Lucas GC Limited UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
Exhibit 1.1
Xxxxx XX Limited
[•], 2023
Prime Number Capital LLC
12E 49th St, 27/F
New York, NY 10017
JonesTrading Institutional Services LLC
000 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned, Xxxxx XX Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), hereby confirms its agreement (this “Agreement”) with the several underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (such underwriters including Representative (as defined below), collectively, hereafter referred to as the “Underwriters,” and each of them as an “Underwriter”), for which Prime Number Capital LLC (“Prime Number”), is acting as the lead underwriter and representative of the several Underwriters (in such capacity, Prime Number is referred to as the “Representative”), Prime Number and JonesTrading Institutional Services LLC (“JonesTrading”), to issue and sell to the Underwriters an aggregate of 3,070,000 ordinary shares (the “Firm Shares”) of the Company, par value of US$0.000005 per share (the “Ordinary Shares”).
The Company has also granted to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to 460,500 additional Ordinary Shares, on the terms and conditions for the purposes set forth in Section 2(c) hereof (the “Additional Shares”). The Firm Shares and any Additional Shares purchased pursuant to this Agreement are herein collectively referred to as the “Offered Securities.” The offering and sale of the Offered Securities contemplated by this Agreement is referred to herein as the “Offering.”
The Company confirms its agreement with the Underwriters as follows:
The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-270107), which contains a form of prospectus to be used in connection with the Offering. Such registration statement, as amended, including the financial statements, exhibits and schedules thereto contained in the registration statement at the time such registration statement became effective, in the form in which it was declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Securities Act Regulations”), and including any required information deemed to be a part thereof at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act, or pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act Regulations”), is called the “Registration Statement.” Any registration statement filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act is called the “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement,” and from and after the date and time of filing of the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, the term “Registration Statement” shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. Such prospectus, in the form first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act after the date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto, or, if no filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act is required, the form of final prospectus relating to the Offering included in the Registration Statement at the effective date of the Registration Statement (“Effective Date”), is called the “Prospectus.” All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, the preliminary prospectus included in the Registration Statement (each, a “preliminary prospectus”), the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing, shall include any copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“XXXXX”). The preliminary prospectus that was included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to the Applicable Time (as defined below) is hereinafter called the “Pricing Prospectus.” Any reference to the “most recent preliminary prospectus” shall be deemed to refer to the latest preliminary prospectus included in the registration statement. Any reference herein to any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any supplement or amendment to either thereof shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents incorporated by reference therein as of the date of such reference.
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For purposes of this Agreement, “Applicable Time” means [•]:00 pm, Eastern Time (ET), on the date of this Agreement. The term “Disclosure Package” shall mean (i) the Pricing Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, (ii) each issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act (each, an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”), if any, identified in Schedule B hereto, and (iv) any other free writing prospectus that the parties hereto shall hereafter expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the Disclosure Package.
SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties of the Company.
The Company represents and warrants to each of the Underwriters as follows with the understanding that the same may be relied upon by the Underwriters in the Offering, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date (as defined below) and each Option Closing Date (as defined below), if any:
(a) Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations on [•], 2023. The Company has complied, to the Commission’s satisfaction, with all requests of the Commission for additional or supplemental information. No stop order preventing or suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement is in effect and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated or threatened by the Commission.
Each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus when filed complied or will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and, if filed by electronic transmission pursuant to XXXXX (except as may be permitted by Regulation S-T under the Securities Act), was identical in content to the copy thereof delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with the Offering, other than with respect to any artwork and graphics that were not filed. Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, at the time it became effective and at all subsequent times until the expiration of the prospectus delivery period required under Section 5(b) of the Securities Act, complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, as of its date and at all subsequent times until the Underwriters have completed the Offering, did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The representations and warranties set forth in the two immediately preceding sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, or in the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to the Underwriters furnished to the Company in writing expressly for use therein (the “Underwriter Information”), it being understood and agreed that the only such information is that described in Section 8(b). There are no contracts or other documents required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that have not been fairly and accurately described in all material respects or filed as required.
(b) Disclosure Package. As of the Applicable Time, the Disclosure Package did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package based upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.
(c) Company Not Ineligible Issuer. (i) At the time of filing the Registration Statement and (ii) as of the date of the execution and delivery of this Agreement (with such date being used as the determination date for purposes of this clause (ii)), the Company was not and is not an Ineligible Issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act), without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 under the Securities Act that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an Ineligible Issuer.
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(d) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. No Issuer Free Writing Prospectus includes any information that conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement, including any document incorporated by reference therein that has not been superseded or modified. The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.
(e) Distribution of Offering Material by the Company. The Company has not distributed or authorized the distribution of, and will not distribute, prior to the completion of the Offering, any offering material in connection with the Offering other than a preliminary prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus reviewed and consented to by the Underwriters, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication (as defined below) and the Registration Statement.
(f) The Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by , and is a valid and binding agreement of, the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnification hereunder may be limited by applicable law and except as the enforcement hereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles.
(g) Authorization of the Offered Securities. The Offered Securities to be sold by the Company through the Underwriters have been duly and validly authorized by all required corporate action and have been reserved for issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and, when so issued and delivered by the Company, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, free, and clear of all Liens (as defined below under Section 1(r)) imposed by the Company. The Company has a sufficient number of authorized Ordinary Shares for the issuance of the maximum number of Offered Securities issuable pursuant to the Offering as described in the Prospectus.
(h) No Applicable Registration or Other Similar Rights. There are no persons with registration or other similar rights to have any securities of the Company registered for sale under the Registration Statement and included in the Offering.
(i) No Material Adverse Change. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package, subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Disclosure Package: (i) there has been no material adverse change, or any development that could reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the Company (any such change, a “Material Adverse Change”, and any resulting effect, a “Material Adverse Effect”); (ii) the Company has not incurred any material liability or obligation, indirect, direct or contingent, not in the ordinary course of business nor entered into any material transaction or agreement not in the ordinary course of business; and (iii) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company in respect of its Ordinary Shares other than ordinary and customary dividends disclosed in the Disclosure Package.
(j) Independent Accountant. Xxxxxx Asia CPAs LLP (the “Accountant”), which has expressed its opinions with respect to the audited financial statements (which term as used in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) of the Company filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and included in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
(k) Preparation of the Financial Statements. The financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, and the Prospectus, presents fairly in all material respects the information provided as of and at the dates and for the periods indicated (provided that unaudited interim financial statements are subject to year-end audit adjustments that are not expected to be material in the aggregate and do not contain all footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”)). Such financial statements comply as to form with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations and have been prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as may be expressly stated in the related notes thereto. Except as included therein, no other financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, or the Prospectus. Each item of historical financial data relating to the operations, assets or liabilities of the Company set forth in summary form in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus fairly presents in all material respects such information on a basis consistent with that of the complete financial statements contained in the Registration Statement, or the Prospectus.
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(l) Incorporation and Good Standing. The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a company limited by shares under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and has corporate power and authority to own or lease, as applicable, its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, and the Prospectus and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries (as defined below) to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement. As of the Closing Date, the Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any significant corporation, association or other entity that is not otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, or the Prospectus.
(m) Capitalization and Other Share Capital Matters. The authorized, issued, and outstanding shares of the Company is as set forth in each of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (other than for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to employee benefit plans described in each of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or upon exercise of outstanding options or warrants described in the Disclosure Package and Prospectus, as the case may be). The Ordinary Shares conform, and, when issued and delivered as provided in this Agreement, the Offered Securities will conform, in all material respects to the description thereof contained in each of the Disclosure Package and Prospectus. All the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and have been issued in compliance with applicable laws. None of the outstanding Ordinary Shares were issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company. There are no authorized or outstanding options, warrants, preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other rights to purchase, or equity or debt securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any shares of the Company other than those described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no shareholders agreements, voting agreements or other similar agreements with respect to the Company’s Ordinary Shares to which the Company is a party or, to the knowledge of the Company, between or among any of the Company’s shareholders.
(n) Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further Authorizations or Approvals Required. The Company is not (i) in violation of its memorandum and articles of association, as amended and restated or (ii) in default (or, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, would be in default) (“Default”) under any material indenture, mortgage, loan or credit agreement, note, contract, franchise, lease or other instrument to which it is a party or by which it may be bound (including, without limitation, any agreement or contract filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or to which any of the property or assets of the Company are subject) (each, an “Existing Instrument”), except in the case of (ii) above, where any such violation or Defaults would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Company’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and will not result in any violation of the provisions of the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company, as amended and restated, (ii) will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or Default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to, or require the consent of any other party to, any Existing Instrument and (iii) will not result in any violation of any law, administrative regulation or administrative or court decree applicable to the Company, except in the case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii), to the extent such conflict, breach Default or violation could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any court or other governmental or regulatory authority or agency, is required for the Company’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except the registration or qualification of the Offered Securities under the Securities Act and applicable state securities or blue sky laws and from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. (“FINRA”).
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(o) Subsidiaries. Each of the Company’s significant subsidiaries (each a “Subsidiary”, and collectively, the “Subsidiaries”) has been identified on Schedule E hereto. Each of the Subsidiaries has been duly formed or incorporated, as applicable, is validly existing under the laws of British Virgin Islands, Hong Kong or the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”), as the case may be, and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation or incorporation, as applicable, has full power and authority (corporate or otherwise) to own its property and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, and the Prospectus, all of the equity interests of each Subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are owned or controlled directly or indirectly by the Company, are fully paid in accordance with its articles of association, memorandum of association or charter documents, as amended and restated from time to time and non-assessable and are free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims (“Liens”). None of the outstanding share capital or equity interest in any Subsidiary was issued in violation of preemptive or similar rights of any security holder of such Subsidiary. All the constitutive or organizational documents of each of the Subsidiaries comply with the requirements of applicable laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization and are in full force and effect and none of the Subsidiaries is in violation of such constitutive or organizational documents. Apart from the Subsidiaries, the Company has no direct or indirect subsidiaries or any other company over which it has direct or indirect effective control. Other than the Subsidiaries, the Company does not directly or indirectly control any entity (including any variable interest entity) through contractual arrangements or otherwise such that the entity would be deemed a consolidated affiliated entity whose financial results would be consolidated under U.S. GAAP with the financial results of the Company on the consolidated financial statements of the Company, regardless of whether the Company directly or indirectly owns less than a majority of the equity interests of such person.
(p) No Material Actions or Proceedings. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no material legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, demands, claims, suits, arbitrations, inquiries or proceedings (collectively, “Actions”) pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, (i) threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) have as the subject thereof any of the executive officers, directors, or key employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of the properties owned or leased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, where in any such case (A) there is a reasonable possibility that such Action might be determined adversely to the Company and (B) any such Action, if so determined adversely, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change or adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no material labor dispute with the employees of the Company exists or, to the Company’s knowledge, is threatened or imminent. None of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ employees is a member of a union that relates to such employee’s relationship with the Company or such Subsidiary, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to a collective bargaining agreement. No executive officer, to the knowledge of the Company, is in violation of any material term of any employment contract, confidentiality, disclosure or proprietary information agreement or non-competition agreement, or any other contract or agreement or any restrictive covenant in favor of any third party, and the continued employment of each such executive officer does not subject the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any liability with respect to any of the foregoing matters. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations relating to employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours, except where the failure to be in compliance could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither the Company or any Subsidiary, nor to the knowledge of the Company any director or officer of the Company, is or has within the last 10 years been the subject of any Action involving a claim of violation of or liability under federal or state securities laws or a claim of breach of fiduciary duty. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there has not been, and to the knowledge of the Company, there is no pending or contemplated, any investigation by the Commission involving the Company or any current or former director or officer of the Company.
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(q) Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and its Subsidiaries own, possess or have been authorized to use, or can acquire on reasonable terms, sufficient patents, patent applications, trademarks, trade names, copyrights, domain names, licenses, approvals and trade secrets (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”) reasonably necessary to conduct its business as now conducted or, otherwise, as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and the expected expiration of any such Intellectual Property Rights would not be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus: (i) the Company has not received any written notice of material infringement or conflict with asserted Intellectual Property Rights of others; (ii) the Company is not a party to or bound by any options, licenses or agreements with respect to the Intellectual Property Rights of any other person or entity that are required to be set forth in the Registration Statement, Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and are not described in all material respects; (iii) none of the material technology employed by the Company has been obtained or is being used by the Company in violation of any contractual obligation binding on the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, in violation of the rights of any persons; and (iv) the Company is not subject to any judgment, order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or any governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, or any arbitrator, nor has it entered into nor is it a party to any agreement made in settlement of any pending or threatened litigation, which materially restricts or impairs its use of any Intellectual Property Rights, except in each case covered by clauses (i) to (iii) such as would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(r) All Necessary Permits, etc. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries possesses such material valid and current certificates, authorizations or permits issued by the applicable regulatory agencies or bodies (“Permits”) necessary to conduct its business, and has made all material declarations and filings with, the appropriate national, regional, local or other governmental or regulatory authorities that are necessary for the ownership or lease of their respective properties or assets or the conduct of their respective businesses as described in (the Registration Statement), the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except where any lack of the Permits would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, and has not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Permits and, to the knowledge of the Company, the Company has no reason to believe that such Permits will not be renewed in the ordinary course of their respective businesses that, if determined adversely to the Company, would individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect. Such Permits are valid and in full force and effect and contain no materially burdensome restrictions or conditions not described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, or the Prospectus.
(s) Title to Properties. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company and its Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all the properties and assets reflected as owned by it in the financial statements referred to in Section 1(n) above (or elsewhere in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus), if any, which is material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, in each case free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, lien, encumbrance, equity, adverse claim or other defect, except such as are described in each of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or such as do not materially and adversely affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its Subsidiaries. The real property, improvements, equipment, and personal property held under lease by the Company and its Subsidiaries which are material to the business to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as whole, are held under valid and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as are not material and do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such real property, improvements, equipment, or personal property by the Company and its Subsidiaries and except in each case as described in each of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(t) Tax Law Compliance. (i) Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company and its Subsidiaries have each filed all national, provincial, local and foreign income tax returns required to be filed as of the date of this Agreement or has timely and properly filed requested extensions thereof (except where the failure to file would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect) and has paid taxes required to be paid by them and, if due and payable, any related or similar assessment, fine or penalty levied against any of them in all material respects (except for cases in which the failure to pay would not have a Material Adverse Effect, or, except as currently being contested in good faith and for which reserves required by U.S. GAAP have been created in the financial statements of the Company). (ii) To the knowledge of the Company and its Subsidiaries, no tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that has had (nor does the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries have any notice or knowledge of any tax deficiency which could reasonably be expected to be determined adversely to the Company or its Subsidiaries and which could reasonably be expected to have) a Material Adverse Effect. (iii) The Company has made adequate charges, accruals and reserves in the applicable financial statements referred to in Section 1(n) above in respect of all national, provincial, local and foreign income taxes for all periods as to which the tax liability of the Company has not been finally determined. (iv) All local and national PRC governmental tax credit, exemptions, waivers, financial subsidies, and other local and national PRC tax relief, concessions and preferential treatment enjoyed by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are valid, binding and enforceable and do not violate any laws, regulations, rules, orders, decrees, guidelines, judicial interpretations, notices or other legislation of the PRC.
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(u) Company Not an “Investment Company.” The Company is not, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Offered Securities and the application of the proceeds as contemplated under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in each of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will not be, required to register as an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”).
(v) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to, or that might be reasonably expected to cause or result in, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Offered Securities.
(w) Related Party Transactions. There are no business relationships or related-party transactions, directly or indirectly, involving the Company or its Subsidiaries with any related person required to be described or filed in the Registration Statement, or described in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, that have not been as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and the Pricing Prospectus.
(x) Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company is not aware of (a) any significant deficiency in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data or any material weaknesses in internal controls over financial reporting or (b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.
(y) Company’s Accounting System. To the extent required, the Company maintains a system of accounting controls designed to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with the U.S. GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
(z) Money Laundering Law Compliance. The operations of the Company are and have been conducted at all times in material compliance with all applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the United States Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), and the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of jurisdictions where the Company conducts business, and the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any competent governmental agency (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company with respect to any Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(aa) No Accounting Issues. The Company has not received any notice, oral or written, from its Board of Directors stating that it is reviewing or investigating, and neither the Company’s independent auditors nor its internal auditors have recommended that the Board of Directors review or investigate, (i) adding to, deleting, changing the application of, or changing the Company’s disclosure with respect to, any of the Company’s material accounting policies; or (ii) any matter which could result in a restatement of the Company’s financial statements for any annual or interim period during the current or prior two fiscal years.
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(bb) OFAC. (i) Neither the Company, any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the best knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, employee or affiliate of the Company or any Subsidiary, is an individual or entity (“Person”) that is, or is owned 50% or more or controlled by a Person that is:
A. the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), the United Nations Security Council (“UNSC”), the European Union (“EU”), Her Majesty’s Treasury (“HMT”), or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor
B. located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions (including, without limitation, the Crimea region of Ukraine, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Russia and Syria).
(ii) The Company will not, directly, or indirectly, use the proceeds of the Offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary or affiliated entity, joint venture partner or other Person:
A. to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any Person or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of Sanctions; or
B. in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the Offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise).
(cc) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries to the best of the Company’s knowledge, any director, officer, employee or affiliate of the Company, any Subsidiary or any other person acting on behalf of the Company has, directly or indirectly, taken any action that (i) would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”) or otherwise subject the Company to any damage or penalty in any civil, criminal or governmental litigation or proceeding; (ii) if done in the past, might reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (iii) if continued in the future, might reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the assets, business, or operations of the Company. The foregoing includes, without limitation, giving or agreeing to give any money, gift or similar benefit (other than legal price concessions to customers in the ordinary course of business) official or employee of any governmental agency or instrumentality of any government (domestic or foreign) or other person who was, is, or may be in a position to help or hinder the business of the Company (or assist it in connection with any actual or proposed transaction).
(dd) Compliance with Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002. The Company, its Subsidiaries and the Company’s Board of Directors have taken all reasonably necessary actions to ensure that, upon the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, it the Company will be in compliance with any provision applicable to it of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 (the “Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act”) and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith, including, without limitation, Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act and all applicable rule of the Exchanges with which the Company is required to comply as of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.
(ee) Exchange Act Filing. A registration statement in respect of the Offered Securities has been filed on Form 8-A pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, which registration statement complies in all material respects with the Exchange Act, and the Company has taken no action designed to, or which to its knowledge is likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Offered Securities under the Exchange Act nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission is contemplating terminating such registration.
(ff) Forward-looking Statements. No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, or shall be contained in any amendments and supplements thereof, has been made, or will be made, without a reasonable basis as reasonably determined by the Company at the moment such a statement is made or will be made without a reasonable basis, or has been disclosed or will be disclosed other than in good faith.
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(gg) Foreign Tax Compliance. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no transaction, stamp, capital or other issuance, registration, transaction, transfer or withholding taxes or duties are payable in PRC, Hong Kong or Cayman Islands to any PRC, Hong Kong or Cayman Islands taxing authority in connection with the issuance, sale and delivery of the Offered Securities, and the delivery of the Offered Securities to or for the account of the Underwriters.
(hh) Compliance with PRC Overseas Investment and Listing Rules and Regulations. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company and its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable steps and requisite steps to cause each of the Company’s principal shareholders, directors and officers that is, or directly or indirectly controlled by, a PRC resident or citizen, to comply with any applicable rules and regulations of relevant PRC government agencies (including but not limited to the Ministry of Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”)), and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (“SAFE”)) relating to overseas investment by PRC residents and citizens (collectively, the “PRC Overseas Investment and Listing Rules and Regulations), including, without limitation, taking reasonable steps to require each such person that is, or is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by, a PRC resident or citizen, to complete any registration, to timely report material changes, and to complete other procedures required by any relevant PRC government agencies under any applicable PRC Oversea Investment and Listing Rules and Regulations.
(ii) M&A Rules. The Company is aware of and has been advised as to the content of the Rules on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors jointly promulgated by the Ministry of Commerce, the State Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the State Tax Administration, the State Administration of Industry and Commerce, the CSRC and SAFE on August 8, 2006, and amended on June 22, 2009 (the “M&A Rules”), in particular the relevant provisions thereof that purport to require offshore special purpose vehicles formed for the purpose of obtaining a stock exchange listing outside of the PRC and controlled directly or indirectly by companies or natural persons of the PRC, to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to the listing and trading of their securities on a stock exchange located outside of the PRC; the Company has received legal advice specifically with respect to the M&A Rules from its PRC counsel and based on such legal advice, the Company confirms with the Underwriters:
(i) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities, the listing and trading of the Offered Securities on the Nasdaq Global Market and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are not and will not be, as of the date hereof or at the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, materially affected by the M&A Rules or any official clarifications, guidance, interpretations or implementation rules in connection with or related to the M&A Rules as amended as of the date hereof (collectively, the “M&A Rules and Related Clarifications”).
(ii) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as of the date hereof, the M&A Rules and Related Classifications did not and do not require the Company to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities, the listing and trading of the Offered Securities on the Nasdaq Global Market, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(jj) CSRC Overseas Offering and Listing Rules. The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable and requisite steps to comply with the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies released by the CSRC on February 17, 2023 and effective as of March 31, 2023, and its No. 1 to No. 5 Supporting Guidance Rules, the Notes on the Trial Measures, the Notice on Administration Arrangements for the Filing of Overseas Listings by Domestic Companies and the relevant CSRC Answers to Reporter Questions (collectively, the “CSRC Overseas Offering and Listing Rules”), including, without limitation, to submit and complete the required filing with CSRC in connection with the Offering in accordance with the CSRC Overseas Offering and Listing Rules (the “CSRC Filing”), and to complete other procedures if required by the CSRC or any relevant PRC government agencies under the CSRC Overseas Offering and Listing Rules.
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The Company has delivered to the Representative copies of the documents submitted to the CSRC for CSRC-Filing purposes (including any amendment or supplement thereto, collectively, the “CSRC Filing Documents,” the CSRC Filing Documents, together with any and all supportive documents evidencing the truthfulness, accuracy and completeness thereof, shall be hereinafter referred to as the “CSRC Filing Materials”), in such quantities and at such places as the Representative has reasonably requested. The CSRC Filing Documents are identical in content to the copy thereof delivered to the Representative in connection with the CSRC Filing. Each of the CSRC Filing Materials does not contain any untrue statement of a fact or omit to state a fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or incomplete. No CSRC Filing Materials include any information that conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement, including any document incorporated by reference therein that has not been superseded or modified.
(kk) D&O Questionnaires. To the Company’s knowledge, all information contained in the questionnaires (the “Questionnaires”) completed by each of the Company’s directors and officers prior to the Offering (the “Insiders”) as well as in the Lock-up Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A provided to the Representative is true and correct in all respects and the Company has not become aware of any information which would cause the information disclosed in the Questionnaires completed by each Insider to become inaccurate and incorrect.
(ll) Solvency. Based on the consolidated financial condition of the Company as of each Closing Date, after giving effect to the receipt by the Company of the proceeds from the sale of the Offered Securities hereunder, the current cash flow of the Company, together with the proceeds the Company would receive, were to liquidate all of its assets, after taking into account all anticipated uses of the cash, are sufficient to pay all amounts on or in respect of its liabilities when such amounts are required to be paid. The Company does not intend to incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature (taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its debt). Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company has no knowledge of any facts or circumstances which lead it to believe that it will file for reorganization or liquidation under the bankruptcy or reorganization laws of any jurisdiction within one year from each Closing Date. The Registration Statement and the Prospectus set forth as of the date hereof all outstanding secured and unsecured Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary, or for which the Company or any Subsidiary has commitments. For the purposes of this Agreement, “Indebtedness” means (A) any liabilities for borrowed money or amounts owed in excess of $50,000 (other than trade accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (B) all guaranties, endorsements and other contingent obligations in respect of Indebtedness of others, whether or not the same are or should be reflected in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet (or the notes thereto), except guaranties by endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection or similar transactions in the ordinary course of business; and (C) the present value of any lease payments in excess of $50,000 due under leases required to be capitalized in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default with respect to any Indebtedness.
(mm) Regulation M Compliance. The Company has not, and to its knowledge no one authorized to act on its behalf has, (i) taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or to result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Offered Securities, (ii) sold, bid for, purchased, or, paid any compensation for soliciting purchases of, any of the Offered Securities, or (iii) paid or agreed to pay to any Person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Company, other than, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), compensation paid to the Underwriters in connection with the Offering.
(nn) EGC Status and Testing-the-Waters Communications. From the time of the initial confidential submission of the Registration Statement to the Commission (or, if earlier, the first date on which the Company engaged directly or through any person authorized to act on its behalf in any Testing-the-Waters Communication) through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company”, as defined in Section 2(a) of the Act (“Emerging Growth Company”). “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Act. The Company has not alone engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communications other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the consent of the Representative with entities that are qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act or institutions that are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act. The Company reconfirms that the Representative has been authorized to act on its behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company has not distributed any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications other than those filed with the Commission as free writing prospectuses and listed on Schedule B hereto. “Written Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act. As of the time of each sale of the Shares in connection with the offering when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, no individual Written Testing-the-Waters Communications, when considered together with the Pricing Prospectus, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; except that the representations and warranties set forth in this paragraph do not apply to statements or omissions in the Pricing Prospectus and any free writing prospectus based upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information is that described in Section 8(b).
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(oo) Margin Securities. The Company owns no “margin securities” as that term is defined in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve Board”), and none of the proceeds of Offering will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin security, for the purpose of reducing or retiring any Indebtedness which was originally incurred to purchase or carry any margin security or for any other purpose which might cause any of the Offered Securities to be considered a “purpose credit” within the meanings of Regulation T, U or X of the Federal Reserve Board.
(pp) Insurance. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which they are engaged; neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for; and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect; except in each case as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(qq) No Finder’s Fee. Except as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no contracts, agreements, or understandings between the Company or its Subsidiaries and any other person that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or its Subsidiaries or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or other like payment in connection with this Offering, or any other arrangements, agreements, understandings, payments, or issuance with respect to the Company, or its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective officers, directors, shareholders, partners, employees or related parties that may affect the Underwriters’ compensation as determined by FINRA.
(rr) No FINRA Affiliations. To the Company’s knowledge and except as disclosed to the Representative in writing, no (i) officer or director of the Company or its subsidiaries, (ii) owner of 5% or more of any class of the Company’s securities or (iii) owner of any amount of the Company’s unregistered securities acquired within the 180-day immediately prior to the date that the Registration Statement was initially filed to the Commission, has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member. The Company will advise the Representative and counsel to the Underwriters if it becomes aware that any such person described in (i) to (iii) under this section 1(ww) is or becomes an affiliate or associated person of a FINRA member participating in the offering.
(ss) Operating and Other Data. All operating and other data pertaining to the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus is true and accurate in all materials respects.
(tt) Third-party Data. Any statistical, industry-related and market-related data, which are included in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, is based on or derived from sources that the Company reasonably and in good faith believes to be reliable and accurate, and such data agrees with the sources from which it is derived, and the Company has obtained the written consent for the use of such data from such sources to the extent required.
(uu) Compliance with Environmental Laws. The Company and its Subsidiaries are (A) in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, national, provincial and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”), (B) have received and are in compliance with all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (C) have not received notice of any actual or potential liability for the investigation or remediation of any disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, except where such non-compliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals, or liability would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
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(vv) Compliance with Law, Constitutive Documents and Contracts. Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is (A) in breach or violation of any provision of applicable law (including, but not limited to, any applicable law concerning information collection and user privacy protection) or (B) in breach or violation of its respective constitutive documents, or (C) in default under (nor has any event occurred that, with notice, lapse of time or both, would result in any breach or violation of, constitute a default under or give the holder of any Indebtedness (or a person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a part of such Indebtedness under) any agreement or other instrument that is binding upon the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, or any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, except in the cases of (A) and (B) above, where any such breach, violation or default would not, individually or in aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ww) No Unlawful Influence. The Company has not offered, or caused the Underwriters to offer, shares to any person or entity with the intention of unlawfully influencing: (a) a customer or supplier of the Company or any affiliate of the Company to alter the customer’s or supplier’s level or type of business with the Company or such affiliate or (b) a journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company or any such affiliate.
(xx) Integration. Neither the Company, nor any of its affiliates, nor any person acting on its or their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would cause the Offering to be integrated with prior offerings by the Company for purposes of the Securities Act that would require the registration of any such securities under the Securities Act.
(yy) Foreign Private Issuer Status. The Company is a “foreign private issuer” within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Act.
(zz) Representation of Officers. Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company and delivered to the Representative or to counsel for the Representative shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the matters set forth therein. The Company acknowledges that the Underwriters and, for purposes of the opinions to be delivered pursuant to Section 6 hereof, counsel to the Company and the Underwriters, will rely upon the accuracy and truthfulness of the foregoing representations and hereby consents to such reliance.
SECTION 2. Firm Shares; Additional Shares.
(a) Purchase of Firm Shares. Based on the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the Underwriters an aggregate of 3,070,000 the Firm Shares at a purchase price (net of discounts) of $[•] per Share. The Underwriters agree to purchase from the Company the Firm Shares in such amounts as set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule A attached hereto and made a part hereof.
(b) Delivery of and Payment for Firm Shares. Issuance, delivery of and payment for the Firm Shares shall be made at 10:00 A.M., Eastern time, on the third business day following the Applicable Time, or at such time as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company, at a place (including remotely by facsimile or other electronic transmission) as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company. The time and date of delivery of and payment for the Firm Shares is called the “Closing Date.” The closing of the payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of the Firm Shares, is referred to herein as the “Closing.” Payment for the Firm Shares shall be made on the Closing Date by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds upon delivery to the Underwriters of certificates (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters) representing the Firm Shares (or if uncertificated through the full fast transfer facilities of the Depository Trust Company (the “DTC”)) for the account of the Underwriters. The Firm Shares shall be registered in such names and in such denominations as the Underwriters may request in writing at least two business days prior to the Closing Date. If certificated, the Company will permit the Underwriters to examine and package the Firm Shares for delivery at least one full business day prior to the Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Firm Shares except upon tender of payment by the Underwriters for all the Firm Shares.
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(c) Additional Shares. The Company hereby grants to the Underwriters an option (the “Over-allotment Option”) to purchase up to an additional 460,500 Ordinary Shares (the “Additional Shares”), in each case solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments of such securities, if any. The Over-allotment Option is exercised at the Underwriters’ sole discretion.
(d) Exercise of Over-allotment Option. The Over-allotment Option granted pursuant to Section 2(c) hereof may be exercised by the Representative on behalf of the Underwriters in whole or from time to time in part no later than 45 days after the date of this Agreement. The purchase price to be paid per Additional Shares shall be equal to the price per Firm Share in Section 2(a). The Underwriters shall not be under any obligation to purchase any Additional Shares prior to the exercise of the Over-allotment Option. The Underwriters shall not be under any obligation to purchase any Additional Shares prior to the exercise of the Over-allotment Option. The Over-allotment Option granted hereby may only be exercised by a formal written notice signed by authorized signature of the Representative setting forth the number of Additional Shares to be purchased and the date and time for delivery of and payment for the Additional Shares (the “Exercise Notice”). Any oral notice or email notice to the Company from the Representative shall be confirmed by the Exercise Notice via overnight mail or facsimile or other electronic transmission. Each date and time, if any, for delivery of and payment for the Additional Shares (the “Option Closing Date”), must be at least one business day after the Exercise Notice and shall not be later than five (5) full Business Days after the date of the notice or such other time as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Underwriters, at the offices of the Representative’s counsel at such other place (including remotely by facsimile or other electronic transmission) as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Underwriters. Upon exercise of the Over-allotment Option with respect to all or any portion of the Additional Shares, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (i) the Company shall become obligated to sell to the Underwriters the number of Additional Shares specified in such notice and (ii) the Underwriters shall purchase that portion of the total number of Additional Shares.
(e) Delivery and Payment of Additional Shares. Payment for the Additional Shares shall be made on the Option Closing Date by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds, upon delivery to the Underwriters of certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters) representing the Additional Shares (or through the facilities of DTC) for the account of the Underwriters. The Additional Shares shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Underwriters may request in writing at least two (2) full Business Days prior to the Option Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Additional Shares except upon tender of payment by the Underwriters for applicable Additional Shares. The Option Closing Date may be simultaneous with, but not earlier than, the Closing Date; and in the event that such time and date are simultaneous with the Closing Date, the term “Closing Date” shall refer to the time and date of delivery of the Firm Shares and Additional Shares.
(f) Underwriter’s Commission. In consideration of the services to be provided for hereunder, the Company shall pay to the Underwriters commission equals 7.0% of the gross proceeds from this Offering.
SECTION 3. Covenants of the Company.
The Company also covenants and agrees with each of the Underwriters as follows:
(a) Underwriter’s Review of Proposed Amendments and Supplements. During the period beginning at the Applicable Time and ending on the later of the Closing Date or such date as, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, the Prospectus is no longer required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by the Underwriters or selected dealers, including under circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act (the “Prospectus Delivery Period”), prior to amending or supplementing the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, including any amendment or supplement through incorporation by reference of any report filed under the Exchange Act, the Company shall furnish to the Underwriters for review a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement, and the Company shall not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Underwriters reasonably objects.
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(b) Securities Act Compliance. After the date of this Agreement, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company shall promptly advise the Underwriters in writing (i) of the receipt of any comments of, or requests for additional or supplemental information from, the Commission, (ii) of the time and date of any filing of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, (iii) of the time and date that any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective and (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or of any order or notice preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or of any proceedings to remove, suspend or terminate from listing or quotation the Offered Securities from any securities exchange upon which they are listed for trading or included or designated for quotation, or of the threatening or initiation of any proceedings for any of such purposes. If the Commission shall enter any such stop order or order or notice of prevention or suspension at any time, the Company will use its best efforts to obtain the lifting of such order at the earliest possible moment or will file a new registration statement and use its best efforts to have such new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable. Additionally, the Company agrees that it shall comply with the provisions of Rules 424(b) and 430A, as applicable, under the Securities Act, including with respect to the timely filing of documents thereunder and will confirm that any filings made by the Company under such Rule 424(b) were received in a timely manner by the Commission.
(c) Exchange Act Compliance. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, to the extent the Company becomes subject to reporting obligation under the Exchange Act, the Company will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15 of the Exchange Act in the manner and within the time periods required by the Exchange Act.
(d) Amendments and Supplements to the Registration Statement, Prospectus and Other Securities Act Matters. If, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, any event or development shall occur or condition exist as a result of which the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, as the case may be, not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend or supplement the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, as the case may be, not misleading, or if in the opinion of the Underwriters it is otherwise necessary to amend or supplement the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or to file a new registration statement containing the Prospectus, in order to comply with law, including in connection with the delivery of the Prospectus, the Company agrees to (i) notify the Underwriters of any such event or condition (unless such event or condition was previously brought to the Company’s attention by the Underwriters during the Prospectus Delivery Period) and (ii) promptly prepare (subject to Section 3(a) and Section 3(e) hereof), file with the Commission (and use its best efforts to have any amendment to the Registration Statement or any new registration statement to be declared effective) and furnish at its own expense to the Underwriters and to dealers, amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or any new registration statement, necessary in order to make the statements in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, as the case may be, not misleading or so that the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with law.
(e) Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company represents that it has not made, and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Underwriters, it will not make, any offer relating to the Offered Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433 under the Securities Act; provided that the prior written consent of the Underwriters hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of each free writing prospectuses listed on Schedule B hereto. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Underwriters is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company agrees that (i) it has treated and will treat, as the case may be, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and (ii) has complied and will comply, as the case may be, with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 under the Securities Act applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including in respect of timely filing with the Commission, legending and record keeping.
(f) Copies of any Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus. The Company agrees to furnish the Underwriters, without charge, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, as many copies of each of the preliminary prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package and any amendments and supplements thereto (including any documents incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference therein) as the Underwriters may reasonably request.
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(g) Use of Proceeds. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Offered Securities sold by it substantially in the manner described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(h) Transfer Agent. The Company shall engage and maintain, at its expense, a registrar and transfer agent for the Offered Securities.
(i) Internal Controls. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and Prospectus, the Company will maintain a system of internal accounting controls designed to provide reasonable assurances that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary in order to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The internal controls, upon consummation of the Offering, will be overseen by the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors in accordance with the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”). To the extent required, the Company will establish and maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act Regulations) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act upon the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.
(j) Exchange Listing. The Ordinary Shares have been duly authorized for listing on the Nasdaq Global Market, subject to official notice of issuance. Upon consummation of the Offering, the Company will be in material compliance with the provisions of the rules and regulations promulgated by Nasdaq and has no reason to believe that it will not in the foreseeable future continue to be, in compliance with all such listing and maintenance requirements (to the extent applicable to the Company as of the date hereof or the Closing Date; and subject to all exemptions and exceptions from the requirements thereof as are set forth therein, to the extent applicable to the Company). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing and subject to the qualifications above: (i) all members of the Company’s board of directors who are required to be “independent” (as that term is defined under applicable laws, rules and regulations), including, without limitation, all members of each of the audit committee, compensation committee and nominating and corporate governance committee of the Company’s board of directors, meet the qualifications of independence as set forth under such laws, rules and regulations, (ii) the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors has at least one member who is an “audit committee financial expert” (as that term is defined under such laws, rules and regulations), and (iii) that, based on discussions with Nasdaq, the Company meets all requirements for listing on the Nasdaq Global Market.
(k) Absence of Further Requirements. No consent, approval, authorization, or order of, or filing or registration with, any person (including any governmental or regulatory agency or body or any court) is required to be obtained or made by the Company for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in connection with the Offering, issuance and sale of the Offered Securities, except such as have been obtained, or made on or prior to the Closing Date, and are, or on the Closing Date will be, in full force and effect, including (i) under applicable blue sky laws in any jurisdiction in which the Offered Securities are offered and sold, (ii) under the rules and regulations of the FINRA, and (iii) under the CSRC Overseas Offering and Listing Rules. No authorization, consent, approval, license, qualification or order of, or filing or registration with any person (including any governmental agency or body or any court) in any foreign jurisdiction is required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in connection with the Offering, issuance and sale of the Offered Securities under the laws and regulations of such jurisdiction except such as have been obtained or made.
(l) Future Reports to the Underwriters. During the one-year period after the date of this Agreement, the Company will furnish, if not otherwise available on XXXXX, to the Representative pursuant to the addresses and contacts provided in Section 13 of this Agreement: (i) as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, copies of the Annual Report of the Company on Form 20-F containing the balance sheet of the Company as of the close of such fiscal year and statements of income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the year then ended and the opinion thereon of the Company’s independent public or certified public accountants; (ii) as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, copies of each proxy statement, interim financial statements using a Form 6-K or other report filed by the Company with the Commission; and (iii) as soon as available, copies of any report or communication of the Company mailed generally to holders of its shares.
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(m) No Manipulation of Price. The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or that has constituted or might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company.
(n) Existing Lock-up Agreements. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no existing agreements between the Company and its shareholders that prohibit the sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, or hypothecation of any of the Company’s Ordinary Shares. The Company will direct the transfer agent to place stop transfer restrictions upon the Ordinary Shares of the Company that are bound by such “lock-up” agreements for the duration of the periods contemplated therein.
(o) Company Lock-Up.
(a) The Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Representative, from the date of execution of this Agreement and continuing for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days after the date of the Prospectus (the “Lock-Up Period”), (i) offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to, any Ordinary Share or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Ordinary Shares, or (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Ordinary Shares or any such other securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Ordinary Shares or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, except to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement. The Company agrees not to accelerate the vesting of any option or warrant or the lapse of any repurchase right prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period.
(b) The restrictions contained in Section 3(o)(a)(i) hereof shall not apply to: (i) the Offered Securities to be sold hereunder, (ii) the issuance by the Company of Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of a stock option or warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on the date hereof and disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, provided that such securities have not been amended since the date of this Agreement to increase the number of such securities or to decrease the exercise price, exchange price or conversion price of such securities (other than in connection with stock splits or combinations) or to extend the term of such securities, (iii) the issuance by the Company, or the filing by the Company of a Registration Statement related thereto, of stock options or shares of the Company under any equity compensation plan of the Company disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus and (iv) securities issued pursuant to acquisitions or strategic transactions approved by a majority of the disinterested directors of the Company, provided that such securities are issued as “restricted securities” (as defined in Rule 144) and carry no registration rights that require or permit the filing of any registration statement in connection therewith during the Lock-Up Period and provided that any such issuance shall only be to a Person (or to the equity holders of a Person) which is, itself or through its subsidiaries, an operating company or an owner of an asset in a business synergistic with the business of the Company and shall provide to the Company additional benefits in addition to the investment of funds, but shall not include a transaction in which the Company is issuing securities primarily for the purpose of raising capital.
(p) Right of First Refusal. During the period ending twelve (12) months after the Closing Date, if and only if the closing of the purchase of the Firm Shares hereunder actually occurs, the Company grants Prime Number the right of first refusal (“Right of First Refusal”) to act as lead or joint investment banker, lead or joint book-runner, and/or lead or joint placement agent, for each and every future public offering, private placement, or other financing, including but not limited to, (i) any equity, equity-linked, debt or mezzanine financing or other investment in the Company (or any successor to or subsidiary of the Company) (including a secondary sale or offering by security holders effected with the Company’s assistance); or (ii) any tender offer or exchange offer for, debt, convertible debt securities, which is operated by the Company or any successor to, or any Subsidiary of the Company (each, a “Subject Transaction”); provided that the Right of First Refusal shall be contingent upon the written agreement by Prime Number to participate in any Subject Transaction upon the same terms and conditions which are set forth in a bona fide offer received by the Company from a third party for transactions of similar size and nature. At any time within five (5) days after receipt of a notification from the Company regarding a Subject Transaction, Prime Number may, by giving written notice to the Company, elect to exercise their Right of First Refusal. The failure of Prime Number to give such notice within such five-day period will be deemed an election not to exercise the Right of First Refusal. If Prime Number declines to exercise the Right of First Refusal, the Company shall have the right to retain any other person or persons to provide such services only for such specific Subject Transaction.
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(q) Earning Statements. The Company will make generally available (which includes filings pursuant to the Exchange Act made publicly through the XXXXX system) to its security holders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than 16 months after the end of the Company’s current fiscal year, an earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering a 12-month period that shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Rules and Regulations.
(r) Periodic Reporting Obligations. During the Prospectus Delivery Period (as defined above), the Company shall file, on a timely basis, with the Commission all reports and documents required to be filed under the Exchange Act. Additionally, the Company shall report the use of proceeds from the issuance of the Firm Shares as may be required under Rule 463 under the Securities Act.
SECTION 4. Payment of Fees and Expenses.
(a) The Company will pay the Representative a non-accountable expense allowance of one percent (1.0%) of the gross proceeds from the Offering upon the Closing of the Offering.
(b) Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company agrees to pay or cause to be paid reasonable, actual and accountable costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including without limitation to, (i) all expenses incident to the issuance and delivery of the Offered Securities (including all printing and engraving costs, if any), (ii) all fees and expenses of the clearing firm, registrar and transfer agent of the Offered Securities, (iii) all necessary issue, transfer and other stamp taxes in connection with the Offering, (iv) all fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel, independent public or certified public accountants and other advisors, (v) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, printing, filing, shipping and distribution of the Registration Statement (including financial statements, exhibits, schedules, consents and certificates of experts), each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto, and this Agreement, and (vi) the cost of printing or producing any memorandum, in connection with qualifying or registering (or obtaining exemptions from the qualification or registration of) all or any part of the Offered Securities for offer and sale under the state securities or blue sky laws.
(c) The Company will reimburse the Representative for all reasonable and necessary accountable out-of-pocket costs and expenses actually incurred by the Representative in connection with this Agreement or the offering contemplated hereunder (“Accountable Out-of-Pocket Expenses”), promptly upon receipt of the relevant invoices thereby, in an aggregate amount of up to $210,000, including but not limited to, (A) fees of legal counsel incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Offering; (B) travel expenses; and (C) background check fees. It is understood, however, that with respect to any Accountable Out-of-Pocket Expenses in excess of $5,000, other than for the matters in (A)-(C) of the foregoing sentence, the Representative shall promptly notify the Company and obtain the Company’s written pre-approval, in advance to the incurrence of such expenses, and that in no event shall the Company reimburse any Accountable Out-of-Pocket Expenses in excess of $5,000 without a written pre-approval. The Company has advanced an amount of $[25,000] (the “Advance”) to the Representative in anticipation of any Accountable Out-of-Pocket Expenses to be incurred by the Representative. The Representative shall promptly return to the Company the Advance against the Accountable Out-of-Pocket Expenses, to the extent that such Accountable Out-of-Pocket Expenses are not actually incurred in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(4).
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SECTION 5. Taxes.
(a) All sums payable by the Company under this Agreement shall be paid free and clear of and without deductions or withholdings of any present or future taxes or duties, unless the deduction or withholding is required by law, in which case the Company shall pay such additional amount as will result in the receipt by an Underwriter or the Representative (each a “Taxable Entity”) of the full amount that would have been received had no deduction or withholding been made; except that no additional amounts shall be payable in respect of (i) any reasonable taxes that would not have been imposed but for a present or former connection between the recipient of such payment and the applicable taxing jurisdiction other than a connection arising solely from such recipient having executed, delivered or performed its obligations, or received a payment, under this Agreement or from the enforcement of this Agreement or (ii) any taxes that would not have been imposed but for the failure of the recipient of such payment to use reasonable efforts to comply, upon commercially reasonable request by the Company, with any certification, identification or other reporting requirements concerning the nationality, residence, identity or connection with the taxing jurisdiction of the recipient if such compliance is required or imposed by law as a precondition to an exemption from, or reduction in, such taxes.
(b) All sums payable to a Taxable Entity shall be considered exclusive of any value added or similar taxes (“VAT”). Where the Company is obliged to pay VAT on any amount payable hereunder to a Taxable Entity, the Company shall, subject to receipt of an appropriate VAT invoice, pay in addition to the sum payable hereunder an amount of such VAT (at the same time and in the same manner as the payment to which such VAT relates).
(c) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, if a Taxable Entity is required by any PRC government authority to pay any taxes imposed by the PRC government or any administrative subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein (“PRC Taxes”) as a result of this Agreement, the Company will pay an additional amount to such Taxable Entity so that the full amount of such payments as agreed herein to be paid to such Taxable Entity is received by such Taxable Entity and will further, if requested by such Taxable Entity, use commercially reasonable efforts to give such assistance as such Taxable Entity may reasonably request to assist such Taxable Entity in discharging its obligations in respect of such PRC Taxes, including by making filings and submissions on such basis and such terms as such Taxable Entity may reasonably request, promptly making available to such Taxable Entity notices received from any PRC governmental authority and, subject to the receipt of funds from such Taxable Entity, by making payment of such funds on behalf of such Taxable Entity to the relevant PRC government authority in settlement of such PRC Taxes. In the event the Company must pay any such PRC Taxes to a relevant taxing authority, the Company shall forward to such Taxable Entity an official receipt or a copy of the official receipt issued by the taxing authority or other document evidencing such payment.
SECTION 6. Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Offered Securities as provided herein on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date shall be subject to (1) the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company set forth in Section 1 hereof as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date as though then made; (2) the timely performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder; (3) no objections from FINRA as to the amount of compensation allowable or payable to the Underwriters as described in the Registration Statement; and (4) each of the following additional conditions:
(a) Accountant’s Comfort Letter. On the date hereof, the Prime Number and JonesTrading shall have received from the Accountant, a letter dated the date hereof addressed to Prime Number and JonesTrading, in form and substance satisfactory to Prime Number and JonesTrading, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters, delivered according to Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72 (or any successor bulletin), with respect to the audited and unaudited financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
(b) Effectiveness of Registration Statement; Compliance with Registration Requirements; No Stop Order. During the period from and after the execution of this Agreement to and including the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as applicable:
(i) the Company shall have filed the Prospectus with the Commission (including the information required by Rule 430A under the Securities Act) in the manner and within the period required by Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act; or the Company shall have filed a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement containing the information required by such Rule 430A, and such post-effective amendment shall have become effective; and
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(ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, shall be in effect and no proceedings for such purpose shall have been instituted or threatened by the Commission.
(c) No Material Adverse Change. For the period from and after the date of this Agreement to and including the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as applicable, in the reasonable judgment of Prime Number and JonesTrading there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Change.
(d) Officer’s Certificate. On the Closing Date and/or the Option Closing Date, Prime Number and JonesTrading shall have received a written certificate executed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, dated as of such date, to the effect that the signer of such certificate have reviewed the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the CSRC Filing Documents and this Agreement, to the effect that, to the knowledge of such individual:
(i) The representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct, as if made on and as of such Closing Date, and the Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to such Closing Date;
(ii) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there has not been: (a) any Material Adverse Change; (b) any transaction that is material to the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, except transactions entered into in the ordinary course of business; (c) any obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, incurred by the Company or any Subsidiary, except obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business; (d) any material change in the share capital (except changes thereto resulting from the exercise of outstanding options or warrants or conversion of outstanding Indebtedness into Ordinary Shares of the Company) or outstanding Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary (except for the conversion of such Indebtedness into Ordinary Shares of the Company); (e) any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made on Ordinary Shares of the Company; or (f) any loss or damage (whether or not insured) to the property of the Company or any Subsidiary which has been sustained or will have been sustained which has a Material Adverse Effect.
(e) Secretary’s Certificate. On the Closing Date and/or the Option Closing Date, Prime Number and JonesTrading shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by the Secretary of the Company, dated such Closing Date, certifying: (i) that the Company’s memorandum and articles of association, as amended and restated, attached to such certificate is true and complete, has not been modified and is in full force and effect; (ii) that the resolutions of the Company’s board of directors relating to the Offering attached to such certificate are in full force and effect and have not been modified; and (iii) the good standing of the Company. The documents referred to in such certificate shall be attached to such certificate.
(f) Bring-down Comfort Letter. On the Closing Date and/or the Option Closing Date, Prime Number and JonesTrading shall have received from the Accountant, a letter dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to Prime Number and JonesTrading, to the effect that the Accountant reaffirms the statements made in the letter furnished by it pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 6, except that the specified date referred to therein for the carrying out of procedures shall be no more than three (3) business days prior to the Closing Date and/or the Option Closing Date.
(g) Lock-up Agreement from Certain Security Holders of the Company. On or prior to the date hereof, the Company shall have furnished to Prime Number and JonesTrading an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto from each of the Company’s officers, directors, security holders of five (5%) or more of the Company’s Ordinary Shares or securities convertible into or exercisable for Ordinary Share prior to the Offering listed on Schedule D hereto.
(h) Exchange Listing. The Offered Securities to be delivered on the Closing Date and/or the Option Closing Date shall have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq Global Market, subject to official notice of issuance.
(i) CSRC Filing. The Company shall have completed with CSRC the CSRC Filing in connection with the Offering in accordance with the CSRC Overseas Offering and Listing Rules, and obtained the official notice of the completion of the CSRC Filing from CSRC (the “CSRC Filing Completion Notice”). Upon consummation of the CSRC Filing, the Company shall continue to be in compliance with the CSRC Overseas Offering and Listing Rules.
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(j) Company Counsel Opinions. On the Closing Date and/or the Option Closing Date, Prime Number and JonesTrading shall have received:
(i) | the opinion of DLA Piper UK LLP, U.S. counsel to the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Prime Number and JonesTrading, including negative assurance language; |
(ii) | the opinion of Beijing Dacheng Law Offices, LLP, PRC counsel to the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Prime Number and JonesTrading; and |
(iii) | the opinion of Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx (Hong Kong) LLP, Cayman Islands counsel to the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Prime Number and JonesTrading. |
(k) Negative Assurance Letter of Underwriter(s) Counsel; PRC Counsel Opinion. ArentFox Schiff, LLP, the counsel to the Underwriters, shall have furnished to Prime Number and JonesTrading its negative assurance letter, addressed to Prime Number and JonesTrading and dated the Closing Date and/or Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents and information as such counsel may reasonably request to enable them to pass on such matters. PacGate Law Group, the PRC counsel to the Underwriters, shall have furnished to Prime Number and JonesTrading its opinion addressed to Prime Number and JonesTrading and dated the Closing Date and/or Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents and information as such counsel may reasonably request to enable them to pass on such matters.
(l) Additional Documents. On or before the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as applicable, the Representative and counsel for the Representative shall have received such information, documents and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purposes of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities as contemplated herein, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations and warranties, or the satisfaction of any of the conditions or agreements, herein contained.
If any condition specified in this Section 6 is not satisfied when and as required to be satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated by Prime Number and JonesTrading by written notice to the Company at any time on or prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as applicable, which termination shall be without liability on the part of any party to any other party, except that Section 4 (with respect to the reimbursement of out-of-pocket accountable, bona fide expenses actually incurred by the Representative) and Section 8 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.
SECTION 7. Effectiveness of this Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution of this Agreement by the parties hereto.
SECTION 8. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriters, their respective affiliates within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act and each of their respective directors, officers, members, employees and agents and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriters within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (collectively, the “Underwriter Indemnified Parties,” and each a “Underwriter Indemnified Party”) from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (including in settlement of any litigation if such settlement is effected with the prior written consent of the Company) arising out of (i) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or Disclosure Package, including the information deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement at the time of effectiveness and at any subsequent time pursuant to Rules 430A and 430B of the Securities Act Regulations, or arise out of or are based upon the omission from the Registration Statement or Disclosure Package, or alleged omission to state therein, a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; (ii) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any other materials used in connection with the Offering, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or (iii) an untrue or inaccurate statement or alleged untrue or inaccurate statement of a fact contained in the CSRC Filing Materials, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or incomplete, and shall advance payment to such Underwriter Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by it in connection with evaluating, investigating or defending against such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, expense or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement in, or omission from any preliminary prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any other materials used in connection with the Offering made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information. The indemnification and advancement obligations under this Section 8(a) are not exclusive and will be in addition to any liability, which the Underwriters might otherwise have and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available at law or in equity to each Underwriter Indemnified Party.
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(b) Indemnification by the Underwriters. The Underwriters shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Company’s affiliates and each of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (collectively the “Company Indemnified Parties” and each a “Company Indemnified Party”) from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (including in settlement of any litigation if such settlement is effected with the prior written consent of the Underwriters) arising out of (i) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act Regulations, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or (ii) the omission to state in any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act Regulations, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information and shall reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or preparing to defend or defending against or appearing as third party witness in connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability, action, investigation or proceeding, as such fees and expenses are incurred. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8(b), in no event shall any indemnity by the Underwriters under this Section 8(b) exceed the total discounts received by the Underwriters in connection with the Offering. The indemnification obligations under this Section 8(b) are not exclusive and will be in addition to any liability, which the Company might otherwise have and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available at law or in equity to each Company Indemnified Party.
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(c) Procedure. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, the indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify such indemnifying party in writing of the commencement of that action; provided, however, that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have under this Section 8 except to the extent it has been materially adversely prejudiced by such failure; and, provided, further, that the failure to notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 8. If any such action shall be brought against an indemnified party, and it shall notify the indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense of such action, retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party (which counsel shall not, except with the written consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party) and pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. After notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense of such action, except as provided herein, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to the indemnified party under Section 8(a) or 8(b), as applicable, for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense of such action other than reasonable costs of investigation or defense of any such action or claim; provided, however, that any indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action and to participate in the defense of such action but the fees and expenses of such separate counsel (other than reasonable costs of investigation) shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the employment thereof has been specifically authorized in writing by the Company in the case of a claim for indemnification under Section 8(a), (ii) such indemnified party shall have been advised by its counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, or (iii) the indemnifying party has failed to assume the defense of such action and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party within a reasonable period of time after notice of the commencement of the action or the indemnifying party does not diligently defend the action after assumption of the defense, in which case, if such indemnified party notifies the indemnifying party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of (or, in the case of a failure to diligently defend the action after assumption of the defense, to continue to defend) such action on behalf of such indemnified party and the indemnifying party shall be responsible for reasonable legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense of such action; provided, however, that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one such action or separate but substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys at any time for any such indemnified party (in addition to any local counsel), which firm shall be designated in writing by the Underwriters if the indemnified party under this Section 8 is an Underwriter Indemnified Party or by the Company if an indemnified party under this Section 8 is a Company Indemnified Party. Subject to this Section 8(c), the amount payable by an indemnifying party under Section 8 shall include, but not be limited to, (x) reasonable legal fees and expenses of counsel to the indemnified party and any other expenses in investigating, or preparing to defend or defending against, or appearing as a third party witness in respect of, or otherwise incurred in connection with, any action, investigation, proceeding or claim, and (y) all amounts paid in settlement of any of the foregoing. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of judgment with respect to any pending or threatened action or any claim whatsoever, in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 8 (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party. Subject to the provisions of the following sentence, no indemnifying party shall be liable for settlement of any pending or threatened action or any claim whatsoever that is effected without its written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), but if settled with its written consent, if its consent has been unreasonably withheld or delayed or if there be a judgment for the plaintiff in any such matter, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. In addition, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested that an indemnifying party reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated herein effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the request for reimbursement, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.
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(d) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 8(a) or Section 8(b), then each indemnifying party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid, payable or otherwise incurred by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage, expense or liability (or any action, investigation or proceeding in respect thereof), as incurred, (i) in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other hand from the Offering, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) of this Section 8(d) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) of this Section 8(d) but also the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other with respect to the statements, omissions, acts or failures to act which resulted in such loss, claim, damage, expense or liability (or any action, investigation or proceeding in respect thereof) as well as any other relevant equitable considerations as determined in a final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other with respect to such offering shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total proceeds from the Offering purchased by investors as contemplated by this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts received by the Underwriters in connection with the Offering, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement, omission, act or failure to act; provided that the parties hereto agree that the written information furnished to the Company by the Underwriters for use in any preliminary prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, consists solely of the Underwriter Information. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 8(d) be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, damage, expense, liability, action, investigation or proceeding referred to above in this Section 8(d) shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this Section 8(d), any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating, preparing to defend or defending against or appearing as a third party witness in respect of, or otherwise incurred in connection with, any such loss, claim, damage, expense, liability, action, investigation or proceeding. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8(d), the Underwriters shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the total discounts received in cash by the Underwriters in connection with the Offering less the amount of any damages that the Underwriters have otherwise paid or become liable to pay by reason of any untrue or alleged untrue statement, omission or alleged omission, act or alleged act or failure to act or alleged failure to act. No person, guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
SECTION 9. Termination of this Agreement. Prior to the Closing Date, whether before or after notification by the Commission to the Company of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Securities Act, this Agreement may be terminated by the Underwriters by written notice given to the Company if at any time (i) trading or quotation in the Company’s Ordinary Shares shall have been suspended or limited by the Commission or by Nasdaq, or in the event Nasdaq refuses to initiate trading or ceases trading of the Company’s Ordinary Shares in advance of settlement, in which case the Underwriters shall have the right to terminate the Offering and return all funds invested in the Offering to the investors; (ii) a general banking moratorium shall have been declared by any U.S. federal authorities; (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of national or international hostilities or any crisis or calamity, or any change in the United States or international financial markets, or any substantial change or development involving a prospective substantial change in United States’ or international political, financial or economic conditions that, in the reasonable judgment of the Underwriters, is material and adverse and makes it impracticable to market the Offered Securities in the manner and on the terms described in the Prospectus or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Offered Securities; or (vi) if the Representative shall have become aware after the date hereof of such a material adverse change in the conditions or prospects of the Company, or such adverse material change in general market conditions as in the Representative’s judgment would make it impracticable to proceed with the offering, sale and/or delivery of the Offered Securities or to enforce contracts made by the Underwriters for the sale of the Offered Securities. Any termination pursuant to this Section 9 shall be without liability on the part of (a) the Company to any of the Underwriters, except that the Company shall be, subject to demand by the Underwriters, obligated to reimburse the Underwriters for only those reasonable, necessary and properly documented Accountable Out-of-Pocket Expenses in accordance with Section 4(c), actually incurred by the Underwriters in connection herewith as allowed under FINRA Rule 5110, less any amounts previously paid by the Company; provided, however, that all such Accountable Out-of-Pocket Expenses shall not exceed $210,000 in the aggregate, (b) the Underwriters to the Company, or (c) of any party hereto to any other party except that the provisions of Section 4 (with respect to the reimbursement of reasonable, necessary and properly documented Accountable Out-of-Pocket Expenses actually incurred by the Underwriters herewith) and Section 8 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.
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SECTION 10. No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. The Company hereby acknowledges that the Underwriters are acting solely as underwriters in connection with the Offering. The Company further acknowledges that the Underwriters are acting pursuant to a contractual relationship created solely by this Agreement entered into on an arm’s-length basis and in no event do the parties intend that the Underwriters act or be responsible as a fiduciary to the Company, its management, shareholders, creditors or any other person in connection with any activity that the Underwriters may undertake or have undertaken in furtherance of the Offering, either before or after the date hereof. The Underwriters hereby expressly disclaim any fiduciary or similar obligations to the Company, either in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions, and the Company hereby confirms its understanding and agreement to that effect. The Company hereby further confirms its understanding that no Underwriter has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the Offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto, including, without limitation, any negotiation related to the pricing of the Offered Securities; and the Company has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate in connection with this Agreement and the Offering. The Company and the Underwriters agree that they are each responsible for making their own independent judgments with respect to any such transactions, and that any opinions or views expressed by the Underwriters to the Company regarding such transactions, including but not limited to any opinions or views with respect to the price or market for the Company’s securities, do not constitute advice or recommendations to the Company. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company may have against the Underwriters with respect to any breach or alleged breach of any fiduciary or similar duty and agrees that the Underwriters shall have no liability to the Company in respect of such a fiduciary duty claim or to any person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on behalf of or in right of the Company, including shareholders, employees or creditors of the Company.
SECTION 11. Underwriter Default.
(a) If, on the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date, as the case may be, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall default in its or their obligation to purchase Offered Securities that it has or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and if the Offered Securities with respect to which such default relates (the “Default Securities”) do not (after giving effect to arrangements, if any, made by the Representative pursuant to subsection (b) below) exceed 10% of the aggregate number of the Offered Securities to be purchased on such date, each non-defaulting Underwriter, acting severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company that number of Default Securities that bears the same proportion to the total number of Default Securities then being purchased as the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter on Schedule A hereto bears to the aggregate number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the names of the non-defaulting Underwriters; subject, however, to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the Representative in its sole discretion shall make.
(b) In the event that the aggregate number of Default Securities exceeds 10% of the aggregate number of the Offered Securities to be purchased on such date, the Representative may in its discretion arrange for itself or for another party or parties (including any non-defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters who so agree) to purchase the Default Securities on the terms contained herein. In the event that within three (3) calendar days after such a default the Representative does not arrange for the purchase of the Default Securities as provided in this Section 11, this Agreement shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of the Company with respect thereto (except in each case as provided in Sections 4, 8, 9, 11 and 12) or the Underwriters, but nothing in this Agreement shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters of their liability, if any, to the other Underwriters and the Company for damages occasioned by its or their default hereunder.
(c) In the event that any Default Securities are to be purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters, or are to be purchased by another party or parties as aforesaid, the Representative or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date for a period, not exceeding five (5) Business Days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or in any other documents and arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which, in the reasonable opinion of Underwriters’ counsel, may be necessary or advisable. The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any party substituted under this Section 11 with like effect as if it had originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to such Default Securities.
SECTION 12. Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery; Third Party Beneficiaries. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company, of its officers, and of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Underwriters or the Company or any of its or their partners, officers or directors or any controlling person, as the case may be, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Offered Securities sold hereunder and any termination of this Agreement.
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SECTION 13. Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing (effective only upon receipt) and shall be mailed, hand delivered, emailed or telecopied and confirmed to the parties hereto as follows:
If to the Underwriters:
Prime Number Capital LLC
12E 49th St, 27/F
New York, NY 10017
Attn: [•]
Email: [•]
JonesTrading Institutional Services LLC
000 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Attn: [•]
Email: [•]
With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
ArentFox Schiff, LLP
0000 X Xxxxxx, XX
Washington, DC 20006
Attn: Xxxxx Xx Xxxxxxx, Esq.
Email: xxxxx.xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx
If to the Company:
Xxxxx XX Limited
Room 5A01, 4th Floor,
Air China Building, Xiaoyun Road,
Sanyuanqiao, Chaoyang District,
Beijing 100027, China
Attn: Xxxx Xxxx
Email: xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx
With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
DLA Piper UK LLP
20th Floor, South Tower, Xxxxx Center
Xx.0 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Beijing, China 100020
Attn: Xxxx Xx, Esq.
Email: xxxx.xx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving written notice to the others.
SECTION 14. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and to the benefit of the employees, officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 8, and in each case their respective successors, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder. The term “successors” shall not include any purchaser of the Offered Securities as such merely by reason of such purchase.
SECTION 15. Partial Unenforceability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other Section, paragraph, or provision hereof. If any Section, paragraph, or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.
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SECTION 16. Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Trial by Jury. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the choice of law or conflict of laws principles thereof.
Any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of, or relating in any way to this Agreement, the Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the offering of the Offered Securities (each, a “Related Proceeding”) shall be brought and enforced in the New York Supreme Court, County of New York, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (each, a “New York Court”), and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. To the extent that the Company has or hereafter may acquire any immunity (on the grounds of sovereignty or otherwise) from the jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process with respect to itself or its property, the Company irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, such immunity in respect of any such suit, action or proceeding. The Company hereby irrevocably appoints Cogency Global Inc., with offices at 000 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 as its agent for service of process in any Related Proceeding and agrees that service of process in any such Related Proceeding may be made upon it at the office of such agent. The Company and the Underwriters agree that the prevailing party(ies) in any such action shall be entitled to recover from the other party(ies) all its reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses relating to such action or proceeding and/or incurred in connection with the preparation therefor as determined in a final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction. The Company and the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION 17. Enforceability of Judgment. The Company agrees that any final judgment against the Company for a fixed or readily calculable sum of money rendered by a New York Court having jurisdiction under its own domestic laws in respect of any suit, action or proceeding against the Company based upon this Agreement or any transaction contemplated herein and therein would be recognized and enforced, without re-examination or review of the merits of the underlying dispute by the courts of the Cayman Islands or the PRC, or the cause of action in respect of which the original judgment was given or re-litigation of the matters adjudicated upon, by an action commenced on the foreign judgment debt in the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands or the courts of the PRC, provided that (i) with respect to Grand Court of the Cayman Islands (a) such New York Court had proper jurisdiction over the parties subject to such judgment; (b) such judgment was not obtained in a manner and is not of a kind the enforcement of which is contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands; (c) such judgment was not impeachable on the grounds of fraud; (d) such judgment is not in respect of taxes, a fine or a penalty; (e) such judgement is final and conclusive; and (f) such judgment is not inconsistent with a judgement in the Cayman Islands in respect of the same matter, and (ii) with respect to courts of the PRC, (A) adequate service of process has been effected and the defendant has had a reasonable opportunity to be heard, (B) such judgments or the enforcement thereof are not contrary to the law, public policy, security or sovereignty of the PRC, (C) such judgments were not obtained by fraudulent means and do not conflict with any other valid judgment in the same matter between the same parties and (D) an action between the same parties in the same matter is not pending in any PRC court at the time the lawsuit is instituted in a foreign court, (E) PRC has international treaties or the principle of reciprocity providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments of such New York courts and such judgment has been reviewed by the courts of the PRC pursuant such treaties or the principle of reciprocity, and (F) such judgment is a final and legally effective judgment rendered by the New York Court. The Company is not aware of any reason why the enforcement in the Cayman Islands or the PRC of such a New York Court judgment would be, as of the date hereof, contrary to natural justice of the public policy of the Cayman Islands or the PRC.
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SECTION 18. General Provisions. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings, and negotiations with respect to the Offering. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, it is understood and agreed by the parties hereto that all other terms and conditions of that certain engagement letter between the Company and Prime Number dated as of May 4, 2023 shall remain in full force and effect. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit. The section headings herein are for the convenience of the parties only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.
Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that it is a sophisticated businessperson who was adequately represented by counsel during negotiations regarding the provisions hereof, including, without limitation, the indemnification and contribution provisions of Section 8, and is fully informed regarding said provisions. Each of the parties hereto further acknowledges that the provisions of Section 8 hereto fairly allocate the risks in light of the ability of the parties to investigate the Company, its affairs and its business in order to assure that adequate disclosure has been made in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus (and any amendments and supplements thereto), as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
The respective indemnities, contribution agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company and the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any investigation, or statement as to the results thereof, made by or on behalf of the Underwriters, the officers or employees of the Underwriters, any person controlling any of the Underwriters, the Company, the officers or employees of the Company, or any person controlling the Company, (ii) acceptance of the Offered Securities and payment for them as contemplated hereby and (iii) termination of this Agreement.
[Signature Page Follows]
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company the enclosed copies hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts hereof, shall become a binding agreement in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours, | ||
Xxxxx XX Limited | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by the Underwriters as of the date first above written.
For itself and on behalf of the several | ||
Underwriters listed on Schedule A hereto | ||
PRIME NUMBER CAPITAL LLC | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
JONESTRADING INSTITUTIONAL SERVICES LLC | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
SCHEDULE A
Underwriters |
Number of Firm Shares | |||
Prime Number Capital LLC |
[ | •] | ||
JonesTrading Institutional Services LLC |
[ | •] | ||
Total |
Schedule A-1
SCHEDULE B
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus(es)
Schedule B-1
SCHEDULE C
Pricing Information
Schedule C-1
SCHEDULE D
Lock-Up Parties
Schedule D-1
SCHEDULE E
SIGNIFICANT SUBSIDIARIES
Schedule E-1
EXHIBIT A
Form of Lock-up Agreement
Exhibit A-1