PERSPECTUM GROUP PLC [•] AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES, EACH REPRESENTING ONE ORDINARY SHARE, NOMINAL VALUE £[•] PER SHARE UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 1.1
[•] AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES, EACH REPRESENTING ONE ORDINARY SHARE, NOMINAL VALUE £[•] PER SHARE
[•], 2021
[•], 2021
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Barclays Capital Inc.
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx & Company, Incorporated
Canaccord Genuity LLC
As Representatives of the several Underwriters
named in Schedule I hereto
c/o Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
c/o Barclays Capital Inc.
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
c/o Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx & Company, Incorporated
000 0xx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
c/o Canaccord Genuity LLC
00 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Perspectum Group plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx & Company Incorporated and Canaccord Genuity LLC are acting as representatives (the “Representatives”), an aggregate of [•] American Depositary Shares each representing one ordinary share, nominal value £[•] per share (the “Firm ADSs”). The Company also proposes to issue and sell to the several Underwriters not more than an additional [•] American Depositary Shares each representing one ordinary share, nominal value £[•] per share (the “Additional ADSs”), if and to the extent that the Representatives shall have determined to exercise, on behalf of the Underwriters, the right to purchase such American Depositary Shares granted to the Underwriters in Section 2 hereof. The Firm ADSs and the Additional ADSs are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “ADSs.” The ordinary shares, nominal value £[•] per share, of the Company to be outstanding after giving effect to the sales contemplated hereby are hereinafter referred to as the “Ordinary Shares.” The Ordinary Shares represented by the Firm ADSs are hereinafter called the “Firm Shares” and the Ordinary Shares represented by the Additional ADSs are hereinafter called the “Additional Shares,” and the Firm Shares and the Additional Shares are herein collectively called the “ADS Shares.”
The ADSs are to be issued pursuant to a deposit agreement (the “Deposit Agreement”), dated as of [•], among the Company, Citibank, N.A., as depositary (the “Depositary”), and holders from time to time of the American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) issued by the Depositary and evidencing the ADSs. Each American Depositary Share will initially represent the right to receive one Ordinary Share deposited pursuant to the Deposit Agreement.
The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-257393), including a preliminary prospectus, relating to the ADS Shares. The registration statement, as amended at the time it becomes effective, including the information (if any) deemed to be part of the registration statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), is hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement”; the prospectus in the form first used to confirm sales of ADSs (or in the form first made available to the Underwriters by the Company to meet requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) is hereinafter referred to as the “Prospectus.” If the Company has filed an abbreviated registration statement to register additional ADS Shares pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (a “Rule 462 Registration Statement”), then any reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include such Rule 462 Registration Statement. The Company has filed a registration statement on Form F-6 (No. 333-257652) relating to the ADSs with the Commission (such registration statement on Form F-6, including all exhibits thereto, as amended at the time such registration statement becomes effective, being hereafter referred to as the “ADS Registration Statement”). The Company has also filed, in accordance with Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), a registration statement on Form 8-A (the “Form 8-A Registration Statement”) to register the Ordinary Shares of the Company under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act.
For purposes of this Underwriting Agreement (the “Agreement”), “free writing prospectus” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, “preliminary prospectus” shall mean each prospectus used prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and each prospectus that omitted information pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act that was used after such effectiveness and prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, “Time of Sale Prospectus” means the preliminary prospectus contained in the Registration Statement at the time of its effectiveness together with the documents and pricing information set forth in Schedule II hereto, and “broadly available road show” means a “bona fide electronic road show” as defined in Rule 433(h)(5) under the Securities Act that has been made available without restriction to any person. As used herein, the terms “Registration Statement,” “preliminary prospectus,” “Time of Sale Prospectus” and “Prospectus” shall include the documents, if any, incorporated by reference therein as of the date hereof.
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As described more fully in the Registration Statement under the caption “Corporate Reorganization”, a corporate reorganization of the Company’s group is being undertaken in the following steps: (i) incorporation of Perspectum Group Ltd under the laws of England and Wales, (ii) redesignation of the subscriber share of Perspectum Group Ltd, (iii) exchange of Perspectum Ltd shares for newly issued shares of the same number and class in Perspectum Group Ltd, (iv) re-registration of Perspectum Group Ltd as a public limited company and change of name to Perspectum Group plc, and (v) reorganization of separate classes of shares of Perspectum Group plc into a single class of ordinary shares The following reorganization steps may or will be taken following completion of the offering: (i) reduction of capital of Perspectum Group plc to cancel 75% of the amount standing to the credit of Perspectum Group plc’s share premium account following completion of the offering (subject to approval by the High Court of Justice in England and Wales), (ii) reorganization of the deferred shares of Perspectum Group plc, and (viii) reorganization of separate classes of shares of Perspectum Ltd into a single class of ordinary shares. The reorganization steps summarized above completed prior to the date hereof or to be completed after the date hereof are collectively referred to as the “Corporate Reorganization”).
References in this Agreement to (1) the Company issuing and selling ADSs to the Underwriters, and similar or analogous expressions, shall be understood to refer to the Company allotting and issuing the new Ordinary Shares underlying those ADSs to the Depositary or its nominee and procuring the issue of ADSs representing such Ordinary Shares by the Depositary or its nominee to the Underwriters; and (2) the purchase of, or payment for, any ADSs, and similar or analogous expressions, shall be understood to refer to the subscription for the Ordinary Shares underlying those ADSs, as well as the acquisition of the ADSs representing such Ordinary Shares, as well as the deposit of the Ordinary Shares for ADSs representing such Ordinary Shares and the payment of the subscription moneys in respect of such Ordinary Shares. References in this Agreement to the Ordinary Shares or ADS Shares being non-assessable shall mean that no holder is liable, solely because of such holder’s status as a holder of shares or ADS Shares of the Company, for additional payments or calls for further funds by the Company or any other person.
1. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to and agrees with each of the Underwriters that:
(a) Each of the Registration Statement and the ADS Registration Statement has become effective; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the ADS Registration Statement is in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act are pending before or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened by the Commission.
(b) (i) Each of the Registration Statement and the ADS Registration Statement, when it became effective, did not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, as of the date of such amendment or supplement, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
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required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) each of the Registration Statement and the ADS Registration Statement, at the respective time at which each was declared effective, and the Prospectus comply and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, as of the date of such amendment or supplement, will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (iii) the Time of Sale Prospectus does not, and at the time of each sale of the ADSs in connection with the offering when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and at the Closing Date (as defined in Section 4), the Time of Sale Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented by the Company, if applicable, as of the date of such amendment or supplement, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (iv) each broadly available road show, if any, when considered together with the Time of Sale Prospectus, does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (v) the Prospectus, as of its date, does not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, as of the date of such amendment or supplement, or as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date (as defined in Section 2) will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that the representations and warranties set forth in this paragraph do not apply to statements or omissions in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus based upon the Underwriter Information (as defined in Section 8(b) below).
(c) The Corporate Reorganization conforms in all material respects to the description set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Corporate Reorganization” and has been (or, in the case of steps described in the Prospectus to be carried out following completion of the offering (the “Post-Completion Reorganization Steps”), will be) carried out as described therein. The Corporate Reorganization has been (or, in the case of the Post-Completion Reorganization Steps, will be) carried out in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations, each of the agreements to give effect to the Corporate Reorganization is (or, in the case of the agreements to effect the Post-Completion Reorganization Steps, will when entered into be) enforceable against each of the parties thereto, the Corporate Reorganization is (or, in the case of the Post-Completion Reorganization Steps, will when effected be) unconditional and incapable of termination or rescission and the Corporate Reorganization has (or, in the case of the Post-Completion Reorganization Steps, will when effected have) full force and effect in all material respects.
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(d) The Company is not an “ineligible issuer” in connection with the offering pursuant to Rules 164, 405 and 433 under the Securities Act. Any free writing prospectus that the Company is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act has been, or will be, filed with the Commission in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Each free writing prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or that was prepared by or on behalf of or used or referred to by the Company complies or will comply, as of the date of such filing, in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Except for the free writing prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule II hereto, and electronic road shows, if any, each furnished to the Representatives before first use, the Company has not prepared, used or referred to, and will not, without the Representatives’ prior consent, prepare, use or refer to, any free writing prospectus.
(e) The Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a public limited company in good standing (or its jurisdictional equivalent) under the laws of England and Wales, has the corporate power and authority to own or lease its property and to conduct its business as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction (to the extent the concept of good standing is applicable in such jurisdiction) in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing (to the extent the concept of good standing is applicable in such jurisdiction) would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(f) Each subsidiary of the Company has been duly incorporated, organized or formed, is validly existing as a corporation or other business entity in good standing (to the extent the concept of good standing is applicable in such jurisdiction) under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, organization or formation, has the corporate or other business entity power and authority to own or lease its property and to conduct its business as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing (to the extent the concept of good standing is applicable in such jurisdiction) in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; all of the issued shares of share capital or other equity interests of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable (to the extent such concepts are applicable under relevant law) and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims.
(g) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
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(h) The Deposit Agreement has been duly authorized and, when executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Depositary, will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforceability, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles, and upon issuance by the Depositary of ADRs evidencing ADSs and the deposit of Ordinary Shares in respect thereof in accordance with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement, such ADRs will be duly and validly issued and the persons in whose names the ADRs are registered will be entitled to the rights specified therein and in the Deposit Agreement; and the Deposit Agreement and the ADRs conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(i) As of the Closing Date, the issued share capital of the Company will conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(j) The Ordinary Shares outstanding prior to the issuance of the ADS Shares have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
(k) The ADS Shares have been duly and validly authorized and, when issued, delivered and paid for in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the issuance of such ADS Shares and the ADSs will not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights that have not been duly waived or satisfied. The ADS Shares will conform to the description of such Ordinary Shares in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus in all material respects. The ADS Shares, when issued and delivered against payment therefor, may be freely deposited by the Company with the Depositary or its nominee against issuance of the ADRs evidencing the ADSs. The ADSs, when issued and delivered against payment therefor, will be freely transferable by the Company to or for the account of the several Underwriters and the initial purchasers thereof.
(l) The execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance by the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement and the Deposit Agreement, and the issuance and sale of the ADSs and the deposit of the ADS Shares after the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Deposit Agreement, will not contravene any provision of applicable law or regulation or the certificate of incorporation or memorandum and articles of association of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Company or any of its subsidiaries that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary, and no consent, approval, authorization or order of,
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or qualification with, any governmental body, agency or court is required for the issue and sale of the ADSs and ADS Shares, the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement and the Deposit Agreement, except such as have been obtained or waived or may be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states or foreign jurisdictions or the rules and regulations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) in connection with the offer and sale of the ADSs.
(m) There has not occurred any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus.
(n) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any of the properties of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject (i) other than proceedings accurately described in all material respects in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and proceedings that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or on the power or ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated by each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus or (ii) that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus and are not so described; and there are no statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not described or filed as required.
(o) Each preliminary prospectus filed as part of the Registration Statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, complied when so filed in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(p) The Company is not, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the ADSs and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus will not be, required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(q) The Company and each of its subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”), (ii) have received all permits, licenses or other
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approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (iii) are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval, except where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(r) There are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties) which would, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(s) There are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person granting such person the right (other than such rights as have been waived or complied with) to require the Company to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any securities of the Company or to require the Company to include such securities with the Ordinary Shares registered pursuant to the Registration Statement.
(t) (i) None of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or controlled affiliates, or any director, officer or employee thereof, or, to the Company’s knowledge, any agent or representative of the Company or of any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, has taken or will take any action in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization or approval of the payment, giving or receipt of money, property, gifts or anything else of value, directly or indirectly, to any government official (including any officer or employee of a government or government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office) (“Government Official”) in order to influence official action, or to any person in violation of any applicable anti-corruption laws; (ii) the Company and each of its subsidiaries and controlled affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws and have instituted and maintained and will continue to maintain policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws and with the representations and warranties contained herein; and (iii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries will use, directly or indirectly, the proceeds of the offering in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any person in violation of any applicable anti-corruption laws.
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(u) The operations of the Company and each of its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in material compliance with all applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, the Terrorism Act 2000, the Terrorism Act 2006 and the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (in each case as amended) and the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of jurisdictions where the Company and each of its subsidiaries conduct business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(v) (i) None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries, or any director, officer, or employee thereof, or, to the Company’s knowledge, any agent, controlled affiliate or representative of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, is an individual or entity (“Person”) that is, or is owned or controlled by one or more Persons that are:
(A) the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), or
(B) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions (including, without limitation, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria).
(ii) The Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person:
(A) to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any Person or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of Sanctions; or
(B) in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise).
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(iii) The Company and each of its subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in, are not now knowingly engaged in, and will not engage in, any dealings or transactions with any Person, or in any country or territory, that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject of Sanctions.
(w) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, (i) the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, have not incurred any material liability or obligation, direct or contingent, nor entered into any material transaction; (ii) the Company has not purchased any of its outstanding share capital, nor declared, paid or otherwise made any dividend or distribution of any kind on its share capital other than ordinary and customary dividends; and (iii) there has not been any material change in the share capital, short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(x) The Company and each of its subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property and good and marketable title to all personal property owned by them which is material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except such as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries; and any real property and buildings held under lease by the Company and its subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company and its subsidiaries.
(y) Except as disclosed in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus or as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (i) the Company and its subsidiaries own or have a valid license to all patents, patent applications, inventions, copyrights, know how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks and trade names, including all registrations and applications for registration thereof and all goodwill associated therewith, and all other intellectual property and similar proprietary rights of any kind in the world (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”) used in or reasonably necessary to the conduct of their businesses; (ii) the Intellectual Property Rights owned by the Company and its subsidiaries and, to the Company’s knowledge, the Intellectual Property Rights licensed to the Company and its subsidiaries, are valid, subsisting and enforceable, and there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the validity, scope or enforceability of any such Intellectual Property Rights; (iii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any written notice alleging any infringement, misappropriation or
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other violation of Intellectual Property Rights by the Company or its subsidiaries; (iv) to the Company’s knowledge, no third party is infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating, or has infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated, any Intellectual Property Rights owned by or exclusively licensed to the Company; (v) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries infringes, misappropriates or otherwise violates, or has infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated, any Intellectual Property Rights; (vi) the Company and its subsidiaries have complied with the terms of each agreement pursuant to which Intellectual Property Rights have been licensed to the Company or its subsidiaries, and all such agreements are in full force and effect; (vii) to the Company’s knowledge, all patents and patent applications, trademark applications and trademark registrations, and copyright registrations owned by or exclusively licensed to the Company and its subsidiaries have been duly and properly filed and maintained, and there are no material defects in any of the patents or patent applications, trademark applications or trademark registrations, or copyright registrations owned by or exclusively licensed to the Company or its subsidiaries; (viii) all employees or contractors engaged in the development of Intellectual Property Rights on behalf of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company have executed an invention assignment agreement whereby such employees or contractors presently assign all of their right, title and interest in and to such Intellectual Property Rights to the Company or the applicable subsidiary, and to the Company’s knowledge no such agreement has been breached or violated; and (ix) the Company and its subsidiaries use, and have used, commercially reasonable efforts to maintain all information intended to be maintained as a trade secret.
(z) Except as disclosed in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (i) the Company and each of its subsidiaries have complied and are presently in compliance with all internal and external privacy and security policies, contractual obligations, notification requirements, binding industry standards, applicable laws, statutes, judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or other governmental or regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Company and any other legal obligations, in each case, relating to the collection, use, transfer, import, export, storage, protection, disposal, disclosure and other processing by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of personal, personally identifiable, household, sensitive, confidential or regulated data (“Data Security Obligations”, and such data, “Data”) including, without limitation and to the extent applicable, compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (collectively, “HIPAA”), the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”), the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) (EU 2016/679) and the GDPR as it continues to form part of the law of the United Kingdom by virtue of section 3 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act of 2018 (collectively, the “Privacy Laws”); (ii) the Company has not received any written notification
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of or complaint regarding and is unaware of any other facts that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably indicate non-compliance with any Data Security Obligation or Privacy Law; (iii) there is no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against the Company or its subsidiaries alleging non-compliance with any Data Security Obligation or Privacy Law; and (iv) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not result in a breach or violation of any applicable Privacy Laws or external Company privacy policies.
(aa) Except as disclosed in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (i) the Company and each of its subsidiaries have taken reasonable technical, administrative, physical and organizational measures designed to protect the information technology systems and Data used in connection with the operation of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ businesses; (ii) without limiting the foregoing, the Company and its subsidiaries have at all times used reasonable efforts to establish, maintain, implement and comply with commercially reasonable information technology, information security, cyber security and data protection controls, policies and procedures that are designed to protect against and prevent breach, unintentional destruction, loss, unauthorized distribution, use or access, disablement, misappropriation or modification, or other compromise or misuse of or relating to any information technology system or Data used in connection with the operation of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ businesses (“Breach”) and (iii) to the Company’s knowledge, there has been no such Breach, and the Company and its subsidiaries have not been notified of and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any such Breach.
(bb) No material labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists, or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent; and the Company is not aware of any existing, threatened or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its principal suppliers, manufacturers or contractors that would reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(cc) The Company and each of its subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which they are engaged, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain
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similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(dd) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, the Company and each of its subsidiaries possess all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate federal, state or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses as currently conducted, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit which, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(ee) The financial statements (including the related notes thereto) included in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules and notes thereto, comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the dates shown and its results of operations and cash flows for the periods shown, and such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby except for any normal year-end adjustments in the Company’s quarterly financial statements. The other financial information included in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus has been derived from the accounting records of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and presents fairly in all material respects the information shown thereby. There are no financial statements (historical or pro forma) that are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus that are not included as required.
(ff) The statistical, industry-related and market-related data included in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources which the Company reasonably and in good faith believes are reliable and accurate and such data is consistent with the sources from which they are derived, in each case in all material respects.
(gg) PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, United Kingdom who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries and delivered its report with respect to the audited consolidated financial statements and schedules filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement and included in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).
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(hh) (i) The dismissal of KPMG LLP, United Kingdom and engagement of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, United Kingdom, was carried out in accordance with applicable laws, (ii) the report of KPMG on the confiscated financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and was not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles, (iii) KPMG LLP, United Kingdom, did not inform the Company of any matters connected with their ceasing to hold office that should be brought to the attention of Perspectum Ltd.’s members or creditors in accordance with section 519 of the UK Companies Act 2006.
(ii) The Company and each of its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, except as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus and Prospectus, there has been (i) no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (ii) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
(jj) The Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus and any preliminary prospectus comply, and any amendments or supplements thereto will comply, with any applicable laws or regulations of foreign jurisdictions in which the Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or any preliminary prospectus, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, are distributed in connection with the Directed Share Program.
(kk) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any governmental body or agency, other than those obtained, is required in connection with the offering of the Directed Shares in any jurisdiction where the Directed Shares are being offered.
(ll) The Company has not offered, or caused Citi or any Citi Entity as defined in Section 9 to offer, Shares to any person pursuant to the Directed Share Program with the specific intent to unlawfully influence (i) a customer or supplier of the Company to alter the customer’s or supplier’s level or type of business with the Company, or (ii) a trade journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company or its products.
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(mm) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Company has not sold, issued or distributed any Ordinary Shares during the six-month period preceding the date hereof, including any sales pursuant to Rule 144A under, or Regulation D or Regulation S of, the Securities Act, other than shares issued pursuant to employee benefit plans, stock option plans or equity-based compensation plans or other compensation plans or pursuant to outstanding options, rights or warrants.
(nn) The Company and each of its subsidiaries have filed all income and other material federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax returns required to be filed through the date of this Agreement and have paid all income and other material federal, state, local and non-U.S. taxes (including any interest, penalties or additional amounts due in respect thereof) shown as due on such returns or for which they are otherwise liable (except as currently being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves required by U.S. GAAP have been created and maintained in the most recent financial statements of the Company), and no tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries which, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(oo) From the time of initial confidential submission of the Registration Statement to the Commission (or, if earlier, the first date on which the Company engaged directly or through any person authorized to act on its behalf in any Testing-the-Waters Communication) through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”). “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) or Rule 163B of the Securities Act.
(pp) The Company (i) has not alone engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication with any person other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the consent of the Representatives with entities that are reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act or institutions that are reasonably believed to be accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act and (ii) has not authorized anyone other than the Representatives to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company reconfirms that the Representatives have been authorized to act on its behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company has not distributed any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
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(qq) As of the time of each sale of the ADSs in connection with the offering when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, none of (A) the Time of Sale Prospectus, (B) any free writing prospectus, when considered together with the Time of Sale Prospectus, and (C) any individual Testing-the-Waters Communication, when considered together with the Time of Sale Prospectus, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that the representations and warranties set forth in this paragraph do not apply to statements or omissions in the Time of Sale Prospectus and any free writing prospectus based upon the Underwriter Information (as defined in Section 8(b) below).
(rr) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, the Company has operated at all times and is currently in compliance in all material respects with all applicable statutes, rules, regulations and policies of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) and applicable foreign regulatory authorities, including the European Medicines Agency and the UK Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (collectively, the “Regulatory Authorities”), including, without limitation:
(i) the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder;
(ii) all applicable federal, state, local and foreign health care laws, including, without limitation, the U.S. Anti-Kickback Statute (42 U.S.C. Section 1320a-7b(b)), the Civil Monetary Penalties Law (42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7a), the U.S. Civil False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. Section 3729 et seq.), all applicable federal, state, local and all foreign criminal laws relating to health care fraud and abuse, including but not limited to the U.S. False Statements Law (42 U.S.C. Section 1320a-7b(a)), 18 U.S.C. Sections 286 and 287, and the health care fraud criminal provisions under HIPAA (42 U.S.C. Section 1320d et seq.), the U.S. Physician Payments Sunshine Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1320a-7h), the exclusion law (42 U.S.C. Section 1320a-7), the statutes, regulations and directives of applicable government funded or sponsored healthcare programs, and the regulations promulgated pursuant to such statutes;
(iii) the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, the regulations promulgated thereunder;
(iv) the U.S. Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. Section 801 et seq.); and
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(v) all other applicable local, state, federal, national, and foreign laws, relating to the ownership, testing, development, packaging, processing, use, distribution, promotion, storage, import, export or disposal of any product under development, manufactured or distributed by the Company; (clauses (i) through (vi), collectively, “Health Care Laws”).
(ss) (i) Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the tests, preclinical studies and clinical trials conducted by or on behalf of or sponsored by the Company or in which the Company has participated that are described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or the results of which are referred to in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, were, and if still pending are, being conducted in all material respects in accordance with standard medical and experimental protocols, procedures and controls pursuant to accepted professional scientific research standards and procedures, and all applicable Health Care Laws and current Good Clinical Practices and Good Laboratory Practices; (ii) the descriptions of the results of such studies and trials contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus are accurate and complete in all material respects and fairly present the data derived from such trials and studies; (iii) the Company has no knowledge of any other studies or trials not described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, the results of which are inconsistent with or which the Company reasonably believes call into question, in any material respect, the results described or referred to in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus when viewed in the context in which such results are described and the applicable stage of development; (iv) the Company has provided the Underwriters with all material substantive written notices, correspondence and summaries of other communications provided to the Company or its subsidiaries from the Regulatory Authorities; and (v) the Company has not received any written notices, correspondence or other communications from any Regulatory Authority or any other governmental entity requiring or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatening the termination, modification or suspension of any studies or trials that are described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus or the results of which are referred to in the Registration Statement other than ordinary course communications with respect to modifications in connection with the design and implementation of such studies, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, and, to the Company’s knowledge, there are no reasonable grounds for the same.
(tt) (i) Except as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Time of Sale Prospectus and except as would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, the Company has not failed to file with the Regulatory Authorities any required filing declaration, listing, registration, report or submission that is a responsibility with the Company with respect to the Company’s product candidates that are described
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or referred to in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus; all such filings, declarations, listings, registrations, reports or submissions were to the Company’s knowledge in compliance with applicable laws when filed; and to the Company’s knowledge no deficiencies regarding compliance with applicable law have been asserted by any applicable Regulatory Authority with respect to any such filings, declarations, listings, registrations, reports or submissions; (ii) the Company is not a party to any corporate integrity agreements, monitoring agreements, consent decrees, settlement orders, or similar agreements with or imposed by any Regulatory Authority or other governmental entity; and (iii) neither the Company nor any of its employees, officers or directors has been excluded, suspended or debarred from participation in any U.S. federal health care program or human clinical research or, to the knowledge of the Company, is subject to an inquiry, investigation, proceeding or other similar action by a Regulatory Authority or other governmental entity that could reasonably be expected to result in debarment, suspension, or exclusion.
(uu) The Company has not had any securities rated by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act.
(vv) Under the current laws and regulations of the United Kingdom, all dividends and other distributions declared and payable on the Ordinary Shares in cash may be freely remitted out of the United Kingdom and may be paid in, or freely converted into, United States dollars, in each case without there being required any consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any court or governmental agency or body in the United Kingdom; and except as disclosed in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, all such dividends and other distributions paid by the Company will not be subject to withholding under the laws and regulations of the United Kingdom.
(ww) No stamp, documentary, issuance, registration, transfer, withholding or other similar taxes or duties (including any United Kingdom stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax) (“Transfer Taxes”) are payable by or on behalf of the Underwriters, the Company or any of its subsidiaries in the United Kingdom or the United States or to any taxing authority of either of them or therein in connection with (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement or the Deposit Agreement, (ii) the allotment, issuance, sale and delivery of the ADS Shares and the ADSs (and any corresponding ADRs evidencing such ADSs) in the manner contemplated herein and in the Deposit Agreement or (iii) the sale and delivery of the ADSs (and any corresponding ADRs evidencing such ADSs) by the Underwriters in the manner contemplated herein and in the Deposit Agreement.
(xx) No material liability to taxes or duties has arisen or will arise to the Company or any of its subsidiaries as a result of the Corporate Reorganization or any step(s) taken pursuant thereto (other than stamp duty or stamp duty reserve
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tax which may be payable at a rate of 0.5% in connection with the share for share exchange completed thereunder).
(yy) Subject to the qualifications, limitations, exceptions and assumptions set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company believes it was not a “passive foreign investment company” (“PFIC”) as defined in Section 1297 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, for U.S. federal income tax purposes for its most recently completed taxable year and does not expect to be a PFIC for its current taxable year.
(zz) The legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility into evidence of any of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, this Agreement or the Firm ADSs, the Additional ADSs or the ADS Shares in any jurisdiction in which the Company is organized or does business is not dependent upon such document being submitted into, filed or recorded with any court or other authority in an such jurisdiction on or before the date hereof.
(aaa) A holder of Ordinary Shares or ADSs and each Underwriter are entitled to sue as plaintiff in the court of the jurisdiction of formation and domicile of the Company for the enforcement of their respective rights under this Agreement and the ADS Shares and such access to such courts will not be subject to any conditions which are not applicable to residents of such jurisdiction or a company incorporated in such jurisdiction except that plaintiffs not residing in England and Wales may be required to guarantee a payment of a possible order for payment of costs or damages at the request of the defendant.
(bbb) Under the laws of England and Wales, each holder of ADRs evidencing ADSs issued pursuant to the Deposit Agreement shall be entitled, subject to the Deposit Agreement, to seek enforcement of its rights through the Depositary or its nominee registered as representative of the holders of the ADRs in a direct suit, action or proceeding against the Company.
(ccc) The Company is a “foreign private issuer” as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
(ddd) The courts of England and Wales would recognize as a valid judgment any final monetary judgment obtained against the Company in the courts of the State of New York having jurisdiction under its own laws, without retrial or reexamination of the merits, subject to the conditions, qualifications, restrictions and limitations described in the Registration Statement under “Enforcement of Judgments”.
(eee) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor any of its or their properties or assets has any immunity from the jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution or otherwise) under the laws of England and Wales. The irrevocable and unconditional waiver and agreement of the Company contained in Section 18(a) not to plead or claim any such immunity in any legal action, suit or proceeding based on this Agreement is valid and binding under the laws of England and Wales.
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(fff) The choice of law of the State of New York as the governing law of this Agreement is a valid choice of law under the laws of England and Wales and will be honored by the courts of England and Wales, subject to the restrictions described under the caption “Enforcement of Judgments” in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. The Company has the power to submit, and pursuant to Section 18(a) has, to the extent permitted by law, legally, validly, effectively and irrevocably submitted, to the jurisdiction of the Specified Courts (as defined in Section 18(a)), and has the power to designate, appoint and empower, and pursuant to Section 18(b), has legally, validly and effectively designated, appointed and empowered an agent for service of process in any suit or proceeding based on or arising under this Agreement in any of the Specified Courts.
2. Agreements to Sell and Purchase. The Company hereby agrees to sell to the several Underwriters, and each Underwriter, upon the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter stated, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective numbers of Firm ADSs set forth in Schedule I hereto opposite its name at $[•] per ADS (the “Purchase Price”).
On the basis of the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement, and subject to its terms and conditions, the Company agrees to sell to the Underwriters, and the Underwriters shall have the right to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to [•] Additional ADSs at the Purchase Price, provided, however, that the amount paid by the Underwriters for any Additional ADSs shall be reduced by an amount per ADS equal to any dividends declared by the Company and payable on the Firm ADSs but not payable on such Additional ADSs. The Representatives may exercise this right on behalf of the Underwriters in whole or from time to time in part by giving written notice not later than 30 days after the date of this Agreement. Any exercise notice shall specify the number of Additional ADSs to be purchased by the Underwriters and the date on which such Additional ADSs are to be purchased. Each purchase date must be at least two business days after the written notice is given and may not be earlier than the Closing Date or later than ten business days after the date of such notice; provided that a purchase date may be one business day after the date of such notice if such purchase date is the Closing Date. Additional ADSs may be purchased as provided in Section 4 hereof solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments made in connection with the offering of the Firm ADSs. On each day, if any, that Additional ADSs are to be purchased (an “Option Closing Date”), each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase the number of Additional ADSs (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the Representatives may determine) that bears the same proportion to the total number of Additional ADSs to be purchased on such Option Closing Date as the number of Firm ADSs set forth in Schedule I hereto opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm ADSs.
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3. Terms of Public Offering. The Company is advised by the Representatives that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of their respective portions of the ADSs as soon after the Registration Statement and this Agreement have become effective as in the judgment of the Representatives is advisable. The Company is further advised by the Representatives that the ADSs are to be offered to the public initially at $[•] per ADS (the “Public Offering Price”) and to certain dealers selected by the Representatives at a price that represents a concession not in excess of $[•] per ADS under the Public Offering Price, and that any Underwriter may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a concession, not in excess of $[•] per ADS, to any Underwriter or to certain other dealers.
4. Payment and Delivery. Payment for the Firm ADSs shall be made to the Company in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City against issue of the Ordinary Shares to the Depositary or its nominee for the purpose of delivery of such Firm ADSs in the manner contemplated herein for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on [•], 2021, or at such other time on the same or such other date, not later than [•], 2021, as shall be agreed in writing by the Representatives and the Company. The time and date of such payment are hereinafter referred to as the “Closing Date.”
Payment for any Additional ADSs shall be made to the Company in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City against issue of the Ordinary Shares to the Depositary or its nominee for the purpose of delivery of such Additional ADSs in the manner contemplated herein for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date specified in the corresponding notice described in Section 2 or at such other time on the same or on such other date, in any event not later than [•], 2021, as shall be agreed in writing by the Representatives and the Company.
The Firm ADSs and Additional ADSs shall be registered in such names and in such denominations as the Representatives shall request, such request to be made not later than one full business day prior to the Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be. The Firm ADSs and Additional ADSs shall be delivered to the Representatives in the manner contemplated herein on the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date, as the case may be, for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters.
5. Conditions to the Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligations of the Company to sell the ADSs to the Underwriters and the several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the ADSs on the Closing Date are subject to the condition that the Registration Statement shall have become effective not later than [•] (New York City time) on the date hereof.
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The several obligations of the Underwriters are subject to the following further conditions:
(a) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date:
(i) no order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the ADS Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission; and
(ii) there shall not have occurred any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus that, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and that makes it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable to market the ADSs on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus.
(b) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed on behalf of the Company by an executive officer of the Company, to the effect set forth in Sections 5(a)(i) and 5(a)(ii) above and to the effect that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement are true and correct as of the Closing Date and that the Company has complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder on or before the Closing Date.
The officer signing and delivering such certificate may rely upon the best of his or her knowledge as to proceedings threatened.
(c) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion and negative assurance letter of Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP, outside United States counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.
(d) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion letter of Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx London LLP, outside England and Wales counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.
(e) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion and negative assurance letter of Xxxxxx LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.
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(f) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date, an opinion letter of Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxx XXX, counsel for the Depositary, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.
(g) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Optimus Patents Limited, outside intellectual property counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.
With respect to the negative assurance letters to be delivered pursuant to Sections 5(c) and 5(e) above, Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP and Xxxxxx LLP may state that their opinions and beliefs are based upon their participation in the preparation of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and review and discussion of the contents thereof, but are without independent check or verification, except as specified.
The opinions of Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP, Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx London LLP, Xxxxxx LLP, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxx LLP and Optimus Patents Limited, described in Section 5(c), 5(d), 5(e), 5(f) and 5(g) above shall be rendered to the Underwriters at the request of the Company and shall so state therein.
(h) The Underwriters shall have received, on each of the date hereof and the Closing Date, a letter dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, United Kingdom, independent public accountants, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus; provided that the letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a “cut-off date” not earlier than the date hereof.
(i) The Underwriters shall have received, on each of the date hereof and the Closing Date, a certificate dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, from the chief financial officer of the Company as to the accuracy of certain financial and other information included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(j) The “lock-up” agreements, each substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, between the Representatives and certain shareholders, officers and directors of the Company relating to restrictions on sales and certain other dispositions of Ordinary Shares or certain other securities, delivered to the Representatives on or before the date hereof (the “Lock-up Agreements”), shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date.
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(k) The Depositary shall have furnished or cause to be furnished to the Representatives at the Closing Date certificates satisfactory to the Representatives evidencing the deposit with it of the Ordinary Shares being so deposited against issuance of ADRs evidencing the ADSs to be delivered by the Company at the Closing Date, and the execution, countersignature (if applicable), issuance and delivery of ADRs evidencing such ADSs pursuant to the Deposit Agreement.
(l) The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase Additional ADSs hereunder are subject to the delivery to the Underwriters on the applicable Option Closing Date of the following:
(i) a certificate, dated the Option Closing Date and signed by an executive officer of the Company, confirming that the certificate delivered on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 5(b) hereof remains true and correct as of such Option Closing Date;
(ii) an opinion and negative assurance letter of Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP, outside United States counsel for the Company, dated the Option Closing Date, relating to the Additional ADSs to be purchased on such Option Closing Date and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(c) hereof;
(iii) an opinion of Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx London LLP, outside England and Wales counsel for the Company, dated the Option Closing Date, relating to the Additional ADSs to be purchased on such Option Closing Date and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(d) hereof;
(iv) an opinion and negative assurance letter of Xxxxxx LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated the Option Closing Date, relating to the Additional ADSs to be purchased on such Option Closing Date and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(e) hereof;
(v) an opinion of Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxx LLP, counsel for the Depositary, dated the Option Closing Date, relating to the Additional ADSs to be purchased on such Option Closing Date and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by 5(f) hereof;
(vi) an opinion of Optimus Patents Limited, outside intellectual property counsel for the Company, dated the Option Closing Date, relating to the Additional ADSs to be purchased on such Option Closing Date and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(f) hereof;
(vii) a letter dated the Option Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, United Kingdom, independent public accountants, substantially in the same form and substance as the letter furnished to the Underwriters
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pursuant to Section 5(h) hereof; provided that the letter delivered on the Option Closing Date shall use a “cut-off date” not earlier than two business days prior to such Option Closing Date;
(viii) a certificate from the chief financial officer of the Company, dated the Option Closing Date, substantially in the same form and substance as the certificate delivered to the Underwriters pursuant to Section 5(i) hereof; and
(ix) such other documents as the Representatives may reasonably request with respect to the good standing of the Company, the due authorization and issuance of the Additional ADSs to be sold on such Option Closing Date and other matters related to the issuance of such Additional ADSs.
(m) The Company and the Depositary shall have executed and delivered the Deposit Agreement, and the Deposit Agreement shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date.
(n) The Depositary shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the Representatives a certificate of one of its authorized officers satisfactory to the Representatives with respect to the deposit with it of the Ordinary Shares against issuance of the ADSs pursuant to the Deposit Agreement and such other matters related thereto as the Representatives may reasonably request.
(o) The Firm Shares and Additional Shares, if any, shall have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, subject to official notice of issuance.
6. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants with each Underwriter as follows:
(a) The Company shall pay, and shall indemnify and hold the Underwriters harmless against any Transfer Taxes (and any interest and penalties) that are required to be paid by or on behalf of the Underwriters in connection with (i) the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Deposit Agreement, (ii) the allotment, issuance, sale and delivery of the ADS Shares and the ADSs (and any corresponding ADRs evidencing such ADSs) in the manner contemplated herein and in the Deposit Agreement, or (iii) the sale and delivery of the ADSs (and any corresponding ADRs evidencing such ADSs) by the Underwriters to the initial purchasers thereof in the manner contemplated herein and in the Deposit Agreement.
(b) All sums payable by the Company to the Underwriters under this Agreement shall be paid free and clear of and without deductions or withholdings of any present or future taxes or duties, unless the deduction or withholding is required by law, in which case the Company shall pay such additional amount so
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that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional amounts payable under this clause) each Underwriter receives the full amount that would have been received had no deduction or withholding been made; provided that no additional amounts shall be paid for any taxes imposed on the Underwriters by any government or taxing authority as a result of any present or former connection (other than any connection resulting from the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) between the Underwriters and the jurisdiction imposing such tax.
(c) All sums payable to an Underwriter under this Agreement shall be considered exclusive of any value added tax chargeable pursuant to the Value Added Tax Act 1994, or any similar value added, sales, goods and services, consumption, use or turnover tax whether imposed in the United Kingdom (instead of or in addition to value added tax) or elsewhere from time to time (“VAT”). Where the Company is obligated to pay VAT on any amount payable hereunder to an Underwriter, the Company shall in addition to the sum payable hereunder pay an amount equal to any applicable VAT.
(d) To furnish to the Representatives, without charge, four signed copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and for delivery to each other Underwriter a conformed copy of the Registration Statement (without exhibits thereto) and to furnish to the Representatives in New York City, without charge, prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and during the period mentioned in Section 6(e) or 6(f) below, as many copies of the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus and any supplements and amendments thereto or to the Registration Statement as the Representatives may reasonably request.
(e) Before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement, the ADS Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, to furnish to the Representatives a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement and not to file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representatives reasonably object, and to file with the Commission within the applicable period specified in Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act any prospectus required to be filed pursuant to such Rule.
(f) To furnish to the Representatives a copy of each proposed free writing prospectus to be prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company and not to use or refer to any proposed free writing prospectus to which the Representatives reasonably object.
(g) Not to take any action that would result in an Underwriter or the Company being required to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of the Underwriter that the Underwriter otherwise would not have been required to file thereunder.
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(h) If the Time of Sale Prospectus is being used to solicit offers to buy the ADSs at a time when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances, not misleading, or if any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which the Time of Sale Prospectus conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement then on file, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to any dealer upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Time of Sale Prospectus so that the statements in the Time of Sale Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when the Time of Sale Prospectus is delivered to a prospective purchaser, be misleading or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will no longer conflict with the Registration Statement, or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law.
(i) If, during such period after the first date of the public offering of the ADSs as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to the dealers (whose names and addresses the Representatives will furnish to the Company) to which ADSs may have been sold by the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters and to any other dealers upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Prospectus so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law.
(j) To endeavor to qualify the ADSs for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives shall reasonably request.
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(k) To make generally available to the Company’s security holders and to the Underwriters as soon as practicable (which may be satisfied by the Company filing its Annual Report on Form 20-F with the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System) an earnings statement covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the date of this Agreement which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(l) Subject to receipt of payment in accordance with this Agreement, on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as applicable, to deposit Ordinary Shares with the Depositary in accordance with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement and otherwise to comply with the Deposit Agreement so that ADRs evidencing ADSs to be sold hereunder on such Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as applicable, will be executed (and, if applicable, countersigned) and issued by the Depositary against receipt of such Ordinary Shares and delivered to the Underwriters at such Closing Date.
(m) To comply with all applicable securities and other laws, rules and regulations in each jurisdiction in which the Directed Shares are offered in connection with the Directed Share Program.
(n) Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, to pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including (in each case excluding any Transfer Taxes which shall be dealt with in accordance with Section 6(a) above): (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and the Company’s accountants in connection with the registration and delivery of the ADSs and ADS Shares under the Securities Act and all other fees or expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, the ADS Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company and amendments and supplements to any of the foregoing, including all printing costs associated therewith, and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers, in the quantities hereinabove specified, (ii) all costs and expenses related to the authorization, issuance, preparation, transfer, sale and delivery of the ADSs and ADS Shares to the Underwriters, pursuant to this Agreement or the execution and delivery of this Agreement, (iii) the cost of printing or producing any Blue Sky or Legal Investment memorandum in connection with the offer and sale of the Ordinary Shares and ADSs under state securities laws and all expenses in connection with the qualification of the ADSs and ADS Shares for offer and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 6(g) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky or Legal Investment memorandum, (iv) all filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters incurred in connection with the review and qualification of the offering of the ADSs and ADS Shares by FINRA; provided that the aggregate amount payable by the Company pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) (other than application fees paid by the Company directly to FINRA) shall
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not exceed $35,000, (v) all fees and expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of the registration statement on Form 8-A relating to the Ordinary Shares and all costs and expenses incident to listing the ADSs on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, (vi) the cost of printing certificates representing the ADSs or Ordinary Shares, (vii) the costs and charges of any transfer agent, registrar or depositary, (viii) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the offering of the ADSs; provided, however, that the Underwriters shall pay all of the travel, lodging and other expenses of the Underwriters or any of their employees incurred by them in connection with the “road show”; and provided, further, that the Company and the Underwriters shall each pay 50% of the total costs of chartering any aircraft to be used in connection with any such “road shows”, (ix) the document production charges and expenses associated with printing this Agreement, (x) all fees and disbursements of counsel incurred by the Underwriters not to exceed $25,000 in connection with the Directed Share Program and (xi) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company hereunder for which provision is not otherwise made in this Section. It is understood, however, that except as provided in this Section, Section 8 entitled “Indemnity and Contribution,” Section 9 entitled “Directed Share Program Indemnification” and the last paragraph of Section 11 below, the Underwriters will pay all of their costs and expenses, including fees and disbursements of their counsel, and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.
(o) The Company will promptly notify the Representatives if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the later of (i) completion of the distribution of the ADSs within the meaning of the Securities Act and (ii) completion of the Restricted Period (as defined in this Section 6).
(p) If at any time following the distribution of any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representatives and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication to eliminate or correct such untrue statement or omission.
(q) The Company will deliver to each Underwriter (or its agent), on the date of execution of this Agreement, a properly completed and executed Certification Regarding Beneficial Owners of Legal Entity Customers, together with copies of identifying documentation, and the Company undertakes to provide such additional supporting documentation as each Underwriter may reasonably request in connection with the verification of the foregoing Certification.
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(r) To comply with the terms of the Deposit Agreement so that the ADSs will be issued by the Depositary and delivered to each Underwriter’s participant account in DTC, pursuant to this Agreement on the Closing Date and each applicable Option Closing Date.
The Company also covenants with each Underwriter that, without the prior written consent of the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, and will not publicly disclose an intention to, during the period ending 180 days after the date of the Prospectus (the “Restricted Period”), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Ordinary Shares, American Depositary Shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Ordinary Shares or American Depositary Shares or (2) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Ordinary Shares or American Depositary Shares, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Ordinary Shares, American Depositary Shares or such other securities, in cash or otherwise or (3) file any registration statement with the Commission relating to the offering of any Ordinary Shares, American Depositary Shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Ordinary Shares or American Depositary Shares.
The restrictions contained in the preceding paragraph shall not apply to (A) the American Depositary Shares to be sold hereunder, (B) the issuance by the Company of Ordinary Shares or American Depositary Shares upon the exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on the date hereof as described in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and Prospectus (C) the grant of compensatory equity-based awards, or the issuance of Ordinary Shares with respect thereto, made pursuant to compensatory equity-based plans disclosed in the Registration Statement, Time of Sale Prospectus, or Prospectus, (D) any Ordinary Shares issued pursuant to any non-employee director compensation plan or program disclosed in the Registration Statement, Time of Sale Prospectus, or Prospectus, (E) the purchase of Ordinary Shares pursuant to employee stock purchase plans described in the Registration Statement, Time of Sale Prospectus, or Prospectus, (F) the filing of any registration statement on Form S-8 relating to securities granted or to be granted pursuant to any plan in effect on the date of this Agreement and described in the Registration Statement, Time of Sale Prospectus or Prospectus or any assumed benefit plan pursuant to an acquisition or similar strategic transaction; (G) the transactions (including the exchange of Ordinary Shares) contemplated by the Corporate Reorganization; (H) Ordinary Shares or American Depositary Shares or securities convertible into or exercisable for Ordinary Shares or American Depositary Shares issued in connection with a transaction that has been approved by the board of directors of the Company with an unaffiliated third party that includes a bona fide commercial relationship (including joint ventures, marketing or distribution arrangements, collaboration agreements or intellectual property license agreements) or any acquisition of assets or acquisition of not less than a majority or controlling portion of the equity of another entity; provided that (x) the aggregate number of Ordinary Shares or American Depositary Shares or securities convertible into or
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exercisable for Ordinary Shares or American Depositary Shares issued pursuant to this clause (H) shall not exceed ten percent (10.0%) of the total number of outstanding Ordinary Shares immediately following the issuance and sale of the Underwritten ADSs pursuant hereto and (y) the recipient of any such securities issued pursuant to this clause (H) during the 180-day restricted period described above shall enter into an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto or (I) facilitating the establishment of a trading plan on behalf of a shareholder, officer or director of the Company pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer of Ordinary Shares or American Depositary Shares, provided that (i) such plan does not provide for the transfer of Ordinary Shares or American Depositary Shares during the Restricted Period and (ii) to the extent a public announcement or filing under the Exchange Act (or the equivalent thereof in any non-U.S. jurisdiction), if any, is required of or voluntarily made by the Company regarding the establishment of such plan, such announcement or filing shall include a statement to the effect that no transfer of Ordinary Shares or American Depositary Shares may be made under such plan during the Restricted Period.
If the Representatives, in their sole discretion, agree to release or waive the restrictions set forth in a Lock-Up Agreement for an officer or director of the Company and provide the Company with notice of the impending release or waiver at least three business days before the effective date of the release or waiver, the Company agrees to announce the impending release or waiver by a press release substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver.
7. Covenants of the Underwriters. Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, covenants with the Company not to take any action that would result in the Company being required to file with the Commission under Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of such Underwriter that otherwise would not be required to be filed by the Company thereunder, but for the action of the Underwriter.
8. Indemnity and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and each affiliate of any Underwriter within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any amendment thereof, the ADS Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, any issuer free writing prospectus as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act, any Company information that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, any road show as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act (a “road show”), the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Testing-the-Waters Communication, or arise out of, or are based upon, any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information (as defined in paragraph (b) below).
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(b) Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to such Underwriter, but only with reference to information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the ADS Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any issuer free writing prospectus, road show or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any written Testing-the-Waters Communication, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter through the Representatives consists of the following information in the Prospectus: the statements set forth (i) in the last paragraph of the cover page regarding delivery of the ADSs and, under the heading “Underwriting,” (ii) the list of Underwriters and their respective participation in the sale of the ADSs and (iii) the fourteenth and fifteenth paragraph under the heading “Underwriting” related to stabilization, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids, in each case in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus (the “Underwriter Information”).
(c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 8(a) or 8(b), such person (the “indemnified party”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the “indemnifying party”) in writing and the indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of any indemnified party in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all such indemnified parties and that all such reasonable and documented fees and
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expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated in writing by the Representatives, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(a), and by the Company, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(b). The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 60 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
(d) To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 8(a) or 8(b) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the ADSs or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 8(d)(i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 8(d)(i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the ADSs shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the ADSs (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate Public Offering Price of the ADSs. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8 are several in proportion to the respective number of ADSs they have purchased hereunder, and not joint.
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(e) The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 8(d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in Section 8(d) shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the ADSs underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this Section 8 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.
(f) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 8 and the representations, warranties and other statements of the Company contained in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, any person controlling any Underwriter or any affiliate of any Underwriter or by or on behalf of the Company, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the ADSs.
9. Directed Share Program Indemnification. (a) The Company agrees, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to indemnify and hold harmless Citi, each person, if any, who controls Citi within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and each affiliate of Citi within the meaning of Rule 405 of the Securities Act (“Citi Entities”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim), but excluding any Transfer Taxes which shall be dealt with in accordance with Section 6(a) above (i) that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any material prepared by or with the
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consent of the Company for distribution to Participants in connection with the Directed Share Program or arise out of, or are based upon, any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (ii) that arise out of, or are based upon, the failure of any Participant to pay for and accept delivery of Directed Shares that the Participant agreed to purchase; or (iii) related to, arising out of, or in connection with the Directed Share Program, other than losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or expenses relating thereto) that are finally judicially determined to have resulted from the bad faith or gross negligence of Citi Entities.
(b) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any Citi Entity in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 9(a), such Citi Entity, shall promptly notify the Company in writing and the Company, upon request of the Citi Entity, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Citi Entity to represent the Citi Entity and any others the Company may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any Citi Entity shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Citi Entity unless (i) the Company shall have agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Company and the Citi Entity and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. The Company shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of the Citi Entities in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Citi Entities. Any such separate firm for the Citi Entities shall be designated in writing by Citi. The Company shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Company agrees to indemnify the Citi Entities from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time a Citi Entity shall have requested the Company to reimburse it for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the Company agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by the Company of the aforesaid request and (ii) the Company shall not have reimbursed the Citi Entity in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Citi, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Citi Entity is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Citi Entity, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of the Citi Entities from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
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(c) To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 9(a) is unavailable to a Citi Entity or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then the Company, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales, in lieu of indemnifying the Citi Entity thereunder, shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, contribute to the amount paid or payable by the Citi Entity as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Citi Entities on the other hand from the offering of the Directed Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 9(c)(i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 9(c)(i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Citi Entities on the other hand in connection with any statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Citi Entities on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Directed Shares shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Directed Shares (before deducting expenses) and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Citi Entities for the Directed Shares, bear to the aggregate Public Offering Price of the Directed Shares. If the loss, claim, damage or liability is caused by an untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Citi Entities on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement or the omission or alleged omission relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Citi Entities and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
(d) The Company and the Citi Entities agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 9 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Citi Entities were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 9(c). The amount paid or payable by the Citi Entities as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Citi Entities in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9, no Citi Entity shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Directed Shares distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Citi Entity has otherwise been required to pay. The remedies provided for in this Section 9 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.
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(e) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 9 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Citi Entity or the Company, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Directed Shares.
10. Termination. The Underwriters may terminate this Agreement by notice given by the Representatives to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to or on the Closing Date or any Option Closing Date, as the case may be, (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on, or by, as the case may be, the Nasdaq Stock Market or the New York Stock Exchange, (ii) trading of any securities of the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market, (iii) a material disruption in securities settlement, payment or clearance services in the United States or other relevant jurisdiction shall have occurred, (iv) any moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by Federal or New York State, United Kingdom or relevant foreign country authorities or (v) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, or any change in financial markets, currency exchange rates or controls or any calamity or crisis that, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and which, individually or together with any other event specified in this clause (v), makes it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offer, sale or delivery of the ADSs on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus.
11. Effectiveness; Defaulting Underwriters. This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.
If, on the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase ADSs that it has or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate number of ADSs which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of the ADSs to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated severally in the proportions that the number of Firm ADSs set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule I bears to the aggregate number of Firm ADSs set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as the Representatives may specify, to purchase the ADSs which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date; provided that in no event shall the number of ADSs that any Underwriter has agreed to purchase pursuant to this Agreement be increased pursuant to this Section 11 by an amount in excess of one-ninth of such number of ADSs without the written consent of such Underwriter. If, on the Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Firm ADSs and the aggregate number of Firm ADSs with respect to which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Firm ADSs to be purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and the Company for the purchase of such Firm ADSs are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company. In any such case
37
either the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days, in order that the required changes, if any, in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Prospectus, in the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. If, on an Option Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Additional ADSs and the aggregate number of Additional ADSs with respect to which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Additional ADSs to be purchased on such Option Closing Date, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall have the option to (i) terminate their obligation hereunder to purchase the Additional ADSs to be sold on such Option Closing Date or (ii) purchase not less than the number of Additional ADSs that such non-defaulting Underwriters would have been obligated to purchase in the absence of such default. Any action taken under this paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.
If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters, or any of them, solely because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Company to comply with the terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, or if for any reason the Company shall be unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement, other than by reason of a default by an Underwriter, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters or such Underwriters as have so terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves, severally, for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses (including the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of their counsel) reasonably incurred by such Underwriters in connection with this Agreement or the offering contemplated hereunder.
12. Entire Agreement. (a) This Agreement, together with any contemporaneous written agreements and any prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement) that relate to the offering of the ADSs, represents the entire agreement between the Company and the Underwriters with respect to the preparation of any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, the conduct of the offering, and the purchase and sale of the ADSs.
(b) The Company acknowledges that in connection with the offering of the ADSs: (i) the Underwriters have acted at arm’s length, are not agents of, and owe no fiduciary duties to, the Company or any other person, (ii) the Underwriters owe the Company only those duties and obligations set forth in this Agreement, any contemporaneous written agreements and prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement), if any, (iii) the Underwriters may have interests that differ from those of the Company, and (iv) none of the activities of the Underwriters in connection with the transactions contemplated herein constitutes a recommendation, investment advice, or solicitation of any action by the Underwriters with respect to any entity or natural person. The Company waives to the full extent permitted by applicable law any claims it may have against the Underwriters arising from an alleged breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the offering of the ADSs.
38
13. Recognition of the United States Special Resolution Regimes. (a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a United States Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the United States Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United State.
(b) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a United States Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the United States Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
For purposes of this Section a “BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k). “Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b). “Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable. “United States Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Xxxx-Xxxxx Xxxx Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
14. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. Any signature to this Agreement may be delivered by facsimile, electronic mail (including pdf) or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000 or the New York Electronic Signature and Records Act or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.
15. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.
16. Headings. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part of this Agreement.
17. Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and effective only upon receipt and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered, mailed or sent (i) to
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Citigroup Global Markets Inc. at c/o Citigroup Global Markets Inc., at 000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx, 00000, Attention: General Counsel, (ii) Barclays Capital Inc., 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention: Syndicate Registration, (iii) to Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx & Company, Incorporated, 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention: Syndicate and (iv) Canaccord Genuity LLC, 00 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: General Counsel; and if to the Company shall be delivered, mailed or sent to c/o Perspectum Group plc, Gemini One, 0000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx XX0 0XX, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx.
18. Submission to Jurisdiction; Appointment of Agents for Service. (a) The Company irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or United States Federal court sitting in The City of New York (the “Specified Courts”) over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the offering of ADSs (each, a “Related Proceeding”). The Company irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any Related Proceeding brought in such a court and any claim that any such Related Proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. To the extent that the Company has or hereafter may acquire any immunity (on the grounds of sovereignty or otherwise) from the jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process with respect to itself or its property, the Company irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, such immunity in respect of any such suit, action or proceeding.
(b) The Company hereby irrevocably appoints Perspectum Diagnostics Inc., with offices at 000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000 as its agent for service of process in any Related Proceeding and agrees that service of process in any such Related Proceeding may be made upon it at the office of such agent. The Company waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any other requirements of or objections to personal jurisdiction with respect thereto. The Company represents and warrants that such agent has agreed to act as the Company’s agent for service of process, and the Company agrees to take any and all action, including the filing of any and all documents and instruments, that may be necessary to continue such appointment in full force and effect.
19. Judgment Currency. If for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder into any currency other than United States dollars, the parties hereto agree, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Underwriters could purchase United States dollars with such other currency in The City of New York on the business day preceding that on which final judgment is given. The obligation of the Company with respect to any sum due from it to any Underwriter or any person controlling any Underwriter shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency other than United States dollars, not be discharged until the first business day following receipt by such Underwriter or controlling person of any sum in such other
40
currency, and only to the extent that such Underwriter or controlling person may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase United States dollars with such other currency. If the United States dollars so purchased are less than the sum originally due to such Underwriter or controlling person hereunder, the Company agrees as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify such Underwriter or controlling person against such loss. If the United States dollars so purchased are greater than the sum originally due to such Underwriter or controlling person hereunder, such Underwriter or controlling person agrees to pay to the Company an amount equal to the excess of the dollars so purchased over the sum originally due to such Underwriter or controlling person hereunder.
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Very truly yours,
| ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
Accepted as of the date hereof
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. Barclays Capital Inc. Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx & Company, Incorporated Canaccord Genuity LLC | ||
Acting severally on behalf of themselves and the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto. | ||
By: | Citigroup Global Markets Inc. | |
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
By: |
Barclays Capital Inc. | |
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
By: |
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx & Company, Incorporated | |
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
By: |
Canaccord Genuity LLC | |
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
SCHEDULE I
Underwriter |
Number of Firm ADSs To Be Purchased |
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Citigroup Global Markets Inc. |
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Barclays Capital Inc. |
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Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx & Company, Incorporated |
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Canaccord Genuity LLC |
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Total: |
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I-1
SCHEDULE II
Time of Sale Prospectus
1. | Preliminary Prospectus dated [•], 2021 |
2. | Pricing Information Provided Orally by Underwriters: |
• Firm ADSs: |
[•] | |
• Additional ADSs: |
[•] | |
• Public Offering Price per ADS: |
[•] |
II-1
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
FORM OF AGREEMENT
_____________, 2021
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Barclays Capital Inc.
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx & Company, Incorporated
Canaccord Genuity LLC
As Representatives of the several Underwriters
named in Schedule I hereto
c/o Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
New York, New York 10013
c/o Barclays Capital Inc.
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
New York, New York 10019
c/o Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx & Company, Incorporated
000 0xx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
New York, New York 10019
c/o Canaccord Genuity LLC
00 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned is a director, officer or record or beneficial owner of ordinary and/or preferred shares of Perspectum Ltd (“Perspectum”), or of options, warrants or rights to purchase securities convertible into or exchangeable for, or exercisable for, or that represent rights to receive ordinary shares of Perspectum (any such securities held by the undersigned, the “Old Perspectum Securities”). Subsequent to the date hereof, Perspectum proposes to effect a reorganization pursuant to which (i) the undersigned will exchange its Old Perspectum Securities for equivalent equity interests in Perspectum Group Ltd, a private limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales
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(the “Company” and such transaction, the “Share Exchange”) and (ii) the Company will (following completion of the Share Exchange) (a) re-register as a public limited company and change its name to Perspectum Group plc and (b) reorganize its share capital, including by way of consolidation, subdivision and/or redesignation of its shares, to result in all shareholders holding shares (excluding deferred shares) ranking pari passu with the shares to be issued pursuant to the Public Offering (as defined below) and all securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of the Company being convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares ranking pari passu with the shares to be issued pursuant to the Public Offering (the actions described in (i) and (ii) above collectively referred to as the “Reorganization”).
The undersigned understands that Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx & Company, Incorporated and Canaccord Genuity LLC (collectively, the “Representatives”) propose to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with the Company, providing for the public offering (the “Public Offering”) by the several Underwriters, including the Representatives (the “Underwriters”), of American Depositary Shares (the “ADSs”) representing ordinary shares of the Company (the “Ordinary Shares”).
To induce the Underwriters that may participate in the Public Offering to continue their efforts in connection with the Public Offering, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters, the undersigned will not, and will not publicly disclose an intention to, during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending 180 days after the date of the final prospectus (the “Restricted Period”) relating to the Public Offering (the “Prospectus”), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Ordinary Shares, ADSs or Old Perspectum Securities (collectively, “Equity Securities”) beneficially owned (as such term is used in Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), by the undersigned or any other securities so owned convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Equity Securities or (2) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Equity Securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Equity Securities or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that the foregoing precludes the undersigned from engaging in any hedging or other transactions designed or intended, or which could reasonably be expected to lead to or result in, a sale or disposition of any Equity Securities, or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Equity Securities, even if any such sale or disposition transaction or transactions would be made or executed by or on behalf of someone other than the undersigned. The foregoing restrictions will not apply to:
(i) | the Reorganization; |
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(ii) | the registration of the offer and sale of the ADSs and the sale of such ADSs to the Underwriters, in each case as contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement; |
(iii) | the transfer of Equity Securities to a nominee so as to be held in uncertificated form without any change in ultimate beneficial ownership; or |
(iv) | the deposit of Ordinary Shares with the depositary, in exchange for the issuance of ADSs, or the cancellation of ADSs in exchange for the transfer of Ordinary Shares, provided that such ADSs or Ordinary Shares issued or transferred pursuant to clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) held by or on behalf of the undersigned shall remain subject to the terms of this Agreement. |
In addition, the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to:
(a) | transactions relating to Equity Securities or other securities acquired (i) in the Public Offering (subject to the restriction on issuer-directed shares purchased by officers or directors of the Company set forth below) or (ii) in open market transactions after the completion of the Public Offering; |
(b) | transfers or dispositions of Equity Securities or any security convertible into Equity Securities as a bona fide gift or for bona fide estate planning purposes or to a charitable organization or educational institution; |
(c) | transfers or dispositions of Equity Securities or any security convertible into Equity Securities to any member of the immediate family of the undersigned, affiliate thereof, or any trust or trustee or beneficiary thereof for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned; |
(d) | transfers or dispositions of Equity Securities or any security convertible into Equity Securities to any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity or affiliate of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned; |
(e) | transfers or dispositions of Equity Securities or any security convertible into Equity Securities (x) by will, other testamentary document or intestate succession to the legal representative, heir, beneficiary or a member of the immediate family of the undersigned upon the death of the undersigned, or (y) by operation of law pursuant to a domestic order or negotiated divorce settlement; |
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(f) | transfers, dispositions or distributions of Equity Securities or any security convertible into Equity Securities to another corporation, member, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other entity that is a direct or indirect affiliate (as defined under Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act) of the undersigned, or to an investment fund or other entity that controls or manages, or is under common control with, the undersigned, or distributions of Equity Securities or other securities to partners, members, stockholders, beneficiaries or other equity holders of the undersigned; |
(g) | transfer or dispositions of Equity Securities to the Company from an employee of the Company upon death or disability, or in connection with the termination of the undersigned’s employment or other service relationship with the Company, pursuant to agreements under which the Company has the option to repurchase such shares or a right of first refusal with respect to transfers of such shares; |
provided that in the case of any transfer, disposition or distribution (i) pursuant to clause (b), (c), (d) or (f), each transferee, donee or distributee shall sign and deliver an agreement substantially in the form of this agreement and (ii) pursuant to clause (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) or (g), no filing under the Exchange Act, reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of Equity Securities, shall be required or shall be voluntarily made during the Restricted Period (other than, in the case of a transfer or other disposition pursuant to clause (e) or (f) above, any Form 4 or Form 5 required to be filed under the Exchange Act (or its foreign equivalent) if the undersigned is subject to Section 16 reporting with respect to the Company under the Exchange Act (or its foreign equivalent) and indicating by footnote disclosure or otherwise the nature of the transfer or disposition);
(h) | (i) the receipt by the undersigned from the Company of Equity Securities upon the exercise of options, settlement of restricted stock units or other equity awards or the exercise of warrants which are outstanding as of the date of the Prospectus and are disclosed in the Prospectus, or (ii) the transfer or disposition of Equity Securities or any securities convertible into Equity Securities to the Company upon a vesting or settlement event of the Company’s securities or upon the exercise of options, restricted stock units or warrants to purchase the Company’s Equity Securities on a “cashless” or “net exercise” basis to the extent permitted by the instruments representing such securities, options, restricted stock units or warrants (and any transfer to the Company necessary in respect of such amount needed for the payment of taxes, including estimated taxes, due as a result of such vesting, settlement or exercise whether by means of a “net settlement” or otherwise) so long as such “cashless” exercise or “net exercise” is effected solely by the surrender of outstanding securities, options, restricted stock units or warrants (or the Equity Securities issuable upon the exercise or settlement thereof) to the Company and the Company’s cancellation of all or a portion thereof to pay the exercise price and/or withholding tax and remittance obligations; provided (x) the shares of Equity Securities received upon exercise or settlement of the security, option, restricted stock unit or warrant are subject to the terms of this agreement, and (y) that in the case of either (i) or (ii), any filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act (or its foreign equivalent) shall clearly |
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indicate in the footnotes thereto that (A) the filing relates to the circumstances described in (i) or (ii), as the case may be, (B) no Equity Securities were sold by the reporting person and (C) in the case of (i) the Equity Securities received upon exercise or settlement of the option, warrant or restricted stock unit are subject to an agreement with the Underwriters of the Public Offering; |
(i) | transfers or dispositions of Equity Securities or other securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Equity Securities to a nominee or custodian of a person or entity to whom a disposition or transfer would be permissible under clauses (a) through (h) above, provided that any such securities shall be subject to the terms of this agreement; |
(j) | transfers or dispositions of Equity Securities or any security convertible into Equity Securities pursuant to a bona fide tender offer for the Company’s capital shares, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction made to all holders of the Company’s securities involving a Change of Control (as defined below) of the Company (including without limitation, the entering into of any lock-up, voting or similar agreement pursuant to which the undersigned may agree to transfer, sell, tender or otherwise dispose of Equity Securities or any security convertible into Equity Securities in connection with such transaction); provided that, in the event that such Change of Control transaction is not consummated, this clause (j) shall not be applicable and the undersigned’s shares and other securities shall remain subject to the restrictions contained in this agreement; |
(k) | the conversion, exercise or exchange of preferred shares, options to purchase Equity Securities, warrants or any security convertible into Equity Securities pursuant to any reorganization, conversion, subdivision or share split, as such terms are described in the Prospectus; provided that any securities received upon such conversion, exercise or exchange shall remain subject to the terms of this agreement; or |
(l) | the establishment of a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer of Equity Securities, provided that (i) such plan does not provide for the transfer of Equity Securities during the Restricted Period and (ii) to the extent a public announcement or filing under the Exchange Act, if any, is required of or voluntarily made by or on behalf of the undersigned or the Company regarding the establishment of such plan, such announcement or filing shall include a statement to the effect that no transfer of Equity Securities may be made under such plan during the Restricted Period. |
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For purposes of this agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage, domestic partnership or adoption, not more remote than first cousin and “Change of Control” shall mean the transfer (whether by tender offer, merger, scheme of arrangement, consolidation or other similar transaction), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, to a person or group of affiliated persons (other than an Underwriter pursuant to the Public Offering), of the Company’s voting securities if, after such transfer, such person or group of affiliated persons would hold greater than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Company (or the surviving entity), provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the Public Offering shall not constitute a Change of Control.
In addition, other than as permitted above, the undersigned agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, during the Restricted Period, make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any Equity Securities or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Equity Securities. The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the undersigned’s Equity Securities except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.
If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, the undersigned further agrees that the foregoing restrictions shall be equally applicable to any issuer-directed Ordinary Shares or ADSs the undersigned may purchase in the Public Offering.
If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, (i) the Representatives agree that, at least three business days before the effective date of any release or waiver of the foregoing restrictions in connection with a transfer of Equity Securities, the Representatives will notify the Company of the impending release or waiver, and (ii) the Company will agree in the Underwriting Agreement to announce the impending release or waiver by press release through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver. Any release or waiver granted by the Representatives hereunder to any such officer or director shall only be effective two business days after the publication date of such press release. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if (a) the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not for consideration and (b) the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this agreement to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer.
The undersigned understands that, if (i) the Representatives, on the one hand, or the Company, on the other hand, informs the other in writing, prior to the execution of the Underwriting Agreement, that it has determined not to proceed with the Public Offering, (ii) the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the securities to be sold thereunder, (iii) the Registration Statement on Form F-1 in connection with the Public Offering is withdrawn prior to the execution of the Underwriting Agreement or (iv) the Underwriting Agreement is not executed and becomes effective on or before December 31, 2021, then, in each case, this agreement shall automatically, and without any action on the part of any other party, be of no further force and effect, and the undersigned shall be automatically released from all obligations under this letter.
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The undersigned understands that the Company and the Underwriters are relying upon this agreement in proceeding toward consummation of the Public Offering. The undersigned further understands that this agreement is irrevocable and shall be binding upon the undersigned’s heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns.
The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters have not provided any recommendation or investment advice nor have the Underwriters solicited any action from the undersigned with respect to the Public Offering of the Ordinary Shares or ADSs and the undersigned has consulted their own legal, accounting, financial, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent deemed appropriate. The undersigned further acknowledges and agrees that, although the Underwriters may provide certain Regulation Best Interest and Form CRS disclosures or other related documentation to the undersigned in connection with the Public Offering, the Underwriters are not making a recommendation to the undersigned to participate in the Public Offering or sell any Ordinary Shares or ADSs at the price determined in the Public Offering, and nothing set forth in such disclosures or documentation is intended to suggest that any Underwriter is making such a recommendation.
Whether or not the Public Offering actually occurs depends on a number of factors, including market conditions. Any Public Offering will only be made pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, the terms of which are subject to negotiation between the Company and the Underwriters.
This agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof.
[Signature Page Follows]
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Very truly yours, | ||||||
IF AN INDIVIDUAL: | IF AN ENTITY: | |||||
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(duly authorized signature) | (please print complete name of entity) | |||||
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(please print full name) | (duly authorized signature) | |||||
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(please print full name) | ||||||
Title: |
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(please print full title) | ||||||
Address: | Address: | |||||
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[Signature Page to Agreement]
8
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF WAIVER OF LOCK-UP
_____________, 20__
[Name and Address of
Officer or Director
Requesting Waiver]
Dear Mr./Ms. [Name]:
This letter is being delivered to Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx & Company, Incorporated and Canaccord Genuity LLC (collectively, the “Representatives”) in connection with the offering by Perspectum Group plc (the “Company”) of _____ American Depositary Shares each representing an ordinary share, nominal value £[•] per share (the “ADSs”), of the Company and the lock-up agreement dated ____, 20__ (the “Lock-up Agreement”), executed by you in connection with such offering, and your request for a [waiver] [release] dated ____, 20__, with respect to ____ ADS Shares (the “Shares”).
The Representatives hereby agree to [waive] [release] the transfer restrictions set forth in the Lock-up Agreement, but only with respect to the Shares, effective _____, 20__; provided, however, that such [waiver] [release] is conditioned on the Company announcing the impending [waiver] [release] by press release through a major news service at least two business days before effectiveness of such [waiver] [release]. This letter will serve as notice to the Company of the impending [waiver] [release].
Except as expressly [waived] [released] hereby, the Lock-up Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
[Signature Page Follows]
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Very truly yours,
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. Barclays Capital Inc. Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx & Company, Incorporated Canaccord Genuity LLC
Acting severally on behalf of themselves and the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto | ||
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC. | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC. | ||
By: |
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Name: | ||
Title: | ||
XXXXXX, XXXXXXXX & COMPANY, INCORPORATED | ||
By: |
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Name: | ||
Title: | ||
CANACCORD GENUITY LLC | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
cc: Perspectum Group plc
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FORM OF PRESS RELEASE
Perspectum Group plc
[Date]
Perspectum Group plc (the “Company”) announced today that Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx & Company, Incorporated and Canaccord Genuity LLC, the lead book-running managers in the Company’s recent public sale of _____ its American Depositary Shares are [waiving][releasing] a lock-up restriction with respect to ____ shares of the Company’s ADS Shares held by [certain officers or directors] [an officer or director] of the Company. The [waiver][release] will take effect on ____, 20__, and the shares may be sold on or after such date.
This press release is not an offer for sale of the securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction where such offer is prohibited, and such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
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