(Stock Code: 00883)
FURTHER ANNOUNCEMENT IN RELATION TO THE WITHHOLDING AND PAYMENT OF ENTERPRISE INCOME TAX FOR NON-RESIDENT ENTERPRISES
Reference is made to the announcements of CNOOC Limited (the “Company”) dated 14 May 2009 and 11 November 2010, respectively. As announced on 11 November 2010, the Company has been confirmed as a resident enterprise of People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) pursuant to the provisions of the “Notice regarding Matters on Determination of Tax Residence Status of Chinese-controlled Offshore Incorporated Enterprises under Rules of Effective Management”, the “Enterprise Income Tax Law of the People’s Republic of China” and the “Detailed Rules for the Implementation of the Enterprise Income Tax Law of the People’s Republic of China”.
Pursuant to the above PRC laws and regulations, the Company, as a tax withholding agent, has the obligation to withhold and pay PRC enterprise income tax when distributing dividends to its non-resident enterprise (as defined in the “Enterprise Income Tax Law of the People’s Republic of China”) shareholders. In respect of all shareholders whose names appear on the Company’s register of members as at the relevant record dates who are not individual natural persons (including HKSCC Nominees Limited, corporate nominees or trustees such as securities companies and banks, and other entities or organisations, which are all considered as non-resident enterprise shareholders), the Company has distributed the final dividend for the years ended 31 December 2008, 2009 and 2010 and the interim dividend for the periods ended 30 June 2009 and 2010 (collectively, the “Dividends”), after withholding a 10% enterprise income tax. The Company has not withheld and paid the relevant income tax in respect of the Dividends payable to any natural person shareholders whose names appear on the Company’s register of members on the relevant record dates.
The Company is in the process of paying the relevant tax authority the 10% enterprise income tax withheld in respect of the Dividends. If any resident enterprise (as defined in the “Enterprise Income Tax Law of the People’s Republic of China”) shareholder whose name appears on the Company’s register of members as at the relevant record dates and is
duly incorporated in the PRC or under the laws of a foreign country (or a region) with a PRC-based de facto management body, or any non-resident enterprise shareholder which is subject to a withholding tax rate of less than 10% pursuant to any tax treaty between the country of residence of such shareholder and the PRC or tax arrangements between the mainland of China and Hong Kong or Macau, or any other enterprise shareholder which may be entitled to a deduction or exemption of enterprise income tax in accordance with the applicable PRC rules, wishes to obtain a refund of, as the case may be, the 10% enterprise income tax or any excess amount as withheld by the Company, it shall lodge with Hong Kong Registrars Limited documents from its governing tax authority confirming its PRC resident enterprise status, or the documents in support that a withholding tax of less than 10% is required to be paid pursuant to the above-mentioned tax treaty or arrangements, or the documents confirming its entitlement to a deduction or exemption of enterprise income tax in accordance with the applicable PRC rules no later than 4:00 p.m. on 21 October 2011. The Company will assist such shareholder in respect of the refund of the withheld tax or the excess amount as withheld by the Company.
After 4:00 p.m. on 21 October 2011, any shareholder who requires a refund of the enterprise income tax or any excess amount withheld by the Company, pursuant to the above requirements, will need to directly apply for a tax refund according to the relevant provisions of applicable rules or the above-mentioned tax treaty or arrangements. The Company assumes no liability whatsoever in respect of and will not entertain any claims arising from any delay in, or inaccurate determination of, the status of the shareholders or any disputes over the mechanism of withholding.
Shareholders are recommended to obtain independent professional advice in relation to the relevant tax rules and impacts therefrom, its tax status and/or eligibility for refund and its filing obligation with respect to the enterprise income tax withheld by the Company.
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By Order of the Board
CNOOC Limited
Jiang Yongzhi
Joint Company Secretary
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Hong Kong, 21 August 2011
As at the date of this announcement, the Board comprises the following:
Executive Directors
Yang Hua (Vice Chairman)
Li Fanrong
Wu Guangqi
Non-executive Directors
Wang Yilin (Chairman)
Zhou Shouwei
Wu Zhenfang
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Independent Non-executive Directors
Edgar W. K. Cheng
Chiu Sung Hong
Lawrence J. Lau
Tse Hau Yin, Aloysius
Wang Tao
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