At a disciplinary hearing by the Listing Committee, a disciplinary (review) hearing by the Listing Committee and a further disciplinary (review) hearing by the Listing Appeals Committee held on 16 May 2000, 5 September 2000 and 24 April 2001 respectively, the Listing Committee and the Listing Appeals Committee, both of the Exchange, conducted hearings into the conduct of, among other things, the Company and the Relevant Directors (executive directors of the Company), in connection with: (i) the failure of the Company to have an adequate public float of at least 25 % of its issued shares in public hands, as defined under Rule 8.24 of the Exchange Listing Rules, and as required by Rule 8.08 of the Exchange Listing Rules; and (ii) the failure of the Company to use the proceeds (the "Proceeds") raised from its new issue directly in accordance with the manner stated in the prospectus of the Company dated 30 June 1998 (the "Prospectus") and the failure to disclose this fact to the shareholders and investing public by way of a public announcement as required by Paragraph 2(1) of the Listing Agreement.
The Listing Committee concluded that there were, among other things, breaches of Rule 8.08 of the Exchange Listing Rules and Paragraph 2(1) of the Listing Agreement.
The Listing Committee found that by virtue of the said breaches of the Exchange Listing Rules and the Listing Agreement, the Relevant Directors breached their respective Director's Undertaking, whereby each of them undertook to comply to the best of his ability with the Exchange Listing Rules from time to time in force, and to use his best endeavours to procure that the Company would so comply.
The Listing Committee further found that such breaches were wilful and/or persistent on the part of the Relevant Directors and regarded the retention of office by the Relevant Directors as being prejudicial to the interests of investors.
The Listing Appeals Committee hereby states publicly that in the Exchange's opinion, the retention of office by each of the Relevant Directors is prejudicial to the interests of investors.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Exchange confirms that in relation to this matter it is not hereby making any public statement concerning the Company, or any present or former member of the Board of Directors of the Company, save for the Relevant Directors.