BEIJING, Feb. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JA Solar Holdings Co., Ltd. (Nasdaq:JASO) (“JA Solar” or the “Company”), one of the world’s largest manufacturers of high-performance solar power products, today announced that it has called an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders (the “EGM”), to be held at 10:00 a.m. Beijing Time on March 12, 2018, at Room 816, Building No. 8, Noble Center, Automobile Museum East Road, Fengtai, Beijing 100070, People's Republic of China, to consider and vote on, among other things, the proposal to authorize and approve the previously announced agreement and plan of merger (the “Merger Agreement”) dated November 17, 2017 by and among JASO Holdings Limited, an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (“Holdco”), JASO Parent Limited, an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco (“Parent”), JASO Acquisition Limited, an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”) and the Company, the plan of merger required to be filed with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands in connection with the Merger (as defined below), substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A to the Merger Agreement (the “Plan of Merger”) and the transactions contemplated thereby (including the Merger).
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement and the Plan of Merger, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company continuing as the surviving company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent in accordance with Cayman Islands Companies Law. If completed, the Merger will result in the Company becoming a privately held company, the Company’s American depositary shares (each representing five ordinary shares of the Company, “ADSs”) will no longer be listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC, and the ADS program for the Company’s ADSs will terminate. In addition, the Company’s ADSs and ordinary shares represented by the ADSs will cease to be registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 following the consummation of the Merger.
The Company’s board of directors, acting upon the unanimous recommendation of the special committee of the board of directors of the Company comprised solely of independent, non-management directors unaffiliated with Holdco, Parent or Merger Sub, or any other member of the buyer group, authorized and approved the Merger Agreement, the Plan of Merger and the transactions contemplated thereby (including the Merger) and recommended that the Company’s shareholders and ADS holders vote FOR, among other things, the proposal to authorize and approve the Merger Agreement, the Plan of Merger and the transactions contemplated thereby (including the Merger).
Shareholders of record as of the close of business in the Cayman Islands on February 23, 2018 will be entitled to attend and vote at the EGM. ADS holders as of the close of business in New York City on January 26, 2018 will be entitled to instruct The Bank of New York Mellon, the ADS depositary, to vote the ordinary shares represented by the ADSs at the EGM.
Additional information regarding the EGM and the Merger Agreement can be found in the transaction statement on Schedule 13E-3 and the proxy statement attached as Exhibit (a)-(1) thereto, as amended, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), which can be obtained, along with other filings containing information about the Company, the proposed Merger and related matters, without charge, from the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov). In addition, the Company’s proxy materials (including the definitive proxy statement) will be mailed to shareholders and ADS holders.
SHAREHOLDERS AND ADS HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY THESE MATERIALS AND OTHER MATERIALS FILED WITH OR FURNISHED TO THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, AS THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY, THE PROPOSED MERGER AND RELATED MATTERS.
The Company and certain of its directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees may, under SEC rules, be deemed to be “participants” in the solicitation of proxies from our shareholders with respect to the proposed Merger. Information regarding the persons who may be considered “participants” in the solicitation of proxies is set forth in the Schedule 13E-3 transaction statement relating to the proposed Merger and the definitive proxy statement attached thereto. Further information regarding persons who may be deemed participants, including any direct or indirect interests they may have, is also set forth in the definitive proxy statement.
This announcement is neither a solicitation of proxies, an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell any securities and it is not a substitute for the proxy statement and other materials that have been or will be filed with or furnished to the SEC.
About JA Solar Holdings Co., Ltd.
JA Solar Holdings Co., Ltd. is a leading manufacturer of high-performance solar power products that convert sunlight into electricity for residential, commercial, and utility-scale power generation. The Company is one of the world’s largest producers of solar power products. Its standard and high-efficiency product offerings are among the most powerful and cost-effective in the industry. The Company distributes products under its own brand and also produces on behalf of its clients. The Company shipped 5.2 GW of solar power products in 2016. JA Solar is headquartered in Beijing, China, and maintains production facilities in Shanghai, Hebei, Jiangsu and Anhui provinces in China, as well as Penang, Malaysia and Bac Giang, Vietnam.
Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact in this announcement are forward-looking statements, which may include but are not limited to, the Company’s ability to raise additional capital to finance its activities; the effectiveness, profitability and marketability of its products; the future trading of the securities of the Company; the Company’s ability to operate as a public company; the period of time for which the Company’s current liquidity will enable the Company to fund its operations; general economic and business conditions; demand in various markets for solar products; the volatility of the Company’s operating results and financial condition; the Company’s ability to attract or retain qualified senior management personnel and research and development staff; and other risks detailed in the Company’s filings with the SEC. Forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “if,” “will,” “expected” and similar statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about the Company and the industry in which the Company operates. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include: uncertainties as to how the Company’s shareholders will vote at the meeting of shareholders; the possibility that competing offers will be made; the possibility that financing may not be available; the possibility that various closing conditions for the transaction may not be satisfied or waived; and other risks and uncertainties discussed in documents filed with the SEC by the Company, as well as the Schedule 13E-3 transaction statement and the proxy statement to be filed by the Company. You should not rely upon these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results.
For more information, please visit www.jasolar.com.
CONTACT:
The Blueshirt Group
Ralph Fong
Phone: +1 (415) 489-2195
Email: ralph@blueshirtgroup.com