COMMON STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
Execution
Version
THIS
COMMON STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT (“Agreement”)
is
made as of the 24th day of May 2007 by and among Synutra International, Inc.,
a
Delaware corporation (the “Company”)
and
Warburg Pincus Private Equity IX, L.P. (the “Investor”).
Recitals
A. The
Company and the Investor are executing and delivering this Agreement in reliance
upon the exemption from securities registration afforded by the provisions
of
Regulation D (“Regulation
D”),
as
promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”)
under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder (the “Securities
Act”);
B. The
Investor wishes to purchase from the Company, and the Company wishes to sell
and
issue to the Investor, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in
this Agreement, an aggregate of four million (4,000,000) shares (the
“Shares”)
of the
Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common
Stock”),
for
an aggregate purchase price of sixty six million dollars ($66,000,000) (the
“Purchase
Price”);
C. Contemporaneous
with the sale of the Shares, the parties hereto will execute and deliver
a
Registration Rights Agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
A
(the
“Registration
Rights Agreement”),
pursuant to which the Company will agree to provide certain registration
rights
under the Securities Act; and
D. This
Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and the Investor only upon delivery
of the signatures pages hereto by the Company and the Investor.
Agreement
In
consideration of the mutual promises made herein and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged,
the
parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
In
addition to those terms defined above and elsewhere in this Agreement, for
the
purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set
forth below:
“ABN”
means
ABN AMRO Bank N.V., Hong Kong Branch.
“ABN
Registration Rights Agreement”
means
the Registration Rights Agreement, dated April 19, 2007, by and between the
Company and ABN.
“Affiliate”
means,
with respect to any Person, any other Person which directly or indirectly
through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by, or is under
common control with, such Person.
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“Board”
means
the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Business
Day”
means
a
day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, on which banks in New York City are
open
for the general transaction of business.
“Effectiveness
Date”
has
the
meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.
“Exchange
Act”
means
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
“Material
Adverse Effect”
means
an event, change or occurrence that, individually or together with any other
event, change or occurrence, has a material adverse impact on (i) the assets,
liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise), business, results of operations
or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii)
the
ability of the Company to perform its obligations under the Transaction
Documents.
“Nasdaq”
means
The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.
“Permitted
Liens”
means
(i) mechanics’, carriers’, or workmen’s, repairmen’s or similar liens arising or
incurred in the ordinary course of business, (ii) liens for taxes, assessments
and other governmental charges that are not due and payable or which may
hereafter be paid without penalty or which are being contested in good faith
by
appropriate proceedings and (iii) other imperfections of title or encumbrances,
if any, that do not, individually or in the aggregate, materially impair
the use
or value of the property to which they relate.
“Permitted
Transferees”
has
the
meaning ascribed to such term in the Voting and Co-Sale Agreement.
“Person”
means
an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust,
business trust, association, joint stock company, joint venture, sole
proprietorship, unincorporated organization, governmental authority or any
other
form of entity not specifically listed herein.
“Registrable
Securities”
has
the
meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.
“Registration
Statement”
has
the
meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.
“Subsidiary”
of
any
Person means another Person, an amount of the voting securities, other voting
ownership or voting partnership interests of which is sufficient to elect
at
least a majority of its Board or other governing body (or, if there are no
such
voting interests, 50% or more of the equity interests of which) is owned
directly or indirectly by such first Person.
“Transaction
Documents”
means
this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Voting and Co-Sale
Agreement.
2
“Voting
and Co-Sale Agreement”
means
the Voting and Co-Sale Agreement between the Investor, Beams Power Investment
Limited and the Company in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
B.
2. Purchase
and Sale of the Shares.
Upon
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the
Closing, the Investor shall purchase, and the Company shall sell and issue
to
the Investor, the Shares.
3. Closing.
The
purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to Section 2 shall take place at
the
offices of Paul, Hastings, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx LLP, Beijing, China on the
third Business Day following the date on which the last to be fulfilled or
waived of the conditions set forth in Sections 6.1 and 6.2 hereof shall have
been fulfilled or waived in accordance with this Agreement (the “Closing
Date”),
or at
such other location and on such other date as the Company and the Investor
shall
mutually agree (which time and place are designated as the “Closing”).
At
the Closing, the Company shall deliver to the Investor a certificate or
certificates representing the Shares against payment of the purchase price
in
United States Dollars therefor by wire transfer of immediately available
funds
to a bank account designated by the Company.
4. Representations
and Warranties of the Company.
The
Company hereby represents and warrants to the Investor that, except as set
forth
in correspondingly numbered sections of the schedules attached as Exhibit
E
(collectively, the “Disclosure
Schedule”):
4.1 Organization,
Good Standing and Qualification.
(a)
The
Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the State of Delaware and has all requisite corporate power
and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and to own and lease
its
properties. The Company has furnished to the Investor true and complete copies
of the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Company. The Company
is
not in violation of any of the provisions of its certificate of incorporation
and bylaws. The Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign
corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct
of
its business or its ownership or leasing of property makes such qualification
necessary, except where the failure to so qualify, individually or in the
aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect. To the best knowledge
of
the Company, no proceeding has been instituted in any jurisdiction revoking,
limiting or curtailing or seeking to revoke, limit or curtail, such power
and
authority or qualification.
(b) Each
of
the Company’s Subsidiaries is duly formed, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, with full corporate power
and authority to conduct its business as currently conducted and to own or
lease
its properties. The Company has furnished to the Investor true and complete
copies or the articles of incorporation and bylaws (or comparable organizational
documents) of each of the Company’s Subsidiaries. None of the Subsidiaries is in
violation of any of the provisions of its respective certificate or articles
of
incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents. Each
Subsidiary is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and
is in
good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or
its
ownership or leasing of property makes such qualification necessary, except
where the failure to so qualify, individually or in the aggregate, would
not
have a Material Adverse Effect. To the best knowledge of the Company, no
proceeding has been instituted in any jurisdiction revoking, limiting or
curtailing or seeking to revoke, limit or curtail, such power and authority
or
qualification. Except as set forth on Section 4.1(b) of the Disclosure Schedule,
the Company owns all of the capital stock or membership interests of each
Subsidiary free and clear of any and all liens, security interest and any
other
encumbrances or restrictions, and all of the outstanding shares of capital
stock
of each Subsidiary are validly issued and are fully paid, non-assessable
and
free of preemptive and similar rights. The Company has no Subsidiaries except
as
set forth on Section 4.1(b) of the Disclosure Schedule.
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4.2 Authorization.
The
Company has full corporate power and authority and has taken all requisite
action on the part of the Company, its officers, directors and stockholders
necessary for (i) the authorization, execution and delivery of the Transaction
Documents, (ii) the authorization of the performance of all obligations of
the
Company hereunder or thereunder and (iii) the authorization, issuance, sale
and
delivery of the Shares. The Transaction Documents have been duly executed
and
delivered by the Company and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations
of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their
respective terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating
to
or affecting creditors’ rights generally, and to the unenforceability of
indemnification provisions that may be against public policy.
4.3 Capitalization.
Schedule
4.3
sets
forth as of the date hereof (a) the authorized capital stock of the Company;
(b)
the number of shares of capital stock issued and outstanding; (c) the number
of
shares of capital stock available for issuance pursuant to the Company’s stock
and incentive plans, if any; and (d) the number of shares of capital stock
issuable and reserved for issuance pursuant to securities exercisable for,
or
convertible into or exchangeable for any shares of capital stock of the Company.
All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company
are
duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and free of
preemptive and similar rights and were issued in compliance with all applicable
federal and state securities laws and any rights of third parties. Except
as
specified in the SEC Filings (as defined in Section 4.6) and on Schedule
4.3,
no
securities of the Company are entitled to preemptive or similar rights, and
no
Person has any right of first refusal, preemptive right, right of participation,
or any similar right to participate in the transactions contemplated by the
Transaction Documents. Except as specified in the SEC Filings and on
Schedule
4.3,
there
are no outstanding options, warrants, rights to subscribe to, calls or
commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities, rights
or
obligations convertible into or exchangeable for, or giving any Person any
right
to subscribe for or acquire, any shares of capital stock of the Company,
or
contracts by which the Company or any Subsidiary is or may become bound to
issue
additional shares of capital stock of the Company, or securities or rights
convertible or exchangeable into shares of capital stock of the Company.
Except
as specified in the SEC Filings and on Schedule 4.3, and as provided in the
Registration Rights Agreement, no Person has the right to require the Company
to
register any securities of the Company under the Securities Act, whether
on a
demand basis or in connection with the registration of securities of the
Company
for its own account or for the account of any other Person. There are no
outstanding securities or instruments of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
which contain any redemption or similar provisions, and there are no contracts,
commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any of
its
Subsidiaries is or may become bound to redeem or otherwise acquire any security
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The Company does not have any
shareholder rights plan, “poison pill” or other anti-takeover plans or similar
arrangements. The issue and sale of the Shares will not, immediately or with
the
passage of time, obligate the Company to issue shares of capital stock of
the
Company or other securities to any Person (other than the Investor under
the
Transaction Documents) and will not result in a right of any holder of Company
securities to adjust the exercise, conversion, exchange or reset price under
such securities. Except as specified in the SEC Filings and on Schedule 4.3,
the
Company or one of its Subsidiaries has the unrestricted right to vote, and
(subject to limitations imposed by applicable law) to receive dividends and
distributions on, all capital securities of its Subsidiaries as owned by
the
Company or any such Subsidiary. Schedule 4.3 sets out the corporate and
shareholding structure of the Company and its Subsidiaries and such information
is true, complete and accurate.
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4.4 Valid
Issuance.
The
Shares have been duly and validly authorized and, when issued and paid for
pursuant to this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable, and will be free and clear of all taxes, liens, claims,
restrictions on transfer, preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other
encumbrances of any nature (other than those created by the Investor), except
for restrictions on transfer set forth in the Transaction Documents or imposed
by applicable securities laws.
4.5 Consents.
The
execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Transaction Documents
and the transactions contemplated thereby (including, without limitation,
the
offer, issuance and sale of the Shares) requires no consent of, action by
or in
respect of, or filing, submission or registration with, or giving of any
notice
to, any Person, governmental body, agency, or official except (i) the filing
with the SEC of one or more Registration Statements in accordance with the
requirements of the Registration Rights Agreement, (ii) the filing of an
Additional Listing Application with Nasdaq, and (iii) those that have been
made
or obtained prior to the date of this Agreement.
4.6 SEC
Filings.
The
Company has filed all reports required to be filed by it under the Securities
Act and the Exchange Act, including pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) thereof,
or the rules and regulations thereunder, for the three years preceding the
date
hereof (the foregoing materials and any materials incorporated therein by
reference being collectively referred to herein as the “SEC
Filings”)
on a
timely basis or has received a valid extension of such time of filing or
waiver
thereof and has filed any such SEC Filings prior to the expiration of any
such
extension. As of their respective dates, the SEC Filings complied in all
material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the Securities
Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder, and
none of
the SEC Filings, when filed, contained any untrue statement of a material
fact
or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading.
4.7 Financial
Statements.
The
financial statements filed with the SEC as a part of the SEC Filings present
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company and
its
consolidated subsidiaries as of and at the dates indicated and the results
of
their operations and cash flows for the periods specified therein, subject,
in
the case of interim financial statements, to the normal year-end adjustments
which are not expected to be material in amount. Such financial statements
have
been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
as
applied in the United States and in effect as of the date of the applicable
financial statements and supporting schedules, as applicable, applied on
a
consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as may be expressly
stated in the related notes thereto, and comply in all material respects
with
the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations
of
the SEC thereunder. Except as set forth in such financial statements included
in
the SEC Filings filed prior to the date hereof, neither the Company nor any
of
its Subsidiaries has incurred any liabilities, contingent or otherwise, except
those incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice,
none of which ordinary course liabilities, individually or in the aggregate,
would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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4.8 Use
of
Proceeds.
The net
proceeds of the sale of the Shares hereunder shall be used by the Company
for
working capital and general corporate purposes.
4.9 No
Material Adverse Change.
Since
December 31, 2006, there has not been:
(i) any
change in the consolidated assets, liabilities, financial condition or operating
results of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole from that reflected
in the financial statements included in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2006, except for changes in the ordinary
course of business which have not had and would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect;
(ii) any
issuance of capital stock or declaration or payment of any dividend, or any
authorization or payment of any distribution, on any of the capital stock
of the
Company, or any redemption or repurchase, or any agreement to redeem or
repurchase, of any securities of the Company (other than in connection with
a
termination of employment);
(iii) any
material damage, destruction or loss to any assets or properties of the Company
or its Subsidiaries taken as a whole;
(iv) any
waiver, not in the ordinary course of business, by the Company or any Subsidiary
of a material right or of a material debt owed to it;
(v) any
change or amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, or
change to any material contract or arrangement by which the Company is bound
or
to which its assets or properties is subject;
(vi) any
material labor difficulties or labor union organizing activities with respect
to
employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries;
(vii) any
transaction entered into by the Company and its Subsidiaries other than in
the
ordinary course of business;
(viii) the
loss
of the services of any key employee, or material change in the composition
or
duties of the senior management of the Company or its Subsidiaries;
or
(ix) any
material change in the Company’s method of accounting.
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(x) any
other
event or condition of any character that, individually or in the aggregate,
has
had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
4.10 No
Conflict, Breach, Violation or Default.
Neither
the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents by the
Company nor the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated thereby
(including without limitation the issuance and sale of the Shares) will (i)
conflict with or result in violation of any of the terms and provisions of
the
Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, both as in effect on the date
hereof, (ii) give rise to the right to terminate, cancel, amend or accelerate
the due date of any payment under (with or without notice, lapse or time
or
both), or conflict with or result in a breach of any term or provision of,
or
constitute a default (or any event which with notice or lapse of time or
both
would constitute a default) under, or require any consent or waiver under
or
result in the execution or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance
upon
the properties or assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries pursuant to the
terms of, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement or
instrument to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which
the
Company or any Subsidiary is bound or to which any of its assets or properties
is subject or (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order,
judgment, injunction, decree or other restriction of any court or governmental
authority, or the bylaws and rules of Nasdaq to which the Company or any
Subsidiary is subject (including federal and state securities laws and
regulations), or by which any property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary
is bound or affected; except in the case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii),
such
as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
have a
Material Adverse Effect.
4.11 Tax
Matters.
Each of
the Company and its Subsidiaries has timely prepared and filed all tax returns,
foreign and domestic, required to have been filed by it with all appropriate
governmental agencies and timely paid all taxes shown thereon or otherwise
owed
by it. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Company and
its
Subsidiaries in respect of taxes for all fiscal periods are adequate in all
material respects, and there are no material unpaid assessments against the
Company or its Subsidiaries. All taxes and other assessments and levies that
the
Company or its Subsidiaries are required to withhold or to collect for payment
have been duly withheld and collected and paid to the proper governmental
entity
or third party when due. There are no tax liens or claims pending or, to
the
Company’s knowledge, threatened against the Company or its Subsidiaries or any
of their respective assets or property, other than Permitted Liens. There
are no
tax audits or investigations pending, which if adversely determined would,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect. There are no outstanding tax sharing agreements or other
such
arrangements between the Company, its Subsidiaries and any other Person.
Neither
the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries have any deferred compensation
arrangements and has not paid or is not required to pay any deferred
compensation which would be subject to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue
Code.
4.12 Title
to Properties.
Except
as specified in the SEC Filings, the Company and the Subsidiaries have good
and
marketable title in fee simple to all real property owned by them that is
material to their respective businesses and good and marketable title in
all
personal property owned by them that is material to their respective businesses,
in each case free and clear of all liens, except for Permitted Liens. Any
real
property and facilities held under lease by the Company and the Subsidiaries
are
held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases of which the
Company
and the Subsidiaries are in compliance, except where the failure to be in
compliance would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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4.13 Certificates,
Authorities and Permits.
The
Company and each of its Subsidiaries possesses all certificates, approvals,
authorizations or permits (“Permits”)
issued
by the appropriate foreign, federal, state or local governmental agency or
body
necessary to conduct its business as now operated by it and as described
in the
SEC Filings, all of which are valid and in full force and effect, except
where
the lack of such Permits, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonable
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any
of
its Subsidiaries has received any written notice of proceedings relating
to the
revocation or modification of any such Permit.
4.14 Labor
Matters.
There
is no strike, labor dispute or union organization activities pending or,
to the
best knowledge of the Company, threatened between the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries and their respective employee except as would not, individually
or
in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have in a Material Adverse Effect.
To the best knowledge of the Company, no employees of the Company belong
to any
union or collective bargaining unit. The Company and its Subsidiaries have
complied in all material respects with all applicable foreign, federal, state
and local laws related to employment.
4.15 Intellectual
Property.
The
Company and its Subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable
terms,
all material patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how
(including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary
or
confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks service marks
and
trade names currently employed by them in connection with the business now
operated by them and as described in the SEC Filings, and neither the Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice of infringement of or
conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any of the foregoing
which would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
have a
Material Adverse Effect.
4.16 Environmental
Matters.
Neither
the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any law, statute,
rule, regulation, decision or order of any governmental agency or body or
any
court, domestic or foreign, relating to the use, disposal or release of
hazardous or toxic substances or relating to the protection or restoration
of
the environment or human exposure to hazardous or toxic substances
(collectively, “Environmental
Laws”)
except
for any violation which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably
be expected to have or result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries own or operate any real property contaminated
with
any substance that is subject to any Environmental Laws, is liable for any
off-site disposal or contamination pursuant to any Environmental Laws, or
is
subject to any claim relating to any Environmental Laws, which contamination,
liability or claim would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
4.17 Litigation.
There
are no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened actions, suits,
proceedings, inquiries or investigations against or affecting the Company,
its
Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or any of the officers
and
directors of the Company or its Subsidiaries in their capacities as such.
The
SEC has not issued any stop order or other order suspending the effectiveness
of
any registration statement filed by the Company or any Subsidiary under the
Exchange Act or the Securities Act.
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4.18 Form
S-3 Eligibility.
The
Company is eligible to register the resale of the Registrable Securities
acquired by the Investor under Form S-3 promulgated under the Securities
Act.
4.19 Insurance
Coverage.
The
Company and its Subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial
responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent
and customary in the businesses being conducted and the properties owned
or
leased by the Company and its Subsidiaries. The Company has no reason to
believe
that it will not be able to renew its and its Subsidiaries’ existing insurance
coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage
from
similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that
would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
4.20 Compliance
with Nasdaq Continued Listing Requirements.
The
Common Stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market. The Company is in compliance
with applicable Nasdaq listing or maintenance requirements. The Company has
not
received any written notice with respect to the delisting of the Common Stock
from the Nasdaq Global Market.
4.21 Brokers
and Finders.
No
Person will have, as a result of the transactions contemplated by the
Transaction Documents, any valid right, interest or claim for any commission,
fee or other compensation pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding entered into by of the Company.
4.22 No
General Solicitation.
Neither
the Company nor any Person acting on its behalf has conducted any general
solicitation or general advertising (as those terms are used in Regulation
D
under the Securities Act) in connection with the offer or sale of the
Shares.
4.23 No
Integrated Offering.
Neither
the Company nor any Person acting on its behalf has, directly or indirectly,
made any offers or sales of any Company security or solicited any offers
to buy
any security, under circumstances that would adversely affect reliance by
the
Company on Regulation D or Section 4(2) of the Securities Act for the exemption
from registration for the transactions contemplated hereby or would require
registration of the Shares under the Securities Act or would be integrated
under
the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules.
4.24 Private
Placement.
Subject
to the accuracy of the Investor’s representations in Section 5 hereof, the offer
and sale of the Shares to the Investor as contemplated hereby is exempt from
the
registration requirements of the Securities Act.
4.25 Market
Stabilization.
The
Company, and, to its knowledge, its Affiliates, have not taken, nor will
it
take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or which might reasonably
be expected to cause or result in, or which has constituted or which might
reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of
the
price of the Common Stock or any security of the Company to facilitate the
sale
or resale of any of the Shares.
4.26 Questionable
Payments.
Neither
the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its directors, officers,
employees, agents or other Persons acting on behalf of the Company, has on
behalf of the Company or in connection with its business: (a) used any corporate
funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful
expenses relating to political activity; (b) made any direct or indirect
unlawful payments to any governmental officials or employees from corporate
funds; (c) established or maintained any unlawful or unrecorded fund of
corporate monies or other assets; (d) made any false or fictitious entries
on
the books and records of the Company; or (e) made any unlawful bribe, rebate,
payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment of any
nature.
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4.27 Transactions
with Affiliates.
Except
as disclosed in the SEC Filings, none of the officers or directors of the
Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, none of the employees of the Company is
presently a party to any transaction with the Company or any Subsidiary (other
than for services as employees, officers and directors), including any contract,
agreement or other arrangement providing for the furnishing of services to
or
by, providing for rental of real or Personal property to or from, or otherwise
requiring payments to or from any officer, director or such employee or,
to the
Company’s knowledge, any entity in which any officer, director, or any such
employee has a substantial interest or is an officer, director, trustee or
partner.
4.28 Internal
Controls.
The
Company and its Subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls
sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed
in
accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii)
transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial
statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability,
(iii)
access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or
specific authorization, and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is
compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate
action
is taken with respect to any differences. Management of the Company has (x)
established and implemented disclosure controls and procedures (as defined
in
Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15) for the Company and designed such
disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating
to the Company, including its Subsidiaries, is made known to the certifying
officers by others within those entities and (y) disclosed, based on its
most
recent evaluation, to the Investor and the Company’s outside auditors and the
audit committee of the Board (1) all significant deficiencies and material
weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial
reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) which are
reasonably likely to adversely affect in any material respect the Company’s
ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and (2) any
fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees
who
have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls over financial
reporting. The Company’s certifying officers have evaluated the effectiveness of
the Company’s controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by the
most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act (such date, the
“Evaluation
Date”).
The
Company presented in its most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange
Act the conclusions of the certifying officers about the effectiveness of
the
disclosure controls and procedures based on their evaluations as of the
Evaluation Date. Since the Evaluation Date, there have been no significant
changes in the Company’s internal controls (as such term is defined in Item
307(b) of Regulation S-K) or, to the Company’s knowledge, in other factors that
could significantly affect the Company’s internal controls. The books, records
and accounts of the Company accurately and fairly reflect, in all material
respects, the transactions in, and dispositions of, the assets of, and the
results of operations of, the Company. The Company maintains and will continue
to maintain a standard system of accounting established and administered
in
accordance with GAAP and the applicable requirements of the Exchange
Act.
10
4.29 Independent
Accountants.
To the
Company’s knowledge, Xxxxxxxxx & Co., LLP is the Company’s independent
registered public accounting firm as required by the Exchange Act, and the
rules
and regulations of the SEC thereunder.
4.30 Investment
Company.
The
Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares,
will not be required to register as an “investment company” within the meaning
of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
4.31 Compliance.
Neither
the Company nor any Subsidiary (i) is in default under or in violation of
(and
no event has occurred that has not been waived that, with notice or lapse
of
time or both, would result in a default by the Company or any Subsidiary
under),
nor has the Company or any Subsidiary received notice of a claim that it
is in
default under or that it is in violation of, any indenture, loan or credit
agreement or any other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or
by
which it or any of its properties is bound (whether or not such default or
violation has been waived), (ii) is in violation of any order of any court,
arbitrator or governmental body, or (iii) is or has been in violation of
any
law, statute, rule or regulation of any governmental authority, including
without limitation all foreign, federal, state and local laws relating to
taxes,
environmental protection, occupational health and safety, product quality
and
safety and employment and labor matters, except in each case as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to result
in a
Material Adverse Effect. The Company is in compliance with the applicable
requirements of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002, as amended, and the rules
and
regulations thereunder, except where such noncompliance would not have or
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5. Representations
and Warranties of the Investor.
The
Investor hereby represents and warrants to the Company that:
5.1 Organization
and Existence.
The
Investor is a validly existing limited partnership and has all requisite
partnership power and authority to invest in the Shares pursuant to this
Agreement.
5.2 Authorization.
The
execution, delivery and performance by the Investor of the Transaction Documents
have been duly authorized, and the Transaction Documents constitute the valid
and legally binding obligations of the Investor, enforceable against the
Investor in accordance with their respective terms, subject to bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws
of
general applicability, relating to or affecting creditors’ rights
generally.
5.3 Purchase
Entirely for Own Account.
The
Shares to be received by the Investor hereunder will be acquired for the
Investor’s own account, not as nominee or agent, and not with a view to the
resale or distribution of any part thereof in violation of the Securities
Act,
and the Investor has no present intention of selling, granting any participation
in, or otherwise distributing the same in violation of the Securities Act.
The
Investor is not a broker-dealer registered with the SEC under the Exchange
Act
or an entity engaged in a business that would require it to be so
registered.
11
5.4 Investment
Experience.
The
Investor acknowledges that it can bear the economic risk and complete loss
of
its investment in the Shares and has such knowledge and experience in financial
or business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks
of the
investment in the Shares contemplated hereby.
5.5 Disclosure
of Information.
The
Investor acknowledges receipt of copies of the SEC Filings and that it has
had
an opportunity to receive all information related to the Company requested
by it
and to ask questions of and receive answers from the Company regarding the
Company, its business and the terms and conditions of the offering of the
Shares. Neither such inquiries nor any other investigation conducted by or
on
behalf of the Investor or its representatives or counsel shall modify, amend
or
affect the Investor’s right to rely on the truth, accuracy and completeness of
the SEC Filings and the Company’s representations and warranties contained in
the Transaction Documents. The Investor understands that it is not relying
on
any representation of any kind made by the Company regarding the Company,
the
Shares or any other matter other than as set forth herein.
5.6 Restricted
Securities.
The
Investor understands that the Shares are characterized as “restricted
securities” under the U.S. federal securities laws inasmuch as they are being
acquired from the Company in a transaction not involving a public offering
and
that under such laws and applicable regulations such securities may not be
resold without registration under the Securities Act or exemption
therefrom.
5.7 Legends.
It is
understood that, except as provided below, certificates evidencing the Shares
may bear the following or any similar legend:
(a) “THE
SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT
OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE
OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED
HEREBY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE
REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS
UNLESS OFFERED, SOLD OR TRANSFERRED PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM
THE
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THOSE LAWS.”
(b) If
required by the authorities of any state in connection with the issuance
of sale
of the Shares, the legend required by such state authority.
5.8 Accredited
Investor.
The
Investor is an accredited investor as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation
D, as
amended, under the Securities Act.
5.9 No
General Solicitation.
The
Investor did not learn of the investment in the Shares as a result of any
public
advertising or general solicitation.
12
5.10 Brokers
and Finders.
No
Person will have, as a result of the transactions contemplated by the
Transaction Documents, any valid right, interest or claim against or upon
the
Company or the Investor for any commission, fee or other compensation pursuant
to any agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into by or on behalf
of
the Investor.
5.11 Prohibited
Transactions.
During
the last thirty (30) days prior to the date hereof, neither the Investor
nor any
Affiliate of the Investor which (x) had knowledge of the transactions
contemplated hereby, (y) has or shares discretion relating to the Investor’s
investments or trading or information concerning the Investor’s investments,
including in respect of the Shares, or (z) is subject to the Investor’s review
or input concerning such Affiliate’s investments or trading (collectively,
“Trading
Affiliates”)
has,
directly or indirectly, (a) acquired, agreed to acquire (other than pursuant
to
this Agreement), offered for sale, sold, pledged or otherwise disposed of
any
Common Stock, (b) effected or agreed to effect any short sale, whether or
not
against the box, established any “put equivalent position” (as defined in Rule
16a-1(h) under the Exchange Act) with respect to the Common Stock, granted
any
other right (including, without limitation, any put or call option) with
respect
to the Common Stock or with respect to any security that includes, relates
to or
derived any significant part of its value from the Common Stock or otherwise
sought to hedge its position in the Shares or (c) entered into any swap or
other
derivatives transaction that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any
of
the economic benefits or risks of ownership of any securities of the Company,
whether any such transaction described in clauses (a), (b) or (c) was or
is to
be settled by delivery of securities of the Company, other securities, cash
or
otherwise (each, a “Prohibited
Transaction”).
6. Conditions
to Closing.
6.1 Conditions
to the Investor’s Obligations.
The
obligation of the Investor to purchase the Shares at the Closing is subject
to
the satisfaction, on or prior to the Closing Date, of the following conditions,
any of which may be waived by the Investor:
(a) The
representations and warranties made by the Company in Section 4 hereof qualified
as to materiality shall be true and correct on the date hereof and on the
Closing Date (except to the extent any such representation or warranty expressly
speaks as of a specific date, in which case such representation or warranty
shall be true and correct as of such date), and the representations and
warranties made by the Company in Section 4 hereof not qualified as to
materiality shall be true and correct in all material respects on the date
hereof and on the Closing Date (except to the extent any such representation
or
warranty expressly speaks as of a specific date, in which case such
representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects
as
of such specific date). The Company shall have performed in all material
respects all obligations and covenants herein required to be performed by
it on
or prior to the Closing Date.
(b) The
Company shall have obtained any and all consents, permits, approvals,
registrations and waivers necessary or appropriate for consummation of the
purchase and sale of the Shares and the consummation of the other transactions
contemplated by the Transaction Documents to be consummated on or prior to
the
Closing Date, all of which shall be in full force and effect.
13
(c) The
Company shall have executed and delivered this Agreement and the other
Transaction Documents.
(d) No
judgment, writ, order, injunction, award or decree of or by any court, or
judge,
justice or magistrate, including any bankruptcy court or judge, or any order
of
or by any governmental authority, shall have been issued, and no action or
proceeding shall have been instituted by any governmental authority, enjoining
or preventing the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the
Transaction Documents.
(e) The
Company shall have received confirmation that the Shares have been approved
for
listing on Nasdaq.
(f) The
Company shall have delivered a certificate, executed on behalf of the Company
by
its Chief Executive Officer or its Chief Financial Officer, dated as of the
Closing Date, certifying to the fulfillment of the conditions specified in
Section 6.1(a), (b), (e) and (g).
(g) The
Company shall have delivered a certificate, executed on behalf of the Company
by
its Secretary, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying the resolutions adopted
by the Board approving the transactions contemplated by the Transaction
Documents, certifying the current versions of the Certificate of Incorporation
and Bylaws of the Company and certifying as to the signatures and authority
of
Persons signing the Transaction Documents and related documents on behalf
of the
Company.
(h) The
Investor shall have received an opinion from O’Melveny & Xxxxx LLP, U.S.
counsel to the Company, dated as of the Closing Date, as to the matters set
forth in Exhibit
C
attached
hereto.
(i) The
Investor shall have received an opinion from DeHeng Law Office, PRC counsel
to
the Company, dated as of the Closing Date, as to the matters set forth in
Exhibit
D
attached
hereto.
(j) No
stop
order or suspension of trading shall have been imposed by Nasdaq, the SEC
or any
other governmental or regulatory body with respect to public trading in the
Common Stock. The Company shall not have received notice of any delisting
on
Nasdaq or that it is violation of any Nasdaq rule, regulation or interpretation
which could lead to delisting.
(k) The
Company’s delivery to its transfer agent of irrevocable instructions to issue
and deliver to the Investor (or in such nominee name(s) as designated by
the
Investor in writing) certificates evidencing such number of Shares as set
forth
on the signature pages to this Agreement.
(l) The
Nondisclosure Agreement dated as of August 1, 2006 between Warburg Pincus
Asia
LLC and the Company shall have been terminated.
(m) Beams
Power Investment Limited shall have executed and delivered the Voting and
Co-Sale Agreement.
14
(n) Any
waiting period (and any extension thereof) applicable to the transaction
contemplated hereby under the HSR Act shall have expired or been terminated.
(o) The
Investor shall have completed its due diligence investigation of the Company
with the results thereof being satisfactory to the Investor; provided, however,
that no item disclosed on the Disclosure Schedule on the date hereof shall
be
cause for this condition not to be satisfied, provided,
further,
that
such condition shall be deemed satisfied on and after June 7, 2007, if the
Investor has not delivered to the Company prior to such date a notice stating
that the Investor is unsatisfied with the due diligence results and has elected
to terminate this Agreement.
(p) The
Company’s delivery to the Investor of a written consent and waiver of ABN
pursuant to the ABN Registration Rights Agreement.
6.2 Conditions
to Obligations of the Company.
The
Company’s obligation to sell and issue the Shares at the Closing is subject to
the satisfaction on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions,
any of which may be waived by the Company:
(a) The
representations and warranties made by the Investor in Section 5 hereof shall
be
true and correct in all material respects when made and as of the Closing
Date
with the same force and effect as if they had been made on and as of said
date
(except to the extent any such representation or warranty expressly speaks
as of
a specific date, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true
and
correct in all material respects as of such specific date).
(b) The
Investor shall have executed and delivered this Agreement and the other
Transaction Documents.
(c) No
judgment, writ, order, injunction, award or decree of or by any court, or
judge,
justice or magistrate, including any bankruptcy court or judge, or any order
of
or by any governmental authority, shall have been issued, and no action or
proceeding shall have been instituted by any governmental authority, enjoining
or preventing the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the
Transaction Documents.
(d) The
Investor shall have delivered the Purchase Price for the Shares to the
Company.
(e) Any
waiting period (and any extension thereof) applicable to the transaction
contemplated hereby under the HSR Act shall have expired or been
terminated.
6.3 Termination
of Obligations to Effect Closing; Effects.
The
obligation of the Company, on the one hand, and the Investor, on the other
hand,
to effect the Closing shall terminate as follows:
(a) Upon
the
mutual written consent of the Company and the Investor;
(b) By
the
Company if any of the conditions set forth in Section 6.2 shall have become
incapable of fulfillment, and shall not have been waived by the
Company;
15
(c) By
the
Investor if any of the conditions set forth in Section 6.1 shall have become
incapable of fulfillment, and shall not have been waived by the Investor;
or
(d) By
the
Company or the Investor if the Closing shall not have occurred on or prior
to
June 30, 2007.
(e) By
the
Investor, through issuance to the Company of a written notice in accordance
with
Section 6.1(o).
7. Covenants
and Agreements.
7.1 No
Conflicting Agreements.
The
Company will not take any action, enter into any agreement or make any
commitment that would conflict or interfere in any material respect with
the
Company’s obligations to the Investor under the Transaction
Documents.
7.2 Insurance.
The
Company shall not materially reduce the insurance coverage described in Section
4.19.
7.3 Compliance
with Laws.
The
Company will comply in all material respects with all applicable laws, rules,
regulations, orders and decrees of all governmental authorities.
7.4 Listing
of Underlying Shares and Related Matters.
Promptly following the date hereof, the Company shall take all necessary
action
to cause the Shares to be listed on Nasdaq. The Company will use commercially
reasonable efforts to continue the listing and trading of its Common Stock
on
Nasdaq and, in accordance, therewith, will use commercially reasonable efforts
to comply in all respects with the Company’s reporting, filing and other
obligations under the bylaws or rules of such market or exchange, as
applicable.
7.5 Removal
of Legends.
Upon
the earlier of (i) the sale pursuant to the Registration Statement and receipt
by the Company or its agents of the Investor’s written confirmation that such
Shares were disposed of in compliance with the prospectus delivery requirements
of the Securities Act or (ii) Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act becoming
available for the resale of the Investor’s Shares, the Company shall within
three (3) Business Days of the Investor’s written request, cause certificates
evidencing the Investor’s Shares to be replaced with certificates which do not
bear such restrictive legends.
7.6 Board
Representation Rights.
(a) From
and
after the Closing, so long as the Investor (alone or together with its
Affiliates) beneficially owns (as determined under Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange
Act) at least 50% of the Shares acquired on the Closing, the Investor, together
with its Permitted Transferees, shall have the right to designate a person
(the
“Investor
Designee”)
to
serve as a director of the Company, and the Company shall nominate and use
its
best efforts to have the Investor Designee elected to the Board. For so long
as
such membership does not conflict with any applicable law or regulation or
listing requirement of Nasdaq, the Investor Designee shall be entitled to
serve
as a member of each of the committees of the Board, except for any committee
formed to consider a transaction between the Company and the Investor (or
any of
its Affiliates). Any vacancy in the position of an Investor Designee shall
only
be filled with another designee designated by the Investor or its Permitted
Transferees in accordance with the terms hereof. Any vacancy created by any
removal of an Investor Designee shall also only be filled at the direction
of
the Investor or its Permitted Transferees. The Company’s proxy statement for the
election of directors shall include the Investor Designee and the recommendation
of the Board in favor of election of the Investor Designee. The Investor
Designee shall be given notice of (in the same manner that notice is given
to
other members of the Board) all meetings (whether in person, telephonic or
otherwise) of the Board, including all committee meetings with respect to
committees on which the Investor Designee serves. The Investor Designee shall
receive a copy of all notices, agendas and other materials distributed to
the
Board, whether provided to directors in advance or, during or after any meeting,
regardless of whether the Investor Designee will be in attendance at the
meeting. The Company shall reimburse the reasonable expenses incurred by
the
Investor Designee in connection with attending (whether in person or
telephonically) all meetings of the Board or committees thereof or other
Company
related meetings to the same extent as all other members of the Board are
reimbursed for such expenses (or, in case any such expense reimbursement
policy
shall apply only to non-employee directors, to the same extent as all other
non-employee directors). The Company shall maintain director and officer
insurance covering the Investor Designee on the same terms and with the same
amount of coverage as is provided to other members of the Board.
16
7.7 HSR
Act Filing.
The
Company and the Investor shall, as soon as practicable after the date of
this
Agreement, but in no event later than ten (10) Business Days after the date
hereof, file Notification and Report Forms under the HSR Act with the Federal
Trade Commission (the “FTC”)
and
the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (the “Antitrust
Division”)
relating to the transaction contemplated by this Agreement and shall use
their
reasonable best efforts to respond as promptly as practicable to all inquiries
received from the FTC or the Antitrust Division for additional information
or
documentation. The Company shall pay all fees and expenses in connection
with
satisfying its obligations under this Section 7.7.
7.8 Form
D
and Blue Sky.
The
Company agrees to timely file a Form D with the SEC with respect to the Shares
to the extent required under Regulation D of the Securities Act and to provide,
upon request, a copy thereof to the Investor. The Company shall, on or before
the Closing Date, take such action as the Company shall reasonably determine
is
necessary in order to obtain an exemption for, or to qualify the Shares for,
sale to the Investor at the Closing pursuant to this Agreement under applicable
securities and “blue sky” laws of the states of the United States (or to obtain
an exemption from such qualification), and shall provide evidence of any
such
action so taken to the Investor on or prior to the Closing Date. The Company
shall make all timely filings and reports relating to the offer and sale
of the
Shares required under applicable securities and “blue sky” laws of the states of
the United States following the Closing Date. The Company shall pay all fees
and
expenses in connection with satisfying its obligations under this Section
7.8.
7.9 Access
to Information
The
Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, throughout the
period from the date hereof until the Closing, (i) provide the Investor and
its
representatives with full access, upon reasonable prior notice and during
normal
business hours, to all officers, employees, agents and accountants of the
Company and its Subsidiaries and their respective assets, properties and
material books and records, but only to the extent that such access does
not
unreasonably interfere with the business and operations of the Company and
its
Subsidiaries, and (ii) furnish promptly to such persons such information
and
data concerning the business and operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries
as the other party or any of such other persons reasonably may request. No
investigation pursuant to this paragraph or otherwise shall affect any
representation or warranty contained in this Agreement or any condition to
the
obligations of the parties hereto.
17
7.10 Further
Assurances.
The
parties shall execute and deliver all such further instruments and documents
and
take all such other actions as may reasonably be required to carry out the
transactions contemplated hereby to fulfill or obtain the fulfillment of
the
conditions to the Closing and the agreements herein contained. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, in the event the Investor elects, in its sole discretion,
and
without prejudice to any remedy at law or at equity that may be available
to the
Investor, to waive any of the conditions set forth in Section 6.1, the Company
shall use its best efforts to fulfill such waived conditions as soon as possible
and in any event within ten (10) Business Days after Closing.
8. Survival
and Indemnification.
8.1 Survival.
The
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this
Agreement shall survive the Closing of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
8.2 Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification
by the Company. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, the Investors and their respective directors,
managers, officers, employees, stockholders, members, and each Person who
controls any Investor (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against
any
losses, claims, damages, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, liabilities
and
expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees) resulting
from or which arise out of or are based upon any inaccuracy in the
representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement,
or
any failure of the Company to perform its obligations hereunder (any of the
foregoing, a “Violation”),
and
will reimburse each Investor and their respective directors, managers, members,
officers, employees, stockholders or controlling Persons for any legal and
other
expenses reasonably incurred as such expenses are reasonably incurred by
such
Person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising
or
paying any such Violation.
(b) Indemnification
by the Investors. Each Investor agrees, severally but not jointly, to indemnify
and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company, its
directors, officers, employees, stockholders and each Person who controls
the
Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims,
damages, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, liabilities and expenses
(including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees) resulting from or
which arise out of or are based upon any inaccuracy in the representations
and
warranties of the Investor contained in this Agreement, and will reimburse
the
Company and its directors, officers, employees, stockholders or controlling
Persons for any legal and other expenses reasonably incurred as such expenses
are reasonably incurred by such Person in connection with investigating,
defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage,
liability, expense or action. In no event shall the liability of an Investor
be
greater in amount than the amount invested by such Investor pursuant to this
Agreement.
18
(c) Conduct
of Indemnification Proceedings. Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder
shall (i) give prompt notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with
respect
to which it seeks indemnification and (ii) permit such indemnifying party
to
assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to
the
indemnified party; provided that any Person entitled to indemnification
hereunder shall have the right to employ separate counsel and to participate
in
the defense of such claim, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall
be at
the expense of such Person unless (A) the indemnifying party has agreed to
pay
such fees or expenses, or (B) the indemnifying party shall have failed to
assume
the defense of such claim within five (5) Business Days after written notice
thereof and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Person or (C)
in the
reasonable judgment of any such Person, considering the advice of counsel,
a
conflict of interest exists between such Person and the indemnifying party
with
respect to such claims (in which case, if the Person notifies the indemnifying
party in writing that such Person elects to employ separate counsel at the
expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have
the
right to assume the defense of such claim on behalf of such Person); and
provided, further, that the failure of any indemnified party to give notice
as
provided herein shall not relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations
hereunder, except to the extent that such failure to give notice shall
materially adversely affect the indemnifying party in the defense of any
such
claim or litigation. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not,
in
connection with any proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for fees
or
expenses of more than one additional firm of attorneys at any time for all
such
indemnified parties. No indemnifying party will, except with the consent
of the
indemnified party, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement
that does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the
claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability
in respect of such claim or litigation.
(d) Contribution.
If for any reason the indemnification provided for in the preceding paragraphs
(a) and (b) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient to hold
it
harmless, other than as expressly specified therein, then the indemnifying
party
shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as
a
result of such loss, claim, damage or liability in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnified party and the
indemnifying party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
No
Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the Securities Act shall be entitled to contribution from any Person
not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. In no event shall the
contribution obligation of an Investor be greater in amount than the amount
invested by such Investor pursuant to this Agreement.
9. Miscellaneous.
9.1 Successors
and Assigns.
This
Agreement may not be assigned by a party hereto without the prior written
consent of the Company or the Investor, as applicable, provided, however,
that
the Investor may assign its rights and delegate its duties hereunder in whole
or
in part to an Affiliate acquiring some or all of its Shares after notice
duly
given by the Investor to the Company, provided
that no
such assignment or obligation shall affect the obligations of the Investor
hereunder. The provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
and be
binding upon the respective permitted successors and assigns of the parties.
Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon
any
party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and assigns
any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this
Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.
19
9.2 Counterparts;
Faxes.
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. This Agreement may also be executed via facsimile, which shall
be
deemed an original.
9.3 Titles
and Subtitles.
The
titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only
and
are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this
Agreement.
9.4 Notices.
Unless
otherwise provided, any notice required or permitted under this Agreement
shall
be given in writing and shall be deemed effectively given as hereinafter
described (i) if given by personal delivery, then such notice shall be deemed
given upon such delivery, (ii) if given by telex or telecopier, then such
notice
shall be deemed given upon receipt of confirmation of complete transmittal,
(iii) if given by mail, then such notice shall be deemed given upon the earlier
of (A) receipt of such notice by the recipient or (B) three days after such
notice is deposited in first class mail, postage prepaid, and (iv) if given
by
an internationally recognized overnight air courier, then such notice shall
be
deemed given one Business Day after delivery to such carrier. All notices
shall
be addressed to the party to be notified at the address as follows, or at
such
other address as such party may designate by ten days’ advance written notice to
the other party:
If
to the
Company:
0000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx. Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
General Counsel
Fax:
0-000-000-0000
With
a
copy which shall not constitute notice to:
O’Melveny
& Xxxxx LLP
31st
Floor, China
World
Tower One, Xx.0 Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
000000, Xxxxx
Attention:
Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Fax:
x00-00-0000-0000
If
to the
Investor:
Warburg
Pincus Private Equity IX, L.P.
c/o
Warburg Pincus LLC
000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
20
With
a
copy which shall not constitute notice to:
Paul,
Hastings, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx LLP
21-22/F
Bank of China Tower
0
Xxxxxx
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx:
Xxxxxxx Xxx
Fax:
000-0000-0000
9.5 Expenses.
If the
Closing is effected, the Company shall pay all reasonable costs and expenses
incurred by the parties with respect to the negotiation, execution and delivery
of the Transaction Documents and all other agreements related to the
consummation of the transactions contemplated therein, including all costs
and
expenses of Paul, Hastings, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx LLP, special counsel to the
Investor. In the event that legal proceedings are commenced by any party
to this
Agreement against another party to this Agreement in connection with this
Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents, the party or parties
which
do not prevail in such proceedings shall severally, but not jointly, pay
their
pro rata share of the reasonable attorneys’ fees and other reasonable
out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the prevailing party in such
proceedings.
9.6 Amendments
and Waivers.
Any
term of this Agreement may be amended and the observance of any term of this
Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and
either
retroactively or prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company
and the Investor. Any amendment or waiver affected in accordance with this
paragraph shall be binding upon each holder of any Shares purchased under
this
Agreement at the time outstanding, each future holder of all such Shares,
and
the Company.
9.7 Publicity.
Except
as set forth below, no public release or announcement concerning the
transactions contemplated hereby shall be issued by the Company or the Investor
without the prior consent of the Company (in the case of a release or
announcement by the Investor) or the Investor (in the case of a release or
announcement by the Company) (which consents shall not be unreasonably
withheld), except as such release or announcement may be required by law
or the
applicable rules or regulations of Nasdaq, any securities exchange or other
securities market. On the trading day immediately following the date hereof,
the
Company shall issue a press release disclosing the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement. No later than the fourth trading day following the date hereof,
the Company will file a Current Report on Form 8-K describing the Transaction
Documents and attaching the press release described in the foregoing sentence.
In addition, the Company will make such other filings (including filing the
Transaction Documents with the SEC) and notices in the manner and time required
by the SEC or Nasdaq.
9.8 Severability.
Any
provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent
of
such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining
provisions hereof but shall be interpreted as if it were written so as to
be
enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, and any such
prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate
or
render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. To the extent
permitted by applicable law, the parties hereby waive any provision of law
which
renders any provision hereof prohibited or unenforceable in any
respect.
21
9.9 Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement, including the exhibits and the Disclosure Schedule and the other
Transaction Documents constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereof
with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior
agreements and understandings, both oral and written, between the parties
with
respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
9.10 Governing
Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.
This
Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal
laws of the State of Delaware without regard to the choice of law principles
thereof. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably submits to the exclusive
jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York located in the Borough
of
Manhattan, New York City and the United States District Court for the Southern
District of New York for the purpose of any suit, action, proceeding or judgment
relating to or arising out of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby. Service of process in connection with any such suit, action or
proceeding may be served on each party hereto anywhere in the world by the
same
methods as are specified for the giving of notices under this Agreement.
Each of
the parties hereto irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of any such court
in
any such suit, action or proceeding and to the laying of venue in such court.
Each party hereto irrevocably waives any objection to the laying of venue
of any
such suit, action or proceeding brought in such courts and irrevocably waives
any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court
has
been brought in an inconvenient forum. EACH
OF THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO REQUEST A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY
LITIGATION WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT AND REPRESENTS THAT COUNSEL HAS
BEEN
CONSULTED SPECIFICALLY AS TO THIS WAIVER.
(Signature
page follows)
22
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Common Stock Purchase Agreement
as of the date first above written.
The
Company:
|
||
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx | |
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxx | ||
Title:
CEO
|
The
Investor:
|
WARBURG
PINCUS PRIVATE EQUITY IX, L.P.
|
|
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx | |
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx | ||
Title:
Authorized Signatory
|
Exhibit
A
Registration
Rights Agreement
REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This
Registration Rights Agreement (the “Agreement”)
is
made and entered into as of this ___ day of May 2007 by and among Synutra
International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”),
and
Warburg Pincus Private Equity IX, L.P. (the “Investor”) in connection with that
certain Common Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 24, 2007 (the
“Purchase
Agreement”),
by
and among the Company and the Investor.
The
parties hereby agree as follows:
1.
Certain
Definitions.
As
used
in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
“ABN
Registration Rights Agreement”
means
the Registration Rights Agreement, dated April 19, 2007, by and between the
Company and ABN AMRO Bank N.V., Hong Kong Branch.
“Affiliate”
means,
with respect to any Person, any other Person which directly or indirectly
controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such
Person.
“Business
Day”
means
a
day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, on which banks in New York City are
open
for the general transaction of business.
“Common
Stock”
shall
mean the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share.
“Effectiveness
Date”
means
the date on which the Registration Statement is declared effective by the
SEC.
“Exchange
Act”
means
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Filing
Date”
means
the date on which the Registration Statement is first filed with the
SEC.
“Investors”
shall
mean the Investor and any Affiliate or permitted transferee of any Investor
who
is a subsequent holder of any Registrable Securities.
“Person”
means
an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust,
business trust, association, joint stock company, joint venture, sole
proprietorship, unincorporated organization, governmental authority or any
other
form of entity not specifically listed herein.
“Prospectus”
shall
mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as amended or
supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the
offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by such
Registration Statement and by all other amendments and supplements to the
prospectus, including post-effective amendments and all material incorporated
by
reference in such prospectus.
1
“Register,”
“registered”
and
“registration”
refer
to a registration made by preparing and filing a Registration Statement or
similar document in compliance with the Securities Act (as defined below),
and
the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such Registration Statement
or
document.
“Registrable
Securities”
shall
mean (i) the Shares and (ii) any other securities issued or issuable
with respect to or in exchange for Shares, including shares issued in
replacement therefore, whether upon any stock split, stock dividend,
recapitalization, subdivision or similar event or otherwise, provided,
however,
that a
security shall cease to be a Registrable Security upon sale pursuant to a
Registration Statement or Rule 144 under the Securities Act.
“Registration
Statement”
shall
mean any registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities
Act
that covers the resale of any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the
provisions of this Agreement, amendments and supplements to such Registration
Statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and all material
incorporated by reference in such Registration Statement.
“Required
Investors”
means
the Investors holding a majority of the Registrable Securities.
“SEC”
means
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities
Act”
means
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
“Shares”
means
the shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement.
2.
Registration.
(a)
Mandatory
Registration.
(i) As
soon
as reasonably practicable following the Closing (as defined in the Purchase
Agreement), but, in any event, no later than forty-five (45) days after the
Closing (the “Filing
Deadline”),
the
Company shall prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on
Form S-3 covering the resale of the Shares. Such Registration
Statement also shall cover, to the extent permitted by Rule 416 under the
Securities Act such indeterminate number of additional shares of Common Stock
resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions with
respect to the Shares. Such Registration Statement (and each amendment or
supplement thereto, and each request for acceleration of effectiveness thereof)
shall be provided in accordance with Section 4(c) to the Investors and
their counsel prior to its filing or other submission.
2
(ii) Notwithstanding
the registration obligations set forth in Section 2(a)(i) above, in the event
the SEC informs the Company that all of the Registrable Securities cannot,
as a
result of the application of Rule 415 under the Securities Act, be registered
for resale on a single registration statement initially filed by the Company
pursuant to Section 2(a)(i) above (the “Initial
Registration Statement”),
the
Company shall promptly (A) inform each of the Investors thereof and use its
commercially reasonable efforts to file amendments to the Initial Registration
Statement as required by the Commission and/or (B) withdraw the Initial
Registration Statement and file a new registration statement (a “New
Registration Statement”),
in
either case, covering the maximum number of Registrable Securities permitted
by
the Commission to be registered on Form S-3. In the event that the Company
amends the Initial Registration or files a New Registration Statement in
accordance with the foregoing, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable
efforts to file with the Commission, as promptly as allowed by the Commission
or
staff guidance provided from time to time to the Company or to registrants
of
securities in general, one or more registration statements on Form S-3 or
such
other form to register for resale those Registrable Securities that were
not
registered for resale on the Initial Registration Statement, as amended,
or the
New Registration Statement (the “Remainder
Registration Statements”);
provided,
however,
that
the Company shall not, without the Investors’ prior written consent (which
consent may be withheld, delayed or conditioned at the discretion of the
Investors) file or request acceleration of the effectiveness of any Registration
Statement under this Section 2(a) if the SEC has informed the Company in
the SEC
review process that any Investor would be deemed an underwriter under the
Securities Act in connection therewith, and the Company in so refraining
from
filing or requesting acceleration, shall not be in violation or breach of
this
Agreement.
(iii) Subject
to the forgoing, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to
have
the Initial Registration Statement, any New Registration Statement, and any
Remainder Registration Statements declared effective as soon as
practicable. The Company shall notify the Investors by facsimile or e-mail
as promptly as practicable, and in any event, within one (1) Business Day,
after
any such Registration Statement is declared effective and shall provide the
Investors with copies of any related Prospectus to be used in connection
with
the sale or other disposition of the securities covered thereby.
(iv) Except
as
contemplated by the ABN Registration Rights Agreement, during the period
beginning on the date hereof and ending on the Effectiveness Date, the Company
shall refrain from filing any registration statement other than (A) a
Registration Statement filed hereunder or (B) a registration statement on
Form
S-8 with respect to stock option plans and agreements and stock plans currently
in effect and disclosed in the Purchase Agreement or the schedules thereto.
In
addition, except as contemplated by the ABN Registration Rights Agreement,
during the term of this Agreement, in no event shall the Company include
any
securities other than the Registrable Securities in any Registration Statement
filed by the Company on behalf of the Investors pursuant to the terms of
this
Section 2(a).
(b) Demand
Registration Rights.
(i) Generally.
Subject
to the conditions set forth in this Section 2(b), if, at any time prior to
the
expiration of the Effectiveness Period (as defined in Section 4(a) below),
(x) a
Registration Statement covering the sale of all of the Registrable Securities
is
not then effective and available for sales thereof by the Investors, and
(y) the
Company shall receive from any Investor or Investors holding at least 25%
of the
Registrable Securities (the “Initiating
Investors”)
a
written request signed by such Initiating Investors that the Company effect
a
registration with respect to all or a part of the Registrable Securities
(which
request shall state the number of shares of Registrable Securities to be
disposed of and the intended methods of disposition of such shares by such
Initiating Investors), the Company will:
3
(A) promptly
(but in case more than ten (10) Business Days after receipt of such request)
give written notice of the proposed registration to all other Investors;
and
(B) as
soon
as practicable, file and use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect
such
registration (including, without limitation, filing post-effective amendments,
appropriate qualifications under applicable U.S. blue sky or other state
securities laws, and appropriate compliance with the Securities Act) and
to
permit or facilitate the sale and distribution of all or such portion of
such
Registrable Securities as are specified in such request, together with all
or
such portion of the Registrable Securities of any Investor or Investors joining
in such request as are specified in a written request received by the Company
within ten (10) days after such written notice from the Company is mailed
or
delivered.
(ii) Limitations.
The
Company shall not be obligated to effect, or to take any action to effect,
any
such registration pursuant to this Section 2(b):
(A) If
the
Initiating Investors, together with the holders of any other securities of
the
Company entitled to inclusion in such registration statement, propose to
sell
Registrable Securities and such other securities (if any) at an aggregate
offering price (after deduction of underwriters’ discounts and expenses related
to issuance) of less than $10,000,000;
(B) After
the
Company has initiated two (2) such registrations pursuant to this Section
2(b)
(counting for these purposes only (I) registrations which have been declared
or
ordered effective and pursuant to which securities have been sold, and (II)
a
demand registration right under this Section 2(b) that the Investors have
affirmatively forfeited; or
(C) During
the period starting with the date sixty (60) days prior to the Company’s good
faith estimate of the date of filing of, and ending on a date one hundred
eighty
(180) days after the effective date of, a Company-initiated registration;
provided
that the
Company is actively employing in good faith commercially reasonable efforts
to
cause such registration statement to become effective.
(iii) Deferral.
If (A)
in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, the
filing
of a registration statement under this Section 2(b) covering the Registrable
Securities would be materially detrimental to the Company and the Board of
Directors of the Company concludes, as a result, that it is in the best
interests of the Company to defer the filing of such registration statement
at
such time, and (B) the Company shall furnish to such Investors a certificate
signed by the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer of the
Company stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors
of the
Company, it would be materially detrimental to the Company for such registration
statement to be filed in the near future and that it is, therefore, in the
best
interests of the Company to defer the filing of such registration statement,
then (in addition to the limitations set forth in Section 2(b)(ii) above)
the
Company shall have the right to defer such filing for a period of not more
than
forty five (45) days after receipt of the request of the Initiating Investors,
and, provided further, that the Company shall not defer its obligation in
this
manner more than twice in any twelve (12) month period.
4
(iv) Other
Shares.
The
registration statement filed pursuant to the request of the Initiating Investors
may, subject to the provisions of Section 2(b)(v) below, include (A) securities
of the Company being sold for the account of the Company and (B) shares of
Common Stock with respect to which the Company has, prior to the date hereof,
granted registration rights (“Other
Shares”)
that
are disclosed in the Purchase Agreement or the schedules thereto (any such
rights, “Existing
Registration Rights”).
(v) Underwriting.
(A) If
the
Initiating Investors intend to distribute the Registrable Securities covered
by
their request by means of an underwriting, they shall so advise the Company
as a
part of their request made pursuant to this Section 2(b) and the Company
shall
include such information in the written notice given pursuant to Section
2(b)(i)(A). In such event, the right of any Investor to include all or any
portion of its Registrable Securities in such registration pursuant to this
Section 2(b) shall be conditioned upon such Investor’s participation in such
underwriting and the inclusion of such Investor’s Registrable Securities to the
extent provided herein. If the Company shall request inclusion in any
registration pursuant to this Section 2(b) of securities being sold for its
own account, or if holders of Other Shares shall request inclusion in any
registration pursuant to this Section 2(b), the Initiating Investors shall,
on
behalf of all Investors, offer to include such securities in the underwriting
and such offer shall be conditioned upon the participation of the Company
or
such other persons in such underwriting and the inclusion of the Company’s and
such Other Holders’ other securities of the Company and their acceptance of the
further applicable provisions of this Section 2. The Company shall (together
with all Investors and other persons proposing to distribute their securities
through such underwriting) enter into an underwriting agreement in customary
form with the representative of the underwriter or underwriters selected
for
such underwriting by the Company, which underwriters are reasonably acceptable
to a majority in interest of the Initiating Investors.
(B) Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Section 2(b), if the underwriters advise the
Initiating Investors in writing that marketing factors require a limitation
on
the number of shares to be underwritten, the number of Registrable Securities
and Other Shares that may be so included shall be allocated as follows: (I)
first, among all Investors requesting to include Registrable Securities in
such
registration statement based on the pro rata percentage of Registrable
Securities held by such Investors; (II) second, to holders of Other Shares
electing to register shares in connection with such registration; and (III)
third, to the Company, which the Company may allocate, at its discretion,
for
its own account, or for the account of other holders or employees of the
Company.
5
(C) If
a
person who has requested inclusion in a registration pursuant to this Section
2(b) does not agree to the terms of any underwriting in accordance with this
Section 2(b)(v), such person shall be excluded from the underwriting by written
notice from the Company, the underwriter or the Initiating Investors. The
securities so excluded shall also be withdrawn from registration. If shares
are
so withdrawn from the registration and if the number of shares to be included
in
such registration was previously reduced as a result of marketing factors
pursuant to Section 2(b)(v)(B) above, then the Company shall then offer to
all
Investors and holders of Other Shares who have elected to include and retained
rights to include securities in the registration the right to include additional
Registrable Securities or Other Shares, as applicable, in the registration
in an
aggregate amount equal to the number of shares so withdrawn, with such shares
to
be allocated among such Investors and Other Holders requesting additional
inclusion, in order of priority as set forth in Section 2(b)(v)(B)
above.
(c) Piggyback
Registration Rights.
(i) Generally.
If, at
any time prior to the expiration of the Effectiveness Period (as defined
in
Section 4(a) below), (i) the Company proposes to register shares of Common
Stock
under the Securities Act in connection with the public offering of such shares
for cash other than a registration statement on Form S-8 or Form S-4 or any
successor or other forms promulgated for similar purposes (a “Proposed
Registration”)
and
(ii) a Registration Statement covering the sale of all of the Registrable
Securities is not then effective and available for sales thereof by the
Investors, the Company shall, at such time, promptly give each Investor written
notice of such Proposed Registration. Each Investor shall have ten (10) Business
Days from its receipt of such notice to deliver to the Company a written
request
specifying the amount of Registrable Securities that such Investor intends
to
sell and such Investor’s intended method of distribution. Upon receipt of such
request, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause all Registrable
Securities which the Company has been requested to register to be registered
under the Securities Act to the extent necessary to permit their sale or
other
disposition in accordance with the intended methods of distribution specified
in
the request of such Investor; provided,
however,
that the
Company shall have the right to postpone or withdraw any registration effected
pursuant to this Section 2(c) without obligation to the Investors.
(ii) Underwriting.
(A) If
the
Registration of which the Company gives notice is for a registered public
offering involving an underwriting, the Company shall so advise each of the
Investors as part of the written notice given pursuant to 2(c)(i). In such
event, the right of any Investor to include all or any portion of its
Registrable Securities in such registration pursuant to this Section 2(c)
shall
be conditioned upon such Investor’s participation in such underwriting and the
inclusion of such Investor’s Registrable Securities to the extent provided
herein. If an Investor shall request inclusion in any registration pursuant
to
this Section 2(c) of its Registrable Securities, the Company shall offer to
include such securities in the underwriting and such offer shall be conditioned
upon the participation of such Investor and the inclusion of such Investor’s
Registrable Securities and their acceptance of the further applicable provisions
of this Section 2(c). An Investor whose shares are to be included in such
Registration shall (together with all Investors and other persons proposing
to
distribute their securities through such underwriting) enter into an
underwriting agreement in customary form with the representative of the
underwriter or underwriters selected for such underwriting by the
Company..
6
(B) Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Section 2(c), if the underwriters advise the
Company
in writing that marketing factors require a limitation on the number of shares
to be underwritten, the Company shall be obligated to include in the
registration statement only such limited portion of the Registrable Securities
with respect to which each Investor has requested inclusion hereunder as
such
underwriter(s) shall permit. Any exclusion of Registrable Securities shall
be
made pro rata among the Investors seeking to include Registrable Securities
in a
registration statement, in proportion to the number of Registrable Securities
sought to be included by such Investors; provided,
however,
that
the Company shall not exclude any Registrable Securities unless the Company
has
first excluded all outstanding securities, the holders of which are not entitled
to inclusion of such securities in the registration statement or are not
entitled to pro rata inclusion with the Registrable Securities; and provided,
further,
that,
after giving effect to the immediately preceding proviso, any exclusion of
Registrable Securities shall be made pro rata with holders of other securities
underlying Existing Registration Rights who have elected to include such
securities in the registration statement
(C) If
a
person who has requested inclusion in a registration pursuant to this Section
2(c) does not agree to the terms of any underwriting in accordance with this
Section 2(c)(ii), such person shall be excluded from the underwriting by
written
notice from the Company or the underwriter. The securities so excluded shall
also be withdrawn from registration. If shares are so withdrawn from the
registration and if the number of shares to be included in such registration
was
previously reduced as a result of marketing factors pursuant to Section
2(c)(ii)(B) above, then the Company shall then offer to all Investors and
holders of Other Shares who have elected to include and retained rights to
include securities in the registration the right to include additional
Registrable Securities or Other Shares, as applicable, in the registration
in an
aggregate amount equal to the number of shares so withdrawn, with such shares
to
be allocated among such Investors and Other Holders requesting additional
inclusion, in order of priority as set forth in Section 2(c)(ii)(B)
above.
(d)
Expenses.
The Company will pay all expenses associated with each registration, including
filing and printing fees, the Company’s counsel and accounting fees and
expenses, costs associated with clearing the Registrable Securities for sale
under applicable state securities laws and listing fees, but excluding fees
and
expenses of counsel to the Investors, discounts, commissions, fees of
underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers or similar securities industry
professionals with respect to the Registrable Securities being sold,
provided
that the
Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses, not to exceed ten thousand
($10,000) in the aggregate, of one counsel for the Investors.
3.
Suspension.
7
(a)
Subject to Section 3(b) below, in the event: (i) of any request
by the SEC or any other federal or state governmental authority during the
period of effectiveness of the Registration Statement for amendments or
supplements to the Registration Statement or related prospectus or for
additional information so that the Registration Statement will not contain
an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required
to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading
or
otherwise fail to comply with the applicable rules and regulations of the
federal securities laws; (ii) of the issuance by the SEC or any other
federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings
for that purpose; (iii) of the receipt by the Company of any notification
with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from
qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction
or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose, provided that, considering
the advice of counsel, the Company reasonably believes that it must qualify
in
such jurisdiction; (iv) of any event or circumstance that, considering the
advice of counsel, the Company reasonably believes necessitates the making
of
any changes in the Registration Statement or related prospectus, or any document
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, so that,
in the
case of the Registration Statement, it will not contain any untrue statement
of
a material fact or any omission to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and that
in
the case of a related prospectus, it will not contain any untrue statement
of a
material fact or any omission to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or (v) that the
Company reasonably believes, considering the advice of counsel, that the
Company
may, in the absence of a suspension described hereunder, be required under
state
or federal securities laws to disclose any corporate development, the disclosure
of which could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect upon
the
Company, its stockholders, a potentially material transaction or event involving
the Company, or any negotiations, discussions or proposals directly relating
thereto; then the Company shall deliver a certificate in writing to each
Holder
of Registrable Securities (the “Suspension
Notice”)
to the
effect of the foregoing (but in no event, without the prior written consent
of
an Investor, shall the Company disclose to such Investor any of the facts
or
circumstances regarding any material nonpublic information) and, upon receipt
of
such Suspension Notice, the Holder will refrain from selling any Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement (a “Suspension”)
until
the Holder’s receipt of copies of a supplemented or amended prospectus prepared
and filed by the Company or until the Holder is advised in writing by the
Company that the current prospectus may be used and the Holder has received
copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or
deemed
incorporated by reference in any such prospectus.
(b)
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not suspend any Registration
Statement or related prospectus for more than forty five (45) consecutive
days
or for a total of not more than ninety (90) days in any twelve (12) month
period
(each a “Permitted
Suspension”
and
together the “Permitted
Suspensions”).
(c)
The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to terminate a Suspension
as promptly as practicable after delivery of a Suspension Notice to the
Holders.
8
4.
Company
Obligations.
The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration
of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms hereof, and pursuant
thereto the Company will:
(a)
use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement
to
become effective and to remain continuously effective for a period that will
terminate upon the earlier of (i) the date on which all Registrable
Securities have been sold pursuant to the Registration Statement, as amended
from time to time, (ii) the date on which all Registrable Securities
covered by such Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to Rule 144,
or (iii) four years from the date hereof (the “Effectiveness
Period”)
and
advise the Investors in writing when the Effectiveness Period has
expired;
(b)
prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments
to
the Registration Statement and such supplements to the Prospectus as may
be
necessary to keep the Registration Statement effective for the period specified
in Section 4(a) and to comply with the provisions of the Securities
Act and the Exchange Act with respect to the distribution of all of the
Registrable Securities covered thereby;
(c)
provide copies to and permit counsel designated by the Investors to review
the
Registration Statement and any amendments or supplements thereto and any
comments made by the staff of the SEC and the Company’s responses thereto a
reasonable period of time prior to its filing with the SEC or its receipt
from
the SEC as applicable and shall duly consider comments made by such counsel
thereon;
(d)
furnish to the Investors and their legal counsel (i) promptly after the
same is prepared and publicly distributed, filed with the SEC, or received
by
the Company (but not later than two (2) Business Days after the filing
date, receipt date or sending date, as the case may be) one (1) copy of any
Registration Statement and any amendment thereto, each preliminary prospectus
and Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto, and each letter
written
by or on behalf of the Company to the SEC or the staff of the SEC, and each
item
of correspondence from the SEC or the staff of the SEC, in each case relating
to
such Registration Statement (other than any portion of any thereof which
contains information for which the Company has sought confidential treatment),
and (ii) an electronic copy of a Prospectus, including a preliminary
prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto and such other documents
as each Investor may reasonably request in connection with the disposition
of
the Registrable Securities owned by such Investor that are covered by the
related Registration Statement;
(e)
use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) prevent the issuance of any stop
order or other suspension of effectiveness and, (ii) if such order is
issued, obtain the withdrawal of any such order at the earliest practicable
time
and to notify each Investor of the issuance of such an order and the resolution
thereof;
(f)
prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use commercially
reasonable efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the Investors
and
their counsel in connection with the registration or qualification of such
Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky
laws
of such jurisdictions requested by the Investors and do any and all other
commercially reasonable acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the
distribution in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered
by the
Registration Statement; provided,
however,
that
the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition
thereto to (i) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would
not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 4(f),
(ii) subject itself to general taxation in any jurisdiction where it would
not otherwise be so subject but for this Section 4(f), or (iii) file a
general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction;
9
(g)
use commercially reasonable efforts to cause all Registrable Securities covered
by a Registration Statement to be listed on the primary securities exchange,
interdealer quotation system or other market on which similar securities
issued
by the Company are then listed;
(h)
as soon as practicable notify the Investors, at any time when a Prospectus
relating to Registrable Securities is required to be delivered under the
Securities Act, upon discovery that, or upon the happening of any event as
a
result of which, the Prospectus included in a Registration Statement, as
then in
effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state
any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing, and at
the
request of any such holder, as soon as practicable, and subject to the Company’s
right to delay or refrain from filing as contemplated herein, prepare and
furnish to such holder an electronic copy of a supplement to or an amendment
of
such Prospectus as may be necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the
purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such Prospectus shall not include
an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required
to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading
in
light of the circumstances then existing;
(i)
otherwise use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable
rules and regulations of the SEC under the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act, take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to facilitate
the
registration of the Registrable Securities hereunder; and make available
to its
security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than the
Availability Date (as defined below), an earnings statement covering a period
of
at least twelve (12) months, beginning after the effective date of each
Registration Statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions
of
Section 11(a) of the Securities Act, including Rule 158
promulgated thereunder (for the purpose of this subsection 3(i),
“Availability
Date”
means
the 45th day following the end of the fourth fiscal quarter that includes
the
effective date of such Registration Statement, except that, if such fourth
fiscal quarter is the last quarter of the Company’s fiscal year, “Availability
Date”
means
the 90th day after the end of such fourth fiscal quarter);
(j)
with a view to making available to the Investors the benefits of Rule 144
(or its successor rule) and any other rule or regulation of the SEC that
may at any time permit the Investors to sell shares of Common Stock to the
public without registration, the Company covenants and agrees to:
(i) make and keep public information available, as those terms are
understood and defined in Rule 144, during the Effectiveness Period;
(ii) file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents
required of the Company under the Exchange Act; and (iii) furnish to each
Investor upon request, as long as such Investor owns any Registrable Securities,
(A) a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the
reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, (B) a copy of the Company’s
most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q, and (C) such other information as may be reasonably
requested in order to avail such Investor of any rule or regulation of the
SEC that permits the selling of any such Registrable Securities without
registration;
10
(k) hold
in
confidence and not make any disclosure of information concerning an Investor
provided to the Company if at the time such information is provided the Company
is notified of the confidential nature of such information unless (i) disclosure
of such information is necessary to comply with federal or state securities
laws, (ii) the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid or correct
a
misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement that includes such
Investor’s Registrable Securities, (iii) the release of such information is
ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court or governmental
body
of competent jurisdiction, (iv) such information has been made generally
available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of this or
any
other agreement, or (v) such Investor consents to the form and content of
any
such disclosure, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
The Company shall, upon learning that disclosure of any information concerning
an Investor is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent
jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt notice to such
Investor;
(l) provide
a
transfer agent and registrar, which may be a single entity, for the Registrable
Securities not later than the effective date of the Registration
Statement;
(m) if,
after
the execution of this Agreement, an Investor believes, after consultation
with
its counsel, that it could reasonably be deemed to be an underwriter of
Registrable Securities, or if any Investor intends to distribute the Registrable
Securities covered by means of an underwriting, at the request of such Investor,
the Company shall (i) cause to be prepared and shall furnish to such Investor
or
underwriter, on the date of the effectiveness of a Registration Statement
and
thereafter from time to time on such dated as such Investor or underwriter
may
reasonably request (A) a customary “comfort letter”, dated as of such date, from
the Company’s independent certified public accountants to underwriters in an
underwritten public offering, addressed to such Investor or underwriters,
and
(B) an opinion, dated as of such date, of legal counsel representing the
Company
for purposes of such Registration Statement, in form, scope and substance
as is
customarily given in an underwritten public offering, addressed to such Investor
or underwriters, (ii) make available by such Investor or underwriters, their
legal counsel and one firm of accountants or other agents retained by such
Investor or underwriters (collectively, the “Inspectors”) during regular
business hours and upon reasonable notice, all pertinent financial and other
records, and pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company
(collectively, the “Records”), as shall be reasonably deemed necessary or
appropriate by each Inspector, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and
employees to supply all information which any Inspector may reasonably request;
provided, however, that each Inspector shall agree to hold in strict confidence
and shall not make any disclosure (except to such Investor or underwriters
and
the other Inspectors) or use of any Record or other information which the
Company determines in good faith to be confidential, and of which determination
the Inspectors are so notified, unless (x) the disclosure of such Records
is
necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration
Statement or is otherwise required under the Securities Act, (y) ordered
by a
court of competent jurisdiction or (z) the information in such Records has
been
made generally available to the public other than by disclosure in violation
of
this Agreement, and (iii) in the event of an underwritten offering, enter
into
an underwriting agreement in customary form with the representative of the
underwriter. Nothing herein (or in any other confidentiality agreement between
the Company and any Investor) shall be deemed to limit any Investor’s ability to
sell Registrable Securities in a manner which is otherwise consistent with
applicable laws and regulations;
11
(n) if
requested by an Investor, the Company shall, as soon as practicable (i)
incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such
information as an Investor reasonably requests to be included therein relating
to the sale and distribution of Registrable Securities, including, without
limitation, information with respect to the number of Registrable Securities
being offered or sold, the purchase price being paid therefore and any other
terms of the offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering,
(ii) make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment and (iii) supplement or make amendments to any Registration Statement
if reasonably requested by an Investor holding any Registrable Securities;
and
(o) the
Company shall use its best efforts to maintain the eligibility of its use
of
Form S-3 for registering securities for resale.
5.
Obligations
of the Investors.
(a)
Each Investor shall furnish in writing to the Company such information regarding
itself, the Registrable Securities held by it and the intended method of
disposition of the Registrable Securities held by it, as shall be required
to
effect the registration of such Registrable Securities and [as shall be
necessary so that the Registration Statement, the Prospecutus or any preliminary
prospectus or similar offering document shall not include any untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or any omission or alleged
omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make
the statements therein not misleading, and shall promptly notify the Company
if
any such previously provided information shall contain or omit any such
information. Each Investor shall] also execute such documents in connection
with
such registration as the Company may reasonably request. At least five
(5) Business Days prior to the first anticipated filing date of any
Registration Statement, the Company shall notify each Investor of the
information the Company requires from such Investor if such Investor elects
to
have any of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration
Statement. An Investor shall provide such information to the Company at
least two (2) Business Days prior to the first anticipated filing date of
such Registration Statement if such Investor elects to have any of the
Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement.
(b)
Each Investor, by its acceptance of the Registrable Securities, agrees to
cooperate with the Company as reasonably requested by the Company in connection
with the preparation and filing of a Registration Statement hereunder, unless
such Investor has notified the Company in writing of its election to exclude
all
of its Registrable Securities from such Registration Statement.
12
(c)
Each Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of
the
commencement of an Suspension pursuant to Section 3, such Investor will
immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to
the
Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities, until the
Investor’s receipt of the supplemented or amended prospectus filed with the SEC
and until any related post-effective amendment is declared effective and,
if so
directed by the Company, the Investor shall deliver to the Company (at the
expense of the Company) or destroy (and deliver to the Company a certificate
of
destruction) all copies in the Investor’s possession of the Prospectus covering
the Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such
notice.
6.
Indemnification.
(a)
Indemnification
by the Company.
The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, the Investors and their respective directors, managers,
officers, employees, stockholders, members, and each Person who controls
any
Investor (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims,
damages, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, liabilities and expenses
(including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees) resulting from or
which arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged
untrue
statement of a material fact in any Registration Statement or any post-effective
amendment thereto or in any filing made in connection with the qualification
of
the offering under the securities or other “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction
in which Registrable Securities are offered (“Blue
Sky Filing”)
or the
omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein
or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
preliminary prospectus if used prior to the effective date of such Registration
Statement or contained in the final prospectus (as amended or supplemented)
or
the omission or alleged omission to state therein any material fact necessary
to
make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which
the statements therein were made, not misleading (any of the foregoing, a
“Violation”),
and
will reimburse each Investor and their respective directors, managers, members,
officers, employees, stockholders or controlling Persons for any legal and
other
expenses reasonably incurred as such expenses are reasonably incurred by
such
Person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising
or
paying any such Violation; provided,
however,
that
the Company will not be liable in any such case if and to the extent that
any
such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission so
made in
conformity with information furnished in writing by an Investor specifically
for
use in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any other offering
document.
(b)
Indemnification
by the Investors.
Each Investor agrees, severally but not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless,
to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company, its directors, officers,
employees, stockholders and each Person who controls the Company (within
the
meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, judgments,
amounts paid in settlement, liabilities and expenses (including, without
limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees) resulting from or which arise out of or
are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required
to
be stated in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or preliminary prospectus
or amendment or supplement thereto or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, to the extent, but only to the extent that such untrue statement
or omission or alleged statement or omission is contained in any information
furnished in writing by such Investor to the Company specifically for inclusion
in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto,
and (ii) any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Investor
contained in this Agreement, and will reimburse the Company and its directors,
officers, employees, stockholders or controlling Persons for any legal and
other
expenses reasonably incurred as such expenses are reasonably incurred by
such
Person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising
or
paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action. In no
event shall the liability of an Investor be greater in amount than the dollar
amount of the proceeds (net of all expenses paid by such Investor in connection
with any claim relating to this Section 6 and the amount of any damages
such Investor has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission) received by
such
Investor upon the sale of the Registrable Securities included in the
Registration Statement giving rise to such indemnification
obligation.
13
(c)
Conduct
of Indemnification Proceedings.
Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall (i) give prompt
notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks
indemnification and (ii) permit such indemnifying party to assume the
defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified
party; provided
that any
Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall have the right to employ
separate counsel and to participate in the defense of such claim, but the
fees
and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Person unless
(a) the indemnifying party has agreed to pay such fees or expenses, or
(b) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of such
claim within five (5) Business Days after written notice thereof and employ
counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Person or (c) in the reasonable
judgment of any such Person, considering the advice of counsel, a conflict
of
interest exists between such Person and the indemnifying party with respect
to
such claims (in which case, if the Person notifies the indemnifying party
in
writing that such Person elects to employ separate counsel at the expense
of the
indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume
the defense of such claim on behalf of such Person); and provided,
further,
that
the failure of any indemnified party to give notice as provided herein shall
not
relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations hereunder, except to the
extent that such failure to give notice shall materially adversely affect
the
indemnifying party in the defense of any such claim or litigation. It is
understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any
proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for fees or expenses of more
than
one additional firm of attorneys at any time for all such indemnified
parties. No indemnifying party will, except with the consent of the
indemnified party, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement
that does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the
claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability
in respect of such claim or litigation.
(d)
Contribution.
If for any reason the indemnification provided for in the preceding paragraphs
(a) and (b) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient to
hold it harmless, other than as expressly specified therein, then the
indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the
indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability in
such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnified
party and the indemnifying party, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation within
the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act shall be entitled
to contribution from any Person not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. In no event shall the contribution obligation of an
Investor be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds (net
of all
expense paid by such Investor in connection with any claim relating to this
Section 6 and the amount of any damages such Investor has otherwise been
required to pay by reason of such untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue
statement or omission) received by such Investor upon the sale of the
Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement giving rise
to
such contribution obligation.
14
7.
Miscellaneous.
(a)
Amendments
and Waivers.
This Agreement may be amended only by a writing signed by the Company and
the
Required Investors, provided that any such amendment shall not
disproportionately affect the rights of any Investor, relative to all other
Investors, without the consent of such Investor. The Company may take any
action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein required to be
performed by it, only if the Company shall have obtained the written consent
to
such amendment, action or omission to act, of the Required
Investors.
(b)
Notices.
All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder
shall
be made as set forth in Section 9.4 of the Purchase Agreement.
(c)
Assignments
and Transfers by Investors.
The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit
of the Investors and their respective successors and assigns. An Investor
may transfer or assign, in whole or from time to time in part, to one or
more
Persons its rights hereunder in connection with the transfer of Registrable
Securities by such Investor to such Person, provided
that
such Investor complies with all laws applicable thereto and provides written
notice of assignment to the Company promptly after such assignment is
effected.
(d)
Assignments
and Transfers by the Company.
This Agreement may not be assigned by the Company (whether by operation of
law
or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the Required Investors,
provided,
however,
that
the Company may assign its rights and delegate its duties hereunder to any
surviving or successor corporation in connection with a merger or consolidation
of the Company with another corporation, or a sale, transfer or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to another
corporation, without the prior written consent of the Required Investors,
after
notice duly given by the Company to each Investor.
(e)
Benefits
of the Agreement.
The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
and be
binding upon the respective permitted successors and assigns of the
parties. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to
confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective
successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities
under
or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this
Agreement.
15
(f)
Counterparts;
Faxes.
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. This Agreement may also be executed via facsimile, which
shall be deemed an original.
(g)
Titles
and Subtitles.
The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience
only
and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this
Agreement.
(h)
Severability.
Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent
of
such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining
provisions hereof but shall be interpreted as if it were written so as to
be
enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, and any such
prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate
or
render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. To the
extent permitted by applicable law, the parties hereby waive any provision
of
law which renders any provisions hereof prohibited or unenforceable in any
respect.
(i)
Further
Assurances.
The parties shall execute and deliver all such further instruments and documents
and take all such other actions as may reasonably be required to carry out
the
transactions contemplated hereby and to evidence the fulfillment of the
agreements herein contained.
(j)
No
Additional Registration Rights.
The
Company shall not, without first obtaining the written consent of the Investors
who are the holders of more than 50% of the then outstanding Registrable
Securities, grant registration rights on terms more favorable than the
registration rights granted pursuant to this Agreement.
(k)
Entire
Agreement.
This Agreement, together with the Purchase Agreement (including the schedules
thereto), is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement
and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and
understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained
herein. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings
between the parties with respect to such subject matter.
16
(l)
Governing
Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.
This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the
internal laws of the State of Delaware without regard to the choice of law
principles thereof. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably submits to the
exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York located in
the
Borough of Manhattan, New York City and the United States District Court
for the
Southern District of New York for the purpose of any suit, action, proceeding
or
judgment relating to or arising out of this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby. Service of process in connection with any such suit,
action or proceeding may be served on each party hereto anywhere in the world
by
the same methods as are specified for the giving of notices under this
Agreement. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably consents to the
jurisdiction of any such court in any such suit, action or proceeding and
to the
laying of venue in such court. Each party hereto irrevocably waives any
objection to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought
in such courts and irrevocably waives any claim that any such suit, action
or
proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient
forum.
EACH
OF THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO REQUEST A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY
LITIGATION WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT AND REPRESENTS THAT COUNSEL HAS
BEEN
CONSULTED SPECIFICALLY AS TO THIS WAIVER.
[Signature
Page Follows]
17
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement
as
of the date first above written.
The
Company:
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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The
Investor:
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WARBURG
PINCUS PRIVATE EQUITY IX, L.P.
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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Exhibit
B
Voting
and Co-Sale Agreement
VOTING
AND CO-SALE AGREEMENT
This
VOTING
AND CO-SALE AGREEMENT
(this
“Agreement”)
is
made as of May ___, 2007 by and among Synutra International, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the “Company”),
Beams
Power Investment Limited, a corporation organized under the laws of the British
Virgin Islands (the “Significant
Stockholder”)
and
Warburg Pincus Private Equity IX, L.P. (the “Investor”).
Recitals
A. The
Investor has entered into a Common Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Stock
Purchase Agreement”)
with
the Company, pursuant to which the Investor is making an equity contribution
to
the Company. Capitalized terms used, but not otherwise defined, herein shall
have the meaning ascribed to such terms in the Stock Purchase Agreement.
B. Pursuant
to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 7.6 of the
Stock
Purchase Agreement, the Company has granted to the Investor the right to
designate one (1) person for election to the Board of Directors of the Company
(the “Board”),
and
the Investor seeks reasonable assurance that such designee will be appointed
and
elected to the Board as and when designated by the Investors in accordance
with
Section 7.6 of the Stock Purchase Agreement and the terms and conditions
set
forth herein.
C. The
Significant Stockholder owns and has voting power over a substantial portion
of
the Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, (the “Shares”)
of the
Company.
D. The
parties desire to enter into this Agreement to (1) set forth the terms and
conditions pursuant to which the Investor may cause the Company to propose
a
certain designee for election to the Board at each annual stockholder meeting,
and by which the Significant Stockholder shall vote its Shares in favor of
such
designee and (2) agree to certain co-sale rights with respect to transfers
of
the Shares of the Significant Stockholder.
Agreement
In
consideration of the mutual promises made herein and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged,
the
parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Election
of Directors and Board Representation.
(a) Right
to Nominate.
Pursuant to Section 7.6 of the Stock Purchase Agreement, from and after the
closing of the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement
(the
“Closing”),
for
so long as the Investor (alone or together with its Affiliates) beneficially
owns (as determined under Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as
amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange
Act”)) at least 50% of the Shares acquired by the Investor at the Closing, among
other things: (i) the Investor, together with its Permitted Transferees,
shall
have the right to designate a person (the “Investor
Designee”)
to
serve as a director on the Board, and the Company shall nominate and use
its
best efforts to have the Investor Designee elected to the Board; (ii) for
so
long as such membership does not conflict with any applicable law or regulation
or listing requirement of the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc., the Investor Designee
shall be entitled to serve as a member of each of the committees of the Board,
except for any committee formed to consider a transaction between the Company
and the Investor (or any of its Affiliates); (iii) any vacancy in the position
of an Investor Designee shall only be filled with another designee designated
by
the Investor or its Permitted Transferees in accordance with the terms of
Section 7.6 of the Stock Purchase Agreement; and (iv) any vacancy created
by any
removal of an Investor Designee shall also only be filled at the direction
of
the Investor or its Permitted Transferees. The Company’s proxy statement for the
election of directors shall include the Investor Designee and the recommendation
of the Board in favor of election of the Investor Designee.
1
(b) Agreement
to Vote.
(i) The
Significant Stockholder agrees to vote and act with respect to all of its
Shares
owned beneficially as of the record date in respect of any such meeting so
as to
elect the Investor Designee.
(ii) The
Significant Stockholder agrees to appear in person or by proxy at any annual
or
special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of obtaining a quorum and
shall
vote its Shares, either in person or by proxy, at any annual or special meeting
of stockholders of the Company called for the purpose of voting on the election
of directors or by consensual action of stockholders with respect to the
election of directors, in favor of the election of the Investor Designee.
In
addition, the Significant Stockholder agrees to appear in person or proxy
at any
annual or special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of obtaining a
quorum
and agrees to vote its Shares entitled to vote upon any other matter submitted
to a vote of the stockholders of the Company in a manner so as to be consistent
and not in conflict with, and to implement, the terms of this Agreement;
provided,
however,
that
nothing herein shall obligate the Significant Stockholder to vote its Shares
in
favor of any proposal, resolution or other proposed stockholder action endorsed
by the Investor Designee.
(iii) For
purposes of this Agreement, “Permitted
Transferees”
shall
mean any Affiliate (as defined below) of the Investor who receives Shares
by way
of purchase, transfer or assignment from the Investor. For purposes of this
Agreement, “Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person which
directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is
controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person.
(c) Certain
Resignations or Removals.
In the
event that the Investor and its Permitted Transferees no longer wish for
an
Investor Designee to serve on the Board, the Investor and its Permitted
Transferees shall have the right to request the resignation or removal of
the
Investor Designee. In either case, if such director shall fail to resign,
to the
extent a meeting of stockholders is called for the purpose of removing such
director, or the stockholders act by written consent for such purpose, the
Significant Stockholder shall vote all of its Shares entitled to vote at
such
meeting or pursuant to such consents, as the case may be, in favor of such
removal.
(d) Filling
Vacancies.
In the
event of the death, disability, legal incapacity, resignation or removal
of any
Investor Designee, to the extent a stockholder meeting is called for the
purpose
(among other purposes) of electing a director to fill the vacancy created
by
such death, disability, legal incapacity, resignation or removal, or the
stockholders act by written consent for such purpose, the Significant
Stockholder shall vote all of its Shares entitled to vote in favor of the
election of a replacement director designated in accordance with Section
1(a)
above.
2
(e) No
Conflicting Agreements.
The
Significant Stockholder agrees not to enter into any agreement or arrangement
of
any kind with any person with respect to their Shares which would prohibit
the
Significant Stockholder from voting the Shares it may own from time to time
as
provided herein.
(f) Certain
Representations and Warranties.
The
Significant Stockholder represents and warrants to the Investor that the
Significant Stockholder (i) is the beneficial owner of that number of Shares
set
forth opposite the Significant Stockholder’s name on the signature pages hereto,
(ii) has obtained all applicable governmental licenses, registrations,
authorizations, consents and approvals in connection with their direct or
indirect ownership of such Shares and have delivered all applicable notices
to
governmental authorities in connection therewith, and (iii) has the unrestricted
and unqualified right to vote such Shares. The Significant Stockholder further
represents and warrants to the Investor that (x) it has not, prior to or
on the
date of this Agreement, executed or delivered any proxy or entered into any
other agreement which would prevent it from voting such Shares as provided
herein, and (y) it has full power, authority and capacity to execute and
deliver
and perform this Agreement on its own behalf, which Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by, and evidences the valid and binding obligation
of the
Significant Stockholder enforceable in accordance with its terms.
(g) Termination.
The
parties’ respective rights and obligations pursuant to this Section 1 shall
terminate: (i) by mutual agreement in writing signed by each of the parties
hereto or (ii) immediately upon written notice of termination by the Investor
to
the Company and the Significant Stockholder.
2. Right
of Co-Sale.
(a) If
the
Significant Stockholder proposes to transfer, sell or assign in a Covered
Transaction (as defined in Section 2(e)(i) below) (a “Transfer”)
Shares
(such Shares proposed to be transferred, sold or assigned, the “Offered
Shares”)
to any
person or persons, the Significant Stockholder shall notify each of the
Qualified Stockholders (as defined in Section 2(e)(ii) below) in writing
(the
“Transfer
Notice”)
of
such proposed Transfer and its terms and conditions at least twenty (20)
days
prior to such transfer. Such Qualified Stockholders may elect to participate
in
the proposed Transfer by delivering written notice to the Significant
Stockholder within fifteen (15) days of the date of receipt of such Transfer
Notice stating the number of Shares that such Qualified Stockholder desires
to
sell.
(b) Each
Qualified Stockholder who has elected to participate in the proposed Transfer
shall have the right (the “Right
of Co-Sale”)
to
sell to the proposed transferee(s), as a condition to such Transfer by the
Significant Stockholder, at the same price per Share and on the same terms
and
conditions as are specified in the Transfer Notice and as are applicable
to the
Significant Stockholder’s Shares proposed to be Transferred, up to a number of
Shares (its “Pro
Rata Share”)
equal
to the product of (i) the number of Offered Shares times (ii) the quotient
obtained by dividing (A) the number of Shares (on a fully-diluted basis)
then
owned by such Qualified Stockholder, by (B) the number of Shares (on a
fully-diluted basis) owned by all Qualified Stockholders who have elected
to
participate in the proposed Transfer and the Significant Stockholder, as
of
immediately prior to the Transfer of the Offered Stock to the proposed
transferee(s). The Significant Stockholder will be entitled to sell in the
proposed Transfer the balance of the Offered Stock proposed to be so sold.
If
any Qualified Stockholders elect to participate in such Transfer, the
Significant Stockholder shall use its best efforts to obtain the agreement
of
the prospective transferee(s) to the participation of such Qualified
Stockholders in any proposed Transfer and shall not Transfer any Shares to
such
prospective transferee(s) unless such prospective transferee(s) allow(s)
the
participation of such Qualified Stockholders on the terms specified in the
Transfer Notice. Any Qualified Stockholder electing to participate in such
proposed Transfer shall execute and deliver a definitive purchase agreement
with
the proposed transferee in the form executed by the Significant Stockholder.
Subject to the foregoing, the Significant Stockholder may, within forty five
(45) days after the expiration of the 15-day period referred to above (provided
that such time period may be extended by the number of days required to obtain
any necessary regulatory approvals for the Transfer, but not to exceed one
hundred (100) days in total), transfer the Offered Shares (reduced by the
number
of Shares with respect to which the Qualified Stockholders have elected to
participate, if any) to the transferee(s) identified in the Transfer Notice
at a
price and on terms no more favorable to the Significant Stockholder than
specified in the Transfer Notice. However, if such Transfer is not consummated
within such 45-day, or extended period, the Significant Stockholder shall
not
Transfer any Shares as have not been purchased within such period without
again
complying with all of the provisions of this Section 2(b). Notwithstanding
the
foregoing and irrespective of whether a Transfer Notice has been delivered
to
the Qualified Stockholders, the Significant Stockholder shall have no obligation
to consummate a proposed Transfer, it being understood that any such decision
shall be made by the Significant Stockholder in its sole discretion, subject
to
the Qualified Stockholders’ right to participate in any Transfer the Significant
Stockholder elects to consummate, to the extent provided herein.
3
(c) Any
attempt by the Significant Stockholder to Transfer Shares in violation of
this
Section 2 shall be void ab
initio
and the
Company agrees that it will not (i) effect such a Transfer and will not treat
any alleged transferee as the holder of the Shares purported to be Transferred
by the Significant Stockholder, or (ii) treat as owner of such Shares, or
accord
the right to vote or receive dividends with respect to such Shares, to any
such
transferee, without the unanimous written consent of the Qualified Stockholders.
(d) Notwithstanding
2(c), if the Significant Stockholder Transfers any Shares in contravention
of
this Section 2 (a “Prohibited
Transfer”),
or if
the Company has effected such Transfer and is treating the transferee as
a
stockholder, each Qualified Stockholder may, if it delivers a Put Notice
as
provided below, require the Significant Stockholder to purchase from such
Qualified Stockholder, for cash or such other consideration as the Significant
Stockholder received in the Prohibited Transfer, that number of Shares having
a
purchase price equal to the aggregate purchase price such Qualified Stockholder
would have received in the closing of such Prohibited Transfer if such Qualified
Stockholder had exercised and been able to consummate such Qualified
Stockholder’s Right of Co-Sale with respect thereto (the Qualified Stockholder’s
“Put
Right”).
A
Qualified Stockholder may exercise its Put Right by delivery of written notice
to the Significant Stockholder and the Company (a “Put
Notice”)
within
the earlier of (i) ten (10) days after such Qualified Stockholder becomes
aware
of the Prohibited Transfer or (ii) twenty four (24) months after the Prohibited
Transfer. The closing of such sale to the Significant Stockholder under such
Qualified Stockholder’s Put Right will occur within seven (7) days after the
date of such Qualified Stockholder’s Put Notice.
4
(e) Certain
Defined Terms.
(i) |
“Covered
Transaction”
means any Transfer or series of Transfers constituting an integrated
transaction by the Significant Stockholder of 1,500,000 or more
of its
Shares; provided,
however,
that a Covered Transaction shall not include (A) any sale effected
pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities
Act
of 1933, as amended (the “Securities
Act”)
or Rule 144 under the Securities Act; (B) any Transfer to an
Affiliate,
provided that such Affiliate transferee shall agree in writing
to be
subject to the terms of this Agreement, and such written agreement,
which
shall identify the effective date of the purported transfer,
shall be
provided to the Investor and the Company, (C) any Transfer by
merger or
consolidation in a transaction approved by the Company’s stockholders at a
duly convened stockholders meeting of which all Qualified Stockholders
were given proper notice, or (D) Transfers of Shares as (1) a
bona fide
gift or gifts, or (2) to any trust for the benefit of the Significant
Stockholder’s immediate family (if applicable), provided, that (x) each
transferee under the preceding clauses (1) and (2) shall agree
in writing
to be subject to the terms of this Agreement, and such written
agreement,
which shall identify the effective date of the purported transfer,
shall
be provided to the Investor and the Company, and (y) such Transfer
is not
required to be reported, and the undersigned does not otherwise
voluntarily report such Transfer, in any public report with the
Securities
and Exchange Commission under Section 16(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership
of
Shares as a result of such Transfer.
|
(ii) |
“Qualified
Stockholder”
shall mean the Investor and its Permitted
Transferees.
|
(f) The
Rights of Co-Sale provided under this Section 2 shall terminate on the third
anniversary of the date hereof.
3. Miscellaneous.
(a) Successors
and Assigns.
This
Agreement may not be assigned by a party hereto without the prior written
consent of the other parties hereto, provided, however, that the Investor
may
assign its rights and delegate its duties hereunder in whole or in part to
an
Affiliate acquiring some or all of its Shares after notice duly given by
the
Investor to the Company. The provisions of this Agreement shall inure to
the
benefit of and be binding upon the respective permitted successors and assigns
of the parties. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended
to
confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective
successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities
under
or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this
Agreement.
5
(b) Counterparts;
Faxes.
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. This Agreement may also be executed via facsimile, which shall
be
deemed an original.
(c) Titles
and Subtitles.
The
titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only
and
are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this
Agreement.
(d) Notices.
Any
notice required or permitted by this Agreement shall be in writing and shall
be
deemed sufficient on the date of receipt, when delivered personally or by
overnight courier or sent by telegram or fax, or sent as certified or registered
mail, with postage prepaid, and addressed to the party to be notified at
such
party’s address or fax number as set forth on the signature page, or as
subsequently modified by written notice.
(e) Amendments
and Waivers.
Any
term of this Agreement may be amended and the observance of any term of this
Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and
either
retroactively or prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company
and the Investor. Any amendment or waiver affected in accordance with this
paragraph shall be binding upon the parties hereto and any permitted successors
and assigns.
(f) Additional
Shares.
In the
event that subsequent to the date of this Agreement, any Shares or other
securities are issued on, or in exchange for, and of the Significant
Stockholder’s Shares by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, combination
of shares, reclassification or the like, such shares or securities shall
be
deemed to be held by the Significant Stockholder for purposes of this Agreement.
(g) Specific
Performance.
The
parties hereto hereby declare that it is impossible to measure in money the
damages which will accrue to a party hereto by reason of the failure of any
party to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement. Therefore,
the
parties hereto shall have the right to specific performance of such obligations,
and if any party hereto shall institute any action or proceeding to enforce
the
provisions hereof, each of the parties hereby waives the claim or defense
that
the party instituting such action or proceeding has an adequate remedy at
law.
(h) Further
Action.
If and
whenever the Shares held by the Significant Stockholder are sold, the
Significant Stockholder shall do all things and execute all documents and
make
all transfers, and use its best efforts to cause any transferee to do all
things
and execute and deliver all documents, as may be necessary to consummate
such
sale consistent with this Agreement.
(i) Severability.
Any
provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent
of
such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining
provisions hereof but shall be interpreted as if it were written so as to
be
enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, and any such
prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate
or
render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. To the extent
permitted by applicable law, the parties hereby waive any provision of law
which
renders any provision hereof prohibited or unenforceable in any
respect.
6
(j) Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement, including the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Disclosure Schedule
thereto and the other agreements referenced in the Stock Purchase Agreement,
constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereof with respect to
the
subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior agreements and
understandings, both oral and written, between the parties with respect to
the
subject matter hereof and thereof.
(k) Governing
Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.
This
Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal
laws of the State of Delaware without regard to the choice of law principles
thereof. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably submits to the exclusive
jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware located in Wilmington,
Delaware and the United States District Court for the District of Delaware
for
the purpose of any suit, action, proceeding or judgment relating to or arising
out of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. Service of
process in connection with any such suit, action or proceeding may be served
on
each party hereto anywhere in the world by the same methods as are specified
for
the giving of notices under this Agreement. Each of the parties hereto
irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of any such court in any such suit,
action or proceeding and to the laying of venue in such court. Each party
hereto
irrevocably waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such suit,
action
or proceeding brought in such courts and irrevocably waives any claim that
any
such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought
in an
inconvenient forum. EACH
OF THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO REQUEST A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY
LITIGATION WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT AND REPRESENTS THAT COUNSEL HAS
BEEN
CONSULTED SPECIFICALLY AS TO THIS WAIVER.
(Signature
page follows)
7
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Co-Sale and Voting Agreement
as
of the date first above written.
The
Company:
|
|||
Address:
|
By:
|
||
Name:
|
|||
Title:
|
The
Investor:
|
WARBURG
PINCUS PRIVATE EQUITY IX, L.P.
|
||
Address:
|
By:
|
||
Name:
|
|||
Title:
|
The
Significant Stockholders:
|
BEAMS
POWER INVESTMENT LIMITED
|
||
Address:
|
By:
|
||
Name:
|
|||
Title:
|
|||
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned: ____________ |
Exhibit
C
Opinion
from O’Melveny & Xxxxx LLP
Warburg
Pincus Private Equity IX, L.P.
c/o
Warburg Pincus LLC
000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Fax:
000.000.0000
Re: Synutra
International, Inc.; Offering of Common Stock
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
We
have
acted as special counsel to Synutra International, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the “Company”),
in
connection with the consummation, as of May 24, 2007 (the “Closing”),
of
the sale of 4,000,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company, $0.0001 par
value
per share (the “Shares”)
in
accordance with each of (a) the Common Stock Purchase Agreement dated as
of May
24, 2007, by and between you and the Company (the “Purchase
Agreement”),
(b)
the
Registration Rights Agreement dated as of May ___, 2007, between you and
the
Company (the “Registration
Rights Agreement”),
(c)
the Voting and Co-Sale Agreement dated as of May __, 2007, by and among you,
the
Company and Beams Power Investment Limited, a company organized under the
laws
of the British Virgin Islands (the “Voting
and Co-Sale Agreement”)
and
together with the Purchase Agreement, the “Transaction
Documents”).
We are
providing this opinion to you at the request of the Company and pursuant
to
Section 6.1(h) of the Purchase Agreement. Except as otherwise indicated,
capitalized terms used in this opinion and defined in the Purchase Agreement
will have the meanings given in the Purchase Agreement.
In
our
capacity as such counsel we have examined originals or copies of those corporate
and other records of the Company we considered appropriate. As to relevant
factual matters, we have relied upon, among other things, the Company’s factual
representations in an officer’s certificate (the “Officer’s
Certificate”)
of
even date herewith, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A, and
in the
Transaction Documents.
We
have
assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all items
submitted to us as originals and the conformity with originals of all items
submitted to us as copies. To the extent the Company’s obligations depend on the
enforceability of the Transaction Documents against other parties to the
Transaction Documents, we have assumed that the Transaction Documents are
enforceable against the other parties to the Transaction Documents.
On
the
basis of such examination, our reliance upon the assumptions in this opinion
and
our consideration of those questions of law we considered relevant, and subject
to the limitations and qualifications in this opinion, we are of the opinion
that:
1
1. The
Company and each of its U.S. Subsidiaries has been duly incorporated and
is
validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of their
respective states of incorporation and each has the requisite corporate power
to
own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as, described
in
the SEC Filings.
2. The
execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents, and issuance
(or reservation for issuance) and delivery of the Shares have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company.
3. The
Transaction Documents constitute the legally valid and binding obligations
of
the Company, enforceable
against the Company, in accordance with their respective terms, subject to
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and
similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights
generally.
4.
The
shares of Common Stock issued to the Investor under the Purchase Agreement
have
been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the
Company and upon delivery and payment as described in the Purchase Agreement,
will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
5. No
Person
is entitled to any preemptive right or right of first refusal with respect
to
the Shares pursuant to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or the
Delaware General Corporation Law.
6. No
order,
consent, permit or approval of any Delaware, New York or U.S. federal
governmental authority that we have, in the exercise of customary professional
diligence, recognized as applicable to the Company or to transactions of
the
type contemplated by the Transaction Documents is required on the part of
the
Company for the execution and delivery of, and performance of its obligations
under, the Transaction Documents, except for those that have been made or
obtained which are in full force and effect and post-sale filings pursuant
to
the Registration Rights Agreement under applicable state and U.S. federal
securities laws.
7. The
execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents by the Company
and the issuance and sale of the Shares does not and will not conflict with
or
result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or
constitute a default under (i) the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or
Bylaws, (ii) violate the Delaware General Corporation Law or any current
Delaware, New York or U.S. federal statute, rule or regulation that we have,
in
the exercise of customary professional diligence, recognized as applicable
to
the Company or transactions of the type contemplated by the Transaction
Document, or (iii) any material agreements, indentures or contracts of the
Company identified to us in the Officer’s Certificate.
8. Assuming
the investment representations made by the Investor and the Company in the
Transaction Documents are true and correct, the initial sale of the Shares
as
contemplated by the Transaction Documents is exempt from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Our
opinion in paragraph 3 above as to the enforceability of the Transaction
Documents is subject to: (i) public policy considerations, statutes or
court decisions that may limit the rights of a party to obtain indemnification
against its own gross negligence, willful misconduct or unlawful conduct
or
where such indemnification is deemed to be against public policy; (ii) the
unenforceability under certain circumstances of provisions waiving the right
to
a jury trial; and (iii) the unenforceability under certain circumstances of
choice of law provisions.
2
Our
opinion in paragraph 3 is subject to the qualification that certain rights,
remedies, waivers and other provisions of the Transaction Documents may not
be
enforceable, but such unenforceability will not, subject to the other
exceptions, qualifications and limitations set forth herein, render the
Transaction Documents invalid as a whole or substantially interfere with
the
substantial realization of the principal benefits or security, or both, that
the
Transaction Documents purport to provide (except for the economic consequences
of procedural or other delay).
We
advise
you that Section 9.10 of the Purchase Agreement and Section 7(l) of the
Registration Rights Agreement which provide for exclusive jurisdiction of
the
courts of the State of New York and the United States District Court for
the
Southern District of New York, may not be binding on the courts in the forum(s)
selected or excluded. We also advise you Section 3(k) of the Voting and Co-Sale
Agreement, which provides for exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the
State
of Delaware and the United States District Court for the District of Delaware
may not be binding on the courts in the forum(s) selected or excluded.
We
express no opinion as to the effect of subsequent issuances of securities
of the
Company to the extent that such issuances may be integrated with the issuance
of
the Shares under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or
with respect to subsequent sales of the Shares.
For
purposes of the opinions expressed in paragraphs 6 and 7, we have assumed
that the Company will not in the future take any discretionary action (including
a decision not to act) permitted by each of the Transaction Documents that
would
cause the performance of the Transaction Documents to violate the Delaware
General Corporation Law or any Delaware, New York or U.S. federal statute,
rule
or regulation or require an order, consent, permit or approval to be obtained
from a Delaware, New York or U.S. federal governmental authority.
The
law
covered by this opinion is limited to the present U.S. federal laws, the
present
law of the State of New York and the Delaware General Corporation Law. We
express no opinion as to the laws of any other jurisdiction and no opinion
regarding the statutes, administrative decisions, rules, regulations or
requirements of any county, municipality, subdivision or local authority
of any
jurisdiction.
3
This
opinion is furnished by us as special counsel for the Company and may be
relied
upon by you only in connection with the Transaction Documents. It may not
be
used or relied upon by you for any other purpose or by any other person,
nor may
copies be delivered to any other person, without in each instance our prior
written consent. This opinion is expressly limited to the matters set forth
above and we render no opinion, whether by implication or otherwise, as to
any
other matters. We assume no obligation to update or supplement this opinion
to
reflect any facts or circumstances which may hereafter come to our attention,
or
any changes in laws which may hereafter occur.
Respectfully
submitted,
4
Exhibit
D
Opinion
from DeHeng Law Office
[Opinion
of PRC Counsel to the Company]
1. Each
Subsidiary of the Company organized under the laws of the PRC (each
“PRC
Subsidiary”)
is
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the PRC
2. Each
PRC
Subsidiary of the Company has all requisite power and authority to own, lease
and operate its properties and conduct its business as, to our knowledge,
it is
presently conducted.
3. Each
PRC
Subsidiary of the Company is duly qualified and licensed and in good standing
under the laws of the PRC to the extent its ownership, lease or operation
of its
properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or
license.
1
Exhibit
E
Disclosure
Schedule
DISCLOSURE
SCHEDULE
In
connection with the Common Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of May 24, 2007
(the "Agreement")
by and
between Synutra International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”),
and
Warburg Pincus Private Equity IX, L.P. (the “Investor”),
the
Company hereby delivers this Disclosure Schedule as contemplated under Section
4
of the Agreement with respect to the Company’s representations and warranties
(“Warranties”)
given
in the Agreement.
The
section numbers in this Disclosure Schedule correspond to the section numbers
in
the Agreement; provided, however, that any information disclosed herein under
any section number shall be deemed to be disclosed and incorporated in any
other
section of the Agreement where it is reasonably apparent on the face of such
disclosure that it would be applicable, and neither this Disclosure Schedule
nor
any such disclosure shall have the effect of, or be construed as, adding
to or
extending the scope of any of the Warranties. The Warranties are given subject
to all facts and matters disclosed in this Disclosure Schedule and the Investors
shall have no claim in respect of any of the Warranties in relation to any
such
fact or matter.
1
Schedule
4.1(b)
SUBSIDIARIES
OF THE COMPANY
No
|
Name
of the Subsidiaries
|
Place
of Incorporation
|
Shareholder
Structure
|
|||
1.
|
Synutra,
Inc.
|
Illinois,
U.S.A.
|
100%
owned by Synutra International, Inc.
|
|||
2.
|
Hunan
Synutra Dairy Co., Ltd.1
|
PRC
|
70%
owned by Qingdao ST Xxxxxx Dairy Co., Ltd; 30% owned by Synutra
International, Inc.
|
|||
3.
|
Inner
Mongolia Xxxxx Xxxx Food Co., Ltd.
|
PRC
|
100%
owned by Synutra International, Inc.
|
|||
4.
|
Xxx
Xxx Technology (Qingdao) Co., Ltd.
|
PRC
|
100%
owned by Synutra International, Inc.
|
|||
5.
|
Qingdao
ST Xxxxxx Dairy Co., Ltd.
|
PRC
|
100%
owned by Synutra, Inc.
|
|||
6.
|
Qingdao
Xxxxx Xxxx Dairy Co., Ltd.
|
PRC
|
100%
owned by Synutra, Inc.
|
|||
7.
|
Luobei
Xxxxx Xxxx Dairy Co., Ltd.
|
PRC
|
100%
owned by Synutra, Inc.
|
|||
8.
|
Xxxxx
Xx Pin Dairy Co., Ltd.
|
PRC
|
100%
owned by Synutra, Inc.
|
|||
9.
|
Zhangjiakou
Xxxxx Xxxx Dairy Co., Ltd.
|
PRC
|
100%
owned by Synutra, Inc.
|
|||
10.
|
Inner
Mongolia Xxxx Xxxx Food Co., Ltd.
|
PRC
|
100%
owned by Zhangjiakou Xxxxx Xxxx Dairy Co.,
Ltd.
|
1
Hunan
Synutra Dairy Co., Ltd. was established on February 6, 2007 and is now in
the
process of liquidation. Its registered capital has never been injected.
2
Schedule
4.3
CAPITALIZATION
A.
Share Capital
(a) |
The
authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 252,000,000 shares
of
Common Stock and 20,000,000 shares of Preferred
Stock.
|
(b) |
The
issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are
50,000,713 shares of Common Stock.
|
(c) |
In
connection with the share exchange in July 2005, 10,000,000 shares
of
Common Stock were issued to Strong Gold Finance Ltd. to be held for
the
benefit of 1,426 employees including Xx. Xxxxx Zhang. Subsequently,
about
2,345,900 shares were transferred to employees (held under Legent
Clearing
LLC’s name) and 7,654,100 shares were transferred to Xx. Xxxxx.
|
(d) |
400,000
shares of Common Stock are reserved for issuance upon exercise of
certain
warrants (the “Warrants”) pursuant to that certain Warrant Agreement dated
as of April 19, 2007 (the “Warrant Agreement”), by and among the Company,
the Bank of New York as warrant agent and ABN
AMRO BANK N.V., Hong Kong Branch
as
initial holder, subject to amendment provided therein. The Warrant
Agreement contains anti-dilution provisions, pursuant to which the
exercise price of the Warrants and the number of shares issuable
upon
exercise of the Warrants shall be adjusted if the Company issues
shares of
Common Stock for a consideration per share less than the Fair Value
(as
defined therein) per share on the date the Company fixes the offering
price of such additional shares.
|
B.
Registration Rights
(a) |
Pursuant
to a Registration Rights Agreement dated as of April 19, 2007 (the
“Registration Agreement”), between the Company and ABN AMRO BANK N.V.,
Hong Kong Branch, the Company has granted to ABN AMRO BANK N.V.,
Hong Kong
Branch piggyback and demand registration rights with respect to the
shares
of the Company’s Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants under
the conditions set forth in the Registration Agreement. The Company
is
prohibited from granting registration rights to a third party which
are on
parity with or superior to the rights granted under the Registration
Agreement.
|
(b) |
Pursuant
to a Share Exchange Agreement dated as of June 14, 2005 by and among
the
Company, Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Beams Power Investment Limited, Strong Gold
Finance
Ltd and Synutra, Inc., within thirty days after the Company has filed
required financial statements pursuant to Form 8−K, the Company shall
file, at its expense, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
a
registration statement covering the resale of Common Stock owned
by
Financial Consultant (as defined therein), Westpark Capital and their
designees, the resale of which will be subject to (i) a leakage agreement
reasonably acceptable to the Company, and (ii) the selling shareholders
depositing the Common Shares in a brokerage account with Westpark
Capital.
|
3
C.
Anti-takeover Provisions
The
Company’s Certificate of Incorporation contains certain “blank check” preferred
stock provisions pursuant to which the Company can issue up to 20,000,000
shares
of Preferred Stock with rights and preferences determined by the Company’s Board
of Directors, without stockholders’ approval.
4
CORPORATE
CHART OF THE COMPANY
*
Hunan
Synutra is now in the process of liquidation.
5
Schedule
4.9
MATERIAL
CHANGE SINCE DECEMBER 31, 2006
1. |
On
January 27, 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors established the
Nominating Committee, adopted the Nominating Committee Charter and
appointed members of the committee.
|
2. |
On
March 8, 2007, Qingdao St. Xxxxxx Dairy Co., Ltd. entered into a
loan
agreement with China Merchant Bank Qingdao City Economy and Development
Zone Branch in which the bank extended a one-year loan of RMB20,000,000
to
Qingdao St. Xxxxxx Diary Co., Ltd. Beijing Honnete Diary Co., Ltd.
and
Qingdao Xxxxx Xxxx Diary Co., Ltd. provided guarantees for the
loan.
|
3. |
On
March 15, 2007, Qingdao St. Xxxxxx Dairy Co., Ltd. entered into a
loan
agreement with China Construction Bank Qingdao City Economy and
Development Zone Branch in which the bank extended a one-year loan
of
RMB10,000,000 to Qingdao St. Xxxxxx Dairy Co., Ltd. Zhangjiakou Xxxxx
Xxxx
Dairy Co., Ltd. provided guarantees for the loan.
|
4. |
On
March 29, 2007, Zhangjiakou Xxxxx Xxxx Dairy Co., Ltd. entered into
a loan
agreement with the Agricultural Development Bank of China Zhangbei
Branch
in which the bank extended a one-year loan of RMB24,000,000 to Zhangjiakou
Xxxxx Xxxx Dairy Co., Ltd. Zhangjiakou Xxxxx Xxxx Dairy Co., Ltd.
mortgaged certain land use rights, buildings and equipment and pledged
fixed deposits in an amount equal to 5% of the principal (RMB1,200,000)
for the loan. Qingdao St. Xxxxxx Dairy Co., Ltd. provided guarantees
for
the loan.
|
5. |
On
April 19, 2007, the Company entered into certain Loan Agreement,
Collateral Agreement, USD
Facility Side Letter Agreement, Warrant
Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement with ABN AMRO Bank N.V.,
Hong
Kong Branch and certain other parties thereto; see the Current Report
on
Form 8-K (Items 1.01, 2.03, 3.02, and 9.01) filed by the Company
with the
Security Exchange Commission dated April 24,
2007.
|
6. |
On
April 30, 2007, Zhangjiakou Xxxxx Xxxx Dairy Co., Ltd. entered into
a loan
agreement with the Agricultural Development Bank of China Zhangbei
Branch
in which the bank extended a one-year loan of RMB21,000,000 to Zhangjiakou
Xxxxx Xxxx Dairy Co., Ltd. Zhangjiakou Xxxxx Xxxx Dairy Co., Ltd.
pledged
fixed deposits in an amount equal to 5% of the principal (RMB1,050,000)
for the loan. Qingdao St. Xxxxxx Dairy Co., Ltd. provided guarantees
for
the loan.
|
7. |
The
Company plans to sell Xxxxx Xx Pin Dairy Co., Ltd. at about RMB7,070,000
in the near future.
|
6
Schedule
4.12
EXISTING
LIENS
(A)
Qingdao
ST Xxxxxx Dairy Co., Ltd.
1. |
With
respect to the loan of RMB40,000,000 extended by China Construction
Bank
Qingdao City Economy and Development Zone Branch on November 16,
2006 to
the entity, the entity has mortgaged its land use right and its building
located on the relevant land for the loan. The land in relation to
the
land use right is located in Road West, No 18, South to Century Avenue,
Jiaonan City, Shandong Province. Certificate of the land use right
is
numbered Nanguoyong(2002)zi No.4835. The building is located in South
to
Century Avenue Jiaonan City with a Property Mortgage Certificate
numbered
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Xx.0000.
|
2. |
With
respect to the loans of RMB24,000,000 and RMB21,000,000 extended
by
Agricultural Development Bank of China Zhangbei Branch on March 29,
2007
and April 30, 2007, respectively, to Zhangjiakou
Xxxxx Xxxx Dairy Co., Ltd., the entity has provided guarantees for
the
loans. Scope of the debt guaranteed includes principal and accrued
costs.
|
(B)
Qingdao
Xxxxx Xxxx Dairy Co., Ltd.
1. |
With
respect to the loan of RMB20,000,000 extended by Hengfeng Bank Qingdao
City Economy and Development Zone Branch on October 26, 2006 to Qingdao
ST
Xxxxxx Dairy Co. Ltd.,
the entity has provided guarantees for the loan. Scope of the debt
guaranteed includes principal and accrued costs.
|
2. |
With
respect to the loan of RMB20,000,000 extended by Agricultural Bank
of
China Zhangbei Branch in December, 2006 to Zhangjiakou Xxxxx Xxxx
Dairy
Co., Ltd.,
the entity has provided guarantees for the loan. Scope
of the debt guaranteed includes principal and accrued costs.
|
3. |
With
respect to the loan of RMB20,000,000 extended by China Merchant Bank
Qingdao City Economy and Development Zone Branch on March 8, 2007
to
Qingdao ST Xxxxxx Dairy Co. Ltd.,
the
entity has provided guarantees with Beijing Honnete Diary Co., Ltd.
for
the loan. Scope of the debt guaranteed includes principal and accrued
costs.
|
(C)
Zhangjiakou
Xxxxx Xxxx Dairy Co., Ltd.
1. |
The
entity has entered into a ceiling mortgage contract with Agricultural
Bank
of China Zhangbei Branch on July 5, 2006, to mortgage its land use
rights,
buildings and equipment for the loans (maximum of RMB80,000,000)
over the
period from July 5, 2006 to July 5, 2009. The land in relation to
the land
use right is located in Chabei Administration Zone, Zhangjiakou City,
Hebei Province, and certificate of the land use right is numbered
Zhangshichaguoyong2004zi
No.0001. The
mortgaged buildings are located in Chabei Administration Zone, Zhangjiakou
City, Hebei Province with a ownership certificate numbered
Zhangfangquanzhengchazi No.001027. The mortgaged equipment includes
an
imported production line and a set of boiler. Such mortgage is registered
with Zhangjiakou Commercial and Industry Administration Chabei Branch, and
is evidenced by a registration certificate numbered (2006)dizi No.002.
|
7
2. |
With
respect to the loan of RMB10,000,000 extended by China Construction
Bank
Qingdao City Economy and Development Zone Branch on March 15, 2007
to
Qingdao ST Xxxxxx Dairy Co. Ltd., the entity has provided guarantees
for
the loan. Scope of the debt guaranteed includes principal and accrued
costs.
|
3. |
With
respect to the loan of RMB24,000,000 extended by Agricultural Development
Bank of China Zhangbei Branch on March 29, 2007 to the entity, the
entity
has mortgaged its land use rights, buildings and equipment for the
loan.
The lands in relation to the land use rights are located in Chabei
Administration Zone, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province, and certificates
of
the land use rights are numbered Zhangshichaguoyong2007zi No.01039
and
Zhangshichaguoyong2007zi No.01040. The mortgaged buildings are located
in
Chabei Administration Zone, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province with
ownership certificates numbered Zhangfangquanzhengchazi No.001532
and
Zhangfangquanzhengchazi No.001533. The mortgaged equipment includes148
pieces of equipment. Such mortgage is registered with Zhangjiakou
Commercial and Industry Administration Chabei Branch, and is evidenced
by
a registration certificate numbered chabeigongshang(2007)zi No.001.
|
4. |
With
respect to the loans of RMB24,000,000 and RMB21,000,000 extended
by
Agricultural Development Bank of China Zhangbei Branch on March 29,
2007
and April 30, 2007, respectively, to the
entity, the entity has pledged fixed deposits in amounts of RMB1,200,000
and RMB1,050,000, respectively, for the loans.
|
8
Schedule
4.13
CERTIFICATES,
AUTHORITIES AND PERMITS
Xxxxx
Xx
Pin Dairy Co., Ltd.
never
receives the Tax Registration Certificate that should be issued by the local
tax
bureau. Nevertheless, this is for all local enterprises in Beian and does
not
affect the tax payments by Xxxxx Xx Pin Dairy Co., Ltd.
9