Dated 13 February 2007 CITIC GROUP and GE CAPITAL EQUITY INVESTMENTS, INC. and ASIACO ACQUISITION LTD.* and ABLE STAR ASSOCIATES LIMITED and GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY SHAREHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT relating to ASIACO ACQUISITION LTD.* (*undergoing a change of...
Exhibit 99.8
Dated 13 February 2007
and
GE CAPITAL EQUITY INVESTMENTS, INC.
and
ASIACO ACQUISITION LTD.*
and
ABLE STAR ASSOCIATES LIMITED
and
GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
SHAREHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT
relating to ASIACO ACQUISITION LTD.*
(*undergoing a change of name from Modernday Limited)
Linklaters
00xx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxx
Telephone (000) 0000 0000
Facsimile (000) 0000 0000/2810 1695
Ref KMTM/SJT
This Agreement is made the 13 day of February 2007
Between:
| (1) | GE CAPITAL EQUITY INVESTMENTS, INC., a company incorporated in the United States with its offices at 000 Xxxxxxx 7, XX Xxx 0000, Xxxxxxx, XX 00000, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx (“GE Equity”); |
| (2) | ABLE STAR ASSOCIATES LIMITED a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands the registered office of which is at P.O. Box 957, Offshore Incorporations Centre, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands (“Able Star”); |
| (3) | ASIACO ACQUISITION LTD., (undergoing a change of name from Modernday Limited), company number 1373477, a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands the registered office of which is at P.O. Box 957, Offshore Incorporations Centre, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands (the “Company”); |
| (4) | GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, a company incorporated in the State of New York, United States and its address is at 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx 00000, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx of America (“GEC”); and |
| (5) | CITIC GROUP, an enterprise organised and existing under the laws of the People’s Republic of China, and having its registered office at Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, 0 Xxxxxxx Xxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, 100004, People’s Republic of China (“CITIC”). |
Whereas:
| (A) | The Company was incorporated in the British Virgin Islands on 19 December 2006 and at the date hereof has an authorised share capital of US$50,000 divided into 50,000 ordinary shares of US$1.00 each, of which two shares have been issued. |
| (B) | GE Equity, a wholly owned subsidiary of GEC, and Able Star, a wholly owned subsidiary of CITIC, currently each hold 50 per cent. of the issued shares of the Company. |
| (C) | The Company has been established for the sole purposes and objectives of effecting the Privatisation (as defined below) and holding shares in AsiaSat. The Company will be merged (by way of amalgamation, merger, transfer or otherwise) with JVCo after completion of the Privatisation. |
| (D) | Upon the completion of the Privatisation, GE Equity (or a wholly owned subsidiary) and Able Star will hold 49.5 per cent. and 50.5 per cent. respectively of the Shares of the Company. |
| (E) | The parties (other than the Company) have agreed that their respective rights and obligations (whether direct or indirect) in respect of the Company and in respect of AsiaSat shall be regulated by the provisions of this Agreement and the Memorandum and Articles and the Company has agreed with the other parties to comply with such of the matters herein contained as relate to the Company and to its holding of shares in AsiaSat. |
| (F) | GE Equity is a wholly owned subsidiary of GEC and GEC is a party to this Agreement in part to procure and guarantee GE Equity’s performance of its obligations under this Agreement. |
| (G) | Able Star is a wholly owned subsidiary of CITIC and CITIC is a party to this Agreement in part to procure and guarantee Able Star’s performance of its obligations under this Agreement. |
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| 1 | Interpretation |
| 1.1 | In this Agreement (including the Recitals), unless the context otherwise requires, the following words and expressions shall have the following meanings: |
“acting in concert” has the same meaning as in the Code;
“affiliate” means, with respect to any person, any person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, such person, provided that no person shall be an affiliate of CITIC merely by virtue of being owned or controlled by the PRC or the government thereof;
“agreed terms” means in relation to any document such document in the terms agreed between the parties and signed by the parties for the purposes of identification;
“AsiaSat” means Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Limited, a company incorporated with limited liability in Bermuda and as at the date of this Agreement listed on the Stock Exchange and the NYSE;
“AsiaSat Board” means the board of directors of AsiaSat;
“AsiaSat Director” means a director of AsiaSat;
“AsiaSat Shares” means shares in the issued share capital of AsiaSat;
“AsiaSat Voting Rights” means the voting rights for the time being and from time to time conferred by AsiaSat Shares and references to “the Company’s AsiaSat Voting Rights” are references to the voting rights conferred by the AsiaSat Shares held by the Company for the time being and from time to time;
“Associate” means, in relation to any person, any body corporate or other entity of or in relation to which such Shareholder or any of its subsidiaries owns or controls (directly or indirectly) 20 per cent. or more of the voting share capital (or equivalent right of ownership) or is entitled (directly or indirectly) to 20 per cent. or more of the net profits and/or net assets;
“Attributable AsiaSat Shares” means, in relation to a Class, those AsiaSat Shares which are attributable to such Class;
“Board” means the board of directors of the Company;
“business day” means a day (other than a Saturday or a Sunday) on which banks are ordinarily open for business in Hong Kong;
“Class” means any of the three classes of issued Shares in the Company (the ‘X’ Ordinary Shares, the ‘Y’ Ordinary Shares and the Special Shares) authorised after the adoption of the Memorandum and Articles by the Company pursuant to Clause 3.2.4 or, as the context requires, the holders of the Shares of the relevant class;
“Completion Date” means the date on which the Privatisation completes;
“Code” means the Hong Kong Code on Takeovers and Mergers (as amended from time to time and as construed and administered by the Executive and/or the Panel (each as defined in the Code));
“control” “is controlled by”, “under common control with” and similar expressions means, in relation to a party, where a person (or persons acting in concert) acquires or agrees to acquire or has options over direct or indirect control (1) of the affairs of that party,
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or (2) over more than 50 per cent. of the total voting rights conferred by all the issued shares in the capital of that party which are ordinarily exercisable in general meeting or (3) of the composition of the main board of directors of a party;
“Cooperation Agreement” means the cooperation agreement in respect of the Privatisation to be entered into between CITIC Group, Able Star, General Electric Capital Corporation and GE Equity on the same date as this Agreement;
“Director” means a director of the Company;
“Disposal” includes making any sale, assignment, exchange, transfer or other dealing with, or creating any Encumbrance, or granting any option or right or beneficial interest whatsoever, or any agreement for any of the same and “to Dispose” shall be construed accordingly;
“EBITDA” means earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization on a consolidated basis;
“Encumbrance” means any claim, charge, mortgage, security, pledge, lien, option, equity, power of sale or hypothecation;
“Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended;
“Exchange Transaction” means the redemption by SES of GECC’s entire holding of SES shares (representing approximately 19 per cent. of the issued share capital of SES) in exchange for shares in a new company holding a number of assets, including SES’s entire holding of ‘Y’ ordinary shares in JVCo;
“Fair Market Value” means the fair market value of AsiaSat as determined by appraisal by an independent expert of recognized, international standing, appointed by agreement of the Shareholders, or, in the absence of agreement, by the chair of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, in respect of the time when a Put Option or Call Option (as applicable) is exercised and without reference to the circumstances giving rising to such Put Option or Call Option or exercise of such option;
“GECC” means General Electric Capital Corporation, company incorporated in the United States with offices at 000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx;
“holding company” means in relation to any body corporate or other entity, any person of or in relation to which such body corporate or other entity is a subsidiary;
“JVCo” means Bowenvale Limited, a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands on 28 March 1996 with registered number 180391;
“JVCo Shareholders Agreement” means the shareholders agreement in respect of JVCo to be entered into between CITIC, GEC, GECC and Able Star;
“Listing” means an initial public offering and listing of all or a majority the AsiaSat Shares on a recognised stock exchange or an over the counter market;
“Listing Rules” means the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (as amended from time to time);
“Memorandum and Articles” means the memorandum and articles of association in a form to be agreed between the Parties within five Business Days from the date of publication of the joint announcement of the Privatisation by the Company and AsiaSat and to be adopted by the Company pursuant to Clause 3.2;
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“Minimum Price” means the product of EBITDA in aggregate, over the preceding four fiscal quarters, multiplied by the multiple to EBITDA (being the average of EBITDA over the four fiscal quarters ending on 31 December 2006) represented by the final price offered for AsiaSat Shares and options in the Privatisation;
“NYSE” means The New York Stock Exchange;
“parties” means the parties to this Agreement and “party” means any one of them;
“PRC” means The People’s Republic of China;
“Privatisation” means the potential acquisition, through a voluntary or mandatory offer or a scheme of arrangement, of all the issued shares of AsiaSat not already held by JVCo, which is to be conducted jointly by or on behalf of CITIC and GE Equity through the Company;
“Qualifying Subsidiary” means in relation to CITIC or GEC, a subsidiary thereof in relation to which CITIC or GEC (as the case may be):
| (a) | owns (directly or indirectly) 100 per cent. of the voting share capital (or equivalent right of ownership); and |
| (b) | is entitled (directly or indirectly) to 100 per cent. of the net profits and net assets; |
“Record Date” means, in relation to any dividend or other right from time to time conferred by, or accrued or accruing with respect to, any AsiaSat Shares, the date on or as of which entitlement to such dividend or other right is fixed, as between holders of AsiaSat Shares (by reference to the AsiaSat Shares respectively held by them on that date);
“Reorganisation” means, with respect to any company, any issue of shares of such company by way of capitalisation of profits or reserves or rights and any consolidation or sub-division or reduction of capital or other reconstruction or adjustment relating to the share capital of such company (or any shares or securities derived therefrom) and any other amalgamation or reconstruction affecting the share capital of such company (or any shares, stock or securities derived therefrom);
“SFO” means the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Chapter 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong);
“Shares” means shares of HK$0.10 in the capital of the Company;
“Shareholders” means the ‘X’ Shareholder(s) and/or the ‘Y’ Shareholder(s) and/or the Special Shareholder(s) from time to time and as the context requires;
“Shareholders Entitled” means, in relation to any dividend or other right from time to time conferred by, or accrued or accruing with respect to, any AsiaSat Shares held by the Company, the relevant Shareholders entitled to the same on a “pass-through” or “attribution” basis as determined in accordance with Clause 8 and/or (as appropriate) Schedule 1;
“Special Share” means the special shares in the issued share capital of the Company and as designated as such pursuant to Clause 3.2;
“Special Shareholder” means Able Star or any Qualifying Subsidiary of CITIC which holds Special Shares from time to time;
“Stock Exchange” means The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited;
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“subsidiary” means in relation to any person, any body corporate or other entity directly or indirectly controlled by such person, for which purpose “control” means either ownership of more than 50 per cent. of the voting share capital (or equivalent right of ownership) of such body corporate or other entity or power to direct its policies and management whether by contract or otherwise;
“Unresolved Matter” has the meaning given in Clauses 5.8 and 7.3.2;
“‘X’ Director” means any Director appointed by the ‘X’ Shareholder pursuant to Clause 5.2.1;
“‘X’ Ordinary Shares” means ‘X’ ordinary shares in the issued share capital of the Company and designated as such pursuant to Clause 3.2;
“‘X’ Shareholder” means Able Star or any Qualifying Subsidiary of CITIC which holds ‘X’ Ordinary Shares from time to time;
“‘Y’ Director” means any Director appointed by the ‘Y’ Shareholder pursuant to Clause 5.2.1;
“‘Y’ Ordinary Shares” means ‘Y’ ordinary shares in the issued share capital of the Company and designated as such pursuant to Clause 3.2; and
“‘Y’ Shareholder” means GE Equity or any Qualifying Subsidiary of GEC which holds ‘Y’ Ordinary Shares from time to time;
| 1.2 | unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to a statutory provision shall include such provision as from time to time modified or re-enacted or consolidated so far as such modification or re-enactment or consolidation applies or is capable of applying to any transaction entered into hereunder; |
| 1.3 | references to Recitals, Clauses, Schedules and Paragraphs are to recitals, Clauses, schedules and paragraphs of this Agreement; |
| 1.4 | references to “the other Shareholder” means Able Star or GE Equity, as the context requires; |
| 1.5 | references to documents being “in the agreed terms” are to the form of the draft or final or executed version thereof signed for identification by GE Equity and Able Star with such alterations as may be agreed between GE Equity and Able Star but such documents in the agreed terms do not form part of this Agreement; |
| 1.6 | the headings are for convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation hereof; and |
| 1.7 | unless the context otherwise requires, words importing the singular only shall include the plural and vice versa and references to natural persons shall include bodies corporate. |
| 2 | Conditions |
If the Privatisation does not become wholly unconditional, fails or otherwise lapses, whether by its terms or by agreement of the parties thereto or otherwise, this Agreement shall lapse and the parties shall have no claims whatsoever against each other in respect of any matter arising from or relating to this Agreement except that Clause 18 (Confidentiality) shall remain in full force and effect.
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| 3 | Structure of the Company |
| 3.1 | Merger with JVCo |
The parties shall procure that as soon as is reasonably practicable after the Completion Date, the Company shall be merged (whether by way of amalgamation, merger, transfer or otherwise) with JVCo, and the Company’s interest in AsiaSat shall be transferred to JVCo.
| 3.2 | Resolutions of the Shareholders of the Company |
On and with effect from the Completion Date the Shareholders shall pass by way of written resolutions (in such form as shall have been previously approved by the Shareholders), resolutions:
| 3.2.1 | adopting the Memorandum and Articles in substitution for the existing memorandum and articles of association of the Company; |
| 3.2.2 | approving the increase in the authorised share capital of the Company (the “New Share Capital”) so that there shall be one Share created for each one AsiaSat Share held by the Company, and the designation of 49.5 per cent. (rounded down to the nearest Share) of the New Share Capital as ‘X’ Ordinary Shares, 49.5 per cent. (rounded down to the nearest Share) as ‘Y’ Ordinary Shares (rounded down to the nearest Share) and one per cent. of the New Share Capital as Special Shares (rounded up to the nearest Share); |
| 3.2.3 | approving the granting to and the exercise by the Directors of any and all powers of the Company to allot and issue the ‘X’ Ordinary Shares to the ‘X’ Shareholder, the ‘Y’ Ordinary Shares to the ‘Y’ Shareholder and the Special Shares to the Special Shareholder; |
| 3.2.4 | approving, immediately following the allotment and issue of the ‘X’ Ordinary Shares, ‘Y’ Ordinary Shares and the Special Shares in accordance with Clause 3.2.3 above, the two issued shares of a par value of US$1.00 (each a “US$ Denominated Share”) currently held as to one US$ Denominated Share by Able Star and as to the other US$ Denominated Share by GE Equity be repurchased by the Company at par value, with funds lawfully available therefor, and each of Able Star and GE Equity respectively consenting to the repurchase of the US$ Denominated Share held by it; |
| 3.2.5 | approving, immediately following the repurchase of two US$ Denominated Shares in accordance with Clause 3.2.4 above, the authorised share capital of the Company be reduced by the cancellation of 50,000 shares of a par value of US$1.00 each; and |
| 3.2.6 | approving the changes (if any) to the ‘X’ Directors, the changes (if any) to the ‘Y’ Directors nominated and the appointment of the Company secretary (if any) as set out in Clauses 5.2.3, 5.2.4 and 5.9.2 respectively. |
| 3.3 | Meeting of the Board |
On the Completion Date, the Company shall procure the holding of a meeting of the Board and the passing of the following resolutions:
| 3.3.1 | approving the allotment and issue of the ‘X’ Ordinary Shares to the ‘X’ Shareholder, the ‘Y’ Ordinary Shares to the ‘Y’ Shareholder and the Special Shares to the Special Shareholder, in each case at an issue price of HK$0.10 per share; |
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| 3.3.2 | the two US$ Denominated Shares currently held as to one US$ Denominated Share by Able Star and as to the other US$ Denominated Share by GE Equity be repurchased by the Company at par value, with funds lawfully available therefore, provided that the Directors are satisfied, on reasonable grounds, that immediately after the acquisition of the two US$ Denominated Shares, the value of the Company’s assets will nonetheless exceed its liabilities and the Company will be able to pay its debts as and when they fall due. |
| 3.4 | Capital Structure of the Company: three separate classes |
The rights and interests of the Shareholders in the assets of the Company (and, specifically, in the AsiaSat Shares held by the Company from time to time) will derive from their respective holdings of Shares in the Company. The Shareholders agree that:
| 3.4.1 | the share capital of the Company shall, immediately after the passing of the resolutions referred to in Clause 3.2 above, be divided into three separate classes, ‘X’ Ordinary Shares, ‘Y’ Ordinary Shares and Special Shares; |
| 3.4.2 | each Class shall be allotted and issued to the Shareholders in accordance with Clause 3.2 and Clause 3.3 above; and |
| 3.4.3 | each Class shall be entitled to the specific rights provided for in this Agreement and in the Memorandum and Articles. |
| 4 | Single Purpose Collective Shareholding Vehicle |
| 4.1 | All interests in AsiaSat held through the Company |
Subject to the AsiaSat Shares held by JVCo as of the date of this Agreement, none of the parties and their respective subsidiaries or Associates will, except with the written consent of GE Equity and CITIC or as a result of the Privatisation or any other mandatory offer for AsiaSat made in accordance with the provisions of Clauses 9.2.5 or 14.1, at any time during the continuance of this Agreement, acquire or hold any interest in any AsiaSat Shares other than AsiaSat Shares held from time to time by the Company. All interests in AsiaSat Shares (other than any held by JVCo) of the parties and/or their respective subsidiaries and Associates shall be held through the Company, except for any such shares that are held for the account of a pension fund or other third party.
| 4.2 | Limited purpose company |
The parties agree that the sole purposes and objectives of the Company are to effect the Privatisation and to hold AsiaSat Shares and the Company shall have no other assets and no business interests of any other nature whatsoever unless otherwise agreed between the Shareholders.
| 4.3 | Company’s issued share capital to mirror the Company’s underlying holding of AsiaSat Shares |
| 4.3.1 | To assist ready identification of attributable underlying interests in AsiaSat Shares and for general administrative convenience, the parties agree that: |
| (a) | the issued share capital of the Company should (so far as possible) mirror exactly (in terms of the number of Shares in issue) the number of AsiaSat Shares held by the Company for the time being and from time to time; and |
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| (b) | the issued shares of each separate Class should also (so far as possible) mirror exactly (in terms of the number of Shares of the relevant Class in issue) the AsiaSat Shares which are attributable to such Class for the time being and from time to time. |
| 4.4 | Manner in which Class rights to be exercised |
All class rights conferred by Shares of any particular Class shall be exercisable from time to time by written notice given to the Company signed by or on behalf of the respective Shareholder. Such class rights include:
| 4.4.1 | the right to appoint Directors pursuant to Clause 5.2 and to nominate the Company’s chairman and deputy chairman on a rotating basis pursuant to Clause 5.3; |
| 4.4.2 | the right to decide how the Company’s AsiaSat Voting Rights should be exercised from time to time with respect to its Attributable AsiaSat Shares in accordance with Clause 7; |
| 4.4.3 | the right to dividends and other rights accruing on or with respect to its Attributable AsiaSat Shares in accordance with Clause 8; and |
| 4.4.4 | the right to nominate AsiaSat Directors and certain AsiaSat officers in accordance with Clause 6. |
| 4.5 | Company not to be deemed a mere trustee |
All AsiaSat Shares held by the Company for the time being and from time to time are and shall be assets of the Company. Nothing in this Agreement shall constitute the Company a trustee of any AsiaSat Shares for or on behalf of any of the Shareholders or any other party.
| 5 | Management and Direction of the Company |
| 5.1 | Implementation of this Agreement |
The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by the Board. However, the principal function of the Board shall be to give effect to the provisions and underlying intent of this Agreement. Subject always to legal and/or fiduciary duties of the individual Directors, each Shareholder shall be responsible to the other for ensuring that those Directors appointed by it shall conduct themselves (and generally exercise their rights, powers and discretions as Directors) accordingly.
| 5.2 | The Board of the Company |
| 5.2.1 | At all times whilst this Agreement remains in force the parties shall procure that the number of Directors shall be at least six (6) and that (subject as otherwise expressly provided herein) each of Able Star (in its capacity as an ‘X’ Shareholder) and GE Equity (in its capacity as a ‘Y’ Shareholder) shall be entitled to appoint and to remove up to three (3) Directors. |
| 5.2.2 | Each of Able Star and GE Equity shall be entitled to remove any Director it has appointed pursuant to this Clause 5.2 and to appoint another Director in place of the Director so removed provided that the relevant ‘X’ Shareholder or ‘Y’ Shareholder who removes a Director in this way shall be exclusively responsible for (and shall indemnify the Company against) any resulting or consequential claims for compensation on the part of such Director. |
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| 5.2.3 | Able Star shall notify GE Equity and the Company at least three business days prior to the Completion Date of changes (if any) to be made to the existing three ‘X’ Directors. |
| 5.2.4 | GE Equity shall notify Able Star and the Company at least three business days prior to the Completion Date of changes (if any) to be made to the existing three ‘Y’ Directors. |
| 5.3 | The chairman and deputy chairman of the Company |
| 5.3.1 | The right to nominate the chairman of the Company (who shall be both a Director of the Company and an AsiaSat Director) will rotate on a bi-annual basis (with effect from 1 January in successive periods) between the ‘X’ Shareholders and the ‘Y’ Shareholders in that order, subject to the provisions of Clause 5.3.2 below. |
| 5.3.2 | With effect from the Completion Date, the chairman of the Company shall be the person, who will be an ‘X’ Director and whose name shall be notified by Able Star to GE Equity and the Company at least three business days prior to the Completion Date. Such chairman shall be deemed to have been nominated by the ‘X’ Shareholder and shall hold such office until 31 December 2008. |
| 5.3.3 | The right to nominate the deputy chairman (who shall be both a Director of the Company and an AsiaSat Director) from time to time shall be the right of the Class which will have the right to nominate the next chairman of the Company after the expiry of the two year period then current for the purposes of Clause 5.3.1. |
| 5.3.4 | With effect from the Completion Date the deputy chairman of the Company shall be the person, who will be a ‘Y’ Director and whose name shall be notified by GE Equity to Able Star and the Company at least three business days prior to the Completion Date. Such deputy chairman shall be deemed to have been nominated by the ‘Y’ Shareholder and shall hold such office until 31 December 2008. |
| 5.4 | Board meetings |
| 5.4.1 | Without prejudice to Clause 5.7, any Director or the secretary (on the requirement of a Director) may convene a meeting of the Board at any time provided that each Director is given at least seven (7) day’s notice of the time, date, place and agenda of such meeting unless all Directors agree to waive such notice. The agenda shall specify in reasonable detail the matters to be discussed at the relevant meeting and shall be accompanied by any relevant papers for discussion at such meeting. Unless otherwise first agreed in writing by the Shareholders, all meetings of the Board shall be held in Hong Kong. |
| 5.4.2 | Subject to Clause 5.6, the quorum for any meeting of the Board shall be two (2) Directors, one of whom shall be an ‘X’ Director and one of whom shall be a ‘Y’ Director. |
| 5.4.3 | Decisions of the Board shall be by unanimous vote of those Directors present. The chairman and deputy chairman of the Board shall each have a vote as a Director, but neither shall have an additional casting vote. |
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| 5.4.4 | Minutes of each meeting of the Board shall be sent to each Director as soon as practicable after the holding of each meeting. |
| 5.4.5 | A resolution in writing or by facsimile signed or approved by facsimile by all the Directors shall be as valid and effective as if it had been duly passed at a meeting of the Board duly convened and held. |
| 5.4.6 | Board meetings may be held by conference telephone or other means of telecommunications. |
| 5.4.7 | Any Director may appoint an alternate to represent him at meetings of the Board which he is unable to attend who shall be counted towards a quorum of the meeting of Directors and particulars of such appointment shall be delivered to the secretary of the Company. |
| 5.5 | Shareholder meetings |
| 5.5.1 | The Shareholders agree that the ‘X’ Ordinary Shares and ‘Y’ Ordinary Shares carry equal voting rights and Special Shares shall carry no voting rights. |
| 5.5.2 | Each of the ‘X’ Shareholders and the ‘Y’ Shareholders shall be responsible to the other for ensuring that all voting rights conferred by the ‘X’ Ordinary and ‘Y’ Ordinary Shares shall be exercised in a manner consistent in all respects with the provisions and underlying intent of this Agreement and generally so as (so far as may be necessary or desirable) to give effect to this Agreement. In particular, the ‘X’ Shareholders and the ‘Y’ Shareholders shall procure the passing of any and all such Shareholder resolutions as may be necessary or desirable from time to time in order to effect or approve all relevant dividends and/or other distributions, and all issues and redemptions of Shares, contemplated to be paid or made from time to time in accordance with this Agreement. |
| 5.5.3 | Subject to Clause 5.6, the quorum for any meeting of the Shareholders shall be two (2) Shareholders, one of whom shall be an ‘X’ Shareholder and one of whom shall be a ‘Y’ Shareholder. |
| 5.6 | Absence of a quorum |
In the event that any meeting of the Shareholders or of the Board is frustrated by the absence of a quorum by reason of the absence of an ‘X’ Shareholder or a ‘Y’ Shareholder or one or more Directors, as the case may be, such meeting may be reconvened by the ‘X’ Shareholder or ‘Y’ Shareholder or Directors, as the case may be, who were present at such meeting at such time and place as they think fit provided that not less than 15 days’ notice of such reconvened meeting shall be given to the ‘X’ Shareholders or ‘Y’ Shareholders or the Directors, as the case may be, which notice shall contain particulars of the matters to be discussed at such meeting and the ‘X’ Shareholder or ‘Y’ Shareholder or Directors, as the case may be, present at such reconvened meeting shall be deemed a quorum provided that at least two Directors or an ‘X’ Shareholder or a ‘Y’ Shareholder, as the case may be, are present and, subject to Clause 14 (Undertakings by GEC and CITIC), shall be free to pass such resolutions as they shall think fit regarding the subject matter for which the meeting in question was convened.
| 5.7 | AsiaSat Board business |
The ‘X’ Shareholders and ‘Y’ Shareholders shall cooperate with a view to ensuring that a Board meeting will be convened and held prior to every AsiaSat Board meeting to discuss
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the matters requiring discussion at the AsiaSat Board meeting. Subject always to legal and/or fiduciary duties of the individual AsiaSat Directors, each ‘X’ Shareholder and ‘Y’ Shareholder shall use all reasonable endeavours to ensure that those AsiaSat Directors appointed by it shall vote at the AsiaSat Board in accordance with the agreement or understanding reached at the earlier Board meeting (the proceedings of which shall be conducted in accordance with Clause 5).
| 5.8 | Unresolved Matters |
| 5.8.1 | If at a duly convened meeting of the Board or at a duly convened meeting of the ‘X’ Shareholders and ‘Y’ Shareholders, the Directors or the ‘X’ Shareholders and ‘Y’ Shareholders (as the case may be) are unable to pass a valid and binding resolution in respect of a matter relating to the business of the Company required to be resolved by the Board or the ‘X’ Shareholders and ‘Y’ Shareholders (as the case may be) (an “Unresolved Matter”), another meeting of the Board or the ‘X’ Shareholders and ‘Y’ Shareholders shall be convened within seven days from the first meeting to discuss the Unresolved Matter, at which meeting the Directors or the ‘X’ Shareholders and ‘Y’ Shareholders (as the case may be) shall respectively use all reasonable endeavours in good faith to agree on a resolution of such Unresolved Matter. |
| 5.8.2 | If a quorum is not achieved at the reconvened meeting or if the Directors or the ‘X’ Shareholders and ‘Y’ Shareholders (as the case may be) are still unable to pass a valid and binding resolution in respect of the Unresolved Matter at the reconvened meeting or if the Unresolved Matter is one which relates to a decision on how the Company’s AsiaSat Voting Rights are to be exercised (a “Voting Matter”), either the ‘X’ Shareholders or the ‘Y’ Shareholders shall refer the Unresolved Matter by written notice to each of the nominated representatives from time to time appointed by each of Able Star and GE Equity as initially appointed under Clause 5.8.5 and thereafter notified to the other party with specific reference to this Clause (“Nominated Representative”) (such notice shall be served at the same address as Able Star and GE Equity in accordance with Clause 25 (Notices)) with a view to arranging a meeting between the two Nominated Representatives as soon as practicable (and in respect of a Voting Matter within 5 business days of the Voting Matter being deemed an Unresolved Matter in accordance with Clause 7.3.2), who shall negotiate in good faith to agree on a resolution of the Unresolved Matter. |
| 5.8.3 | If the Board or ‘X’ Shareholders and ‘Y’ Shareholders remain unable to pass a valid and binding resolution on the Unresolved Matter for more than five (5) business days from the date on which the Unresolved Matter was first referred by notice to the Nominated Representatives referred to in Clause 5.8.2 or such other period as the Parties may agree in writing, then the provisions of Clause 19 shall be applicable. |
| 5.8.4 | The provisions of this Clause 5.8 shall not apply in respect of matters covered by Clause 14. |
| 5.8.5 | With effect from the Completion Date, the Nominated Representative of Able Star is Mr Mi Xxxx Xxx and the Nominated Representative of GE Equity is Xx Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xx. |
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| 5.9 | Secretary and auditors |
| 5.9.1 | The Company secretary (if any) and the Company’s auditors will be appointed, as necessary from time to time, by resolution of the Board. The ‘X’ Shareholders and ‘Y’ Shareholders shall together have a right to request in writing that the Company effects a change in the Company secretary or the Company’s auditors. |
| 5.9.2 | With effect from the Completion Date, the Company secretary (if any) shall (as the Shareholders shall procure) be such person whose name shall be notified by GE Equity and Able Star jointly to the Company at least three business days prior to the Completion Date. |
| 5.9.3 | Unless otherwise mutually agreed by the ‘X’ Shareholders and ‘Y’ Shareholders, PricewaterhouseCoopers shall be appointed as the auditors of the Company within a reasonable time after the Completion Date. |
| 5.10 | Register of members |
The register of members of the Company shall be maintained in such place as the Shareholders shall agree from time to time.
| 6 | Nomination of AsiaSat Directors, Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer |
| 6.1 | Appointment of certain AsiaSat Directors by the Company |
The Company and the Shareholders (so far as they are able) shall procure the holding of a meeting of the AsiaSat Board, as soon as practicable after the Completion Date, for the purpose of the replacing any ‘X’ Directors or ‘Y’ Directors in accordance with the changes notified pursuant to Clause 5.2.3 and Clause 5.2.4, respectively, to the AsiaSat Board, the appointment of the chairman and deputy chairman of the Company to be named pursuant to Clauses 5.3.2 and 5.3.4 as the chairman and deputy chairman respectively of AsiaSat and the Company. The Shareholders shall procure that immediately following such meeting of the AsiaSat Board and for as long as this Agreement shall remain in force the AsiaSat Board shall comprise the three (3) individuals who are the ‘X’ Directors or who are appointed by the ‘X’ Shareholder (as the case may be), the three (3) individuals who are the ‘Y’ Directors or who are appointed by the ‘Y’ Shareholder (as the case may be), two (2) executive directors being the Chief Executive Officer and the Deputy Chief Executive Officer and (for so long as AsiaSat remains listed on the Stock Exchange) three (3) independent non-executive directors.
| 6.2 | Rights and ability of the Company to procure the appointment and/or removal of AsiaSat Directors |
| 6.2.1 | The Company shall exercise its AsiaSat Voting Rights, and all other rights available to it from time to time deriving from its holding of AsiaSat Shares, to procure (so far as it is able) that all of the Directors from time to time shall be appointed to or removed from the AsiaSat Board in accordance with Clause 6.2. |
| 6.2.2 | Where an ‘X’ Shareholder or a ‘Y’ Shareholder exercises its right under Clause 5.2.2 to remove a Director and appoint a replacement Director, the Company and the Shareholders shall procure (so far as they are able) that the Director so removed shall also be removed from the AsiaSat Board and that the replacement Director be appointed to the AsiaSat Board, subject always to Clause 6.3. |
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| 6.3 | Responsibilities of the ‘X’ and ‘Y’ Shareholders with respect to their own nominated appointees |
Whenever an AsiaSat Director is removed from the AsiaSat Board pursuant to Clause 6.2.2, the relevant ‘X’ Shareholder or ‘Y’ Shareholder which appointed such removed AsiaSat Director shall indemnify the other Shareholders and AsiaSat against any costs, claims or losses arising from any resulting or consequential claims for compensation on the part of such AsiaSat Director.
| 6.4 | Nomination of the AsiaSat chairman and deputy chairman |
The Company shall make representations to the AsiaSat Board from time to time requesting that the AsiaSat Board shall appoint the Company’s chairman as chairman of the AsiaSat Board and the Company’s deputy chairman as deputy chairman of the AsiaSat Board. It is the intention of the Shareholders that the same individuals should be chairman and deputy chairman of board of the Company, JVCo and subject to this being acceptable to the AsiaSat Board from time to time.
| 6.5 | Nomination of AsiaSat Chief Executive Officer, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer |
| 6.5.1 | The Company shall make representations to the AsiaSat Board from time to time requesting that the AsiaSat Board shall appoint persons nominated by mutual consent of Able Star and GE Equity and notified to the Company to be AsiaSat’s Chief Executive Officer and Deputy Chief Executive Officer (both of whom shall be directors of AsiaSat). |
| 6.5.2 | The Company shall make representations to the AsiaSat Board from time to time requesting that the AsiaSat Board shall appoint the person nominated by mutual consent of Able Star and GE Equity and notified to the Company to be AsiaSat’s Chief Financial Officer. |
| 6.6 | JVCo Agreement shall take precedence |
In the event of any ambiguity or discrepancy between the application of the provisions of this Clause 6 and clause 6 of the JVCo Shareholders’ Agreement, it is the intention that clause 6 of the JVCo Shareholders’ Agreement shall prevail for so long as the JVCo Shareholders’ Agreement is in force.
| 7 | Exercise of the AsiaSat Voting Rights by the Company |
| 7.1 | Company to obtain instructions from Shareholders |
On each relevant occasion when the Company’s AsiaSat Voting Rights are to be, or may be, exercised, the Company shall notify each of the ‘X’ Shareholders and ‘Y’ Shareholders of the requirement for a decision on voting rights as soon as practicable after the Company becomes aware that a resolution is to be proposed at a meeting of AsiaSat shareholders (or any relevant class of AsiaSat shareholders). The Company shall provide each of the ‘X’ Shareholders and ‘Y’ Shareholders with copies of the notice of meeting together with all circulars and other materials provided by AsiaSat to the Company in respect of the meeting.
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| 7.2 | Shareholders to give unequivocal statement of intention |
| 7.2.1 | Following each notification referred to in Clause 7.1, each of the ‘X’ Shareholders and ‘Y’ Shareholders shall communicate its wishes to the Company in writing in accordance with Clause 7.2.3 no later than 5:00 p.m. Hong Kong time on the fourth business day prior to the date of the relevant meeting (or such later time and/or date as practicable after receipt of the notification or as the ‘X’ and ‘Y’ Shareholders may agree in any particular case). |
| 7.2.2 | In this regard, each of the ‘X’ Shareholders (as a Class) and ‘Y’ Shareholders (as a Class) must express one wish only. It is not permissible to express different wishes with respect to different Attributable AsiaSat Shares of such Shareholder and anything other than an unequivocal statement of intention with respect to all the Attributable AsiaSat Shares of the relevant Shareholder will be disregarded by the Company so that the relevant Shareholder will be treated as having failed to communicate its wishes for the purpose of Clause 7.3.2. |
| 7.2.3 | On any relevant occasion, the wish expressed by any Shareholder under Clause 7.2.1 shall be one (but not more) of the following: |
| (a) | to vote in favour of the relevant resolution; |
| (b) | to vote against the relevant resolution; |
| (c) | to abstain from voting; or |
| (d) | to grant a discretionary proxy to the chairman of the meeting. |
| 7.3 | Company’s exercise of the AsiaSat Voting Rights |
| 7.3.1 | Where the wishes expressed by the ‘X’ Shareholders and ‘Y’ Shareholders pursuant to Clause 7.2 in respect of a particular resolution are the same, the Company shall exercise its AsiaSat Voting Rights in its entirety in relation to such resolution in accordance with the common wish of the ‘X’ Shareholders and ‘Y’ Shareholders. |
| 7.3.2 | Subject to Clause 14, where the wishes expressed by the ‘X’ Shareholders and ‘Y’ Shareholders pursuant to Clause 7.2 for a particular resolution are not the same or where a Shareholder fails to communicate its wishes to the Company by 5:00 p.m. Hong Kong time on the tenth business day prior to the date of the relevant meeting (or such other time and/or date which is as early as is reasonably practicable after receipt of the notification or as the ‘X’ Shareholders and ‘Y’ Shareholders may agree in writing in any particular case), the matter shall be treated as an Unresolved Matter and dealt with pursuant to the provisions of Clauses 5.8.2 and 5.8.3. |
| 7.3.3 | Subject always to the Listing Rules and there being no objection from the Stock Exchange, where any notification provided pursuant to Clause 7.1 contains a proposal for a resolution the subject of which is or includes a transaction which is a connected transaction (as such term is defined in the Listing Rules), the Company shall abstain from casting the votes attaching to the Attributable AsiaSat Shares of an ‘X’ Shareholder or a ‘Y’ Shareholder who is a “connected person” for the purpose of the Listing Rules, as the case may be, but the Company shall cast its votes in respect of the other ‘X’ Shareholder or ‘Y’ Shareholder’s Attributable AsiaSat Shares in accordance with such ‘X’ Shareholder or ‘Y’ Shareholder’s wish, |
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| as the case may be, as expressed in accordance with Clause 7.2. For the avoidance of doubt, in such circumstances the Company shall not exercise the votes attaching to Attributable AsiaSat Shares of the Special Shareholder, but shall abstain from casting such votes. |
| 7.3.4 | Any failure on the part of a Shareholder to communicate its wish to the Company will be treated as an expression of intention to abstain from voting for the purpose of the Company exercising its AsiaSat Voting Rights pursuant to Clause 7.3.2 or Clause 7.3.3. |
| 7.3.5 | The provisions of Clauses 7.3.2 and 7.3.3 shall not apply in respect of any of the matters set out in Clause 14 and the Company shall, if appropriate, vote its AsiaSat Voting Rights so as to give effect to the provisions of such Clause. |
| 7.4 | Votes to be cast so as to give effect to this Agreement |
It is an overriding requirement that the Company’s AsiaSat Voting Rights shall at all times (and from time to time) be exercised as necessary, desirable and/or appropriate to give effect to the express provisions and intent of this Agreement (including specifically, but without limitation, the objective and intentions underlying the rights of the respective Classes of ‘X’ Ordinary Shares and ‘Y’ Ordinary Shares to nominate AsiaSat Directors as set out in Clause 6 and the provisions of Clause 14).
| 7.5 | Shareholders to consult |
The Shareholders shall consult on a regular basis throughout the continuance of this Agreement with respect to their investment in AsiaSat and with a view to establishing and maintaining policies with respect to the Company’s ownership interest in AsiaSat (and the voting rights conferred by such ownership interest).
| 7.6 | General offers for AsiaSat |
Notwithstanding the provisions and procedures contained in Clauses 7.1 to 7.5 above, if any general offer (other than in connection with the Privatisation) is made for AsiaSat then unless the ‘X’ and ‘Y’ Shareholders agree otherwise, the ‘X’ and ‘Y’ Shareholders shall procure that the Company will not accept such offer in respect of any of the AsiaSat Shares held by it.
| 8 | Pass through of Dividends and Other Rights accruing on or with respect to Attributable AsiaSat Shares |
| 8.1 | Cash dividend receipts to be passed through to Shareholders of the relevant Class |
| 8.1.1 | As soon as practicable after the payment to the Company of any cash dividend on or with respect to any AsiaSat Shares, the Company shall distribute the relevant dividend to the Shareholders Entitled. |
| 8.1.2 | The general applicability of Clause 8.1.1 is subject to any decision of the Board from time to time pursuant to Clause 17.3.3 providing for dividends to be retained by the Company to cover ongoing expenses. |
| 8.1.3 | Any one or more Classes may elect from time to time to postpone distribution of any amounts otherwise due to such Class under Clause 8.1.1. Such postponement shall not in any way affect the ultimate entitlement of such Class to the amounts which would otherwise have been distributed to it. |
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| 8.1.4 | Each distribution by the Company pursuant to Clause 8.1.1 shall be made by way of dividend paid by the Company or in such other manner as the Company and the Shareholders may agree in any particular case. |
| 8.1.5 | If the Company is required at any time under applicable laws to make any deduction or withholding from any such distribution, the relevant distribution shall be made net of the applicable deduction or withholding and the Company shall remit to the appropriate revenue authority or other person all amounts required to be so remitted with respect to the amount so deducted or withheld. This Clause 8.1.5 is subject in all respects to Clause 8.1.3. |
| 8.2 | Other rights accruing on or with respect to Attributable AsiaSat Shares |
All rights and entitlements, other than to cash dividend payments and voting rights, accruing from time to time on or with respect to any AsiaSat Shares held by the Company, shall belong to the Shareholders Entitled. These rights and entitlements include:
| 8.2.1 | distributions in kind; |
| 8.2.2 | entitlements to bonus shares arising under other reorganisations of AsiaSat’s issued share capital; |
| 8.2.3 | scrip dividend elections and other alternatives; and |
| 8.2.4 | rights to subscribe further AsiaSat Shares or any other securities of AsiaSat. |
Schedule 1 sets out the basis on which such rights and entitlements will be passed through to, or otherwise made available to, or exercised at the direction of, the relevant Class of Shareholders.
| 8.3 | Entitlements of Classes |
Except as specifically otherwise provided for elsewhere in this Agreement, all dividends and other entitlements conferred by, or accrued or accruing with respect to, any of the Company’s AsiaSat Shares shall be passed through or (as appropriate) allocated and attributed to each Class in proportion to the Shareholders’ respective shareholdings in the Company.
| 8.4 | Liability for taxation |
| 8.4.1 | If and to the extent that the Company incurs any liability for taxation as a result of, or in connection with, the receipt of any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash or in kind), or in relation to any other right from time to time conferred by or accrued or accruing, on or with respect to any AsiaSat Shares held by the Company, the relevant liability for taxation shall be attributed to the Shareholders Entitled in proportion to the Shareholders’ respective shareholdings in the Company. |
| 8.4.2 | The Company shall arrange for any such liability to taxation to be discharged out of the assets concerned and shall account to the Shareholders Entitled on a “net” basis. All the preceding provisions of this Clause 8 and the provisions of Schedule 1 shall be construed accordingly. |
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| 9 | Disposal of Shares in the Company |
| 9.1 | No Disposal of Shares in the Company |
Except as contemplated by Clauses 9.2 and 9.4 each of the Shareholders undertakes that except with the consent of the other Shareholders or in accordance with the provisions of Clauses 7.6 and 9, no Shareholder shall:
| 9.1.1 | sell, transfer or otherwise Dispose of any of such Shares (or any legal or beneficial interest therein); |
| 9.1.2 | enter into any agreement in respect of the votes attached to Shares; or |
| 9.1.3 | agree, whether or not subject to any condition precedent or subsequent, to do any of the foregoing. |
| 9.2 | Permitted Disposals of Shares in the Company |
| 9.2.1 | The Shareholders undertake that they will not Dispose of all or any part of their Shares, other than to a Qualifying Subsidiary of CITIC (in respect of Able Star) or GEC (in respect of GE Equity), during the period ending on the third anniversary of the Completion Date, subject always to compliance by such Qualifying Subsidiary with the provisions of Clause 9.3 and Clause 26.3(c). |
| 9.2.2 | Each Shareholder shall be entitled, after the third anniversary of the Completion Date, to Dispose of all or any part of its holding of Shares subject to the prior written consent of (in the case of the X Shareholder or the Special Shareholder) the Y Shareholder or (in the case of the Y Shareholder) the X Shareholder, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld. |
| 9.2.3 | A Shareholder’s failure to give its consent to any Disposal by the other Shareholder pursuant to Clause 9.2.2 shall be unreasonable, if prior to any such Disposal, the Shareholder proposing to make such Disposal (the “Offeror”) shall have: |
| (a) | offered the Shares proposed to be Disposed to (in the case of the X Shareholder or the Special Shareholder) the Y Shareholder or (in the case of the Y Shareholder) the X Shareholder, (the “Offeree”), (in a notice setting out the consideration (in cash) of such proposed Disposal and all material terms and conditions of such Disposal (the “Notice”)) at the same cash price as that in the proposed Disposal and on terms no less favourable than those of the proposed Disposal, and the Offeror receives from the Offeree a written response to the Notice accepting the terms of the Disposal within five Business Days of the date of the Notice; and |
| (b) | demonstrated to the reasonable satisfaction of the other Shareholders that there are no reasonably likely risks to AsiaSat’s ability to (and if reasonably requested in the circumstances put in place arrangements to protect AsiaSat from any reasonably likely risks to AsiaSat’s ability to): |
| (i) | maintain its satellite licences and satellite orbital slots with substantially the same scope, coverage and authorization provided as provided prior to such Disposal; and |
| (ii) | carry on the business of provision of satellite transponder capacity substantially as carried on prior to such disposal in the PRC, |
in each case resulting as a consequence of such Disposal.
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| 9.2.4 | No Shareholder (the “Transferor”) may make any Disposal pursuant to Clause 9.2.2 if such Disposal triggers or would trigger an obligation on any other Shareholder and/or any party acting in concert with such other Shareholder (the “Potential Offerors”) to make a general offer for AsiaSat, unless (i) the Potential Offerors have given their prior written consent to the Disposal, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, and (ii) the Transferor agrees to indemnify the Potential Offerors for all consequences including costs incurred by them in respect of the general offer. |
| 9.2.5 | It shall be reasonable for a Potential Offeror to withhold its consent under Clause 9.2.4 on the grounds of, without limitation, costs and expenses, reputation risk or sell down risk. |
| 9.3 | Qualifying Subsidiaries |
| 9.3.1 | If any Shareholder that is a Qualifying Subsidiary is about to or will cease to be a Qualifying Subsidiary it must, before ceasing to be a Qualifying Subsidiary, ensure that its interest in all and not part only of the Shares in which it is interested shall be effectively transferred to GE Equity or Able Star (as the case may be) or to another Qualifying Subsidiary. |
| 9.3.2 | Able Star and GE Equity may agree from time to time (on a case by case basis) that any subsidiary of any of CITIC and GEC should be deemed to be and should be treated as a Qualifying Subsidiary, as the case may be, for the purposes of this Agreement. Any such agreement shall specify the terms on which it is made and given (including any minimum level of ownership and/or control which CITIC or GEC, as the case may be, is required to maintain in such subsidiary) and, in the event of any failure to comply with such conditions at any time, the relevant entity shall (for the avoidance of doubt) be deemed to have ceased to be a Qualifying Subsidiary, as the case may be. |
| 9.3.3 | Any request by CITIC or GEC, as the case may be, that any of its subsidiaries be treated as a Qualifying Subsidiary for the purposes of this Agreement (a “Request”) shall not be unreasonably refused by the other. The agreement of the other to any such Request shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. |
| 10 | Disposal of AsiaSat Shares |
| 10.1 | No Disposal of AsiaSat Shares by the Company |
Subject to Clauses 10.2 and 10.3, the Company shall not:
| 10.1.1 | sell, transfer or otherwise Dispose of any of its AsiaSat Shares (or any legal or beneficial interest therein); |
| 10.1.2 | enter into any agreement in respect of the votes attached to the AsiaSat Shares; or |
| 10.1.3 | agree, whether or not subject to any condition precedent or subsequent, to do any of the foregoing, |
and for the avoidance of doubt, the Shareholders further undertake that they shall take all necessary steps to procure that the Company shall not do any of the foregoing in respect of the AsiaSat Shares.
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| 10.2 | Permitted Disposals of AsiaSat Shares by the Company at the instruction of Able Star |
After the Completion Date, Able Star may, with the prior written consent of GE Equity, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld (as provided in Clause 10.2.2), from time to time direct the Company to Dispose of all or a part of Able Star’s Attributable AsiaSat Shares provided always that any such Disposal of AsiaSat Shares by the Company shall be effected in accordance with the provisions of this Clause 10.2 and Clause 11.
| 10.3 | Permitted Disposals of AsiaSat Shares by the Company at the instruction of GE Equity |
After the Completion Date, GE Equity may, with the prior written consent of Able Star, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld (as provided in Clause 10.3.2), from time to time direct the Company to Dispose of all or a part of GE Equity’s Attributable AsiaSat Shares provided always that any such Disposal of AsiaSat Shares by the Company shall be effected in accordance with the provisions of this Clause 10.3 and Clause 11.
| 11 | Adjustments to Rights to Procure Appointments etc. |
| 11.1 | If, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, as a result of Disposals of Shares or AsiaSat Shares, the holding of Shares or Attributable AsiaSat Shares by Able Star or GE Equity is decreased (“Disposition”), the parties agree that they will enter into such amendments to this Agreement (or if this Agreement would be terminated as a result of such Disposition, such other arrangements or agreements as appropriate), relating to the new relationship between the parties as a consequence of the Disposition and their respective rights and ability to influence the governance, management and direction of the Company and AsiaSat through their direct or indirect shareholdings in the Company and AsiaSat, including but without limitation with respect to, the nomination of the directors and officers of the Company and AsiaSat, any consent requirements for transactions by or events or occurrences affecting AsiaSat and any other negative protections for a party (e.g., tag along rights, drag along rights, quorum requirements, etc.), in each case that are equitable to reflect the proportionate interest of a party in the Company or AsiaSat after such Disposition. |
| 11.2 | If, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, as a result of acquisitions of Shares or AsiaSat Shares, Able Star’s or GE Equity’s holding of Shares or Attributable AsiaSat Shares is increased (an “Acquisition”), the parties agree that they will enter into such amendments to this Agreement (or if this Agreement would be terminated as a result of such Acquisition, such other arrangements or agreements as appropriate), relating to the new relationship between the parties as a consequence of the Acquisition and their respective rights and ability to influence the governance, management and direction of the Company and AsiaSat through their direct or indirect shareholdings in the Company and AsiaSat, including but without limitation with respect to, the nomination of the directors and officers of the Company and AsiaSat, any consent requirements for transactions by or events or occurrences affecting AsiaSat and any other negative protections for a party (e.g., tag along rights, drag along rights, quorum requirements, etc.), in each case that are equitable to reflect the proportionate interest of the parties in the Company or AsiaSat after such Acquisition. |
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| 12 | Listing and Registration Rights |
| 12.1 | Listing |
The Shareholders and the Company agree that:
| 12.1.1 | at any time after the third anniversary of the date of completion of the Privatisation, a each Shareholder shall have a right to request the Company to undertake and implement a Listing. Such request shall be in writing notified to all parties and set out the details of: |
| (i) | the proposed size of the initial public offering, and |
| (ii) | the proposed stock exchange or over-the-counter market on which the Listing is to be conducted; |
| 12.1.2 | they shall use their reasonable endeavours to agree the matters set out in Clauses 12.1.1(i) and 12.1.1(ii) prior to effecting such Listing and shall use their reasonable endeavours to cooperate with and assist AsiaSat with the Listing; |
| 12.1.3 | in the absence of any material adverse change in the business of AsiaSat and its subsidiaries as a whole, the number of AsiaSat Shares to be offered in and held in public hands (as defined in the Listing Rules) as a result of such Listing shall not exceed 33 per cent. of the issued share capital of AsiaSat immediately after such Listing, unless the Shareholders otherwise agree in writing; and |
| 12.1.4 | all the voting and economic interests in AsiaSat of the parties and their respective subsidiaries and Associates shall be held by the Company or another corporate entity jointly owned by Able Star and GE Equity at the time of, and after the Listing and shall, unless otherwise agreed in writing between Able Star and GE Equity, remain in the following proportions: |
| (i) | Able Star/GE Equity - 50/50 voting interest; and |
| (ii) | Able Star/GE Equity - 50.5/49.5 economic interest; |
both prior to and after the Listing.
| 12.2 | Where Listing is to result in a Listing of AsiaSat Shares (in the form of American Depositary Shares or otherwise), the parties shall enter into a registration rights agreement (a “Registration Rights Agreement”) on customary terms which will provide the parties (other than the Company) with equal registration rights (on terms to be agreed) in respect of the AsiaSat Shares after the Listing provided that the parties (other than the Company) shall have the right to sell AsiaSat Shares in the same proportion as they own such AsiaSat Shares at the same time (unless Able Star or GE Equity otherwise agree in advance) and that the exercise of any such registration right does not result in any of the Shareholders or their affiliates having to make a mandatory general offer for AsiaSat. |
| 12.3 | The Company and each of the other parties will cooperate with each other and AsiaSat in connection with any exercise by a Shareholder of its rights under a Registration Rights Agreement and take any other actions necessary or appropriate to ensure that the Company and AsiaSat are able to comply with their obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement in connection with such exercise. |
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| 13 | Purchase of Additional AsiaSat Shares by the Shareholders and their Respective Affiliates |
| 13.1 | General offer for AsiaSat by Shareholders |
Subject to Clause 13.3 and to any mandatory offer resulting from permitted Disposals under Clause 9.4, none of the Shareholders or any of their subsidiaries or Associates shall make a general offer for AsiaSat without the prior written consent of the other Shareholders.
| 13.2 | Ability to jointly acquire further AsiaSat Shares through the Company |
| 13.2.1 | If at any time during the continuation of this Agreement any of the Shareholders (or any of their respective subsidiaries or Associates) wishes to acquire further AsiaSat Shares, the relevant Shareholder shall notify the Company and the other Shareholders stating (among other things) the number of AsiaSat Shares wished to be acquired and the basis on which it is proposed that such acquisition be effected and funded through the Company. |
| 13.2.2 | Such notification shall be treated as a request (a “Purchase Request”) to the Company and to the other Shareholders to arrange for such further AsiaSat Shares to be acquired through the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Clause 13. |
| 13.2.3 | Following receipt of a Purchase Request, the other Shareholders shall decide whether or not to agree to such Purchase Request. The Company shall only be obliged to comply with a Purchase Request if the other Shareholders so agree, in their sole discretion. |
| 13.2.4 | If and whenever the Shareholders agree to a Purchase Request, the Company shall (and the Shareholders shall cooperate to procure that the Company shall) take all necessary steps to comply with such Purchase Request. |
| 13.3 | Ability for Able Star to Acquire Further AsiaSat Shares through the Company |
After the third anniversary of the Completion Date, Able Star may, with the consent of GE Equity, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, require the Company to acquire further AsiaSat Shares, whether from a third party, the public market (including through a general offer) or AsiaSat, in accordance with the provisions of this Clause 13 and subject always to the provisions of Clause 11. Upon a request by Able Star to the Company to acquire further AsiaSat Shares pursuant to the foregoing sentence, the Company shall, and GE Equity shall cooperate with Able Star to cause the Company to, take such actions as are necessary or appropriate to effectuate such acquisition. It shall be reasonable for GE Equity to withhold its consent to the acquisition by Able Star of further AsiaSat Shares unless Able Star has:
| (i) | shown to GE Equity’s reasonable satisfaction that the acquisition will be beneficial to the growth of AsiaSat’s business; and |
| (ii) | has made good faith efforts to discuss other alternative structures with GE Equity and AsiaSat. |
| 13.4 | Bases on which further AsiaSat Shares may be acquired through the Company |
Any acquisition by the Company of further AsiaSat Shares agreed to by the Shareholders pursuant to Clause 13.2 shall be effected by way of each acquiring Shareholder (or any of
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its Qualifying Subsidiaries), and any acquisition of further AsiaSat Shares under Clause 13.3 shall be effected by way of Able Star (or its Qualifying Subsidiary), subscribing for additional ‘X’ Ordinary Shares or ‘Y’ Ordinary Shares, as the case may be. The aggregate number of additional Shares shall equal the number of further AsiaSat Shares to be acquired by the Company (and on the basis that the proceeds of subscription be applied by the Company in purchasing or subscribing for further AsiaSat Shares following which such further AsiaSat Shares will be attributable to the Class allocated to such acquiring Shareholder).
| 13.5 | Terms of acquisition of further AsiaSat Shares |
Any agreement reached between the Shareholders pursuant to Clause 13.2 or decision made by Able Star pursuant to Clause 13.3 for the acquisition of further AsiaSat Shares by the Company shall contain the full basis on which the relevant AsiaSat Shares are to be acquired, the source of funds and any applicable changes to the issued share capital of the Company and (if necessary or appropriate) to this Agreement.
| 13.6 | Costs and expenses |
All costs and expenses (including, if and to the extent applicable but without limitation, broker’s commission, Stock Exchange transaction levy, stamp duty and any legal costs) incurred by the Company in connection with any acquisition of further AsiaSat Shares pursuant to:
| 13.6.1 | Clause 13.2 shall be shared by the Shareholders in proportion to their shareholdings in the Company; and |
| 13.6.2 | Clause 13.3 shall be borne by Able Star. |
| 14 | Undertakings by GEC and CITIC |
| 14.1 | Mutual Undertakings |
Each of the ‘X’ Shareholder and ‘Y’ Shareholder hereby covenants that without the prior written consent of the other ‘X’ or ‘Y’ Shareholder, as the case may be, it shall not take any action or participate in any action or scheme which will facilitate or give rise to the occurrence of any of the following events, except where such events result from or arise in connection with a Disposal or Acquisition by Able Star or GE Equity pursuant to the provisions of Clauses 9.2, 10.2, 10.3 or 13.3 or the Privatisation (“Excepted Events”), each of the ‘X’ Shareholder and ‘Y’ Shareholder shall do and procure any Director appointed or nominated by such Shareholder pursuant to Clause 5 and who is a member of the AsiaSat Board to do all acts which are reasonably within its power (subject in the case of any Director, to his fiduciary duties as a member of the AsiaSat Board) to prevent any of the following events, other than Excepted Events, from occurring, in each case with respect to the Company and AsiaSat:
| 14.1.1 | the alteration, including through purchase or issuance, of the share capital of the Company or AsiaSat (save for the exercise of employee share options, the issue of bonus shares and scrip dividends); |
| 14.1.2 | the amendment in any manner to the Memorandum and Articles of the Company or of AsiaSat; |
| 14.1.3 | any dilution of a Shareholder’s attributable shareholding of AsiaSat Shares (save for the exercise of employee share options and scrip dividends); and |
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| 14.1.4 | the withdrawal of listing of AsiaSat Shares from the Stock Exchange or the NYSE. |
| 14.2 | Notwithstanding the provisions of Clause 14.1, nothing contained in Clause 14.1 shall require any Shareholder to expend any funds or take, or refrain from taking, directly or indirectly, any action with respect to the conduct of such Shareholder’s respective business or assets. |
| 15 | The Hong Kong Takeovers Code |
| 15.1 | Potential implications of the Code with respect to arrangements between the Shareholders, the Qualifying Subsidiaries and the Company |
| 15.1.1 | Future transactions in AsiaSat Shares or Shares by or between any one or more of the Company, the other parties, the Shareholders, the Qualifying Subsidiaries or a person acting in concert with any of them may have implications under the Code. The parties shall consider and, if practicable, consult with each other with respect to the Code implications of such future transactions as and when any such transaction is (or may be) proposed to be entered into. |
| 15.1.2 | The Shareholders acknowledge that the transfers of AsiaSat Shares or Shares contemplated herein may have implications under the Code and without limiting the generality of Clause 15.1.1, the Shareholders shall discuss in good faith such alternatives acceptable to the Shareholders in light of the implications under the Code, including the dissolution of the Company and the termination of this Agreement. |
| 15.2 | None of the Shareholders shall enter into any arrangements which result in the other Shareholders or the Company being deemed for the purposes of the Code to be acting in concert with any party holding, or proposing to acquire, any AsiaSat Shares other than any Qualifying Subsidiary of the relevant Shareholder which holds Shares in the Company. |
| 15.3 | None of the foregoing shall prohibit any Disposal or Acquisition by a Shareholder of Shares in the Company or AsiaSat Shares pursuant to Clauses 9.2, 10.2, 10.3 or 13.3. |
| 15.4 | If any Acquisition by Able Star gives rise to an obligation to make a mandatory offer under the Code, Able Star shall be responsible for making such offer on a basis which does not require the participation of any other Shareholder. Able Star shall hold GE Equity and its affiliates harmless in relation thereto. |
| 15.5 | Without prejudice to Clause 15.4, no party or its concert party(ies) may take any action which by its or their actions triggers or would trigger an obligation on any other party (or a person acting in concert with such party) to make a mandatory offer under the Code, and each party shall hold the other parties harmless from all consequences including any costs and expenses incurred as a result of triggering a mandatory offer obligation. |
| 15.6 | Any party (or a person acting in concert with such party) which takes any action which triggers or would trigger an obligation on such party to make a mandatory offer under the Code shall be responsible for all actions, the costs and expenses of making and implementing the offer and all costs and expenses of restoring the public float requirements of AsiaSat in the event the offer fails to obtain a level of acceptances which entitles the offeror and its concert parties to exercise rights of compulsory acquisition of all outstanding securities of AsiaSat. |
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| 16 | Compliance Matters |
| 16.1 | Obligations under and in relation to the SFO |
| 16.1.1 | Each of the parties (other than the Company) shall ensure that it and any Qualifying Subsidiary which holds Shares duly complies with all its obligations arising from time to time under the SFO with respect to AsiaSat Shares in which it is interested for the purposes of the SFO. In order to assist the other Shareholders to comply with such obligations, each Shareholder shall make available to the other Shareholders from time to time, all information with respect to its own circumstances as such Shareholder is (or should reasonably be) aware is relevant to obligations of the other Shareholders under the SFO. |
| 16.1.2 | Each of the parties (other than the Company) shall cooperate to procure that the Company duly complies with all its obligations arising under the SFO from time to time. |
| 16.2 | Disclosure obligations under the Code and the Exchange Act |
Each of the parties (other than the Company) shall cooperate to procure that the Company duly complies with all its obligations arising under the Listing Rules, the Code and the Exchange Act from time to time to disclose interests and/or dealings in AsiaSat Shares.
| 16.3 | Obligations under and in relation to the Listing Rules, NYSE rules etc. |
| 16.3.1 | Each Shareholder shall ensure that it duly complies with all its obligations arising from time to time under the Listing Rules, the Code, the SFO and/or any rules of the NYSE and/or the Exchange Act with respect to AsiaSat. |
| 16.3.2 | Each of the parties (other than the Company shall cooperate to procure that the Company and AsiaSat duly complies with all their respective obligations arising under the Listing Rules, the Code, the SFO and/or any rules of the NYSE and/or the Exchange Act from time to time with respect to AsiaSat. |
| 16.4 | Each of the parties shall cooperate to ensure that AsiaSat complies with applicable legal requirements. |
| 17 | Funding Future and Ongoing Expenses |
| 17.1 | Future acquisitions of AsiaSat Shares |
| 17.1.1 | If the Company is to acquire further AsiaSat Shares at a future date, these additional AsiaSat Shares will be acquired either: |
| (a) | pursuant to the exercise of rights offered with respect to existing AsiaSat Shares already held by the Company pursuant to and in accordance with Clause 8 and Schedule 1; or |
| (b) | pursuant to Clause 13.2 or Clause 13.3, in each case with (among other things) an agreed basis for the provision to the Company of any relevant funds required to effect the acquisition of such AsiaSat Shares. |
| 17.1.2 | In either of the above cases, all funds required by the Company to acquire such additional AsiaSat Shares will be provided to the Company by the relevant Shareholders as provided in Clause 13.4 or Schedule 1 and the relevant AsiaSat Shares will be attributed as and when they are acquired. |
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| 17.2 | Administrative and general expenses |
All administrative and general expenses (being expenses not specifically provided for under any of the other provisions of this Agreement) of the Company shall be funded by each Class in proportion to the Shareholders’ respective shareholdings in the Company on an annual basis by reference to such shareholdings on the Completion Date and on each anniversary thereof. Such administrative and general expenses include annual audit fees and registration fees as well as any other costs necessary for the continuance of the Company and its holding of AsiaSat Shares as contemplated by this Agreement.
| 17.3 | Provision of Funding |
| 17.3.1 | The Shareholders shall be responsible for ensuring that the Company has sufficient funds available to it from time to time to meet its administrative and general expenses referred to in Clause 17.2. |
| 17.3.2 | Such funds shall be made available to the Company in proportion to the Shareholders’ respective shareholdings in the Company and: |
| (a) | in such form (which may include subscription for non-voting deferred shares of negligible nominal value) as will ensure that such funds form part of the Company’s general assets; or |
| (b) | if (and provided that) all amounts so made available to the Company are duly made available by the Shareholders in proportion to the Shareholders’ respective shareholdings in the Company and on the same terms, in the form of loans carrying the right of repayment (and having such other terms including, if appropriate, as to interest as may be agreed by the Shareholders from time to time). |
| 17.3.3 | The Board may from time to time resolve to retain out of sums which would otherwise fall to be distributed to the Classes pursuant to Clause 8, such reasonable amounts as may be necessary to meet foreseeable future expenses likely to be incurred by the Company. Any amount so retained out of amounts which would otherwise have been distributed to Shareholders of any Class shall be deemed to be held by the Company on account of future obligations of the Shareholders under this Clause 17.3. |
| 18 | Confidentiality |
| 18.1 | General confidentiality obligations |
All communications between the parties and AsiaSat and/or any of them and all information and other materials supplied to or received by any of them from any other which is either marked “confidential” or by its nature intended to be for the knowledge of the recipient alone, and all information concerning the business transactions and the financial arrangements of any such party with any person with whom it is in a confidential relationship with regard to the matter in question coming to the knowledge of the recipient shall be kept confidential by the recipient unless or until the recipient party can reasonably demonstrate that any such communication, information and material is, or the relevant part of it is, in the public domain through no fault of its own or has been independently developed by it or given to it by a third party with no obligation of confidentiality.
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| 18.2 | Further measures to ensure confidentiality |
Each of the parties (other than the Company) shall (without prejudice to the generality of Clause 18.1) use all reasonable endeavours to procure the observance of the above-mentioned restrictions by the Company and shall take all reasonable steps to minimise the risk of disclosure of confidential information, by ensuring that only they themselves and such of their employees and directors and advisers whose duties will require them to possess any of such information shall have access thereto, and shall be instructed to treat the same as confidential.
| 18.3 | Mandatory public statements |
None of the preceding provisions of this Clause 18 shall prohibit any party from making any public statement or disclosing information which would otherwise be required to be kept confidential if and to the extent so required:
| 18.3.1 | by law, or by any court of competent jurisdiction; or |
| 18.3.2 | under the Exchange Act or the SFO or by the Listing Rules, the Code or the rules or regulations (whether or not having the force of law) of the Stock Exchange, the NYSE and/or any other stock exchange on which its, or any of its associates’ or affiliates’ shares or debt securities are quoted or by any relevant securities regulatory authority or body, |
provided that any party required or proposing to make any such disclosure shall, to the maximum extent reasonably practicable, consult with the other parties (other than the Company), as the case may be, with a view to such disclosure, so far as possible, being limited to matters, and otherwise made in a form, acceptable to them.
| 18.4 | Disclosure to Associates |
Notwithstanding Clause 18.1, Able Star and GE Equity may at any time disclose confidential information and communications to their respective Associates and/or affiliates for the purpose solely of assisting or furthering the business of AsiaSat provided that Able Star and GE Equity, as applicable, shall procure that any such Associates or affiliates shall treat such information as confidential.
| 18.5 | Limits on the use of confidential information |
Each of the parties (other than the Company) hereby agrees that it will not use confidential information obtained as a shareholder in the Company, an indirect shareholder in AsiaSat, or directly or indirectly through its nominees or appointees to the board of directors or management of AsiaSat or the Company, to appropriate business opportunities at the expense or to the detriment of AsiaSat.
| 18.6 | Disclosure to certain financial institutions |
Nothing in this Clause 18 shall restrict the ability of a Shareholder to disclose to any financial institutions with a view to obtaining funds to it in relation to its shareholding in the Company such information concerning the Company and the contents of this Agreement as such Shareholder shall reasonably consider necessary and appropriate.
| 19 | Duration and Termination |
Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until the earlier of the following events:
| 19.1 | the parties (other than the Company) agree in writing to terminate this Agreement; or |
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| 19.2 | an effective resolution is passed or a binding order is made for the winding up of the Company, |
provided, however, that this Agreement shall cease to have effect as regards any Shareholder who ceases to hold any Shares save for any provisions hereof which are expressed to continue in force thereafter.
| 19.3 | Either Able Star or GE Equity may terminate this Agreement by seven (7) days’ notice in writing to the other parties if a matter remains unresolved as provided in Clause 5.8.3. |
| 19.4 | In the event of termination of this Agreement and notwithstanding such termination, the parties agree to procure the transfer or distribution of each Shareholder’s Attributable AsiaSat Shares to such Shareholder (or as it may direct). |
| 19.5 | Prior to effecting such transfer or distribution of AsiaSat Shares in accordance with Clause 19.4, the Company shall exercise the AsiaSat Voting Rights attaching to each of the ‘X’ Shareholder’s and the ‘Y’ Shareholder’s Attributable AsiaSat Shares in accordance with the wishes of the relevant ‘X’ Shareholder or ‘Y’ Shareholder expressed in accordance with Clause 7.2.1 and the AsiaSat Voting Rights attaching to the Special Shareholder’s Attributable AsiaSat Shares shall not be exercised by the Company. |
| 20 | Restrictions on the Shareholders |
| 20.1 | Restrictions |
Each of CITIC and GEC agrees for the benefit of the other (which also takes such benefit for and on behalf of the Company and its affiliates) that, subject to the provisions of Clauses 20.2, 20.3 and 20.4, it will not and will procure that none of its subsidiaries and Associates will in any Relevant Capacity during the continuance of this Agreement directly or indirectly carry on any business which is of the same or similar type to the Business nor be concerned in any such business save through the holding or being interested in not more than 5 per cent. of the outstanding share capital of a company the shares of which are listed on any recognised stock exchange.
| 20.2 | Reasonableness of Restrictions |
CITIC and GEC agree that they consider that the restrictions contained in this Clause 20 are no greater than is reasonable and necessary for the protection of the interests of the Company and each other but if any such restriction shall be held to be void but would be valid if deleted in part or reduced in application, such restriction shall apply with such deletion or modification as may be necessary to make it valid and enforceable.
| 20.3 | Interpretation |
The following terms shall have the following meanings respectively in this Clause 20:
| 20.3.1 | Business means the provision of satellite transponder capacity from satellites positioned between the orbital slots of 50E to 150E; |
| 20.3.2 | Relevant Capacity means for its own account or for that of any person, firm or company (other than the Company) and whether through the medium of any company controlled by it (for which purpose there shall be aggregated with its shareholding or ability to exercise control the shares held or control exercised by any person connected with the relevant Shareholder) or as principal, partner, consultant or agent. |
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| 20.3.3 | A party (other than the Company) shall be entitled to waive any breach or prospective breach by another party (other than its own subsidiary) and such other party’s subsidiaries of the provisions of Clause 20.1 after consultation with AsiaSat. |
| 20.4 | Exceptions to Restrictions |
The restrictions contained in this Clause 20 shall not apply to:
| 20.4.1 | the provision of financial services to a third party by a party, and/or its subsidiaries and/or Associates, including without limitation capital markets activity, debt or equity financing, leasing, default recovery activities, securities activity, insurance or any other financial services activities; |
| 20.4.2 | any investments made or managed on behalf of a third party by a party, and/or its subsidiaries and/or Associates; |
| 20.4.3 | any investments made on behalf of a party’s pension funds; and |
| 20.4.4 | any acquisition in which the Business is only incidental to the acquired entity and/or business (that is, where less than 10 per cent. of the revenues of the acquired entity and/or business relates to the Business). |
| 21 | Arrangements with AsiaSat |
| 21.1 | Subject to the provisions of Clause 21.2 below, each of CITIC and GEC agrees for the benefit of the other (which also takes such benefit on behalf of the Company and its subsidiaries) that it will not and will procure that none of its subsidiaries and Associates will during the continuance of this Agreement enter into any agreement or arrangement with AsiaSat (or any of its subsidiaries or Associates without the prior written approval of CITIC (in the case of GEC and its subsidiaries and Associates) or GEC (in the case of CITIC and its subsidiaries and Associates). |
| 21.2 | The restrictions contained in Clause 21.1 above shall not apply to: |
| 21.2.1 | any transaction or arrangement between (i) AsiaSat and/or its subsidiaries and Associates, and (ii) the Company and/or JVCo; and |
| 21.2.2 | any pre-existing transaction or arrangement on arm’s length terms between (i) AsiaSat and/or its subsidiaries and Associates, and (ii) CITIC and/or its affiliates and which has been disclosed to GEC at the date of this Agreement. |
| 22 | Options |
| 22.1 | Put Option |
Able Star hereby grants to GE Equity the option (the “Put Option”) to sell all of its Shares to Able Star (the “Put Option Shares”) in accordance with Clause 23.
| 22.2 | Call Option |
GE Equity hereby grants to Able Star the option (the “Call Option”) to purchase all or part of the Shares held by GE Equity (the “Call Option Shares”) in accordance with Clause 23.
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| 23 | Exercise of the Options |
| 23.1 | Exercise |
| 23.1.1 | GE Equity may only exercise the Put Option in accordance with Clause 23.2, and provided that the exercise of the Put Option will not require any mandatory general offer by any person for AsiaSat Shares under applicable law or regulatory requirements. |
| 23.1.2 | Able Star may only exercise the Call Option in accordance with Clause 23.3, and provided that the exercise of the Call Option will not require any mandatory general offer by any person for AsiaSat Shares under applicable law or regulatory requirements. |
| 23.2 | Put Option Notice |
| 23.2.1 | GE Equity may deliver to Able Star a notice (a “Put Option Notice”) at any time during the period which is within 30 days of GE Equity first becoming aware of, or the occurrence of (whichever is later), one of the following events (a “Put Option Event”): |
| (i) | a change in the control of Able Star or CITIC; and |
| (ii) | a serious violation of law or regulation by Able Star or CITIC or a subsidiary or an Associate in a matter which, in a material respect, relates to AsiaSat or CITIC’s Attributable AsiaSat Shares that will or may reasonably be expected to harm the prospects or reputation of AsiaSat. |
| 23.2.2 | A Put Option Notice shall specify: |
| (i) | the relevant Put Option Event and details giving rise to it; |
| (ii) | the settlement date for the Put Option (which shall not be more than 30 days from the date of the Put Option Notice (the “Put Option Notice Date”)); |
| (iii) | the exercise price for the Put Option as calculated in accordance with Clause 23.4 (the “Put Option Exercise Price”); and |
| (iv) | the Put Option Notice Date. |
| 23.2.3 | A Put Option Notice, once delivered, may not be withdrawn. |
| 23.2.4 | A Put Option Notice may not be delivered (and, if so delivered, shall not be valid) if it fails to comply with Clauses 23.2.1 and 23.2.2. above. |
| 23.3 | Call Option Notice |
| 23.3.1 | Able Star may deliver to GE Equity a notice (a “Call Option Notice”) at any time during the period which is within 30 days of Able Star first becoming aware of, or the occurrence of (whichever is later), one of the following events (a “Call Option Event”): |
| (i) | a change in the control of GE Equity or GEC; and |
| (ii) | a serious violation of law or regulation by GE Equity or any other subsidiary or Associate of GEC in a matter which relates, in a material respect, to AsiaSat or GE Equity’s Attributable AsiaSat Shares that will or may reasonably be expected to harm the prospects or reputation of AsiaSat. |
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| 23.3.2 | Any Call Option Notice shall specify: |
| (i) | the relevant Call Option Event and details giving rise to it; |
| (ii) | the settlement date for the Call Option (which shall not be more than 30 days from the date of the Call Option Notice (the “Call Option Notice Date”)); |
| (iii) | the exercise price for the Call Option as calculated in accordance with Clause 23.4 (the “Call Option Exercise Price”); and |
| (iv) | the date of the Call Option Notice Date. |
| 23.3.3 | A Call Option Notice, once delivered, may not be withdrawn. |
| 23.3.4 | A Call Option Notice may not be delivered (and, if so delivered, shall not be valid) if it fails to comply with Clauses 23.2.1 and 23.3.2. |
| 23.4 | Exercise Price |
| 23.4.1 | Subject to Clauses 23.4.2 and 23.4.3 below, the Put Option Exercise Price and the Call Option Exercise Price will be the product of: |
the Fair Market Value multiplied by the percentage to the total number of shares in the issued share capital of AsiaSat which the Put Option Shares or the Call Option Shares (respectively) represent,
subject to any Minimum Price applicable on the Put Option Notice Date or Call Option Notice Date (as the case may be). Able Star shall have the right to request that the Minimum Price (if any) be determined by a firm of independent public accountants in the event of any exercise of the Call Option and, GE Equity shall have the right to request that the Minimum Price (if any) be determined by a firm of independent public accountants in the event of any exercise of the Put Option.
| 23.4.2 | In the event of any circumstance set out in Clause 23.2.1(ii) arising, the Put Option Exercise Price will be increased by 5 per cent. |
| 23.4.3 | In the event of any circumstance set out in Clause 23.3.1(ii) arising, the Call Option Exercise Price will be increased by 5 per cent. |
| 24 | Tax Status |
Able Star shall cooperate with GE Equity at GE Equity’s request to enable the Company to elect to be classified as a partnership for US federal tax purposes, provided that GE Equity promptly provides Able Star with all relevant information prior to such election, that all costs and liabilities incurred by AsiaSat, the Company and/or Able Star in giving such cooperation or making such election (as the case may be) will be reimbursed promptly and in full by GE Equity and that such cooperation and such election shall not increase the tax burden of any of AsiaSat, the Company and/or Able Star and shall not otherwise be prejudicial to the interests of any of them.
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| 25 | Notices |
All notices, statements, demands, requirements or other communications and documents required or permitted to be given, served or delivered to any party under this Agreement (a Communication) shall be in writing in the English language and shall be either delivered by hand (including, without limitation, delivery by courier) or sent by prepaid certified or registered mail (airmail in the case of all international Communications), with return receipt requested, to that party at its address stated below or sent by facsimile machine to its facsimile number stated below or sent by e-mail to its e-mail address as stated below or to such other address or facsimile number or e-mail address as that party may from time to time have notified the other party as being its address or facsimile number or e-mail address for the purposes of this Agreement to the exclusion of all previously applicable addresses and facsimile numbers and e-mail addresses. A Communication once given, served or delivered shall be irrevocable without the consent of the recipient which may be given or withheld in its absolute discretion. A Communication shall be deemed to have been given, served or delivered:
| 25.1 | if delivered by hand (including, without limitation, delivery by courier), upon delivery; |
| 25.2 | if sent by mail, upon proof of receipt; |
| 25.3 | if sent by facsimile machine, one hour after its transmission if such time is during business hours in the place of its receipt or, if it is not, on the opening of business on the next succeeding business day in the place of its receipt subject, if sent by facsimile machine transmission, to its having in fact been received in legible form; and |
| 25.4 | if sent by e-mail, provided the e-mail is clearly stated in the subject line and at the top of the e-mail message to be notice under this Agreement, upon confirmation of receipt of the e-mail by the intended recipient (a read receipt will not suffice for this purpose). |
| 25.5 | The addresses, facsimile numbers and e-mail addresses of the parties are as follows: |
In the case of GEC and GE Equity at:
00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxx
| Fax: | + 000 0000 0000 | |
| Attention: | Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx | |
| E-mail: | xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxxxxx@xx.xxx |
In the case of CITIC at:
Capital Mansion
0 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx 000000
Xxxxx
| Fax: | (000) 0000 0000 | |
| Attention: | Mr Mi Xxxx Xxx | |
| E-mail: | xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx |
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with a copy to: Xxxxxxx Xx, Room 2118, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, 00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxx Xxxx (fax number: (000) 0000 0000, e-mail: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx)
In the case of the Company at:
Xxxx 0000, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxx
| Fax: | (000) 0000 0000 | |
| Attention: | Mr Mi Xxxx Xxx | |
| E-mail: | xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx | |
| Copied to: Xxxxxxx Xx (at the same address, fax number and e-mail address) | ||
In the case of Able Star at:
Xxxx 0000, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxx
| Fax: | (000) 0000 0000 | |
| Attention: | Mr Mi Xxxx Xxx | |
| E-mail: | xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx.xx | |
| Copied to: Xxxxxxx Xx (at the same address, fax number and e-mail address) | ||
| 26 | Miscellaneous |
| 26.1 | Costs |
Each party shall bear the costs and expenses incurred by it in connection with the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Agreement and all other agreements and documents referred to in this Agreement.
| 26.2 | Conflict with Memorandum and Articles |
In the event of any ambiguity or discrepancy between the provisions of this Agreement and the Memorandum and Articles, it is the intention that the provisions of this Agreement shall prevail and accordingly the parties shall exercise all voting and other rights and powers available to them so as to give effect to the provisions of this Agreement and shall further, if necessary, procure any required amendment to the Memorandum and Articles.
| 26.3 | Assignment and adherence |
| (a) | This Agreement shall be binding on the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. |
| (b) | None of the parties hereto shall be entitled to assign this Agreement or any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement. |
| (c) | As a condition to any Qualifying Subsidiary becoming a Shareholder pursuant to Clause 9.2, the transferring Shareholder shall procure that such Qualifying Subsidiary adheres to this Agreement by executing (and delivering to the other parties to this Agreement) a deed of adherence substantially in the form set out in Schedule 2. |
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| 26.4 | Time of the essence |
Time shall be of the essence as regards the provisions of this Agreement, both as regards the times and periods mentioned in this Agreement and as regards any times or periods which may, by agreement between the parties, be substituted for them.
| 26.5 | Entire agreement - amendments to be in writing |
This Agreement (including the Schedules) together with the other written documents and agreements entered into on the date of this Agreement or on the Completion Date constitute the entire agreement between the parties and save as otherwise expressly provided no modification, amendment or waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective unless made in writing specifically referring to this Agreement and duly signed by or on behalf of the parties hereto.
| 26.6 | Remedies |
No remedy conferred by any of the provisions of this Agreement is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy which is otherwise available at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise, and each and every other remedy shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to every other remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise. The election of any one or more of such remedies by any of the parties hereto shall not constitute a waiver by such party of the right to pursue any other available remedy.
| 26.7 | Equitable relief |
Without prejudice to any other rights or remedies which may be available to any party, each of the Shareholders acknowledges that damages would not be an adequate remedy for any breach on its part of obligations incumbent on it under this Agreement and, accordingly, that the other Shareholders shall be entitled to the remedies of injunction, specific performance and other equitable relief for any threatened or actual breach of any such obligations by it and that no proof of special damages shall be necessary for the enforcement of this Agreement.
| 26.8 | Severance |
If any provision of this Agreement or part thereof is rendered void, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any law, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
| 26.9 | No partnership |
Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to constitute a partnership between the parties hereto nor constitute any party the agent of any other party for any purpose.
| 26.10 | Third parties |
This Agreement does not create any right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Xxx 0000 which is enforceable by any person who is not a party to it.
| 26.11 | Parties to effect Agreement |
Each of the parties to this Agreement shall cooperate with the others and shall execute and deliver to the others such other instruments and documents and take such other action as may reasonably be requested from time to time in order to carry out, evidence and confirm their respective rights and the intended purpose of this Agreement.
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| 26.12 | GEC and CITIC |
GEC shall procure the observance of the provisions of this Agreement by its subsidiaries, affiliates and Associates. CITIC shall procure the observance of the provisions of this Agreement by its subsidiaries, affiliates and Associates.
| 27 | Governing Law |
This Agreement and the documents to be entered into pursuant to it shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law.
| 28 | Arbitration |
| 28.1 | Any dispute or difference arising out of, in connection with or relating to (in each such case, in any manner whatsoever) this Agreement, including a dispute as to the validity or existence of this Agreement or this Clause 28, shall be referred to, and finally resolved by means of, arbitration in accordance with the provisions of this Clause 28. |
| 28.2 | Any arbitration commenced pursuant to this Clause 28: |
| 28.2.1 | shall be conducted in accordance with the Arbitration Rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (the “UNCITRAL Rules”) then in effect as modified by the provisions of this Clause 28; |
| 28.2.2 | shall have its seat in Hong Kong where, unless otherwise directed by the arbitral tribunal, all hearings in the arbitration shall take place; |
| 28.2.3 | shall be conducted in the English language; and |
| 28.2.4 | shall be administered by the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (“HKIAC”), which shall act as the appointing authority. |
| 28.3 | The arbitration shall be carried out by an arbitral tribunal consisting of three arbitrators appointed as follows: |
| 28.3.1 | the party or parties initiating arbitration shall (if more than one, jointly) appoint an arbitrator in its or their notice of arbitration in accordance with the provisions of Articles 3 and 7 of the UNCITRAL Rules as modified by this Clause 28; |
| 28.3.2 | the party or parties responding to the notice of arbitration shall (if more than one, jointly) appoint an arbitrator in accordance with the provisions of Articles 3 and 7 of the UNCITRAL Rules as modified by this Clause 28; |
| 28.3.3 | the third arbitrator who shall act as the chairman of the arbitral tribunal shall be appointed by the two arbitrators appointed by or on behalf of the parties (the “Party Arbitrators”) within a period of 10 Business Days from the date of the appointment or the confirmation of the appointment of the second Party Arbitrator; and |
| 28.3.4 | in default of the appointment of any arbitrator for any reason whatsoever, the relevant arbitrator(s) shall be appointed by the HKIAC within 10 Business Days in accordance with the provisions of Article 7 of the UNCITRAL Rules (as modified hereby). |
| 28.4 | Each party unconditionally and irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of the courts of Hong Kong for the purposes of: |
| 28.4.1 | any proceeding for attachment, injunction or any other interim or conservatory measure in aid of any arbitral proceeding commenced under Clause 28; and |
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| 28.4.2 | any proceeding arising out of or relating to the enforcement of any arbitral award or procedural order of any arbitral tribunal duly constituted under this Clause 28; |
but for such purposes and to such extent only.
| 28.5 | Where disputes arise under this Agreement, under the JVCo Shareholders Agreement and under the Cooperation Agreement which, in the absolute discretion of the first panel of arbitrators to be appointed in any of the disputes, are so closely connected that it is expedient for them to be resolved in the same proceedings, that panel of arbitrators shall have the power to order that the proceedings to resolve that dispute shall be consolidated with those to resolve any of the other disputes (whether or not proceedings to resolve those other disputes have yet been instituted), provided that no date for the final hearing of the first arbitration has been fixed. |
| 29 | Appointment of Process Agent |
| 29.1 |
Each of GECC and GEC irrevocably appoints GE Asia of 00xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxx (for the attention of Xx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx) or its other principal place of business in Hong Kong as its agent to accept service of process in Hong Kong in any legal action or proceedings arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, service upon whom shall be deemed completed whether or not forwarded to or received by GECC or GEC. If such process agent ceases to be able to act as such or to have an address in Hong Kong, each of GEC and GECC irrevocably agrees to appoint a new process agent in Hong Kong acceptable to the other parties and to deliver to other parties within 14 days a copy of a written acceptance of appointment by the process agent. |
| 29.2 | Each of CITIC, Able Star and the Company irrevocably appoints CITIC United Asia Investments Ltd. of Rm 2118, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, 00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxx Xxxx (for the attention of Xx Xxxxxxx Xx) or its other principal place of business in Hong Kong as its agent to accept service of process in Hong Kong in any legal action or proceedings arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, service upon whom shall be deemed completed whether or not forwarded to or received by CITIC, Able Star or the Company. If such process agent ceases to be able to act as such or to have an address in Hong Kong, each of CITIC, Able Star and the Company irrevocably agrees to appoint a new process agent in Hong Kong acceptable to the other parties and to deliver to other parties within 14 days a copy of a written acceptance of appointment by the process agent. |
| 29.3 | Nothing in this Agreement shall affect the right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. |
| 30 | GEC Guarantee and CITIC Group Guarantee |
| 30.1 | GEC hereby unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees to CITIC, Able Star and the Company (the “Beneficiaries”), in consideration of the entry into this Agreement by such parties, the due and punctual performance and observance by GE Equity of all its obligations under and in connection with this Agreement and all other agreements entered into pursuant to this Agreement (“Ancillary Agreements”). |
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| 30.2 | The undertakings of GEC in this Clause 30 are continuing undertakings and shall remain in force and effect until all GE Equity’s obligations under and in connection with this Agreement and all Ancillary Agreements have been fulfilled or shall have expired. |
| 30.3 | GEC shall not be released from its obligations under this Clause 30 in any circumstance (notwithstanding anything which but for this provision would release a guarantor or would affect any of its liabilities) other than compliance in full by GE Equity of all its obligations under and in connection with this Agreement and all Ancillary Agreements. |
| 30.4 | The obligations of GEC under this Clause 30 shall be as primary obligator and not merely as surety and no time or other indulgence given by the Beneficiaries to GE Equity nor any neglect, failure or forbearance on the part of any of the Beneficiaries to enforce the performance or observance of any of the obligations of this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements shall in any way lessen or affect the liability of GEC and, the obligations of GEC in this Clause 30 shall not be affected or lessened by any amendment or variation of (however fundamental) or replacement of this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements or any insolvency or similar proceedings affecting GE Equity. |
| 30.5 | CITIC guarantees Able Star’s obligations under this Agreement in the same terms and on the same basis as GEC guarantees GE Equity’s obligations pursuant to Clauses 30.1 to 30.4 above, mutatis mutandis. |
| 30.6 | The parties’ rights under this Clause 30 are cumulative, and are in addition to the parties’ rights under general law, such as the right to xxx any party and the right to seek injunctive relief against any party. |
In witness whereof this Agreement has been duly executed.
| SIGNED by | ||
| GE CAPITAL EQUITY INVESTMENTS, INC. | ||
| /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx | ||
| Duly authorised: | ||
| Name: | XXXX X XXXXX | |
| Position: | MANAGING DIRECTOR | |
| SIGNED by | ||
| ABLE STAR ASSOCIATES LIMITED | ||
| /s/ Ko Xxx Xxxx | ||
| Duly authorised: | ||
| Name: | KO XXX XXXX | |
| Position: | DIRECTOR | |
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| SIGNED by | ||
| CITIC GROUP | ||
| /s/ Mi Xxxx Xxx | ||
| Duly authorised: | ||
| Name: | MI XXXX XXX | |
| Position: | VICE PRESIDENT | |
| SIGNED by | ||
| GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY | ||
| /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | ||
| Duly authorised: | ||
| Name: | XXXXXXX X. XXXXXXX | |
| Position: | VICE PRESIDENT | |
| SIGNED by | ||
| MODERNDAY LIMITED (undergoing a change of name to AsiaCo Acquisition Ltd.) | ||
| /s/ Ko Xxx Xxxx | ||
| Duly authorised: | ||
| Name: | KO XXX XXXX | |
| Position: | DIRECTOR | |
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