SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT between COTCO HOLDINGS LIMITED and CREE, INC. Dated as of March 11, 2007
Exhibit
2.1
between
COTCO
HOLDINGS LIMITED
and
CREE,
INC.
Dated
as
of March 11, 2007
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
AND
TERMS....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
2
|
|
Section
1.1
|
Certain
Definitions............................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
2
|
Section
1.2
|
Other
Terms.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
14
|
Section
1.3
|
Other
Definitional
Provisions..........................................................................................................................................................................................
|
14
|
ARTICLE
II
PURCHASE
AND SALE OF THE
BUSINESS........................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
14
|
|
Section
2.1
|
Purchase
and
Sale.............................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
14
|
Section
2.2
|
Excluded
Assets and
Liabilities......................................................................................................................................................................................
|
15
|
Section
2.3
|
Purchase
Price...................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
15
|
Section
2.4
|
Working
Capital
Adjustment..........................................................................................................................................................................................
|
16
|
Section
2.5
|
Closing................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
17
|
Section
2.6
|
Deliveries
by the
Buyer....................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
17
|
Section
2.7
|
Deliveries
by the
Seller.....................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
18
|
Section
2.8
|
Delivery
by the Seller to the Escrow
Agent..................................................................................................................................................................
|
19
|
Section
2.9
|
Buyer
Affiliate
Acquisitions...........................................................................................................................................................................................
|
19
|
Section
2.10
|
Contingent
Payments.......................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
19
|
ARTICLE
III
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE
SELLER..........................................................................................................................................................................
|
23
|
|
Section
3.1
|
Organization
and
Qualification.......................................................................................................................................................................................
|
23
|
Section
3.2
|
Subsidiaries........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
23
|
Section
3.3
|
Corporate
Authorization..................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
25
|
Section
3.4
|
Consents
and
Approvals.................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
25
|
Section
3.5
|
Non-Contravention...........................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
26
|
Section
3.6
|
Binding
Effect....................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
27
|
Section
3.7
|
Financial
Statements.........................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
27
|
Section
3.8
|
Litigation
and
Claims........................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
28
|
Section
3.9
|
Taxes...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
28
|
Section
3.10
|
Compensation
Plans.........................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
29
|
Section
3.11
|
Compliance
with
Laws......................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
31
|
Section
3.12
|
Environmental
Matters.....................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
32
|
Section
3.13
|
Intellectual
Property.........................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
33
|
Section
3.14
|
Labor...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
37
|
Section
3.15
|
Contracts............................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
37
|
-
i
-
Section
3.16
|
Territorial
Restrictions......................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
39
|
Section
3.17
|
Absence
of
Changes........................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
39
|
Section
3.18
|
Assets.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
39
|
Section
3.19
|
Title
to
Property................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
39
|
Section
3.20
|
Real
Property.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
40
|
Section
3.21
|
Personal
Property..............................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
40
|
Section
3.22
|
Operation
of the
Business...............................................................................................................................................................................................
|
41
|
Section
3.23
|
Absence
of Liabilities and
Indebtedness......................................................................................................................................................................
|
41
|
Section
3.24
|
Product
Liability/Warranties...........................................................................................................................................................................................
|
41
|
Section
3.25
|
Insurance............................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
42
|
Section
3.26
|
Finders’
Fees.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
42
|
Section
3.27
|
Securities
Laws..................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
42
|
Section
3.28
|
Disclosure..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
44
|
Section
3.29
|
Customer
and
Suppliers...................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
44
|
Section
3.30
|
No
Other Representations or
Warranties......................................................................................................................................................................
|
45
|
ARTICLE
IV
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE
BUYER...........................................................................................................................................................................
|
45
|
|
Section
4.1
|
Organization
and
Qualification.......................................................................................................................................................................................
|
45
|
Section
4.2
|
Corporate
Authorization..................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
45
|
Section
4.3
|
Capital
Structure of the
Buyer.........................................................................................................................................................................................
|
45
|
Section
4.4
|
Consents
and
Approvals.................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
46
|
Section
4.5
|
Non-Contravention...........................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
47
|
Section
4.6
|
Binding
Effect....................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
47
|
Section
4.7
|
Finders’
Fees.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
47
|
Section
4.8
|
Buyer
Reports; Financial
Statements.............................................................................................................................................................................
|
47
|
Section
4.9
|
Litigation
and
Claims........................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
48
|
Section
4.10
|
Books
and
Records...........................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
48
|
Section
4.11
|
Undisclosed
Liabilities.....................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
49
|
Section
4.12
|
Absence
of
Changes........................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
49
|
Section
4.13
|
Availability
of
Funds........................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
49
|
Section
4.14
|
No
Other Representations or
Warranties......................................................................................................................................................................
|
49
|
ARTICLE
V
COVENANTS............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
49
|
|
Section
5.1
|
Access
and
Information...................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
49
|
Section
5.2
|
Conduct
of Business Prior to the
Closing.....................................................................................................................................................................
|
50
|
Section
5.3
|
Fairness
Hearing
Application.........................................................................................................................................................................................
|
53
|
Section
5.4
|
Tax
Matters........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
54
|
Section
5.5
|
Employee
Benefits............................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
56
|
Section
5.6
|
Ancillary
Agreements......................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
57
|
-
ii
-
Section
5.7
|
Non-Solicitation/Non-Competition................................................................................................................................................................................
|
57
|
Section
5.8
|
Further
Assurances..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
58
|
Section
5.9
|
No
Shop..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
58
|
Section
5.10
|
Notification........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
59
|
Section
5.11
|
Confidentiality...................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
59
|
Section
5.12
|
Intellectual
Property
Non-Assertion..............................................................................................................................................................................
|
60
|
Section
5.13
|
Additional
Financial
Statements.....................................................................................................................................................................................
|
60
|
Section
5.14
|
Intercompany
Contracts and
Accounts........................................................................................................................................................................
|
60
|
Section
5.15
|
Payment
of
Indebtedness................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
61
|
Section
5.16
|
Certificate
of Outstanding Buyer Common
Stock........................................................................................................................................................
|
61
|
Section
5.17
|
Listing
of Additional
Shares...........................................................................................................................................................................................
|
61
|
Section
5.18
|
D&O
Insurance.................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
61
|
Section
5.19
|
Capital
Contribution.........................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
61
|
Section
5.20
|
System
Back-Up................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
62
|
ARTICLE
VI
CONDITIONS
TO
CLOSING....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
62
|
|
Section
6.1
|
Conditions
to the Obligations of the Buyer and the
Seller.........................................................................................................................................
|
62
|
Section
6.2
|
Conditions
to the Obligations of the
Buyer..................................................................................................................................................................
|
62
|
Section
6.3
|
Conditions
to the Obligations of the
Seller...................................................................................................................................................................
|
64
|
ARTICLE
VII
SURVIVAL;
INDEMNIFICATION; CERTAIN
REMEDIES.................................................................................................................................................................................
|
65
|
|
Section
7.1
|
Survival...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
65
|
Section
7.2
|
Indemnification
by the
Seller...........................................................................................................................................................................................
|
65
|
Section
7.3
|
Indemnification
by the
Buyer..........................................................................................................................................................................................
|
66
|
Section
7.4
|
Third-Party
Claim Indemnification
Procedures.............................................................................................................................................................
|
67
|
Section
7.5
|
Direct
Claims......................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
69
|
Section
7.6
|
Claim
Notices.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
70
|
Section
7.7
|
Consequential
Damages..................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
70
|
Section
7.8
|
Adjustments
to
Losses....................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
70
|
Section
7.9
|
Payments............................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
71
|
Section
7.10
|
Characterization
of Indemnification
Payments.............................................................................................................................................................
|
71
|
Section
7.11
|
Tax
Indemnification..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
72
|
Section
7.12
|
Effect
of Waiver of
Condition.........................................................................................................................................................................................
|
72
|
ARTICLE
VIII
TERMINATION........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
72
|
|
Section
8.1
|
Termination........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
72
|
Section
8.2
|
Effect
of
Termination........................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
73
|
-
iii
-
ARTICLE
IX
MISCELLANEOUS...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
73
|
|
Section
9.1
|
Notices................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
73
|
Section
9.2
|
Amendment;
Waiver........................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
74
|
Section
9.3
|
No
Assignment or Benefit to Third
Parties...................................................................................................................................................................
|
74
|
Section
9.4
|
Entire
Agreement..............................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
75
|
Section
9.5
|
Fulfillment
of
Obligations................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
75
|
Section
9.6
|
Public
Disclosure..............................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
75
|
Section
9.7
|
Expenses.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
75
|
Section
9.8
|
Governing
Law..................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
75
|
Section
9.9
|
Dispute
Resolution...........................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
75
|
Section
9.10
|
Counterparts......................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
76
|
Section
9.11
|
Headings............................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
76
|
Section
9.12
|
Severability........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
76
|
EXHIBITS
AND SCHEDULES
EXHIBITS
|
||
Exhibit 1.1(a)
|
-
|
Form
of Escrow Agreement
|
Exhibit 1.1(b)
|
-
|
Forms
of Executive Agreements
|
Exhibit 1.1(c)
|
-
|
Form
of LED Chip Product Supply Agreement
|
Exhibit 1.1(d)
|
-
|
Form
of LED Lamp Product Supply Agreement
|
Exhibit 1.1(e)
|
-
|
Form
of Xxxx Xx Agreement
|
Exhibit
1.1(f)
|
-
|
Form
of Trademark License Agreement
|
Exhibit 1.1(g)
|
-
|
Form
of Transition Services Agreement
|
Exhibit
2.10
|
-
|
Contingent
Payment Calculation
|
Exhibit 6.2(h)
|
-
|
Form
of Seller Legal Opinion
|
Exhibit 6.3(f)
|
-
|
Form
of Buyer Legal Opinion
|
SCHEDULES
|
||
Schedule
1.1(a)
|
-
|
Base
Net Asset Value Calculation
|
Schedule
1.1(b)
|
-
|
Leased
Real Property
|
Schedule
1.1(c)
|
-
|
Seller
Intellectual Property
|
Schedule
1.1(d)
|
-
|
Transferred
Employees
|
Schedule
2.2(a)
|
-
|
Excluded
Assets
|
Schedule
3.2(a)
|
-
|
Transferred
Subsidiaries
|
Schedule
3.4(a)(i)
|
-
|
Governmental
Consents and Approvals
|
Schedule
3.4(a)(ii)
|
-
|
Other
Material Consents and Approvals
|
-
iv
-
Schedule
3.7(a)
|
-
|
Historical
Financial Statements
|
Schedule
3.7(d)
|
-
|
Off-Balance
Sheet Transactions
|
Schedule
3.8
|
-
|
Litigation
and Claims
|
Schedule
3.9
|
-
|
Taxes
|
Schedule
3.10(a)
|
-
|
Compensation
Plans
|
Schedule
3.10(b)
|
-
|
Compensation
Plans (Claims)
|
Schedule
3.10(d)
|
-
|
Compensation
Plans (Timely Contributions)
|
Schedule
3.10(e)
|
-
|
Compensation
Plans (Post-Termination Obligations)
|
Schedule
3.10(f)
|
-
|
Compensation
Plans (Severance Pay, etc.)
|
Schedule
3.10(j)(i)
|
-
|
Employees
|
Schedule
3.10(j)(ii)
|
-
|
Huizhou
Factory Workers
|
Schedule
3.10(k)
|
-
|
Bonus
Information
|
Schedule
3.10(m)
|
-
|
Arrangement
with Employee
|
Schedule
3.11(a)(i)
|
-
|
Non-Compliance
with Laws
|
Schedule
3.11(a)(iii)
|
-
|
Governmental
Authorizations
|
Schedule
3.11(b)
|
-
|
OFAC
Compliance
|
Schedule
3.12
|
-
|
Environmental
Matters
|
Schedule
3.13(a)(i)
|
-
|
Registered
Intellectual Property
|
Schedule
3.13(a)(ii)
|
-
|
Intellectual
Property (Co-Ownership)
|
Schedule
3.13(c)
|
-
|
Intellectual
Property (Joint Development)
|
Schedule
3.13(d)
|
-
|
Intellectual
Property Claims
|
Schedule
3.13(f)(i)
|
-
|
List
of Transferred Employees Not Executing Confidential Information
and
Inventions Agreements
|
Schedule
3.13(f)(ii)
|
-
|
Intellectual
Property Developers
|
Schedule
3.13(h)
|
-
|
Intellectual
Property Non-U.S. Filings
|
Schedule
3.13(i)
|
-
|
IP
Contracts
|
Schedule
3.13(k)
|
-
|
Intellectual
Property Sublicenses, Royalties
|
Schedule
3.13(l)
|
-
|
Intellectual
Property Infringements
|
Schedule
3.14
|
-
|
Labor
Non-Compliance
|
Schedule
3.15(a)
|
-
|
Material
Contracts
|
Schedule
3.15(b)
|
-
|
Contract
Defaults and Consents
|
Schedule
3.16
|
-
|
Territorial
Restrictions
|
Schedule
3.17
|
-
|
Material
Adverse Effect
|
Schedule
3.18
|
-
|
Sufficiency
|
Schedule
3.19
|
-
|
Title
to Property
|
Schedule
3.20(c)
|
-
|
Real
Property
|
Schedule
3.20(f)
|
-
|
Sublease
|
Schedule
3.23(a)
|
-
|
Absence
of Seller Liabilities
|
Schedule
3.23(b)
|
-
|
Indebtedness
|
Schedule
3.24
|
-
|
Product
Liability
|
Schedule
3.25
|
-
|
Material
Insurance Policies & Expirations
|
Schedule
3.29(a)
|
-
|
Top
Customers
|
Schedule
3.29(b)
|
-
|
Top
Suppliers
|
-
v
-
Schedule
4.3(a)
|
-
|
Buyer
Preemptive and Other Rights
|
Schedule
5.2(k)
|
-
|
Changes
to Severance and Compensation
|
Schedule
5.2(q)
|
-
|
Capital
Expenditure Budget
|
Schedule
5.14
|
-
|
Intercompany
Contracts
|
-
vi
-
SHARE
PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of March 11, 2007, is entered into by and
between COTCO Holdings Limited, a Hong Kong company (the “Seller”),
and
Cree, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the “Buyer”).
W
I T N E
S S E T H:
WHEREAS,
the Seller owns all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of
COTCO Luminant Device Ltd., a Hong Kong company (the “Company”);
WHEREAS,
the Company owns all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock
or
other equity interests in each of COTCO International Ltd., COTCO Luminant
Device (Huizhou) Ltd. and COTCO Opto Technology (Shanghai) Ltd.;
WHEREAS,
COTCO International Ltd. owns all of the issued and outstanding shares of
capital stock in COTCO Japan Co., Ltd.;
WHEREAS,
the Seller, through the Company and the other Transferred Subsidiaries (as
defined herein), is engaged in Hong Kong, the PRC and Japan in the business
of
developing, manufacturing and selling LED lamps (the “Business”);
WHEREAS,
prior to the Closing, the Seller will cause the Transferred Subsidiaries to
transfer to the Seller or its Affiliates (other than another Transferred
Subsidiary) all of the Excluded Assets (as defined herein) held by the
Transferred Subsidiaries;
WHEREAS,
the Seller desires to sell to the Buyer, and the Buyer desires to purchase
from
the Seller, 2,000,000 ordinary shares, par value ten Hong Kong Dollars (HK$10)
per share, of the Company, which will constitute all of the shares of capital
stock of the Company issued and outstanding on the Closing Date (the
“Transferred
Shares”),
as
more particularly set forth herein;
WHEREAS,
in connection with the foregoing, the Seller and the Buyer or certain of their
respective Affiliates desire to enter into each of the Ancillary Agreements
(as
defined herein); and
WHEREAS,
the respective boards of directors (or similar bodies) of each of the Seller
and
the Buyer have approved the execution and delivery of, and performance under,
this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Agreements by such party and certain
of
its Affiliates party thereto, in each case upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement or the relevant Ancillary
Agreement.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual representations,
warranties, covenants and undertakings contained herein, and for other good
and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, agree as
follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
AND TERMS
Section
1.1 Certain
Definitions.
As used
in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings set forth
below:
“Accountants
Report”
means
the report of the Company Accounting Firm, dated as of February 28, 2007, and
the Audited Financial Statements.
“Actual
EBITDA”
means
the actual EBITDA for the relevant twelve-month period.
“Administrator”
means
the Secretary of State of the State of North Carolina.
“Affiliate”
means,
with respect to any Person, any Person directly or indirectly controlling,
controlled by, or under common control with, such other Person as of the date
on
which, or at any time during the period for which, the determination of
affiliation is being made. For purposes of this definition, the term “control”
(including the correlative meanings of the terms “controlled by” and “under
common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, means
(i) ownership of 35% or more of voting securities of such Person and of the
single largest holding in such Person, or (ii) the possession, directly or
indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management
policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities
or
by contract or otherwise.
“Aggregate
Indemnity Threshold”
means
$2,000,000.
“Agreement”
means
this Share Purchase Agreement, as the same may be amended or supplemented from
time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.
“Ancillary
Agreements”
means,
collectively, the Escrow Agreement, the Executive Agreements, the LED Chip
Product Supply Agreement, the LED Lamp Product Supply Agreement, the Xxxx Xx
Agreement, the Shareholders’ and Registration Rights Agreement, the Trademark
License Agreement and the Transition Services Agreement.
“Anti-Terrorism
Order”
means
Executive Order No. 13,224 of September 24, 2001, Blocking Property and
Prohibiting Transactions with Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit or Support
Terrorism, 66 U.S. Fed. Reg. 49, 079 (2001).
“Arbitration
Rules”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 9.9(a).
“Audited
Financial Statements”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.7(a).
-
2
-
“Average
Closing Price”
means
the average of the regular session closing prices of Buyer Common Stock on
the
Nasdaq Global Market for the twenty consecutive trading days ending on and
including the trading day immediately prior to the date hereof or the
immediately preceding Result Announcement Date (or such later date as is
contemplated by Section 2.10(e)), as the case may be.
“Base
Net Asset Value”
means
$18,601,767 as calculated on the basis of the Current Assets and the Current
Liabilities as of December 31, 2006, as set forth on Schedule
1.1(a).
“Book
Cash Value”
means
the aggregate amount of the Transferred Subsidiaries’ bank cash balances, less
outstanding checks, wires and other disbursements therefrom.
“Books
and Records”
means
all books, ledgers, files, reports, plans, records, manuals and other materials
(in any form or medium) of, or maintained for, the Business, including employee
and employment records, but excluding any such items to the extent (i) they
are included in or solely related to any Excluded Assets or Excluded Liabilities
or (ii) any Law prohibits their transfer.
“Business”
has
the
meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Business
Day”
means
any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banks in Hong Kong
are
authorized or obligated by Law or executive order to close.
“Buyer”
has
the
meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Buyer
Common Stock”
means
the Buyer’s common stock, par value $0.00125 per share.
“Buyer
Indemnified Parties”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 7.2(a).
“Buyer
Material Adverse Effect”
means
any change or effect that individually or taken together with a series of
related events is materially adverse to the financial condition, properties,
assets, liabilities, business, operations or prospects of the Buyer, except
for
(i) any and all changes in general economic or political conditions,
(ii) any and all matters affecting companies in the same or similar
industries as the Buyer, and (iii) any adverse effect of the execution of
this Agreement or the public announcement of the Transaction contemplated hereby
on customers or revenues of the Buyer; provided,
however,
that,
in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), such changes or effects thereof are
only exceptions to the extent they do not have a materially disproportionate
effect on the Buyer as compared with other similar companies.
“Buyer
Reports”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 4.8.
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3
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“Cash
Purchase Price”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 2.3.
“Claim
Notice”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 7.4(a).
“Closing”
means
the closing of the purchase and sale that is the subject of this
Agreement.
“Closing
Adjustment Amount”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 2.4(e).
“Closing
Date”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 2.5.
“Closing
Date Net Asset Value”
means
(x) the total Current Assets shown on the Closing Date Working Capital
Statement, minus (y) the total Current Liabilities shown on the Closing
Date Working Capital Statement.
“Closing
Date Working Capital Statement”
means
the net working capital statement that sets forth the Current Assets and Current
Liabilities of the Business as of the Closing, prepared, or caused to be
prepared, by the Buyer in accordance with Section 2.4 hereof and, in the
event of a Seller’s Objection, as adjusted by either the agreement of the Buyer
and the Seller, or by the CPA Firm, acting pursuant to
Section 2.4.
“Code”
means
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Company”
has
the
meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Company
Accounting Firm”
means
Deloitte & Touche or any new independent accounting firm for the Company, as
selected by the Buyer from among KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ernst &
Young.
“Compensation
Plans”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.10(a).
“Competing
Business”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 5.7(c).
“Confidentiality
Agreement”
means
the Non-Disclosure Agreement, dated October 6, 2006, between the Seller and
the Buyer.
“Contingent
Bonus Amount”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 2.10(f).
“Contingent
Payment”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 2.10(a).
“Contingent
Payment Dispute Notice”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 2.10(c).
“Contingent
Payment Period”
means
each of (i) the twelve-month period ending on June 29, 2008 and
(ii) the twelve-month period ending on June 28, 2009.
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4
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“Contingent
Payment Statement”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 2.10(b).
“Contingent
Payment Shares”
means
the additional shares of Buyer Common Stock that may be issued by the Buyer
pursuant to Section 2.10(e) hereof.
“Contracts”
means
all agreements, contracts, leases and subleases, purchase orders, arrangements,
commitments and licenses (other than this Agreement and the Ancillary
Agreements) that are Related to the Business as of the Closing, or to which
any
of the Transferred Subsidiaries is subject, whether written or oral, except
to
the extent included in Excluded Assets.
“Copyrights”
has
the
meaning set forth in the “Intellectual Property” definition.
“CPA Firm”
means
PricewaterhouseCoopers, unless PricewaterhouseCoopers is the then auditor of
the
Buyer, the Company or the Seller, or such other firm of independent certified
public accountants of international recognition and standing, other than the
then respective auditors of the Buyer, the Company or the Seller, as to which
the Seller and the Buyer shall mutually agree.
“Current
Assets”
means
“debtors” (also referred to as accounts receivables, trade receivables and other
receivables), inventories, “prepayments” (also referred to as prepaid expenses),
deposits and any other items considered current assets under Hong Kong GAAP,
each as determined in accordance with Hong Kong GAAP and applying consistent
principles, practices, methodologies and policies as those set forth in the
Audited Financial Statements, excluding (i) cash, (ii) any current Tax
assets, (iii) outstanding amounts due from Light Engine Ltd., Konwin
Technology Ltd. and Cree, Inc. and (iv) any Excluded Assets.
“Current
Liabilities”
means
“creditors” (also referred to as account payables, trade payables and other
payables), accrued charges and any other items considered current liabilities
under Hong Kong GAAP, each as determined in accordance with Hong Kong GAAP
and
applying consistent principles, practices, methodologies and policies as those
set forth in the Audited Financial Statements, excluding (i) any current
Tax Liabilities, (ii) outstanding amounts due to Light Engine Ltd., Konwin
Technology Ltd. and Cree, Inc. and (iii) any Excluded
Liabilities.
“Direct
Claim”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 7.5(a).
“Direct
Claim Notice”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 7.5(a).
“Disclosure
Schedule”
means
the disclosure schedule delivered by the Seller to the Buyer concurrently with
the execution and delivery of this Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto
and incorporated herein by reference.
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“Dispute”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 9.9(a).
“Disputed
Contingent Payment”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 2.10(d).
“EBITDA”
means
the earnings of the Company and its Subsidiaries before interest, taxes,
depreciation and amortization, determined in accordance with the Company’s
current accounting methods, policies, practices and procedures and in the same
manner, with consistent classification and estimation methodology, as the
Audited Financial Statements were prepared, calculated in accordance with Hong
Kong GAAP.
“Encumbrance”
means
any lien, pledge, charge, claim, encumbrance, security interest, option,
mortgage, easement or other restriction or third-party right of any kind,
including any right of first refusal or restriction on voting.
“Environmental
Law”
means
any Law, Governmental Authorization, requirement of any Government Entity or
legal standard of conduct relating to (x) the protection of the environment
(including air, surface water, ground water, drinking water supply and surface
or subsurface land or structures) or human health and safety, (y) the
exposure to, or the use, storage, recycling, treatment, generation,
transportation, processing, handling, labeling, management, release or disposal
of, any Hazardous Substance or waste material or (z) noise or
odor.
“ERISA”
means
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“Escrow
Agent”
means
the escrow agent to be designated prior to the Closing, as mutually agreed
to by
the Buyer and the Seller.
“Escrow
Agreement”
means
the Escrow Agreement substantially in the form attached to this Agreement as
Exhibit 1.1(a).
“Excess
Number”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 2.3.
“Exchange
Act”
means
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations
thereunder.
“Excluded
Assets”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).
“Excluded
Business”
means
(i) all of the businesses operated by the Seller and its Affiliates, other
than the Business, including PCB assemblies with LEDs, LED display modules,
LED
lighting modules and LED light bulbs and fixtures, and (ii) the business of
Light Engine Ltd. in making LED packages with driver circuitry and chip-on-board
products, including all such products currently made or currently contemplated
by Light Engine Ltd.
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6
-
“Excluded
Liabilities”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b).
“Executive
Agreements”
means
the Employee Agreement regarding Confidentiality, Intellectual Property, and
Non-Competition for Hong Kong employees, the Master Stock Option Award Agreement
Terms and Conditions and the Supplement thereto, and that certain letter
agreement, in each case between the Buyer and Xxxxxxx Y.T. Sy substantially
in
the forms attached to this Agreement as Exhibit 1.1(b).
“Final
Contingent Payment Date”
means
the date upon which the Buyer makes the Contingent Payment for the Contingent
Payment Period ending on June 28, 2009 or, if such Contingent Payment is
increased pursuant to a final determination in accordance with
Section 2.10(d), the date the Buyer makes payment with respect to such
increase.
“Final
Determination”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 7.9.
“Governmental
Authorization”
means
any approval, franchise, certificate of authority, qualification, order,
consent, judgment, decree, license, permit, waiver or other authorization
Related to the Business issued, granted, given or otherwise made by or under
the
authority of any Government Entity or pursuant to applicable Law.
“Government
Entity”
means
any foreign, national, state, provincial, regional, local, municipal, county
or
governmental, quasi-governmental, administrative, judicial, regulatory or
self-regulatory authority, body, agency, court, tribunal, commission or other
similar entity (including any branch, department, section or official thereof)
with competent jurisdiction.
“Hazardous
Substance”
means
any substance that is listed, defined, designated or classified as hazardous,
toxic or otherwise regulated under applicable Laws or by a Government Entity,
including petroleum products and byproducts, asbestos-containing material,
polychlorinated biphenyls, lead-containing products and mold.
“Historical
Financial Statements”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.7(a).
“Hong
Kong”
means
the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the PRC.
“Hong
Kong GAAP”
means
the generally accepted accounting principles in Hong Kong.
“HSR
Act”
means
the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as
amended.
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7
-
“ICC”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 9.9(a).
“Indebtedness” means
(i) all liabilities for borrowed money, whether current or funded, secured
or unsecured, all obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar
instruments, and all liabilities in respect of mandatorily redeemable or
purchasable shares of capital stock or securities convertible into shares of
capital stock; (ii) all liabilities for the deferred purchase price of
property; (iii) all liabilities in respect of any lease of (or other
arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a
combination thereof, which liabilities are required to be classified and
accounted for under Hong Kong GAAP as capital leases; and (iv) all
liabilities for the reimbursement of any obligor on any letter of credit,
banker’s acceptance or similar credit transaction securing obligations of a type
described in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above, to the extent of the
obligation secured, and all liabilities as obligor, guarantor or otherwise,
to
the extent of the obligation secured.
“Indemnified
Parties”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 7.2(a).
“Indemnifying
Party”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 7.4(a).
“Individual
Indemnity Threshold”
means
$50,000.
“Intellectual
Property”
means
(i) trademarks, service marks, brand names, certification marks, collective
marks, d/b/a’s, domain names, logos, symbols, trade dress, assumed names,
fictitious names, trade names, and other indicia of origin, all applications
and
registrations for the foregoing, and all goodwill associated therewith and
symbolized thereby, including all renewals of same (collectively, “Trademarks”);
(ii) inventions and discoveries, whether patentable or not, and all
patents, registrations, invention disclosures and applications therefor,
including divisions, continuations, continuations-in-part and renewal
applications, and including renewals, extensions and reissues (collectively,
“Patents”);
(iii) trade secrets, confidential information and know-how, including
processes, schematics, business methods, formulae, drawings, prototypes, models,
designs, customer lists and supplier lists (collectively, “Trade
Secrets”);
(iv) published and unpublished works of authorship, whether copyrightable
or not (including databases and other compilations of information), including
mask rights and computer software, copyrights therein and thereto, registrations
and applications therefor, and all renewals, extensions, restorations and
reversions thereof (collectively, “Copyrights”);
and
(v) any other intellectual property or proprietary rights.
“IP
Contracts”
means
all Contracts relating to Intellectual Property Related to the Business,
including Contracts granting any Transferred Subsidiary rights to use the
Intellectual Property of other Persons, non-assertion agreements, settlement
agreements, agreements granting rights to use Transferred Intellectual Property,
Trademark coexistence agreements and Trademark consent agreements.
“IT
Assets”
means
computers, computer software, firmware, middleware, servers, workstations,
routers, hubs, switches, data communications lines, all other information
technology equipment and all associated documentation, in each case Related
to
the Business.
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8
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“Knowledge”
or
any
similar phrase (including “awareness”) means the collective actual (and not
constructive) knowledge of Xxxxxxx Y.T. Xx, Xxxxxx X.X. Xx, X.X. Xxx, Xxxxx
Xxxx, Xxxx Xxx or Xxxx Xx Xxxxx Xxx for the Seller, or of Xxxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx or Xxxx Xxxxxx for the Buyer, as the case may be.
“Law”
means
any law, constitution, code, statute, ordinance, rule, standard, requirement,
regulation, order, judgment, injunction, decree, arbitration award,
administrative ruling, agency requirement, license or permit of any Government
Entity.
“Leased
Personal Property”
means
all the personal tangible property that is the subject of those leases and
subleases governing personal tangible property used or leased by the Business,
owned by persons other than the Seller or any of its Affiliates.
“Leased
Real Property”
means
all real property that is the subject of those leases and subleases governing
real property used or leased by the Business, owned by persons other than the
Seller or any of its Affiliates, as listed on Schedule 1.1(b).
“LED
Chip Product Supply Agreement”
means
the LED Chip Product Supply Agreement substantially in the form attached to
this
Agreement as Exhibit 1.1(c).
“LED
Lamp Product Supply Agreement”
means
the LED Lamp Product Supply
Agreement substantially in the form attached to this Agreement as
Exhibit 1.1(d).
“Liabilities”
means
any and all debts, liabilities, commitments and obligations of any kind, whether
fixed, contingent or absolute, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated,
accrued or not accrued, asserted or not asserted, known or unknown, determined,
determinable or otherwise, whenever or however arising (including, whether
arising out of any contract or tort based on negligence or strict liability)
and
whether or not the same would be required by Hong Kong GAAP to be reflected
in
financial statements or disclosed in the notes thereto.
“LIBOR”
means
the six-month Interbank Official Rate with respect to deposits in U.S. Dollars
that appears on the Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 A.M., London time, on the
day
that is two business days in London preceding the Closing.
“Losses”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 7.2(a).
“Material
Adverse Effect”
means
any change or effect that individually or taken together with a series of
related events is materially adverse to the business, assets, business
relationships, prospects, financial condition or results of operations of the
Business (other than the Excluded Business), except for (i) any and all
changes in general economic or political conditions, (ii) any and all
matters affecting companies in the same or similar industries as the Business,
and (iii) any adverse effect of the execution of this Agreement or the
public announcement of the Transaction contemplated hereby on customers or
revenues of the Business; provided,
however,
that,
in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), such changes or effects thereof are
only exceptions to the extent they do not have a materially disproportionate
effect on the Business as compared with other similar businesses.
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9
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“Material
Contracts”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.15(a).
“Most
Recent Balance Sheet”
means
the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries
as of
December 31, 2006, including the Transferred Assets and presenting the
Excluded Assets and Excluded Liabilities as discontinued
operations.
“North
Carolina Permit”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 5.3(a).
“Notice
Period”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 7.4(b).
“Ordinary
Course”
means
the conduct of the relevant business in accordance with the normal day-to-day
customs, practices and procedures of the relevant Person.
“Patents”
has
the
meaning set forth in the “Intellectual Property” definition.
“Xxxx
Xx Agreement”
means
the letter agreement between the Buyer and Xxxx Xx Xxxxx Xxx substantially
in
the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit 1.1(e).
“Permitted
Encumbrances”
means
(i) Encumbrances specifically reflected on the Most Recent Balance Sheets,
(ii) mechanics’, materialmen’s, warehousemen’s, carriers’, workers’ or
repairmen’s liens or other similar common law or statutory Encumbrances arising
or incurred in the Ordinary Course and which would not impair the operation
of
the Business (other than the Excluded Business) and that are not material in
amount or effect on the Business (other than the Excluded Business),
(iii) liens for Taxes, assessments and other governmental charges not yet
due and payable or due but not delinquent or being contested in good faith
by
appropriate proceedings, in each case in an amount that would not be material,
(iv) with respect to real property, (A) easements, quasi-easements,
licenses, covenants, rights-of-way, rights of re-entry or other similar
restrictions, including any other agreements, conditions or restrictions that
would be shown by a current title report or other similar report or listing,
that are not violated by and do not impair the current use or occupancy of
the
property or the operation of the Business (other than the Excluded Business),
(B) any conditions that may be shown by a current survey or physical
inspection that are not violated by and do not impair the current use or
occupancy of the property or the operation of the Business (other than the
Excluded Business) and (C) zoning, building, subdivision or other similar
requirements or restrictions that are not violated by and do not impair the
current use or occupancy of the property or the operation of the Business (other
than the Excluded Business), and (v) Encumbrances incurred in the Ordinary
Course since the date of the Most Recent Balance Sheets and that are not,
individually or in the aggregate, material in amount or effect on the Business
(other than the Excluded Business).
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10
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“Person”
means
an individual, a corporation, a partnership, an association, a limited liability
company, a Government Entity, a trust or other entity or organization.
“PRC”
means
the People’s Republic of China.
“Product”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.24.
“Purchase
Price”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 2.3.
“Purchase
Price Shares”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 2.3.
“Registered”
means
issued by, registered with, renewed by or the subject of a pending application
before any Government Entity or domain name registrar.
“Related
to the Business”
means
required for, related to, or used in connection with, the Business as conducted
by the Transferred Subsidiaries prior to the Closing.
“Representatives”
means
any Person’s Affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors and
the Representatives of such Person’s agents and advisors.
“Result
Announcement Date”
means
the date of the announcement of the Buyer’s year-end results for the fiscal year
ended June 29, 2008 or June 28, 2009, as the case may be.
“RMB”
means
the legal tender of PRC.
“SEC”
means
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities
Act”
means
the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
thereunder.
“Securities
Laws”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.27(b).
“Seller”
has
the
meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Seller
Indemnified Parties”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 7.3(a).
“Seller
Intellectual Property”
means
all the Intellectual Property Related to the Business owned, leased, licensed
or
otherwise had or used by the Seller or its Affiliates (other than the
Transferred Subsidiaries), including the “COTCO” trade name and trademark and
the Intellectual Property set forth on Schedule 1.1(c).
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“Seller
Required Approvals”
means
all consents, approvals, waivers, authorizations, notices and filings that
are
required to be listed and are listed on Schedules 3.4(a)(i) and
3.4(a)(ii).
“Seller’s
Objection”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b).
“Share
Consideration”
means
the shares of Buyer Common Stock (i) to be issued pursuant to
Section 2.3 as Purchase Price Shares and (ii) issuable pursuant to
Section 2.10(e) as Contingent Payment Shares (if any).
“Shareholders’
and Registration Rights Agreement”
means
the Shareholders’ and Registration Rights Agreement to be entered into
simultaneously with this Agreement.
“Subsidiary”
means,
with respect to any Person, any Person (i) whose securities or other
ownership interests having by their terms the power to elect a majority of
the
board of directors or other persons performing similar functions are owned
or
controlled, directly or indirectly, by such other Person and/or its
Subsidiaries, or (ii) whose business and policies such other Person and/or
its Subsidiaries have the power to direct.
“Tax
Returns”
means,
collectively, all returns, declarations, reports, estimates, information returns
and statements required to be filed with any Government Entity under federal,
state, local or any foreign Laws relating to Taxes, and any returns, forms
or
other documents required to be retained by the Transferred Subsidiaries in
compliance with applicable Laws relating to reporting and withholding with
respect to Taxes.
“Tax”
or “Taxes”
means
(i) all taxes, charges, fees, levies or other governmental assessments,
however denominated and whether imposed by a taxing authority within or without
the United States, including all net income, gross income, gross receipts,
sales, use, ad valorem, goods and services, capital, transfer, franchise,
profits, license, withholding, payroll, social insurance, employment, employer
health, excise, premium, estimated, severance, stamp, occupation, property
or
other taxes, custom duties, fees, assessments or other governmental charges
of
any kind whatsoever, together with any interest and any penalties, additions
to
tax or additional amounts imposed by any taxing authority whether arising
before, on or after the Closing Date and (ii) any liability for the payment
of any amount of the type described in the immediately preceding clause (i)
as a result of any Transferred Subsidiary being a member of an affiliated,
consolidated or combined group with any corporation at any time prior to the
Closing or being a party to any Tax sharing agreement.
“Third-Party
Claim”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 7.4(a).
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“Third-Party
Claim Notice”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 7.4(a).
“Top
Customers”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.29(a).
“Top
Suppliers”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.29(b).
“Trademark
License Agreement”
means
the Trademark License Agreement substantially in the form attached to this
Agreement as Exhibit 1.1(f)
“Trademarks”
has
the
meaning set forth in the “Intellectual Property” definition.
“Trade
Secrets”
has
the
meaning set forth in the “Intellectual Property” definition.
“Transaction”
means
the purchase and sale of the Transferred Shares pursuant to this
Agreement.
“Transfer
Taxes”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 5.4(e).
“Transferred
Assets”
means
all of the assets of the Seller and its Affiliates (other than the Transferred
Subsidiaries) Related to the Business, whether tangible or intangible, real,
personal or mixed, including the Seller Intellectual Property, other than the
Excluded Assets.
“Transferred
Employees”
means
the Employees of the Seller listed on Schedule 1.1(d).
“Transferred
Intellectual Property”
means
all Registered and material unregistered Intellectual Property owned by the
Transferred Subsidiaries, other than that included in the Excluded
Assets.
“Transferred
Shares”
has
the
meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Transferred
Subsidiaries”
means
the Company and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries, as more fully set forth
on
Schedule 3.2(a), except for Xxx Xxx Luminant Mfg., Shenzhen COT Luminant
Device Co., Ltd. and COTCO Luminant (Shenzhen) Ltd.
“Transition
Services Agreement”
means
the Transition Services Agreement substantially in the form attached to this
Agreement as Exhibit 1.1(g).
“Two-Year
Forecast”
means
the two year forecast for the Business mutually agreed to by the parties, and
as
amended by the mutual agreement of the parties from time to time.
“Unaudited
Financial Statements”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.7(a).
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“Unresolved
Differences”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 2.10(d)(i).
“U.S.
Antitrust Laws”
means
the Xxxxxxx Act, as amended, the Xxxxxxx Act, as amended, the HSR Act, the
Federal Trade Commission Act, as amended, and all other federal and state
statutes, rules, regulations, orders, decrees, administrative and judicial
doctrines, and other Laws that are designed or intended to prohibit, restrict
or
regulate actions having the purpose or effect of monopolization or restraint
of
trade.
“U.S.
GAAP”
means
United States generally accepted accounting principles.
Section
1.2 Other
Terms.
Other
terms may be defined elsewhere in the text of this Agreement and, unless
otherwise indicated, shall have such meaning throughout this
Agreement.
Section
1.3 Other
Definitional Provisions.
Unless
the express context otherwise requires:
(a) the
words
“hereof,” “herein,” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in
this Agreement, shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any
particular provision of this Agreement;
(b) the
terms
defined in the singular have a comparable meaning when used in the plural,
and
vice versa;
(c) the
terms
“Dollars” and “$” mean U.S. Dollars;
(d) references
herein to a specific Section, Subsection, Schedule or Exhibit shall
refer, respectively, to Sections, Subsections, Schedules or Exhibits of
this Agreement;
(e) wherever
the word “include,” “includes,” or “including” is used in this Agreement, it
shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”;
and
(f) references
herein to any gender include each other gender.
ARTICLE
II
PURCHASE
AND SALE OF THE BUSINESS
Section
2.1 Purchase
and Sale.
On the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein:
(a) prior
to
the Closing, the Seller will (i) cause the Transferred Subsidiaries to
transfer to the Seller or its Affiliates (other than another Transferred
Subsidiary) all of the Excluded Assets held by the Transferred Subsidiaries,
(ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each Transferred Employee
to enter into an employment agreement with the Company and (iii) cause the
assignment to the Company of the Registered Intellectual Property included
in
the Transferred Assets to be duly registered with or filed in the relevant
filing office; and
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(b) at
the
Closing, the Seller shall sell, convey, transfer, assign and deliver to the
Buyer, and the Buyer shall purchase from the Seller, the Transferred Shares,
free and clear of all Encumbrances.
Section
2.2 Excluded
Assets and Liabilities.
(a) Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, from and after the Closing, the Seller and
its
Affiliates shall retain all of their existing right, title and interest in
and
to, and there shall be excluded from the sale, conveyance, assignment or
transfer to the Buyer hereunder, (i) all of the issued and outstanding
shares of capital stock or other equity interests in each of Xxx Xxx Luminant
Mfg., Shenzhen COT Luminant Device Co., Ltd. and COTCO Luminant (Shenzhen)
Ltd.
and (ii) the assets listed on Schedule 2.2(a) (collectively, the
“Excluded
Assets”).
(b) The
Seller and its Affiliates (other than the Transferred Subsidiaries) shall retain
and be responsible for all Liabilities associated with the Excluded Assets
or
the Excluded Business (the “Excluded
Liabilities”).
Section
2.3 Purchase
Price.
On the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, in consideration of the
sale of the Transferred Shares, at the Closing, the Buyer shall (a) pay to
the Seller an amount in cash equal to $70,000,000, subject to adjustment to
the
extent of the Closing Adjustment Amount as provided in Section 2.4 and any
further adjustment pursuant to the proviso below (as so adjusted, the
“Cash
Purchase Price”),
and
(b) issue to the Seller such aggregate number of shares of Buyer Common
Stock equal to (i) $130,000,000 divided by (ii) the Average Closing
Price, subject to adjustment pursuant to the proviso below (as so adjusted,
the
“Purchase
Price Shares”
and,
together with the Cash Purchase Price, the “Purchase
Price”);
provided,
however,
that,
in no event, shall the number of shares of Buyer Common Stock to be issued
by
the Buyer pursuant to this Section 2.3 exceed 9.99% of the outstanding
Buyer Common Stock at the close of the Nasdaq Global Market’s trading day
immediately preceding the date of this Agreement (taking into account the
Purchase Price Shares to be issued at the Closing as if already issued and
outstanding) and, to the extent that such number of shares would exceed 9.99%
of
the outstanding Buyer Common Stock on such trading day (taking into account
the
Purchase Price Shares to be issued at the Closing as if already issued and
outstanding), the Cash Purchase Price shall be increased by an amount determined
by multiplying (y) the number of shares of Buyer Common Stock by which the
number of shares otherwise to be issued exceeds 9.99% of the outstanding Buyer
Common Stock on such trading day (taking into account the Purchase Price Shares
to be issued at the Closing as if already issued and outstanding) (the
“Excess
Number”)
by
(z) the Average Closing Price, and the number of shares to be issued by the
Buyer pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall be reduced by such Excess Number;
provided,
further,
that,
in no event, shall the number of shares of the Buyer Common Stock to be issued
by the Buyer pursuant to this Section 2.3 exceed 19.99% of the outstanding
Buyer Common Stock at any time between the date of this Agreement and the
Closing Date.
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Section
2.4 Working
Capital Adjustment.
(a) As
soon as practicable, but in no event more than 60 days, following the Closing,
the Buyer shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, and deliver to the Seller
the
Closing Date Working Capital Statement, which shall set forth the Current
Assets, the Current Liabilities, and the cash balance of the Business as of
the
Closing, which shall be prepared in accordance with the Company’s current
accounting methods, policies, practices and procedures under Hong Kong GAAP
and
in the same manner, with consistent classification and estimation methodology,
as the Audited Financial Statements were prepared. The Closing Date Working
Capital Statement shall be accompanied by a report of the Company Accounting
Firm to the effect that the Closing Date Working Capital Statement has been
prepared in accordance with Hong Kong GAAP and in the manner required by this
Section 2.4(a). Upon completion of the Closing Date Working Capital
Statement, the Buyer shall derive the Closing Date Net Asset Value from the
Closing Date Working Capital Statement, and deliver such calculation and the
Closing Date Working Capital Statement to the Seller.
(b) The
Seller shall complete its review of the Closing Date Working Capital Statement
and the Buyer’s calculation of the Closing Date Net Asset Value within
30 days after delivery thereof to the Seller by the Buyer. If the Seller
disputes all, any part or basis of the Closing Date Working Capital Statement,
the Seller shall, on or before the last day of such 30-day period, so inform
the
Buyer in writing (the “Seller’s
Objection”),
setting forth a description of the basis of the Seller’s determination and
proposed adjustments to the Closing Date Working Capital Statement and the
corresponding adjustments to the Closing Date Net Asset Value that the Seller
believes should be made. If no Seller’s Objection is received by the Buyer on or
before the last day of such 30-day period, then the Closing Date Net Asset
Value
set forth on the Closing Date Working Capital Statement delivered by the Buyer
shall be final, conclusive and binding upon the parties hereto. The Buyer shall
have 30 days from its receipt of the Seller’s Objection to review and respond to
the Seller’s Objection.
(c) If
the
Buyer and the Seller are unable to resolve all of their disagreements with
respect to the proposed adjustments set forth in the Seller’s Objection within
45 days following the Buyer’s receipt of the Seller’s Objection, they shall
refer any remaining disagreements to the CPA Firm, which, acting as experts
and
not as arbitrators, shall determine, on the basis set forth in and in accordance
with Section 2.4(a), and only with respect to the remaining differences so
submitted, whether and to what extent, if any, the Closing Date Working Capital
Statement and the Closing Date Net Asset Value require adjustment. The Buyer
and
the Seller shall instruct the CPA Firm to deliver its written determination
to
the Buyer and the Seller no later than 30 days after the remaining differences
underlying the Seller’s Objection are referred to the CPA Firm. The CPA Firm’s
determination shall be final, conclusive and binding upon the Buyer and the
Seller and its Affiliates. The fees and disbursements of the CPA Firm shall
be
borne equally by the Buyer and the Seller. The Buyer and the Seller shall make
readily available to the CPA Firm all relevant books and records and any work
papers (including those of the parties’ respective accountants, to the extent
permitted by such accountants) relating to the Closing Date Working Capital
Statement and the Seller’s Objection and all other items reasonably requested by
the CPA Firm in connection therewith.
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(d) The
Seller shall have full access to all information used by the Buyer in preparing
the Closing Date Working Capital Statement, including the work papers of its
accountants (to the extent permitted by such accountants).
(e) The
Cash
Purchase Price shall be adjusted by an amount (the “Closing
Adjustment Amount”)
equal
to (i) the Base Net Asset Value, less (ii) the cash balance of the
Business as of the Closing, less (iii) the Closing Date Net Asset Value,
expressed as a positive, if positive, or as a negative, if negative. If the
Closing Adjustment Amount is a negative number, then the Cash Purchase Price
shall be increased by the Closing Adjustment Amount and the Buyer shall promptly
(and in any event within five Business Days) after the final determination
thereof pay to the Seller the Closing Adjustment Amount, plus interest from
the
Closing Date to, but not including, the date of payment at LIBOR calculated
on a
365-day basis, in U.S. Dollars by wire transfer of immediately available funds
to an account designated by the Seller. If the Closing Adjustment Amount is
a
positive number, then the Cash Purchase Price shall be decreased by the Closing
Adjustment Amount and the Seller shall promptly (and in any event within five
Business Days) after the final determination thereof pay to the Buyer the
Closing Adjustment Amount, plus interest from the Closing Date to, but not
including, the date of payment at LIBOR calculated on a 365-day basis, in U.S.
Dollars by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated
by the Buyer. If the Closing Adjustment Amount is equal to zero, then no payment
will be made by either the Buyer or the Seller.
(f) Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, if the amount that would otherwise constitute
the Closing Adjustment Amount falls within the range from and including negative
$100,000 to and including positive $100,000, no adjustment to the Cash Purchase
Price shall be made and no Closing Adjustment Amount shall be
payable.
Section
2.5 Closing.
The
Closing shall take place at the offices of Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP, 00xx
Xxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxx’x Xxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxx at 10:00 A.M., Hong Kong time,
as promptly as practicable, and in any event within three Business Days,
following the date on which the conditions set forth in Article VI (other than
those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing but
subject to the fulfillment or waiver of those conditions) have been satisfied
or
waived (provided,
however,
that,
in no event, shall the Closing occur prior to March 26, 2007), or at such
other time and place as the parties hereto may mutually agree. The date on
which
the Closing occurs is called the “Closing
Date.”
Section
2.6 Deliveries
by the Buyer.
At the
Closing, the Buyer shall deliver to the Seller the following:
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(a) $70,000,000,
as adjusted pursuant to Section 2.3, if applicable, in immediately
available funds by wire transfer to an account or accounts, which have been
designated in writing by the Seller at least two Business Days prior to the
Closing Date;
(b) a
certificate or certificates representing the Purchase Price Shares in definitive
form, registered in the name of the Seller, bearing the legends set forth in
Section 3.27(e);
(c) a
duly
executed counterpart of each of the Ancillary Agreements (other than the
Shareholders’ and Registration Rights Agreement);
(d) the
certificate to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.3(d);
(e) a
copy of
the approval to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.3(e);
(f) an
opinion of counsel to the Buyer pursuant to Section 6.3(f);
and
(g) such
other customary instruments of transfer, assumptions, filings or documents,
in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Seller, as may be required
to
give effect to this Agreement.
Section
2.7 Deliveries
by the Seller.
At the
Closing, the Seller shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Buyer the
following:
(a) duly
executed instruments of transfer and sold notes (in a form complying with the
Stamp Duty Ordinance (Chapter 117, as amended, of the Laws of Hong Kong)) in
respect of the Transferred Shares in favor of the Buyer and/or its
nominee(s);
(b) such
other documents (including any power of attorney) as may be required to give
good title to the Transferred Shares or which may be necessary to enable the
Buyer or its nominee(s) to procure the registration of the same in the name
of
the Buyer or its nominee(s);
(c) a
duly
executed counterpart of each of the Ancillary Agreements (other than the
Shareholders’ and Registration Rights Agreement);
(d) evidence
of the obtaining of, or the filing with respect to, the Seller Required
Approvals;
(e) the
certificate to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.2(e);
(f) an
opinion of counsel to the Seller pursuant to Section 6.2(h);
(g) in
respect of each Transferred Subsidiary, share certificates (where applicable)
in
respect of all issued shares and declarations of trust, if any, in respect
of
any shares that are held by nominees and an indemnity in the agreed form for
any
lost share certificates;
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(h) in
respect of each Transferred Subsidiary, the statutory and minutes books (which
shall be written up to but not including the Closing Date), share certificate
books, common seal, certificate of incorporation, business registration
certificate, together with copies of the Memorandum and Articles of Association,
check books, books of account (all complete and written up to the Closing Date);
and
(i) such
other customary instruments of transfer, assumptions, filings or documents,
in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Buyer, as may be required
to
give effect to this Agreement.
Section
2.8 Delivery
by the Seller to the Escrow Agent.
At the
Closing, the Seller shall deliver to the Escrow Agent a certificate or
certificates representing such aggregate number of the Purchase Price Shares
equal to (a) $20,000,000, divided by (b) the relevant Average Closing
Price, to be held in escrow pursuant to the Escrow Agreement.
Section
2.9 Buyer
Affiliate Acquisitions.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Buyer
may elect to have any or all of the Transferred Shares conveyed or transferred
to one or more of its Affiliates; provided,
however,
that no
such election shall relieve the Buyer of any of its obligations to the Seller
and its Affiliates hereunder and the Buyer shall bear any and all additional
costs, expenses and Liabilities arising out of or in connection with such
election.
Section
2.10 Contingent
Payments.
(a) On
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, as additional
consideration for the Transferred Shares, the Buyer shall pay to the Seller
certain additional amounts, up to a maximum aggregate amount of $125,000,000,
in
two contingent payments, subject to the achievement of certain financial
milestones and calculated as follows (collectively, the “Contingent
Payments”):
(i) With
respect to each Contingent Payment Period, the Buyer shall pay to the Seller
a
Contingent Payment, if any, calculated with respect to Actual EBITDA in
accordance with Exhibit 2.10.
(ii) For
the
purpose of calculating Actual EBITDA hereunder, such calculation shall exclude
(A) any non-recurring expense incurred other than in the Ordinary Course
related to any claim, litigation, settlement or non-compliance with Law arising
out of any event or circumstance occurring before the Closing; provided,
however,
that
the Seller shall have reimbursed the relevant Transferred Subsidiary therefor
in
full and (B) any expense in connection with the payment to employees under
Section 2.10(f).
(iii) For
the
purpose of calculating Actual EBITDA hereunder, the exchange rate shall be
fixed
at seven point seven six Hong Kong Dollars (HK$7.76) to one U.S. Dollar
($1).
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(b) On
each
Result Announcement Date immediately succeeding June 29, 2008 and
June 28, 2009, as the case may be, the Buyer shall prepare, or cause to be
prepared, and deliver to the Seller (A) a statement setting forth Actual
EBITDA for such Contingent Payment Period, each component used in the
calculation thereof, and the amount of the Contingent Payment for such
Contingent Payment Period determined in accordance with the relevant formula
as
set forth in Section 2.10(a) (the “Contingent
Payment Statement”),
which
shall be prepared in accordance with Hong Kong GAAP, at the Buyer’s cost and
expense, and (B) such documentation, if any, as may be reasonably necessary
to enable the Seller to determine such amount. Concurrently with the delivery
of
the Contingent Payment Statement, the Buyer shall pay to the Seller the amount
of the Contingent Payment specified therein, if any, in accordance with
Section 2.10(e).
(c) After
receipt from the Buyer of the Contingent Payment Statement and, if applicable,
the Contingent Payment, the Seller shall have the right, at its cost and
expense, and upon not less than five Business Days’ prior written notice to the
Buyer, to (i) meet with the Buyer and the Company Accounting Firm to
discuss the Buyer’s calculation of Actual EBITDA and the Contingent Payment set
forth in the Contingent Payment Statement and (ii) have reasonable access
during normal business hours to inspect the Books and Records and working papers
(including those prepared by advisors and other third parties, to the extent
permitted thereby) relating to such calculation. If the Seller fails to
challenge the Buyer’s determination of Actual EBITDA and the Contingent Payment
by the delivery of a written notice to the Buyer (the “Contingent
Payment Dispute Notice”)
within
60 days after receipt by the Seller of the Contingent Payment Statement, such
determination by the Buyer shall be final, conclusive and binding for all
purposes of this Agreement.
(d) In
the
event that the Seller disputes the Buyer’s determination of Actual EBITDA and
the Contingent Payment for any Contingent Payment Period, the Seller shall
so
notify the Buyer by delivering a Contingent Payment Dispute Notice to the Buyer
within the period set forth in Section 2.10(c) (the amount of any disputed
Contingent Payment being referred to herein as the “Disputed
Contingent Payment”).
In
the event of such a dispute, the Seller and the Buyer shall first use diligent,
good faith efforts to resolve such dispute between them. If they are unable
to
resolve the dispute within 30 days after the delivery of the Contingent Payment
Dispute Notice, then the dispute shall be submitted to the CPA Firm for
determination in accordance with the following provisions:
(i) The
Buyer
and the Seller shall submit to the CPA Firm, within 10 days after the date
of
the engagement of the CPA Firm (as evidenced by the date of the engagement
letter), copies of (A) the Contingent Payment Statement for the applicable
Contingent Payment Period, (B) the Contingent Payment Dispute Notice and
(C) a list of all unresolved differences between the Buyer and the Seller
with respect to the calculation of the Contingent Payment for such Contingent
Payment Period (the “Unresolved
Differences”).
Each
of the Buyer and the Seller shall submit to the CPA Firm (with a copy delivered
to the other party on the same day), within 30 days after the date of the
engagement of the CPA Firm, a memorandum (which may include supporting exhibits)
setting forth their respective positions on the Unresolved Differences. Each
of
the Buyer and the Seller may (but shall not be required to) submit to the CPA
Firm (with a copy delivered to the other party on the same day), within 60
days
after the date of the engagement of the CPA Firm, a memorandum responding to
the
initial memorandum submitted to the CPA Firm by the other party. Unless
requested by the CPA Firm in writing, neither the Buyer nor the Seller may
present any additional information or arguments to the CPA Firm, either orally
or in writing; provided,
however,
that
each party shall have the right to respond to the CPA Firm’s requests directed
to the other party.
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(ii) The
CPA
Firm shall prepare and distribute to the parties hereto a writing setting forth
the CPA Firm’s determination, only with respect to the Unresolved Differences,
whether and to what extent, if any, the Contingent Payment for such Contingent
Payment Period requires adjustment and the CPA Firm’s reasons therefor. Any
decision rendered by the CPA Firm shall be final, conclusive and binding upon
the parties hereto, and judgment thereon may be entered and enforced in any
court of competent jurisdiction.
(iii) The
fees
and expenses of the CPA Firm in connection with the resolution of disputes
pursuant to this paragraph (d) shall be shared equally by the Buyer and the
Seller; provided,
however,
that if
the CPA Firm determines that one party has adopted a position or positions
that
is or are frivolous or clearly without merit, the CPA Firm may, in its
discretion, assign a greater portion of such fees and expenses to such
party.
(e) Subject
to Section 2.10(f), the Buyer shall pay the net amount of the Contingent
Payment specified in the Contingent Payment Statement (exclusive of any Tax,
fees or other expenses of any kind), if any, to the Seller on the Result
Announcement Date immediately succeeding June 29, 2008 or June 28,
2009, as the case may be, or, with respect to any increase in such Contingent
Payment finally determined in accordance with Section 2.10(d), within five
Business Days after the date of such final determination, in each case in cash
or Buyer Common Stock or any combination thereof, in the Buyer’s sole
discretion; provided,
however,
that,
in no event, shall the number of shares of Buyer Common Stock to be issued
by
the Buyer pursuant to this Section 2.10(e), when combined with the Purchase
Price Shares and any other Contingent Payment Shares previously issued, exceed
9.99% of the outstanding Buyer Common Stock at the close of the Nasdaq Global
Market’s trading day immediately preceding the issuance date of the relevant
Contingent Payment Shares (taking into account such Contingent Payment Shares
as
if already issued and outstanding); provided,
further,
that,
in no event, shall the number of shares of Buyer Common Stock to be issued
by
the Buyer pursuant to this Section 2.10(e) exceed 19.99% of the outstanding
Buyer Common Stock at any time between the date of this Agreement and the Final
Contingent Payment Date. If the Buyer determines that any Contingent Payment
or
portion thereof will be made in cash, the Buyer shall pay to the Seller such
cash amount on the relevant Result Announcement Date (or such later date as
is
contemplated by this Section 2.10(e)) in U.S. dollars by wire transfer of
immediately available funds to an account designated by the Seller. If the
Buyer
determines any Contingent Payment or portion thereof will be made in Buyer
Common Stock, the Buyer shall issue to the Seller on the relevant Result
Announcement Date (or such later date as is contemplated by this
Section 2.10(e)) such aggregate number of shares of Buyer Common Stock
equal to (A) the amount of such Contingent Payment or portion thereof
divided by (B) the relevant Average Closing Price. With respect to any
decrease in a Contingent Payment specified in the Contingent Payment Statement
finally determined in accordance with Section 2.10(d), the Seller shall,
within five Business Days after the date of such final determination, refund
such amount to the Buyer in cash in U.S. dollars by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to an account designated by the Buyer.
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(f) Not
less
than 10 Business Days prior to the Result Announcement Date, the Seller shall
deliver to the Buyer a written notice setting forth the names of then-current
employees of the Business selected to share in an amount in cash equal to 5%
of
the Contingent Payment specified in the Contingent Payment Statement, if any
(the “Contingent
Bonus Amount”),
and
the portion of such Contingent Bonus Amount (expressed as a percentage) to
which
each such employee should be allocated. The Buyer shall have the right to
approve the employees selected and their proposed allocations, which approval
will not be unreasonably withheld. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
in
this Agreement, the Buyer shall withhold from any payment to be made to the
Seller pursuant to Section 2.10(e) the Contingent Bonus Amount and shall
cause the Company to pay an amount in cash equal to such Contingent Bonus
Amount, less any Taxes required to be paid or withheld by the Company and other
required withholdings, on the Result Announcement Date to such employees and
in
such amounts as are specified in the written notice from the Seller and approved
by the Buyer or otherwise agreed to by the Buyer and the Seller. To the extent
that the Buyer and the Seller are unable to reach agreement prior to the Result
Announcement Date on the employees selected and their proposed allocations
for
purposes of payment of the Contingent Bonus Amount, the Buyer shall pay the
Contingent Bonus Amount (or the relevant portion thereof) to the Seller, in
cash
or Buyer Common Stock or any combination thereof, in the Buyer’s sole
discretion, in accordance with Section 2.10(e).
(g) From
the
Closing Date through June 28, 2009, except as otherwise contemplated by
this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, the Buyer shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to operate the Business in a manner consistent with
maximizing the Contingent Payments and shall cause the business of the Company
and its Subsidiaries to be limited to the Business; notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Buyer shall be permitted to take any action that is:
(i) consented to in writing by the Seller, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld, (ii) required by Law, or (iii) in the best
interests of the Business (including all Subsidiaries) as determined in good
faith by the Buyer (but excluding for purposes of such determination the
possible benefit of a reduction in the Contingent Payments). The Buyer will
provide the financial support contemplated by the Two-Year Forecast to the
extent that the Business is achieving the financial performance contemplated
in
the Two-Year Forecast; however, to the extent that the Buyer determines in
good
faith that a material deviation in the financial performance contemplated in
the
Two-Year Forecast is in the best interests of the Business (including all its
Subsidiaries) and to the extent that such deviation would not maximize the
Contingent Payments, then the Buyer shall not implement any such planned
deviation unless it is consented to in writing by the Seller, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld. The parties agree that their post-Closing
obligations under this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements are essential
to
the operation and performance of the Business. From the Closing Date through
June 28, 2009, the parties shall timely comply with all provisions of this
Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements. In the case of any breach of this
Section 2.10(g), the non-breaching party may seek damages for such breach,
but shall be required to prove its damages for such breach and the Contingent
Payment shall not be deemed to be liquidated damages.
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ARTICLE
III
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLER
Except
as
set forth in the Disclosure Schedule, the Seller represents and warrants to
the
Buyer that all statements contained in this Article III are true as of the
date hereof and as of the Closing Date. The inclusion of any information in
any
section of the Disclosure Schedule or other documents made available or
delivered by the Seller pursuant to this Agreement shall be not be deemed to
be
an admission or evidence of the materiality of such item, nor shall it establish
a standard of materiality for any purpose whatsoever:
Section
3.1 Organization
and Qualification.
The
Seller is a company incorporated with limited liability, duly organized and
validly existing under the laws of Hong Kong and is not in administration,
receivership or liquidation, and no petition has been presented for its
winding-up and there are no grounds on which any petition or application could
be based for its winding-up or the appointment of an administrator or receiver
over its assets. The Seller has all requisite corporate or similar power and
authority to own, lease and operate its assets, and to carry on the Business
as
currently conducted. The Seller is duly qualified to do business as a foreign
corporation or other entity in each jurisdiction where the ownership or
operation of its assets or the conduct of its business requires such
qualification.
Section
3.2 Subsidiaries.
(a) Schedule 3.2(a)
sets forth a complete and accurate list of each Transferred Subsidiary, together
with its jurisdiction of organization and its authorized and outstanding shares
of capital stock or other equity interests as of the date hereof. Each
Transferred Subsidiary (i) is duly organized, validly existing and, in the
case of any Transferred Subsidiary organized in the PRC, has passed the annual
statutory examination of its business license, and is not in administration,
receivership or liquidation, and no petition has been presented for its
winding-up and there are no grounds on which any petition or application could
be based for its winding-up or the appointment of an administrator or receiver
over its assets, (ii) has all requisite corporate or similar power and
authority to own, lease and operate its assets and to carry on its portion
of
the Business as currently conducted, (iii) has complied with its Memorandum
and Articles of Association, Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or other
similar organizational documents in all respects and none of its activities,
agreements, commitments or rights is ultra xxxxx or unauthorized, and
(iv) is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation or other
entity in each jurisdiction where the ownership or operation of its assets
or
the conduct of its business requires such qualification.
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(b) The
Seller has heretofore delivered to the Buyer complete and accurate copies of
the
Memorandum and Articles of Association, Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws
or
other similar organizational documents of each of the Transferred Subsidiaries
as presently in effect, and attached thereto are copies of all resolutions
and
agreements that are required to be so attached.
(c) There
are
no preemptive or other outstanding rights, options, warrants, conversion rights,
stock appreciation rights, redemption rights, repurchase rights, agreements,
arrangements or commitments or rights of any kind or
rights
that call for the sale, transfer, issue, allotment, conversion, redemption
or
repurchase of, or accord to any Person other than the Seller the right (whether
exercisable now or in the future and whether contingent or not) to call for
the
sale, transfer, issue, allotment, conversion, redemption or repurchase of,
any
shares, loan stock or other securities in the capital of any Transferred
Subsidiary.
(d) The
Company does not have outstanding any bonds, debentures, notes or other
obligations the holders of which have the right to vote (or convertible into
or
exercisable for securities having the right to vote) with the stockholders
of
the Company on any matter.
(e) The
Seller is the legal and beneficial owner of the Transferred Shares, free and
clear of all Encumbrances, and upon delivery by the Seller of the Transferred
Shares at Closing, legal and beneficial ownership of the Transferred Shares,
free and clear of all Encumbrances, other than those resulting from the Buyer’s
ownership, will pass to the
Buyer. The Transferred Shares constitute or will constitute all of the
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company as of the date hereof and
as
of the Closing. The Company is the legal and beneficial owner of all of the
outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of COTCO
International Ltd., COTCO Luminant Device (Huizhou) Ltd. and COTCO Opto
Technology (Shanghai) Ltd., free and clear (upon payment of the Indebtedness
listed on Schedule 3.23(b)) of all Encumbrances. COTCO International Ltd.
is the legal and beneficial owner of all the outstanding shares of capital
stock
of COTCO Japan Co., Ltd., free and clear (upon payment of the Indebtedness
listed on Schedule 3.23(b)) of all Encumbrances. All of the outstanding
shares of capital stock or other equity interests of the Transferred
Subsidiaries have been duly authorized, and are validly issued, fully paid
and
non-assessable. The registered capital of each Transferred Subsidiary
incorporated or organized in the PRC has been fully contributed in accordance
with applicable Laws and there is no obligation to make further contributions
to
any of such Transferred Subsidiary by way of debt or equity.
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(f) No
Transferred Subsidiary owns, directly or indirectly, any shares of capital
stock
or other equity interests of any Person (other than, in the case of the Company,
the shares of capital stock or other equity interests it holds in the other
Transferred Subsidiaries and, prior to the Closing, Xxx Xxx Luminant Mfg.,
Shenzhen COT Luminant Device Co., Ltd. and COTCO Luminant (Shenzhen)
Ltd.).
(g) The
representative offices of the Transferred Subsidiaries are not independent
legal
entities and have only engaged in business and operating activities permitted
for representative offices by applicable Law.
Section
3.3 Corporate
Authorization.
The
Seller has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and
each of the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party, and to perform its
obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution, delivery and performance
by
the Seller of this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Agreements to which
it is
a party has been duly and validly authorized and no additional corporate,
shareholder or similar authorization or consent is required in connection with
the execution, delivery and performance by the Seller of this Agreement or
each
of the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party. Each Affiliate of the Seller
has or prior to the Closing will have full power and authority to execute and
deliver each Ancillary Agreement or Closing document to which it is a party
or
signatory, and to perform its obligations thereunder. The execution, delivery
and performance by each Affiliate of the Seller of each Ancillary Agreement
or
Closing document to which it is a party or signatory has been or prior to the
Closing will have been duly and validly authorized, and no additional corporate,
shareholder or similar authorization or consent is required in connection with
the execution, delivery and performance by any Affiliate of the Seller of the
Ancillary Agreements or Closing documents to which it is a party or
signatory.
Section
3.4 Consents
and Approvals.
(a) Except
as set forth on Schedule 3.4(a)(i), no consent, approval, waiver,
authorization, notice or filing is required to be obtained by the Seller or
any
of its Affiliates from, or to be given by the Seller or any of its Affiliates
to, or made by the Seller or any of its Affiliates with, any Government Entity,
in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Seller or
any
of its Affiliates of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements. Except as
set
forth on Schedule 3.4(a)(ii), no consent, approval, waiver, authorization,
notice or filing is required to be obtained by the Seller or any of its
Affiliates from, or to be given by the Seller or any of its Affiliates to,
or
made by the Seller or any of its Affiliates with, any Person that is not a
Government Entity in connection with the execution, delivery and performance
by
the Seller or any of its Affiliates of this Agreement and the Ancillary
Agreements.
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(b) Without
limiting the foregoing (i) with respect to the HSR Act, (A) the Seller
is not incorporated in the United States, is not organized under the laws of
the
United States and does not have its principal offices within the United States
and (B) the Seller, including all entities controlled by the Seller within
the meaning of the HSR Act (I) does not hold assets located in the United
States (other than investment assets, voting or nonvoting securities of another
Person and assets included pursuant to 16 C.F.R. 801.40(d)(2)) having an
aggregate total value in excess of $59,800,000 and (II) did not make
aggregate sales in or into the United States of over $59,800,000 in its most
recent fiscal year, and (ii) with respect to PRC competition Laws,
(A) neither the Seller nor the Company owns more than
RMB 3,000,000,000 of assets inside the PRC, (B) neither the Seller’s
nor the Company’s business volume in the PRC market is more than
RMB 1,500,000,000 in the current year, (C) neither the Seller’s and
its affiliated enterprises’ nor the Company’s and its affiliated enterprises’
market share in the PRC has reached 20% or will reach 25% as a result of the
transactions contemplated hereby, and (D) neither the Seller nor the
Company will directly or indirectly hold shares in more than 15 foreign-funded
enterprises in the relevant domestic industries as a result of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
Section
3.5 Non-Contravention.
The
execution, delivery and performance by the Seller and its Affiliates of this
Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which they are a party, and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, do not and
will not (i) violate any provision of the Memorandum and Articles of
Association, Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or other similar
organizational documents of the Seller or any of its Affiliates,
(ii) assuming the receipt of all consents, approvals, waivers and
authorizations and the making of the notices and filings set forth on
Schedule 3.4(a)(ii), conflict with, or result in the breach of, or effect
or give rise to any license under, or constitute a default under, or result
in
the termination, cancellation, modification or acceleration (whether after
the
filing of notice or the lapse of time or both) of any right or obligation of
the
Seller or any of its Affiliates under, or result in a loss of any benefit to
which the Seller or any of its Affiliates is entitled under, or result in the
imposition of any obligation under, any Contract, result in any term of any
Contract becoming applicable or inapplicable or a material change in the scope
of any Contract, or result in the creation of any Encumbrance upon any of the
Transferred Shares or the assets of the Transferred Subsidiaries, or
(iii) assuming the receipt of all consents, approvals, waivers and
authorizations and the making of notices and filings set forth on
Schedule 3.4(a)(i) or required to be made or obtained by the Buyer, violate
or result in a breach of or constitute a default under any Law to which the
Seller or any of its Affiliates is subject, or under any Governmental
Authorization.
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Section
3.6 Binding
Effect.
This
Agreement and each of the Ancillary Agreements, when executed and delivered
by
the Buyer and the other parties thereto, constitutes a valid and legally binding
obligation of the Seller and each Affiliate party to such agreements,
enforceable against the Seller and each such Affiliate 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 and to general equity principles.
Section
3.7 Financial
Statements.
(a) Set
forth on Schedule 3.7(a) is (i) a copy of the Accountant’s Report
comprising the following audited financial statements for the Company and its
Subsidiaries as of and for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006 and the
nine months ended December 31, 2006: consolidated balance sheet,
consolidated income statement and consolidated statement of changes in equity
and consolidated cash flow statement, in each case including the Transferred
Assets (collectively, the “Audited
Financial Statements”),
and
(ii) a copy of the following unaudited financial statements for the Company
and its Subsidiaries as of and for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005:
consolidated pro forma balance sheet and consolidated pro forma income
statement, including the Transferred Assets (the “Unaudited
Financial Statements”
and,
together with the Audited Financial Statements, the “Historical
Financial Statements”).
Except as described in the notes thereto, the Audited Financial Statements
have
been prepared on a proper and consistent basis in accordance with Hong Kong
GAAP, and fairly present the financial condition and the consolidated results
of
operations and accumulated profits of the Company and its Subsidiaries,
including the Transferred Assets, as of the dates thereof or the periods then
ended. The Audited Financial Statements have been prepared on a basis “under
assets held for sale”, under which the Excluded Assets and Excluded Liabilities
are presented as discontinued operations. To the Knowledge of the Seller, the
Unaudited Financial Statements were prepared in good faith on a proper and
consistent basis in accordance with Hong Kong GAAP.
(b) The
Audited Financial Statements have been and were prepared in accordance with
the
Books and Records. The Books and Records used to compile the Audited Financial
Statements are complete and accurate in all material respects and have been
maintained in accordance with sound business practices and a system of internal
accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that
(i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or
specific authorization, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to
permit preparation of the consolidated financial statements of the Company
and
its Subsidiaries in accordance with Hong Kong GAAP and to maintain asset
accountability, (iii) access to the Company’s assets is permitted only in
accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, and
(iv) assets are reconciled at reasonable intervals and appropriate action
is taken with respect to any material differences.
(c) The
Most
Recent Balance Sheet accurately reflects, as of the date thereof, the aggregate
amount of all outstanding rebates, discounts or other allowances offered by
the
Business to its customers, if any, which rebates, discounts or other allowances
are not material to the Business. The Business has no formal, written policies
with respect to rebates, discounts or other allowances offered to its
customers.
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(d) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 3.7(d), none of the Transferred Subsidiaries is engaged
in
any transactions with, or has any obligations to, any unconsolidated entities
that are contractually limited to activities that facilitate the transfer of,
or
access to, assets by any of the Transferred Subsidiaries, including, without
limitation, structured finance entities and special purpose entities, or
otherwise engages in, or has any obligations under, any off-balance sheet
transactions or arrangements.
Section
3.8 Litigation
and Claims.
Except
as set forth on Schedule 3.8:
(a) there
is
no civil, criminal or administrative notice, action, suit, demand, charge,
claim, hearing, proceeding, notice of violation, inquiry or investigation from,
by or before any Government Entity pending or, to the Knowledge of the Seller,
threatened against or relating to the Seller or any of its Affiliates in
connection with the Transferred Shares, the assets of the Transferred
Subsidiaries, the Business or the transactions contemplated hereby and, to
the
Seller’s Knowledge, there are no facts and circumstances of which they are
currently aware that would be reasonably likely to result in the same;
and
(b) none
of
the Transferred Shares, the assets of the Transferred Subsidiaries or the
Business is subject to any order, writ, judgment, award, injunction or decree
of
any court or governmental or regulatory authority of competent jurisdiction
or
any arbitrator or arbitrators.
Section
3.9 Taxes.
Except
as set forth on Schedule 3.9 and only to the extent required by the statute
of limitations:
(a) the
Company and each of the other Transferred Subsidiaries has filed all Tax Returns
required to be filed by them on or before the date hereof (taking into account
all applicable extensions) and the Seller has filed all Tax Returns required
to
be filed on or before the date hereof (taking into account all applicable
extensions) with respect to the Company, the other Transferred Subsidiaries
or
the Seller, as the case may be, have paid all Taxes required to be paid with
respect to any such entity;
(b) the
Tax
Returns referred to in Section 3.9(a) above are correct and complete in all
material respects;
(c) all
deficiencies asserted or assessments made as a result of such examinations
have
been paid in full;
(d) no
issues
have been raised in writing by the relevant taxing authority in connection
with
the examination of any of the Tax Returns or are currently pending;
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(e) neither
the Company nor any other Transferred Subsidiary has been a member of an
affiliated, combined, consolidated or unitary tax group for purposes of filing
any Tax Return;
(f) no
waivers of statute of limitations have been given by or requested with respect
to any Taxes of the Company or any other Transferred Subsidiary;
(g) there
are
no Encumbrances for Taxes (other than for Taxes not yet due) on any of the
assets of the Company or any other Transferred Subsidiary;
(h) the
Company and the other Transferred Subsidiaries have not entered into any
“reportable transactions,” as defined in Section 1.6011-4(b)(1) of the
United States Treasury Regulations or any transaction governed by a similar
regime under federal, state, local or foreign law; and
(i) the
Seller has delivered to the Buyer complete and accurate copies of all income
Tax
Returns and all material non-income Tax Returns, examination reports and
statements of deficiencies assessed against, or agreed to by the Company or
any
other Transferred Subsidiary.
Section
3.10 Compensation
Plans.
(a) The
Seller has listed on Schedule 3.10(a) all employment, consulting,
independent contractor, benefit and compensation plans, contracts, policies,
agreements, programs or arrangements, whether written or oral, covering
Employees, and deferred compensation, severance, stock option, stock purchase,
stock appreciation rights, stock based, incentive, bonus, retirement, pension
and superannuation plans and any applicable “change in control” or similar
provisions in any plan, contract or arrangement (the “Compensation
Plans”).
No
Compensation Plan provides for any benefit based in whole or in part on the
value of any equity interest in, or equity interest owned by the Transferred
Subsidiaries. All employees associated with the Business, other than the
Transferred Employees, are employed by the Transferred
Subsidiaries.
(b) No
Compensation Plan is subject to ERISA or the Code. Except as set forth on
Schedule 3.10(b), all Compensation Plans comply in form and operation in all
respects with all applicable Laws and their terms. Except as set forth on
Schedule 3.10(b), there is no material pending or, to the Knowledge of the
Seller, threatened litigation, claim, audit or governmental action relating
to
any of the Compensation Plans and, to the Knowledge of the Seller, there is
no
existing condition, situation or set of circumstances that could reasonably
be
expected to result in such litigation, claim, audit or governmental
action.
(c) The
Seller has delivered to the Buyer true and complete copies of (i) each of
the Compensation Plans and related trust agreements, if any, and all summary
plan descriptions related thereto as they have been amended as of the date
hereof, and (ii) with respect to any unwritten Compensation Plan, a written
description thereof and any material communications related
thereto.
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(d) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 3.10(d), all contributions required to be made under
the
terms of any Compensation Plan have been timely made and all obligations in
respect of each Compensation Plan have been properly accrued and reflected
in
the Historical Financial Statements and all other unpaid obligations under
any
Compensation Plan to which contributions are not required (including under
any
vacation or paid time-off plans or arrangements) have been reflected in the
Historical Financial Statements.
(e) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 3.10(e), none of the Transferred Subsidiaries have any
obligations for retiree health, life or other post-termination of employment
benefits or any obligations to compensate any individuals for services performed
after the termination of their employment under any Compensation Plan,
collective bargaining agreement or otherwise.
(f) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 3.10(f), neither the execution of this Agreement or the
Ancillary Agreements nor the consummation of the Transaction, either alone
or in
conjunction with any other event, will (i) entitle any Employees or any
other service provider to any payment or any increase in severance pay,
(ii) accelerate the time of payment or vesting or increase or trigger any
payment or funding (through a grantor trust or otherwise) of compensation or
benefits under, increase the amount payable or trigger any other material
obligation pursuant to, any of the Compensation Plans or (iii) result in
any payment under any of the Compensation Plans or otherwise that alone or
together with all other payments would constitute a “parachute payment” to any
“disqualified individual” as those terms are defined in Section 280G of the
Code (whether or not such payment is considered to be reasonable compensation
for services rendered).
(g) There
has
been no amendment to, written interpretation, communication or announcement
by
any of the Transferred Subsidiaries relating to, or change in employee
participation (excluding any increase in participation solely as a result of
the
hiring of a new employee) or coverage under, any Compensation Plan (whether
or
not enforceable) that could increase the expense of maintaining such
Compensation Plan above the level of expense incurred in respect thereof for
the
most recently completed fiscal year or affect the administration of such
Compensation Plan or result in any liability to the sponsor of such Compensation
Plan.
(h) The
Transferred Subsidiaries may amend or terminate any Compensation Plan, other
than such Compensation Plans as required by applicable Law to the extent so
required, at any time without incurring liability thereunder other than
(i) in respect of accrued obligations and medical or welfare claims
incurred prior to such amendment or termination and (ii) typical expenses
and notice periods associated with any such amendment or
termination.
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(i) As
of the
Closing Date, the Transferred Subsidiaries will not have any outstanding loans
or extensions of credit to any Employees or any other service provider (or
their
family members or dependents).
(j) Schedule 3.10(j)(i)
contains a complete and accurate list of the following information for each
Employee (including each Employee on leave of absence or inactive status),
leased employee, temporary or staffing agency employee, director, independent
contractor and consultant of each Transferred Subsidiary, excluding the Huizhou
factory workers: (i) name; (ii) job title/position; (iii) grade;
(iv) department; (v) start date; (vi) breakdown of total and
average currently monthly income by grade. Schedule 3.10(j)(ii) contains a
complete and accurate list as of February 28, 2007 of the following
information for each Huizhou factory worker: (i) staff number;
(ii) job title/position; (iii) grade, (iv) department;
(v) start date and (vi) breakdown of total and average current monthly
income by grade.
(k) Schedule 3.10(k)
sets forth an accurate and complete description of: (i) the total amount of
2006 bonuses (whether or not guaranteed), (ii) a breakdown of such bonuses
by each category of Employee, (iii) the number of Employees in each
category, (iv) the frequency with which such bonus is paid,
(iv) whether or not such bonus is guaranteed, and (v) the total amount
of bonuses paid as of February 28, 2007.
(l) To
the
Seller’s Knowledge, at all times while engaged by a Transferred Subsidiary, all
independent contractors and consultants of such Transferred Subsidiary were
independent contractors to, and not employees of, such Transferred Subsidiary
for purposes of all applicable Laws relating to wages and hours, all applicable
Tax withholding requirements, and any other Law or any Governmental
Authorization implicating the relationship between such Transferred Subsidiary
and any independent contractor or consultant.
(m) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 3.10(m), to the Seller’s Knowledge, no Employee, director,
officer, agent, independent contractor or consultant of any of the Transferred
Subsidiaries is bound by any Contract or other agreement or arrangement that
purports to limit the ability of such Employee, director, officer, agent,
independent contractor or consultant to engage in, continue or perform any
conduct, activity, duty or practice relating to the Business.
Section
3.11 Compliance
with Laws.
(a)
(i) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.11(a)(i), the Business at all times
since its inception has been and currently is being conducted in compliance
with
all Laws applicable to the Business or the Transferred Subsidiaries, whether
in
Hong Kong, the PRC or elsewhere, (ii) no change is required in the
properties, processes or procedures of any Transferred Subsidiary in connection
with any Law applicable to the Business or the Transferred Subsidiaries, and
neither the Seller nor any of its Affiliates has received any notice alleging
any violation under any such Law (and, to the Knowledge of the Seller, no such
notice has been threatened), and (iii) the Transferred Subsidiaries have
all Governmental Authorizations necessary for the conduct of their respective
businesses and the Business, as currently conducted, a complete and accurate
list of which is set forth on Schedule 3.11(a)(iii). All such Governmental
Authorizations are valid and in full force and effect and held by or in the
name
of a Transferred Subsidiary. Neither the Seller nor any of its Affiliates has
received any notice that any such Governmental Authorizations may be modified,
suspended or revoked or may not be renewed in the Ordinary Course.
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(b) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 3.11(b), neither the Seller nor any of its Affiliates
is a Person described or designated in the Specially Designated Nationals and
Blocked Persons List of the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control or in
Section 1 of the Anti-Terrorism Order and, to the Seller’s Knowledge, none
of the Transferred Subsidiaries engages in any dealings or transactions with
any
such Person.
(c) The
Transferred Subsidiaries and each of their respective Representatives
have
at
all times been in compliance with each applicable Law that relates to bribery,
improper competition or other matters including corruption, including
Sections 93, 164, 389, 391, 392 and 393 of the PRC Criminal Law,
Sections 8 and 10 of the PRC Law Against Improper Competition or other
applicable anti-bribery and anti-grafting Laws of the PRC. Neither the Seller,
nor its Affiliates nor their respective Representatives have (i) made an
offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorized the payment of any money,
including kick-backs, or an offer, gift, promise to give or authorized the
giving of anything of value to any government official or employee, political
party, party official, candidate for political office, Representative of a
state-owned enterprise or anyone else acting in an official capacity for the
purpose of wrongfully influencing the recipient or for securing or obtaining
any
improper advantage or (ii) taken any other action, or permitted or
authorized any other action to be taken, including any other action in
connection with the conduct of the Business and the transactions contemplated
under this Agreement, which would cause the Seller or any of its Affiliates
to
be in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended,
assuming in all cases that such Act applies to the Seller and its
Affiliates.
Section
3.12 Environmental
Matters.
Except
for matters that are set forth on Schedule 3.12:
(a) the
Business, the Company and the other Transferred Subsidiaries have at all times
complied and are presently in compliance with all applicable Environmental
Laws
and there are no Liabilities relating to any applicable Environmental Laws
with
respect to the Transferred Subsidiaries or the Business;
(b) neither
the Seller nor any of its Affiliates (nor, to the Seller’s Knowledge, any
predecessor in interest) has received any notice, demand, claim, letter or
request for information, relating to any alleged violation of, or any Liability
under, any applicable Environmental Law in connection with the Business, the
Leased Real Property, any property previously owned, leased or operated by
the
Business or the assets of the Transferred Subsidiaries;
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(c) there
are
no writs, injunctions, decrees, directives, orders or judgments outstanding
or
any indemnity or other agreement with any third party, in each case relating
to
liability or obligations under any applicable Environmental Law or any actions,
suits, proceedings or investigations pending or, to the Seller’s Knowledge,
threatened relating to compliance with or Liability under any applicable
Environmental Law affecting the Business, the Leased Real Property, any property
previously owned, leased or operated by the Business or the assets of the
Transferred Subsidiaries;
(d) there
has
been no release, storage, handling, contamination or disposal of Hazardous
Substances on any Leased Real Property, any property previously owned, leased
or
operated by the Business, or third-party property for which the Business or
any
Transferred Subsidiary could reasonably be expected to incur or share
Liability;
(e) the
Business, the Company and the other Transferred Subsidiaries possess all
Governmental Authorizations required under Environmental Laws for the Business
as presently conducted and, to the Seller’s Knowledge, there are no
circumstances that could reasonably be expected to result in any such
Governmental Authorization being revoked, terminated, revised, amended or not
renewed in the ordinary course;
(f) to
the
Knowledge of the Seller, there are no underground storage tanks,
asbestos-containing materials, lead-based products or polychlorinated biphenyls
on any of the Leased Real Property used in the operations of the Company or
any
Transferred Subsidiary or otherwise included in the assets of the Transferred
Subsidiaries, other than in compliance with all Environmental Laws and as could
not reasonably be expected to result in Liability;
(g) to
the
Knowledge of the Seller, there are no other circumstances or conditions,
including any anticipated changes in Environmental Laws, involving the Business,
the Leased Real Property, any property previously owned, leased or operated
by
the Business, the Company or any other Transferred Subsidiary that could
reasonably be expected to result in any claim, Liability, investigation, cost
or
restriction on the transfer or operation of the Business or any property in
connection with any Environmental Law; and
(h) the
Seller has delivered to the Buyer copies of all environmental reports, audits,
assessments, memoranda and studies in the possession of the Seller or its
Affiliates with respect to the Business, the Leased Real Property, any property
previously owned, leased or operated by the Business or the assets of the
Transferred Subsidiaries.
Section
3.13 Intellectual
Property.
(a) Schedule 3.13(a)(i)
sets forth a true and complete list of all Registered Intellectual Property
owned by the Transferred Subsidiaries, other than that included in the Excluded
Assets, indicating for each Registered item the registration or application
number and the applicable filing jurisdiction. Except as set forth in Schedule
3.13(a)(ii), the Transferred Subsidiaries exclusively own (beneficially and
of
record, where applicable) all Transferred Intellectual Property, free and clear
of all Encumbrances, other than Permitted Encumbrances and non-exclusive
licenses granted in the Ordinary Course. To the Seller’s Knowledge, the
Transferred Intellectual Property is valid, subsisting and enforceable, and
is
not subject to any outstanding order, judgment, decree or agreement adversely
affecting any Transferred Subsidiary’s use thereof or its rights
thereto.
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(b) The
Transferred Subsidiaries own or have sufficient rights to use all Intellectual
Property used in the Business as presently conducted, all of which ownership
or
rights shall survive unchanged the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement. To the Seller’s Knowledge, there is no third party
Intellectual Property that could reasonably be expected to have a material
adverse effect on the Business as presently conducted.
(c) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 3.13(c), neither the Seller nor any of its Affiliates
has
developed jointly with any other Person (including any Government Entity) any
Transferred Intellectual Property with respect to which such other Person has
rights. There is no Contract pursuant to which any Person has any right (whether
or not currently exercisable) to use, license or otherwise exploit any
Transferred Intellectual Property, except those Contracts with vendors,
suppliers, distributors, resellers and/or customers entered into in the Ordinary
Course pursuant to which such Persons may have received a non-exclusive license
to any Transferred Intellectual Property.
(d) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 3.13(d), there is no litigation, opposition, cancellation,
proceeding, objection or claim, pending, asserted or, to the Seller’s Knowledge,
threatened against the Seller or its Affiliates concerning the ownership,
validity, registerability, enforceability, infringement or use of, or licensed
right to use, any Intellectual Property Related to the Business. To the Seller’s
Knowledge, no valid basis for any such litigation, opposition, cancellation,
proceeding, objection or claim exists. To the Seller’s Knowledge, no person is
violating any Transferred Intellectual Property right or other material
Intellectual Property right that any Transferred Subsidiary holds
exclusively.
(e) The
Seller and its Affiliates have taken reasonable measures to protect the
confidentiality and value of all Trade Secrets that are owned, used or held
by
the Transferred Subsidiaries and other proprietary or material confidential
information with respect to the Business and, to the Seller’s Knowledge, such
Trade Secrets have not been used, disclosed to or discovered by any Person
except pursuant to valid and appropriate non-disclosure and/or license
agreements which have not been breached.
(f) To
the
Seller’s Knowledge, none of the Employees has any patents issued or applications
pending for any device, process, design or invention of any kind now used or
needed by any Transferred Subsidiary in the furtherance of the Business, which
patents or applications have not been validly assigned to such Transferred
Subsidiary. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.13(f)(i), the Employees and the
prior employees, consultants, contractors and agents who have made contributions
to the creation or development of the Intellectual Property Related to the
Business, as set forth on Schedule 3.13(f)(ii), have executed valid intellectual
property assignment and confidentiality agreements for the benefit of the
Transferred Subsidiaries. Prior to the date of this Agreement, the Seller has
provided to the Buyer for its review the standard form of employee and
consulting Contracts for the Employees set forth on Schedule 3.13(f)(ii)
containing intellectual property assignment or license and confidentiality
protection. To the Seller’s Knowledge, no current or former employee, officer,
director, stockholder, consultant or independent contractor has or has alleged
any right, claim or interest in or with respect to any Transferred Intellectual
Property.
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(g) To
the
Seller’s Knowledge, the Employees’ performance of their employment activities
does not violate any third party’s Intellectual Property rights or such
Employees’ contractual obligations to any third person.
(h) To
the
Seller’s Knowledge, the Transferred Intellectual Property that is Registered
Intellectual Property has been duly registered with, filed in, or issued by,
the
United States Patent and Trademark Office or such other filing offices, domestic
or foreign, as are identified on Schedule 3.13(h), and such registrations,
filings, issuances and other actions remain in full force and effect, and are
current and unexpired. The Seller and each of its Affiliates has properly
executed and recorded all documents necessary to perfect its title to all
Registered Transferred Intellectual Property and has all documents and has
paid
all Taxes, fees and other financial obligations required to maintain in force
and effect all such items until the Closing. The Seller and each of its
Affiliates has properly executed all documents necessary to transfer to the
Company all unregistered Transferred Intellectual Property included in the
Transferred Assets.
(i) Schedule 3.13(i)
sets forth all IP Contracts, including all IP Contracts with consultants (other
than (A) licenses for commercial “off-the-shelf” or “shrinkwrap” software
that has not been modified or customized for any Transferred Subsidiary,
(B) Contracts with Employees that are consistent with the standard form
Contracts referenced in Section 3.13(f) in all material respects, and
(C) Contracts with vendors, suppliers, distributors, resellers, and/or
customers entered into in the Ordinary Course pursuant to which such Persons
may
have received a non-exclusive license to any Transferred Intellectual Property).
Each IP Contract is legal, valid, binding and enforceable against the other
party, and is in full force and effect, subject to applicable bankruptcy and
insolvency laws and general principles of equity, and will continue to be so
immediately following the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
this
Agreement.
(j) No
claim
has been asserted or, to the Seller’s Knowledge, threatened that any Transferred
Subsidiary or any other Person has breached any IP Contract. There exists no
event, condition or occurrence that, with the giving of notice or lapse of
time,
or both, would constitute a breach or default by any Transferred Subsidiary
or,
to the Seller’s Knowledge, another Person under any IP Contract. No party to any
IP Contract has given the Seller or any of its Affiliates notice of its
intention to cancel, terminate, change the scope of rights under, or fail to
renew any IP Contract. Neither the Company nor any other Transferred Subsidiary
nor, to the Seller’s Knowledge, any other party to any IP Contract has
repudiated in writing any material provision thereof. Consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not place any Transferred
Subsidiary in breach or default of any IP Contract, or trigger any modification,
termination or acceleration thereunder, or create any license under or
Encumbrance on Intellectual Property owned or held by the Buyer.
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(k) To
the
Seller’s Knowledge, the Intellectual Property licensed to any Transferred
Subsidiary is valid, subsisting and enforceable and is not subject to any
outstanding order, judgment, decree or agreement adversely affecting any
Transferred Subsidiary’s use thereof or its rights thereto. To the extent that
licensed Intellectual Property is sublicensed to any Transferred Subsidiary
by a
third person, the Transferred Subsidiary’s sublicensed rights shall continue in
full force and effect even if the principal third person license terminates
for
any reason, except as set forth on Schedule 3.13(k). Except as set forth on
Schedule 3.13(k), no Transferred Subsidiary is obligated to make payments
by way of royalties, advances, profit sharing, commissions, fees or otherwise
to
any person in respect of any Intellectual Property licensed to such Transferred
Subsidiary.
(l) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 3.13(l), there is no litigation, proceeding,
objection or claim pending, asserted or, to the Seller’s Knowledge, threatened
against any Transferred Subsidiary or against the Seller or its other
Affiliates, to the extent Related to the Business, concerning the infringement,
use, or violation of the Intellectual Property rights of any third party, and
no
Transferred Subsidiary nor the Seller or its other Affiliates, to the extent
Related to the Business, infringes, otherwise violates or is being accused
of
violating or, within the last six years, has infringed, otherwise violated
or
has been accused of violating, the Intellectual Property rights of any third
party.
(m) The
IT
Assets operate and perform in all material respects in accordance with their
documentation and functional specifications and otherwise as required by each
Transferred Subsidiary in connection with its business, and have not materially
malfunctioned or failed within the past three years. To the Seller’s Knowledge,
the IT Assets do not contain any “time bombs,” “Trojan horses,” “back doors,”
“trap doors,” “worms,” viruses, bugs, faults or other devices or effects that
(i) enable or assist any Person to access without authorization the IT
Assets, or (ii) otherwise significantly adversely affect the functionality
of the IT Assets, except as disclosed in its documentation. To the Seller’s
Knowledge, no Person has gained unauthorized access to the IT Assets. The
Transferred Subsidiaries have implemented reasonable backup, security and
disaster recovery technology consistent with industry practices. The Transferred
Subsidiaries take reasonable measures, directly or indirectly, to ensure the
confidentiality of customer financial and other confidential
information.
(n) The
Transferred Subsidiaries exclusively own or otherwise have the right to use
each
version of software used by the Transferred Subsidiaries in the past two years
that is Related to the Business.
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Section
3.14 Labor.
Neither
the Company nor any of the other Transferred Subsidiaries is a party to or
otherwise bound by any collective bargaining agreement, contract or other
agreement or understanding with a labor union or labor organization. Except
as
set forth on Schedule 3.14, the Company and each of the other Transferred
Subsidiaries has complied and is operating in accordance with all applicable
Laws relating to employment practices. Except as set forth on
Schedule 3.14, during the preceding three years, none of the Transferred
Subsidiaries has been subject to a strike, picketing, labor arbitration or
other
labor disputes and, to the Knowledge of the Seller, none is threatened. None
of
the Transferred Subsidiaries has received any written notice alleging its
delinquency in payment of wages, salaries, social security or other compensation
to any employees. None of the Transferred Subsidiaries is the subject of any
action asserting that such Transferred Subsidiary has committed an unfair labor
practice contrary to applicable Laws or is seeking to compel it to bargain
with
any labor union or labor organization nor is there any such action pending
or,
to the Knowledge of the Seller, threatened against any Transferred
Subsidiary.
Section
3.15 Contracts.
(a) Schedule 3.15(a)
sets forth a complete and accurate list of all Contracts that are material
to
the Business (the “Material
Contracts”),
including:
(i) all
Contracts included in the Transferred Assets;
(ii) all
sales, agency, franchise, supply, distribution or service Contracts, other
than
all purchase orders entered into in the Ordinary Course;
(iii) all
Contracts involving annual payments of $100,000 or more, which are binding
for
more than 30 days and which are not cancelable without penalty or liability
on
or before the expiration of 30 days, other than all purchase orders for raw
materials entered into in the Ordinary Course;
(iv) all
Contracts that contain non-competition or exclusivity covenants or that
otherwise restrict the Transferred Subsidiaries or their Affiliates in the
conduct of the Business or any other business or geographic area;
(v) all
Contracts that require annual payments to an Employee of base compensation
in
excess of $100,000;
(vi) all
Contracts requiring the payment by the counterparties thereto for goods and/or
services, whether or not the goods or services are actually provided, or the
provision of goods or services by the Company or any other Transferred
Subsidiary at a price less than the Company’s or such other Transferred
Subsidiary’s cost of producing such goods or providing such
services;
(vii) all
Contracts that contain “most favored nation” or other similar provisions that
could require a Transferred Subsidiary to offer to a Person any terms or
conditions that are at least as favorable as those offered to one or more other
Persons;
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(viii) all
Contracts providing for any loan or advance to, or investment in, any
Person;
(ix) all
collaborative, alliance, joint venture, partnership or similar
Contracts;
(x) all
Contracts that would require the Buyer or any of its Affiliates or any of their
respective successors or assigns to provide for indemnification or contribution
with respect to any matter;
(xi) all
Contracts containing preferential rights to purchase all or any portion of
the
Business which rights have not, or by the Closing will not have, been terminated
or expired;
(xii) all
Contracts for the acquisition or disposition of any material assets of the
Transferred Subsidiaries;
(xiii) all
Contracts not made in the Ordinary Course;
(xiv) all
joint
research and development Contracts with another Person;
all
license agreements under which any of the Transferred Subsidiaries is a licensee
or licensor;
(xv) all
Contracts to which any government or state-owned entity is a direct
party;
(xvi) all
Contracts restricting or otherwise impairing (including by requiring the consent
or approval of any third party) in any material respect the consummation of
the
transactions contemplated under this Agreement;
(xvii) all
intercompany agreements and arrangements (including those relating to goods,
services and other rights) between the Seller or its Affiliates (other than
the
Transferred Subsidiaries), on the one hand, and the Transferred Subsidiaries,
on
the other hand;
(xviii) all
Contracts, including evidence of receivables or payables, relating to any
transaction between or pertaining to any of the Transferred Subsidiaries and
any
director, officer or owner more than 5% of the shares of capital stock of the
Company or any family member of the foregoing;
(xix) all
Contracts with Top Customers and Top Suppliers, other than all purchase orders
entered into in the Ordinary Course;
(xx) all
Contacts evidencing Indebtedness; and
(xxi) any
other
Contract or group of Contracts that, if terminated or subject to a default
by
any party thereto, would, individually, in the case of an individual Contract,
or in the aggregate, in the case of a group of related Contracts, reasonably
be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
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The
Seller has made available to the Buyer copies of all written Material Contracts
and accurate written descriptions of all material terms of all oral Material
Contracts, in each case as amended to the date hereof.
(b) All
of
the Material Contracts are, and will be immediately following the Closing,
in
full force and effect and are enforceable against each party thereto in
accordance with the terms thereof. There does not exist under any Material
Contract any violation, breach or event of default, or alleged violation, breach
or event of default, or event or condition that, after notice or lapse of time
or both, would constitute a violation, breach or event of default thereunder
on
the part of the Seller or any of its Affiliates or, to the Knowledge of the
Seller, any other party thereto, except as set forth on Schedule 3.15(b).
There are no disputes pending or, to the Seller’s Knowledge, threatened under
any Material Contract.
(c) There
are
no outstanding powers of attorney in favor of any Person granted by the Seller
or any of its Affiliates, to the extent Related to the Business.
Section
3.16 Territorial
Restrictions.
Except
as set forth on Schedule 3.16, neither the Company nor any other
Transferred Subsidiary is restricted by any agreement or understanding with
any
Person from carrying on the Business anywhere in the world or from expanding
the
Business in any way or entering into any new businesses.
Section
3.17 Absence
of Changes.
Other
than as set forth on Schedule 3.17, since December 31, 2006, the
Seller and its Affiliates have conducted the Business only in the Ordinary
Course, and the Business has not experienced any event or condition and, to
the
Seller’s Knowledge, no event or condition is threatened that, individually or in
the aggregate, has had or is reasonably likely to have, a Material Adverse
Effect. Other than as set forth on Schedule 3.17, since December 31,
2006, none of the actions or events prohibited or circumscribed by
Section 5.2 has been taken or has occurred, except after the date hereof as
permitted by this Agreement.
Section
3.18 Assets.
Except
for the services and assets listed on Schedule 3.18, the assets of the
Transferred Subsidiaries constitute all the assets, properties and rights of
the
Seller and its Affiliates necessary to conduct the Business as currently
conducted and, immediately after the Closing, necessary for the Buyer to
continue to operate and conduct the Business as currently conducted and as
proposed to be conducted following the Closing.
Section
3.19 Title
to Property.
Prior
to the date hereof, the Seller and each of its Affiliates (other than the
Transferred Subsidiaries) has transferred to or one or more of the Transferred
Subsidiaries (i) a valid and binding leasehold interest in the real
property they lease that is included in the Transferred Assets and
(ii) good title to the personal tangible property they own or lease that is
included in the Transferred Assets, in each case free and clear of all
Encumbrances, except Permitted Encumbrances. Each of the Transferred
Subsidiaries has and, immediately following the Closing, will continue to have
(i) a valid and binding leasehold interest in the real property it leases
and (ii) good title to the personal tangible property it owns or leases, in
each case free and clear of all Encumbrances, except Permitted Encumbrances
and
as set forth on Schedule 3.19.
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Section
3.20 Real
Property.
(a) The
Seller has delivered to the Buyer complete and accurate copies of each of the
leases or subleases governing the Leased Real Property and any documents or
instruments affecting the rights or obligations of any of the parties thereto.
Neither the Seller nor any of its Affiliates own any real property Related
to
the Business.
(b) Each
facility (including all buildings, structures and improvements) on the Leased
Real Property (i) is in good operating condition and repair and is
structurally sound and free of any material defects, with no material
alterations or repairs required thereto under applicable Law or insurance
company requirements, and (ii) is suitable in all material respects for its
current use, operation and occupancy.
(c) Except
as set forth on Schedule 3.20(c), the
occupancy, use and operation of the Leased Real Property has complied and
complies, in all material respects, with all Laws and Governmental
Authorizations and, to the Seller’s Knowledge, does not violate in any material
respect any instrument of record or agreement affecting such
property.
(d) To
the Knowledge of the Seller, there are no pending or threatened appropriation,
condemnation, eminent domain or like proceedings relating to the Leased Real
Property.
(e) None
of
the Leased Real Property has suffered any material damage by fire or other
casualty that has not heretofore been repaired and restored in all material
respects, except for damage that would not, individually or in the aggregate,
materially impair the conduct of the Business.
(f) All
the
leases and subleases governing the Leased Real Property have been duly
registered with the competent Government Entity as required by applicable Law.
Except as set forth on Schedule 3.20(f), all subleases governing the Leased
Real
Property have been entered into with the consent of the relevant
landlord.
Section
3.21 Personal
Property.
(a) The
Seller has delivered to the Buyer complete and accurate copies of each of the
leases or subleases governing the Leased Personal Property and any documents
or
instruments affecting the rights or obligations of any of the parties thereto.
All personal tangible property (including equipment) used by any of the
Transferred Subsidiaries is in a condition suitable for its intended function
and, except for normal wear and tear, has not decreased in value.
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(b) All
of
the inventory of the Business consists of raw materials and supplies,
manufactured and purchased parts, goods in process and finished goods, all
of
which are merchantable and fit for the purpose for which they were procured
or
manufactured, except for obsolete items and items of below-standard quality,
all
of which have been written-off or written-down to net realizable value on the
Most Recent Balance Sheet. All inventories not written-off have been priced
at
the lower of cost or net realizable value on a gross average basis.
Section
3.22 Operation
of the Business.
No part
of the Business is currently operated by the Seller through any entity other
than the Seller, Xxx Xxx Luminant Mfg. and the Transferred Subsidiaries. None
of
the Transferred Subsidiaries has any branch, place of business or permanent
establishment outside Hong Kong, the PRC or Japan, or has authorized any Person
outside Hong Kong, the PRC or Japan to legally bind any of the Transferred
Subsidiaries.
Section
3.23 Absence
of Liabilities and Indebtedness.
(a)
Except
as specifically reflected, reserved against or otherwise disclosed on the Most
Recent Balance Sheets and except as set forth on Schedule 3.23(a) and
Schedule 3.23(b), neither the Business nor any Transferred Subsidiary has
any Liabilities, other than Liabilities that were incurred since the date of
the
Most Recent Balance Sheets in the Ordinary Course under purchase orders, supply
contracts or sale contracts.
(b) Schedule 3.23(b)
is a complete and accurate list of all Indebtedness of the Transferred
Subsidiaries, including (i) the name of the applicable lender or issuing
bank, (ii) the outstanding principal amount for each item of Indebtedness
scheduled and (iii) any and all Encumbrances and guarantees provided in
connection with each item of Indebtedness scheduled. Except as set forth on
Schedule 3.23(b), none of the Transferred Subsidiaries has any
Indebtedness. Neither the Seller nor any of its Affiliates has granted any
Encumbrance on any of the assets of the Transferred Subsidiaries or provided
any
guarantee of Indebtedness that will continue to be in effect after payment
of
the Indebtedness set forth on Schedule 3.23(b).
Section
3.24 Product
Liability/Warranties.
Except
as set forth on Schedule 3.24 and except as specifically reflected,
reserved against or otherwise disclosed in the Historical Financial Statements,
(a) there is no notice, demand, claim, action, suit, inquiry, hearing,
proceeding, notice of violation or investigation from, by or before any
Government Entity relating to any product of the Business, including the
packaging and advertising related thereto, designed, formulated, manufactured,
processed, distributed, sold or placed in the stream of commerce by the Business
or any services provided by the Business (a “Product”),
or
claim or lawsuit involving a Product which is pending or, to Seller’s Knowledge,
threatened by any Person, and (b) there has not been, nor is there under
consideration by the Business, any Product recall or post-sale warning of a
material nature conducted by or on behalf of the Business concerning any
Product. All Products materially complied and comply with applicable
Governmental Authorizations and Laws, including all applicable European Union,
Japanese and Chinese Restriction of Hazardous Substance (RoHS) requirements,
and
there have not been and there are no material defects or deficiencies in such
Products. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.24, no Product is subject to
any guarantee, warranty, right of return or other indemnity beyond the Business’
applicable standard terms and conditions in effect at the time of
sale.
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Section
3.25 Insurance.
Set
forth on Schedule 3.25 is a complete and accurate list of (a) all
insurance policies covering the properties, assets, employees and operations
of
the Business, other than the Excluded Business (including product liability
insurance, title insurance, “directors’ and officers’” insurance, “key person”
insurance and workers’ compensation insurance), specifying (i) policy
number, (ii) term of coverage, (iii) property or risk covered,
(iv) appraised value of covered property to the extent available,
(v) extent of coverage, (vi) annual premiums and (vii) amount of
annual premiums that are prepaid or unpaid from prior years) and (b) all
claims made under each such policy, other than medical claims by Employees.
All
of such policies or renewals thereof are
in
full force and effect and, to the Knowledge of the Seller, except as set forth
on Schedule 3.25, will continue in full force and effect with respect to
the properties, assets, employees and operations of the Business immediately
following the Closing. To the Knowledge of the Seller, nothing has occurred
that
would render any insurance policy void or unenforceable. The Seller has made
available to the Buyer true and complete copies of all such insurance policies
and any insurance broker agreements.
Section
3.26 Finders’
Fees.
Except
for Bear Xxxxxxx Asia Limited, whose fees will be paid by the Seller, there
is
no investment banker, broker, finder or other intermediary that has been
retained by or is authorized to act on behalf of the Seller or any of its
Affiliates who might be entitled to any fee or commission from the Seller or
any
of its Affiliates in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby.
Section
3.27 Securities
Laws.
(a) The
Seller has read and fully understands this Agreement and each Ancillary
Agreement to which it is a party. The Buyer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal years ended June 26, 2005 and June 25, 2006 and the
Buyer’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the periods ended
September 24, 2006 and December 24, 2006 are publicly available on the
SEC’s XXXXX system, and the Seller understands and has evaluated the risks of an
investment in the Share Consideration based thereon. The Seller has been given
the opportunity to ask questions of, and receive answers from, the Buyer and
its
Representatives concerning the matters pertaining to the Seller’s investment in
the Share Consideration and has been given the opportunity to review such
additional information as was necessary to evaluate the merits and risks of
an
investment in the Share Consideration. The Seller can bear the economic risk
of
an investment in the Share Consideration.
(b) The
Seller understands that all the Share Consideration will be characterized as
“restricted securities” under the Securities Act and other applicable federal
and state securities laws (the “Securities
Laws”)
inasmuch as they are being acquired from the Buyer in a transaction not
involving a public offering and that, consequently, the Share Consideration
may
not be resold without first being registered under the Securities Laws except
in
certain limited circumstances. Specifically, the Seller is familiar with SEC
Rules 144 and 145 and understands, and agrees to comply with, the resale
limitations imposed thereby, by the legends described in Section 3.27(e)
below and by the Securities Laws generally or cause any other person who has
an
interest in such Share Consideration to so comply.
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(c) The
Seller acknowledges and agrees that, in addition to the restrictions imposed
by
applicable Securities Laws, the Share Consideration is subject to the terms
and
conditions of the Shareholders’ and Registration Rights Agreement, including
certain restrictions on the Transfer (as such term is defined therein) of the
Purchase Price Shares.
(d) The
Seller acknowledges and agrees that certain of the Purchase Price Shares will
be
deposited with the Escrow Agent in accordance with Section 2.8 to be held
pursuant to the Escrow Agreement and that such portion of the Purchase Price
Shares is subject to the terms and conditions of the Escrow Agreement, including
restrictions on the Transfer (as such term is defined therein) of such portion
of the Purchase Price Shares by the Seller for so long as such portion of the
Purchase Price Shares is subject to the Escrow Agreement.
(e) The
Seller understands and agrees that the certificates issued to it representing
the Share Consideration will bear the following legends and such other legends
required by the Shareholders’ and Registration Rights Agreement and as the Buyer
may reasonably deem necessary or desirable; provided however,
that
only the Purchase Price Shares subject to the Escrow Agreement shall bear the
first legend identified below:
“THE
SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO AN ESCROW AGREEMENT
WITH THE ISSUER AND THE ESCROW AGENT NAMED THEREIN (THE “ESCROW AGREEMENT”), A
COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE ISSUER, AND
WHICH, AMONG OTHER MATTERS, PLACES RESTRICTIONS ON THE DISPOSITION OF THE
SECURITIES. THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WILL BE DEPOSITED
WITH THE ESCROW AGENT PURSUANT TO THE ESCROW AGREEMENT AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED,
EXCHANGED, TRANSFERRED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED, PARTICIPATED, HYPOTHECATED
OR
OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF (EACH A “TRANSFER”) FOR SO LONG AS THEY ARE SUBJECT TO THE
ESCROW AGREEMENT.”
“THE
SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR OTHER
SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR TRANSFERRED EXCEPT PURSUANT
TO
(I) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN
COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR (II) AN EXEMPTION FROM
REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND, IF APPLICABLE, SUCH OTHER SECURITIES
LAWS AND FOLLOWING RECEIPT BY THE ISSUER OF A LEGAL OPINION OR NO-ACTION LETTER
IN FORM AND SUBSTANCE SATISFACTORY TO IT THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS
PERMITTED.”
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(f) The
foregoing legends will be removed from a Purchase Price Share certificate at
the
request of the Seller or another holder thereof in connection with the proposed
transfer thereof only upon satisfaction of the Buyer that such legends are
no
longer required or appropriate, including, in the case of the Securities Laws
legend, receipt by the Buyer of an opinion of counsel, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Buyer, or a no-action letter from the SEC addressed to
the
Buyer, to the effect that registration under the Securities Act is unnecessary
in respect of such proposed transfer, in reliance upon SEC Rule 144 or 145
or
such other available exemption under the Securities Act, and that such legend
is
not required by law to appear on such certificate.
Section
3.28 Disclosure.
To the
Seller’s Knowledge, no representation or warranty or other statement made with
respect to any of the Transferred Subsidiaries in this Agreement (including
its
Schedules), any Ancillary Agreement, the Historical Financial Statements or
any
certificate delivered pursuant to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements contains any untrue statement of a
material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make such
representation or warranty or other statement, in light of the circumstances
in
which it was made, not misleading.
Section
3.29 Customer
and Suppliers.
(a) Set
forth on Schedule 3.29(a) is a complete and accurate list of the 15 largest
customers of the Transferred Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, by revenue for
the
fiscal year ended March 31, 2006 and for the nine months ended
December 31, 2006 (collectively, the “Top
Customers”).
As of
the date hereof, none of the Top Customers has given notice to the Seller or
any
of its Affiliates that, and the Seller has no Knowledge that, any Top Customer
intends to reduce its purchases of goods or services from any Transferred
Subsidiaries, to make any modification or change in or to terminate its business
relationship with any Transferred Subsidiary, whether or not as a result of
the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Neither the Seller nor any of
its
Affiliates has had any material disputes with, and no material claims have
been
made against the Seller or any of its Affiliates or the Business by any Top
Customer.
(b) Set
forth
on Schedule 3.29(b) is a complete and accurate list of the 10 largest
suppliers of the Transferred Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, by expense for
the
year ended March 31, 2006 and for the nine months ended December 31,
2006 (collectively, the “Top
Suppliers”).
As of
the date hereof, none of the Top Suppliers has given notice to the Seller or
any
of its Affiliates that, and the Seller has no Knowledge that, any Top Supplier
intends to reduce or change the pricing of or any material terms with respect
to
its supply of goods or services to the Transferred Subsidiaries, or to terminate
its business relationship with any Transferred Subsidiary, in each case whether
or not as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Neither
the Seller nor any of its Affiliates has had any material disputes with, and
no
material claims have been made against the Seller or any of its Affiliates
or
the Business by, any Top Supplier.
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Section
3.30 No
Other Representations or Warranties.
Except
for the representations and warranties contained in this Article III, neither
the Seller nor any other Person makes any other express or implied
representation or warranty on behalf of the Seller.
ARTICLE
IV
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER
The
Buyer
represents and warrants to the Seller as of the date hereof and as of the
Closing Date as follows:
Section
4.1 Organization
and Qualification.
The
Buyer is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the State of North Carolina. The Buyer is not in
administration, receivership or liquidation, and no petition has been presented
for its winding-up and there are no grounds on which any petition or application
could be based for its winding-up or the appointment of an administrator or
receiver over its assets. The Buyer has all requisite corporate or similar
power
and authority to own and operate its respective properties and assets and to
carry on its respective business as currently conducted. The Buyer is duly
qualified to do business and, within the United States, is in good standing
as a
foreign corporation in each jurisdiction where the ownership or operation of
its
respective properties and assets or the conduct of its respective business
requires such qualification.
Section
4.2 Corporate
Authorization.
The
Buyer has full corporate or similar power and authority to execute and deliver
this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party
and
to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution, delivery
and
performance by the Buyer of this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Agreements
to which it is a party has been duly and validly authorized and no additional
corporate, shareholder or other similar authorization or consent is required
in
connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Buyer of this
Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a
party.
Section
4.3 Capital
Structure of the Buyer.
(a) The
authorized capital stock of the Buyer consists of (i) 200,000,000 shares of
Buyer Common Stock, of which 76,602,056 shares were outstanding as of
January 5, 2007 and (ii) 3,000 shares of preferred stock, par value
$0.01 per share, of which no shares were outstanding as of the close of business
as of the date hereof. All of the outstanding shares of the Buyer Common Stock
have been duly authorized and validly issued, and are fully paid, and
non-assessable. Except as described on Schedule 4.3(a), there are no preemptive
or other outstanding rights, options, warrants, conversion rights, stock
appreciation rights, redemption rights, repurchase rights, agreements,
arrangements or commitments of any character under which the Buyer is or may
become obligated to issue or sell any shares of capital stock or other equity
interests, or any securities or obligations exercisable or exchangeable for
or
convertible into any shares of capital stock or other equity interests, of
the
Buyer, and no securities or obligations evidencing such rights are authorized,
issued or outstanding. To the Knowledge of the Buyer, the outstanding shares
of
capital stock and other equity interests of the Buyer are not subject to any
voting trust arrangement or other contract, agreement or arrangement restricting
or otherwise relating to the voting, dividend rights or disposition of such
stock or other equity interests. There are no phantom stock or similar rights
providing economic benefits based, directly or indirectly, on the value or
price
of such stock or other equity interests of the Buyer.
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(b) Prior
to
the Closing, Buyer will have taken all necessary action to permit it to issue
or
otherwise deliver the Purchase Price Shares to be delivered in connection with
the transactions contemplated hereby. Prior to the issuance of any Contingent
Payment Shares pursuant to Section 2.10(e), if any, Buyer will take or will
have taken all necessary action to permit it to issue or otherwise deliver
such
Contingent Payment Shares. All Purchase Price Shares to be delivered to Seller
at the Closing and any Contingent Payment Shares, when issued and delivered
pursuant to Section 2.10(e) hereof, will be validly issued, fully paid,
non-assessable and free and clear of all Encumbrances, and no Person will have
any preemptive right of subscription or purchase or any other right in respect
thereof.
Section
4.4 Consents
and Approvals.
(a) No
consent, approval, waiver, authorization, notice or filing is required to be
obtained by the Buyer from, or to be given by the Buyer to, or made by the
Buyer
with, any Government Entity (other than (i) the application referred to in
Section 5.3(a) or, if the Share Consideration is issued pursuant to Section
5.3(b), filings required pursuant to applicable Securities Laws, which will
be
made in a timely manner in connection with the issuance of such Shares
Consideration and (ii) the submission to the Stamp Office in respect of the
Transferred Shares pursuant to Section 5.4(c)) or other Person in connection
with the execution, delivery and performance by the Buyer of this Agreement
and
the Ancillary Agreements to which they are a party.
(b) Without
limiting the foregoing, with respect to PRC competition Laws, (i) the Buyer
does not own more than RMB 3,000,000,000 of assets inside the PRC,
(ii) the Buyer’s business volume in the PRC market is not more than
RMB 1,500,000,000 in the current year, (iii) the Buyer’s and its
affiliated enterprises’ market share in the PRC has not reached 20% and,
assuming the accuracy of the information provided by the Seller in respect
of
the Transferred Subsidiaries’ market share in the PRC, will not reach 25% as a
result of the transactions contemplated hereby, and (iv) assuming the
accuracy of the information provided by the Seller in respect of the Transferred
Subsidiaries’ shareholdings in the relevant foreign-funded enterprises, the
Buyer will not directly or indirectly hold shares in more than 15 foreign-funded
enterprises in the relevant domestic industries as a result of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
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Section
4.5 Non-Contravention.
The
execution, delivery and performance by the Buyer of this Agreement and each
of
the Ancillary Agreements to which they are a party, the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and the issuance of the Purchase
Price Shares and any and all Contingent Payment Shares do not and will not
(i) violate any provision of the Memorandum and Articles of Association,
Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or other similar organizational documents
of the Buyer, (ii) conflict with, or result in the breach of, or constitute
a default under, or result in the termination, cancellation, modification or
acceleration (whether after the filing of notice or the lapse of time or both)
of any right or obligation of the Buyer under, or a loss of any benefit to
which
the Buyer is entitled under, any contract, agreement or arrangement to which
it
is a party or result in the creation of any Encumbrance upon any of its assets
or (iii) assuming the receipt of all consents, approvals, waivers and
authorizations and the making of notices and filings required to be made or
obtained by the Seller, violate or result in a breach of or constitute a default
under any Law to which the Buyer is subject.
Section
4.6 Binding
Effect.
This
Agreement, when executed and delivered by the Seller, and each of the Ancillary
Agreements to which the Buyer is a party, when executed and delivered by the
other parties thereto, will constitute a valid and legally binding obligation
of
the Buyer enforceable against it in accordance with its respective terms,
subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization,
moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.
Section
4.7 Finders’
Fees.
Except
for CIBC World Markets, whose fees will be paid by the Buyer, there is no
investment banker, broker, finder or other intermediary that has been retained
by or is authorized to act on behalf of the Buyer or any Affiliate of the Buyer
who might be entitled to any fee or commission from the Buyer in connection
with
the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section
4.8 Buyer
Reports; Financial Statements.
Since
January 1, 2006, the Buyer has timely filed with the SEC all registration
statements, reports, proxy statements or information statements required to
be
filed by the Buyer, including (a) the
Buyer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended
June 25, 2006 and (b) the Buyer’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q
for
the
periods ended December 25,
2005, March 26, 2006,
September 24, 2006 and
December 24,
2006
and all
other reports or documents required to be filed by the Buyer pursuant to
Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since the filing of the most
recent Buyer’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which are publicly available
on the SEC’s XXXXX system (collectively, including any such reports filed
subsequent to the date hereof, the “Buyer
Reports”),
all
of which were
timely filed and have been prepared in accordance, and comply, in all material
respects with the applicable requirements under the Securities Law, and the
Buyer has made
available
to the
Seller all such Buyer Reports.
As of
their respective dates (or, if amended, as of the date of such amendment or,
if
superseded by a subsequent Buyer Report filed prior to the date hereof, as
of
the date of such subsequent Buyer Report), the Buyer Reports did not, and any
Buyer Reports filed with the SEC subsequent to the date hereof will not, contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein,
in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading. Each
of
the consolidated balance sheets included in or incorporated by reference into
the Buyer Reports (including the related notes and schedules) fairly
presents,
or will
fairly present,
in all
material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Buyer and its
Subsidiaries as of its date and each of the consolidated statements of income
and of changes in financial position included in or incorporated by reference
into the Buyer Reports (including any related notes and schedules) fairly
presents,
or will
fairly present,
in all
material respects, the results of operations, retained earnings and changes
in
financial position, as the case may be, of the Buyer and its Subsidiaries for
the periods set forth therein (subject, in the case of unaudited statements,
to
notes and normal year-end audit adjustments that will not be material in amount
or effect), in each case in accordance with U.S. GAAP consistently applied
during the periods involved, except as may be noted therein.
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Section
4.9 Litigation
and Claims.
There
is no civil, criminal or administrative notice, action, suit, demand, claim,
hearing, proceeding, notice of violation, inquiry or investigation from, by
or
before any Government Entity pending or, to the Knowledge of the Buyer,
threatened against the Buyer that, individually or in the aggregate, would
impair or delay the ability of the Buyer to effect the Closing. The Buyer is
not
subject to any order, writ, judgment, award, injunction or decree of any court
or governmental or regulatory authority of competent jurisdiction or any
arbitrator or arbitrators that, individually or in the aggregate, would impair
or delay the ability of the Buyer to effect the Closing.
Section
4.10 Books
and Records.
Each of
the Buyer and its Affiliates maintains complete and accurate books of accounts
and records reflecting in accordance with U.S. GAAP all material items of income
and expense, all material transactions and all material assets and liabilities
required to be reflected therein in accordance with applicable Law and U.S.
GAAP
and maintained in accordance with sound business practices.
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Section
4.11 Undisclosed
Liabilities.
To the
Buyer’s Knowledge, neither the Buyer nor any of its Affiliates has any material
liability of any nature, whether accrued, absolute, or contingent, other than
(a) liabilities that are properly and accurately reflected (or adequately
reserved against) on its consolidated balance sheets (or the notes thereto),
(b) liabilities incurred in the Ordinary Course since December 24,
2006, or (c) liabilities incurred in the Ordinary Course that are not
required to be reflected in the balance sheets under U.S. GAAP.
Section
4.12 Absence
of Changes.
Since
December 24, 2006, the Buyer has conducted its business only in the
Ordinary Course, and the Buyer has not experienced any event or condition and,
to the Buyer’s Knowledge, no event or condition is threatened that, individually
or in the aggregate, has had or is reasonably likely to have a Buyer Material
Adverse Effect.
Section
4.13 Availability
of Funds.
The
Buyer has available, and will have available on the Closing Date, sufficient
funds to enable the Buyer to consummate the Transaction and to pay all of the
Cash Purchase Price and Buyer’s fees and expenses in connection with this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. No action or proceeding
has
been commenced by or against the Buyer under any bankruptcy Law of any relevant
jurisdiction for the relief of debtors or for the enforcement of the rights
of
creditors.
Section
4.14 No
Other Representations or Warranties.
Except
for the representations and warranties contained in this Article IV, neither
the
Buyer nor any other Person makes any other express or implied representation
or
warranty on behalf of the Buyer.
ARTICLE
V
COVENANTS
Section
5.1 Access
and Information.
(a) From
the date hereof until the Closing, the Seller shall (i) afford the Buyer
and its Representatives reasonable access, at all reasonable times during
regular business hours and upon reasonable advance notice, to the Employees
and
the properties, manufacturing facilities, assets, systems, Tax Returns, Books
and Records and contracts of the Business (other than the Excluded Business),
(ii) furnish, or cause to be furnished, to the Buyer (A) copies of all
Books and Records, contracts and other existing documents and
(B) additional financial, operating and other data and information, in each
case as the Buyer from time to time reasonably requests and (iii) instruct
the Employees, and its counsel and financial advisors to cooperate with the
Buyer in its investigation of the Business (other than the Excluded Business),
including instructing its accountants to give the Buyer access to their work
papers; provided,
however,
that in
no event shall the Buyer have access to any information that (x) based on
advice of the Seller’s counsel, would create any potential Liability under
applicable Laws, including U.S. Antitrust Laws or (y) in the reasonable
judgment of the Seller, would (A) result in the disclosure of any trade
secrets of third parties or (B) violate any obligation of the Seller with
respect to confidentiality so long as, with respect to confidentiality, the
Seller has made reasonable efforts to obtain a waiver regarding the possible
disclosure from the third party to whom it owes an obligation of
confidentiality. No investigation pursuant to this Section 5.1(a) shall
alter any representation or warranty given hereunder by the Seller. All requests
for information made pursuant to this Section 5.1(a) shall be directed to
Xxxxxxx Y.T. Sy or such Person or Persons as may be designated by the Seller.
All information received pursuant to this Section 5.1(a) shall be governed
by Section 5.11 and the Confidentiality Agreement.
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(b) Following
the Closing, upon the request of the other party, the Seller and the Buyer
shall, to the extent permitted by Law and confidentiality obligations existing
as of the Closing Date, grant to the other party and its Representatives during
regular business hours and subject to reasonable rules and regulations of the
granting party, the right, at the expense of the non-granting party, to inspect
and copy the books, records and other documents in the granting party’s
possession pertaining to the operation of the Business (other than the Excluded
Business) prior to the Closing (including books of account, records, files,
invoices, correspondence and memoranda, customer and supplier lists, data,
specifications, insurance policies, operating history information and inventory
records). In no event shall either party have access to the consolidated,
combined or unitary federal, state or local Tax Returns of the other party;
provided,
however,
that
the Seller shall, if requested by the Buyer, prepare pro forma returns for
periods ending on or prior to the Closing Date with respect to the Company
or
any other Transferred Subsidiary.
(c) The
Buyer
agrees to retain all Books and Records in existence on the Closing Date for
at
least three years following the Closing in accordance with its normal retention
policies and to make personnel of the Buyer available to the Seller to the
extent in each case that such access is reasonably related to any Excluded
Assets or Excluded Liabilities or otherwise necessary for the Seller in
connection with this Agreement (including confirmation of Actual EBITDA for
the
purpose of Contingent Payments), any Ancillary Agreement or any applicable
Law.
Section
5.2 Conduct
of Business Prior to the Closing.
During
the period from the date hereof to the Closing, except as otherwise contemplated
by this Agreement or as the Buyer otherwise agrees in writing in advance, the
Seller shall conduct, and shall cause its Affiliates to conduct, the Business
in
the Ordinary Course and use commercially reasonable efforts to preserve intact
the Business and its relationship with its customers, sales representatives,
suppliers, distributors, creditors, employees and other third parties with
which
the Seller or any of its Affiliates transacts business. During the period from
the date hereof to the Closing, except as otherwise contemplated by this
Agreement or as the Buyer shall otherwise consent (which consent shall not
be
unreasonably withheld), the Seller shall not, and shall cause each of its
Affiliates not to, with respect to the Business:
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(a) incur,
create or assume any Encumbrance on any of its assets except a Permitted
Encumbrance;
(b) sell,
lease, license, transfer or dispose of any assets other than the sale of
Products in the Ordinary Course and the transfer of the Excluded Assets
contemplated by Section 2.1(a);
(c) terminate,
extend or modify any Material Contract, other than pursuant to Section 5.14
and
with respect to the agreements described in Section 6.2(o) and Section
6.2(p);
(d) enter
into any Contract, arrangement or commitment other than in the Ordinary Course
or pursuant to Section 6.2(o) and Section 6.2(p);
(e) declare,
set aside, make or pay any dividend, bonus or other distribution on any shares
of capital stock or other equity interests in the Transferred Subsidiaries,
other than a dividend by the Company up to an aggregate amount no greater than
the Book Cash Balance as of the Business Day immediately preceding the Closing
Date;
(f) amend
the
Memorandum and Articles of Association, Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws
or
other similar organizational documents of the Transferred
Subsidiaries;
(g) make
any
change in the accounting methods, policies, practices and procedures of any
of
the Transferred Subsidiaries, except insofar as may be required by a generally
applicable change in Hong Kong GAAP;
(h) issue,
sell, pledge, transfer, dispose of or Encumber any shares of capital stock
or
other equity interests in the Transferred Subsidiaries or securities convertible
into or exchangeable for any such shares or equity interests, or any rights,
warrants, options, calls or commitments to acquire any such shares, equity
interests or other securities;
(i) split,
combine, subdivide, reclassify or redeem, or purchase or otherwise acquire,
any
outstanding securities of the Transferred Subsidiaries;
(j) dispose
of or permit to lapse any rights in, to or for the use of any Intellectual
Property Related to the Business other than in the Ordinary Course, or disclose
to any Person not an Employee any Intellectual Property Related to the Business
not heretofore a matter of public knowledge, except pursuant to judicial or
administrative process;
(k) enter
into, establish, adopt, terminate, amend, modify or renew (or communicate in
writing or orally any intention to take such action) any arrangement that would
have been a Compensation Plan had it been established at the time of this
Agreement, or grant any salary, wage or other compensation increase, increase
any wage, payment, benefit or perquisite (including by making any incentive
or
bonus payments), or forgive any outstanding loans or extensions of credit to
any
Employee or any other service provider, except (i) for changes that may be
required by applicable Law; provided,
however,
that
the Buyer is consulted in advance of such change, and (ii) to satisfy
contractual obligations to the extent existing as of the date hereof that are
listed on Schedule 5.2(k);
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(l) take
any
action to accelerate the payment, funding or vesting of any pension, retirement,
savings, profit sharing, deferred compensation, severance, consulting, bonus,
group insurance or other compensation or benefits payable
thereunder;
(m) assume
or
enter into any collective bargaining agreement, contract or other agreement
or
understanding with a labor union or labor organization relating to the
Business;
(n) (i) incur
any additional Indebtedness or issue any debt securities or assume, guarantee
or
endorse any material obligations of any other Person other than Indebtedness
incurred in the Ordinary Course that is repaid or released pursuant to
Section 5.15 as if expressly set forth on Schedule 3.23(b), or
(ii) make any material loans, advances or capital contributions to, or
investments in, any other Person (other than customary loans or advances to
employees in amounts not material to the maker of such loan or advance and
the
capital contribution contemplated by Section 5.19);
(o) settle
any material pending or threatened claims, actions, arbitrations, disputes
or
other proceedings;
(p) accelerate
the delivery or sale of Products or offer discounts on sale of Products or
premiums on purchase of raw materials other than in the Ordinary
Course;
(q) make
any
capital expenditure other than capital expenditures in the Ordinary Course
and
consistent with the capital expenditure budget of the Company set forth on
Schedule 5.2(q) or cease to make any such budgeted capital
expenditure;
(r) permit
any Transferred Subsidiary to adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation
or
authorize or undertake a dissolution, consolidation, restructuring,
recapitalization or other reorganization, other than as contemplated by
Section 2.1(a);
(s) (i) make
or rescind any election relating to Taxes of the Company or any other
Transferred Subsidiary; (ii) file any material amended income Tax Return
of, or claim for refund for, the Company or any other Transferred Subsidiary;
(iii) make any material change in any method of accounting, keeping of
books of account or accounting practices or in any material method of Tax
accounting of the Company or any other Transferred Subsidiary unless required
by
Hong Kong GAAP or applicable Law; or (iv) enter into or agree to any
private letter ruling, closing agreement or similar ruling or agreement with
the
Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority or settle any audit
or
proceeding with respect to an amount of Taxes owed by the Company or any other
Transferred Subsidiary;
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(t) acquire
(by merger, consolidation or acquisition of shares or assets) any corporation,
partnership or other business organization or division thereof or any equity
interest therein;
(u) cancel,
waive, release, discount or compromise any material debt or claim or waive
any
rights of material value to the Business without the Business receiving a
realizable benefit of similar or greater value, or voluntarily suffer any
extraordinary loss;
(v) terminate
or permit to lapse any Governmental Authorization;
(w) do
any
other act that would cause any representation or warranty of the Seller in
this
Agreement to be or become untrue in any material respect or intentionally omit
to take any action necessary to prevent any such representation or warranty
from
being untrue in any material respect at such time; or
(x) authorize
or enter into any agreement or commitment with respect to any of the
foregoing.
Section
5.3 Fairness
Hearing Application.
(a)
Within
five Business Days after the date hereof, the Buyer shall file an application
with the Administrator pursuant to Section 78A-30 of the General Statutes
of North Carolina requesting a hearing upon the terms and conditions of the
Transaction to be held as soon as practicable after the filing of such
application and taking all actions necessary or appropriate to comply with
the
requirements set forth therein, in order to cause the issuance of the Share
Consideration to be exempt from registration under applicable Securities Laws.
The Seller shall furnish to the Buyer the information to be included in such
application. The Seller and the Buyer will respond to any comments from the
Administrator and use their commercially reasonable efforts to obtain an order
of approval from the Administrator (the “North
Carolina Permit”)
and
have it granted as soon as practicable after such filing. Neither of the parties
to this Agreement shall make at such hearing, or include in any information
supplied with such application or distributed at such hearing, any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any 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.
(b) If
the
Administrator shall not have granted a North Carolina Permit within 45 days
after the date of this Agreement and the Agreement has not been terminated
pursuant to Article VIII hereof, the Buyer in
its
sole and absolute discretion may
issue
the Share Consideration as restricted securities in a private placement in
accordance with applicable Securities Laws.
If
the Administrator shall not have granted a North Carolina Permit within 60
days
after the date of this Agreement and the Agreement has not been terminated
pursuant to Article VIII hereof, the Buyer shall issue the Share Consideration
as restricted securities in a private placement in accordance with applicable
Securities Laws.
The
Shareholders’ and Registration Rights Agreement contains, among other things,
various additional representations and undertakings necessary in order to enable
the Buyer to utilize a private placement exemption under the Securities Act
and
certain obligations of the Buyer to file one or more registration statements
on
Form S-3 (or any successor form) under the Securities Act with respect to
the Share Consideration, subject to the terms of the Shareholders’ and
Registration Rights Agreement, at the Buyer’s expense.
The
Buyer shall take any action required to be taken under Securities Laws in
connection with the
issuance
of any
Share
Consideration.
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(c) The
Seller and the Buyer shall cooperate with each other and shall furnish to the
other party all information necessary or desirable in connection with the making
of an application to the Administrator. Either party shall promptly inform
the
other party of any communication with, and any proposed understanding,
undertaking or agreement with, any Government Entity regarding any such
application. Neither the Seller nor the Buyer shall participate in any meeting
with any Government Entity in respect of any such application without giving
the
other party prior notice of the meeting. The parties will consult and cooperate
with one another in connection with any analyses, appearances, presentations,
memoranda, briefs, arguments, opinions and proposals made or submitted by or
on
behalf of either party in connection with the making of an application to the
Administrator, including, with respect to making a particular filing, by
providing copies of all such documents to the non-filing party and its advisors
prior to filing and, if requested, giving due consideration to all reasonable
additions, deletions or changes suggested in connection therewith.
Section
5.4 Tax
Matters.
(a) Liability
and Indemnity for Taxes.
(i) The
Seller shall be liable for and shall indemnify the Buyer for (A) all Taxes
imposed on the Transferred Subsidiaries or for which the Transferred
Subsidiaries may otherwise be liable for any taxable periods, or portions
thereof, ending on or before the Closing Date, (B) Losses directly or
indirectly relating to or arising out of any liability for Taxes imposed on
the
Transferred Subsidiaries or for which the Transferred Subsidiaries may otherwise
be liable, for the taxable periods, or portions thereof, ended on or before
the
Closing Date, (C) the Transfer Taxes for which the Seller is liable
pursuant to Section 5.4(e), (D) Taxes imposed on the Seller or any of
its Affiliates (other than the Company and the other Transferred Subsidiaries),
and (E) Taxes arising as a result of the failure of the representations in
Section 3.9 to be true.
(ii) To
the
extent necessary to determine the liability for Taxes for a portion of a taxable
year or period that begins before and ends after the Closing Date, the
determination of the Taxes for the portion of the year or period ending on,
and
the portion of the year or period beginning after, the Closing Date shall be
determined by assuming that the taxable year or period ended as of the close
of
business on the Closing Date, except that those annual property taxes and
similar Taxes and exemptions, allowances or deductions that are calculated
on an
annual basis shall be prorated on a timely basis.
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(b) Tax
Returns.
The
Seller shall file or cause to be filed when due all Tax Returns that are
required to be filed by or with respect to the Company and the other Transferred
Subsidiaries for taxable years or periods ending on or before the Closing Date
and shall pay any Taxes due in respect of such Tax Returns, and the Buyer shall
file or cause to be filed when due all Tax Returns that are required to be
filed
by or with respect to the Company and the other Transferred Subsidiaries for
taxable years or periods ending after the Closing Date. The Seller shall pay
the
Buyer the Taxes for which the Seller is liable pursuant to Section 5.4(a)
(but which are payable with Tax Returns to be filed by the Buyer pursuant to
the
previous sentence) within 10 days prior to the due date for the filing of such
Tax Returns, and the Buyer shall timely pay, and indemnify the Seller for,
all
other Taxes imposed on the Transferred Subsidiaries for the periods, or portions
thereof, ending after the Closing Date.
(c) Contest
Provisions.
(i) The
Buyer
shall promptly notify the Seller in writing upon receipt by the Buyer or any
of
its Affiliates of notice of any pending or threatened federal, state, local
or
foreign income or franchise tax audits or assessments that may affect the Tax
Liabilities of the Company or any of the other Transferred Subsidiaries for
which the Seller would be required to indemnify the Buyer pursuant to
Section 5.4(a); provided,
however,
that
failure to comply with this provision shall not affect the Buyer’s right to
indemnification hereunder, except to the extent that the Seller is materially
prejudiced by such failure.
(ii) The
Seller shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense of
any
claim for Taxes for which the Seller may be required to indemnify the Buyer
under Section 5.4(a). Neither the Buyer nor the Transferred Subsidiaries
may agree to settle any tax claim for the portion of the year or period ending
on the Closing Date that may be the subject of indemnification by the Seller
under Section 5.4(a) without the prior written consent of the Seller (such
consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
(d) Information.
The
Seller and the Buyer agree to furnish or cause to be furnished to the Buyer
or
the Seller, as applicable, promptly upon reasonable request, reasonable
information and assistance relating to the Transferred Subsidiaries as the
Buyer
or the Seller, as the case may be, reasonably deems necessary in connection with
the filing of any Tax Returns, the preparation for any audit by any taxing
authority, the response to any inquiry by a taxing authority, the mailing or
filing of any notice and the prosecution or defense of any claim, suit or
proceeding relating to any Tax Returns or any other filing required to be made
with any taxing authority or any other matter related to Taxes.
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(e) Transfer
Taxes.
Any
excise, sales, use, value-added, transfer, stamp, documentary or other similar
Taxes and fees (collectively, the “Transfer
Taxes”),
that
are payable or that arise as a result of the consummation of the transactions
between the Seller and the Buyer contemplated by this Agreement, and any
recording or filing fees with respect thereto, will be shared equally by the
Seller and the Buyer. The party that has the primary legal responsibility for
the payment of any particular Transfer Tax shall prepare and timely file all
relevant Tax Returns required to be filed in respect of such Transfer Tax and
pay the Transfer Tax shown on such Tax return. The parties hereto agree that,
as
soon as practicable after the Closing (but in any event within two days after
the execution thereof by the Buyer or, if the second day thereafter is not
a
Business Day, on the immediately succeeding Business Day), the bought and sold
notes and instruments of transfer in respect of the Transferred Shares shall
be
submitted by the counsel designated by the Buyer to the Stamp Office for
adjudication. Each of the Buyer and the Seller shall cooperate with the other
in
submitting necessary documentation for such adjudication and shall provide
to
the Buyer’s counsel a check in favor of “The Government of the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region” equal to one half of the total Transfer Taxes payable
pursuant to such adjudication immediately on demand by the Buyer’s
counsel.
(f) Adjustment
to Cash Purchase Price.
To the
extent allowed under applicable Law, any payment by the Buyer or the Seller
under this Section 5.4 will be an adjustment to the Cash Purchase
Price.
(g) Survival
of Obligations.
The
obligations of the parties set forth in this Section 5.4 shall remain in
effect until the expiration of the applicable statute of
limitations.
Section
5.5 Employee
Benefits.
(a) The
Seller shall cooperate with the Buyer in making any and all appropriate
government filings, giving employee notices or taking any other actions
reasonably necessary to maintain, amend, terminate and administer the
Compensation Plans as the Buyer deems fit, subject to
Section 5.5(d).
(b) Prior
to
making any written or oral communications to any Employee pertaining to
compensation or benefit matters that are affected by the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, the Seller shall provide the Buyer with a copy
of the intended communication, the Buyer shall have a reasonable period of
time
to review and comment on the communication, and the Buyer and the Seller shall
cooperate in providing any such mutually agreeable communication.
(c) At
least
five Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the Seller shall have delivered
to
the Buyer evidence satisfactory to the Buyer that, with respect to any
“payments” (as defined under Section 280G of the Code) that are contingent
on a change of ownership or effective control of a corporation (or contingent
on
a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of a
corporation) such payments are not “parachute payments” (as defined under
Section 280G of the Code), including, as appropriate, evidence that the
Seller’s shareholders have approved such payments in accordance with the
shareholder approval requirements of Section 280G of the Code.
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(d) The
Buyer
agrees that, during the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on
the
third anniversary thereof, the Employees of the Transferred Subsidiaries will
continue to be provided with compensation and benefit opportunities that are
no
less favorable in the aggregate than those currently provided by the Seller
or
any Transferred Subsidiary, as the case may be, to such Employees. The Buyer
will cause any employee benefit plans that the Employees of the Transferred
Subsidiaries are eligible to participate in to take into account for purposes
of
eligibility and vesting thereunder, except for purposes of qualifying for
subsidized early retirement benefits or to the extent it would result in a
duplication of benefits, their service with the Seller or the relevant
Transferred Subsidiary, as the case may be, as if such service were with the
Buyer, to the same extent such service was credited to such Employee under
a
comparable plan of the Seller or the relevant Transferred
Subsidiary.
(e) Nothing
in this Section 5.5, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any
Person other than the Buyer, the Seller, the Indemnified Parties and their
respective successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns, any rights
or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement.
Section
5.6 Ancillary
Agreements.
At the
Closing, the Seller and its Affiliates shall execute each Ancillary Agreement
to
which it is a party (other than the Shareholders’ and Registration Rights
Agreement), and the Buyer shall execute and deliver each of the Ancillary
Agreements to which it is a party (other than the Shareholders’ and Registration
Rights Agreement).
Section
5.7 Non-Solicitation/Non-Competition.
(a) Other
than as set forth in the Transition Services Agreement, the Seller agrees that,
for the period commencing on the Closing Date and expiring on the third
anniversary of the Closing Date, neither it nor any of its Affiliates will
directly or indirectly (i) induce or encourage Xxxxxxx Y.T. Sy to
voluntarily terminate his employment with the Company, to revoke or terminate
the Executive Agreements or to accept any position or employment with any Person
other than the Company and/or the Buyer, (ii) solicit for employment or any
similar arrangement any Employee or any employee of the Buyer or the Buyer’s
Affiliates, or (iii) hire or assist any other Person in hiring any such
employee; provided,
however,
that
this Section 5.7(a) shall not apply to Employees or any employee of the
Buyer or any of its Affiliates who have left the employment of the Transferred
Subsidiaries, the Buyer or any of its Affiliates and shall not prohibit general
solicitations for employment through advertisements or other means.
(b) The
Buyer
agrees that, other than with respect to the Transferred Employees, for the
period commencing on the Closing Date and expiring on the third anniversary
of
the Closing Date, neither it nor any of its Affiliates will directly or
indirectly (i) induce or encourage or solicit any employee of the Seller or
its Affiliates to leave such employment or to accept any other position or
employment with the Buyer or any of its Affiliates or (ii) hire or assist
any other Person in hiring any such employee; provided,
however,
that
this Section 5.7(b) shall not apply to employees who have left the
employment of the Seller or any of its Affiliates and shall not prohibit general
solicitations for employment through advertisements or other means.
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(c) The
Seller agrees that, for the period commencing on the Closing Date and expiring
on the third anniversary of the Closing Date, neither it nor any of its
Affiliates shall engage, either directly or indirectly, alone or with others,
as
general partners, shareholders, employees or otherwise in a business, other
than
that of the Buyer and its Affiliates, that engages in or owns or controls a
significant interest in any entity that engages in, in either case, the
development, manufacture or sale of LED lamps or in any business that competes
with the Business (together, a “Competing
Business”);
provided,
however,
that
nothing in this Section 5.7(c) shall preclude the Seller or its Affiliates
from owning up to 5% of any Person engaged in a Competing Business or from
operating the Excluded Business.
Section
5.8 Further
Assurances.
From
time to time after the Closing Date, each party hereto shall, and shall cause
its Affiliates to, promptly execute, acknowledge and deliver any other
assurances or documents or instruments of transfer reasonably requested by
the
other party hereto and necessary for the requesting party to satisfy its
obligations hereunder or to obtain the benefits of the transactions contemplated
hereby. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to the extent that
the
Buyer or the Seller discovers prior to or following the Closing that any of
the
Transferred Assets was not transferred as of the date hereof or, in the case
of
the Registered Intellectual Property, as of the Closing, the Seller shall,
or
shall cause its respective Affiliates to, promptly assign and transfer to a
Transferred Subsidiary all right, title and interest in such asset.
Section
5.9 No
Shop.
(a)
Until
the earlier of the termination of this Agreement and the Closing, the Seller
shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates and their respective Representatives
not to, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit any inquiries or proposals, or
enter into any discussions, negotiations, understandings, arrangements or
agreements, relating to the direct or indirect disposition, whether by sale,
merger or otherwise, of all or any portion of the Transferred Shares or the
Business to any Person other than the Buyer or its Affiliates or
(ii) knowingly disclose, directly or indirectly, to any Person any
confidential information concerning the Company, its Subsidiaries or the
Business except as necessary to conduct the Business in the Ordinary Course.
If
the Seller or any of its Affiliates receives an offer for such a transaction,
the Seller will provide the Buyer with notice thereof as soon as practicable
after receipt thereof, which notice may, in the Seller’s sole discretion,
include the identity of the prospective buyer or soliciting party.
(b) The
parties acknowledge that there may be no adequate remedy at law for a breach
of
Section 5.9(a) and that money damages may not be an appropriate remedy for
breach of such Section. Therefore, the parties agree that the Buyer has the
right to injunctive relief and specific performance of Section 5.9(a) in
the event of any breach of such Section in addition to any rights it may
have for damages, which shall include out-of-pocket expenses, loss of business
opportunities and any other damages, direct and indirect, consequential,
punitive or otherwise. The remedies set forth in this Section 5.9(b) are
cumulative and shall in no way limit any other remedy either party hereto has
at
law, in equity or pursuant hereto.
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Section
5.10 Notification.
From
the date hereof until the Closing, (i) the Seller shall promptly notify the
Buyer in writing if the Seller or any of its Affiliates becomes aware of any
fact or condition that causes or constitutes a breach of any of the
representations and warranties of the Seller as of the date of this Agreement,
or if the Seller or any of its Affiliates becomes aware of the occurrence after
the date of this Agreement of any fact or condition that could (except as
expressly contemplated herein) cause or constitute a breach of any of the
representations and warranties of the Seller had such representation and
warranty been made as of the time of occurrence or discovery of such fact or
condition, and (ii) the Buyer shall promptly notify the Seller in writing
if the Buyer or any of its Representatives becomes aware of any such fact,
condition or occurrence with respect to the representations and warranties
of
the Seller. During the same period, (A) the Seller shall promptly notify
the Buyer of the occurrence of any breach of any covenant, agreement,
undertaking or obligation of the Seller contained in this Agreement or of the
occurrence of any event that may make the satisfaction of the conditions in
Article VI impossible or not reasonably likely, and (B) the Buyer
shall promptly notify the Seller of the occurrence of any breach of any
covenant, agreement, undertaking or obligation of the Seller contained herein
or
of the occurrence of any event that may make the satisfaction of the condition
in Article VI impossible or not reasonably likely. Notwithstanding anything
herein to the contrary, if either party fails to timely perform any of its
notification obligations under this Section 5.10, such party’s rights
hereunder shall only be affected to the extent such failure has a material
prejudicial effect on the defenses or rights of the other party.
Section
5.11 Confidentiality.
(a) The
Seller shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to, treat as confidential and
shall
safeguard any and all information, knowledge and data included in the assets
of
each Transferred Subsidiary, in each case by using the same degree of care,
but
no less than a reasonable standard of care, to prevent the unauthorized use,
dissemination or disclosure of such information, knowledge and data as the
Seller or its Affiliates used with respect thereto prior to the execution of
this Agreement.
(b) The
Buyer
shall treat as confidential and shall safeguard any and all information,
knowledge or data included in any information relating to the business of the
Seller and its Affiliates other than the Business that becomes known to the
Buyer as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement except
as
otherwise agreed to by the Seller in writing, in each case by using the same
degree of care, but no less than a reasonable standard of care, to prevent
the
unauthorized use, dissemination or disclosure of such information, knowledge
and
data as the Buyer used with respect to its own confidential information;
provided,
however,
that
nothing in this Section 5.11(b) shall prevent the disclosure of any such
information, knowledge or data to any Representatives of the Buyer who
reasonably need to know such information for the purposes of negotiating this
Agreement and carrying out the transactions contemplated hereby.
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(c) The
Buyer
and the Seller acknowledge that the confidentiality obligations set forth herein
shall not extend to information, knowledge and data that is publicly available
or becomes publicly available through no act or omission of the party owing
a
duty of confidentiality, or becomes available on a non-confidential basis from
a
source other than the party owing a duty of confidentiality so long as such
source is not known by such party to be bound by a confidentiality agreement
with or other obligations of secrecy to the other party or required to be
disclosed by a Government Entity.
(d) In
the
event of a breach of the obligations hereunder by the Buyer or the Seller,
the
other party, in addition to all other available remedies, will be entitled
to
injunctive relief to enforce the provisions of this Section 5.11 in any
court of competent jurisdiction.
Section
5.12 Intellectual
Property Non-Assertion.
The
Seller agrees that neither it nor any of its Affiliates shall assert any claim
against the Buyer or any of its Affiliates or any of their employees or
contractors (acting within the scope of their employment) or their successors
or
assigns in connection with the infringement, misappropriation, dilution,
impairment or violation of any Intellectual Property rights Related to the
Business of the Seller or any of its Affiliates as of the Closing
Date.
Section
5.13 Additional
Financial Statements.
The
Seller will prepare and furnish to the Buyer as soon as they become available,
and in any event, not later than 20 days after the end of each month,
unaudited pro forma balance sheets and unaudited pro forma income statement
for
the Business for each full monthly period prior to the Closing and for the
then
current year-to-date. The Seller will prepare each of the additional unaudited
financial statements on a proper and consistent basis in accordance with Hong
Kong GAAP, and shall cooperate with the Buyer in good faith to provide such
other financial information as the Buyer requires to fulfill its reporting
obligations under the Securities Laws. At the Buyer’s request and in accordance
with the Buyer’s instructions, the Seller will cause the Company Accounting Firm
to prepare a reconciliation to U.S. GAAP of the audited consolidated income
statement for the Company and its Subsidiaries for the nine months ended
December 31, 2006; provided,
however,
that
the costs of the Company Accounting Firm in connection with such reconciliation
shall be borne by the Buyer.
Section
5.14 Intercompany
Contracts and Accounts.
Except
as otherwise provided in this Agreement or set forth on Schedule 5.14, the
Seller shall take all actions necessary to terminate, prior to or concurrent
with the Closing, all Contracts between the Transferred Subsidiaries, on the
one
hand, and the Seller or any of its Affiliates (other than the Transferred
Subsidiaries), on the other hand. From and after the date hereof, the Seller
and
its Affiliates (other than the Transferred Subsidiaries) shall conduct all
transactions with the Transferred Subsidiaries only in the Ordinary Course,
except as contemplated by this Agreement. At least five Business Days prior
to
the Closing, the Seller shall prepare and deliver to the Buyer a statement
setting out, in reasonable detail, the calculation of all accounts between
the
Transferred Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the Seller or any of its
Affiliates (other than the Transferred Subsidiaries), on the other hand, and,
to
the extent requested by the Buyer, provide the Buyer with supporting
documentation to verify the underlying intercompany accounts and transactions.
The net amount of such intercompany accounts shall be paid in full by cash
payment from the Seller to the Transferred Subsidiaries or from the Transferred
Subsidiaries to the Seller, as the case may be, prior to the
Closing.
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Section
5.15 Payment
of Indebtedness.
The
Seller shall, or shall cause its Affiliates to (a) pay all Indebtedness of
the Transferred Subsidiaries, including the Indebtedness set forth on
Schedule 3.23(b), such that no penalty will be payable or contingent
liability in existence after the Closing Date and (b) cause all
Encumbrances in connection with such Indebtedness to be released, in each case
prior to the Closing. The Seller shall provide to the Buyer as soon as it
becomes available evidence satisfactory to the Buyer of such payment and
release.
Section
5.16 Certificate
of Outstanding Buyer Common Stock.
On or
before the fifth Business Day following the date hereof, the Buyer shall deliver
to the Seller a certificate, signed by a duly authorized officer of the Buyer,
specifying the number of shares of Buyer Common Stock outstanding as at the
close of the Nasdaq Global Market’s trading day immediately preceding the date
hereof and the relevant Average Closing Price and certifying that, to the
Buyer’s Knowledge, such number and such price are true and correct.
Section
5.17 Listing
of Additional Shares.
Prior
to the Closing Date, the Buyer shall file with the Nasdaq Global Market, to
the
extent required, a Notification Form for Listing of Additional Shares with
respect to the Purchase Price Shares. Prior to the issuance of any Contingent
Payment Shares, if any, the Buyer shall file with the Nasdaq Global Market,
to
the extent required, a Notification Form for Listing of Additional Shares with
respect to such Contingent Payment Shares.
Section
5.18 D&O
Insurance.
For a
period of three years after the Closing Date, the Buyer shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to maintain in effect directors’ and officers’ liability
insurance covering the directors and officers of the Company and the other
Transferred Subsidiaries on terms customary in the relevant industry and
jurisdiction.
Section
5.19 Capital
Contribution.
Prior
to the Closing, the Seller will cause the Company to make the outstanding
capital contribution of $750,000 to COTCO Opto Technology (Shanghai)
Ltd.
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Section
5.20 System
Back-Up.
The
Seller shall, or shall cause its Affiliates to, undertake a complete system
back-up of the historical data of the Business on tape or disk and to deliver
such tape or disk to the Buyer on or before the Closing.
ARTICLE
VI
CONDITIONS
TO CLOSING
Section
6.1 Conditions
to the Obligations of the Buyer and the Seller.
The
obligations of the parties hereto to effect the Closing are subject to the
satisfaction (or waiver) prior to the Closing of the following
conditions:
(a) No
Prohibition.
No Law
shall be in effect prohibiting the Transaction.
(b) Consents
and Approvals.
All
Seller Required Approvals set forth on Schedule 3.4(a)(i), other than such
Seller Required Approvals to be obtained, given or made after the Closing,
shall
have been obtained, given or made and be in full force and effect.
Section
6.2 Conditions
to the Obligations of the Buyer.
The
obligation of the Buyer to effect the Closing is subject to the satisfaction
(or
waiver) prior to the Closing of the following conditions:
(a) Representations
and Warranties.
Each of
the representations and warranties of the Seller contained in this Agreement
shall be true and correct in all material respects (except those representations
and warranties qualified by “materiality” or words of similar meaning, which
must be true and correct in all respects) as of the date hereof and as of the
Closing as if made on and as of the Closing (except for such representations
and
warranties that are made as of a specific date, which shall speak only as of
such date).
(b) Covenants.
Each of
the covenants and agreements of the Seller to be performed on or prior to the
Closing shall have been duly performed in all material respects.
(c) Ancillary
Agreements.
The
Seller and its Affiliates shall have executed and delivered each Ancillary
Agreement to which it is a party (other than the Shareholders’ and Registration
Rights Agreement).
(d) Consents.
All
Seller Required Approvals set forth on Schedule 3.4(a)(ii) shall have been
given or obtained.
(e) Certificate.
The
Buyer shall have received a certificate, signed by a duly authorized officer
of
the Seller and dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the conditions set
forth in Sections 6.2(a), 6.2(b) and 6.2(d) have been
satisfied.
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(f) Approval
of Issuance of Share Consideration.
Unless
the Buyer shall issue the Share Consideration in accordance with
Section 5.3(b), the Buyer shall have received the North Carolina
Permit approving
the terms and conditions of the Transaction (including the issuance of the
Share
Consideration as set forth herein) and the fairness of such terms and conditions
after a hearing upon the fairness thereof pursuant to Section 78A-30 of the
General Statutes of North Carolina.
(g) No
Proceedings.
There
shall not be pending or threatened by or before any Government Entity any suit,
action or proceeding challenging or seeking to restrain, limit or prohibit
any
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or seeking to obtain from the Buyer
in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement any damages
or commitments or seeking to prohibit or limit the ownership, operation or
control by the Buyer or any of its Affiliates of any portion of the business
or
assets of the Buyer (including the Business) or any of its
Affiliates.
(h) Legal
Opinion.
The
Buyer shall have received an opinion of counsel to the Seller, in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Buyer, regarding the matters set forth
in Exhibit 6.2(h).
(i) Restructuring.
The
Seller and its Affiliates shall have consummated the transactions set forth
in
Section 2.1(a).
(j) No
Parachute Payments.
The
Buyer shall have received evidence if and as required by Section 5.5(c)
within the time period specified therein.
(k) Retention
of Xxxxxxx Y.T. Sy.
Xxxxxxx
Y.T. Sy shall not have voluntarily terminated his employment with, or been
terminated for cause by, the Company and shall not have become unable to perform
his employment duties, in each case on or prior to the Closing. The Buyer shall
have received from Xxxxxxx Y.T. Sy an executed counterpart of each of the
Executive Agreements.
(l) Xxxx
Xx Agreement.
The
Buyer shall have received from Xxxx Xx Xxxxx Xxx an executed counterpart of
the
Xxxx Xx Agreement.
(m) Resignations.
The
Buyer shall have received evidence that each director and officer of the
Transferred Subsidiaries has resigned effective as of the Closing.
(n) Payment
of Indebtedness.
The
Buyer shall have received the evidence specified in
Section 5.15.
(o) Logistics
Services Agreement.
The
Company shall have entered into a subcontracting agreement for logistics
services with In Touch Transportation Co., Ltd. on substantially the same terms
and conditions as are currently provided by In Touch Transportation Co., Ltd.
to
the Seller.
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(p) Software
License and Support Agreement.
The
Company shall have entered into a software license and support agreement with
TimeLink Technology Ltd. for an annual fee no greater than HK$1,400,000 and
on
substantially the same terms and conditions as are currently provided by
TimeLink Technology Ltd. to the Seller.
(q) Transferred
Employees.
At
least 36 of the Transferred Employees shall have entered into employment
agreements with the Company, shall not have revoked or terminated (or indicated
their intention to revoke or terminate) such employment agreements or otherwise
voluntarily terminated their respective employment (or been terminated for
cause) with the Company, and shall not have become unable to perform their
respective employment duties, in each case as of the Closing Date.
Section
6.3 Conditions
to the Obligations of the Seller.
The
obligation of the Seller to effect the Closing is subject to the satisfaction
(or waiver) prior to the Closing of the following conditions:
(a) Representations
and Warranties.
Each of
the representations and warranties of the Buyer contained in this Agreement
shall be true and correct in all material respects (except those representations
and warranties qualified by “materiality” or words of similar meaning, which
must be true and correct in all respects) as of the date hereof and as of the
Closing as if made on and as of the Closing (except for such representations
and
warranties that are made as of a specific date, which shall speak only as of
such date).
(b) Covenants.
Each of
the covenants and agreements of the Buyer to be performed on or prior to the
Closing shall have been duly performed in all material respects.
(c) Ancillary
Agreements.
The
Buyer shall have executed and delivered each Ancillary Agreement to which it
is
a party (other than the Shareholders’ and Registration Rights
Agreement).
(d) Certificate.
The
Seller shall have received a certificate, signed by a duly authorized officer
of
the Buyer and dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the conditions set
forth in Sections 6.3(a) and 6.3(b) have been satisfied.
(e) Approval
of Issuance of Share Consideration.
Unless
the Buyer shall issue the Share Consideration in accordance with
Section 5.3(b), the Seller shall have received a copy of the North Carolina
Permit approving the terms and conditions of the Transaction (including the
issuance of the Share Consideration as set forth herein) and the fairness of
such terms and conditions after a hearing upon the fairness thereof pursuant
to
Section 78A-30 of the General Statutes of North Carolina.
(f) Legal
Opinion.
The
Seller shall have received an opinion of counsel to the Buyer, in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Seller, regarding the matters set
forth
in Exhibit 6.3(f).
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ARTICLE
VII
SURVIVAL;
INDEMNIFICATION; CERTAIN REMEDIES
Section
7.1 Survival.
The
representations and warranties of the Seller and the Buyer contained in this
Agreement shall survive the Closing for the period set forth in this
Section 7.1. All representations and warranties contained in this Agreement
and all claims with respect thereto shall terminate upon the expiration of
18
months after the Closing Date, except that (i) the representations and
warranties contained in Sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.6, 4.1, 4.2 and 4.6 shall
survive forever, (ii) the representations and warranties contained in
Sections 3.12 (Environmental Matters) and 3.13 (Intellectual Property)
shall survive for three years after the Closing Date and (iii) the
representations and warranties contained in Section 3.9 (Taxes) shall
survive until the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, giving
effect to any extensions thereof; it being understood that,
if any
Claim Notice has been properly given (within the meaning of Section 9.1)
within the applicable survival period, the representations and warranties that
are the subject of such indemnification claim shall survive with respect to
such
claim until such time as such claim becomes the subject of a Final
Determination.
Section
7.2 Indemnification
by the Seller.
(a)
The
Seller hereby agrees that, from and after the Closing, it shall indemnify,
defend and hold harmless the Buyer and its Representatives and their heirs,
successors and permitted assigns, each in its capacity as such (the
“Buyer
Indemnified Parties,”
collectively with the Seller Indemnified Parties, the “Indemnified
Parties”)
from,
against and in respect of any damages, losses, diminution in value, charges,
obligations, Liabilities, claims, demands, actions, suits, proceedings,
payments, judgments, settlements, assessments, deficiencies, Taxes, royalties,
fines, interest, penalties and reasonable costs and expenses (including removal
costs, remediation costs, closure costs, allocable and reasonable internal
costs, reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys, accountants, consultants
and
others and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred in the investigation,
preparation, defense, settlement and ongoing monitoring of any of the same
or in
asserting, preserving or enforcing rights under this Agreement or any Ancillary
Agreement) (collectively, “Losses”)
imposed on, sustained, incurred or suffered by, any of the Buyer Indemnified
Parties, whether in respect of third-party claims, claims between the parties
hereto, or otherwise, directly or indirectly, relating to or arising out of
or
resulting from (i) subject to Section 7.2(b), any breach of or
inaccuracy in any representation or warranty made by the Seller contained in
this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement for the period such representation
or
warranty survives, it being understood that,
for
purposes of this Section 7.2(a)(i), any qualifications relating to
materiality (but not the term “Material Adverse
Effect”) contained in such representation or warranty shall be disregarded for
purposes of determining whether such representation or warranty was breached,
(ii) any breach, violation or non-fulfillment of any covenant or agreement
of the Seller contained in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement,
(iii) any of the Excluded Liabilities, (iv) any Taxes for which the
Seller is responsible in accordance with Section 5.4, (v) the failure of
the Transferred Subsidiaries prior to the Closing to make social insurance
(including housing fund) payments, overtime payments and salary and wage
withholdings in compliance with applicable Law, (vi) any Liabilities relating
to
any Environmental Law arising out of the operation of the Business prior to
the
Closing (including the underpayment by the Transferred Subsidiaries of waste
water discharge levies required by applicable Environmental Law) and (vii)
Intellectual Property infringement claims set forth on Schedule
3.13(l).
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, any claim by the Buyer under
this Article VII relating to, arising out of or resulting from the indemnity
in
Section 7.2(a)(vi), and any indemnity obligations under Article VII related
thereto, shall survive the Closing for a period of only three
years.
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(b) The
Seller shall not be liable to the Buyer Indemnified Parties for any individual
Loss with respect to the matters contained in Section 7.2(a)(i) (other than
breach of or inaccuracy in the representations and warranties in
Sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and 3.6, which shall be indemnified without regard
to the following limitations) unless (i) such individual Loss exceeds the
Individual Indemnity Threshold and (ii) the aggregate amount of all such
Losses, other than any individual Loss that is equal to or below the Individual
Indemnity Threshold, exceeds the Aggregate Indemnity Threshold, in which case
the Seller shall be liable for all of such Losses; provided,
however,
that
the Seller shall not be required to make any payments to the Buyer Indemnified
Parties pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) of Section 7.2(a) in excess
of an aggregate amount equal to $50,000,000. For avoidance of any doubt, each
individual Loss that is equal to or below the Individual Indemnity Threshold
shall be excluded from any calculation of the aggregate amount of Losses in
clause (ii) of this Section 7.2(b) and from any calculation of the
Seller’s indemnity obligation under this Section 7.2.
Section
7.3 Indemnification
by the Buyer. (a) The
Buyer hereby agrees that, from and after the Closing, it shall indemnify, defend
and hold harmless the Seller and its Representatives and their heirs, successors
and permitted assigns, each in its capacity as such (the “Seller
Indemnified Parties”)
from,
against and in respect of any Losses imposed on, sustained, incurred or suffered
by, or asserted against, any of the Seller Indemnified Parties, whether in
respect of third-party claims, claims between the parties hereto, or otherwise,
directly or indirectly relating to, arising out of or resulting from,
(i) subject to Section 7.3(b) hereof ,
any
breach of or inaccuracy in any representation or warranty made by the Buyer
contained in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement for the period such
representation or warranty survives, it being understood that,
for
purposes of this Section 7.3(a)(i), any qualifications relating to
materiality contained in such representation or warranty shall be disregarded
for purposes of determining whether such representation or warranty was
breached,
(ii) any breach, violation or non-fulfillment of a covenant or agreement of
the Buyer contained in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, and
(iii) the Transferred Shares, the assets of the Transferred Subsidiaries,
or the Business to the extent attributable to the operation or ownership of
the
Business following the Closing and not otherwise an Excluded
Liability.
(b) The
Buyer
shall not be liable to the Seller Indemnified Parties for any individual Loss
with respect to the matters contained in Section 7.3(a)(i) (other than
breach of or inaccuracy in the representations and warranties contained in
Sections 4.1, 4.2 and 4.6, which shall be indemnified without regard to the
following limitations) unless (i) such individual Loss exceeds the
Individual Indemnity Threshold and (ii) the aggregate amount of all such
Losses, other than any individual Loss that is equal to or below the Individual
Indemnity Threshold, exceeds the Aggregate Indemnity Threshold, in which case
the Buyer shall be liable for all of such Losses; provided,
however,
that
the Buyer shall not be required to make any payments to the Seller Indemnified
Parties pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) of Section 7.3(a) in excess
of an aggregate amount equal to $50,000,000. For avoidance of any doubt, each
individual Loss that is equal to or below the Individual Indemnity Threshold
shall be excluded from any calculation of the aggregate amount of Losses in
clause (ii) of this Section 7.3(b) and from any calculation of the
Buyer’s indemnity obligation under this Section 7.3.
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Section
7.4 Third-Party
Claim Indemnification Procedures.
(a) If
any written claim or demand for which an indemnifying party (an “Indemnifying
Party”)
may
have liability to any Indemnified Party hereunder (other than a claim brought
with respect to Tax Liabilities under Section 5.4, which shall be governed
by that Section), is asserted against or sought to be collected from any
Indemnified Party by a third party (a “Third-Party
Claim”),
such
Indemnified Party shall promptly (but no later than 20 Business Days after
receipt thereof) notify the Indemnifying Party in writing of such Third-Party
Claim (a “Third-Party
Claim Notice,”
collectively with Direct Claim Notices, “Claim
Notices”);
provided,
however,
that
the failure timely to give a Third-Party Claim Notice shall affect the rights
of
an Indemnified Party hereunder only to the extent that such failure has a
material prejudicial effect on the defenses or other rights available to the
Indemnifying Party with respect to such Third-Party Claim. A Third-Party Claim
Notice shall contain a brief summary of the facts underlying or relating to
such
claim to the extent then known by the Indemnified Party or a copy of any
correspondence or notice received from the relevant third party and a statement
that the Indemnified Party seeks indemnification for Losses relating to such
Third-Party Claim.
(b) The
Indemnifying Party shall have 30 days (or such lesser number of days set forth
in the Third-Party Claim Notice as may be required by any Government Entity,
court proceeding or regulatory inquiry or investigation) after receipt of the
Third-Party Claim Notice (the “Notice
Period”)
to
notify the Indemnified Party that it desires to defend the Indemnified Party
against such Third-Party Claim unless the Third Party Claim involves criminal
liability or in which equitable relief is sought against any of the Indemnified
Parties; it being understood that,
by
assuming the defense of a Third-Party Claim, the Indemnifying Party shall
acknowledge its obligation to indemnify the Indemnified Party with respect
to
all Losses imposed on, sustained, incurred or suffered by, or asserted against
the Indemnified Party in respect of such Third-Party Claim (subject only to
the
limitations contained in Section 7.2(b) or 7.3(b), as the case may be, and
any amounts actually recovered as contemplated by Section 7.8(a)) and all
Losses sustained, incurred or suffered by the Indemnified Party in connection
with such defense prior to such assumption shall be reimbursed by the
Indemnifying Party.
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(c) In
the
event that the Indemnifying Party notifies the Indemnified Party within the
Notice Period that it desires to defend the Indemnified Party against a
Third-Party Claim, the Indemnifying Party shall have the right to defend the
Indemnified Party by appropriate proceedings, with counsel selected by the
Indemnifying Party that is reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party,
at
the expense of the Indemnifying Party. Once the Indemnifying Party has duly
assumed the defense of a Third-Party Claim, the Indemnified Party shall have
the
right, but not the obligation, to participate in any such defense, including
the
opportunity to participate in any discussions or correspondence with any
Government Entity, and to employ separate counsel of its choosing. The
Indemnified Party shall participate in any such defense at its own expense
unless (i) the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party are both named
parties to the proceedings and counsel to the Indemnified Party shall have
reasonably concluded that representation of both parties by the same counsel
would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between
them or the availability to the Indemnified Party of one or more defenses or
counterclaims that are inconsistent with one or more of those that may be
available to the Indemnifying Party in respect thereof, or (ii) the
Indemnified Party assumes the defense of a Third-Party Claim after the
Indemnifying Party has failed to diligently pursue a Third-Party Claim it has
assumed, as provided in Section 7.4(d).
(d) If
the
Indemnifying Party (i) elects not to defend the Indemnified Party against a
Third-Party Claim, whether by not giving the Indemnified Party timely notice
of
its desire to so defend or otherwise, (ii) is not entitled to defend the
Third-Party Claim as provided in Section 7.4(b), or (iii) after
assuming the defense of a Third-Party Claim, fails to take reasonable steps
necessary to negotiate for settlement or defend diligently such Third-Party
Claim within 10 Business Days after receiving written notice from the
Indemnified Party to the effect that the Indemnifying Party has so failed,
the
Indemnified Party shall have the right, but not the obligation, to assume its
own defense; it being understood that
the
Indemnified Party’s right to indemnification for a Third-Party Claim shall not
be adversely affected by assuming the defense of such Third-Party Claim.
(e) Whether
or not the Indemnifying Party shall have assumed defense of a Third-Party Claim,
(i) the Indemnified Party shall have no liability with respect to any
settlement or compromise of such Third-Party Claim effected without its written
consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) and (ii) the
Indemnifying Party shall not, without the prior written consent of the
Indemnified Party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), consent
to
the entry of judgment, admit any liability with respect to, settle, compromise,
discharge or offer to settle, compromise or discharge any Third-Party Claim
on a
basis that would result in (A) the imposition of a consent order,
injunction or decree that would restrict the future activity or conduct of
the
Indemnified Party or any of its Affiliates, (B) a finding or admission of a
violation of Law or violation of the rights of any Person by the Indemnified
Party or any of its Affiliates, (C) a finding or admission of a violation
of Law, of a violation of the rights of any Person or that would have an adverse
effect on other claims made or threatened against the Indemnified Party or
any
of its Affiliates, or (D) except to the extent within the basket set forth
in Section 7.2(b) or 7.3(b), as the case may be, any monetary liability of
the Indemnified Party that will not be promptly paid or reimbursed by the
Indemnifying Party or anything less than a complete release being provided
to
the Indemnified Party and its Affiliates.
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(f) The
Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party shall cooperate in order to ensure
the proper and adequate defense of a Third-Party Claim, including by providing
access during regular business hours to each other’s relevant business records
and other documents, and employees; provided,
however,
that
such cooperation shall not unreasonably interfere with the business or
operations of the providing party. All Losses sustained, incurred or suffered
by
the Indemnified Party in connection with responding to, complying with or
satisfying the Indemnifying Party’s requests for cooperation shall be promptly
reimbursed by the Indemnifying Party. If the Indemnifying Party disputes the
amount of, or otherwise refuses or fails to reimburse, any such Losses that
the
Indemnified Party has incurred and for which the Indemnified Party has sought
reimbursement from the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnified Party shall not
be
obligated to continue providing cooperation with respect to the defense of
the
relevant Third-Party Claim until such dispute has become the subject of a Final
Determination or all such Losses have been reimbursed in full.
(g) The
Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party shall use reasonable best efforts
to avoid production of confidential information (consistent with applicable
Law), and to cause all communications among employees, counsel and others
representing any party to a Third-Party Claim to be made so as to preserve
any
applicable attorney-client or work-product privileges.
Section
7.5 Direct
Claims.
(a)
If an
Indemnified Party wishes to make a claim for indemnification hereunder for
a
Loss that does not result from a Third-Party Claim (a “Direct
Claim”),
the
Indemnified Party shall notify the Indemnifying Party in writing of such Direct
Claim (a “Direct
Claim Notice”),
including a brief summary of the facts underlying or related to such claim
to
the extent then known by the Indemnified Party and a statement that the
Indemnified Party seeks indemnification for Losses relating to such claim.
The
Indemnifying Party shall have a period of 30 days within which to respond to
such Direct Claim.
(b) If
the
Indemnifying Party accepts the Direct Claim or does not respond within such
30-day period, the Indemnifying Party will be deemed to have accepted the Direct
Claim and to have conclusively acknowledged its obligation to indemnify the
Indemnified Party with respect to all Losses imposed on, sustained, incurred
or
suffered by, or asserted against the Indemnified Party in respect of such Direct
Claim. If the Indemnifying Party accepts or is deemed to accept the Direct
Claim, within 30 days after the date of such acceptance, it shall pay the amount
of Losses (if any) specified in the Direct Claim Notice for which the
Indemnified Party seeks indemnification at that time (which amount shall not
be
conclusive of the final amount of such Direct Claim) and any amount of Losses
specified in any supplementary Direct Claim Notice contemplated by
Section 7.6(b). In the event that the Indemnifying Party is the Seller, it
shall have the option to either pay the foregoing amount of Losses in cash
or
instruct the Escrow Agent to release to the Buyer such portion of the Purchase
Price Shares held in escrow pursuant to the Escrow Agreement as directed by
the
Seller.
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(c) If
the
Indemnifying Party rejects all or any part of the Direct Claim within the 30-day
period after the date of the Direct Claim Notice, or fails to pay any Losses
in
accordance with Section 7.5(b), the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified
Party shall use good faith efforts to resolve such dispute on the Direct Claim
during the 30-day period following the delivery of a response reflecting such
dispute. If the dispute is not resolved within such 30-day period, the
Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party shall submit the dispute to
arbitration pursuant to Section 9.9 below.
Section
7.6 Claim
Notices.
(a)
A Claim
Notice shall state the estimated amount of Losses (which estimate shall not
be
conclusive of the final amount of such claim and subsequently may be
supplemented or amended as contemplated by Section 7.6(b)) that the
Indemnified Party believes it has sustained, incurred or suffered with respect
to any Third-Party Claim or Direct Claim and identify the representations and
warranties of the Indemnifying Party that the Indemnified Party believes were
breached or inaccurate or otherwise identify the bases upon which the
Indemnified Party believes that it is entitled to indemnification (which bases
shall not be conclusive of the final determination of liability for
indemnification and subsequently may be supplemented or amended as contemplated
by Section 7.6(b)).
(b) At
any
time after an Indemnified Party has delivered a Claim Notice satisfying the
content requirements of Section 7.4(a) or 7.5(a), such Indemnified Party,
in its discretion, may supplement or amend such Claim Notice by delivery of
any
correspondence, notice or other information relating to the claim covered by
the
original Claim Notice. For the avoidance of doubt, the delivery by the
Indemnified Party of one or more supplements or amendments to a Claim Notice,
to
the extent such supplements or amendments do not include new Claims being made
after the expiration of the relevant survival period set forth in
Section 7.1, shall not be deemed the delivery of a new Claim Notice or the
revocation of the original Claim Notice, and shall not alter or undermine the
timeliness of the original Claim Notice, for purposes of
Section 7.1.
Section
7.7 Consequential
Damages.
The
parties hereto acknowledge that, except with respect to Third-Party Claims,
Losses shall not include any consequential, punitive, special, incidental and
indirect damages, including lost profits.
Section
7.8 Adjustments
to Losses.
(a) Insurance.
In
calculating the amount of any Loss, the proceeds actually received by the
Indemnified Party or any of its Affiliates under any insurance policy or
pursuant to any claim, recovery, settlement or payment by or against any other
Person in each case relating to the Third-Party Claim or the Direct Claim,
net
of any actual costs, expenses or premiums incurred in connection with securing
or obtaining such proceeds, shall be deducted, except to the extent that the
adjustment itself would excuse, exclude or limit the coverage of all or part
of
such Loss. The Indemnified Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts
to
assert any rights or make any claim or demand under any insurance policy
relating to any Third-Party Claim or Direct Claim or any occurrence, claim
or
Loss that results in a payment by an Indemnifying Party under this Article
VII.
No Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to be subrogated to any rights of an
Indemnified Party.
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(b) Purchase
Price Adjustment.
In
calculating the amount of any Loss for which any Buyer Indemnified Party is
entitled to indemnification hereunder, the amount of any reserve or other
negative provision reflected in the Closing Date Working Capital Statement
related to such Loss shall be deducted.
(c) Reimbursement.
If an
Indemnified Party recovers an amount from a third party in respect of a Loss
that is the subject of indemnification hereunder after all or a portion of
such
Loss has been paid by an Indemnifying Party pursuant to this Article VII, the
Indemnified Party shall promptly remit to the Indemnifying Party the excess
(if
any) of (i) the amount paid by the Indemnifying Party in respect of such
Loss (or, where the Seller is the Indemnifying Party, any amount paid by the
Escrow Agent pursuant to the Escrow Agreement), plus the amount actually
received from the third party in respect thereof, less (ii) the full amount
of Loss.
(d) Escrow
Agreement.
If,
pursuant to the Escrow Agreement, the Buyer receives an amount from the Escrow
Agent in respect of a Loss that is the subject of indemnification by the Seller
hereunder, the Buyer shall not be entitled to seek enforcement of its rights
to
indemnification directly against the Seller with respect to such
amount.
Section
7.9 Payments.
The
Indemnifying Party shall pay all amounts payable pursuant to this Article VII
by
wire transfer of immediately available funds, promptly following receipt from
an
Indemnified Party of a xxxx, together with all accompanying reasonably detailed
back-up documentation, for a Loss that is the subject of indemnification
hereunder, unless the Indemnifying Party in good faith disputes the Loss, in
which event it shall so notify the Indemnified Party. In any event, the
Indemnifying Party shall pay to the Indemnified Party, by wire transfer of
immediately available funds, the amount of any Loss for which it is liable
hereunder no later than five Business Days following any Final Determination
of
such Loss and the Indemnifying Party’s liability therefor. A “Final
Determination”
shall
exist when (i) the parties to the dispute have reached an agreement in
writing, (ii) a Government Entity of competent jurisdiction shall have
entered a final and binding order or judgment, or (iii) an arbitration or
like panel shall have rendered a determination or award with respect to disputes
the parties have agreed to submit thereto. In the event that the Indemnifying
Party is the Seller, it shall have the option to either pay the foregoing amount
of Losses in cash or instruct the Escrow Agent to release to the Buyer such
portion of the Purchase Price Shares held in escrow pursuant to the Escrow
Agreement as directed by the Seller.
Section
7.10 Characterization
of Indemnification Payments.
To the
extent allowed under applicable Law, all payments made by an Indemnifying Party
to an Indemnified Party in respect of any claim pursuant to Section 7.2 or
7.3 hereof shall be treated as adjustments to the Purchase Price for Tax
purposes.
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Section
7.11 Tax
Indemnification.
To the
extent that the Buyer has a claim against the Seller with respect to Taxes
and
the Buyer may pursue such claim under Section 7.2 or Section 5.4, the
Buyer may bring such claim against the Seller under either one (but not both)
of
those Sections. If the Buyer chooses to bring a claim under Section 5.4,
the provisions of this Article VII shall not apply to such claim.
Section
7.12 Effect
of Waiver of Condition. Neither
the Buyer’s nor the Seller’s right to indemnity pursuant to this Article VII
shall be adversely affected by its waiver of a condition to Closing set forth
in
Article VI, unless such party makes clear by the terms of its waiver that it
is
foreclosing its right to indemnity with respect to the matter that is the
subject of the waiver.
ARTICLE
VIII
TERMINATION
Section
8.1 Termination.
This
Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing:
(a) by
written agreement of the Buyer and the Seller;
(b) by
either
the Buyer or the Seller by giving written notice of such termination to the
other party, if the Closing shall not have occurred on or prior to
August 31, 2007 so long as the terminating party is not in material breach
of its obligations under this Agreement;
(c) by
the
Buyer, by giving five days’ written notice of such termination to the Seller, so
long as the Buyer is not in material breach of its obligations under this
Agreement, if any condition set forth in Section 6.1 or Section 6.2
shall have become incapable of satisfaction on or prior to August 31,
2007;
(d) by
the
Seller, by giving five days’ written notice of such termination to Buyer, so
long as the Seller is not in material breach of its obligations under this
Agreement, if any condition set forth in Section 6.1 or Section 6.3
shall have become incapable of satisfaction on or prior to August 31, 2007;
or
(e) by
either
party if the Closing shall not have occurred on or prior to the tenth Business
Day following the satisfaction of all the conditions set forth in Article VI
as
a result of any action or inaction by the other party.
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Section
8.2 Effect
of Termination.
In the
event of the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 8.1,
this Agreement shall thereafter become void and have no effect, and neither
party hereto shall have any liability to the other party hereto or its
Affiliates, or their respective Representatives, except for the obligations
of
the parties hereto contained in this Section 8.2 and in Article IX (and any
related definitional provisions set forth in Article I), and except that nothing
in this Section 8.2 shall relieve either party from liability for any
breach of this Agreement that arose prior to such termination, for which
liability the provisions of Article VII shall remain in effect in
accordance with the provisions and limitations of such Article.
ARTICLE
IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section
9.1 Notices.
All
notices and communications required or permitted to be given hereunder shall
be
deemed to have been duly given and made if in writing and if served by personal
delivery upon the party for whom it is intended or delivered by registered
or
certified mail, return receipt requested, or if sent by telecopier or email;
provided,
however,
that
the telecopy or email is promptly confirmed by telephone confirmation thereof,
to the Person at the address set forth below, or such other address as may
be
designated in writing hereafter, in the same manner, by such Person:
To
the
Buyer:
Cree,
Inc.
0000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx,
XX 00000-0000
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Telephone:
x0 (000) 000-0000
Telecopy:
x0 (000) 000-0000
Email: Xxxx_Xxxxxx@xxxx.xxx/
Xxxxx_Xxxxx@xxxx.xxx
Attn:
Xxxx Xxxxxx/Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
With
a
copy to:
Xxxxxxxx
& Xxxxxxxx LLP
000
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
XX 00000
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
Telecopy:
(000) 000-0000
Email:
xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
Attn:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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To
the
Seller:
COTCO
Holdings Limited
6/F,
Photonics Centre, Xx. 0, Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx
Xxxx
Science Park, Hong Kong
Telephone:
x000 0000 0000
Telecopy:
x000 0000 0000
Email:
xxxxx@xxxxx.xxx
Attn:
Xxxx Xxx
With
a
copy to:
Xxxx,
Hastings Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx, LLP
21-22/F
Bank of China Tower
0
Xxxxxx
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxx
Telephone:
x000 0000 0000
Telecopy:
x000 0000 0000
Email:
xxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Attn:
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxx
Section
9.2 Amendment;
Waiver.
Any
provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived if, and only if, such
amendment or waiver is in writing and signed, in the case of an amendment,
by
all the parties hereto, or in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom
the waiver is to be effective. No failure or delay by either party in exercising
any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor
shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further
exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The
rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of
any
rights or remedies provided by Law.
Section
9.3 No
Assignment or Benefit to Third Parties.
This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto
and their respective successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.
Subject to the provisions of Section 2.9, neither party to this Agreement
may assign any of its rights or delegate any of its obligations under this
Agreement, by operation of Law or otherwise, without the prior written consent
of the other party hereto, except as provided in Section 9.5 and except
that each party may assign any or all of its rights under this Agreement or
any
Ancillary Agreement to one or more of its Affiliates (but no such assignment
shall relieve such party of any of its obligations hereunder). Nothing in this
Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any Person other
than
the Buyer, the Seller, the Indemnified Parties and their respective successors,
legal representatives and permitted assigns, any rights or remedies under or
by
reason of this Agreement.
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Section
9.4 Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement (including all Schedules and Exhibits hereto) and the Ancillary
Agreements contain the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect
to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes all prior agreements
and
understandings, oral or written, with respect to such matters, except for the
Confidentiality Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect until
the
Closing.
Section
9.5 Fulfillment
of Obligations.
Any
obligation of either party to the other party under this Agreement, or any
of
the Ancillary Agreements, which obligation is performed, satisfied or fulfilled
completely by an Affiliate of such party, shall be deemed to have been
performed, satisfied or fulfilled by such party.
Section
9.6 Public
Disclosure.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, except as may be
required to comply with the requirements of any applicable Law and the rules
and
regulations of any stock exchange upon which the securities of one of the
parties is listed, from and after the date hereof, no press release or similar
public announcement or communication shall be made or caused to be made relating
to this Agreement unless specifically approved in advance by both parties
hereto.
Section
9.7 Expenses.
Except
as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, whether or not the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated, all costs and
expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby shall be borne by the party incurring such costs and
expenses.
Section
9.8 Governing
Law.
THIS
AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF
HONG
KONG, WITHOUT
REGARD TO ANY CONFLICT OF LAWS PROVISIONS.
Section
9.9 Dispute
Resolution.
(a) Any
dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or in connection with this
Agreement (“Dispute”)
shall
be submitted to the International Chamber of Commerce (the “ICC”)
for
settlement by arbitration with three arbitrators under the Rules of Arbitration
of the ICC in effect as of the date of this Agreement (the “Arbitration
Rules”),
as
modified by this Agreement. Each of the Buyer and the Seller shall be entitled
to designate one arbitrator. The two arbitrators shall consult with each other
to agree upon the selection of a third arbitrator; provided,
however,
that,
if either the Buyer or the Seller fails to appoint an arbitrator within 20
Business Days after receipt by the other party of a written notice requesting
arbitration, or if the two arbitrators cannot reach an agreement with respect
to
the third arbitrator on or prior to 5:00 P.M. (Hong Kong time) on the twentieth
Business Day following the date of the appointment of the second arbitrator,
the
appointment shall be made by the ICC pursuant to the Arbitration Rules. Any
arbitration pursuant to this Section 9.9 shall be administered by the ICC
in accordance with its arbitration procedures in effect as of the date of this
Agreement.
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(b) The
arbitration proceedings shall be conducted in English. The seat of the
arbitration shall be in Hong Kong. Any award of the arbitral tribunal must
be in
writing and state the grounds upon which it is based.
(c) The
decision of the arbitral tribunal shall be final and binding on the parties
and
the parties hereby waive irrevocably any rights to any form of appeal, review
or
recourse to any state or other judicial authority, in so far as such waiver
may
validly be made.
(d) The
parties shall have the right to seek interim injunctive relief or other interim
relief from a court of competent jurisdiction, both before and after the
arbitral tribunal has been appointed, at any time up until the arbitral tribunal
has made its final award. Judgment upon any arbitral award may be entered by
any
court of competent jurisdiction and any party may apply to such court for the
recognition and enforcement of such award as the Law of such jurisdiction may
allow. Each party agrees that any judgment upon an arbitral award rendered
against it under this Agreement may be executed against its assets in any
jurisdiction.
(e) Any
arbitral award hereunder may be enforced in any proper court of competent
jurisdiction. Each party agrees that service of process upon such party at
the
address so provided in Section 9.1 shall be deemed in every respect
effective service of process upon such party in any such action, suit or
proceeding.
(f) Each
party hereby agrees to submit any dispute, controversy or claim with respect
to
the enforceability of the arbitration provisions of this Agreement to the ICC
for settlement by arbitration under the Arbitration Rules in accordance with
the
ICC’s arbitration procedures and the terms of this Agreement. If the arbitration
provisions of this Agreement are held unenforceable by the ICC, the parties
shall be entitled to submit any Dispute to any proper court of competent
jurisdiction for legal suits, actions or proceedings.
Section
9.10 Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall
be
deemed an original, and all of which shall constitute one and the same
Agreement.
Section
9.11 Headings.
The
heading references herein and the table of contents hereof are for convenience
purposes only, and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions
hereof.
Section
9.12 Severability.
The
provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the invalidity or
unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or
enforceability of the other provisions hereof. If any provision of this
Agreement, or the application thereof to any Person or any circumstance, is
invalid or unenforceable, (a) a suitable and equitable provision shall be
substituted therefor in order to carry out, so far as may be valid and
enforceable, the intent and purpose of such invalid or unenforceable provision
and (b) the remainder of this Agreement and the
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application
of such provision to other Persons or
circumstances shall not be affected by such invalidity or unenforceability,
nor
shall such invalidity or unenforceability affect the validity or enforceability
of such provision, or the application thereof, in any other
jurisdiction.
[Signature
Page Follows]
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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed or caused this Agreement to be
executed as of the date first written above.
COTCO
HOLDINGS LIMITED
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By:
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/s/ Lo Xxxxx Xxx, Xxxx | ||
Xx
Xxxxx Xxx, Xxxx
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Chairman
|
CREE,
INC.
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By:
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/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | ||
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
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Chairman,
President and Chief Executive
Officer
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