Issue of Convertible Bonds

Beijing Datang Power Generation Com 04 September 2003 The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited takes no responsibility for the contents of this announcement, makes no representation as to its accuracy or completeness and expressly disclaims any liability whatsoever for any loss howsoever arising from or in reliance upon the whole or any part of the contents of this announcement. This announcement is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities and neither this announcement nor anything herein forms the basis for any contract or commitment whatsoever. Neither this announcement nor any copy thereof may be taken into or distributed in the United States. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Beijing Datang Power Generation Company Limited does not intend to register any part of the proposed offering in the United States. The securities described herein will be sold in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. This communication is directed only at (i) persons outside the United Kingdom; or (ii) persons having professional experience in matters relating to investments who fall within the definition of 'investment professionals' in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2001; or (iii) high net worth bodies corporate, unincorporated associations and partnerships and trustees of high value trusts as described in Article 49(2) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2001. The Bonds will only be available to such persons and persons within the United Kingdom who receive this communication (other than persons falling within (ii) and (iii) above) should not rely on or act upon this communication. In connection with this issue, UBS Investment Bank may (to the extent permitted by applicable laws) over-allot or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the Bonds at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail for a limited period after the issue date. However, there is no obligation on UBS Investment Bank. Such stabilising, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time, and must be brought to an end after a limited period. (Incorporated as a Sino-foreign joint stock limited company in the People's Republic of China with limited liability) Proposed Issue of Convertible Bonds due 2008 Summary Further to the announcements dated 25 March 2002 and 9 May 2003, the Directors are pleased to announce that the Company and UBS Investment Bank, together with the other Managers, have entered into the Subscription Agreement in connection with the issue of the Bonds by the Company with an aggregate principal amount of US$153.8 million. The Bonds will be in the form of US dollar denominated convertible bonds and which are convertible into new H Shares with a nominal value of RMB1.00 each in the registered capital of the Company. The Company has applied for the listing of the Bonds on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and will subsequently apply for the listing of the Bonds on the Official List of the UK Listing Authority and for such Bonds to be admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange's market for listed securities. The Bonds will be offered only to professional and institutional investors, who are not connected to the directors, chief executive or substantial shareholders of the Company or its subsidiaries or associates of any of them, outside the United States in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act. None of the Bonds are being offered to the public in Hong Kong or will be placed to any connected persons (as defined in the Listing Rules) of the Company. No Bonds will be offered within the PRC (excluding Hong Kong). The Company will apply to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange for the listing of, and permission to deal in, the Conversion Shares. Application will also be made to list the Conversion Shares on the Official List of the UK Listing Authority and for such Conversion Shares to be admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange's market for listed securities. The net proceeds of the issue of the Bonds are estimated to be approximately US$149 million, of which the Company intends to use approximately US$100 million to finance its foreign exchange requirements for purchasing essential imported equipment necessary for use in its power plants, and the balance will be used to refinance part of its current foreign exchange borrowings. Due to the price sensitive nature of the transactions contemplated in this announcement, shareholders and investors are advised to exercise caution when dealing in the securities of the Company. Introduction Further to the announcements dated 25 March 2002 and 9 May 2003, the Directors are pleased to announce that the Company and UBS Investment Bank, together with the Managers, have entered into the Subscription Agreement in connection with the issue of the Bonds by the Company with an aggregate principal amount of US$153.8 million. Subscription Agreement Date: 3 September 2003 Parties: Company UBS Investment Bank The other Managers UBS Investment Bank is the sole bookrunner and lead manager in respect of the subscription and issue of the Bonds. Subject to the fulfillment of the conditions and other provisions specified in the Subscription Agreement, UBS Investment Bank and the other Managers have severally agreed, amongst other things, to subscribe and pay for the Bonds in accordance with the Subscription Agreement. The Bonds will be offered only to professional and institutional investors, who are not connected to the directors, chief executive or substantial shareholders of the Company or its subsidiaries or associates of any of them, outside the United States in reliance of Regulation S under the Securities Act. None of the Bonds are being offered to the public in Hong Kong or will be placed to any connected persons (as defined in the Listing Rules) of the Company. No Bonds will be offered within the PRC (excluding Hong Kong). Conditions of the Subscription Agreement The Subscription Agreement is conditional on the fulfillment of various conditions, including: (a) the Luxembourg Stock Exchange having agreed to list the Bonds; (b) the Hong Kong Stock Exchange having granted the approval for the listing of, and permission to deal in, the Conversion Shares; and (c) the trust deed constituting the Bonds and other documentation ancillary to the issue of the Bonds having been duly executed; or in the case of (a) and (b), the Managers being satisfied that each such listing will be granted. The Subscription Agreement may be terminated in certain circumstances occurring prior to completion, in particular, UBS Investment Bank may (on behalf of the Managers (after prior consultation with the Company, where practicable)) by notice to the Company, terminate the Subscription Agreement at any time before the time on the Closing Date when payment for the Bonds would otherwise be due under the Subscription Agreement in any of the following circumstances:- (i) if there shall have come to the notice of the Managers any breach of, or any event rendering untrue or incorrect in any material respect, any of the warranties and representations contained in the Subscription Agreement or any failure to perform any of the covenants or agreements of the Company in the Subscription Agreement; (ii) if, in the opinion of UBS Investment Bank, there shall have occurred any of the following events: (i) a suspension or a material limitation in trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange, Luxembourg Stock Exchange and/or the Hong Kong Stock Exchange; (ii) a suspension or a material limitation in trading in the Company's securities on the London Stock Exchange, Luxembourg Stock Exchange and/or the Hong Kong Stock Exchange; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities in New York, London, the PRC and/or Hong Kong declared by the relevant authorities or a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, the PRC or Hong Kong or (iv) a change or development involving a prospective change in taxation affecting the Company, the Bonds and the Conversion Shares or the transfer thereof; (iii) if, in the opinion of UBS Investment Bank, there shall have been such a change in national or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls as would in its view be likely to prejudice materially the success of the offering and distribution of the Bonds or dealings in the Bonds in the secondary market; or (iv) if any of the conditions specified in the Subscription Agreement has not been satisfied or waived by UBS Investment Bank on behalf of the Managers. Subject to the foregoing, the Subscription Agreement is expected to be completed, and the Bonds to be issued, on or before the Closing Date. Certain undertakings relating to the Subscription Agreement The Company has given certain undertakings in favour of the Managers under the Subscription Agreement, including, amongst others, that neither the Company nor any person acting on its behalf will issue, offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any interest in any H Shares or securities of the same class as the Bonds and the Shares or any securities (other than preferred stock) convertible into, exchangeable for or which carry rights to subscribe or purchase the Bonds, the H Shares or securities of the same class as the Bonds, the H Shares or other instruments representing interests in the Bonds, the H Shares or other securities of the same class as them, or announce or otherwise make public an intention to do any of the foregoing, in any such case without the prior written consent of the Lead Manager on behalf of the Managers between the Pricing Date and the date which is 180 days after the Closing Date (both dates inclusive). Principal Terms of the Bonds The principal terms of the Bonds, which will be constituted by the Trust Deed, are summarised as follows: Issue: Up to US$153.8 million in principal amount of Bonds. Issue price: 100 per cent. of the principal amount of the Bonds. Interest: The Bonds will bear interest from (and including) the Closing Date at the rate, of 0.75 per cent. per annum of the principal amount of the Bonds, payable semi-annually in arrears in equal instalments on 9 March and 9 September in each year, commencing 9 March 2004. Conversion Rights: Subject to as otherwise provided in the Terms and Conditions, Bondholders have the right at any time from 20 October 2003 up to the close of business on the date falling 7 days prior to the Final Maturity Date to convert the Bonds into H Shares (both days inclusive). Conversion Price: The initial conversion price at which an H Share will be issued on conversion is, HK$5.558 per H Share, representing a premium of 30 per cent. of the closing price of the H Shares on 3 September 2003. The conversion price will be subject to adjustment as provided in the Terms and Conditions. Maturity: Unless previously redeemed, converted or purchased and cancelled in the circumstances referred to in the Terms and Conditions, the Bonds will be redeemed at their principal amount on the Final Maturity Date. Redemption at the Option of the Company: On or after 23 September 2006 and prior to 25 August 2008, the Company may redeem the Bonds in whole but not in part only at their principal amount, together with interest accrued to the Redemption Date if (a) the closing price of the H Shares for each of 20 consecutive trading days, the last of which occurs not more than 5 days prior to the date the notice of redemption is published is at least 130 per cent. of the Conversion Price then in effect and the closing price of the H Shares translated into US dollars at the average prevailing rate for each of 20 consecutive trading days, the last of which occurs not more than 5 days prior to the date the notice of redemption is published is at least 130 per cent. of the Conversion Price then in effect translated into US dollars at a fixed rate of HK$7.799 = US$1.00; or (b) at least 90 per cent. in principal amount of the Bonds has already been converted, redeemed or purchased and cancelled. Redemption at the Option of the Bondholders: Bondholders may require the Company to redeem their Bonds: (a) on 9 September 2006 at their principal amount; and (b) at any time following a Relevant Event at their principal amount, together with accrued interest to the Relevant Event Put Date. Tax redemption and Bondholders' Tax Option: In the event the Company becomes obliged to pay any New Additional Amounts and such New Additional Amounts cannot be avoided by the use of reasonable measures, the Company may give notice to redeem the Bonds at their principal amount together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption. Upon receipt of such notice, a Bondholder may elect not to have its Bonds redeemed by the Company, in which case such holder will not be entitled to receive payment of any New Additional Amounts. Form: The Bonds will be issued in registered form in the denomination of US$1,000. The Bonds will be represented by beneficial interest in a Global Certificate which will be registered in the name of a nominee of, and shall be deposited on or about the Closing Date with a common depositary for Clearstream and Euroclear. Status: The Bonds will constitute direct, unconditional, unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Company and will rank pari passu and without any preference or priority among themselves, and with all other outstanding direct, unconditional unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Company, present and future, but in the event of insolvency of the Company, only to the extent permitted by mandatory provisions of applicable law. Listing and trading of the Bonds: Application has been made to list the Bonds on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. Within three months of such listing, the Company will make an application to list the Bonds on the Official List of the UK Listing Authority for such Bonds to be admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange's market for listed securities pursuant to the mutual recognition procedures of the UK Listing Authority's Listing Rules. No other application will be made for the listing of, and permission to deal in, the Bonds on any other stock exchange. Listing and trading of the H Shares: The H Shares are listed and traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and are listed on the Official List of the UK Listing Authority and traded on the London Stock Exchange's market for listed securities. Application will be made to list the Conversion Shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the Official List of the UK Listing Authority and for such Conversion Shares to be admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange's market for listed securities. Conversion Shares For illustrative purposes and assuming a conversion price of HK$5.558 per H Share (based on, for the purpose of this illustration, a premium of 30 per cent. to a closing price of the H Shares on 3 September 2003, the aggregate principal amount of the Bonds of US$153.8 million are convertible into approximately 215.9 million new H Shares representing approximately 4.2 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of the Company and approximately 4.0 per cent. of the issued share capital of the Company as enlarged by the issue of the Conversion Shares. Following the same assumptions, the following table sets out the shareholding structure of the Company as at 31 August 2003 and after full conversion of the Bonds. Shareholders Class of Shares % of shareholding of % of shareholding of the existing issued the enlarged issued share capital of the share capital of the Company Company upon full Conversion of the Bonds* China Datang Corporation Domestic Shares 35.43% 34% Beijing International Power Development Domestic Shares 13.01% 12.49% and Investment Company Hebei Construction Investment Company Domestic Shares 13.01% 12.49% Tianjin Jinneng Investment Company Domestic Shares 10.84% 10.41% Holders of H Shares H Shares 27.71% 30.61% * Assuming that there are no other changes to their existing shareholding other than as a result of the full conversion of the Bonds. The Conversion Shares will be issued pursuant to the special resolutions of the holders of the Shares of the Company, the holders of the Domestic Shares of the Company and the holders of the H Shares of the Company, in each case passed on 10 May 2002 and 10 July 2003. Use of Proceeds The net proceeds of the proposed issue of the Bonds are estimated to be approximately US$149 million, of which the Company intends to use approximately US$100 million to finance part of its foreign exchange requirements for purchasing essential imported equipment necessary for use in its power plants and the balance will be used to refinance part of its current foreign exchange borrowings. Due to the price sensitive nature of the transactions contemplated in this announcement. Shareholders and investors are advised to exercise caution when dealing in the securities of the Company. Definitions In this announcement, the following expressions have the following meanings, unless the context otherwise requires: 'Additional Amounts' any taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges other than those required by law payable by the Company by way of principal and interest (as relevant) as will result in the receipt by the Bondholders of the amounts which would have been receivable in the absence of any such withholding or deduction 'Beijing Datang Group' the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries 'BIPDIC' (Beijing International Power Development Investment Company) 'Bondholders' the holders of the Bonds 'Bonds' up to US$153.8 million in principal amount of bonds proposed to be issued by the Company which are convertible into new H Shares 'CDT' (China Datang Corporation) 'Clearstream' Clearstream Banking, sociIfetIfe anonyme or any successor securities clearing agency 'Closing Date' 9 September 2003 or such other date as may be agreed by the Company and UBS Investment Bank 'Company' (Beijing Datang Power Generation Company Limited), incorporated as a Sino-foreign joint stock limited company in the PRC with limited liability 'Conversion Shares' the H Shares to be issued upon conversion of the Bonds 'Directors' the directors of the Company 'Domestic Shares' Renminbi denominated ordinary shares with nominal value of RMB1.00 each in the registered capital of the Company which are currently held by CDT, BIPDIC, HCIC and TJIC in the proportion of 35.43 per cent., 13.01 per cent., 13.01 per cent. and 10.84 per cent. respectively 'Euroclear' Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. as operator of the Euroclear System or any successor securities clearing agency 'Final Maturity Date' the date falling on the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date 'Global Certificate' a permanent global certificate in registered form 'H Shares' Renminbi denominated overseas listed foreign shares issued by the Company with a nominal value of RMB1.00 each in the registered capital of the Company, which are subscribed for and traded in Hong Kong dollars and for which listing and dealing are permitted on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and on the Official List of the UK Listing Authority and admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange's market for listed securities 'HCIC' (Hebei Construction Investment Company) 'HK$' or 'Hong Kong dollars' the lawful currency of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China 'Hong Kong Stock Exchange' The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited 'Listing Rules' the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange 'London Stock Exchange' London Stock Exchange plc 'Luxembourg Stock Exchange' the Luxembourg Stock Exchange 'Majority Shareholder' such person(s) for the time being holding or controlling, directly or indirectly, in aggregate at least 30 per cent. of the voting rights of the Company 'Managers' UBS Investment Bank and the other managers named in the Subscription Agreement, who are not connected to the directors, chief executive or substantial shareholders of the Company or its subsidiaries or associates of any of them 'New Additional Amounts' Additional Amounts which the Company has or will become obliged to pay exceeding the Additional Amounts payable by the Company as a result of a withholding for or a deduction of any taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges for payments in respect of the Bonds pursuant to the laws and regulations of the PRC or Hong Kong as of the Pricing Date as a result of any change in, or amendment to, the laws or regulations of the PRC or Hong Kong, or any change in the application or official interpretation of such laws or regulations, which change or amendment becomes effective on or after the Pricing Date 'PRC' the People's Republic of China 'Pricing Date' 3 September 2003 'Redemption Date' the date specified in the Redemption Notice 'Redemption Notice' the notice given by the Company to the Trustee and the Bondholders which shall not be given on a date less than 30 days nor more than 60 days of the date on which the Company intends to redeem the Bonds 'Relevant Event' either: (a) a Majority Shareholder of the Company transfers, sells, assigns, conveys or otherwise disposes of ('Transfer') all or part of its voting rights in the Company to another person(s) and the credit rating of the Company is downgraded by S&P as a result of such Transfer; or (b) the Company consolidates or amalgamates with, or merges with or into another entity and the credit rating of the resulting surviving or transferee entity is downgraded by S&P as a result of such consolidation, amalgamation or merger; or (c) the Company or any of its Relevant Subsidiaries transfers or disposes of all or a substantial part of its assets to another entity which is not a member of the Beijing Datang Group other than as a result of a consolidation, amalgamation or merger set out in paragraph (b) above 'Relevant Event Put Date' the fourteenth day after the expiry of a period of 30 days following the occurrence of a Relevant Event, or, if later, a period of 30 days following the date upon which notice is given to Bondholders by the Company of the occurrence of a Relevant Event 'Relevant Subsidiaries' any subsidiary of the Company, which as at the date of the Relevant Event, either (a) is contributing at least 10 per cent. of the gross revenue of the Company; or (b) has assets whose value is at least 10 per cent. of the value of the total assets of the Company 'RMB' or 'Renminbi' Renminbi Yuan, the lawful currency of the PRC 'S&P' Standard & Poor's Rating Services, a division of the McGraw-Hill Group of Companies, Inc. 'Securities Act' the United States Securities Act of 1933 (as amended) 'Shares' the H Shares and the Domestic Shares 'Subscription Agreement' a conditional subscription agreement entered into between the Company and the Managers in relation to the subscription of the Bonds with an aggregate principal amount of US$153.8 million 'Terms and Conditions' the terms and conditions of the Bonds to be scheduled to the Trust Deed 'TJIC' (Tianjin Jinneng Investment Company) 'Trust Deed' the trust deed to be entered into between the Company and the Trustee 'Trustee' J.P. Morgan Corporate Trustee Services Limited 'UBS Investment Bank' UBS AG 'UK' the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 'UK Listing Authority' Financial Services Authority in its capacity as competent authority under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 'United States' or 'US' United States of America 'US$' or 'US dollars' United States dollars, the lawful currency of the United States 'voting rights' all the voting rights currently exercisable at a general meeting of the Company whether or not attributable to the registered capital of the Company By order of the Board Yang Hongming Executive Director and Company Secretary 3 September 2003, Beijing This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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