EXCLUSIVE OPTION AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT
10.4
This
Exclusive Option Agreement (this "Agreement") is executed by and among the
parties below as of June 24, 2005:
PARTY
A: TAIYUAN PUTAI BUSINESS CONSULTING CO., LTD.
LEGAL
ADDRESS: 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx
PARTY
B: SHANXI PUDA RESOURCES
CO., LTD.
LEGAL
ADDRESS: 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx
PARTY
C: Xxxx Xxxx
ADDRESS:
00-0 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx,
Xxxxx
PARTY
D: Zhao Yao
ADDRESS:
Meiyun Jiashu Yuan, Liulin County, Shanxi Province, China.
In
this
Agreement, each Party A, Party B, Party C and Party D shall be referred to
individually as a “Party”, and they shall be collectively referred to as the
“Parties”.
WHEREAS,
Party A
is a wholly foreign owned enterprise registered in The People's Republic
of
China (the "PRC") under the laws of the PRC;
WHEREAS,
Puda
Investment Holding Limited (“Puda”), an International Business Company
incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, owns all of the registered capital
of Party A;
WHEREAS,
Party B
is a domestic company with exclusively domestic capital registered in the
PRC
and is engaged in the business of coal crushing, preparation and cleaning
(“Business”);
WHEREAS,
Party A
has established a business relationship with Party B by entering into an
Exclusive Consulting Agreement dated as of the same date hereof (“Consulting
Agreement”), an Operating Agreement dated as of the same date hereof, and a
Technology License Agreement dated as of the same date hereof (“License
Agreement”) (collectively the foregoing agreements are hereinafter referred to
as the “Affiliation Agreements”);
WHEREAS,
Party B
is an affiliated Chinese entity of Party A;
WHEREAS,
pursuant to the Affiliation Agreements between Party A and Party B, Party
B
shall pay Party A certain fees as set forth in the Affiliation Agreements,
and
Party B’s daily operations will have a material effect on its ability to pay the
fees payable to Party A;
WHEREAS,
Party C
presently owns 80% of the registered capital of Party B;
WHEREAS,
Party D
presently owns 20% of the registered capital of Party B; and
WHEREAS,
Party
A, Party B, Party C and Party D agree to further clarify matters relating
to the
operation of Party B and its Business and the transfer of any registered
capital
of Party B pursuant to provisions of this Agreement.
NOW
THEREFORE,
Party
A, Party B, Party C and Party D through negotiations hereby agree as
follows:
1.
|
Stock
Option Grant and Procedures
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1.1
|
Stock
Option Grant
|
Party
C
and Party D hereby irrevocably grant to Party A an irrevocable right to
purchase, or designate one or more persons (each, a "Designee") to purchase,
all
of the registered capital of Party B now or hereafter owned and held by Party
C
and Party D at any time, in part or in whole, at Party A's sole and absolute
discretion to the extent permitted by the laws of The People’s Republic of China
(the “PRC”) and at the price described in Section 1.3 herein (such rights being
the "Stock Option"). Except for Party A and any Designee, no other person
shall
be entitled to such Stock Option. Party B hereby agrees to the grant by Party
C
and Party D of the Stock Option to Party A. The term "person" as used herein
shall refer to individuals, corporations, partnerships, partners, enterprises,
trusts or non-corporate organizations.
1.2
|
Exercise
Procedures
|
Subject
to the provisions of the laws of the PRC, Party A may exercise the Stock
Option
by issuing a written notice to Party C and/or Party D (the "Stock Option
Notice") and specifying the portion of the registered capital of Party B
to be
purchased from Party C and/or Party D (the "Option Shares").
1.3
|
Stock
Option Price
|
Unless
an
appraisal is required by the laws of the PRC applicable to the Stock Option
exercised by Party A, the purchase price of the Option Shares (the "Stock
Option
Price") shall equal the actual capital contributions paid in by Party C and/or
Party D for their respective purchase of the Option Shares at the time of
original issuance of the registered capital by Party B. As of the date of
this
Agreement, the total registered and invested capital of Party B is
RMB22,500,000.
1.4
|
Transfer
of Option Shares
|
For
each
exercise of the Stock Option:
(a)
|
Party
C and Party D shall cause to promptly convene a meeting of the
owners of
Party B’s registered capital, at which a resolution shall be adopted
approving Party C's and/or Party D’s transfer of Option Shares to Party A
and/or any Designee;
|
(b)
|
Party
C and Party D shall execute a share transfer contract with respect
to each
transfer of Option Shares to Party A and/or any Designee (whichever
is
applicable), in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement
and the
Stock Option.
|
(c)
|
The
relevant Parties shall take any and all necessary action and execute
all
other necessary contracts, agreements or documents, obtain all
necessary
government licenses and permits and take all necessary actions,
to give
valid ownership of the Option Shares to Party A and/or any Designee
unencumbered by any security interest or other encumbrance and
cause Party
A and/or any Designee to become the registered owner of the Option
Shares.
|
1.5
|
Payment
for the Stock Option Price
|
The
Stock
Option Price shall be paid in such installments as mutually agreed to by
the
parties and as permitted by the laws of the PRC.
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2.
|
Covenants
by the Parties
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2.1
|
Covenants
regarding Party B
|
Without
the prior written consent of Party A, Party B, Party C and Party D hereby
covenant and agree to:
(a)
|
Not
in
any manner supplement,
change or amend the articles and bylaws or other organizational
documents
of Party B, increase or decrease its registered capital, change
its
structure of registered capital in any other manner, or issue any
registered capital or ownership interests of any kind in Party
B to any
persons including employees;
|
(b)
|
Maintain
Party B's corporate existence in accordance with good financial
and
business standards and practices by prudently and effectively operating
its business and handling its
affairs;
|
(c)
|
Not
at any time following the date of execution hereof, sell, transfer,
mortgage or dispose of in any other manner any assets of Party
B or legal
or beneficial interest in the profits, cash flow or revenues of
Party B or
the Business, or allow any encumbrance thereon of any security
interest in
Party B or its assets, other than in the ordinary course of
business;
|
(d)
|
Not
incur, inherit, assume or undertake any debt on behalf of Party
B , except
for (i) debt incurred in the ordinary course of business; and (ii)
debt
already disclosed to Party A for which Party A's written consent
has been
obtained;
|
(e)
|
Operate
the Business in the ordinary course of business, maintain the asset
values
of Party B and refrain from any action or omission sufficient to
affect
Party B's operating status and asset
value;
|
(f)
|
Not
execute or enter into any contracts or guarantees of the debt of
others on
behalf of Party B, except for contracts in the ordinary course
of business
(for purpose of this subsection, a contract whose value exceeds
RMB1,000,000 shall be deemed outside the ordinary course of
business);
|
(g)
|
Not
provide any person with any loan or credit made by Party B;
|
(h)
|
Provide
Party A with information on Party B's business operations and financial
condition at Party A's request;
|
(i)
|
Procure
and maintain insurance from an insurance carrier acceptable to
Party A,
and the amount and types of coverage maintained shall be identical
to the
amount and types of coverage usually maintained by companies that
operate
similar businesses and hold similar properties or assets in the
same area
where Party B is located;
|
(j)
|
Not
cause Party B to be merged or be consolidated with any person,
or acquire
any person or make investments in any
person;
|
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(k)
|
Immediately
notify Party A of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any
litigation,
arbitration or other administrative proceedings, or governmental
action
relating to Party B's assets, Business or
revenue;
|
(l)
|
To
maintain the ownership by Party B of all of its assets, execute
all
necessary or appropriate documents, take all necessary or appropriate
actions and file all necessary or appropriate complaints or raise
necessary and appropriate defenses against all
claims;
|
(m)
|
Not
in any manner make or declare any cash, property or stock dividends
or
distributions to the shareholders of Party B;
|
(n)
|
Appoint
such persons as designated by Party A to act as the directors,
officers
and managers of Party B, and not declare any bonuses or increase
the
compensation of any director , officer or manager of Party
B.
|
2.2
|
Covenants
regarding Party C and Party D
|
Without
the prior written consent of Party A, Party B and Party C hereby covenant
and
agree to :
(a)
|
Not
at any time following the date of execution hereof sell, transfer,
mortgage or dispose of in any other manner any legal or beneficial
interest in the registered capital or ownership interests of Party
B now
or hereafter owned and held by Party C and Party D, or allow any
encumbrance on or create any security interest in the registered
capital
or ownership interests of Party B now or hereafter owned and held
by Party
C and Party D;
|
(b)
|
Cause
the directors of Party B not to approve the sale, transfer, mortgage
or
disposition in any other manner any legal or beneficial interest
in the
registered capital or ownership interests of Party B now or hereafter
owned and held by Party C or Party D, or allow the any encumbrance
on or
create any security interest in the equity interests of Party B
owned and
held by Party C and Party D;
|
(c)
|
Cause
the directors or managers of Party B not to approve the merger
or
consolidation with any person, or the acquisition of or investment
in any
person;
|
(d)
|
Immediately
notify Party A of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any
litigation,
arbitration or administrative proceedings relating to the equity
interests
of Party B owned and held by Party C or by Party
D;
|
(e)
|
Cause
the directors or managers of Party B to vote their approval of
the
transfer of the Option Shares as set forth in this
Agreement;
|
(f)
|
To
maintain Party C’s and Party D’s ownership of registered capital or
ownership interests in Party B, execute all necessary or appropriate
documents, take all necessary or appropriate actions and file all
necessary or appropriate complaints or raise necessary and appropriate
defenses against all claims;
|
(g)
|
Appoint
any designee of Party A as director or manager of Party B, at the
request
of Party A;
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(h)
|
At
the request of Party A at any time, promptly and unconditionally
transfer
its registered capital or ownership interests in Party B to Party
A or any
Designee at any time, and waive any right of first refusal to
such
transfer by any other existing holder of Party B’s equity interests;
and
|
(i)
|
Strictly
abide by the provisions of this Agreement and other contracts jointly
or
separately executed by and among Party A, Party B, Party C and
Party D,
effectively perform the obligations thereunder, and refrain from
any
action or omission sufficient to affect the effectiveness and
enforceability thereof.
|
3.
|
Representations
and Warranties by Party B, Party C and Party
D
|
Party
B,
Party C and Party D hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant to
Party
A, as of the date of execution of this Agreement and each date of transfer
of
the Option Shares, that:
(a)
|
Each
of them has the authority to execute and deliver this Agreement
and any
share transfer contracts to which they are a Party concerning the
Option
Shares to be transferred thereunder (each, a "Transfer Contract"),
and to
perform their obligations under this Agreement and any Transfer
Contracts,
and the execution of this Agreement and the Transfer Contracts
to which
they are a Party shall constitute their legal, valid and binding
obligations and shall be enforceable against them in accordance
with the
provisions thereof under the laws of the PRC and any other jurisdiction;
|
(b)
|
The
execution and delivery of this Agreement or any Transfer Contract
and the
obligations under this Agreement or any Transfer Contract shall
not: (i)
cause any violation of any applicable the laws of the PRC; (ii)
be
inconsistent of their articles, bylaws or other organizational
documents;
(iii) cause the violation of any contracts or instruments to which
they
are a party or which are binding on them, or constitute any breach
under
any contracts or instruments to which they are a party or which
are
binding on them; (iv) cause any violation of any condition for
the grant
and/or continued effectiveness of any licenses or permits issued
to or
granted by any of them; or (v) cause the suspension or revocation
of or
imposition of additional conditions to any licenses or permits
issued to
any of them;
|
(c)
|
Party
B has a good and merchantable title to all of its assets, and Party
B has
not placed any encumbrances on or created any security interests
in the
aforementioned assets;
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(d)
|
Party
B does not have any outstanding debt, except for (i) debt incurred
in the
ordinary course of business; and (ii) debt already disclosed to
Party A
for which Party A's written consent has been
obtained;
|
(e)
|
Party
B has complied with all laws and regulations of the PRC applicable
to it;
|
(f)
|
There
are no pending or possible litigation, arbitration or administrative
proceedings relating to the equity interests in Party B or the
assets of
Party B; and
|
(g)
|
Party
C has good and merchantable title to 80% of the registered capital
of
Party B, free and clear of all encumbrances and security interests,
and
there are no preemptive rights held by any person with respect
to such
registered capital.
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(h)
|
Party
D has good and merchantable title to 20% of the registered capital
of
Party B, free and clear of all encumbrances and security interests,
and
there are no preemptive rights held by any person with respect
to such
registered capital
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4.
|
Effective
Date
|
This
Agreement shall take effect upon the date of execution of this Agreement
and
remain effective for a term of 10 years, and shall be automatically renewed
at
Party A’ election for an additional 10 year period after the initial term or any
renewal term. During the term of this Agreement or any renewal term, Party
B,
Party C and Party D shall not terminate this Agreement. Notwithstanding the
above stipulation, Party A shall have the right to terminate this Agreement
at
any time by issuing a thirty days prior written notice to Party B, Party
C and
Party D.
5. Applicable
Laws; Resolution of Disputes
5.1
|
Applicable
Laws
|
The
execution, effectiveness, construction and performance of this Agreement
and the
resolution of disputes hereunder shall be subject to the protection and
jurisdiction of formally published and publicly available laws of the PRC.
Matters not covered by formally published and publicly available laws of
the PRC
shall be governed by international legal principles and practices.
5.2
|
Methods
of resolution of disputes
|
The
parties shall strive to settle any dispute arising from the interpretation
or
performance, or in connection with this Agreement through friendly negotiation.
In case no settlement can be reached through negotiation, either party may
submit such dispute to China International Economic and Trade Arbitration
Commission ("CIETAC") for arbitration in accordance with the current rules
of
CIETAC. The arbitration proceedings shall take place in Hong Kong and shall
be
conducted in English. The arbitration award shall be final and binding upon
the
parties.
6.
|
Taxes
and Fees
|
Each
Party shall pay any and all transfer and registration tax, expenses and fees
incurred thereby or levied thereon in accordance with the laws of the PRC
in
connection with the preparation and execution of this Agreement and the Transfer
Contracts, as well as the consummation of the transactions contemplated under
this Agreement and the Transfer Contracts.
7.
|
Notices
|
Any
notice which is given by the parties hereto for the purpose of performing
the
rights, duties and obligations hereunder shall be in writing in English.
Where
such notice is delivered personally, the time of notice is the time when
such
notice actually reaches the addressee; where such notice is transmitted by
telex
or facsimile, the notice time is the time when such notice is transmitted.
If
such notice does not reach the addressee on business date or reaches the
addressee after the business time, the next business day following such day
is
the date of notice. The delivery place is the address first written above
of the
parties hereto or the address advised in writing from time to time. The writing
form includes facsimile and telex.
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8.
|
Confidentiality
|
The
Parties acknowledge that any oral or written information exchanged among
them
with respect to this Agreement is confidential information. Each Party shall
maintain the confidentiality of all such information, and without obtaining
the
written consent of other Parties, it shall not disclose any relevant information
to any third parties, except in the following circumstances: (a) such
information is or will be in the public domain (provided that this is not
the
result of a public disclosure by the receiving party); (b) information disclosed
as required by applicable laws or rules or regulation of any stock exchange;
or
(c) information required to be disclosed by any Party to its legal counsel
or
financial advisor regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, and such
legal counsel or financial advisor are also required to be bound by
confidentiality duties similar to the duties in this section. Disclosure
of a
secret by the staff members or agents hired by any Party shall be deemed
disclosure of a secret by such a Party, which shall be held liable for breach
of
this Agreement. This section shall survive the termination of this Agreement
for
any reason.
9.
|
Further
Assurances
|
The
Parties agree to promptly execute documents that are reasonably required
for the
implementation of the provisions and purposes of this Agreement or that are
conducive thereto, and take further actions that are reasonably required
for the
implementation of the provisions and purposes of this Agreement or that are
conducive thereto.
10.
|
Miscellaneous
|
10.1
|
Amendments,
Changes and Supplements
|
Any
amendments, changes and supplements to this Agreement shall require
the
execution of a written agreement in English by all of the
Parties.
|
10.2
|
Compliance
with Laws
|
Each
of
the Parties shall comply with all formally published and publicly available
laws
and regulations of the PRC and ensure that the operations of each of the
Parties
are in compliance with all formally published and publicly available laws
and
regulations of the PRC.
10.3
|
Entire
Agreement
|
Except
for any written amendments, supplements or changes executed after the execution
of this Agreement, this Agreement shall constitute the entire agreement reached
by and among the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter thereof,
and
shall supercede all prior oral and written consultations, representations
and
contracts reached with respect to the subject matter of this
Agreement.
10.4
|
Headings
|
The
headings of this Agreement are for convenience only, and shall not be used
to
interpret, explain or otherwise affect the meanings of the provisions of
this
Agreement.
10.5
|
Languages
|
This
Agreement is executed in English only, and the executed English language
Agreement shall prevail in all cases. This Agreement may be executed in one
or
more counterparts, each of which shall constitute one and the same agreement,
and by facsimile or electronic signature.
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10.6
|
Severability
|
In
the
event that one or several of the provisions of this Agreement are ruled invalid,
illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance with any laws or
regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining
provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected or compromised in any
aspect.
The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or
unenforceable provisions with effective provisions, and the economic effect
of
such effective provisions shall be as close as possible to the economic effect
of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
10.7
|
Successors
|
This
Agreement shall be binding on and shall inure to the interest of the respective
successors of the Parties and the permitted assigns of such Parties.
10.8
|
Survival
|
(a)
|
Any
obligations that occur or that are due as a result of this Agreement
upon
the expiration or early termination of this Agreement shall survive
the
expiration or early termination
thereof.
|
(b)
|
The
provisions of Articles 5 and 8 and this Section 10.8 shall survive
the
termination of this Agreement.
|
10.9
|
Waivers
|
Any
Party
may waive the terms and conditions of this Agreement, provided that such
a
waiver must be provided in writing in English and shall require the signatures
of the Parties. No waiver by any Party in certain circumstances with respect
to
a breach by other Parties shall operate as a waiver by such a Party with
respect
to any similar breach in other circumstances.
[Remainder
of this page intentionally left blank.]
-8-
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their respective duly authorized
representatives to execute this Agreement as of the date first above
written.
PARTY
A: TAIYUAN PUTAI BUSINESS CONSULTING CO., LTD
By:
/s/ Zhao Xxxx
Xxxx
Ming, Chairman and CEO
PARTY
B: SHANXI PUDA RESOURCES CO., LTD.
By:
/s/ Zhao Xxxx
Xxxx
Ming, Chairman and CEO
PARTY
C:
/s/
Zhao
Xxxx
Xxxx
Ming
PARTY
D:
/s/
Zhao
Xxx
Xxxx
Yao
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