The directors have pleasure in presenting their annual report and the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010.
The Company acts as an investment holding company and also trades electrical and electronic products.
The principal activities of the principal subsidiaries and associates are set out in Notes 56 and 57 to the financial statements, respectively.
The results of the Group for the year ended December 31, 2010 are set out in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income on page 50.
An interim dividend of HK3.75 cents per share amounting to approximately HK$60,231,000 was paid to the shareholders during the year.
The directors now recommend the payment of a final dividend of HK6.25 cents per share to the shareholders on the register of members on May 20, 2011, amounting to approximately HK$100,414,000.
Details of movements during the year in the share capital and warrants of the Company are set out in Note 44 to the financial statements.
During the year, holders of unlisted warrants previously issued by the Company, entitling the holder to subscribe for new shares of the Company at an exercise price of HK$5.10 per share between April 30, 2010 and April 30, 2012 (the “Warrants”), exercised 14,903,600 Warrants at the exercise price resulting in the issuance of 14,903,600 new shares of the Company.
During the year, the Group bought back 40,984,900 warrants from certain Warrants’ holders for a consideration of HK$101,843,000.
During the year, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries purchased, sold, or redeemed any of the Company’s listed securities.
The directors of the Company during the year and up to the date of this report were:
Group Executive Directors:
Mr Horst Julius Pudwill, Chairman
Prof Roy Chi Ping Chung JP, Vice Chairman
Mr Joseph Galli Jr, Chief Executive Officer
Mr Kin Wah Chan
Mr Chi Chung Chan
Mr Stephan Horst Pudwill
Non-executive Director:
Mr Vincent Ting Kau Cheung
Independent Non-executive Directors:
Mr Joel Arthur Schleicher
Mr Christopher Patrick Langley OBE
Mr Manfred Kuhlmann
Mr Peter David Sullivan
In accordance with Article 103 of the Company’s Articles of Association, Messrs. Horst Julius Pudwill, Joseph Galli Jr, Christopher Patrick Langley OBE and Peter David Sullivan will retire at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting and, being eligible, offer themselves for re-election.
No director proposed for re-election at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting has a service contract, which is not determinable by the Group within one year without payment of compensation, other than statutory compensation.
As at December 31, 2010, the interests and short positions of the directors and the chief executive of the Company in the shares, underlying shares and debentures of the Company or any of its associated corporations (within the meaning of Part XV of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (“SFO”)) which have been notified to the Company pursuant to Divisions 7 and 8 of Part XV of the SFO (including interests and short positions which any such director or chief executive has taken or deemed to have under such provisions of the SFO) or as recorded in the register required to be kept under section 352 of the SFO or otherwise notified to the Company and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited pursuant to the Model Code for Securities Transactions by Directors of Listed Issuers as set out in Appendix 10 to the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (“the Listing Rules”) and as adopted by the Company, were as follows:
| Name of directors | Capacity/Nature of interests |
Interests in shares (other than pursuant to equity derivatives)(1) |
Interests in underlying shares pursuant to equity derivatives(1) |
Total interests in shares/ underlying shares |
Approximate aggregate percentage of interests |
| Mr Horst Julius Pudwill | Beneficial owner Interests of spouse Interests of controlled corporation |
145,361,000 760,000 253,159,794(2) |
1,200,000 — — |
400,480,794 | 24.93% |
| Prof Roy Chi Ping Chung JP | Beneficial owner Interests of spouse Interests of controlled corporation |
56,405,948 136,000 37,075,030(3) |
600,000 — — |
94,216,978 | 5.86% |
| Mr Joseph Galli Jr | Beneficial owner | 814,500 | 3,500,000 | 4,314,500 | 0.27% |
| Mr Kin Wah Chan | Beneficial owner | — | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 0.06% |
| Mr Chi Chung Chan | Beneficial owner | — | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 0.06% |
| Mr Stephan Horst Pudwill | Beneficial owner | 4,509,500 | 1,000,000 | 5,509,500 | 0.34% |
| Mr Vincent Ting Kau Cheung | Beneficial owner | 1,920,000 | 400,000 | 2,320,000 | 0.14% |
| Mr Joel Arthur Schleicher | Beneficial owner Interests of spouse |
100,000 — |
400,000 60,000(1) |
560,000 | 0.03% |
|
Mr Christopher
Patrick Langley OBE
|
Beneficial owner | 500,000 | 400,000 | 900,000 | 0.06% |
| Mr Manfred Kuhlmann | Beneficial owner | — | 400,000 | 400,000 | 0.02% |
| Mr Peter David Sullivan | Beneficial owner | — | 400,000 | 400,000 | 0.02% |
The interests of the directors of the Company in the underlying shares pursuant to equity derivatives, which were held as beneficial owner, represent share options granted to them respectively pursuant to the share option schemes adopted by the Company, details of which are separately disclosed in the section headed “Share Options” below. These share options are physically settled and unlisted.
The interests of the spouse of Mr Joel Arthur Schleicher in the underlying shares pursuant to listed equity derivatives represent an interest in 60,000 underlying shares held in the form of 12,000 American Depositary Receipts, each representing 5 shares of the Company.
| No. of shares | |
| Sunning Inc. | 216,084,764 |
| Cordless Industries Company Limited * | 37,075,030 |
| 253,159,794 |
- Cordless Industries Company Limited is owned as to 70% by Mr Horst
Julius Pudwill and as to 30% by Prof Roy Chi Ping Chung JP.
Save as disclosed above, none of the directors and the chief executive of the Company was interested or had any short position in any shares, underlying shares or debentures of the Company and its associated corporations (within he meaning of Part XV or the SFO) as at December 31, 2010.
Scheme adopted on March 28, 2002 (“Scheme C”)
Scheme C was adopted pursuant to a resolution passed on March 28, 2002 for recognition of the contribution to the development and growth of the Group by the eligible persons. This scheme expired on March 27, 2007. Under Scheme C, the Board of Directors of the Company may grant share options to the following eligible persons (and their wholly owned companies) of the Company, its subsidiaries and any companies in which the Group holds any equity interest, to subscribe for shares in the Company:
- employees; or
- Non-executive Directors (including Independent Nonexecutive Directors); or
- suppliers or customers; or
- any person or entity that provides research, development or other technological support; or
- shareholders.
Share options granted must be taken up within 21 days of the date of grant upon payment of HK$1.00 in cash by way of consideration for the grant thereof. Share options may be exercised at any time from the date of grant to the fifth anniversary thereof. The subscription price is set at the highest of: the closing price of the shares on the date of offer of the share option; or the average closing price of shares as stated in the daily quotation sheets issued by the Stock Exchange for the five trading days immediately preceding the date of offer; or the nominal value of shares on the date of offer.
The maximum number of shares in respect of which share options may be granted under Scheme C is not permitted to exceed 30.00% of the issued share capital of the Company from time to time or 10.00% of shares in issue as at the adoption date of Scheme C. No person shall be granted an option which exceeds1.00% of the shares in issue as at the date of offer in any12-month period up to the date thereof.
Scheme adopted on May 29, 2007 (“Scheme D”)
Following the termination of Scheme C, a new share option scheme was adopted pursuant to a resolution passed on May 29, 2007 for recognition of the contribution to the development and growth of the Group by the eligible persons. This scheme will expire on May 28, 2017. Under Scheme D, the Board of Directors of the Company may grant share options to the following eligible persons (and their wholly owned companies) of the Company, its subsidiaries and any companies in which the Group holds any equity interest, to subscribe for shares in the Company:
- employees; or
- Non-executive Directors (including Independent Nonexecutive Directors); or
- secondees, or
- business partners, agents, consultants; or
- suppliers or customers; or
- any person or entity that provides research, development or other technological support; or
- shareholders.
Share options granted must be taken up within 21 days of the date of grant, upon payment of HK$1.00 in cash by way of consideration for the grant thereof. Share options may be exercised at any time from the date of grant to the tenth anniversary thereof. The subscription price is set at the highest of: the closing price of the shares on the date of offer of the share option; or the average closing price of shares as stated in the daily quotation sheets issued by the Stock Exchange for the five trading days immediately preceding the date of offer; or the nominal value of shares on the date of offer.
The maximum number of shares in respect of which share options may be granted under Scheme D is not permitted to exceed 30.00% of the issued share capital of the Company from time to time or 10.00% of shares in issue as at the adoption date of Scheme D. No person shall be granted an option which exceeds 1.00% of the shares in issue as at the date of offer in any 12-month period up to the date thereof.
The following table discloses movements in the Company’s share options during the year:
| Share option holders | Date of share options granted | Share option scheme category | Outstanding at beginning of the year | Granted during the year | Exercised during the year | Lapsed during the year | Outstanding at end of the year | Subscription price HK$ |
Exercise period |
| Directors | |||||||||
| Mr Horst Julius Pudwill | 16.11.2009 26.11.2010 |
D D |
600000 — |
— 600000 |
— — |
— — |
600000 600000 |
6.770 8.310 |
16.11.2009 -15.11.2019 26.11.2010 -25.11.2020 |
| Prof Roy Chi Ping Chung JP | 16.11.2009 | D | 600,000 | — | — | — | 600,000 | 6.770 | 16.11.2009 -15.11.2019 |
| Mr Joseph Galli Jr | 1.11.2006 6.3.2007 16.11.2009 |
C C D |
1,500,000 1,000,000 1,000,000 |
— — — |
— — — |
— — — |
1,500,000 1,000,000 1,000,000 |
11.252 10.572 6.770 |
1.11.2006 -31.10.2011 6.3.2007 -5.3.2012 16.11.2009 -15.11.2019 |
| Mr Kin Wah Chan | 16.11.2009 | D | 1,000,000 | — | — | — | 1,000,000 | 6.770 | 16.11.2009 -15.11.2019 |
| Mr Chi Chung Chan | 16.11.2009 | D | 1,000,000 | — | — | — | 1,000,000 | 6.770 | 16.11.2009 -15.11.2019 |
| Mr Stephan Horst Pudwill | 16.11.2009 | D | 1,000,000 | — | — | — | 1,000,000 | 6.770 | 16.11.2009 -15.11.2019 |
| Mr Vincent Ting Kau Cheung | 16.11.2009 | D | 400,000 | — | — | — | 400,000 | 6.770 | 16.11.2009 -15.11.2019 |
| Mr Joel Arthur Schleicher | 16.11.2009 | D | 400,000 | — | — | — | 400,000 | 6.770 | 16.11.2009 -15.11.2019 |
| Mr Christopher Patrick Langley OBE | 16.11.2009 | D | 400,000 | — | — | — | 400,000 | 6.770 | 16.11.2009 -15.11.2019 |
| Mr Manfred Kuhlmann | 7.2.2005 16.11.2009 |
C D |
100,000 400,000 |
— — |
— — |
(100,000) — |
— 400,000 |
17.750 6.770 |
7.2.2005 – 6.2.2010 16.11.2009 – 15.11.2019 |
| Mr Peter David Sullivan | 16.11.2009 | D | 400,000 | — | — | — | 400,000 | 6.770 | 16.11.2009 -15.11.2019 |
| Total for directors | 9,800,000 | 600,000 | — | (100,000) | 10,300,000 | ||||
| Employees | 7.4.2005 | C | 200,000 | — | — | (200,000) | — | 17.210 | 7.4.2005 -6.4.2010 |
| 17.6.2005 | C | 250,000 | — | — | (250,000) | — | 17.950 | 17.6.2005 -16.6.2010 | |
| 1.1.2006 | C | 50,000 | — | — | — | 50,000 | 18.690 | 1.1.2006 -31.12.2010 | |
| 1.3.2006 | C | 2,315,000 | — | — | (431,000) | 1,884,000 | 13.970 | 1.3.2006 -28.2.2011 | |
| 15.6.2006 | C | 200,000 | — | — | — | 200,000 | 10.270 | 15.6.2006 -14.6.2011 | |
| 17.6.2006 | C | 350,000 | — | — | — | 350,000 | 10.550 | 17.6.2006 -16.6.2011 | |
| 4.10.2006 | C | 75,000 | — | — | — | 75,000 | 11.628 | 4.10.2006 -3.10.2011 | |
| 8.11.2006 | C | 30,000 | — | — | — | 30,000 | 12.200 | 8.11.2006 -7.11.2011 | |
| 4.12.2006 | C | 150,000 | — | — | — | 150,000 | 10.952 | 4.12.2006 -3.12.2011 | |
| 13.12.2006 | C | 20,000 | — | — | — | 20,000 | 10.560 | 13.12.2006 -12.12.2011 | |
| 1.1.2007 | C | 150,000 | — | — | — | 150,000 | 10.080 | 1.1.2007 -31.12.2011 | |
| 6.3.2007 | C | 4,835,000 | — | — | (510,000) | 4,325,000 | 10.572 | 6.3.2007 -5.3.2012 | |
| 20.7.2007 | D | 200,000 | — | — | — | 200,000 | 10.060 | 20.7.2007 -19.7.2017 | |
| 24.8.2007 | D | 2,310,000 | — | — | (250,000) | 2,060,000 | 8.390 | 24.8.2007 -23.8.2017 | |
| 16.10.2007 | D | 75,000 | — | — | — | 75,000 | 8.810 | 16.10.2007 -15.10.2017 | |
| 7.11.2007 | D | 40,000 | — | — | — | 40,000 | 8.088 | 7.11.2007 -6.11.2017 | |
| 23.11.2007 | D | 500,000 | — | — | — | 500,000 | 7.578 | 23.11.2007 -22.11.2017 | |
| 14.1.2008 | D | 1,320,000 | — | — | (300,000) | 1,020,000 | 7.566 | 14.1.2008 -13.1.2018 | |
| 17.4.2008 | D | 1,925,000 | — | — | (100,000) | 1,825,000 | 7.780 | 17.4.2008 -16.4.2018 | |
| 14.5.2008 | D | 240,000 | — | — | — | 240,000 | 7.500 | 14.5.2008 -13.5.2018 | |
| 30.5.2008 | D | 640,000 | — | — | — | 640,000 | 7.546 | 30.5.2008 -29.5.2018 | |
| 1.9.2008 | D | 150,000 | — | — | — | 150,000 | 7.450 | 1.9.2008 -31.8.2018 | |
| 2.9.2008 | D | 300,000 | — | (300,000) | — | — | 7.388 | 2.9.2008 -1.9.2018 | |
| 11.9.2008 | D | 50,000 | — | — | — | 50,000 | 7.430 | 11.9.2008 -10.9.2018 | |
| 2.10.2008 | D | 75,000 | — | — | — | 75,000 | 7.068 | 2.10.2008 -1.10.2018 | |
| 1.12.2008 | D | 100,000 | — | — | — | 100,000 | 2.340 | 1.12.2008 -30.11.2018 | |
| 16.11.2009 | D | 7,570,000 | — | (145,000) | (90,000) | 7,335,000 | 6.770 | 16.11.2009 -15.11.2019 | |
| 7.12.2009 | D | 100,000 | — | — | — | 100,000 | 6.790 | 7.12.2009 -6.12.2019 | |
| 21.12.2009 | D | 300,000 | — | (25,000) | (50,000) | 225,000 | 6.350 | 21.12.2009 -20.12.2019 | |
| 28.12.2009 | D | 30,000 | — | — | — | 30,000 | 6.390 | 28.12.2009 -27.12.2019 | |
| 13.9.2010 | D | — | 1,050,000 | — | — | 1,050,000 | 7.390 | 13.9.2010 -12.9.2020 | |
| Total for employees | 24,550,000 | 1,050,000 | (470,000) | (2,181,000) | 22,949,000 | ||||
| Total for all categories | 34,350,000 | 1,650,000 | (470,000) | (2,281,000) | 33,249,000 |
The weighted average closing prices of shares on the options grant date during 2010 and 2009 were HK$7.49 and HK$6.84 respectively.
The closing price of the Company’s shares immediately before various dates of grant ranged from HK$7.26 to HK$7.90.
The weighted average closing prices of the Company’s shares immediately before various dates during 2010 on which the share options were exercised were HK$8.15. No share options were exercised in 2009.
The fair values of the share options granted in 2010 and 2009 measured at various dates of grant ranged from HK$1.89 to HK$2.14 and HK$1.65 to HK$1.75 per option respectively.
| Name | Total interests in shares (L/S/LP)* |
Approximate aggregate percentage of interests |
| Capital Research and Management Company(1) | 145,857,000 (L) | 9.08% (L) |
| Credit Suisse Group AG(2) | 81,168,892 (L) 81,250,633 (S) |
5.05% (L) 5.06% (S) |
| FMR LLC(3) | 162,186,500 (L) | 10.09% (L) |
| Hang Seng Bank Trustee International Limited(4) | 80,915,000 (L) | 5.04% (L) |
| JPMorgan Chase & Co.(5) | 178,461,655 (L) 6,414,744 (S) 156,460,911 (LP) |
11.11% (L) 0.40% (S) 9.74% (LP) |
* (L/S/LP) represents (Long position/Short position/Lending Pool)
Notes:
| Total interests in shares | ||||||
| Name | Remarks | Direct interests | (L/S) | Deemed interests | (L/S) | Approximate percentage of interests |
| Credit Suisse Group AG | (2a) | — | — | 81,168,892 | (L) | 5.05% |
| — | — | 81,250,633 | (S) | 5.06% | ||
| Credit Suisse AG | (2b) | 33,384,512 | (L) | 47,784,380 | (L) | 5.05% |
| 33,384,512 | (S) | 47,866,121 | (S) | 5.06% | ||
| Credit Suisse AG, New York Branch | (2b) | 9,750 | (L) | — | — | 0.00% |
| Credit Suisse International | (2b) | 68,123 | (L) | — | — | 0.00% |
| Credit Suisse (Hong Kong) Limited | (2b) | 155,000 | (S) | — | — | 0.01% |
| Credit Suisse Holdings (USA), Inc. | (2b) | — | — | 13,738,470 | (L) | 0.86% |
| — | — | 13,738,470 | (S) | 0.86% | ||
| Credit Suisse (USA), Inc. | (2b) | — | — | 13,738,470 | (L) | 0.86% |
| — | — | 13,738,470 | (S) | 0.86% | ||
| Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC | (2b) | 13,738,470 | (L) | — | — | 0.86% |
| 13,738,470 | (S) | — | — | 0.86% | ||
| Credit Suisse Investments (UK) | (2b) | — | — | 33,968,037 | (L) | 2.11% |
| — | — | 33,972,651 | (S) | 2.11% | ||
| Credit Suisse Investment Holdings (UK) | (2b) | — | — | 33,968,037 | (L) | 2.11% |
| — | — | 33,972,651 | (S) | 2.11% | ||
| Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Limited | (2b) | 33,968,037 | (L) | — | — | 2.11% |
| 33,972,651 | (S) | — | — | 2.11% | ||
| Total interests in shares | ||||||
| Name | Remarks | Direct interests | (L/S) | Deemed interests | (L/S) | Approximate percentage of interests |
| FMR LLC | (3a) | — | — | 162,186,500 | (L) | 10.09% |
| Fidelity Management & Research Company | (3b) | — | — | 139,343,000 | (L) | 8.67% |
|
Fidelity Management Trust Company,
Pyramis Global Advisors LLC
|
(3b) | — | — | 22,843,500 | (L) | 1.42% |
| Total interests in shares | ||||||
| Name | Remarks | Direct interests | (L/S) | Deemed interests | (L/S) | Approximate percentage of interests |
| Hang Seng Bank Trustee International Limited | (4a) | — | — | 80,915,000 | (L) | 5.04% |
| Cheah Company Limited | (4b) | — | — | 80,915,000 | (L) | 5.04% |
| Cheah Capital Management Limited | (4b) | — | — | 80,915,000 | (L) | 5.04% |
| Value Partners Group Limited | (4b) | — | — | 80,915,000 | (L) | 5.04% |
| Value Partners Limited | (4b) | 80,915,000 | (L) | — | — | 5.04% |
Seng Bank Trustee International Limited and by virtue of the SFO, Hang Seng Bank Trustee International Limited was deemed to be interested in the shares held by these subsidiaries.
| Total interests in shares | ||||||
| Name | Remarks | Direct interests | (L/S) | Deemed interests | (L/S) | Approximate percentage of interests |
| JPMorgan Chase & Co. | (5a) | — — — |
— — — |
178,461,655 6,414,744 156,460,911 |
(L) (S) (LS) |
11.11% 0.40% 9.74% |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. | (5b) | 156,460,911 — |
(L) — |
5,638,500 5,603,000 |
(L) (S) |
10.09% 0.35% |
| J.P. Morgan Securities Ltd. | (5b) | 5,603,000 5,603,000 |
(L) (S) |
— — |
— — |
0.35% 0.35% |
| J.P. Morgan Chase International Holdings | (5b) | — — |
— — |
5,603,000 5,603,000 |
(L) (S) |
0.35% 0.35% |
| J.P. Morgan Chase (UK) Holdings Limited | (5b) | — — |
— — |
5,603,000 5,603,000 |
(L) (S) |
0.35% 0.35% |
| J.P. Morgan Capital Holdings Limited | (5b) | — — |
— — |
5,603,000 5,603,000 |
(L) (S) |
0.35% 0.35% |
| J.P. Morgan International Finance Limited | (5b) | — — |
— — |
5,638,500 5,603,000 |
(L) (S) |
0.35% 0.35% |
| Bank One International Holdings Corporation | (5b) | — — |
— — |
5,638,500 5,603,000 |
(L) (S) |
0.35% 0.35% |
| J.P. Morgan International Inc. | (5b) | — — |
— — |
5,638,500 5,603,000 |
(L) (S) |
0.35% 0.35% |
| JF Asset Management Limited | (5b) | 14,420,500 | (L) | — | — | 0.90% |
| JPMorgan Asset Management (Asia) Inc. | (5b) | — | — | 15,550,500 | (L) | 0.97% |
| JPMorgan Asset Management Holdings Inc. | (5b) | — | — | 15,550,500 | (L) | 0.97% |
| J.P. Morgan Whitefriars Inc. | (5b) | 35,500 | (L) | — | — | 0.00% |
| J.P. Morgan Overseas Capital Corporation | (5b) | — | — | 35,500 | (L) | 0.00% |
| JF International Management Inc. | (5b) | 1,130,000 | (L) | — | — | 0.07% |
| J.P. Morgan Markets Limited | (5b) | 811,744 811,744 |
(L) (S) |
— — |
— — |
0.05% 0.05% |
| Bear Stearns Holdings Limited | (5b) | — — |
— — |
811,744 811,744 |
(L) (S) |
0.05% 0.05% |
| Bear Stearns UK Holdings Limited | (5b) | — — |
— — |
811,744 811,744 |
(L) (S) |
0.05% 0.05% |
| The Bear Stearns Companies LLC | (5b) | — — |
— — |
811,744 811,744 |
(L) (S) |
0.05% 0.05% |
Save as disclosed, no other person was interested in or had a short position in the shares, underlying shares and debentures of the Company which would fall to be disclosed to the Company under Divisions 2 and 3 of the Part XV of the SFO as at December 31, 2010.
A resolution will be submitted to the Annual General Meeting to re-appoint Messrs Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu as auditor of the Company.
On behalf of the Board
Horst Julius Pudwill
Chairman
Hong Kong
March 24, 2011
