As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 22, 2016

 

Registration No. 333-______

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

Form F-4 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

 

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.  

(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)

 

Republic of China 3674 Not Applicable
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
 

26 Chin Third Road

Nantze Export Processing Zone

Nantze, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Republic of China

 
     
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, or registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

 

 

National Corporate Research, Ltd.

10 E. 40th Street, 10th floor

New York, NY 10016

1 (800) 221 0102

(Name, address, including Zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

 

George R. Bason, Jr., Esq. James C. Lin, Esq.
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
c/o 18th Floor, The Hong Kong Club Building

3A Chater Road

Hong Kong

  

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective and the consummation of the share exchange described herein.

 

 

 

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.

 

If applicable, place an X in the box to designate the appropriate rule provision relied upon in conducting this transaction:

 

Exchange Act Rule 13e-4(i) (Cross-Border Issuer Tender Offer)

 

Exchange Act Rule 14d-1(d) (Cross-Border Third-Party Tender Offer) ☐

 

 

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of Each Class of
Securities to be Registered
Amount To Be
Registered
Proposed Maximum Offering Price per Share Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price Amount of
Registration Fee
Common Shares of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd., par value NT$10 per share (1) 903,623,606(2) Not Applicable 1,915,613,782.31 (2)(3) $ 222,019.64

 

(1)American depositary shares issuable upon deposit of the shares registered hereby will be registered under a separate registration statement on Form F-6. Each American depositary share will represent 2 common shares of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

 

 

(2)Based upon the estimated number of common shares of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd. that may be issued to U.S. holders of the common shares of the Registrant in connection with the share exchange described herein, using the share exchange ratios described herein. This estimate is based upon (a) the actual number of shares of the common shares represented by outstanding American depositary shares of Registrant as of August 21, 2016, and (b) the estimated number of shares of common shares of Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. (excluding shares represented by American depositary shares but including the number of shares of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd. that may be sold in the Taiwanese market in respect of the fractional shares that otherwise would be received by U.S. holders of the Registrant’s common shares in the share exchange) as of August 21, 2016, the most recent date for which information with respect to U.S. resident holders can be determined. The securities to be issued in connection with the transaction outside of the United States are not registered under this registration statement.

 

(3)Pursuant to Rule 457(f) under the Securities Act of 1933, the filing fee was calculated based on the market value of the securities of the Registrant to be exchanged in the share exchange described herein for securities of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd., calculated pursuant to Rule 457(c) by taking the average of the high and low prices per share of the Registrant’s common shares as reported on the Taiwan Stock Exchange as of November 16, 2016 (converted into U.S. dollars based on NT$31.77 = US$1.00, which is the exchange rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board as in effect on November 14, 2016, the latest available exchange rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board) multiplied by 1,807,247,212 which is the total number of shares of the Registrant’s common shares held of record by U.S. holders on August 21, 2016, the most recent date for which information with respect to the Registrant’s U.S. record holders can be determined), and multiplying the result by 0.0001159.

 

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 

The information in this proxy statement/prospectus is subject to completion and amendment. A registration statement relating to the securities described in this proxy statement/prospectus has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy these securities be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This proxy statement/prospectus shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of any offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction, in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

 

PRELIMINARY—SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED NOVEMBER 22, 2016

 

         

PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS PROPOSED SHARE EXCHANGE

 

—YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT

 

Dear ASE Shareholders:

 

We are pleased to report that Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. (“ASE”) and Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd. (“SPIL”) have entered into a joint share exchange agreement (“Joint Share Exchange Agreement”) pursuant to which a holding company, ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd. (“HoldCo”), will be formed by means of a statutory share exchange pursuant to the laws of the Republic of China, and HoldCo will (i) acquire all issued shares of ASE in exchange for shares of HoldCo using the share exchange ratio as described below, and (ii) acquire all issued shares of SPIL using the cash consideration as described below (the “Share Exchange”). Upon the consummation of the Share Exchange, ASE and SPIL will become wholly owned subsidiaries of HoldCo concurrently. Subject to the Share Exchange, the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and the other transactions contemplated thereby being approved by shareholders of ASE and SPIL, and upon the satisfaction of the other conditions for completing the Share Exchange, HoldCo will be formed — and the Share Exchange is expected to become effective — on or around [DATE], 2017.

 

Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, at the effective time of the Share Exchange (the “Effective Time”):

 

(i)for SPIL shareholders:

 

·each SPIL common share, par value NT$10 per share (“SPIL Common Share”), issued immediately prior to the Effective Time (including SPIL’s treasury shares and the SPIL Common Shares beneficially owned by ASE), will be transferred to HoldCo in consideration for the right to receive NT$51.2, which represents NT$55, minus a cash dividend and a return of capital reserve of NT$3.8 per SPIL Common Share distributed by SPIL on July 1, 2016, payable in cash in NT dollars, without interest and net of any applicable withholding taxes (“SPIL Common Shares Cash Consideration”); and

 

·each SPIL American depositary share, currently representing five SPIL Common Shares (“SPIL ADS”) will be cancelled in exchange for the right to receive through JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as depositary for the SPIL ADSs (“SPIL Depositary”), the US dollar equivalent of NT$256 (representing five times of the SPIL Common Shares Cash Consideration) minus (i) all processing fees and expenses per SPIL ADS in relation to the conversion from NT dollars into US dollars, and (ii) US$0.05 per SPIL ADS cancellation fees pursuant to the terms of the deposit agreement dated January 6, 2015 by and among SPIL, SPIL Depositary and the holders and beneficial owners from time to time of the SPIL ADSs issued thereunder, payable in cash in US dollars, without interest and net of any applicable withholding taxes (“SPIL ADS Cash Consideration,” together with the SPIL Common Shares Cash Consideration, “Cash Consideration”).

 

 

 

The Cash Consideration will be subject to adjustments if SPIL issues shares or pays cash dividends during the period from the execution date of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement to the Effective Time, provided, however, that the Cash Consideration shall not be subject to adjustment if the aggregate amount of the cash dividends distributed by SPIL in fiscal year 2017 is less than 85% of its after-tax net profit for fiscal year 2016.

 

(i)for ASE shareholders:

 

·each ASE common share (“ASE Common Share”), par value NT$10 per share, issued immediately prior to the Effective Time (including ASE’s treasury shares), will be transferred to HoldCo in consideration for the right to receive 0.5 HoldCo common shares (“HoldCo Common Shares”), par value NT$10 per share; and

 

·each ASE American depositary share, currently representing five ASE Common Shares (“ASE ADSs”), will represent the right to receive 1.25 HoldCo American depositary shares, each representing two HoldCo Common Shares (“HoldCo ADSs”) upon surrender for cancellation to Citibank, N.A., as depositary for the ASE ADSs, after the Effective Time. The ratio at which ASE Common Shares will be exchanged for HoldCo Common Shares and ASE ADSs will be exchanged for HoldCo ADSs is hereinafter referred to as the “Exchange Ratio.”

 

Under Republic of China law, if any fractional HoldCo Common Shares representing less than one common share would otherwise be allotted to former holders of ASE Common Shares in connection with the Share Exchange, those fractional shares will not be issued to those shareholders. Pursuant to the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, ASE will aggregate the fractional entitlements and sell the aggregated ASE Common Shares using the closing price of ASE Common Shares on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (the “TWSE”) on the ninth (9th) ROC Trading Day (as defined below) prior to the Effective Time, to an appointee of the Chairman of HoldCo. The cash proceeds from the sale will be distributed to the former holders of ASE Common Shares by HoldCo on a proportionate basis in accordance with their respective fractions at the Effective Time.

 

If you hold ASE ADSs, you will be able to exchange those ASE ADSs for HoldCo ADSs by delivering your ASE ADSs to Citibank, N.A., as depositary, after the Effective Time. Citibank, N.A., as depositary for the ASE ADSs, will only distribute whole HoldCo ADSs. Citibank, N.A., as depositary for the ASE ADSs, will aggregate the fractional entitlements to HoldCo ADSs, will use commercially reasonable efforts to sell the aggregated HoldCo ADS entitlements in the open market and will distribute the net cash proceeds to the holders of ASE ADSs entitled to them.

 

Subject to approval at the ASE EGM (as defined below), HoldCo will issue 3,961,811,298 HoldCo Common Shares (based on the number of issued shares of ASE on September 30, 2016) in connection with the Share Exchange.

 

ASE Common Shares are listed and traded on the TWSE under the ticker “2311” and ASE ADSs are listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the ticker symbol “ASX.” On [DATE], 2017, the most recent practicable trading day prior to the printing of this proxy statement/prospectus, the closing price per ASE Common Share on the TWSE was NT$[·] (US$[·]), and the closing price per ASE ADS on the NYSE was US$[·]. SPIL Common Shares are listed and traded on the TWSE under the ticker “2325” and SPIL ADSs are listed and traded on the NASDAQ National Market (“NASDAQ”) under the ticker symbol “SPIL.” On [DATE], 2017, the most recent practicable trading day prior to the printing of this proxy statement/prospectus, the closing price per SPIL Common Share on the TWSE was NT$[·] (US$[·]), and the closing price per SPIL ADS on NASDAQ was US$[·]. Following completion of the Share Exchange, ASE anticipates that the HoldCo Common Shares will trade on the TWSE and HoldCo ADSs will trade on the NYSE.

 

Before the Share Exchange can be completed, ASE shareholders must vote to approve, among other things, the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, and SPIL shareholders must vote to approve the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement. If you are an ASE shareholder, ASE is sending you this proxy statement/prospectus to ask you to vote in favor of these matters.

 

The extraordinary general shareholders’ meeting of ASE shareholders (the “ASE EGM”) is expected to be held on [DATE], 2017, at [TIME] (Taiwan time), at Zhuang Jing Auditorium, 600 Jiachang Road, Nantze Export Processing Zone, Nantze District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, Republic of China. At this ASE EGM, ASE shareholders will be asked to approve, among other things, the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement. More information about the proposals to be voted on at this ASE EGM is contained in this proxy statement/prospectus. The board of directors of ASE has unanimously determined that (i) the Exchange Ratio constitutes fair value for each ASE Common Share and each ASE ADS, and (ii) the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby are advisable, fair to and in the best interests of ASE and its shareholders. The board of directors of ASE recommends that ASE shareholders vote “FOR” the approval of the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and “FOR” the approval of the other proposals to be voted on at this ASE EGM as described in this proxy statement/prospectus.

 

 

 

 

To attend and vote at the ASE EGM under Republic of China law, holders of ASE Common Shares must follow the procedures outlined in the convocation notice, which will be sent to those holders by ASE. To give voting instructions to the depositary for the ASE ADSs, holders of ASE ADSs must follow the procedures outlined in the notice of the ASE EGM that Citibank, N.A., as depositary for the ASE ADSs, will separately send to those ASE ADS holders.

 

This proxy statement/prospectus is an important document containing answers to frequently asked questions, a summary description of the transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and more detailed information about ASE, SPIL, the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and the other matters to be voted upon by ASE shareholders as part of the ASE EGM. We urge you to read this proxy statement/prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference carefully and in their entirety. In particular, you should consider the matters discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 60.

 

Thank you for your cooperation and continued support.

 

Sincerely,

Jason C.S. Chang 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer 

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the Share Exchange or the securities to be issued in connection therewith, or determined if this proxy statement/prospectus is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

You may have dissenters’ rights in connection with the transactions under the laws of the Republic of China. See page 56 for a complete discussion of your dissenters’ rights, if any.

 

 

 

This document is dated [DATE], 2017 and is first being delivered to ASE shareholders on or about [DATE], 2017.

 

 

 

 

NOTICE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING

 

To Be Held On [DATE], 2017

 

Dear Shareholders:

 

This is a notice that Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. (“ASE”) will hold an Extraordinary General Meeting (the “ASE EGM”) on [DATE], 2017, at [TIME], and the location is expected to be at Zhuang Jing Auditorium, 600 Jiachang Road, Nantze Export Processing Zone, Nantze District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, Republic of China.

 

At the ASE EGM, we will discuss, and ASE shareholders will vote on, the following proposals:

 

·Proposal 1 To consider and to vote upon the joint share exchange agreement entered into between Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. and Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd. on June 30, 2016 (the “Joint Share Exchange Agreement”) and the proposed share exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement

 

·Proposal 2. To consider and to vote upon the adoption of the articles of incorporation of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

·Proposal 3. To consider and to vote upon the Rules of Procedure for Shareholders' Meetings of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

·Proposal 4. To consider and to vote upon the Rules Governing the Election of Directors and Supervisors of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

·Proposal 5. To consider and to vote upon the Procedures for Lending Funds to Other Parties of ASE Industrial Holdings Co. Ltd. and Procedures of Making the Endorsement and Guarantees of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

·Proposal 6. To consider and to vote upon the Procedures for Acquisition or Disposal of Assets of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

·Proposal 7. To consider and elect the members of the board of directors and supervisors of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

·Proposal 8. To consider and to vote upon the proposal to waive the non-competition clauses applicable to newly elected directors of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

This proxy statement/prospectus describes the proposals listed above in more detail. Please refer to the attached document, including the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and all other annexes and including any documents incorporated by reference, for further information with respect to the business to be transacted at the ASE EGM. You are encouraged to read the entire document carefully before voting. In particular, see the section entitled “Risk Factors.”

 

The record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to vote at the ASE EGM will be [DATE], 2017 (the “ASE EGM Record Date”). Only ASE shareholders who hold common shares of ASE, par value NT$10 per share (“ASE Common Shares”), of record on the ASE EGM Record Date are entitled to vote at the ASE EGM, or to exercise the appraisal rights conferred on dissenting shareholders by the laws of the Republic of China. Each ASE Common Share entitles its holder to one vote at the ASE EGM on each of the proposals. You may exercise voting rights by electronic means or by attending the ASE EGM in person or by proxy using a duly authorized power of attorney in the prescribed form attached to the notice of convocation distributed by ASE prior to the ASE EGM. You may exercise your voting right by electronic means beginning from the fifteenth (15th) calendar day prior to the ASE EGM until the third calendar day prior to the day of the ASE EGM. Shareholders who intend to exercise voting right electronically must log in to the website maintained by the Taiwan Depository & Clearing Corporation (“TDCC”) (https://www.stockvote.com.tw) and proceed in accordance with the instructions provided therein.

 

 

 

 

If you own American depositary shares of ASE (“ASE ADSs”), each representing five ASE Common Shares, Citibank, N.A. (“Citibank”), as depositary for the ASE ADSs (the “ASE Depositary”), will send to holders of ASE ADSs as of [DATE], 2017, a voting instruction card and notice which outlines the procedures those holders must follow to give proper voting instructions to the ASE Depositary. In accordance with and subject to the terms of the amended and restated deposit agreement, dated as of September 29, 2000 and as amended and restated (as so amended and restated, the “ASE Deposit Agreement”), by and among Citibank, as ASE Depositary, ASE, and the holders and beneficial owners of ASE ADSs, holders of ASE ADSs have no individual voting rights with respect to the ASE Common Shares represented by their ASE ADSs. Pursuant to the ASE Deposit Agreement, each holder of ASE ADSs is deemed to have authorized and directed the ASE Depositary to appoint the Chairman of ASE or his/her designate (the Chairman or his/her designate, the “Voting Representative”), as representative of the ASE Depositary, the custodian or the nominee who is registered in the Republic of China as representative of the holders of ASE ADSs to vote the ASE Common Shares represented by ASE ADSs as more fully described below.

 

In accordance with and subject to the terms of the ASE Deposit Agreement, if holders of ASE ADSs together holding at least 51% of all the ASE ADSs outstanding as of the record date set by the ASE Depositary for the ASE EGM to vote on the proposed Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, instruct the ASE Depositary, prior to the ASE ADS voting instructions deadline, to vote in the same manner with respect to the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, the ASE Depositary shall notify the Voting Representative and appoint the Voting Representative as the representative of the ASE Depositary and the holders of ASE ADSs to attend the ASE EGM and vote all ASE Common Shares represented by ASE ADSs outstanding in the manner so instructed by such holders. If voting instructions are received from an ASE ADS holder by the ASE Depositary as of the ASE ADS voting instructions deadline, which are signed but without further indication as to voting instructions, the ASE Depositary shall deem such holder to have instructed a vote in favor of the items set forth in such instructions.

 

Furthermore, in accordance with and subject to the terms of the ASE Deposit Agreement, if, for any reason, the ASE Depositary has not, prior to the ASE ADS voting instructions deadline, received instructions from holders of ASE ADSs together holding at least 51% of all ASE ADSs outstanding as of the record date set by the ASE Depositary for the ASE EGM to vote for the proposed Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, to vote in the same manner with respect to the proposed Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, the holders of all ASE ADSs shall be deemed to have authorized and directed the ASE Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to the Voting Representative, as the representative of the holders of ASE ADSs, to attend the ASE EGM and vote all the ASE Common Shares represented by ASE ADSs then outstanding in his/her discretion; provided, however, that the ASE Depositary will not give a discretionary proxy as described if it fails to receive under the terms of the ASE Deposit Agreement a satisfactory opinion from ASE’s counsel prior to the ASE EGM. In such circumstances, the Voting Representative shall be free to exercise the votes attaching to the ASE Common Shares represented by ASE in any manner he/she wishes, which may not be in the best interests of the ASE ADS holders. [The Voting Representative has informed ASE that he plans as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus to vote in favor of all of the proposals at the ASE EGM, although he has not entered into any agreement obligating him to do so.]

 

The board of directors of ASE has unanimously determined that the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the proposed Share Exchange, are advisable, fair to and in the best interests of ASE and its shareholders. The board of directors of ASE recommends that ASE shareholders vote “FOR” each of the proposals set forth above.

 

YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF SHARES THAT YOU OWN. The proposed Share Exchange cannot be completed without ASE shareholders approving, among other things, the completion by ASE of the proposed Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint

 

 

 

Share Exchange Agreement by either (x) the approval of one-half of the shares present at the ASE EGM if at least two-thirds of ASE’s outstanding shares attend the ASE EGM, or (y) the approval of two-thirds of the shares present at the ASE EGM if at least one-half of ASE’s outstanding shares attend the ASE EGM.

 

ASE is not asking for a proxy and you are not required to send a proxy to ASE. However, ASE Enterprises Limited, a shareholder of ASE has advised us that it intends to solicit proxies in favor of the authorization and approval of the proposed Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement.

 

If you have any questions concerning the Joint Share Exchange Agreement or the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, including the proposed Share Exchange, or this proxy statement/prospectus, or would like additional copies or need help voting your ASE Common Shares, please contact ASE Investor Relations Department at +886-2-6636-5678 or ir@aseglobal.com, or Citibank Shareholder Services at 1-877-CITI-ADR (248-4237) for questions related to your ASE ADSs.

 

On behalf of the Board of Directors
 
 
/s/ Jason C.S. Chang
Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

This proxy statement/prospectus incorporates important business and financial information about ASE and SPIL that is not included in or delivered with this proxy statement/prospectus. This information is available to you without charge upon your written or oral request. You can obtain the documents incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus free of charge by requesting them in writing or by telephone from the appropriate company at the following addresses and telephone numbers:

 

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.
e-mail: ir@aseglobal.com
Tel: +886-2-6636-5678
Room 1901, No. 333, Section 1 Keelung Rd.
Taipei, Taiwan, 110
Republic of China
Attention: Investor Relations

 

If you would like to request any documents, please do so by [DATE], 2017 in order to receive them before the ASE EGM.

 

For a more detailed description of the information incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus and how you may obtain it, see the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

ABOUT THIS PROXY-TRANSACTION STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS

 

This proxy statement/prospectus, which forms part of a registration statement on Form F-4 filed by ASE with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), constitutes a prospectus of ASE under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), with respect to the HoldCo Common Shares to be issued to ASE shareholders in connection with the Share Exchange. This proxy statement/prospectus also constitutes a proxy statement and a transaction statement for ASE under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). It also constitutes a notice of meeting with respect to the ASE EGM.

 

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus. No one has been authorized to provide you with information that is different from that contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this proxy statement/prospectus. This proxy statement/prospectus is dated November 22, 2016, and you should assume that the information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus is accurate only as of such date. You should also assume that the information incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus is only accurate as of the date of such information.

 

This proxy statement/prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, or the solicitation of a proxy, in any jurisdiction in which or from any person to whom it is unlawful to make any such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. Information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus regarding ASE has been provided by ASE and information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus regarding SPIL has been provided by SPIL.

 

 

 

 

table of contents

Page

Definitions ii
Questions and Answers about the Share Exchange iv
Summary 1
Selected Consolidated Financial Data 12
Selected Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Data 18
Comparative Historical and Unaudited Pro Forma Per Share Data 19
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Financial Statements 21
Special Factors 29
Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements 59
Risk Factors 60
Exchange Rates 67
Market Price and Dividend Information 68
Information about the Companies 72
Extraordinary General Shareholders’ Meeting of ASE 73
The Joint Share Exchange Agreement 76
Description of HoldCo Common Shares 86
Description of HoldCo American Depositary Shares 91
Legal Matters 105
Experts 105
Enforceability of Foreign Judgments in the ROC 105
Where You Can Find More Information 106

 

Annex A: Joint Share Exchange Agreement dated June 30, 2016 (English translation) A-1
   
Annex B-1: Opinion issued by Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu, CPA, dated May 25, 2016 (English translation) B-1
   
Annex B-2: Opinion issued by Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu, CPA, dated June 29, 2016 (English translation) B-2
   
Annex C: Article 12 of the Republic of China Mergers and Acquisitions Act C-1

 

 

Table of Contents 

Definitions

 

As used in this proxy statement/prospectus, the following defined terms have the following respective meanings:

 

·“ASE” or the “Registrant” refers to Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. and, as the context requires, its subsidiaries;

 

·“ASE ADS(s)” refers to the American depositary share(s) issued by the ASE Depositary under the ASE Deposit Agreement. Each ASE ADS represents five ASE Common Shares;

 

·“ASE Common Share(s)” refers to the common share(s) of ASE, par value NT$10 per share;

 

·“ASE Depositary” or “Citibank” refers to Citibank, N.A., as depositary for the ASE ADSs under the ASE Deposit Agreement;

 

·“ASE Deposit Agreement” refers to the Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2000, by and among ASE, Citibank and the Holders and Beneficial Owners of ASE ADSs, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of April 6, 2006, and by Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of November 27, 2006;

 

·“ASE Share(s)” refers to ASE Common Share(s) and ASE ADS(s), collectively;

 

·“Effective Time” refers to the effective time of the Share Exchange;

 

·“Exchange Act” refers to the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended;

 

·“FSC” refers to Financial Supervisory Commission of the ROC;

 

·“HoldCo” refers to ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd., the holding company that will be formed at the Effective Time as the parent company of ASE and SPIL as a result of the Share Exchange;

 

·“HoldCo ADS(s)” refers to the American depositary share(s) that will be issued to ASE ADS holders upon the consummation of the Share Exchange pursuant to a new American depositary receipt facility to be established by HoldCo with the HoldCo Depositary upon the terms of the HoldCo Deposit Agreement. Each HoldCo ADS will represent two HoldCo Common Shares;

 

·“HoldCo Common Share(s)” refers to the common share(s) of HoldCo, par value NT$10 per share, that will be issued upon the consummation of the Share Exchange;

 

·“HoldCo Depositary” refers to Citibank, N.A. in its capacity as depositary for the HoldCo ADSs pursuant to the terms of the HoldCo Deposit Agreement;

 

·“HoldCo Deposit Agreement” refers to the deposit agreement for the HoldCo ADSs to be entered into by HoldCo and Citibank, N.A., as HoldCo Depositary, at the Effective Time of the Share Exchange, and to which the holders and beneficial owners of HoldCo ADSs become parties upon acceptance of HoldCo ADSs;

 

·“HoldCo Shares” refers to HoldCo Common Shares and HoldCo ADSs, collectively;

 

·“IFRS” refers to International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board;

 

·“Joint Share Exchange Agreement” refers to the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, dated June 30, 2016, by and between ASE and SPIL; an English translation is included as Annex A to this proxy statement/prospectus;

 

·“NASDAQ” refers to the NASDAQ National Market;

 

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·“non-ROC holder” refers to a non-resident individual or non-resident entity that owns ASE Common Shares or ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares or ADSs. As used in the preceding sentence, a “non-resident individual” is a non-ROC national who owns ASE Common Shares or ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares or ADSs and is not physically present in the ROC for 183 days or more during any calendar year, and a “non-resident entity” is a corporation or a non-corporate body that owns ASE Common Shares or ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares or ADSs, is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the ROC and has no fixed place of business or business agent in the ROC;

 

·“NT$” and “NT dollars” refers to New Taiwan dollars, the official currency of the ROC;

 

·“NYSE” refers to the New York Stock Exchange;

 

·“PRC” or “China” refers to the People’s Republic of China, excluding, for purposes of this proxy statement/prospectus, Hong Kong, the Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan;

 

·“ROC” or “Taiwan” refers to the Republic of China;

 

·“ROC Company Law” refers to the Company Law of the ROC;

 

·“ROC Mergers and Acquisitions Act” refers to the Business Mergers and Acquisitions Act of the ROC;

 

·“ROC Trading Day” refers to a day when TWSE is open for business;

 

·“Share Exchange” refers to the transactions pursuant to which ASE will file an application with the TWSE and other competent authorities to establish HoldCo by means of a statutory share exchange, HoldCo will acquire all issued shares of each of ASE and SPIL and ASE and SPIL will become wholly owned subsidiaries of HoldCo concurrently;

 

·“Securities Act” refers to the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended;

 

·“SEC” refers to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission;

 

·“SPIL” refers to Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd., and, as the context requires, its subsidiaries;

 

·“SPIL ADS(s)” refers to the American depositary shares issued by the SPIL Depositary under the SPIL Deposit Agreement. Each SPIL ADS represents five SPIL Common Shares;

 

·“SPIL Common Share(s)” refers to the common share(s) of SPIL, par value NT$10 per share;

 

·“SPIL Depositary” refers to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as depositary for the SPIL ADSs under the SPIL Deposit Agreement;

 

·“SPIL Deposit Agreement” refers to the Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of January 6, 2015, by and among SPIL, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as SPIL Depositary, and the Holders and Beneficial Owners of SPIL ADSs, as amended;

 

·“TWSE” refers to the Taiwan Stock Exchange;

 

·“U.S.” refers to the United States of America; and

 

·“US$” and “U.S. dollars” refers to United States dollars, the official currency of the United States of America.  

 

For your convenience, this prospectus contains translations of certain NT dollar amounts into U.S. dollar amounts at a rate of NT$31.27 to US$1.00, the exchange rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board on September 30, 2016, unless otherwise stated. We make no representation that any NT dollar or U.S. dollar amounts could have been, or could be, converted into U.S. dollars or NT dollars, as the case may be, at any particular rate, or at all.

 

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Questions and Answers about the Share Exchange

 

Q.Why am I receiving this document?

 

A.ASE and SPIL have entered into a Joint Share Exchange Agreement pursuant to which a holding company, HoldCo, will be established by means of a statutory share exchange pursuant to the laws of the ROC, and HoldCo will (i) acquire all issued shares of ASE in exchange for shares of HoldCo using the Exchange Ratio as described below, and (ii) acquire all issued SPIL Common Shares using the cash consideration as described below. Upon the consummation of the Share Exchange, ASE and SPIL will become wholly owned subsidiaries of HoldCo concurrently.

 

Before the Share Exchange can be completed, ASE shareholders must vote to approve, among other things, the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement. If you are an ASE shareholder, ASE is sending you this proxy statement/prospectus to ask you to vote in favor of these matters. ASE will hold the ASE EGM on [DATE], 2017 to obtain these approvals and the approval of certain other proposals that are not conditions to the completion of the Share Exchange.

 

This proxy statement/prospectus, which you should read carefully, contains important information about the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange and other matters being considered at the ASE EGM. The enclosed voting materials allow you to vote your shares without attending the applicable shareholders’ meeting. Your vote is very important and we encourage you to submit your vote or proxy as soon as possible.

 

Q.What will SPIL shareholders receive in the Share Exchange?

 

A.As of the Effective Time of the Share Exchange:

 

·each SPIL Common Share, par value NT$10 per share, issued immediately prior to the Effective Time (including SPIL’s treasury shares and the SPIL Common Shares beneficially owned by ASE), will be transferred to HoldCo in consideration for the right to receive NT$51.2, which represents NT$55 minus a cash dividend and a return of capital reserve of NT$3.8 per SPIL Common Share distributed by SPIL on July 1, 2016, payable by HoldCo in cash in NT dollars, without interest and net of any applicable withholding taxes; and

 

·each SPIL ADS will be cancelled in exchange for the right to receive through SPIL Depositary, the US dollar equivalent of NT$256 (representing five times of the SPIL Common Shares Cash Consideration) minus (i) all processing fees and expenses per SPIL ADS in relation to the conversion from NT dollars into US dollars, and (ii) US$0.05 per SPIL ADS cancellation fees pursuant to the terms of the SPIL Deposit Agreement payable in cash in US dollars, without interest and net of any applicable withholding taxes.

 

The Cash Consideration will be subject to adjustments if SPIL issues shares or pays cash dividends during the period from the execution date of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement to the Effective Time, provided, however, that the Cash Consideration shall not be subject to adjustment if the aggregate amount of the cash dividends distributed by SPIL in fiscal year 2017 is less than 85% of its after-tax net profit for fiscal year 2016, which is described further in the section entitled “The Joint Share Exchange Agreement—Adjustment to the Consideration.”

 

Q.What will ASE shareholders receive in the Share Exchange?

 

A.As of the Effective Time:

 

·each ASE Common Share, par value NT$10 per share, issued immediately prior to the Effective Time (including ASE’s treasury shares), will be transferred to HoldCo in consideration for the right to receive 0.5 HoldCo Common Shares; and

 

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·each ASE ADS, currently representing five ASE Common Shares, will, after the Effective Time, represent the right to receive 1.25 HoldCo ADSs, each HoldCo ADS representing two HoldCo Common Shares, upon surrender for cancellation to the ASE Depositary after the Effective Time.

 

Q:How will fractional entitlements to HoldCo Common Shares be handled in the Share Exchange?

 

A:ASE will aggregate the fractional entitlements to HoldCo Common Shares and sell the aggregated HoldCo Common Shares using the closing price of ASE Common Shares on the TWSE on the ninth (9th) ROC Trading Day prior to the Effective Time, to an appointee of the Chairman of HoldCo. The cash proceeds from the sale will be distributed to the former holders of ASE Common Shares by HoldCo on a proportionate basis in accordance with their respective fractions at the Effective Time.

 

Q:How will fractional entitlements to HoldCo ADSs be handled in the Share Exchange?

 

A:The ASE Depositary (Citibank) will aggregate the fractional entitlements to HoldCo ADSs, use commercially reasonable efforts to sell the aggregated fractional entitlements to HoldCo ADSs on the open market, and remit the net cash proceeds (after deducting applicable taxes, fees and expenses, including sales commissions) to the holders of ASE ADSs entitled to them.

 

Q.How do the HoldCo Common Shares differ from ASE Common Shares?

 

A.HoldCo Common Shares will not materially differ from ASE Common Shares from a legal perspective.

 

Q.How do the HoldCo ADSs differ from ASE ADSs?

 

A.HoldCo ADSs will not materially differ from ASE ADSs from a legal perspective.

 

Q.When is the Share Exchange expected to be completed?

 

A.The Share Exchange is expected to be completed on or promptly after [DATE], 2017.

 

Q.What is the record date for voting at the ASE EGM?

 

A.The record date for voting at the ASE EGM is on or about [DATE], 2017.

 

Q.How do I vote at the ASE EGM?

 

A.You may exercise voting rights as a shareholder by electronic means or by attending the ASE EGM, as applicable, in person or by proxy.

 

You may exercise your voting right by electronic means beginning from the fifteenth (15th) calendar day prior to the ASE EGM, as applicable, until the third calendar day prior to the day of the ASE EGM (the “Electronic Voting Period”). Shareholders who intend to exercise voting rights electronically must login to the website maintained by the TDCC (https://www.stockvote.com.tw) and proceed in accordance with the instructions provided therein.

 

You may exercise your voting rights by attending the ASE EGM in person or by proxy using a duly authorized power of attorney in the prescribed form attached to the notice of convocation distributed by ASE prior to the respective ASE EGM.

 

Q:How will shares being represented at the ASE EGM by voting cards be treated?

 

A:The voting cards used for the ASE EGM will describe the proposals to be voted on by shareholders at the ASE EGM, as applicable, including approval of the Share Exchange. The voting cards will allow shareholders to indicate a ‘‘for’’ or ‘‘against’’ vote with respect to each proposal.

 

Q.May I change my vote?

 

A.Yes.

 

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If you previously voted through the electronic voting website, you may change or revoke your previous voting by logging in to the electronic voting website anytime within the Electronic Voting Period. If you revoked your electronic voting within the Electronic Voting Period, you may attend the ASE EGM, as applicable, and vote in person.

 

If you previously presented a valid proxy or exercised your vote through the electronic voting website but then wish to attend the ASE EGM in person, you are required to revoke your proxy in writing addressed to ASE or revoke your electronic vote by logging in to the electronic voting website at least two (2) calendar days prior to the ASE EGM. Otherwise, the voting right exercised by your proxy or through the electronic voting website will prevail.

 

Q:How do I vote if I own ASE ADSs?

 

A:The ASE Depositary will send to holders of ASE ADSs as of [DATE], 2017, a voting instruction card and notice, which outlines the procedures those holders must follow to give proper voting instructions to the ASE Depositary.

 

Q:If I own ASE ADSs, what steps must I take to exchange my ASE ADSs for HoldCo ADSs?

 

A:If you hold physical certificates, also known as ASE American depositary receipts (“ASE ADRs”), representing ASE ADSs, you will be sent a letter of transmittal after the Effective Time by the ASE Depositary, which is to be used to surrender your ASE ADSs to the ASE Depositary in exchange for HoldCo ADSs. The letter of transmittal will contain instructions explaining the procedure for surrendering the ASE ADSs in exchange for the HoldCo ADSs. YOU SHOULD NOT RETURN ASE ADRs WITH THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD. The HoldCo ADSs will be issued in uncertificated, book-entry form, unless a physical HoldCo ADR is subsequently requested.

 

If you hold ASE ADSs in uncertificated form registered directly on the books of the ASE Depositary, you will not be required to take any action after the Effective Time. The ASE Depositary will, after the Effective Time, exchange your ASE ADSs for the applicable HoldCo ADSs and send you a statement reflecting HoldCo ADSs issued in your name as a result of the Share Exchange and a check for the cash in lieu of any fractional HoldCo ADS to which you are entitled as a result of the Share Exchange.

 

Beneficial holders of ASE ADSs held in “street name” through a bank, broker or other financial institution with an account in The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) will not be required to take any action after the Effective Time to exchange ASE ADSs for HoldCo ADSs. After the Effective Time, ASE ADSs held in “street name” will be exchanged by the ASE Depositary via DTC for the applicable HoldCo ADSs and delivered in book-entry form via DTC to the applicable banks, brokers and other financial institutions for credit to their clients the beneficial owners of ASE ADSs.

 

Q:If I own ASE ADSs, will I be required to pay any service fees to exchange my ASE ADSs for HoldCo ADSs?

 

A:There is a US$0.02 cancellation fee per ASE ADS held payable by holders of ASE ADSs to the ASE Depositary in connection with the exchange of ASE ADSs for HoldCo ADSs.

 

Q:How will trading in ASE Common Shares and ASE ADSs be affected by the Share Exchange?

 

A:ASE expects that ASE Common Shares will be suspended from trading on the TWSE starting from the eighth (8th) ROC Trading Day prior to the Effective Time of the Share Exchange. ASE expects that HoldCo Common Shares will begin trading in Taiwan during TWSE trading hours, at the Effective Time of the Share Exchange. ASE expects that the ASE ADSs will be suspended from trading on the NYSE starting from the eighth (8th) trading day on the NYSE prior to the Effective Time of the Share Exchange. ASE expects that HoldCo ADSs will begin trading on the NYSE during NYSE trading hours, at the Effective Time of the Share Exchange. You will not be able to trade ASE Common Shares and ASE ADSs during these gaps in trading.

 

Q.Whom can I call with questions?

 

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A.If you have more questions about the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, you should contact:

 

Kenneth Hsiang
Email: ir@aseglobal.com
Tel: +886-2-6636-5678
Room 1901, No. 333, Section 1 Keelung Rd.
Taipei, Taiwan, 110, Republic of China
Attention: Head of Investor Relations

 

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Summary

 

The following summary highlights selected information described in more detail elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus and may not contain all the information that may be important to you. To understand the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and the matters being voted on by ASE shareholders and SPIL shareholders at their respective extraordinary shareholders’ meeting more fully, and to obtain a more complete description of the legal terms of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, you should carefully read this entire document, including the annexes, and the documents to which ASE refers you. Each item in this summary includes a page reference directing you to a more complete description of that topic. See the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

The Parties (see page 72)

 

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.

 

ASE is a company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the ROC. ASE’s services include semiconductor packaging, production of interconnect materials, front-end engineering testing, wafer probing and final testing services, as well as integrated solutions for electronics manufacturing services in relation to computers, peripherals, communications, industrial, automotive, and storage and server applications.

 

ASE Common Shares are traded on the TWSE under the ticker “2311” and ASE ADSs are traded on the NYSE under the symbol “ASX.” ASE’s principal executive offices are located at 26 Chin Third Road, Nantze Export Processing Zone, Nantze, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China, and the telephone number at the above address is +886-7-361-7131.

 

Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd.

 

SPIL is a company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the ROC. SPIL offers a full range of packaging and testing solutions, including advanced packages, substrate packages and lead-frame packages, as well as testing for logic and mixed signal devices. SPIL currently targets customers in the personal computer, communications, consumer integrated circuits and non-commodity memory semiconductor markets.

 

SPIL Common Shares are traded on TWSE under the ticker “2325” and SPIL ADSs are traded on NASDAQ under the symbol “SPIL.” The principal executive offices of SPIL are located at No. 123, Sec. 3, Da Fong Road, Tantzu, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China, and the telephone number is 886-4-2534-1525.

 

ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

It is expected that HoldCo will be a company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the ROC and will be formed at the Effective Time. HoldCo will initially serve exclusively as the holding company for the ASE, SPIL, as well as their subsidiaries and investees. HoldCo will not have substantive assets or operations.

 

It is expected that HoldCo Common Shares will traded on the TWSE and HoldCo ADSs will be traded on the NYSE. It is expected that HoldCo’s principal executive offices will be located at Room 1901, No. 333, Section 1 Keelung Rd. Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China and its telephone number at the above address will be +886-2-6636-5678.

 

The Share Exchange (see page 76)

 

ASE and SPIL have entered into a Joint Share Exchange Agreement pursuant to which a holding company, HoldCo, will be formed by means of a statutory share exchange pursuant to ROC law, and at the Effective Time, HoldCo will (i) acquire all issued shares of ASE in exchange for shares of HoldCo using the Exchange Ratio as described below, and (ii) acquire all issued shares of SPIL using the Cash Consideration as described below. Upon the consummation of the Share Exchange, ASE and SPIL will become wholly owned subsidiaries of HoldCo

 

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concurrently. Subject to the Share Exchange and the Joint Share Exchange Agreement being approved by shareholders of ASE and SPIL, and upon the satisfaction of the other conditions for completing the Share Exchange, HoldCo will be formed — and the Share Exchange is expected to become effective — on or around [DATE], 2017.

 

Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, at the Effective Time:

 

(i)for SPIL shareholders:

 

·each SPIL Common Share, par value NT$10 per share, issued immediately prior to the Effective Time (including SPIL’s treasury shares and the SPIL Common Shares beneficially owned by ASE), will be transferred to HoldCo in consideration for the right to receive NT$51.2, which represents NT$55 minus a cash dividend and a return of capital reserve of NT$3.8 per SPIL Common Share distributed by SPIL on July 1, 2016, payable by HoldCo in cash in NT dollars, without interest and net of any applicable withholding taxes; and

 

·each SPIL ADS will be cancelled in exchange for the right to receive through SPIL Depositary, the US dollar equivalent of NT$256 (representing five times of the SPIL Common Shares Cash Consideration) minus (i) all processing fees and expenses per SPIL ADS in relation to the conversion from NT dollars into US dollars, and (ii) US$0.05 per SPIL ADS cancellation fees pursuant to the terms of the SPIL Deposit Agreement payable in cash in US dollars, without interest and net of any applicable withholding taxes.

 

The Cash Consideration will be subject to adjustments if SPIL issues shares or pays cash dividends during the period from the execution date of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement to the Effective Time; provided, however, that the Cash Consideration shall not be subject to adjustment if the aggregate amount of the cash dividends distributed by SPIL in fiscal year 2017 is less than 85% of its after-tax net profit for fiscal year 2016.

 

(i)for ASE shareholders:

 

·each ASE Common Share, par value NT$10 per share, issued immediately prior to the Effective Time (including ASE’s treasury shares), will be transferred to HoldCo in consideration for the right to receive 0.5 HoldCo Common Shares; and

 

·each ASE ADS, currently representing five ASE Common Shares, will, after the Effective Time, represent the right to receive 1.25 HoldCo ADSs, each HoldCo ADS representing two HoldCo Common Shares, upon surrender for cancellation to the ASE Depositary after the Effective Time.

 

Under ROC law, if any fractional HoldCo Common Shares representing less than one common share would otherwise be allotted to former holders of ASE Common Shares in connection with the Share Exchange, those fractional shares will not be issued to those shareholders. Pursuant to the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, ASE will aggregate the fractional entitlements and sell the aggregated ASE Common Shares using the closing price of ASE Common Shares on the TWSE on the ninth (9th) ROC Trading Day prior to the Effective Time, to an appointee of the Chairman of HoldCo. The cash proceeds from the sale will be distributed to the former holders of ASE Common Shares by HoldCo on a proportionate basis in accordance with their respective fractions at the Effective Time.

 

If you hold physical certificates, also known as ASE American depositary receipts (“ASE ADRs”), representing ASE ADSs, you will be sent a letter of transmittal after the Effective Time by the ASE Depositary, which is to be used to surrender your ASE ADSs to the ASE Depositary in exchange for HoldCo ADSs. The letter of transmittal will contain instructions explaining the procedure for surrendering the ASE ADSs in exchange for the HoldCo ADSs. YOU SHOULD NOT RETURN ASE ADRs WITH THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD. The HoldCo ADSs will be issued in uncertificated, book-entry form, unless a physical HoldCo ADR is subsequently requested.

 

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If you hold ASE ADSs in uncertificated form registered directly on the books of the ASE Depositary, you will not be required to take any action after the Effective Time. The ASE Depositary will, after the Effective Time, exchange your ASE ADSs for the applicable HoldCo ADSs and send you a statement reflecting HoldCo ADSs issued in your name as a result of the Share Exchange and a check for the cash in lieu of any fractional HoldCo ADS to which you are entitled as a result of the Share Exchange.

 

Beneficial holders of ASE ADSs held in “street name” through a bank, broker or other financial institution with an account in DTC will not be required to take any action after the Effective Time to exchange ASE ADSs for HoldCo ADSs. After the Effective Time, ASE ADSs held in “street name” will be exchanged by the ASE Depositary via DTC for the applicable HoldCo ADSs and delivered in book-entry form via DTC to the applicable banks, brokers and other financial institutions for credit to their clients the beneficial owners of ASE ADSs.

 

The ASE Depositary will only distribute whole HoldCo ADSs. It will use commercially reasonable efforts to sell the fractional entitlements to HoldCo ADSs and distribute the net cash proceeds to the holders of ASE ADSs entitled to it.

 

Subject to approval at the ASE EGM, HoldCo will issue 3,961,811,298 HoldCo Common Shares (based on the number of issued shares of ASE on September 30, 2016) in connection with the Share Exchange.

 

The following chart depicts the organizational structure of each of ASE and SPIL before the Share Exchange as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus and immediately after the Effective Time.

 

Before the Share Exchange as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus:

 

 

Immediately after the Effective Time:

 

 

The ASE EGM (see page 73)

 

Date, Time and Place. The ASE EGM to vote for the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement is expected to be held at [TIME] A.M. on [DATE], 2017 (Taiwan time), at Zhuang Jing Auditorium, 600 Jiachang Road, Nantze Export Processing Zone, Nantze District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, Republic of China.

 

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Purpose. The ASE EGM is being held to consider and vote on:

 

·Proposal 1 To consider and to vote upon the joint share exchange agreement entered into between Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. and Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd. on June 30, 2016 (the “Joint Share Exchange Agreement”) and the proposed share exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement

 

·Proposal 2. To consider and to vote upon the adoption of the articles of incorporation of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

·Proposal 3. To consider and to vote upon the Rules of Procedure for Shareholders’ Meetings of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

·Proposal 4. To consider and to vote upon the Rules Governing the Election of Directors and Supervisors of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

·Proposal 5. To consider and to vote upon the Procedures for Lending Funds to Other Parties of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd. and Procedures of Making of Endorsement and Guarantees of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

·Proposal 6. To consider and to vote upon the Procedures for Acquisition or Disposal of Assets of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

·Proposal 7. To consider and elect the members of the board of directors and supervisors of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

·Proposal 8. To consider and to vote upon the proposal to waive the non-competition clauses applicable to newly elected directors of ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.

 

Record Date; Voting Rights. Holders of ASE Common Shares will be entitled to exercise voting rights by electronic means or by attending the ASE EGM in person or by proxy, if they are recorded on ASE’s stockholder register on [DATE], 2017 (“ASE EGM Record Date”). Only ASE shareholders who hold ASE Common Shares of record on the ASE EGM Record Date are entitled to vote at the ASE EGM, or to exercise the appraisal rights conferred on dissenting shareholders by the laws of the ROC. Each ASE Common Share entitles its holder to one vote at the ASE EGM on each of the proposals. You may exercise voting rights by electronic means or by attending the ASE EGM in person or by proxy using a duly authorized power of attorney in the prescribed form attached to the notice of convocation distributed by ASE prior to the ASE EGM. You may exercise your voting right by electronic means beginning from the 15th calendar day prior to the ASE EGM until the third calendar day prior to the day of the ASE EGM. Shareholders who intend to exercise their voting rights, electronically must log in to the website maintained by the TDCC (https://www.stockvote.com.tw) and proceed in accordance with the instructions provided therein.

 

Holders of ASE ADSs will be entitled to instruct the ASE Depositary (Citibank) as to how to vote the ASE Common Shares represented by ASE ADSs at the ASE EGM in accordance with the procedures set forth in this prospectus, if those holders were recorded on the ASE Depositary’s register on [DATE], 2017. In accordance with and subject to the terms of the ASE Deposit Agreement, holders of ASE ADSs have no individual voting rights with respect to the ASE Common Shares represented by their ASE ADSs. Pursuant to the ASE Deposit Agreement, each holder of ASE ADSs is deemed to have authorized and directed the ASE Depositary to appoint the Chairman of ASE or his/her designee, as Voting Representative of the ASE Depositary, the custodian or the nominee who is registered in the ROC as representative of the holders of ASE ADSs to vote the ASE Common Shares represented by ASE ADSs as more fully described below.

 

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In accordance with and subject to the terms of the ASE Deposit Agreement, if holders of ASE ADSs together holding at least 51% of all the ASE ADSs outstanding as of the record date set by the ASE Depositary for the ASE EGM to vote on the proposed Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, instruct the ASE Depositary, prior to the ASE ADS voting instructions deadline, to vote in the same manner with respect to the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, the ASE Depositary shall notify the Voting Representative and appoint the Voting Representative as the representative of the ASE Depositary and the holders of ASE ADSs to attend the ASE EGM and vote all ASE Common Shares represented by ASE ADSs outstanding in the manner so instructed by such holders. If voting instructions are received from an ASE ADS holder by the ASE Depositary as of the ASE ADS voting instructions deadline which are signed but without further indication as to voting instructions, the ASE Depositary shall deem such holder to have instructed a vote in favor of the items set forth in such instructions.

 

Furthermore, in accordance with and subject to the terms of the ASE Deposit Agreement, if, for any reason, the ASE Depositary has not, prior to the ASE ADS voting instructions deadline, received instructions from holders of ASE ADSs together holding at least 51% of all ASE ADSs outstanding as of the record date set by the ASE Depositary for the ASE EGM to vote for the proposed Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, to vote in the same manner with respect to the proposed Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, the holders of all ASE ADSs shall be deemed to have authorized and directed the ASE Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to the Voting Representative, as the representative of the holders of ASE ADSs, to attend the ASE EGM and vote all the ASE Common Shares represented by ASE ADSs then outstanding in his/her discretion; provided, however, that the ASE Depositary will not give a discretionary proxy as described if it fails to receive under the terms of the ASE Deposit Agreement a satisfactory opinion from ASE’s counsel prior to the ASE EGM. In such circumstances, the Voting Representative shall be free to exercise the votes attaching to the ASE Common Shares represented by ASE in any manner he/she wishes, which may not be in the best interests of the ASE ADS holders. [The Voting Representative has informed ASE that he plans as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus to vote in favor of all of the proposals at the ASE EGM, although he has not entered into any agreement obligating him to do so.]

 

Vote Required. The Share Exchange cannot be completed without ASE shareholders approving, among other things, the completion by ASE of the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement by either (x) the approval of one-half of the ASE Common shares present at the ASE EGM if at least two-thirds of the outstanding ASE Common Shares attend the ASE EGM, or (y) the approval of two-thirds of the ASE Common Shares present at the ASE EGM if at least one-half of the outstanding ASE Common Shares attend the ASE EGM. Each ASE shareholder is entitled to one vote per share.

 

As of [·], 2017, there were [·] ASE Common Shares (including those represented by ASE ADSs) outstanding. As of [·], 2017, ASE directors and executive officers, as a group, beneficially owned and were entitled to vote [·] ASE Common Shares, or approximately [·]% of the total outstanding share capital of ASE. ASE currently expects that these directors and executive officers will vote their ASE Common Shares that are held at the ASE EGM Record Date in favor of all of the proposals at the ASE EGM, although none of them has entered into any agreement obligating them to do so.

 

Under ROC law, ASE is prohibited from soliciting proxies, consents or authorizations at its shareholders’ meetings, including the ASE EGM which the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement will be voted upon. However, ASE Enterprises Limited (“ASEE”), a shareholder of ASE beneficially holding approximately [·]% of the total outstanding share capital of ASE as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, has expressed that it plans to vote in favor of all of the proposals at the ASE EGM and intends to solicit proxies in favor of the authorization and approval of the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement prior to the ASE EGM. ASEE is controlled by ASE’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jason C.S. Chang.

 

Recommendation and Approval of the ASE Board and Reasons for the Share Exchange (see page 36)

 

The ASE Board recommends that ASE shareholders vote “FOR” each of the proposals to be presented at the ASE EGM.

 

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In the course of reaching its decision to approve the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, the ASE board of directors (the “ASE Board”) considered a number of factors in its deliberations. For a more complete discussion of these factors, see the section entitled “Special Factors —Recommendation and Approval of the ASE Board and Reasons for the Share Exchange.”

 

Interests of ASE in SPIL Common Shares and ADSs (see page 38)

 

On October 1, 2015, ASE closed its acquisition of, and paid for, 779,000,000 SPIL Common Shares (including those represented by SPIL ADSs) pursuant to the tender offers in the U.S. and in the ROC (the “Initial ASE Tender Offers”). In March and April 2016, ASE acquired an additional 258,300,000 SPIL Common Shares (including those represented by SPIL ADSs) through open market purchases. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, ASE held 988,847,740 SPIL Common Shares and 9,690,452 SPIL ADSs, representing 33.29% of the issue and outstanding share of SPIL.

 

Except as set forth elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus: (a) none of ASE and, to ASE's knowledge, any associate or majority-owned subsidiary of ASE beneficially owns or has a right to acquire any SPIL Common Shares, SPIL ADSs or other equity securities of SPIL; (b) none of ASE and, to ASE's knowledge, any associate or majority-owned subsidiary of ASE has effected any transaction in SPIL Common Shares, SPIL ADSs or other equity securities of SPIL during the past 60 days; and (c) during the two years before the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, there have been no transactions between ASE, its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and SPIL or any of its executive officers, directors, controlling shareholders or affiliates, on the other hand, that would require reporting under SEC rules and regulations.

 

Opinions of ASE’s Independent Expert (see page 39)

 

On May 25, 2016, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu, CPA, of Crowe Horwath (TW) CPAs Firm, an independent expert engaged by ASE, delivered to ASE its written opinion (the “First Crowe Horwath Opinion”) that the cash consideration of NT$55 per SPIL Common Share to be paid by HoldCo under the Share Exchange and the Exchange Ratio in which ASE Common Shares will be exchanged for HoldCo Common Shares as stipulated in the Joint Share Exchange Memorandum of Understanding (“Joint Share Exchange MOU”) were reasonable and fair. On June 29, 2016, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu delivered to ASE an opinion that the Cash Consideration (including conditions for adjustments) per SPIL Common Share to be paid by HoldCo in the Share Exchange and the Exchange Ratio in which ASE Common Shares will be exchanged for HoldCo Common Shares as stipulated in the Joint Share Exchange Agreement were reasonable and fair (the “Second Crowe Horwath Opinion,” and together with the First Crowe Horwath Opinion, the “Crowe Horwath Opinions”). The Crowe Horwath Opinions will be available for any interested ASE shareholder (or any representative of an ASE shareholder who has been so designated in writing) to inspect and copy at ASE’s principal executive offices during regular business hours.

 

Financing of the Share Exchange (see page 48)

 

HoldCo intends to fund the Cash Consideration (including the NT$51.2 per SPIL Common Share Cash Consideration payable to holders of the foreign convertible bonds issued by SPIL on October 31, 2014 (“SPIL Convertible Bonds”) that have not been otherwise redeemed or repurchased by the SPIL, or cancelled or converted prior to the Effective Time), which is an aggregate amount of approximately NT$173.16 billion (US$5.54 billion), with a combination of ASE’s cash on hand and debt financing. Subject to the amount of cash on hand at the time when ASE arranges for financing, ASE may arrange bank loans up to NT$173 billion (US$5.53 billion) with a combination of a syndication loan of NT$120 billion (US$3.84 billion) and a short-term bridge loan of NT$53 billion (US$1.69 billion). In a highly confident letter dated November 7, 2016 issued by Citibank Taiwan Limited (“Citibank”) to ASE, Citibank stated that it is highly confident of its ability to arrange debt facilities for the Share Exchange up to an amount of US$3.8 billion equivalent, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in that letter. In another highly confident letter dated November 16, 2016 issued by DBS Bank Ltd., Taipei Branch (“DBS”) to ASE, DBS stated that it is confident of its ability to arrange debt facilities for the Share Exchange up to an amount of NT$53 billion (US$1.69 billion), subject to the terms and conditions set forth in that letter. In addition, ASE may enter into other arrangements or transactions, including through a capital increase in cash to reduce the amount of bank loans on or prior to the Effective Time.

 

Board of Directors and Management of HoldCo Following Completion of the Share Exchange (see page 48)

 

Under ROC law, since HoldCo has not come into existence before the Effective Time, ASE will hold a shareholders’ meeting for ASE's shareholders (also the incorporators of HoldCo) to elect members of the board of directors and supervisors for HoldCo. The ASE EGM will function as HoldCo’s incorporator’s meeting by operation

 

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of law. Therefore, at the ASE EGM, shareholders of ASE will elect the members of the board of directors and supervisors of HoldCo.

 

Under the terms of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, at HoldCo’s incorporator’s meeting, nine to 13 directors and three supervisors will be elected for HoldCo, which terms of such directors and supervisors will start from the Effective Time. SPIL’s Chairman and President are expected to be appointed as directors on HoldCo’s board of directors. After the completion of the Share Exchange, subject to ASE shareholders adopting the HoldCo director and supervisor election proposals, the board of directors of HoldCo is expected to include [●] (management director, Chairman), [●] (management director), [●] (management director), [●] (management director), [●] (management director), [●] (management director), [●] (management director), [●] (management director), [●] (management director), [●] (non-management director), [●] and [●]. [●], [●] and [●] are expected to be the supervisors of HoldCo.

 

From and after the Effective Time, the board of directors of HoldCo will establish an audit committee which will consist of one non-management director, [●], who is expected to be independent under Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act and financially literate with accounting or related financial management expertise. ASE is currently, and upon completion of the Share Exchange, HoldCo will be, subject to NYSE corporate governance, as applicable to foreign private issuers. It is expected that the audit committee of HoldCo established on the Effective Time would satisfy and comply with the requirements of section 303A.06 of the NYSE Listing Company Manual.

 

Certain ROC and U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Share Exchange (see page 48)

 

ROC Taxation

 

Capital gains realized upon the Share Exchange are exempt from ROC income tax. In the view of Baker & McKenzie, by reasonable interpretation of the ROC Mergers and Acquisitions Act based on current rules and regulations promulgated by ROC tax authority, ASE’s shareholders should not be subject to ROC securities transaction tax upon the Share Exchange. See the section entitled “Special Factors — Certain ROC and U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Share Exchange for Holders of ASE Common Shares or ADSs — ROC Taxation” for further discussion.

 

United States Taxation

 

Based on certain representations from ASE and assuming ASE has not been a PFIC for any taxable year during which the U.S. Holder has owned ASE Common Shares or ADSs, a U.S. Holder (as defined below) of ASE Common Shares or ASE ADSs is not expected to recognize any gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes upon an exchange of ASE Common Shares or ASE ADSs for HoldCo ADSs (or shares represented by such HoldCo Common Shares or HoldCo ADSs) in the Share Exchange, except with respect to any cash received in respect of fractional HoldCo Common Shares or fractional HoldCo ADSs or paid to dissenting U.S. Holders. See the section entitled “Special Factors — Certain ROC and U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Share Exchange for Holders of ASE Common Shares or ADSs— United States Taxation” for further discussion.

 

Accounting Treatment of the Share Exchange (see page 54)

 

Under IFRS, the Cash Consideration paid by HoldCo pursuant to the Share Exchange will be accounted for by applying the acquisition method of accounting with HoldCo being considered the acquirer of SPIL for accounting purposes. Upon the completion of the Share Exchange, HoldCo would obtain control of SPIL and any equity interest previously held in SPIL accounted for as equity method investments is treated as if it were disposed of and reacquired at fair value on the acquisition date. Accordingly, it is remeasured to its acquisition-date fair value, and any resulting gain or loss compared to its carrying amount is recognized in profit or loss. HoldCo will measure the identifiable assets acquired and the liabilities assumed at their acquisition-date fair values, and recognize goodwill as of the acquisition date measured as the excess of the Cash Consideration and the fair value of the ASE’s previously held equity interest in SPIL over the net of the acquisition-date fair value of the identifiable assets acquired and the liabilities assumed. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment at least annually.

 

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Under IFRS, the exchange of ASE Common Shares for HoldCo Common Shares and the exchange of ASE ADSs for HoldCo ADSs based on the Exchange Ratio will be accounted for as a legal reorganization of entities under common control. ASE and HoldCo are ultimately controlled by the same shareholders both before and after the Share Exchange and that control is not transitory, therefore the Share Exchange under common control will not be accounted for by applying the acquisition method as above. Accordingly, ASE will recognize no gain or loss in connection with the exchange of ASE shares for HoldCo shares upon the Share Exchange under common control, and all assets and liabilities of ASE will be recorded on the books of HoldCo at the predecessor carrying amounts.

 

Regulatory Approvals Required to Complete the Share Exchange (see page 55)

 

The completion of the Share Exchange is subject to obtaining antitrust and other regulatory approvals in certain jurisdictions, as noted below. ASE and SPIL submitted the required materials to the Taiwan Fair Trade Commission (the “TFTC”) on July 29, 2016 and the TFTC issued a no objection letter in respect of the Share Exchange on November 16, 2016. ASE and SPIL submitted the required materials to the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China (“MOFCOM”) on August 25, 2016 and are waiting for MOFCOM to formally accept the parties’ notification materials and start Phase I of the review process. In addition, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) has issued a subpoena and civil investigative demand relating to the proposed combination. ASE and SPIL are fully cooperating with the investigation. There can be no assurance as to if and when regulatory approvals will be obtained in the PRC, or if and when the FTC will complete its investigation without seeking an injunction prohibiting the Share Exchange or as to the conditions or limitations that such regulatory authorities may seek to impose. See the section entitled “Special Factors — Regulatory Approvals Required to Complete the Share Exchange.”

 

Share Exchange Listing (see page 55)

 

It is expected that HoldCo Common Shares will be listed on the TWSE and HoldCo ADSs will be listed on the NYSE at the Effective Time of the Share Exchange. As a result of the Share Exchange, ASE Common Shares currently listed on the TWSE and ASE ADSs currently listed on the NYSE will cease to be listed on the TWSE and NYSE, respectively; SPIL Common Shares currently listed on the TWSE and SPIL ADSs currently listed on NASDAQ will ceased to be listed on the TWSE and NASDAQ, respectively.

 

The following is a tentative timetable of the various trading-related events in connection with the completion of the Share Exchange:

 

Final trading day for ASE Common Shares and SPIL Common Shares on the TWSE [●], 2017 (Taiwan time)
   
Final trading day for ASE ADSs on the NYSE and SPIL ADSs on NASDAQ [●], 2017 (New York time)
   
Effective date of the Share Exchange [●], 2017 (Taiwan time)
   
First trading day for HoldCo Common Shares on the TWSE [●], 2017 (Taiwan time)
   
First trading day for HoldCo ADSs on the NYSE [●], 2017 (New York time)

 

 

In advance of completion of the Share Exchange, ASE expects to publicly announce the definitive timetable for these trading-related events.

 

Rights of Dissenting Shareholders (see page 56)

 

Under ROC law, ASE shareholders may have dissenters’ rights of appraisal in connection with the Share Exchange. See the section entitled “Special Factors — Rights of Dissenting Shareholders” for a complete discussion of dissenters’ rights. However, holders of ASE ADSs will not have any appraisal rights in respect of the Share

 

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Exchange under the terms of the ASE Deposit Agreement. ASE ADS holders who wish to be entitled to appraisal rights may cancel their ASE ADSs and become holders of ASE Common Shares by [DATE], 2017.

 

Litigation Related to the Share Exchange (see page 58)

 

ASE is not aware of any lawsuit that challenges the Share Exchange or any other transactions contemplated under the Joint Share Exchange Agreement.

 

Expenses Relating to the Share Exchange (see page 58)

 

All costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Share Exchange, the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and the completion of the transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement will be paid by the party incurring such costs and expenses, except as otherwise explicitly provided for in the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, whether or not the Share Exchange or any of the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement is completed.

 

Comparison of Rights of Shareholders of ASE and HoldCo (see page 58)

 

From a legal perspective, ASE shareholders receiving HoldCo Common Shares upon the completion of the Share Exchange will not have materially different rights from those they are entitled to as ASE shareholders. See the sections entitled “Special Factors — Comparison of Rights of Shareholders of ASE and HoldCo,” “Description of HoldCo American Depositary Shares,” and “Description of HoldCo Common Shares” for more information.

 

No Solicitation by SPIL of Acquisition Proposals (see page 79)

 

Under the terms of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, SPIL agreed not to offer, agree, enter into or sign with any third party any contract, agreement or other arrangements in respect to certain alternative transactions, subject to certain exceptions as described in the section entitled “The Joint Share Exchange Agreement — Pre-Closing Covenants and Agreements.”

 

Conditions to Consummation of the Share Exchange (see page 81)

 

The obligations of ASE, SPIL and HoldCo to consummate the Share Exchange are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

·ASE and SPIL will each have obtained unconditional approval of the Share Exchange at their respective general shareholders’ meetings;

 

·receipt of approvals from all relevant competent authorities, including, but not limited to, (i) the TWSE and the SEC (ii) the TFTC and MOFCOM and (iii) the FTC completing its investigation without seeking an injunction prohibiting the Share Exchange (in the case of (ii) and (iii), including approvals or consents of conditions imposed by such authorities that both ASE and SPIL have agreed to accept); and

 

·no order (or agreement with the FTC) is in effect and enforceable prohibiting, enjoining or rendering illegal the consummation of the Share Exchange, and no law shall have been enacted or enforced after the date the Joint Share Exchange Agreement was executed rendering illegal or prohibiting the consummation of the Share Exchange; provided that the enforcement of an order or law shall not include the decision by a governmental entity to extend the waiting period or initiate an investigation under antitrust laws or other applicable law.

 

In addition, ASE’s and HoldCo’s obligations to consummate the Share Exchange are subject to the satisfaction or waiver by ASE and HoldCo of the following additional conditions:

 

·all representations and warranties of SPIL are true and accurate as of the date the Joint Share Exchange Agreement was executed and as of the Effective Time, except to the extent that no material adverse effect on SPIL has occurred;

 

 

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·SPIL has performed in all material respects all obligations and undertakings required to be performed by it under the Joint Share Exchange Agreement prior to the Effective Time;

 

·no material adverse effect to SPIL shall have occurred prior to the Effective Time; and

 

·prior to the Effective Time, no force majeure events will have occurred which, individually or in aggregate, result in a decrease in SPIL’s consolidated net book value by 30% or more, relative to SPIL’s net book value in its consolidated audited financial statements as of March 31, 2016.

 

In addition, SPIL’s obligation to consummate the Share Exchange is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following additional conditions:

 

·all representations and warranties of ASE are true and accurate as of the date the Joint Share Exchange Agreement was executed and as of the Effective Time, except to the extent that no material adverse effect on ASE has occurred;

 

·all representations and warranties of HoldCo are true and accurate as of the Effective Time, except to the extent that no material adverse effect on HoldCo has occurred;

 

·ASE and HoldCo have performed in all material respects all obligations and undertakings required to be performed by each of them under the Joint Share Exchange Agreement prior to the Effective Time;

 

·no material adverse effect to ASE will have occurred prior to the Effective Time; and

 

·prior to the Effective Time, no force majeure events will have occurred which, individually or in aggregate, result in a decrease in ASE’s consolidated net book value by 30% or more, relative to ASE’s net book value in its consolidated audited financial statements as of March 31, 2016.

 

The consummation of the Share Exchange is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of all the conditions set forth above on or prior to December 31, 2017 (the “Long Stop Date”). If the closing of the Share Exchange cannot be completed due to the failure to satisfy the conditions set forth above on or prior to the Long Stop Date, the Joint Share Exchange Agreement will automatically terminate at midnight on the day immediately following the Long Stop Date.

 

ASE Board does not intend to waive (where capable of waiver by ASE) any of these or any other conditions unless it determines that the Share Exchange is in the best interest of ASE and ASE shareholders despite the condition(s) not being satisfied in whole or in part.

 

In addition, the expected timing for the completion of the Share Exchange may be impacted by other conditions described in this proxy statement/prospectus.

 

Termination of Joint Share Exchange Agreement (see page 82)

 

The Joint Share Exchange Agreement may be terminated prior to the Effective Time by either ASE or SPIL if any of the following occurs:

 

·a law, judgment, court order or administrative decision issued by a competent authority restricts or prohibits the consummation of the Share Exchange, and such restriction or prohibition has been confirmed and cannot be remedied by amending the Joint Share Exchange Agreement; or

 

·the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and Share Exchange are not approved by ASE’s shareholders or SPIL’s shareholders at their respective shareholder meetings.

 

The Joint Share Exchange Agreement may also be terminated at any time prior to the Effective Time by ASE if SPIL has breached or failed to perform any of its representations, warranties, undertakings or obligations under the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and such breach leads to the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation

 

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of the Share Exchange and is by its nature not capable of being cured, or is not cured by SPIL within 30 business days of receiving written notice of such breach, and is not waived in writing by ASE.

 

The Joint Share Exchange Agreement may also be terminated at any time prior to the Effective Time by SPIL if ASE has breached or failed to perform any of its representations, warranties, undertakings or obligations under the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and such breach leads to the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the Share Exchange and is by its nature not capable of being cured, or is not cured by ASE within 30 business days of receiving written notice of such breach, and is not waived in writing by SPIL.

 

If the Share Exchange is not consummated on or before the Long Stop Date, the Joint Share Exchange Agreement will automatically terminate at midnight on the day immediately following the Long Stop Date.

 

Termination Fees Relating to the Share Exchange (see page 79)

 

SPIL may be required to pay a termination fee of NT$17 billion (US$0.5 billion) if the Joint Share Exchange Agreement is terminated due to SPIL’s acceptance of a Superior Proposal (as defined in the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and further explained under the caption “The Joint Share Exchange Agreement — Pre-Closing Covenants and Agreements” beginning on page 79). See the section entitled “The Joint Share Exchange Agreement — Pre-Closing Covenants and Agreements” for a more complete description of the circumstances under which SPIL may be required to pay ASE a termination fee.

 

Remedies and Liquidated Damages (see page 82)

 

Upon the occurrence of certain prescribed material events of default, in addition to any right of termination and claims for expenses, the non-defaulting party will also be entitled to liquidated damages in the amount of NT$8.5 billion (US$0.3 billion) from the defaulting party, subject to adjustments for contributory negligence by the non-defaulting party. See the section entitled “The Joint Share Exchange Agreement — Termination and Events of Default” for a more complete description of the circumstances under which ASE or SPIL may be required to pay the other party liquidated damages.

 

Market Price Information (see page 68)

 

ASE Common Shares and SPIL Common Shares are listed on the TWSE under the stock code “2311” and “2325”, respectively. ASE ADSs and SPIL ADSs are listed on the NYSE and NASDAQ under the symbols “ASX” and “SPIL”, respectively. The following table presents the closing price information for ASE Common Shares, SPIL Common Shares, ASE ADSs and SPIL ADS on (a) May 25, 2016, the last trading day before the public announcement of the execution of the Joint Share Exchange MOU, and (b) November 21, 2016, the latest practicable trading day before the date of this proxy statement/prospectus.

 

 

ASE Common Shares

SPIL Common Shares

ASE ADSs

SPIL ADSs

Date NT$ US$ NT$ US$ US$ US$
May 25, 2016 33.05 1.06 50.50 1.61 4.89 7.52
November 21, 2016 34.80 1.11 47.70 1.53 5.41 7.40
               

 

Risk Factors

 

In determining whether to vote to approve the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, you should consider carefully the risk factors described in this document.

 

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Selected Consolidated Financial Data

 

Selected Consolidated Financial Data of ASE

 

The selected consolidated financial data of ASE as of and for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 has been derived from ASE’s audited consolidated financial statements included in its annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the SEC on April 29, 2016 (“ASE 2015 20-F”), which is incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus. These consolidated financial statements were prepared based on IFRS. The selected consolidated financial data as of December 31, 2012 and 2013 and for the year ended December 31, 2012 is derived from ASE’s audited consolidated financial statements not included herein.

 

ASE first started preparing its audited consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS starting from January 1, 2013. Historical financial data as of and for the year ended December 31, 2011 derived from ASE’s consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the ROC (“ROC GAAP”) with reconciliation to accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“US GAAP”) has not been included below, as such information is not available on a basis that is consistent with the consolidated financial information for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 and cannot be obtained without unreasonable effort or expense.

 

The information set forth below is only a summary and is not necessarily indicative of the results of future operations of ASE or HoldCo following completion of the Share Exchange, and you should read the following information together with ASE’s consolidated financial statements, the related notes, the section entitled “Item 5 —Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” contained in ASE 2015 20-F, which are incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus. For more information, see the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

The selected historical consolidated statement of operations data for each of the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2016 and the consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2016 have been derived from ASE’s unaudited consolidated financial statements for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2016 contained in ASE’s interim report on Form 6-K furnished with the SEC on November 22, 2016, which is incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus.

 

In September 2015, March and April 2016, ASE successively acquired Common Shares and ADSs of SPIL for cash resulting in ASE’s total ownership of 33.29% of SPIL which was reflected as investments accounted for using the equity method on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2016. As of September 30, 2016, ASE has completed the identification of the difference between the cost of the investment and ASE’s share of the net fair value of SPIL’s identifiable assets and liabilities. Therefore, according to IFRS, ASE has retrospectively adjusted the comparative financial statements for prior periods. The retrospective adjustments are a decrease of NT$281.4 million to the investments accounted for using the equity method on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2015 and share of profit of associates on the consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2015. The impact of such adjustments represent a 0.08% decrease to the total assets and 1.34% decrease to the total profit for the year. ASE considered such retrospective adjustments to be immaterial from both quantitative and qualitative perspectives. The balance sheet data as of December 31, 2015 in the following table marked as “Adjusted” reflected the impact from the retrospective adjustments.

 

   For the Year Ended
December 31,
  For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
IFRS  2012  2013  2014  2015  2015  2015  2016
   NT$  NT$  NT$  NT$  US$  NT$  NT$  US$
   (in millions, except earnings per ASE Common Share and per ASE ADS data)
Statement of Comprehensive Income Data:                        
Operating revenues   193,972.4    219,862.4    256,591.4    283,302.5    9,059.9    207,754.4    197,755.5    6,324.1 
Operating costs   (157,342.7)   (177,040.4)   (203,002.9)   (233,167.3)   (7,456.6)   (170,888.0)   (159,938.4)   (5,114.8)
Gross profit   36,629.7    42,822.0    53,588.5    50,135.2    1,603.3    36,866.4    37,817.1    1,209.3 
Operating expenses   (18,922.6)   (20,760.4)   (23,942.7)   (25,250.6)   (807.5)   (18,782.8)   (19,241.5)   (615.3)

 

 

 

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   For the Year Ended
December 31,
  For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
IFRS  2012  2013  2014  2015  2015  2015  2016
   NT$  NT$  NT$  NT$  US$  NT$  NT$  US$
   (in millions, except earnings per ASE Common Share and per ASE ADS data)
Other operating income and expenses, net    83.2    (1,348.2)   228.7    (251.5)   (8.0)   (71.6)   (704.3)   (22.5)
Profit from operations    17,790.3    20,713.4    29,874.5    24,633.1    787.8    18,012.0    17,871.3    571.5 
Non-operating income (expense), net    (1,181.6)   (1,343.6)   (1,339.4)   660.1    21.1    712.9    578.2    18.5 
Profit before income tax    16,608.7    19,369.8    28,535.1    25,293.2    808.9    18,724.9    18,449.5    590.0 
Income tax expense    (2,960.4)   (3,499.6)   (5,666.0)   (4,311.1)   (137.9)   (2,575.9)   (3,230.0)   (103.3)
Profit for the year    13,648.3    15,870.2    22,869.1    20,982.1    671.0    16,149.0    15,219.5    486.7 
Attributable to                                        
Owners of the Company    13,191.6    15,404.5    22,228.6    20,013.5    640.0    15,506.0    14,369.7    459.5 
Non-controlling interests    456.7    465.7    640.5    968.6    31.0    643.0    849.8    27.2 
    13,648.3    15,870.2    22,869.1    20,982.1    671.0    16,149.0    15,219.5    486.7 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax    (3,830.7)   3,233.3    5,504.4    (147.6)   (4.7)   1,284.4    (7,331.5)   (234.4)
Total comprehensive income for the year    9,817.6    19,103.5    28,373.5    20,834.5    666.3    17,433.4    7,888.0    252.3 
Attributable to                                        

Owners of the Company

   9,420.4    18,509.6    27,394.3    19,940.4    637.7    16,679.4    7,632.6    244.1 
Non-controlling interests    397.2    593.9    979.2    894.1    28.6    754.0    255.4    8.2 
    9,817.6    19,103.5    28,373.5    20,834.5    666.3    17,433.4    7,888.0    252.3 
Earnings per common share(1):                                        
Basic    1.77    2.05    2.89    2.62    0.08    2.03    1.88    0.06 
Diluted    1.73    1.99    2.79    2.51    0.08    1.88    1.58    0.05 
Dividends per common share(2)    2.05    1.05    1.29    2.00    0.06    2.00    1.60    0.05 
Earnings per equivalent ADS(1):                                        
Basic    8.86    10.26    14.46    13.08    0.42    10.13    9.38    0.30 
Diluted    8.65    9.96    13.93    12.55    0.40    9.42    7.90    0.25 
Number of common shares(3):                                        
Basic    7,445.5    7,508.5    7,687.9    7,652.8    7,652.8    7,656.4    7,658.5    7,658.5 
Diluted    7,568.2    7,747.6    8,220.7    8,250.1    8,250.1    8,241.0    8,272.9    8,272.9 
Number of equivalent ADSs                                        
Basic    1,489.1    1,501.7    1,537.6    1,530.6    1,530.6    1,531.3    1,531.7    1,531.7 
Diluted    1,513.6    1,549.5    1,644.1    1,650.0    1,650.0    1,648.2    1,654.6    1,654.6 

________________________

Notes:

(1)The denominators for diluted earnings per ASE Common Share and diluted earnings per equivalent ASE ADS are calculated to account for the potential diluted factors, such as the exercise of options and conversion of ASE’s convertible bonds into ASE Common Shares.
(2)Dividends per ASE Common Share issued as a cash dividend, a stock dividend and distribution from capital surplus.
(3)Represents the weighted average number of shares after retroactive adjustments to give effect to stock dividends. ASE Common Shares held by consolidated subsidiaries are classified as “treasury stock,” and are deducted from the number of ASE Common Shares outstanding.

 

   As of December 31,  As of September 30,
IFRS  2012  2013  2014  2015  2015
(Adjusted)
  2016
   NT$  NT$  NT$  NT$  US$  NT$  NT$  US$
   (in millions)
Balance Sheet Data:                                        
Current assets    97,495.6    132,176.5    159,955.2    156,732.8    5,012.3    156,732.8    143,369.2    4,584.9 
Investments - non-current(1)    2,267.8    2,345.5    2,409.3    38,328.0    1,225.7    38,046.6    50,677.6    1,620.6 
Property, plant and equipment, net    127,197.8    131,497.3    151,587.1    149,997.1    4,796.8    149,997.1    145,208.9    4,643.7 
Intangible assets    12,361.3    11,953.6    11,913.3    11,888.6    380.2    11,888.6    12,217.1    390.7 
Long-term prepayment for lease    4,164.1    4,072.3    2,586.0    2,556.2    81.7    2,556.2    2,382.4    76.2 
Others(2)    4,236.0    4,676.9    5,267.9    5,765.5    184.4    5,765.6    6,830.7    218.5 
Total assets    247,722.6    286,722.1    333,718.8    365,268.2    11,681.1    364,986.9    360,685.9    11,534.6 
Short-term debts(3)    36,884.9    44,618.2    41,176.0    36,983.4    1,182.7    36,983.4    33,007.5    1,055.6 
Current portion of long-term debts    3,213.8    6,016.5    2,835.5    16,843.3    538.6    16,843.3    15,657.7    500.7 
Long-term debts(4)    44,591.7    50,166.5    55,375.8    66,535.1    2,127.8    66,535.1    70,812.9    2,264.6 
Other liabilities(5)    53,211.8    60,176.9    78,640.1    78,700.1    2,516.8    78,700.1    81,539.6    2,607.6 
Total liabilities    137,902.2    160,978.1    178,027.4    199,061.9    6,365.9    199,061.9    201,017.7    6,428.5 
Share capital    76,047.7    78,180.3    78,715.2    79,185.7    2,532.3    79,185.7    79,509.1    2,542.7 
Non-controlling interests    3,505.7    4,128.4    8,209.9    11,492.5    367.5    11,492.6    11,057.6    353.6 

 

 

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   As of December 31,  As of September 30,
IFRS  2012  2013  2014  2015  2015
(Adjusted)
  2016
   NT$  NT$  NT$  NT$  US$  NT$  NT$  US$
   (in millions)
Equity attributable to owners of the Company    106,314.7    121,615.6    147,481.5    154,713.8    4,947.7    154,432.4    148,610.6    4,752.5 

  

________________________

Notes:

(1)Including available-for-sale financial assets — non-current and investments accounted for using the equity method.
(2)Including deferred tax assets, other financial assets — non-current and other non-current assets.
(3)Including short-term bank loans and short-term bills payable.
(4)Including bonds payable, long-term borrowings (consisting of bank loans and bills payable) and capital lease obligations.
(5)Including (x) current liabilities other than short-term debts and current portion of long-term debts and (y) non-current liabilities other than long-term debts. For

 

 

   For the Year Ended
December 31,
  For the Nine Months Ended  
September 30,
IFRS  2012  2013  2014  2015  2015  2015  2016
   NT$  NT$  NT$  NT$  US$  NT$  NT$  US$
   (in millions)
Cash Flow Data:                                        
Capital expenditures    (39,029.5)   (29,142.7)   (39,599.0)   (30,280.1)   (968.3)   (24,695.3)   (20,391.1)   (652.1)
Depreciation and amortization    23,435.9    25,470.9    26,350.8    29,518.7    944.0    22,172.2    22,038.6    704.8 
Net cash inflow from operating activities    33,038.0    41,296.0    45,863.5    57,548.3    1,840.4    34,303.8    36,712.1    1,174.0 
Net cash outflow from investing activities    (43,817.8)   (29,925.8)   (38,817.9)   (63,351.4)   (2,025.9)   (57,691.9)   (37,137.2)   (1,187.6)
Net cash inflow (outflow) from financing activities    8,455.8    12,794.9    (2,797.0)   8,636.3    276.2    12,187.3    (11,839.8)   (378.6)

 

Selected Consolidated Financial Data of SPIL

 

The following sets forth summary historical consolidated financial information of SPIL for each of the four years ended December 31, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 and for each of the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2016. The selected consolidated financial data of SPIL as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 and for the three year ended December 31, 2015 has been derived from SPIL’s audited consolidated financial statements, included in its annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the SEC, which is incorporated by reference into this registration statement. The selected consolidated financial data as of December 31, 2012 and 2013 and for the year ended December 31, 2012 is derived from SPIL’s audited consolidated financial statements not included or incorporated herein. The selected historical consolidated statement of operations data for each of the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 and the consolidated balance sheet data as of September 2016 have been derived from SPIL’s unaudited consolidated financial statements for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2016 contained in SPIL’s interim report on Form 6-K furnished with the SEC on November 22, 2016, which is incorporated by reference into this registration statement. Pursuant to the transitional relief granted by the SEC in respect of the first-time application of IFRS, financial and operating data as of and for the year ended December 31, 2011 derived from SPIL’s consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have not been included below. The information set forth below is not necessarily indicative of future results and should be read in conjunction with “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” and the consolidated financial statements, related notes and other financial information included in the SPIL’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015 (“SPIL 2015 20-F”), which are incorporated into this proxy statement/prospectus by reference. For more information, see the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

SPIL first started preparing its audited consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS starting from January 1, 2013. Historical financial data as of and for the years ended December 31, 2011 derived from SPIL’s consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with ROC GAAP with reconciliation to US GAAP has not been included below, as such information is not available on a basis that is consistent with the consolidated financial information for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 and cannot be obtained without unreasonable effort or expense.

 

14

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The historical financial information as of September 30, 2016 and for each of the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2016 has been derived from SPIL’s unaudited consolidated financial statements, prepared in accordance with IFRS and contained in SPIL’s interim report on Form 6-K furnished with the SEC on November 22, 2016, which is incorporated into this proxy statement/prospectus by reference.

 

   For the Year Ended
December 31,
  For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
IFRS  2012  2014  2015  2015  2016
   NT$  NT$  NT$  NT$  US$  NT$  NT$  US$
   (in millions, except earnings per SPIL Common Share and per SPIL ADS data)
Statement of Comprehensive Income Data:                        
Operating revenues    64,654.6    69,356.2    83,071.4    82,839.9    2,649.2    62,075.0    62,934.4    2,012.6 
Operating costs    (52,915.6)   (54,925.7)   (62,081.3)   (61,230.6)   (1,958.1)   (45,908.0)   (48,812.5)   (1,561.0)
Gross profit    11,739.0    14,430.5    20,990.1    21,609.3    691.1    16,167.0    14,121.9    451.6 
Operating expenses    (5,351.2)   (7,391.6)   (7,169.0)   (8,354.8)   (267.2)   (6,173.3)   (6,377.4)   (203.9)
Other operating income and expenses, net    4.6    61.2    284.3    (255.8)   (8.2)   (253.7)   (184.9)   (5.9)
Profit from operations    6,392.4    7,100.1    14,105.4    12,998.7    415.7    9,740.0    7,559.6    241.8 
Non-operating income (expense), net    399.5    348.6    162.8    (2,621.2)   (83.8)   657.0    732.8    23.4 
Profit before income tax    6,791.9    7,448.7    14,268.2    10,377.5    331.9    10,397.0    8,292.4    265.2 
Income tax expense    (1,229.7)   (1,606.7)   (3,050.1)   (1,366.0)   (43.7)   (1,180.7)   (1,038.9)   (33.2)
Profit for the year    5,562.2    5,842.0    11,218.1    9,011.5    288.2    9,216.3    7,253.5    232.0 
Attributable to                                        
Owners of the Company    5,562.2    5,842.0    11,218.1    9,011.5    288.2    9.216.3    7.253.5    232.0 
Non-controlling interests                                 
    5,562.2    5,842.0    11,218.1    9,011.5    288.2    

9.216.3

    

7.253.5

    232.0 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax    (223.3)   1,058.9    3,293.4    (906.8)   (29.0)   (2,330.7)   (1,518.5)   (48.6)
Total comprehensive income for the year    5,338.9    6,900.9    14,511.5    8,104.7    259.2    6,885.6    5,735.0    183.4 

Attributable to 

                                        
Owners of the Company    5,338.9    6,900.9    14,511.5    8,104.7    259.2    6,885.6    5,735.0    183.4 
Non-controlling interests                                 
    5,338.9    6,900.9    14,511.5    8,104.7    259.2    6,885.6    5,735.0    183.4 
Earnings per common share(1):                                        
Basic    1.81    1.89    3.60    2.89    0.09    2.96    2.33    0.07 
Diluted    1.80    1.87    3.57    2.86    0.09    2.70    1.84    0.06 
Dividends per common share(2)    1.67    1.80    3.00    3.80    0.12             
Earnings per equivalent ADS(1):                                        
Basic    9.03    9.43    18.00    14.46    0.46    14.80    11.65    0.37 
Diluted    8.99    9.37    17.87    14.30    0.46    13.50    9.20    0.29 
Number of common shares:                                        
Basic    3,078.3    3,098.2    3,116.4    3,116.4    3,116.4    3,116.4    3,116.4    3,116.4 
Diluted    3,094.2    3,116.6    3,139.5    3,150.1    3,150.1    3,407.3    3,403.9    3,403.9 
Number of equivalent ADSs                                        
Basic    615.7    619.6    623.3    623.3    623.3    623.3    623.3    623.3 
Diluted    618.8    623.3    627.9    630.0    630.0    681.4    680.8    680.8 

 

 

Notes:

(1)The denominators for diluted earnings per SPIL Common Share and diluted earnings per equivalent SPIL ADS are calculated to account for the potential diluted factors, such as conversion of SPIL’s convertible bonds into SPIL Common Shares.
(2)Dividends per SPIL Common Share issued as a cash dividend and distribution from capital surplus.

 

 

   As of December 31,  As of September 30,
IFRS  2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  2016
   NT$  NT$  NT$  NT$  US$  NT$  US$
   (in millions)
Balance Sheet Data:                                   
Current assets    33,445.6    37,825.1    55,207.9    48,785.2    1,560.1    44,914.8    1,436.4 
Investments - non-current(1)    6,068.1    6,703.0    9,076.3    8,049.1    257.4    7,028.9    224.8 
Property, plant and equipment, net    49,927.4    55,196.8    63,520.7    64,305.6    2,056.5    66,331.5    2,121.2 
Intangible assets    516.1    355.3    249.2    192.8    6.2    181.0    5.8 
Long-term prepayment for lease                            

 

 

 

15

Table of Contents 

  

   As of December 31,  As of September 30,
IFRS  2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  2016
   NT$  NT$  NT$  NT$  US$  NT$  US$
   (in millions)
Others(2)    1,895.5    1,738.7    1,698.4    1,876.5    60.0    1,737.1    55.5 
Total assets    91,852.7    101,818.9    129,752.5    123,209.2    3,940.2    120,193.3    3,843.7 
Short-term debts(3)   2,468.4    2,533.9    2,690.3    2,790.1    89.2    2,665.6    85.2 
Current portion of long-term debts    3,148.6    3,154.2    6,970.1    5,991.1    191.6    4,972.7    159.0 
Long-term debts(4)    12,038.2    15,355.6    24,669.5    20,485.3    655.1    24,044.8    768.9 
Other liabilities(5)    15,279.4    18,903.5    24,648.8    24,413.5    780.8    25,088.2    802.4 
Total liabilities    32,934.6    39,947.2    58,978.7    53,680.0    1,716.7    56,771.3    1,815.5 
Share capital    31,163.6    31,163.6    31,163.6    31,163.6    996.6    31,163.6    996.6 
Non-controlling interests                             
Equity attributable to owners of the Company    58,918.1    61,871.7    70,773.8    69,529.2    2,223.5    63,422.0    2,028.2 

_____________________

Notes: 

(1)Including available-for-sale financial assets — non-current and investments accounted for using the equity method.
(2)Including deferred tax assets, other financial assets — non-current and other non-current assets.
(3)Including short-term bank loans and short-term bills payable.
(4)Including convertible bonds and long-term loans
(5)Including current liabilities other than short-term debts and current portion of long-term debts, non-current liabilities other than longterm debts and current income tax liabilities.

 

   For the Year Ended  
December 31,
  For the Nine Months Ended  
September 30,
IFRS  2012  2014  2015  2015  2016
   NT$  NT$  NT$  NT$  US$  NT$  NT$  US$
   (in millions)
Cash Flow Data:                                        
Capital expenditures    (15,142.3)   (14,978.7)   (19,560.7)   (13,855.4)   (443.1)   (10,785.1)   (11,858.8)   (379.2)
Depreciation and amortization    10,100.4    11,033.7    12,435.8    13,513.9    432.2    10,144.7    9,939.1    317.8 
Net cash inflow from operating activities    13,366.1    17,747.9    24,945.2    26,784.2    856.6    19,434.7    13,668.7    437.1 
Net cash outflow from investing activities    (15,872.4)   (15,588.3)   (19,243.8)   (16,587.4)   (530.5)   (11,077.6)   (10,607.1)   (339.2)
Net cash inflow (outflow) from financing activities    2,520.1    (1,150.3)   7,292.2    (15,096.3)   (482.8)   (16,087.2)   (8,751.1)   (279.9)

 

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges of SPIL

   Year Ended December 31, 

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

   2012  2013  2014  2015  2015  2016
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(1)    25.27    18.62    24.70    15.49    19.68    15.36 

___________________

Note:

(1)For purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of income before income tax expenses from continuing operations before adjustment for equity in losses of affiliated companies adding fixed charges and subtracting preference security dividend requirements of consolidated subsidiaries. Fixed charges consist of interest expensed, amortized discounts related to indebtedness, an estimate of the interest within rental expense and preference security dividend requirements of consolidated subsidiaries.

 

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Table of Contents 

 

Net book value per share per SPIL Common Share

 

Based on SPIL’s financial statements as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, SPIL’s net book value per share as of September 30, 2016, calculated by dividing total shareholders’ equity by the number of SPIL Common Shares (including those represented by SPIL ADSs) outstanding, was NT$20.35 (US$0.65).

 

17

Table of Contents 

 

Selected Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Data

 

The following sets forth the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial data of HoldCo after giving effect to the Share Exchange of acquiring ASE and SPIL based upon the assumptions and adjustments described in the section entitled “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Financial Statements”.

 

The selected unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and for the year ended December 31, 2015 have been prepared to give effect to the Share Exchange as if it had occurred on January 1, 2015. The selected unaudited pro forma condensed balance sheet as of September 30, 2016 has been prepared to give effect to the Share Exchange as if it had been completed on September 30, 2016.

 

The selected pro forma condensed combined financial data, which is preliminary in nature, has been derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, the more detailed unaudited pro forma combined financial information of the combined company and the accompanying notes appearing in the section entitled “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Financial Statements.” The unaudited pro forma condensed financial statements have been presented in accordance with SEC Regulation S-X Article 11 and is not necessarily indicative of what the combined company’s financial position or results of operations actually would have been had the Share Exchange been completed as of the Effective Time. In addition, the selected unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial data does not purport to project the future financial position or operating results of the combined company.

 

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

   For the Nine Months
Ended
September 30, 2016,
  For the Year
Ended
December 31, 2015,
   (in millions, except for per share data)
   NT$  US$  NT$  US$
Operating revenue    260,689.9    8,336.7    366,142.4    11,709.1 
Profit from operations    22,507.4    719.8    33,452.2    1,069.8 
Profit    18,312.5    585.6    25,403.0    812.4 
Profit attributable to HoldCo   17,462.7    558.4    24,434.4    781.4 
Earnings per common share attributable to HoldCo common shareholders                    
Basic    4.41    0.14    6.17    0.20 
Diluted    4.07    0.13    6.13    0.20 
Earnings per ADS attributable to HoldCo common shareholders                    
Basic    22.04    0.70    30.84    0.99 
Diluted    20.35    0.65    30.66    0.98 

 

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet

 

   As of
September 30, 2016,
   (in millions, except for per share data)
   NT$  US$
Total assets    [●]    [●] 
Total liability    [●]    [●] 
Total equity    158,659.7    5,073.9 
Share capital    39,618.1    1,267.0 
Common shares    3,961,811,298    3,961,811,298 
Book value per share attributable to HoldCo common shareholders    37.30    1.19 
Book value per ADS attributable to HoldCo common shareholders    186.51    5.96 

 

 

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Table of Contents 

 

Comparative Historical and Unaudited Pro Forma Per Share Data

 

The following tables set forth, as at the dates and for the periods indicated, comparative historical unaudited and pro forma unaudited combined per share financial information for HoldCo’s Common Shares. This information should be read in conjunction with, and the information is qualified in its entirety by, the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes of ASE and SPIL included in their respective annual reports on Form 20-F and interim reports on Form 6-K, incorporated herein by reference. See the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

The following pro forma information has been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and accordingly includes the effects of applying the acquisition method of accounting. This information is based on assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. You should not rely on the pro forma combined amounts as they are not necessarily indicative of the operating results or financial position that would have occurred if the Share Exchange had been completed as of the dates indicated, nor are they indicative of the future operating results or financial position of HoldCo.

 

The pro forma data included in the following tables assume that the Share Exchange had occurred on January 1, 2015 for results of operations purposes and on September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, for financial position purposes, and that the Share Exchange is accounted for by applying the acquisition method of accounting with ASE treated as the accounting acquirer and SPIL treated as the acquired company for financial reporting purposes.

 

   For the Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2016,
  For the Year Ended
December 31, 2015,
   NT$  US$  NT$  US$
Basic earnings per common share            
Historical of ASE    1.88    0.06    2.62    0.08 
Historical of SPIL    2.33    0.07    2.89    0.09 
Pro forma combined of HoldCo    4.41    0.14    6.17    0.20 
Diluted earnings per common share                    
Historical of ASE    1.58    0.05    2.51    0.08 
Historical of SPIL    1.84    0.06    2.86    0.09 
Pro forma combined of HoldCo    4.07    0.13    6.13    0.20 
Basic earnings per ADS                    
Historical of ASE    9.38    0.30    13.08    0.42 
Historical of SPIL    11.65    0.37    14.46    0.46 
Pro forma combined of HoldCo    22.04    0.70    30.84    0.99 
Diluted earnings per ADS                    
Historical of ASE    7.90    0.25    12.55    0.40 
Historical of SPIL    9.20    0.29    14.30    0.46 
Pro forma combined of HoldCo    20.35    0.65    30.66    0.98 
Dividends per common share                    
Historical of ASE    **         2.00    0.06 
Historical of SPIL    **         3.80(1)   0.12 
Pro forma combined of HoldCo    **         **      

 

 

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   As of September 30, 2016,
   NT$  US$
Book value per common share at period end      
Historical of ASE    18.76    0.60 
Historical of SPIL    20.35    0.65 
Pro forma combined of HoldCo   37.30    1.19 
Book value per ADS at period end          
Historical of ASE    93.78    3.00 
Historical of SPIL    101.76    3.25 
Pro forma combined of HoldCo    186.51    5.96 

_____________________

Note:

 

(1)Cash dividends include distribution from earnings and capital surplus.

 

 

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Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Financial Statements

 

The following sets forth the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements of HoldCo after giving effect to the Share Exchange and assumed borrowing of NT$[●] million and capital raising of NT$[●] million to fund the acquisition as described below in Notes 1 and 4 to Pro Forma Assumptions and Adjustments. The Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statements of Operations, which we refer to in this proxy statement/prospectus as the Pro Forma Statements of Operations, give effect to the Share Exchange as if ASE’s initial acquisitions of SPIL’s 33.29% shareholding and the subsequent acquisition of SPIL’s 66.71% shareholding which constitute acquisitions of 100% shareholding of SPIL had occurred on January 1, 2015. The “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet” gives effect to the Share Exchange as if it had been completed on September 30, 2016. The Pro Forma Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2016 combines the consolidated balance sheets of ASE and SPIL as of September 30, 2016. The Pro Forma Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2015 combines the results of operations of ASE and SPIL for the year ended December 31, 2015. The Pro Forma Statement of Operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 combines the results of operations of ASE and SPIL for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The historical consolidated financial information has been adjusted in the Pro Forma Financial Statements to reflect the pro forma impact of events that are directly attributable to the transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, factually supportable and, with respect to the Pro Forma Statements of Operations, are expected to have a continuing impact on the combined results.

 

The Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Statements have been prepared under IFRS for (i) the Share Exchange of ASE will be accounted as a legal reorganization of entities under common control and all assets and liabilities of ASE will be recorded on the books of HoldCo at the predecessor carrying amounts; (ii) the cash consideration paid by HoldCo pursuant to the Share Exchange in respect of SPIL will be accounted for by applying the acquisition method of accounting with ASE treated as the accounting acquirer and SPIL treated as the acquired company for financial reporting purposes. The acquisition method of accounting is dependent upon certain valuations and other studies that are in progress. Accordingly, the pro forma adjustments are preliminary, have been made solely for the purpose of preparing the Pro Forma Financial Statements and are subject to revision based on a final determination of fair value as of the date of acquisition. Differences between these preliminary estimates and the final acquisition accounting may have a material impact on the accompanying Pro Forma Financial Statements and HoldCo’s future results of operations and financial position.

 

The Pro Forma Financial Statements do not reflect any cost savings or associated costs to achieve such savings from operating efficiencies, synergies, debt refinancing or other restructuring that may result from the Share Exchange. The Pro Forma Financial Statements are not necessarily indicative of the operating results or financial position that would have occurred if the Share Exchange had been completed on the dates assumed, nor are they necessarily indicative of the future operating results or financial position of the combined company. In addition, the Pro Forma Financial Statements include adjustments which are preliminary and may be revised. There can be no assurance that such revisions will not result in material changes to the information presented.

 

The Pro Forma Financial Statements have been derived from and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes of ASE and SPIL included in their respective annual reports on Form 20-F and interim reports on Form 6-K, incorporated herein by reference.

 

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ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations

 

For the year ended December 31, 2015

 

   ASE  SPIL  Pro Forma Adjustment  Notes  Pro Forma Results
   NT$  US$  NT$  US$  NT$  US$     NT$  US$
   (in millions, except per share data)
Operating revenues    283,302.5    9,059.9    82,839.9    2,649.2                366,142.4    11,709.1 
Operating costs    (233,167.3)   (7,456.6)   (61,230.6)   (1,958.1)   (3,479.1)   (111.3)  5(a)   (297,877.0)   (9,526.0)
Gross profit    50,135.2    1,603.3    21,609.3    691.1    (3,479.1)   (111.3)      68,265.4    2,183.1 
Operating expenses    (25,250.6)   (807.5)   (8,354.8)   (267.2)   (700.5)   (22.4)  5(b)   (34,305.9)   (1,097.1)
Other operating income and expenses, net    (251.5)   (8.0)   (255.8)   (8.2)              (507.3)   (16.2)
Profit from operations    24,633.1    787.8    12,998.7    415.7    (4,179.6)   (133.7)      33,452.2    1,069.8 
Non-operating income (expense), net    660.1    21.1    (2,621.2)   (83.8)   (411.0)   (13.1)  5(c)   (2,372.1)   (75.8)
Profit before income tax    25,293.2    808.9    10,377.5    331.9    (4,590.6)   (146.8)      31,080.1    994.0 
Income tax expense    (4,311.1)   (137.9)   (1,366.0)   (43.7)              (5,677.1)   (181.6)
Profit    20,982.1    671.0    9,011.5    288.2    (4,590.6)   (146.8)      25,403.0    812.4 
Profit attributable to non-controlling interests    (968.6)   (31.0)                      (968.6)   (31.0)
Profit attributable to the parent company    20,013.5    640.0    9,011.5    288.2    (4,590.6)   (146.8)      24,434.4    781.4 
Shares used in computing earnings per common share (in millions)                                           
Basic    7,652.8    7,652.8    3,116.4    3,116.4             1   3,961.8    3,961.8 
Diluted    8,250.1    8,250.1    3,150.1    3,150.1             1   3,961.8    3,961.8 
Earnings per common share                                           
Basic    2.62    0.08    2.89    0.09                 6.17    0.20 
Diluted    2.51    0.08    2.86    0.09             5(j)   6.13    0.20 

 

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016

 

   ASE  SPIL  Pro Forma Adjustment  Notes  Pro Forma Results
   NT$  US$  NT$  US$  NT$  US$     NT$  US$
   (in millions, except per share data)
Operating revenues    197,755.5    6,324.1    62,934.4    2,012.6               260,689.9    8,336.7 
Operating costs    (159,938.4)   (5,114.8)   (48,812.5)   (1,561.0)   (2,609.4)   (83.4)  5(d)   (211,360.3)   (6,759.2)
Gross profit    37,817.1    1,209.3    14,121.9    451.6    (2,609.4)   (83.4)      49,329.6    1,577.5 
Operating expenses    (19,241.5)   (615.3)   (6,377.4)   (203.9)   (314.1)   (10.1)  5(e)   (25,933.0)   (829.3)
Other operating income and expenses, net    (704.3)   (22.5)   (184.9)   (5.9)              (889.2)   (28.4)
Profit from operations    17,871.3    571.5    7,559.6    241.8    (2,923.5)   (93.5)      22,507.4    719.8 
Non-operating income (expense), net    578.2    18.5    732.8    23.4    (1,237.0)   (39.6)  5(f)   74.0    2.3 

 

 

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   ASE  SPIL  Pro Forma Adjustment  Notes  Pro Forma Results
   NT$  US$  NT$  US$  NT$  US$     NT$  US$
   (in millions, except per share data)
Profit before income tax    18,449.5    590.0    8,292.4    265.2    (4,160.5)   (133.1)      22,581.4    722.1 
Income tax expense    (3,230.0)   (103.3)   (1,038.9)   (33.2)              (4,268.9)   (136.5)
Profit    15,219.5    486.7    7,253.5    232.0    (4,160.5)   (133.1)      18,312.5    585.6 
Profit attributable to non-controlling interests    (849.8)   (27.2)                      (849.8)   (27.2)
Profit attributable to HoldCo   14,369.7    459.5    7,253.5    232.0    (4,160.5)   (133.1)      17,462.7    558.4 
Shares used in computing earnings per common share (in millions)                                           
Basic    7,658.5    7,658.5    3,116.4    3,116.4             1   3,961.8    3,961.8 
Diluted    8,272.9    8,272.9    3,403.9    3,403.9             1   3,961.8    3,961.8 
Earnings per common share                                           
Basic    1.88    0.06    2.33    0.07                 4.41    0.14 
Diluted    1.58    0.05    1.84    0.06             5(j)   4.07    0.13 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements.

 

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ASE Industrial Holding Co., Ltd.
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2016

 

   ASE  SPIL  Pro Forma Adjustment  Notes  Pro Forma Results
   NT$  US$  NT$  US$  NT$  US$     NT$  US$
   (in millions)
Current assets    143,369.2    4,584.9    44,914.8    1,436.4    [●]    [●]   4   175,726.2    5,619.6 
Investments - non-current    50,677.6    1,620.6    7,028.9    224.8    (45,675.0)   (1,460.7)  5(g)   12,031.5    384.8 
Property, plant and equipment, net    145,208.9    4,643.7    66,331.5    2,121.2    11,365.7    363.5   2   222,906.1    7,128.4 
Intangible assets    12,217.1    390.7    181.0    5.8    83,587.7    2,673.1   2   95,985.8    3,069.6 
Others    9,213.1    294.7    1,737.1    55.5    1,182.2    37.8   2   12,132.4    388.0 
Total assets    360,685.9    11,534.6    120,193.3    3,843.7    

[●]

    

[●]

       518,782.0    16,590.4 
Short-term debts   33,007.5    1,055.6    2,665.6    85.2    [●]    [●]   5(h)   [●]    [●] 
Current portion of long-term debts   15,657.7    500.7    4,972.7    159.0    -    -       20,630.4    659.8 
Long-term debts    70,812.9    2,264.6    24,044.8    768.9    [●]    [●]   5(h)   [●]    [●] 
Other liabilities    81,539.6    2,607.6    25,088.2    802.4    

[●]

    

[●]

   3   

[●]

    

[●]

 
Total liabilities    201,017.7    6,428.5    56,771.3    1,815.5    

[●]

    

[●]

       

[●]

    

[●]

 
Outstanding share capital    79,236.2    2,533.9    31,163.6    996.6    (70,781.7)   (2,263.6)  5(i)   39,618.1    1,267.0 
Other equity attributable to owners of the Company    69,374.4    2,218.6    32,258.4    1,031.6    6,351.2    203.1   5(i)   107,984.0    3,453.3 
Non-controlling interests    11,057.6    353.6                       11,057.6    353.6 
Total equity    159,668.2    5,106.1    63,422.0    2,028.2    (64,430.5)   (2,060.5)      158,659.7    5,073.9 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity    360,685.9    11,534.6    120,193.3    3,843.7    

[●]

    

[●]

       

[●]

    

[●]

 
                                            

  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements.

 

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Notes to PRO FORMA ASSUMPTIONS AND ADJUSTMENTS

 

1.       Total Share Exchange consideration and financing structure

 

On June 30, 2016, ASE and SPIL entered into a Joint Share Exchange Agreement pursuant to which HoldCo, will be formed by means of a statutory share exchange pursuant to the laws of the Republic of China, and HoldCo will (i) acquire all issued shares of ASE in exchange for shares of HoldCo using the Exchange Ratio whereby ASE shareholders will receive 0.5 HoldCo Common Shares for each ASE Common Share they hold as described elsewhere in this document, and (ii) acquire all issued shares of SPIL using the Cash Consideration as described below. Upon the consummation of the Share Exchange, ASE and SPIL will become wholly owned subsidiaries of HoldCo concurrently. Subject to the Share Exchange and the Joint Share Exchange Agreement being approved by shareholders of ASE and SPIL, and upon the satisfaction of the other conditions for completing the Share Exchange, HoldCo will be formed and the Share Exchange is expected to become effective.

 

HoldCo was assumed to issue 3,961,811,298 common shares at NT$10 par value (or share capital of NT$39,618.1 million) to ASE shareholders based on the number of issued shares of ASE on September 30, 2016. The estimated cash consideration paid to SPIL shareholders was NT$159,557.7 million based on the number of issued shares of SPIL on September 30, 2016 for NT$51.2 per share whereby NT$55 per share has been adjusted to NT$51.2 after excluding the cash dividend distribution and a return of capital reserve of NT$3.8 per SPIL Common Share distributed by SPIL on July 1, 2016.

 

The Cash Consideration will be subject to adjustments if SPIL issues shares or pays cash dividends during the period from the execution date of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement to the Effective Time, provided, however, that the Cash Consideration shall not be subject to adjustment if the aggregate amount of the cash dividends distributed by SPIL in fiscal year 2017 is less than 85% of its after-tax net profit for fiscal year 2016.

 

Since ASE currently owns 33.29% shareholding of SPIL, for the purpose of presenting the accompanying pro forma combined balance sheet as of September 30, 2016, the cash consideration of NT$106,441.0 million, which represents the amount to acquire the remaining 66.71% shareholding, was assumed to be funded by NT$ [·] million from ASE’s existing cash and NT$ [·] million financed from banks recorded as short-term and long-term debts. For the purpose of presenting the accompany pro forma combined Statements of Operations, it was assumed that ASE’s initial acquisition of SPIL’s 33.29% shareholding and the subsequent acquisition of SPIL’s 66.71% shareholding which constitute acquisitions of 100% shareholding of SPIL had occurred on January 1, 2015.

 

 2.       Preliminary estimated purchase price allocation

 

The pro forma combined financial statements reflect the following estimated acquisition-date fair value of tangible assets, liabilities, and other intangible assets of SPIL.

 

   Book Value  Fair Value Adjustments  Fair Value
   (in NT$ millions)
Current assets    44,914.8        44,914.8 
Investments - non-current    7,028.9        7,028.9 
Property, plant and equipment, net    66,331.5    11,365.7    77,697.2 
Intangible assets    181.0    26,300.0    26,481.0 
Goodwill        57,287.7    57,287.7 
Other noncurrent assets    1,737.1    1,182.3    2,919.4 
Short-term debts    2,665.6        2,665.6 
Current portion of long-term debts    4,972.7        4,972.7 
Long-term debts    24,044.8        24,044.8 
Other liabilities    25,088.2        25,088.2 
Total estimated purchase price consideration              159,557.7 

 

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Purchased property, plant and equipment and identified intangible assets are being depreciated or amortized on a straight-line basis over its weighted-average remaining useful life of approximately 10 years.

 

The estimated fair values and useful lives of assets acquired and liabilities assumed are based on preliminary management estimates and are subject to final valuation adjustments, which may cause some of the amounts ultimately recorded as goodwill to be materially different from those shown on the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheets. The acquisition accounting is dependent upon certain valuations and other studies that have yet to progress to a stage where there is sufficient information for definitive measurement. HoldCo intends to complete the valuations and other studies no later than a one-year measurement period following the Effective Time in accordance with IFRS.

 

For the purposes of this unaudited pro forma financial information, it has been assumed that the fair value evaluation was performed at the Effective Time, September 30, 2016, and the related assumption or calculation was as below.

 

(i)Property, plant and equipment, net:

 

The fair value adjustment of property, plant and equipment is NT$11,365.7 million (US$363.5 million).

 

The weighted-average remaining useful life of property, plant and equipment is approximately 10 years, and the estimated depreciation is NT$1,508.5 million (US$48.2 million) and NT$1,131.3 million (US$36.2 million) reflected as a pro forma adjustment under operating costs in the Pro Forma Statements of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2015 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. The actual depreciation may differ significantly between periods based upon the final value assigned and the depreciation period used for property, plant and equipment.

 

(ii)Intangible assets:

 

For purposes of these Pro Forma Financial Statements, preliminary identifiable intangible assets consist of an estimated NT$7,800.0 million (US$249.4 million) for customer relationships and NT$18,500.0 million (US$591.6 million) for patented technology. These identifiable intangible assets are finite-lived intangible assets with useful life of 10 years.

 

The estimated amortization related to these intangible assets is NT$1,947.3 million (US$62.3 million) and NT$795.9 million (US$25.5 million) reflected as a pro forma adjustment under operating costs and operating expenses in the Pro Forma Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2015, respectively, and NT$1,460.6 million (US$46.7 million) and NT$596.9 million (US$19.1 million) as a pro forma adjustment under operating costs and operating expenses in the Pro Forma Statement of Operations for nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. The actual amortization may differ significantly between periods based upon the final value assigned and the amortization period used for each identifiable intangible asset.

 

(iii)Goodwill:

 

Goodwill is calculated as the difference between the acquisition date fair value of the consideration expected to be transferred and the values assigned to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

 

(iv)Other non-current assets:

 

The fair value adjustment of land use rights is NT$1,182.2 million (US$37.8 million). The remaining useful life of land use right years are approximately 50 years, and the estimated amortization is NT$23.3 million (US$0.7 million) and NT$17.5 million (US$0.6 million) reflected as a pro forma adjustment under operating costs in the Pro Forma Statements of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2015 and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.

 

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3.       SPIL Acquisition and Share Exchange cost

 

Total cost related to SPIL acquisition and the Share Exchange cost are estimated at approximately NT$[·] million including (1) NT$95.4 million and NT$282.8 million incurred during the year ended December 31, 2015 and the nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively and (2) NT$[·] million that are not incurred as of September 30, 2016. Such costs include financial, accounting, legal and other consulting fees associated until the completion of the Share Exchange. The costs of NT$[·] million (US$[·] million) not incurred as of September 30, 2016 have been reflected as a pro forma adjustment to retained earnings and other liabilities on the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2016.

 

4.       Interest cost

 

Interest expense in the Pro Forma Statements of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2015 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 has been adjusted as follows based on the expected sources of funding described as follows:

 

   Average Principal from January 1, 2015 to September 30, 2016  Effective Interest Rate  Interest Expense for the Year Ended December 31, 2015 Pro Forma Statement of Operations  Interest Expense for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 Pro Forma Statement of Operations
   (in NT$ million)
Bank loan   [●]    [●]    

[●]

    

[●]

 

 

The cash consideration of NT$106,441.0 million to acquire the remaining 66.71% shareholding of SPIL as described in Note 1 above was assumed to be funded by NT$[·] million from ASE’s existing cash and NT$[·] million financed from banks, For the purposes of calculating the pro forma interest expense, it was assumed that the bank loan of NT$[·] million was fully drawdown by HoldCo on January 1, 2015. The floating borrowing rate was assumed to be based on [·] % interest rate for time spend of the bank loan period for interest expense calculation. However, the final bank loan interest rate may differ from the rates in place when actually drawdown.

 

For the purposes of calculating the above interest expense, the effective interest rate also includes coordination and arrangement fees. A hypothetical change in interest rates of 0.125% would increase or decrease total interest expense of the Pro Forma Statements of Operations by approximately NT$[●] million (US$[●] million) and NT$[●] million (US$[●] million) for the year ended December 31, 2015 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.

 

For the purposes of this unaudited pro forma financial information, it has been assumed that the interest expense on the debt financing incurred to fund the Share Exchange will not be deductible for tax purposes. This assumption may be subject to change and may not be reflective of the deductions that will be available in future periods after completion of the Share Exchange.

 

5.       Pro Forma Adjustments

 

(a)Adjustment to recognize depreciation and amortization of the fair value adjustment on property, plant and equipment, patented technology and other noncurrent assets of NT$3,479.1 million (US$111.3 million) as described in Note 2 (i) (ii) (iv) above.

 

(b)Adjustment to recognize amortization of fair value adjustment on customer relationships of NT$795.9 million (US$25.5 million) as described in Note 2 (ii) above and to reverse of the incurred consulting fee related to the acquisition of SPIL as an equity method investment of NT$95.4 million (US$3.1 million).

 

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(c)Adjustment to (i) remove ASE’s share of profit of equity method associates in SPIL of NT$411.0 million (US$13.1 million); and accrue the interest expense of NT$[·] million (US$[·] million) as described in Note 4 above.

 

(d)Adjustment to recognize depreciation and amortization of the fair value adjustment on property, plant and equipment, patented technology and other noncurrent assets of NT$2,609.4 million (US$83.4 million) as described in Note 2 (i) (ii) (iv).

 

(e)Adjustment to recognize amortization of fair value adjustment on customer relationships of NT$596.9 million (US$19.1 million) as described in Note 2 (ii) above and to reverse the incurred consulting fee related to the acquisition of SPIL as equity method investment of NT$282.8 million (US$9.0 million).

 

(f)Adjustment to (i) remove ASE’s share of profit of equity method associates in SPIL of NT$1,237.0 million (US$39.6 million) and (ii) accrue the interest expense of NT$[·] million (US$[·] million) as described in Note 4 above.

 

(g)Adjustment to remove ASE’s investments accounted for using the equity method in SPIL as of September 30, 2016 under the assumption that HoldCo acquired a 100% shareholding in SPIL as of September 30, 2016.

 

(h)Adjustment to reflect the assumed HoldCo’s borrowing for the cash consideration of SPIL in the amount of NT$[·] million (US$[·] million) as described in Note 4 above.

 

(i)Adjustment to common shares and additional paid in capital in exchange for ASE Common Shares with HoldCo Common Shares using the share exchange ratio as described in Note 1 above and adjust the effect of derecognizing investment of equity method associate of SPIL as of September 30, 2016 to other equity under the assumption that HoldCo acquired 100% shareholding of SPIL as of September 30, 2016.

 

(j)Adjustment to reflect the potential diluted impact from stock options and convertible bonds issued by the subsidiaries of ASE and SPIL.

 

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Special Factors

 

Effects of the Share Exchange

 

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the ROC Company Law, at the Effective Time, HoldCo will acquire all issued shares of ASE and SPIL, and ASE and SPIL will become wholly owned subsidiaries of HoldCo concurrently.

 

The following chart depicts the organizational structure of each of ASE and SPIL before the Share Exchange as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus and immediately after the Effective Time.

 

Before the Share Exchange as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus:

 

 

Immediately after the Effective Time:

 

 

Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, at the Effective Time:

 

(i)for SPIL shareholders:

 

·each SPIL Common Share, par value NT$10 per share, issued immediately prior to the Effective Time (including SPIL’s treasury shares and the SPIL Common Shares beneficially owned by ASE), will be transferred to HoldCo in consideration for the right to receive NT$51.2, which represents NT$55 minus a cash dividend and a return of capital reserve of NT$3.8 per SPIL Common Share distributed by SPIL on July 1, 2016, payable by HoldCo in cash in NT dollars, without interest and net of any applicable withholding taxes; and

 

·each SPIL ADS will be cancelled in exchange for the right to receive through SPIL Depositary, the US dollar equivalent of NT$256 (representing five times of the SPIL Common Shares Cash Consideration) minus (i) all processing fees and expenses per SPIL ADS in relation to the conversion from NT dollars into US dollars, and (ii) US$0.05 per SPIL ADS cancellation fees pursuant to the terms of the SPIL Deposit Agreement payable in cash in US dollars, without interest and net of any applicable withholding taxes. Within three ROC business days after the Effective Time, SPIL Depositary will

 

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receive the aggregate amount of SPIL ADS Cash Consideration in NT dollars for all issued SPIL ADSs through SPIL’s share registrar. SPIL ADS Holders of record will receive the SPIL ADS Cash Consideration through SPIL Depositary upon surrendering their SPIL ADSs for cancellation to SPIL Depositary after the Effective Time.

 

The Cash Consideration will be subject to adjustments if SPIL issues shares or pays cash dividends during the period from the execution date of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement to the Effective Time, provided, however, that the Cash Consideration shall not be subject to adjustment if the aggregate amount of the cash dividends distributed by SPIL in fiscal year 2017 is less than 85% of its after-tax net profit for fiscal year 2016.

 

At the Effective Time, HoldCo will acquire all issued shares of SPIL, and therefore HoldCo would be entitled to all benefits resulting from its 100% ownership of SPIL, including all of SPIL’s net book value and net income or loss. Similarly, HoldCo would also bear all of the risk of losses generated by SPIL’s operations and any decrease in the value of SPIL after the Share Exchange. Upon consummation of the Share Exchange, SPIL would become a privately held corporation. Accordingly, former SPIL shareholders would not have the opportunity to participate in the earnings and growth of SPIL after the Share Exchange and would not have any right to vote on corporate matters. Similarly, former SPIL shareholders would not face the risk of losses generated by SPIL’s operations or decline in the value of SPIL after the Share Exchange. Further, the SPIL Common Shares would be delisted from the TWSE and SPIL ADSs would be delisted from NASDAQ and would become eligible for deregistration under the Exchange Act.

 

(ii)for ASE shareholders:

 

·each ASE Common Share, par value NT$10 per share, issued immediately prior to the Effective Time (including ASE’s treasury shares), will be transferred to HoldCo in consideration for the right to receive 0.5 HoldCo Common Shares; and

 

·each ASE ADS, currently representing five ASE Common Shares, will, after the Effective Time, represent the right to receive 1.25 HoldCo ADSs, each HoldCo ADS representing two HoldCo Common Shares, upon surrender for cancellation to the ASE Depositary after the Effective Time.

 

Under ROC law, if any fractional HoldCo Common Shares representing less than one common share would otherwise be allotted to former holders of ASE Common Shares in connection with the Share Exchange, those fractional shares will not be issued to those shareholders. Pursuant to the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, ASE will aggregate the fractional entitlements and sell the aggregated ASE Common Shares using the closing price of ASE Common Shares on the TWSE on the ninth (9th) ROC Trading Day prior to the Effective Time, to an appointee of the Chairman of HoldCo. The cash proceeds from the sale will be distributed to the former holders of ASE Common Shares by HoldCo on a proportionate basis in accordance with their respective fractions at the Effective Time. Under ROC law, ASE Common Shares and HoldCo Common Shares will be recorded in book-entry by the Taiwan Depository & Clearing Corporation. The HoldCo Common Shares entitlements as a result of the Share Exchange will be automatically recorded at ASE shareholders’ Taiwan Depository & Clearing Corporation account at the Effective Time of the Share Exchange, with no need for any additional action on ASE shareholders’ part.

 

Under the ASE Deposit Agreement, the ASE Depositary (Citibank) will only distribute whole HoldCo ADSs. The ASE Depositary will use commercially reasonable efforts to sell the fractional entitlements to HoldCo ADSs in the open market and will distribute the net cash proceeds to the holders of ASE ADSs entitled to it. After the Share Exchange becomes effective, the ASE Depositary will send a notice to all holders of ASE ADSs which specifies the manner in which ASE ADSs may be delivered to the ASE Depositary in exchange for HoldCo ADSs. A holder of ASE ADSs who delivers those ASE ADSs in the manner required will receive in exchange the applicable whole number of HoldCo ADSs. There is a US$0.02 cancellation fee per ASE ADS held, payable by holders of ASE ADSs, to the ASE Depositary in connection with the exchange of ASE ADSs for HoldCo ADSs.

 

At the Effective Time, HoldCo will acquire all issued shares of ASE. HoldCo would be entitled to all benefits resulting from its 100% ownership of ASE, including all of ASE’s net book value and net income or loss. Similarly, HoldCo would also bear all of the risk of losses generated by ASE’s operations and any decrease in the value of ASE after the Share Exchange. Upon consummation of the Share Exchange, ASE would become a privately held corporation. ASE Common Shares would be delisted from the TWSE and ASE ADSs would be delisted from NYSE and would become eligible for deregistration under the Exchange Act.

 

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At the Effective Time, former ASE shareholders will receive HoldCo Shares based on the Exchange Ratio. There are no material differences between the rights of holders of ASE Common Shares and the rights of holders of HoldCo Common Shares from a legal perspective. For so long as HoldCo has a class of securities (which include the HoldCo ADSs) listed on the NYSE, HoldCo will be subject to rules regarding corporate governance requirements of NYSE and the Exchange Act, the reporting requirements for foreign private issuers, and the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 including, for example, independence requirements for audit committee composition, annual certification requirements and auditor independence rules, unless certain circumstances change. HoldCo will be required to disclose any significant ways in which its corporate governance practices differ from those followed by U.S. domestic companies under NYSE’s listing standards. To the extent possible under the ROC law and the arrangement contemplated by the HoldCo Deposit Agreement, HoldCo’s corporate governance practices are expected to be comparable to those of ASE.

 

The issuance of HoldCo Common Shares in connection with the Share Exchange to U.S. holders of ASE Common Shares has been registered under the Securities Act. Accordingly, there will be no restrictions under the Securities Act upon the resale or transfer of such shares by U.S. shareholders of ASE except for those shareholders, if any, who are deemed to be “affiliates” of ASE, as such term is used in Rule 144 under the Securities Act. Persons who may be deemed to be affiliates of ASE generally include individuals who, or entities that, directly or indirectly control, or are controlled by or are under common control with, ASE, With respect to those shareholders who may be deemed to be affiliates of ASE, Rule 144 place certain restrictions on the offer and sale within the United States or to U.S. persons of HoldCo Common Shares that may be received by them pursuant to the Share Exchange. This prospectus does not cover resales of shares of HoldCo Common Shares received by any person who may be deemed to be an affiliate of ASE.

 

Background of the Share Exchange; Past Contacts; Negotiations

 

Events leading to the execution of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement described in this “Background of the Share Exchange; Past Contacts; Negotiations” section occurred in various locations that regularly included Taiwan, United States and Hong Kong. As a result, Taiwan Standard Time is used for all dates and times given.

 

The ASE Board and senior management of ASE regularly review and assess ASE’s operations, performance, prospects and strategic direction. Prior to its announcement of the Initial ASE Tender Offers in August 2015, ASE believed that in light of the increase in competition and the consolidation trends in the global semiconductor industry, an investment in SPIL would present attractive opportunities. At that time, in ASE’s view, the SPIL Common Shares and SPIL ADSs represented an attractive investment from a financial perspective. In addition, ASE hoped that an investment in SPIL might facilitate future cooperation opportunities with SPIL, in a manner consistent with all applicable laws, in an effort to maintain and promote the competitiveness of ASE.

 

On August 21, 2015, ASE announced that it planned to commence, on August 24, 2015, the Initial ASE Tender Offers at a price of NT$45 per SPIL Common Share and NT$225 per SPIL ADS for 779,000,000 SPIL Common Shares (including those represented by SPIL ADSs), which represented approximately 24.99% of the issued and outstanding share capital of SPIL.

 

On August 24, 2015, ASE commenced the Initial ASE Tender Offers. On the same day, SPIL announced that it had formed a review committee consisting of its independent directors to evaluate the Initial ASE Tender Offers.

 

On August 28, 2015, SPIL issued a press release and filed a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (as amended, the “First Schedule 14D-9”) with the SEC in which the SPIL Board recommended that SPIL shareholders reject the Initial ASE Tender Offers and not tender any SPIL Common Shares or SPIL ADSs into the Initial ASE Tender Offers.

 

The First Schedule 14D-9 further disclosed that, on August 28, 2015, SPIL had entered into a letter of intent with Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. (“Hon Hai”) pursuant to which (i) SPIL would issue 840,600,000 SPIL Common Shares in exchange for 359,230,769 common shares issued by Hon Hai, representing approximately 21.24% and 2.20% of the issued and outstanding share capital of SPIL and Hon Hai, respectively (the “Hon Hai Share Exchange”), and (ii) SPIL and Hon Hai would cooperate on certain commercial matters.

 

The Hon Hai Share Exchange would have required an increase in the authorized but unissued capital of SPIL (the “Capital Increase”) and amendments to SPIL’s acquisition and disposition procedures (the “By-Law

 

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Amendments”), which would have required the approval of SPIL’s shareholders at an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting (the “First EGM”). On August 28, 2015, SPIL called the First EGM to be held on October 15, 2015, and set a record date of September 15, 2015 for the First EGM, which date was prior to the expiration and closing of the Initial ASE Tender Offers. ASE was therefore not eligible to vote its SPIL Common Shares at the First EGM.

 

ASE publicly opposed the Hon Hai Share Exchange on the basis that it was not in the best interests of SPIL shareholders for various reasons, including that the Hon Hai Share Exchange would result in significant dilution for all SPIL shareholders and would bring no cash to SPIL or its shareholders.

 

The Initial ASE Tender Offers expired on September 22, 2015. Pursuant to the Initial ASE Tender Offers, there were validly tendered and not validly withdrawn a number of SPIL Common Shares and SPIL ADSs representing approximately 36.83% of the issued and outstanding share capital of SPIL. On September 23, 2015, ASE accepted for purchase SPIL Common Shares and SPIL ADSs representing approximately 24.99% of the issued and outstanding share capital of SPIL.

 

On September 22, 2015, ASE filed an injunction with the Taichung District Court seeking to enjoin the First EGM. Following the expiration of the Initial ASE Tender Offers, on September 23, 2015, ASE’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Jason C.S. Chang met with SPIL’s Chairman, Mr. Bough Lin, to express his regret that, due to certain legal limitations, ASE had not been able to discuss the Initial ASE Tender Offers with SPIL prior to its commencement. Mr. Chang also reiterated that the purpose of ASE’s investment was to explore avenues of mutual cooperation in the face of intensifying global competition and industry consolidation and that ASE strongly opposed the proposed Hon Hai Share Exchange.

 

On September 28, 2015 and October 1, 2015, ASE issued open letters to SPIL shareholders urging them to vote against the proposals to be voted on at the First EGM.

 

On October 1, 2015, pursuant to the Initial ASE Tender Offers, ASE closed its acquisition of, and paid for, 725,749,060 SPIL Common Shares and 10,650,188 SPIL ADSs, representing approximately 24.99% of the issued and outstanding share capital of SPIL.

 

Also on October 1, 2015, ASE filed a suit in the Taichung District Court seeking the invalidation of the SPIL Board’s resolution convening the First EGM.

 

On October 5, 2015, ASE issued a further open letter to SPIL shareholders urging them to vote against the proposals to be voted on at the First EGM, noting that two leading proxy advisors agreed with ASE’s recommendation.

 

On October 13, 2015, the Taichung District Court denied ASE’s petition seeking an injunction to enjoin SPIL’s First EGM.

 

On October 15, 2015, SPIL’s Capital Increase and By-Law Amendments were not approved by its shareholders at the First EGM.

 

Also on October 15, 2015, SPIL filed a suit in the Kaohsiung District Court (the “SPIL Kaohsiung Suit”) against ASE seeking the invalidation of the Initial ASE Tender Offers and confirmation that ASE did not, in SPIL’s view, have the right to be registered as a shareholder in SPIL’s shareholder register. ASE indicated publicly that it believed that this lawsuit was without merit. On the same day, ASE withdrew its suit seeking the invalidation of the SPIL Board’s resolution convening the First EGM. Subsequently, the Kaohsiung District Court revoked the SPIL Kaohsiung Suit on June 27, 2016.

 

On October 22, 2015 and on November 2, 2015, Mr. Chang sent letters to Mr. Lin reiterating that the purpose of ASE’s investment in SPIL was to establish a basis for possible future cooperation and that ASE wished to discuss and establish specific plans for such cooperation.

 

On November 4, 2015, Mr. Chang received a letter from Mr. Lin asserting that SPIL did not recognize ASE as a shareholder of SPIL and requesting that ASE provide a written undertaking prior to any discussions with SPIL that (i) if ASE became a shareholder of SPIL, ASE would maintain its financial investor status, and would not intervene and participate in or interfere with SPIL’s business operations, and would not nominate any person for appointment

 

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as a director of SPIL, and (ii) ASE would treat the communications and discussions between both parties as confidential, and would not disclose such information externally without SPIL’s consent.

 

On November 6, 2015, Mr. Chang sent a letter to Mr. Lin stating that ASE had lawfully acquired 779,000,000 SPIL Common Shares (including those represented by SPIL ADSs) upon completion of the Initial ASE Tender Offers and requesting a meeting before November 13, 2015 to discuss specific details of SPIL’s proposed undertaking and plans for potential cooperation.

 

On November 16, 2015, ASE filed an amendment to its report on Schedule 13D indicating that ASE had become increasingly concerned that the combination of SPIL’s open animosity to ASE, SPIL’s demonstrated willingness to consider ill-conceived transactions, and SPIL’s expressed desire to seek out one or more other opportunities with third parties, all posed a very real threat that SPIL would at some future date attempt to adopt one or more further defensive measures that could damage SPIL and ASE’s 24.99% interest therein.

 

The amendment noted that although ASE continued to seek avenues of cooperation with SPIL, and while no decision had been made, ASE believed that it needed to evaluate all possibilities available to it to protect its significant investment in SPIL and to react to any such defensive measures. Such possibilities included potential proposals to SPIL relating to cooperation or other potential transactions, influencing the management of SPIL, or further acquisitions of SPIL shares, whether in the market or through one or more tender offers.

 

On December 11, 2015, SPIL announced a potential transaction with Tsinghua Unigroup Ltd. (“Tsinghua” and the “Tsinghua Transaction”). Pursuant to the Tsinghua Transaction, if approved by SPIL shareholders, Tsinghua would purchase newly issued SPIL Common Shares by way of private placement at a price of NT$55 per SPIL Common Share. The Tsinghua Transaction would also have required SPIL shareholder approval. On the same date, SPIL announced that it planned to hold an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting on January 28, 2016 for shareholders to vote on the Tsinghua Transaction. Upon completion of the Tsinghua Transaction, Tsinghua would have owned 24.9% of SPIL’s then-outstanding Common Shares.

 

ASE believed that the Tsinghua Transaction was not in the best interests of SPIL’s shareholders and was a defensive and dilutive transaction that brought no cash to SPIL’s shareholders. On December 14, 2015, in order to protect its significant investment in SPIL in light of the Tsinghua Transaction and the reasons described above in relation to ASE’s November 16, 2015 amendment to its report on Schedule 13D, ASE submitted a written proposal to the SPIL Board proposing to acquire 100% of the remaining outstanding SPIL Common Shares for NT$55 per SPIL Common Share in cash and 100% of the remaining outstanding SPIL ADSs for NT$275 per SPIL ADS in cash (the “December 14, 2015 Proposal”). The December 14, 2015 Proposal was subject to execution and delivery of a mutually satisfactory definitive share exchange agreement containing customary terms and conditions and contingent on the termination or cancellation of the Tsinghua Transaction in accordance with its terms or applicable laws. ASE requested a written response from the SPIL Board by December 21, 2015 confirming whether or not SPIL was willing to discuss the December 14, 2015 Proposal.

 

On December 21, 2015, SPIL issued a press release stating that it would assess the December 14, 2015 Proposal and that it would be discussed at a meeting of the SPIL Board on December 28, 2015.

 

Based upon the foregoing and other factors, ASE determined that there was no realistic possibility of a cooperative dialogue with SPIL at ASE’s existing ownership level in SPIL and that there was a very real risk that SPIL would at some future date attempt to adopt one or more further defensive measures that could further damage the value of ASE’s investment. As a result, ASE concluded that it had no viable alternative other than to seek to increase its ownership stake in SPIL. On December 22, 2015, ASE announced that it planned to commence on December 29, 2015 tender offers in the ROC (the “Second ROC Offer”) and the United States (the “Second U.S. Offer,” together with the Second ROC Offer, the “Second ASE Tender Offers”) for up to 770,000,000 SPIL Common Shares, including those represented by SPIL ADSs, at a price of NT$55 per SPIL Common Share (and NT$275 per SPIL ADS), which represented approximately 24.71% of the issued and outstanding share capital of SPIL. In addition, ASE disclosed that if the Second ASE Tender Offers were consummated, subject to either (i) SPIL’s shareholders not approving the Tsinghua Transaction at the proposed extraordinary shareholders’ meeting on January 28, 2016 or (ii) SPIL terminating the Tsinghua Transaction in accordance with its terms or applicable law and cancelling the proposed extraordinary shareholders’ meeting, ASE would seek to cause SPIL to enter into a share exchange or other similar business combination with ASE pursuant to which ASE would acquire 100% of the shares of SPIL not owned by ASE (a “Proposed Combination”) for the consideration of NT$55 per SPIL Common

 

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Share and NT$275 per SPIL ADS (subject to adjustment if SPIL issued shares or cash dividends prior to the closing of such Proposed Combination). In order to implement a Proposed Combination, if the Second ASE Tender Offers were consummated, ASE intended to seek control of the SPIL Board. On the same date, SPIL issued a press release requesting that ASE cease its plan to commence the Second ASE Tender Offers and provide responses to certain questions as a precondition to any potential discussions on the December 14, 2015 Proposal. SPIL also announced on the same date that it planned to postpone the proposed extraordinary shareholders’ meeting that had been scheduled for January 28, 2016 to consider the Tsinghua Transaction.

 

On December 28, 2015, ASE announced that it intended, as previously announced, to commence the Second ASE Tender Offers on December 29, 2015 and that it believed that the Second ASE Tender Offers did not preclude any discussions with SPIL with respect to the December 14, 2015 Proposal. Accordingly, on December 29, 2015, ASE commenced the Second ASE Tender Offers.

 

On December 30, 2015, SPIL announced that it would convene meetings of a review committee and the SPIL Board in connection with the Second ASE Tender Offers.

 

On January 7, 2016, SPIL issued a press release and filed a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (as amended, the “Second Schedule 14D-9”) with the SEC announcing the SPIL Board recommendation, which it subsequently amended, that shareholders of SPIL consider the reservations of the review committee and the SPIL Board regarding the Second ASE Tender Offers, and further review the relevant risks before deciding individually whether or not to participate in the Second ASE Tender Offers.

 

On February 4, 2016, ASE extended the Second ASE Tender Offers until March 17, 2016 in order to permit the TFTC further time to review the Proposed Combination. The Second ASE Tender Offers had previously been scheduled to expire on February 16, 2016.

 

Between February 17, 2016 and March 9, 2016, ASE published various advertisements in newspapers in the ROC and made a series of shareholder communications in connection with the Second ASE Tender Offers. During this time, SPIL filed a number of amendments to the Second Schedule 14D-9 clarifying the scope of its recommendation in respect of the Second ASE Tender Offers.

 

On March 17, 2016, ASE announced that the Second ASE Tender Offers were unsuccessful, as ASE did not receive approval from the TFTC for the proposed combination between ASE and SPIL prior to the expiration of the Second ASE Tender Offers. Notwithstanding the failure of the Second ASE Tender Offers, ASE stated that it continued to seek to obtain control of SPIL, with the purpose of effecting an acquisition of 100% of the SPIL Common Shares and SPIL ADSs that ASE did not already own. In addition, ASE stated that it would otherwise continue to seek opportunities for cooperation with SPIL and would consider other possibilities, including further acquisitions of SPIL Common Shares.

 

On March 17, 2016, ASE disclosed that the TFTC was continuing to review the Proposed Combination. If the TFTC approved the Proposed Combination, ASE expected to continue to seek the support of SPIL shareholders in order to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding share capital of SPIL not owned by ASE. ASE further explained that, simultaneously with the acquisition of SPIL, ASE planned to establish a holding company in Taiwan that would hold 100% of the equity interests of both ASE and SPIL such that ASE and SPIL would be wholly owned subsidiaries of such holding company, which would maintain all current operations of ASE and SPIL in Taiwan.

 

Between March 24, 2016 and April 7, 2016, ASE acquired by way of market purchases additional SPIL Common Shares and SPIL ADSs amounting to an additional 8.29% of the issued and outstanding SPIL Common Shares (including those represented by SPIL ADSs) for an aggregate purchase price of NT$13.7 billion.

 

On April 17, 2016, Mr. Lin and Mr. Chang, together with executives of ASE and SPIL, had a meeting at which the possibility of a combination transaction was discussed. During the meeting, Mr. Lin and Mr. Chang discussed whether it would be in the best interests of the two companies and their respective shareholders for ASE and SPIL to explore the possibility of entering into a combination transaction.

 

Between April 25, 2016 and May 19, 2016, representatives of ASE and SPIL, together with their respective legal and financial advisors, held a series of in-person meetings and conference calls to discuss a variety of issues, and explore whether it would be possible to develop the terms of a possible share exchange transaction between

 

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ASE and SPIL (“Proposed Share Exchange”), including the structure, price, board composition of the new holding company after the Proposed Share Exchange, protection of SPIL’s employee rights and the timing of any announcement. ASE furnished SPIL with proposed draft transaction documents and presentation materials relating to the Proposed Share Exchange, which contemplated SPIL and ASE entering into a share exchange transaction at a price of NT$55.0 per SPIL Common Share and set forth the other terms of such transaction. There was no agreement with respect to the Proposed Share Exchange by the end of these meetings.

 

On April 28, 2016, SPIL issued a press release announcing the termination of the Tsinghua Transaction.

 

On May 26, 2016, the ASE Board held a meeting, in which members of ASE’s senior management participated, to discuss the draft Joint Share Exchange MOU and review the conclusions of ASE’s legal and financial advisors. In connection with the deliberations of the ASE Board, an independent public accounting firm engaged by ASE, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu, CPA, delivered to the ASE Board his oral opinion, which was confirmed by delivery of a written opinion dated May 25, 2016, that the cash consideration of NT$55.00 per SPIL Common Share and the exchange ratio pursuant to which ASE Common Shares would be exchanged for shares in the holding company, were reasonable and fair.

 

On May 26, 2016, ASE and SPIL issued a joint press release announcing the execution of the Joint Share Exchange MOU and setting a deadline for execution of a definitive Joint Share Exchange Agreement of June 25, 2016. Also on May 26 2016, Mr. Chang sent a letter to Mr. Lin reiterating his support for the proposed combination.

 

On May 27, 2016, ASE and SPIL clarified by respective press releases that the actual Cash Consideration of NT$55 per SPIL Common Share included the cash dividend and a returning of capital reserve of NT$3.8 per SPIL Common Share previously declared by SPIL, and that the adjusted Cash Consideration should be NT$51.2 per SPIL Share.

 

On June 3, 2016, Baker & McKenzie sent SPIL’s legal counsel Jones Day a proposed draft of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, which contemplated, among other things, that ASE would exchange all of ASE’s issued ASE Common Shares for shares in a newly formed holding company, and all issued SPIL Common Shares would be acquired for NT$55.00 per share in cash and NT$275 per SPIL ADS (prior to cash dividend and a returning of capital reserve adjustment) .

 

Between June 3, 2016 and June 24, 2016, representatives of ASE and SPIL, together with representatives of each of their legal and financial advisors, held a series of conference calls and in-person meetings to negotiate the terms of the draft Joint Share Exchange Agreement, including in relation to post-closing commitments of the surviving company, the timetable for the transaction and the requirements relating to obtaining regulatory approvals. During this period, ASE’s legal advisors Davis Polk and Baker & McKenzie exchanged multiple drafts of the draft Joint Share Exchange Agreement with SPIL’s legal advisors Simpson Thacher and Jones Day.

 

On June 24, 2016, ASE and SPIL executed a supplemental Joint Share Exchange MOU, extending the deadline for ASE and SPIL to execute a definitive agreement to June 30, 2016.

 

On June 30, 2016, the ASE audit committee unanimously determined that the draft Joint Share Exchange Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby were advisable, fair to and in the best interests of ASE and its shareholders and approved the draft Joint Share Exchange Agreement and the other transactions contemplated therein. Later that same day, the ASE Board met to discuss the draft Joint Share Exchange Agreement, in which members of ASE senior management participated. Prior to the meeting, members of the ASE Board had been provided with a set of meeting materials, including the draft Joint Share Exchange Agreement and certain financial analyses. In connection with the deliberations of the ASE Board, an independent expert engaged by ASE, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu, CPA, delivered to the ASE Board his oral opinion, which was confirmed by delivery of a written opinion dated June 29, 2016, that the consideration in the draft Joint Share Exchange Agreement of NT$55.00 per SPIL Common Share and NT$275 per SPIL ADS (prior to cash dividend and a returning of capital reserve adjustment) and the exchange ratio pursuant to which ASE Common Shares would be exchanged for shares in the holding company, were reasonable and fair.

 

On June 30, 2016, ASE and SPIL issued a joint press release announcing the execution of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement.

 

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Recommendation and Approval of the ASE Board and Reasons for the Share Exchange

 

By a vote at a meeting of the audit committee of ASE held on June 30, 2016 and by a subsequent vote at a meeting of the ASE Board held on the same date, the ASE Board and ASE’s audit committee unanimously determined that the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby were advisable, fair to and in the best interests of ASE and its shareholders and approved the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement. The ASE Board recommends that ASE shareholders vote “FOR” the approval of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and “FOR” the approval of the other proposals to be voted on at the ASE EGM.

 

In evaluating the proposed Share Exchange, the ASE Board consulted with ASE’s management and legal advisors and independent experts and, in reaching its determination and recommendation, the ASE Board considered a number of factors. The ASE Board also consulted with outside legal counsel regarding its obligations, legal due diligence matters and the terms of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement.

 

Many of the factors considered supported the conclusion of ASE Board that the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby are advisable, fair to and in the best interests of ASE and its shareholders, including the following (not in any relative order of importance):

 

·continuing consolidation trend in the semiconductor industry and the intensifying competitive landscape in the semiconductor packaging and testing industry poses significant risks and uncertainties for ASE’s and SPIL’s business if each company continues to operate separately;

 

·the expectation that the combination of ASE and SPIL under the holding company structure will allow both companies to better utilize their total capacity to achieve broader service coverage across products and offer more innovative and complete solutions to their customers;

 

·that ASE and SPIL can pool their experience and know-how, as well as their respective existing product footprints for high-quality packaging and testing service solutions, which will allow customers to benefit from best technologies and also create incentives for other packaging and testing service providers to use similar production process;

 

·the expectation that the combination of ASE and SPIL will allow each company to have better insights to semiconductor customers and end markets to enable more accurate forecasting of customer demand and facilitate better planning and capacity investment, which would in turn allow ASE and SPIL the ability to execute and deliver on its business plans throughout the business cycle and in a semiconductor industry that is highly competitive, cyclical and subject to constant and rapid technological change;

 

·the opportunity to further expand ASE’s and SPIL’s global market reach and customer base leveraging a “dual-brand cross-selling operations” model and expand into other business areas of strategic importance;

 

·the expectation based on estimates by ASE’s and SPIL’s management that both companies can achieve significant synergies in research and development investments and capital expenditures as a result of reduction of duplicative investments, allowing for significant cost synergies and expended investment budgets;

 

·the expectation that the larger scale organization, greater marketing resources and financial strength of HoldCo will lead to improved opportunities for marketing and cross selling ASE’s and SPIL’s products after the combination;

 

·the holding company structure will allow HoldCo to focus on devising the group’s overall strategy and maximize interests of the group as a whole, while allowing each subsidiary, including ASE and SPIL, to concentrate on its particular business area and operations;

 

·the fact that the new holding company will function as the group’s overall resources allocation and strategic planning platform to achieve a more streamlined management structure among the group’s distinct business

 

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concentration area to further improve the group’s overall operational efficiency and solidify professional managerial function within each subsidiaries to ensure sustainable development of the group;

 

·the fact that ASE’s current shareholders will own approximately the same ownership and voting interest in HoldCo following the completion of the Share Exchange;

 

·the First Crowe Horwath Opinion, dated May 25, 2016, and the Second Crowe Horwath Opinion, dated June 29, 2016, to the ASE Board as to the fairness, from a financial point of view and as of the respective date of each opinion, to ASE, of the Cash Consideration to be paid by HoldCo to SPIL shareholders and the exchange ratio pursuant to which ASE shareholders will exchange their shares for HoldCo Shares pursuant to the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, which opinions were based on and subject to the assumptions made, procedures followed and matters considered in the review undertaken by Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu, CPA, as more fully described below in the section entitled “— Reports of ASE’s Independent Expert”; and

 

·the review by the ASE Board with its advisors of the structure of the proposed Share Exchange and the financial and other terms of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, including the parties’ representations, warranties and covenants, the conditions to their respective obligations and the termination provisions, as well as the likelihood of the completion of the proposed Share Exchange and the evaluation by the ASE Board of the likely time period necessary to complete the Share Exchange.

 

In the course of its deliberations, the ASE Board also considered a variety of risks and other potentially negative factors, including the following (not in any relative order of importance):

 

·the possibility that the Share Exchange may not be completed as a result of the failure to obtain the required approval from ASE shareholders or SPIL shareholders, the failure by ASE to obtain financing, or otherwise, or that completion may be unduly delayed for reasons beyond the control of ASE and/or SPIL, including the potential length of the regulatory review process and the risk that applicable antitrust and competition authorities may prohibit or enjoin the Share Exchange or otherwise impose unanticipated conditions on ASE and/or SPIL, in order to obtain clearance for the Share Exchange, and the effect the resulting termination of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement may have on the trading price of the ASE Common Shares and ASE’s operating results, including ASE’s potential obligation to pay SPIL a liquidated damages in the amount of NT$8.5 billion (US$0.3 billion), as described in the section entitled “The Joint Share Exchange Agreement — Termination Fees” ;

 

·the possible disruption to ASE’s business that may result from the Share Exchange, including the potential for diversion of management and employee attention from other strategic opportunities or operational matters and for increased employee attrition during the period prior to completion of the Share Exchange, and the potential effect of the Share Exchange on ASE’s business and relations with customers and suppliers;

 

·the adverse impact that business uncertainty pending completion of the Share Exchange could have on ASE’s ability to attract, retain and motivate key personnel;

 

·the difficulty and costs inherent in consolidating resources in ASE and SPIL under the holding company structure and the risk that anticipated strategic and other benefits to ASE and SPIL following completion of the Share Exchange, including the estimated cost savings and cost synergies described above, will not be realized or will take longer to realize than expected;

 

·the transaction costs to be incurred in connection with the Share Exchange;

 

·that failure to complete the Share Exchange could lead to negative perceptions among investors, potential investors, employees and customers;

 

·operational inefficiencies due to a layered corporate structure and valuation discounts as a result of the adoption of a holding company structure which may have an adverse effect on the trading value of HoldCo Common Shares or HoldCo ADSs; and

 

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·risks of the type and nature described in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

 

The ASE Board considered all of these factors as a whole and, on balance, concluded that overall, the potential benefits of the Share Exchange to ASE and its shareholders outweighed the risks which are mentioned above, and it supported the decision to approve the Share Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement. The foregoing discussion of the information and factors considered by the ASE Board is not exhaustive. In view of the wide variety of factors considered by the ASE Board in connection with its evaluation of the proposed Share Exchange and the complexity of these matters, the ASE Board did not consider it practical to, nor did it attempt to, quantify, rank or otherwise assign relative weights to the specific factors that it considered in reaching its decision. Rather, the ASE Board viewed its decisions as being based on the totality of the information presented to it and the factors it considered. The ASE Board evaluated the factors described above, among others, and reached a consensus that the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby were advisable, fair to and in the best interests of ASE and its shareholders. In considering the factors described above and any other factors, individual members of the ASE Board may have viewed factors differently or given different weight or merit to different factors.

 

Interests of ASE in SPIL Common Shares and ADSs

 

On October 1, 2015, ASE closed its acquisition of, and paid for, 779,000,000 SPIL Common Shares (including those represented by SPIL ADSs) at a price of NT$45 per SPIL Common Share and NT$225 per SPIL ADS pursuant to the tender offers in the U.S. and in the ROC.

 

In March and April 2016, ASE acquired an additional 258,300,000 SPIL Common Shares (including those represented by SPIL ADSs) through open market purchases. The following table sets forth certain information relating to the aforesaid ASE’s open market purchases:

 

Period  Total Number of SPIL Common Shares Purchased  Average Price Paid Per SPIL Common Share (in NT$)  Range of Price Paid Per SPIL Common Share (in NT$)
March 24, 2016-March 30, 2016    201,547,740    53.16    51.80-54.00 
April 1, 2016-April 7, 2016    8,300,000    52.91    50.64-53.00 
Total:   209,847,740    -    - 

 

 

Period  Total Number of SPIL ADSs Purchased  Average Price Paid Per SPIL ADS (in US$)  Range of Price Paid Per SPIL ADS (in US$)
March 24, 2016-March 30, 2016    9,690,452    8.13    7.91-8.26 
Total:   9,690,452    -    - 

 

 

As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, (a) SPIL had an aggregate of 3,116,361,139 SPIL Common Shares including 193,389,945 SPIL Common Shares represented by SPIL ADSs, issued and outstanding; and (b) ASE held 988,847,740 SPIL Common Shares and 9,690,452 SPIL ADSs.

 

Except as set forth elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus: (a) none of ASE and, to ASE’s knowledge, any associate or majority-owned subsidiary of ASE beneficially owns or has a right to acquire any SPIL Common Shares, SPIL ADSs or other equity securities of SPIL; (b) none of ASE and, to ASE’s knowledge, any associate or majority-owned subsidiary of ASE has effected any transaction in SPIL Common Shares, SPIL ADSs or other equity securities of SPIL during the past 60 days; and (c) during the two years before the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, there have been no transactions between ASE, its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and SPIL or any of its executive officers, directors, controlling shareholders or affiliates, on the other hand, that would require reporting under SEC rules and regulations.

 

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Certain Financial Projections

 

ASE does not, as a matter of course, publicly disclose forecasts or internal projections as to future performance, earnings or other results due to, among other reasons, the uncertainty of the underlying assumptions and estimates. No financial projections were prepared by ASE or their advisors in connection with the Share Exchange.

 

Opinions of ASE’s Independent Expert

 

Crowe Horwath Opinions

 

On May 25, 2016, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu, CPA, of Crowe Horwath (TW) CPAs, an independent expert engaged by ASE, delivered to ASE its written opinion that the proposed exchange of each ASE Common Share for 0.5 HoldCo Common Shares and each SPIL Common Share for NT$55 in cash pursuant to the Share Exchange was fair and reasonable. On June 29, 2016, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu delivered to ASE another written opinion that the proposed exchange of each ASE Common Share for 0.5 HoldCo Common Shares and each SPIL Common Share for NT$55 in cash pursuant to the Share Exchange was fair and reasonable.

 

ASE selected Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu of Crowe Horwath (TW) CPAs to act as an independent expert to provide the Crowe Horwath Opinions in connection with the Share Exchange based on Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu’s reputation, experience in the Taiwan market and familiarity with ASE and its business. Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu is regularly engaged in the valuation of businesses and their securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions, private placements and related financings and valuations for corporate and other purposes for ROC corporations. Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu in the past has delivered opinions to ASE during the two-year period prior to date of the First Crowe Horwath Opinion in connection with (i) a spin-off transaction involving Universal Scientific Industrial Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of ASE, (ii) the Initial ASE Tender Offers, (iii) a private placement under which ASE sold its shareholdings in Universal Scientific Industrial Co., Ltd. to another subsidiary of ASE for corporate restructuring proposes, (iv) the proposal to SPIL to acquire 100% of its outstanding shares not owned by ASE in cash dated December 14, 2015 and (v) the Second ASE Tender Offers. Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu received aggregate compensation of NT$300,000 (US$9,594) in connection with these prior opinions and was paid an opinion fee of NT$60,000 (US$1,919) for each of the First Crowe Horwath Opinion and the Second Crowe Horwath Opinion. Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu may in the future deliver opinions to ASE, for which services Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu may receive compensation. No material limitations were imposed by ASE on Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu’s work in connection with the Share Exchange.

 

The full text of the English translation of the Crowe Horwath Opinions has been included in Annex B-1 and Annex B-2 to this proxy statement/prospectus. The Crowe Horwath Opinions will also be available for any interested ASE shareholder (or any representative of an ASE shareholder who has been so designated in writing) to inspect and copy at ASE’s principal executive offices during regular business hours. The Crowe Horwath Opinions outline the procedures followed, assumptions made, matters considered and qualifications and limitations on the review undertaken by Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu in rendering the Crowe Horwath Opinions. The descriptions of the Crowe Horwath Opinions set forth below are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of such opinions. Holders of ASE Common Shares or SPIL Shares are urged to read the entire opinion carefully in connection with their consideration of the Share Exchange.

 

The Crowe Horwath Opinions speak only as of the date of each such opinion. The Crowe Horwath Opinions were directed to ASE’s board of directors and are directed only to the fairness of the proposed exchange of each ASE Common Share for 0.5 HoldCo Common Shares and each SPIL Common Share for NT$55 in cash pursuant to the Share Exchange. They do not address the underlying business decision of ASE or SPIL to engage in the Share Exchange and do not constitute recommendation as to whether or not any holder of Common Shares should vote in favor of the Share Exchange at any shareholder meeting, or at all.

 

In connection with rendering the Crowe Horwath Opinions, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu reviewed and considered the audited or unaudited financial statements of ASE and SPIL for the years 2014, 2015 and the first quarter of 2016, relevant business overviews, financial statements, and other materials Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu deemed relevant and available to the public from, among other sources, the TWSE’s Market Observation Post System, the website of the TWSE, the website of the Taipei Exchange (GreTai Securities Market), the Commerce and Industry Registration Enquiry System of the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwan, the Taiwan Economic Journal (TEJ) Database, and comparison, analysis and historical stock price data of ASE, SPIL, and their peers compiled by Bloomberg. In performing its review, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu relied upon the accuracy and completeness of

 

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all of the financial and other information that was available to Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu from public sources or that was otherwise reviewed by Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu, and Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu assumed such accuracy and completeness for purposes of preparing the Crowe Horwath Opinions.

 

Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu expressed no opinion as to the trading values of ASE Common Shares or SPIL Shares after the date of each respective Opinion or what the value of ASE Common Shares or SPIL Shares will be upon consummation of the Share Exchange. Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu expressed no opinion as to any of the legal, accounting, and tax matters relating to the Share Exchange. The Crowe Horwath Opinions were necessarily based on financial, economic, market and other conditions as in effect on, and the information made available to Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu as of, the date of the respective Crowe Horwath Opinions. Events occurring after the date thereof could materially affect the Crowe Horwath Opinions. Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu has not undertaken to update, revise, reaffirm or withdraw the Crowe Horwath Opinions or otherwise comment upon events occurring after the date of the Crowe Horwath Opinions.

 

In rendering the Crowe Horwath Opinions, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu performed a variety of financial analyses. The following is a summary of the material analyses performed by Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu in each Opinion, but it is not a complete description of all the analyses underlying each Opinion. The summary includes information presented in tabular format. In order to fully understand the financial analyses, these tables must be read together with the accompanying text. The tables alone do not constitute a complete description of the financial analyses. The preparation of a fairness opinion is a complex process involving subjective judgments as to the most appropriate and relevant methods of financial analysis and the application of those methods to the particular circumstances. The process, therefore, is not necessarily susceptible to a partial analysis or summary description. Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu believes that its analyses must be considered as a whole and that selecting portions of the factors and analyses to be considered without considering all factors and analyses could create an incomplete view of the evaluation process underlying its opinion. Also, no company included in Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu’s comparative analyses described below is identical to SPIL and no transaction is identical to the Share Exchange. Accordingly, an analysis of comparable companies or transactions involves complex considerations and judgments concerning differences in financial and operating characteristics of the companies and other factors that could affect the public trading values of SPIL and the companies to which they are being compared.

 

First Crowe Horwath Opinion

 

Consideration for ASE Common Shares

 

Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu evaluated the proposed exchange of each ASE Common Share for 0.5 HoldCo Common Shares pursuant to Share Exchange. Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu used the equity attributable to owners of parent of ASE based on the audited or unaudited consolidated financial statements of ASE (NT$158,016,614,000 as of March 31, 2016) and the total issued ASE Common Shares based on the latest update from the Commerce and Industry Registration Enquiry System of Department of Commerce, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwan (7,918,272,896 as of April 26, 2016) to calculate a net book value per share of NT$19.956. Under the Share Exchange, 7,918,272,892 ASE Common Shares would result in 3,959,136,448 as of the Effective Time. The net book value per HoldCo Common Share was calculated based on ASE’s equity attributable to owners of parent as of March 31, 2016 to be NT$39.912 per share. Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu concluded that the shareholders’ equity for the holders of HoldCo Common Shares would not be impaired in any way by the exchange ratio of 0.5 HoldCo Common Shares for each ASE Common Share.

 

The fact that the net value of ASE’s equity attributable to owners of parent as of the Effective Time may vary from that as of March 31, 2016 was also considered. However, since the shareholders of ASE will contribute will contribute all the ASE Common Shares as of the Effective Time in exchange for all the HoldCo Common Shares, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu concluded that the shareholders’ equity for the holders of HoldCo Common Shares will not be affected as a result of the Share Exchange.

 

Based on this analysis, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu concluded that, as of May 25, 2016, the proposed exchange of each ASE Common Share for 0.5 HoldCo Common Shares pursuant to the Share Exchange was fair and reasonable.

 

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Consideration for SPIL Common Shares

 

Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu elected for a market approach as the primary evaluation method while taking into account other non-quantitative factors to evaluate the reasonableness of the proposed exchange of each SPIL Common Share for NT$55 in cash pursuant to the Share Exchange. Under the market approach, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu adopted a (i) market price method that analyzed historical market prices of the SPIL Common Shares; (ii) a price-book ratio method that applied the average price-to-book value ratios of the Comparison Group (as defined below) to SPIL’s book value for the quarter ended March 31, 2016; and (iii) a price-earnings ratio method that applied the average price to earnings per share ratios of the Comparison Group (as defined below) to SPIL’s earnings per share for the four quarters ended March 31, 2016. Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu determined not to use an income approach, which requires using a company’s estimates for future cash flows, because such an approach involves multiple assumptions and has a relatively higher level of uncertainty and lesser objectivity as compared to other valuation methods. In addition, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu determined that a cost approach was not appropriate for evaluation in light of SPIL’s operating model and capital structure, and therefore did not use such an approach.

 

Of the semiconductor manufacturing companies listed on the TWSE, three industry peers were selected for comparison based on relative similarities in customer attributes, business activities and business mode: ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES (Bermuda) LTD. (“ChipMOS”); Chipbond Technology Corporation (“Chipbond”); and Powertech Technology Inc. (“Powertech,” and together with ChipMOS and Chipbond, the “Comparison Group”).

 

In applying the market price method, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu used SPIL’s recent public trading prices for SPIL Common Shares to evaluate the average market closing price for 60, 90 and 180 business days up to, and including, May 25, 2016 to calculate a range of theoretical values for SPIL Common Shares as follows:

 

 
Items  Average Closing Price  Theoretical Price Range
   Prices in NT$
Latest 60 business days    49.18  
Latest 90 business days    50.04   47.13 - 50.04
Latest 180 business days    47.13    

__________________

Note:Sources of ex-rights/ex-dividend adjusted closing prices are from compilations of Taiwan Economic Journal (2015/8/28 - 2016/5/25); all average prices are calculated by simple arithmetic averaging.

 

As shown in the table above, based on the market price method, the theoretical value per SPIL Common Share falls in the range of NT$47.13 to NT$50.04, without taking any adjusting factors into account.

 

In applying the price-book ratio method, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu used the book value per SPIL Common Share and the average price-to-book value ratios of the Comparison Group along with average closing prices for 180 days up to, and including, May 25, 2016 to calculate price-to-book value ratios of the Comparison Group and to calculate a range of values for SPIL Common Shares as follows:

 

Comparing to Peer Companies  Average Closing Prices in Latest 180 Business Days  Net Value per Share for the First Half of 2016  Price-Book Value Ratio
   Prices in NT$
ChipMOS    32.53    21.20    1.53 
Chipbond    47.86    36.31    1.32 
Powertech    66.98    44.48    1.51 

__________________

Note:Sources of ex-rights/ex-dividend adjusted closing prices are from compilations of Taiwan Economic Journal (2015/8/28 - 2016/5/25); all average prices are calculated by simple arithmetic averaging.

 

Items  Descriptions
   Prices in NT$
Range of multipliers    1.32 - 1.53 times 
Net value per SPIL Common Share for the first quarter of 2016    23.23 
Theoretical price range    30.66 - 35.54 

 

 

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As shown in the table above, based on the price-to-book value ratio method, the theoretical price per SPIL Common Share falls in the range of NT$30.66 to NT$35.54, without taking any adjusting factors into account.

 

In applying the price-earnings ratio method, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu applied the price to earnings per share ratios of the Comparison Group (based on earnings per share for the four quarters ended March 31, 2016 and the average closing prices for 180 days up to, and including, May 25, 2016) to SPIL’s earnings per share for the four quarters ended March 31, 2016 to calculate a range of values for SPIL Common Shares as follows:

 

Comparing to Peer Companies  Average Closing Prices in Latest 180 Business Days  Earnings per Share in the Four Quarters Ended March 31, 2016  Price-Earnings Ratio
   Prices in NT$
ChipMOS    32.53    2.09    15.56 
Chipbond    47.86    2.64    18.13 
Powertech    66.98    5.37    12.47 

_____________________

Note:Sources of ex-rights/ex-dividend adjusted closing prices are from compilations of Taiwan Economic Journal (2015/8/28 - 2016/5/25); all average prices are calculated by simple arithmetic averaging.

 

Items  Descriptions
   Prices in NT$
Range of multipliers    12.47 – 18.13 times 
Consolidated earnings per SPIL Common Share    2.49 
Theoretical price range    31.05 – 45.14 

 

As shown in the table above, based on the price to earnings per share ratio method, the theoretical price range per SPIL Common Share falls in the range of NT$31.05 to NT$45.14, without taking any adjusting factors into account.

 

Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu, after taking into account certain non-quantitative key factors, weighted each of the three methods described above equally to obtain a theoretical price per SPIL Common Share, as set forth below:

 

Evaluation Method  Price Range per SPIL Common Share  Weight  Theoretical Price Range per SPIL Common Share
   Prices in NT$
Market price method   47.13 - 50.04   33.3% 
Price-book ratio method   30.66 - 35.54   33.3%  36.28 - 43.57
Price-earnings ratio method   31.05 - 45.14   33.3%   

 

Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu then applied an adjustment of 33.24% to account for the average premium paid in mergers involving the global semiconductor industry since the third quarter of 2015. The adjusted price range per SPIL Common Share is presented in the table below:

 

Evaluation Method  Price Range per SPIL Common Share  Adjusted Price Range per SPIL Common Share
   Prices in NT$
The weighted average of the results under the market price, price-to-book and the price to earnings methods   36.28 - 43.57  48.34 - 58.05

 

On the basis of this analysis, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu concluded that, as of May 25, 2016, the reasonable price range per SPIL Common Share should be between NT$48.34 and NT$58.05 and the proposed exchange of each SPIL Common Share for NT$55 in cash pursuant to the Share Exchange was fair and reasonable.

 

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Second Crowe Horwath Opinion

 

Consideration for ASE Common Shares

 

Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu evaluated the proposed exchange of each ASE Common Share for 0.5 HoldCo Common Shares pursuant to Share Exchange. Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu used the equity attributable to owners of parent of ASE based on the audited or reviewed consolidated financial statements of ASE (NT$158,016,614,000 as of March 31, 2016) and the total issued ASE Common Shares based on the latest update from the Commerce and Industry Registration Enquiry System of Department of Commerce, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwan (7,918,272,896 as of April 26, 2016) to calculate a net book value per share of NT$19.956. Under the Share Exchange, 7,918,272,892 ASE Common Shares would result in 3,959,136,448 as of the Effective Time. The net book value per HoldCo Common Share was calculated based on ASE’s equity attributable to owners of parent as of March 31, 2016 to be NT$39.912 per share. Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu concluded that the shareholders’ equity for the holders of HoldCo Common Shares would not be impaired in any way by the exchange ratio of 0.5 HoldCo Common Shares for each ASE Common Share.

 

The fact that the net value of ASE’s equity attributable to owners of parent as of the Effective Time may vary from that as of March 31, 2016 was also considered. However, since the shareholders of ASE will contribute all the ASE Common Shares as of the Effective Time in exchange for all the HoldCo Common Shares, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu concluded that the shareholders’ equity for the holders of HoldCo Common Shares will not be affected as a result of the Share Exchange.

 

Based on this analysis, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu concluded that, as of June 29, 2016, the proposed exchange of each ASE Common Share for 0.5 HoldCo Common Shares pursuant to the Share Exchange was fair and reasonable.

 

Consideration for SPIL Common Shares

 

Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu elected for a market approach as the primary evaluation method while taking into account other non-quantitative factors to evaluate the reasonableness of the proposed exchange of each SPIL Common Share for the Cash Consideration pursuant to the Share Exchange. Under the market approach, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu adopted a (i) market price method that analyzed historical market prices of the SPIL Common Shares; (ii) a price-book ratio method that applied the average price-to-book value ratios of the Comparison Group (as defined below) to SPIL’s book value for the quarter ended March 31, 2016; and (iii) a price-earnings ratio method that applied the average price to earnings per share ratios of the Comparison Group to SPIL’s earnings per share for the four quarters ended March 31, 2016. Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu determined not to use an income approach, which requires using a company’s estimates for future cash flows, because such an approach involves multiple assumptions and has a relatively higher level of uncertainty and lesser objectivity as compared to other valuation methods. In addition, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu determined that a cost approach was not appropriate for evaluation in light of SPIL’s operating model and capital structure, and therefore did not use such an approach.

 

Of the semiconductor manufacturing companies listed on the TWSE, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu selected the Comparison Group for comparison based on relative similarities customer attributes, business activities and business model.

 

In applying the market price method, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu used SPIL’s recent public trading prices for SPIL Common Shares to evaluate the average market closing price for 60, 90 and 180 business days up to, and including, June 29, 2016 to calculate a range of theoretical values for SPIL Common Shares as follows:

 

Items  Average Closing Price  Theoretical Price Range
    Prices in NT$ 
Latest 60 business days    46.25     
Latest 90 business days    46.45    45.05 – 46.45 
Latest 180 business days    45.05      

 

 

Note:Sources of ex-rights/ex-dividend adjusted closing prices are from compilations of Taiwan Economic Journal (2015/10/5 - 2016/6/29); all average prices are calculated by simple arithmetic averaging.

 

As shown in the table above, based on the market price method, the theoretical value per SPIL Common Share falls in the range of NT$45.05 to NT$46.45, without taking any adjusting factors into account.

 

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In applying the price-book ratio method, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu used the book value per SPIL Common Share and the average price-to-book value ratios of the Comparison Group along with average closing prices for 180 days up to, and including, June 29, 2016 to calculate price-to-book value ratios of the Comparison Group and to calculate a range of values for SPIL Common Shares as follows:

 

Comparing to Peer Companies  Average Closing Prices in Latest 180 Business Days  Net Value per Share for the First Half of 2016  Price-Book Value Ratio
    Prices in NT$
ChipMOS    32.53    21.20    1.53 
Chipbond    46.86    36.31    1.29 
Powertech    65.31    44.48    1.47 

____________________

Note:Sources of ex-rights/ex-dividend adjusted closing prices are from compilations of Taiwan Economic Journal (2015/10/5 - 2016/6/29); all average prices are calculated by simple arithmetic averaging.

 

Items  Descriptions
    Prices in NT$ 
Range of multipliers    1.29 – 1.53 times 
Net value per SPIL Common Share for the first quarter of 2016    23.23 
Theoretical price range    29.97 – 35.54 

 

As shown in the table above, based on the price-to-book value ratio method, the theoretical price per SPIL Common Share falls in the range of NT$29.97 to NT$35.54, without taking any adjusting factors into account.

 

In applying the price-earnings ratio method, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu applied the price to earnings per share ratios of the Comparison Group (based on earnings per share for the four quarters ended March 31, 2016 and the average closing prices for 180 days up to, and including, June 29, 2016) to SPIL’s earnings per share for the four quarters ended March 31, 2016 to calculate a range of values for SPIL Common Shares as follows:

 

Comparing to Peer Companies  Average Closing Prices in Latest 180 Business Days  Earnings per Share in the Four Quarters Ended March 31, 2016  Price-Earnings Ratio
    Prices in NT$
ChipMOS    32.53    2.09    15.56 
Chipbond    46.86    2.64    17.75 
Powertech    65.31    5.37    12.16 

 

___________________

Note:Sources of ex-rights/ex-dividend adjusted closing prices are from compilations of Taiwan Economic Journal (2015/10/5 - 2016/6/29); all average prices are calculated by simple arithmetic averaging.

 

Items  Descriptions
    Prices in NT$ 
Range of multipliers    12.16 – 17.75 times 
Consolidated earnings per SPIL Common Share    2.49 
Theoretical price range    30.28 – 44.20 

 

As shown in the table above, based on the price to earnings per share ratio method, the theoretical price range per SPIL Common Share falls in the range of NT$30.28 to NT$44.20, without taking any adjusting factors into account.

 

Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu, after taking into account certain non-quantitative key factors, weighted each of the three methods described above equally to obtain a theoretical price per SPIL Common Share, as set forth below:

 

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Evaluation Method  Price Range per SPIL Common Share  Weight  Theoretical Price Range per SPIL Common Share
   Prices in NT$
Market price method    45.05 – 46.45    33.3%    
Price-book ratio method    29.97 – 35.54    33.3%   35.10 – 42.06 
Price-earnings ratio method    30.28 – 44.20    33.3%     

 

Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu then applied an adjustment of 33.86% to account for the average premium paid in mergers involving the global semiconductor industry since the third quarter of 2015. The adjusted price range per SPIL Common Share is presented in the table below:

 

Evaluation Method

Price Range per SPIL Common Share

Adjusted Price Range per SPIL Common Share

  Prices in NT$
The weighted average of the results under the market price, price-to-book and the price to earnings methods 35.10 – 42.06 46.98 – 56.30

 

On the basis of this analysis, Mr. Ji-Sheng Chiu concluded that, as of June 29, 2016, the reasonable price range per SPIL Common Share should be between NT$46.98 and NT$56.30 and the proposed exchange of each SPIL Common Share for the Cash Consideration pursuant to the Share Exchange was fair and reasonable.

 

Effects of the Share Exchange on ASE and SPIL

 

Private Ownership

 

SPIL ADSs are currently listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “SPIL.” It is expected that, immediately following the completion of the Share Exchange, SPIL will cease to be a publicly traded company and will instead become a privately held company wholly owned directly by HoldCo. Following the completion of the Share Exchange, SPIL ADSs will cease to be listed on NASDAQ, and price quotations with respect to sales of the SPIL ADSs in the public market will no longer be available. In addition, registration of the SPIL ADSs and the underlying SPIL Common Shares under the Exchange Act, will be terminated. After the Effective Time, SPIL will no longer be required to file periodic reports with the SEC or otherwise be subject to the U.S. federal securities laws, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, applicable to public companies. After the completion of the Share Exchange, SPIL shareholders will no longer enjoy the rights or protections that the U.S. federal securities laws provide.

 

Upon completion of the Share Exchange, each SPIL Common Share issued immediately prior to the Effective Time, including the shares beneficially owned by ASE and treasury shares of SPIL will be transferred to HoldCo in exchange for the right to receive the SPIL Common Shares Cash Consideration, and each SPIL ADS, including the ADSs beneficially owned by ASE, will represent the right to receive, through the SPIL ADS Depositary, the SPIL ADS Cash Consideration through SPIL ADS Depositary, respectively, without interest and net of any applicable withholding taxes. As a result, current shareholders of SPIL Common Shares and SPIL ADS holders, will no longer have any equity interest in, or be shareholders or American depositary share holders of the SPIL upon completion of the Share Exchange. As a result, holders of SPIL Common Shares and SPIL ADSs will not have the opportunity to participate in the earnings and growth of the SPIL and they will not have the right to vote on corporate matters following the completion of the Exchange. Similarly, holders of SPIL Common Shares and SPIL ADSs will not be exposed to the risk of loss in relation to their investment in SPIL.

 

Directors and Management of the Surviving Company

 

Upon completion of the Share Exchange, the directors of SPIL will continue to serve as directors for their respective terms, and ASE has undertaken to reelect or appoint the SPIL directors whose terms end in June 2017, if they have not been found to violate their respective fiduciary duties. Mr. Bough Lin, SPIL’s chairman, and Mr. Chi-Wen Tsai, SPIL’s president, are expected to serve as directors of HoldCo. The directors of SPIL are also authorized to retain the executive officers of the SPIL as long as the fiduciary duties of the directors can be discharged.

 

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Primary Benefits and Detriments of the Share Exchange

 

·The primary benefits of the Share Exchange to the holders of SPIL Common Shares and SPIL ADSs include, without limitation, the following:

 

·the NT$55 per SPIL Common Share cash consideration and the NT$275 per SPIL ADS cash consideration offered to the holders of SPIL Common Shares and ADSs, represent a premium of 8.9% and 12.3%, respectively, over the closing price of NT$50.5 per SPIL Common Share and $7.52 per SPIL ADS, respectively, on the SPIL Last Trading Day, and a premium of 17.4% and 10.3%, respectively, over SPIL’s one-month and three-month volume-weighted average price of NT$46.86 and NT$49.85, respectively, as quoted by the TWSE on the May 25, 2016, and a premium of 19.7% and 11.6%, respectively, over SPIL’s one-month and three-month volume-weighted average price of $7.06 and $7.57, respectively, as quoted by NASDAQ on the SPIL Last Trading Day; and

 

·the all-cash consideration, which will allow SPIL shareholders to immediately realize liquidity for their investment and provide them with certainty of the value of their SPIL Common Shares or SPIL ADSs.

 

The primary detriments of the Share Exchange to the holders of SPIL Common Shares and ADSs include, without limitation, the following:

 

·the shareholders and ADS holders will have no ongoing equity participation in SPIL following the Share Exchange, and that they will cease to participate in SPIL’s future earnings or growth, if any, or to benefit from increases, if any, in the value of the SPIL Shares, and will not participate in any potential future sale of SPIL to a third party or any potential recapitalization of SPIL which could include a dividend to shareholders;

 

·the inability to participate in any potential future sale of part or all of SPIL following the Share Exchange to one or more purchasers at a valuation higher than that being paid in the Share Exchange; and

 

·the taxability of an all cash transaction to our shareholders and ADS holders who are U.S. Holders (as defined below) for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

The primary benefits of the Share Exchange to ASE include the following:

 

·the combination of ASE and SPIL under the holding company structure will allow both companies to better utilize their total capacity to achieve broader service coverage across products and offer more innovative and complete solutions to their customers;

 

·the combination of ASE and SPIL will allow each company to have better insights to semiconductor customers and end markets to enable more accurate forecasting of customer demand and facilitate better planning and capacity investment, which would in turn allow ASE and SPIL the ability to execute and deliver on its business plans throughout the business cycle and in a semiconductor industry that is highly competitive, cyclical and subject to constant and rapid technological change;

 

·the expectation that the larger scale organization, greater marketing resources and financial strength of HoldCo will lead to improved opportunities for marketing and cross-selling ASE’s and SPIL’s products after the combination; and

 

·ASE’s current shareholders will own approximately the same ownership and voting interest in HoldCo’s following the completion of the Share Exchange.

 

The primary detriments of the Share Exchange to ASE include the following:

 

·the difficulty and costs inherent in consolidating resources in ASE and SPIL under the holding company structure and the risk that anticipated strategic and other benefits to ASE and SPIL following completion of the Share Exchange, including the estimated cost savings and cost synergies described above, will not be realized or will take longer to realize than expected; and

 

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·as to the Cash Consideration paid to SPIL shareholders in the Share Exchange, the financial interests of ASE are different to the financial interests of SPIL shareholders.

 

SPIL’s Net Book Value and Net Earnings

 

The table below sets out the indirect interest in SPIL’s net book value and net earnings for ASE before and after the Share Exchange, based on the historical net book value and net earnings of SPIL as of and for the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

Name

Ownership Prior to the Share Exchange

Ownership After the Share Exchange

 

Net Book Value

Earnings

Net Book Value

Earnings

  (in millions) % (in millions) % (in millions) % (in millions) %
NT$ US$ NT$ US$ NT$ US$ NT$ US$
ASE 21,113.2 675.2 33.29 2,414.7 77.2 33.29 63,422.0 2,028.2 100.00 7,253.5 232.0 100.00

 

Alternatives to the Share Exchange

 

Following the concerns reflected in ASE’s November 16, 2015 amendment to its report on Schedule 13D, ASE considered a number of alternative structures and approaches in order to maximize the value of its investment in SPIL. These alternatives involved launching the Second ASE Tender Offers or acquiring additional SPIL Common Shares through one or more market purchases or through one or more further tender offers. In addition, had the Second ASE Tender Offers been successfully consummated, ASE had intended to seek to discharge the SPIL Board at one or more shareholders’ meetings or await the expiration of the current SPIL Board’s term and elect new nominees to the SPIL Board, and to subsequently cause the SPIL Board to resolve in favor of a transaction proposed by ASE.

 

Following the commencement of discussions and negotiations between ASE and SPIL in April 2016, the boards and senior management of ASE and SPIL and their respective advisors considered alternative ways of structuring the transaction, including a direct acquisition by ASE of all SPIL Common Shares and SPIL ADSs. However, the boards and senior management of each of ASE and SPIL concluded that the Share Exchange and establishment of HoldCo was the best way to incentivize healthy internal competition and promote cooperation, improve each company’s operating efficiency, economies of scale as well as enhance research and development and innovation, and thereby create an environment of mutual assistance and win-win mentality, strengthening competitiveness and improving the performance of HoldCo, with the main goals of improving the quality of customer service, creating shareholders’ value and benefiting the employees.

 

Plans for SPIL after the Share Exchange

 

After the Effective Time, ASE and SPIL will become wholly owned subsidiaries of HoldCo. Prior to and upon completion of the Share Exchange, ASE and SPIL will own and continue to conduct their respective businesses that they currently conduct in substantially the same manner.

 

Other than as described in this proxy statement/prospectus, there are no present plans or proposals that relate to or would result in any of the following:

 

·an extraordinary corporate transaction involving SPIL’s corporate structure, business, or management, such as a merger, reorganization, liquidation or relocation of any material operations;

 

·sale or transfer of a material amount of assets of SPIL or any of its subsidiaries; or

 

·any other material changes in SPIL’s business.

 

Upon the establishment of HoldCo, HoldCo Board will continue to evaluate the entire business and operations of HoldCo from time to time, and may propose or develop plans and proposals which it considers to be in the best interests of HoldCo and its shareholders, including the disposition or acquisition of material assets, alliances, joint ventures, and other forms of cooperation with third parties or other extraordinary transactions.

 

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Board of Directors and Management of HoldCo Following Completion of the Share Exchange

 

HoldCo has not come into existence before the Effective Time. The ASE EGM will function as the HoldCo incorporator’s meeting by operation of law. Therefore, at the ASE EGM, shareholders of ASE will elect the members of the board of directors and supervisors of HoldCo.

 

Under the terms of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, at the HoldCo incorporators’ meeting, nine to 13 directors and three supervisors will be elected for HoldCo, which terms of such directors and supervisors will start from Effective Time. SPIL’s Chairman and President should be appointed as directors on HoldCo’s board of directors. After completion of the Share Exchange, subject to ASE shareholders’ adopting the HoldCo director and supervisor election proposals, the board of directors of HoldCo is expected to include [●] (management director, Chairman), [●] (management director), [●] (management director), [●] (management director), [●] (management director), [●] (management director), [●] (management director), [●] (management director), [●] (management director), [●] (non-management director), [●] and [●]. [●], [●] and [●] are expected to be the supervisors of HoldCo.

 

From and after the Effective Time, the board of directors of HoldCo will establish an audit committee, which will consist of one non-management director, [●], who is expected to be independent under Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act and financially literate with accounting or related financial management expertise. ASE is currently, and upon completion of the Share Exchange, HoldCo will be, subject to NYSE corporate governance, as applicable to foreign private issuers. It is expected that the audit committee of HoldCo established at the Effective Time would satisfy and comply with the requirements of sections 303A.06 of the NYSE Listing Company Manual.

 

Under ROC law, companies that are newly incorporated by way of a statutory share exchange under the ROC Mergers and Acquisitions Act, including the Share Exchange, may only elect independent directors after the new holding company has been incorporated and that a separate shareholders’ meeting has been called upon to elect the independent directors. Therefore, it is expected that HoldCo will hold another shareholders’ meeting within a certain period after the Effective Time of the Share Exchange to elect the independent directors of HoldCo. The newly elected independent directors of HoldCo are expected to satisfy the independence standards under Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act as well as the independence standards under TWSE listing rules. It is expected that the three supervisors and the one non-management director previously elected at ASE EGM will retire from HoldCo at the time the new independent directors are elected. The audit committee of HoldCo will also be composed exclusively of the newly elected independent directors.

 

Financing of the Share Exchange

 

HoldCo intends to fund the Cash Consideration, which is an aggregate amount of approximately NT$173.16 billion (US$5.54 billion) (including the NT$51.2 per SPIL Common Share Cash Consideration payable to holders of the SPIL Convertible Bonds that have not been otherwise redeemed or repurchased by the SPIL, or cancelled or converted prior to the Effective Time), with a combination of ASE’s cash on hand and debt financing. Subject to the amount of cash on hand at the time when ASE arranges for financing, ASE may arrange bank loans up to NT$173 billion (US$5.53 billion) with a combination of a syndication loan of NT$120 billion (US$3.84 billion) and a short-term bridge loan of NT$53 billion (US$1.69 billion). In a highly confident letter dated November 7, 2016 issued by Citibank to ASE, Citibank stated that it is highly confident of its ability to arrange debt facilities for the Share Exchange up to an amount of US$3.8 billion equivalent, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in that letter. In another highly confident letter dated November 16, 2016 issued by DBS to ASE, DBS stated that it is confident of its ability to arrange debt facilities for the Share Exchange up to an amount of NT$53 billion (US$1.69 billion), subject to the terms and conditions set forth in that letter. In addition, ASE may enter into other arrangements or transactions, including through a capital increase in cash to reduce the amount of bank loans on or prior to the Effective Time.

 

Certain ROC and U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Share Exchange for Holders of ASE Common Shares or ADSs

 

ROC Taxation

 

The following is a summary of the principal ROC tax consequences of the Share Exchange and the ownership of HoldCo Common Shares to a non-resident individual or non-resident entity that owns ASE Common Shares and ultimately HoldCo Common Shares (a “non-ROC holder”) on the assumption that HoldCo Common Shares will be listed on the TWSE as scheduled. As used in the preceding sentence, a “non-resident individual” is a non-ROC national who owns ASE Common Shares or HoldCo Common Shares, as the case may be, and is not physically present in the ROC for 183 days or more during any calendar year, and a “non-resident entity” is a corporation or a non-corporate body that owns ASE’s common shares or HoldCo Common Shares, as the case may be, is organized under the law of a jurisdiction other than the ROC and has no fixed place of business or business agent in the ROC.

 

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The statements regarding ROC tax laws set forth below are based on the laws in force and applicable as of the date hereof, which are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis.

 

This summary is not exhaustive of all possible tax considerations, which may apply to a particular non-ROC holder and potential non-ROC holders are advised to satisfy themselves as to the overall tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of HoldCo Common Shares, including specifically the tax consequences under ROC law, the laws of the jurisdiction of which they are residents, and any tax treaty between ROC and their country of residence, by consulting their own tax advisors.

 

Tax Consequences Arising from the Share Exchange

 

Securities Transaction Tax

 

In the view of Baker & McKenzie, by reasonable interpretation of the ROC Mergers and Acquisitions Act based on current rules and regulations promulgated by ROC tax authority, ASE’s shareholders should not be subject to the ROC securities transaction tax upon the Share Exchange since such shareholders will receive solely HoldCo Common Shares as consideration for the Share Exchange. However, we cannot assure you that the ROC tax agency will agree. A transfer of shares in a share exchange is exempted from the securities transaction tax if at least 65% of the total consideration to be paid to shareholders is paid in certain equity shares, such as the HoldCo Common Shares. If, contrary to the view of Baker & McKenzie, the ROC tax agency successfully takes a different position and interprets the ROC Mergers and Acquisitions Act in a manner that the ROC tax agency considers the Cash Consideration as part of such total consideration, the share consideration paid to ASE shareholders will be lower than the 65% threshold and a securities transaction tax of 0.3% would be imposed on the transaction price of the Share Exchange. HoldCo intends to issue the share consideration to ASE shareholders at the Effective Time without deducting or withholding any ROC securities transaction tax. See the section entitled “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Owning HoldCo ADSs — A different view of the ROC tax agency from our current treatment of the ROC securities transaction tax might cause tax uncertainties to HoldCo shareholders” for further discussion.

 

Capital gains

 

Capital gains realized upon the Share Exchange are exempted from ROC income tax.

 

Tax Consequences of Owning the HoldCo’s Shares

 

Dividends

 

Dividends (whether in cash or common shares) declared by HoldCo out of retained earnings and distributed to a non-ROC holder are subject to ROC withholding tax, currently at a rate of 20% (unless a preferable tax rate is provided under a tax treaty between the ROC and the jurisdiction where the non-ROC holder is a resident) on the amount of the distribution (in the case of cash dividends) or on the par value of the distributed common shares (in the case of stock dividends). A 10% undistributed earning tax is imposed on a ROC company for its after-tax earnings generated after January 1, 1998 that are not distributed in the following year. The undistributed earning tax so paid by the ROC company will reduce the retained earnings available for future distributions. When HoldCo declares a dividend out of those retained earnings, an amount in respect of the undistributed earnings tax, up to a maximum amount of 5% of the dividend to be distributed, will be credited against the withholding tax imposed on the non-ROC holders.

 

Distributions of stock dividends out of capital reserves will not be subject to withholding tax, except under limited circumstances.

 

Capital Gains

 

Starting from January 1, 2016, capital gains realized upon the sale or other disposition of common shares are exempt from ROC income tax.

 

Sales of ADSs are not regarded as sales of ROC securities and thus any gains derived from transfers of ADSs by non-ROC holders are not currently subject to ROC income tax.

 

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Securities Transaction Tax

 

Securities transaction tax will be imposed on the seller at the rate of 0.3% of the transaction price upon a sale of common shares. Transfers of American depositary shares are not subject to the ROC securities transaction tax.

 

Subscription Rights

 

Distributions of statutory subscription rights for HoldCo Common Shares in compliance with the ROC Company Law are currently not subject to ROC tax. Sales of statutory subscription rights evidenced by securities are subject to the securities transaction tax, currently at the rate of 0.3% of the gross amount received. Proceeds derived from sales of statutory subscription rights, which are not evidenced by securities, are not subject to securities transaction tax but are subject to income tax at a fixed rate of 20% of the income if the seller is a non-ROC holder regardless of whether the non-ROC holder is an individual or entity. Subject to compliance with ROC laws, HoldCo, in its sole discretion, may determine whether statutory subscription rights are evidenced by securities.

 

Estate and Gift Tax

 

ROC estate tax is payable on any property within the ROC left by a deceased non-resident individual, and ROC gift tax is payable on any property within the ROC donated by a non-resident individual. Estate tax and gift tax are currently imposed at the rate of 10%. Under the ROC Estate and Gift Tax Act, common shares issued by ROC companies are deemed located in the ROC without regard to the location of the owner. It is unclear whether a holder of ADSs will be considered to own common shares for this purpose.

 

Tax Treaty

 

At present, the ROC has income tax treaties with Indonesia, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Gambia, Swaziland, Malaysia, Macedonia, the Netherlands, Senegal, Sweden, Belgium, Denmark, Israel, Vietnam, Paraguay, Hungary, France, India, Slovakia, Switzerland, Germany, Thailand, Kiribati, Luxembourg, Austria, Italy and Japan. These tax treaties may limit the rate of ROC withholding tax on dividends paid with respect to common shares issued by ROC companies. If a non-ROC holder of ADSs successfully proves to the ROC tax agency that he/she is the beneficial owner of common shares, such non-ROC holder will be considered as the beneficial owner of common shares for the purposes of such treaties. Holders of ADSs who wish to apply a reduced withholding tax rate that is provided under a tax treaty should consult their own tax advisers concerning such application. The United States does not have an income tax treaty with the ROC.

 

United States Taxation

 

In the opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, the following are material U.S. federal income tax consequences to the U.S. Holders described below of the Share Exchange and of owning and disposing of HoldCo ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares received in the Share Exchange, but it does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all tax considerations that may be relevant to a particular person’s decision to participate in the Share Exchange or own or dispose of such securities. This discussion applies only to U.S. Holders who hold ASE ADSs or ASE Common Shares, and will hold HoldCo ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares, as capital assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Except as otherwise stated, references to ADSs or Common Shares in this discussion refer to ASE ADSs or Common Shares prior to the Share Exchange and HoldCo ADSs or Common Shares thereafter. In addition, it does not describe all of the tax consequences that may be relevant in light of a U.S. Holder’s particular circumstances, including alternative minimum tax consequences or the Medicare contribution tax on net investment income, and tax consequences applicable to U.S. Holders subject to special rules, such as:

 

·certain financial institutions;

 

·dealers or certain traders in securities;

 

·persons holding ADSs or Common Shares as part of a “straddle” or integrated transaction or similar transaction or persons entering into a constructure sale with respect to ADSs or Common Shares;

 

·persons whose functional currency for U.S. federal income tax purposes is not the U.S. dollar;

 

·entities classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

 

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·tax-exempt entities;

 

·persons that own or are deemed to own 10% or more of our voting stock;

 

·persons who acquired or received ADSs or Common Shares pursuant to the exercise of an employee stock option or otherwise as compensation; or

 

·persons holding ADSs or Common Shares in connection with a trade or business conducted outside the United States.

 

In addition, this discussion does not address the U.S. federal income tax consequences to a person that will own, actually or constructively, 5% or more of the total voting power or the total value of HoldCo stock immediately after the Share Exchange. Any such person should consult its tax adviser concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Share Exchange in light of its particular circumstances, including the requirement to enter into a gain recognition agreement with the U.S. Treasury in order to defer the recognition of any gain realized on the Share Exchange.

 

If an entity that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes owns HoldCo ADSs or Common Shares, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Entities classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes and their partners should consult their tax advisers as to the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Share Exchange and owning and disposing of the ADSs or Common Shares.

 

This discussion is based on the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), administrative pronouncements, judicial decisions and final, temporary and proposed Treasury Regulations, all as of the date hereof and changes to any of which subsequent to the date of this Prospectus may affect the tax consequences described herein, possibly with retroactive effect. This discussion is also based, in part, on representations by ASE, the ASE Depositary and the HoldCo Depositary and assumes that each representation by ASE is and will remain true through the date of the Share Exchange and each obligation under the HoldCo Deposit Agreement and any related agreement will be performed in accordance with their terms.

 

As used herein, a “U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of ASE ADSs, ASE Common Shares, HoldCo ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

·a citizen or individual resident of the United States;

 

·a corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state therein or the District of Columbia; or

 

·an estate or trust the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source.

 

In general, a U.S. Holder who owns American depositary shares will be treated as the owner of the underlying common shares represented by those American depositary shares for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, no gain or loss will be recognized if a U.S. Holder exchanges ADSs for the underlying Common Shares represented by the relevant American depositary shares.

 

The U.S. Treasury has expressed concerns that parties to whom American depositary shares are released before the underlying shares are delivered to the depositary (“pre-release”), or intermediaries in the chain of ownership between holders of American depositary shares and the issuer of the security underlying the American depositary shares, may be taking actions that are inconsistent with the claiming of foreign tax credits by holders of American depositary shares. These actions would also be inconsistent with the claiming of the reduced rate of tax, described below, applicable to dividends received by certain non-corporate holders. Accordingly, the creditability of ROC taxes, and the availability of the reduced tax rate for dividends received by certain non-corporate U.S. Holders, each described below, could be affected by actions taken by such parties or intermediaries.

 

U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers concerning the U.S. federal, state, local, and foreign tax consequences of the Share Exchange and of owning and disposing of ADSs or Common Shares in their particular circumstances.

 

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Exchange of ADSs or common shares pursuant to the Joint Share Exchange Agreement

 

General

 

Except as otherwise described below under “— Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules,” a U.S. Holder will not recognize any gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes on the exchange of ASE ADSs or ASE Common Shares for HoldCo ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares, respectively, pursuant to the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, except to the extent of cash received in lieu of an entitlement to receive a fractional HoldCo ADS or a fractional HoldCo Common Share (a “fractional entitlement”) or cash received by a dissenting U.S. Holder, as described below. A U.S. Holder’s aggregate tax basis in its HoldCo ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares received pursuant to the Share Exchange will equal the aggregate tax basis that the U.S. Holder had in the ASE ADSs or ASE Common Shares immediately prior to the Share Exchange, less any tax basis that is allocable to a fractional entitlement. A U.S. Holder’s holding period for the HoldCo ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares received in the Share Exchange will include the holding period for the ASE ADSs or ASE Common Shares exchanged.

 

A U.S. Holder who receives cash in lieu of a fractional entitlement will recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount of cash received and the tax basis allocable to such fractional entitlement. Such capital gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if, as of the date of the Share Exchange, the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the relevant fractional entitlement exceeds one year.

 

Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules

 

As indicated in ASE’s filings on Form 20-F, ASE believes that it has not been a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes for any taxable year since the ASE ADSs were listed for trading on the NYSE in 2000, and ASE does not expect to be a PFIC for its current taxable year. However, ASE has not considered its PFIC status for any prior taxable year and ASE cannot provide assurance that it has not been a PFIC for any taxable year. Further, as discussed under “Tax Consequences of Owning of HoldCo ADSs and HoldCo Common Shares—Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules” below, HoldCo does not expect to be a PFIC for the current taxable year or in the foreseeable future. Under proposed Treasury regulations that are not yet effective but are proposed to be effective from April 11, 1992, if (i) ASE were a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder owned ASE ADSs or ASE Common Shares and (ii) HoldCo is not a PFIC for the taxable year that includes the day after the Share Exchange, then, notwithstanding the general U.S. federal income tax treatment of the Share Exchange described above, the U.S. Holder would be required to recognize any gain realized on the exchange of ASE ADSs or ASE Common Shares for HoldCo ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares. Such gain would be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the ASE ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares, as the case may be. The amounts allocated to the taxable year of the Share Exchange and to any year before ASE became a PFIC would be taxed as ordinary income. The amount allocated to each other taxable year would be subject to tax at the highest rate in effect for individuals or corporations, as appropriate, for that taxable year, and an interest charge would be imposed on the tax on such amounts. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding whether ASE may have been a PFIC in any year during which the U.S. Holder has held ASE ADSs or Common Shares and the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Share Exchange to the U.S. Holder.

 

Dissenting U.S. Holders

 

Provided that ASE was not a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder who exercises his/her/its dissenter’s rights (a “dissenting U.S. Holder”) owned ASE ADSs or ASE Common Shares, the dissenting U.S. Holder will generally recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount of cash received by such U.S. Holder following the exercise of the dissenter’s rights and its tax basis in the ASE Common Shares disposed of. Such capital gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if, as of the date of the disposition, the dissenting U.S. Holder’s holding period for the ASE Common Shares exceeds one year. Any gain or loss generally will be U.S.-source gain or loss for foreign tax credit purposes.

 

Tax Consequences of Owning HoldCo ADSs and HoldCo Common Shares

 

Except as discussed below under “-Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules,” this discussion assumes that HoldCo will not be a PFIC for any taxable year.

 

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Taxation of Distributions

 

Distributions other than certain pro rata distributions of HoldCo Common Shares to all shareholders (including holders of HoldCo ADSs), will be treated as dividends to the extent paid out of HoldCo’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Because HoldCo doesn’t expect to maintain calculations of earnings and profits under U.S. federal income tax principles, it is expected that distributions generally will be reported to U.S. Holders as dividends.

 

Dividends will be treated as foreign-source income for foreign tax credit purposes and will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction generally available to U.S. corporations under the Code. Subject to applicable limitations and the discussion above regarding concerns expressed by the U.S. Treasury, dividends paid to certain non-corporate U.S. Holders of ADSs may be eligible for taxation as “qualified dividend income” and therefore may be taxable at the rates applicable to long-term capital gains. Non-corporate U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the availability of these favorable rates in their particular circumstances.

 

Dividends generally will be included in a U.S. Holder’s income on the date of the U.S. Holder’s or, in the case of ADSs, the depositary’s receipt of the dividend. The amount of any dividend paid in new Taiwan dollars will be the U.S. dollar amount of the dividend calculated by reference to the spot rate in effect on the date of receipt, regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars on such date. If the dividend is converted into U.S. dollars on the date of receipt, a U.S. Holder should not be required to recognize foreign currency gain or loss in respect of the dividend. A U.S. Holder may have foreign currency gain or loss if the dividend is converted into U.S. dollars after the date of receipt, and any such gain or loss will generally be U.S.-source ordinary income or loss.

 

The amount of dividend income will include any amounts withheld by HoldCo in respect of ROC taxes reduced by any credit against withholding on account of the 10% retained earnings tax imposed on HoldCo. Subject to applicable limitations, which vary depending upon the U.S. Holder’s circumstances, and subject to the discussion above regarding concerns expressed by the U.S. Treasury, ROC taxes withheld from dividends, reduced by any credit against the withholding tax which is paid by HoldCo on account of the 10% retained earnings tax, generally will be creditable against the U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability. The rules governing foreign tax credits are complex, and U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the creditability of foreign taxes in their particular circumstances. In lieu of claiming a credit, a U.S. Holder may elect to deduct such ROC taxes in computing its taxable income, subject to applicable limitations. An election to deduct foreign taxes instead of claiming foreign tax credits must apply to all foreign taxes paid or accrued in the taxable year.

 

Certain pro rata distributions of common shares by a company to its shareholders, including holders of ADSs, will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax. Accordingly, any such distributions will not give rise to U.S. federal income against which the ROC tax imposed on these distributions may be credited. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers as to whether any ROC tax imposed on such distributions may be creditable against their U.S. federal income tax on foreign-source income from other sources.

 

Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of HoldCo ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares

 

A U.S. Holder will generally recognize taxable gain or loss on a sale or other disposition of HoldCo ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale or other taxable disposition and the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the HoldCo ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares. This gain or loss generally will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if at the time of sale or disposition the U.S. Holder has owned the HoldCo ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares for more than one year. Any gain or loss generally will be U.S.-source gain or loss for foreign tax credit purposes. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

 

Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules

 

In general, a non-U.S. corporation is a PFIC for any taxable year in which (i) 75% or more of its gross income consists of passive income or (ii) 50% or more of the average quarterly value of its assets consists of assets that produce, or are held for the production of, passive income. For purposes of the above calculations, a non-U.S. corporation that owns directly or indirectly at least 25% by value of the shares of another corporation is treated as if it held its proportionate share of the assets of the other corporation and received directly its proportionate share of the income of the other corporation. Passive income generally includes dividends, interest, royalties and rents. However, HoldCo does not expect to be a PFIC for its current taxable year or in the foreseeable future. Because the determination of whether a company is a PFIC is an annual test that is based on the composition of a company’s income and assets and the value of its assets from time to time, there can be no assurance that HoldCo will not be a PFIC for any taxable year.

 

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If HoldCo were a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder held HoldCo ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares, gain recognized by a U.S. Holder on a sale or other disposition (including certain pledges) of the HoldCo ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares would be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the HoldCo ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares. The amounts allocated to the taxable year of the sale or other disposition and to any year before HoldCo became a PFIC would be taxed as ordinary income. The amount allocated to each other taxable year would be subject to tax at the highest rate in effect for individuals or corporations, as appropriate, for that taxable year, and an interest charge would be imposed on the tax on such amounts. In addition, any distribution received by a U.S. Holder on its HoldCo ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares, to the extent that it exceeds 125% of the average of the annual distributions received by the U.S. Holder during the preceding three years or the U.S. Holder’s holding period, whichever is shorter, would be subject to taxation in the same manner. Furthermore, if HoldCo were a PFIC for the taxable year in which it paid a dividend or the prior taxable year, the preferential dividend rates discussed above with respect to dividends paid to certain non-corporate U.S. Holders would not apply. Certain elections may be available that would result in alternative treatments (such as mark-to-market treatment) of the HoldCo ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares.

 

U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning and disposing of HoldCo ADSs or HoldCo Common Shares if HoldCo were a PFIC for any taxable year.

 

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

 

Payments of dividends and sales proceeds that are made within the United States or through certain U.S.-related financial intermediaries generally will be subject to information reporting and backup withholding unless (i) the U.S. Holder is a corporation or other exempt recipient and, if required, demonstrates its status or (ii) in the case of backup withholding, the U.S. Holder provides a correct taxpayer identification number and certifies that it is not subject to backup withholding. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or credit against the U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

 

Foreign Financial Asset Reporting

 

Certain U.S. Holders who are individuals and certain entities closely held by individuals may be required to report information relating to their ownership of the HoldCo Common Shares or HoldCo ADSs, unless such Common Shares or ADSs are held in accounts at financial institutions (in which case the accounts may be reportable if maintained by non-U.S. financial institutions). U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding their reporting obligations with respect to the HoldCo Common Shares or HoldCo ADSs.

 

Accounting Treatment of the Share Exchange

 

Under IFRS, the Cash Consideration paid by HoldCo pursuant to the Share Exchange will be accounted for by applying the acquisition method of accounting with HoldCo being considered the acquirer of SPIL for accounting purposes. Upon the completion of the Share Exchange, HoldCo would obtain control of SPIL and any equity interest previously held in SPIL accounted for as equity method investments is treated as if it were disposed of and reacquired at fair value on the acquisition date. Accordingly, it is remeasured to its acquisition-date fair value, and any resulting gain or loss compared to its carrying amount is recognized in profit or loss. HoldCo will measure the identifiable assets acquired and the liabilities assumed at their acquisition date fair values, and recognize goodwill as of the acquisition date measured as the excess of the Cash Consideration and the fair value of the ASE’s previously held equity interest in SPIL over the net of the acquisition date fair value of the identifiable assets acquired and the liabilities assumed. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment at least annually.

 

Under IFRS, the exchange of ASE Common Shares for HoldCo Common Shares and the exchange of ASE ADSs for HoldCo ADSs based on the Exchange Ratio will be accounted for as a legal reorganization of entities under common control. ASE and HoldCo are ultimately controlled by the same shareholders both before and after the Share Exchange and that control is not transitory; therefore, the Share Exchange under common control will not be accounted for by applying the acquisition method as above. Accordingly, ASE will recognize no gain or loss in connection with the exchange of ASE shares for HoldCo shares upon the Share Exchange under common control, and all assets and liabilities of ASE will be recorded on the books of HoldCo at the predecessor carrying amounts.

 

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Regulatory Approvals Required to Complete the Share Exchange

 

ASE and SPIL have each agreed to use their reasonable efforts to obtain all necessary governmental approvals required to complete the Share Exchange. The following is a summary of the regulatory approvals required for the completion of the Share Exchange. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, the TFTC has issued a no objection letter in respect of the Share Exchange. However, there can be no assurance as to if and when regulatory approvals will be obtained in the PRC, or if and when the FTC will complete its investigation without seeking an injunction prohibiting the Share Exchange or as to the conditions or limitations that such regulatory authorities may seek to impose.

 

Taiwan Fair Trade Commission Approval

 

Both ASE and SPIL operate in the ROC. Under the ROC Fair Trade Act, transactions involving parties with sales above certain revenue levels cannot be completed until they are reviewed and approved by the TFTC. ASE and SPIL submitted the required materials to the TFTC on July 29, 2016. The TFTC formally accepted the parties’ notification materials on September 19, 2016, and issued a no objection letter in respect of the Share Exchange on November 16, 2016.

 

United States Antitrust Review

 

On October 26, 2016, the FTC issued a subpoena and civil investigative demand to ASE and SPIL with respect to the transaction contemplated under the Joint Share Exchange Agreement. ASE and SPIL are in the process of responding to these requests and fully cooperating with the investigation.

 

The Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China

 

Under the Chinese Anti-Monopoly Law of 2008, transactions involving parties with sales above certain revenue levels cannot be completed until they are reviewed and approved by MOFCOM. ASE and SPIL have sufficient revenues in China to exceed the statutory thresholds, and completion of the Share Exchange is therefore conditioned upon MOFCOM’s approval. ASE and SPIL submitted the required materials to MOFCOM on August 25, 2016 and are waiting for MOFCOM to formally accept the parties’ notification materials and start Phase I of the review process.

 

Other Jurisdictions

 

ASE and SPIL derive revenues in other jurisdictions where merger or acquisition control filings or clearances are or may be required. ASE and SPIL have sufficient revenues in South Korea and Germany to meet the statutory thresholds, and completion of the Share Exchange is therefore conditioned upon approval of the Korea Fair Trade Commission (“KFTC”) and the German Federal Cartel Office (“FCO”). The KFTC cleared the Initial ASE Tender Offers on November 18, 2015. Under the laws of South Korea, the clearance on the Initial ASE Tender Offers extends to the Share Exchange and no additional filing is required. The FCO cleared the Initial ASE Tender Offers on February 1, 2016 and subsequently confirmed that its February 1, 2016 clearance extends to the Share Exchange on July 26, 2016.

 

Share Exchange Listing

 

It is expected that HoldCo Common Shares will be listed on the TWSE and HoldCo ADSs will be listed on the NYSE at the Effective Time. As a result of the Share Exchange, ASE Common Shares currently listed on the TWSE and ASE ADSs currently listed on the NYSE will cease to be listed on the TWSE and the NYSE, respectively; SPIL Common Shares currently listed on the TWSE and SPIL ADSs currently listed on NASDAQ will cease to be listed on the TWSE and NASDAQ, respectively.

 

The following is a tentative timetable of the various trading-related events in connection with the completion of the Share Exchange:

 

Final trading day for ASE Common Shares and SPIL Common Shares on the TWSE [●], 2017 (Taiwan time)
Final trading day for ASE ADSs on the NYSE and SPIL ADSs on NASDAQ [●], 2017 (New York time)
Effective date of the Share Exchange [●], 2017 (Taiwan time)

 

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First trading day for HoldCo Common Shares on the TWSE [●], 2017 (Taiwan time)
First trading day for HoldCo ADSs on the NYSE [●], 2017 (New York time)

 

In advance of completion of the Share Exchange, ASE expects to publicly announce the definitive timetable for these trading-related events.

 

Rights of Dissenting Shareholders

 

Under the ROC Company Law and ROC Mergers and Acquisitions Act, when ASE’s or SPIL’s board proposes the Share Exchange to ASE EGM or the extraordinary shareholders’ meeting of SPIL (“SPIL EGM”) for approval, ASE’s or SPIL’s dissenting shareholder (“Dissenting Shareholder”) will be entitled to an appraisal right, and to obtain payment of the fair value of all the Dissenting Shareholder's shares (“Dissenting Shares”). The procedure for Dissenting Shareholders to exercise an appraisal right is set forth below.

 

The Dissenting Shareholder should either (a) deliver a written notice to ASE (or SPIL) stating his/her dissent from the proposal of Share Exchange on or before the ASE EGM (or SPIL EGM), or (b) at the ASE EGM (or SPIL EGM) orally express his/her dissent from the proposal of Share Exchange in person and ensure that such statement is duly recorded in the meeting minutes.

 

·Dissenting Shareholder must waive its voting right against the Share Exchange in ASE EGM (or SPIL EGM).

 

·Once ASE EGM and SPIL EGM pass the Share Exchange, the Dissenting Shareholder needs to deliver its Dissenting Shares to a licensed share registrar appointed by ASE (or SPIL, as applicable) through the book-entry system. Once the Dissenting Shares are duly delivered, the share registrar will issue a certificate evidencing the receipt of Dissenting Shares to the Dissenting Shareholder.

 

·Dissenting Shareholder needs to deliver to ASE (or SPIL), within 20 calendar days following the ASE EGM (or SPIL EGM), (a) a written notice stating the proposed price for sale of the Dissenting Shares to ASE (or SPIL) (the “Dissenting Shareholder’s Price”) and (b) the certificate of delivery of Dissenting Shares issued by the appointed share registrar.

 

Once the Dissenting Shareholder exercises the appraisal right in accordance with the procedure described above, ASE or SPIL should determine whether to (a) accept the Dissenting Shareholder’s Price or (b) negotiate the price with the Dissenting Shareholder within 60 calendar days following the ASE EGM or SPIL EGM (“Negotiation Period”).

 

If ASE (or SPIL) and Dissenting Shareholder cannot reach an agreement on the purchase price within the Negotiation Period, ASE (or SPIL) should file a petition with a court of competent jurisdiction in Taiwan for a determination of the fair value of the Dissenting Shares within 30 calendar days after the end of Negotiation Period (the “Petition Period”). If ASE (or SPIL) fails to pay the Company’s Price (as defined below) within the Negotiation Period or to file the petition with the court within the Petition Period, ASE/SPIL will be deemed to accept the Dissenting Shareholder’s Price and obliged to settle the purchase of Dissenting Shares in accordance with the Dissenting Shareholder’s Price.

 

According to the majority of the precedents, the court usually considered that the “fair value” should be the closing price of the shares registered on the open market on the date of the shareholders’ meeting which approves the transaction. However, as the court has the full discretion to determine the fair value based on a variety of arguments, the court might hold a view different from the majority of precedents.

 

If ASE (or SPIL) and Dissenting Shareholder cannot reach an agreement on the purchase price within the 90 Calendar days following the ASE EGM (or SPIL EGM), ASE or (SPIL) should determine a fair price to purchase the Dissenting Shares (the “Company’s Price”) and pay Company Price to the Dissenting Shareholder by end of such 90-calendar-day period.

 

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ASE or SPIL should, within 30 calendar days after the court decision is concluded, pay to the Dissenting Shareholders (a) the difference between the Company’s Price and the fair value as determined by the court, and (b) the interest, calculated by a 5% annual rate, against such difference amount for purchase of the Dissenting Shares.

 

The relevant portions of Article 12 of the ROC Mergers and Acquisitions Act are as follows, which is included in Annex C to this proxy statement/prospectus:

 

ROC MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS ACT – ARTICLE 12

 

If the following event occurs when a company is undergoing a merger, consolidation, acquisition or division, a shareholder may request the company to repurchase his/her/its shares at the then fair price of such shares:

 

4.In the event that the company is undergoing an acquisition as described in Article 27 of this Act, the shareholder delivers a written objection or an oral objection that has been put into the record and waives his/her/its voting rights before or during the shareholders’ meeting;

 

Any shareholder who has made the request as provided in the preceding paragraph shall submit a written request that specifies the requested repurchase price and deposit the certificates of his/her/its shares within 20 days immediately following the date at which the shareholder resolutions are passed.

 

The company shall appoint an institution that is permitted by law to provide corporate action services to handle the shares deposited by the dissenting shareholder. The shareholder shall deposit his/her/its shares to such institution and the institution shall issue a certificate that specifies the type and amount of deposited shares to the shareholder; any deposit by book-entry transfer shall be governed by the procedures set forth in the rules and regulations in relation to the centralized securities depositary enterprises.

 

The request of a shareholder as provided in Paragraph 1 shall lose its effect when the company abandons its corporate action as provided in the same paragraph.

 

If the company and the shareholder reach an agreement with respect to the repurchase price, the company shall pay such repurchase price to the shareholder within 90 days immediately following the date at which the shareholders’ resolutions are passed. If no agreement is reached, within 90 days immediately after the date at which the shareholders’ resolutions are passed, the company shall pay for the shares of the shareholder with whom it has not reached an agreement at a price determined by the company as the fair price for such shares; if the company fails to make such payment, the company shall be deemed as having agreed to the repurchase price requested by the shareholder pursuant to Paragraph 2.

 

If the company fails to reach an agreement with any shareholder with respect to the repurchase price within 60 days immediately following the date at which the shareholders’ resolutions are passed, the company shall, within 30 days after the expiry of the 60-day period, file a petition with a court for a ruling to determine the fair price of the shares against all the shareholders with whom it has not reached an agreement as the opposing parties. If the company fails to list any shareholder with whom it has not reached an agreement as an opposing party, or the petition is withdrawn by the company or dismissed by the court, the company shall be deemed as having agreed to the repurchase price requested by the shareholder pursuant to Paragraph 2. However, if the opposing party has already presented his/her/its position in the court or the court’s ruling has already been delivered to the opposing party, the company shall not withdraw the petition unless agreed to by the opposing party.

 

When the company files a petition with the court for a ruling to determine the repurchase price, the company shall attach to the petition the audited and attested financial statements of the company and the fair price assessment report by the certified public accountants, and written copies and photocopies thereof according to the number of opposing parties for the court to distribute to each opposing party.

 

Before making a ruling with respect to the repurchase price, the court shall allow the company and the opposing parties to have the chance to present their positions. If there are two or more opposing parties, the provisions set out in Articles 41 to 44, as well as Paragraph 2 of Article 401 of the ROC Civil Procedure Code shall apply mutatis mutandis.

 

If any party appeals against the ruling made pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the court shall allow the parties at dispute to have the chance to present their positions before making a decision on the appeal.

 

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When the ruling with respect to the repurchase price becomes final and binding, the company shall, within 30 days immediately after the ruling becomes final and binding, pay such final repurchase price to the dissenting shareholders, deducting any previous payment and interest accrued since the next day of the expiry of the 90-day period immediately following the date at which the shareholders’ resolutions are passed.

 

The provisions set forth in Article 171 and Paragraphs 1, 2 and 4 of Article 182 of the ROC Non-Contentious Matters Act shall apply mutatis mutandis.

 

The company shall bear the expenses of the petition and the appraiser’s compensation.

 

Holders of ASE ADSs and SPIL ADSs will not have any appraisal rights in respect of the Share Exchange under the terms of the ASE Deposit Agreement and the SPIL Deposit Agreement, as applicable. The ASE Depositary and the SPIL Depositary are not obligated to, and will not, exercise dissenters’ rights on behalf of holders of ASE ADSs or SPIL ADSs, as applicable, even if instructed to do so by holders of ASE ADSs or SPIL ADSs. ASE ADS holders who wish to be entitled to appraisal rights may cancel their ADSs and become holders of ASE Common Shares by [DATE], 2017. SPIL ADS holders who wish to be entitled to appraisal rights may cancel their ADSs and become holders of SPIL Common Shares by [DATE], 2017.

 

Litigation Related to the Share Exchange

 

ASE is not aware of any lawsuit that challenges the Share Exchange or any other transaction contemplated under the Joint Share Exchange Agreement.

 

Expenses Relating to the Share Exchange

 

In connection with the Share Exchange, ASE expects to incur the costs, such as independent expert fees of US$[●] million, legal fees of US$[●] million and auditor fees of US$[●] million, in the aggregate amount of approximately US$5.2 million. In connection with the Share Exchange, SPIL expects to incur the following costs and expenses as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus.

 

Description

Amount

Financing fees and expenses and other professional fees [●]
Legal fees and expenses [●]
Miscellaneous (including filing fees, printing fees, proxy solicitation fees and mailing costs) [●]
Total [●]

 

All costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Share Exchange, the Joint Share Exchange Agreement and the completion of the transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement will be paid by the party incurring such costs and expenses, except as otherwise explicitly provided for in the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, whether or not the Share Exchange or any other transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement are completed.

 

Comparison of Rights of Shareholders of ASE and HoldCo

 

ASE is, and HoldCo will be, a company limited by shares organized under the laws of the ROC. ASE Common Shares are, and HoldCo Common Shares will be, listed on the TWSE. ASE ADSs are, and HoldCo ADSs representing HoldCo Common Shares will be, listed on the NYSE. In addition, the description of the attributes of common shares in the share capital provisions of the Articles of Incorporation of ASE and HoldCo are substantially similar. As a result, there are no material differences between the rights of holders of ASE Common Shares and of HoldCo Common Shares from a legal perspective.

 

See the sections entitled “Description of HoldCo American Depositary Shares” and “Description of HoldCo Common Shares” for more information.

 

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Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This proxy statement/prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are not limited to historical facts but reflect ASE’s and SPIL’s current beliefs, expectations or intentions regarding future events. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “ensure,” “expect,” “if,” “intend,” “estimate,” “probable,” “project,” “forecasts,” “predict,” “outlook,” “aim,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “potential,” “may,” “might,” “anticipate,” “likely,” “plan,” “positioned,” “strategy,” and similar expressions, and the negative thereof, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, which are subject to numerous factors, risks and uncertainties about ASE and SPIL, may include projections of their respective future business, strategies, financial condition, results of operations and market data. These statements are only predictions based on current expectations and projections about future events. There are important factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to be materially different from those projected, including those set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors,” the risk factors set forth in ASE 2015 20-F and SPIL 2015 20-F and other documents on file with the SEC and the factors given below:

 

·the failure to obtain approval from ASE shareholders or the approval from SPIL shareholders in connection with the Share Exchange;

 

·the failure to complete or delay in completing the Share Exchange for other reasons;

 

·the timing to complete the Share Exchange;

 

·the risk that a condition to the completion of the Share Exchange may not be satisfied;

 

·the risk that a regulatory approval that may be required for the Share Exchange is delayed, is not obtained, or is obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated;

 

·ASE’s and SPIL’s ability to achieve the cost and other synergies and value creation contemplated by the Share Exchange; and

 

·the diversion of management time on Share Exchange-related issues.

 

All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning ASE, SPIL, the transactions contemplated by the Joint Share Exchange Agreement or other matters attributable to ASE or SPIL or any person acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. ASE’s and SPIL’s forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that may not prove to be accurate. Neither ASE nor SPIL can guarantee future results, activity levels, performance or achievements. Moreover, neither ASE nor SPIL assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. ASE and SPIL assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus.

 

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Risk Factors

 

In addition to the other information contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, ASE shareholders carefully consider the risks described below and in the ASE 2015 20-F, which is incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus, before making a decision on the Share Exchange.

 

Risks Relating to the Share Exchange

 

The Share Exchange is subject to conditions, including certain conditions that may not be satisfied, or completed on a timely basis, if at all. Failure to complete the Share Exchange could have material and adverse effects on ASE.

 

The completion of the Share Exchange is subject to a number of conditions, including, among other things, the approval by ASE shareholders of the proposal on the approval of Joint Share Exchange Agreement and the Share Exchange and the approval by SPIL shareholders of the proposal on the approval of Joint Share Exchange Agreement and the Share Exchange and obtaining antitrust and other regulatory approvals or decisions not to challenge the proposed combination from the ROC, PRC, and FTC which make the completion and timing of the completion of the Share Exchange uncertain. See the section entitled “The Joint Share Exchange Agreement — Conditions to Consummation of the Share Exchange” for a more detailed discussion. Also, the Joint Share Exchange Agreement will be automatically terminated if the Share Exchange has not been consummated by December 31, 2017.

 

If the Share Exchange is not completed on a timely basis, or at all, ASE’s respective ongoing businesses may be adversely affected and, without realizing any of the benefits of having completed the Share Exchange, ASE will be subject to a number of risks, including the following:

 

·ASE is required to pay their respective costs relating to the Share Exchange, such as legal, accounting, financial advisory and printing fees, even if the Share Exchange is not completed;

 

·time and resources committed by ASE’s management to matters relating to the Share Exchange could otherwise have been devoted to pursuing other beneficial opportunities;

 

·the market prices of ASE Common Shares could decline to the extent that the current market prices of ASE Common Shares reflect a market assumption that the Share Exchange will be completed;

 

·ASE may have to dispose of its 33.29% interest in SPIL at a loss if the Share Exchange is not consummated, which may significantly affect ASE’s financial position; and

 

·ASE could be subject to litigation related to any failure to complete the Share Exchange or related to any enforcement proceedings commenced against ASE to perform their respective obligations under the Joint Share Exchange Agreement.

 

 Each party is subject to business uncertainties and contractual restrictions while the proposed Share Exchange is pending, which could adversely affect each party’s business and operations.

 

While the Share Exchange is pending completion, it is possible that certain customers, suppliers and other persons with whom ASE has a business relationship may delay or defer certain business decisions or might decide to seek to terminate, change or renegotiate their business relationships with ASE, as the case may be, as a result of the pending the Share Exchange, which could negatively affect ASE’s revenues, earnings and cash flows, as well as the market price of ASE Common Shares, regardless of whether the Share Exchange is completed.

 

Under the terms of the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, ASE is subject to certain restrictions on the conduct of its business prior to completing the Share Exchange, which may adversely affect its ability to execute certain of its business strategies, including the ability in certain cases to acquire assets.

 

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The Share Exchange is subject to the receipt of approvals, consents or clearances from domestic and foreign regulatory authorities that may impose conditions that could have an adverse effect on ASE or HoldCo or, if not obtained, could prevent the completion of the Share Exchange.

 

Before the Share Exchange can be completed, any approvals, consents or clearances, including antitrust approval and clearances, required in connection with the Share Exchange must have been obtained. In deciding whether to grant the required regulatory approval, consent or clearance, the relevant governmental entities will consider the impact of the Share Exchange on competition within their relevant jurisdiction. The terms and conditions of the approvals, consents and clearances that are granted may impose requirements, limitations or costs or place restrictions on the conduct of HoldCo’s business.

 

Under the Joint Share Exchange Agreement, ASE and SPIL have agreed to use their reasonable efforts to obtain such approvals, consents and clearances and therefore may be required to comply with conditions or limitations imposed by governmental authorities. However, no assurance can be given that the applicable regulatory agencies will approve the transaction or that any such transaction can be completed prior to or upon the completion of the Share Exchange, or at all.

 

There can be no assurance that regulators will not impose unanticipated conditions, terms, obligations or restrictions and that such conditions, terms, obligations or restrictions will not have the effect of delaying the completion of the Share Exchange or imposing additional material costs on or materially limiting the revenues of HoldCo following the completion of the Share Exchange.

 

There can be no assurance that ASE will be able to secure the funds necessary to pay the cash portio