1,675,000 Shares Telestone Technologies Corporation Common Stock UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
1,675,000
Shares
Telestone
Technologies Corporation
Common
Stock
November
24, 2010
Xxxx
Capital Partners, LLC
00
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
as
Representative of the several
Underwriters
named in Schedule
A hereto
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
Telestone
Technologies Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes,
subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to issue and sell to the
underwriters named in Schedule A
hereto (each, an “Underwriter” and
collectively, the “Underwriters”) for whom Xxxx
Capital Partners LLC (the “Representative”) is
acting as the representative an aggregate of 1,675,000 authorized but unissued
shares (the “Underwritten Shares”)
of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), of the
Company. The Company has granted
the Representative, on behalf of the Underwriters, the option to purchase an
aggregate of up to 251,250 additional shares of Common Stock (the “Additional Shares”)
as may be necessary to cover over-allotments made in connection with the
offering. The Underwritten Shares and Additional Shares are
collectively referred to as the “Shares.”
The
Company and the Underwriters hereby confirm their agreement as
follows:
1. Registration
Statement and Prospectus. The Company has prepared and filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a
registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-165112) under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and
the rules and regulations (the “Rules and
Regulations”) of the Commission thereunder, and such amendments to such
registration statement (including post effective amendments) as may have been
required to the date of this Agreement. Such registration statement,
as amended (including any post effective amendments) has been declared effective
by the Commission. Such registration statement, including amendments
thereto (including post effective amendments thereto) at such time, the exhibits
and any schedules thereto at such time, the documents incorporated by reference
therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act at such time
and the documents and information otherwise deemed to be a part thereof or
included therein by Rule 430B under the Securities Act or
otherwise pursuant to the Rules and Regulations at such time, is herein
called the “Registration
Statement.” If the Company has filed or files an abbreviated
registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the
“Rule 462 Registration
Statement”), then any reference herein to the term Registration Statement
shall include such Rule 462 Registration Statement.
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The
Company is filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities
Act a final prospectus supplement relating to the Shares to a form of prospectus
included in the Registration Statement in the form heretofore delivered to
the Underwriters. The prospectus in the form in which it appears in
the Registration Statement is hereinafter called the “Base
Prospectus,” and such final prospectus supplement as filed, along
with the Base Prospectus, is hereinafter called the “Final
Prospectus.” Such Final Prospectus and any preliminary
prospectus supplement or “red xxxxxxx,” in the form in which they shall be filed
with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act (including
the Base Prospectus as so supplemented) is hereinafter called a “Prospectus.” Any
reference herein to the Base Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or a Prospectus
shall be deemed to include the documents incorporated by reference therein
pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act as of the date of such
Prospectus.
For
purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, the
Rule 462 Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Final Prospectus, a
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be
deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic
Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“XXXXX”). All
references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other
information which is “described,” “contained,” “included” or “stated” in the
Registration Statement, the Rule 462 Registration Statement, the Base
Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or a Prospectus (or other references of like
import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements, pro
forma financial information and schedules and other information which is
incorporated by reference in or otherwise deemed by the Rules and Regulations to
be a part of or included in the Registration Statement, the Rule 462
Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, or the Prospectus, as the case may
be; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the
Registration Statement, the Rule 462 Registration Statement, the Base
Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and
include the subsequent filing of any document under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that is deemed
to be incorporated therein by reference therein or otherwise deemed by the Rules
and Regulations to be a part thereof.
2. Representations
and Warranties of the Company Regarding the Offering.
(a) The
Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Underwriters, as of the
date hereof and as of the Closing Date (as defined in Section 4(c) below),
except as otherwise indicated, as follows:
(i) The
Registration Statement was initially declared effective by the Commission under
the Securities Act on March 15, 2010 and the offering of the Shares complies
with Rule 415 under the Securities Act. The Company has complied to
the Commission’s satisfaction with all requests of the Commission for additional
or supplemental information.
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(ii) At
the time of effectiveness, at the date hereof and at the Closing Date, the
Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto complied or will
comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and
the Rules and Regulations and did not and will not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading. At the time of effectiveness, on the date of the Base
Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or any Prospectus is first filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) (if required) or first use within the meaning
of the Rules and Regulations, at all subsequent times until the expiration of
the Prospectus Delivery Period, at the Closing Date and when any post-effective
amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective or any amendment or
supplement to the Prospectus is filed with the Commission, the Base
Prospectus, the Final Prospectus and each other Prospectus complied and will
comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements and provisions
of the Securities Act, the Rules and Regulations and the Exchange
Act. The Time of Sale Disclosure Package (as defined in Section
2(a)(iii) below) as of the date hereof and at the Closing Date, and the Final
Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, at the time of filing pursuant to Rule
424(b) under the Securities Act, and at the Closing Date, did not and will not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. The representations and warranties set forth in the three
immediately preceding sentences shall not apply to statements in or omissions
from the Registration Statement or any Prospectus in reliance upon, and in
conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by the
Underwriters specifically for use in the preparation thereof. The
Registration Statement (including each document incorporated by reference
therein) contains all exhibits and schedules required to be filed by the
Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations. No order preventing or
suspending the effectiveness or use of the Registration Statement or any
Prospectus is in effect and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted
or are pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated or
threatened by the Commission.
(iii) The
documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of
Sale Disclosure Package and any Prospectus, when they became effective or were
filed with the Commission, as the case may be, conformed in all material
respects to the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as
applicable, were filed on a timely basis with the Commission and none of such
documents, when they were filed (or, if amendments to such documents were filed,
when such amendments were filed), contained an untrue statement of a material
fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. Any further documents so filed and incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or
the Final Prospectus, when such documents are filed with the Commission, will
conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act, and
will not contain an 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.
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(iv) (A)
The Company has provided a copy to the Underwriters of each Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus (as defined below) used in the sale of Shares. The Company has
filed all Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses required to be so filed with the
Commission, and no order preventing or suspending the effectiveness or use of
any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus is in effect and no proceedings for such
purpose have been instituted or are pending, or, to the knowledge of the
Company, are contemplated or threatened by the Commission. When taken
together with the rest of the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Final
Prospectus, since its first use and at all relevant times since then,
no Issuer Free Writing Prospectus has, does or will include (1) any untrue
statement of a material fact or omission to state any material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or (2) information
that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained
in the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus. The
representations and warranties set forth in the immediately preceding sentence
shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Time of Sale Disclosure
Package, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance
upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by
the Underwriters specifically for use in the preparation thereof. As
used in this paragraph and elsewhere in this Agreement:
(1) “Time of Sale Disclosure
Package” means the Base Prospectus, and the Prospectus most recently
filed with the Commission before the time of this Agreement, including any
preliminary prospectus supplement deemed to be a part thereof, each Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus, and any description of the transaction provided by the
Underwriters included on Schedule
I.
(2) “Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in
Rule 433 under the Securities Act, relating to the Shares that (A) is required
to be filed with the Commission by the Company, or (B) is exempt from filing
pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) or (d)(8) under the Securities Act, in each case
in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not
required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to
Rule 433(g) under the Securities Act.
(B) At
(1) the filing of the Registration Statement that the Company or another
offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the
meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Securities Act) of the Securities, and (2)
the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as
defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, including the Company or any
Subsidiary (as defined below) in the preceding three years not having been
convicted of a felony or misdemeanor or having been made the subject of a
judicial or administrative decree or order as described in Rule 405 (without
taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 that
it is not necessary that the Company be considered an ineligible issuer), nor an
“excluded issuer” as defined in Rule 164 under the Securities Act.
(C) Each
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus satisfied, as of its issue date and at all
subsequent times through the Prospectus Delivery Period, all other conditions as
may be applicable to its use as set forth in Rules 164 and 433 under the
Securities Act, including any legend, record-keeping or other
requirements.
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(v) The
consolidated financial statements of the Company, together with the related
notes, included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the
Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus comply in all material
respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act and fairly present the financial condition of the Company as of the dates
indicated and the results of operations and changes in cash flows for the
periods therein specified in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles consistently applied throughout the periods involved; and the
supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement present fairly the
information required to be stated therein in all material
respects. No other financial statements, pro forma financial
information or schedules are required under the Securities Act to be included or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale
Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus. To the Company’s
knowledge, Mazars CPA Limited (the “Auditor”), which has
expressed its opinion with respect to the financial statements and schedules
filed as a part of the Registration Statement and included in the Registration
Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, is (x)
an independent public accounting firm with respect to the
Company within the meaning of the Act and the Rules and Regulations,
(y) a registered public accounting firm (as defined in Section 2(a)(12) of the
Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 (the “Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx
Act”)) and
(z) not in violation of the auditor independence requirements of the
Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act.
(vi) The
Company had a reasonable basis for, and made in good faith, each
“forward-looking statement” (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities
Act or Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained or incorporated by reference
in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Final
Prospectus.
(vii) All
statistical or market-related data included or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Final
Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company reasonably
believes to be reliable and accurate in all material respects, and the Company
has obtained the written consent to the use of such data from such sources, to
the extent required.
(viii) The
Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is
included or approved for inclusion on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. There is
no action pending by the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, the Nasdaq
Global Select Market to delist the Common Shares from the Nasdaq Global Select
Market on which the
Common Stock is listed, nor has the Company received any notification that the
Nasdaq Global Select Market is contemplating terminating such
listing. When issued, the Shares will be listed on the Nasdaq Global
Select Market.
(ix) The
Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action that is designed to or
that has constituted or that would reasonably be expected to cause or result in
the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to
facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.
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(x) The
Company is not and during the past three years neither the Company nor any
predecessor was: (A) a blank check company as defined in Rule 419(a)(2) of the
Securities Act, (B) a shell company, other than a business combination shell
company, each as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act, or (C) an issuer for
an offering of xxxxx stock as defined in Rule 3a51-1 of the Exchange
Act.
(xi) The
Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares,
will not be an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(xii) The
Company does not expect to be a Passive Foreign Investment Company (“PFIC”)
within the meaning of Section 1297(a) of the United States Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations
thereunder for the year ending December 31, 2010, and has no plan or intention
to conduct its business in a manner that would be reasonably expected to result
in the Company becoming a PFIC in the future under current laws and
regulations.
(xiii) The
Company has not distributed and will not distribute any prospectus or other
offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares other
than the Base Prospectus, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Final
Prospectus or other materials permitted by the Securities Act to be distributed
by the Company and to which the Representative of the Underwriters have
consented in accordance with this Agreement; provided, however, that,
except as set forth on Schedule II, the Company has not made and will not make
any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute a “free writing
prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, except in
accordance with the provisions of Section 4(q) of this Agreement.
(xiv) The
Company was at the time of filing the Registration Statement, and at the date
hereof, remains eligible to use Form S-3 under the Securities
Act.
(b) Any
certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the
Underwriters or to the Underwriters’ counsel shall be deemed a representation
and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the matters covered
thereby.
3. Representations
and Warranties Regarding the Company.
(a) The
Company represents and warrants to and agrees with, the Underwriters, except as
set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and
the Final Prospectus, as follows:
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(i) Each
of the Company, Success Million International Limited (“SMI”), Beijing
Telestone Technology Company Limited (“Beijing Telestone”),
Beijing Telestone Wireless Telecommunication Company Limited (“BTWTC”), Shandong
Guolian Telecommunication Technology Limited (“Guolian”),
Pan-pacific Telecommunication Company Limited (“Pan-pacific”), and
Beijing Telestone Communication Technology Corporation Limited (“BTCTC”) (each of
BTCTC, SMI, Beijing Telestone, BTWTC, Guolian and Pan-pacific is referred to as
an “Operating
Entity” and, collectively, as the “Operating Entities”)
has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good
standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation. The Operating
Entities are the only subsidiaries of the Company or companies in which the
Company has direct or indirect control through a variable interest entity
relationship or otherwise. Other than the Operating Entities, the
Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any shares of stock or any other
equity or long-term debt securities of any corporation or have any equity
interest in any corporation firm, partnership, joint venture association or
other entity. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital
stock of, or other ownership interests in, each Operating Entity have been duly
and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and
non-assessable. All of the issued shares of capital stock of, or
other ownership interests in, (i) SMI are owned by the Company, (ii) Beijing
Telestone are owned by SMI, (iii) BTWTC are owned collectively by the BTWTC
Shareholders (as defined below), (iv) Guolian are owned by BTWTC, (v)
Pan-pacific are owned by Guolian, and (vi) BTCTC are owned by BTWTC, in each
instance, free and clear of any lien, charge, mortgage, pledge, security
interest, claim, limitation on voting rights, equity, trust or other
encumbrance, preferential arrangement, defect or restriction of any kind
whatsoever, except as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of
Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The shareholders of BTWTC
are Guobin Pan, Xxxxxxx Xxxxx and Xxxxxxx Xxxx.
(ii) The
Company and each Operating Entity has the corporate power and authority to own
its properties and conduct its business as currently being carried on and as
described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and
the Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in
good standing in each jurisdiction in which it owns or leases real property, is
licensed, or in which the conduct of its business makes such qualification
necessary, except in which the failure to so qualify would not have or is
reasonably likely to result in a material adverse effect upon the business,
prospects, properties, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or results
of operations of the Company and the Operating Entities, taken as a whole, or in
the Company’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement (“Material Adverse
Effect”).
(iii) The
Company has the power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to
authorize, issue and sell the Shares as contemplated by this
Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company, and constitutes a valid, legal and binding obligation
of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights
to indemnity hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws and
except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and
subject to general principles of equity.
(iv) The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of
the transactions herein contemplated will not (A) result in a breach or
violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under,
any law, rule or regulation to which the Company or any Operating Entity is
subject, or by which any property or asset of the Company or any Operating
Entity is bound or affected, except to the extent that such violation is not
reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (B) conflict with,
result in any violation or breach of, or constitute a default (or an event that
with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to
others any right of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation (with
or without notice, lapse of time or both) of, any agreement, lease, credit
facility, debt, note, bond, mortgage, indenture or other instrument (the “Contracts”) or
obligation or other understanding to which the Company or any Operating Entity
is a party of by which any property or asset of the Company or any Operating
Entity is bound or affected, except to the extent that such conflict, default,
termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation right is not reasonably
likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (C) result in a breach or
violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under,
the Company’s charter or by-laws, or the organizational documents of any
Operating Entity.
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(v) The
Company has filed all reports required to be filed by it under the Securities
Act and the Exchange Act, including pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act, for the twelve months preceding the date hereof (the foregoing
materials being collectively referred to herein as the “SEC Reports”) on a timely basis or has
timely filed a valid extension of such time of filing and has filed any such SEC
Reports prior to the expiration of any such extension. As of their respective
dates, the SEC Reports complied in all material respects with the requirements
of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission promulgated thereunder, and none of the SEC Reports, when filed,
contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. The financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Reports
comply in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the
rules and regulations of the Commission with respect thereto as in effect at the
time of filing. All material agreements to which the Company or any Operating
Entity is a party or to which the property or assets of the Company or any
Operating Entity are subject are included as part of or identified in the SEC
Reports, to the extent such agreements are required to be included or identified
pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. In furtherance and
not in limitation of the foregoing, the documents incorporated by reference in
the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus, when they became
effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, conformed in
all material respects, as to form, to the requirements of the Securities Act or
the Exchange Act, as applicable, and were filed on a timely basis with the
Commission and none of such documents contained an untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading; any further documents so filed and incorporated by
reference in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or in the Prospectus, when such
documents are filed with the Commission, will conform in all material respects,
as to form, to the requirements of the Exchange Act, and will not contain an
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.
(vi) The
description of the corporate structure of the Company and the Operating Entities
described under “Business – Corporate Structure and History” in the Registration
Statement, Time of Sale Disclosure Package and Prospectus is true and accurate
in all material respects and nothing has been omitted from such description
which would make it misleading in any material respect, and the Company has no
subsidiaries (as defined in Rule 405) other than as set forth under “Business –
Corporate Structure and History.” There is no other agreement,
contract or other document relating to the corporate structure or the operation
of the Company and the Operating Entities which has not been previously
disclosed or made available to the Underwriters and, to the extent material to
the Company, disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale
Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
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(vii)
Each of the VIE Parties (as hereinafter defined) has the legal right, power and
authority (corporate or other, as the case may be) to enter into and perform
his, her, or its respective obligations under each of the agreements described
under “Business – Corporate Structure and History” in the Registration
Statement, Time of Sale Disclosure Package and Prospectus relating to the
Company’s corporate structure (the “VIE Agreements”) to
which he, she, or it is a party, and has taken all necessary corporate or other
action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of, and has
authorized, executed and delivered, each such VIE Agreement. “VIE
Parties” means, collectively, BTWTC, the BTWTC Shareholders, Guolian,
Pan-Pacific, and BTCTC; and each, a “VIE Party”. Each of the VIE
Agreements constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the parties
thereto, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may
be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or
similar laws of general applicability affecting creditors’ rights or by
equitable principles relating to enforceability and except as disclosed in the
Registration Statement, Time of Sale Disclosure Package and
Prospectus. The execution and delivery by the VIE Parties, and the
performance by the VIE Parties of their respective obligations under, each of
the VIE Agreements to which he, she, or it is a party, and the consummation by
the VIE Parties of the transactions contemplated therein (the “Restructuring”) did
not, does not and will not: (A) conflict with or result in a breach or
violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under,
any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, lease, loan agreement or other agreement
or instrument to which such VIE Party is a party or by which such VIE Party is
bound or to which any of the properties or assets of such VIE Party are subject;
(B) result in any violation of the provisions of constitutive documents or
business licenses of such VIE Party, as the case may be; or (C) except as
disclosed in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, result in any violation of any
PRC statute or any order, rule or regulation of any PRC governmental agency
having jurisdiction over such VIE Party or any of its respective properties,
except, in the case of clauses (A) and (C), as would not reasonably be
expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(viii) No
consent, approval, authorization, or order of, or filing or registration with,
any person (including any governmental agency or body or any court) is required
for the performance of the obligations under any VIE Agreement by the parties
thereto. Each VIE Agreement is in full force and effect and none of
the parties thereto is in breach or default in the performance of any of the
terms or provisions of such VIE Agreement. There is no legal or
governmental proceeding, inquiry or investigation pending against the Company,
the Operating Entities or any VIE Party in any jurisdiction challenging the
validity of any of the VIE Agreements and, to the best knowledge of the Company,
no such proceeding, inquiry or investigation is threatened or contemplated in
any jurisdiction.
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(ix) Neither
the Company nor any of the Operating Entities is (i) in violation of its
respective charter, by-laws, memorandum of association or articles of
association (or similar constitutional or organization documents), or (ii) in
breach of or otherwise in default, and no event has occurred which, with notice
or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default in the performance of
any material obligation, agreement or condition contained in any bond,
debenture, note, indenture, loan agreement or any other material contract, lease
or other instrument to which it is subject or by which any of them may be bound,
or to which any of the material property or assets of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is subject, except in the case of (ii) as individually or in the
aggregate would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect
(x)
All consents, approvals, orders, authorizations and filings required on
the part of the Company and the Operating Entities in connection with the
execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement have been obtained or
made.
(xi) All
of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are duly
authorized and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and have been
issued in compliance with all applicable securities laws, and conform in all
material respects to the description thereof in the Registration Statement, the
Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. Since the
respective dates as of which information is provided in the Registration
Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, the Company
has not entered into or granted any convertible or exchangeable securities,
options, warrants, agreements, contracts or other rights in existence to
purchase or acquire from the Company any shares of the capital stock of the
Company. The Shares, when issued, will be duly authorized and validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable, will be issued in compliance with all
applicable securities laws, and will be free of preemptive, registration or
similar rights.
(xii) Except
as disclosed in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure
Package and in the Prospectus, neither the filing of the Registration Statement
nor the offering or sale of the Shares as contemplated by this Agreement gives
rise to any rights for or relating to the registration of any shares of Common
Stock or other securities of the Company. The Company has an
authorized and outstanding capitalization as set forth in the Registration
Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus under
the caption “Capitalization.” The Common Stock (including the Shares)
conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the
Registration Statement, Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus. The description of the Company’s stock option, stock
bonus and other stock plans or arrangements, and the options or other rights
granted thereunder, set forth in the Registration Statement, Time of Sale
Disclosure Package and the Prospectus accurately and fairly presents the
information required to be shown with respect to such plans, arrangements,
options and rights.
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(xiii) The
Company’s Common Stock (including the Shares) is registered pursuant to
Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is included or approved for listing
on the NASDAQ Global Market and the Company has taken no action designed to, or
likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock
under the Exchange Act or delisting the Common Stock from the NASDAQ Global
Select Market nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission
or the NASDAQ Global Select Market is contemplating terminating such
registration or listing. The Company has complied in all material respects with
the applicable requirements of the NASDAQ Global Select Market for maintenance
of inclusion of the Common Stock thereon. The Company has filed a notice to
include the Shares on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, to the extent
required. Except as previously disclosed to counsel for the
Underwriters or as set forth in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus, to the knowledge of the Company, no beneficial owners of the
Company’s capital stock or subordinated debt who, together with their associated
persons and affiliates, hold in the aggregate 10% or more of such capital stock
or subordinated debt, have any direct or indirect association or affiliate with
a FINRA member.
(xiv) Each
of the Company and the Operating Entities has filed all returns (as hereinafter
defined) required to be filed with taxing authorities prior to the date hereof
or has duly obtained extensions of time for the filing thereof. Each
of the Company and the Operating Entities has paid all taxes (as hereinafter
defined) shown as due on such returns that were filed and has paid all taxes
imposed on or assessed against the Company or such respective Operating
Entity. The provisions for taxes payable, if any, shown on the
financial statements filed with or as part of the Registration Statement are
sufficient for all accrued and unpaid taxes, whether or not disputed, and for
all periods to and including the dates of such consolidated financial
statements. Except as disclosed in writing to the Underwriters, (i)
no issues have been raised (and are currently pending) by any taxing authority
in connection with any of the returns or taxes asserted as due from the Company
or the Operating Entities, and (ii) no waivers of statutes of limitation with
respect to the returns or collection of taxes have been given by or requested
from the Company or the Operating Entities. The term “taxes” mean all
national, provincial, municipal, federal, state, local, foreign, and other net
income, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, transfer,
franchise, profits, license, lease, service, service use, withholding, payroll,
employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, property, windfall
profits, customs, duties or other taxes, fees, assessments, or charges of any
kind whatever, together with any interest and any penalties, additions to tax,
or additional amounts with respect thereto. The term “returns” means all
returns, declarations, reports, statements, and other documents required to be
filed in respect to taxes. All local and national governmental tax relief,
concessions, waivers, holidays and preferential treatments of the People’s
Republic of China (the “PRC”) enjoyed by
the Company and the Operating Entities are valid, binding, and enforceable and
do not violate any PRC laws.
(xv) Since
the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration
Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (a) neither
the Company nor any of the Operating Entities has incurred any material
liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into any material
transactions other than in the ordinary course of business, (b) neither the
Company nor any Operating Entity has declared or paid any dividends or made any
distribution of any kind with respect to its capital stock; (c) there has not
been any change in the capital stock of the Company or any of the Operating
Entities (other than a change in the number of outstanding shares of Common
Stock of the Company due to the issuance of shares upon the exercise of
outstanding options or warrants or the issuance
of restricted stock awards or restricted
stock units under the Company’s existing stock awards plan, or any new grants
thereof in the ordinary course of business), (d) there has not been any material
change in the Company’s long-term or short-term debt on a consolidated basis,
and (e) there has not been the occurrence of any Material Adverse
Effect.
11
(xvi) There
is not pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, any action, suit
or proceeding to which the Company or any of the Operating Entities is a party
or of which any property or assets of the Company is the subject before or by
any court or governmental agency, authority or body, or any arbitrator or
mediator, which is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
(xvii) Neither
the Company nor any of the Operating Entities is involved in any labor dispute
nor, to the best knowledge of the Company, is any such dispute
threatened. The Company is not aware of any existing or imminent
labor disturbance by the employees of any of its principal suppliers,
manufacturers, customers or contractors which would have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(xviii) There
is not pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened or contemplated,
any action, suit or proceeding (a) to which the Company or any of the Operating
Entities is a party which, if determined adversely to the Company or any of the
Operating Entities, could have a Material Adverse Effect, (b) between the
Company or the Operating Entities and any of its respective officers which, if
determined adversely to the Company or any of the Operating Entities, could have
a Material Adverse Effect and the Company has no reason to believe that such
officers will not remain in the employment of the Company, or (c) which has as
the subject thereof any officer or director of the Company or any of the
Operating Entities, any employee benefit plan sponsored by the Company or any of
the Operating Entities or any property or assets owned or leased by the Company
or any of the Operating Entities before or by any court or governmental
authority, or any arbitrator, which is reasonably likely to result in
a Material Adverse Effect, or would materially and adversely affect the ability
of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or
which are otherwise material in the context of the sale of the
Shares. There are no current or, to the knowledge of the Company,
pending, legal, governmental or regulatory actions, suits or proceedings (x) to
which the Company or any of the Operating Entities is subject or (y) which has
as the subject thereof any officer or director of the Company or any of the
Operating Entities, any employee plan sponsored by the Company or any of the
Operating Entities or any property or assets owned or leased by the Company or
any of the Operating Entities, that are required to be described in the
Registration Statement, Time of Sale Disclosure Package and Prospectus by the
Securities Act or by the Rules and Regulations and that have not been so
described.
(xix) There
are no statutes, regulations, contracts or documents that are required to be
described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or
the Prospectus or required to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement
by the Securities Act or by the Rules and Regulations that have not been so
described or filed.
12
(xx) No
transaction has occurred between or among the Company and any of its officers or
directors, shareholders or any affiliate or affiliates of any such officer or
director or shareholder that is required to be described in and is not described
in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus.
(xxi) The
Company and each of the Operating Entities holds, and is in compliance with, all
franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, easements, consents,
certificates and orders (“Permits”) of any
governmental or self-regulatory agency, authority or body required for the
conduct of its respective business, and all such Permits are in full force and
effect, in each case except where the failure to hold, or comply with, any of
them is not reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Each of
the Company and the Operating Entities has fulfilled and performed in all
material respects all of its respective obligations with respect to such Permits
and no event has occurred that allows, or after notice or lapse of time would
allow, revocation or termination thereof or result in any other material
impairment of the rights of the Company thereunder. Except as may be
required under the Securities Act and state and foreign Blue Sky laws and where
the failure to hold, or comply with such Permits is not reasonably likely to
have a Material Adverse Effect, no other Permits are required to enter into,
deliver and perform this Agreement and to issue and sell the
Shares.
(xxii) The
Company and each Operating Entity has good and marketable title, or valid land
use rights granted by the appropriate authorities in the PRC to all real
property, and good and marketable title to all other property owned by it
described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and
the Prospectus as being owned by them that are material to the business of the
Company, in each case free and clear of all liens, claims, security interests,
other encumbrances or defects, except those that are not reasonably likely to
result in a Material Adverse Effect. The property held under lease by
the Company and the Operating Entities is held by them under valid, subsisting
and enforceable leases with only such exceptions with respect to any particular
lease as do not interfere in any material respect with the conduct of the
business of the Company and the Operating Entities.
13
(xxiii) The
Company and each of the Operating Entities owns or possesses or has valid right
to use all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names,
trademark registrations, service xxxx registrations, copyrights, licenses,
inventions, trade secrets and similar rights (“Intellectual
Property”) necessary for the conduct of the business of the Company and
the Operating Entities as currently carried on and as described in the
Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus. Furthermore, (A) to the knowledge of the Company, there
is no infringement, misappropriation or violation by third parties of
any such Intellectual Property, except as such infringement, misappropriation or
violation would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; (B) there is no pending
or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, action, suit, proceeding or
claim by others challenging the Company’s or any of the Operating Entities’
rights in or to any such Intellectual Property, and neither the Company nor any
of the Operating Entities is aware of any facts which would form a reasonable
basis for any such claim; (C) the Intellectual Property owned by the Company and
the Operating Entities, and to the knowledge of the Company, the Intellectual
Property licensed to the Company and the Operating Entities, has not been
adjudged invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, and there is no pending
or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened action, suit, proceeding or
claim by others challenging the validity or scope of any such Intellectual
Property, and neither the Company nor any of the Operating Entities is aware of
any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim; (D) there is
no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened action, suit,
proceeding or claim by others that the Company or any of Operating Entities
infringes, misappropriates or otherwise violates any Intellectual Property or
other proprietary rights of others, neither the Company nor any of the Operating
Entities has received any written notice of such claim and neither the Company
nor any of the Operating Entities is aware of any other fact which would form a
reasonable basis for any such claim; and (E) to the knowledge of the Company, no
employee of the Company or any of the Operating Entities is in or has ever been
in violation of any term of any employment contract, patent disclosure
agreement, invention assignment agreement, non-competition agreement,
non-solicitation agreement, nondisclosure agreement or any restrictive covenant
to or with a former employer where the basis of such violation relates to such
employee’s employment with the Company or any of the Operating Entities or
actions undertaken by the employee while employed with the Company or any of the
Operating Entities, except as such violation would not result in a Material
Adverse Effect. Except as stated in the Registration Statement, the
Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no name which the Company or
any of the Operating Entities uses and no other aspect of the business of the
Company or any of the Operating Entities will involve or give rise to any
infringement of, or license or similar fees for, any Intellectual Property of
others material to the business or prospects of the Company or any of the
Operating Entities and neither the Company nor any of the Operating Entities has
received any notice alleging any such infringement or fee.
(xxiv) The
Company, each of its directors and officers and each of the Operating Entities
has complied with, is not in violation of, and has not received any notice of
violation relating to any applicable law, rule or regulation relating to the
conduct of its business, or the ownership or operation of its property and
assets, including, without limitation, (A) the Currency and Foreign Transactions
Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, or any money laundering laws, rules or
regulations, (B) any laws, rules or regulations related to health, safety or the
environment, including those relating to the regulation of hazardous substances,
(C) the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder, (D) the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 and the rules and
regulations thereunder, and (E) the Employment Retirement Income Security Act of
1974 and the rules and regulations thereunder, in each case except where the
failure to be in compliance is not reasonably likely to result in a Material
Adverse Effect.
(xxv) Neither
the Company nor any of the Operating Entities nor, to the knowledge of the
Company, any director, officer, employee, representative, agent or affiliate of
the Company or any of the Operating Entities is currently subject to any U.S.
sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S.
Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the
Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the
Shares contemplated hereby, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such
proceeds to any person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of
any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by
OFAC.
14
(xxvi) Each
of the Company and each Operating Entity carries, or is covered by, insurance
from insurers with appropriately rated claims paying abilities in such amounts
and covering such risks as the Company reasonably believes is adequate for the
conduct of its business and the value of its properties and as is customary for
companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries in the PRC; all
policies of insurance and any fidelity or surety bonds insuring the Company or
any Operating Entity or its business, assets, employees, officers and directors
are in full force and effect; the Company and the Operating Entities are in
compliance with the terms of such policies and instruments in all material
respects; there are no claims by the Company or any Operating Entity under any
such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability
or defending under a reservation of rights clause; neither the Company nor any
Operating Entity has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for;
and neither the Company nor any Operating Entity has reason to
believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and
when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers
as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(xxvii) Neither
the Company nor any of the Operating Entities is in violation, breach or default
of any Contract that is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse
Effect. Each of the Company and the Operating Entities has full
power, authority and legal right to enter into, execute, adopt, assume, deliver
and perform its respective obligations under each of the contracts disclosed,
included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of
Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including without limitation those
related to the Restructuring, collectively, the “Material Contracts”)
to which it is a party; Each of the Company and the Operating
Entities has duly authorized, executed and delivered each of the Material
Contracts to which it is a party, and the Material Contracts (either
individually or in any combination) constitute valid, legal and binding
obligations enforceable against the Company and/or the Operating Entities in
accordance with their respective terms. No major customer of the
Company is in payment default of any Contract. The execution,
delivery and performance of the Material Contracts by the Company and/or any of
the Operating Entities, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
thereunder, do not (A) result in any violation of the business license, articles
of association, other constitutional documents (if any) or governmental
authorizations of the Company and/or any of the Operating Entities; (B) result
in any violation of or penalty under any applicable law; or (C) conflict with or
result in a breach or violation of any of the material terms or provisions of,
or constitute a material default under, any other contract, license, bond,
debenture, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, note, lease or
other agreement or instrument to which the Company and/or its respective
subsidiary is a party or by which any of them is bound or to which any of their
property or assets is subject, except in the case of clauses (B) and (C) above,
such violation, breach, conflict or default would not result in a Material
Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in the Registration
Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, each consent,
approval, authorization or order of, or registration or filing with any
Governmental Authority required for the execution, delivery and performance of
the Material Contracts and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
thereunder have been duly obtained and are in full force and
effect.
15
(xxviii) As
of the date hereof, as of the date of the Prospectus, and as of the Closing
Date, the Rules on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign
Investors jointly promulgated by the Ministry of Commerce, the State Assets
Supervision and Administration Commission, the State Tax
Administration, the State Administration of Industry and Commerce, the China
Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”) and the State
Administration of Foreign Exchange of the PRC on August 8, 2006 (the “M&A Rules”) or
any official clarifications, guidance, interpretations or implementation rules
in connection with or related to the M&A Rules did not and do not apply to
the issuance and sale of the Shares, the quotation and trading of the Shares on
the NASDAQ Global Market, the Restructuring as disclosed in the Company’s
current report on Form 8-K dated November 23, 2010, or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and no approval of the CSRC or other
PRC government is required in connection therewith.
(xxix) Except
as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package
and the Prospectus, there are no outstanding guarantees or other contingent
obligations of the Company or any of the Operating Entities that are reasonably
likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(xxx) Neither
the Company nor any Operating Entity has received any notification from any
supplier, customer, distributor or sales agent of the Company or any
Operating Entity that it intends to discontinue or decrease the rate
of business done with the Company, except where such decrease is not
reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(xxxi) There
are no claims, payments, issuances, arrangements or understandings for services
in the nature of a finder’s, consulting or origination fee with respect to the
introduction of the Company to the Underwriters or the sale of the Shares
hereunder or any other arrangements, agreements, understandings, payments or
issuances with respect to the Company that may affect each Underwriter’s
compensation, as determined by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
(“FINRA”).
(xxxii) Except
as disclosed to the Underwriters in writing, the Company has not made any direct
or indirect payments (in cash, securities or otherwise) to (i) any person, as a
finder’s fee, investing fee or otherwise, in consideration of such person
raising capital for the Company or introducing to the Company persons who
provided capital to the Company, (ii) any FINRA member, or (iii) any person or
entity that has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA
member within the 12-month period prior to the date on which the Registration
Statement was filed with the Commission (“Filing Date”) or
thereafter.
(xxxiii) None
of the net proceeds of the offering will be paid by the Company to any
participating FINRA member or any affiliate or associate of any participating
FINRA member, except as specifically authorized herein.
16
(xxxiv) To
the Company’s knowledge, no (i) officer or director of the Company or the
Operating Entities, (ii) owner of 5% or more of the Company’s unregistered
securities or that of the Operating Entities or (iii) owner of any amount of the
Company’s unregistered securities acquired within the 180-day period prior to
the Filing Date, has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any
FINRA member. The Company will advise the Underwriters and their
counsel if it becomes aware that any officer, director or stockholder of the
Company or the Operating Entities is or becomes an affiliate or associated
person of a FINRA member participating in the offering.
(xxxv) Other
than the Underwriters, no person has the right to act as an underwriter or as a
financial advisor to the Company in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby.
(xxxvi) None
of the Company or any of the Operating Entities nor any of their properties,
assets or revenues are entitled to any right of immunity on the grounds of
sovereignty from any legal action, suit or proceeding, from set-off or
counterclaim, from the jurisdiction of any court, from service of process, from
attachment prior to or in aid of execution of judgment or from other legal
process or proceeding for the giving of any relief or for the enforcement of any
judgment.
(xxxvii) The
PRC regulation “Provisions Regarding Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic
Enterprises by Foreign Investors” does not require an application to be
submitted to the China Security Regulatory Commission for the approval of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Company has taken all necessary
steps to comply with, and to ensure compliance by all of the Company’s
shareholders, directors and officers who are PRC residents or PRC citizens, with
all applicable rules and regulations of the State Administration of Foreign
Exchange of the PRC (the “SAFE Rules and
Regulations”), including without limitation, requiring each shareholder,
director and officer that is, or is directly or indirectly owned or controlled
by, a PRC resident or PRC citizen to complete any registration and other
procedures required under applicable SAFE Rules and Regulations.
(xxxviii) Except
as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package
and Prospectus, no subsidiary (as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules) of the
Company in the PRC is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying
any dividends to the Company, SMI, or Beijing Telestone, from making any other
distribution on such entity’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company, SMI,
or Beijing Telestone any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company,
SMI, or Beijing Telestone or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s property
or assets to the Company, SMI, or Beijing Telestone. All dividends
declared by a subsidiary of the Company in the PRC may under the laws and
regulations of the PRC be freely transferred out of the PRC and may be paid in
U.S. dollars, subject to the successful completion of PRC formalities required
for such remittance, and all such dividends and other distributions will not be
subject to withholding or other taxes under the laws and regulations of the PRC
and are otherwise free and clear of any other tax, withholding or deduction in
the PRC, and maybe paid without the necessity of obtaining any governmental
authorization in the PRC.
17
(xxxix) The
Company and each Operating Entity maintains a system of internal accounting
controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions
are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization;
(ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of
financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
in the United States and to maintain accountability for assets;
(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 existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate
action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as disclosed
in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the
Prospectus, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective
and none of the Company, its board of directors and audit committee is aware of
any “significant deficiencies” or “material weaknesses” (each as defined by the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board) in its internal control over
financial reporting, or any fraud, whether or not material, that involves
management or other employees of the Company who have a significant role in the
Company’s internal controls; and since the end of the latest audited fiscal
year, there has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial
reporting (whether or not remediated) that has materially affected, or is
reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over
financial reporting. The Company’s board of directors has, subject to
the exceptions, cure periods and the phase in periods specified in the
applicable stock exchange rules (“Exchange Rules”),
validly appointed an audit committee to oversee internal accounting controls
whose composition satisfies the applicable requirements of the Exchange Rules
and the Company’s board of directors and/or the audit committee has adopted a
charter that satisfies the requirements of the Exchange Rules.
(xl)
Other than as contemplated by this Agreement, the Company has not incurred
any liability for any finder’s or broker’s fee or agent’s commission in
connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby.
(xli) The
Company is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable provisions
of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder. The Company has established and maintains disclosure
controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14 under the
Exchange Act) and such controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that
material information relating to the Company, including the Operating Entities,
is made known to the principal executive officer and the principal financial
officer. The Company has utilized such controls and procedures in
preparing and evaluating the disclosures in the Registration Statement, in the
Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus.
(xlii) To
the knowledge of the Company, no transaction has occurred between or among the
Company and the Operating Entities, on the one hand, and any of the Company’s
officers, directors or 5% stockholders or any affiliate or affiliates of any
such officer, director or 5% stockholders that is required to be described that
is not so described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure
Package and the Prospectus. None of the Company and the Operating
Entities has, directly or indirectly, extended or maintained credit, or arranged
for the extension of credit, or renewed an extension of credit, in the form of a
personal loan to or for any of its directors or executive officers in violation
of applicable laws, including Section 402 of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx
Act.
18
(xliii) Except
as disclosed in the Time of Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither the
Company nor any of the Operating Entities is in violation of any statute, any
rule, regulation, decision or order of any governmental authority or any court,
domestic or foreign, relating to the use, disposal or release of hazardous or
toxic substances or relating to the protection or restoration of the environment
or human exposure to hazardous or toxic substances (collectively, “Environmental Laws”),
owns or operates any real property contaminated with any substance that is
subject to any environmental laws, is liable for any off-site disposal or
contamination pursuant to any environmental laws, or is subject to any claim
relating to any environmental laws, except where such violation,
contamination, liability or claim is not reasonably likely to result
in a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Company nor any of the Operating
Entities is aware of any pending investigation which might lead to such a
claim.
(xliv) Except
as required by applicable laws, none of the Company and the Operating Entities
has, or is obligated to provide, any Benefit Plan. For purposes
hereof, “Benefit
Plan” means any plan, contract or other arrangement, formal or informal,
whether oral or written, providing any benefit to any present or former officer,
director or employee, or dependent or beneficiary thereof, including any
employment agreement or profit sharing, deferred compensation, share option,
performance share, employee share purchase, bonus, severance, retirement,
health, death or disability benefits or insurance plan. No employee of the
Company or any Operating Entity is owed any back wages or other compensation for
services rendered except as set forth on the Company’s consolidated financial
statements. Each of the Company and the Operating Entities has
complied in all material respects with all applicable laws related to
employment, the Benefit Plan and other employee benefits.
4. Purchase,
Sale and Delivery of Shares.
(a) On
the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained,
but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to
issue and sell the Underwritten Shares to the Underwriters, and each Underwriter
agrees to purchase the Underwritten Shares in the amounts set forth on Schedule A
hereto. The purchase price for each Underwritten Share shall be
$12.00 per share (the “Per Share
Price”).
(b) The
Company hereby grants to the Representative, on behalf of the Underwriters, the
option to purchase some or all of the Additional Shares in the amounts set forth
on Schedule A, and, upon the basis of the warranties and representations and
subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Underwriters shall
have the right to purchase all or any portion of the Additional Shares at the
Per Share Price as may be necessary to cover over-allotments made in connection
with the transactions contemplated hereby. This option may be
exercised by an Underwriter at any time (but not more than once) on or before
the thirtieth day following the date hereof, by written notice to the Company
(the “Option
Notice”). The Underwriters will not be under any obligation to
purchase any Additional Shares prior to the date of the Option
Notice. The Option Notice shall set forth the aggregate number of
Additional Shares as to which the option is being exercised, and the date and
time when the Additional Shares are to be delivered (such date and time being
herein referred to as the “Option Closing Date”); provided, however, that the Option
Closing Date shall not be earlier than the Closing Date (as defined below) nor
earlier than the second business day after the date on which the option shall
have been exercised nor later than the fifth business day after the date on
which the option shall have been exercised unless the Company and the
Representative otherwise agree.
19
Payment of the purchase price for and
delivery of the Additional Shares shall be made at the Option Closing Date in
the same manner and at the same office as the payment for the Underwritten
Shares as set forth in subparagraph (c) below. For the purpose of
expediting the checking of the certificate for the Additional Shares by an
Underwriter, the Company agrees to make a form of such certificate available to
the Representative for such purpose at least one full business day preceding the
Option Closing Date.
(c) The
Underwritten Shares will be delivered by the
Company to the Underwriter against payment of the purchase price therefor
by wire transfer of same day funds payable to the order of the Company at the
offices of Xxxx Capital Partners, LLC, 00 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, XX
00000, or such other location as may be mutually acceptable, at 6:00 a.m. PDT,
on the third (or if the Underwritten Shares are priced, as contemplated by Rule
15c6-1(c) under the Exchange Act, after 4:30 p.m. Eastern time, the fourth) full
business day following the date hereof, or at such other time and date as the
Underwriter and the Company determine pursuant to Rule 15c6-1(a) under the
Exchange Act, or, in the case of the Additional Shares, at such date and time
set forth in the Option Notice. The time and date of delivery of the
Underwritten Shares or the Additional Shares, as applicable, is referred to
herein as the “Closing
Date.” If the Underwriter so elects, delivery of the
Underwritten Shares and Additional Shares may be made by credit through full
fast transfer to the account at The Depository Trust Company designated by the
Underwriter. Certificates representing the Shares, in definitive form
and in such denominations and registered in such names as the Underwriter may
request upon at least one business days’ prior notice to the Company, will be
made available for checking and packaging not later than 10:30 a.m. PDT on the
business day next preceding the Closing Date at the above addresses, or such
other location as may be mutually acceptable.
5. Covenants.
(a)
The Company covenants and agrees with the Underwriters as follows:
(i) During
the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the later of the Closing
Date or such date as determined by the Representative the Prospectus is no
longer required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an
underwriter or dealer (the “Prospectus Delivery Period”),
prior to amending or supplementing the Registration Statement, including any
Rule 462 Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the
Prospectus, the Company shall furnish to the Underwriters for review and comment
a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement, and the Company shall not
file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which an Underwriter
reasonably objects.
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(ii) From
the date of this Agreement until the end of the Prospectus Delivery Period, the
Company shall promptly advise the Representative in writing (A) of the receipt
of any comments of, or requests for additional or supplemental information from,
the Commission, (B) of the time and date of any filing of any post-effective
amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the
Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus, (C) of the time and date that any post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement becomes effective and (D) of the issuance by the
Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or of any order preventing or suspending its use or the use of the
Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus, or of any proceedings to remove, suspend or terminate from listing
or quotation the Common Stock from any securities exchange upon which it is
listed for trading or included or designated for quotation, or of the
threatening or initiation of any proceedings for any of such
purposes. If the Commission shall enter any such stop order at any
time during the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will use its reasonable
efforts to obtain the lifting of such order at the earliest possible
moment. Additionally, the Company agrees that it shall comply with
the provisions of Rules 424(b), 430A and 430B, as applicable, under the
Securities Act and will use its reasonable efforts to confirm that any filings
made by the Company under Rule 424(b) or Rule 433 were received in a timely
manner by the Commission (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) or 164(b) of the
Securities Act).
(iii) (A)
During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will comply with all
requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act, as now and hereafter
amended, and by the Rules and Regulations, as from time to time in force, and by
the Exchange Act, as now and hereafter amended, so far as necessary to permit
the continuance of sales of or dealings in the Shares as contemplated by the
provisions hereof, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus. If during such period any event occurs
the result of which the Prospectus (or if the Prospectus is not yet available to
prospective purchasers, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package ) would include an
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 then existing,
not misleading, or if during such period it is necessary or appropriate in the
opinion of the Company or its counsel or an Underwriter or its counsel to amend
the Registration Statement or supplement the Prospectus (or if the Prospectus is
not yet available to prospective purchasers, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package
) to comply with the Securities Act or to file under the Exchange Act any
document that would be deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Prospectus
in order to comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, the Company will
promptly notify the Underwriters and will amend the Registration Statement or
supplement the Prospectus (or if the Prospectus is not yet available to
prospective purchasers, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package) or file such
document (at the expense of the Company) so as to correct such statement or
omission or effect such compliance.
(B) If
at any time following the issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there
occurred or occurs an event or development the result of which such Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained
in the Registration Statement or any Prospectus or 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 prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company
has promptly notified or promptly will notify the Representative and has
promptly amended or will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue
statement or omission.
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(iv) The
Company shall use reasonable efforts to qualify the Shares for sale under the
securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Underwriters shall reasonably
designate and to continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for
the distribution of the Shares, except that the Company shall not be required in
connection therewith to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in
securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified, to execute a
general consent to service of process in any state or to subject itself to
taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not
otherwise subject.
(v) The
Company will furnish to the Underwriters and counsel for the Underwriters copies
of the Registration Statement, each Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus, and all amendments and supplements to such documents, in each case
as soon as available and in such quantities as the Underwriters may from time to
time reasonably request.
(vi) The
Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as
practicable, but in any event not later than 15 months after the end of the
Company’s current fiscal quarter, an earnings statement (which need not be
audited) covering a 12-month period that shall satisfy the provisions of Section
11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Rules and
Regulations.
(vii) (A)
The Company will pay or cause to be paid (1) all expenses (including transfer
taxes allocated to the respective transferees) incurred in connection with the
delivery to the Underwriters of the Shares, (2) all expenses and fees
(including, without limitation, fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel) in
connection with the preparation, printing, filing, delivery, and shipping of the
Registration Statement (including the financial statements therein and all
amendments, schedules, and exhibits thereto), the Shares, the Time of Sale
Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any
amendment thereof or supplement thereto, (3) the fees and expenses of any
transfer agent or registrar, (4) listing fees, if any, (5) all fees and third
party expenses incurred in connection with or relating to the preparation of any
filings with FINRA, and (6) all other costs and expenses incident to the
performance of its obligations hereunder that are not otherwise specifically
provided for herein.
(B) If this Agreement is terminated by
the Underwriters in accordance with the provisions of Section 6 or Section 9,
the Company will reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket disbursements
(including, but not limited to, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel,
travel expenses, postage, facsimile and telephone charges) incurred by the
Underwriter in connection with its investigation, preparing to market and
marketing the Shares or in contemplation of performing its obligations
hereunder; provided,
however, the maximum
amount payable by the Company for such fees, disbursements and other
out-of-pocket expenses pursuant to this Section 5(a)(vii)(B) shall be
$150,000.
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(viii) The
Company intends to apply, and will apply, the net proceeds from the sale of the
Shares to be sold by it hereunder for the purposes set forth in the Time of Sale
Disclosure Package and in the Final Prospectus.
(ix) The
Company has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, during the
Prospectus Delivery Period, any action designed to or which might reasonably be
expected to cause or result in, or that has constituted, the stabilization or
manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale
or resale of the Shares.
(x) The
Company represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent
of the Representative, and each of the Underwriter represents and agrees that,
unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Company, it has not made and
will not make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute an Issuer
Free Writing Prospectus; provided that the prior written consent of the parties
hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of any free writing
prospectuses included in Schedule I. Any
such free writing prospectus consented to by the Company and the Underwriter is
hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing
Prospectus.” The Company represents that it has treated or
agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer
free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and has complied or will
comply with the requirements of Rule 433 applicable to any Permitted Free
Writing Prospectus, including timely Commission filing where required, legending
and record-keeping.
(xi) The
Company hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of the
Representative, it will not, during the period ending 90 days after the date
hereof (“Lock-Up
Period”), (i) offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, 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, make any
short sale or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any
shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into, exercisable or
exchangeable for or that represent the right to receive shares of Common Stock
or (ii) 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 Common
Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to
be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or
otherwise; or (iii) file any registration statement with the Commission relating
to the offering of any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into
or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock. The restrictions
contained in the preceding sentence shall not apply to (1) the Shares to be sold
hereunder, (2) the issuance of Common Stock upon the exercise of options or
warrants disclosed as outstanding in the Registration Statement (excluding
exhibits thereto) or the Prospectus, or (3) the issuance of employee stock
options not exercisable during the Lock-Up Period and the grant of restricted
stock awards or restricted stock units pursuant to equity incentive plans
described in the Registration Statement (excluding exhibits thereto) and the
Prospectus. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (x) the Company issues
an earnings release or material news, or a material event relating to the
Company occurs, during the last 17 days of the Lock-Up Period, or (y) prior to
the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, the Company announces that it will release
earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the
Lock-Up Period, the restrictions imposed by this clause shall continue to apply
until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the
earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event,
unless the Underwriter waives such extension in writing.
23
(xii) The
Company use its best effort to hold its annual meeting of stockholders before
the end of its current fiscal year.
(xiii) The
Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause all PRC residents
who have a direct or indirect equity ownership interest in the Company or any of
the Operating Entities to obtain and/or complete all applicable filings,
approvals, registrations of foreign exchange for overseas investment required
under applicable PRC law and regulations, including but not limited to the Notice Regarding Certain
Administrative Measures on Financing and Round-trip Investments by PRC Residents
Through Offshore Special Purpose Vehicles effective as of November 1,
2005 issued by the PRC’s State Administration of Foreign Exchanges (also known
as “SAFE Circular 75”).
6. Conditions of the
Underwriter’s
Obligations. The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder to
purchase the Shares are subject to the accuracy, as of the date hereof and at
the Closing Date (as if made at the Closing Date), of and compliance with all
representations, warranties and agreements of the Company contained herein, the
performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and the following
additional conditions:
(a) If
filing of the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer
Free Writing Prospectus, is required under the Securities Act or the Rules and
Regulations, the Company shall have filed the Prospectus (or such amendment or
supplement) or such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus with the Commission in the
manner and within the time period so required (without reliance on Rule
424(b)(8) or 164(b) under the Securities Act); the Registration Statement shall
remain effective; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or any part thereof, any Rule 462 Registration Statement, or any
amendment thereof, nor suspending or preventing the use of the Time of Sale
Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall
have been issued; no proceedings for the issuance of such an order shall have
been initiated or threatened; any request of the Commission or the Underwriter
for additional information (to be included in the Registration Statement, the
Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus or otherwise) shall have been complied with to the reasonable
satisfaction of the Underwriter and its counsel.
(b) The
Representative shall not have reasonably
determined, and advised the Company, that the Registration Statement, the
Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, contains an untrue
statement of fact which, in the Representative’s reasonable opinion, is
material, or omits to state a fact which, in the Representative’s reasonable
opinion, is material and is required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading.
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(c) On
or after the date hereof (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating
accorded any of the Company’s securities by any “nationally recognized
statistical organization,” as that term is defined by the Commission for
purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act, and (ii) no such
organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or
review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any of the Company’s
securities.
(d) The
Representative shall have received lock-up agreements in the form provided by
the Underwriters executed by each entity or person listed on Schedule II
hereto.
(e) The
Representative shall have received on the Closing Date from Cadwalader,
Xxxxxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP, United States counsel for the Company, an opinion,
addressed to the Representative of the Underwriters and dated such Closing Date,
in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, to the
effect set forth in Schedule
III.
(f) The
Representative shall have received on the Closing Date from Zhong Lun Law Firm,
PRC counsel for the Company, an opinion, addressed to the Company and dated such
Closing Date, in the form and substance satisfactory to the
Underwriter.
(g) The
Representative shall have received on the Closing Date from Chui & Xxx, Hong
Kong counsel for the Company, an opinion, addressed to the Representative of the
Underwriters and dated such Closing Date, in the form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Representative.
(h) The
Representative shall have received on the Closing Date from Pillsbury Xxxxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxxx LLP, United States counsel for the Underwriters, a negative
assurance letter, addressed to the Representative of the Underwriters and dated
such Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Representative.
(i) The
Representative shall have received on each Closing Date from Haiwen &
Partners, PRC counsel for the Underwriters, an opinion, addressed to the
Representative of the Underwriters and dated such Closing Date, in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative.
(j) On
the Closing Date, the Representative shall have received a letter of the
Auditor, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representative of the
Underwriters, confirming that they are independent public accountants within the
meaning of the Securities Act and are in compliance with the applicable
requirements relating to the qualifications of accountants under Rule 2-01 of
Regulation S-X of the Commission, and confirming, as of the date of such letter
(or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the
respective dates as of which specified financial information is given in the
Time of Sale Disclosure Package, as of a date not prior to the date hereof or
more than five days prior to the date of such letter), the conclusions and
findings of said firm with respect to the financial information and other
matters covered by its letter delivered to the Representative concurrently with
the execution of this Agreement.
(k) On
the Closing Date, there shall have been furnished to the Representative a
certificate, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representative of the
Underwriters, signed by the chief executive officer and the chief financial
officer of the Company, in their capacity as officers of the Company, to the
effect that:
25
(i) The
representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and
correct, in all material respects, as if made at and as of the Closing Date, and
the Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the
conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing
Date;
(ii) No
stop order or other order (A) suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or any part thereof or any amendment thereof, (B) suspending the
qualification of the Shares for offering or sale, or (C) suspending or
preventing the use of the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, has been issued, and no proceeding for that
purpose has been instituted or, to their knowledge, is contemplated by the
Commission or any state or regulatory body; and
(iii) There
has been no occurrence of any event resulting or reasonably likely to result in
a Material Adverse Effect during the period from and after the date of this
Agreement and prior to the Closing Date.
(l) The
Company shall deliver to the Representative a copy of the Company’s certificate
of incorporation certified by the Delaware Secretary of State; and
(m) The
Company shall have furnished to the Underwriter and its counsel such additional
documents, certificates and evidence as the Underwriter or its counsel may have
reasonably requested.
If any condition specified in this
Section 6 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled,
this Agreement may be terminated by the Underwriter by notice to the Company at
any time at or prior to the Closing Date and such termination shall be without
liability of any party to any other party, except that Section 5(a)(vii),
Section 7 and Section 8 shall survive any such termination and remain in full
force and effect.
7. Indemnification
and Contribution.
(a) The
Company agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Underwriters,
their affiliates, directors and officers and employees, and each
person, if any, who controls the Underwriters within the meaning of Section 15
of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any
losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Underwriter or such person
may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise (including in
settlement of any litigation if such settlement is effected with the written
consent of the Company), insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities
(or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) an untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement, including the information deemed to be a part of the
Registration Statement at the time of effectiveness and at any subsequent time
pursuant to Rules 430A and 430B of the Rules and Regulations, the Time of Sale
Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto
(including any documents filed under the Exchange Act and deemed to be
incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement or the Prospectus), or
any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or arise out of or are based upon the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (ii) in whole or in
part, any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Company
contained herein, or (iii) in whole or in part, any failure of the Company to
perform its obligations hereunder or under law, and will reimburse the
Underwriters for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by it in
connection with evaluating, investigating or defending against such loss, claim,
damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss,
claim, damage, liability or action arises out of or is based upon an untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in
the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus,
or any amendment or supplement thereto or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by the Underwriters specifically for use in the preparation
thereof.
26
(b) Each
Underwriter, severally and not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless the
Company, its affiliates, directors, officers and employees, and each person, if
any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities
Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any losses, claims,
damages or liabilities to which the Company may become subject,
under the Securities Act or otherwise (including in settlement of any
litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of such
Underwriter), insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions
in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration
Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, or any amendment
or supplement thereto or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or arise out of or
are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made
in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the
Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto or any Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished
to the Company by such Underwriter specifically for use in the preparation
thereof, and will reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with defending against any such
loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that in no
case shall any Underwriter be liable or responsible for any amount in excess of
the underwriting discount applicable to the Securities to be purchased by such
Underwriter hereunder.
27
(c) Promptly
after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of
notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a
claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such
subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement
thereof; but the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve the
indemnifying party from any liability that it may have to any indemnified party
except to the extent such indemnifying party has been materially prejudiced by
such failure. In case any such action shall be brought against any
indemnified party, and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the
commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate
in, and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying
party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying
party to such indemnified party of the indemnifying party’s election so to
assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such
indemnified party under such subsection for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense
thereof; provided,
however, that if (i)
the indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based on advice of counsel) that
there may be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that
are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party,
(ii) a conflict or potential conflict exists (based on advice of counsel to the
indemnified party) between the indemnified party and the indemnifying party (in
which case the indemnifying party will not have the right to direct the defense
of such action on behalf of the indemnified party), or (iii) the indemnifying
party has not in fact employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
indemnified party to assume the defense of such action within a reasonable time
after receiving notice of the commencement of the action, the indemnified party
shall have the right to employ a single counsel to represent it in any claim in
respect of which indemnity may be sought under subsection (a) or (b) of this
Section 7, in which event the reasonable fees and expenses of such separate
counsel shall be borne by the indemnifying party or parties and reimbursed to
the indemnified party as incurred; it being understood, however, that the
indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one
separate counsel (plus local counsel).
The
indemnifying party under this Section 7 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 against any loss, claim, damage,
liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment. No
indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified
party, effect any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in
any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any
indemnified party is a party or could be named and indemnity was or would be
sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise
or consent (a) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from
all liability for claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or
proceeding and (b) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault,
culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified
party.
(d) If
the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is unavailable or
insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b)
above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or
payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or
liabilities referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above, (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 from the offering and sale of the
Shares or (ii) if
the allocation provided by clause (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 (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on
the one hand and the Underwriter on the other 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 Underwriter on the
other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net
proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company
bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the
Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the
Final Prospectus. The relative fault 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 the Underwriter and the
parties’ relevant intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The Company and
the Underwriter agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions
pursuant to this subsection (d) were to be determined by pro rata allocation or
by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to in the first sentence of this subsection
(d). The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the
losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this
subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending
against any action or claim that is the subject of this subsection
(d). Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), the Underwriter shall not
be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount of the
Underwriter’s commissions referenced in Section 4(a) actually received by the
Underwriter pursuant to this Agreement. 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.
28
(e) The
obligations of the Company under this Section 7 shall be in addition to any
liability that the Company may otherwise have and the benefits of such
obligations shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if
any, who controls the Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act; and the obligations of the
Underwriter under this Section 7 shall be in addition to any liability that
the Underwriter may otherwise have and the benefits of such obligations shall
extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to the Company, and officers,
directors and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of Section
15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act.
(f) For
purposes of this Agreement, the Underwriters confirm, and the Company
acknowledges, that there is no information concerning the Underwriter furnished
in writing to the Company by the Underwriters specifically for preparation of or
inclusion in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package,
the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, other than the statements
set forth in the last paragraph on the cover page of the Prospectus and the
statements set forth in the “Underwriting” section of the Prospectus and Time of
Sale Disclosure Package, only insofar as such statements relate to the amount of
selling concession and re-allowance or to over-allotment and related activities
that may be undertaken by any Underwriter.
8. Representations
and Agreements to Survive Delivery. All representations,
warranties, and agreements of the Company herein or in certificates delivered
pursuant hereto, including, but not limited to, the agreements of the
Underwriters and the Company contained in Section 5(a)(vii) and Section 7
hereof, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of the Underwriter or any controlling person
thereof, or the Company or any of its officers, directors, or controlling
persons, and shall survive delivery of, and payment for, the Shares to and by
the Underwriter hereunder.
29
9. Termination of
this Agreement.
(a) The
Representative shall have the right to terminate this Agreement by giving notice
to the Company as hereinafter specified at any time at or prior to the Closing
Date, if (i) trading in the Company’s Common Stock shall have been suspended by
the Commission or the Nasdaq Global Select Market or trading in securities
generally on the Nasdaq Global Market, New York Stock Exchange or NYSE Amex
shall have been suspended, (ii) minimum or maximum prices for trading shall have
been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been
required, on the Nasdaq Global Market, New York Stock Exchange or NYSE Amex, by
such exchange or by order of the Commission or any other governmental authority
having jurisdiction, (iii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared by
federal or state authorities, (iv) there shall have occurred any attack on,
outbreak or escalation of hostilities or act of terrorism involving the United
States, any declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, any
change in financial markets, any substantial change or development involving a
prospective substantial change in United States or international political,
financial or economic conditions or any other calamity or crisis, or (v) the
Company suffers any loss by strike, fire, flood, earthquake, accident or other
calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, the effect of which, in each case
described in this subsection (a), in the Underwriter’s reasonable judgment is
material and adverse and makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the
completion of the sale of and payment for the Shares. Any such
termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except
that the provisions of Section 5(a)(vii) and Section 7 hereof shall at all times
be effective and shall survive such termination.
(b) If
the Representative elects to terminate this Agreement as provided in this
Section, the Company shall be notified promptly by the Representative by
telephone, confirmed by letter.
10. Notices. Except
as otherwise provided herein, all communications hereunder shall be in writing
and, if to Xxxx, shall be mailed, delivered or telecopied to Xxxx Capital
Partners, LLC, 00 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000, telecopy number:
(000) 000-0000, Attention: Managing Director, with a copy to
Pillsbury Xxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxx LLC, Xxxxx 0000, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxxx Center, 222
Xxx Xx Xxxx X., Xxxxxxxx 000000, Xxxxx, telecopy number: x00(00) 0000-0000,
Attention: Xxxx-Xxx Xxx, Esq.; and if to the Company, shall be mailed, delivered
or telecopied to its agent for service as such agent's address appears on the
cover page of the Registration Statement with copies to Telestone Technologies
Xxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0, Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xx. 0 Haiying Road, Fengtai Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx,
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000000, telecopy number: x00 (00) 0000 0000, and to
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx & Xxxx XXX, 0000 Xxxxx Central Xxxxx Xxxxx 0, Xx. 00
Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxx 000000, Xxxxx, telecopy number:x00 (00) 0000 0000,
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx.; or in each case to such other address as the person
to be notified may have requested in writing. Any party to this
Agreement may change such address for notices by sending to the parties to this
Agreement written notice of a new address for such purpose.
11. Persons Entitled
to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective
successors and assigns and the controlling persons, officers and directors
referred to in Section 7. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or
shall be construed to give to any other person, firm or corporation any
legal or equitable remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any
provision herein contained. The term “successors and assigns” as
herein used shall not include any purchaser, as such purchaser, of any of the
Shares from the Underwriters.
30
12. Absence of
Fiduciary Relationship. The Company acknowledges and agrees
that: (a) the Underwriters have been retained solely to act as underwriters in
connection with the sale of the Shares and that no fiduciary, advisory or agency
relationship between the Company and the Underwriter has been created in respect
of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, irrespective of
whether any Underwriter has advised or is advising the Company on other matters;
(b) the price and other terms of the Shares set forth in this Agreement were
established by the Company following discussions and arms-length negotiations
with the Underwriter and the Company is capable of evaluating and understanding
and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement; (c) it has been advised that the Underwriter and
its affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions that may involve
interests that differ from those of the Company and that the Underwriter has no
obligation to disclose such interest and transactions to the Company by virtue
of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship; (d) it has been advised that
the Underwriter is acting, in respect of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, solely for the benefit of the Underwriter, and not on behalf of the
Company.
13. Amendments and
Waivers. No supplement, modification or waiver of this
Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the party to be bound
thereby. The failure of a party to exercise any right or remedy shall
not be deemed or constitute a waiver of such right or remedy in the
future. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be
deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision hereof (regardless of
whether similar), nor shall any such waiver be deemed or constitute a continuing
waiver unless otherwise expressly provided.
14. Partial
Unenforceability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any
section, paragraph, clause or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the
validity or enforceability of any other section, paragraph, clause or
provision.
15. Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
16. Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts and, if executed in more
than one counterpart, the executed counterparts shall each be deemed to be an
original and all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same
instrument.
17. FINRA.
The Underwriters acknowledge, understand and agree to comply with all
applicable rules promulgated by FINRA and the National Association of Securities
Dealers (“NASD”),
including but not limited to NASD Rules 2420, 2730, 2740 and 2750.
31
Please
sign and return to the Company the enclosed duplicates of this letter whereupon
this letter will become a binding agreement between the Company and
the Representative in accordance with its terms.
Very
truly yours,
|
||
TELESTONE
TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
|
||
By:
|
||
Name:
|
||
Title:
|
Confirmed
as of the date first above- mentioned by the Representative, acting on its own behalf and as Representative of the Underwriters listed on Schedule A hereto. |
||
XXXX
CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC
|
||
By:
|
||
Name:
|
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
|
|
Title:
|
Head
of Equity Capital Markets
|
[Signature
page to Underwriting Agreement]
SCHEDULE
A
Underwriters
Underwriter
|
Number of Underwritten Shares
to be Purchased from the
Company
|
Option Shares
|
||||||
Xxxx
Capital Partners, LLC
|
1,340,000 | 201,000 | ||||||
JMP
Securities LLC
|
335,000 | 50,250 | ||||||
Total
|
1,675,000 | 251,250 |
SCHEDULE
I
Telestone
Technologies Corporation
1,675,000
Shares of Common Stock
Final
Term Sheet
Issuer:
|
Telestone
Technologies Corporation (the “Company”)
|
Symbol:
|
TSTC
|
Security:
|
Common
stock, par value $0.001 per share
|
Size:
|
1,675,000
shares of common stock
|
Over-allotment
option:
|
251,250
additional shares of common stock
|
Public
offering price:
|
$12.00
per share
|
Underwriting
discounts and commissions:
|
$0.72
per share
|
Net
proceeds (excluding the over-allotment):
|
$11.07
(after deducting the underwriter’s discounts and commissions and estimated
offering expenses payable by the Company)
|
Trade
date:
|
November
24, 2010
|
Settlement
date:
|
November
30, 2010
|
Representative
of the Underwriters:
|
Xxxx
Capital Partners, LLC
|
SCHEDULE
II
Lock-up
Signatories
Telestone
Technologies Corporation
Han
Daqing (Director, CEO & Chairman of the Board)
Pan
Guobin (Director & President)
Zhu Lian
(Director)
Li Ming
(Director)
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx (Director)
Xx Xxxxxx
(Chief Financial Officer)
Yong
Shiqin (Chief Operating Officer)
Xxxxxxx
Xx (Finance Director)
SCHEDULE
III
Opinions
and Negative Assurance
1. The
Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in
good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with the requisite
corporate power to own or lease, as the case may be, and operate its properties,
and to conduct its business, as described in the Registration Statement and the
Final Prospectus.
2. The
Company is duly registered or qualified to do business as a foreign corporation
and is in good standing under the laws of the States of Delaware.
3. The
issuance of the Shares has been duly authorized and, when issued and paid for by
you pursuant to the Agreement, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.
4. The
holders of outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company Stock are not
entitled to any preemptive right or right of first refusal (i) set forth in or
provided for by the Company’s currently effective Certificate of Incorporation
or By-Laws (collectively, the “Company Governing
Documents”), or (ii) to our knowledge, granted by the Company in any
currently effective written agreement.
5. The
Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the Final Prospectus and any
amendments or supplements thereto (other than the financial statements and other
financial and statistical data and statements relating to the laws other than
federal laws and the laws of the State of New York included therein, as to which
we express no opinion) each as of their respective dates, and the Registration
Statement at the time it became effective, complied as to form in all material
respects with the requirements of the Act and Regulations. To our
knowledge, no United States Federal, Delaware or New York law, statute,
government order or mandate or rule or other regulation required to be described
in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Final
Prospectus is not described as required. The Shares and each
agreement filed or incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained
in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final
Prospectus.
6. The
statements in the Base Prospectus, the most recent Prospectus that is part of
the Time of Sale Disclosure Package (the “Time of Sale
Prospectus”) and the Final Prospectus under the headings “Description of
Capital Stock” and in the Registration Statement in Part II, Item 15,
insofar as such statements purport to summarize legal matters, agreements or
documents discussed therein, fairly summarize such legal matters, agreements or
documents, in all material respects.
7. The
Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities
Act. We have been orally advised by the Staff of the Commission that
no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has
been issued, and to our knowledge, no proceedings for that purpose have been
instituted or overtly threatened by the Commission. Any required
filing of the Prospectus, and any required supplement thereto, pursuant to Rule
424(b) under the Securities Act, has been made in the manner and within the time
period required by Rule 424(b).
8. The
Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part
of the Company and has been duly executed and delivered by the
Company.
9. The
Company is not, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares
and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Time of Sale
Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus will not be, required to register as
an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act.
10. No
consent, approval, authorization or filing with or order of any U.S. Federal,
State of Delaware court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over
the Company is required, under the laws, rules and regulations of the United
States of America and the State of Delaware, for the consummation by the Company
of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement, except (i) such as have been
made or obtained under the Securities Act and (ii) such as may be required under
the blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and
distribution of the Shares by you in the manner contemplated in the Agreement
and in the Final Prospectus, as to which we express no opinion.
11. The
issue and sale of the Shares pursuant to the Agreement will not result in a
breach or violation of (or constitute any event that with notice, lapse of time
or both would result in a breach of violation of): (i) the Company
Governing Documents, (ii) any statute, rule, or regulation of the United States
of America or the State of Delaware which, in our experience, is
typically applicable to transactions of the nature contemplated by the Agreement
and is applicable to the Company, (iii) any currently effective order, writ,
judgment, injunction, decree, or award that names and has been entered against
the Company and of which we have knowledge, or (iv) any Contract that was filed
as an exhibit or incorporated by reference to the Company’s most recent annual
report on Form 10-K, in each case (ii) through (iv) the breach or violation of
which would materially and adversely affect the Company.
12. To
our knowledge, there is no action, suit or other proceeding before or by any
court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or
threatened against the Company that is required to be described in the
Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and/or the Final
Prospectus that is not so described. To our knowledge, there is no
contract or other document of a character required to be described in the
Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and/or the Final
Prospectus, or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, which is
not described or filed as required.
13. The
Share have been approved for listing on the NASDAQ Global Market upon official
notice of issuance.
To our
knowledge, except as set forth in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the
Final Prospectus, the Company is not a party to any written agreement granting
any holders of securities of the Company rights to require the registration
under the Securities Act of resales of such securities.
In
addition to rendering legal advice and assistance to the Company in the course
of the preparation of the Registration Statement and the Time of Sale Disclosure
Package and the Final Prospectus, involving, among other things, discussions and
inquiries concerning various legal matters and the review of certain corporate
records, documents and proceedings, we also participated in conferences with
certain officers and other representatives of the Company, its independent
certified public accountants and you and your counsel, at which the contents of
the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final
Prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference in the Time of Sale
Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus and related matters were
discussed. We have also reviewed and relied upon certain corporate
records and documents of the Company, letters from counsel and accountants, and
oral and written statements and certificates of officers and other
representatives of the Company and others as to the existence and consequences
of certain factual and other matters.
The
purpose of our professional engagement was not to establish or confirm factual
matters or financial or quantitative information. Therefore, we are not passing
upon and do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or
fairness of the statements or information contained or incorporated by reference
in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Final
Prospectus (except to the extent expressly set forth in the numbered paragraph 5
of the separate opinion letter of [insert counsel] to you as of
this date) and have not made, or undertaken any obligation to make, an
independent check or verification thereof (except as also stated in that opinion
letter). Moreover, many of the determinations required to be made in
the preparation of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure
Package and the Final Prospectus involve matters of a non-legal
nature.
However,
subject to the foregoing and based on our participation, review and reliance
described in the second preceding paragraph, (i) we believe (a) the
Registration Statement (as of its effective date), the Time of Sale Prospectus
(as of the Applicable Time), the Final Prospectus (as of
its date), and any further amendments and supplements thereto (as of their
respective dates), as applicable, made by the Company prior to the Closing Date
(other than the financial statements and schedules and other financial and
statistical data included therein or derived therefrom, as to which we express
no belief) appeared on their face to be appropriately responsive, and complied
as to form, in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act
and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and (b)
the documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the
Time of Sale Prospectus and the Final Prospectus (other than the financial
statements and schedules and other financial and statistical data included
therein or derived therefrom, as to which we express no belief), at the time
they were filed with the Commission, appeared on their face to be appropriately
responsive, and complied as to form, in all material respects to the
requirements of the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder, and (ii) we confirm that no facts have come to our
attention that caused us to believe (a) that the Registration Statement or any
amendment thereto filed by the Company prior to the Closing Date (other than the
financial statements and schedules and other financial and statistical data
included therein or derived therefrom, as to which we express no belief), when
the Registration Statement or such amendment became effective, except as it
relates to any class of securities other than the Common Stock, contained any
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
(b) that the Time of Sale Disclosure Package (other than the financial
statements and schedules and other financial and statistical data included
therein or derived therefrom, as to which we express no belief), as of 6:00 a.m.
PDT on __________, 2010 (the “Applicable Time,” which, you have informed us, is
a time before the time of the first sale of the Shares by any Underwriter),
except as it relates to any class of securities other than the Common Stock,
contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or (c) that, as of
its date and as of the Closing Date, the Final Prospectus or any further
amendment or supplement thereto made by the Company prior to the Closing Date
(other than the financial statements and schedules and other financial and
statistical data included therein or derived therefrom, as to which we express
no belief), except as it relates to any class of securities other than the
Common Stock, contained or contains any untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. We do not express any belief with respect to the
assessments of or reports on the effectiveness of internal control over
financial reporting contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale
Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus.
In
addition, we supplementally inform you that, to our knowledge, there is no
action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or other governmental agency,
authority or body or any arbitrator pending or overtly threatened against the
Company or its properties by a third party of a character required to be
disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or
the Final Prospectus that is not disclosed in the Registration Statement, the
Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus as required by the
Securities Act and the rules thereunder.