ACQUISITION AGREEMENT ______________________________________ Between GENERAL STEEL LIMITED (GSI) TIANJIN QIU STEEL INVESTMENT (Qiugang) (as GSI Parties) MAOMING HENGDA STEEL GROUP LIMITED (Henggang) BEIJING TIANCHENGHENGLI INVESTMENTS LIMITED MR....
______________________________________
ACQUISITION
AGREEMENT
______________________________________
Between
GENERAL STEEL LIMITED (GSI)
Between
GENERAL STEEL LIMITED (GSI)
TIANJIN
QIU STEEL INVESTMENT (Qiugang)
(as
GSI
Parties)
MAOMING
HENGDA STEEL GROUP LIMITED (Henggang)
BEIJING
TIANCHENGHENGLI INVESTMENTS LIMITED
MR.
CHENCHAO
(as Henggang Parties)
Dated as of June 25, 2008
(as Henggang Parties)
Dated as of June 25, 2008
This
ACQUISITION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”),
dated
as of June 25, 2008, by and between GENERAL STEEL LIMITED (“GSI”), TIANJIN
QIU STEEL INVESTMENT
(“Qiugang”;
each
Qiugang
and
General
Steel,
a
“GSI
Party”,
and
collectively, the “GSI
Parties”),
MAOMING HENGDA STEEL GROUP LIMITED (“Henggang”),
BEIJING TIANCHENGHENGLI INVESTMENTS LIMITED and XX. XXXX XXXX (each a Henggang
Party, and collectively called the “Henggang
Parties”);
each
of the
GSI
Parties
and the
Henggang
Parties,
a
“Party”,
and
collectively, the “Parties”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS,
Henggang
is
engaged in the [steel processing business] in Guangdong Province, the PRC (the
“Henggang
Business”);
WHEREAS,
the Henggang Parties intend to sell, and Qiugang, under the arrangements of
GSI,
intend to purchase all the equity of Henggang;
WHEREAS,
subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
the
Parties
wish to
complete the acquisition of Henggang
under
this Agreement;
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements and
covenants hereinafter set forth, the Henggang Parties and the GSI Parties hereby
agree as follows:
ARTICLE
1
DEFINITIONS
DEFINITIONS
SECTION
1.01 Certain
Defined Terms. For
purposes of this Agreement:
“Accounting
Regulations”
means
the accounting laws, statutes, regulations, rules, standards and systems
promulgated by any Governmental Authority.
“Action”
means
any claim, action, suit, arbitration, inquiry, proceeding or investigation
by or
before any Governmental Authority.
“Affiliate”
means,
with respect to any specified Person, any other Person that directly, or
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by,
or is
under common control with, such specified Person.
“Ancillary
Agreements”
means
Share
Transfer Documents.
“Business
Day”
means
any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which banks are
required or authorized by Law to be closed in the PRC.
“Claims”
means
any and all administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, petitions,
appeals, demands, demand letter, claims (including third-party claims), notices
of noncompliance or violation, investigations, proceedings, consent orders
or
consent agreements.
1
“Contracts”
means
all contracts, agreements, leases, licenses, sublicenses, commitments, sales
and
purchase orders and other instruments relating to the Henggang
Business.
“Control”
(including the terms “controlled
by”
and
“under
common control with”),
with
respect to the relationship between or among two or more Persons, means the
possession, directly or indirectly or as trustee, personal representative or
executor, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the affairs or
management of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities,
as
trustee, personal representative or executor, by contract, credit arrangement
or
otherwise.
“Encumbrance”
means
any security interest, pledge, mortgage, lien (including, without limitation,
tax liens), lease, license, encumbrance, preferential arrangement, restrictive
covenant, condition or restriction of any kind, including, without limitation,
any restriction on the use, voting, transfer, receipt of income or other
exercise of any attributes of ownership.
“Employment
Contract for Key Employees”
means
the employment contract to be executed by each Key Employee on or prior to
the
Closing Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit 5.10(a).
“Employment
Contract”
means
the employment contract to be executed by each Employee on or prior to the
Closing Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit 5.10(b).
“Environment”
means
surface waters, ground waters, soil, subsurface strata and ambient
air.
“Environmental
Claims”
means
any Claims relating in any way to any Environmental Law or any Environmental
Permit, including, without limitation, (a) any and all Actions by Governmental
Authorities for enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or other
actions or damages pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law and (b) any
and
all Claims by any Person seeking damages, indemnification, cost recovery,
compensation or injunctive relief resulting from Hazardous Materials or arising
from alleged injury or threat of injury to health, safety or the
Environment.
“Environmental
Laws”
means
all Laws, now in effect and as amended, relating to the Environment, health,
safety, natural resources or Hazardous Materials.
“Environmental
Permits”
means
all permits, approvals, licenses and other authorizations required under or
issued pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law.
“Governmental
Authority”
means
any PRC national, provincial, local, or similar government, governmental,
regulatory or administrative authority, agency or commission or any court,
tribunal, or judicial or arbitral body.
“Governmental
Order”
means
any order, judgment, injunction, decree, stipulation, determination or award
entered by or with any Governmental Authority.
2
“Hazardous
Materials”
means
(a) petroleum and petroleum products, radioactive materials, asbestos-containing
materials, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, transformers or other equipment
that contain polychlorinated biphenyls and radon gas, (b) any other chemicals,
materials or substances defined as or included in the definition of “hazardous
substances”, “hazardous wastes”, “hazardous materials”, “extremely hazardous
wastes”, “restrictive hazardous wastes”, “toxic substances”, “toxic pollutants”,
“contaminants” or “pollutants” under any applicable Environmental Law, and (c)
any other chemical, material or substance which is regulated by any
Environmental Law.
“Intellectual
Property”
means
(i) patents, patent applications and statutory invention registrations, (ii)
trademarks, service marks, domain names, trade dress, logos, trade names,
corporate names and other identifiers of source or goodwill, including
registrations and applications for registration thereof and including the
goodwill of the business symbolized thereby or associated therewith, (iii)
mask
works and copyrights, including copyrights in computer software, and
registrations and applications for registration thereof, and (iv) confidential
and proprietary information, including trade secrets, know-how and invention
rights.
“Inventories”
means
all raw materials, work-in-process, finished goods, supplies and other
inventories related to the Henggang Business, wherever situated.
“Investment
Documents”
means
the documents needed in order to make Tianjin City Daqiuzhuang Metal Sheet
Co.,
Ltd become, in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
a
shareholder of Henggang, which include but are not limited to the Investment
Agreement(s) and the new Articles of Associations. “Law”
means
any PRC national, provincial, local or similar statute, law, ordinance,
regulation, rule, code, order, requirement or rule of law.
“Liabilities”
means
any and all debts, liabilities and obligations, whether accrued or fixed,
absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured or determined or determinable,
including, without limitation, those arising under any Law, Action or
Governmental Order and those arising under any contract, agreement, arrangement,
commitment or undertaking.
“Licensed
Intellectual Property”
means
Intellectual Property licensed to either Henggang Party pursuant to the Henggang
Party IP Agreements and used in connection with the Henggang
Business.
“Material
Adverse Effect”
means
any circumstance, change in or effect on the Henggang Business or either
Henggang Party that, individually or in the aggregate with all other
circumstances, changes in or effects on the Henggang Business or such Henggang
Party: (a) is materially adverse to the operations, assets or liabilities
(including, without limitation, contingent liabilities), employee relationships,
customer or supplier relationships, prospects, results of operations or the
condition (financial or otherwise) of the Henggang Business or such Henggang
Party or (b) is reasonably likely to materially adversely affect the
ability of the GSI Parties to operate or conduct the Henggang Business in the
manner in which it is currently or contemplated to be operated or conducted
by
Henggang.
3
“Person”
means
any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, limited liability company,
association, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity.
“Personal
Property”
means
all machinery, equipment, fixtures, furniture, office equipment, communications
equipment, vehicles, spare and replacement parts, ancillary materials and other
tangible personal property used or held for use by either Henggang Party at
the
locations at which the Henggang Business is conducted or otherwise owned or
held
by either Henggang Party at the Closing Date for use in the conduct of the
Henggang Business.
“Receivables”
means
any and all accounts receivable, notes and other amounts receivable from third
parties, including, without limitation, customers and employees, arising from
the conduct of the Henggang Business before the Closing Date, whether or not
in
the ordinary course, together with any unpaid financing charges accrued
thereon.
“Real
Property”
means
all buildings, fixtures and improvements erected by Henggang on the site covered
by the Land Use Rights of Henggang.
“Release”
means
disposing, discharging, injecting, spilling, leaking, leaching, dumping,
emitting, escaping, emptying, seeping, placing and the like into or upon any
land or water or air or otherwise entering into the Environment.
“RMB”
means
Renminbi Yuan, the lawful currency of the PRC.
“Henggang
Party Intellectual Property”
means
the Intellectual Property owned by either Henggang Party and used in connection
with the Henggang Business, including the Intellectual Property owned by either
Henggang Party and commonly used in connection with the Henggang
Business.
“Henggang
Party IP Agreements”
means
(a) licenses of Henggang Party Intellectual Property by either Henggang Party
to
third parties, (b) licenses of Intellectual Property related to the Henggang
Business by third parties to either Henggang Party, (c) agreements between
such
Henggang Party and third parties relating to the development or use of
Intellectual Property that are used in connection with the Henggang Business
and
(d) consents, settlements, decrees, orders, injunctions, judgments or ruling
governing the use, validity or enforceability of Henggang Party Intellectual
Property.
“Share
Transfer Documents”
means
the documents needed in order to make Qiugang become, in accordance with the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, the shareholder of Henggang, which
include but are not limited to the Share Transfer Agreement(s) between Qiugang
and the Share Transferors.
“Tax”
or
“Taxes”
means
any and all taxes, fees, levies, duties, tariffs and other charges of any kind
(together with any and all interest, penalties, additions to tax and additional
amounts imposed with respect thereto) imposed by any government or taxing
authority, including, without limitation, taxes or other charges on or with
respect to income, franchises, windfall or other profits, gross receipts,
property, sales, use, payroll, employment, social security, unemployment
compensation, or net worth; taxes or other charges in the nature of excise,
withholding, transfer, value added, or gains taxes; license, registration and
documentation fees; and customs’ duties, tariffs, and similar
charges.
4
SECTION
1.02 Interpretation
and Rules of Construction.
In
this
Agreement, except to the extent that the context otherwise
requires:
(i)
|
when
a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article, Section, Exhibit
or
Schedule, such reference is to an Article or Section of, or an Exhibit
or
Schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated;
|
(ii)
|
the
table of contents and headings for this Agreement are for reference
purposes only and do not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation
of this Agreement;
|
(iii)
|
whenever
the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement,
they are deemed to be followed by the words “without
limitation”;
|
(iv)
|
the
words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when
used in this Agreement, refer to this Agreement as a whole and not
to any
particular provision of this
Agreement;
|
(v)
|
all
terms defined in this Agreement have the defined meanings when used
in any
certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto,
unless
otherwise defined therein;
|
(vi)
|
the
definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular
as
well as the plural forms of such terms;
|
(vii)
|
any
Law defined or referred to herein or in any agreement or instrument
that
is referred to herein means such Law or statute as from time to time
amended, modified or supplemented, including by succession of comparable
successor Laws;
|
(viii)
|
references
to a Person are also to its permitted successors and assigns;
|
(ix)
|
references
to Henggang are also to its
subsidiaries;
|
(x)
|
the
use of “or” is not intended to be exclusive unless expressly indicated
otherwise.
|
ARTICLE
2
INVESTMENT AND SHARE TRANSFER
INVESTMENT AND SHARE TRANSFER
SECTION
2.01 Share
Transfer.
Upon
the
terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the current shareholders
of Henggang, Beijing Tianchenghengli Investments Limited and Xx. Xxxx
Duo,
shall transfer 99% equity of Henggang to Qiugang and the rest 1% equity of
Henggang to the institute/person recommended by Qiugang. The total price of
the share transfer shall be RMB50 million Yuan, which shall be paid within
3
days after the registration of the share transfer by Qiugang to the aforesaid
current shareholders of Henggang (represented by Beijing Tianchenghengli
Investments Limited). Such payment shall be made within the PRC.
SECTION
2.02 Assumption
and Exclusion of Liabilities.
(a) The
Henggang Parties shall retain, and shall be responsible for paying, performing
and discharging when due, and the GSI Parties shall not assume or have any
responsibility for, all Liabilities of the Henggang Business as of the Closing
Date (the “Excluded
Liabilities”),
including, without limitation:
(i)
|
all
Taxes now or hereafter owed by either Henggang Party or any of its
Affiliates, or attributable to the Purchased Assets or the Henggang
Business, relating to any period, or any portion of any period, ending
on
or prior to the Closing Date;
|
(ii)
|
all
Losses;
|
(iii)
|
all
Remediation Fees; and
|
(iv)
|
all
product liabilities relating to any Inventories and any other products
produced, sold, distributed, directly or indirectly, by the Henggang
Parties before April 30, 2008.
|
SECTION
2.03 Others.
Liabilities undisclosed by the financial statements under Section 3.05 shall
be
assumed by Henggang Partiesliabilities disclosed by the financial statements
under Section 3.05 shall be assumed by GSI Parties.
SECTION
2.04 Transfer
of Subsidiary Companies. The Henggang Parties shall ensure that, prior to
the Closing, any and all the equity of Henggang’s subsidiary companies
(Maoming Hengda Trading Co., Ltd., Maoming Hengda Steel Trading Co., Ltd.,
Maoming Hengda Materials Co., Ltd., Maoming Hengda Logistics Co., Ltd. and
Maoming Hengxin Economic and Technical Consulting Co., Ltd.) that is hold by
Guangzhou Hengda Industrial Group Limited shall be transferred to the GSI
Parties for free.
SECTION
2.05 Closing.
Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the investment and share transfer
contemplated by this Agreement shall complete at a closing (the “Closing”)
on the
day of the satisfaction or waiver of all conditions to the obligations of the
Parties set forth in Article 7 (the day on which the Closing takes place being
the “Closing
Date”).
ARTICLE
3
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE HENGGANG PARTIES
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE HENGGANG PARTIES
As
an
inducement to the GSI Parties to enter into this Agreement, the Henggang Parties
hereby, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to the GSI Parties as
of
the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as follows:
SECTION
3.01 Organization
and Capitalization (a) Each
Henggang Party is a company duly organized and validly existing under the laws
of the PRC or a citizen of the PRC and has all corporate powers (if applicable)
and all governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required
to carry on its business as now conducted.
(b) Schedule
3.01(b) sets forth the true and complete information with respect to the
registered capital and total amount of investment of Henggang and the respective
equity of its shareholders including Henggang. None of the registered capital
of
Henggang was subscribed to by its shareholders in violation of any preemptive
rights. All of the equity interest in Henggang are owned of record and
beneficially by its shareholders free and clear of all
Emcumbrances.
5
SECTION
3.02 Authority.
Each
Henggang Party has all necessary power and authority to enter into this
Agreement and each of the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party, to carry
out its obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement and each of the Ancillary
Agreements to which it is a party have been duly executed and delivered by
each
Henggang Party, and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by
the
GSI Parties) constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Henggang
Party enforceable against the Henggang Party in accordance with their respective
terms.
SECTION
3.03 No
Conflict. (a)
The
execution, delivery and performance by each Henggang Party of this Agreement
and
each of the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party do not and will not
(i)
contravene or conflict with the articles of association of such Henggang Party
or any board or shareholder resolutions of such Henggang Party, (ii) (assuming
that all of the Consents are obtained) conflict with, or result in any breach
of
any of the terms of, or constitute a default under, any agreement or contract
or
other document to which such Henggang Party is a party or by which any portion
of the Purchased Assets or the Henggang Business is bound, or (iii) contravene
or conflict with any Laws binding upon such Henggang Party.
(b) There
is
no agreement, contract, commitment or requirement of any kind arising from
the
prior business relationships between each Henggang Party and any third party
that restricts in any way (i) the conduct of the Henggang Business by the
Henggang Parties, (ii) the transfer of the Purchased Assets to the GSI Parties
pursuant to this Agreement,
or (iii) the ownership, use, transfer or disposal of the Purchased Assets by
the
GSI Parties or the conduct of the Henggang Business by the GSI Parties after
the
Closing.
SECTION
3.04 Consents
and Approvals. (a)
The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each Ancillary
Agreement to which it is a party by each Henggang Party do not and will not
require (i) any consent, approval, authorization or other order of, action
by,
filing with or notification to, any Governmental Authority, except as described
on Schedule 3.04(a)(i) or (ii) any third party consent, approval, authorization
or action on the part of the Henggang Party, except as described in
Schedule 3.04(a)(ii)(collectively referred to herein as the “Consents”).
(b) Neither
Henggang Party knows of any reason why any Consent necessary for the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not be
received.
SECTION
3.05 Financial
Information.
(a) True
and
complete copies of the audited balance sheet of the Henggang Business as of
April 30, 2008 and the unaudited balance sheet of the Henggang Business as
of
April 30, 2008, and the related statements of income of the Henggang Business,
together with all related notes and schedules thereto (collectively referred
to
herein as the “Financial
Statements”)
have
been delivered by the Henggang Parties to the GSI Parties. The Financial
Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with the books of account and other
financial records of the Henggang Parties, (ii) present fairly the financial
condition and results of operations of the Henggang Business as of the dates
thereof or for the periods covered thereby, and (iii) have been prepared in
accordance with all applicable Accounting Regulations applied on a basis
consistent with the past practices of the Henggang Partie.
6
SECTION
3.06 Absence
of Undisclosed Liabilities.
Neither
Henggang Party has any Liabilities or commitments relating to the Henggang
Business, of any nature whatsoever, whether accrued, absolute, contingent or
otherwise, other than (i) those incurred in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice and which do not and could not, individually
or in
the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect or otherwise prevent or materially
delay the GSI Parties or either Henggang Party from performing their obligations
under this Agreement or (ii) as disclosed and accrued for or reserved against
in
the Financial Statements.
SECTION
3.07 No
Actions.
There
are
no Actions by or against the Henggang Party or affecting any of either Purchased
Assets or the Henggang Business pending before any Governmental Authority (or,
to the best knowledge of each Henggang Party after due inquiry, threatened
to be
brought by or before any Governmental Authority). Neither Henggang Party nor
any
of its assets or property, including, without limitation, the Purchased Assets,
is subject to any Governmental Order (nor, to the best knowledge of each
Henggang Party after due inquiry, are there any such Governmental Orders
threatened to be imposed by any Governmental Authority) [which has or has had
a
Material Adverse Effect] or could affect the legality, validity
or enforceability of this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or thereby.
SECTION
3.08 Compliance
with Laws. (a)
The
Henggang Parties have conducted and continue to conduct the Henggang Business
in
accordance with all Laws and Governmental Orders applicable to the Henggang
Parties, the Purchased Assets or the Henggang Business, and neither Henggang
Party is in violation of any such Law or Governmental Order.
(b) The
Henggang Parties have all governmental licenses, permits and authorizations
necessary to carry on the Henggang Business (collectively referred to herein
as
the “Permits”),
as it
is now being conducted.
SECTION
3.09 Environmental
Matters. (a)
Henggang
has obtained all Environmental Permits necessary for the Henggang Business.
Each
Henggang Party has been since the date of its establishment, and is, in
compliance with all requirements in such Environmental Permits and all
Environmental Laws in connection with the Henggang Business. Copies of all
Environmental Permits have been provided to the GSI Parties. All past
non-compliance with such environmental laws and regulations has been resolved
without any pending, on-going or future obligation, cost or liability. To the
best knowledge of each Henggang Party after due inquiry, except as set forth
in
Schedule 3.10(a), there are no environmental laws, regulations, rules or
standards proposed for adoption or implementation with which either Henggang
Party would not be in compliance.
7
(b) Since
the
date of establishment of Henggang, there has been no Release of any Hazardous
Material on, at, to, or from any of the real property used in the Henggang
Business.
(c) There
are
no Environmental Claims pending or threatened against either Henggang Party
relating to the Henggang Business, and there are no circumstances that can
reasonably be expected to form the basis of any such Environmental
Claim.
(d) Neither
Henggang Party has any actual or alleged Liability relating to the Henggang
Business, whether fixed or contingent, under any Environmental Law.
SECTION
3.10 Material
Contracts. (a)
Schedule
3.10 lists all Contracts that are material to the Henggang Business, including,
but not limited to, all contracts likely to involve a consideration in excess
of
[RMB200,000] over the remaining term of the contract (the “Material
Contracts”).
(b) Neither
Henggang Party is in breach of, or default under, any Material Contract to
which
it is a party.
SECTION
3.11 Intellectual
Property. (a)
Schedule
3.11(a) lists a brief description, including a complete identification, of
material Henggang Party Intellectual Property and Henggang Party IP Agreements.
The Henggang Party Intellectual Property and Licensed Intellectual Property
constitute
all the Intellectual Property used in the conduct of the Henggang Business
by
the Henggang Parties prior to the Closing, and there are no other items of
Intellectual Property that are used in the Henggang Business.
(b) Each
Henggang Party is the exclusive owner of the entire and unencumbered right,
title and interest in and to its Henggang Party Intellectual Property and its
Henggang Party IP Agreements, and each Henggang Party has a valid right to
use
the Henggang Party Intellectual Property and Licensed Intellectual Property
in
the ordinary course of the Henggang Business as presently conducted or as
contemplated to be conducted.
(c) The
use
of the Henggang Party Intellectual Property in connection with the Henggang
Business as presently conducted or as contemplated to be conducted has not
conflicted and will not conflict with, infringe, misappropriate or otherwise
violate the Intellectual Property or other proprietary rights of any third
party, and no Actions or Claims are pending or, to the best knowledge of each
Henggang Party after due inquiry, threatened against either Henggang Party
alleging any of the foregoing.
(d) No
Henggang Party Intellectual Property is subject to any outstanding Governmental
Order restricting the use of such Henggang Party Intellectual Property or that
would impair the validity or enforceability of such Henggang Party Intellectual
Property and to the best knowledge of each Henggang Party after due inquiry,
the
Henggang Party Intellectual Property is valid and enforceable.
(e) Neither
the Henggang Party Intellectual Property nor any part thereof has been
classified or categorized under any Laws as technology the export of which
is
prohibited, restricted or otherwise subject to any governmental
approval.]
SECTION
3.12 Leased
Land Use Rights and Real Property.
(a)
Schedule 3.12(a) lists all the Land Use Rights used in the Henggang Business.
The interests of the Henggang Parties in the Land Use Rightst are sufficient
for
the continued conduct of the Henggang Business by the Henggang after the Closing
in substantially the same manner as conducted prior to the Closing, and the
Henggang Parties shall give assistance in the Land Use Right
registration.
8
(b) Schedule3.12(b)
lists all the Real Property used in the Henggang Business. The interests of
the
Henggang Parties in the Real Property are sufficient for the continued conduct
of the Henggang Business by Henggang after the Closing in substantially the
same
manner as conducted prior to the Closing, and the Henggang Parties shall give
assistance in title registration.
(c) Except
as
described in Schedule 3.12(c), the use of each parcel of the Land Use Rights
and
Real Property in the conduct of the Henggang Business as presently conducted
or
as contemplated to be conducted does not and will not violate any Laws or
Governmental Orders or constitute a breach under any agreement or contract
to
which either Henggang Party is a party.
SECTION
3.13 Assets.
The
Henggang Parties have caused all the assets of Henggang to be maintained in
accordance with good business practice, and all such assets are in good
operating
condition and repair and are suitable for the purposes for which they are used
and intended.
SECTION
3.14 Employees.
(a)
Schedule
3.14(a) lists the name, the date of employment and a description of the position
and job function of each current salaried employee, officer or director of
Henggang or Henggang who are material for the Henggang Business as it is now
being conducted by Henggang (the “Key
Employees”).
(b) Schedule
3.14(b) lists the name, the date of employment and a description of the position
and job function of each current salaried employee, officer or director of
Henggang or Henggang who are identified by the GSI Parties in its sole
discretion as necessary for the operation of the Henggang Business other than
those listed on Schedule 3.14(a) (the “Employees”).
(c) All
directors, officers, management employees, and technical and professional
employees of each of Henggang and Henggang are under written obligation to
Henggang or Henggang, as the case may be, to maintain in confidence all
confidential or proprietary information in connection with the Henggang Business
acquired by them in the course of their employment.
SECTION
3.15 Social
Benefits Matters.
Except
as
disclosed in Schedule 3.15, each Henggang Party has complied with all applicable
Laws relating to social benefits obligations in respect of all individuals
engaged in the Henggang Business, including without limitation, pension, medical
insurance, work-related injury insurance, maternity insurance, unemployment
insurance and public housing reserve fund (collectively, “Social
Benefits”).
Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.15, (i) all contributions or payments required
to be made by either Henggang Party with respect to any Social Benefits have
been made on or before their due dates, and (ii) all such contributions or
payments required to be made by any Employees of either Henggang Party with
respect to any Social Benefits have been fully deducted and paid to the relevant
Governmental Authorities on or before their due dates, and no such deductions
have been challenged or disallowed by any Governmental Authority or any
Employees of the Henggang Party.
9
SECTION
3.16 Labor
Matters.
There
are
no controversies, slowdowns or work stoppages pending or, to the knowledge
of
each Henggang Party, threatened, between each Henggang Party and any of its
employees employed in connection with the Henggang Business, and neither
Henggang Party has experienced any such controversy, slowdown or work stoppage
since the date of establishment of Henggang. Except as disclosed in Schedule
3.20, there are no unfair labor practice complaints pending or, to the knowledge
of each Henggang Party, threatened, against either Henggang Party.
SECTION
3.17 Certain
Interests.
No
stockholder, officer or director of each Henggang Party and to the best
knowledge of each Henggang Party after due inquiry, no relative or spouse (or
relative of such spouse) who resides with, or is a dependent of, any such
stockholder, officer or director:
(a) has
any
direct or indirect financial interest in any competitor, supplier or customer
of
either Henggang Party or the Henggang Business;
(b) owns,
directly or indirectly (other than through the ownership of either Henggang
Party’s shares), in whole or in part, or has any other interest in any tangible
or intangible property which either Henggang Party uses or has used in the
conduct of the Henggang Business or otherwise;
(c) has
any
interest in or is, directly or indirectly, a party to, any Contract;
(d) has
any
contractual or other arrangement with either Henggang Party or any competitor,
supplier or customer of either Henggang Party;
(e) has
any
cause of action or claim whatsoever against, or owes any amount to, either
Henggang Party; or
(f) has
any
Liability to either Henggang Party.
SECTION
3.18 Taxes. Each
Henggang Party has timely filed all returns, documents and certificates required
to be filed with respect to Taxes pertaining to the Purchased Assets or the
Henggang Business and all Taxes shown thereon as due have been paid. Neither
Henggang Party has received from any Governmental Authority any written notice
of a material proposed adjustment, deficiency or underpayment of any Taxes
pertaining to the Purchased Assets or the Henggang Business, which notice has
not been satisfied by payment or been withdrawn.
SECTION
3.19 Insurance.
Except
as
disclosed in Schedule 3.23, all material assets, properties and risks of each
Henggang Party in connection with the Henggang Business are covered in full
by
insurance policies issued by reputable insurers in the PRC.
SECTION
3.20 Full
Disclosure.
(a)
Neither
Henggang Party is aware of any facts pertaining to the Henggang Party or the
Henggang Business which could have a Material Adverse Effect and which have
not
been disclosed in this Agreement or the Financial Statements or otherwise
disclosed to the GSI Parties by either Henggang Party in writing.
(b) No
representation or warranty of the Henggang Parties in this Agreement, nor any
document, statement or certificate furnished or to be furnished to the GSI
Parties pursuant to this Agreement, or in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, contains or will contain any untrue statement
of
a material fact, or omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary to
make the statements contained herein or therein not misleading.
10
SECTION
3.21 Transfer.
The
transfer of Henggang and Henggang Business shall be on the basis of “as is” for
the time of April 30, 2008.
ARTICLE
4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE GSI PARTIES
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE GSI PARTIES
SECTION
4.01 Organization.
The
GSI
Parties is a company duly organized and validly existing under the laws and
has
all corporate powers and all governmental licenses, authorizations, consents
and
approvals required to carry on its business as now conducted.
SECTION
4.02 Authority.
The
GSI
Parties has all necessary power and authority to enter into this Agreement
and
each of the Ancillary Agreements, to carry out its obligations hereunder and
thereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
This Agreement and each of the Ancillary Agreements have been duly executed
and
delivered by the GSI Parties, and (assuming due authorization, execution and
delivery by each Henggang Party) constitute legal, valid and binding obligations
of the GSI Parties enforceable against the GSI Parties in accordance with their
respective terms.
SECTION
4.03 No
Conflict.
The
execution, delivery and performance by the GSI Parties of this Agreement and
each of the Ancillary Agreements do not and will not (i) contravene or conflict
with the articles of association of the GSI Parties or any board resolutions
of
the GSI Parties, (ii) conflict with, or result in any breach of any of the
terms
of, or constitute a default under, any agreement or contract or other document
to which the GSI Parties is a party, or (iii) contravene or conflict with any
Laws binding upon the GSI Parties.
SECTION
4.04 Consents
and Approvals.
The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each Ancillary
Agreement by the GSI Parties do not and will not require (i) any consent,
approval, authorization or other order of, action by, filing with or
notification to, any Governmental Authority, except as described on Schedule
4.04 or (ii) any third party consent, approval, authorization or action on
the
part of the GSI Parties.
SECTION
4.05 No
Actions.
Except
as
disclosed in a writing notice given to the Henggang Parties by the GSI Parties
on the date of this Agreement, no Action by or against the GSI Parties is
pending or, to the best knowledge of the GSI Parties after due inquiry,
threatened, which could affect the legality, validity or enforceability of
this
Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or thereby.
11
ARTICLE
5
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
SECTION
5.01 Conduct
of the Henggang Business.
(a)
From the
date hereof until the Closing Date, unless otherwise required by
Laws
and Governmental Orders applicable to the liquidation and dissolution of
Henggang, the Henggang Parties shall conduct the Henggang Business in the
ordinary course consistent with past practice, use its best efforts to preserve
intact the assets of the Henggang Business and the relationships with third
parties of the Henggang Business. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, from the date hereof until the Closing Date, each Henggang Party
shall:
(i)
|
continue
its advertising and promotional activities, and pricing and purchasing
policies, in accordance with past
practice;
|
(ii)
|
continue
in full force and effect without material modification all existing
policies of insurance currently maintained in respect of the Henggang
Business or the assets of the Henggang Business;
and
|
(iii)
|
preserve
its current relationships with its customers, suppliers and other
Persons
in connection with the Henggang
Business.
|
From
the
date hereof until the Closing Date, each Henggang Party shall not:
(i)
|
acquire
a material amount of assets relating to the Henggang Business from
any
other Person;
|
(ii)
|
sell,
lease, license or otherwise dispose of any assets except (i) pursuant
to
existing Contracts or commitments and (ii) in the ordinary course
consistent with past practice;
|
(iii)
|
sell
any Inventories to any third party other than the GSI Parties and
its
Affiliates at a price lower than the average price of the Inventories
of
the same kind sold during the two calendar months immediately preceding
the date hereof;
|
(iv)
|
shorten
or lengthen the customary payment cycles for any of its payables
or
receivables relating to the Henggang Business;
|
(v)
|
agree
or commit to do any of the foregoing without the written consent
of the
GSI Parties (which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld).
|
(b) Any
Contracts entered into between either Henggang Party and any third party from
the date hereof until the Closing Date shall each contain a provision to the
effect that such Henggang Party may assign such Contracts to any Person who
acquires the Henggang Business without prior consent of any other party to
such
Contracts. In the event that the GSI Parties is willing to assume such
Contracts, such Contracts shall be assumed by the GSI Parties pursuant to the
Assumption Agreement.
(c) From
the
date hereof until the Closing Date, each Henggang Party will not (i) take or
agree or commit to take any action that would make any representation and
warranty of such Henggang Party hereunder inaccurate in any respect on, or
as of
any time prior to, the Closing Date or (ii) omit or agree or commit to omit
to
take any action necessary to prevent any such representation or warranty from
being inaccurate in any respect at any such time.
12
(d) From
the
date hereof until the Closing Date, the Henggang Parties shall furnish to the
GSI Parties information with respect to the top twenty (20) suppliers, customers
and distributors of the Henggang Business as requested by the GSI Parties,
and
shall cooperate and use its best efforts to assist the GSI Parties in
establishing business relationships with the dealers, distributors, customers,
suppliers and service providers of the Henggang Business and any other parties
relating to the Henggang Business.
SECTION
5.02 Confidentiality.
Each
Henggang Party agrees to, and shall cause its agents, representatives and
Affiliates to treat and hold as confidential (and not disclose or provide
access to any Person to), unless compelled to disclose by judicial or
administrative process or by other requirement of Law, this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby, all information relating to trade secrets,
processes, patent and trademark applications, product development, price,
customer and supplier lists, pricing and marketing plans, policies and
strategies, details of client and consultant contracts, operations methods,
product development techniques, business acquisition plans, new personnel
acquisition plans and all other confidential or proprietary information with
respect to the Henggang Business and the Henggang Parties, provided,
however,
that
this sentence shall not apply to any information that, at the time of
disclosure, is available publicly and was not disclosed in breach of this
Agreement by the Henggang Party, its agents, representatives and Affiliates;
and
provided further
that,
with respect to Intellectual Property, specific information shall not be deemed
to be within the foregoing exception merely because it is embraced in general
disclosures in the public domain.
SECTION
5.03 Approvals
and Consents.
Each
Henggang Party shall use its best efforts to ii)
obtain
all authorizations, consents, orders and approvals of all Governmental
Authorities and officials that may be or become necessary for its execution
and
delivery of, and the performance of its obligations pursuant to, this Agreement
and the Ancillary Agreements and will cooperate fully with the GSI Parties
in
promptly seeking to obtain all such authorizations, consents, orders and
approvals; iii)
prepare
and submit to the appropriate Governmental Authorities (or cause Henggang’s
liquidation committee to prepare and submit to the appropriate Governmental
authorities) all relevant Dissolution Documents; and iv)
assist
the GSI Parties to obtain all authorizations, consents, orders and approvals
of
all Governmental Authorities and officials that may be or become necessary
for
its execution and delivery of, and the performance of its obligations pursuant
to this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, including, without limitation,
assisting the GSI Parties to obtain approvals listed on Schedule 4.04, and
re-register or re-apply for the Permits under or in the name of the GSI
Parties.
SECTION
5.04 Notice
of Developments. Prior
to
the Closing, each Henggang Party shall promptly notify the GSI Parties in
writing of:
(a) all
events, circumstances, facts and occurrences arising subsequent to the date
of
this Agreement which could result in any breach of a representation or warranty
or covenant of such Henggang Party in this Agreement or which could have the
effect of making any representation or warranty of such Henggang Party in this
Agreement untrue or incorrect in any respect,
(b) any
notice or other communication from any Person alleging or stating that the
Consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, is subject to any condition, or has been
withheld.
13
(c) any
notice or other communication from any Governmental Authority in connection
with
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(d) any
Action commenced or, to the best of its knowledge threatened against, relating
to or involving or otherwise affecting such Henggang Party or the Henggang
Business that, if pending on the date of this Agreement, would have been
required to have been disclosed pursuant to Section 3.08 or that relate to
the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
SECTION
5.05 Excluded
Liabilities.
The
Henggang Parties shall pay and discharge the Excluded Liabilities as and when
the same become due and payable.
SECTION
5.06 Environmental
Matters.
From
the
date hereof until the Closing Date, the Henggang Parties agree to take such
actions as may be reasonably requested by the GSI Parties to (a) remedy any
non-compliance by the Henggang Parties in respect of the Henggang Business
or
the Real Property with (i) all applicable Laws relating to the Environment
and
(ii) all Environmental Permits, and (b) ensure that all past non-compliance
with
applicable Laws or Environmental Permits have been resolved without any pending,
on-going or future Liabilities. The Henggang Parties covenant and agree that
all
costs, expenses and fees arising from or in connection with such actions (the
“Remediation
Fees”)
shall
be paid by the Henggang Parties, and in no event shall any Remediation Fees
diminish, directly or indirectly, the value of the Purchased
Assets.
SECTION
5.07 No
Solicitation.
(a)
From the
date hereof until the earlier of the Closing Date or the date on which this
Agreement is terminated, each Henggang Party agrees that neither such Henggang
Party, nor any of its Affiliates, agents or representatives shall, directly
or
indirectly, encourage, solicit or engage in any discussions, conversations
or
negotiations with, or provide any information to, any Person concerning the
possible acquisition by such third party of all or any part of the Henggang
Business or the assets of the Henggang Business (other than Inventory to be
sold
in the ordinary course of the Henggang Business). The Henggang Parties shall
immediately cease and cause to be terminated all existing discussions,
conversations, negotiations and other communications with any Persons conducted
heretofore with respect to any of the foregoing. Each Henggang Party agrees
promptly to notify the GSI Parties of any contact by any Person with respect
to
any such possible acquisition. Each Henggang Party agrees not to, without the
prior written consent of the GSI Parties, release any Person from, or waive
any
provision of any confidentiality agreement to which the Henggang Party is a
party.
SECTION
5.08 Further
Actions.
The
Henggang Parties shall use all reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be
taken,
all appropriate actions, do or cause to be done all things necessary, proper
or
advisable under applicable Law, and to execute and deliver such documents and
other papers, as may be required to carry out the provisions of this Agreement
and consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
SECTION
5.09 Joint
and Several Obligations.
Each
of
the obligations of the Henggang Parties under this Section 5 shall be joint
and
several obligations of the Henggang Parties.
14
ARTICLE
6
TAX MATTERS
TAX MATTERS
SECTION
6.01 Indemnity.
The
Henggang Parties shall jointly and severally indemnify and hold harmless the
GSI
Parties against the following Taxes and against any loss, damage, liability
or
expense, including reasonable fees for attorneys and other outside consultants,
incurred in contesting or otherwise in connection with any such Taxes: (i)
Taxes
imposed on the Henggang Parties on or prior to the Closing Date; and (ii) Taxes
imposed on the Henggang Parties as a result of any breach of warranty or
misrepresentation under Section 3.22.
SECTION
6.02 Transaction
Taxes.
The
Henggang Parties and the GSI Parties shall each be responsible for paying Taxes
assessed against the Henggang Parties or the GSI Parties, as the case may be,
arising from, or in connection with, the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement pursuant to all applicable Laws.
ARTICLE
7
CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
SECTION
7.01 Conditions
to Obligations of the Henggang
Parties.
The
obligations of the Henggang Parties to consummate the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment or written waiver, at
or
prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:
(a) Representations,
Warranties and Covenants.
The GSI
Parties shall have performed in all material respect all of its obligations
hereunder required to be performed by it at or prior to the Closing Date. The
representations and warranties of the GSI Parties contained in this Agreement
shall have been true and correct when made and shall be true and correct in
all
material respects as of the Closing, with the same force and effect as if made
as of the Closing Date. Each Henggang Party shall have received a certificate
from the GSI Parties to such effect signed by a duly authorized officer
thereof;
(b) No
Action.
No
Action shall have been commenced by or before any Governmental Authority against
either the Henggang Parties or the GSI Parties, seeking to restrain or
materially and adversely alter the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
which, in the reasonable, good faith determination of the Henggang Parties,
is
likely to render it impossible or unlawful to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement;
(c) Resolutions.
Each
Henggang Party shall have received a true and complete copy of the resolutions
duly and validly adopted by the board of directors of the GSI Parties evidencing
its authorization of the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and thereby;
(d) Power
of Attorney.
Each
Henggang Party shall have received a Power of Attorney from the GSI Parties
certifying the names and signatures of the officers of the GSI Parties
authorized to sign this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which it
is a
party and the other documents to be delivered hereunder and thereunder;
and
15
(e) Ancillary
Agreements.
The GSI
Parties shall have executed and delivered to each Henggang Party each of the
Ancillary Agreements to which the Henggang Party is a party.
SECTION
7.02 Conditions
to Obligations of the GSI Parties.
The
obligations of the GSI Parties to consummate the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment or written waiver, at or
prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:
(a) Representations,
Warranties and Covenants.
Each
Henggang Party shall have performed in all material respects all of its
obligations hereunder required to be performed by it on or prior to the Closing
Date. The representations and warranties of each Henggang Party contained in
this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the
Closing, with the same force and effect as if made as of the Closing Date.
The
GSI Parties shall have received a certificate signed by each Henggang Party
to
the foregoing effect;
(b) No
Action.
No
Action shall have been commenced or threatened by or before any Governmental
Authority against either the Henggang Parties or the GSI Parties, seeking to
restrain or materially and adversely alter the transactions contemplated by
this
Agreement which, in the reasonable, good faith determination of the GSI Parties,
is likely to render it impossible or unlawful to consummate such transactions
or
which could have a Material Adverse Effect or otherwise render inadvisable
the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(c) Resolutions.
The GSI
Parties shall have received (i) from Henggang a true and complete copy of the
resolution duly and validly adopted at its shareholder meeting duly convened
with holders of all of Henggang’s common shares voting in favor evidencing their
authorization of the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Ancillary
Agreements to which it is a party and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and thereby; (ii) from Henggang a true and
complete copy of the resolution unanimously adopted by its board of directors
evidencing its authorization of the execution and delivery of this Agreement
and
the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and thereby; and (iii) from its
own
board of directors a true and complete copy of the resolutions described in
Section 7.01(c) above.
(d) Consents
and Approvals.
The GSI
Parties shall have received from each Henggang Party, each in form and substance
satisfactory to the GSI Parties in its reasonable, good faith determination,
(i)
all authorizations, consents, orders and approvals of all Governmental
Authorities which the GSI Parties deems necessary or desirable for the
liquidation and dissolution of Henggang and the establishment and operation
of
the NewCo, including, without limitation, all consents and approvals listed
on
Schedule 3.04(a)(i) and Schedule 4.04; and (ii) all third party consents for
the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
Ancillary Agreements, including, without limitation, all third party consents
and approvals listed on Schedule 3.04(a)(ii);
(e) Ancillary
Agreements.
Each
Henggang Party shall have executed and delivered to the GSI Parties each of
the
Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party;
16
(f) Business
Relationship.
Each
Henggang Party shall have used its best efforts, in the GSI Parties’s
reasonable, good faith determination, to cause the dealers, distributors,
customers, service providers and suppliers of the Henggang Business and any
other parties relating to the Henggang Business to establish business
relationships with the GSI Parties on terms not less favorable than the existing
terms available to the Henggang Party;
(g) Environmental,
Health and Safety Assessment.
Any
environmental, health and safety assessment conducted by or on behalf of the
GSI
Parties, and any other environmental, health and safety information obtained
by
the GSI Parties, shall be satisfactory to the GSI Parties (failure by the GSI
Parties to notify the Henggang Parties that such assessment and such information
are not satisfactory shall be deemed to constitute satisfaction of the condition
set forth in this Section 7.02(g));
(h) No
Material Adverse Effect.
No
event or events shall have occurred, or be reasonably likely to occur, which,
individually or in the aggregate, have, or could have, a Material Adverse
Effect; and
ARTICLE
8
INDEMNIFICATION
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION
8.01 Survival
of Representations and Warranties.
Subject
to the limitations and other provisions of this Agreement, the representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements of the parties hereto contained in this
Agreement or in any certificate or other writing delivered pursuant hereto
or in
connection herewith shall survive the Closing until the [third] anniversary
of
the Closing Date or (i)in the case of Sections 3.10 and 5.04, indefinitely;
and
(ii) in the case of Section 6.01, until the expiration of the applicable
statutory period of limitation, if later.
SECTION
8.02 Indemnification
by the Henggang Parties.
The
Henggang Parties shall, jointly and severally, defend, indemnify and hold
harmless the GSI Parties and its Affiliates from and against any and all losses,
liabilities, costs, claims, liens, damages and expenses, including reasonable
legal fees and expenses (the “Losses”),
arising from or in connection with (i) a breach of any representation or
warranty of either Henggang Party contained herein; (ii) any Excluded
Liabilities; and (iii) any breach or nonperformance of any covenant or agreement
contained herein.
SECTION
8.03 Indemnification
by the GSI Parties.
Any
delay
of the payment under SECTION 2.01 shall be subject to penalty, and the amount
of
penalty for each day of delay shall be equal to 0.02% of the total amount due
The
Henggang Parties shall, jointly and severally, defend, indemnify and hold
harmless the GSI Parties and its Affiliates from and against any and all losses,
liabilities, costs, claims, liens, damages and expenses, including reasonable
legal fees and expenses (the “Losses”),
arising from or in connection with (i) a breach of any representation or
warranty of either Henggang Party contained herein; (ii) any Excluded
Liabilities; and (iii) any breach or nonperformance of any covenant or agreement
contained herein.
17
ARTICLE
9
TERMINATION AND BREACH
TERMINATION AND BREACH
SECTION
9.01 Termination. This
Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing:
(a) by
the
GSI Parties if, between the date hereof and the Closing:
(i)
|
an
event or condition occurs that has resulted in a Material Adverse
Effect,
|
(ii)
|
the
representations and warranties of either Henggang Party contained
in this
Agreement shall not have been true and correct in all material respects
when made,
|
(iii)
|
either
Henggang Party shall not have complied in all material respects with
the
covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement,
or
|
(iv)
|
the
GSI Parties, acting reasonably and in view of the results of its
continuing business, legal, and accounting due diligence regarding
the
Henggang Business, determines that the Purchased Assets have materially
deteriorated in value between the date of this Agreement and the
Closing,
or are likely to materially deteriorate in value shortly after the
Closing
Date due to factors outside the control of the GSI
Parties;
|
(b) by
either
the Henggang Parties on the one side or the GSI Parties on the other side if
the
Closing shall not have occurred within six (6) months from the date hereof;
provided,
however,
that
the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 9.01(b) shall not
be
available to the Henggang Parties on the one side or the GSI Parties on the
other side whose failure to fulfill any obligation under this Agreement shall
have been the cause of, or shall have resulted in, the failure of the Closing
to
occur on or prior to such date;
(c) by
either
the Henggang Parties on the one side or the GSI Parties on the other side in
the
event that any Governmental Authority shall have issued an order, decree or
ruling or taken any other action restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; or
(d) by
the
mutual written consent of the Henggang Parties and the GSI Parties.
For
the
purposes of Sections 9.01(b) and (c) above, the Henggang Parties shall be deemed
as one Party.
SECTION
9.02 Effect
of Termination.
In
the
event of termination of this Agreement as provided in Section 9.01, this
Agreement shall forthwith become void and there shall be no liability on the
part of any Party hereto except (a) as set forth in Section 5.04, Section 8
and Section 10.01 and (b) that nothing herein shall relieve any Party from
liability for any breach of this Agreement.
18
SECTION
9.03 Breach.
In
the
event a Party hereto breaches this Agreement, it shall bear the liabilities
arising from such breach in accordance with this Agreement and the applicable
Laws.
ARTICLE
10
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
SECTION
10.01 Expenses.
Except
as
otherwise specified in this Agreement, all costs and expenses, including,
without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and
accountants, incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement shall be paid by the Party incurring such costs
and expenses, whether or not the Closing shall have occurred.
SECTION
10.02 Notices.
All
notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall
be
in writing and shall be given or made (and shall be deemed to have been duly
given or made upon receipt) by delivery in person, by responsible overnight
courier service, by telecopy or registered or certified mail (postage prepaid,
return receipt requested) to the respective Parties at the following addresses
(or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified in a notice given
in
accordance with this Section 10.02):
(a)
|
if
to Henggang:
|
_________________ |
_________________ |
Telecopy: ___________________ |
Attention: ___________________ |
(b)
|
if
to other Henggang Parties:
|
_________________ |
_________________ |
Telecopy: ___________________ |
Attention: ___________________ |
(c) | if to the GSI Parties: |
_________________ |
_________________ |
Telecopy: ___________________ |
Attention: ___________________ |
19
SECTION
10.03 Public
Announcements.
No
Party
to this Agreement shall make, or cause to be made, any press release or public
announcement in respect of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement or otherwise communicate with any news media without the prior
written consent of the other Parties, and the Parties hereto shall cooperate
as
to the timing and contents of any such press release, public announcement or
communication.
SECTION
10.04 Severability.
If
any
term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable
of
being enforced by any Law or public policy, all other terms and provisions
of
this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect for so long
as
the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any Party. Upon
such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or
incapable of being enforced, the Parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith
to
modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as
closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement are consummated as originally contemplated to
the
greatest extent possible.
SECTION
10.05 Entire
Agreement. This
Agreement, the Exhibits and the Schedules attached hereto and the Ancillary
Agreements constitute the entire agreement of the Parties hereto with respect
to
the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior agreements and
undertakings, both written and oral, between the Henggang Parties and the GSI
Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
SECTION
10.06 Waiver. Either
the Henggang Parties on the one side or the GSI Parties on the other side may
(a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other
acts of the other Parties, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the
representations and warranties of the other Parties contained herein or in
any
document delivered by the other Parties pursuant hereto or (c) waive
compliance with any of the agreements or conditions of the other Parties
contained herein provided,
however,
that
the Henggang Parties may not grant such extension or waiver to each other.
Any
such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument
in
writing signed by the Party to be bound thereby. Any waiver of any term or
condition shall not be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach or a
subsequent waiver of the same term or condition, or a waiver of any other term
or condition of this Agreement. The failure of any Party to assert any of its
rights hereunder shall not constitute a waiver of any of such
rights.
SECTION
10.07 Amendment. This
Agreement may not be amended or modified except (a) by an instrument in
writing signed by, or on behalf of, the Henggang Parties and the GSI Parties
or
(b) by a waiver in accordance with Section 10.06.
SECTION
10.08 Assignment
and
Succession. This
Agreement may not be assigned by operation of Law or otherwise without the
express written consent of the Henggang Parties and the GSI Parties (which
consent may be granted or withheld in the sole discretion of the Henggang
Parties or the GSI Parties). The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective
successors and assigns.
SECTION
10.09 No
Third Party Beneficiaries. This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of the Parties
hereto and their permitted assigns and nothing herein, express or implied,
is
intended to or shall confer upon any other Person, including, without
limitation, any union or any employee or former employee of either Henggang
Party, any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever,
including, without limitation, any rights of employment for any specified
period, under or by reason of this Agreement.
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SECTION
10.10 Governing
Law.
This
Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws
of
the PRC.
SECTION
10.11 Dispute
Resolution.
(a)
Any
dispute arising from the execution of, or in connection with, this Agreement
shall be settled through friendly consultation between the Parties hereto.
The
claiming Party (the “Claimant”)
shall
promptly notify the other Party(-ies) (the “Respondent”)
in a
dated notice that a dispute has arisen and describe the nature of the dispute.
If no settlement can be reached through such consultation within sixty (60)
days
after the date of such notice of dispute, any Party may refer the matter to
[the
China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (the “Commission”)],
for
final arbitration in [Beijing] by an arbitration tribunal according to [the
Arbitration Rules of the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration
Commission] (the “Rules”)
and
this Section 10.11.
(b) The
arbitration tribunal shall consist of one arbitrator, whom shall be appointed
by
the mutual written agreement of the Claimant and the Respondent. If the Claimant
and the Respondent fail to agree on the choice of the arbitrator within the
time
period set by the then effective Rules, the relevant appointment shall be made
promptly by the Commission.
(c) In
rendering his or her decision, the arbitrator shall consider the intention
of
the Parties hereto insofar as it can be ascertained from this
Agreement.
(d) The
English language (with Chinese translation) shall be used in all arbitral
proceedings and related documentation, unless otherwise agreed by the
Parties.
(e) The
award
of the arbitration tribunal established pursuant to this Section 10.11 shall
be
in writing and final and binding upon the Parties and may be enforced, if
necessary, in any court of competent jurisdiction. The Parties shall use their
best efforts to effect the prompt execution of any such award and shall render
whatever assistance as may be necessary to this end. The losing Party shall
be
responsible for the costs of the Commission, the fees of the arbitration, the
expenses of the arbitration proceedings, and all costs and expenses of
enforcement of any arbitral award. The arbitration tribunal shall make an award
as to the respective Parties’ costs not otherwise specified in this Section
10.11.
(f) The
foregoing provisions in this Section 10.11 shall not preclude the Parties from
applying for any preliminary or injunctive remedies available for any purpose,
including, but not limited to, securing the subsequent enforcement of an
arbitration award.
SECTION
10.12 Effectiveness.
This
Agreement shall become effective on the date on which this Agreement has been
executed by the Henggang Parties and the GSI Parties.
SECTION
10.13 Language. This
Agreement is signed in both English and Chinese.
SECTION
10.14 Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile transmission)
in
one or more counterparts, and by the different Parties hereto in separate
counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original
but
all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
agreement.
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[SIGNATURE
ON NEXT PAGE]
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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Henggang Parties and the GSI Parties have caused this
Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their duly
authorized representatives.
GENERAL STEEL LIMITED |
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TIANJIN QIU STEEL INVESTMENT |
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MAOMING HENGDA STEEL GROUP LIMITED |
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BEIJING TIANCHENGHENGLI INVESTMENTS LIMITED |
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XX. XXXX XXXX |
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