] ORDINARY SHARES TRI-TECH HOLDING INC. UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
Exhibit 1.1
[ ] ORDINARY SHARES
TRI-TECH HOLDING INC.
_________________, 2010
NEWBRIDGE SECURITIES CORPORATION
000 Xx. Xxxxxxx Xx.
X. Xxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
XXXXX XXXXXX, CARRET & CO., LLC
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
As Representatives of the Underwriters
named on Schedule A hereto
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Tri-Tech Holding Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Company”), confirms its agreement, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, with each of the underwriters listed on Exhibit A hereto (collectively, the “Underwriters”), for whom Newbridge Securities Corporation and Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Carret & Co., LLC are acting as representatives (in such capacity, the “Representatives”), to sell and issue to the Underwriters an aggregate of [ ] ordinary shares, $0.001 par value per share (the “Ordinary Shares”) of the Company (the “Firm Shares”). The Firm Shares are more fully described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus referred to below.
The offering and sale of the Ordinary Shares contemplated by this underwriting agreement (this “Agreement”) is referred to herein as the “Offering.”
1. Firm Shares; Over-Allotment Option.
(a) Purchase of Firm Shares. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell, severally and not jointly, to the several Underwriters, an aggregate of [ ] Firm Shares of the Company at a purchase price (net of discounts and commissions) of $[ ] per Firm Share. The Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agree to purchase from the Company the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule A attached hereto and made a part hereof at a purchase price (net of discounts and commissions) of $[ ] per Firm Share. In addition, the Company shall pay the Representatives a corporate finance fee equal to two percent (2%), or $[ ] per Firm Share. The corporate finance fee shall be paid to the Representatives to cover their internal expenses in connection with the Offering.
1
(b) Payment and Delivery. Delivery and payment for the Firm Shares shall be made at 10:00 A.M., New York time, on the third Business Day following the effective date (the “Effective Date”) of the Registration Statement (or the fourth Business Day following the Effective Date, if the Registration Statement is declared effective after 4:30 p.m.) or at such earlier time as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company at the offices of the Representatives or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company. The hour and date of delivery and payment for the Firm Shares is called the “Closing Date.” The closing of the payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates representing, the Firm Shares is referred to herein as the “Closing.” Payment for the Firm Shares shall be made on the Closing Date at the Representatives’ election by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds or by certified or bank cashier’s check(s) in New York Clearing House funds. Any remaining proceeds (less commissions, expense allowance and actual expense payments or other fees payable pursuant to this Agreement) shall be paid to the order of the Company upon delivery to you of certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters) representing the Firm Shares (or through the full fast transfer facilities of the Depository Trust Company (the “DTC”)) for the account of the Underwriters. The Firm Shares shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representatives may request in writing at least two Business Days prior to the Closing Date. The Company will permit the Representatives to examine and package the Firm Shares for delivery, at least one full Business Day prior to the Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Firm Shares except upon tender of payment by the Representatives for all the Firm Shares.
(c) Option Shares. For the purposes of covering any over-allotments in connection with the distribution and sale of the Firm Shares, the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters are, hereby granted, an option to purchase up to an additional 15% of the number of Firm Shares (the “Option Shares”) to be offered by the Company in the Offering (the “Over-allotment Option”). The Firm Shares and the Option Shares are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Shares”. The Shares and the Representatives’ Securities (as hereinafter defined) are referred to as the “Securities”. The purchase price to be paid for the Option Shares (net of discounts and commissions) will be $[ ] per Option Share.
(d) Exercise of Option. The Over-allotment Option granted pursuant to Section 1(c) hereof may be exercised by the Representatives as to all (at any time) or any part (from time to time) of the Option Shares within 45 days after the Effective Date. The Underwriters will not be under any obligation to purchase any Option Shares prior to the exercise of the Over-allotment Option. The Over-allotment Option granted hereby may be exercised by the giving of oral notice to the Company from the Representatives, which must be confirmed in writing by overnight mail or facsimile transmission setting forth the number of Option Shares to be purchased and the date and time for delivery of and payment for the Option Shares, which will not be later than five Business Days after the date of the notice or such other time as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representatives, at the offices of the Representatives or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representatives. If such delivery and payment for the Option Shares does not occur on the Closing Date, the date and time of the closing for such Option Shares will be as set forth in the
2
notice (hereinafter the “Option Closing Date”). Upon exercise of the Over-allotment Option, the Company will become obligated to convey to the Underwriters, and, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Underwriters will become obligated to purchase, the number of Option Shares specified in such notice.
(e) Payment and Delivery of Option Shares. Payment for the Option Shares shall be made on the Option Closing Date at the Representatives’ election by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds or by certified or bank cashier’s check(s) in New York Clearing House funds, by deposit of the sum of $[ ] per Option Share to the Company upon delivery to the Underwriters of certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters) representing the Option Shares (or through the full fast transfer facilities of DTC) for the account of the Underwriters. The certificates representing the Option Shares to be delivered will be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Representatives request not less than two Business Days prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and will be made available to the Representatives for inspection, checking and packaging at the aforesaid office of the Company’s transfer agent or correspondent not less than one full Business Day prior to such Closing Date or Option Closing Date.
(f) Unit Purchase Option. As additional consideration, the Company hereby agrees to issue and sell to the Representatives (and/or their respective designees) on the Effective Date warrants (the “Representatives’ Warrants”) for the purchase of an aggregate of [ ] Ordinary Shares for an aggregate purchase price of $100.00. The Representatives’ Warrants shall be exercisable, in whole or in part, commencing on the Effective Date and expiring on the five-year anniversary of the Effective Date at an initial exercise price per unit of $[ ], which is equal to one hundred and forty-five percent (145%) of the public offering price of a Share. The Representatives’ Warrants and the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Representatives’ Warrants are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Representatives’ Securities.”
2. Representations and Warranties of the Company.
The Company represents, warrants and covenants to, and agrees with, each of the Underwriters that, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date (for purposes of this Section 2, the terms “Closing Date” shall refer to the Closing Date for the Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be):
(a) The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-164273 and amendments thereto, and related preliminary prospectuses for the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of the Securities which registration statement, as so amended (including post-effective amendments, if any), has been declared effective by the Commission and copies of which have heretofore been delivered to the Underwriters. The registration statement, as amended at the time it became effective, including the prospectus, financial statements, schedules, exhibits and other information (if any) deemed to be part of the registration statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act, is hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement.” If the Company has filed or is required pursuant to the terms hereof to file a registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b)
3
under the Securities Act registering additional Ordinary Shares (a “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement”), then, unless otherwise specified, any reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. Other than a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, which, if filed, becomes effective upon filing, no other document with respect to the Registration Statement has heretofore been filed with the Commission. All of the Securities have been registered under the Securities Act pursuant to the Registration Statement or, if any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement is filed, will be duly registered under the Securities Act with the filing of such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. The Company has complied to the Commission’s satisfaction with all requests of the Commission for additional or supplemental information. Based on communications from the Commission, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of either the Registration Statement or the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or threatened by the Commission. The Company, if required by the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission (the “Rules and Regulations”), proposes to file the Prospectus with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act (“Rule 424(b)”). The prospectus, in the form in which it is to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), or, if the prospectus is not to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), the prospectus in the form included as part of the Registration Statement at the time the Registration Statement became effective, is hereinafter referred to as the “Prospectus,” except that if any revised prospectus or prospectus supplement shall be provided to the Underwriters by the Company for use in connection with the Offering which differs from the Prospectus (whether or not such revised prospectus or prospectus supplement is required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 424(b)), the term “Prospectus” shall also refer to such revised prospectus or prospectus supplement, as the case may be, from and after the time it is first provided to the Underwriters for such use. Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus subject to completion included in the Registration Statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act is hereafter called a “Preliminary Prospectus.” Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the exhibits incorporated by reference therein pursuant to the Rules and Regulations on or before the effective date of the Registration Statement, the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the date of the Prospectus, as the case may be. Any reference herein to the terms “amend”, “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include: (i) the filing of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and together with the Rules and Regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act”) after the effective date of the Registration Statement, the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the date of the Prospectus, as the case may be, which is incorporated therein by reference, and (ii) any such document so filed. All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, a Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include any copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data-Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (“XXXXX”) system.
(b) At the time of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or the effectiveness of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, when the Prospectus is filed or first used within the meaning of the Rules
4
and Regulations, when any supplement to or amendment of the Prospectus is filed with the Commission, when any document filed under the Exchange Act was or is filed, at all other subsequent times until the completion of the public offer and sale of the Securities, and at the Closing Date, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendments thereof and supplements or exhibits thereto complied or will comply in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the Rules and Regulations, and did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact and did not and will not omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein: (i) in the case of the Registration Statement, not misleading, and (ii) in the case of the Prospectus in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. When any Preliminary Prospectus was first filed with the Commission (whether filed as part of the registration statement for the registration of the Securities or any amendment thereto or pursuant to Rule 424(a) under the Securities Act) and when any amendment thereof or supplement thereto was first filed with the Commission, such Preliminary Prospectus and any amendments thereof and supplements thereto complied in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the Rules and Regulations and did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact and did not omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. No representation and warranty is made in this subsection (b), however, with respect to any information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any related Preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein. The parties acknowledge and agree that such information provided by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists solely of the statements with respect to the public offering of the Securities by the Underwriters regarding the names and corresponding share amounts set forth in the table of the Underwriters under the caption “Underwriting” and the concession and reallowance figures and the paragraph relating to stabilization by the Underwriters appearing under the caption “Underwriting” in the Prospectus (the “Underwriters’ Information”).
(c) Neither: (i) any Issuer-Represented General Free Writing Prospectus(es) (as defined below) issued at or prior to the Time of Sale (as defined below) and the Statutory Prospectus (as defined below), all considered together (collectively, the “General Disclosure Package”), nor (ii) any individual Issuer-Represented Limited-Use Free Writing Prospectus(es) (as defined below), when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, includes or included as of the Time of Sale, any untrue statement of a material fact or omits or omitted as of the Time of Sale to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Statutory Prospectus included in the Registration Statement or any Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below) based upon and in conformity with Underwriters’ Information furnished to the Company by the Representatives specifically for use therein.
5
(d) Each Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Securities or until any earlier date that the Company notified or notifies the Representatives as described in the next sentence, did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, any Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, any Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus relating to the Securities or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company has notified or will notify promptly the Representatives so that any use of such Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus may cease until it is promptly amended or supplemented by the Company, at its own expense, to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission. The foregoing two sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with Underwriters’ Information furnished to the Company by the Representatives specifically for use therein.
(e) The Company has not distributed and will not distribute any prospectus or other offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities other than the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or other materials permitted by the Act to be distributed by the Company. Unless the Company obtains the prior consent of the Representatives, the Company has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 under the Act, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act, required to be filed with the Commission. The Company has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 under the Act applicable to any Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Securities, including timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping. The Company has satisfied and will satisfy the conditions in Rule 433 under the Act to avoid a requirement to file with the Commission any electronic road show.
(f) Each Underwriter agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Company, it will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below) or that would otherwise (without taking into account any approval, authorization, use or reference thereto by the Company) constitute a “free writing prospectus” required to be filed by the Company with the Commission (as defined herein) or retained by the Company under Rule 433 of the Securities Act; provided that the prior written consent of the Company hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of any Issuer-Represented General Free Writing Prospectuses referenced on Schedule C attached hereto
As used in this Agreement, the terms set forth below shall have the following meanings:
(i) “Time of Sale” means [ ] (Eastern time) on the date of this Agreement.
6
(ii) “Statutory Prospectus” as of any time means the prospectus that is included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to that time. For purposes of this definition, information contained in a form of prospectus that is deemed retroactively to be a part of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A or 430B shall be considered to be included in the Statutory Prospectus as of the actual time that form of prospectus is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act.
(iii) “Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 under the Act, relating to the Securities that (A) is required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, or (B) is exempt from filing pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) under the Act because it contains a description of the Securities or of the offering that does not reflect the final terms or pursuant to Rule 433(d)(8)(ii) because it is a “bona fide electronic road show,” as defined in Rule 433 of the Regulations, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g) under the Act.
(iv) “Issuer-Represented General Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus that is intended for general distribution to prospective investors, as evidenced by its being specified in Schedule C to this Agreement.
(v) “Issuer-Represented Limited-Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus that is not an Issuer-Represented General Free Writing Prospectus. The term Issuer-Represented Limited-Use Free Writing Prospectus also includes any “bona fide electronic road show,” as defined in Rule 433 of the Regulations, that is made available without restriction pursuant to Rule 433(d)(8)(ii), even though not required to be filed with the Commission.
(g) Mao & Company, CPAs, Inc. (“M&C”), whose reports relating to the Company are included in the Registration Statement, are independent public accountants as required by the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the Rules and Regulations and such accountants are not in violation of the auditor independence requirements of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 (“Sarb-Ox”).
(h) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is presented in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus: (i) the Company has not declared, paid or made any dividends or other distributions of any kind on or in respect of its capital stock, and (ii) there has been no material adverse change (or, to the knowledge of the Company, any development which has a high probability of involving a material adverse change in the future), whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, in or affecting: (A) the business, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, shareholders’ equity, properties or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries (as defined below), taken as a whole; (B) the long-term debt or capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or (C) the Offering or consummation of any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package
7
and the Prospectus (a “Material Adverse Change”). Since the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has incurred or undertaken any liabilities or obligations, whether direct or indirect, liquidated or contingent, matured or unmatured, or entered into any transactions, including any acquisition or disposition of any business or asset, which are material to the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, except for liabilities, obligations and transactions which are disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
(i) As of the dates indicated in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the authorized, issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company were as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus in the column headed “Actual” under the section thereof captioned “Capitalization” and, after giving effect to the Offering and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will be as set forth in the column headed “As Adjusted” in such section. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company, are fully paid and non-assessable and have been duly and validly authorized and issued, in compliance with all applicable state, federal and foreign securities laws and not in violation of or subject to any preemptive or similar right that does or will entitle any Person (as defined below), upon the issuance or sale of any security, to acquire from the Company or any Subsidiary any Relevant Security. As used herein, the term “Relevant Security” means any Ordinary Shares or other security of the Company or any Subsidiary that is convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for Ordinary Shares or equity securities, or that holds the right to acquire any Ordinary Shares or equity securities of the Company or any Subsidiary or any other such Relevant Security, except for such rights as may have been fully satisfied or waived prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement. As used herein, the term “Person” means any foreign or domestic individual, corporation, trust, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity.
(j) The Shares have been duly and validly authorized and, when issued, delivered and paid for in accordance with this Agreement on the Closing Date will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, will have been issued in compliance with all applicable state, federal and foreign securities laws and will not have been issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive or similar right that does or will entitle any Person to acquire any Relevant Security from the Company or any Subsidiary upon issuance or sale of the Shares in the Offering. The Ordinary Shares conform to the descriptions thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has outstanding warrants, options to purchase, or any preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell, any Relevant Security.
(k) The Ordinary Shares underlying the Representatives’ Warrants have been duly authorized for issuance, will conform to the description thereof in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus and have been validly reserved for future issuance and will, upon exercise of the Representatives’ Warrants and payment of the exercise price thereof, be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and will not have been issued in violation
8
of or subject to preemptive or similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company. The issuance of such securities is not subject to any statutory preemptive rights under the laws of the Cayman Islands or the Company’s organization documents as in effect at the time of issuance, rights of first refusal or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company (except for such preemptive or contractual rights as were waived).
(l) The descriptions of the ownership structure of the Company and its subsidiaries and non-subsidiary controlled companies as set forth in Exhibit 21.1 to the Registration Statement (collectively, the “Subsidiaries”) and the restructurings set forth in the Registration Statement under the caption “Our Corporate Structure and History” are accurate and complete. The ownership structure of the Company and Subsidiaries, both currently and after giving effect to the offering of the Securities (the “Corporate Structure”), are in material compliance with existing laws and regulations of the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”). All consent, approval, authorization or order of, or registration or filing with any Governmental Authority required for the restructuring transactions resulting into the Corporate Structure (collectively, the “Restructuring”), including without limitation the contractual arrangements with Beijing Xxx Xx Water Technology Co., Ltd. (“Yanyu”), Tranhold Environmental (Beijing) Tech Co., Ltd. (“Tranhold”) and their respective shareholders, and the establishment of the overseas affiliated companies of Tri-Tech (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“TTB,” together with Yanyu and Tranhold, the “PRC Group Companies”), including without limitation the Company, Tri-Tech International Investment, Inc. and Tri-Tech Infrastructure LLC, have been duly obtained, and none of such governmental authorizations has been withdrawn or revoked nor, to the Company’s knowledge, are there circumstances which may give rise to such governmental authorizations being withdrawn or revoked, or is subject to any condition precedent which has not been fulfilled or performed. The Restructuring did not and/or does not (A) contravene or conflict with any provision of any applicable PRC laws and regulations, (B) contravene or conflict with the respective articles of association, business license or other constitutional documents of any of the Company and its Subsidiaries, or (C) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any license, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which any of the Company and its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of the Company and its Subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of any of the Company and its Subsidiaries is subject, except in the case of (c) where non-compliance would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined below). The PRC Companies operate their businesses in compliance with all PRC laws and regulations, except where non-compliance would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(m) Except for the Subsidiaries, the Company holds no ownership or other interest, nominal or beneficial, direct or indirect, in any corporation, partnership, joint venture or other business entity. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of, or other ownership interests in, each Subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, free and clear of any lien, charge, mortgage, pledge, security interest, claim, equity, trust or other encumbrance, preferential arrangement, defect or restriction of any kind whatsoever (any “Lien”). Except for ownership of Yanyu and Tranhold as disclosed in the Registration Statement, no director, officer or key employee of the Company named in the Prospectus holds
9
any direct equity, debt or other pecuniary interest in any Subsidiary or any Person with whom the Company or any Subsidiary does business or is in privity of contract with, other than, in each case, indirectly through the ownership by such individuals of Ordinary Shares.
(n) Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries has been duly incorporated, formed or organized, and validly exists as a corporation, partnership or limited liability company in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, formation or organization. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as it is currently being conducted and as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and to own, lease and operate its respective properties. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation, partnership or limited liability company in each jurisdiction in which the character or location of its properties (owned, leased or licensed) or the nature or conduct of its business makes such qualification necessary, except, in each case, for those failures to be so qualified or in good standing which (individually and in the aggregate) could not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on: (i) the business, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, shareholders’ equity, properties or prospects of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (ii) the long-term debt or capital stock of the Company or any Subsidiary; or (iii) the Offering or consummation of any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (any such effect being a “Material Adverse Effect”).
(o) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary: (i) is in violation of its certificate or articles of incorporation, by-laws, certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement, joint venture agreement, partnership agreement or other organizational documents, (ii) is in default under, and no event has occurred which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default under or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of its property or assets pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its property or assets is subject or (iii) is in violation in any respect of any law, rule, regulation, ordinance, directive, judgment, decree or order of any judicial, regulatory or other legal or governmental agency or body, foreign or domestic, except (A) (in the case of clause (ii) above) for any lien, charge or encumbrance disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and (B) (in the case of clause (iii) above) where such violation would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(p) The Company has full right, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, the Representatives’ Warrants and all other agreements, documents, certificates and instruments required to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement. The Company has duly and validly authorized this Agreement, the Representatives’ Warrants and each of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Representatives’ Warrants. This Agreement and the Representatives’ Warrants have been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company and are enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and except as enforceability may be subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
10
(q) The execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement, the Representatives’ Warrants and all other agreements, documents, certificates and instruments required to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement, and consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement do not and will not: (i) conflict with, require consent under or result in a breach of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any property or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement, instrument, franchise, license or permit to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any Subsidiary or their respective properties, operations or assets may be bound or (ii) violate or conflict with any provision of the certificate or articles of incorporation, by-laws, certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement, partnership agreement or other organizational documents of the Company or any Subsidiary, or (iii) violate or conflict with any law, rule, regulation, ordinance, directive, judgment, decree or order of any judicial, regulatory or other legal or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, except where such violation would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(r) Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries has all consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations, qualifications, licenses, filings and permits of, with and from all judicial, regulatory and other legal or governmental agencies and bodies and all third parties, foreign and domestic (collectively, the “Consents”), to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as it is now being conducted and as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and each such Consent is valid and in full force and effect. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received notice of any investigation or proceedings which results in or, if decided adversely to the Company or any Subsidiary, could reasonably be expected to result in, the revocation of, or imposition of a materially burdensome restriction on, any Consent.
(s) Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is in compliance with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, directives, judgments, decrees and orders, foreign and domestic, except where such violation would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company, nor any of its Affiliates (within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act) (“Affiliates”) has received any written notice or other written information from any regulatory or other legal or governmental agency relating to any default or potential decertification of the Company or any of its Affiliates.
(t) No Consent of, with or from any judicial, regulatory or other legal or governmental agency or body or any third party, foreign or domestic is required for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Representatives’ Warrants or consummation of each of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities to be issued, sold and delivered hereunder, except the registration under the Securities Act of the Securities, which has become effective, and such Consents as may be required under state securities or blue sky laws or the by-laws and rules of the NASDAQ Capital Market, where the Ordinary Shares are listed, and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters, each of which has been obtained and is in full force and effect.
11
(u) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there is no judicial, regulatory, arbitral or other legal or governmental proceeding or other litigation or arbitration, domestic or foreign, pending to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or of which any property, operations or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary is the subject which, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company or any Subsidiary, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the Company’s knowledge, no such proceeding, litigation or arbitration is threatened or contemplated. The defense of all such proceedings, litigation and arbitration against or involving the Company or any Subsidiary is not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(v) The financial statements, including the notes thereto, and the supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and present fairly the financial position as of the dates indicated and the cash flows and results of operations for the periods specified of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries. Except as otherwise stated in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved. The supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly the information required to be stated therein. No other financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus. The other financial and statistical information included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly the information included therein and have been prepared on a basis consistent with that of the financial statements that are included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and the books and records of the respective entities presented therein.
(w) There are no pro forma or as adjusted financial statements which are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus in accordance with Regulation S-X which have not been included as so required. The pro forma and pro forma as adjusted financial information included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus has been compiled and prepared in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations and include all adjustments necessary to present fairly in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles the pro forma and as adjusted financial position of the respective entity or entities presented therein at the respective dates indicated and their cash flows and the results of operations for the respective periods specified. The assumptions used in preparing the pro forma and pro forma as adjusted financial information included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus provide a reasonable basis for presenting the significant effects directly attributable to the transactions or events described therein. The related pro forma and pro forma as adjusted adjustments give appropriate effect to
12
those assumptions; and the pro forma and pro forma as adjusted financial information reflect the proper application of those adjustments to the corresponding historical financial statement amounts.
(x) The statistical, industry-related and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources which the Company reasonably and in good faith believes are reliable and accurate, and such data agree with the sources from which they are derived.
(y) The Company is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and files reports with the Commission on the XXXXX system. The Ordinary Shares are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act and the outstanding Ordinary Shares are listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market. The Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Ordinary Shares under the Exchange Act or de-listing the Ordinary Shares from the NASDAQ Capital Market, nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission or NASDAQ Stock Market is contemplating terminating such registration or listing. Since August 3, 2009, the Company has timely filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by it with the Commission pursuant to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act (all of the foregoing, and all other documents and registration statements heretofore filed by the Company with the Commission being hereinafter referred to as the “SEC Documents”). None of the SEC Documents, at the time they were filed with the Commission (except those SEC Documents that were subsequently amended), contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. As of their respective dates, the financial statements of the Company included (or incorporated by reference) in the SEC Documents complied as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations of the Commission or other applicable rules and regulations with respect thereto (except those SEC Documents that were subsequently amended).
(z) The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14 under the Exchange Act) and such controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that material information relating to the Company, including its Subsidiaries, is made known to the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer. The Company has utilized such controls and procedures in preparing and evaluating the disclosures in the Registration Statement, in the General Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus.
(aa) The Company and each of the Subsidiaries maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as described in the Registration
13
Statement, the General Disclosure Package or in the Prospectus, since August 3, 2009, there has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
(bb) The Company’s Board of Directors has validly appointed an audit committee whose composition satisfies the requirements of the rules and regulations of the NASDAQ Stock Market and the Board of Directors and/or audit committee has adopted a charter that satisfies the requirements of the rules and regulations of the NASDAQ Stock Market. The audit committee has reviewed the adequacy of its charter within the past twelve months. Neither the Board of Directors nor the audit committee has been informed, nor is any director of the Company aware, of: (i) any significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; or (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
(cc) Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates has taken, directly or indirectly, any action which constitutes or is designed to cause or result in, or which could reasonably be expected to constitute, cause or result in, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.
(dd) Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates has, prior to the date hereof, made any offer or sale of any securities which are required to be “integrated” pursuant to the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations with the offer and sale of the Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, neither Company nor any of its Affiliates has sold or issued any Relevant Security during the six-month period preceding the date of the Prospectus, including but not limited to any sales pursuant to Rule 144A or Regulation D or S under the Securities Act, other than Ordinary Shares issued pursuant to employee benefit plans, qualified stock option plans or the employee compensation plans or pursuant to outstanding options, rights or warrants as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(ee) All information contained in the questionnaires completed by each of the Company’s officers and directors immediately prior to the Offering and provided to the Representatives as well as the biographies of such individuals in the Registration Statement is true and correct in all material respects and the Company has not become aware of any information which would cause the information disclosed in the questionnaires completed by the directors and officers to become inaccurate and incorrect.
(ff) No director or officer of the Company is subject to any non-competition agreement or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or prior employer which could materially affect his ability to be and act in his respective capacity of the Company.
14
(gg) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no holder of any Relevant Security has any rights to require registration of any Relevant Security as part or on account of, or otherwise in connection with, the offer and sale of the Securities contemplated hereby, and any such rights so disclosed have either been fully complied with by the Company or effectively waived by the holders thereof, and any such waivers remain in full force and effect.
(hh) The conditions for use of Form S-1 to register the Offering under the Securities Act, as set forth in the General Instructions to such Form, have been satisfied.
(ii) The Company is not and, at all times up to and including consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and after giving effect to application of the net proceeds of the Offering, will not be, subject to registration as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and is not and will not be an entity “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of such act.
(jj) No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among any of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, on the one hand, and any director, officer, shareholder, customer or supplier of the Company or any affiliate of the Company, on the other hand, which is required by the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or the Rules and Regulations to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which is not so described and described as required. There are no outstanding loans, advances (except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees of indebtedness by the Company to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of the Company or any of their respective family members, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. The Company has not, in violation of Sarb-Ox directly or indirectly, including through a Subsidiary (other than as permitted under Sarb-Ox for depositary institutions), extended or maintained credit, arranged for the extension of credit, or renewed an extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan to or for any director or executive officer of the Company.
(kk) The Company is in material compliance with the provisions of Sarb-Ox and the Rules and Regulations promulgated thereunder and related or similar rules and regulations promulgated by the NASDAQ Stock Market or any other governmental or self regulatory entity or agency, except for such violations which, singly or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing: (i) all members of the Company’s board of directors who are required to be “independent” (as that term is defined under applicable laws, rules and regulations), including, without limitation, all members of the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors, meet the qualifications of independence as set forth under applicable laws, rules and regulations and (ii) the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors has at least one member who is an “audit committee financial expert” (as that term is defined under applicable laws, rules and regulations).
(ll) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any Person that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or other like payment in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or, to the Company’s knowledge, any
15
arrangements, agreements, understandings, payments or issuance with respect to the Company or any of its officers, directors, shareholders, partners, employees, Subsidiaries or Affiliates that may affect the Underwriters’ compensation as determined by FINRA.
(mm) The Company and each Subsidiary owns or leases all such properties as are necessary to the conduct of its business as presently operated and as proposed to be operated as described in the Registration and the Prospectus. The Company and the Subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property and good and marketable title to all personal property owned by them, in each case free and clear of all Liens except such as are described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or such as do not (individually or in the aggregate) materially affect the business or prospects of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries. Any real property and buildings held under lease or sublease by the Company and the Subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material to, and do not interfere with, the use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company and the Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any written notice of any claim adverse to its ownership of any real or personal property or of any claim against the continued possession of any real property, whether owned or held under lease or sublease by the Company or any Subsidiary.
(nn) The Company and each Subsidiary: (i) owns or possesses adequate right to use all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service xxxx registrations, copyrights, licenses, formulae, customer lists, and know-how and other intellectual property (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures, “Intellectual Property”) necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses as being conducted and as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure and Prospectus and (ii) have no knowledge that the conduct of their respective businesses do not or will not conflict with, and they have not received any notice of any claim of conflict with, any such right of others. To the Company’s knowledge, all material technical information developed by and belonging to the Company or any Subsidiary which has not been patented has been kept confidential so as, among other things, all such information may be deemed proprietary to the Company. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has granted or assigned to any other Person any right to sell the current products and services of the Company and its Subsidiaries or those products and services described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus. To the Company’s knowledge, there is no infringement by third parties of any such Intellectual Property; there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s rights in or to any such Intellectual Property, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim; and there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others that the Company or any Subsidiary infringes or otherwise violates any patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret or other proprietary rights of others, and the Company is unaware of any other fact which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim.
16
(oo) The agreements and documents described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained therein and there are no agreements or other documents required to be described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or to be filed with the Commission as exhibits to the Registration Statement, that have not been so described or filed. Each agreement or other instrument (however characterized or described) to which the Company is a party or by which its property or business is or may be bound or affected and (i) that is referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or attached as an exhibit thereto, or (ii) is material to the Company’s business, has been duly and validly executed by the Company, is in full force and effect in all material respects and is enforceable against the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, the other parties thereto, in accordance with its terms, except (x) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (y) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the foreign, federal and state securities laws, and (z) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought, and none of such agreements or instruments has been assigned by the Company, and neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any other party is in breach or default thereunder and, to the Company’s knowledge, no event has occurred that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a breach or default thereunder. To the Company’s knowledge, performance by the Company of the material provisions of such agreements or instruments will not result in a violation of any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its assets or businesses, including, without limitation, those relating to environmental laws and regulations.
(pp) No securities of the Company have been sold by the Company or by or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, any person or persons controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company since the date of the Company’s formation, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement.
(qq) The disclosures in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus concerning the effects of foreign, federal, state and local regulation on the Company’s business as currently contemplated are correct in all material respects and do not omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.
(rr) Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries has accurately prepared and timely filed all federal, state, foreign, including the PRC and the Cayman Islands, and other tax returns that are required to be filed by it and has paid or made provision for the payment of all taxes, assessments, governmental or other similar charges, including without limitation, all sales and use taxes and all taxes which the Company or any Subsidiary is obligated to withhold from amounts owing to employees, creditors and third parties, with respect to the periods covered by such tax returns (whether or not such amounts are shown as due on any tax return). No deficiency assessment with respect to a proposed adjustment of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s federal, state, local or foreign, including the PRC and the Cayman Islands, taxes is
17
pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened. The accruals and reserves on the books and records of the Company and the Subsidiaries in respect of tax liabilities for any taxable period not finally determined are adequate to meet any assessments and related liabilities for any such period and, since the date of the Company’s most recent audited financial statements, the Company and the Subsidiaries have not incurred any liability for taxes other than in the ordinary course of its business. There is no tax lien, whether imposed by any federal, state, foreign or other taxing authority, outstanding against the assets, properties or business of the Company or any Subsidiary.
(ss) No labor disturbance by the employees of the Company or any Subsidiary currently exists or, to the Company’s knowledge, is likely to occur.
(tt) The Company and each Subsidiary have at all times operated their respective businesses (i) in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”), (ii) have received and are in compliance with all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (iii) have not received notice of any actual or potential liability under any environmental law, except where such non-compliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals, or liability would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(uu) As set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a party to or subject to any employment contract or arrangement providing for annual future compensation, or the opportunity to earn annual future compensation (whether through fixed salary, bonus, commission, options or otherwise) of more than $120,000 to any officer, consultant, director or employee.
(vv) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is required to perform any of obligations under the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder. Except as required by applicable laws and as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, none of the Company and its Subsidiaries has, or is obligated to provide, any Benefit Plan. For purposes hereof, “Benefit Plan” means any plan, contract or other arrangement, formal or informal, whether oral or written, providing any benefit to any present or former officer, director or employee, or dependent or beneficiary thereof, including any profit sharing, deferred compensation, share option, performance share, employee share purchase, severance, retirement, health, death or disability benefits or insurance plan. No employee of the Company and its Subsidiaries is owed any back wages or other compensation for services rendered except as set forth on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has complied in all material respects with all applicable laws related to employment, the Benefit Plans and other employee benefits. The execution of this Agreement, the Representatives’ Warrants or consummation of the Offering does not constitute a triggering event under any Benefit Plan or any other employment contract, whether or not legally
18
enforceable, which (either alone or upon the occurrence of any additional or subsequent event) will or may result in any payment (of severance pay or otherwise), acceleration, increase in vesting, or increase in benefits to any current or former participant, employee or director of the Company or any Subsidiary other than an event that is not material to the financial condition or business of the Company or any Subsidiary, either individually or taken as a whole.
(ww) The Company has not offered, or caused the Underwriters to offer, the Firm Shares to any Person or entity with the intention of unlawfully influencing: (i) a customer or supplier of the Company or any Subsidiary to alter the customer’s or supplier’s level or type of business with the Company or any Subsidiary or (ii) a journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company, any Subsidiary or its products or services.
(xx) The Company is in compliance with all applicable PRC and other foreign and U.S. laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, directives, judgments, decrees and orders (including, without limitation, all securities and tax laws, rules and regulations of the PRC), except for such non-compliance as would not have a Material Adverse Effect. As of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, and except as contemplated by this Agreement, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary operates within the United States or any state or territory thereof.
(yy) Each of the Company and Subsidiaries, and to the knowledge of the Company, each of its affiliates and any of the respective officers, directors, supervisors, managers, agents or employees of each of the foregoing, has not violated, its participation in the offering will not violate, and the Company has instituted and maintains policies and procedures designed to ensure continued compliance with, each of the following laws: (a) anti-bribery laws, including but not limited to, any applicable law, rule, or regulation of any locality, including but not limited to any law, rule, or regulation promulgated to implement the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, signed December 17, 1997, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any other law, rule or regulation of similar purposes and scope, (b) anti-money laundering laws, including but not limited to, applicable federal, state, international, foreign or other laws, regulations or government guidance regarding anti-money laundering, including, without limitation, U.S. Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, Title 18 US. Code section 1956 and 1957, the Patriot Act, the Bank Secrecy Act, and international anti-money laundering principles or procedures by an intergovernmental group or organization, such as the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering, of which the United States and/or PRC is a member and with which designation representative of the United States and/or PRC to the group or organization continues to concur, all as amended, and any executive order, directive, or regulation pursuant to the authority of any of the foregoing, or any orders or licenses issued thereunder (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) or (c) laws and regulations imposing U.S. economic sanctions measures, including, but not limited to, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the Trading with the Enemy Act, the United Nations Participation Act and the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Act, all as amended, and any executive order, directive, or regulation pursuant to the authority of any of the foregoing, including the regulations of the United States Treasury Department set forth under 31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended, or any orders or licenses issued thereunder. The operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with
19
applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Money Laundering Laws and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, except, in each case, as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(zz) Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, no holders of any securities of the Company or any rights exercisable for or convertible or exchangeable into securities of the Company have the right to require the Company to register any such securities of the Company under the Act or to include any such securities in a registration statement to be filed by the Company.
(aaa) Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company (as such term is defined under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, an “Affiliate”) is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.
(bbb) None of the Subsidiaries is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such Subsidiary’s share capital, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such Subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such Subsidiary’s property or assets to the Company or any other Subsidiary, except as described in or contemplated by the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; except as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, any dividends and other distributions declared with respect to after-tax retained earnings on the equity interests of the PRC Group Companies may under PRC laws and regulations be paid to the Company; and all such dividends and distributions will not be subject to withholding or other taxes under PRC laws and regulations and are otherwise free and clear of any other tax, withholding or deduction in the PRC, and without the necessity of obtaining any governmental authorization in the PRC.
(ccc) Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, each of the Company and Subsidiaries has taken or is in the process of taking all reasonable steps (to the extent required of the Company and each such Subsidiary under PRC laws and regulations) to comply with, and to ensure compliance by each of (i) its principal stockholders as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and (ii) any other persons known to the Company that are required to comply (in connection with their interests in the Company) with applicable rules and regulations of the relevant PRC governmental agencies (including, without limitation, the Ministry of Commerce, National Development and Reform Commission and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange) relating to overseas investment by PRC residents and citizens or overseas listing by offshore special purpose vehicles controlled directly or indirectly by PRC companies and individuals, such as the Company (the “PRC Overseas Investment and
20
Listing Regulations”), including, without limitation, requesting such persons to complete any registration and other procedures required under applicable PRC Overseas Investment and Listing Regulations.
(ddd) As of the date hereof, as of the date of the Prospectus and the Closing Date, the Rules on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors jointly promulgated by the Ministry of Commerce, the State Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the State Tax Administration, the State Administration of Industry and Commerce, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”) and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange of the PRC on August 8, 2006 (the “M&A Rules”) or any official clarifications, guidance, interpretations or implementation rules in connection with or related to the M&A Rules did not and do not apply to the issuance and sale of the Securities, the quotation and trading of the Securities on the NASDAQ Capital Market, the initial public offering by the Company, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Nor is CSRC or other PRC government approval required in connection with the above.
(eee) Each of the Company and Subsidiaries has full power, authority and legal right to enter into, execute, adopt, assume, deliver and perform its respective obligations under each of the contracts disclosed, included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including without limitation those related to the Restructuring, collectively, the “Material Contracts”) to which it is a party. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has duly authorized, executed and delivered each of the Material Contracts to which it is a party, and each Material Contract constitutes the valid, legal and binding obligations enforceable against the Company and/or its respective Subsidiary in accordance with its terms. The execution, delivery and performance of the Material Contracts by the Company and/or its respective Subsidiary, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereunder, do not (A) result in any violation of the business license, articles of association, other constitutional documents (if any) or governmental authorizations of the Company and/or its respective Subsidiary; (B) result in any violation of or penalty under any applicable law; or (C) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the material terms or provisions of, or constitute a material default under, any other contract, license, bond, debenture, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company and/or its respective Subsidiary is a party or by which any of them is bound or to which any of their property or assets is subject, except in the case of clauses (B) and (C) above, such violation, breach, conflict or default would not result in a Material Adverse Effect. All consents, approvals, authorizations or orders of, or registrations or filings with any Governmental Authority required for the execution, delivery and performance of the Material Contracts and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereunder have been duly obtained and are in full force and effect.
(fff) Approval of the shareholders of the Company under the rules and regulations of the NASDAQ Capital Market or other applicable laws and regulations is not required for the Company to issue and deliver the Securities to the several Underwriters.
21
(ggg) There are no affiliations or associations between (i) any member of the FINRA and (ii) the Company or, to the knowledge of the Company, any of the Company’s officers, directors or 5% or greater security holders or any beneficial owner of the Company’s unregistered equity securities that were acquired at any time on or after the 180th day immediately preceding the date the Prospectus was initially filed with the Commission, except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus.
(hhh) The Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus each fairly and accurately describe all material trends, demands, commitments and events known to the Company, and uncertainties, and the potential effects thereof, that the Company believes would materially affect its liquidity and are reasonably likely to occur. As used herein, the phrase “reasonably likely” refers to a disclosure threshold lower than “more likely than not.”
(iii) None of the Company, Subsidiary or any of their respective properties or assets has any immunity from the jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution or otherwise) under the laws of the PRC, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Delaware, New York or United States federal law; and, to the extent that the Company, any of the Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, assets or revenues may have or may hereafter become entitled to any such right of immunity in any such court in which proceedings may at any time be commenced, each of the Company and its Subsidiaries waive and will waive such right to the extent permitted by law.
(jjj) As used in this Agreement, references to matters being “material” with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries shall mean a material event, change, condition, status or effect related to the condition (financial or otherwise), properties, assets (including intangible assets), liabilities, business, prospects, operations or results of operations of the Company or the applicable Subsidiaries, either individually or taken as a whole, as the context requires.
(kkk) As used in this Agreement, the term “knowledge of the Company” (or similar language) shall mean the knowledge of the officers and directors of the Company and the applicable Subsidiaries who are named in the Prospectus, with the assumption that such officers and directors shall have made reasonable and diligent inquiry of the matters presented (with reference to what is customary and prudent for the applicable individuals in connection with the discharge by the applicable individuals of their duties as officers, directors or managers of the Company or the applicable Subsidiaries).
Any certificate signed by or on behalf of the Company and delivered to the Underwriters or to Pillsbury Xxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxx LLP (“Underwriters’ Counsel”) shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter listed on Schedule A hereto as to the matters covered thereby.
3. Offering. Upon authorization of the release of the Firm Shares by the Representatives, the Underwriters propose to offer the Shares for sale to the public upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus.
22
4. Covenants of the Company. The Company acknowledges, covenants and agrees with the Underwriters that:
(a) The Registration Statement and any amendments thereto have been declared effective, and if Rule 430A is used or the filing of the Prospectus is otherwise required under Rule 424(b), the Company will file the Prospectus (properly completed if Rule 430A has been used) pursuant to Rule 424(b) within the prescribed time period and will provide evidence satisfactory to the Representatives of such timely filing.
(b) During the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the later of the Closing Date (or Option Closing Date, if any) or such date, as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriter, the Prospectus is no longer required by law to be delivered (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Securities Act is no longer required to be provided), in connection with sales by an underwriter or dealer (the “Prospectus Delivery Period”), prior to amending or supplementing the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, the Company shall furnish to the Underwriter for review a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement, and the Company shall not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Underwriter reasonably object within 36 hours of delivery thereof to the Underwriter and its counsel.
(c) After the date of this Agreement, the Company shall promptly advise the Underwriter in writing (i) of the receipt of any comments of, or requests for additional or supplemental information from, the Commission, (ii) of the time and date of any filing of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to any Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, (iii) of the time and date that any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective and (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or of any order preventing or suspending its use or the use of any Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus, or of any proceedings to remove, suspend or terminate from listing the Ordinary Shares from any securities exchange upon which it is listed for trading, or of the threatening or initiation of any proceedings for any of such purposes. If the Commission shall enter any such stop order at any time, the Company will use its reasonable efforts to obtain the lifting of such order at the earliest possible moment. Additionally, the Company agrees that it shall comply with the provisions of Rules 424(b), 430A and 430B, as applicable, under the Securities Act and will use its reasonable efforts to confirm that any filings made by the Company under Rule 424(b) or Rule 433 were received in a timely manner by the Commission (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) or Rule 164(b)).
(d) (i) During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will comply as far as it is able with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act, as now and hereafter amended, and by the Rules and Regulations, as from time to time in force, and by the Exchange Act so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of or dealings in the Securities as contemplated by the provisions hereof, the General Disclosure Package, and the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. If during such period any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus (or if the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, the General
23
Disclosure Package) would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then existing, not misleading, or if during such period it is necessary or appropriate in the opinion of the Company or its counsel or the Underwriter or counsel to the Underwriter to amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Prospectus (or if the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, the General Disclosure Package) to comply with the Securities Act or to file under the Exchange Act any document which would be deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Prospectus in order to comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, the Company will promptly notify the Underwriter and will amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Prospectus (or if the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, the General Disclosure Package) or file such document (at the expense of the Company) so as to correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance.
(ii) If at any time following issuance of an Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Underwriter and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.
(e) The Company will promptly deliver to the Underwriters and Underwriters’ Counsel a signed copy of the Registration Statement, as initially filed and all amendments thereto, including all consents and exhibits filed therewith, and will maintain in the Company’s files manually signed copies of such documents in accordance with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The Company will promptly deliver to each of the Underwriters such number of copies of any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, the Registration Statement, and all amendments of and supplements to such documents, if any, and all documents which are exhibits to the Registration Statement and Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, as the Underwriters may reasonably request. Prior to 10:00 A.M., New York time, on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and from time to time thereafter, the Company will furnish the Underwriters with copies of the Prospectus in New York City in such quantities as the Underwriters may reasonably request.
(f) The Company consents to the use and delivery of the Preliminary Prospectus by the Underwriters in accordance with Rule 430 and Section 5(b) of the Securities Act.
(g) If the Company elects to rely on Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, the Company shall both file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in compliance with Rule 462(b) and pay the applicable fees in accordance with Rule 111 of the Act by the earlier of: (i) 10:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date of this Agreement, and (ii) the time that confirmations are given or sent, as specified by Rule 462(b)(2).
24
(h) The Company will use its best efforts, in cooperation with the Representatives to qualify the Securities for offering and sale under the securities laws relating to the offering or sale of the Securities of such jurisdictions, domestic or foreign, as the Representatives may designate and to maintain such qualification in effect for so long as required for the distribution thereof; except that in no event shall the Company be obligated in connection therewith to qualify as a foreign corporation or to execute a general consent to service of process.
(i) The Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than 15 months after the end of the Company’s current fiscal quarter, an earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering a 12-month period that shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Rules and Regulations.
(j) Following the Closing Date, the Company and any of the individuals listed on Schedule B hereto (the “Lock-Up Parties”) shall not sell or otherwise dispose of any securities of the Company, whether publicly or in a private placement during the period that their respective lock-up agreements are in effect. The Company will deliver to the Representatives the agreements of Lock-Up Parties to the foregoing effect prior to the Closing Date, which agreements shall be substantially in the form attached hereto as Annex II. The Company will enforce the terms of each lock-up agreement and issue stop-transfer instructions to the transfer agent for the Ordinary Shares with respect to any transaction or contemplated transaction that would constitute a breach of or default under the applicable lock-up agreement.
(k) To the extent the Company remains subject to Sarb-Ox, the Company and its Subsidiaries will maintain such controls and other procedures, including without limitation those required by Sections 302 and 906 of Sarb-Ox and the applicable regulations thereunder, that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and its principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure, to ensure that material information relating to Company, including its Subsidiaries, is made known to them by others within those entities.
(l) During the period of four (4) years from the Closing Date, to the extent such information is not available on XXXXX, the Company will furnish to the Representatives and holders of the Ordinary Shares copies of its annual report and annual financial statements, and will furnish to the Representatives copies of its periodic filings as filed with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act and Exchange Act.
(m) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company will not issue any press release or other communication directly or indirectly or hold any press conference with respect to the Company and/or its Subsidiaries, their condition, financial or otherwise, or the earnings, business, operations or prospects of any of them, or the offering of the Securities (except for
25
routine oral marketing communications in the ordinary course of business and consistent with the past practices of the Company and of which the Underwriters are notified), without two-day prior written consent of the Representatives.
(n) The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities as set forth under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus. Without the written consent of the Representatives, no proceeds of the Offering will be used to pay outstanding loans from officers, directors or shareholders or to pay any accrued salaries or bonuses to any employees or former employees.
(o) The Company will use its best efforts to effect and maintain the listing of the Securities on the NASDAQ Stock Market, the New York Stock Exchange or NYSE/Amex. If the Company fails to maintain the listing of its Ordinary Shares on a nationally recognized exchange, for a period of three (3) years from the effective date of the Registration Statement, the Company, at its expense, shall obtain and keep current a listing in the Standard & Poor’s Corporation Records Services or the Xxxxx’x Industrial Manual; provided that Xxxxx’x OTC Industrial Manual is not sufficient for these purposes.
(p) The Company, during the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the Rules and Regulations within the time periods required thereby.
(q) The Company will use its best efforts to do and perform all things required to be done or performed under this Agreement by the Company prior to the Closing Date, and to satisfy all conditions precedent to the delivery of the Firm Shares.
(r) The Company will not take, and will cause its Affiliates not to take, directly or indirectly, any action which constitutes or is designed to cause or result in, or which could reasonably be expected to constitute, cause or result in, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.
(s) The Company shall cause to be prepared and delivered to the Representatives, at their expense, within one (1) business day from the effective date of this Agreement, an Electronic Prospectus to be used by the Underwriters in connection with the Offering. As used herein, the term “Electronic Prospectus” means a form of prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, that meets each of the following conditions: (i) it shall be encoded in an electronic format, satisfactory to the Representatives, that may be transmitted electronically by the other Underwriters to offerees and purchasers of the Securities for at least the period during which a Prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Securities Act; (ii) it shall disclose the same information as the paper prospectus and prospectus filed pursuant to XXXXX, except to the extent that graphic and image material cannot be disseminated electronically, in which case such graphic and image material shall be replaced in the electronic prospectus with a fair and accurate narrative description or tabular representation of such material, as appropriate; and (iii) it shall be in or convertible into a paper format or an electronic format, satisfactory to the Representatives, that will allow recipients
26
thereof to store and have continuously ready access to the prospectus at any future time, without charge to such recipients (other than any fee charged for subscription to the Internet as a whole and for on-line time). The Company hereby confirms that it has included or will include in the Prospectus filed pursuant to XXXXX or otherwise with the Commission and in the Registration Statement at the time it was declared effective an undertaking that, upon receipt of a request by an investor or his or her representative within the period when a prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, the Company shall transmit or cause to be transmitted promptly, without charge, a paper copy of the Prospectus.
(t) The Company and its Subsidiaries will comply with all applicable provisions of Sarb-Ox.
(u) The Company will not issue press releases or engage in any other publicity, without the Representatives’ prior written consent, for a period ending at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on the first business day following the forty-fifth (45th) day following the Closing Date, other than normal and customary releases issued in the ordinary course of the Company’s business.
(v) The Company represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Representatives, and each of the Representatives represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Company, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, required to be filed with the Commission; provided that the prior written consent of the parties hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the free writing prospectuses included in Schedule C. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Company and the Representatives is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company represents that it has treated or agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely Commission filing where required, legending and record keeping.
5. Consideration; Payment of Expenses.
(a) In consideration of the services to be provided for hereunder, the Company shall pay to the Underwriters or their respective designees their pro rata portion (based on the Securities purchased) of the following compensation with respect to the Shares which they are offering:
(i) An underwriting discount of five percent (5%) as set forth in Section 1(a) and (c);
(ii) A corporate finance fee of two percent (2%) as set forth in Section 1(a) and (c); and
27
(iii) The Representatives’ Warrants.
(b) The Representatives reserve the right to reduce any item of compensation or adjust the terms thereof as specified herein in the event that a determination shall be made by FINRA to the effect that the Underwriters’ aggregate compensation is in excess of FINRA Rules or that the terms thereof require adjustment.
(c) Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company hereby agrees to pay all costs and expenses directly and necessarily incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder, including, but not limited to, the following:
(i) all expenses in connection with the preparation, printing, formatting for XXXXX and filing of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and any and all exhibits, amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of a sufficient quantity of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers as the Representatives may reasonably request;
(ii) all fees and expenses in connection with the filing with FINRA;
(iii) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and accountants in connection with the registration of the Securities under the Securities Act and the Offering (the Representatives shall be responsible for fees of its counsel);
(iv) all expenses in connection with the qualifications of the Shares for offering and sale under state or foreign securities or blue sky laws, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with any blue sky survey undertaken by such counsel;
(v) all fees and expenses in connection with listing the Securities on the NASDAQ Capital Market;
(vi) any stock transfer taxes incurred in connection with this Agreement or the Offering;
(vii) the cost of preparing and delivering certificates representing the Shares and Representatives’ Warrants;
(viii) the cost and charges of any transfer agent or registrar for the Securities;
(ix) any cost and expenses in conducting satisfactory due diligence investigation and analysis of the Company’s officers and directors;
(x) the cost of preparing and delivering to the Representatives and their counsel, bound volumes containing copies of all documents and appropriate correspondence filed with or received from the Commission and FINRA and all closing documents;
28
(xi) all reasonable travel and lodging expenses incurred by the Representatives and/or their counsel in connection with visits to, and examinations of, the Company’s premises;
(xii) the reasonable cost for due diligence meetings, including the cost of information meetings at the office of the Representatives; and
(xiii) the cost of “tombstone” advertisements, which shall announce the completion of the Offering to the financial community, of at least 5x5 inches in publications to be designated by the Representatives at a total cost not to exceed $5,000.
6. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, as provided herein shall be subject to: (i) the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein contained, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date (ii) the absence from any certificates, opinions, written statements or letters furnished to the Representatives or to Underwriters’ Counsel pursuant to this Section 6 of any misstatement or omission (iii) the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, and (iv) each of the following additional conditions. For purposes of this Section 6, the terms “Closing Date” and “Closing” shall refer to the Closing Date for the Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, and each of the foregoing and following conditions must be satisfied as of each Closing.
(a) The Registration Statement shall have become effective and all necessary regulatory or listing approvals shall have been received not later than 5:30 P.M., New York time, on the date of this Agreement, or at such later time and date as shall have been consented to in writing by the Representatives. If the Company shall have elected to rely upon Rule 430A under the Securities Act, the Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission in a timely fashion in accordance with the terms hereof and a form of the Prospectus containing information relating to the description of the Securities and the method of distribution and similar matters shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) within the applicable time period; and, at or prior to the Closing Date or the actual time of the Closing, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof, or any amendment thereof, nor suspending or preventing the use of the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been issued; no proceedings for the issuance of such an order shall have been initiated or threatened; any request of the Commission for additional information (to be included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or otherwise) shall have been complied with to the Representatives’ satisfaction; and FINRA shall have raised no objection to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.
(b) The Representatives shall not have reasonably determined, and advised the Company, that the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, contains an untrue statement of fact which, in the Representatives’ reasonable
29
opinion, is material, or omits to state a fact which, in the Representatives’ reasonable opinion, is material and is required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
(c) The Representatives shall have received (i) the favorable written opinion of each of Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxx, P.C., United States legal counsel for the Company, Campbells, Cayman Islands counsel for the Company, each dated as of the Closing Date addressed to the Underwriters in the form attached hereto as Annex II and (ii) the favorable written opinion of Beijing Kang Da Law Firm, legal counsel for the Company with respect to the laws of the PRC dated as of the Closing Date, addressed to the Underwriters in the form attached hereto as Annex III.
(d) All proceedings taken in connection with the sale of the Shares herein contemplated shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and to Underwriters’ Counsel.
(e) The Representatives shall have received a certificate of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, dated as of each Closing Date to the effect that: (i) the condition set forth in subsection (a) of this Section 6 has been satisfied, (ii) as of the date hereof and as of the applicable Closing Date, the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Sections 1 and 2 hereof are accurate, (iii) as of the applicable Closing Date, all agreements, conditions and obligations of the Company to be performed or complied with hereunder on or prior thereto have been duly performed or complied with, (iv) the Company and the Subsidiaries have not sustained any material loss or interference with their respective businesses, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or any legal or governmental proceeding, (v) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereof has been issued and no proceedings therefor have been initiated or threatened by the Commission, (vi) there are no pro forma or as adjusted financial statements that are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus pursuant to the Rules and Regulations which are not so included or incorporated by reference and (vii) subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus there has not been any Material Adverse Change or any development involving a prospective Material Adverse Change, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business.
(f) On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received a “cold comfort” letter from M&C as of the date of the date of delivery and addressed to the Underwriters and in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives and Underwriters’ Counsel, confirming that they are independent certified public accountants with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations, and stating, as of the date of delivery (or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of which specified financial information is given in the Prospectus, as of a date not more than five (5) days prior to the date of such letter), the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters relating to the Registration Statement covered by such letter.
30
(g) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement or, if earlier, the dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof) and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto), there shall not have been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any Subsidiary or any change or development involving a change, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, in the business, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, shareholders’ equity, properties or prospects of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, including but not limited to the occurrence of any fire, flood, storm, explosion, accident, act of war or terrorism or other calamity, the effect of which, in any such case described above, is, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the Offering on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement).
(h) Unless such requirement is waived by the Representatives, the Representatives shall have received a lock-up agreement from each Lock-Up Party, duly executed by the applicable Lock-Up Party, in each case substantially in the form attached as Annex I.
(i) The Securities shall have been approved for quotation on the NASDAQ Capital Market.
(j) FINRA shall have confirmed that it has not raised any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.
(k) The Representatives shall have received a certificate of the Company’s Secretary, dated such Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives.
(l) No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities; and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities.
(m) The Company shall have furnished the Underwriters and Underwriters’ Counsel with such other certificates, opinions or other documents as they may have reasonably requested.
If any of the conditions specified in this Section 6 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement, or if any of the certificates, opinions, written statements or letters furnished to the Representatives or to Underwriters’ Counsel pursuant to this Section 6 shall not be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and to Underwriters’ Counsel, all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be cancelled by the Representatives at, or at any time prior to, the consummation of the Closing. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing, or by telephone. Any such telephone notice shall be confirmed promptly thereafter in writing.
31
7. Indemnification.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriters and each Person, if an, who controls each Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which such party may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation if such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company), insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, including the information deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement at the time of effectiveness and at any subsequent time pursuant to Rules 430A and 430B of the Rules and Regulations, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto (including any documents filed under the Exchange Act and deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Shares (“Marketing Materials”), including any roadshow or investor presentations made to investors by the Company (whether in person or electronically) or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse such indemnified party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by it in connection with investigating or defending against such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; or (ii) in whole or in part upon any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein; or (iii) in whole or in part upon any failure of the Company to perform its obligations hereunder; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any Marketing Materials, in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriters’ Information.
(b) Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of the directors of the Company, each of the officers of the Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement, and each other Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against any losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses whatsoever as incurred (including but not limited to attorneys’ fees and any and all expenses whatsoever incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever, and any and all amounts paid in settlement of any claim or litigation), joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, as originally
32
filed or any amendment thereof, or any related Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that any such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriters’ Information; provided, however, that in no case shall any Underwriter be liable or responsible for any amount in excess of the underwriting discount applicable to the Securities to be purchased by such Underwriter hereunder. The parties agree that such information provided by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives consists solely of the material referred to in the last sentence of Section 1(b) hereof.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of any claims or the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify each party against whom indemnification is to be sought in writing of the claim or the commencement thereof (but the failure so to notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability which it may have under this Section 7 to the extent that it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability that such indemnifying party may have otherwise than on account of the indemnity agreement hereunder). In case any such claim or action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies an indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate, at its own expense in the defense of such action, and to the extent it may elect by written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the written consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to employ its or their own counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party or parties unless (i) the employment of such counsel shall have been authorized in writing by one of the indemnifying parties in connection with the defense of such action, (ii) the indemnifying parties shall not have employed counsel to have charge of the defense of such action within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action, (iii) the indemnifying party does not diligently defend the action after assumption of the defense, or (iv) such indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses available to it or them which are different from or additional to those available to one or all of the indemnifying parties (in which case the indemnifying parties shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party or parties), in any of which events such fees and expenses shall be borne by the indemnifying parties. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, effect any settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened claim, investigation, action or proceeding in respect of which indemnity or contribution may be or could have been sought by an indemnified party under this Section 7 or Section 8 hereof (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party thereto), unless (x) such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an
33
unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, investigation, action or proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or any failure to act, by or on behalf of the indemnified party, and (y) the indemnifying party confirms in writing its indemnification obligations hereunder with respect to such settlement, compromise or judgment.
8. Contribution. In order to provide for contribution in circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in Section 7 hereof is for any reason held to be unavailable from any indemnifying party or is insufficient to hold harmless a party indemnified thereunder, the Company and the Underwriters shall contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses of the nature contemplated by such indemnification provision (including any investigation, legal and other expenses incurred in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding or any claims asserted, but after deducting in the case of losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses suffered by the Company, any contribution received by the Company from Persons, other than the Underwriters, who may also be liable for contribution, including Persons who control the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, officers of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and directors of the Company) as incurred to which the Company and one or more of the Underwriters may be subject, in such proportions as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Underwriters from the Offering or, if such allocation is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportions as are appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to above but also the relative fault of the Company and the Underwriters in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and the Underwriters shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as (x) the total proceeds from the Offering (net of underwriting discounts and commissions but before deducting expenses) received by the Company bears to (y) the underwriting discount or commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault of each of the Company and of the Underwriters shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 8 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any judicial, regulatory or other legal or governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8: (i) no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the discounts and commissions applicable to the Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the
34
public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission and (ii) no Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 8, each Person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, each officer of the Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each director of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to clauses (i) and (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence. Any party entitled to contribution will, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action, suit or proceeding against such party in respect of which a claim for contribution may be made against another party or parties, notify each party or parties from whom contribution may be sought, but the omission to so notify such party or parties shall not relieve the party or parties from whom contribution may be sought from any obligation it or they may have under this Section 8 or otherwise. The obligations of the Underwriters to contribute pursuant to this Section 8 are several in proportion to the respective number of Shares to be purchased by each of the Underwriters hereunder and not joint.
9. Underwriter Default.
(a) If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall default in its or their obligation to purchase Firm Shares hereunder, and if the Firm Shares with respect to which such default relates (the “Default Shares”) do not (after giving effect to arrangements, if any, made by the Representatives pursuant to subsection (b) below) exceed in the aggregate 10% of the number of Firm Shares, each non-defaulting Underwriter, acting severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company that number of Default Shares that bears the same proportion of the total number of Default Shares then being purchased as the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter on Schedule A hereto bears to the aggregate number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the names of the non-defaulting Underwriters, subject, however, to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the Representatives in their sole discretion shall make.
(b) In the event that the aggregate number of Default Shares exceeds 10% of the number of Firm Shares, the Representatives may in their discretion arrange for themselves or for another party or parties (including any non-defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters who so agree) to purchase the Default Shares on the terms contained herein. In the event that within five calendar days after such a default the Representatives do not arrange for the purchase of the Default Shares as provided in this Section 9, this Agreement shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of the Company with respect thereto (except in each case as provided in Sections 4, 6, 7, 9 and 11(d)) or the Underwriters.
(c) In the event that any Default Shares are to be purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters, or are to be purchased by another party or parties as aforesaid, the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date for a period,
35
not exceeding five (5) business days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or in any other documents and arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which, in the reasonable opinion of Underwriters’ Counsel, may thereby be made necessary or advisable. The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any party substituted under this Section 9 with like effect as if it had originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to such Firm Shares.
10. Survival of Representations and Agreements. All representations, warranties, and agreements of the Company herein or in certificates delivered pursuant hereto, including but not limited to the agreements of the several Underwriters and the Company contained in Section 7 hereof, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any controlling person thereof, or the Company or any of its officers, directors, or controlling persons, and shall survive delivery of, and payment for, the Securities to and by the Underwriters hereunder.
11. Effective Date of Agreement; Termination.
(a) This Agreement shall become effective upon the later of: (i) receipt by the Representatives and the Company of notification of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or (ii) the execution of this Agreement. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the provisions of this Section 11 and of Sections 1, 4, 6, 7 and 11 through 16, inclusive, shall remain in full force and effect at all times after the execution hereof.
(b) The Representatives shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time prior to the consummation of the Closing if: (i) any domestic or international event or act or occurrence has materially disrupted, or in the opinion of the Representatives will in the immediate future materially disrupt, the market for the Company’s securities or securities in general; or (ii) trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Stock Market or the NYSE AMEX shall have been suspended or been made subject to material limitations, or minimum or maximum prices for trading shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been required, on the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Stock Market or the NYSE AMEX or by order of the Commission or any other governmental authority having jurisdiction; or (iii) a banking moratorium has been declared by any state or federal authority or if any material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services shall have occurred; (iv) any downgrading shall have occurred in the Company’s corporate credit rating or the rating accorded the Company’s debt securities or trust preferred stock by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Securities Act) or if any such organization shall have been publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any of the Company’s debt securities; or (v) (A) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or acts of terrorism involving the United States or there is a declaration of a national emergency or war by the United States or (B) there shall have been any other calamity or crisis or any change in political, financial or economic conditions if the effect of any such event in (A) or (B), in the judgment of the Representatives, is so material and adverse that such event makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale and delivery of the Firm Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the Prospectus.
36
(c) Any notice of termination pursuant to this Section 11 shall be in writing.
(d) If this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to any of the provisions hereof (other than pursuant to Section 9(b) hereof), or if the sale of the Shares provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligations of the Underwriters set forth herein is not satisfied or because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof, the Company will, subject to demand by the Representatives, reimburse the Underwriters for only those out-of-pocket expenses, actually incurred by the Underwriters in connection herewith and referenced in Section 5(c) hereof.
12. Notices. All communications hereunder, except as may be otherwise specifically provided herein, shall be in writing, and:
if sent to the Representatives or any Underwriter, shall be mailed, delivered, or faxed and confirmed in writing, to Newbridge Securities Corporation, 000 Xx. Xxxxxxx Xx., X. Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000, Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Executive Managing Director of Investment Banking and Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Carret & Co., LLC, 000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000, Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Managing Director, with a copy to Underwriters’ Counsel at Pillsbury Xxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxx LLC, 0000 X Xxxxxx, XX, Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000, Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Esq.; and
(b) if sent to the Company, shall be mailed, delivered, or faxed and confirmed in writing to the Company and its counsel at the addresses set forth in the Registration Statement;
provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 7 shall be delivered or sent by mail or facsimile transmission to such Underwriter at its address set forth in its acceptance facsimile to the Representatives, which address will be supplied to any other party hereto by the Representatives upon request. Any such notices and other communications shall take effect at the time of receipt thereof.
13. Parties; Limitation of Relationship. This Agreement shall inure solely to the benefit of, and shall be binding upon, the Underwriters, the Company and the controlling Persons, directors, officers, employees and agents referred to in Sections 6 and 7 hereof, and their respective successors and assigns, and no other Person shall have or be construed to have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of or by virtue of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and said controlling Persons and their respective successors, officers, directors, heirs and legal Representatives, and it is not for the benefit of any other Person. The term “successors and assigns” shall not include a purchaser, in its capacity as such, of Shares from any of the Underwriters.
37
14. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be deemed to have been executed and delivered in New York and both this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be governed as to validity, interpretation, construction, effect, and in all other respects by the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the conflicts of laws principals thereof (other than Section 5-1401 of The New York General Obligations Law). Each of the Underwriters and the Company: (a) agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement and/or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be instituted exclusively in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, (b) waives any objection which it may have or hereafter to the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding, and (c) irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in any such suit, action or proceeding. Each of the Underwriters and the Company further agrees to accept and acknowledge service of any and all process which may be served in any such suit, action or proceeding in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and agrees that service of process upon the Company mailed by certified mail to the Company’s address or delivered by Federal Express via overnight delivery shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company, in any such suit, action or proceeding, and service of process upon the Underwriters mailed by certified mail to the Underwriters’ address or delivered by Federal Express via overnight delivery shall be deemed in every respect effective service process upon the Underwriter, in any such suit, action or proceeding. THE COMPANY (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF, THE SUBSIDIARIES AND, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ON BEHALF OF ITS RESPECTIVE EQUITY HOLDERS AND CREDITORS) HEREBY WAIVE ANY RIGHT THEY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY CLAIM BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT, THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS.
15. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the schedule and exhibits attached hereto and as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, contains the entire agreement among the parties hereto relating to the subject matter hereof and there are no other or further agreements outstanding not specifically mentioned herein.
16. Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement or the performance thereof shall be invalid or unenforceable to any extent, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect or render invalid or unenforceable any other provision of this Agreement and this Agreement shall be valid and enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law.
17. Amendment. This Agreement may only be amended by a written instrument executed by each of the parties hereto.
38
18. Waiver, etc. The failure of any of the parties hereto to at any time enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall not be deemed or construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor to in any way effect the validity of this Agreement or any provision hereof or the right of any of the parties hereto to thereafter enforce each and every provision of this Agreement. No waiver of any breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective unless set forth in a written instrument executed by the party or parties against whom or which enforcement of such waiver is sought; and no waiver of any such breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment shall be construed or deemed to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment.
19. No Fiduciary Relationship. The Company hereby acknowledges that the Underwriters are acting solely as underwriters in connection with the offering of the Company’s securities. The Company further acknowledge that the Underwriters are acting pursuant to a contractual relationship created solely by this Agreement entered into on an arm’s length basis and in no event do the parties intend that the Underwriters act or be responsible as a fiduciary to the Company, its management, shareholders, creditors or any other person in connection with any activity that the Underwriters may undertake or have undertaken in furtherance of the offering of the Company’s securities, either before or after the date hereof,. The Underwriters hereby expressly disclaim any fiduciary or similar obligations to the Company, either in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions, and the Company hereby confirms its understanding and agreement to that effect. The Company hereby further confirms its understand that no Underwriter has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the Offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto, including any negotiation related to the pricing of the Securities; and the Company has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate in connection with this Agreement and the Offering. The Company and the Underwriters agree that they are each responsible for making their own independent judgments with respect to any such transactions, and that any opinions or views expressed by the Underwriters to the Company regarding such transactions, including but not limited to any opinions or views with respect to the price or market for the Company’s securities, do not constitute advice or recommendations to the Company. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company may have against the Underwriters with respect to any breach or alleged breach of any fiduciary or similar duty to the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions.
20. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of a signed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall constitute valid and sufficient delivery thereof.
21. Headings. The headings herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.
22. Time is of the Essence. Time shall be of the essence of this Agreement. As used herein, the term “business day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any day on which the major stock exchanges in New York, New York are not open for business.
39
23. FINRA. The Underwriters acknowledge, understand and agree to comply with all applicable rules promulgated by FINRA and the National Association of Securities Dealers (“NASD”), including but not limited to NASD Rules 2420, 2730, 2740 and 2750.
[Signature Pages Follow]
40
If the foregoing correctly sets forth your understanding, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement among us.
Very truly yours,
TRI-TECH HOLDING INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
41
Accepted by the Representatives, acting for themselves and as Representatives of the Underwriters named on Schedule A attached hereto, as of the date first written above:
NEWBRIDGE SECURITIES CORPORATION | ||||
By: | ||||
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Executive Managing Director - Investment Banking | |||
XXXXX XXXXXX, CARRET & CO., LLC | ||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: |
42
SCHEDULE A
Underwriters
Underwriter |
Number of Firm Shares to be Purchased from the Company |
Over-Allotment Option Shares | ||
Newbridge Securities Corporation |
||||
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Carret & Co., LLC |
||||
TOTAL |
43
SCHEDULE B
Lock-Up Parties
44
SCHEDULE C
Issuer-Represented General Free Writing Prospectus
45