STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG CHINA LIBERAL EDUCATION HOLDINGS LIMITED, AS THE BUYER WANWANG INVESTMENT LIMITED, AS THE COMPANY AND XIAOSHI HUANG, THRIVE SHINE LIMITED AS THE SELLERS, DATED February 1, 2022
EXHIBIT 1.1
BY AND AMONG
CHINA LIBERAL EDUCATION HOLDINGS LIMITED,
AS THE BUYER
WANWANG INVESTMENT LIMITED,
AS THE COMPANY
AND
XXXXXXX XXXXX, THRIVE SHINE LIMITED
AS THE SELLERS,
DATED
February 1, 2022
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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1. | DEFINITIONS |
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2. | SALE AND TRANSFER OF SHARES; CLOSING |
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| 2.1 | Shares |
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| 2.2 | Purchase Price |
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| 2.3 | Payment of Consideration |
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| 2.4 | Closing |
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| 2.5 | Closing Obligations |
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| 2.6 | Payment of Post-Closing Consideration |
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3. | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLERS |
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| 3.1 | Title to the Shares |
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| 3.2 | Authority |
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| 3.3 | Consents Required |
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4. | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE ACQUIRED COMPANIES AND SELLERS |
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| 4.1 | Organization and Good Standing |
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| 4.2 | Authority; No Conflict |
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| 4.3 | Capitalization |
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| 4.4 | Financial Statements |
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| 4.5 | Books and Records |
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| 4.6 | Title to Properties; Encumbrances |
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| 4.7 | Condition and Sufficiency of Assets |
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| 4.8 | Accounts Receivable |
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| 4.9 | Inventory |
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| 4.10 | No Undisclosed Liabilities |
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| 4.11 | Taxes |
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| 4.12 | No Material Adverse Change |
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| 4.13 | Employee Benefits |
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| 4.14 | Compliance With Legal Requirements; Governmental Authorizations |
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| 4.15 | Legal Proceedings; Orders |
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| 4.16 | Absence of Certain Changes and Events |
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| 4.17 | Contracts; No Defaults |
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| 4.18 | Insurance |
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| 4.19 | Environmental Matters |
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| 4.20 | Employees |
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| 4.21 | Labor Relations; Compliance |
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| 4.22 | Intellectual Property |
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| 4.23 | Healthcare Regulatory Matters |
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| 4.24 | Certain Payments |
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| 4.25 | Disclosure |
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| 4.26 | Relationships With Related Persons |
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5. | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER |
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| 5.1 | Organization and Good Standing |
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| 5.2 | Authority; No Conflict |
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| 5.3 | Certain Proceedings |
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| 5.4 | Brokers or Finders |
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| 5.5 | SEC Filings |
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6. | COVENANTS OF THE SELLERS |
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| 6.1 | Access and Investigation |
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| 6.2 | Operation of the Businesses of each Acquired Company |
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| 6.3 | Negative Covenant |
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| 6.4 | Required Approvals |
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| 6.5 | Notification |
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| 6.6 | Payment of Indebtedness by Related Persons |
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| 6.7 | No Negotiation |
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| 6.8 | Proprietary Information |
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| 6.9 | Public Announcements |
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| 6.10 | Stockholder Covenant |
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| 6.11 | Best Efforts |
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| 6.12 | Release |
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| 6.13 | Confidentiality |
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7. | TAX MATTERS |
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| 7.1 | Responsibility for Filing Tax Returns |
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| 7.2 | Cooperation on Tax Matters |
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| 7.3 | Sales and Transfer Taxes |
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8. | CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE BUYER’S OBLIGATION TO CLOSE |
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| 8.1 | Accuracy of Representations |
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| 8.2 | The Sellers’ Performance |
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| 8.3 | Authorization |
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| 8.4 | Consents and Approvals |
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| 8.5 | Government Consents, Authorizations, Etc |
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| 8.6 | Additional Documents |
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| 8.7 | No Proceedings |
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| 8.8 | No Claim Regarding Stock Ownership or Sale Proceeds |
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| 8.9 | No Prohibition |
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| 8.10 | Absence of Material Adverse Change |
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9. | CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO SELLERS’ OBLIGATION TO CLOSE |
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| 9.1 | Accuracy of Representations |
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| 9.2 | Buyer’s Performance |
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| 9.3 | No Injunction |
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10. | TERMINATION |
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| 10.1 | Termination Events |
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| 10.2 | Effect of Termination |
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11. | INDEMNIFICATION; REMEDIES |
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| 11.1 | Survival; Right to Indemnification Not Affected By Knowledge |
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| 11.2 | Indemnification and Payment of Damages by the Sellers |
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| 11.3 | Indemnification and Payment of Damages by the Sellers Environmental Matters |
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| 11.4 | Indemnification and Payment of Damages by the Buyer |
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| 11.5 | Right of Set-Off |
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| 11.6 | Procedure for Indemnification Third Party Claims |
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| 11.7 | Procedure For Indemnification for Other Claims |
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12. | GENERAL PROVISIONS |
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| 12.1 | Expenses |
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| 12.2 | Public Announcements |
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| 12.3 | Confidentiality |
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| 12.4 | Notices |
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| 12.5 | Further Assurances |
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| 12.6 | Waiver |
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| 12.7 | Entire Agreement and Modification |
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| 12.8 | Assignments and Successors |
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| 12.9 | Severability |
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| 12.10 | Section Headings, Construction |
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| 12.11 | Time of Essence |
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| 12.12 | Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial |
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| 12.13 | Counterparts; Facsimile and Electronic Signatures |
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| 12.14 | Representation by Counsel |
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THIS STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of February 1, 2022 by and among China Liberal Education Holdings Limited, a company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Buyer”), Wanwang Investment Limited, a company organized under the laws of the British Virgin Islands (the “Company”), XXXXXXX XXXXX, a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region citizen residing in the PRC (“Xxxxx”) and Thrive Shine Limited a company organized under the laws of the British Virgin Islands (“Thrive”), Xxxxx and Thrive may be referred to herein individually as a “Seller” and collectively as the “Sellers”.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, immediately prior to the Closing, the Sellers are the record and beneficial owners of all the equity interests of the Company (the “Shares”);
WHEREAS, the Sellers hold rights and interests of Fuzhou Melbourne Polytechnic (“FMP”) and Strait College of Minjiang University (“Strait College”) through its Subsidiaries;
WHEREAS, the enrollment of students of FMP and Strait College is over 2,100 each, and over 4,200 students in total; and
WHEREAS, the Buyer desires to purchase and acquire from the Sellers, and the Sellers desire to sell and transfer to the Buyer, all the Shares for the consideration and on the terms set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, and upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
AGREEMENT
The parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified or referred to in this Section 1:
“Acquired Companies” the Company and all Subsidiaries of the Company, collectively.
“Affiliate” with respect to any party, a Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such party.
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“Applicable Contract” any Contract (a) under which any Acquired Company has or may acquire any rights, (b) under which any Acquired Company has or may become subject to any obligation or liability, or (c) by which any Acquired Company or any of the assets owned or used by it is or may become bound.
“Benefit Plan” as defined in Section 4.13.
“Best Efforts” the efforts that a prudent Person desirous of achieving a result would use in similar circumstances to ensure that such result is achieved as expeditiously as possible.
“Breach” a “Breach” of a representation, warranty, covenant, obligation, or other provision of this Agreement or any instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement will be deemed to have occurred if there is or has been (a) any inaccuracy in or breach of, or any failure to perform or comply with, such representation, warranty, covenant, obligation, or other provision, or (b) any claim (by any Person) or other occurrence or circumstance that is or was inconsistent with such representation, warranty, covenant, obligation, or other provision, and the term “Breach” means any such inaccuracy, breach, failure, claim, occurrence, or circumstance.
“Buyer” as defined in the first paragraph of this Agreement. “Closing” as defined in Section 2.4.
“Closing Date” as defined in Section 2.4.
“Closing Cash Payment” as defined in Section 2.3.
“Confidential Information” means all non-public, confidential or proprietary information of the Acquired Companies, including the Intellectual Property Assets.
“Consent” any approval, consent, ratification, waiver, or other authorization (including any Governmental Authorization).
“Contemplated Transactions” means the purchase of the Shares by Buyer and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
“Contract” any agreement, contract, obligation, promise, or undertaking (whether written or oral and whether express or implied) that is legally binding.
“Damages” as defined in Section 10.2.
“Encumbrance” any charge, claim, community property interest, condition, equitable interest, lien, option, pledge, security interest, right of first refusal, or restriction of any kind, including any restriction on use, voting, transfer, receipt of income, or exercise of any other attribute of ownership.
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“Environment” soil, land surface or subsurface strata, surface waters (including navigable waters, ocean waters, streams, ponds, drainage basins, and wetlands), groundwaters, drinking water supply, stream sediments, ambient air (including indoor air), plant and animal life, and any other environmental medium or natural resource.
“Environmental, Health, and Safety Liabilities” any cost, damages, expense, liability, obligation, or other responsibility arising from or under Environmental Law or Occupational Safety and Health Law and consisting of or relating to:
(a) any environmental, health, or safety matters or conditions (including on- site or off-site contamination, occupational safety and health, and regulation of chemical substances or products);
(b) fines, penalties, judgments, awards, settlements, legal or administrative proceedings, damages, losses, claims, demands and response, investigative, remedial, or inspection costs and expenses arising under Environmental Law or Occupational Safety and Health Law;
(c) financial responsibility under Environmental Law or Occupational Safety and Health Law for cleanup costs or corrective action, including any investigation, cleanup, removal, containment, or other remediation or response actions (“Cleanup”) required by applicable Environmental Law or Occupational Safety and Health Law (whether or not such Cleanup has been required or requested by any Governmental Body or any other Person) and for any natural resource damages; or
(d) any other compliance, corrective, investigative, or remedial measures required under Environmental Law or Occupational Safety and Health Law.
“Environmental Law” any Legal Requirement that requires or relates to:
(a) advising appropriate authorities, employees, and the public of intended or actual releases of pollutants or hazardous substances or materials, violations of discharge limits, or other prohibitions and of the commencements of activities, such as resource extraction or construction, that could have significant impact on the Environment;
(e) preventing or reducing to acceptable levels the release of pollutants or hazardous substances or materials into the Environment;
(f) reducing the quantities, preventing the release, or minimizing the hazardous characteristics of wastes that are generated;
(g) assuring that products are designed, formulated, packaged, and used so that they do not present unreasonable risks to human health or the Environment when used or disposed of;
(h) protecting resources, species, or ecological amenities;
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(i) reducing to acceptable levels the risks inherent in the transportation of hazardous substances, pollutants, oil, or other potentially harmful substances;
(j) cleaning up pollutants that have been released, preventing the threat of release, or paying the costs of such clean up or prevention; or
(k) making responsible parties pay private parties, or groups of them, for damages done to their health or the Environment, or permitting self-appointed representatives of the public interest to recover for injuries done to public assets.
“Facilities” any real property, leaseholds, or other interests currently or formerly owned or operated by any Acquired Company and any buildings, plants, structures, or equipment (including motor vehicles, tank cars, and rolling stock) currently or formerly owned or operated by any Acquired Company.
“FMP” are to Fuzhou Melbourne Polytechnic, a Sino-foreign cooperative education institute with independent legal status in Fujian province PRC.
“Governmental Authorization” any approval, consent, license, permit, waiver, or other authorization issued, granted, given, or otherwise made available by or under the authority of any Governmental Body or pursuant to any Legal Requirement.
“Governmental Body” any:
(a) nation, state, county, city, town, village, district, or other jurisdiction of any nature;
(b) federal, state, local, municipal, foreign, or other government;
(c) governmental or quasi-governmental authority of any nature (including any governmental agency, branch, department, official, or entity and any court or other tribunal);
(d) multi-national organization or body; or
(e) body exercising, or entitled to exercise, any administrative, executive, judicial, legislative, police, regulatory, or taxing authority or power of any nature.
“Hazardous Activity” the distribution, generation, handling, importing, management, manufacturing, processing, production, refinement, Release, storage, transfer, transportation, treatment, or use (including any withdrawal or other use of groundwater) of Hazardous Materials in, on, under, about, or from the Facilities or any part thereof into the Environment, and any other act, business, operation, or thing that increases the danger, or risk of danger, or poses an unreasonable risk of harm to persons or property on or off the Facilities, or that may affect the value of the Facilities or the Acquired Companies.
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“Hazardous Materials” any waste or other substance that is listed, defined, designated, or classified as, or otherwise determined to be, hazardous, radioactive, or toxic or a pollutant or a contaminant under or pursuant to any Environmental Law, including any admixture or solution thereof, and specifically including petroleum and all derivatives thereof or synthetic substitutes therefor and asbestos or asbestos-containing materials.
“Intellectual Property Assets” as defined in Section 4.22.
“Knowledge” an individual will be deemed to have “Knowledge” of a particular fact or other matter if:
(a) such individual is actually aware of such fact or other matter; or
(b) a prudent individual could be expected to discover or otherwise become aware of such fact or other matter in the course of conducting a reasonably comprehensive investigation concerning the existence of such fact or other matter.
A Person (other than an individual) will be deemed to have “Knowledge” of a particular fact or other matter if any individual who is a key employee or is serving, or who has at any time served, as a director, officer, partner, executor, or trustee of such Person (or in any similar capacity) has, or at any time had, Knowledge of such fact or other matter.
“Latest Balance Sheet” as defined in Section 4.4.
“Legal Requirement” any federal, state, local, municipal, foreign, international, multinational, or other administrative order, constitution, law, ordinance, principle of common law, regulation, statute, or treaty.
“NASDAQ” the NASDAQ Stock Market or any of its successor entities.
“Net Profit” with respect to any period, the Revenue less the aggregate amount of the costs of goods sold, operating expenses, interests expenses, depreciation, amortization, taxes and any other expenses of all the Acquired Companies during such period, calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S.A.
“Occupational Safety and Health Law” any Legal Requirement designed to provide safe and healthful working conditions and to reduce occupational safety and health hazards, and any program, whether governmental or private (including those promulgated or sponsored by industry associations and insurance companies), designed to provide safe and healthful working conditions.
“Order” any award, decision, injunction, judgment, order, ruling, subpoena, or verdict entered, issued, made, or rendered by any court, administrative agency, or other Governmental Body or by any arbitrator.
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“Ordinary Course of Business” an action taken by a Person will be deemed to have been taken in the “Ordinary Course of Business” only if:
(a) such action is consistent with the past practices of such Person and is taken in the ordinary course of the normal day-to-day operations of such Person;
(b) such action is not required to be authorized by the board of directors of such Person (or by any Person or group of Persons exercising similar authority) and is not required to be specifically authorized by the parent company (if any) of such Person; and
(c) such action is similar in nature and magnitude to actions customarily taken, without any authorization by the board of directors (or by any Person or group of Persons exercising similar authority), in the ordinary course of the normal day-to-day operations of other Persons that are in the same line of business as such Person.
“Organizational Documents” (a) the articles or certificate of incorporation and the bylaws of a corporation; (b) the partnership agreement and any statement of partnership of a general partnership; (c) the limited partnership agreement and the certificate of limited partnership of a limited partnership; (d) any charter or similar document adopted or filed in connection with the creation, formation, or organization of a Person; and (e) any amendment to any of the foregoing.
“Person” any individual, corporation (including any non-profit corporation), general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, estate, trust, association, organization, labor union, or other entity or Governmental Body.
“PRC” the People’s Republic of China (excluding, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan).
“Proceeding” any action, arbitration, audit, hearing, investigation, litigation, or suit (whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative, or informal) commenced, brought, conducted, or heard by or before, or otherwise involving, any Governmental Body or arbitrator.
“Related Person” with respect to a particular individual:
(a) each other member of such individual’s Family;
(b) any Person that is directly or indirectly controlled by such individual or one or more members of such individual’s Family;
(c) any Person in which such individual or members of such individual’s Family hold (individually or in the aggregate) a Material Interest; and
(d) any Person with respect to which such individual or one or more members of such individual’s Family serves as a director, officer, partner, executor, or trustee (or in a similar capacity).
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With respect to a specified Person other than an individual:
(a) any Person that directly or indirectly controls, is directly or indirectly controlled by, or is directly or indirectly under common control with such specified Person;
(b) any Person that holds a Material Interest in such specified Person;
(c) each Person that serves as a director, officer, partner, executor, or trustee of such specified Person (or in a similar capacity);
(d) any Person in which such specified Person holds a Material Interest;
(e) any Person with respect to which such specified Person serves as a general partner or a trustee (or in a similar capacity); and
(f) any Related Person of any individual described in clause (b) or (c).
For purposes of this definition, (a) the “Family” of an individual includes (i) the individual, (ii) the individual’s spouse and former spouses, (iii) any other natural person who is related to the individual or the individual’s spouse within the second degree, and (iv) any other natural person who resides with such individual, and (b) “Material Interest” means direct or indirect beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of voting securities or other voting interests representing at least 5% of the outstanding voting power of a Person or equity securities or other equity interests representing at least 5% of the outstanding equity securities or equity interests in a Person.
“Release” any spilling, leaking, emitting, discharging, depositing, escaping, leaching, dumping, or other releasing into the Environment, whether intentional or unintentional.
“Representative” with respect to a particular Person, any director, officer, employee, agent, consultant, advisor, or other representative of such Person, including legal counsel, accountants, and financial advisors.
“Revenue” with respect to any period, the aggregate payments received during such period (and not refunded during such period) by all the Acquired Companies from customers and the aggregate payments owed during such period by customers to all the Acquired Companies for products sold and services provided and not yet received during such period, calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S.A.
“Second Payment” as defined in Section 2.6 (a).
“Second Payment Date” as defined in Section 2.6 (a).
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“Securities Act” the Securities Act of 1933 or any successor law, and regulations and rules issued pursuant to that Act or any successor law.
“Sellers” as defined in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“Shares” as defined in the Recitals of this Agreement.
“Standard Second Payment Amount” as defined in Section 2.6 (a).
“Subsidiary” with respect to any Person (the “Owner”), any corporation or other Person of which securities or other interests having the power to elect a majority of that corporation’s or other Person’s board of directors or similar governing body, or otherwise having the power to direct the business and policies of that corporation or other Person (other than securities or other interests having such power only upon the happening of a contingency that has not occurred) are held by the Owner or one or more of its Subsidiaries; when used without reference to a particular Person, “Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary of the Company.
“Strait College” are to Strait College of Minjiang University, are located in Fujian Province PRC.
“Tax” any tax (including any income tax, capital gains tax, value-added tax, sales tax, property tax, gift tax, or estate tax), levy, assessment, tariff, duty (including any customs duty), deficiency, or other fee, and any related charge or amount (including any fine, penalty, interest, or addition to tax), imposed, assessed, or collected by or under the authority of any Governmental Body or payable pursuant to any tax-sharing agreement or any other Contract relating to the sharing or payment of any such tax, levy, assessment, tariff, duty, deficiency, or fee.
“Tax Return” any return (including any information return), report, statement, schedule, notice, form, or other document or information filed with or submitted to, or required to be filed with or submitted to, any Governmental Body in connection with the determination, assessment, collection, or payment of any Tax or in connection with the administration, implementation, or enforcement of or compliance with any Legal Requirement relating to any Tax.
“Third Payment” as defined in Section 2.6(b).
“Third Payment Date” as defined in Section 2.6 (b).
“Threat of Release” a substantial likelihood of a Release that may require action in order to prevent or mitigate damage to the Environment that may result from such Release.
“Threatened” a claim, Proceeding, dispute, action, or other matter will be deemed to have been “Threatened” if any demand or statement has been made (orally or in writing) or any notice has been given (orally or in writing), or if any other event has occurred or any other circumstances exist, that would lead a prudent Person to conclude that such a claim, Proceeding, dispute, action, or other matter is likely to be asserted, commenced, taken, or otherwise pursued in the future.
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“U.S.A.” the United States of America.
“Xxx Xxxxx Fujian” means Fujian Xxx Xxxxx Education Investment Management Company Limited, a subsidiary of the Company, a company organized under the laws of the PRC.
“ Xxx Xxxxx H.K.” means Xxx Xxxxx (H.K.) Education Investment Company Limited., a subsidiary of the Company, a company organized under the laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
SECTION 2. SALE AND TRANSFER OF SHARES; CLOSING
2.1 Shares. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing, the Sellers shall sell, convey, assign, transfer and deliver to the Buyer, and Buyer shall purchase, acquire and accept from the Sellers, all right, title and interest in and to the Shares, free and clear of all Encumbrance.
2.2 Purchase Price. The aggregate purchase price (the “Purchase Price”) for the Shares is US$ 60,000,000, payable in the forms and methods as set forth in Section 2.3 and Section 2.6. The Purchase Price shall be subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 2.6 (c).
2.3 Payment of Consideration. The Purchase Price, subject to post-Closing adjustment, shall be paid as follows:
(a) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, in consideration of the aforesaid sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer and delivery of the Shares, cash in the amount of US$ 40,000,000 or such reduced amount as determined under Section 2.6(c) hereof (the “Closing Payment”)(which included US$ 1,500,000 xxxxxxx money paid to Xxxxx on December 27, 2021), shall be delivered to a joint account controlled jointly by Xxxxx and the Buyer at the Closing and shall be released to Xxxxx with Xxxxx and the Buyer’s written consent upon completion of the Purchase Price adjustment pursuant to Section 2.6(c).
(b) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the Second Payment Date (as defined below), cash in the amount of US$ 10,000,000 (the “Second Payment”) shall be delivered to the Sellers or their designees. The Second Payment shall be paid pursuant to Section 2.6 (a)(ii).
(c) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the Third Payment Date (as defined below), cash in the amount of US$ 10,000,000 (the “Third Payment”) shall be delivered to the Sellers or their designees. The Third Payment shall be paid pursuant to Section 2.6 (b)(ii).
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2.4 Closing. The purchase and sale (the “Closing”) provided for in this Agreement will take place at such place and on such date as the Buyer and the Sellers shall mutually agree (the “Closing Date”), which is no later than two business days after the date that all closing conditions set forth in Sections 8 and 9 have been satisfied or waived. The Closing may also be consummated by facsimile, electronically and by other means satisfactory to the Buyer, the Seller and his respective counsel. The Closing shall be deemed to occur as of midnight on the Closing Date.
2.5 Closing Obligations. At the Closing:
(a) The Sellers will deliver to the Buyer
(i) certificates representing all of the Shares, free and clear of all Encumbrances, duly endorsed in blank or with a fully executed stock power attached, or duly executed instrument of share transfer with respect to the Shares, all in proper form for transfer and in form and substance satisfactory to Buyer; and
(ii) all other agreements, documents, instruments or certificates required to be delivered by Sellers pursuant to Section 8.6, at or prior to the Closing.
(b) The Buyer will cause the delivery of the Closing Cash Payment to Xxxxx and/or the Sellers, and all other agreements, documents, instruments or certificates required to be delivered by the Buyer, at or prior to the Closing.
2.6 Payment of Post-Closing Consideration.
(a) The Second Payment.
(i) The Company should meet the following conditions:
(A) To assist the tailored job readiness training services business (one of main businesses of the Buyer) development;
(B) To assist new products of Smart Campus (one of main businesses of the Buyer) R&D, testing and trial;
(C) To complete the task of teaching and research required by the Buyer;
(D) To ensure the quality of teaching for FMP and Strait College;
(E) Either total incomes or net profit equals or exceeds 10% of total incomes or net profit of 2021 of the Company; and
(F) To ensure management and personnel stability.
(ii) Payment of the Second Payment.
Once the conditions are met pursuant to Section 2.6(a)(i), the Second Payment shall be paid to the Sellers within ten (10) days of the confirmation by the Sellers and the Buyer (the “Second Payment Date”) .
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(b) The Third Payment.
(i) The Company should meet the following conditions:
(A) To ensure the quality of teaching for FMP and Strait College;
(B) Either total incomes or net profit equals or exceeds 20% of total incomes or net profit of 2021 of the Company; and
(C) To ensure management and personnel stability
(ii) Payment of the Third Payment
Once the conditions are met pursuant to Section 2.6(b)(i), the Third Payment shall be paid to the Sellers within ten (10) days of the confirmation by the Sellers and the Buyer (the “Third Payment Date”).
(c) Purchase Price Adjustment. The Buyer and the Sellers shall jointly choose one (1) reputable and qualified asset evaluation agency to verify the Purchase Price. If the final evaluation price determined by such agency (the “Final Evaluation Price”) is lower than the Purchase Price, the Purchase Price shall be reduced to an amount equal to the Final Evaluation Price, provided that in the event the Final Evaluation Price is less than 90% of the Purchase Price, the Buyer has the right but not the obligation to terminate this Agreement and the Purchase Price deposited in the joint account pursuant to Section 2.3(a) shall be returned to the Buyer within two business days.
SECTION 3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLERS.
The Sellers jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Buyer as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as follows:
3.1 Title to the Shares. The Sellers are the lawful owners, of record and beneficially of the Shares and have good and marketable title to the Shares, free and clear of all Encumbrances whatsoever. Schedule 3.1 sets out the name of each current holder of the Shares and the ownership percentage of that holder. Except for this Agreement, there are no agreements or understandings between either the Seller and any other Person with respect to the acquisition, disposition or voting of or any other matters pertaining to the Shares and no restriction on the voting rights and other incidents of record or beneficial ownership pertaining thereto. There are no Proceedings or Orders pending or, to the Knowledge of each Seller, threatened by or against either the Seller relating to the Shares.
3.2 Authority. Each Seller has all requisite power and authority to execute, deliver and perform such Seller’s obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by each Seller, and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of such Seller, enforceable against such Seller in accordance with its terms.
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3.3 Consents Required. No consent, permit, approval, Order or authorization of or by, registration, declaration or filing with, or notification to any Governmental Body is required by or with respect to each Seller in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and consummation by such Seller of the transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE ACQUIRED COMPANIES AND THE SELLERS
The Acquired Companies and the Sellers jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Buyer as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as follows:
4.1 Organization and Good Standing.
(a) Each Acquired Company is duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of formation, with full corporate power and authority to conduct its business as it is now being conducted, to own or use the properties and assets that it purports to own or use, and to perform all of its obligations in the Ordinary Course of Business and under its contracts. Each Acquired Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign company and is in good standing under the laws of each country, territory or other jurisdiction in which either the ownership or use of the properties owned or used by it, or the nature of the activities conducted by it, requires such qualification.
(b) The Sellers have delivered to the Buyer copies of the Organizational Documents of each Acquired Company, as currently in effect.
4.2 Authority; No Conflict.
(a) This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid, and binding obligation of each Acquired Company, enforceable against each Acquired Company in accordance with its terms. The Sellers and the Acquired Companies have the absolute and unrestricted right, power, authority, and capacity to execute and deliver this Agreement and the other documents required to be delivered hereunder and to perform their obligations under this Agreement.
(b) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation or performance of any of the Contemplated Transactions will, directly or indirectly (with or without notice or lapse of time):
(i) contravene, conflict with, or result in a violation of (A) any provision of the Organizational Documents of any Acquired Company, or (B) any resolution adopted by the board of directors or the stockholders of any Acquired Company;
(ii) contravene, conflict with, or result in a violation of, or give any Governmental Body or other Person the right to challenge any of the Contemplated Transactions or to exercise any remedy or obtain any relief under, any Legal Requirement or any Order to which any Acquired Company or Seller, or any of the assets owned or used by any Acquired Company, may be subject;
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(iii) contravene, conflict with, or result in a violation of any of the terms or requirements of, or give any Governmental Body the right to revoke, withdraw, suspend, cancel, terminate, or modify, any Governmental Authorization that is held by any Acquired Company or that otherwise relates to the business of, or any of the assets owned or used by, any Acquired Company;
(iv) cause the Buyer or any Acquired Company to become subject to, or to become liable for the payment of, any Tax;
(v) cause any of the assets owned by any Acquired Company to be reassessed or revalued by any taxing authority or other Governmental Body;
(vi) contravene, conflict with, or result in a violation or breach of any provision of, or give any Person the right to declare a default or exercise any remedy under, or to accelerate the maturity or performance of, or to cancel, terminate, or modify, any Applicable Contract; or
(vii) result in the imposition or creation of any Encumbrance upon or with respect to any of the assets owned or used by any Acquired Company.
None of the Sellers and the Acquired Companies is or will be required to give any notice to or obtain any consent from any Person in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation or performance of any of the Contemplated Transactions.
4.3 Capitalization. The Sellers are and will be on the Closing Date the record and beneficial owner and holder of the Shares, free and clear of all Encumbrances. No legend or other reference to any purported Encumbrance appears upon any certificate representing equity securities of any Acquired Company. All the outstanding equity securities of each Acquired Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. There are no Contracts relating to the issuance, sale, or transfer of any equity securities or other securities of any Acquired Company. None of the outstanding equity securities or other securities of any Acquired Company was issued in violation of the Securities Act or any other Legal Requirement. None of the Acquired Companies owns, or has any Contract to acquire, any equity securities or other securities of any Person (other than the Acquired Company) or any direct or indirect equity or ownership interest in any other business.
4.4 Financial Statements. The Sellers have delivered to the Buyer the unaudited consolidated balance sheets of each Acquired Company as at December 31, 2021 (the “Latest Balance Sheet”) and December 31, 2020, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flow for each of the fiscal years then ended, including the notes thereto. Such financial statements and notes fairly present the financial condition and the results of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flow of each Acquired Company as at the respective dates of and for the periods referred to in such financial statements. The financial statements referred to in this Section 4.4 reflect the consistent application of such accounting principles throughout the periods involved.
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4.5 Books and Records. The books of account, minute books, stock record books, and other records of each Acquired Company, all of which have been made available to the Buyer, are complete and correct. The minute books of each Acquired Company contain accurate and complete records of all meetings held, and corporate action taken by, the stockholders, the Boards of Directors, and committees of the Boards of Directors of each Acquired Company, and no meeting of any such stockholders, Board of Directors, or committee has been held for which minutes have not been prepared and are not contained in such minute books. At the Closing, all those books and records will be in the possession of each Acquired Company.
4.6 Title to Properties; Encumbrances. The Sellers have delivered or made available to the Buyer copies of the deeds and other instruments (as recorded) by which each Acquired Company acquired all real property, leaseholds, or other interests owned by it, and copies of all title insurance policies, opinions, abstracts, and surveys in the possession of the Sellers or each Acquired Company and relating to such property or interests. Each Acquired Company owns (with good and marketable title in the case of real property, subject only to the matters permitted by the following sentence) all the properties and assets (whether real, personal, or mixed and whether tangible or intangible) that they purport to own located in the facilities owned or operated by such Acquired Company or reflected as owned in the books and records of such Acquired Company, including all of the properties and assets reflected in the Latest Balance Sheet (except for personal property sold since the date of the Latest Balance Sheet, as the case may be, in the Ordinary Course of Business), and all of the properties and assets purchased or otherwise acquired by each Acquired Company since the date of the Latest Balance Sheet (except for personal property acquired and sold since the date of the Balance Sheet in the Ordinary Course of Business and consistent with past practice). All material properties and assets reflected in the Latest Balance Sheet are free and clear of all Encumbrances and are not, in the case of real property, subject to any rights of way, building use restrictions, exceptions, variances, reservations, or limitations of any nature except, with respect to all such properties and assets, (a) mortgages or security interests shown on the Latest Balance Sheet as securing specified liabilities or obligations, with respect to which no default (or event that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) exists, (b) mortgages or security interests incurred in connection with the purchase of property or assets after the date of the Latest Balance Sheet (such mortgages and security interests being limited to the property or assets so acquired), with respect to which no default (or event that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) exists, (c) liens for current taxes not yet due, and (d) with respect to real property, (i) minor imperfections of title, if any, none of which is substantial in amount, materially detracts from the value or impairs the use of the property subject thereto, or impairs the operations of each Acquired Company, and (ii) zoning laws and other land use restrictions that do not impair the present or anticipated use of the property subject thereto. All buildings, plants, and structures owned by each Acquired Company lie wholly within the boundaries of the real property owned by each Acquired Company and do not encroach upon the property of, or otherwise conflict with the property rights of, any other Person.
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4.7 Condition and Sufficiency of Assets. The buildings, plants, structures, and equipment of each Acquired Company are structurally sound, are in good operating condition and repair, and are adequate for the uses to which they are being put, and none of such buildings, plants, structures, or equipment is in need of maintenance or repairs except for ordinary, routine maintenance and repairs that are not material in nature or cost. The building, plants, structures, and equipment of each Acquired Company are sufficient for the continued conduct of each Acquired Company’s businesses after the Closing in substantially the same manner as conducted prior to the Closing.
4.8 Accounts Receivable. All accounts receivable of each Acquired Company that are reflected on the Latest Balance Sheet or on the accounting records of each Acquired Company as of the Closing Date (collectively, the “Accounts Receivable”) represent or will represent valid obligations arising from sales actually made or services actually performed in the Ordinary Course of Business. Unless paid prior to the Closing Date, the Accounts Receivable are or will be as of the Closing Date current and collectible net of the respective reserves shown on the Latest Balance Sheet or on the accounting records of each Acquired Company as of the Closing Date (which reserves are adequate and calculated consistent with past practice and, in the case of the reserve as of the Closing Date, will not represent a greater percentage of the Accounts Receivable as of the Closing Date than the reserve reflected in the Latest Balance Sheet represented of the Accounts Receivable reflected therein and will not represent a material adverse change in the composition of such Accounts Receivable in terms of aging). Subject to such reserves, each of the Accounts Receivable either has been or will be collected in full, without any set-off, within ninety days after the day on which it first becomes due and payable. There is no contest, claim, or right of set-off, other than returns in the Ordinary Course of Business, under any Contract with any obligor of an Accounts Receivable relating to the amount or validity of such Accounts Receivable.
4.9 Inventory. All inventory of each Acquired Company, whether or not reflected in the Latest Balance Sheet, consists of a quality and quantity usable and salable in the Ordinary Course of Business, except for obsolete items and items of below-standard quality, all of which have been written off or written down to net realizable value in the Latest Balance Sheet or on the accounting records of each Acquired Company as of the Closing Date, as the case may be. The quantities of each item of inventory (whether raw materials, work-in-process, or finished goods) are not excessive, but are reasonable in the present circumstances of each Acquired Company.
4.10 No Undisclosed Liabilities. None of the Acquired Companies has any liabilities or obligations of any nature (whether known or unknown and whether absolute, accrued, contingent, or otherwise) except for liabilities or obligations reflected or reserved against in the Latest Balance Sheet and current liabilities incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business since the respective dates thereof.
4.11 Taxes.
(a) Each Acquired Company has filed or caused to be filed on a timely basis through the date hereof all Tax Returns that are or were required to be filed by or with respect to any of them, either separately or as a member of a group of corporations, pursuant to applicable Legal Requirements. The Sellers have delivered or made available to the Buyer copies of all such Tax Returns filed for its three most recent completed Tax years. Each Acquired Company has paid, or made provision for the payment of, all Taxes that have or may have become due pursuant to those Tax Returns or otherwise, or pursuant to any assessment received by the Sellers or each Acquired Company.
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(b) The charges, accruals, and reserves with respect to Taxes on the respective books of each Acquired Company are adequate and are at least equal to each Acquired Company’s liability for Taxes. There exists no proposed tax assessment against any Acquired Company except as disclosed in the Latest Balance Sheet.
(c) All Taxes that the Company is or was required by Legal Requirements to withhold or collect have been duly withheld or collected and, to the extent required, have been paid to the proper Governmental Body or other Person.
(d) All Tax Returns filed by (or that include on a consolidated basis) each Acquired Company are true, correct, and complete. There is no tax sharing agreement that will require any payment by each Acquired Company after the date of this Agreement.
(e) None of the Acquired Companies has received any notice that any of its Tax Returns has been examined by any Governmental Body within the past 6 years.
4.12 No Material Adverse Change. Since the date of the Latest Balance Sheet, there has not been any material adverse change in the business, operations, properties, prospects, assets, or condition of each Acquired Company, and no event has occurred or circumstance exists that may result in such a material adverse change.
4.13 Employee Benefits. The Sellers have delivered to the Buyer a complete list of employee benefit plans (the “Benefit Plan”) of each Acquired Company. With respect to each Benefit Plan, each Acquired Company has heretofore made available to the Buyer correct and complete copies of each of the following documents: (a) the Benefit Plan and all related documents (including all amendments thereto), (b) the summary plan description prepared for each such Benefit Plan (including all amendments thereto) and (c) all Contracts with third-party administrators, actuaries, investment managers, consultants or other independent contractors related to each such Benefit Plan. Each Benefit Plan has been administered and operated in material compliance with its terms, and the requirements of all applicable Legal Requirements.
4.14 Compliance With Legal Requirements; Governmental Authorizations.
(a) Each of the Acquired Companies has been and is in full compliance with each Legal Requirement that is or was applicable to it or to the conduct or operation of its business or the ownership or use of any of its assets;
(b) No event has occurred or circumstance exists that (with or without notice or lapse of time) (A) may constitute or result in a violation by any Acquired Company of, or a failure on the part of any Acquired Company to comply with, any Legal Requirement, or (B) may give rise to any obligation on the part of any Acquired Company to undertake, or to bear all or any portion of the cost of, any remedial action of any nature; and
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(c) None of the Acquired Companies has received, any notice or other communication (whether oral or written) from any Governmental Body or any other Person regarding (A) any actual, alleged, possible, or potential violation of, or failure to comply with, any Legal Requirement, or (B) any actual, alleged, possible, or potential obligation on the part of any Acquired Company to undertake, or to bear all or any portion of the cost of, any remedial action of any nature.
(d) Each Governmental Authorization held or required to be held by each Acquired Company or that otherwise relates to the business of, or to any of the assets owned or used by, each Acquired Company is valid and in full force and effect.
(e) Each Acquired Company has been and is in full compliance with all of the terms and requirements of each Governmental Authorization held or required to be held by it or that otherwise relates to the business of, or to any of the assets owned or used by, it;
(f) No event has occurred or circumstance exists that may (with or without notice or lapse of time) (A) constitute or result directly or indirectly in a violation of or a failure to comply with any term or requirement of any Governmental Authorization held or required to be held by any Acquired Company or that otherwise relates to the business of, or to any of the assets owned or used by, it, or (B) result directly or indirectly in the revocation, withdrawal, suspension, cancellation, or termination of, or any modification to, any Governmental Authorization held or required to be held by any Acquired Company or that otherwise relates to the business of, or to any of the assets owned or used by, it;
(g) None of the Acquired Companies has received, any notice or other communication (whether oral or written) from any Governmental Body or any other Person regarding (A) any actual, alleged, possible, or potential violation of or failure to comply with any term or requirement of any Governmental Authorization, or (B) any actual, proposed, possible, or potential revocation, withdrawal, suspension, cancellation, termination of, or modification to any Governmental Authorization; and
(h) All applications required to have been filed for the renewal of the Governmental Authorizations referred to above have been duly filed on a timely basis with the appropriate Governmental Bodies, and all other filings required to have been made with respect to such Governmental Authorizations have been duly made on a timely basis with the appropriate Governmental Bodies.
Each Acquired Company has been granted all of the Governmental Authorizations necessary to permit such Acquired Company to lawfully conduct and operate their businesses in the manner they currently conduct and operate such businesses and to permit such Acquired Company to own and use their assets in the manner in which they currently own and use such assets.
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4.15 Legal Proceedings; Orders.
(a) There is no pending Proceeding that has been commenced by or against any Acquired Company or that otherwise relates to or may affect the business of, or any of the assets owned or used by, any Acquired Company; or that challenges, or that may have the effect of preventing, delaying, making illegal, or otherwise interfering with, any of the Contemplated Transactions. To the Knowledge of each Seller and each Acquired Company, (1) no such Proceeding has been Threatened, and (2) no event has occurred or circumstance exists that may give rise to or serve as a basis for the commencement of any such Proceeding.
(b) There is no Order to which any Acquired Company, or any of the assets owned or used by any Acquired Company, is subject. Neither the Seller is subject to any Order that relates to the business of, or any of the assets owned or used by, any Acquired Company. To the Knowledge of each Seller and each Acquired Company, no officer, director, agent, or employee of any Acquired Company is subject to any Order that prohibits such officer, director, agent, or employee from engaging in or continuing any conduct, activity, or practice relating to the business of such Acquired Company.
(c) Each Acquired Company is, in full compliance with of the terms and requirements of each Order to which it, or any of the assets owned or used by it, is or has been subject. No event has occurred or circumstance exists that may constitute or result in (with or without notice or lapse of time) a violation of or failure to comply with any term or requirement of any Order to which any Acquired Company, or any of the assets owned or used by any Acquired Company, is subject. None of the Acquired Companies has received, any notice or other communication (whether oral or written) from any Governmental Body or any other Person regarding any actual, alleged, possible, or potential violation of, or failure to comply with, any term or requirement of any Order to which any Acquired Company, or any of the assets owned or used by any Acquired Company, is or has been subject.
4.16 Absence of Certain Changes and Events. Since the date of the Latest Balance Sheet, each Acquired Company has conducted their businesses only in the Ordinary Course of Business and there has not been any:
(a) change in any Acquired Company’s authorized or issued capital stock; grant of any stock option or right to purchase shares of capital stock of any Acquired Company; issuance of any security convertible into such capital stock; grant of any registration rights; purchase, redemption, retirement, or other acquisition by any Acquired Company of any shares of any such capital stock; or declaration or payment of any dividend or other distribution or payment in respect of shares of capital stock;
(b) amendment to the Organizational Documents of any Acquired Company;
(c) payment or increase by any Acquired Company of any bonuses, salaries, or other compensation to any stockholder, director, officer, or (except in the Ordinary Course of Business) employee or entry into any employment, severance, or similar Contract with any director, officer, or employee;
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(d) adoption of, or increase in the payments to or benefits under, any profit sharing, bonus, deferred compensation, savings, insurance, pension, retirement, or other employee benefit plan for or with any employees of any Acquired Company;
(e) damage to or destruction or loss of any asset or property of any Acquired Company, whether or not covered by insurance, materially and adversely affecting the properties, assets, business, financial condition, or prospects of any Acquired Company, taken as a whole;
(f) entry into, termination of, or receipt of notice of termination of any Contract or transaction involving a total remaining commitment by or to any Acquired Company of at least $10,000.00;
(g) sale (other than sales of inventory in the Ordinary Course of Business), lease, or other disposition of any asset or property of any Acquired Company or mortgage, pledge, or imposition of any lien or other Encumbrance on any material asset or property of any Acquired Company, including the sale, lease, or other disposition of any of the Intellectual Property Assets;
(h) cancellation or waiver of any claims or rights with a value to any Acquired Company in excess of $10,000.00;
(i) material change in the accounting methods used by any Acquired Company; or
(j) agreement, whether oral or written, by any Acquired Company to do any of the foregoing.
4.17 Contracts; No Defaults. The Sellers have delivered to the Buyer copies, including all schedules, exhibits and amendments, of all Contracts to which any Acquired Company is a party or to which the business of any Acquired Company is subject involving either (a) obligations (contingent or otherwise) of, or the possibility of payments to, any Acquired Company in excess of $10,000.00, (b) actual or purported restrictions on the ability of any Acquired Company to compete in any line of business or with any Person or in any geographic area during any period of time, or (c) actual or purported restrictions on the prices any Acquired Company may charge for its products or services. Each Material Contract is valid and binding on each Applicable Acquired Company in accordance with its terms and is in full force and effect. None of the Acquired Companies is in material breach or violation of any Material Contract and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice or the passage of time, would result in a default or violation thereunder. To each Seller’s and each Applicable Acquired Company’s Knowledge, no other party to any Material Contract is in material breach or violation of that Contract and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice or the passage of time, would result in a default or violation thereunder. The Sellers and each Applicable Acquired Company have no reason to believe that there is a reasonable likelihood that any party to any Material Contract will be unable to or will choose to not comply with the terms of any Material Contract. None of the Acquired Companies has received from any party to a Material Contract any notice of any intention to terminate any Material Contract. All Contracts of each Applicable Acquired Company relating to the sale, design, manufacture, or provision of products or services by each Applicable Acquired Company have been entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business and have been entered into without the commission of any act alone or in concert with any other Person, or any consideration having been paid or promised, that is or would be in violation of any Legal Requirement.
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4.18 Insurance.
(a) The Sellers have delivered to the Buyer: true and complete copies of all policies of insurance to which each Acquired Company is a party or under which such Acquired Company, or any director of such Acquired Company, is or has been covered at any time within the years preceding the date of this Agreement; insurance; and true and complete copies of all pending applications for policies of any statement by the auditor of such Acquired Company’s financial statements with regard to the adequacy of such entity’s coverage or of the reserves for claims.
(b) All policies to which each Acquired Company is a party or that provide coverage to such Acquired Company, or any director or officer of such Acquired Company: (A) are valid, outstanding, and enforceable; (B) are issued by an insurer that is financially sound and reputable; (C) taken together, provide adequate insurance coverage for the assets and the operations of such Acquired Company for all risks to which such Acquired Company is normally exposed; (D) are sufficient for compliance with all Legal Requirements and Contracts to which such Acquired Company is a party or by which any of them is bound; (E) will continue in full force and effect following the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions; and (F) do not provide for any retrospective premium adjustment or other experienced-based liability on the part of such Acquired Company.
(c) Neither the Seller nor any Acquired Company has received (A) any refusal of coverage or any notice that a defense will be afforded with reservation of rights, or (B) any notice of cancellation or any other indication that any insurance policy is no longer in full force or effect or will not be renewed or that the issuer of any policy is not willing or able to perform its obligations thereunder.
(d) Each Acquired Company has paid all premiums due, and have otherwise performed all their respective obligations, under each policy to which such Acquired Company is a party or that provides coverage to such Acquired Company or director thereof.
(e) Each Acquired Company has given notice to the insurer of all claims that may be insured thereby.
4.19 Environmental Matters.
(a) Each Acquired Company is, and at all times has been, in full compliance with, and has not been and is not in violation of or liable under, any Environmental Law. Neither the Sellers nor any Acquired Company has any basis to expect, nor has any of them or any other Person for whose conduct they are or may be held to be responsible received, any actual or Threatened order, notice, or other communication from (i) any Governmental Body or private citizen acting in the public interest, or (ii) the current or prior owner or operator of any Facilities, of any actual or potential violation or failure to comply with any Environmental Law, or of any actual or Threatened obligation to undertake or bear the cost of any Environmental, Health, and Safety Liabilities with respect to any of the Facilities or any other properties or assets (whether real, personal, or mixed) in which either the Seller or any Acquired Company has had an interest, or with respect to any property or Facility at or to which Hazardous Materials were generated, manufactured, refined, transferred, imported, used, or processed by either Seller, any Acquired Company, or any other Person for whose conduct they are or may be held responsible, or from which Hazardous Materials have been transported, treated, stored, handled, transferred, disposed, recycled, or received.
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(b) There are no pending or Threatened claims, Encumbrances, or other restrictions of any nature, resulting from any Environmental, Health, and Safety Liabilities or arising under or pursuant to any Environmental Law, with respect to or affecting any of the Facilities or any other properties and assets (whether real, personal, or mixed) in which either Seller or any Acquired Company has or had an interest.
(c) Neither the Sellers nor any Acquired Company has any basis to expect, nor has any of them or any other Person for whose conduct they are or may be held responsible, received, any citation, directive, inquiry, notice, Order, summons, warning, or other communication that relates to Hazardous Activity, Hazardous Materials, or any alleged, actual, or potential violation or failure to comply with any Environmental Law, or of any alleged, actual, or potential obligation to undertake or bear the cost of any Environmental, Health, and Safety Liabilities with respect to any of the Facilities or any other properties or assets (whether real, personal, or mixed) in which either Seller or any Acquired Company had an interest, or with respect to any property or facility to which Hazardous Materials generated, manufactured, refined, transferred, imported, used, or processed by either Seller, any Acquired Company, or any other Person for whose conduct they are or may be held responsible, have been transported, treated, stored, handled, transferred, disposed, recycled, or received.
(d) Neither the Sellers nor any Acquired Company, or any other Person for whose conduct they are or may be held responsible, has any Environmental, Health, and Safety Liabilities with respect to the Facilities or , to the Knowledge of each Seller and Acquired Company, with respect to any other properties and assets (whether real, personal, or mixed) in which either the Seller or any Acquired Company (or any predecessor), has or had an interest, or at any property geologically or hydrologically adjoining the Facilities or any such other property or assets.
(e) There are no Hazardous Materials present on or in the Environment at the Facilities or at any geologically or hydrologically adjoining property, including any Hazardous Materials contained in barrels, above or underground storage tanks, landfills, land deposits, dumps, equipment (whether moveable or fixed) or other containers, either temporary or permanent, and deposited or located in land, water, sumps, or any other part of the Facilities or such adjoining property, or incorporated into any structure therein or thereon. No the Seller, any Acquired Company, any other Person for whose conduct they are or may be held responsible, or any other Person, has permitted or conducted, or is aware of, any Hazardous Activity conducted with respect to the Facilities or any other properties or assets (whether real, personal, or mixed) in which either the Seller or any Acquired Company has or had an interest.
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(f) There has been no Release or, to the Knowledge of each Seller and Acquired Company, Threat of Release, of any Hazardous Materials at or from the Facilities or at any other locations where any Hazardous Materials were generated, manufactured, refined, transferred, produced, imported, used, or processed from or by the Facilities, or from or by any other properties and assets (whether real, personal, or mixed) in which either Seller or any Acquired Company has or had an interest, or any geologically or hydrologically adjoining property, whether by either Seller, any Acquired Company, or any other Person.
(g) The Sellers have delivered to the Buyer true and complete copies and results of any reports, studies, analyses, tests, or monitoring possessed or initiated by the Sellers or any Acquired Company pertaining to Hazardous Materials or Hazardous Activities in, on, or under the Facilities, or concerning compliance by the Sellers, each Acquired Company, or any other Person for whose conduct they are or may be held responsible, with Environmental Laws.
4.20 Employees.
(a) The Sellers have provided to the Buyer a complete and accurate list of the following information for each employee, officer or director of each Acquired Company, including each employee on leave of absence or layoff status: employer; name; job title; current compensation paid or payable and any change in compensation since January 1, 2019; vacation accrued; and service credited for purposes of vesting and eligibility to participate under each Acquired Company’s pension, retirement, profit-sharing, thrift-savings, deferred compensation, stock bonus, stock option, cash bonus, employee stock ownership (including investment credit or payroll stock ownership), severance pay, insurance, medical, welfare, or vacation plan or any other employee benefit plan.
(b) No employee or director of any Acquired Company is a party to, or is otherwise bound by, any agreement or arrangement, including any confidentiality, non-competition, or proprietary rights agreement, between such employee or director and any other Person (the “Proprietary Rights Agreement”) that in any way adversely affects or will affect (i) the performance of his duties as an employee or director of any Acquired Company, or (ii) the ability of any Acquired Company to conduct its business, including any Proprietary Rights Agreement with the Sellers or any Acquired Company by any such employee or director. To each Seller’s Knowledge, no director, officer, or other key employee of any Acquired Company intends to terminate his/her employment with such Acquired Company.
4.21 Labor Relations; Compliance. None of the Acquired Companies is a party to any collective bargaining or other labor Contract. There is not presently pending or existing, and there is not Threatened, (a) any strike, slowdown, picketing, work stoppage, or employee grievance process, (b) any Proceeding against or affecting any Acquired Company relating to the alleged violation of any Legal Requirement pertaining to labor relations or employment matters, including any charge or complaint filed by an employee or union with any relevant Governmental Body, organizational activity, or other labor or employment dispute against or affecting any Acquired Company or its premises, or (c) any application for certification of a collective bargaining agent. No event has occurred or circumstance exists that could provide the basis for any work stoppage or other labor dispute. There is no lockout of any employees by any Acquired Company, and no such action is contemplated by any Acquired Company. Each Acquired Company has complied in all respects with all Legal Requirements relating to employment, equal employment opportunity, nondiscrimination, immigration, wages, hours, benefits, collective bargaining, the payment of social security and similar taxes, occupational safety and health, and plant closing. None of the Acquired Companies is liable for the payment of any compensation, damages, taxes, fines, penalties, or other amounts, however designated, for failure to comply with any of the foregoing Legal Requirements.
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4.22 Intellectual Property.
(a) Intellectual Property Assets. The term “Intellectual Property Assets” includes: (i) fictional business names, trading names, registered and unregistered trademarks, service marks, and applications; (ii) all patents, patent applications, and inventions and discoveries that may be patentable; (iii) all copyrights in both published works and unpublished works; (iv) all rights in mask works; and (v) all know-how, trade secrets, confidential information, customer lists, software, technical information, data, process technology, plans, drawings, and blue prints; owned, used, or licensed by any Acquired Company as licensee or licensor.
(b) Agreements. The Sellers have provided to the Buyer copies of all Contracts relating to the Intellectual Property Assets to which each Acquired Company is a party or by which each Acquired Company is bound, except for any license implied by the sale of a product and perpetual, paid-up licenses for commonly available software programs with a value of less than $10,000.00 under which each Acquired Company is the licensee. There are no outstanding and no threatened disputes or disagreements with respect to any such agreement.
(c) Necessary for the Business. The Intellectual Property Assets are all those necessary for the operation of each Acquired Company’s businesses as they are currently conducted. Each Acquired Company is the owner of all right, title, and interest in and to each of the Intellectual Property Assets, free and clear of all liens, security interests, charges, encumbrances, equities, and other adverse claims, and has the right to use without payment to a third party all of the Intellectual Property Assets. All former and current employees of each Acquired Company have executed written Contracts with such Acquired Company that assign to such Acquired Company all rights to any inventions, improvements, discoveries, or information relating to the business of such Acquired Company. No employee of any Acquired Company has entered into any Contract that restricts or limits in any way the scope or type of work in which the employee may be engaged or requires the employee to transfer, assign, or disclose information concerning his work to anyone other than such Acquired Company.
4.23 Healthcare Regulatory Matters.
Each Acquired Company, is, and since establishment has been, in compliance with all Legal Requirement of any Governmental Entity to which it is subject with respect to health care regulatory matters.
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4.24 Certain Payments.
Neither any Acquired Company or director, officer, agent, or employee of such Acquired Company, or to each Seller’s or each Acquired Company’s Knowledge any other Person associated with or acting for or on behalf of such Acquired Company, has directly or indirectly (a) made any contribution, gift, bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback, or other payment to any Person, private or public, regardless of form, whether in money, property, or services (i) to obtain favorable treatment in securing business, (ii) to pay for favorable treatment for business secured, (iii) to obtain special concessions or for special concessions already obtained, for or in respect of such Acquired Company or any Affiliate of such Acquired Company, or (iv) in violation of any Legal Requirement, (b) established or maintained any fund or asset that has not been recorded in the books and records of such Acquired Company.
4.25 Disclosure.
(a) No representation or warranty of the Sellers or Acquired Companies in this Agreement omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements herein or therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.
(b) There is no fact known to the Sellers or Acquired Companies that has specific application to the Sellers or any Acquired Company (other than general economic or industry conditions) and that materially adversely affects or, as far as the Sellers can reasonably foresee, materially threatens, the assets, business, prospects, financial condition, or results of operations of any Acquired Company (on a consolidated basis) that has not been set forth in this Agreement.
4.26 Relationships With Related Persons. Neither the Seller, Acquired Company or any Related Person of each Seller or of either Acquired Company has, or since the first day of the next to last completed fiscal year of any Acquired Company has had, any interest in any property (whether real, personal, or mixed and whether tangible or intangible), used in or pertaining to any Acquired Company’s business. Neither the Seller, Acquired Company or any Related Person of each Seller or of any Acquired Company is, or since the first day of the next to last completed fiscal year of any Acquired Company has owned (of record or as a beneficial owner) an equity interest or any other financial or profit interest in, a Person that has (i) had business dealings or a material financial interest in any transaction with any Acquired Company other than business dealings or transactions conducted in the Ordinary Course of Business with any Acquired Company at substantially prevailing market prices and on substantially prevailing market terms, or (ii) engaged in competition with any Acquired Company with respect to any line of the products or services of any Acquired Company (a “Competing Business”) in any market presently served by any Acquired Company except for less than one percent of the outstanding capital stock of any Competing Business that is publicly traded on any recognized exchange or in the over-the-counter market. Neither the Seller or any Related Person of each Seller or of any Acquired Company is a party to any Contract with, or has any claim or right against, any Acquired Company.
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SECTION 5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER.
The Buyer represents and warrants to the Sellers as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as follows:
5.1 Organization and Good Standing. The Buyer is a corporation organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands. The Buyer is not in default in any material respect of any of the listing or other requirements of NASDAQ.
5.2 Authority; No Conflict.
(a) This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid, and binding obligation of the Buyer, enforceable against the Buyer in accordance with its terms. The Buyer has the absolute and unrestricted right, power, and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations under this Agreement.
(b) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Buyer nor the consummation or performance of any of the Contemplated Transactions by the Buyer will give any Person the right to prevent, delay, or otherwise interfere with any of the Contemplated Transactions pursuant to: (i) any provision of the Buyer’s Organizational Documents; (ii) any resolution adopted by the board of directors or the stockholders of the Buyer; (iii) any Legal Requirement or Order to which the Buyer may be subject or bound.
(c) No consent, permit, approval, Order or authorization of or by, registration, declaration or filing with, or notification to any Governmental Body is required by or with respect to the Buyer in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and consummation by the Buyer of the transactions contemplated hereby, except for such filings as may be required to be made to NASDAQ.
5.3 Certain Proceedings. There is no pending Proceeding that has been commenced against the Buyer and that challenges, or may have the effect of preventing, delaying, making illegal, or otherwise interfering with, any of the Contemplated Transactions. To the Buyer’s Knowledge, no such Proceeding has been Threatened.
5.4 Brokers or Finders. Buyer and its officers and agents have incurred no obligation or liability, contingent or otherwise, for brokerage or finders’ fees or agents’ commissions or other similar payment in connection with this Agreement.
5.5 SEC Filings. The Buyer has filed with or furnished to, as applicable, the SEC all registration statements, prospectuses, reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents (including exhibits and all other information incorporated by reference) required to be filed or furnished by it with the SEC, not necessarily on a timely basis.
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SECTION 6. COVENANTS OF THE SELLERS.
6.1 Access and Investigation. Between the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, the Sellers will, and will cause each Acquired Company and its Representatives to, (a) afford the Buyer and its Representatives (collectively, “Buyer’s Advisors”) full and free access to each Acquired Company’s personnel, properties (including subsurface testing), contracts, books and records, and other documents and data, (b) furnish the Buyer and Buyer’s Advisors with copies of all such contracts, books and records, and other existing documents and data as the Buyer may reasonably request, and (c) furnish the Buyer and Buyer’s Advisors with such additional financial, operating, and other data and information as the Buyer may reasonably request.
6.2 Operation of the Businesses of each Acquired Company. Between the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, the Sellers will, and will cause each Acquired Company to:
(a) conduct the business of each Acquired Company only in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(b) not enter into (i) any transaction other than in the Ordinary Course of Business, (ii) any transaction which is not at arms-length with unaffiliated third Persons or (iii) any transaction with any Affiliate;
(c) use their Best Efforts to preserve intact the current business organization of each Acquired Company, keep available the services of the current officers, employees, and agents of each Acquired Company, and maintain the relations and good will with suppliers, customers, landlords, creditors, employees, agents, and others having business relationships with each Acquired Company;
(d) confer with the Buyer concerning operational matters of a material nature; and
(e) otherwise report periodically to the Buyer concerning the status of the business, operations, and finances of each Acquired Company.
6.3 Negative Covenant. Except as otherwise expressly permitted by this Agreement, between the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, the Sellers will not, and will cause each Acquired Company not to, without the prior consent of the Buyer, take any affirmative action, or fail to take any reasonable action within their or its control, as a result of which any of the changes or events listed in Section 4.16 is likely to occur.
6.4 Required Approvals. As promptly as practicable after the date of this Agreement, the Sellers will, and will cause each Acquired Company to, obtain any consents and approvals of, or effect the notification of or filing with, each Person, whether private or governmental, whose consent or approval is required in order to permit the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions, to obtain any consent that may be required from a party to an agreement with each Acquired Company that may give such party a right to cancel such agreement as a result of the Contemplated Transactions. Between the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, the Sellers will, and will cause each Acquired Company to, cooperate with the Buyer with respect to all consents, approvals or filings that the Buyer elects to make or obtain or is required by Legal Requirements to make or obtain in connection with the Contemplated Transactions.
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6.5 Notification. Between the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, the Sellers will promptly notify the Buyer in writing if the Sellers or any Acquired Company becomes aware of any fact or condition that causes or constitutes a Breach of any of the Sellers’ or Acquired Companies’ representations and warranties as of the date of this Agreement, or if the Sellers or each Acquired Company becomes aware of the occurrence after the date of this Agreement of any fact or condition that would (except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement) cause or constitute a Breach of any such representation or warranty had such representation or warranty been made as of the time of occurrence or discovery of such fact or condition.
6.6 Payment of Indebtedness by Related Persons. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, the Sellers will cause all indebtedness owed to any Acquired Company by the Sellers or any Related Person of the Sellers to be paid in full prior to Closing.
6.7 No Negotiation. Until such time, if any, as this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 10, the Sellers will not, and will cause each Acquired Company and each of their Representatives not to, directly or indirectly solicit, initiate, or encourage any inquiries or proposals from, discuss or negotiate with, provide any non-public information to, or consider the merits of any unsolicited inquiries or proposals from, any Person (other than Buyer) relating to any transaction involving the sale of the business or assets (other than in the Ordinary Course of Business) of any Acquired Company, or any of the capital stock of any Acquired Company, or any merger, consolidation, business combination, or similar transaction involving any Acquired Company.
6.8 Proprietary Information. All confidential or proprietary information or work product relating to each Acquired Company or business of each Acquired Company that is known to the Sellers as of the Closing Date shall be the sole property of the Buyer and each Acquired Company. The Sellers shall not use or disclose such information or work product except for the benefit of the Buyer or each Acquired Company and their respective successors and assigns, and the Sellers shall take reasonable steps to protect such information and work product from misuse, loss, theft or accidental disclosure.
6.9 Public Announcements. The Sellers shall not issue any such press release or make any such public statement without the prior consent of the Buyer, except as may be required by applicable law.
6.10 Stockholder Covenant. The Sellers shall not (i) sell, transfer, assign, tender, create an Encumbrance upon or otherwise dispose of, or enter into any contract, option or other arrangement with respect to the sale, transfer, assignment, tender, Encumbrance or other disposition of any of the Shares or (ii) grant any proxies with respect to any of the Shares, deposit any of the Shares into a voting trust or enter into a voting or option agreement with respect to any of the Shares.
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6.11 Best Efforts. Between the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, the Sellers will use their Best Efforts to cause the conditions in Section 8 to be satisfied.
6.12 Release. After the Closing Date, (a) none of the Buyer, any Related Party of the Buyer nor any Acquired Company will have any debt, obligation or liability to either the Seller, and (b) each Seller on behalf of itself and all of its Related Parties, hereby unconditionally releases and discharges Buyer, all of the Buyer’s Related Parties and each Acquired Company from any and all claims, debts, obligations and liabilities, whether known or unknown, contingent or non-contingent, at law or in equity, in each case arising from or in connection with such Seller’s ownership of the Applicable Acquired Company or resulting from such Seller or any of its Related Parties having been a director, officer or employee of such Acquired Company; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 6.12 shall terminate or release the Buyer’s obligations to the Sellers under this Agreement.
6.13 Confidentiality. From and after the Closing Date, the Sellers will, and will cause each of its Related Parties to (a) protect and safeguard the confidentiality of all of the Confidential Information with at least the same degree of care as a reasonably prudent person would exercise to protect its own Confidential Information, (b) not use Confidential Information, or permit it to be accessed or used, for any purpose, and (c) not disclose any Confidential Information to any Person except as required by applicable law or legal process. The Sellers hereby assume full responsibility and liability for the compliance of all of the Sellers’ Related Parties with the terms of this Section 6.13. Prior to making any disclosure of any Confidential Information required by applicable law or legal process, a Seller shall provide the Buyer with (i) if and to the extent legally permitted, prompt written notice of such requirement so that the Buyer may seek a protective order or other remedy; and (ii) reasonable assistance in opposing such disclosure or seeking a protective order or other remedy.
SECTION 7. TAX MATTERS.
7.1 Responsibility for Filing Tax Returns.
(a) The Sellers shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, in a timely manner, all income Tax Returns of each Acquired Company that are due after the Closing with respect to any taxable period ending prior to or ending on and including the Closing Date; provided, however, that any such Tax Return shall be prepared by treating items on that Tax Return in a manner consistent with the prior Tax Returns of each Acquired Company. The Sellers shall deliver to the Buyer draft copies of each such Tax Return prior to the date for filing that Tax Return. The Sellers shall make all changes in each such Tax Return reasonably requested by the Buyer. The Buyer shall cause each such Tax Return to be appropriately signed and filed, and the Sellers shall pay to each Acquired Company any Taxes due from such Acquired Company on that Tax Return.
(b) The Buyer shall after the Closing prepare and file, or cause to be prepared and filed, Tax Returns of each Acquired Company for any period beginning prior to the Closing Date and ending after the Closing Date (a “Straddle Period”). Any such Tax Return shall be prepared by treating items on that Tax Return in a manner consistent with the prior Tax Returns of each Acquired Company. The Buyer shall deliver to the Sellers draft copies of each such Tax Return at least thirty (30) days prior to the date for filing that Tax Return. The Buyer shall make all changes in each such Tax Return reasonably requested by the Sellers. The Sellers shall pay to each Acquired Company the Taxes due for the period prior to and including the Closing Date from such Acquired Company on that Tax Return.
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7.2 Cooperation on Tax Matters. Commencing on the Closing Date, the Buyer, on the one hand, and the Sellers, on the other hand, shall cooperate fully, as and to the extent reasonably requested by the other party, in connection with the filing and execution of Tax Returns and any audit, litigation or other proceeding with respect to Taxes, in each case, in respect of any period ending prior to or on the Closing Date or any Straddle Period.
7.3 Sales and Transfer Taxes. All sales, transfer and other Taxes (including all stock transfer Taxes, if any) incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby will be borne by the Sellers, and the Sellers shall, at the Sellers’ own expense, file all necessary Tax Returns and other documentation with respect to all such sales and transfer Taxes.
SECTION 8. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE BUYER’S OBLIGATION TO CLOSE.
The Buyer’s obligation to purchase the Shares and to take the other actions required to be taken by the Buyer at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions (any of which may be waived by the Buyer, in whole or in part):
8.1 Accuracy of Representations.
(a) All of the Sellers’ representations and warranties in this Agreement (considered collectively), and each of those representations and warranties (considered individually)(without giving effect to any qualification contained therein as to materiality, including the phrases “material”, “in all material respects” and “material adverse change”), must have been accurate in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement, and must be accurate in all material respects as of the Closing Date as if made on the Closing Date.
(b) Each of Sellers’ representations and warranties in Sections 3, 4.3, 4.4, 4.12, and 4.24 must have been accurate in all respects as of the date of this Agreement, and must be accurate in all respects as of the Closing Date as if made on the Closing Date.
8.2 The Sellers’ Performance. All of the covenants and obligations that the Sellers are required to perform or to comply with pursuant to this Agreement at or prior to the Closing (considered collectively), and each of these covenants and obligations (considered individually), must have been duly performed and complied with in all material respects.
8.3 Authorization. All action necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Sellers and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, shall have been duly and validly taken by each of them, and the Sellers shall have full power and authority or capacity to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby on the terms provided herein.
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8.4 Consents and Approvals. The Buyer shall have received duly executed copies of all consents and approvals required for or in connection with the execution and delivery by the Sellers of this Agreement, for the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the continued conduct of the business of each Acquired Company as previously conducted, each in form and substance satisfactory to the Buyer.
8.5 Government Consents, Authorizations, Etc. All consents, authorizations, orders and approvals of, filings or registrations with and the expiration of all waiting periods imposed by, any third Person, including any Governmental Body, which are required for or in connection with the execution and delivery by the parties of this Agreement and the consummation by the parties of the transactions contemplated hereby and in order to permit or enable each Acquired Company to conduct its business after the Closing in substantially the same manner as previously conducted shall have been obtained or made, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Buyer, and shall be in full force and effect.
8.6 Additional Documents. Each of the following documents must have been delivered to the Buyer:
(a) a copy of the resolutions of the board of directors or other governing body of Thrive, certified by an officer of Thrive as having been duly and validly adopted and being in full force and affect, authorizing the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance by Thrive of its obligations hereunder; and
(b) such other documents as the Buyer may reasonably request for the purpose of (i) evidencing the accuracy of any of Seller’s representations and warranties, (ii) evidencing the performance by the Sellers of, or the compliance by the Sellers with, any covenant or obligation required to be performed or complied with by the Sellers, (iii) evidencing the satisfaction of any condition referred to in this Section 8, or (iv) otherwise facilitating the consummation or performance of any of the Contemplated Transactions.
8.7 No Proceedings. Since the date of this Agreement, there must not have been commenced or Threatened against the Buyer, or against any Person affiliated with the Buyer, any Proceeding (a) involving any challenge to, or seeking damages or other relief in connection with, any of the Contemplated Transactions, or (b) that may have the effect of preventing, delaying, making illegal, or otherwise interfering with any of the Contemplated Transactions.
8.8 No Claim Regarding Stock Ownership or Sale Proceeds. There must not have been made or Threatened by any Person any claim asserting that such Person (a) is the holder or the beneficial owner of, or has the right to acquire or to obtain beneficial ownership of, any stock of, or any other voting, equity, or ownership interest in any Acquired Company, or (b) is entitled to all or any portion of the Purchase Price payable for the Shares.
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8.9 No Prohibition. Neither the consummation nor the performance of any of the Contemplated Transactions will, directly or indirectly (with or without notice or lapse of time), materially contravene, or conflict with, or result in a material violation of, or cause the Buyer or any Person affiliated with the Buyer to suffer any material adverse consequence under, (a) any applicable Legal Requirement or Order, or (b) any Legal Requirement or Order that has been published, introduced, or otherwise proposed by or before any Governmental Body.
8.10 Absence of Material Adverse Change. Since the date of this Agreement, in the reasonable judgment of the Buyer, there shall have been no material adverse change in the assets, financial condition, operating results, customer, supplier or employee relations or liabilities of any Acquired Company including any material casualty loss or damage to the assets of any Acquired Company, whether or not covered by insurance.
SECTION 9. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE SELLERS’ OBLIGATION TO CLOSE.
The Sellers’ obligation to sell the Shares and to take the other actions required to be taken by the Sellers at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions (any of which may be waived by the Sellers, in whole or in part):
9.1 Accuracy of Representations. All of Buyer’s representations and warranties in this Agreement (considered collectively), and each of these representations and warranties (considered individually), must have been accurate in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and must be accurate in all material respects as of the Closing Date as if made on the Closing Date.
9.2 The Buyer’s Performance. All the covenants and obligations that the Buyer is required to perform or to comply with pursuant to this Agreement at or prior to the Closing (considered collectively), and each of these covenants and obligations (considered individually), must have been performed and complied with in all material respects.
9.3 No Injunction. There must not be in effect any Legal Requirement or any injunction or other Order that (a) prohibits the sale of the Shares by the Sellers to the Buyer, and (b) has been adopted or issued, or has otherwise become effective, since the date of this Agreement.
SECTION 10. TERMINATION.
10.1 Termination Events. This Agreement may, by notice given prior to or at the Closing, be terminated:
(a) by either the Buyer or the Sellers if a material Breach of any provision of this Agreement has been committed by the other party and such Breach has not been waived;
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(b) (i) by the Buyer if any of the conditions in Section 8 has not been satisfied as of the Closing Date or if satisfaction of such a condition is or becomes impossible (other than through the failure of the Buyer to comply with its obligations under this Agreement) and the Buyer has not waived such condition on or before the Closing Date; or (ii) by the Sellers, if any of the conditions in Section 9 has not been satisfied of the Closing Date or if satisfaction of such a condition is or becomes impossible (other than through the failure of the Sellers to comply with his obligations under this Agreement) and the Sellers have not waived such condition on or before the Closing Date;
(c) by mutual consent of the Buyer and the Sellers; or
(d) either by the Buyer or by all Sellers if the Closing has not occurred (other than through the failure of any party seeking to terminate this Agreement to comply fully with its obligations under this Agreement) on or before March 15, 2022 or such later date as the parties may agree upon.
10.2 Effect of Termination. Each party’s right of termination under Section 10.1 is in addition to any other rights it may have under this Agreement or otherwise, and the exercise of a right of termination will not be an election of remedies. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 10.1, all further obligations of the parties under this Agreement will terminate, except that the obligations in Sections 11.1 and 11.3 will survive; provided, however, that if this Agreement is terminated by a party because of the Breach of the Agreement by the other party or because one or more of the conditions to the terminating party’s obligations under this Agreement is not satisfied as a result of the other party’s failure to comply with its obligations under this Agreement, the terminating party’s right to pursue all legal remedies will survive such termination unimpaired.
SECTION 11. INDEMNIFICATION; REMEDIES.
11.1 Survival; Right to Indemnification Not Affected By Knowledge. All representations, warranties, covenants, and obligations in this Agreement and any other certificate or document delivered pursuant to this Agreement will survive the Closing. The right to indemnification, payment of Damages or other remedy based on such representations, warranties, covenants, and obligations will not be affected by any investigation conducted with respect to, or any Knowledge acquired (or capable of being acquired) at any time, whether before or after the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Closing Date, with respect to the accuracy or inaccuracy of or compliance with, any such representation, warranty, covenant, or obligation. The waiver of any condition based on the accuracy of any representation or warranty, or on the performance of or compliance with any covenant or obligation, will not affect the right to indemnification, payment of Damages, or other remedy based on such representations, warranties, covenants, and obligations.
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11.2 Indemnification and Payment of Damages by the Sellers. The Sellers will, jointly and severely, indemnify and hold harmless the Buyer, each Acquired Company, and their respective Representatives, stockholders, controlling persons, and affiliates (collectively, the “Indemnified Persons”) for, and will pay to the Indemnified Persons the amount of, any loss, liability, claim, damage (including incidental and consequential damages), expense (including costs of investigation and defense and reasonable attorneys’ fees) or diminution of value, whether or not involving a third-party claim (collectively, “Damages”), arising, directly or indirectly, from or in connection with:
(a) any Breach of any representation or warranty made by the Sellers or the Acquired Companies in this Agreement or any other certificate or document delivered by the Sellers or the Acquired Companies pursuant to this Agreement;
(b) any Breach by the Sellers of any covenant or obligation of the Sellers in this Agreement;
(c) any Taxes owed by any Acquired Company relating to any period prior to the Closing Date; and
(d) any claim by any Person for brokerage or finder’s fees or commissions or similar payments based upon any agreement or understanding alleged to have been made by any such Person with the Sellers or any Acquired Company (or any Person acting on their behalf) in connection with any of the Contemplated Transactions.
The remedies provided in this Section 11.2 will not be exclusive of or limit any other remedies that may be available to the Buyer or the other Indemnified Persons.
11.3 Indemnification and Payment of Damages by the Sellers Environmental Matters. In addition to the provisions of Section 11.2, Sellers, jointly and severally, will indemnify and hold harmless the Buyer, each Acquired Company, and the other Indemnified Persons for, and will pay to the Buyer, each Acquired Company, and the other Indemnified Persons the amount of, any Damages (including costs of cleanup, containment, or other remediation) arising, directly or indirectly, from or in connection with:
(a) any Environmental, Health, and Safety Liabilities arising out of or relating to: (i) (A) the ownership, operation, or condition at any time on or prior to the Closing Date of the Facilities or any other properties and assets (whether real, personal, or mixed and whether tangible or intangible) in which the Sellers or any Acquired Company has or had an interest, or (B) any Hazardous Materials or other contaminants that were present on the Facilities or such other properties and assets at any time on or prior to the Closing Date; or (ii) (A) any Hazardous Materials or other contaminants, wherever located, that were, or were allegedly, generated, transported, stored, treated, Released, or otherwise handled by the Sellers or any Acquired Company or by any other Person for whose conduct they are or may be held responsible at any time on or prior to the Closing Date, or (B) any Hazardous Activities that were, or were allegedly, conducted by the Sellers or any Acquired Company or by any other Person for whose conduct they are or may be held responsible; or
(b) any bodily injury (including illness, disability, and death, and regardless of when any such bodily injury occurred, was incurred, or manifested itself), personal injury, property damage (including trespass, nuisance, wrongful eviction, and deprivation of the use of real property), or other damage of or to any Person, including any employee or former employee of the Sellers or any Acquired Company or any other Person for whose conduct they are or may be held responsible, in any way arising from or allegedly arising from any Hazardous Activity conducted or allegedly conducted with respect to the Facilities or the operation of any Acquired Company prior to the Closing Date, or from Hazardous Material that was (i) present or suspected to be present on or before the Closing Date on or at the Facilities (or present or suspected to be present on any other property, if such Hazardous Material emanated or allegedly emanated from any of the Facilities and was present or suspected to be present on any of the Facilities on or prior to the Closing Date) or (ii) Released or allegedly Released by the Sellers or any Acquired Company or any other Person for whose conduct they are or may be held responsible, at any time on or prior to the Closing Date.
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The Buyer will be entitled to control any Cleanup, any related Proceeding, and, except as provided in the following sentence, any other Proceeding with respect to which indemnity may be sought under this Section 11.3. The procedure described in Section 11.6 will apply to any claim solely for monetary damages relating to a matter covered by this Section 11.3.
11.4 Indemnification and Payment of Damages by the Buyer. The Buyer will indemnify and hold harmless the Sellers, and will pay to the Sellers the amount of any Damages arising, directly or indirectly, from or in connection with (a) any Breach of any representation or warranty made by Buyer in this Agreement or in any certificate delivered by the Buyer pursuant to this Agreement, (b) any Breach by the Buyer of any covenant or obligation of the Buyer in this Agreement, or (c) any claim by any Person for brokerage or finder’s fees or commissions or similar payments based upon any agreement or understanding alleged to have been made by such Person with the Buyer (or any Person acting on its behalf) in connection with any of the Contemplated Transactions.
11.5 Right of Set-Off. Upon notice to the Sellers specifying in reasonable detail the basis for such set-off, the Buyer may set off any amount to which it may be entitled under this Section 11 against amounts otherwise payable by it under this Agreement. Neither the exercise of nor the failure to exercise such right of set-off will constitute an election of remedies or limit the Buyer in any manner in the enforcement of any other remedies that may be available to it.
11.6 Procedure for Indemnification Third Party Claims.
(a) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under Section 11.2, 11.3, or 11.4 of notice of the commencement of any Proceeding against it, such indemnified party will, if a claim is to be made against an indemnifying party under such Section, give notice to the indemnifying party of the commencement of such claim, but the failure to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve the indemnifying party of any liability that it may have to any indemnified party, except to the extent that the indemnifying party demonstrates that the defense of such action is prejudiced by the indemnifying party’s failure to give such notice.
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(b) If any Proceeding referred to in Section 11.6(a) is brought against an indemnified party and it gives notice to the indemnifying party of the commencement of such Proceeding, the indemnifying party will, unless the claim involves Taxes, be entitled to participate in such Proceeding and, to the extent that it wishes (unless (i) the indemnifying party is also a party to such Proceeding and the indemnified party determines in good faith that joint representation would be inappropriate, or (ii) the indemnifying party fails to provide reasonable assurance to the indemnified party of its financial capacity to defend such Proceeding and provide indemnification with respect to such Proceeding), to assume the defense of such Proceeding with counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party and, after notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense of such Proceeding, the indemnifying party will not, as long as it diligently conducts such defense, be liable to the indemnified party under this Section 11 for any fees of other counsel or any other expenses with respect to the defense of such Proceeding, in each case subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense of such Proceeding, other than reasonable costs of investigation. If the indemnifying party assumes the defense of a Proceeding, (i) it will be conclusively established for purposes of this Agreement that the claims made in that Proceeding are within the scope of and subject to indemnification; (ii) no compromise or settlement of such claims may be effected by the indemnifying party without the indemnified party’s consent unless (A) there is no finding or admission of any violation of Legal Requirements or any violation of the rights of any Person and no effect on any other claims that may be made against the indemnified party, and (B) the sole relief provided is monetary damages that are paid in full by the indemnifying party; and (iii) the indemnified party will have no liability with respect to any compromise or settlement of such claims effected without its consent. If notice is given to an indemnifying party of the commencement of any Proceeding and the indemnifying party does not, within ten days after the indemnified party’s notice is given, give notice to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense of such Proceeding, the indemnifying party will be bound by any determination made in such Proceeding or any compromise or settlement effected by the indemnified party.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an indemnified party determines in good faith that there is a reasonable probability that a Proceeding may adversely affect it or its affiliates other than as a result of monetary damages for which it would be entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, the indemnified party may, by notice to the indemnifying party, assume the exclusive right to defend, compromise, or settle such Proceeding, but the indemnifying party will not be bound by any determination of a Proceeding so defended or any compromise or settlement effected without its consent (which may not be unreasonably withheld).
(d) The Sellers hereby consent to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any court in which a Proceeding is brought against any Indemnified Person for purposes of any claim that an Indemnified Person may have under this Agreement with respect to such Proceeding or the matters alleged therein, and agree that process may be served on the Sellers with respect to such a claim anywhere in the world.
11.7 Procedure For Indemnification for Other Claims. A claim for indemnification for any matter not involving a third-party claim may be asserted by notice to the party from whom indemnification is sought.
SECTION 12. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
12.1 Expenses. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, each party to this Agreement will bear its respective expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, execution, and performance of this Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions, including all fees and expenses of agents, representatives, counsel, and accountants. In the event of termination of this Agreement, the obligation of each party to pay its own expenses will be subject to any rights of such party arising from a breach of this Agreement by another party.
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12.2 Public Announcements. Any public announcement or similar publicity with respect to this Agreement or the Contemplated Transactions will be issued at such time and in such manner as the Buyer determines. The Sellers and the Buyer will consult with each other concerning the means by which any Acquired Company’s employees, customers, and suppliers and others having dealings with any Acquired Company will be informed of the Contemplated Transactions, and the Buyer will have the right to be present for any such communication.
12.3 Confidentiality. If the Contemplated Transactions are not consummated, each party will return or destroy as much of written information obtained in confidence from another party or any Acquired Company in connection with this Agreement or the Contemplated Transactions as the other party may reasonably request. Whether or not the Closing takes place, the Sellers waive, and will upon the Buyer’s request cause any Acquired Company to waive, any cause of action, right, or claim arising out of the access of the Buyer or its representatives to any trade secrets or other confidential information of any Acquired Company except for the intentional competitive misuse by the Buyer of such trade secrets or confidential information.
12.4 Notices. All notices, amendments, waivers, or other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to be sufficient if delivered personally, sent electronically, sent by nationally-recognized overnight or second day delivery courier or mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), postage prepaid, to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):
If to any Acquired Company prior to Closing or either Seller, to:
Name: | Xxx Xxxx Investment Limited |
Address: |
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Attention: | Xx. Xxxxxxx Xxxxx |
Telephone: |
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Email: |
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with a copy to:
Name: | Fujian Hezhong Tiancheng Law Firm |
Address: |
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Attention: | Xxx Xxxxxxxx |
Telephone: |
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Email: |
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If to any Acquired Company following the Closing or the Buyer, to:
Name: | China Liberal Education Holdings Limited |
Address: | Xxxx 0000 Xxxxxxxxxxxxx XXXX Times Building, 18 Zhongguangcun Street, Haidian Distric,t Beijing, P.R.C. |
Attention: | Xx. Xxxx Xxxx Xxx |
Telephone: |
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Facsimile: |
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Email: |
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with a copy to:
Name: | Beijing H&J Law Firm |
Address: | Room 1106, Xxxx Xxxxxx Technology Building, 8 Caihefang Road, Haidian District, Beijing, P.R.C. |
Attention: | Xxxxx Xxxxx |
Telephone: |
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Facsimile: |
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Email: |
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All such notices and other communications shall be deemed to have been delivered and received (i) in the case of personal delivery or delivery electronically, on the date of that delivery if delivered during business hours on a Business Day or, if not delivered during business hours on a Business Day, the first Business Day thereafter, (ii) in the case of delivery by nationally-recognized overnight or second day delivery courier, on the Business Day delivered, and (iii) in the case of mailing, on the sixth Business Day following that mailing. A copy of any notice or other communication sent electronically shall also be sent on the same day by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested) or by nationally recognized overnight or second day delivery courier.
12.5 Further Assurances. The parties agree (a) to furnish upon request to each other such further information, (b) to execute and deliver to each other such other documents, and (c) to do such other acts and things, all as the other party may reasonably request for the purpose of carrying out the intent of this Agreement and the documents referred to in this Agreement.
12.6 Waiver. The rights and remedies of the parties to this Agreement are cumulative and not alternative. Neither the failure nor any delay by any party in exercising any right, power, or privilege under this Agreement or the documents referred to in this Agreement will operate as a waiver of such right, power, or privilege, and no single or partial exercise of any such right, power, or privilege will preclude any other or further exercise of such right, power, or privilege or the exercise of any other right, power, or privilege. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, (a) no claim or right arising out of this Agreement or the documents referred to in this Agreement can be discharged by one party, in whole or in part, by a waiver or renunciation of the claim or right unless in writing signed by the other party; (b) no waiver that may be given by a party will be applicable except in the specific instance for which it is given; and (c) no notice to or demand on one party will be deemed to be a waiver of any obligation of such party or of the right of the party giving such notice or demand to take further action without notice or demand as provided in this Agreement or the documents referred to in this Agreement.
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12.7 Entire Agreement and Modification. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements between the parties with respect to its subject matter and constitutes (along with the documents referred to in this Agreement) a complete and exclusive statement of the terms of the agreement between the parties with respect to its subject matter. This Agreement may not be amended except by a written agreement executed by the party to be charged with the amendment.
12.8 Assignments and Successors. None of the parties may assign any of its rights under this Agreement without the prior consent of the other parties, except that the Buyer may assign any of its rights under this Agreement to any Affiliate of the Buyer. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will apply to, be binding in all respects upon, and inure to the benefit of the successors and permitted assigns of the parties. This Agreement and all of its provisions and conditions are for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties to this Agreement and their successors and assigns.
12.9 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions of this Agreement will remain in full force and effect. Any provision of this Agreement held invalid or unenforceable only in part or degree will remain in full force and effect to the extent not held invalid or unenforceable.
12.10 Section Headings, Construction.
(a) All words used in this Agreement will be construed to be of such gender or number as the circumstances require. Unless otherwise expressly provided, the word “including” does not limit the preceding words or terms. The words “herein”, “hereof”, “hereunder”, “hereby”, “hereto”, “hereinafter”, and other words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole, including any schedules and exhibits, as the same may from time to time be amended, modified, supplemented or restated, and not to any particular article, section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph or clause contained in this Agreement. All references to articles, sections, subsections, clauses, paragraphs, schedules and exhibits mean such provisions of this Agreement and the schedules and exhibits attached to this Agreement, except where otherwise stated. The title of and the article, section and paragraph headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not govern or affect the interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement.
(b) Where specific language is used to clarify by example a general statement contained herein, such specific language shall not be deemed to modify, limit or restrict in any manner the construction of the general statement to which it relates. The language used in this Agreement has been chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, each party has been represented by legal counsel with respect to, and has had substantial input in, the drafting of this Agreement, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any party. Unless expressly provided otherwise, the measure of a period of one month or year for purposes of this Agreement shall be that date of the following month or year corresponding to the starting date, provided that if no corresponding date exists, the measure shall be that date of the following month or year corresponding to the next day following the starting date. For example, one month following February 18 is March 18, and one month following March 31 is May 1.
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(c) References to “dollars” or “$” mean United States Dollars. References to “RMB” mean Chinese Renminbi.
(d) Each and every reference to share prices, numbers of shares and any other numbers in this Agreement that relate to the Parent Shares shall be automatically adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations, recapitalizations or other similar transactions that occur with respect to the Parent Shares after the date of this Agreement.
12.11 Time of Essence. With regard to all dates and time periods set forth or referred to in this Agreement, time is of the essence.
12.12 Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction.
(a) This Agreement, and all claims or causes of action (whether in contract, tort or statute) that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement, or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement (including any claim or cause of action based upon, arising out of or related to any representation or warranty made in or in connection with this Agreement or as an inducement to enter into this Agreement), shall be governed by, and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the People’s Republic of China, without giving effect to any laws, rules or provisions of the People’s Republic of China that would cause the application of the laws rules or provisions of any jurisdiction other than the People’s Republic of China.
(b) Any dispute arising from or in connection with this Agreement shall be submitted to China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) for arbitration which shall be conducted in accordance with the CIETAC's arbitration rules in effect at the time of applying for arbitration. The arbitral award is final and binding upon both parties.
12.13 Counterparts; Facsimile and Electronic Signatures. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Facsimile and electronic counterpart signatures to this Agreement shall be acceptable and binding.
12.14 Representation by Counsel. Each of the parties hereto has been represented or has had the opportunity to be represented by legal counsel of their own choice.
[Signature Pages Follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.
THE BUYER:
CHINA LIBERAL EDUCATION HOLDINGS LIMITED | ||
By: | /s/ Ngai Xxxx Xxx | |
Name: | Ngai Xxxx Xxx | |
Title: | CEO |
THE SELLERS:
XXXXXXX XXXXX | ||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxx | |
Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxxxx | |
Address: | lA-201, FMP, 0 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, P.R.C |
Thrive Shine Limited | ||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xx | |
Name: | Xxxxxx Xx | |
Title: | Sole Director |
THE COMPANY:
XXX XXXX INVESTMENT LIMITED | ||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxx | |
Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxxxx | |
Title: | Sole Director |
Schedule 3.1 Ownership Interests
Name of the Seller | Ownership Percentage in the Company |
XXXXXXX XXXXX | 81.60% |
Thrive Shine Limited | 18.40% |
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