THIS CIRCULAR IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION

If you are in any doubt as to any aspect of this circular or as to the action to be taken, you should consult a stockbroker or other registered dealer in securities, a bank manager, solicitor, professional accountant or other professional adviser.

If you have sold or transferred all your shares in Four Seas Mercantile Holdings Limited, you should at once hand this circular, together with the enclosed form of proxy, to the purchaser or transferee or to the bank, stockbroker or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected for transmission to the purchaser or transferee.

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited take no responsibility for the contents of this circular, make no representation as to its accuracy or completeness and expressly disclaim any liability whatsoever for any loss howsoever arising from or in reliance upon the whole or any part of the contents of this circular.

FOUR SEAS MERCANTILE HOLDINGS LIMITED

四 洲 集 團 有 限 公 司 *

(Incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability)

(Stock Code: 374)

PROPOSED RE-ELECTION OF RETIRING DIRECTORS

AND

PROPOSED GRANTING OF GENERAL MANDATES TO

REPURCHASE SHARES AND TO ISSUE NEW SHARES

AND

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

A notice convening the Annual General Meeting of Four Seas Mercantile Holdings Limited to be held at Garden Room, 2nd Floor, New World Millennium Hong Kong Hotel, 72 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon, Hong Kong on Monday, 31 August 2020 at 12:00 noon is set out on pages 13 to 18 of this circular. A form of proxy for use at the Annual General Meeting is also enclosed. Such form of proxy is also published on the websites of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (www.hkexnews.hk) and the Company (www.fourseasgroup.com.hk).

Whether or not you are able to attend the Annual General Meeting, please complete and sign the enclosed form of proxy for use at the Annual General Meeting in accordance with the instructions printed thereon and return it to the Company's branch share registrar in Hong Kong, Tricor Tengis Limited, at Level 54, Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen's Road East, Hong Kong as soon as possible but in any event not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for the Annual General Meeting (i.e. not later than 12:00 noon on Saturday, 29 August 2020) or the adjourned meeting (as the case may be). Completion and return of the form of proxy will not preclude shareholders from attending and voting in person at the Annual General Meeting if they so wish.

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES FOR THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Please see page 18 of this circular for measures being taken to try to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19 at the Annual General Meeting to be held on 31 August 2020.

  • For identification purpose only

28 July 2020

CONTENTS

Page

Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1

Letter from the Board

1.

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3

2.

Proposed Re-election of Retiring Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4

3.

Proposed Granting of General Mandate to Repurchase Shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5

4.

Proposed Granting of General Mandate to Issue New Shares . . . . . . . . .

5

5.

Annual General Meeting and Proxy Arrangement . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5

6.

Recommendation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6

Appendix I

- Details of the Retiring Directors Proposed to be Re-elected

at the Annual General Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

7

Appendix II

- Explanatory Statement on the Share Buy-back Mandate . . . . . . .

10

Notice of Annual General Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

13

DEFINITIONS

In this circular, unless the context otherwise requires, the following expressions shall have the following meanings:

"Annual General Meeting"

the annual general meeting of the Company to be held at Garden

Room, 2nd Floor, New World Millennium Hong Kong Hotel,

72 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon, Hong Kong on

Monday, 31 August 2020 at 12:00 noon, to consider and, if

appropriate, to approve the resolutions contained in the notice of

the meeting which is set out on pages 13 to 18 of this circular, or

any adjournment thereof

"Articles of Association"

the articles of association of the Company currently in force

"Board"

the board of Directors

"Company"

Four Seas Mercantile Holdings Limited, a company incorporated

in the Cayman Islands with limited liability, the Shares of which

are listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange

"Director(s)"

the director(s) of the Company

"HK$"

Hong Kong dollars, the lawful currency of Hong Kong

"Hong Kong"

the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's

Republic of China

"Issuance Mandate"

a general mandate proposed to be granted to the Directors to allot,

issue and deal with additional Shares of not exceeding 20% of the

total number of issued shares of the Company as at the date of

passing of the proposed ordinary resolution contained in item 9 of

the notice of the Annual General Meeting as set out on pages 13

to 18 of this circular

"Latest Practicable Date"

21 July 2020, being the latest practicable date prior to the printing

of this circular for ascertaining certain information in this circular

"Listing Rules"

the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on the Stock

Exchange as amended from time to time

"SFO"

the Securities and Futures Ordinance, Chapter 571 of the Laws of

Hong Kong

1

DEFINITIONS

"Share(s)"

ordinary share(s) of HK$0.10 each in the issued share capital of

the Company or if there has been a subsequent sub-division,

consolidation, reclassification or reconstruction of the share

capital of the Company, shares forming part of the ordinary

equity share capital of the Company

"Share Buy-back Mandate"

a general mandate proposed to be granted to the Directors to

repurchase Shares on the Stock Exchange of not exceeding 10%

of the total number of issued shares of the Company as at the date

of passing of the proposed ordinary resolution contained in item 8

of the notice of the Annual General Meeting as set out on pages

13 to 18 of this circular

"Shareholder(s)"

holder(s) of Share(s)

"Stock Exchange"

The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited

"Takeovers Code"

The Code on Takeovers and Mergers approved by the Securities

and Futures Commission as amended from time to time

References to time and dates in this circular are to Hong Kong time and dates.

2

LETTER FROM THE BOARD

FOUR SEAS MERCANTILE HOLDINGS LIMITED

四 洲 集 團 有 限 公 司 *

(Incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability)

(Stock Code: 374)

Executive Directors:

Registered Office:

TAI Tak Fung, Stephen (Chairman)

Whitehall House

WU Mei Yung, Quinly (Vice Chairman)

238 North Church Street

TAI Chun Kit (Managing Director)

P. O. Box 1043

MAN Wing Cheung, Ellis

George Town

WU Wing Biu

Grand Cayman KY1-1102

NAM Chi Ming, Gibson

Cayman Islands

Independent Non-executive Directors:

Principal Place of Business in

LEUNG Mei Han

Hong Kong:

CHAN Yuk Sang, Peter

21/F., Manhattan Place

Tsunao KIJIMA

No. 23 Wang Tai Road

Kowloon Bay, Kowloon

Hong Kong

28 July 2020

To the Shareholders

Dear Sir/Madam,

PROPOSED RE-ELECTION OF RETIRING DIRECTORS

AND

PROPOSED GRANTING OF GENERAL MANDATES TO

REPURCHASE SHARES AND TO ISSUE NEW SHARES

AND

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

1. INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this circular is to provide the Shareholders with information in respect of certain resolutions to be proposed at the Annual General Meeting to be held on 31 August 2020.

  • For identification purpose only

3

LETTER FROM THE BOARD

2. PROPOSED RE-ELECTION OF RETIRING DIRECTORS

Pursuant to Article 119 of the Articles of Association, unless and until the Company in a general meeting shall otherwise determine, at each annual general meeting one-third of the Directors for the time being, or, if their number is not three or a multiple of three, then the number nearest to but not less than one-third shall retire from office by rotation, provided that every Director (including those appointed for a specific term or holding office as Chairman or Managing Director) shall be subject to retirement by rotation at least once every three years or within such other period as the Stock Exchange may from time to time prescribe or within such other period as the laws of such jurisdiction applicable to the Company. The Directors to retire in every year shall be those who have been longest in office since their last election but as between persons who became Directors on the same day those to retire shall (unless they otherwise agree between themselves) be determined by lot. The retiring Directors shall be eligible for re-election.

In accordance with Article 119 of the Articles of Association, Mr. Nam Chi Ming, Gibson, Mr. Chan Yuk Sang, Peter and Mr. Tsunao Kijima shall retire at the Annual General Meeting. All of the above retiring Directors, being eligible, will offer themselves for re-election at the Annual General Meeting.

Pursuant to Code Provision A.4.3 of the Corporate Governance Code set out in Appendix 14 of the Listing Rules, the further appointment of Mr. Chan Yuk Sang, Peter and Mr. Tsunao Kijima, being independent non-executive Directors, whom will be serving the Company for more than 9 years, should be subject to a separate resolution to be approved by the Shareholders of the Company.

Notwithstanding that Mr. Chan Yuk Sang, Peter and Mr. Tsunao Kijima have been serving as independent non-executive Directors of the Company for more than 9 years, they have confirmed their independences with reference to the factors set out in Rule 3.13 of the Listing Rules.

The Nomination Committee has reviewed the structure and composition of the Board, the confirmations and disclosures given by the Directors, the qualifications, skills and experience, time commitment and contribution of the retiring Directors with reference to the nomination principles and criteria set out in the Company's Board Diversity Policy and Nomination Policy and the Company's corporate strategy, and the independence of all independent non-executive Directors. The Nomination Committee has recommended to the Board on re-election of all the retiring Directors including Mr. Chan Yuk Sang, Peter and Mr. Tsunao Kijima, the aforesaid independent non-executive Directors who are due to retire at the Annual General Meeting.

The Board believes that Mr. Chan Yuk Sang, Peter and Mr. Tsunao Kijima, the retiring independent non-executive directors are independent in judgement and character. In addition, the Board has assessed and reviewed their written confirmations of independence and considers that they meet the independent guidelines set out in Rule 3.13 of the Listing Rules and will continue to bring valuable business experience, knowledge and professionalism to the Board for its efficient and effective functioning and diversity. Hence, the Board recommends them to be re-elected at the Annual General Meeting.

Details of the retiring Directors are set out in Appendix I to this circular.

4

LETTER FROM THE BOARD

3. PROPOSED GRANTING OF GENERAL MANDATE TO REPURCHASE SHARES

At the annual general meeting of the Company held on 28 August 2019, a general mandate was granted to the Directors to repurchase Shares. Such mandate will lapse at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting. In order to give the Company the flexibility to repurchase Shares if and when appropriate, an ordinary resolution will be proposed at the Annual General Meeting to approve the granting of the Share Buy-back Mandate to the Directors to repurchase Shares on the Stock Exchange of not exceeding 10% of the total number of issued Shares of the Company as at the date of passing of the proposed ordinary resolution contained in item 8 of the notice of the Annual General Meeting as set out on pages 13 to 18 (i.e. a total of 38,425,764 Shares on the basis that the issued share capital of the Company remains unchanged on the date of the Annual General Meeting).

The Directors wish to state that they have no immediate plan to repurchase any Shares pursuant to the Share Buy-back Mandate.

An explanatory statement required by the Listing Rules to provide the Shareholders with requisite information reasonably necessary for them to make an informed decision on whether to vote for or against the granting of the Share Buy-back Mandate is set out in Appendix II to this circular.

4. PROPOSED GRANTING OF GENERAL MANDATE TO ISSUE NEW SHARES

At the annual general meeting of the Company held on 28 August 2019, a general mandate was granted to the Directors to issue Shares. Such mandate will lapse at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting. In order to give the Company the flexibility to issue Shares if and when appropriate, an ordinary resolution will be proposed at the Annual General Meeting to approve the granting of the Issuance Mandate to the Directors to allot, issue and deal with additional Shares of not exceeding 20% of the total number of issued Shares of the Company as at the date of passing of the proposed ordinary resolution contained in item 9 of the notice of the Annual General Meeting as set out on pages 13 to 18 of this circular (i.e. a total of 76,851,528 Shares on the basis that the issued share capital of the Company remains unchanged on the date of the Annual General Meeting). An ordinary resolution to extend the Issuance Mandate by adding the number of Shares repurchased by the Company pursuant to the Share Buy-back Mandate will also be proposed at the Annual General Meeting.

The Directors wish to state that they have no immediate plan to issue any new Shares pursuant to the Issuance Mandate.

5. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND PROXY ARRANGEMENT

The notice of the Annual General Meeting is set out on pages 13 to 18 of this circular.

Pursuant to the Listing Rules, any vote of Shareholders at a general meeting must be taken by poll except where the chairman, in good faith, decides to allow a resolution which relates purely to a procedural or administrative matter to be voted on by a show of hands. An announcement on the poll results will be published by the Company after the Annual General Meeting in the manner prescribed under the Listing Rules.

5

LETTER FROM THE BOARD

A form of proxy for use at the Annual General Meeting is enclosed with this circular and such form of proxy is also published on the websites of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (www.hkexnews.hk) and the Company (www.fourseasgroup.com.hk). To be valid, the form of proxy must be completed and signed in accordance with the instructions printed thereon and deposited, together with the power of attorney or other authority, if any, under which it is signed or a notarially certified copy of that power of attorney or authority at the Company's branch share registrar in Hong Kong, Tricor Tengis Limited, at Level 54, Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen's Road East, Hong Kong as soon as possible but in any event not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for the Annual General Meeting (i.e. not later than 12:00 noon on Saturday, 29 August 2020) or the adjourned meeting (as the case may be). Completion and delivery of the form of proxy will not preclude you from attending and voting at the Annual General Meeting if you so wish.

6. RECOMMENDATION

The Directors consider that the proposed re-election of retiring Directors and granting of the Share Buy-back Mandate and the Issuance Mandate are in the best interests of the Company and the Shareholders. Accordingly, the Directors recommend the Shareholders to vote in favour of the relevant resolutions to be proposed at the Annual General Meeting.

Yours faithfully,

For and on behalf of the Board

TAI Tak Fung, Stephen, GBM, GBS, SBS, JP

Chairman

6

APPENDIX I

DETAILS OF THE RETIRING DIRECTORS PROPOSED TO

BE RE-ELECTED AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The following are details of the Directors who will retire and being eligible, offer themselves for re-election at the Annual General Meeting.

  1. Mr. Nam Chi Ming, Gibson ("Mr. Nam")

Mr. Nam Chi Ming, Gibson, aged 59, has been an executive director of the Company since April

2010. He is also the company secretary of the Company. Mr. Nam is responsible for managerial controls and company secretarial affairs. He holds a Master of Business Administration degree from The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Mr. Nam is a member of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants, a fellow member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants in the United Kingdom and an associate of both The Hong Kong Institute of Chartered Secretaries and The Chartered Governance Institute. He has extensive financial and managerial experience. Mr. Nam is also a director of certain subsidiaries of the Company. Save as disclosed above, Mr. Nam does not hold any directorship in the last three years in other public companies the securities of which are listed on any securities market in Hong Kong and overseas.

Mr. Nam does not have any relationship with any other directors, senior management, substantial shareholders or controlling shareholders of the Company.

As at the Latest Practicable Date, Mr. Nam did not have any interest in the Shares within the meaning of Part XV of the SFO.

Mr. Nam has entered into a service contract with the Company for a term of two years commencing on 1 April 2020 and is subject to termination by either party by giving not less than three months' written notice. He is also subject to retirement by rotation and re-election at the Company's annual general meetings pursuant to Article 119 of the Articles of Association.

According to the service contract, Mr. Nam is entitled to emoluments of HK$1,267,000 per annum comprising director's fee, salary as well as other benefits in kind and allowances, which has been determined by the Board based on Mr. Nam's experience, responsibilities and the prevailing market level of remuneration of executives of similar positions. Mr. Nam is also entitled to discretionary management bonus which shall be decided at the sole discretion of the Board based on his performance in the preceding year.

Save as disclosed above, there is no information that is required to be disclosed pursuant to any of the requirements under Rule 13.51(2) of the Listing Rules and there are no other matters concerning Mr. Nam that need to be brought to the attention of the shareholders of the Company.

7

APPENDIX I

DETAILS OF THE RETIRING DIRECTORS PROPOSED TO

BE RE-ELECTED AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

  1. Mr. Chan Yuk Sang, Peter ("Mr. Chan")

Mr. Chan Yuk Sang, Peter, aged 74, has been an independent non-executive director of the Company since July 2000. He is also the chairman of the remuneration committee and a member of the audit committee and the nomination committee of the Company. Mr. Chan has more than 30 years' experience in the banking and finance industry. He was the chairman of a company listed on the Stock Exchange until July 2002 and a senior general manager of a local bank until November 1998. Mr. Chan was also an executive director of a joint Chinese foreign bank in Shenzhen until 1995. He was an executive director of Asia Resources Holdings Limited ("Asia Resources") from April 2017 to 6 December 2018.

Mr. Chan is currently an independent non-executive director of Steering Holdings Limited. The shares of these companies are listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange. Save as disclosed above, Mr. Chan does not hold any directorship in the last three years in other public companies the securities of which are listed on any securities market in Hong Kong and overseas.

Mr. Chan does not have any relationship with any other directors, senior management, substantial shareholders or controlling shareholders of the Company.

As at the Latest Practicable Date, Mr. Chan did not have any interest in the Shares within the meaning of Part XV of the SFO.

Mr. Chan has been appointed with an appointment letter by the Company without a specific term but is subject to retirement by rotation and re-election at the Company's annual general meetings pursuant to article 119 of the Articles of Association.

According to the appointment letter, the director's fee of Mr. Chan is HK$80,000 per annum which is determined by the Board based on the current market rate of similar positions. He is not entitled to any discretionary management bonus.

Mr. Chan has been criticized by The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited on 20 January 2020 in relation to his breach of Rule 3.08(f) of the Listing Rules during his tenure as an executive director of Asia Resources. Further details of the information are set out in the announcement of the Company of 22 January 2020.

Save as disclosed above, there is no information that is required to be disclosed pursuant to any of the requirements under Rule 13.51(2) of the Listing Rules and there are no other matters concerning Mr. Chan that need to be brought to the attention of the shareholders of the Company.

8

APPENDIX I

DETAILS OF THE RETIRING DIRECTORS PROPOSED TO

BE RE-ELECTED AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

  1. Mr. Tsunao Kijima ("Mr. Kijima")

Mr. Tsunao Kijima, aged 72, has been an independent non-executive director of the Company since July 2011. He is a member of the audit committee of the Company. Mr. Kijima holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Keio University in Japan. He has more than 45 years' experience of worldwide trading of processed foods, beverages, snack foods and other food products. Mr. Kijima was the executive vice president of Mitsubishi Corporation and also the chief representative for China and Europe of Mitsubishi Corporation during different periods of time. He served as a non-executive director of Lianhua Supermarket Holdings Co., Ltd., whose shares are listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange, from 2001 to 2006. He was an independent non-executive director of the Company from 1997 to 2006. Mr. Kijima was a managing executive officer of Nissin Foods Holdings Co., Ltd., a company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. He was also a non-executive director of Premier Foods Plc, a company listed on the London Stock Exchange. Save as disclosed above, Mr. Kijima does not hold any directorship in the last three years in other public companies the securities of which are listed on any securities market in Hong Kong and overseas.

Mr. Kijima does not have any relationship with any other directors, senior management, substantial shareholders or controlling shareholders of the Company.

As at the Latest Practicable Date, Mr. Kijima did not have any interest in the Shares within the meaning of Part XV of the SFO.

Mr. Kijima has been appointed with an appointment letter by the Company without a specific term but is subject to retirement by rotation and re-election at the Company's annual general meetings pursuant to article 119 of the Articles of Association.

According to the appointment letter, the director's fee of Mr. Kijima is HK$80,000 per annum which is determined by the Board based on the current market rate of similar positions. He is not entitled to any discretionary management bonus.

Save as disclosed above, there is no information that is required to be disclosed pursuant to any of the requirements under Rule 13.51(2) of the Listing Rules and there are no other matters concerning Mr. Kijima that need to be brought to the attention of the shareholders of the Company.

9

APPENDIX II

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT ON

THE SHARE BUY-BACK MANDATE

The following is an explanatory statement required by the Listing Rules to provide the Shareholders with requisite information reasonably necessary for them to make an informed decision on whether to vote for or against the ordinary resolution to be proposed at the Annual General Meeting in relation to the granting of the Share Buy-back Mandate.

1. SHARE CAPITAL

As at the Latest Practicable Date, the issued share capital of the Company comprised 384,257,640 Shares.

Subject to the passing of the ordinary resolution set out in item 8 of the notice of the Annual General Meeting in respect of the granting of the Share Buy-back Mandate and on the basis that the issued share capital of the Company remains unchanged on the date of the Annual General Meeting, i.e. being 384,257,640 Shares, the Directors would be authorised under the Share Buy-back Mandate to repurchase, during the period in which the Share Buy-back Mandate remains in force, a total of 38,425,764 Shares, representing 10% of the total number of Shares in issue as at the date of the Annual General Meeting.

2. REASONS FOR SHARE BUY-BACK

The Directors believe that the granting of the Share Buy-back Mandate is in the best interests of the Company and the Shareholders.

Shares buy-back may, depending on the market conditions and funding arrangements at the time, lead to an enhancement of the net asset value per Share and/or earnings per Share and will only be made when the Directors believe that such a buy-back will benefit the Company and the Shareholders.

3. FUNDING OF SHARE BUY-BACK

The Company may only apply funds legally available for share buy-back in accordance with its memorandum and articles of association, the laws of the Cayman Islands and/or any other applicable laws, as the case may be.

Shares shall not be repurchased for a consideration other than cash or for settlement otherwise than in accordance with the trading rules of the Stock Exchange from time to time. The Directors propose that repurchases of Shares under the Share Buy-back Mandate in these circumstances would be financed from the Company's internal resources or existing banking facilities.

4. IMPACT OF SHARE BUY-BACK

There might be a material adverse impact on the working capital or gearing position of the Company (as compared with the position disclosed in the audited accounts contained in the annual report of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2020) in the event that the Share Buy-back Mandate was to be carried out in full at any time during the proposed buy-back period. However, the Directors do not intend to exercise the Share Buy-back Mandate to such extent as would, in the circumstances, have a material adverse effect on the working capital requirements of the Company or the gearing levels which in the opinion of the Directors are from time to time appropriate for the Company.

10

APPENDIX II

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT ON

THE SHARE BUY-BACK MANDATE

5. MARKET PRICES OF SHARES

The highest and lowest prices per Share at which Shares have traded on the Stock Exchange during each of the previous 12 months up to and including the Latest Practicable Date were as follows:

Share Prices

(per Share)

Month

Highest

Lowest

HK$

HK$

2019

July

3.500

3.500

August

3.500

3.240

September

3.200

3.020

October

3.120

3.120

November

3.250

3.120

December

3.340

3.300

2020

January

3.300

3.150

February

3.000

3.000

March

2.950

2.380

April

2.900

2.700

May

2.940

2.890

June

2.940

2.900

July (up to the Latest Practicable Date)

2.900

2.720

6.

GENERAL

To the best of their knowledge and having made all reasonable enquiries, none of the Directors nor any of their respective close associates (as defined in the Listing Rules) have any present intention to sell any Shares to the Company in the event that the granting of the Share Buy-back Mandate is approved by the Shareholders.

The Company has not been notified by any core connected persons (as defined in the Listing Rules) of the Company that they have a present intention to sell any Shares to the Company, or that they have undertaken not to sell any Shares held by them to the Company in the event that the granting of the Share Buy-back Mandate is approved by the Shareholders.

The Directors have undertaken to the Stock Exchange to exercise the power of the Company to repurchase Shares pursuant to the Share Buy-back Mandate in accordance with the Listing Rules and the applicable laws of the Cayman Islands.

11

APPENDIX II

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT ON

THE SHARE BUY-BACK MANDATE

7. TAKEOVERS CODE

If as a result of a buy-back of Shares pursuant to the Share Buy-back Mandate, a Shareholder's proportionate interest in the voting rights of the Company increases, such increase will be treated as an acquisition of voting rights for the purposes of the Takeovers Code. Accordingly, a Shareholder or a group of Shareholders acting in concert (within the meaning under the Takeovers Code), depending on the level of increase in the Shareholder's interest, could obtain or consolidate control of the Company and thereby become obliged to make a mandatory offer in accordance with Rule 26 of the Takeovers Code.

To the best knowledge of the Company, as at the Latest Practicable Date, Special Access Limited ("SAL") and Careful Guide Limited ("CGL"), the substantial shareholders of the Company (as defined in the Listing Rules), were interested in 74,250,000 Shares and 70,000,000 Shares representing approximately 19.32% and 18.22% of the total number of Shares in issue respectively, making an aggregate holding of 144,250,000 Shares representing approximately 37.54% of the total number of Shares in issue. SAL is wholly owned by Mr. Tai Tak Fung, Stephen and his spouse, Ms. Wu Mei Yung, Quinly, executive Directors of the Company, and CGL is wholly owned by Mr. Tai Tak Fung, Stephen. Besides, as at the Latest Practicable Date, Hong Kong Food Investment Holdings Limited ("Hong Kong Food"), a substantial shareholder of the Company (as defined in the Listing Rules) and the shares of which are listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange, was interested in 115,228,000 Shares, representing approximately 29.98% of the total number of Shares in issue. Hong Kong Food is owned as to approximately 0.07% by the Company, as to approximately 2.59% by Mr. Tai Tak Fung, Stephen, as to approximately 20.38% by SAL, and as to approximately 11.91% by CGL. As Ms. Wu Mei Yung, Quinly is the spouse of Mr. Tai Tak Fung, Stephen, Ms. Wu Mei Yung, Quinly is deemed to be interested in Mr. Tai Tak Fung, Stephen's interests in the Shares and vice versa. Mr. Tai Tak Fung, Stephen and Ms. Wu Mei Yung, Quinly are taken to have an interest under the SFO in the 115,228,000 Shares by virtue of their interests in Hong Kong Food. Therefore, Mr. Tai Tak Fung, Stephen and Ms. Wu Mei Yung, Quinly are also taken to have interest in 259,478,000 Shares, representing approximately 67.52% of the total number of Shares in issue. In the event that the Directors exercise the proposed Share Buy-back Mandate in full, the aggregate shareholding of Mr. Tai Tak Fung, Stephen and Ms. Wu Mei Yung, Quinly acting in concert would be increased to approximately 75.03% of the total number of Shares in issue.

The Directors are not aware of any consequences which may give rise to an obligation to make a mandatory offer under Rule 26 of the Takeovers Code. The Directors do not propose to exercise the Share Buy-back Mandate to such an extent as would, in the circumstances, give rise to an obligation to make a mandatory offer in accordance with Rule 26 of the Takeovers Code and/or result in the aggregate number of Shares held by the public shareholders falling below the prescribed minimum percentage required by the Stock Exchange.

8. SHARE BUY-BACK MADE BY THE COMPANY

During the 6 months prior to the Latest Practicable Date, the Company had not repurchased any of the Shares (whether on the Stock Exchange or otherwise).

12

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

FOUR SEAS MERCANTILE HOLDINGS LIMITED

四 洲 集 團 有 限 公 司 *

(Incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability)

(Stock Code: 374)

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual General Meeting of Four Seas Mercantile Holdings Limited (the "Company") will be held at Garden Room, 2nd Floor, New World Millennium Hong Kong Hotel, 72 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon, Hong Kong on Monday, 31 August

2020 at 12:00 noon for the following purposes:

    1. To receive the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and the reports of the directors and independent auditor for the year ended 31 March 2020.
    2. To declare a final dividend of HK6.5 cents per ordinary share for the year ended 31 March 2020.
    3. To re-elect Mr. Nam Chi Ming, Gibson as director of the Company.
    4. To re-elect Mr. Chan Yuk Sang, Peter as director of the Company.
    5. To re-elect Mr. Tsunao Kijima as director of the Company.
    6. To authorise the board of directors of the Company (the "Board") to fix the directors' remuneration.
    7. To re-appoint Ernst & Young as the auditor of the Company and to authorise the Board to fix the auditor's remuneration.
    8. To consider and, if thought fit, pass with or without amendments, the following resolution as an ordinary resolution:
      "THAT:
      1. subject to paragraph (b) below, a general mandate be and is hereby generally and unconditionally given to the directors of the Company to exercise during the Relevant Period (as defined below) all the powers of the Company to repurchase its shares in accordance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations;
  • For identification purpose only

13

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

  1. the total number of shares of the Company to be repurchased pursuant to the mandate in paragraph (a) above shall not exceed 10% of the total number of issued shares of the Company as at the date of passing of this resolution, and if any subsequent consolidation or subdivision of shares is conducted, the maximum number of shares that may be repurchased under the mandate in paragraph (a) above as a percentage of the total number of issued shares of the Company at the date immediately before and after such consolidation or subdivision shall be the same; and
  2. for the purposes of this resolution:
    "Relevant Period" means the period from the passing of this resolution until whichever is the earliest of:
    1. the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company;
    2. the expiration of the period within which the next annual general meeting of the Company is required by the articles of association of the Company or any applicable laws to be held; and
    3. the date on which the authority set out in this resolution is revoked or varied by an ordinary resolution of the shareholders of the Company in general meeting."

9. To consider and, if thought fit, pass with or without amendments, the following resolution as an ordinary resolution:

"THAT:

  1. subject to paragraph (b) below, a general mandate be and is hereby generally and unconditionally given to the directors of the Company to allot, issue and deal with additional shares in the capital of the Company and to make or grant offers, agreements and options which might require the exercise of such powers during or after the end of the Relevant Period (as defined below) in accordance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations;
  2. the aggregate number of shares allotted or agreed conditionally or unconditionally to be allotted by the directors of the Company pursuant to the mandate in paragraph (a) above, otherwise than pursuant to:
    1. a Rights Issue (as defined below);
    2. the exercise of options under a share option scheme of the Company; and

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NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

  1. any scrip dividend scheme or similar arrangement providing for the allotment of shares in lieu of the whole or part of a dividend on shares of the Company in accordance with the articles of association of the Company,

shall not exceed 20% of the total number of issued shares of the Company as at the date of passing of this resolution (subject to adjustment in the case of any consolidation or subdivision of shares of the Company after the date of passing of this resolution); and

  1. for the purposes of this resolution:
    "Relevant Period" means the period from the passing of this resolution until whichever is the earliest of:
    1. the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company;
    2. the expiration of the period within which the next annual general meeting of the Company is required by the articles of association of the Company or any applicable laws to be held; and
    3. the date on which the authority set out in this resolution is revoked or varied by an ordinary resolution of the shareholders of the Company in general meeting.

"Rights Issue" means an offer of shares open for a period fixed by the directors of the Company to holders of shares of the Company or any class thereof on the register on a fixed record date in proportion to their then holdings of such shares or class thereof (subject to such exclusions or other arrangements as the directors of the Company may deem necessary or expedient in relation to fractional entitlements or having regard to any restrictions or obligations under the laws of any relevant jurisdiction or the requirements of any recognized regulatory body or any stock exchange)."

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NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

10. To consider and, if thought fit, pass with or without amendments, the following resolution as an ordinary resolution:

"THAT conditional upon the passing of the resolutions set out in items 8 and 9 of the notice convening this meeting (the "Notice"), the general mandate referred to in the resolution set out in item 9 of the Notice be and is hereby extended by the addition to the aggregate number of shares which may be allotted and issued or agreed conditionally or unconditionally to be allotted and issued by the directors of the Company pursuant to such general mandate of the number of shares repurchased by the Company pursuant to the mandate referred to in resolution set out in item 8 of the Notice, provided that such number of shares shall not exceed 10% of the total number of issued shares of the Company as at the date of passing of this resolution (subject to adjustment in the case of any consolidation or subdivision of shares of the Company after the date of passing of this resolution)."

By Order of the Board

TAI Tak Fung, Stephen, GBM, GBS, SBS, JP

Chairman

Hong Kong, 28 July 2020

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NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Notes:

  1. All resolutions at the Annual General Meeting will be taken by poll except where the chairman decides to allow a resolution which relates purely to a procedural or administrative matter to be voted on by a show of hands pursuant to the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the "Listing Rules"). The results of the poll will be published on the websites of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited and the Company in accordance with the Listing Rules.
  2. Any shareholder of the Company entitled to attend and vote at the Annual General Meeting is entitled to appoint more than one proxy to attend and vote instead of him. A proxy need not be a shareholder of the Company. If more than one proxy is appointed, the number of shares in respect of which each such proxy so appointed must be specified in the relevant form of proxy. Every shareholder of the Company present in person or by proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each share held by him.
  3. In order to be valid, the form of proxy together with the power of attorney or other authority, if any, under which it is signed or a notarially certified copy of that power of attorney or authority, must be deposited at the Company's branch share registrar in Hong Kong, Tricor Tengis Limited, at Level 54, Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen's Road East, Hong Kong not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for the Annual General Meeting (i.e. not later than 12:00 noon on Saturday, 29 August 2020) or the adjourned meeting (as the case may be). Completion and return of the form of proxy shall not preclude a shareholder of the Company from attending and voting in person at the Annual General Meeting and, in such event, the instrument appointing a proxy shall be deemed to be revoked.
  4. For determining the entitlement to attend and vote at the Annual General Meeting, the Register of Members of the Company will be closed from Tuesday, 25 August 2020 to Monday, 31 August 2020, both dates inclusive, during which period no transfer of shares will be registered. In order to be eligible to attend and vote at the Annual General Meeting, unregistered holders of shares of the Company shall ensure that all transfer documents accompanied by the relevant share certificates must be lodged with the Company's branch share registrar in Hong Kong, Tricor Tengis Limited, at Level 54, Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen's Road East, Hong Kong for registration not later than 4:30 p.m. on Monday, 24 August 2020.
  5. For determining the entitlement to the proposed final dividend for the year ended 31 March 2020 (subject to approval by the shareholders of the Company at the Annual General Meeting), the Register of Members of the Company will be closed from Monday, 7 September 2020 to Wednesday, 9 September 2020, both dates inclusive, during which period no transfer of shares will be registered. In order to qualify for the proposed final dividend, unregistered holders of shares of the Company shall ensure that all transfer documents accompanied by the relevant share certificates must be lodged with the Company's branch share registrar in Hong Kong, Tricor Tengis Limited, at Level 54, Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen's Road East, Hong Kong for registration not later than 4:30 p.m. on Friday, 4 September 2020.
  6. A circular containing further details concerning items 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10 set out in the above notice will be sent to all shareholders of the Company together with the 2020 Annual Report.
  7. If tropical cyclone warning signed number 8 or above is hoisted, "extreme conditions" caused by super typhoons or a black rainstorm warning signal is in force at or at any time between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon on the date of Annual General Meeting, the Annual General Meeting will be postponed. Shareholders are requested to visit the website of the Company at www.fourseasgroup.com.hk and the website of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited at www.hkexnews.hk for details of alternative meeting arrangements. The Annual General Meeting will be held as scheduled when an amber or red rainstorm warning signal is in force. Shareholders should decide on their own whether they would attend the Annual General Meeting under bad weather conditions bearing in mind their own situations and if they do so, they are advised to exercise care and caution.

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NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

8. Precautionary Measures for Annual General Meeting

Considering of the recent development of the epidemic caused by COVID-19, the Company will implement the following precautionary measures at the Annual General Meeting against the epidemic to protect the shareholders from risk of infection:

  1. Compulsory body temperature check will be conducted for every shareholder, proxy or other attendee(s) at the entrance of the meeting venue. Any person with a body temperature of 37.4 degrees Celsius or above will not be given access to the meeting venue.
  2. Every shareholder, proxy and attendee is required to wear surgical facial mask throughout the meeting.
  3. No refreshment will be provided.
  4. Each attendee may be asked whether (a) he/she had travelled outside of Hong Kong within the 14-day period immediately before the Annual General Meeting; and (b) he/she is subject to any Hong Kong Government prescribed quarantine. Anyone who responds positively to any of these questions may be denied entry into the meeting venue or be required to leave the meeting venue.

Furthermore, the Company wishes to recommend shareholders, particularly shareholders who are subject to quarantine in relation to COVID-19, to appoint any person or the chairman of the Annual General Meeting as a proxy to vote on the resolutions, instead of attending the Annual General Meeting in person.

If any shareholder chooses not to attend the meeting in person but has any question about any resolution or about the Company, or has any matter for communication with the board of directors of the Company, he/she is welcome to send such question or matter in writing to our head office and principal place of business in Hong Kong.

If any shareholder has any question relating to the meeting, please contact Tricor Tengis Limited, the Company's branch share registrar in Hong Kong as follows:

Tricor Tengis Limited Level 54, Hopewell Centre 183 Queen's Road East Hong Kong

Email: is-enquiries@hk.tricorglobal.com

Tel: (852) 2980 1333

Fax: (852) 2810 8185

9. References to time and dates in this notice are to Hong Kong time and dates.

As at the date of this Notice, the executive directors of the Company are Mr. TAI Tak Fung, Stephen, Ms. WU Mei Yung, Quinly, Mr. TAI Chun Kit, Mr. MAN Wing Cheung, Ellis, Mr. WU Wing Biu and Mr. NAM Chi Ming, Gibson and the independent non-executive directors of the Company are Ms. LEUNG Mei Han, Mr. CHAN Yuk Sang, Peter and Mr. Tsunao KIJIMA.

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Four Seas Mercantile Holdings Limited published this content on 27 July 2020 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 27 July 2020 09:00:24 UTC