OPTION AGREEMENT NO. 2
Exhibit 10.24
OPTION AGREEMENT NO. 2
This OPTION AGREEMENT No. 2 (this “Agreement”), dated January 15, 2010, is entered
into by and between China Environment Fund III, L.P. (the
“Holder”), Sun Xxxx
Xxxx(),
holder of Hong Kong document of identity No. DA9001901 (the “Founder”) and Nobao Renewable
Energy Holdings Limited, a Cayman Islands company (the “Company”).
RECITALS
A. | A Share Exchange Agreement was entered into on January 15, 2010 (the “Share Exchange Agreement”) by and among the Founder, the Holder and other parties thereto. | |
B. | It is condition precedent of closing under the Share Exchange Agreement that the Holder and the Founder enter into this Agreement. | |
C. | Pursuant to the Share Exchange Agreement and concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, the Holder and the Founder are entering into an Option Agreement No. 1, an Option Agreement No. 3 (collectively with this Agreement, the “Option Agreements”) and a Shareholders Agreement (the “Shareholders Agreement”). |
WITNESSETH
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises set forth above, the mutual promises and
covenants set forth herein and other good and valuable consideration, the Parties agree as
follows:
1. Purchase During Exercise Period. Subject to the terms and conditions set
forth in this Agreement, the Holder shall be entitled, at any time during the Exercise Period, to
purchase (such right, the “Purchase Option”) from the Founder, at an aggregate price of
US$1 (the “Exercise Price”), a number of fully paid Ordinary Shares, par value US$0.001 per
share, of the Company (the “Ordinary Shares”) held by the Founder equal to the “Adjustment
Number” (as defined below). Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the
Adjustment Number shall be the number of Ordinary Shares such that, if transferred to the Holder,
would result in the Holder’s Percentage Interest as of the publication of 2010 Fiscal Year Revenue
having a 2% increment. Promptly upon completion of the purchase and sale of Ordinary Shares
pursuant to the Purchase Option, if at such time the Holder holds any Series A Preferred Shares of
the Company (the “Series A Preferred Shares”), the parties hereto shall cause the
re-designation of such Ordinary Shares acquired by the Holder into the number of Series A Preferred
Shares then convertible into such Ordinary Shares.
2. Termination. Subject to Section 4(c), the Exercise Period shall not
commence, and this Agreement and all rights and obligations hereunder shall terminate, if the 2010
Fiscal Year Revenue, as determined pursuant to this Agreement, compared to the 2009 Fiscal Year
Revenue, has a 25% or more increment.
3. Determination of Revenue.
(a) Revenue. Simultaneously with the delivery of the financial statements for
each of the 2009 Fiscal Year and 2010 Fiscal Year pursuant to Section 8.1 of the Shareholders
Agreement, but in any event within 60 days after the end of such Fiscal Year of the Company, the
Company shall deliver to the Holder and the Founder, together with such financial statements, (i)
an audited statement of profits and losses for such Fiscal Year, audited by the accounting firm
agreed by the Company and the Holder, prepared in accordance with IFRS, and (ii) a statement of
Revenue and cost breakdown by project for such Fiscal Year issued by the Company and confirmed by
the accounting firm in writing, setting forth in reasonable detail the calculation of 2009 Fiscal
Year Revenue or 2010 Fiscal Year Revenue, as applicable; provided, that if the Company fails to
deliver such financial statements, statement of profits and losses, or such statement within 60
days after the end of the 2009 Fiscal Year and the 2010 Fiscal Year, respectively, the increment of
2010 Fiscal Year Revenue, compared to the 2009 Fiscal Year Revenue, will be conclusively deemed
lower than 25% and the Exercise Period will commence on the business day next following the 60th
day after the end of the 2010 Fiscal Year. The Holder shall have the right to object to the
determination of the 2009 Fiscal Year Revenue and/or 2010 Fiscal Year Revenue in accordance with
Section 3(b) below.
(b) Objection Procedure
(i) Unless the Holder gives written notice to the Founder and the Company of
its objection (an “Objection”) to the Company’s calculation of the 2009 Fiscal Year
Revenue and/or 2010 Fiscal Year Revenue within 30 days following its receipt of the
financial statements and accompanying chief financial officer’s certificate, the Company’s
calculation shall be final and binding upon the parties for purposes of this Agreement. If
the Holder waives in writing its right to deliver an Objection with respect to any such
determination, the applicable determination shall be final and binding upon the parties as
of the date of delivery of such waiver. Any Objection shall specify in reasonable detail
the nature of any disagreement so asserted. Upon request of the Holder, the Company shall
promptly provide a representative of the Holder such access to the books and records of the
Company and its Subsidiaries as are reasonably necessary to confirm the Company’s
calculation of the 2009 Fiscal Year Revenue and/or 2010 Fiscal Year Revenue and the Holder
agrees to maintain any such information in strict confidence (except for such disclosure to
advisors or otherwise as appropriate in connection with the proceedings referred to below
in clause (ii)). During the 15-day period following the delivery of an Objection, the
Founder and the Holder shall attempt in good faith to resolve any differences which they
may have with respect to any matter specified in the Objection.
(ii) If at the end of such 15-day period, the Founder and the Holder shall have
failed to reach written agreement with respect to all matters specified in any Objection,
any matter that remains in dispute shall promptly be submitted to an independent accounting
firm of internationally recognized standing (the
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“Accountant”) designated by the Founder and the Holder within ten days after
the expiration of such 15-day period, or, if they cannot agree on an accounting firm, such
dispute shall be promptly referred to the HKIAC and an independent accounting firm of
internationally recognized standing shall be appointed thereby. The Accountant shall
consider only the matters specified in the Objection. The Accountant shall act promptly to
resolve all matters specified in the Objection, and shall give its decision within 30 days
after the referral of the matter to it. Upon resolution by the Accountant of all matters
specified in the Objection, the Accountant shall determine the 2009 Fiscal Year Revenue
and/or 2010 Fiscal Year Revenue and/or whether the increment of 2010 Fiscal Year Revenue,
compared to the 2009 Fiscal Year Revenue, is lower than 25%, as applicable, on the basis
of the matters it has resolved. The Accountant’s decisions and determinations with respect
to all matters specified in the Objection and its determination as to the 2009 Fiscal Year
Revenue and/or 2010 Fiscal Year Revenue shall be final and binding upon the Founder and
the Holder. The costs and expenses of the Accountant shall be borne equally by the
Founder, on the one hand, and the Holder, on the other hand.
4. Covenants.
Without limiting any other covenant of the Company and the Founder under the Memorandum and
Articles of Association of the Company and the Shareholders Agreement:
(a) the Company shall not change any method of accounting or accounting practice or policy,
other than (i) pursuant to guidance provided by any applicable regulatory authority, with the
Holder’s consent, or (ii) as recommended by the Company’s independent auditors, with the Holder’s
consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld;
(b) the Company shall not directly or indirectly change the allocation of items of revenue,
income and/or gain between, or the principles applied to allocate items of revenue, income and/or
gain in, EMC related profits on the one hand, and other items of income or gain on the other hand;
(c) if there is any change to any Accounting Rules prior to an IPO of the Company, the Company
shall employ the adjusted Accounting Rules to re-calculate the 2009 Fiscal Year Revenue and 2010
Fiscal Year Revenue and deliver the re-calculated 2009 Fiscal Year Revenue and 2010 Fiscal Year
Revenue to the Holder and the Founder within 60 days after such change. The 2009 Fiscal Year
Revenue and 2010 Fiscal Year Revenue can be re-calculated from time to time prior to the IPO of the
Company, due to change of the Accounting Rules. Determination of the re-calculated 2009 Fiscal Year
Revenue and 2010 Fiscal Year Revenue shall be in accordance with Section 3 of this Agreement; and
(d) if the 2009 Fiscal Year Revenue and/or 2010 Fiscal Year Revenue is adjusted prior to the
IPO, and if, accordingly, the Holder is not entitled to exercise the
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Purchase Option, any and all Ordinary Shares that have been purchased by the Holder by
exercising the Purchase Option (or Series A Preferred Shares converted from such Ordinary Shares)
shall be repurchased by the Founder at the Exercise Price.
5. Definitions. As used herein, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
(a) “Exercise Period” means the period beginning on the date (if any) that it is
determined in accordance with Section 3 hereof that the increment of 2010 Fiscal Year Revenue,
compared to the 2009 Fiscal Year Revenue, is lower than 25% and ending at 5:00 p.m., Beijing time
on the tenth anniversary of June 24, 2009, or if such date is not a Business Day, then 5:00 p.m.,
Beijing time on the following Business Day, or ending at the tenth anniversary of the date of
publication of the final re-calculated 2009 Fiscal Year Revenue and/or 2010 Fiscal Year Revenue in
accordance with Section 4(c) hereof, whichever is longer.
(b) “Fiscal Year” means, with respect to each year, the one-year period ending on
December 31 of such year.
(c) “Percentage Interest” of the Holder means, as of the date of publication of 2010
Fiscal Year Revenue, the quotient, expressed as a percentage, obtained by dividing (i) the number
of Ordinary Shares then owned by the Holder on an as-converted basis (giving effect to the
conversion and exchange of all securities or rights of the Holder that are convertible or
exchangeable into Ordinary Shares, including shares implied by the ESOP but excluding shares
transferred pursuant to the Option Agreements) by (ii) the number of Ordinary Shares then
outstanding on an as-converted basis (giving effect to the conversion and exchange of all
securities or rights that are convertible or exchangeable into Ordinary Shares, including shares
implied by the ESOP).
(d) “Accounting Rules” means the accounting policies and critical accounting estimates
and assumptions (including without limitation, those descriptions under Note 3 from Page 10 to Page
23 and Note 5 from Page 24 to Page 25 in the report attached as Exhibit B hereto) employed by
PricewaterhouseCoopers in connection with preparation of the Company’s consolidated 2008 audit
report.
(e) “IPO” means the first firmly underwritten registered public offering by the
Company of its Ordinary Shares pursuant to a registration statement that is filed with and
declared effective by a Governmental Authority in a jurisdiction.
(f) “EMC” means energy management contracts projects, which are central heating and
cooling refurbishment and replacements for existing buildings and installation projects for new
buildings. In the EMC, the Company (including the PRC Companies) designs, manufactures and installs
ground-source heat pump (“GSHP”) systems under long-term (which shall be no less than 10 years)
service contracts, which have an annual energy management fee, to large scale commercial
businesses, such as hotels and supermarkets. The Company (including the PRC Companies) will retain
the title to various GSHP related equipment and facilities until expiration of term under a
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service contract. For avoidance of confusion, EMC shall include, but not limited to, the long
term service contracts described in the report attached as Exhibit B hereto. The Holder shall
reserve the right to determine whether a contract constitutes an EMC. However, such determination
shall not be made in conflict with the provisions hereof.
(g) “EPC” means engineering-procurement construction projects. In the EPC, the
Company (including the PRC Companies) designs and installs central heating/cooling/hot water
system using its GSHP technology on a single project basis, charging an upfront fee to large scale
commercial customers, including large office buildings, industrial parks, and financial centres.
By the completion of the project, customers must settle the payment to and assume ownership of the
system from the Company.
(h) “Normal Business” means heat pump related sales contracts, EPC, EMC and
other heat pump related businesses.
(i) “Revenue” means the audited consolidated revenue generated from the
Normal Business only.
(j) Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given to
such terms in the Shareholders Agreement. All accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have
the meanings assigned under IFRS.
6. Methods of Exercise.
During the Exercise Period, the Holder may exercise, in whole or in part, the Purchase
Option pursuant to this Agreement by either of the following methods:
(a) Cash Exercise. The Holder may exercise by delivering a notice of exercise, in the
form attached as Exhibit A hereto (a “Notice of Exercise”) to the Founder and paying to the
Founder an amount (i) in cash (by check or wire transfer of immediately available funds), (ii) by
cancellation of indebtedness of the Founder owed to the Holder,
if any, or (iii) by a combination of (i) and (ii), equal to the aggregate Exercise Price for the
number of Ordinary Shares being purchased by such Holder.
(b) Net Exercise. Alternatively, the Holder may exercise by:
(i) delivering a Notice of Exercise to the Founder; and
(ii) receiving such lesser number of Ordinary Shares calculated in accordance
with the formula below representing the satisfaction of the payment to the Founder of an
amount equal to the aggregate Exercise Price for the number of Ordinary Shares being
purchased.
In the event the Holder chooses to exercise the Purchase Option pursuant to this Agreement in
accordance with this Section 6(b) (a “Net Exercise”), the Founder shall transfer to
the Holder a number of Ordinary Shares computed using the following formula:
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X = [Y * (A-B)]/A
where:
X = the number of Ordinary Shares to be transferred to the Holder
Y = the number of Ordinary Shares purchasable under this Agreement or, if only
a portion of the Purchase Option is being exercised, the number of Ordinary Shares
for which the Purchase Option is being exercised (at the date of such calculation)
A = the fair market value of one Ordinary Share (at the date of such
calculation)
B = the Exercise Price (as adjusted to the date of such calculation).
For purposes of this Section 6(b), the fair market value of an Ordinary Share shall be the average
of the closing prices of the Ordinary Shares quoted (i) in the over-the-counter market in which the
Ordinary Shares are traded, or (ii) on any exchange or electronic securities market on which the
Ordinary Shares are listed for trading, as applicable, for the 30 trading days prior to the date of
determination of fair market value (or such shorter period of time during which such Ordinary
Shares were traded over-the-counter or on such exchange). If the Ordinary Shares are not traded on
the over-the-counter market, an exchange or an electronic securities market, the fair market value
of an Ordinary Share shall be determined by dividing:
(i) the cash price at which a willing seller would sell and a willing buyer
would buy all of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares in a transaction negotiated at
arm’s length by unaffiliated third parties, each being apprised of and considering all
relevant facts, circumstances and factors, and neither acting under compulsion or time
constraints, by
(ii) the number of then issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares.
In the case of any determination of the fair market value of the Ordinary Shares pursuant to this
Section 6(b), fair market value shall not include any discount (i) by reason of such Ordinary
Shares representing a minority interest, or (ii) to reflect the fact that such Ordinary Shares are
illiquid and subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Agreement, the Shareholders
Agreement, the Right of First Refusal and Co-Sale Agreement, dated January 15, 2010, by and among
the Company, the Founder, the Holder and other parties thereto (the “ROFR Agreement”) and
the Memorandum and Articles.
If the Founder and the Holder cannot agree on the fair market value of an Ordinary Share within 30
days after the date upon which the Holder delivers a Notice of Exercise to the Founder (the
“Negotiation Period”), the valuation shall be made by an appraiser of internationally
recognized standing designated jointly by the Founder and the Holder within ten days after the
expiration of the Negotiation Period or, if they cannot so agree
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on an appraiser, such dispute shall be promptly referred to the HKIAC and an appraiser of
nationally recognized standing shall be appointed thereby. The valuation shall be made by such
appraiser within 20 days of its designation by the HKIAC. Any valuation made by an appraiser under
this Section 6(b) shall be determinative of such value and binding upon the Founder and the
Holder. The cost of such valuation shall be borne equally by the Founder and the Holder, but each
party shall bear its own legal expenses, if any, incurred in connection therewith.
(c) Partial Exercise. The Purchase Option may be exercised for less than the
full number of Ordinary Shares subject to the Purchase Option, in which case the number of
Ordinary Shares receivable upon the exercise of the Purchase Option as a whole, and the sum
payable upon the exercise of the Purchase Option as a whole, shall be proportionately reduced.
7. Certificates. Upon the exercise of the Purchase Option pursuant to this Agreement,
one or more certificates for the number of Ordinary Shares so purchased (or Series A Preferred
Shares converted from such Ordinary Shares) shall be issued and delivered by the Company to the
Holder as soon as practicable thereafter, and in any event within ten days of the delivery by the
Holder to the Founder of the Notice of Exercise. The date of delivery of such certificates is
referred to herein as the “Delivery Date.”
8. Dividend, Subdivision, Combination, Reclassification, Reorganization, Consolidation,
Merger or Sale of Assets. The number of and kind of securities that may be transferred pursuant
to this Agreement and the Exercise Price shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as
follows:
(a) In case of any reclassification, capital reorganization, or change in the shares of
the Company, or consolidation or merger of the Company with or into another corporation, or the
sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to another corporation pursuant to
which the holders of Ordinary Shares shall be entitled to receive shares, securities, cash or other
property with respect to or in exchange for Ordinary Shares, then, as a condition to such
reclassification, reorganization, change, consolidation, merger or sale, the Founder shall make
appropriate provision so that the Holder (or its permitted transferees) shall have the right at any
time prior to the expiration of the Exercise Period to acquire, at a total per-share price equal to
that payable pursuant to this Agreement, the kind and amount of shares, securities, cash or other
property receivable in connection with such reclassification, reorganization, change,
consolidation, merger or sale by a holder of the same number of Ordinary Shares as were purchasable
by the Holder immediately prior to such reclassification, reorganization, change, consolidation,
merger or sale. In any such case, appropriate provisions shall be made with respect to the rights
and interest of the Holder so that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable with
respect to any shares, securities, cash or other property deliverable upon exercise hereof, and
appropriate adjustments shall be made to the purchase price per Ordinary Share payable hereunder,
provided that the aggregate purchase price shall remain the same.
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The Company shall not effect any such consolidation, merger or sale, unless prior to the
consummation thereof, the successor corporation (if other than the Company) resulting from such
consolidation or merger or the corporation purchasing such assets in such sale shall assume, by
written instrument mailed or delivered to the Holder at the last address of the Holder appearing
on the books of the Company, the obligation to deliver to the Holder such shares, securities, cash
or other property as, in accordance with the foregoing provisions, the Holder may be entitled to
purchase. If a purchase, tender or exchange offer is made to and accepted by the holders of more
than 50% of the outstanding Ordinary Shares, the Company shall not effect any consolidation,
merger or sale with the Person having made such offer or with any Affiliate of such Person, unless
prior to the consummation of such consolidation, merger or sale the Holder shall have been given a
reasonable opportunity to then elect to receive pursuant to this Agreement either the stock,
securities, cash or other property then issuable with respect to the Ordinary Shares or the stock,
securities, cash or other property, or the equivalent, issued to holders of Ordinary Shares in
accordance with such offer.
(b) If the Company shall, at any time or from time to time, (i) declare a dividend on
the Ordinary Shares payable in shares of its capital stock (including Ordinary Shares), (ii)
subdivide the outstanding Ordinary Shares, (iii) combine the outstanding Ordinary Shares into a
smaller number of shares, or (iv) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of
the Ordinary Shares (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or
merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation), then in each such case, the Exercise
Price in effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or of the effective date of such
subdivision, combination or reclassification, and the number and kind of shares of capital stock
issuable on such date shall be proportionately adjusted so that the Holder, upon exercise of the
Purchase Option after such date, shall be entitled to receive, upon payment of the same aggregate
amount as would have been payable before such date, the aggregate number and kind of shares of
capital stock which, if the Purchase Option had been exercised immediately prior to such date, such
Holder would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend,
subdivision, combination or reclassification. Any such adjustment shall become effective
immediately after the record date of such dividend or the effective date of such subdivision,
combination or reclassification. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever any event
listed above shall occur. If a dividend is declared and such dividend is not paid, the Exercise
Price shall again be adjusted to be the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such record
date.
(c) Notice of Adjustment. When any adjustment is required to be made in the
number or kind of shares purchasable upon exercise of this Agreement, or in the Exercise Price, the
Founder shall provide the Holder with not less than 20 days’ prior written notice of the date on
which the event requiring such adjustment is to take place and information, reasonably detailed,
regarding the pertinent facts of such event, as well as the calculation of the adjusted Exercise
Price and the adjusted number of Ordinary Shares or securities, cash or other property thereafter
purchasable upon exercise of this Agreement.
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9. No Dilution or Impairment. The Founder and the Company will not, by amendment of
the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association, or through reorganization, consolidation,
merger, dissolution, sale of assets or any other voluntary action involving the Company, avoid or
seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Agreement, but will at all
times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all such terms and in the taking of all such
action as may be necessary or appropriate in order to protect the rights of the Holder against
dilution or other impairment. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will
not increase the par value of any shares receivable upon exercise of the Purchase Option, and the
Founder at all times will take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order that
the Founder may validly and legally transfer fully paid shares pursuant to this Agreement.
10. No Fractional Shares or Scrip. No fractional shares or scrip representing
fractional shares shall be issued upon the exercise of the Purchase Option, but in lieu of such
fractional shares the Founder shall make a cash payment therefor on the basis of the Exercise
Price then in effect.
11. Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Founder
(a) Sale of Shares. The Founder covenants that the Ordinary Shares, when sold and
delivered pursuant to this Agreement, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable, and free from all taxes and liens with respect thereto.
(b) Covenants as to Exercise of Purchase Option. The Founder covenants that the
Founder will at all times during the Exercise Period, hold a sufficient number of Ordinary Shares
to provide for the exercise of the Purchase Option pursuant to this Agreement.
12. Restrictive Legend. The share certificates for the Ordinary Shares acquired
hereunder (or Series A Preferred Shares converted from such Ordinary Shares) shall be stamped or
imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form (unless registered under the Securities
Act or if the Holder delivers to the Founder an opinion of counsel (who may be an employee of the
Holder) reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Founder, that such shares do not
require registration under the Securities Act or any applicable state securities laws):
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF
1933, AS AMENDED, OR THE LAWS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. THEY MAY NOT BE SOLD,
OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED IN THE ABSENCE OF A REGISTRATION
STATEMENT IN EFFECT WITH RESPECT TO THE SECURITIES UNDER SUCH ACT OR A COMPARABLE
DOCUMENT UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT
SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED OR UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 OF SUCH ACT.
THE OFFERING OF
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THESE SECURITIES HAS NOT BEEN REVIEWED OR APPROVED BY ANY STATE SECURITIES
ADMINISTRATOR.
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO A SHAREHOLDERS
AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF JANUARY 15, 2010, AMONG THE COMPANY AND CERTAIN OF ITS
SHAREHOLDERS, A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE WITH THE COMPANY. NO SALE, ASSIGNMENT,
TRANSFER, PLEDGE, ENCUMBRANCE OR OTHER DISPOSITION OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED
HEREBY SHALL BE EFFECTIVE UNLESS AND UNTIL THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SAID
SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT SHALL HAVE BEEN COMPLIED WITH IN FULL.
Any certificate issued at any time in exchange or substitution for any certificate bearing such
legend (except a new certificate issued upon completion of a public distribution pursuant to a
registration statement under the Securities Act) shall also bear such legend unless, in the opinion
of counsel selected by the Holder (who may be an employee of the Holder) and reasonably acceptable
to the Founder, the securities represented thereby need no longer be subject to restrictions on
resale under the Securities Act.
13. Purchase Option and Shares Transferable
(a) Subject to compliance with the terms and conditions of the Shareholders Agreement
and this Section 13, this Agreement and all rights hereunder are assignable, in whole or in part,
by the Holder. With respect to any assignment of this Agreement or any offer, sale or other
disposition of Ordinary Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of the Purchase Option (or Series
A Preferred Shares converted from such Ordinary Shares) prior to registration of such shares, the
Holder agrees to give written notice to the Founder prior thereto, describing briefly the manner
thereof, together with a written opinion of such holder’s counsel, or other evidence, if reasonably
requested by the Founder, to the effect that such assignment or offer, sale or other disposition
may be effected without registration or qualification (under the Securities Act as then in effect
or any U.S. federal or state or other applicable securities law then in effect) of such shares and
indicating whether or not under the Securities Act certificates for such shares to be sold or
otherwise disposed of require any restrictive legend as to applicable restrictions on
transferability in order to ensure compliance with such law. Upon receiving such written notice and
reasonably satisfactory opinion or other evidence, if so requested, the Founder, as promptly as
practicable, shall notify such Holder that such Holder may assign this Agreement or sell or
otherwise dispose of such shares, all in accordance with the terms of the notice delivered to the
Founder. If a determination has been made pursuant to this Section 13 that the opinion of counsel
for the Holder or other evidence is not reasonably satisfactory to the Founder, the Founder shall
so notify the Holder promptly with details thereof after such determination has been made. Each
certificate representing the shares transferred in accordance with this Section 13 shall bear a
legend as to the applicable restrictions on transferability in order to ensure compliance with such
laws, unless in the aforesaid opinion of counsel for the Holder, such legend is not required in
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order to ensure compliance with such laws. The Company may issue stop transfer instructions
to its transfer agent in connection with such restrictions.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Holder may, at any
time and from time to time, assign this Agreement or transfer any Ordinary Shares acquired
pursuant to the exercise of the Purchase Option (or Series A Preferred Shares converted from such
Ordinary Shares) and all rights hereunder and thereunder, in whole or in part, without charge to
the Holder (except for transfer taxes) to any of the Holder’s shareholders, partners or members by
way of distribution or dividend, or to one or more of the Holder’s Affiliates, so long as any such
Affiliate is controlled exclusively by the entity making such transfer. Any such transfer shall
solely require that the Holder give written notice thereof to the Founder; for greater certainty,
none of the terms and conditions set forth in Section 13(a) shall be applicable to any transfer
governed by this Section 13(b).
14. Rights of Shareholders. The Holder shall not be entitled to vote or receive
dividends or be deemed the holder of the Ordinary Shares (or Series A Preferred Shares converted
from such Ordinary Shares) or any other securities of the Company which may at any time be
transferable on the exercise of the Purchase Option for any purpose, nor shall anything contained
herein be construed to confer upon the Holder, in respect of such shares, any of the rights of a
shareholder of the Company or any right to vote upon any matter submitted to shareholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action (whether upon any
recapitalization, issuance of stock, reclassification of Ordinary Shares or Series A Preferred
Shares, change of par value, consolidation, merger, conveyance, or otherwise) or to receive notice
of meetings, or to receive dividends or subscription rights or otherwise until the Purchase Option
shall have been exercised and the Ordinary Shares purchasable upon the exercise hereof (or Series
A Preferred Shares converted from such Ordinary Shares) shall have become deliverable, as provided
herein.
15. Notices. Any notice required or permitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be
given in writing and shall be given either personally or by sending it by next-day or second-day
courier service, fax, electronic mail or similar means to the address as shown below the signature
of such party on the signature page of this Agreement (or at such other address as such party may
designate by fifteen (15) days’ advance written notice to the other parties given in accordance
with this Section 15). Where a notice is sent by next-day or second-day courier service, service of
the notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing, pre-paying and sending by
next-day or second-day service through an internationally-recognized courier a letter containing
the notice, with a confirmation of delivery, and by two (2) days having passed after the letter
containing the same is sent as aforesaid. Where a notice is sent by fax or electronic mail, service
of the notice shall be deemed to be effected on the same day on which it is properly addressed and
sent through a transmitting organization with a reasonable confirmation of delivery.
16. “Market Stand-Off Agreement. The Holder hereby agrees that, during the period
of time specified by the Company and an underwriter of Ordinary Shares or other securities of
the Company, following the effective date of (i) a registration
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statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act, or (ii) a comparable offering document
filed under the applicable laws and regulations of any foreign governmental authority, it shall
not, to the extent requested by the Company and such underwriter, directly or indirectly sell,
offer to sell, contract to sell (including, without limitation, any short sale), grant any option
to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of (other than to donees who agree to be similarly
bound) any securities of the Company held by it at any time during such period, except Ordinary
Shares included in such registration or offering; provided, however, that:
(a) all officers and directors of the Company, and each Person who holds one percent (1%) or
more of the Company’s outstanding shares, enter into similar agreements;
(b) such market stand-off time period shall not exceed 90 days; and
(c) the foregoing agreement shall not prohibit privately negotiated transfers of Ordinary
Shares (or Series A Preferred Shares converted from such Ordinary Shares) among the Holder and its
Affiliates.
The Holder agrees to provide to the underwriters of any public offering such further agreements as
such underwriters may reasonably request in connection with this market stand-off agreement,
provided that the terms of such agreements are substantially consistent with the provisions of this
Section 16. In order to enforce the foregoing covenant, the Company may impose stop-transfer
instructions with respect to the securities of the Company held by the Holder (and the shares or
securities of every other Person subject to the foregoing restriction) until the end of such
period.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations described in this Section 16 shall not apply to (i)
a registration relating solely to employee benefit plans on Form S-l or Form S-8 or similar forms
which may be promulgated in the future, (ii) a registration relating solely to a transaction under
Rule 145 of the Securities Act, or (iii) any offering which would the equivalent of clause (i) or
(ii) under the applicable laws and regulations of any foreign governmental authority.
17. Change, Waiver, Etc. Neither this Agreement nor any term hereof may be changed,
waived, discharged or terminated orally except by an instrument in writing signed by the party
against which enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought.
18. Remedies. The Founder stipulates that the remedies at law of the Holder in the
event of any default by the Founder in the performance of or compliance with any of the terms of
this Agreement are not and will not be adequate, and that the same may be specifically enforced.
19. Governing Law. This Agreement and all actions arising out of or in connection with
this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Hong Kong,
without regard to the conflicts of law provisions of the Hong Kong.
12
20. Dispute Resolution.
(a) The parties agree to negotiate in good faith to resolve any dispute between them regarding
this Agreement. If the negotiations do not resolve the dispute to the reasonable satisfaction of
both parties, then each party that is a company, shall nominate one (1) authorized officer as its
representative. The parties or their representatives, as the case may be, shall, within thirty (30)
days of a written request by either party to call such a meeting, meet in person and alone (except
for one (1) assistant for each party) and shall attempt in good faith to resolve the dispute. If
the disputes cannot be resolved by such senior managers in such meeting, the parties agree that
they shall, if requested in writing by either party, meet within thirty (30) days after such
written notification for one (1) day with an impartial mediator and consider dispute resolution
alternatives other than formal arbitration. If an alternative method of dispute resolution is not
agreed upon within thirty (30) days after the one (1) day mediation, either party may begin formal
arbitration proceedings to be conducted in accordance with subsection (b) below. This procedure
shall be a prerequisite before taking any additional action hereunder.
(b) In the event the parties are unable to settle a dispute between them regarding this
Agreement in accordance with subsection (a) above, such dispute shall he referred to and finally
settled by arbitration at the HKIAC in accordance with the Hong Kong International Arbitration
Centre Administered Arbitration Rules in effect, which rules are deemed to be incorporated by
reference into this subsection (b), subject to the following: (i) the arbitration tribunal shall
consist of three (3) arbitrators to be appointed according to the Hong Kong International
Arbitration Centre Administered Arbitration Rules; and (ii) the language of the arbitration shall
be English. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or in the Hong Kong International
Arbitration Centre Administered Arbitration Rules or otherwise, the arbitration tribunal shall not
have the power to award injunctive relief or any other equitable remedy of any kind against any
Holder unless such award both (x) is expressly appealable to and subject to de novo review by the
courts of Hong Kong, and (y) would not, if upheld, have the effect of impairing, restricting, or
imposing any conditions on the right or ability of such Holder or its affiliates to conduct its
respective business operations or to make or dispose of any other investment. The prevailing party
shall be entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees, costs and necessary disbursements in addition to
any other relief to which such party may be entitled.
21. Rights and Obligations Survive Exercise of Purchase Option. Unless otherwise
provided herein, the rights and obligations of the Founder, the Company, the Holder and the holder
of the Ordinary Shares issued upon exercise of this Purchase Option (or Series A Preferred Shares
converted from such Ordinary Shares), shall survive any exercise of the Purchase Option.
[Signature page follows]
13
IN WITNESS WHEREOF this Agreement has been signed by the duly authorised representatives of
the parties on the date first written above.
/s/ Sun Xxxx Xxxx | ||||
XXX XXXX XXXX | ||||
Address: Building Xx. 0, 000 Xxxx Xx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx, 000000 Fax: 00-00-0000-0000 |
||||
Signature Page to Option Agreement No. 2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF this Agreement has been signed by the duly authorised
representatives of the parties on the date first written above.
CHINA ENVIRONMENT FUND III, L.P. |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxx Ye | |||
Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxxx Ye | |||
Title: | Authorized Signatory | |||
Address: A2302, XX Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxx 000000 Xxxxx Fax: 00-00-0000-0000 |
||||
Signature Page to Option Agreement No. 2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF this Agreement has been signed by the duly authorised representatives of
the parties on the date first written above.
NOBAO RENEWABLE ENERGY HOLDINGS LIMITED |
||||
By: | /s/ Sun Xxxx Xxxx | |||
Name: | Sun Xxxx Xxxx | |||
Title: | Director | |||
Address: Building Xx. 0, 000 Xxxx Xx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx, 000000 Fax: 00-00-0000-0000 |
||||
Signature Page to Option Agreement No. 2
EXHIBIT A
NOTICE OF EXERCISE
To: | SUN XXXX XXXX Building No. 4, 150 Xxxx Xx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx, 000000 Fax: 00-00-0000-0000 |
2.
The undersigned hereby elects to purchase
Ordinary Shares
(“Ordinary Shares”) pursuant to the terms of the Option Agreement No. 2 dated [January
15, 2010 by and between China Environment Fund III, L.P. and Sun Xxxx
Xxxx () and Nobao
Renewable Energy Holdings Limited (the “Agreement”). Capitalized terms used and not
otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement.
3. The undersigned shall exercise the Purchase Option (i) by means of a cash payment, and
tenders herewith, payment in full for the purchase price of the Ordinary Shares being
purchased, or (ii) by means of a Net Exercise in accordance with the terms of Section 6(b) of
the Agreement, together with all applicable taxes, if any.
4. Please cause the Company to issue a certificate or certificates representing said
Ordinary Shares in the name of the undersigned or in such other name as is specified below:
5. The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the aforesaid Ordinary Shares are
being acquired for the account of the undersigned for investment and not with a view to, or
for resale, in connection with the distribution thereof, and that the undersigned has no
present intention of distributing or reselling such shares.
(Signature) | ||||
(Name) | ||||
(Date) | (Title) | |||