NOTES PURCHASE AGREEMENT by and among ORIGIN AGRITECH LTD. as the Company STATE HARVEST HOLDINGS LIMITED BEIJING ORIGIN STATE HARVEST BIOTECHNOLOGY LIMITED BEIJING ORIGIN SEED LIMITED HENAN ORIGIN COTTON TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LIMITED CHANGCHUN ORIGIN...
EXHIBIT
2.8
by
and
among
as
the
Company
STATE
HARVEST HOLDINGS LIMITED
BEIJING
ORIGIN STATE HARVEST BIOTECHNOLOGY LIMITED
BEIJING
ORIGIN SEED LIMITED
HENAN
ORIGIN COTTON TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LIMITED
CHANGCHUN
ORIGIN SEED TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LIMITED
DENONG
ZHENGCHENG SEED LIMITED
as
the
Subsidiaries
THE
PERSONS LISTED IN SCHEDULE 2
as
the
Consigning Shareholders
HAN
XXXXXXXX
XXXX
YASHENG
XXXX
XXXXX
as
the
Major Shareholders
AND
CITADEL
EQUITY FUND LTD.
as
the
Purchaser
Dated:
July 25, 2007
This
Notes Purchase Agreement (this “Agreement”)
is
dated as of July 25, 2007, by and between Origin Agritech Ltd., a company
organised and existing under the laws of the British Virgin Islands (the
“Company”),
the
other Group Companies listed on the signature pages hereto, the Consigning
Shareholders (as defined below), the Major Shareholders (as defined below)
and
Citadel Equity Fund Ltd. (the “Purchaser”).
WHEREAS,
the Company proposes to issue, and the Purchaser proposes to purchase, the
Company’s Guaranteed Senior Secured Convertible Notes due 2012 in an aggregate
principal amount of US$40,000,000 (the “Note
Purchase Amount”)
upon
the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises contained
herein and for other good and valuable consideration the receipt and adequacy
of
which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Definitions
For
all
purposes of this Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless
the
context otherwise requires the following terms shall have the meanings set
forth
below. Defined terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the
meanings given to such terms in the other Sections of this Agreement or the
Indenture (as defined below).
“Act”
means
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time in effect.
“Affiliate”
of
any
specified Person means:
(a)
|
any
other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by
or under
direct or indirect common control with such specified Person, or
|
(b)
|
any
other Person who is a director or officer
of:
|
(1)
|
such
specified Person,
|
(2)
|
any
Subsidiary of such specified Person,
or
|
(3)
|
any
Person described in clause (a) above.
|
For
the
purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any Person,
means the direct or indirect ownership of in excess of 50% of the equity
interests in such Person or the power to direct the management and policies
of
such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting
securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and
“controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
“Agreement”
has
the
meaning given in the recitals.
“Applicable
Agreements”
has
the
meaning given in Section 6(i).
“Applicable
Law”
means,
with respect to any Person or any property, any statute, rule, regulation,
law
or ordinance, or any judgment, decree or order applicable to such Person or
such
property.
1
“Beijing
Origin”
means
Beijing Origin Seed Limited, 97.96% of the registered capital of which is owned
by Xx. Xxx Gengchen, Xx. Xxxx Yasheng, Xx. Xxxx Xxxxx, Mr. Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xx.
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx and Xx. Xxxx Xxxxxxxx.
“Business
Day”
has
the
meaning given in the Indenture.
“BVI”
means
the British Virgin Islands.
“Capital
Stock”
means,
with respect to any Person, any shares or other equivalents (however designated)
of any class of corporate stock or partnership interests or any other equity
interests, participations, rights, warrants, options or other interests in
the
nature of an equity interest in such Person, including preferred stock, but
excluding any debt security convertible or exchangeable into such equity
interest.
“Changchun
Origin”
means
Changchun Origin Seed Technology Development Limited, a substantially
wholly-owned subsidiary of Beijing Origin, incorporated under the laws of
PRC.
“Charter
Documents”
has
the
meaning given in Section 6(i).
“Clearing
Facilities”
means
Clearstream and Euroclear.
“Clearstream”
means
Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, and any successor thereto.
“Closing”
has
the
meaning given in Section 5.
“Closing
Date”
means
the date of the Closing.
“Collateral
Agents”
means
the Offshore Collateral Agent and the Onshore Collateral Agent.
“Commission”
means
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common
Stock”
means
shares of common stock of the Company, with no par value.
“Company”
has
the
meaning given in the recitals.
“Consigning
Shareholder”
means
any of Xx. Xxx Gengchen, Xx. Xxxx Yasheng and Xx. Xxxx Xxxxx.
“Conversion
Shares”
means
shares of Common Stock issuable under the conversion of the Notes.
“Corporate
Agreements”
means
the agreements listed in Schedule 1 hereto entered into by SHHL, Origin
Biotechnology and the PRC Operating Subsidiaries.
“Denong”
means
Denong Zhengcheng Seed Limited, a substantially wholly-owned subsidiary of
Beijing Origin, incorporated under the laws of PRC.
“Disclosure
Schedule”
has
the
meaning given in Section 6.
“Environmental
Laws”
has
the
meaning given in Section 6(bb).
“Euroclear”
means
Euroclear Bank, S.A./N.V. and any successor thereto.
2
“Exchange
Act”
means
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“FCPA”
has
the
meaning given in Section 6(dd).
“Filing
Agent”
has
the
meaning given in Section 9(j).
“Filing
Statements”
has
the
meaning given in Section 9(j).
“Fully-Diluted”
has
the
meaning given in Section 6(d)(ii).
“GAAP”
has
the
meaning given in Section 6(a)(i).
“Group
Companies”
means
the Company, SHHL, Origin Biotechnology, Beijing Origin, Changchun Origin,
Henan
Origin, Denong and the Company’s other existing and future, direct and indirect,
Subsidiaries.
“Guarantees”
has
the
meaning given in Section 4.
“Guarantor”
has
the
meaning given in Section 4.
“Henan
Origin”
means
Henan Origin Cotton Technology Development Limited, a substantially wholly-owned
subsidiary of Beijing Origin, incorporated under the laws of PRC.
“Indemnified
Party”
has
the
meaning given in Section 10(a).
“Indemnifying
Party”
has
the
meaning given in Section 10(a).
“Indenture”
means
an indenture dated as of the Closing Date by and among the Company, other Group
Companies and the Trustee, a form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit
A.
“Intellectual
Property”
has
the
meaning given in Section 6(q)(i).
“Investor
Rights Agreement”
means
the investor rights agreement dated the Closing Date by and among the Company,
the Major Shareholders and the Purchaser, a form of which is attached hereto
as
Exhibit
B.
“Lien”
means
a
mortgage, charge, pledge, lien, hypothecation or other security interest
securing any obligation of any person or any other agreement or arrangement
having a similar effect.
“Major
Shareholder”
means
any of Xx. Xxx Genchen, Xx. Xxxx Yasheng and Xx. Xxxx Xxxxx.
“Material
Adverse Change”
has
the
meaning given in Section 6(s)(ii).
“Material
Adverse Effect”
means
a
material adverse effect on:
(a) the
business, operations, property, earnings, assets, regulatory status, liabilities
or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Group Companies taken as a
whole;
(b) the
ability of the Group Companies or any Consigning Shareholder to perform its
material obligations under the Transaction Documents; or
3
(c) the
validity or enforceability of the Transaction Documents or the rights and
remedies of any holder of the Notes under the Notes.
“Money
Laundering Laws”
has
the
meaning given in Section 6(jj).
“Most
Recent Balance Sheet”
has
the
meaning given in Section 6(s)(iii).
“Non-Competition
Agreements”
means
(i) a non-competition agreement dated as of the Closing Date between Xx. Xxx
Gengchen and the Company, (ii) a non-competition agreement dated as of the
Closing Date between Xx. Xxxx Yasheng and the Company, and (iii) a
non-competition agreement dated as of the Closing Date between Xx. Xxxx Xxxxx
and the Company, a form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit
C.
“Notes”
has
the
meaning given in Section 3.
“Note
Purchase Amount”
has
the
meaning given in the recitals.
“OFAC”
has
the
meaning given in Section 6(kk).
“Offshore
Collateral Agent”
means
The
Bank of New York, acting as collateral agent under the Offshore Share
Charge.
“Offshore
Share Charge”
means
a
share charge dated as of the Closing Date by and between the Company and the
Offshore Collateral Agent, a form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit
D.
“Onshore
Equity Pledge Agreement”
means
(i) the Origin Biotechnology Equity Pledge Agreement and (ii) the PRC Operating
Subsidiaries Equity Pledge Agreements.
“Origin
Biotechnology”
means
Beijing Origin State Harvest Biotechnology Limited, a PRC limited liability
company and a wholly foreign-owned subsidiary of SHHL.
“Origin
Biotechnology Equity Pledge Agreement”
means
the equity pledge agreement dated as of the Closing Date among SHHL and the
Onshore Collateral Agent subject to the undertakings and conditions set forth
in
Section 7(o), pursuant
to which a perfected first-priority Lien on all of the equity interests of
Origin Biotechnology will be pledged,
a form
of which is attached hereto as Exhibit
F.
“Outside
Financing”
has
the
meaning given in Section 7(l).
“Permits”
has
the
meaning given in Section 6(n).
“Person”
means
any individual, corporation, company (including any limited liability company),
association, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization,
government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other
entity.
“PFIC”
has
the
meaning given in Section 6(ii).
“PRC”
means
the People’s Republic of China, not including Taiwan, Hong Kong and
Macau.
“PRC
Operating Subsidiaries”
means
Beijing Origin, Henan Origin, Changchun Origin and Denong.
4
“PRC
Operating Subsidiaries Equity Pledge Agreements”
means
(i) the share pledge agreement to be entered into by and among Origin
Biotechnology, Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx and Xxxx Xxxxxxxx with regard to shares in Beijing Origin, (ii) the
equity pledge agreement to be entered into by and among Origin Biotechnology,
Beijing Origin and Xxx Xxxxxxxx with regard to equity interests in Changchun
Origin, (iii) the equity pledge agreement to be entered into by and among Origin
Biotechnology, Beijing Origin, Zhang Yingli and Yang Yasheng with regard to
equity interests in Henan Origin and (iv) the equity pledge agreement to be
entered into by and among Origin Biotechnology and Beijing Origin with regard
to
equity interests in Denong, subject in each case to the undertakings and
conditions set forth in Section 7(o), pursuant
to which a perfected first-priority Lien on all of the equity interests of
the
PRC Operating Subsidiaries will be pledged for the benefit of Origin
Biotechnology, forms of which are attached hereto as Exhibit
G.
“PRC
Subsidiaries”
means
Origin Biotechnology, Beijing Origin, Henan Origin, Changchun Origin and
Denong.
“Proceedings”
has
the
meaning given in Section 6(m).
“Proposal”
has
the
meaning given in Section 7(aa).
“Purchaser”
has
the
meaning given in the recitals.
“Registration
Rights Agreement”
means
a
registration rights agreement dated as of the Closing Date between the Company,
SHHL and the Purchaser, a form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit
E.
“Regulation
S”
has the
meaning given in Section 3(a).
“SEC
Reports”
has
the
meaning given in Section 6(a)(i).
“Securities”
means,
collectively, the Notes, the Conversion Shares and the Guarantees.
“Security
Documents”
means
the Offshore Share Charge and the Onshore Equity Pledge Agreements.
“SHHL”
means
State Harvest Holdings Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company, a
company organized and existing under the laws of the British Virgin
Islands.
“Subsidiary”
means,
(i) in respect of any Person, any corporation, company (including any limited
liability company), association, partnership, joint venture or other business
entity of which at least a majority of the total voting power of the voting
stock is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly,
by:
(a) such
Person,
(b) such
Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or
(c) one
or
more Subsidiaries of such Person,
and
(ii)
in respect of the Company, any corporation, company (including any limited
liability company), association, partnership, joint venture or other business
entity from time to time organized and existing under the laws of the PRC whose
financial reporting is consolidated with the Company in any audited financial
statements filed by the Company with the Commission in accordance with the
Exchange Act.
5
“Tax”
has
the
meaning given in Section 6(p).
“Trading
Market”
has
the
meaning given in Section 5.
“Transaction
Documents”
means
this Agreement, the Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees, the Investor Rights
Agreement, the Non-Competition Agreements, the Registration Rights Agreement,
the Offshore Share Charge, the Onshore Equity Pledge Agreements or any of them
as the context may so require.
“Trustee”
means
The Bank of New York, acting as trustee under the Indenture.
“US$”
means
the lawful currency of the United States from time to time.
2. Rules
of Construction.
Unless
the context otherwise requires:
(a) a
term
has the meaning assigned to it;
(b) “or”
is
not exclusive;
(c) words
in
the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the
singular;
(d) all
references in this Agreement to “Sections”, “Exhibits” and other subdivisions
are to the designated Sections, Exhibits and subdivisions of this Agreement
as
originally executed;
(e) a
reference to any person is, where relevant, deemed to be a reference to or
to
include, as appropriate, that person’s successors and permitted assignees or
transferees;
(f) a
reference to (or to any specified provision of) any agreement or document
(including any Transaction Document) is to be construed as a reference to that
agreement or document as it may be amended from time to time;
(g) the
words
“herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to
this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Section or other
subdivision.
(h) “including”
means “including without limitation;”
(i) provisions
apply to successive events and transactions; and
(j) references
to a statute or statutory provision are to be construed as a reference to that
statute or statutory provision as it may be amended from time to
time.
3. Issuance
of Notes.
Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company will, on the Closing
Date, (i) issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser will purchase
from
the Company, the Company’s 400 Guaranteed Senior Secured Convertible Notes due
2012 (the “Notes”)
of
US$100,000 principal amount each, representing an aggregate principal amount
of
US$40,000,000, convertible into shares of Common Stock at an initial conversion
price of US$11.50 per share, and (ii) cause the Guarantors to issue the
Guarantees.
6
The
Notes
will be issued pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture. The Notes will
be
offered and sold to the Purchaser pursuant to Regulation S (“Regulation
S”)
or
other exemption from the registration requirements under the Act. Upon original
issuance thereof, and until such time as the same is no longer required under
the applicable requirements of the Act, the Notes and the Conversion Shares
shall bear the legends relating to the offer and sale of the Notes and the
Conversion Shares as required by (i) Regulation S under the Act or (ii) any
other applicable laws or regulations relating to the issuance of the
Notes.
4. Guarantees
and Pledges.
Pursuant
to the Indenture and to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Laws, SHHL
and, subject always to Section 4.18 of the Indenture, all of the Company’s other
existing and future direct and indirect Subsidiaries (each, a “Guarantor”)
shall
irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee, on a senior secured basis, to the
Purchaser and to the Trustee the payment and performance of the Company’s
obligations under the Transaction Documents (collectively, the “Guarantees”).
The
Notes
and the Guarantees will be secured by (i) subject to the completion of the
registrations set forth in Section 7(n), a perfected first-priority Lien on
all
of the equity interests owned by the Company in SHHL pursuant to the Offshore
Share Charge and (ii) subject to the completion of the undertakings and
conditions set forth in Section 7(o), a perfected first-priority Lien on all
of
the equity interests of Origin Biotechnology pursuant to the Origin
Biotechnology Equity Pledge Agreement.
5. Purchase,
Sale and Delivery.
Subject
to the satisfaction or waiver of all the conditions to closing set forth in
Section 9, the issue and sale to the Purchaser of the Notes shall occur at
the
Hong Kong office of Milbank, Tweed, Xxxxxx & XxXxxx LLP, on or about 9:30
a.m., New York time, at a closing (the “Closing”)
on
July 25, 2007 or on such other time or Business Day on or prior to July 31,
2007
as may be agreed upon by the Company and the Purchaser. At the Closing, the
Company shall deliver to the Purchaser one or more global certificates
representing the Notes, registered in such names and denominations as the
Purchaser may request, against payment by the Purchaser of the Note Purchase
Amount as the purchase price therefor by bank wire transfer of immediately
available federal funds to such bank account or accounts as the Company shall
have beforehand designated to the Purchaser. The Notes will be represented
by
one or more global certificates in book-entry form and will be deposited on
the
Closing Date, by or on behalf of the Company, with the Trustee as common
depositary for Clearstream and Euroclear, or its designated custodian, and
registered in the name of the Trustee. The Common Stock is traded on the NASDAQ
Global Market (the “Trading
Market”).
6. Representations
and Warranties of the Group Companies and the Major
Shareholders.
Except
as set forth in (i) the Disclosure Schedule to be made part of this Agreement
upon delivery thereof to the Purchaser on or prior to the Closing (“Disclosure
Schedule”)
and
(ii) the SEC Reports filed by the Company prior to the Closing Date, which
exceptions shall be deemed part of the representations and warranties made
hereunder, each of the Group Companies and the Major Shareholders and, with
respect to Sections 6(b)(i), (b)(ii), (k)(ii), (kk)(vii) and (kk)(viii) only,
the Consigning Shareholders, jointly and severally, represents and warrants
to
the Purchaser the following as of the date of this Agreement, and such
representations and warranties shall be deemed to be made as of the Closing
Date
(if different from the date of this Agreement), provided
that
each representation or warranty deemed to be made after the date of this
Agreement shall be deemed to be made by reference to the facts and circumstances
existing at the date on which such representation or warranty is deemed to
be
made (except that, for the avoidance of doubt, any representation or warranty
that is expressed to be made by reference to the facts and circumstances
existing as at a specific date shall be made by reference to the facts and
circumstances existing as at such specific date):
(a)
|
SEC
Reports; Financial Statements.
|
7
(i)
Except
as
set forth on Schedule 6(a)(i) of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company has filed
all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be
filed by it under the Act and the Exchange Act (the foregoing materials,
including the exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein,
being collectively referred to herein as the “SEC
Reports”)
on a
timely basis or has received a valid extension of such time of filing and has
filed any such SEC Reports prior to the expiration of any such extension on
a
timely basis, except where the failure to file, or receive a valid extension
of
the timing of filing for, any SEC Reports would not be reasonably expected
to
have a Material Adverse Effect, and to the Company’s best knowledge after due
inquiry, no disciplinary actions or proceedings have been initiated against
the
Company and no such actions are threatened, except where such actions or
proceedings or the threat to undertake any such actions or proceedings would
not
be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. As of the date of
filing, in the case of SEC Reports filed pursuant to the Exchange Act, including
pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) thereof, for the twenty-four months preceding
the date hereof (or such shorter period as the Company was required by law
to
file such reports, forms or other information) (and to the extent any such
SEC
Report was amended, then as of the date of filing of such amendment), and as
of
the date of effectiveness in the case of SEC Reports filed pursuant to the
Act
(and to the extent any such SEC Report was amended, then as of the date of
effectiveness of such amendment), the SEC Reports complied in all material
respects with the requirements of the Act and the Exchange Act and the rules
and
regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, as applicable, and none
of
the SEC Reports, as of the date of filing, in the case of SEC Reports filed
pursuant to the Exchange Act (and to the extent any such SEC Report was amended,
then as to the date of filing of such amendment), and as of the date of
effectiveness in the case of SEC Reports filed pursuant to the Act (and to
the
extent any such SEC Report was amended, then as of the date of effectiveness of
such amendment), contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted
to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
they
were made, not misleading. The financial statements of the Company included
in
the SEC Reports have been prepared in accordance with the applicable accounting
requirements and the rules and regulations of the Commission with respect
thereto as in effect at the time of filing. Such financial statements have
been
prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting
principles applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved
(“GAAP”),
except as may be otherwise specified in such financial statements or the notes
thereto and except that unaudited financial statements may not contain all
footnotes required by GAAP. Such financial statements fairly present in all
material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows
of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of and for the dates thereof
and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended,
subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to customary audit-related
adjustments. All other financial, statistical, and market and industry-related
data included in the SEC Reports are based on or derived from sources that
the
Company reasonably believes to be reliable and accurate. For the purposes of
this Agreement, the term “filed” (or any derivations thereof) includes filing,
furnishing or otherwise providing any reports, forms or other information
provided to the Commission.
(ii)
Except
as
set forth on Schedule 6(a)(ii) of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company has
not,
in the 12 months preceding the date hereof, received notice from the Trading
Market to the effect that the Company is not in compliance with the requirements
of the Trading Market, and to the Company’s best knowledge after due inquiry, no
disciplinary actions or proceedings have been initiated against the Company
and
no such actions are threatened. The Company is, and upon consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby reasonably expects to be, in compliance with
all of the listing requirements of the Trading Market.
8
(b)
|
Ownership
of Shares of Subsidiaries;
Affiliates.
|
(i)
Schedule
6(b)(i) of the Disclosure Schedule contains complete and correct lists of each
Person (x) in which the Company owns, directly or indirectly, any Capital Stock
or similar equity interests, showing, as to each Subsidiary (other than the
PRC
Operating Subsidiaries), the correct name thereof, the jurisdiction of its
organization, and the percentage of shares of each class of its Capital Stock
or
similar equity interests outstanding owned by the Company and each other
Subsidiary and (y) in which Beijing Origin and the Consigning Shareholders
own,
directly or indirectly, any Capital Stock or similar equity interests showing,
as to each PRC Operating Subsidiary, the correct name thereof, the jurisdiction
of its organization, and the percentage of shares of each class of its Capital
Stock or similar equity interests outstanding owned by Beijing Origin and the
Consigning Shareholders.
(ii)
All
of
the outstanding shares of Capital Stock or similar equity interests of each
Subsidiary shown in Schedule 6(b)(i) of the Disclosure Schedule as being owned
by (x) the Company and its Subsidiaries or (y) Beijing Origin and the Consigning
Shareholders have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and
are
owned by the Company, another Subsidiary, Beijing Origin or one or more
Controlling Shareholders (as the case may be) free and clear of any
Lien.
(iii)
Except
as
disclosed in Schedule 6(b)(iii) of the Disclosure Schedule, no Subsidiary is
a
party to, or otherwise subject to any legal or regulatory restriction or any
agreement (other than this Agreement) restricting the ability of such Subsidiary
to pay dividends out of profits or make any other similar distributions of
profits to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that owns outstanding shares
of Capital Stock or similar equity interests of such Subsidiary, except where
such legal or regulatory restriction or any agreement would not, individually
or
in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Organization.
Except
as disclosed in Schedule 6(c) of the Disclosure Schedule, each of the Group
Companies (i) has been duly organized, is validly existing and is in good
standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, (ii) has all
requisite power and authority to carry on its business and to own, lease and
operate its properties and assets, and (iii) is duly qualified or licensed
to do
business and is in good standing as a domestic or foreign corporation or limited
liability company, as the case may be, authorized to do business in each
jurisdiction in which the nature of such business or the ownership or leasing
of
such properties requires such qualification, except where, for the purposes
of
(ii) or (iii) only, the failure to have all such requisite power and authority
or to be so duly qualified or licensed does not, and would not, individually
or
in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
The
constitutional documents and certificates of each of the PRC Subsidiaries are
valid and have been duly approved or registered (as applicable) by competent
PRC
Governmental Authorities.
(d) Capitalization
and Voting Rights.
(i)
Capital
Stock.
All of
the outstanding shares of Capital Stock or similar equity interests of the
Company have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, and are
free and clear of any Lien.
(ii)
Issued
and Issuable Shares.
Except
as set forth on Schedule 6(d)(ii) of the Disclosure Schedule, as at the date
hereof and immediately prior to the Closing, there is no Capital Stock issued
or
issuable pursuant to any exercise, conversion, exchange, subscription or
otherwise in connection with any warrants, options (including pursuant to the
Company’s stock option plan), convertible securities or any agreement to sell or
issue Capital Stock or securities which may be exercised, converted or exchanged
for Capital Stock, other than the shares of the Company’s common stock to be
issued upon the conversion of the Notes (collectively, “Fully-Diluted”).
Prior
to the Closing Date, the Conversion Shares issuable upon conversion of the
Notes
have been duly reserved for issuance, which will constitute 12.91% of the
Company’s Capital Stock on a Fully Diluted basis as of the Closing Date. When
duly issued upon conversion of the Notes in accordance with the terms of the
Notes, the Conversion Shares will have been validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable, and the issuance of the Conversion Shares will not be subject
to
any preemptive or similar right. Except as set forth on Schedule 6(d)(ii),
all
of the issued and outstanding shares of each of the Group Company’s Capital
Stock as of the Closing are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable, were issued in accordance with the registration or qualification
provisions of the Act, if applicable, and any relevant “blue sky” laws of the
United States, if applicable, or pursuant to valid exemptions therefrom and
were
issued in compliance with other applicable laws (including, without limitation,
applicable PRC or BVI laws, rules and regulations) and are not subject to any
rescission right or put right on the part of the holder thereof nor does any
holder thereof have the right to require the Company to repurchase such Capital
Stock.
9
(iii)
Voting
and Other Agreements.
Except
as set forth on Schedule 6(d)(iii) of the Disclosure Schedule, as at the date
hereof and immediately prior to the Closing, there are no outstanding (A)
options, warrants or other rights to purchase from any Group Company, (B)
agreements, contracts, arrangements or other obligations of any Group Company
to
issue, or (C) other rights to convert any obligation into or exchange any
securities for, in the case of each of clauses (A) through (C), shares of
Capital Stock of, or other ownership or equity interests in, any Group Company.
Except as set forth on Schedule 6(d)(iii) of the Disclosure Schedule, the
Company is not a party or subject to any agreement or understanding and there
is
no agreement or understanding with any Person that affects or relates to (x)
the
voting or giving of written consents with respect to any security of the Company
(including, without limitation, any voting agreements, voting trust agreements,
shareholder agreements or similar agreements) or the voting by a director of
the
Company, (y) the sale, transfer or other disposition with respect to any
security of the Company or (z) any restrictions with respect to the issuance
or
sale of the Notes or the consummation of the transactions contemplated under
the
Transaction Documents, or any provisions that would adversely affect the
interests of the holders of the Notes or the consummation of the transactions
contemplated under the Transaction Documents, including without limitation
any
right of first refusal or right to be consulted or to make a comparable offer
with respect to the Notes, held by any security holder, creditor or anyone
who
holds similar rights in the Company (other than the holders of the
Notes).
(e) No
Registration Rights.
Except
as set forth on Schedule 6(e) of the Disclosure Schedule, no holder of
securities of any of the Group Companies is or will be entitled to have any
registration rights with respect to such securities.
(f) Authorization.
(i)
Each of the Group Companies has all requisite corporate power and authority
to
execute, deliver and perform its obligations under each of the Transaction
Documents to which it is a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated
thereby, (ii) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
by
the Group Companies and the Consigning Shareholders, and (iii) each of the
Transaction Documents has been duly authorized and when executed and delivered
by the Group Companies and the Consigning Shareholders (to the extent they
are
parties thereto) shall constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of
each
of the Group Companies and the Consigning Shareholders (to the extent they
are
parties thereto) enforceable against the Group Companies and the Consigning
Shareholders (to the extent they are parties thereto) in accordance with its
terms, except as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of
creditors’ rights generally.
10
(g) Valid
Issuance of Notes and the Guarantees.
The
Notes, when issued, sold and delivered in accordance with the terms thereof
and
for the consideration set forth herein, will be free of restrictions on
transfer, other than restrictions on transfer under applicable state and federal
securities laws. Assuming the accuracy of the Purchaser’s representations in
Section 8 below, the Notes will be issued in compliance with applicable state
and federal securities laws. The Guarantees have been duly authorized, and,
when
the Notes have been duly executed, authenticated and issued in accordance with
the provisions of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Purchaser
with the Guarantees endorsed thereon by the Guarantors, will constitute the
legal, valid and binding obligations of each Guarantor entitled to the benefits
of the Indenture.
(h) Valid
Issuance of Conversion Shares.
The
conversion rights attached to the Notes, when the Notes are issued on the
Closing Date, will provide for the right to convert the Notes into up to
3,478,260 shares of Common Stock of the Company (subject to subdivision or
consolidation thereof) as of the Closing Date (as calculated immediately
following the Closing and assuming the conversion of all the Notes). The
Conversion Shares have been duly and validly reserved for issuance by the
Company, and when issued pursuant to the terms of the Notes and the Indenture,
will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, not subject to any
preemptive or similar rights, free from all taxes, Liens, charges and security
interests with respect to the issuance thereof and free of restrictions on
transfer other than as expressly contemplated by the Transaction
Documents.
(i) Compliance
with Instruments.
None of
the Group Companies is (i) in violation of its respective articles of
incorporation, certificate of incorporation, by-laws or other organizational
documents (the “Charter
Documents”)
or
(ii) in default in the performance or observance of any material obligation,
material agreement or material instrument to which such Group Company is bound
(collectively, “Applicable
Agreements”),
except in the case of clause (ii), to the extent such default would not have
a
Material Adverse Effect.
(j) No
Conflicts.
Neither
the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement, any other Transaction
Document nor the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated herein
or
therein will conflict with, violate, constitute a breach of or a default (with
the passage of time or otherwise) under, require the consent of any Person
or a
Governmental Authority (other than consents already obtained) or result in
the
imposition of a Lien (other than a Lien arising under the Security Documents
and
the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents) on any assets of
any
of the Group Companies under or pursuant to (i) the Charter Documents, (ii)
any
Applicable Agreement, or (iii) any Applicable Law. Except as disclosed in
Schedule 6(j) of the Disclosure Schedule, immediately following consummation
of
the transactions contemplated in the Transaction Documents, no default will
exist under the Indenture.
(k) Security
Interests.
When
executed and delivered, the Offshore Share Charge will create valid and
enforceable first-priority security interests in favor of the Offshore
Collateral Agent in all the Charged Shares (as defined therein), which security
interests will secure the repayment of the Notes and the other obligations
purported to be secured thereby and, upon entry
in
the share register of SHHL pursuant to section 66(8) of the BVI Business
Companies Act, 2004 (British Virgin Islands) of the details of the Offshore
Share Charge and submission of SHHL’s share register for registration by the
Registrar of Corporate Affairs pursuant to section 231 of the BVI Business
Companies Act, 2004 (British Virgin Islands),
such
security interests will be perfected. Except
as
disclosed in Schedule 6(k) of the Disclosure Schedule, when
executed and delivered and subject to the approval by and filing with the
relevant Governmental Authority, (i) the Origin Biotechnology Equity Pledge
Agreement will create valid and enforceable first-priority security interests
in
favor of the collateral agent appointed thereunder in all the equity interest
in
Origin Biotechnology which security interest will secure the repayment of the
Notes and the other obligations purported to be secured thereby and (ii) the
PRC
Operating Subsidiaries Equity Pledge Agreements will create a valid and
enforceable first-priority security interest in favor of Origin Biotechnology
in
all the equity interest in the PRC Operating Subsidiaries.
11
(l) Governmental
Filings.
Except
as set forth in Schedule 6(l) of the Disclosure Schedule, no filing with,
consent, approval, authorization or order of, any Governmental Authority is
required to be made by any of the Group Companies for the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, except (i) as have
been
made or obtained prior to the date of this Agreement or obtained after the
Closing in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Documents, (ii) as
may
be necessary to perfect security interest granted pursuant to the Security
Documents (and for the avoidance of doubt, the security interest granted under
the Offshore Share Charge shall be perfected as described in Section 6(k) above)
and (iii) as may be required under the Act or state securities or “blue sky”
laws and (iv) the failure to make any such filing would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(m) Proceedings.
Except
as set forth in Schedule 6(m) of the Disclosure Schedule, there is no action,
claim, suit, demand, hearing, notice of violation or deficiency, or proceeding,
domestic or foreign (collectively, “Proceedings”),
pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company after due inquiry, threatened,
that seeks to restrain, enjoin, prevent the consummation of, or otherwise
challenges any of the Transaction Documents or any of the transactions
contemplated therein, except where such Proceedings do not, and would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(n) Permits.
Except
as set forth in Schedule 6(n) of the Disclosure Schedule, each of the Group
Companies possesses all material licenses, permits, certificates, consents,
orders, approvals and other authorizations from, and has made all declarations
and filings with, all Governmental Authorities, presently required or necessary
to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate their respective properties
and to carry on their respective businesses as now conducted (“Permits”)
except
where, the failure to obtain such licenses, permits, certificates, consents,
orders, approvals and other authorizations does not, and would not, individually
or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. All of the Permits are
valid and in full force and effect except where the failure to maintain such
Permits would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect. Each of the Group Companies has fulfilled and performed all of its
respective obligations with respect to such Permits and no event has occurred
which allows, or after notice or lapse of time could allow, revocation or
termination thereof or result in any other material impairment of the rights
of
the holder of any such Permit. None of the Group Companies has received actual
notice of any Proceeding relating to revocation or modification of any such
Permit.
(o) Title
to Property.
Except
as set forth in Schedule 6(o) of the Disclosure Schedule, each of the Group
Companies has good and marketable title to all real property and personal
property owned by it that is material to their respective businesses, in each
case free and clear of any Liens as of the Closing Date, except such Liens
as
permitted under the Transaction Documents. For real property not owned by any
of
the Group Companies and currently used or planned to be used for the business
operations of the Group Companies, each of such Group Companies has good and
marketable title to all leasehold estates in real and personal property being
leased by it that is material to their respective businesses and, in each case
free and clear of all Liens as of the Closing Date.
12
(p) Taxes.
All Tax
returns required to be filed by each of the Group Companies have been filed
(taking into account all extensions of due dates), and all such returns are
true, complete and correct in all material respects. All Taxes that are due
from
each of the Group Companies have been paid other than those (i) currently
payable without penalty or interest or (ii) being diligently contested in good
faith and by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been
established in accordance with GAAP. To the best knowledge of the Company after
due inquiry, there are no proposed Tax assessments against any of the Group
Companies. The accruals and reserves on the books and records of each of Group
Companies in respect of any Tax liability for any Taxable period not finally
determined are adequate to meet any assessments of Tax for any such period.
For
purposes of this Agreement, the term “Tax”
and
“Taxes”
shall
mean all federal, state, national, provincial, local and foreign taxes, and
other assessments of a similar nature (whether imposed directly or through
withholding), including any interest, additions to tax, or penalties applicable
thereto.
(q) Intellectual
Property.
(i) The
Group
Companies own, possess or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate trademarks,
trade names and other rights to inventions, know-how, patents, copyrights,
confidential information and other intellectual property
(collectively, “Intellectual
Property”)
necessary
to conduct the business now operated by them, and, except as disclosed in
Schedule 6(r) of the Disclosure Schedule, have not received any notice of
infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to
any
Intellectual Property that, if determined adversely to the relevant Group
Company, would individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ii) No
Intellectual Property owned by any Group Company is the subject of any Lien,
license or other contract granting rights or security interest therein to any
other Person, except for Liens, licenses or other contracts granting rights
or
security interest that were entered into in the ordinary course of business
of
the Group Companies or that do not materially interfere with the use made and
proposed to be made of such Intellectual Property by any Group
Company.
(r) Internal
Controls.
Each of
the Group Companies maintains a system of internal accounting controls
sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are
executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (ii)
transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial
statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability, (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 existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action
is taken with respect to any material differences.
(s) Financial
Statements; No Undisclosed Liabilities.
(i) Subsequent
to the date of the Company’s audited financial statements filed for the
transition period from January 1, 2006 to September 30, 2006, except as
disclosed therein or in any subsequent SEC Report, (A) none of the Group
Companies has incurred any liabilities, direct or contingent, that are material,
individually or in the aggregate, to such Group Company, or has entered into
any
material transactions not in the ordinary course of business, (B) there has
not
been any material decrease in the Capital Stock or any material increase in
long-term indebtedness or any material increase in short-term indebtedness
of
the Group Companies, or any payment of or declaration to pay any dividends
or
any other distribution with respect to the Group Companies, and (C) there has
not been any material adverse change in the properties, business, operations,
regulatory status, earnings, assets, liabilities or condition (financial or
otherwise) of the Group Companies taken as a whole; excluding any changes caused
by (x) the condition of the industry of the Company that do not
disproportionately affect the Company, (y) the failure of the Company to meet
its financial projections or (z) the execution and delivery of this Agreement
and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (each of clauses (A),
(B) and (C), a “Material
Adverse Change”).
To
the best knowledge of the Company after due inquiry, there is no event that
is
reasonably likely to occur in the foreseeable future, which if it were to occur,
could, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Change.
13
(ii) Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph (ii), the Company has no
liabilities or obligations (whether actual, accrued, absolute, fixed,
contingent, liquidated, unliquidated or otherwise, and whether due or to become
due), except for (i) liabilities or obligations shown on the balance sheet
as of
September 30, 2006 (the “Most
Recent Balance Sheet”),
(ii)
liabilities under any agreements, contracts, commitments, licenses or leases
which have arisen prior to the date of the Most Recent Balance Sheet and which
are not required to be reflected in a balance sheet, or the notes thereto,
prepared in accordance with GAAP (none of which relates to a breach of contract,
breach of warranty, tort, infringement, environmental, health or safety matter,
violation of Applicable Laws or proceeding brought by Governmental Authorities),
(iii) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business since September
30, 2006 (none of which relates to a breach of contract, breach of warranty,
tort, infringement, environmental, health or safety matter, violation of Law
or
proceeding brought by Governmental Authorities) and/or (iv) other liabilities
that are, individually and in the aggregate, immaterial.
(t) Debt.
All
Debt represented by the Notes and the Guarantees is being incurred for proper
purposes and in good faith. Based on the financial condition of the Company
as
of the Closing Date after giving effect to the receipt by the Company of the
proceeds from the sale of the Securities hereunder, (i) the fair saleable value
of the Group Companies’ assets exceeds the amount that will be required to be
paid on or in respect of the Group Companies’ existing Debts and other
liabilities (including contingent liabilities) as they mature; (ii) the present
fair saleable value of the assets of the Group Companies is greater than the
amount that will be required to pay the probable liabilities of the Group
Companies on their respective Debt as they become absolute and mature; (iii)
the
Group Companies are able to realize upon their assets and pay their Debt and
other liabilities (including contingent obligations) as they mature; (iv) the
Group Companies’ assets do not constitute unreasonably small capital to carry on
their respective businesses as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted
including their respective capital needs taking into account the particular
capital requirements of the business conducted by the Group Companies, and
projected capital requirements and capital availability thereof; and (v) the
current cash flow of each of the Group Companies, together with the proceeds
the
Company would receive, were it to liquidate all of its assets, after taking
into
account all anticipated uses of the cash, would be sufficient to pay all amounts
on or in respect of its liabilities when such amounts are required to be paid.
None of the Group Companies intends to incur Debt beyond its ability to pay
such
Debt as they mature (taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to
be
payable on or in respect of its Debt). The Company has no knowledge of any
facts
or circumstances which lead it to believe that it or any other Group Companies
will file for reorganization or liquidation under the bankruptcy or
reorganization laws of any jurisdiction within one year from the Closing Date.
Except as set forth in Schedule 6(t) of the Disclosure Schedule, none of the
Group Companies has agreed or consented to cause or permit in the future (upon
the happening of a contingency or otherwise) any of its property, whether now
owned or hereafter acquired, to be subject to a Lien (other than, in the case
of
any PRC Operating Subsidiary, Liens over property securing an amount less than
US$15,000,000). Except as set forth in Schedule 6(t) of the Disclosure Schedule,
none of the Group Companies is a party to, or otherwise subject to any provision
contained in, any instrument evidencing Debt of any of the Group Companies,
any
agreement relating thereto or any other agreement (including, but not limited
to, its charter or other organizational document) which limits the amount of,
or
otherwise imposes restrictions on the incurring of, Debt of the Company (other
than, in the case of any PRC Operating Subsidiary, restrictions on the
incurrence of Debt where the minimum threshold amount of such restriction is
in
excess of US$15,000,000).
14
(u) No
Stabilization.
Except
as otherwise set forth in Schedule 6(t) of the Disclosure Schedule, none of
the
Group Companies has and, to each of its best knowledge after due inquiry, no
one
acting on its behalf has, (i) taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed
to cause or to result in, or that has constituted or which might reasonably
be
expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any
security of any of the Group Companies to facilitate the sale or resale of
any
of the Securities, (ii) sold, bid for, purchased, or paid anyone any
compensation for soliciting purchases of, the Notes, or (iii) paid or agreed
to
pay to any person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other
securities of the Group Companies.
(v) No
Sale to the U.S.
None of
the Group Companies, their respective Affiliates, or any person acting on its
or
their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made offers or sales of any security,
or solicited offers to buy, sell or offer to sell or otherwise negotiate in
respect of, in the United States or to any United States citizen or resident,
any security which is or would be integrated with the sale of the Securities
in
a manner or under circumstances that would require the registration of the
Securities under the Act.
(w) No
Directed Selling Efforts.
None of
the Group Companies, their respective Affiliates, or any person acting on its
or
their behalf (other than the Purchaser, its Affiliates or persons acting on
its
behalf, as to whom the Company makes no representation) has engaged in any
directed selling efforts (within the meaning of Regulation S) with respect
to
the Securities; and each of the Company, its Subsidiaries, their respective
Affiliates and each person acting on its or their behalf has complied with
the
offering restrictions requirement of Regulation S.
(x) No
Registration.
Assuming the accuracy of the Purchaser’s representations and warranties set
forth in Section 8, no registration under the Act of the Securities is required
for the offer and sale of the Securities in the manner contemplated herein
or to
qualify the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended.
(y) Eligibility.
The
Notes satisfy the eligibility requirements of Rule 144A(d)(3) under the
Act.
(z) Labor
Matters.
There
is no strike or other labor dispute involving any of the Group
Companies pending
or threatened, which could, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect. There is no employment related charge, complaint, grievance,
investigation, unfair labor practice claim or inquiry of any kind, pending
against any of the Group
Companies that
could, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(aa) Brokers
and Finders.
The
Company has not engaged any broker, finder, commission agent or other similar
person in connection with the transactions contemplated under the Transaction
Documents, and the Company is not under any obligation to pay any broker’s fee
or commission in connection with such transactions.
(bb) Environmental
Matters.
Each of
the Group Companies (i) is in compliance with any and all currently applicable
foreign, federal, state, national, provincial, and local laws and regulations
relating to the protection of the environment or hazardous or toxic substances
or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental
Laws”)
in all
material respects, (ii) has received and is in compliance with all permits,
licenses or other approvals required of it under applicable Environmental Laws
that are material to the conduct of its business, (iii) has not received actual
notice of any actual or potential liability for the investigation or remediation
of any disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes,
pollutants or contaminants, (iv) none of the Group Companies has knowledge
of
any facts which would give rise to any Proceedings, public or private, against
it or any violation of Environmental Laws arising out of the operations of
the
Group Companies, except, in each case, such as would not reasonably be expected
to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and (v) none of the Group Companies
has
stored any hazardous materials on real properties now or formerly owned, leased
or operated by any of them, and has not disposed of any hazardous materials,
in
a manner contrary to any Environmental Laws except as would not reasonably
be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
15
(cc) Encumbrances.
Other
than as set forth in the SEC Reports and except for any such restrictions
provided under the laws of the jurisdiction of incorporation of any of the
Group
Companies, as applicable, there will be no encumbrances or restrictions on
the
ability of any of the Group Companies (i) to pay dividends or make other
distributions on such parties’ Capital Stock or to make loans or advances or pay
any indebtedness to, or investments in, any of the Group Companies, or (ii)
to
transfer any of its property or assets to any of the Group Companies, except
for
such restrictions set forth in the Transaction Documents.
(dd) Foreign
Corrupt Practices Act.
None of
the Group Companies, nor to the best knowledge of the Company after due inquiry,
any agent or other person acting on behalf of any of the Group Companies, has,
directly or indirectly, (i) used any funds, or will use any proceeds from the
sale of the Notes, for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other
unlawful expenses related to foreign or domestic political activity, (ii) made
any unlawful payment to foreign or domestic government officials or employees
or
to any foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns from corporate funds,
(iii) failed to disclose fully any contribution made by the Group Companies
(or
made by any person acting on its behalf of which the Company is aware) which
is
in violation of law, or (iv) has violated in any material respect any provision
of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and
regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”).
(ee) Ranking
of Obligations.
The
payment obligation of the Company under this Agreement will rank senior to
all
existing and future debt of the Company, other than with respect to debt
incurred pursuant to working capital facilities in an aggregate principal amount
not exceeding US$25,000,000 at any time.
(ff) Related
Party Transactions.
Other
than as set forth in the SEC Reports, no material relationship, direct or
indirect, exists between or among any of the Group Companies or any Affiliate
of
the Group Companies, on the one hand, and any current director, officer,
stockholder, customer or supplier of any of them (including any member of their
immediate family), on the other hand.
(gg) Investment
Company.
None of
the Group Companies is, and as a result of the offer and sale of the Securities
contemplated herein will not be, required to register as an “investment company”
under, and as such term is defined in, the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended in connection with or as a result of the offer and sale of the
Securities.
(hh) PFIC. None
of
the Group Companies is or intends to become a “passive foreign investment
company” within the meaning of Section 1297 of the Code (“PFIC”).
(ii) OFAC.
Neither
the Company nor, to the best knowledge of the Company after due inquiry, any
director, officer, agent, employee, Affiliate or Person acting on behalf of
the
Company is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office
of
Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”);
and
the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the sale of
the
Notes, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any
Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person or entity, towards any sales
or operations in Cuba, Iran, Syria, Sudan, Myanmar or any other
country sanctioned by OFAC or for the purpose of financing the activities of
any
person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by
OFAC.
16
(jj) Money
Laundering Laws.
The
operations of each of the Group Companies are and have been conducted at all
times in compliance with the money laundering statutes of applicable
jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar
rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any
applicable governmental agency (collectively, the “Money
Laundering Laws”)
and no
action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency,
authority or body or any arbitrator involving any of the Group Companies with
respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of
the
Company after due inquiry, threatened.
(kk) Other
Representations and Warranties Relating to the
PRC Subsidiaries.
(i) All
material consents, approvals, authorizations or licenses requisite under PRC
law
for the due and proper establishment and operation of each of the
PRC
Subsidiaries
to be
rendered valid, binding and enforceable, have been duly obtained from the
relevant PRC Governmental Authorities and are in full force and effect, except
to the extent that the failure to obtain and maintain in full force and effect
any such consents, approvals, authorizations or licenses does not, and would
not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(ii) All
filings and registrations with the PRC Governmental Authorities required in
respect of each of the
PRC
Subsidiaries
and its
operations including, without limitation, the registrations with the Ministry
of
Commerce, the State Administration of Industry and Commerce, the State
Administration for Foreign Exchange, tax bureau and customs authorities have
been duly completed in accordance with the relevant PRC rules and regulations,
except to the extent that the failure to duly complete such filings and
registrations does not, and would not, individually or in the aggregate, have
a
Material Adverse Effect.
(iii) Each
of
the
PRC
Subsidiaries
has
complied with all relevant PRC laws and regulations regarding the contribution
and payment of its registered share capital, the payment schedule of which
has
been approved by the relevant PRC Government Authorities, except to the extent
that failure to so comply does not, and would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. There are no outstanding rights
of,
or commitments made by the Company or any Subsidiary to sell any equity interest
in the
PRC
Subsidiaries.
(iv) None
of
the
PRC
Subsidiaries
is in
receipt of any letter or notice from any relevant PRC Governmental Authority
notifying it of revocation of any material licenses or qualifications issued
to
it or any subsidy granted to it by any PRC Governmental Authority for
non-compliance with the terms thereof or with applicable PRC laws, or the need
for compliance or remedial actions in respect of the activities carried out
by
any of the
PRC
Subsidiaries, in each such case that would, individually or in the aggregate,
have a Material Adverse Effect.
(v) Each
of
the
PRC
Subsidiaries
has
conducted its business activities within the permitted scope of business or
has
otherwise operated its business in compliance with all relevant legal
requirements and with all requisite licenses and approvals granted by competent
PRC Governmental Authorities. As to licenses, approvals and government grants
and concessions requisite or useful for the conduct of any part of the
business
of any of the PRC
Subsidiaries
which
are subject to periodic renewal, the Company has no knowledge of any grounds
on
which such requisite renewals will not be granted by the relevant PRC
Governmental Authorities.
17
(vi) With
regard to employment and staff or labor, each of the PRC Subsidiaries has
complied with all applicable PRC laws and regulations in all material respects,
including without limitation, laws and regulations pertaining to welfare funds,
social benefits, medical benefits, insurance, retirement benefits, pensions
or
the like, except
to
the extent that failure to so comply does not, and would not, individually
or in
the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(vii) The
Corporate Agreements:.
(1) have
been
duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Group Companies and the
Consigning Shareholders (to the extent they are party thereto) and constitute
a
legal, valid and binding obligation of each such Group Company and Consigning
Shareholder, enforceable against such Group Companies and Consigning
Shareholders in accordance with their terms, except as limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general
application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally;
(2) have
been
effected in compliance with all applicable national, provincial, municipal
and
local laws and no consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations
and
qualifications by any Governmental Authority, any self-regulatory organization
or any court of other tribunal or any stock exchange authorities are required
in
connection with the Corporate Agreements; and
(3) are
not
the subject of any action, claim, suit, demand, hearing, notice of violation
or
deficiency or proceeding seeking to restrain, enjoin or otherwise challenge
any
of the transactions contemplated therein, except to the extent such would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(viii) The
transactions contemplated by the Corporate Agreements constitute binding and
irrevocable transactions completed by the parties to such Corporate Agreements
and such transactions are fully complete, effective and enforceable in
accordance with the relevant terms and conditions of the Corporate
Agreements.
(ll) Full
Disclosure.
All
disclosure furnished by or on behalf of the Company to the Purchaser regarding
any of the Group Companies, their respective businesses and the transactions
contemplated under the Transaction Documents, including the SEC Reports and
the
Disclosure Schedules to this Agreement, with respect to the representations
and
warranties made herein are true and correct with respect to such representations
and warranties and do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
The
Company acknowledges and agrees that the Purchaser does not make any
representations or warranties with respect to the transactions contemplated
in
this Agreement other than those specifically set forth in Section 8
hereof.
18
7. Covenants
of the Group Companies and the Consigning Shareholders.
The
Company and, with respect to Sections 7(d), (o), (q), (y), (z), (aa) and (bb)
only, each other Group Company, the Major Shareholders and the Consigning
Shareholders, jointly and severally, hereby agree:
(a) To
(i)
advise the Purchaser promptly after obtaining knowledge (and, if requested
by
the Purchaser, confirm such advice in writing) of the issuance by any state
securities commission of any stop order suspending the qualification or
exemption from qualification of the Securities for offer or sale in any
jurisdiction, or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose by any state
securities commission or other regulatory authority, (ii) use its commercially
reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or order suspending
the qualification or exemption from qualification of the Securities under any
state securities or “blue
sky”
laws,
and (iii) if at any time any state securities commission or other regulatory
authority shall issue an order suspending the qualification or exemption from
qualification of the Securities under any such laws, use its commercially
reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the
earliest possible time.
(b) So
long
as any of the Securities are “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule
905 under the Act, to, during any period in which the Company is not subject
to
and in compliance with Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, provide to
each
holder of such restricted securities and to each prospective purchaser (as
designated by such holder) of such restricted securities, upon the request
of
such holder or prospective purchaser, any information required to be provided
by
Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act.
(c) Whether
or not any of the transactions contemplated under the Transaction Documents
are
consummated or this Agreement is terminated, to pay (i) all costs, expenses,
fees and taxes incident to and in connection with the preparation, issuance
and
delivery of the Securities (provided that, where Closing does not occur, all
fees and expenses of the Purchaser and the counsels, accountants and any
advisors, if any, retained by the Purchaser shall be borne by the Purchaser),
(ii) all fees and expenses of counsels, accountants and any other advisors,
if
any, retained by the Company, (iii) all expenses in connection with qualifying
the Notes for settlement in the Clearing Facilities, (iv) all fees and expenses
of the Company in connection with approval of the Notes for “book entry”
transfer, and (v) all fees and expenses of the Trustee, the Collateral Agents,
the Conversion Agent, the Paying Agent, the Registrar and any other agents
contemplated in the Transaction Documents.
(d) To
do and
perform all things required to be done and performed under the Transaction
Documents prior to and after the Closing Date.
(e) Prior
to
making any public disclosure or filings as may be required by Applicable Laws
with respect to any of the Transaction Documents and the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby, to provide the Purchaser and its counsels
with
the reasonable opportunity to review and comment on such public disclosure
documents and consider in good faith any comments received by the Purchaser
or
its counsels.
(f) To
use
its best efforts to maintain the listing and trading of the Common Stock on
the
Trading Market or on an alternative trading market reasonably acceptable to
the
Purchaser.
(g) For
so
long as the Purchaser owns any of the Securities, the Company will furnish
to
the Purchaser, upon the Purchaser’s request, copies of all reports and other
communications (financial or otherwise) furnished by the Company to the Trustee
or to the holders of its Securities and, as soon as available, copies of any
reports or financial statements furnished to or filed by the Company with the
Commission or any national securities exchange on which any class of securities
of the Company may be listed; provided,
however,
that
any such report or financial statements filed on the Commission’s XXXXX database
need not be separately furnished.
19
(h) During
the two-year period after the Closing Date (or such shorter period as may be
provided for in Rule 144(k) under the Act, as the same may be in effect from
time to time), not to, and not to permit any current or future Subsidiaries
of
the Company or any other affiliates (as defined in Rule 144(a) under the Act)
controlled by the Company to, resell any of the Securities (issued as of such
Closing Date) which constitute “restricted securities” under Rule 144 that have
been reacquired by the Company, any current or future Subsidiaries of the
Company or any other affiliates (as defined in Rule 144(a) under the Act)
controlled by the Company, except pursuant to an effective registration
statement under the Act.
(i) To
pay
all stamp, documentary and transfer taxes and other duties, if any, which may
be
imposed by any Governmental Authorities or any political subdivision thereof
or
taxing authority thereof or therein with respect to the issuance of the Notes
or
the sale thereof to the Purchaser.
(j) The
Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts not to become, and cause
its Subsidiaries not to become, a PFIC. If the Company determines that it or
any
of its Subsidiaries has become a PFIC, the Company will promptly notify the
Purchaser and provide all information requested by the Purchaser that is
necessary for it to make a qualified electing fund (QEF) election.
(k) Not
register any transfer of the Notes that is not (i) made in accordance with
the
provisions of Regulation S, (ii) made pursuant to registration under the Act,
or
(iii) made pursuant to an available exemption under the Act.
(l) Prior
to
the Closing Date, the Company shall not, without the express prior written
consent of the Purchaser (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld),
pursue or discuss any capital raising transaction or transactions with any
Person other than the Purchaser or its Affiliates (“Outside
Financing”).
(m) Prior
to
the Closing Date, the Company shall not, and shall procure that its Subsidiaries
shall not, do anything or take any step, action or measure (or omit to take
the
same), that has or could be reasonably expected to have, individually or in
the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
(n) The
Company shall use its best efforts to file or otherwise undertake all
registrations, filings or other formalities required under BVI law to perfect
and protect the first-priority liens and security interests created under the
Offshore Share Charge, in accordance with the Offshore Share Charge, which
initial filing shall be completed or caused to be completed within applicable
statutory timeframes for the registration of comparable security interests
under
BVI law.
(o) (i)
Each
of the Company, SHHL and Origin Biotechnology shall use its reasonable
efforts
to obtain, and shall obtain not later than 90 days following the Closing Date,
approvals from, and complete filing procedures with, relevant Governmental
Authorities in respect of the Origin Biotechnology Equity Pledge Agreement
in
order to create a valid and enforceable first-priority security interest over
all of the equity interests issued by Origin Biotechnology, including the
approval from the regional offices of the Ministry of Commerce, the filing
with
the regional offices of the Administration of Industry and Commerce or other
offices to the extent required under PRC law or regulations and filing with
the
Registrar of Corporate Affairs of the British Virgin Islands, and (ii) each
Consigning Shareholder and PRC Operating Subsidiary shall use its reasonable
efforts to obtain, and shall obtain not later than November 30, 2007, approvals
from, and complete filing procedures with, relevant Governmental Authorities
in
order to create a valid and enforceable first-priority security interest in
favor of Origin Biotechnology over all of the equity interests issued by the
PRC
Operating Subsidiaries, including filing with the relevant offices of the
Administration of Industry and Commerce or other offices to the extent required
under PRC law or regulations and registration.
20
(p) The
Company shall not use the net proceeds from the sale of the Notes, in any
amount, for any purpose other than as set forth in Section 4.23 of the
Indenture.
(q) In
the
event that any of the Group Companies acquires any Person following the Closing
Date, such Group Company shall obtain, and the Company shall cause such Group
Company to obtain, as a condition precedent to the consummation of such
acquisition, an opinion of counsel, which includes, among others, opinions
substantially to the effect that (i) the transaction documents governing such
acquisition are enforceable according to their terms and (ii) that such
acquisition has been undertaken in a prudent and legal manner in accordance
with
Applicable Law. In addition, in the event that any acquisition of a Person
by a
Group Company is disclosed in a SEC Report filed by the Company, the Company
shall provide, or cause to provide, a copy of such report to the Purchaser
promptly as reasonably practicable after filing thereof.
(r) The
Company shall authorize and at all times keep reserved for issuance and delivery
upon conversion of the Notes such number of Conversion Shares or other shares
of
the Company as are from time to time issuable upon conversion of any Notes
and
will, from time to time, take all necessary steps to amend its articles of
incorporation to provide a sufficient reserve of Conversion Shares for issuance
upon conversion of the Notes.
(s) In
connection with the conversion of the Notes into Conversion Shares, neither
the
Company nor any Person acting on its behalf will take any action which would
result in the Conversion Shares being delivered by the Company other than to
the
then existing holders of the Notes exclusively where no commission or other
remuneration is paid or given directly or indirectly for soliciting the exchange
in compliance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Act.
(t) The
Company undertakes that (i) it will comply with and cause the other Group
Companies to comply with the FCPA, including, without limitation, not making
use
of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly
in
furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment
of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of
the
giving of value to any “foreign official” (as the term is defined in the FCPA)
or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign
political office, in contravention of the FCPA, and (ii) it will conduct its
business and cause the other Group Companies to conduct their businesses in
compliance with the FCPA.
(u) Promptly
as reasonably practicable following the Closing Date, the Company shall cause
each of the Group Companies to execute appropriate nondisclosure and
confidentiality agreements with their respective employees (excluding employees
acting solely as sales representatives and without any access to Intellectual
Property of any of the Group Companies), consultants and other Persons as
necessary to establish and preserve ownership of or right to use all
Intellectual Property material to the operation of its business, including
any
Intellectual Property jointly developed with any third parties, or any
Intellectual Property for which improper or unauthorized disclosure would impair
its value or validity and shall ensure that such agreements remain in full
force
and effect.
21
(v) Promptly
and to the extent reasonably practicable following the Closing Date, the Company
shall cause each Group Company, to the extent applicable as set forth below,
to
consummate the following:
(i) Henan
Origin shall, within four (4) months of the Closing Date, procure all
replacement, renewed or new operation licenses with regard to the wholesale
and
retail sale of seeds material to the operation of its business, to the
reasonable satisfaction of the Purchaser; and
(ii) The
Company shall use its best efforts to procure that, for so long as any Note
remains outstanding, Beijing Origin transfers profits to Origin Biotechnology
to
the maximum extent commercially and legally possible and to the reasonable
satisfaction of the Purchaser but subject always to the reasonable business
needs of Beijing Origin.
(w) The
Company covenants to timely file (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and
file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by
the
Company after the date hereof pursuant to the Exchange Act. As long as the
Conversion Shares are “restricted securities” as defined in Rule 144(a)(3), if
the Company is not required to file reports pursuant to the Exchange Act, it
will prepare and make publicly available in accordance with Rule 144(c) (and,
if
the Purchaser owns any Conversion Shares, furnish to the Purchaser) such
information as is required to sell such Conversion Shares under Rule 144, to
the
extent Rule 144 is available to the Purchaser for the public resale of
restricted securities. The Company further covenants that it will take such
further action as any holder of the Conversion Shares may reasonably request,
to
the extent required from time to time to enable such person to sell such
Conversion Shares without registration under the Securities Act within the
requirements of the exemption provided by Rule 144, to the extent Rule 144
is
available to the Purchaser for the public resale of restricted
securities.
(x) The
Company shall, by no later than the four (4) business days (in the City of
New
York) following the Closing Date, file a Form 6-K announcing the respective
Closing of the transactions contemplated hereby and the material terms thereof,
which must be reviewed and consented to by the Purchaser prior to the filing,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The Company and
the
Purchaser shall consult with each other in issuing any other press releases
with
respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, and neither the Company nor
the
Purchaser shall issue any such press release or otherwise make any such public
statement (i) without the prior consent of the Company, with respect to any
press release of the Purchaser, or (ii) without the prior consent of the
Purchaser, with respect to any press release of the Company, in either case
of
(i) and (ii), which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld or delayed,
except if such disclosure is required by law, in which case the disclosing
party
shall promptly provide the other party with prior notice of such public
statement or communication. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Company shall not publicly disclose the name of the
Purchaser, or include the name of the Purchaser in any other filing with the
Commission or any regulatory agency or Trading Market, without the prior written
consent of the Purchaser, except (x) as required by federal securities law
in
connection with the filing of the Documents (including signature pages thereto)
with the Commission and (y) to the extent such disclosure is required by law
or
Trading Market regulations, in which case the Company shall provide the
Purchaser with prior notice of such disclosure permitted hereunder.
(y) From
the
date of this Agreement to the Closing Date, each of the Group Companies and
their respective officers and directors and the Consigning Shareholders will
not, and each of the Company and the Consigning Shareholders will cause its
other representatives not to, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit, or
initiate any proposal (a “Proposal”)
relating to (A) direct or indirect acquisition or purchase of any equity
securities (any and all shares of Capital Stock of the Group Companies,
securities of the Group Companies convertible into, or exchangeable or
exercisable for, such shares, and options, warrants or other rights to acquire
such shares and any securities that represent the right to receive such equity
securities) or any tender offer or exchange offer or (B) a merger, amalgamation,
share exchange or consolidation or (C) a sale of all or substantially all of
the
assets of the Group Companies, (ii) participate in any discussions or
negotiations regarding or furnish to any Person any information or otherwise
facilitate any inquiries or the making of any proposal that constitutes, or
may
reasonably be expected to lead to, any Proposal (other than a modified Proposal
of the Purchaser, if any), or (iii) authorize, engage in, or enter into any
agreement or understanding with respect to, any Proposal. Each of the Group
Companies and their respective officers and directors and the Consigning
Shareholders will, and each of the Group Companies will cause its other
representatives to, terminate any existing activities or discussions in relation
to any Proposal with any other party other than the Purchaser and its
representatives.
22
The
Company and the Consigning Shareholders will immediately (within one Business
Day) advise the Purchaser of, and inform the Purchaser of the terms of, and
the
identity of the Person making any Proposal that any of the Group
Companies
or
Consigning Shareholders or any of their representatives or Affiliates may
receive from
the
date of this Agreement to the Closing Date.
(z) Prior
to
the Closing Date, if the Group Companies or their respective officers and
directors or the Consigning Shareholders violate any of the obligations set
forth in Section 7(aa) above, the Company and the Consigning Shareholders,
on a
joint and several basis, shall pay to the Purchaser all fees and expenses
incurred by the Purchaser in connection with the transactions contemplated
by
the Transaction Documents, including, without limitation, any amounts payable
under Section 11(b) hereof and all legal and accounting fees and expenses,
travel and accommodation fees and expenses, and due diligence fees and
expenses.
(aa) Prior
to
and following the Closing Date, each of SHHL, Origin Biotechnology, the PRC
Operating Subsidiaries and the Consigning Shareholders (i) shall exercise its
rights and comply with its obligations under each Corporate Agreement to which
it is party and (ii) shall not amend or waive, assign or transfer, terminate
suspend or abandon, all or any part of a Corporate Agreement such that it would
have a Material Adverse Effect save in accordance with the Indenture. Beijing
Origin shall not, without the prior consent of Origin Biotechnology, pay any
dividends out of profits or make any other similar distributions of profits
to
its shareholders.
(bb) If,
at
any time following the Closing Date as a result of a change in PRC law
regulating the foreign ownership of entities engaged in a Related Business,
any
Capital Stock of a PRC Operating Subsidiary (other than Origin Biotechnology)
may be legally transferred to SHHL then SHHL shall, and shall procure that
each
relevant Consigning Shareholder and PRC Operating Subsidiary shall, take all
such action and do all such things to effect, to the fullest extent permitted
by
PRC law, the transfer of such Capital Stock to SHHL.
8. Purchaser’s
Representations, Warranties and Agreements.
The
Purchaser represents and warrants to the Company that:
(a) The
Purchaser is not a “U.S. Person” (as defined in Rule 902 of Regulation S) and it
understands that no action has been or will be taken in any jurisdiction by
the
Company that would permit a public offering of the Notes or the Conversion
Shares in any country or jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required.
The Purchaser is not acquiring the Notes or the Conversion Shares for the
account or benefit of any U.S. persons except in accordance with exemption
from
registration requirements of the Act below or in a transaction not subject
thereto.
23
(b) The
Purchaser is acquiring the Notes and, upon conversion of the Notes, the
Conversion Shares, for its own account and is not acquiring the Notes or the
Conversion Shares with a view to any distribution thereof that would violate
the
Act or the securities laws of any state of the United States or any other
applicable jurisdiction.
(c) The
Purchaser (A) agrees on its own behalf and on behalf of any investor account
for
which it has purchased the Notes and/or the Conversion Shares that it will
not,
without prior written notice to the Company, offer, sell or otherwise transfer
any of the Notes and/or the Conversion Shares prior to (x) the date which is
40
days after the later of the date of the commencement of the offering and the
date of original issuance (or of any predecessor of any Security proposed to
be
transferred by the Purchaser) and (y) such later date, if any, as may be
required by applicable law, except (a) to the Company, (b) pursuant to a
registration statement that has been declared effective under the Act, (c)
for
so long as any Security is eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under
the
Act, to a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A that purchases
for its own account or for the account of another qualified institutional buyer
to whom notice is given that the transfer is being made in reliance on Rule
144A, (d) pursuant to offers and sales to Persons who are not “U.S. Persons”
(within the meaning of Regulation S) that occur outside the United States within
the meaning of Regulation S or (e) pursuant to any other available exemption
from the registration requirements of the Act, and (B) agrees that it will
give
to each person to whom such Security is transferred a notice substantially
to
the effect of this paragraph.
(d) The
Purchaser acknowledges that the Notes and the Conversion Shares are “restricted
securities” as defined in Rule 144 under the Act.
(e) No
form
of “directed selling efforts” (as defined in Rule 902 of Regulation S), general
solicitation or general advertising in violation of the Act has been or will
be
used nor will any offers by means of any directed selling efforts in the United
States be made by the Purchaser or any of its representatives in connection
with
the offer and sale of any of the Notes and/or the Conversion
Shares.
(f) The
Notes
and/or the Conversion Shares to be acquired by the Purchaser will be acquired
for investment for the Purchaser’s own account, not as a nominee or agent, and
not with a view to the resale or distribution of any part thereof, and that
the
Purchaser has no present intention of selling, granting any participation in,
or
otherwise distributing the same. The Purchaser does not presently have any
contract, undertaking, agreement or arrangement with any Person to sell,
transfer or grant participations to such Person or to any third Person, with
respect to any of the Notes or the Conversion Shares.
9. Conditions
Precedent to the Obligation of the Purchaser to Purchase the
Notes.
The
Purchaser’s obligation to purchase the Notes under this Agreement at the Closing
is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of each of the following conditions
on
or prior to the Closing:
(a) Except
as
set forth in the Disclosure Schedule and the SEC Reports filed by the Company
prior to the Closing Date, all the representations and warranties of each of
the
Group Companies, the Major Shareholders and the Consigning Shareholders
contained in each Transaction Document shall be true and correct as of the
date
hereof and at the Closing Date. Each of the Group Companies and the Consigning
Shareholders shall have performed, satisfied and complied with, to the
Purchaser’s satisfaction in its sole discretion, all covenants, agreements and
conditions required by the Transaction Documents to be performed, satisfied
or
complied with by them at or prior to the Closing.
24
(b) To
the
best knowledge of the Company, no injunction, restraining order or order of
any
nature by a Governmental Authority shall have been issued as of the Closing
Date
that could prevent or materially interfere with the consummation of the
transactions contemplated under the Transaction Documents; and no stop order
suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the
Securities in any jurisdiction shall have been issued and no Proceeding for
that
purpose shall have been commenced or, to the best knowledge of the Company
after
due inquiry, be pending or threatened as of the Closing Date.
(c) To
the
best knowledge of the Company, no action shall have been taken and no Applicable
Law shall have been enacted, adopted or issued that could, as of the Closing
Date, reasonably be expected to prevent the consummation of the transactions
contemplated under the Transaction Documents. No Proceeding shall be pending
or,
to the best knowledge of the Company after due inquiry, threatened other than
Proceedings that if adversely determined could not, individually or in the
aggregate, adversely affect the issuance or marketability of the Notes or the
Conversion Shares, or could not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
Material Adverse Effect. None of the Group Companies has taken any step, action
or measure (or omitted to take the same), which has or could be reasonably
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect.
(d) The
Company shall have obtained any and all approvals, consents and waivers
necessary for consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction
Documents, including, but not limited to, all Permits, authorizations, approvals
or consents of any Governmental Authority.
(e) The
Purchaser shall have received on the Closing Date:
(i) a
certificate dated the Closing Date, signed by the Chief Executive Officer and
Chairman of the Board of the Company on behalf of the Company and the other
Group Companies to the effect that (a) the representations and warranties set
forth in Section 6 are true and correct with the same force and effect as though
expressly made at and as of the Closing Date, (b) each of the Group Companies
has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to
be
performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date, (c) at the
Closing Date, since the date hereof or since the date of the most recent
financial statements in the SEC Reports, no event or events have occurred,
no
information has become known nor does any condition exist that could,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, (d) since
the
date of the most recent financial statements in the SEC Reports, none of the
Group Companies has incurred any liabilities or obligations, direct or
contingent, not in the ordinary course of business, or entered into any other
transactions not in the ordinary course of business, and there has not been
any
change in the Capital Stock or long-term indebtedness of any of the Group
Companies, in each case, which could, individually or in the aggregate, have
a
Material Adverse Effect, and (e) the sale of any of the Notes has not been
enjoined (temporarily or permanently), and including (x) the specimen signatures
of those officers of each Group Company authorized to sign the Transaction
Documents to which such Group Company is a party and (y) true, complete and
up
to date copies of the certificate of incorporation and memorandum and articles
of association of the Company and the certificate of good standing of the
Company;
(ii) certificates
dated the Closing Date, signed by each of the Major Shareholders, to the effect
that (a) except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedule and the SEC Reports
filed by the Company prior to the Closing Date, the representations and
warranties set forth in the Transaction Documents which are given by the Major
Shareholders are true and correct with the same force and effect as though
expressly made at and as of the Closing Date, and (b) each of the Major
Shareholders has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions
on
its part to be performed or satisfied under the Transaction Documents at or
prior to the Closing Date;
25
(iii) the
opinions of O’Melveny & Xxxxx LLP, U.S. counsel to the Company, dated the
Closing Date, in the form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Purchaser;
(iv) the
opinions of Xxxxxx and Calder, BVI counsel to the Company, dated the Closing
Date, in the form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Purchaser;
and
(v) the
opinions of
Guantao
Law Firm, PRC
counsel
to the
Company, dated the Closing Date, in the form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Purchaser.
(f) Each
of
the Transaction Documents shall have been executed and delivered by all parties
thereto, and the Purchaser shall have received a fully executed original (or
clearly legible facsimile copy) of each Transaction Document.
(g) The
Purchaser shall have received copies of all documents delivered under or in
connection with the transactions contemplated in the Transaction Documents
that
are required to be delivered at or prior to the Closing Date.
(h) The
Purchaser shall have received the Disclosure Schedule in form and substance
satisfactory to the Purchaser in its sole discretion.
(i) None
of
the other parties to any of the Transaction Documents shall be in breach or
default under their respective obligations thereunder.
(j) The
Offshore Collateral Agent shall have received on the Closing Date:
(i) duly
executed undated share transfers, share certificates and irrevocable proxies
in
respect of the Charged Shares (as defined in the Offshore Share Charge),
executed but undated letters of resignation and release together with dated
letters of authority from each of SHHL’s directors and alternate directors and
an undertaking from SHHL to register transfers of the Charged Shares (as defined
in the Offshore Share Charge);
(ii) subject
to Section 7(n), all registrations, filings and other formalities as may be
necessary or desirable to perfect the security interests of the Offshore
Collateral Agent pursuant to the Indenture and the Offshore Share
Charge;
(iii) certified
copies of searches of all applicable registers of security interests applicable
to the Company and/or SHHL, such searches to be satisfactory to the Purchaser
in
its sole discretion.
(iv) such
other approvals, opinions, or documents as the Offshore Collateral Agent may
reasonably request in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Offshore
Collateral Agent; and
(v) the
Offshore Collateral Agent and its counsel shall be satisfied that
(i)
the Lien
granted to the Offshore Collateral Agent pursuant to the Offshore Share Charge
is a first priority Lien; and
(ii)
no Lien
exists on any of the collateral described above other than the Lien created
in
favor of the Offshore Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties,
pursuant to the Indenture and the Offshore Share Charge.
(k) The
Purchaser shall have received on the Closing Date:
(i) evidence
that all necessary applications have been prepared and are in a form
satisfactory for filing promptly following the Closing Date with (1) the
Ministry of Commerce and the State Administration of Industry and Commerce
(together with all relevant supporting documents satisfactory to the Purchaser)
in the PRC and the Registrar of Corporate Affairs in the British Virgin Islands
in respect of the Origin Biotechnology Equity Pledge Agreement, and (2) the
State Administration of Industry and Commerce (together with all relevant
supporting documents satisfactory to the Purchaser) in respect of the PRC
Operating Subsidiaries Equity Pledge Agreements; and
26
(ii) evidence
that the pledge expressed to be created by the Origin Biotechnology Equity
Pledge Agreement and each PRC Operating Subsidiaries Equity Pledge Agreement
has
been duly recorded in the register of shareholders of Origin Biotechnology
and
each PRC Operating Subsidiary respectively or, if Origin Biotechnology or any
PRC Operating Subsidiary does not maintain such a register, a written
confirmation letter issued by Origin Biotechnology or such PRC Operating
Subsidiary evidencing the existence and validity of the relevant
pledge.
(l) The
respective board of directors of each of the Group Companies shall have approved
and authorized by all necessary corporate or other action (i) the execution
and
delivery of the Transaction Documents, (ii) all actions to be performed or
satisfied under the Transaction Documents (including, without limitation, the
reserve for issuance of the Conversion Shares issuable upon exercise of the
Notes), (iii) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the
Transaction Documents, (iv) the pricing terms of the Notes, and (v) all other
actions necessary in connection with the transactions contemplated by the
Transaction Documents and the offering of the Notes, and shall have provided
the
Purchaser with a copy of such authorizations.
(m) The
Purchaser shall have completed and be satisfied with the results of all
business, legal and financial due diligence.
(n) The
Purchaser shall have received all necessary internal approval for the
transactions contemplated hereunder or under the Transaction
Documents.
(o) The
Purchaser shall have approved a fund flow chart setting forth how the proceeds
from the issue of the Notes will be transferred to its direct or indirect PRC
Subsidiaries and how such PRC Subsidiaries will transfer the funds to the
Company for purposes of the performance of the Company’s obligations under the
Transaction Documents.
(p) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 9(q) of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company shall have
received due and proper waivers, or shall have entered into amendments or
agreements effecting such waivers, by the security holder, creditor or anyone
who holds similar rights in the Company (other than the holders of the Notes),
of any restrictions with respect to the issuance or sale of the Notes or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated under the Transaction Documents,
or any provisions that would adversely affect the interests of the holders
of
the Notes or the consummation of the transactions contemplated under the
Transaction Documents, including without limitation any right of first refusal
or right to be consulted or to make a comparable offer with respect to the
Notes, held by any such security holder, creditor or holder of similar
rights.
10. Indemnification.
(a) Each
of
the Group Companies and the Major Shareholders (each such Person being referred
to as an “Indemnifying
Party”),
jointly and severally, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser,
each
of its Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, partners,
shareholders, counsel, employees and agents (the Purchaser and each such other
person being referred to as an “Indemnified
Party”),
to
the fullest extent lawful, from and against any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities and reasonable expenses (or actions in respect thereof) (the
“Losses”)
other
than those arising from the Purchaser’s gross negligence or willful misconduct,
as incurred, related to or arising out of or in connection with:
(i)
|
actions
taken or omitted to be taken by any of the Group Companies or the
Consigning Shareholders or their respective Affiliates, officers,
directors, employees or agents (including, without limitation, the
failure
to take any required actions pursuant to Circular No. 75 of the PRC’s
State Administration of Foreign Exchange, by any Consigning Shareholder
or
the shareholders, executive officers or directors of any Group Company);
or
|
27
(ii)
|
any
breach by any of the Group Companies or the Consigning Shareholders
or
their respective Affiliates of any of the representations, warranties,
covenants and agreements set forth in any Transaction
Document,
|
and
will
reimburse the Indemnified Parties for all reasonable expenses (including,
without limitation, fees and expenses of counsel) as they are incurred in
connection with investigating, preparing, defending or settling any such action
or claim, whether or not in connection with litigation in which any Indemnified
Party is a named party. If any of the Indemnified Parties’ personnel appears as
witnesses, are deposed or are otherwise involved in the defense of any action
against an Indemnified Party, the Indemnifying Parties will reimburse the
Purchaser for all reasonable expenses incurred by the Purchaser by reason of
any
of the Indemnified Parties being involved in any such action.
(b) As
promptly as reasonably practical after receipt by an Indemnified Party under
this Section 10 of notice of the commencement of any action for which such
Indemnified Party is entitled to indemnification under this Section 10, such
Indemnified Party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against
the
Indemnified Party under this Section 10, notify the Indemnifying Party of the
commencement thereof in writing; but the omission to so notify the Indemnifying
Party (i) will not relieve such Indemnifying Party from any liability under
paragraph (a) above unless and only to the extent it is materially prejudiced
as
a result thereof and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the Indemnifying
Party
from any obligations to any Indemnified Party otherwise than the indemnification
obligation provided in paragraph (a) above. In case any such action is brought
against any Indemnified Party, and it notifies the Indemnifying Party of the
commencement thereof, the Indemnifying Party will be entitled to participate
therein and, to the extent that it may determine, jointly with any other
Indemnifying Party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with
counsel satisfactory to such Indemnified Party (who shall not, except with
the
consent of the Indemnified Party, be counsel to the Indemnifying Party) at
the
expense of the Indemnifying Party; provided,
however,
that if
(i) the use of counsel chosen by the Indemnifying Party to represent the
Indemnified Party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii)
the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include
both the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party
shall have been advised by counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses
available to it and/or other Indemnified Party that are different from or
additional to those available to the Indemnifying Party, (iii) the Indemnifying
Party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the Indemnified Party
to
represent the Indemnified Party within a reasonable time after notice of the
institution of such action or (iv) the Indemnifying Party shall authorize the
Indemnified Party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Indemnifying
Party, then, in each such case, the Indemnifying Party shall not have the right
to direct the defense of such action on behalf of such Indemnified Party or
parties and such Indemnified Party or parties shall have the right to select
separate counsel (including local counsel) to defend such action on behalf
of
such Indemnified Party or parties at the expense of the Indemnifying Party.
After notice from the Indemnifying Party to such Indemnified Party of its
election so to assume the defense thereof and approval by such Indemnified
Party
of counsel appointed to defend such action, the Indemnifying Party will not
be
liable to such Indemnified Party under this Section 10 for any legal or other
expenses, other than reasonable costs of investigation, subsequently incurred
by
such Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof, unless the
Indemnified Party shall have employed separate counsel in accordance with the
proviso to the immediately preceding sentence (it being understood, however,
that in connection with such action the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable
for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (in addition to local
counsel) in any one action or separate but substantially similar actions in
the
same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances,
representing the Indemnified Party who are parties to such action or actions).
The Indemnifying Party shall not, without the prior written consent of the
Indemnified Party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the
entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or
claim
in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder
(whether or not the Indemnified Party is an actual or potential party to such
action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes
an
unconditional release of the Indemnified Party from all liability arising out
of
such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission
of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any Indemnified
Party.
28
(c) The
indemnity and expense reimbursement obligations set forth herein (i) shall
be in
addition to any liability any of the Group Companies, the Major Shareholders
or
the Consigning Shareholders may otherwise have to any Indemnified Party, (ii)
shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of the Purchaser or any other Indemnified
Party and (iii) shall be binding on any successor or assign of the Group
Companies or their respective business and assets.
(d) Notwithstanding
any other provisions in this Section 10, the Indemnified Parties shall not
be
entitled to recover from the Indemnifying Parties for any Losses under this
Section 10 unless and until the total amount of all such Losses indemnifiable
hereunder exceeds US$100,000, provided that when such amount is exceeded, the
Indemnifying Parties shall be liable for all amount including the first
US$100,000. In any event, the Indemnifying Parties’ total liability for any
Losses under this Section 10 shall not exceed US$60,000,000.
11. Termination.
(a) The
Purchaser may terminate this Agreement at any time prior to the Closing Date
by
written notice to the Company if any of the following has occurred:
(i) since
the
date hereof, any Material Adverse Change or any development involving or
reasonably expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect that could, in the
Purchaser’s reasonable judgment, be expected to (A) make it impracticable or
inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Notes on the terms
and in the manner contemplated in this Agreement and the Indenture or (B)
materially impair the investment quality of any of the Securities;
(ii) the
failure of any of the Group Companies or the Consigning Shareholders to satisfy
the conditions contained in Section 9 on or prior to the Closing
Date;
(iii) suspension
of trading in the Common Stock by the Trading Market or the suspension or
limitation of trading generally in securities on the New York Stock Exchange,
the London Stock Exchange, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Capital
Market or the NASDAQ Global Market or any setting of limitations on prices
for
securities on any such exchange or the NASDAQ Capital Market or the NASDAQ
Global Market;
29
(iv) the
enactment, publication, decree or other promulgation after the date hereof
of
any Applicable Law that could be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect; or
(v) the
declaration of a banking moratorium by any federal or New York state
Governmental Authority; or the taking of any action by any Governmental
Authority after the date hereof in respect of its monetary or fiscal affairs
that could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the
financial markets in the United States, European Union, the Peoples’ Republic of
China or Hong Kong.
(b) The
Company may terminate this Agreement at any time prior to the Closing Date
by
written notice to the Purchaser based upon the Purchaser’s intentional breach of
its representations, warranties, covenants and obligations under this Agreement
or the other Transaction Documents.
12. Survival
of Representations and Indemnities.
The
representations and warranties, covenants, indemnities and contribution and
expense reimbursement provisions and other agreements of any of the Group
Companies and the Consigning Shareholders set forth in this Agreement shall
remain operative and in full force and effect, and will survive until the full
and final satisfaction and discharge of the Notes Obligations, regardless of
(i)
any investigation, or statement as to the results thereof, made by or on behalf
of the parties hereto, and (ii) acceptance of the Notes, and payment for them
hereunder.
13. Substitution
of Purchaser.
The
Purchaser shall have the right to substitute any one of its Affiliates as the
purchaser of the Notes, by written notice to the Company, which notice shall
be
signed by both the Purchaser and such Affiliate, shall contain such Affiliate’s
agreement to be bound by this Agreement and shall contain a confirmation by
such
Affiliate of the accuracy with respect to it of the representations and
warranties set forth in Section 8. Upon receipt of such notice, wherever the
word “Purchaser” is used in this Agreement (other than in this Section 13), such
word shall be deemed to refer to such Affiliate in lieu of the original
Purchaser. In the event that such Affiliate is so substituted as a purchaser
hereunder and such Affiliate thereafter transfers to the original Purchaser
all
of the Notes then held by such Affiliate, upon receipt by the Company of notice
of such transfer, wherever the word “Purchaser” is used in this Agreement (other
than in this Section 13), such word shall no longer be deemed to refer to such
Affiliate, but shall refer to the original Purchaser, and the original Purchaser
shall have all the rights of an original holder of the Notes under this
Agreement.
14. Miscellaneous.
(a) Notices
given pursuant to any provision of this Agreement shall be addressed as follows:
(i) if to the Company, to: Xx.
00
Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, People’x Xxxxxxxx xx Xxxxx,
000000,
Fax:
(00)
00
0000 0000,
Attention:
Chief Financial Officer and (ii) if to the Purchaser, to: c/o 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, XXX, Fax: (0-000) 000 0000, Attention: Xx.
Xxxx
X. Xxxxxx, with a copy to 00/X Xxxxxx Xxxxx, 0
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxx, Fax: (000) 0000 0000, Attention: Xx. Xxxxxx
Xxxx and Xx. Xxx Xxx,
and with
a copy to Milbank, Tweed, Xxxxxx & XxXxxx LLP, Suites 1029-1031, Twin Towers
(East), B12 Jianguomenwai Avenue, Xxxx Xxxx District, Beijing, People’x Xxxxxxxx
xx Xxxxx 000000,
Fax:
(00) 00 0000 0000, Attention: Mr. Xxxxxx Sun.
30
(b) Except
with respect to the material terms and conditions of the transactions
contemplated by the Transaction Documents, the Company covenants and agrees
that
neither it nor any other person acting on its behalf will provide the Purchaser
or its agents or counsel with any information that the Company believes
constitutes material non-public information, unless prior thereto the Purchaser
shall have executed a written agreement regarding the confidentiality and use
of
such information. The Company understands and confirms that the Purchaser shall
be relying on the foregoing representations in effecting transactions
contemplated hereunder.
(c) This
Agreement has been and is made solely for the benefit of and shall be binding
upon the parties hereto and, to the extent provided in Section 10 hereof, the
controlling persons and their respective agents, employees, officers, directors,
partners, counsel, and shareholders referred to in Section 10, and their
respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, all as
and
to the extent provided in this Agreement, and no other person shall acquire
or
have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement.
(d) THIS
AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS
OF
THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(e) The
parties hereto agree to attempt in good faith to resolve any and all disputes
arising out of or relating to this Agreement through friendly consultations.
If
a dispute is not resolved through friendly consultations within 30 days from
the
date a party gives the other parties written notice of the dispute, then it
shall be resolved exclusively by arbitration before the Hong Kong International
Arbitration Center in accordance with its rules. The arbitration award shall
be
final and binding on the parties and shall be enforceable in any court of
competent jurisdiction.
(f) No
failure to exercise, and no course of dealing with respect to, 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 any right, power or remedy
hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of
any
other right, power or remedy.
(g) This
Agreement may be signed in various counterparts which together shall constitute
one and the same instrument. In the event that any signature is delivered by
facsimile transmission, such signature shall create a valid and binding
obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is
executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile signature page
were an original thereof.
(h) The
headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall
not
constitute part of this Agreement nor limit or otherwise affect the meaning
of
any provision of this Agreement.
(i) If
any
term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court
of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the
remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein
shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired
or invalidated, in each case to the extent permitted by applicable law, and
the
parties hereto shall use their best efforts to find and employ an alternative
means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated
by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and
declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the
remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any
of
such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable,
to
the extent permitted by applicable law.
31
(j) This
Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents
to
departures from the provisions hereof may be given; provided
that the
same are in writing and signed by all of the signatories hereto.
[Signature
Page(s) to Follow]
STATE HARVEST HOLDINGS LIMITED | ||
|
|
|
By: | ||
Name: Xxx
Xxxxxxxx
|
||
Title: Director |
BEIJING
ORIGIN STATE HARVEST
BIOTECHNOLOGY
LIMITED
|
||
|
|
|
By: | ||
Name: Xxx Xxxxxxxx |
||
Title: Director
|
BEIJING ORIGIN SEED LIMITED | ||
|
|
|
By: | ||
Name: Xxx Xxxxxxxx |
||
Title: Director |
HENAN
ORIGIN COTTON TECHNOLOGY
DEVELOPMENT
LIMITED
|
||
|
|
|
By: | ||
Name: Xxx Xxxxxxxx |
||
Title: Director |
CHANGCHUN
ORIGIN SEED TECHNOLOGY
DEVELOPMENT
LIMITED
|
||
|
|
|
By: | ||
Name: Xxx Xxxxxxxx |
||
Title: Director |
DENONG ZHENGCHENG SEED LIMITED | ||
|
|
|
By: | ||
Name: Yang Yasheng |
||
Title: Director |
CONSIGNING
SHAREHOLDERS:
|
||
|
|
|
Han Xxxxxxxx |
Xxxx Yasheng |
Xxxx Xxxxx |
MAJOR
SHAREHOLDERS:
|
||
|
|
|
Han Xxxxxxxx |
Xxxx Yasheng |
Xxxx Xxxxx |
CITADEL EQUITY FUND LTD. | ||
|
|
|
By: |
Citadel Limited Partnership,
its Portfolio Manager
|
|
By: |
Citadel Investment Group, L.L.C.,
its General Partner
|
|
By: | ||
Name: |
||
Title: Authorized Signatory |
Schedule
1
Corporate
Agreements
1.
|
Stock
Consignment Agreement dated December 25, 2004 between Xxxx Xxxxxx
and
State Harvest Holdings Limited in respect of the consignment of Zhao
Yuping’s 3.995% shareholding of the total capital of Beijing Origin Seed
Limited.
|
2.
|
Stock
Consignment Agreement dated December 25, 2004 between Xxxx Xxxxx
and State
Harvest Holdings Limited in respect of the consignment of Xxxx Xxxxx’x
25.8% shareholding of the total capital of Beijing Origin Seed
Limited.
|
3.
|
Stock
Consignment Agreement dated December 25, 2004 between Yang Yasheng
and
State Harvest Holdings Limited in respect of the consignment of Yang
Yasheng’s 28.675% shareholding of the total capital of Beijing Origin Seed
Limited.
|
4.
|
Stock
Consignment Agreement dated December 25, 2004 between Xxx Xxxxxxxx
and
State Harvest Holdings Limited in respect of the consignment of Han
Gengchen’s 34.4% shareholding of the total capital of Beijing Origin Seed
Limited.
|
5.
|
Stock
Consignment Agreement dated December 25, 2004 between Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
and
State Harvest Holdings Limited in respect of the consignment of Zhang
Weidong’s 3.13% shareholding of the total capital of Beijing Origin Seed
Limited.
|
6.
|
Stock
Consignment Agreement dated December 25, 2004 between Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
and
State Harvest Holdings Limited in respect of the consignment of Chen
Weicheng’s 1.96% shareholding of the total capital of Beijing Origin Seed
Limited.
|
7.
|
Stock
Consignment Agreement dated December 25, 2004 between Beijing Origin
Seed
Limited and State Harvest Holdings Limited in respect of the consignment
of Beijing Origin Seed Limited’s 90% shareholding of the total capital of
Henan Origin Cotton Technology Development
Limited.
|
8.
|
Stock
Consignment Agreement dated December 25, 2004 between Zhang Yingli
and
State Harvest Holdings Limited in respect of the consignment of Zhang
Yingli’s 4.1% shareholding of the total capital of Henan Origin Cotton
Technology Development Limited.
|
9.
|
Stock
Consignment Agreement dated December 25, 2004 between Yang Yasheng
and
State Harvest Holdings Limited in respect of the consignment of Yang
Yasheng’s 3.86% shareholding of the total capital of Henan Origin Cotton
Technology Development Limited.
|
10.
|
Stock
Consignment Agreement dated December 25, 2004 between Beijing Origin
Seed
Limited and State Harvest Holdings Limited in respect of the consignment
of Beijing Origin Seed Limited’s 99% shareholding of the total capital of
Changchun Origin Seed Technology Development
Limited.
|
11.
|
Stock
Consignment Agreement dated December 25, 2004 between Xxx Xxxxxxxx
and
State Harvest Holdings Limited in respect of the consignment of Han
Gengchen’s 1% shareholding of the total capital of Henan Origin Cotton
Technology Development Limited.
|
12.
|
Technology
Transfer Contract dated June 13, 2006 between Beijing Origin Seed
Limited
and Beijing Origin State Harvest Biotechnology Limited in respect
of
licensing of the intellectual property owned by Beijing Origin
State
Harvest Biotechnology Limited.
|
Sch-1
Schedule
2
Consigning
Shareholders
Han
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxx
Yasheng
Xxxx
Xxxxx
Sch-2
Exhibit
A
Form
of the Indenture
A-1
Exhibit
B
Form
of the Investor Rights Agreement
B-1
Exhibit
C
Form
of the Non-Competition Agreements
C-1
Exhibit
D
Form
of the Offshore Share Charge
D-1
Exhibit
E
Form
of the Registration Rights Agreement
E-1
Exhibit
F
Form
of the Origin Biotechnology Equity Pledge Agreement
F-1
Exhibit
G
Form
of the PRC Operating Subsidiaries Equity Pledge Agreements
G-1