AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER among KEYSTONE LODGING COMPANY LIMITED, KEYSTONE LODGING ACQUISITION LIMITED, 7 DAYS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED, and KEYSTONE LODGING HOLDINGS LIMITED (solely for the purpose of Sections 2.02(c) and 2.02(e)) Dated as of...
EXECUTION COPY
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
among
KEYSTONE LODGING COMPANY LIMITED,
KEYSTONE LODGING ACQUISITION LIMITED,
7 DAYS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED,
and
KEYSTONE LODGING HOLDINGS LIMITED
(solely for the purpose of Sections 2.02(c) and 2.02(e))
Dated as of February 28, 2013
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I THE MERGER | 2 | |
Section 1.01 | The Merger. | 2 |
Section 1.02 | Closing; Closing Date. | 2 |
Section 1.03 | Effective Time. | 2 |
Section 1.04 | Effects of the Merger. | 2 |
Section 1.05 | Memorandum and Articles of Association of Surviving Corporation. | 3 |
Section 1.06 | Directors and Officers. | 3 |
ARTICLE II EFFECT ON ISSUED SECURITIES; EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES | 3 | |
Section 2.01 | Effect of Merger on Issued Securities. | 3 |
Section 2.02 | Share Incentive Plan and Outstanding Company Options. | 4 |
Section 2.03 | Dissenting Shares. | 5 |
Section 2.04 | Exchange of Share Certificates, etc. | 6 |
Section 2.05 | No Transfers. | 9 |
Section 2.06 | Termination of Deposit Agreement. | 9 |
Section 2.07 | Agreement of Fair Value. | 9 |
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY | 9 | |
Section 3.01 | Organization, Good Standing and Qualification. | 10 |
Section 3.02 | Memorandum and Articles of Association. | 10 |
Section 3.03 | Capitalization. | 10 |
Section 3.04 | Authority Relative to This Agreement; Fairness. | 11 |
Section 3.05 | No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents. | 12 |
Section 3.06 | Permits; Compliance with Laws. | 13 |
Section 3.07 | SEC Filings; Financial Statements. | 15 |
Section 3.08 | Proxy Statement. | 17 |
Section 3.09 | Absence of Certain Changes or Events. | 17 |
Section 3.10 | Absence of Litigation. | 17 |
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Section 3.11 | Labor and Employment Matters. | 18 |
Section 3.12 | Real Property; Title to Assets. | 19 |
Section 3.13 | Intellectual Property. | 20 |
Section 3.14 | Taxes. | 21 |
Section 3.15 | No Secured Creditors; Solvency. | 21 |
Section 3.16 | Material Contracts. | 21 |
Section 3.17 | Environmental Matters. | 23 |
Section 3.18 | Insurance. | 23 |
Section 3.19 | Interested Party Transactions. | 24 |
Section 3.20 | Anti-Takeover Provisions. | 24 |
Section 3.21 | Brokers. | 24 |
Section 3.22 | No Other Representations or Warranties. | 24 |
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB | 24 | |
Section 4.01 | Corporate Organization. | 25 |
Section 4.02 | Authority Relative to This Agreement. | 25 |
Section 4.03 | No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents. | 25 |
Section 4.04 | Capitalization. | 26 |
Section 4.05 | Available Funds and Financing. | 26 |
Section 4.06 | Brokers. | 27 |
Section 4.07 | Guaranties. | 27 |
Section 4.08 | Absence of Litigation. | 28 |
Section 4.09 | Solvency. | 28 |
Section 4.10 | Ownership of Company Shares. | 28 |
Section 4.11 | Certain Actions. | 28 |
Section 4.12 | Buyer Group Contracts. | 28 |
Section 4.13 | Proxy Statement. | 29 |
Section 4.14 | Independent Investigation. | 29 |
Section 4.15 | Non-Reliance on Company Estimates. | 29 |
Section 4.16 | No Additional Representations. | 30 |
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ARTICLE V CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGER | 30 | |
Section 5.01 | Conduct of Business by the Company Pending the Merger. | 30 |
Section 5.02 | Operation of Parent’s and Merger Sub’s Business. | 33 |
Section 5.03 | No Control of Other Party’s Business. | 33 |
ARTICLE VI ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS | 34 | |
Section 6.01 | Proxy Statement and Schedule 13E-3. | 34 |
Section 6.02 | Company Shareholders’ Meeting. | 35 |
Section 6.03 | Access to Information. | 36 |
Section 6.04 | No Solicitation of Transactions. | 37 |
Section 6.05 | Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance. | 42 |
Section 6.06 | Notification of Certain Matters. | 44 |
Section 6.07 | Financing. | 45 |
Section 6.08 | Further Action; Reasonable Best Efforts. | 47 |
Section 6.09 | Obligations of Merger Sub | 47 |
Section 6.10 | Participation in Litigation | 47 |
Section 6.11 | Resignations | 48 |
Section 6.12 | Public Announcements | 48 |
Section 6.13 | Stock Exchange Delisting | 48 |
Section 6.14 | Takeover Statutes | 48 |
Section 6.15 | Employee Matters. | 48 |
Section 6.16 | Repayment of Existing Loan. | 49 |
ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER | 49 | |
Section 7.01 | Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party | 49 |
Section 7.02 | Conditions to the Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub | 49 |
Section 7.03 | Conditions to the Obligations of the Company | 50 |
Section 7.04 | Frustration of Closing Conditions | 50 |
ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER | 50 | |
Section 8.01 | Termination by Mutual Consent | 50 |
Section 8.02 | Termination by Either the Company or Parent | 51 |
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Section 8.03 | Termination by the Company | 51 |
Section 8.04 | Termination by Parent | 52 |
Section 8.05 | Effect of Termination | 52 |
Section 8.06 | Termination | 52 |
ARTICLE IX GENERAL PROVISIONS | 55 | |
Section 9.01 | Non-Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements | 55 |
Section 9.02 | Notices | 55 |
Section 9.03 | Certain Definitions | 56 |
Section 9.04 | Severability | 64 |
Section 9.05 | Interpretation | 64 |
Section 9.06 | Entire Agreement; Assignment | 64 |
Section 9.07 | Parties in Interest | 65 |
Section 9.08 | Specific Performance | 65 |
Section 9.09 | Governing Law | 66 |
Section 9.10 | Waiver of Jury Trial. | 67 |
Section 9.11 | Amendment | 67 |
Section 9.12 | Waiver | 67 |
Section 9.13 | Headings | 67 |
Section 9.14 | Counterparts | 67 |
ANNEX A Plan of Merger
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of February 28, 2013 (this “Agreement”), among Keystone Lodging Company Limited, an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (“Parent”), Keystone Lodging Acquisition Limited, an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), 7 Days Group Holdings Limited, an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Company”) and Keystone Lodging Holdings Limited, an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands ("Holdco") (solely for the purpose of Sections 2.02(c) and 2.02(e)).
WHEREAS, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement and in accordance with the Cayman Islands Companies Law Cap. 22 (Law 3 of 1961, as consolidated and revised) (the “CICL”), Parent and the Company will enter into a business combination transaction pursuant to which Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company surviving the Merger and becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent as a result of the Merger;
WHEREAS, the board of directors of the Company (the “Company Board”), acting upon the unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee of the Company Board (the “Special Committee”), has (i) determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders (other than Parent and its Affiliates), and declared it advisable, to enter into this Agreement, (ii) approved the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Plan of Merger and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger (collectively, the “Transactions”), and (iii) resolved to recommend the authorization and approval of this Agreement, the Plan of Merger and the Transactions by the shareholders of the Company at the Shareholders’ Meeting (as defined below);
WHEREAS, the board of directors of each of Parent and Merger Sub has (i) approved the execution, delivery and performance by Parent and Merger Sub, respectively, of this Agreement, the Plan of Merger and the consummation of the Transactions, and (ii) declared it advisable for Parent and Merger Sub, respectively, to enter into this Agreement and the Plan of Merger;
WHEREAS, as an inducement to Parent’s and Merger Sub’s willingness to enter into this Agreement, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Prototal Enterprises Limited, Nanyan Zheng, Fortune News International Limited, Happy Travel Limited, Xxxxx Xxx, Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxx (collectively, the "Rollover Shareholders"), Holdco, which is the sole shareholder of Parent ("Holdco"), and Parent have executed a support agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the “Support Agreement”), providing that, among other things, the Rollover Shareholders will (i) vote their Shares (as defined below) in favor of the authorization and approval of this Agreement, the Plan of Merger and the Transactions and (ii) agree, upon the terms and subject to the conditions in the Support Agreement, to receive no consideration for the cancellation of certain Shares held by each of them as set forth in the Support Agreement in accordance with this Agreement (the "Rollover Shares"); and
WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to the Company’s willingness to enter into this Agreement, concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, each of Boquan He, Nanyan Zheng and the Sponsors (each, a "Guarantor", and collectively the "Guarantors") is entering into a limited guaranty in favor of the Company with respect to certain obligations of Parent under this Agreement (each, a “Guaranty” and collectively, the “Guaranties”).
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NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, Parent, Merger Sub and the Company hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
THE MERGER
Section 1.01 The Merger.
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with the CICL, at the Effective Time, Merger Sub shall be merged with and into the Company. As a result of the Merger, the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub shall cease and the Company shall continue as the surviving corporation of the Merger (the “Surviving Corporation”) under the laws of the Cayman Islands as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent.
Section 1.02 Closing; Closing Date.
Unless otherwise mutually agreed in writing between the Company, Parent and Merger Sub, the closing for the Merger (the “Closing”) shall take place at 10:00 a.m. (Beijing time) at the offices of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP, 30th Floor, China World Office 2, Xx. 0 Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 000000, Xxxxx as soon as practicable, but in any event no later than the third (3rd) Business Day immediately following the day on which the last to be satisfied or, if permissible, waived of the conditions set forth in Article VII (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or, if permissible, waiver of those conditions) shall be satisfied or, if permissible, waived in accordance with this Agreement (such date being the “Closing Date”).
Section 1.03 Effective Time.
Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, as early as practical on the Closing Date, Merger Sub and the Company shall execute a plan of merger (the “Plan of Merger”) in the form set out in Annex A and the parties shall file the Plan of Merger and other documents required under the CICL to effect the Merger with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands as provided by Section 233 of the CICL. The Merger shall become effective upon the date specified in the Plan of Merger in accordance with the CICL (the “Effective Time”).
Section 1.04 Effects of the Merger.
The Merger shall have the effects specified in the CICL. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall succeed to and assume all the rights, property of every description, including choses in action, and the business, undertaking, goodwill, benefits, immunities and privileges, mortgages, charges or security interests and all contracts, obligations, claims, debts and liabilities of the Company and Merger Sub in accordance with the CICL.
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Section 1.05 Memorandum and Articles of Association of Surviving Corporation.
At the Effective Time, the memorandum and articles of association of Merger Sub, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be the memorandum and articles of association of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended as provided by law and such memorandum and articles of association; provided, however, that, at the Effective Time, Article I of the memorandum of association of the Surviving Corporation shall be amended to read as follows: "The name of the Company is "7 Days Group Holdings Limited" and the articles of association of the Surviving Corporation shall be amended to refer to the name of the Surviving Corporation as "7 Days Group Holdings Limited."
Section 1.06 Directors and Officers.
The parties hereto shall take all actions necessary so that (a) the directors of Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the initial directors of the Surviving Corporation, and (b) the officers of the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the initial officers of the Surviving Corporation, in each case, unless otherwise determined by Parent prior to the Effective Time, and until their respective successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified or until the earlier of their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the memorandum and articles of association of the Surviving Corporation.
ARTICLE
II
EFFECT ON ISSUED SECURITIES; EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES
Section 2.01 Effect of Merger on Issued Securities.
At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of Parent, Merger Sub, the Company or the holders of any securities of the Company:
(a) each ordinary share, par value US$0.125 per share, of the Company (a “Share” or, collectively, the “Shares”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than the Excluded Shares, the Dissenting Shares and Shares represented by ADSs (as defined below)) shall be cancelled in consideration for the right to receive US$4.60 in cash per Share without interest (the “Per Share Merger Consideration”) payable in the manner provided in Section 2.04;
(b) each American Depositary Share, representing three (3) Shares (an “ADS” or collectively, the “ADSs”), issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than ADSs representing the Excluded Shares) shall be cancelled in consideration for the right to receive US$13.80 in cash per ADS without interest (the “Per ADS Merger Consideration”) pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Deposit Agreement, and in the event of any conflict between this Agreement and the Deposit Agreement, this Agreement shall prevail;
(c) all of the Shares, including Shares represented by ADSs (other than the Excluded Shares and the Dissenting Shares), shall cease to exist and shall thereafter represent only the right to receive the Per Share Merger Consideration or Per ADS Merger Consideration without interest, and the register of members of the Company shall be amended accordingly;
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(d) each of the Excluded Shares and ADSs representing the Excluded Shares shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder thereof, cease to be outstanding, shall be cancelled and shall cease to exist without payment of any consideration or distribution therefor;
(e) each of the Dissenting Shares shall be cancelled in accordance with Section 2.03; and
(f) each ordinary share, par value US$0.125 each, of Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and become one validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable ordinary share, par value US$0.125 each, of the Surviving Corporation. Such ordinary shares shall constitute the only issued and outstanding share capital of the Surviving Corporation, which shall be reflected in the register of members of the Surviving Corporation.
Section 2.02 Share Incentive Plan and Outstanding Company Options.
(a) At the Effective Time, the Company shall (i) terminate the Company’s Share Incentive Plan, and any relevant award agreements applicable to the Share Incentive Plan, and (ii) cancel each Company Option that is outstanding and unexercised, whether or not vested or exercisable.
(b) Each former holder of (i) a Vested Company Option or (ii) Unvested Company Option that will vest within one (1) year after the Effective Time, which, in either case, is cancelled at the Effective Time shall, in exchange thereof, be paid by the Surviving Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries, as soon as practicable (and in any event no more than five (5) Business Days) after the Effective Time (without interest), a cash amount equal to the product of (i) the excess, if any, of the Per Share Merger Consideration over the Exercise Price of such Vested Company Option or Unvested Company Option, as the case may be, and (ii) the number of Shares underlying such Vested Company Option or Unvested Company Option; provided that if the Exercise Price of any such Vested Company Option or Unvested Company Option is equal to or greater than the Per Share Merger Consideration, such Vested Company Option or Unvested Company Option shall be cancelled without any payment therefor.
(c) Each former holder of an Unvested Company Option that will not vest within one (1) year after the Effective Time and is cancelled at the Effective Time shall, in exchange thereof, receive as soon as practicable (and in any event no more than five (5) Business Days) after the Effective Time, an option to purchase the same number of ordinary shares of Holdco as the number of Shares underlying such Unvested Company Option with the same vesting schedule, exercise price and other key terms as those of such Unvested Company Option (and the number of ordinary shares of Holdco subject to such option and the exercise price shall be subject to equitable adjustment in connection with any subsequent change in the capitalization of Holdco), provided that, within one month after the vesting of such option, the holder of such option may elect to receive a cash settlement as soon as practicable (without interest) from Holdco, or at the direction of Holdco, any Holdco's Affiliate, in an amount equal to the product of (i) the excess, if any, of the Per Share Merger Consideration over the exercise price of such option and (ii) the number of ordinary shares of Holdco underlying such option.
(d) Any payment under this Section 2.02 shall be subject to all applicable Taxes and tax withholding requirements, and each former holder of Company Options shall be personally responsible for the proper reporting and payment of all Taxes related to any distribution contemplated by this Section 2.02.
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(e) At or prior to the Effective Time, the Company, the Company Board or the compensation committee of the Company Board, Holdco and the board of directors of Holdco, as applicable, shall pass any resolutions and take any actions which are reasonably necessary to effectuate the provisions of this Section 2.02. The Company shall take all reasonable actions necessary to ensure that from and after the Effective Time neither Parent nor the Surviving Corporation will be required to issue Shares or other share capital of the Company to any person pursuant to or in settlement of any Company Options. Promptly following the date hereof, the Company shall deliver written notice to each holder of Company Options informing such holder of the effect of the Merger on their Company Options.
Section 2.03 Dissenting Shares.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary and to the extent available under the CICL, Shares that are outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and that are held by shareholders who shall have validly exercised and not effectively withdrawn or lost their rights to dissent from the Merger in accordance with Section 238 of the CICL (collectively, the “Dissenting Shares”; holders of Dissenting Shares being referred to as “Dissenting Shareholders”) shall be cancelled and the Dissenting Shareholders shall not be entitled to receive the Per Share Merger Consideration and shall instead be entitled to receive only the payment of the value of such Shares held by them determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 238 of the CICL, except that all Shares held by Dissenting Shareholders who shall have failed to perfect or who effectively shall have withdrawn or lost their rights to dissent from the Merger under Section 238 of the CICL shall thereupon (i) not be deemed to be Dissenting Shares and (ii) be and be deemed to have been cancelled and converted into, and to have become exchanged for, as of the Effective Time, the right to receive the Per Share Merger Consideration, without any interest thereon, in the manner provided in Section 2.04. Parent shall promptly deposit or cause to be deposited with the Paying Agent (and the Paying Agent shall, promptly thereafter, transmit to the Depositary) any additional funds necessary to pay in full the aggregate Per Share Merger Consideration so due and payable to such shareholders who have failed to perfect or who shall have effectively withdrawn or lost such right to seek payment of the value of such Shares.
(b) The Company shall give Parent (i) prompt notice of any notices of objection, notice of dissent or demands for appraisal, under Section 238 of the CICL received by the Company, attempted withdrawals of such notices or demands, and any other instruments served pursuant to applicable Law and received by the Company relating to its shareholders’ rights to dissent from the Merger and (ii) the opportunity to direct all negotiations and proceedings with respect to demands for appraisal under the CICL. The Company shall not, except with the prior written consent of Parent, make any payment with respect to any exercise by a shareholder of its rights to dissent from the Merger or any demands for appraisal or offer to settle or settle any such demands or approve any withdrawal of any such demands.
(c) In the event that any written notices of objection to the Merger are served by any shareholders of the Company pursuant to section 238(2) of the CICL, the Company shall serve written notice of the authorization of the Merger on such shareholders pursuant to section 238(4) of the CICL within two (2) days of the approval of the Merger by shareholders of the Company at the Shareholders’ Meeting.
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Section 2.04 Exchange of Share Certificates, etc.
(a) Paying Agent. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall appoint a bank or trust company selected by Parent with the Company’s prior consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) to act as paying agent (the “Paying Agent”) for all payments required to be made pursuant to Sections 2.01(a), 2.01(b), 2.02 and 2.03 (in the case of Section 2.03, when ascertained) (collectively, the “Merger Consideration”), and Parent shall enter into a paying agent agreement with the Paying Agent in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Company. At or prior to the Effective Time, or in the case of payments pursuant to Section 2.03, when ascertained, Parent shall deposit, or cause to be deposited, with the Paying Agent, for the benefit of the holders of Shares, ADSs and Company Options, cash in an amount sufficient to pay the Merger Consideration (such cash being hereinafter referred to as the “Exchange Fund”).
(b) Exchange Procedures. As promptly as practicable after the Effective Time (and in any event within (x) five (5) Business Days in the case of registered holders of the Shares and (y) three (3) Business Days in the case of the Depository Trust Company on behalf of the holders holding the Shares through brokers, nominees, custodians or through a Third Party), the Surviving Corporation shall cause the Paying Agent to mail, and cause the Depository Trust Company to deliver, to each person who was, at the Effective Time, a registered holder of Shares entitled to receive the Per Share Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 2.01(a): (i) a letter of transmittal (which shall be in customary form for a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands reasonably acceptable to Parent and the Company, and shall specify the manner in which the delivery of the Exchange Fund to registered holders of Shares shall be effected and contain such other provisions as Parent and the Company may mutually agree); and (ii) instructions for use in effecting the surrender of any issued share certificates representing Shares (the “Share Certificates”) (or affidavits and indemnities of loss in lieu of the Share Certificates as provided in Section 2.04(c)) or non-certificated Shares represented by book entry ("Uncertificated Shares") and/or such other documents as may be required in exchange for the Per Share Merger Consideration. Upon surrender of, if applicable, a Share Certificate (or affidavit and indemnity of loss in lieu of the Share Certificate as provided in Section 2.04(c)) or Uncertificated Shares and/or such other documents as may be required pursuant to such instructions to the Paying Agent in accordance with the terms of such letter of transmittal, duly executed in accordance with the instructions thereto, each registered holder of Shares represented by such Share Certificate and each registered holder of Uncertificated Shares shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor a check, in the amount equal to (x) the number of Shares represented by such Share Certificate (or affidavit and indemnity of loss in lieu of the Share Certificate as provided in Section 2.04(c)) or the number of Uncertificated Shares multiplied by (y) the Per Share Merger Consideration, and the Share Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith be marked as cancelled. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent and the Company shall establish procedures with the Paying Agent and the Depositary to ensure that (A) the Paying Agent will transmit to the Depositary as promptly as reasonably practicable following the Effective Time an amount in cash in immediately available funds equal to the product of (x) the number of ADSs issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than ADSs representing the Excluded Shares) and (y) the Per ADS Merger Consideration, and (B) the Depositary will distribute the Per ADS Merger Consideration to holders of ADSs pro rata to their holdings of ADSs (other than ADSs representing the Excluded Shares) upon surrender by them of the ADSs. The Surviving Corporation will pay any applicable fees, charges and expenses of the Depositary and government charges (other than withholding taxes, if any) due to or incurred by the Depositary in connection with distribution of the Per ADS Merger Consideration to holders of ADSs and the cancellation of ADSs (including any ADS cancellation or termination fees payable in accordance with the Deposit Agreement in connection with the Transactions). No interest shall be paid or will accrue on any amount payable in respect of the Shares or ADSs pursuant to the provisions of this Article II. In the event of a transfer of ownership of Shares that is not registered in the register of members of the Company, a check for any cash to be exchanged upon due surrender of the Share Certificate may be issued to such transferee if the Share Certificates, if any, which immediately prior to the Effective Time represented such Shares are presented to the Paying Agent, accompanied by all documents reasonably required to evidence and effect such transfer and to evidence that any applicable share transfer taxes have been paid or are not applicable.
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(c) Lost Certificates. If any Share Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming such Share Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by the Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent, the posting by such person of a bond, in such reasonable amount as the Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent may direct, as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such Share Certificate, the Paying Agent will pay in respect of such lost, stolen or destroyed Share Certificate an amount equal to the Per Share Merger Consideration multiplied by the number of Shares represented by such Share Certificate to which the holder thereof is entitled pursuant to Section 2.01(a).
(d) Untraceable Shareholders. Remittances for the Per Share Merger Consideration or the Per ADS Merger Consideration, as the case may be, shall not be sent to holders of Shares or ADSs who are untraceable unless and until, except as provided below, they notify the Paying Agent or the Depositary, as applicable, of their current contact details prior to the Effective Time. A holder of Shares or ADSs will be deemed to be untraceable if (i) such person has no registered address in the register of members (or branch register) maintained by the Company or the Depositary, as applicable or, (ii) on the last two consecutive occasions on which a dividend has been paid by the Company a check payable to such person either (x) has been sent to such person and has been returned undelivered or has not been cashed or, (y) has not been sent to such person because on an earlier occasion a check for a dividend so payable has been returned undelivered, and in any such case no valid claim in respect thereof has been communicated in writing to the Company or the Depositary, as applicable, or, (iii) notice of the Shareholders’ Meeting convened to vote on the Merger has been sent to such person and has been returned undelivered. Monies due to Dissenting Shareholders and shareholders of the Company who are untraceable shall be returned to the Surviving Corporation on demand and held in a non-interest bearing bank account for the benefit of Dissenting Shareholders and shareholders of the Company (including holders of ADSs) who are untraceable. Monies unclaimed after a period of seven years from the date of the notice of the Shareholders' Meeting shall be forfeited and shall revert to the Surviving Corporation. Dissenting Shareholders and holders of Shares or ADSs who are untraceable who subsequently wish to receive any monies otherwise payable in respect of the Merger within applicable time limits or limitation periods will be advised to contact the Surviving Corporation.
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(e) Adjustments to Merger Consideration. The Per Share Merger Consideration and the Per ADS Merger Consideration shall be equitably adjusted to reflect appropriately the effect of any share split, reverse share split, share dividend (including any dividend or distribution of securities convertible into Shares), extraordinary cash dividends, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares or other like change with respect to Shares occurring on or after the date hereof and prior to the Effective Time and to provide to the holders of Shares (including Shares represented by ADSs) and Company Options the same economic effect as contemplated by this Agreement prior to such action.
(f) Investment of Exchange Fund. The Exchange Fund, pending its disbursement to the holders of Shares and ADSs, shall be invested by the Paying Agent as directed by Parent or, after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation in (i) short-term direct obligations of the United States of America, (ii) short-term obligations for which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged to provide for the payment of principal and interest, (iii) short-term commercial paper rated the highest quality by either Xxxxx’x Investors Service, Inc. or Standard and Poor’s Ratings Services, or (iv) certificates of deposit, bank repurchase agreements or banker’s acceptances of commercial banks with capital exceeding US$1 billion; provided that no such investment or losses shall affect the amounts payable to such holders and Parent shall promptly replace or cause to be replaced any funds deposited with the Paying Agent that are lost through any investment so as to ensure that the Exchange Fund is at all times maintained at a level sufficient for the Paying Agent to pay the Merger Consideration. Earnings from investments shall be the sole and exclusive property of Parent and the Surviving Corporation. Except as contemplated by Section 2.04(g), the Exchange Fund shall not be used for any other purpose.
(g) Termination of Exchange Fund. Any portion of the Exchange Fund that remains unclaimed by the holders of Shares or ADSs for twelve (12) months after the Effective Time shall be delivered to the Surviving Corporation upon demand, and any holders of Shares and ADSs who have not theretofore complied with this Article II shall thereafter look only to the Surviving Corporation for the cash to which they are entitled pursuant to Sections 2.01(a), 2.01(b) and 2.02. Any portion of the Exchange Fund remaining unclaimed by holders of Shares and ADSs as of a date which is immediately prior to such time as such amounts would otherwise escheat to or become property of any Governmental Authority shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, become the property of the Surviving Corporation free and clear of any claims or interest of any person previously entitled thereto.
(h) No Liability. None of the Paying Agent, the Rollover Shareholders, the Sponsors, Parent, the Surviving Corporation or the Depositary shall be liable to any former holder of Shares for any such Shares (including Shares represented by ADSs) (or dividends or distributions with respect thereto), or cash properly delivered to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Law.
(i) Withholding Rights. Each of Parent, the Surviving Corporation, the Paying Agent and the Depositary shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of Shares, ADSs or Company Options such amounts as it is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under any provision of U.S. federal, state, local or foreign Tax Law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld by Parent, the Surviving Corporation, the Paying Agent or the Depositary, as the case may be, such withheld amounts shall be (A) remitted by Parent, the Surviving Corporation, the Paying Agent or the Depositary to the applicable Governmental Authority, and (B) to the extent so remitted, treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the holder of the Shares, ADSs or Company Options in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made by Parent, the Surviving Corporation, the Paying Agent or the Depositary, as the case may be.
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Section 2.05 No Transfers.
From and after the Effective Time, (a) no transfers of Shares shall be effected in the register of members of the Company, and (b) the holders of Shares (including Shares represented by ADSs) outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall cease to have any rights with respect to such Shares, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or by Law. On or after the Effective Time, any Share Certificates presented to the Paying Agent, Parent or Surviving Corporation for transfer or any other reason shall be canceled (except for the Excluded Shares and the Dissenting Shares) in exchange for the right to receive the cash consideration to which the holders thereof are entitled pursuant to Section 2.01(a).
Section 2.06 Termination of Deposit Agreement.
As soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall provide notice to Citibank, N.A. (the “Depositary”) to terminate the deposit agreement, dated November 25, 2009 between the Company, the Depositary and all holders from time to time of ADSs issued thereunder (the “Deposit Agreement”) in accordance with its terms.
Section 2.07 Agreement of Fair Value.
Parent, Merger Sub and the Company respectively agree that the Per Share Merger Consideration represents the fair value of the Shares for the purposes of Section 238(8) of the CICL.
ARTICLE
III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
Except as set forth in (a) the Company Disclosure Schedule delivered to Parent and Merger Sub prior to or contemporaneously with the execution of this Agreement (it being understood that any information set forth in one section or subsection of the Company Disclosure Schedule shall be deemed to apply and qualify the section or subsection of this Agreement to which it corresponds in number and each other section or subsection of this Agreement to the extent that it is reasonably apparent that such information is relevant to such other section or subsection) or (b) the Company SEC Reports prior to the date of this Agreement (without giving effect to any amendment to any such Company SEC Report filed on or after the date hereof and excluding disclosures in the Company SEC Reports contained in the "Risk Factors" and "Forward Looking Statements" sections to the extent they are general, nonspecific, forward-looking or cautionary in nature, in each case, other than specific factual information contained therein), the Company hereby represents and warrants to Parent and Merger Sub that:
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Section 3.01 Organization, Good Standing and Qualification.
(a) The Company is an exempted company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the Cayman Islands. Each of the Company’s Subsidiaries is a legal entity duly organized or formed, validly existing and in good standing (to the extent the relevant jurisdiction recognizes such concept of good standing) under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization or formation, and each Group Company has the requisite corporate or similar power and authority and all necessary governmental approvals to own, lease, operate and use its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, except where the failure of any Group Company to be so organized, existing or in good standing or of any Group Company to have such power or authority has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Each Group Company is duly qualified or licensed to do business, and is in good standing (to the extent the relevant jurisdiction recognizes such concept of good standing), in each jurisdiction where the character of the properties and assets owned, leased, operated or used by it or the nature of its business makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except for any such failure to be so qualified or licensed or in good standing as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(b) A true and complete list of all Group Companies and other entities in which a Group Company owns any non-controlling equity interest as of the date hereof, together with the jurisdiction of organization of each such Group Company and entity and the percentage of the outstanding issued share capital or registered capital, as the case may be, of each such Group Company and entity owned by the Group Company, is set forth in Section 3.01(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule. As of the date hereof, there are no other entities in which a Group Company controls or owns, of record or beneficially, any direct or indirect Equity Securities.
Section 3.02 Memorandum and Articles of Association.
The Company has heretofore furnished or otherwise made available to Parent a complete and correct copy of the memorandum and articles of association or equivalent organizational documents, each as amended to date, of each Group Company. Such memorandum and articles of association or equivalent organizational documents are in full force and effect as of the date hereof. No Group Company is in violation of any of the provisions of its memorandum and articles of association or equivalent organizational documents in any material respect.
Section 3.03 Capitalization.
(a) The authorized share capital of the Company is US$28,125,000 divided into 225,000,000 Shares of a par value of US$0.125 per share. As of the date of this Agreement, (i) 146,997,449 Shares are issued and outstanding, all of which have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, (ii) Shares represented by 1,094,334 ADSs are held in the treasury of the Company (and for the avoidance of doubt are not included in the number of issued and outstanding Shares set forth in clause (i)), and (iii) 832,485 Shares (including ADSs corresponding to such Shares) held by the Depositary and reserved for issuance and allocation pursuant to the Share Incentive Plan (and for the avoidance of doubt are not included in the number of issued and outstanding Shares set forth in clause (i)). Except as set forth in this Section 3.03, there are no options, warrants, preemptive rights, conversion rights, redemption rights, share appreciation rights, repurchase rights or other rights, agreements, arrangements or commitments of any character relating to the issued or unissued share capital of any Group Company or obligating any Group Company to issue or sell any Equity Securities in, any Group Company. The Company does not have outstanding any bonds, debentures, notes or other obligations the holders of which have the right to vote (or convertible into or exercisable for securities having the right to vote) with the shareholders of the Company on any matter.
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(b) Section 3.03(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth the following information with respect to each Company Option outstanding as of the date of this Agreement: (i) the name of the Company Option recipient; (ii) the number of Shares subject to such Company Option; (iii) the exercise or purchase price of such Company Option; (iv) the date on which such Company Option was granted; (v) the vesting schedule and other vesting conditions (if any) of such Company Option; and (vi) the date on which such Company Option expires. The grant of each such outstanding Company Option was properly approved in compliance with the terms of the Share Incentive Plan and all applicable Laws. Except as set forth in Section 3.03(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule or otherwise provided in this Agreement, there are no commitments or agreements of any character to which any Group Company is bound obligating such Group Company to accelerate or otherwise alter the vesting of any Company Option as a result of the Transactions.
(c) All Shares subject to issuance upon due exercise of a Company Option, upon issuance on the terms and conditions specified in the instruments pursuant to which they are issuable, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The Company has made available to Parent accurate and complete copies of (x) the Share Incentive Plan pursuant to which the Company has granted the Company Options that are currently outstanding, (y) the form of award agreement evidencing such Company Options and (z) award agreements evidencing such Company Options with terms that are materially different from those set forth in the form of award agreement.
(d) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, there are no outstanding contractual obligations of any Group Company to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any share capital or registered capital, as the case may be, of any Group Company or to provide funds to, or make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in, any of the Company’s Subsidiaries or any other person.
(e) The outstanding share capital or registered capital, as the case may be, of each of the Company’s Subsidiaries is duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the portion of the outstanding share capital or registered capital, as the case may be, of each of the Company’s Subsidiaries and such other entities listed in Section 3.01(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule that is owned by any Group Company is owned by such Group Company free and clear of all Liens. Such Group Company has the unrestricted right to vote, and (subject to limitations imposed by applicable Law and the applicable constitutional documents) to receive dividends and distributions on, all such equity securities.
Section 3.04 Authority Relative to This Agreement; Fairness.
(a) The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and, subject to receipt of the Requisite Company Vote, to consummate the Transactions. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the Transactions have been duly authorized by the Company Board and no other corporate action on the part of the Company is necessary to authorize the execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement, the Plan of Merger and the consummation by it of the Transactions, in each case, subject only to the authorization and approval by way of a shareholders' special resolution of this Agreement, the Plan of Merger and the Merger by the affirmative vote of holders of Shares representing at least two-thirds of the Shares present and voting in person or by proxy as a single class at the Shareholders’ Meeting (the “Requisite Company Vote”) in accordance with Section 233(6) of the CICL. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by Parent and Merger Sub, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general principles of equity (the “Bankruptcy and Equity Exception”).
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(b) As of the date hereof, the Special Committee comprises two (2) members of the Company Board, each of whom qualifies as an “independent director” (as such term is defined in Section 303A of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual). As of the date hereof and with respect to and based on the facts and circumstances as of the date hereof, the Company Board, acting upon the unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee, has determined that this Agreement and the Transactions, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, are fair to and in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders (other than Parent and its Affiliates), and validly adopted resolutions (i) approving and adopting this Agreement and approving the Transactions, and (ii) directing that this Agreement, the Plan of Merger and the Transactions be submitted to holders of Shares for authorization and approval, and (iii) subject to the terms of this Agreement (including Section 6.04(d)), resolving to recommend in favor of the authorization, approval and adoption of this Agreement, the Plan of Merger and the Transactions to the holders of Shares (the “Company Recommendation”).
(c) The Special Committee has received from X.X. Xxxxxx Securities (Asia Pacific) Limited (the “Financial Advisor”) its written opinion, dated the date of this Agreement, subject to the limitations, qualifications and assumptions set forth therein, that the Per Share Merger Consideration to be received by the holders of Shares and the Per ADS Merger Consideration to be paid to the holders of ADSs (in each case, other than the Excluded Shares and the Dissenting Shares) is fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders, a copy of which opinion will be delivered to Parent promptly after the date of this Agreement solely for informational purposes. The Financial Advisor has consented to the inclusion of a copy of such opinion in the Proxy Statement. It is agreed and understood that such opinion may not be relied on by Parent, Merger Sub or any of their respective Affiliates.
Section 3.05 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.
(a) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company do not, and the performance of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation of the Transactions will not, (i) assuming that the Requisite Company Vote is obtained, conflict with or violate the memorandum and articles of association of the Company or any equivalent organizational documents of any other Group Company, (ii) assuming (solely with respect to performance of this Agreement and consummation of the Transactions) that the matters referred to in Section 3.05(b) are complied with and the Requisite Company Vote is obtained, conflict with or violate any statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, executive order, injunction, judgment, decree or other order (“Law”) applicable to any Group Company or by which any property or asset of any Group Company is bound or affected, or (iii) result in any breach of or constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default) under, or give to others any right of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the creation of a Lien or other encumbrance on any property or asset of any Group Company pursuant to, any Contract to which any Group Company is a party or by which any of their respective properties or assets are bound, except, with respect to clauses (ii) and (iii), for any such conflict, violation, breach, default, right or other occurrence that would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
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(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company do not, and the performance of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the Transactions will not, require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing with or notification to, any nation or government, any agency, public or regulatory authority, instrumentality, department, commission, court, arbitrator, ministry, tribunal or board of any nation or government or political subdivision thereof, in each case, whether foreign or domestic and whether national, supranational, federal, provincial, state, regional, local or municipal (each, a “Governmental Authority”), except (i) for compliance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including the joining of the Company in the filing of a Schedule 13E-3, the furnishing of a Form 6-K with the Proxy Statement, and the filing or furnishing of one or more amendments to the Schedule 13E-3 and such Form 6-K to respond to comments of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), if any, on such documents), (ii) for compliance with the rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), (iii) for the filing of the Plan of Merger and related documentation with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands pursuant to the CICL, (iv) for the consents, approvals, authorizations or permits of, or filings with or notifications to, the Governmental Authorities set forth in Section 3.05(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule (collectively, the "Requisite Regulatory Approvals") and (v) any such consent, approval, authorization, permit, action, filing or notification the failure of which to make or obtain would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.06 Permits; Compliance with Laws.
(a) As of the Closing Date, the number of the Group Companies and the Managed Hotels that do not possess the certificates or other proof evidencing their passing of the fire protection and safety inspection shall not exceed ten (10) and the Company shall have made available to Parent the certificates or other proof evidencing such passing of the inspection by the relevant Group Companies and the Managed Hotels.
(b) Each Group Company is in possession of all material franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits (including operating permits, special industry permits and public hygiene permits), easements, variances, exceptions, consents, certificates, approvals and orders of any Governmental Authority necessary for it to own, lease, operate and use its properties and assets or to carry on its business as it is now being conducted except for any such franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, easements, variances, exceptions, consents, certificates, approvals and orders the absence of which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect (the “Material Company Permits ”). As of the date hereof, no suspension or cancellation of any of the Material Company Permits is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened. All such Material Company Permits are valid and in full force and effect, except where failure to be valid or in full force and effect would not individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Each Group Company is in compliance, in any material respect, with the terms of the Material Company Permits, except for such non-compliance as would not individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, all permits, licenses, approvals, filings and registrations and other requisite formalities with Governmental Authorities in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) that are material to the Group Companies, taken as a whole, and are required to be obtained or made in respect of each Group Company incorporated in the PRC with respect to its capital structure and operations as it is now being conducted, including but not limited to registrations with the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (“SAFE”) and the State Administration of Taxation (“SAT”), and their respective local counterparts, have been duly completed in accordance with applicable PRC Laws, except for any non-compliance as does not, and would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Each Group Company that is organized in the PRC has complied, in all material respects, with all applicable PRC Laws regarding the contribution and payment of its registered capital except for such non-compliance as has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
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(c) Except as has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, no Group Company is in default, breach or violation of any Law applicable to it (including without limitation, (i) any Laws applicable to its business, (ii) any Tax Laws, and (iii) any Laws related to the protection of personal data) or by which any of its share, security, equity interest, property or asset is bound or affected. No Group Company has received any written notice or communication of any material non-compliance with any applicable Laws that has not been cured.
(d) No Group Company or, to the knowledge of the Company, any Company Representative has violated any Anticorruption Laws, nor has any Group Company or, to the knowledge of the Company, any Company Representative has offered, paid, promised to pay, or authorized the payment of any money or anything of value, to any Government Official or to any person under circumstances where a Group Company or any Company Representative knew or ought reasonably to have known (after due and proper inquiry) that all or a portion of such money or thing of value would be offered, given, or promised, directly or indirectly, to a person:
(i) for the purpose of: (A) influencing any act or decision of a Government Official in his or her official capacity; (B) inducing a Government Official to do or omit to do any act in violation of their lawful duties; (C) securing any improper advantage; or (D) inducing a Government Official to influence any act or decision of any Governmental Authority; or
(ii) in a manner which would constitute commercial bribery, kickbacks or would otherwise violate any Anticorruption Law.
(e) No Group Company has conducted or initiated any internal investigation or made a voluntary or other disclosure to any Governmental Authority with respect to any alleged act or omission arising under or relating to any noncompliance with any Anticorruption Law. No Group Company or, to the knowledge of the Company, any Company Representative has received any written notice, request or citation for any actual or potential noncompliance with any of the foregoing in this Section 3.06(e).
(f) To the knowledge of the Company, no officer, director or employee of any Group Company is a Government Official.
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(g) To the actual knowledge of the Company, each holder or beneficial owner of Shares and/or Company Options who is a PRC resident and subject to any of the registration or reporting requirements of SAFE Circular 75, SAFE Circular 78 or any other applicable SAFE rules and regulations (collectively, the “SAFE Rules and Regulations”), has complied, in all material respects, with such reporting and/or registration requirements under the SAFE Rules and Regulations with respect to its investment in the Company, except for any non-compliance as does not, and would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor, to the actual knowledge of the Company, such holder has received any oral or written inquiries, notifications, orders or any other forms of official correspondence from SAFE or any of its local branches with respect to any actual or alleged non-compliance with the SAFE Rules and Regulations.
(h) No Group Company, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any Representative of any Group Company, (i) is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department, or (ii) has violated, or operated not in compliance with, any applicable export restrictions, anti-boycott regulations or embargo regulations.
Section 3.07 SEC Filings; Financial Statements.
(a) The Company has filed all forms or otherwise furnished (as applicable), reports and documents required to be filed with or furnished to the SEC by the Company since November 20, 2009 (the “Applicable Date”) (the forms, reports and other documents filed or furnished since the Applicable Date and those filed or furnished subsequent to the date hereof as have been supplemented, modified or amended since the time of filing or furnishing, collectively, the “Company SEC Reports”). As of the date of filing, in the case of Company SEC Reports filed pursuant to the Exchange Act (and to the extent such Company SEC Reports were amended, then as of the date of filing of such amendment), and as of the date of effectiveness in the case of Company SEC Reports filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") (and to the extent such Company SEC Reports were amended, then as of the date of effectiveness of such amendment), the Company SEC Reports (i) complied as to form in all material respects with either the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, each as in effect on the date so filed or effective, and (ii) did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading as of its filing date or effective date (as applicable).
(b) Each of the consolidated financial statements (including, in each case, any notes thereto) contained in or incorporated by reference into the Company SEC Reports was prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods indicated (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto) and each fairly presents, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position, results of operations, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the respective dates thereof and for the respective periods indicated therein (subject, in the case of unaudited interim statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments which are not material in the aggregate and the exclusion of certain notes in accordance with the rules of the SEC relating to unaudited financial statements), in each case in accordance with GAAP except as may be noted therein.
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(c) Except as and to the extent set forth on the audited annual report of the Group Companies filed with the SEC on April 26, 2012, including the notes thereto (the “2011 Annual Report”), no Group Company has outstanding (i) any Indebtedness or any commitments therefor, or (ii) any liability or obligation of any nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise), except for liabilities and obligations (A) incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since December 31, 2011, (B) incurred pursuant to this Agreement or in connection with the Transactions, or (C) which do not, or would not reasonably be expected to, have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(d) The Company has made available to Parent complete and correct copies of all material amendments and modifications that have not been filed by the Company with the SEC to all agreements, documents and other instruments that previously had been filed by the Company with the SEC and are currently in effect.
(e) The Company has timely filed and made available to Parent all certifications and statements required by (x) Rule 13a-14 or Rule 15d-14 under the Exchange Act or (y) 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 (Section 906 of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002) with respect to any Company SEC Report. The Company is in compliance, in all material respects, with all provisions of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 which are applicable to it. The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures required by Rule 13a-15 or Rule 15d-15 under the Exchange Act to ensure that all material information concerning the Company and its Subsidiaries is made known on a timely basis to the individuals responsible for the preparation of the Company’s SEC filings and other public disclosure documents. The Company’s certifying officers have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by the Company’s most recently filed annual report under the Exchange Act (such date, the “Evaluation Date”). The Company presented in its most recently filed annual report under the Exchange Act the conclusions of the certifying officers about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on their evaluations as of the Evaluation Date. Since the Evaluation Date, to the knowledge of the Company, there have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in the Exchange Act) that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. As used in this Section 3.07, the term “file” shall be broadly construed to include any manner in which a document or information is furnished, supplied or otherwise made available to the SEC.
(f) The Group Companies maintain a system of internal accounting controls designed to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
(g) The Company is in compliance, in all material respects, with the applicable listing and corporate governance rules and regulations of the NYSE, subject to availing itself of any "home country" exemption from such rules and regulations available to a "foreign private issuer" (as defined under the Exchange Act and under the relevant rules and regulations of the NYSE).
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Section 3.08 Proxy Statement.
The information supplied by the Company for inclusion in the Proxy Statement to be sent to the shareholders of the Company in connection with the Shareholders’ Meeting (including any amendment or supplement thereto or document incorporated by reference therein) and the Schedule 13E-3 relating to the authorization and approval of this Agreement and the Transactions by the shareholders of the Company shall not, (i) on the date the Proxy Statement (including any amendment or supplement thereto) is first mailed to shareholders of the Company or at the time of the Shareholders’ Meeting, contain any untrue statement of any material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, or (ii) on the date the Schedule 13E-3 and any amendment or supplement thereto is filed with the SEC, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company makes no representation with respect to statements made or incorporated by reference therein based on information supplied by or on behalf of Parent or Merger Sub for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Proxy Statement or the Schedule 13E-3.
Section 3.09 Absence of Certain Changes or Events.
Since December 31, 2011 to the date hereof, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, each Group Company has conducted business in all material respects in the ordinary course, and there has not been (a) any Company Material Adverse Effect; (b) any declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend or other distribution in cash, stock, property or otherwise in respect of any Group Company’s Equity Securities, except for any dividend or distribution by a Group Company to another Group Company; (c) any redemption, repurchase or other acquisition of any Equity Securities of any Group Company by a Group Company (other than repurchase of Shares to satisfy obligations under the Share Incentive Plan or other similar plans or arrangements including the withholding of Shares in connection with the exercise of Company Options in accordance with the terms and conditions of such Company Options); (d) any material change by the Company in its accounting principles, except as may be appropriate to conform to changes in statutory or regulatory accounting rules or GAAP or regulatory requirements with respect thereto; or (e) any material Tax election made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any settlement or compromise of any material Tax liability by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than in the ordinary course of business.
Section 3.10 Absence of Litigation.
As of the date hereof, there is no litigation, suit, claim, action, proceeding or investigation (an “Action”) pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing against any Group Company, or any share, security, equity interest, property or asset of any Group Company, before any Governmental Authority which (i) has, or if decided adversely against the Company, would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (ii) seeks to enjoin, restrain or prevent the Merger or (iii) prevents, materially delays or materially impedes, or if decided adversely against the Company, would reasonably be expected to prevent, materially delay or materially impede, the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement or the consummation of the Transactions. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, as of the date hereof, no Group Company, nor any share, security, equity interest, or material property or asset of any Group Company is subject to any continuing order of, consent decree, settlement agreement or other similar written agreement with, or, to the knowledge of the Company, continuing investigation by, any Governmental Authority, or any order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination or award of any Governmental Authority.
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Section 3.11 Labor and Employment Matters.
(a) There is no material controversies pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened between any Group Company and its employees. No Group Company is a party to or bound by any collective bargaining agreement or other labor union contract applicable to persons employed by it. There is no material unfair labor practice complaints pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against any Group Company before any Governmental Authority. There is no organized strike, slowdown, work stoppage or lockout, or similar activity or, to the knowledge of the Company, threat thereof, by or with respect to any employee of the Company.
(b) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, each Group Company (i) is in compliance with all applicable Laws relating to employment and employment practices, including those related to wages, work hours, shifts, overtime, Social Security Benefits, holidays and leave, collective bargaining terms and conditions of employment and the payment and withholding of taxes and other sums as required by the appropriate Governmental Authority, (ii) has withheld and paid in full to the appropriate Governmental Authority, or is holding for payment not yet due to such Governmental Authority, all amounts required to be withheld from or paid with respect to the Company's employees (including the withholding and payment of all individual income taxes and contributions to Social Security Benefits payable), and (iii) is not liable for any arrears of wages, taxes, penalties or other sums for failure to comply with any of the foregoing. There is no material claim with respect to payment of wages, salary or overtime pay that has been asserted or is now pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened before any Governmental Authority with respect to any persons currently or formerly employed by any Group Company. There is no charge or proceeding with respect to a material violation of any occupational safety or health standards that has been asserted or is now pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened with respect to any Group Company.
(c) The Company has made available to Parent true and complete copies of each Company Employee Plan and each Company Employee Agreement including all material amendments thereto (provided that for Company Employee Agreements that are standard form agreements, the form, rather than each individual agreement, has been made available to Parent, with the exception that any Company Employee Agreement that deviates materially from the form have been separately made available to Parent).
(d) Each Company Employee Plan is and has at all times been operated and administered in compliance with the provisions thereof and all applicable legal requirements in all material respects. Each contribution or other payment that is required to have been accrued or made under or with respect to any Company Employee Plan has been duly accrued and made on a timely basis in all material respects. There are no claims (other than for benefits incurred in the ordinary course) or legal proceedings pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against any Company Employee Plan or against the assets of any Company Employee Plan.
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(e) Except as contemplated otherwise under this Agreement, no Company Employee Plan or Company Employee Agreement exists that, as a result of the execution of this Agreement, shareholder approval of this Agreement, or the Transactions (whether alone or in connection with any subsequent event(s)), will entitle any employee of the Company to (i) material compensation or benefits (including any severance payment or benefit) or any material increase in compensation or benefits upon any termination of employment on or after the date of this Agreement, (ii) accelerate the time of payment or vesting or result in any payment or funding of material compensation or benefits under, materially increase the amount payable or result in any other material obligation pursuant to, any of the Company Employee Plans or Company Employee Agreements, or (iii) cause any Group Company to record additional material compensation expense on its income statement with respect to any outstanding share option or other equity based award. The Company is not obligated, pursuant to any of the Company Employee Plans, to grant any options or other rights to purchase or acquire Shares to any employees, consultants or directors of the Company after the date hereof.
Section 3.12 Real Property; Title to Assets.
(a) Section 3.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth the address and description of each Owned Real Property, including, without limitation, the particulars and the issue date of the State-owned Land Use Certificate and Building Ownership Certificate for each Owned Real Property. With respect to each Owned Real Property: (i) the relevant Group Company has good and marketable title, validly granted land use rights or building ownership rights, as applicable, to such Owned Real Property, free and clear of all Liens, except Permitted Encumbrances, (ii) no Group Company has leased or otherwise granted to any person the right to use or occupy such Owned Real Property or any portion thereof, (iii) there are no outstanding options, rights of first offer or rights of first refusal to purchase such Owned Real Property or any portion thereof or interest therein. No Group Company is a party to any Contract, agreement or option to purchase any material real property or interest therein.
(b) Section 3.12(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth the address of each Leased Real Property as of the date hereof, and a true and complete list of all Leases for each such Leased Real Property (including the date and name of the parties to such Lease). The Company has delivered or otherwise made available to Parent a true and complete copy of each such Lease, and in the case of any oral Lease, a written summary of the material terms of such Lease. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, with respect to each of the Leases: (i) such Lease is legal, valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and effect, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception, (ii) the Group Companies’ possession and quiet enjoyment of the Leased Real Property under such Lease has not been disturbed and, to the knowledge of the Company, there are no disputes with respect to such Lease and (iii) neither any Group Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any other party to the Lease is in breach or default under such Lease, and no event has occurred or circumstance exists which, with the delivery of notice, the passage of time or both, would constitute such a breach or default, or permit the termination, modification or acceleration of rent under such Lease.
(c) The Owned Real Property identified in Section 3.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule and the Leased Real Property identified in Section 3.12(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule (collectively, the "Company Real Property") comprise all of the real property used or intended to be used in, or otherwise related to, the business of the Group Companies as of the date hereof.
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(d) To the knowledge of the Company, (i) all buildings, structures, improvements, fixtures, building systems and equipment, and all components thereof, included in the Company Real Property (the "Improvements") are in good condition and repair and sufficient for the operation of the business of the Group Companies, (ii) there are no structural deficiencies or latent defects affecting any of the Improvements, and (iii) there are no facts or conditions affecting any of the Improvements which would materially interfere with the use or occupancy of the Improvements or any portion thereof in the operation of the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries.
(e) With respect to the underlying land of the Owned Real Property of the Group Companies: (i) the land-use right of such land was granted to the land user by the relevant PRC land administration authority in accordance with PRC Law for a specified period of time; (ii) the relevant Group Companies obtained the land-use rights to such land in compliance in all material respects with applicable PRC Law; (iii) the use, transfer, lease and mortgage of the land-use rights to such land are not subject to any material restrictions within its approved purpose; (iv) the relevant Group Companies entered into land-use right grant contracts with the relevant land administration authorities in obtaining the land; and (v) all land-use right grant fees and other fees required to be paid in connection with obtaining the land have been duly and fully paid by such Group Companies in accordance with PRC Law.
Section 3.13 Intellectual Property.
No written claim has been asserted to any Group Company that the conduct of the business of any Group Company as currently conducted infringes upon or may infringe upon or misappropriates the Intellectual Property Rights of any Third Party. With respect to each item of Intellectual Property owned by any Group Company that is material to the business of the Group Companies taken as a whole (“Company Owned Intellectual Property”), except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) such Group Company is the owner of all right, title and interest in and to such Company Owned Intellectual Property and is entitled to use such Company Owned Intellectual Property in the continued operation of its respective business, (ii) such Company Owned Intellectual Property is valid and enforceable, and has not been adjudged invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part, and (iii) to the knowledge of the Company, no person is engaging in any activity that infringes upon the Company Owned Intellectual Property. With respect to each item of Intellectual Property licensed to any Group Company that is material to the business of the Group Companies taken as a whole (“Company Licensed Intellectual Property”), such Group Company has the right to use such Company Licensed Intellectual Property in the continued operation of its respective business in accordance with the terms of the license agreement governing such Company Licensed Intellectual Property. Each license of the Company Licensed Intellectual Property is valid and enforceable, is binding on all parties to such license, and is in full force and effect, and to the knowledge of the Company, no party to any license of the Company Licensed Intellectual Property is in breach thereof or default thereunder. All registrations with and applications to any Governmental Authority in respect of the Company Owned Intellectual Property and the licenses of the Company Licensed Intellectual Property necessary for the protection of such Intellectual Property rights under applicable Laws have been made, are valid and in full force and effect. Neither the execution of this Agreement nor the consummation of any Transaction will materially adversely affect any Group Company’s rights with respect to the Company Owned Intellectual Property or the Company Licensed Intellectual Property.
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Section 3.14 Taxes.
(a) Each Group Company has duly filed all material Tax returns and reports required to be filed by it and has paid and discharged all material Taxes required to be paid or discharged, other than such payments as are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings. All such Tax returns are true, accurate and complete in all material respects. As of the date hereof, no taxing authority is now asserting in writing or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatening to assert against any Group Company any material deficiency or claim for any material Taxes. Each Group Company has properly and duly withheld, collected and deposited all material Taxes that are in the Company's reasonable judgment required to be withheld, collected and deposited under applicable Law. No Group Company has granted any waiver of any statute of limitations with respect to, or any extension of a period for the assessment of, any material Tax.
(b) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries incorporated outside the PRC takes the position for tax purposes that it is a “resident enterprise” of the PRC or tax resident in any jurisdiction other than its jurisdiction of formation.
(c) Each Group Company has, in accordance with applicable Law, duly registered with the relevant Governmental Authority, obtained and maintained the validity of all national and local tax registration certificates and complied in all material respects with all requirements imposed by such Governmental Authorities. Each submission made by or on behalf of any Group Company to any Governmental Authority in connection with obtaining Tax exemptions, Tax holidays, Tax deferrals, Tax incentives or other preferential Tax treatments or Tax rebates was accurate and complete in all material respects. As of the date hereof, no suspension, revocation or cancellation of any such Tax exemptions, preferential treatments or rebates is pending or, to the Company’s knowledge threatened.
Section 3.15 No Secured Creditors; Solvency.
(a) No Group Company has any secured creditors holding a fixed or floating security interest.
(b) No Group Company has taken any steps to seek protection pursuant to any bankruptcy law, nor does the Company have any knowledge or reason to believe that its creditors intend to initiate involuntary bankruptcy proceedings or any knowledge of any fact which would reasonably lead a creditor to do so. The Group Companies on a consolidated basis are not, as of the date hereof, Insolvent.
Section 3.16 Material Contracts.
(a) Subsections (i) through (ix) of Section 3.16(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule list all of the following types of Contracts to which any Group Company is a party, excluding in each case, Contracts under which such Group Company has no outstanding rights or obligations (such Contracts as are required to be set forth in Section 3.16(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule being the “Material Contracts”), and, other than this Agreement, none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any Material Contracts not listed in Section 3.16(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule:
(i) each Contract that would be required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Item 4 of the Instructions to Exhibits of Form 20-F under the Exchange Act, under which there are material rights or obligations outstanding;
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(ii) each Contract relating to indebtedness for borrowed money or any financial guaranty in excess of US$2,000,000 individually (or an equivalent amount in RMB), other than any indebtedness solely between any Group Companies;
(iii) each Contract in respect of any joint venture, strategic cooperation or partnership arrangements (including cooperation or long-term agency contracts entered into at the corporate headquarters level with insurance companies), or other agreements involving a sharing of profits, losses, costs or liabilities by any Group Company that is material to the business of the Group Companies, taken as a whole;
(iv) each Contract that involves the acquisition from a person or disposition to a person, directly or indirectly (by merger, license or otherwise), of any Equity Securities which contains put, call or similar right pursuant to which any Group Company could be required to purchase or sell, as applicable, any Equity Securities of any person that have a fair market value or purchase price of more than US$1,000,000 (or an equivalent amount in RMB), other than Company Options;
(v) each Contract that limits, or purports to limit, in any material respect, the ability of any Group Company to compete in any line of business or with any person or entity or in any geographic area or during any period of time in a manner that is material to the Group Companies, taken as a whole;
(vi) each Contract involving any directors or officers of the Company (or any immediate family member of the foregoing (other than Contracts relating to services as employees, officers or directors of the Company) or shareholders of the Company holding more than 5% of the outstanding share capital of the Company or any of their respective Affiliates (other than the Group Companies), under which there are material rights or obligations outstanding;
(vii) each franchising, licensing or management Contract covering at least three (3) hotels;
(viii) each Contract (other than Contracts granting Company Options) giving the other party the right to terminate such Contract as a result of this Agreement or the consummation of the Merger (alone and not upon occurrence of any additional or subsequent events) where (A) such Contract requires any payment in excess of US$1,000,000 to be made by any Group Company after the date of this Agreement or (B) the value of the outstanding receivables due to any Group Company under such Contract is in excess of US$1,000,000 as of the date of this Agreement; and
(ix) all other Contracts the absence of which would have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
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(b) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) each Material Contract is a legal, valid and binding obligation of a Group Company, as applicable, in full force and effect and enforceable against the such Group Company in accordance with its terms, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception; (ii) to the Company’s knowledge, each Material Contract is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the counterparty thereto, in full force and effect and enforceable against such counterparty in accordance with its terms, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception, (iii) no Group Company and, to the Company's knowledge, no counterparty, is or is alleged to be in breach or violation of, or default under, any Material Contract; (iv) to the Company’s knowledge, no person intends to terminate any Material Contract; and (v) neither the execution of this Agreement nor the consummation of any Transaction shall constitute a material default under, give rise to cancellation rights under, or otherwise adversely affect any of the material rights of any Group Company under any Material Contract. The Company has furnished or made available to Parent true and complete copies of all Material Contracts, including any amendments thereto.
Section 3.17 Environmental Matters.
Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) each Group Company is in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws and has obtained and possess all material permits, licenses and other authorizations currently required for their establishment and their operation under any Environmental Law (the “Environmental Permits”), and all such Environmental Permits are in full force and effect, (ii) to the knowledge of the Company, no property currently or formerly owned or operated by any Group Company has been contaminated with or is releasing any Hazardous Substance in a manner that would reasonably be expected to require remediation or other action pursuant to any Environmental Law, (iii) no Group Company has received any notice, demand, letter, claim or request for information alleging that any Group Company is in violation of or liable under any Environmental Law, which remains unresolved, and (iv) no Group Company is subject to any order, decree or injunction with any Governmental Authority or agreement with any Third Party concerning liability under any Environmental Law or relating to Hazardous Substances.
Section 3.18 Insurance.
The Group Companies maintain insurance coverage with reputable insurers in such amounts and covering such risks as are in accordance with normal industry practice for companies engaged in businesses similar to that of the Group Companies in the PRC (taking into account the cost and availability of such insurance in the PRC), including, but not limited to, directors and officers insurance. No Group Company has any reason to believe that it 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 without a significant increase in cost. None of the Group Companies have received any written notice of any threatened termination of, material premium increase with respect to, or material alteration of coverage under, any of its respective insurance policies.
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Section 3.19 Interested Party Transactions.
None of the directors or officers of the Company, individuals owning, directly or indirectly, an interest in the voting power of the Company that gives them significant influence over the Company, and close members of any such individual's family (i) has, directly or indirectly, an economic interest in any person that (A) furnishes or sells services or products that any Group Company furnishes or sells, or proposes to furnish or sell, or (B) is otherwise engaged in business that directly competes with that of any Group Company; (ii) has, directly or indirectly, an economic interest in any person that purchases from or sells or furnishes to any Group Company any goods or services; (iii) has, directly or indirectly, a beneficial interest in any Contract disclosed in Section 3.16(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule; (iv) has, directly or indirectly, any material contractual or other arrangement with any Group Company (other than employment relationship or serving as a director); (v) received any payment or other benefit from any Group Company (except for payments and benefits received in connection with such person’s employment or serving as a director); or (vi) advanced or owed any material amount to any Group Company; provided, however, that ownership of no more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding voting stock of a person shall not be deemed an “economic interest in any person” for purposes of this Section 3.19. No Group Company has extended or maintained credit, arranged for the extension of credit or renewed an extension of credit in the form of a personal loan to or for any director or executive officer (or equivalent thereof) of the Company.
Section 3.20 Anti-Takeover Provisions.
The Company is not party to a shareholder rights agreement, “poison pill” or similar anti-takeover agreement or plan. The Company Board has taken all necessary action so that any takeover, anti-takeover, moratorium, “fair price”, “control share” or other similar Laws enacted under any Laws applicable to the Company other than the CICL (each, a “Takeover Statute”) does not, and will not, apply to this Agreement or the Transactions.
Section 3.21 Brokers.
Except for the Financial Advisor, no broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company.
Section 3.22 No Other Representations or Warranties.
Except for the representations and warranties contained in this Article III, each of Parent and Merger Sub acknowledges that neither the Company nor any other person on behalf of the Company makes any other express or implied representation or warranty with respect to any Group Company or with respect to any other information provided to Parent or Merger Sub in connection with the Transactions. Neither the Company nor any other person will have or be subject to any liability to Parent, Merger Sub or any other person resulting from the distribution to Parent or Merger Sub, or Parent’s or Merger Sub’s use of, any such information, including any information, documents, projections, forecasts or other material made available to Parent or Merger Sub in certain “data rooms” or management presentations in expectation of the Transactions.
ARTICLE
IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB
Parent and Merger Sub hereby, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to the Company that:
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Section 4.01 Corporate Organization.
Each of Parent and Merger Sub is an exempted company duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands and has the requisite corporate power and authority and all necessary governmental approvals to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, except where the failure to be so organized, existing or in good standing or to have such power, authority and governmental approvals would not, individually or in the aggregate, prevent or materially delay consummation of any of the Transactions by Parent or Merger Sub or otherwise be materially adverse to the ability of Parent or Merger Sub to perform their material obligations under this Agreement. Parent has heretofore made available to the Company complete and correct copies of the memorandum and articles of association of Parent and Merger Sub, each as amended to date, and each as so delivered is in full force and effect.
Section 4.02 Authority Relative to This Agreement.
Each of Parent and Merger Sub has all necessary corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the Transactions. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub and the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of the Transactions have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and no other corporate proceedings on the part of Parent or Merger Sub are necessary to authorize this Agreement and the Plan of Merger or to consummate the Transactions (other than the filings, notifications and other obligations and actions described in Section 4.03(b)). This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Parent and Merger Sub and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Company, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of each of Parent and Merger Sub, enforceable against each of Parent and Merger Sub in accordance with its terms, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception.
Section 4.03 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.
(a) The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Plan of Merger by Parent and Merger Sub do not, and the performance of this Agreement and the Plan of Merger by Parent and Merger Sub will not, (i) conflict with or violate the memorandum and articles of association of either Parent or Merger Sub, (ii) assuming that all consents, approvals, authorizations and other actions described in Section 4.03(b) have been obtained and all filings and obligations described in Section 4.03(b) have been made, conflict with or violate any Law applicable to Parent or Merger Sub or by which any property or asset of either of them is bound or affected, or (iii) result in any breach of, or constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the creation of a Lien or other encumbrance on any property or asset of Parent or Merger Sub pursuant to, any Contract or obligation to which Parent or Merger Sub is a party or by which Parent or Merger Sub or any property or asset of either of them is bound or affected, except, with respect to clauses (ii) and (iii), for any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults or other occurrences which would not, individually or in the aggregate, prevent or materially delay consummation of any of the Transactions by Parent or Merger Sub or otherwise be materially adverse to the ability of Parent and Merger Sub to perform their material obligations under this Agreement.
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(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub do not, and the performance of this Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub and the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of the Transactions will not, require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing with or notification to, any Governmental Authority, except (i) for the filings and/or notices pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) for compliance with the rules and regulations of NYSE, (iii) for the filing of the Plan of Merger and related documentation with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands pursuant to the CICL and (iv) for the Requisite Regulatory Approvals.
(c) Except as contemplated under the Finance Documents, Merger Sub has no secured creditors holding a fixed or floating security interest.
Section 4.04 Capitalization.
(a) The authorized share capital of Parent consists solely of 50,000,000 ordinary shares, par value of US$0.001 each. As of the date of this Agreement, one ordinary share of Parent was issued and outstanding, which is duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and is owned by Holdco. Parent was formed solely for the purpose of engaging in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and it has not conducted any business prior to the date hereof and has no, and prior to the Effective Time, will have no, assets, liabilities or obligations of any nature other than the Financing Documents and those incident to its formation and capitalization pursuant to this Agreement and the Transactions.
(b) The authorized share capital of Merger Sub consists solely of 400,000 ordinary shares, par value of US$0.125 each, all of which are validly issued and outstanding. All of the issued and outstanding share capital of Merger Sub is, and at the Effective time will be, owned by Parent. Merger Sub was formed solely for the purpose of engaging in the Transactions, and it has not conducted any business prior to the date hereof and has no, and prior to the Effective Time will have no, assets, liabilities or obligations of any nature other than those incident to its formation and capitalization and pursuant to this Agreement and the Transactions.
Section 4.05 Available Funds and Financing.
(a) Parent has delivered to the Company true and complete copies of (i) an executed commitment letter from the financial institutions named therein (as the same may be amended or modified pursuant to Section 6.07, the "Debt Commitment Letter"), confirming their respective commitments, subject to the terms and conditions therein, to provide or cause to be provided the debt amounts set forth therein in connection with the Transactions (the “Debt Financing”), and (ii) executed equity commitment letters from the Sponsors (the “Equity Commitment Letters” and, together with the Debt Commitment Letter, the “Financing Documents”) pursuant to which each Sponsor has committed to purchase, or cause the purchase of, for cash, subject to the terms and conditions therein, equity securities of Holdco, up to the aggregate amount set forth therein (the “Equity Financing” and, together with the Debt Financing, the “Financing”). The proceeds of the Financing shall be used to finance the consummation of the Transactions.
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(b) As of the date hereof, (i) each of the Financing Documents is in full force and effect and is a legal, valid and binding obligation of Parent (subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception) and, to the knowledge of Parent, the other parties thereto (subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception), (ii) none of the Financing Documents has been amended or modified and no such amendment or modification is contemplated (other than as permitted by Section 6.07 or this Section 4.05), and the respective commitments contained in the Financing Documents have not been withdrawn or rescinded in any material respect. Parent and Merger Sub have fully paid any and all commitment fees or other fees in connection with the Debt Commitment Letter that are payable on or prior to the date hereof. Assuming (A) the Financing is funded in accordance with the Financing Documents, and (B) the satisfaction of the conditions to the obligation of Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the Merger as set forth in Sections 7.01 and 7.02 or the waiver of such conditions, as of the date hereof, the net proceeds contemplated by the Financing Documents will be sufficient for Merger Sub and the Surviving Corporation to pay (1) the Merger Consideration, and (2) any other amounts required to be paid in connection with the consummation of the Transactions upon the terms and conditions contemplated hereby and all related fees and expenses associated therewith. The Financing Documents contain all of the conditions precedent (or, where applicable, refers to customary conditions precedent for a transaction of the nature contemplated by the Financing Documents) to the obligations of the parties thereunder to make the Financing available to Holdco, Parent or Merger Sub on the terms and conditions therein. As of the date hereof, there are no side letters or other agreements, contracts or arrangements (whether written or oral) to which Parent or any of its Affiliates is a party related to the funding or investing, as applicable, of the full amount of the Financing other than as expressly set forth in the Financing Documents and any customary engagement letter and non-disclosure agreements that do not impact the conditionality or amount of the Financing. As of the date hereof, no event has occurred, which, with or without notice, lapse of time or both, would constitute a default or breach on the part of Parent or Merger Sub or, to the knowledge of Parent, any other parties thereunder, under the Financing Documents. As of the date hereof, subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Article III hereof, and the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 7.01 and Section 7.02 hereof, Parent has no reason to believe that it will be unable to satisfy on a timely basis any term or condition of closing to be satisfied by it contained in the Financing Documents or that any of the conditions to the Financing will not be satisfied or that the Financing will not be available to Parent or Merger Sub at the Effective Time.
Section 4.06 Brokers.
No broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Parent or Merger Sub.
Section 4.07 Guaranties.
Assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the Company, each Guaranty is in full force and effect and is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Guarantor that executed it, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception, and no event has occurred, which, with or without notice, lapse of time or both, would constitute a default on the part of such Guarantor under such Guaranty.
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Section 4.08 Absence of Litigation.
There is no Action pending or, to the knowledge of Parent and Merger Sub, threatened against Parent, Merger Sub or any of their respective Affiliates before any Governmental Authority. Neither Parent nor Merger Sub nor any of their Affiliates is subject to any continuing order of, consent decree, settlement agreement or other similar written agreement with, or, to the knowledge of Parent and Merger Sub, continuing investigation by, any Governmental Authority, or any order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination or award of any Governmental Authority.
Section 4.09 Solvency.
Neither Parent nor Merger Sub is entering into the transactions contemplated hereby with the intent to hinder, delay or defraud either present or future creditors. Immediately after giving effect to all of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Financing and the payment of the Merger Consideration and all other amounts required to be paid in connection with the consummation of the Transactions, assuming (i) satisfaction of the conditions to the obligation of Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the Merger as set forth herein, or the waiver of such conditions, and (ii) the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Article III (for such purposes, the representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality or "Company Material Adverse Effect" shall be true and correct in all respects and those not so qualified shall be true and correct in all material respects), the Surviving Corporation will be solvent at and immediately after the Effective Time, as such term is used under the laws of the Cayman Islands.
Section 4.10 Ownership of Company Shares.
As of the date hereof, other than (i) the Rollover Shares and (ii) 1,940,450 Shares held by Happy Travel Limited, each of which shall be cancelled in exchange for Per Share Merger Consideration, neither Parent, Merger Sub nor the Sponsors beneficially own (as such term is used in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) any Shares or other securities or any other economic interest (through derivative securities or otherwise) of the Company or any options, warrants or other rights to acquire Shares or other securities of, or any other economic interest (through derivative securities or otherwise) in the Company.
Section 4.11 Certain Actions.
As of the date hereof, except for the Buyer Group Contracts, there are no Contracts (whether oral or written) (i) between Parent, Merger Sub or any of their Affiliates, on the one hand, and any member of the Company's management or directors, on the other hand, that relate in any way to the Transactions; or (ii) pursuant to which any shareholder of the Company would be entitled to receive consideration of a different amount or nature than the Per Share Merger Consideration or the Per ADS Merger Consideration or pursuant to which any shareholder of the Company has agreed to vote to approve this Agreement or the Merger or has agreed to vote against any Superior Proposal.
Section 4.12 Buyer Group Contracts.
Parent has delivered to the Company a true and complete copy of: (a) the Consortium Agreement; (b) the interim investors agreement dated the date hereof by and among the Rollover Shareholders, the Sponsors, Holdco, Parent and Merger Sub; (c) the Support Agreement; (d) the Equity Commitment Letters (collectively, the "Buyer Group Contracts"), including all amendments thereto or modifications thereof. As of the date hereof, other than the Buyer Group Contracts, there are no side letters or other oral or written Contracts relating to the Transactions between two or more of the following persons: each of the Rollover Shareholders, the Sponsors or any of their respective Affiliates (excluding any agreements among any one or more of the foregoing solely relating to the Surviving Corporation following the Effective Time).
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Section 4.13 Proxy Statement.
The information supplied by Parent and Merger Sub for inclusion in the Proxy Statement to be sent to the shareholders of the Company in connection with the Shareholders’ Meeting (including any amendment or supplement thereto or document incorporated by reference therein) and the Schedule 13E-3 relating to the authorization and approval of this Agreement and the Transactions by the shareholders of the Company shall not, (i) on the date the Proxy Statement (including any amendment or supplement thereto) is first mailed to shareholders of the Company or at the time of the Shareholders’ Meeting, contain any untrue statement of any material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, or (ii) on the date the Schedule 13E-3 and any amendment or supplement thereto is filed with the SEC, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither Parent nor Merger Sub makes representation with respect to statements made or incorporated by reference therein based on information supplied by or on behalf of the Company for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Proxy Statement or the Schedule 13E-3.
Section 4.14 Independent Investigation.
Parent and Merger Sub have conducted their own independent investigation, review and analysis of the business, operations, assets, liabilities, results of operations, financial condition and prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries, which investigation, review and analysis were performed by Parent, Merger Sub, their respective Affiliates and Representatives. Each of Parent and Merger Sub acknowledges that as of the date hereof, it, its Affiliates and their respective Representatives have been provided adequate access to the personnel, properties, facilities and records of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such purpose. In entering into this Agreement, each of Parent and Merger Sub acknowledges that it has relied solely upon the aforementioned investigation, review and analysis and not on any statements, representations or opinions of any of the Company, its Affiliates or their respective Representatives (except the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement and in any certificate delivered pursuant to this Agreement).
Section 4.15 Non-Reliance on Company Estimates.
The Company has made available to Parent and Merger Sub, and may continue to make available, certain estimates, projections and other forecasts for the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries and certain plan and budget information. Each of Parent and Merger Sub acknowledges that these estimates, projections, forecasts, plans and budgets and the assumptions on which they are based were prepared for specific purposes and may vary significantly from each other. Further, each of Parent and Merger Sub acknowledges that there are uncertainties inherent in attempting to make such estimates, projections, forecasts, plans and budgets, that Parent and Merger Sub are taking full responsibility for making their own evaluation of the adequacy and accuracy of all estimates, projections, forecasts, plans and budgets so furnished to them (including the reasonableness of the assumptions underlying such estimates, projections, forecasts, plans and budgets), and that neither Parent nor Merger Sub is relying on any estimates, projections, forecasts, plans or budgets furnished by the Company, its Subsidiaries or their respective Affiliates and Representatives, and neither Parent nor Merger Sub shall, and shall cause its Affiliates and their respective Representatives not to, hold any such person liable with respect thereto, other than fraud in connection therewith.
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Section 4.16 No Additional Representations.
Except for the representations and warranties made by Parent and Merger Sub in this Article IV, neither Parent nor Merger Sub nor any other person makes any other express or implied representation or warranty with respect to Parent or Merger Sub or their respective business, operations, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects, notwithstanding the delivery or disclosure to the Company or any of its Affiliates or Representatives of any documentation, forecasts or other information with respect to any one or more of the foregoing, and the Company acknowledges the foregoing.
ARTICLE
V
CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGER
Section 5.01 Conduct of Business by the Company Pending the Merger.
The Company agrees that, from the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Effective Time and termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article VIII, except as (x) required by applicable Law, (y) set forth in Section 5.01 of the Company Disclosure Schedule or (z) expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, unless Parent shall otherwise consent in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) (i) the businesses of the Group Companies shall be conducted in the ordinary course of business; and (ii) the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to preserve substantially intact the business organization of the Group Companies, to keep available the services of the current officers and key employees of the Group Companies and to maintain in all material respects the current relationships of the Group Companies with existing customers, suppliers and other persons with which any Group Companies has material business relations as of the date hereof.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, from the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Effective Time and termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article VIII, except as (x) required by applicable Law, (y) set forth in Section 5.01 of the Company Disclosure Schedule or (z) expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, no Group Company shall, directly or indirectly, do or propose to do any of the following without the prior written consent of Parent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned); provided, however, that Parent shall be deemed to have given its written consent with respect to an action if Parent does not object within two weeks after a written request for such written consent is duly given by the Company to Parent:
(a) amend or otherwise change its memorandum and articles of association or equivalent organizational documents;
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(b) issue, sell, transfer, lease, sublease, license, pledge, dispose of, grant or encumber, or authorize the issuance, sale, transfer, lease, sublease, license, pledge, disposition, grant or encumbrance of, (i) any shares of any class of any Group Company (other than in connection with (A) the exercise of any Company Options in accordance with the Share Incentive Plan, (B) the withholding of Company securities to satisfy tax obligations with respect to Company Options, (C) the acquisition by the Company of its securities in connection with the forfeiture of Company Options, (D) the acquisition by the Company of its securities in connection with the net exercise of Company Options in accordance with the terms thereof, (E) the issuance of Company securities as required to comply with any Company Employee Plan or Company Employment Agreement as in effect on the date of this Agreement, or (F) pursuant to Contracts in effect as of the date of this Agreement), or any options, warrants, securities convertible into any share capital or other rights of any kind to acquire any shares, or any other ownership interest (including, without limitation, any phantom interest), of any Group Company, or (ii) any property or assets (whether real, personal or mixed, and including leasehold interests and intangible property) of any Group Company with a value or purchase price (including the value of assumed liabilities) in excess of RMB5,000,000, except in the ordinary course of business;
(c) declare, set aside, make or pay any dividend or other distribution, payable in cash, shares, property or otherwise, with respect to any of its shares (other than dividends or other distributions from any Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or any of its other Subsidiaries);
(d) reclassify, combine, split, subdivide or redeem, or purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any of its share capital or securities or other rights exchangeable into or convertible or exercisable for any of its share capital (other than the purchase of Shares to satisfy obligations under the Share Incentive Plan, including the withholding of Shares in connection with the exercise of Company Options in accordance with the terms and conditions of such Company Options);
(e) effect or commence any liquidation, dissolution, scheme of arrangement, merger, consolidation, amalgamation, restructuring, reorganization or similar transaction involving any Group Company, or create any new Subsidiary (other than creating any new Subsidiary in the PRC by a Group Company that (i) is incorporated in the PRC and (ii) does not require any capital injection (directly or indirectly) from outside the PRC after the date of this Agreement), other than as contemplated by this Agreement;
(f) acquire, whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, scheme of arrangement, amalgamation or acquisition of stock or assets or otherwise, any assets, securities or properties, in aggregate, with a value or purchase price (including the value of assumed liabilities) not in excess of US$10,000,000 (or an equivalent amount in RMB) in any transaction or related series of transactions;
(g) incur or guarantee any indebtedness for borrowed money of any Third Party except for the incurrence or guarantee of indebtedness (i) under any Group Company’s existing credit facilities as in effect on the date hereof in an aggregate amount not to exceed the maximum amount authorized under the Contracts evidencing such Indebtedness or (ii) not in an aggregate amount in excess of US$10,000,000 (or an equivalent amount in RMB);
(h) other than expenditures necessary to maintain assets in good repair consistent with the past practice, authorize, or make any commitment with respect to, any single capital expenditure which is in excess of US$2,000,000 (or an equivalent amount in RMB) or capital expenditures which are, in the aggregate, in excess of US$50,000,000 (or an equivalent amount in RMB) for the Group Companies taken as a whole;
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(i) except as required pursuant to any Company Employee Plan or this Agreement, (i) enter into any new employment or compensatory agreements (including the renewal of any such agreements), or terminate any such agreements, with any director, officer, employee or consultant of any Group Company other than the hiring or termination of employees or consultants below the vice president level or its equivalent (e.g. the head of business unit) or with an annual compensation of less than US$150,000 (or an equivalent amount in RMB), (ii) grant or provide any severance or termination payments or benefits to any director or officer of any Group Company except as required by applicable Law, (iii) increase the compensation, bonus or pension, welfare, severance or other benefits of, pay any bonus to any director, or officer of any Group Company except such increases or payments, in the aggregate, do not cause an increase in the labor costs of the Group Companies, taken as a whole, by more than 3%, (iv) make any new equity awards to any director, officer or employee of any Group Company, (v) establish, adopt, amend or terminate any Company Employee Plan or materially amend the terms of any outstanding Company Options, (vi) take any action to accelerate the vesting of Company Options, or (vii) forgive any loans to directors, officers or employees of any Group Company;
(j) issue or grant any Company Option to any person under the Share Incentive Plan;
(k) make any changes with respect to financial accounting policies or procedures, including changes affecting the reported consolidated assets, liabilities or results of operations of the Group Companies, except as required by changes in statutory or regulatory accounting rules or GAAP or regulatory requirements with respect thereto;
(l) enter into, amend, modify, consent to the termination of, or waive any material rights under, any Material Contract (or any Contract that would be a Material Contract if such Contract had been entered into prior to the date hereof) that calls for annual aggregate payments of US$1,000,000 or more or with a term longer than one (1) year which cannot be terminated without material surviving obligations or material penalty upon notice of ninety (90) days or less;
(m) enter into any Contract with any of the directors or officers of the Company, individuals owning, directly or indirectly, an interest in the voting power of the Company that gives them significant influence over the Company, and close members of any such individual's family;
(n) terminate or cancel, let lapse, or amend or modify in any material respect, other than renewals in the ordinary course of business, any material insurance policies maintained by it which is not promptly replaced by a comparable amount of insurance coverage;
(o) commence any Action for a claim of more than US$3,000,000 (or an equivalent amount in RMB) (excluding any Action seeking for an injunctive relief or other similar equitable remedies) or settle any Action other than any settlement involving the payment of monetary damages not in excess of US$1,000,000 (or an equivalent amount in RMB);
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(p) permit any item of Company Owned Intellectual Property to lapse or to be abandoned, dedicated, or disclaimed, fail to perform or make any applicable filings, recordings or other similar actions or filings, or fail to pay all required fees and taxes required or advisable to maintain and protect its interest in each and every item of Company Owned Intellectual Property;
(q) fail to make in a timely manner any filings or registrations with the SEC required under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;
(r) enter into, or propose to enter into, any transaction involving any earn-out or similar payment payable by any Group Company, to any Third Party, other than payments in connection with purchases of vehicles, plant, equipment, supplies or computers in the ordinary course of business;
(s) engage in the conduct of any new line of business material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(t) make or change any material Tax election, materially amend any Tax return (except as required by applicable Law), enter into any material closing agreement with respect to Taxes, surrender any right to claim a material refund of Taxes, settle or finally resolve any material controversy with respect to Taxes or materially change any method of Tax accounting;
(u) close down or suspend the operation of, in the aggregate, more than sixty (60) hotels (including both hotels leased and operated by any Group Company and Franchisee Hotels) because such hotels have not passed the relevant fire protection and safety inspection; or
(v) announce an intention, enter into any formal or informal agreement or otherwise make a commitment, to do any of the foregoing.
Section 5.02 Operation of Parent’s and Merger Sub’s Business.
Each of Parent and Merger Sub agrees that, from the date hereof until the earlier of the Effective Time and termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article III, it shall not: (a) take any action that is intended to or would reasonably be likely to result in any of the conditions to effecting the Merger becoming incapable of being satisfied; or (b) take any action or fail to take any action which would, or would be reasonably likely to, individually or in the aggregate, prevent, materially delay or materially impede the ability of Parent or Merger Sub to consummate the Merger or the other Transactions.
Section 5.03 No Control of Other Party’s Business.
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, nothing contained in this Agreement is intended to give Parent or Merger Sub, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct the Company’s or the Company’s Subsidiaries’ operations prior to the Effective Time, and nothing contained in this Agreement is intended to give the Company, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct Parent’s or Merger Sub’s operations. Prior to the Effective Time, each of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company shall exercise, consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, complete control and supervision over its and its Subsidiaries’ respective operations.
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ARTICLE
VI
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
Section 6.01 Proxy Statement and Schedule 13E-3.
(a) As soon as practicable following the date of this Agreement, the Company, with the assistance of Parent and Merger Sub, shall prepare a proxy statement relating to the authorization and approval of this Agreement and the Plan of Merger by the shareholders of the Company (such proxy statement, as amended or supplemented, being referred to herein as the “Proxy Statement”). Concurrently with the preparation of the Proxy Statement, the Company, Parent and Merger Sub shall jointly prepare and cause to be filed with the SEC a Schedule 13E-3. Each of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub shall use its reasonable best efforts so that the Schedule 13E-3 will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Each of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub shall use its reasonable best efforts to respond promptly to any comments of the SEC with respect to Schedule 13E-3. Each of Parent and Merger Sub shall provide reasonable assistance and cooperation to the Company in the preparation, filing and distribution of the Proxy Statement, Schedule 13E-3 and the resolution of comments from the SEC. The Company shall promptly notify Parent and Merger Sub upon the receipt of any comments from the SEC or its staff or any request from the SEC or its staff for amendments or supplements to Schedule 13E-3 and shall provide Parent with copies of all correspondence between it and its representatives, on the one hand, and the SEC and its staff, on the other hand. Prior to filing Schedule 13E-3 or mailing the Proxy Statement (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or responding to any comments of the SEC with respect thereto, the Company (i) shall provide Parent and Merger Sub with a reasonable period of time to review and comment on such document or response and (ii) shall consider in good faith all additions, deletions or changes reasonably proposed by Parent in good faith. If at any time prior to the Shareholders’ Meeting, any information relating to the Company, Parent, Merger Sub or any of their respective Affiliates, officers or directors, is discovered by the Company, Parent or Merger Sub which should be set forth in an amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement and Schedule 13E-3 so that the Proxy Statement and Schedule 13E-3 shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, the party which discovers such information shall promptly notify the other parties hereto and the Company shall file an appropriate amendment or supplement describing such information with the SEC and, to the extent required by applicable Law, disseminate to the shareholders of the Company.
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(b) Each of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company agrees, as to it and its respective Affiliates or Representatives, that none of the information supplied or to be supplied by Parent, Merger Sub or the Company, as applicable, expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Proxy Statement, Schedule 13E-3 or any other documents filed or to be filed with the SEC in connection with the Transactions, will, as of the time such documents (or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto) are mailed to the holders of Shares and at the time of the Shareholders’ Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact, or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Each of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company further agrees that all documents that such party is responsible for filing with the SEC in connection with the Merger will comply as to form and substance in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and any other applicable Laws and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact, or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If at any time prior to the Effective Time, any event or circumstance relating to Parent, Merger Sub or the Company, or their respective officers or directors, should be discovered which should be set forth in an amendment or a supplement to the Proxy Statement or Schedule 13E-3 so that such document would not include any misstatement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, the party discovering such event or circumstance shall promptly inform the other parties and an appropriate amendment or supplement describing such event or circumstance shall be promptly filed with the SEC and disseminated to the shareholders of the Company to the extent required by Law; provided that prior to such filing, the Company and Parent, as the case may be, shall consult with each other with respect to such amendment or supplement and shall afford the other party and their Representatives a reasonable opportunity to comment thereon.
(c) At the Shareholders’ Meeting, Parent shall vote, or cause to be voted, all of the Shares then beneficially owned by Parent or Merger Sub or with respect to which Parent or Merger Sub otherwise has, directly or indirectly, voting power in favor of the adoption of this Agreement and approval of the Transactions, including the Merger.
Section 6.02 Company Shareholders’ Meeting.
(a) As soon as practicable after the SEC confirms that it has no further comments on the Schedule 13E-3, the Company shall (i) establish a record date for determining shareholders of the Company entitled to vote at the shareholders’ meeting, provided, that, in the event that the date of such shareholders’ meeting as originally called is adjourned or postponed or otherwise delayed pursuant to Section 6.02(c), the Company may establish a new record date, (ii) mail or cause to be mailed (and in any event within 7 Business Days following such confirmation by the SEC) the Proxy Statement to the holders of Shares (and concurrently furnish the Proxy Statement under Form 6-K), including Shares represented by ADSs, as of the record date established for the shareholders’ meeting, which meeting the Company shall duly convene and cause to occur as soon as reasonably practicable following the mailing of the Proxy Statement (the “Shareholders’ Meeting”), for the purpose of voting upon the authorization and approval of this Agreement, the Plan of Merger and the Merger, and (iii) instruct the Depositary to (A) fix the record date established by the Company for the Shareholders’ Meeting as the record date for determining the holders of ADSs who shall be entitled to give instructions for the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the Shares represented by ADSs (the “Record ADS Holders”), (B) provide all proxy solicitation materials to all Record ADS Holders, and (C) vote all Shares represented by ADSs in accordance with the instructions of such corresponding Record ADS Holders. Subject to Section 6.02(b), without the consent of Parent, authorization and approval of this Agreement and the Plan of Merger are the only matters (other than procedural matters) that shall be proposed to be voted upon by the shareholders of the Company at the Shareholders’ Meeting.
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(b) Subject to this Section 6.02 and Section 6.04, the Company Board shall recommend to holders of the Shares that they authorize and approve this Agreement and the Plan of Merger and approve the Merger, and shall include such recommendation in the Proxy Statement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, in the event that subsequent to the date hereof, the Company Board makes a Change in the Company Recommendation, the Company shall have the right not to submit this Agreement to the holders of Shares for approval at the Shareholders' Meeting. Unless there is a Change in the Company Recommendation subsequent to the date hereof, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to solicit from its shareholders proxies in favor of the authorization and approval of this Agreement, the Plan of Merger and the Merger and shall take all other action necessary or advisable to secure the Requisite Company Vote. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the Company agrees that its obligations pursuant to this Section 6.02 shall not be affected by the commencement, public proposal, public disclosure or communication to the Company or any other person of any Competing Transaction.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 6.02(b), after consultation in good faith with Parent, the Company may recommend the adjournment of the Shareholders' Meeting to its shareholders (i) to the extent necessary to ensure that any required supplement or amendment to the Proxy Statement is provided to the holders of Shares within a reasonable amount of time in advance of the Shareholders' Meeting, (ii) as otherwise required by applicable Law, (iii) if (A) the Company has received a bona fide written proposal or offer with respect to a Competing Transaction and (B) the Company Board determines, in its good faith judgment upon the unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee upon written advice by its financial advisor and outside legal counsel, that such proposal or offer constitutes a Superior Proposal and failure to take such action would reasonably be expected to be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable Law, (iv) if an Intervening Event has occurred and the Company Board determines, in its good faith judgment upon the unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee and upon written advice by its outside legal counsel, which advice shall be confirmed in writing by another outside legal counsel engaged by the Special Committee, who is a long-standing internationally reputable law firm experienced in the corporate Law of the Cayman Islands or, to the extent no such law firm is available to take on such representation, a law firm experienced in the corporate Law of the Cayman Islands, that the failure to take such action could reasonably be expected to breach its fiduciary duties under applicable Law or (v) if as of the time for which the Shareholders' Meeting is scheduled as set forth in the Proxy Statement, there are insufficient Shares represented (in person or by proxy) to constitute a quorum necessary to conduct the business of the Shareholders' Meeting. If the Shareholders' Meeting is adjourned, the Company shall convene and hold the Shareholders' Meeting as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter, subject to the immediately preceding sentence, provided that, with respect to clauses (iii) and (iv) above, the Company shall not recommend to its shareholders the adjournment of the Shareholders' Meeting to a date that is (A) less than five (5) Business Days prior to the Termination Date or (B) on or after the Termination Date.
Section 6.03 Access to Information.
(a) From the date hereof until the earlier of the Effective Time and termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article VIII and subject to applicable Law and the Confidentiality Agreements, upon reasonable advance notice from Parent, the Company shall (i) provide to Parent (and Parent’s officers, directors, employees, accountants, consultants, financial and legal advisors, agents, financing sources and other authorized representatives, collectively, “Representatives”) reasonable access during normal business hours to the offices, properties, books and records of any Group Company, (ii) furnish to Parent and its Representatives such existing financial and operating data and other existing information as such persons may reasonably request in writing, and (iii) instruct its and its Subsidiaries’ employees, legal counsel, financial advisors, auditors and other Representatives to reasonably cooperate with Parent and its Representatives in their investigation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any such investigation shall be conducted in such a manner as not to interfere unreasonably with the business or operations of the Company or its Subsidiaries or otherwise result in any significant interference with the timely discharge by the employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries of their duties.
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(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 6.03(a), nothing in this Agreement shall require the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to provide Parent or any of its Representatives with access to any books, records, documents or other information to the extent that (i) such books, records, documents or other information is subject to any confidentiality agreement with a Third Party (provided that at the request of Parent, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a waiver from such Third Party), (ii) the disclosure of such books, records, documents or other information would result in the loss of attorney-client privilege, (iii) the disclosure of such books, records, documents or other information is prohibited by applicable Law, or (iv) the Company determines in good faith that such books, records, documents or other information involves trade secrets of the Company or its Subsidiaries.
(c) All information provided or made available pursuant to this Section 6.03 to Parent or its Representatives shall be subject to the Confidentiality Agreements.
(d) No investigation pursuant to this Section 6.03 shall affect any representation or warranty in this Agreement of any party hereto or any condition to the obligations of the parties hereto.
Section 6.04 No Solicitation of Transactions.
(a) Until the earlier of the Effective Time and termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article VIII, except as set forth in Section 6.04(b), the Company agrees that neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries, and that it will cause its and its Subsidiaries’ Representatives (including, without limitation, any investment banker, attorney or accountant retained by any Group Company), not to, in each case, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit, initiate or knowingly encourage (including by way of furnishing nonpublic information concerning any Group Company), or take any other action to knowingly facilitate, any inquiries or the making of any proposal or offer (including, without limitation, any proposal or offer to its shareholders) that constitutes, or could reasonably be expected to lead to, any Competing Transaction, or (ii) enter into, maintain or continue discussions or negotiations with, or provide any nonpublic information concerning any Group Company to, any Third Party in furtherance of such inquiries or to obtain a proposal or offer for a Competing Transaction, or (iii) agree to, approve, endorse or recommend any Competing Transaction or enter into any letter of intent or Contract (other than an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement) or commitment contemplating or otherwise relating to any Competing Transaction, or (iv) authorize or permit any of the Representatives of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to take any action set forth in clauses (i) – (iii) of this Section 6.04(a). The Company shall notify Parent as promptly as practicable (and in any event within forty-eight (48) hours after the Company has knowledge thereof), orally and in writing, of any proposal or offer, or any inquiry or contact with any person, regarding a Competing Transaction or that would reasonably be expected to lead to a Competing Transaction, specifying (x) the material terms and conditions thereof (including material amendments or proposed material amendments) and providing, if applicable, copies of any written requests, proposals or offers, including proposed agreements, (y) the identity of the party making such proposal or offer or inquiry or contact, and (z) whether the Company has any intention to provide confidential information to such person. The Company shall keep Parent informed, on a reasonably current basis (and in any event within forty-eight (48) hours of the occurrence of any material changes, developments, discussions or negotiations) of the status and terms of any such proposal, offer, inquiry, contact or request and of any material changes in the status and terms of any such proposal, offer, inquiry, contact or request (including the material terms and conditions thereof). Without limiting the foregoing, the Company shall (A) promptly notify Parent orally and in writing if it determines to initiate actions concerning a proposal, offer, inquiry, contact or request, in each case as permitted by this Section 6.04, and (B) provide Parent with forty-eight (48) hours prior notice (or such lesser prior notice as is provided to the members of the Company Board or members of the Special Committee) of any meeting of the Company Board or Special Committee at which the Company Board or Special Committee, as applicable, is reasonably expected to consider any Competing Transaction. The Company immediately shall cease and cause to be terminated all existing discussions or negotiations with any parties conducted heretofore with respect to a Competing Transaction. The Company shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries not to, enter into any confidentiality agreement with any Third Party subsequent to the date of this Agreement which prohibits the Company from providing such information to Parent, or release any Third Party from, or waive any provision of, any confidentiality or standstill agreement in connection with a Competing Transaction.
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(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6.04, at any time prior to the receipt of the Requisite Company Vote, following the receipt of an unsolicited, written, bona fide proposal or offer regarding a Competing Transaction that did not result from a breach of Section 6.04(a), the Company and its Representatives may, subject to compliance with Section 6.04(a) with respect to such proposal or offer and acting under the direction of the Special Committee:
(i) contact the person who has made such proposal or offer to clarify and understand the terms and conditions thereof to the extent the Special Committee shall have determined in good faith that such contact is necessary to determine whether such proposal or offer constitutes a Superior Proposal or could reasonably be expected to result in a Superior Proposal;
(ii) provide information in response to the request of the person who has made such proposal or offer, if and only if, prior to providing such information, the Company has received from the person so requesting such information an executed Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement, provided that the Company shall concurrently make available to Parent any material information concerning the Company and the Subsidiaries that is provided to any such person and that was not previously made available to Parent or its Representatives; and
(iii) engage or participate in any discussions or negotiations with the person who has made such proposal or offer;
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provided, that prior to taking any actions described in clause (ii) and (iii) above, the Special Committee has (A) determined, in its good faith judgment, after consultation with its financial advisor and outside legal counsel, that such proposal or offer constitutes or would reasonably be expected to result in a Superior Proposal, (B) determined, in its good faith judgment, after consultation with its financial advisor and outside legal counsel, that, in light of such Superior Proposal, failure to take such action would be inconsistent with the fiduciary duties of the Company Board under applicable Law, and (C) provided written notice to Parent at least two (2) Business Days prior to taking any such action.
(c) Except as set forth in Sections 6.04(d) and 6.4(e), neither the Company Board nor any committee thereof shall (i) (A) change, withhold, withdraw, qualify or modify (or publicly propose to change, withhold, withdraw, qualify or modify), in a manner adverse to Parent or Merger Sub, the Company Recommendation, (B) fail to include the Company Recommendation in the Proxy Statement, (C) approve or recommend, or publicly propose to approve or recommend to the shareholders of the Company, a Competing Transaction or (D) if a tender offer or exchange offer for 20% or more of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company that constitutes a Competing Transaction is commenced, fail to recommend against acceptance of such tender offer or exchange offer by the Company shareholders (including, for these purposes, by disclosing that it is taking no position with respect to the acceptance of such tender offer or exchange offer by its shareholders, which shall constitute a failure to recommend against acceptance of such tender offer or exchange offer, provided that a customary “stop, look and listen” communication by the Company Board pursuant to Rule 14d−9(f) of the Exchange Act or a statement that the Company Board has received and is currently evaluating such Competing Transaction shall not be prohibited), within ten (10) Business Days after commencement (any of the foregoing, a “Change in the Company Recommendation”), or (ii) cause or permit the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to enter into any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle, merger agreement, acquisition agreement or other or similar document or Contract with respect to any Competing Transaction other than an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement (an “Alternative Acquisition Agreement”).
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(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, from the date of this Agreement and at any time prior to the receipt of the Requisite Company Vote, if the Company has received a bona fide written proposal or offer with respect to a Competing Transaction and the Company Board determines, in its good faith judgment upon the unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee upon advice by its financial advisor and outside legal counsel, that such proposal or offer constitutes a Superior Proposal and failure to make a Change in the Company Recommendation with respect to such Superior Proposal would be reasonably likely to be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable Law, the Company Board may, upon the recommendation of the Special Committee, effect a Change in the Company Recommendation with respect to such Superior Proposal and/or authorize the Company to terminate this Agreement in accordance with Section 8.03(c), but only (i) if the Company shall have complied with the requirements of Sections 6.04(a) and 6.04(b) with respect to such proposal or offer; (ii) after (A) providing at least five (5) Business Days’ written notice to Parent (a “Notice of Superior Proposal”) advising Parent that the Company Board has received a Superior Proposal, specifying the material terms and conditions of such Superior Proposal and identifying the person making such Superior Proposal and indicating that the Company Board intends to effect a Change in the Company Recommendation and the manner in which it intends (or may intend) to do so, it being understood that the Notice of Superior Proposal or any amendment or update thereto or the determination to so deliver such notice shall not constitute a Change in the Company Recommendation, (B) negotiating with and causing its financial and legal advisors to negotiate with Parent and its Representatives in good faith (to the extent Parent desires to negotiate) to make such adjustments in the terms and conditions of this Agreement, so that such third party proposal or offer would cease to constitute a Superior Proposal, and (C) permitting Parent and its Representatives to make a presentation to the Company Board and the Special Committee regarding this Agreement and any adjustments with respect thereto (to the extent Parent desires to make such presentation); provided that any material modifications to such third party proposal or offer that the Company Board has determined to be a Superior Proposal shall be deemed a new Superior Proposal and the Company shall be required to again comply with the requirements of this Section 6.04, provided, further, that with respect to the new written notice to Parent, the Superior Proposal Notice Period shall be deemed to be a three (3) Business-Day period rather than the five (5) Business-Day period first described above; and (iii) following the end of such five (5) Business-Day period or three (3) Business-Day period (as applicable), the Company Board shall have determined, in its good faith judgment upon the unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee (after consultation with its financial advisor and outside legal counsel), that taking into account any changes to this Agreement proposed in writing by Parent and Merger Sub in response to the Notice of Superior Proposal or otherwise, that the proposal or offer with respect to the Competing Transaction continues to constitute a Superior Proposal.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, from the date of this Agreement and at any time prior to the receipt of the Requisite Company Vote, if an Intervening Event has occurred and the Company Board determines, in its good faith judgment upon the unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee and upon written advice by its outside legal counsel, which advice shall be confirmed in writing by another outside legal counsel engaged by the Special Committee, who is a long-standing internationally reputable law firm experienced in the corporate Law of the Cayman Islands or, to the extent no such law firm is available to take on such representation, a law firm experienced in the corporate Law of the Cayman Islands, that the failure to take such action could reasonably be expected to breach its fiduciary duties under applicable Law, the Company Board may make a Change in the Company Recommendation, provided that the Company Board shall not make such Change in the Company Recommendation unless the Company has (i) provided to Parent at least five (5) Business Days' prior written notice that it intends to take such action and specifying in reasonable detail the facts underlying the decision by the Company Board to take such action and (ii) during such five (5) Business Day period, if requested by Parent, engaged in good faith negotiations with Parent to amend this Agreement in such a manner that obviates the need for such Change in the Company Recommendation.
(f) A “Competing Transaction” means any of the following (other than the Transactions): (i) any merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, scheme of arrangement, amalgamation, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or other similar transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries whose assets, individually or in the aggregate, constitute 20% or more of the consolidated assets of the Company or to which 20% or more of the total revenue or net income of the Company are attributable; (ii) any sale, lease, exchange, transfer or other disposition of assets or businesses that constitute or represent 20% or more of the total revenue, net income or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (iii) any sale, exchange, transfer or other disposition of 20% or more of any class of equity securities of the Company; or (iv) any tender offer or exchange offer that, if consummated, would result in any person beneficially owning 20% or more of any class of equity securities of the Company.
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(g) A “Superior Proposal” means a bona fide written proposal or offer with respect to a Competing Transaction, which was not obtained in violation of Section 6.04, that would result in any Person (or its shareholders, members or other equity owners) becoming the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the assets (on a consolidated basis), or more than 50% of the total voting power of the equity securities, of the Company that the Company Board has determined in its good faith judgment, upon the unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee (after consultation with its financial advisor and outside legal counsel), is reasonably likely to be consummated in accordance with its terms, taking into account all legal, financial and regulatory aspects of the proposal (including financing, regulatory or other consents and approvals, shareholder litigation, the identity of the Person making the proposal, breakup or termination fee and expense reimbursement provisions, expected timing, risk and likelihood of consummation and other relevant events and circumstances) and the Person making the proposal, and would, if consummated, result in a transaction more favorable to the Company’s shareholders from a financial point of view than the Transactions.
(h) An “Intervening Event” means a material event, development or change with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries or the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, that (A) is unknown by the Company Board as of or prior to the date of this Agreement, and (B) occurs, arises or becomes known to the Company Board after the date of this Agreement and on or prior to the receipt of the Requisite Company Vote; provided that the receipt by the Company of a Competing Transaction or Superior Proposal will not be deemed to constitute an Intervening Event.
(i) Prior to the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article VIII, the Company shall not submit to the vote of its shareholders any Competing Transaction or enter into any Alternative Acquisition Agreement or propose to do so.
(j) Nothing contained in this Section 6.04 shall be deemed to prohibit the Company, the Company Board or the Special Committee from (i) complying with its disclosure obligations under U.S. federal or state or non-U.S. Law with regard to a Competing Transaction, including taking and disclosing to its shareholders a position contemplated by Rule 14e-2(a), Rule 14d-9 or Item 1012(a) of Regulation M-A promulgated under the Exchange Act (or any similar communication to shareholders in connection with the making or amendment of a tender offer or exchange offer); provided that any such disclosure (other than a “stop, look and listen” communication of the type contemplated by Rule 14d-9(f) under the Exchange Act or a statement that the Company Board has received and is currently evaluating such Competing Transaction) that is not an express rejection of any applicable Competing Transaction or an express reaffirmation of its recommendation in favor of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be deemed to be a Change in the Company Recommendation, or (ii) making any “stop-look-and-listen” communication of the type contemplated by Rule 14d-9(f) under the Exchange Act.
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Section 6.05 Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance.
(a) The indemnification, advancement and exculpation provisions of the indemnification agreements by and among the Company and its directors and certain executive officers as in effect at the Effective Time shall survive the Merger and shall not be amended, repealed or otherwise modified for a period of six years from the Effective Time in any manner that would adversely affect the rights thereunder of the current or former directors or officers of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The memorandum and articles of association of the Surviving Corporation shall contain provisions no less favorable to the intended beneficiaries with respect to exculpation and indemnification of liability and advancement of expenses than are set forth in the memorandum and articles of association of the Company as in effect on the date hereof, and Parent shall cause such provisions not be amended, repealed or otherwise modified for a period of six (6) years from the Effective Time in any manner that would affect adversely the rights thereunder of individuals who, at or prior to the Effective Time, were directors, officers, employees, fiduciaries or agents of the Company, unless such modification shall be required by Law. From and after the Effective Time, any agreement of any Indemnified Party with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries regarding exculpation or indemnification of liability or advancement of expenses shall be assumed by the Surviving Corporation, shall survive the Merger and shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms.
(b) The Surviving Corporation shall, and Parent shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, maintain in effect for six (6) years from the Effective Time the current directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company with respect to matters occurring prior to the Effective Time, including acts or omissions occurring in connection with this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions (the parties covered thereby, the “Indemnified Parties”) on terms with respect to coverage and amount no less favorable to the Indemnified Parties than those in effect as of the Effective Time; provided, however, that the Surviving Corporation may substitute therefor policies of at least the same coverage containing terms, conditions, retentions and limits of liability that are no less favorable than those provided under the Company's current policies; provided, further, that in no event shall the Surviving Corporation be required to expend pursuant to this Section 6.05(b) more than an amount per year equal to 300% of current annual premiums paid by the Company for such insurance (which premiums the Company represents and warrants to be US$267,645 in the aggregate), and if the cost of such insurance policy exceeds such amount, then the Surviving Corporation shall obtain a policy with the greatest coverage for a cost not exceeding such amount. In addition, the Company may and, at Parent’s request, the Company shall, purchase a six (6)-year “tail” prepaid policy prior to the Effective Time on terms, conditions, retentions and limits of liability no less advantageous to the Indemnified Parties than the existing directors’ and officers’ liability insurance maintained by the Company. If such “tail” prepaid policies have been obtained by the Company prior to the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall, and Parent shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, maintain such policies in full force and effect, and continue to honor the respective obligations thereunder, and all other obligations of Parent or Surviving Corporation under this Section 6.05(b) shall terminate.
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(c) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 6.05, from and after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall comply with all of the Company’s obligations, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to comply with their respective obligations to indemnify and hold harmless (including any obligations to advance funds for expenses) (i) the Indemnified Parties against any and all costs or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses), judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages, liabilities and amounts paid in settlement in connection with any actual or threatened claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (“Damages”), arising out of, relating to or in connection with (x) the fact that an Indemnified Party is or was a director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (y) any acts or omissions occurring or alleged to have occurred (including acts or omissions with respect to the approval of this Agreement or the Transactions or arising out of or pertaining to the Transactions and actions to enforce this provision or any other indemnification or advancement right of any Indemnified Party) prior to or at the Effective Time, to the extent provided under the Company’s or such Subsidiaries’ respective organizational and governing documents or agreements in effect on the date hereof (true and complete copies of which shall have been delivered to Parent prior to the date hereof) and to the fullest extent permitted by the CICL or any other applicable Law, provided that such indemnification shall be subject to any limitation imposed from time to time under applicable Law; and (ii) such persons against any and all Damages arising out of acts or omissions in such persons’ official capacity as an officer, director or other fiduciary in the Company or any Subsidiary if such service was at the request or for the benefit of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(d) Upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information, or other document relating to any Action which may result in the payment or advancement of any amounts under Section 6.05(c), any Group Company’s organizational and governing documents, or any existing indemnification agreements, the person seeking indemnification shall notify the Surviving Corporation promptly, but in all events no later than the earlier of (i) five (5) days after actual receipt, and (ii) as soon as necessary after actual receipt to prevent the Surviving Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries from being materially and adversely prejudiced by late notice. The Surviving Corporation (or a Subsidiary nominated by it) shall have the right to participate in any such Action and, at its option, assume the defense of such Action. The person seeking indemnification shall have the right to effectively participate in the defense and/or settlement of such Action, including receiving copies of all correspondence and participating in all meetings and teleconferences concerning the Action. In the event the Surviving Corporation (or a Subsidiary nominated by it) assumes the defense of any Action pursuant to this Section 6.05(d), neither the Surviving Corporation nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be liable to the person seeking indemnification for any fees of counsel subsequently incurred by such person with respect to the same Action.
(e) In the event the Company or the Surviving Corporation or any of their respective successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other person and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any person, then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of the Company or the Surviving Corporation, as the case may be, or at Parent’s option, Parent, shall assume the obligations set forth in this Section 6.05.
(f) The agreements and covenants contained in this Section 6.05 shall be in addition to any other rights an Indemnified Party may have under the memorandum and articles of association of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or equivalent constitutional documents), or any agreement between an Indemnified Party and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, under the CICL or other applicable Law, or otherwise. The provisions of this Section 6.05 shall survive the consummation of the Merger and are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each of the Indemnified Parties and their heirs and legal representatives, each of which shall be a third-party beneficiary of the provisions of this Section 6.05. The obligations of Parent and the Surviving Corporation under this Section 6.05 shall not be terminated or modified in such a manner as to adversely affect the rights of any Indemnified Party without the consent of such Indemnified Party.
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(g) Nothing in this Agreement is intended to, shall be construed to or shall release, waive or impair any rights to directors’ and officers’ insurance claims under any policy that is or has been in existence with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective officers, directors and employees, it being understood and agreed that the indemnification provided for in this Section 6.05 is not prior to or in substitution for any such claims under any such policies.
Section 6.06 Notification of Certain Matters.
Each of the Company and Parent shall promptly notify the other in writing of:
(a) any notice or other communication from any person alleging that the consent of such person is or may be required in connection with the Transactions;
(b) any notice or other communication from any Governmental Authority in connection with the Transactions;
(c) any Actions commenced or, to the knowledge of the Company or the knowledge of Parent, threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parent and any of its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, that, if pending on the date of this Agreement, would have been required to have been disclosed by such party pursuant to any of such party’s representations and warranties contained herein, or that relate to such party’s ability to consummate the Transactions; and
(d) if a breach of any representation or warranty or failure to perform any covenant or agreement on the part of such party set forth in this Agreement shall have occurred that would cause the conditions set forth in Sections 7.01, 7.02 or 7.03 not to be satisfied;
together, in each case, with a copy of any such notice, communication or Action; provided that the delivery of any notice pursuant to this Section 6.06 shall not limit or otherwise affect the remedies available hereunder to the party receiving such notice; provided further, that failure to give prompt notice pursuant to Section 6.06(d) shall not constitute a failure of a condition to the Merger set forth in Article VII except to the extent that the underlying breach of a representation or warranty or failure to perform any covenant or agreement not so notified would, standing alone, constitute such a failure.
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Section 6.07 Financing.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each of Parent and Merger Sub shall use its reasonable best efforts to (i) obtain the Financing on the terms and conditions described in the Financing Documents, (ii) maintain in effect the Financing Documents and (iii) satisfy on a timely basis all conditions to the closing of and funding under the Financing Documents applicable to Parent and/or Merger Sub that are within their control; provided that Parent and Merger Sub may amend or modify the Financing Documents, and/or elect to replace all or any portion of the Debt Financing with alternative debt financing on terms and conditions not materially less favorable, in the aggregate, from the standpoint of the Company than the terms and conditions as set forth in the Financing Documents as in effect on the date hereof (the “Alternative Financing”), in each case so long as the aggregate proceeds of the Financing (as amended or modified) and/or any Alternative Financing will be sufficient for Merger Sub and the Surviving Corporation to pay (i) the Merger Consideration, and (ii) any other amounts required to be paid in connection with the consummation of the Transactions upon the terms and conditions contemplated hereby. Parent shall deliver to the Company as promptly as practicable (and no later than two Business Days) after such execution, true and complete copies of all Contracts or other arrangements pursuant to which any such alternative sources have committed to provide such Alternative Financing. In the event any portion of the Financing becomes unavailable on the terms and conditions contemplated in the Financing Documents, Parent shall promptly notify the Company.
(b) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Parent and Merger Sub agree not to amend, modify or waive any provision of the Financing Documents, if such amendment, modification or waiver reduces (or would reduce) the aggregate amount of the Financing or imposes new or additional conditions or otherwise expands, amends or modifies the conditions to the Financing in a manner that would be expected to prevent or materially delay the ability of the Company, Parent or Merger Sub to consummate the Transactions or otherwise adversely impact the ability of Parent or Merger Sub to enforce its rights against the other parties to the Financing Documents. Parent shall give the Company prompt notice (i) upon becoming aware of any breach of any provision of, or termination by any party to, the Financing Documents or (ii) upon the receipt of any written notice from any person with respect to any threatened breach or threatened termination of the Financing Documents.
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(c) The Company agrees to provide, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries and each of their respective Representatives to provide to Parent and Merger Sub, all reasonable cooperation as may be requested by Parent or its Representatives in connection with the Debt Financing and/or Alternative Financing and the Transactions, including, without limitation, (i) participation in meetings, presentations, due diligence sessions, road shows, sessions with rating agencies and other meetings, including arranging for reasonable direct contact between senior management, representatives and advisors of the Company with Representatives of Parent and its Debt Financing and/or Alternative Financing sources, (ii) assisting in the preparation of offering memoranda, private placement memoranda, bank information memoranda, prospectuses, rating agency presentations and similar documents reasonably requested by Parent or its representatives in connection with the Debt Financing and/or Alternative Financing (including using reasonable best efforts to obtain consents of accountants for use of their reports in any materials relating to the Debt Financing and/or Alternative Financing and delivery of one or more customary representation letters), (iii) as promptly as practicable, furnishing Parent and its Debt Financing and/or Alternative Financing sources with financial and other pertinent information regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries as may be reasonably requested by Parent and its Debt Financing and/or Alternative Financing sources (the “Required Information”), (iv) reasonably cooperating with advisors, consultants and accountants of Parent or its Debt Financing and/or Alternative Financing sources with respect to the conduct of any examination, appraisal or review of the financial condition or any of the assets or liabilities of the Company or any Subsidiary, including for the purpose of establishing collateral eligibility and values, (v) to the extent customary and in accordance with applicable Laws, facilitating the securing or pledging of collateral and executing and delivering any pledge and security documents, commitment letters or other definitive financing documents, provided that any collateral or security granted hereunder and any obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any such definitive documents shall be contingent upon the occurrence of the Effective Time, (vi) taking all actions reasonably necessary to (A) permit the prospective lenders involved in the Debt Financing and/or any Alternative Financing to evaluate the Company’s current assets, cash management and accounting systems, policies and procedures relating thereto for the purpose of establishing collateral arrangements, provided that the information provided to such prospective lenders shall be subject to the terms of the Confidentiality Agreements, and (B) establishing bank and other accounts, blocked account agreements and lock box arrangements in connection with the foregoing, (vii) furnishing Parent, Merger Sub and its Representatives promptly with all documentation and other information required with respect to the Debt Financing and/or any Alternative Financing under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, provided that the information provided to such prospective lenders shall be subject to the terms of the Confidentiality Agreements, (viii) using reasonable best efforts to obtain any necessary rating agencies’ confirmation or approval of the Debt Financing and/or Alternative Financing, and (ix) taking all corporate actions reasonably necessary to permit the consummation of the Debt Financing and/or Alternative Financing, including without limitations the execution and delivery of any other certificates, instruments or documents, and to permit the proceeds thereof to be made available to the Company at Closing to consummate the Merger. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to (x) pay any commitment or similar fee prior to the Effective Time, (y) incur any expense unless such expense is reimbursed by Parent promptly after incurrence thereof, or (z) commit to taking any action that is not contingent upon the Closing (including entry into any agreement) or would be effective prior to the Effective Time or that would otherwise subject it to actual or potential liability in connection with any Financing. Nothing contained in this Section 6.07(c) or otherwise shall require the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to be an issuer or other obligor with respect to any Financing prior to the Effective Time.
(d) Parent shall promptly, upon the termination of this Agreement, reimburse the Company for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) incurred by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the cooperation of the Company and its Subsidiaries contemplated by this Section 6.07 and shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its Subsidiaries and their respective Representatives from and against any and all liabilities or losses suffered or incurred by any of them in connection with the arrangement of the Debt Financing and any information used in connection therewith (except with respect to any information provided by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), except in the event such liabilities or losses arose out of or result from the wilful misconduct of the Company, its Subsidiaries or any of their respective Representatives. Each of Parent and Merger Sub acknowledges and agrees that the Company and its Subsidiaries and their respective Representatives shall not, prior to the Effective Time, incur any liability to any person under any financing that Parent and Merger Sub may raise in connection with the Transactions.
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Section 6.08 Further Action; Reasonable Best Efforts.
(a) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, each of the parties hereto and their respective Representatives shall (i) make promptly its respective filings, and thereafter make any other required submissions, with each relevant Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over enforcement of any applicable antitrust or competition Laws with respect to the Transactions, and coordinate and cooperate fully with the other parties in exchanging such information and providing such assistance as the other parties may reasonably request in connection therewith (including, without limitation, (A) notifying the other parties promptly of any communication (whether verbal or written) it or any of its Affiliates receives from any Governmental Authority in connection with such filings or submissions, (B) permitting the other parties to review in advance, and consulting with the other parties on, any proposed filing, submission or communication (whether verbal or written) by such party to any Governmental Authority, and (C) giving the other parties the opportunity to attend and participate at any meeting with any Governmental Authority in respect of any filing, investigation or other inquiry); and (ii) cooperate with the other parties hereto and use its reasonable best efforts, and cause its Subsidiaries to use their respective reasonable best efforts, to take, or cause to be taken, all appropriate action, and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws or otherwise to consummate and make effective the Transactions, including, without limitation, employing such resources as are necessary to obtain the Requisite Regulatory Approvals and taking any and all steps necessary to avoid or eliminate each and every impediment under any antitrust or competition Law that may be asserted by any Governmental Authority so as to enable the parties hereto to expeditiously consummate the Transactions, including, without limitation, committing to and effecting, by consent decree, hold separate orders, or otherwise, the restructuring, reorganization, sale, divestiture or disposition of such of its assets, properties or businesses; provided, that no party hereto shall be required to take any such action if such action would have or may be reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Each party hereto shall, upon request by any other party, furnish such other party with all information concerning itself, its Subsidiaries, directors, officers and shareholders and such other matters as may be reasonably necessary or advisable in connection with the Proxy Statement, the Schedule 13E-3, or any other statement, filing, notice or application made by or on behalf of Parent, Merger Sub, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries to any Third Party and/or any Governmental Authority in connection with the Transactions.
Section 6.09 Obligations of Merger Sub.
Parent shall take all action necessary to cause Merger Sub to perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the Transactions on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.
Section 6.10 Participation in Litigation.
Prior to the Effective Time, each of Parent and the Company shall (a) give prompt notice to each other of any Actions commenced or, to its knowledge, threatened, against it and/or its directors which relate to this Agreement or the Transactions, and (b) give each other the opportunity to participate in the defense or settlement of any shareholder Action against it and/or its directors relating to this Agreement or the Transactions, and no such Action shall be settled or compromised, and neither Parent nor the Company may take any action to adversely affect or prejudice any such Action, without the other party’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).
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Section 6.11 Resignations.
To the extent requested by Parent in writing at least three (3) Business Days prior to Closing, on the Closing Date, the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to cause to be delivered to Parent duly signed resignations, effective as of the Effective Time, of the directors of any Group Company designated by Parent, which shall include a waiver of any claims against any Group Company.
Section 6.12 Public Announcements.
Except as may be required by applicable Law, the press release announcing the execution of this Agreement shall be issued only in such form as shall be mutually agreed upon by the Company and Parent. Thereafter, at any time prior to termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article VIII, Parent and the Company shall consult with each other before issuing any press release, having any communication with the press (whether or not for attribution), making any other public statement or scheduling any press conference or conference call with investors or analysts with respect to this Agreement or the Transactions and, except in respect of any such press release, communication, other public statement, press conference or conference call as may be required by applicable Law or rules and policies of the NYSE, shall not issue any such press release, have any such communication, make any such other public statement or schedule any such press conference or conference call prior to such consultation.
Section 6.13 Stock Exchange Delisting.
Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall cooperate with Parent and use reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and do or cause to be done all things, reasonably necessary, proper or advisable on its part under applicable Laws and rules and policies of NYSE to enable the delisting by the Surviving Corporation from the NYSE and the deregistration of the Shares under the Exchange Act as promptly as practicable after the Effective Time.
Section 6.14 Takeover Statutes.
If any Takeover Statute is or may become applicable to any of the Transactions, the parties shall use their respective reasonable best efforts (a) to take all action necessary so that no Takeover Statute is or becomes applicable to any of the Transactions and (b) if any such Takeover Statute is or becomes applicable to any of the foregoing, to take all action necessary (including, in the case of the Company and the Company Board, grant all necessary approvals) so that the Transactions may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms contemplated by this Agreement, including all actions to eliminate or lawfully minimize the effects of such Takeover Statute on the Transactions.
Section 6.15 Employee Matters.
For the period beginning on the Closing Date and continuing through the first anniversary of the Closing Date, Parent shall provide each current employee who continues to work for the Company and its Subsidiaries with a level of compensation and employee benefits that is no less favorable in the aggregate than the level of compensation and employee benefits provided to such employees immediately prior to the Closing Date, subject to market adjustments in the ordinary course.
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Section 6.16 Repayment of Existing Loan.
Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall cause 7 Days (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. to have repaid the entire outstanding principal and accrued interest thereon and all other amounts due by 7 Days (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. under the loan agreement between 7 Days (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Guangdong Branch dated as of November 30, 2012.
ARTICLE
VII
CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER
Section 7.01 Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party.
The obligations of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the Merger are subject to the satisfaction or waiver (where permissible) of the following conditions:
(a) Shareholder Approval. This Agreement, the Plan of Merger and the Transactions shall have been authorized, approved and adopted by holders of Shares constituting the Requisite Company Vote at the Shareholders’ Meeting in accordance with the CICL and the Company’s memorandum and articles of association.
(b) No Injunction. No Governmental Authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Law or award, writ, injunction, determination, rule, regulation, judgment, decree or executive order (an “Order”) which is then in effect or is pending, proposed or threatened and has or would have the effect of making the Merger illegal or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the Transactions.
Section 7.02 Conditions to the Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub.
The obligations of Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the Merger are subject to the satisfaction or waiver (where permissible) of the following additional conditions:
(a) Representations and Warranties. (i) Other than the representations and warranties of the Company contained in Sections 3.03(a), 3.03(b), 3.04 and 3.06(a), the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement (disregarding for this purpose any limitation or qualification by materiality or Company Material Adverse Effect) shall be true and correct in all respects as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of such date and time (other than representations and warranties that by their terms address matters only as of a specified time, which shall be true and correct only as of such time), except to the extent such failures to be true and correct, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect; (ii) the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 3.03(a), 3.03(b), 3.04 and 3.06(a) shall be true and correct in all respects except for, solely with respect to Sections 3.03(a) and 3.03(b), de minimis inaccuracies as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of such date and time (other than representations and warranties that by their terms address matters only as of a specified time, which shall be true and correct only as of such time), in each case, interpreted without giving effect to any limitations or qualifications as to “materiality” (including the word “material”) or “Company Material Adverse Effect” set forth therein.
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(b) Agreements and Covenants. The Company shall have performed or complied in all material respects with all agreements and covenants required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it on or prior to the Closing Date.
(c) Officer Certificate. The Company shall have delivered to Parent a certificate, dated the Closing Date, signed by a senior executive officer of the Company, certifying as to the satisfaction of the conditions specified in Sections 7.02(a) and 7.02(b).
(d) Material Adverse Effect. No Company Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred since the date of this Agreement.
Section 7.03 Conditions to the Obligations of the Company.
The obligations of the Company to consummate the Merger are subject to the satisfaction or waiver (where permissible) of the following additional conditions:
(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub contained in this Agreement (disregarding for this purpose any limitation or qualification by materiality) shall be true and correct in all respects as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of such date and time (other than representations and warranties that by their terms address matters only as of a specified time, which shall be true and correct only as of such time), except to the extent such failures to be true and correct, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to prevent the consummation of any of the Transactions.
(b) Agreements and Covenants. Parent and Merger Sub shall have performed or complied in all material respects with all agreements and covenants required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it on or prior to the Closing Date.
(c) Officer Certificate. Parent shall have delivered to the Company a certificate, dated the date of the Closing, signed by an executive officer of Parent, certifying as to the satisfaction of the conditions specified in Sections 7.03(a) and 7.03(b).
Section 7.04 Frustration of Closing Conditions.
Prior to the Termination Date, none of the Company, Parent or Merger Sub may rely on the failure of any condition set forth in Article VII to be satisfied if such failure was caused by such party’s failure to act in good faith to comply with this Agreement and consummate the Transactions.
ARTICLE
VIII
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
Section 8.01 Termination by Mutual Consent.
This Agreement may be terminated and the Transactions may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time by mutual written consent of Parent and the Company with the approval of their respective boards of directors (in the case of the Company, acting upon the unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee).
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Section 8.02 Termination by Either the Company or Parent.
This Agreement may be terminated by either the Company (upon the unanimous approval of the Special Committee) or Parent at any time prior to the Effective Time, if:
(a) the Merger shall not have been consummated on or before the date falling six (6) months from the date of this Agreement (the “Termination Date”); or
(b) any Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any final and non-appealable Order which, or taken any other final and non-appealable action that, has the effect of making consummation of the Merger illegal or otherwise preventing or prohibiting consummation of the Transactions; or
(c) the Requisite Company Vote shall not have been obtained at the Shareholders’ Meeting duly convened therefor and concluded or at any adjournment or postponement thereof;
provided, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.02 shall not be available to any party whose failure to fulfill any of its obligations under this Agreement has been a cause of, or resulted in, the failure of the applicable condition(s) being satisfied.
Section 8.03 Termination by the Company.
This Agreement may be terminated by the Company (upon the unanimous approval of the Special Committee) at any time prior to the Effective Time, if:
(a) a breach or failure in any material respect of any representation, warranty, agreement or covenant of Parent or Merger Sub set forth in this Agreement, shall have occurred, which breach or failure would give rise to the failure of a condition set forth in Section 7.01 or Section 7.03 and as a result of such breach or failure, such condition would not be capable of being satisfied prior to the Termination Date; provided, however, that, the Company shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.03(a) if the Company is then in material breach of any representations, warranties or covenants hereunder; or
(b) (i) all of the conditions set forth in Sections 7.01 and 7.02 (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied by actions taken at the Closing) have been satisfied, (ii) the Company has delivered to Parent an irrevocable commitment in writing that it is ready, willing and able to consummate the Closing and (iii) Parent and Merger Sub fail to complete the Closing within ten (10) Business Days following the date on which the Closing should have occurred pursuant to Section 1.02; or
(c) prior to the receipt of the Requisite Company Vote, (i) the Company Board has, upon the unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee, authorized the Company to enter into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement with respect to a Superior Proposal and (ii) the Company concurrently with the termination of this Agreement enters into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement with respect to the Superior Proposal referred to in the foregoing clause (i); provided that the Company shall not be entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.03(c) unless the Company has complied in all material respects with the requirements of Section 6.04 and in all respects with the requirements of Section 8.06(a); or
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(d) prior to the receipt of the Requisite Company Vote, the Company Board has effected a Change in the Company Recommendation pursuant to Section 6.04(e), provided that the Company shall not be entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.03(d) unless the Company has complied in all material respects with the requirements of Section 6.04 and in all respects with the requirements of Section 8.06(a).
Section 8.04 Termination by Parent.
This Agreement may be terminated by Parent at any time prior to the Effective Time, if:
(a) a breach or failure in any material respect of any representation, warranty, agreement or covenant of the Company set forth in this Agreement shall have occurred, would give rise to the failure of a condition set forth in Section 7.01 or Section 7.02 and as a result of such breach or failure, such condition would not be capable of being satisfied prior to the Termination Date; provided, however, that, Parent shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.04(a) if either Parent or Merger Sub is then in material breach of any representations, warranties or covenants hereunder; or
(b) a Company Triggering Event shall have occurred; provided, however, that, Parent shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.04(b) if either Parent or Merger Sub is then in material breach of any representations, warranties or covenants hereunder.
Section 8.05 Effect of Termination.
In the event of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article VIII, this Agreement shall forthwith become void, and there shall be no liability under this Agreement on the part of any party hereto (or any Representative of such party); provided, however, that the terms of Articles VIII and IX shall survive any termination of this Agreement.
Section 8.06 Termination Fee.
(a) In the event that:
(i) (A) a bona fide proposal or offer with respect to a Competing Transaction shall have been made, proposed or communicated (and not withdrawn), after the date hereof and prior to the Shareholders' Meeting (or prior to the termination of this Agreement if there has been no Shareholders' Meeting), and (B) following the occurrence of an event described in the preceding clause (A), this Agreement is terminated by the Company or Parent pursuant to Section 8.02(a) or Section 8.02(c) and (C) within 12 months after the termination of this Agreement, the Company enters into a definitive agreement in connection with any Competing Transaction by a Third Party (in each case whether or not the Competing Transaction was the same Competing Transaction referred to in Clause (A) (provided that for purposes of this Section 8.06(a), all references to “20%” in the definition of “Competing Transaction” shall be deemed to be references to “50%”); or
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(ii) (A) this Agreement is terminated by Parent pursuant to Section 8.04; or (B) this Agreement is terminated by the Company pursuant to Section 8.03(c) or Section 8.03(d),
then the Company shall pay, or cause to be paid, to one or more designees of Parent an amount equal to $20,000,000 (the “Company Termination Fee”) by wire transfer of same day funds as promptly as possible (but in any event (x) within five (5) Business Days after such termination in the case of a termination referred to in clause (ii)(A) above, (y) within two (2) Business Days following the entry by the Company or a Subsidiary into the definitive agreements in connection with a Competing Transaction in the case of a termination referred to in clause (i) above, or (z) concurrently with the termination of this Agreement in the case of a termination pursuant to clause (ii)(B) above); it being understood that in no event shall the Company be required to pay the Company Termination Fee on more than one occasion. For the avoidance of doubt, subject to Section 9.08, in the event Parent or its designee shall receive payment from the Company of the Company Termination Fee and expenses referred to in Section 8.06(c), the receipt of such Company Termination Fee and expenses under Section 8.06(c) shall be the sole and exclusive remedy (whether at law, in equity, in contract, in tort or otherwise) of any member of the Parent Group (as defined below) against any member of the Company Group (as defined below) for any loss or damage suffered as a result of any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement (whether wilfully, intentionally, unintentionally or otherwise) or failure to perform hereunder (whether wilfully, intentionally, unintentionally or otherwise) or other failure of the Merger to be consummated (whether wilfully, intentionally, unintentionally or otherwise). Neither the Company nor any member of the Company Group shall have any liability for monetary damages of any kind or nature or arising in any circumstance in connection with this Agreement or any of the Transactions other than the payment by the Company of the Company Termination Fee and the expenses pursuant to Sections 8.06(a) and 8.06(c), and in no event shall any of Parent, Merger Sub or any member of the Parent Group seek, or permit to be sought, on behalf of any member of the Parent Group, any monetary damages from any member of the Company Group in connection with this Agreement or any of the Transactions, other than (without duplication) from the Company to the Parent designee to the extent provided in Sections 8.06(a) and 8.06(c).
(b) Parent will pay, or cause to be paid, to the Company an amount equal to $32,000,000 (the “Parent Termination Fee”) if this Agreement is terminated by the Company pursuant to Sections 8.03(a) or 8.03(b), such payment to be made as promptly as possible (but in any event within five (5) Business Days) following such termination.
(c) In the event that the Company fails to pay the Company Termination Fee, or Parent fails to pay the Parent Termination Fee, when due and in accordance with the requirements of this Agreement, the Company or Parent, as the case may be, shall reimburse the other party for reasonable costs and expenses actually incurred or accrued by the other party (including, without limitation, fees and expenses of counsel) in connection with the collection under and enforcement of this Section 8.06, together with interest on such unpaid Company Termination Fee or Parent Termination Fee, as the case may be, commencing on the date that the Company Termination Fee or Parent Termination Fee, as the case may be, became due, at the prime rate as published in the Wall Street Journal Table of Money Rates on such date plus 1.00%. Such collection expenses shall not otherwise diminish in any way the payment obligations hereunder.
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(d) Each of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub acknowledges that (i) the agreements contained in this Section 8.06 are an integral part of the Transactions, (ii) the damages resulting from termination of this Agreement under circumstances where a Company Termination Fee or Parent Termination Fee is payable are uncertain and incapable of accurate calculation and therefore, the amounts payable pursuant to Section 8.06(a) or Section 8.06(b) are not a penalty but rather constitute amounts akin to liquidated damages in a reasonable amount that will compensate Parent or the Company, as the case may be, for the efforts and resources expended and opportunities foregone while negotiating this Agreement and in reliance on this Agreement and on the expectation of the consummation of the Transactions, and (iii) without the agreements contained in this Section 8.06, the parties hereto would not have entered into this Agreement.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement but subject to Section 9.08, the Equity Commitment Letters, the Debt Commitment Letter or the Guaranties, in the event that Parent or Merger Sub fails to effect the Closing for any reason or no reason or they otherwise breach this Agreement (whether wilfully, intentionally, unintentionally or otherwise) or otherwise fail to perform hereunder (whether wilfully, intentionally, unintentionally or otherwise), then the Company's right to terminate this Agreement and receive the Parent Termination Fee pursuant to Section 8.06(b) and expenses under Section 8.06(c) and the guarantee of such obligations pursuant to the Guaranties (subject to their terms, conditions and limitations), shall be the sole and exclusive remedy (whether at law, in equity, in contract, in tort or otherwise) of any Group Company and all members of the Company Group (as defined below) against (A) Parent, Merger Sub, the Guarantors, (B) the former, current and future holders of any equity, partnership or limited liability company interest, controlling persons, directors, officers, employees, agents, attorneys, Affiliates, members, managers, general or limited partners, stockholders, assignees of Parent, Merger Sub or any Guarantor, (C) any lender or prospective lender, lead arranger, arranger, agent or representative of or to Parent, Merger Sub or any Guarantor or (D) any holders or future holders of any equity, stock, partnership or limited liability company interest, controlling persons, directors, officers, employees, agents, attorneys, Affiliates, members, managers, general or limited partners, stockholders, assignees of any of the foregoing (clauses A – D, collectively, the "Parent Group"), for any loss or damage suffered as a result of any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement (whether wilfully, intentionally, unintentionally or otherwise) or failure to perform hereunder (whether wilfully, intentionally, unintentionally or otherwise) or other failure of the Merger to be consummated (whether wilfully, intentionally, unintentionally or otherwise). For the avoidance of doubt, neither Parent nor any member of the Parent Group shall have any liability for monetary damages of any kind or nature or arising in any circumstance in connection with this Agreement or any of the Transactions (including the Equity Commitment Letters, the Guaranties and the Debt Commitment Letter) other than the payment of the Parent Termination Fee pursuant to Section 8.06(b) and the expenses pursuant to Section 8.06(c), and in no event shall any Group Company, the direct or indirect shareholders of the Company or any other Group Company, or any of their respective Affiliates, directors, officers, employees, members, managers, partners, representatives, advisors or agents of the foregoing, (collectively, the "Company Group") seek, or permit to be sought, on behalf of any member of the Company Group, any monetary damages from any member of the Parent Group in connection with this Agreement or any of the Transactions (including the Equity Commitment Letters, the Guaranties and the Debt Commitment Letter), other than (without duplication) from Parent or Merger Sub to the extent provided in Sections 8.06(b) and 8.06(c), or the Guarantors to the extent provided in the Guaranties.
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ARTICLE
IX
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 9.01 Non-Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements.
The representations, warranties and agreements in this Agreement and in any certificate delivered pursuant hereto shall terminate at the earlier of the Effective Time and termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article VIII, except that this Section 9.01 shall not limit any covenant or agreement of the parties hereto which by its terms contemplates performance after the Effective Time or termination of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the agreements set forth in Articles I and II, Section 6.06 and this Article IX.
Section 9.02 Notices.
All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by telecopy or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 9.02):
if to Parent or Merger Sub:
Keystone Lodging Company Limited
Cricket Square, Xxxxxxxx Drive
P.O. Box 2681, Grand Cayman KY1-1111
Cayman Islands
Attention: the Secretary
Facsimile: x0 000 000 0000
Email: Xxxxxx.Xxxxxxxxx@Xxxxxxx.xxx
with a copy to:
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP
30th Floor, China World Xxxxxx 0
0 Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx 000000, XXX
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxx / Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Facsimile: x00 (00) 0000 0000
Email: xxxxx.xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx / xxxxxx.xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx
if to the Company:
7 Days Group Holdings Limited
5C-11 Creative Industry Zone, 397 Xin Gang Zhong Road
Guangzhou, Guangdong 510310
People’s Republic of China
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xx
Facsimile: x00-00-0000-0000
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with a copy to:
Xxxxx &McKenzie
00xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, 00 Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxx
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Facsimile: x000 0000 0000
Email: xxxxx.xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Section 9.03 Certain Definitions.
(a) For purposes of this Agreement:
“Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement” means a confidentiality agreement that contains provisions that are no less favorable in the aggregate to the Company than those contained in the Confidentiality Agreements; provided that such agreement and any related agreements (A) need not contain “standstill” provisions and (B) shall not include any provision calling for any exclusive right to negotiate with such party or having the effect of prohibiting the Company from satisfying its obligations under this Agreement.
"Actis" means the funds known as Actis Emerging Markets 3 and Actis China 3 acting by their manager Actis LLP and/or their respective Affiliates.
“Affiliate” of a specified person means a person who, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified person.
“Anticorruption Laws” means Laws relating to anti-bribery or anticorruption (governmental or commercial), which apply to the business and dealings of any Group Company, including, without limitation, the PRC Law on Anti-Unfair Competition adopted on September 2, 1993, the Interim Rules on Prevention of Commercial Bribery issued by the PRC State Administration of Industry and Commerce on November 15, 1996 and the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended from time to time.
“Business Day” means any day on which the principal offices of the SEC in Washington, D.C. are open to accept filings, or, in the case of determining a date when any payment is due, any day on which banks are not required or authorized to close in New York, Hong Kong and Beijing.
"Carlyle" means Carlyle Asia Partners III, L.P. and/or its Affiliates.
“Company Disclosure Schedule” means the disclosure schedule delivered by the Company to and accepted by Parent and Merger Sub on the date hereof.
“Company Employee Agreement” means any management, employment, severance, change in control, transaction bonus, consulting, repatriation or expatriation agreement or other contract between any Group Company and any current or former employee, director or officer of such Group Company.
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“Company Employee Plan” means any plan, program, policy, practice, Contract or other arrangement providing for compensation, severance, termination pay, deferred compensation, performance awards, share or share-related awards, fringe benefits or other employee benefits or remuneration of any kind, whether written, unwritten or otherwise, that is or has been maintained, contributed to or required to be contributed to by any Group Company for the benefit of any current or former employee, director or officer of such Group Company, or with respect to which such Group Company has or may have any liability or obligation.
“Company Material Adverse Effect” means any event, circumstance, change or effect that, individually or in the aggregate with all other events, circumstances, changes and effects (including any change in applicable Law or the interpretation or enforcement thereof or other regulatory change that affects the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), is or would reasonably be expected to (a) be materially adverse to the business, financial condition, assets, liabilities or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (b) prevent or materially delay the consummation of the Transactions or otherwise be materially adverse to the ability of the Company to perform its material obligations under this Agreement; provided, however, that clause (a) shall not include any event, circumstance, change or effect occurring after the date hereof to the extent resulting from (i) geopolitical conditions, any outbreak or escalation of war or major hostilities or any act of sabotage or terrorism or natural or man-made disasters or other force majeure events, (ii) changes in Laws, GAAP or enforcement or interpretation thereof, in each case proposed, adopted or enacted after the date of this Agreement, (iii) changes or conditions that generally affect the industry and market in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate, (iv) changes in the financial, credit or other securities or capital markets, or in general economic, business, regulatory, legislative or political conditions, (v) any failure, in and of itself, of the Company and its Subsidiaries to meet any internal or published projections, estimates, budgets, plans or forecasts of revenues, earnings or other financial performance measures or operating statistics or predictions or changes in the market price or trading volume of the securities of such person or the credit rating of such person (it being understood that the underlying facts giving rise or contributing to such failure or change may be taken into account in determining whether there has been a Company Material Adverse Effect if such facts are not otherwise excluded under this definition), (vi) the announcement, pendency or consummation of the Transactions, including any loss in respect of or change in relationship with any customer, supplier, employee, vendor, or other business partner of the Company due to the identity of Parent or its Affiliates, (vii) any action taken by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries at the written request, or with the written consent, of Parent or expressly required by this Agreement, or (viii) any suit, claim, request for indemnification or proceeding brought by any current or former shareholder of the Company (on their own behalf or on behalf of the Company) for breaches of fiduciary duties, violations of the securities Laws or otherwise in connection with this Agreement or the Transactions; except, in the case of clause (ii), (iii) or (iv), to the extent having a materially disproportionate effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other participants in the industry in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operates (in which case the incremental materially disproportionate impact or impacts may be taken into account in determining whether there has been a Company Material Adverse Effect).
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“Company Option” means each option to purchase Shares under the Share Incentive Plan.
“Company Triggering Event” shall be deemed to have occurred if (i) there shall have been a Change in the Company Recommendation; (ii) the Company Board shall have recommended to the shareholders of the Company a Competing Transaction or shall have resolved to do so or shall have entered into any Alternative Acquisition Agreement; (iii) the Company shall have failed to include in the Proxy Statement the Company Recommendation; (iv) the Company Board shall have publicly announced its intention to do any of the foregoing; or (v) a tender offer or exchange offer for 20% or more of the outstanding shares of the Company is commenced, and the Company Board fails to recommend against acceptance of such tender offer or exchange offer by its shareholders (including by taking no position with respect to the acceptance of such tender offer or exchange offer by its shareholders; but not, for the avoidance of doubt, including a “stop, look and listen” communication of the type contemplated by Rule 14d-9(f) under the Exchange Act or a statement that the Company Board has received and is currently evaluating such tender offer or exchange offer).
“Confidentiality Agreements” means the confidentiality agreements between the Company and each of Nanyan Zheng, Boquan He and the Sponsors, dated as of October 30, 2012, as amended and restated from time to time.
"Consortium Agreement" means the consortium agreement by and among Boquan He, Prototal Enterprises Limited, Nanyan Zheng, Fortune News International Limited, Hawaii Asia Holdings III Limited and SC China Holdings Ltd. dated as of September 26, 2012.
“Contract” means any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, contract, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or other instrument.
“control” (including the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, or as trustee or executor, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or the possession of voting power, as trustee or executor, by contract or credit arrangement or otherwise.
“Environmental Law” means any applicable PRC local, provincial or national Law relating to (a) the protection of health, safety or the environment or (b) the handling, use, transportation, disposal, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Substance.
"Equity Securities" shall mean any share, capital stock, registered capital, partnership, member or similar interest in any entity and any option, warrant, right or security convertible, exchangeable or exercisable therefor or any other instrument or right the value of which is based on any of the foregoing.
“Exercise Price” means, with respect to any Company Option, the applicable exercise price per Share underlying such Company Option.
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“Excluded Shares” means, collectively, (i) the Rollover Shares; (ii) Shares held by Parent, the Company or any of their Subsidiaries; and (iii) Shares (including ADSs corresponding to such Shares) held by the Depositary and reserved for issuance and allocation pursuant to the Share Incentive Plan.
"Government Official" means any officer, employee or other individual acting in an official capacity for a Governmental Authority or agency or instrumentality thereof (including any state-owned or controlled enterprise).
"Group Company" means any of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
“Hazardous Substance” means any chemical, pollutant, waste or substance that is (a) listed, classified or regulated under any Environmental Law as hazardous substance, toxic substance, pollutant, contaminant or oil or (b) any petroleum product or by product, asbestos containing material, polychlorinated biphenyls or radioactive material.
“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any person, (a) all indebtedness of such person, whether or not contingent, for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such person for the deferred purchase price of property or services, (c) all obligations of such person evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or other similar instruments, (d) all obligations of such person under currency, interest rate or other swaps, and all hedging and other obligations of such person under other derivative instruments, (e) all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to property acquired by such person (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or lender under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such property), (f) all obligations of such person as lessee under leases that have been or should be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capital leases, (g) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such person under acceptance, letter of credit or similar facilities, (h) all obligations of such person to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise acquire for value any share capital of such person or any warrants, rights or options to acquire such share capital, valued, in the case of redeemable preferred shares, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends, (i) all Indebtedness of others referred to in clauses (a) through (h) above guaranteed directly or indirectly in any manner by such person, and (j) all Indebtedness referred to in clauses (a) through (h) above secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Liens on property (including accounts and contract rights) owned by such person, even though such person has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such Indebtedness.
“Insolvent” means, with respect to any person (a) the present fair saleable value of such person’s assets is less than the amount required to pay such person’s total Indebtedness, (b) such person is unable to pay its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured, (c) such person intends to incur or believes that it will incur debts that would be beyond its ability to pay as such debts mature, or (d) such person has unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the business in which it is engaged as such business is now conducted and is proposed to be conducted.
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“Intellectual Property” means (a) United States, non-United States and international patents, patent applications and statutory invention registrations, (b) trademarks, service marks, trade dress, logos, trade names, corporate names and other source identifiers, and registrations and applications for registration thereof, (c) copyrightable works, copyrights, and registrations and applications for registration thereof, and (d) confidential and proprietary information, including trade secrets and know-how.
“knowledge” means, with respect to the Company, the knowledge, after reasonable inquiry and investigation, of the individuals listed in Section 9.3(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, and with respect to any other party hereto, the actual knowledge of any director or executive officer of such party, in each case, after due inquiry.
“Leased Real Property” shall mean all leasehold or subleasehold estates and other rights to use or occupy any land, buildings, structures, improvements, fixtures or other interest in real property held by any Group Company.
“Leasehold Improvements” shall mean all buildings, structures, improvements and fixtures located on any Leased Real Property which are owned by any Group Company, regardless of whether title to such buildings, structures, improvements or fixtures are subject to reversion to the landlord or other third party upon the expiration or termination of the Lease for such Leased Real Property.
“Leases” shall mean all leases, subleases, licenses, concessions and other agreements (written or oral), including all amendments, extensions, renewals, guarantees and other agreements with respect thereto, pursuant to which any Group Company holds any Leased Real Property, including the right to all security deposits and other amounts and instruments deposited by or on behalf of any Group Company.
“Liens” means any security interest, pledge, hypothecation, mortgage, lien (including environmental and Tax liens), violation, charge, lease, license, encumbrance, servient easement, adverse claim, reversion, reverter, preferential arrangement, restrictive covenant, condition or restriction of any kind, including any restriction on the use, voting, transfer, receipt of income or other exercise of any attributes of ownership.
"Managed Hotel" means any hotel that is managed by any Group Company and is not owned or leased by any of the Group Companies.
"Owned Real Property" shall mean all land, together with all buildings, structures, improvements and fixtures located thereon, and all easements and other rights and interests appurtenant thereto, owned by any Group Company.
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“Permitted Encumbrances” shall mean, with respect to each Owned Real Property and Leasehold Improvement (as the case may be): (a) real estate Taxes, assessments and other governmental levies, fees or charges imposed with respect to such real property which are not due and payable as of the Closing Date, or which are being contested in good faith and for which appropriate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP, (b) mechanics liens and similar liens for labor, materials or supplies provided with respect to such real property incurred in the ordinary course of business for amounts which are not due and payable and which shall be paid in full and released at Closing, (c) zoning, building codes and other land use Laws regulating the use or occupancy of such real property or the activities conducted thereon which are imposed by any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over such real property which are not violated by the current use or occupancy of such real property or the operation of the business thereon and (d) easements, covenants, conditions, restrictions and other similar matters of record affecting title to such real property which do not or would not materially impair the use or occupancy of such real property in the operation of the business conducted thereon.
“person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, syndicate, person (including, without limitation, a “person” as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), trust, association or entity or government, political subdivision, agency or instrumentality of a government.
“SAFE Circular 75” means the Notice Regarding Certain Administrative Measures on Financing and Inbound Investments by PRC Residents Through Offshore Special Purpose Vehicles issued by SAFE on October 21, 2005 and which became effective as of November 1, 2005.
“SAFE Circular 78” means the Operation Rules on the Foreign Exchange Administration on the Participation by Domestic Individuals in the Employee Stock Ownership Plans, Stock Option Plans of Offshore Listed Companies issued by SAFE on March 28, 2007 and which became effective as of March 28, 2007.
"Sequoia" means Sequoia Capital China Growth 2010 Fund, L.P. and/or its Affiliates.
“Share Incentive Plan” means, collectively, the 2007 Employee Share Incentive Plan and all amendments and modifications thereto.
“Social Security Benefits” means any social insurance, pension insurance benefits, medical insurance benefits, work-related injury insurance benefits, maternity insurance benefits, unemployment insurance benefits and public housing reserve fund benefits or similar benefits, in each case as required by any applicable Law or contractual arrangements.
"Sponsors" means Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx and Sequoia.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any party, any person of which (x) such party or any other Subsidiary of such party is a general partner or (y) at least a majority of the securities (or other interests having by their terms ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other performing similar functions with respect to such corporation or other organization) is, directly or indirectly, owned or controlled by such party or by any one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such party and one or more of its Subsidiaries.
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“Taxes” means any and all taxes, fees, levies, duties, tariffs, imposts and other charges of any kind (together with any and all interest, penalties, additions to tax and additional amounts imposed with respect thereto) imposed by any Governmental Authority or taxing authority, including, without limitation: taxes or other charges on or with respect to income, franchise, windfall or other profits, gross receipts, occupation, property, real estate, deed, land use, sales, use, capital stock, payroll, severance, employment (including withholding obligations imposed on employer/payer), social security, workers’ compensation, unemployment compensation or net worth; taxes or other charges in the nature of excise, withholding (as payor or payee), ad valorem, stamp, transfer, value-added or gains taxes; license, registration and documentation fees; and customers’ duties, tariffs and similar charges.
“Third Party” means any person or “group” (as defined under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) of persons, other than Parent or any of its Affiliates or Representatives.
“Unvested Company Option” means any Company Option that is not a Vested Company Option.
“Vested Company Option” means any Company Option that shall have become vested on or prior to the Closing Date in accordance with the terms of the Share Incentive Plan pursuant to which such Company Option was granted.
(b) The following terms have the meaning set forth in the Sections set forth below:
Defined Term | Location of Definition |
2011 Annual Report | Section 3.07(c) |
Action | Section 3.10 |
ADSs | Section 2.01(b) |
Agreement | Preamble |
Alternative Acquisition Agreement | Section 6.04(c) |
Alternative Financing | Section 6.07(a) |
Applicable Date | Section 3.07(a) |
Bankruptcy and Equity Exception | Section 3.04(a) |
Buyer Group Contracts | Section 4.12 |
Change in the Company Recommendation | Section 6.04(c) |
CICL | Recitals |
Closing | Section 1.02 |
Closing Date | Section 1.02 |
Company | Preamble |
Company Board | Recitals |
Company Group | Section 8.06(e) |
Company Licensed Intellectual Property | Section 3.13 |
Company Owned Intellectual Property | Section 3.13 |
Company Real Property | Section 3.12(c) |
Company Recommendation | Section 3.04(b) |
Company SEC Reports | Section 3.07(a) |
Company Termination Fee | Section 8.06(a) |
Competing Transaction | Section 6.04(f) |
Damages | Section 6.05(c) |
Debt Commitment Letter | Section 4.05(a) |
Debt Financing | Section 4.05(a) |
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Deposit Agreement | Section 2.06 |
Depositary | Section 2.06 |
Dissenting Shareholders | Section 2.03(a) |
Dissenting Shares | Section 2.03(a) |
Effective Time | Section 1.03 |
Environmental Permits | Section 3.17 |
Equity Commitment Letters | Section 4.05(a) |
Equity Financing | Section 4.05(a) |
Evaluation Date | Section 3.07(e) |
Exchange Act | Section 3.05(b) |
Exchange Fund | Section 2.04(a) |
Financial Advisor | Section 3.04(c) |
Financing | Section 4.05(a) |
Financing Documents | Section 4.05(a) |
GAAP | Section 3.07(b) |
Governmental Authority | Section 3.05(b) |
Guaranties | Recitals |
Guarantor | Recitals |
Guaranty | Recitals |
Holdco | Recitals |
Improvements | Section 3.12(d) |
Indemnified Parties | Section 6.05(b) |
Special Committee | Recitals |
Intervening Event | Section 6.04(h) |
Law | Section 3.05(a) |
Material Company Permits | Section 3.06(b) |
Material Contracts | Section 3.16(a) |
Merger | Recitals |
Merger Consideration | Section 2.04(a) |
Merger Sub | Preamble |
Notice of Superior Proposal | Section 6.04(d) |
NYSE | Section 3.05(b) |
Order | Section 7.01(b) |
Parent | Preamble |
Parent Group | Section 8.06(e) |
Parent Termination Fee | Section 8.06(b) |
Paying Agent | Section 2.04(a) |
Per ADS Merger Consideration | Section 2.01(b) |
Per Share Merger Consideration | Section 2.01(a) |
Plan of Merger | Section 1.03 |
PRC | Section 3.06(b) |
Proxy Statement | Section 6.01 |
Record ADS Holders | Section 6.02(a) |
Representatives | Section 6.03(a) |
Required Information | Section 6.07(c) |
Requisite Company Vote | Section 3.04(a) |
Requisite Regulatory Approvals | Section 3.05(b) |
Rollover Shareholders | Recitals |
Rollover Shares | Recitals |
SAFE | Section 3.06(b) |
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SAFE Rules and Regulations | Section 3.06(g) |
SAT | Section 3.06(b) |
SEC | Section 3.05(b) |
Securities Act | Section 3.07(a) |
Share Certificates | Section 2.04(b) |
Shareholders’ Meeting | Section 6.02(a) |
Shares | Section 2.01(a) |
Superior Proposal | Section 6.04(g) |
Support Agreement | Recitals |
Surviving Corporation | Section 1.01 |
Takeover Statute | Section 3.20 |
Termination Date | Section 8.02(a) |
Transactions | Recitals |
Uncertificated Shares | Section 2.04(b) |
Section 9.04 Severability.
If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law, or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the Transactions is not affected in any manner adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the Transactions be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.
Section 9.05 Interpretation.
When a reference is made in this Agreement to a Section, Article or Exhibit such reference shall be to a Section, Article or Exhibit of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement or in any Exhibit are for convenience of reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. All words used in this Agreement will be construed to be of such gender or number as the circumstances require. Any capitalized terms used in any Exhibit but not otherwise defined therein shall have the meaning set forth in this Agreement. All Exhibits annexed hereto or referred to herein are hereby incorporated in and made a part of this Agreement as if set forth herein. The word “including” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement will mean “including, without limitation,” unless otherwise specified.
Section 9.06 Entire Agreement; Assignment.
This Agreement (including the Exhibits and Schedules hereto), the Company Disclosure Schedule and the Confidentiality Agreements constitute the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall not be assigned (whether pursuant to a merger, by operation of law or otherwise), except that Parent and Merger Sub may assign all or any of their rights and obligations hereunder to (i) any Affiliate of Parent or (ii) the Debt Financing Source(s) pursuant to the terms thereof (to the extent necessary for purposes of creating a security interest herein or otherwise assigning as collateral in respect of the Debt Financing), provided that no such assignment shall relieve the assigning party of its obligations hereunder if such assignee does not perform such obligations.
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Section 9.07 Parties in Interest.
This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other person any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement, other than Sections 6.05, 8.06(a) and 8.06(e) (which are intended to be for the benefit of the persons covered thereby and may be enforced by such persons); provided, however, that in no event shall any holders of Shares (including Shares represented by ADSs) or holders of Company Options, in each case in their capacity as such, have any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
Section 9.08 Specific Performance.
(a) Subject to Section 9.08(b), the parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event any provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof by the parties, and that money damages or other legal remedies would not be an adequate remedy for such damages. Accordingly, subject to Section 9.08(b), the parties hereto acknowledge and hereby agree that in the event of any breach by the Company, on the one hand, or Parent or Merger Sub, on the other hand, of any of their respective covenants or obligations set forth in this Agreement, the Company, on the one hand, or Parent or Merger Sub, on the other hand, shall, subject to Section 8.06, each be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof (including the obligation of the parties to consummate the Merger, subject in each case to the terms and conditions of this Agreement), including an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement by any party, in addition to any other remedy at law or equity.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have the right to obtain an injunction or injunctions, or other appropriate form of specific performance or equitable relief, in each case, solely with respect to causing Parent and Merger Sub to cause the Equity Financing to be funded at any time, but only in the event that each of the following conditions has been satisfied (i) all conditions in Sections 7.01 and 7.02 (other than those conditions that by their terms are to be satisfied at the Closing) have been satisfied or waived, (ii) Parent and Merger Sub fail to complete the Closing by the date the Closing is required to have occurred pursuant to Section 1.02, (iii) the Debt Financing (or, if applicable, Alternative Financing) has been funded or will be funded at the Closing if the Equity Financing is funded at the Closing and (iv) the Company has irrevocably confirmed in writing that (A) all conditions set forth in Section 7.03 have been satisfied or that it is willing to waive any of the conditions to the extent not so satisfied in Section 7.03 and (B) if specific performance is granted and the Equity Financing and Debt Financing are funded, then the Closing will occur. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall the Company be entitled to specific performance to cause Parent and/or Merger Sub to cause the Equity Financing to be funded if the Debt Financing (or, if applicable, Alternative Financing) has not been funded (or will not be funded at the Closing even if the Equity Financing is funded at the Closing).
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(c) Each party waives (i) any defenses in any action for specific performance, including the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate and (ii) any requirement under any Law to post a bond or other security as a prerequisite to obtaining equitable relief. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) while the parties hereto may pursue both a grant of specific performance and the payment of the amounts set forth in Section 8.06, neither Parent and Merger Sub, on the one hand, nor the Company, on the other hand, shall be permitted or entitled to receive both a grant of specific performance that results in a Closing and payment of such amounts, and (y) upon the payment of such amounts, the remedy of specific performance shall not be available against the party making such payment and, if such party is Parent or Merger Sub, any other member of the Parent Group or, if such party is the Company, any other member of the Company Group.
(d) This Section 9.08 shall not be deemed to alter, amend, supplement or otherwise modify the terms of any Financing Commitments (including the expiration or termination provisions thereof).
Section 9.09 Governing Law; Dispute Resolution.
This Agreement shall be interpreted, construed and governed by and in accordance with the Laws of the State of New York without regard to the conflicts of law principles thereof, except that the following matters arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be interpreted, construed and governed by and in accordance with the Laws of the Cayman Islands in respect of which the parties hereto hereby irrevocably submit to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Cayman Islands: the Merger, the vesting of the undertaking, property and liabilities of Merger Sub in the Surviving Corporation, the cancellation of the Shares, the rights provided for in Section 238 of the CICL with respect to any Dissenting Shares, the fiduciary or other duties of the Company Board and the directors of Merger Sub and the internal corporate affairs of the Company and Merger Sub. All Actions arising under the laws of the State of New York out of or relating to this Agreement shall be heard and determined exclusively in any New York federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan of The City of New York, provided, however, that if such federal court does not have jurisdiction over such Action, such Action shall be heard and determined exclusively in any New York state court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan of The City of New York . Each of the parties hereto agrees that mailing of process or other papers in connection with any such Action in the manner provided in Section 9.02 or in such other manner as may be permitted by applicable Laws, will be valid and sufficient service thereof. Each of the parties hereto hereby (a) submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of any federal or state court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan of The City of New York for the purpose of any Action arising under the laws of the State of New York out of or relating to this Agreement brought by any party hereto and (b) irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense, counterclaim or otherwise, in any Action with respect to this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect of this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder (i) any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts for any reason other than the failure to serve process in accordance with this Section 9.09, (ii) any claim that it or its property is exempt or immune from the jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process commenced in such courts (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment or otherwise) and (iii) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, any claim that (A) the Action in such court is brought in an inconvenient forum, (B) the venue of such Action is improper or (C) this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts.
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Section 9.10 Waiver of Jury Trial.
EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF THE OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT, AS APPLICABLE, BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 9.10.
Section 9.11 Amendment.
This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto by action taken by or on behalf of their respective boards of directors at any time prior to the Effective Time; provided, however, that, after the approval of this Agreement and the Transactions by the shareholders of the Company, no amendment may be made that would reduce the amount or change the type of consideration into which each Share shall be converted upon consummation of the Merger. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed by each of the parties hereto.
Section 9.12 Waiver.
At any time prior to the Effective Time, any party hereto may (a) extend the time for the performance of any obligation or other act of any other party hereto, (b) waive any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of any other party contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto and (c) waive compliance with any agreement of any other party or any condition to its own obligations contained herein. Any such extension or waiver shall be valid if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the party or parties to be bound thereby. No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege.
Section 9.13 Headings.
The descriptive headings contained in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
Section 9.14 Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile transmission) in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
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EXECUTION COPY
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent, Merger Sub, the Company and Holdco have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.
KEYSTONE LODGING COMPANY LIMITED | ||
By | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |
Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |
Title: | Director |
[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]
EXECUTION COPY
KEYSTONE LODGING ACQUISITION LIMITED | ||
By | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |
Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |
Title: | Director |
[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]
EXECUTION COPY
7 DAYS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED | ||
By | /s/ Tan Wee Seng | |
Name: | Tan Wee Seng | |
Title: | Director |
[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]
EXECUTION COPY
KEYSTONE LODGING HOLDINGS LIMITED | ||
By | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |
Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |
Title: | Director |
[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]
ANNEX A
PLAN OF MERGER