of NT$2,609.4 million (US$83.4 million) as described in Note 2 (i) (ii) (iv).

 

(e) Adjustment to recognize amortization of fair value adjustment on customer relationships of NT$596.9 million (US$19.1 million) as described in Note 2 (ii) above and to reverse the incurred consulting fee related to the acquisition of SPIL as equity method investment of NT$282.8 million (US$9.0 million).

 

(f) Adjustment to (i) remove ASE’s share of profit of equity method associates in SPIL of NT$1,237.0 million (US$39.6 million) and (ii) accrue the interest expense of NT$[ · ] million (US$[ · ] million) as described in Note 4 above.

 

(g) Adjustment to remove ASE’s investments accounted for using the equity method in SPIL as of September 30, 2016 under the assumption that HoldCo acquired a 100% shareholding in SPIL as of September 30, 2016.

 

(h) Adjustment to reflect the assumed HoldCo’s borrowing for the cash consideration of SPIL in the amount of NT$[ · ] million (US$[ · ] million) as described in Note 4 above.

 

(i) Adjustment to common shares and additional paid in capital in exchange for ASE Common Shares with HoldCo Common Shares using the share exchange ratio as described in Note 1 above and adjust the effect of derecognizing investment of equity method associate of SPIL as of September 30, 2016 to other equity under the assumption that HoldCo acquired 100% shareholding of SPIL as of September 30, 2016.

 

(j) Adjustment to reflect the potential diluted impact from stock options and convertible bonds issued by the subsidiaries of ASE and SPIL.

 

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Special Factors

 

Effects of the Share Exchange

 

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the ROC Company Law, at the Effective Time, HoldCo will acquire all issued shares of ASE and SPIL, and ASE and SPIL will become wholly owned subsidiaries of HoldCo concurrently.

 

The following chart depicts the organizational structure of each of ASE and SPIL before the Share Exchange as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus and immediately after the Effective Time.

 

Before the Share Exchange as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus:

 

 

Immediately after the Effective Time:

 

 

Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, at the Effective Time:

 

(i) for SPIL shareholders:

 

· each SPIL Common Share, par value NT$10 per share, issued immediately prior to the Effective Time (including SPIL’s treasury shares and the SPIL Common Shares beneficially owned by ASE), will be transferred to HoldCo in consideration for the right to receive NT$51.2, which represents NT$55 minus a cash dividend and a return of capital reserve of NT$3.8 per SPIL Common Share distributed by SPIL on July 1, 2016, payable by HoldCo in cash in NT dollars, without interest and net of any applicable withholding taxes; and

 

· each SPIL ADS will be cancelled in exchange for the right to receive through SPIL Depositary, the US dollar equivalent of NT$256 (representing five times of the SPIL Common Shares Cash Consideration) minus (i) all processing fees and expenses per SPIL ADS in relation to the conversion from NT dollars into US dollars, and (ii) US$0.05 per SPIL ADS cancellation fees pursuant to the terms of the SPIL Deposit Agreement payable in cash in US dollars, without interest and net of any applicable withholding taxes. Within three ROC business days after the Effective Time, SPIL Depositary will

 

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receive the aggregate amount of SPIL ADS Cash Consideration in NT dollars for all issued SPIL ADSs through SPIL’s share registrar. SPIL ADS Holders of record will receive the SPIL ADS Cash Consideration through SPIL Depositary upon surrendering their SPIL ADSs for cancellation to SPIL Depositary after the Effective Time.

 

The Cash Consideration will be subject to adjustments if SPIL issues shares or pays cash dividends during the period from the execution date of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement to the Effective Time, provided, however, that the Cash Consideration shall not be subject to adjustment if the aggregate amount of the cash dividends distributed by SPIL in fiscal year 2017 is less than 85% of its after-tax net profit for fiscal year 2016.

 

At the Effective Time, HoldCo will acquire all issued shares of SPIL, and therefore HoldCo would be entitled to all benefits resulting from its 100% ownership of SPIL, including all of SPIL’s net book value and net income or loss. Similarly, HoldCo would also bear all of the risk of losses generated by SPIL’s operations and any decrease in the value of SPIL after the Share Exchange. Upon consummation of the Share Exchange, SPIL would become a privately held corporation. Accordingly, former SPIL shareholders would not have the opportunity to participate in the earnings and growth of SPIL after the Share Exchange and would not have any right to vote on corporate matters. Similarly, former SPIL shareholders would not face the risk of losses generated by SPIL’s operations or decline in the value of SPIL after the Share Exchange. Further, the SPIL Common Shares would be delisted from the TWSE and SPIL ADSs would be delisted from NASDAQ and would become eligible for deregistration under the Exchange Act.

 

(ii) for ASE shareholders:

 

· each ASE Common Share, par value NT$10 per share, issued immediately prior to the Effective Time (including ASE’s treasury shares), will be transferred to HoldCo in consideration for the right to receive 0.5 HoldCo Common Shares; and

 

· each ASE ADS, currently representing five ASE Common Shares, will, after the Effective Time, represent the right to receive 1.25 HoldCo ADSs, each HoldCo ADS representing two HoldCo Common Shares, upon surrender for cancellation to the ASE Depositary after the Effective Time.

 

Under ROC law, if any fractional HoldCo Common Shares representing less than one common share would otherwise be allotted to former holders of ASE Common Shares in connection with the Share Exchange, those fractional shares will not be issued to those shareholders. Pursuant to the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, ASE will aggregate the fractional entitlements and sell the aggregated ASE Common Shares using the closing price of ASE Common Shares on the TWSE on the ninth (9 th ) ROC Trading Day prior to the Effective Time, to an appointee of the Chairman of HoldCo. The cash proceeds from the sale will be distributed to the former holders of ASE Common Shares by HoldCo on a proportionate basis in accordance with their respective fractions at the Effective Time. Under ROC law, ASE Common Shares and HoldCo Common Shares will be recorded in book-entry by the Taiwan Depository & Clearing Corporation. The HoldCo Common Shares entitlements as a result of the Share Exchange will be automatically recorded at ASE shareholders’ Taiwan Depository & Clearing Corporation account at the Effective Time of the Share Exchange, with no need for any additional action on ASE shareholders’ part.

 

Under the ASE Deposit Agreement, the ASE Depositary (Citibank) will only distribute whole HoldCo ADSs. The ASE Depositary will use commercially reasonable efforts to sell the fractional entitlements to HoldCo ADSs in the open market and will distribute the net cash proceeds to the holders of ASE ADSs entitled to it. After the Share Exchange becomes effective, the ASE Depositary will send a notice to all holders of ASE ADSs which specifies the manner in which ASE ADSs may be delivered to the ASE Depositary in exchange for HoldCo ADSs. A holder of ASE ADSs who delivers those ASE ADSs in the manner required will receive in exchange the applicable whole number of HoldCo ADSs. There is a US$0.02 cancellation fee per ASE ADS held, payable by holders of ASE ADSs, to the ASE Depositary in connection with the exchange of ASE ADSs for HoldCo ADSs.

 

At the Effective Time, HoldCo will acquire all issued shares of ASE. HoldCo would be entitled to all benefits resulting from its 100% ownership of ASE, including all of ASE’s net book value and net income or loss. Similarly, HoldCo would also bear all of the risk of losses generated by ASE’s operations and any decrease in the value of ASE after the Share Exchange. Upon consummation of the Share Exchange, ASE would become a privately held corporation. ASE Common Shares would be delisted from the TWSE and ASE ADSs would be delisted from NYSE and would become eligible for deregistration under the Exchange Act.

 

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At the Effective Time, former ASE shareholders will receive HoldCo Shares based on the Exchange Ratio. There are no material differences between the rights of holders of ASE Common Shares and the rights of holders of HoldCo Common Shares from a legal perspective. For so long as HoldCo has a class of securities (which include the HoldCo ADSs) listed on the NYSE, HoldCo will be subject to rules regarding corporate governance requirements of NYSE and the Exchange Act, the reporting requirements for foreign private issuers, and the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 including, for example, independence requirements for audit committee composition, annual certification requirements and auditor independence rules, unless certain circumstances change. HoldCo will be required to disclose any significant ways in which its corporate governance practices differ from those followed by U.S. domestic companies under NYSE’s listing standards. To the extent possible under the ROC law and the arrangement contemplated by the HoldCo Deposit Agreement, HoldCo’s corporate governance practices are expected to be comparable to those of ASE.

 

The issuance of HoldCo Common Shares in connection with the Share Exchange to U.S. holders of ASE Common Shares has been registered under the Securities Act. Accordingly, there will be no restrictions under the Securities Act upon the resale or transfer of such shares by U.S. shareholders of ASE except for those shareholders, if any, who are deemed to be “affiliates” of ASE, as such term is used in Rule 144 under the Securities Act. Persons who may be deemed to be affiliates of ASE generally include individuals who, or entities that, directly or indirectly control, or are controlled by or are under common control with, ASE, With respect to those shareholders who may be deemed to be affiliates of ASE, Rule 144 place certain restrictions on the offer and sale within the United States or to U.S. persons of HoldCo Common Shares that may be received by them pursuant to the Share Exchange. This prospectus does not cover resales of shares of HoldCo Common Shares received by any person who may be deemed to be an affiliate of ASE.

 

Background of the Share Exchange; Past Contacts; Negotiations

 

Events leading to the execution of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement described in this “Background of the Share Exchange; Past Contacts; Negotiations” section occurred in various locations that regularly included Taiwan, United States and Hong Kong. As a result, Taiwan Standard Time is used for all dates and times given.

 

The ASE Board and senior management of ASE regularly review and assess ASE’s operations, performance, prospects and strategic direction. Prior to its announcement of the Initial ASE Tender Offers in August 2015, ASE believed that in light of the increase in competition and the consolidation trends in the global semiconductor industry, an investment in SPIL would present attractive opportunities. At that time, in ASE’s view, the SPIL Common Shares and SPIL ADSs represented an attractive investment from a financial perspective. In addition, ASE hoped that an investment in SPIL might facilitate future cooperation opportunities with SPIL, in a manner consistent with all applicable laws, in an effort to maintain and promote the competitiveness of ASE.

 

On August 21, 2015, ASE announced that it planned to commence, on August 24, 2015, the Initial ASE Tender Offers at a price of NT$45 per SPIL Common Share and NT$225 per SPIL ADS for 779,000,000 SPIL Common Shares (including those represented by SPIL ADSs), which represented approximately 24.99% of the issued and outstanding share capital of SPIL.

 

On August 24, 2015, ASE commenced the Initial ASE Tender Offers. On the same day, SPIL announced that it had formed a review committee consisting of its independent directors to evaluate the Initial ASE Tender Offers.

 

On August 28, 2015, SPIL issued a press release and filed a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (as amended, the “First Schedule 14D-9”) with the SEC in which the SPIL Board recommended that SPIL shareholders reject the Initial ASE Tender Offers and not tender any SPIL Common Shares or SPIL ADSs into the Initial ASE Tender Offers.

 

The First Schedule 14D-9 further disclosed that, on August 28, 2015, SPIL had entered into a letter of intent with Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. (“Hon Hai”) pursuant to which (i) SPIL would issue 840,600,000 SPIL Common Shares in exchange for 359,230,769 common shares issued by Hon Hai, representing approximately 21.24% and 2.20% of the issued and outstanding share capital of SPIL and Hon Hai, respectively (the “Hon Hai Share Exchange”), and (ii) SPIL and Hon Hai would cooperate on certain commercial matters.

 

The Hon Hai Share Exchange would have required an increase in the authorized but unissued capital of SPIL (the “Capital Increase”) and amendments to SPIL’s acquisition and disposition procedures (the “By-Law

 

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Amendments”), which would have required the approval of SPIL’s shareholders at an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting (the “First EGM”). On August 28, 2015, SPIL called the First EGM to be held on October 15, 2015, and set a record date of September 15, 2015 for the First EGM, which date was prior to the expiration and closing of the Initial ASE Tender Offers. ASE was therefore not eligible to vote its SPIL Common Shares at the First EGM.

 

ASE publicly opposed the Hon Hai Share Exchange on the basis that it was not in the best interests of SPIL shareholders for various reasons, including that the Hon Hai Share Exchange would result in significant dilution for all SPIL shareholders and would bring no cash to SPIL or its shareholders.

 

The Initial ASE Tender Offers expired on September 22, 2015. Pursuant to the Initial ASE Tender Offers, there were validly tendered and not validly withdrawn a number of SPIL Common Shares and SPIL ADSs representing approximately 36.83% of the issued and outstanding share capital of SPIL. On September 23, 2015, ASE accepted for purchase SPIL Common Shares and SPIL ADSs representing approximately 24.99% of the issued and outstanding share capital of SPIL.

 

On September 22, 2015, ASE filed an injunction with the Taichung District Court seeking to enjoin the First EGM. Following the expiration of the Initial ASE Tender Offers, on September 23, 2015, ASE’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Jason C.S. Chang met with SPIL’s Chairman, Mr. Bough Lin, to express his regret that, due to certain legal limitations, ASE had not been able to discuss the Initial ASE Tender Offers with SPIL prior to its commencement. Mr. Chang also reiterated that the purpose of ASE’s investment was to explore avenues of mutual cooperation in the face of intensifying global competition and industry consolidation and that ASE strongly opposed the proposed Hon Hai Share Exchange.

 

On September 28, 2015 and October 1, 2015, ASE issued open letters to SPIL shareholders urging them to vote against the proposals to be voted on at the First EGM.

 

On October 1, 2015, pursuant to the Initial ASE Tender Offers, ASE closed its acquisition of, and paid for, 725,749,060 SPIL Common Shares and 10,650,188 SPIL ADSs, representing approximately 24.99% of the issued and outstanding share capital of SPIL.

 

Also on October 1, 2015, ASE filed a suit in the Taichung District Court seeking the invalidation of the SPIL Board’s resolution convening the First EGM.

 

On October 5, 2015, ASE issued a further open letter to SPIL shareholders urging them to vote against the proposals to be voted on at the First EGM, noting that two leading proxy advisors agreed with ASE’s recommendation.

 

On October 13, 2015, the Taichung District Court denied ASE’s petition seeking an injunction to enjoin SPIL’s First EGM.

 

On October 15, 2015, SPIL’s Capital Increase and By-Law Amendments were not approved by its shareholders at the First EGM.

 

Also on October 15, 2015, SPIL filed a suit in the Kaohsiung District Court (the “SPIL Kaohsiung Suit”) against ASE seeking the invalidation of the Initial ASE Tender Offers and confirmation that ASE did not, in SPIL’s view, have the right to be registered as a shareholder in SPIL’s shareholder register. ASE indicated publicly that it believed that this lawsuit was without merit. On the same day, ASE withdrew its suit seeking the invalidation of the SPIL Board’s resolution convening the First EGM. Subsequently, the Kaohsiung District Court revoked the SPIL Kaohsiung Suit on June 27, 2016.

 

On October 22, 2015 and on November 2, 2015, Mr. Chang sent letters to Mr. Lin reiterating that the purpose of ASE’s investment in SPIL was to establish a basis for possible future cooperation and that ASE wished to discuss and establish specific plans for such cooperation.

 

On November 4, 2015, Mr. Chang received a letter from Mr. Lin asserting that SPIL did not recognize ASE as a shareholder of SPIL and requesting that ASE provide a written undertaking prior to any discussions with SPIL that (i) if ASE became a shareholder of SPIL, ASE would maintain its financial investor status, and would not intervene and participate in or interfere with SPIL’s business operations, and would not nominate any person for appointment

 

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as a director of SPIL, and (ii) ASE would treat the communications and discussions between both parties as confidential, and would not disclose such information externally without SPIL’s consent.

 

On November 6, 2015, Mr. Chang sent a letter to Mr. Lin stating that ASE had lawfully acquired 779,000,000 SPIL Common Shares (including those represented by SPIL ADSs) upon completion of the Initial ASE Tender Offers and requesting a meeting before November 13, 2015 to discuss specific details of SPIL’s proposed undertaking and plans for potential cooperation.

 

On November 16, 2015, ASE filed an amendment to its report on Schedule 13D indicating that ASE had become increasingly concerned that the combination of SPIL’s open animosity to ASE, SPIL’s demonstrated willingness to consider ill-conceived transactions, and SPIL’s expressed desire to seek out one or more other opportunities with third parties, all posed a very real threat that SPIL would at some future date attempt to adopt one or more further defensive measures that could damage SPIL and ASE’s 24.99% interest therein.

 

The amendment noted that although ASE continued to seek avenues of cooperation with SPIL, and while no decision had been made, ASE believed that it needed to evaluate all possibilities available to it to protect its significant investment in SPIL and to react to any such defensive measures. Such possibilities included potential proposals to SPIL relating to cooperation or other potential transactions, influencing the management of SPIL, or further acquisitions of SPIL shares, whether in the market or through one or more tender offers.

 

On December 11, 2015, SPIL announced a potential transaction with Tsinghua Unigroup Ltd. (“Tsinghua” and the “Tsinghua Transaction”). Pursuant to the Tsinghua Transaction, if approved by SPIL shareholders, Tsinghua would purchase newly issued SPIL Common Shares by way of private placement at a price of NT$55 per SPIL Common Share. The Tsinghua Transaction would also have required SPIL shareholder approval. On the same date, SPIL announced that it planned to hold an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting on January 28, 2016 for shareholders to vote on the Tsinghua Transaction. Upon completion of the Tsinghua Transaction, Tsinghua would have owned 24.9% of SPIL’s then-outstanding Common Shares.

 

ASE believed that the Tsinghua Transaction was not in the best interests of SPIL’s shareholders and was a defensive and dilutive transaction that brought no cash to SPIL’s shareholders. On December 14, 2015, in order to protect its significant investment in SPIL in light of the Tsinghua Transaction and the reasons described above in relation to ASE’s November 16, 2015 amendment to its report on Schedule 13D, ASE submitted a written proposal to the SPIL Board proposing to acquire 100% of the remaining outstanding SPIL Common Shares for NT$55 per SPIL Common Share in cash and 100% of the remaining outstanding SPIL ADSs for NT$275 per SPIL ADS in cash (the “December 14, 2015 Proposal”). The December 14, 2015 Proposal was subject to execution and delivery of a mutually satisfactory definitive share exchange agreement containing customary terms and conditions and contingent on the termination or cancellation of the Tsinghua Transaction in accordance with its terms or applicable laws. ASE requested a written response from the SPIL Board by December 21, 2015 confirming whether or not SPIL was willing to discuss the December 14, 2015 Proposal.

 

On December 21, 2015, SPIL issued a press release stating that it would assess the December 14, 2015 Proposal and that it would be discussed at a meeting of the SPIL Board on December 28, 2015.

 

Based upon the foregoing and other factors, ASE determined that there was no realistic possibility of a cooperative dialogue with SPIL at ASE’s existing ownership level in SPIL and that there was a very real risk that SPIL would at some future date attempt to adopt one or more further defensive measures that could further damage the value of ASE’s investment. As a result, ASE concluded that it had no viable alternative other than to seek to increase its ownership stake in SPIL. On December 22, 2015, ASE announced that it planned to commence on December 29, 2015 tender offers in the ROC (the “Second ROC Offer”) and the United States (the “Second U.S. Offer,” together with the Second ROC Offer, the “Second ASE Tender Offers”) for up to 770,000,000 SPIL Common Shares, including those represented by SPIL ADSs, at a price of NT$55 per SPIL Common Share (and NT$275 per SPIL ADS), which represented approximately 24.71% of the issued and outstanding share capital of SPIL. In addition, ASE disclosed that if the Second ASE Tender Offers were consummated, subject to either (i) SPIL’s shareholders not approving the Tsinghua Transaction at the proposed extraordinary shareholders’ meeting on January 28, 2016 or (ii) SPIL terminating the Tsinghua Transaction in accordance with its terms or applicable law and cancelling the proposed extraordinary shareholders’ meeting, ASE would seek to cause SPIL to enter into a share exchange or other similar business combination with ASE pursuant to which ASE would acquire 100% of the shares of SPIL not owned by ASE (a “Proposed Combination”) for the consideration of NT$55 per SPIL Common

 

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Share and NT$275 per SPIL ADS (subject to adjustment if SPIL issued shares or cash dividends prior to the closing of such Proposed Combination). In order to implement a Proposed Combination, if the Second ASE Tender Offers were consummated, ASE intended to seek control of the SPIL Board. On the same date, SPIL issued a press release requesting that ASE cease its plan to commence the Second ASE Tender Offers and provide responses to certain questions as a precondition to any potential discussions on the December 14, 2015 Proposal. SPIL also announced on the same date that it planned to postpone the proposed extraordinary shareholders’ meeting that had been scheduled for January 28, 2016 to consider the Tsinghua Transaction.

 

On December 28, 2015, ASE announced that it intended, as previously announced, to commence the Second ASE Tender Offers on December 29, 2015 and that it believed that the Second ASE Tender Offers did not preclude any discussions with SPIL with respect to the December 14, 2015 Proposal. Accordingly, on December 29, 2015, ASE commenced the Second ASE Tender Offers.

 

On December 30, 2015, SPIL announced that it would convene meetings of a review committee and the SPIL Board in connection with the Second ASE Tender Offers.

 

On January 7, 2016, SPIL issued a press release and filed a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (as amended, the “Second Schedule 14D-9”) with the SEC announcing the SPIL Board recommendation, which it subsequently amended, that shareholders of SPIL consider the reservations of the review committee and the SPIL Board regarding the Second ASE Tender Offers, and further review the relevant risks before deciding individually whether or not to participate in the Second ASE Tender Offers.

 

On February 4, 2016, ASE extended the Second ASE Tender Offers until March 17, 2016 in order to permit the TFTC further time to review the Proposed Combination. The Second ASE Tender Offers had previously been scheduled to expire on February 16, 2016.

 

Between February 17, 2016 and March 9, 2016, ASE published various advertisements in newspapers in the ROC and made a series of shareholder communications in connection with the Second ASE Tender Offers. During this time, SPIL filed a number of amendments to the Second Schedule 14D-9 clarifying the scope of its recommendation in respect of the Second ASE Tender Offers.

 

On March 17, 2016, ASE announced that the Second ASE Tender Offers were unsuccessful, as ASE did not receive approval from the TFTC for the proposed combination between ASE and SPIL prior to the expiration of the Second ASE Tender Offers. Notwithstanding the failure of the Second ASE Tender Offers, ASE stated that it continued to seek to obtain control of SPIL, with the purpose of effecting an acquisition of 100% of the SPIL Common Shares and SPIL ADSs that ASE did not already own. In addition, ASE stated that it would otherwise continue to seek opportunities for cooperation with SPIL and would consider other possibilities, including further acquisitions of SPIL Common Shares.

 

On March 17, 2016, ASE disclosed that the TFTC was continuing to review the Proposed Combination. If the TFTC approved the Proposed Combination, ASE expected to continue to seek the support of SPIL shareholders in order to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding share capital of SPIL not owned by ASE. ASE further explained that, simultaneously with the acquisition of SPIL, ASE planned to establish a holding company in Taiwan that would hold 100% of the equity interests of both ASE and SPIL such that ASE and SPIL would be wholly owned subsidiaries of such holding company, which would maintain all current operations of ASE and SPIL in Taiwan.

 

Between March 24, 2016 and April 7, 2016, ASE acquired by way of market purchases additional SPIL Common Shares and SPIL ADSs amounting to an additional 8.29% of the issued and outstanding SPIL Common Shares (including those represented by SPIL ADSs) for an aggregate purchase price of NT$13.7 billion.

 

On April 17, 2016, Mr. Lin and Mr. Chang, together with executives of ASE and SPIL, had a meeting at which the possibility of a combination transaction was discussed. During the meeting, Mr. Lin and Mr. Chang discussed whether it would be in the best interests of the two companies and their respective shareholders for ASE and SPIL to explore the possibility of entering into a combination transaction.

 

Between April 25, 2016 and May 19, 2016, representatives of ASE and SPIL, together with their respective legal and financial advisors, held a series of in-person meetings and conference calls to discuss a variety of issues, and explore whether it would be possible to develop the terms of a possible share exchange transaction between

 

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ASE and SPIL (“Proposed Share Exchange”), including the structure, price, board composition of the new holding company after the Proposed Share Exchange, protection of SPIL’s employee rights and the timing of any announcement. ASE furnished SPIL with proposed draft transaction documents and presentation materials relating to the Proposed Share Exchange, which contemplated SPIL and ASE entering into a share exchange transaction at a price of NT$55.0 per SPIL Common Share and set forth the other terms of such transaction. There was no agreement with respect to the Proposed Share Exchange by the end of these meetings.

 

On April 28, 2016, SPIL issued a press release announcing the termination of the Tsinghua Transaction.

 

On May 26, 2016, the ASE Board held a meeting, in which members of ASE’s senior management participated, to discuss the draft Joint Share Exchange MOU and review the conclusions of ASE’s legal and financial advisors. In connection with the deliberations of the ASE Board, an independent public accounting firm engaged by ASE, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu, CPA, delivered to the ASE Board his oral opinion, which was confirmed by delivery of a written opinion dated May 25, 2016, that the cash consideration of NT$55.00 per SPIL Common Share and the exchange ratio pursuant to which ASE Common Shares would be exchanged for shares in the holding company, were reasonable and fair.

 

On May 26, 2016, ASE and SPIL issued a joint press release announcing the execution of the Joint Share Exchange MOU and setting a deadline for execution of a definitive Joint Share Exchange Agreement of June 25, 2016. Also on May 26 2016, Mr. Chang sent a letter to Mr. Lin reiterating his support for the proposed combination.

 

On May 27, 2016, ASE and SPIL clarified by respective press releases that the actual Cash Consideration of NT$55 per SPIL Common Share included the cash dividend and a returning of capital reserve of NT$3.8 per SPIL Common Share previously declared by SPIL, and that the adjusted Cash Consideration should be NT$51.2 per SPIL Share.

 

On June 3, 2016, Baker & McKenzie sent SPIL’s legal counsel Jones Day a proposed draft of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, which contemplated, among other things, that ASE would exchange all of ASE’s issued ASE Common Shares for shares in a newly formed holding company, and all issued SPIL Common Shares would be acquired for NT$55.00 per share in cash and NT$275 per SPIL ADS (prior to cash dividend and a returning of capital reserve adjustment) .

 

Between June 3, 2016 and June 24, 2016, representatives of ASE and SPIL, together with representatives of each of their legal and financial advisors, held a series of conference calls and in-person meetings to negotiate the terms of the draft Joint Share Exchange Agreement, including in relation to post-closing commitments of the surviving company, the timetable for the transaction and the requirements relating to obtaining regulatory approvals. During this period, ASE’s legal advisors Davis Polk and Baker & McKenzie exchanged multiple drafts of the draft Joint Share Exchange Agreement with SPIL’s legal advisors Simpson Thacher and Jones Day.

 

On June 24, 2016, ASE and SPIL executed a supplemental Joint Share Exchange MOU, extending the deadline for ASE and SPIL to execute a definitive agreement to June 30, 2016.

 

On June 30, 2016, the ASE audit committee unanimously determined that the draft Joint Share Exchange Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby were advisable, fair to and in the best interests of ASE and its shareholders and approved the draft Joint Share Exchange Agreement and the other transactions contemplated therein. Later that same day, the ASE Board met to discuss the draft Joint Share Exchange Agreement, in which members of ASE senior management participated. Prior to the meeting, members of the ASE Board had been provided with a set of meeting materials, including the draft Joint Share Exchange Agreement and certain financial analyses. In connection with the deliberations of the ASE Board, an independent expert engaged by ASE, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu, CPA, delivered to the ASE Board his oral opinion, which was confirmed by delivery of a written opinion dated June 29, 2016, that the consideration in the draft Joint Share Exchange Agreement of NT$55.00 per SPIL Common Share and NT$275 per SPIL ADS (prior to cash dividend and a returning of capital reserve adjustment) and the exchange ratio pursuant to which ASE Common Shares would be exchanged for shares in the holding company, were reasonable and fair.

 

On June 30, 2016, ASE and SPIL issued a joint press release announcing the execution of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement.

 

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Recommendation and Approval of the ASE Board and Reasons for the Share Exchange

 

By a vote at a meeting of the audit committee of ASE held on June 30, 2016 and by a subsequent vote at a meeting of the ASE Board held on the same date, the ASE Board and ASE’s audit committee unanimously determined that the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby were advisable, fair to and in the best interests of ASE and its shareholders and approved the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement. The ASE Board recommends that ASE shareholders vote “FOR” the approval of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and “FOR” the approval of the other proposals to be voted on at the ASE EGM.

 

In evaluating the proposed Share Exchange, the ASE Board consulted with ASE’s management and legal advisors and independent experts and, in reaching its determination and recommendation, the ASE Board considered a number of factors. The ASE Board also consulted with outside legal counsel regarding its obligations, legal due diligence matters and the terms of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement.

 

Many of the factors considered supported the conclusion of ASE Board that the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby are advisable, fair to and in the best interests of ASE and its shareholders, including the following (not in any relative order of importance):

 

· continuing consolidation trend in the semiconductor industry and the intensifying competitive landscape in the semiconductor packaging and testing industry poses significant risks and uncertainties for ASE’s and SPIL’s business if each company continues to operate separately;

 

· the expectation that the combination of ASE and SPIL under the holding company structure will allow both companies to better utilize their total capacity to achieve broader service coverage across products and offer more innovative and complete solutions to their customers;

 

· that ASE and SPIL can pool their experience and know-how, as well as their respective existing product footprints for high-quality packaging and testing service solutions, which will allow customers to benefit from best technologies and also create incentives for other packaging and testing service providers to use similar production process;

 

· the expectation that the combination of ASE and SPIL will allow each company to have better insights to semiconductor customers and end markets to enable more accurate forecasting of customer demand and facilitate better planning and capacity investment, which would in turn allow ASE and SPIL the ability to execute and deliver on its business plans throughout the business cycle and in a semiconductor industry that is highly competitive, cyclical and subject to constant and rapid technological change;

 

· the opportunity to further expand ASE’s and SPIL’s global market reach and customer base leveraging a “dual-brand cross-selling operations” model and expand into other business areas of strategic importance;

 

· the expectation based on estimates by ASE’s and SPIL’s management that both companies can achieve significant synergies in research and development investments and capital expenditures as a result of reduction of duplicative investments, allowing for significant cost synergies and expended investment budgets;

 

· the expectation that the larger scale organization, greater marketing resources and financial strength of HoldCo will lead to improved opportunities for marketing and cross selling ASE’s and SPIL’s products after the combination;

 

· the holding company structure will allow HoldCo to focus on devising the group’s overall strategy and maximize interests of the group as a whole, while allowing each subsidiary, including ASE and SPIL, to concentrate on its particular business area and operations;

 

· the fact that the new holding company will function as the group’s overall resources allocation and strategic planning platform to achieve a more streamlined management structure among the group’s distinct business

 

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concentration area to further improve the group’s overall operational efficiency and solidify professional managerial function within each subsidiaries to ensure sustainable development of the group;

 

· the fact that ASE’s current shareholders will own approximately the same ownership and voting interest in HoldCo following the completion of the Share Exchange;

 

· the First Crowe Horwath Opinion, dated May 25, 2016, and the Second Crowe Horwath Opinion, dated June 29, 2016, to the ASE Board as to the fairness, from a financial point of view and as of the respective date of each opinion, to ASE, of the Cash Consideration to be paid by HoldCo to SPIL shareholders and the exchange ratio pursuant to which ASE shareholders will exchange their shares for HoldCo Shares pursuant to the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, which opinions were based on and subject to the assumptions made, procedures followed and matters considered in the review undertaken by Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu, CPA, as more fully described below in the section entitled “— Reports of ASE’s Independent Expert”; and

 

· the review by the ASE Board with its advisors of the structure of the proposed Share Exchange and the financial and other terms of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, including the parties’ representations, warranties and covenants, the conditions to their respective obligations and the termination provisions, as well as the likelihood of the completion of the proposed Share Exchange and the evaluation by the ASE Board of the likely time period necessary to complete the Share Exchange.

 

In the course of its deliberations, the ASE Board also considered a variety of risks and other potentially negative factors, including the following (not in any relative order of importance):

 

· the possibility that the Share Exchange may not be completed as a result of the failure to obtain the required approval from ASE shareholders or SPIL shareholders, the failure by ASE to obtain financing, or otherwise, or that completion may be unduly delayed for reasons beyond the control of ASE and/or SPIL, including the potential length of the regulatory review process and the risk that applicable antitrust and competition authorities may prohibit or enjoin the Share Exchange or otherwise impose unanticipated conditions on ASE and/or SPIL, in order to obtain clearance for the Share Exchange, and the effect the resulting termination of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement may have on the trading price of the ASE Common Shares and ASE’s operating results, including ASE’s potential obligation to pay SPIL a liquidated damages in the amount of NT$8.5 billion (US$0.3 billion), as described in the section entitled “The Joint Share Exchange Agreement — Termination Fees” ;

 

· the possible disruption to ASE’s business that may result from the Share Exchange, including the potential for diversion of management and employee attention from other strategic opportunities or operational matters and for increased employee attrition during the period prior to completion of the Share Exchange, and the potential effect of the Share Exchange on ASE’s business and relations with customers and suppliers;

 

· the adverse impact that business uncertainty pending completion of the Share Exchange could have on ASE’s ability to attract, retain and motivate key personnel;

 

· the difficulty and costs inherent in consolidating resources in ASE and SPIL under the holding company structure and the risk that anticipated strategic and other benefits to ASE and SPIL following completion of the Share Exchange, including the estimated cost savings and cost synergies described above, will not be realized or will take longer to realize than expected;

 

· the transaction costs to be incurred in connection with the Share Exchange;

 

· that failure to complete the Share Exchange could lead to negative perceptions among investors, potential investors, employees and customers;

 

· operational inefficiencies due to a layered corporate structure and valuation discounts as a result of the adoption of a holding company structure which may have an adverse effect on the trading value of HoldCo Common Shares or HoldCo ADSs; and

 

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· risks of the type and nature described in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

 

The ASE Board considered all of these factors as a whole and, on balance, concluded that overall, the potential benefits of the Share Exchange to ASE and its shareholders outweighed the risks which are mentioned above, and it supported the decision to approve the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement. The foregoing discussion of the information and factors considered by the ASE Board is not exhaustive. In view of the wide variety of factors considered by the ASE Board in connection with its evaluation of the proposed Share Exchange and the complexity of these matters, the ASE Board did not consider it practical to, nor did it attempt to, quantify, rank or otherwise assign relative weights to the specific factors that it considered in reaching its decision. Rather, the ASE Board viewed its decisions as being based on the totality of the information presented to it and the factors it considered. The ASE Board evaluated the factors described above, among others, and reached a consensus that the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby were advisable, fair to and in the best interests of ASE and its shareholders. In considering the factors described above and any other factors, individual members of the ASE Board may have viewed factors differently or given different weight or merit to different factors.

 

Interests of ASE in SPIL Common Shares and ADSs

 

On October 1, 2015, ASE closed its acquisition of, and paid for, 779,000,000 SPIL Common Shares (including those represented by SPIL ADSs) at a price of NT$45 per SPIL Common Share and NT$225 per SPIL ADS pursuant to the tender offers in the U.S. and in the ROC.

 

In March and April 2016, ASE acquired an additional 258,300,000 SPIL Common Shares (including those represented by SPIL ADSs) through open market purchases. The following table sets forth certain information relating to the aforesaid ASE’s open market purchases:

 

Period   Total Number of SPIL Common Shares Purchased   Average Price Paid Per SPIL Common Share (in NT$)   Range of Price Paid Per SPIL Common Share (in NT$)
March 24, 2016-March 30, 2016     201,547,740       53.16       51.80-54.00  
April 1, 2016-April 7, 2016     8,300,000       52.91       50.64-53.00  
Total:     209,847,740       -       -  

 

 

Period   Total Number of SPIL ADSs Purchased   Average Price Paid Per SPIL ADS (in US$)   Range of Price Paid Per SPIL ADS (in US$)
March 24, 2016-March 30, 2016     9,690,452       8.13       7.91-8.26  
Total:     9,690,452       -       -  

 

 

As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, (a) SPIL had an aggregate of 3,116,361,139 SPIL Common Shares including 193,389,945 SPIL Common Shares represented by SPIL ADSs, issued and outstanding; and (b) ASE held 988,847,740 SPIL Common Shares and 9,690,452 SPIL ADSs.

 

Except as set forth elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus: (a) none of ASE and, to ASE’s knowledge, any associate or majority-owned subsidiary of ASE beneficially owns or has a right to acquire any SPIL Common Shares, SPIL ADSs or other equity securities of SPIL; (b) none of ASE and, to ASE’s knowledge, any associate or majority-owned subsidiary of ASE has effected any transaction in SPIL Common Shares, SPIL ADSs or other equity securities of SPIL during the past 60 days; and (c) during the two years before the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, there have been no transactions between ASE, its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and SPIL or any of its executive officers, directors, controlling shareholders or affiliates, on the other hand, that would require reporting under SEC rules and regulations.

 

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Certain Financial Projections

 

ASE does not, as a matter of course, publicly disclose forecasts or internal projections as to future performance, earnings or other results due to, among other reasons, the uncertainty of the underlying assumptions and estimates. No financial projections were prepared by ASE or their advisors in connection with the Share Exchange.

 

Opinions of ASE’s Independent Expert

 

Crowe Horwath Opinions

 

On May 25, 2016, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu, CPA, of Crowe Horwath (TW) CPAs, an independent expert engaged by ASE, delivered to ASE its written opinion that the proposed exchange of each ASE Common Share for 0.5 HoldCo Common Shares and each SPIL Common Share for NT$55 in cash pursuant to the Share Exchange was fair and reasonable. On June 29, 2016, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu delivered to ASE another written opinion that the proposed exchange of each ASE Common Share for 0.5 HoldCo Common Shares and each SPIL Common Share for NT$55 in cash pursuant to the Share Exchange was fair and reasonable.

 

ASE selected Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu of Crowe Horwath (TW) CPAs to act as an independent expert to provide the Crowe Horwath Opinions in connection with the Share Exchange based on Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu’s reputation, experience in the Taiwan market and familiarity with ASE and its business. Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu is regularly engaged in the valuation of businesses and their securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions, private placements and related financings and valuations for corporate and other purposes for ROC corporations. Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu in the past has delivered opinions to ASE during the two-year period prior to date of the First Crowe Horwath Opinion in connection with (i) a spin-off transaction involving Universal Scientific Industrial Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of ASE, (ii) the Initial ASE Tender Offers, (iii) a private placement under which ASE sold its shareholdings in Universal Scientific Industrial Co., Ltd. to another subsidiary of ASE for corporate restructuring proposes, (iv) the proposal to SPIL to acquire 100% of its outstanding shares not owned by ASE in cash dated December 14, 2015 and (v) the Second ASE Tender Offers. Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu received aggregate compensation of NT$300,000 (US$9,594) in connection with these prior opinions and was paid an opinion fee of NT$60,000 (US$1,919) for each of the First Crowe Horwath Opinion and the Second Crowe Horwath Opinion. Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu may in the future deliver opinions to ASE, for which services Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu may receive compensation. No material limitations were imposed by ASE on Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu’s work in connection with the Share Exchange.

 

The full text of the English translation of the Crowe Horwath Opinions has been included in Annex B-1 and Annex B-2 to this proxy statement/prospectus. The Crowe Horwath Opinions will also be available for any interested ASE shareholder (or any representative of an ASE shareholder who has been so designated in writing) to inspect and copy at ASE’s principal executive offices during regular business hours. The Crowe Horwath Opinions outline the procedures followed, assumptions made, matters considered and qualifications and limitations on the review undertaken by Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu in rendering the Crowe Horwath Opinions. The descriptions of the Crowe Horwath Opinions set forth below are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of such opinions. Holders of ASE Common Shares or SPIL Shares are urged to read the entire opinion carefully in connection with their consideration of the Share Exchange.

 

The Crowe Horwath Opinions speak only as of the date of each such opinion. The Crowe Horwath Opinions were directed to ASE’s board of directors and are directed only to the fairness of the proposed exchange of each ASE Common Share for 0.5 HoldCo Common Shares and each SPIL Common Share for NT$55 in cash pursuant to the Share Exchange. They do not address the underlying business decision of ASE or SPIL to engage in the Share Exchange and do not constitute recommendation as to whether or not any holder of Common Shares should vote in favor of the Share Exchange at any shareholder meeting, or at all.

 

In connection with rendering the Crowe Horwath Opinions, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu reviewed and considered the audited or unaudited financial statements of ASE and SPIL for the years 2014, 2015 and the first quarter of 2016, relevant business overviews, financial statements, and other materials Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu deemed relevant and available to the public from, among other sources, the TWSE’s Market Observation Post System, the website of the TWSE, the website of the Taipei Exchange (GreTai Securities Market), the Commerce and Industry Registration Enquiry System of the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwan, the Taiwan Economic Journal (TEJ) Database, and comparison, analysis and historical stock price data of ASE, SPIL, and their peers compiled by Bloomberg. In performing its review, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu relied upon the accuracy and completeness of

 

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all of the financial and other information that was available to Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu from public sources or that was otherwise reviewed by Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu, and Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu assumed such accuracy and completeness for purposes of preparing the Crowe Horwath Opinions.

 

Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu expressed no opinion as to the trading values of ASE Common Shares or SPIL Shares after the date of each respective Opinion or what the value of ASE Common Shares or SPIL Shares will be upon consummation of the Share Exchange. Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu expressed no opinion as to any of the legal, accounting, and tax matters relating to the Share Exchange. The Crowe Horwath Opinions were necessarily based on financial, economic, market and other conditions as in effect on, and the information made available to Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu as of, the date of the respective Crowe Horwath Opinions. Events occurring after the date thereof could materially affect the Crowe Horwath Opinions. Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu has not undertaken to update, revise, reaffirm or withdraw the Crowe Horwath Opinions or otherwise comment upon events occurring after the date of the Crowe Horwath Opinions.

 

In rendering the Crowe Horwath Opinions, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu performed a variety of financial analyses. The following is a summary of the material analyses performed by Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu in each Opinion, but it is not a complete description of all the analyses underlying each Opinion. The summary includes information presented in tabular format. In order to fully understand the financial analyses, these tables must be read together with the accompanying text. The tables alone do not constitute a complete description of the financial analyses. The preparation of a fairness opinion is a complex process involving subjective judgments as to the most appropriate and relevant methods of financial analysis and the application of those methods to the particular circumstances. The process, therefore, is not necessarily susceptible to a partial analysis or summary description. Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu believes that its analyses must be considered as a whole and that selecting portions of the factors and analyses to be considered without considering all factors and analyses could create an incomplete view of the evaluation process underlying its opinion. Also, no company included in Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu’s comparative analyses described below is identical to SPIL and no transaction is identical to the Share Exchange. Accordingly, an analysis of comparable companies or transactions involves complex considerations and judgments concerning differences in financial and operating characteristics of the companies and other factors that could affect the public trading values of SPIL and the companies to which they are being compared.

 

First Crowe Horwath Opinion

 

Consideration for ASE Common Shares

 

Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu evaluated the proposed exchange of each ASE Common Share for 0.5 HoldCo Common Shares pursuant to Share Exchange. Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu used the equity attributable to owners of parent of ASE based on the audited or unaudited consolidated financial statements of ASE (NT$158,016,614,000 as of March 31, 2016) and the total issued ASE Common Shares based on the latest update from the Commerce and Industry Registration Enquiry System of Department of Commerce, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwan (7,918,272,896 as of April 26, 2016) to calculate a net book value per share of NT$19.956. Under the Share Exchange, 7,918,272,892 ASE Common Shares would result in 3,959,136,448 as of the Effective Time. The net book value per HoldCo Common Share was calculated based on ASE’s equity attributable to owners of parent as of March 31, 2016 to be NT$39.912 per share. Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu concluded that the shareholders’ equity for the holders of HoldCo Common Shares would not be impaired in any way by the exchange ratio of 0.5 HoldCo Common Shares for each ASE Common Share.

 

The fact that the net value of ASE’s equity attributable to owners of parent as of the Effective Time may vary from that as of March 31, 2016 was also considered. However, since the shareholders of ASE will contribute will contribute all the ASE Common Shares as of the Effective Time in exchange for all the HoldCo Common Shares, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu concluded that the shareholders’ equity for the holders of HoldCo Common Shares will not be affected as a result of the Share Exchange.

 

Based on this analysis, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu concluded that, as of May 25, 2016, the proposed exchange of each ASE Common Share for 0.5 HoldCo Common Shares pursuant to the Share Exchange was fair and reasonable.

 

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Consideration for SPIL Common Shares

 

Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu elected for a market approach as the primary evaluation method while taking into account other non-quantitative factors to evaluate the reasonableness of the proposed exchange of each SPIL Common Share for NT$55 in cash pursuant to the Share Exchange. Under the market approach, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu adopted a (i) market price method that analyzed historical market prices of the SPIL Common Shares; (ii) a price-book ratio method that applied the average price-to-book value ratios of the Comparison Group (as defined below) to SPIL’s book value for the quarter ended March 31, 2016; and (iii) a price-earnings ratio method that applied the average price to earnings per share ratios of the Comparison Group (as defined below) to SPIL’s earnings per share for the four quarters ended March 31, 2016. Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu determined not to use an income approach, which requires using a company’s estimates for future cash flows, because such an approach involves multiple assumptions and has a relatively higher level of uncertainty and lesser objectivity as compared to other valuation methods. In addition, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu determined that a cost approach was not appropriate for evaluation in light of SPIL’s operating model and capital structure, and therefore did not use such an approach.

 

Of the semiconductor manufacturing companies listed on the TWSE, three industry peers were selected for comparison based on relative similarities in customer attributes, business activities and business mode: ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES (Bermuda) LTD. (“ChipMOS”); Chipbond Technology Corporation (“Chipbond”); and Powertech Technology Inc. (“Powertech,” and together with ChipMOS and Chipbond, the “Comparison Group”).

 

In applying the market price method, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu used SPIL’s recent public trading prices for SPIL Common Shares to evaluate the average market closing price for 60, 90 and 180 business days up to, and including, May 25, 2016 to calculate a range of theoretical values for SPIL Common Shares as follows:

 

 
Items   Average Closing Price   Theoretical Price Range
    Prices in NT$
Latest 60 business days     49.18    
Latest 90 business days     50.04     47.13 - 50.04
Latest 180 business days     47.13      

__________________

Note: Sources of ex-rights/ex-dividend adjusted closing prices are from compilations of Taiwan Economic Journal (2015/8/28 - 2016/5/25); all average prices are calculated by simple arithmetic averaging.

 

As shown in the table above, based on the market price method, the theoretical value per SPIL Common Share falls in the range of NT$47.13 to NT$50.04, without taking any adjusting factors into account.

 

In applying the price-book ratio method, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu used the book value per SPIL Common Share and the average price-to-book value ratios of the Comparison Group along with average closing prices for 180 days up to, and including, May 25, 2016 to calculate price-to-book value ratios of the Comparison Group and to calculate a range of values for SPIL Common Shares as follows:

 

Comparing to Peer Companies   Average Closing Prices in Latest 180 Business Days   Net Value per Share for the First Half of 2016   Price-Book Value Ratio
    Prices in NT$
ChipMOS     32.53       21.20       1.53  
Chipbond     47.86       36.31       1.32  
Powertech     66.98       44.48       1.51  

__________________

Note: Sources of ex-rights/ex-dividend adjusted closing prices are from compilations of Taiwan Economic Journal (2015/8/28 - 2016/5/25); all average prices are calculated by simple arithmetic averaging.

 

Items   Descriptions
    Prices in NT$
Range of multipliers     1.32 - 1.53 times  
Net value per SPIL Common Share for the first quarter of 2016     23.23  
Theoretical price range     30.66 - 35.54  

 

 

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As shown in the table above, based on the price-to-book value ratio method, the theoretical price per SPIL Common Share falls in the range of NT$30.66 to NT$35.54, without taking any adjusting factors into account.

 

In applying the price-earnings ratio method, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu applied the price to earnings per share ratios of the Comparison Group (based on earnings per share for the four quarters ended March 31, 2016 and the average closing prices for 180 days up to, and including, May 25, 2016) to SPIL’s earnings per share for the four quarters ended March 31, 2016 to calculate a range of values for SPIL Common Shares as follows:

 

Comparing to Peer Companies   Average Closing Prices in Latest 180 Business Days   Earnings per Share in the Four Quarters Ended March 31, 2016   Price-Earnings Ratio
    Prices in NT$
ChipMOS     32.53       2.09       15.56  
Chipbond     47.86       2.64       18.13  
Powertech     66.98       5.37       12.47  

_____________________

Note: Sources of ex-rights/ex-dividend adjusted closing prices are from compilations of Taiwan Economic Journal (2015/8/28 - 2016/5/25); all average prices are calculated by simple arithmetic averaging.

 

Items   Descriptions
    Prices in NT$
Range of multipliers     12.47 – 18.13 times  
Consolidated earnings per SPIL Common Share     2.49  
Theoretical price range     31.05 – 45.14  

 

As shown in the table above, based on the price to earnings per share ratio method, the theoretical price range per SPIL Common Share falls in the range of NT$31.05 to NT$45.14, without taking any adjusting factors into account.

 

Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu, after taking into account certain non-quantitative key factors, weighted each of the three methods described above equally to obtain a theoretical price per SPIL Common Share, as set forth below:

 

Evaluation Method   Price Range per SPIL Common Share   Weight   Theoretical Price Range per SPIL Common Share
    Prices in NT$
Market price method   47.13 - 50.04     33.3 %  
Price-book ratio method   30.66 - 35.54     33.3 %   36.28 - 43.57
Price-earnings ratio method   31.05 - 45.14     33.3 %    

 

Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu then applied an adjustment of 33.24% to account for the average premium paid in mergers involving the global semiconductor industry since the third quarter of 2015. The adjusted price range per SPIL Common Share is presented in the table below:

 

Evaluation Method   Price Range per SPIL Common Share   Adjusted Price Range per SPIL Common Share
    Prices in NT$
The weighted average of the results under the market price, price-to-book and the price to earnings methods   36.28 - 43.57   48.34 - 58.05

 

On the basis of this analysis, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu concluded that, as of May 25, 2016, the reasonable price range per SPIL Common Share should be between NT$48.34 and NT$58.05 and the proposed exchange of each SPIL Common Share for NT$55 in cash pursuant to the Share Exchange was fair and reasonable.

 

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Second Crowe Horwath Opinion

 

Consideration for ASE Common Shares

 

Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu evaluated the proposed exchange of each ASE Common Share for 0.5 HoldCo Common Shares pursuant to Share Exchange. Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu used the equity attributable to owners of parent of ASE based on the audited or reviewed consolidated financial statements of ASE (NT$158,016,614,000 as of March 31, 2016) and the total issued ASE Common Shares based on the latest update from the Commerce and Industry Registration Enquiry System of Department of Commerce, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwan (7,918,272,896 as of April 26, 2016) to calculate a net book value per share of NT$19.956. Under the Share Exchange, 7,918,272,892 ASE Common Shares would result in 3,959,136,448 as of the Effective Time. The net book value per HoldCo Common Share was calculated based on ASE’s equity attributable to owners of parent as of March 31, 2016 to be NT$39.912 per share. Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu concluded that the shareholders’ equity for the holders of HoldCo Common Shares would not be impaired in any way by the exchange ratio of 0.5 HoldCo Common Shares for each ASE Common Share.

 

The fact that the net value of ASE’s equity attributable to owners of parent as of the Effective Time may vary from that as of March 31, 2016 was also considered. However, since the shareholders of ASE will contribute all the ASE Common Shares as of the Effective Time in exchange for all the HoldCo Common Shares, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu concluded that the shareholders’ equity for the holders of HoldCo Common Shares will not be affected as a result of the Share Exchange.

 

Based on this analysis, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu concluded that, as of June 29, 2016, the proposed exchange of each ASE Common Share for 0.5 HoldCo Common Shares pursuant to the Share Exchange was fair and reasonable.

 

Consideration for SPIL Common Shares

 

Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu elected for a market approach as the primary evaluation method while taking into account other non-quantitative factors to evaluate the reasonableness of the proposed exchange of each SPIL Common Share for the Cash Consideration pursuant to the Share Exchange. Under the market approach, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu adopted a (i) market price method that analyzed historical market prices of the SPIL Common Shares; (ii) a price-book ratio method that applied the average price-to-book value ratios of the Comparison Group (as defined below) to SPIL’s book value for the quarter ended March 31, 2016; and (iii) a price-earnings ratio method that applied the average price to earnings per share ratios of the Comparison Group to SPIL’s earnings per share for the four quarters ended March 31, 2016. Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu determined not to use an income approach, which requires using a company’s estimates for future cash flows, because such an approach involves multiple assumptions and has a relatively higher level of uncertainty and lesser objectivity as compared to other valuation methods. In addition, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu determined that a cost approach was not appropriate for evaluation in light of SPIL’s operating model and capital structure, and therefore did not use such an approach.

 

Of the semiconductor manufacturing companies listed on the TWSE, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu selected the Comparison Group for comparison based on relative similarities customer attributes, business activities and business model.

 

In applying the market price method, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu used SPIL’s recent public trading prices for SPIL Common Shares to evaluate the average market closing price for 60, 90 and 180 business days up to, and including, June 29, 2016 to calculate a range of theoretical values for SPIL Common Shares as follows:

 

Items   Average Closing Price   Theoretical Price Range
      Prices in NT$  
Latest 60 business days     46.25        
Latest 90 business days     46.45       45.05 – 46.45  
Latest 180 business days     45.05          

 

 

Note: Sources of ex-rights/ex-dividend adjusted closing prices are from compilations of Taiwan Economic Journal (2015/10/5 - 2016/6/29); all average prices are calculated by simple arithmetic averaging.

 

As shown in the table above, based on the market price method, the theoretical value per SPIL Common Share falls in the range of NT$45.05 to NT$46.45, without taking any adjusting factors into account.

 

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In applying the price-book ratio method, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu used the book value per SPIL Common Share and the average price-to-book value ratios of the Comparison Group along with average closing prices for 180 days up to, and including, June 29, 2016 to calculate price-to-book value ratios of the Comparison Group and to calculate a range of values for SPIL Common Shares as follows:

 

Comparing to Peer Companies   Average Closing Prices in Latest 180 Business Days   Net Value per Share for the First Half of 2016   Price-Book Value Ratio
      Prices in NT$
ChipMOS     32.53       21.20       1.53  
Chipbond     46.86       36.31       1.29  
Powertech     65.31       44.48       1.47  

____________________

Note: Sources of ex-rights/ex-dividend adjusted closing prices are from compilations of Taiwan Economic Journal (2015/10/5 - 2016/6/29); all average prices are calculated by simple arithmetic averaging.

 

Items   Descriptions
      Prices in NT$  
Range of multipliers     1.29 – 1.53 times  
Net value per SPIL Common Share for the first quarter of 2016     23.23  
Theoretical price range     29.97 – 35.54  

 

As shown in the table above, based on the price-to-book value ratio method, the theoretical price per SPIL Common Share falls in the range of NT$29.97 to NT$35.54, without taking any adjusting factors into account.

 

In applying the price-earnings ratio method, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu applied the price to earnings per share ratios of the Comparison Group (based on earnings per share for the four quarters ended March 31, 2016 and the average closing prices for 180 days up to, and including, June 29, 2016) to SPIL’s earnings per share for the four quarters ended March 31, 2016 to calculate a range of values for SPIL Common Shares as follows:

 

Comparing to Peer Companies   Average Closing Prices in Latest 180 Business Days   Earnings per Share in the Four Quarters Ended March 31, 2016   Price-Earnings Ratio
      Prices in NT$
ChipMOS     32.53       2.09       15.56  
Chipbond     46.86       2.64       17.75  
Powertech     65.31       5.37       12.16  

 

___________________

Note: Sources of ex-rights/ex-dividend adjusted closing prices are from compilations of Taiwan Economic Journal (2015/10/5 - 2016/6/29); all average prices are calculated by simple arithmetic averaging.

 

Items   Descriptions
      Prices in NT$  
Range of multipliers     12.16 – 17.75 times  
Consolidated earnings per SPIL Common Share     2.49  
Theoretical price range     30.28 – 44.20  

 

As shown in the table above, based on the price to earnings per share ratio method, the theoretical price range per SPIL Common Share falls in the range of NT$30.28 to NT$44.20, without taking any adjusting factors into account.

 

Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu, after taking into account certain non-quantitative key factors, weighted each of the three methods described above equally to obtain a theoretical price per SPIL Common Share, as set forth below:

 

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Evaluation Method   Price Range per SPIL Common Share   Weight   Theoretical Price Range per SPIL Common Share
    Prices in NT$
Market price method     45.05 – 46.45       33.3 %      
Price-book ratio method     29.97 – 35.54       33.3 %     35.10 – 42.06  
Price-earnings ratio method     30.28 – 44.20       33.3 %        

 

Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu then applied an adjustment of 33.86% to account for the average premium paid in mergers involving the global semiconductor industry since the third quarter of 2015. The adjusted price range per SPIL Common Share is presented in the table below:

 

Evaluation Method

Price Range per SPIL Common Share

Adjusted Price Range per SPIL Common Share

  Prices in NT$
The weighted average of the results under the market price, price-to-book and the price to earnings methods 35.10 – 42.06 46.98 – 56.30

 

On the basis of this analysis, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu concluded that, as of June 29, 2016, the reasonable price range per SPIL Common Share should be between NT$46.98 and NT$56.30 and the proposed exchange of each SPIL Common Share for the Cash Consideration pursuant to the Share Exchange was fair and reasonable.

 

Effects of the Share Exchange on ASE and SPIL

 

Private Ownership

 

SPIL ADSs are currently listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “SPIL.” It is expected that, immediately following the completion of the Share Exchange, SPIL will cease to be a publicly traded company and will instead become a privately held company wholly owned directly by HoldCo. Following the completion of the Share Exchange, SPIL ADSs will cease to be listed on NASDAQ, and price quotations with respect to sales of the SPIL ADSs in the public market will no longer be available. In addition, registration of the SPIL ADSs and the underlying SPIL Common Shares under the Exchange Act, will be terminated. After the Effective Time, SPIL will no longer be required to file periodic reports with the SEC or otherwise be subject to the U.S. federal securities laws, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, applicable to public companies. After the completion of the Share Exchange, SPIL shareholders will no longer enjoy the rights or protections that the U.S. federal securities laws provide.

 

Upon completion of the Share Exchange, each SPIL Common Share issued immediately prior to the Effective Time, including the shares beneficially owned by ASE and treasury shares of SPIL will be transferred to HoldCo in exchange for the right to receive the SPIL Common Shares Cash Consideration, and each SPIL ADS, including the ADSs beneficially owned by ASE, will represent the right to receive, through the SPIL ADS Depositary, the SPIL ADS Cash Consideration through SPIL ADS Depositary, respectively, without interest and net of any applicable withholding taxes. As a result, current shareholders of SPIL Common Shares and SPIL ADS holders, will no longer have any equity interest in, or be shareholders or American depositary share holders of the SPIL upon completion of the Share Exchange. As a result, holders of SPIL Common Shares and SPIL ADSs will not have the opportunity to participate in the earnings and growth of the SPIL and they will not have the right to vote on corporate matters following the completion of the Exchange. Similarly, holders of SPIL Common Shares and SPIL ADSs will not be exposed to the risk of loss in relation to their investment in SPIL.

 

Directors and Management of the Surviving Company

 

Upon completion of the Share Exchange, the directors of SPIL will continue to serve as directors for their respective terms, and ASE has undertaken to reelect or appoint the SPIL directors whose terms end in June 2017, if they have not been found to violate their respective fiduciary duties. Mr. Bough Lin, SPIL’s chairman, and Mr. Chi-Wen Tsai, SPIL’s president, are expected to serve as directors of HoldCo. The directors of SPIL are also authorized to retain the executive officers of the SPIL as long as the fiduciary duties of the directors can be discharged.

 

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Primary Benefits and Detriments of the Share Exchange

 

· The primary benefits of the Share Exchange to the holders of SPIL Common Shares and SPIL ADSs include, without limitation, the following:

 

· the NT$55 per SPIL Common Share cash consideration and the NT$275 per SPIL ADS cash consideration offered to the holders of SPIL Common Shares and ADSs, represent a premium of 8.9% and 12.3%, respectively, over the closing price of NT$50.5 per SPIL Common Share and $7.52 per SPIL ADS, respectively, on the SPIL Last Trading Day, and a premium of 17.4% and 10.3%, respectively, over SPIL’s one-month and three-month volume-weighted average price of NT$46.86 and NT$49.85, respectively, as quoted by the TWSE on the May 25, 2016, and a premium of 19.7% and 11.6%, respectively, over SPIL’s one-month and three-month volume-weighted average price of $7.06 and $7.57, respectively, as quoted by NASDAQ on the SPIL Last Trading Day; and

 

· the all-cash consideration, which will allow SPIL shareholders to immediately realize liquidity for their investment and provide them with certainty of the value of their SPIL Common Shares or SPIL ADSs.

 

The primary detriments of the Share Exchange to the holders of SPIL Common Shares and ADSs include, without limitation, the following:

 

· the shareholders and ADS holders will have no ongoing equity participation in SPIL following the Share Exchange, and that they will cease to participate in SPIL’s future earnings or growth, if any, or to benefit from increases, if any, in the value of the SPIL Shares, and will not participate in any potential future sale of SPIL to a third party or any potential recapitalization of SPIL which could include a dividend to shareholders;

 

· the inability to participate in any potential future sale of part or all of SPIL following the Share Exchange to one or more purchasers at a valuation higher than that being paid in the Share Exchange; and

 

· the taxability of an all cash transaction to our shareholders and ADS holders who are U.S. Holders (as defined below) for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

The primary benefits of the Share Exchange to ASE include the following:

 

· the combination of ASE and SPIL under the holding company structure will allow both companies to better utilize their total capacity to achieve broader service coverage across products and offer more innovative and complete solutions to their customers;

 

· the combination of ASE and SPIL will allow each company to have better insights to semiconductor customers and end markets to enable more accurate forecasting of customer demand and facilitate better planning and capacity investment, which would in turn allow ASE and SPIL the ability to execute and deliver on its business plans throughout the business cycle and in a semiconductor industry that is highly competitive, cyclical and subject to constant and rapid technological change;

 

· the expectation that the larger scale organization, greater marketing resources and financial strength of HoldCo will lead to improved opportunities for marketing and cross-selling ASE’s and SPIL’s products after the combination; and

 

· ASE’s current shareholders will own approximately the same ownership and voting interest in HoldCo’s following the completion of the Share Exchange.

 

The primary detriments of the Share Exchange to ASE include the following:

 

· the difficulty and costs inherent in consolidating resources in ASE and SPIL under the holding company structure and the risk that anticipated strategic and other benefits to ASE and SPIL following completion of the Share Exchange, including the estimated cost savings and cost synergies described above, will not be realized or will take longer to realize than expected; and

 

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· as to the Cash Consideration paid to SPIL shareholders in the Share Exchange, the financial interests of ASE are different to the financial interests of SPIL shareholders.

 

SPIL’s Net Book Value and Net Earnings

 

The table below sets out the indirect interest in SPIL’s net book value and net earnings for ASE before and after the Share Exchange, based on the historical net book value and net earnings of SPIL as of and for the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

Name

Ownership Prior to the Share Exchange

Ownership After the Share Exchange

 

Net Book Value

Earnings

Net Book Value

Earnings

  (in millions) % (in millions) % (in millions) % (in millions) %
NT$ US$ NT$ US$ NT$ US$ NT$ US$
ASE 21,113.2 675.2 33.29 2,414.7 77.2 33.29 63,422.0 2,028.2 100.00 7,253.5 232.0 100.00

 

Alternatives to the Share Exchange

 

Following the concerns reflected in ASE’s November 16, 2015 amendment to its report on Schedule 13D, ASE considered a number of alternative structures and approaches in order to maximize the value of its investment in SPIL. These alternatives involved launching the Second ASE Tender Offers or acquiring additional SPIL Common Shares through one or more market purchases or through one or more further tender offers. In addition, had the Second ASE Tender Offers been successfully consummated, ASE had intended to seek to discharge the SPIL Board at one or more shareholders’ meetings or await the expiration of the current SPIL Board’s term and elect new nominees to the SPIL Board, and to subsequently cause the SPIL Board to resolve in favor of a transaction proposed by ASE.

 

Following the commencement of discussions and negotiations between ASE and SPIL in April 2016, the boards and senior management of ASE and SPIL and their respective advisors considered alternative ways of structuring the transaction, including a direct acquisition by ASE of all SPIL Common Shares and SPIL ADSs. However, the boards and senior management of each of ASE and SPIL concluded that the Share Exchange and establishment of HoldCo was the best way to incentivize healthy internal competition and promote cooperation, improve each company’s operating efficiency, economies of scale as well as enhance research and development and innovation, and thereby create an environment of mutual assistance and win-win mentality, strengthening competitiveness and improving the performance of HoldCo, with the main goals of improving the quality of customer service, creating shareholders’ value and benefiting the employees.

 

Plans for SPIL after the Share Exchange

 

After the Effective Time, ASE and SPIL will become wholly owned subsidiaries of HoldCo. Prior to and upon completion of the Share Exchange, ASE and SPIL will own and continue to conduct their respective businesses that they currently conduct in substantially the same manner.

 

Other than as described in this proxy statement/prospectus, there are no present plans or proposals that relate to or would result in any of the following:

 

· an extraordinary corporate transaction involving SPIL’s corporate structure, business, or management, such as a merger, reorganization, liquidation or relocation of any material operations ;

 

· sale or transfer of a material amount of assets of SPIL or any of its subsidiaries; or

 

· any other material changes in SPIL’s business.

 

Upon the establishment of HoldCo, HoldCo Board will continue to evaluate the entire business and operations of HoldCo from time to time, and may propose or develop plans and proposals which it considers to be in the best interests of HoldCo and its shareholders, including the disposition or acquisition of material assets, alliances, joint ventures, and other forms of cooperation with third parties or other extraordinary transactions.

 

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Board of Directors and Management of HoldCo Following Completion of the Share Exchange

 

HoldCo has not come into existence before the Effective Time. The ASE EGM will function as the HoldCo incorporator’s meeting by operation of law. Therefore, at the ASE EGM, shareholders of ASE will elect the members of the board of directors and supervisors of HoldCo.

 

Under the terms of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, at the HoldCo incorporators’ meeting, nine to 13 directors and three supervisors will be elected for HoldCo, which terms of such directors and supervisors will start from Effective Time. SPIL’s Chairman and President should be appointed as directors on HoldCo’s board of directors. After completion of the Share Exchange, subject to ASE shareholders’ adopting the HoldCo director and supervisor election proposals, the board of directors of HoldCo is expected to include [●] (management director, Chairman), [●] (management director), [●] (management director), [●] (management director), [●] (management director), [●] (management director), [●] (management director), [●] (management director), [●] (management director), [●] (non-management director), [●] and [●]. [●], [●] and [●] are expected to be the supervisors of HoldCo.

 

From and after the Effective Time, the board of directors of HoldCo will establish an audit committee, which will consist of one non-management director, [●], who is expected to be independent under Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act and financially literate with accounting or related financial management expertise. ASE is currently, and upon completion of the Share Exchange, HoldCo will be, subject to NYSE corporate governance, as applicable to foreign private issuers. It is expected that the audit committee of HoldCo established at the Effective Time would satisfy and comply with the requirements of sections 303A.06 of the NYSE Listing Company Manual.

 

Under ROC law, companies that are newly incorporated by way of a statutory share exchange under the ROC Mergers and Acquisitions Act, including the Share Exchange, may only elect independent directors after the new holding company has been incorporated and that a separate shareholders’ meeting has been called upon to elect the independent directors. Therefore, it is expected that HoldCo will hold another shareholders’ meeting within a certain period after the Effective Time of the Share Exchange to elect the independent directors of HoldCo. The newly elected independent directors of HoldCo are expected to satisfy the independence standards under Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act as well as the independence standards under TWSE listing rules. It is expected that the three supervisors and the one non-management director previously elected at ASE EGM will retire from HoldCo at the time the new independent directors are elected. The audit committee of HoldCo will also be composed exclusively of the newly elected independent directors.

 

Financing of the Share Exchange

 

HoldCo intends to fund the Cash Consideration, which is an aggregate amount of approximately NT$173.16 billion (US$5.54 billion) (including the NT$51.2 per SPIL Common Share Cash Consideration payable to holders of the SPIL Convertible Bonds that have not been otherwise redeemed or repurchased by the SPIL, or cancelled or converted prior to the Effective Time), with a combination of ASE’s cash on hand and debt financing. Subject to the amount of cash on hand at the time when ASE arranges for financing, ASE may arrange bank loans up to NT$173 billion (US$5.53 billion) with a combination of a syndication loan of NT$120 billion (US$3.84 billion) and a short-term bridge loan of NT$53 billion (US$1.69 billion). In a highly confident letter dated November 7, 2016 issued by Citibank to ASE, Citibank stated that it is highly confident of its ability to arrange debt facilities for the Share Exchange up to an amount of US$3.8 billion equivalent, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in that letter. In another highly confident letter dated November 16, 2016 issued by DBS to ASE, DBS stated that it is confident of its ability to arrange debt facilities for the Share Exchange up to an amount of NT$53 billion (US$1.69 billion), subject to the terms and conditions set forth in that letter. In addition, ASE may enter into other arrangements or transactions, including through a capital increase in cash to reduce the amount of bank loans on or prior to the Effective Time.

 

Certain ROC and U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Share Exchange for Holders of ASE Common Shares or ADSs

 

ROC Taxation

 

The following is a summary of the principal ROC tax consequences of the Share Exchange and the ownership of HoldCo Common Shares to a non-resident individual or non-resident entity that owns ASE Common Shares and ultimately HoldCo Common Shares (a “non-ROC holder”) on the assumption that HoldCo Common Shares will be listed on the TWSE as scheduled. As used in the preceding sentence, a “non-resident individual” is a non-ROC national who owns ASE Common Shares or HoldCo Common Shares, as the case may be, and is not physically present in the ROC for 183 days or more during any calendar year, and a “non-resident entity” is a corporation or a non-corporate body that owns ASE’s common shares or HoldCo Common Shares, as the case may be, is organized under the law of a jurisdiction other than the ROC and has no fixed place of business or business agent in the ROC.

 

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The statements regarding ROC tax laws set forth below are based on the laws in force and applicable as of the date hereof, which are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis.

 

This summary is not exhaustive of all possible tax considerations, which may apply to a particular non-ROC holder and potential non-ROC holders are advised to satisfy themselves as to the overall tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of HoldCo Common Shares, including specifically the tax consequences under ROC law, the laws of the jurisdiction of which they are residents, and any tax treaty between ROC and their country of residence, by consulting their own tax advisors.

 

Tax Consequences Arising from the Share Exchange

 

Securities Transaction Tax

 

In the view of Baker & McKenzie, by reasonable interpretation of the ROC Mergers and Acquisitions Act based on current rules and regulations promulgated by ROC tax authority, ASE’s shareholders should not be subject to the ROC securities transaction tax upon the Share Exchange since such shareholders will receive solely HoldCo Common Shares as consideration for the Share Exchange. However, we cannot assure you that the ROC tax agency will agree. A transfer of shares in a share exchange is exempted from the securities transaction tax if at least 65% of the total consideration to be paid to shareholders is paid in certain equity shares, such as the HoldCo Common Shares. If, contrary to the view of Baker & McKenzie, the ROC tax agency successfully takes a different position and interprets the ROC Mergers and Acquisitions Act in a manner that the ROC tax agency considers the Cash Consideration as part of such total consideration, the share consideration paid to ASE shareholders will be lower than the 65% threshold and a securities transaction tax of 0.3% would be imposed on the transaction price of the Share Exchange. HoldCo intends to issue the share consideration to ASE shareholders at the Effective Time without deducting or withholding any ROC securities transaction tax. See the section entitled “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Owning HoldCo ADSs — A different view of the ROC tax agency from our current treatment of the ROC securities transaction tax might cause tax uncertainties to HoldCo shareholders” for further discussion.

 

Capital gains

 

Capital gains realized upon the Share Exchange are exempted from ROC income tax.

 

Tax Consequences of Owning the HoldCo’s Shares

 

Dividends

 

Dividends (whether in cash or common shares) declared by HoldCo out of retained earnings and distributed to a non-ROC holder are subject to ROC withholding tax, currently at a rate of 20% (unless a preferable tax rate is provided under a tax treaty between the ROC and the jurisdiction where the non-ROC holder is a resident) on the amount of the distribution (in the case of cash dividends) or on the par value of the distributed common shares (in the case of stock dividends). A 10% undistributed earning tax is imposed on a ROC company for its after-tax earnings generated after January 1, 1998 that are not distributed in the following year. The undistributed earning tax so paid by the ROC company will reduce the retained earnings available for future distributions. When HoldCo declares a dividend out of those retained earnings, an amount in respect of the undistributed earnings tax, up to a maximum amount of 5% of the dividend to be distributed, will be credited against the withholding tax imposed on the non-ROC holders.

 

Distributions of stock dividends out of capital reserves will not be subject to withholding tax, except under limited circumstances.

 

Capital Gains

 

Starting from January 1, 2016, capital gains realized upon the sale or other disposition of common shares are exempt from ROC income tax.

 

Sales of ADSs are not regarded as sales of ROC securities and thus any gains derived from transfers of ADSs by non-ROC holders are not currently subject to ROC income tax.

 

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Securities Transaction Tax

 

Securities transaction tax will be imposed on the seller at the rate of 0.3% of the transaction price upon a sale of common shares. Transfers of American depositary shares are not subject to the ROC securities transaction tax.

 

Subscription Rights

 

Distributions of statutory subscription rights for HoldCo Common Shares in compliance with the ROC Company Law are currently not subject to ROC tax. Sales of statutory subscription rights evidenced by securities are subject to the securities transaction tax, currently at the rate of 0.3% of the gross amount received. Proceeds derived from sales of statutory subscription rights, which are not evidenced by securities, are not subject to securities transaction tax but are subject to income tax at a fixed rate of 20% of the income if the seller is a non-ROC holder regardless of whether the non-ROC holder is an individual or entity. Subject to compliance with ROC laws, HoldCo, in its sole discretion, may determine whether statutory subscription rights are evidenced by securities.

 

Estate and Gift Tax

 

ROC estate tax is payable on any property within the ROC left by a deceased non-resident individual, and ROC gift tax is payable on any property within the ROC donated by a non-resident individual. Estate tax and gift tax are currently imposed at the rate of 10%. Under the ROC Estate and Gift Tax Act, common shares issued by ROC companies are deemed located in the ROC without regard to the location of the owner. It is unclear whether a holder of ADSs will be considered to own common shares for this purpose.

 

Tax Treaty

 

At present, the ROC has income tax treaties with Indonesia, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Gambia, Swaziland, Malaysia, Macedonia, the Netherlands, Senegal, Sweden, Belgium, Denmark, Israel, Vietnam, Paraguay, Hungary, France, India, Slovakia, Switzerland, Germany, Thailand, Kiribati, Luxembourg, Austria, Italy and Japan. These tax treaties may limit the rate of ROC withholding tax on dividends paid with respect to common shares issued by ROC companies. If a non-ROC holder of ADSs successfully proves to the ROC tax agency that he/she is the beneficial owner of common shares, such non-ROC holder will be considered as the beneficial owner of common shares for the purposes of such treaties. Holders of ADSs who wish to apply a reduced withholding tax rate that is provided under a tax treaty should consult their own tax advisers concerning such application. The United States does not have an income tax treaty with the ROC.

 

United States Taxation

 

In the opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, the following are material U.S. federal income tax consequences to the U.S. Holders described below of the Share Exchange and of owning and disposing of HoldCo ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares received in the Share Exchange, but it does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all tax considerations that may be relevant to a particular person’s decision to participate in the Share Exchange or own or dispose of such securities. This discussion applies only to U.S. Holders who hold ASE ADSs or ASE Common Shares, and will hold HoldCo ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares, as capital assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Except as otherwise stated, references to ADSs or Common Shares in this discussion refer to ASE ADSs or Common Shares prior to the Share Exchange and HoldCo ADSs or Common Shares thereafter. In addition, it does not describe all of the tax consequences that may be relevant in light of a U.S. Holder’s particular circumstances, including alternative minimum tax consequences or the Medicare contribution tax on net investment income, and tax consequences applicable to U.S. Holders subject to special rules, such as:

 

· certain financial institutions;

 

· dealers or certain traders in securities;

 

· persons holding ADSs or Common Shares as part of a “straddle” or integrated transaction or similar transaction or persons entering into a constructure sale with respect to ADSs or Common Shares;

 

· persons whose functional currency for U.S. federal income tax purposes is not the U.S. dollar;

 

· entities classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

 

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· tax-exempt entities;

 

· persons that own or are deemed to own 10% or more of our voting stock;

 

· persons who acquired or received ADSs or Common Shares pursuant to the exercise of an employee stock option or otherwise as compensation; or

 

· persons holding ADSs or Common Shares in connection with a trade or business conducted outside the United States.

 

In addition, this discussion does not address the U.S. federal income tax consequences to a person that will own, actually or constructively, 5% or more of the total voting power or the total value of HoldCo stock immediately after the Share Exchange. Any such person should consult its tax adviser concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Share Exchange in light of its particular circumstances, including the requirement to enter into a gain recognition agreement with the U.S. Treasury in order to defer the recognition of any gain realized on the Share Exchange.

 

If an entity that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes owns HoldCo ADSs or Common Shares, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Entities classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes and their partners should consult their tax advisers as to the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Share Exchange and owning and disposing of the ADSs or Common Shares.

 

This discussion is based on the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), administrative pronouncements, judicial decisions and final, temporary and proposed Treasury Regulations, all as of the date hereof and changes to any of which subsequent to the date of this Prospectus may affect the tax consequences described herein, possibly with retroactive effect. This discussion is also based, in part, on representations by ASE, the ASE Depositary and the HoldCo Depositary and assumes that each representation by ASE is and will remain true through the date of the Share Exchange and each obligation under the HoldCo Deposit Agreement and any related agreement will be performed in accordance with their terms.

 

As used herein, a “U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of ASE ADSs, ASE Common Shares, HoldCo ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

· a citizen or individual resident of the United States;

 

· a corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state therein or the District of Columbia; or

 

· an estate or trust the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source.

 

In general, a U.S. Holder who owns American depositary shares will be treated as the owner of the underlying common shares represented by those American depositary shares for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, no gain or loss will be recognized if a U.S. Holder exchanges ADSs for the underlying Common Shares represented by the relevant American depositary shares.

 

The U.S. Treasury has expressed concerns that parties to whom American depositary shares are released before the underlying shares are delivered to the depositary (“pre-release”), or intermediaries in the chain of ownership between holders of American depositary shares and the issuer of the security underlying the American depositary shares, may be taking actions that are inconsistent with the claiming of foreign tax credits by holders of American depositary shares. These actions would also be inconsistent with the claiming of the reduced rate of tax, described below, applicable to dividends received by certain non-corporate holders. Accordingly, the creditability of ROC taxes, and the availability of the reduced tax rate for dividends received by certain non-corporate U.S. Holders, each described below, could be affected by actions taken by such parties or intermediaries.

 

U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers concerning the U.S. federal, state, local, and foreign tax consequences of the Share Exchange and of owning and disposing of ADSs or Common Shares in their particular circumstances.

 

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Exchange of ADSs or common shares pursuant to the Joint Share Exchange Agreement

 

General

 

Except as otherwise described below under “— Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules,” a U.S. Holder will not recognize any gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes on the exchange of ASE ADSs or ASE Common Shares for HoldCo ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares, respectively, pursuant to the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, except to the extent of cash received in lieu of an entitlement to receive a fractional HoldCo ADS or a fractional HoldCo Common Share (a “fractional entitlement”) or cash received by a dissenting U.S. Holder, as described below. A U.S. Holder’s aggregate tax basis in its HoldCo ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares received pursuant to the Share Exchange will equal the aggregate tax basis that the U.S. Holder had in the ASE ADSs or ASE Common Shares immediately prior to the Share Exchange, less any tax basis that is allocable to a fractional entitlement. A U.S. Holder’s holding period for the HoldCo ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares received in the Share Exchange will include the holding period for the ASE ADSs or ASE Common Shares exchanged.

 

A U.S. Holder who receives cash in lieu of a fractional entitlement will recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount of cash received and the tax basis allocable to such fractional entitlement. Such capital gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if, as of the date of the Share Exchange, the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the relevant fractional entitlement exceeds one year.

 

Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules

 

As indicated in ASE’s filings on Form 20-F, ASE believes that it has not been a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes for any taxable year since the ASE ADSs were listed for trading on the NYSE in 2000, and ASE does not expect to be a PFIC for its current taxable year. However, ASE has not considered its PFIC status for any prior taxable year and ASE cannot provide assurance that it has not been a PFIC for any taxable year. Further, as discussed under “Tax Consequences of Owning of HoldCo ADSs and HoldCo Common Shares—Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules” below, HoldCo does not expect to be a PFIC for the current taxable year or in the foreseeable future. Under proposed Treasury regulations that are not yet effective but are proposed to be effective from April 11, 1992, if (i) ASE were a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder owned ASE ADSs or ASE Common Shares and (ii) HoldCo is not a PFIC for the taxable year that includes the day after the Share Exchange, then, notwithstanding the general U.S. federal income tax treatment of the Share Exchange described above, the U.S. Holder would be required to recognize any gain realized on the exchange of ASE ADSs or ASE Common Shares for HoldCo ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares. Such gain would be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the ASE ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares, as the case may be. The amounts allocated to the taxable year of the Share Exchange and to any year before ASE became a PFIC would be taxed as ordinary income. The amount allocated to each other taxable year would be subject to tax at the highest rate in effect for individuals or corporations, as appropriate, for that taxable year, and an interest charge would be imposed on the tax on such amounts. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding whether ASE may have been a PFIC in any year during which the U.S. Holder has held ASE ADSs or Common Shares and the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Share Exchange to the U.S. Holder.

 

Dissenting U.S. Holders

 

Provided that ASE was not a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder who exercises his/her/its dissenter’s rights (a “dissenting U.S. Holder”) owned ASE ADSs or ASE Common Shares, the dissenting U.S. Holder will generally recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount of cash received by such U.S. Holder following the exercise of the dissenter’s rights and its tax basis in the ASE Common Shares disposed of. Such capital gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if, as of the date of the disposition, the dissenting U.S. Holder’s holding period for the ASE Common Shares exceeds one year. Any gain or loss generally will be U.S.-source gain or loss for foreign tax credit purposes.

 

Tax Consequences of Owning HoldCo ADSs and HoldCo Common Shares

 

Except as discussed below under “-Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules,” this discussion assumes that HoldCo will not be a PFIC for any taxable year.

 

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Taxation of Distributions

 

Distributions other than certain pro rata distributions of HoldCo Common Shares to all shareholders (including holders of HoldCo ADSs), will be treated as dividends to the extent paid out of HoldCo’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Because HoldCo doesn’t expect to maintain calculations of earnings and profits under U.S. federal income tax principles, it is expected that distributions generally will be reported to U.S. Holders as dividends.

 

Dividends will be treated as foreign-source income for foreign tax credit purposes and will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction generally available to U.S. corporations under the Code. Subject to applicable limitations and the discussion above regarding concerns expressed by the U.S. Treasury, dividends paid to certain non-corporate U.S. Holders of ADSs may be eligible for taxation as “qualified dividend income” and therefore may be taxable at the rates applicable to long-term capital gains. Non-corporate U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the availability of these favorable rates in their particular circumstances.

 

Dividends generally will be included in a U.S. Holder’s income on the date of the U.S. Holder’s or, in the case of ADSs, the depositary’s receipt of the dividend. The amount of any dividend paid in new Taiwan dollars will be the U.S. dollar amount of the dividend calculated by reference to the spot rate in effect on the date of receipt, regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars on such date. If the dividend is converted into U.S. dollars on the date of receipt, a U.S. Holder should not be required to recognize foreign currency gain or loss in respect of the dividend. A U.S. Holder may have foreign currency gain or loss if the dividend is converted into U.S. dollars after the date of receipt, and any such gain or loss will generally be U.S.-source ordinary income or loss.

 

The amount of dividend income will include any amounts withheld by HoldCo in respect of ROC taxes reduced by any credit against withholding on account of the 10% retained earnings tax imposed on HoldCo. Subject to applicable limitations, which vary depending upon the U.S. Holder’s circumstances, and subject to the discussion above regarding concerns expressed by the U.S. Treasury, ROC taxes withheld from dividends, reduced by any credit against the withholding tax which is paid by HoldCo on account of the 10% retained earnings tax, generally will be creditable against the U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability. The rules governing foreign tax credits are complex, and U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the creditability of foreign taxes in their particular circumstances. In lieu of claiming a credit, a U.S. Holder may elect to deduct such ROC taxes in computing its taxable income, subject to applicable limitations. An election to deduct foreign taxes instead of claiming foreign tax credits must apply to all foreign taxes paid or accrued in the taxable year.

 

Certain pro rata distributions of common shares by a company to its shareholders, including holders of ADSs, will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax. Accordingly, any such distributions will not give rise to U.S. federal income against which the ROC tax imposed on these distributions may be credited. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers as to whether any ROC tax imposed on such distributions may be creditable against their U.S. federal income tax on foreign-source income from other sources.

 

Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of HoldCo ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares

 

A U.S. Holder will generally recognize taxable gain or loss on a sale or other disposition of HoldCo ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale or other taxable disposition and the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the HoldCo ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares. This gain or loss generally will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if at the time of sale or disposition the U.S. Holder has owned the HoldCo ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares for more than one year. Any gain or loss generally will be U.S.-source gain or loss for foreign tax credit purposes. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

 

Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules

 

In general, a non-U.S. corporation is a PFIC for any taxable year in which (i) 75% or more of its gross income consists of passive income or (ii) 50% or more of the average quarterly value of its assets consists of assets that produce, or are held for the production of, passive income. For purposes of the above calculations, a non-U.S. corporation that owns directly or indirectly at least 25% by value of the shares of another corporation is treated as if it held its proportionate share of the assets of the other corporation and received directly its proportionate share of the income of the other corporation. Passive income generally includes dividends, interest, royalties and rents. However, HoldCo does not expect to be a PFIC for its current taxable year or in the foreseeable future. Because the determination of whether a company is a PFIC is an annual test that is based on the composition of a company’s income and assets and the value of its assets from time to time, there can be no assurance that HoldCo will not be a PFIC for any taxable year.

 

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If HoldCo were a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder held HoldCo ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares, gain recognized by a U.S. Holder on a sale or other disposition (including certain pledges) of the HoldCo ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares would be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the HoldCo ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares. The amounts allocated to the taxable year of the sale or other disposition and to any year before HoldCo became a PFIC would be taxed as ordinary income. The amount allocated to each other taxable year would be subject to tax at the highest rate in effect for individuals or corporations, as appropriate, for that taxable year, and an interest charge would be imposed on the tax on such amounts. In addition, any distribution received by a U.S. Holder on its HoldCo ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares, to the extent that it exceeds 125% of the average of the annual distributions received by the U.S. Holder during the preceding three years or the U.S. Holder’s holding period, whichever is shorter, would be subject to taxation in the same manner. Furthermore, if HoldCo were a PFIC for the taxable year in which it paid a dividend or the prior taxable year, the preferential dividend rates discussed above with respect to dividends paid to certain non-corporate U.S. Holders would not apply. Certain elections may be available that would result in alternative treatments (such as mark-to-market treatment) of the HoldCo ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares.

 

U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning and disposing of HoldCo ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares if HoldCo were a PFIC for any taxable year.

 

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

 

Payments of dividends and sales proceeds that are made within the United States or through certain U.S.-related financial intermediaries generally will be subject to information reporting and backup withholding unless (i) the U.S. Holder is a corporation or other exempt recipient and, if required, demonstrates its status or (ii) in the case of backup withholding, the U.S. Holder provides a correct taxpayer identification number and certifies that it is not subject to backup withholding. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or credit against the U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

 

Foreign Financial Asset Reporting

 

Certain U.S. Holders who are individuals and certain entities closely held by individuals may be required to report information relating to their ownership of the HoldCo Common Shares or HoldCo ADSs, unless such Common Shares or ADSs are held in accounts at financial institutions (in which case the accounts may be reportable if maintained by non-U.S. financial institutions). U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding their reporting obligations with respect to the HoldCo Common Shares or HoldCo ADSs.

 

Accounting Treatment of the Share Exchange

 

Under IFRS, the Cash Consideration paid by HoldCo pursuant to the Share Exchange will be accounted for by applying the acquisition method of accounting with HoldCo being considered the acquirer of SPIL for accounting purposes. Upon the completion of the Share Exchange, HoldCo would obtain control of SPIL and any equity interest previously held in SPIL accounted for as equity method investments is treated as if it were disposed of and reacquired at fair value on the acquisition date. Accordingly, it is remeasured to its acquisition-date fair value, and any resulting gain or loss compared to its carrying amount is recognized in profit or loss. HoldCo will measure the identifiable assets acquired and the liabilities assumed at their acquisition date fair values, and recognize goodwill as of the acquisition date measured as the excess of the Cash Consideration and the fair value of the ASE’s previously held equity interest in SPIL over the net of the acquisition date fair value of the identifiable assets acquired and the liabilities assumed. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment at least annually.

 

Under IFRS, the exchange of ASE Common Shares for HoldCo Common Shares and the exchange of ASE ADSs for HoldCo ADSs based on the Exchange Ratio will be accounted for as a legal reorganization of entities under common control. ASE and HoldCo are ultimately controlled by the same shareholders both before and after the Share Exchange and that control is not transitory; therefore, the Share Exchange under common control will not be accounted for by applying the acquisition method as above. Accordingly, ASE will recognize no gain or loss in connection with the exchange of ASE shares for HoldCo shares upon the Share Exchange under common control, and all assets and liabilities of ASE will be recorded on the books of HoldCo at the predecessor carrying amounts.

 

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Regulatory Approvals Required to Complete the Share Exchange

 

ASE and SPIL have each agreed to use their reasonable efforts to obtain all necessary governmental approvals required to complete the Share Exchange. The following is a summary of the regulatory approvals required for the completion of the Share Exchange. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, the TFTC has issued a no objection letter in respect of the Share Exchange. However, there can be no assurance as to if and when regulatory approvals will be obtained in the PRC, or if and when the FTC will complete its investigation without seeking an injunction prohibiting the Share Exchange or as to the conditions or limitations that such regulatory authorities may seek to impose.

 

Taiwan Fair Trade Commission Approval

 

Both ASE and SPIL operate in the ROC. Under the ROC Fair Trade Act, transactions involving parties with sales above certain revenue levels cannot be completed until they are reviewed and approved by the TFTC. ASE and SPIL submitted the required materials to the TFTC on July 29, 2016. The TFTC formally accepted the parties’ notification materials on September 19, 2016, and issued a no objection letter in respect of the Share Exchange on November 16, 2016.

 

United States Antitrust Review

 

On October 26, 2016, the FTC issued a subpoena and civil investigative demand to ASE and SPIL with respect to the transaction contemplated under the Joint Share Exchange Agreement. ASE and SPIL are in the process of responding to these requests and fully cooperating with the investigation.

 

The Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China

 

Under the Chinese Anti-Monopoly Law of 2008, transactions involving parties with sales above certain revenue levels cannot be completed until they are reviewed and approved by MOFCOM. ASE and SPIL have sufficient revenues in China to exceed the statutory thresholds, and completion of the Share Exchange is therefore conditioned upon MOFCOM’s approval. ASE and SPIL submitted the required materials to MOFCOM on August 25, 2016 and are waiting for MOFCOM to formally accept the parties’ notification materials and start Phase I of the review process.

 

Other Jurisdictions

 

ASE and SPIL derive revenues in other jurisdictions where merger or acquisition control filings or clearances are or may be required. ASE and SPIL have sufficient revenues in South Korea and Germany to meet the statutory thresholds, and completion of the Share Exchange is therefore conditioned upon approval of the Korea Fair Trade Commission (“KFTC”) and the German Federal Cartel Office (“FCO”). The KFTC cleared the Initial ASE Tender Offers on November 18, 2015. Under the laws of South Korea, the clearance on the Initial ASE Tender Offers extends to the Share Exchange and no additional filing is required. The FCO cleared the Initial ASE Tender Offers on February 1, 2016 and subsequently confirmed that its February 1, 2016 clearance extends to the Share Exchange on July 26, 2016.

 

Share Exchange Listing

 

It is expected that HoldCo Common Shares will be listed on the TWSE and HoldCo ADSs will be listed on the NYSE at the Effective Time. As a result of the Share Exchange, ASE Common Shares currently listed on the TWSE and ASE ADSs currently listed on the NYSE will cease to be listed on the TWSE and the NYSE, respectively; SPIL Common Shares currently listed on the TWSE and SPIL ADSs currently listed on NASDAQ will cease to be listed on the TWSE and NASDAQ, respectively.

 

The following is a tentative timetable of the various trading-related events in connection with the completion of the Share Exchange:

 

Final trading day for ASE Common Shares and SPIL Common Shares on the TWSE [●], 2017 (Taiwan time)
Final trading day for ASE ADSs on the NYSE and SPIL ADSs on NASDAQ [●], 2017 (New York time)
Effective date of the Share Exchange [●], 2017 (Taiwan time)

 

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First trading day for HoldCo Common Shares on the TWSE [●], 2017 (Taiwan time)
First trading day for HoldCo ADSs on the NYSE [●], 2017 (New York time)

 

In advance of completion of the Share Exchange, ASE expects to publicly announce the definitive timetable for these trading-related events.

 

Rights of Dissenting Shareholders

 

Under the ROC Company Law and ROC Mergers and Acquisitions Act, when ASE’s or SPIL’s board proposes the Share Exchange to ASE EGM or the extraordinary shareholders’ meeting of SPIL (“SPIL EGM”) for approval, ASE’s or SPIL’s dissenting shareholder (“Dissenting Shareholder”) will be entitled to an appraisal right, and to obtain payment of the fair value of all the Dissenting Shareholder's shares (“Dissenting Shares”). The procedure for Dissenting Shareholders to exercise an appraisal right is set forth below.

 

The Dissenting Shareholder should either (a) deliver a written notice to ASE (or SPIL) stating his/her dissent from the proposal of Share Exchange on or before the ASE EGM (or SPIL EGM), or (b) at the ASE EGM (or SPIL EGM) orally express his/her dissent from the proposal of Share Exchange in person and ensure that such statement is duly recorded in the meeting minutes.

 

· Dissenting Shareholder must waive its voting right against the Share Exchange in ASE EGM (or SPIL EGM).

 

· Once ASE EGM and SPIL EGM pass the Share Exchange, the Dissenting Shareholder needs to deliver its Dissenting Shares to a licensed share registrar appointed by ASE (or SPIL, as applicable) through the book-entry system. Once the Dissenting Shares are duly delivered, the share registrar will issue a certificate evidencing the receipt of Dissenting Shares to the Dissenting Shareholder.

 

· Dissenting Shareholder needs to deliver to ASE (or SPIL), within 20 calendar days following the ASE EGM (or SPIL EGM), (a) a written notice stating the proposed price for sale of the Dissenting Shares to ASE (or SPIL) (the “Dissenting Shareholder’s Price”) and (b) the certificate of delivery of Dissenting Shares issued by the appointed share registrar.

 

Once the Dissenting Shareholder exercises the appraisal right in accordance with the procedure described above, ASE or SPIL should determine whether to (a) accept the Dissenting Shareholder’s Price or (b) negotiate the price with the Dissenting Shareholder within 60 calendar days following the ASE EGM or SPIL EGM (“Negotiation Period”).

 

If ASE (or SPIL) and Dissenting Shareholder cannot reach an agreement on the purchase price within the Negotiation Period, ASE (or SPIL) should file a petition with a court of competent jurisdiction in Taiwan for a determination of the fair value of the Dissenting Shares within 30 calendar days after the end of Negotiation Period (the “Petition Period”). If ASE (or SPIL) fails to pay the Company’s Price (as defined below) within the Negotiation Period or to file the petition with the court within the Petition Period, ASE/SPIL will be deemed to accept the Dissenting Shareholder’s Price and obliged to settle the purchase of Dissenting Shares in accordance with the Dissenting Shareholder’s Price.

 

According to the majority of the precedents, the court usually considered that the “fair value” should be the closing price of the shares registered on the open market on the date of the shareholders’ meeting which approves the transaction. However, as the court has the full discretion to determine the fair value based on a variety of arguments, the court might hold a view different from the majority of precedents.

 

If ASE (or SPIL) and Dissenting Shareholder cannot reach an agreement on the purchase price within the 90 Calendar days following the ASE EGM (or SPIL EGM), ASE or (SPIL) should determine a fair price to purchase the Dissenting Shares (the “Company’s Price”) and pay Company Price to the Dissenting Shareholder by end of such 90-calendar-day period.

 

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ASE or SPIL should, within 30 calendar days after the court decision is concluded, pay to the Dissenting Shareholders (a) the difference between the Company’s Price and the fair value as determined by the court, and (b) the interest, calculated by a 5% annual rate, against such difference amount for purchase of the Dissenting Shares.

 

The relevant portions of Article 12 of the ROC Mergers and Acquisitions Act are as follows, which is included in Annex C to this proxy statement/prospectus:

 

ROC MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS ACT – ARTICLE 12

 

If the following event occurs when a company is undergoing a merger, consolidation, acquisition or division, a shareholder may request the company to repurchase his/her/its shares at the then fair price of such shares:

 

4. In the event that the company is undergoing an acquisition as described in Article 27 of this Act, the shareholder delivers a written objection or an oral objection that has been put into the record and waives his/her/its voting rights before or during the shareholders’ meeting;

 

Any shareholder who has made the request as provided in the preceding paragraph shall submit a written request that specifies the requested repurchase price and deposit the certificates of his/her/its shares within 20 days immediately following the date at which the shareholder resolutions are passed.

 

The company shall appoint an institution that is permitted by law to provide corporate action services to handle the shares deposited by the dissenting shareholder. The shareholder shall deposit his/her/its shares to such institution and the institution shall issue a certificate that specifies the type and amount of deposited shares to the shareholder; any deposit by book-entry transfer shall be governed by the procedures set forth in the rules and regulations in relation to the centralized securities depositary enterprises.

 

The request of a shareholder as provided in Paragraph 1 shall lose its effect when the company abandons its corporate action as provided in the same paragraph.

 

If the company and the shareholder reach an agreement with respect to the repurchase price, the company shall pay such repurchase price to the shareholder within 90 days immediately following the date at which the shareholders’ resolutions are passed. If no agreement is reached, within 90 days immediately after the date at which the shareholders’ resolutions are passed, the company shall pay for the shares of the shareholder with whom it has not reached an agreement at a price determined by the company as the fair price for such shares; if the company fails to make such payment, the company shall be deemed as having agreed to the repurchase price requested by the shareholder pursuant to Paragraph 2.

 

If the company fails to reach an agreement with any shareholder with respect to the repurchase price within 60 days immediately following the date at which the shareholders’ resolutions are passed, the company shall, within 30 days after the expiry of the 60-day period, file a petition with a court for a ruling to determine the fair price of the shares against all the shareholders with whom it has not reached an agreement as the opposing parties. If the company fails to list any shareholder with whom it has not reached an agreement as an opposing party, or the petition is withdrawn by the company or dismissed by the court, the company shall be deemed as having agreed to the repurchase price requested by the shareholder pursuant to Paragraph 2. However, if the opposing party has already presented his/her/its position in the court or the court’s ruling has already been delivered to the opposing party, the company shall not withdraw the petition unless agreed to by the opposing party.

 

When the company files a petition with the court for a ruling to determine the repurchase price, the company shall attach to the petition the audited and attested financial statements of the company and the fair price assessment report by the certified public accountants, and written copies and photocopies thereof according to the number of opposing parties for the court to distribute to each opposing party.

 

Before making a ruling with respect to the repurchase price, the court shall allow the company and the opposing parties to have the chance to present their positions. If there are two or more opposing parties, the provisions set out in Articles 41 to 44, as well as Paragraph 2 of Article 401 of the ROC Civil Procedure Code shall apply mutatis mutandis .

 

If any party appeals against the ruling made pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the court shall allow the parties at dispute to have the chance to present their positions before making a decision on the appeal.

 

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When the ruling with respect to the repurchase price becomes final and binding, the company shall, within 30 days immediately after the ruling becomes final and binding, pay such final repurchase price to the dissenting shareholders, deducting any previous payment and interest accrued since the next day of the expiry of the 90-day period immediately following the date at which the shareholders’ resolutions are passed.

 

The provisions set forth in Article 171 and Paragraphs 1, 2 and 4 of Article 182 of the ROC Non-Contentious Matters Act shall apply mutatis mutandis .

 

The company shall bear the expenses of the petition and the appraiser’s compensation.

 

Holders of ASE ADSs and SPIL ADSs will not have any appraisal rights in respect of the Share Exchange under the terms of the ASE Deposit Agreement and the SPIL Deposit Agreement, as applicable. The ASE Depositary and the SPIL Depositary are not obligated to, and will not, exercise dissenters’ rights on behalf of holders of ASE ADSs or SPIL ADSs, as applicable, even if instructed to do so by holders of ASE ADSs or SPIL ADSs. ASE ADS holders who wish to be entitled to appraisal rights may cancel their ADSs and become holders of ASE Common Shares by [DATE], 2017. SPIL ADS holders who wish to be entitled to appraisal rights may cancel their ADSs and become holders of SPIL Common Shares by [DATE], 2017.

 

Litigation Related to the Share Exchange

 

ASE is not aware of any lawsuit that challenges the Share Exchange or any other transaction contemplated under the Joint Share Exchange Agreement.

 

Expenses Relating to the Share Exchange

 

In connection with the Share Exchange, ASE expects to incur the costs, such as independent expert fees of US$[●] million, legal fees of US$[●] million and auditor fees of US$[●] million, in the aggregate amount of approximately US$5.2 million. In connection with the Share Exchange, SPIL expects to incur the following costs and expenses as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus.

 

Description

Amount

Financing fees and expenses and other professional fees [●]
Legal fees and expenses [●]
Miscellaneous (including filing fees, printing fees, proxy solicitation fees and mailing costs) [●]
Total [●]

 

All costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Share Exchange, the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and the completion of the transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement will be paid by the party incurring such costs and expenses, except as otherwise explicitly provided for in the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, whether or not the Share Exchange or any other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement are completed.

 

Comparison of Rights of Shareholders of ASE and HoldCo

 

ASE is, and HoldCo will be, a company limited by shares organized under the laws of the ROC. ASE Common Shares are, and HoldCo Common Shares will be, listed on the TWSE. ASE ADSs are, and HoldCo ADSs representing HoldCo Common Shares will be, listed on the NYSE. In addition, the description of the attributes of common shares in the share capital provisions of the Articles of Incorporation of ASE and HoldCo are substantially similar. As a result, there are no material differences between the rights of holders of ASE Common Shares and of HoldCo Common Shares from a legal perspective.

 

See the sections entitled “Description of HoldCo American Depositary Shares” and “Description of HoldCo Common Shares” for more information.

 

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Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This proxy statement/prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are not limited to historical facts but reflect ASE’s and SPIL’s current beliefs, expectations or intentions regarding future events. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “ensure,” “expect,” “if,” “intend,” “estimate,” “probable,” “project,” “forecasts,” “predict,” “outlook,” “aim,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “potential,” “may,” “might,” “anticipate,” “likely,” “plan,” “positioned,” “strategy,” and similar expressions, and the negative thereof, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, which are subject to numerous factors, risks and uncertainties about ASE and SPIL, may include projections of their respective future business, strategies, financial condition, results of operations and market data. These statements are only predictions based on current expectations and projections about future events. There are important factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to be materially different from those projected, including those set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors,” the risk factors set forth in ASE 2015 20-F and SPIL 2015 20-F and other documents on file with the SEC and the factors given below:

 

· the failure to obtain approval from ASE shareholders or the approval from SPIL shareholders in connection with the Share Exchange;

 

· the failure to complete or delay in completing the Share Exchange for other reasons;

 

· the timing to complete the Share Exchange;

 

· the risk that a condition to the completion of the Share Exchange may not be satisfied;

 

· the risk that a regulatory approval that may be required for the Share Exchange is delayed, is not obtained, or is obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated;

 

· ASE’s and SPIL’s ability to achieve the cost and other synergies and value creation contemplated by the Share Exchange; and

 

· the diversion of management time on Share Exchange-related issues.

 

All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning ASE, SPIL, the transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement or other matters attributable to ASE or SPIL or any person acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. ASE’s and SPIL’s forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that may not prove to be accurate. Neither ASE nor SPIL can guarantee future results, activity levels, performance or achievements. Moreover, neither ASE nor SPIL assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. ASE and SPIL assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus.

 

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Risk Factors

 

In addition to the other information contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, ASE shareholders carefully consider the risks described below and in the ASE 2015 20-F, which is incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus, before making a decision on the Share Exchange.

 

Risks Relating to the Share Exchange

 

The Share Exchange is subject to conditions, including certain conditions that may not be satisfied, or completed on a timely basis, if at all. Failure to complete the Share Exchange could have material and adverse effects on ASE.

 

The completion of the Share Exchange is subject to a number of conditions, including, among other things, the approval by ASE shareholders of the proposal on the approval of Joint Share Exchange Agreement and the Share Exchange and the approval by SPIL shareholders of the proposal on the approval of Joint Share Exchange Agreement and the Share Exchange and obtaining antitrust and other regulatory approvals or decisions not to challenge the proposed combination from the ROC, PRC, and FTC which make the completion and timing of the completion of the Share Exchange uncertain. See the section entitled “The Joint Share Exchange Agreement — Conditions to Consummation of the Share Exchange” for a more detailed discussion. Also, the Joint Share Exchange Agreement will be automatically terminated if the Share Exchange has not been consummated by December 31, 2017.

 

If the Share Exchange is not completed on a timely basis, or at all, ASE’s respective ongoing businesses may be adversely affected and, without realizing any of the benefits of having completed the Share Exchange, ASE will be subject to a number of risks, including the following:

 

· ASE is required to pay their respective costs relating to the Share Exchange, such as legal, accounting, financial advisory and printing fees, even if the Share Exchange is not completed;

 

· time and resources committed by ASE’s management to matters relating to the Share Exchange could otherwise have been devoted to pursuing other beneficial opportunities;

 

· the market prices of ASE Common Shares could decline to the extent that the current market prices of ASE Common Shares reflect a market assumption that the Share Exchange will be completed;

 

· ASE may have to dispose of its 33.29% interest in SPIL at a loss if the Share Exchange is not consummated, which may significantly affect ASE’s financial position; and

 

· ASE could be subject to litigation related to any failure to complete the Share Exchange or related to any enforcement proceedings commenced against ASE to perform their respective obligations under the Joint Share Exchange Agreement.

 

 Each party is subject to business uncertainties and contractual restrictions while the proposed Share Exchange is pending, which could adversely affect each party’s business and operations.

 

While the Share Exchange is pending completion, it is possible that certain customers, suppliers and other persons with whom ASE has a business relationship may delay or defer certain business decisions or might decide to seek to terminate, change or renegotiate their business relationships with ASE, as the case may be, as a result of the pending the Share Exchange, which could negatively affect ASE’s revenues, earnings and cash flows, as well as the market price of ASE Common Shares, regardless of whether the Share Exchange is completed.

 

Under the terms of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, ASE is subject to certain restrictions on the conduct of its business prior to completing the Share Exchange, which may adversely affect its ability to execute certain of its business strategies, including the ability in certain cases to acquire assets.

 

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The Share Exchange is subject to the receipt of approvals, consents or clearances from domestic and foreign regulatory authorities that may impose conditions that could have an adverse effect on ASE or HoldCo or, if not obtained, could prevent the completion of the Share Exchange.

 

Before the Share Exchange can be completed, any approvals, consents or clearances, including antitrust approval and clearances, required in connection with the Share Exchange must have been obtained. In deciding whether to grant the required regulatory approval, consent or clearance, the relevant governmental entities will consider the impact of the Share Exchange on competition within their relevant jurisdiction. The terms and conditions of the approvals, consents and clearances that are granted may impose requirements, limitations or costs or place restrictions on the conduct of HoldCo’s business.

 

Under the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, ASE and SPIL have agreed to use their reasonable efforts to obtain such approvals, consents and clearances and therefore may be required to comply with conditions or limitations imposed by governmental authorities. However, no assurance can be given that the applicable regulatory agencies will approve the transaction or that any such transaction can be completed prior to or upon the completion of the Share Exchange, or at all.

 

There can be no assurance that regulators will not impose unanticipated conditions, terms, obligations or restrictions and that such conditions, terms, obligations or restrictions will not have the effect of delaying the completion of the Share Exchange or imposing additional material costs on or materially limiting the revenues of HoldCo following the completion of the Share Exchange.

 

There can be no assurance that ASE will be able to secure the funds necessary to pay the cash portion of the Cash Consideration on acceptable terms, in a timely manner, or at all.

 

ASE intends to fund the Cash Consideration with a combination of cash on hand and debt financing. To this end, Citibank Taiwan Limited and DBS Bank Ltd., Taipei Branch have each issued a highly confident letter stating that it is highly confident that it could arrange debt facilities for the Share Exchange up to US$3.8 billion and NT$53 billion (US$1.69 billion), respectively. However, neither ASE nor any of its subsidiaries has entered into definitive agreements for the debt financing (or any equity issuance or other financing arrangements in lieu thereof). There can be no assurance that ASE will be able to secure the debt financing pursuant to the highly confident letters.

 

In the event that the debt financing contemplated by the highly confident letters is not available, other financing may not be available on acceptable terms, in a timely manner, or at all. If ASE is unable to secure financing for the Share Exchange, the Share Exchange may not be completed. In the event of a termination of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement due to ASE’s failure to obtain the necessary financing to complete the Shares Exchange, ASE and HoldCo may be jointly and severally liable to pay to SPIL, in addition to the actual damages incurred, liquidated damages in the amount of NT$8.5 billion (US$0.3 billion).

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial data in this proxy statement/prospectus is presented for illustrative purposes only and may differ materially from the operating results and financial condition of HoldCo following completion of the pro forma events.

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial data in this proxy statement/prospectus is presented for illustrative purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of what the combined company’s actual financial position or results of operations would have been had the pro forma events been completed on the dates indicated. In addition, the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information does not purport to project the future financial position or operating results of HoldCo. The preparation of the pro forma condensed combined financial information is based upon available information and certain assumptions and estimates that ASE and SPIL currently believe are reasonable. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial data reflects adjustments, which are based upon preliminary estimates, to allocate the purchase price to SPIL’s net assets. The purchase price allocation reflected in this proxy statement/prospectus is preliminary, and the final allocation of the purchase price will be based upon the actual purchase price and the fair value of the assets and liabilities of SPIL as of the Effective Time. In addition, subsequent to the completion of the Share Exchange, there may be further refinements of the purchase price allocation as additional information becomes available. Accordingly, the final purchase accounting adjustments may differ materially from the pro forma adjustments reflected in this proxy statement/prospectus. See the section entitled “Selected Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Data.”

 

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HoldCo may fail to successfully integrate the resources from ASE and SPIL and realize the anticipated benefits from the Share Exchange.

 

The success of the Share Exchange and the holding company structure that will be created pursuant to such Share Exchange will depend, in large part, on the ability of HoldCo to realize the anticipated synergies, operational efficiencies and growth opportunities from the Share Exchange. The realization of the anticipated benefits of the holding company structure may be blocked, delayed or reduced as a result of many factors, some of which may be outside our control. These factors include:

 

· the complexities associated with integrating resources with ASE and SPIL continuing to operate independently and failure to leverage the holding company structure to realize operational efficiencies;

 

· unforeseen contingent risks, including lack of required capital resources or increased tax liabilities, relating to the holding company structure that may become apparent in the future;

 

· the considerations discussed in the next risk factor;

 

· unexpected business disruptions; and

 

· failure to attract, develop and retain personnel with necessary expertise.

 

In addition, there may be valuation discounts as a result of the adoption of a holding company structure which may have an adverse effect on the trading value of HoldCo Common Shares or ADSs. Any of the foregoing could adversely affect ASE’s and SPIL’s ability to maintain relationships with customers, suppliers, employees and other constituencies or ASE’s and SPIL’s ability to achieve the anticipated benefits of the Share Exchange or could reduce each of ASE’s and SPIL’s earnings or otherwise adversely affect the business and financial results of HoldCo.

 

The independent operations of SPIL after the completion of the Share Exchange may make it difficult to integrate the operations of both companies.

 

Although SPIL will become a wholly owned subsidiary of HoldCo after the completion of the Share Exchange, under the terms of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, we and SPIL have agreed that SPIL will maintain a high degree of independence with respect to its operations and corporate governance. ASE and SPIL have entered into a number of covenants to ensure SPIL’s independence of operation.

 

For a more detailed description of these and other covenants, please refer to “The Joint Share Exchange Agreement – Post-Closing Operation and Corporate Governance – Independence” and “Annex A: Joint Share Exchange Agreement dated June 30, 2016 (English translation).”

 

Notwithstanding the agreement to maintain SPIL’s independent operations, under the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, HoldCo is required to assist SPIL’s operations. For example, HoldCo will, to the extent that it is capable, provide guaranties, funding or other support sufficient to enable SPIL to obtain financing from third parties (including, but not limited to, guarantee documentation acceptable to financing parties), in order to meet SPIL’s funding needs, including but not limited to capital expenditure and working capital.

 

There are uncertainties as to the impact of the independence of SPIL in terms of its operation and corporate governance would have on integration plans and future growth opportunities of ASE and SPIL under Holdco.

 

The future results of HoldCo may suffer if HoldCo does not effectively manage its expanded operations following the completion of the Share Exchange.

 

Following the completion of the Share Exchange, the size of the business of HoldCo will increase significantly beyond the current size of either ASE’s or SPIL’s business. HoldCo’s future success depends, in part, upon its ability to manage this expanded business, which will pose substantial challenges for management, including challenges related to the management and monitoring of new operations and associated increased costs and complexity. There can be no assurances that HoldCo will be successful or that it will realize the expected operating efficiencies, cost savings and other benefits currently anticipated from the completion of the Share Exchange.

 

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Since HoldCo will be a holding company, it will depend on limited forms of funding to fund its operations.

 

As a holding company, HoldCo will have no significant assets other than the shares of its subsidiaries. HoldCo’s primary sources of funding and liquidity will be dividends from its subsidiaries, sales of the interests in its subsidiaries and direct borrowings and issuances of equity or debt securities. HoldCo’s ability to meet the obligations to its direct creditors and employees and other liquidity needs and regulatory requirements will depend on timely and adequate distributions from its subsidiaries and its ability to sell securities or obtain credit from its lenders.

 

HoldCo’s ability to pay operating and financing expenses and dividends will depend primarily on the receipt of sufficient funds from its principal operating subsidiaries. Statutory provisions regulate HoldCo’s operating subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends. If HoldCo’s operating subsidiaries are unable to pay dividends to HoldCo in a timely manner and in amounts sufficient to pay for HoldCo’s operation and financing expenses or to declare and pay dividends and to meet its other obligations, HoldCo may not be able to pay dividends or it may need to seek other sources of funding.

 

Furthermore, HoldCo’ inability to sell its securities or obtain funds from its lenders on favorable terms, or at all, could also result in HoldCo’ inability to meet its liquidity needs and regulatory requirements and may disrupt its operations at the holding company level.

 

In connection with the Share Exchange, existing ASE shareholders may not trade the ASE Common Shares or ADSs during certain periods.

 

In connection with the Share Exchange, ASE Common Shares will be suspended from trading on the TWSE, and ASE ADSs will be suspended from trading on the NYSE starting from the eighth (8th) ROC Trading Day before the Effective Time. As a result, holders of ASE Common Shares and ADSs will not be able to trade those shares or ADSs, or HoldCo shares or ADSs they will be entitled to receive when the Share Exchange is completed, during the applicable trading gap. Accordingly, these holders will be subject to the risk of not being able to liquidate their shares during a falling market, whether for ROC equities generally or for ASE Common Shares and ASE ADSs in particular.

 

There has been no prior market for the HoldCo Common Shares or ADSs.

 

ASE plans to apply for listing HoldCo Common Shares and HoldCo ADSs and expect that HoldCo Common Shares will begin trading in Taiwan during TWSE trading hours, and HoldCo ADSs will begin trading in the U.S. during NYSE trading hours, on the effective date of the Share Exchange. However, given that HoldCo will be formed as a new entity, there will be no public market for HoldCo Common Shares or HoldCo ADSs prior to their issuance in connection with the Share Exchange. An active public market in the HoldCo Common Shares or HoldCo ADSs may not develop or be sustained after their issuance.

 

Risks Relating to Owning HoldCo ADSs

 

The market for HoldCo ADSs may not be liquid.

 

Active, liquid trading markets generally result in lower price volatility and more efficient execution of buy and sell orders for investors, compared to less active and less liquid markets. Liquidity of a securities market is often a function of the volume of the underlying shares that are publicly held by unrelated parties.

 

Although holders of HoldCo ADS will be entitled to withdraw HoldCo Common Shares underlying the ASE ADSs from the depositary at any time, ROC law requires that HoldCo Common Shares be held in an account in the ROC or sold for the benefit of the holder on the TWSE. In connection with any withdrawal of HoldCo Common Shares from the HoldCo ADS facility, the HoldCo ADSs evidencing these common shares will be cancelled. Unless additional ADSs are issued, the effect of withdrawals will be to reduce the number of outstanding ADSs. If a significant number of withdrawals are effected, the liquidity of HoldCo ADSs will be substantially reduced.

 

HoldCo will be a foreign private issuer, and as such it is exempt from certain provisions applicable to United States domestic public companies.

 

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Because Holdco qualifies as a foreign private issuer, it is exempt from certain provisions of the securities rules and regulations in the United States that are applicable to U.S. domestic issuers, including:

 

· rules under the Exchange Act requiring the filing with the SEC of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or current reports on Form 8-K;

 

· sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents, or authorizations in respect of a security registered under the Exchange Act;

 

· sections of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their share ownership and trading activities and liability for insiders who profit from trades made in a short period of time; and

 

· selective disclosure rules by issuers of material nonpublic information under Regulation FD.

 

HoldCo will be required to file an annual report on Form 20-F within four months of the end of each fiscal year. In addition, HoldCo intends to publish its results on a quarterly basis as press releases, distributed pursuant to the rules and regulations of the NYSE. Press releases relating to financial results and material events will also be furnished to the SEC on Form 6-K. However, the information we are required to file with or furnish to the SEC will be less extensive and less timely as compared to that required to be filed with the SEC by United States domestic issuers.

 

As a ROC company listed on the NYSE, HoldCo will be subject to the NYSE corporate governance listing standards. However, HoldCo, as a foreign private issuer, will also be permitted to follow certain home country corporate governance practices instead of those otherwise required under the NYSE’s rules for domestic U.S. issuers, provided that HoldCo discloses which requirements it is not following and describe the equivalent home country requirement in its annual report on Form 20-F. Holdco intends to rely on home country practice to exempt out of the requirement for NYSE listed companies to have a majority of independent directors. The Joint Share Exchange Agreement provides that, for the first term of HoldCo’ board of directors, HoldCo’s promoters’ meeting will elect nine to thirteen non-independent directors and three supervisor who will become independent directors. The articles of incorporation of HoldCo further provides that starting from the second HoldCo’ board of directors term, HoldCo shall have thirteen directors, of which three shall be three independent directors and ten non-independent directors.

 

To the extent that HoldCo chooses follow its home country corporate governance practice, its shareholders may be afforded less protection than they otherwise would under the NYSE corporate governance listing standards applicable to U.S. domestic issuers. As a result, you may not be afforded the same protections or information, which would be made available to you, were you investing in a United States domestic issuer.

 

If a non-ROC holder of HoldCo ADSs withdraws and holds HoldCo Common Shares, such holder of HoldCo ADSs will be required to appoint a tax guarantor, local agent and custodian in the ROC and register with the TWSE in order to buy and sell securities on the TWSE.

 

When a non-ROC holder of HoldCo ADSs elects to withdraw and hold HoldCo Common Shares represented by HoldCo ADSs, such holder of the ADSs will be required to appoint an agent for filing tax returns and making tax payments in the ROC. Such agent will be required to meet the qualifications set by the ROC Ministry of Finance and, upon appointment, becomes the guarantor of the withdrawing holder’s tax payment obligations. Evidence of the appointment of a tax guarantor, the approval of such appointment by the ROC tax authorities and tax clearance certificates or evidentiary documents issued by such tax guarantor may be required as conditions to such holder repatriating the profits derived from the sale of HoldCo Common Shares. There is no assurance that a withdrawing holder will be able to appoint, and obtain approval for, a tax guarantor in a timely manner.

 

In addition, under current ROC law, such withdrawing holder is required to register with the TWSE and appoint a local agent in the ROC to, among other things, open a bank account and open a securities trading account with a local securities brokerage firm, pay taxes, remit funds and exercise such holder’s rights as a shareholder. Furthermore, such withdrawing holder must appoint a local bank or a local securities firm to act as custodian for confirmation and settlement of trades, safekeeping of securities and cash proceeds and reporting and declaration of information. Without satisfying these requirements, non-ROC withdrawing holders of HoldCo ADSs would not be able to hold or otherwise subsequently sell HoldCo Common Shares on the TWSE or otherwise.

 

64

Pursuant to ROC Mainland Investors Regulations, only qualified domestic institutional investors (“QDIIs”) or persons that have otherwise obtained the approval from the Investment Commission of the MOEA and registered with the TWSE are permitted to withdraw and hold shares from a depositary receipt facility. In order to hold such shares, such QDIIs are required to appoint an agent and custodian as required by the Regulations Governing Securities Investment and Futures Trading in Taiwan by Mainland Area Investors. If the aggregate amount of our shares held by any QDII or shares received by any QDII upon a single withdrawal account or multiple withdrawal accounts for 10.0% of our total issued and outstanding shares, such QDII must obtain the prior approval from the MOEA. We cannot assure you that such approval would be granted.

 

A different view of the ROC tax agency from our current treatment of the ROC securities transaction tax might cause tax uncertainties to HoldCo shareholders

 

Uncertainty exists as to whether the consideration received by ASE shareholders for the Share Exchange will be subject to the ROC securities transaction tax. In the view of Baker & McKenzie, by reasonable interpretation of the ROC Mergers and Acquisitions Act based on current rules and regulations promulgated by ROC tax authority, the Share Exchange should be exempted from such tax under the ROC Mergers and Acquisitions Act. HoldCo intends to issue the share consideration to ASE shareholders at the Effective Time without deducting or withholding any ROC securities transaction tax. However, due to lack of precedents, we and Baker & McKenzie cannot assure you that the ROC tax agency will not take a different view on this. In the event that the ROC tax agency decides to charge securities transaction tax for the Share Exchange after the Effective Time, HoldCo will pay the tax and could demand reimbursement from former ASE shareholders, i.e., Holdco shareholders at that time.

 

Restrictions on the ability to deposit HoldCo Common Shares into HoldCo ADS facility may adversely affect the liquidity and price of HoldCo ADSs.

 

The ability to deposit HoldCo Common Shares into HoldCo ADS facility is restricted by ROC law. A significant number of withdrawals of HoldCo Common Shares underlying HoldCo ADSs would reduce the liquidity of the ADSs by reducing the number of ADSs outstanding. As a result, upon completion of the Share Exchange, the prevailing market price of HoldCo ADSs on the NYSE may differ from the prevailing market price of HoldCo Common Shares on the TWSE. Under current ROC law, no person or entity, may deposit HoldCo Common Shares in the HoldCo ADS facility without specific approval of the FSC, unless:

 

(1) HoldCo pays stock dividends on its common shares;

 

(2) HoldCo makes a free distribution of its common shares;

 

(3) holders of HoldCo ADSs exercise preemptive rights in the event of capital increases; or

 

(4) to the extent permitted under the HoldCo Deposit Agreement and the relevant custody agreement, investors purchase HoldCo Common Shares, directly or through the depositary, on the TWSE, and deliver HoldCo Common Shares to the custodian for deposit into the HoldCo ADS facility, or the shareholders of HoldCo deliver HoldCo Common Shares to the custodian for deposit into the HoldCo ADS facility.

 

With respect to item (4) above, the HoldCo Depositary may issue HoldCo ADSs against the deposit of HoldCo Common Shares only if the total number of HoldCo ADSs outstanding following the deposit will not exceed the number of HoldCo ADSs previously approved by the FSC, plus any HoldCo ADSs issued pursuant to the events described in items (1), (2) and (3) above.

 

In addition, in the case of a deposit of HoldCo Common Shares requested under item (4) above, the depositary will refuse to accept deposit of HoldCo Common Shares if such deposit is not permitted under any legal, regulatory or other restrictions notified by HoldCo to the HoldCo Depositary from time to time, which restrictions may include blackout periods during which deposits may not be made, minimum and maximum amounts and frequency of deposits.

 

Holders of HoldCo ADSs will not have the same voting rights as HoldCo shareholders, which may affect the value of their HoldCo ADSs.

 

The voting rights of a holder of HoldCo ADSs as to HoldCo Common Shares represented by its HoldCo ADSs will be governed by the HoldCo Deposit Agreement which will take effect at or after the Effective Time of the

 

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Share Exchange and which form has been included as exhibit 4.2 in this proxy statement/prospectus. Holders of HoldCo ADSs will not be able to exercise voting rights on an individual basis. If holders representing at least 51% of the HoldCo ADSs outstanding at the relevant record date instruct the HoldCo Depositary to vote in the same manner regarding a resolution, including the election of directors, the HoldCo Depositary will cause all HoldCo Common Shares represented by the HoldCo ADSs to be voted in that manner. If the HoldCo Depositary does not receive timely instructions representing at least 51% of the HoldCo ADSs outstanding at the relevant record date to vote in the same manner for any resolution, including the election of directors, holders of HoldCo ADSs will be deemed to have instructed the HoldCo Depositary or its nominee to authorize all HoldCo Common Shares represented by the HoldCo ADSs to be voted at the discretion of the Chairman of HoldCo or his designee, which may not be in the interest of holders of HoldCo ADSs. Moreover, upon the completion of the Share Exchange, shareholders who own 1% or more of HoldCo outstanding shares are entitled to submit one proposal to be considered at HoldCo annual general meetings of shareholders. However, only holders representing at least 51% of HoldCo ADSs outstanding at the relevant record date are entitled to submit one proposal to be considered at HoldCo annual general meetings of shareholders. Hence, only one proposal may be submitted on behalf of all HoldCo ADS holders.

 

The right of holders of HoldCo ADSs to participate in future rights offerings is limited, which could cause dilution to HoldCo ADS holders’ holdings.

 

HoldCo may from time to time distribute rights to its shareholders, including rights to acquire its securities. Under the HoldCo Deposit Agreement, the HoldCo Depositary will not offer holders of HoldCo ADSs those rights unless both the distribution of the rights and the underlying securities to all HoldCo ADS holders are either registered under the Securities Act or exempt from registration under the Securities Act. Although HoldCo may be eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions under the Securities Act available to certain foreign issuers for rights offerings, there are no assurances that HoldCo will be able to establish an exemption from registration under the Securities Act, and we are under no obligation to file a registration statement for any of these rights. Accordingly, holders of HoldCo ADSs may be unable to participate in our rights offerings and may experience dilution of their holdings.

 

If the HoldCo Depositary is unable to sell rights that are not exercised or not distributed or if the sale is not lawful or reasonably practicable, it will allow the rights to lapse, in which case holders of HoldCo ADSs will receive no value for these rights.

 

Changes in exchange controls which restrict your ability to convert proceeds received from your ownership of HoldCo ADSs may have an adverse effect on the value of your investment.

 

Under current ROC law, the HoldCo Depositary, without obtaining approvals from the Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) or any other governmental authority or agency of the ROC, may convert NT dollars into other currencies, including U.S. dollars, for:

 

· the proceeds of the sale of HoldCo Common Shares represented by HoldCo ADSs or received as stock dividends from HoldCo Common Shares and deposited into the depositary receipt facility; and

 

· any cash dividends or distributions received from HoldCo Common Shares represented by HoldCo ADSs.

 

In addition, the HoldCo Depositary may also convert into NT dollars incoming payments for purchases of HoldCo Common Shares for deposit in the HoldCo ADS facility against the creation of additional HoldCo ADSs. The HoldCo Depositary may be required to obtain foreign exchange approval from the Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) on a payment-by-payment basis for conversion from NT dollars into foreign currencies of the proceeds from the sale of subscription rights for new HoldCo Common Shares. Although it is expected that the Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) will grant this approval as a routine matter, there is no assurance that in the future any approval will be obtained in a timely manner, or at all.

 

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Exchange Rates

 

The table below sets forth the exchange rates of NT dollars against U.S. dollars set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board for the periods indicated.

 

    Exchange Rate
    Average   High   Low   Period End
2011     29.42       30.67       28.50       30.27  
2012     29.47       30.28       28.96       29.05  
2013     29.73       30.20       28.93       29.83  
2014     30.38       31.80       29.85       31.60  
2015     31.80       33.17       30.37       32.79  
2016                                
May     32.54       32.76       32.22       32.58  
June     32.30       32.62       31.99       32.22  
July     32.10       32.36       31.82       31.82  
August     31.54       31.80       31.05       31.74  
September     31.46       31.77       31.18       31.27  
October     31.59       31.79       31.36       31.54  
November (through November 18, 2016)     31.69       32.01       31.41       32.01  

 

 

Note:

 

Annual averages were calculated by using the average of the exchange rates on the last day of each month during the relevant year. Monthly averages were calculated by using the average of the daily rates during the relevant month.

 

On November 18, 2016, the exchange rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board was NT$32.01 to US$1.00.

 

We make no representation that any NT dollar or U.S. dollar amounts could have been, or could be, converted into U.S. dollars or NT dollars, as the case may be, at any particular rate, or at all. Fluctuations in the exchange rate between NT dollars and U.S. dollars will affect the U.S. dollar equivalent of the NT dollar price of ASE Common Shares.

 

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Market Price and Dividend Information

 

Market Price Information

 

ASE Common Shares are listed on the TWSE under the stock code “2311.” The table below shows, for the periods indicated, the high and low closing prices and the average daily volume of trading activity on the TWSE for ASE Common Shares. The closing price for ASE Common Shares on the TWSE on November 21, 2016 was NT$34.8 per share.

 

    Closing Price per ASE Common Share
(in NT$)
    High   Low
2011     37.60       24.00  
2012     31.10       20.15  
2013     30.65       23.60  
2014     41.00       26.80  
First quarter     33.80       26.80  
Second quarter     39.00       32.90  
Third quarter     41.00       35.40  
Fourth quarter     39.10       34.40  
2015     47.75       30.00  
First quarter     47.75       36.65  
Second quarter     46.65       39.70  
Third quarter     42.10       30.00  
Fourth quarter     39.00       33.40  
2016                
First quarter     38.30       33.75  
Second quarter     36.95       28.65  
May     36.90       28.65  
June     36.95       34.95  
Third quarter     39.60       34.60  
July     38.00       34.60  
August     39.60       37.15  
September     38.85       36.40  
October     38.80       37.10  
November (through November 21, 2016)     37.05       33.35  

______________________

Source: Bloomberg

 

ASE ADSs have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “ASX” since September 26, 2000. The outstanding ASE ADSs are identified by the CUSIP number 00756M404. The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low closing prices and the average daily volume of trading activity on the New York Stock Exchange for ASE ADSs and the highest and lowest of the daily closing values of the New York Stock Exchange Index. The closing price for ASE ADSs on the New York Stock Exchange on November 21, 2016 was US$5.41 per ADS.

 

    Closing Price per ASE ADS
(in US$)
    High   Low
2011     6.55       4.04  
2012     5.27       3.54  
2013     5.35       3.91  
2014     6.87       4.45  
First quarter     5.55       4.45  
Second quarter     6.65       5.43  
Third quarter     6.87       5.87  
Fourth quarter     6.39       5.80  
2015     7.89       4.69  
First quarter     7.89       5.96  
Second quarter     7.51       6.39  
Third quarter     6.67       4.69  
Fourth quarter     6.12       5.18  
2016                
First quarter     5.87       4.95  
Second quarter     5.78       4.41  
May     5.78       4.41  
June     5.74       5.24  

 

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    Closing Price per ASE ADS
(in US$)
    High   Low
Third quarter     6.21       5.35  
July     5.82       5.35  
August     6.21       5.90  
September     6.14       5.72  
October     6.12       5.80  
November (through November 21, 2016)     5.83       5.12  

______________________

Source: Bloomberg

 

SPIL Common Shares are listed on the TWSE under the stock code “2325.” The table below shows, for the periods indicated, the high and low closing prices on the TWSE for SPIL Common Shares.

 

    Closing Price per SPIL Common Share
(in NT$)
    High   Low
2011     41.25       23.45  
2012     36.50       26.80  
2013     39.00       30.20  
2014     55.30       35.40  
First quarter     41.85       35.40  
Second quarter     50.80       41.20  
Third quarter     55.30       41.00  
Fourth quarter     48.65       39.05  
2015     56.20       33.10  
First quarter     56.20       47.20  
Second quarter     52.40       45.00  
Third quarter     47.45       33.10  
Fourth quarter     52.40       39.65  
2016                
First quarter     52.70       48.35  
Second quarter     53.40       43.30  
May     53.20       43.30  
June     53.40       48.15  
Third quarter     48.55       46.30  
July     48.55       47.85  
August     48.20       47.35  
September     48.00       46.30  
October     47.75       47.10  
November (through November 21, 2016)     47.70       46.00  

 

SPIL ADSs are listed on the NASDAQ under the symbol “SPIL.” The table below shows, for the periods indicated, the high and low closing prices on the NASDAQ for SPIL ADSs.

 

    Closing Price per SPIL ADS
(in US$)
    High   Low
2011     7.15       3.93  
2012     6.04       4.52  
2013     6.50       5.06  
2014     8.88       5.62  
First quarter     6.89       5.62  
Second quarter     8.44       6.78  
Third quarter     8.88       6.65  
Fourth quarter     7.69       6.41  
2015     9.09       5.06  
First quarter     9.09       7.46  
Second quarter     8.49       7.30  
Third quarter     7.55       5.06  
Fourth quarter     8.05       6.16  
2016                
First quarter     8.21       7.16  
Second quarter     8.27       6.62  
May     8.27       6.62  
June     8.20       7.25  

 

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    Closing Price per SPIL ADS
(in US$)
    High   Low
Third quarter     7.68       7.19  
July     7.52       7.37  
August     7.68       7.36  
September     7.50       7.19  
October     7.52       7.33  
November (through November 21, 2016)     7.51       7.13  

 

Dividends and Dividend Policy

 

ASE

 

ASE has historically paid dividends on ASE Common Shares with respect to the results of the preceding year following approval by our shareholders at the annual general meeting of shareholders. ASE has paid annual dividends on its common shares since 1989, except in 2002 and 2006 when it did not pay any dividend due to the losses it incurred in the 2001 and 2005 fiscal years, respectively.

 

The following table sets forth the stock dividends ASE paid during each of the years indicated and related information.

 

    Cash Dividends per ASE Common Share   Stock Dividends per Common Share(1)   Total ASE Common Shares Issued as Stock Dividends   Outstanding ASE Common
Shares on
Record Date(2)
  Percentage of Outstanding ASE Common Shares Represented by Stock Dividends
    NT$   NT$            
2013     1.05                   7,611,579,786        
2014     1.29 (3)                 7,847,817,646        
2015     2.00                   7,900,130,996        

_____________________

(1) Stock dividends were paid out from retained earnings and capital surplus. Holders of common shares receive as a stock dividend the number of common shares equal to the NT dollar value per common share of the dividend declared multiplied by the number of common shares owned and divided by the par value of NT$10 per share. Fractional shares are not issued but are paid in cash.

 

(2) Aggregate number of ASE Common Shares outstanding on the record date applicable to the dividend payment. Includes ASE Common Shares issued in the previous year under our employee bonus plan.

 

(3) On June 26, 2014, ASE’s shareholders approved a cash dividend of NT$1.30 per share for 2013 earnings. On July 29, 2014, the ASE Board resolved to adjust the cash dividend ratio to NT$1.29411842 because the number of outstanding ASE Common Shares had changed as a result of the exercise of share options.

 

SPIL

 

SPIL may distribute dividends in any year in which SPIL has current or retained earnings (excluding reserves). SPIL has historically paid dividends on the Shares with respect to the results of the preceding year following approval by our shareholders at the annual general meeting of shareholders. SPIL has paid annual dividends on its Shares since 1995, except in 2002 and 2003 when it did not pay any dividend because it incurred in 2001 and the shareholders did not resolve to declare a dividend in 2002. SPIL may also make distributions to its shareholders by capitalizing reserves, including the legal reserve and capital surplus if it does not have losses.

 

The following table sets forth the stock dividends SPIL paid during each of the years indicated and related information.

 

    Cash Dividends Per SPIL Common Share   Stock Dividends per SPIL Common Share (1)   Total SPIL Common Shares Issued as Stock Dividends(2)   Outstanding SPIL Common
Shares at Year End
    NT$   NT$        
2013     1.67 (3)                 3,116,361,139  
2014     1.80                   3,116,361,139  
2015     3.00                   3,116,361,139  

 

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(1) Stock dividend is declared in NT dollar amount per common share. The number of shares received by a shareholder equals to the NT dollar amount per common share of dividend declared multiplied by the number of shares owned by the shareholder and divided by the par value of NT$10 per common share.

 

(2) Total number of common shares issued as stock dividends include common shares issued from retained earnings and from capital reserve.

 

(3) Of which NT$0.30 per share is from capital reserve and NT$1.37 per common share is from earnings distribution.

 

As approved by a meeting of the SPIL Board on February 24, 2016 and a general shareholders’ meeting on May 16, 2016, SPIL distributed a cash dividend of NT$2.8 per Share and a return of capital reserves of NT$1.0 to its shareholders on July 1, 2016.

 

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Information about the Companies

 

ASE

 

ASE is a company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the ROC. ASE’s services include semiconductor packaging, production of interconnect materials, front-end engineering testing, wafer probing and final testing services, as well as integrated solutions for electronics manufacturing services in relation to computers, peripherals, communications, industrial, automotive, and storage and server applications.

 

ASE Common Shares are traded on the TWSE under the ticker “2311” and ASE ADSs are traded on the NYSE under the symbol “ASX.” ASE’s principal executive offices are located at 26 Chin Third Road, Nantze Export Processing Zone, Nantze, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China and our telephone number at the above address is +886-7-361-7131.

 

SPIL

 

SPIL is a company incorporated under the ROC Company Law as a company limited by shares with its principal business address at No. 123, Sec. 3, Da Fong Road, Tantzu, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China. The telephone number of SPIL’s principal executive office is 886-4-2534-1525. The name, business address, present principal employment and citizenship of each director and executive officer of SPIL are set forth below.

 

HoldCo

 

It is expected that HoldCo will be a company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the ROC and will be formed at the Effective Time. HoldCo will initially serve exclusively as the holding company for the ASE, SPIL, as well as their subsidiaries and investees.

 

It is expected that HoldCo Common Shares will be traded on the TWSE and HoldCo ADSs will be traded on the NYSE. It is expected that HoldCo’s principal executive offices will be located at Room 1901, No. 333, Section 1 Keelung Rd. Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China and its telephone number at the above address will be +886-2-6636-5678.

 

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Extraordinary General Shareholders’ Meeting of ASE

 

General

 

The date, time and place of the ASE EGM to vote for the Share Exchange is expected to be held at [TIME] A.M. on [DATE], 2017 (Taiwan time), at Zhuang Jing Auditorium, 600 Jiachang Road, Nantze Export Processing Zone, Nantze District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, Republic of China. Holders of ASE Common Shares will be entitled exercise voting rights by electronic means or by attending the ASE EGM in person or by proxy, if they are recorded on ASE’s stockholder register on [DATE], 2017. Holders of ASE ADSs will be entitled to instruct the ASE Depositary (Citibank), as to how to vote their underlying shares of ASE Common Shares at the ASE EGM in accordance with the procedures set forth in this prospectus, if those holders were recorded on such ASE Depositary’s register of ASE ADS holders on [DATE], 2017.

 

This proxy statement/prospectus will be filed with the SEC no later than 20 business days prior to the date of the ASE EGM. ASE will publish the notice of convocation for such ASE EGM on the MOPS in Taiwan, and distribute the notice of convocation to all holders of ASE Common Shares by mail at least 15 calendar days prior to the date of the ASE EGM. The ASE Depositary will send to holders of ASE ADSs a notice and voting instruction from the depositary prior to the date of the ASE EGM. The form of depositary notice to holders of ASE ADSs and the form of voting instructions for use by holders of ASE ADSs are included in this proxy statement / prospectus as Exhibit 99.1 and Exhibit 99.2, respectively.

 

The purpose of the ASE EGM is:

 

(1) To consider and to vote upon the Joint Share Exchange Agreement entered into between ASE and SPIL on June 30, 2016 and the proposed Share Exchange and other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement;

 

(2) To consider and to vote upon the adoption of the articles of incorporation of HoldCo;

 

(3) To consider and to vote upon the Rules of Procedure for Shareholders' Meetings of HoldCo;

 

(4) To consider and to vote upon the Rules Governing the Election of Directors and Supervisors of HoldCo;

 

(5) To consider and to vote upon the Procedures for Lending Funds to Other Parties of HoldCo and Procedures of Making of Endorsement and Guarantees of HoldCo;

 

(6) To consider and to vote upon the Acquisition or Disposal of Assets of HoldCo;

 

(7) To consider and elect the members of the board of directors and supervisors of HoldCo; and

 

(8) To consider and to vote upon the proposal to waive the non-competition clauses applicable to newly elected directors of HoldCo.

 

Voting

 

Record Date

 

Holders of ASE Common Shares will be entitled exercise voting rights by electronic means or by attending the ASE EGM in person or by proxy. You may vote at the ASE EGM of ASE only if you are registered as a holder of one or more of ASE Common Shares in ASE’s register of shareholders on [DATE] , 2017.

 

As of [ · ], 2017, there were [ · ] ASE Common Shares issued and outstanding, including [ · ] ASE Common Shares represented by ASE ADSs. Each ASE Common Share outstanding on the record date is entitled to one vote on each matter properly submitted at the ASE EGM

 

Vote Required

 

The required quorum to vote on the Share Exchange and other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement at the ASE EGM is a two-third majority of the total issued and outstanding common shares held by shareholders of ASE. The affirmative vote of shareholders representing a majority of the voting rights of the

 

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shareholders of ASE represented at the ASE EGM is required to approve the Share Exchange and other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement. Alternatively, if such quorum cannot be constituted, the resolution for the Share Exchange and other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement may be adopted by an affirmative vote representing at least two-thirds of the voting rights at the ASE EGM of shareholders for which shareholders of at least a majority of issued and outstanding common shares are present. Each shareholder is entitled to one vote per share.

 

Voting interest by ASE Directors and Officers

 

As of [ · ], 2017, [ · ] ASE Common Shares, or approximately [ · ]% of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, were beneficially owned by ASE’s directors and executive officers. To our knowledge, the directors and executive officers intend to support the Share Exchange proposal at the ASE EGM.

 

Voting by ASE Depositary

 

As of [ · ], 2017, approximately [ · ]% of the total number of outstanding ASE Common Shares having voting rights were represented by ASE ADSs.

 

At the request of ASE, the ASE Depositary ( Citibank) has fixed the close of business on [DATE], 2017 as the date for determining those holders of ASE ADSs entitled to give voting instructions to the ASE Depositary. The ASE Depositary will send to holders of ASE ADSs as of that date a voting instruction card and a notice which outlines the procedures those holders must follow to give proper voting instructions to the ASE Depositary.

 

In accordance with and subject to the terms of ASE Deposit Agreement, holders of ASE ADSs have no individual voting rights with respect to the ASE Common Shares represented by their ASE ADSs. Pursuant to the ASE Deposit Agreement, each holder of ASE ADSs is deemed to have authorized and directed the ASE Depositary to appoint the Chairman of ASE or his/her designee as Voting Representative of the ASE Depositary, the custodian or the nominee who is registered in the ROC as representative of the holders ASE ADSs to vote the ASE Common Shares represented by ASE ADSs as more fully described below.

 

In accordance with and subject to the terms of the ASE Deposit Agreement, if holders of ASE ADSs together holding at least 51% of all the ASE ADSs outstanding as of the record date set by the ASE Depositary for the ASE EGM to vote on the proposed Share Exchange and other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, instruct the ASE Depositary, prior to the ASE ADS voting instructions deadline, to vote in the same manner with respect to the Share Exchange and other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, the ASE Depositary shall notify the Voting Representative and appoint the Voting Representative as the representative of the ASE Depositary and the holders of ASE ADSs to attend the ASE EGM and vote all ASE Common Shares represented by ASE ADSs outstanding in the manner so instructed by such holders. If voting instructions are received from an ASE ADS holder by the ASE Depositary as of the ASE ADS voting instructions deadline which are signed but without further indication as to voting instructions, the ASE Depositary shall deem such holder to have instructed a vote in favor of the items set forth in such instructions.

 

In accordance with and subject to the terms of the ASE Deposit Agreement, if, for any reason, the ASE Depositary has not, prior to the ASE ADS voting instructions deadline, received instructions from holders of ASE ADSs together holding at least 51% of all ASE ADSs outstanding as of the record date set by the ASE Depositary for the ASE EGM to vote for the proposed Share Exchange and other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, to vote in the same manner with respect to the proposed Share Exchange and other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, the holders of all ASE ADSs shall be deemed to have authorized and directed the ASE Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to the Voting Representative, as the representative of the holders of ASE ADSs, to attend the ASE EGM and vote all the ASE Common Shares represented by ASE ADSs then outstanding in his/her discretion; provided, however, that the ASE Depositary will not give a discretionary proxy as described if it fails to receive under the terms of the ASE Deposit Agreement a satisfactory opinion from ASE’s counsel prior to the ASE EGM. In such circumstances, the Voting Representative shall be free to exercise the votes attaching to the ASE Common Shares represented by ASE in any manner he/she wishes, which may not be in the best interests of the ASE ADS holders. [The Voting Representative has informed ASE that he plans as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus to vote in favor of all of the proposals at the ASE EGM, although he has not entered into any agreement obligating him to do so.]

 

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Voting Mechanism

 

Holders of ASE Common Shares are entitled to exercise voting rights by electronic means or by attending the ASE EGM in person or by proxy.

 

You may exercise your voting right by electronic means during the Electronic Voting Period. Shareholders who intend to exercise voting right electronically must log in to the website maintained by the Taiwan Depository & Clearing Corporation (https://www.stockvote.com.tw) and inputting an exercise code. Internet voting is available only in the Chinese language.

 

You may also exercise your voting rights by attending the ASE EGM in person or by proxy using a duly authorized power of attorney in the prescribed form attached to the notice of convocation distributed by ASE prior to the ASE EGM.

 

Revocation

 

Shareholders who previously exercised their voting right electronically may revoke or submit a subsequent vote via the electronic voting website anytime within the Electronic Voting Period. Once an electronic voting has been revoked, such shareholder may attend the ASE EGM in person or by proxy.

 

Shareholders who previously presented a valid proxy to ASE or exercised their voting rights electronically but then wish to attend the ASE EGM in person are required to revoke their proxy in writing addressed to ASE or revoke your electronic vote by logging in to the electronic voting website at least two (2) calendar days prior to the ASE EGM .Otherwise, the voting right exercised by their proxy or through the electronic voting website at the ASE EGM will prevail.

 

Solicitation of Proxies, Consents or Authorizations.

 

Under ROC law, ASE is prohibited from soliciting proxies, consents or authorizations at its shareholders’ meetings, including the ASE EGM which the Share Exchange and other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement will be voted upon.

 

However, ASEE, a shareholder of ASE beneficially holding approximately [ · ]% of the total outstanding share capital of ASE as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, is soliciting proxies in favor of the authorization and approval of the Share Exchange and other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement prior to the ASE EGM. ASEE is controlled by ASE’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jason C.S. Chang. ASEE will pay its own cost of soliciting proxies, including the cost of mailing the proxy statement. In addition to solicitation by use of the mails, proxies may be solicited by each of ASEE’s directors and executive officers, each of whom is a participant in this solicitation, in person or by telephone or other means of communication. These persons will not receive additional compensation, but may be reimbursed for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection with this solicitation. ASEE will make arrangements with brokerage houses, custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward proxy solicitation materials to beneficial owners of shares held of record by them. ASEE will also reimburse these brokerage houses, custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their reasonable expenses incurred in forwarding the proxy materials.

 

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The Joint Share Exchange Agreement

 

Summary of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement

 

The following section contains a summary of certain provisions of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement. The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Joint Share Exchange Agreement itself, which is incorporated herein by reference and included in this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex A. We urge you to read the Joint Share Exchange Agreement carefully and in its entirety, as it is the legal document governing the Share Exchange.

 

Structure of the Share Exchange

 

The Share Exchange

 

Pursuant to the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, all of the issued and outstanding shares of ASE and SPIL will be transferred to a newly formed holding company, HoldCo, incorporated by ASE. HoldCo will issue new shares to ASE shareholders and pay the cash consideration to SPIL shareholders, each as described below. At the Effective Time, ASE and SPIL will become wholly owned subsidiaries of HoldCo, retaining their respective legal personalities.

 

HoldCo Articles of Incorporation

 

The Articles of Incorporation appended to the Joint Share Exchange Agreement will be proposed by ASE board to the meeting of HoldCo’s incorporators for adoption. Once HoldCo’s incorporators meeting passes the resolution to adopt the Articles of Incorporation, the Articles of Incorporation will become effective on the date when HoldCo is incorporated (which shall be the Effective Time).

 

Consideration

 

At the Effective Time: (i) each issued SPIL Common Share immediately prior to the Effective Time (including SPIL’s treasury shares), will automatically be transferred to HoldCo and converted into the right to receive NT$55 in cash; and (ii) each SPIL ADS issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, will be surrendered and converted into the right to receive NT$275.

 

In addition, at the Effective Time: (i) each issued ASE Common Share (including ASE’s treasury shares) immediately prior to the Effective Time, will be exchanged, in accordance with the exchange ratio, for 0.5 HoldCo Common Shares; and (ii) each ASE ADS issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, will be surrendered in exchange for, in accordance with the exchange ratio, 1.25 HoldCo ADSs (following the Share Exchange, 1 HoldCo ADS will represent 2 HoldCo Common Shares, in contrast to the current ASE ADS, which represents 5 ASE Common Shares).

 

Treatment of Treasury Shares and Equity-Linked Securities

 

At the Effective Time, HoldCo shall become the successor to ASE under ASE’s US$200,000,000 Currency Linked Zero Coupon Convertible Bonds due 2018 (the “2015 CBs”) and US$400,000,000 Zero Coupon Convertible Bonds due 2018 (the “2013 CBs”, and together with the 2015 CBs, “ASE’s convertible bonds”) each pursuant to a supplemental indenture to be entered into among ASE, HoldCo and the trustee for such series of bonds. HoldCo shall assume all rights and obligations of ASE under ASE’s convertible bonds and holders of the 2015 CBs and the 2013 CBs to have the right convert each US$200,000,000 principal amount of such bond into approximately 103,332 and 62,455 shares of HoldCo, respectively. After the Effective time, ASE shall continue to serve as an obligor under ASE’s convertible bonds.

 

Treatment of Fractional Shares

 

HoldCo will not issue any fractional shares of HoldCo Common Shares or HoldCo ADSs pursuant to the Share Exchange. Instead, ASE will aggregate the fractional entitlements and sell the aggregated ASE Common Shares using the closing price of ASE Common Shares on the TWSE on the trading day immediately preceding the Effective Time. Each holder of ASE Common Shares who otherwise would have received a fraction of a share of HoldCo Common Shares, will be entitled to receive, on a proportionate basis, the cash proceeds from the sale of such fractional shares.

 

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Adjustments to the Consideration

 

The cash consideration of NT$55 per SPIL Common Share and NT$275 per SPIL ADS will be adjusted if SPIL issues any shares or cash dividends between the date of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and the Effective Time, provided, that the cash consideration will not be adjusted if SPIL’s cash dividends in 2017, in aggregate, are less than 85% of SPIL’s after-tax net profit for the year 2016.

 

ASE and SPIL will negotiate changes to the cash consideration in good faith as a result of the occurrence of certain events set forth below to the extent such events occur prior to the Effective Time and result in a reduction, individually or in aggregate, in SPIL’s consolidated net book value by 10% or more compared to SPIL’s net book value in its consolidated audited financial statements as of March 31, 2016 (excluding any such decrease resulting from dividends distributed by SPIL):

 

· issuance of equity-linked securities by SPIL (except for any shares of SPIL issued as a result of the exercise of conversion rights of holders of SPIL foreign convertible bonds issued by SPIL on October 31, 2014);

 

· disposal of material assets by SPIL;

 

· occurrence of a major disaster causing a material adverse effect to SPIL, material technical changes or other circumstances affecting SPIL’s shareholders’ interests or the share price of SPIL Common Shares; and

 

· repurchase of treasury shares by SPIL, except for the repurchase of SPIL Common Shares following the exercise of appraisal rights by SPIL shareholders in connection with the Share Exchange.

 

Appraisal Rights

 

Without prejudice to the appraisal rights described below in the section entitled “Rights of Dissenting Shareholders,” if a SPIL shareholder or ASE shareholder exercises its appraisal rights, SPIL or ASE, respectively, will repurchase such shares in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

 

Closing of the Share Exchange

 

Subject to the satisfaction or waiver (as applicable) of the conditions to closing of the Share Exchange, the Share Exchange is expected to occur on a date to be agreed by HoldCo’s board of directors, the SPIL Board and the ASE Board, which date will be agreed upon and approved by such parties within 10 days of receipt of the approvals of their respective general shareholders’ meetings to effect the Share Exchange.

 

Representations and Warranties

 

The Joint Share Exchange Agreement contains various customary representations and warranties that SPIL makes to ASE relating to, among other things:

 

· SPIL’s due incorporation, valid existence and authority to carry on its business operations;

 

· capitalization of SPIL;

 

· absence of violations of: (i) current laws or regulations of the ROC, (ii) judgments, orders or dispositions by courts, (iii) organizational documents, or (iv) contracts, representations, warranties or other obligations of SPIL, in each case as a result of entry into the Joint Share Exchange Agreement;

 

· authority to enter into the Joint Share Exchange Agreement;

 

· enforceability of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement;

 

· approval of the SPIL Board and/or shareholders’ meeting in connection with the Share Exchange;

 

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· financial statements;

 

· taxes;

 

· the absence of litigation;

 

· the absence of undisclosed liabilities;

 

· title to assets;

 

· absence of new material debts since December 31, 2015;

 

· intellectual property;

 

· labor matters;

 

· environmental matters;

 

· material contracts;

 

· absence of default under contracts;

 

· compliance with laws; and

 

· accuracy of materials provided to prepare and file this proxy statement/prospectus.

 

The Joint Share Exchange Agreement contains various customary representations and warranties that ASE makes to SPIL relating to, among other things:

 

· ASE’s due incorporation, valid existence and authority to carry on its business operations ;

 

· capitalization of ASE;

 

· absence of violations of: (i) current laws or regulations of the ROC, (ii) judgments, orders or dispositions by courts, (iii) organizational documents, or (iv) contracts, representations, warranties or other obligations of ASE, in each case as a result of entry into the Joint Share Exchange Agreement;

 

· authority to enter into the Joint Share Exchange Agreement;

 

· enforceability of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement; and

 

· approval of the ASE Board and/or meeting of ASE’s shareholders in connection with the Share Exchange.

 

The Joint Share Exchange Agreement contains various customary representations and warranties that ASE agrees to cause HoldCo to make to SPIL relating to, among other things:

 

· HoldCo’s due incorporation, valid existence and authority to carry on its business operations;

 

· absence of violations of: (i) current laws or regulations of the ROC, (ii) judgments, orders or dispositions by courts, (iii) organizational documents, or (iv) contracts, representations, warranties or other obligations of HoldCo, in each case as a result of entry into the Joint Share Exchange Agreement; and

 

· approval of HoldCo’s promoters’ meeting in connection with the Share Exchange.

 

Many of the representations and warranties of each party in the Joint Share Exchange Agreement are qualified by knowledge, materiality thresholds or “material adverse effect.” SPIL’s representations and warranties are also qualified by information in disclosure schedules and its publicly available disclosures filed with the Taiwan Financial Supervisory Commission, the TWSE and the SEC.

 

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For purposes of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, a “material adverse effect” to ASE or SPIL means any change, development, incident, matter, effect or fact that, individually or in aggregate, results in a material adverse effect on SPIL and its subsidiaries, or ASE and its subsidiaries, as applicable, taken as a whole, where “material” means the occurrence of such events that, individually or in the aggregate, result in a decrease in the consolidated net book value of SPIL, or ASE, as applicable, by 10% or more, compared to SPIL’s or ASE’s, as applicable, consolidated audited financial statements as of March 31, 2016; provided that, for the purposes of this definition, in no event will any of the following, individually or in the aggregate, be regarded as having or be taken into account in determining whether there has been a material adverse effect:

 

· a change in capital market conditions or general economic conditions;

 

· a change in geopolitical conditions occurring after the date the Joint Share Exchange Agreement was executed, or outbreak or escalation of any conflict, or any acts of terrorism or war;

 

· a force majeure event occurring after the date the Joint Share Exchange Agreement was executed;

 

· any change in applicable law after the date the Joint Share Exchange Agreement was executed;

 

· any change of the industry in which the party or its subsidiaries operate;

 

· the failure, in and of itself, to meet any predictions, forecasts, projections or estimates of revenue, profits or other financial or operational targets, or a change of market price, credit rating or trading volume of the party’s securities, provided that the directors of the party have met their duties of care and loyalty;

 

· the announcement of the execution of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement or the consummation of the Share Exchange, including any transaction-related litigation, any actions required by the covenants in the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, any loss of or change of relationship with any customer, supplier, distributor or other business partners of the party or its subsidiaries, or any loss of any employees or senior management, provided that the directors of the party have met their duties of care and loyalty; and

 

· in the case of ASE only, any internal restructuring of ASE and/or its subsidiaries.

 

The representations and warranties of each of the parties to the Joint Share Exchange Agreement will terminate upon the Effective Time or termination of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement in accordance with its terms

 

Pre-Closing Covenants and Agreements

 

Conduct of Business of SPIL Pending Closing

 

From the date of execution of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement until the Effective Time, SPIL will not, and will not procure its subsidiaries to, among other matters:

 

· issue any equity-linked securities (other than shares issued as a result of the exercise of conversion rights by holders of SPIL foreign convertible bonds); or

 

· directly or indirectly repurchase, individually or through any third party, any shares or equity-linked securities, or reduce its share capital or enter into any plan of dissolution, or make any filings in connection with restructuring, settlement or bankruptcy, except for the repurchase of shares from shareholders exercising appraisal rights or in connection with the redemption of SPIL foreign convertible bonds.

 

Superior Proposals

 

Except (i) if required by a court judgment, arbitral award, approval or order, administrative decision or burden/condition approved by both ASE and SPIL by competent authorities (including the TWSE, TFTC, FTC, the MOFCOM or the SEC), or (ii) if SPIL receives a Superior Proposal (as described below), SPIL has agreed that between the date of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and the Effective Time, it will not, and it will not procure its subsidiaries to, and none of its directors, managers, employees, agents or representatives may, offer or agree to enter into, or execute, any contract, agreement or other arrangement with any third party in respect of any of the following transactions (an “Alternate Transaction”):

 

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· any transaction that may involve a spin-off, purchase or sale of SPIL or any other company’s shares of a non-financial investment nature;

 

· a lease of all SPIL’s businesses to a third party, a joint operation with a third party, or the acquisition of the entire business or assets from a third party (except for the acquisition of the entire business or assets from a third party in an aggregate amount less than NT$500,000,000);

 

· any merger or acquisition that does not involve the issue of shares in HoldCo;

 

· any sale of any or all material assets or businesses of SPIL’s wholly owned subsidiaries; and

 

· any disposal of any interest in any material assets or businesses, or exclusive licenses of material patents or technologies, in each case of SPIL’s wholly owned subsidiaries.

 

For purposes of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, “Superior Proposal” means a bona fide , unsolicited written offer to SPIL to enter into any Alternate Transaction, made by a party other than ASE, SPIL or any of SPIL’s directors, managers, employees, agents or representatives, where the terms and conditions of such an offer are considered to be more favorable to SPIL and SPIL’s shareholders than the terms and conditions of the Share Exchange, as evidenced by opinions separately issued by a renowned investment bank and law firm appointed by SPIL’s audit committee. If SPIL receives a Superior Proposal from a third party the conditions of which, in the respective opinions of SPIL’s audit committee and the SPIL Board, are more favorable than those of the Share Exchange, SPIL will notify ASE in writing of such superior proposal and furnish ASE with details of the entire Superior Proposal. From the fifth business day following the delivery of such notice to ASE, SPIL will be permitted to negotiate with, propose to, inquire with, deliberate with, contact, discuss with, offer to or consult with such third party. ASE and SPIL agree that if SPIL does not consummate the Share Exchange due to its acceptance of a Superior Proposal, SPIL will pay to ASE a termination fee in the amount of NT$17 billion.

 

Other Pre-closing Covenant of SPIL

 

After ASE issues to SPIL, in connection with the payment of entire amount of the cash consideration under the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, the financing plan and a highly confident letter in respect of the financing of the Transaction issued by banks conforming to the market practice, SPIL shall in its SEC filings recommend to its shareholders to vote in favor of approving the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and the Transaction.

 

Regulatory Approvals

 

ASE and HoldCo have agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to, and SPIL has agreed to use reasonable efforts to, in each case, obtain all approvals relating to the Share Exchange from competent authorities. SPIL has agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to assist ASE and HoldCo in making all filings and notifications and providing all information to competent authorities, including making all required filings with the TFTC, MOFCOM and the FTC. In addition, SPIL, ASE and HoldCo have agreed to comply with the Taiwan Fair Trade Act and all relevant laws.

 

ASE, HoldCo and SPIL have agreed to act in good faith and with goodwill in deciding, jointly, whether to accept any conditions or burdens imposed by any of the TFTC, the FTC or MOFCOM as a condition to obtaining approvals or avoiding a legal challenge from such authorities. ASE and SPIL have agreed to comply with any such conditions or burdens agreed by ASE and SPIL. Following the Effective Time, ASE, HoldCo and SPIL will comply with any conditions or burdens imposed by the TFTC, the FTC or MOFCOM, which ASE and SPIL have agreed to.

 

Covenants of ASE Pending Closing

 

Except (i) if SPIL has materially breached any of its representations, warranties or covenants under the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, (ii) if there is any action taken by SPIL that would prevent the consummation of the Share Exchange without just cause, or (iii) where SPIL’s directors have breached their duty of care or loyalty in relation to the Share Exchange, in each case during the period from the execution of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement to the Effective Time, ASE (and, if applicable, HoldCo) have agreed to:

 

· support the candidates for SPIL’s 13 th board of directors nominated by the SPIL Board when SPIL re-elects its board of directors in June 2017;

 

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· not intervene in the operation of SPIL and to support the motions put forward by SPIL’s Board at SPIL’s shareholders’ meeting, including by abstaining from voting on any motion that threatens SPIL’s interests and to not solicit proxies or seek to replace SPIL’s directors, including by convening an extraordinary general meeting of SPIL shareholders, and no current or former director of ASE or any of its subsidiaries, or their spouses, other relatives and certain other persons may serve as a director of SPIL;

 

· maintain the competition between, and the respective independence of, ASE and SPIL, without the hiring of any of SPIL’s employees by ASE; and

 

· not purchase or acquire shares in SPIL or increase its interest in SPIL in any manner that violates applicable law; provided that, for any shares in SPIL acquired by ASE in accordance with applicable law between the date the Joint Share Exchange Agreement was executed and the Effective Time, (i) ASE may dispose of such shares freely for financial purposes, provided that the disposed shares are in aggregate less than 10% of the total issued and outstanding share capital of SPIL, and (ii) ASE may transfer shares of SPIL to persons who do not operate any businesses in the integrated circuit packaging industry; provided that if the transferred shares are in aggregate more than 10% of the total issued and outstanding share capital of SPIL, ASE will obtain SPIL’s prior written consent to such a transfer.

 

(collectively, the “ASE Surviving Covenants”)

 

Financing

 

ASE shall, before SPIL’s submission of Schedule 13e-3 to the SEC, confirm with SPIL the types and composition of ASE’s and HoldCo’s funding sources and present proof documentation in respect of funding sources (including, but not limited to, the financing plan and a highly confident letter conforming to the market practice and issued by bank(s) financing the Share Exchange) that can demonstrate ASE’s and HoldCo’s ability to fully pay for the consideration of the Share Exchange.

 

Conditions to Consummation of the Share Exchange

 

The obligations of ASE, SPIL and HoldCo to consummate the Share Exchange are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

· ASE and SPIL will each have obtained unconditional approval of the Share Exchange at their respective general shareholders’ meetings;

 

· receipt of approvals from all relevant competent authorities, including, but not limited to, (i) the TWSE and the SEC (ii) the TFTC and MOFCOM and (iii) the FTC completing its investigation without seeking an injunction prohibiting the Share Exchange (in the case of (ii) and (iii), including approvals or consents of conditions imposed by such authorities that both ASE and SPIL have agreed to accept); and

 

· no order (or agreement with the FTC) is in effect and enforceable prohibiting, enjoining or rendering illegal the consummation of the Share Exchange, and no law shall have been enacted or enforced after the date the Joint Share Exchange Agreement was executed rendering illegal or prohibiting the consummation of the Share Exchange; provided that the enforcement of an order or law shall not include the decision by a governmental entity to extend the waiting period or initiate an investigation under antitrust laws or other applicable law.

 

In addition, ASE’s and HoldCo’s obligations to consummate the Share Exchange are subject to the satisfaction or waiver by ASE and HoldCo of the following additional conditions:

 

· all representations and warranties of SPIL are true and accurate as of the date the Joint Share Exchange Agreement was executed and as of the Effective Time, except to the extent no material adverse effect on SPIL has occurred;

 

· SPIL has performed in all material respects all obligations and undertakings required to be performed by it under the Joint Share Exchange Agreement prior to the Effective Time;

 

· no material adverse effect to SPIL shall have occurred prior to the Effective Time; and

 

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· prior to the Effective Time, no force majeure events will have occurred which, individually or in aggregate, result in a decrease in SPIL’s consolidated net book value by 30% or more, relative to SPIL’s net book value in its consolidated audited financial statements as of March 31, 2016.

 

In addition, SPIL’s obligation to consummate the Share Exchange is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following additional conditions:

 

· all representations and warranties of ASE are true and accurate as of the date the Joint Share Exchange Agreement was executed and as of the Effective Time, except to the extent no material adverse effect on ASE has occurred;

 

· all representations and warranties of HoldCo are true and accurate as of the Effective Time, except to the extent no material adverse effect on HoldCo has occurred;

 

· ASE and HoldCo have performed in all material respects all obligations and undertakings required to be performed by each of them under the Joint Share Exchange Agreement prior to the Effective Time;

 

· no material adverse effect to ASE will have occurred prior to the Effective Time; and

 

· prior to the Effective Time, no force majeure events will have occurred which, individually or in aggregate, result in a decrease in ASE’s consolidated net book value by 30% or more, relative to ASE’s net book value in its consolidated audited financial statements as of March 31, 2016.

 

The consummation of the Share Exchange is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of all the conditions set forth above on or prior to the Long Stop Date. If the closing of the Share Exchange cannot be completed due to the failure to satisfy the conditions set forth above on or prior to the Long Stop Date, the Joint Share Exchange Agreement will automatically terminate at midnight on the day immediately following the Long Stop Date.

 

Termination and Events of Default

 

Termination of Joint Share Exchange Agreement

 

The Joint Share Exchange Agreement may be terminated prior to the Effective Time by either ASE or SPIL if any of the following occurs:

 

· a law, judgment, court order or administrative decision issued by a competent authority restricts or prohibits the consummation of the Share Exchange, and such restriction or prohibition has been confirmed and cannot be remedied by amending the Joint Share Exchange Agreement; or

 

· the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and Share Exchange are not approved by ASE’s shareholders or SPIL’s shareholders at their respective shareholder meetings.

 

The Joint Share Exchange Agreement may also be terminated at any time prior to the Effective Time by ASE if SPIL has breached or failed to perform any of its representations, warranties, undertakings or obligations under the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and such breach leads to the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation and is by its nature not capable of being cured, or is not cured by SPIL within 30 business days of receiving written notice of such breach, and is not waived in writing by ASE.

 

The Joint Share Exchange Agreement may also be terminated at any time prior to the Effective Time by SPIL if ASE has breached or failed to perform any of its representations, warranties, undertakings or obligations under the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and such breach leads to the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation and is by its nature not capable of being cured, or is not cured by ASE within 30 business days of receiving written notice of such breach, and is not waived in writing by SPIL.

 

If the Share Exchange is not consummated on or before the Long Stop Date, the Joint Share Exchange Agreement will automatically terminate at midnight on the day immediately following the Long Stop Date.

 

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Events of Default and Consequences of Termination

 

An event of default will occur if ASE, HoldCo or SPIL breach any of their obligations, undertakings, representations or warranties under the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, and such breach is by its nature not capable of being cured or, if such breach is by its nature capable of being cured, the non-defaulting party requests the defaulting party cure such breach within 15 days and such breach is not cured within 15 days; provided that HoldCo and ASE are jointly and severally liable for breaches committed by either party, and a breach of any representation or warranty made prior to the Effective Time will no longer constitute an event of default as of the Effective Time.

 

Upon the occurrence of an event of default that prevents the consummation of the Share Exchange on or prior to the Long Stop Date, the non-defaulting Party will be entitled to terminate the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and claim from the defaulting party all necessary expenses incurred in connection with entering into the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and the performance of the obligations thereunder, in addition to any rights, remedies and damages under applicable law, subject to any adjustments for the contributory negligence of the non-defaulting party. The percentage of such contributory negligence may be determined by an expert appraiser appointed by both ASE and SPIL without being determined by arbitration. In addition to any right of termination and claims for expenses, upon the occurrence of certain prescribed material events of default, the non-defaulting party will also be entitled to liquidated damages in the amount of NT$8.5 billion from the defaulting party, subject to adjustments for contributory negligence by the non-defaulting party.

 

Post-Termination Obligations

 

Unless ASE terminates the Joint Share Exchange Agreement for breach by SPIL, ASE has agreed to comply with the ASE Surviving Covenants and SPIL has agreed to be bound by the provisions relating to a Superior Proposal, and the payment of the break fee, in each case for six (6) months from the date of termination of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement. In addition, ASE has agreed to maintain its position as solely a financial investor in SPIL without intervening with SPIL’s independent operations during such six (6) month period.

 

Post-Closing Operation and Corporate Governance

 

Board and Management of HoldCo

 

The directors of HoldCo will be comprised of nine to thirteen non-independent directors, appointed at a meeting of HoldCo’s incorporators, and three supervisors, who will be future independent directors. The Chairman of SPIL and President of SPIL will each be appointed (non-independent) directors of HoldCo. ASE and SPIL will jointly nominate one independent director, when HoldCo appoints independent directors.

 

Independence

 

ASE and SPIL have agreed to comply with certain post-closing covenants to ensure the continued independence of SPIL following the consummation of the Share Exchange, including that SPIL will become a wholly owned subsidiary of HoldCo but its independent operations and the competition between ASE and SPIL will be maintained. In addition, subject to applicable law, the duties of SPIL’s directors and the interests of HoldCo, HoldCo agrees to comply with the following covenants:

 

· the operations of SPIL will be run by the SPIL Board, who will maintain control over SPIL’s organizational documents, personnel, payroll or welfare systems, financial budgets, audit, technology research and development, operations and marketing; and other matters, in each case so as to maintain the independence of SPIL’s operations;

 

· any matter relating to SPIL’s rights and obligations will be controlled by the SPIL Board or under its authorization, and the operation of SPIL’s businesses will be conducted by the SPIL Board or under its direction;

 

· HoldCo will, to the extent that it is capable, provide guaranties, funding or other support sufficient to enable SPIL to obtain financing from third parties (including, but not limited to, guarantee documentation acceptable to financing parties), in order to meet SPIL’s funding needs, including but not limited to capital expenditure and working capital;

 

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· SPIL’s management, employees, current organizational structure, compensation and relevant benefits as of the date of execution of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement will be maintained;

 

· for so long as SPIL is a subsidiary of HoldCo, the SPIL Board will nominate and appoint directors and supervisors of SPIL in its sole discretion (and HoldCo will appoint such candidates), and such directors will not be replaced or otherwise removed without the consent of the SPIL Board; and the compensation and benefits of SPIL’s directors as of the date of execution of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement will be maintained; and

 

· HoldCo may not dispose of any shares in SPIL without SPIL’s consent.

 

Based on the principle of reciprocity, SPIL will, to the extent that it is capable, provide guaranties, funding or other support sufficient to enable HoldCo to obtain financing from third parties (including, but not limited to, guarantee documentation acceptable to financing parties), in order to meet HoldCo’s funding needs, including but not limited to capital expenditure and working capital.

 

ASE, HoldCo and SPIL have agreed that, following the Effective Time, none of ASE, SPIL or any of the other wholly owned subsidiaries of HoldCo, or any of their directors, managers or agents, without the consent of HoldCo, will offer, agree or enter into any agreement with any third party regarding an Alternate Transaction.

 

In addition, HoldCo and its subsidiaries (other than ASE and SPIL) will not provide ASE with customer details or competitively sensitive information obtained from SPIL, including but not limited to production and sales costs, product price/quantity and details of suppliers, without the consent of SPIL and in accordance with applicable antitrust laws.

 

SPIL has the right to initiate arbitration against HoldCo or its subsidiaries if ASE commits an event of default under the Joint Share Exchange Agreement.

 

Employee Benefits and Rights

 

HoldCo has agreed that, for all employees of SPIL as of the Effective Time, HoldCo will ensure that, subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, they continue to receive existing employee benefits, work under the conditions and be subject to the same personnel regulations. The employment rights for employees of SPIL will be protected, except where such employee committed a material breach of applicable law or the personnel regulations of SPIL.

 

In addition, HoldCo will reserve a portion of HoldCo’s employee stock options for SPIL’s management and employees. HoldCo will determine the plan and terms for the issue of employee stock options and the proportion to be reserved for employees of SPIL based on the number of employees; each employee’s contribution and performance results, and the profitability of HoldCo’s future subsidiaries. SPIL will determine, in accordance with its personnel regulations, the proportion of such HoldCo’s employee stock options to be distributed to SPIL’s management and its other employees.

 

ASE and HoldCo have agreed that SPIL’s management team may, in its sole discretion and within three months after the completion of the Share Exchange, implement reasonable and appropriate one-off plans to retain members of SPIL’s management and/or determine whether or not to accept resignations from SPIL employees who choose to resign after the Effective Time and the terms of such resignations; provided that the SPIL management team does not violate its duty of loyalty or duty of care.

 

Expenses

 

Except as otherwise explicitly provided for in the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, all costs and expenses incurred by the parties in connection with the Share Exchange will be paid by the party incurring such costs and expenses.

 

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Governing Law and Jurisdiction

 

The Joint Share Exchange Agreement is governed by and is to be construed, in all respects, with the law of ROC, including as to interpretation, effectiveness and performance. The parties have agreed to submit disputes arising out of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement to the Chinese Arbitration Association in Taipei.

 

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Description of HoldCo Common Shares

 

The following information relates to the shares of HoldCo Common Shares, including summaries of certain provisions of HoldCo’ Articles of Incorporation and of the ROC Company Law.

 

General

 

The authorized share capital of HoldCo will be as provided in its Articles of Incorporation, of which such number of shares as to be determined will be issued.

 

Dividends

 

In general, HoldCo will not be permitted to distribute dividends or make other distributions to shareholders in any year in which it did not record net income or retained earnings (excluding reserves). The ROC Company Law also requires that 10% of annual net income (less prior years’ losses, if any) be set aside as a legal reserve until the accumulated legal reserve equals our paid-in capital. In addition, the Articles of Incorporation of HoldCo, if adopted at the ASE EGM to vote for the Share Exchange and other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, will provide that if HoldCo is profitable, 0.1% (inclusive) to 1% (inclusive) of the profits shall be allocated as compensation to employees and 0.75% (inclusive) or less of the profits should be allocated as compensation to directors; however, provided that the HoldCo has accumulated losses, the profit shall be set aside to compensate losses before such allocation. The Articles of Incorporation of HoldCo further will further provide that the annual net income shall be distributed in the order of sequences below:

 

· making up for losses, if any;

 

· 10% being set aside as legal reserve;

 

· allocation or reversal of a special surplus reserve in accordance with laws or regulations set forth by the authorities concerned; and

 

· addition or deduction of the portion of retained earnings that are equity investment gains or losses that have been realized and measured at fair value through other overall gains or losses.

 

At the ASE EGM, the board of directors of HoldCo will submit to the shareholders for their approval any proposal for the distribution of dividends or the making of any other distribution to shareholders from HoldCo’ net income for the preceding fiscal year. All common shares outstanding and fully paid as of the relevant record date are entitled to share equally in any dividend or other distribution so approved. Dividends may be distributed in cash, in the form of common shares or a combination of the two, as determined by the shareholders at the meeting. The Articles of Incorporation of HoldCo, if adopted at the ASE EGM to vote for the Share Exchange and other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, will provide that cash dividend distribution should not be lower than 30% of the total dividend amount and the remainder be distributed as stock dividends.

 

HoldCo will also be permitted to make distributions to its shareholders in cash or in the form of common shares from reserves if it has no accumulated loss. However, the distribution payable out of HoldCo’ legal reserve can only come from the amount exceeding 25% of the total paid-in capital.

 

Changes in Share Capital

 

Under ROC Company Law, any change in the authorized share capital of a company limited by shares requires an amendment to its Articles of Incorporation, which in turn requires approval at the shareholders’ meeting. In the case of a public company such as HoldCo, it must also obtain the approval of, or submit a report to, the FSC and the Kaohsiung Export Processing Zone Administration. Authorized but unissued common shares may be issued, subject to applicable ROC law, upon terms as the board of directors of HoldCo may determine.

 

Preemptive Rights

 

Under the ROC Company Law, when an ROC company issues new shares for cash, existing shareholders who are listed on the shareholders’ register as of the record date have preemptive rights to subscribe for the new issue in proportion to their existing shareholdings, while a company’s employees, whether or not they are shareholders of the

 

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company, have rights to subscribe for 10% to 15% of the new issue. Any new shares that remain unsubscribed at the expiration of the subscription period may be freely offered, subject to compliance with applicable ROC law.

 

In addition, in accordance with the ROC Securities and Exchange Law, a public company that intends to offer new shares for cash must offer to the public at least 10% of the shares to be sold, except under certain circumstances or when exempted by the FSC. This percentage can be increased by a resolution passed at a shareholders’ meeting, which would diminish the number of new shares subject to the preemptive rights of existing shareholders.

 

These preemptive rights provisions do not apply to offerings of new shares through a private placement approved at a shareholders’ meeting.

 

Meetings of Shareholders

 

HoldCo will be required to hold an annual general meeting of our shareholders within six months following the end of each fiscal year. These meetings are generally held in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Any shareholder who holds 1% or more of HoldCo’ issued shares may submit one written proposal for discussion at our annual general meeting. Extraordinary shareholders’ meetings may be convened by resolution of the board of directors or by the board of directors upon the written request of any shareholder or shareholders who have held 3% or more of the outstanding common shares for a period of one year or longer. Shareholders’ meetings may also be convened by a supervisor. Notice in writing of meetings of shareholders, stating the place, time and purpose, must be dispatched to each shareholder at least 30 days, in the case of annual general meetings, and 15 days, in the case of extraordinary meetings, before the date set for each meeting. A majority of the holders of all issued common shares present at a shareholders’ meeting constitutes a quorum for meetings of shareholders.

 

Voting Rights

 

Under the ROC Company Law, except under limited circumstances, shareholders have one vote for each common share held. Under the ROC Company Law, our directors and supervisors are elected at a shareholders’ meeting through cumulative voting.

 

In general, a resolution can be adopted by the holders of at least a majority of our common shares represented at a shareholders’ meeting at which the holders of a majority of all issued common shares are present. Under ROC Company Law, the approval by at least a majority of HoldCo Common Shares represented at a shareholders’ meeting in which a quorum of at least two-thirds of all issued common shares are represented is required for major corporate actions (alternatively, ROC Company Law provides that in case of a public company, such as HoldCo, a resolution to approve such major corporate actions may be adopted by the holders of at least two-thirds of the shares represented at a meeting of shareholders at which holders of at least a majority of issued and outstanding shares are present), including:

 

· amendment to the Articles of Incorporation, including increase of authorized share capital and any changes of the rights of different classes of shares;

 

· execution, amendment or termination of any contract through which the company leases its entire business to others, or the company appoints others to operate its business or the company operates its business with others on a continuous basis;

 

· transfer of entire business or assets or a substantial part of its business or assets;

 

· acquisition of the entire business or assets of any other company, which would have a significant impact on the company’s operations;

 

· distribution of any stock dividend;

 

· dissolution, merger or spin-off of the company;

 

· issuance of restricted shares to employees; and

 

· removal of the directors or supervisors.

 

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A shareholder may be represented at an annual general or extraordinary meeting by proxy if a valid proxy form is delivered to HoldCo five days before the commencement of the annual general or extraordinary shareholders’ meeting. Shareholders may exercise their voting rights by way of electronic means if the voting is made on the website maintained by the Taiwan Depository & Clearing Corporation ( http://www.stockvote.com.tw ) in accordance with the instructions provided therein.

 

Holders of HoldCo ADSs do not have the right to exercise voting rights with respect to the underlying common shares, except as described in the deposit agreement.

 

Other Rights of Shareholders

 

Under the ROC Company Law, dissenting shareholders are entitled to appraisal rights in certain major corporate actions such as a proposed amalgamation by the company. If agreement with the company cannot be reached, dissenting shareholders may seek a court order for the company to redeem all of their shares. Shareholders may exercise their appraisal rights by serving written notice on the company prior to or at the related shareholders’ meeting and/or by raising and registering an objection at the shareholders’ meeting (see “Special Factors — Rights of Dissenting Shareholders”). In addition to appraisal rights, shareholders have the right to sue for the annulment of any resolution adopted at a shareholders’ meeting where the procedures were legally defective within 30 days after the date of the shareholders’ meeting. One or more shareholders who have held 3% or more of the issued and outstanding shares of a company for a period of one year or longer may require a supervisor or an independent director (in the event a company’s supervisors are replaced by an audit committee as required by ROC Company Law) to bring a derivative action on behalf of the company against a director as a result of the director’s unlawful actions or failure to act.

 

Rights of Holders of Deposited Securities

 

For rights of holders of deposited securities, please see “Description of HoldCo American Depositary Shares —Voting Rights.”

 

Register of Shareholders and Record Dates

 

HoldCo’ share registrar, President Securities Corp., will maintain HoldCo’ register of shareholders at its offices in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Under the ROC Company Law and the Articles of Incorporation of HoldCo, HoldCo may, by giving advance public notice, set a record date and close the register of shareholders for a specified period in order for it to determine the shareholders or pledgees that are entitled to rights pertaining to its common share. The specified period required is as follows:

 

· annual general meeting—60 days;

 

· extraordinary shareholders’ meeting—30 days; and

 

· relevant record date—5 days.

 

Annual Financial Statements

 

At least ten days before the annual general meeting, HoldCo’ annual financial statements, which are prepared in conformity with Taiwan IFRS, must be available at our principal executive office in Kaohsiung, Taiwan for inspection by the shareholders.

 

Transfer of Common Shares

 

The transfer of common shares in registered form is effected by endorsement and delivery of the related share certificates but, in order to assert shareholders’ rights against HoldCo, the transferee must have his name and address registered on our register of shareholders. Shareholders are required to file their respective specimen seals, also known as chops, with us. Chops are official stamps widely used in Taiwan by individuals and other entities to authenticate the execution of official and commercial documents. The settlement of trading in our common shares is normally carried out on the book-entry system maintained by the Taiwan Depository & Clearing Corporation.

 

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Acquisition of Common Shares by HoldCo

 

Under the ROC Securities and Exchange Law, HoldCo may purchase its own common shares for treasury stock in limited circumstances, including:

 

· to transfer shares to HoldCo’ employees;

 

· to deliver shares upon the conversion or exercise of bonds with warrants, preferred shares with warrants, convertible bonds, convertible preferred shares or warrants issued by HoldCo; and

 

· to maintain HoldCo’ credit and its shareholders’ equity, provided that the shares so purchased shall be canceled.

 

HoldCo may purchase its common shares on the TWSE or by means of a public tender offer. These transactions require the approval of a majority of SPIL Board of directors at a meeting in which at least two-thirds of the directors are in attendance. The total amount of common shares purchased for treasury stock may not exceed 10.0% of the total issued shares. In addition, the total cost of the purchased shares shall not exceed the aggregate amount of our retained earnings, any premium from share issuances and the realized portion of HoldCo’ capital reserve.

 

HoldCo may not pledge or hypothecate any of our shares purchased by us. In addition, it may not exercise any shareholders’ right attaching to such shares. In the event that HoldCo purchases its shares on the TWSE, its affiliates, directors, supervisors, managers, and their respective spouses and minor children and/or nominees are prohibited from selling any of HoldCo’ shares during the period in which HoldCo is purchasing our shares.

 

Pursuant to the ROC Company Law, an entity in which HoldCo directly or indirectly owns more than 50.0% of the voting shares or paid-in capital, which is referred to as a controlled entity, may not purchase our shares. Also, if our company and a controlled entity jointly own, directly or indirectly, more than 50.0% of the voting shares or paid-in capital of another entity, which is referred to as a third entity, the third entity may not purchase shares in either our company or a controlled entity.

 

Liquidation Rights

 

In the event of our liquidation, the assets remaining after payment of all debts, liquidation expenses and taxes will be distributed pro rata to the shareholders in accordance with the relevant provisions of the ROC Company Law and our Articles of Incorporation.

 

Transfer Restrictions

 

Substantial Shareholders

 

The ROC Securities and Exchange Law currently requires:

 

· each director, supervisor, manager, or substantial shareholder (that is, a shareholder who holds more than 10.0% shares of a company), and their respective spouses, minor children or nominees, to report any change in that person’s shareholding to the issuer of the shares and the FSC; and

 

· each director, supervisor, manager, or substantial shareholder, and their respective spouses, minor children or nominees, after acquiring the status of director, supervisor, manager, or substantial shareholder for a period of six months, to report his or her intent to transfer any shares on the TWSE to the FSC at least three days before the intended transfer, unless the number of shares to be transferred does not exceed 10,000 shares.

 

In addition, the number of shares that can be sold or transferred on the TWSE by any person subject to the restrictions described above on any given day may not exceed:

 

· 0.2% of the outstanding shares of the company in the case of a company with no more than 30 million outstanding shares; or

 

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· 0.2% of 30 million shares plus 0.1% of the outstanding shares exceeding 30 million shares in the case of a company with more than 30 million outstanding shares; or

 

· in any case, 5.0% of the average trading volume (number of shares) on the TWSE for the ten consecutive trading days preceding the reporting day on which the director, supervisor, manager or substantial shareholder reports the intended share transfer to the FSC.

 

These restrictions do not apply to sales or transfers of HoldCo ADSs.

 

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Description of HoldCo American Depositary Shares

 

Citibank, N.A. has agreed to act as the depositary bank for the HoldCo American Depositary Shares. Citibank when acting as depositary bank for the HoldCo American Depositary Shares is referred to as the “depositary bank” or as the “HoldCo Depositary.” Citibank’s depositary offices are located at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013. The HoldCo American Depositary Shares are referred to as “ADSs” or “HoldCo ADSs” and represent ownership interests in securities that are on deposit with the HoldCo Depositary. The HoldCo ADSs may be represented by certificates that are commonly known as “American Depositary Receipts” or “ADRs.” The depositary bank typically appoints a custodian to safe keep the securities on deposit. In this case, the custodian is Citibank Taiwan Ltd., located at No. 16 Nan-King East Road, Taipei 10553, Taiwan, ROC.

 

HoldCo will appoint Citibank as depositary bank pursuant to a deposit agreement (the “HoldCo Deposit Agreement”). A copy of the HoldCo Deposit Agreement is on file with the SEC under cover of a Registration Statement on Form F-6. You may obtain a copy of the HoldCo Deposit Agreement from the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549 and from the SEC’s website ( www.sec.gov ).

 

The following is a summary description of the material terms of HoldCo ADSs and of your material rights as an owner of HoldCo ADSs. Please remember that summaries by their nature lack the precision of the information summarized and that the rights and obligations of an owner of HoldCo ADSs will be determined by reference to the terms of the HoldCo Deposit Agreement and not by this summary. We urge you to review the HoldCo Deposit Agreement in its entirety. The portions of this summary description that are italicized describe matters that may be relevant to the ownership of HoldCo ADSs but that may not be contained in the HoldCo Deposit Agreement.

 

Each HoldCo ADS represents the right to receive, and to exercise the beneficial ownership interests in, two HoldCo Common Shares that are on deposit with the HoldCo Depositary and/or custodian. An ADS also represents the right to receive, and to exercise the beneficial interests in, any other property received by the HoldCo Depositary or the custodian on behalf of the owner of the ADS but that has not been distributed to the owners of HoldCo ADSs because of legal restrictions or practical considerations. The custodian, the HoldCo Depositary and their respective nominees will hold all deposited property for the benefit of the holders and beneficial owners of HoldCo ADSs. The deposited property does not constitute the proprietary assets of the HoldCo Depositary, the custodian or their nominees. Beneficial ownership in the deposited property will under the terms of the HoldCo Deposit Agreement be vested in the beneficial owners of the HoldCo ADSs. The HoldCo Depositary, the custodian and their respective nominees will be the record holders of the deposited property represented by the HoldCo ADSs for the benefit of the holders and beneficial owners of the corresponding HoldCo ADSs. A beneficial owner of HoldCo ADSs may or may not be the holder of HoldCo ADSs. Beneficial owners of HoldCo ADSs will be able to receive, and to exercise beneficial ownership interests in, the deposited property only through the registered holders of the HoldCo ADSs, the registered holders of the HoldCo ADSs (on behalf of the applicable ADS owners) only through the HoldCo Depositary, and the HoldCo Depositary (on behalf of the owners of the corresponding HoldCo ADSs) directly, or indirectly, through the custodian or their respective nominees, in each case upon the terms of the HoldCo Deposit Agreement.

 

If you become an owner of HoldCo ADSs, you will become a party to the HoldCo Deposit Agreement and therefore will be bound to its terms and to the terms of any HoldCo American Depositary Receipt (“HoldCo ADR”) that evidences your HoldCo ADSs. The HoldCo Deposit Agreement and the HoldCo ADR specify the rights and obligations of HoldCo as well as your rights and obligations as owner of HoldCo ADSs and those of the HoldCo Depositary. As an ADS holder you appoint the HoldCo Depositary to act on your behalf in certain circumstances. The HoldCo Deposit Agreement and the HoldCo ADRs are governed by New York law. However, the obligations of HoldCo to the holders of common shares will continue to be governed by ROC laws, which may be different from the laws in the United States. In addition, we note that ROC law and regulations may restrict the deposit and withdrawal of the common shares into or from the depositary receipt facilities.

 

Under the laws and regulations of the ROC, as currently in effect, after the Initial Deposit (as defined below), without obtaining regulatory approval from the FSC, no common shares may be accepted for deposit and no HoldCo ADSs may be issued under the terms of the HoldCo Deposit Agreement except in the following circumstances:

 

(1) upon a stock dividend on, or a free distribution of, shares to existing shareholders;

 

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(2) upon the exercise by existing shareholders of their pre-emptive rights in connection with capital increases for cash;

 

(3) subject in each case to receipt of all applicable approvals in the ROC, the issuance of shares by us to holders of bonds in connection with the exercise of conversion rights of such bond holders; and

 

(4) as permitted under the HoldCo Deposit Agreement, the purchase directly by a person or through the depositary of shares on the TWSE or the delivery by any person of shares held by such person for deposit in the depositary receipt facility provided that the total number of HoldCo ADSs outstanding after an issuance described in clause (4) does not exceed the number of HoldCo ADSs issued and previously approved by the ROC FSC in connection with the offering plus any HoldCo ADSs created under clauses (1), (2) and (3) described above.

 

Under the laws and regulations of the ROC, the shares deposited under the HoldCo Deposit Agreement may be withdrawn upon cancellation of the corresponding HoldCo ADSs pursuant to the HoldCo Deposit Agreement subject to the following conditions:

 

· the appointment of an eligible agent in the ROC to open (1) a securities trading account with an ROC brokerage firm with ROC approval and (2) a bank account to pay ROC taxes, remit funds, exercise shareholders’ rights and perform such other functions as you may designate upon such withdrawal;

 

· the appointment of a tax guarantor in the ROC; and

 

· the appointment of a custodian bank to hold the securities in safekeeping, make confirmations, settle trades and report relevant information.

 

In addition, you will be required to register with the TWSE for making investments in the ROC securities market and obtain a foreign investor investment identification prior to withdrawing common shares.

 

As an owner of HoldCo ADSs, you may hold your HoldCo ADSs by means of a HoldCo ADR registered in your name, or through a brokerage or safekeeping account, or through an account established by the HoldCo Depositary in your name reflecting the registration of uncertificated HoldCo ADSs directly on the books of the HoldCo Depositary (commonly referred to as the “direct registration system” or “DRS”). The direct registration system reflects the uncertificated (book-entry) registration of ownership of HoldCo ADSs by the HoldCo Depositary. Under the direct registration system, ownership of HoldCo ADSs is evidenced by periodic statements issued by the HoldCo Depositary to the holders of the HoldCo ADSs. The direct registration system includes automated transfers between the HoldCo Depositary and DTC, the central book-entry clearing and settlement system for equity securities in the United States. If you decide to hold your HoldCo ADSs through your brokerage or safekeeping account, you must rely on the procedures of your broker or bank to assert your rights as ADS owner. Banks and brokers typically hold securities such as the HoldCo ADSs through clearing and settlement systems such as DTC. The procedures of such clearing and settlement systems may limit your ability to exercise your rights as an owner of HoldCo ADSs. Please consult with your broker or bank if you have any questions concerning these limitations and procedures. All HoldCo ADSs held through DTC will be registered in the name of a nominee of DTC. This summary description assumes you have opted to own the HoldCo ADSs directly by means of a HoldCo ADS registered in your name and, as such, we will refer to you as the “holder.” When we refer to “you,” we assume the reader owns HoldCo ADSs and will own HoldCo ADSs at the relevant time.

 

The registration of the common shares in the name of the HoldCo Depositary or the custodian shall, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, vest in the HoldCo Depositary or the custodian the record ownership in the applicable common shares with the beneficial ownership rights and interests in such common shares being at all times vested with the beneficial owners of the HoldCo ADSs representing the common shares. The HoldCo Depositary or the custodian shall at all times be entitled to exercise the beneficial ownership rights in all deposited property, in each case only on behalf of the holders and beneficial owners of the HoldCo ADSs representing the deposited property.

 

Dividends and Distributions

 

As a holder of HoldCo ADSs, you generally have the right to receive the distributions we make on the securities deposited with the custodian. Your receipt of these distributions may be limited, however, by practical

 

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considerations and legal limitations. Holders of HoldCo ADSs will receive such distributions under the terms of the HoldCo Deposit Agreement in proportion to the number of HoldCo ADSs held as of the specified record date, after deduction the applicable fees, taxes and expenses.

 

Distributions of Cash

 

Whenever HoldCo makes a cash distribution for the securities on deposit with the custodian, it will deposit the funds with the custodian. Upon receipt of confirmation of the deposit of the requisite funds, the HoldCo Depositary will arrange for the funds to be converted into U.S. dollars and for the distribution of the U.S. dollars to the holders, subject to ROC law and regulations.

 

The conversion into U.S. dollars will take place only if practicable and if the U.S. dollars are transferable to the United States. The HoldCo Depositary will apply the same method for distributing the proceeds of the sale of any property (such as undistributed rights) held by the custodian in respect of securities on deposit.

 

The distribution of cash will be made net of the fees, expenses, taxes and governmental charges payable by holders under the terms of the HoldCo Deposit Agreement. The HoldCo Depositary will hold any cash amounts it is unable to distribute in a non-interest bearing account for the benefit of the applicable holders and beneficial owners of HoldCo ADSs until the distribution can be effected or the funds that the HoldCo Depositary holds must be escheated as unclaimed property in accordance with the laws of the relevant states of the United States.

 

Distributions of Shares

 

Whenever HoldCo makes a free distribution of common shares for the securities on deposit with the custodian, we will deposit the applicable number of common shares with the custodian. Upon receipt of confirmation of such deposit, the HoldCo Depositary will either distribute to holders new HoldCo ADSs representing the common shares deposited or modify the HoldCo ADS-to-common shares ratio, in which case each HoldCo ADS you hold will represent rights and interests in the additional common shares so deposited. Only whole new HoldCo ADSs will be distributed. Fractional entitlements will be sold and the proceeds of such sale will be distributed as in the case of a cash distribution.

 

The distribution of new HoldCo ADSs or the modification of the HoldCo ADS-to-common share ratio upon a distribution of common shares will be made net of the fees, expenses, taxes and governmental charges payable by holders under the terms of the HoldCo Deposit Agreement. In order to pay such taxes or governmental charges, the HoldCo Depositary may sell all or a portion of the new common shares so distributed.

 

No such distribution of new HoldCo ADSs will be made if it would violate a law ( i.e. , the U.S. securities laws) or if it is not operationally practicable. If the HoldCo Depositary does not distribute new HoldCo ADSs as described above, it may sell the common shares received upon the terms described in the HoldCo Deposit Agreement and will distribute the proceeds of the sale as in the case of a distribution of cash.

 

Distributions of Rights

 

Whenever HoldCo intends to distribute rights to purchase additional common shares, we will give prior notice to the HoldCo Depositary and we will assist the HoldCo Depositary in determining whether it is lawful and reasonably practicable to distribute rights to purchase additional HoldCo ADSs to holders.

 

The HoldCo Depositary will establish procedures to distribute rights to purchase additional HoldCo ADSs to holders and to enable such holders to exercise such rights if it is lawful and reasonably practicable to make the rights available to holders of HoldCo ADSs, and if we provide all of the documentation contemplated in the HoldCo Deposit Agreement (such as opinions to address the lawfulness of the transaction). You may have to pay fees, expenses, taxes and other governmental charges to subscribe for the new HoldCo ADSs upon the exercise of your rights. The HoldCo Depositary is not obligated to establish procedures to facilitate the distribution and exercise by holders of rights to purchase new common shares other than in the form of HoldCo ADSs.

 

The HoldCo Depositary will not distribute the rights to you if:

 

· HoldCo does not timely request that the rights be distributed to you or we request that the rights not be distributed to you; or

 

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· HoldCo fails to deliver satisfactory documents to the HoldCo Depositary; or

 

· It is not reasonably practicable to distribute the rights.

 

The HoldCo Depositary will sell the rights that are not exercised or not distributed if such sale is lawful and reasonably practicable. The proceeds of such sale will be distributed to holders as in the case of a cash distribution. If the HoldCo Depositary is unable to sell the rights, it will allow the rights to lapse.

 

Elective Distributions

 

Whenever HoldCo intends to distribute a dividend payable at the election of shareholders either in cash or in additional shares, it will give prior notice thereof to the HoldCo Depositary and will indicate whether we wish the elective distribution to be made available to you. In such case, we will assist the HoldCo Depositary in determining whether such distribution is lawful and reasonably practicable.

 

The HoldCo Depositary will make the election available to you only if it is reasonably practicable and if we have provided all of the documentation contemplated in the HoldCo Deposit Agreement. In such case, the HoldCo Depositary will establish procedures to enable you to elect to receive either cash or additional HoldCo ADSs, in each case as described in the HoldCo Deposit Agreement.

 

If the election is not made available to you, you will receive either cash or additional HoldCo ADSs, depending on what a shareholder in the ROC would receive upon failing to make an election, as more fully described in the HoldCo Deposit Agreement.

 

Other Distributions

 

Whenever HoldCo intends to distribute property other than cash, common shares or rights to purchase additional common shares, it will notify the HoldCo Depositary in advance and will indicate whether we wish such distribution to be made to you. If so, HoldCo will assist the HoldCo Depositary in determining whether such distribution to holders is lawful and reasonably practicable.

 

If it is reasonably practicable to distribute such property to you and if HoldCo provides all of the documentation contemplated in the HoldCo Deposit Agreement, the HoldCo Depositary will distribute the property to the holders in a manner it deems practicable.

 

The distribution will be made net of fees, expenses, taxes and governmental charges payable by holders under the terms of the HoldCo Deposit Agreement. In order to pay such taxes and governmental charges, the HoldCo Depositary may sell all or a portion of the property received.

 

The HoldCo Depositary will not distribute the property to you and will sell the property if:

 

· HoldCo does not request that the property be distributed to you or if we ask that the property not be distributed to you; or

 

· HoldCo does not deliver satisfactory documents to the HoldCo Depositary; or

 

· The HoldCo Depositary determines that all or a portion of the distribution to you is not reasonably practicable.

 

The proceeds of such a sale will be distributed to holders as in the case of a cash distribution.

 

Redemption

 

Whenever HoldCo decides to redeem any of the securities on deposit with the custodian, it will notify the HoldCo Depositary in advance. If it is practicable and if HoldCo provides all of the documentation contemplated in the HoldCo Deposit Agreement, the HoldCo Depositary will provide notice of the redemption to the holders.

 

The custodian will be instructed to surrender the shares being redeemed against payment of the applicable redemption price. The HoldCo Depositary will convert the redemption funds received into U.S. dollars upon the

 

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terms of the HoldCo Deposit Agreement and will establish procedures to enable holders to receive the net proceeds from the redemption upon surrender of their HoldCo ADSs to the HoldCo Depositary. You may have to pay fees, expenses, taxes and other governmental charges upon the redemption of your HoldCo ADSs. If less than all HoldCo ADSs are being redeemed, the HoldCo ADSs to be retired will be selected by lot or on a pro rata basis, as the HoldCo Depositary may determine.

 

Changes Affecting Common Shares

 

The common shares of HoldCo held on deposit for your HoldCo ADSs may change from time to time. For example, there may be a change in nominal or par value, split-up, cancellation, consolidation or any other reclassification of such common shares or a recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale of assets of HoldCo.

 

If any such change were to occur, your HoldCo ADSs would, to the extent permitted by law, represent the right to receive the property received or exchanged in respect of the common shares held on deposit. The HoldCo Depositary may in such circumstances deliver new HoldCo ADSs to you, amend the HoldCo Deposit Agreement, the HoldCo ADRs and the applicable Registration Statement(s) on Form F-6, call for the exchange of your existing HoldCo ADSs for new HoldCo ADSs and take any other actions that are appropriate to reflect as to the HoldCo ADSs the change affecting the common shares of HoldCo. If the HoldCo Depositary may not lawfully distribute such property to you, the HoldCo Depositary may sell such property and distribute the net proceeds to you as in the case of a cash distribution.

 

Issuance of HoldCo ADSs upon Deposit of Common Shares

 

The initial deposit of shares by HoldCo in connection with this Share Exchange will be made by the delivery to the custodian of common shares of HoldCo in book-entry form, which shares will be registered in the name of the depositary or its nominee, as representatives of the holders of the HoldCo ADSs. Any future deposits of new shares for cash by HoldCo in connection with any new HoldCo ADS offering will be made by the delivery to the custodian of a Certificate of Payment evidencing the right to receive the underlying common shares of HoldCo in book-entry form, which shares will be registered in the name of the depositary or its nominee, as representatives of the holders of the HoldCo ADSs, until the underlying common shares initially evidenced by scripless certificates of payment in the form of a master certificate of payment are listed on the TWSE. In practice, no later than the second ROC business day following the closing day of any new future HoldCo ADSs offering (the “Closing Date”), we will apply to the TWSE for listing of the Individual Scripless Certificate of Payment. Generally, the TWSE will approve the listing of the Individual Scripless Certificates of Payment on the fifth ROC business day following the Closing Date. Immediately upon such listing, the Certificate of Payment we deliver to the depositary’s custodian on the Closing Date will be replaced by the Individual Scripless Certificates of Payment. The initial deposit of shares by HoldCo in connection with the Share Exchange are collectively referred to herein as the "Initial Deposit.”

 

Under the ROC Securities and Exchange Law and applicable regulations, we are required to deliver the underlying shares in physical certificate form or scripless form to the custodian within thirty days after receiving approval from the relevant governmental authority of our corporate amendment registration. We are required under the ROC Company Law to file an amendment to our corporate registration within fifteen days after receiving the proceeds from any new offerings of HoldCo ADSs. Prior to the issue of the underlying shares in physical certificate form or scripless form, we will apply for and obtain approval to list the underlying shares on the TWSE. Until the underlying shares have been so issued and delivered, the HoldCo ADSs will represent shares evidenced by the Certificate of Payment (from the Closing Date to the date immediately prior to the listing of the Individual Scripless Certificates of Payment) or the Individual Scripless Certificates of Payment on or after the date of listing of the Individual Scripless Certificates of Payment. In case of a withdrawal of the underlying shares, such holders will be entitled to the same rights as if the depositary were holding the underlying shares in physical certificate form or scripless form. The Individual Scripless Certificates of Payment, which are without physical form and are issued only in book-entry form through Taiwan Depository & Clearing Corporation, the book-entry settlement system of the ROC, carry the same rights as those attaching to the shares in respect of dividends and are eligible for trading on the TWSE in the same manner as the shares.

 

Subject to limitations set forth in the HoldCo Deposit Agreement, after the Initial Deposit, the depositary may create HoldCo ADSs on your behalf if you or your broker deposit shares with the custodian. The depositary will deliver these HoldCo ADSs to the person you indicate only after you pay any applicable issuance fees and any

 

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charges and taxes payable for the transfer of the shares to the custodian and you provide the applicable deposit certification. Your ability to deposit shares and receive HoldCo ADSs may be limited by U.S. and ROC legal considerations applicable at the time of deposit.

 

Under current ROC law, after the Initial Deposit, no deposits of shares may be made in a depositary receipt facility, and no HoldCo ADSs may be issued against such deposits, without specific approval of the FSC, except in connection with the offering and the issuance of additional HoldCo ADSs in connection with (i) dividends on, or free distributions of, shares, (ii) the exercise by holders of existing HoldCo ADSs of their pre-emptive rights in the event of capital increases for cash, (iii) subject in each case to receipt of all applicable approvals in the ROC, the issuance of shares by HoldCo to holders of convertible bonds in connection with the exercise of conversion rights of such bond holders, and (iv) to the extent that previously issued HoldCo ADSs have been canceled, reissuances of HoldCo ADSs up to an aggregate number of outstanding HoldCo ADSs equal to the total number of HoldCo ADSs (subject to adjustment for the issuances described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii)) that were originally approved by the FSC and issued in connection with the offering; provided that the depositary will refuse to accept common shares for deposit under clause (iv) if such deposit is not permitted under any restriction notified by the company to the depositary from time to time, which restriction may specify blackout periods during which deposits may not be made, time periods during which deposits may be made, and minimum size and frequency of deposits.

 

The depositary and the custodian will refuse to accept shares for deposit whenever they are notified in writing that such deposit would result in any violation of applicable laws, including ownership restrictions under the laws of the ROC. In addition, the depositary will refuse to accept shares for deposit under clause (iv) of the immediately preceding paragraph if such deposit is not permitted under any restriction notified by HoldCo to the depositary from time to time, which restriction may specify blackout periods during which deposits may not be made, time periods during which deposits may be made, and minimum and maximum size and frequency of deposits.

 

The issuance of HoldCo ADSs may be delayed until the depositary or the custodian receives confirmation that all required approvals have been given and that the shares have been duly transferred to the custodian. The depositary will only issue HoldCo ADSs in whole numbers.

 

When you make a deposit of HoldCo Common Shares, you will be responsible for transferring good and valid title to the HoldCo Depositary. As such, you will be deemed to represent and warrant that:

 

· The HoldCo Common Shares are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable and legally obtained.

 

· All preemptive (and similar) rights, if any, with respect to such common shares have been validly waived or exercised.

 

· You are duly authorized to deposit HoldCo Common Shares.

 

· The HoldCo Common Shares presented for deposit are free and clear of any lien, encumbrance, security interest, charge, mortgage or adverse claim, and are not, and the HoldCo ADSs issuable upon such deposit will not be, “restricted securities” (as defined in the HoldCo Deposit Agreement).

 

· The common shares presented for deposit have not been stripped of any rights or entitlements.

 

If any of the representations or warranties are incorrect in any way, we and the HoldCo Depositary may, at your cost and expense, take any and all actions necessary to correct the consequences of the misrepresentations.

 

Transfer, Combination and Split Up of HoldCo ADRs

 

As a HoldCo ADR holder, you will be entitled to transfer, combine or split up your HoldCo ADRs and the HoldCo ADSs evidenced thereby. For transfers of HoldCo ADRs, you will have to surrender the HoldCo ADRs to be transferred to the HoldCo Depositary and also must:

 

· ensure that the surrendered HoldCo ADR is properly endorsed or otherwise in proper form for transfer;

 

· provide such proof of identity and genuineness of signatures as the HoldCo Depositary deems appropriate;

 

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· provide any transfer stamps required by the State of New York or the United States; and

 

· pay all applicable fees, charges, expenses, taxes and other government charges payable by HoldCo ADR holders pursuant to the terms of the HoldCo Deposit Agreement, upon the transfer of HoldCo ADRs.

 

To have your HoldCo ADRs either combined or split up, you must surrender the HoldCo ADRs in question to the HoldCo Depositary with your request to have them combined or split up, and you must pay all applicable fees, charges and expenses payable by HoldCo ADR holders, pursuant to the terms of the HoldCo Deposit Agreement, upon a combination or split up of HoldCo ADRs.

 

Withdrawal of Common Shares Upon Cancellation of HoldCo ADSs

 

On or after approximately the fifth ROC business day from a Closing Date for any future HoldCo ADS offering, with regard to such HoldCo ADSs issued on the Closing Date, subject to the approval from the TWSE of the listing of the Individual Scripless Certificates of Payment and the relevant provisions of the HoldCo Deposit Agreement, a holder may apply to withdraw the underlying shares or, as the case may be, the Individual Scripless Certificates of Payment, or request Citibank, N.A., as Depositary, acting pursuant to the HoldCo Deposit Agreement, to sell or cause to be sold on behalf of such holders of the underlying shares or, as the case may be, the Individual Scripless Certificates of Payment. The Individual Scripless Certificates of Payment, which are without physical form and settle through the book-entry system, carry the same rights as those attaching to the underlying shares in respect of dividends and are eligible for trading on the TWSE in the same manner as the underlying shares. Your ability to withdraw the shares may be limited by U.S. and ROC law considerations applicable at the time of withdrawal.

 

Under current ROC law, if you (other than PRC persons except for qualified domestic institutional investors in the PRC) wish to withdraw and hold underlying shares from a depositary receipt facility, you will be required to appoint an eligible agent in the ROC to open a securities trading account with a local brokerage firm (after receiving an approval from the TWSE) and a bank account (the securities trading account and the bank account are collectively referred to as “ the Accounts”, to pay ROC taxes, remit funds, exercise shareholders’ rights and perform such other functions as you may designate upon such withdrawal. In addition, you will be required to appoint a custodian bank to hold the securities in safekeeping, make confirmation and settle trades and report all relevant information. Without the opening of such Accounts, the withdrawing owner would be unable to hold or subsequently sell the underlying shares withdrawn from the depositary receipt facility on the TWSE or otherwise. In addition, you will be required to register with the TWSE for making investments in the ROC securities market prior to withdrawing shares. These laws may change from time to time. We cannot assure you that current ROC law will remain in effect or that future changes in ROC law will not adversely affect your ability to withdraw our shares from the HoldCo ADS facility.

 

Holders of HoldCo ADSs withdrawing shares represented by HoldCo ADSs are also required under current ROC law and regulations to appoint an agent in the ROC for filing tax returns and making tax payments. Such agent must meet certain qualifications set by the ROC Financial Supervisory Commission and, upon appointment, becomes a guarantor of such withdrawing owner’s ROC tax obligations. Evidence of the appointment of such agent and the approval of such appointment by the ROC tax authorities may be required as conditions to such withdrawing holder’s repatriation of the proceeds from the sale of the withdrawn shares. There can be no assurance that such withdrawing holder will be able to appoint and obtain approval for such agent in a timely manner.

 

Subject to the withdrawal of deposited property being permitted under ROC law and regulations, you may also request that our shares or Individual Scripless Certificates of Payment represented by your HoldCo ADSs be sold on your behalf. The depositary may require that you deliver your request for sale in writing. Any sale of our shares will be conducted according to applicable ROC law through a securities company in the ROC on the TWSE or in another manner as is permitted under applicable ROC law. Any sale will be at your risk and expense. You may also be required to enter into a separate agreement to cover the terms of the sale of our shares or Individual Scripless Certificates of Payment.

 

Upon receipt of any proceeds from any sale, subject to any restrictions imposed by ROC law and regulations, the depositary shall convert the proceeds into US dollars and distribute the proceeds to you, net of any fees, expenses, taxes or governmental charges (including, without limitation, any ROC and U.S. taxes) incurred in connection with the sale.

 

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Although sales of HoldCo ADSs by a non-resident individual or a corporation that has no fixed place of business or other permanent establishment or business agent in the territory of the ROC are not currently subject to ROC taxation, sales of HoldCo Common Shares or Individual Scripless Certificates of Payment by such individual or corporation will be subject to a securities transaction tax in the ROC.

 

In order to withdraw or instruct the sale of the shares or Individual Scripless Certificates of Payment represented by your HoldCo ADSs, you will be required to pay to the depositary the fees for cancellation of HoldCo ADSs and any charges and taxes payable upon the transfer of the shares or Individual Scripless Certificates of Payment being withdrawn and you will be required to provide to the depositary the applicable withdrawal certification. You assume the risk for delivery of all funds and securities upon withdrawal. Once canceled, the HoldCo ADSs will not have any rights under the HoldCo Deposit Agreement.

 

You will not be entitled to withdraw or instruct the sale of interests in any certificate(s) of payment representing shares underlying HoldCo ADSs until on or about the fifth ROC business day following the Closing Date of a future HoldCo ADS offering.

 

If you hold a HoldCo ADR registered in your name, the depositary may ask you to provide proof of identity and genuineness of any signature and such other documents as the depositary may deem appropriate before it will cancel your HoldCo ADSs. The withdrawal of the shares or Individual Scripless Certificates of Payment represented by your HoldCo ADSs may be delayed until the depositary receives satisfactory evidence of compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Please keep in mind that the depositary will only accept HoldCo ADSs for cancellation that represent a whole number of securities on deposit.

 

ASE currently has, and upon completion of the Share Exchange, HoldCo will have, reporting obligations under ROC law in respect of the HoldCo ADS facility. In order to enable us to gather the information necessary for these reporting obligations, you will be asked to complete and sign a certification upon withdrawal of shares or Individual Scripless Certificates of Payment from the HoldCo ADS facility. In this certification you will be asked to disclose, among other information, the name, nationality and address of the beneficial owner of the HoldCo ADSs presented for cancellation, the number of shares owned by the beneficial owner and whether certain affiliations exist between the beneficial owner and us. The depositary will refuse to release shares or Individual Scripless Certificates of Payment to you until you deliver a completed and signed certification to it.

 

In addition, the depositary shall not deliver interests in certificate(s) of payment or shares to a surrendering holder of HoldCo ADSs unless such holder presents evidence of payment of any securities transaction tax which may be imposed under ROC law unless we shall have advised the depositary that no such tax is assessable in connection with the withdrawal of the individual certificate(s) of payment or shares hereunder.

 

If the shares or Individual Scripless Certificates of Payment are withdrawn from the depositary facility, such holder will be required to provide information to enable HoldCo’s compliance with its obligations set forth under the laws and regulations of the ROC, including a certification that:

 

· the holder is or is not a “related person,” as such term is defined in the HoldCo Deposit Agreement, to us;

 

· the holder will own a certain number of our shares after cancellation of the HoldCo ADSs surrendered thereby, as well as a certain number of HoldCo ADSs representing our shares after cancellation of the HoldCo ADSs surrendered thereby;

 

· the holder, or the person on whose account he acts, is the beneficial owner of the HoldCo ADSs surrendered to the HoldCo Depositary thereby;

 

· the name, address and nationality of the beneficial owner of the HoldCo ADSs, as included upon presentation of HoldCo ADSs for cancellation, is true and correct;

 

· the number of HoldCo ADSs surrendered and the number of shares withdrawn, as included upon presentation of HoldCo ADSs for cancellation, is true and correct; and

 

· if the presenter is a broker-dealer, the owner of the account for which he is acting has confirmed the accuracy of the above representations.;

 

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In addition, you may be required to certify to other information that we or the HoldCo Depositary may deem necessary or desirable to comply with any ROC disclosure or reporting requirement. The depositary will refuse to release Shares or the certificate(s) of payment to you until you deliver a completed and signed certification to it.

 

You will have the right to withdraw the securities represented by your HoldCo ADSs at any time except for:

 

· Temporary delays that may arise because (i) the transfer books for the common shares or HoldCo ADSs are closed, or (ii) common shares are immobilized on account of a shareholders’ meeting or a payment of dividends.

 

· Obligations to pay fees, taxes and similar charges.

 

· Restrictions imposed because of laws or regulations applicable to HoldCo ADSs or the withdrawal of securities on deposit.

 

No common shares may be withdrawn upon presentation of HoldCo ADSs (and if applicable, the HoldCo ADRs evidencing such HoldCo ADSs) for cancellation until (i) HoldCo has delivered written confirmation that the number of Shares requested for withdrawal have been listed for trading on the TWSE (such Shares, the “Listed Shares”) to the depositary and the custodian, (ii) the Listed Shares have been de-materialised (such Shares, the “De-Materialised Shares,” and Shares that are both Listed Shares and De-Materialised Shares, hereinafter referred to as the “Final Shares”), and (iii) an equivalent number of Final Shares are available at the facilities of the custodian. HoldCo has informed the depositary that it is expected newly issued common shares which may be deposited by HoldCo from time to time which are not listed for trading on the TWSE at the time of such deposit will be listed on the TWSE for trading and will be fully de-materialised, thereby becoming Final Shares, no later than 5 ROC business days calendar days after any such deposit. The depositary will deliver common shares represented by HoldCo ADSs (and if applicable, the HoldCo ADRs representing such HoldCo ADSs) presented for cancellation only to the extent of the number of Final Shares then on deposit with the custodian, the depositary will process presentations of HoldCo ADSs for withdrawal of Final Shares on a first come, first served basis, the depositary will complete requests for cancellation of HoldCo ADSs and withdrawal of the common shares represented only to the extent of the number of Final Shares at such time on deposit with the custodian, the depositary will refuse to complete a request for cancellation of HoldCo ADSs and withdrawal of common shares to the extent the number of common shares requested for withdrawal exceeds the number of Final Shares at such time deposited with the custodian, and the depositary reserves the right to suspend withdrawals of common shares until such time as the requisite number of Final Shares are deposited with the custodian.

 

The HoldCo Deposit Agreement may not be modified to impair your right to withdraw the securities represented by your HoldCo ADSs except to comply with mandatory provisions of law.

 

Voting Rights

 

Except as described below, you generally have no right under the HoldCo Deposit Agreement to instruct the depositary to exercise the voting rights for the Shares represented by your HoldCo ADSs. Instead, by accepting HoldCo ADSs or any beneficial interest in HoldCo ADSs, you will be deemed to have authorized and directed the depositary to appoint our Chairman or his designee to represent you at our shareholders’ meeting and to vote, without liability, the common shares of HoldCo deposited with the custodian according to the terms of the HoldCo ADSs. The voting rights of holders of Shares are described in “Description of HoldCo Common Shares — Voting Rights.”

 

The depositary will distribute to you notices of shareholders’ meetings received from HoldCo together with information explaining how to instruct the depositary to exercise the voting rights of the securities represented by HoldCo ADSs.

 

If HoldCo fails to timely provide the depositary with its notice of meeting or other materials related to any meeting of owners of Shares, the depositary will endeavor to cause all the deposited securities represented by HoldCo ADSs to be present at the applicable meeting, insofar as practicable and permitted under applicable law, but will not cause those securities to be voted. According to the ROC Company Law, except under limited circumstances described below, generally a shareholder’s voting rights must, as to all matters brought to a vote of shareholders, be exercised as to all shares held by the shareholder in the same manner, except in the case of an election of

 

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directors (including independent directors), which may be conducted by means of cumulative voting or other mechanisms adopted in our Articles of Incorporation. Pursuant to ROC Company Law and our Articles of Incorporation, the election of directors (including independent directors) is by means of cumulative voting.

 

If the depositary timely receives voting instructions from holders of at least 51% of the outstanding HoldCo ADSs to vote in the same manner regarding one or more resolutions to be considered at the meeting, including the election of directors, the depositary will, subject to its receipt of satisfactory opinions of counsel, notify and instruct the Chairman of HoldCo or his designee of the instructions to attend the meeting and vote all the securities represented by the holders’ HoldCo ADSs in accordance with the direction received from holders at least 51% of the outstanding HoldCo ADSs.

 

If HoldCo has timely provided the depositary with the materials described in the applicable HoldCo Deposit Agreement and the depositary has not timely received instructions from holders of at least 51% of the outstanding HoldCo ADSs to vote in the same direction regarding any resolution to be considered at the meeting, including the election of directors, and, provided the HoldCo Deposit Agreement allows the holder of HoldCo ADSs to exercise its voting right on an individual basis, and any other matter where ROC law does not require a holder of the common shares of HoldCo to vote all common shares of HoldCo in the same manner and subject to its receipt of satisfactory opinions of counsel, and the depositary has secured satisfactory opinion of counsel, then you will be deemed to have authorized and directed the depositary to give a discretionary proxy to the Chairman of HoldCo or his designee to attend and vote at the meeting the Shares represented by your HoldCo ADSs in any manner such person may wish (which may not be in the interests of holders) unless the Chairman, or such designated person, shall have informed the depositary that he does not wish to be so authorized and directed.

 

Proposal Rights

 

Holders of one percent or more of the total and issued outstanding common shares of HoldCo will be entitled to submit one written proposal each year for consideration at HoldCo’ annual ordinary meeting of stockholders provided that (i) the proposal is in the Chinese language and does not exceed 300 Chinese characters, (ii) the proposal is submitted to us prior to the expiration of the period for submission of proposals (the “Submission Period”) announced by us, (iii) only one (1) matter for consideration at our annual ordinary meeting of shareholders is allowed in each proposal, and (iv) the proposing shareholder shall attend, in person or by a proxy, such annual ordinary meeting whereat his or her or its proposal is to be discussed and such proposing shareholder, or his or her or its proxy, shall take part in the discussion of such proposal.

 

As the holder of HoldCo Common Shares, the depositary is entitled, provided the conditions of ROC law are satisfied, to submit only one (1) proposal each year in respect of all of the common shares held on deposit. Holders and beneficial owners of HoldCo ADSs do not under ROC law have individual rights to submit proposals to us but may be able to submit proposals to us for consideration at the annual ordinary meeting of shareholders if the beneficial owners (i) timely present their HoldCo ADSs to the depositary for cancellation pursuant to the terms of the HoldCo Deposit Agreement and become holders of HoldCo Common Shares in the ROC prior to the expiration of the Submission Period and prior to the applicable shareholder proposal record date, and (ii) otherwise satisfy the conditions of ROC law applicable to the submission of proposals to HoldCo for consideration at an annual ordinary meeting of our shareholders.

 

The depositary will, if so requested by (a) beneficial owner(s) as of the applicable HoldCo ADS record date that own(s), individually or as a group, at least 51% of the HoldCo ADSs outstanding as of the applicable HoldCo ADS record date, submit to us for consideration at the annual ordinary meeting of HoldCo shareholders one (1) proposal each year, provided that certain terms and conditions as set forth in the HoldCo Deposit Agreement are met.

 

The depositary will not be obligated to provide to holders and beneficial owners of HoldCo ADSs any notices relating to the proposal rights, including, without limitation, notice of submission period, or the receipt of any proposal(s) from submitting holders, or of the holdings of any HoldCo ADSs by any persons, except that the depositary shall, upon a HoldCo ADS holder’s request, inform such holder of the total number of HoldCo ADSs the issued.

 

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Fees and Charges

 

As a HoldCo ADS holder, you will be required to pay the following fees under the terms of the HoldCo Deposit Agreement:

 

Service

 

Fees

· Issuance of HoldCo ADSs (e.g. an issuance upon a deposit of shares, upon a change in HoldCo ADS(s)-to-shares(s) ratio, or for any other reason), excluding issuances as a result of distributions of shares   Up to U.S. 5¢ per HoldCo ADS issued
       
· Cancellation of HoldCo ADSs (e.g. a cancellation of HoldCo ADSs for delivery of deposited shares, upon a change in the HoldCo ADS(s)-to-share(s) ratio, or for any other reason)   Up to U.S. 5¢ per HoldCo ADS canceled
       
· Distribution of cash dividends or other cash distributions (e.g. upon a sale of rights and other entitlements)   Up to U.S. 5¢ per HoldCo ADS held
       
· Distribution of HoldCo ADSs pursuant to (i) stock dividends or other free stock distributions, or (ii) an exercise of rights to purchase additional HoldCo ADSs   Up to U.S. 5¢ per HoldCo ADS held
       
· Distribution of securities other than HoldCo ADSs or rights to purchase additional HoldCo ADSs (e.g., spin-off shares)   Up to U.S. 5¢ per HoldCo ADS held
       
· HoldCo ADS Services   Up to U.S. 5¢ per HoldCo ADS held on the applicable record date(s) established by the HoldCo Depositary

 

As a HoldCo ADS holder you will also be responsible to pay certain charges such as:

 

· taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) and other governmental charges;

 

· the registration fees as may from time to time be in effect for the registration of common shares on the share register and applicable to transfers of common shares to or from the name of the custodian, the HoldCo Depositary or any nominees upon the making of deposits and withdrawals, respectively;

 

· certain cable, telex and facsimile transmission and delivery expenses;

 

· the expenses and charges incurred by the HoldCo Depositary in the conversion of foreign currency;

 

· the fees and expenses incurred by the HoldCo Depositary in connection with compliance with exchange control regulations and other regulatory requirements applicable to common shares, HoldCo ADSs and HoldCo ADRs; and

 

· the fees and expenses incurred by the HoldCo Depositary, the custodian, or any nominee in connection with the servicing or delivery of deposited property.

 

HoldCo ADS fees and charges payable upon (i) the issuance of HoldCo ADSs and (ii) cancellation of HoldCo ADSs will be payable by the person to whom the HoldCo ADSs are so issued (in the case of HoldCo ADS issuances) and by the person whose HoldCo ADSs are being cancelled (in the case of HoldCo ADS cancellations). In the case of HoldCo ADSs issued by the HoldCo Depositary into DTC or held via DTC, the HoldCo ADS issuance and cancellation fees and charges will be payable by the DTC participant(s) receiving the HoldCo ADSs or whose HoldCo ADSs are being cancelled, as the case may be, on behalf of the beneficial owner(s) and will be charged by the DTC participant(s) to the account(s) of the applicable beneficial owner(s) in accordance with the

 

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procedures and practices of the DTC participant(s) as in effect at the time. HoldCo ADS fees and charges in respect of distributions and the HoldCo ADS service fee are charged to the holders as of the applicable HoldCo ADS record date. In the case of distributions of cash, the amount of the applicable HoldCo ADS fees and charges is deducted from the funds being distributed. In the case of (i) distributions other than cash and (ii) the HoldCo ADS service fee, holders as of the HoldCo ADS record date will be invoiced for the amount of the HoldCo ADS fees and charges and such HoldCo ADS fees and charges may be deducted from distributions made to holders of HoldCo ADSs. For HoldCo ADSs held through DTC, the HoldCo ADS fees and charges for distributions other than cash and the HoldCo ADS service fee may be deducted from distributions made through DTC, and may be charged to the DTC participants in accordance with the procedures and practices prescribed by DTC and the DTC participants in turn charge the amount of such HoldCo ADS fees and charges to the beneficial owners for whom they hold HoldCo ADSs.

 

In the event of refusal to pay the HoldCo Depositary fees, the HoldCo Depositary may, under the terms of the HoldCo Deposit Agreement, refuse the requested service until payment is received or may set off the amount of the HoldCo Depositary fees from any distribution to be made to the HoldCo ADS holder. Certain of the depositary fees and charges (such as the HoldCo ADS services fee) may become payable shortly after the Closing Date. Note that the fees and charges you may be required to pay may vary over time and may be changed by us and by the HoldCo Depositary. You will receive prior notice of such changes. The HoldCo Depositary may reimburse us for certain expenses incurred by us in respect of the HoldCo ADR program, by making available a portion of the HoldCo ADS fees charged in respect of the HoldCo ADR program or otherwise, upon such terms and conditions as we and the HoldCo Depositary agree from time to time.

 

The obligation of holders and beneficial owners to pay HoldCo ADS fees and charges shall survive the termination of the HoldCo Deposit Agreement.

 

Amendments and Termination

 

HoldCo may agree with the HoldCo Depositary to modify the HoldCo Deposit Agreement at any time without your consent. HoldCo will undertake to give holders 30 days’ prior notice of any modifications that would materially prejudice any of their substantial rights under the HoldCo Deposit Agreement. HoldCo will not consider to be materially prejudicial to your substantial rights any modifications or supplements that are reasonably necessary for the HoldCo ADSs to be registered under the Securities Act or to be eligible for book-entry settlement, in each case without imposing or increasing the fees and charges you are required to pay. In addition, HoldCo may not be able to provide you with prior notice of any modifications or supplements that are required to accommodate compliance with applicable provisions of law.

 

You will be bound by the modifications to the HoldCo Deposit Agreement if you continue to hold your HoldCo ADSs after the modifications to the HoldCo Deposit Agreement become effective. The HoldCo Deposit Agreement cannot be amended to prevent you from withdrawing the common shares represented by your HoldCo ADSs (except as permitted by law).

 

We have the right to direct the HoldCo Depositary to terminate the HoldCo Deposit Agreement. Similarly, the HoldCo Depositary may in certain circumstances on its own initiative terminate the HoldCo Deposit Agreement. In either case, the HoldCo Depositary must give notice to the holders at least 30 days before termination. Until termination, your rights under the HoldCo Deposit Agreement will be unaffected.

 

After termination, the HoldCo Depositary will continue to collect distributions received (but will not distribute any such property until you request the cancellation of your HoldCo ADSs) and may sell the securities held on deposit. After the sale, the HoldCo Depositary will hold the proceeds from such sale and any other funds then held for the holders of HoldCo ADSs in a non-interest bearing account. At that point, the HoldCo Depositary will have no further obligations to holders other than to account for the funds then held for the holders of HoldCo ADSs still outstanding (after deduction of applicable fees, taxes and expenses).

 

Books of Depositary

 

The HoldCo Depositary will maintain HoldCo ADS holder records at its depositary office. You may inspect such records at such office during regular business hours but solely for the purpose of communicating with other holders in the interest of business matters relating to the HoldCo ADSs and the HoldCo Deposit Agreement.

 

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The HoldCo Depositary will maintain in New York facilities to record and process the issuance, cancellation, combination, split-up and transfer of HoldCo ADSs. These facilities may be closed from time to time, to the extent not prohibited by law.

 

Limitations on Obligations and Liabilities

 

The HoldCo Deposit Agreement limits HoldCo’ obligations and the HoldCo Depositary’s obligations to you. Please note the following:

 

· HoldCo and the HoldCo Depositary are obligated only to take the actions specifically stated in the HoldCo Deposit Agreement without negligence or bad faith.

 

· The HoldCo Depositary disclaims any liability for any failure to carry out voting instructions, for any manner in which a vote is cast or for the effect of any vote, provided it acts in good faith and in accordance with the terms of the HoldCo Deposit Agreement.

 

· The HoldCo Depositary disclaims any liability for any failure to determine the lawfulness or practicality of any action, for the content of any document forwarded to you on our behalf or for the accuracy of any translation of such a document, for the investment risks associated with investing in common shares, for the validity or worth of the common shares, for any tax consequences that result from the ownership of HoldCo ADSs, for the credit-worthiness of any third party, for allowing any rights to lapse under the terms of the HoldCo Deposit Agreement, for the timeliness of any of our notices or for our failure to give notice.

 

· HoldCo and the HoldCo Depositary will not be obligated to perform any act that is inconsistent with the terms of the HoldCo Deposit Agreement.

 

· HoldCo and the HoldCo Depositary disclaim any liability if we or the HoldCo Depositary are prevented or forbidden from or subject to any civil or criminal penalty or restraint on account of, or delayed in, doing or performing any act or thing required by the terms of the HoldCo Deposit Agreement, by reason of any provision, present or future of any law or regulation, or by reason of present or future provision of the Articles of Incorporation of HoldCo, or any provision of or governing the securities on deposit, or by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstances beyond our control.

 

· HoldCo and the HoldCo Depositary disclaim any liability by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in the HoldCo Deposit Agreement or in our Articles of Incorporation or in any provisions of or governing the securities on deposit.

 

· HoldCo and the HoldCo Depositary further disclaim any liability for any action or inaction in reliance on the advice or information received from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting common shares for deposit, any holder of HoldCo ADSs or authorized representatives thereof, or any other person believed by either of us in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information.

 

· HoldCo and the HoldCo Depositary also disclaim liability for the inability by a holder to benefit from any distribution, offering, right or other benefit that is made available to holders of common shares but is not, under the terms of the HoldCo Deposit Agreement, made available to you.

 

· HoldCo and the HoldCo Depositary may rely without any liability upon any written notice, request or other document believed to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper parties.

 

· HoldCo and the HoldCo Depositary also disclaim liability for any consequential or punitive damages for any breach of the terms of the HoldCo Deposit Agreement.

 

· No disclaimer of any Securities Act liability is intended by any provision of the HoldCo Deposit Agreement.

 

Pre-Release Transactions

 

Subject to the terms and conditions of the HoldCo Deposit Agreement, the HoldCo Depositary may issue to broker/dealers HoldCo ADSs before receiving a deposit of common shares. These transactions are commonly

 

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referred to as “pre-release transactions,” and are entered into between the HoldCo Depositary and the applicable broker/dealer. The HoldCo Deposit Agreement limits the aggregate size of pre-release transactions (not to exceed 30% of the common shares on deposit in the aggregate) and imposes a number of conditions on such transactions (i.e., the need to receive collateral, the type of collateral required, the representations required from brokers, etc.). The HoldCo Depositary may retain the compensation received from the pre-release transactions.

 

Taxes

 

You will be responsible for the taxes and other governmental charges payable on the HoldCo ADSs and the securities represented by the HoldCo ADSs. HoldCo, the HoldCo Depositary and the custodian may deduct from any distribution the taxes and governmental charges payable by holders and may sell any and all property on deposit to pay the taxes and governmental charges payable by holders. You will be liable for any deficiency if the sale proceeds do not cover the taxes that are due.

 

The HoldCo Depositary may refuse to issue HoldCo ADSs, to deliver, transfer, split and combine HoldCo ADRs or to release securities on deposit until all taxes and charges are paid by the applicable holder. The HoldCo Depositary and the custodian may take reasonable administrative actions to obtain tax refunds and reduced tax withholding for any distributions on your behalf. However, you may be required to provide to the HoldCo Depositary and to the custodian proof of taxpayer status and residence and such other information as the HoldCo Depositary and the custodian may require to fulfill legal obligations. You are required to indemnify HoldCo, the HoldCo Depositary and the custodian for any claims with respect to taxes based on any tax benefit obtained for you.

 

Foreign Currency Conversion

 

The HoldCo Depositary will arrange for the conversion of all foreign currency received into U.S. dollars if such conversion is practical, and it will distribute the U.S. dollars in accordance with the terms of the HoldCo Deposit Agreement. You may have to pay fees and expenses incurred in converting foreign currency, such as fees and expenses incurred in complying with currency exchange controls and other governmental requirements.

 

If the conversion of foreign currency is not practical or lawful, or if any required approvals are denied or not obtainable at a reasonable cost or within a reasonable period, the HoldCo Depositary may take the following actions in its discretion:

 

· Convert the foreign currency to the extent practical and lawful and distribute the U.S. dollars to the holders for whom the conversion and distribution is lawful and practical.

 

· Distribute the foreign currency to holders for whom the distribution is lawful and practical.

 

· Hold the foreign currency (without liability for interest) for the applicable holders.

 

Governing Law/Waiver of Jury Trial

 

The HoldCo Deposit Agreement and the HoldCo ADRs will be interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. The rights of holders of common shares (including common shares represented by HoldCo ADSs) are governed by the laws of the ROC.

 

AS A PARTY TO THE HOLDCO DEPOSIT AGREEMENT, YOU WAIVE YOUR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THE HOLDCO DEPOSIT AGREEMENT OR THE HOLDCO ADRs AGAINST US AND/OR THE HOLDCO DEPOSITARY.

 

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Legal Matters

 

Baker & McKenzie, ROC counsel to ASE, will render an opinion with respect to the validity of the HoldCo Common Shares to be issued in the Share Exchange.

 

Experts

 

The consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2015, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015, incorporated in this proxy statement/prospectus by reference from ASE’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015, and the effectiveness of ASE's internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which reports (1) express an unqualified opinion on the consolidated financial statements and include an explanatory paragraph referring to the convenience translation of New Taiwan dollar amounts into U.S. dollar amounts and (2) express an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting and are incorporated by reference herein. Such consolidated financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

The consolidated financial statements of SPIL and management's assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this proxy statement/prospectus by reference to SPIL’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers, Taiwan, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

Enforceability of Foreign Judgments in the ROC

 

Upon the completion of the Share Exchange, HoldCo will be, a company limited by shares and incorporated under the ROC Company Law. It is expected that upon the completion of the Share Exchange, the majority HoldCo’ directors, executive officers and supervisors and certain other parties named herein will be residents of the ROC and a substantial portion of HoldCo’s assets and such persons are located in the ROC. As a result, it may not be possible for investors to effect service of process on HoldCo or such persons outside the ROC, or to enforce against any of their judgments obtained in courts outside of the ROC. ROC counsel has advised that any final judgment obtained against us or such persons in any court other than the courts of the ROC in respect of any legal suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Share Exchange will be enforced by the courts of the ROC without further review of the merits only if the court of the ROC in which enforcement is sought is satisfied that:

 

· the court rendering the judgment has jurisdiction over the subject matter according to the laws of the ROC;

 

· the judgment and the court procedures resulting in the judgment are not contrary to the public order or good morals of the ROC;

 

· if the judgment was rendered by default by the court rendering the judgment, (i) we or such persons were duly served in the jurisdiction of such court within a reasonable period of time in accordance with the laws and regulations of such jurisdiction, or (ii) process was served on us or such persons with judicial assistance of the ROC; and

 

· judgments of the courts of the ROC are recognized in the jurisdiction of the court rendering the judgment on a reciprocal basis.

 

A party seeking to enforce a foreign judgment in the ROC would, except under limited circumstances, be required to obtain foreign exchange approval from the Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) for the remittance out of the ROC of any amounts exceeding US$100,000 or its equivalent recovered in respect of such judgment denominated in a currency other than NT dollars.

 

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Where You Can Find More Information

 

ASE files annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC as required under the Exchange Act. ASE is currently, and upon completion of the Share Exchange, HoldCo will be, subject to periodic reporting and other informational requirements of the Exchange Act, as applicable to foreign private issuers. As a “foreign private issuer” and, under the rules adopted under the Exchange Act, ASE is, and upon the completion of the Share Exchange, HoldCo will be, exempted from certain of the requirements of that Exchange Act, including the proxy and information provisions of Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the reporting and liability provisions applicable to officers, directors and significant shareholders under Section 16 of the Exchange Act. ASE files annual reports on Form 20-F with the SEC and also furnishes reports on Form 6-K to the SEC.

 

You may read and copy any reports, statements or other information filed by ASE or SPIL at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the Public Reference Room. The SEC also maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including ASE and SPIL. The address of that site is www.sec.gov.

 

Investors may also consult ASE’s or SPIL’s website for more information about ASE or SPIL, respectively. ASE’s website is http://www.aseglobal.com. SPIL’s website is http://www.spil.com.tw. Information included on these websites is not incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus.

 

ASE has filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-4 of which this proxy statement/prospectus forms a part. The registration statement registers the HoldCo Common Shares to be issued to ASE shareholders in exchange for its ASE Common Shares in connection with the Share Exchange. A related registration statement on Form F-6 has also been filed with the SEC to register HoldCo ADSs representing HoldCo Common Shares. The registration statements and their exhibits and schedules contain additional relevant information about ASE, ASE Common Shares and ASE ADSs. As allowed by SEC rules, this proxy statement/prospectus does not contain all the information you can find in the registration statement on Form F-4 filed by ASE and the exhibits to the registration statement.

 

In addition, the SEC allows ASE to “incorporate by reference” information into this proxy statement/prospectus, which means that ASE can disclose important information to you by referring you to other documents filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus is considered part of this proxy statement/prospectus, except for any information superseded by information contained directly in this proxy statement/prospectus or in later filed documents incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus.

 

This proxy statement/prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below that ASE and SPIL have previously filed with the SEC. These documents contain important information about the companies, their respective financial condition and other matters.

 

ASE SEC Filings  

(File No. 001-16125)

Period or File Date

   
Annual Report on Form 20-F Year ended December 31, 2015, filed on April 29, 2016
   
Current Report on Form 6-K Furnished on November 22, 2016 (Exhibit 99.1 only)
   

SPIL SEC Filings (File No. 000-30702)

Period or File Date

   
Annual Report on Form 20-F Year ended December 31, 2015, filed on April 25, 2016
   
Current Report on Form 6-K Furnished on November 22, 2016 (Exhibit 99.1 only)

 

In addition, all annual reports on Form 20-F that ASE or SPIL files with the SEC and certain reports on Form 6-K that ASE furnishes to the SEC indicating, to the extent designated therein, that they are so incorporated by

 

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reference into this proxy statement/prospectus, in each case after the date of this proxy statement/prospectus and prior to the date of the ASE EGM and the SPIL EGM, will also be incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus. Such documents filed or furnished by ASE are considered to be a part of this proxy statement/prospectus, effective as of the date such documents are filed or furnished.

 

You can obtain any of these documents from the SEC, through the SEC’s website at the address described above, or ASE or SPIL as applicable, will provide you with copies of these documents, without charge, upon written or oral request to

 

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.
e-mail: ir@aseglobal.com
Tel: +886-2-6636-5678
Room 1901, No. 333, Section 1 Keelung Rd.
Taipei, Taiwan, 110
Republic of China
Attention: Investor Relations

 

In the event of conflicting information in this proxy statement/prospectus in comparison to any document incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus, or among documents incorporated by reference, the information in the latest filed document controls.

 

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus. No one has been authorized to provide you with information that is different from that contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this proxy statement/prospectus. This proxy statement/prospectus is dated November 22, 2016. You should not assume that the information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus is accurate as of any date other than that date. You should not assume that the information incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date of such incorporated document. Neither the delivery of this proxy statement/prospectus to ASE shareholders nor the issuance of HoldCo Common Shares or HoldCo ADSs in connection with the Share Exchange will create any implication to the contrary.

 

Part II

 

Information Not Required in Prospectus

 

Item 20. Indemnification of Officers and Directors

 

The relationships between the Registrant and its directors and officers are governed by the ROC Civil Code, the ROC Company Law and the Registrant’s articles of incorporation. There is no written agreement between the Registrant and its directors and officers governing the rights and obligations of such parties. Each person who was or is party or is threatened to be made a party to, or is involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that such person is or was the Registrant’s director or officer, in the absence of willful misconduct or gross negligence on the part of such person in connection with such person’s performance of duties as a director or officer, as the case may be, may be indemnified and held harmless by the Registrant to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

 

Item 21. Exhibits and Financial Statements Schedules

 

(a) Exhibits

 

· EX-3.1 Form of Articles of Incorporation of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd. (proposed to be adopted on or about [DATE], 2017) (English translation)

 

· EX-4.1 Form of Specimen of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd. American Depositary Receipt

 

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· EX-4.2 Form of Deposit Agreement, among ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd., Citibank, N.A., as depositary, and holders and beneficial owners of American depositary shares issued thereunder

 

· EX-5.1 Opinion of Baker & McKenzie regarding the validity of the common shares of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

· EX-8.1 Opinion of Baker & McKenzie regarding certain Republic of China tax consequences in connection with the Share Exchange (included in Exhibit 5.1)

 

· EX- 8.2 Opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP regarding certain United States Federal tax consequences of the Share Exchange

 

· EX-12.1 Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

 

· EX-21.1 Subsidiaries of the Registrant

 

· EX-23.1 Consent of Deloitte & Touche with respect to Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.

 

· EX-23.2 Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers, Taiwan, with respect to Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd.

 

· EX-23.3 Consent of Baker & McKenzie (included in Exhibits 5.1 and 8.1)

 

· EX-23.4 Consent of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP (included in Exhibit 8.2)

 

· EX-23.5 Consent of Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu of Crowe Horwath (TW) CPAs

 

· EX-24.1 Power of Attorney of the Registrant (included on signature page of Part II of this Registration Statement)

 

· EX-99.1 Form of depositary notice to holders of American depositary shares of Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. relating to the extraordinary general shareholders’ meeting of shareholders

 

· EX-99.2 Form of voting instruction for use by holders of American depositary shares of Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.

 

Item 22. Undertakings

 

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

 

(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

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(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

 

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment 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.

 

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

(4) To file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A. of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering.

 

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, 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 section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, (and where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’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.

 

(c) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes as follows:

 

(1) That prior to any public reoffering of the securities registered hereunder through use of a prospectus which is a part of this registration statement, by any person or party who is deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Rule 145(c), the issuer undertakes that such reoffering prospectus will contain the information called for by the applicable registration form with respect to the offerings by persons who may be deemed underwriters, in addition to the information called for by the other Items of the applicable form.

 

(2) That every prospectus (i) that is filed pursuant to the immediately preceding paragraph, or (ii) that purports to meet the requirements of section 10(a)(3) of the Act and is used in connection with an offering of securities subject to Rule 415 (§ 230.415 of this chapter), will be filed as a part of an amendment to the registration statement and will not be used until such amendment is effective, and that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment 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.

 

(d) 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 registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer of 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 being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

(e) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes: (i) to respond to requests for information that is incorporated by reference into the prospectus pursuant to Items 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 (ii) to arrange or provide for a facility in the United States for the purpose of responding to such requests. The undertaking in subparagraph (i) above includes information contained in documents filed subsequent to the effective date of the registration statement through the date of responding to the request.

 

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(f) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes 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.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Taipei, Taiwan on November 22, 2016.

 

ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEERING, INC.
 
By: /s/ Jason C.S. Chang
  Name: Jason C.S. Chang
  Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 


111

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Jason C.S. Chang and Joseph Tung as attorney-in-fact, each with full power of substitution, for them in any and all capacities, to do any and all acts and all things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorney and agent may deem necessary or desirable to enable the Registrant to comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of securities of the Registrant, including, without limitation, the power and authority to sign the name of each of the undersigned in the capacities indicated below to the registration statement on Form F-4 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to such securities, to any and all amendments or supplements to such Registration Statement, and to any and all instruments or documents filed as part of or in connection with such Registration Statement or any and all amendments thereto, whether such amendments are filed before or after the effective date of such Registration Statement; and each of the undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that such attorney and agent shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated and on November 22, 2016.

 

Signature Title
   
/s/ Jason C.S. Chang Director, Chairman of the Board of Directors and
Chief Executive Officer
Jason C.S. Chang (principal executive officer)
   
/s/ Richard H.P. Chang Director, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and President
Richard H.P. Chang  
   
/s/ Rutherford Chang Director and General Manager of China Region
Rutherford Chang  
   
/s/ Tien Wu Director and Chief Operating Officer
Tien Wu  
   
/s/ Joseph Tung Director and Chief Financial Officer
Joseph Tung (principal financial officer)
   
/s/ Raymond Lo Director and General Manager , Kaohsiung Packaging Facility
Raymond Lo  
   
/s/ Tien-Szu Chen Director and General Manager of ASE Chung Li Branch
Tien-Szu Chen  
   
/s/ Jeffrey Chen Director and General Manager of Corporate Affairs and Strategy of China Region
Jeffrey Chen  
   
/s/ Shen-Fu Yu Independent Director
Shen-Fu Yu  

 

112

/s/ Ta-Lin Hsu Independent Director
Ta-Lin Hsu  
   
/s/ Mei-Yueh Ho Independent Director
Mei-Yueh Ho  
   
/s/ Murphy Kuo Controller and Vice President
Murphy Kuo (principal accounting officer)

 

113

SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REGISTRANT

 

Pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc., has signed this Registration Statement and any amendment thereto in the City of New York, New York, on November 22, 2016.

 

National Corporate Research, Ltd.
 
By: /s/ Colleen A. DeVries
  Name: Colleen A. DeVries
  Title: Senior Vice-President

 

 

Annex A

 

English Translation of Execution Version

  

Joint Share Exchange Agreement

Preamble

 

This Joint Share Exchange Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is entered into on June 30, 2016 (the “ Execution Date ”) by and between:

 

(1)       Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. (“ ASE ”), a company incorporated under Republic of China (“ ROC ”) laws, with its address at No. 26, Jingsan Rd, Nanzi District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan; and

 

(2)       Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd. (“ SPIL ” or the “ Company ”), a company incorporated under ROC laws, with its address at No. 123, Section 3, Da Fong Road, Tantzu District, Taichung City, Taiwan.

 

WHEREAS ASE and SPIL (each a “ Party ” and collectively the “ Parties ”) agree for ASE to file an application to establish HoldCo (as defined below) by means of a statutory share exchange, and HoldCo will acquire all issued and outstanding shares of both ASE and SPIL. After the closing of the share exchange, ASE and SPIL will become wholly-owned subsidiaries of HoldCo concurrently (the “ Share Exchange ” or “ Transaction ”); and

 

WHEREAS each Party’s board of directors has passed a resolution approving the Share Exchange.

 

NOW THEREFORE, IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have entered into this Agreement as follows:

 

Definitions

 

Save for the definitions set forth in the Preamble, in this Agreement:

 

HoldCo ” means 日月光投資控股股份有限公司 (temporary English name: ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.) to be established by ASE pursuant to Article 1.1 hereof.

 

SPIL Foreign Convertible Bonds ” means US$400,000,000 unsecured foreign convertible bonds issued by SPIL on October 31, 2014, due on October 31, 2019, with an outstanding balance of US$400,000,000, convertible into SPIL’s new common shares, with the final conversion date at October 21, 2019. As the Execution Date occurs during the suspension period for conversion of SPIL Foreign Convertible Bonds, the conversion price per share shall be referred to the conversion price thereof announced by SPIL on July 1, 2016.

 

Exchange Ratio ” means the exchange of each ordinary share of ASE for 0.5 ordinary share of HoldCo (1 ASE’s American depositary share each representing five ASE common shares to be exchanged for 1.25 HoldCo’s American depositary shares each representing two HoldCo common shares).

 

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Cash Consideration ” means Initial Cash Consideration or Adjusted Cash Consideration, as applicable.

 

Initial Cash Consideration ” means NT$55 in cash to be exchanged for each SPIL common share.

 

Adjusted Cash Consideration ” means the cash consideration adjusted according to Article 3.2 and Article 4.2 hereof.

 

SEC ” means United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Antitrust Law ” means (1) the ROC Fair Trade Act and laws relating thereto, (2) the U.S. Sherman Act, as amended, the U.S. Clayton Act, as amended, the U.S. Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, as amended, and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission Act, as amended, (3) the Anti-monopoly Law of People’s Republic of China with effectiveness from August 1, 2008, and (4) all other applicable laws issued by government entities for the purposes of prohibiting, restricting or regulating conducts with the purpose or effect of monopolizing, restricting trade or reducing competition through mergers or acquisitions.

 

SPIL Material Adverse Effect Event ” means any changes, developments, incidents, matters, effects or facts, which, individually or in combination with all other such changes, developments, incidents, matters, effects or facts, result in material adverse effects on SPIL and SPIL Subsidiaries, operating as a whole (for the purpose of this definition, “material” shall mean that the occurrence of said events or circumstances, individually or in aggregate, results in a decrease in the consolidated net book value of SPIL by 10% or more as compared to the net book value stated in SPIL’s consolidated audited financial statements as of March 31, 2016); provided that the following changes, developments, incidents, matters, effects or facts shall not, individually or in aggregate, be regarded as having a material adverse effect on SPIL, or be taken into account in determining whether there has been a SPIL Material Adverse Effect, if they are induced or caused by: (1) any change of capital market conditions or economic condition, including a change pertaining to interest rate or exchange rate; (2) any change of geopolitical conditions occurring after the date hereof, or outbreak or escalation of any conflict, or any war or terrorism actions; (3) force majeure occurring after the date hereof; (4) any change of applicable law, regulation or accounting standards (or any official interpretation thereof) proposed, approved or promulgated on or after the date hereof; (5) any change of the industry in which SPIL or a SPIL Subsidiary operates; (6) underperformance in and of itself by SPIL or SPIL Subsidiaries of any internal or public predictions, forecasts, projections or estimates relevant to income, profits or other financial or operational targets before, on or after the date hereof, or change of market price, credit rating or trading volume of its securities, provided that SPIL’s directors have met their duty of care and duty of loyalty; and (7) announcement and contingency of this Agreement or transactions contemplated hereunder (including any transaction-related litigation) of this Agreement, any adoption of actions required or expressly required in the covenants specified in this Agreement, including any loss of or change of relationship with any customer, supplier, distributor or other business partners of SPIL or SPIL

 

2

Subsidiaries, or departure of any employee or senior management, resulting from or relevant to the announcement and contingency of this Agreement or transactions contemplated hereunder, provided that SPIL’s directors have met their duty of care and duty of loyalty.

 

ASE Material Adverse Effect Event ” means any changes, developments, incidents, matters, effects or facts which, individually or in combination with all other such changes, developments, incidents, matters, effects or facts, result in material adverse effects on ASE and ASE’s subsidiaries, operating as a whole (for the purposes of this definition, “material” means that the occurrence of said events or circumstances, individually or in aggregate, results in a decrease in the consolidated net book value of ASE by 10% or more as compared to the net book value stated in ASE’s consolidated audited financial statements as of March 31, 2016); provided that the following changes, developments, incidents, matters, effects or facts shall not, individually or in aggregate, be regarded as having a material adverse effect on ASE, or be taken into account in determining whether there has been an ASE Material Adverse Effect, if they are induced or caused by: (1) any change of capital market conditions or economic condition, including a change pertaining to interest rate or exchange rate; (2) any change of geopolitical conditions occurring after the date hereof, or outbreak or escalation of any conflict, or any war or terrorism actions; (3) force majeure occurring after the date hereof; (4) any change of applicable law, regulation or accounting standards (or any official interpretation thereof) proposed, approved or promulgated on or after the date hereof; (5) any change of the industry in which ASE or an ASE’s subsidiary operates; (6) underperformance in and of itself by ASE or ASE’s subsidiaries of any internal or public predictions, forecasts, projections or estimates relevant to income, profits or other financial or operational targets before, on or after the date hereof, or change of market price, credit rating or trading volume of its securities, provided that ASE’s directors have met their duty of care and duty of loyalty; (7) announcement and contingency of this Agreement or transactions contemplated hereunder (including any transaction-related litigation) of this Agreement, any adoption of actions required or expressly required in the covenants specified in this Agreement, including any loss of or change of relationship with any customer, supplier, distributor or other business partners of ASE or ASE’s subsidiaries, or departure of any employee or senior management, resulting from or relevant to the announcement and contingency of this Agreement or transactions contemplated hereunder, provided that ASE’s directors have met their duty of care and duty of loyalty; and (8) internal organizational restructuring of ASE and/or ASE’s subsidiaries.

 

Long Stop Date ” means the expiry day of 18 months after the Execution Date (i.e., December 31, 2017) or a later date otherwise agreed in writing by both Parties.

 

Share Exchange Record Date ” means the date on which the exchanges of shares shall be completed as contemplated by the boards of directors of HoldCo and both Parties in accordance with the provisions of laws and Article 6.5 of this Agreement.

 

Relevant Securities Regulators ” means the Taiwan Financial Supervisory Commission, the Taiwan Stock Exchange and the SEC.

 

3

Antitrust Law Enforcement Authorities of Relevant Countries or Regions ” means the Taiwan Fair Trade Commission, the United States Federal Trade Commission and the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China.

 

SPIL Subsidiaries ” means subsidiaries listed in SPIL’s audited consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2016.

 

Intellectual Property Rights ” means publicly registered patents, trademarks, copyrights and other intellectual property rights.

 

Material Contracts ” means all material agreements, contracts, representations, covenants, commitments, warranties, guarantees or other obligations that SPIL and SPIL Subsidiaries have entered into or undertaken.

 

Superior Proposal ” means a bona fide , unsolicited written offer for an Alternate Transaction (as defined below) to SPIL made by a party other than ASE, SPIL or any of SPIL’s directors, managers, employees, agents or representatives; and the terms and conditions of such an offer are considered to be more favorable to SPIL and all shareholders of SPIL than the terms and conditions of this Transaction by opinions separately issued by a renowned investment bank and law firm appointed by the SPIL’s audit committee.

 

SPIL Employees ” means all employees (including all appointed managers) of SPIL and SPIL Subsidiaries.

 

100% Subsidiaries ” means wholly-owned subsidiaries of HoldCo.

 

Alternate Transaction ” means (1) any transaction that may involve a spin-off, a purchase or sale of shares of non-financial investment nature, or any other transaction of similar nature; (2) a lease of all businesses or an entrustment, a joint operation or an assumption of the entire business or assets from others (except for an assumption of the entire business or assets from others in an aggregated transaction amount of less than NT$500,000,000); or (3) any merger and acquisition without issuing HoldCo’s shares, any sale of all or material assets or businesses of 100% Subsidiaries, any disposal of interest in material assets or businesses of 100% Subsidiaries, or exclusive licensing of all or material patents or technologies of 100% Subsidiaries.

 

Force Majeure Events ” means judgments or orders of courts, orders or dispositions of relevant competent authorities, wars, hostility, blockade, riots, revolutions, strikes, work suspension, financial crisis, nuclear disasters, fires, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, plagues or floods, etc., which are not attributable to the Parties, or force majeure or equivalent events.

 

1.         Share Exchange

 

1.1 ASE and SPIL agree that ASE shall file an application to establish HoldCo and effect, jointly with SPIL, the Share Exchange in accordance with the Republic of China Enterprise Mergers and Acquisitions Act and relevant laws and regulations.

 

4

The general shareholders’ meetings of both Parties will consider resolutions to approve the transfer of all the issued and outstanding shares of both Parties to HoldCo, and HoldCo will issue new shares to ASE’s shareholders, and pay the Cash Consideration to SPIL’s shareholders as consideration, based on the Exchange Ratio and Cash Consideration provided under Article 3 hereof.

 

1.2 ASE and SPIL agree that, upon the completion of the Share Exchange, ASE and SPIL shall each maintain its separate legal entity status and shall each retain its respective legal entity name, and that ASE and SPIL will become wholly-owned subsidiaries of HoldCo concurrently. HoldCo’s Articles of Association is attached hereto as Appendix 1.

 

2. ASE’s and SPIL’s Capital Structures as of Execution Date

 

2.1 ASE represents to SPIL that its capital structure as of the Execution Date is as follows:

 

2.1.1 ASE’s paid-in share capital amounts to NT$79,236,225,960 million, with a total of 7,923,622,596 issued and outstanding common shares (including 5,349,700 shares which remain to be registered for change).

 

2.1.2 ASE has 120,000,000 treasury shares.

 

2.1.3 It has a total of US$600,000,000 issued and outstanding unsecured foreign convertible bonds, specifically:

 

(1) US$400,000,000 unsecured foreign convertible bonds issued by ASE on September 5, 2013, with outstanding balance of US$400,000,000, convertible into ASE’s new common shares, due on August 26, 2018, and the conversion price per share as of the Execution Date is NT$31.93.

 

(2) US$200,000,000 unsecured foreign convertible bonds issued by ASE on July 2, 2015, with outstanding balance of US$200,000,000, convertible into ASE’s treasury shares as described under Article 2.1.2 hereof, due on March 17, 2017, and the conversion price per share as of the Execution Date is NT$54.5465.

 

2.1.4 ASE has a total of 236,676,850 units of issued but not vested employee stock options, specifically:

 

(1) 185,806,000 units of employee stock options issued by ASE on December 19, 2007, due on December 18, 2017, each unit exercisable for 1 common share, and its exercise price per share as of the Execution Date is NT$21.10, with the balance of the issued but not vested employee stock options amounting to 53,938,500 units.

 

(2) 187,719,500 units of employee stock options issued by ASE on May 6, 2010, due on May 5, 2020, each unit exercisable for 1 common share, and

 

5

its exercise price per share as of the Execution Date is NT$20.4, with the balance of the issued but not vested employee stock options amounting to 84,056,850 units.

 

(3) 12,280,000 units of employee stock options issued by ASE on April 15, 2011, due on April 14, 2021, each unit exercisable for 1 common share, and its exercise price per share as of the Execution Date is NT$22.6, with the balance of the issued but not vested employee stock options amounting to 7,731,500 units.

 

(4) 94,270,000 units of ASE’s employee stock options issued on September 10, 2015, due on September 9, 2025, each unit exercisable for 1 common share, and its exercise price per share as of the Execution Date is NT$36.5, with the balance of the issued but not vested employee stock options amounting to 90,950,000 units.

 

2.1.5 Except as set forth in Article 2.1.1 through Article 2.1.4, ASE has no other issued and outstanding equity-linked securities or other treasury shares.

 

2.2 SPIL represents to ASE that its capital structure as of the Execution Date is as follows:

 

2.2.1 Its paid-in share capital amounts to NT$31,163,611,390, with a total of 3,116,361,139 issued and outstanding common shares:

 

2.2.2 US$400,000,000 SPIL Foreign Convertible Bonds issued by SPIL on October 31, 2014, with an outstanding balance of US$400,000,000, convertible into SPIL’s newly issued common shares prior to October 21, 2019. As the Execution Date occurs during the suspension period for conversion of SPIL Foreign Convertible Bonds, the conversion price for each share shall be referred to the conversion price thereof announced by SPIL on July 1, 2016.

 

2.2.3 Except as set forth in Article 2.2.1 and Article 2.2.2, SPIL has no other issued and outstanding equity-linked securities or other treasury shares.

 

2.3 The number of total shares as agreed by HoldCo to acquire from each of ASE and SPIL on the Share Exchange Record Date will be based on the actual total number of shares issued by ASE and SPIL, respectively, as of the Share Exchange Record Date.

 

3. Share Exchange Consideration

 

3.1 The Transaction will result in the exchange of all of ASE’s issued and outstanding shares in consideration for newly issued common shares of HoldCo, at an exchange ratio of 1 ASE common share for 0.5 HoldCo common share (the “ Exchange Ratio ”) (1 ASE American depositary share (each ASE American depositary share currently represents five ASE common shares) shall be

 

6

exchanged for 1.25 Holdco American depositary shares (each HoldCo American depositary share will represent two HoldCo common shares)). The actual number of ASE’s shares expected to be exchanged under this Transaction will be based on the total number of shares issued by ASE as of the Share Exchange Record Date.

 

3.2 The Transaction will result in the exchange of each of SPIL’s issued and outstanding shares for the Cash Consideration payable by HoldCo. The actual number of SPIL’s shares to be exchanged under the Transaction will be based on the total amount of shares issued by SPIL and outstanding as of the Share Exchange Record Date. The Cash Consideration will be subject to adjustments if SPIL issues shares or cash dividends during the period from the Execution Date to the Share Exchange Record Date, provided, however, the Cash Consideration shall not be subject to adjustment if the cash dividends distributed by SPIL in 2017 is less than 85% of its after-tax net profit for the year 2016.

 

3.3 ASE shall, before SPIL’s submission of Schedule 13E-3 to the SEC, confirm with SPIL the types and their composition of ASE’s and HoldCo’s funding sources, and present proof documentation in respect of sources of funding (including, but not limited to, the financing plan and a highly confident letter conforming to market practice issued by bank(s) on the financing of the Transaction) that can demonstrate ASE’s and HoldCo’s abilities to fully pay the Cash Consideration. In addition, ASE and HoldCo shall, no later than three business days after the Share Exchange Record Date, transfer the entire amount of the Cash Consideration to a dedicated capital account opened by SPIL’s stock transfer agency for the purposes of the closing of the Transaction. ASE and HoldCo shall be jointly and severally liable to the foregoing.

 

3.4 The total registered capital of HoldCo is contemplated to be NT$50,000,000,000, divided into 5,000,000,000 common shares, with a par value of NT$10, to be issued in installments; the total paid-in share capital of HoldCo as of the Share Exchange Record Date upon initial issuance is temporarily contemplated to be NT$39,618,112,980 million, divided into 3,961,811,298 shares. Prior to the Share Exchange Record Date, the amount of HoldCo’s new shares to be issued upon the Share Exchange shall be adjusted to take into account any increase or decrease in the amount of ASE’s issued shares arising from any capital increase, capital decrease or issuance of new shares on vesting, exchange or conversion of equity-linked securities.

 

3.5 Any fractional shares resulting from HoldCo issuing new HoldCo shares to ASE shareholders based on the Exchange Ratio will be subscribed by a person designated by HoldCo’s chairman based on ASE’s closing price on the trading day immediately before the Share Exchange Record Date on the Taiwan Stock Exchange, calculated based on the Exchange Ratio and such person will pay cash in lieu to such ASE shareholders (rounded down to the nearest NT dollar). HoldCo’s board of directors has the sole discretion to implement any changes to the foregoing provisions relating to treatment of fractional shares so long as

 

7

changes are necessary under relevant laws or regulations, or are required for processing purposes.

 

4. Adjustment to Consideration of Share Exchange

 

4.1 Both Parties agree that the Exchange Ratio as agreed hereunder shall not be changed unless approved by the competent authority and agreed by the resolutions of the boards of directors of HoldCo and both Parties; and except under the circumstances set forth in Article 4.2 hereof, the Cash Consideration as agreed herein cannot be changed.

 

4.2 The Parties agree that they shall cause their respective extraordinary general shareholders’ meeting (ASE’s extraordinary general shareholders’ meeting shall be Holdco’s promoters’ meeting) to adopt a resolution authorizing each Party’s and HoldCo’s (if applicable) respective board of directors to effect a reasonable adjustment of the Cash Consideration in good faith and by mutual agreement as soon as possible, without the need for a resolution for adjustment at a separately convened general shareholders’ meeting (unless as otherwise agreed herein), if any of the events described below occurs during the period from the Execution Date until the Share Exchange Record Date:

 

4.2.1 Issuance of SPIL’s equity-linked securities of any nature (except for any share(s) newly issued as a result of the exercise of conversion rights by holders of SPIL Foreign Convertible Bonds) or other securities convertible into SPIL shares;

 

4.2.2 SPIL’s disposal of material assets;

 

4.2.3 Occurrence of major disasters causing a SPIL Material Adverse Effect Event, material technical changes or other circumstances affecting SPIL’s shareholders’ interests or its share prices; or

 

4.2.4 SPIL’s repurchase of treasury shares (except for the repurchase of shares by SPIL subsequent to SPIL shareholders’ exercising appraisal rights under law in connection with the Share Exchange).

 

4.3 For the purposes of Article 4.2.2 and Article 4.23 hereof, “material” shall mean that the occurrence of said events or circumstances, individually or in aggregate, results in an increase or decrease of SPIL’s consolidated net book value by 10% or more as compared to the net book value in SPIL’s consolidated audited financial statements as of March 31, 2016 (for the avoidance of doubt, excluding a decrease in the net book value in SPIL’s consolidated audited financial statements resulted from dividends distributed by SPIL).

 

4.4 Following the adjustment to the Cash Consideration pursuant to the terms of Article 4 hereof, both Parties shall apply with, notify to or change with the competent authority in accordance with the laws and regulations for the required permission or approval.

 

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5. Shareholders’ Resolutions Approving the Share Exchange

 

5.1 Both Parties shall each prepare relevant documents subject to the procedures and schedules as agreed under Appendix 2 hereto, and hold an extraordinary general shareholders’ meeting to approve this Agreement and the Transaction in a share exchange resolution based on the terms of this Agreement on the same date to be jointly agreed upon by both Parties in good faith and goodwill following clearance by two Antitrust Law Enforcement Authorities of Relevant Countries or Regions (but not later than the 70th calendar day following clearance and approval obtained by both Parties from each of the Antitrust Law Enforcement Authorities of Relevant Countries or Regions).

 

5.2 The non-independent directors and supervisors (future independent directors) of HoldCo shall be elected at ASE Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting (i.e., Holdco’s promoters’ meeting) in accordance with the arrangements set forth in Article 9 of this Agreement.

 

6. Conditions Precedent to Share Exchange

 

6.1 HoldCo and both Parties shall effect the Share Exchange to complete the Transaction pursuant to this Agreement if all the conditions precedent below are satisfied:

 

6.1.1 The unconditional approval of the Transaction at each Party’s respective general shareholders’ meeting; and

 

6.1.2 The approvals or consents (including, but not limited to, approvals or consents of conditions and/or burdens imposed by Antitrust Law Enforcement Authorities of Relevant Countries and Regions that both Parties agree to accept) to consummate the Transaction from all relevant competent authorities (including, but not limited to: the Taiwan Stock Exchange, the SEC, and Antitrust Law Enforcement Authorities of Relevant Countries and Regions) shall have been received.

 

6.1.3 No governmental entity having competent jurisdiction over the Transaction shall have enacted or enforced any order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) that is in effect and enforceable prohibiting, enjoining or rendering illegal the consummation of the Transaction, and no law shall have enacted or enforced after the Execution Date rendering illegal or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the Transaction. For the avoidance of doubt, the enactment or enforcement of an “order” or “law” shall not include the making of a decision by any governmental entity to extend the waiting period or initiate an investigation pursuant to any Antitrust Law or any law of relevant jurisdictions.

 

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6.2 The obligations of each of HoldCo and ASE to complete the Transaction is subject to the satisfaction of (or HoldCo’s and ASE’s consent to the waiver of) all the conditions below:

 

6.2.1 All of SPIL’s representations and warranties contained within this Agreement are true and accurate as of the Execution Date and as of the Share Exchange Record Date, except to the extent that no SPIL Material Adverse Effect Event shall have occurred.

 

6.2.2 SPIL has fulfilled the undertakings and obligations that SPIL is obliged to fulfill in all material respects prior to the Share Exchange Record Date pursuant to this Agreement.

 

6.2.3 No SPIL Material Adverse Effect Event shall have occurred by the Share Exchange Record Date.

 

6.2.4 Before the Share Exchange Record Date, no Force Majeure Events shall have occurred which, individually or in aggregate, result in a decrease of SPIL’s consolidated net book value by 30% or more as compared to the net book value in SPIL’s consolidated audited financial statements as of March 31, 2016.

 

6.3 SPIL’s obligation to complete this Transaction is subject to the satisfaction of (or SPIL’s consent to waive) all the conditions below:

 

6.3.1 All of ASE’s representations and warranties contained within this Agreement are true and accurate as of the Execution Date and as of the Share Exchange Record Date, except to the extent that no ASE Material Adverse Effect Event shall have occurred; all of HoldCo’s representations and warranties contained within this Agreement are true and accurate as of the Share Exchange Record Date, except to the extent that no HoldCo’s material adverse effect event shall have occurred.

 

6.3.2 ASE and/or HoldCo have fulfilled the undertakings and obligations that ASE and/or HoldCo are obliged to fulfill in all material respects prior to the Share Exchange Record Date pursuant to this Agreement.

 

6.3.3 No ASE Material Adverse Effect Event shall have occurred by the Share Exchange Record Date.

 

6.3.4 No Force Majeure Events shall have occurred by the Share Exchange Record Date which, individually or in aggregate, result in a decrease in ASE’s consolidated net book value by 30% or more as compared to the net book value in ASE’s consolidated audited financial statements as of March 31, 2016.

 

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6.4 The completion of this Transaction is subject to satisfaction or waiver of all the conditions precedent as set forth in Article 6.1 through 6.3 on or before the Long Stop Date. ASE or SPIL shall not prevent the consummation of this Transaction for any other improper reason. If the closing of the Transaction cannot be completed due to the failure of the conditions precedent as set forth in Article 6.1 through 6.3 hereof to be satisfied on or before the Long Stop Date, this Agreement shall be terminated automatically at 0:00am on the day immediately following the Long Stop Date.

 

6.5 If all the conditions precedent as set forth in Article 6.1 through 6.3 hereof have been satisfied or waived, the Share Exchange shall be completed on the share exchange record date as agreed by HoldCo’s and both Parties’ boards of directors in accordance with the laws and regulations and Article 6.5 hereof (“Share Exchange Record Date”). Each Party’s and HoldCo’s (if applicable) boards of directors shall jointly agree upon and respectively resolve to approve the Share Exchange Record Date within 10 days following the date of approval of their respective general shareholders’ meeting to effect the Transaction under Article 5.1 hereof.

 

7. Representations and Warranties

 

7.1 ASE represents and warrants to SPIL that the following terms shall be true and correct as of the Execution Date and as of the Share Exchange Record Date:

 

7.1.1 Valid establishment and existence of the company: ASE is a company limited by shares duly incorporated and validly existing under the ROC Company Act and has obtained all necessary licenses, approvals, permits and other relevant licenses in order to carry on its business operations, except to the extent that failure to obtain such licenses, approvals, permits and other relevant licenses would not give rise to an ASE Material Adverse Effect Event. All the shares issued by ASE have been legally authorized, issued and fully paid.

 

7.1.2 Validity and effectiveness of this Agreement: the execution and implementation of this Agreement, shall not violate (1) current laws or regulations of the ROC; (2) judgments, orders or dispositions by courts or relevant competent authorities; (3) the articles of incorporation, board resolutions or shareholders’ resolutions of ASE; or (4) contracts, agreements, representations, warranties, promises, guarantees, arrangements or other obligations with which ASE shall comply, except to the extent that, in case of (1), (2), (3) or (4), no ASE Material Adverse Effect Event shall have occurred or ASE’s ability to fulfill this Agreement is not affected.

 

As of the Execution Date, subject to (a) pre-merger notification requirements under the Hart–Scott–Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (as amended) and regulations or rules promulgated thereunder (the “ HSR Act ”), (b) filing and/or notification under the Antitrust Laws of any jurisdiction

 

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outside the United States, (c) approval necessary to be obtained from the SEC for the proxy statement, (d) requirements for the purposes of compliance with state or other local securities, acquisitions and “blue sky” laws, and (e) in addition to other authorizations, consents, approvals, orders, permits, notices, reports, notifications, registrations, qualifications and waivers, ASE’s execution hereof, and fulfillment of obligations hereunder, and consummation of the Transaction and other transactions contemplated hereunder have been authorized by the valid and effective resolution of ASE, and this Agreement constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of ASE, enforceable against ASE in accordance with its terms.

 

7.1.3 Resolution and authorization by board of directors and/ or shareholders’ meeting: ASE’s board of directors and/or (before the Share Exchange Record Date) shareholders’ meeting have passed resolution(s) approving this Agreement and the Share Exchange and authorized the chairman of ASE or his appointed representative to execute, amend or change this Agreement on behalf of ASE.

 

7.1.4 All of ASE’s representations in Article 2.1 hereof are true and correct as of the Execution Date.

 

7.2 ASE causes HoldCo to represent and warrant, and represents and warrants jointly and severally with HoldCo, that the following terms shall be true and correct as of the Share Exchange Record Date:

 

7.2.1 Valid establishment and existence of the company: HoldCo is a company limited by shares duly incorporated and validly existing under the ROC Company Act and has obtained all necessary licenses, approvals, permits and other relevant licenses in order to carry on its business operations, except to the extent that failure to obtain such licenses, approvals, permits and other relevant licenses would not give rise to an material adverse effect event. All the shares issued by HoldCo have been legally authorized, issued and fully paid.

 

7.2.2 Validity and effectiveness of this Agreement: the execution and implementation of this Agreement, shall not violate (1) current laws or regulations of the ROC; (2) judgments, orders or dispositions by courts or relevant competent authorities; (3) the articles of incorporation, board resolutions or shareholders’ resolutions of HoldCo; or (4) contracts, agreements, representations, warranties, promises, guarantees, arrangements or other obligations with which ASE shall comply, except to the extent that, in case of (1), (2), (3) or (4), HoldCo’s ability to fulfill this Agreement is not affected. The performance of this Agreement has been authorized by the valid and effective resolution of HoldCo, and this Agreement constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of HoldCo, enforceable against HoldCo in accordance with its terms.

 

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7.2.3 Resolution and authorization by board of directors and/or general shareholders’ meeting: HoldCo’s promoters meeting (if applicable) has passed a resolution approving this Agreement and the Share Exchange.

 

7.3 Except for (i) the information set forth in Appendix 3 (SPIL Disclosure Letter) and (ii) publicly available information disclosed in accordance with the regulations of the Relevant Securities Regulators, SPIL represents and warrants to ASE that the following terms shall be true and correct as of the Execution Date and as of Share Exchange Record Date (except to the extent that a representation or warranty is by its terms made as of a specified date, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct only as of such date):

 

7.3.1 Valid establishment and existence of the company: SPIL is a company limited by shares duly incorporated and validly existing under the ROC Company Act and has obtained all necessary licenses, approvals, permits and other relevant licenses in order to carry on its business operations, except to the extent that the failure to obtain such licenses, approvals, permits and other relevant licenses would not cause a SPIL Material Adverse Effect Event to occur. All the shares issued by SPIL have been legally authorized, issued and fully paid.

 

7.3.2 Validity and effectiveness of this Agreement: the execution and implementation of this Agreement, shall not violate (1) current laws or regulations of the ROC; (2) judgments, orders or dispositions by courts or relevant competent authorities; (3) articles of incorporation, board resolutions or shareholders’ resolutions of SPIL; or (4) contracts, agreements, representations, warranties, promises, guarantees, arrangements or other obligations with which SPIL shall comply, except to the extent that, in case of (1), (2), (3) or (4), no SPIL Material Adverse Effect Event shall have occurred or SPIL’s ability to fulfill this Agreement is not affected.

 

As of the Execution Date, subject to (a) pre-merger notification requirements under the Hart–Scott–Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (as amended) and regulations or rules promulgated thereunder (the “ HSR Act ”), (b) filing and/or notification under the Antitrust Laws of any jurisdiction outside the United States, (c) approval necessary to be obtained from the SEC for the proxy statement, (d) requirements for the purposes of compliance with state or other local securities, acquisitions and “blue sky” laws, and (e) in addition to other authorizations, consents, approvals, orders, permits, notices, reports, notifications, registrations, qualifications and waivers, SPIL’s execution hereof, and fulfillment of obligations hereunder, and consummation of the Transaction and other transactions contemplated hereunder have been authorized by the valid and effective resolution of SPIL, and this Agreement constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of SPIL, enforceable against SPIL in accordance with its terms.

 

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7.3.3 Resolution and authorization by board of directors and/ or shareholders’ meeting: SPIL’s board of directors and/or (before the Share Exchange Record Date) shareholders’ meeting have passed resolution(s) approving this Agreement and the Share Exchange and authorized the chairman of SPIL or his appointed representative to execute, amend or change this Agreement on behalf of SPIL.

 

7.3.4 All of SPIL’s representations in Article 2.2 hereof are true and correct as of the Execution Date.

 

7.3.5 Financial statements and information: the audited and publicly available financial statements and any other financial statements provided to ASE were prepared in accordance with the applicable international financial reporting standards (Taiwan-IFRSs), and all material issues relating to SPIL and SPIL Subsidiaries were fairly presented, and do not have any fabrications, mistakes or concealments in their content that would cause a SPIL Material Adverse Effect Event to occur. Except as disclosed to ASE in writing, SPIL does not have any debts or other contingent liabilities that would cause a SPIL Material Adverse Effect Event to occur.

 

7.3.6 Declaration and payment of taxes and charges: except as publicly disclosed in accordance with applicable laws or disclosed in SPIL’s audited financial statements as of December 31, 2015, all taxes and charges to be lawfully declared (except for those legally subject to litigation or relief proceedings) have been declared and paid in full within the legally allotted time period without any delays, omissions, fabrications, tax evasions or other violations of relevant tax laws and regulations, orders or explanatory letters that would cause a SPIL Material Adverse Effect Event to occur.

 

7.3.7 Litigation or contentious matters: except as publicly disclosed in accordance with applicable laws or disclosed in SPIL’s audited financial statements as of December 31, 2015, there are no on-going or potential litigation or contentious matters, which is likely to cause a SPIL Material Adverse Effect Event to occur.

 

7.3.8 Assets and liabilities: SPIL’s assets and liabilities of operation have been listed in the financial statements provided to ASE. SPIL has lawful and valid rights over the assets it uses and except as publicly disclosed in accordance with applicable laws or disclosed in SPIL’s audited financial statements as of December 31, 2015, its utilization, benefits and disposition are not restrained or limited that would cause a SPIL Material Adverse Effect Event to occur.

 

7.3.9 No new material debts: except as publicly disclosed in accordance with applicable laws or disclosed in SPIL’s audited financial statements as of December 31, 2015 or incurred in the ordinary course of operations, from December 31, 2015 to the Execution Date and the Share Exchange Record Date, no new indebtedness, obligations, burdens or contingent liabilities have

 

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been incurred that would cause a SPIL Material Adverse Effect Event to occur.

 

7.3.10 Intellectual property rights: except to the extent that a SPIL Material Adverse Effect Event would be caused to occur, the information contained in SPIL’s public filings regarding Intellectual Property Rights is true, accurate and complete, does not contain any concealments or omissions and such Intellectual Property Rights are not subject to mortgages, pledges or other liens or burdens. Except as publicly disclosed in accordance with applicable laws or disclosed in SPIL’s audited financial statements as of December 31, 2015, SPIL and SPIL Subsidiaries own valid Intellectual Property Rights for use in their daily major operations and have valid ownership or use right over the Intellectual Property Rights required for their operations. To SPIL’s knowledge, SPIL and SPIL Subsidiaries have not infringed upon, and have not been notified in writing or accused of infringing, upon the intellectual property rights of others, and the validity and/or feasibility of the major Intellectual Property Rights owned by SPIL or SPIL Subsidiaries have not been questioned or objected to by others that would cause a SPIL Material Adverse Effect Event to occur.

 

7.3.11 Labor relations: except as publicly disclosed in accordance with applicable laws or disclosed in SPIL’s audited financial statements as of December 31, 2015, there are no material labor disputes or any matters as of the Share Exchange Record Date which are in material violation of relevant labor laws subject to dispositions imposed by labor authorities, which would cause a SPIL Material Adverse Effect Event to occur.

 

7.3.12 Environmental events: If in accordance with the relevant rules and regulations, SPIL and SPIL Subsidiaries shall apply for relevant pollution treatment facility permits and pollution discharge permits, pay pollution prevention fees or set up professional staff to manage pollution, SPIL and SPIL Subsidiaries have complied with such requirements, and SPIL and SPIL Subsidiaries are not involved in any material environment pollution disputes or subject to dispositions imposed by environmental authorities for material violation of relevant environmental laws that would cause a SPIL Material Adverse Effect Event to occur.

 

7.3.13 Material contracts: All Material Contracts have been provided in writing or orally disclosed to ASE and are without any fabrications, concealments or mistakes, and, except as otherwise disclosed, such Material Contracts will not be invalid, terminated, dismissed, or claimed to be in breach as a result of the Transaction that would cause a SPIL Material Adverse Effect Event to occur.

 

7.3.14 No breach of contract: except as publicly disclosed in accordance with applicable laws or disclosed in SPIL’s audited financial statements as of December 31, 2015, SPIL and SPIL Subsidiaries are not in breach of any

 

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material entrustment agreement, mortgage, trust, loan or other contracts to which they are parties, which are binding on them, or under which their properties are subject matters; except that any such breach does not cause a SPIL Material Adverse Effect Event to occur or affect the fulfillment of this Agreement by SPIL and SPIL Subsidiaries.

 

7.3.15 Materials of this Agreement: All or any part of information required in order to prepare and file the Registration Statement (as defined in Appendix 2) and documents provided by SPIL to ASE are true and correct in all material respects and do not contain any fabrications, mistakes or concealments that would cause a SPIL Material Adverse Effect Event to occur.

 

7.3.16 Compliance with Laws. SPIL and SPIL Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable laws in all material respects without violations that would cause a SPIL Material Adverse Effect Event to occur.

 

8. Covenants

 

8.1 ASE and/or HoldCo (if applicable) covenant to SPIL that, from the Execution Date until Share Exchange Record Date:

 

8.1.1 Except to the extent that SPIL has materially breached any of its obligations, undertakings or representations and warranties under this Agreement, or SPIL has any circumstances that would unreasonably prevent the completion of the Share Exchange or where SPIL’s directors have breached their duty of care or duty of royalty in respect of the Transaction, the ASE covenants to SPIL that:

 

(1) ASE shall support the candidates nominated by SPIL’s board of directors to be elected to serve on SPIL’s 13th board of directors when SPIL re-elects its board of directors (including independent directors) in June 2017.

 

(2) ASE shall not intervene SPIL’s operation. It shall support the motions put forward by SPIL’s board of directors at SPIL’s general shareholders’ meeting (ASE shall abstain from so acting if ASE has an interest in the motion to SPIL’s general shareholders’ meeting that threatens SPIL’s interest), and shall not solicit proxy forms or replace SPIL’s directors in any way including, but not limited to, acting on its own or causing any other party to convene an extraordinary general shareholders’ meeting; and unless with SPIL’s consent and in compliance with non-compete rules, ASE, ASE’s subsidiaries and their current or former directors, supervisors, managers, and/or the spouses and second-degree relatives and other related parties of such directors, supervisors, managers shall not serve as a director of SPIL.

 

(3) ASE and SPIL will maintain their competition and respective independence without poaching SPIL’s employees.

 

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(4) ASE shall not purchase or acquire SPIL’s shares or increase its shares held in SPIL in any manner violating the laws or regulations of relevant countries or regions; for the shares legally increased by ASE in SPIL from the Execution Date to the Share Exchange Record Date, ASE may dispose of them freely for financial purposes, provided that the shares subject to disposal shall be in aggregate less than 10% of the total issued and outstanding SPIL shares; ASE may transfer shares held in SPIL to designated persons who shall not in the integrated circuit packaging industry; if ASE transfers shares held in SPIL in the amount that is in aggregate more than 10% of the total issued and outstanding SPIL shares, ASE shall have firstly obtained SPIL’s consent or transfer the shares to SPIL’s designated persons.

 

8.1.2 Provided it is permissible by laws and regulations, ASE and HoldCo shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to assist in obtaining all approvals relating to the Transaction from competent authorities.

 

8.1.3 ASE and HoldCo shall comply with the Taiwan Fair Trade Act and all relevant laws to the extent they are applicable to the Transaction.

 

8.1.4 In its SEC Filings (as defined in Appendix 2 hereto), it will recommend ASE’s shareholders to vote in favor of this Agreement and the Share Exchange.

 

8.1.5 If an Antitrust Law Enforcement Authority of Relevant Country or Region puts forward or proposes during its review of the Transaction to impose any addition conditions and/or burdens on ASE, SPIL and/or HoldCo in its clearance/approval of the Transaction, ASE shall, without breaching the principles of SPIL’s independent operations set forth hereunder, act in good faith and goodwill.to jointly decide with SPIL on whether or not to accept such conditions and/or burdens, or consult with such Antitrust Law Enforcement Authority of Relevant Country or Region on such conditions and/or burdens.

 

8.1.6 ASE and HoldCo shall nominate and elect HoldCo’s directors and supervisors (future independent directors) pursuant to Article 9 hereof.

 

8.2 SPIL covenants to ASE that, from the Execution Date until the Share Exchange Record Date:

 

8.2.1 To the extent permissible under laws and regulations, SPIL shall use its reasonable efforts to assist in obtaining all approvals relating to the Transaction from competent authorities.

 

8.2.2 Based on the consensus and premises that the laws and regulations will not be violated and ASE and HoldCo will maintain SPIL’s independent operations pursuant to this Agreement, SPIL shall use its commercially reasonable efforts, to the extent that the law and regulations of relevant

 

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countries or regions are not violated, to provide assistance and support to ASE in filing explanations, information and/or notifications to competent authorities (including, but not limited to, filing on a several or joint basis of the relevant documentation to the Taiwan Fair Trade Commission or the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, and filing of the relevant documentation on a several basis to the United States Federal Trade Commission), in order for HoldCo and both Parties to receive approval or consent from all relevant competent authorities required to complete the Share Exchange as soon as possible.

 

8.2.3 SPIL shall comply with the Taiwan Fair Trade Act and all relevant laws to the extent they are applicable to the Transaction.

 

8.2.4 After ASE issues to SPIL, in connection with the payment of entire amount of Cash Consideration hereunder, the financing plan and a highly confident letter in respect of the financing of the Transaction issued by banks conforming to the market practice , SPIL shall in its SEC Filings (as defined in Appendix 2) recommend to SPIL’s shareholders to vote in favor of approving this Agreement and the Share Exchange.

 

8.2.5 Without the prior written consent of ASE, SPIL shall not nor procure SPIL Subsidiaries to:

 

(1) Issue any equity-linked securities (except for any share(s) newly issued as a result of the exercise of conversion rights by holders of SPIL Foreign Convertible Bonds).

 

(2) Except for the repurchase of shares from the shareholders exercising appraisal rights in connection with this Transaction in accordance with laws and regulations and Article 13 hereof or redemption of SPIL Foreign Convertible Bonds as contractually agreed, directly or indirectly repurchase, individually or through any third party, its issued and outstanding shares or equity-linked securities, decrease capital, resolve for dissolution, or file for restructuring, settlement or bankruptcy.

 

(3) Except subject to affirmative court judgments, arbitration awards or approvals, orders, administrative decisions or approved conditions/burdens or other requirements imposed by competent authorities (including, but not limited to, the Taiwan Stock Exchange, the Taiwan Fair Trade Commission, the United States Federal Trade Commission, the SEC, and the Antitrust Law Enforcement Authorities of Relevant Countries and Regions), none of SPIL or any of its directors, managers, employees, agents or representatives may offer, agree, enter into or sign with any third party any contract, agreement or other arrangements in respect of any following matter: (a) any transaction that may involve a spin-off, a purchase or a sale of shares of non-financial investment nature, or any other transaction of similar nature; (b) a lease of all businesses or an

 

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entrustment, a joint operation, or an assumption of the entire business or assets from others (except for an assumption of the entire business or assets from others in an aggregated transaction amount less than NT$500,000,000); or (c) any merger and acquisition without issuing HoldCo’s shares, any sale of all or material assets or businesses of 100% Subsidiaries, any disposal of interest in material assets or businesses of 100% Subsidiaries, or exclusive licensing of all or material patents or technologies of 100% Subsidiaries, provided, however, if SPIL receives a Superior Proposal from a third party the conditions of which, in the respective opinions of SPIL’s audit committee and board of directors, are more favorable than those of this Transaction, SPIL shall notify ASE in writing the entire content of such Superior Proposal, and from the fifth business day following the delivery of notice to ASE, negotiate with, propose to, inquire, deliberate with, contact, discuss, offer or consult with such third party. Both Parties agree that, if SPIL cannot complete the Share Exchange under this Agreement due to its acceptance of a Superior Proposal as set forth above, SPIL shall pay to ASE the amount of NT$17 billion as a termination fee for the Transaction.

 

8.2.6 If Antitrust Law Enforcement Authorities of Relevant Countries or Regions put forward or propose during their review of the Transaction to impose any conditions and/or burdens on ASE, SPIL and/or HoldCo in the clearance/approval of the Transaction, SPIL shall, without breaching the principles of SPIL’s independent operations set forth hereunder, act in good faith and goodwill to jointly decide with ASE on whether or not to accept such conditions and/or burdens, or consult with such Antitrust Law Enforcement Authority of Relevant Countries or Regions on such conditions and/or burdens.

 

8.3 Special Covenants Applicable Subsequent to the Share Exchange Record Date: ASE, HoldCo and SPIL shall accept, comply with and fulfill the conditions and burdens agreed by both Parties and imposed by Antitrust Law Enforcement Authorities of Relevant Countries.

 

9. Directors of the HoldCo

 

9.1 HoldCo’s promoters’ meeting shall elect nine to thirteen seats of non-independent directors and three seats of supervisors (future independent directors).

 

9.2 Two seats of the non-independent directors of HoldCo shall include SPIL’s chairman and president, respectively (and their successors (if any)). Both Parties will jointly determine in writing, with the utmost good faith and sincerity, the nominee for one independent director of HoldCo’s board when HoldCo appoints independent directors.

 

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10. Guarantee of the Benefits and Rights of SPIL’s Employees

 

10.1 HoldCo shall retain all SPIL Employees as of the Share Exchange Record Date. SPIL Employees to be retained after the completion of the Share Exchange will continue to enjoy the existing employee benefits, working conditions and personnel regulations as of the Execution Date. SPIL Employees’ rights to employment shall be duly protected, save for where a SPIL Employee commits a material breach of laws or the personnel regulations of SPIL or SPIL Subsidiaries due to matters that are attributable to him/her and must be handled by SPIL in accordance with the relevant personnel regulation. HoldCo shall reserve a portion of its employee stock options for SPIL’s employees when HoldCo issues new employee stock options. SPIL’s board of directors may reasonably adjust SPIL’s employee compensation and benefits by reference to ASE’s employee compensation and benefits.

 

10.2 HoldCo shall set forth the methods to issue its employee stock options and the portion to be reserved for SPIL Employees based on the number of employees and employee’s contribution, performance results and profitability of HoldCo’s future subsidiaries; and SPIL will determine, in accordance with its personnel regulations, the proportion of such HoldCo’s employee stock options to be distributed to SPIL’s management and its other employees.

 

10.3 ASE and HoldCo agree that SPIL’s management team may, based on its own discretion and within three months after the completion of the Share Exchange, implement reasonable and appropriate one-off plans to: (1) retain certain management team members of SPIL and/or (2) handle resignation requests from SPIL Employees who choose to terminate employment after the Share Exchange Record Date, provided that the SPIL management team does not violate its duty of loyalty or duty of care.

 

10.4 HoldCo and both Parties agree to waive the legal liability of each Party’s staff (including, but not limited to, directors, managers and employees) in connection with the Transaction that may be incurred prior to the Share Exchange Date, and each Party agrees to mutually exempt, forego, waive all of its recourses in law against the other Party’s staff as set forth above in connection with the Transaction that may be incurred prior to the Share Exchange Record Date. HoldCo and both Parties agree to waive the liability of any intermediary, its owner or employee arising from its engagement in the Transaction or provision of advisory and other services to the Parties; provided, however, this Article does not extend to the criminal liability, or legal liability arising from willful misconduct or gross negligence, of any of legal or natural persons as set forth above.

 

11. Independent Operation of SPIL

 

11.1 Before the completion of the Share Exchange, ASE and SPIL are companies independent from each other, operate independently and, through healthy competition, improve their individual operating efficiencies and economies of

 

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scale as well as research innovation achievements, thereby providing customers with more complete services and alleviate concerns of order transfers from customers due to concentration risk. As a result of such independent operation model, the competition restriction concerns or disadvantages to overall economic interests arising from the publicity and consummation of the Transaction can be avoided. Therefore, on the basis that SPIL’s independent operation and concurrence of competition and cooperation between both Parties shall be maintained, both Parties agree to file explanations on the arrangement of the Transaction to relevant Antitrust Law Enforcement Authorities of Relevant Countries or Regions, to enable them to approve the Transaction.

 

11.2 After the Share Exchange is completed, HoldCo will become a parent company holding one hundred percent SPIL shares and continue to maintain the independent operation of, and concurrence of competition and cooperation between, both Parties, and SPIL shall retain its legal entity name; provided that the relevant laws and regulations are not violated, and no duty of care or duty of royalty of SPIL’s directors to SPIL is breached, and without violating the interest of HoldCo, HoldCo agrees:

 

(1) All of SPIL’s operations shall be resolved by SPIL’s board of directors. SPIL’s board of directors shall have independent decision power on SPIL’s organizational documents, personnel, payroll or welfare systems, financial budgets, audit, technology research and development, operations and marketing and other matters so as to maintain SPIL’s independent operation;

 

(2) any matter regarding SPIL’s rights and obligations shall be completed by SPIL’s board of directors or under its authorization, and the operation of SPIL’s businesses shall also be conducted by SPIL’s board of directors or under its directions;

 

(3) Based on the principle of reciprocity, HoldCo will, as long as allowed by its capability, provide guarantees, fundings or supports sufficient to cause other financing parties to provide fundings (including, but not limited to, repayment guarantee documentation acceptable to other financing parties) whenever SPIL has funding needs (including, but not limited to, the needs for capital expenditure and working capital in its annual budget/annual plans) in order to meet the financing needs of SPIL; and

 

(4) HoldCo shall agree that SPIL retain the management team and employees of SPIL and maintain their current organizational structure, compensation and relevant benefits as of the Execution Date. During the existence of SPIL as a subsidiary of HoldCo, SPIL’s board of directors shall have full autonomy in deciding and nominating future candidates for directors and supervisors of SPIL (and HoldCo shall appoint such candidates thereupon) (who shall not be replaced or otherwise removed without consent of SPIL’s board of directors), and maintain the current compensation and

 

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relevant benefits of SPIL’s directors as of the Execution Date. In addition, HoldCo may in no way dispose of its shares in SPIL without SPIL’s consent (including, but not limited to, sale, pledge, or otherwise encumbrance), and SPIL’s board of directors may continue to operate independently and determine the organizational structure, compensation and relevant benefits of SPIL, in order to facilitate the maintenance of SPIL’s current and future independent business and operation model after the completion of the Share Exchange.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, upon resolution of each Party’s board of directors and general shareholders’ meeting (including HoldCo’s promoters’ meeting) approving this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement regarding SPIL’s independent operation are deemed to comply with the laws and regulations set forth in Article 11.2 hereof without violating the interest of HoldCo.

 

11.3 Based on the principle of reciprocity, SPIL will, as long as allowed by its capability, provide guarantees, fundings or supports sufficient to cause other financing parties to provide fundings (including, but not limited to, repayment guarantee documentation acceptable to other financing parties) whenever HoldCo has the funding needs (including, but not limited to, the needs for capital expenditure and working capital in the annual budget/annual plan) in order to meet the financing needs of HoldCo.

 

11.4 The major organizational structure of HoldCo and major subsidiaries operated by HoldCo after completion of the Share Exchange is shown in Appendix 4 hereto.

 

11.5 After the completion of the Share Exchange, none of 100% Subsidiaries (including, but not limited to, ASE and SPIL) or any of their directors, managers or agents may, before discussion and consensus reached with HoldCo, offer, agree to, reach or enter into any agreement with any third party that is not a Party regarding an Alternate Transaction. Upon instruction, if any, of a competent authority regarding restrictions on 100% Subsidiaries entering into Alternate Transactions, Article 11.5 hereof shall be subject to adjustment as per such instruction.

 

11.6 HoldCo and its subsidiaries (other than SPIL) shall not provide to ASE with customers and competition information obtained from SPIL, including, but not limited to, production and sales costs, product price/quantity, suppliers and other information, unless otherwise agreed by SPIL and in compliance with Antitrust Law.

 

11.7 Except as set forth herein, in managing SPIL or handling SPIL matters, SPIL directors and/or managers shall not violate their duty of loyalty or duty of care to SPIL, and shall protect SPIL without violating the interest of HoldCo.

 

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11.8 Where SPIL exercises its rights under Article 14.2, Article 14.3, Article 17.4 or other relevant provisions herein, it has the rights to initiate arbitration against HoldCo or its subsidiaries (other than SPIL) for dispute settlement.

 

12. Principles in Dealing with Treasury Shares and Equity-Linked Securities

 

12.1 ASE has repurchased treasury shares before the Share Exchange Record Date for the purpose of Share Exchange in cooperation with ASE’s issuance of US$200,000,000 unsecured foreign convertible bonds on July 2, 2015. However, the shares that have not been converted will continue to be owned by ASE and will be converted to the shares of HoldCo as of the Share Exchange Record Date in accordance with the Exchange Ratio for processing afterwards under the original purpose for repurchase of treasury shares or in accordance with relevant laws and regulations. The terms and conditions for conversion shall remain the same as original terms and conditions, except that the conversion price of the unsecured foreign convertible bonds shall be adjusted in accordance with Exchange Ratio.

 

12.2 For the outstanding balance of US$400,000,000 unsecured foreign convertible bonds issued by ASE on September 5, 2013, except where the bonds have been redeemed or repurchased and cancelled or converted by the holders by exercising their conversion rights before Share Exchange Record Date, the holders of such unsecured foreign convertible bonds may, after ASE obtains approval from all relevant competent authorities and after Share Exchange Record Date, convert such outstanding balance into newly issued HoldCo common shares. The conversion shall be subject to applicable laws and the indenture of such unsecured foreign convertible bonds and the Exchange Ratio. The conversion of the unsecured foreign convertible bonds into HoldCo common shares does not require separate approval from ASE’s board meeting or shareholders’ meeting or HoldCo’s shareholders’ meeting.

 

12.3 For the stock options issued by ASE upon the approval from relevant competent authorities before the execution of this Agreement, HoldCo will assume ASE’s obligations under the stock options as of the Share Exchange Record Date. Except that the exercise price and amount shall be adjusted in accordance with Exchange Ratio herein and that the shares subject to exercise shall be converted into HoldCo’s newly issued common shares, all other terms and conditions for issuance will remain the same. The final execution arrangements shall be made by HoldCo in compliance with relevant laws and regulations and subject to the approval of relevant competent authorities.

 

12.4 ASE shall cause HoldCo to warrant, and warrants severally and jointly with HoldCo, to SPIL that, if any SPIL Foreign Convertible Bonds have not been redeemed or repurchased and cancelled or converted by the bond holders thereof by exercising their conversion rights as of the Share Exchange Record Date, HoldCo will pay the Cash Consideration (subject to adjustments in accordance

 

23

with laws, regulations and/or applicable requirements under Article 4 hereof) to the bond holders thereof exercising their conversion rights after the Share Exchange Record Date. In addition, HoldCo and SPIL shall separately agree to execute a supplemental indenture with the trustee of SPIL Foreign Convertible Bonds whereby HoldCo and SPIL will become co-obligors in respect of the redemption of SPIL Foreign Convertible Bonds and HoldCo agrees to pay the Cash Consideration (subject to adjustment in accordance with laws, regulations and/or applicable requirements under Article 4 hereof) to the bond holders thereof exercising their conversion rights.

 

13. Appraisal Rights

 

13.1 If a shareholder of either Party exercises its appraisal rights in relation to the Share Exchange under laws, such Party shall repurchase the shares of such dissenting shareholder in accordance with the procedures under the laws or regulations. Shares repurchased pursuant to this Article shall be dealt with under relevant laws and regulations.

 

14. Events of Default

 

14.1 If a Party fails to perform or breaches any of its obligations, undertakings or representations and warranties under this Agreement (a default by either HoldCo or ASE hereunder shall be deemed to be a joint default by HoldCo and ASE to which HoldCo and ASE shall be jointly and severally liable), and if such failure or breach is by its nature remediable, and the non-defaulting Party requests the defaulting Party in writing to remedy such failure or breach within 15 days, the failure to remedy in such period of time after receiving such notice shall constitute an event of default under this Agreement, provided, however, except as otherwise specifically provided in Article 14.3 hereof, any of the representations and warranties made by either Party prior to the Share Exchange Record Date, even though there was failure to perform or breach of any of those representations and warranties, shall be regarded as invalidated as of the Share Exchange Record Date.

 

14.2 If an event of default occurs and such event of default leads to the failure to consummate the Transaction on or before the Long Stop Date, the non-defaulting Party is entitled to terminate or cancel this Agreement and claim from the defaulting Party necessary expenses incurred in entering into this Agreement and the performance of the Transaction hereunder. The foregoing shall be in addition to, not in lieu of, the rights, remedies and damages available under laws; provided that if the non-defaulting Party’s contributory negligence has contributed to the occurrence of such event of default, relevant costs shall be adjusted based on the proportion of contributory negligence, which may be determined by an expert appraiser appointed by both Parties without arbitration; the foregoing is also applicable, mutatis mutandis, to the offset between losses and gains, if any, of non-defaulting Party from such event of default.

 

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14.3 If a material event of default (“material event of default” refers to an event of breach under Article 8.1.1, Article 8.1.3, Article 8.1.5, Article 8.1.6, Article 8.2.2, Article 8.2.6, Article 8.3, Article 9, Article 10, Article 11, or the occurrence of a circumstance under Article 14.2) occurs, the non-defaulting Party shall not only be entitled to claim rights pursuant to the relevant provisions herein, but also entitled to claim liquidated damages of NT$8.5 billion from the defaulting Party. In case of a contributory negligence as set forth in the second sentence of Article 14.2, the liquidated damages shall be adjusted accordingly.

 

15. Termination of this Agreement

 

15.1 Prior to the Share Exchange Record Date, unless agreed by ASE and SPIL in writing, a Party can terminate this Agreement by written notice to the other Party in any of the following situations:

 

15.1.1 Laws, judgments or orders of courts or orders or administrative decisions are issued by relevant competent authorities restricting or prohibiting this Transaction, provided that such restriction or prohibition has been confirmed and cannot be remedied with the adjustment of the content of this Agreement, either Party may terminate this Agreement by a written notice to the other Party.

 

15.1.2 This Agreement and the Transaction are not approved by either Party’s shareholders at the applicable shareholder meeting convened for such purpose.

 

15.2 Prior to the Share Exchange Record Date, ASE or SPIL may terminate this Agreement as follows:

 

15.2.1 If SPIL fails to perform or breaches any of its obligations, undertakings or representations and warranties under this Agreement (1) which leads to the failure to satisfy the conditions set forth in Article 6.2, and (2) such breach is by its nature remediable and cannot be or is not remedied by SPIL within 30 business days after receiving from ASE a written notice on such breach or failure to perform, and (3) which is not waived in writing by ASE, ASE may terminate this Agreement in writing.

 

15.2.2 If ASE fails to perform or breaches any of its obligations, undertakings or representations and warranties under this Agreement (1) which leads to the failure to satisfy the conditions set forth in Article 6.3, and (2) such breach is by its nature remediable and cannot be or is not remedied by ASE within 30 business days after receiving from SPIL a written notice on such breach or failure to perform, and (3) which is not waived in writing by SPIL, SPIL may terminate this Agreement in writing.

 

15.3 If the Transaction is not consummated on or before the Long Stop Date, this Agreement shall be terminated automatically at 0:00am on the day immediately following the Long Stop Date.

 

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15.4 After this Agreement is terminated or ceases to exist for any reason, except as otherwise provided by laws and regulations, either Party is entitled to request the other Party to return, within 7 business days after the termination of this Agreement, the documents, data, records, items, plans, trade secrets and any other tangible information that the other Party obtains pursuant to this Agreement. The Parties may retain the copies of such documents and information to the extent necessary to comply with relevant laws and regulations.

 

15.5 Unless terminated under Article 15.2.1, after this Agreement is terminated or ceases to exist for any reason, Article 8.1.1 and Article 8.2.5(3) hereof shall continue and remain the same effect within 6 months after the termination of this Agreement or its cessation to exist for any reason. ASE shall maintain its position as a financial investor without intervening SPIL’s independent operation within this six-month period. The Parties shall enter into future cooperation plans by good faith negotiations within this six-month period.

 

16. Taxation and Expenses

 

16.1 Unless as otherwise agreed in this Agreement, any taxes and expenses incurred in relation to the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement (including, but not limited to, legal fees, accounting fees and other consultant fees and any taxes or other relevant fees that shall be paid by HoldCo, either Party or its shareholders in accordance with applicable law) shall be borne by HoldCo, ASE, SPIL and/or their shareholders, respectively.

 

17. Other Agreements

 

17.1 After the Transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of ASE and SPIL, and relevant information has been made public, in case that ASE and SPIL agree to enter into statutory share exchange with a party other than the Parties, which will result in additional parties participating in the Transaction, the previously completed procedures or legal actions in connection with the Transaction shall be re-conducted by all then-participating parties.

 

17.2 The interpretations, effectiveness and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by ROC law. Any matter not covered herein shall be addressed in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations.

 

17.3 If any provision of this Agreement violates relevant laws and regulations and thereby becomes invalid, the part which is in violation of such laws and regulations shall be invalid while other provisions of this Agreement shall remain valid. If an amendment to any provision of this Agreement is required according to an approval of competent authorities, due to change of law or regulation or as required by a fact, such amendment shall be made jointly upon approval of competent authorities and resolutions of the boards of directors of HoldCo and/or both Parties, and consent of each Party’s general shareholders’ meeting shall not be required.

 

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17.4 Disputes arising from this Agreement between ASE (and/or HoldCo) and SPIL shall be resolved by friendly negotiation as a first instance. In case that no agreement can be reached within 30 days after either Party requests in writing for negotiation, ASE (and/or HoldCo) and SPIL shall submit relevant disputes to the Chinese Arbitration Association in Taipei for arbitration in accordance with the Arbitration Law of the ROC. There shall be 3 arbitrators, one of whom shall be appointed by each of ASE (and/or HoldCo) and SPIL, and the presiding arbitrator shall be elected by the said 2 arbitrators. The arbitration shall be conducted in Chinese.

 

17.5 Except otherwise specifically agreed by both Parties in writing, ASE and SPIL agree that any oral or written discussions, agreements, contracts or undertakings entered into in relation to the Transaction (i.e. the Share Exchange) before this Agreement was executed shall be replaced by this Agreement and thereby be rendered invalid. In the event of any inconsistency in interpretation of meaning between the prior express agreement in writing and this Agreement, this Agreement shall prevail.

 

17.6 Amendments or alterations of this Agreement shall be made upon mutual written consent of both ASE (and HoldCo, if it has been established) and SPIL.

 

17.7 Either Party shall not transfer all or part of the rights under this Agreement to any third party or have any third party to assume all or part of the obligations under this Agreement without prior written consent of the other Party. As of the Execution Date, HoldCo has not yet been established; however, except to the extent applicable under law, as from the date that HoldCo’s promoters meeting passes a resolution approving this Agreement, this Agreement will become effective upon HoldCo pending future establishment. ASE and HoldCo shall be jointly and severally liable to SPIL for all of HoldCo’s obligations and duties to SPIL as agreed herein.

 

17.8 Before the Share Exchange Record Date, if either Party or HoldCo fails or delays its performance of the obligations under this Agreement due to a Force Majeure Event, it shall not be liable to the other Party. Upon occurrence of a Force Majeure Event, either Party shall notify the other Party within 5 days after it becomes aware of such events. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither Party shall be exempted from continuing to perform its obligation under this Agreement as soon as possible when the Force Majeure Event shall have thereafter ceased.

 

17.9 Unless otherwise disclosed under relevant laws or regulations, this Agreement, orders or requirements of courts, competent authorities or stock exchanges or as necessary for the exercise, preservation or performance of the relevant rights and obligations by the Parties under this Agreement, the Parties and HoldCo agree to strictly keep the documents, data, records, items, plans, trade secrets, and other tangible and intangible information, which are of confidential nature and communicated or obtained from the other Party prior to the Share Exchange Record Date for the purposes of this Transaction, as confidential. The confidential

 

27

obligations under this Article 17.9 shall survive the subsequent rescission, cancellation, termination or non-existence, for any reason, of this Agreement, except for any such information (1) which is generally known to the public due to reasons other than violation of this Agreement; (2) whose disclosure is required in order to avoid a violation of relevant laws and regulations; or (3) has been obtained by a Party from a third party who is legally entitled to obtain and disclose such information at the time when it obtains such document or information from the other Party.

 

17.10 Any notification in relation to this Agreement shall be delivered to the following address by registered letter or delivery in person. The notification shall become effective upon delivered to the following address. In case that the notification cannot be delivered, it shall be regarded as having been delivered when it is mailed at the first time.

 

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.
Attention: Jason C.S. Chang, Chairman
Address: Room 1901, Floor 19, No. 333, Section 1, Keelung Road, Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan

Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd.
Attention: Bough Lin, Chairman
Address: No. 123, Sec. 3, Da Fong Rd., Tantzu, Taichung , Taiwan

 

17.11 All of the appendices hereto constitute an integral part of this Agreement with the same effect.

 

17.12 This Agreement shall become effective after it is signed and delivered by both ASE and SPIL.

 

17.13 This Agreement is made in duplicate originals, one to be retained by each Party.

 

[Remainder of This Page Intentionally Left Blank, Signature Page Follows]

 

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Parties

 

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.   Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd.
     
     
Representative: Jason C.S. Chang   Representative: Bough Lin

 

 

 

Appendix 1

 

ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

Articles of Incorporation

Chapter One: General Principals

 

Article 1. The Company is called 日月光投資控股股份有限公司 , and is registered as a company limited by shares according to the ROC Company Act. The English name of the Company is ASE Industrial Holdings Co., Ltd.
Article 2. The Company is engaged in the following businesses: H201010 General Investment Business
Article 3. The investment made by the Company in other companies as a limited liability shareholder thereof is not subject to the limitation that such investment shall not exceed a certain percentage of the paid-in capital as set forth in the ROC Company Act.
Article 4. The Company may provide external guaranty.
Article 5. The Company’s headquarter is located in the Nantze Export Processing Zone, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, R.O.C. and may set up domestic or foreign branches, offices or business establishments as resolved by the Board of Directors, if necessary.
  Chapter Two: Shares
Article 6. The Company’s total capital is NT$50 billion divided into 5 billion shares with a par value of NT$10 per share. Stock options worth of NT$4 billion are set aside for employee subscription. The Board of Directors is authorized to issue the unissued shares in installments if deemed necessary for business purposes.
Article 7. The share certificates shall be in registered form and have the signatures or seals of at least three directors of the Company and shall be legally authenticated before issuance. In accordance with the provisions set forth in Article 162-2 of the ROC Company Act, the Company may choose to not provide share certificates in print form.
Article 8. No registration of share transfer shall be made within sixty days before each ordinary general shareholders’ meeting, or within thirty days before each extraordinary general shareholders’ meeting or five days before the record date for dividends, bonuses or other distributions as determined by the Company.

 

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Article 9. The rules governing stock affairs of the Company shall be made pursuant to the laws and the regulations of the relevant authorities.
  Chapter Three: General Shareholders’ Meeting
Article 10. General shareholders’ meetings include ordinary meetings and extraordinary meetings. Ordinary meetings shall be convened according to law by the Board of Directors once annually according to the law within 6 months after the end of each fiscal year. Extraordinary meetings will be held according to the law whenever necessary.
Article 11. General shareholders’ meetings shall be convened by written notice stating the date, place and purpose dispatched to each shareholder at least 30 days, in the case of ordinary meetings, and 15 days, in the case of extraordinary meetings, prior to the date set for such meeting.
Article 12. Unless otherwise required by the ROC Company Act, shareholders’ resolutions shall be adopted by at least half of the votes of the shareholders present at a general shareholders’ meeting who hold at least half of all issued and outstanding shares of the Company.
Article 13. Each shareholder of the Company shall have one vote per share, unless otherwise provided by Article 179 of the ROC Company Act.
Article 14. Any shareholder, who for any reason is unable to attend general shareholders’ meetings, may execute a proxy printed by the Company, in which the authorized matters shall be expressly stated, to authorize a proxy to attend the meeting for him/her. Such proxy shall be submitted to the Company at least 5 days prior to the general shareholders’ meeting.
Article 15. The general shareholders’ meeting shall be convened by the Board of Directors unless otherwise stipulated in the ROC Company Act, and the person presiding over the meeting will be the Chairman of the Board of Directors (the “Chairman”). If the Chairman is on leave or for any reason cannot discharge his duty, Paragraph 3 of Article 208 of the ROC Company Act should apply. If the general shareholders’ meeting is convened by a person entitled to do so other than a member of the Board of Directors, that person shall act as the person presiding over the meeting . If two or more persons are entitled to call the general shareholders’ meeting, those persons shall elect one to act as the person presiding over the meeting.
  Chapter Four: Director and Supervisor
Article 16. The Company shall have nine to thirteen directors and also three supervisors to be elected by the general shareholders’ meeting from

 

2

  candidates with legal capacity.  Each director or supervisor shall hold office for a term of three years, and may continue to serve in the office if re-elected.
  The election of the directors and supervisors of the Company shall be conducted pursuant to Article 198 of the ROC Company Act and relevant regulations.
Article 16-1. Since the second Board of Directors term, the Company shall have thirteen directors, of which there shall be three independent directors and ten non-independent directors, to be elected by the general shareholders’ meeting from candidates with legal capacity.  Each director shall hold office for a term of three years, and may continue to serve in the office if re-elected.
  The election of the directors and supervisors of the Company shall be conducted pursuant to Article 198 of the ROC Company Act and relevant regulations.
  When handling the aforementioned election of directors, the election of independent directors and non-independent directors should be held together, provided, however, that the number of independent directors and non-independent directors elected shall be calculated separately; those that receive votes representing more voting rights will be elected as independent directors or non-independent directors.
  Upon the expiry of the term of office of the first supervisors of the Company elected, the provisions regarding supervisors under these Articles of Incorporation of the Company shall cease to apply. The Company shall then establish an audit committee in lieu of supervisors in accordance with Article 14-4 of the ROC Securities and Exchange Act to exercise the powers and duties of supervisors stipulated in the ROC Company Act, the ROC Securities and Exchange Act, and other applicable laws and regulations. The audit committee shall comprise solely of the independent directors. The responsibilities, powers and other related matters of the audit committee shall be separately stipulated in rules adopted by the Board of Directors in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
  The election of the Company’s independent directors uses the candidate nomination system. Shareholders who hold 1% or more of the Company’s issued shares and the Board of Directors may nominate a list of candidates for independent directors. After the Board of Directors examines and confirms the qualifications of the candidate(s) for serving as an independent director, the name(s) is/are sent to the general shareholders’ meeting for election. If the general shareholders’ meeting is convened by a person entitled to do so other

 

3

  than a member of the Board of Directors, after such person examines and confirms the qualifications of the candidate(s) for serving as an independent director, the name(s) is/are sent to the general shareholders’ meeting for election. All matters regarding the acceptance method and announcement of the nomination of candidates for independent directors will be handled according to the ROC Company Act, the ROC Securities and Exchange Act, and other relevant laws and regulations.
Article 16-2. The remuneration of the Company’s independent directors is set at NT$3 million per person annually. For those that do not serve a full year, the remuneration will be calculated in proportion to the number of days of the term that were actually served. The additional remuneration of the Company’s independent directors who are also the members of the Company’s Compensation Committee is set at NT$ 360,000 per person annually. For those that do not serve a full year, the additional remuneration will be calculated in proportion to the number of days of the term that were actually served.
Article 17. The Board of Directors is constituted by directors. Their powers and duties are as follows:
  (1). Preparing business plans;
  (2). Preparing surplus distribution or loss make-up proposals;
  (3). Preparing proposals to increase or decrease capital;
  (4). Reviewing material internal rules and contracts;
  (5). Hiring and discharging the general manager;
  (6). Establishing and dissolving branch offices;
  (7). Reviewing budgets and audited financial statements; and
  (8). Other duties and powers granted by or in accordance with the ROC Company Act or shareholders’ resolutions.
Article 18. The Board of Directors is constituted by directors, and the Chairman and Vice Chairman are elected by more than half of the directors at a board meeting at which two-thirds or more of the directors are present. If the Chairman is on leave or for any reason cannot discharge his duties, his/her acting proxy shall be elected in accordance with Article 208 of the ROC Company Act.

 

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Article 19. Board of Directors meetings shall be convened according to the law by the Chairman according to the law, unless otherwise stipulated by the ROC Company Act. Board of Directors meetings can be held at the place that the Company is headquartered, or at any place that is convenient for the directors to attend and appropriate for the meeting to be convened, or via video conference.
Article 19-1. Directors and supervisors shall be notified of Board of Director meetings no later than seven days prior to the meetings. However, in case of any emergency, a Board of Directors meeting may be convened at any time.
  Notifications of Board of Directors meetings may be in writing or via email or fax.
Article 20. A director may execute a proxy to appoint another director to attend the Board of Directors meeting and to exercise his/her voting right, but a director can accept only one proxy.
  Chapter Five: Manager
Article 21. This company has one general manager. The appointment, discharge and salary of the general manager shall be managed in accordance with Article 29 of ROC Company Act.
  Chapter Six: Accounting
Article 22. The fiscal year of the Company starts from January 1 and ends on December 31 every year. At the end of each fiscal year, the Board of Directors shall prepare financial and accounting books in accordance with the ROC Company Act and submit them according to law to the ordinary general shareholders’ meeting for approval.
Article 23. If the Company is profitable, 0.1% (inclusive) to 1% (inclusive) of the profits shall be allocated as compensation to employees and 0.75% (inclusive) or less of the profits should be allocated as compensation to directors. While the Company has accumulated losses, the profit shall be set aside to compensate losses before distribution.
  The compensation being distributed to employees in the form of stock or cash shall be approved by more than half of the directors at a board meeting at which two-thirds or more of the directors are present and report to the general shareholders’ meeting.
  “Employees” referred to in paragraph 1 above includes employees of subsidiaries who meet certain qualifications. Such qualifications are to be determined by the Board of Directors.

 

5

Article 24. The annual net income (“Income”) shall be distributed in the order of Article 24.   
  sequences below:
  (1) Making up for losses, if any.
  (2) 10% being set aside as legal reserve.
  (3) Allocation or reversal of a special surplus reserve in accordance with laws or regulations set forth by the authorities concerned.
  (4) Addition or deduction of the portion of retained earnings that are equity investment gains or losses that have been realized and measured at fair value through other overall gains or losses.
  The remainder plus the undistributed earnings shall be distributed in accordance with the proposal submitted by the Board of Directors and adopted by the general shareholders’ meeting.
  Chapter Seven: Appendix
Article 26. The bylaws and rules of procedure of the Company shall be stipulated separately.
Article 27. Any matter not covered by these Articles of Incorporation shall be subject to the ROC Company Act.
Article 28. These Articles of Incorporation were made on [   ], 2016 as approved by all the promoters.

 

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Appendix 2

 

1. Proxy Statements. After the date for general shareholders’ meetings of both Parties has been jointly agreed upon by both Parties in good faith and goodwill in accordance with Article 5.1 of this Agreement, ASE and SPIL shall each prepare a proxy statement relating to their respective authorization and approval of this Agreement and the Transaction by their respective general shareholders’ meeting, including their respective notice convening an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting (each, the “ ASE Proxy Statement ” (in case of ASE) and the “ SPIL Proxy Statement ” (in case of SPIL), and collectively, the “ Proxy Statements ”).

 

2. Registration Statement. ASE shall prepare the relevant documents, and file with SEC a registration statement on Form F-4 with respect to the HoldCo common shares (the “Registration Statement”) and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act of 1933 as promptly as practicable after the Execution Date and to maintain the Registration Statement effective for so long as is necessary to consummate the Transaction.

 

3. Schedule 13E-3. Concurrently with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement and the preparation of the Proxy Statements, SPIL and ASE shall each prepare and file with SEC a Rule 13E-3 Transaction Statement under Section 13(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “ Exchange Act ”) with respect to the Transaction. ASE and SPIL shall cooperate and communicate with each other in preparation of the their respective “Schedules 13E-3” filing (each a “Schedule 13E-3”, and collectively, the “ Schedule 13E-3 Filings ”), including, without limitation, furnishing to each other the information required by the Exchange Act to be set forth in a Schedule 13E-3 (the Schedules 13E-3 and the Registration Statement collectively, the “ SEC Filings ”).

 

4. SEC Comments. ASE and SPIL shall respond as promptly as practicable and reasonable to any comments made by the SEC with respect to the SEC Filings and will provide each other with copies of all correspondence with respect to the SEC Filings as promptly as practicable and reasonable. Both SPIL and ASE agree to not to file or mail any SEC Filings, including any amendment or supplement thereto or any response to SEC’s comments, unless each Party has had a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on such SEC Filings and such comments have been reasonably incorporated into such SEC Filings. After the SEC confirms that it has no further comments to the SEC Filings, ASE and SPIL shall mail as promptly as practicable and reasonable the applicable SEC Filings and Proxy Statements, if necessary, to their respective ADR shareholders and thereafter promptly circulate amended, supplemental or supplemented proxy material.

 

5. Information Supplied. SPIL and ASE shall each promptly furnish all information as may be reasonably requested in connection with the preparation, filing and

 

7

mailing of SEC Filings or the Proxy Statements or any other documents filed or to be filed with SEC in connection with the Transaction.

 

6. ASE’s and SPIL’s Extraordinary General Shareholders’ Meetings. From the working day immediately following the date on which SEC confirms that it has no further comments on the SEC Filings, (i) ASE shall (x) cause its board of directors pass a resolution to call an extraordinary general shareholders’ meeting (the “ ASE Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting ”) and set a record date and a date of meeting (the date of meeting must be in accordance with Article 5.1 thereof and within 70 calendar days after the next day after SEC confirms that it has no further comments on the SEC Filings) as promptly as practicable after the date on which the ASE Proxy Statement is mailed to the ASE shareholders for the purpose of obtaining shareholder approval of the Transaction, and circulate, in accordance with law, the notice and procedure manual of ASE Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting after ASE Proxy Statement is mailed to ASE’s shareholders and (y) mail or cause to be mailed notice of the ASE Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting and form of proxy accompanying the ASE Proxy Statement that will be provided to the ASE shareholders in connection with the solicitation of proxies for use at the ASE Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting and (ii) SPIL shall (x) cause its board of directors pass a resolution to call an extraordinary general shareholders’ meeting (the “ SPIL Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting ”) and set a record date and a date of meeting (the date of meeting must be in accordance with Article 5.1 thereof and within 70 calendar days after the next day when SEC confirms after it has no further comments on the SEC Filings) as promptly as practicable after the date on which the SPIL Proxy Statement is mailed to the SPIL’s shareholders for the purpose of obtaining shareholder approval of the Transaction, and circulate, in accordance with law, the notice and procedure manual of SPIL Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting after SPIL Proxy Statement is mailed to SPIL’s shareholders and (y) mail or cause to be mailed notice of the SPIL Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting and form of proxy accompanying the SPIL Proxy Statement that will be provided to the SPIL shareholders in connection with the solicitation of proxies for use at the SPIL Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting. ASE Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting and SPIL Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting shall be held on the same date to approve this Agreement and the Transaction in a share exchange resolution based on the terms of this Agreement in accordance with the Republic of China Enterprise Mergers and Acquisitions Act.

 

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Appendix 3

 

SPIL Disclosure Letter

 

As of June 29, 2016, no events listed in Article 7.3 hereof causing any SPIL Material Adverse Effect Event which shall be disclosed occurred, provided that the Parties agree that SPIL may update this Appendix 3 to this Agreement (i.e. the SPIL Disclosure Letter), to disclose the necessary events that occur from the Execution Date until the Share Exchange Record Date.

 

Appendix 4

 

ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

 

 

 

 

Annex B-1

 

Independent Expert Opinion
on the Fairness of the Consideration for Joint Share Exchange in the Joint Share Exchange Memorandum of Understanding between Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. and Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd.

 

I. Introduction

 

Both Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Inc. (“ ASE ”) and Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd. (“ SPIL ”) are the world’s leading companies in semiconductor packaging and testing sector. ASE and SPIL intend to enter into the Joint Share Exchange Memorandum of Understanding (“ MOU ”) to newly establish an investment holding company (“ HoldCo ”) by joint share exchange whereby both ASE and SPIL will become wholly-owned subsidiaries of HoldCo, in order to pursue their operating scale and improve their overall operating performance while taking into account of the flexibility and efficiency of their individual independent operations (“ Share Exchange ”). The Share Exchange will result in the exchange of all of ASE common shares in consideration for newly issued common shares of HoldCo, at an exchange ratio of each ASE common share for 0.5 HoldCo common share. Furthermore, the Share Exchange will result in the exchange of each of SPIL’s issued and outstanding shares for NT$55 in cash payable by HoldCo. The fairness of the consideration for Share Exchange under MOU is described and evaluated as below.

 

II. Financial Position

 

Financial position of ASE and SPIL for the last two years and the first quarter of 2016 are summarized as below:

 

(1) ASE

 

    Year
Item   2014   2015   First quarter of 2016
    NT$(in thousands)
Total assets     333,984,767       365,287,557       356,490,231  
Total liabilities     175,546,763       196,867,675       187,752,829  
Total equity attributable to owners of parent     150,218,907       156,916,004       158,016,614  
Share capital     78,715,179       79,185,660       79,279,129  
Operating income     256,591,447       283,302,536       62,371,082  
Net profit - attributable to owners     23,636,522       19,478,873       4,163,477  

Sources: Audited financial statements of ASE for the years of 2014 and 2015 and reviewed financial statements for the first quarter of 2016.

 

(2) SPIL

 

    Year
Item  

2014

 

2015

 

First quarter of 2016

    NT$(in thousands)
Total assets     129,756,075       123,245,230       122,855,285  
Total liabilities     57,649,456       52,644,588       50,446,781  
Total equity attributable to owners of parent     72,106,619       70,600,642       72,408,504  
Share capital     31,163,611       31,163,611       31,163,611  
Operating income     83,071,441       82,839,922       19,299,310  
Net profit - attributable to owners of parent     11,744,414       8,762,257       1,604,028  

Sources: Audited financial statements of SPIL for the years of 2014 and 2015 and reviewed financial statements for the first quarter of 2016.

 

III. Sources of Information

 

(1) Audited financial statements of ASE and SPIL for the years of 2014 and 2015 and reviewed financial statements for the first quarter of 2016.

 

(2) Business overviews, financial statements and other important information for evaluation purposes regarding ASE, SPIL and their peers obtained from Market Observation Post System.

 

(3) Information from website of the Taiwan Stock Exchange, website of the Taipei Exchange (GreTai Securities Market), Taiwan Economic Journal (TEJ) Database and Bloomberg’s complied comparison, analysis and historical stock price data of ASE, SPIL and their peers.

 

(4) Information on the industry and peers of ASE and SPIL.

 

IV. Consideration for Share Exchange and Fairness thereof

 

The consideration for Share Exchange will be at an exchange ratio of each ASE common share for 0.5 HoldCo common share and each of SPIL’s issued and outstanding shares for NT$55 in cash payable by HoldCo. After the completion of the Share Exchange, both ASE and SPIL will become wholly-owned subsidiaries of HoldCo. The fairness of consideration for Share Exchange in respect of each of ASE and SPIL is described and evaluated as below:

 

(A) ASE

 

1. ASE shareholders will contribute all the common shares held by them in ASE as of the share exchange record date in consideration of issue of their subscribed common shares required for the establishment of HoldCo. Following consummation of the Share Exchange, ASE will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of HoldCo, and previous ASE shareholders will become HoldCo shareholders. As such, similar to SPIL’s cash consideration of NT$55, ASE will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of HoldCo by exchange of the shares of one single company; theoretically, the rights of previous ASE shareholders will not be affected by the exact Share Exchange ratio.

 

2. According to ASE’s reviewed consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2016, its equity attributable to owners of parent amounted to NT$158,016,614,000; based on the latest update from the Commerce and Industry Registration Enquiry System of Department of Commerce, Ministry of Economic Affairs, ASE had a total of 7,918,272,896 issued and outstanding common shares as of April 26, 2016. Therefore, its net book value per common share was NT$19.956. Each ASE common share will be exchanged for 0.5 HoldCo common share resulting in 3,959,136,448 HoldCo common shares as of the share exchange record date. In addition, the net book value per common share as calculated based on ASE’s equity attributable to owners of parent to be assumed by HoldCo will be increased in the ratio of 1:0.5. Based on ASE’s equity attributable to owners of parent as of March 31, 2016, HoldCo’s net book value per common share would be NT$39.912 per share. For HoldCo common shareholders after the Share Exchange, the shareholders’ equity will not be impaired in any way by the Share Exchange ratio.

 

3. Net value of ASE’s equity attributable to owners of parent as of the share exchange record date may vary from that as of March 31, 2016. However, ASE shareholders will contribute all the common shares held by them in ASE as of the share exchange record date in consideration of and exchange for the common shares required for the establishment of HoldCo. As such, for HoldCo common shareholders after the Share Exchange, the shareholders’ equity will not be affected as a result of the Share Exchange.

 

In summary, it shall be fair and reasonable for all of ASE’s issued and outstanding shares to be exchanged for and in consideration of newly issued common shares of HoldCo at an exchange ratio of each ASE common share for 0.5 HoldCo common share resulting in ASE to become a wholly-owned subsidiary of HoldCo.

 

(B) SPIL

 

1. Methodologies Used

 

There are many methods for evaluating stock value. In practice, common methods include: market approach, such as market price approach (focusing on listed target companies; the fair value can be estimated by market price on the stock exchange) and market comparison approach (based on financial

 

information of target companies and their peers in the market, using market multiplier such as price-earnings ratio, price-book ratio for analysis and evaluation); income approach; and cost approach.

 

Among these methods, income approach requires the Company’s estimates of future cash flow, involving multiple assumptions and having a higher uncertainty. Given its less objective nature compared to other methods, this method is not used. Cost approach examines and weighs SPIL’s business model and capital structure. Therefore, it is not appropriate for valuation and also not used. As such, we intend to use the market approach as primary evaluation method while taking into account of other non-quantitative factors, to evaluate the reasonable consideration of the Share Exchange for SPIL.

 

2. Selection of Peers

 

Based on customer attributes, business activities and business model, ChipMOS Technologies (Bermuda) Ltd. (“ ChipMOS ”), Chipbond Technology Corporation (“ Chipbond ”) and Powertech Technology Inc. (“ Powertech ”) are selected as peers. The following table lists the financial conditions of these 3 peers for the first quarter of 2016:

 

    Peers
Items   ChipMOS (8150)   Chipbond (6147)   Powertech (6239)
    NT$(in thousands)
Total assets     32,404,046       36,230,116       70,446,410  
Total liabilities     13,385,676       11,852,343       27,389,980  
Total equity attributable to owners of parent     19,018,370       23,575,971       34,653,945  
Share capital     8,957,836       6,492,620       7,791,466  
Net value per share- attributable to owners of parent (NT$) (Note 1)     21.20       36.31       44.48  
Operating income     4,724,139       3,733,921       10,618,124  
Net profit - attributable to owners of parent     348,423       201,453       940,031  
Earnings per share - attributable to owners of parent (NT$) (Note 2)     2.09       2.64       5.37  

Source: Audited or reviewed consolidated financial statements of three peers for the first quarter of 2016

 

Note 1: Net value per share is calculated based on the number of common shares of the respective peer obtained from the Commerce and Industry Registration Enquiry System of Department of Commerce, Ministry of Economic Affairs.

 

Note 2: Earnings per share are estimated for the four quarters ended the first quarter of 2016 based on the net profit attributable to owners of parent in the respective peer’s consolidated financial statements for the year 2015 and the first quarter of 2016, number of common shares obtained from the Commerce and Industry Registration Enquiry System of Department of Commerce, Ministry of Economic Affairs and other financial data.

 

3. Valuation

 

(1) Market Price Approach

 

As SPIL is a listed company with its open market trading prices available for objective reference, this opinion sampled its recent publicly traded prices to evaluate the average closing prices for 60, 90 and 180 business days up to and including the valuation date of May 25, 2016 as follows:

 

Item

Average closing price

Theoretical price range

  NT$
Latest 60 business days 49.18 47.13 ~ 50.04
Latest 90 business days 50.04
Latest 180 business days 47.13
Note: Sources of ex-rights/ex-dividend adjusted closing prices are from compilations of Taiwan Economic Journal (8/28/2015~5/25/2016); all average prices are calculated by simple arithmetic averaging of ex-rights/ex-dividend adjusted closing prices.

 

(2) Price-book Ratio Approach

 

The reasonable value per share of SPIL is estimated by calculating the net book value per share based on the financial information of SPIL and sampling the average price-book ratios of publicly traded peers - ChipMOS, Chipbond and Powertech for comparison purposes. The price-book ratios of publicly traded peers are calculated using their closing prices for 180 business days up to and including the valuation date of May 25, 2016 for sampling purposes and based on the total equity attributable to owners of parent in the respective peer’s consolidated financial statements for the first quarter of 2016, the number of common shares for respective peer obtained from the Commerce and Industry Registration Enquiry System of Department of Commerce, Ministry of Economic Affairs and other financial data. The reasonable reference price of SPIL is imputed as follows:

 

Comparable peers   Average closing price for latest 180 business days   Net value per share for the first quarter of 2016   Price-book ratio
    NT$
ChipMOS     32.53       21.20       1.53  
Chipbond     47.86       36.31       1.32  
Powertech     66.98       44.48       1.51  

Note: Sources of ex-rights/ex-dividend adjusted closing prices are from compilations of Taiwan Economic Journal (8/28/2015~5/25/2016); all average prices are calculated by simple arithmetic averaging of ex-rights/ex-dividend adjusted closing prices.

 

Item

Description

  NT$
Range of multipliers 1.32 ~ 1.53
Net value per share of SPIL for the first quarter of 2016 23.23
Theoretical price range 30.66 ~ 35.54

 

(3) Price-earnings Ratio Approach

 

The reasonable value per share of SPIL is estimated by calculating the earnings per share based on the financial information of SPIL and sampling the average price-book ratios of publicly traded peers - ChipMOS, Chipbond and Powertech for comparison purposes. Earnings per share for the four quarters ended the first quarter of 2016 are estimated, and thereby the average price-earnings ratios of publicly traded peers are calculated, using their closing prices for 180 business days up to and including the valuation date of May 25, 2016 for sampling purposes and based on the net profits attributable to owners of parent in the respective peer’s consolidated financial statements for 2015 and the first quarter of 2016, the number of common shares for respective peer obtained from the Commerce and Industry Registration Enquiry System of Department of Commerce, Ministry of Economic Affairs and other financial data. The reasonable reference price of SPIL is imputed as follows:

 

Comparable peers   Average closing price for latest 180 business days   Earnings per share in last four quarters   Price-earnings ratio
    NT$
ChipMOS     32.53       2.09       15.56  
Chipbond     47.86       2.64       18.13  
Powertech     66.98       5.37       12.47  
Note: Sources of ex-rights/ex-dividend adjusted closing prices are from compilations of Taiwan Economic Journal (8/28/2015~5/25/2016); all average prices are calculated by simple arithmetic averaging of ex-rights/ex-dividend adjusted closing prices.

 

Item

Description

  NT$
Range of multipliers 12.47 ~ 18.13
Consolidated earnings per share of SPIL 2.49

 

Item

Description

  NT$
Theoretical price range 31.05 ~ 45.14

 

(4) Conclusion

 

Calculation results of value of common shares under the foregoing evaluation methods are summarized as below. The above three methods have their theoretical and practical basis. Therefore, for avoidance of biases in the evaluation process, the imputation used 33.3% for purposes of weighted averaging by taking into account of other non-quantitative key factors with reference to the statistics of Bloomberg and the average premium rate of 33.24% of the global merger and acquisition cases in semiconductor industry since the third quarter of 2015. On these basis, the reasonable price range per share of SPIL shall be from NT$48.34 to NT$58.05. As such, we are of opinion that it shall be fair and reasonable for each SPIL common share in exchange of NT$55 in cash.

 

Evaluation method

Reference price range per share

Weight

Theoretical price range per share

Reference price range after adjustment

  NT$
Market Price Approach 47.13~50.04 33.3% 36.28~43.57 48.34~58.05
Price-book Ratio Approach 30.66~35.54 33.3%
Price-earnings Ratio Approach 31.05~45.14 33.3%

 

V. Conclusion

 

In summary, ASE and SPIL are proposed to become wholly-owned subsidiaries of HoldCo by the joint share exchange. In relation to the Share Exchange, I, as the accountant, am of the opinion that it shall be fair and reasonable for each ASE common share in exchange for 0.5 HoldCo common share and each SPIL common share in exchange of NT$55 in cash.

 

 
By: /s/ Ji-Sheng Chiu
  Name: Ji-Sheng Chiu
  Title: Certified Public Account

 

May 25, 2016

 

Statement of Independence

 

I am engaged to provide opinion of evaluation on the fairness of the joint share exchange, through which ASE and SPIL are proposed to become wholly-owned subsidiaries of HoldCo.

 

In order to perform the above task, I hereby state that:

 

1. Neither I nor my spouse is currently employed by ASE, SPIL or the underwriter to undertake any work on regular basis and be compensated at a fixed amount;

 

2. Neither I nor my spouse has ever served at ASE, SPIL or the underwriter in preceding two years;

 

3. Neither I nor my spouse serve at an affiliate of ASE, SPIL or the underwriter;

 

4. I am not the spouse or two or less-degree relative of any responsible officer or manager of ASE, SPIL or the underwriter;

 

5. Neither I nor my spouse have any investment in or share any interest with ASE, SPIL or the underwriter;

 

6. I am not an accountant of ASE, SPIL or the underwriter.

 

7. I am not the current director, supervisor or their spouse or two or less-degree relatives of Taiwan Stock Exchange Corporation; and

 

8. Neither I nor my spouse serve at a company that conducts business with ASE or SPIL.

 

I have been upholding the principles of impartiality, objectiveness and independence in issuing the expert evaluation opinion on the fairness of the joint share exchange through which ASE and SPIL are proposed to become wholly-owned subsidiaries of HoldCo.

 

 
By: /s/ Ji-Sheng Chiu
  Name: Ji-Sheng Chiu
Title: Account

 

(Seal)

May 25, 2016

 

Resume of Independent Expert

 

Name: Ji-Sheng Chiu

 

Qualification:

 

Certified Public Accountant, Republic of China (Taiwan)

 

Education:

 

Statistics Department, National Cheng Kung University 

Accounting School, Soochow University 

Credit course, Law Institute, National Taipei University

 

Work Experience:

 

Crowe Horwath (TW) CPAs Manager/Assistant Manager  
(previously known as First United CPA Office)  
Diwan & Company Senior Manager
Crowe Horwath (TW) CPAs Accountant

 

Current Offices:

 

Crowe Horwath (TW) CPAs Partner
Taipei Accountants’ Association Director, Regular Lecture

 

 

Annex B-2

 

Independent Expert Opinion
on the Fairness of the Consideration for Joint Share Exchange in the Joint Share Exchange Agreement between Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. and Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd.

 

VI. Introduction

 

Both Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Inc. (“ ASE ”) and Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd. (“ SPIL ”) are the world’s leading companies in semiconductor packaging and testing sector. ASE and SPIL intend to enter into the Joint Share Exchange Agreement to newly establish ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd. (“ HoldCo ”) by joint share exchange whereby both ASE and SPIL will become wholly-owned subsidiaries of HoldCo, in order to pursue their operating scale and improve their overall operating performance while taking into account of the flexibility and efficiency of their individual independent operations (“ Share Exchange ”). The Share Exchange will result in the exchange of all of ASE common shares in consideration for newly issued common shares of HoldCo, at an exchange ratio of each ASE common share for 0.5 HoldCo common share. Furthermore, the Share Exchange will result in the exchange of each of SPIL’s issued and outstanding shares for NT$55 in cash payable by HoldCo (“ Cash Consideration ”). The Cash Consideration is adjusted to NT$51.2 after deduction of cash dividends distribution of NT$2.8 per share and capital reserve cash distribution of NT$1 per share as resolved at SPIL’s annual general shareholder’s meeting for 2016. The fairness of the consideration for the Share Exchange under the Share Exchange Agreement is described and evaluated as below.

 

VII. Financial Position

 

Financial position of ASE and SPIL for the last two years and the first quarter of 2016 are summarized as below:

 

(3) ASE

 

   

Year

Item

 

2014

 

2015

 

First quarter of 2016

    NT$(in thousands)
Total assets     333,984,767       365,287,557       356,490,231  
Total liabilities     175,546,763       196,867,675       187,752,829  
Total equity attributable to owners of parent     150,218,907       156,916,004       158,016,614  
Share capital     78,715,179       79,185,660       79,279,129  
Operating income     256,591,447       283,302,536       62,371,082  
Net profit - attributable to owners     23,636,522       19,478,873       4,163,477  
Sources: Audited financial statements of ASE for the years of 2014 and 2015 and reviewed financial statements for the first quarter of 2016.

 

(4) SPIL

 

   

Year

Item

 

2014

 

2015

 

First quarter of 2016

    NT$(in thousands)
Total assets     129,756,075       123,245,230       122,855,285  
Total liabilities     57,649,456       52,644,588       50,446,781  
Total equity attributable to owners of parent     72,106,619       70,600,642       72,408,504  
Share capital     31,163,611       31,163,611       31,163,611  
Operating income     83,071,441       82,839,922       19,299,310  
Net profit - attributable to owners of parent     11,744,414       8,762,257       1,604,028  
Sources: Audited financial statements of SPIL for the years of 2014 and 2015 and reviewed financial statements for the first quarter of 2016.

 

VIII. Sources of Information

 

(5) Audited financial statements of ASE and SPIL for the years of 2014 and 2015 and reviewed financial statements for the first quarter of 2016.

 

(6) Business overviews, financial statements and other important information for evaluation purposes regarding ASE, SPIL and their peers obtained from Market Observation Post System.

 

(7) Information from website of the Taiwan Stock Exchange, website of the Taipei Exchange (GreTai Securities Market), Commerce and Industry Registration Enquiry System of Department of Commerce, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwan Economic Journal (TEJ) Database and Bloomberg’s complied comparison, analysis and historical stock price data of ASE, SPIL and their peers.

 

(8) Information on the industry and peers of ASE and SPIL.

 

IX. Consideration for Share Exchange and Fairness thereof

 

The consideration for Share Exchange will be at an exchange ratio of each ASE common share for 0.5 HoldCo common share and each of SPIL’s issued and outstanding shares for Cash Consideration of NT$55 payable by HoldCo. The Cash Consideration is adjusted to NT$51.2 after deduction of cash dividends distribution of NT$2.8 per share and capital reserve cash distribution of NT$1 per share as resolved at SPIL’s annual general shareholder’s meeting for 2016. After the completion of the Share Exchange, both ASE and SPIL will become wholly-owned subsidiaries of HoldCo. The fairness of consideration for Share Exchange in respect of each of ASE and SPIL is described and evaluated as below:

 

(C) ASE

 

4. ASE shareholders will contribute all the common shares held by them in ASE as of the share exchange record date in consideration of issue of their subscribed common shares required for the establishment of HoldCo. Following consummation of the Share Exchange, ASE will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of HoldCo, and previous ASE shareholders will become HoldCo shareholders. As such, similar to SPIL’s Cash Consideration, ASE will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of HoldCo by exchange of the shares of one single company; theoretically, the rights of previous ASE shareholders will not be affected by the exact Share Exchange ratio.

 

5. According to ASE’s reviewed consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2016, its equity attributable to owners of parent amounted to NT$158,016,614,000; based on the latest update from the Commerce and Industry Registration Enquiry System of Department of Commerce, Ministry of Economic Affairs, ASE had a total of 7,918,272,896 issued and outstanding common shares as of April 26, 2016. Therefore, its net book value per common share was NT$19.956. Each ASE common share will be exchanged for 0.5 HoldCo common share resulting in 3,959,136,448 HoldCo common shares as of the share exchange record date. In addition, the net book value per common share as calculated based on ASE’s equity attributable to owners of parent to be assumed by HoldCo will be increased in the ratio of 1:0.5. Based on ASE’s equity attributable to owners of parent as of March 31, 2016, HoldCo’s net book value per common share would be NT$39.912 per share. For HoldCo common shareholders after the Share Exchange, the shareholders’ equity will not be impaired in any way by the Share Exchange ratio.

 

6. Net value of ASE’s equity attributable to owners of parent as of the share exchange record date may vary from that as of March 31, 2016. However, ASE shareholders will contribute all the common shares held by them in ASE as of the share exchange record date in consideration of and exchange for the common shares required for the establishment of HoldCo. As such, for HoldCo common shareholders after the Share Exchange, the shareholders’ equity will not be affected as a result of the Share Exchange.

 

In summary, it shall be fair and reasonable for all of ASE’s issued and outstanding shares to be exchanged for and in consideration of newly issued common shares of HoldCo at an exchange ratio of each ASE common share for 0.5 HoldCo common share resulting in ASE to become a wholly-owned subsidiary of HoldCo.

 

(D) SPIL

 

4. Methodologies Used

 

There are many methods for evaluating stock value. In practice, common methods include: market approach, such as market price approach (focusing on listed target companies; the fair value can be estimated by market price on the stock exchange) and market comparison approach (based on financial information of target companies and their peers in the market, using market multiplier such as price-earnings ratio, price-book ratio for analysis and evaluation); income approach; and cost approach.

 

Among these methods, income approach requires the Company’s estimates of future cash flow, involving multiple assumptions and having a higher uncertainty. Given its less objective nature compared to other methods, this method is not used. Cost approach examines and weighs SPIL’s business model and capital structure. Therefore, it is not appropriate for valuation and also not used. As such, we intend to use the market approach as primary evaluation method while taking into account of other non-quantitative factors, to evaluate the reasonable consideration of the Share Exchange for SPIL.

 

5. Selection of Peers

 

Based on customer attributes, business activities and business model, ChipMOS Technologies (Bermuda) Ltd. (“ ChipMOS ”), Chipbond Technology Corporation (“ Chipbond ”) and Powertech Technology Inc. (“ Powertech ”) are selected as peers. The following table lists the financial conditions of these 3 peers for the first quarter of 2016:

 

Unit:

 

   

Peers

Items

 

ChipMOS (8150)

 

Chipbond (6147)

 

Powertech (6239)

    NT$(in thousands)
Total assets     32,404,046       36,230,116       70,446,410  
Total liabilities     13,385,676       11,852,343       27,389,980  
Total equity attributable to owners of parent     19,018,370       23,575,971       34,653,945  
Share capital     8,957,836       6,492,620       7,791,466  
Net value per share- attributable to owners of parent (NT$) (Note 1)     21.20       36.31       44.48  
Operating income     4,724,139       3,733,921       10,618,124  
Net profit - attributable to owners of parent     348,423       201,453       940,031  
Earnings per share - attributable to owners of parent (NT$) (Note 2)     2.09       2.64       5.37  
Source: Audited or reviewed consolidated financial statements of three peers for the first quarter of 2016

 

Note 1: Net value per share is calculated based on the number of common shares of the respective peer obtained from the Commerce and Industry Registration Enquiry System of Department of Commerce, Ministry of Economic Affairs.

 

Note 2: Earnings per share are estimated for the four quarters ended the first quarter of 2016 based on the net profit attributable to owners of parent in the respective peer’s consolidated financial statements for the year 2015 and the first quarter of 2016, number of common shares obtained from the Commerce and Industry Registration Enquiry System of Department of Commerce, Ministry of Economic Affairs and other financial data.

 

6. Valuation

 

(5) Market Price Approach

 

As SPIL is a listed company with its open market trading prices available for objective reference, this opinion sampled its recent publicly traded prices to evaluate the average closing prices for 60, 90 and 180 business days up to and including the valuation date of June 29, 2016 as follows:

 

Item

Average closing price

Theoretical price range

  NT$
Latest 60 business days 46.25 45.05 ~ 46.45
Latest 90 business days 46.45
Latest 180 business days 45.05
Note: Sources of ex-rights/ex-dividend adjusted closing prices are from compilations of Taiwan Economic Journal (10/5/2015~6/29/2016); all average prices are calculated by simple arithmetic averaging of ex-rights/ex-dividend adjusted closing prices.

 

(6) Price-book Ratio Approach

 

The reasonable value per share of SPIL is estimated by calculating the net book value per share based on the financial information of SPIL and sampling the average price-book ratios of publicly traded peers - ChipMOS, Chipbond and Powertech for comparison purposes. The price-book ratios of publicly traded peers are calculated using their closing prices for 180 business days up to and including the valuation date of June 29, 2016 for sampling purposes and based on the total equity attributable to owners of parent in the respective peer’s consolidated financial statements for the first quarter of 2016, the number of common shares for respective peer obtained from the Commerce and Industry Registration Enquiry System of Department of Commerce, Ministry of Economic Affairs and other financial data. The reasonable reference price of SPIL is imputed as follows:

 

Comparable peers

 

Average closing price for latest 180 business days

 

Net value per share for the first quarter of 2016

 

Price-book ratio

    NT$
ChipMOS     32.53       21.20       1.53  
Chipbond     46.86       36.31       1.29  
Powertech     65.31       44.48       1.47  
Note: Sources of ex-rights/ex-dividend adjusted closing prices are from compilations of Taiwan Economic Journal (10/5/2015~6/29/2016); all average prices are calculated by simple arithmetic averaging of ex-rights/ex-dividend adjusted closing prices.

 

Item

Description

  NT$
Range of multipliers 1.29 ~ 1.53
Net value per share of SPIL for the first quarter of 2016 23.23
Theoretical price range 29.97 ~ 35.54

 

(7) Price-earnings Ratio Approach

 

The reasonable value per share of SPIL is estimated by calculating the earnings per share based on the financial information of SPIL and sampling the average price-book ratios of publicly traded peers - ChipMOS, Chipbond and Powertech for comparison purposes. Earnings per share for the four quarters ended the first quarter of 2016 are estimated, and thereby the average price-earnings ratios of publicly traded peers are calculated, using their closing prices for 180 business days up to and including the valuation date of June 29, 2016 for sampling purposes and based on the net profits attributable to owners of parent in the respective peer’s consolidated financial statements for 2015 and the first quarter of 2016, the number of common shares for respective peer obtained from the Commerce and Industry Registration Enquiry System of Department of Commerce, Ministry of Economic Affairs and other financial data. The reasonable reference price of SPIL is imputed as follows:

 

Comparable peers

 

Average closing price for latest 180 business days

 

Earnings per share in last four quarters

 

Price-earnings ratio

    NT$
ChipMOS     32.53       2.09       15.56  

 

Comparable peers

 

Average closing price for latest 180 business days

 

Earnings per share in last four quarters

 

Price-earnings ratio

    NT$
Chipbond     46.86       2.64       17.75  
Powertech     65.31       5.37       12.16  
Note: Sources of ex-rights/ex-dividend adjusted closing prices are from compilations of Taiwan Economic Journal (10/5/2015~6/29/2016); all average prices are calculated by simple arithmetic averaging of ex-rights/ex-dividend adjusted closing prices.

 

Item

Description

  NT$
Range of multipliers 12.16 ~ 17.75
Consolidated earnings per share of SPIL 2.49
Theoretical price range 30.28 ~ 44.20

 

(8) Summary

 

Calculation results of value of common shares under the foregoing evaluation methods are summarized as below. The above three methods have their theoretical and practical basis. Therefore, for avoidance of biases in the evaluation process, the imputation used 33.3% for purposes of weighted averaging by taking into account of other non-quantitative key factors with reference to the statistics of Bloomberg and the average premium rate of 33.86% of the global merger and acquisition cases in semiconductor industry since the third quarter of 2015. On these basis, the reasonable price range per share of SPIL shall be from NT$46.98 to NT$56.30. As such, we are of opinion that it shall be fair and reasonable for each SPIL common share in exchange of Cash Consideration of NT$55 (the Cash Consideration is adjusted to NT$51.2 after deduction of cash dividends distribution of NT$2.8 per share and capital reserve cash distribution of NT$1 per share as resolved at SPIL’s annual general shareholder’s meeting for 2016).

 

Evaluation method

Reference price range per share

Weight

Theoretical price range per share

Reference price range after adjustment

  NT$
Market Price Approach 45.05~ 46.45 33.3% 35.10~ 42.06 46.98~ 56.30
Price-book Ratio Approach 29.97~35.54 33.3%
Price-earnings Ratio Approach 30.28~ 44.20 33.3%

 

X. Conclusion

 

In summary, ASE and SPIL are proposed to become wholly-owned subsidiaries of HoldCo by the joint share exchange. In relation to the Share Exchange, I, as the accountant, am of the opinion that it shall be fair and reasonable for each ASE common share in exchange for 0.5 HoldCo common share and each SPIL common share in exchange of Cash Consideration of NT$55 (the Cash Consideration is adjusted to NT$51.2 after deduction of cash dividends distribution of NT$2.8 per share and capital reserve cash distribution of NT$1 per share as resolved at SPIL’s annual general shareholder’s meeting for 2016).

 

 
By: /s/ Ji-Sheng Chiu
  Name: Ji-Sheng Chiu
  Title: Certified Public Account

June 29, 2016

 

Statement of Independence

 

I am engaged to provide opinion of evaluation on the fairness of the joint share exchange, through which ASE and SPIL are proposed to become wholly-owned subsidiaries of HoldCo.

 

In order to perform the above task, I hereby state that:

 

9. Neither I nor my spouse is currently employed by ASE, SPIL or the underwriter to undertake any work on regular basis and be compensated at a fixed amount;

 

10. Neither I nor my spouse has ever served at ASE, SPIL or the underwriter in preceding two years;

 

11. Neither I nor my spouse serve at an affiliate of ASE, SPIL or the underwriter;

 

12. I am not the spouse or two or less-degree relative of any responsible officer or manager of ASE, SPIL or the underwriter;

 

13. Neither I nor my spouse have any investment in or share any interest with ASE, SPIL or the underwriter;

 

14. I am not an accountant of ASE, SPIL or the underwriter.

 

15. I am not the current director, supervisor or their spouse or two or less-degree relatives of Taiwan Stock Exchange Corporation; and

 

16. Neither I nor my spouse serve at a company that conducts business with ASE or SPIL.

 

I have been upholding the principles of impartiality, objectiveness and independence in issuing the expert evaluation opinion on the fairness of the joint share exchange through which ASE and SPIL are proposed to become wholly-owned subsidiaries of HoldCo.

 

 
By: /s/ Ji-Sheng Chiu
  Name: Ji-Sheng Chiu
  Title: Account

 

(Seal) 

June 29, 2016

 

Resume of Independent Expert

 

Name: Ji-Sheng Chiu

 

Qualification:

 

Certified Public Accountant, Republic of China (Taiwan)

 

Education:

 

Statistics Department, National Cheng Kung University

Accounting School, Soochow University

Credit course, Law Institute, National Taipei University

 

Work Experience:

 

Crowe Horwath (TW) CPAs Manager/Assistant Manager  
(previously known as First United CPA Office)  
   
Diwan & Company Senior Manager
   
Crowe Horwath (TW) CPAs Accountant

 

Current Offices:

 

Crowe Horwath (TW) CPAs Partner
   
Taipei Accountants’ Association Director, Regular Lecturer

 

 

 

Annex C

 

ROC MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS ACT – ARTICLE 12

 

If the following event occurs when a company is undergoing a merger, consolidation, acquisition or division, a shareholder may request the company to repurchase his/her/its shares at the then fair price of such shares:

 

4. In the event that the company is undergoing an acquisition as described in Article 27 of this Act, the shareholder delivers a written objection or an oral objection that has been put into the record and waives his/her/its voting rights before or during the shareholders’ meeting;

 

Any shareholder who has made the request as provided in the preceding paragraph shall submit a written request that specifies the requested repurchase price and deposit the certificates of his/her/its shares within 20 days immediately following the date at which the shareholder resolutions are passed.

 

The company shall appoint an institution that is permitted by law to provide corporate action services to handle the shares deposited by the dissenting shareholder. The shareholder shall deposit his/her/its shares to such institution and the institution shall issue a certificate that specifies the type and amount of deposited shares to the shareholder; any deposit by book-entry transfer shall be governed by the procedures set forth in the rules and regulations in relation to the centralized securities depositary enterprises.

 

The request of a shareholder as provided in Paragraph 1 shall lose its effect when the company abandons its corporate action as provided in the same paragraph.

 

If the company and the shareholder reach an agreement with respect to the repurchase price, the company shall pay such repurchase price to the shareholder within 90 days immediately following the date at which the shareholders’ resolutions are passed. If no agreement is reached, within 90 days immediately after the date at which the shareholders’ resolutions are passed, the company shall pay for the shares of the shareholder with whom it has not reached an agreement at a price determined by the company as the fair price for such shares; if the company fails to make such payment, the company shall be deemed as having agreed to the repurchase price requested by the shareholder pursuant to Paragraph 2.

 

If the company fails to reach an agreement with any shareholder with respect to the repurchase price within 60 days immediately following the date at which the shareholders’ resolutions are passed, the company shall, within 30 days after the expiry of the 60-day period, file a petition with a court for a ruling to determine the fair price of the shares against all the shareholders with whom it has not reached an agreement as the opposing parties. If the company fails to list any shareholder with whom it has not reached an agreement as an opposing party, or the petition is withdrawn by the company or dismissed by the court, the company shall be deemed as having agreed to the repurchase price requested by the shareholder pursuant to Paragraph 2. However, if the opposing party has already presented his/her/its position in the court or the court’s ruling has already been delivered to the opposing party, the company shall not withdraw the petition unless agreed to by the opposing party.

 

When the company files a petition with the court for a ruling to determine the repurchase price, the company shall attach to the petition the audited and attested financial statements of the company and the fair price assessment report by the certified public accountants, and written copies and photocopies thereof according to the number of opposing parties for the court to distribute to each opposing party.

 

Before making a ruling with respect to the repurchase price, the court shall allow the company and the opposing parties to have the chance to present their positions. If there are two or more opposing parties, the provisions set out in Articles 41 to 44, as well as Paragraph 2 of Article 401 of the ROC Civil Procedure Code shall apply mutatis mutandis .

 

If any party appeals against the ruling made pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the court shall allow the parties at dispute to have the chance to present their positions before making a decision on the appeal.

 

When the ruling with respect to the repurchase price becomes final and binding, the company shall, within 30 days immediately after the ruling becomes final and binding, pay such final repurchase price to the dissenting shareholders, deducting any previous payment and interest accrued since the next day of the expiry of the 90-day period immediately following the date at which the shareholders’ resolutions are passed.

 

The provisions set forth in Article 171 and Paragraphs 1, 2 and 4 of Article 182 of the ROC Non-Contentious Matters Act shall apply mutatis mutandis .

 

The company shall bear the expenses of the petition and the appraiser’s compensation.

 

Exhibit 3.1

 

ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

Articles of Incorporation

 

Chapter One: General Principles

 

Article 1 The Company is called 日月光投資控股股份有限公司 , and is registered as a company limited by shares according to the ROC Company Act. The English name of the Company is ASE Industrial Holdings Co., Ltd.
Article 2 The Company is engaged in the following businesses: H201010 General Investment Business
Article 3 The investment made by the Company in other companies as a limited liability shareholder thereof is not subject to the limitation that such investment shall not exceed a certain percentage of the paid-in capital as set forth in the ROC Company Act.
Article 4 The Company may provide external guaranty.
Article 5 The Company’s headquarters is located in the Nantze Export Processing Zone, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, R.O.C. and may set up domestic or foreign branches, offices or business establishments as resolved by the Board of Directors, if necessary.
Chapter Two: Shares
Article 6 The Company’s total capital is NT$50 billion divided into 5 billion shares with a par value of NT$10 per share. Stock options worth of NT$4 billion are set aside for employee subscription. The Board of Directors is authorized to issue the unissued shares in installments if deemed necessary for business purposes.
Article 7 The share certificates shall be in registered form and have the signatures or seals of at least three directors of the Company and shall be legally authenticated before issuance. In accordance with the provisions set forth in Article 162-2 of the ROC Company Act, the Company may choose to not provide share certificates in print form.
Article 8 No registration of share transfer shall be made within sixty days before each ordinary general shareholders’ meeting, or within thirty days before each extraordinary general shareholders’ meeting or five days before the record date for dividends, bonuses or other distributions as determined by the Company.
Article 9 The rules governing stock affairs of the Company shall be made pursuant to the laws and the regulations of the

 

 
 
  relevant authorities.
Chapter Three: General Shareholders’ Meeting
Article 10 General shareholders’ meetings include ordinary meetings and extraordinary meetings. Ordinary meetings shall be convened according to law by the Board of Directors once annually according to the law within 6 months after the end of each fiscal year. Extraordinary meetings will be held according to the law whenever necessary.
Article 11 General shareholders’ meetings shall be convened by written notice stating the date, place and purpose dispatched to each shareholder at least 30 days, in the case of ordinary meetings, and 15 days, in the case of extraordinary meetings, prior to the date set for such meeting.
Article 12 Unless otherwise required by the ROC Company Act, shareholders’ resolutions shall be adopted by at least half of the votes of the shareholders present at a general shareholders’ meeting who hold at least half of all issued and outstanding shares of the Company.
Article 13 Each shareholder of the Company shall have one vote per share, unless otherwise provided by Article 179 of the ROC Company Act.
Article 14 Any shareholder, who for any reason is unable to attend general shareholders’ meetings, may execute a proxy printed by the Company, in which the authorized matters shall be expressly stated, to authorize a proxy to attend the meeting for him/her. Such proxy shall be submitted to the Company at least 5 days prior to the general shareholders’ meeting.
Article 15 The general shareholders’ meeting shall be convened by the Board of Directors unless otherwise stipulated in the ROC Company Act, and the person presiding over the meeting will be the Chairman of the Board of Directors (the “Chairman”). If the Chairman is on leave or for any reason cannot discharge his duty, Paragraph 3 of Article 208 of the ROC Company Act should apply. If the general shareholders’ meeting is convened by a person entitled to do so other than a member of the Board of Directors, that person shall act as the person presiding over the meeting. If two or more persons are entitled to call the general shareholders’ meeting, those persons shall elect one to act as the person presiding over the meeting.
Chapter Four: Director and Supervisor
Article 16 The Company shall have nine to thirteen directors and also three supervisors to be elected by the general shareholders’ meeting from candidates with legal

 

 
 
  capacity. Each director or supervisor shall hold office for a term of three years, and may continue to serve in the office if re-elected.
  The election of the directors and supervisors of the Company shall be conducted pursuant to Article 198 of the ROC Company Act and relevant regulations.
Article 16-1 Since the second Board of Directors term, the Company shall have thirteen directors, of which there shall be three independent directors and ten non-independent directors, to be elected by the general shareholders’ meeting from candidates with legal capacity. Each director shall hold office for a term of three years, and may continue to serve in the office if re-elected.
  The election of the directors and supervisors of the Company shall be conducted pursuant to Article 198 of the ROC Company Act and relevant regulations.
  When handling the aforementioned election of directors, the election of independent directors and non-independent directors should be held together, provided, however, that the number of independent directors and non-independent directors elected shall be calculated separately; those that receive votes representing more voting rights will be elected as independent directors or non-independent directors.
  Upon the expiry of the term of office of the first supervisors of the Company elected, the provisions regarding supervisors under these Articles of Incorporation of the Company shall cease to apply. The Company shall then establish an audit committee in lieu of supervisors in accordance with Article 14-4 of the ROC Securities and Exchange Act to exercise the powers and duties of supervisors stipulated in the ROC Company Act, the ROC Securities and Exchange Act, and other applicable laws and regulations. The audit committee shall comprise solely of the independent directors. The responsibilities, powers and other related matters of the audit committee shall be separately stipulated in rules adopted by the Board of Directors in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
  The election of the Company’s independent directors uses the candidate nomination system. Shareholders who hold 1% or more of the Company’s issued shares and the Board of Directors may nominate a list of candidates for independent directors. After the Board of Directors examines and confirms the qualifications of the candidate(s) for serving as an independent director, the name(s) is/are sent to the general shareholders’ meeting for election. If the general shareholders’ meeting is convened by a person entitled to do so other than a member of the Board of

 

 
 
  Directors, after such person examines and confirms the qualifications of the candidate(s) for serving as an independent director, the name(s) is/are sent to the general shareholders’ meeting for election. All matters regarding the acceptance method and announcement of the nomination of candidates for independent directors will be handled according to the ROC Company Act, the ROC Securities and Exchange Act, and other relevant laws and regulations.
Article 16-2 The remuneration of the Company’s independent directors is set at NT$3 million per person annually. For those that do not serve a full year, the remuneration will be calculated in proportion to the number of days of the term that were actually served. The additional remuneration of the Company’s independent directors who are also the members of the Company’s Compensation Committee is set at NT$ 360,000 per person annually. For those that do not serve a full year, the additional remuneration will be calculated in proportion to the number of days of the term that were actually served.
Article 17 The Board of Directors is constituted by directors. Their powers and duties are as follows:
 

(1)       Preparing business plans;

 

(2)       Preparing surplus distribution or loss make-up proposals;

 

(3)       Preparing proposals to increase or decrease capital;

 

(4)       Reviewing material internal rules and contracts;

 

(5)       Hiring and discharging the general manager;

 

(6)       Establishing and dissolving branch offices;

 

(7)       Reviewing budgets and audited financial statements; and

 

(8)       Other duties and powers granted by or in accordance with the ROC Company Act or shareholders’ resolutions.

Article 18 The Board of Directors is constituted by directors, and the Chairman and Vice Chairman are elected by more than half of the directors at a board meeting at which two-thirds or more of the directors are present. If the Chairman is on leave or for any reason cannot discharge his duties, his/her acting proxy shall be elected in accordance with Article 208 of the ROC Company Act.
Article 19 Board of Directors meetings shall be convened according to the law by the Chairman according to the law, unless otherwise stipulated by the ROC Company

 

 
 
  Act. Board of Directors meetings can be held at the place that the Company is headquartered, or at any place that is convenient for the directors to attend and appropriate for the meeting to be convened, or via video conference.
Article 19-1 Directors and supervisors shall be notified of Board of Director meetings no later than seven days prior to the meetings. However, in case of any emergency, a Board of Directors meeting may be convened at any time.
  Notifications of Board of Directors meetings may be in writing or via email or fax.
Article 20 A director may execute a proxy to appoint another director to attend the Board of Directors meeting and to exercise his/her voting right, but a director can accept only one proxy.
Chapter Five: Manager
Article 21 This company has one general manager. The appointment, discharge and salary of the general manager shall be managed in accordance with Article 29 of ROC Company Act.
Chapter Six: Accounting
Article 22 The fiscal year of the Company starts from January 1 and ends on December 31 every year. At the end of each fiscal year, the Board of Directors shall prepare financial and accounting books in accordance with the ROC Company Act and submit them according to law to the ordinary general shareholders’ meeting for approval.
Article 23 If the Company is profitable, 0.1% (inclusive) to 1% (inclusive) of the profits shall be allocated as compensation to employees and 0.75% (inclusive) or less of the profits should be allocated as compensation to directors. While the Company has accumulated losses, the profit shall be set aside to compensate losses before distribution.
  The compensation being distributed to employees in the form of stock or cash shall be approved by more than half of the directors at a board meeting at which two-thirds or more of the directors are present and report to the general shareholders’ meeting.
  “Employees” referred to in paragraph 1 above includes employees of subsidiaries who meet certain qualifications. Such qualifications are to be determined by the Board of Directors.
Article 24 The annual net income (“Income”) shall be distributed in the order of sequences below:

 

 
 
  (1) Making up for losses, if any.
  (2) 10% being set aside as legal reserve.
  (3) Allocation or reversal of a special surplus reserve in accordance with laws or regulations set forth by the authorities concerned.
  (4) Addition or deduction of the portion of retained earnings that are equity investment gains or losses that have been realized and measured at fair value through other overall gains or losses.
  The remainder plus the undistributed earnings shall be distributed in accordance with the proposal submitted by the Board of Directors and adopted by the general shareholders’ meeting.
Article 25 The Company is at the stage of stable growth.  In order to accommodate the capital demand for the present and future business development and satisfy the shareholder's demand for the cash inflow, the Residual Dividend Policy is adopted for the dividend distribution of the Company.  The ratio for cash dividends shall be not less than 30% of the total dividends; and the residual dividends shall be distributed in form of stocks in accordance with the distribution plan proposed by the Board of Directors and resolved by the general shareholders’ meeting.
Chapter Seven: Appendix
Article 26 The bylaws and rules of procedure of the Company shall be stipulated separately.
Article 27 Any matter not covered by these Articles of Incorporation shall be subject to the ROC Company Act.
Article 28 These Articles of Incorporation were made on [ ], 2016 as approved by all the promoters.

 

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

[FORM OF ADR]

 

Number CUSIP NUMBER: _______

_____________

 

 

[American Depositary Shares (each American Depositary Share representing the right to receive two (2) fully paid common shares, each having a par value of NT$10.00 per share)]

 

[Temporary American Depositary Shares (each Temporary American Depositary Share representing an undivided interest in a global certificate of payment, each interest representing the irrevocable right to receive [two (2)] fully paid common shares, each having a par value of NT$10.00 per share)] 

 

AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPT

 

FOR

 

AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES

 

representing

 

[DEPOSITED COMMON SHARES]

 

[INTERESTS IN THE DEPOSITED CERTIFICATE OF PAYMENT]

 

of

 

ASE INDUSTRIAL HOLDING CO., LTD.

 

(Incorporated under the laws of the Republic of China)

 

 
 

CITIBANK, N.A., a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, as depositary (the “Depositary”), hereby certifies that _____________is the owner of ______________ American Depositary Shares (hereinafter “ADS”) representing deposited [common shares] [interests in a global Certificate of Payment representing the irrevocable right to receive common shares], par value NT$10.00 per share, including evidence of rights to receive such [common shares (the “Shares”)] [interests in the Certificate of Payment (the “Certificate of Payment”)] (such [Shares are] [Certificate of Payment is] hereafter called “Eligible Securities”), of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the Republic of China (the “Company”). As of the date hereof, each ADS represents the right to receive two (2) [an interest in a global Certificate of Payment, each interest representing the irrevocable right to receive two (2)] Shares deposited under the Deposit Agreement with the Custodian, which at the date of execution of the Deposit Agreement is Citibank, Taiwan Ltd. (the “Custodian”). The ADS(s)-to-Share(s) ratio is subject to amendment as provided in Articles IV and VI of the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary’s Principal Office is located at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013, U.S.A.

 

(1)        The Deposit Agreement . This American Depositary Receipt is one of an issue of American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), all issued and to be issued upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Deposit Agreement, dated as of [date] , 2017 (as amended and supplemented from time to time, the “Deposit Agreement”), by and among the Company, the Depositary, and all Holders and Beneficial Owners from time to time of ADSs issued thereunder. The Deposit Agreement sets forth the rights and obligations of Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs and the rights and duties of the Depositary in respect of the Shares deposited thereunder and any and all other Deposited Property (as defined in the Deposit Agreement) from time to time received and held on deposit in respect of the ADSs. Copies of the Deposit Agreement are on file at the Principal Office of the Depositary and with the Custodian. Each Holder and each Beneficial Owner, upon acceptance of any ADSs (or any interest therein) issued in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, shall be deemed for all purposes to (a) be a party to and bound by the terms of the Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADR(s), and (b) appoint the Depositary its attorney-in-fact, with full power to delegate, to act on its behalf and to take any and all actions contemplated in the Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADR(s), to adopt any and all procedures necessary to comply with applicable law and to take such action as the Depositary in its sole discretion may deem necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of the Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADR(s), the taking of such actions to be the conclusive determinant of the necessity and appropriateness thereof.

 

The statements made on the face and reverse of this ADR are summaries of certain provisions of the Deposit Agreement and the Articles of Incorporation of the Company (as in effect on the date of the signing of the Deposit Agreement) and are qualified by and subject to the detailed provisions of the Deposit Agreement and the Articles of Incorporation, to which reference is hereby made.

 

2
 

All capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Deposit Agreement.

 

The Depositary makes no representation or warranty as to the validity or worth of the Deposited Property. The Depositary has made arrangements for the acceptance of the ADSs into DTC. Each Beneficial Owner of ADSs held through DTC must rely on the procedures of DTC and the DTC Participants to exercise and be entitled to any rights attributable to such ADSs. The Depositary may issue Uncertificated ADSs subject, however, to the terms and conditions of Section 2.13 of the Deposit Agreement.

 

(2)        Surrender of ADSs and Withdrawal of Deposited Securities . (a) ROC Requirements : The Depositary and the Company have been advised that under ROC law, as in effect as of the date hereof, a Holder who is a non-ROC person (other than a PRC person, except for a QDII (as defined below), or a person with prior approval from the Investment Commission of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, ROC) wishing to withdraw Deposited Securities from the ADR Facility is required to (i) register with the TSE for making investment in the ROC securities market, (ii) obtain a foreign investor investment identification (the "Foreign Investor Investment I.D.") issued pursuant to the ROC Regulations Governing Securities Investment by Overseas Chinese and Foreign Nationals and (iii) appoint an eligible agent in the ROC to open (a) a securities trading account, (b) a TDCC book-entry account and (c) a bank account (the securities trading account, the TDCC book-entry account, and the bank account, collectively, the "Accounts"), to pay ROC taxes, remit funds, exercise shareholders' rights and perform such other functions as may be designated by such withdrawing Holder.  In addition, such withdrawing Holder is also required to appoint a custodian bank to hold the securities in safekeeping, make confirmations and settle trades and report all relevant information.  Without obtaining the Foreign Investor Investment I.D. and opening such Accounts, the withdrawing Holder would be unable to hold or subsequently sell the Deposited Securities withdrawn from the ADR Facility on the TSE or otherwise.  No assurance can be given that a withdrawing Holder will be able to obtain the Foreign Investor Investment I.D. in a timely manner.  In addition, such withdrawing Holders will be required to appoint an eligible agent in the ROC for filing tax returns and making tax payments (a "Tax Guarantor").  Such Tax Guarantor will be required to meet the qualifications set by the Ministry of Finance of the ROC and will act as the guarantor of the withdrawing Holder's tax payment obligations.  Subject to certain limited exceptions, under current ROC law, repatriation of profits by a non-ROC withdrawing Holder is subject to the submission of evidence of the appointment of a Tax Guarantor to, and approval thereof by, the tax authority.  Under the Regulations Governing Mainland China Investor's Securities Investments and Futures Trading in Taiwan promulgated by the FSC, a PRC qualified domestic institutional investor ("QDII") is allowed to invest in ROC securities.  The custodians of QDIIs must apply with the TSE for the remittance amount of each QDII which cannot exceed US$100 million, the total investment amount of all QDIIs may not exceed US$500 million, and such QDII can only invest in the ROC securities market with the amount approved by the TSE.  Additionally, PRC investors (including QDIIs) in the aggregate shall not hold 10% or more of such ROC company's issued and outstanding voting shares.  The laws of the Republic of China applicable to the withdrawal of Deposited Securities may change from time to time.  There can be no

 

3
 

assurance that current law will remain in effect or that future changes of ROC law will not adversely affect the ability of Holders to withdraw Deposited Securities hereunder.

 

The Company has informed the Depositary that no Shares may be withdrawn upon presentation of ADSs (and if applicable, the ADRs evidencing such ADSs) for cancellation under Section 2.7 of the Deposit Agreement until (i) the Company has delivered written confirmation that the number of Shares requested for withdrawal have been listed for trading on the TSE (such Shares, the “Listed Shares”) to the Depositary and the Custodian, (ii) the Listed Shares have been de-materialised (such Shares, the “De-Materialised Shares,” and Shares that are both Listed Shares and De-Materialised Shares, hereinafter referred to as the “Final Shares”), and (iii) an equivalent number of Final Shares are on deposit with the Custodian. The Company has further informed the Depositary that it is expected that newly issued Shares which may be deposited by the Company from time to time and which are not listed for trading on the TSE at the time of such deposit will be listed on the TSE for trading and will be fully de-materialised, thereby becoming Final Shares, no later than five (5) business days after any such deposit. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that (a) the Depositary will deliver Shares represented by ADSs (and if applicable, the ADRs representing such ADSs) presented for cancellation pursuant to Section 2.7 of the Deposit Agreement only to the extent of the number of Final Shares then on deposit with the Custodian, (b) the Depositary will process presentations of ADSs for withdrawal of Final Shares under Section 2.7 of the Deposit Agreement on a first come, first served basis, (c) the Depositary will complete requests for cancellation of ADSs and withdrawal of the Shares represented thereby only to the extent of the number of Final Shares at such time on deposit with the Custodian, (d) the Depositary will refuse to complete a request for cancellation of ADSs and withdrawal of Shares to the extent the number of Shares requested for withdrawal exceeds the number of Final Shares at such time deposited with the Custodian, and (e) the Depositary reserves the right to suspend withdrawals of Shares under Section 2.7 of the Deposit Agreement until such time as the requisite number of Final Shares are deposited with the Custodian. The Company agrees to deliver to the Depositary and/or the Custodian, as applicable, written confirmation of the number of Listed Shares deposited with the Custodian under the Deposit Agreement promptly upon the receipt of confirmation of listing from the TSE of such Shares.

 

(b) Sale of Deposited Securities . Upon surrender of ADSs at the Principal Office and upon payment of any fees, reasonable expenses, taxes or other governmental charges as provided under the Deposit Agreement, subject to the terms of the Deposit Agreement and the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, and the transfer restrictions applicable to the Deposited Securities, if any, Holders may request that the Deposited Securities represented by such Holders’ ADSs be sold on such Holder’s behalf. Any Holder requesting a sale of Deposited Securities may be required by the Depositary to deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Depositary a written order requesting the Depositary to sell, or cause to be sold, such Deposited Securities. Any such sale of Deposited Securities will be conducted in accordance with applicable ROC law through a securities company in the ROC on the TSE or in such other manner as is or may be permitted under applicable ROC law. Any such sale of Deposited Securities will be at the expense and risk of the Holder requesting such sale. Any Holder requesting the Depositary to sell the

 

4
 

Deposited Securities represented by such Holder’s ADSs may be required to enter into a separate agreement to cover the terms of the sale of such Deposited Securities.

 

Upon receipt of any proceeds from any such sale, the Depositary shall, subject to any restrictions imposed by ROC law and regulations, and as provided hereunder, convert or cause to be converted any such proceeds into U.S. dollars and distribute any such proceeds to the Holders entitled thereto after deduction or payment of any fees, reasonable expenses, taxes or governmental charges (including, without limitation, any ROC and U.S. taxes) incurred in connection with such sale, as provided under the Deposit Agreement. Any such sale may be subject to ROC taxation on capital gains, if any, and will be subject to a securities transaction tax in the ROC. The ROC does not, as of the date hereof, impose tax on capital gains arising from ROC securities transactions, but there can be no assurance that a capital gains tax on ROC securities transactions will not be imposed in the future or as to the manner in which any ROC capital gains tax in respect of a sale of Deposited Securities would be imposed or calculated.

 

(c) Withdrawal of Deposited Securities : The Holder of ADSs shall be entitled to Delivery (at the Custodian’s designated office) of the Deposited Securities at the time represented by the ADS(s) upon satisfaction of each of the following conditions: (i) the Holder (or a duly authorized attorney of the Holder) has duly Delivered ADSs to the Depositary at its Principal Office (and if applicable, the Receipts evidencing such ADSs) for the purpose of withdrawal of the Deposited Securities represented thereby, (ii) if so required by the Depositary, the Receipts Delivered to the Depositary for such purpose have been properly endorsed in blank or are accompanied by proper instruments of transfer in blank (including signature guarantees in accordance with standard securities industry practice), (iii) if so required by the Depositary, the Holder of the ADSs has executed and delivered to the Depositary a written order directing the Depositary to cause the Deposited Securities being withdrawn to be Delivered to or upon the written order of the person(s) designated in such order, (iv) the Holder has delivered to the Depositary the applicable certification contemplated in Exhibit C to the Deposit Agreement, duly completed by or on behalf of the Beneficial Owner(s) of the ADSs surrendered for withdrawal (unless the Depositary is  otherwise instructed by the Company), and (v) all applicable fees and charges of, and reasonable expenses incurred by, the Depositary and all applicable taxes and governmental charges (as are set forth in Section 5.9 of, and Exhibit B to, the Deposit Agreement) have been paid, subject, however, in each case, to the terms and conditions of the Receipts evidencing the surrendered ADSs, of the Deposit Agreement, of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and of any applicable laws and regulations of the Republic of China and of the United States and the rules of the TDCC, and to any provisions of or governing the Deposited Securities, in each case as in effect at the time thereof.

 

Upon satisfaction of each of the conditions specified above, the Depositary (i) shall cancel the ADSs Delivered to it (and, if applicable, the Receipts evidencing the ADSs so Delivered), (ii) shall direct the Registrar to record the cancellation of the ADSs so Delivered on the books maintained for such purpose, and (iii) shall direct the Custodian to Deliver (without unreasonable delay) at the Custodian’s designated office the Deposited Securities represented by the ADSs so canceled together with any

 

5
 

certificate or other document of title for the Deposited Securities, or evidence of the electronic transfer thereof (if available), as the case may be, to or upon the written order of the person(s) designated in the order delivered to the Depositary for such purpose, subject however, in each case, to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, of the Receipts evidencing the ADSs so canceled, of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, of applicable laws and regulations of the Republic of China and of the United States and of the rules of the TDCC, and to the terms and conditions of  or governing the Deposited Securities,  in each case as in effect at the time thereof.

 

The Depositary shall not accept for surrender ADSs representing less than a whole number of Eligible Securities.  In the case of Delivery to it of ADSs representing a number other than a whole number of Eligible Securities, the Depositary shall cause ownership of the appropriate whole number of Eligible Securities to be Delivered in accordance with the terms hereof, and shall, at the discretion of the Depositary, either (i) return to the person surrendering such ADSs the number of ADSs representing any remaining fractional Eligible Security, or (ii) sell or cause to be sold the fractional Eligible Security represented by the ADSs so surrendered and remit the proceeds of such sale (net of (a) applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes withheld) to the person surrendering the ADSs.

 

Notwithstanding anything else contained in any ADR or the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may make delivery at the Principal Office of the Depositary of Deposited Property consisting of (i) any cash dividends or cash distributions, or (ii) any proceeds from the sale of any non-cash distributions, which are at the time held by the Depositary in respect of the Deposited Securities represented by the ADSs surrendered for cancellation and withdrawal.  At the request, risk and expense of any Holder so surrendering ADSs, and for the account of such Holder, the Depositary shall direct the Custodian to forward (to the extent permitted by law) any Deposited Property (other than Deposited Securities) held by the Custodian in respect of such ADSs to the Depositary for delivery at the Principal Office of the Depositary.  Such direction shall be given by letter or, at the request, risk and expense of such Holder, by cable, telex or facsimile transmission.

 

(3)        Transfer, Combination and Split-up of ADRs . The Registrar shall promptly register the transfer of this ADR (and of the ADSs represented hereby) on the books maintained for such purpose and the Depositary shall promptly (x) cancel this ADR and execute new ADRs evidencing the same aggregate number and type of ADSs as those evidenced by this ADR when canceled by the Depositary, (y) cause the Registrar to countersign such new ADRs, and (z) Deliver such new ADRs to or upon the order of the person entitled thereto, if each of the following conditions has been satisfied: (i) this ADR has been duly Delivered by the Holder (or by a duly authorized attorney of the Holder) to the Depositary at its Principal Office for the purpose of effecting a transfer thereof, (ii) this surrendered ADR has been properly endorsed or is accompanied by proper instruments of transfer (including signature guarantees in accordance with standard securities industry practice), (iii) this surrendered ADR has been duly stamped (if required by the laws of the State of New York or of the United States), and (iv) all applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and all

 

6
 

applicable taxes and governmental charges (as are set forth in Section 5.9 of, and Exhibit B to, the Deposit Agreement) have been paid, subject, however, in each case, to the terms and conditions of this ADR, of the Deposit Agreement and of applicable law, in each case as in effect at the time thereof.

 

The Registrar shall register the split-up or combination of this ADR (and of the ADSs represented hereby) on the books maintained for such purpose and the Depositary shall (x) cancel this ADR and execute new ADRs for the number of ADSs requested, but in the aggregate not exceeding the number of ADSs evidenced by this ADR (canceled), (y) cause the Registrar to countersign such new ADRs, and (z) Deliver such new ADRs to or upon the order of the Holder thereof, if each of the following conditions has been satisfied: (i) this ADR has been duly Delivered by the Holder (or by a duly authorized attorney of the Holder) to the Depositary at its Principal Office for the purpose of effecting a split-up or combination hereof, and (ii) all applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and all applicable taxes and governmental charges (as are set forth in Section 5.9 of, and Exhibit B to, the Deposit Agreement) have been paid, subject, however, in each case , to the terms and conditions of this ADR, of the Deposit Agreement and of applicable law, in each case as in effect at the time thereof.

 

(4)        Limitations on Execution and Delivery, Transfer, Etc . As a condition precedent to the execution and delivery, the registration of issuance, transfer, split-up, combination or surrender, of any ADS, the delivery of any distribution thereon, or the withdrawal of any Deposited Property, the Depositary or the Custodian may require (i) payment from the depositor of Eligible Securities or presenter of ADSs or of this ADR of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any tax or other governmental charge and any stock transfer or registration fee with respect thereto (including any such tax or charge and fee with respect to Eligible Securities being deposited or withdrawn) and payment of any applicable fees and charges of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.9 and Exhibit B to the Deposit Agreement and in this ADR, (ii) the production of proof satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature or any other matter contemplated by Section 3.1 of the Deposit Agreement, and (iii) compliance with (A) any laws or governmental regulations relating to the execution and delivery of this ADR or ADSs or to the withdrawal of Deposited Securities and (B) such reasonable regulations as the Depositary and the Company may establish consistent with the provisions of this ADR, the Deposit Agreement and applicable law.

 

The issuance of ADSs against deposits of Eligible Securities generally or against deposits of particular Eligible Securities may be suspended, or the deposit of particular Eligible Securities may be refused, or the registration of transfers of ADSs in particular instances may be refused, or the registration of transfer of ADSs generally may be suspended, during any period when the transfer books of the Company, the Depositary, a Registrar or the Eligible Securities Registrar are closed or if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary or the Company, in good faith, at any time or from time to time because of any requirement of law or regulation, any government or governmental body or commission or any securities exchange on which the ADSs or Eligible Securities are listed, or under any provision of the Deposit Agreement or this ADR, or under any provision of, or governing, the Deposited Securities, or because of a

 

7
 

meeting of shareholders of the Company or for any other reason, subject, in all cases to paragraph (25) of this ADR. Notwithstanding any provision of the Deposit Agreement or this ADR to the contrary, Holders are entitled to surrender outstanding ADSs to withdraw the Deposited Securities associated therewith at any time subject only to (i) temporary delays caused by closing the transfer books of the Depositary or the Company or the deposit of Eligible Securities in connection with voting at a shareholders’ meeting or the payment of dividends, (ii) the payment of fees, taxes and similar charges, (iii) compliance with any U.S. or foreign laws or governmental regulations relating to the ADSs or to the withdrawal of the Deposited Securities, and (iv) other circumstances specifically contemplated by Instruction I.A.(l) of the General Instructions to Form F-6 (as such General Instructions may be amended from time to time).

 

(5)        Compliance With Information Requests . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Deposit Agreement or this ADR, each Holder and Beneficial Owner of the ADSs represented hereby agrees to comply with requests from the Company pursuant to applicable law, the rules and requirements of TSE, and of any other stock exchange on which the Eligible Securities or ADSs are, or will be, registered, traded or listed, or the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, which are made to provide information, inter alia , as to the capacity in which such Holder or Beneficial Owner owns ADSs (and the Eligible Securities represented by such ADSs, as the case may be) and regarding the identity of any other person(s) interested in such ADSs (and the Shares represented by such ADSs, as the case may be) and the nature of such interest and various other matters, whether or not they are Holders and/or Beneficial Owners at the time of such request.

 

(6)        Ownership Restrictions . Notwithstanding any other provision of this ADR or of the Deposit Agreement, the Company may restrict transfers of the Shares or Eligible Securities where such transfer might result in ownership of Shares exceeding limits imposed by applicable law or the Articles of Incorporation of the Company. The Company may also restrict, in such manner as it deems appropriate, transfers of the ADSs where such transfer may result in the total number of Shares represented by the ADSs owned by a single Holder or Beneficial Owner to exceed any such limits. The Company may, in its sole discretion but subject to applicable law, instruct the Depositary to take action with respect to the ownership interest of any Holder or Beneficial Owner in excess of the limits set forth in the preceding sentence, including but not limited to, the imposition of restrictions on the transfer of ADSs, the removal or limitation of voting rights or the mandatory sale or disposition on behalf of a Holder or Beneficial Owner of the Shares represented by the ADSs held by such Holder or Beneficial Owner in excess of such limitations, if and to the extent such disposition is permitted by applicable law and the Articles of Incorporation of the Company. Nothing herein or in the Deposit Agreement shall be interpreted as obligating the Depositary or the Company to ensure compliance with the ownership restrictions described herein or in Section 3.5 of the Deposit Agreement.

 

(7)        Reporting Obligations and Regulatory Approvals . Applicable laws and regulations may require holders and beneficial owners of Shares, including the Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs, to satisfy reporting requirements and obtain regulatory approvals in certain circumstances. Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs

 

8
 

are solely responsible for determining and complying with such reporting requirements and for obtaining such approvals. Each Holder and each Beneficial Owner hereby agrees to make such determination, file such reports, and obtain such approvals to the extent and in the form required by applicable laws and regulations as in effect from time to time. Neither the Depositary, the Custodian, the Company or any of their respective agents or affiliates shall be required to take any actions whatsoever on behalf of Holders or Beneficial Owners to determine or satisfy such reporting requirements or obtain such regulatory approvals under applicable laws and regulations.

 

(8)        Liability for Taxes and Other Charges . Any tax or other governmental charge payable by the Custodian or by the Depositary with respect to any Deposited Property, ADSs or this ADR shall be payable by the Holders and Beneficial Owners to the Depositary. The Company, the Custodian and/or the Depositary may withhold or deduct from any distributions made in respect of Deposited Property and may sell for the account of a Holder and/or Beneficial Owner any or all of the Deposited Property and apply such distributions and sale proceeds in payment of any taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) or charges that are or may be payable by Holders or Beneficial Owners in respect of the ADSs, Deposited Property and this ADR, the Holder and the Beneficial Owner hereof remaining liable for any deficiency. The Custodian may refuse the deposit of Eligible Securities and the Depositary may refuse to issue ADSs, to deliver ADRs, register the transfer of ADSs, register the split-up or combination of ADRs and (subject to paragraph (25) of this ADR) the withdrawal of Deposited Property until payment in full of such tax, charge, penalty or interest is received. Every Holder and Beneficial Owner agrees to indemnify the Depositary, the Company, the Custodian, and any of their agents, officers, employees and Affiliates for, and to hold each of them harmless from, any claims with respect to taxes (including applicable interest and penalties thereon) arising from any tax benefit obtained for such Holder and/or Beneficial Owner. The obligations of Holders and Beneficial Owners under this paragraph 8 shall survive any transfer of ADSs, any cancellation of ADSs and withdrawal of Deposited Securities, and the termination of the Deposit Agreement.

 

(9)        Representations and Warranties of Depositors . Each person depositing Shares under the Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby to represent and warrant that (i) such Shares and the certificates therefor are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable and legally obtained by such person, (ii) all preemptive (and similar) rights, if any, with respect to such Shares have been validly waived or exercised, (iii) the person making such deposit is duly authorized so to do, (iv) the Shares presented for deposit are free and clear of any lien, encumbrance, security interest, charge, mortgage or adverse claim, (v) the Shares presented for deposit are not, and the ADSs issuable upon such deposit will not be, Restricted Securities (except as contemplated in Section 2.14 of the Deposit Agreement), and (vi) the Shares presented for deposit have not been stripped of any rights or entitlements. Such representations and warranties shall survive the deposit and withdrawal of Shares, the issuance and cancellation of ADSs in respect thereof and the transfer of such ADSs.

 

Whenever the Company shall deposit any Certificate of Payment under this Deposit Agreement the Company shall be deemed thereby to represent and warrant that

 

9
 

(i) such Certificate of Payment is, and the Shares to be received in exchange for the Certificate of Payment will be, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable and legally obtained, (ii) all preemptive (and similar) rights, if any, with respect to such Certificate of Payment has been, and with respect to the Shares to be received in exchange for the Certificate of Payment will have been, validly waived or exercised, (iii) the Company has duly authorized the issuance of the Shares to be delivered in exchange for the Payment Certificate so presented for deposit, (iv) the Certificate of Payment presented for deposit is, and the Shares to be deposited upon the exchange of the Certificates of Payment for Shares will be, free and clear of any lien, encumbrance, security interest, change, mortgage or adverse claim, and are not, and the Temporary ADSs issuable upon such deposit will not be, Restricted Securities and (v) the Certificate of Payment presented for deposit has not been, and the Shares to be deposited upon the exchange for the Certificate of Payment will not have been, stripped of any rights or entitlements. Such representations and warranties shall survive the deposit of any Certificate of Payment, the issuance and cancellation of Temporary ADSs in respect thereof and the transfer of such Temporary ADSs.

 

If any such representations or warranties are false in any way, the Company and the Depositary shall be authorized, at the cost and expense of the person depositing Shares, to take any and all actions necessary to correct the consequences thereof.

 

(10)        Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information . Any person presenting Eligible Securities for deposit, any Holder and any Beneficial Owner may be required, and every Holder and Beneficial Owner agrees, from time to time to provide to the Depositary and the Custodian such proof of citizenship or residence, taxpayer status, payment of all applicable taxes or other governmental charges, exchange control approval, legal or beneficial ownership of ADSs and Deposited Property, compliance with applicable laws, the terms of the Deposit Agreement or this ADR evidencing the ADSs and the provisions of, or governing, the Deposited Property, to execute such certifications and to make such representations and warranties, and to provide such other information and documentation (or, in the case of Shares in registered form presented for deposit, such information relating to the registration on the books of the Company) as the Depositary or the Custodian may deem necessary or proper or as the Company may reasonably require by written request to the Depositary consistent with its obligations under the Deposit Agreement and this ADR. The Depositary and the Registrar, as applicable, may withhold the execution or delivery or registration of transfer of any ADR or ADS or the distribution or sale of any dividend or distribution of rights or of the proceeds thereof or, to the extent not limited by paragraph (25), the delivery of any Deposited Property until such proof or other information is filed or such certifications are executed, or such representations and warranties are made or such other documentation or information are provided, in each case to the Depositary’s, the Registrar’s and the Company’s satisfaction.

 

(11)        ADS Fees and Charges . The following ADS fees are payable under the terms of the Deposit Agreement:

 

10
 
(i) ADS Issuance Fee : by any person depositing Shares or to whom ADSs are issued upon the deposit of Shares (excluding issuances as a result of distributions described in paragraph (iv) below), a fee not in excess of U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) so issued under the terms of the Deposit Agreement; 

 

(ii) ADS Cancellation Fee : by any person surrendering ADSs for cancellation and withdrawal of Deposited Property or by any person to whom Deposited Property is delivered, a fee not in excess of U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) surrendered;

 

(iii) Cash Distribution Fee : by any Holder of ADSs, a fee not in excess of U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) held for the distribution of cash dividends or other cash distributions ( i.e. , sale of rights and other entitlements);

 

(iv) Stock Distribution /Rights Exercise Fee : by any Holder of ADS(s), a fee not in excess of U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) held for (a) the distribution of stock dividends or other free stock distributions or (b) the exercise of rights to purchase additional ADSs;

 

(v) Other Distribution Fee : by any Holder of ADS(s), a fee not in excess of U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) held for the distribution of securities other than ADSs or rights to purchase additional ADSs;

 

(vi) Depositary Services Fee : by any Holder of ADS(s), a fee not in excess of U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) held on the applicable record date(s) established by the Depositary; and

 

(vii) ADR Transfer Fee : by any person presenting ADR(s) for transfer, a fee not in excess of U.S. $1.50 per ADR so presented for transfer.

 

In addition, Holders, Beneficial Owners, persons depositing Shares for issuance of ADSs, and persons surrendering ADSs for cancellation and for the purpose of withdrawing Deposited Securities will be responsible for the payment of the following ADS charges under the terms of the Deposit Agreement:

 

(a) taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) and other governmental charges;

 

(b) such registration fees as may from time to time be in effect for the registration of Shares or other Deposited Securities on the share register and applicable to transfers of Shares or other Deposited Securities to or from the name of the Custodian, the Depositary or

 

11
 

any nominees upon the making of deposits and withdrawals, respectively;

 

(c) such cable, telex and facsimile transmission and delivery expenses as are expressly provided in the Deposit Agreement to be at the expense of the person depositing Shares or withdrawing Deposited Securities or of the Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs;

 

(d) the expenses and charges incurred by the Depositary in the conversion of foreign currency;

 

(e) such fees and expenses as are incurred by the Depositary in connection with compliance with exchange control regulations and other regulatory requirements applicable to Shares, Deposited Securities, ADSs and ADRs; and

 

(f) the fees and expenses incurred by the Depositary, the Custodian, or any nominee in connection with the delivery or servicing of Deposited Property.

 

All ADS fees and charges may, at any time and from time to time, be changed by agreement between the Depositary and Company but, in the case of ADS fees and charges payable by Holders and Beneficial Owners, only in the manner contemplated by paragraph (23) of this ADR and as contemplated in the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary shall provide, without charge, a copy of its latest ADS fee schedule to anyone upon request.

 

ADS fees and charges payable upon (i) deposit of Shares against issuance of ADSs and (ii) surrender of ADSs for cancellation and withdrawal of Deposited Property, will be payable by the person to whom the ADSs so issued are delivered by the Depositary (in the case of ADS issuances) and by the person who delivers the ADSs for cancellation to the Depositary (in the case of ADS cancellations). In the case of ADSs issued by the Depositary into DTC or presented to the Depositary via DTC, the ADS issuance and cancellation fees and charges will be payable by the DTC Participant(s) receiving the ADSs from the Depositary or the DTC Participant(s) surrendering the ADSs to the Depositary for cancellation, as the case may be, on behalf of the Beneficial Owner(s) and will be charged by the DTC Participant(s) to the account(s) of the applicable Beneficial Owner(s) in accordance with the procedures and practices of the DTC Participant(s) as in effect at the time. ADS fees and charges in respect of distributions and the ADS service fee are payable by Holders as of the applicable ADS Record Date established by the Depositary. In the case of distributions of cash, the amount of the applicable ADS fees and charges is deducted from the funds being distributed. In the case of (i) distributions other than cash and (ii) the ADS service fee, the applicable Holders as of the ADS Record Date established by the Depositary will be invoiced for the amount of the ADS fees and charges and such ADS fees may be deducted from distributions made to Holders. For ADSs held through DTC, the ADS fees and charges for distributions other than cash and the ADS service fee may be

 

12
 

deducted from distributions made through DTC and may be charged to the DTC Participants in accordance with the procedures and practices prescribed by DTC from time to time and the DTC Participants in turn charge the amount of such ADS fees and charges to the Beneficial Owners for whom they hold ADSs.

 

The Depositary may reimburse the Company for certain expenses incurred by the Company in respect of the ADR program established pursuant to the Deposit Agreement, by making available a portion of the ADS fees charged in respect of the ADR program or otherwise, upon such terms and conditions as the Company and the Depositary agree from time to time. The Company shall pay to the Depositary such fees and charges, and reimburse the Depositary for such out-of-pocket expenses, as the Depositary and the Company may agree from time to time. Responsibility for payment of such fees, charges and reimbursements may from time to time be changed by agreement between the Company and the Depositary. Unless otherwise agreed, the Depositary shall present its statement for such fees, charges and reimbursements to the Company once every three months. The charges and expenses of the Custodian are for the sole account of the Depositary.

 

The obligations of Holders and Beneficial Owners to pay ADS fees and charges shall survive the termination of the Deposit Agreement. As to any Depositary, upon the resignation or removal of such Depositary as described in Section 5.4 of the Deposit Agreement, the right to collect ADS fees and charges shall extend for those ADS fees and charges incurred prior to the effectiveness of such resignation or removal.

 

(12)        Title to ADRs . Subject to the limitations contained in the Deposit Agreement and in this ADR, it is a condition of this ADR, and every successive Holder of this ADR by accepting or holding the same consents and agrees, that title to this ADR (and to each Certificated ADS evidenced hereby) shall be transferable upon the same terms as a certificated security under the laws of the State of New York, provided that, in the case of Certificated ADSs, this ADR has been properly endorsed or is accompanied by proper instruments of transfer. Notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, the Depositary and the Company may deem and treat the Holder of this ADR (that is, the person in whose name this ADR is registered on the books of the Depositary) as the absolute owner thereof for all purposes. Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall have any obligation nor be subject to any liability under the Deposit Agreement or this ADR to any holder of this ADR or any Beneficial Owner unless, in the case of a holder of ADSs, such holder is the Holder of this ADR registered on the books of the Depositary or, in the case of a Beneficial Owner, such Beneficial Owner, or the Beneficial Owner’s representative, is the Holder registered on the books of the Depositary.

 

(13)        Validity of ADR . The Holder(s) of this ADR (and the ADSs represented hereby) shall not be entitled to any benefits under the Deposit Agreement or be valid or enforceable for any purpose against the Depositary or the Company unless this ADR has been (i) dated, (ii) signed by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly-authorized signatory of the Depositary, (iii) countersigned by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly-authorized signatory of the Registrar, and (iv) registered in the books maintained by the Registrar for the registration of issuances and transfers of ADRs. An ADR bearing

 

13
 

the facsimile signature of a duly-authorized signatory of the Depositary or the Registrar, who at the time of signature was a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary or the Registrar, as the case may be, shall bind the Depositary, notwithstanding the fact that such signatory has ceased to be so authorized prior to the delivery of such ADR by the Depositary.

 

(14)        Available Information; Reports; Inspection of Transfer Books .

 

As of the date of the Deposit Agreement, the Company is subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and, accordingly, is required to file or furnish certain reports with the Commission. These reports can be retrieved from the Commission's website ( www.sec.gov ) and can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission located (as of the date of the Deposit Agreement) at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington D.C. 20549. If at any time the Company files a Form 15F or any successor form thereto, with the Commission, which suspends the Company's duty under the Exchange Act to file or submit reports required under Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, upon the effectiveness of such Form 15F, the Company's duty to file or submit reports under Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act will terminate. At that time, pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b)(1), the Company will be exempt from the reporting obligations of the Exchange Act. In order to satisfy the conditions of Rule 12g3-2(b), the Company will publish an English translation of the information contemplated in Rule 12g3-2(b)(2)(i) under the Exchange Act on its internet website or through an electronic information delivery system generally available to the public in the Company’s primary trading market.  The Company will specify in Form 15F the internet website or the electronic information delivery system on which it intends to publish such information.  The information so published by the Company cannot be retrieved from the Commission’s internet website, and cannot be inspected or copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission.  If the Form 15F is not declared effective, the Company will again be subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and will be required to file with the Commission, and submit to the Commission, certain reports that can be retrieved from the Commission’s internet website at www.sec.gov , and can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission.

 

The Depositary shall make available for inspection by Holders at its Principal Office any reports and communications, including any proxy soliciting materials, received from the Company which are both (a) received by the Depositary, the Custodian, or the nominee of either of them as the holder of the Deposited Property and (b) made generally available to the holders of such Deposited Property by the Company.

 

The Registrar shall keep books for the registration of ADSs which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Company and by the Holders of such ADSs, provided that such inspection shall not be, to the Registrar’s knowledge, for the purpose of communicating with Holders of such ADSs in the interest of a business or object other than the business of the Company or other than a matter related to the Deposit Agreement or the ADSs.

 

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The Registrar may close the transfer books with respect to the ADSs, at any time or from time to time, when deemed necessary or advisable by it in good faith in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder, or at the reasonable written request of the Company subject, in all cases, to paragraph (25).

 

Dated:

 

CITIBANK, N.A.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
  CITIBANK, N.A.
as Depositary
     
By:     By:  
   Authorized Signatory      Authorized Signatory

 

 

The address of the Principal Office of the Depositary is 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013, U.S.A.

 

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[FORM OF REVERSE OF ADR]

 

SUMMARY OF CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS

 

OF THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT

 

(15)        Dividends and Distributions in Cash, Shares, etc . (a) Cash Distributions : Whenever the Company it intends to make a distribution of a cash dividend or other cash distribution in respect of any Deposited Securities, the Company shall give notice thereof to the Depositary at least twenty (20) days prior to the proposed distribution specifying, inter alia, the record date applicable for determining the holders of Deposited Securities entitled to receive such distribution. Upon the timely receipt of such notice, the Depositary shall establish the ADS Record Date upon the terms described in Section 4.9 of the Deposit Agreement. Upon receipt of confirmation of the receipt of (x) any cash dividend or other cash distribution on any Deposited Securities, or (y) proceeds from the sale of any Deposited Property held in respect of the ADSs under the terms of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary will (i) if at the time of receipt thereof any amounts received in a Foreign Currency can in the judgment of the Depositary (pursuant to Section 4.8 of the Deposit Agreement), be converted on a practicable basis into Dollars transferable to the United States, promptly convert or cause to be converted such cash dividend, distribution or proceeds into Dollars (on the terms described in Section 4.8 of the Deposit Agreement), (ii) if applicable and unless previously established, establish the ADS Record Date upon the terms described in Section 4.9 of the Deposit Agreement, and (iii) distribute promptly the amount thus received (net of (a) the applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes withheld) to the Holders entitled thereto as of the ADS Record Date in proportion to the number of ADSs held as of the ADS Record Date. The Depositary shall distribute only such amount, however, as can be distributed without attributing to any Holder a fraction of one cent, and any balance not so distributed shall be held by the Depositary (without liability for interest thereon) and shall be added to and become part of the next sum received by the Depositary for distribution to Holders of ADSs outstanding at the time of the next distribution. If the Company, the Custodian or the Depositary is required to withhold and does withhold from any cash dividend or other cash distribution in respect of any Deposited Securities, or from any cash proceeds from the sales of Deposited Property, an amount on account of taxes, duties or other governmental charges, the amount distributed to Holders on the ADSs shall be reduced accordingly. Such withheld amounts shall be forwarded by the Company, the Custodian or the Depositary to the relevant governmental authority. Evidence of payment thereof by the Company shall be forwarded by the Company to the Depositary upon request. The Depositary or the Custodian, as the case may be, will forward to the Company or its agent such information from its records as the company may reasonably request to enable the Company or its agent to file necessary reports with governmental agencies, and the Depositary or the Custodian, as the case may be, or the Company or its agent may file any such reports necessary to obtain benefits under the applicable tax treaties for Holders of ADSs. The Depositary will hold any cash amounts it is unable to distribute in a non-interest bearing account for the benefit of the applicable Holders and Beneficial Owners

 

16
 

of ADSs until the distribution can be effected or the funds that the Depositary holds must be escheated as unclaimed property in accordance with the laws of the relevant states of the United States. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Deposit Agreement to the contrary, in the event the Company fails to give the Depositary timely notice of the proposed distribution provided for above, the Depositary agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to perform the actions contemplated in Section 4.1 of the Deposit Agreement, and the Company, the Holders and the Beneficial Owners acknowledge that the Depositary shall have no liability for the Depositary’s failure to perform the actions contemplated in Section 4.1 of the Deposit Agreement where such notice has not been so timely given, other than its failure to use commercially reasonable efforts, as provided herein.

 

(b) Share Distributions : Whenever the Company intends to make a distribution that consists of a dividend in, or free distribution of Eligible Securities, the Company shall give notice thereof to the Depositary at least twenty(20) days prior to the proposed distribution, specifying, inter alia, the record date applicable to holders of Deposited Securities entitled to receive such distribution. Upon the timely receipt of such notice from the Company, the Depositary shall establish the ADS Record Date upon the terms described in Section 4.9 of the Deposit Agreement. Upon receipt of confirmation from the Custodian of the receipt of the Shares so distributed by the Company, the Depositary shall either (i) subject to Section 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement, distribute to the Holders as of the ADS Record Date in proportion to the number of ADSs held as of the ADS Record Date, additional ADSs, which represent in the aggregate the number of Eligible Securities received as such dividend, or free distribution, subject to the other terms of the Deposit Agreement (including, without limitation, (a) the applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes), or (ii) if additional ADSs are not so distributed, take all actions necessary so that each ADS issued and outstanding after the ADS Record Date shall, to the extent permissible by law, thenceforth also represent rights and interests in the additional integral number of Shares distributed upon the Deposited Securities represented thereby (net of (a) the applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary, and (b) taxes). In lieu of delivering fractional ADSs, the Depositary shall sell the number of Eligible Securities or ADSs, as the case may be, represented by the aggregate of such fractions and distribute the net proceeds upon the terms described in Section 4.1 of the Deposit Agreement.

 

In the event that (x) the Depositary determines that any distribution in property (including Shares) is subject to any tax or other governmental charges which the Depositary is obligated to withhold, or, (y) if the Company in the fulfillment of its obligation under Section 5.7 of the Deposit Agreement, has furnished an opinion of U.S. counsel determining that Eligible Securities must be registered under the Securities Act or other laws in order to be distributed to Holders (and no such registration statement has been declared effective), or (z) the deposit of Eligible Securities is not permitted under the laws or regulations of the Republic of China, the Depositary may dispose of all or a portion of such property (including Eligible Securities and rights to subscribe therefor) in such amounts and in such manner, including by public or private sale, as the Depositary deems necessary and practicable, and the Depositary shall distribute the net proceeds of any such sale (after deduction of (a) taxes and (b) fees and charges of, and expenses

 

17
 

incurred by, the Depositary) to Holders entitled thereto upon the terms described in Section 4.1 of the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary shall hold and/or distribute any unsold balance of such property in accordance with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Deposit Agreement to the contrary, in the event the Company fails to give the Depositary timely notice of the proposed distribution provided for above, the Depositary agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to perform the actions contemplated in Section 4.2 of the Deposit Agreement, and the Company, the Holders and the Beneficial Owners acknowledge that the Depositary shall have no liability for the Depositary’s failure to perform the actions contemplated in Section 4.2 of the Deposit Agreement where such notice has not been so timely given, other than its failure to use commercially reasonable efforts, as provided herein.

 

(c) Elective Distributions in Cash or Eligible Securities : Whenever the Company intends to make a distribution payable at the election of the holders of Deposited Securities in cash or in additional Eligible Securities, the Company shall give notice thereof to the Depositary at least sixty (60) days prior to the proposed distribution specifying, inter alia, the record date applicable to holders of Deposited Securities entitled to receive such elective distribution and whether or not it wishes such elective distribution to be made available to Holders of ADSs. Upon the timely receipt of a notice indicating that the Company wishes such elective distribution to be made available to Holders of ADSs, the Depositary shall consult with the Company to determine, and the Company shall assist the Depositary in its determination, whether it is lawful and reasonably practicable to make such elective distribution available to the Holders of ADSs. The Depositary shall make such elective distribution available to Holders only if (i) the Company shall have timely requested that the elective distribution be made available to Holders, (ii) the Depositary shall have determined that such distribution is reasonably practicable and (iii) the Depositary shall have received satisfactory documentation within the terms of the Deposit Agreement. If the above conditions are not satisfied, or if the Company requests such elective distribution not to be made available to Holders of ADSs, the Depositary shall establish the ADS Record Date on the terms described in Section 4.9 of the Deposit Agreement and, to the extent permitted by law, distribute to the Holders, on the basis of the same determination as is made in the Republic of China in respect of the Shares for which no election is made, either (X) cash upon the terms described in Section 4.1 of the Deposit Agreement or (Y) additional ADSs representing such additional Shares upon the terms described in Section 4.2 of the Deposit Agreement. If the above conditions are satisfied, the Depositary shall establish an ADS Record Date on the terms described in Section 4.9 of the Deposit Agreement and establish procedures to enable Holders to elect the receipt of the proposed distribution in cash or in additional ADSs. The Company shall assist the Depositary in establishing such procedures to the extent necessary. If a Holder elects to receive the proposed distribution (X) in cash, the distribution shall be made upon the terms described in Section 4.1 of the Deposit Agreement, or (Y) in ADSs, the distribution shall be made upon the terms described in Section 4.2 of the Deposit Agreement. Nothing herein or in the Deposit Agreement shall obligate the Depositary to make available to Holder hereof a method to receive the elective distribution in Eligible Securities (rather than ADSs). There can be no assurance that the Holders hereof will be given the opportunity to

 

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receive elective distributions on the same terms and conditions as the holders of Deposited Securities. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Deposit Agreement to the contrary, in the event the Company fails to give the Depositary timely notice of the proposed distribution provided for above, the Depositary agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to perform the actions contemplated in Section 4.3 of the Deposit Agreement, and the Company, the Holders and the Beneficial Owners acknowledge that the Depositary shall have no liability for the Depositary’s failure to perform the actions contemplated in Section 4.3 of the Deposit Agreement where such notice has not been so timely given, other than its failure to use commercially reasonable efforts, as provided herein.

 

(d) Distribution of Rights to Purchase Additional ADSs : Whenever the Company intends to distribute to the holders of the Deposited Securities rights to subscribe for additional Eligible Securities, the Company shall give notice thereof to the Depositary at least sixty (60) days prior to the proposed distribution specifying, inter alia, the record date applicable to holders of Deposited Securities entitled to receive such distribution and whether or not it wishes such rights to be made available to Holders of ADSs. Upon the timely receipt of a notice indicating that the Company wishes such rights to be made available to Holders of ADSs, the Depositary shall consult with the Company to determine, and the Company shall assist the Depositary in its determination, whether it is lawful and reasonably practicable to make such rights available to the Holders. The Depositary shall make such rights available to Holders only if (i) the Company shall have timely requested that such rights be made available to Holders, (ii) the Depositary shall have received satisfactory documentation within the terms of Section 5.7 of the Deposit Agreement, and (iii) the Depositary shall have determined that such distribution of rights is reasonably practicable. In the event any of the conditions set forth above are not satisfied or if the Company requests that the rights not be made available to Holders of ADSs, the Depositary shall proceed with the sale of the rights as contemplated in Section 4.4(b) of the Deposit Agreement. In the event all conditions set forth above are satisfied, the Depositary shall establish the ADS Record Date (upon the terms described in Section 4.9 of the Deposit Agreement) and establish procedures to (x) distribute rights to purchase additional ADSs (by means of warrants or otherwise), (y) enable the Holders to exercise such rights (upon payment of the subscription price and of the applicable (a) fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes), and (z) deliver ADSs upon the valid exercise of such rights. The Company shall assist the Depositary to the extent necessary in establishing such procedures. Nothing herein or in the Deposit Agreement shall obligate the Depositary to make available to the Holders a method to exercise rights to subscribe for Eligible Securities (rather than ADSs). If (i) the Company does not timely request the Depositary to make the rights available to Holders or requests that the rights not be made available to Holders, (ii) the Depositary fails to receive satisfactory documentation within the terms of Section 5.7 of the Deposit Agreement or determines it is not lawful or not reasonably practicable to make the rights available to Holders, or (iii) any rights made available are not exercised and appear to be about to lapse, the Depositary shall determine in its discretion but after consultation with the Company whether it is lawful and reasonably practicable to sell such rights, in a riskless principal capacity, at such place and upon such terms (including public and private sale) as it may deem practicable. The Depositary shall, upon such sale,

 

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convert and distribute proceeds of such sale (net of applicable (a) fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes) upon the terms hereof and of Section 4.1 of the Deposit Agreement. If the Depositary is unable to make any rights available to Holders upon the terms described in Section 4.4(a) of the Deposit Agreement or to arrange for the sale of the rights upon the terms described in Section 4.4(b) of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall allow such rights to lapse. The Depositary shall not be responsible for (i) any failure to determine that it may be lawful or practicable to make such rights available to Holders in general or any Holders in particular, (ii) any foreign exchange exposure or loss incurred in connection with such sale or exercise, or (iii) the content of any materials forwarded to the ADS Holders on behalf of the Company in connection with the rights distribution.

 

Notwithstanding anything herein or in the Deposit Agreement to the contrary, if registration (under the Securities Act or any other applicable law) of the rights or the securities to which any rights relate may be required in order for the Company to offer such rights or such securities to Holders and to sell the securities represented by such rights, the Depositary will not distribute such rights to the Holders (i) unless and until a registration statement under the Securities Act (or other applicable law) covering such offering is in effect or (ii) unless the Company furnishes the Depositary opinion(s) of counsel for the Company in the United States and counsel to the Company in any other applicable country in which rights would be distributed, in each case satisfactory to the Depositary, to the effect that the offering and sale of such securities to Holders and Beneficial Owners are exempt from, or do not require registration under, the provisions of the Securities Act or any other applicable laws. In the event that the Company, the Depositary or the Custodian shall be required to withhold and does withhold from any distribution of Deposited Property (including rights) an amount on account of taxes or other governmental charges, the amount distributed to the Holders of ADSs shall be reduced accordingly. In the event that the Depositary determines that any distribution of Deposited Property (including Eligible Securities and rights to subscribe therefor) is subject to any tax or other governmental charges which the Depositary is obligated to withhold, the Depositary may dispose of all or a portion of such Deposited Property (including Eligible Securities and rights to subscribe therefor) in such amounts and in such manner, including by public or private sale, as the Depositary deems necessary and practicable to pay any such taxes or charges.

 

There can be no assurance that Holders generally, or any Holder in particular, will be given the opportunity to receive or exercise rights on the same terms and conditions as the holders of Deposited Securities or be able to exercise such rights. Nothing herein or in the Deposit Agreement shall obligate the Company to file any registration statement in respect of any rights or Eligible Securities or other securities to be acquired upon the exercise of such rights.

 

(e) Distributions other than Cash, Shares or Rights to Purchase Shares : Upon receipt of a notice indicating that the Company wishes property other than cash, Eligible Securities or rights to purchase additional Eligible Securities, to be made to Holders of ADSs, the Depositary shall determine whether such distribution to Holders is lawful and reasonably practicable. The Depositary shall not make such distribution unless (i) the

 

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Company shall have requested the Depositary to make such distribution to Holders, (ii) the Depositary shall have received the documentation contemplated in the Deposit Agreement, and (iii) the Depositary shall have determined that such distribution is lawful and reasonably practicable. Upon receipt of satisfactory documentation and the request of the Company to distribute property to Holders of ADSs and after making the requisite determinations set forth above, the Depositary shall distribute the property so received to the Holders of record, as of the ADS Record Date, in proportion to the number of ADSs held by them respectively and in such manner as the Depositary may deem practicable for accomplishing such distribution (i) upon receipt of payment or net of the applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary, and (ii) net of any taxes withheld. The Depositary may dispose of all or a portion of the property so distributed and deposited, in such amounts and in such manner (including public or private sale) as the Depositary may deem practicable or necessary to satisfy any taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) or other governmental charges applicable to the distribution.

 

If (i) the Company does not request the Depositary to make such distribution to Holders or requests the Depositary not to make such distribution to Holders, (ii) the Depositary does not receive satisfactory documentation within the terms of Section 5.7 of the Deposit Agreement, or (iii) the Depositary determines that all or a portion of such distribution is not reasonably practicable, the Depositary shall sell or cause such property to be sold in a public or private sale, at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem practicable and shall (i) cause the proceeds of such sale, if any, to be converted into Dollars and (ii) distribute the proceeds of such conversion received by the Depositary (net of applicable (a) fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes) to the Holders as of the ADS Record Date upon the terms hereof and of the Deposit Agreement. If the Depositary is unable to sell such property, the Depositary may dispose of such property for the account of the Holders in any way it deems reasonably practicable under the circumstances.

 

Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be liable for (i) any failure to accurately determine whether it is lawful or practicable to make the property described in Section 4.5 of the Deposit Agreement available to Holders in general or any Holders in particular, nor (ii) any loss incurred in connection with the sale or disposal of such property.

 

(16)        Redemption . If the Company intends to exercise any right of redemption in respect of any of the Deposited Securities, the Company shall give notice thereof to the Depositary at least sixty (60) days prior to the intended date of redemption which notice shall set forth the particulars of the proposed redemption. Upon timely receipt of (i) such notice and (ii) satisfactory documentation given by the Company to the Depositary within the terms of Section 5.7 of the Deposit Agreement, and only if the Depositary shall have determined that such proposed redemption is reasonably practicable, the Depositary shall provide to each Holder a notice setting forth the intended exercise by the Company of the redemption rights and any other particulars set forth in the Company’s notice to the Depositary. The Depositary shall instruct the Custodian to present to the Company the Deposited Securities in respect of which redemption rights are being exercised against

 

21
 

payment of the applicable redemption price. Upon receipt of confirmation from the Custodian that the redemption has taken place and that funds representing the redemption price have been received, the Depositary shall convert, transfer, and distribute the proceeds (net of applicable (a) fees and charges of, and the expenses incurred by, the Depositary, and (b) taxes), retire ADSs and cancel ADRs, if applicable, upon delivery of such ADSs by Holders thereof and the terms set forth in Sections 4.1 and 6.2 of the Deposit Agreement. If less than all outstanding Deposited Securities are redeemed, the ADSs to be retired will be selected by lot or on a pro rata basis, as may be determined by the Depositary. The redemption price per ADS shall be the dollar equivalent of the per share amount received by the Depositary (adjusted to reflect the ADS(s)-to-Share(s) ratio) upon the redemption of the Deposited Securities represented by ADSs (subject to the terms of Section 4.8 of the Deposit Agreement and the applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary, and taxes) multiplied by the number of Deposited Securities represented by each ADS redeemed. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Deposit Agreement to the contrary, in the event the Company fails to give the Depositary timely notice of the proposed redemption provided for in Section 4.7 of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to perform the actions contemplated in Section 4.7 of the Deposit Agreement, and the Company, the Holders and the Beneficial Owners acknowledge that the Depositary shall have no liability for the Depositary’s failure to perform the actions contemplated in Section 4.7 of the Deposit Agreement where such notice has not been so timely given, other than its failure to use commercially reasonable efforts, as provided herein.

 

(17)        Fixing of ADS Record Date . Whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of the fixing of a record date by the Company for the determination of holders of Deposited Securities entitled to receive any distribution (whether in cash, Eligible Securities, rights or other distribution), or whenever for any reason the Depositary causes a change in the number of Deposited Securities that are represented by each ADS, or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting of, or solicitation of consents or proxies of, holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, or whenever the Depositary shall find it necessary or convenient in connection with the giving of any notice, solicitation of any consent or any other matter, the Depositary shall fix the record date (the “ ADS Record Date ”) for the determination of the Holders of ADS(s) who shall be entitled to receive such distribution, to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at any such meeting, to give or withhold such consent, to receive such notice or solicitation or to otherwise take action, or to exercise the rights of Holders with respect to such changed number of Deposited Securities represented by each ADS. The Depositary shall make reasonable efforts to establish the ADS Record Date as closely as practicable to the applicable record date for the Deposited Securities (if any) set by the Company in the Republic of China and shall not announce the establishment of any ADS Record Date prior to the relevant corporate action having been made public by the Company (if such corporate action affects the Deposited Securities). Subject to applicable law, the terms and conditions of this ADR and Sections 4.1 through 4.8 of the Deposit Agreement, only the Holders of ADSs at the close of business in New York on such ADS Record Date shall be entitled to receive such distribution, to give such voting instructions, to receive such notice or solicitation, or otherwise take action. The Depositary shall, so long as the ADSs are listed in a securities exchange in the U.S., promptly notify such securities

 

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exchange of any action to fix an ADS Record Date or to close the transfer books for the ADSs.

 

(18)        Voting of Deposited Securities . (a) Voting by Shareholders. The Depositary has been advised that the Articles of Incorporation of the Company and the ROC Company Law, as in effect on the date of the Deposit Agreement, provide that:  (i) except for Shares held by the Company, a holder of Shares (including holders of interests in any Certificate of Payment evidencing the irrevocable right to receive Shares) is entitled to one vote for each Share held, (ii) the election of directors and supervisors takes place by means of cumulative voting, and (iii) a shareholder must, as to all matters subject to a vote of shareholders (other than the election of directors and supervisors), exercise the voting rights for all Deposited Securities held by such shareholder in the same manner (e.g., a holder of 1,000 Shares cannot split his/her votes but must vote all 1,000 Shares in the same manner except in the event of cumulative voting for an election of directors and supervisors).  Deposited Securities which have been withdrawn from the ADR Facility and timely transferred on the Company's register of shareholders to a person other than the Depositary's nominee may be voted by the registered holder(s) thereof directly, subject, in each case, to the limitations of ROC Law and the Articles of Incorporation of the Company.  Holders may not receive sufficient advance notice of shareholders' meetings to enable them to timely withdraw the Deposited Securities and vote at such meetings and may not be able to re-deposit the withdrawn securities under the terms of the Deposit Agreement.

 

(b) Voting by ADS Holders. Holders of ADSs have no individual voting rights with respect to the Shares represented by their ADSs.  Each Holder and Beneficial Owner shall be deemed, by acceptance of ADSs or acquisition of any beneficial interest therein, to have authorized and directed the Depositary's nominee, without liability, to appoint the Chairman of the Company (or his/her designate) (the “ Voting Representative ”), as representative of the Depositary's nominee who is registered in the Republic of China as representative of the Depositary and the Holders and Beneficial Owners in respect of the Deposited Securities (the “ Registered Holder ”) to vote the Deposited Securities in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

The Company agrees to timely notify the Depositary of any proposed shareholders' meeting and to provide to the Depositary in New York, at least 24 calendar days before any shareholders' meeting, sufficient copies as the Depositary may reasonably request of English language translations of the Company's notice of shareholders' meeting and the agenda of the materials to be voted on (in the form the Company generally makes available to holders of Shares in the Republic of China) (such materials collectively, the "Shareholder Notice"). As soon as practicable after receipt by the Depositary of the requisite number of Shareholder Notices, the Depositary shall establish the ADS Record Date (upon the terms of Section 4.9 of the Deposit Agreement) and shall, at the Company's expense and, provided no U.S. legal prohibitions exist, distribute to Holders as of the applicable ADS Record Date, (i) the Shareholder Notice, (ii) a Depositary notice setting forth the manner in which Holders of ADSs may instruct the Depositary to cause the  Deposited Securities represented by their ADSs to be voted under the terms of this Deposit Agreement including, a description of the Management

 

23
 

Authorization (as defined below), together with a form of voting instructions and/or other means to provide voting instructions (the Depositary notice and the related materials prepared by the Depositary collectively, the " Depositary Notice ").  The Depositary is under no obligation to distribute the Shareholder Notice or the Depositary Notice to Holders if the Company has failed to provide to the Depositary in New York the requisite number of Shareholder Notices at least 24 calendar days prior to the date of any shareholders' meeting.  If the Depositary has not delivered the Shareholder Notice or the Depositary Notice to Holders, it will endeavor to cause all Deposited Securities represented by ADSs to be present at the relevant shareholders' meeting insofar as practicable and permitted under applicable law but will not cause the Deposited Securities to be voted; provided, however , that the Depositary may determine, at its discretion, to distribute such Shareholder Notice or Depositary Notice to the Holders and/or cause the Shares or other Deposited Securities to be voted as it deems appropriate. There can be no assurance that Holders generally or any Holder in particular will receive Shareholder Notices or Depositary Notices with sufficient time to enable the return of voting instructions to the Depositary in a timely manner.

 

Notwithstanding anything contained in the Deposit Agreement or any ADR, the Depositary may, to the extent not prohibited by law or regulations, or by the requirements of the stock exchange on which the ADSs are listed, in lieu of distribution of the materials provided to the Depositary in connection with any meeting of, or solicitation of consents or proxies from, holders of Deposited Securities, distribute to the Holders a notice that provides Holders with, or otherwise publicizes to Holders, instructions on how to retrieve such materials or receive such materials upon request (i.e., by reference to a website containing the materials for retrieval or a contact for requesting copies of the materials).

 

(c) Voting of Deposited Securities Upon ADS Holders' Instructions. If Holders of ADSs together holding at least 51% of all ADSs (including Temporary ADSs) outstanding as of the relevant ADS Record Date shall instruct the Depositary prior to the date established for such purpose by the Depositary to vote in the same manner in respect of one or more resolutions to be proposed at a shareholders' meeting ( including resolutions for the election of directors and/or supervisors), the Depositary shall notify the Voting Representative and cause the Depositary's nominee as Registered Holder to appoint the Voting Representative as the representative of the Registered Holder (and indirectly of the Depositary, the Holders and the Beneficial Owners) to attend such shareholders' meeting and vote all Deposited Securities evidenced by ADSs (including Temporary ADSs) then outstanding in the manner so instructed by such Holders.  If voting instructions are received by the Depositary on or before the date established by the Depositary for the receipt of such instructions from any Holder as of the ADS Record Date, which are signed but without further indication as to voting instructions, the Depositary shall deem such Holder to have instructed a vote in favor of the items set forth in such instructions.  The Depositary and Custodian shall not have any obligation to monitor, and shall not incur any liability for, the actions, or the failure to act, of the Voting Representative as representative of the Registered Holder (and indirectly of the Depositary, the Holders and the Beneficial Owners).

 

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(d) Management Authorization. If, for any reason (other than a failure by the Company to supply the requisite number of Shareholder Notices to the Depositary within the requisite time period provided in Section 4.10 of the Deposit Agreement) the Depositary has not, prior to the date established for such purpose by the Depositary received instructions from Holders together holding at least 51% of all ADSs (including Temporary ADSs) outstanding at the relevant ADS Record Date, to vote in the same manner in respect of any resolution (including resolutions for the election of directors and/or supervisors) then, subject to the following paragraph, the Holders shall be deemed to have instructed the Depositary's nominee to give a discretionary authorization (a " Management Authorization ") to the Voting Representative as the representative of the Registered Holder (and indirectly of the Depositary, the Holders and the Beneficial Owners) to attend and vote at such meeting all the Deposited Securities represented by ADSs (including Temporary ADSs) then outstanding in his or her discretion.  In such circumstances, the Voting Representative shall be free to exercise the votes attaching to the Deposited Securities in any manner he or she wishes, which may not be in the best interests of the Holders and Beneficial Owners.

 

The Depositary's grant of a Management Authorization in the manner and circumstances described in the preceding paragraph shall be subject to the receipt by the Depositary prior to each shareholders' meeting of an opinion of ROC counsel addressed to, and in form and substance satisfactory to, the Depositary to the effect that under ROC law (i) the arrangements relating to the Management Authorization are permissible, and (ii) the Depositary will not be deemed to be authorized to exercise any discretion when causing the voting in accordance with Section 4.10 of the Deposit Agreement and will not (in the absence of negligence, bad faith or breach of contract, and subject to general principles of agency) be subject to any liability under ROC law for losses arising from the exercise of the voting arrangements set out in Section 4.10 of the Deposit Agreement on the grounds that voting in accordance with Section 4.10 of the Deposit Agreement is in violation of ROC law.  In the event the Depositary does not receive such opinion, or the Voting Representative informs the Depositary that he or she does not wish to be so authorized, the Depositary will not grant the Management Authorization but will cause the Deposited Securities to be present at the shareholders' meeting to the extent practicable and permitted by applicable law for the purpose of satisfying quorum requirements but will not cause the Deposited Securities to be voted or the Management Authorization to be granted.

 

(e) General. The Depositary shall not, and the Depositary shall ensure that the Custodian and its nominees do not, vote or attempt to exercise the right to vote that attaches to the Deposited Securities other than in accordance with instructions given in accordance with Section 4.10 of the Deposit Agreement.  The terms of Section 4.10 of the Deposit Agreement may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Deposit Agreement.  By continuing to hold ADSs after the effective time of such amendment all Holders and Beneficial Owners shall be deemed to have agreed to the terms of Section 4.10 of the Deposit Agreement as so amended. Notwithstanding anything else contained in the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall not have any obligation to take any action with respect to any meeting, or solicitation of consents or proxies or instructions, of holders of Deposited Securities if the taking of such action

 

25
 

would violate U.S. or ROC laws. The Company agrees to take any and all actions reasonably necessary to enable Holders and Beneficial Owners to exercise the voting rights accruing to the Deposited Securities and to deliver to the Depositary an opinion of U.S. or ROC counsel, as applicable, addressing any actions requested to be taken if so reasonably requested by the Depositary.

 

(19)        Changes Affecting Deposited Securities . Upon any change in nominal or par value, split-up, cancellation, consolidation or any other reclassification of Deposited Securities, or upon any recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale of assets affecting the Company or to which it is a party, any property which shall be received by the Depositary or the Custodian in exchange for, or in conversion of, or replacement of, or otherwise in respect of, such Deposited Securities shall, to the extent permitted by law, be treated as new Deposited Property under the Deposit Agreement, and this ADR shall, subject to the provisions of the Deposit Agreement, this ADR and applicable law, represent the right to receive such additional or replacement Deposited Property. In giving effect to such change, split-up, cancellation, consolidation or other reclassification of Deposited Securities, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale of assets, the Depositary may, with the Company’s approval, and shall, if the Company shall so request, subject to the terms of the Deposit Agreement and receipt of an opinion of counsel to the Company provided pursuant to Section 5.7 of the Deposit Agreement and satisfactory to the Depositary that such actions are not in violation of any applicable laws or regulations, (i) issue and deliver additional ADSs as in the case of a stock dividend on the Shares, (ii) amend the Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADRs, (iii) amend the applicable Registration Statement(s) on Form F-6 as filed with the Commission in respect of the ADSs, (iv) call for the surrender of outstanding ADRs to be exchanged for new ADRs, and (v) take such other actions as are appropriate to reflect the transaction with respect to the ADSs. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any Deposited Property so received may not be lawfully distributed to some or all Holders, the Depositary may, with the Company’s approval, and shall, if the Company requests, subject to receipt of an opinion of Company’s counsel satisfactory to the Depositary that such action is not in violation of any applicable laws or regulations, sell such Deposited Property at public or private sale, at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem proper and may allocate the net proceeds of such sales (net of (a) fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes) for the account of the Holders otherwise entitled to such Deposited Property upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any distinctions among such Holders and distribute the net proceeds so allocated to the extent practicable as in the case of a distribution received in cash pursuant to Section 4.1 of the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary shall not be responsible for (i) any failure to determine that it may be lawful or practicable to make such Deposited Property available to Holders in general or to any Holder in particular, (ii) any foreign exchange exposure or loss incurred in connection with such sale, or (iii) any liability to the purchaser of such Deposited Property.

 

(20)        Exoneration . Notwithstanding anything contained in the Deposit Agreement or any ADR, neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be obligated to do or perform any act which is inconsistent with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement or

 

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incur any liability (i) if the Depositary or the Company shall be prevented or forbidden from, or delayed in, doing or performing any act or thing required by the terms of the Deposit Agreement and this ADR, by reason of any provision of any present or future law or regulation of the United States, the Republic of China or any other country, or of any other governmental authority or regulatory authority or stock exchange, or on account of the possible criminal or civil penalties or restraint, or by reason of any provision, present or future, of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company or any provision of or governing any Deposited Securities, or by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstances beyond its control (including, without limitation, nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, work stoppage, strikes, civil unrest, acts of terrorism, revolutions, rebellions, explosions and computer failure), (ii) by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in the Deposit Agreement or in the Articles of Incorporation of the Company or provisions of or governing Deposited Securities, (iii) for any action or inaction in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting Shares for deposit, any Holder, any Beneficial Owner or authorized representative thereof, or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information, (iv) for the inability by a Holder or Beneficial Owner to benefit from any distribution, offering, right or other benefit which is made available to holders of Deposited Securities but is not, under the terms of the Deposit Agreement, made available to Holders of ADSs, or (v) for any consequential or punitive damages (including lost profits) for any breach of the terms of the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary, its controlling persons, its agents, any Custodian and the Company, its controlling persons and its agents may rely and shall be protected in acting upon any written notice, request or other document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties. No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act is intended by any provision of the Deposit Agreement or this ADR.

 

(21)        Standard of Care . The Company and the Depositary assume no obligation and shall not be subject to any liability under the Deposit Agreement or this ADR to any Holder(s) or Beneficial Owner(s), except that the Company and the Depositary agree to perform their respective obligations specifically set forth in the Deposit Agreement or this ADR without negligence or bad faith. The Depositary and the Company undertake to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in the Deposit Agreement, and no implied covenants and obligations should be read into the Deposit Agreement against the Depositary or the Company or their respective agents. Without limitation of the foregoing, neither the Depositary, nor the Company, nor any of their respective controlling persons, or agents, shall be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any Deposited Property or in respect of the ADSs, which in its opinion may involve it in expense or liability, unless indemnity satisfactory to it against all expense (including fees and disbursements of counsel) and liability be furnished as often as may be required (and no Custodian shall be under any obligation whatsoever with respect to such proceedings, the responsibility of the Custodian being solely to the Depositary).

 

The Depositary and its agents shall not be liable for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote any of the Deposited Securities, or for the manner in which any vote

 

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is cast or the effect of any vote, provided that any such action or omission is in good faith and in accordance with the terms of the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary shall not incur any liability for any failure to accurately determine that any distribution or action may be lawful or reasonably practicable, for the content of any information submitted to it by the Company for distribution to the Holders or for any inaccuracy of any translation thereof, for any investment risk associated with acquiring an interest in the Deposited Property, for the validity or worth of the Deposited Property or for any tax consequences that may result from the ownership of ADSs, Shares or other Deposited Property, for the credit-worthiness of any third party, for allowing any rights to lapse upon the terms of the Deposit Agreement, for the failure or timeliness of any notice from the Company, or for the failure of the Company to exchange any Certificate of Payment into Shares, or for any action of or failure to act by, or any information provided or not provided by, DTC or any DTC Participant. The Depositary shall not be obligated in any way to monitor or enforce the obligations of the Company, including, without limitation, in respect of any Certificate of Payment, the conversion of such Certificate of Payment into Shares.

 

The Depositary shall not be liable for any acts or omissions made by a successor depositary whether in connection with a previous act or omission of the Depositary or in connection with any matter arising wholly after the removal or resignation of the Depositary, provided that in connection with the issue out of which such potential liability arises the Depositary performed its obligations without negligence or bad faith while it acted as Depositary.

 

(22)        Resignation and Removal of the Depositary; Appointment of Successor Depositary . The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary under the Deposit Agreement by written notice of resignation delivered to the Company, such resignation to be effective on the earlier of (i) the 60th day after delivery thereof to the Company (whereupon the Depositary shall be entitled to take the actions contemplated in Section 6.2 of the Deposit Agreement), or (ii) upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by written notice of such removal, which removal shall be effective on the later of (i) the 60th day after delivery thereof to the Depositary (whereupon the Depositary shall be entitled to take the actions contemplated in Section 6.2 of the Deposit Agreement), or (ii) upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement. In case at any time the Depositary acting hereunder shall resign or be removed, the Company shall use its best efforts to appoint a successor depositary, which shall be a bank or trust company having an office in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York. Every successor depositary shall be required by the Company to execute and deliver to its predecessor and to the Company an instrument in writing accepting its appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor depositary, without any further act or deed (except as required by applicable law), shall become fully vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor (other than as contemplated in Sections 5.8 and 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement). The predecessor depositary, upon payment of all sums due it and on the written request of the Company shall (i) execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor all rights and powers of such

 

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predecessor hereunder (other than as contemplated in Sections 5.8 and 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement), (ii) duly assign, transfer and deliver all of the Depositary’s right, title and interest to the Deposited Property to such successor, and (iii) deliver to such successor a list of the Holders of all outstanding ADSs and such other information relating to ADSs and Holders thereof as the successor may reasonably request. Any such successor depositary shall promptly provide notice of its appointment to such Holders. Any entity into or with which the Depositary may be merged or consolidated shall be the successor of the Depositary without the execution or filing of any document or any further act.

 

(23)        Amendment/Supplement . Subject to the terms and conditions of this paragraph 21, the Deposit Agreement and applicable law, this ADR and any provisions of the Deposit Agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended or supplemented by written agreement between the Company and the Depositary in any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable without the prior written consent of the Holders or Beneficial Owners. Any amendment or supplement which shall impose or increase any fees or charges (other than charges in connection with foreign exchange control regulations, and taxes and other governmental charges, delivery and other such expenses), or which shall otherwise materially prejudice any substantial existing right of Holders or Beneficial Owners, shall not, however, become effective as to outstanding ADSs until the expiration of thirty (30) days after notice of such amendment or supplement shall have been given to the Holders of outstanding ADSs. Notice of any amendment to the Deposit Agreement or any ADR shall not need to describe in detail the specific amendments effectuated thereby, and failure to describe the specific amendments in any such notice shall not render such notice invalid, provided , however , that, in each such case, the notice given to the Holders identifies a means for Holders and Beneficial Owners to retrieve or receive the text of such amendment ( i.e. , upon retrieval from the Commission’s, the Depositary’s or the Company’s website or upon request from the Depositary). The parties hereto agree that any amendments or supplements which (i) are reasonably necessary (as agreed by the Company and the Depositary) in order for (a) the ADSs to be registered on Form F-6 under the Securities Act or (b) the ADSs to be settled solely in electronic book-entry form and (ii) do not in either such case impose or increase any fees or charges to be borne by Holders, shall be deemed not to materially prejudice any substantial rights of Holders or Beneficial Owners. Every Holder and Beneficial Owner at the time any amendment or supplement so becomes effective shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such ADSs, to consent and agree to such amendment or supplement and to be bound by the Deposit Agreement and this ADR as amended or supplemented thereby. In no event shall any amendment or supplement impair the right of the Holder to surrender such ADS and receive therefor the Deposited Securities represented thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any governmental body should adopt new laws, rules or regulations which would require an amendment of, or supplement to, the Deposit Agreement to ensure compliance therewith, the Company and the Depositary may amend or supplement the Deposit Agreement and this ADR at any time in accordance with such changed laws, rules or regulations. Such amendment or supplement to the Deposit Agreement and this ADR in such circumstances may become effective before a notice of such amendment or supplement is given to Holders or within any other period of time as required for compliance with such laws, rules or regulations.

 

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(24)        Termination . The Depositary shall, at any time at the written direction of the Company, terminate the Deposit Agreement by distributing notice of such termination to the Holders of all ADSs then outstanding at least thirty (30) days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination. If sixty (60) days shall have expired after (i) the Depositary shall have delivered to the Company a written notice of its election to resign, or (ii) the Company shall have delivered to the Depositary a written notice of the removal of the Depositary, and, in either case, a successor depositary shall not have been appointed and accepted its appointment as provided in Section 5.4 of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may terminate the Deposit Agreement by distributing notice of such termination to the Holders of all ADSs then outstanding at least thirty (30) days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination. The date so fixed for termination of the Deposit Agreement in any termination notice so distributed by the Depositary to the Holders of ADSs is referred to as the “ Termination Date ”. Until the Termination Date, the Depositary shall continue to perform all of its obligations under the Deposit Agreement, and the Holders and Beneficial Owners will be entitled to all of their rights under the Deposit Agreement. If any ADSs shall remain outstanding after the Termination Date, the Registrar and the Depositary shall not, after the Termination Date, have any obligation to perform any further acts under the Deposit Agreement, except that the Depositary shall, subject, in each case, to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, continue to (i) collect dividends and other distributions pertaining to Deposited Securities, (ii) sell Deposited Property received in respect of Deposited Securities, (iii) deliver Deposited Securities, together with any dividends or other distributions received with respect thereto and the net proceeds of the sale of any other Deposited Property, in exchange for ADSs surrendered to the Depositary (after deducting, or charging, as the case may be, in each case, the fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary, and all applicable taxes or governmental charges for the account of the Holders and Beneficial Owners, in each case upon the terms set forth in Section 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement), and (iv) take such actions as may be required under applicable law in connection with its role as Depositary under the Deposit Agreement. At any time after the Termination Date, the Depositary may sell the Deposited Property then held under the Deposit Agreement and shall after such sale hold un-invested the net proceeds of such sale, together with any other cash then held by it under the Deposit Agreement, in an un-segregated account and without liability for interest, for the pro rata benefit of the Holders whose ADSs have not theretofore been surrendered. After making such sale, the Depositary shall be discharged from all obligations under the Deposit Agreement except (i) to account for such net proceeds and other cash (after deducting, or charging, as the case may be, in each case, the fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary, and all applicable taxes or governmental charges for the account of the Holders and Beneficial Owners, in each case upon the terms set forth in Section 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement), and (ii) as may be required at law in connection with the termination of the Deposit Agreement. After the Termination Date, the Company shall be discharged from all obligations under the Deposit Agreement, except for its obligations to the Depositary under Sections 5.8, 5.9 and 7.6 of the Deposit Agreement. The obligations under the terms of the Deposit Agreement of Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs outstanding as of the Termination Date shall survive the Termination Date and shall be discharged only when the applicable

 

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ADSs are presented by their Holders to the Depositary for cancellation under the terms of the Deposit Agreement.

 

(25)        Compliance with U.S. Securities Laws . Notwithstanding any provisions in this ADR or the Deposit Agreement to the contrary, the withdrawal or delivery of Deposited Securities will not be suspended by the Company or the Depositary except as would be permitted by Instruction I.A.(1) of the General Instructions to the Form F-6 Registration Statement, as amended from time to time, under the Securities Act.

 

(26)        Certain Rights of the Depositary; Limitations . Subject to the further terms and provisions of this paragraph (26), the Depositary, its Affiliates and their agents, on their own behalf, may own and deal in any class of securities of the Company and its Affiliates and in ADSs. The Depositary may issue ADSs against evidence of rights to receive Eligible Securities from the Company, any agent of the Company or any custodian, registrar, transfer agent, clearing agency or other entity involved in ownership or transaction records in respect of the Eligible Securities. Such evidence of rights shall consist of written blanket or specific guarantees of ownership of Eligible Securities. In its capacity as Depositary, the Depositary shall not lend Deposited Securities or ADSs; provided , however , that, subject to Republic of China rules and regulations, the Depositary may (i) issue ADSs prior to the receipt of Eligible Securities pursuant to Section 2.3 of the Deposit Agreement and (ii) deliver Deposited Securities prior to the receipt of ADSs for cancellation upon withdrawal of Deposited Securities pursuant to Section 2.7 of the Deposit Agreement, including ADSs which were issued under (i) above but for which Eligible Securities may not have been received (each such transaction a “ Pre-Release Transaction ”). The Depositary may receive ADSs in lieu of Eligible Securities under (i) above and receive Shares in lieu of ADSs under (ii) above. Each such Pre-Release Transaction will be (a) subject to a written agreement whereby the person or entity (the “ Applicant ”) to whom ADSs or Shares are to be delivered (w) represents that at the time of the Pre-Release Transaction the Applicant or its customer owns the Eligible Securities or ADSs that are to be delivered by the Applicant under such Pre-Release Transaction, (x) agrees to indicate the Depositary as owner of such Eligible Securities or ADSs in its records and to hold such Eligible Securities or ADSs in trust for the Depositary until such Eligible Securities or ADSs are delivered to the Depositary or the Custodian, (y) unconditionally guarantees to deliver to the Depositary or the Custodian, as applicable, such Eligible Securities or ADSs and (z) agrees to any additional restrictions or requirements that the Depositary deems appropriate, (b) at all times fully collateralized with cash, U.S. government securities or such other collateral as the Depositary deems appropriate, (c) terminable by the Depositary on not more than five (5) business days’ notice and (d) subject to such further indemnities and credit regulations as the Depositary deems appropriate. The Depositary will normally limit the number of ADSs and Eligible Securities involved in such Pre-Release Transactions at any one time to thirty percent (30%) of the ADSs outstanding (without giving effect to ADSs outstanding under (i) above), provided , however , that the Depositary reserves the right to change or disregard such limit from time to time as it deems appropriate. The Depositary may also set limits with respect to the number of ADSs and Shares involved in Pre-Release Transactions with any one person on a case-by-case basis as it deems appropriate. The Depositary may retain for its own account any compensation received

 

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by it in conjunction with the foregoing. Collateral provided pursuant to (b) above, but not the earnings thereon, shall be held for the benefit of the Holders (other than the Applicant).

 

(27)        Governing Law / Waiver of Jury Trial . The Deposit Agreement and the ADRs shall be interpreted in accordance with, and all rights hereunder and thereunder and provisions hereof and thereof shall be governed by, the laws of the State of New York without reference to the principles of choice of law thereof. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Deposit Agreement, any ADR or any present or future provisions of the laws of the State of New York, the rights of holders of Shares and of any other Deposited Securities and the obligations and duties of the Company in respect of the holders of Shares and other Deposited Securities, as such, shall be governed by the laws of the Republic of China (or, if applicable, such other laws as may govern the Deposited Securities). EACH OF THE PARTIES TO THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, EACH HOLDER AND BENEFICIAL OWNER) WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING AGAINST THE COMPANY AND/OR THE DEPOSITARY ARISING OUT OF, OR RELATING TO, THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT, ANY ADR AND ANY TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREIN (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, COMMON LAW OR OTHERWISE).

 

(28)        Right to Submit Proposals at Annual Ordinary Meeting of Shareholders .  (a)   Proposals by Shareholders :  The Company has informed the Depositary that under ROC Company Law, as in effect as of the date of the Deposit Agreement, holders of one percent (1%) or more of the total issued and outstanding Shares of the Company as of the applicable record date for determining holders of Shares with the right to vote at an annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders (the “ Shareholder Proposal Record Date ”), are entitled to submit one (1) written proposal (the “ Proposal ”) each year for consideration at the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders, provided that :  (i) the Proposal is in the Chinese language and does not exceed 300 Chinese characters (including the reason(s) for the Proposal and all punctuation marks) in length, (ii) the Proposal is submitted to the Company prior to the expiration of the period for submission of Proposals (the “ Submission Period ”) announced by the Company (which Submission Period and the place for eligible shareholders to submit the Proposal the Company undertakes to announce publicly each year in a report on Form 6-K submitted to the Commission prior to the commencement of the 60 days closed period prior to the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders), (iii) only one (1) matter for consideration at the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders shall be allowed in each Proposal, and (iv) the proposing shareholder shall attend, in person or by a proxy, such annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders whereat his or her or its Proposal is to be discussed and such proposing shareholder, or his or her or its proxy, shall take part in the discussion of such Proposal.  As the holder of the Deposited Securities, the Depositary or its nominee is entitled, provided the conditions of ROC law are satisfied, to submit only one (1) Proposal each year in respect of all of the Shares held on deposit as of the applicable

 

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Shareholder Proposal Record Date.  Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs do not under ROC law have individual rights to submit Proposals to the Company for consideration at the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders but may be able to submit Proposals to the Company for consideration at the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders if the Beneficial Owners (i) timely present their ADSs to the Depositary for cancellation pursuant to the terms of the Deposit Agreement and become holders of Shares in the ROC prior to the expiration of the Submission Period and prior to the applicable Shareholder Proposal Record Date, and (ii) otherwise satisfy the conditions of ROC law applicable to the submission of Proposals to the Company for consideration at an annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders.  Beneficial Owners of ADSs may not receive sufficient advance notice of an annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders to enable the timely withdrawal of Shares to make a Proposal to the Company and may not be able to re-deposit under the Deposit Agreement the Shares so withdrawn.  The Company has informed the Depositary that a Proposal shall only be voted upon at the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders if the Proposal is accepted by the board of directors of the Company as eligible in accordance with Article 172-1 of the ROC Company Law and the Company's Articles of Incorporation for consideration at an annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders.

 

(b) Single Proposal by Depositary or its Nominee on behalf of Beneficial Owners .  Holders   and Beneficial Owners of ADSs do not have individual proposal rights.  The Depositary will, if so requested by (a) Beneficial Owner(s) as of the applicable ADS Record Date that own(s), individually or as a group, at least 51% of the ADSs outstanding as of the applicable ADS Record Date (such Beneficial Owner(s), the “ Submitting Holder(s) ”), submit to the Company for consideration at the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders one (1) Proposal each year, provided that :  (i) the Proposal submitted to the Depositary by the Submitting Holder(s) is in the Chinese language and does not exceed 300 Chinese characters (including the reason(s) for the Proposal and all punctuation marks) in length, (ii) the Proposal from the Submitting Holder(s) is received by the Depositary at least two (2) Business Days prior to the expiration of the Submission Period, (iii) the Proposal is accompanied by a written certificate signed by each Submitting Holder, addressed to the Depositary and the Company and in a form satisfactory to the Depositary and the Company (the “ First Proposal Certificate ”), certifying, inter alia , (w) that each Submitting Holder has only certified the said Proposal, (x) that the Submitting Holder(s) own(s), individually or in the aggregate, at least 51% of the ADSs outstanding as of the date the Proposal is submitted by the Submitting Holder(s) to the Depositary (the “ Proposal Submission Date ”), (y) if the Proposal Submission Date is (i) on or after the applicable ADS Record Date, that the Submitting Holder(s) owned at least 51% of the ADSs outstanding as of the applicable ADS Record Date, and (ii) prior to the applicable ADS Record Date, that the Submitting Holder(s) will continue to own at least 51% of the ADSs outstanding as of the applicable ADS Record Date and will provide the Second Proposal Certificate, as defined below, and (z) the name(s) and address(es) of the Submitting Holder(s) and the number of ADSs owned by each Submitting Holder (together with certified evidence of each Submitting Holder’s ownership of the applicable ADSs as of the Proposal Submission Date, in the case of (y)(ii) above, and the applicable ADS Record Date, in the case of

 

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(y)(i) above)), (iv) if the Proposal Submission Date is prior to the applicable ADS Record Date, the Depositary must also receive from the Submitting Holder(s), within five (5) Business Days after the applicable ADS Record Date, a second written certificate signed by each Submitting Holder, addressed to the Depositary and the Company and in a form satisfactory to the Depositary and the Company (the “ Second Proposal Certificate ”), certifying, inter alia , that the Submitting Holder(s) continued to own at least 51% of the ADSs outstanding as of the applicable ADS Record Date (together with certified evidence of each Submitting Holder’s ownership of the applicable ADSs as of such applicable ADS Record Date), (v) the Proposal is accompanied by a joint and several irrevocable undertaking of all Submitting Holders (which undertaking may be contained in the First Proposal Certificate or the Second Proposal Certificate) that each such Submitting Holder shall pay all fees and expenses incurred in relation to the submission of the Proposal for voting at the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders (including, but not limited to, the costs and expenses of the Submitting Holder(s), or his, her, its or their representative, to attend the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders), (vi) the Shares registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee as representative of the Holders and Beneficial Owners constitute one percent (1%) or more of the total issued and outstanding Shares of the Company as of the Shareholder Proposal Record Date, (vii) such Proposal contains only one (1) matter for consideration at the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders, and (viii) the Submitting Holder(s), or his, her, its or their representative, upon the authorization by the Depositary, attend(s) the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders and take(s) part in the discussions of the Proposal in the Chinese language, provided further that only one (1) individual may attend, and take part in the discussion of the Proposal at such annual ordinary meeting on behalf of a Submitting Holder or a group of Submitting Holders.  Each Beneficial Owner hereby agrees and acknowledges that (i) the chairman of the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders will treat the Proposal in accordance with the ROC Company Law and the rules governing the proceeding of such meeting, including but not limited to, having such Proposal discussed and voted at such meeting, regardless of whether the Submitting Holder(s) attends such meeting, and (ii) in no event shall a Submitting Holder’s, or his, her, its or their representative's, presence at an annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders entitle such Submitting Holder(s), or his, her, its or their representative, to vote the Shares represented by such Submitting Holder’s ADSs (or any other ADSs) at such annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders.

 

Upon the timely receipt by the Depositary of any Proposal which the Depositary reasonably believes to be in full compliance with the immediately preceding paragraph, the Depositary shall submit a copy of such Proposal and of the other materials received from the Submitting Holder(s) to the Company prior to the expiration of the Submission Period.  Any Proposal so submitted as to which the Depositary has not received within five (5) Business Days after the applicable ADS Record Date any Second Proposal Certificate required under the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed irrevocably withdrawn at the expiration of such five (5) Business Day period.  In the event the Depositary receives more than one (1) Proposal by a Submitting Holder, or a group of Submitting Holders, each of which appears to satisfy the requirements set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph, the Depositary is hereby authorized and

 

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instructed to disregard all Proposals received from such Submitting Holder(s), except for the first Proposal received by the Depositary from such Submitting Holder(s) and shall submit such Proposal to the Company for consideration at the annual ordinary meeting of the Company's shareholders in accordance with the terms of the Deposit Agreement.  The Depositary shall not have any obligation to verify the accuracy of the information contained in any document submitted to it by the Submitting Holder(s).  Neither the Depositary nor its nominee shall be obligated to attend and speak at the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders on behalf of the Submitting Holder(s).

 

Notwithstanding anything contained in the Deposit Agreement or any ADR and except that the Depositary shall arrange, at the request of the Company and at the Company's expense, for the mailing to Holders of copies of materials that the Company has made available to the Depositary for such purpose, the Depositary shall not be obligated to provide to the Holders or Beneficial Owners of ADSs any notices relating to the proposal rights, including, without limitation, notice of the Submission Period, or the receipt of any Proposal(s) from Submitting Holders, or of the holdings of any ADSs by any persons, except that the Depositary shall, upon a Holder's request, inform such Holder of the total number of ADSs then issued and outstanding.

 

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(ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFER SIGNATURE LINES)

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned Holder hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto ______________________________ whose taxpayer identification number is _______________________ and whose address including postal zip code is ________________, the within ADR and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing ________________________ attorney-in-fact to transfer said ADR on the books of the Depositary with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

Dated:         Name:    
       
      By:
       Title:

 

    NOTICE: The signature of the Holder to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within instrument in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
     
    If the endorsement be executed by an attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, the person executing the endorsement must give his/her full title in such capacity and proper evidence of authority to act in such capacity, if not on file with the Depositary, must be forwarded with this ADR.
   
SIGNATURE GUARANTEED  
    All endorsements or assignments of ADRs must be guaranteed by a member of a Medallion Signature Program approved by the Securities Transfer Association, Inc.

 

Legends
[The ADRs issued in respect of Partial Entitlement American Depositary Shares shall bear the following legend on the face of the ADR: “This ADR evidences ADSs representing 'partial entitlement' [common shares] [interests in the Certificate of Payment] of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd. and as such do not entitle the holders thereof to the same per-share entitlement as other [common shares] [interests in the Certificate of Payment] (which are 'full entitlement' [common shares] [interests in the Certificate of Payment]) issued and outstanding at such time. The ADSs represented by this ADR shall entitle holders to distributions and entitlements identical to other ADSs when the [common shares] [interests in the Certificate of

 

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Payment] represented by such ADSs become 'full entitlement' [common shares] [interests in the Certificate of Payment].”]

 

  

37

Exhibit 4.2

 

 

 

 

DEPOSIT AGREEMENT

 

 

 

by and among

 

ASE INDUSTRIAL HOLDING CO., LTD.

 

AND

 

CITIBANK, N.A.,

 

as Depositary,

 

AND

 

THE HOLDERS AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF

 

AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
ISSUED HEREUNDER

 

 

 

Dated as of [date] , [year]

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ARTICLE I    
     
DEFINITIONS   1
Section 1.1 “ADS Record Date” 1
Section 1.2 “Affiliate” 1
Section 1.3 “American Depositary Receipt(s)”, “ADR(s)” and “Receipt(s)” 1
Section 1.4 “American Depositary Share(s)” and “ADS(s)” 2
Section 1.5 “ADS Record Date” 2
Section 1.6 “Applicant” 2
Section 1.7 “Beneficial Owner” 2
Section 1.8 “Business Day” 3
Section 1.9 “Certificate(s) of Payment” 3
Section 1.10 “Certificated ADS(s)” 3
Section 1.11 “Commission” 3
Section 1.12 “Company” 3
Section 1.13 “Custodian” 3
Section 1.14 “Deliver” and “Delivery” 3
Section 1.15 “Deposit Agreement” 4
Section 1.16 “Depositary” 4
Section 1.17 “Deposited Property” 4
Section 1.18 “Deposited Securities” 4
Section 1.19 “Dollars” and “$” 4
Section 1.20 “DTC” 4
Section 1.21 “DTC Participant” 4
Section 1.22 “Eligible Securities” 5
Section 1.23 “Eligible Securities Registrar” 5
Section 1.24 “Exchange Act” 5
Section 1.25 “FSC” 5
Section 1.26 “Foreign Currency” 5
Section 1.27 “Full Entitlement ADR(s)”, “Full Entitlement ADS(s)” and  
  “Full Entitlement Deposited Securities” 5
Section 1.28 “Holder(s)” 5
Section 1.29 “Partial Entitlement ADR(s)”, “Partial Entitlement ADS(s)” and  
  “Partial Entitlement Deposited Securities” 5
Section 1.30 “Pre-Release Transaction” 5
Section 1.31 “Principal Office” 5
Section 1.32 “Registrar” 5
Section 1.33 “Republic of China”; “ROC” and “Taiwan” shall mean the Republic  
  of China 6
Section 1.34 “Restricted Securities” 6
Section 1.35 “Restricted ADR(s)”, “Restricted ADS(s)” and “Restricted Shares” 6
Section 1.36 “Securities Act” 6
Section 1.37 “Shares” 6
Section 1.38 “Share American Depositary Share(s)” and “Share ADS(s)” 6

 

  i

 
Section 1.39 “Share American Depositary Receipt(s)” and “Share ADR(s)” 7
Section 1.40 "Taiwan Depository & Clearing Corporation" and "TDCC" 7
Section 1.41 “Taiwan Stock Exchange” and “TSE” 7
Section 1.42 “Temporary ADS(s)” 7
Section 1.43 “Temporary ADR(s)” 7
Section 1.44 “Uncertificated ADS(s)” 7
Section 1.45 “United States” and “U.S.” 7
     
ARTICLE II  
   
APPOINTMENT OF DEPOSITARY; FORM OF RECEIPTS;  
DEPOSIT OF ELIGIBLE SECURITIES; EXECUTION AND  
DELIVERY, TRANSFER AND SURRENDER OF RECEIPTS 7
Section 2.1 Appointment of Depositary 8
Section 2.2 Form and Transferability of ADSs 8
Section 2.3 Deposit of Eligible Securities 9
Section 2.4 Registration and Safekeeping of Deposited Securities 12
Section 2.5 Issuance of ADSs 12
Section 2.6 Transfer, Combination and Split-up of ADRs 13
Section 2.7 Surrender of ADSs and Withdrawal of Deposited Securities 14
Section 2.8 Limitations on Execution and Delivery, Transfer, etc. of ADSs;  
  Suspension of Delivery, Transfer, etc. 17
Section 2.9 Lost ADRs, etc 19
Section 2.10 Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered ADRs; Maintenance of  
  Records 19
Section 2.11 Escheatment 19
Section 2.12 Partial Entitlement ADSs 20
Section 2.13 Certificated/Uncertificated ADSs 20
Section 2.14 Restricted ADSs 22
Section 2.15 Temporary ADSs 23
     
ARTICLE III  
   
CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF HOLDERS  
AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF ADSs 25
Section 3.1 Proofs, Certificates and Other Information 25
Section 3.2 Liability for Taxes and Other Charges 26
Section 3.3 Representations and Warranties on Deposit of Eligible Securities 26
Section 3.4 Compliance with Information Requests 28
Section 3.5 Ownership Restrictions 28
Section 3.6 Reporting Obligations and Regulatory Approvals 28
     
ARTICLE IV  
   
THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES 28
Section 4.1 Cash Distributions 29
Section 4.2 Distribution in Eligible Securities 30

 

  ii

 
Section 4.3 Elective Distributions in Cash or Eligible Securities 30
Section 4.4 Distribution of Rights to Purchase Additional ADSs 31
Section 4.5 Distributions Other Than Cash, Shares or Rights to Purchase Shares 33
Section 4.6 Distributions with Respect to Deposited Securities in Bearer Form 34
Section 4.7 Redemption 34
Section 4.8 Conversion of Foreign Currency 35
Section 4.9 Fixing of ADS Record Date 37
Section 4.10 Voting of Deposited Securities 37
Section 4.11 Changes Affecting Deposited Securities 40
Section 4.12 Available Information 41
Section 4.13 Reports 42
Section 4.14 List of Holders 42
Section 4.15 Taxation 42
Section 4.16 Right to Submit Proposals at Annual Ordinary Meeting of Shareholders 43
     
ARTICLE V  
   
THE DEPOSITARY, THE CUSTODIAN AND THE COMPANY 46
Section 5.1 Maintenance of Office and Transfer Books by the Registrar 46
Section 5.2 Exoneration 46
Section 5.3 Standard of Care 47
Section 5.4 Resignation and Removal of the Depositary; Appointment of  
  Successor Depositary 48
Section 5.5 The Custodian 49
Section 5.6 Notices and Reports 50
Section 5.7 Issuance of Additional Eligible Securities, ADSs etc 50
Section 5.8 Indemnification 51
Section 5.9 ADS Fees and Charges 52
Section 5.10 Pre-Release Transactions 53
Section 5.11 Restricted Securities Owners 54
     
ARTICLE VI  
   
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION 54
Section 6.1 Amendment/Supplement 54
Section 6.2 Termination 55
     
ARTICLE VII  
   
MISCELLANEOUS 56
Section 7.1 Counterparts 56
Section 7.2 No Third-Party Beneficiaries 56
Section 7.3 Severability 57
Section 7.4 Holders and Beneficial Owners as Parties; Binding Effect 57
Section 7.5 Notices 57
Section 7.6 Governing Law and Jurisdiction 58
Section 7.7 Assignment 60

  iii

 
Section 7.8 Compliance with U.S. Securities Laws 60
Section 7.9 Republic of China Law References 60
Section 7.10 Titles and References 60
     
EXHIBITS  
  Form of ADR. A-1
  Fee Schedule. B-1
  Form of Certification Upon Withdrawal C-1
  Form of Certification Upon Withdrawal (Short Form) C-2

  

  iv

 

DEPOSIT AGREEMENT

 

DEPOSIT AGREEMENT , dated as of ___________, 2017, by and among (i) ASE INDUSTRIAL HOLDING CO., LTD., a company organized under the laws of the Republic of China, and its successors (the “Company”), (ii) CITIBANK, N.A., a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States of America acting in its capacity as depositary, and any successor depositary hereunder (the “Depositary”), and (iii) all Holders and Beneficial Owners of American Depositary Shares issued hereunder (all such capitalized terms as hereinafter defined).

 

W I T N E S S E T H   T H A T :

 

WHEREAS , the Company desires to establish with the Depositary an ADR facility to provide inter alia for the deposit of the Shares (as hereinafter defined) and the creation of American Depositary Shares representing the Shares so deposited; and

 

WHEREAS , the Depositary is willing to act as the Depositary for such ADR facility upon the terms set forth in the Deposit Agreement (as hereinafter defined); and

 

WHEREAS , any American Depositary Receipts issued pursuant to the terms of the Deposit Agreement are to be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as hereinafter provided in the Deposit Agreement; and

 

NOW, THEREFORE , for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

 

All capitalized terms used, but not otherwise defined, herein shall have the meanings set forth below, unless otherwise clearly indicated:

 

Section 1.1 “ ADS Record Date shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 4.9.

 

Section 1.2 “ Affiliate shall have the meaning assigned to such term by the Commission (as hereinafter defined) under Regulation C promulgated under the Securities Act (as hereinafter defined), or under any successor regulation thereto.

 

Section 1.3 American Depositary Receipt(s) ”, “ ADR(s) ” and “ Receipt(s) ” shall mean the certificate(s) issued by the Depositary to evidence the American Depositary Shares issued under the terms of the Deposit Agreement in the form of Certificated ADS(s) (as hereinafter defined), as such ADRs may be amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement. An ADR may evidence any number of ADSs and may, in the case of ADSs held through a central depository such as DTC, be in the form of a “Balance

 

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Certificate.” Unless otherwise specifically set forth herein, the term “Receipts” shall include the Temporary ADRs evidencing the Temporary ADSs issued hereunder.

 

Section 1.4 American Depositary Share(s) ” and “ ADS(s) ” shall mean the rights and interests in the Deposited Property (as hereinafter defined) granted to the Holders and Beneficial Owners pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement and, if issued as Certificated ADS(s) (as hereinafter defined), the ADR(s) issued to evidence such ADSs. ADS(s) may be issued under the terms of the Deposit Agreement in the form of (a) Certificated ADS(s) (as hereinafter defined), in which case the ADS(s) are evidenced by ADR(s), or (b) Uncertificated ADS(s) (as hereinafter defined), in which case the ADS(s) are not evidenced by ADR(s) but are reflected on the direct registration system maintained by the Depositary for such purposes under the terms of Section 2.13. Unless otherwise specified in the Deposit Agreement or in any ADR, or unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to ADS(s) shall include Certificated ADS(s) and Uncertificated ADS(s), individually or collectively, as the context may require. Each ADS shall represent the right to receive, and to exercise the beneficial ownership interests in, the number of Shares specified in the form of ADR attached hereto as Exhibit A (as amended from time to time) that are on deposit with the Depositary and/or the Custodian, subject, in each case, to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADR (if issued as a Certificated ADS), until there shall occur a distribution upon Deposited Securities referred to in Section 4.2 or a change in Deposited Securities referred to in Section 4.11 with respect to which additional ADSs are not issued, and thereafter each ADS shall represent the right to receive, and to exercise the beneficial ownership interests in, the applicable Deposited Property on deposit with the Depositary and the Custodian determined in accordance with the terms of such Sections, subject, in each case, to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADR (if issued as a Certificated ADS). In addition, the ADS(s)-to-Share(s) ratio is subject to amendment as provided in Articles IV and VI of the Deposit Agreement (which may give rise to Depositary fees). Unless otherwise specifically set forth in this Deposit Agreement or the applicable ADR, the terms “American Depositary Shares” and “ADSs” shall include Share ADSs and Temporary ADSs.

 

Section 1.5 “ ADS Record Date shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 4.9.

 

Section 1.6 Applicant ” shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 5.10.

 

Section 1.7 Beneficial Owner ” shall mean, as to any ADS, any person or entity having a beneficial interest deriving from the ownership of such ADS. Notwithstanding anything else contained in the Deposit Agreement, any ADR(s) or any other instruments or agreements relating to the ADSs and the corresponding Deposited Property, the Depositary, the Custodian and their respective nominees are intended to be, and shall at all times during the term of the Deposit Agreement be, the record holders only of the Deposited Property represented by the ADSs for the benefit of the Holders and Beneficial Owners of the corresponding ADSs. The Depositary, on its own behalf and on behalf of the Custodian and their respective nominees, disclaims any beneficial ownership interest in the Deposited Property held on behalf of the Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs. The beneficial ownership interests in the Deposited Property are intended to be, and shall at all times during the term of the Deposit Agreement

 

2
 

continue to be, vested in the Beneficial Owners of the ADSs representing the Deposited Property. The beneficial ownership interests in the Deposited Property shall, unless otherwise agreed by the Depositary, be exercisable by the Beneficial Owners of the ADSs only through the Holders of such ADSs, by the Holders of the ADSs (on behalf of the applicable Beneficial Owners) only through the Depositary, and by the Depositary (on behalf of the Holders and Beneficial Owners of the corresponding ADSs) directly, or indirectly through the Custodian or their respective nominees, in each case upon the terms of the Deposit Agreement and, if applicable, the terms of the ADR(s) evidencing the ADSs. A Beneficial Owner of ADSs may or may not be the Holder of such ADSs. A Beneficial Owner shall be able to exercise any right or receive any benefit hereunder solely through the person who is the Holder of the ADSs owned by such Beneficial Owner. Unless otherwise identified to the Depositary, a Holder shall be deemed to be the Beneficial Owner of all the ADSs registered in his/her/its name. The manner in which a Beneficial Owner owns ADSs (e.g., in a brokerage account vs. as registered holder) may affect the rights and obligations of, and the manner in which services are made available to, Beneficial Owners pursuant to the terms of the Deposit Agreement.

 

Section 1.8 Business Day shall mean any day on which both the banks in the Republic of China and the banks in New York are open for business.

 

Section 1.9 “ Certificate(s) of Payment shall mean the single global Certificate of Payment issued by the Company evidencing the irrevocable right to receive definitive share certificates representing the Shares delivered by the Company in connection with any offerings or distributions of Shares by the Company.

 

Section 1.10 “ Certificated ADS(s) shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.13.

 

Section 1.11 Commission ” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States or any successor governmental agency thereto in the United States.

 

Section 1.12 Company ” shall mean ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd., a company incorporated and existing under the laws of the Republic of China, and its successors.

 

Section 1.13 Custodian ” shall mean (i) as of the date hereof, Citibank Taiwan Limited, having its principal office at 9F, No. 16 Nanking E. Road, Section 4, Taipei 105, Taiwan, ROC, as the custodian of Deposited Property for the purposes of the Deposit Agreement, (ii) Citibank, N.A., acting as custodian of Deposited Property pursuant to the Deposit Agreement, and (iii) any other entity that may be appointed by the Depositary pursuant to the terms of Section 5.5 as successor, substitute or additional custodian hereunder. The term “Custodian” shall mean any Custodian individually or all Custodians collectively, as the context requires.

 

Section 1.14 Deliver ” and “ Delivery ” shall mean (x) when used in respect of Shares and other Deposited Securities , either (i) the physical delivery of the certificate(s) representing such securities, or (ii) the book-entry transfer and recordation of such securities on the books of by means of book-entry transfer, if available, and (y) when used in respect of ADSs , either (i) the physical delivery of ADR(s) evidencing the ADSs, or (ii) the book-entry transfer and recordation

 

3
 

of ADSs on the books of the Depositary or any book-entry settlement system in which the ADSs are settlement-eligible.

 

Section 1.15 Deposit Agreement ” shall mean this Deposit Agreement and all exhibits hereto, as the same may from time to time be amended and supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms of the Deposit Agreement.

 

Section 1.16 Depositary ” shall mean Citibank, N.A., a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States, in its capacity as depositary under the terms of the Deposit Agreement, and any successor depositary hereunder.

 

Section 1.17 “ Deposited Property shall mean the Deposited Securities and any cash and other property held on deposit by the Depositary and the Custodian in respect of the ADSs under the terms of the Deposit Agreement, subject, in the case of cash, to the provisions of Section 4.8. All Deposited Property shall be held by Custodian, the Depositary and their respective nominees for the benefit of the Holders and Beneficial Owners of the ADSs representing the Deposited Property. The Deposited Property is not intended to, and shall not, constitute proprietary assets of the Depositary, the Custodian or their nominees. Beneficial ownership in the Deposited Property is intended to be, and shall at all times during the term of the Deposit Agreement continue to be, vested in the Beneficial Owners of the ADSs representing the Deposited Property. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the collateral delivered in connection with Pre-Release Transactions described in Section 5.10 shall not constitute Deposited Property.

 

Section 1.18 “ Deposited Securities shall mean collectively or individually, as the context may require and unless otherwise specifically set forth herein, (a) with respect to Share ADSs (as such term is hereinafter defined), Shares and (b) with respect to Temporary ADSs (as such term is hereinafter defined), interests in the single global Certificate of Payment, in each case held on deposit by the Custodian from time to time under the Deposit Agreement and constituting Deposited Property.

 

Section 1.19 Dollars ” and “ $ ” shall refer to the lawful currency of the United States.

 

Section 1.20 DTC ” shall mean The Depository Trust Company, a national clearinghouse and the central book-entry settlement system for securities traded in the United States and, as such, the custodian for the securities of DTC Participants (as hereinafter defined) maintained in DTC, and any successor thereto.

 

Section 1.21 DTC Participant ” shall mean any financial institution (or any nominee of such institution) having one or more participant accounts with DTC for receiving, holding and delivering the securities and cash held in DTC. A DTC Participant may or may not be a Beneficial Owner. If a DTC Participant is not the Beneficial Owner of the ADSs credited to its account at DTC, or of the ADSs in respect of which the DTC Participant is otherwise acting, such DTC Participant shall be deemed, for all purposes hereunder, to have all requisite authority to act on behalf of the Beneficial Owner(s) of the ADSs credited to its account at DTC or in respect of which the DTC Participant is so acting.

 

4
 

Section 1.22 “ Eligible Securities shall mean, collectively or individually as the context may require and unless otherwise specifically set forth herein, (a) with respect to Share ADSs (as such term is hereinafter defined), Shares, and (b) with respect to Temporary ADSs (as such term is hereinafter defined), interests in the Certificate of Payment, in each case to the extent eligible for deposit hereunder at any time and from time to time from and after the date hereof.

 

Section 1.23 “ Eligible Securities Registrar shall mean President Securities Corp. or any other institution organized under the laws of the Republic of China appointed by the Company to carry out the duties of registrar for (a) the Shares and/or (b) any Certificates of Payment, and any successor thereto.

 

Section 1.24 Exchange Act ” shall mean the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

Section 1.25 “ FSC shall mean the Financial Supervisory Commission of the Republic of China.

 

Section 1.26 Foreign Currency ” shall mean any currency other than Dollars.

 

Section 1.27 “ Full Entitlement ADR(s) ”, “ Full Entitlement ADS(s) ” and “ Full Entitlement Deposited Securities shall have the respective meanings set forth in Section 2.12.

 

Section 1.28 Holder(s) ” shall mean the person(s) in whose name the ADSs are registered on the books of the Depositary (or the Registrar, if any) maintained for such purpose. A Holder may or may not be a Beneficial Owner. If a Holder is not the Beneficial Owner of the ADS(s) registered in its name, such person shall be deemed, for all purposes hereunder, to have all requisite authority to act on behalf of the Beneficial Owners of the ADSs registered in its name. The manner in which a Holder holds ADSs (e.g., in certificated vs. uncertificated form) may affect the rights and obligations of, and the manner in which the services are made available to, Holders pursuant to the terms of the Deposit Agreement.

 

Section 1.29 “ Partial Entitlement ADR(s) ”, “ Partial Entitlement ADS(s) ” and “ Partial Entitlement Deposited Securities shall have the respective meanings set forth in Section 2.12.

 

Section 1.30 Pre-Release Transaction ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.10.

 

Section 1.31 Principal Office ” shall mean, when used with respect to the Depositary, the principal office of the Depositary at which at any particular time its depositary receipts business shall be administered, which, at the date of the Deposit Agreement, is located at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013, U.S.A.

 

Section 1.32 Registrar ” shall mean the Depositary or any bank or trust company having an office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, which shall be appointed

 

5
 

by the Depositary to register issuances, transfers and cancellations of ADSs as herein provided, and shall include any co-registrar appointed by the Depositary for such purposes. Registrars (other than the Depositary) may be removed and substitutes appointed by the Depositary. Each Registrar (other than the Depositary) appointed pursuant to the Deposit Agreement shall be required to give notice in writing to the Depositary accepting such appointment and agreeing to be bound by the applicable terms of the Deposit Agreement.

 

Section 1.33 “ Republic of China ”; “ ROC ” and “ Taiwan shall mean the Republic of China.

 

Section 1.34 Restricted Securities ” shall mean Eligible Securities, Deposited Securities or ADSs which (i) have been acquired directly or indirectly from the Company or any of its Affiliates in a transaction or chain of transactions not involving any public offering and are subject to resale limitations under the Securities Act or the rules issued thereunder, or (ii) are held directly or indirectly by an executive officer or director (or persons performing similar functions) or other Affiliate of the Company, or (iii) are subject to other restrictions on sale or deposit under the laws of the United States, the Republic of China, or under a shareholder agreement or the Articles of Incorporation of the Company or under the regulations of an applicable securities exchange unless, in each case, such Eligible Securities, Deposited Securities or ADSs are being transferred or sold to persons other than an Affiliate of the Company in a transaction (a) covered by an effective resale registration statement, or (b) exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act (as hereinafter defined), and the Eligible Securities, Deposited Securities or ADSs are not, when held by such person(s), Restricted Securities.

 

Section 1.35 “ Restricted ADR(s) ”, “ Restricted ADS(s) ” and “ Restricted Shares shall have the respective meanings set forth in Section 2.14.

 

Section 1.36 Securities Act ” shall mean the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

 

Section 1.37 Shares ” shall mean the Company’s common shares, each having a par value of NT$10.00 per share, validly issued and outstanding and fully paid and may, if the Depositary so agrees after consultation with the Company, include evidence of the right to receive Shares; provided that in no event shall Shares include evidence of the right to receive Shares with respect to which the full purchase price has not been paid or Shares as to which preemptive rights have theretofore not been validly waived or exercised; provided further , however , that , if there shall occur any change in par value, split-up, consolidation, reclassification, exchange, conversion or any other event described in Section 4.11 in respect of the Shares of the Company, the term “Shares” shall thereafter, to the maximum extent permitted by law, represent the successor securities resulting from such event.

 

Section 1.38 “ Share American Depositary Share(s) and Share ADS(s) shall mean the rights and interests in deposited Shares granted to Holders and Beneficial Owners pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement and, if applicable, the Share ADRs issued hereunder to evidence such Share ADSs. Share ADSs shall, unless otherwise

 

6
 

specifically set forth herein, be deemed to be American Depositary Shares or ADSs, as the context may require, for all purposes under this Deposit Agreement.

 

Section 1.39 “ Share American Depositary Receipt(s)” and “Share ADR(s) shall mean the Receipts issued by the Depositary to evidence Share ADSs issued under the terms of this Deposit Agreement, as such Share ADRs may be amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions hereof. A Share ADR may evidence any number of Share ADSs and may, in the case of Share ADSs held through a central depository such as DTC, be in the form of a “Balance Certificate”. Share ADRs shall, unless otherwise specifically set forth herein or in the applicable ADR(s), be deemed to be Receipts for all purposes under this Deposit Agreement.

 

Section 1.40 " Taiwan Depository & Clearing Corporation " and " TDCC " shall mean the central depository for Shares in the Republic of China, and any successor thereto.

 

Section 1.41 Taiwan Stock Exchange ” and “ TSE ” shall mean the stock exchange in the Republic of China, upon which the Company’s Shares are listed for trading and any successor stock exchange thereto.

 

Section 1.42 “ Temporary ADS(s) shall mean the rights and interests in any deposited Certificate of Payment granted to Holders and Beneficial Owners pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement (including, without limitation, Section 2.12 hereof) and the applicable Temporary ADR(s) issued hereunder to evidence such Temporary ADSs. Temporary ADSs shall, unless otherwise specifically set forth herein or in the applicable Temporary ADR(s), be deemed to be American Depositary Shares or ADSs, as the context may require, for all purposes under this Deposit Agreement.

 

Section 1.43 “ Temporary ADR(s) shall mean the ADRs issued by the Depositary to evidence Temporary ADSs issued under the terms of this Deposit Agreement (including, without limitation, Section 2.12 hereof), as such Temporary ADRs may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof. A Temporary ADR may evidence any number of Temporary ADSs and may, in the case of Temporary ADSs held through a central depository such as DTC, be in the form of a “Balance Certificate”. Temporary ADRs shall, unless otherwise specifically set forth herein or in the applicable Temporary ADR(s), be deemed to be ADRs for all purposes under this Deposit Agreement.

 

Section 1.44 “ Uncertificated ADS(s) shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.13.

 

Section 1.45 United States ” and “ U.S. ” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Regulation S as promulgated by the Commission under the Securities Act.

 

ARTICLE II

APPOINTMENT OF DEPOSITARY; FORM OF RECEIPTS;
DEPOSIT OF ELIGIBLE SECURITIES; EXECUTION AND
DELIVERY, TRANSFER AND SURRENDER OF RECEIPTS

 

7
 

Section 2.1 Appointment of Depositary . The Company hereby appoints the Depositary as depositary for the Deposited Property and hereby authorizes and directs the Depositary to act in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADRs. Each Holder and each Beneficial Owner, upon acceptance of any ADSs (or any interest therein) issued in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, shall be deemed for all purposes to (a) be a party to and bound by the terms of the Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADR(s), and (b) appoint the Depositary its attorney-in-fact, with full power to delegate, to act on its behalf and to take any and all actions contemplated in the Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADR(s), to adopt any and all procedures necessary to comply with applicable law and to take such action as the Depositary in its sole discretion may deem necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of the Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADR(s), the taking of such actions to be the conclusive determinant of the necessity and appropriateness thereof.

 

Section 2.2 Form and Transferability of ADSs .

 

(a)        Form . Certificated ADSs shall be evidenced by definitive ADRs which shall be engraved, printed, lithographed or produced in such other manner as may be agreed upon by the Company and the Depositary. ADRs may be issued under the Deposit Agreement in denominations of any whole number of ADSs. The ADRs shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A to the Deposit Agreement, with any appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, in each case as otherwise contemplated in the Deposit Agreement or required by law. ADRs shall be (i) dated, (ii) signed by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary, (iii) countersigned by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Registrar, and (iv) registered in the books maintained by the Registrar for the registration of issuances and transfers of ADSs. No ADR and no Certificated ADS evidenced thereby shall be entitled to any benefits under the Deposit Agreement or be valid or enforceable for any purpose against the Depositary or the Company, unless such ADR shall have been so dated, signed, countersigned and registered. ADRs bearing the facsimile signature of a duly-authorized signatory of the Depositary or the Registrar, who at the time of signature was a duly-authorized signatory of the Depositary or the Registrar, as the case may be, shall bind the Depositary, notwithstanding the fact that such signatory has ceased to be so authorized prior to the delivery of such ADR by the Depositary. The Share ADRs and the Temporary ADRs shall each bear a separate and distinct CUSIP number that is different from one another and from any CUSIP number that was, is or may be assigned to any depositary receipts previously or subsequently issued pursuant to any other arrangement between the Depositary (or any other depositary) and the Company and which are not ADRs outstanding hereunder.

 

(b)        Legends . The ADRs may be endorsed with, or have incorporated in the text thereof, such legends or recitals not inconsistent with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement as may be (i) necessary to enable the Depositary and the Company to perform their respective obligations hereunder, (ii) required to comply with any applicable laws or regulations, or with the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or market upon which ADSs may be traded, listed or quoted, or to conform with any usage with respect thereto, (iii) necessary to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular ADRs or ADSs are subject by reason of the date of issuance of the Deposited Securities or otherwise, or (iv) required by any book-entry

 

8
 

system in which the ADSs are held. Holders and Beneficial Owners shall be deemed, for all purposes, to have notice of, and to be bound by, the terms and conditions of the legends set forth, in the case of Holders, on the ADR registered in the name of the applicable Holders or, in the case of Beneficial Owners, on the ADR representing the ADSs owned by such Beneficial Owners.

 

(c)        Title . Subject to the limitations contained herein and in the ADR, title to an ADR (and to each Certificated ADS evidenced thereby) shall be transferable upon the same terms as a certificated security under the laws of the State of New York, provided that, in the case of Certificated ADSs, such ADR has been properly endorsed or is accompanied by proper instruments of transfer. Notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, the Depositary and the Company may deem and treat the Holder of an ADS (that is, the person in whose name an ADS is registered on the books of the Depositary) as the absolute owner thereof for all purposes. Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall have any obligation nor be subject to any liability under the Deposit Agreement or any ADR to any holder or any Beneficial Owner unless, in the case of a holder of ADSs, such holder is the Holder registered on the books of the Depositary or, in the case of a Beneficial Owner, such Beneficial Owner, or the Beneficial Owner’s representative, is the Holder registered on the books of the Depositary.

 

(d)        Book-Entry Systems . The Depositary shall make arrangements for the acceptance of the ADSs into DTC. All ADSs held through DTC will be registered in the name of the nominee for DTC (currently “Cede & Co.”). As such, the nominee for DTC will be the only “Holder” of all ADSs held through DTC. Unless issued by the Depositary as Uncertificated ADSs, the ADSs registered in the name of Cede & Co. will be evidenced by one or more ADR(s) in the form of a “Balance Certificate,” which will provide that it represents the aggregate number of ADSs from time to time indicated in the records of the Depositary as being issued hereunder and that the aggregate number of ADSs represented thereby may from time to time be increased or decreased by making adjustments on such records of the Depositary and of DTC or its nominee as hereinafter provided. Citibank, N.A. (or such other entity as is appointed by DTC or its nominee) may hold the “Balance Certificate” as custodian for DTC. Each Beneficial Owner of ADSs held through DTC must rely upon the procedures of DTC and the DTC Participants to exercise or be entitled to any rights attributable to such ADSs. The DTC Participants shall for all purposes be deemed to have all requisite power and authority to act on behalf of the Beneficial Owners of the ADSs held in the DTC Participants’ respective accounts in DTC and the Depositary shall for all purposes be authorized to rely upon any instructions and information given to it by DTC Participants. So long as ADSs are held through DTC or unless otherwise required by law, ownership of beneficial interests in the ADSs registered in the name of the nominee for DTC will be shown on, and transfers of such ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by (i) DTC or its nominee (with respect to the interests of DTC Participants), or (ii) DTC Participants or their nominees (with respect to the interests of clients of DTC Participants).

 

Section 2.3 Deposit of Eligible Securities . The Depositary and the Company have been advised that under ROC law, as in effect as of the date hereof, no deposits of Eligible Securities may be made in the ADR facility, and no ADSs may be issued against such deposits, without receipt of specific approval of the FSC or TSE, as the case may be, except in connection

 

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with (i) the distribution by the Company of additional Eligible Securities in connection with dividends or free distributions of Eligible Securities, (ii) the exercise by Holders of their preemptive rights applicable to Eligible Securities represented by ADSs in the event of capital increases for cash, (iii) subject in each case to receipt of all applicable approvals in the ROC, to the extent that the Company issues securities convertible for ADSs as approved by the FSC, the conversion of such securities into ADSs, and (iv) the purchase, as permitted hereunder, directly by any person or through the Depositary of Shares on the TSE for deposit in the ADR facility, or delivery of Shares to the Custodian for deposit in the ADR facility; provided that the total number of ADSs outstanding after an issuance described in clause (iv) does not exceed the number of issued ADSs previously approved by the FSC or TSE, subject to any adjustment due to capital restructuring or capital reduction, (plus any ADSs created pursuant to clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, subject to any adjustment in the number of Deposited Securities represented by each ADS). The Depositary and the Company have been advised that under ROC law, as in effect as of the date hereof, issuances under clause (iv) above will be permitted only to the extent that previously issued ADSs have been canceled. Any issuance under clause (iv) above will be subject to entering into a separate agreement with the Depositary to cover the terms of purchase of Shares on the TSE through the Depositary or delivery of Shares to Custodian for deposit in ADR facility. Except as contemplated by Section 2.14 hereof, the Depositary will not accept any Shares for deposit pursuant to clause (iii) unless it receives satisfactory opinions of ROC and U.S. counsel to the Company to the effect that such Eligible Securities may lawfully be deposited pursuant to the Deposit Agreement and are not Restricted Securities. The laws of the Republic of China applicable to the deposit of Eligible Securities may change from time to time. There can be no assurance that current law will continue in effect or that future changes of Republic of China law will not adversely affect the ability to deposit Eligible Securities hereunder.

 

Subject to applicable laws and regulations of the Republic of China and to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement and applicable law, Eligible Securities or evidence of rights to receive Eligible Securities (other than Restricted Securities) may be deposited by any person (including the Depositary in its individual capacity but subject, however, in the case of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, to Section 5.7 hereof) at any time, whether or not the transfer books of the Company or the Eligible Securities Registrar, if any, are closed, by Delivery of the Eligible Securities to the Custodian. Every deposit of Eligible Securities shall be accompanied by the following: (A) (i) in the case of Eligible Securities represented by certificates issued in registered form , appropriate instruments of transfer or endorsement, in a form satisfactory to the Custodian, (ii) in the case of Eligible Securities represented by certificates in bearer form , the requisite coupons and talons pertaining thereto, and (iii) in the case of Eligible Securities delivered by book-entry transfer , confirmation of such book-entry transfer to the Custodian or that irrevocable instructions have been given to cause such Eligible Securities to be so transferred, (B) such certifications and payments (including, without limitation, the Depositary’s fees and related charges) and evidence of such payments (including, without limitation, stamping or otherwise marking such Eligible Securities by way of receipt) as may be reasonably required by the Depositary or the Custodian in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement and applicable law, (C) if the Depositary so requires, a written order directing the Depositary to execute and deliver to, or upon the written order of, the person(s) stated in such order a Receipt or Receipts for the number of American Depositary Shares

 

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representing the Eligible Securities so deposited, (D) evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary (which may be an opinion of counsel) that all necessary approvals have been granted by, or there has been compliance with the rules and regulations of, any applicable governmental agency in the Republic of China, and (E) if the Depositary so requires, (i) an agreement, assignment or instrument reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary or the Custodian which provides for the prompt transfer by any person in whose name the Eligible Securities are or have been recorded to the Custodian of any distribution, or right to subscribe for additional Eligible Securities or to receive other property in respect of any such deposited Eligible Securities or, in lieu thereof, such indemnity or other agreement as shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary or the Custodian and (ii) if the Eligible Securities are registered in the name of the person on whose behalf they are presented for deposit, a proxy or proxies entitling the Custodian to exercise voting rights in respect of the Eligible Securities for any and all purposes until the Eligible Securities so deposited are registered in the name of the Depositary, the Custodian or any nominee.

 

Except as contemplated by Section 2.14, without limiting any other provision of this Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall instruct the Custodian not to, and neither the Depositary nor the Custodian, nor any nominee, agent or person acting on their behalf shall knowingly, accept for deposit (a) any Restricted Securities nor (b) any fractional Eligible Securities nor (c) a number of Eligible Securities which upon application of the ADS-to-Eligible Securities ratio would give rise to fractional ADSs. No Eligible Securities shall be accepted for deposit unless accompanied by evidence, if any is required by the Depositary, that is reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary or the Custodian that all conditions to such deposit have been satisfied by the person depositing such Eligible Securities under the laws and regulations of the Republic of China and any necessary governmental approval has been granted in the Republic of China, if any. The Depositary may issue ADSs against evidence of rights to receive Eligible Securities from the Company, any agent of the Company or any custodian, registrar, transfer agent, clearing agency or other entity involved in ownership or transaction records in respect of the Eligible Securities. Such evidence of rights may consist of, without limitation, written specific guarantees of ownership of Eligible Securities furnished by the Company or any such custodian, registrar, transfer agent, clearing agency or other entity involved in ownership or transaction records in respect of the Eligible Securities.

 

Without limitation of the foregoing, the Depositary shall not knowingly accept for deposit under this Deposit Agreement any Eligible Securities required to be registered pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Act, unless a registration statement under the Securities Act is in effect as to such Eligible Securities, or any Eligible Securities the deposit of which would violate any provisions of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the Depositary shall be entitled to rely upon representations and warranties made or deemed made pursuant to this Deposit Agreement and shall not be required to make any further investigation. The Depositary will comply with written instructions of the Company (received by the Depositary reasonably in advance) not to accept for deposit hereunder any Eligible Securities identified in such instructions at such times and under such circumstances as may reasonably be specified in such instructions in order to facilitate the Company's compliance with the securities laws of the United States or applicable ROC laws.

 

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Section 2.4 Registration and Safekeeping of Deposited Securities . The Depositary shall instruct the Custodian upon each Delivery of registered Eligible Securities being deposited hereunder with the Custodian (or other Deposited Securities pursuant to Article IV hereof), together with the other documents above specified, to present such registered Eligible Securities, together with the appropriate instrument(s) of transfer or endorsement, duly stamped, to the Eligible Securities Registrar for transfer and registration of the Eligible Securities (as soon as transfer and registration can be accomplished and at the expense of the person for whom the deposit is made) in the name of the Depositary, the Custodian or a nominee of either. Deposited Securities shall be held by the Depositary, or by a Custodian for the account and to the order of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary, in each case, on behalf of the Holders and Beneficial Owners, at such place(s) as the Depositary or the Custodian shall determine. Notwithstanding anything else contained in the Deposit Agreement, any ADR(s), or any other instruments or agreements relating to the ADSs and the corresponding Deposited Property, the registration of the Deposited Securities in the name of the Depositary, the Custodian or any of their respective nominees, shall, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, vest in the Depositary, the Custodian or the applicable nominee the record ownership in the applicable Deposited Securities with the beneficial ownership rights and interests in such Deposited Securities being at all times vested with the Beneficial Owners of the ADSs representing the Deposited Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Depositary, the Custodian and the applicable nominee shall at all times be entitled to exercise the beneficial ownership rights in all Deposited Property, in each case only on behalf of the Holders and Beneficial Owners of the ADSs representing the Deposited Property, upon the terms set forth in the Deposit Agreement and, if applicable, the ADR(s) representing the ADSs. The Depositary, the Custodian and their respective nominees shall for all purposes be deemed to have all requisite power and authority to act in respect of Deposited Property on behalf of the Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs representing the Deposited Property, and upon making payments to, or acting upon instructions from, or information provided by, the Depositary, the Custodian or their respective nominees all persons shall be authorized to rely upon such power and authority.

 

Section 2.5 Issuance of ADSs. The Depositary has made arrangements for the Custodian to confirm to the Depositary upon receipt of a deposit of Shares (i) that a deposit of Eligible Securities has been made pursuant to Section 2.3, (ii) that such Deposited Securities have been recorded in the name of the Depositary, the Custodian or a nominee of either on the shareholders’ register maintained by or on behalf of the Company by the Eligible Securities Registrar if registered Eligible Securities have been deposited or if deposit is made by book entry transfer, confirmation of such transfer in the books of the Taiwan Securities Central Depository, (iii) that all required documents have been received, and (iv) the person(s) to whom or upon whose order ADSs are deliverable in respect thereof and the number of ADSs to be so delivered. Such notification may be made by letter, cable, telex, SWIFT message or, at the risk and expense of the person making the deposit, by facsimile or other means of electronic transmission. Upon receiving such notice from the Custodian, the Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement and applicable law, shall issue the ADSs representing the Eligible Securities so deposited to or upon the order of the person(s) named in the notice delivered to the Depositary and, if applicable, shall execute and deliver at its Principal Office Receipt(s) registered in the name(s) requested by such person(s) and evidencing the aggregate number of ADSs to which such person(s) are entitled, but, in each case, only upon payment to the

 

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Depositary of the charges of the Depositary for accepting a deposit of Shares and issuing ADSs (as set forth in Section 5.9 and Exhibit B hereto) and all taxes and governmental charges and fees payable in connection with such deposit and the transfer of the Eligible Securities and the issuance of the ADS(s). The Depositary shall only issue ADSs in whole numbers and deliver, if applicable, ADR(s) evidencing whole numbers of ADSs. Nothing herein shall prohibit any Pre-Release Transaction upon the terms set forth in the Deposit Agreement.

 

Section 2.6 Transfer, Combination and Split-up of ADRs .

 

(a)        Transfer . The Registrar shall promptly register the transfer of ADRs (and of the ADSs represented thereby) on the books maintained for such purpose and the Depositary shall promptly (x) cancel such ADRs and execute new ADRs evidencing the same aggregate number and type of ADSs as those evidenced by the ADRs canceled by the Depositary, (y) cause the Registrar to countersign such new ADRs and (z) Deliver such new ADRs to or upon the order of the person entitled thereto, if each of the following conditions has been satisfied: (i) the ADRs have been duly Delivered by the Holder (or by a duly authorized attorney of the Holder) to the Depositary at its Principal Office for the purpose of effecting a transfer thereof, (ii) the surrendered ADRs have been properly endorsed or are accompanied by proper instruments of transfer (including signature guarantees in accordance with standard securities industry practice), (iii) the surrendered ADRs have been duly stamped (if required by the laws of the State of New York or of the United States), and (iv) all applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and all applicable taxes and governmental charges (as are set forth in Section 5.9 and Exhibit B hereto) have been paid, subject, however, in each case, to the terms and conditions of the applicable ADRs, of the Deposit Agreement and of applicable law, in each case as in effect at the time thereof.

 

(b)        Combination & Split-Up . The Registrar shall register the split-up or combination of ADRs (and of the ADSs represented thereby) on the books maintained for such purpose and the Depositary shall (x) cancel such ADRs and execute new ADRs for the number of ADSs requested, but in the aggregate not exceeding the number of ADSs evidenced by the ADRs canceled by the Depositary, (y) cause the Registrar to countersign such new ADRs and (z) Deliver such new ADRs to or upon the order of the Holder thereof, if each of the following conditions has been satisfied: (i) the ADRs have been duly Delivered by the Holder (or by a duly authorized attorney of the Holder) to the Depositary at its Principal Office for the purpose of effecting a split-up or combination thereof, and (ii) all applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and all applicable taxes and governmental charges (as are set forth in Section 5.9 and Exhibit B hereto) have been paid, subject, however, in each case , to the terms and conditions of the applicable ADRs, of the Deposit Agreement and of applicable law, in each case as in effect at the time thereof.

 

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Section 2.7 Surrender of ADSs and Withdrawal of Deposited Securities .(a) ROC Requirements . The Depositary and the Company have been advised that under ROC law, as in effect as of the date hereof, a Holder who is a non-ROC person (other than a PRC person, except for a QDII (as defined below), or a person with prior approval from the Investment Commission of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, ROC) wishing to withdraw Deposited Securities from the ADR Facility is required to (i) register with the TSE for making investment in the ROC securities market, (ii) obtain a foreign investor investment identification (the "Foreign Investor Investment I.D.") issued pursuant to the ROC Regulations Governing Securities Investment by Overseas Chinese and Foreign Nationals and (iii) appoint an eligible agent in the ROC to open (a) a securities trading account, (b) a TDCC book-entry account and (c) a bank account (the securities trading account, the TDCC book-entry account, and the bank account, collectively, the "Accounts"), to pay ROC taxes, remit funds, exercise shareholders' rights and perform such other functions as may be designated by such withdrawing Holder.  In addition, such withdrawing Holder is also required to appoint a custodian bank to hold the securities in safekeeping, make confirmations and settle trades and report all relevant information.  Without obtaining the Foreign Investor Investment I.D. and opening such Accounts, the withdrawing Holder would be unable to hold or subsequently sell the Deposited Securities withdrawn from the ADR Facility on the TSE or otherwise.  No assurance can be given that a withdrawing Holder will be able to obtain the Foreign Investor Investment I.D. in a timely manner.  In addition, such withdrawing Holders will be required to appoint an eligible agent in the ROC for filing tax returns and making tax payments (a "Tax Guarantor").  Such Tax Guarantor will be required to meet the qualifications set by the Ministry of Finance of the ROC and will act as the guarantor of the withdrawing Holder's tax payment obligations.  Subject to certain limited exceptions, under current ROC law, repatriation of profits by a non-ROC withdrawing Holder is subject to the submission of evidence of the appointment of a Tax Guarantor to, and approval thereof by, the tax authority.  Under the Regulations Governing Mainland China Investor's Securities Investments and Futures Trading in Taiwan promulgated by the FSC, a PRC qualified domestic institutional investor ("QDII") is allowed to invest in ROC securities.  The custodians of QDIIs must apply with the TSE for the remittance amount of each QDII which cannot exceed US$100 million, the total investment amount of all QDIIs may not exceed US$500 million, and such QDII can only invest in the ROC securities market with the amount approved by the TSE.  Additionally, PRC investors (including QDIIs) in the aggregate shall not hold 10% or more of such ROC company's issued and outstanding voting shares.  The laws of the Republic of China applicable to the withdrawal of Deposited Securities may change from time to time.  There can be no assurance that current law will remain in effect or that future changes of ROC law will not adversely affect the ability of Holders to withdraw Deposited Securities hereunder.

 

The Company has informed the Depositary that no Shares may be withdrawn upon presentation of ADSs (and if applicable, the ADRs evidencing such ADSs) for cancellation under this Section 2.7 until (i) the Company has delivered written confirmation that the number of Shares requested for withdrawal have been listed for trading on the TSE (such Shares, the “Listed Shares”) to the Depositary and the Custodian, (ii) the Listed Shares have been de-materialised (such Shares, the “De-Materialised Shares,” and Shares that are both Listed Shares and De-Materialised Shares, hereinafter referred to as the “Final Shares”), and (iii) an equivalent number of Final Shares are on deposit with the Custodian. The Company has further informed the Depositary that it is expected that newly issued Shares which may be deposited by the

 

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Company from time to time and which are not listed for trading on the TSE at the time of such deposit will be listed on the TSE for trading and will be fully de-materialised, thereby becoming Final Shares, no later than five (5) business days after any such deposit. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that (a) the Depositary will deliver Shares represented by ADSs (and if applicable, the ADRs representing such ADSs) presented for cancellation pursuant to this Section 2.7 only to the extent of the number of Final Shares then on deposit with the Custodian, (b) the Depositary will process presentations of ADSs for withdrawal of Final Shares under this Section 2.7 on a first come, first served basis, (c) the Depositary will complete requests for cancellation of ADSs and withdrawal of the Shares represented thereby only to the extent of the number of Final Shares at such time on deposit with the Custodian, (d) the Depositary will refuse to complete a request for cancellation of ADSs and withdrawal of Shares to the extent the number of Shares requested for withdrawal exceeds the number of Final Shares at such time deposited with the Custodian, and (e) the Depositary reserves the right to suspend withdrawals of Shares under this Section 2.7 until such time as the requisite number of Final Shares are deposited with the Custodian. The Company agrees to deliver to the Depositary and/or the Custodian, as applicable, written confirmation of the number of Listed Shares deposited with the Custodian under this Deposit Agreement promptly upon the receipt of confirmation of listing from the TSE of such Shares.

 

(b)        Sale of Deposited Securities . Upon surrender of ADSs at the Principal Office and upon payment of any fees, reasonable expenses, taxes or other governmental charges as provided hereunder, subject to the terms of this Deposit Agreement and the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, and the transfer restrictions applicable to the Deposited Securities, if any, Holders may request that the Deposited Securities represented by such Holders’ ADSs be sold on such Holder’s behalf. Any Holder requesting a sale of Deposited Securities may be required by the Depositary to deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Depositary a written order requesting the Depositary to sell, or cause to be sold, such Deposited Securities. Any such sale of Deposited Securities will be conducted in accordance with applicable ROC law through a securities company in the ROC on the TSE or in such other manner as is or may be permitted under applicable ROC law. Any such sale of Deposited Securities will be at the expense and risk of the Holder requesting such sale. Any Holder requesting the Depositary to sell the Deposited Securities represented by such Holder’s ADSs may be required to enter into a separate agreement to cover the terms of the sale of such Deposited Securities.

 

Upon receipt of any proceeds from any such sale, the Depositary shall, subject to any restrictions imposed by ROC law and regulations, and as provided hereunder, convert or cause to be converted any such proceeds into U.S. dollars and distribute any such proceeds to the Holders entitled thereto after deduction or payment of any fees, reasonable expenses, taxes or governmental charges (including, without limitation, any ROC and U.S. taxes) incurred in connection with such sale, as provided under the Deposit Agreement. Any such sale may be subject to ROC taxation on capital gains, if any, and will be subject to a securities transaction tax in the ROC. The ROC does not, as of the date hereof, impose tax on capital gains arising from ROC securities transactions, but there can be no assurance that a capital gains tax on ROC securities transactions will not be imposed in the future or as to the manner in which any ROC capital gains tax in respect of a sale of Deposited Securities would be imposed or calculated.

 

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(c)        Withdrawal of Deposited Securities .  The Holder of ADSs shall be entitled to Delivery (at the Custodian’s designated office) of the Deposited Securities at the time represented by the ADS(s) upon satisfaction of each of the following conditions: (i) the Holder (or a duly authorized attorney of the Holder) has duly Delivered ADSs to the Depositary at its Principal Office (and if applicable, the Receipts evidencing such ADSs) for the purpose of withdrawal of the Deposited Securities represented thereby, (ii) if so required by the Depositary, the Receipts Delivered to the Depositary for such purpose have been properly endorsed in blank or are accompanied by proper instruments of transfer in blank (including signature guarantees in accordance with standard securities industry practice), (iii) if so required by the Depositary, the Holder of the ADSs has executed and delivered to the Depositary a written order directing the Depositary to cause the Deposited Securities being withdrawn to be Delivered to or upon the written order of the person(s) designated in such order, (iv) the Holder has delivered to the Depositary the applicable certification contemplated in Exhibit C hereof, duly completed by or on behalf of the Beneficial Owner(s) of the ADSs surrendered for withdrawal (unless the Depositary is  otherwise instructed by the Company), and (v) all applicable fees and charges of, and reasonable expenses incurred by, the Depositary and all applicable taxes and governmental charges (as are set forth in Section 5.9 and Exhibit B hereof) have been paid, subject, however, in each case, to the terms and conditions of the Receipts evidencing the surrendered ADSs, of the Deposit Agreement, of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and of any applicable laws and regulations of the Republic of China and of the United States and the rules of the TDCC, and to any provisions of or governing the Deposited Securities, in each case as in effect at the time thereof.

 

Upon satisfaction of each of the conditions specified above, the Depositary (i) shall cancel the ADSs Delivered to it (and, if applicable, the Receipts evidencing the ADSs so Delivered), (ii) shall direct the Registrar to record the cancellation of the ADSs so Delivered on the books maintained for such purpose, and (iii) shall direct the Custodian to Deliver (without unreasonable delay) at the Custodian’s designated office the Deposited Securities represented by the ADSs so canceled together with any certificate or other document of title for the Deposited Securities, or evidence of the electronic transfer thereof (if available), as the case may be, to or upon the written order of the person(s) designated in the order delivered to the Depositary for such purpose, subject however, in each case, to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, of the Receipts evidencing the ADSs so canceled, of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, of applicable laws and regulations of the Republic of China and of the United States and of the rules of the TDCC, and to the terms and conditions of  or governing the Deposited Securities,  in each case as in effect at the time thereof.

 

The Depositary shall not accept for surrender ADSs representing less than a whole number of Eligible Securities.  In the case of Delivery to it of ADSs representing a number other than a whole number of Eligible Securities, the Depositary shall cause ownership of the appropriate whole number of Eligible Securities to be Delivered in accordance with the terms hereof, and shall, at the discretion of the Depositary, either (i) return to the person surrendering such ADSs the number of ADSs representing any remaining fractional Eligible Security, or (ii) sell or cause to be sold the fractional Eligible Security represented by the ADSs so surrendered and remit the proceeds of such sale (net of (a) applicable fees and charges of, and

 

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expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes withheld) to the person surrendering the ADSs.

 

Notwithstanding anything else contained in any ADR or the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may make delivery at the Principal Office of the Depositary of Deposited Property consisting of (i) any cash dividends or cash distributions, or (ii) any proceeds from the sale of any non-cash distributions, which are at the time held by the Depositary in respect of the Deposited Securities represented by the ADSs surrendered for cancellation and withdrawal.  At the request, risk and expense of any Holder so surrendering ADSs, and for the account of such Holder, the Depositary shall direct the Custodian to forward (to the extent permitted by law) any Deposited Property (other than Deposited Securities) held by the Custodian in respect of such ADSs to the Depositary for delivery at the Principal Office of the Depositary.  Such direction shall be given by letter or, at the request, risk and expense of such Holder, by cable, telex or facsimile transmission.

 

Section 2.8 Limitations on Execution and Delivery, Transfer, etc. of ADSs; Suspension of Delivery, Transfer, etc .

 

(a)        Additional Requirements . As a condition precedent to the execution and delivery, the registration of issuance, transfer, split-up, combination or surrender, of any ADS, the delivery of any distribution thereon, or the withdrawal of any Deposited Property, the Depositary or the Custodian may require (i) payment from the depositor of Eligible Securities or presenter of ADSs or of an ADR of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any tax or other governmental charge and any stock transfer or registration fee with respect thereto (including any such tax or charge and fee with respect to Eligible Securities being deposited or withdrawn) and payment of any applicable fees and charges of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.9 and Exhibit B , (ii) the production of proof satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature or any other matter contemplated by Section 3.1, and (iii) compliance with (A) any laws or governmental regulations relating to the execution and delivery of ADRs or ADSs or to the withdrawal of Deposited Securities and (B) such reasonable regulations as the Depositary and the Company may establish consistent with the provisions of the representative ADR, if applicable, the Deposit Agreement and applicable law.

 

(b)        Additional Limitations . The issuance of ADSs against deposits of Eligible Securities generally or against deposits of particular Eligible Securities may be suspended, or the deposit of particular Eligible Securities may be refused, or the registration of transfer of ADSs in particular instances may be refused, or the registration of transfers of ADSs generally may be suspended, during any period when the transfer books of the Company, the Depositary, a Registrar or the Eligible Securities Registrar are closed or if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary or the Company, in good faith, at any time or from time to time because of any requirement of law or regulation, any government or governmental body or commission or any securities exchange on which the ADSs or Eligible Securities are listed, or under any provision of the Deposit Agreement or the representative ADR(s), if applicable, or under any provision of, or governing, the Deposited Securities, or because of a meeting of shareholders of the Company or for any other reason, subject, in all cases, to Section 7.8.

 

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(c)        Regulatory Restrictions . Notwithstanding any provision of the Deposit Agreement or any ADR(s) to the contrary, Holders are entitled to surrender outstanding ADSs to withdraw the Deposited Securities associated herewith at any time subject only to (i) temporary delays caused by closing the transfer books of the Depositary or the Company or the deposit of Eligible Securities in connection with voting at a shareholders’ meeting or the payment of dividends, (ii) the payment of fees, taxes and similar charges, (iii) compliance with any U.S. or foreign laws or governmental regulations relating to the ADSs or to the withdrawal of the Deposited Securities, and (iv) other circumstances specifically contemplated by Instruction I.A.(l) of the General Instructions to Form F-6 (as such General Instructions may be amended from time to time).

 

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Section 2.9 Lost ADRs, etc . In case any ADR shall be mutilated, destroyed, lost, or stolen, the Depositary shall execute and deliver a new ADR of like tenor at the expense of the Holder (a)  in the case of a mutilated ADR, in exchange of and substitution for such mutilated ADR upon cancellation thereof, or (b)  in the case of a destroyed, lost or stolen ADR, in lieu of and in substitution for such destroyed, lost, or stolen ADR, after the Holder thereof (i) has submitted to the Depositary a written request for such exchange and substitution before the Depositary has notice that the ADR has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, (ii) has provided such security or indemnity (including an indemnity bond) as may be required by the Depositary to save it and any of its agents harmless, and (iii) has satisfied any other reasonable requirements imposed by the Depositary, including, without limitation, evidence satisfactory to the Depositary of such destruction, loss or theft of such ADR, the authenticity thereof and the Holder’s ownership thereof.

 

Section 2.10 Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered ADRs; Maintenance of Records . All ADRs surrendered to the Depositary shall be canceled by the Depositary. Canceled ADRs shall not be entitled to any benefits under the Deposit Agreement or be valid or enforceable against the Depositary for any purpose. The Depositary is authorized to destroy ADRs so canceled, provided the Depositary maintains a record of all destroyed ADRs. Any ADSs held in book-entry form ( i.e. , through accounts at DTC) shall be deemed canceled when the Depositary causes the number of ADSs evidenced by the Balance Certificate to be reduced by the number of ADSs surrendered (without the need to physically destroy the Balance Certificate). The Depositary agrees to maintain records of all Receipts surrendered and Deposited Securities withdrawn, substitute Receipts delivered and canceled or destroyed Receipts in accordance with procedures ordinarily followed by such transfer agents located in The City of New York, or as required by the laws or regulations governing the Depositary. Upon the reasonable request of the Company, the Depositary shall provide a copy of such records to the Company.

 

Section 2.11 Escheatment . In the event any unclaimed property relating to the ADSs, for any reason, is in the possession of Depositary and has not been claimed by the Holder thereof or cannot be delivered to the Holder thereof through usual channels, the Depositary shall, upon expiration of any applicable statutory period relating to abandoned property laws, escheat such unclaimed property to the relevant authorities in accordance with the laws of each of the relevant States of the United States.

 

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Section 2.12 Partial Entitlement ADSs . In the event any Eligible Securities are deposited which entitle the holders thereof to receive a per Deposited Security distribution or other entitlement in an amount different from the Deposited Securities then on deposit (the Deposited Securities then on deposit collectively, “ Full Entitlement Deposited Securities ” and the Deposited Securities with different entitlement collectively, “ Partial Entitlement Deposited Securities ”), the Depositary shall (i) cause the Custodian to hold Partial Entitlement Deposited Securities separate and distinct from Full Entitlement Deposited Securities, and (ii) subject to the terms of this Deposit Agreement, issue ADSs and deliver ADRs representing Partial Entitlement Deposited Securities which are separate and distinct from the ADSs and ADRs representing Full Entitlement Deposited Securities, by means of separate CUSIP numbering and legending (if necessary) (“Partial Entitlement ADSs/ADRs” and “Full Entitlement ADSs/ADRs”, respectively). If and when the Company informs the Depositary in writing that the Partial Entitlement Deposited Securities become Full Entitlement Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall (a) give notice thereof to Holders of Partial Entitlement ADSs and give Holders of Partial Entitlement ADRs the opportunity to exchange such Partial Entitlement ADRs for Full Entitlement ADRs, (b) cause the Custodian to transfer the Partial Entitlement Deposited Securities into the account of the Full Entitlement Deposited Securities, and (c) take such actions as are necessary to remove the distinctions between (i) the Partial Entitlement ADRs and ADSs, on the one hand, and (ii) the Full Entitlement ADRs and ADSs on the other. Holders and Beneficial Owners of Partial Entitlement ADSs shall only be entitled to the entitlements of Partial Entitlement Deposited Securities. Holders and Beneficial Owners of Full Entitlement ADSs shall be entitled only to the entitlements of Full Entitlement Deposited Securities. All provisions and conditions of this Deposit Agreement shall apply to Partial Entitlement ADRs and ADSs to the same extent as Full Entitlement ADRs and ADSs, except as contemplated by this Section 2.12. The Depositary is authorized to take any and all other actions as may be necessary (including, without limitation, making the necessary notations on Receipts) to give effect to the terms of this Section 2.12. The Company agrees to give timely written notice to the Depositary if any Eligible Securities issued or to be issued are Partial Entitlement Deposited Securities and shall assist the Depositary with the establishment of procedures enabling the identification of Partial Entitlement Deposited Securities upon Delivery to the Custodian.

 

Section 2.13 Certificated/Uncertificated ADSs . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may, at any time and from time to time, issue ADSs that are not evidenced by ADRs (such ADSs, the “ Uncertificated ADS(s) ” and the ADS(s) evidenced by ADR(s), the “ Certificated ADS(s) ”). When issuing and maintaining Uncertificated ADS(s) under the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall at all times be subject to (i) the standards applicable to registrars and transfer agents maintaining direct registration systems for equity securities in New York and issuing uncertificated securities under New York law, and (ii) the terms of New York law applicable to uncertificated equity securities. Uncertificated ADSs shall not be represented by any instruments but shall be evidenced by registration in the books of the Depositary maintained for such purpose. Holders of Uncertificated ADSs, that are not subject to any registered pledges, liens, restrictions or adverse claims of which the Depositary has notice at such time, shall at all times have the right to exchange the Uncertificated ADS(s) for Certificated ADS(s) of the same type and class, subject in each case to (x) applicable laws and any rules and regulations the Depositary may have established in respect of the Uncertificated ADSs, and (y) the continued availability of Certificated ADSs in the U.S.

 

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Holders of Certificated ADSs shall, if the Depositary maintains a direct registration system for the ADSs, have the right to exchange the Certificated ADSs for Uncertificated ADSs upon (i) the due surrender of the Certificated ADS(s) to the Depositary for such purpose and (ii) the presentation of a written request to that effect to the Depositary, subject in each case to (a) all liens and restrictions noted on the ADR evidencing the Certificated ADS(s) and all adverse claims of which the Depositary then has notice, (b) the terms of the Deposit Agreement and the rules and regulations that the Depositary may establish for such purposes hereunder, (c) applicable law, and (d) payment of the Depositary fees and expenses applicable to such exchange of Certificated ADS(s) for Uncertificated ADS(s). Uncertificated ADSs shall in all material respects be identical to Certificated ADS(s) of the same type and class, except that (i) no ADR(s) shall be, or shall need to be, issued to evidence Uncertificated ADS(s), (ii) Uncertificated ADS(s) shall, subject to the terms of the Deposit Agreement, be transferable upon the same terms and conditions as uncertificated securities under New York law, (iii) the ownership of Uncertificated ADS(s) shall be recorded on the books of the Depositary maintained for such purpose and evidence of such ownership shall be reflected in periodic statements provided by the Depositary to the Holder(s) in accordance with applicable New York law, (iv) the Depositary may from time to time, upon notice to the Holders of Uncertificated ADSs affected thereby, establish rules and regulations, and amend or supplement existing rules and regulations, as may be deemed reasonably necessary to maintain Uncertificated ADS(s) on behalf of Holders, provided that (a) such rules and regulations do not conflict with the terms of the Deposit Agreement and applicable law, and (b) the terms of such rules and regulations are readily available to Holders upon request, (v) the Uncertificated ADS(s) shall not be entitled to any benefits under the Deposit Agreement or be valid or enforceable for any purpose against the Depositary or the Company unless such Uncertificated ADS(s) is/are registered on the books of the Depositary maintained for such purpose, (vi) the Depositary may, in connection with any deposit of Shares resulting in the issuance of Uncertificated ADSs and with any transfer, pledge, release and cancellation of Uncertificated ADSs, require the prior receipt of such documentation as the Depositary may deem reasonably appropriate, and (vii) upon termination of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall not require Holders of Uncertificated ADSs to affirmatively instruct the Depositary before remitting proceeds from the sale of the Deposited Property represented by such Holders' Uncertificated ADSs under the terms of Section 6.2 of the Deposit Agreement. When issuing ADSs under the terms of the Deposit Agreement, including, without limitation, issuances pursuant to Sections 2.5, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5 and 4.11, the Depositary may in its discretion determine to issue Uncertificated ADSs rather than Certificated ADSs, unless otherwise specifically instructed by the applicable Holder to issue Certificated ADSs. All provisions and conditions of the Deposit Agreement shall apply to Uncertificated ADSs to the same extent as to Certificated ADSs, except as contemplated by this Section 2.13. The Depositary is authorized and directed to take any and all actions and establish any and all procedures deemed reasonably necessary to give effect to the terms of this Section 2.13. Any references in the Deposit Agreement or any ADR(s) to the terms “American Depositary Share(s)” or “ADS(s)” shall, unless the context otherwise requires, include Certificated ADS(s) and Uncertificated ADS(s). Except as set forth in this Section 2.13 and except as required by applicable law, the Uncertificated ADSs shall be treated as ADSs issued and outstanding under the terms of the Deposit Agreement. In the event that, in determining the rights and obligations of parties hereto with respect to any Uncertificated ADSs, any conflict arises between (a) the

 

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terms of the Deposit Agreement (other than this Section 2.13) and (b) the terms of this Section 2.13, the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 2.13 shall be controlling and shall govern the rights and obligations of the parties to the Deposit Agreement pertaining to the Uncertificated ADSs.

 

Section 2.14 Restricted ADSs . The Depositary shall, at the request and expense of the Company, establish procedures enabling the deposit hereunder of Shares that are Restricted Securities in order to enable the holder of such Shares to hold its ownership interests in such Restricted Securities in the form of ADSs issued under the terms hereof (such Shares, “ Restricted Shares ”). Upon receipt of a written request from the Company to accept Restricted Shares for deposit hereunder, the Depositary agrees to establish procedures permitting the deposit of such Restricted Shares and the issuance of ADSs representing the right to receive, subject to the terms of the Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADR (if issued as a Certificated ADS), such deposited Restricted Shares (such ADSs, the “ Restricted ADSs ,” and the ADRs evidencing such Restricted ADSs, the “ Restricted ADRs ”). Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 2.14, the Depositary and the Company may, to the extent not prohibited by law, agree to issue the Restricted ADSs in uncertificated form (“ Uncertificated Restricted ADSs ”) upon such terms and conditions as the Company and the Depositary may deem necessary and appropriate. The Company shall assist the Depositary in the establishment of such procedures and agrees that it shall take all steps necessary and satisfactory to the Depositary to ensure that the establishment of such procedures does not violate the provisions of the Securities Act or any other applicable laws. The depositors of such Restricted Shares and the Holders of the Restricted ADSs may be required prior to the deposit of such Restricted Shares, the transfer of the Restricted ADRs and Restricted ADSs or the withdrawal of the Restricted Shares represented by Restricted ADSs to provide such written certifications or agreements as the Depositary or the Company may require. The Company shall provide to the Depositary in writing the legend(s) to be affixed to the Restricted ADRs (if the Restricted ADSs are to be issued as Certificated ADSs), or to be included in the statements issued from time to time to Holders of Uncertificated ADSs (if issued as Uncertificated Restricted ADSs), which legends shall (i) be in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary and (ii) contain the specific circumstances under which the Restricted ADSs, and, if applicable, the Restricted ADRs evidencing the Restricted ADSs, may be transferred or the Restricted Shares withdrawn. The Restricted ADSs issued upon the deposit of Restricted Shares shall be separately identified on the books of the Depositary and the Restricted Shares so deposited shall, to the extent required by law, be held separate and distinct from the other Deposited Securities held hereunder. The Restricted Shares and the Restricted ADSs shall not be eligible for Pre-Release Transactions. The Restricted ADSs shall not be eligible for inclusion in any book-entry settlement system, including, without limitation, DTC, and shall not in any way be fungible with the ADSs issued under the terms hereof that are not Restricted ADSs. The Restricted ADSs, and, if applicable, the Restricted ADRs evidencing the Restricted ADSs, shall be transferable only by the Holder thereof upon delivery to the Depositary of (i) all documentation otherwise contemplated by the Deposit Agreement and (ii) an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Depositary setting forth, inter alia , the conditions upon which the Restricted ADSs presented, and, if applicable, the Restricted ADRs evidencing the Restricted ADSs, are transferable by the Holder thereof under applicable securities laws and the transfer restrictions contained in the legend applicable to the Restricted ADSs presented for transfer. Except as set forth in this Section 2.14, and except as required by applicable law, the

 

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Restricted ADSs and the Restricted ADRs evidencing Restricted ADSs shall be treated as ADSs and ADRs issued and outstanding under the terms of the Deposit Agreement. In the event that, in determining the rights and obligations of parties hereto with respect to any Restricted ADSs, any conflict arises between (a) the terms of the Deposit Agreement (other than this Section 2.14) and (b) the terms of (i) this Section 2.14 or (ii) the applicable Restricted ADR, the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 2.14 and of the Restricted ADR shall be controlling and shall govern the rights and obligations of the parties to the Deposit Agreement pertaining to the deposited Restricted Shares, the Restricted ADSs and Restricted ADRs.

 

If the Restricted ADRs, the Restricted ADSs and the Restricted Shares cease to be Restricted Securities, the Depositary, upon receipt of (x) an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Depositary setting forth, inter alia , that the Restricted ADRs, the Restricted ADSs and the Restricted Shares are not as of such time Restricted Securities, and (y) instructions from the Company to remove the restrictions applicable to the Restricted ADRs, the Restricted ADSs and the Restricted Shares, shall (i) eliminate the distinctions and separations that may have been established between the applicable Restricted Shares held on deposit under this Section 2.14 and the other Shares held on deposit under the terms of the Deposit Agreement that are not Restricted Shares, (ii) treat the newly unrestricted ADRs and ADSs on the same terms as, and fully fungible with, the other ADRs and ADSs issued and outstanding under the terms of the Deposit Agreement that are not Restricted ADRs or Restricted ADSs, and (iii) take all actions necessary to remove any distinctions, limitations and restrictions previously existing under this Section 2.14 between the applicable Restricted ADRs and Restricted ADSs, respectively, on the one hand, and the other ADRs and ADSs that are not Restricted ADRs or Restricted ADSs, respectively, on the other hand, including, without limitation, by making the newly-unrestricted ADSs eligible for Pre-Release Transactions and for inclusion in the applicable book-entry settlement systems.

 

Section 2.15 Temporary ADSs . In the event that, in determining the rights and obligations of parties hereto with respect to any Temporary ADSs, any conflict arises between (a) the terms of this Deposit Agreement (other than this Section 2.15) and (b) the terms of (i) the Temporary ADSs issued hereunder as set forth in this Section 2.15 or (ii) the applicable Temporary ADR, the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 2.15 or the applicable Temporary ADR shall be controlling and shall govern the rights and obligations of the parties to this Deposit Agreement pertaining to the Certificate of Payment, the Temporary ADSs and the Temporary ADRs.

 

Whenever the Company proposes to issue any Certificate of Payment eligible for deposit hereunder (in connection with the Offering or otherwise), the Company shall timely notify the Depositary thereof and provide the Depositary with written instructions to the effect that, inter alia, (i) the Certificate of Payment has been or is to be issued pursuant to a bona fide purchase of Shares from the Company, (ii) the Certificate of Payment is not, and shall not be deemed to be upon its deposit, and the Shares issuable pursuant to the terms of the Certificate of Payment will not be, Restricted Securities, (iii) a description of the rights (if any) to any distribution upon Deposited Securities to be made to Holders of Temporary ADSs representing such Certificates of Payment upon the terms set forth in Article IV hereof, and (iv) the date established by the

 

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Company upon which the Company shall convert or cause to be converted the Certificate of Payment into Shares on its records and on the records of the Eligible Securities Registrar.

 

Subject always to the laws and regulations of the Republic of China, upon deposit of any Certificate of Payment hereunder and payment to the Depositary of the charges of the Depositary for accepting a deposit, issuing ADSs and issuing and delivering Receipts (as set forth in Section 5.9 and Exhibit B hereto), the Depositary shall (i) cause the Custodian to hold such Certificate of Payment separate and distinct from the Shares, any other Certificate(s) of Payment and any other Deposited Securities and (ii) issue and deliver Temporary ADSs representing interests in the Certificate of Payment so deposited. The Temporary ADSs so issued shall be identified and treated separately and distinctly from any other ADSs representing Deposited Securities hereunder by means, inter alia, of separate CUSIP numbering and legending (if necessary). The Depositary may issue Temporary ADSs in one or multiple series as the Depositary in its sole discretion deems necessary and appropriate. No Temporary ADS shall be fungible with any other ADSs issued hereunder.

 

The Depositary shall deliver Temporary ADSs in book-entry form only. No certificated Temporary ADRs will be issued except for a “Balance Certificate” evidencing all Temporary ADSs held in DTC, which shall be substantially in the form of Temporary ADR set forth in Exhibit A hereto, except as may be necessary to identify and treat the Temporary ADSs as separate and distinct from any other ADSs issued under the terms of this Deposit Agreement. The Depositary shall make arrangements for the acceptance of such Temporary ADSs into DTC upon the terms set forth in Section 2.2(d) hereof. The Temporary ADSs and the Temporary ADRs evidenced thereby are identical to and confer all of the rights and obligations set forth herein relating to Receipts and ADSs represented thereby except that (i) in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations of the Republic of China, Holders of Temporary ADRs will have no right to withdraw the Deposited Securities represented by their Temporary ADSs, (ii) Temporary ADRs shall bear separate CUSIP numbers that shall be different from any CUSIP number that is or may be assigned to the other ADSs issued hereunder, (iii) neither Temporary ADSs nor interests in any Certificate of Payment shall be eligible for any Pre-Cancellation Sale Transactions or Pre-Release Transactions described in Section 5.10 hereof and (iv) in the event that the Company makes any distributions upon Deposited Securities upon the terms of Article IV of this Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall make distributions to Holders of Temporary ADSs on the basis of the distribution(s) received from the Company in respect of the Certificate(s) of Payment corresponding to the series of Temporary ADSs held by such Holder. Nothing herein shall impose any obligation upon the Depositary to make any distributions to Holders of any series of Temporary ADSs on the same basis as Holders of Share ADSs or any other Series of Temporary ADSs issued hereunder.

 

The Company undertakes to make Shares available in exchange for any specified Certificate of Payment, as soon as possible after the issuance of the Certificate of Payment and to provide timely notice thereof to the Depositary. Upon receipt of such notice from the Company, the Depositary shall instruct the Custodian to surrender any such Certificate of Payment then eligible for exchange to the Company against delivery of Shares to the Depositary in exchange therefor. Upon receipt by the Depositary of (i) notice of the exchange of Shares for such Certificate of Payment and (ii) confirmation from the Company that the Shares so received rank

 

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in all respects pari passu with the Deposited Securities evidenced by Share ADSs, the Depositary shall give notice thereof to the applicable Holders of Temporary ADSs and thereafter Temporary ADSs shall be eligible for exchange into Share ADSs. Interests in Temporary ADSs in DTC will be automatically exchanged for beneficial interests in Share ADSs as follows: with no further action by Holders, the Depositary shall instruct DTC to automatically transfer any position held by a DTC participant under the CUSIP number assigned to the Temporary ADSs to the CUSIP number assigned to the Share ADSs. Holders and Beneficial Owners of such Temporary ADSs shall thereafter be Holders and Beneficial Owners of Share ADSs issued hereunder and shall have all the rights and obligations specified in this Deposit Agreement and in the Receipts pertaining to Share ADSs. The Depositary will charge no fee for the cancellation of the Temporary ADSs and issuance of Share ADSs in exchange therefor.

 

Notwithstanding anything in the Deposit Agreement to the contrary, the Depositary shall have no obligation to any party to exchange Temporary ADSs for Share ADSs as provided herein unless and until, upon delivery by the Depositary of the related Certificate of Payment, the Company shall have delivered Shares in respect thereof to the Depositary.

 

ARTICLE III

CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF HOLDERS
AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF ADSs

 

Section 3.1 Proofs, Certificates and Other Information . Any person presenting Eligible Securities for deposit, any Holder and any Beneficial Owner may be required, and every Holder and Beneficial Owner agrees, from time to time to provide to the Depositary and the Custodian such proof of citizenship or residence, taxpayer status, payment of all applicable taxes or other governmental charges, exchange control approval, legal or beneficial ownership of ADSs and Deposited Property, compliance with applicable laws, the terms of the Deposit Agreement or the ADR(s) evidencing the ADSs and the provisions of, or governing, the Deposited Property, to execute such certifications and to make such representations and warranties, and to provide such other information and documentation (or, in the case of Shares in registered form presented for deposit, such information relating to the registration on the books of the Company) as the Depositary or the Custodian may deem necessary or proper or as the Company may reasonably require by written request to the Depositary consistent with its obligations under the Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADR(s). The Depositary and the Registrar, as applicable, may withhold the execution or delivery or registration of transfer of any ADR or ADS or the distribution or sale of any dividend or distribution of rights or of the proceeds thereof or, to the extent not limited by the terms of Section 7.8, the delivery of any Deposited Property until such proof or other information is filed or such certifications are executed, or such representations and warranties are made, or such other documentation or information provided, in each case to the Depositary’s, the Registrar’s and the Company’s satisfaction. The Depositary shall provide the Company, in a timely manner, with copies or originals if necessary and appropriate of (i) any such proofs of citizenship or residence, taxpayer status, or exchange control approval or copies of written representations and warranties which it receives from Holders and Beneficial Owners, and (ii) any other information or documents which the Company may reasonably request and which the Depositary shall request and receive

 

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from any Holder or Beneficial Owner or any person presenting Eligible Securities for deposit or ADSs for cancellation, transfer or withdrawal. Nothing herein shall obligate the Depositary to (i) obtain any information for the Company if not provided by the Holders or Beneficial Owners, or (ii) verify or vouch for the accuracy of the information so provided by the Holders or Beneficial Owners.

 

Section 3.2 Liability for Taxes and Other Charges . Any tax or other governmental charge payable by the Custodian or by the Depositary with respect to any Deposited Property, ADSs or ADRs shall be payable by the Holders and Beneficial Owners to the Depositary. The Company, the Custodian and/or the Depositary may withhold or deduct from any distributions made in respect of Deposited Property, and may sell for the account of a Holder and/or Beneficial Owner any or all of the Deposited Property and apply such distributions and sale proceeds in payment of, any taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) or charges that are or may be payable by Holders or Beneficial Owners in respect of the ADSs, Deposited Property and ADRs, the Holder and the Beneficial Owner remaining liable for any deficiency. The Custodian may refuse the deposit of Eligible Securities and the Depositary may refuse to issue ADSs, to deliver ADRs, register the transfer of ADSs, register the split-up or combination of ADRs and (subject to Section 7.8) the withdrawal of Deposited Property until payment in full of such tax, charge, penalty or interest is received. Every Holder and Beneficial Owner agrees to indemnify the Depositary, the Company, the Custodian, and any of their agents, officers, employees and Affiliates for, and to hold each of them harmless from, any claims with respect to taxes (including applicable interest and penalties thereon) arising from any tax benefit obtained for such Holder and/or Beneficial Owner. The obligations of Holders and Beneficial Owners under this section 3.2 shall survive any transfer of ADSs, any cancellation of ADSs and withdrawal of Deposited Securities, and the termination of the Deposit Agreement.

 

Section 3.3 Representations and Warranties on Deposit of Eligible Securities .(a) Deposit of Shares . Each person depositing Shares under the Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby to represent and warrant that (i) such Shares and the certificates therefor are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable and legally obtained by such person, (ii) all preemptive (and similar) rights, if any, with respect to such Shares have been validly waived or exercised, (iii) the person making such deposit is duly authorized so to do, (iv) the Shares presented for deposit are free and clear of any lien, encumbrance, security interest, charge, mortgage or adverse claim, (v) the Shares presented for deposit are not, and the ADSs issuable upon such deposit will not be, Restricted Securities (except as contemplated in Section 2.14), and (vi) the Shares presented for deposit have not been stripped of any rights or entitlements. Such representations and warranties shall survive the deposit and withdrawal of Shares, the issuance and cancellation of ADSs in respect thereof and the transfer of such ADSs.

 

(b)        Deposit of Certificate(s) of Payment . Whenever the Company shall deposit any Certificate of Payment under this Deposit Agreement the Company shall be deemed thereby to represent and warrant that (i) such Certificate of Payment is, and the Shares to be received in exchange for the Certificate of Payment will be, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable and legally obtained, (ii) all preemptive (and similar) rights, if any, with respect to such Certificate of Payment has been, and with respect to the Shares to be received in exchange for the Certificate of Payment will have been, validly waived or exercised, (iii) the Company has

 

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duly authorized the issuance of the Shares to be delivered in exchange for the Payment Certificate so presented for deposit, (iv) the Certificate of Payment presented for deposit is, and the Shares to be deposited upon the exchange of the Certificates of Payment for Shares will be, free and clear of any lien, encumbrance, security interest, change, mortgage or adverse claim, and are not, and the Temporary ADSs issuable upon such deposit will not be, Restricted Securities and (v) the Certificate of Payment presented for deposit has not been, and the Shares to be deposited upon the exchange for the Certificate of Payment will not have been, stripped of any rights or entitlements. Such representations and warranties shall survive the deposit of any Certificate of Payment, the issuance and cancellation of Temporary ADSs in respect thereof and the transfer of such Temporary ADSs.

 

(c)        If any such representations or warranties are false in any way, the Company and the Depositary shall be authorized, at the cost and expense of the person depositing Shares, to take any and all actions necessary to correct the consequences thereof.

 

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Section 3.4 Compliance with Information Requests . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Deposit Agreement or any ADR(s), each Holder and Beneficial Owner agrees to comply with requests from the Company pursuant to applicable law, the rules and requirements of the TSE, and any other stock exchange on which the Eligible Securities or ADSs are, or will be, registered, traded or listed or the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, which are made to provide information, inter alia , as to the capacity in which such Holder or Beneficial Owner owns ADSs (and Eligible Securities as the case may be) and regarding the identity of any other person(s) interested in such ADSs and the nature of such interest and various other matters, whether or not they are Holders and/or Beneficial Owners at the time of such request. The Depositary agrees to use its reasonable efforts to forward, upon the request of the Company and at the Company’s expense, any such request from the Company to the Holders and to forward to the Company any such responses to such requests received by the Depositary.

 

Section 3.5 Ownership Restrictions . Notwithstanding any other provision in the Deposit Agreement or any ADR, the Company may restrict transfers of the Shares or Eligible Securities where such transfer might result in ownership of Shares exceeding limits imposed by applicable law or the Articles of Incorporation of the Company. The Company may also restrict, in such manner as it deems appropriate, transfers of the ADSs where such transfer may result in the total number of Shares represented by the ADSs owned by a single Holder or Beneficial Owner to exceed any such limits. The Company may, in its sole discretion but subject to applicable law, instruct the Depositary to take action with respect to the ownership interest of any Holder or Beneficial Owner in excess of the limits set forth in the preceding sentence, including, but not limited to, the imposition of restrictions on the transfer of ADSs, the removal or limitation of voting rights or mandatory sale or disposition on behalf of a Holder or Beneficial Owner of the Shares represented by the ADSs held by such Holder or Beneficial Owner in excess of such limitations, if and to the extent such disposition is permitted by applicable law and the Articles of Incorporation of the Company. Nothing herein shall be interpreted as obligating the Depositary or the Company to ensure compliance with the ownership restrictions described in this Section 3.5.

 

Section 3.6 Reporting Obligations and Regulatory Approvals . Applicable laws and regulations may require holders and beneficial owners of Shares, including the Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs, to satisfy reporting requirements and obtain regulatory approvals in certain circumstances. Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs are solely responsible for determining and complying with such reporting requirements and obtaining such approvals. Each Holder and each Beneficial Owner hereby agrees to make such determination, file such reports, and obtain such approvals to the extent and in the form required by applicable laws and regulations as in effect from time to time. Neither the Depositary, the Custodian, the Company or any of their respective agents or affiliates shall be required to take any actions whatsoever on behalf of Holders or Beneficial Owners to determine or satisfy such reporting requirements or obtain such regulatory approvals under applicable laws and regulations.

 

ARTICLE IV

THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES

 

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Section 4.1 Cash Distributions . Whenever the Company intends to make a distribution of a cash dividend or other cash distribution in respect of any Deposited Securities, the Company shall give notice thereof to the Depositary at least twenty (20) days prior to the proposed distribution specifying, inter alia , the record date applicable for determining the holders of Deposited Securities entitled to receive such distribution. Upon the timely receipt of such notice, the Depositary shall establish the ADS Record Date upon the terms described in Section 4.9. Upon receipt of confirmation of the receipt of (x) any cash dividend or other cash distribution on any Deposited Securities, or (y) proceeds from the sale of any Deposited Property held in respect of the ADSs under the terms hereof, the Depositary will (i) if at the time of receipt thereof any amounts received in a Foreign Currency can, in the judgment of the Depositary (pursuant to Section 4.8), be converted on a practicable basis into Dollars transferable to the United States, promptly convert or cause to be converted such cash dividend, distribution or proceeds into Dollars (on the terms described in Section 4.8), (ii) if applicable and unless previously established, establish the ADS Record Date upon the terms described in Section 4.9, and (iii) distribute promptly the amount thus received (net of (a) the applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes withheld) to the Holders entitled thereto as of the ADS Record Date in proportion to the number of ADSs held as of the ADS Record Date. The Depositary shall distribute only such amount, however, as can be distributed without attributing to any Holder a fraction of one cent, and any balance not so distributed shall be held by the Depositary (without liability for interest thereon) and shall be added to and become part of the next sum received by the Depositary for distribution to Holders of ADSs outstanding at the time of the next distribution. If the Company, the Custodian or the Depositary is required to withhold and does withhold from any cash dividend or other cash distribution in respect of any Deposited Securities, or from any cash proceeds from the sales of Deposited Property, an amount on account of taxes, duties or other governmental charges, the amount distributed to Holders on the ADSs shall be reduced accordingly. Such withheld amounts shall be forwarded by the Company, the Custodian or the Depositary to the relevant governmental authority. Evidence of payment thereof by the Company shall be forwarded by the Company to the Depositary upon request. The Depositary or the Custodian, as the case may be, will forward to the Company or its agent such information from its records as the company may reasonably request to enable the Company or its agent to file necessary reports with governmental agencies, and the Depositary or the Custodian, as the case may be, or the Company or its agent may file any such reports necessary to obtain benefits under the applicable tax treaties for Holders of ADSs. The Depositary will hold any cash amounts it is unable to distribute in a non-interest bearing account for the benefit of the applicable Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs until the distribution can be effected or the funds that the Depositary holds must be escheated as unclaimed property in accordance with the laws of the relevant states of the United States. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Deposit Agreement to the contrary, in the event the Company fails to give the Depositary timely notice of the proposed distribution provided for in this Section 4.1, the Depositary agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to perform the actions contemplated in this Section 4.1, and the Company, the Holders and the Beneficial Owners acknowledge that the Depositary shall have no liability for the Depositary’s failure to perform the actions contemplated in this Section 4.1 where such notice has not been so timely given, other than its failure to use commercially reasonable efforts, as provided herein.

 

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Section 4.2 Distribution in Eligible Securities . Whenever the Company intends to make a distribution that consists of a dividend in, or free distribution of, Eligible Securities, the Company shall give notice thereof to the Depositary at least twenty(20) days prior to the proposed distribution, specifying, inter alia , the record date applicable to holders of Deposited Securities entitled to receive such distribution. Upon the timely receipt of such notice from the Company, the Depositary shall establish the ADS Record Date upon the terms described in Section 4.9. Upon receipt of confirmation from the Custodian of the receipt of the Shares so distributed by the Company, the Depositary shall either (i) subject to Section 5.9, distribute to the Holders as of the ADS Record Date in proportion to the number of ADSs held as of the ADS Record Date, additional ADSs, which represent in the aggregate the number of Eligible Securities received as such dividend, or free distribution, subject to the other terms of the Deposit Agreement (including, without limitation, (a) the applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes), or (ii) if additional ADSs are not so distributed, take all actions necessary so that each ADS issued and outstanding after the ADS Record Date shall, to the extent permissible by law, thenceforth also represent rights and interests in the additional integral number of Shares distributed upon the Deposited Securities represented thereby (net of (a) the applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes). In lieu of delivering fractional ADSs, the Depositary shall sell the number of Eligible Securities or ADSs, as the case may be, represented by the aggregate of such fractions and distribute the net proceeds upon the terms described in Section 4.1. In the event that (x) the Depositary determines that any distribution in property (including Shares) is subject to any tax or other governmental charges which the Depositary is obligated to withhold, or, (y) if the Company in the fulfillment of its obligation under Section 5.7, has furnished an opinion of U.S. counsel determining that Eligible Securities must be registered under the Securities Act or other laws in order to be distributed to Holders (and no such registration statement has been declared effective), or (z) the deposit of Eligible Securities is not permitted under the laws or regulations of the Republic of China, the Depositary may dispose of all or a portion of such property (including Eligible Securities and rights to subscribe therefor) in such amounts and in such manner, including by public or private sale, as the Depositary deems necessary and practicable, and the Depositary shall distribute the net proceeds of any such sale (after deduction of (a) taxes and (b) fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary) to Holders entitled thereto upon the terms described in Section 4.1. The Depositary shall hold and/or distribute any unsold balance of such property in accordance with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Deposit Agreement to the contrary, in the event the Company fails to give the Depositary timely notice of the proposed distribution provided for in this Section 4.2, the Depositary agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to perform the actions contemplated in this Section 4.2, and the Company, the Holders and the Beneficial Owners acknowledge that the Depositary shall have no liability for the Depositary’s failure to perform the actions contemplated in this Section 4.2 where such notice has not been so timely given, other than its failure to use commercially reasonable efforts, as provided herein.

 

Section 4.3 Elective Distributions in Cash or Eligible Securities . Whenever the Company intends to make a distribution payable at the election of the holders of Deposited Securities in cash or in additional Eligible Securities, the Company shall give notice thereof to the Depositary at least sixty (60) days prior to the proposed distribution specifying, inter alia , the record date applicable to holders of Deposited Securities entitled to receive such elective

 

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distribution and whether or not it wishes such elective distribution to be made available to Holders of ADSs. Upon the timely receipt of a notice indicating that the Company wishes such elective distribution to be made available to Holders of ADSs, the Depositary shall consult with the Company to determine, and the Company shall assist the Depositary in its determination, whether it is lawful and reasonably practicable to make such elective distribution available to the Holders of ADSs. The Depositary shall make such elective distribution available to Holders only if (i) the Company shall have timely requested that the elective distribution be made available to Holders, (ii) the Depositary shall have determined that such distribution is reasonably practicable and (iii) the Depositary shall have received satisfactory documentation within the terms of Section 5.7. If the above conditions are not satisfied, or if the Company requests such elective distribution not to be made available to Holders of ADSs ,the Depositary shall establish the ADS Record Date on the terms described in Section 4.9 and, to the extent permitted by law, distribute to the Holders, on the basis of the same determination as is made in the Republic of China in respect of the Shares for which no election is made, either (X) cash upon the terms described in Section 4.1 or (Y) additional ADSs representing such additional Shares upon the terms described in Section 4.2. If the above conditions are satisfied, the Depositary shall establish an ADS Record Date on the terms described in Section 4.9 and establish procedures to enable Holders to elect the receipt of the proposed distribution in cash or in additional ADSs. The Company shall assist the Depositary in establishing such procedures to the extent necessary. If a Holder elects to receive the proposed distribution (X) in cash, the distribution shall be made upon the terms described in Section 4.1, or (Y) in ADSs, the distribution shall be made upon the terms described in Section 4.2. Nothing herein shall obligate the Depositary to make available to Holders a method to receive the elective distribution in Eligible Securities (rather than ADSs). There can be no assurance that Holders generally, or any Holder in particular, will be given the opportunity to receive elective distributions on the same terms and conditions as the holders of Deposited Securities. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Deposit Agreement to the contrary, in the event the Company fails to give the Depositary timely notice of the proposed distribution provided for in this Section 4.3, the Depositary agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to perform the actions contemplated in this Section 4.3, and the Company, the Holders and the Beneficial Owners acknowledge that the Depositary shall have no liability for the Depositary’s failure to perform the actions contemplated in this Section 4.3 where such notice has not been so timely given, other than its failure to use commercially reasonable efforts, as provided herein.

 

Section 4.4 Distribution of Rights to Purchase Additional ADSs .

 

(a)        Distribution to ADS Holders . Whenever the Company intends to distribute to the holders of the Deposited Securities rights to subscribe for additional Eligible Securities, the Company shall give notice thereof to the Depositary at least sixty (60) days prior to the proposed distribution specifying, inter alia , the record date applicable to holders of Deposited Securities entitled to receive such distribution and whether or not it wishes such rights to be made available to Holders of ADSs. Upon the timely receipt of a notice indicating that the Company wishes such rights to be made available to Holders of ADSs, the Depositary shall consult with the Company to determine, and the Company shall assist the Depositary in its determination, whether it is lawful and reasonably practicable to make such rights available to the Holders. The Depositary shall make such rights available to Holders only if (i) the Company shall have timely

 

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requested that such rights be made available to Holders, (ii) the Depositary shall have received satisfactory documentation within the terms of Section 5.7, and (iii) the Depositary shall have determined that such distribution of rights is reasonably practicable. In the event any of the conditions set forth above are not satisfied or if the Company requests that the rights not be made available to Holders of ADSs, the Depositary shall proceed with the sale of the rights as contemplated in Section 4.4(b) below. In the event all conditions set forth above are satisfied, the Depositary shall establish the ADS Record Date (upon the terms described in Section 4.9) and establish procedures to (x) distribute rights to purchase additional ADSs (by means of warrants or otherwise), (y) enable the Holders to exercise such rights (upon payment of the subscription price and of the applicable (a) fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes), and (z) deliver ADSs upon the valid exercise of such rights. The Company shall assist the Depositary to the extent necessary in establishing such procedures. Nothing herein shall obligate the Depositary to make available to the Holders a method to exercise rights to subscribe for Eligible Securities (rather than ADSs).

 

(b)        Sale of Rights . If (i) the Company does not timely request the Depositary to make the rights available to Holders or requests that the rights not be made available to Holders, (ii) the Depositary fails to receive satisfactory documentation within the terms of Section 5.7, or determines it is not lawful or not reasonably practicable to make the rights available to Holders, or (iii) any rights made available are not exercised and appear to be about to lapse, the Depositary shall determine in its discretion but after consultation with the Company whether it is lawful and reasonably practicable to sell such rights, in a riskless principal capacity, at such place and upon such terms (including public or private sale) as it may deem practicable. The Company shall assist the Depositary to the extent necessary to determine such legality and practicability. The Depositary shall, upon such sale, convert and distribute proceeds of such sale (net of applicable (a) fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes) upon the terms set forth in Section 4.1.

 

(c)        Lapse of Rights . If the Depositary is unable to make any rights available to Holders upon the terms described in Section 4.4(a) or to arrange for the sale of the rights upon the terms described in Section 4.4(b), the Depositary shall allow such rights to lapse.

 

The Depositary shall not be liable for (i) any failure to accurately determine whether it may be lawful or practicable to make such rights available to Holders in general or any Holders in particular, (ii) any foreign exchange exposure or loss incurred in connection with such sale, or exercise, or (iii) the content of any materials forwarded to the Holders on behalf of the Company in connection with the rights distribution.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.4, if registration (under the Securities Act or any other applicable law) of the rights or the securities to which any rights relate may be required in order for the Company to offer such rights or such securities to Holders and to sell the securities represented by such rights, the Depositary will not distribute such rights to the Holders (i) unless and until a registration statement under the Securities Act (or other applicable law) covering such offering is in effect or (ii) unless the Company furnishes the Depositary opinion(s) of counsel for the Company in the United States and counsel to the Company in any other applicable country in which rights would be distributed, in each case

 

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satisfactory to the Depositary, to the effect that the offering and sale of such securities to Holders and Beneficial Owners are exempt from, or do not require registration under, the provisions of the Securities Act or any other applicable laws.

 

In the event that the Company, the Depositary or the Custodian shall be required to withhold and does withhold from any distribution of Deposited Property (including rights) an amount on account of taxes or other governmental charges, the amount distributed to the Holders of ADSs shall be reduced accordingly. In the event that the Depositary determines that any distribution of Deposited Property (including Eligible Securities and rights to subscribe therefor) is subject to any tax or other governmental charges which the Depositary is obligated to withhold, the Depositary may dispose of all or a portion of such Deposited Property (including Eligible Securities and rights to subscribe therefor) in such amounts and in such manner, including by public or private sale, as the Depositary deems necessary and practicable to pay any such taxes or charges.

 

There can be no assurance that Holders generally, or any Holder in particular, will be given the opportunity to receive or exercise rights on the same terms and conditions as the holders of Deposited Securities or be able to exercise such rights. Nothing herein shall obligate the Company to file any registration statement in respect of any rights or Eligible Securities or other securities to be acquired upon the exercise of such rights.

 

Section 4.5 Distributions Other Than Cash, Shares or Rights to Purchase Shares .

 

(a)        Whenever the Company intends to distribute to the holders of Deposited Securities property other than cash, Eligible Securities or rights to purchase additional Eligible Securities, the Company shall give timely notice thereof to the Depositary and shall indicate whether or not it wishes such distribution to be made to Holders of ADSs. Upon receipt of a notice indicating that the Company wishes such distribution to be made to Holders of ADSs, the Depositary shall consult with the Company, and the Company shall assist the Depositary, to determine whether such distribution to Holders is lawful and reasonably practicable. The Depositary shall not make such distribution unless (i) the Company shall have requested the Depositary to make such distribution to Holders, (ii) the Depositary shall have received satisfactory documentation within the terms of Section 5.7, and (iii) the Depositary shall have determined that such distribution is lawful and reasonably practicable.

 

(b)        Upon receipt of satisfactory documentation and the request of the Company to distribute property to Holders of ADSs and after making the requisite determinations set forth in (a) above, the Depositary shall distribute the property so received to the Holders of record, as of the ADS Record Date, in proportion to the number of ADSs held by them respectively and in such manner as the Depositary may deem practicable for accomplishing such distribution (i) upon receipt of payment or net of the applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary, and (ii) net of any taxes withheld. The Depositary may dispose of all or a portion of the property so distributed and deposited, in such amounts and in such manner (including public or private sale) as the Depositary may deem practicable or necessary to satisfy any taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) or other governmental charges applicable to the distribution.

 

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(c)        If (i) the Company does not request the Depositary to make such distribution to Holders or requests the Depositary not to make such distribution to Holders, (ii) the Depositary does not receive satisfactory documentation within the terms of Section 5.7, or (iii) the Depositary determines that all or a portion of such distribution is not reasonably practicable, the Depositary shall sell or cause such property to be sold in a public or private sale, at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem practicable and shall (i) cause the proceeds of such sale, if any, to be converted into Dollars and (ii) distribute the proceeds of such conversion received by the Depositary (net of applicable (a) fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes) to the Holders as of the ADS Record Date upon the terms of Section 4.1. If the Depositary is unable to sell such property, the Depositary may dispose of such property for the account of the Holders in any way it deems reasonably practicable under the circumstances.

 

(d)        Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be liable for (i) any failure to accurately determine whether it is lawful or practicable to make the property described in this Section 4.5 available to Holders in general or any Holders in particular, nor (ii) any loss incurred in connection with the sale or disposal of such property.

 

Section 4.6 Distributions with Respect to Deposited Securities in Bearer Form . Subject always to the laws and regulations of the Republic of China and to the terms of this Article IV, distributions in respect of Deposited Securities that are held by the Depositary in bearer form shall be made to the Depositary for the account of the respective Holders of ADS(s) with respect to which any such distribution is made upon due presentation by the Depositary or the Custodian to the Company of any relevant coupons, talons, or certificates. The Company shall promptly notify the Depositary of such distributions. The Depositary or the Custodian shall promptly present such coupons, talons or certificates, as the case may be, in connection with any such distribution.

 

Section 4.7 Redemption . If the Company intends to exercise any right of redemption in respect of any of the Deposited Securities, the Company shall give notice thereof to the Depositary at least sixty (60) days prior to the intended date of redemption which notice shall set forth the particulars of the proposed redemption. Upon timely receipt of (i) such notice and (ii) satisfactory documentation given by the Company to the Depositary within the terms of Section 5.7, and only if the Depositary shall have determined that such proposed redemption is reasonably practicable, the Depositary shall provide to each Holder a notice setting forth the intended exercise by the Company of the redemption rights and any other particulars set forth in the Company’s notice to the Depositary. The Depositary shall instruct the Custodian to present to the Company the Deposited Securities in respect of which redemption rights are being exercised against payment of the applicable redemption price. Upon receipt of confirmation from the Custodian that the redemption has taken place and that funds representing the redemption price have been received, the Depositary shall convert, transfer, and distribute the proceeds (net of applicable (a) fees and charges of, and the expenses incurred by, the Depositary, and (b) taxes), retire ADSs and cancel ADRs, if applicable, upon delivery of such ADSs by Holders thereof and the terms set forth in Sections 4.1 and 6.2. If less than all outstanding Deposited Securities are redeemed, the ADSs to be retired will be selected by lot or on a pro rata basis, as may be determined by the Depositary. The redemption price per ADS shall be the

 

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dollar equivalent of the per share amount received by the Depositary (adjusted to reflect the ADS(s)-to-Share(s) ratio) upon the redemption of the Deposited Securities represented by ADSs (subject to the terms of Section 4.8 and the applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary, and taxes) multiplied by the number of Deposited Securities represented by each ADS redeemed. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Deposit Agreement to the contrary, in the event the Company fails to give the Depositary timely notice of the proposed redemption provided for in this Section 4.7, the Depositary agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to perform the actions contemplated in this Section 4.7, and the Company, the Holders and the Beneficial Owners acknowledge that the Depositary shall have no liability for the Depositary’s failure to perform the actions contemplated in this Section 4.7 where such notice has not been so timely given, other than its failure to use commercially reasonable efforts, as provided herein.

 

Section 4.8 Conversion of Foreign Currency . Whenever the Depositary or the Custodian shall receive Foreign Currency, by way of dividends or other distributions or the net proceeds from the sale of Deposited Property, which in the judgment of the Depositary can at such time be converted on a practicable basis, by sale or in any other manner that it may determine in accordance with applicable law, into Dollars transferable to the United States and distributable to the Holders entitled thereto, the Depositary shall, subject to the laws and regulations of the Republic of China, convert or cause to be converted, by sale or in any other manner that it may determine, such Foreign Currency into Dollars, and shall distribute such Dollars (net of any applicable fees, any reasonable and customary expenses incurred in such conversion and any expenses incurred on behalf of the Holders in complying with currency exchange control or other governmental requirements) in accordance with the terms of the applicable sections of the Deposit Agreement. If the Depositary shall have distributed warrants or other instruments that entitle the holders thereof to such Dollars, the Depositary shall distribute such Dollars to the holders of such warrants and/or instruments upon surrender thereof for cancellation, in either case without liability for interest thereon. Such distribution may be made upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any distinctions among Holders on account of any application of exchange restrictions or otherwise.

 

If such conversion or distribution generally or with regard to a particular Holder can be effected only with the approval or license of any government or agency thereof, the Depositary shall have authority to file such application for approval or license, if any, as it may deem desirable. In no event, however, shall the Depositary be obligated to make such a filing.

 

If at any time the Depositary shall determine that in its judgment the conversion of any Foreign Currency and the transfer and distribution of proceeds of such conversion received by the Depositary is not practicable or lawful, or if any approval or license of any governmental authority or agency thereof that is required for such conversion, transfer and distribution is denied or, in the opinion of the Depositary, not obtainable at a reasonable cost or within a reasonable period, the Depositary may, in its discretion, (i) make such conversion and distribution in Dollars to the Holders for whom such conversion, transfer and distribution is lawful and practicable, (ii) distribute the Foreign Currency (or an appropriate document evidencing the right to receive such Foreign Currency) to Holders for whom this is lawful and

 

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practicable, or (iii) hold (or cause the Custodian to hold) such Foreign Currency (without liability for interest thereon) for the respective accounts of the Holders entitled to receive the same.

 

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Section 4.9 Fixing of ADS Record Date . Whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of the fixing of a record date by the Company for the determination of holders of Deposited Securities entitled to receive any distribution (whether in cash, Eligible Securities, rights, or other distribution), or whenever for any reason the Depositary causes a change in the number of Deposited Securities that are represented by each ADS, or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting of, or solicitation of consents or proxies of, holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, or whenever the Depositary shall find it necessary or convenient in connection with the giving of any notice, solicitation of any consent or any other matter, the Depositary shall fix the record date (the “ ADS Record Date ”) for the determination of the Holders of ADS(s) who shall be entitled to receive such distribution, to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at any such meeting, to give or withhold such consent, to receive such notice or solicitation or to otherwise take action, or to exercise the rights of Holders with respect to such changed number of Deposited Securities represented by each ADS. The Depositary shall make reasonable efforts to establish the ADS Record Date as closely as practicable to the applicable record date for the Deposited Securities (if any) set by the Company in the Republic of China and shall not announce the establishment of any ADS Record Date prior to the relevant corporate action having been made public by the Company (if such corporate action affects the Deposited Securities). Subject to applicable law and the provisions of Section 4.1 through 4.8 and to the other terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, only the Holders of ADSs at the close of business in New York on such ADS Record Date shall be entitled to receive such distribution, to give such voting instructions, to receive such notice or solicitation, or otherwise take action. The Depositary shall, so long as the ADSs are listed in a securities exchange in the U.S., promptly notify such securities exchange of any action to fix an ADS Record Date or to close the transfer books for the ADSs.

 

Section 4.10 Voting of Deposited Securities .(a) (a) Voting by Shareholders The Depositary has been advised that the Articles of Incorporation of the Company and the ROC Company Law, as in effect on the date of the Deposit Agreement, provide that:  (i) except for Shares held by the Company, a holder of Shares (including holders of interests in any Certificate of Payment evidencing the irrevocable right to receive Shares) is entitled to one vote for each Share held, (ii) the election of directors and supervisors takes place by means of cumulative voting, and (iii) a shareholder must, as to all matters subject to a vote of shareholders (other than the election of directors and supervisors), exercise the voting rights for all Deposited Securities held by such shareholder in the same manner (e.g., a holder of 1,000 Shares cannot split his/her votes but must vote all 1,000 Shares in the same manner except in the event of cumulative voting for an election of directors and supervisors).  Deposited Securities which have been withdrawn from the ADR Facility and timely transferred on the Company's register of shareholders to a person other than the Depositary's nominee may be voted by the registered holder(s) thereof directly, subject, in each case, to the limitations of ROC Law and the Articles of Incorporation of the Company.  Holders may not receive sufficient advance notice of shareholders' meetings to enable them to timely withdraw the Deposited Securities and vote at such meetings and may not be able to re-deposit the withdrawn securities under the terms of the Deposit Agreement.

 

(b)        Voting by ADS Holders .   Holders of ADSs have no individual voting rights with respect to the Shares represented by their ADSs.  Each Holder and Beneficial Owner shall be deemed, by acceptance of ADSs or acquisition of any beneficial interest therein, to have

 

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authorized and directed the Depositary's nominee, without liability, to appoint the Chairman of the Company (or his/her designate) (the " Voting Representative "), as representative of the Depositary's nominee who is registered in the Republic of China as representative of the Depositary and the Holders and Beneficial Owners in respect of the Deposited Securities (the “Registered Holder”) to vote the Deposited Securities in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

The Company agrees to timely notify the Depositary of any proposed shareholders' meeting and to provide to the Depositary in New York, at least 24 calendar days before any shareholders' meeting, sufficient copies as the Depositary may reasonably request of English language translations of the Company's notice of shareholders' meeting and the agenda of the materials to be voted on (in the form the Company generally makes available to holders of Shares in the Republic of China) (such materials collectively, the " Shareholder Notice ").  As soon as practicable after receipt by the Depositary of the requisite number of Shareholder Notices, the Depositary shall establish the ADS Record Date (upon the terms of Section 4.9 hereof) and shall, at the Company's expense and, provided no U.S. legal prohibitions exist, distribute to Holders as of the applicable ADS Record Date, (i) the Shareholder Notice, (ii) a Depositary notice setting forth the manner in which Holders of ADSs may instruct the Depositary to cause the  Deposited Securities represented by their ADSs to be voted under the terms of this Deposit Agreement including, a description of the Management Authorization (as defined below), together with a form of voting instructions and/or other means to provide voting instructions (the Depositary notice and the related materials prepared by the Depositary collectively, the " Depositary Notice ").  The Depositary is under no obligation to distribute the Shareholder Notice or the Depositary Notice to Holders if the Company has failed to provide to the Depositary in New York the requisite number of Shareholder Notices at least 24 calendar days prior to the date of any shareholders' meeting.  If the Depositary has not delivered the Shareholder Notice or the Depositary Notice to Holders, it will endeavor to cause all Deposited Securities represented by ADSs to be present at the relevant shareholders' meeting insofar as practicable and permitted under applicable law but will not cause the Deposited Securities to be voted; provided, however , that the Depositary may determine, at its discretion, to distribute such Shareholder Notice or Depositary Notice to the Holders and/or cause the Shares or other Deposited Securities to be voted as it deems appropriate. There can be no assurance that Holders generally or any Holder in particular will receive Shareholder Notices or Depositary Notices with sufficient time to enable the return of voting instructions to the Depositary in a timely manner.

 

Notwithstanding anything contained in the Deposit Agreement or any ADR, the Depositary may, to the extent not prohibited by law or regulations, or by the requirements of the stock exchange on which the ADSs are listed, in lieu of distribution of the materials provided to the Depositary in connection with any meeting of, or solicitation of consents or proxies from, holders of Deposited Securities, distribute to the Holders a notice that provides Holders with, or otherwise publicizes to Holders, instructions on how to retrieve such materials or receive such materials upon request (i.e., by reference to a website containing the materials for retrieval or a contact for requesting copies of the materials).

 

(c)        Voting of Deposited Securities Upon ADS Holders' Instructions .   If Holders of ADSs together holding at least 51% of all ADSs (including Temporary ADSs) outstanding as of

 

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the relevant ADS Record Date shall instruct the Depositary prior to the date established for such purpose by the Depositary to vote in the same manner in respect of one or more resolutions to be proposed at a shareholders' meeting ( including resolutions for the election of directors and/or supervisors), the Depositary shall notify the Voting Representative and cause the Depositary's nominee as Registered Holder to appoint the Voting Representative as the representative of the Registered Holder (and indirectly of the Depositary, the Holders and the Beneficial Owners) to attend such shareholders' meeting and vote all Deposited Securities evidenced by ADSs (including Temporary ADSs) then outstanding in the manner so instructed by such Holders.  If voting instructions are received by the Depositary on or before the date established by the Depositary for the receipt of such instructions from any Holder as of the ADS Record Date, which are signed but without further indication as to voting instructions, the Depositary shall deem such Holder to have instructed a vote in favor of the items set forth in such instructions.  The Depositary and Custodian shall not have any obligation to monitor, and shall not incur any liability for, the actions, or the failure to act, of the Voting Representative as representative of the Registered Holder (and indirectly of the Depositary, the Holders and the Beneficial Owners).

 

(d)        Management Authorization .   If, for any reason (other than a failure by the Company to supply the requisite number of Shareholder Notices to the Depositary within the requisite time period provided in this Section 4.10) the Depositary has not, prior to the date established for such purpose by the Depositary received instructions from Holders together holding at least 51% of all ADSs (including Temporary ADSs) outstanding at the relevant ADS Record Date, to vote in the same manner in respect of any resolution (including resolutions for the election of directors and/or supervisors) then, subject to the following paragraph, the Holders shall be deemed to have instructed the Depositary's nominee to give a discretionary authorization (a " Management Authorization ") to the Voting Representative as the representative of the Registered Holder (and indirectly of the Depositary, the Holders and the Beneficial Owners) to attend and vote at such meeting all the Deposited Securities represented by ADSs (including Temporary ADSs) then outstanding in his or her discretion.  In such circumstances, the Voting Representative shall be free to exercise the votes attaching to the Deposited Securities in any manner he or she wishes, which may not be in the best interests of the Holders and Beneficial Owners.

 

The Depositary's grant of a Management Authorization in the manner and circumstances described in the preceding paragraph shall be subject to the receipt by the Depositary prior to each shareholders' meeting of an opinion of ROC counsel addressed to, and in form and substance satisfactory to, the Depositary to the effect that under ROC law (i) the arrangements relating to the Management Authorization are permissible, and (ii) the Depositary will not be deemed to be authorized to exercise any discretion when causing the voting in accordance with this Section 4.10 and will not (in the absence of negligence, bad faith or breach of contract, and subject to general principles of agency) be subject to any liability under ROC law for losses arising from the exercise of the voting arrangements set out in this Section 4.10 on the grounds that voting in accordance with this Section 4.10 is in violation of ROC law.  In the event the Depositary does not receive such opinion, or the Voting Representative informs the Depositary that he or she does not wish to be so authorized, the Depositary will not grant the Management Authorization but will cause the Deposited Securities to be present at the shareholders' meeting to the extent practicable and permitted by applicable law for the purpose of satisfying quorum

 

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requirements but will not cause the Deposited Securities to be voted or the Management Authorization to be granted.

 

(e)        General . The Depositary shall not, and the Depositary shall ensure that the Custodian and its nominees do not, vote or attempt to exercise the right to vote that attaches to the Deposited Securities other than in accordance with instructions given in accordance with this Section 4.10.  The terms of this Section 4.10 may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Deposit Agreement.  By continuing to hold ADSs after the effective time of such amendment all Holders and Beneficial Owners shall be deemed to have agreed to the terms of this Section 4.10 as so amended. Notwithstanding anything else contained in the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall not have any obligation to take any action with respect to any meeting, or solicitation of consents or proxies or instructions, of holders of Deposited Securities if the taking of such action would violate U.S. or ROC laws. The Company agrees to take any and all actions reasonably necessary to enable Holders and Beneficial Owners to exercise the voting rights accruing to the Deposited Securities and to deliver to the Depositary an opinion of U.S. or ROC counsel, as applicable, addressing any actions requested to be taken if so reasonably requested by the Depositary.

 

Section 4.11 Changes Affecting Deposited Securities . Upon any change in nominal or par value, split-up, cancellation, consolidation or any other reclassification of Deposited Securities, or upon any recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale of assets affecting the Company or to which it is a party, any property which shall be received by the Depositary or the Custodian in exchange for, or in conversion of, or replacement of, or otherwise in respect of, such Deposited Securities shall, to the extent permitted by law, be treated as new Deposited Property under the Deposit Agreement, and the ADSs shall, subject to the provisions of the Deposit Agreement, any ADR(s) evidencing such ADSs and applicable law, represent the right to receive such additional or replacement Deposited Property. In giving effect to such change, split-up, cancellation, consolidation or other reclassification of Deposited Securities, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale of assets, the Depositary may, with the Company’s approval, and shall, if the Company shall so request, subject to the terms of the Deposit Agreement and receipt of an opinion of counsel to the Company provided pursuant to Section 5.7 hereof and satisfactory to the Depositary that such actions are not in violation of any applicable laws or regulations, (i) issue and deliver additional ADSs as in the case of a stock dividend on the Shares, (ii) amend the Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADRs, (iii) amend the applicable Registration Statement(s) on Form F-6 as filed with the Commission in respect of the ADSs, (iv) call for the surrender of outstanding ADRs to be exchanged for new ADRs, and (v) take such other actions as are appropriate to reflect the transaction with respect to the ADSs. The Company agrees to, jointly with the Depositary, amend the Registration Statement on Form F-6 as filed with the Commission to permit the issuance of such new form of ADRs. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any Deposited Property so received may not be lawfully distributed to some or all Holders, the Depositary may, with the Company’s approval, and shall, if the Company requests, subject to receipt of an opinion of Company’s counsel satisfactory to the Depositary that such action is not in violation of any applicable laws or regulations, sell such Deposited Property at public or private sale, at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem proper and may allocate the net proceeds of such sales (net of (a) fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes) for the account

 

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of the Holders otherwise entitled to such Deposited Property upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any distinctions among such Holders and distribute the net proceeds so allocated to the extent practicable as in the case of a distribution received in cash pursuant to Section 4.1. The Depositary shall not be responsible for (i) any failure to determine that it may be lawful or practicable to make such Deposited Property available to Holders in general or to any Holder in particular, (ii) any foreign exchange exposure or loss incurred in connection with such sale, or (iii) any liability to the purchaser of such Deposited Property.

 

Section 4.12 Available Information .

 

As of the date of this Deposit Agreement the Company is subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and, accordingly, is required to file or submit certain reports with the Commission. These reports can be retrieved from the Commission's website ( www.sec.gov ) and can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission located (as of the date of the Deposit Agreement) at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington D.C. 20549. If at any time the Company files a Form 15F or any successor form thereto, with the Commission, which suspends the Company's duty under the Exchange Act to file or submit reports required under Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, upon the effectiveness of such Form 15F, the Company's duty to file or submit reports under Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act will terminate. At that time, pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b)(1), the Company will be exempt from the reporting obligations of the Exchange Act. In order to satisfy the conditions of Rule 12g3-2(b), the Company will publish an English translation of the information contemplated in Rule 12g3-2(b)(2)(i) under the Exchange Act on its internet website or through an electronic information delivery system generally available to the public in the Company’s primary trading market.  The Company will specify in Form 15F the internet website or the electronic information delivery system on which it intends to publish such information.  The information so published by the Company cannot be retrieved from the Commission’s internet website, and cannot be inspected or copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission.  If the Form 15F is not declared effective, the Company will again be subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and will be required to file with the Commission, and submit to the Commission, certain reports that can be retrieved from the Commission’s internet website at www.sec.gov , and can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission.

 

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Section 4.13 Reports . The Depositary shall make available for inspection by Holders at its Principal Office any reports and communications, including any proxy soliciting materials, received from the Company which are both (a) received by the Depositary, the Custodian, or the nominee of either of them as the holder of the Deposited Property and (b) made generally available to the holders of such Deposited Property by the Company. The Depositary shall also provide or make available to Holders copies of such reports when furnished by the Company pursuant to Section 5.6.

 

Section 4.14 List of Holders . Promptly upon written request by the Company, the Depositary shall furnish to it a list, as of a recent date, of the names, addresses and holdings of ADSs of all Holders.

 

Section 4.15 Taxation . The Depositary will, and will instruct the Custodian to, forward to the Company or its agents such information from its records as the Company may reasonably request to enable the Company or its agents to file the necessary tax reports with governmental authorities or agencies. The Depositary, the Custodian or the Company and its agents may file such reports as are necessary to reduce or eliminate applicable taxes on dividends and on other distributions in respect of Deposited Property under applicable tax treaties or laws for the Holders and Beneficial Owners. In accordance with instructions from the Company and to the extent practicable, the Depositary or the Custodian will take reasonable administrative actions to obtain tax refunds, reduced withholding of tax at source on dividends and other benefits under applicable tax treaties or laws with respect to dividends and other distributions on the Deposited Property. As a condition to receiving such benefits, Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs may be required from time to time, and in a timely manner, to file such proof of taxpayer status, residence and beneficial ownership (as applicable), to execute such certificates and to make such representations and warranties, or to provide any other information or documents, as the Depositary or the Custodian may deem necessary or proper to fulfill the Depositary’s or the Custodian’s obligations under applicable law. The Depositary and the Company shall have no obligation or liability to any person if any Holder or Beneficial Owner fails to provide such information or if such information does not reach the relevant tax authorities in time for any Holder or Beneficial Owner to obtain the benefits of any tax treatment. The Holders and Beneficial Owners shall indemnify the Depositary, the Company, the Custodian and any of their respective directors, employees, agents and Affiliates against, and hold each of them harmless from, any claims by any governmental authority with respect to taxes, additions to tax, penalties or interest arising out of any refund of taxes, reduced rate of withholding at source or other tax benefit obtained.

 

If the Company (or any of its agents) withholds from any distribution any amount on account of taxes or governmental charges, or pays any other tax in respect of such distribution ( i.e. , stamp duty tax, capital gains or other similar tax), the Company shall (and shall cause such agent to) remit promptly to the Depositary information about such taxes or governmental charges withheld or paid, and, if so requested, the tax receipt (or other proof of payment to the applicable governmental authority) therefor, in each case, in a form satisfactory to the Depositary. The Depositary shall, to the extent required by U.S. law, report to Holders any taxes withheld by it or the Custodian, and, if such information is provided to it by the Company, any taxes withheld by the Company. The Depositary and the Custodian shall not be required to provide the Holders

 

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with any evidence of the remittance by the Company (or its agents) of any taxes withheld, or of the payment of taxes by the Company, except to the extent the evidence is provided by the Company to the Depositary or the Custodian, as applicable. Neither the Depositary nor the Custodian shall be liable for the failure by any Holder or Beneficial Owner to obtain the benefits of credits on the basis of non-U.S. tax paid against such Holder’s or Beneficial Owner’s income tax liability.

 

The Depositary is under no obligation to provide the Holders and Beneficial Owners with any information about the tax status of the Company. The Depositary shall not incur any liability for any tax consequences that may be incurred by Holders and Beneficial Owners on account of their ownership of the ADSs, including without limitation, tax consequences resulting from the Company (or any of its subsidiaries) being treated as a “Passive Foreign Investment Company” (in each case as defined in the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and the regulations issued thereunder) or otherwise.

 

Section 4.16 Right to Submit Proposals at Annual Ordinary Meeting of Shareholders .

 

(a)        Proposals by Shareholders . The Company has informed the Depositary that under ROC Company Law, as in effect as of the date of the Deposit Agreement, holders of one percent (1%) or more of the total issued and outstanding Shares of the Company as of the applicable record date for determining holders of Shares with the right to vote at an annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders (the “ Shareholder Proposal Record Date ”), are entitled to submit one (1) written proposal (the “ Proposal ”) each time for consideration at the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders, provided that :  (i) the Proposal is in the Chinese language and does not exceed 300 Chinese characters (including the reason(s) for the Proposal and all punctuation marks) in length, (ii) the Proposal is submitted to the Company prior to the expiration of the period for submission of Proposals (the “ Submission Period ”) announced by the Company (which Submission Period and the place for eligible shareholders to submit the Proposal the Company undertakes to announce publicly each year prior to the commencement of the 60 days closed period prior to the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders), (iii) only one (1) matter for consideration at the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders shall be allowed in each Proposal, and (iv) the proposing shareholder shall attend, in person or by a proxy, such annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders whereat his or her or its Proposal is to be discussed and such proposing shareholder, or his or her or its proxy, shall take part in the discussion of such Proposal.  As the holder of the Deposited Securities, the Depositary or its nominee is entitled, provided the conditions of ROC law are satisfied, to submit only one (1) Proposal each year in respect of all of the Shares held on deposit as of the applicable Shareholder Proposal Record Date.  Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs do not under ROC law have individual rights to submit Proposals to the Company for consideration at the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders but may be able to submit Proposals to the Company for consideration at the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders if the Holders and Beneficial Owners (i) timely present their ADSs to the Depositary for cancellation pursuant to the terms of the Deposit

 

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Agreement and become holders of Shares in the ROC prior to the expiration of the Submission Period and prior to the applicable Shareholder Proposal Record Date, and (ii) otherwise satisfy the conditions of ROC law applicable to the submission of Proposals to the Company for consideration at an annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders.  Beneficial Owners of ADSs may not receive sufficient advance notice of an annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders to enable the timely withdrawal of Shares to make a Proposal to the Company and may not be able to re-deposit under the Deposit Agreement the Shares so withdrawn.  The Company has informed the Depositary that a Proposal shall only be voted upon at the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders if the Proposal is accepted by the board of directors of the Company as eligible in accordance with Article 172-1 of the ROC Company Law and the Company's Articles of Incorporation for consideration at an annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders.

 

(b)        Single Proposal by Depositary or its Nominee on behalf of Beneficial Owners . Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs do not have individual proposal rights.  The Depositary will, if so requested by (a) Beneficial Owner(s) as of the applicable ADS Record Date that own(s), individually or as a group, at least 51% of the ADSs outstanding as of the applicable ADS Record Date (such Beneficial Owner(s), the “ Submitting Holder(s) ”), submit to the Company for consideration at the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders one (1) Proposal each year, provided that :  (i) the Proposal submitted to the Depositary by the Submitting Holder(s) is in the Chinese language and does not exceed 300 Chinese characters (including the reason(s) for the Proposal and all punctuation marks) in length, (ii) the Proposal from the Submitting Holder(s) is received by the Depositary at least two (2) Business Days prior to the expiration of the Submission Period, (iii) the Proposal is accompanied by a written certificate signed by each Submitting Holder, addressed to the Depositary and the Company and in a form satisfactory to the Depositary and the Company (the “ First Proposal Certificate ”), certifying, inter alia , (w) that each Submitting Holder has only certified the said Proposal, (x) that the Submitting Holder(s) own(s), individually or in the aggregate, at least 51% of the ADSs outstanding as of the date the Proposal is submitted by the Submitting Holder(s) to the Depositary (the “ Proposal Submission Date ”), (y) if the Proposal Submission Date is (i) on or after the applicable ADS Record Date, that the Submitting Holder(s) owned at least 51% of the ADSs outstanding as of the applicable ADS Record Date, and (ii) prior to the applicable ADS Record Date, that the Submitting Holder(s) will continue to own at least 51% of the ADSs outstanding as of the applicable ADS Record Date and will provide the Second Proposal Certificate, as defined below, and (z) the name(s) and address(es) of the Submitting Holder(s) and the number of ADSs owned by each Submitting Holder (together with certified evidence of each Submitting Holder’s ownership of the applicable ADSs as of the Proposal Submission Date, in the case of (y)(ii) above, and the applicable ADS Record Date, in the case of (y)(i) above), (iv) if the Proposal Submission Date is prior to the applicable ADS Record Date, the Depositary must also receive from the Submitting Holder(s), within five (5) Business Days after the applicable ADS Record Date, a second written certificate signed by each Submitting Holder, addressed to the Depositary and the Company and in a form satisfactory to the Depositary and the Company (the “ Second Proposal Certificate ”), certifying, inter alia , that the Submitting Holder(s) continued to own at least 51% of the ADSs outstanding as of the applicable ADS Record Date (together with certified evidence of each Submitting Holder’s ownership of the applicable ADSs

 

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as of such applicable ADS Record Date), (v) the Proposal is accompanied by a joint and several irrevocable undertaking of all Submitting Holders (which undertaking may be contained in the First Proposal Certificate or the Second Proposal Certificate) that each such Submitting Holder shall pay all fees and expenses incurred in relation to the submission of the Proposal for voting at the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders (including, but not limited to, the costs and expenses of the Submitting Holder(s), or his, her, its or their representative, to attend the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders), (vi) the Shares registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee as representative of the Holders and Beneficial Owners constitute one percent (1%) or more of the total issued and outstanding Shares of the Company as of the Shareholder Proposal Record Date, (vii) such Proposal contains only one (1) matter for consideration at the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders, and (viii) the Submitting Holder(s), or his, her, its or their representative, upon the authorization by the Depositary, attend(s) the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders and take(s) part in the discussions of the Proposal in the Chinese language, provided further that only one (1) individual may attend, and take part in the discussion of the Proposal at such annual ordinary meeting on behalf of a Submitting Holder or group of Submitting Holders.  Each Beneficial Owner hereby agrees and acknowledges that (i) the chairman of the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders will treat the Proposal in accordance with the ROC Company Law and the rules governing the proceeding of such meeting, including but not limited to, having such Proposal discussed and voted at such meeting, regardless of whether the Submitting Holder(s) attends such meeting, and (ii) in no event shall a Submitting Holder’s, or his, her, its or their representative's, presence at an annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders entitle such Submitting Holder(s), or his, her, its or their representative, to vote the Shares represented by such Submitting Holder’s ADSs (or any other ADSs) at such annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders.

 

Upon the timely receipt by the Depositary of any Proposal which the Depositary reasonably believes to be in full compliance with the immediately preceding paragraph, the Depositary shall submit a copy of such Proposal and of the other materials received from the Submitting Holder(s) to the Company prior to the expiration of the Submission Period.  Any Proposal so submitted as to which the Depositary has not received within five (5) Business Days after the applicable ADS Record Date any Second Proposal Certificate required under the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed irrevocably withdrawn at the expiration of such five (5) Business Day period.  In the event the Depositary receives more than one (1) Proposal by a Submitting Holder, or a group of Submitting Holders, each of which appears to satisfy the requirements set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph, the Depositary is hereby authorized and instructed to disregard all Proposals received from such Submitting Holder(s), except for the first Proposal received by the Depositary from such Submitting Holder(s) and shall submit such Proposal to the Company for consideration at the annual ordinary meeting of the Company's shareholders in accordance with the terms hereof.  The Depositary shall not have any obligation to verify the accuracy of the information contained in any document submitted to it by the Submitting Holder(s).  Neither the Depositary nor its nominee shall be obligated to attend and speak at the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders on behalf of the Submitting Holder(s).

 

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Notwithstanding anything contained in the Deposit Agreement or any ADR and except that the Depositary shall arrange, at the request of the Company and at the Company's expense, for the distribution to Holders of copies of materials that the Company has made available to the Depositary for such purpose, the Depositary shall not be obligated to provide to the Holders or Beneficial Owners of ADSs any notices relating to the proposal rights, including, without limitation, notice of the Submission Period, or the receipt of any Proposal(s) from Submitting Holders, or of the holdings of any ADSs by any persons, except that the Depositary shall, upon a Holder's request, inform such Holder of the total number of ADSs then issued and outstanding.

 

ARTICLE V

THE DEPOSITARY, THE CUSTODIAN AND THE COMPANY

 

Section 5.1 Maintenance of Office and Transfer Books by the Registrar . Until termination of the Deposit Agreement in accordance with its terms, the Registrar shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, an office and facilities for the issuance and delivery of ADSs, the acceptance for surrender of ADS(s) for the purpose of withdrawal of Deposited Securities, the registration of issuances, cancellations, transfers, combinations and split-ups of ADS(s) and, if applicable, to issue ADRs evidencing the ADSs so issued, transferred, combined or split-up, in each case in accordance with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement.

 

The Registrar shall keep books for the registration of issues and transfers of ADSs which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Company and by the Holders of such ADSs, provided that such inspection shall not be, to the Registrar’s knowledge, for the purpose of communicating with Holders of such ADSs in the interest of a business or object other than the business of the Company or other than a matter related to the Deposit Agreement or the ADSs.

 

The Registrar may close the transfer books with respect to the ADSs, at any time or from time to time, when deemed necessary or advisable by it in good faith in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder, or at the reasonable written request of the Company subject, in all cases, to Section 7.8.

 

If any ADSs are listed on one or more stock exchanges or automated quotation systems in the United States, the Depositary shall act as Registrar or appoint a Registrar or one or more co-registrars for registration of issuances, cancellations, transfers, combinations and split-ups of ADSs and, if applicable, to countersign ADRs evidencing the ADSs so issued, transferred, combined or split-up, in accordance with any requirements of such exchanges or systems. Such Registrar or co-registrars may be removed and a substitute or substitutes appointed by the Depositary.

 

Section 5.2 Exoneration . Notwithstanding anything contained in the Deposit Agreement or any ADR, neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be obligated to do or perform any act which is inconsistent with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement or incur any liability (i) if the Depositary or the Company shall be prevented or forbidden from, or delayed in, doing or performing any act or thing required by the terms of the Deposit Agreement, by reason

 

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of any provision of any present or future law or regulation of the United States, the Republic of China or any other country, or of any other governmental authority or regulatory authority or stock exchange, or on account of the possible criminal or civil penalties or restraint, or by reason of any provision, present or future, of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company or any provision of or governing any Deposited Securities, or by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstances beyond its control (including, without limitation, nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, work stoppage, strikes, civil unrest, acts of terrorism, revolutions, rebellions, explosions and computer failure), (ii) by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in the Deposit Agreement or in the Articles of Incorporation of the Company or provisions of or governing Deposited Securities, (iii) for any action or inaction in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting Shares for deposit, any Holder, any Beneficial Owner or authorized representative thereof, or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information, (iv) for the inability by a Holder or Beneficial Owner to benefit from any distribution, offering, right or other benefit which is made available to holders of Deposited Securities but is not, under the terms of the Deposit Agreement, made available to Holders of ADSs, or (v) for any consequential or punitive damages (including lost profits) for any breach of the terms of the Deposit Agreement.

 

The Depositary, its controlling persons, its agents, any Custodian and the Company, its controlling persons and its agents may rely and shall be protected in acting upon any written notice, request or other document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.

 

No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act is intended by any provision of the Deposit Agreement.

 

Section 5.3 Standard of Care . The Company and the Depositary assume no obligation and shall not be subject to any liability under the Deposit Agreement or any ADRs to any Holder(s) or Beneficial Owner(s), except that the Company and the Depositary agree to perform their respective obligations specifically set forth in the Deposit Agreement or the applicable ADRs without negligence or bad faith. The Depositary and the Company undertake to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in the Deposit Agreement, and no implied covenants and obligations should be read into the Deposit Agreement against the Depositary or the Company or their respective agents.

 

Without limitation of the foregoing, neither the Depositary, nor the Company, nor any of their respective controlling persons, or agents, shall be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any Deposited Property or in respect of the ADSs, which in its opinion may involve it in expense or liability, unless indemnity satisfactory to it against all expense (including fees and disbursements of counsel) and liability be furnished as often as may be required (and no Custodian shall be under any obligation whatsoever with respect to such proceedings, the responsibility of the Custodian being solely to the Depositary).

 

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The Depositary and its agents shall not be liable for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote any of the Deposited Securities, or for the manner in which any vote is cast or the effect of any vote, provided that any such action or omission is in good faith and in accordance with the terms of the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary shall not incur any liability for any failure to accurately determine that any distribution or action may be lawful or reasonably practicable, for the content of any information submitted to it by the Company for distribution to the Holders or for any inaccuracy of any translation thereof, for any investment risk associated with acquiring an interest in the Deposited Property, for the validity or worth of the Deposited Property or for any tax consequences that may result from the ownership of ADSs, Shares or other Deposited Property, for the credit-worthiness of any third party, for allowing any rights to lapse upon the terms of the Deposit Agreement, for the failure or timeliness of any notice from the Company, or for the failure of the Company to exchange any Certificate of Payment into Shares, or for any action of or failure to act by, or any information provided or not provided by, DTC or any DTC Participant.. The Depositary shall not be obligated in any way to monitor or enforce the obligations of the Company, including, without limitation, in respect of any Certificate of Payment, the conversion of such Certificate of Payment into Shares.

 

The Depositary shall not be liable for any acts or omissions made by a successor depositary whether in connection with a previous act or omission of the Depositary or in connection with any matter arising wholly after the removal or resignation of the Depositary, provided that in connection with the issue out of which such potential liability arises the Depositary performed its obligations without negligence or bad faith while it acted as Depositary.

 

Section 5.4 Resignation and Removal of the Depositary; Appointment of Successor Depositary . The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary hereunder by written notice of resignation delivered to the Company, such resignation to be effective on the earlier of (i) the 60th day after delivery thereof to the Company (whereupon the Depositary shall be entitled to take the actions contemplated in Section 6.2), or (ii) the appointment by the Company of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided.

 

The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by written notice of such removal, which removal shall be effective on the later of (i) the 60th day after delivery thereof to the Depositary (whereupon the Depositary shall be entitled to take the actions contemplated in Section 6.2), or (ii) upon the appointment by the Company of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided.

 

In case at any time the Depositary acting hereunder shall resign or be removed, the Company shall use its best efforts to appoint a successor depositary, which shall be a bank or trust company having an office in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York. Every successor depositary shall be required by the Company to execute and deliver to its predecessor and to the Company an instrument in writing accepting its appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor depositary, without any further act or deed (except as required by applicable law),

 

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shall become fully vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor (other than as contemplated in Sections 5.8 and 5.9). The predecessor depositary, upon payment of all sums due it and on the written request of the Company, shall, (i) execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor all rights and powers of such predecessor hereunder (other than as contemplated in Sections 5.8 and 5.9), (ii) duly assign, transfer and deliver all of the Depositary’s right, title and interest to the Deposited Property to such successor, and (iii) deliver to such successor a list of the Holders of all outstanding ADSs and such other information relating to ADSs and Holders thereof as the successor may reasonably request. Any such successor depositary shall promptly provide notice of its appointment to such Holders.

 

Any entity into or with which the Depositary may be merged or consolidated shall be the successor of the Depositary without the execution or filing of any document or any further act.

 

Section 5.5 The Custodian . The Depositary has initially appointed Citibank Taiwan Limited as Custodian for the purpose of the Deposit Agreement. The Custodian or its successors in acting hereunder shall be subject at all times and in all respects to the direction of the Depositary for the Deposited Property for which the Custodian acts as custodian and shall be responsible solely to it. If any Custodian resigns or is discharged from its duties hereunder with respect to any Deposited Property and no other Custodian has previously been appointed hereunder, the Depositary shall promptly appoint a substitute custodian that is authorized to act as custodian under the laws of the Republic of China. The Depositary shall require such resigning or discharged Custodian to Deliver, or cause the Delivery of, the Deposited Property held by it, together with all such records maintained by it as Custodian with respect to such Deposited Property as the Depositary may request, to the Custodian designated by the Depositary. Whenever the Depositary determines, in its discretion, that it is appropriate to do so, it may appoint an additional custodian with respect to any Deposited Property, or discharge the Custodian with respect to any Deposited Property and appoint a substitute custodian, which shall thereafter be Custodian hereunder with respect to the Deposited Property. Immediately upon any such change, the Depositary shall give notice thereof in writing to all Holders of ADSs, each other Custodian and the Company.

 

Citibank, N.A. may at any time act as Custodian of the Deposited Property pursuant to the Deposit Agreement, in which case any reference to Custodian shall mean Citibank, N.A. solely in its capacity as Custodian pursuant to the Deposit Agreement. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Deposit Agreement or any ADR, the Depositary shall not be obligated to give notice to the Company, any Holders of ADSs or any other Custodian of its acting as Custodian pursuant to the Deposit Agreement.

 

Upon the appointment of any successor depositary, any Custodian then acting hereunder shall, unless otherwise instructed by the Depositary, continue to be the Custodian of the Deposited Property without any further act or writing, and shall be subject to the direction of the successor depositary. The successor depositary so appointed shall, nevertheless, on the written request of any Custodian, execute and deliver to such Custodian all such instruments as may be proper to give to such Custodian full and complete power and authority to act on the direction of such successor depositary.

 

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Section 5.6 Notices and Reports . On or before the first date on which the Company gives notice, by publication or otherwise, of any meeting of holders of Deposited Securities, or of any adjourned meeting of such holders, or of the taking of any action by such holders other than at a meeting, or of the taking of any action in respect of any cash or other distributions or the offering of any rights in respect of Deposited Securities, the Company shall transmit to the Depositary and the Custodian a copy of the notice thereof in the English language but otherwise in the form given or to be given to holders of Deposited Securities. The Company shall also furnish to the Custodian and the Depositary a summary, in English, of any applicable provisions or proposed provisions of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company that may be relevant or pertain to such notice of meeting or be the subject of a vote thereat.

 

The Company will also transmit to the Depositary an English language version of the other notices, reports and communications which are made generally available by the Company to holders of its Deposited Securities. The Depositary shall arrange, at the request of the Company and at the Company’s expense, to provide copies thereof to all Holders or make such notices, reports and other communications available to all Holders on a basis similar to that for holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities or on such other basis as the Company may advise the Depositary or as may be required by any applicable law, regulation or stock exchange requirement.

 

The Depositary will, at the expense of the Company, make available a copy of any such notices, reports or communications issued by the Company and delivered to the Depositary for inspection by the Holders of the ADSs at the Depositary’s Principal Office, at the office of the Custodian and at any other designated transfer office.

 

Section 5.7 Issuance of Additional Eligible Securities, ADSs etc . The Company agrees that in the event it or any of its Affiliates proposes (i) an issuance, sale or distribution of additional Eligible Securities, (ii) an offering of rights to subscribe for Eligible Securities or other Deposited Securities, (iii) an issuance or assumption of securities convertible into or exchangeable for Eligible Securities, (iv) an issuance of rights to subscribe for securities convertible into or exchangeable for Eligible Securities, (v) an elective dividend of cash or Eligible Securities, (vi) a redemption of Deposited Securities, (vii) a meeting of holders of Deposited Securities, or solicitation of consents or proxies, relating to any reclassification of securities, merger or consolidation or transfer of assets, (viii) any assumption, reclassification, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale of assets which affects the Deposited Securities, or (ix) a distribution of securities other than Eligible Securities, it will obtain U.S. legal advice and take all steps necessary to ensure that the application of the proposed transaction to Holders and Beneficial Owners does not violate the laws and regulations of the Republic of China and the registration provisions of the Securities Act, or any other applicable laws (including, without limitation, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Exchange Act and the securities laws of the states of the U.S.). In support of the foregoing, the Company will, at the request of the Depositary, furnish to the Depositary (a) a written opinion of U.S. counsel (reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary) stating whether the application of such transaction to Holders and Beneficial Owners (1) requires a registration statement under the Securities Act to be in effect or (2) is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act; provided however , that no such opinion shall be required in

 

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the event of an issuance of Eligible Securities as a bonus, share split or similar event, and (b) an opinion of the Republic of China counsel stating that (1) making the transaction available to Holders and Beneficial Owners does not violate the laws or regulations of the Republic of China and (2) all requisite regulatory consents and approvals have been obtained in the Republic of China. If the filing of a registration statement is required, the Depositary shall not have any obligation to proceed with the transaction unless it shall have received evidence reasonably satisfactory to it that such registration statement has been declared effective. If, being advised by counsel, the Company determines that a transaction is required to be registered under the Securities Act, the Company will either (i) register such transaction to the extent necessary, (ii) alter the terms of the transaction to avoid the registration requirements of the Securities Act or (iii) direct the Depositary to take specific measures, in each case as contemplated in the Deposit Agreement, to prevent such transaction from violating the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The Company agrees with the Depositary that neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates will at any time (i) deposit any Eligible Securities, either upon original issuance or upon a sale of Eligible Securities previously issued and reacquired by the Company or by any such Affiliate, or (ii) issue additional Eligible Securities, rights to subscribe for such Eligible Securities, securities convertible into or exchangeable for Eligible Securities or rights to subscribe for such securities or distribute securities other than Eligible Securities, unless such transaction and the securities issuable in such transaction do not violate the registration provisions of the Securities Act, or any other applicable laws (including, without limitation, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Exchange Act and the securities laws of the states of the U.S.).

 

Notwithstanding anything else contained in the Deposit Agreement, nothing in the Deposit Agreement shall be deemed to obligate the Company to file any registration statement in respect of any proposed transaction.

 

Section 5.8 Indemnification . The Depositary agrees to indemnify the Company and its directors, officers, employees, agents and Affiliates against, and hold each of them harmless from, any direct loss, liability, tax, charge or expense of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) which may arise out of acts performed or omitted by the Depositary under the terms hereof due to the negligence or bad faith of the Depositary.

 

The Company agrees to indemnify the Depositary, the Custodian and any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and Affiliates against, and hold each of them harmless from, any direct loss, liability, tax, charge or expense of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) that may arise (a) out of, or in connection with, any offer, issuance, sale, resale, transfer, deposit or withdrawal of ADRs, ADSs, the Shares, the Eligible Securities, or other Deposited Securities, as the case may be, (b) out of, or as a result of, any offering documents in respect thereof or (c) out of acts performed or omitted, including, but not limited to, any delivery by the Depositary on behalf of the Company of information regarding the Company in connection with the Deposit Agreement, the ADRs, the ADSs, the Shares, the Eligible Securities, or any Deposited Property, in any such case (i) by the Depositary, the Custodian or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and Affiliates, except to the extent such loss, liability, tax, charge or expense is due to the

 

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negligence or bad faith of any of them, or (ii) by the Company or any of its directors, officers, employees, agents and Affiliates except to the extent that such liability or expense arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement of material fact or material omission that is made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to the Depositary or the Custodian, as the case may be, furnished in writing to the Company by the Depositary or the Custodian expressly for use in any document relating to the ADSs.

 

The obligations set forth in this Section shall survive the termination of the Deposit Agreement and the succession or substitution of any party hereto.

 

Any person seeking indemnification hereunder (an “indemnified person”) shall notify the person from whom it is seeking indemnification (the “indemnifying person”) of the commencement of any indemnifiable action or claim promptly after such indemnified person becomes aware of such commencement (provided that the failure to make such notification shall not affect such indemnified person’s rights to seek indemnification except to the extent the indemnifying person is materially prejudiced by such failure) and shall consult in good faith with the indemnifying person as to the conduct of the defense of such action or claim that may give rise to an indemnity hereunder, which defense shall be reasonable in the circumstances. No indemnified person shall compromise or settle any action or claim that may give rise to an indemnity hereunder without the consent of the indemnifying person, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

Section 5.9 ADS Fees and Charges . The Company, the Holders, the Beneficial Owners, and persons receiving ADSs upon issuance or whose ADSs are being cancelled shall be required to pay the ADS fees and charges identified as payable by them respectively in the ADS fee schedule attached hereto as Exhibit B. All ADS fees and charges so payable may be deducted from distributions or must be remitted to the Depositary, or its designee, and may, at any time and from time to time, be changed by agreement between the Depositary and the Company, but, in the case of ADS fees and charges payable by Holders and Beneficial Owners, only in the manner contemplated in Section 6.1. The Depositary shall provide, without charge, a copy of its latest ADS fee schedule to anyone upon request.

 

ADS fees and charges payable upon (i) the issuance of ADSs and (ii) the cancellation of ADSs will be payable by the person to whom the ADSs are so issued by the Depositary (in the case of ADS issuances) and by the person whose ADSs are being cancelled (in the case of ADS cancellations). In the case of ADSs issued by the Depositary into DTC or presented to the Depositary via DTC, the ADS issuance and cancellation fees and charges will be payable by the DTC Participant(s) receiving the ADSs from the Depositary or the DTC Participant(s) holding the ADSs being cancelled, as the case may be, on behalf of the Beneficial Owner(s) and will be charged by the DTC Participant(s) to the account(s) of the applicable Beneficial Owner(s) in accordance with the procedures and practices of the DTC participant(s) as in effect at the time. ADS fees and charges in respect of distributions and the ADS service fee are payable by Holders as of the applicable ADS Record Date established by the Depositary. In the case of distributions of cash, the amount of the applicable ADS fees and charges is deducted from the funds being distributed. In the case of (i) distributions other than cash and (ii) the ADS service fee, the applicable Holders as of the ADS Record Date established by the Depositary will be invoiced for

 

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the amount of the ADS fees and charges and such ADS fees may be deducted from distributions made to Holders. For ADSs held through DTC, the ADS fees and charges for distributions other than cash and the ADS service fee may be deducted from distributions made through DTC, and may be charged to the DTC Participants in accordance with the procedures and practices prescribed by DTC from time to time and the DTC Participants in turn charge the amount of such ADS fees and charges to the Beneficial Owners for whom they hold ADSs.

 

The Depositary may reimburse the Company for certain expenses incurred by the Company in respect of the ADR program established pursuant to the Deposit Agreement, by making available a portion of the ADS fees charged in respect of the ADR program or otherwise, upon such terms and conditions as the Company and the Depositary agree from time to time. The Company shall pay to the Depositary such fees and charges, and reimburse the Depositary for such out-of-pocket expenses, as the Depositary and the Company may agree from time to time. Responsibility for payment of such fees, charges and reimbursements may from time to time be changed by agreement between the Company and the Depositary. Unless otherwise agreed, the Depositary shall present its statement for such fees, charges and reimbursements to the Company once every three months. The charges and expenses of the Custodian are for the sole account of the Depositary.

 

The obligations of Holders and Beneficial Owners to pay ADS fees and charges shall survive the termination of the Deposit Agreement. As to any Depositary, upon the resignation or removal of such Depositary as described in Section 5.4, the right to collect ADS fees and charges shall extend for those ADS fees and charges incurred prior to the effectiveness of such resignation or removal.

 

Section 5.10 Pre-Release Transactions . Subject to the further terms and provisions of this Section 5.10, the Depositary, its Affiliates and their agents, on their own behalf, may own and deal in any class of securities of the Company and its Affiliates and in ADSs. In its capacity as Depositary, the Depositary shall not lend Deposited Securities or ADSs; provided, however, that, subject to Republic of China rules and regulations, the Depositary may (i) issue ADSs prior to the receipt of Eligible Securities pursuant to Section 2.3 and (ii) deliver Deposited Securities prior to the receipt of ADSs for cancellation upon withdrawal of Deposited Securities pursuant to Section 2.7, including ADSs which were issued under (i) above but for which Eligible Securities may not have been received (each such transaction a “ Pre-Release Transaction ”). The Depositary may receive ADSs in lieu of Eligible Securities under (i) above and receive Shares in lieu of ADSs under (ii) above. Each such Pre-Release Transaction will be (a) subject to a written agreement whereby the person or entity (the “ Applicant ”) to whom ADSs or Shares are to be delivered (w) represents that at the time of the Pre-Release Transaction the Applicant or its customer owns the Eligible Securities or ADSs that are to be delivered by the Applicant under such Pre-Release Transaction, (x) agrees to indicate the Depositary as owner of such Eligible Securities or ADSs in its records and to hold such Eligible Securities or ADSs in trust for the Depositary until such Eligible Securities or ADSs are delivered to the Depositary or the Custodian, (y) unconditionally guarantees to deliver to the Depositary or the Custodian, as applicable, such Eligible Securities or ADSs, and (z) agrees to any additional restrictions or requirements that the Depositary deems appropriate, (b) at all times fully collateralized with cash, U.S. government securities or such other collateral as the Depositary deems appropriate, (c)

 

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terminable by the Depositary on not more than five (5) business days’ notice and (d) subject to such further indemnities and credit regulations as the Depositary deems appropriate. The Depositary will normally limit the number of ADSs and Eligible Securities involved in such Pre-Release Transactions at any one time to thirty percent (30%) of the ADSs outstanding (without giving effect to ADSs outstanding under (i) above), provided, however, that the Depositary reserves the right to change or disregard such limit from time to time as it deems appropriate.

 

The Depositary may also set limits with respect to the number of ADSs and Shares involved in Pre-Release Transactions with any one person on a case-by-case basis as it deems appropriate. The Depositary may retain for its own account any compensation received by it in conjunction with the foregoing. Collateral provided pursuant to (b) above, but not the earnings thereon, shall be held for the benefit of the Holders (other than the Applicant).

 

Section 5.11 Restricted Securities Owners . The Company agrees to advise in writing each of the persons or entities who, to the knowledge of the Company, holds Restricted Securities that such Restricted Securities are ineligible for deposit hereunder (except under the circumstances contemplated in Section 2.14) and, to the extent practicable, shall require each of such persons to represent in writing that such person will not deposit Restricted Securities hereunder (except under the circumstances contemplated in Section 2.14).

 

ARTICLE VI

AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

 

Section 6.1 Amendment/Supplement . Subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 6.1 and applicable law, the ADRs outstanding at any time, the provisions of the Deposit Agreement and the form of ADR attached hereto and to be issued under the terms hereof may at any time and from time to time be amended or supplemented by written agreement between the Company and the Depositary in any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable without the prior written consent of the Holders or Beneficial Owners. Any amendment or supplement which shall impose or increase any fees or charges (other than charges in connection with foreign exchange control regulations, and taxes and other governmental charges, delivery and other such expenses), or which shall otherwise materially prejudice any substantial existing right of Holders or Beneficial Owners, shall not, however, become effective as to outstanding ADSs until the expiration of thirty (30) days after notice of such amendment or supplement shall have been given to the Holders of outstanding ADSs. Notice of any amendment to the Deposit Agreement or any ADR shall not need to describe in detail the specific amendments effectuated thereby, and failure to describe the specific amendments in any such notice shall not render such notice invalid, provided , however , that, in each such case, the notice given to the Holders identifies a means for Holders and Beneficial Owners to retrieve or receive the text of such amendment ( i.e. , upon retrieval from the Commission’s, the Depositary’s or the Company’s website or upon request from the Depositary). The parties hereto agree that any amendments or supplements which (i) are reasonably necessary (as agreed by the Company and the Depositary) in order for (a) the ADSs to be registered on Form F-6 under the Securities Act or (b) the ADSs to be settled solely in electronic book-entry form and (ii) do not in either such case impose or increase any fees or charges to be borne by Holders, shall be deemed not to materially prejudice

  

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any substantial rights of Holders or Beneficial Owners. Every Holder and Beneficial Owner at the time any amendment or supplement so becomes effective shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such ADSs, to consent and agree to such amendment or supplement and to be bound by the Deposit Agreement and the ADR, if applicable, as amended or supplemented thereby. In no event shall any amendment or supplement impair the right of the Holder to surrender such ADS and receive therefor the Deposited Securities represented thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any governmental body should adopt new laws, rules or regulations which would require an amendment of, or supplement to, the Deposit Agreement to ensure compliance therewith, the Company and the Depositary may amend or supplement the Deposit Agreement and any ADRs at any time in accordance with such changed laws, rules or regulations. Such amendment or supplement to the Deposit Agreement and any ADRs in such circumstances may become effective before a notice of such amendment or supplement is given to Holders or within any other period of time as required for compliance with such laws, rules or regulations.

 

Section 6.2 Termination . The Depositary shall, at any time at the written direction of the Company, terminate the Deposit Agreement by distributing notice of such termination to the Holders of all ADSs then outstanding at least thirty (30) days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination. If sixty (60) days shall have expired after (i) the Depositary shall have delivered to the Company a written notice of its election to resign, or (ii) the Company shall have delivered to the Depositary a written notice of the removal of the Depositary, and, in either case, a successor depositary shall not have been appointed and accepted its appointment as provided in Section 5.4 of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may terminate the Deposit Agreement by distributing notice of such termination to the Holders of all ADSs then outstanding at least thirty (30) days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination. The date so fixed for termination of the Deposit Agreement in any termination notice so distributed by the Depositary to the Holders of ADSs is referred to as the “ Termination Date ”. Until the Termination Date, the Depositary shall continue to perform all of its obligations under the Deposit Agreement, and the Holders and Beneficial Owners will be entitled to all of their rights under the Deposit Agreement.

 

If any ADSs shall remain outstanding after the Termination Date, the Registrar and the Depositary shall not, after the Termination Date, have any obligation to perform any further acts under the Deposit Agreement, except that the Depositary shall, subject, in each case, to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, continue to (i) collect dividends and other distributions pertaining to Deposited Securities, (ii) sell Deposited Property received in respect of Deposited Securities, (iii) deliver Deposited Securities, together with any dividends or other distributions received with respect thereto and the net proceeds of the sale of any other Deposited Property, in exchange for ADSs surrendered to the Depositary (after deducting, or charging, as the case may be, in each case, the fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary, and all applicable taxes or governmental charges for the account of the Holders and Beneficial Owners, in each case upon the terms set forth in Section 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement), and (iv) take such actions as may be required under applicable law in connection with its role as Depositary under the Deposit Agreement.

 

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At any time after the Termination Date, the Depositary may sell the Deposited Property then held under the Deposit Agreement and shall after such sale hold un-invested the net proceeds of such sale, together with any other cash then held by it under the Deposit Agreement, in an un-segregated account and without liability for interest, for the pro rata benefit of the Holders whose ADSs have not theretofore been surrendered. After making such sale, the Depositary shall be discharged from all obligations under the Deposit Agreement except (i) to account for such net proceeds and other cash (after deducting, or charging, as the case may be, in each case, the fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary, and all applicable taxes or governmental charges for the account of the Holders and Beneficial Owners, in each case upon the terms set forth in Section 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement), and (ii) as may be required at law in connection with the termination of the Deposit Agreement. After the Termination Date, the Company shall be discharged from all obligations under the Deposit Agreement, except for its obligations to the Depositary under Sections 5.8, 5.9 and 7.6 of the Deposit Agreement. The obligations under the terms of the Deposit Agreement of Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs outstanding as of the Termination Date shall survive the Termination Date and shall be discharged only when the applicable ADSs are presented by their Holders to the Depositary for cancellation under the terms of the Deposit Agreement.

 

Notwithstanding anything contained in the Deposit Agreement or any ADR, in connection with the termination of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may, independently and without the need for any action by the Company, make available to Holders of ADSs a means to withdraw the Deposited Securities represented by their ADSs and to direct the deposit of such Deposited Securities into an unsponsored American depositary shares program established by the Depositary, upon such terms and conditions as the Depositary may deem reasonably appropriate, subject however, in each case, to satisfaction of the applicable registration requirements by the unsponsored American depositary shares program under the Securities Act, and to receipt by the Depositary of payment of the applicable fees and charges of, and reimbursement of the applicable expenses incurred by, the Depositary.

 

ARTICLE VII

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 7.1 Counterparts. The Deposit Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of such counterparts together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Copies of the Deposit Agreement shall be maintained with the Depositary and shall be open to inspection by any Holder during business hours.

 

Section 7.2 No Third-Party Beneficiaries . The Deposit Agreement is for the exclusive benefit of the parties hereto (and their successors) and shall not be deemed to give any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim whatsoever to any other person, except to the extent specifically set forth in the Deposit Agreement. Nothing in the Deposit Agreement shall be deemed to give rise to a partnership or joint venture among the parties nor establish a fiduciary or similar relationship among the parties. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that (i) the Depositary and its Affiliates may at any time have multiple banking relationships with the

 

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Company and its Affiliates, (ii) the Depositary and its Affiliates may be engaged at any time in transactions in which parties adverse to the Company or the Holders or Beneficial Owners may have interests and (iii) nothing contained in the Deposit Agreement shall (a) preclude the Depositary or any of its Affiliates from engaging in such transactions or establishing or maintaining such relationships, and (b) obligate the Depositary or any of its Affiliates to disclose such transactions or relationships or to account for any profit made or payment received in such transactions or relationships.

 

Section 7.3 Severability . In case any one or more of the provisions contained in the Deposit Agreement or in the ADRs should be or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein or therein shall in no way be affected, prejudiced or disturbed thereby.

 

Section 7.4 Holders and Beneficial Owners as Parties; Binding Effect . The Holders and Beneficial Owners from time to time of ADSs issued hereunder shall be parties to the Deposit Agreement and shall be bound by all of the terms and conditions hereof and of any ADR evidencing their ADSs by acceptance thereof or any beneficial interest therein.

 

Section 7.5 Notices . Any and all notices to be given to the Company shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail, air courier or cable, telex or facsimile transmission, confirmed by letter personally delivered or sent by mail or air courier, addressed to Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc., TWTC International Trade Building, 19F, 333 Keelung Road, Section 1, Taipei 110, Taiwan, the Republic of China, Attention: Alan Li, Group Treasurer (facsimile number: +886 229576121), or to any other address which the Company may specify in writing to the Depositary.

 

Any and all notices to be given to the Depositary shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail, air courier or cable, telex or facsimile transmission, confirmed by letter personally delivered or sent by mail or air courier, addressed to Citibank, N.A., 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013, U.S.A., Attention : Depositary Receipts Department, or to any other address which the Depositary may specify in writing to the Company.

 

Any and all notices to be given to any Holder shall be deemed to have been duly given (a)  if personally delivered or sent by mail or cable, telex or facsimile transmission, confirmed by letter, addressed to such Holder at the address of such Holder as it appears on the books of the Depositary or, if such Holder shall have filed with the Depositary a request that notices intended for such Holder be mailed to some other address, at the address specified in such request, or (b) if a Holder shall have designated such means of notification as an acceptable means of notification under the terms of the Deposit Agreement, by means of electronic messaging addressed for delivery to the e-mail address designated by the Holder for such purpose. Notice to Holders shall be deemed to be notice to Beneficial Owners for all purposes of the Deposit Agreement. Failure to notify a Holder or any defect in the notification to a Holder shall not affect the sufficiency of notification to other Holders or to the Beneficial Owners of ADSs held by such other Holders.

 

57
 

Delivery of a notice sent by mail, air courier or cable, telex or facsimile transmission shall be deemed to be effective at the time when a duly addressed letter containing the same (or a confirmation thereof in the case of a cable, telex or facsimile transmission) is deposited, postage prepaid, in a post-office letter box or delivered to an air courier service, without regard for the actual receipt or time of actual receipt thereof by a Holder. The Depositary or the Company may, however, act upon any cable, telex or facsimile transmission received by it from any Holder, the Custodian, the Depositary, or the Company, notwithstanding that such cable, telex or facsimile transmission shall not be subsequently confirmed by letter.

 

Delivery of a notice by means of electronic messaging shall be deemed to be effective at the time of the initiation of the transmission by the sender (as shown on the sender’s records), notwithstanding that the intended recipient retrieves the message at a later date, fails to retrieve such message, or fails to receive such notice on account of its failure to maintain the designated e-mail address, its failure to designate a substitute e-mail address or for any other reason.

 

Section 7.6 Governing Law and Jurisdiction . The Deposit Agreement and the ADRs shall be interpreted in accordance with, and all rights hereunder and thereunder and provisions hereof and thereof shall be governed by, the laws of the State of New York without reference to the principles of choice of law thereof. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Deposit Agreement, any ADR or any present or future provisions of the laws of the State of New York, the rights of holders of Shares and of any other Deposited Securities and the obligations and duties of the Company in respect of the holders of Shares and other Deposited Securities, as such, shall be governed by the laws of Republic of China (or, if applicable, such other laws as may govern the Deposited Securities).

 

Except as set forth in the following paragraph of this Section 7.6, the Company and the Depositary agree that the federal or state courts in the City of New York shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine any suit, action or proceeding and to settle any dispute between them that may arise out of or in connection with the Deposit Agreement and, for such purposes, each irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts. The Company hereby irrevocably designates, appoints and empowers National Corporate Research, Ltd. (the “ Agent ”) now at 10 E. 40 th Street, 10 th floor, New York, NY 10016 as its authorized agent to receive and accept for and on its behalf, and on behalf of its properties, assets and revenues, service by mail of any and all legal process, summons, notices and documents that may be served in any suit, action or proceeding brought against the Company in any federal or state court as described in the preceding sentence or in the next paragraph of this Section 7.6. If for any reason the Agent shall cease to be available to act as such, the Company agrees to designate a new agent in New York on the terms and for the purposes of this Section 7.6 reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary. The Company further hereby irrevocably consents and agrees to the service of any and all legal process, summons, notices and documents in any suit, action or proceeding against the Company, by service by mail of a copy thereof upon the Agent (whether or not the appointment of such Agent shall for any reason prove to be ineffective or such Agent shall fail to accept or acknowledge such service), with a copy mailed to the Company by registered or certified air mail, postage prepaid, to its address provided in Section 7.5. The Company agrees that the failure of the Agent to give any notice of such service to it shall not impair or affect in

 

58
 

any way the validity of such service or any judgment rendered in any action or proceeding based thereon.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Depositary and the Company unconditionally agree that in the event that a Holder or Beneficial Owner brings a suit, action or proceeding against (a) the Company, (b) the Depositary in its capacity as Depositary under the Deposit Agreement or (c) against both the Company and the Depositary, in any such case, in any state or federal court of the United States, and the Depositary or the Company have any claim, for indemnification or otherwise, against each other arising out of the subject matter of such suit, action or proceeding, then the Company and the Depositary may pursue such claim against each other in the state or federal court in the United States in which such suit, action, or proceeding is pending and, for such purposes, the Company and the Depositary irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts. The Company agrees that service of process upon the Agent in the manner set forth in the preceding paragraph shall be effective service upon it for any suit, action or proceeding brought against it as described in this paragraph.

 

The Company irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any actions, suits or proceedings brought in any court as provided in this Section 7.6, and hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action, suit or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

The Company irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, and agrees not to plead or claim, any right of immunity from legal action, suit or proceeding, from setoff or counterclaim, from the jurisdiction of any court, from service of process, from attachment upon or prior to judgment, from attachment in aid of execution or judgment, from execution of judgment, or from any other legal process or proceeding for the giving of any relief or for the enforcement of any judgment, and consents to such relief and enforcement against it, its assets and its revenues in any jurisdiction, in each case with respect to any matter arising out of, or in connection with, the Deposit Agreement, any ADR or the Deposited Property.

 

EACH OF THE PARTIES TO THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, EACH HOLDER AND BENEFICIAL OWNER) IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING AGAINST THE COMPANY AND/OR THE DEPOSITARY ARISING OUT OF, OR RELATING TO, THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT, ANY ADR AND ANY TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREIN (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, COMMON LAW OR OTHERWISE).

 

No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act is intended by any provision of the Deposit Agreement. The provisions of this Section 7.6 shall survive any termination of the Deposit Agreement, in whole or in part.

 

59
 

Section 7.7 Assignment . Subject to the provisions of Section 5.4, the Deposit Agreement may not be assigned by either the Company or the Depositary.

 

Section 7.8 Compliance with U.S. Securities Laws . Notwithstanding anything in the Deposit Agreement to the contrary, the withdrawal or delivery of Deposited Securities will not be suspended by the Company or the Depositary except as would be permitted by Instruction I.A.(1) of the General Instructions to Form F-6 Registration Statement, as amended from time to time, under the Securities Act.

 

Section 7.9 Republic of China Law References . Any summary of Republic of China laws and regulations and of the terms of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation set forth in the Deposit Agreement have been provided by the Company solely for the convenience of Holders, Beneficial Owners and the Depositary. While such summaries are believed by the Company to be accurate as of the date of the Deposit Agreement, (i) they are summaries and as such may not include all aspects of the materials summarized applicable to a Holder or Beneficial Owner, and (ii) these laws and regulations and the Company’s Articles of Incorporation may change after the date of the Deposit Agreement. Neither the Depositary nor the Company has any obligation under the terms of the Deposit Agreement to update any such summaries.

 

Section 7.10 Titles and References .

 

(a)        Deposit Agreement . All references in the Deposit Agreement to exhibits, articles, sections, subsections, and other subdivisions refer to the exhibits, articles, sections, subsections and other subdivisions of the Deposit Agreement unless expressly provided otherwise. The words “the Deposit Agreement”, “herein”, “hereof”, “hereby”, “hereunder”, and words of similar import refer to the Deposit Agreement as a whole as in effect at the relevant time between the Company, the Depositary and the Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited. Pronouns in masculine, feminine and neuter gender shall be construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular form shall be construed to include the plural and vice versa unless the context otherwise requires. Titles to sections of the Deposit Agreement are included for convenience only and shall be disregarded in construing the language contained in the Deposit Agreement. References to “applicable laws and regulations” shall refer to laws and regulations applicable to ADRs, ADSs or Deposited Property as in effect at the relevant time of determination, unless otherwise required by law or regulation.

 

(b)        ADRs . All references in any ADR(s) to paragraphs, exhibits, articles, sections, subsections, and other subdivisions refer to the paragraphs, exhibits, articles, sections, subsections and other subdivisions of the ADR(s) in question unless expressly provided otherwise. The words “the Receipt”, “the ADR”, “herein”, “hereof”, “hereby”, “hereunder”, and words of similar import used in any ADR refer to the ADR as a whole and as in effect at the relevant time, and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited. Pronouns in masculine, feminine and neuter gender in any ADR shall be construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular form shall be construed to include the plural and vice versa unless the context otherwise requires. Titles to paragraphs of any ADR are included for

 

60
 

convenience only and shall be disregarded in construing the language contained in the ADR. References to “applicable laws and regulations” shall refer to laws and regulations applicable to ADRs, ADSs or Deposited Property as in effect at the relevant time of determination, unless otherwise required by law or regulation.

 

61
 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, ASE INDUSTRIAL HOLDING CO., LTD. and CITIBANK, N.A. have duly executed the Deposit Agreement as of the day and year first above set forth and all Holders and Beneficial Owners shall become parties hereto upon acceptance by them of ADSs issued in accordance with the terms hereof, or upon acquisition of any beneficial interest therein.

 

  ASE INDUSTRIAL HOLDING CO., LTD.
     
  By:
    Name:
    Title:

 

  CITIBANK, N.A.
   
   
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:

 

62
 

EXHIBIT A

 

[FORM OF ADR]

 

Number CUSIP NUMBER: _______

_____________

 

 

[American Depositary Shares (each American Depositary Share representing the right to receive two (2) fully paid common shares, each having a par value of NT$10.00 per share)]

 

[Temporary American Depositary Shares (each Temporary American Depositary Share representing an undivided interest in a global certificate of payment, each interest representing the irrevocable right to receive [two (2)] fully paid common shares, each having a par value of NT$10.00 per share)] 

 

AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPT

 

FOR

 

AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES

 

representing

 

[DEPOSITED COMMON SHARES]

 

[INTERESTS IN THE DEPOSITED CERTIFICATE OF PAYMENT]

 

of

 

ASE INDUSTRIAL HOLDING CO., LTD.

 

(Incorporated under the laws of the Republic of China)

 

 

 

A- 1
 

CITIBANK, N.A., a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, as depositary (the “Depositary”), hereby certifies that _____________is the owner of ______________ American Depositary Shares (hereinafter “ADS”) representing deposited [common shares] [interests in a global Certificate of Payment representing the irrevocable right to receive common shares], par value NT$10.00 per share, including evidence of rights to receive such [common shares (the “Shares”)] [interests in the Certificate of Payment (the “Certificate of Payment”)] (such [Shares are] [Certificate of Payment is] hereafter called “Eligible Securities”), of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the Republic of China (the “Company”). As of the date hereof, each ADS represents the right to receive two (2) [an interest in a global Certificate of Payment, each interest representing the irrevocable right to receive two (2)] Shares deposited under the Deposit Agreement with the Custodian, which at the date of execution of the Deposit Agreement is Citibank, Taiwan Ltd. (the “Custodian”). The ADS(s)-to-Share(s) ratio is subject to amendment as provided in Articles IV and VI of the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary’s Principal Office is located at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013, U.S.A.

 

(1)        The Deposit Agreement . This American Depositary Receipt is one of an issue of American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), all issued and to be issued upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Deposit Agreement, dated as of [date] , 2017 (as amended and supplemented from time to time, the “Deposit Agreement”), by and among the Company, the Depositary, and all Holders and Beneficial Owners from time to time of ADSs issued thereunder. The Deposit Agreement sets forth the rights and obligations of Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs and the rights and duties of the Depositary in respect of the Shares deposited thereunder and any and all other Deposited Property (as defined in the Deposit Agreement) from time to time received and held on deposit in respect of the ADSs. Copies of the Deposit Agreement are on file at the Principal Office of the Depositary and with the Custodian. Each Holder and each Beneficial Owner, upon acceptance of any ADSs (or any interest therein) issued in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, shall be deemed for all purposes to (a) be a party to and bound by the terms of the Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADR(s), and (b) appoint the Depositary its attorney-in-fact, with full power to delegate, to act on its behalf and to take any and all actions contemplated in the Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADR(s), to adopt any and all procedures necessary to comply with applicable law and to take such action as the Depositary in its sole discretion may deem necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of the Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADR(s), the taking of such actions to be the conclusive determinant of the necessity and appropriateness thereof.

 

The statements made on the face and reverse of this ADR are summaries of certain provisions of the Deposit Agreement and the Articles of Incorporation of the Company (as in effect on the date of the signing of the Deposit Agreement) and are qualified by and subject to the detailed provisions of the Deposit Agreement and the Articles of Incorporation, to which reference is hereby made.

 

All capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Deposit Agreement.

 

A- 2
 

The Depositary makes no representation or warranty as to the validity or worth of the Deposited Property. The Depositary has made arrangements for the acceptance of the ADSs into DTC. Each Beneficial Owner of ADSs held through DTC must rely on the procedures of DTC and the DTC Participants to exercise and be entitled to any rights attributable to such ADSs. The Depositary may issue Uncertificated ADSs subject, however, to the terms and conditions of Section 2.13 of the Deposit Agreement.

 

(2)        Surrender of ADSs and Withdrawal of Deposited Securities . (a) ROC Requirements : The Depositary and the Company have been advised that under ROC law, as in effect as of the date hereof, a Holder who is a non-ROC person (other than a PRC person, except for a QDII (as defined below), or a person with prior approval from the Investment Commission of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, ROC) wishing to withdraw Deposited Securities from the ADR Facility is required to (i) register with the TSE for making investment in the ROC securities market, (ii) obtain a foreign investor investment identification (the "Foreign Investor Investment I.D.") issued pursuant to the ROC Regulations Governing Securities Investment by Overseas Chinese and Foreign Nationals and (iii) appoint an eligible agent in the ROC to open (a) a securities trading account, (b) a TDCC book-entry account and (c) a bank account (the securities trading account, the TDCC book-entry account, and the bank account, collectively, the "Accounts"), to pay ROC taxes, remit funds, exercise shareholders' rights and perform such other functions as may be designated by such withdrawing Holder.  In addition, such withdrawing Holder is also required to appoint a custodian bank to hold the securities in safekeeping, make confirmations and settle trades and report all relevant information.  Without obtaining the Foreign Investor Investment I.D. and opening such Accounts, the withdrawing Holder would be unable to hold or subsequently sell the Deposited Securities withdrawn from the ADR Facility on the TSE or otherwise.  No assurance can be given that a withdrawing Holder will be able to obtain the Foreign Investor Investment I.D. in a timely manner.  In addition, such withdrawing Holders will be required to appoint an eligible agent in the ROC for filing tax returns and making tax payments (a "Tax Guarantor").  Such Tax Guarantor will be required to meet the qualifications set by the Ministry of Finance of the ROC and will act as the guarantor of the withdrawing Holder's tax payment obligations.  Subject to certain limited exceptions, under current ROC law, repatriation of profits by a non-ROC withdrawing Holder is subject to the submission of evidence of the appointment of a Tax Guarantor to, and approval thereof by, the tax authority.  Under the Regulations Governing Mainland China Investor's Securities Investments and Futures Trading in Taiwan promulgated by the FSC, a PRC qualified domestic institutional investor ("QDII") is allowed to invest in ROC securities.  The custodians of QDIIs must apply with the TSE for the remittance amount of each QDII which cannot exceed US$100 million, the total investment amount of all QDIIs may not exceed US$500 million, and such QDII can only invest in the ROC securities market with the amount approved by the TSE.  Additionally, PRC investors (including QDIIs) in the aggregate shall not hold 10% or more of such ROC company's issued and outstanding voting shares.  The laws of the Republic of China applicable to the withdrawal of Deposited Securities may change from time to time.  There can be no assurance that current law will remain in effect or that future changes of ROC law will not adversely affect the ability of Holders to withdraw Deposited Securities hereunder.

 

A- 3
 

The Company has informed the Depositary that no Shares may be withdrawn upon presentation of ADSs (and if applicable, the ADRs evidencing such ADSs) for cancellation under Section 2.7 of the Deposit Agreement until (i) the Company has delivered written confirmation that the number of Shares requested for withdrawal have been listed for trading on the TSE (such Shares, the “Listed Shares”) to the Depositary and the Custodian, (ii) the Listed Shares have been de-materialised (such Shares, the “De-Materialised Shares,” and Shares that are both Listed Shares and De-Materialised Shares, hereinafter referred to as the “Final Shares”), and (iii) an equivalent number of Final Shares are on deposit with the Custodian. The Company has further informed the Depositary that it is expected that newly issued Shares which may be deposited by the Company from time to time and which are not listed for trading on the TSE at the time of such deposit will be listed on the TSE for trading and will be fully de-materialised, thereby becoming Final Shares, no later than five (5) business days after any such deposit. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that (a) the Depositary will deliver Shares represented by ADSs (and if applicable, the ADRs representing such ADSs) presented for cancellation pursuant to Section 2.7 of the Deposit Agreement only to the extent of the number of Final Shares then on deposit with the Custodian, (b) the Depositary will process presentations of ADSs for withdrawal of Final Shares under Section 2.7 of the Deposit Agreement on a first come, first served basis, (c) the Depositary will complete requests for cancellation of ADSs and withdrawal of the Shares represented thereby only to the extent of the number of Final Shares at such time on deposit with the Custodian, (d) the Depositary will refuse to complete a request for cancellation of ADSs and withdrawal of Shares to the extent the number of Shares requested for withdrawal exceeds the number of Final Shares at such time deposited with the Custodian, and (e) the Depositary reserves the right to suspend withdrawals of Shares under Section 2.7 of the Deposit Agreement until such time as the requisite number of Final Shares are deposited with the Custodian. The Company agrees to deliver to the Depositary and/or the Custodian, as applicable, written confirmation of the number of Listed Shares deposited with the Custodian under the Deposit Agreement promptly upon the receipt of confirmation of listing from the TSE of such Shares.

 

(b) Sale of Deposited Securities . Upon surrender of ADSs at the Principal Office and upon payment of any fees, reasonable expenses, taxes or other governmental charges as provided under the Deposit Agreement, subject to the terms of the Deposit Agreement and the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, and the transfer restrictions applicable to the Deposited Securities, if any, Holders may request that the Deposited Securities represented by such Holders’ ADSs be sold on such Holder’s behalf. Any Holder requesting a sale of Deposited Securities may be required by the Depositary to deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Depositary a written order requesting the Depositary to sell, or cause to be sold, such Deposited Securities. Any such sale of Deposited Securities will be conducted in accordance with applicable ROC law through a securities company in the ROC on the TSE or in such other manner as is or may be permitted under applicable ROC law. Any such sale of Deposited Securities will be at the expense and risk of the Holder requesting such sale. Any Holder requesting the Depositary to sell the Deposited Securities represented by such Holder’s ADSs may be required to enter into a separate agreement to cover the terms of the sale of such Deposited Securities.

 

Upon receipt of any proceeds from any such sale, the Depositary shall, subject to any restrictions imposed by ROC law and regulations, and as provided hereunder, convert or cause to

 

A- 4
 

be converted any such proceeds into U.S. dollars and distribute any such proceeds to the Holders entitled thereto after deduction or payment of any fees, reasonable expenses, taxes or governmental charges (including, without limitation, any ROC and U.S. taxes) incurred in connection with such sale, as provided under the Deposit Agreement. Any such sale may be subject to ROC taxation on capital gains, if any, and will be subject to a securities transaction tax in the ROC. The ROC does not, as of the date hereof, impose tax on capital gains arising from ROC securities transactions, but there can be no assurance that a capital gains tax on ROC securities transactions will not be imposed in the future or as to the manner in which any ROC capital gains tax in respect of a sale of Deposited Securities would be imposed or calculated.

 

(c) Withdrawal of Deposited Securities : The Holder of ADSs shall be entitled to Delivery (at the Custodian’s designated office) of the Deposited Securities at the time represented by the ADS(s) upon satisfaction of each of the following conditions: (i) the Holder (or a duly authorized attorney of the Holder) has duly Delivered ADSs to the Depositary at its Principal Office (and if applicable, the Receipts evidencing such ADSs) for the purpose of withdrawal of the Deposited Securities represented thereby, (ii) if so required by the Depositary, the Receipts Delivered to the Depositary for such purpose have been properly endorsed in blank or are accompanied by proper instruments of transfer in blank (including signature guarantees in accordance with standard securities industry practice), (iii) if so required by the Depositary, the Holder of the ADSs has executed and delivered to the Depositary a written order directing the Depositary to cause the Deposited Securities being withdrawn to be Delivered to or upon the written order of the person(s) designated in such order, (iv) the Holder has delivered to the Depositary the applicable certification contemplated in Exhibit C to the Deposit Agreement, duly completed by or on behalf of the Beneficial Owner(s) of the ADSs surrendered for withdrawal (unless the Depositary is  otherwise instructed by the Company), and (v) all applicable fees and charges of, and reasonable expenses incurred by, the Depositary and all applicable taxes and governmental charges (as are set forth in Section 5.9 of, and Exhibit B to, the Deposit Agreement) have been paid, subject, however, in each case, to the terms and conditions of the Receipts evidencing the surrendered ADSs, of the Deposit Agreement, of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and of any applicable laws and regulations of the Republic of China and of the United States and the rules of the TDCC, and to any provisions of or governing the Deposited Securities, in each case as in effect at the time thereof.

 

Upon satisfaction of each of the conditions specified above, the Depositary (i) shall cancel the ADSs Delivered to it (and, if applicable, the Receipts evidencing the ADSs so Delivered), (ii) shall direct the Registrar to record the cancellation of the ADSs so Delivered on the books maintained for such purpose, and (iii) shall direct the Custodian to Deliver (without unreasonable delay) at the Custodian’s designated office the Deposited Securities represented by the ADSs so canceled together with any certificate or other document of title for the Deposited Securities, or evidence of the electronic transfer thereof (if available), as the case may be, to or upon the written order of the person(s) designated in the order delivered to the Depositary for such purpose, subject however, in each case, to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, of the Receipts evidencing the ADSs so canceled, of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, of applicable laws and regulations of the Republic of China and of the United

 

A- 5
 

States and of the rules of the TDCC, and to the terms and conditions of  or governing the Deposited Securities,  in each case as in effect at the time thereof.

 

The Depositary shall not accept for surrender ADSs representing less than a whole number of Eligible Securities.  In the case of Delivery to it of ADSs representing a number other than a whole number of Eligible Securities, the Depositary shall cause ownership of the appropriate whole number of Eligible Securities to be Delivered in accordance with the terms hereof, and shall, at the discretion of the Depositary, either (i) return to the person surrendering such ADSs the number of ADSs representing any remaining fractional Eligible Security, or (ii) sell or cause to be sold the fractional Eligible Security represented by the ADSs so surrendered and remit the proceeds of such sale (net of (a) applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes withheld) to the person surrendering the ADSs.

 

Notwithstanding anything else contained in any ADR or the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may make delivery at the Principal Office of the Depositary of Deposited Property consisting of (i) any cash dividends or cash distributions, or (ii) any proceeds from the sale of any non-cash distributions, which are at the time held by the Depositary in respect of the Deposited Securities represented by the ADSs surrendered for cancellation and withdrawal.  At the request, risk and expense of any Holder so surrendering ADSs, and for the account of such Holder, the Depositary shall direct the Custodian to forward (to the extent permitted by law) any Deposited Property (other than Deposited Securities) held by the Custodian in respect of such ADSs to the Depositary for delivery at the Principal Office of the Depositary.  Such direction shall be given by letter or, at the request, risk and expense of such Holder, by cable, telex or facsimile transmission.

 

(3)        Transfer, Combination and Split-up of ADRs . The Registrar shall promptly register the transfer of this ADR (and of the ADSs represented hereby) on the books maintained for such purpose and the Depositary shall promptly (x) cancel this ADR and execute new ADRs evidencing the same aggregate number and type of ADSs as those evidenced by this ADR when canceled by the Depositary, (y) cause the Registrar to countersign such new ADRs, and (z) Deliver such new ADRs to or upon the order of the person entitled thereto, if each of the following conditions has been satisfied: (i) this ADR has been duly Delivered by the Holder (or by a duly authorized attorney of the Holder) to the Depositary at its Principal Office for the purpose of effecting a transfer thereof, (ii) this surrendered ADR has been properly endorsed or is accompanied by proper instruments of transfer (including signature guarantees in accordance with standard securities industry practice), (iii) this surrendered ADR has been duly stamped (if required by the laws of the State of New York or of the United States), and (iv) all applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and all applicable taxes and governmental charges (as are set forth in Section 5.9 of, and Exhibit B to, the Deposit Agreement) have been paid, subject, however, in each case, to the terms and conditions of this ADR, of the Deposit Agreement and of applicable law, in each case as in effect at the time thereof.

 

A- 6
 

The Registrar shall register the split-up or combination of this ADR (and of the ADSs represented hereby) on the books maintained for such purpose and the Depositary shall (x) cancel this ADR and execute new ADRs for the number of ADSs requested, but in the aggregate not exceeding the number of ADSs evidenced by this ADR (canceled), (y) cause the Registrar to countersign such new ADRs, and (z) Deliver such new ADRs to or upon the order of the Holder thereof, if each of the following conditions has been satisfied: (i) this ADR has been duly Delivered by the Holder (or by a duly authorized attorney of the Holder) to the Depositary at its Principal Office for the purpose of effecting a split-up or combination hereof, and (ii) all applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and all applicable taxes and governmental charges (as are set forth in Section 5.9 of, and Exhibit B to, the Deposit Agreement) have been paid, subject, however, in each case , to the terms and conditions of this ADR, of the Deposit Agreement and of applicable law, in each case as in effect at the time thereof.

 

(4)        Limitations on Execution and Delivery, Transfer, Etc . As a condition precedent to the execution and delivery, the registration of issuance, transfer, split-up, combination or surrender, of any ADS, the delivery of any distribution thereon, or the withdrawal of any Deposited Property, the Depositary or the Custodian may require (i) payment from the depositor of Eligible Securities or presenter of ADSs or of this ADR of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any tax or other governmental charge and any stock transfer or registration fee with respect thereto (including any such tax or charge and fee with respect to Eligible Securities being deposited or withdrawn) and payment of any applicable fees and charges of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.9 and Exhibit B to the Deposit Agreement and in this ADR, (ii) the production of proof satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature or any other matter contemplated by Section 3.1 of the Deposit Agreement, and (iii) compliance with (A) any laws or governmental regulations relating to the execution and delivery of this ADR or ADSs or to the withdrawal of Deposited Securities and (B) such reasonable regulations as the Depositary and the Company may establish consistent with the provisions of this ADR, the Deposit Agreement and applicable law.

 

The issuance of ADSs against deposits of Eligible Securities generally or against deposits of particular Eligible Securities may be suspended, or the deposit of particular Eligible Securities may be refused, or the registration of transfers of ADSs in particular instances may be refused, or the registration of transfer of ADSs generally may be suspended, during any period when the transfer books of the Company, the Depositary, a Registrar or the Eligible Securities Registrar are closed or if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary or the Company, in good faith, at any time or from time to time because of any requirement of law or regulation, any government or governmental body or commission or any securities exchange on which the ADSs or Eligible Securities are listed, or under any provision of the Deposit Agreement or this ADR, or under any provision of, or governing, the Deposited Securities, or because of a meeting of shareholders of the Company or for any other reason, subject, in all cases to paragraph (25) of this ADR. Notwithstanding any provision of the Deposit Agreement or this ADR to the contrary, Holders are entitled to surrender outstanding ADSs to withdraw the Deposited Securities associated therewith at any time subject only to (i) temporary delays caused by closing the transfer books of the Depositary or the Company or the deposit of Eligible

 

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Securities in connection with voting at a shareholders’ meeting or the payment of dividends, (ii) the payment of fees, taxes and similar charges, (iii) compliance with any U.S. or foreign laws or governmental regulations relating to the ADSs or to the withdrawal of the Deposited Securities, and (iv) other circumstances specifically contemplated by Instruction I.A.(l) of the General Instructions to Form F-6 (as such General Instructions may be amended from time to time).

 

(5)        Compliance With Information Requests . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Deposit Agreement or this ADR, each Holder and Beneficial Owner of the ADSs represented hereby agrees to comply with requests from the Company pursuant to applicable law, the rules and requirements of TSE, and of any other stock exchange on which the Eligible Securities or ADSs are, or will be, registered, traded or listed, or the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, which are made to provide information, inter alia , as to the capacity in which such Holder or Beneficial Owner owns ADSs (and the Eligible Securities represented by such ADSs, as the case may be) and regarding the identity of any other person(s) interested in such ADSs (and the Shares represented by such ADSs, as the case may be) and the nature of such interest and various other matters, whether or not they are Holders and/or Beneficial Owners at the time of such request.

 

(6)        Ownership Restrictions . Notwithstanding any other provision of this ADR or of the Deposit Agreement, the Company may restrict transfers of the Shares or Eligible Securities where such transfer might result in ownership of Shares exceeding limits imposed by applicable law or the Articles of Incorporation of the Company. The Company may also restrict, in such manner as it deems appropriate, transfers of the ADSs where such transfer may result in the total number of Shares represented by the ADSs owned by a single Holder or Beneficial Owner to exceed any such limits. The Company may, in its sole discretion but subject to applicable law, instruct the Depositary to take action with respect to the ownership interest of any Holder or Beneficial Owner in excess of the limits set forth in the preceding sentence, including but not limited to, the imposition of restrictions on the transfer of ADSs, the removal or limitation of voting rights or the mandatory sale or disposition on behalf of a Holder or Beneficial Owner of the Shares represented by the ADSs held by such Holder or Beneficial Owner in excess of such limitations, if and to the extent such disposition is permitted by applicable law and the Articles of Incorporation of the Company. Nothing herein or in the Deposit Agreement shall be interpreted as obligating the Depositary or the Company to ensure compliance with the ownership restrictions described herein or in Section 3.5 of the Deposit Agreement.

 

(7)        Reporting Obligations and Regulatory Approvals . Applicable laws and regulations may require holders and beneficial owners of Shares, including the Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs, to satisfy reporting requirements and obtain regulatory approvals in certain circumstances. Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs are solely responsible for determining and complying with such reporting requirements and for obtaining such approvals. Each Holder and each Beneficial Owner hereby agrees to make such determination, file such reports, and obtain such approvals to the extent and in the form required by applicable laws and regulations as in effect from time to time. Neither the Depositary, the Custodian, the Company or any of their respective agents or affiliates shall be required to take any actions whatsoever on

 

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behalf of Holders or Beneficial Owners to determine or satisfy such reporting requirements or obtain such regulatory approvals under applicable laws and regulations.

 

(8)        Liability for Taxes and Other Charges . Any tax or other governmental charge payable by the Custodian or by the Depositary with respect to any Deposited Property, ADSs or this ADR shall be payable by the Holders and Beneficial Owners to the Depositary. The Company, the Custodian and/or the Depositary may withhold or deduct from any distributions made in respect of Deposited Property and may sell for the account of a Holder and/or Beneficial Owner any or all of the Deposited Property and apply such distributions and sale proceeds in payment of any taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) or charges that are or may be payable by Holders or Beneficial Owners in respect of the ADSs, Deposited Property and this ADR, the Holder and the Beneficial Owner hereof remaining liable for any deficiency. The Custodian may refuse the deposit of Eligible Securities and the Depositary may refuse to issue ADSs, to deliver ADRs, register the transfer of ADSs, register the split-up or combination of ADRs and (subject to paragraph (25) of this ADR) the withdrawal of Deposited Property until payment in full of such tax, charge, penalty or interest is received. Every Holder and Beneficial Owner agrees to indemnify the Depositary, the Company, the Custodian, and any of their agents, officers, employees and Affiliates for, and to hold each of them harmless from, any claims with respect to taxes (including applicable interest and penalties thereon) arising from any tax benefit obtained for such Holder and/or Beneficial Owner. The obligations of Holders and Beneficial Owners under this paragraph 8 shall survive any transfer of ADSs, any cancellation of ADSs and withdrawal of Deposited Securities, and the termination of the Deposit Agreement.

 

(9)        Representations and Warranties of Depositors . Each person depositing Shares under the Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby to represent and warrant that (i) such Shares and the certificates therefor are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable and legally obtained by such person, (ii) all preemptive (and similar) rights, if any, with respect to such Shares have been validly waived or exercised, (iii) the person making such deposit is duly authorized so to do, (iv) the Shares presented for deposit are free and clear of any lien, encumbrance, security interest, charge, mortgage or adverse claim, (v) the Shares presented for deposit are not, and the ADSs issuable upon such deposit will not be, Restricted Securities (except as contemplated in Section 2.14 of the Deposit Agreement), and (vi) the Shares presented for deposit have not been stripped of any rights or entitlements. Such representations and warranties shall survive the deposit and withdrawal of Shares, the issuance and cancellation of ADSs in respect thereof and the transfer of such ADSs.

 

Whenever the Company shall deposit any Certificate of Payment under this Deposit Agreement the Company shall be deemed thereby to represent and warrant that (i) such Certificate of Payment is, and the Shares to be received in exchange for the Certificate of Payment will be, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable and legally obtained, (ii) all preemptive (and similar) rights, if any, with respect to such Certificate of Payment has been, and with respect to the Shares to be received in exchange for the Certificate of Payment will have been, validly waived or exercised, (iii) the Company has duly authorized the issuance of the Shares to be delivered in exchange for the Payment Certificate so presented for deposit, (iv) the Certificate of Payment presented for deposit is, and the Shares to be deposited upon the

 

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exchange of the Certificates of Payment for Shares will be, free and clear of any lien, encumbrance, security interest, change, mortgage or adverse claim, and are not, and the Temporary ADSs issuable upon such deposit will not be, Restricted Securities and (v) the Certificate of Payment presented for deposit has not been, and the Shares to be deposited upon the exchange for the Certificate of Payment will not have been, stripped of any rights or entitlements. Such representations and warranties shall survive the deposit of any Certificate of Payment, the issuance and cancellation of Temporary ADSs in respect thereof and the transfer of such Temporary ADSs.

 

If any such representations or warranties are false in any way, the Company and the Depositary shall be authorized, at the cost and expense of the person depositing Shares, to take any and all actions necessary to correct the consequences thereof.

 

(10)        Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information . Any person presenting Eligible Securities for deposit, any Holder and any Beneficial Owner may be required, and every Holder and Beneficial Owner agrees, from time to time to provide to the Depositary and the Custodian such proof of citizenship or residence, taxpayer status, payment of all applicable taxes or other governmental charges, exchange control approval, legal or beneficial ownership of ADSs and Deposited Property, compliance with applicable laws, the terms of the Deposit Agreement or this ADR evidencing the ADSs and the provisions of, or governing, the Deposited Property, to execute such certifications and to make such representations and warranties, and to provide such other information and documentation (or, in the case of Shares in registered form presented for deposit, such information relating to the registration on the books of the Company) as the Depositary or the Custodian may deem necessary or proper or as the Company may reasonably require by written request to the Depositary consistent with its obligations under the Deposit Agreement and this ADR. The Depositary and the Registrar, as applicable, may withhold the execution or delivery or registration of transfer of any ADR or ADS or the distribution or sale of any dividend or distribution of rights or of the proceeds thereof or, to the extent not limited by paragraph (25), the delivery of any Deposited Property until such proof or other information is filed or such certifications are executed, or such representations and warranties are made or such other documentation or information are provided, in each case to the Depositary’s, the Registrar’s and the Company’s satisfaction.

 

(11)        ADS Fees and Charges . The following ADS fees are payable under the terms of the Deposit Agreement:

 

(i) ADS Issuance Fee : by any person depositing Shares or to whom ADSs are issued upon the deposit of Shares (excluding issuances as a result of distributions described in paragraph (iv) below), a fee not in excess of U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) so issued under the terms of the Deposit Agreement; 

 

(ii) ADS Cancellation Fee : by any person surrendering ADSs for cancellation and withdrawal of Deposited Property or by any person to whom Deposited Property is delivered, a fee not in excess of U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) surrendered;

 

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(iii) Cash Distribution Fee : by any Holder of ADSs, a fee not in excess of U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) held for the distribution of cash dividends or other cash distributions ( i.e. , sale of rights and other entitlements);

 

(iv) Stock Distribution /Rights Exercise Fee : by any Holder of ADS(s), a fee not in excess of U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) held for (a) the distribution of stock dividends or other free stock distributions or (b) the exercise of rights to purchase additional ADSs;

 

(v) Other Distribution Fee : by any Holder of ADS(s), a fee not in excess of U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) held for the distribution of securities other than ADSs or rights to purchase additional ADSs;

 

(vi) Depositary Services Fee : by any Holder of ADS(s), a fee not in excess of U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) held on the applicable record date(s) established by the Depositary; and

 

(vii) ADR Transfer Fee : by any person presenting ADR(s) for transfer, a fee not in excess of U.S. $1.50 per ADR so presented for transfer.

 

In addition, Holders, Beneficial Owners, persons depositing Shares for issuance of ADSs, and persons surrendering ADSs for cancellation and for the purpose of withdrawing Deposited Securities will be responsible for the payment of the following ADS charges under the terms of the Deposit Agreement:

 

(a) taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) and other governmental charges;

 

(b) such registration fees as may from time to time be in effect for the registration of Shares or other Deposited Securities on the share register and applicable to transfers of Shares or other Deposited Securities to or from the name of the Custodian, the Depositary or any nominees upon the making of deposits and withdrawals, respectively;

 

(c) such cable, telex and facsimile transmission and delivery expenses as are expressly provided in the Deposit Agreement to be at the expense of the person depositing Shares or withdrawing Deposited Securities or of the Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs;

 

(d) the expenses and charges incurred by the Depositary in the conversion of foreign currency;

 

(e) such fees and expenses as are incurred by the Depositary in connection with compliance with exchange control regulations and other regulatory

 

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requirements applicable to Shares, Deposited Securities, ADSs and ADRs; and

 

(f) the fees and expenses incurred by the Depositary, the Custodian, or any nominee in connection with the delivery or servicing of Deposited Property.

 

All ADS fees and charges may, at any time and from time to time, be changed by agreement between the Depositary and Company but, in the case of ADS fees and charges payable by Holders and Beneficial Owners, only in the manner contemplated by paragraph (23) of this ADR and as contemplated in the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary shall provide, without charge, a copy of its latest ADS fee schedule to anyone upon request.

 

ADS fees and charges payable upon (i) deposit of Shares against issuance of ADSs and (ii) surrender of ADSs for cancellation and withdrawal of Deposited Property, will be payable by the person to whom the ADSs so issued are delivered by the Depositary (in the case of ADS issuances) and by the person who delivers the ADSs for cancellation to the Depositary (in the case of ADS cancellations). In the case of ADSs issued by the Depositary into DTC or presented to the Depositary via DTC, the ADS issuance and cancellation fees and charges will be payable by the DTC Participant(s) receiving the ADSs from the Depositary or the DTC Participant(s) surrendering the ADSs to the Depositary for cancellation, as the case may be, on behalf of the Beneficial Owner(s) and will be charged by the DTC Participant(s) to the account(s) of the applicable Beneficial Owner(s) in accordance with the procedures and practices of the DTC Participant(s) as in effect at the time. ADS fees and charges in respect of distributions and the ADS service fee are payable by Holders as of the applicable ADS Record Date established by the Depositary. In the case of distributions of cash, the amount of the applicable ADS fees and charges is deducted from the funds being distributed. In the case of (i) distributions other than cash and (ii) the ADS service fee, the applicable Holders as of the ADS Record Date established by the Depositary will be invoiced for the amount of the ADS fees and charges and such ADS fees may be deducted from distributions made to Holders. For ADSs held through DTC, the ADS fees and charges for distributions other than cash and the ADS service fee may be deducted from distributions made through DTC and may be charged to the DTC Participants in accordance with the procedures and practices prescribed by DTC from time to time and the DTC Participants in turn charge the amount of such ADS fees and charges to the Beneficial Owners for whom they hold ADSs.

 

The Depositary may reimburse the Company for certain expenses incurred by the Company in respect of the ADR program established pursuant to the Deposit Agreement, by making available a portion of the ADS fees charged in respect of the ADR program or otherwise, upon such terms and conditions as the Company and the Depositary agree from time to time. The Company shall pay to the Depositary such fees and charges, and reimburse the Depositary for such out-of-pocket expenses, as the Depositary and the Company may agree from time to time. Responsibility for payment of such fees, charges and reimbursements may from time to time be changed by agreement between the Company and the Depositary. Unless otherwise agreed, the Depositary shall present its statement for such fees, charges and reimbursements to

 

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the Company once every three months. The charges and expenses of the Custodian are for the sole account of the Depositary.

 

The obligations of Holders and Beneficial Owners to pay ADS fees and charges shall survive the termination of the Deposit Agreement. As to any Depositary, upon the resignation or removal of such Depositary as described in Section 5.4 of the Deposit Agreement, the right to collect ADS fees and charges shall extend for those ADS fees and charges incurred prior to the effectiveness of such resignation or removal.

 

(12)        Title to ADRs . Subject to the limitations contained in the Deposit Agreement and in this ADR, it is a condition of this ADR, and every successive Holder of this ADR by accepting or holding the same consents and agrees, that title to this ADR (and to each Certificated ADS evidenced hereby) shall be transferable upon the same terms as a certificated security under the laws of the State of New York, provided that, in the case of Certificated ADSs, this ADR has been properly endorsed or is accompanied by proper instruments of transfer. Notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, the Depositary and the Company may deem and treat the Holder of this ADR (that is, the person in whose name this ADR is registered on the books of the Depositary) as the absolute owner thereof for all purposes. Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall have any obligation nor be subject to any liability under the Deposit Agreement or this ADR to any holder of this ADR or any Beneficial Owner unless, in the case of a holder of ADSs, such holder is the Holder of this ADR registered on the books of the Depositary or, in the case of a Beneficial Owner, such Beneficial Owner, or the Beneficial Owner’s representative, is the Holder registered on the books of the Depositary.

 

(13)        Validity of ADR . The Holder(s) of this ADR (and the ADSs represented hereby) shall not be entitled to any benefits under the Deposit Agreement or be valid or enforceable for any purpose against the Depositary or the Company unless this ADR has been (i) dated, (ii) signed by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly-authorized signatory of the Depositary, (iii) countersigned by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly-authorized signatory of the Registrar, and (iv) registered in the books maintained by the Registrar for the registration of issuances and transfers of ADRs. An ADR bearing the facsimile signature of a duly-authorized signatory of the Depositary or the Registrar, who at the time of signature was a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary or the Registrar, as the case may be, shall bind the Depositary, notwithstanding the fact that such signatory has ceased to be so authorized prior to the delivery of such ADR by the Depositary.

 

(14)        Available Information; Reports; Inspection of Transfer Books .

 

As of the date of the Deposit Agreement, the Company is subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and, accordingly, is required to file or furnish certain reports with the Commission. These reports can be retrieved from the Commission's website ( www.sec.gov ) and can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission located (as of the date of the Deposit Agreement) at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington D.C. 20549. If at any time the Company files a Form 15F or any successor form thereto, with the Commission, which suspends the Company's duty under the Exchange Act to file or submit reports required under Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, upon the

 

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effectiveness of such Form 15F, the Company's duty to file or submit reports under Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act will terminate. At that time, pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b)(1), the Company will be exempt from the reporting obligations of the Exchange Act. In order to satisfy the conditions of Rule 12g3-2(b), the Company will publish an English translation of the information contemplated in Rule 12g3-2(b)(2)(i) under the Exchange Act on its internet website or through an electronic information delivery system generally available to the public in the Company’s primary trading market.  The Company will specify in Form 15F the internet website or the electronic information delivery system on which it intends to publish such information.  The information so published by the Company cannot be retrieved from the Commission’s internet website, and cannot be inspected or copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission.  If the Form 15F is not declared effective, the Company will again be subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and will be required to file with the Commission, and submit to the Commission, certain reports that can be retrieved from the Commission’s internet website at www.sec.gov , and can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission.

 

The Depositary shall make available for inspection by Holders at its Principal Office any reports and communications, including any proxy soliciting materials, received from the Company which are both (a) received by the Depositary, the Custodian, or the nominee of either of them as the holder of the Deposited Property and (b) made generally available to the holders of such Deposited Property by the Company.

 

The Registrar shall keep books for the registration of ADSs which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Company and by the Holders of such ADSs, provided that such inspection shall not be, to the Registrar’s knowledge, for the purpose of communicating with Holders of such ADSs in the interest of a business or object other than the business of the Company or other than a matter related to the Deposit Agreement or the ADSs.

 

The Registrar may close the transfer books with respect to the ADSs, at any time or from time to time, when deemed necessary or advisable by it in good faith in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder, or at the reasonable written request of the Company subject, in all cases, to paragraph (25).

 

Dated:

 

CITIBANK, N.A.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
  CITIBANK, N.A.
as Depositary
     
By:     By:  
  Authorized Signatory     Authorized Signatory

 

The address of the Principal Office of the Depositary is 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013, U.S.A.

 

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[FORM OF REVERSE OF ADR]

 

SUMMARY OF CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS

 

OF THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT

 

(15)        Dividends and Distributions in Cash, Shares, etc . (a) Cash Distributions : Whenever the Company it intends to make a distribution of a cash dividend or other cash distribution in respect of any Deposited Securities, the Company shall give notice thereof to the Depositary at least twenty (20) days prior to the proposed distribution specifying, inter alia, the record date applicable for determining the holders of Deposited Securities entitled to receive such distribution. Upon the timely receipt of such notice, the Depositary shall establish the ADS Record Date upon the terms described in Section 4.9 of the Deposit Agreement. Upon receipt of confirmation of the receipt of (x) any cash dividend or other cash distribution on any Deposited Securities, or (y) proceeds from the sale of any Deposited Property held in respect of the ADSs under the terms of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary will (i) if at the time of receipt thereof any amounts received in a Foreign Currency can in the judgment of the Depositary (pursuant to Section 4.8 of the Deposit Agreement), be converted on a practicable basis into Dollars transferable to the United States, promptly convert or cause to be converted such cash dividend, distribution or proceeds into Dollars (on the terms described in Section 4.8 of the Deposit Agreement), (ii) if applicable and unless previously established, establish the ADS Record Date upon the terms described in Section 4.9 of the Deposit Agreement, and (iii) distribute promptly the amount thus received (net of (a) the applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes withheld) to the Holders entitled thereto as of the ADS Record Date in proportion to the number of ADSs held as of the ADS Record Date. The Depositary shall distribute only such amount, however, as can be distributed without attributing to any Holder a fraction of one cent, and any balance not so distributed shall be held by the Depositary (without liability for interest thereon) and shall be added to and become part of the next sum received by the Depositary for distribution to Holders of ADSs outstanding at the time of the next distribution. If the Company, the Custodian or the Depositary is required to withhold and does withhold from any cash dividend or other cash distribution in respect of any Deposited Securities, or from any cash proceeds from the sales of Deposited Property, an amount on account of taxes, duties or other governmental charges, the amount distributed to Holders on the ADSs shall be reduced accordingly. Such withheld amounts shall be forwarded by the Company, the Custodian or the Depositary to the relevant governmental authority. Evidence of payment thereof by the Company shall be forwarded by the Company to the Depositary upon request. The Depositary or the Custodian, as the case may be, will forward to the Company or its agent such information from its records as the company may reasonably request to enable the Company or its agent to file necessary reports with governmental agencies, and the Depositary or the Custodian, as the case may be, or the Company or its agent may file any such reports necessary to obtain benefits under the applicable tax treaties for Holders of ADSs. The Depositary will hold any cash amounts it is unable to distribute in a non-interest bearing account for the benefit of the applicable Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs until the distribution can be effected or the funds that the Depositary holds must be escheated as unclaimed property

 

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in accordance with the laws of the relevant states of the United States. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Deposit Agreement to the contrary, in the event the Company fails to give the Depositary timely notice of the proposed distribution provided for above, the Depositary agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to perform the actions contemplated in Section 4.1 of the Deposit Agreement, and the Company, the Holders and the Beneficial Owners acknowledge that the Depositary shall have no liability for the Depositary’s failure to perform the actions contemplated in Section 4.1 of the Deposit Agreement where such notice has not been so timely given, other than its failure to use commercially reasonable efforts, as provided herein.

 

(b) Share Distributions : Whenever the Company intends to make a distribution that consists of a dividend in, or free distribution of Eligible Securities, the Company shall give notice thereof to the Depositary at least twenty(20) days prior to the proposed distribution, specifying, inter alia, the record date applicable to holders of Deposited Securities entitled to receive such distribution. Upon the timely receipt of such notice from the Company, the Depositary shall establish the ADS Record Date upon the terms described in Section 4.9 of the Deposit Agreement. Upon receipt of confirmation from the Custodian of the receipt of the Shares so distributed by the Company, the Depositary shall either (i) subject to Section 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement, distribute to the Holders as of the ADS Record Date in proportion to the number of ADSs held as of the ADS Record Date, additional ADSs, which represent in the aggregate the number of Eligible Securities received as such dividend, or free distribution, subject to the other terms of the Deposit Agreement (including, without limitation, (a) the applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes), or (ii) if additional ADSs are not so distributed, take all actions necessary so that each ADS issued and outstanding after the ADS Record Date shall, to the extent permissible by law, thenceforth also represent rights and interests in the additional integral number of Shares distributed upon the Deposited Securities represented thereby (net of (a) the applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary, and (b) taxes). In lieu of delivering fractional ADSs, the Depositary shall sell the number of Eligible Securities or ADSs, as the case may be, represented by the aggregate of such fractions and distribute the net proceeds upon the terms described in Section 4.1 of the Deposit Agreement.

 

In the event that (x) the Depositary determines that any distribution in property (including Shares) is subject to any tax or other governmental charges which the Depositary is obligated to withhold, or, (y) if the Company in the fulfillment of its obligation under Section 5.7 of the Deposit Agreement, has furnished an opinion of U.S. counsel determining that Eligible Securities must be registered under the Securities Act or other laws in order to be distributed to Holders (and no such registration statement has been declared effective), or (z) the deposit of Eligible Securities is not permitted under the laws or regulations of the Republic of China, the Depositary may dispose of all or a portion of such property (including Eligible Securities and rights to subscribe therefor) in such amounts and in such manner, including by public or private sale, as the Depositary deems necessary and practicable, and the Depositary shall distribute the net proceeds of any such sale (after deduction of (a) taxes and (b) fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary) to Holders entitled thereto upon the terms described in Section 4.1 of the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary shall hold and/or distribute any unsold balance of such property in accordance with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement.

 

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Notwithstanding anything contained in the Deposit Agreement to the contrary, in the event the Company fails to give the Depositary timely notice of the proposed distribution provided for above, the Depositary agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to perform the actions contemplated in Section 4.2 of the Deposit Agreement, and the Company, the Holders and the Beneficial Owners acknowledge that the Depositary shall have no liability for the Depositary’s failure to perform the actions contemplated in Section 4.2 of the Deposit Agreement where such notice has not been so timely given, other than its failure to use commercially reasonable efforts, as provided herein.

 

(c) Elective Distributions in Cash or Eligible Securities : Whenever the Company intends to make a distribution payable at the election of the holders of Deposited Securities in cash or in additional Eligible Securities, the Company shall give notice thereof to the Depositary at least sixty (60) days prior to the proposed distribution specifying, inter alia, the record date applicable to holders of Deposited Securities entitled to receive such elective distribution and whether or not it wishes such elective distribution to be made available to Holders of ADSs. Upon the timely receipt of a notice indicating that the Company wishes such elective distribution to be made available to Holders of ADSs, the Depositary shall consult with the Company to determine, and the Company shall assist the Depositary in its determination, whether it is lawful and reasonably practicable to make such elective distribution available to the Holders of ADSs. The Depositary shall make such elective distribution available to Holders only if (i) the Company shall have timely requested that the elective distribution be made available to Holders, (ii) the Depositary shall have determined that such distribution is reasonably practicable and (iii) the Depositary shall have received satisfactory documentation within the terms of the Deposit Agreement. If the above conditions are not satisfied, or if the Company requests such elective distribution not to be made available to Holders of ADSs, the Depositary shall establish the ADS Record Date on the terms described in Section 4.9 of the Deposit Agreement and, to the extent permitted by law, distribute to the Holders, on the basis of the same determination as is made in the Republic of China in respect of the Shares for which no election is made, either (X) cash upon the terms described in Section 4.1 of the Deposit Agreement or (Y) additional ADSs representing such additional Shares upon the terms described in Section 4.2 of the Deposit Agreement. If the above conditions are satisfied, the Depositary shall establish an ADS Record Date on the terms described in Section 4.9 of the Deposit Agreement and establish procedures to enable Holders to elect the receipt of the proposed distribution in cash or in additional ADSs. The Company shall assist the Depositary in establishing such procedures to the extent necessary. If a Holder elects to receive the proposed distribution (X) in cash, the distribution shall be made upon the terms described in Section 4.1 of the Deposit Agreement, or (Y) in ADSs, the distribution shall be made upon the terms described in Section 4.2 of the Deposit Agreement. Nothing herein or in the Deposit Agreement shall obligate the Depositary to make available to Holder hereof a method to receive the elective distribution in Eligible Securities (rather than ADSs). There can be no assurance that the Holders hereof will be given the opportunity to receive elective distributions on the same terms and conditions as the holders of Deposited Securities. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Deposit Agreement to the contrary, in the event the Company fails to give the Depositary timely notice of the proposed distribution provided for above, the Depositary agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to perform the actions contemplated in Section 4.3 of the Deposit Agreement, and the Company, the Holders

 

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and the Beneficial Owners acknowledge that the Depositary shall have no liability for the Depositary’s failure to perform the actions contemplated in Section 4.3 of the Deposit Agreement where such notice has not been so timely given, other than its failure to use commercially reasonable efforts, as provided herein.

 

(d) Distribution of Rights to Purchase Additional ADSs : Whenever the Company intends to distribute to the holders of the Deposited Securities rights to subscribe for additional Eligible Securities, the Company shall give notice thereof to the Depositary at least sixty (60) days prior to the proposed distribution specifying, inter alia, the record date applicable to holders of Deposited Securities entitled to receive such distribution and whether or not it wishes such rights to be made available to Holders of ADSs. Upon the timely receipt of a notice indicating that the Company wishes such rights to be made available to Holders of ADSs, the Depositary shall consult with the Company to determine, and the Company shall assist the Depositary in its determination, whether it is lawful and reasonably practicable to make such rights available to the Holders. The Depositary shall make such rights available to Holders only if (i) the Company shall have timely requested that such rights be made available to Holders, (ii) the Depositary shall have received satisfactory documentation within the terms of Section 5.7 of the Deposit Agreement, and (iii) the Depositary shall have determined that such distribution of rights is reasonably practicable. In the event any of the conditions set forth above are not satisfied or if the Company requests that the rights not be made available to Holders of ADSs, the Depositary shall proceed with the sale of the rights as contemplated in Section 4.4(b) of the Deposit Agreement. In the event all conditions set forth above are satisfied, the Depositary shall establish the ADS Record Date (upon the terms described in Section 4.9 of the Deposit Agreement) and establish procedures to (x) distribute rights to purchase additional ADSs (by means of warrants or otherwise), (y) enable the Holders to exercise such rights (upon payment of the subscription price and of the applicable (a) fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes), and (z) deliver ADSs upon the valid exercise of such rights. The Company shall assist the Depositary to the extent necessary in establishing such procedures. Nothing herein or in the Deposit Agreement shall obligate the Depositary to make available to the Holders a method to exercise rights to subscribe for Eligible Securities (rather than ADSs). If (i) the Company does not timely request the Depositary to make the rights available to Holders or requests that the rights not be made available to Holders, (ii) the Depositary fails to receive satisfactory documentation within the terms of Section 5.7 of the Deposit Agreement or determines it is not lawful or not reasonably practicable to make the rights available to Holders, or (iii) any rights made available are not exercised and appear to be about to lapse, the Depositary shall determine in its discretion but after consultation with the Company whether it is lawful and reasonably practicable to sell such rights, in a riskless principal capacity, at such place and upon such terms (including public and private sale) as it may deem practicable. The Depositary shall, upon such sale, convert and distribute proceeds of such sale (net of applicable (a) fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes) upon the terms hereof and of Section 4.1 of the Deposit Agreement. If the Depositary is unable to make any rights available to Holders upon the terms described in Section 4.4(a) of the Deposit Agreement or to arrange for the sale of the rights upon the terms described in Section 4.4(b) of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall allow such rights to lapse. The Depositary shall not be responsible for (i) any failure to determine that it may be lawful or practicable to make such

 

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rights available to Holders in general or any Holders in particular, (ii) any foreign exchange exposure or loss incurred in connection with such sale or exercise, or (iii) the content of any materials forwarded to the ADS Holders on behalf of the Company in connection with the rights distribution.

 

Notwithstanding anything herein or in the Deposit Agreement to the contrary, if registration (under the Securities Act or any other applicable law) of the rights or the securities to which any rights relate may be required in order for the Company to offer such rights or such securities to Holders and to sell the securities represented by such rights, the Depositary will not distribute such rights to the Holders (i) unless and until a registration statement under the Securities Act (or other applicable law) covering such offering is in effect or (ii) unless the Company furnishes the Depositary opinion(s) of counsel for the Company in the United States and counsel to the Company in any other applicable country in which rights would be distributed, in each case satisfactory to the Depositary, to the effect that the offering and sale of such securities to Holders and Beneficial Owners are exempt from, or do not require registration under, the provisions of the Securities Act or any other applicable laws. In the event that the Company, the Depositary or the Custodian shall be required to withhold and does withhold from any distribution of Deposited Property (including rights) an amount on account of taxes or other governmental charges, the amount distributed to the Holders of ADSs shall be reduced accordingly. In the event that the Depositary determines that any distribution of Deposited Property (including Eligible Securities and rights to subscribe therefor) is subject to any tax or other governmental charges which the Depositary is obligated to withhold, the Depositary may dispose of all or a portion of such Deposited Property (including Eligible Securities and rights to subscribe therefor) in such amounts and in such manner, including by public or private sale, as the Depositary deems necessary and practicable to pay any such taxes or charges.

 

There can be no assurance that Holders generally, or any Holder in particular, will be given the opportunity to receive or exercise rights on the same terms and conditions as the holders of Deposited Securities or be able to exercise such rights. Nothing herein or in the Deposit Agreement shall obligate the Company to file any registration statement in respect of any rights or Eligible Securities or other securities to be acquired upon the exercise of such rights.

 

(e) Distributions other than Cash, Shares or Rights to Purchase Shares : Upon receipt of a notice indicating that the Company wishes property other than cash, Eligible Securities or rights to purchase additional Eligible Securities, to be made to Holders of ADSs, the Depositary shall determine whether such distribution to Holders is lawful and reasonably practicable. The Depositary shall not make such distribution unless (i) the Company shall have requested the Depositary to make such distribution to Holders, (ii) the Depositary shall have received the documentation contemplated in the Deposit Agreement, and (iii) the Depositary shall have determined that such distribution is lawful and reasonably practicable. Upon receipt of satisfactory documentation and the request of the Company to distribute property to Holders of ADSs and after making the requisite determinations set forth above, the Depositary shall distribute the property so received to the Holders of record, as of the ADS Record Date, in proportion to the number of ADSs held by them respectively and in such manner as the

 

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Depositary may deem practicable for accomplishing such distribution (i) upon receipt of payment or net of the applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary, and (ii) net of any taxes withheld. The Depositary may dispose of all or a portion of the property so distributed and deposited, in such amounts and in such manner (including public or private sale) as the Depositary may deem practicable or necessary to satisfy any taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) or other governmental charges applicable to the distribution.

 

If (i) the Company does not request the Depositary to make such distribution to Holders or requests the Depositary not to make such distribution to Holders, (ii) the Depositary does not receive satisfactory documentation within the terms of Section 5.7 of the Deposit Agreement, or (iii) the Depositary determines that all or a portion of such distribution is not reasonably practicable, the Depositary shall sell or cause such property to be sold in a public or private sale, at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem practicable and shall (i) cause the proceeds of such sale, if any, to be converted into Dollars and (ii) distribute the proceeds of such conversion received by the Depositary (net of applicable (a) fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes) to the Holders as of the ADS Record Date upon the terms hereof and of the Deposit Agreement. If the Depositary is unable to sell such property, the Depositary may dispose of such property for the account of the Holders in any way it deems reasonably practicable under the circumstances.

 

Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be liable for (i) any failure to accurately determine whether it is lawful or practicable to make the property described in Section 4.5 of the Deposit Agreement available to Holders in general or any Holders in particular, nor (ii) any loss incurred in connection with the sale or disposal of such property.

 

(16)        Redemption . If the Company intends to exercise any right of redemption in respect of any of the Deposited Securities, the Company shall give notice thereof to the Depositary at least sixty (60) days prior to the intended date of redemption which notice shall set forth the particulars of the proposed redemption. Upon timely receipt of (i) such notice and (ii) satisfactory documentation given by the Company to the Depositary within the terms of Section 5.7 of the Deposit Agreement, and only if the Depositary shall have determined that such proposed redemption is reasonably practicable, the Depositary shall provide to each Holder a notice setting forth the intended exercise by the Company of the redemption rights and any other particulars set forth in the Company’s notice to the Depositary. The Depositary shall instruct the Custodian to present to the Company the Deposited Securities in respect of which redemption rights are being exercised against payment of the applicable redemption price. Upon receipt of confirmation from the Custodian that the redemption has taken place and that funds representing the redemption price have been received, the Depositary shall convert, transfer, and distribute the proceeds (net of applicable (a) fees and charges of, and the expenses incurred by, the Depositary, and (b) taxes), retire ADSs and cancel ADRs, if applicable, upon delivery of such ADSs by Holders thereof and the terms set forth in Sections 4.1 and 6.2 of the Deposit Agreement. If less than all outstanding Deposited Securities are redeemed, the ADSs to be retired will be selected by lot or on a pro rata basis, as may be determined by the Depositary. The redemption price per ADS shall be the dollar equivalent of the per share amount received by the Depositary (adjusted to reflect the ADS(s)-to-Share(s) ratio) upon the redemption of the Deposited Securities

 

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represented by ADSs (subject to the terms of Section 4.8 of the Deposit Agreement and the applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary, and taxes) multiplied by the number of Deposited Securities represented by each ADS redeemed. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Deposit Agreement to the contrary, in the event the Company fails to give the Depositary timely notice of the proposed redemption provided for in Section 4.7 of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to perform the actions contemplated in Section 4.7 of the Deposit Agreement, and the Company, the Holders and the Beneficial Owners acknowledge that the Depositary shall have no liability for the Depositary’s failure to perform the actions contemplated in Section 4.7 of the Deposit Agreement where such notice has not been so timely given, other than its failure to use commercially reasonable efforts, as provided herein.

 

(17)        Fixing of ADS Record Date . Whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of the fixing of a record date by the Company for the determination of holders of Deposited Securities entitled to receive any distribution (whether in cash, Eligible Securities, rights or other distribution), or whenever for any reason the Depositary causes a change in the number of Deposited Securities that are represented by each ADS, or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting of, or solicitation of consents or proxies of, holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, or whenever the Depositary shall find it necessary or convenient in connection with the giving of any notice, solicitation of any consent or any other matter, the Depositary shall fix the record date (the “ ADS Record Date ”) for the determination of the Holders of ADS(s) who shall be entitled to receive such distribution, to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at any such meeting, to give or withhold such consent, to receive such notice or solicitation or to otherwise take action, or to exercise the rights of Holders with respect to such changed number of Deposited Securities represented by each ADS. The Depositary shall make reasonable efforts to establish the ADS Record Date as closely as practicable to the applicable record date for the Deposited Securities (if any) set by the Company in the Republic of China and shall not announce the establishment of any ADS Record Date prior to the relevant corporate action having been made public by the Company (if such corporate action affects the Deposited Securities). Subject to applicable law, the terms and conditions of this ADR and Sections 4.1 through 4.8 of the Deposit Agreement, only the Holders of ADSs at the close of business in New York on such ADS Record Date shall be entitled to receive such distribution, to give such voting instructions, to receive such notice or solicitation, or otherwise take action. The Depositary shall, so long as the ADSs are listed in a securities exchange in the U.S., promptly notify such securities exchange of any action to fix an ADS Record Date or to close the transfer books for the ADSs.

 

(18)        Voting of Deposited Securities . (a) Voting by Shareholders. The Depositary has been advised that the Articles of Incorporation of the Company and the ROC Company Law, as in effect on the date of the Deposit Agreement, provide that:  (i) except for Shares held by the Company, a holder of Shares (including holders of interests in any Certificate of Payment evidencing the irrevocable right to receive Shares) is entitled to one vote for each Share held, (ii) the election of directors and supervisors takes place by means of cumulative voting, and (iii) a shareholder must, as to all matters subject to a vote of shareholders (other than the election of directors and supervisors), exercise the voting rights for all Deposited Securities held by such

 

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shareholder in the same manner (e.g., a holder of 1,000 Shares cannot split his/her votes but must vote all 1,000 Shares in the same manner except in the event of cumulative voting for an election of directors and supervisors).  Deposited Securities which have been withdrawn from the ADR Facility and timely transferred on the Company's register of shareholders to a person other than the Depositary's nominee may be voted by the registered holder(s) thereof directly, subject, in each case, to the limitations of ROC Law and the Articles of Incorporation of the Company.  Holders may not receive sufficient advance notice of shareholders' meetings to enable them to timely withdraw the Deposited Securities and vote at such meetings and may not be able to re-deposit the withdrawn securities under the terms of the Deposit Agreement.

 

(b) Voting by ADS Holders. Holders of ADSs have no individual voting rights with respect to the Shares represented by their ADSs.  Each Holder and Beneficial Owner shall be deemed, by acceptance of ADSs or acquisition of any beneficial interest therein, to have authorized and directed the Depositary's nominee, without liability, to appoint the Chairman of the Company (or his/her designate) (the “ Voting Representative ”), as representative of the Depositary's nominee who is registered in the Republic of China as representative of the Depositary and the Holders and Beneficial Owners in respect of the Deposited Securities (the “ Registered Holder ”) to vote the Deposited Securities in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

The Company agrees to timely notify the Depositary of any proposed shareholders' meeting and to provide to the Depositary in New York, at least 24 calendar days before any shareholders' meeting, sufficient copies as the Depositary may reasonably request of English language translations of the Company's notice of shareholders' meeting and the agenda of the materials to be voted on (in the form the Company generally makes available to holders of Shares in the Republic of China) (such materials collectively, the "Shareholder Notice"). As soon as practicable after receipt by the Depositary of the requisite number of Shareholder Notices, the Depositary shall establish the ADS Record Date (upon the terms of Section 4.9 of the Deposit Agreement) and shall, at the Company's expense and, provided no U.S. legal prohibitions exist, distribute to Holders as of the applicable ADS Record Date, (i) the Shareholder Notice, (ii) a Depositary notice setting forth the manner in which Holders of ADSs may instruct the Depositary to cause the  Deposited Securities represented by their ADSs to be voted under the terms of this Deposit Agreement including, a description of the Management Authorization (as defined below), together with a form of voting instructions and/or other means to provide voting instructions (the Depositary notice and the related materials prepared by the Depositary collectively, the " Depositary Notice ").  The Depositary is under no obligation to distribute the Shareholder Notice or the Depositary Notice to Holders if the Company has failed to provide to the Depositary in New York the requisite number of Shareholder Notices at least 24 calendar days prior to the date of any shareholders' meeting.  If the Depositary has not delivered the Shareholder Notice or the Depositary Notice to Holders, it will endeavor to cause all Deposited Securities represented by ADSs to be present at the relevant shareholders' meeting insofar as practicable and permitted under applicable law but will not cause the Deposited Securities to be voted; provided, however , that the Depositary may determine, at its discretion, to distribute such Shareholder Notice or Depositary Notice to the Holders and/or cause the Shares or other Deposited Securities to be voted as it deems appropriate. There can be no assurance that Holders generally or any Holder in particular will receive Shareholder Notices or Depositary

 

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Notices with sufficient time to enable the return of voting instructions to the Depositary in a timely manner.

 

Notwithstanding anything contained in the Deposit Agreement or any ADR, the Depositary may, to the extent not prohibited by law or regulations, or by the requirements of the stock exchange on which the ADSs are listed, in lieu of distribution of the materials provided to the Depositary in connection with any meeting of, or solicitation of consents or proxies from, holders of Deposited Securities, distribute to the Holders a notice that provides Holders with, or otherwise publicizes to Holders, instructions on how to retrieve such materials or receive such materials upon request (i.e., by reference to a website containing the materials for retrieval or a contact for requesting copies of the materials).

 

(c) Voting of Deposited Securities Upon ADS Holders' Instructions. If Holders of ADSs together holding at least 51% of all ADSs (including Temporary ADSs) outstanding as of the relevant ADS Record Date shall instruct the Depositary prior to the date established for such purpose by the Depositary to vote in the same manner in respect of one or more resolutions to be proposed at a shareholders' meeting ( including resolutions for the election of directors and/or supervisors), the Depositary shall notify the Voting Representative and cause the Depositary's nominee as Registered Holder to appoint the Voting Representative as the representative of the Registered Holder (and indirectly of the Depositary, the Holders and the Beneficial Owners) to attend such shareholders' meeting and vote all Deposited Securities evidenced by ADSs (including Temporary ADSs) then outstanding in the manner so instructed by such Holders.  If voting instructions are received by the Depositary on or before the date established by the Depositary for the receipt of such instructions from any Holder as of the ADS Record Date, which are signed but without further indication as to voting instructions, the Depositary shall deem such Holder to have instructed a vote in favor of the items set forth in such instructions.  The Depositary and Custodian shall not have any obligation to monitor, and shall not incur any liability for, the actions, or the failure to act, of the Voting Representative as representative of the Registered Holder (and indirectly of the Depositary, the Holders and the Beneficial Owners).

 

(d) Management Authorization. If, for any reason (other than a failure by the Company to supply the requisite number of Shareholder Notices to the Depositary within the requisite time period provided in Section 4.10 of the Deposit Agreement) the Depositary has not, prior to the date established for such purpose by the Depositary received instructions from Holders together holding at least 51% of all ADSs (including Temporary ADSs) outstanding at the relevant ADS Record Date, to vote in the same manner in respect of any resolution (including resolutions for the election of directors and/or supervisors) then, subject to the following paragraph, the Holders shall be deemed to have instructed the Depositary's nominee to give a discretionary authorization (a " Management Authorization ") to the Voting Representative as the representative of the Registered Holder (and indirectly of the Depositary, the Holders and the Beneficial Owners) to attend and vote at such meeting all the Deposited Securities represented by ADSs (including Temporary ADSs) then outstanding in his or her discretion.  In such circumstances, the Voting Representative shall be free to exercise the votes attaching to the Deposited Securities in any manner he or she wishes, which may not be in the best interests of the Holders and Beneficial Owners.

 

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The Depositary's grant of a Management Authorization in the manner and circumstances described in the preceding paragraph shall be subject to the receipt by the Depositary prior to each shareholders' meeting of an opinion of ROC counsel addressed to, and in form and substance satisfactory to, the Depositary to the effect that under ROC law (i) the arrangements relating to the Management Authorization are permissible, and (ii) the Depositary will not be deemed to be authorized to exercise any discretion when causing the voting in accordance with Section 4.10 of the Deposit Agreement and will not (in the absence of negligence, bad faith or breach of contract, and subject to general principles of agency) be subject to any liability under ROC law for losses arising from the exercise of the voting arrangements set out in Section 4.10 of the Deposit Agreement on the grounds that voting in accordance with Section 4.10 of the Deposit Agreement is in violation of ROC law.  In the event the Depositary does not receive such opinion, or the Voting Representative informs the Depositary that he or she does not wish to be so authorized, the Depositary will not grant the Management Authorization but will cause the Deposited Securities to be present at the shareholders' meeting to the extent practicable and permitted by applicable law for the purpose of satisfying quorum requirements but will not cause the Deposited Securities to be voted or the Management Authorization to be granted.

 

(e) General. The Depositary shall not, and the Depositary shall ensure that the Custodian and its nominees do not, vote or attempt to exercise the right to vote that attaches to the Deposited Securities other than in accordance with instructions given in accordance with Section 4.10 of the Deposit Agreement.  The terms of Section 4.10 of the Deposit Agreement may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Deposit Agreement.  By continuing to hold ADSs after the effective time of such amendment all Holders and Beneficial Owners shall be deemed to have agreed to the terms of Section 4.10 of the Deposit Agreement as so amended. Notwithstanding anything else contained in the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall not have any obligation to take any action with respect to any meeting, or solicitation of consents or proxies or instructions, of holders of Deposited Securities if the taking of such action would violate U.S. or ROC laws. The Company agrees to take any and all actions reasonably necessary to enable Holders and Beneficial Owners to exercise the voting rights accruing to the Deposited Securities and to deliver to the Depositary an opinion of U.S. or ROC counsel, as applicable, addressing any actions requested to be taken if so reasonably requested by the Depositary.

 

(19)        Changes Affecting Deposited Securities . Upon any change in nominal or par value, split-up, cancellation, consolidation or any other reclassification of Deposited Securities, or upon any recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale of assets affecting the Company or to which it is a party, any property which shall be received by the Depositary or the Custodian in exchange for, or in conversion of, or replacement of, or otherwise in respect of, such Deposited Securities shall, to the extent permitted by law, be treated as new Deposited Property under the Deposit Agreement, and this ADR shall, subject to the provisions of the Deposit Agreement, this ADR and applicable law, represent the right to receive such additional or replacement Deposited Property. In giving effect to such change, split-up, cancellation, consolidation or other reclassification of Deposited Securities, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale of assets, the Depositary may, with the Company’s approval, and shall, if the Company shall so request, subject to the terms of the Deposit Agreement and receipt

 

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of an opinion of counsel to the Company provided pursuant to Section 5.7 of the Deposit Agreement and satisfactory to the Depositary that such actions are not in violation of any applicable laws or regulations, (i) issue and deliver additional ADSs as in the case of a stock dividend on the Shares, (ii) amend the Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADRs, (iii) amend the applicable Registration Statement(s) on Form F-6 as filed with the Commission in respect of the ADSs, (iv) call for the surrender of outstanding ADRs to be exchanged for new ADRs, and (v) take such other actions as are appropriate to reflect the transaction with respect to the ADSs. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any Deposited Property so received may not be lawfully distributed to some or all Holders, the Depositary may, with the Company’s approval, and shall, if the Company requests, subject to receipt of an opinion of Company’s counsel satisfactory to the Depositary that such action is not in violation of any applicable laws or regulations, sell such Deposited Property at public or private sale, at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem proper and may allocate the net proceeds of such sales (net of (a) fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes) for the account of the Holders otherwise entitled to such Deposited Property upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any distinctions among such Holders and distribute the net proceeds so allocated to the extent practicable as in the case of a distribution received in cash pursuant to Section 4.1 of the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary shall not be responsible for (i) any failure to determine that it may be lawful or practicable to make such Deposited Property available to Holders in general or to any Holder in particular, (ii) any foreign exchange exposure or loss incurred in connection with such sale, or (iii) any liability to the purchaser of such Deposited Property.

 

(20)        Exoneration . Notwithstanding anything contained in the Deposit Agreement or any ADR, neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be obligated to do or perform any act which is inconsistent with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement or incur any liability (i) if the Depositary or the Company shall be prevented or forbidden from, or delayed in, doing or performing any act or thing required by the terms of the Deposit Agreement and this ADR, by reason of any provision of any present or future law or regulation of the United States, the Republic of China or any other country, or of any other governmental authority or regulatory authority or stock exchange, or on account of the possible criminal or civil penalties or restraint, or by reason of any provision, present or future, of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company or any provision of or governing any Deposited Securities, or by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstances beyond its control (including, without limitation, nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, work stoppage, strikes, civil unrest, acts of terrorism, revolutions, rebellions, explosions and computer failure), (ii) by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in the Deposit Agreement or in the Articles of Incorporation of the Company or provisions of or governing Deposited Securities, (iii) for any action or inaction in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting Shares for deposit, any Holder, any Beneficial Owner or authorized representative thereof, or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information, (iv) for the inability by a Holder or Beneficial Owner to benefit from any distribution, offering, right or other benefit which is made available to holders of Deposited Securities but is not, under the terms of the Deposit Agreement, made available to Holders of ADSs, or (v) for any consequential or punitive damages (including lost profits) for any breach of

 

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the terms of the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary, its controlling persons, its agents, any Custodian and the Company, its controlling persons and its agents may rely and shall be protected in acting upon any written notice, request or other document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties. No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act is intended by any provision of the Deposit Agreement or this ADR.

 

(21)        Standard of Care . The Company and the Depositary assume no obligation and shall not be subject to any liability under the Deposit Agreement or this ADR to any Holder(s) or Beneficial Owner(s), except that the Company and the Depositary agree to perform their respective obligations specifically set forth in the Deposit Agreement or this ADR without negligence or bad faith. The Depositary and the Company undertake to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in the Deposit Agreement, and no implied covenants and obligations should be read into the Deposit Agreement against the Depositary or the Company or their respective agents. Without limitation of the foregoing, neither the Depositary, nor the Company, nor any of their respective controlling persons, or agents, shall be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any Deposited Property or in respect of the ADSs, which in its opinion may involve it in expense or liability, unless indemnity satisfactory to it against all expense (including fees and disbursements of counsel) and liability be furnished as often as may be required (and no Custodian shall be under any obligation whatsoever with respect to such proceedings, the responsibility of the Custodian being solely to the Depositary).

 

The Depositary and its agents shall not be liable for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote any of the Deposited Securities, or for the manner in which any vote is cast or the effect of any vote, provided that any such action or omission is in good faith and in accordance with the terms of the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary shall not incur any liability for any failure to accurately determine that any distribution or action may be lawful or reasonably practicable, for the content of any information submitted to it by the Company for distribution to the Holders or for any inaccuracy of any translation thereof, for any investment risk associated with acquiring an interest in the Deposited Property, for the validity or worth of the Deposited Property or for any tax consequences that may result from the ownership of ADSs, Shares or other Deposited Property, for the credit-worthiness of any third party, for allowing any rights to lapse upon the terms of the Deposit Agreement, for the failure or timeliness of any notice from the Company, or for the failure of the Company to exchange any Certificate of Payment into Shares, or for any action of or failure to act by, or any information provided or not provided by, DTC or any DTC Participant. The Depositary shall not be obligated in any way to monitor or enforce the obligations of the Company, including, without limitation, in respect of any Certificate of Payment, the conversion of such Certificate of Payment into Shares.

 

The Depositary shall not be liable for any acts or omissions made by a successor depositary whether in connection with a previous act or omission of the Depositary or in connection with any matter arising wholly after the removal or resignation of the Depositary, provided that in connection with the issue out of which such potential liability arises the

 

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Depositary performed its obligations without negligence or bad faith while it acted as Depositary.

 

(22)        Resignation and Removal of the Depositary; Appointment of Successor Depositary . The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary under the Deposit Agreement by written notice of resignation delivered to the Company, such resignation to be effective on the earlier of (i) the 60th day after delivery thereof to the Company (whereupon the Depositary shall be entitled to take the actions contemplated in Section 6.2 of the Deposit Agreement), or (ii) upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by written notice of such removal, which removal shall be effective on the later of (i) the 60th day after delivery thereof to the Depositary (whereupon the Depositary shall be entitled to take the actions contemplated in Section 6.2 of the Deposit Agreement), or (ii) upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement. In case at any time the Depositary acting hereunder shall resign or be removed, the Company shall use its best efforts to appoint a successor depositary, which shall be a bank or trust company having an office in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York. Every successor depositary shall be required by the Company to execute and deliver to its predecessor and to the Company an instrument in writing accepting its appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor depositary, without any further act or deed (except as required by applicable law), shall become fully vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor (other than as contemplated in Sections 5.8 and 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement). The predecessor depositary, upon payment of all sums due it and on the written request of the Company shall (i) execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor all rights and powers of such predecessor hereunder (other than as contemplated in Sections 5.8 and 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement), (ii) duly assign, transfer and deliver all of the Depositary’s right, title and interest to the Deposited Property to such successor, and (iii) deliver to such successor a list of the Holders of all outstanding ADSs and such other information relating to ADSs and Holders thereof as the successor may reasonably request. Any such successor depositary shall promptly provide notice of its appointment to such Holders. Any entity into or with which the Depositary may be merged or consolidated shall be the successor of the Depositary without the execution or filing of any document or any further act.

 

(23)        Amendment/Supplement . Subject to the terms and conditions of this paragraph 21, the Deposit Agreement and applicable law, this ADR and any provisions of the Deposit Agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended or supplemented by written agreement between the Company and the Depositary in any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable without the prior written consent of the Holders or Beneficial Owners. Any amendment or supplement which shall impose or increase any fees or charges (other than charges in connection with foreign exchange control regulations, and taxes and other governmental charges, delivery and other such expenses), or which shall otherwise materially prejudice any substantial existing right of Holders or Beneficial Owners, shall not, however, become effective as to outstanding ADSs until the expiration of thirty (30) days after notice of such amendment or supplement shall have been given to the Holders of outstanding ADSs.

 

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Notice of any amendment to the Deposit Agreement or any ADR shall not need to describe in detail the specific amendments effectuated thereby, and failure to describe the specific amendments in any such notice shall not render such notice invalid, provided , however , that, in each such case, the notice given to the Holders identifies a means for Holders and Beneficial Owners to retrieve or receive the text of such amendment ( i.e. , upon retrieval from the Commission’s, the Depositary’s or the Company’s website or upon request from the Depositary). The parties hereto agree that any amendments or supplements which (i) are reasonably necessary (as agreed by the Company and the Depositary) in order for (a) the ADSs to be registered on Form F-6 under the Securities Act or (b) the ADSs to be settled solely in electronic book-entry form and (ii) do not in either such case impose or increase any fees or charges to be borne by Holders, shall be deemed not to materially prejudice any substantial rights of Holders or Beneficial Owners. Every Holder and Beneficial Owner at the time any amendment or supplement so becomes effective shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such ADSs, to consent and agree to such amendment or supplement and to be bound by the Deposit Agreement and this ADR as amended or supplemented thereby. In no event shall any amendment or supplement impair the right of the Holder to surrender such ADS and receive therefor the Deposited Securities represented thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any governmental body should adopt new laws, rules or regulations which would require an amendment of, or supplement to, the Deposit Agreement to ensure compliance therewith, the Company and the Depositary may amend or supplement the Deposit Agreement and this ADR at any time in accordance with such changed laws, rules or regulations. Such amendment or supplement to the Deposit Agreement and this ADR in such circumstances may become effective before a notice of such amendment or supplement is given to Holders or within any other period of time as required for compliance with such laws, rules or regulations.

 

(24)        Termination . The Depositary shall, at any time at the written direction of the Company, terminate the Deposit Agreement by distributing notice of such termination to the Holders of all ADSs then outstanding at least thirty (30) days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination. If sixty (60) days shall have expired after (i) the Depositary shall have delivered to the Company a written notice of its election to resign, or (ii) the Company shall have delivered to the Depositary a written notice of the removal of the Depositary, and, in either case, a successor depositary shall not have been appointed and accepted its appointment as provided in Section 5.4 of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may terminate the Deposit Agreement by distributing notice of such termination to the Holders of all ADSs then outstanding at least thirty (30) days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination. The date so fixed for termination of the Deposit Agreement in any termination notice so distributed by the Depositary to the Holders of ADSs is referred to as the “ Termination Date ”. Until the Termination Date, the Depositary shall continue to perform all of its obligations under the Deposit Agreement, and the Holders and Beneficial Owners will be entitled to all of their rights under the Deposit Agreement. If any ADSs shall remain outstanding after the Termination Date, the Registrar and the Depositary shall not, after the Termination Date, have any obligation to perform any further acts under the Deposit Agreement, except that the Depositary shall, subject, in each case, to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, continue to (i) collect dividends and other distributions pertaining to Deposited Securities, (ii) sell Deposited

 

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Property received in respect of Deposited Securities, (iii) deliver Deposited Securities, together with any dividends or other distributions received with respect thereto and the net proceeds of the sale of any other Deposited Property, in exchange for ADSs surrendered to the Depositary (after deducting, or charging, as the case may be, in each case, the fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary, and all applicable taxes or governmental charges for the account of the Holders and Beneficial Owners, in each case upon the terms set forth in Section 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement), and (iv) take such actions as may be required under applicable law in connection with its role as Depositary under the Deposit Agreement. At any time after the Termination Date, the Depositary may sell the Deposited Property then held under the Deposit Agreement and shall after such sale hold un-invested the net proceeds of such sale, together with any other cash then held by it under the Deposit Agreement, in an un-segregated account and without liability for interest, for the pro rata benefit of the Holders whose ADSs have not theretofore been surrendered. After making such sale, the Depositary shall be discharged from all obligations under the Deposit Agreement except (i) to account for such net proceeds and other cash (after deducting, or charging, as the case may be, in each case, the fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary, and all applicable taxes or governmental charges for the account of the Holders and Beneficial Owners, in each case upon the terms set forth in Section 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement), and (ii) as may be required at law in connection with the termination of the Deposit Agreement. After the Termination Date, the Company shall be discharged from all obligations under the Deposit Agreement, except for its obligations to the Depositary under Sections 5.8, 5.9 and 7.6 of the Deposit Agreement. The obligations under the terms of the Deposit Agreement of Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs outstanding as of the Termination Date shall survive the Termination Date and shall be discharged only when the applicable ADSs are presented by their Holders to the Depositary for cancellation under the terms of the Deposit Agreement.

 

(25)        Compliance with U.S. Securities Laws . Notwithstanding any provisions in this ADR or the Deposit Agreement to the contrary, the withdrawal or delivery of Deposited Securities will not be suspended by the Company or the Depositary except as would be permitted by Instruction I.A.(1) of the General Instructions to the Form F-6 Registration Statement, as amended from time to time, under the Securities Act.

 

(26)        Certain Rights of the Depositary; Limitations . Subject to the further terms and provisions of this paragraph (26), the Depositary, its Affiliates and their agents, on their own behalf, may own and deal in any class of securities of the Company and its Affiliates and in ADSs. The Depositary may issue ADSs against evidence of rights to receive Eligible Securities from the Company, any agent of the Company or any custodian, registrar, transfer agent, clearing agency or other entity involved in ownership or transaction records in respect of the Eligible Securities. Such evidence of rights shall consist of written blanket or specific guarantees of ownership of Eligible Securities. In its capacity as Depositary, the Depositary shall not lend Deposited Securities or ADSs; provided , however , that, subject to Republic of China rules and regulations, the Depositary may (i) issue ADSs prior to the receipt of Eligible Securities pursuant to Section 2.3 of the Deposit Agreement and (ii) deliver Deposited Securities prior to the receipt of ADSs for cancellation upon withdrawal of Deposited Securities pursuant to Section 2.7 of the Deposit Agreement, including ADSs which were issued under (i) above but for which Eligible

 

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Securities may not have been received (each such transaction a “ Pre-Release Transaction ”). The Depositary may receive ADSs in lieu of Eligible Securities under (i) above and receive Shares in lieu of ADSs under (ii) above. Each such Pre-Release Transaction will be (a) subject to a written agreement whereby the person or entity (the “ Applicant ”) to whom ADSs or Shares are to be delivered (w) represents that at the time of the Pre-Release Transaction the Applicant or its customer owns the Eligible Securities or ADSs that are to be delivered by the Applicant under such Pre-Release Transaction, (x) agrees to indicate the Depositary as owner of such Eligible Securities or ADSs in its records and to hold such Eligible Securities or ADSs in trust for the Depositary until such Eligible Securities or ADSs are delivered to the Depositary or the Custodian, (y) unconditionally guarantees to deliver to the Depositary or the Custodian, as applicable, such Eligible Securities or ADSs and (z) agrees to any additional restrictions or requirements that the Depositary deems appropriate, (b) at all times fully collateralized with cash, U.S. government securities or such other collateral as the Depositary deems appropriate, (c) terminable by the Depositary on not more than five (5) business days’ notice and (d) subject to such further indemnities and credit regulations as the Depositary deems appropriate. The Depositary will normally limit the number of ADSs and Eligible Securities involved in such Pre-Release Transactions at any one time to thirty percent (30%) of the ADSs outstanding (without giving effect to ADSs outstanding under (i) above), provided , however , that the Depositary reserves the right to change or disregard such limit from time to time as it deems appropriate. The Depositary may also set limits with respect to the number of ADSs and Shares involved in Pre-Release Transactions with any one person on a case-by-case basis as it deems appropriate. The Depositary may retain for its own account any compensation received by it in conjunction with the foregoing. Collateral provided pursuant to (b) above, but not the earnings thereon, shall be held for the benefit of the Holders (other than the Applicant).

 

(27)        Governing Law / Waiver of Jury Trial . The Deposit Agreement and the ADRs shall be interpreted in accordance with, and all rights hereunder and thereunder and provisions hereof and thereof shall be governed by, the laws of the State of New York without reference to the principles of choice of law thereof. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Deposit Agreement, any ADR or any present or future provisions of the laws of the State of New York, the rights of holders of Shares and of any other Deposited Securities and the obligations and duties of the Company in respect of the holders of Shares and other Deposited Securities, as such, shall be governed by the laws of the Republic of China (or, if applicable, such other laws as may govern the Deposited Securities). EACH OF THE PARTIES TO THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, EACH HOLDER AND BENEFICIAL OWNER) WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING AGAINST THE COMPANY AND/OR THE DEPOSITARY ARISING OUT OF, OR RELATING TO, THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT, ANY ADR AND ANY TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREIN (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, COMMON LAW OR OTHERWISE).

 

(28)        Right to Submit Proposals at Annual Ordinary Meeting of Shareholders .  (a)   Proposals by Shareholders :  The Company has informed the Depositary that under ROC Company Law, as in effect as of the date of the Deposit Agreement, holders of one

 

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percent (1%) or more of the total issued and outstanding Shares of the Company as of the applicable record date for determining holders of Shares with the right to vote at an annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders (the “ Shareholder Proposal Record Date ”), are entitled to submit one (1) written proposal (the “ Proposal ”) each year for consideration at the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders, provided that :  (i) the Proposal is in the Chinese language and does not exceed 300 Chinese characters (including the reason(s) for the Proposal and all punctuation marks) in length, (ii) the Proposal is submitted to the Company prior to the expiration of the period for submission of Proposals (the “ Submission Period ”) announced by the Company (which Submission Period and the place for eligible shareholders to submit the Proposal the Company undertakes to announce publicly each year in a report on Form 6-K submitted to the Commission prior to the commencement of the 60 days closed period prior to the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders), (iii) only one (1) matter for consideration at the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders shall be allowed in each Proposal, and (iv) the proposing shareholder shall attend, in person or by a proxy, such annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders whereat his or her or its Proposal is to be discussed and such proposing shareholder, or his or her or its proxy, shall take part in the discussion of such Proposal.  As the holder of the Deposited Securities, the Depositary or its nominee is entitled, provided the conditions of ROC law are satisfied, to submit only one (1) Proposal each year in respect of all of the Shares held on deposit as of the applicable Shareholder Proposal Record Date.  Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs do not under ROC law have individual rights to submit Proposals to the Company for consideration at the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders but may be able to submit Proposals to the Company for consideration at the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders if the Beneficial Owners (i) timely present their ADSs to the Depositary for cancellation pursuant to the terms of the Deposit Agreement and become holders of Shares in the ROC prior to the expiration of the Submission Period and prior to the applicable Shareholder Proposal Record Date, and (ii) otherwise satisfy the conditions of ROC law applicable to the submission of Proposals to the Company for consideration at an annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders.  Beneficial Owners of ADSs may not receive sufficient advance notice of an annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders to enable the timely withdrawal of Shares to make a Proposal to the Company and may not be able to re-deposit under the Deposit Agreement the Shares so withdrawn.  The Company has informed the Depositary that a Proposal shall only be voted upon at the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders if the Proposal is accepted by the board of directors of the Company as eligible in accordance with Article 172-1 of the ROC Company Law and the Company's Articles of Incorporation for consideration at an annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders.

 

(b) Single Proposal by Depositary or its Nominee on behalf of Beneficial Owners .  Holders   and Beneficial Owners of ADSs do not have individual proposal rights.  The Depositary will, if so requested by (a) Beneficial Owner(s) as of the applicable ADS Record Date that own(s), individually or as a group, at least 51% of the ADSs outstanding as of the applicable ADS Record Date (such Beneficial Owner(s), the “ Submitting Holder(s) ”), submit to the Company for consideration at the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders one (1) Proposal each year, provided that :  (i) the Proposal submitted to the Depositary by the Submitting Holder(s) is in the Chinese language and does not exceed 300 Chinese characters

 

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(including the reason(s) for the Proposal and all punctuation marks) in length, (ii) the Proposal from the Submitting Holder(s) is received by the Depositary at least two (2) Business Days prior to the expiration of the Submission Period, (iii) the Proposal is accompanied by a written certificate signed by each Submitting Holder, addressed to the Depositary and the Company and in a form satisfactory to the Depositary and the Company (the “ First Proposal Certificate ”), certifying, inter alia , (w) that each Submitting Holder has only certified the said Proposal, (x) that the Submitting Holder(s) own(s), individually or in the aggregate, at least 51% of the ADSs outstanding as of the date the Proposal is submitted by the Submitting Holder(s) to the Depositary (the “ Proposal Submission Date ”), (y) if the Proposal Submission Date is (i) on or after the applicable ADS Record Date, that the Submitting Holder(s) owned at least 51% of the ADSs outstanding as of the applicable ADS Record Date, and (ii) prior to the applicable ADS Record Date, that the Submitting Holder(s) will continue to own at least 51% of the ADSs outstanding as of the applicable ADS Record Date and will provide the Second Proposal Certificate, as defined below, and (z) the name(s) and address(es) of the Submitting Holder(s) and the number of ADSs owned by each Submitting Holder (together with certified evidence of each Submitting Holder’s ownership of the applicable ADSs as of the Proposal Submission Date, in the case of (y)(ii) above, and the applicable ADS Record Date, in the case of (y)(i) above)), (iv) if the Proposal Submission Date is prior to the applicable ADS Record Date, the Depositary must also receive from the Submitting Holder(s), within five (5) Business Days after the applicable ADS Record Date, a second written certificate signed by each Submitting Holder, addressed to the Depositary and the Company and in a form satisfactory to the Depositary and the Company (the “ Second Proposal Certificate ”), certifying, inter alia , that the Submitting Holder(s) continued to own at least 51% of the ADSs outstanding as of the applicable ADS Record Date (together with certified evidence of each Submitting Holder’s ownership of the applicable ADSs as of such applicable ADS Record Date), (v) the Proposal is accompanied by a joint and several irrevocable undertaking of all Submitting Holders (which undertaking may be contained in the First Proposal Certificate or the Second Proposal Certificate) that each such Submitting Holder shall pay all fees and expenses incurred in relation to the submission of the Proposal for voting at the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders (including, but not limited to, the costs and expenses of the Submitting Holder(s), or his, her, its or their representative, to attend the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders), (vi) the Shares registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee as representative of the Holders and Beneficial Owners constitute one percent (1%) or more of the total issued and outstanding Shares of the Company as of the Shareholder Proposal Record Date, (vii) such Proposal contains only one (1) matter for consideration at the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders, and (viii) the Submitting Holder(s), or his, her, its or their representative, upon the authorization by the Depositary, attend(s) the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders and take(s) part in the discussions of the Proposal in the Chinese language, provided further that only one (1) individual may attend, and take part in the discussion of the Proposal at such annual ordinary meeting on behalf of a Submitting Holder or a group of Submitting Holders.  Each Beneficial Owner hereby agrees and acknowledges that (i) the chairman of the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders will treat the Proposal in accordance with the ROC Company Law and the rules governing the proceeding of such meeting, including but not limited to, having such Proposal discussed and voted at such meeting, regardless of whether the Submitting Holder(s) attends such meeting, and (ii) in no event shall a

 

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Submitting Holder’s, or his, her, its or their representative's, presence at an annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders entitle such Submitting Holder(s), or his, her, its or their representative, to vote the Shares represented by such Submitting Holder’s ADSs (or any other ADSs) at such annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders.

 

Upon the timely receipt by the Depositary of any Proposal which the Depositary reasonably believes to be in full compliance with the immediately preceding paragraph, the Depositary shall submit a copy of such Proposal and of the other materials received from the Submitting Holder(s) to the Company prior to the expiration of the Submission Period.  Any Proposal so submitted as to which the Depositary has not received within five (5) Business Days after the applicable ADS Record Date any Second Proposal Certificate required under the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed irrevocably withdrawn at the expiration of such five (5) Business Day period.  In the event the Depositary receives more than one (1) Proposal by a Submitting Holder, or a group of Submitting Holders, each of which appears to satisfy the requirements set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph, the Depositary is hereby authorized and instructed to disregard all Proposals received from such Submitting Holder(s), except for the first Proposal received by the Depositary from such Submitting Holder(s) and shall submit such Proposal to the Company for consideration at the annual ordinary meeting of the Company's shareholders in accordance with the terms of the Deposit Agreement.  The Depositary shall not have any obligation to verify the accuracy of the information contained in any document submitted to it by the Submitting Holder(s).  Neither the Depositary nor its nominee shall be obligated to attend and speak at the annual ordinary meeting of the Company’s shareholders on behalf of the Submitting Holder(s).

 

Notwithstanding anything contained in the Deposit Agreement or any ADR and except that the Depositary shall arrange, at the request of the Company and at the Company's expense, for the mailing to Holders of copies of materials that the Company has made available to the Depositary for such purpose, the Depositary shall not be obligated to provide to the Holders or Beneficial Owners of ADSs any notices relating to the proposal rights, including, without limitation, notice of the Submission Period, or the receipt of any Proposal(s) from Submitting Holders, or of the holdings of any ADSs by any persons, except that the Depositary shall, upon a Holder's request, inform such Holder of the total number of ADSs then issued and outstanding.

 

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(ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFER SIGNATURE LINES)

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned Holder hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto ______________________________ whose taxpayer identification number is _______________________ and whose address including postal zip code is ________________, the within ADR and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing ________________________ attorney-in-fact to transfer said ADR on the books of the Depositary with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

Dated:         Name:    
        By:
         Title:

 

    NOTICE: The signature of the Holder to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within instrument in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
     
    If the endorsement be executed by an attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, the person executing the endorsement must give his/her full title in such capacity and proper evidence of authority to act in such capacity, if not on file with the Depositary, must be forwarded with this ADR.
   
SIGNATURE GUARANTEED  
    All endorsements or assignments of ADRs must be guaranteed by a member of a Medallion Signature Program approved by the Securities Transfer Association, Inc.

 

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Legends
[The ADRs issued in respect of Partial Entitlement American Depositary Shares shall bear the following legend on the face of the ADR: “This ADR evidences ADSs representing 'partial entitlement' [common shares] [interests in the Certificate of Payment] of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd. and as such do not entitle the holders thereof to the same per-share entitlement as other [common shares] [interests in the Certificate of Payment] (which are 'full entitlement' [common shares] [interests in the Certificate of Payment]) issued and outstanding at such time. The ADSs represented by this ADR shall entitle holders to distributions and entitlements identical to other ADSs when the [common shares] [interests in the Certificate of Payment] represented by such ADSs become 'full entitlement' [common shares] [interests in the Certificate of Payment].”]

 

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EXHIBIT B

 

FEE SCHEDULE

 

ADS FEES AND RELATED CHARGES

 

All capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning given to such terms in the Deposit Agreement.

 

I. ADS Fees

 

The following ADS fees are payable under the terms of the Deposit Agreement:

 

Service Rate By Whom Paid
(1) Issuance of ADSs ( e.g. , an issuance upon a deposit of Shares, upon a change in the ADS(s)-to-Share(s) ratio, or for any other reason), excluding issuances as a result of distributions described in paragraph (4) below. Up to U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) issued. Person receiving ADSs.
(2) Cancellation of ADSs  ( e.g. ,  a cancellation of ADSs for delivery of deposited Shares, upon a change in the ADS(s)-to-Share(s) ratio, or for any other reason). Up to U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) cancelled. Person whose ADSs are being cancelled.
(3) Distribution of cash dividends or other cash distributions ( e.g. , upon a sale of rights and other entitlements). Up to U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) held. Person to whom the distribution is made.
(4) Distribution of ADSs pursuant to (i) stock dividends or other free stock distributions, or (ii) an exercise of rights to purchase additional ADSs. Up to U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) held. Person to whom the distribution is made.
(5) Distribution of securities other than ADSs or rights to purchase additional ADSs ( e.g. , spin-off shares). Up to U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) held. Person to whom the distribution is made.

 

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6) ADS Services. Up to U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) held on the applicable record date(s) established by the Depositary. Person holding ADSs on the applicable record date(s) established by the Depositary.

 

II. Charges

 

The Company, Holders, Beneficial Owners, persons receiving ADSs upon issuance and persons whose ADSs are being cancelled shall be responsible for the following ADS charges under the terms of the Deposit Agreement:

 

(i) taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) and other governmental charges;

 

(ii) such registration fees as may from time to time be in effect for the registration of Shares or other Deposited Securities on the share register and applicable to transfers of Shares or other Deposited Securities to or from the name of the Custodian, the Depositary or any nominees upon the making of deposits and withdrawals, respectively;

 

(iii) such cable, telex and facsimile transmission and delivery expenses as are expressly provided in the Deposit Agreement to be at the expense of the person depositing Shares or withdrawing Deposited Securities or of the Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs;

 

(iv) the expenses and charges incurred by the Depositary in the conversion of foreign currency;

 

(v) such fees and expenses as are incurred by the Depositary in connection with compliance with exchange control regulations and other regulatory requirements applicable to Shares, Deposited Securities, ADSs and ADRs; and

 

(vi) the fees and expenses incurred by the Depositary, the Custodian, or any nominee in connection with the servicing or delivery of Deposited Property.

 

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EXHIBIT C-1
LONG FORM

 

Certification and Agreement of Persons Surrendering ADSs
for the Purpose of Withdrawal of Deposited Securities
Pursuant to Section 2.7 of the Deposit Agreement

 

Citibank, N.A.
Depositary Receipts Department
388 Greenwich Street, 14 th Floor
New York, New York 10013

 

Re: ASE INDUSTRIAL HOLDING CO., LTD.

 

We refer to the Deposit Agreement, dated as of [date] (as amended from time to time, the " Deposit Agreement "), among ASE INDUSTRIAL HOLDING CO., LTD. (the " Company "), CITIBANK, N.A., as Depositary thereunder, and Holders and Beneficial Owners from time to time of American Depositary Shares (the " ADSs ") issued thereunder. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given them in the Deposit Agreement. We are providing the information herein to enable the Company to comply with its reporting obligations under the laws and regulations of the Republic of China and understand that the Company will rely upon the information provided herein for such purpose.

 

1.       We are surrendering ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal of the Deposited Securities represented by the ADSs pursuant to Section 2.7 of the Deposit Agreement.

 

2.       We agree (or if we are acting for the account of another person, such person has confirmed to us that it agrees) to comply with all requests from the Company pursuant to ROC laws or regulations, the rules and requirements of the TSE, any other stock exchange on which the ADSs or the Deposited Securities are, or may be, traded or listed, and the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company, which are made to provide information, inter alia , as to the capacity in which we (or our client) hold(s) or own(s) the ADSs or Deposited Securities and regarding the identity of any other person then or previously interested in such ADSs or Deposited Securities, the nature of such interest and various related matters, whether or not we (they) are holders and/or beneficial owners of ADSs or Deposited Securities at the time of such request.

 

3. We certify (or if we are acting for the account of another person, such person has confirmed to us that it certifies) that:

 

Please check the applicable box in (a) below and complete (b) in its entirety.

 

(a)(i)    o      Recipient of Deposited Securities withdrawn hereby (" Recipient ") is a "Related Person" of the Company (as defined below).

 

C- 1
 

or

 

(ii)        o      The aggregate number of Deposited Securities to be received by the Recipient upon the surrender of ADSs for the withdrawal of Deposited Securities pursuant to Section 2.7 of the Deposit Agreement will exceed ten percent (10%) of the total number of Deposited Securities currently on deposit with the Custodian.*

 

* To determine the number of Deposited Securities on deposit, please visit the TSE's website at: http://emops.twse.com.tw/server-java/t47hsc01_e?step=0

 

AND

 

(b)(i) Recipient hereby withdraws ____________ Deposited Securities of the Company,

 

AND

 

(ii)       Recipient has withdrawn an aggregate of _________ Deposited Securities of the Company during this calendar month.

 

AND

 

(iii) We hereby certify (or if we are acting for the account of another person, such person has confirmed to us that it certifies) that the following information is true and correct:

 

Name of Beneficial Owner of ADSs:                                                                                  

 

Address of Beneficial Owner of ADSs: _________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

 

Nationality of Beneficial Owner of ADSs:                                                                       

 

Name of Recipient:                                                                                                              

 

Nationality of Recipient:                                                                                                    

 

Identity Number of Recipient (only required if Recipient is a ROC person):               

 

Number of ADSs surrendered hereby:                                                                            

 

Number of Deposited Securities withdrawn hereby:                                                    

 

C- 2
 

The aggregate number of Deposited Securities Recipient has received upon all withdrawals since execution of the Deposit Agreement:                                                                                                                          

 

TDCC Book-Entry Account Number of Recipient:                                                        

 

TDCC Book-Entry Account Name:                                                                                  

 

Name of Custodian (only required if Recipient is a non-ROC person):                                      

 

Address of Custodian:                                                                                                       

 

Contact Person at Custodian:                                                                                          

 

Telephone Number of Custodian:                                                                                     

 

Facsimile Number of Custodian:                                                                                      

 

Foreign Investor Investment I.D. (only required if Recipient is a non-ROC person):  

 

                                                                                                                                              

 

4.       If we are a broker-dealer, we further certify that we are acting for the account of our customer and that our customer has confirmed the accuracy of the information contained in paragraph 3 hereof that is applicable to it.

 

Date: ____________________

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  [NAME OF CERTIFYING ENTITY]
     
  By:  
    Name
    Title:

 

 

A person or entity is deemed to be a "Related Person" of the Company if the person or entity is:

 

(a) (i) a company of which the chairman of the board of directors or the general manager serves as the chairman of the board of directors or the general manager of the Company, or is the spouse or a relative by blood or marriage to the chairman of the board of directors or general manager of

 

C- 3
 

the Company within the second degree (as defined under the Civil Code of the Republic of China);

 

(ii) a foundation of which the funds donated from the Company exceeds one-third of the foundation’s total funds;

 

(iii) a director, supervisor or general manager, vice-general manager, assistant general manager, or departmental head of the Company directly reporting to the general manager of the Company;

 

(iv) the spouse of a director, supervisor or general manager of the Company; or

 

(v) a relative by blood or marriage to the Company's chairman of the board of directors or general manager within the second degree (as defined under the Civil Code of the Republic of China).

 

or

 

(b)       A person or entity in which the Company has invested, which investment is accounted for by the equity method of accounting under generally accepted accounting principles in the Republic of China (the " Equity Method "), or a person or entity which uses the Equity Method to account for an investment in the Company.

 

C- 4
 

EXHIBIT C-2
SHORT FORM

 

Certification and Agreement of Persons Surrendering ADSs
for the Purpose of Withdrawal of Deposited Securities
Pursuant to Section 2.7 of the Deposit Agreement

 

Citibank, N.A.
Depositary Receipts Department
388 Greenwich Street, 14 th Floor
New York, New York 10013

 

Re: ASE INDUSTRIAL HOLDING CO., LTD.

 

We refer to the Deposit Agreement, dated as of [date] (as amended from time to time, the " Deposit Agreement "), among ASE INDUSTRIAL HOLDING CO., LTD. (the " Company "), CITIBANK, N.A., as Depositary thereunder, and Holders and Beneficial Owners from time to time of American Depositary Shares (the " ADSs ") issued thereunder. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given them in the Deposit Agreement. We are providing the information herein to enable the Company to comply with its reporting obligations under the laws and regulations of the Republic of China and understand that the Company will rely upon the information provided herein for such purpose.

 

1.       We are surrendering ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal of the Deposited Securities represented by the ADSs pursuant to Section 2.7 of the Deposit Agreement.

 

2.       We agree (or if we are acting for the account of another person, such person has confirmed to us that it agrees) to comply with all requests from the Company pursuant to ROC laws or regulations, the rules and requirements of the TSE, any other stock exchange on which the ADSs or the Deposited Securities are, or may be, traded or listed, and the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company, which are made to provide information, inter alia , as to the capacity in which we (or our client) hold(s) or own(s) the ADSs or Deposited Securities and regarding the identity of any other person then or previously interested in such ADSs or Deposited Securities, the nature of such interest and various related matters, whether or not we (they) are holders and/or beneficial owners of ADSs or Deposited Securities at the time of such request.

 

3.       We certify (or if we are acting for the account of another person, such person has confirmed to us that it certifies) that the aggregate number of Deposited Securities to be received by us (it) upon the surrender of ADSs for the withdrawal of Deposited Securities

 

C-2- 1
 

pursuant to the Deposit Agreement does not exceed ten percent (10%) of the total number of Deposited Securities currently on deposit with the Custodian. 1

 

4.       We certify (or if we are acting for the account of another person, such person has confirmed to us that it certifies) that we are (it is) not a "Related Person" of the Company (as defined below). 2

 

           Date: ____________________

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  [ NAME OF CERTIFYING ENTITY ]
   
  By:  
    Name
    Title:

 

 

 

 

1 Please note that in order to ascertain the total number of DEposited Securities currently on deposit with the Custodian, please visit the Taiwan Stock Exchange's website at: http://emops.twse.com.tw/server-java/t47hsc01_e?step=0

 

Please FURTHER note that if you cannot certify (or if you are acting for the account of another person, such person has confirmed to you that it cannot certify) that THE AGGREGATE NUMBER OF Deposited securities to be received upon the surrender of ADSs for the withdrawal of Deposited Securities pursuant to the Deposit Agreement will not exceed ten percent (10%) of the total number of Deposited Securities currently on deposit with the Custodian, you (it) will not be able to surrender ADSs In order to withdraw Deposited Securities (or give instructions to do so) USING THIS SHORT FORM OF WITHDRAWAL CERTIFication and instead, you (it) must complete and deliver to the Depositary A long form of withdrawal certification THAT CAN be FOUND ON THE DEPOSITARY'S WEBSITE.

 

2 PLEASE NOTE THAT IF YOU CANNOT CERTIFY (OR IF YOU ARE ACTING FOR THE ACCOUNT OF ANOTHER PERSON, SUCH PERSON HAS CONFIRMED TO YOU THAT IT CANNOT CERTIFY) THAT YOU ARE (IT IS) NOT A "RELATED PERSON" OF THE COMPANY (AS DEFINED BELOW) AS SET FORTH IN PARAGRAPH 4 ABOVE AND YOU (IT) WISH(ES) TO SURRENDER ADSs OR GIVE WITHDRAWAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF WITHDRAWAL OF THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES PURSUANT TO THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT, YOU (IT) WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SURRENDER ADSs IN ORDER TO WITHDRAW DEPOSITED SECURITIES (OR GIVE INSTRUCTIONS TO DO SO) USING THIS SHORT FORM OF WITHDRAWAL CERTIFICATION AND INSTEAD, YOU (IT) MUST COMPLETE AND DELIVER TO THE DEPOSITARY A LONG FORM OF WITHDRAWAL CERTIFICATION THAT CAN BE FOUND ON THE DEPOSITARY'S WEBSITE.

 

C-2- 2
 
 

A person or entity is deemed to be a "Related Person" of the Company if the person or entity is:

 

(a) (i) a company of which the chairman of the board of directors or the general manager serves as the chairman of the board of directors or the general manager of the Company, or is the spouse or a relative by blood or marriage to the chairman of the board of directors or general manager of the Company within the second degree (as defined under the Civil Code of the Republic of China);

 

(ii) a foundation of which the funds donated from the Company exceeds one-third of the foundation’s total funds;

 

(iii) a director, supervisor or general manager, vice-general manager, assistant general manager, or departmental head of the Company directly reporting to the general manager of the Company;

 

(iv) the spouse of a director, supervisor or general manager of the Company; or

 

(v) a relative by blood or marriage to the Company's chairman of the board of directors or general manager within the second degree (as defined under the Civil Code of the Republic of China).

 

or

 

(b)       A person or entity in which the Company has invested, which investment is accounted for by the equity method of accounting under generally accepted accounting principles in the Republic of China (the " Equity Method "), or a person or entity which uses the Equity Method to account for an investment in the Company.

 

C-2- 3

 

Exhibit 5.1

 

 

 

 

 

November 22, 2016

 

 

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.

26 Chin Third Road

Nantze Export Processing Zone

Nantze

Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Republic of China

 

 

Re: Registration Statement on Form F-4 of Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We act as the special Republic of China (the “ ROC ”) counsel to you, Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc., (“ you ” or the “ Company ”) in connection with the registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the “ Securities Act ”) and the contemplated issuance of American Depositary Shares (the “ ADSs ”), each ADS representing two common shares, par value NT$10 per share (the “ Common Shares ”), of the HoldCo (as defined below) pursuant to a share exchange transaction contemplated under a joint share exchange agreement dated June 30, 2016, entered into by and between the Company and Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd. (“ SPIL ”) (“ Joint Share Exchange Agreement ”) pursuant to which a holding company, ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd. (“ HoldCo ”), will be formed by means of a statutory share exchange pursuant to the laws of the ROC, and HoldCo will (i) acquire all issued shares of the Company in exchange for shares of HoldCo using the share exchange ratio as described below, and (ii) acquire all issued shares of SPIL using the cash consideration (the “ Share Exchange ”). The Common Shares underlying the ADSs are being registered pursuant to the registration statement on Form F-4 filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“ SEC ”) (the “ Form F-4 ”).

 

In rendering this opinion, we have examined the originals or copies of the following documents:

 

(i) the resolution made at the meeting of the board of directors of the Company held on June 30, 2016,

 

(ii) the Articles of Incorporation as amended on June 28, 2016 and the corporate registration card dated October 20, 2016 of the Company,

 

 

Baker & McKenzie, a Taiwanese Partnership, is a member of Baker & McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein.

 

(iii) the public records of the Company made available at the website of the ROC Ministry of Economic Affairs (“ MOEA ”) on November 22, 2016,

 

(iv) Form F-4, which constitutes a prospectus of the Company under the Securities Act, with respect to the HoldCo Common Shares to be issued to the shareholders of the Company in connection with the Share Exchange,

 

(v) the executed copy of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement,

 

(vi) the executed copy of the Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2000, by and among the Company, Citibank, N.A., as depositary (“ Depositary ”) and the holders and beneficial owners of the Company's American Depositary shares, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of April 6, 2006, and by Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of November 27, 2006 ( ASE Deposit Agreement );

 

(vii) the copy of the Deposit Agreement, which is on file with the SEC under cover of a Registration Statement on Form F-6, to be entered into by HoldCo and Depositary, at the effective time of the Share Exchange (“ Effective Time ”), and to which the holders and beneficial owners of ADSs become parties upon acceptance of ADSs ( HoldCo Deposit Agreement ); and

 

(viii) the certificate issued by the Company to us dated November 22, 2016 (the “ Company Certificate ”).

 

Items from (v) to (vii) are collectively referred to as the “ Agreements .”

 

We have also examined the relevant laws and regulations of the ROC and originals or copies of such other documents, agreements and instruments as we have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed. During our review of the above documents, we have (i) relied on such representations and warranties as to factual matters made in the Agreements, (ii) assumed that all documents we received from the Company are final documents, as may be amended or supplemented prior to the Effective Time, and (iii) made such investigation as we have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed.

 

To the extent that the obligations of the Company or HoldCo under the Agreements, as the case may be, may be dependent upon such matters, we

2

 

have assumed for purposes of this opinion that (i) you, SPIL and the Depositary have or has been duly organized and are or is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of your or its jurisdiction of organization, (ii) you, SPIL and the Depositary have or has been duly qualified to engage in the activities contemplated in the Agreements to which you are, or it is, a party, (iii) you, SPIL and the Depositary have or has the requisite organizational and other power and authority to execute and deliver and to perform your or its obligations under the Agreements to which you are, or it is, a party, (iv) you, SPIL and the Depositary have or has obtained all necessary consents and authorizations and are or is otherwise qualified or empowered to enter into and perform your or its obligations under the Agreements to which you are, or it is, a party, (v) your corporate registration is not subject to cancellation or revocation as a result of having submitted forged or altered documents in your application for registration of its company incorporation, (vi) your public records made available at the website of the MOEA are a full, current and correct record of the corporate status of you at the time of our search, (vii) all factual statements made in the documents submitted to us are correct and complete and that such documents are not void and have not been amended, superseded, revoked or revised in any manner, and (viii) the minutes of the meeting of board of directors of the Company referred to above are a full record of resolutions passed at a meeting duly convened and held by the board of directors of the Company.

 

We have further assumed that (i) each of the Agreements to which you are, or SPIL or the Depositary is a party constitutes your, SPIL’s or the Depositary’s, as the case may be, valid and legally binding agreement, enforceable against you, SPIL or the Depositary, as the case may be, (ii) the Depositary has duly authenticated the Company's ADRs in accordance with the provisions of the ASE Deposit Agreement, and (iii) the Depositary will duly authenticate the HoldCo’s ADRs in accordance with the provisions of the HoldCo Deposit Agreement.

 

In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of the signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies and the legal capacity of all individuals executing those documents.

 

We are opining herein as to the effect on the subject transaction only of the present laws and regulations of the ROC, and we express no opinion with respect to the applicability thereto, or the effect thereon, of the laws of any other jurisdiction.

 

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions and qualifications herein contained, we are of the opinion that, as of the date hereof:

3

 

 

(1)    at the Effective Time, HoldCo will be duly incorporated and will be validly existing under the laws of the ROC as a company limited by shares;

 

(2)    at the Effective Time, the Common Shares underlying the ADSs, when issued and delivered by HoldCo, will be duly authorized and validly issued and be fully paid and non-assessable. For the purposes of this opinion, the term “non-assessable” in relation to common shares of HoldCo under ROC law means that no calls for further payment can be made upon such capital stock or upon any holders of such capital stock solely by reason of their ownership thereof; and

 

(3)    the statements contained in the Form F-4 under the caption “ROC Taxation” insofar as they purport to summarize the provisions of the laws, regulations of the ROC, are true and accurate in all material respects.

 

Our opinion is subject to the qualification that:

 

(i) The exercise of any rights may not be repugnant to public interests or have a primary purpose to harm another person, and that rights must be exercised in good faith.

 

(ii) No liability arising from a willful act or gross negligence may be disclaimed in advance.

 

(iii) Enforcement of rights for claims under the ADSs and the Agreements is subject to applicable statutes of limitations under the laws of the ROC.

 

(iv) Under the Code of Civil Procedure, a party to the litigation has the right to dispute at the oral proceeding the fact alleged by the opposing party, and the court has discretionary power to admit or rule out the evidence. Any determination, certificate or other matters stated in the Agreements to be conclusive may, nevertheless, be subject to review by the court.

 

(v) The exercise of any rights may be limited by laws relating to reasonableness, good faith, public order and good morals and the limitation of actions, and failure to exercise any right may constitute a waiver of that right against all obligors.

 

(vi) Any provision in the Agreements that clauses are severable or that process may be served or a judgment may be enforced in a particular manner will not prevent judicial enquiry into such matters.

 

4

 

(vii) Judgment on a claim under the Agreements may be rendered in United States dollars but such judgment may be satisfied by the payment of an amount in New Taiwan Dollars equivalent to the amount of the judgment (determined on the date of satisfaction of the judgment).

 

(viii) the Company is required to submit relevant documents in support of its report to the Central Bank of the Republic of China ( CBC ) regarding the purpose of conversion at the time conversion is sought in order to convert New Taiwan Dollars in the equivalent of more than US$1,000,000 into foreign currency. Furthermore, the Company is required to obtain the approval of the CBC at the time conversion is sought in order to convert New Taiwan Dollars in the equivalent of more than US$50,000,000 into foreign currency in any year.

 

Our opinion is rendered as of the date hereof based on the ROC laws and the facts existing on the date hereof. We express no opinion on any issue relating to the ROC tax consequences of the Share Exchange other than those set forth in the Form F-4 and herein. Our opinion does not address any non-ROC tax consequences that may result from the transactions described in the Form F-4. An opinion of counsel is not binding on the ROC tax authorities or the courts, and there can be no assurance that the ROC tax authorities or a court will not take a contrary position or that such contrary position will not be upheld.

 

Whenever a statement or opinion herein with respect to the existence or absence of facts is indicated to be based on “our knowledge” or a similar phrase, it is intended to indicate to signify that attorneys in our office who have devoted substantive attention to this matter have acquired actual knowledge of the existence or absence of such facts. We have not undertaken any independent investigation to determine the accuracy of any such statement or opinion, and no inference that we have any knowledge of any matters bearing on the accuracy of such statement or opinion should be drawn from our representation of the Company.

 

This opinion is rendered only to the Company and is solely for benefit of the Company in connection with the transaction contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement. Except for being furnished to the respective officers and employees of the Company, this opinion may not be relied upon by the Company for any other purpose, or furnished to, quoted to, relied upon, or otherwise referred to by any other person, firm or corporation for any purpose, without our express prior written consent, save to the extent required to be disclosed by law or any regulatory or governmental authority or any court, provided that such disclosure does not entitle the recipients to rely on this opinion.

 

5

 

Subject to the qualification hereof, we hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an Exhibit to the Form F-4 for the purpose of the public filing of the Form F-4 and to the appropriate reference to our name under the heading “Special Factors - Certain ROC and U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Share Exchange for Holders of ASE Common Shares or ADSs - ROC Taxation” in the prospectus included in such Form F-4. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we fall within the category of person whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

This opinion is given by the Taipei office of Baker & McKenzie ( 國際通商法律事務所 ), a Taiwanese partnership, and not on behalf of any other member or affiliated firm of Baker & McKenzie, a Swiss Verein.

 

 

 

  Very truly yours,
   
   
  /s/ Baker & McKenzie, Taipei
  Baker & McKenzie, Taipei

 

6

 

 

Exhibit 8.2

 

November 22, 2016

 

Re: Registration Statement on Form F-4

 

26 Chin Third Road

Nantze Export Processing Zone

Nantze, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Republic of China

 

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We are acting as United States counsel for Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. (the “ Company ”), a company incorporated in the Republic of China, in connection with the preparation of the registration statement on Form F-4 (the “ Registration Statement ”), and the related proxy statement/prospectus (the “ Prospectus ”) with respect to a share exchange (the “ Share Exchange ”) pursuant to which a new holding company, ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd. (“ HoldCo ”), formed under the laws of the Republic of China, will acquire all issued and outstanding shares of the Company in exchange for shares of HoldCo pursuant to a joint share exchange agreement entered into between the Company and Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd. on June 30, 2016 under the laws of the Republic of China. The Company is filing the Registration Statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”). All terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Prospectus.

 

We have examined such matters of fact and law as we have deemed necessary or advisable for the purpose of our opinion.

 

We hereby confirm that our opinion as to the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Share Exchange to U.S. Holders of ASE Common Shares or ASE ADSs and the ownership of HoldCo Common Shares or HoldCo ADSs received in such exchange is set forth in full under the caption “Special Factors—Certain ROC and U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Share Exchange for Holders of ASE Common Shares or ADSs—United States Taxation” in the Prospectus.

 

We are members of the Bar of the State of New York and the foregoing opinion is limited to the laws of the State of New York and the federal laws of the United States.

 

We hereby consent to the use of our name under the caption “Special Factors—Certain ROC and U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Share Exchange for Holders of ASE Common Shares or ADSs—United States Taxation” in the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement and to the filing, as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, of this letter.

 

In giving this consent we do not admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/ Davis Polk & Wardwell

 

 

 


Exhibit 12.1

 

Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

 

    Year Ended   Nine Month Ended
IFRS   2012   2013   2014   2015   2015   2016
    (in NT$ thousand)
SPIL Consolidated Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charge                        
Pre-tax income from continuing operations before adjustment for noncontrolling interest and income or loss from equity investees   $ 6,800,919     $ 7,534,087     $ 14,439,775     $ 10,561,230     $ 10,431,133     $ 8,244,008  
Add:                                                
Fixed charges     280,451       428,174       609,290       728,827       558,471       574,230  
  Amortization of capitalized interest     -       -       -       -                  
  Distributed income of equity investees     5,250       12,259       243       -                  
Subtract:                                                
  Interest capitalized     -       -       -       -                  
Pretax income as adjusted   $ 7,086,620     $ 7,974,520     $ 15,049,308     $ 11,290,057     $ 10,989,605     $ 8,818,238  
Fixed charges:                                                
  Interest expense and capitalized   $ 196,640     $ 270,108     $ 354,508     $ 263,868       203,267       183,762  
  Amortization of debt issuance costs and discounts     674       628       48,960       301,582       223,995       232,023  
  Estimate of the interest within rental expense (a)     83,137       157,438       205,822       163,377       131,209       158,445  
Total fixed charges   $ 280,451     $ 428,174     $ 609,290     $ 728,827     $ 558,471     $ 574,230  
                                                 
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges     25.27       18.62       24.70       15.49       19.68       15.36  

 

 

(a) The estimate of the interest within rental expense was calculated by using one-third of the rental expense, which Company believes is a reasonable approximation of the interest component of rental expense.

 

 

 

Exhibit 21.1

 

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.

 

List of Subsidiaries

 

A. A.S.E. Holding Limited, a holding company organized under the laws of Bermuda, has a subsidiary, ASE Investment (Labuan) Inc., a holding company organized under the laws of Malaysia, which directly holds a wholly owned subsidiary:
       
  (1) ASE (Korea) Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Korea and its wholly owned subsidiary:
       
    (a) ASE (Weihai), Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the People’s Republic of China.
       
B. ASE Marketing and Service Japan Co., Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of Japan.
       
C. ASE Test, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of China, has three direct holding subsidiaries:
     
   (1) Alto Enterprises Limited, a holding company organized under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, holds a wholly owned subsidiary, ASE Investment (KunShan) Limited, a holding company organized under the laws of the People’s Republic of China; and
   (2) Super Zone Holdings Limited, a holding company organized under the laws of Hong Kong, has a wholly owned subsidiary, Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (China) Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of the People’s Republic of China.
   (3) TLJ Intertech Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of China.
       
D. Omniquest Industrial Limited, a holding company organized under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, directly holds a wholly owned subsidiary, ASE Corporation, a holding company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands, which directly holds two subsidiaries:
       
  (1) ASE Mauritius Inc., a holding company organized under the laws of Mauritius, and its subsidiaries:
       
    (a) ASE (Shanghai) Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the People’s Republic of China, holds a subsidiary, Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (HK) Limited, a

   

 

 

 

      corporation organized under the laws of Hong Kong; and
       
    (b) ASE (Kunshan) Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the People’s Republic of China.
       
  (2) ASE Labuan Inc., a holding company organized under the laws of Malaysia, holds a sole subsidiary, ASE Electronics Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of China.
       
E. Innosource Limited, a holding company organized under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, and its subsidiary, ASE Module (Shanghai) Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the People’s Republic of China.
       
F. J&R Holding Limited, a holding company organized under the laws of Bermuda, and its subsidiaries:
       
  (1) J&R Industrial Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of China;
     
  (2) ASE Japan Co., Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of Japan;
       
  (3) ASE (U.S.) Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of California, U.S.A.;
       
  (4) Global Advanced Packaging Technology Ltd., a holding company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands, and its sole direct wholly owned subsidiary, ASE Assembly & Test (Shanghai) Limited, a corporation incorporated under the laws of the People’s Republic of China, which has three direct holding subsidiaries.

 

 

    (a) Wuxi Tongzhi Microelectronics Co., Ltd., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the People’s Republic of China;
       
    (b)

Shanghai Ding Hui Real Estate Development Co., Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of the People’s Republic of China, and its five subsidiaries, Shanghai Ding Yu Real Estate Development Co., Ltd., KunShan Ding Hong Real Estate Development Co., Ltd., KunShan Ding Yue Real Estate Development Co., Ltd., Shanghai Ding Qi Property Management Co., Ltd. and Shanghai Ding Wei Real Estate Development Co., Ltd. and its subsidiary, Shanghai Ding Fan Department Store Co., Ltd., all corporations organized under the laws of the People’s Republic of China; and

 

    (c)

ASE Trading (Shanghai) Ltd., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the People’s Republic of China.

 

  (5) Suzhou ASEN Semiconductors Co., Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of the People’s Republic of China;
       
  (6) ASE Test Limited, a holding company organized under the laws of Singapore, directly has three wholly owned subsidiaries:
     
    (a) ASE Holdings (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., a holding company organized under the laws of Singapore and its wholly owned subsidiary, ASE Electronics (M) SDN. BHD., a corporation organized under the laws of Malaysia;
       
    (b) ASE Test Holdings, Ltd., a holding company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands and its wholly owned subsidiary, ISE Labs, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of California, U.S.A.; and
       
    (c) ASE Singapore Pte. Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of Singapore.
       
  (7) Anstock Limited, a corporation organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands; and
     
  (8) Anstock II Limited, a corporation organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands.
       
G. USI Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of China, directly has a wholly

    

 

 

  owned subsidiary, Huntington Holdings International Co., Ltd., a holding company organized under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, and its wholly owned subsidiaries:
       
  (1) Unitech Holdings International Co., Ltd., an investment corporation organized under the laws of the British Virgin Islands;
       
  (2) Universal ABIT Holding Co., Ltd., a holding company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands;
       
  (3) Rising Capital Investment Limited, a holding company organized under the laws of the British Virgin Islands;
       
  (4) Rise Accord Limited, a holding company organized under the laws of the British Virgin Islands; and
       
  (5) Real Tech Holdings Ltd., a holding company organized under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, has two direct holding subsidiaries:
       
    (a) Universal Scientific Industrial (Kun Shan) Co., Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of the People’s Republic of China; and
       
    (b) USI Enterprise Limited, a holding company organized under the laws of Hong Kong, has a direct holding subsidiary, Universal Scientific Industrial (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of the People’s Republic of China, which has subsidiaries:

    

 

 

  (I) Universal Global Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of the People’s Republic of China;
     
  (II) USI Electronics (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of the People’s Republic of China;
     
  (III) Universal Global Technology (Kunshan) Co., Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of the People’s Republic of China;
     
  (IV) Universal Global Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of the People’s Republic of China; and
     
  (V) Universal Global Technology Co., Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of Hong Kong, which has subsidiaries:
       
    (i) Universal Global Industrial Co., Limited, a corporation organized under the laws of Hong Kong;
       
    (ii) Universal Global Scientific Industrial Co., Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of China, has a subsidiary, Universal Scientific Industrial Co., Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of China;
       
    (iii)

USI America, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of California, U.S.A.;

 

    (iv)

Universal Scientific Industrial De Mexico S.A. De C.V., a corporation organized under the laws of Mexico; and

 

    (v) USI Japan Co., Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of Japan.
   
H.

Lu-Chu Development Corporation., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of China.

 

   
I. Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. has significant interests in the following companies:

     

 

 

(1) Hung Ching Development & Construction Co. Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of China;
 
(2) Hung Ching Kwan Co., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of China;
 
(3) Advanced Microelectronic Products Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of China; and
 
(4) Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of China.
   
(5) Deca Technologies Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands.
   
J. Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. has a joint venture investment, ASE Embedded Electronics Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of China.

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this proxy statement/prospectus on Form F-4 of our reports dated April 28, 2016, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. and subsidiaries (collectively, the “Group”) (which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph referring to the convenience translation of New Taiwan dollar amounts into U.S. dollar amounts), and the effectiveness of the Group’s internal control over financial reporting, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 20-F of the Group for the year ended December 31, 2015, and to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in this proxy statement/prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.

 

/s/ Deloitte & Touche

Taipei, Taiwan

Republic of China

 

 

 

November 22, 2016

 

 

 

Exhibit 23.2

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

 

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form F-4 of Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. of our report dated April 21, 2016 relating to the consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.

 

  

 

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers, Taiwan

Taipei, Taiwan

Republic of China
November 22, 2016

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 23.5

 

November 22, 2016

 

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. 

The Board of Directors 

26 Chin Third Road, 

Nantze Export Processing Zone, Nantze, 

Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China

 

Consent of Independent Expert

 

 

Dear Sirs:

 

I consent to the reference of my opinions delivered to the Board of Directors of Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. on May 25, 2016 and June 29, 2016, respectively, with respect to the fairness from a financial point of view of the consideration provided pursuant to the proposed share exchange involving Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. and Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd. appearing herein by reference to my name under the headings “Summary—Opinions of ASE’s Independent Expert,” “Special Factors—Background of the Share Exchange; Past Contacts; Negotiations,” “Special Factors—Recommendation and Approval of the ASE Board and Reasons for the Share Exchange,” “Special Factors—Opinions of ASE’s Independent Expert,” and to the inclusion of my opinions as Annex B-1 and Annex B-2 to the proxy statement/prospectus included in the Registration Statement.

 

 

Yours faithfully,

 

/s/ Ji-Sheng Chiu  

Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu, Certified Public Accountant

 

Crowe Horwath (TW) CPAs Firm 

Taiwan, Republic of China

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

Time Sensitive Materials

 

Depositary’s Notice of

Extraordinary General Meeting of

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.

 

ADSs: American Depositary Shares some of which are evidenced by American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”).
ADS CUSIP No.: 00756M404.
ADS Record Date: ________, 2017.
Meeting Specifics: Extraordinary General Meeting - _________, 2017 at _____ A.M./P.M. (local time) at [26 Chin Third Road, Nantze Export Processing Zone, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China] (the “Meeting”).
Meeting Agenda: Please refer to the Company’s Notice of Meeting enclosed herewith.
ADS Voting Instructions Deadline: On or before 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on ____, 2017.
Deposited Securities: Common shares, par value NT$10 per share, of Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc., a company incorporated under the laws of the Republic of China (the “Company”).
ADS Ratio: 5 Shares to 1 ADS.
Depositary: Citibank, N.A.
Custodian of
Deposited Securities:
Citibank Taiwan Ltd.
Deposit Agreement: Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2000, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of April 6, 2006, as further amended by Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of November 27, 2006, by and among the Company, the Depositary, and all Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs some of which are evidenced by ADRs issued thereunder.

 

To be counted, your Voting Instructions need to be received by
the Depositary prior to 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on
_______, 2017.

 

Note that if you do not timely return the Voting Instructions to the Depositary, the Deposited Securities represented by your ADSs may nevertheless be voted upon the terms set forth in the Deposit Agreement.

 

 

 

The Company has announced that an Extraordinary General Meeting will be held at the date, time and location identified above. A copy of the Notice of Meeting from the Company which includes the agenda for such Meeting is enclosed.

 

The Depositary has been informed by the Company that its Board of Directors recommends a FOR vote for all resolutions.

 

Holders of ADSs wishing to give voting instructions to the Depositary must sign, complete and return the enclosed Voting Instructions prior to the ADS Voting Instructions Deadline in the enclosed pre-addressed envelope.

 

As set forth in the Section 4.10 of the Deposit Agreement, Holders of record of ADSs as of the close of business on the ADS Record Date, will be entitled, subject to applicable provisions of the laws of the Republic of China and the Charter of the Company, and the provisions of or governing the Deposited Securities, to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the Deposited Securities represented by such Holders’ ADSs.

 

Please note that, in accordance with and subject to the terms of Section 4.10(b) of the Deposit Agreement, Holders of ADSs have no individual voting rights with respect to the Deposited Securities represented by their ADSs. Each Holder of ADSs shall be deemed by acceptance of ADSs or acquisition of any beneficial interest therein, to have authorized and directed the Depositary, without liability, to appoint the Chairman of the Company or his/her designee (the Chairman and his/her designee, the “Voting Representative”), as representative of the Depositary, the Custodian or the nominee who is registered in the Republic of China as representative of the Holders in respect of the Deposited Securities, to vote the Deposited Securities as described below.

 

In accordance with and subject to the terms of Section 4.10(c) of the Deposit Agreement, if Holders of ADSs together holding at least 51% of all the ADSs outstanding as of the ADS Record Date shall instruct the Depositary, prior to the ADS Voting Instructions Deadline, to vote in the same manner in respect of one or more resolutions to be proposed at the Meeting (including resolutions for the election of directors and/or supervisors), the Depositary shall notify the Voting Representative and appoint the Voting Representative as the representative of the Depositary and the Registered Holders to attend the Meeting and vote all Deposited Securities evidenced by ADSs outstanding in the manner so instructed by such Holders. If voting instructions are received by the Depositary as of the ADS Voting Instructions Deadline which are signed but without further indication as to voting instructions, the Depositary shall deem such Holder to have instructed a vote in favor of the items set forth in such instructions.

 

In accordance with and subject to the terms of Section 4.10(d) of the Deposit Agreement, if, for any reason, the Depositary has not, prior to the ADS Voting Instructions Deadline, received instructions from Holders of ADSs together holding at least 51% of all ADSs outstanding as of the ADS Record Date, to vote in the same manner in respect of any resolution (including resolutions for the election of directors and/or supervisors) to be proposed at the Meeting, the Holders of ADSs shall be deemed to have authorized and directed the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy (a “Management Proxy”) to the Voting Representative as the representative of the Registered Holder to attend and vote at the Meeting all the Deposited Securities represented by ADSs then outstanding in his/her discretion; provided, however, that the Depositary will not give a discretionary proxy as described if it fails to receive a satisfactory opinion from the Company’s counsel prior to the Meeting. In such circumstances, the Chairman of the Company or Voting Representative shall be free to exercise the votes attaching to the Deposited Securities in any manner he/she wishes, which may not be in the best interests of the Holders.

 

The Depositary and the Custodian have no obligation to monitor, and shall not incur any liability for, the action, or failure to act, of the Voting Representative.

 

Please also note that pursuant to Section 3.5 of the Deposit Agreement, the Company may restrict transfers of ADSs where such transfer may result in the total number of Deposited Securities represented by such ADSs owned by a single Holder or Beneficial Owner to exceed limits imposed by applicable law, the Republic of China Securities and Futures Commission or the Taiwan Stock Exchange, or the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, and may instruct the Depositary to take action including, but not limited to, the removal or limitation of voting rights with respect to any Holder or Beneficial Owner of ADSs representing Deposited Securities in excess of such limits.

 

Please also note that the Company has informed the Depositary that pursuant to Article 165 of the Company Law, the registration of shareholders of the Company will cease from _______, 2017 to _______, 2017.

 

The information contained herein with respect to the Meeting has been provided by the Company. Citibank, N.A. is forwarding this information to you solely as Depositary and in accordance with the terms of the Deposit Agreement and disclaims any responsibility with respect to the accuracy of such information. Citibank, N.A. does not, and should not be deemed to, express any opinion with respect to the proposals to be considered at the Meeting. The rights and obligation of Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs, the Company and the Depositary are set forth in their entirety in the Deposit Agreement and summarized in the ADRs. If you wish to receive a copy of the Deposit Agreement, please contact the Depositary at the number set forth below.

 

If you have any questions about the way in which Voting Instructions may be delivered to the Depositary, please contact Citibank, N.A. - ADR Shareholder Services at (877-248-4237).

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.2

 

Extraordinary General Meeting

 

The Voting Instructions must be signed, completed and received at the indicated address prior to
10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on _______, 2017 for action to be taken.

 

2017 VOTING INSTRUCTIONS AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES

 

ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEERING, INC. (the “Company”)

 

ADS CUSIP No.: 00756M404.
ADS Record Date: _________, 2017.
Meeting Specifics: Extraordinary General Meeting - ____________, 2017 at _____ A.M./P.M. (local time) at [26 Chin Third Road, Nantze Export Processing Zone, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China] (the “Meeting”).
Meeting Agenda: Please refer to the Company’s Notice of Meeting enclosed herewith.
Depositary: Citibank, N.A.
Deposit Agreement: Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2000, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of April 6, 2006, as further amended by Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of November 27, 2006.
Deposited Securities: Common shares, par value NT$10 per share, of the Company.
Custodian: Citibank Taiwan Ltd.

 

The undersigned holder, as of the ADS Record Date, of the American Depositary Shares issued under the Deposit Agreement and identified on the reverse side hereof (such American Depositary Shares, the “ADSs”), hereby authorizes and directs the Depositary to cause to be voted at the Meeting (and any adjournment or postponement thereof) the Deposited Securities represented by the ADSs in the manner indicated on the reverse side hereof.

 

Please note that, in accordance with and subject to the terms of Section 4.10(b) of the Deposit Agreement, Holders of ADSs have no individual voting rights with respect to the Deposited Securities represented by their ADSs. Each Holder of ADSs shall be deemed by acceptance of ADSs or acquisition of any beneficial interest therein, to have authorized and directed the Depositary, without liability, to appoint the Chairman of the Company or his/her designee (the Chairman and his/her designee, the “Voting Representative”), as representative of the Depositary, the Custodian or the nominee who is registered in the Republic of China as representative of the Holders in respect of the Deposited Securities, to vote the Deposited Securities as described below.

 

In accordance with and subject to the terms of Section 4.10(c) of the Deposit Agreement, if Holders of ADSs together holding at least 51% of all the ADSs outstanding as of the ADS Record Date shall instruct the Depositary, prior to the ADS Voting Instructions Deadline, to vote in the same manner in respect of one or more resolutions to be proposed at the Meeting (including resolutions for the election of directors and/or supervisors), the Depositary shall notify the Voting Representative and appoint the Voting Representative as the representative of the Depositary and the Registered Holders to attend the Meeting and vote all Deposited Securities evidenced by ADSs outstanding in the manner so instructed by such Holders. If voting instructions are received by the Depositary as of the ADS Voting Instructions Deadline which are signed but without further indication as to voting instructions, the Depositary shall deem such Holder to have instructed a vote in favor of the items set forth in such instructions.

 

In accordance with and subject to the terms of Section 4.10(d) of the Deposit Agreement, if, for any reason, the Depositary has not, prior to the ADS Voting Instructions Deadline, received instructions from Holders of ADSs together holding at least 51% of all ADSs outstanding as of the ADS Record Date, to vote in the same manner in respect of any resolution (including resolutions for the election of directors and/or supervisors) to be proposed at the Meeting, the Holders of ADSs shall be deemed to have authorized and directed the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy (a “Management Proxy”) to the Voting Representative as the representative of the Registered Holder to attend and vote at the Meeting all the Deposited Securities represented by ADSs then outstanding in his/her discretion; provided, however, that the Depositary will not give a discretionary proxy as described if it fails to receive a satisfactory opinion from the Company’s counsel prior to the Meeting. In such circumstances, the Chairman of the Company or Voting Representative shall be free to exercise the votes attaching to the Deposited Securities in any manner he/she wishes, which may not be in the best interests of the Holders.

 

Please also note that pursuant to Section 3.5 of the Deposit Agreement, the Company may restrict transfers of ADSs where such transfer may result in the total number of Deposited Securities represented by such ADSs owned by a single Holder or Beneficial Owner to exceed limits imposed by applicable law, the Republic of China Securities and Futures Commission or the Taiwan Stock Exchange, or the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, and may instruct the Depositary to take action including, but not limited to, the removal or limitation of voting rights with respect to any Holder or Beneficial Owner of ADSs representing Deposited Securities in excess of such limits.

 

Please also note that the Company has informed the Depositary that pursuant to Article 165 of the Company Law, the registration of shareholders of the Company will cease from ________, 2017 to _______, 2017.

 

Please indicate on the reverse side hereof how the Deposited Securities are to be voted.

 

The Voting Instructions must be marked, signed and returned on time in order to be counted.

 

By signing on the reverse side hereof, the undersigned represents to the Depositary and the Company that the undersigned is duly authorized to give the voting instructions contained therein.

 

 
 
Proposal 1.   To consider and to vote upon the approval of the joint share exchange agreement entered into between Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. and Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd. on June 30, 2016 (the “Joint Share Exchange Agreement”) and the proposed share exchange.
     
Proposal 2.   To consider and to vote upon the adoption of the articles of incorporation of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.
     
Proposal 3.   To consider and to vote upon the Rules of Procedure for Shareholders' Meetings of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.
     
Proposal 4.   To consider and to vote upon the Rules Governing the Election of Directors and Supervisors of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.
     
Proposal 5.   To consider and to vote upon the Procedures for Lending Funds to Other Parties of ASE Holdings Corporation and Procedures of Making of Endorsement and Guarantees of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.
     
Proposal 6.   To consider and to vote upon the Acquisition or Disposal of Assets of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.
   
Proposal 7.   To consider and elect the members of the board of directors and supervisors of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.
     
Proposal 8.   To consider and to vote upon the proposal to waive the non-competition clauses applicable to newly elected directors of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

The Depositary has been advised by the Company that its Board of Directors recommends a FOR vote for all resolutions.

 

A Issues ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEERING, INC.

 

  For Against Abstain   For Against Abstain
Resolution 1. Resolution 5.
Resolution 2. Resolution 6.  
Resolution 3. Resolution 7.
Resolution 4. Resolution 8.

 

B Authorized Signatures - Sign Here - This section must be completed for your instructions to be executed.

 

If these Voting Instructions are signed and timely returned to the Depositary but no specific direction as to voting is marked above as to an issue, the undersigned shall be deemed to have directed the Depositary to give Voting Instructions “FOR” the unmarked issue.

 

If these Voting Instructions are signed and timely returned to the Depositary but multiple specific directions as to voting are marked above as to an issue, the undersigned shall be deemed to have directed the Depositary to give an “ABSTAIN” Voting Instruction for such issue.

 

Please be sure to sign and date this Voting Instruction Card.

 

Please sign your name to the Voting Instructions exactly as printed. When signing in a fiduciary or representative capacity, give full title as such. Where more than one owner, each MUST sign. Voting Instructions executed by a corporation should be in full name by a duly authorized officer with full title as such.

 

Signature 1 - Please keep signature within the line Signature 2 - Please keep signature within the line Date (mm/dd/yyyy)
________________________________________ ________________________________________ _____/________/______