EQUITY PURCHASE AGREEMENT by and among HEILONGJIANG MOVEUP FOOD CO., LTD. and HUNAN MULIN MODERN FOOD COMPANY, LTD. CHEN YUANRONG and AUSNUTRIA DAIRY (HUNAN) COMPANY LTD. Dated as of October 25, 2007
by
and
among
HEILONGJIANG
MOVEUP FOOD CO., LTD.
and
HUNAN
MULIN MODERN FOOD COMPANY, LTD.
XXXX
XXXXXXXX
and
AUSNUTRIA
DAIRY (HUNAN) COMPANY LTD.
Dated
as
of October 25, 2007
This
EQUITY
PURCHASE AGREEMENT,
dated
as of October 25, 2007 (this “Agreement”),
is by
and among:
1.
Heilongjiang Moveup Food Co., Ltd.
(the
“Purchaser”),
a
company duly organized under the laws of the People’s Republic of China
(“PRC”
or
“China”)
with
the
registered address at 0
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxx County, Qiqihaer City, Heilongjiang
Province, China, its legal representative is Xxx Xxxxxxxx (Chairman of the
board
of directors), a PRC citizen;
2. AUSNUTRIA
DAIRY (HUNAN) COMPANY LTD. (the
“Company”),
a
Sino-foreign equity joint venture duly organized under the PRC laws with
its
registered address at 2 Hexi Wangwang East Rd, Changsha, Hunan Province,
China,
its legal representative is Xxx Xxxxxx (Chairman of the board of directors),
a
PRC citizen;
3. HUNAN
MULIN MODERN FOOD COMPANY, LTD.
(the
“Domestic
Shareholder”), a
limited
liability company organized
and existing under the PRC laws with its registered address at Hi-tech
Food Industry Park, Gaotang Hill, Hunan Province, China,
its
legal representative is Wu Xinxing (Chairman of the board of directors),
a PRC
citizen; and
4. XXXX
XXXXXXXX (the
“Management
Shareholder”),
a PRC
citizen with PRC identification card number 432627195909267514 and address
at
9#/F, Xindaxin Building #168 Huangxing Middle Road, Changsha, Hunan Province,
China.
Each
of
Domestic Shareholder and Management Shareholder is referred to herein
individually as a “Seller”,
and
collectively as the “Sellers”).
Each of
Purchaser, the Company and Shareholders shall be referred to in this Agreement
as a “Party”,
collectively “Parties.”
W
I T N E
S S E T H:
WHEREAS,
the
Sellers own legally and beneficially all of the share
capital of the Company as more specifically set forth in Schedule I attached
hereto (“Equity
Interests”);
and
WHEREAS,
the
Sellers desire to sell to Purchaser, and Purchaser desires to purchase from
the
Sellers, the Equity Interests for the Consideration and upon the terms and
conditions set forth herein.
NOW,
THEREFORE,
in
consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants and agreements
hereinafter contained and other good and valuable consideration, the adequacy
of
which is hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
2
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Certain
Definitions.
For
purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings
specified in this Section
1.1:
“Affiliate”
means,
with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly
through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is
under
common control with, such Person, and the term “control” (including the terms
“controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly
or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management
and policies of such Person, whether through ownership of voting securities,
by
contract or otherwise.
“Business
Day”
means
any day of the year on which national banking institutions in [Changsha]
are
open to the public for conducting business and are not required or authorized
to
close.
“CIETAC”
means
China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission.
“Contract”
means
any written contract, agreement, indenture, note, bond, mortgage, loan,
instrument, lease, or license.
“Employees”
shall
mean the natural persons who provide or has provided labor services to the
Company, including any natural person who, according to applicable Law, may
be
deemed as having a de facto labor relationship with the Company, though the
Company has not signed the written labor contract with or directly paid
compensation to or paid statutory social insurance contributions for
him/her.
“Environmental
Costs and Liabilities”
shall
mean, with respect to any Person, all liabilities, obligations,
responsibilities, losses, damages (including punitive damages and consequential
damages) costs and expenses (including all reasonable fees, disbursements
and
expenses of counsel, experts and consultants and costs of investigation and
feasibility studies), fines, penalties, sanctions and interest incurred as
a
result of violation of any Environmental Law or Environmental
Permit.
“Environmental
Law”
means
any applicable Law currently in effect relating to the protection of the
environment or natural resources, and the regulations promulgated pursuant
thereto.
“Environmental
Permit”
shall
mean, with respect to any Person, any Permit required by Environmental Laws
for
the operation of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries, including to any
Permit
issued by the environmental protection agency of the PRC (or its local
counterparts) with respect to such Person or any of its
Subsidiaries.
3
“Escrow
Amount”
shall
mean the amount of RMB 70,000,000.00 deposited in the escrow account set
up
pursuant to an escrow agreement among Domestic Shareholder, Purchaser, the
Company and China Merchants Bank, Changsha Branch and the interest accrued
therein.
“GAAP”
means
the Accounting Standards for Business Enterprises and other relevant accounting
regulations, as amended, applicable to the Company issued by the Ministry
of
Finance of the PRC as of the date hereof.
“Governmental
Body”
means
any government or governmental or regulatory body thereof, or political
subdivision thereof, whether central, provincial, local or foreign, or any
agency, instrumentality or authority thereof, or any court or arbitrator
(public
or private).
“Indebtedness”
of
any
Person means, without duplication, (i) the principal of and, accreted value
and accrued and unpaid interest in respect of (A) indebtedness of such
Person for money borrowed and (B) indebtedness evidenced by notes,
debentures, bonds or other similar instruments for the payment of which such
Person is responsible or liable; (ii) all obligations of such Person issued
or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale
obligations of such Person and all obligations of such Person under any title
retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable and other accrued
current liabilities); (iii) all obligations of the type referred to in
clauses (i) and (ii) of any Persons the payment of which such Person is
responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, as obligor, guarantor, surety
or
otherwise; and (iv) all obligations of the type referred to in
clauses (i) through (iii) of other Persons secured by any Lien on any
property or asset of such Person (whether or not such obligation is assumed
by
such Person).
“Knowledge
of the Company”
means
the actual knowledge of those Persons identified on Schedule
1.1(a).
“Law”
means
any foreign, central government, provincial government or local law, statute,
code, ordinance, rule or regulation.
“Legal
Proceeding”
means
any judicial, administrative or arbitral actions, suits or proceedings (public
or private) by or before a Governmental Body.
“Liability”
means
any debt, liability or obligation (whether direct or indirect, absolute or
contingent, accrued or unaccrued, liquidated or unliquidated, or due or to
become due) and including all costs and expenses relating thereto.
4
“Lien”
means
any lien, encumbrance, pledge, mortgage, deed of trust, security interest,
claim, lease, charge, option, right of first refusal, easement, servitude
or
transfer restriction.
“Material
Adverse Effect”
means
a
material adverse effect on (i) the business, assets, properties, results
of
operations or financial condition of the Company or (ii) the ability of the
Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
“MOFCOM”
means
the Ministry of Commerce of the PRC or its local counterparts.
“Order”
means
any order, injunction, judgment, decree, ruling, writ, assessment or arbitration
award of a Governmental Body.
“Ordinary
Course of Business”
means
the ordinary and usual course of normal day-to-day operations of the Company.
“Permits”
means
any approvals, authorizations, consents, licenses, permits or certificates
of a
Governmental Body.
“Permitted
Exceptions”
means
(i) all defects, exceptions, restrictions, easements, rights of way and
encumbrances disclosed in land-use rights agreements; (ii) statutory liens
for
current Taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet delinquent
or
the amount or validity of which is being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings; (iii) mechanics’, carriers’, workers’, repairers’ and similar Liens
arising or incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business; (iv) zoning,
entitlement and other land use and environmental regulations by any Governmental
Body; (v) title of a lessor under a capital or operating lease; and (vi)
such
other imperfections in title, charges, easements, restrictions and encumbrances
which would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
“Person”
means
any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, firm,
joint
venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization,
Governmental Body or other entity.
“PRC”
means
the People’s Republic of China, which for purposes of this Agreement does not
include the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special
Administrative Region or Taiwan.
“Release”
means
any release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping, injection, deposit, disposal,
discharge, dispersal, or leaching into the environment.
“SAIC”
means
the State Administration for Industry and Commerce of the PRC and its local
counterparts.
5
“Shareholders”
means
Domestic Shareholder, and Management Shareholder.
“Software”
means
any and all (i) computer programs, including any and all software
implementations of algorithms, models and methodologies, whether in source
code
or object code, and (ii) databases and compilations, including any and all
data and collections of data, whether machine readable or
otherwise.
“Tax”
or
“Taxes”
means
(i) all federal, state, local or foreign taxes, charges, fees, imposts, levies
or other assessments, including all net income, gross receipts, capital,
sales,
use, ad valorem, value added, transfer, franchise, profits, inventory, capital
stock, license, withholding, payroll, employment, social security, unemployment,
excise, severance, stamp, occupation, property and estimated taxes, customs
duties, fees, assessments and charges of any kind whatsoever, and (ii) all
interest, penalties, fines, additions to tax or additional amounts imposed
by
any Tax Authority in connection with any item described in clause
(i).
“Tax
Authority”
means
any Governmental Body responsible for the administration of any
Tax.
“Tax
Return”
means
any return, report or statement required to be filed with respect to any
Tax
(including any attachments thereto, and any amendment thereof), including
any
information return, claim for refund, amended return or declaration of estimated
Tax, and including, where permitted or required, combined, consolidated or
unitary returns for any group of entities that includes Seller, any of the
Subsidiaries, or any of their Affiliates.
“Technology”
means,
collectively, all information, designs, formulae, algorithms, procedures,
methods, techniques, ideas, know-how, research and development, technical
data,
programs, subroutines, tools, materials, specifications, processes, inventions
(whether patentable or unpatentable and whether or not reduced to practice),
apparatus, creations, improvements, works of authorship and other similar
materials, and all recordings, graphs, drawings, reports, analyses, and other
writings, and other tangible embodiments of the foregoing, in any form whether
or not specifically listed herein, and all related technology, that are used
in,
incorporated in, embodied in, displayed by or relate to, or are used by the
Company.
1.2 Other
Definitional and Interpretive Matters.
Unless
otherwise expressly provided, for purposes of this Agreement, the following
rules of interpretation shall apply:
Calculation
of Time Period.
When
calculating the period of time before which, within which or following which
any
act is to be done or step taken pursuant to this Agreement, the date that
is the
reference date in calculating such period shall be excluded. If the last
day of
such period is a non-Business Day, the period in question shall end on the
next
succeeding Business Day.
6
Currency.
Any
reference in this Agreement to RMB shall mean the lawful currency of the
PRC.
Any reference in this Agreement to US$ or Dollar shall mean the lawful currency
of the United States of America. Any reference in this Agreement to Euro
shall
mean the lawful currency of the European Union.
Exhibits/Schedules.
The
Exhibits and Schedules to this Agreement are hereby incorporated and made
a part
hereof and are an integral part of this Agreement. All Exhibits and Schedules
annexed hereto or referred to herein are hereby incorporated in and made
a part
of this Agreement as if set forth in full herein.
Headings.
The
provision of a Table of Contents, the division of this Agreement into Articles,
Sections and other subdivisions and the insertion of headings are for
convenience of reference only and shall not affect or be utilized in construing
or interpreting this Agreement. All references in this Agreement to any
“Article” or “Section” are to the corresponding Section of this Agreement unless
otherwise specified.
Herein.
The
words such as “herein,”
“hereof,”
“hereby”
and
“hereunder”
refer
to this Agreement as a whole and not merely to a subdivision in which such
words
appear unless the context otherwise requires.
Including.
The
word “including”
or
any
variation thereof means “including,
without limitation”
and
shall not be construed to limit any general statement that it follows to
the
specific or similar items or matters immediately following it.
The
Parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this
Agreement and, in the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation
arises, this Agreement shall be construed as jointly drafted by the Parties
and
no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any
Party
by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.
ARTICLE
II
SALE
AND PURCHASE OF EQUITY INTERESTS, CONSIDERATION; CLOSING
2.1 Sale
and Purchase of Equity Interests.
Upon
the terms and subject to the conditions contained herein, on the Closing
Date,
Sellers agree to sell to Purchaser, free and clear of any and all Liens,
and
Purchaser agrees to purchase from Sellers, the Equity Interests.
2.2 Consideration.
(a) The
aggregate consideration to be paid by Purchaser to Sellers for the Equity
Interests shall be an amount equal to RMB206,500,00 (the “Cash
Consideration”)
of
which the Domestic Shareholder shall transfer 43% equity interests of the
Company, free of any lien, to the Purchaser and receive RMB150,500,000, and
the
Management Shareholder shall transfer 32% equity interests of the Company,
free
of any lien, to the Purchaser and receive RMB56,000,000 .
7
(b) Unless
otherwise agreed in writing by the Parties, the Cash Consideration represents
the gross cash amount (including taxes) to be paid by Purchaser to Sellers;
Sellers will be responsible for clearing all their own tax liabilities and
filing obligations related to the transaction hereunder and all the Parties
acknowledge that Purchaser has no responsibility for any of such taxes and
related costs of the Sellers, including any transfer taxes imposed on
Sellers.
(c) Purchaser
agrees to pay such Cash Consideration as the consideration for the Equity
Interests on the express basis that it shall obtain from Sellers 75% of the
ownership of the Company and so that Purchaser has control over the Company.
2.3 Transaction
Steps.
All
Parties agree that the equity transfer transaction steps under this Agreement
shall be as follows:
(a) This
Agreement shall be signed by all Parties;
(b) Each
Seller shall inform Purchaser of the bank account information.
(c) The
Parties shall jointly apply to MOFCOM’s local office, Changsha Bureau of
Commerce, and obtain the Amended Certificate of Approval;
(d) Within
three (3) Business Days of receipt of the Amended Certificate of Approval,
Purchaser shall pay to Sellers the Cash Consideration in full;
(e) The
Parties shall take the actions to satisfy the conditions precedent set forth
in
Article VII; and
(f) The
Parties shall deliver the closing documents in accordance with Section 2.6.
.
2.4 Payment
Confirmation.
Upon
receipt of the Cash Consideration by each of Sellers, such Seller shall provide
Purchaser, on the same day of such receipt, with a written acknowledgement
thereof in the form and substance as set forth in Exhibit
A
(“Payment
Acknowledgement”).
Such
Payment Acknowledgements or Purchaser’s wire transfer receipts shall constitute
the final and conclusive evidence of the completion of Purchaser’s payment
obligations of Cash Consideration under this Agreement.
2.5. Closing
Place/Date.
The
consummation of the sale and purchase of the Equity Interests provided in
Section 2.1
hereof
(the “Closing”) shall take place at Xxxxx 000, XXX Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xx. 00
Yong’andongli, Jianguomen Avenue, Beijing, PRC (or at such other place as the
Parties may designate in writing). The date of Closing (the “Closing
Date”)
shall
be the third Business Day after the date by which Purchaser and Sellers jointly
obtain the Company’s amended certificate of approval showing Purchaser as the
holder of 75% Equity Interests (the “Amended
Certificate of Approval”)
and
the amended business license and the restated articles of association from
the
SAIC showing the shareholders of the Company have been changed (the
“Amended
Business License”)
and
that all the conditions precedent set forth in Article
VII
are
fully satisfied or waived.
After
confirming that the aforesaid conditions have been fully satisfied or waived
and
obtaining the Amended Business License and the restated articles of association,
Sellers and the Company shall jointly execute a closing certificate in the
form
as set out in Exhibit
B
hereto
(the “Closing
Certificate”).
8
2.5 Deliveries
on the Closing Date.
On the
Closing Date and prior to the execution of the Closing Certificate, Sellers
shall deliver or cause the Company to deliver, as applicable, to Purchaser
the
items as listed in Exhibit
C.
2.7 Rights
and Liabilities.
After
the transfer of the 75% Equity Interests, the Company shall continue assuming
its existing rights and liabilities, and the Sellers will not take on any
such
rights or liabilities.
ARTICLE
III
SELLERS’
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES RELATING TO SELLERS
Sellers
hereby represent, severally and not jointly, to Purchaser as of the Effective
Date and as of the Closing Date that:
3.1 Organization
and Good Standing.
The
Domestic Shareholder is a company duly organized, validly existing and in
good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its registration. Management
Shareholder is an individual with good civil capability. Each Seller has
all
requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and
to
carry on its business.
3.2 Execution,
Authorization and Validity.
Each
Seller has full legal power and authorization to execute and deliver this
Agreement and each other agreement, document, or instrument or certificate
to be
delivered by such Seller as contemplated by this Agreement or to be executed
by
such Seller in connection with the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (the “Seller
Documents”),
to
perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder, and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement and the Seller
Documents have been duly and validly executed and delivered by each Seller
and,
assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Purchaser, constitute
a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Seller, enforceable against
it in
accordance with its terms.
9
3.3 Conflicts;
Consents of Third Parties.
(a) None
of
the execution and delivery by each Seller of this Agreement or Seller Document,
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or
compliance by such Seller with any of the provisions hereof or thereof will
conflict with, or result in any violation of or default (with or without
notice
or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise to a right of termination
or
cancellation under any provision of (i) any Contract, or Permit to which
such Seller is a party or by which any of the properties or assets of such
Seller are bound; (ii) any Order of any Governmental Body applicable to such
Seller or by which any of the properties or assets of such Sellers are bound;
or
(iii) any applicable Law, except in each case where such Contracts, Orders
or
applicable Law are adopted or otherwise take effect after the Closing or
where
such violation or default arises from actions or omissions by any Person
other
than such Seller.
(b) No
consent, waiver, approval, Order, Permit or authorization of, or declaration
or
filing with, or notification to, any Person or Governmental Body is
required on the part of each Seller in connection with the execution and
delivery of this Agreement, the Seller Documents, the compliance by such
Seller
with any of the provisions hereof or thereof, or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, except for consents set forth
in
Schedule
3.3(b).
3.4 Ownership
and Transfer of Equity Interests.
Sellers
are the true and lawful owners of the Equity Interests, free and clear of
any
Liens. Sellers have the right and capacity to sell, transfer, assign and
deliver
such Equity Interests as provided in this Agreement, and such delivery will
convey to Purchaser the good and marketable Equity Interests, free and clear
of
any Liens.
3.5 Litigation.
Except
as set forth in Schedule
3.5,
there
is no Legal Proceeding pending or threatened against Sellers or to which
Sellers
are otherwise parties relating to this Agreement, Seller Document or the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
3.6 Financial
Advisors.
No
Person has acted, directly or indirectly, as a broker, finder or financial
advisor for Sellers in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and no Person is or will be entitled to any fee or commission or
like
payment in respect thereof.
10
ARTICLE
IV
SELLERS’
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES RELATING TO THE COMPANY
Sellers
hereby represent, severally and not jointly, to Purchaser as of the Effective
Date and as of the Closing Date that
4.1 Organization
and Good Standing.
The
Company is a limited liability company duly organized in substance and procedure
in accordance with the laws of the PRC, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the PRC and has all requisite power and authority to own,
lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now conducted
and as currently proposed to be conducted.
4.2 Authorization
of Agreement.
The
Company has all requisite power, authority and legal capacity to execute
and
deliver this Agreement and each agreement, document, or instrument or
certificate to be delivered by the Company as contemplated by this Agreement
or
to be executed by the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement (the “Company
Documents”),
to
perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Company Documents and
to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The Company
has
taken all required actions to authorize and approve the execution, delivery
and
performance of this Agreement and each of the Company Documents and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
4.3 Conflicts;
Consents of Third Parties.
(a) None
of
the execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement or the Company
Documents, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby,
or compliance by the Company with any of the provisions hereof or thereof
will
conflict with, or result in any violation or breach of, conflict with or
default
(with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise to
a
right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or to
loss
of a material benefit under, or give rise to any obligation of the Company
to
make any payment under, or to the increased, additional, accelerated or
guaranteed rights or entitlements of any Person under, or result in the creation
of any Liens upon any of the properties or assets of the Company under, any
provision of (i) the articles of association or comparable organizational
documents of the Company; (ii) any Contract, or Permit to which the Company
is a party or by which any of the properties or assets of the Company is
bound;
(iii) any Order applicable to the Company or any of its properties or assets;
or
(iv) any applicable Law, except in each case where such organizational
documents, Contracts, Permits, Orders or applicable Law are adopted or otherwise
take effect after the Closing or where such violation or default arises from
actions or omissions by any Person other than the Company or
Sellers.
(b) No
consent, waiver, approval, Order, Permit or authorization of, or declaration
or
filing with, or notification to, any Person or Governmental Body is
required on the part of the Company in connection with (i) the execution
and
delivery of this Agreement and the Company Documents, respectively, the
compliance by the Company with any of the provisions hereof and thereof,
or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or
(ii) the continuing validity and effectiveness immediately following the
Closing of any Permit or Contract of the Company, except for consents set
forth
in Schedule
4.3(b).
11
4.4 Capitalization.
(a) The
registered capital with respect to all of the Equity Interests in the Company
have been fully paid up. Such Equity Interests were issued to Sellers not
in
violation of any purchase or call option, right of first refusal, subscription
right, preemptive right or any similar rights. All of the Equity Interests
in
the Company are owned of record by the shareholders of the Company.
(b) The
Equity Interests represents 75% of the ownership interest in the Company.
There
is no existing option, warrant, call, pre-emptive rights, rights of first
refusal, other purchase rights or Contract to which Sellers or the Company
are
parties requiring, and there are no other Contracts or securities of the
Company
outstanding which would require sale of, or be convertible into or exchangeable
for, or evidence ownership of the right to purchase Equity Interests or any
part
thereof. There are no obligations, contingent or otherwise, of the Company
to
(i) repurchase any Equity Interests, (ii) declare dividends or pay any declared
but unpaid dividends on its Equity Interests, or (iii) pledge or create Liens
or
other encumbrances on or otherwise dispose of the Equity Interests with respect
to the obligations of any Person. There is no outstanding profit participation
or similar rights with respect to the Company. There are no bonds, notes
or
other indebtedness of the Company having the right to vote or consent (or,
convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote
or
consent) on any matters on which equity holders of the Company may vote.
There
are no voting trusts, irrevocable proxies or other Contracts or understandings
to which the Company or Sellers is a party or is bound with respect to the
voting or consent of any Equity Interests.
4.5 Subsidiaries.
The
Company has no Subsidiary or branch.
4.6 Corporate
Records.
(a) The
Company has delivered to Purchaser true, correct, current and complete copies
of
its business license and articles of association (each certified in writing
by
the authorized representative of the Company as true, correct, current and
complete copies thereof with the official seal of the Company affixed thereto)
or comparable organizational documents of the Company in each case as amended
and in effect on the due date hereof, including all amendments
thereto.
(b) The
meeting resolutions of the Company previously made available to Purchaser
and
kept at the Company after the Closing Date contain all of the resolutions
made
by the Company a and such resolutions are true, correct and complete and
accurately reflect all other requisite actions of the equity holders and
board
of directors of the Company.
4.7 Financial
Statements.
(a) The
Company has delivered to Purchaser complete and accurate copies of (i) the
financial statements and reports of the Company for the year of 2004, 2005
and
2006 that were filed with Changsha SAIC, and (ii) the unaudited financial
statements for the first two quarters of 2007 (collectively, the “Financial
Statements”).
The
Financial Statements with adjustment mutually agreed by Sellers and Purchaser
present fairly in all material respects the financial position, results of
operations and cash flows as at the dates and for the periods indicated therein.
The Company has maintained all financial statements and records for those
periods of times and as required by applicable Law, except where failure
to do
so could not be expected to cause any Material Adverse Effect. The adjusted
balance sheet of the Company dated as of July 19, 2007 is referred to herein
as
the “Base
Date Balance Sheet”.
July
19, 2007 is referred to herein as the “Reference
Date”.
12
(b) All
books, records and accounts of the Company and its Affiliates are accurate
and
complete and are maintained in all material respects in accordance with good
business practice and all applicable Law. The Company and its Affiliates
maintain systems of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide
reasonable assurances that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with
management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded
as necessary to permit the preparation of financial statements in conformity
with accounting principles and methods consistently applied by the Company
and
to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted
only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and
(iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the actual
levels at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect
to
any differences.
(c) All
of
the Financial Statements have been prepared from, are in accordance with
and
accurately reflect the books and records of the Company and its Affiliates.
The
reports of the Company’s independent auditors regarding the financial statements
have not been withdrawn, supplemented or modified, and the Company has received
no communication from its independent auditors concerning any such withdrawal,
supplement or modification. Sellers have provided to Purchaser copies of
all
issued auditors’ reports, letters to management regarding accounting practices
and systems of internal controls, and all responses to such letters from
management (if any), whether the same are issued to Sellers or any Person acting
on their behalf.
(d) The
Company’s senior managers have disclosed, based on their most recent evaluation,
to the Company’s independent auditors (i) all significant deficiencies in the
design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the
Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and
have identified for the Company’s independent auditors any material weaknesses
(if any) in internal controls and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material
(if
any), that involves management or other Employees who have a significant
role in
the Company’s internal controls.
(e) The
Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures;
such
disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that material
information relating to the Company, is made known to the Company’s principal
executive officer and its principal officer of the financial department by
others within the Company; and, to the Knowledge of the Company and Sellers,
such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting
the
Company’s principal executive officer and its principal officer of the financial
department to material information.
(f) As
of the
Closing, the Liabilities of the Company consists of only (i) bank loans,
(ii)
advance from customers, (iii) notes payables, (iv) trading payables, (v)
tax
payables in the Ordinary Course of Business, excluding any penalty or similar
tax liabilities, and (vi) other trading related liabilities and
accruals.
13
4.8 No
Undisclosed Liabilities.
The
Company does not have any Indebtedness or Liabilities (whether or not required
under GAAP to be reflected on a balance sheet or the notes thereto) other
than
those (i) specifically reflected on and fully reserved against in the Base
Date
Balance Sheet or (ii) incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business since the
Reference Date and that are immaterial to the Company (for the avoidance
of
doubt, incurring any bank loan or other long-term liabilities shall not be
deemed as within the Ordinary Course of Business).
4.9 Absence
of Certain Specific Developments.
Except
as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or as set forth on Schedule 4.9,
since
the Reference Date (a) the Company has conducted their business and maintained
their organizations, operation and goodwill only in the Ordinary Course of
Business and (b) there has not been any event, change, occurrence or
circumstance that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or could reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
4.10 Taxes.
(a) (i)
All
Tax Returns required to be filed by or on behalf of the Company and any of
its
Affiliates have been duly and timely filed with the appropriate Tax Authority
in
all jurisdictions in which such Tax Returns are required to be filed (after
giving effect to any valid extensions of time in which to make such filings),
and all such Tax Returns are true, complete and correct in all respects;
and
(ii) all Taxes payable by or on behalf of each of the Company and any
consolidated group of which the Company is or was a member have been fully
and
timely paid.
(b) The
Company has complied in all respects with all applicable Law relating to
the
payment and withholding of Taxes (including the Employees’ individual income
taxes which are withheld and paid by the Company on behalf of the Employees)
and
has duly and timely withheld and paid over to the appropriate Tax Authority
all
amounts required to be so withheld and paid under all applicable
Law.
(c) Purchaser
has received complete copies of: (i) all PRC central government, provincial
government, and local Tax Returns of the Company relating to the taxable
periods
since December 31, 2004; and (ii) appropriate documentation from the applicable
Tax Authority evidencing the tax-exempt status of Company, if there is any.
All
Tax Returns filed by or on behalf of the Company have been examined by the
relevant Tax Authority.
14
(d) Schedule
4.10(d)
lists
(i) all material types of Taxes paid, and all types of Tax Returns filed
by or
on behalf of Company, and (ii) all of the Governmental Bodies that impose
such
Taxes or with respect to which the Company has a duty to file such Tax Returns.
No claim has been made by a Tax Authority where the Company does not file
Tax
Returns such that it is or may be subject to that taxation.
(e) All
deficiencies asserted or assessments made as a result of any examinations
by any
Tax Authority of the Tax Returns of, or including, the Company have been
fully
paid, and there are no other audits or investigations by any Tax Authority
in
progress, nor have Sellers, or the Company received any notice from any Tax
Authority that it intends to conduct such an audit or investigation. No issue
has been raised by a Tax Authority in any prior examination of the Company
which, by application of the same or similar principles, could reasonably
be
expected to result in a proposed deficiency for any subsequent taxable
period.
(f) Neither
the Company nor any other Person on its behalf has (i) any application pending
with any Tax Authority requesting permission for any changes in accounting
methods that relate to the Company, (ii) requested any extension of time
within
which to file any Tax Return, which Tax Return has since not been filed,
(iii)
granted any extension for the assessment or collection of Taxes, which Taxes
have not since been paid, or (iv) granted to any Person any power of attorney
that is currently in force with respect to any Tax matter.
(g) The
Company is not a party to any tax sharing, allocation, indemnity or similar
agreement or arrangement (whether or not written) pursuant to which it will
have
any obligation to make any payments after the Closing.
(h) There
are
no Liens as a result of any unpaid Taxes upon any of the assets, properties
or
inventories of the Company.
(i) The
Company has never been a member of any consolidated, combined or unitary
group
of corporations for any Tax purposes other than a group in which the Company
is
the common parent.
(j) The
Company has never had a permanent establishment in any country other than
the
PRC, and has never engaged in a trade or business in any country other than
the
PRC.
(k) There
is
no taxable income of the Company that will be required under applicable tax
Law
to be reported by the Purchaser or any of its Affiliates, including the Company,
for a taxable period beginning after the Closing Date which taxable income
was
realized (and reflects economic income arising) prior to the Closing Date,
save
as specifically stated in writing by Sellers prior to the Closing
Date.
15
(l) The
Company has not received any official notification from any Tax Authority
within
three (3) years prior to Closing threatening a material change to the Company,
other than those which affect all taxpayers in the same industry.
(m) The
Company does not receive any tax refunds, credits, benefits, deductions,
exemptions or otherwise from any of PRC Tax Authority which is not in compliance
with applicable Law.
(n) The
Company has not changed its residence for tax purpose or its accounting
reference date or the accounting procedures or principles by reference to
which
its accounts are drawn up; or, except as required by applicable Law or the
condition imposed by any Tax Authority, make any tax election, adopt or change
any accounting method for tax purposes, file any amended Tax Return or report,
consent to or enter into any closing agreement or similar agreement with
any Tax
Authority, consent to or settle or compromise any tax claim or assessment
or
take any position inconsistent with any past practice on any Tax Return or
report.
4.11 Real
Property.
(a) Schedule
4.11(a)
sets
forth a complete list of (i) all real property which is occupied by the Company
as of the date of this Agreement (including any real property which the Company
has acquired ownership (if applicable) or right to use thereof (individually,
an
“Occupied
Property”
and
collectively, the “Occupied
Properties”);
the
Occupied Property shall be transferred to the Company, by any means, after
the
Purchaser pays the Advance Payment, which shall be one of the conditions
precedent to Purchaser’s obligations of closing; (ii) all real property and
interests in real property leased by the Company (individually, a “Real
Property Lease”
and
collectively, the “Real
Property Leases”
and,
together with the Occupied Properties, being referred to herein individually
as
a “Company
Property”
and
collectively as the “Company
Properties”)
as
lessee or lessor, including a description of each such Real Property Lease
(including the name of the third party lessor or lessee and the date of the
lease or sublease and all amendments thereto). The Company has good and
marketable right to all Occupied Properties, free and clear of all Liens
of any
nature whatsoever, except those Liens set forth on Schedule 4.11(a).
The
Company Properties constitute all interests in real property currently used,
occupied or currently held for use in connection with the business of the
Company and which are necessary for the continued operation of the business
of
the Company as the business is currently conducted. All of the Company
Properties and buildings, fixtures and improvements thereon (i) are in good
operating condition without structural defects, and all mechanical and other
systems located thereon are in good operating condition, and no condition
exists
requiring material repairs, alterations or corrections and (ii) are suitable,
sufficient and appropriate in all respects for their current and contemplated
uses. None of the improvements located on the Company Properties constitute
a
non-conforming use or otherwise require any special dispensation, variance
or
special permit under any applicable Law. The Company has delivered to Purchaser
true, correct and complete copies of (i) all documentations concerning their
rights to the Occupied Properties and (ii) the Real Property Leases, together
with all amendments, modifications or supplements, if any, thereto. The Company
Properties are not subject to any leases, rights of first refusal, options
to
purchase or rights of occupancy, except the Real Property Leases set forth
on
Schedule 4.11(a).
16
(b) the
Company, as applicable, has a valid, binding and enforceable leasehold interest
under each of the leased Company Property under which it is a lessee, free
and
clear of all Liens other than Permitted Exceptions. Each of such Company
Property is in full force and effect. the Company is not in default under
any
contracts relating to Company Property, and no event has occurred and no
circumstance exists which, if not remedied, and whether with or without notice
or the lapse of time, or both, would result in such a default. The Company
has
not received or given any notice of any default or event that with notice
or
lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default by the Company under any
of
the contracts relating to the Company Property and, to the Knowledge of the
Company and Sellers, no other party is in default thereof, and no party to
any
of such contracts has exercised any termination rights with respect
thereto.
(c) The
Company has all certificates and Permits necessary or useful for the current
use
and operation of each Company Property, and the Company has fully complied
with
all material conditions of the Permits applicable to them. No default or
violation, or event that with the lapse of time or giving of notice or both
would become a default or violation, has occurred in the due observance of
any
Permit.
(d) There
does not exist any actual or, to the Knowledge of the Company and Sellers,
threatened or contemplated condemnation or eminent domain proceedings that
affect the Company Property or any part thereof, and none of the Company
or
Sellers has received any notice, oral or written, of the intention of any
Governmental Body or other Person to take or use all or any part
thereof.
(e) None
of
Sellers or the Company has received any notice from any insurance company
that
has issued a policy with respect to the Company Property requiring performance
of any structural or other repairs or alterations to such property.
(f) The
Company does not own, hold, or is not obligated under or is a party to, any
contractual right to purchase, acquire, sell, assign or dispose of any real
estate or any portion thereof or interest therein.
(g) The
Company has not entered into any non arm-length transaction relating to any
real
property, including Company Property, within three (3) years prior to the
Closing, other than as set forth in Schedule
4.11(g).
4.12 Tangible
Personal Property.
(a) The
Company has good and marketable title or right to use all of the items of
tangible personal property used in its business (except as sold or disposed
of
in the Ordinary Course of Business not in violation of this Agreement), free
and
clear of any and all Liens, other than the Permitted Exceptions. All such
items
of tangible personal property that, individually or in the aggregate, are
material to the operation of the business of the Company are in good condition
and in a state of good maintenance and repair (ordinary wear and tear excepted)
and are suitable for the purposes used.
17
(b) Schedule
4.12(b)
sets
forth all leases of personal property (“Personal
Property Leases”)
involving annual payments in excess of RMB 75,000 relating to personal property
used in the business of the Company or to which the Company is a party or
by
which the properties or assets of the Company are bound. All of the items
of
personal property under the Personal Property Leases are in good condition
and
repair (ordinary wear and tear excepted) and are suitable for the purposes
used,
and such property is in all material respects in the condition required of
such
property by the terms of the lease applicable thereto during the term of
the
lease. The Company has delivered to Purchaser true, correct and complete
copies
of the Personal Property Leases, together with all amendments, modifications
or
supplements thereto.
(c) The
Company has a valid and enforceable leasehold interest under each of the
Personal Property Leases under which they are lessees. Each of the Personal
Property Leases is in full force and effect and the Company has not received
or
given any notice of any default or event that with notice or lapse of time,
or
both, would constitute a default by the Company under any of the Personal
Property Leases and, to the Knowledge of Company and Sellers, no other party
is
in default thereof, and no party to the Personal Property Leases has exercised
any termination rights with respect thereto.
4.13 Intellectual
Property.
(a) Schedule
4.13(a)
sets
forth an accurate and complete list of all the Intellectual Property owned
or
used by the Company and Schedule 4.13(a)
lists
the jurisdictions in which each such item of Intellectual Property has been
issued or registered or in which any such application for such issuance and
registration has been filed (if applicable). For purpose of this Agreement,
“Intellectual
Property”
shall
mean all intellectual property rights owned, licensed to or used by the Company
arising from or in respect of the following, whether protected, created or
arising under the laws of the PRC or any other jurisdiction: (i) all
trademarks, service marks, trade names, service names, brand names, trade
dress
rights, logos, Internet domain names and corporate names and general intangibles
of a like nature, together with the goodwill associated with any of the
foregoing, registered or unregistered, and all applications, registrations
and
renewals thereof, (collectively, “Marks”),
(ii)
all patents and applications therefor, including continuations, divisionals,
continuations-in-part, or reissues of patent applications and patents issuing
thereon, and all similar rights arising under applicable Law (collectively,
“Patents”)
(iii) registered or unregistered copyrights and registrations and
applications therefor (collectively, “Copyrights”), (iv)
discoveries, concepts, ideas, research and development, know-how, formulas,
inventions, compositions, industrial production processes and techniques,
technical data, procedures, designs, drawings, specifications, databases,
and
other proprietary or confidential information, including customer lists,
supplier lists, pricing and cost information, and business and marketing
plans
and proposals of the Company (collectively, “Trade
Secrets”),
and
(v) all Software and Technology of the Company. “Intellectual
Property Licenses”
shall
mean (i) any grant by the Company to another Person of any right to use any
of
the Intellectual Property, and (ii) any grant by another Person to the Company
of a right to use such Person’s intellectual property rights included in the
Intellectual Property of the Company.
18
(b) Except
as
disclosed in Schedule
4.13(b),
the
Company owns all right, title and interest in and to all Intellectual Property
required to be set forth on Schedule
4.13(a).
All
necessary registration, maintenance, renewal, and other relevant filing fees
due
through the date hereof in connection therewith have been timely paid and
all
necessary documents and certificates in connection therewith have been timely
filed with the relevant patent, copyright, trademark, or other authorities
in
the PRC [or
foreign jurisdictions, as the case may be,]
for the
purposes of maintaining such registered Intellectual Property in full force
and
effect. Except
as
set forth in Schedule
4.13(b),
there
are, as of the date of this Agreement, no filings, payments or similar actions
that must be taken by the Company within 120 days following the Closing Date
for
the purposes of obtaining, maintaining, perfecting or renewing any such
registrations and applications.
(c) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
4.13(c),
the
Company is the sole and exclusive owner of all right, title and interest
in and
to, or have valid and continuing rights to use, sell and license, all Software,
Technology and other Intellectual Property used in the conduct of the business
and operations of the Company as presently conducted and as currently proposed
to be conducted, free and clear of all Liens or obligations to others. The
Software, Technology or other Intellectual Property owned, used, licensed,
practiced or otherwise commercially exploited by the Company and the Company’s
present and currently proposed business practices and methods, do not infringe,
violate or constitute an unauthorized use or misappropriation of any Marks,
Copyright, Trade Secret, Patent or other similar right, of any Person. The
Intellectual Property owned or used by or licensed to the Company includes
all
of the intellectual property rights used by the Company to conduct its business
in the manner in which such business is currently being conducted and as
currently contemplated to be conducted.
(d) Except
with respect to licenses of Software (i) distributed as “freeware” or (ii)
distributed via Internet access without charge and for use without charge,
Schedule
4.13(d)
sets
forth a list, complete and accurate as of the date of this Agreement, of
all
agreements pursuant to which the Company licenses in or otherwise is authorized
to use all Software, Technology and other Intellectual Property used in the
conduct of the business and operations of the Company as presently conducted
and
as currently contemplated to be conducted. The Company has delivered to
Purchaser correct, complete and current copies of all such agreements. Except
pursuant to the agreements described in clause (i) above or identified on
Schedule
4.13(d),
the
Company is not required, obligated, or under any liability whatsoever to
make
any payments by way of royalties, fees or other payments described in the
applicable agreements, to any third party with respect to any Software,
Technology and other Intellectual Property used in the conduct the business
and
operations of the Company as presently conducted.
19
(e) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
4.13(e),
neither
the execution of this Agreement or Company Documents, the consummation of
the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, nor the conduct of the business
and
operations of the Company as presently conducted and as currently proposed
to be
conducted will result in: (i) the Company granting to any third party any
right
to Intellectual Property owned by, or licensed to, the Company, or (ii) the
Company being bound by, or subject to, any non-compete or other restriction
on
the operation or scope of its business. Following the Closing, the Company
will
have the right to exercise all of its current rights under agreements granting
rights to the Company with respect to Software, Technology and other
Intellectual Property of a third party to the same extent and in the same
manner
it would have been able to had the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
not occurred, and without the payment of any additional consideration as
a
result of such transaction and without the necessity of any third party consent
as a result of such transaction.
(f) Schedule
4.13(f)
sets
forth a complete and accurate list of all Contracts to which the Company
is a
party (i) granting any Intellectual Property Licenses, (ii) containing
a covenant not to compete or otherwise limiting its ability to use or exploit
fully any of the Intellectual Property or (iii) containing an agreement to
indemnify any other Person against any claim of infringement, violation,
misappropriation or unauthorized use of any Intellectual Property. The Company
has delivered to Purchaser true, correct and complete copies of each Contract
set forth on Schedule
4.13(f),
together with all amendments, modifications or supplements thereto.
(g) Each
of
the Intellectual Property Licenses is in full force and effect and is the
legal,
valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the parties
thereto in accordance with its terms. The Company is not in default under
any
Intellectual Property License, nor, to the Knowledge of the Company and Sellers,
is any other party to any Intellectual Property License in default thereunder,
and no event has occurred that with the lapse of time or the giving of notice
or
both would constitute a default thereunder. No party to any of the Intellectual
Property Licenses including Sellers (and other than the Company) has the
right
to use the Marks on products identical or similar to those sold in connection
with the business as presently conducted or as presently proposed to be
conducted by the Company after the Closing. No party to any of the Intellectual
Property Licenses has provided notice that it intends to exercise or has
exercised any termination rights with respect thereto.
(h) No
Trade
Secret of the Company has been authorized to be disclosed or has been actually
disclosed by the Company to any of its Employee or any third party other
than
pursuant to a written non-disclosure agreement including restrictions on
the
disclosure and use of the Intellectual Property consistent with customary
practices in the industry in which the Company operates. The Company has
taken
appropriate security measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and
value
of all the Trade Secrets of the Company, which measures are consistent with
customary practices in the industry in which the Company operates, and including
any program required by applicable Law in respect of designating and preventing
the disclosure of Trade Secrets.
20
(i) Schedule
4.13(i)
sets
forth
a
complete and accurate list of (i) all Software and computer hardware
(other
than “off the shelf” Software or hardware that is generally commercially
available) that
is
owned exclusively by,
or is
used in the business of,
the
Company and (ii) all Software and computer hardware (other
than “off the shelf” Software or hardware that is generally commercially
available) that
is
not exclusively owned by the Company or is used
in
the
business of the Company. After the Closing, (x) all Software and computer
hardware (other
than “off the shelf” Software hardware that is generally commercially available)
currently
owned exclusively by the Company will continue to be owned exclusively by
the
Company, (y) the Company will have the same continuing rights to use all
Software and computer hardware (other
than “off the shelf” Software or hardware that is generally commercially
available) that
is
not currently exclusively owned by the Company and is currently used in the
business as they did before the Closing, and (z) the Software and computer
hardware currently owned exclusively by the Company are sufficient for the
conduct of the business the Company as presently conducted and as proposed
to be
conducted.
(j) Except
as
disclosed in Schedule
4.13(j),
as of
the date hereof, the Company is not the subject of any pending or, to the
Knowledge of the Company and Sellers, any threatened Legal Proceeding which
involves a claim of infringement, misappropriation, unauthorized use, or
violation of any intellectual property rights by any Person against the Company
or challenging the ownership, use, validity or enforceability of any
Intellectual Property. The Company has not received notice of any such
threatened claim and, to the Knowledge of the Company and Sellers, there
are no
facts or circumstances that would form the basis for any claim of infringement,
unauthorized use, misappropriation or violation of any intellectual property
rights by any Person against the Company, or challenging the ownership, use,
validity or enforceability of any Intellectual Property.
(k) All
of
the Intellectual Property owned by the Company is valid and enforceable.
Except
as disclosed in Schedule
4.13(k), to
the
Knowledge of the Company and Sellers, no Person is infringing, violating,
misusing or misappropriating any material Intellectual Property of the Company,
and no such claims have been made against any Person by the Company.
(l) There
are
no Orders to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound
which
restrict, in any material respect, the right to use any of the Intellectual
Property.
(m) The
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not
result
in the loss or impairment of Purchaser’s right to own or use any of the
Intellectual Property.
21
(n) No
present or former Employee has any right, title, or interest, directly or
indirectly, in whole or in part, in any Intellectual Property owned, licensed
to
or used by the Company. To the Knowledge of the Company and Sellers, no
Employee, consultant or independent contractor of the Company is, as a result
of
or in the course of such Employee’s, consultant’s or independent contractor’s
engagement by the Company, in default or breach of any material term of any
employment agreement, non-disclosure agreement, assignment of invention
agreement or similar agreement.
(o) The
Company is in compliance with any posted privacy policies and any laws or
regulations relating
to
personally identifiable information.
4.14 Material
Contracts.
(a) Schedule
4.14(a)
sets
forth all of the following currently effective and enforceable Contracts
to
which the Company is a party or by which it is bound (collectively, the
“Material
Contracts”):
(i) Contracts
with any Seller or any current officer or director of the Company (other
than
Contracts made in the Ordinary Course of Business on terms generally available
to similarly situated non-affiliated parties);
(ii) Contracts
with any labor union or association representing any employee of the
Company;
(iii) Contracts
for the sale of any of the assets of the Company other than in the Ordinary
Course of Business, for consideration in excess of RMB
1,000,000.00;
(iv) Contracts
relating to any acquisition to be made by the Company of any operating business
or the capital stock of any other Person, in each case for consideration
in
excess of RMB 1,000,000.00;
(v) Contracts
relating to the incurrence of Indebtedness, or the making of any loans, in
each
case involving amounts in excess of RMB1,000,000.00;
(vi) Contracts
which involve the expenditure of more than RMB 1,000,000.00 in the aggregate
or
require performance by any party more than one year from the date hereof
that,
in either case, are not terminable by the Company without penalty on notice
of
180 days’ or less.
(b) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
4.14(b),
the
Company has not received any written notice of any default or event that
with
notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default by the Company
under any Material Contract.
22
4.15 Employee
Benefits Plans.
(a) Schedule
4.15(a)
sets
forth a correct and complete list of all “Employee
Benefit Plans”
and
all
other employee benefit programs, agreements, policies, arrangements or payroll
practices, including bonus plans, employment, consulting or other compensation
agreements, collective bargaining agreements, incentive, equity or equity-based
compensation, or deferred compensation arrangements, change in control,
termination or severance plans or arrangements, equity purchase, severance
pay,
sick leave, vacation pay, salary continuation for disability, hospitalization,
medical insurance, life insurance and scholarship plans and programs maintained
by the Company or to which the Company contributed or is obligated to contribute
thereunder for current or former Employees (collectively, with statutory
social
insurance applicable to the Company, the “Company
Welfare Plans”).
(b) Correct
and complete copies of the following documents (if any), with respect to
each of
the Company Welfare Plans, have been made available or delivered to Purchaser
by
the Company, to the extent applicable: (i) any plans, all amendments
thereto and related trust documents, insurance contracts or other funding
arrangements, and amendments thereto; (ii) the most recent actuarial
report; (iii) summary plan descriptions; (iv) written communications
to Employees relating to the Company Welfare Plans; and (v) written
descriptions of all non-written agreements relating to the Company Welfare
Plans.
(c) The
Company Welfare Plans have been maintained in all material respects in
accordance with their terms and with all provisions of applicable Law. No
fiduciary has any liability for breach of fiduciary duty or any other failure
to
act or comply in connection with the administration or investment of the
assets
of any Company Welfare Plans.
(d) All
contributions and premiums (including all employer contributions and employee
salary reduction contributions) required to have been made under any of the
Company Welfare Plans or by applicable Law (including any funds or trusts
established thereunder or in connection therewith) have been made by the
due
date thereof (including any valid extension), and all contributions for any
period ending on or before the Closing Date that are not yet due will have
been
paid or sufficient accruals for such contributions and other payments in
accordance with GAAP are duly and fully provided for on the Base Date Balance
Sheet.
(e) There
are
no pending actions, claims or lawsuits that have been asserted or instituted
against the Company Welfare Plans, the assets of any of the trusts under
the
Company Welfare Plans or the sponsor or administrator of any of the Company
Welfare Plans, or against any fiduciary of the Company Welfare Plans with
respect to the operation of any of the Company Welfare Plans (other than
routine
benefit claims), nor does the Company or Sellers have any knowledge of facts
that could form the basis for any such claim or lawsuit.
23
(f) None
of
the Company Welfare Plans provides for post-employment life or health insurance,
benefits or coverage for any participant or any beneficiary of a participant,
except at the expense of the participant or the participant’s
beneficiary.
(g) Neither
the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby will (i) result in any payment
becoming due to any Employee, (ii) increase any benefits otherwise payable
under
any Company Welfare Plan or (iii) result in the acceleration of the time
of
payment or vesting of any such benefits under any Company Welfare
Plan.
(h) The
Company has not any contract, plan or commitment, whether legally binding
or
not, to create any additional Company Welfare Plan or to modify any existing
Company Welfare Plan.
(i) No
equity
interest, share capital or other security issued by the Company forms or
has
formed a material part of the assets of any Company Welfare Plan.
(j) There
exists no other Employees except as set forth on the attached Schedule
4.15(j),
which
schedule shall also list such Employees’ duty, type of job, and total amount of
salary and compensation for calendar years 2004, 2005 and 2006. Schedule
4.15(j)
shall
have listed the Employees by dividing them into two categories: (i) Management
Employees; (ii) Non-management Employees.
4.16 Labor.
(a) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
4.16(a),
the
Company is not a party to any labor or collective bargaining agreement and
there
are no labor or collective bargaining agreements which pertain to Employees
or
any of its Subsidiaries. The Company has delivered or otherwise made available
to Purchaser true, correct and complete copies of the labor or collective
bargaining agreements listed on Schedule 4.16(a),
together with all amendments, modifications or supplements thereto.
(b) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 4.16(b),
no
Employees are represented by any labor organization. No labor organization
or
group of Employees has made a pending demand for recognition, and there are
no
representation proceedings or petitions seeking a representation proceeding
presently pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company or Sellers, threatened
to
be brought or filed, with any labor relations tribunal. There is no organizing
activity involving the Company pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company
or
Sellers, threatened by any labor organization or group of
Employees.
(c) There
are
no unfair labor practice charges, grievances or complaints pending or, to
the
Knowledge of the Company or Sellers, threatened by or on behalf of any Employee
or group of Employees.
24
(d) There
are
no complaints, charges or claims against the Company pending or, to Knowledge
of
the Company and Sellers, threatened that could be brought or filed, with
any
Governmental Body based on, arising out of, in connection with or otherwise
relating to the employment or termination of employment of or failure to
employ,
any individual. The Company is in compliance with all applicable Law relating
to
the employment of labor, including all such applicable Law relating to wages,
hours, pension, unemployment, collective bargaining, discrimination, civil
rights, safety and health, workers’ compensation, social security funds, housing
funds and the collection and payment of withholding or social security taxes
and
any similar tax, to the extent applicable.
(e) All
the
employment agreements entered into between the Employees or independent
contractors and the Company are in full compliance with all applicable
Law.
4.17 Litigation.
Except
as set forth in Schedule
4.17,
there
is no Legal Proceeding pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company or Sellers,
threatened against the Company (or pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company
and Sellers, threatened against any of the officers, directors or Employees
of
the Company with respect to their business activities on behalf of the Company),
or to which the Company is otherwise a party before any Governmental Body;
nor
to the Knowledge of the Company or Sellers is there any reasonable basis
for any
such Legal Proceeding. Except as set forth on Schedule
4.17,
the
Company is not subject to any Order, and the Company is not in breach or
violation of any Order. Except as set forth on Schedule
4.17,
the
Company is not engaged in any Legal Proceedings to recover monies due it
or for
damages sustained by it. There are no Legal Proceedings pending or, to the
Knowledge of the Company or Sellers, threatened against the Company or to
which
the Company is otherwise a party relating to this Agreement, any Company
Document or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
4.18 Compliance
with Laws; Permits.
(a) The
Company is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Law
applicable to its business, operations or assets. The Company has not received
any notice of or been charged with the violation of any applicable Law. Except
as disclosed under Section
4.18(a)
hereof,
the Company is not under investigation by any Governmental Body with respect
to
the violation of any applicable Law and there are no facts or circumstances
which could form the basis for any such violation. All marketing, advertising
and promotional claims with respect to the Company have been made in full
compliance with all applicable Law.
(b) Schedule 4.18(b)
contains
a list of all Permits that are required for the operation of the business
of the
Company as presently conducted and as presently intended to be conducted
(“Company
Permits”),
other
than those the failure of which to possess is immaterial, and identifies
those
Company Permits that have not yet undergone an annual or biennial inspection
due
in the current year. The Company currently has all Permits that are required
for
the operation of its business as presently conducted and as presently intended
to be conducted, other than those the failure of which to possess is immaterial.
The Company is not in default or violation, and no event has occurred that,
with
notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute a default or violation,
in
any material respect of any term, condition or provision of any Company Permit,
and to the Knowledge of the Company or Sellers, there are no facts or
circumstances which could form the basis for any such default or violation.
There are no Legal Proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company
or
Sellers, threatened, relating to the suspension, revocation or modification
of
any Company Permit.
25
4.19 Environmental
Matters.
(a) The
operations of the Company are and have been in compliance with all applicable
Environmental Laws, which compliance includes obtaining, maintaining in good
standing and complying with all Environmental Permits and no action or
proceeding is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company or Sellers, threatened
to revoke, modify or terminate any such Environmental Permit, and, to the
Knowledge of the Company or Sellers, no facts, circumstances or conditions
currently exist that could adversely affect such continued compliance with
Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits or require currently unbudgeted
capital expenditures to achieve or maintain such continued compliance with
Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits;
(b) The
Company is not the subject of any currently effective written Order by any
PRC
Governmental Body or Contract with any PRC Governmental Body or Person with
respect to (i) Environmental Laws, (ii) remedial action or (iii) any Release
or
threatened Release of a hazardous material;
(c) No
claim
has been made or is pending, or to the Knowledge of the Company or Sellers,
threatened against the Company alleging that the Company may be in violation
of
any Environmental Law or Environmental Permit, or may have any liability
under
any Environmental Law;
(d) To
the
Knowledge of the Company or Sellers, no facts, circumstances or conditions
exist
with respect to the Company or any property currently or formerly owned,
operated or leased by the Company or any property to which the Company arranged
for the disposal or treatment of hazardous materials that could reasonably
be
expected to result in the Company incurring unbudgeted Environmental Costs
and
Liabilities;
(e) There
are
no investigations of the business, operations, or currently or, to the Knowledge
of the Company or Sellers, previously owned, operated or leased property
of the
Company pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company or Sellers, threatened
which
could lead to the imposition of any environmental costs and Liabilities or
Liens
under Environmental Law;
(f) The
transactions contemplated under this Agreement do not require the consent
of or
filings with any PRC Governmental Body with jurisdiction over the Company
with
respect to environmental matters;
(g) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
4.19(g),
there
is not located at any of the properties currently or (while owned, operated
or
leased by the Company) previously owned, operated or leased by the Company
any
(i) underground storage tanks, (ii) landfill, (iii) surface impoundment,
(iii)
asbestos-containing material or (iv) equipment containing polychlorinated
biphenyls; and
(h) The
Company has provided to Purchaser all environmentally related audits, studies,
reports, analyses, and results of investigations (if any) that have been
performed with respect to the currently or previously owned, leased or operated
properties of the Company.
26
4.20 Insurance.
The
Company has insurance policies in full force and effect for such amounts
satisfying all requirements of applicable Law, all agreements to which the
Company is a party or by which it is bound and customary practice in the
industry. Set forth in Schedule
4.20
is a
list of all insurance policies held by or applicable to the Company setting
forth, in respect of each such policy, the policy name, policy number, carrier,
term, type and amount of coverage and annual premium. Except as set forth
on
Schedule
4.20,
no
event relating to the Company has occurred which could reasonably be expected
to
result in a retroactive upward adjustment in premiums under any such insurance
policies or which could reasonably be expected to result in a prospective
upward
adjustment in such premiums. Excluding insurance policies that have expired
and
been replaced in the Ordinary Course of Business, no insurance policy has
been
cancelled within the last two years and, to the Knowledge of the Company
or
Sellers, no threat has been made to cancel any insurance policy of the Company
during such period. Except as noted on Schedule
4.20,
all
such insurance will remain in full force and effect immediately following
the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No event
has
occurred, including the failure by the Company to give any notice or information
or the Company giving any inaccurate or erroneous notice or information,
which
limits or impairs the rights of the Company under any such insurance
policies.
4.21 Inventories.
(a) The
inventories of the Company are in good and marketable condition, and are
usable
and of a quantity and quality saleable in the Ordinary Course of Business.
The
inventories of the Company constitute sufficient quantities for the normal
operation of business in accordance with past practice.
(b) Adequate
reserves have been reflected in the balance sheet for obsolete, excess, damaged,
slow-moving, or otherwise unusable inventory, which reserves were calculated
in
a manner consistent with past practice and in accordance with GAAP consistently
applied.
4.22 Accounts
and Notes Receivable and Payable.
(a) All
accounts and notes receivable of the Company have arisen from bona fide
transactions in the Ordinary Course of Business consistent with past practice,
are properly recorded and are payable on ordinary trade terms. All accounts
and
notes receivable of the Company reflected on the Base Date Balance Sheet
and
incurred after the Reference Date are true and good. None of the accounts
or the
notes receivable of the Company (i) is subject to any setoffs or counterclaims
or (ii) represents obligations for goods sold on consignment, on a
sale-or-return basis or subject to any other repurchase or return
arrangement.
(b) All
accounts payable of the Company reflected in the Base Date Balance Sheet
or
arising after the date thereof are the result of bona fide transactions in
the
Ordinary Course of Business and have been paid or are not yet due and
payable.
27
4.23 Related
Party Transactions.
Except
as disclosed in Schedule
4.23,
no
Employee, officer, director, equity holder, partner or member of the Company,
any of his or her Associates or any of their respective Affiliates
(“Related
Persons”)
(i)
owes any amount to the Company nor does the Company owe any amount to, or
has
the Company committed to make any loan or extend or guarantee credit to or
for
the benefit of, any Related Person, (ii) to the Knowledge of the Company
and
Sellers, is involved in any business arrangement or other relationship with
the
Company (whether written or oral), (iii) owns any property or right, tangible
or
intangible, that is used by the Company, (iv) to the Knowledge of the Company
and Sellers, has any claim or cause of action against the Company or (v)
owns
any direct or indirect interest of any kind in, or controls or is a director,
officer, employee or partner of, or consultant to, or lender to or borrower
from
or has the right to participate in the profits of, any Person which is a
competitor, supplier, customer, landlord, tenant, creditor or debtor of the
Company.
4.24 Vendors,
Customers and Suppliers.
(a) Schedule
4.24(a)
sets
forth a list of the ten (10) largest vendors/customers and the
ten
(10) largest suppliers of the Company, as measured by the RMB amount of
purchases therefrom or thereby, during each of the fiscal years ended December
31, 2004, December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2006, showing the approximate
total
sales by the Company to each such vendor/customer and the approximate total
purchases by the Company from each such supplier, during such
period.
(b) Since
2006, no vendor/customer or supplier listed on Schedule 4.24(a)
has
terminated its relationship with the Company (or course of dealing upon which
the Company have relied) and, to the Knowledge of the Company and Sellers,
no
customer or supplier listed on Schedule
4.24(a)
has
notified the Company that it intends to terminate its business with the Company
(or the course of dealing upon which the Company has relied).
4.25 Product
Quality; Product Warranty; Product Liability.
(a) The
Company has not any liability for replacement of any products or other damages
in connection therewith or any other customer or product obligations not
reserved against on the Base Date Balance Sheet.
(b) The
Company has not committed any act or failed to commit any act, that would
result
in, and there has been no product recall or other occurrence that would give
rise to or form the basis of, any product liability or liability for breach
of
warranty (whether covered by insurance or not) on the part of the Company
with
respect to products delivered or sold by or on behalf of the Company.
4.26 Banks;
Power of Attorney.
Schedule
4.26
contains
a complete and correct list of the names and locations of all banks in which
Company has accounts or safe deposit boxes and the names of all persons
authorized to draw thereon or to have access thereto. Except as set forth
on
Schedule
4.26,
no
person holds a power of attorney to act on behalf of the Company.
28
4.27 Certain
Payments.
Neither
the Company nor, to the Knowledge of the Company or Sellers, any director,
officer, employee, or other Person associated with or acting on behalf of
any of
them, has directly or indirectly (a) made any contribution, gift, bribe,
rebate,
payoff, influence payment, kickback, or other payment to any Person, private
or
public, regardless of form, whether in money, property, or services (i) to
obtain favorable treatment in securing business for the Company, (ii) to
pay for
favorable treatment for business secured by the Company, (iii) to obtain
special
concessions or for special concessions already obtained, for or in respect
of
the Company, or (iv) in violation of any applicable Law, or (b) established
or
maintained any fund or asset with respect to the Company that has not be
recorded in the books and records of the Company.
4.28 Financial
Advisors.
No
Person has acted, directly or indirectly, as a broker, finder or financial
advisor for Sellers or the Company in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and no Person is or will be entitled to any
fee
or commission or like payment in respect thereof for which Purchaser could
be
liable.
4.29 Full
Disclosure.
No
representation or warranty of Sellers or the Company contained in this Agreement
or any of the Company Documents and no written statement made by or on behalf
of
the Company or Sellers to Purchaser or any of its Affiliates pursuant to
this
Agreement, any of the Company Documents or Seller Documents contains an untrue
statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary
to make
the statements contained herein or therein not misleading. There are no facts
which the Company or Sellers have not disclosed to Purchaser in writing which
could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
ARTICLE
V
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER
Purchaser
hereby makes to Sellers the representations and warranties as follows:
5.1 Organization
and Good Standing.
Purchaser is a company duly established, validly existing and in good standing
under the RPC laws and has all requisite corporate power and authority to
own,
lease and operate properties and carry on its business.
5.2 Authorization
of Agreement.
Purchaser has full requisite power, authority and legal capability to execute
and deliver this Agreement, and each other agreement, document, instrument
or
certificate to be delivered by Purchaser as contemplated by this Agreement
or to
be executed by Purchaser in connection with the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby (the “Purchaser
Documents”),
and
to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. Purchaser
has
taken all requisite actions to duly authorize and approve the execution,
delivery and performance by Purchaser of this Agreement, and each Purchaser
Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby. This Agreement and the Purchaser Documents have been duly and validly
executed and delivered by Purchaser and, assuming due authorization, execution
and delivery by the Company and Sellers, constitutes a legal, valid and binding
obligation of Purchaser, enforceable against it in accordance with their
respective terms.
29
5.3 Conflicts;
Consents of Third Parties.
(a) None
of
the execution and delivery by Purchaser of this Agreement and the Purchaser
Documents, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby,
or the compliance by Purchaser with any of the provisions hereof or thereof
will
conflict with, or result in violation of or default (with or without notice
or
lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise to a right of termination or
cancellation under any provision of (i) the articles of association or
comparable organizational documents of Purchaser; (ii) any Contract or
Permit to which Purchaser is a party or by which any of the properties or
assets
of Purchaser is bound; (iii) any Order of any PRC or foreign Governmental
Body
applicable to Purchaser or by which any of the properties or assets of Purchaser
is bound; or (iv) any applicable Law, except in each case where such
organizational documents, Contracts, Permits, Orders or applicable Law are
adopted or otherwise take effect after the Closing or where such violation
or
default arises from actions or omissions by any Person other than
Purchaser.
(b) No
consent, waiver, approval, Order, Permit or authorization of, or declaration
or
filing with, or notification to, any Person or Governmental Body is required
on
the part of Purchaser in connection with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement or the Purchaser Documents or the compliance by Purchaser with
any of
the provisions hereof or thereof, except for consents set forth in Schedule
5.3(b).
5.4 Litigation.
There
are no Legal Proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of Purchaser, threatened
against Purchaser or to which Purchaser is otherwise a party relating to
this
Agreement, the Purchaser Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby
and
thereby.
5.5 Financial
Advisors.
No
Person has acted, directly or indirectly, as a broker, finder or financial
advisor for Purchaser in connection with the transactions contemplated by
this
Agreement and no Person is entitled to any fee or commission or like payment
in
respect thereof.
ARTICLE
VI
COVENANTS
6.1 Access
to Information; Confidentiality.
The
Company and Sellers shall (i) afford to Purchaser and its representatives
full
access, during normal business hours and upon reasonable notice, to all of
the
Company’s properties and facilities (including all real property and the
buildings, structures, fixtures, appurtenances and improvements erected,
attached or located thereon), books, financial information (including working
papers and data in the possession of the Company or its independent public
accountants, internal audit reports, and “Management
Letters”
from
such accountants with respect to the Company’s systems of internal control, if
any), Contracts and records of the Company and, (ii) during such period between
the execution hereof and the Closing, to promptly furnish to Purchaser and
its
representatives such information concerning the businesses (including
information relating to supplier, vendor, customer, product pricing,
advertising/media planning), properties and personnel of the Company as
Purchaser and its representatives shall reasonably request. From the date
hereof, the Company shall generally keep Purchaser and its representatives
informed as to all material matters involving the operations and businesses
of
the Company. The Company shall cause its officers, employees, consultants,
agents, accountants, attorneys and other representatives to supply to
Purchaser’s and its representatives such information as shall have been
reasonably requested. No information provided to or obtained by Purchaser
and
its representatives pursuant to this Section
6.1
shall
limit or otherwise affect the remedies available hereunder to Purchaser
(including Purchaser’s right to seek indemnification pursuant to Article
VIII),
or the
representations or warranties of, or the conditions to the obligations of,
the
Parties hereto.
Each
Party shall keep confidential the terms and conditions of this Agreement
and
other confidential commercial information disclosed by another Party hereto
(collectively, the “Confidential
Information”).
30
6.2 Conduct
of the Business Pending the Closing.
(a) Prior
to
the Closing, except (I) as required by applicable Law, (II) as otherwise
contemplated by this Agreement or (III) with the prior written consent of
Purchaser (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or
conditioned), the Company shall:
(i) conduct
the businesses of the Company only in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(ii) use
its
commercially reasonable efforts to (A) preserve the present business operations,
organization and goodwill of the Company, and (B) preserve the present
relationships with customers and suppliers of the Company;
(iii) maintain
(A) all of the assets and properties of, or used by, the Company in its current
condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and (B) insurance upon all of
the
properties and assets of the Company in such amounts and of such kinds
comparable to that in effect on the date of this Agreement;
(iv) (A)
maintain the books, accounts and records of the Company in the Ordinary Course
of Business, (B) continue to collect accounts receivable and pay accounts
payable utilizing normal procedures and without discounting or accelerating
payment of such accounts, and (C) comply with all contractual and other
obligations of the Company;
(v) comply
with the capital expenditure plan of the Company for 2007, including making
such
capital expenditures in the amounts and at the times set forth in such plan;
and
(vi) comply
in
all material respects with all applicable Laws.
(b) Except
(I) as required by applicable Law, (II) as otherwise contemplated by this
Agreement or (III) with the prior written consent of Purchaser (which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), the Company
shall
not:
(i) declare,
set aside, make or pay any dividend or other distribution in respect of the
capital stock of the Company or repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any
outstanding shares of the capital stock or other securities of, or other
ownership interests in, the Company;
(ii) transfer,
issue, sell or dispose of any shares of capital stock or other securities
of the
Company or grant options, warrants, calls or other rights to purchase or
otherwise acquire shares of the capital stock or other securities of the
Company;
(iii) effect
any recapitalization, reclassification or like change in the capitalization
of
the Company;
31
(iv) amend
the
certificate of incorporation or by-laws or comparable organizational documents
of the Company;
(v) other
than in the Ordinary Course of Business or as required by Law or Contract,
(A)
materially increase the annual level of compensation of any director or
executive officer of the Company, (B) materially increase the annual level
of
compensation payable or to become payable by the Company to any of its directors
or executive officers, (C) grant any unusual or extraordinary bonus, benefit
or
other direct or indirect compensation to any director or executive officer,
(D)
materially increase the coverage or benefits available under any (or create
any
new) Employee Benefit Plan or (E) enter into any employment, deferred
compensation, severance, consulting, non-competition or similar agreement
(or
amend any such agreement) to which the Company is a party or involving a
director or executive officer of the Company, except, in each case, as required
by applicable Law from time to time in effect or by the terms of any Employee
Benefit Plans;
(vi) subject
to any Lien, any of the properties or assets (whether tangible or intangible)
of
the Company, except for Permitted Exceptions;
(vii) acquire
any material properties or assets or sell, assign, license, transfer, convey,
lease or otherwise dispose of any of the material properties or assets of
the
Company (except pursuant to an existing Contract for fair consideration in
the
Ordinary Course of Business or for the purpose of disposing of obsolete or
worthless assets);
(viii) other
than in the Ordinary Course of Business, cancel or compromise any material
debt
or claim or waive or release any material right of the Company;
(ix) enter
into any commitment for capital expenditures of the Company in excess of
RMB
500,000.00 for any individual commitment and RMB 2,000,000.00 for all
commitments in the aggregate;
(x) enter
into, modify or terminate any labor or collective bargaining agreement of
the
Company;
(xi) permit
the Company to enter into or agree to enter into any merger or consolidation
with any Person;
(xii) make
or
rescind any election relating to Taxes, settle or compromise any claim, action,
suit, litigation, proceeding, arbitration, investigation, audit controversy
relating to Taxes, or except as required by applicable law or GAAP, make
any
material change to any of its methods of accounting or methods of reporting
income or deductions for Tax or accounting practice or policy from those
employed in the preparation of its most recent Tax Return; or
(xiii) agree
to
do anything prohibited by this Section
6.2(b).
32
6.3 Third
Party Consents.
Sellers
and the Company shall use their best efforts to obtain at the earliest
practicable date all consents, waivers and approvals from, and provide all
notices to, all third parties that are not a Governmental Body, which consents,
waivers, approvals and notices are required to consummate, or in connection
with, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including to the
consents, waivers, approvals and notices referred to in Section
3.2 and
Section
4.3
(except
for such matters covered by Section
6.4).
Executed counterparts of such consents, waivers and approvals shall be delivered
to Purchaser promptly after receipt thereof, and copies of such notices shall
be
delivered to Purchaser promptly after the making thereof.
6.4 PRC
Governmental Consents and Approvals.
Unless
otherwise provided herein, each of Sellers and the Company shall each use
its
best efforts to obtain (and Purchaser shall provide reasonable cooperation
upon
request) at the earliest practical date all consents, waivers, approvals,
Orders, Permits, authorizations and declarations from, make all filings with,
and provide all notices to, all Governmental Bodies which are required to
consummate, or are required in connection with, the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement, including the consents, waivers, approvals, Orders, Permits,
authorizations, declarations, filings and notices referred to in Section
3.2
and
Section
4.3.
Sellers
and the Company shall each use its best efforts to furnish to Purchaser all
information required for any application or other filing to be made pursuant
to
any applicable Law in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. Sellers and the Company shall each promptly inform Purchaser of
any
oral communication with, and provide copies of written communications with,
any
Governmental Body regarding any such filings or any such transaction and
permit
Purchaser to review in advance any proposed communication by Sellers or the
Company to any Governmental Body. Sellers or the Company shall not independently
participate in any meeting with any Governmental Body in respect of any such
filings, investigation, or other inquiry without giving Purchaser prior notice
of the meeting and the opportunity to attend or participate (except that
giving
such opportunity is prohibited by such Governmental Body). Subject to applicable
Law, the Parties hereto shall consult and cooperate with one another in
connection with the matters described in this Section
6.4,
including in connection with any analyses, appearances, presentations,
memorandums, briefs, arguments, opinions and proposals made or submitted
by or
on behalf of any Party hereto relating to proceedings under any antitrust
Law.
6.5 Further
Assurances.
Subject
to, and not in limitation of, Section 6.4,
each of
Sellers and the Company shall use its best efforts to (i) take, or cause
to be
taken, all actions necessary or appropriate to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and (ii) cause the fulfillment at the earliest
practicable date of all of the conditions to their respective obligations
to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
6.6 Preservation
of Records.
Subject
to any retention requirements relating to the preservation of Tax and/or
accounting records, Sellers shall, and agree to cause the Company to, preserve
and keep the records held by them relating to the business of the Company
and
shall make such records and personnel available to Purchaser as may be
reasonably required by a party in connection with, among other things, any
insurance claims by, legal proceedings against or governmental investigations
of
Sellers, the Company, or Purchaser or any of their Affiliates or in order
to
enable Purchaser to comply with its obligations under this Agreement and
document or instrument contemplated hereby.
33
6.7 Use
of
Name.
Sellers
hereby agree that upon the Closing, Purchaser and the Company shall have
the
sole right to the use of the name “Ausnutria”, “澳优”or
similar names and any service marks, trademarks, trade names, d/b/a names,
fictitious names, identifying symbols, logos, emblems, signs or insignia
related
thereto or containing or comprising the foregoing, or otherwise used in the
business of the Company, including any name or xxxx confusingly similar thereto
and the trademarks and service marks (collectively, the “Company
Marks”).
Sellers shall not, and shall not permit any Person acting on their behalf
to,
use such name or any variation or simulation thereof or any of the Company
Marks.
6.8 Environmental
Matters.
(a) Sellers
and the Company shall permit Purchaser and its environmental consultant,
to
conduct such investigations of the environmental conditions of any real property
operated or leased by the Company and the operations conducted thereat
(“Purchaser’s
Environmental Assessment”).
Purchaser’s Environmental Assessment shall be conducted by a qualified
environmental consulting firm selected by Purchaser, in compliance with
applicable Law and in a manner that minimizes the disruption of the operations
of the Company.
(b) Sellers
and the Company shall promptly file all materials required by Environmental
Laws
as a result of or in furtherance of the transactions contemplated hereunder
and
to promptly respond to all requests made by any Government Body required
or
necessary for the transfer or re-issuance of Environmental Permits required
to
conduct the Company’s business. Purchaser shall cooperate in all reasonable
respects with the Company with respect to such filings.
6.9 Related-Party
Transactions.
On or
prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall (a) not to enter into any Contracts
or transactions with Sellers or any Person acting on their behalf, other
than
those existing Contracts or transactions set forth on Schedule
6.9(a),
and (b)
collect
all the receivables from and pay all the payables to the Affiliates of the
Company or the Related Persons as set forth in Schedule
6.9(b),
(each a
“Related
Party Transaction”)
6.10 Monthly
Financial Statements.
As soon
as reasonably practicable, but in no event later than ten (10) days after
the
end of each calendar month during the period from the date hereof to the
Closing
Date, Seller shall cause the Company to provide Purchaser with the unaudited
monthly financial statements of the Company for such preceding month.
34
6.11 Fees
and Expenses.
At or
prior to the Closing, Sellers and the Company shall pay and discharge the
unpaid
balance of all Company Transaction Expenses as of the close of business on
the
day immediately preceding the Closing. For
the
purposes of this Agreement, “Company
Transaction Expenses”
shall
mean, except as otherwise expressly set forth in Section
10.1
or other
sections under this Agreement, the aggregate amount of all out-of-pocket
fees
and expenses, incurred by or on behalf of, or paid or to be paid by, the
Company
in connection with the process of selling Equity Interests or otherwise relating
to the negotiation, preparation or execution of this Agreement or any documents
or agreements contemplated hereby or thereby or the performance or consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, including (a) any fees
and
expenses associated with obtaining necessary or appropriate waivers, consents
or
approvals of any Governmental Body or third parties on behalf of the Company;
(b) any fees or expenses associated with release and termination of any Liens;
(c) all brokers’ or finders’ fees; (d) fees and expenses of counsel, advisors,
consultants, investment bankers, accountants, and auditors and experts, and
(e)
all bonuses or payments to current or former directors, officers, Employees
and
consultants of the Company paid as a result of or in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby.
6.12 Notification
of Certain Matters.
Sellers
or the Company (as applicable) shall give notice to Purchaser, as promptly
as
reasonably practicable upon becoming aware of (a) any event that has caused
or
is reasonably likely to cause any of the representation or warranty in this
Agreement made by Sellers to be untrue or inaccurate in any respect at any
time
after the date hereof and prior to the Closing, (b) any material failure
on
their part to comply with or satisfy any covenant, condition or agreement
to be
complied with or satisfied by it hereunder (c) the institution of or the
threat
of institution of any Legal Proceeding against any of Sellers, the Company,
or
Purchaser related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby
or
thereby; provided
that the
delivery of any notice pursuant to this Section
6.12
shall
not limit or otherwise affect the remedies available hereunder to the Party
receiving such notice, or the representations or warranties of, or the
conditions to the obligations of, the Parties hereto.
6.13 Resignation
of Directors.
Sellers
shall cause each of the directors of the Company set forth on Schedule
6.13
to
submit a letter of resignation effective on or before the Closing
Date.
6.14 Non-Competition
and Non-Solicitation
(a) For
a
period of three (3) years from and after the Closing Date, the Management
Stockholder shall not directly or indirectly, own, manage, engage in, operate,
control, work for, consult with, render services for, do business with, maintain
any interest in (proprietary, financial or otherwise) or participate in the
ownership, management, operation or control of, any business, whether in
corporate, proprietorship or partnership form or otherwise, engaged in dairy
production, sales, marketing or distribution or that otherwise competes with
the
Company (a “Restricted
Business”).
35
(b) For
a
period of three (3) years from and after the Closing Date, the Management
Shareholder shall not, and shall cause its directors, officers, employees
and
Affiliates not to, directly or indirectly: (i) cause, solicit, induce or
encourage any employees of the Company to leave such employment or hire,
employ
or otherwise engage any such individual; or (ii) cause, induce or encourage
any material actual or prospective client, customer, supplier, or licensor
of
the Company (including any existing or former customer of the Company and
any
Person that becomes a client or customer of the Company after the Closing)
or
any other Person who has a material business relationship with the Company,
to
terminate or modify any such actual or prospective relationship.
(c) The
covenants and undertakings contained in this Section 6.14
relate
to matters which are of a special, unique and extraordinary character and
a
violation of any of the terms of this Section 6.14
will
cause irreparable injury to Purchaser, the amount of which will be impossible
to
estimate or determine and which cannot be adequately compensated. Accordingly,
the remedy at law for any breach of this Section
6.14
will be
inadequate. Therefore, Purchaser will be entitled to a temporary and permanent
injunction, restraining order or other equitable relief from any court of
competent jurisdiction in the event of any breach of this Section 6.14
without
the necessity of proving actual damage or posting any bond whatsoever. The
rights and remedies provided by this Section 6.14
are
cumulative and in addition to any other rights and remedies which Purchaser
may
have hereunder or at law or in equity.
6.15 Escrow
Account.
Sellers
and the Company shall cooperate with Purchaser to release the Escrow Amount
to
an account designated by Purchaser, as Purchaser may determine at its
discretion.
ARTICLE
VII
CONDITIONS
TO CLOSING
7.1 Conditions
Precedent to Obligations of Purchaser.
The
obligation of Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement is subject to the fulfillment, on or prior to the Closing Date,
of
each of the conditions precedent (any
or
all of which may be waived by Purchaser in whole or in part to the extent
permitted by applicable law):
(a) the
representations and warranties of the other Parties set forth hereunder in
Articles
III and IV
shall be
true and correct as of the date hereof and;
(b) the
other
Parties and each of its affiliates shall have performed and complied with
all
obligations and agreements required hereunder to be performed or complied
with
by them on or prior to the Closing Date;
36
(c) there
shall not be in effect any Order by a Governmental Body of competent
jurisdiction restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation
of
the transactions contemplated hereby;
(d) no
legal
proceedings shall have been instituted or threatened or claim or demand made
against any Party or any Affiliate of such Party, seeking to restrain or
prohibit, or to obtain substantial damages with respect to, the consummation
of
the transactions contemplated hereby;
(e) each
of
the other Parties shall have obtained or made any consent, approval, order
or
authorization of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any Governmental
Body required to be obtained or made by such other Party in connection with
the
execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby;
(f) the
board
of directors of the Company have unanimously passed a valid resolution for
approval of the transfer of Equity Interest from Sellers to the Purchaser
and
the restated articles of association of the Company;
(g) All
trademarks related to the name of the Company and the names of the products
of
the Company shall be officially registered as owned by the Company;
(h) this
Agreement shall have all been approved by the competent approval and
registration authorities and Company is granted with a new certificate of
approval and a new business license from the relevant authority, stating
that
Purchaser holds 75% of registered capital of Company;
(i) The
Occupied Property set forth in Schedule 4.11(a)
shall have been transferred to the Company; and
(j) Prior
to
the Closing, the Domestic Shareholder shall have assigned to the Company
free of
any and all Liens all of the land use rights with respect to the Ausnutria
Land
and all of the ownership rights with respect to all buildings and other real
property located on the Ausnutria Land. “Ausnutria
Land”
means
the plot of land with an area of approximately 66,523.305 square meters
located
to the south of Wangwang Road (旺旺爑)
and to
the east of Dianchang Avenue (电厂大澭)
and is
within the High-Tech Food Industrial Park of Hunan Province (湖南省攨科技朡品工业基地),
the
land use right of which was granted to the Domestic Shareholder under a Land
Use
Contrac dated July 21, 2000 between Domestic Shareholder and the People's
Government of Wangcheng County.
37
7.2 Conditions
Precedent to Obligations of Sellers.
The
obligations of Sellers to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement are subject to the fulfillment, prior to or on the Closing Date,
of
each of the conditions precedent (any or all of which may be waived by Sellers
in whole or in part to the extent permitted by applicable Law):
(a) the
representations and warranties of Purchaser hereunder in Article
V shall
be
true and correct as of the date hereof and;
(b) the
other
Parties have, performed and complied with all obligations and agreements
required hereunder to be performed or complied with by them on or prior to
the
Closing Date; and
(c) no
legal
proceedings shall have been instituted or threatened or claim or demand made
against any Party or any of her/his/its Affiliates, seeking to restrain or
prohibit, or to obtain substantial damages with respect to, the consummation
of
the transactions contemplated hereby, and there shall not be in effect any
Order
by a Governmental Body of competent jurisdiction restraining, enjoining or
otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
ARTICLE
VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
8.1 Survival
of Representations and Warranties.
The
representations and warranties of the Parties contained in this Agreement,
any
certificate delivered pursuant hereto or any Seller Document, Company Document
or Purchaser Document shall survive the Closing indefinitely.
8.2 Indemnification.
a) Subject
to Sections
8.4
and
8.5
hereof,
Sellers hereby agree to, jointly and severally, indemnify and hold Purchaser,
the Company and their respective directors, officers, employees, Affiliates,
stockholders, agents, attorneys, representatives, successors and assigns
(collectively, the “Purchaser
Indemnified Parties”)
harmless from and against, and pay to the applicable Purchaser Indemnified
Parties the amount of, in accordance with actual Loss incurred, any and all
losses, liabilities, claims, obligations, deficiencies, demands, judgments,
damages (including incidental and consequential damages), interest, fines,
penalties, claims, suits, actions, causes of action, assessments, awards,
costs
and expenses (including costs of investigation and defense and attorneys’ and
other professionals’ fees), or any diminution in value, whether or not involving
a third party claim (individually, a “Loss”
and,
collectively, “Losses”),
if
such Losses are:
(i) based
upon, attributable to or resulting from the failure of any of the
representations or warranties made by any Seller in this Agreement to be
true
and correct in all respects at and as of the date hereof and at and as of
the
Closing Date;
38
(ii) based
upon, attributable to or resulting from the breach of any covenant or other
agreement on the part of any Seller or (prior to the Closing) the Company
under
this Agreement;
(iii) based
upon, attributable to or resulting from any third party claims out of Ordinary
Course of Business, including claims for product liabilities, resulted from
any
business activities before the Closing but arising after the
Closing;
(iv) based
upon, attributable to or resulting from (A) any employment-related Liability
with respect to the employment between the Company and its Employees or arising
from the termination of such employment on or prior to the Closing Date (B)
any
liability relating to, arising under any Company Welfare Plan or otherwise
for
any period prior to the Closing Date and (C) any liability relating to or
arising under compliance with any applicable Law relating to government-mandated
contributions, premiums and benefits for any period prior to the Closing
Date;
(v) based
upon, attributable to or resulting from any claims or legal proceedings from
a
third party with respect to Company Marks, Software, Technology or other
Intellectual Property for any usage by the Company prior to the Closing
Date;
(vi) based
upon, attributable to or resulting from any legal liability under the
Environmental Laws arising as a result of the situation already existing
on or
prior to the Closing Date or the Company’s act or omission in connection
therewith;
(vii) based
upon, attributable to or resulting from the claw-back of the income tax and
other levies with respect to which the Company had been entitled to an exemption
or reduction prior to Closing Date as a result of completion of the transaction
contemplated under this Agreement,
(viii) based
upon, attributable to or resulting from any events or actions taken by or
omissions of Sellers or (prior to the Closing Date) the Company;
(ix) based
upon, attributable to or resulting from the matters as disclosed by Sellers
in
Schedule
4.13(j)
(IP
matters) which could possibly cause disputes; or
(x) based
upon, attributable to or resulting from the matters described in Section
8.2a)
or
related thereto for whatever causes.
39
(b) Purchaser
hereby agrees to indemnify and hold Sellers harmless from and against any
and
all Losses, if such Losses are:
(xi) based
upon, attributable to or resulting from the failure of any of the
representations or warranties made by Purchaser in this Agreement to be true
and
correct in all respects at the date hereof and as of the Closing Date;
or
(xii) based
upon, attributable to or resulting from the breach of any covenant or other
agreement on the part of Purchaser under this Agreement.
(c) The
right
to indemnification or any other remedy based on representations, warranties,
covenants and agreements in this Agreement, Seller Document or Purchaser
Document shall not be affected by any investigation conducted at any time,
or
any knowledge acquired (or capable of being acquired) at any time, whether
before or after the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Closing
Date, with respect to the accuracy or inaccuracy of, or compliance with,
any
such representation, warranty, covenant or agreement. The waiver of any
condition based on the accuracy of any such representation or warranty, or
on
the performance of or compliance with any such covenant or agreements, will
not
affect the right to indemnification or any other remedy based on such
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements.
8.3 Indemnification
Procedures.
(a) A
claim
for indemnification for any matter not involving a third party claim may
be
asserted by notice to the Party from whom indemnification is sought;
provided,
however,
that
failure to so notify the indemnifying Party shall not preclude the indemnified
party from any indemnification which it may claim in accordance with this
Article
VIII.
(b) In
the
event that any Legal Proceedings shall be instituted or that any claim or
demand
shall be asserted by any third party in respect of which indemnification
may be
sought under Section
8.2
hereof
(a “Third
Party Claim”),
the
indemnified party shall promptly cause written notice of the assertion of
any
Third Party Claim of which it has knowledge that is covered by this indemnity
to
be forwarded to the indemnifying Party.
(i)
Subject
to the provisions of this Section 8.3,
after
indemnified party has informed indemnifying Party of any Third Party Claim
and
if the Third Party Claim has been filed against the Company, Purchaser shall
consult with Sellers to select counsel representing the Company to defend
against, negotiate, settle or otherwise deal with such Third Party Claim
which
relates to any Losses indemnified against hereunder. If a Purchaser is the
indemnified party and elects to defend against, negotiate, settle or otherwise
deal with any Third Party Claim which relates to any Losses indemnified by
it
hereunder, Sellers shall reimburse such Purchaser Indemnified Party for the
expenses of defending such Third Party Claim upon submission of periodic
bills.
If Purchaser is the indemnifying Party, Sellers may participate, at his own
expense, in the defense of such Third Party Claim.
40
(ii)
The
Parties hereto agree to provide reasonable access to each other to such
documents and information as may be reasonably requested in connection with
the
defense, negotiation or settlement of any such Third Party Claim.
Notwithstanding anything in this Section
8.3
to the
contrary, neither the indemnifying Party nor the indemnified party shall,
without the written consent of the other Party, settle or compromise any
Third
Party Claim or permit a default or consent to entry of any judgment unless
the
claimant or claimants and such Party provide to such other Party an unqualified
release from all liability in respect of the Third Party Claim. If the
indemnifying Party makes any payment on any Third Party Claim, the indemnifying
Party shall be subrogated, to the extent of such payment, to all rights and
remedies of the indemnified party to any insurance benefits or other claims
of
the indemnified party with respect to such Third Party Claim.
(c) After
any
final decision, judgment or award shall have been rendered by a Governmental
Body of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of the time in which to
appeal
therefrom, or a settlement shall have been consummated, or the indemnified
party
and the indemnifying Party shall have arrived at a mutually binding agreement,
in each case with respect to any Third Party Claim hereunder, the indemnified
party shall forward to the indemnifying Party notice of any remaining sums
due
and owing by the indemnifying Party pursuant to this Agreement with respect
to
such matter and the indemnifying Party shall pay all of such remaining sums
so
due and owing to the indemnified party in accordance with Section
8.3
by wire
transfer of immediately available funds within five (5) Business Days after
the
date of such notice.
8.4 Tax
Matters.
(a) Tax
Indemnification.
Sellers
hereby agree to be liable for and to indemnify and hold Purchaser harmless
from
and against, and pay to Purchaser the amount of any and all Losses in respect
of
(i) all Taxes of the Company (or any predecessor thereof) for any taxable
period
ending on or before the Closing Date, and (ii) the failure of any of the
representations and warranties contained in Section 4.10
to be
true and correct in all respects (determined without regard to any qualification
related to materiality contained therein) or the failure to perform any covenant
contained in this Agreement with respect to Taxes.
(b) Filing
of Tax Returns; Payment of Taxes.
(xiii) On
or
prior to the Closing Date, Sellers and the Company shall timely file all
Tax
Returns required to be filed by them on or prior to the Closing Date and
shall
pay or cause to be paid all Taxes shown due thereon. All such Tax Returns
shall
be prepared in a manner consistent with their prior practice, except for
the
necessary adjustments as required under GAAP or applicable Law. Sellers and
the
Company shall provide Purchaser with copies of such completed Tax Returns
promptly prior to the due date for filing thereof.
41
(xiv) Following
the Closing, Purchaser shall cause to be timely filed all Tax Returns required
to be filed by the Company and, without prejudice to the rights to payment
from
Sellers under Section 8.4(b)(xv),
pay or
cause to be paid all Taxes shown due thereon.
(xv) Not
later
than ten (10) days prior to the due date for the payment of Taxes on any
Tax
Returns which Purchaser has the responsibility to cause to be filed pursuant
to
Section
8.4(b)(xiv),
Sellers
shall pay to Purchaser the amount of Taxes owed by Sellers to the Purchaser
pursuant to the provisions of Section
8.4(a).
No
payment pursuant to this Section 8.4(b)(xv)
shall
excuse Sellers from its indemnification obligations pursuant to Section
8.4(a)
if the
amount of Taxes as ultimately determined (on audit or otherwise) for the
periods
covered by such Tax Returns exceeds the amount of Sellers’ payment under this
Section
8.4(b)(xv).
(c) Tax
Audits.
(i) If
notice
of any Legal Proceeding with respect to Taxes of the Company (a “Tax
Claim”)
shall
be received by Purchaser for which Sellers may reasonably be expected to
be
liable pursuant to Section
8.4(a),
Purchaser shall promptly notify Sellers in writing of such Tax Claim;
provided,
however,
that
the failure of Purchaser to give Sellers notice as provided herein shall
not
relieve Sellers of their obligations under this Section
8.4
except
to the extent that Sellers are actually and materially prejudiced
thereby.
(ii) Purchaser
shall have the right, at the expense of Sellers to the extent such Tax Claim
is
subject to indemnification by Sellers pursuant to Section
8.4(a)
hereof,
to represent the interests of the Company in any Tax Claim; provided,
that
with respect to a Tax Claim relating exclusively to taxable periods ending
on or
before the Closing Date, Purchaser shall not settle such claim without the
consent of Sellers, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld.
(d) Disputes.
Any
dispute as to any matter covered hereby shall be resolved by an independent
accounting firm acceptable to Sellers and Purchaser. The fees and expenses
of
such accounting firm shall be borne equally by Sellers, on the one hand,
and
Purchaser on the other. If any dispute with respect to a Tax Return is not
resolved prior to the due date of such Tax Return, such Tax Return shall
be
filed in the manner that the Party responsible for preparing such Tax Return
deems correct.
42
8.5 Tax
Treatment of Indemnity Payments.
Sellers
and Purchaser agree to treat any indemnity payment made pursuant to this
Article
VIII
as an
adjustment to the Cash Consideration for all income tax purposes. If,
notwithstanding the treatment required by the preceding sentence, any
indemnification payment under Article
VIII
is
determined to be taxable to the Party receiving such payment by any Tax
Authority, the paying Party shall also indemnify the Party receiving such
payment for any Taxes incurred by reason of the receipt of such payment and
any
Losses incurred by the Party receiving such payment in connection with such
Taxes (or any asserted deficiency, claim, demand, action, suit, proceeding,
judgment or assessment, including the defense or settlement thereof, relating
to
such Taxes).
ARTICLE
IX
TERMINATION
9.1 Termination
of Agreement.
This
Agreement may be terminated prior to the Closing under any of the following
circumstances and conditions:
(a) automatically
if the Closing has not been accomplished within eighteen (18) months of the
date
hereof, provided that this Agreement shall continue to be effective if the
Parties otherwise agree to extend the term of this Agreement;
(b) by
written consent of each Party;
(c) by
written notice from Purchaser to the other Parties that there has been an
event,
change, occurrence or circumstance, individually or in the aggregate that
has
had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with
respect to the Company or the Sellers;
(d) by
any
Party if there shall be in effect a final non-appealable Order of a Governmental
Body of competent jurisdiction restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby; or
(e) by
Purchaser or Sellers if the other Parties shall have breached or failed to
perform any of their respective representations, warranties, covenants or
agreements set forth in this Agreement in any material aspect, or if any
representation or warranty of such other Parties shall have become untrue
in any
material aspect, and such breach is incapable of being cured within thirty
(30)
days following receipt of a notice sent by the non-breaching Party.
9.2 Procedure
Upon Termination.
In
the
event of termination, written notice thereof shall forthwith be given to
the
other Party or Parties, and this Agreement shall terminate upon arrival of
such
notice to the other Party or Parties, and the purchase of the Equity Interests
hereunder shall be abandoned, without further action by Purchaser, the Company
or Sellers.
43
9.3 Effect
of Termination.
(a) In
the
event that this Agreement is validly terminated, then each of the Parties
shall
be relieved of their duties and obligations arising under this Agreement
after
the date of such termination (other than any indemnification liability arising
from Article
VIII
hereof);
provided,
however,
that
the obligations of the Parties set forth in this Section
9.3
and
Article
X
hereof
shall survive any such termination and shall be enforceable
hereunder.
(b) In
the
event that this Agreement is validly terminated as provided herein, but the
Amended Business License and the restated articles of association have been
issued by SAIC, the Parties agree to jointly apply to SAIC in writing for
the
cancellation of the Amended Business License and the restated articles of
association; if Purchaser has made any prepayment of any portion of the Cash
Consideration in order to obtain the Amended Business License and the restated
articles of association or the Amended Certificate of Approval, such prepayment
shall be returned to Purchaser within five (5) Business Days after the
termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE
X
MISCELLANEOUS
10.1 Expenses.
Except
as otherwise provided in this Agreement, Sellers and Purchaser shall each
bear
its own expenses incurred in connection with the negotiation and execution
of
this Agreement and each other agreement, document and instrument contemplated
by
this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
and
thereby, it being understood that in no event shall the Company bear any
of such
costs and expenses.
10.2 Specific
Performance.
Without
prejudicing other rights and remedies which a Party may have under this
Agreement, Sellers acknowledge and agree that damages may not be an adequate
remedy for any breach of this Agreement and the remedies of injunction, specific
performance and other non monetary remedies as permitted by applicable Law
are
appropriate for any threatened or actual breach of any provision of this
Agreement (in addition to other remedies to which Purchaser may be entitled
under the laws of the PRC) and no proof of special damages shall be necessary
for the enforcement of the rights under this Section
10.2.
10.3 Dispute
Resolution.
(a) Except
as
otherwise expressly provided herein, any dispute, controversy or claim arising
out of or in relation to this Agreement, including the validity, invalidity,
breach or termination
thereof,
shall be submitted to CIETAC in accordance with the Arbitration Administration
Procedures of CIETAC and the Arbitration Rules of International Xxxxxxxx
in
force on the date when the notice of arbitration is submitted. The
arbitration panel shall consist of three (3) arbitrators. Purchaser and Sellers
shall each select one arbitrator, and a third arbitrator shall be jointly
selected by Purchaser and Sellers through mutual agreement. If no agreement
is
reached, the third arbitrator shall be appointed by CIETAC. Each arbitrator
shall be impartial and independent of the Parties and shall have more than
ten
(10) years’ legal practice experience. . The place of the arbitration shall be
in Beijing. The arbitral proceedings shall be conducted in Chinese.
44
(b) The
arbitration award shall be final and binding on the Parties, and the Parties
agree to be bound thereby and to act accordingly. The costs of arbitration
and
the costs of enforcing the arbitral award (including witness expenses,
attorneys’ fees and the cost of the translator
appointed in accordance with Section
10.3(a)
above)
shall be borne by the losing party, unless otherwise determined by the arbitral
award.
(c) When
any
dispute occurs and when any dispute is under arbitration, except for the
matters
under dispute, the Parties shall continue to fulfill their respective
obligations (and shall be entitled to exercise their rights) under this
Agreement.
(d) Each
Party also consents generally in respect of any proceedings arising out of
or in
connection with this Agreement to the giving of any relief or the issue of
any
process in connection with such proceedings including the making, enforcement
or
execution against any property whatsoever (irrespective of its use or intended
use) of any order or judgment which may be made or given in such
proceedings.
(e) Any
decision or award of the arbitration panel shall be enforceable by any court
having jurisdiction over the Party against which the decision or award has
been
rendered, or wherever assets of the Party against which the decision or award
has been rendered can be located. If it becomes necessary for a Party to
enforce
an arbitral award by legal action of any kind, the defaulting Party shall
pay
all reasonable costs and expenses, including attorney’s fees, which shall be
incurred by the Party seeking to enforce the award.
10.4 Entire
Agreement; Amendments and Waivers.
This
Agreement (including the schedules and exhibits hereto) represent the entire
understanding and agreement between the Parties hereto with respect to the
subject matter hereof (including the documents executed by the Parties for
implementation of the transaction hereunder and not in conflict with this
Agreement) and can be amended, supplemented or changed, and any provision
hereof
can be waived, only by written instrument making specific reference to this
Agreement signed by the Party against whom enforcement of any such amendment,
supplement, modification or waiver is sought. The waiver by any Party hereto
of
a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed
as
a further or continuing waiver of such breach or as a waiver of any other
or
subsequent breach. No failure on the part of any Party to exercise, and no
delay
in exercising, any right, power or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver
thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of such right, power or
remedy
by such Party preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise
of
any other right, power or remedy. Except as expressly provided herein, all
remedies hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive of any other remedies
provided by law.
45
10.5 Governing
Law.
This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws
of the
People’s Republic of China.
10.6 Notices.
All
notices and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing
and
shall be deemed given (i) when delivered personally by hand (with written
confirmation of receipt), (ii) when sent by facsimile (with written confirmation
of transmission) or (iii) one Business Day following the day sent by any
of the
following reputable international overnight courier: EMS, DHL or FEDEX (with
written confirmation of receipt) or three (3) Business Days after such dispatch
in the case of international deliveries, in each case at the following addresses
and facsimile numbers (or to such other address or facsimile number as a
Party
may have specified by notice given to the other Party pursuant to this
provision):
If
to
Sellers, to:
HUNAN
MULIN MODERN FOOD COMPANY, LTD.
Hi-tech
Food Industry Park, Gaotang Hill,
Hunan,
China
XXXX
XXXXXXXX
00X,
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx #000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxx,
Xxxxx
If
to the
Company, to:
AUSNUTRIA
DAIRY (HUNAN) COMPANY LTD
0
Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx Xx, Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx
If
to
Purchaser, to:
HEILONGJIANG
MOVEUP FOOD CO., LTD.
0
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxx County, Qiqihaer City
Heilongjiang
Province, China
46
With
a
copy to:
Broad
& Bright Law Firm
Xxxxx
000, XXX Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xx.
00
Yong’andongli, Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, 000000, Xxxxx
Facsimile:
x00 00 0000-0000
Attention:
Xx. Xxxx Dong
10.7 Severability.
If any
term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal, or incapable
of
being enforced by any law or public policy, all other terms or provisions
of
this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long
as the
economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not
affected in any manner materially adverse to any Party. Upon such determination
that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal, or incapable of being
enforced, the Parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this
Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as
possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated
hereby are consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent
possible.
10.8 Binding
Effect; Assignment.
This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and
their respective successors and permitted assigns. Except as otherwise provided
in this Agreement, this Agreement shall not create or deemed to create any
third
party benefit for any individual or entity who is not a Party hereto. No
assignment of this Agreement or of any rights or obligations hereunder may
be
made by either Sellers or Purchaser (by operation of law or otherwise) without
the prior written consent of the other Parties hereto and any attempted
assignment without the required consents shall be void.
10.9 Counterparts.
This
Agreement is written and executed in Chinese and English and both versions
shall
have equal force and effect. In the event that there is any discrepancy between
the Chinese and English versions, the Chinese version shall prevail. This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will
be
deemed to be an original copy of this Agreement and all of which, when taken
together, will be deemed to constitute one and the same agreement.
10.10 Effect.
This
Agreement shall become effective and binding upon each Party, its successors
and
permitted assigns.
10.11 Third
Party Beneficiary.
Except
to the extent expressly stated otherwise herein, nothing in this Agreement
is
intended to confer upon any Person other than the Parties hereto and their
respective successors and permitted assigns any rights, benefits, or obligations
hereunder.
**
REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK**
47
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed
by
their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first
written above.
PURCHASER:
HEILONGJIANG
MOVEUP FOOD CO., LTD.
|
||||
By:
|
/s/ Xxx Xxxxxxxx | |||
Name:
|
Xxx Xxxxxxxx |
|||
Title:
|
Chairman, Legal Representative |
SELLER:
HUNAN
MULIN MODERN FOOD COMPANY,
LTD.
|
||||
By:
|
/s/ Wu Xingxing | |||
Name:
|
Wu Xingxing |
|||
Title:
|
Chairman, Legal Representative |
XXXX
XXXXXXXX
|
||||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxx | |||
Name:
|
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx |
COMPANY:
AUSNUTRIA
DAIRY (HUNAN) COMPANY LTD
|
||||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxx | |||
Name:
|
Xxxxxx Xxx |
|||
Title:
|
Chairman, Legal Representative |
48
SCHEDULE
1
EQUITY
INTERESTS
Sellers
|
Percentage
|
Certificates
|
||
Hunan
Mulin Modern Food Company, Ltd.
|
43%
|
|||
Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx
|
32%
|
EXHIBIT
A
Payment
Acknowledgement (Form)
Pursuant
to the Equity Transfer Agreement dated as of [·](the
“Agreement”),
by
and among HEILONGJIANG MOVEUP FOOD CO., LTD. (“Purchaser”),
AUSNUTRIA DAIRY (HUNAN) COMPANY LTD. (the “Company”),
HUNAN
MULIN MODERN FOOD COMPANY, LTD (THE “Domestic
Shareholder”)
and
Xx. XXXX YUANRONG (the “Management
Shareholder”),
(with
capitalized terms defined in the Agreement having the same meaning when used
herein), [Domestic Shareholder] hereby acknowledge that:
(a)
|
it
has received an amount equal to RMB206,500,000 in accordance with
Section
2.2 of the Agreement, which represents the payment in full by Purchaser
for the purchase of forty three percent (43%) of the Equity Interests
of
the Company; and
|
(b)
|
there
is not any payment outstanding by Purchaser under the
Agreement.
|
HUNAN MULIN MODERN FOOD COMPANY, LTD | ||
|
|
|
By: | ||
Name: |
Wu
Xingxing
|
|
Title: | Chairman, Legal Representative | |
EXHIBIT
B
Closing
Certificate (Form)
AUSNUTRIA
DAIRY (HUNAN) COMPANY LTD.
HUNAN
MULIN MODERN FOOD COMPANY, LTD.
AND
XXXX
XXXXXXXX
CLOSING
CERTIFICATE
[DATE]
Reference
is hereby made to the Equity Purchase Agreement, dated as of [·] (the
“Equity
Purchase Agreement”),
by
and among (1) HEILONGJIANG MOVEUP FOOD CO., LTD. (“Purchaser”),
a
company duly organized and existing under the PRC laws, (2) AUSNUTRIA DAIRY
(HUNAN) COMPANY LTD., a Sino-foreign equity joint venture duly organized
under
the PRC laws (“Company”),
and
(3) HUNAN MULIN MODERN FOOD COMPANY, LTD, a limited liability company organized
and existing under the PRC laws (the “Domestic
Shareholder”)
and
XX. XXXX YUANROGN (the “Management
Shareholder”),
a
PRC citizen with PRC identification card number 432627195909267514
and
address at 00X,
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx #000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx,
Xxxxx.
Each
of
Domestic Shareholder and Management Shareholder is referred to herein
individually as an “Seller”,
and
collectively as the “Sellers”.
Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall have the meanings
set forth in the Equity Purchase Agreement.
The
undersigned authorized officers of Sellers and the Company hereby certify
to
Purchaser as follows:
1.
|
The
representations and warranties of Sellers set forth in the Equity
Purchase
Agreement are true and correct in all material respects as of the
date of
the Equity Purchase Agreement and as of the date hereof, as though
made as
of the date hereof.
|
2.
|
Sellers
have each performed and complied with all agreements, obligations
and
conditions required in the Equity Purchaser Agreement which each
is
required to perform or comply with on or before the
Closing.
|
3. |
Since
the date of the Equity Purchase Agreement, there has not been
any event,
change, occurrences or circumstance that, individually or in
the aggregate
with any such events, changes, occurrences or circumstances,
has had or
could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
|
4.
|
No
actions have been instituted or threatened or claim or demand made
against
either of the Sellers or the Company seeking to restrain or prohibit
or to
obtain substantial damages with respect to the consummation of
the
transactions contemplated under the Equity Purchase Agreement,
and there
is not in effect any Order of any Governmental Body of competent
jurisdiction restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the
consummation of the transactions contemplated under the Equity
Purchase
Agreement.
|
This
certificate is issued by Sellers and the Company in accordance with Section
2.5
of the Equity Purchase Agreement.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed and delivered this Certificate
as
of the date first above written.
AUSNUTRIA
DAIRY (HUNAN) COMPANY
LTD.
|
||||
By:
|
||||
Name:
|
Leng Youbin |
|||
Title:
|
Chairman, Legal Representative |
HUNAN
MULIN MODERN FOOD COMPANY,
LTD
|
||||
By:
|
||||
Name:
|
Wu Xingxing |
|||
Title:
|
Chairman, Legal Representative |
XXXX
XXXXXXXX
|
||||
By:
|
||||
Name:
|
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx |
EXHIBIT
C
List
of Deliverables to the Purchaser on the Closing Date
1. |
The
Equity Purchase Agreement executed and delivered by all Parties
thereto;
|
2.
|
The
Amended Certificate of Approval of the Company, evidencing that
Purchaser
owns 75% of the equity in the
Company;
|
3.
|
The
Amended Business License of the Company, evidencing that Purchaser
owns
75% of the equity in the Company;
|
4.
|
Unanimous
Board resolutions of the Company, approving the transactions contemplated
under the Equity Purchase
Agreement;
|
5.
|
Unanimous
Board resolutions of the Company, approving the restated articles
of
association;
|
6. |
The
restated article of association;
|
7. |
The
restated joint venture contract;
|
8.
|
Payment
Acknowledgment to be executed and delivered by each of Domestic
Shareholder and Management Shareholder;
|
9.
|
Closing
Certificate to be executed and delivered by each of Domestic Shareholder
and Management Shareholder;
|
10.
|
Land
use right certificate issued by the appropriate Government Body
to the
Company with respect to the Ausnutria Land free of any and all
Liens with
a term expiring no earlier than July 31, 2051; and
|
11. |
Building
ownership certificate issued by the appropriate Government Body
to the
Company with respect to each of the buildings and other real property
located on the Ausnutria Land free of any and all
Liens
|