US$160,000,000 Home Inns & Hotels Management Inc. 2.00% Convertible Senior Notes Due December 15, 2015 PURCHASE AGREEMENT
Exhibit 4.7
US$160,000,000
Home Inns & Hotels Management Inc.
2.00% Convertible Senior Notes Due December 15, 2015
Home Inns & Hotels Management Inc.
2.00% Convertible Senior Notes Due December 15, 2015
December 14, 2010
To:
|
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC | |
Eleven Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx | ||
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 | ||
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Of America | ||
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Ltd. | ||
000 Xxxxxx Xxxx | ||
Xxxxxx | ||
XX0X 0XX | ||
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx | ||
(the “Managers”) |
Dear Sirs,
Home Inns & Hotels Management Inc., incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the
“Issuer”), proposes to issue US$160,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 2.00% Convertible
Senior Notes Due December 15, 2015 (the “Firm Notes”). In addition, the Issuer proposes to grant
the Managers an option to subscribe up to an additional US$24,000,000 aggregate principal amount of
such Notes (the “Optional Notes”) (the Firm Notes and the Optional Notes are together referred to
collectively as the “Notes”, which expression shall include, where the context so admits, the
Restricted Global Note (the “Restricted Global Note”)) representing the Notes resold pursuant to
Rule 144A (“Rule 144A”) under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”),
and a Regulation S Global Note (the “Regulation S Global Note”) representing the Notes sold
pursuant to Regulation S (“Regulation S”) under the Securities Act which will be convertible into
American depositary shares (“ADSs”), representing fully paid ordinary shares, par value $0.005 per
Share (“Shares”) in the capital of the Issuer, at a conversion rate (subject to adjustment) of
20.2560 ADSs per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes (equivalent to a conversion price (subject to
adjustment) of US$49.37 per ADS) and/or cash, at the Issuer’s election. Any American depositary
shares (“ADSs”) to be delivered upon conversion of the Notes into Shares will be evidenced by book
entry in the records of the Depositary (as defined below), against deposit of the Shares
represented thereby, pursuant to the deposit agreement (the “Deposit Agreement”) dated as of
October 31, 2006, among the Issuer, The Bank of New York, as depositary (the “Depositary”), and the
holders and beneficial owners from time to time of the ADSs issued thereunder. Unless the context
otherwise requires, each reference to the ADSs herein also includes the Shares represented by such
ADSs. The terms of the Notes are set out in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Offering
Memorandum referred to below.
The Notes will be issued under an indenture (the “Indenture”) to be dated on or around
December 21, 2010 between the Issuer and The Bank of New York, as Trustee and Transfer Agent.
The Notes may be sold pursuant to Regulation S (“Regulation S”) under the U.S. Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and by Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC as selling
agent for itself and by X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Ltd. as selling agent itself (together the “144A
Selling Agents”) pursuant to Rule 144A (“Rule 144A”) under the Securities Act in the United States
of America to qualified institutional buyers.
Holders of the Notes will be entitled to the benefits of a registration rights agreement, to
be dated the First Closing Date (defined below) and substantially in the form attached hereto as
Schedule A (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which the Issuer will agree to file
one or more registration statements with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“Commission”) providing for the registration under the Securities Act of the Notes or the
Registrable Securities referred to (and as defined) in the Registration Rights Agreement.
The Issuer wishes to record the arrangements agreed between it and the Managers for the issue
and purchase of the Notes as follows:
1. Purchase of the Notes.
(a) The Issuer agrees to issue the Notes and the Managers jointly and severally agree with the
Issuer to subscribe and pay for the Notes on the Closing Date (as defined in paragraph 6 below) at
the selling price, being the issue price of 100 per cent of the principal amount of the Notes, less
a selling concession of 2.875 per cent of their principal amount, plus accrued interest, if any
(the “Selling Price”).
(b) The Issuer hereby grants to the Managers an option (the “Over-Allotment Option”) to
subscribe or procure subscribers for (subject to paragraph 1(d) below) up to US$24,000,000
aggregate principal amount of Optional Notes. Such Over-Allotment Option shall be exercisable on
the date hereof or from time to time up to and including the thirtieth day following the First
Closing Date (as defined in paragraph 6) and to the extent not previously exercised may be
terminated at any time upon written notice from the Managers to the Issuer (in the form of Schedule
B to this Agreement). Such notice shall be irrevocable (subject to paragraph 7 below) and shall
set forth the aggregate number of Optional Notes as to which the option is being exercised and the
date and time, as determined by the Managers, when the Optional Notes are to be issued by the
Issuer against payment for the Optional Notes (each date on which the Over-Allotment Option is
exercised shall be referred to herein as an “Optional Closing Date”). For the purposes of this
paragraph 1(b), “business day” means any day (other than a Saturday) upon which banks are open for
business in New York.
(c) If the Over-Allotment Option is duly exercised in accordance with paragraph 1(b), the
Issuer agrees to issue the Optional Notes to the Managers and the Managers jointly and severally
agree to subscribe for and pay for the Optional Notes on each Optional Closing Date at the Issue
Price per Note less the amounts in respect of the selling commission referred to in paragraph 4.
(d) References in this Agreement to “the Closing Date” shall be to the First Closing Date and
any Optional Closing Date, as the case may be.
The Issuer confirms that it has prepared a preliminary offering memorandum dated December 13,
2010 (the “Preliminary Offering Memorandum”) and an offering memorandum dated December 14, 2010
(the “Offering Memorandum”) and authorizes the Managers to distribute copies of the Preliminary
Offering Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum in connection with the offering and sale of the
Notes. The Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum, together with the documents
listed in Schedule C hereto, which have been incorporated into the Preliminary Offering Memorandum
and Offering Memorandum, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Offering Document.”
In connection with the issue and sale of the Notes each of the Managers represents that it has
observed and undertakes that it will observe the restrictions on the offering of Notes and
distribution of documents relating to the Notes set forth in paragraph 8 below.
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, on behalf of the Managers may, to the extent permitted by
applicable laws, over-allot and effect transactions in any over-the-counter market or otherwise, in
connection with the distribution of the Notes, with a view to stabilizing or maintaining the market
price of the Notes at levels other than those which might otherwise prevail in the open market but
in doing so Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC shall act as principal and not as agent of the
Issuer and any loss resulting from over-allotment or stabilization shall be borne, and any profit
arising therefrom shall be beneficially retained, by Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC for the
account of the Managers. The Managers acknowledge that the Issuer has not authorized the issue of
more than
US$184,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes (being the total aggregate principal amount
of Notes comprising the Firm Notes and the Optional Notes), but that any over-allotment by the
Managers over and above the Firm Notes may be covered to the extent that Optional Notes are issued
pursuant to the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option.
2. Representations and Warranties.
(a) The Issuer represents, warrants and agrees to and with the Managers that:-
(i) Due Incorporation. The Issuer has been duly incorporated and is an existing
corporation in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands, with power and authority
(corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the
Offering Document; and the Issuer is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation
in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or
the conduct of its business requires such qualification and is not in liquidation or
receivership.
(ii) Subsidiaries. The Issuer does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any
corporation, association or entity other than Home Inns & Hotels Management (Hong Kong)
Limited (“Home Inns HK”), Yitel Hotel Management (Hong Kong) Limited (“Yitel Hotel HK”),
Hong Kong Ai Home Hotel Investment Limited (“Ai Home HK”), Hemei Hotel Management Company
(“Hemei”), Home Inns Hotel Management (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“Home Inns Beijing”), Home Inns
Hotel Management (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (“Home Inns Shanghai”), Huiju Hotel Equipment Lease
(Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (“Huiju Equipment”), Shanghai Top Star Hotel Management Co., Ltd. (“Top
Star”), Shanghai Huiyi Hotel Equipment Lease Co., Ltd. (“Huiyi Equipment”), Jiangsu Home
Inns Hotel Equipment Lease Co., Ltd. (“Jiangsu Home Inns”), Suzhou Home Inns Trading Co.,
Ltd. (“Suzhou Home Inns”), Suzhou Huichuang Hotel Management Co., Ltd. (“Suzhou Huichuang”),
Yitel Hotel Management (Shanghai) Limited (“Yitel Hotel Management”), 147 indirect
subsidiaries directly or indirectly owned by Hemei, Home Inns Beijing and Home Inns Shanghai
as set forth in Schedule D hereto (the “Operating Subsidiaries”); the six joint ventures as
set forth in Schedule D hereto, three of which are 51%, one of which is 65%, one of which is
70% and one of which is 75% owned by Home Inns Shanghai (the “HI Joint Ventures”); Each of
Home Inns HK, Yitel Hotel HK, Ai Home HK, Hemei, Home Inns Beijing, Home Inns Shanghai,
Huiju Equipment, Top Star, Huiyi Equipment, Jiangsu Home Inns, Suzhou Home Inns, Suzhou
Huichuang, Yitel Hotel Management, the Operating Subsidiaries and the HI Joint Ventures is
referred to as a “subsidiary” and collectively as the “subsidiaries”, and each of Hemei,
Home Inns Beijing, Home Inns Shanghai, Huiju Equipment, Top Star, Huiyi Equipment, Jiangsu
Home Inns, Suzhou Home Inns, Suzhou Huichuang, Yitel Hotel Management, the Operating
Subsidiaries and the HI Joint Ventures is referred to as a “PRC Subsidiary” and collectively
as the “PRC Subsidiaries”. Each subsidiary of the Issuer has been duly incorporated and is
an existing corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and
conduct its business as described in the Offering Document; and each subsidiary of the
Issuer is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all
other jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its
business requires such qualification; all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of
each subsidiary of the Issuer has been duly authorized and validly issued and is
nonassessable; the capital stock of each subsidiary owned by the Issuer, directly or through
subsidiaries, is owned free from liens, encumbrances and defects; and each subsidiary of the
Issuer is not in liquidation or receivership.
(iii) Due Authorization. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Issuer; and the Registration Rights Agreement has been duly authorized by
the Issuer and on the First Closing Date will be duly executed and delivered by the Issuer
and, when duly executed and delivered in accordance with its terms by each of the parties
thereto, will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of the Issuer enforceable
against the Issuer in accordance with its terms. The Indenture has been duly authorized;
the Notes have been duly authorized; and when the Notes are delivered and paid for pursuant
to this Agreement on each Closing Date, the Indenture will have been duly executed and
delivered, such Notes will have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered and
will conform to the description thereof contained in the Offering Document and such Notes
will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Issuer, enforceable in
accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general
applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.
(iv) Validity of Securities. When the Notes are delivered and paid for pursuant to this
Agreement on each Closing Date, such Notes will be convertible into ADSs in accordance with
the terms of the Indenture; the ADSs initially issuable upon conversion of such Notes
(including any Shares represented by such ADSs (the “Underlying Shares”)) have been duly
authorized, and such Underlying Shares have been validly reserved for issuance and deposit
into the Issuer’s ADS facility upon conversion of the Notes and, when the ADSs are issued
upon such conversion, the Underlying Shares represented thereby will be validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable; and the Underlying Shares and the ADSs will conform to the
description thereof contained in the Offering Document; and the shareholders of the Issuer
have no preemptive rights with respect to the Notes, the Underlying Shares or the ADSs
representing the Underlying Shares; upon issuance by the Depositary of the ADSs representing
the Underlying Shares against the deposit of the Underlying Shares in accordance with the
provisions of the Deposit Agreement, the ADSs representing the Underlying Shares, will be
validly issued free of pre-emptive rights, resale rights, rights of first refusal and
similar rights and free of any voting restrictions, in each case under the Issuer’s
memorandum and articles of association or other constitutive or organizational documents, or
by contract, other agreement or obligation to which the Issuer is a party or pursuant to
applicable law; the Shares reserved for issuance and deposit upon conversion of the Notes,
and the ADSs representing the Underlying Shares available for issuance pursuant to the Form
F-6 Registration Statement (as defined below) are sufficient in number to meet the Issuer’s
conversion obligations pursuant to the terms of the Indenture and the Notes (assuming all
conditions to such conversion have been satisfied) based on the Conversion Rate (as defined
in the Indenture) in effect as of the conversion; and such ADSs representing the Underlying
Shares, when issued upon conversion of the Notes, will be in due and proper form if issued
in certificated form or be duly represented by book entry notation in accordance with the
Deposit Agreement, and the holders of such ADSs or the Underlying Shares represented thereby
will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders.
(v) No SEC Comments. The Issuer has not received any comments from the Commission on
its annual report on Form 20-F, which comments remain outstanding or unresolved.
(vi) F-6 Registration Statement. No stop order of the Commission preventing or
suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement on Form F-6 (No. 333-137983)
relating to the Issuer’s ADSs (the “F-6 Registration Statement”) has been issued and no
proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or, to the Issuer’s knowledge, are
contemplated by the Commission; the F-6 Registration Statement complied as of such effective
time, complies and will comply at the time of purchase of the Notes and any additional time
of purchase of the Notes and at the time of conversion, and each amendment or supplement
thereto, when it is filed with the Commission or becomes effective, as the case may be, will
comply, in all material respects, with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act,
and did not, as of such effective time, does not and will not, at the time of purchase of
the Notes and any additional time of purchase of the Notes and at the time of conversion,
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; it is not
necessary to amend the F-6 Registration Statement in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, the Indenture or the Notes.
(vii) Description of Agreements. The terms of the Notes, the Indenture, the ADSs and
the share capital of the Issuer, including the Shares represented by the ADSs, conform and
will conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Offering
Document.
(viii) No Finder’s Fee. Except as disclosed in the Offering Document, there are no
contracts, agreements or understandings between the Issuer and any person that would give
rise to a valid claim against the Issuer or any Manager for a brokerage commission, finder’s
fee or other like payment in connection with this offering.
(ix) Absence of Further Requirements. No consent, approval, authorization, order,
registration or qualification of or with any court or governmental agency or body is
required and no other
action or thing is required to be taken, fulfilled or done for the issue or offer of
the Notes or the consummation of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or
the Indenture, except for those which have been, or will on or prior to the Closing Date be,
obtained and are, or will on the Closing Date be, in full force and effect;
(x) Payments. Except as disclosed in the Offering Document, under current laws and
regulations of the Cayman Islands and the People’s Republic of China and any political
subdivision thereof, all interest, principal, premium, if any, and other payments due or
made on the Notes and dividends and other distributions declared and payable on the ADSs
representing the Underlying Shares issuable upon conversion thereof may be paid by the
Issuer to the holder thereof in United States dollars or currency that may be converted into
foreign currency and freely transferred out of the Cayman Islands and the People’s Republic
of China and all such payments made to holders thereof who are non-residents of the Cayman
Islands and the People’s Republic of China will not be subject to income, withholding or
other taxes under laws and regulations of the Cayman Islands and the People’s Republic of
China or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein and will otherwise
be free and clear of any other tax, duty, withholding or deduction in the Cayman Islands and
the People’s Republic of China or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or
therein and without the necessity of obtaining any governmental authorization in the Cayman
Islands and the People’s Republic of China or any political subdivision or taxing authority
thereof or therein.
(xi) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts Resulting from Transaction. The execution,
delivery and performance of the Indenture and this Agreement in connection with the issuance
and sale of the Notes, and the issuance and sale of the Notes, will not result in a breach
or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default or a Debt
Repayment Triggering Event (as defined below) under, or result in the imposition of any
lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Issuer or any of its
subsidiaries pursuant to, the charter or by-laws of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries,
any statute, rule, regulation or order of any governmental agency or body or any court,
domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries or any
of their properties or assets or infringe the rules of any stock exchange on which
securities of the Issuer are listed, or any agreement or instrument to which the Issuer or
any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries is
bound or to which any of the properties of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries is subject;
a “Debt Repayment Triggering Event” means any event or condition that gives, or with the
giving of notice or lapse of time would give, the holder of any note, debenture, or other
evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require
the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the
Issuer or any of its subsidiaries.
(xii) Disclosure. All statements of fact contained in the Preliminary Offering
Memorandum, including all documents incorporated by reference therein, were at the date
thereof and all statements of fact contained in the Offering Memorandum, including all
documents incorporated by reference therein, are true and accurate in all material respects
and not misleading in any material respect and there is no other fact or matter omitted from
the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, including all documents incorporated by reference
therein, or the Offering Memorandum, including all documents incorporated by reference
therein, which (i) was or is necessary to enable investors and their investment advisers to
make an informed assessment of the assets and liabilities, financial position, profits and
losses and prospects of the Issuer and of the rights attaching to the Notes or (ii) the
omission of which made or makes any statement therein misleading in any material respect or
(iii) in the context of the issue of the Notes was or is material for disclosure therein.
On the date of this Agreement, the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, including all documents
incorporated by reference therein, and the Offering Memorandum, including all documents
incorporated by reference therein, do not include any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding
sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Preliminary Offering
Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum based upon written information furnished to the
Issuer by any Manager specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the
only such information is that described as such in paragraph 2(b)(ii). Except as disclosed
in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum, on the date of this
Agreement, the Issuer’s Annual Report on Form 20-F most recently filed with the Commission
pursuant to the U.S.
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) does not include any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. Such document, when filed with the Commission, conformed in all material
respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions
from the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum based upon written
information furnished to the Issuer by any Manager specifically for use therein, it being
understood and agreed that the only such information is that described as such in paragraph
2(b)(ii);
(xiii) Property. Except as disclosed in the Offering Document, the Issuer and its
subsidiaries have good and marketable land use rights to all real properties and all other
properties and assets owned by them, in each case free from liens, charges, encumbrances and
defects that would materially affect the value thereof or materially interfere with the use
made or to be made thereof by them and, except as disclosed in the Offering Document, the
Issuer and its subsidiaries hold any leased real or personal property under valid and
enforceable leases (the “Issuer Leases”) with no terms or provisions that would materially
interfere with the use made or to be made thereof by them. Neither the Issuer nor any of
its subsidiaries is in default under any of the Issuer Leases, relating to, or any agreement
evidencing an Encumbrance on, any hotel operated or managed by the Issuer or its
subsidiaries that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations,
business, properties or prospects of the Issuer and its subsidiaries taken as a whole
(“Material Adverse Effect”), and neither the Issuer nor any of the subsidiaries knows of any
event, which but for the passage of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute
a default under any of such documents or agreements that would reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xiv) Absence of Existing Defaults and Conflicts. Neither the Issuer nor any of its
subsidiaries is in violation of its respective charter or by-laws or in default (or with the
giving of notice or lapse of time would be in default) under any existing obligation,
agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, lease
or other agreement or instrument to which any of them is a party or by which any of them is
bound or to which any of the properties of any of them is subject or in violation of any law
or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or
governmental or regulatory authority, except such defaults that would not, individually or
in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. Each franchise agreement or contract
of the Issuer that relates to the franchise of a hotel managed by the Issuer or its
subsidiaries has been duly executed by, or duly transferred and assigned to, Hemei or a PRC
Subsidiary whose authorized scope of business includes franchising.
(xv) Authorization of Deposit Agreement. The Deposit Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Issuer and, assuming due authorization, execution
and delivery by the Depositary, constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the
Issuer, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforceability, to
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability
relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles; upon due
issuance by the Depositary of the ADRs evidencing the Notes against the deposit of the
underlying Shares in respect thereof in accordance with the provisions of the Deposit
Agreement, such ADRs will be duly and validly issued and the persons in whose names the ADRs
are registered will be entitled to the rights specified therein and in the Deposit
Agreement; the Deposit Agreement and the ADRs conform in all material respects to the
descriptions thereof contained in the Offering Document.
(xvi) Possession of Licenses and Permits. The Issuer and its subsidiaries possess, and
are in compliance with the terms of, all adequate certificates, authorizations, franchises,
licenses and permits (“Licenses”) necessary or material to the conduct of the business now
conducted or proposed in the Offering Document to be conducted by them and have not received
any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any Licenses that,
if determined adversely to the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in
the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xvii) Absence of Labor Dispute. No labor dispute with the employees of the Issuer or
any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Issuer, is imminent, and the
Issuer is not aware of any
existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its or its
subsidiaries’ principal suppliers, contractors or customers, that, in any such case, could
have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xviii) Possession of Intellectual Property. The Issuer and its subsidiaries 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 rights”) necessary to conduct
the business now operated by them, or presently employed by them, and have not received any
notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any
intellectual property rights that, if determined adversely to the Issuer or any of its
subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xix) Environmental Laws. Except as disclosed in the Offering Document, neither the
Issuer nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any statute, any rule, regulation,
decision or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign,
relating to the use, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or relating to the
protection or restoration of the environment or human exposure to hazardous or toxic
substances (collectively, “environmental laws”), owns or operates any real property
contaminated with any substance that is subject to any environmental laws, is liable for any
off-site disposal or contamination pursuant to any environmental laws, or is subject to any
claim relating to any environmental laws, which violation, contamination, liability or claim
would individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect; and the Issuer is not
aware of any pending investigation which might lead to such a claim.
(xx) Accurate Disclosure. The statements in the Offering Document under the headings
“Summary”, “Risk Factors”, “Dividend Policy”, “Business”, “Enforceability of Civil
Liabilities”, “Management”, “Description of Share Capital”, “Description of American
Depositary Shares”, “Transfer Restrictions”, “Taxation” and “Plan of Distribution”, insofar
as such statements summarize legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings discussed
therein, are accurate and fair summaries of such legal matters, agreements, documents or
proceedings and present the material information required to be shown.
(xxi) Statistical and Market-Related Data. Any third-party statistical and
market-related data included in the Offering Document are based on or derived from sources
that the Issuer believes to be reliable and accurate and relevant third-party consents for
such data to be included therein have been duly obtained and have not been revoked.
(xxii) Internal Controls and Compliance with the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act. Except as set
forth in the Offering Document, the Issuer, its subsidiaries and the Issuer’s Board of
Directors (the “Board”), Audit Committee (“Audit Committee”) and Compensation Committee are
in compliance with Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx and all applicable Exchange Rules. The Issuer maintains a
system of internal controls, including, but not limited to, disclosure controls and
procedures, internal controls over accounting matters and financial reporting, an internal
audit function and legal and regulatory compliance controls (collectively, “Internal
Controls”) that comply with all securities laws, rules and regulations and are sufficient to
provide reasonable assurances that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with
management’s general or specific authorizations, (B) transactions are recorded as necessary
to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. General Accepted
Accounting Principles and to maintain accountability for assets, (C) access to assets is
permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (D) the
recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable
intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The Internal
Controls are, or upon consummation of the offering of the Notes will be, overseen by the
Audit Committee of the Board in accordance with Exchange Rules. Except as set forth in the
Offering Document, the Issuer has not publicly disclosed or reported to the Audit Committee
or the Board, and within the next 135 days the Issuer does not reasonably expect to publicly
disclose or report to the Audit Committee or the Board, a significant deficiency, material
weakness, change in Internal Controls or fraud involving management or other employees who
have a significant role in Internal Controls (each, an “Internal Control Event”), any
violation of, or failure to comply with, the Securities Laws, or any matter which, if
determined adversely, would have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xxiii) Absence of
Accounting Issues. The Board has confirmed to the Chief Executive
Officer, Chief Financial Officer or General Counsel that, except as set forth in the
Offering Document, the Board is not reviewing or investigating, and neither the Issuer’s
independent auditors nor its internal auditors have recommended that the Board review or
investigate, (A) adding to, deleting, changing the application of, or changing the Issuer’s
disclosure with respect to, any of the Issuer’s material accounting policies; (B) any matter
which could result in a restatement of the Issuer’s financial statements for any annual or
interim period during the current or prior three fiscal years; or (C) any Internal Control
Event.
(xxiv) Litigation. Except as disclosed in the Offering Document, there are no pending
actions, suits or proceedings (including any inquiries or investigations by any court or
governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign) against or affecting the Issuer, any of
its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties that, if determined adversely to the
Issuer or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a Material
Adverse Effect, or would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Issuer to
perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Deposit Agreement or the Indenture, or
which are otherwise material in the context of the sale of the Notes; and, to the Issuer’s
knowledge, no such actions, suits or proceedings (including any inquiries or investigations
by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign) are threatened or,
contemplated.
(xxv) Financial Statements. The financial statements included in Offering Document
comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of Regulation S-X under the
Act and present fairly the financial position of the Issuer, Home Inns Beijing, and the
Issuer’s consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates shown and their results of operations and
cash flows for the periods shown, and, except as otherwise disclosed in the Offering
Document, such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with the generally
accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis; and the
schedules included in the Offering Document present fairly the information required to be
stated therein.
(xxvi) Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. PricewaterhouseCoopers Xxxxx
Xxxx CPAs Limited Company (“PricewaterhouseCoopers”), who have audited the financial
statements incorporated by reference in the Offering Document, are independent public
accountants as required by the Act and are registered with the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board.
(xxvii) No Material Adverse Change in Business. Except as disclosed in the Offering
Document, since the end of the period covered by the latest audited financial statements
incorporated by reference in the Offering Document (A) there has been no change, nor any
development or event involving a prospective change, in the condition (financial or
otherwise), results of operations, business, properties or prospects of the Issuer and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole which would have a Material Adverse Effect, (B) except as
disclosed in or contemplated by the Offering Document, there has been no dividend or
distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Issuer on any class of its capital
stock, (C) except as disclosed in or contemplated by the Offering Document, there has been
no material adverse change in the capital stock, short-term indebtedness, long-term
indebtedness, net current assets or net assets of the Issuer and its subsidiaries, (D)
except as disclosed in or contemplated by the Offering Document, there has been no
transaction by the Issuer and its subsidiaries which would have a Material Adverse Effect,
and (E) except as disclosed in or contemplated by the Offering Document, there has been no
obligation, direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations), incurred by
the Issuer or any subsidiary which would have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xxviii) Investment Company Act. The Issuer is not and, after giving effect to the
offering and sale of the Notes and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in
the Offering Document, will not be an “investment company” as defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (the “Investment Company Act”) required to be registered under Section 8
of the United States Investment Company Act;
(xxix) No Events of Default. No event has occurred or circumstance arisen which, had
the Notes already been issued, might (whether or not with the giving of notice and/or the
passage of time and/or the fulfillment of any other requirement) constitute an event
described under “Events of Default” in the Terms and Conditions of the Notes in the Offering
Document;
(xxx) Payments
in Foreign Currency. Except as disclosed in the Offering Document,
under current laws and regulations of the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, the PRC and any
political subdivision thereof, all dividends and other distributions declared and payable on
the ADSs representing the Underlying Shares and the Shares represented thereby may be paid
by the Issuer to the holder thereof in United States dollars that may be converted into
foreign currency and freely transferred out of the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong and the PRC and
all such payments made to holders thereof or therein who are non-residents of the Cayman
Islands, Hong Kong or the PRC will not be subject to income, withholding or other taxes
under laws and regulations of the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, the PRC or any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein and will otherwise be free and clear of
any other tax, duty, withholding or deduction in the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong and the PRC
or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein and without the
necessity of obtaining any governmental authorization in the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong the
PRC or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein.
(xxxi) No Unlawful Payments. Neither the Issuer nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to
the best knowledge of the Issuer, any director, officer, agent, employee or other person
associated with or acting on behalf of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries has (A) used
any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful
expense relating to political activity; (B) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to
any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (C) violated
or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977; or (D)
made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.
(xxxii) Compliance with Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Issuer and its
subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable
financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions
Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the
rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or
guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any 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 the Issuer or any of its
subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge
of the Issuer, threatened.
(xxxiii) Compliance with OFAC. None of the Issuer, any of its subsidiaries or, to the
knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Issuer
or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the
Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”); and the
Issuer will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Notes
hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary,
joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities
of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.
(xxxiv) Tax Filings. The Issuer and its subsidiaries have filed all federal, state,
local and non-U.S. tax returns that are required to be filed or have requested extensions
thereof (except in any case in which the failure so to file would not have a Material
Adverse Effect); and, except as set forth in the Offering Document, the Issuer and its
subsidiaries have paid all taxes (including any assessments, fines or penalties) required to
be paid by them, except for any such taxes, assessments, fines or penalties currently being
contested in good faith or as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(xxxv) Insurance. Except as set forth in the Offering Document, the Issuer and its
subsidiaries, and to the best of the Issuer’s knowledge after due inquiry, the owners of the
properties leased and operated or franchised and managed by the Issuer, are insured by
insurers with appropriately rated claims paying abilities against such losses and risks and
in such amounts as are prudent and customary for the businesses in which they are engaged;
all policies of insurance insuring the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries, and to the best of
the Issuer’s knowledge after due inquiry, the owners of the properties leased and operated
or franchised and managed by the Issuer, or their respective assets are in full force and
effect; the Issuer and its subsidiaries, and to the best of the Issuer’s knowledge after due
inquiry, the owners of the properties leased and operated or franchised and managed by the
Issuer, are in compliance with the terms of such policies and instruments in all material
respects; and there are no claims
by the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries, or to the best of the Issuer’s knowledge after due inquiry, the owners of
the properties leased and operated or franchised and managed by the Issuer, under any such
policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending
under a reservation of rights clause; neither the Issuer nor any such subsidiary has been
refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for; neither the Issuer nor any such
subsidiary has any reason to believe that it, or to the best of the Issuer’s knowledge after
due inquiry, the owners of the properties leased and operated or franchised and managed by
the Issuer, will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such
coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to
continue its business at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set
forth in or contemplated in the Offering Document; and the Issuer will obtain directors’ and
officer’s insurance in such amounts as is customary.
(xxxvi) Related Party Transactions. There are no material relationships or transactions
between the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries on one hand and their respective 10% or
greater shareholders, affiliates, directors or officers, or any affiliates or members of the
immediate families of such persons, on the other hand that are not disclosed in the Offering
Document within the past three years.
(xxxvii) Passive Foreign Investment Company. The Issuer is not and does not expect to
be a Passive Foreign Investment Company (“PFIC”) within the meaning of Section 1297(a) of
the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and
published interpretations thereunder for the taxable year ending December 31, 2010 or the
foreseeable future.
(xxxviii) Stabilization. Neither the Issuer nor any subsidiary nor any of their
respective directors, officers, affiliates or controlling persons has taken, directly or
indirectly, any action designed, or which has constituted or might reasonably be expected to
cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, the stabilization or manipulation
of the price of any security of the Issuer to facilitate the sale or resale of the Notes.
(xxxix) No Transaction or Other Taxes. Except as disclosed in the Offering Document,
no transaction, stamp, capital or other issuance, registration, transaction, transfer or
withholding taxes or duties are payable in the PRC and the Cayman Islands by or on behalf of
the Managers to any PRC or Cayman Islands taxing authority in connection with (A) the
issuance, sale and delivery of the Notes by the Issuer and the delivery of the Notes to or
for the account of the Managers, (B) the purchase from the Issuer and the initial sale and
delivery by the Managers of the Notes to purchasers thereof, (C) in the event of conversion,
the issuance and deposit of Shares with the Depositary and Custodian (as defined in the
Deposit Agreement) and the issuance and delivery of the ADSs representing the Underlying
Shares by the Depositary, or (D) the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Indenture
and the Deposit Agreement.
(xl) Proper Form of Agreements. This Agreement, the Indenture and the Deposit Agreement
are or will be in proper form under the laws of the Cayman Islands for the enforcement
thereof against the Issuer in accordance with the laws of the Cayman Islands and to ensure
the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility into evidence in the Cayman of this
Agreement, the Indenture and the Deposit Agreement; it is not necessary that this Agreement,
the Indenture and the Deposit Agreement, the Offering Document or any other document be
filed or recorded with any court or other authority in the Cayman Islands or that any Cayman
Islands stamp duty or similar tax be paid on or in respect of this Agreement, the Indenture
and the Deposit Agreement or any other document to be furnished hereunder or thereunder.
(xli) Validity of Choice of Law. The choice of laws of the State of New York as the
governing law of this Agreement, the Indenture and the Deposit Agreement is or will be a
valid choice of law under the laws of the Cayman Islands and the PRC and will be honored by
courts in the Cayman Islands and, to the extent permitted under the PRC civil law and rules
of civil procedures, will be honored by the courts in the PRC. The Issuer has the power to
submit, and pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement, Section 7.8 of the Deposit Agreement
and Section [21] of the Indenture has legally, validly, effectively and irrevocably
submitted, to the personal jurisdiction of each United States federal court and New York
state court located in the Borough of Manhattan, in The City of New York, New York, U.S.A.
(each, a “New York Court”), and the Issuer has the power to designate, appoint and
authorize, and pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement, Section 7.8 of the Deposit
Agreement and Section [21] of the Indenture has legally, validly,
effectively and irrevocably designated, appointed an authorized agent for service of
process in any action arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the Deposit Agreement
and the Indenture or the Notes in any New York Court, and service of process effected on
such authorized agent will be effective to confer valid personal jurisdiction over the
Issuer as provided in Section 13 hereof.
(xlii) No Immunity. Neither
the Issuer or any subsidiary nor any of their respective
properties, assets or revenues has any right of immunity under Cayman Islands, PRC or New
York law, from any legal action, suit or proceeding, from the giving of any relief in any
such legal action, suit or proceeding, from set-off or counterclaim, from the jurisdiction
of any Cayman Islands, PRC, New York or U.S. federal court, from service of process,
attachment upon or prior to judgment, or attachment in aid of execution of judgment, or from
execution of a judgment, or other legal process or proceeding for the giving of any relief
or for the enforcement of a judgment, in any such court, with respect to its obligations,
liabilities or any other matter under or arising out of or in connection with this Agreement
or the Deposit Agreement; and, to the extent that the Issuer, or any subsidiary or any of
their respective properties, assets or revenues may have or may hereafter become entitled to
any such right of immunity in any such court in which proceedings may at any time be
commenced, each of the Issuer and the subsidiaries waives or will waive such right to the
extent permitted by law and has consented to such relief and enforcement as provided in
Section 14 of this Agreement;
(xliii) Judgment Currency. Any final judgment for a fixed sum of money rendered by a
New York Court having jurisdiction under its own domestic laws in respect of any suit,
action or proceeding against the Issuer based upon this Agreement, the Deposit Agreement and
the Indenture would be recognized and enforced against the Issuer by Cayman Islands courts
without re-examining the merits of the case under the common law doctrine of obligation;
provided that (A) adequate service of process has been effected and the defendant has had a
reasonable opportunity to be heard, (B) such judgments or the enforcement thereof are not
contrary to the law, public policy, security or sovereignty of the Cayman Islands, (C) such
judgments were not obtained by fraudulent means and do not conflict with any other valid
judgment in the same matter between the same parties, and (D) an action between the same
parties in the same matter is not pending in any Cayman Islands court at the time the
lawsuit is instituted in the foreign court; it is not necessary that this Agreement, the
Deposit Agreement, the Offering Document or any other document be filed or recorded with any
court or other authority in the Cayman Islands or the PRC.
(xliv) Critical Accounting Policies. The section entitled “Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the Offering Document
accurately and fully describes (A) accounting policies that the Issuer believes are the most
important in the portrayal of the Issuer’s financial condition and results of operations and
that require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments (“Critical
Accounting Policies”); (B) judgments and uncertainties affecting the application of Critical
Accounting Policies; and (C) the likelihood that materially different amounts would be
reported under different conditions or using different assumptions and an explanation
thereof; and the Issuer’s management have reviewed and agreed with the selection,
application and disclosure of the Critical Accounting Policies as described in the Offering
Document, and have consulted with its legal advisers and independent accountants with
regards to such disclosure.
(xlv) No Unapproved Marketing Documents. The Issuer has not distributed and, prior to
the later to occur of any Delivery Date and completion of the distribution of the Notes,
will not distribute any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the
Notes other than the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum.
(xlvi) Employee Benefits. Except as set forth in the Offering Document, the Issuer has
no obligation to provide retirement, death or disability benefits to any of the present or
past employees of the Issuer or any subsidiary, or to any other person; the Issuer and its
subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable laws relating to employee benefits.
(xlvii) No Broker-Dealer Affiliation. Except as set forth in the Offering Document,
there are no affiliations or associations between any member of the Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority, Inc.
(“FINRA”) and any of the officers or directors of the Issuer or the subsidiaries, or
holders of 5% or greater of the securities of the Issuer.
(xlviii) SAFE Compliance.
The Issuer has taken all reasonable steps to comply with,
and to ensure compliance by all of the Issuer’s shareholders who are PRC residents or PRC
citizens with any applicable rules and regulations of the State Administration of Foreign
Exchange (the “SAFE Rules and Regulations”), including without limitation, taking reasonable
steps to require each shareholder that is, or is directly or indirectly owned or controlled
by, a PRC resident or PRC citizen to complete any registration and other procedures required
under applicable SAFE Rules and Regulations.
(xlix) No Trading. None of the Issuer or any of the subsidiaries is engaged in any
trading activities involving commodity contracts or other trading contracts which are not
currently traded on a securities or commodities exchange and for which the market value
cannot be determined.
(l) M&A Rules. The Issuer is aware of and has been advised as to, the content of the
Rules on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors jointly
promulgated by the Ministry of Commerce, the State Assets Supervision and Administration
Commission, the State Tax Administration, the State Administration of Industry and Commerce,
the China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”) and the State Administration of Foreign
Exchange of the PRC on August 8, 2006 and effective as of September 8, 2006 (the “M&A
Rules”), in particular the relevant provisions thereof which purport to require offshore
special purpose vehicles (“SPVs”) formed for listing purposes and controlled directly or
indirectly by PRC companies or individuals, to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to the
listing and trading of their securities on stock exchange located outside of the PRC; the
Issuer has received legal advice specifically with respect to the M&A Rules from its PRC
counsel and the Issuer understands such legal advice; and the Issuer has fully communicated
such legal advice from its PRC counsel to each of its directors and each such director has
confirmed that he or she understands such legal advice.
(li) M&A Clarifications. The issuance and sale of the Notes and, upon conversion, of
the ADSs representing the Underlying Shares, the listing and trading of the ADSs on the
Nasdaq Global Market or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
the Deposit Agreement and the Indenture in connection with the issuance and sale of the
Notes is not and will not be, as of the date hereof or at each Delivery Date, adversely
affected by the M&A Rules or any official clarifications, guidance, interpretations or
implementation rules in connection with or related to the M&A Rules, including the guidance
and notices issued by the CSRC on September 8 and September 21, 2006, (collectively, the
“M&A Rules and Related Clarifications”).
(lii) Non-applicability of M&A Rules. As of the date hereof, the M&A Rules did not and
do not require the Issuer to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to the issuance and sale
of the Notes and, upon conversion, the ADSs representing the Underlying Shares, the listing
and trading of the ADSs representing the Underlying Shares on the Nasdaq Global Market, or
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Deposit Agreement
and the Indenture.
(liii) Disclosure of M&A Rules. The statements set forth in the Offering Document
under the caption “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business — If the relevant PRC
authorities take the position that this offering is subject to their approval because a
shareholder of ours is controlled by a state-owned entity, we may be subject to
administrative sanctions or penalties” are fair and accurate summaries of the matters
described therein, and nothing has been omitted from such summaries which would make the
same misleading in any material respect.
(liv) Reporting Requirements. The Issuer is subject to the reporting requirements of
either Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and files reports
with the Commission on the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (XXXXX)
system.
(lv) No Same Class of Securities. No securities of the same class (within the meaning
of Rule 144A(d)(3) under the Securities Act) as the Notes are listed on any national
securities exchange registered under Section 6 of the Exchange Act or quoted in a U.S.
automated inter-dealer quotation system.
(lvi) No Registration. The offer and sale of the Notes in the manner contemplated by
this Agreement will be exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act; and
it is not necessary to qualify an indenture in respect of the Notes under the United States
Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”).
(lvii) Foreign Issuer. The Issuer is a “foreign issuer” within the meaning of Rule 405
under the Act, and the Issuer reasonably believes that there is no substantial U.S. market
interest in the Notes.
(lviii) Valid Regulation S Offering. Neither the Issuer, nor any of its affiliates,
nor any person acting on its or their behalf (A) has, within the six-month period prior to
the date hereof, offered or sold in the United States or to any U.S. person (as such terms
are defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act) the Notes or any security of the same
class or series as the Notes or (B) has offered or will offer or sell the Notes (Y) in the
United States by means of any form of general solicitation or general advertising within the
meaning of Rule 502(c) under the Securities Act or (Z) with respect to any such securities
sold in reliance on Rule 903 of Regulation S (“Regulation S”) under the Securities Act, by
means of any directed selling efforts within the meaning of Rule 902(c) of Regulation S. The
Issuer, its affiliates and any person acting on its or their behalf have complied and will
comply with the offering restrictions requirement of Regulation S. The Issuer has not
entered and will not enter into any contractual arrangement with respect to the distribution
of the Notes except for this Agreement.
(lix) Valid Rule 144A Offering. As of the date of their issuance, the Notes will not
be, and no securities of the same class (within the meaning of Rule 144A(d)(3)) as the Notes
will be, (A) listed on a national securities exchange in the United States which is
registered under Section 6 of the Exchange Act, or (B) quoted in any “automated inter-dealer
quotation system” (as such term is used in the Exchange Act) in the United States; in
connection with the offering, until the Managers shall have notified the Issuer of the
completion of the distribution of the Notes being made within the United States by the 144A
Selling Agents, neither it nor any of its affiliates will make bids or purchases for the
purpose of creating actual, or apparent, active trading in or of raising the price of the
Notes or other securities into which the Notes, may in whole or significant part determine
the value of the Notes or which would otherwise be considered “reference securities” (as
defined in Rule 100 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act) (collectively, “Restricted
Securities”); and the offer and sale of the Notes by the Issuer to the Managers for resale
through the 144A Selling Agents in the manner contemplated by this Agreement will be exempt
from the registration requirements of the Securities Act by reason of Section 4(2) thereof.
(lx) Representation of Officers. Any certificate signed by any officer of the Issuer
and delivered to the Managers or counsel for the Managers as required or contemplated by
this Agreement shall constitute a representation and warranty hereunder by the Issuer, as to
matters covered thereby, to each Manager.
(b) Indemnity
(i) The commitment of the Managers under this Agreement being made on the basis of the
foregoing representations and warranties and with the intention that they shall remain true
and accurate in all respects up to and including the Closing Date, the Issuer will indemnify
and hold harmless each Manager and each 144A Selling Agent and individually each of its
directors, officers and/or each person who controls any Manager or 144A Selling Agent from
and against any loss, liability, cost, claim, action, demand or expense which any of them
may incur or which may be made against any of them arising out of or in relation to or in
connection with any breach or alleged breach of any such representation or warranty, any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the
Preliminary Offering Memorandum or Offering Memorandum, or any amendment or supplement
thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein
a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, and will reimburse each Manager and 144A Selling Agent for any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such Manager or 144A Selling Agent in connection with investigating
or defending any such loss, liability, cost, claim, action, demand or expense as such
expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Issuer will not be liable in any such
case to the extent that any such loss, liability, cost, claim, action, demand or expense
arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement in or
omission or alleged omission from any of such documents in reliance upon and in conformity
with written information furnished to the Issuer by any Manager or 144A Selling Agent
specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information
consists of the information described as such in clause (ii) below.
(ii) Each Manager will severally and not jointly indemnify and hold harmless the
Issuer, its directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Issuer within
the meaning Section 15 of the Securities Act, against any losses, liabilities, costs,
claims, actions, demands or expenses to which the Issuer may become subject, under the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, liabilities, costs,
claims, actions, demands or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are
based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained
in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and Offering Memorandum, or any amendment or
supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission
to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case to the
extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Issuer by such Manager or 144A Selling Agent specifically for
use therein, and will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the
Issuer in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, liability, cost, claim,
action, demand or expense as such expenses are incurred, it being understood and agreed that
the only such information furnished by any Manager or 144A Selling Agent consists of the
following information in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or Offering Memorandum
furnished on behalf of each Manager and 144A Selling Agent: the statements relating to
over-allotment, stabilizing transactions, covering transactions and penalty bids under the
caption “Plan of Distribution”.
(iii) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this paragraph 2(b) notice
of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under Clause (i) or (ii) above, notify
the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the failure to notify the
indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under subsection
(i) or (ii) above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the
forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided further that the
failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may
have to an indemnified party otherwise than under Clause (i) or (ii) 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 wish, 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), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party
of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not be liable
to such indemnified party under this paragraph 2(b) for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other
than reasonable costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior
written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened
action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity
could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement (i)
includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on any claims
that are the subject matter of such action 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 an indemnified
party.
(iv) If the indemnification provided for in this paragraph 2(b) is unavailable or
insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Clause (i) or (ii) above, then each
indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party
as a result of the losses, liabilities,
costs, claims, actions, demands or expenses referred to in Clause (i) or (ii) above (x)
in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Issuer
on the one hand and the Managers on the other from the offering of the Notes or (y) if the
allocation provided by clause (x) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause
(x) above but also the relative fault of the Issuer on the one hand and the Managers on the
other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses,
liabilities, costs, claims, actions, demands or expenses as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Issuer on the one hand and
the Managers on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net
proceeds from the offering of the Notes (before deducting expenses) received by the Issuer
bear to the total discounts and commissions received by the Managers from the Issuer under
this Agreement. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged
omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Issuer or the
Managers and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity
to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The amount paid by an indemnified
party as a result of the losses, liabilities, costs, claims, actions, demands or expenses
referred to in the first sentence of this Clause (iv) shall be deemed to include any legal
or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating or defending any action or claim which is the subject of this Clause (iv).
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Clause (iv), no Manager shall be required to
contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Notes
purchased and resold by it were resold exceeds the amount of any damages which such Manager
has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission. The Managers’ obligations in this Clause (iv) to contribute
are several in proportion to their respective purchase obligations and not joint.
(v) The obligations of the Issuer under this paragraph 2(b) shall be in addition to any
liability which the Issuer may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and
conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any Manager or 144A Selling Agent within
the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act; and the obligations of the Managers
and 144A Selling Agents under this paragraph 2(b) shall be in addition to any liability
which the respective Managers may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and
conditions, to each person, if any, who controls the Issuer within the meaning of the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
3. Covenants of the Issuer.
The Issuer undertakes with the Managers that:
(a) Offering Circular. The Issuer will prepare the Offering Document in a form approved by
the Managers in their reasonable discretion. The Issuer will advise the Managers promptly of any
proposal to amend or supplement the Offering Document and will not effect such amendment or
supplementation without the Managers consent. If, at any time prior to the completion of the resale
of the Notes by the Managers, any event occurs as a result of which the Offering Document as then
amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading, the Issuer promptly will notify the Managers of such
event and promptly will prepare, at its own expense, an amendment or supplement which will correct
such statement or omission. Neither the Managers’ consent to, nor the Managers’ delivery to
offerees or investors of, any such amendment or supplement shall constitute a waiver of any of the
conditions set forth in Section 7.
(b) Copies of Documents. The Issuer will furnish to the Managers copies of any Offering
Document and all amendments and supplements to such documents, in each case as soon as available
and in such quantities as the Managers may reasonably request, and the Issuer will furnish to the
Managers on the date hereof three copies of the Offering Document signed by a duly authorized
officer of the Issuer, one of which will include the independent accountants’ reports therein
manually signed by such independent accountants. The Issuer will pay the expenses of printing and
distributing to the Managers all such documents.
(c) Transfer Restrictions. During the period of two years after the later of the First
Closing Date and the last Optional Closing Date, the Issuer will, upon request, furnish to the
Managers and any holder of Notes a copy of the restrictions on transfer applicable to the Notes.
(d) Resales by Affiliates. During the period of two years after the later of the First
Closing Date and the last Optional Closing Date, the Issuer will not, and will not permit any of
its affiliates (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) to, resell any of the Notes that
have been reacquired by any of them, other than pursuant to an effective registration statement or
valid exemption under the Act which results in the ADSs registered thereon being freely tradeable
upon sale pursuant to such registration statement.
(e) Investment Company. During the period of five years after the later of the First Closing
Date and the last Optional Closing Date, the Issuer will not be or become, an investment company as
defined in the Investment Company Act that is or is required to be registered under Section 8 of
the Investment Company Act.
(f) Bids. In connection with the offering, until the Managers shall have notified the Issuer
of the completion of the resale of the Notes, neither the Issuer nor any of its affiliates has or
will, either alone or with one or more other persons, bid for or purchase for any account in which
it or any of its affiliates has a beneficial interest any Notes or attempt to induce any person to
purchase any Notes; and neither it nor any of its affiliates will make bids or purchases for the
purpose of creating actual, or apparent, active trading in, or of raising the price of, the Notes.
(g) Stamp Tax. The Issuer will indemnify and hold harmless the Managers against any
documentary, stamp or similar issuance tax, including any interest and penalties, on the creation,
issuance and sale of the Notes and on the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the
Indenture. All payments to be made by the Issuer hereunder shall be made without withholding or
deduction for or on account of any present or future taxes, duties or governmental charges
whatsoever unless the Issuer is compelled by law to deduct or withhold such taxes, duties or
charges. In that event, the Issuer shall pay such additional amounts as may be necessary in order
that the net amounts received after such withholding or deduction shall equal the amounts that
would have been received if no withholding or deduction had been made.
(h) Listing of ADSs. The Issuer will use its best efforts to cause the ADSs representing the
Underlying Shares to be listed on the Nasdaq Global Market and to maintain such listing.
(i) Reserve Shares. The Issuer will at all times reserve and keep available, free of
preemptive rights, Shares in an amount sufficient to satisfy the Issuer’s obligations to issue
Underlying Shares upon conversion of the Notes.
(j) Use of Proceeds. The Issuer will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Notes in the
manner set forth under the caption “Use of proceeds” in the Offering Document; the Issuer will not
use, and will cause its subsidiaries not to use, the proceeds from the sale of any Notes, directly
or indirectly, for any purpose or activity that would cause the Managers or any purchaser of the
Notes or Underlying Shares, by virtue of their purchasing or holding any Notes or the Underlying
Shares, to be in violation of the Trading With the Enemy Act, as amended, the International
Emergency Economic Powers Act, as amended, or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the
United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any enabling
legislation or executive order relating thereto, or in connection with business, operations or
contracts with the governments or with any person or entity of the Balkans, Burma (Myanmar), Cuba,
Iraq, Iran, Libya, Liberia, North Korea, Sudan, Zimbabwe or any person or entity that is subject to
sanctions under any program administered by the OFAC.
(k) Stabilization. The Issuer will not, and to cause the subsidiaries not to, take, directly
or indirectly, any action designed, or which will constitute, or has constituted, or might
reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any
security of the Issuer to facilitate the sale or resale of the Notes or the ADSs (including the
Underlying Shares represented thereby).
(l) Transfer Agent. The Issuer will maintain a transfer agent and, if necessary under the
jurisdiction of incorporation of the Issuer, a registrar for the Shares.
(m) Settlement System. The Issuer will use its best efforts to cause the Notes to be eligible
for clearance and settlement through the facilities of The Depositary Trust Company, Euroclear and
Clearstream.
(n) No Registration. The Issuer will not, and will cause the subsidiaries not to, and will
use its reasonable efforts to cause its or its subsidiaries’ affiliates over which the Issuer
exercises control not to, directly or through any agent, sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to
buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any security (as defined in the Securities Act), which
sale, offer, solicitation or negotiation could be integrated with the sale of the Notes in a manner
which would require the registration under the Act of the sale of the Notes to the Managers.
(o) Additional Disclosure. The Issuer will not, without the prior consent of the Managers,
make any disclosure document other than the Offering Document.
(p) Judgment. The Issuer hereby agrees (i) not to attempt to avoid any judgment obtained by
it or denied to it in a court of competent jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands; (ii) following
the consummation of the offering of the Notes, to use its best efforts to obtain and maintain all
approvals required in the Cayman Islands to pay and remit outside the Cayman Islands all dividends
declared by the Issuer and payable on the Shares; and (iii) to use its best efforts to obtain and
maintain all approvals required in the Cayman Islands for the Issuer to acquire sufficient foreign
exchange for the payment of dividends and all other relevant purposes.
(q) Deposit Agreement. The Issuer hereby agrees to comply with the terms of the Deposit
Agreement, including without limitation, the covenants set forth in the Deposit Agreement.
(r) Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx. The Issuer hereby agrees to comply with the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act, and to
use its best efforts to cause the Issuer’s directors and officers, in their capacities as such, to
comply with the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act.
(s) Definitive Notes. The Issuer will use its best endeavors to make such arrangements
satisfactory to the Managers as it can to ensure that the definitive Notes are printed and issued
as provided in the Indenture;
(t) Documentation. So long as any of the Notes remains outstanding, the Issuer will furnish to
the Managers, copies of each document filed by the Issuer with the Nasdaq Global Market and copies
of financial statements and other periodic reports that the Issuer may furnish generally to holders
of its debt securities;
(u) PORTAL and DTC. The Issuer will assist the Managers in arranging for the Notes to be
designated Private Offerings, Resales and Trading through Automated Linkages (“PORTAL”) Market
securities in accordance with the rules and regulations adopted by FINRA relating to trading in the
PORTAL Market and for the Securities to be eligible for clearance and settlement through the
Depository Trust Company;
(v) Information Requirements. At any time prior to two years after the last Closing Date when
the Issuer is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and is not exempt from
reporting under the Exchange Act pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b), the Issuer will furnish as soon as
available to the Managers and, upon request, to holders of the Notes and prospective purchasers of
the Notes, copies of the information required to be delivered to holders and prospective purchasers
of the Notes and take such further action as may be reasonably requested by the Managers and the
holders of the Notes in writing (including, without limitation, making such representations as any
such holder of Notes may reasonably request), all to the extent required from time to time to
enable such holders of Notes to sell the Notes without registration under the Securities Act within
the limitations of the exemptions provided by Rule 144, Rule 144A or Regulation S under the
Securities Act and customarily taken in connection with sales pursuant to such exemptions. Upon the
written request of the Managers or any holder of Notes, the Issuer shall deliver a written
statement as to whether the Issuer has duly filed all reports required to be filed by it under
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the preceding twelve months, unless such a statement
has been included in the Issuer’s most recent report filed by it under Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act. The Issuer will pay the expenses of printing and distributing to the Managers all
such documents;
(w) Lock-up. Neither the Issuer, nor any of its subsidiaries or other affiliates over which it
exercises management or voting control, nor any person acting on its or their behalf will, directly
or indirectly, take any of the
following actions, or publicly disclose the intention to take any such actions, with respect
to any Notes or Shares or ADSs, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable
for any Notes, Shares or ADSs, for a period of 90 days after the date of the Final Offering
Memorandum without the prior written consent of the Managers: (i) offer, sell, issue, contract to
sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of any such securities, (ii) offer, sell, issue, contract to
sell, contract to purchase or grant any option, right or warrant to purchase any such securities,
(iii) enter into any swap, hedge or any other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, the
economic consequences of ownership of any such securities, (iv) establish or increase a put
equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position in any such securities
within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act or (v) file with the Commission a registration
statement under the Securities Act relating to any such securities; provided that the foregoing
restrictions will not apply to (a) the issuance of the Notes pursuant to this Agreement or ADSs
upon conversion of the Notes, (b) the issuance of ADSs, or securities convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for Shares or ADSs, pursuant to the conversion or exchange of
convertible or exchangeable securities or the exercise of warrants or options, in each case
outstanding on the date hereof, or (c) grants of share options, share awards or restricted share
units, or issuances of Shares, pursuant to the terms of a share incentive plan or employee stock
purchase plan in effect on the date hereof (provided that such securities, other than Shares issued
pursuant to our employee share purchase plan, do not vest or are otherwise non-transferable during
the 90-day period referred to above), or issuances of Shares pursuant to the exercise of such
options granted during the 90-day period referred to above (provided such Shares are
non-transferable during such 90-day period). The Issuer will not at any time offer, sell, contract
to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any securities under circumstances
where such offer, sale, pledge, contract or disposition would cause the exemption afforded by
Section 4(2) of the Securities Act or the safe harbor of Regulation S thereunder to cease to be
applicable to the offer and sale of the Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, issues, offers,
sales, contracts to sell, pledges or disposals as aforesaid may be made to executives of the Issuer
and/or its subsidiaries if such issues, offers, sales, contracts to sell, pledges or disposals are
made as part of a management incentive scheme, without the consent of the Managers in a manner
consistent with past practice.
4. Commissions.
In consideration of the agreement by the Managers to act as the agents of the Issuer in
relation to the issue of the Notes and to subscribe and pay for the Notes, the Issuer will pay to
the Managers commissions calculated on the principal amount of the Notes of 2.875 per cent for
management and underwriting. Such commission shall be deducted from the subscription monies for
the Notes as provided in paragraph 6.
5. Costs and Expenses.
The Issuer agrees to:
(a) pay all expenses (together with VAT where applicable) incidental to the performance of its
obligations under this Agreement, the Indenture and the Deposit Agreement, including (i) the fees
and expenses of the Trustee, Agent and Depositary and their professional advisers; (ii) all
expenses in connection with the execution, issue, authentication, packaging and initial delivery of
the Notes, the preparation and printing of this Agreement, the Notes, the Indenture, the Deposit
Agreement, the Offering Document and amendments and supplements thereto, and any other document
relating to the issuance, offer, sale and delivery of the Notes; (iii) the cost of any advertising
approved by the Issuer in connection with the issue of the Notes, (iv) the costs and expenses of
the Company relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the
marketing of the Notes including, without limitation, expenses associated with the production of
road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the
road show presentations, travel and lodging expenses of the Managers and officers of the Company
and any such consultants, and the cost of aircraft and other transportation chartered in conection
with the road show, (v) for any fees charged by investment rating agencies for the rating of the
Securities or the Exchange Securities, (vi) for expenses incurred in distributing the Offering
Document (including any amendments and supplements thereto) to the Managers, (vii) the
qualification of the Notes under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(d)
hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Managers
in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation of the Blue Sky Survey and any
supplement thereto, (viii) any fees and expenses of the Company payable in connection with the
initial and continued designation of the Notes as PORTAL securities, (ix) any filing for review by
FINRA of the Notes and, (x) any fees and expenses relating to the qualification of the ADSs for
listing on the Nasdaq Global
Market following conversion of the Notes. The Issuer will also pay or reimburse the Managers
(to the extent incurred by them) for all travel expenses of the Issuer’s officers and employees and
any other expenses of the Issuer in connection with attending or hosting meetings with prospective
purchasers of the Notes from the Managers;
(b) indemnify and hold the Managers harmless against any stamp, issue, registration,
documentary or other taxes and duties, including any interest and penalties, on or in connection
with the creation, issue, offering or sale of the Notes or the execution and delivery of this
Agreement or the Indenture; and
(c) pay to the Managers an amount of up to US$200,000 by way of contribution towards the fees
of their legal advisers and other expenses and disbursements (including any irrecoverable VAT)
incurred by the Managers in connection with the preparation and management of the issue, including
but not limited to those in respect of couriers, travel, telex, telephone, postage and other
out-of-pocket expenses, in particular, expenses relating to printing, marketing and publicity.
The Issuer agrees to make the payments provided for in paragraphs 5(a) and (c) above whether
or not the subscription and sale of the Notes is consummated.
All payments by the Issuer under this Agreement shall be paid without set-off or counterclaim,
and free and clear of and without deduction or withholding for or on account of, any present or
future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, fees, assessments or other charges of whatever nature, or by
any department, agency or other political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, and all
interest, penalties or similar liabilities with respect thereto (“Taxes”). If any Taxes are
required by law to be deducted or withheld in connection with such payments, the Issuer will
increase the amount paid so that the full amount of such payment is received.
6. Closing.
(a) At 10.00 hours (New York City time) (or such other time as may be agreed between the
Managers and the Issuer) on December 21, 2010 or such other time and date, not later than ten
business days after the date hereof as the Issuer and the Managers shall determine (the “Closing
Date”), the Issuer will issue and deliver to the Managers or their order in such place as they may
reasonably require the Regulation S Global Note and the DTC Restricted Global Note duly executed
and authenticated.
(b) Against such delivery the Managers will pay or cause to be paid to the Issuer the net
subscription moneys for the Notes (namely the Selling Price for the Notes, less the commissions
referred to in paragraph 4 and the amount referred to in paragraph 5(c)). Such payment shall be
arranged by the Managers, in Federal (same day) funds by official check or checks or wire transfer
to an account of a bank acceptable to the Managers.
7. Conditions Precedent.
The obligations of the Managers to subscribe and pay for the Notes is subject to the following
conditions precedent:
(a) Upon the signing of this Agreement, there shall have been delivered to the Managers
letters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, containing statements
and information of the type customarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters
with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained or
incorporated by reference in the Offering Document, dated the date of this Agreement, of
PricewaterhouseCoopers, in the agreed form;
(b) On the Closing Date, there shall have been delivered to the Managers letters, dated the
Closing Date, of Pricewaterhouse Coopers, which meets the requirements of subsection (a) of this
Section, except that the specified date referred to in such subsection will be a date not more than
three days prior to such Closing Date for the purposes of this subsection;
(c) On or prior to the Closing Date, there shall have been delivered to the Managers opinions,
dated the Closing Date, of:
(i) Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP, United States counsel to the Issuer, in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Managers, to the effect set forth in
Schedule E-1 hereto;
(ii) Xxxxxx and Calder, Cayman Islands counsel to the Issuer, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Managers, to the effect set forth in Schedule E-2 hereto;
(iii) Commerce & Finance Law Officers, PRC counsel to the Issuer, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Managers, to the effect set forth in Schedule E-3 hereto;
(iv) Li & Partners, Hong Kong counsel to the Issuer, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Managers, to the effect set forth in Schedule E-4 hereto;
(v) Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP, United States counsel to the Managers, in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Managers;
(vi) Haiwen & Partners, PRC counsel to the Managers, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Managers;
(vii) Xxxxx Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx LLP, counsel to the Depositary, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Managers, to the effect set forth in Schedule E-5 hereto;
(viii) Xxxxxxxx Chance, counsel to the Trustee, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Managers, to the effect set forth in Schedule E-6 hereto;
(d) At the Closing Date (i) the representations and warranties of the Issuer herein shall be
accurate and correct at, and as if made on, the Closing Date; (ii) the Issuer shall have performed
all of its obligations hereunder to be performed on or before the Closing Date; and (iii) there
shall have been delivered to the Managers a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, of a duly
authorized officer of the Issuer to such effect;
(e) At the Closing Date there shall have occurred no downgrading, nor shall any notice have
been given of (i) any intended or potential downgrading or (ii) any review or possible change which
indicates the direction of any such change, in a rating solicited by the Issuer, accorded to any
other debt securities of the Issuer by any rating agency;
(f) At the Closing Date there shall not have occurred any change, or any development or event
involving a prospective change, in the condition (financial or other), business, properties,
prospects or results of or the operations of the Issuer or the Consolidated Group from that set
forth in the Offering Document, which, in the sole discretion of the Managers, is material and
adverse and which makes it, in the sole discretion of the Managers, impracticable to market the
Notes on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Offering Document;
(g) The Deposit Agreement shall be in full force and effect;
(h) The Depositary shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the Managers a
certificate satisfactory to the Managers of one of its authorized officers stating that, (i) with
respect to the deposit of shares by non-affiliates of the Issuer upon conversion of the Issuer, the
Depositary waives its right under Section 5.7 of the Deposit Agreement to receive an opinion of
U.S. counsel for the Issuer covering the matters set forth in Section 5.7 of the Deposit Agreement
and (ii) such other matters related thereto as the Managers reasonably request;
(i) The Indenture (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Managers) shall have
been duly executed and delivered by the Issuer and the Trustee, and the Notes shall have been duly
executed and delivered by the Issuer and duly authenticated by the Trustee;
(j) The Managers shall have received copies, duly executed by the Issuer and the other party
or parties thereto, of the Indenture, the Deposit Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement;
(k) The Notes shall have been accepted for clearance and settlement through the facilities of
The Depositary Trust Company, Euroclear and Clearstream;
(l) There shall exist no event or condition which would constitute a default or an event of
default under the Notes or the Indenture;
(m) No amendment or supplement to the Offering Document shall have been made to which the
Managers shall have reasonably objected in writing;
(n) The Managers shall have received evidence of the appointment of Law Debenture Corporate
Services Inc., 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 as provided in
Section 13 hereof;
(o) On or prior to the Closing Date, the Managers shall have received agreements substantially
in the form of Schedule F hereto, signed by each executive officer and director of the Issuer and
effective as of the date hereof;
(p) And such other resolutions, consents, authorities and documents relating to the issue of
the Notes, as the Managers may reasonably require.
Documents which are described as being “in the agreed form” are documents in the form of those
which have been initialed for the purposes of identification by Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP,
copies of which are held by the Issuer and the Managers, with such changes as the Managers and the
Issuer may approve.
If any of the conditions set forth in this paragraph 7 is not satisfied on or prior to the
Closing Date, the parties hereto shall be released and discharged from their respective obligations
hereunder (except for the liability of the Issuer for the payment of costs and expenses as provided
in paragraph 5, for the obligation of any Managers under paragraph 1(a) and for the respective
obligations of the parties pursuant to paragraphs 8 and 9). The Issuer agrees to make the payments
provided for in paragraphs 5(a) and 5(c) above whether or not the subscription and sale of the
Notes is consummated. The Managers, may at their discretion, however, waive compliance with the
whole or any part of this paragraph.
8. Restrictions.
(a) No action has been taken or will be taken in any jurisdiction by the Managers or the
Issuer that would permit a public offering of the Notes, or possession or distribution of the
Offering Document (in preliminary or final form) or any amendment or supplement thereto or any
other offering or publicity material relating to the Notes, in any country or jurisdiction where
action for that purpose is required. Each Manager will comply with all applicable laws and
regulations in each jurisdiction in which it acquires, purchases, offers, sells or delivers Notes
or has in its possession or distributes the Offering Document (in preliminary or final form) or any
amendment or supplement thereto or any other offering material, in all cases at its own expense.
The Issuer and the Managers will have no responsibility for, and each Manager will obtain any
consent, approval or permission required by it for, the acquisition, offer, sale or delivery by it
of Notes under the laws and regulations in force in any jurisdiction to which it is subject or in
or from which it makes any acquisition, offer, sale or delivery. No Manager is authorized to make
any representation or use any information in connection with the issue, subscription and sale of
the Notes other than as contained in the Offering Document (in final form) or any amendment or
supplement thereto.
(b) Each Manager represents that it and any 144A Selling Agent affiliated with it is an
“accredited investor” within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act.
(c) Each Manager acknowledges that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act
and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of,
U.S. persons except in accordance with Regulation S or pursuant to an exemption from the
registration requirements of the Securities Act. Each Manager severally represents and agrees that
it has offered and sold, and will offer and sell the Notes (i) as part of its distribution at any
time and (ii) otherwise until 40 days after the later of the commencement of the offering and the
last Closing Date, only in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 144A. Accordingly, neither any Manager
nor its affiliates, nor any persons acting on its or their behalf, have engaged or will engage in any
directed selling efforts with respect to the Notes, and each Manager, its affiliates and all
persons acting on its or their behalf have complied and will comply with the offering restrictions
requirement of Regulation S. Each Manager agrees that, at or prior to confirmation of sale of the
Notes (other than a sale pursuant to Rule 144A), the Manager will have sent to each distributor,
dealer or person receiving a selling concession, fee or other remuneration that purchases the Notes
from it during the restricted period a confirmation or notice to substantially the following
effect:
“The Securities covered hereby have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of
1933 (the “Securities Act”) and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to,
or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (i) as part of their distribution at any time
or (ii) otherwise until 40 days after the date of the commencement of the offering and the
closing date, except in either case in accordance with Regulation S (or Rule 144A if
available) under the Securities Act. Terms used above have the meanings given to them by
Regulation S.”
Terms used in this subparagraph (c) have the meanings given to them by Regulation S.
(d) Each Manager severally represents and agrees that it and each of its affiliates has not
entered and will not enter into any contractual arrangement with respect to the distribution of the
Notes except for arrangements with the 144A Selling Agents and except for any such arrangements
with the other Managers or affiliates of the other Managers or with the prior written consent of
the Issuer.
(e) Each Manager severally agrees that it and each of its affiliates will not offer or sell
the Notes in the United States by means of any form of general solicitation or general advertising
within the meaning of Rule 502(c) under the Securities Act, including, but not limited to (i) any
advertisement, article, notice or other communication published in any newspaper, magazine or
similar media or broadcast over television or radio, or (ii) any seminar or meeting whose attendees
have been invited by any general solicitation or general advertising. Each Manager severally
agrees, with respect to resales made in reliance on Rule 144A by it or on its behalf by any Selling
Agent, other than through the PORTAL market, of any of the Notes, to deliver or cause to be
delivered either with the confirmation of such resale or otherwise prior to settlement of such
resale a notice to the effect that the resale of such Notes has been made in reliance upon the
exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided by Rule 144A.
(f) Each Manager severally represents and agrees that it has not offered or sold and prior to
the expiry of a period of six months from the closing date, will not offer or sell any Notes to
persons in the United Kingdom except to persons whose ordinary activities involve them in
acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes
of their businesses or otherwise in circumstances which have not resulted and will not result in an
offer to the public in the United Kingdom within the meaning of the Public Offers of Securities
Regulations 1995; it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate
or cause to be communicated any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within
the meaning of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Xxx 0000 (the “FSMA”)) received by
it in connection with the issue or sale of any Notes in circumstances in which section 21(1) of the
FSMA does not apply to the Issuer; and it has complied and will comply with all applicable
provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the Notes in, from or
otherwise involving the United Kingdom.
9. Termination.
(a) Notwithstanding anything contained herein, the Managers may, by notice to the Issuer given
at any time prior to payment of the net subscription moneys for the Notes to the Issuer, terminate
this Agreement in any of the following circumstances:-
(i) if there shall have come to the notice of the Managers any material breach of, or
any event rendering untrue or incorrect in any respect, any of the warranties and
representations contained in paragraph 2 or any failure to perform any of the Issuer’s
undertakings or agreements in this Agreement;
(ii) if any of the conditions specified in paragraph 7 has not been satisfied or waived
by the Managers; or
(iii) if, in the Managers’ opinion, there shall have been since the date of this
Agreement such a change in national or international financial, political or economic
conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls as would in its view be likely to
prejudice materially the success of the offering and distribution of the Notes or dealings
in the Notes in the secondary market.
(b) Upon such notice being given this Agreement shall terminate and be of no further effect
and no party shall be under any liability to any other in respect of this Agreement, except that
(i) the Issuer shall remain liable under paragraph 5(a) and 5(c) for the payment of the costs and
expenses already incurred or incurred in consequence of such termination, and (ii) the respective
obligations of the parties under paragraph 2(b) which would have continued had the arrangements for
the subscription and issue of the Notes been completed, shall continue.
(c) If any Manager or Managers default in their obligations to purchase the Notes hereunder on
either the First Closing Date or any Optional Closing Date and the aggregate principal amount of
Notes that such defaulting Manager or Managers agreed but failed to purchase does not exceed 10% of
the total principal amount of the Notes that the Managers are obligated to purchase on such Closing
Date, the non-defaulting Manager(s) may make arrangements satisfactory to the Issuer for the
purchase of such Notes by other persons, including any of the Managers, but if no such arrangements
are made by such Closing Date, the non-defaulting Managers shall be obligated severally, in
proportion to their respective commitments hereunder, to purchase the Notes that such defaulting
Managers agreed but failed to purchase on such Closing Date. If any Manager or Managers so default
and the aggregate principal amount of the Notes with respect to which such default or defaults
occur exceeds 10% of the total principal amount of the Notes that the Managers are obligated to
purchase on such Closing Date and arrangements satisfactory to the non-defaulting Manager(s) and
the Issuer for the purchase of such Offered Securities by other persons are not made within 36
hours after such default, this Agreement will terminate without liability on the part of any
non-defaulting Manager or the Issuer, except as provided in Section 9 (provided that if such
default occurs with respect to Optional Notes after the First Closing Date, this Agreement shall
not terminate as to the Firm Notes or any Optional Notes purchased prior to such termination). As
used in this Agreement, the term “Manager” includes any person substituted for a Manager under this
Section. Nothing herein will relieve a defaulting Manager from liability for its default.
10. Survival of Representations and Obligations.
The representations, warranties, agreements, undertakings and indemnities herein shall
continue in full force and effect notwithstanding completion of the arrangements for the
subscription and issue of the Notes.
11. Absence of Fiduciary Relationship. The Issuer acknowledges and agrees that:
(a) The Managers have been retained solely to act as initial purchaser(s) in connection with
the sale of Notes and that no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between Issuer and the
Managers have been created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
irrespective of whether the Managers have advised or are advising the Issuer on other matters;
(b) The price of the Notes set forth in this Agreement was established by the Issuer following
discussions and arms-length negotiations with the Managers and the Issuer is capable of evaluating
and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement;
(c) It has been advised that the Managers and their affiliates are engaged in a broad range of
transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of the Issuer and that the Managers
have no obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to the Issuer by virtue of any
fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship; and
(d) It waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have against the
Managers for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty and agrees that the
Managers shall have no liability (whether direct or indirect) to the Issuer in respect of such a
fiduciary duty claim or to any person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on behalf of or in right of
the Issuer, including stockholders, employees or creditors of the Issuer.
12. Notices.
Any notice or notification in any form to be given by the Managers to the Issuer may be
delivered in person or sent by letter or facsimile transmission or telex (but in the case of
notification by facsimile transmission or telex with subsequent confirmation by letter) addressed
to it at Home Inns & Hotels Management Inc., Xx. 000 Xxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 000000,
People’s Republic of China, Attention: Chief Financial Officer, Fax x00 00 0000 0000.
Any notice or notification to the Managers shall be addressed to them at (a) Credit Suisse
Securities (USA) LLC, x/x Xxxxxx Xxxxxx (Xxxx Xxxx) Limited, Xxxxx 00, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, 0 Xxxxxx Xxxx West, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Fax x000-0000-0000 (Attention: Legal and Compliance
Department) and (b) X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Ltd., c/o JPM Securities (Asia Pacific) Limited, Xxxxxx
Xxxxx, 00/X, 0 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxx, Fax x000-0000-0000 (Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx).
Any such notice shall take effect, in the case of a letter, at the time of delivery, in the case of
facsimile transmission at the time of despatch or in the case of a telex on receipt of an
answerback confirmation by such Manager.
13. English Documents
All documents to be delivered under or pursuant to any provision of this Agreement by the
Issuer shall be in the English language or accompanied by a certified English translation but the
English language version shall be the prevailing version in the event of inconsistency between the
English language version and any other language version.
14. Governing Law.
This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State
of New York without regard to principles of conflicts of laws.
The Issuer hereby submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal and state courts in
the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any suit or proceeding arising out of or
relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. The Issuer irrevocably
appoints Law Debenture Corporate Services Inc., 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000, as its authorized agent in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York upon
which process may be served in any such suit or proceeding, and agrees that service of process upon
such agent, and written notice of said service to the Issuer, by the person serving the same to the
address provided in paragraph 11, shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process
upon the Issuer in any such suit or proceeding. The Issuer further agrees to take any and all
action as may be necessary to maintain such designation and appointment of such agent in full force
and effect for a period of seven years from the date of this Agreement.
The obligation of the Issuer in respect of any sum due to any Manager or 144A Selling Agent
shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency other than United States dollars, not be
discharged until the first business day, following receipt by such Manager or 144A Selling Agent of
any sum adjudged to be so due in such other currency, on which (and only to the extent that) such
Manager or 144A Selling Agent may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase United
States dollars with such other currency; if the United States dollars so purchased are less than
the sum originally due to such Manager or 144A Selling Agent hereunder, the Issuer agrees, as a
separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify such Manager or 144A
Selling Agent against such loss. If the United States dollars so purchased are greater than the
sum originally due to such Manager or 144A Selling Agent hereunder, such Manager or 144A Selling
Agent shall pay to the Issuer an amount equal to
the excess of the dollars so purchased over the sum originally due to such Manager or 144A
Selling Agent hereunder.
15. Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an
original.
Please confirm that this Agreement correctly sets out the arrangements agreed between us.
Yours faithfully, Home Inns & Hotels Management Inc. |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxx | |||
Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
To: Home Inns & Hotels Management Inc.
We confirm that the foregoing Agreement correctly sets out the arrangements agreed between us.
Yours faithfully, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Managing Director | |||
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Ltd. |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxx | |||
Title: | Associate | |||
Each by its duly authorized attorney: |
SCHEDULE A
FORM OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
SCHEDULE B
[On the letterhead of the Managers]
December [•], 2010
Dear Sirs,
PURCHASE AGREEMENT RELATING TO THE PURCHASE OF 2.00% CONVERTIBLE SENIOR NOTES DUE
DECEMBER 15, 2015
DECEMBER 15, 2015
OVER-ALLOTMENT OPTION NOTICE
We, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Ltd., the Managers, hereby
irrevocably exercise the Over-Allotment Option contained in paragraph 1(b) of the Purchase
Agreement dated December 14, 2010 for [•] Optional Notes (as defined in the Purchase Agreement).
Payment for, and delivery of, the Optional Notes shall take place not later than 10:00 hours (New
York time) on December [•], 2010.
Yours faithfully, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Ltd. |
||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: |
SCHEDULE C
List of Documents incorporated by reference into
Offering Memorandum
Offering Memorandum
1. 2009 Annual Report on Form 20-F (File number: 001-33082)
SCHEDULE D
LIST OF OPERATING SUBSIDIARIES AND JOINT VENTURES
1
2
3
4
SCHEDULE E-1
FORM OF OPINION OF SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE, XXXXXXX & XXXX LLP, UNITED STATES COUNSEL TO THE ISSUER
Based upon the foregoing and subject to the limitations, qualifications, exceptions and assumptions
set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:
1. | The Purchase Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company, to the
extent such execution and delivery are governed by the laws of the State of New York. |
2. | The Indenture has been duly executed and delivered by the Company, to the extent such
execution and delivery are governed by the laws of the State of New York, and, assuming the
due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee, is a valid and binding
agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms. |
3. | The Registration Rights Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company,
to the extent such execution and delivery are governed by the laws of the State of New
York, and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Initial
Purchasers, is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the
Company in accordance with its terms. |
4. | The Deposit Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company, to the
extent such execution and delivery are governed by the laws of the State of New York, and,
assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Depositary, is a
valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance
with its terms. |
5. | The execution and delivery by the Company of each of the Transaction Documents and the
consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the
issuance and sale of the Securities, will not violate or conflict with, or result in any
contravention of, any Applicable Law. |
6. | No Governmental Approval, which has not been obtained or taken and is not in full force
and effect, is required to authorize, or is required for, the execution or delivery of each
of the Transaction Documents by the Company or the consummation by the Company of the
transactions contemplated thereby. |
7. | The Securities Certificate has been duly executed by the Company, to the extent such
execution and delivery are governed by the laws of the State of New York, and when duly
authenticated by the Trustee and issued and delivered by the Company against payment
therefor in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement and the Indenture, the
Securities Certificate will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company
entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and enforceable against the Company in accordance
with their terms. |
8. | The statements in the Time of Sale Information and the Offering Memorandum in
paragraphs 2, 4, and 10 under the caption “Plan of Distribution,” insofar as such
statements purport to summarize certain provisions of the Purchase Agreement, fairly
summarize such provisions in all material respects. |
9. | The statements in the Time of Sale Information and the Offering Memorandum under the
captions “Description of Notes,” insofar as such statements purport to summarize certain
provisions of the Indenture and the Securities, other than “Book-Entry Delivery and Form”
fairly summarize such provisions in all material respects. |
10. | The statements in the Time of Sale Information and the Offering Memorandum under the
captions “Description of American Depositary Shares,” insofar as such statements purport to
summarize certain provisions of the Deposit Agreement and the ADSs, fairly summarize such
provisions in all material respects. |
11. | Assuming that the Purchase Agreement is the valid and binding agreement of the Company,
under the laws of the State of New York relating to personal jurisdiction, the Company has
validly and irrevocably submitted to the personal jurisdiction of any state court in the
City, County and State of New York (each, a “New York Court”) in any action arising out of
or relating to the Purchase Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby, has validly
and irrevocably waived any objection to the venue of a proceeding in any such court, and
has validly and irrevocably appointed Law Debenture Corporate Services Inc. as its
authorized agent for the purpose described in Section 14 of the Purchase Agreement; and |
12. | Under the laws of the State of New York relating to personal jurisdiction, the Company
has validly and irrevocably submitted to the personal jurisdiction of any New York Court in
any action arising out of or relating to the Purchase Agreement, or the transactions
contemplated thereby, has validly and irrevocably waived any objection to the venue of a
proceeding in any such court, and has validly and irrevocably appointed Law Debenture
Corporate Services Inc. as its authorized agent for the purpose described in Section 9(o)
of the Registration Rights Agreement; |
13. | Under the laws of the State of New York relating to personal jurisdiction, the Company
has validly and irrevocably submitted to the personal jurisdiction of any New York Court in
any action arising out of or relating to the Indenture or the transactions contemplated
thereby, has validly and irrevocably waived any objection to the venue of a proceeding in
any such court, and has validly and irrevocably appointed Law Debenture Corporate Services
Inc. as its authorized agent for the receipt of service of process under Section 13.08 of
the Indenture; |
14. | Under the laws of the State of New York relating to personal jurisdiction, the Company
has validly and irrevocably submitted to the personal jurisdiction of any New York Court in
any action arising out of or relating to the Deposit Agreement or the transactions
contemplated thereby, has validly and irrevocably waived any objection to the venue of a
proceeding in any such court, and has validly and irrevocably appointed CT Corporation
System as its authorized agent for the receipt of service of process under Section 7.8 of
the Deposit Agreement; |
15. | The Company is not and, solely after giving effect to the offering and sale of the
Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Offering
Memorandum, will not be an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940. |
16. | The F-6 Registration Statement has become effective under the Act. With your consent,
based solely on a telephonic confirmation by a member of the staff of the Commission on
December 21, 2010, we confirm that no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the F-6
Registration Statement has been issued under the Act. |
17. | Assuming (i) the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in
Section 2(a) of the Purchase Agreement, (ii) the due performance by the Company of the covenants
and agreements set forth in Section 3 of the Purchase Agreement and the due performance by you of
the covenants and agreements set forth in the Purchase Agreement, (iii) your compliance with the
offering and transfer procedures and restrictions described in the Offering Memorandum, (iv) the
accuracy of the representations and warranties made in accordance with the Purchase Agreement and
the Offering Memorandum by purchasers to whom you initially resell the Securities and (v) that
purchasers to whom you initially resell the Securities receive a copy of the Offering Memorandum
prior to confirmation of such sale, the offer, sale and delivery of the Securities to you in the
manner contemplated by the Purchase Agreement and the Offering Memorandum and the initial resale of
the Securities by you in the manner contemplated in the Offering Memorandum and the Purchase
Agreement, do not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or
qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, it being understood that we
do not express any opinion as to the ADSs (including the ordinary shares represented by such ADSs)
issuable upon conversion of any Security or any subsequent reoffer or resale of any Security or
ADSs (including the ordinary shares s represented by such ADSs). |
SCHEDULE E-2
FORM OF OPINION OF XXXXXX AND CALDER, CAYMAN ISLANDS COUNSEL TO THE ISSUER
Based upon, and subject to, the foregoing assumptions and the qualifications set out below, and
having regard to such legal considerations as we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that:
1. | The Company has been duly incorporated as an exempted company with limited liability
and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands. |
2. | The Company can xxx and be sued in its own name under the laws of the Cayman Islands. |
3. | The Company has full power and authority under its Memorandum and Articles of
Association to enter into, execute and perform its obligations under the Transaction
Documents and the Notes including the issue and offer of the Notes pursuant to the
Transaction Documents and the issue of the Shares upon the conversion of the Notes. |
4. | The Company has the authorised and issued share capital as set out in the Offering
Documents, and all of the issued shares in the capital of the Company have been legally
issued, and assuming that the subscription price therefor has been paid in full (except for
the ordinary shares issued to the Bank of New York Mellon that are issued as unpaid
shares), are fully paid and non-assessable (meaning that no further sums are payable to the
Company on such Shares), are not subject to any pre-emptive or similar rights under Cayman
Islands law or the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association and conform to the
description thereof contained in the Offering Documents. |
5. | The execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents, the issue and offer of the
Notes by the Company and the performance of its obligations thereunder, including the issue
of the Shares upon the conversion of the Notes, do not conflict with or result in a breach
of any of the terms or provisions of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the
Company or any law, public rule or regulation applicable to the Company in the Cayman
Islands currently in force, and when issued by the Company in accordance with the terms of
the Transaction Documents against payment in full of the consideration thereof set forth in
the Transaction Documents and the appropriate entries made on the register of members
(shareholders) of the Company, the Shares underlying the ADSs will be validly issued and
allotted as fully paid and non-assessable (meaning that no further sums are payable to the
Company on such shares) and will not be subject to any pre-emptive or similar rights under
Cayman Islands law or the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association. |
6. | The execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents have been
authorised by and on behalf of the Company and, assuming the Transaction Documents have
been executed and unconditionally delivered by an authorised person pursuant to the
Resolutions, the Transaction Documents have been duly executed and delivered on behalf of
the Company and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company
enforceable in accordance with their terms. |
7. | The Notes have been duly authorised by the Company and when the Notes are signed by a
Director on behalf of the Company in accordance with the Resolutions and, if appropriate,
authenticated in the manner set forth in the Indenture and delivered against due payment
therefor will be duly executed, issued and delivered and will constitute the legal, valid
and binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their respective
terms. |
8. | The statements in the Offering Documents under “Risk factors”, “Enforceability of civil
liabilities”, “Dividend policy”, “Description of share capital” and “Taxation-Cayman
Islands taxation” (in each section in so far as the section relates to Cayman Islands law
only) fairly present the information and summarise the matters referred to therein. |
9. | No authorisations, consents, approvals, licences, validations or exemptions are
required by law from any governmental authorities or agencies or other official bodies in
the Cayman Islands in connection with: |
(a) | the issue of the Offering Documents; |
(b) | the execution, creation or delivery of the Transaction Documents by the
Company; |
(c) | subject to the payment of stamp duty, the enforcement of the
Transaction Documents against the Company; |
(d) | the offering, execution, authentication, allotment, issue or delivery
of the Notes; |
(e) | the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Notes and
the Transaction Documents; |
(f) | the payment of the principal and interest and any other amounts under
the Notes; or |
(g) | the payment of dividends and other distributions declared and payable
on the Shares (including to the Depositary). |
10. | No taxes, fees or charges (other than stamp duty) are payable (either by direct
assessment or withholding) to the government or other taxing authority in the Cayman
Islands under the laws of the Cayman Islands in respect of: |
(a) | the execution or delivery of the Transaction Documents or the Notes; |
(b) | the enforcement of the Transaction Documents or the Notes; |
(c) | payments made under, or pursuant to, the Transaction Documents; or |
(d) | the issue, transfer or redemption of the Notes. |
The Cayman Islands currently have no form of income, corporate or capital gains tax and no
estate duty, inheritance tax or gift tax.
11. | The courts of the Cayman Islands will observe and give effect to the choice of New York
law as the governing law of the Transaction Documents and the Notes. |
12. | The submission to the jurisdiction of any New York State or United States federal court
(each a “New York Court”), the appointment of CT Corporation System to accept as an agent
for service of process in such jurisdiction and the waiver by the Company of any objection
to the venue of a proceeding in a New York court, pursuant to the Transaction Documents, is
legal, valid and binding on the Company assuming that the same is true under the governing
law of the Transaction Documents. |
13. | The obligations of the Company under the Transaction Documents and the Notes rank and
will rank at least pari passu with all its other present and future unsecured obligations
(other than those preferred by law). |
14. | Based solely on our search of the Register of Writs and Other Originating Process (the
“Court Register”) maintained by the Clerk of the Court of the Grand Court of the Cayman
Islands from the date of incorporation of the Company to 17 December 2010 (the “Litigation
Search”), the Court Register disclosed no writ, originating summons, originating motion,
petition, counterclaim nor third party notice (“Originating Process”) nor any amended
Originating Process pending before the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, in which the
Company is a defendant or respondent. |
15. | Based solely on our review of the Register of Members, there are no entries or
notations indicating any third party interests, including any security interest, on the
Register of Members of the Company as at the date of this Opinion. |
16. | Although there is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained
in New York, a judgment obtained in such jurisdiction will be recognised and enforced in
the courts of the Cayman Islands at
common law, without any re-examination of the merits of the underlying dispute, by an action
commenced on the foreign judgment debt in the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, provided
such judgment: |
(a) | is given by a foreign court of competent jurisdiction; |
(b) | imposes on the judgment debtor a liability to pay a liquidated sum for
which the judgment has been given; |
(c) | is final; |
(d) | is not in respect of taxes, a fine or a penalty; and |
(e) | was not obtained in a manner and is not of a kind the enforcement of
which is contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands. |
17. | It is not necessary to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility
in evidence of the Transaction Documents or the Notes that any document be filed, recorded
or enrolled with any governmental authority or agency or any official body in the Cayman
Islands. |
18. | There is no exchange control legislation under Cayman Islands law and accordingly there
are no exchange control regulations imposed under Cayman Islands law. |
19. | The Company is not entitled to any immunity under the laws of the Cayman Islands
whether characterized as sovereign immunity or otherwise for any legal proceedings in the
Cayman Islands to enforce or to collect upon the Transaction Documents. |
20. | The Purchasers will not be treated as resident, domiciled or carrying on or transacting
business or subject to taxation in the Cayman Islands or in violation of any law thereof
solely by reason of the negotiation, preparation or execution of the Purchase Agreement, or
the entering into of or the enforcement of their rights under the Purchase Agreement. |
21. | The Purchasers will not be required to be licensed, qualified or otherwise entitled to
carry on business in the Cayman Islands in order to enforce their rights under, or as a
consequence of the execution, delivery and performance of the Purchase Agreement. |
SCHEDULE E-3
FORM OF OPINION OF COMMERCE & FINANCE LAW OFFICERS, PRC COUNSEL TO THE ISSUER
Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
1. | Incorporation of PRC Subsidiaries. Each of the PRC Subsidiaries has been duly organized
and is validly existing as a wholly-foreign owned enterprise or a Sino-foreign equity joint
venture with limited liability or a limited liability company (as the case may be), with
full legal person status under the Laws of the PRC and its business license is in full
force and effect; each of Hemei, Home Inns Beijing, Huiju Equipment, Top Star, Jiangsu Home
Inns, Huiyi Equipment, Suzhou Home Inns Trading, Suzhou Huichuang and Yitel Hotel
Management has been duly qualified as a foreign invested enterprise; 100% of the equity
interest of each of Hemei, Home Inns Beijing, Huiju Equipment, Jiangsu Home Inns, Huiyi
Equipment, Suzhou Home Inns Trading and Suzhou Huichuang is owned directly or beneficially
by Home Inns HK, a company incorporated in Hong Kong; 100% of the equity interest of Yitel
Hotel Management is owned directly or beneficially by Yitel Hotel HK, a company
incorporated in Hong Kong; 80% of the equity interest of Top Star is owned directly or
beneficially by Ai Home HK, a company incorporated in Hong Kong, and 20% of the equity
interest of Top Star is owned directly or beneficially by Shanghai Chuwen Investment
Holding Co., Ltd., a company incorporated in the PRC and wholly owned by Home Inns
Shanghai; 100% of the equity interest of Home Inns Shanghai is owned directly or
beneficially by Home Inns Beijing. To the best of our knowledge after due inquiry, such
equity interests are free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims; the
Articles of Association of each PRC Subsidiary, the business license and other constituent
documents of each PRC Subsidiary comply with the requirements of applicable PRC laws and
are in full force and effect. |
2. | Subsidiaries. Except as disclosed in the Offering Documents, each PRC Subsidiary has
full legal right, power and authority (corporate and other) to own, use, lease and operate
its assets and to conduct its business in the manner presently conducted and as described
in the Offering Documents and is duly qualified to transact business in each jurisdiction
in which it owns or uses or leases properties, conducts any business or in which such
qualification is required. Except as disclosed in the Offering Documents, each PRC
Subsidiary has all necessary licenses, consents, authorizations, approvals, orders,
certificates and permits of and from, and has made all declarations and filings
(collectively, “Governmental Authorizations”) with any governmental or regulatory agency or
any court in the PRC (“Governmental Agencies”) to own, lease, license and use its
properties, assets and conduct its business in the manner described in the Offering
Documents and such licenses, consents, authorizations, approvals, orders, certificates or
permits contain no materially burdensome restrictions or conditions not described in the
Offering Documents. To the best of our knowledge, except as described in the Offering
Documents, no PRC Subsidiary has any reason to believe that any regulatory body is
considering modifying, suspending or revoking any such licenses, consents, authorizations,
approvals, orders, certificates or permits. Further, each PRC Subsidiary is in compliance
with the provisions of all such licenses, consents, authorizations, approvals, orders,
certificates or permits in all material respects. |
3. | Corporate Structure. The entering into, and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated in the relevant documents governed by PRC Laws described in the Offering
Documents under “Summary—Corporate Structure and History” to the extent that PRC Laws are
concerned, constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of all the parties therein, in
accordance with their terms; all necessary steps for transactions contemplated in the
restructuring documents to the extent that PRC Laws are concerned, have been taken and all
consents required from respective parties have been obtained and are in full force and
effect; all governmental approvals, consents, registrations, filings and all necessary
steps required in the PRC for the transactions contemplated therein have been obtained,
made and taken and are in full force and effect. |
4. | Capitalization. All of the equity interests in each PRC Subsidiary are legally owned by
entities as described in the Schedule I hereto, free and clear of all liens, charges, or
transfer or any other encumbrances, equities or claims; each PRC Subsidiary has obtained
all approvals, authorizations, consents and orders, and has made all filings, which are
required under PRC law and regulations for the ownership interest by the Company of its
equity interest in each PRC Subsidiary through Home Inns HK, Yitel Hotel HK and Ai Home HK,
except for that such non-compliance as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect; to the best of our knowledge after due inquiry, there are no outstanding
rights, warrants or options to acquire, or
instruments convertible into or exchangeable for, nor any agreements or other obligations to
issue or other rights to convert any obligation into, any equity interest in any PRC
Subsidiary. |
5. | Use of Proceeds. Subject to the assumption that any future application of the proceeds
in the PRC should be in compliance with all applicable PRC laws and all necessary
Governmental Approvals (if any) for such application has been obtained, the application of
the net proceeds to be received by the Company from the Offering as contemplated by the
Offering Documents, will not contravene any provision of applicable PRC law, rule or
regulation, or the Articles of Association, other constitutive documents or the business
license or other constitutive documents of any PRC Subsidiary or contravene the terms or
provisions of, or constitute a default under, any material indenture, mortgage, deed of
trust, loan agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument known to us and
governed by the PRC Laws and binding upon any PRC Subsidiary, or any judgment, order or
decree of any Governmental Agency in the PRC. |
6. | Title to Property and Leased Assets. To the best of our knowledge, each PRC Subsidiary
has valid title to all of its properties and assets, in each case, free and clear of all
liens, charges, encumbrances, equities, claims, defects, options or restrictions; each
lease agreement to which such PRC Subsidiary is a party is legally executed; except as
described in the Offering Documents, the leasehold interests of each PRC Subsidiary are
fully protected by the terms of the lease agreements to the extent provided under the PRC
laws, which are valid, binding in accordance with their respective terms under PRC law;
and, to the best of our knowledge, neither the Company nor any PRC Subsidiary owns,
operates, manages or has any other right or interest in any other material real property of
any kind, except as described in the Offering Documents. |
7. | Guarantees. To the best of our knowledge, there are no outstanding guarantees or
contingent payment obligations of any PRC Subsidiary in respect of indebtedness of third
parties except as disclosed in the Offering Documents. |
8. | No Violation. To the best of our knowledge, no PRC Subsidiary or any of its
subsidiaries is in breach or violation of or in default, as the case may be, under (A) its
articles of association, business licenses or any other constituent documents, (B) any
material obligation, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, bank loan or credit agreement or
other evidence of indebtedness governed by PRC laws, (C) any material obligation, license,
lease, contract or other agreement or instrument governed by PRC laws to which the Company
or any of the subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or any of their respective
properties may be bound or affected, except for such breach or violation or default as the
case may be, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (D) any
law, regulation or rule of the PRC, or any decree, judgment or order of any court in the
PRC, applicable to the Company or any of the subsidiaries (nor has any event occurred which
with notice, lapse of time, or both would result in any breach of, or constitute a default
under or give the holder of any indebtedness (or a person acting on such holder’s behalf)
the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a part of such
indebtedness under). |
9. | Dividends. Except as disclosed in the Offering Documents, all dividends and other
distributions declared and payable on the Home Inns HK, Yitel Hotel HK and Ai Home HK’s
equity interest in their respective foreign invested enterprises in Renminbi may under the
current laws and regulations of PRC be payable in foreign currency and may be freely
transferred out of the PRC, and except as disclosed in the Offering Documents, all such
dividends will not be subject to withholding or other taxes under the current laws and
regulations of PRC and are otherwise free and clear of any other tax, withholding or
deduction in the PRC and may be paid without the necessity of obtaining any Government
Authorization from any Governmental Agency in the PRC under the existing PRC laws, except
for standard procedures or formalities required by the competent bureau of foreign exchange
as disclosed in the final Offering Documents. |
10. | Material Contracts. Each of the material contracts governed by PRC laws and listed in
Schedule II hereto (the “Material Contracts”) has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the relevant PRC Subsidiary or the PRC Group Company (as the case may be), and
each such company has, to the extent applicable, taken all necessary corporate actions to
authorize the performance thereof; each such PRC Subsidiary or PRC Group Company (as the
case may be) had the corporate power and capacity to enter into and to perform its
obligations under such Material Contract; each of the Material Contracts to which the
Company or a PRC Subsidiary or a PRC Group Company is a party constitutes a legal, valid
and binding obligation of the
Company or such PRC Subsidiary or PRC Group Company, as the case may be, enforceable against the
Company or such PRC Subsidiary or PRC Group Company, as the case may be, in accordance with
its terms; if applicable, each franchise agreement entered into by Home Inns Shanghai has
been terminated or properly transferred, amended or assigned such that Hemei is the obligor
and beneficiary under such franchise agreement; all Governmental Authorizations required in
the PRC for such transfers, amendments and assignments, if applicable, have been obtained
and are in full force and effect; and all necessary steps for such transfers and
assignments have been taken and all consents required from all counter parties to such
contracts have been obtained and are in full force and effect, other than the filing of
each of the franchise agreements with the relevant authorities for record, which failure to
file as of the date hereof would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. |
11. | Trademarks. Each PRC Subsidiary owns or otherwise has the legal right to use, or can
acquire on reasonable terms, trademarks as listed in Schedule III in connection with the
business currently operated by it; except as described in the Offering Documents, to the
best of our knowledge after due inquiry, no PRC Subsidiary has received any notice of
infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any of the
foregoing which, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable
decision, ruling or finding, would result in any Material Adverse Effect; |
12. | Intellectual Property. To the best of our knowledge after due inquiry, none of the PRC
Group Companies possesses any other registered intellectual property except as described in
the Offering Documents and in the Schedule III, and none of the PRC Subsidiaries possesses
valid licenses in full force and effect or otherwise has the legal right to use, or can
acquire on reasonable terms, all material patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions,
copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable
proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks
and trade names currently employed by them in the ordinary course of business, and to the
best of our knowledge, none of the PRC Group Companies has received any notice of
infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any of the
foregoing. |
13. | No Violation. The execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance by the
Company of its obligations under, the Purchase Agreement, the Indenture, the Registration
Rights Agreement, and the Deposit Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the
transactions contemplated herein and therein, including the issue and sale of the Ordinary
Shares and the Offered ADSs under the Purchase Agreement, the Indenture, the Registration
Rights Agreement and the Deposit Agreement, and the compliance by the Company with all of
the provisions of the Purchase Agreement, the Indenture, the Registration Rights Agreement,
and the Deposit Agreement (A) do not and will not conflict with or result in a breach or
violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument known
to us and governed by the PRC Laws and to which any PRC Subsidiary is a party or by which
any such PRC Subsidiary is bound or to which any of the properties or assets of a PRC
Subsidiary is bound or to which any of the properties or assets of any PRC Subsidiary is
subject except for such conflict, breach, violation or default as the case may be, would
not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (B) do not and will not
result in any violation of the provisions of the articles of association, business licenses
or any other constituent documents of any PRC Subsidiary, (C) do not and will not result in
any violation of any provision of PRC laws |
14. | Absence of Further Action. No Governmental Authorizations from any Governmental Agency
is required for (A) the issue and sale of the Offered Securities at such Closing Date to be
sold by the Company under the Purchase Agreement, (B) upon conversion of the Offered
Securities, the issue of the Underlying ADSs and the Ordinary Shares represented thereby,
(C) upon conversion of the Offered Securities, the deposit of the Ordinary Shares
represented by the ADSs with the Depositary or its nominee, and (D) the consummation by the
Company, the Trustee and the Depositary of the transactions contemplated by this Purchase
Agreement, the Indenture, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Deposit Agreement, as
applicable. |
15. | Absence of Reporting Obligations. There are no reporting obligations under PRC law on
non-PRC holders of the Offered Securities or the Ordinary Shares. |
16. | No Deemed Residence. As a matter of PRC law, no holder of the Offered Securities or
Ordinary Shares who is not a PRC resident for tax or other purpose will be subject to any
personal liability, or be subject to a requirement to be licensed or otherwise qualified to
do business or be deemed domiciled or resident in the PRC, by virtue only of holding such
Offered Securities or Ordinary Shares. There are no limitations under PRC law on the rights
of holders of the Offered Securities or Ordinary Shares who are not PRC residents to hold,
vote or transfer their securities nor any statutory pre-emptive rights or transfer
restrictions applicable to the Ordinary Shares. |
17. | Accurate Description of Law and Documents. The statements set forth in the Offering
Documents under the captions “Summary—Corporate Structure and History,” “Risk Factors,”
“Dividend Policy,” “Related Party Transactions,” “Business,” “Regulations,” “Management,”
“Description of Share Capital,” “Enforcement of Civil Liabilities” and “Taxation,” insofar
as such statements describe or summarize PRC legal or regulatory matters, or documents,
agreements or proceedings governed by PRC law, are true and accurate, and fairly present or
fairly summarize the PRC legal and regulatory matters, documents, agreements or proceedings
referred to therein; and such statements did not contain an untrue statement of a material
fact, and did not omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. |
18. | Submission to Jurisdiction. The submission of the Company to the non-exclusive
jurisdiction of the New York Courts, the waiver by the Company of any objection to the
venue of a proceeding in a New York Court, the waiver and agreement of the Company not to
plead an inconvenient forum, and the agreement of the Company that the Purchase Agreement,
the Indenture, the Registration Rights Agreement, and the Deposit Agreement be construed in
accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York will be recognized by PRC
courts; service of process effected in the manner set forth in the Purchase Agreement to
the extent that PRC laws are concerned will be effective to confer jurisdiction over the
subsidiaries, assets and property of the Company in the PRC. |
19. | Validity of Indemnification Provisions. The indemnification and contribution provisions
set forth in this Purchase Agreement, the Indenture, the Registration Rights Agreement, and
the Deposit Agreement do not contravene laws of the PRC; assuming due authorization,
execution and delivery by each party thereto, each of the Purchase Agreement, and the
Deposit Agreement is in proper legal form under PRC law for the enforcement thereof against
the Company, subject to compliance with relevant civil procedural requirements; and to
ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence of the Purchase
Agreement, the Indenture, the Registration Rights Agreement, and the Deposit Agreement in
the PRC, it is not necessary that any such document be filed or recorded with any court or
other authority in the PRC or that any stamp or similar tax be paid on or in respect of any
such document. |
20. | No Stamp Tax. Except as disclosed in the Offering Documents, no stamp or other issuance
or transfer taxes or duties and no capital gains, income, withholding or other taxes are
payable by or on behalf of the Company, any of its subsidiaries, any Manager,the Depository
or its custodian to the PRC government or any political subdivision or taxing authority
thereof or therein in connection with (A) the creation, issuance, sale and delivery of the
Offered Securities, (B) upon conversion, the issue of ADSs, (C) upon conversion, the
deposit with the Depositary of Ordinary Shares by the Company pursuant to the Deposit
Agreement, (D) the sale and delivery by the Company of the Offered Securities to or for the
accounts of the Purchasers in the manner contemplated in the Purchase Agreement the
Indenture, the Agency and the Deposit Agreement, (D) the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement, the Indenture, the Registration Rights Agreement, and the
Deposit Agreement by the Company, or (E) the sale and delivery by the Purchasers of the
Offered Securities to the initial purchasers thereof in the manner contemplated in this
Agreement and the Offering Documents. |
21. | No Licensing Requirement. The entry into, and performance or enforcement of the
Purchase Agreement, the Indenture, the Registration Rights Agreement, and the Deposit
Agreement in accordance with its respective terms will not subject any of the Managers or
the Depositary to any requirement to be licensed or otherwise qualified to do business in
the PRC, nor will any Managers or the Depositary be deemed to be resident, domiciled,
carrying on business through an establishment or place in the PRC or in breach of any laws
or
regulations in the PRC by reason of entry into, performance or enforcement of the Purchase
Agreement and the Deposit Agreement. |
22. | No PRC Liability of Depositary. The Trustee and the Depositary will not (absent
negligence, bad faith or breach of contract and general principle of agency) be subject to
any potential liability under PRC laws for taking any action contemplated in the Indenture
and the Registration Rights Agreement, in the case of the Trustee, and the Deposit
Agreement, in the case of the Depositary. |
23. | No Sovereign Immunity. Under the laws of the PRC, none of the Company or its
subsidiaries, or any of their respective properties, assets or revenues, is entitled to any
right of immunity on the grounds of sovereignty or otherwise from any legal action, suit or
proceeding, set-off or counterclaim, the jurisdiction of any court in the PRC, service of
process, attachment prior to or in aid of execution of judgment, or other legal process or
proceeding for the granting of any relief or the enforcement of any judgment. |
24. | Compliance with PRC Law. To the best of our knowledge following due inquiry, except as
disclosed in the Offering Documents, each of the Company and the PRC Subsidiaries is
currently in compliance with all applicable PRC laws and regulations in all material
aspects, and the issuance, sale and delivery of the Offered Securities by the Company as
described in the Offering Documents will not conflict with or result in a breach or
violation of, the provisions of any applicable PRC laws and the regulations. |
25. | Disclosure. Although we do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or
fairness of the statements contained in the Offering Documents, except for those referred to in the
opinion in subsection 19, nothing has come to our attention that leads us to believe that any part
of the Offering Documents (other than the financial statements and related schedules therein, as to
which we express no opinion) or any amendment thereto, as of its effective date or as of such
Closing Date, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or
that the Offering Documents (other than the financial statements and related schedules therein, as
to which we express no opinion) or any amendment or supplement thereto, as of its issue date or as
of such Closing Date, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading; We have no reason to believe that the Offering
Documents (other than the financial statements and related schedules therein, as to which we
express no opinion), as of the Applicable Time or as of such Closing Date, contained any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. |
SCHEDULE X-0
XXXX XX XXXXXXX XX XX & XXXXXXXX, XXXX XXXX COUNSEL TO THE ISSUER
Based upon and relying upon the foregoing, and subject to the comments, reservations and
qualifications stated below, we are of the following opinions:
1. | Incorporation and Continuing Registration |
The Company was incorporated on 28 May 2001 as a private company with limited liability and
is validly existing under the laws of the Hong Kong. As confirmed by the directors of the
Company, no steps have been or are being taken and no order or resolution has been made or
passed to appoint a receiver, liquidator or similar officer of, or to wind up or dissolve
the Company.
2. | Corporate Power |
The Company has the capacity and powers to own the assets and to carry on the business in
Hong Kong as an investment holding company and the Memorandum and Articles of Association
does not contain any restriction against the Company owning such assets or carry on such
businesses.
3. | Good Standing |
The Company remains on the Register of Companies maintained by the Companies Registry in
Hong Kong.
4. | Share Capital |
The authorized capital of the Company is HK$1,000,000.00 divided into 200,000,000 shares of
HK$0.005 each (the “Shares”) out of which 50,324,026 Shares have been duly and validly
authorized and issued as fully paid and non-assessable in the following manner: (i)
27,399,140 Ordinary Shares of HK$0.005 each have been issued as fully paid Ordinary Shares;
(ii) 17,241,400 Series A Preference Shares of HK$0.005 each have been issued as fully paid
Series A Preference Shares; (iii) 2,417,645 Series B Preference Shares of HK$0.005 each have
been issued as fully paid Series B Preference Shares; and (iv) 3,265,841 Series C Preference
Shares of HK$0.005 each have been issued as fully paid Series C Preference Shares.
All of the issued share capital of the Company are free from any restrictions on voting
under the laws of Hong Kong and the Memorandum and Articles of Association and is not
subject to any pre-emptive or similar rights under Hong Kong law or the Memorandum and
Articles of Association. Pursuant to the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the
directors of the Company may, in their absolute discretion and without assigning any reason
therefor, decline to register any transfer of any of the Shares, whether or not it is a
fully paid share.
5. | Ownership |
Home Inns Cayman is the registered and beneficial owner of all the issued share capital of
the Company.
6. | No Violation |
The Company is not in violation of its constituent documents or in default in the
perfoiivance or observance of any material obligation, agreement, covenant or condition
contained in any license, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other
agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may
be bound or of any law, public rule or regulation applicable to the Company in Hong Kong
currently in force or of any existing order or decree of any governmental authority or
agency or any official body in Hong Kong.
7. | Accurate Description |
The statements in the Offering Memorandum under the heading “Corporate History and
Structure”, insofar as such statements constitute summaries of the legal matters to which
the Company is a party referred to therein, in each case to the extent, and only to the
extent, governed by the laws of Hong Kong, are materially true and correct and fairly
present the information and summarize the matters referred to therein.
8. | Absence of Taxes |
According to the Mainland and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Arrangement on
Avoiding Double Taxation or Evasion of Taxation on Income agreed between China and Hong Kong
in August 2006, dividends paid by a foreign-invested enterprise in China to its direct
holding company in Hong Kong will be subject to withholding tax at a rate of no more than 5%
(if the foreign investor owns directly at least 25% of the shares of the foreign-invested
enterprise).
Subject to the aforesaid, no stamp duties or other similar taxes or charges are payable
under the laws of Hong Kong, or which under the present laws of Hong Kong could in the
future become imposed, in respect of:
a. | the execution or delivery of the Document or the performance by any of
the parties of their respective obligations or enforcement of the Document; or |
b. | the payment of dividends and other distributions declared and payable
on Shares. |
9. | No Capital Gains Taxes |
Hong Kong currently has no capital gains tax and no estate duty, inheritance tax or gift
tax.
10. | Dividends |
No approvals are currently required from any governmental department, agency or other
authority in Hong Kong in order for the Company to pay dividends or profits to Home Inns
Cayman.
11. | No Actions against the Company |
Based solely on our review of the search results conducted through authorized agents at the
Court Registries, there were no actions or petitions pending against the Company in the
courts of Hong Kong as at 20 December 2010. The search results of searches conducted through
authorized agents at the Official Receiver’s Office have revealed no record of the
presentation of any winding up petition in respect of the Company.
12. | Exchange Control Regulation |
There is no exchange control legislation or regulation under Hong Kong law and accordingly
there is no exchange control imposed under Hong Kong law.
13. | No Restrictions on Dividends |
There are no restrictions under Hong Kong law which would prevent the Company from paying dividends
to its shareholders in U.S. Dollars or any other currency, nor is it necessary under the laws of
Hong Kong that any document be registered or recorded in any public office or elsewhere in Hong
Kong in order for the Company to pay dividends to its shareholders in U.S. Dollars or any other
currency.
SCHEDULE E-5
FORM OF OPINION OF XXXXX XXXXXX & XXXXXX LLP, COUNSEL TO THE DEPOSITARY
Based on the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions and the qualifications set forth below, we
are of the opinion that:
1. | The Deposit Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Depositary and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Depositary enforceable
against the Depositary in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement of it may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or
similar laws of general application relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and by
general principles of equity. |
2. | Upon delivery by the Depositary of the ADSs against the deposit of Shares in accordance
with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement, the ADSs will be validly issued and will
entitle the holders of the ADSs and to the rights specified in the Deposit Agreement. |
3. | The legal entity for the issuance of ADSs filed a registration statement for the ADSs
on Form F-6 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the “1933 Act”) (the “ADS
Registration Statement”), the Commission declared that registration statement effective, to
the best of our knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the ADS
Registration or any part thereof has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have
been instituted or are pending or contemplated under the 1933 Act, and the ADS Registration
Statement complied as to form, as of its effective date, in all material respects, with the
requirements of the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. |
SCHEDULE E-6
FORM OF OPINION OF XXXXXXXX CHANCE, COUNSEL TO THE TRUSTEE
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that as of this date:
1. | The Trustee is a banking corporation organized and validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of New York and has full corporate trust power and
authority to enter into and perform its obligations as Trustee under the Indenture. |
2. | The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee and
constitutes legal, valid and binding obligations of the Trustee enforceable against the
Trustee in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to creditors’ rights
generally, and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law) including, without limitation, concepts of reasonableness,
good faith and fair dealing. |
3. | The Securities have been duly authenticated in accordance with the terms of the
Indenture. |
SCHEDULE F
FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
To:
|
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC Eleven Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Of America |
|
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Ltd. 000 Xxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx |
Re: | Proposed Offering by Home Inns & Hotels Management Inc. of 2.00% Convertible Senior Notes
Due December 15, 2015 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This Lock-Up Letter Agreement is being delivered to you in connection with the proposed
Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) to be entered into by Home Inns & Hotels Management
Inc. (the “Company”) and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Ltd.,
(collectively, the “Managers”), providing for the offering (the “Offering”), pursuant to Regulation
S and Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of 2.00%
Convertible Senior Notes Due December 15, 2015. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise
defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Purchase Agreement.
In order to induce the Managers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, and for other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
undersigned hereby agrees that for a period of 60 days following the date of the final offering
memorandum relating to this Offering (the “Lock-Up Period”), the undersigned, without the prior
consent of the Managers (i) offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of directly
or indirectly debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company and having a maturity of more
than one year from the date of issue or any of the Company’s ordinary shares (the “Ordinary
Shares”) or Company’s American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”), or securities convertible or
exchangeable into or exercisable for our Ordinary Shares or ADSs, or warrants or other rights to
purchase the Ordinary Shares or ADSs representing the right to receive any such securities, (ii)
enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the
economic consequences of ownership of Ordinary Shares or ADSs or any securities convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable for Ordinary Shares or ADSs, or warrants or other rights to purchase
Ordinary Shares or ADSs, or any other securities of the Company that are substantially similar to
Ordinary Shares or ADSs, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of, Ordinary
Shares, ADSs or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, or (iii) publicly announce an
intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (i) or (ii). Any Ordinary Shares received
by the undersigned upon exercise of options granted to the undersigned also will be subject to the
foregoing agreement.
The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (a) any Notes to be sold pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement, (b) transactions relating to Ordinary Shares, ADSs or other securities of the Company
acquired in open market transactions, (c) transfers of Ordinary Shares, ADSs or any security
convertible into ADSs or Ordinary Shares as a bona fide gift, (d) dispositions to any trust for the
direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned and/or the immediate family of the undersigned, (e)
transfers upon death by will or intestacy to the undersigned’s immediate family, (f) distribution
of Ordinary Shares, ADSs or any security convertible into ADSs or Ordinary Shares to limited
partners or stockholders of the undersigned, or (g) the establishment of a trading plan pursuant to
Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer of Ordinary Shares or ADSs; provided that, in
the case of any gift, disposition, transfer or distribution pursuant to sub-clauses (c), (d), (e)
or (f), each donee, transferee or distribute shall sign and deliver a lock up letter substantially
in the form of this letter and that no filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act shall be
required or shall be voluntarily made in connection with subsequent sales of Ordinary Shares, ADSs
or other securities of the Company acquired in such open market transactions pursuant to sub-clause
(b); and provided further, that, in the
case of sub-clause (g) above, such plan does not provide for the transfer of Ordinary Shares or
ADSs during the restricted period, and no public announcement or filing under the Exchange Act
regarding the establishment of such plan shall be required of or voluntarily made by or on behalf
of the undersigned or the Company.
If the Company notifies you in writing that it does not intend to proceed with the Offering or for
any reason the Purchase Agreement shall be terminated prior to the time of purchase, this lock-up
agreement shall be terminated forthwith and the undersigned shall be released from its obligations
hereunder.
Very truly yours, |
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Name: | ||||
Title: |