Company Law of the People's Republic of China (revised in 2005)

(Adopted at the Fifth Session of the Standing Committee of the Eighth National People's Congress on December 29, 1993. Revised for the first time on December 25, 1999 in accordance with the Decision of the Thirteenth Session of the Standing Committee of the Ninth People's Congress on Amending the Company Law of the People's Republic of China. Revised for the second time on August 28, 2004 in accordance with the Decision of the 11th Session of the Standing Committee of the 10th National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China on Amending the Company Law of the People's Republic of China. Revised for the third time at the 18th Session of the 10th National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China on October 27, 2005)

Chapter IX Merger and Split-up of Company, Increase and Deduction of Registered Capital

Article 173 The merger of a company may be effected by way of merger or consolidation. In the case of merger, a company absorbs any other company and the absorbed company is dissolved; in the case of consolidation, two or more companies combine together for the establishment of a new one, and the existing ones are dissolved.

Article 174 As for a corporate merger, both parties to the merger shall conclude an agreement with each other and formulate balance sheets and checklists of properties. The companies involved shall, within ten days as of making the decision of merger, notify the creditors, and shall make a public announcement on a newspaper within 30 days. The creditors may, within 30 days as of the receipt of the notice or within 45 days as of the issuance of the public announcement if it fails to receive a notice, require the company to clear off its debts or to provide corresponding guarantees.

Article 175 In the case of a merger, the credits and debts of the companies involved shall be succeeded by the company that survives the merger or by the newly established company.

Article 176 As for the split-up of a company, the properties thereof shall be divided accordingly, and balance sheets and checklists of properties shall be worked out. The company shall, within 10 days as of the day when the decision of split-up is made, notice the creditors and shall make a public announcement on a newspaper within 30 days.

Article 177 The post-split companies shall bear joint liabilities for the debts of the former company before it is split up, unless it is otherwise prescribed by the company and the creditors before the split-up with regard to the clearance of debts in written agreement.

Article 178 Where a company finds it necessary to reduce its registered capital, it must work out balance sheets and checklists of properties.

The company shall, within ten days as of the day when the decision of reducing registered capital, notify the creditors and make a public announcement on a newspaper within 30 days. The creditors shall, within 30 days as of the receipt of a notice or within 45 days as of the issuance of the public announcement if it fails to receive a notice, be entitled to require the company to clear off its debts or to provide corresponding guarantees. The registered capital of the company after reducing its registered capital shall not be any lower than the bottom line requirement as provided for by law.

Article 179 Where a limited liability company increases its registered capital, the capital contributions of the shareholders for the increased amount shall be subject to the relevant provisions of the present Law regarding the capital contributions for the establishment of a limited liability company. Where a joint stock limited company issues new stocks for increasing its registered capital, the subscription for new stocks by shareholders shall be subject to the relevant provisions of the present Law regarding the payment of stock money for the establishment of a joint stock limited company.

Article 180 Where any of the registered items is changed during the process of merger or split-up of a company, the company shall go through modification registration with the company registration authority. If it is dissolved, it shall be deregistered according to law. If any new company is established, it shall go through the procedures for company establishment according to law.
In the case of increasing or reducing its registered capital, a company shall go through the modification registration with the company registration authority according to law.

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