Article 1 These Regulations are formulated in accordance with the Company Law of the People’s Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as the Company Law) for the purpose of affirming the status of a company as an enterprise legal person and standardising the registration of companies.

Article 2 Incorporation, alteration and termination of limited liability companies and joint stock limited companies (hereinafter collectively referred to as companies) shall be registered in accordance with these Regulations.

In applying for registration of a company, the applicant shall be responsible for the authenticity of the application documents and materials.

Article 3 A company may be granted the status of an enterprise legal person only after it has registered in accordance with law with the company registration authority and has obtained a Business License for an Enterprise Legal Person.

As of the effective date of these Regulations, no newly incorporated company that has not registered with the company registration authority shall be allowed to conduct business activities in the name of a company.

Article 4 The administrative departments for industry and commerce shall be the company registration authorities.

Company registration authorities at lower levels shall carry out registration of companies under the leadership of company registration authorities at higher levels.

Company registration authorities shall perform their duties in accordance with laws and shall not be subject to any unlawful interference.

Article 5 The State Administration for Industry and Commerce shall be in charge of registration of companies throughout the country.

Article 6 The State Administration for Industry and Commerce shall be responsible for registration of the following companies:

1. companies in which the State-owned assets supervision and administration authority of the State Council performs its duties as an investor, and companies invested in and incorporated by the said companies which hold not less than 50% of the shares;
2. foreign-invested companies;
3. companies that shall be registered with the State Administration for Industry and Commerce as stipulated by laws, administrative regulations or decisions of the State Council; and
4. other companies that shall be registered with the State Administration for Industry and Commerce as required by it.

Article 7 The administrations for industry and commerce of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall be responsible for registration of the following companies within their respective jurisdictions:

1. companies in which the State-owned assets supervision and administration authority of the people’s government of the province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government performs its duties as an investor, and companies invested in and incorporated by the said companies which hold not less than 50% of the shares;
2. companies invested in and incorporated by natural persons, which shall be registered with the administration for industry and commerce of the province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government as required by it;
3. companies that shall be registered with the administrations for industry and commerce of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government as stipulated by laws, administrative regulations or decisions of the State Council; and
4. other companies that shall be registered with the administrations as authorised by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce.

Article 8 The administrations for industry and commerce of cities divided into districts, prefectures and counties, the sub-administrations for industry and commerce of municipalities directly under the Central Government, and the district sub-administrations of the administrations for industry and commerce of cities divided into districts shall be responsible for registration of the following companies within their respective jurisdictions:

1. companies other than those listed in Articles 6 and 7 of these Regulations; and
2. companies that shall be registered with the administrations as authorised by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce or by the administrations for industry and commerce of provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities directly under the Central Government.

Specific jurisdiction over registration specified in the preceding paragraph shall be formulated by the administrations for industry and commerce of the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government. However, in the case of joint stock limited companies, the administrations for industry and commerce of cities divided into districts and prefectures shall be responsible for their registration.

Article 9 The registration particulars of a company shall include:

1. name;
2. domicile;
3. name of the legal representative;
4. registered capital;
5. paid-up capital;
6. type of company;
7. scope of business;
8. duration of operation; and
9. names of the shareholders of a limited liability company, or of the promoters of a joint stock limited company, the amount of capital contributions subscribed and paid up, and the date and form of the contributions made.

Article 10 The registration particulars of a company shall be in conformity with the provisions of laws and administrative regulations. Where registration particulars are not in conformity with the provisions of laws and administrative regulations, the company registration authority shall not have the company registered.

Article 11 A company’s name shall be in conformity with the relevant provisions of the State. A company may use only one name. A company’s name which has been registered with the approval of the company registration authority shall be protected by law.

Article 12 The domicile of a company shall be the place where its principal office is located. A company registered with the company registration authority may have only one domicile. A company’s domicile shall be located within the area which is under the jurisdiction of the company registration authority with which the company is registered.

Article 13 A company’s registered capital and paid-up capital shall be shown in RMB unless otherwise provided for by laws and administrative regulations.

Article 14 The form of capital contributions made by a shareholder shall be in conformity with the provisions of Article 27 of the Company Law. Where a shareholder makes his capital contributions in the form of other properties than in currency, in kind, intellectual property rights or land use right, the measures for registration thereof shall be formulated by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce jointly with the relevant departments of the State Council.

A shareholder shall not make his capital contributions with labour service, credit, the name of a natural person, goodwill, franchise right, property placed as security, or the like, at its appraised value.

Article 15 The scope of business of a company shall be specified by the articles of association of the company and registered in accordance with law.

The terms to be used for the scope of business of a company shall be determined with reference to the standards for classification of different national economic sectors.

Article 16 The company types include limited liability companies and joint stock limited companies.

A one-person limited liability company shall, in its registration, indicate whether it is of the sole proprietorship of a natural person or of a legal person, and shall have it clearly stated as such in the business license of the company.

Article 17 Where a company is to be incorporated, an application for name approval shall be submitted.

Where the incorporation of a company is subject to approval as stipulated by laws, administrative regulations or decisions of the State Council, or any of the items within a company’s scope of business is subject to approval before registration as stipulated by laws, administrative regulations or decisions of the State Council, the application shall be submitted for the said approval after an application for name approval is submitted, and the application for the said approval shall be submitted in the name of the company approved by the company registration authority.

Article 18 For incorporation of a limited liability company, an application for name approval shall be submitted to the company registration authority by a representative designated, or an agent jointly authorised, by all of the shareholders; while for incorporation of a joint stock limited company, an application for name approval shall be submitted to the company registration authority by a representative designated, or an agent jointly authorised, by all of the promoters.

To apply for name approval, the applicant shall submit the following documents:

1. a written application for name approval signed by all of the shareholders of a limited liability company or by all of the promoters of a joint stock limited company;
2. the documents on power of attorney for the representative designated, or the agent jointly authorised, by all of the shareholders or promoters; and
3. other documents that shall be submitted as stipulated by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce.

Article 20 For incorporation of a limited liability company, an application for incorporation registration shall be submitted to the company registration authority by a representative designated, or an agent jointly authorised, by all of the shareholders. For incorporation of a wholly State-owned company, the State-owned assets supervision and administration authority authorised by the State Council or by the local people’s government to which it belongs shall be the applicant for the incorporation registration. Where the incorporation of a limited liability company is subject to approval as stipulated by laws, administrative regulations or decisions of the State Council, the applicant shall, within 90 days from the date of approval, apply to the company registration authority for incorporation registration; where the application is submitted at expiration of the specified time limit, the applicant shall request the approving authority to confirm the validity of the original document of approval, or shall submit another application for approval.

To apply for incorporation of a limited liability company, the applicant shall submit the following documents to the company registration authority:

1. a written application for incorporation registration signed by the legal representative of the company;
2. the documents on power of attorney for the representative designated, or the agent jointly authorised, by all of the shareholders;
3. the company’s articles of association;
4. the Capital Verification Report issued by a legally established capital verification institution, unless otherwise provided for by laws or administrative regulations;
5. if a shareholder makes his initial capital contributions in non-currency property, the document certifying that he has gone through the procedures for transferring his property rights shall be submitted at the time when the company applies for incorporation registration;
6. the qualification certificates of the shareholders as to their legal personality, or the identification certificates if they are natural persons;
7. a document specifying the names and domiciles of the company’s directors, supervisors and managers, and the documents related to their appointment, election or employment;
8. the appointment document and identification certificate of the company’s legal representative;
9. the written notification of name approval;
10. the documents on the right use of the company’s domicile; and
11. other documents that shall be submitted as stipulated by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce.

The amount of the initial capital contributions made by a shareholder to a foreign-invested limited liability company shall be in conformity with the provisions of laws and administrative regulations, and the remainder shall be paid in full within two years from the date when the company is incorporated or within five years if the company is an investment company.

Where the incorporation of a limited liability company is subject to approval as stipulated by laws, administrative regulations or decisions of the State Council, an application for approval shall be submitted in addition.

Article 21 For incorporation of a joint stock limited company, the board of directors shall apply to the company registration authority for incorporation registration. Where a joint stock limited company is to be incorporated by means of share offer, the application shall be submitted to the company registration authority within 30 days after the inaugural assembly.

To apply for incorporation of a joint stock limited company, the applicant shall submit the following documents to the company registration authority:

1. a written application for incorporation registration signed by the legal representative of the company;
2. the documents on power of attorney for the representative designated, or the agent jointly authorised, by the board of directors;
3. the company’s articles of association;
4. the Capital Verification Report issued by a legally established capital verification institution;
5. if a promoter makes his initial capital contributions in non-currency property, the document certifying that he has gone through the procedures for transferring his property rights shall be submitted at the time when the company applies for incorporation registration;
6. the qualification certificates of the promoters as to their legal personality, or the identification certificates if they are natural persons;
7. a document specifying the names and domiciles of the company’s directors, supervisors and managers, and the documents related to their appointment, election or employment;
8. the appointment document and identification certificate of the company’s legal representative;
9. the written notification of name approval;
10. the documents on the right use of the company’s domicile; and
11. other documents that shall be submitted as stipulated by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce.

Where a joint stock limited company is to be incorporated by means of share offer, the minutes of the inaugural assembly shall be submitted in addition; where a joint stock limited company which is incorporated by means of share offer intends to offer its shares to the public, the document of approval issued by the securities regulatory authority of the State Council shall be submitted in addition.

Where the incorporation of a joint stock limited company is subject to approval as stipulated by laws, administrative regulations or decisions of the State Council, a document of approval shall be submitted in addition.

Article 22 Where the items within the scope of business which a company applies to register are subject to approval before registration as stipulated by laws, administrative regulations or decisions of the State Council, it shall apply to the relevant department of the State for approval before the application for registration, and the document of the said approval shall be submitted to the company registration authority.

Article 23 Where a company’s articles of association contain provisions that are in violation of laws or administrative regulations, the company registration authority shall have the power to require the company to make the necessary rectifications.

Article 24 The certificate of a company’s domicile is a document which can prove that the company enjoys the right to use the domicile.

Article 25 A company incorporated in accordance with law shall be issued a Business License for Enterprise Legal Person by the company registration authority. The date of issuance of the company business license shall be the date of incorporation of the company. A company shall have its company seals engraved, open bank accounts and apply for tax registration on the strength of the Business License for Enterprise Legal Person issued by the company registration authority.

Article 26 Where a company intends to alter its registration particulars, it shall apply to the original company registration authority for modification registration.

A company shall not alter its registration particulars before modification registration.

Article 27 To apply for modification registration, a company shall submit to the company registration authority the following documents:

1. a written application for modification registration signed by the legal representative of the company;
2. the resolution or decision on the alteration made in accordance with the Company Law; and
3. other documents that shall be submitted as stipulated by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce.

Where the registration particulars of a company to be altered involve amending the company’s articles of association, the amended version of its articles of association or the amendment to its articles of association signed by the legal representative of the company shall be submitted.

Where, in accordance with laws, administrative regulations or decisions of the State Council, the alteration of certain registration particulars is subject to approval before registration, a document of the said approval shall, in addition, be submitted to the company registration authority.

Article 28 Where a company intends to change its name, it shall, within 30 days from the date when the resolution or decision on such change is made, apply for modification registration.

Article 29 Where a company intends to change its domicile, it shall apply for modification registration before moving to the new domicile and shall submit documents on the right use of the new domicile.

Where the change of a company’s domicile involves registration at a place under the jurisdiction of another company registration authority, the company shall apply to the company registration authority at the place of the new domicile for modification registration before moving to the new domicile; where the application is accepted by the company registration authority at the place of the new domicile, the original company registration authority shall transfer the registration files of the company to the company registration authority at the place of the new domicile.

Article 30 Where a company intends to replace its legal representative, it shall, within 30 days from the date when the resolution or decision on the replacement is made, apply for modification registration.

Article 31 Where a company intends to alter its registered capital, it shall submit the capital verification report issued by a legally established capital verification institution.

Where a company intends to increase its registered capital, the shareholders of a limited liability company shall subscribe for new capital contributions and the shareholders of a joint stock limited company shall subscribe for new shares respectively in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Company Law on capital contributions made in connection with incorporation of a limited liability company and on subscriptions paid in connection with incorporation of a joint stock limited company. Where a joint stock limited company intends to increase its registered capital by means of initial public offering of new shares or a listed company intends to do so by means of non-public offering, it shall, in addition, submit the document of approval issued by the securities regulatory authority of the State Council.

Where a company intends to use its legal reserved fund to increase its registered capital, in the capital verification report shall be stated clearly that the remainder of the reserved fund is not less than 25% of the registered capital of the company before the fund is used for the purpose.

Where a company intends to reduce its registered capital, it shall apply for modification registration 45 days after the date when it makes the announcement, and submit the document certifying that it has announced in the newspaper the intended reduction of its registered capital and a statement on its debt clearance or debt repayment guarantee.

The registered capital of a company after the reduction shall be not less than the statutory minimum amount.

Article 32 Where a company intends to alter its paid-up capital, it shall submit the capital verification report issued by a legally established capital verification institution, and the capital contributions shall be made according to the date and form of the contributions as specified in the company’s articles of association. The company shall apply for modification registration within 30 days from the date when the contributions are made or the subscriptions are paid in full.

Article 33 Where a company intends to change its scope of business, it shall apply for modification registration within 30 days from the date when the resolution or decision on the change is made; where the change involves items subject to approval before registration as stipulated by laws, administrative regulations or decisions of the State Council, it shall apply for modification registration within 30 days from the date of approval by the relevant department of the State.

Where the permits or other documents of approval for the items within a company’s scope of business that are subject to approval as stipulated by laws, administrative regulations or decisions of the State Council are revoked or cancelled, or the permits or other documents of approval expire, the company shall apply for modification registration within 30 days from the date of the revocation, cancellation or expiration of the permits or other documents of approval, or apply for deregistration in accordance with the provisions of Chapter VI of these Regulations.

Article 34 Where a company intends to change its type, it shall, in accordance with the requirements for incorporating the company of intended type, apply to the company registration authority for modification registration within the specified time limit and submit the relevant documents.

Article 35 Where the shareholders of a limited liability company transfer their shares, the company shall apply for modification registration within 30 days from the date when the shares are transferred, and shall submit the qualification certificates of the new shareholders as to their legal personality or their identification certificates if they are natural persons.

Where, after the death of a shareholder of a limited liability company in the case he is a natural person, his legal successor inherits his qualification as a shareholder, the company shall apply for modification registration in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

Where a shareholder of a limited liability company or a promoter of a joint stock limited company changes its name, the company shall apply for modification registration within 30 days from the date of such change.

Article 36 Where the alteration of registration particulars of a company involves the alteration of registration particulars of any of its branches, it shall, within 30 days from the date of modification registration, apply for modification registration of the branches.

Article 37 Where amending the articles of association of a company does not involve its registration particulars, the company shall submit the amended version of its articles of association or the amendment to its articles of association to the original company registration authority for the record.

Article 38 Where a director, supervisor or manager of a company is replaced, the replacement shall be reported to the original company registration authority for the record.

Article 39 Where a company continues to exist after merger or division and any change occurs in its registration particulars, it shall apply for modification registration; where a company dissolves due to merger or division, it shall apply for deregistration; where a new company is incorporated due to merger or division, it shall apply for incorporation registration.

Where a company merges with another one or divides, it shall apply for registration 45 days after the date when the announcement is made, and submit the merger agreement, the resolution or decision on the merger or division, the document certifying that it has announced in the newspaper the merger or division of the company and a statement on its debt clearance or debt repayment guarantee. Where the merger or division of a company is subject to approval as stipulated by laws, administrative regulations or decisions of the State Council, a document of the said approval shall be submitted in addition.

Article 40 Where the alteration of registration particulars involves the items specified in the Business License for Enterprise Legal Person, the company registration authority shall renew the business license.

Article 41 Where, in accordance with the provisions of Article 22 of the Company Law, a company applies to the company registration authority for cancelling its modification registration, it shall submit the following documents:

1. a written application signed by the legal representative of the company; and
2. the judgment document made by the people’s court.

Article 42 Where a company shall be liquidated in accordance with law upon its dissolution, the liquidation team shall, within 10 days from the date when it is formed, submit the name list of its members and the person in charge to the company registration authority for the record.

Article 43 In any of the following circumstances, the liquidation team of a company shall, within 30 days from the date of conclusion of liquidation, apply to the original company registration authority for deregistration:

1. the company is declared bankrupt in accordance with law;
2. the period of operation specified in the company’s articles of association expires, or other reasons for dissolution of the company specified in the company’s articles of association come into existence, unless the company continues to exist by amending its articles of association;
3. the shareholders’ meeting or shareholders’ assembly resolves to dissolve the company, or the shareholder of a one-person limited liability company, or the board of directors of a foreign-invested company resolves to dissolve the company;
4. the business license is revoked, or the company is ordered to close down or is cancelled in accordance with laws;
5. the company is dissolved by the people’s court in accordance with laws; or
6. the company is dissolved under other circumstances as stipulated by laws or administrative regulations.

Article 44 Where a company applies for deregistration, it shall submit the following documents:

1. a written application for deregistration signed by the person in charge of the company’s liquidation team;
2. the order on its bankruptcy or the judgment document on its dissolution made by the people’s court, the resolution or decision made by the company in accordance with the Company Law, or the document issued by an administrative organ ordering it to close down or to be cancelled;
3. the liquidation report recorded and confirmed by the shareholders’ meeting or shareholders’ assembly ,the shareholder of a one-person limited liability company, the board of directors of a foreign-invested company, the people’s court or the authority approving the incorporation of the company;
4. the Business License for Enterprise Legal Person; and
5. other documents that shall be submitted as stipulated by laws or administrative regulations.

Where a wholly State-owned company applies for deregistration, it shall, in addition, submit the decision of the State-owned assets supervision and administration authority, and in the case of an important wholly State-owned company determined as such by the State Council, it shall, in addition, submit the document of approval of the people’s government at the corresponding level.

Where a company with branches applies for deregistration, it shall, in addition, submit the certificate of deregistration of the branches.

Article 45 A company terminates upon the decision of deregistration by company registration authority.

Article 51 To apply for registration of a company or a branch, the applicant may either go to the company registration authority to submit the application, or submit the application through mail, telegraph, telex, fax, electronic data interchange or e-mail.

When submitting the application through telegraph, telex, fax, electronic data interchange or e-mail, the applicant shall provide ways of contact and his mail address for communication.

Article 52 The company registration authority shall decide whether or not to accept an application on the basis of the following circumstances:

1. if the application documents and materials are complete and conform to the legal formalities, or the applicant has submitted all the supplementary and corrected application documents and materials as required by the company registration authority, it shall decide to accept the application;
2. if the application documents and materials are complete and conform to the legal formalities, but the company registration authority deems that the application documents and materials need to be verified, it shall decide to accept the application and, at the same time, inform the applicant in writing of the items that need to be verified, and the reasons and time for verification;
3. if there are mistakes in the application documents and materials that can be corrected on the spot, it shall allow the applicant to correct them on the spot with the signature or seal of the applicant affixed at the place corrected and the date of correction stated clearly; if the completeness of the application documents and materials and their conformity to the legal formalities are confirmed, it shall decide to accept the application;
4. if the application documents and materials are not complete or do not conform to the legal formalities, it shall inform the applicant on the spot or within five days of what needs to be supplemented or corrected once and for all; if it does so on the spot, it shall return the application documents and materials to the applicant; if it does so within five days, it shall accept the application documents and materials and give a receipt thereof, and if it fails to inform the applicant at the expiration of the time limit, the application shall be considered accepted from the date of receipt of the application documents and materials; or
5. if an application goes out of the range of company registration or out of the jurisdiction of the authority, it shall immediately decide not to accept the application and inform the applicant of the administrative organ to which he shall apply.

Where an application is submitted through mail, telegraph, telex, fax, electronic data interchange or e-mail, the company registration authority shall decide whether or not to accept the application within five days from the date of receipt of the application documents and materials.

Article 53 Except where it makes a decision to approve the registration in accordance with Subparagraph (1) of the first paragraph of Article 54 of these Regulations, the company registration authority shall issue a Notice of Acceptance if it decides to accept an application; if it decides not to accept an application, it shall issue a Notice of Rejection with the reasons therefor stated, and inform the applicant of the right he enjoys to apply for administrative reconsideration or bring administrative suit in accordance with law.

Article 54 As to the applications it decides to accept, the company registration authority shall, within the specified time limit, decide whether or not to approve the registration, as the case may be:

1. if it accepts an application submitted by the applicant who goes to the company registration authority, it shall make a decision to approve the registration on the spot;
2. if it accepts an application submitted by the applicant through mail, it shall, within 15 days from the date of acceptance, make a decision to approve the registration;
3. if an application is submitted through telegraph, telex, fax, electronic data interchange or e-mail, the applicant shall, within 15 days from the date of receipt of the Notice of Acceptance, submit the original application documents and materials that are consistent with the contents of the telegraph, telex, fax, electronic data interchange or e-mail and conform to the statutory form; if the applicant goes to the company registration authority to submit the original application documents and materials, a decision to approve the registration shall be made on the spot; if the applicant submits the original application documents and materials through mail, a decision to approve the registration shall be made within 15 days from the date of acceptance of the application documents and materials; or
4. if, within 60 days from the date when it issues the Notice of Acceptance, the company registration authority receives no original application documents and materials, or if the original application documents and materials are not consistent with the ones accepted by the company registration authority, it shall make a decision not to approve the registration.

If the company registration authority needs to verify the application documents and materials, it shall decide whether or not to approve the registration within 15 days from the date of acceptance.

Article 55 Where the company registration authority makes a decision on name approval of a company, it shall issue a Notice of Name Approval ; if it makes a decision to approve the registration of a company’s incorporation, it shall issue a Notice of Approval of Incorporation Registration and inform the applicant to get the business license within 10 days from the date when the decision is made; if it makes a decision to approve the modification registration , it shall issue a Notice of Approval of Modification Registration and inform the applicant to renew its business license within 10 days from the date when the decision is made; if it makes a decision to approve the deregistration of a company, it shall issue a Notice of Approval of Deregistration and withdraw its business license.

Where the company registration authority makes a decision not to approve a company’s name or not to approve the registration, it shall issue a Notice of Rejection of Enterprise Name or a Notice of Rejection of Application for Registration with the reasons therefor stated, and inform the applicant of the right he enjoys to apply for administrative reconsideration or bring administrative suit in accordance with law.

Article 56 For incorporation or modification registration, a company shall pay registration fees to the company registration authority in accordance with the provisions.

In the case of an application for a Business License for Enterprise Legal Person, the fees for incorporation registration shall be paid at the rate of 0.08% of the total amount of the registered capital; if the registered capital exceeds 10 million RMB, the fees for the excess amount shall be paid at the rate of 0.04% of the excess amount; if the registered capital exceeds 100 million RMB, no further fees shall be required for the excess amount.

In the case of an application for a Business License, the fees for incorporation registration shall be 300 RMB.

In the case of alteration of registration particulars, the fees for modification registration shall be 100 RMB.

Article 57 The company registration authority shall record the registered registration particulars of a company in the company register for the public to consult and copy.

Article 58 An announcement on revocation of Business License for Enterprise Legal Person or of Business License shall be made by the company registration authority.

Article 59 Company registration authorities shall conduct annual inspection of companies during the period from March 1 to June 30 each year.

Article 60 A company shall, in accordance with the requirements of the company registration authority, accept annual inspection within the specified period of time, and submit a written report on annual inspection, an annual balance sheet and profit and loss statement and duplicates of the Business License for Enterprise Legal Person.

A company that has established a branch shall, in the materials for annual inspection it submits, convey clear and definite information about the branch, and attach therewith a copy of the Business License.

Article 61 The company registration authority shall, on the basis of the materials for annual inspection submitted by the company, examine the information related to the registration particulars of the company.

Article 62 A company shall pay annual inspection fee to the company registration authority. The fee shall be 50 RMB.

Article 63 There shall be the original and duplicates for the Business License for an Enterprise Legal Person or the Business License, both of which shall have equal legal effect.

The original Business License for Enterprise Legal Person or the original Business License shall be placed in a prominent position at the domicile of a company or the business domicile of a branch.

A company may, depending on the need of business, apply to the company registration authority for the issue of more than one duplicate of its business license.

Article 64 No unit or individual may forge or alter the business license, or lease it out, lend or transfer it to another person.

Where its business license is lost or damaged, the company shall declare the invalidity of the business license in a newspaper or periodical designated by the company registration authority, and apply for re-issuance of the license.

Where a company refuses to hand back or cannot hand back its business license after the company registration authority makes a decision in accordance with law as to modification registration, deregistration, or cancellation of modification registration, the company registration authority shall make an announcement nullifying its business license.

Article 65 The company registration authority may temporarily detain a business license that needs to be authenticated, and the period of retention shall not exceed 10 days.

Article 66 Borrowing, extracting, carrying or copying filed company registration materials shall be done in compliance with the specified limits of authority and procedures.

No unit or individual may modify, scribble on, put marks on or damage filed company archive.

Article 67 The forms of the original and duplicate of the business license and the format of important documents or tables for company registration shall be uniformly formulated by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce.

Article 68 Where a company gets registered by providing a false report on its registered capital, the company registration authority shall order it to rectify and impose on it a fine of not less than 5% but not more than 15% of the amount of the falsely reported registered capital, or if the circumstances are serious, shall cancel the registration of the company or revoke its business license.

Article 69 Where a company gets registered by submitting falsified materials or by adopting other fraudulent means to conceal important facts, the company registration authority shall order it to rectify and impose on it a fine of not less than 50,000 RMB but not more than 500,000 RMB, or if the circumstances are serious, shall revoke the registration of the company or revoke its business license.

Article 70 Where a promoter or a shareholder of a company makes false capital contributions, thus failing to deliver or failing to deliver on schedule, the currency or the non-currency property as capital contributions, the company registration authority shall order it to rectify and impose on it a fine of not less than 5% but not more than 15% of the amount of the false capital contributions.

Article 71 Where a promoter or a shareholder of a company secretly withdraws its capital contributions after incorporation of the company, the company registration authority shall order it to rectify and impose on it a fine of not less than 5% but not more than 15% of the amount of the capital contributions secretly withdrawn.

Article 72 Where a company, without justifiable reasons, fails to commence business operations for more than six months after its incorporation or, after commencement of business operations, suspends business of its own accord for more than six consecutive months, the company registration authority may revoke its business license.

Article 73 Where a company fails to apply for modification registration in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations when any change occurs in its registration particulars, the company registration authority shall order it to take modification registration within a specified time limit; if the company fails to do so at the expiration of the time limit, it shall be fined not less than 10,000 RMB but not more than 100,000 RMB. In this respect, if any change in its scope of business involves items which are subject to approval as stipulated by laws, administrative regulations or decisions of the State Council, but the approval is not obtained, and the company has, regardless, been engaged in related business operations to a serious extent, its business license shall be revoked.

Where a company fails to report the specified matters for the record in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations, the company registration authority shall order it to complete the procedures within a specified time limit; if it fails to do so at the expiration of the time limit, it shall be fined not more than 30,000 RMB.

Article 74 Where a company fails to notify its creditors or make an announcement in accordance with the provisions when it is to merge with another company, to divide, to reduce its registered capital, or to go into liquidation, the company registration authority shall order it to rectify and impose on it a fine of not less than 10,000 RMB but not more than 100,000 RMB.

Where, in the course of liquidation, a company conceals its property, makes false records on the balance sheet or the inventory of its property, or distributes its property before paying off its debts, the company registration authority shall order it to rectify,, impose on it a fine of not less than 5% but not more than 10% of the amount of the concealed property or of the amount of the property distributed before paying off its debts, and impose on the persons in charge with competent accountability and other persons with competent accountability a fine of not less than 10,000 RMB but not more than 100,000 RMB.

Where, during the period of liquidation, a company carries out business operations irrelevant to liquidation, the company registration authority shall give it a warning and confiscate its illegal gains.

Article 75 Where a liquidation team fails to submit its liquidation report to the company registration authority in accordance with the provisions, or conceals or omits important facts in the liquidation report submitted, the company registration authority shall order it to make rectifications.

Where a member of the liquidation team commits illegalities for personal gain, seeks illegal income or takes illegal possession of the property of the company by taking advantage of his position, the company registration authority shall order him to return the property to the company, confiscate his illegal gains and may, in addition, impose on him a fine of not less than the amount of the illegal gains but not more than five times that amount.

Article 76 Where a company refuses to accept annual inspection in accordance with the provisions, the company registration authority shall impose on it a fine of not less than 10,000 RMB but not more than 100,000 RMB and order it to accept annual inspection within a specified time limit; if it continues to refuse to accept annual inspection at the expiration of the time limit, its business license shall be revoked. Where a company conceals facts or practices fraud when undergoing annual inspection, the company registration authority shall impose on it a fine of not less than 10,000 RMB but not more than 50,000 RMB and order it to rectify within a specified time limit, or if the circumstances are serious, shall revoke its business license.

Article 77 Where anyone forges or alters a business license, or leases it out, lends or transfers it to another person, the company registration authority shall impose on it a fine of not less than 10,000 RMB but not more than 100,000 RMB, or if the circumstances are serious, shall revoke the business license.

Article 78 Where the business license fails to be placed in a prominent position at the domicile or business premises, the company registration authority shall order rectifications to be made; if no rectifications are made, a fine of not less than 1,000 RMB but not more than 5,000 RMB shall be imposed.

Article 79 Where an institution undertaking assets appraisal, capital verification or certificate verification provides false documents, the company registration authority shall confiscate its illegal gains and impose on it a fine of not less than the amount of the illegal gains but not more than five times that amount, and the competent authority may, in accordance with law, order the said institution to suspend business, revoke the qualification certificates of the persons with competent accountability, or revoke its business license.

Where an institution undertaking assets appraisal, capital verification or certificate verification provides a report with major omissions due to negligence, the company registration authority shall order it to rectify; if the circumstances are relatively serious, a fine of not less than the amount of its gains derived therefrom but not more than five times that amount shall be imposed, and the competent authority may, in accordance with law, order the institution to suspend business, revoke the qualification certificates of the persons with competent accountability, or revoke its business license.

Article 80 Where an entity that has not registered in accordance with law as a limited liability company or a joint stock limited company assumes the name of such company, or where an entity that has not registered in accordance with law as the branch of a limited liability company or of a joint stock limited company assumes the name of such branch, the company registration authority shall order it to rectify or have it revoked, and may, in addition, impose on it a fine of not more than 100,000 RMB.

Article 81 Where the company registration authority has registered with it a company whose application for registration does not meet the stipulated requirements, or does not have registered with it a company whose application for registration meets the stipulated requirements, the persons in charge with competent accountability and other persons with competent accountability shall be given administrative sanctions in accordance with law.

Article 82 Where a department at a higher level peremptorily orders a company registration authority to have registered with it a company whose application for registration does not meet the stipulated requirements, or not to have registered with it a company whose application for registration meets the stipulated requirements, or covers up an illegal registration, the persons in charge with competent accountability and other persons with competent accountability shall be given administrative sanctions in accordance with law.

Article 83 Where a foreign company, in violation of the provisions of the Company Law, establishes a branch within the territory of China, the company registration authority shall order it to rectify or close the branch and may, in addition, impose on it a fine of not less than 50,000 RMB but not more than 200,000 RMB.

Article 84 Where anyone commits serious illegal acts in the name of a company, which endanger State security or harm public interest, its business license shall be revoked.

Article 85 The provisions of this Chapter apply to a branch which commits an illegal act specified in this Chapter.

Article 86 Where a violation of the provisions of these Regulations constitutes a crime, criminal liability shall be investigated for in accordance with law.

Article 87 These Regulations apply to the registration of foreign-invested companies. Where the registration of such companies is otherwise provided for by laws on enterprises with foreign investment, the provisions of such laws shall apply.

Article 88 Where the incorporation of a company is subject to approval as stipulated by laws, administrative regulations or decisions of the State Council, or certain items within a company’s scope of business are subject to approval before registration as stipulated by laws, administrative regulations or decisions of the State Council, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce shall, in accordance with the provisions of the laws, administrative regulations or decisions of the State Council, prepare a catalogue of administrative permission before registration of enterprises and make it known to the public.

Article 89 These Regulations shall be effective as of July 1, 1994