JOINT VENTURE AGREEMENT
Exhibit
4(r)
THIS
AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into this
14th day of July, 2006 among:
Each
of
the entities listed in SCHEDULE I hereto (each an “ASE Entity”
and collectively, the “ASE Group”);
ASE
Inc.,
a company duly incorporated and existing under the laws of the Republic of
China
(“R.O.C.”), having its principal place of business at 00, Xxxx 0xx Xxxx, 000,
Xxxxxx
Export Processing Zone, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, R.O.C. as representative of ASE
Group
(“ASE Representative”);
Each
of
the entities listed in SCHEDULE II hereto (each a “PSC Entity”)
and collectively, the “PSC Group”); and
Powerchip
Semiconductor Corp., a company duly incorporated and existing under the laws
of
the R.O.C., having its principal place of business at Xx. 00, Xx-Xxxx Xxxx,
Xxxx-Xxx Science Park, Xxxx Xxx, Taiwan, R.O.C. (“PSC
Representative”).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS,
the parties hereto wish to cooperate in establishing and operating (i) a new
company to be established under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the
“Company”) for the purpose of owning a R.O.C. incorporated operating
company (the “Operating Company”) to engage in the business of assembly
and testing of flash and other memory IC.
NOW
THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I. DEFINITIONS.
In
addition to those terms defined above and elsewhere herein, the follow of terms,
when used herein, shall have the following meanings which shall include both
the
singular and plural thereof.
1.01. “NT
Dollars” and “NT$” shall mean the lawful currency of the
R.O.C.
1.02. “US
Dollars” and “US$” shall mean the lawful currency of the United
States of America.
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ARTICLE
II. THE COMPANY.
2.01. Cayman
Islands Laws and Regulations. The parties shall establish and
operate the Company in accordance with all relevant Cayman Islands laws and
regulations and the terms of this Agreement.
2.02. Formation. Immediately
upon execution hereof, the parties shall carry out all necessary acts (including
capitalization of the Company) and execute all necessary documents to establish
and register the Company with the appropriate authorities of the Cayman Islands
and to obtain such licenses and approvals as may be necessary or appropriate
to
carry out the activities contemplated hereby to be conducted by the
Company. Each party hereto shall (i) cooperate and timely execute
and/or provide all such documents and information as may be required to
facilitate the above and (ii) obtain all such approvals as each such party
may
require to invest in the Company and to otherwise perform such party’s
obligations hereunder.
2.03.
Name of the Company. The name of the Company shall be Power
ASE Technology Holding Limited.
2.04. Business
Scope. The Company shall, to the greatest extent permitted by
relevant laws and regulations, engage in the business of acting as a holding
company.
2.05. Company’s
Office. The Company shall have its head office in Chungli Taiwan
and may have one or more branch or liaison offices elsewhere.
2.06. Constitutive
Documents. The Company shall be established under Cayman Islands
law and shall be governed by a memorandum and articles of incorporation to
be
prepared and adopted in conformity with the terms hereof (the “M&A”);
provided, that, in the event of any conflict between the provisions
of
this Agreement and the M&A, to the greatest extent permitted by law, the
provisions of this Agreement shall prevail as between the parties hereto and
the
parties shall promptly take all such steps as are required and legally permitted
to amend the M&A accordingly.
2.07. Company
Authorized Capital. The Company shall have authorized capital of
Fifty Five Million (55,000,000) shares with par value of one US Dollar (US$1)
each (“Company Authorized Capital”).
2.08. Capitalization
and Voting Rights. (a) Voting Rights. Subject
to pro rata reduction as the result of the issuance of shares to employees
as
contemplated by Section 2.08(d), below, for so long as ASE Group holds not
less
than fifty percent (50%) of the shares of the Company and PSC Group owns not
less than thirty percent (30%) of the shares of the Company, ASE Group’s voting
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rights
in
the Company shall be sixty percent (60%) and PSC Group’s voting rights in the
Company shall be forty percent (40%). If either party’s shareholding
falls below the relevant threshold set out above, unless the parties otherwise
agree in writing at that time, all voting rights thereafter shall be on a one
share one vote basis.
(b) Initial
Direct Subscription. At the time of the incorporation of the
Company, the parties shall subscribe to forty seven million five hundred
thousand (47,500,000) shares, representing paid-in capital of Forty Seven
Million Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars (US$47,500,000) which paid-in capital
shall be fully paid at the time of incorporation of the Company and subscribed
to and paid for at par value by the parties as set forth SCHEDULE
I and SCHEDULE II hereto.
(c) ASE
Representative Option. Subject to obtaining required R.O.C.
government approvals, ASE Representative shall have the right, at the ASE
Representative’s option exercisable by written notice from the ASE
Representative to the PSC Representative given at any time after the date
falling one (1) year after the formation of the Operating Company (“Option
Notice”), to require the Company to increase its paid in capital by two
million five hundred thousand (2,500,000) shares to a total of fifty million
(50,000,000) shares with par value of one US Dollar (US$1) each by issuing
an
additional two million five hundred thousand (2,500,000) new shares to be
allocated among the ASE Entities and/or ASE Representative as specified in
the
Option Notice and to simultaneously purchase ASE Representative’s holdings in
the Operating Company acquired pursuant to Section 3.02, below at a purchase
price of two million five hundred thousand US Dollars
(US$2,500,000). If the ASE Representative acquires any share of the
Company under this Section 2.08(c), it shall be deemed to be an ASE Entity
and a
member of the ASE Group.
(d) Employee
Shares. Five Million (5,000,000) shares of the Company Authorized
Capital shall be reserved for employee stock options to be granted as determined
by the board of directors of the Company from time to time; provided,
that the exercise price for any employee stock options shall be not less than
(1) one US Dollar (US$1) per share or (ii) the then book value per share of
the
Company’s stock (based on the Company’s then most recent audited consolidated
financial statements), whichever is greater.
2.09
Preemptive Rights. Except as regards the shares to be
issued to the ASE Group and/or ASE Representative pursuant to Section 2.08(c),
above or to employees pursuant to Section 2.08(d), above, each of the parties
hereto, so long as it remains a shareholder of the Company, shall, to the
greatest extent permitted by applicable Cayman Islands laws, have a preemptive
right to subscribe for additional shares of the Company which may, from time
to
time, be issued in a cash injection capital increase or, to the extent such
issuance is, or may become,
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permitted
by applicable law, any other equity, debt convertible to equity or other
quasi-equity securities of the Company, in proportion to such party’s then
shareholding in the Company. Each of the parties hereto shall, within
ten (10) business days of the receipt of a notice from the Company stating
the
general terms of the new issue, the number of new shares (or other securities)
proposed to be issued and the proposed issue price deliver a written response
to
the Company stating the number of the new shares (or other securities) to which
such party wishes to subscribe. Any party failing to respond within
such period shall be deemed to have waived its preemptive rights with respect
to
the relevant issue; provided, that, if any ASE Entity or PSC Entity, as
applicable, shall elect or be deemed to have elected, not to subscribe for
new
shares (or other securities), the Company shall so notify the ASE Representative
or the PSC Representative, as applicable (the “Follow Up Notice”), and
the relevant representative may by notice to the Company given within ten (10)
days after receipt of the Follow Up Notice designate another ASE Entity(ies)
or
PSC Entity(ies) or any affiliates of ASE Representative or PSC Representative,
as applicable (“Designated Take Up Party”), to take up the relevant shares (or
other securities); provided, further, that, if the Designated Take
Up Party is not an original subscriber to the Company’s shares under Section
2.08(b), above, the selection of such Designated Take Up Party shall be subject
to the approval of the other representative. Any newly offered shares (or
securities) not subscribed to pursuant to this Section may be issued to such
investors as the Board of Directors of the Company shall decide.
2.10. Management
Structure and Operations. The Company shall be managed as
provided below and each party hereto shall at all times (including with respect
to filling director or officer vacancies) vote its shares in the Company, and
cause the directors and officers appointed by it to vote and act, so as to
carry
out the business of the Company in accordance with the following and the terms
and conditions of this Agreement:
(a) Shareholders’
Meetings. Shareholders’ meetings shall be convened and conducted
in accordance with applicable Cayman Islands laws and may be held within or
outside the Cayman Islands. A quorum for the holding of any such
meeting shall be not less than a majority of the issued and outstanding shares
in person or by proxy or such greater quorum as is required by Cayman Islands
law and, except where a greater majority is mandated by the Cayman Islands
law,
resolutions shall be adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares
represented at a meetings at which a quorum is present; provided, that
the following actions shall require an affirmative vote of two thirds of the
shares present at a shareholders meeting at which a quorum is
present:
(i) Capital. Any
increase in the authorized or paid in capital of the Company except for an
increase in paid in capital contemplated by Section 2.08(c) or Section 2.08(d),
above;
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(ii) Business
Arrangements. The entering into, amendment or termination of any
contract for the leasing of the entire business of the Company, the granting
of
any mandate for the management of the business of the Company or the entering
into of any arrangement to operate the business of the Company as a joint
venture with others;
(iii) Sale. The
sale or transfer of all or a substantial portion of the Company’s business or
assets;
(iv) Purchase. The
acquisition of the business or assets of others to the extent such may
substantially affect the business activities of the Company;
(v) M&A
Amendment. Any amendment of the M&A; and
(vi) Dissolution. The
dissolution or merger of the Company or the spin off of all or a substantial
portion of the Company’ s business or assets.
(b) Board
of Directors.
(i) Membership. The
Company shall have a five (5) member board of directors. For so long
as the ASE Group holds not less than fifty percent (50%) of the shares of the
Company, three (3) of such directors shall be persons nominated by the ASE
Representative and, for so long as the PSC Group owns not less than thirty
percent (30%) of the shares of the Company, two (2) of such directors shall
be
persons nominated by the PSC Representative. Except to the extent
that a greater quorum is required by law, a quorum for the holding of a board
of
directors meeting shall be a majority of the directors and resolutions shall
be
adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of directors present in person
or
by proxy at such meeting.
(ii) Powers. Except
as otherwise required by law, the board of directors of the Company shall have
the following specific powers in addition to all such powers as are given to
a
board of directors under Cayman Islands law:
(A) election
of the Chairman of the Company;
(B) appointment
of the president and other officers of the Company and determination of the
compensation of such appointees;
(C) approval
of dividend distribution proposals to be submitted to a shareholders meeting
for
approval;
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(D) approval
of any proposal to sell or transfer all or a substantial portion of the business
or assets of the Company to be submitted to a shareholders meeting for approval;
and
(E) approval
of any proposal to dissolve or merge the Company or to spin off all or a
substantial portion of the Company’s business or assets to be submitted to a
shareholders meeting for approval.
(iii) Meetings. The
board of directors of the Company shall meet as needed but not less than once
each calendar quarter at a place to be determined by the chairman of the
Company.
(iv) Chairman. The
chairman of the Company shall be elected by, and from among, the members of
board of directors of the Company nominated by the ASE
Representative. The chairman shall be the chief executive officer of
the Company and shall be the official representing the Company.
(c) President. The
president of the Company shall be appointed by the board of directors. The
president shall be the chief operating officer of the Company responsible for
day-to-day business operations and shall report to, and act under the general
supervision of, the chairman of the Company.
(d) Other
Officers. Other officers of the Company may be nominated by the
Chairman and appointed by the board of directors of the Company, as
needed.
(e) Fiscal
Year. The fiscal year of the Company shall begin on January 1st
of each year and end on December 31st of the same
calendar year.
(f) Accounting
and Financial Information.
(i) Books
and Records. The Company shall maintain at its head office a
complete set of books of account and records which shall accurately reflect
the
Company’s financial position, and be kept in accordance with generally accepted
R.O.C. accounting principles.
(ii) Annual
Audit. At the end of each fiscal year, the Company shall produce
consolidated annual financial statements audited by Deloitte and Touche or
another accounting firm of international reputation selected by the Board of
Directors of the Company and provide copies of such audited statements to each
party hereto within sixty (60) days (or such shorter period as the ASE
Representative and PSC Representative may agree) after the end of each fiscal
year. Such audit report shall be final and
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binding
upon the parties as to the income, costs, fees, expenses, losses and profits,
if
any, of the Company absent manifest error or fraud.
(iii) Other
Reports. The Company shall, in addition to the above, deliver to
each party:
(A) within
thirty (30) (or such shorter period as the ASE Representative and PSC
Representative may agree) days after the end of each calendar quarter unaudited
consolidated quarterly financial statements; and
(B) within
thirty (30) days (or such longer period as the ASE Representative and PSC
Representative may agree) prior to the end of each fiscal year an annual budget,
as approved by the Company’s board of directors for the next fiscal
year.
(iv) Inspections. Each
of the ASE Representative and the PSC Representative, acting through its
authorized agents and employees shall, at any time, at its own expense, have
access to, and the right to inspect, the books, records, finances, procedures,
practices and policies of the Company and to make copies of relevant
documents.
(v) Dividend
Policy. The dividend policy of the Company shall be as proposed
by the Board of Directors and approved by shareholder meetings from time to
time; provided, that the Company shall assure that an amount equal to two
percent (2%) of the distributable earnings of the Operating Company for each
year are paid up to the Company and then allocated by the Company to the
directors and supervisors of the Company and the Operating Company in such
proportions as the Board of Directors shall decide “Director/Supervisor
Allocation”).
ARTICLE
III. THE OPERATING COMPANY.
3.01. R.O.C.
Laws and Regulations. The parties shall establish and operate the
Operating Company in accordance with all relevant R.O.C. laws and regulations
and the terms of this Agreement.
3.02. Formation. The
parties acknowledge that, prior to execution hereof, ASE Representative has
established the Operating Company with the paid in capital of Eighty Million
NT
Dollars (NT$80,000,000), divided into 8,000,000 shares with a par value of
Ten
NT Dollars (NT$10) per share. Upon execution hereof, the parties
shall carry out all necessary acts (including increasing the capital as
described in Section 3.07(a) and to obtain such licenses and approvals
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as
may be
necessary or appropriate to carry out the activities contemplated hereby to
be
conducted by the Operating Company.
3.03. Name
of the Operating Company. The name of the Operating Company shall
be Power ASE Technology Inc. in English and in Chinese.
3.04. Business
Scope. The Operating Company shall, to the greatest extent
permitted by relevant laws and regulations, engage in the business of assembling
and testing flash and other memory ICs.
3.05. Operating
Company’s Office. The Operating Company shall have a head office
in Chungli Taiwan and may have one or more branch or liaison offices
elsewhere.
3.06. Constitutive
Documents. The Operating Company shall be established under
R.O.C. law and shall be governed by articles of incorporation to be prepared
and
adopted in conformity with the terms hereof (the “AOI”); provided,
that, in the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement
and
the AOI, to the greatest extent permitted by law, the provisions of this
Agreement shall prevail as between the parties hereto and the parties shall
promptly take all such steps as are required and legally permitted to amend
the
AOl accordingly.
3.07. Company
Subscription. (a) Capital Increase. After incorporation of
the Company and the Operating Company, the parties shall cause the authorized
and the paid-in capital of the Operating Company to be increased by one hundred
fifty two million (152,000,000) shares to a total of one hundred sixty million
(160,000,000) shares having par value of Ten NT Dollar (NT$10) and cause the
Company to subscribe to such increased portion at par value.
(b) ASE
Representative Option. After the date falling one (1) year after
the date of formation of the Operation Company, the ASE Representative may,
by
issuing the Option Notice, require the Company to purchase the ASE
Representative’s shares in the Operating Company as provided in Section 2.08(c),
above.
3.08. Management
Structure And Operations. The Operating Company shall be managed
as provided below and each party hereto shall at all times (including with
respect to filling director or officer vacancies) vote its shares in the
Company, and cause the directors and officers appointed by it to vote and act,
so as to carry out the business of the Operating Company in accordance with
the
following and the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
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(a) Shareholders
Actions. Shareholder actions shall be handled in accordance with
applicable R.O.C. law.
(b) Board
of Directors.
(i) Membership.
The Operating Company shall have a five (5) member board of directors to be
appointed and elected by the Company to act as representatives of the
Company. For so long as ASE Group holds not less than fifty percent
(50%) of the shares of the Company, three (3) of such directors to be appointed
and elected by the Company shall be persons nominated by the ASE Representative
and for so long as the PSC Group owns not less than thirty percent (30%) of
the
Shares of the Company, two (2) of such directors to be appointed and elected
by
the Company shall be persons nominated by the PSC
Representative. Except to the extent that a greater quorum is
required by R.O.C. law, a quorum for the holding of a board of directors meeting
shall be a majority of the directors and resolutions shall be adopted by the
affirmative vote of a majority of directors present at such meeting in person
or
by proxy.
(ii) Powers. Except
as otherwise required by R.O.C. law, the board of directors of the Operating
Company shall have the following specific powers in addition to all such powers
as are given to a board of directors under the R.O.C. Company Law:
(A) election
of the Chairman of the Operating Company;
(B) appointment
of the president and other officers of the Operating Company and determination
of the compensation of such appointees;
(C) approval
of dividend distribution proposals to be submitted to a shareholders meeting
for
approval;
(D) approval
of any proposal to sell or transfer all or a substantial portion of the business
or assets of the Operating Company to be submitted to a shareholders meeting
for
approval; and
(E) approval
of any proposal to dissolve or merge the Operating Company or to spin off all
or
a substantial portion of the Operating Company’s business or assets to be
submitted to a shareholder meeting for approval.
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(iii) Meetings. The
board of directors of the Operating Company shall meet as needed but not less
than once each calendar quarter at a place determined by the chairman of the
Operating Company.
(iv) Chairman. The
chairman of the Operating Company shall be elected by, and from among, the
members of the board of directors of the Operating Company nominated by the
ASE
Representative. The chairman shall be the chief executive officer of
the Operating Company and shall be the official representing the Operating
Company.
(c) Supervisors. The
Operating Company shall have two (2) supervisors to be appointed and elected
by
the Company to act as representatives of the Company. So long as the
ASE Group holds not less than fifty percent (50%) of the shares of the Company,
one (1) such supervisor to be appointed and elected by the Company shall be
a
person nominated by the ASE Representative and for so long as the PSC Group
owns
not less than thirty percent (30%) of the shares of the Company, one (1) such
supervisor to be appointed and elected by the Company shall be a person
nominated by the PSC Representative.
(d) President. The
president of the Operating Company shall be appointed by the board of directors
of the Operating Company. The president shall be the chief operating
officer of the Operating Company responsible for day-to-day business operations
and shall report to, and act under the general supervision of the chairman
of
the Operating Company.
(e) Other
Officers. Other officers maybe nominated by the Chairman and
appointed by the board of directors, as needed.
(f) Fiscal
Year. The fiscal year of the Operating Company shall begin on
January 1st of
each year and end on December 31st of the same
calendar year.
(g) Accounting
and Financial Information.
(i) Books
and Records. The Operating Company shall maintain at its head
office a complete set of books of account and records which shall accurately
reflect the Operating Company’s financial position, and be kept in accordance
with generally accepted R.O.C. accounting principles.
(ii) Annual
Audit. At the end of each fiscal year, the Operating Company
shall produce consolidated annual financial statements audited by Deloitte
and
Touche or another accounting firm of international reputation selected by the
Board of Directors of the Operating Company and provide copies of such audited
statements to each party hereto within sixty (60) days (or such shorter period
as the ASE Representative and PSC
10
Representative
may agree) after the end of each fiscal year. Such statements shall be final
and
binding upon the parties as to the income, costs, fees, expenses, losses and
profits, if any, of the Operating Company absent manifest error or
fraud.
(iii) Other
Reports. The Operating Company shall, in addition to the above,
deliver to each party;
(A) within
thirty (30) (or such shorter period as the ASE Representative and PSC
Representative may agree) days after the end of each calendar quarter unaudited
consolidated quarterly financial statements; and
(B) within
thirty (30) days (or such longer period as the ASE Representative and PSC
Representative may agree) prior to the end of each fiscal year an annual budget
as approved by the Operating Company’s board of directors for the next fiscal
year.
(iv) Inspections. Each
of the ASE Representative and the PSC Representative, acting through its
authorized agents and employees shall, at any time, at its own expense, have
access to, and the right to inspect, the books, records, finances, procedures,
practices and policies of the Operating Company and to make copies of relevant
documents.
(v) Dividend
Policy. The Operating Company shall pay such dividends as the
board of directors of the Operating Company may decide from time to time,
provided, that (i) two percent (2%) of the distributable earnings
actually distributed for any given fiscal year shall be paid up to the Company
to fund the Director/Supervisor Allocation and (ii) from five percent (5.0%)
to
seven percent (7.0%) of distributable earnings actually distributed for any
given fiscal year shall be distributed as cash bonuses to employees of the
Operating Company (no stock bonuses to employees shall be allowed).
ARTICLE
IV. TRANSFER OF SHARES/RIGHTS OF FIRST
REFUSAL.
4.01. Right
of First Refusal. Any member of the ASE Group wishing to sell or
transfer to any party other than ASE Representative or any ASE Entity all or
any
part of its shares in the Company shall first offer such shares to the PSC
Group
by written notice to the PSC Representative and any member of the PSC Group
wishing to sell or transfer all or any part of its shares in the Company to
any
party other than PSC Representative or any PSC Entity shall first offer such
shares to the ASE Group by written notice to the ASE
Representative. In each case, the relevant seller (the “Selling
Party”) shall specify in the above notice, the number of shares intended to
be sold (“Offerred Shares”), the price per share and
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the
other
terms of such transfer or sale to the relevant third parties (the “Offer
Terms”). The ASE Representative or PSC Representative, as
applicable (the “Offeree”), shall within fifteen (15) days of receipt of
such notice (the “Offering Period”), have the right of first refusal to
purchase or cause one or more other ASE Entities or PSC Entities, as applicable,
to purchase the Offered Shares on the Offer Terms. If the Offeree,
within the Offering Period, notifies the Selling Party, in writing, of the
Offeree’s intent to purchase, or cause to be purchased, the Offered Shares, such
notice shall be irrevocable and the purchase of such shares shall be concluded
within not more than thirty (30) days of such notice. If the Offeree
does not give written notice of intent to purchase all or a portion of the
Offered Shares within the above period, the Selling Party may then transfer
or
sell the Offered Shares (or such portion thereof, as applicable), to the
relevant third party on the Offer Terms at any time within the next sixty (60)
days thereafter failing which the provisions of this Section 4.01 shall again
apply.
4.02. Transfer
to Affiliates. The restrictions set forth in Section 4.01, above,
shall not apply to transfer of shares to affiliates of a party or to transfer
by
employees of employee stock option shares issued pursuant to Section 2.08(d),
above (“Employee Shares”). Upon any transfer to an affiliate
under this Section 4.02, such affiliate shall be deemed to be an ASE Entity
or
PSC Entity as defined herein and a member of the ASE Group or the PSC Group,
as
applicable, as defined herein.
4.03. Obligations
of Third Party Transferees. Except for sale or transfer of
Employee Shares, no transfer or sale of the Company’s shares to any third party
shall be concluded unless and until such third party shall have provided the
Company and the parties hereto with an undertaking, in form and substance
approved by the Company and the parties hereto, which binds such third party
to
the provisions hereof.
4.04. Withdrawing
Shareholder. If any party ceases to be a shareholder of the
Company, this Agreement shall terminate as to such party; provided, that
any obligations hereunder or liabilities for breaches of this Agreement arising
prior to such termination shall not be released. Termination of this
Agreement shall not be construed as terminating any agreement executed pursuant
to this Agreement, except as specifically provided for in this Agreement or
such
other agreement.
ARTICLE
V. REPRESENTATION AND WARRANTIES.
Each
party
hereto hereby represents and warrants to each other party hereto
that;
5.01. Existence. Such
party is a corporation duly organized and existing and in good standing under
the laws of its place of incorporation and has the
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corporate
power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and, subject to the
conditions herein stated, to fully perform its obligations
hereunder.
5.02. Legality. The
execution, delivery and performance by such Party of, and compliance by such
Party with the terms and conditions of this Agreement have been approved by
all
necessary corporate actions and do not and will not conflict with or result
in
the violation of such party’s constitutive documents, or any contract,
agreement, instrument, permit, law or regulation binding on such
party.
5.03. Binding. This
Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligations of such
party.
ARTICLE
VI. CORPORATE POLICIES.
The
following policies shall govern the operations of the Company and the Operating
Company.
6.01. Debt
Obligations. No party hereto shall be obligated to guarantee or
otherwise assume liability for the financial obligations of the Company or
the
Operating Company.
6.02. Compliance
with Law. In no event shall the Company or the Operating Company
conduct or carry on activities that shall contravene or cause any party hereto
to contravene any existing or future laws of any relevant
jurisdiction.
ARTICLE
VII. OPERATING PROVISIONS.
7.01. Fair
Market Value. All related party transactions to be entered into
between any ASE Entity or PSC Entity (or any of their respective affiliates)
with the Operating Company shall be entered into at fair market value prices
and
on fair market value terms in compliance with applicable R.O.C. laws and
regulations (“Fair Market Value”).
7.02. Location. The
Operating Company will be located at a site within the ASE Chungli complex
to be
leased from ASE Inc. (“Lessor”) at Fair Market Value rentals and
otherwise on terms and conditions to be agreed in a written lease agreement
between the Lessor and the Operating Company.
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7.03. Facilities
Management. The parties shall cause the Operating Company to
operate in compliance with all applicable safety and fire prevention standards
and to appropriately insure against such risks as are normal for companies
in a
similar line of business.
7.04. Corporate
and Administration Support. The ASE Representative shall provide
corporate and administrative support (including utilities and information
technology) to the Operating Company at Fair Market Value compensation levels
to
be separately agreed between the relevant provider(s) of such support and the
Operating Company.
7.05. Purchase
of Equipment. The Operating Company may purchase from the ASE
Representative (i) new equipment purchased by the ASE Representative for the
Operating Company which will be sold to the Operating Company at cost and (ii)
ASE Representative owned existing equipment which will be sold by the ASE
Representative to the Operating Company at Fair Market Value
prices.
7.06. Intellectual
Property. (a) Assembly and Testing Related
IP. ASE Representative shall, or shall cause its relevant
affiliate(s) to, sub-license to the Operating Company assembly related
intellectual property (“Assembly and Testing Related IP”) licensed or
sub-licensed by the ASE Representative (or such affiliates), from others at
fees
consistent with the fees paid by the ASE Representative (or such affiliate(s)),
for the relevant intellectual property (subject to agreement of third party
licensor, if applicable) and the ASE Representative shall license Assembly
and
Testing Related IP which is owned by ASE Representative to the Operating Company
free of charge.
(b) Test
Program and Methodology. The PSC Representative shall provide
test intellectual property and methodology to the Operating Company within
the
scope of the offtake arrangements described below without additional
compensation; provided, that the Operating Company shall not, without the
PSC Representative’s prior written consent, use such intellectual property or
methodology for any non-PSC offtake production.
(c) IP
Infringement. Each licensor/provider of intellectual property and
methodology under Section 7.06(a) or (b), above, represents and warrants that
it
has all rights and/or title to license or provide such intellectual property
or
methodology to the Operating Company as contemplated hereby. The
parties shall cooperate reasonable with one another and the Operating Company
in
the event any infringement is asserted by any third party against any party
hereto or the Operating Company in connection with the actions contemplated
by
Section 7.06(a) and (b), above.
(d) Business
and Management Template and Methodology. ASE Representative shall
license to the Operating Company assembly and testing related business and
management template and methodology free of charge.
14
7.07. Offtake
Matters. (a) Capacity. The capacity design and
expansion plan of the Operating Company shall be determined by the board of
directors of the Operating Company.
(b) Set
Up. ASE Representative shall use its best efforts to assist the
Operating Company to set up the Operating Company’s facility with an aggregate
capacity of nine million five hundred thousand (9,500,000) pieces per month
within twenty four (24) months after commencement of production (“Initial
Period”).
(c) Initial
Period Offtake. Subject to the qualification and audit of the
Operating Company, PSC Representative shall load the Operating Company with
eighty percent (80%) of designed capacities or seven million six hundred
thousand (7,600,000) pieces per month whichever is lower during the Initial
Period at the offtake pricing specified in Section 7.07(e), below.
(d) Subsequent
Offtake. Subject to the qualification and audit of the Operating
Company, PSC Representative will use its best efforts to reach a target load
of
the Operating Company of not less than sixty percent (60%) of designed
capacities and expansion plan during twenty four (24) months after the end
of
the Initial Period at the offtake pricing specified in Section 7.07(e)
below.
(e) Offtake
Pricing. Offtake pricing shall be based on the following:
ASSY: market
price by piece of production.
TEST: market
price by tester platform and burn-in machine hours.
(f) Outsourcing. PSC
Representative shall treat the Operating Company as the PSC Representative’s
primary outsourcing partner and shall, subject to the competitive quality,
pricing, service and timely delivery outsource to the Operating
Company.
7.08. IPO. The
ASE Representative and the PSC Representative shall separately discuss plans
for
an initial public offering (“IPO”) of the Company or the Operating
Company. If such parties decide to have an IPO of the Operating
Company, the Company shall be dissolved and, subject to required R.O.C.
government approvals, the Company’ s shareholding in the Operating Company shall
be distributed to the ASE Group, the PSC Group and other shareholders, if any,
pro rata to each such shareholder’s then shareholding in the
Company.
ARTICLE
VIII. PROTECTION OF TRADE NAMES.
8.01. ASE. The
parties hereto recognize and acknowledge that the name, “Advanced Semiconductor
Engineering” and the letters, “ASE”, and other trademarks or designations, and
their equivalents in the Chinese language, is and
15
shall
at
all times belong exclusively to the ASE Group. So as not to give rise to a
likelihood of confusion from the concurrent use thereof in connection with
the
sale of any products or the rendering of any services, the ASE Representative
shall have the right at any time to cause the Company and/or the Operating
Company to discontinue use of any reference to “Advanced Semiconductor
Engineering” or “ASE”, as appropriate, and other trademarks or
designations or any name using the words “ASE”, or, “Advanced Semiconducted
Engineering”, as appropriate, or other confusingly similar trademarks or
designations and the Chinese language equivalents of any thereof.
8.02. PSC. The
parties hereto recognize and acknowledge that the name “Powerchip” and the
letters, “PSC” and other trademarks or designations, and their equivalents in
the Chinese language, is and shall at all times belong exclusively to the PSC
Representative. So as not to give rise to a likelihood of confusion
from the concurrent use thereof in connection with the sale of any products
or
the rendering of any services, PSC Representative shall have the right at any
time, to require the parties hereto to cause the Company and/or the Operating
Company to discontinue use of any reference to “Powership” or “PSC”, as
appropriate, and other trademarks or designations or any name using the words
“PSC” or “Powerchip”, as appropriate, or other confusingly similar trademark or
designations and the Chinese language equivalents of any thereof.
ARTICLE
IX. MISCELLANEOUS.
9.01. Confidentiality. Except
for disclosures to courts, government bodies, professional advisors or
securities exchanges and except for disclosures required by law or regulation,
each party hereto agrees to keep confidential any obtained under this Agreement,
and will not disclose the terms and conditions hereof without prior written
consents of the PSC Representative (for disclosures by any ASE Entity) or the
ASE Representatives (for disclosures by any PSC Entity). Upon
termination of the Agreement, the receiving party shall return or destroy any
confidential information held by it at the sole discretion of the relevant
disclosing party.
9.02. Assignment. This
Agreement shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto,
their legal representatives, successors and assigns; provided, that,
except in accordance with a transfer of shares pursuant to Article 4 of this
Agreement, no ASE Entity may assign its rights or obligations hereunder without
the prior written consent of the PSC Representative and no PSC Entity may assign
its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the
ASE
Representative.
9.03. Severability. If
any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable, such
invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or
16
enforceability
of the other provisions hereof, all of which provisions hereby being declared
severable.
9.04. Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the Cayman Islands; provided, that all
matters related to the formation of the Operating Company shall be governed
by
R.O.C. law.
9.05. Arbitration. All
disputes, controversies or differences which may arise between the parties
hereto as the result of a violation of the terms of this Agreement which cannot
amicably be resolved within a reasonable period of time, as determined by either
of the parties hereto, shall be finally settled by arbitration conducted in
Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C., by a panel of three (3) arbitrators selected in
accordance with the Arbitration Law of the R.O.C. as in effect from time to
time. Any decision of such arbitration panel shall be final and binding n the
parties hereto.
9.06. Enforcement
Costs. Each party agrees to pay and discharge all, reasonable
costs, attorney’s fees and expenses (including, but not limited to, the costs of
litigation ) that are incurred by any other party in successfully enforcing
or
defending such other party’s rights against such party under this
Agreement.
9.07. Company
Formation Costs. Costs and Expenses incurred for the
incorporation of the Company and the Operating Company and procurement of any
relevant R.O.C. governmental approvals and licenses, shall be borne by the
Company. Other costs and expenses incurred, for the separate interest
of any party, shall be borne by the party incurring such expenses.
9.08. Disclaimer
of Agency. Except otherwise provided in Section 9.17 below, this
Agreement shall not be deemed to constitute any party the agent of any other
party.
9.09. Term. This
Agreement shall become effective upon signing and shall terminate on the earlier
of (i) the date falling forty eight (48) months after commencement of the
Operating Company’s operation, (ii) dissolution of the Company or the Operating
Company, (iii) distribution of the assets of the Company or the Operating
Company or (iv) IPO of the shares of the Company or the Operating
Company.
9.10. Default;
Termination for Cause. (a) Material Breach. In
the event of a material breach of this Agreement by (i) any one or more of
the
PSC Entities or any one or more of the ASE Entities, then this Agreement may
be
terminated by the ASE Representative (if a PSC Entity is the breaching party)
or
the PSC Representative (if an ASE Entity is the breaching party) after giving
sixty (60) days prior written notice to the breaching party specifying the
reason for
17
termination,
such termination becoming effective at the end of said sixty (60) day period
unless the breach has been rectified by that time to the satisfaction of the
terminating party.
(b) Bankruptcy. (i)
The ASE Representative shall have the right to terminate this Agreement as
to
the relevant PSC Entity forthwith by written notice to the PSC Representative,
if any PSC Entity, and (ii) the PSC Representative shall have the right to
terminate this Agreement forthwith as to the relevant ASE Entity by written
notice to the ASE Representative, if any ASE Entity, enters into bankruptcy,
receivership, composition, rehabilitation, liquidation, reorganization for
the
purpose of avoiding bankruptcy or becomes insolvent by being unable to pay
its
debts as they become due.
(c) Effect
of Termination. Upon termination of this Agreement, the parties
hereto agree that (i) no party hereto shall thereafter make use of any word,
design, xxxx slogan or legend owned by or associated by any other party;
provided that, for so long as the operating Company continues to provide
production for any PSC related party, the Operating Company may continue to
use
the intellectual property and business and management template and methodology
described in Section 7.06 (a), (b) and (d), above, for such purpose. Articles
VIII and Sections 9.01, 9.04, 9.05, 9.06, 9.08, 9.09, 9.10, 9.12, 9.13 and
9.17
hereof shall survive any expiry or termination hereof.
(d) Damages;
Termination for Cause. In the event of termination resulting from
breach of this Agreement, no party is discharged of any antecedent liability
to
any other party, and all of such party’s rights and remedies are preserved,
except that no party is liable for consequential damages.
9.11. Force
Majeure. No party to this Agreement is responsible to any other
party hereto for non-performance or delay in performance of the terms and
conditions hereof due to acts of God, acts of governments, riots, wars, strikes,
accidents of transportation, labor difficulties, fires floods, explosions,
court
orders or similar causes beyond the control of the affected party.
9.12. Notices. Any
notices required or permitted to be given under this Agreement by any ASE Entity
and/or PSC Entity hereunder shall be made in writing by postage prepaid
registered mail (airmail if international), telex, facsimile transmission or
hand deliver, and shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given for all of
the
purposes hereof when actually received by the PSC Representative (if such notice
is given by an ASE Entity) or the ASE Representative (if such notice is given
by
a PSC Entity) at the address set forth after such representative’s name and
signature hereon below or such address as such party may subsequently specify
by
notice to the other parties hereto.
18
9.13. Governing
Language. The English text of this Agreement shall be deemed the
original. In the event this Agreement is translated into Chinese or any other
language, and in the event of any dispute or misunderstanding as to the
interpretation of the language or terms of this Agreement, the English language
version hereof shall control.
9.14. Completeness,
Modification and Amendment. This Agreement supersedes all
previous representations, understandings or agreements, oral or written, between
the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and contains the entire
understanding of the parties as to the terms and conditions of their
agreement. No charges, alterations or modifications hereby shall be
effective unless in writing and signed by authorized representatives of the
parties.
9.15. Waiver. Failure
of any party to insist upon strict performance of any provisions hereof shall
not constitute waiver of such right, nor shall a waiver in one situation
constitute a waiver with respect to a later breach whether of a similar nature
or otherwise.
9.16. Descriptive
Headings; Counterparts. The captions and headings contained
herein are for convenience of reference only and shall not in any way effect
the
meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. This Agreement may be
executed in more than one counterpart and each such counterpart shall constitute
and original hereof.
9.17. Representatives. Each
ASE Entity hereby irrevocably and unconditionally appoints the ASE
Representative as its representative for all purposes hereof and each PSC Entity
hereby irrevocably and unconditional appoints the PSC Representative as its
representative for all purposes hereof. All notices, instructions,
requests or other communication given by or to the ASE Representative hereunder
shall be deemed to have been given by/to each and every ASE Entities and shall
bind all ASE Entity and all notices, instructions, requests on other
communications given by or to the PSC Representative hereunder shall be deemed
to have been given by/to each PSC Entity and shall bind all PSC
Entities.
19
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have affixed and their hand and
seals the day and year first above written.
ASE
REPRESENTATIVE:
|
ASE
INC.
|
||||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxx X.X. Xxxxx | ||||
Name: Xxxxx
X.X. Xxxxx
|
|||||
Title: Chairman
|
|||||
Address
for Notices:
Xx
0000, X00, 000,
Xxx.
x, Xxxxxxx Xx.,
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxx R.O.C.
|
ASE
ENTITY:
|
J&R
HOLDING LIMITED
|
||||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxx X.X. Xxxxx | ||||
Name: Xxxxx
X.X. Xxxxx
|
|||||
Title: Authorized
Signatory
|
|||||
Address
for Notices:
Rm
1901, F19, 333,
Sec.
l, Keelung Rd.,
Taipei,
Taiwan R.O.C.
|
PSC
REPRESENTATIVE:
|
POWERCHIP
SEMICONDUCTOR CORP.
|
||||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx | ||||
Name: Xxxxx
X. Xxxxx
|
|||||
Title: Chairman
|
|||||
Address
for Notices:
00X,
00
Xxx.
0, Xxxxxxx X., Xx.,
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxx R.O.C.
|
20
PSC
ENTITIES:
|
GLOBAL
POWERTEC INC.
|
||||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx | ||||
Name: Xxxxx
X. Xxxxx
|
|||||
Title: Authorized
Signatory
|
|||||
Address
for Notices:
00X,
00
Xxx.
0, Xxxxxxx X., Xx.,
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxx X.X.X.
|
NETWORK
HOLDING LTD.
|
||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx | |
Name: Xxxxx
X. Xxxxx
|
||
Title: Authorized
Signatory
|
||
Address
for Notices:
00X,
00
Xxx.
0, Xxxxxxx X., Xx.,
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxx X.X.X.
|
INTEGRATED
INVESTMENTS LIMITED
|
||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx | |
Name:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
|
||
Title:
Authorized signatory
|
||
Address
for Notices:
00X,
00
Xxx.
0, Xxxxxxx X., Xx.,
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxx R.O.C.
|
21
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
(TO BE SIGNED UPON FORMATION OF THE
COMPANY
AND OPERATING COMPANY)
The
undersigned by the Company and the Operating Company hereby acknowledge and
agree to be bound by the foregoing:
THE
COMPANY:
|
POWER
ASE TECHNOLOGY HOLDING LIMITED
|
||||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxx X.X. Xxxxx | ||||
Name:
Xxxxx X.X. Xxxxx
|
|||||
Title:
|
|||||
Address
for Notices:
|
THE
OPERATING COMPANY:
|
POWER
ASE TECHNOLOGY INC.
|
||||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxx X.X. Xxxxx | ||||
Name: Xxxxx
X.X. Xxxxx
|
|||||
Title: Chairman
|
|||||
Address
for Notices:
Xx
0000, X00, 000,
Xxx.
x, Xxxxxxx Xx.,
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxx R.O.C.
|
22
SCHEDULE
I
ASE
GROUP
ASE
Entity
|
Subscribed
Shares
|
Subscribed
Amount
|
|||
J&R
HOLDING LIMITED
|
27,500,000
|
US$27,500,000
|
|||
Total:
|
*27,500,000
|
US$27,500,000
|
*ASE
Group
and/or the ASE Representative shall have the option to subscribe to an
additional 2,500,000 shares as provided in Section 2.08(c) of
Agreement.
23
SCHEDULE
II
PSC
GROUP
PSC
Entity
|
Subscribed
Shares
|
Subscribed
Amount
|
|||
Global
Powertec Inc.
|
14,000,000
|
US$14,000,000
|
|||
Network
Holding Ltd.
|
5,000,000
|
US$5,000,000
|
|||
Integrated
Investments Limited
|
1,000,000
|
US$1,000,000
|
|||
Total:
|
20,000,000
|
US$20,000,000
|
24