YONGYE INTERNATIONAL, INC. Common Stock UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
8,000,000
Shares
Common
Stock
December
17, 2009
Xxxx
Capital Partners, LLC
00
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
Xxxxxxxxxxx
& Co. Inc.
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx,
XX 00000
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
Yongye International, Inc., a
Nevada corporation (the “Company”), proposes,
subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to issue and sell to Xxxx
Capital Partners, LLC and Xxxxxxxxxxx & Co. Inc. (each, an “Underwriter,” and
together the “Underwriters”) an
aggregate of 8,000,000 authorized but unissued shares (the “Underwritten Shares”)
of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), of
the Company. The
Company has granted the Underwriters the option to purchase an aggregate of up
to 1,200,000 additional shares of Common Stock (the “Additional Shares”)
as may be necessary to cover over-allotments made in connection with the
offering. The Underwritten Shares and the Additional Shares are
collectively referred to as the “Shares.”
The
Company and the Underwriters hereby confirm their agreement as
follows:
1. Registration
Statement and Prospectus. The Company has prepared and filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a
registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-163388) under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and
the rules and regulations (the “Rules and
Regulations”) of the Commission thereunder, such amendments to such
registration statement (including post effective amendments) as may have been
required to the date of this Agreement and a preliminary prospectus supplement
or “red xxxxxxx” pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities
Act. Such registration statement, as amended (including any post
effective amendments) has been declared effective by the
Commission. Such registration statement, including amendments thereto
(including post effective amendments thereto) at such time, the exhibits and any
schedules thereto at such time, the documents incorporated by reference therein
pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act at such time and the
documents and information otherwise deemed to be a part thereof or included
therein by Rule 430B under the Securities Act or otherwise pursuant to the Rules
and Regulations at such time, is herein called the “Registration
Statement.” If the Company has filed or files an abbreviated
registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the
“Rule 462 Registration
Statement”), then any reference herein to the term Registration Statement
shall include such Rule 462 Registration Statement.
1
The
Company is filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities
Act a final prospectus supplement relating to the Shares to a form of prospectus
included in the Registration Statement. Such prospectus in the form
in which it appears in the Registration Statement is hereinafter called the
“Base
Prospectus,” and such final prospectus supplement as filed, along with
the Base Prospectus, is hereinafter called the “Final
Prospectus.” Such Final Prospectus and any preliminary
prospectus supplement or “red xxxxxxx,” in the form in which they shall be filed
with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act (including
the Base Prospectus as so supplemented) is hereinafter called a “Prospectus.” Any
reference herein to the Base Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or a Prospectus
shall be deemed to include the documents incorporated by reference therein
pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act as of the date of such
Prospectus.
For
purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, the
Rule 462 Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Final Prospectus, a
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be
deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Interactive
Data Electronic Applications system and all information incorporated by
reference therein. All references in this Agreement to financial
statements and schedules and other information which is “described,”
“contained,” “included,” or “stated” in the Registration Statement, the Rule 462
Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or the
Prospectus (or other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and
include all such financial statements, pro forma financial information and
schedules and other information which is incorporated by reference in or
otherwise deemed by the Rules and Regulations to be a part of or included in the
Registration Statement, the Rule 462 Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus
or a Prospectus, as the case may be; and all references in this Agreement
to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Rule 462
Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or the
Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include the subsequent filing of any
document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”), that is deemed to be incorporated therein by reference
therein or otherwise deemed by the Rules and Regulations to be a part
thereof.
2. Representations
and Warranties of the Company Regarding the Offering.
(a) The
Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Underwriters, as of the
date hereof and as of the Closing Date (as defined in Section 5(c) below),
except as otherwise indicated, as follows:
2
(i) At
each time of effectiveness, at the date hereof and at the Closing Date, the
Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto complied or will
comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and
the Rules and 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 Base Prospectus, the Prospectus most recently filed
with the Commission and the Final Prospectus (the “Time of Sale Disclosure
Package”) as of such time on the date hereof and at the Closing Date, any
roadshow or investor presentations delivered to and approved by the Underwriters
for use in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Shares (the
“Marketing
Materials”) as of the time of their use and at the Closing Date, and the
Final Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, as of its date, at the time of
filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act and at the Closing Date,
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, 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 shall not apply to statements in or
omissions from the Registration Statement or any Prospectus in reliance upon,
and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by the
Underwriters specifically for use in the preparation thereof, which written
information is described in Section 8(f). The Registration Statement (including
each document incorporated by reference therein) contains all exhibits and
schedules required to be filed by the Securities Act or the Rules and
Regulations. No order preventing or suspending the effectiveness or
use of the Registration Statement or any Prospectus 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.
(ii) The
documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of
Sale Disclosure Package and any Prospectus, when they became effective or were
filed with the Commission, as the case may be, conformed in all material
respects to the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as
applicable, and, to the extent then applicable, the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act,
including in each case, the rules and regulations thereunder, were filed on a
timely basis with the Commission and none of such documents, when they were
filed (or, if amendments to such documents were filed, when such amendments were
filed), contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a
material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Any further documents
so filed and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time
of Sale Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus, when such documents are
filed with the Commission, will conform in all material respects to the
requirements of the Exchange Act, and will not contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
(iii) The
Company certifications required by Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14 under the Exchange
Act and Sections 302 and 906 of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act that are contained in the
documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of
Sale Disclosure Package and any Prospectus complied with such laws and the rules
and regulations thereunder.
(iv) The
Company has not distributed any prospectus or other offering material in
connection with the offering and sale of the Shares other than the Time of Sale
Disclosure Package and the Marketing Materials. The Company has not made and
will not make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute an “issuer
free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act, or
that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule
405 under the Securities Act, required to be filed with the
Commission.
3
(v) The
financial statements of the Company, together with the related notes, included
or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale
Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus comply in all material respects with
the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and
fairly present the financial condition of the Company as of the dates indicated
and the results of operations and changes in cash flows for the periods therein
specified in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
consistently applied throughout the periods involved; and the supporting
schedules included in the Registration Statement present fairly the information
required to be stated therein. No other financial statements, pro
forma financial information or schedules are required under the Securities Act
to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the
Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus. To the
Company’s knowledge, (A) MSPC Certified Public Accounts and Advisers, P.C.,
which has expressed its opinion with respect to the annual financial statements
and schedules for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 filed as a part of the
Registration Statement and included in the Registration Statement, the Time of
Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus is an independent public
accounting firm with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Securities
Act and the Rules and Regulations, (B) Patrizo & Zhao, LLC, which has
expressed its opinion with respect to the annual financial statements and
schedules for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 filed as a part of the
Registration Statement and included in the Registration Statement, the Time of
Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus is an independent registered
public accounting firm with respect to the Company within the meaning of the
Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations, and (C) KPMG Huazhen, the
Company’s current auditor, is an independent public accounting firm with respect
to the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Rules and
Regulations.
(vi) The
Company had a reasonable basis for, and made in good faith, each
“forward-looking statement” (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Act or
Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Final
Prospectus, and each “forward-looking statement” contained in the Marketing
Materials and the press release issued by the Company on December 8, 2009 (the
“Press
Release”).
(vii) All
statistical or market-related data included or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Final
Prospectus, or included in the Marketing Materials, are based on or derived from
sources that the Company reasonably believes to be reliable and accurate, and
the Company has obtained the written consent to the use of such data from such
sources, to the extent required.
(viii) The
Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is
included or approved for inclusion on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. There is
no action pending by the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, the NASDAQ
Global Select Market to delist the Common Shares from the NASDAQ Global Select
Market, nor has the Company received any notification that the NASDAQ Global
Select Market is
contemplating terminating such listing. When issued, the Shares will
be listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market.
4
(ix) The
Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action that is designed to or
that has constituted or that would reasonably be expected to cause or result in
the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to
facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.
(x) The
Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares
and the application of the net proceeds thereof, will not be an “investment
company,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended.
(xi) The
Company was at the time of filing the Registration Statement, and at the date
hereof, remains eligible to use Form S-3 under the Securities Act.
(b) Any
certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the
Underwriters or to the Underwriters’ counsel shall be deemed a representation
and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the matters covered
thereby.
3. Representations
and Warranties Regarding the Company.
(a) The
Company represents and warrants to and agrees with, the Underwriters as
follows:
(i) Each
of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly organized and is validly
existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of
incorporation. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has the corporate power
and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as currently being
carried on and as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale
Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business as a
foreign corporation in good standing in each jurisdiction in which it owns or
leases real property or in which the conduct of its business makes such
qualification necessary and in which the failure to so qualify would have or is
reasonably likely to result in a material adverse effect upon the business,
prospects, properties, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or results
of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or in its
ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement (“Material Adverse
Effect”).
(ii) The
Company has the power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to
authorize, issue and sell the Shares as contemplated by this
Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company, and constitutes a valid, legal and binding obligation
of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms,
except as rights to indemnity hereunder may be limited by federal or state
securities laws and except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors
generally and subject to general principles of equity.
5
(iii) The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of
the transactions herein contemplated will not (A) result in a breach or
violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under,
any law, rule or regulation to which the Company or any subsidiary is subject,
or by which any property or asset of the Company or any subsidiary is bound or
affected, (B) conflict with, result in any violation or breach of, or constitute
a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a
default) under, or give to others any right of termination, amendment,
acceleration or cancellation (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) of,
any agreement, lease, credit facility, debt, note, bond, mortgage, indenture or
other instrument (the “Contracts”) or
obligation or other understanding to which the Company or any subsidiary is a
party of by which any property or asset of the Company or any subsidiary is
bound or affected, except to the extent that such conflict, default,
termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation right is not reasonably
likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (C) result in a breach or
violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under,
the Company’s charter or by-laws.
(iv) Neither
the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation, breach or default under
its certificate of incorporation, by-laws or other equivalent organizational or
governing documents.
(v) All
consents, approvals, orders, authorizations and filings required on the part of
the Company and its subsidiaries in connection with the execution, delivery or
performance of this Agreement have been obtained or made, other than such
consents, approvals, orders and authorizations the failure of which to make or
obtain is not reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
(vi) All
of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are duly
authorized and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and have been
issued in compliance with all applicable securities laws, and conform to the
description thereof in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure
Package and the Prospectus. Except for the issuances of options or
restricted stock in the ordinary course of business, since the respective dates
as of which information is provided in the Registration Statement, the Time of
Sale Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, the Company has not entered into or
granted any convertible or exchangeable securities, options, warrants,
agreements, contracts or other rights in existence to purchase or acquire from
the Company any shares of the capital stock of the Company. The
Shares, when issued, will be duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid
and nonassessable, will be issued in compliance with all applicable securities
laws, and will be free of preemptive, registration or similar
rights.
(vii) The
Company and its subsidiaries have implemented and maintain disclosure controls
and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the
Exchange Act), and such controls and procedures are effective to ensure that
(A) all material information required to be disclosed by the Company in the
reports that it files under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized
and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and
forms, and (B) all such information is accumulated and communicated to the
Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal
financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required
disclosure.
6
(viii) The
Company and its subsidiaries have implemented and maintain a system of internal
control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)
under the Exchange Act) sufficient to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements
for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, including, without limitation,
that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general
or specific authorizations, (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to
permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to
maintain asset accountability, (C) access to assets is permitted only in
accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, and (D) the
recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at
reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any
differences.
(ix) Each
of the Company and its subsidiaries has filed all returns (as hereinafter
defined) required to be filed with taxing authorities prior to the date hereof
or has duly obtained extensions of time for the filing thereof. Each
of the Company and its subsidiaries has paid all taxes (as hereinafter defined)
shown as due on such returns that were filed and has paid all taxes imposed on
or assessed against the Company or such respective subsidiary. The
provisions for taxes payable, if any, shown on the financial statements filed
with or as part of the Registration Statement are sufficient for all accrued and
unpaid taxes, whether or not disputed, and for all periods to and including the
dates of such consolidated financial statements. Except as disclosed
in writing to the Underwriters, (A) no issues have been raised (and are
currently pending) by any taxing authority in connection with any of the returns
or taxes asserted as due from the Company or its subsidiaries, and (B) no
waivers of statutes of limitation with respect to the returns or collection of
taxes have been given by or requested from the Company or its
subsidiaries. The term “taxes” mean all
federal, state, local, foreign, and other net income, gross income, gross
receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, profits, license, lease,
service, service use, withholding, payroll, employment, excise, severance,
stamp, occupation, premium, property, windfall profits, customs, duties or other
taxes, fees, assessments, or charges of any kind whatever, together with any
interest and any penalties, additions to tax, or additional amounts with respect
thereto. The term “returns” means all
returns, declarations, reports, statements, and other documents required to be
filed in respect to taxes.
(x) Since
the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration
Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, (A) neither
the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has incurred any material liabilities or
obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into any material transactions
other than in the ordinary course of business, (B) the Company has not declared
or paid any dividends or made any distribution of any kind with respect to its
capital stock; (C) there has not been any change in the capital stock of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries (other than a change in the number of
outstanding shares of Common Stock due to the issuance of shares upon the
exercise of outstanding options or warrants or the
issuance of restricted stock awards or restricted stock units under the
Company’s existing stock awards plan, or any new grants thereof in
the ordinary course of business), (D) there has not been any material change in
the Company’s long-term or short-term debt, and (E) there has not been the
occurrence of a Material Adverse Effect.
7
(xi) There
is not pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, any action, suit
or proceeding to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of
which any property or assets of the Company or its subsidiaries is the subject
before or by any court or governmental agency, authority or body, or any
arbitrator or mediator, which is reasonably likely to result in a Material
Adverse Effect.
(xii) The
Company and each of its subsidiaries holds, and is in compliance with, all
franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, easements, consents,
certificates and orders (“Permits”) of any
governmental or self-regulatory agency, authority or body required for the
conduct of its business, and all such Permits are in full force and effect, in
each case except where the failure to hold, or comply with, any of them is not
reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(xiii) The
Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all property
(whether real or personal) described in the Registration Statement, the Time of
Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus as being owned by them that are
material to the business of the Company, in each case free and clear of all
liens, claims, security interests, other encumbrances or defects, except those
that are not reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse
Effect. The property held under lease or pursuant to land use rights
by the Company and its subsidiaries, is held by them under valid, subsisting and
enforceable leases or land use rights, as the case may be, with only such
exceptions with respect to any particular lease as do not interfere in any
material respect with the conduct of the business of the Company and its
subsidiaries.
(xiv) The
Company and each of its subsidiaries owns or possesses or has valid right to use
all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names,
trademark registrations, service xxxx registrations, copyrights, licenses,
inventions, trade secrets and similar rights (“Intellectual
Property”) necessary for the conduct of the business of the Company and
its subsidiaries as currently carried on and as described in the Registration
Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. To
the knowledge of the Company, no action or use by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries will involve or give rise to any infringement of, or license or
similar fees for, any Intellectual Property of others, except where such action,
use, license or fee is not reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse
Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received
any notice alleging any such infringement or fee.
(xv) The
Company and each of its subsidiaries has complied with, is not in violation of,
and has not received any notice of violation relating to any law, rule or
regulation relating to the conduct of its business, or the ownership or
operation of its property and assets, including, without limitation, (A) the
Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, or any
money laundering laws, rules or regulations, (B) any laws, rules or regulations
related to health, safety or the environment, including those relating to the
regulation of hazardous substances, (C) the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder, (D) the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
of 1977 and the rules and regulations thereunder, and (E) the Employment
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the rules and regulations thereunder,
in each case except where the failure to be in compliance is not reasonably
likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
8
(xvi) Neither
the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company,
any director, officer, employee, representative, agent or affiliate of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions
administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury
Department (“OFAC”); and the
Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the
Shares contemplated hereby, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such
proceeds to any person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of
any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by
OFAC.
(xvii) The
Company and the PRC Subsidiary carries, or is covered by, insurance in such
amounts and covering such risks as is adequate for the conduct of its business
and the value of its properties and as is customary for companies engaged in
similar businesses in similar industries in the PRC.
(xviii) No
labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent that is reasonably
likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(xix) Neither
the Company, its subsidiaries nor, to its knowledge, any other party is in
violation, breach or default of any Contract that is reasonably likely to result
in a Material Adverse Effect.
(xx) No
supplier, customer, distributor or sales agent of the Company or the PRC
Subsidiary, has notified the Company or the PRC Subsidiary, that it
intends to discontinue or decrease the rate of business
done with the Company or the PRC Subsidiary, except where such
decrease is not reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
(xxi) There
are no claims, payments, issuances, arrangements or understandings for services
in the nature of a finder’s, consulting or origination fee with respect to the
introduction of the Company to the Underwriters or the sale of the Shares
hereunder or any other arrangements, agreements, understandings, payments or
issuances with respect to the Company that may affect the Underwriters’
compensation, as determined by FINRA.
(xxii) Except
in connection with three private placements of the Company’s securities pursuant
to Section 506 of Regulation D that closed in April 2008, September 2008 and May
2009, respectively, the Company has not made any direct or indirect payments (in
cash, securities or otherwise) to (A) any person, as a finder’s fee, investing
fee or otherwise, in consideration of such person raising capital for the
Company or introducing to the Company persons who provided capital to the
Company, (B) any FINRA member, or (C) any person or entity that has any direct
or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member within the 12 month
period prior to the date on which the Registration Statement was filed with the
Commission (“Filing
Date”) or thereafter.
9
(xxiii) None
of the net proceeds of the offering will be paid by the Company to any
participating FINRA member or any affiliate or associate of any participating
FINRA member, except as specifically authorized herein.
(xxiv) To
the Company’s knowledge, no (A) officer or director of the Company or its
subsidiaries, (B) owner of 5% or more of the Company’s unregistered securities
or that of its subsidiaries or (C) owner of any amount of the Company’s
unregistered securities acquired within the 180 day period prior to the Filing
Date, has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA
member. The Company will advise the Underwriters and its counsel if it becomes
aware that any officer, director or stockholder of the Company or its
subsidiaries is or becomes an affiliate or associated person of a FINRA member
participating in the offering.
(xxv) Other
than the Underwriters, no person has the right to act as an underwriter or as a
financial advisor to the Company in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby.
4. Representations
and Warranties of the Company Regarding the PRC.
(a) The
Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Underwriters, as of the
date hereof and as of the Closing Date, as follows:
(i) The
Company conducts substantially all of its operations and generates substantially
all of its revenue through Inner Mongolia Yongye Nong Feng Biotechnology Co.,
Ltd., a cooperative joint venture formed under the laws of the People’s Republic
of China (the “PRC”) (the “PRC Subsidiary”). The
Company indirectly owns 93.91% of the equity interests of the PRC Subsidiary and
Inner Mongolia Yongye Biotechnology Co., Ltd., a company formed under the laws
of the PRC (“Yongye
Biotechnology”). Yongye Biotechnology owns the remaining 6.09%
of the equity interests of the PRC Subsidiary. The PRC Subsidiary and
Yongye Biotechnology are collectively referred to hereinafter as the “PRC
Entities.”
(ii) There
are no outstanding rights, warrants or options to acquire, or instruments
convertible into or exchangeable for, any equity interest in the PRC Subsidiary,
and there is no security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or
any third party right, the exercise of which may lead to the change of
shareholdings or the amount of the registered capital of the PRC
Subsidiary.
(iii) The
PRC Subsidiary is engaged in the business of researching and developing,
processing, producing, marketing and selling of humic acid based products, the
Shengmingsu branded plant and animal products and bio-protein feeds processed
with humic acid.
(iv) All consents, approvals, authorizations
or licenses requisite under the laws of the PRC for the due and proper
establishment and operation of the PRC Subsidiary have been duly obtained from
the relevant PRC governmental authorities and are in full force and
effect. The Company has no reason to believe that any governmental
body, court, agency or official in the PRC is considering modifying, suspending,
revoking or not renewing any such consents, approvals, authorizations or
licenses. The PRC Subsidiary is in compliance with the provisions of
all such consents, approvals, authorizations or licenses and conducts its
business in accordance with, and is not in violation of, any laws and
regulations of the PRC to which it is subject or by which it is bound, in all
material respects.
10
(v) The
PRC Subsidiary holds, and is in compliance with, a temporary fertilizer
registration certificate, dated May 6, 2009, issued by the PRC Ministry of
Agriculture with the serial number 农肥 (2007)
xx 0000x (the "Temporary
Certificate"). The Company has no reason to believe the
Temporary Certificate will not be renewed by the PRC Ministry of Agriculture
upon its expiration in February 2010 and has no reason to believe a permanent
fertilizer registration certificate will not be issued by the PRC Ministry of
Agriculture once annual renewals of the Temporary Certificate have been
exhausted.
(vi) No
dispute between the PRC Subsidiary or Yongye Biotechnology exists or, to the
knowledge of the Company, is imminent that is reasonably likely to result in a
Material Adverse Effect.
(vii) All
filings and registrations with the PRC governmental authorities required in
respect of the PRC Subsidiary and its capital structure and operations,
including without limitation, the registration with the Ministry of Commerce,
the China Securities Regulatory Commission, the State Administration of Industry
and or their respective local divisions of the Ministry of Commerce, the State
Administration of Foreign Exchange, tax bureau and customs authorities have been
duly completed in accordance with the relevant PRC rules and regulations and the
PRC Subsidiary has not received any letter or notice from any relevant PRC
government authority notifying it of revocation of any licenses or
qualifications issued to it by any PRC government authority for non-compliance
with the terms thereof or with applicable PRC laws, or the lack of compliance or
remedial actions in respect of the activities carried out by the PRC
Subsidiary.
(viii) The
PRC Subsidiary has been duly established, is validly existing as a company in
good standing under the laws of the PRC, has the corporate power and authority
to own, lease and operate its property and to conduct its business as described
in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and 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, singly or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. The PRC Subsidiary has
applied for and obtained all requisite business licenses, clearances and permits
required under PRC laws and regulations as necessary for the conduct of its
businesses, and the PRC Subsidiary has complied in all material respects with
all PRC laws and regulations in connection with foreign exchange, including
without limitation, carrying out all relevant filings, registrations and
applications for relevant permits with the PRC State Administration of Foreign
Exchange and any other relevant authorities, and all such permits are
validly subsisting and as to business licenses, clearances and permits subject
to periodic renewal, the Company has no knowledge of any reasons related to the
PRC Subsidiary for which such requisite renewals will not be granted by the
relevant PRC governmental authorities. The registered capital of the
PRC Subsidiary has been fully paid up in accordance with the schedule of payment
stipulated in its respective articles of association, approval document,
certificate of approval and legal person business license (hereinafter referred
to as the “Establishment
Documents”) and in compliance with PRC laws and regulations, and there is
no outstanding capital contribution commitment for the PRC
Subsidiary. The Establishment Documents of the PRC Subsidiary have
been duly approved in accordance with the laws of the PRC and are valid and
enforceable. The business scope specified in the Establishment
Documents of the PRC Subsidiary complies with the requirements of all relevant
PRC laws and regulations. The outstanding equity interests of the PRC
Subsidiary is owned of record by the respective entities or individuals
identified as the registered holders thereof in the Registration Statement, the
Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and there are no outstanding
commitments made by the Company or its subsidiaries or by Yongye Biotechnology
to sell any equity interest in the PRC Subsidiary.
11
(ix) With
regard to employment and staff or labor, the PRC Subsidiary has complied with
all applicable PRC laws and regulations, including without limitation, laws and
regulations pertaining to welfare funds, social benefits, medical benefits,
insurance, retirement benefits or pensions.
(x) All
agreements to which the PRC Subsidiary is a party are valid, enforceable and
free of defaults on the part of all parties thereto.
(xi) The
performance of the PRC Subsidiary, Asia Standard Oil Limited ("Asia Standard") or
Yongye Biotechnology, as the case may be, of its obligations under the
applicable agreement of the Restructuring (as defined and described in the
Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus)
does not contravene, in any material respect, (A) any provision of any PRC law
or regulation or (B) any approval, judgment, order, decree or regulation of any
governmental body or agency or any court in the PRC having jurisdiction over the
PRC Subsidiary, Asia Standard or Yongye Biotechnology, as the case may be, or
any of the properties of assets of the PRC Subsidiary, Asia Standard or Yongye
Biotechnology, as the case may be. The ownership structure of the
Company and its subsidiaries does not violate any applicable laws and
regulations of the PRC.
(xii) The
PRC Subsidiary is not currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying
any dividends to the Company (or the Company’s subsidiary that holds the
outstanding equity interest of the PRC Subsidiary). The PRC
Subsidiary is not prohibited, directly or indirectly, from making any other
distribution on such PRC Subsidiary’s equity capital, from repaying to the
Company any loans or advances to such PRC Subsidiary from the Company or any of
the Company’s subsidiaries.
(xiii) The
choice of the laws of the State of New York as the governing law of this
Agreement is a valid choice of law under the laws of the PRC and will be honored
by the courts in the PRC.
12
(xiv) None
of the PRC Subsidiary nor any of its properties, assets or revenues are entitled
to any right of immunity on the grounds of sovereignty from any legal action,
suit or proceeding, from set-off or counterclaim, from the jurisdiction of any
court, from services of process, from attachment prior to or in aid of execution
of judgment, or from any other legal process or proceeding for the giving of any
relief or for the enforcement of any judgment.
(xv) It
is not necessary that this Agreement, the Registration Statement, the Time of
Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any other document be filed or
recorded with any governmental agency, court or other authority in the
PRC.
(xvi) No
transaction, stamp, capital or other issuance, registration, transaction,
transfer or withholding taxes or duties are payable in the PRC by or on behalf
of the Underwriters to any PRC taxing authority in connection with (A) the
issuance, sale and delivery of the Shares by the Company and the delivery of the
Shares to or for the account of the Underwriters, (B) the purchase from the
Company and the initial sale and delivery by the Underwriters of the Shares to
purchasers thereof, or (C) the execution and delivery of this
Agreement.
(xvii) The
Company has taken all necessary steps to comply with, and to ensure compliance
by all of the Company’s direct or indirect shareholders and option holders who
are PRC residents with, any applicable rules and regulations of the PRC State
Administration of Foreign Exchange of the PRC (the “SAFE Rules and
Regulations”), including, without limitation, requiring each shareholder
and option holder that is, or is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by,
a PRC resident to complete any registration and other procedures required under
applicable SAFE Rules and Regulations.
(xviii) 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 on August 8, 2006, as revised on June 22, 2009, by the PRC Ministry
of Commerce, the PRC State Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the
PRC State Administration of Taxation, the PRC State Administration of Industry
and Commerce, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”) and the PRC
State Administration of Foreign Exchange of the PRC (the “M&A Rules”), in
particular the relevant provisions thereof that purport to require offshore
special purpose vehicles controlled directly or indirectly by PRC-incorporated
companies or PRC residents and established for the purpose of obtaining a stock
exchange listing outside of the PRC to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to
the listing and trading of their securities on any 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 the
Company understands such legal advice. In addition, the Company has
communicated such legal advice in full to each of its directors that signed the
Registration Statement and each such director has confirmed that he or she
understands such legal advice.
(xix) The
issuance and sale of the Shares, the listing and trading of the Shares on the
NASDAQ Global Select Market and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale
Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are not as of the date hereof and will not
be on the Closing Date, 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, including the guidance and notices issued
by the CSRC on September 8 and September 21, 2006 (together with the M&A
Rules, the “M&A
Rules and Related Clarifications”).
13
(xx) The
Company has taken all necessary steps to ensure compliance by each of its
shareholders, option holders, directors, officers and employees that is, or is
directly or indirectly owned or controlled by, a PRC resident or citizen with
any applicable rules and regulations of the relevant PRC government agencies
(including but not limited to the PRC Ministry of Commerce, the PRC National
Development and Reform Commission and the PRC State Administration of Foreign
Exchange) relating to overseas investment by PRC residents and citizens (the
“PRC Overseas
Investment and Listing Regulations”), including, requesting each
shareholder, option holder, director, officer, employee and participant that is,
or is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by, a PRC resident or citizen
to complete any registration and other procedures required under applicable PRC
Overseas Investment and Listing Regulations.
(xxi) As
of the date hereof, the M&A Rules and Related Clarifications do not require
the Company to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to the issuance and sale of
the Shares, the listing and trading of the Shares on the NASDAQ Global Select
Market, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the
Prospectus. No governmental approval of any governmental agency in
the PRC is required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package
or the Prospectus.
(xxii) The
PRC Subsidiary is in compliance with all requirements under all applicable PRC
laws and regulations to qualify for their exemptions from enterprise income tax
or other income tax benefits (the “Tax Benefits”) as
described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and
the Prospectus, and the actual operations and business activities of the PRC
Subsidiary are sufficient to meet the qualifications for the Tax
Benefits. No submissions made to any PRC government authority in
connection with obtaining the Tax Benefits contained any misstatement or
omission that would have affected the granting of the Tax
Benefits. The PRC Subsidiary has not received notice of any
deficiency in its respective applications for the Tax Benefits, and the Company
is not aware of any reason why the PRC Subsidiary might not qualify for, or be
in compliance with the requirements for, the Tax Benefits.
(xxiii) All
local and national PRC governmental tax holidays, exemptions, waivers, financial
subsidies, and other local and national PRC tax relief, concessions and
preferential treatment enjoyed by any PRC Entity as described in the
Registration Statement, the Time of 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.
(xxiv) The
Underwriters shall not be deemed to be resident, domiciled, carrying on business
or subject to taxation in the PRC solely by reason of its execution, delivery,
performance or enforcement of, or the consummation of any transaction
contemplated by, this Agreement, the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale
Disclosure Package or the Prospectus.
14
(xxv) All
descriptions in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package
and the Prospectus of PRC laws or regulations and contracts, documents and
matters governed by or under PRC law are accurate in all material
respects. The statements in the Registration Statement, the Time of
Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the headings “Risk factors” and
“Business” insofar as such statements constitute summaries of the laws or
regulations of the PRC or documents governed by PRC law as of the date hereof,
fairly present the information called for with respect to such legal matters and
documents and fairly summarize matters referred to therein.
(xxvi) The
application of the net proceeds from the Offering, as contemplated by the
Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus,
will not (A) contravene any provision of applicable PRC law, rule or regulation
or the Articles of Association and any amendment thereof or the business license
of the PRC Subsidiary or (B) contravene the terms or provisions of, or
constitute a default under, (1) any mortgage, loan agreement, lease or other
agreement binding upon the PRC Subsidiary, (2) any mortgage, loan agreement,
lease or other agreement governed by PRC law by which the Company or the PRC
Subsidiary is bound or to which any of the properties or assets of the PRC
Subsidiary is subject or (3) any judgment, order or decree of any governmental
body, agency or court in the PRC.
(xxvii) The
contribution to the PRC Subsidiary of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares,
subject however to customary and ordinary administrative approvals under the
existing laws and regulations of the PRC, and the compliance by the Company with
all of the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated thereby does not result in any violation of the
provisions of the articles of association, business license or any other
constituent documents of the PRC Subsidiary or any applicable laws and
regulations of the PRC, including without limitation the New M&A Rules, of
any governmental agency having jurisdiction over the PRC Subsidiary or any of
its properties.
5. Purchase,
Sale and Delivery of Shares.
(a) On
the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained,
but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to
issue and sell the Underwritten Shares to each of the Underwriters, and each of
the Underwriters agrees to purchase, on a several and not joint basis, the
number of the Underwritten Shares set forth opposite its name on Schedule I from the
Company. The purchase price for each Underwritten Share shall be
$7.125 per share (the “Per Share
Price”). The Company will pay the Underwriters, on each
Closing Date, an amount equal to 5% of the gross proceeds received by the
Company from the sale of the Underwritten Shares and the Additional Shares, as
applicable, as an underwriting discount (the “Underwriters’ Fee”).
The Company will pay 50% of the Underwriters’ Fee to Xxxx Capital Partners, LLC
and 50% of the Underwriters’ Fee to Xxxxxxxxxxx & Co. Inc. (it being
understood that, as between the Underwriters exclusively, 10% of the Shares may
be reserved for issuance to retail accounts and that Xxxxxxxxxxx & Co. Inc.
will retain the related “sales concession” with respect to such retail
sales).
15
(b) The
Company hereby grants to the Underwriters the option to purchase some or all of
the Additional Shares and, upon the basis of the warranties and representations
and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, each of the
Underwriters shall have the right to purchase all or any portion of the
Additional Shares set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name on Schedule I at the Per Share
Price as may be necessary to cover over-allotments made in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby. This option may be exercised by the
Underwriters at any time on or before the thirtieth day following the date
hereof, by written notice to the Company (the “Option
Notice”). The Option Notice shall set forth the aggregate
number of Additional Shares as to which the option is being exercised, and the
date and time when the Additional Shares are to be delivered (such date and time
being herein referred to as the “Option Closing
Date”); provided, however, that the Option
Closing Date shall not be earlier than the Closing Date (as defined below) nor
earlier than the first business day after the date on which the option shall
have been exercised nor later than the fifth business day after the date on
which the option shall have been exercised unless the Company and the
Underwriters otherwise agree. Payment of the purchase price for and
delivery of the Additional Shares shall be made at the Option Closing Date in
the same manner and at the same office as the payment for the Underwritten
Shares as set forth in subparagraph (c) below.
(c) The
Underwritten Shares will be delivered by the Company to the Underwriters against
payment of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of same day funds
payable to the order of the Company at the offices of Xxxx Capital Partners,
LLC, 00 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000 or Xxxxxxxxxxx & Co. Inc.,
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000, or such other location as may be
mutually acceptable, at 6:00 a.m. PST, on the third (or if the Underwritten
Shares are priced, as contemplated by Rule 15c6-1(c) under the Exchange Act,
after 4:30 p.m. Eastern time, the fourth) full business day following the date
hereof, or at such other time and date as the Underwriters and the Company
determine pursuant to Rule 15c6-1(a) under the Exchange Act, or, in the case of
the Additional Shares, at such date and time set forth in the Option
Notice. The time and date of delivery of the Underwritten Shares or
the Additional Shares, as applicable, is referred to herein as the “Closing
Date.” If the Underwriters so elect, delivery of the
Underwritten Shares and Additional Shares may be made by credit through full
fast transfer to the account at The Depository Trust Company designated by the
Underwriters. Certificates representing the Shares, in definitive
form and in such denominations and registered in such names as the Underwriters
may request upon at least two business days’ prior notice to the Company, will
be made available for checking and packaging not later than 10:30 a.m. PDT on
the business day next preceding the Closing Date at the above addresses, or such
other location as may be mutually acceptable.
6. Covenants.
(a) The
Company covenants and agrees with the Underwriters as follows:
(i) During
the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the later of the Closing
Date or such date as determined by the Underwriters the Prospectus is no longer
required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an underwriter or
dealer (the “Prospectus Delivery
Period”), prior to amending or supplementing the Registration Statement,
including any Rule 462 Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure
Package or the Prospectus, the Company shall furnish to the Underwriters for
review and comment 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 object.
16
(ii) From
the date of this Agreement until the end of the Prospectus Delivery Period, the
Company shall promptly advise the Underwriters in writing (A) of the receipt of
any comments of, or requests for additional or supplemental information from,
the Commission, (B) of the time and date of any filing of any post-effective
amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the
Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, (C) of the time and date that
any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective and
(D) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any order preventing or
suspending its use or the use of the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, or of any
proceedings to remove, suspend or terminate from listing or quotation the Common
Stock from any securities exchange upon which it is 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 at any time during the Prospectus Delivery Period, the
Company will use its reasonable efforts to obtain the lifting of such order at
the earliest possible moment. Additionally, the Company agrees that
it shall comply with the provisions of Rules 424(b), 430A and 430B, as
applicable, under the Securities Act and will use its reasonable efforts to
confirm that any filings made by the Company under Rule 424(b) or Rule 433 were
received in a timely manner by the Commission (without reliance on Rule
424(b)(8) or 164(b) of the Securities Act).
(iii) (A)
During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will comply with all
requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act, as now and hereafter
amended, and by the Rules and Regulations, as from time to time in force, and by
the Exchange Act, as now and hereafter amended, so far as necessary to permit
the continuance of sales of or dealings in the Shares as contemplated by the
provisions hereof, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus. If during such period any event occurs
the result of which the Prospectus (or if the Prospectus is not yet available to
prospective purchasers, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package ) would include an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary
to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then existing,
not misleading, or if during such period it is necessary or appropriate in the
opinion of the Company or its counsel or the Underwriters or their counsel to
amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Prospectus (or if the
Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, the Time of Sale
Disclosure Package ) to comply with the Securities Act or to file under the
Exchange Act any document that would be deemed to be incorporated by reference
in the Prospectus in order to comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange
Act, the Company will promptly notify the Underwriters, allow the Underwriters a
chance to provide reasonable comments on such amendment, Prospectus supplement
or document, and will amend the Registration Statement or supplement the
Prospectus (or if the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers,
the Time of Sale Disclosure Package) or file such document (at the expense of
the Company) so as to correct such statement or omission or effect such
compliance.
17
(B) The
Company shall take or cause to be taken all necessary action to qualify the
Shares for sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the
Underwriters reasonably designate and to continue such qualifications in effect
so long as required for the distribution of the Shares, except that the Company
shall not be required in connection therewith to qualify as a foreign
corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not
so qualified, to execute a general consent to service of process in any state or
to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction
in which it is not otherwise subject.
(iv) The
Company will furnish to the Underwriters and counsel for the Underwriters copies
of the Registration Statement, each Prospectus, and all amendments and
supplements to such documents, in each case as soon as available and in such
quantities as the Underwriters may from time to time reasonably
request.
(v) The
Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as
practicable, but in any event not later than 15 months after the end of the
Company’s current fiscal quarter, 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.
(vi) The
Company, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereunder are consummated
or this Agreement is terminated, will pay or cause to be paid (A) all
expenses (including transfer taxes allocated to the respective transferees)
incurred in connection with the delivery to the Underwriters of the Shares, (B)
all expenses and fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses of the
Company’s counsel) in connection with the preparation, printing, filing,
delivery, and shipping of the Registration Statement (including the financial
statements therein and all amendments, schedules, and exhibits thereto), the
Shares, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, and any amendment
thereof or supplement thereto, (C) all reasonable filing fees incurred in
connection with the qualification of the Shares for offering and sale by the
Underwriters or by dealers under the securities or blue sky laws of the states
and other jurisdictions that the Underwriters shall designate, (D) the fees and
expenses of any transfer agent or registrar, (E) the reasonable filing fees
incident to any required review and approval by FINRA of the terms of the sale
of the Shares, and (F) listing fees, if any. If this Agreement is
terminated by the Underwriters in accordance with the provisions of Section 7 or
Section 11, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket
disbursements (including, but not limited to, reasonable fees and disbursements
of counsel, travel expenses, postage, facsimile and telephone charges) incurred
by the Underwriters in connection with its investigation, preparing to market
and marketing the Shares or in contemplation of performing its obligations
hereunder. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the
maximum amount payable by the Company for filing fees and other fees and
out-of-pocket expenses pursuant to this Section 6(a)(vi) exclusively shall be
$150,000.
18
(vii) The
Company intends to apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Shares to be sold
by it hereunder for the purposes set forth in the Time of Sale Disclosure
Package and in the Final Prospectus.
(viii) The
Company has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, during the
Prospectus Delivery Period, any action designed to or which might reasonably be
expected to cause or result in, or that has constituted, the stabilization or
manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale
or resale of the Shares.
(ix) The
Company represents and agrees that it has not made and will not make any offer
relating to the Shares that would constitute an “issuer free writing
prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act, or that would
otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405 under
the Securities Act.
(x) The
Company hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of the
Underwriters, it will not, during the period ending 90 days after the date
hereof (“Lock-Up
Period”), (A) offer, pledge, issue, sell, contract to sell, purchase,
contract to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or
indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock; or (B) enter into any swap or
other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the
economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such
transaction described in clause (A) or (B) above is to be settled by delivery of
Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise; or (C) file any
registration statement with the Commission relating to the offering of any
shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable for Common Stock. The restrictions contained in the
preceding sentence shall not apply to (1) the Shares to be sold hereunder, (2)
the issuance of Common Stock upon the exercise of options or warrants disclosed
as outstanding in the Registration Statement (excluding exhibits thereto) or the
Prospectus, or (3) the issuance of employee stock options not exercisable during
the Lock-Up Period and the grant of restricted stock awards or restricted stock
units pursuant to equity incentive plans described in the Registration Statement
(excluding exhibits thereto) and the Prospectus. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if (x) the Company issues an earnings release or material news, or a
material event relating to the Company occurs, during the last 17 days of the
Lock-Up Period, or (y) prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, the
Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period
beginning on the last day of the Lock-Up Period, the restrictions imposed by
this clause shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period
beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the
material news or material event, unless the Underwriters waive such extension in
writing.
(xi) The
contribution to the PRC Subsidiary of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares,
subject however to customary and ordinary administrative approvals under the
existing laws and regulations of the PRC, and the compliance by the Company with
all of the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated thereby will not result in any violation of the
provisions of the articles of association, business license or any other
constituent documents of the PRC Subsidiary or any applicable laws and
regulations of the PRC, including without limitation the New M&A Rules, of
any governmental agency having jurisdiction over the PRC Subsidiary or any of
its properties.
19
7. Conditions of the
Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligations of the Underwriters
hereunder to purchase the Shares are subject to the accuracy, as of the date
hereof and at each Closing Date (as if made at each Closing Date), of and
compliance with all representations, warranties and agreements of the
Company contained
herein, the performance by the Company of its obligations
hereunder and the following additional conditions:
(a) If
filing of the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto is required
under the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations, the Company shall have
filed the Prospectus (or such amendment or supplement) with the Commission in
the manner and within the time period so required (without reliance on Rule
424(b)(8) under the Securities Act); the Registration Statement shall remain
effective; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or any part thereof, any Rule 462 Registration Statement, or any
amendment thereof, nor suspending or preventing the use of the Time of Sale
Disclosure Package or the Prospectus shall have been issued; no proceedings for
the issuance of such an order shall have been initiated or threatened; any
request of the Commission or the Underwriters for additional information (to be
included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the
Prospectus, or otherwise) shall have been complied with to the Underwriters’
satisfaction.
(b) FINRA
shall have raised no objection to the fairness and reasonableness of the
underwriting terms and arrangements.
(c) The
Shares shall be qualified for listing on the NASDAQ Global Select
Market.
(d) The
Underwriters shall not have reasonably determined,
and advised the Company, that the Registration Statement, the Time of
Sale Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto, contains an untrue statement of fact which, in the
Underwriters’ reasonable opinion, is material, or omits to state a fact which,
in the Underwriters’ reasonable opinion, is material and is required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading.
(e) On
or after the date hereof (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating
accorded any of the Company’s securities by any “nationally recognized
statistical organization,” as that term is defined by the Commission for
purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act, and (ii) no such
organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or
review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any of the Company’s
securities.
(f) On
the Closing Date, there shall have been furnished to the Underwriters the
opinion of the Company’s Nevada counsel, dated the Closing Date and addressed to
the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Underwriters, substantially in the form set forth on Schedule II.
20
(g) On
the Closing Date, there shall have been furnished to the Underwriters the
opinion of Loeb & Loeb LLP, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the
Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters,
substantially in the form set forth on Schedule III.
(h) On
the Closing Date, there shall have been furnished to the Underwriters the
opinion of the Company’s China counsel, dated the Closing Date and addressed to
the Company and provided to the Underwriters for review, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters, substantially in the form set forth
on Schedule IV.
(i)
On the Closing Date, there shall have
been furnished to the Underwriters the negative assurances of DLA Piper LLP
(US), dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters.
(j)
The Underwriters shall have received a letter from each
of, MSPC Certified Public Accounts and Advisers, P.C., Patrizo & Zhao, LLC
and KPMG, on the date hereof and on the Closing Date addressed to the
Underwriters, confirming that they are independent public accountants within the
meaning of the Securities Act and are in compliance with the applicable
requirements relating to the qualifications of accountants under Rule 2-01 of
Regulation S-X of the Commission, and confirming, as of the date of each such
letter (or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the
respective dates as of which specified financial information is given in the
Time of Sale Disclosure Package, as of a date not prior to the date hereof or
more than five days prior to the date of such letter), the conclusions and
findings of said firm with respect to the financial information and other
matters required by the Underwriters.
(k)
On the Closing Date, there shall have been furnished to
the Underwriters a certificate, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the
Underwriters, signed by the chief executive officer and the chief financial
officer of the Company, in their capacity as officers of the Company, to the
effect that:
(i) The
representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement that are
qualified by materiality or by reference to any Material Adverse Effect are true
and correct in all respects, and all other representations and warranties of the
Company in this Agreement are true and correct in all material respects, as if
made at and as of the 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 the Closing Date;
(ii) No
stop order or other order (A) suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or any part thereof or any amendment thereof, (B) suspending the
qualification of the Shares for offering or sale, or (C) suspending or
preventing the use of the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, has
been issued, and no proceeding for that purpose has been instituted or, to their
knowledge, is contemplated by the Commission or any state or regulatory body;
and
21
(iii) There
has been no occurrence or discovery by the Underwriters of any event resulting
or reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect during the period
from and after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing
Date.
(l)
On or before the date hereof, the Underwriters shall
have received duly executed “lock-up” agreements, in substantially the form set
forth on Schedule V,
with those persons set forth on Schedule VI.
(m) The
Company shall have furnished to the Underwriters and their counsel such
additional documents, certificates and evidence as the Underwriters or their
counsel may have reasonably requested.
If any condition specified in this
Section 7 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled,
this Agreement may be terminated by the Underwriters by notice to the Company at
any time at or prior to the Closing Date and such termination shall be without
liability of any party to any other party, except that Section 6(a)(vi), Section
8 and Section 9 shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and
effect.
8.
Indemnification
and Contribution.
(a) The
Company agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Underwriters, their
respective affiliates, directors and officers and employees, and each person, if
any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any
losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Underwriters or such person
may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise (including in
settlement of any litigation if such settlement is effected with the written
consent of the Company), insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities
(or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) an untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement, 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 Rules and Regulations, or any amendment
thereto (including any documents filed under the Exchange Act and deemed to be
incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement), 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 not
misleading, (ii) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact contained in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, or any
amendment or supplement thereto (including any documents filed under the
Exchange Act and deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Registration
Statement or Prospectus), or the Marketing Materials or the Press Release, 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 in any other materials used in connection with the offering
of the Shares, (iii) in whole or in part, any inaccuracy in the representations
and warranties of the Company contained herein, or (iv) in whole or in part, any
failure of the Company to perform its obligations hereunder or under law, and
will reimburse the Underwriters 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, liability or action arises out of or is based upon an untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in
the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus,
or any amendment or supplement thereto, in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company by the Underwriters specifically
for use in the preparation thereof, which written information is described in
Section 8(f).
22
(b) The
Underwriters will, severally and not jointly, indemnify, defend and hold
harmless the Company, its affiliates, directors, officers and employees,
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, from and
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may
become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise (including in settlement
of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of
such Underwriter), insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration
Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, or any amendment
or supplement thereto, 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 not misleading, in each case to the
extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration
Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, or any amendment
or supplement thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter specifically for use in
the preparation thereof, which written information is described in Section 8(f),
and will reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending against
any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action.
(c) Promptly
after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of
notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a
claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such
subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement
thereof; but the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve the
indemnifying party from any liability that it may have to any indemnified party
except to the extent such indemnifying party has been materially prejudiced by
such failure. In case any such action shall be brought against any
indemnified party, and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the
commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate
in, and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying
party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying
party to such indemnified party of the indemnifying party’s election so to
assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such
indemnified party under such subsection for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense
thereof; provided,
however, that if (i)
the indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based on advice of counsel) that
there may be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that
are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party,
(ii) a conflict or potential conflict exists (based on advice of counsel to the
indemnified party) between the indemnified party and the indemnifying party (in
which case the indemnifying party will not have the right to direct the defense
of such action on behalf of the indemnified party), or (iii) the indemnifying
party has not in fact employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
indemnified party to assume the defense of such action within a reasonable time
after receiving notice of the commencement of the action, the indemnified party
shall have the right to employ a single counsel (in addition to any local
counsel) to represent it in any claim in respect of which indemnity may be
sought under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section 8, in which event the
reasonable fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be borne by the
indemnifying party or parties and reimbursed to the indemnified party as
incurred.
23
The
indemnifying party under this Section 8 shall not be liable for any settlement
of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such
consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying
party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party against any loss, claim, damage,
liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment. No
indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified
party, effect any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in
any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any
indemnified party is a party or could be named and indemnity was or would be
sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise
or consent (x) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from
all liability for claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or
proceeding and (y) 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.
(d) If
the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable or
insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b)
above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or
payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or
liabilities referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above, (i) in such proportion
as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on
the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering and sale
of the Shares or
(ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by
applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the
relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of
the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection
with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the
one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be deemed to be in the
same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting
expenses) received by the Company bear to the total
underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each
case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Final
Prospectus. The relative fault 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 or the Underwriters and the parties’
relevant intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such untrue statement or omission. The Company and the
Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions
pursuant to this subsection (d) were to be determined by pro rata allocation or
by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to in the first sentence of this subsection
(d). The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the
losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this
subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending
against any action or claim that is the subject of this subsection
(d). Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), neither
of the Underwriters
shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount of such
Underwriter’s respective portion of the Underwriters’ Fee actually received
by such Underwriter pursuant to this Agreement. 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.
24
(e) The
obligations of the Company under this Section 8 shall be in addition to any
liability that the Company may otherwise have and
the benefits of such obligations shall extend, upon the same terms and
conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act;
and the obligations of the Underwriters under this Section 8 shall be in
addition to any liability that the Underwriters may otherwise have and the
benefits of such obligations shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions,
to the Company, and its officers, directors and each person who controls the
Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section
20 of the Exchange Act.
(f) For
purposes of this Agreement, the Underwriters confirm, and the Company acknowledges, that there
is no information concerning the Underwriters furnished in writing to the
Company by the
Underwriters specifically for preparation of or inclusion in the Registration
Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, or the Prospectus, other than
the statements set forth in the last paragraph on the cover page of the
Prospectus and the statements set forth in the “Underwriting” section of the
Prospectus and Time of Sale Disclosure Package, only insofar as such statements
relate to the amount of selling concession and re-allowance or to over-allotment
and related activities that may be undertaken by the Underwriters.
9.
Representations
and Agreements to Survive Delivery. All representations,
warranties, and agreements of the Company herein
or in certificates delivered pursuant hereto, including, but not limited to, the
agreements of the Underwriters and the Company
contained in Section 6(a)(vi) and Section 8 hereof, shall remain operative and
in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of
the Underwriters or any controlling person thereof, or the Company or any of its officers, directors, or
controlling persons, and shall survive delivery of, and payment for, the Shares
to and by the Underwriters hereunder.
25
10. Substitution of
Underwriters. If an Underwriter defaults in its obligation to
purchase the number of Shares which it has agreed to purchase under this
Agreement, the non-defaulting Underwriter shall have the right, but not the
obligation, to purchase or arrange for the purchase by another underwriter of
the Shares that the defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase. If the
non-defaulting Underwriter does not elect to purchase or fails to arrange for
the purchase of the Shares that the defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to
purchase, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any
non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company except for the payment of expenses to
be borne by the Company and the indemnity of the Company contained herein.
Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability
it may have for damages caused by its default. If the non-defaulting Underwriter
elects to purchase or arrange for the purchase by another underwriter of the
Shares of the defaulting Underwriter, the Company may postpone the applicable
Closing Date for up to five full business days in order to effect any changes
that may be necessary in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure
Package or the Prospectus or in any other document or agreement, and to file
promptly any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Time
of Sale Disclosure Package or the Prospectus which may thereby be made
necessary.
11. Termination of
this Agreement.
(a) The
Underwriters shall have the right to terminate this Agreement by giving notice
to the Company as
hereinafter specified at any time at or prior to the Closing Date, if in the
discretion of the Underwriters (i) there has occurred any material adverse
change in the securities markets or any event, act or occurrence that has
materially disrupted, or in the opinion of the Underwriters, will in the future
materially disrupt, the securities markets or there shall be such a material
adverse change in general financial, political or economic conditions or the
effect of international conditions on the financial markets in the United States
is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Underwriters, inadvisable or
impracticable to market the Shares or enforce contracts for the sale of the
Shares, (ii) trading in the Common Stock shall have been suspended by the
Commission or the NASDAQ Global Select Market or trading in securities generally
on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, New York Stock Exchange or NYSE Amex shall
have been suspended, (iii) minimum or maximum prices for trading shall have been
fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been required, on
the NASDAQ Global Select Market, New York Stock Exchange or NYSE Amex, by such
exchange or by order of the Commission or any other governmental authority
having jurisdiction, (iv) a banking moratorium shall have been declared by
federal or state or the PRC authorities, (v) there shall have occurred any
attack on, outbreak or escalation of hostilities or act of terrorism involving
the United States or the PRC, any declaration by the United States or the PRC of
a national emergency or war, any substantial change or development involving a
prospective substantial change in United States or the PRC or other international political,
financial or economic conditions or any other calamity or crisis, or (vi) the
Company suffers any loss by strike, fire, flood, earthquake, accident or other
calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, (vii) in the judgment of the
Underwriters, there has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or
since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus,
any material adverse change in the assets, properties, condition, financial or
otherwise, or in the results of operations, business affairs or business
prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as a whole, whether or
not arising in the ordinary course of business. Any such termination
shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the
provisions of Section 6(a)(vi), and Section 8 hereof shall at all times be
effective and shall survive such termination.
26
(b) If
the Underwriters elect to terminate this Agreement as provided in this Section,
the Company shall
be notified promptly by the Underwriters by telephone, confirmed by
letter.
12. Notices. Except
as otherwise provided herein, all communications hereunder shall be in writing
and, if to Xxxx Capital Partners, LLC, shall be mailed, delivered or telecopied
to Xxxx Capital Partners, LLC, 00 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000,
telecopy number: (000) 000-0000, Attention: Managing Director; if to
Xxxxxxxxxxx & Co. Inc., shall be mailed, delivered or telecopied to it at
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000, telecopy number: (000) 000-0000,
Attention: Head of Equity Capital Markets; and if to the Company,
shall be mailed, delivered or telecopied to it at Suite 608, Xueyuan
International Tower, Xx. 0 Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, XXX
000000, telecopy number: (00) 00-0000-0000, Attention: Zishen
Wu; or in each case to such other address as the person to be notified may have
requested in writing. Any party to this Agreement may change such
address for notices by sending to the parties to this Agreement written notice
of a new address for such purpose.
13. Persons Entitled
to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective
successors and assigns and the controlling persons, officers and directors
referred to in Section 8. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or
shall be construed to give to any other person, firm or corporation any legal or
equitable remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision
herein contained. The term “successors and assigns” as herein used
shall not include any purchaser, as such purchaser, of any of the Shares from
the Underwriters.
14. Absence of
Fiduciary Relationship. The Company acknowledges and agrees
that: (a) the Underwriters have been retained solely to act as underwriters in
connection with the sale of the Shares and that no fiduciary, advisory or agency
relationship between the Company and any of the
Underwriters has been created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, irrespective of whether any of the Underwriters has advised
or is advising the Company on other matters; (b)
the price and other terms of the Shares set forth in this Agreement were
established by the Company following discussions
and arms-length negotiations with the Underwriters and the Company is capable of evaluating
and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (c) it has been advised that
the Underwriters and their respective affiliates are engaged in a broad range of
transactions that may involve interests that differ from those of the Company
and that neither of the Underwriters has any obligation to disclose such
interest and transactions to the Company by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or
agency relationship; (d) it has been advised that the Underwriters are acting,
in respect of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, solely for the
benefit of the Underwriters, and not on behalf of the Company.
15. Amendments and
Waivers. No supplement, modification or waiver of this
Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the party to be bound
thereby. The failure of a party to exercise any right or remedy shall
not be deemed to or otherwise constitute a waiver of such right or remedy in the
future. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be
deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision hereof (regardless of
whether similar), nor shall any such waiver be deemed or constitute a continuing
waiver unless otherwise expressly provided.
27
16. Partial
Unenforceability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any
section, paragraph, clause or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the
validity or enforceability of any other section, paragraph, clause or
provision.
17. Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
18. Submission to
Jurisdiction. The Company irrevocably (a) submits to the
jurisdiction of any court of the State of New York for the purpose of any suit,
action, or other proceeding arising out of this Agreement, or any of the
agreements or transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus (each, a “Proceeding”),
(b) agrees that all claims in respect of any Proceeding may be heard and
determined in any such court, (c) waives, to the fullest extent permitted
by law, any immunity from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal
process therein, (d) agrees not to commence any Proceeding other than in
such courts, and (e) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any
claim that such Proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum. The Company
hereby irrevocably designates Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx
Xxxx 00000 as agent upon whom process against each of the Company may be served.
EACH OF THE COMPANY (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY
LAW, ON BEHALF OF ITS RESPECTIVE EQUITY HOLDERS AND CREDITORS) HEREBY WAIVES ANY
RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY CLAIM BASED UPON, ARISING
OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY
THIS AGREEMENT, THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, AND THE PROSPECTUS.
19. Judgment
Currency. If for
the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert a sum
due hereunder into any currency other than United States dollars, the parties
hereto agree, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that the rate of exchange
used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the
relevant party or parties could purchase United States dollars with such other
currency in The City of New York on the business day preceding that on which
final judgment is given. The obligation of each party hereto with respect to any
sum due from it to any other party hereto or any person controlling any such
other party shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency other than United
States dollars, not be discharged until the first business day following receipt
by such other party or controlling person of any sum in such other currency, and
only to the extent that such other party or controlling person may in accordance
with normal banking procedures purchase United States dollars with such other
currency. If the United States dollars so purchased are less than the sum
originally due to such other party or controlling person hereunder, the
first-mentioned party agrees as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any
such judgment, to indemnify such other party or controlling person against such
loss. If the United States dollars so purchased are greater than the sum
originally due to such other party or controlling person hereunder, such other
party or controlling person agrees to pay to the first-mentioned party an amount
equal to the excess of the United States dollars so purchased over the sum
originally due to such other party or controlling person hereunder.
20. Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile transmission and
electronic mail attaching a portable document file (.pdf)) in one or more
counterparts and, if executed and delivered in more than one counterpart, the
executed counterparts shall each be deemed to be an original and all such
counterparts shall together constitute one and the same
instrument.
28
Please
sign and return to the Company the enclosed duplicates of this letter whereupon
this letter will become a binding agreement between the Company and the
Underwriters in accordance with its terms.
Very
truly yours,
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Wu Zishen
|
Name:
|
Wu
Zishen
|
Title:
|
Chairman
&
CEO
|
Confirmed
as of the date first above-
|
|
mentioned
by the Underwriters.
|
|
XXXX
CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx |
Name:
|
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx |
Title:
|
Head of Equity Capital Markets |
XXXXXXXXXXX
& CO. INC.
|
|
By:
|
/s/ XXXX X. XXXXXXX |
Name:
|
XXXX X. XXXXXXX |
Title:
|
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR |
[Signature
page to Underwriting Agreement]
SCHEDULE
I
Number
of
Underwritten
Shares to be Sold
|
Number
of
Additional Shares
to
be Sold
|
|||||||
Xxxx
Capital Partners, LLC
|
4,000,000 | 600,000 | ||||||
Xxxxxxxxxxx
& Co. Inc.
|
4,000,000 | 600,000 | ||||||
Total
|
8,000,000 | 1,200,000 |